The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Super Bowl grades

Episode Date: February 14, 2024

Thoughts on Niners HC Kyle Shanahan still getting criticism Colin gives his grades for the Super Bowl   Guest: Mark SchlerethSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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. 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 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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. This is a place for raw, unfilled 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 IHeard Radio app,

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by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Or listening to Fox Sports Radio. I always think it's interesting when talking about great quarterbacks. Mark Schlereth played with John Elway. And John Elway was talked about in college, even though Stanford didn't win a bunch of games. Like, I'm a West Coast kid, so I can remember the Elway family and the talk of John Elway and the Yankees wanted him.

Like Elway was like Andrew Luck on like HGH in terms of marketing. Back when we didn't have the Internet, It was newspapers. There was no sports talk radio. Elway was like a rock star in college. I mean, that's how good he was, even though he didn't win a ton of games. Mark Slareth now joining us live.

And, you know, Elway came onto the scene, and he had some struggles in the playoffs, mostly because they didn't have a run game. But Mahomes was different. He didn't have a winning record in college. You see him twice a year, right, with the Broncos. Did you know, I mean, let's forget the first. year because we didn't see him. How quickly in year two, Mark, having played with a great quarterback,

did you identify, man, this looks different? We may be, did it take a while that you were like, that's like beyond just like good? Right. No, it was right off the bat as soon as he started to play, you saw exceptional talent. You know, and I think the thing that mesmerizes us as football fans is we see the off-scheduled stuff that he does, his scramble around, his ability to be accurate, back across the football field, switch it to his left hand and throw it to completion, and all those things.

And that's what we tend to focus on, the no-look passes, right? And that's what we tend to focus on as football fans. But really, to me, what set him apart as a young player is his ability to throw it and eviscerate you from the pocket and manipulate safeties, manipulate coverage, by eyeball and one guy throwing her in a different direction. That's what Blue Meal is.

away about his, you know, it was his second year, but really the first year that he played was his ability to be efficient and just absolutely cut you up from the pocket. And I thought that's what set him apart. And then all the other stuff was just gravy. I had this thing I called the 70-30 rule. 70% of the time I want to be on schedule. As an offense, I want to be on schedule. 30% of the time, when things break down, which they do because you're going to miss a protection, you're going to bust a protection, you know, you're not going to pick up a blitz or whatever the case may be. I want my guy to be able to make a easy. big play outside the pocket on the run scrambling around off schedule and he's got those both

things i mean those things are like he is great from the pocket great when he's moving around and his ability to create off platform he's just he's just special he's just fun to watch so you were in a lot of big games with john you won some you lost some as well i thought you know you can usually pinpoint why a team loses and i don't like the word luck because i think you your choices in life will determine your success. But I do think in individual moments, games, days, you know, you can get teaboned in your car. Wrong place, wrong time, bad luck, right? And I did think San Francisco, some of this loss was bad, Dre, Greenlaw, gets injured running on the field.

Kansas City fumbles five times, recovers four of them. I did think this game was like fairly blameless. I thought Brock Pretty was good enough to win. I felt like the Niners got luck against the Lions on that face mask interception, and they got no luck against Kansas City. And I hate the word, but you've been in these big games. Some of it's just randomness, is it not? Yeah, I think you're right.

I think some of it is that. You know, my dad used to tell me all the time luck has the smell of perspiration. and, you know, I've always adhered to that. I think from a confidence standpoint and your belief as a football team that in critical moments we're going to make critical plays. We're going to make the big plays in critical moments. And that comes from confidence. And that comes from confidence on both sides of the ball,

especially when you know you have 15 back there. If we just get our offense the ball back, 15 will walk you off. Patrick Mahomes is going to take care of it. So there's some of that aspect. You know, that whole thing of, you know, the harder I work, the luckier I get luck has a smell of perspiration. You know, I look at the third quarter and you get the ball twice. First off, you kick off to them. They fumble on the pitch out to Isaiah Pacheco, they recover that.

