The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Playing for Jim Harbaugh

Episode Date: July 12, 2024

Colin talks to Rams running back Blake Corum about playing for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and his transition to the NFLSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And how lucky is Blake Corum? The Rams are lucky to have him. He goes, Jim Harbaugh to Sean McVe. That's a pretty good baton handoff. And Blake Corum is joining us now. You know, from the outside, Blake, they look like totally different cats. Now, they're both athletic. They're both intense guys.

But is there anything about Sean that it feels a little, Jim Harbaugh. Yeah, I would definitely say their enthusiasm for the game. You know, Coach Harbaugh always talked about enthusiasm, unknown mankind, but you see that daily by Coach McVeigh. Like his energy, you know, it doesn't matter what time it is in the morning, what time it is in the evening. Like, he's the same guy each and every day, as I saw through OTAs. I love playing for him so far, and it's only been, what, maybe a month and a half of OTAs. I'm blessed. You know, Harbaugh, it'll be a little bit. It'll be,

hard for you to not root for the other team that plays at SoFi, the Chargers, because Jim really made an impact on your life. Go back to when Jim Harbaugh recruited you at a high school, and you'd never played for him. He's kind of a different guy. He's got a different personality. Did you instantly know, Blake, that's my guy, or, you know, because a lot of people meet Harbaugh, and they're like, man, he's intense. He is different. Did you know instantly you were going to go to Michigan? again. I committed on spot. So I took two officials, official visits. I wanted to commit before my senior year of high school. And I took one to Ohio State. And then I took my next one to Michigan. I committed on spot. I went up to Coach Arbor's office. I said, I'm coming. And it was because of, you know, his coaching style, his demeanor for the game, his love for the game, his passion for his players. I was like, you know what, I'm going to be a Wolverine. Yeah. You know, Blake, it's interesting. You have a lot of power for your size. So does Kyron Williams, Notre Dame running back, who they took several years ago. It's interesting. I look at you, and you're obviously a fast guy, but you'll lower your shoulder. Do you use your size a bit as an advantage? When I watched you at Michigan sometimes, I thought you were good at kind of hiding behind the line in pulling situations. Talk about that because, you know, everything in the NFL is measurable.

combine, size, length. You've been great, although you would be categorized as a smaller back, but you don't play small. And where did that come from? Right. Yeah, I think that just comes from my whole life.

Everyone always called me a smaller bet, but when it comes to strength-wise or pound-for-pound, like, you know, there's not too many guys that can, you know, outlift me in the weight room and things like that. So, you know, I try to use that to my advantage for sure. Like, there would be linebackers in the game.

They're like, hey, man, I can't see him until you already hit the hole. And so, like, that's my advantage, you know, just staying patient and then using my, you know, speed and agility to hit it at the last second and get up on them as fast as I can. So what was your, you went to OTAs. What was your initial impression of going from college football for years at Michigan to a professional OTA? Was it faster?

Tell me your impression of the difference. Well, first I just want to start out by saying the coached at the Rams. is one of one. It's truly amazing. I love, you know, playing for the Rams. And like I said, I've only been there for a short period time. But I would say the biggest difference for me coming from college to the NFL is probably the speed of practice. Everything is just so fast. You know, everyone's professional. So there's, you know, obviously there's some mistakes, but there's very few, far in between. But I'll say that was the biggest difference, you know, coming in. It's really just to speak the game. And obviously, you know, I had to learn to play

but pretty quick. You know, I didn't want to, he let my teammates down by messing up. So, you know, definitely the speed of practice. It's pretty fast. How long does it take you, Blake? You're a smart guy. But how long does it take you that you feel so comfortable with a playbook you don't have to think about it? Is it a two-week, three-week, two-month process? How long does it take? Yeah, I think for me, I definitely had, you know, majority of the playbook after week one. But I was in there grinding with Coach G, a great running back coach, man. Just really a great down-to-earth human being.

