The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Great Defenses Need to Anchor Limited QBs Like Tua

Episode Date: December 28, 2021

In this hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Colin opens up the show speaking on the Miami Dolphins and how QB Tua Tagovailoa isn't reliable. Limited quarterbacks like Tua win by having great defenses support them with deception and trickery. Plus, Colin explains the reality of Lakers PG Russell Westbrook. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard 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. 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.

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84's big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the Heard at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Heard.

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, it is a Tuesday. It is great to have you in live from Los Angeles. It's the herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, one hour from now, the herd hierarchy, 10 best teams in the National Football League,

A lot of thought went into this. A soggy Joy Taylor, a damp me. Yesterday we got a taste, a much-needed taste of the Pacific Northwest, as it rained hard for hours and hours. It's the only place Joy and I have lived. We root for rainstorms. Yes, it's very good for Southern California when it rains. I had to go to the valley yesterday. The valley.

And we know we've been getting rain because that little trip past the game. It's nice and green. If you live in LA, you know what we're talking about. But the fires are a very real thing. Yeah. And so it's good. So every Thursday, the LA Times updates. It's drought map.

So I'm very excited for that because last Thursday the rain had just started. So when the LA Times drought map comes out updated Thursday, believe it or not, I'm fascinated by drought maps. You know. That means a real part of our lives out here. It certainly is. Well, it's great to have you in today. So don't confuse a quarterback that can win games and a quarterback of franchise everybody,

owner, GM coach are all in on we're going to build around him. So eight weeks ago, there were rumors around Miami dolphins were owner GM interested in Deshawn Watson, and I defended them. And I still do. Now, this morning, seven-game winning streak, you're all going crazy about Tua. But Mac Jones had a seven-game winning streak. T-O-N-A-now seven-game winning streak.

Tebow once had a seven-game winning streak. Now, I think Mac Jones is the best of those three. And I do get building around Mac Jones, but you need great coaching. And let me explain this. There is a formula to win with a limited quarterback. And all three, T-Bow, Mac, Mac, and Tua during their winning streaks, What did they all three get? Great defense.

And again, I think Mack is a franchise quarterback with a very low ceiling. Herbert didn't have a low ceiling. Burrow didn't have a low ceiling. Mahomes didn't have a low ceiling. Josh Allen didn't have a low ceiling. You put more stress on coaches to coach perfectly when your quarterback has a low ceiling. So the dolphins had one drive scoring TD drive all night. One drive over 40 yards all night.

But watch what the coaches did for Miami. while of them. So Tua, they're deep in their own territory. Tua makes his one big throw of the night. This is his best throw of the night. So Miami coaches now say, okay, let's bring out the tricks. This is scoring drive. What do they do after that? Deception. Flee flicker. Nice call. Watch the drive. Then they go to a power run and then they go to more tricks. Then they go to the wild cat, deception. And then at the goal line, what do they do again? They don't put it into his hands. it's more deception to Jalen Waddle. It was a perfect drive with three different elements of deception.

Okay, Josh Allen beats New England. Three separate plays New England has him cornered. And Josh Allen just makes a play. Lamar Jackson can make a play. Patrick Mahomes can make a play. Kyler Murray can make a play. Justin Herbert can make a play. Joe Burrell can make a play.

That's the difference. When you have a limited low-ceiling quarterback, this drive was everything. The coaches looked at that pin deep into their own territory and thought, oh crap, Tua makes his one big throw, and they go into the bag of tricks. This coaching staff, which is really smart, said, okay, this is our opportunity. Here we go. Saints are reeling. They go to a flea flicker.

Then it's the wildcat. Then it's deception at the goal line. They're not rolling Tua out. They're not putting in Tua's hands. And this morning, I know what you're saying. You're saying he's Tibo. I'm saying Tibo Mac Jones, Tua. When you have a limited quarterback, these guys can win.

your defense has to be great. You're not going to win shootouts. You're not going to win trailing 14-0. How's Mack Jones second half behind everybody in the ballpark knows he's got to throw? He's an incredibly limited quarterback. That drive right there for Dalton, Miami, had 86 yards. They had 55 yards the rest of the half. So the coaching staff sees Tua's big throw, and they bring the tricks out.

