The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Middelkauff - 3 and Out - Chiefs/Rams MNF classic reaction; Mahomes vs. Goff; Da Bears back; Lamar Jackson won't last like this; Mich/OSU must win for Harbaugh

Episode Date: November 20, 2018

Subscribe here to the 3 and Out with John Middlekauff Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/3-and-out-with-john-middlekauff/id1352730623?mt=2. 3 and Out with John Middlekauff is part of the Colin Cowherd Podcast Network. 3 and Out is an unfiltered podcast covering the biggest stories in the NFL and college football. John brings his unique perspective as a former NFL scout, NFL analyst and radio host. In this episode, John discusses the Chiefs/Rams instant MNF classic, what makes Reid and McVay next level offensive coaches, and Goff and Mahomes' jaw-dropping performances. He also looks at Khalil Mack's impact with the Bears, why the Jags have to consider trading Jalen Ramsey, Condi Rice rumors, Andrew Luck ballin', and why Michigan/Ohio State is a must win for Jim Harbaugh. He also answers listener questions from the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on Twitter @JohnMiddlekauff and go to theherdnow.com to find the latest content. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to him. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs.

This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What is going on, everybody? John Middlecopf, three and out podcast. I literally just walked into my office after watching. I don't want to hyperbole. overreact, but as

entertaining. I won't call it the greatest game ever because at least me, I know some people, not every one of my listeners are millennials. I'm a millennial, but I'm an old school millennial. I do like defense. You know, I texted some buddies

mid-Bunday night game. You know, I like the Sunday night game a little bit more at games and 5451 with the crowd that give L.A. some now the crowd was lit. Litty as the kids would say but there is no whether they I think they gave away the tickets but that was awesome just an

absolutely incredible game as football fan it doesn't get any better than that it's why that's why football is the number one sport we'll dive into that here in a second and also I'm gonna touch on the Bears and the Sunday night game and some just different things I think around the league but just to just to start off That is what the NFL wants, but you're not going to usually get that. I mean, this is the, that was an outlier of an outlier. You know, I mean, that's, you're talking about Mahomes is as talented a young quarterback as we've ever seen.

Andy Reed is 60 years old in the peak of his play calling powers. Sean McVeigh is like a boy genius. You know the most unique part about that game is you have those two coaches, one guy's 60, the other guy is 32 or 33, and they are perfectly equipped to dominate with these rules. I mean, Andy has been dying for these type rules for 25 years. He wants, he's a pass-heavy guy. And Sean McVeigh is just groomed from the West Coast offense,

the Gruden brothers, Kyle Shanahan. Like, this is the way he thinks. He's like a skinny, smaller version of Andy. I mean, these guys, were like pigs in a huge bucket of shit tonight. I mean, they were just having fun. At one point, Booger went going into, and the Monday night football,

for as great as the game is, God, the broadcast is terrible. But as we're going into the fourth quarter, Bougar drops up, now Andy's really going to let Patrick Mahomes loose. I checked the box score. He'd already had 28 attempts. Let him loose. He'd been letting him loose since the jump.

Both these cats have been let loose. Mahomes, 33 of 46, almost 500 yards, six touchdowns, and three picks. Two of them are a little fluky. Gough, 31 of 49, 400 yards, and four touchdowns. They combined for 10 touchdowns. And it felt that way. But to me, the coaching is just beyond elite. Scheming guys open left and right.

I mean, you're seeing two guys with a laminate play sheet in front of them in the peak of their powers. It just doesn't get any better than that. And listen, I don't love some of these soft rules and defensive play is terrible. But holy hell, you know, I'm a huge fan of coaching. And I was lucky enough for a couple years to have an office. I mean, 10 feet away from Andy. Now, mine was way smaller, but just logistically it wasn't very far away. The guy's a genius.

He is such a good play caller. Sean McVeigh is elite too. I mean, those two guys, I was thinking this over the weekend. I stumbled upon on Friday night flipping the channels on Mike Holmgren and his football life. He left the Green Bay Packers kind of a contract dispute, wanted more money, more power, and got $4 million from Seattle in 1999. Now, he was the general manager and the head coach, but still, I mean, he got $4 million. I started thinking this weekend

and it just kind of hit me actually as I'm talking right now. Do you know what Sean McVeigh is worth to stand Cronkey? I mean right now he's on his first ever coaching contract he's probably making $4 or $5 million. I got news for you ladies and gentlemen.

That's a $15 million coach. Like Andy Reid, you know what Andy Reid is? I'll tell you, one of the most underpaid guys in the NFL. Do you know what the Chiefs would be without Andy Reid? Terrible. You know what they were before him? Terrible. Like, do you know what Andy Reed is? She should be making

everyone's like, middle coffee, makes like $8 million. And he's underpaid. He should make double that. I mean, he works for a $2 billion company, and he's the leader of the damn thing. He's driving the ship. Did you see McVeigh and Andy Reed? I mean, what are those two guys worth

combined? They probably make $12 million. They're worth double, triple. I mean, what are those two guys worth? Seriously? I'm not kidding. I mean, they are, I mean, Andy's 60, but he was meant for this NFL. And he's been damn good in every version of the NFL. But him and McVeigh, I mean, they're just toying with each other.

They can't, either team can be stopped. Now, in fairness to all the points, there were, I think, three defensive touchdowns. You know, Mahomes had the fumble that went for a touchdown, a pick that went for a touchdown. and some other play that went. I mean, there are three defense. Oh, and then the Rams had, or I mean, Alan Bailey had the Justin Houston strip for a turn. I mean, there were three defensive touchdowns.