I love, you know, playing for him and him being my running back coach. So I was in there, you know, just asking him to meet nonstop, just trying to get the playbook. So I was saying two weeks I really had, you know, the whole playbook. But also it comes with reps. And so OTAs, you know, I was trying to get as many reps as I can to really get those game-like reps. And here to play calls coming from Matthew Stafford and for Jimmy G., where I was in with. But I would say for the most part, I kind of had the offense, but it's one of those things where, you know, I have to stay at it every day. You know, I can't go a couple of days without looking at my playbook because, you know, I was at Michigan for four years, so I knew that offense, you know, like the back of my hand.

But this one, you know, I don't know as good yet. So I'm into my playbook every day just trying to stay sharp. You know, it's interesting. I actually think it's an advantage. At Michigan, you're a workhorse running back. And I've said this before. that's the one position in football. If a running back says, you know,

I'm not going to play in the bowl game, it's not a natty, I'm going to go to pro. Leonard Fernette did that, McCaffrey, I got no problem with it. There is a duration for running back. Were you ever worried about at college that you got so many carries and you were such a workhorse? Did you ever think to yourself, man, how many hits do I have on this body? Nah, I never worried about that.

I was always like, hey, coach, if you need me to run it, times, I run it 40 times. I think it's all about a mindset, but I also think it's about how you take care of your body. Obviously, every running back wants to chase longevity, but not everyone takes care of their body properly. No one might not get a couple of massages a week or go in and get treatment, you know, and so, you know, I make sure I take care of my body. So, you know, if a team needs me to, you know, carry the ball like Michigan did, you know, 20 plus times a game, you know, I can do it and I can feel good about doing it. It's not. not like my body's hurting after every game Saturday.

So it never came on mind that, you know, yeah, I got a lot of touch in the college, but, you know, I still feel like I did, you know, my freshman year of college. You know, feel good. You know, I feel like that me. What, for a running back, what is a greater feeling that you're in the open and you make a linebacker or a corner completely miss you? You put a great move on him. Or is it a better feeling that you hit somebody head on

and roll him for a couple extra yards. For you, what gets you more jacked up? In open space, what's a greater feeling? You know, it depends. In the beginning of the game, you know, I kind of want them to feel me a little bit, just so they know it's going to be a long day. But after I give them a little something,

there's no better feeling than, you know, catching a safety or a DB or a lineback at one-on-one, open space, and they're just, you know, stuck like a deer headlights. You know, there's no better feeling than seeing that, just knowing before you even get someone, like, oh yeah, I got them. You know, I can't really pick one, but I love them both. Yeah. 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 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. and finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

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Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships. can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.

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Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What do you expect this year from your worklord? What will we see? Do you think you'll be used in the past game? A lot of times they say pass protection is where rookie running back struggle, although Harbaugh made you block. Are there things you think you'll flourish with immediately?

I think overall, I think I'll flourish. But, you know, for me, just going into my first season, whatever the coaches need me to do, best leave I'm going to do. well they'd be running, you know, you know, catching the ball, blocking for sure, like playing special teams. You know, I'm here, you know, I'm here to help the team win. As Michigan, you know, we did set the team to team to team. I'm carrying that right over to the NFL because that's what matters and I love to win.

So, you know, I think you can expect me, you know, to do a little bit of everything. Obviously, you know, we have a great running back room with Karen Williams, you know, Boston Scott who just came along, Ryan Rivers, Zach Evans. You know, we have a really good running back room, so I've definitely been picking those guys brains but for me you know it's just a you know day-to-day thing for me just trying to get better each and every day but uh you know i think uh you know the coaches have seen through o taas i'm all around back so you know maybe i'll be doing a little bit of everything finally uh i think along with mahomes i i think there's an argument that matt stafford is the best armed

talent in the league how many practices did it take for you to go oh that that's pretty good It took one period. It took one period for me to know like, yeah, he's different. You know, it doesn't matter if the DBs on you, linebackers on you, he's going to put it where only you can get it. You know, he'll be looking left and throwing it, right? He just does some crazy things, but that's why, you know, he's one of the best to ever do it. You know, that's why, you know, he's played for so long and he's still playing at, you know, one of the highest levels ever. you know, he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league,

and I think he shows that each and every day the way he comes to practice, meetings, you know, he's attacking it like he's a rookie. Yeah, yeah, he's a remarkable player. Hey, Blake, from Harbaugh to McVeigh, that's the way to do it. Two offensive lines that can mall people up front.