They see a backpedaling Saints defense. It's flea flicker. It's wildcat. It's creative. way, all clever throws, but they were all used. They all use them in one series. Here we go. Here's our opportunity. They're one touchdown drive. So I know Miami this morning is all, oh, we won games. Winning games is different than the owner, the GM, and the coaching staff building, right now in Los Angeles with Justin Herbert, every draft pick, everything they do in

Los Angeles, everything they do in Cincinnati, everything they do in Buffalo or Baltimore, from the coordinator you hire to the receivers you draft is just to feed the star quarterback. You know you don't have to draft just for defense to keep the games close, to keep the scoring low. It's different. And I think it's a huge advantage. If you look at the teams at the end of the year that are now flourishing, it's teams that have playmakers. It's quarterbacks that can move. Kansas City or it's Aaron Rogers or it's.

it's Josh Allen or it's, you can't put that much pressure on your coaches to outscheme the other world's best coaches. And I love Brian Flores. But I'm sitting on watching that drive and I'm like, I know exactly what they're doing. To a finally delivers a big ball. And here come the tricks. Let's manipulate, deceive. That's our way to score the one scoring drive, the one drive over 40 yards.

And everybody in Miami today is like, yeah. And I'm like, no. No, that's not sustainable. Sustainable is Patrick Mahomes. Sustainable is Josh Allen. Sustainable is Justin Herbert. Having to use flea flickers and wildcats and deception to outsmart everybody for your one scoring drive against the good defense,

but that's not sustainable. And that's why they were in the Deshawn Watson sweepstakes, and it's why if I was Miami, I'd get right back in them. Okay. So I always try to be fair. As Joey knows, I have been dubbed by somebody as America's honesty broker. I'm not sure who. It may have been me.

But nonetheless, we've got to be fair about stuff, right? You expect me to be fair, not hold grudges. And I have been, through the years, I have been tough on Russell Westbrook. But, you know, I have this discussion sometimes with my wife, with her kids. You can't ask your kids to be something. They're not. You know, all six kids, they're all different. I'm not going to ask my impatient kid to be patient, my kind of loner to be a social animal, my social animal to sit home by yourself.

Like I'm not going to ask, you have to watch your kids. They're human beings, not human doings. What do they do? What are they comfortable with? Put him in areas to hopefully succeed. So I don't love Westbrook as a player. He's too rigid for me. He lives in a tunnel.

But when the Lakers went and got Westbrook, they had 13 years of evidence of what? he was. And I said, Joy is my witness, this is an old roster. You can't trust A.D.'s health. LeBron now I can't trust his health. You're going to get minutes, hustle, production. That's what he is. We have 13 years of evidence. You're not getting a refined shooter. You're not getting somebody who's willing to be flexible with his game. It's not who the dude is. So as critical as I am of Westbrook, I read a story this morning where people are now, the Lakers are fielding offers for Westbrook. Okay, so here's what he has given you this year.

He has played every night. He is top 10 in the NBA in minutes. He is giving you 28 and 8. His career average is 23, 8 to 1 half and 8. And the only reason he's scoring less, because he's shooting less. So at this point, with 13 years of evidence,

you're asking Westbrook to be something he's simply not. If you want to be disappointed with somebody, be disappointed with AD because you were sold a bill of goods. He'll be available. It's the Pelicans. He's never available. He is a dominant interior force. He doesn't want to play the five. He is a hard worker.

Not really. He is a one. There's no leadership at all with AD. I mean, that's not what he is. He's talented. But what you thought you were getting with AD, You've not gotten. Charles Barkley calls him street clothes.

He's never available. And I'm not blaming him for his injuries. It's his reality. But everybody when AD came to L.A. was going, well, he's finally, finally got rid of the Pelicans. Pelicans had to ruin this guy. Not really. This is what he is.

And it's kind of getting worse. He's available less. Westbrook's the opposite. You know he was rigid. You know he hustles. You know he plays hard. You know he can't shoot. He is absolutely completely on brand in Los Angeles.

Drives me nuts. I sold my Westbrook stock years ago. He lives in a tunnel. But you have 13 years. He didn't do a resume and put fake people on it. His resume was like, here's what I am. And he's been exactly that. Dude plays hard.

He plays every night. He plays with great passion. He lacks some self-awareness. He plays in a tunnel. I don't want him shooting. Westbrook's giving me 36 minutes a night. And if you look at this roster, there was a game a couple of days ago. It was so funny.

I didn't watch it. I went to the box score. And I was hanging out with family watching football. But there was a Laker game over the weekend. They lost, of course. And I looked at the box score and two people scored. LeBron and Westbrook. Everybody else had six points.

