The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - Aaron Rodgers and the Jets

Episode Date: September 5, 2023

FOX Sports NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez sits with Colin to discuss Seahawk quarterback Geno Smith in 2023, how the Jets will protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and moreSee 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Bole Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local

station for the herd at Fox SportsRedia.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. The NFL regular season kicks off Sunday on Fox with a huge doubleheader. First, Christian McCaffrey and the Niners take on the Steelers or other regional action. Then, in America's game of the week, Jordan Love leads to Packers against Justin Fields and the Bears. Or the Rams Battle of the Seahawks.

Bill kicks off Sunday on Fox. Oh, look at those games. Packers Bears. We're out here. We're going to get Ram Seahawks. We're not going to get Jordan. Well, Ram Seahawks will be interesting. It'll be good, but I kind of want to see your boy Jordan Love, by the way. I might like the Packers this weekend.

Why? We'll have to talk about it later in the week. I don't know. I like the Bears for the season, but I think I like the Packers this weekend. We'll talk about it. You're all over Bears, right? Well, not all over Chicago. I don't, you know, I mean, Justin Fields is 5 and 20.

I'm not all over any quarterback that's 5 and 20. But I would say... And he struggled against the Bears. I'm sorry, against the Packers. Here's what I worry about. So if you watch the Packers and Jordan Love, is this a fair criticism that his preseason, he didn't get any pressure,

that's not the real world, and that it was a very pro-Jordan Love game plan, very safe. I would have rather seen Green Bay take some big risks for him. Like now you go to Chicago, that place is going to be as loud as it's ever been Chicago now has, they got some real, they got some real weapons now, okay? And so I think what Green Bay did, listen, we're going to make this comfortable and pretty easy,

a lot of easy rollouts, a lot of good protection for Jordan Love. I would have rather seen Jordan scuff a little in the preseason. At one point through two games, he had 18 dropbacks and zero pressures. And so now Green Bay, they have a very good offensive line because of the Packers and they always do. but I just, it's, I feel like Bryce Young got the, you know what, beat out of him, but that's the real world. Like Jordan, they've just really slow played Jordan Love. And all of a sudden you get into a game and it's like, yeah, you don't have good protection. And here comes, here comes a blitz from the corner you didn't see coming.

And I don't know. You know, sometimes it's like fights. You just have to watch the first two rounds of a fight to see the timing. the game plan, how a guy, you know, the manipulation of the boxer, styles make fights. I need to see the style for the fight. Like I wish you could bet fights in the third round. And I feel like Packers Bears, it's, I don't know what Jordan loves going to be. They have really slow play in his development, which I think has been good for his confidence,

but that's not a real world. That's like having a kid go to private school and backseat of moms, BMW. And then you get to the real world and you're really. realize some kids have had it rough and they'll pick all you and be bullies and be, like, that's not the real world. You just look at that Packers offensive line, healthy, really formidable, and you look at the Bears pass rush, it's pretty toothless. In Gacquay, Demarcas Walker, I don't know that they're going to be able to get to love to rattle him. And then you blitz and you're leaving Kyler Gordon, who's number two cornerback. He hasn't done anything, young kid.

Like, yeah, I don't know. We'll see. I don't know what Green Bay is going to look like. It might be a walkaway game. You don't touch it. Maybe our guests will come and have some information here shortly. Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. As a big Rams guy, you're going to hate this, but Cooper Cup is dealing with this hamstring injury.

He visited a specialist. I don't even know what a hamstring specialist is. I've never heard of that. To help him get to the root of the issue, that's kind of weird week of week one and you're now visiting the specialist. Okay, so that is, I mean, if you take him out of the offense, I got Tyler Higgsby. Van Jefferson? He's a three, not a two. Cam Acres.

He's a nice, solid 13th best running back to 15th best running back in the league. They don't have any, they just don't have enough weapons. And also, their O-line scoffed in the preseason. Yeah. scoffed. Well, here's McVeigh on when they can expect Cooper Cup back. You know, I think you just move forward, you know, and you've got to be able to operate with the situation and the guys that we do have. And if he's able to go, then that's outstanding for us.

And if not, then, you know, that's kind of how we've been operating. And so we'll be a better, I think the most important thing is, is whenever he's able to take the field, whether that be this week, whether that be week two, whatever it is, you know, as long as he's able to have that return to performance, he's feeling like the Cooper Cup that we all know and love. And he's got some clarity on, all right, what is really going on? I think that'll, you know, be a really good situation for us.