Good luck to you in the Rams, my friend. No, I appreciate it. All right, Blake Corum, Rams running back. Before the draft, the Rams had told people if we can get Blake Corum, it'll be a great draft. That was who they targeted. You know how you see sometimes the war room and a fist pump? Let me tell you something.

When they got Blake, because it wasn't a great running back draft. There was like two backs people liked. That's who the Rams wanted. And it doesn't work that way very often. Once you get past the first round, you don't really get who you want, unless you have to give away draft capital. For Blake Corum to land with this team, the running back they wanted. That were stories written about it.

And it was a need, it was the player, fell right into their lap. Perfect for McVeigh. People think McVeigh is pass-happy. McVeigh, actually sometimes. He wants to run the football. Oh, he wants to run the football. And by the way, Blake can really catch the football, Colin. And Williams can, too, to your point.

I mean, that's a lethal one-two punch. Yeah. Jordan with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Josh Jacobs-Coling moved from the Raiders to the Packers and for Reagency this offseason. He played through a lot of dysfunction during his time with the Raiders and spoke recently about how the losing culture in Vegas ultimately led to his departure.

I remember coming to the league and losing my first game and I was mad not talking to nobody in a vet come up to me and like this NFL, you don't lose. I'm like, you know what I'm saying? Like it was it was so different. And then the most frustrating thing about it all, I feel like, especially when you got like me, you know, Tay and Max, you got guys that come in every day and work hard and you don't get the results. You'd be close, but every year you close, but it's not, you know, it's not winning. That was a big thing for me too, man. I'm like, man, I want me to come back on a discount and lose. I don't know how I feel about that. Yeah, going from Alabama to the Raiders.

Specifically, saving to McDaniels. That's the problem. I mean, if you ask anybody, and I asked quite a few guys last year in the locker room, what the difference was from Josh McDaniels to Antonio Pierce night and day. And the fact that he just mentioned, Crosby and Ted. Crosby and him, those were the two guys that vouch the most for Pierce. And that says everything I need to know about why they ultimately kept Antonio Pierce made him from interim to head coach. Now, he has to win, and we talked about the deficiencies of quarterback potentially with Minshu or AOC.

But Colin, the Raiders finally feel, at least from a coaching standpoint, like a professional organization, and that's going to matter. All I know is if I see Antonio Pierce wearing a black hoodie in the Vegas Sun, you have to respect that. I just saw a picture on him. I'm like, bro, it's been 119. I believe in AP. What do you think? I don't know. I like him.

I know him. I think these are videos OTA, so it wasn't 119 yet. But it is Vegas. It's hot. I don't know. I think, listen, the interim coach things tough. You know, Dan Campbell was one of those guys. When you, emotional coaches tend to do very well in an interim.

Emotional coaches on a four-year contract who lean on emotion sometimes more than details can get into trouble. And so I think, you know, as I've said this about Dan Campbell, he goes heavy into emotion. I don't always love the details situationally. Antonio will get his guys to play hard. That is without question. He's got a Tomlin feel, a Dan Campbell feel. That team will play hard. I mean, last year, really a deficient team at quarterback.

They were taking everybody to the fourth quarter. I don't worry about guys playing hard, playing with passion. The question being, though, can he balance the emotion with the details? That's always been my Dan Campbell thing. His situational football, eh. Well, it was like against the Niners in the NFC Championship, you know, the final five, ten minutes of that game. Don't love it.

So it's a balance. And a lot of ex-players, Dan Campbell, Antonio Pierce, you know, they are heavy on the emotion. Details win in this league on Sunday, especially the later the season goes and you have an injury-riddled roster, details become, that's what's winning and losing games. It's not personnel or it's not emotion. Guys can only hear the R-Raw's speech so much. You get late December and January, the details, the best coaches are winning. Yeah. I'll tell you really quickly, one conversation I had with Justin Tuck, who played with Pierce,

with the Giants. And he told me that he knew Pierce would be a successful head coach at the NFL level because of how he relates to players. He was always a natural leader. To your point, you've got to have some X's and O's, but I think that at least matters. You can get a lot of those X's and O's from staff. Sure. You should not hire yourself.