And I'm like, that's why you brought him in here. Because you knew AD's never healthy. And LeBron's getting older. We have to be honest. LeBron's going to miss 15 games. a groin, a knee, an ankle, you know, whatever. He's older. But it's very interesting on this.

If you want to blame anybody, blame the Laker Front Office. Don't blame Westbrook. If you take your loner kid and ask him, take him to a big party, and you're upset with him on the drive home because you're kind of loner, techie kid's not social. That's a you problem. That's a parent issue. That's not a kid issue.

This is not a Westbrook issue. He is exactly what he's always been. drives me nuts. But I put my arms around in when it came to LA because I said he gives them what they don't have. Minutes, hustle, passion, intensity. God, if you gave A.D. Westbrook's intensity, that's a one. But, you know, everybody wants to move Westbrook out of town.

Maybe A.D. when he gets healthy. You want to be tied to A.D. forever? I mean, I don't want to be tied to Westbrook forever, but nobody thinks you are going to be tied to him forever. AD is the future of the Lakers. I'm out. And I've said this before. We start asking people to be what they're not.

That's your problem. I have limitations. I'm not going to do Joe Buck's job. Fox doesn't ask me to. I can't be an amicable, affable host. Chrisa Thompson, they don't ask me to. They say, have big opinions. All right, that's what I do.

We all have weaknesses and ceilings and this. This company never asked me to do anything I'm not going. comfortable with. I can do goofy pieces. I can have big opinions. That's pretty much all I can do. And that's what they ask me. But if you're asking Westbrook to hit threes, if you're asking them to be a great screener or to be a great defender, what does the data tell you over the last 13 years, especially the last six? I just defended Russell Westbrook. America's honesty broker. I came in hard supporting Russell Westbrook. If he was a candidate, I'd vote for him today. All right. We got a lot to breakdown. We have become,

I guess I don't want to sound like, have we, I'll ask you this, I won't even have a statement, I won't have a declarative statement, I'm going to ask you a question. Have we become a nation of complainers? And I have a thought on that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. 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. 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 which I'll say it. 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. 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. 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we picket 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 y'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. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

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So in America, have we become a nation of complainers? Boy, social media is just out of control. Everybody's a victim, everybody's complaining. So in the 70s, 80s, 90s, we used to rip football coaches because they were too conservative. They run too much, especially near the goal line. They run too much. Four straight runs. This guy is a bum.

And now, with analytics, we complain when coaches get near the goal line. They pass too much. Forrest rate passes? What are you doing? It's too risky. And so maybe we just complain too much. And that coaching is hard. Let me defend officials for a second.

The NFL is a hard game to officiate. Why? The field's enormous. NBA basketball court's not. A hockey rink isn't. A football field's enormous. Baseball doesn't have a clock. Oh, you got that too in football.

People are tackling each other in football. There are piles of humanity, and you're supposed to find the ball and get the right spot using an outdated 10-yard chain. It is the hardest league to officiate by far. A clock, an enormous field athletes have never been faster. I got to cover a guard and a wide receiver that runs a 4-3. And by the way, the best coaches teach their players to be manipulative. New England corners are slapping you all the way down the field. So the best coaches also, like a Belichick's been in this league so long in Andy Reid,

they know the tendencies of officials and they manipulate the officials. And you want a perfectly officiated game. So losing teams in this league and their fans always blame refs. It's an epidemic. Last night, Saints fans are blaming the refs. So Sean Payton comes unglued. the half, the dolphin coaches are a little bit confused. The refs comes over to explain a situation. It kind of saves Miami a timeout, and then Miami tries a field goal and misses, but there was

some confusion, and the refs stepped in to kind of explain it. Sean Payton's coming unglued. And just the Saints fans, oh, this is just costing us the game. The game was over in five minutes. New Orleans, one of the better, easier bets of the year in Miami, the game was over in five minutes. you cannot win an NFL game starting your fourth quarterback against Miami's defense. Ian Book had no chance to win that game. He threw a pick six early. Game was over. Game was over.

It was all about the spread after that. Go look at the standings today in the NFL. You tell me a single team that is in the playoffs, here are the playoff teams because of the officials. All 14 of these teams have one of three ingredients. Most have two. Some have three. either a great coach, a great quarterback, or a great identity. Philadelphia does not have what I would call a great quarterback or a great coach,

but they got to, damn, if they don't have an identity. By the way, Tennessee, number two seed, Mike Brable's a great coach. They don't have a great quarterback, but they have an identity, and they're going to get it back Derek Henry in a couple weeks. Ask yourself if you're not a playoff team. Do you have a great coach? Do you have a great quarterback? And if you don't like Philly, do you have an absolute identity?