So the game still would have been really high scoring, but it's just a little skewed. But man, I mean, holy hell. That's as good of offensive coaching as you'll see. I mean, those two guys, it can't be overstated here. how good those two dudes are in this league. Like that's, it just doesn't get any better.

I'm really kind of in awe. And I'm a guy that kind of favors defense over offense. And I was mesmerized. That was jaw-dropping television. Like, I can't imagine there's ever been a Monday night. If social media does any justice to this game, has to be the highest-rated football game in the history of, at least ESPN.

having Monday night football games. Like it just, that was awesome. Let's talk a really quick about the two quarterbacks because, I mean, they kind of stole, just they, the quarterbacks get all the limelight, just naturally anyway.

And I think we have two of the bright young stars in the league. We definitely in Mahomes have one of the most uniquely talented young players we've seen in a long, long time. Because as he scrambles, Now, he threw a couple bad picks at the end of the game, but he was kind of forcing it for the most part. And I'm not even talking necessarily just about this Monday night football game.

If you just watch him play for a guy, you know, sometimes you go into like someone's office and they're really discombobulated. I mean, they just got stuff everywhere, but they know exactly what they're doing. It's like they may be the most important guy in the building, but you're like, God damn, how does he find anything? but he just knows where everything is. Like you watch Mahomes, you're like he's running around, he's doing all this crazy stuff, and then he'll just let one rip, and it'll hit the dude on the hands.

You know, it's not like he's just throwing it up and keeping his fingers crossed and hopes that, you know, Jesus places it in some guy's hands. Every time that he throws, when he's crazy on the move to the left to the right, when he's climbing in the pocket, he just throws an incredible, just perfectly,

place ball. Like the work that Andy and those guys have done with them just clearly in like individual drills. And the one time that he threw the pick tonight on that little pass where he got flat footed, it's like the one good point Jason Witton's had so far in his broadcasting career, he did get lazy with his footwork. But for the most part, he's pretty fundamentally sound for a guy that looks like he's playing backyard football.

And I know I've made the comp before. it has a little Steph Curry vibe to it like, God, I don't know if I've ever seen this quite before. Now, I get it in this 2018 with social media. We just see everything. We hear everything. Like, you know, I don't vividly remember. I mean, I was 10 at the time, 8, like Farve's rookie year in Green Bay.

It wasn't technically his rookie year, like his second year. You just watch, like his football life and stuff. I mean, clearly he was doing stuff that was just jaw dropping. But this guy, I mean, he's a unique talent, and man, is he fun to watch. I mean, you talk about a primetime quarterback that is just like the difference between him and golf, and I'm going to get into Jared here in a second, is Mahomes' traits are just elite. You know, his arm strength is just elite. His ability to throw on the run is just elite.

His ability to throw on the move accurately is just elite. I mean, it's just he has special characteristics and quality. I would say the most special part about Jared Goff's game. And it's arguably the most important characteristic for any quarterback. I would say for most people in life that are at a high level of anything, when shit hits the fan, can you stay calm? Jared Goff is a cool, calm, collected customer. Like, he is very California cool, very easy.

even keel, plays the fourth quarter, you know, down 51 to 47, like he does the first drive up seven to nothing. He is just, to me, that's the most impressive part about him. You know, like when you see Bill Belichick after touchdowns and he doesn't even get excited, like that's kind of golf. And that, to me, sometimes you don't love that in a player. That to me is one of Goff's best attribute, just how under control he is. Now, I have friends in the league, and you just look at people on Twitter. Some people think he's a system quarterback, and he clearly has helped by McVeigh. I think they lead the league of most passes under center.

Definitely lead the league and play action passes. So like the scheme and Todd Gurley are a huge help to him. I mean, no one's disputing that. But you watch tonight, like just how comfortable he is in a big spot. just the way he carries himself, his body language, his posture, and just how, like, confid he is with every throw. He's going to make some bad throws. I mean, it's football.

It's NFL. The other guys on the team drive nice cars, too. You know, this is, they get paid a bunch of money, too. You know, and I know the chiefs, everyone's crushing the chief's defense. I mean, you see Chris Jones, dude from, I think he's from Mississippi State. He's a monster. Justin may be a little old, but a fellow bald brother, Duke can still rush the passer. They're not, their front is not terrible.

But man, I mean, Mahomes is just a special, special passer. And Goff is just, what a cool, calm customer, man. He is. He may never be, you know, I don't know, FAR or even what Mahomes is going to become. But he, to me, has a chance, like Matt Ryan, like a better version of that. And you can talk crap about Matt Ryan and make fun of it.

Like, Matt Ryan's had a hell of a career. Like, I think Goff can become a better version, especially with McVeigh. That's the thing that Mahomes and Goff have going for him. Unlike Russell Wilson or, hell, like Matt Ryan, a lot of quarterbacks, their head coaches as a defensive guy. So the offensive coordinator changes a little bit. Like, where's McVeigh going? He's 32 at L.A.

where's Andy Reid going? He's 60 and never been happier. You know, I mean, these guys are going to be stalwarts in their organization. These quarterbacks, Mahomes clearly has a higher ceiling, but I mean, why couldn't Goff? I mean, go down as a Hall of Fame quarterback one day. You know, he's got a long way to go. I mean, obviously, they both do. But I would bet on them both.

It's not like Goff is like some six-round pick that's overachieving. I'm usually the number one pick in the draft. You know who else was in that draft? I don't know Carson Wentz. Patrick Mahomes was in a decent draft too. You know who was in his draft? Mitts Trubisky, who you can say what you want about him, but he's coming along nicely for the Bears.