Then on third down, they throw an interception. And you go three and out. In the next series, you go three and out again. And I heard them ask Kyle Shanahan in the post-game press conference like, hey, you didn't establish the run in third quarter. He said, it's really hard to establish the run when you go three and out, out. I'll tell you when it's even hard to establish the run is when you don't run the ball. You threw it six straight times. Like that's not establishing the run. So some of that luck right there, you can create your own luck with the way you manage a game and the way you think about

what's best. I think one of the things that always frustrated me as a player was we would be rolling with a certain scheme or a certain play. And eventually, coaches feel like, oh, they're going to adjust to this. They're going to get us on this. And I've always believed in identity. I've always believed in I'm better than you and I know I'm better than you. And so I don't care if you know what we're doing. We're still going to shove it down your throat. And you get away from that sometimes as a coach because you feel like it's just a matter of time before Steve Spagnola adjust to what we're doing. And I'm not a believer in that. I'm a believer in just continuing to push the pace, continuing to do what you do well, continuing to believe in my guys can over.

overcome and execute the plays that we know how to run best. And I thought you got away from that a little bit in the third quarter. And I thought that's one of the things that cost you this game. So you're very meticulous for people that don't know. Mark has a personal relationship with every blade of grass in his front yard. Okay. Yes. So you are.

That's true. That's true. I am not. So my take on the overtime rules is that Andy and Kyle had talked to their analytic people and they knew what they were going to do. That players don't know as much as you think. And I always say this, if I got a flood in my basement, I'd turn to my wife and go, are we covered?

That the guy running the orchestra, I can't play the clarinet. I don't know everything in my 401K. I have somebody I pay to figure it out, and that I don't need the players to know everything. Defensive guys tackle, offensive guys, block, catch, don't fumble. I'm okay with a little bit of on-the-fly teaching overtime saying, guys, okay, if we do score, they can score. You tell guys on the sideline. But a lot of people push back on me and think this is, that's not due diligence.

Kyle Shanahan wasn't prepared. As somebody that is meticulous, your blocking angles, the way, I know your personality a little, did it bother you that San Francisco, some players are like, yeah, we don't really know what was going on? Yeah, I think that always bothers you because I think, you know, mentally, you're always trying to prepare for everything that you can prepare for. And, you know, that's part of the process. The fact that Kansas City, you know, and their players said we knew exactly what our plan was. You didn't actually necessarily have a plan with your players. You did as a coaching staff, but not with your players.

But, you know, here's the biggest thing that I get into and I get into arguments with this all the time, whether it's radio or social media about analytics. Like analytics, I hate math. I hate the math nerves that infiltrate the game. And, you know, the reason I hate it is because math has never made one tackle. Math has never thrown a block. And math has not ever had to defend Patrick Mahomes. And so, you know, accepting the ball after you win the kickoff and not deferring might be great if you're playing, I don't know, you know, whoever. Name a quarterback.

But if you give Patrick Mahomes an opportunity to watch, you. walk you off. I'm sorry. That's a bad idea. The other thing that I thought, right, the other thing that I thought during the course of that is it doesn't matter if you accept the ball, if they kick it off and you muff it and you have to pick up the ball on the two-yard line you get tackled. You're in four-down territory from your own two in overtime when the second possession happens. Yeah. So you're giving Patrick Mahomes four downs every single time. And I just think that from an analytics standpoint, I get the use of analytics, but sometimes, you know what, we can't block your three technique. Sometimes Chris Jones dominates a game. And then analytics goes out

the window. I've got to call the game based upon the game that I'm playing right now. I always say this from a broadcasting standpoint when I'm in the booth for Fox. You can't call the game that you thought was going to happen. You have to call the game that's sitting in front of you. Yeah. And, you know, and that's a hard thing to do when you've prepared, you've studied so much like I do every single week. That's hard to do when all of a sudden everything you thought was going to happen doesn't happen. And now I've got to call the game based upon the game that's sitting in front of me. And I thought that's where Kyle Shanahan made a mistake. But listen, the narrative of Kyle Shanahan can't win the big one.

Give me a break. This guy is one of the greatest coaches in the National Football League. And, you know, when he was an offensive coordinator in Atlanta, he went up in Los Angeles. to Tom Brady. Now he's lost two Super Bowls as the head coach of San Francisco, both of them to freaking Patrick Mahomes. I'm sorry.