Philly does, and they're the last team in. They're not a number one seed, not a number two. No, there are seven. And we're still not sure they're going to get in. The refs have, on a macro level, there's not a single team in this league that's going to make the playoffs because of the officials. And there's not a single team in this league that's going to be ousted because of the officials. If you're not in, you stink. You got a B quarterback and a C coach.

That's it. or you have no identity. There are teams with talent in this league with no identity. But all we do now is complain. Coaches run too much in the 80s. Now they pass too much in the 90s. You complain too much. Refs do not decide anything other than occasional,

occasional individual plays. But when you consider the difficulty, the enormity of the field, people tackling each other, piles of humanity, running clock, coaches that manipulate officials. Well, they should have full-time refs. I agree.

They don't. They've never changed outcomes of divisions and conferences and Super Bowls, ever. And I know you'll probably go to Google now and you'll find this and you'll find that. They don't. If you're not a playoff team, ask yourself three questions. How great is our quarterback? How great's our coach? And do we have an identity?

And I guarantee you, there's no three of threes that are in. the playoffs. I'd look again this morning. I doubt there's a two of three that are in the playoffs. You're either a one or a or you're Jacksonville, you're O for three, and you're exactly where you should be. Joy with the News. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Hurdline News. Saints fans might be a little sensitive to referees. I'm over that. Like the league would pick on one of the best brands. No, it's not the league. Like, nobody seriously says that. It is ridiculous that referees not full-time, though. I mean, this is, it's absurd. Yeah, no, I'm, I am for that, but

there's more than enough money pouring into the NFL. And, and at, they are so vital to the game referees. I think we learned that when we didn't have real referees for that short period of time. And they should absolutely be full-time employees. So, it was initially reported that Jimmy Garoppolo had sprained his thumb in Thursday's loss to the Titans. But yesterday, NFL Network's Dean Rappaport said that Garapolo has a chipped bone and a torn ligament in his throwing thumb. It happened in the game. Like now we know why he stunk so much against Tennessee. It happened in the second quarter.

Well, he didn't practice yesterday. So Trey Lance will get the start if Garapolo can't go against the Texans on Sunday. He is not starting a pass since October 10th. And that was against the Cardinals when he injured a knee. So the last time that Lance played was November 21st when he took five snaps against the Jags. So Garapolo has missed 24 games of the last four seasons. with the 40-9ers that includes one game missed this season due to a calf injury. But he's 25 and 14 with the Niners in that span.

The rest of the Niners' quarterbacks are 6 and 18 in that span. I know people are not very high on Jimmy G right now. I get it. I get it. I also don't love the injury history at all. I think being available is a huge part of your skill sets. Yes. However, the quarterback market is going to be bleak this offseason.

Bleak. And there's nothing in the draft that. is moving anybody. So he's, they're going to, not only do they trade up to get Traylands, they're going to get some trade pieces back for Jimmy Garoppel this off season. Listen, it's going to be a desert.

He's going to be a gallon, a liter of water. Somebody's going to pay whatever they can pay to get it. But I also, I do think if he's available, he's a very capable quarterback. You see that with the record that the Niners have. And look, the Niners obviously have a lot of great players. So do a lot of teams in the NFL that don't have great quarterback play or good quarterback play at that.

So if he's available, which is always a question, someone's going to take him. They're 8 and 7 right now the Niners are, and they're 6 in the NFC and hold a wildcard spot. So they might be going through the rest of the season with Trey Lance. And they might be finding out what Trey Lance is very quickly as well. So we haven't seen much from him. Now, they play the Texans on Sunday and are currently 12.5 point favorites. Texans did just handle the Chargers, 41, 29. So that's kind of an interesting.

that's a big line for a team that just gave up a really good performance against the Chargers who are a good team. So 12 and a half point favorites, according to Foxbat. So after Sunday's loss to the Bengals, John Harbaugh approached Bengals head coach Zach Taylor and asked him why he ran a play that consisted of a 52-yard pass with less than two minutes in the game. So Harbaugh was asked why he approached Zach Taylor and Harbaugh down played the situation. I don't really know where that's coming from. and really I don't necessarily appreciate, you know, having to address, you know, there's a feeling out there kind of questions.