You know the other guy? I don't know, Deshawn Watson. They're 7 and 3. The Bears in the Houston, Texas are 7 to 3. They're decent. I mean, that's shaping up to be a decent quarterback class. Trubisky, Watson, Mahomes. Keep sleeping on that quarterback class.

Golf and Wince? I mean, that's two special back-to-back quarterback classes. But just, I mean, enjoy that. Both these two teams are playoff teams. Both of these two teams, I mean, probably a bigger game for the Rams, given that they're fighting for the number one seed. But, man, I mean, I'm going to go back and watch that game in the morning. That was a blast.

How about them bears? You know, sometimes, and I can relate to this in a sense, I'm not saying by any means what I do. I'm at the level of Khalil Mack. But I think a lot of people listening can relate to this too. When you're sometimes you take a job or you get involved with a company and you have an idea of what you're going to be doing and the people you're going to be working for.

And the difference between in pro sports when you're coming into the workforce, they pick you. When you come into the workforce as a normal employee, for the most part you get to pick them, but really in your younger years, unless you're just, and some people listening to me, you know,

might have gone to Harvard or Stanford and had their pick of the litter at jobs, but for the most part, you're pretty limited, you know, those first 10 years from when you graduate college, probably till your early mid-30s until you network

and start knowing a lot of people in your field, that you don't really have that much leverage in job negotiation, you're just kind of stuck and you can get in some positions where, you know, you're working for people that are not as talented as you, that you're just like, what is this guy talking about? Or working with people, you can't stand and you're just kind of stuck. Now, eventually, if you're good enough at your job, you can leave, you know, your work will speak for itself. But there comes a time, and this can happen when you're older too. I just can relate.

This happened to me in my late 20s, early 30s, where you just kind of feel stuck. And you're like, God, I would die to be with. You see other people in other companies. Now, the grass isn't always greener. But sometimes when you get an opportunity to do something else, it can reinvigorate you. Being around more talented people can bring out the best in yourself. And when Khalil Mack, who was, again, he didn't choose the Raiders, the Raiders chose him. In his time in Oakland, the players he played around were terrible, were a joke.

His coaches, now Ken Norton has been around the. NFL a long time. But he's not a great coach. And I know they're doing decent things in Seattle right now, but it's Pete Carroll's defense. Jack Del Rio, Khalil Max, best coach, not a scheme guy. So when Khalil wanted fair market value, which the market bore out, every team in the league was willing to pay him except the Raiders, it wasn't necessarily as much

the money. Well, I mean, it was about the money. But it was also about like, if you even have to think about one, running me, you guys are idiots. Khalil Mack was kind of gifted. He ends up with the Chicago Bears, who I've been saying for a long time, they were like, I mean, if they were a stock, I would have bought a lot of them last year. Because if you watch them play, they were a good shitty team.

It was clear they were just missing some offensive weapons and a coach with a pulse. Little did I know they would keep Fangio when they hired the new offensive. offensive coach. They would also get Roquan Smith in the draft and trade for Cleolmac? I mean, if you're Cleo Mac, you're looking around, you go, God, I got

Akeem Hicks, I got Lennar Floyd, I got Roquan and Danny Trevathan. I mean, Dan Trevathan started on a Super Bowl defense that was a, you know, that won the Super Bowl because of their defense in the Denver Broncos. You got Roquant Smith,

who's the best linebacker prospect to come out in a couple years. Then you add Alan Robinson, you add Trey Burton, You add Matt Nagy, Trebisky gets a little older, a little more experienced. And you're just like, God, I hit the jackpot. Not because financially they gave me $90 million, which also hitting the jackpot, but I earned that money.

Like my play spoke for that. But then there are things as a player that are out of your control. How high level is your organization? Is it a big boy organization? Well, guess what the bears are? A top five media market. Do you know what I'm doing watching that game Sunday night? The Raiders don't have this in the bag.

You know? that they couldn't matter this much to the NFL. The Bears are just a bigger deal, not even arguable. You know, they've been to the Super Bowl. They've been in the Super Bowl mix several times in the last 15 years. The Raiders, all they do is lose. And then you get to go with like-minded people, a high-level defensive coordinator,

and a team that's going to win 11, 12 games this year. Like, there is no disputing after watching Sunday night. The Bears are good. Here's another thing. The Khalil Mack is one of the biggest trades in the history of the NFL. I don't remember one individual player having such an impact on a team via trade.

It's insane. But really, when you just remove yourself from that vacuum of, well, a player got traded, mainly because players like Khalil Mack don't typically get traded. If they did more often in the NFL, things like this would happen. This is much more like an NBA or a Major League Baseball trade. And the reason you don't ever see it is because why,

on God's Green Earth, would a team ever trade a guy they drafted who then became that good? It would never happen. It really is unheard of that this guy is on the Bears. And if you're a Bears fan or you just enjoy watching football and now that the Bears are good, you just thank your lucky stars, anyone not a Raider fan, or I guess maybe like a Packer fan, probably not happy, or a Viking fan, that you got this guy on your team because he shouldn't be there. And then you see him there with all these other guys, and he's the best on a team full of really good players. Like think about that.

On a team with a high-level defense and just as city known for defense, he is by far their best player. He changed the game against Minnesota. They had a double team of them all the time. He just feels a little more energized. And he was pretty energized with the Raiders. He hung his hat on playing hard,

but he seems just like a happier human. And do you blame him? I know when I got my opportunity to kind of start fresh and go, you know, work with like-minded people, it's a little different because I'm more internet based now. So you know, you're Skyping people. You're talking to them through text, whatever.