You know what? Most people are going to lose to that guy. 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 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 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan,

so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun Thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Bo Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Finally, there's a new documentary, Apple TV, The Dynasty on New England. and like the MJ documentary, even though we know a lot of the stories, it is kind of fascinating

when you deep dive, and that's why I think you and I probably both love a good documentary. They're fun, even if they did one on Elway, you'd probably find out stuff you didn't know, and it's fun to watch the storytelling of it. But it's interesting because Elway didn't get along with everybody. He had a point of view, and he and Dan Reeves could scuffle. Reportedly, Brady and Belichick was brutal at the end. They called it a hostile work environment. Having lived through the Elway stuff,

are you surprised by it or are their relationships, even with winning teams, Mark? There's a lot more dirty laundry than the average guy like me things. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, there's, there's time. We went through at end of the season with my offensive line coach, Alex Gibbs, where we did not speak.

The whole offensive line did not speak to him for three weeks. we actually taped off the locker room so when the coaches had to walk through the locker room he was not allowed it was in no Alex Gibbs zone and he couldn't walk through that section of locker room he had to go around or outside we wouldn't let him through like yeah there are some moments

where you really get pissed at one another and that's you know that's part of that's part of it that it happens I love Alex Gibbs with my whole heart he is the best you know the best individual coach I ever coach ever played for and I played for three Hall of Famers in Jim Hannafin,

Joe Buegel and Alice Gibbs and I was blessed to be able to do it, but there were times where he really pissed me off. And you know what? I always tell this story, Colin, that Alice Gibbs is yelling at me for something. I come to the sideline.

He is just dog cussing me up one side and down the other and he's completely wrong about what he thought he saw. And I'm like, I'm out there, you're not out there. You don't know what you're talking about. get out of my face and on and on it. We went back and forth for a solid, you know, two minutes. And finally I had my helmet in my hand, right?

One of those helmets that's sitting up there in the top. I don't know if you can see it, but I have my helmet, my hand. And he just wouldn't shut up. And finally, I just took that helmet and I tried to break his sternum with it. I hit him right in the chest, knocked all the air out of him. And I just go, if you think you can block him, be my guest, if you can't get the blank out of my face. And then, you know, he watered off.

And, you know, the rest is history. I was right. He was wrong. He didn't apologize because that's not what he did. So, I mean, that's just the way it goes sometimes. And finally, love that story. 12th pick first round, Denver. Lot of people are talking about a quarterback. It is what I would do if I was Denver and I was going to move off Russell.

If you're not, then don't. What's the vibe in Denver on that number 12 pick? That's a good enough pick to get probably the third. third or fourth best quarterback. You could also move up four or five spots and not have to, you know, give up your future. What do you think Denver does with that pick?

Yeah, really interesting. I think I know Sean well enough. You know Sean well enough to know he's not going to reach for a quarterback. It's like, hey, there's six of them. Just take one. That's garbage. That's not how it works. You've got to be in love with a guy and not

talk yourself into being love with a guy. But actually, studying it and preparing and talking about it, really, it's, you know, really diving deep into it, really fall in love with the guy's skill set and what that guy provides. And so one thing about Sean, you can talk to a lot of different people about Sean Payton, but he has been right a lot more than he's been wrong

when it comes to the draft and what he thinks the guy is. And you can go through his draft picks from, go back to that 2017 draft with Latimore and with, you know, and with, uh, Rancheck and with, uh, Alvin Camara, you know, I mean, like he's, he's done a great job with that stuff. So he will have to be absolutely in love with a guy to take him a 12. But I could also see him moving back if he can find a dance partner and saying, hey, man, I'm going to accumulate another, maybe a second rounder and still get my

quarterback where I want to get him. But it'll be somebody that he's absolutely in love with and can't live without. That'll be the direction he goes. Mark Slareth. As always, Fox Sports. Great seeing you, man. Love the stories. Absolutely, buddy. Take care. All right. JMAQ with the news.

Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. The Chiefs are celebrating their third Super Bowl win in five seasons today. With the parade, it's going on right now. No need to watch a parade, right? Because FS1 viewers should know, first things first is doing their show in Kansas City from the parade. They're the first team to go back to back since the Patriots in 2004.

No NFL team has ever pulled off a three-peat. We know that's not happening, obviously, right? Go ahead and clip this off, Chiefs fans. They ain't three-peating. Go for it. I know the Kansas City Chiefs people love to keep receipts. Oh, I got receipts! I'll take them to win again.

You think they're going to win another Super Bowl? Yeah, because if you can do it with an NFL defense that was the youngest. Wait a minute. and a receiving corps that led the league in drops, I'm going to go with their defense will be older, more experienced, and they will not lead the NFL in drops because they will address that. Little Mike Evans showing up in town. Little Michael Pittman showing up in town.