I think that's kind of absurd. I don't know where it comes from, but Zach and I had a good conversation, just like you always do. We always have good conversations with mutual respect there. Everything's fine. Fine. Fine. I love that word fine.

Didn't Hardball, and I love John, but didn't he go for the 100-yard rushing streak thing earlier this year? Like it wasn't that him? Well, Taylor was asked if Harbaugh was frustrated. You can read his lips. He says, what did you? You can tell Harbaugh is frustrated. He says what?

What did you run that? You can tell what John's asking him about. He's upset. So you can't do that, John, because you did that. You can't do that. And come on. I love Joe Burroughs response to this. Taylor said, was asked if Harbaugh was frustrated when he approached him and he just smiled and said, no.

But Joe Burrow had commented post game and said that this isn't Peewee football. You play into the final whistle. Thank you. I don't care of the scores. 1,000% agree. This one, Pete Carroll did this years ago, drove me nuts at USC. So Pete, he always called it competition Wednesday.

And they drubbed a lot of people when Pete was at USC. I mean, they blew a lot of people out. A lot. And Pete's whole thing was, we compete, we compete to the last whistle. Okay, that's your brand. Jim Harbaugh comes into the, Jim Harbaugh comes into the conference as a 40-point dog and beats Pete at the Coliseum.

And it may have been that game or a relationship. Stanford game. But when they met after the game, Pete at midfield, because he felt Harbaugh ported on, Pete's quote was, L.A. people know this. Hey, what's your deal? And I'm like, time out, Pete. Yeah. Your whole thing is, we play to the final whistle, baby. That's your brand, Pete. So if people drop you, including Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, you're a hypocrite. That's where the Harbaugh's. This is where John, and I love him, but the Harbaas have this thing, this gene in them. they're hyper-aggressive guys well then people are going to be

hyper-aggressive against you to rub it in your face a little bit sure but also it's the NFL I don't care how many points you score score all the points this is this is professional if you want it to stop you have an opportunity to go out on the field and stop them these are not young men these are not kids learning the game

and morals and you know things that are instilled in you and competition in sports like no this is your profession if we are running up the ratings on everybody, you think we're just going to like mail it in one day? No, we're going to crush you with all of our might. Yeah. Because we're professionals.

You can see Harbaugh. You can see his lips. He's going, hey, what's the deal with that? You can read it. You know he's upset. Yeah, I have no problem with this whatsoever. You go out and stop them then. So the Ravens are right behind Cincinnati.

They're eight and seven, but are currently out of the playoffs. Is Lamar back this week? Cincinnati has control of the AFC North at 9 and 6. I don't know that we've gotten an update on Lamar being back yet. I mean, obviously, they really need him. They host the Rams on Sunday. They're three and a half point underdogs, according to Fox Bet. Speaking of the Rams, an MRI revealed that Daryl Henderson

sprained his MCL on Sunday against Minnesota, so he's headed to the IR. He could return from the playoffs. Yeah. If the Rams are around long enough, an MCL injury generally takes three to five weeks. But Cam Acres was activated off of the IR on Sunday, and Sean McVease says he has a chance to play this week against the Ravens.

He tours ACL in training camp, obviously, was a massive loss for them. And this is great timing for him to be back, but obviously they don't want to rush him back right. You know, too quickly. They do have some other pieces in their running back room. So it's not a complete disaster with him coming back. But they're 11 and 4 and our first in the NFC West. They've clinched at least a wildcard spot depending on how Arizona finishes. And as I mentioned, they play the Ravens on Sunday and a three and a half point favorite, according to Foxx bet. Good stuff. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. Fox Sports reports.

he's a great one. Peter Schrager, NFL kickoff Sunday. Brought to you by Mercedes Ben's the best or nothing. So this is interesting. So I would think with Garoppolo Hurt, this is a perfect time to play Trey Lance. You're at home. You're a run first team San Francisco playing the second worst run defense in the league Houston. Your offensive pieces, you're healthy. To me, this would be like, okay, if I would have been going to, if I would have circled a game on the schedule, I would have said, okay, later in the year, we're at week 17. Tray Lance has had a lot of snaps at practice. Like, why isn't his name coming up, Shraggs? I don't get this. Yeah, it might be

time to rip that band-aid off and not just for this week, but for the remainder of the run. Jimmy Garapolo did not play well on Thursday, injury or not. And the truth of the matter is Tray Lance has been playing well in practice over the last month. He's healthy. And there was a wonder around the league. Like, are we going to see him? Well, Jimmy's playing great. Just let's, Let's stick with Jimmy. Jimmy did not play great against the Titans. What a weird 72 hours for the Niners, too. I'm sure you guys saw this story.