You should hire people who do things. Differently. That's exactly right. And don't always be the smartest person in the room. By the way, Dan Campbell's offensive coordinator understated. Don't hear from him. Dan jumps through the television set. So Dan Campbell hired his opposite, which is a really smart move. You just mentioned Mike Tomlin.

A lot of eyes are on the Steelers calling, as we know, as always. And what the offense is going to look like after the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Now, Najee Harris was recently asked about how the team will fare next season, and he's confident about their outlook. Harris said he's excited about the two quarterbacks after they picked up, and that Pittsburgh is going to have a lot of good things happening in 2024. for. What's your take on the Steelers, especially in the AFC North?

Well, I mean, they'll be, first of all, I feel like I've seen this movie before. They're going to be a very good defensive team. They're going to have a very good pass rush with T.J. Watt. They're going to be a very emotional, physical football team. I feel

like I've been waiting for years for them to get the run game and the offensive game right. I think they have a top five roster in the NFL. And I think Russell Wilson will elevate them significantly from Kenny Pickett. So, they'll be a good football team. But if you start looking around the AFC,

a good football team does not guarantee the playoffs. It does in the NFC. If you're good, you'll make the playoffs in the NFC. You could be good and finish behind the Ravens and Bengals if Joe Burles. Browns are going to be pretty good too. So I think Pittsburgh's roster is great. They're good at the right spots. They're good at edge rusher.

I think Russell's more than capable. You know, you can say what you want about Russell, but if you go look at Denver last year, it was the defense that was the problem. Russell was fine. He was a beat quarterback. It wasn't a Russell issue. It was a defensive issue.

So now he finally gets an elite defense. He has the best defense since Seattle Prime. So my guess is they're pretty good. Harris, for what it's worth, last three games to last year, 312 yards. He's the only running back in the NFL calling over the last three years to have 1,000-plus rushing every year. Plus, Jaylon Warren's a good back.

Just for a point of reference, 1,900 yards last year combined, 4.5 yards per carry, 12, That's Harris and Warren. Their talent's not the issue offensively. It's been the coordinator coaching. Like Pittsburgh's talent's not the issue. They've got dudes everywhere. Yeah.

Actually, staying in the AFC North, the Bengals had their top two receivers heading into the 2024 season. T. Higgins was given the franchise tag will play on that one-year deal. Jamar Chase is still waiting for his contract extension. Could be the next receiver to lock in a massive deal. So, Colin, here's what I'll tell you. T. Higgins, I'll tell you definitively, he's going to play on the There's not going to be an extension.

A big reason why is because of Jamar Chase. Now, he's extension eligible for the first time. He's arguably the best receiver in the NFL, one of the most explosive players in the entire league. They just paid Joe Burrow, highest paid quarterback in NFL history. You think about Jamar Chase. Colin, Justin Jefferson, his former teammate at LSU, just got $35 million.

Jamar Chase might get $35 million and $1, but he's not going to take anything less. He will be, in my opinion, the highest paid wide receiver in league history deserves every penny, And I'm really, really excited. I told you earlier to see Jamar and Burrow healthy this season, not to mention T. Higgins.

Jordan with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd L.N. News. Back in a second, live in L.A., it's The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Pauly Fusco here with Tony Fusco. Yo, as everybody knows, we're the host of the award-winning Pauley and Tony Fusco show.

Yeah. But instead of us telling you how great we are, Here's how Dan Patrick described us when he came on our show. Quick, knowledgeable, and funny, opinionated. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What promo? Yeah. He wasn't talking about you.

You took those clips totally out of context. Oh, yeah, well, after this promo, I'm going to take you out and beat you. Let me put this into context. Shut up. Yeah, anyway, just listen to the Folly and Tony Fusco show on IHard Radio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but in Kuzko. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, fam? This Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. point game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julia. it's random. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on

offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.