Is this a spot for your guy, 2-2-at-well? I just don't know where they get the yardage from. He's tiny. He's not been productive. This receiving court is completely Cooper Cup dependent. So, I mean, they don't, they don't have enough offensive production. And to go into Seattle, two different people I know were at Seahawks camp. Both came back and said it was.

wildly aggressive and dynamic and blew them away. Seattle had one of the best camps. Pete Carroll is telling people this has a Legion of Doom feel where it's just young, athletic. I think this is a tough spot for the ram. Two years ago when Cooper Cup was the best receiver in the league, he had 23 targets in two games against Seattle. I don't know how you replace that. You don't. Yeah, it seems like an impossible. All right. Next up, C.J. Stroud, set for his regular season day,

You Sunday against the Ravens. But there's some issues in the trenches. Here's Domeico Ryan's asked about whether or not he's decided on the starters for the offensive line. We're still working through the offensive line. And when we go out the game day, we'll have a good group out there. And guys who are just tasked with just doing the job that's in front of them, right? Whoever that may be, we just want guys to be accountable to their teammates and do what's asked to do. That doesn't sound good.

A rookie quarterback with four new offensive linemen playing at Baltimore, which is one of the rowdiest places in the league. We'll have a group out there. That's not very inspiring. I'm looking at the depth chart names. Other than Tunsell, it's like, you know, Shaq Mason, Kendrick Green. Well, Shaq Mason's pretty good player. Josh Jones, Titus Howard's injured, doesn't look like he's going to go.

This does not bode well. The spread is nine and a half or ten. Oh, my God. I don't like, I don't like giving. up nine and a half. I think Baltimore's going to roll. And Lamar Jackson is... Best weapons... Best weapons he's ever had.

When Lamar Jackson starts, the Ravens average 28 points. That's a lot of points in pro football. A lot. Final story is not great news. It just happened in the last 20 minutes. Word has come out that Travis Kelsey hyper-extended his knee in practice today. His status for Thursday is in doubt, according to Andy Reid. No, Chris Jones, no Travis Kelsey?

Kelsey has not missed a game due to injury since. is rookie year 2013. And, oh, by the way, the line is down from six and a half to six. I took a nibble on the money line. Maybe the Lions pull the upset. I just don't know where Patrick Mahomes goes without Kelsey. It's Skymore, Marquez Valdez, scandling. Colin?

You don't win back-to-back Super Bowls in this league. So, I mean, we both know they're going to be really good. But it's hard. I mean, here's the other thing. Generally, teams that win Super Bowls have a bunch of veteran players. Cooper Cup, Aaron Donald, Matt Staffer. older players get banged up. Very rarely does a young team win a Super Bowl.

So Kansas City is now aging, right? Like some of these players are aging, or they're getting really expensive, or they're going to hold out because they want more money. So that is the reality of being a dominant team. New England, by the way, had to make huge decisions during Brady's run. Sometimes, you know, they didn't work out.

They'd lose a Chandler-Jones and not have a pass rush for three years. This stuff is hard. There's a reason nobody wins back-to-back Super Bowl. Two new tackles and now Travis Kelsey possibly removed as the blocking tight end because he's not there due to injury. I don't know, man. Lions start 1 and 0. Dan Campbell is going to be pretty fired up. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. Oh, man. Last time I talked to Mark Sanchez, he was in some grotto in south of the border. It looked like, I mean, honestly, it looked like where people. people who are handsome who have played in the NFL vacation. I was a little jealous. I told my wife, my life, his life.

Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it. all embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. 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 all. always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim's? Well, you can find out on The Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table. right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Mark Sanchez

is joining us. Fox Sports NFL analysts. We're all off vacation. Let's go. It's great to see you. Back. I'm fired up. You have. It's fascinating. All the answers. Ram Seahawks. Yes, sir.

So, um, did you, did you go up to Seahk camp? I did not go up to Seahawk camp. Two people are no one. But I heard it was incredible. I heard it was as good at camp. Guys that went to 12 camps are like, oh, Seattle looks good. Um, now here's my only concern. They're young.

Really young. Rams are really old in the offense. I mean, when you're looking at film right now, what you're starting to do. Yeah. Give me your kind of takeaway. Gino Smith, do it again. Where are you on Seattle? If we're going Gino Smith off the bat, Seattle fans listen up,

I'd be fired up because the guy threw 11 interceptions last year, and we got a great graphic for it. 11 interceptions, I think there were nine of those, 11, on first and second down. I mean, that is like the easiest, most fixable thing for a quarterback like him who's going to come back and have another stellar year. Look at that. Those interceptions on first and second down, nine total.