After the performance, there was a tweet that went out that said that the Niners should leave Jimmy Garoppolo in Nashville. John Lynch, the GM, accidentally likes the tweet. Yeah. And then has to come out and say he accidentally liked it while he was sitting in church. And then we get the injury news. And I'll just say this. Trey Lance might be the biggest X factor in the NFC moving forward because what if he does

have a whole playbook that Kyle Shanahan's been working on with him. What if he does have an element to his game that we haven't seen yet? There's no tape on him. There's no film on him. That's right. And we know what we're getting with Jimmy. This might be an interesting start against Houston, but they play the Rams Week 18, and they might make the playoffs. I wouldn't be shocked if it's Tray Lance's job from out here on out. Interesting. So this Colts team, I didn't like the idea of Hard Knocks mid-season to the Colts. I thought it was invasive and unfair to a very well-run franchise. You know, brand new quarterback, Rivers Gone Wentz, and I'm like, this is a lot to ask a coaching staff. But as I've watched it, my takeaway is, man, that's a good locker

room. That's a good culture. They got leaders everywhere. Players, coaches, GM, your thoughts about your sources, what people are saying about the Colts and your thoughts going forward. It's a combination of a couple of things that have made them such a captivating team. Hard Knox for sure, two back-to-back Saturday night games that are nationally televised that everyone's watching. So you get the Jonathan Taylor experience when they beat the Patriots. Then Saturday night, I was working the sidelines for NFL Network, and they're down four offensive linemen. They're down Darius Lender, which they find out the day of the game because of the COVID protocols. And it's like Carson Wentz, we need you to win us this game.

And Carson Wentz was the reason they won that game in the fourth quarter, had the incredible touchdown pass. It might have been the pass of the year, and they find a way to win. top to bottom that organization is so buttoned up and they've been through so much getting to this point that they're going to get back Quentin Nelson. They're going to get back Darius Leonard. And then they're going to be going into January and it's like, wow, this team has already been through a lot.

Who wants to face the NFL's best running back and who wants to face this team that has already been through so much in late December? I think it's a fascinating team. Special teams coach, Bubba Ventrone. Their special teams is incredible. Worked with Belichick for three years. came over to Indy with Reich.

He's going to get some head coaching interviews right now. And a lot of that is because teams are watching this team in a different way from the outside in. So the hard knocks, which everyone's usually like, get that camera out of our locker room. It's shining a light on a lot of young leaders, Kenny Moore, Darius Leonard, Quentin Nelson, but also some young coaches, Bubba Ventrone being one of them. You know, I was watching the Rams over the weekend, and COVID is just ravaging their old line. And I'm sitting there and I'm like, let's not get too precious. they went on the road, Stafford didn't play well, and they won.

And I'm like, Minnesota beat Green Bay. Like, that's a real team with a real roster. And I look at the Rams and I was like, when you can win in your quarterbacks throwing pick sixes and your quarterback struggling, that is something. That is something now. And now we have Cam Acres back, which is just like a medical miracle. And I'm like, I don't know. Your thoughts about the Rams, because I watch them this weekend and I'm like,

this is one of the more impressive ugly wins of the six. season. And it's their second straight ugly win. They played Seattle on Tuesday night and looked, you know, horrendous at points and yet found a way to win. The officials, of course, had some say of that with the non-PI call. But this is interesting, Colin, because here we are and it's Stafford and it's Beckham and it's, and guess who won that game for them? Strong defense, Sony Michelle, special teams. Do you know who the NFL's leading Russia in the month of December is? It's not Jonathan Taylor. Sony Michelle. He's got 420.000. 23 yards on the ground. That's a guy they acquired in August for a sixth round pick. And they're like,

all right, Sony, go get us there. Now, the K-makers thing is fascinating because a lot of people didn't think they'd get him back. Rams internally have been showing a lot of optimism since about October that they might get him back. It's early. I know that McVeigh put out there that he might play on Sunday. I could see them being a little cautious on that on Sunday, maybe week 18, but definitely for the playoffs. And suddenly you have this team that everyone was calling soft and that lacked soul and lacked character and we're a dream team. They're winning ugly football with grit

and with backups making key plays. To your point, no Whitworth, no note boom, AJ Jackson, an undrafted free agent and David Edwards, a guard, fill in at left tackle, and they find a way to win when their center goes down. I love that win from the Rams on Sunday, and if you watch the NFL on a week-to-week basis, no one wants to face this team right now.