But you just don't have to be around the lower level people. And again, the grass isn't always greener. We all can complain about any job or any situation we're always in. You can always find the negative, right? But the positive slant for Khalil Mack is simple. He got his money. He is around the best and the brightest on his defense. He, listen, I just had a front row seat for Vic Fangio when he was with Jay.

Harbaugh. He is an elite defensive coordinator. And he's just in a bright light city, Chicago, baby. Instead of playing for the Oakland Raiders do not have an official home for 2019. They do not have a place to play.

They do not have, like, the Bears, you know where they're going to be next year? In 20 years, in 50 years? I don't know. Soldier Field. You know where the Raiders are going to be next year? Your guess is good as mine. Mexico, San Antonio. Stanford, Vegas, I don't know, you tell me.

Khalil Mack doesn't have to deal with any of that dysfunction, that just unknown, that nomadic mentality. He can just settle down, buy a place in suburban Chicago, and just kick ass and take names, and just an absolute joy to watch. And when people ask me, how would you describe Khalil Mack? I simply say he's one of the best players I've ever seen.

You know, we can break down his. play, it's just simple. He is one of the best players I've ever seen. And as big as an impactful player on a weekly basis as any front seven player I've ever seen. Just a phenomenal move by Ryan Pace. Matt Nagy has this team rolling. Gruden looks dumber by the day. It is one of the all-time stupid trades. Because when the first thing you say is, yeah, he's one of the best players I've ever seen, in his prime, you don't trade that guy. Okay, let's hit on a couple stories from this weekend that actually broke before the games

and I'll dive into a couple things I saw on Sunday that I liked. The biggest story of the day now is it a story or a non-story? Always do this when you see a story. Think to yourself and this is what I do. Where did it come from?

Who wanted that out? Because a story did just not randomly break. Who are they trying to make look worse? And I've been doing this with the Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, story as everything leaked like who's leaking what and if you can retract or backtrack that way you'll get a better idea so the first story let's start at the smaller one first jay the the jacksonville

jaguars would be open to trading jalen ramsie this offseason i don't think that's that crazy i bet they've had those discussions are we going to give jaylon ramsi i don't know 75 million 80 million guaranteed one day. Is he worth it as a player? One thousand percent. He is an elite player. Is he worth it in my locker room and to deal with? Now, I don't know. All I know is from the outside. I know he never shuts up. I know he's got an opinion on everything. And so do I. Luckily, I'm in the media, not on a team. The difference is like Tom Coughlin, the way he wants to operate is a little bit old school. Like, you don't give your opponent just locker room bulletin board material every single week. It's one thing to like, okay, we're playing the bills. You can rip Josh Allen. I wouldn't

like it, but I can live with it. He sucks. He can't complete a pass. I get it. Nathan Peterbin. It's another thing to call like Philip Rivers say he sucks. Like, no, he doesn't. Like say Tyree Kills not any good. No, Jalen, he is. You know, like Jalen's not even right about most of his So I can see him driving the organizational little nuts and just know like if I see your true colors when you're not making that much money now he was a top five pick he makes good coin But if you make five six million dollars and then I start paying you 19 You know you think I had the balls to say whatever I wanted before I'm untouchable now it has to cross their mind It's not that crazy now I don't know if the Jags would want that to get out

Maybe they would maybe they're like you know what Jalen we don't mind you thinking this. Now I know they released a statement saying, you know, we're not considering trading him or whatever. That's what they had to do. Maybe they wanted to motivate. And guess what it worked? He had two picks.

He played good. You know, he is good. He's an elite player. If they traded him, it won't be because of talent. It's because he's a pain in their ass. You know, it's not, players like Jalen Ramsey have been traded before. You know, he's not a, he never shuts up. Like that's the crazy part going back to the Cleo Mac trade.

He's perfect. He doesn't say a peep. Never gets in trouble. No issues. Now, your one counter on Jalen be like, okay, he says a lot. Who cares? He's not like he's ever been in trouble. Again, it's difficult.

I see both sides of it. The other one was Condoleza Rice. And I don't know where Schaefter got this. She shot it down. The Brown shot it down. I honestly haven't been able to figure this one out because there were some rumors read on the internet that she aspires to be the commissioner of the NFL,

which she might, and maybe she's openly talked about it. Here's the problem. Like, Roger Goodell just signed an extension. You don't just walk away from jobs that pay you up 35, 40, 50 million dollars. But Roger's doing this job for a while. He ain't going anywhere. It's not like Condi's getting any younger. She could not be the head coach.

I think it was universal. Anyone that knows what they're talking about or has any common sense when they saw this was like, this is the dumbest shit I've ever read, because it was. It's not one of those jobs. Like, you can just learn on the fly. No, it's impossible. Part of being the head coach is like, you have to be a good leader,

but you also have to know about scheme. You have to be able to talk football. And not just casually. Like, I know a lot about football. I couldn't begin to be a coach. Couldn't begin to be a head coach in the NFL. It was not plausible. It was as dumb as we all thought when we read the headline.

The Browns immediately had to shoot it down. Why? Because one of their problems going to be this offseason is, getting legitimate people to interview. Because as I've said before, two things. You're the Browns. People think you're kind of a clown show, which you have been consistently

for the last however many years. And two is like, what kind of dealings do I have to do with Jimmy Haslam? Because I also think when you do retrace this story, it's, and I know reporters and journalists get mad at this, but I'm sorry, I source guess.