Oh, stop it. The defense is so young. You think those guys are maybe ring chasing so they'll take less? I doubt that. They're not paying anybody on defense outside of Chris Jones and they may move off him, so they got money to spend. They got to make a decision on Sneed and Jones. Those are too big.

Who would you keep? I think I would keep Jones because I think, and I love Sneed. I mean, it's always the price. That's the deciding fact. But they already have a great corner. I don't know. I trust their drafting. I don't think you can, I would, you can't, you can't, I'm here to tell you,

when you get somebody as good as Chris Jones, who's, you know, he's in that sort of Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox in his prime, I can't let him go. I don't. They're Bosa. Good luck. Good luck. Find them in the draft. I will say.

To a draft. I'll say no. They're not repeating. But I reserve the right after free agency. Who do you got? Let me guess. It's a pretty predictable choice. You know the guys, we do headlines on Friday.

They're like, you need your Super Bowl pick for next year. So you have Brock Purdy against whoever Justin Field signs with. That's your quarterback room. Wow. Wow. The team I'm interested in, and I think they were giving Kansas City a little cause for concern as Cincinnati. Because I do think Burrow, when healthy, is absolutely brilliant. What's the latest with Glass Joe?

Like, is he okay? Or I don't know. Glass Joe. Come on. By the way. They got some issues to sort out of their own receiver. They have some caps. Like, if they lose T. Higgins, I think that's a big, big loss of it.

They're going to franchise him. Okay. Okay. I get Jamar Chase. So Tyler Boyd's gone, the slot receiver just replaced it. Well, probably. But you can find. If you have Jamar, Chas, and T. Higgins, I'll find a third.

They also have a very good running back, a star quarterback, an offense. They lost. Didn't their offensive coordinator leave? We've seen what that can do to other teams. I mean, I know Burroughs really, really good. That hurts a defensive head coach. Zach Taylor, McVeigh, Shanahan, they can run through OCs. Most overrated coach in the league, Zach Taylor? Facts?

Yeah, you don't like him. He's not very good head coach. I know he went to a Super Bowl, blah, blah, blah. Let's move on. Went to a Super Bowl. You're coming after me. throws it out there like, I know he went shopping for, he is the last coach. Yes.

In the AFC championship to beat Sir Andy Reid, American royalty, beat Andy Reid in Kansas City. Power hour. With Mahomes. Cowherts coming strong. All right. Next up is, oh, this is fun. Justin Jefferson, right? So he's entering the final year of his rookie deal.

Vikings QB. Kirk Cousins is a free agent. Well, Justin Jefferson, yes, he wants a long-term extension, but according to Enverston, NFL media. Wait for it. Jefferson wants to know the team's plan at quarterback before agreeing to a new deal. So Justin Jefferson not only is saying I want all the money, but what are you doing a quarterback?

Are you guys bringing back cousins? Because this backup, you know, grouping of quarterbacks that we had last year, that doesn't cut it. That doesn't work for me. I kind of like Jefferson calling his shot here, but I'm good. I'll go back to this. I would say there's like a third. 33% chance Justin Jefferson's not on the Vikings next year.

Yeah, I've said before I would strongly consider trading him for a first-round pick. I think Jordan Addison's really good. I think they have a really good tight end. They have an offensive coach. If you're going to re-sign Kirk, that may not be what Justin Jefferson wants. No, no, I think he wants Jefferson, right? Didn't they buy? I think so.

They also have a number three receiver, isn't it? Osborne. Osborne was pretty good. So I think, and I'm not here to just say, but I think you could fetch a lot for him. I think it's another loaded wide receiver draft, and I think they have other needs. So if you're going to pay Kirk and Justin Jefferson, then that defense, I mean, that division now, you've got to look around that division. Detroit's going nowhere, and they have a stacked roster. Green Bay, Jordan loves really good.

So I don't think you can just bring back the fellas with Kirk Cousins and compete in that division for a title. I don't. I think you're, and I love their coach. Bears with Caleb. Hey, listen, they played hard this year. I think they ended up with seven wins. Bears with Caleb will be better than the current bears. Yes, they will.