They're putting it all together as the season goes on, and they're not relying on just Stafford and a bunch of superstars. They're getting contributions from everyone. All right. I led my show today saying, you can't ask your coaches week in and week out to out scheme people. You have to have guys who can make plays.

The Patriots had Josh Allen cornered on three straight plays on the game clinching drive. And he just made plays. You can't ask for perfection from coaches. It does not exist, even with Belichick. So I watched Tua last night. They had one drive over 40 yards. And it was really clever and really smart. And I'm like, well, that was great coaching.

They brought all the tricks. on one drive. How much credit am I supposed to give Tua for the seven-game winning streak? Yeah, that's the thing. It's like George Gatsy drew up that cool shovel pass to Jalen Waddle, and then Mack Hollins makes the big catch. But Tua threw a terrible interception in that game, and Tua didn't have to throw deep anytime. So you want to just tear them apart, and you want

to say they're not winning because of Tua. They're winning because the defense had eight sacks, or they're winning because Jalen Waddle is catching a bunch of three-yard passes and doing things. Don't apologize. They've won seven straight games, and that's just kind of how they do it. I will say this, though. You look at the opponents. They've beaten the Jets twice. Yep. They beat in this team with Ian Book. They haven't had to fate the next two weeks. They've got Tennessee and New England. Hey, Tua, if you want to silence your doubters, these are the two weeks to do it.

But let's not take anything away from that win last night. They didn't get the Saints all their COVID. That was on whatever happens in the NFL. And they had to beat the team they played and they beat the snot out of them. Yep. Good stuff, Shregs. Peter Schrager, Fox Sports, NFL dude who we rely on on a weekly basis. Good seeing you, man. You're a man, Colin. Thanks. The heat is ratcheted up for Vic Fangio in Denver and Pete Carroll in Seattle. We've got stories on both next.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. I'm George Reister, host of the Reister or Wrong podcast. This is the intersection where sports, business, society, and pop culture meet the truth. Absolute fire on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Facts only. Make sure you check your feelings at the door because no BS is allowed.

We keep it 100. This is where real conversations happen. Listen to the Rights or Wrong podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 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. 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 which I'm saying. Yep. That's me, Clifford Taylor the fourth. 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. about life, mental health, 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,

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.

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 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 a 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 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 right now. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

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, Tript 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, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now.

So it's that time of the year. On average, 7 to 8 NFL coaches are replaced every year. In about three weeks ago, I told Joy, all right, maybe Matt and Aggie and maybe when the Gruden's gone, Urban Meyer, then that's three. And now you're starting to hear the heat. Vic Fangio, we'll get to that in a bit. Pete Carroll now, the Seattle media, which is here. historically provincial and very nice and supportive is now asking Pete Carroll real questions like, um, why aren't we good at doing anything? Do we need a complete rebuild? Yes.

Here's Pete yesterday. Not for one reason at all. Am I thinking that, uh, we have to restart this whole thing and create a new philosophy and a new approach and all like that? I don't think that. I think we've got the essence of the things that we need. We got to build on them. We got to support. it better and we got to continue to grow and progress. There's no staying and still, but there's the foundation for doing things. Okay. So it doesn't matter if Pete Carroll convinces us. It matters if Pete can convince Russell Wilson.

And for a second, ask yourself if you were Russell Wilson. And you look around the division. Forget the league, your division. Sean McVey and Stafford, first year, magic. Kyle Shanahan, Jimmy, when he's healthy, they've made the Super Bowl. Always a great power run team. Kingsbury and Kyler, neither's really in their coaching or quarterbacking peak. They're looking really good.

All three are young head coaches, and they're ascending, and they're offensive coaches, as the league moves that way. And I'm no ageist here. I'm mid-50s, Pete 70, can't figure out the offensive line for eight straight years, have whiffed on multiple draft picks, and he is a defensive coach in an offensive league. There's also this thing called a trend where is his defense outdated. The last eight years, his defensive teams have gone from first to second to fifth to 11th to 16 to 26 to 22nd to now 31st. I won't bore you with stats.

They do nothing well as a franchise on either side of the ball. nothing. It doesn't really matter if Pete convinces the Seattle media or me. I have a friend and he's in the middle of a career change and he watches his show and I've been told his boss does so I'll keep this very vague.