I mean, I have judgments on everything else I talk about. So I take guesses and, liberties, and I'm not trying to discredit or anything on Adam Schaeffer. I don't know where he got this. But if I had to guess, someone in the Haslam crew, why? Because someone at the Haslam's, hardcore Republicans, no Kandi Rice from politics, like, it's not crazy to think that they had this idea. Jimmy Haslam has shown on his resume to consistently be an idiot. Hired Hugh Jackson, you know, hired Paul D. Podesta, wanted the University of Tennessee to hire Greg Shianu. Like, He does dumb stuff consistently.

Let a bum tell him to draft Johnny Menzel. Like, I'm sorry, I don't give Jimmy Haslam the benefit of the doubt. Third generation, rich kid, even though he's old. I mean, he comes from old money. So, did Jimmy Haslam or DeHaslam, his wife, have conversations that maybe we should interview Condoleezer Ice? I could see that. Would John Dorsey in a million years ever think that? No.

would any respectable candidate willing to interview respect that idea? No. So the Browns had to shoot it down. Maybe Condi had never even heard of this. That's why she shot it down. But it's just an incredible story. And then when you look around to the action actually on the football field, I took some shots of the Cowboys like a month ago.

And I've had to apologize since. I said I hated watching them. They were very boring. They've actually grown on me a lot. Their defense is fantastic to. watch. Their defensive line is unreal. I mean, they can really rush the passer. The two

linebackers make plays left and right. Zeke's coming on. Dack is playing well. They are hot. They are 5 and 5, but a 5 and 5 team that now looks, they're playing the Redskins this turkey day, and Alex Smith has a snapped ankle. So they should win that and be 6 and 5, and then they have Sunday night

football in 10 days against the Saints. Somehow they were able to win that and be 7 and 5. I mean, they're going to the They feel like a playoff team right now, to be honest with you. They are in great shape to win this thing. Lamar Jackson, pretty clear one thing on Lamar Jackson. He can't throw. He ran the ball 27 times.

That is insane. But even more insane than 27 carries for your quarterback is the way that he took hits. He doesn't slide. He doesn't go out of bounds. he dived shoulder first. He was taking so many hits from a violent defense. The Bengals, they do hit you hard. He took some shots that I was holding my breath.

And I'm not, like, I'm on the side where I don't think he's going to be a good NFL quarterback. But I'm not selfish enough as like, oh, I want everyone to say I was right on Twitter. I don't care. If Lamar Jackson becomes a great player, good for him. I'm pretty sure he won't be. Why? Because he can't throw.

But I know one thing. He cannot sustain. Like, he's not going to be in the NFL long. Why? He's going to get broken in half. You cannot run that many times and not avoid hits. It was like he was a running back. Now, he basically is a glorified running back, but he's going to get killed.

I felt bad watching him play because I thought he was going to get injured. Holding my breath just thinking about it. The Vikings offensive line, their defense is big time. Like, you watch them against the Bears, they're every bit of their equal. You watch Kirk Cousins. I know some people are down on them. I know Colin doesn't love him. Listen, he's not the problem.

Is he worth the money? Probably not. But their main issue is not the wide receivers, is not their running back, and surely not their defense. It's their offensive line. It's atrocious. They can't block a soul.

And when you put them against a good defense, a good defensive line, like the Bears have, they ate them for lunch. They destroyed them. Look, like Alabama playing, I don't know, the Citadel, you know, Alabama playing a cupcake game.

Alabama playing, I'm going to say Kentucky, but they're actually pretty good this year. I don't know, the teams they kill, the Arkansases of the world. Like they have no chance to block them. Khalil Mack and Akeem Hicks look like players that would be on Alabama playing a non-power, playing Fresno State. Like this isn't even fair. And if they miss the playoffs, it will 100% be because they're,

offensive line sucked. It's terrible. It's getting guys, it's going to get cousins killed. Andrew Luck is a star. He's not a good player. He's not a really good player. He is a star.

A dominant quarterback. We knew that three or four years ago. There were legitimate questions once he went under the knife and he disappeared for a year and a half. Well, he's back. He's seven straight games with three touchdowns. They're five and five in on a four game winning streak.

They just beat the living crap out of the Tennessee Titans, a division rival. They are playing excellent. Their offense, T.Y's balling, Andrew's balling, Eric Ebron's balling. Their offensive line is bawling. I don't think he's been sacked in like three straight games. I didn't love Quentin Nelson at pick six, but he's been awesome. Their offensive line has been awesome. Frank Reich's been awesome.

They are a fun team to watch. And if you play daily fantasy, Andrew Luck, you're crazy if you don't pick him every game because he's going to give you 300 yards and three touchdowns. It's automatic. I mean, literally right now, it's automatic. He does it for seven-st-three games. He's been awesome.

So anyone that you know that is an Andrew Luck hater, call them an idiot, because that's what they are. A moron. Andrew Luck is a baller. Before we get into the Middilkoff mailbag, and you can slide up into my DMs at at John Middilkoff, I just got to touch on one college game. One of the biggest college games of the year, Ohio State, Michigan, games in Ohio State.

And it's pretty fascinating. I said a couple weeks ago, the moment Michigan beat Wisconsin, the path was kind of paved. They took care of Penn State, took care of Rutgers, took care of Indiana. They've kind of handled their business. Ohio State luckily has kept winning. They just played Maryland and game going to overtime. No, they tried to win it. And they were holding on for their ass.

and they are not playing well. And there is tangible pressure on Jim Harbaugh to win this game. Urban Meyer, I call him Fraudmire. I can't take him seriously. He's just such a hypocrite. The guys he's recruited. I mean, he's had a murderer, domestic violence. Listen, he's a fantastic and elite coach.