I mean, they got two top ten picks, I believe, right? Listen, bears, arrows pointing up for sure. I'd keep an eye on the Vikings. They're interesting. Final story, oh, let's get to the NBA. Your favorite player in the league, Jason Tatum. Yeah, I had to get that in there. 41 points, 14 boards.

I like him. Celtics fifth winner in a row. Lead the east by a whopping six games. He's the best domestic player right now in the league. Yeah, I have him in top five. Well, I should say, you know, Steph Curry is, but I'm talking the best young domestic player. Yeah, best under 30. Like Curry and LeBronner.

He's a very good player. I like him a lot. D. Book or Tatum? Tatum. Yeah, you're coming around. But you're making me sound. I like Devin Booker, but he's not as athletic. No, no.

Booker's there, but it's Tatum. Here's Tatum after the dub. You know, this is all about playing in the flow. We got really good team where, you know, at any different things. possession we could have two, three advantages, you know, and it's not always just going to be, you know, me. So just understanding that and knowing that, you know, I need my teammates. I need everybody.

We all need each other. So, you know, everybody, we got shared a love. You know the last guy to stop Jason Tatum, right? It was Coach Sheshefsky at Duke when they couldn't get out of the opening round weekend with Jason Tatum and a stack team. He was 18. Come on. Listen, man, I'm just telling you right now.

I'm seeing some MVP straw polls. I don't know. Have you seen these online? No. Where they pull the voters? What voter? Oh, the voters. The voters for the MVP.

And Tatum's not even top five in MVP. They're leading to East by six. So is it? Who is it? Yokic and SGA. SGA's been phenomenal. He's not having a better season than Tatum. They're leading the East by six games.

What happened to put some respect on his name? I'm just so disappointed with these MVP voters. But again, NBA's weird. You know, it's like, well, we gave Yokch a couple of people. They like, the NBA voters tend to like the story. And so SGA is a Canadian great story. OKC's fun. It's one of the younger teams.

OKC's a fun story. Celtics been there, done that five years. Get to the finals. And that's the problem. That's stupid logic. You got to look at the best players and who are the best players on the best teams. Who would be your top three MVP? I think Yokic has to be one, obviously.

I think Kauai Leonard has, has had a great year. I'll throw a name out that you wouldn't consider. Jalen Brunson's in my top like seven. Jalen Brunson's really been great. He got hosed the other night. You see that terrible call? God, that was awful.

I thought you would do an hour on that. That was an awful call. The Knicks are protesting and if they win the protest, they have to redo the overtime or whatever it is. But listen, Brunson's been phenomenal, but Jason Tatum is, I think the Celtics, probably going to the finals in the East and Bede's done, right?

Bucks and Yanna sputtering. Doc Rivers, it's your guy, Doc Rivers. I was so wrong on the Clippers, I don't deserve a second opinion. You're right. But I'll have one.

It is called the Herds. The Herd, that's right. I don't know. Jay Mack with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Superbly versatile, all-electric EQB from Mercedes.

Ladies bends, it's impressively techy, surprisingly roomy, available seating up to seven in the EQB vehicle, the EQB all electric, the choice all yours. Learn more at MBUSA.com slash EQB. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great fight. All happening in only one place. This league uncut. The new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines and me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to

expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to this league uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein 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 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. Clever 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun. Thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away,

such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, it's time we do this. Our gridiron grades, a little alliteration there. J. Mack, you present the player or the unit. and I will give them a grade. I am generally a very lenient teacher.

I'm very favorable, but not all my grades are soft. Yeah, I needed you in chemistry back in high school. Didn't we all? Yeah. What grade would you give Patrick Mahomes, the MVP of the Super Bowl? He made mistakes, so it's not an A-plus, but I'd give him an A. 74% completions. Great when it mattered in overtime.

333 yards passing, and a passer rome. rating of 99 and a half against a very, very inspired defensive front. That's an A. Okay, let's go to the quarterback who had zero turnovers in the Super Bowl. Brock Bertie. Who plays with five offensive pro bowlers, B-minus. He completed 60% of his throws, and Joanne Jennings had as many touchdown passes. In the third, he did not play well when they leaned in on him, and he was outplayed by Mahomes

late. Harsh. B-min. What great would you give Christian McCaffrey in the Super Bowl? My only A-plus. I thought he was fantastic. Ah, you're all caught up in the fumble. Folks, he had 160 scrimmage charge.