And only one on third down all year. That's what I'm saying. So first and second down, we can fix half of those would just run the ball. Just run the ball a little bit. A couple more times. And then half of those, he cleans up on his own. So anywhere from four to five of those, he's going to fix on his own. Plus, you're running the ball more. Make two better decisions, Gino. And we are rolling because those change the course of a season. Nine opportunities to score. I mean, that's some real points. That shifts a game. That gets you, you know, first downs. That gets you more. more opportunities to score. And it's a no-brainer that they can eclipse what they've done last year. And I feel like last year they were ahead of where they were supposed to be because of so many young guys. When do you throw out two rookie tackles and go make the playoffs? Sure, they got in the playoffs and they squeaked in towards the end. But I don't care.

You got in the tournament with two rookie tackles, a rookie running back who was injured for a bunch of the year. You're starting running back, went down at the beginning of the year. Plus, you got a guy that nobody knew was going to come back after, you know, seven or eight years backing people up and have the comeback player. the year type season. I mean, this is a no-brainer. Seattle's going to be tough for everybody.

I have him winning the division. Somebody told me years ago, they said the reason Pete is so good in college is that, first of all, huge energy guy. Oh, big energy. Young players feed off that. Old guys, you know, they do what they do. Sure. And he said, the other thing is Pete's got his story.

He's the eighth time you've heard of maybe it wears out. But he is such a great teacher with energy that anybody in the league, four or five years or less, he just makes them better players. He totally does. He is built for young teams. Well, the Legion of Doom was a, a Legion of Boom was a young team. This is a young team. Maybe we're looking at the second version of that kind of.

Well, I mean, these guys, they've already outperformed where people were going to, where people had them slated, correct? So now, it's so funny, because Coach Carroll has these incredible ways of getting you prepared mentally for a game and in the right framework to compete. And it's, are we the underdog? that's easy. I mean, he hits that one out of the park every single time. No brainer. Because that underdog mentality, like there's nothing to lose, man. We've worked our butts off. Let's let the play take care of itself. Okay, you're better than me. We'll see. That's an easy one.

Now, when you've surpassed expectations and the expectations have risen and you're on top, so to speak, or, you know, the favorite, so to speak, okay, well, now how do you react? And now how do you change your mindset or do you keep the same mindset? How does coach interact with these players, and that's where he's the master of communicating and motivating these players. He's a psych major from University Pacific. Like, that's what he knows. And he can connect to you. And if, I mean, like the, I just remember the three-legged dog story. He's like, there's a there's a difference between being hurt and injured. Okay. After day one of training camp, after week one of the season, in the NFL, everybody's hurt. Now, are you hurt or are you injured?

He goes, because last time I checked, I've seen a three-legged dog run down the street chasing after that mailman. So, right? Chase it after the mail carry. Like, they know. And so that was always his analogy. And of course, you know, after year eight, you might be, oh, it's a silly story. But there's something to that. Sure.

Right. And he gets back to that truth or creating the truth that you need. It's like Michael Jordan in the last dance. He created these stories in his brain and then was like, okay, that's the enemy. Enemy must be destroyed. Right? Like, okay, this is. how it's going to work. And so that's half the battles eight inches between your ears.

So we were saying this that when you look at Aaron Wright, you've been in the New York situation. But it is interesting. There is a, I always say there's a difference between a young quarterback. Justin Herbert can overcome a bad old line, a young Joe Burrell. Jalen Hertz, although they have a great old line. But when you're older, Matt Stafford, Brady goes to Tampa, get me a right tackle. No doubt. I do think what concerns me about Aaron is that Green Bay is so unique. They almost never draft O. Lyman in the first round. I could not tell you, however, their last bad O line.

So Aaron has lived a life. Jordan loves seeing this with extra protective. Exactly right. So the first time in Aaron's career that he may get whacked is as he's aged. Now, you go to the end of your career, there is something about like, you know, I don't want to get hit. And I think what I'm looking for against Buffalo early is Aaron's at that Matt Stafford stage. Like get it cleaned up, fellas.

No doubt. Now, do you think, does that worry you a little? Listen, any kind of pressure for a quarterback, you don't want, I mean, you know, pressure from the defensive line, you don't want that. What did Brady tell Worf's, hey, don't get beat inside? If you get beat outside, I'll figure it out. I'd prefer you don't get beat at all.

but don't get beat. Do not get beat inside. Don't get beat at the guards and center. Like those guys got to be stout, right? Tackles, do your best to just keep them around, form a dish for me, and I'll make the rest work. The Brady's, the Staffords, the mannings, those kind of guys. The younger guys, when it doesn't work out so much,

like they'll take the hit. You're just going to see him either fall down or throw the ball in the seventh throw and give somebody a souvenir because he won't take those hits because he knows his most important ability is availability. And if he wants to go make a run at another Super Bowl,

he's got to be upright. He's got to be standing tall in the pocket. And to do that, he's going to have to throw some balls away. He's going to have to just fall down,

hit the deck. Like Peyton Manning used to do him. Nobody griped him because he's the best to do it. You know, so nobody's going to gripe Aaron for ditching the ball. Now, you saw some of the frustration

because of all the cameras and hard knocks and everything, a guy that age is just basically saying, boys, give me the time. You know, give me that extra, strain and that extra nanosecond and I will carve these guys up like Dexter. Okay.