But it looks like, he looked like hell every time the camera went to him on the sideline. Their team is not playing well at all. defensively, they look like a shell of themselves. To me, it puts all the... I mean, right now Harbaugh and Michigan Wolverines are like a four-point favorite, depending on where you look. There is tangible pressure on Jim Harbaugh to win this game. There have been constant rumors about Urban quitting or retiring.

It sure kind of feels that way. His team, I don't know if they've quit on him, but they're surely not playing up to snuff. They have way more talent than they're showing. Harbaugh's team's absolutely rolling. he has a quarterback playing well for the first time ever and elite defense. Like, do not get it twisted. If Jim loses this game, and I don't care that it's Ohio State,

and I don't care that it's a rivalry game, it'll be somewhat of a stain on his resume. Like, this thing is handed for him to win this game. His team's rolling, Ohio State's in shambles, there's all these rumors about the coach quitting or retiring. He looks unhealthy on the sideline. Jim is one win away, really two, because then he'd go to the Big 12 championship where he'd play,

excuse me, Big Ten championship where he'd play an average Northwestern team. All he's going to do is win this game. He's in the playoffs. Again, I know he's got another game, but I'm assuming he's going to win that game. He ain't losing a Northwestern, not with the playoffs on the line. He's got to take care of business at Ohio State. And I'll be honest, and this would be the red flag against Jim as a great coach. I'm not that confident he's going to win the game on Saturday.

I would actually probably say he won't. You know, that's very Jim Harbaugh. Get really close and then not win. But he's got to come through. Or he would catch a lot of heat and rightfully so, especially with Urban that I swear in that Maryland game, it looked like he was going to have a heart attack mid-game. And I don't blame him, his team was terrible.

Shiano's defense is awful. But God, Jim, I mean, they're paying you $8, $9 million. You're in full control of the program. You got them rolling. You are two games away. officially, unofficially won, away from the playoff. Like, time to get it done, Harbaugh.

Okay, let's get to the Middilkopf mailbag. Slide up in my DMs at John Middlecough, and I will answer your questions right here on the Three and Out podcast. Hey, John, Jesse from Wisconsin here, long-time listener of the podcast. I guess my question is this. The way the NFL is moving with heavily favored offense of the rules on offense,

is the game going to be unrecognizable in about 10 years? I love offense as much of the next guy. Same. but I grew up on Ed Reed, Sean Taylor's, Brian Dawkins, big hits. I can already see how different the game, I clicked it, is going to be in 10, 12 years. Do you think the game, do you, will they even be allowed to play defense? I mean, practically, you can at this point. It's kind of ironic.

This question is actually like a week old, 10 days old. But I do think they have a problem. problem on their hands, that their first reaction is always throw the flag. Tonight, there was a flag at the end of the game that they threw like targeting or spearing or whatever with the helmet. The tight end lowered his head and the DB was just sitting there waiting to tackle him. The tight end's head hit his head and they threw the flag.

I mean, it's crazy. There was a targeting on like the first series of the game where the guy didn't even hit the, the offensive. player. My least favorite vocabulary word in sports is defenseless player. If you're a wide receiver, you are not defenseless. You know running over the middle, or at least you used to, that you could get hit. And now they're defenseless because they don't think they can get hit. The game is going to change. Yeah, it's becoming much more flag football-esque. The one area you can still dominate is the front. you know it's the D-lines as you saw tonight

95 for Kansas City Aaron Donald you didn't really hear in a Dominican Sue but those guys you get so tired you know even if you play every snap like if you have one sack a game that's 16 sacks you know I mean it's not like a touchdown you're not going to throw like

five or six I mean you have an unreal game you have two sacks so unless you have like three elite pass rushers that's really what makes the bear so special is they got like four guys that can rush the passer. You watch the Rams. They really only got one. I mean, the Chiefs have what?

Two? So it's just, the game's changed. It's definitely becoming a little more collegiate at the NFL level. They're very in CYA mode in terms of they throw the flags because they don't want to get sued for head injuries. It's really that black and white. Like don't get a twist of the league office.

It's not worried about injuries and all that crap. beside injuries on quarterbacks ruining their primetime games. That's all they care about. They don't want Jimmy Garoppolo hurt, though Jimmy causes himself. They don't want Tom Brady. They don't want Aaron Rogers getting slammed to the ground, which I'm okay with. But I'm not okay with you having crazy protection for wide receivers. You know, there should be some repercussions.

You go over the middle. There's a dude in the numbers with 20s or 30s, maybe 40s, you know, old school, ready to hit you and hit you hard. I still like big hits. I know a lot of people listening probably like big hits. They're just fewer and far between now, as far or even a word. But they're not even fewer hits.

They're just not allowed because if you launch more than likely, even if you connect fundamentally sound with your shoulder pad and your head up and everything they teach you in peewee football, the first move the referee does naturally now is reach for his flag. He thinks violence equals a flag. So yeah, that makes me mad, makes me sad. But I'm also embraced.

Like, I make my living off talking about football. I don't want it to go away. So you just got to adapt with it. I mean, this is just the hand, the sport has been dealt. They've adapted faster. Like, baseball's adaptation is the polar opposite of football. Like football just adapts at rapid speed. they've had to change the rules and they have.

Not always for the better, us as consumers, but it's just a reality. So, yeah, the game is just going to be much more pass-happy. It's going to be like the Big 12. It's going to be hard to play defense. Okay. Amari has looked really good in Dallas so far and still doesn't know the plays.