We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world. world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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 that. 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 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. NFL camps. Ravens open rookie camp tomorrow next week. Most begin in earnest. Mark Schlerath is joining us live. Three-time Super Bowl champ, multiple-time pro-ball. Let's start with the team you know well. You do mornings in Denver, the Denver Broncos. I felt like last year when Sean Peyton got there, he had two assignments, clean up the culture and revamp the offensive line. I think he did a pretty good job at both. I even think Russell Wilson was fine. I kind of feel like we pay attention to Bo Nick. but you've got to solve the defense in that division as well.

What are realistic expectations for Knicks and the team, in your opinion, Mark? Yeah, I think for Knicks, I mean, I think it's starting from day one and becoming an efficient quarterback. And there's going to be growing pains. There's no question about that. But when you talk to Sean about Bo Nix, he raves about his intelligence. He raves about how many games he started in college. He raves about his accuracy, his quick decision-making. And his ability to throw from a dirty pocket.

He raves about his not taking sacks in college. He raves about his red zone. So this is a guy that certainly Sean Payton feels very comfortable with, feels like he has got all the tools to be a competent starter. And I think he expects that this year. I don't think this roster is nearly as bad as people. think it is. And part of what Sean did was purged this roster and get rid of not, you know, some of them, obviously very talented players, but some of them not fitting into that culture that

you talked about of the way we're going to work, the way we're going to pay attention to detail and all those type of things. So I think the biggest, the biggest component to this, Colin, is I'll make an argument that Beau fell into the best fit of any of the six quarterbacks that win the first round, he has got the best fit. Remember, the first four that went all for defensive coaches, and never necessarily bodes well, because defensive coaches are always going to have a default mechanism that leans back into, how do I protect my defense? Right. And then the last two were offensive coaches, obviously, in Kevin O'Connell and Minnesota, and then Sean Peyton here in Denver. You know Russell Wilson well, I think the one thing about Pittsburgh move I like is this is

the best defense he's had since the peak peak carol days in Seattle. And I think Russell needs a great defense to be highly successful at this point. I don't think asking him to save the Broncos defense last year. I don't think that's what he is, and that's fine. I actually think he's going to have some modicum of success in Pittsburgh. The games will be low scoring. He's not going to be in shootouts. It's a really good division.

I mean, the time in Denver was brief, he got most of the heat. Is there still something left in the tank for Russell to you? I think that if Russell actually is honest with himself from the standpoint of what he is, but more importantly, what he isn't, and I think that's been the biggest issue, is that he was having tons of success in Seattle. Obviously, he throws a great deep ball and he does a lot of things well, but he was having a ton of success in Seattle because of Pete Carroll and the way that Pete Carroll structured that football team, not in spite. And I think he thought he was having success in spite of Pete Carroll.

That's why the whole campaign of Let Russ Cook started up. So if you embrace what you are, because you're not Drew Brees, you're not a great pocket guy. You just aren't. You're not good at getting through progressions quickly. That's not what you do well. So if you lean into that defense like you talked about, lean into that running game, let you know, understand that that's what you are, set up your play action stuff, set up your quick game outside the numbers, I think you can thrive and you can have success. My question is, are you willing to do that? Or are you going to get to the line of scrimmage and start checking plays into things that you want to run that don't fit with what the team has game planned? Because if you get into that,

then you know, you're going to fail. So it just depends on if Russell Wilson's willing to accept kind of where he is in his career, what he is, and most importantly, and this is for all of us. It's incredibly important to know what your strengths are, but probably more important to know what your weaknesses are, and then play accordingly. And that's what Russell Wilson I think has to do.

Generally, when a great quarterback leaves a team, Brady in New England, Elway, Marino, there is a significant drop-off, not only of their skills, but of their leadership. And this is

not to deny Aaron Rogers' talent. He leaves. I thought by Thanksgiving, they were a better football team. And then you were critical. I don't even think you were critical. You were honest about him. My take on Aaron is a little like Arod. He's an all-time talent.