Yeah. But if I don't have that, what are we doing? You know what I mean? And don't waste my time because there's a little less sand in the hourglass. Yeah, no, I think it's very realistic. I think it didn't care. It doesn't matter if it's Russell Wilson, by the way, last year, stop moving. And that same recency bias of new quarterback Super Bowl, right?

Like Brady did it. Stafford did it. Russell Wilson thought he was going to do it last year. Certain, you know what I mean? What's going to happen with Derrick Carr in New Orleans? What's going to happen with Aaron Rogers with the Jets? Like it's automatically assumed just like, oh, we got our guy. We're a Super Bowl contender with a quarterback.

Now we got the quarterback. It's not always that easy. Not that easy. So when you, CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, so I look at all these young guys, and I remember your first game. I don't know why I remember it so because you were so big at U.S. in Houston, big third down. You got a big third down moment. So you tell me

is that if you're a Houston Texan fan, you're a Carolina fan, Derek Carr moves to a new offense, so it's a different category. But when you're young, and some of these guys are moving into their second year. By the way, I bet if you counted everybody with a new coach, a new team, a new coordinator,

there's a lot of new in the league. But new in the NFL is different. What is C.J. Straub. What is Bryce Young? To some degree, Desmond Ritter feels like it's brand new. What is it like? Where are you overwhelmed? So I think the most important thing I can impart to those guys,

and I'm sure they've done a good job of this, and their coaching staff has preached this, eliminate the stuff you don't need to worry about. Have somebody else figure out the tickets and the flights and the other stuff during the week. Eliminate distractions. I want you locked in on our third down game plan. I want you locked in on our red zone game plan.

I want you reciting these things. if we need the wristband, let's rock with the wristband, whatever it takes, we just want to get you once again, back to Pete Carroll, in the right frame of mind to go attack this team and give us a chance to win. I think that's the other thing is the second point is, you know, just try and avoid the freebies. Like, don't give the game away, right?

And I've been there too, where you're a young rookie on the Jets and the defense is like, good, God, man. You're making it pretty tough on us, giving the ball away on our own 20. Like, this team's got a field goal in the bag now. And you can sense that on the side line. Oh, 100%. I mean, it's just a look, a glance, just kind of like, you know, like, dang, I just took my helmet off. I was ready for some water and I got to go back on the field.

Like, that's not cool, you know? So as many times as you can avoid those freebies, I would highly recommend doing that. And then the other thing is just enjoy it, man. Enjoy this amazing time in your life and understand there's so much you're going to be unaware of. And that's okay for now. Just let that all happen. That rookie bubble that you're supposed to live in. Stay in the bubble, man, because it's a blur.

even in the bubble. Just stay in the bubble, have a ball. Trust your coaches, trust your preparation. Cut a loose. Back with more Mark Sanchez in a second. 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. This is Steve Kavino and Rich. And together we are Kavino and Rich. Kavino and Rich. Thanks, buddy. That's right. Kavino and Rich. Fox Sports Radio's newest hit show. Heard weekdays from 5 to 7. Eastern 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. Every Covino and Rich shows available as a podcast. Just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and subscribe. I'm such a rockin' dude.

The show features our unique take on sports, injected with some fun, humor, and relatability. Listen to Covino and Rich five days a week on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Covino and Rich, give me your hell, yeah. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in

the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm Yep, that's me, Clipper 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind

the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we picket here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of it. crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your How do you own the day in sports?

You make incredible plays. How do the rest of us with Irish Spring? Go to your local retailer today. Own the day, Irish Spring. All right, Mark Sanchez. I defended the Niners. I said, if you go look at venture capitalists in America, the smartest people on Silicon Valley,

they hit on 8% of their seating. It's hard to draft a quarterback. Really hard. Really hard. Do they have the heart, the soul, the workout? Sure. Everybody looks good in college. No, no.