Dak makes concerted effort to get on the ball. In Oakland, he had been a non-factor forever since Carr broke his ankle. Once the criticisms of Carr came, returning last year, He was too timid in the pocket and constantly checking down. Earlier in the year, when questioned why they can't get Amari the ball, both Gruden and Amari said he was getting open.

On top of that, we've seen Carr make some of really so many bonehead plays. So my question is this. Do you think Amari and the Raiders' offense as a whole disappearing is more to do with Derek than it is the system these past two years? And do the Raiders need to trade him this offseason? I think it's a combination of both. I think the last couple weeks there are two tackles, Colton Miller, whether his knees hurt or whatever, he sucks.

I mean, he's terrible. And their right tackle, the young guy Parker, the third rounder is worse. So when you can't block anyone at the edges, anyone listening to this, a fan of any NFL team has known that one year when you had an embarrassing, either a left tackle or a right tackle,

that just is not an NFL player, your whole offense is shot. Like you can't function. I remember a couple years ago, Anthony Davis retired from the 49ers, and they were kind of screwed. It happened in the offseason, and they signed Jonathan Martin.

And he was so bad they could not function on offense. But I don't think Derek, him and Derek were not on the same page. It kind of felt like Amari wasn't really feeling Derek that much. And it didn't feel like Derek was all in on Amari either. it was just one of those times where for Amari, it was just time for a fresh start. But I do know this.

Is Amari ever going to be Odell Beckham or even like a Michael Thomas or Devante Adams? No. I mean, those guys are top five, six receivers. But he's definitely should be like a top 15 wide receiver. He should be someone every year giving you 80 to 90, 1,200, and 10 touchdowns. And he has flash.

He has that type talent. And I think we should still see him growing down. Dallas. But to answer your question in a long-winded way, I think it was a combination to everything. I think Gruden just didn't love kind of the non-alpha in Amari. I think he did appreciate Amari's speed and route running. But it kind of turned him off that he's just not a one and he was going to have to get paid. And then Derek, I think there's some into Derek just getting timid not being the same guy since his ankle hurt. I think there's a combination of the tackle sucking. It was just a combination of like 10 different things that just equal a disaster.

And that's what the Raiders have had. A disaster of a season. Heard the podcast the other day and you discussed college quarterback draft prospects. And you said you're not sure what kind of prospect tool will be. To me, he seems like he can make every throw. I watched Justin Herbert the other night and I'm thinking, this guy? Question? Could you teach us a little bit about producing? rejecting quarterbacks to the NFL specifically. Would love to watch college with more of a trained eye.

I think the key with watching college quarterback, now it's changed a little bit because the rules have changed. I used to look for just body type. I mean, you couldn't be a midget in play, and that's really changed the last five, six years, because Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield was short, went one. Hell, even Johnny Mansell went in the first round. so height is not as

big of a factor maybe as it was 10, 20, 30 years ago but the first thing you want to do is just see a guy physically like I've been lucky enough to stand on a lot of NFL sidelines during warmups and for the most part every good quarterback I've seen live the last 7, 8 years whether it was when I lived in Philly

and they all came through I went to Raider and Niner Games forever seen all these guys from Philip Rivers to Eli now these guys are older now, to Flackos, that whole crew of guys, big Ben's, to Brady,

to Rogers, I mean, these guys are big. Like, if you ever see like Eli, now I know he sucks now, but Rivers, a guy,

Rathusberger, you know, run by, like, the dude is massive. Like, Carson Wentz, Jared Gough,

those guys are huge. Like, Jared Gough, I was just watching Louis Riddick and Steve Young. Now, Steve Young's not the tallest guy. I work with Lewis.

Lewis is a legit six two. Gough was towering over him on television. Goff's huge. You know, Darnold's massive. Rosen's tall. Obviously, Josh Allen's really big. Patrick Mahomes is tall. Trubisky's a little smaller, but he's thick and he's a really big athlete.

So I think then the other first key I always look for, and it's a balance. Like, there is a level of arm strength you have to have. You don't need to be Mahomes or Mike Vic. but I do have a soft spot for an above average arm. That's kind of my mindset. I'm not big into like the Alex Smith soft arms. But if you are going to have an average arm, you better be very accurate.

That's what Baker Mayfield had. Now, Baker had a better arm than, let's say, Alex. But the accuracy now is so key because all these teams are running basically spread offenses. So accuracy and then all the pocket stuff. Just your pocket presence, your pocket feet. your feel for the rush. There's also a level, and this is hard to quantify.

It's just your instincts as a football player. It's one thing I loved about Baker Mayfield. One thing you see with Patrick Mahomes, just very instinctive players. You even see it a little bit with Mitch as a runner. Great runner. Deshawn Watson, very instinctive player. So I'd say the knock on two is just small.

Like, is he even six feet tall? But the positives are, you're right, he can make every throw. Another knock would be, and here's the hard part about college. Now, the NFL game that I just watched, guys were wide open all night long. So you're throwing into wide open guys. For the most part in the history of the NFL, you're throwing into tight windows. You're throwing in a tight spots.

That's changing a little. So you might actually have to change the way you evaluate quarterbacks. But if you're playing like Chicago Bears or a good defense, it's not everything is going to be as wide open as tonight. Now, let's face it, the Chiefs, DBs aren't not good. But you have to be able to make pinpoint throws in muddy pockets on the move now is huge. And there's a huge element to quarterback. Like, there is a baseline intelligence level.