I don't think he's a galvanizer necessarily, a great come from behind quarterback, a foxhole guy. Is it a little alarming that he leaves? And they appear to be already better than they were with them. What does that say? Elway, it took him 30 years. They had to go buy Peyton Manning to replace Elway. Right.

Yeah, I think there is that aspect of he is an all-time great. The guy is incredibly smart, and he does connect with his teammates. I'll give him a ton of credit. He is a connector that way. But, you know, when it comes down to playoff time, I think part of it is cultural within the organization. You tend to, and I think this is a big issue that Josh, Allen faces. When the game is on the line, you get away from calling your offense and you say,

go save us. Right. Go do something spectacular. And I think Buffalo does it all the time, where they're controlling a line of scrimmage, they're controlling a playoff game against Kansas City Chiefs. All of a sudden, Kansas City starts making some plays, and they say, hey, Josh Allen, go win this game for us. And you almost lose your mind from, this is what we've done all the way up to here to get us to this point. And now in critical moments, we're just going to say, hey, take over for us, Aaron. And I think that's, I mean,

I think it's easy to fall victim to that when you have one of the all-time greats, when you have a great player at the quarterback position. But remember, John Elway led teams to the Super Bowl very much like that and ended up getting trounced in all three of those Super Bowls that he led his team to.

It wasn't until later his career when he wasn't that guy, when it wasn't all of a sudden, go, hey, John, go win every game for us. It was, hey, John, we're going to support you with a great running game. Hey, John, we're going to support you with a good, you know, receiving core. Hey, John, we're going to support you with a great defense. And John, now all of a sudden you've got components.

Hey, on third downs and some critical situations, we're going to ask you to make some big throws, but we're not going to ask you to hoist a team on your back like you've done for 15 years and carry them across the finish line. And I think really talented players, like an Aaron Rogers, oftentimes get put in situations, especially critical situations, where they're asked to do everything. And, you know, I mean, the odds are when the rest of the team is just waiting for you to do something great,

bad things are going to happen. And I think that's the problem with having kind of an all-time great talent playing quarterback is we tend to just rely on that guy to go fix things for us. Bo Nix, Russell, Aaron, smart stuff. Usually I feel guilty bringing Schlerathon because he wants to be out in his yard, but since it's going to be 100 degrees here, I know he needs a break from the yard. So stay inside, would you?

No, I'm going to the yard right now, Colin. I've got stuff to do. He spends more years. I'm only expert. Expert, arguably an expert in football, but long care, I am an expert. There's no question about that. Great seeing you, my man.

As though, is Mark Schlereth. He's got his podcast, which is crushing. Yeah, I'm with him. I think Minnesota and Denver are better than they're over under. Last year, Vegas way undersold the Rams. You can't tell me, Denver can't go 7 and 10. Sean Payton can't go 7 and 10. I like their offense.

I like their O line. I like their running back. Bo Nix has 61 college starts. It was the defense last year. I don't know. The over-under on Minnesota and Denver is strangely low. I think you can make an argument. if Darnold is upright and healthy by Thanksgiving,

Minnesota's battling for a playoff spot. I think Minnesota is going to be fine. They're going to score a lot of points. I think Denver's got some limitations defensively. They're not going to stop Kansas City much. But Denver and the Vikings, I think, are undersold like the Rams last year. Chargers, too. Well, I have to watch them play.

They have some deficiencies on the perimeter. If their young number second round draft pick from George, The receiver, if he's not productive early, they have to win a certain way. The book on him was he would be, though. Hopefully. So. Yeah. Great having you. Pleasure, my man.

Loved it. Jay Mack is probably. He might be in Egypt. He's flying the Concord back. If we had a Concord, he'd be flying it back. So Jay Mack will be joining us next week. Jordan Schultz, of course, is always welcome. He's always great on this show.

We had Danny Parkins on today, who pushed back on my Aaron Rogers narrative. And I loved every second of it. We'll see you Monday. Have a great weekend. It's the hurt. 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, S&L'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 ice. Hi Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 funny. You just understood.

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