The advice I give my friend all the time is words I'm not interested in. Actions I'm interested in. That's why I'm not offended by much said. I'm offended all the time by stuff done. Pete can say all he wants, but the actions and the momentum and the trends, they can't figure this offensive line. It's been eight years.

And oh, by the way, you're Russell Wilson. You have watched two of your contemporaries, Brady and Matt Stafford, change teams. Ask to leave. Brady won a Super Bowl the first year. Russell was there watching. And Stafford now in your division, he's really starting to win games, isn't he? Can you blame the player? Okay.

Russell wants young and progressive and offensive and fresh and what's ascending, and he looks around his division and he looks around the sport, and he looks around the officiating changes, or I should say the rules changes, and it's all moving away from what he has in Seattle. So again, we love to blame the player. But if you're sitting there and your bosses and your leadership and they're telling you one thing, where are the trends taking you?

What's the culture of your industry? Which way is it headed? I said this about Westbrook. He drives me nudge, but the game kind of moved away from him seven, eight years ago. It used to be if you were just a good athletic guard, that was good enough. And now you have to be a shooter. Well, it moved away from who Westbrook is. So now if you trade for Westbrook, that's on you because we know what he is.

It's the same. The league is changing. These defensive coaches, Mike Tomlin, Mike Zimmer, Vic Fangio, Pete Carroll. they're struggling with their old lines, they're struggling to identify quarterbacks, they're struggling to develop offensive pieces. It's a trend. I don't blame Russell. Speaking of Vic Fangio, so Vic Fangio is the coach of Denver.

Now, a couple of weeks ago, I said, I think he's safe. Because every time I watch Denver, I'm like, I think they don't look terribly coached to me. So Vic Fangio is now being asked questions about his future in Denver. Again, I think they're number one defense. So Vic does defense really well. And here's Vic Fangio. I don't. And I know you think that's a standard answer,

but for a lot of reasons, I do not worry about it. And those reasons are personal to me. But do I acknowledge that it's certainly out there and could happen? Absolutely. But do I worry about it? I absolutely do not worry about it for many, many reasons. Do you think you deserve,

you and your staff deserve a fourth season? And would you return in 2022 without any? extension for yourself? Absolutely. You know, just be direct short answer there, absolutely. I don't doubt Vic Fangio can coach. Same with Pete. But has Vic Fangio become a power forward in a league that demands shooters? So this is something I've hit on multiple times, and this will probably be the last time I do it. But I want to show you again, six of the eight leaders, leading teams in the division, six of eight.

Dallas, Green Bay, Tampa, Rams, Kansas City, Cincinnati, 6 of 8 have an offensive coach, and Indianapolis is surging, and they have an offensive coach. Look around. The NFC is all offense. Matt LaFleur, Mike McCarthy, Sean McVeigh, Bruce Ariens, Cliff Kingsbury, Kyle Shanahan, Nick Seriani. Seven for seven offensive coaches. Now, the AFC East is all defense, so somebody's got to win defensively. But it's Kansas City.

It's Cincinnati. It's the Colts. Miami's probably not going to make it in. They'll probably lose New England. So it's, my point is, sometimes the game moves into you and sometimes it moves away from you. And when I watch Denver, here's my question. Why is Drew Locke getting worse? Taylor Heineckee at Washington is getting worse.

They both have defensive coaches. Like, can you, it's not just calling a game. Do you develop quarterbacks? Do you develop offensive lines? Do you develop tight ends? That's my question. I don't doubt that Vic Fangio's capable, smart, and a great defensive coach. But he feels like a power forward in the NBA today.

You better hit a three or I'm not interested. I can literally not in the NBA have more than one player on the court that can't shoot a three. That's why there are certain players in this league. I love Tristan Thompson personally. But if he's on the court, everybody else has to be a shooter. and you just start looking at all these divisions and all these rules. And I also, I have questions. Drew Locke is worse today than a year ago.

I mean, Sean McVeigh gets Odell Beckham. An hour later, he's catching touchdowns. Sean McVey gets Matt Stafford. Second week he's beating Tom Brady. Like the offensive guys, it's easier. Everything with Denver offensively. Everything is hard. And the talent's not.

the issue. Heard hierarchy next. 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 I-Hart Radio.

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to Look Back at it on the I Heart Radio. 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, Clivert Taylor the 4th. 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 Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of 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's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.