Have you ever heard some of these coaches in the NFL talk about play calls? How much verbiage there is in one play call? Like, your intellectual capacity has to be big. It's really hard to play quarterback if you're dumb. Now, there have been slower guys than others that have overcome it. Like, I think Brett Farmer would be the first to tell you. He ain't a rocket scientist, you know? But I even think Peyton Manning would tell you.

He's not the smartest guy. He just outworks you. And then there are just some guys that are brilliant. Like, Drew Breeze. Drew Breese is like the combination of them both. Purdue guy, smart, but he's also a super hard worker. Or Aaron Rogers, really smart. So I think it's changing.

I've had to adapt my philosophy. Maybe I was harsh on Tua. Maybe he might be the perfect quarterback in 2020 or whenever he's coming out. Just hit wide open guys. Maybe I'm the outdated one. I don't know. So I would say accuracy is accuracy, arm strength, size, mobility, pocket presence. And like I said, size, we had to adapt that a little bit.

You don't need to be tower over people. It's just, there's so much. things that you can't quantify. Like if you play a receiver, how faster are you? How big are you? How high do you jump? How many catches do you have? How do you produce? What are your go-to routes? What do you not good at? Like it's for the

most part pretty quantifiable. Like same with running backs. Same with linebackers. You know, I mean, not saying the tape still matters, but you can quantify a lot of stuff with the tape with, you know, a breakdown of the size, measurements as production. With quarterback, I mean, you can give me production, but now in college, what does that even mean?

If I told you a guy throws 60 touchdowns in college, you wouldn't even know what to say. But when you watch him, you know, and that's why the eye test, that's why so many people can't miss on quarterbacks. They don't know what they're looking at. I was lucky enough to be around a guy that I feel has a pretty good, you know, idea of what he's looking for in quarterbacks and just got to watch him, coach him, and Coach Reed. Now, I'll give Andy some credit. like he's more open-minded than me with quarterbacks.

He loved Alex and he loves Mahomes and he loved Michael Vick and he loved Fav and he loves McNabb. He's liked them all. All shapes and sizes. Runners, short guys, tall guys, average arms, big arms. I mean, Kevin Cobb, Cobb, Kevin Cobb, I can't even remember his name. He was a starter when I first got there.

He was a terrible arm. It was average as this. day is long. Like Andy's really open-minded. Not every coach is. Okay, last one. John, am I crazy as a Colts fan to think that come 2020, the Colts could be a legit Super Bowl contender and even favorites in the AFC?

With the way luck and the O-Line have looked this year, in addition to assuming they draft a few more defensive playmakers in the next couple drafts, with Darius Leonard and Malik Hooker, am I nuts to think the Colts can be a Super Bowl team in two years once Brady and Ben have retired? or at least well past the beak of their abilities. Well, the problem with the last part is Brady's already 41 years old and still kicking. Rothsberger's like 37 still going strong. But 2020?

I mean, they're 5 and 5. They won 4 straight games. They're not out of the playoff mix at all. They still could get that 6 seed. Why couldn't they make a run this year? I mean, Andrew Lux thrown three touchdowns and seven straight games. He looks awesome. Their defense is playing well.

Like you said, Darius Leonard makes big-time. and plays every game. Mack and Heinz are making plays. T. Yelton looks fantastic. Like you said, the offensive line, the head coach is good. Give Josh McDaniels some credit for Uber Flues. You know, I mean, he just hired him even before Frank Reich was there, and he just stayed, and he's been pretty solid.

The Colts are good. Are the Colts a playoff team right now? I think so. I think they're going to make the playoffs this year, or at least get damn close. If I had to put $1,000 right now, or the, Colts at 5 and 5, more likely to go 7 and 9 and 9. I'd put it on 9 and 7. And it was 8 and 8, I'd break.

I'd go 9 and 7. I think they end up at 9 and 7. Or 10 and 6. I mean, there's, besides the Saints, there ain't 5 teams playing better than them right now. Chiefs. Steelers aren't. They just played terrible on Sunday. Like, Colts are rolling.

I wouldn't want to play the Colts in a playoff game. Like, we just talked about the rules. We talk about physical attributes. Andrew Luck's 6.5. He's 240. He can run. He can make every throw. He's accurate.

He's a killer. He has incredible pocket presence. His understanding of what you're doing on defense is incredible. His best receiver is a 5-7 speed midget that he makes look like an all pro. Now, TY is a good player, but I mean, come on. If he's your number one wide receiver. And luck, now, again, I like, like to you, I Hilton, but come on.

I mean, he should be a really good number two. And that's what he's dealing with. And he's always what he's dealt with. And he just kicks ass. He's incredible. Andrew Luck is awesome. Sleeper MVP candidate right now. So yeah, I mean, 2020, I don't think you need to look that for.

So let's even be realistic. Let's say they go 9 and 7 this year, make a wild card and lose in the first round. Yeah, I'd say they're a legitimate Super Bowl contender with another good offseason. Chris Ballard flexing his muscles having a good little GM run here I'll sleep on Chris Ballard

left at the altar by Josh McDaniels doesn't flinch might have even upgraded with Frank and now his quarterback shoulders healthy and he's on pace for like 60 touchdown throws I'm a big Colts guy what a fun pod man what a week

what a Monday night game what an incredible night God I love football thanks for listening Three and Out podcast John Middlecombe Because it's Turkey Day, I don't know if I'll do one on Friday. I might see you Friday. If not, I'll see you next week.

God bless football. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. In every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports

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

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Cliver Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff.

Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref. My mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue of 42.

Hey, Brett. My mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to him, he's like, you know I love you,

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