No other 9-er player had even 50. Debo, Kittle, Ayuk. He was the offense. He led them in rushing. He led them in receiving. I thought he was sp-and-that move late down the sideline. I was sick. I mean, he, I think he, I'm telling you,

Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Christian McCaffrey, are the three best running backs I've ever seen. Oh. I've been saying that for a year. You have. You've been on that. How many? How many?

I don't remember many. Did you? Do you remember why? Tackles broken? Did he like make any explosive plays other than that one down the sideline? Yeah. By the way, the Chiefs, and I don't have stats to back this up, don't miss tackles.

Fair. Do that secondary wraps up? Very good. They do. McCrave would you have Travis Kelsey in the Super Bowl? I liked it, A, because he dominated the second half, and that's the half that matters. Team High 9 catches on 10 targets, 93 yards. By the way, Malholms targeting Kelsey in the playoffs

completes 86 and half percent of his throws. And let's be honest, you and I both went into the playoffs thinking, it's over. Wow. He was sensational. We weren't quite there. We were trending that way. He was sensational the postseason. And so was he, by the way.

Yeah. All right. What great would you give the 49ers special teams? Well, Moody hit some long kicks, so it's not a D, but a C-minus. They had two big mistakes second half with insubes. six minutes. You can't kick a PAT into the line. That could have been the game, so a C-minus. Chief's defense. How do you grade them? I'm going to give them an A-plus-2. I thought they were spectacular. Now, in the first half when they were getting pushed around a little, only gave up

one trick-play touchdown. Three of 12 is what all those brilliant 49ers with Kyle Shanahan did on third demo. Kittle, Debo, McCaffrey, Shanahan. for 12 on third down. And by the way, Andy Reid, who's next? He would admit he has more great players on defense than offense. So this defense for Kansas City, what do they give up in the postseason? Not much. Not much. Didn't budge much. How do you grade Andy Reed at the Super Bowl? Well, I give him an A because he outscored the Niners 22 to 12 in the second half and overtime. He is the great adjuster. He got bumped into and barked at by Kelsey,

didn't let it affect him. You and I talk about this all the time. You can come in with a game plan. But the great coaches make pivots at half. Clearly, it felt like Andy Reid made better pivots. The worst quarter for the Niners was the third. The best half for the Chiefs, Andy Reid, was the second. And over time, I thought it was a rare,

and I didn't think Shanahan was bad. I thought Andy out coached, Kyle. Esot Belichick do it to Sean McVeigh. So older guys can do it to younger guys, but I thought Andy had a heck. When you get wide open, it's a five-yard line. When you design a play, back-to-back Super Bowls, three of them, where average receivers are wide open. That is elite coach.

If he's an A, what spags? Weird, interesting. What grade do you give Kyle Sjana had in the Super Bowl? B to a B-minus. I think it's a B-minus. First of all, you get outscored in the second half. You get a 10-point lead at half. your team has been outscored as a coordinator and a coach.

Listen to this. 68 to 12 in the fourth quarter in overtime in Super Bowls. As a coordinator or head coach. So the script is excellent. But pivoting, kind of adapting has not been to this point. Some of it quarterback related, but has not been great with Shanahan. So I'm giving Andy an A. I'm going to give Kyle a B to a B minor.

Where are the Fs? Anybody get an F? No, because Jake Moody hit a couple of bombs. What about a D? I went back and forth on special teams. But again, the punt wasn't a drop. It was kind of like circumstantial. It was weird.

It was random. I was blocking. Okay. What's Steve Wilkes, defensive coordinator? We didn't have a moment. He was not, you know, he got an incomplete. Tarty. He showed up a little late today.

You show up late for the final exam. You know what happens? You fail. You got to redo 10th grade. That's what happens. Well, gosh, I'm still. salty at Wilkes. He did allow one touchdown drive. In regulation.

Well, okay. I mean, that's I'm sorry he didn't throw a complete game two hitter. I mean, it's Mahomes, Kelsey, Andy Reed. You know how sometimes you come in and you got either big energy low, whatever you are, maybe you had a bad night. I've got to read what you're doing and work with you. Wilkes did not read things in the fourth quarter when it mattered most. Didn't. It's okay to say that.

He was great in the first three quarters. Tremendous. I don't think I'm that tough of a read. I, honestly. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an

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