Right, right? So what is your takeaway on Trey lands? Do they give them a fair shot? Do they rush him out of town? Where do you land on it? There's two sides of fair. I don't think anything in this league is necessarily fair, right? It just works out the way it works out.

And you want to give yourself opportunities, that's all. But as far as Trey goes, circumstantially, I don't think it would have worked just because of the lack of reps and stuff in college. Then the injuries that mounted up and now he's missing time. I mean, this kid just needs more time. in my opinion to figure out, okay, where are we at? What can he do? What can't he do? What does he understand? What doesn't he understand? And there's just not enough tape on it. So I get it. But the biggest thing I think is getting overlooked here is they gave up three first round picks for this kid and they've still been relevant, not just relevant, but really good. They're a

quarterback away from going to the Super Bowl potentially last year, like from actually competing in that NFC championship game. The year before, they're an interception away by Jukovsky Tart from walking into the end zone and walking into the Super Bowl the year before. How have they done this? How have they managed to do this with three first round draft picks potentially wasted or now wasted on a player that circumstantially wasn't the right fit? Because I mean, GM, head coach, other draft picks, acquisitions and trades.

I mean, that's a hell of a job being that close, right? least they're getting shots on goal, right? They're getting, once again, attempts missing those three draftings. That's crazy to me. If you go to Pete Carroll, Rashad Penny first round, miss, James Carpenter, not a miss, but not. Pete's history, first round picks, eh, no doubt. Nailed fourth, fifth, six. But hold on, three picks, just give me one of those guys to be like a decent contributing player, because right now you've got none of those, right? You see what I mean. So that just blew me away that nobody's, sure, fine, you make a mistake. And yes, it looks like this monumental catastrophic mistake. Well, hold on now. We're still pretty damn good.

So I don't know. In some ways, I'm just like, you know, shout out the coaching staff and GM and the whole deal. That's pretty amazing. You're doing Rams Seahawks. Let's pivot back to that. I think it's arguably, J. Mack and I have talked about this. Stafford's last year could be seven first round quarterbacks. Matt is older. His wife said recently at a podcast. He struggles to relate with younger players. He's made a fortune. He's an old mid-30 quarter. Easy now. Okay, you're right.

Same draft class. Shout-off. You're so protective of quarterbacks, but I love you for that. You're right. It's very fair. I tend to be a little harsh. I shouldn't be. I'm in my 50s. Who am I to be harsh? Okay. Interior O line. line. Yeah. I watched the preseason. Yeah. Mark.

100%. They're in trouble. Well, I think, so I think that's where the Dotson acquisition comes from with the Steelers. Now, he started there the last few years when he's been healthy and then was potentially not going to make the team so you don't really know how that's going to fit. And then you got continuity issues with him and Brian Allen. I love, I love the center. I love the left tackle, right tackle. I think no boom, Havenstein were solid in three key areas, but those interior guys. And we talked about older quarterbacks guys at the, you know, back end of their career. It's like, well, just give me the

time and I'll handle it. We'd rather not have interior pressure. So I think the rookie left guard, Avila, from TCU. So they got the horn frogs on the left because it's no boom and Avila, both Texas Christian guys. So if anything comes from the left-hand side, I'm blaming Fort Worth, you know. No, but he, I think this is going to be huge because he's coming from more of a spread-style offense. This offense, you're going to get the downhill runs. You're going to get all the misdirection runs.

And not only from the shotgun, you're going to get a ton from under center because Matt has those old-school quarterback, great feet, great pocket presence. So that's a big jump in itself. let alone the jump from college to the NFL level. So listen, are there going to be potential struggles in those areas? Yes, however, can we overcome it? And a lot of that's going to be getting the ball out fast, designing a game plan where Stafford can move a little bit,

move the pocket, give those guys up front some breathers. With a rookie quarterback, you want to give him breathers. With some rookie O-line, you want to give them breathers and have a veteran quarterback. So in some ways, they're going to help each other that way. And if there's no Cooper Cup, bottom line, McVeigh is going to have to dial up a hell of a game plan to make some noise in this game. But if anybody can do it, it's the mad scientist.

So this is the best year I can ever recall in the PAC 12 for quarterbacks. But in the nation, I watched Riley Leonard at Duke last night, the kid at Florida State. Yep, Travis. It feels like a gold rush. All those seven-on-seven camps, all of the coaching clinics, it's taking about 15 minutes. Listen, reps. And all of a sudden, it's all downhill. And I turn on the TV the last two weeks.

and I'm just like, oh my God, this is 6-4. They run, they throw. What do you make a Dion Sanders son? Oh, man. I just... You had a great story in the break about this. Yeah, I thought the long throw to the tailback out of the back field, it ends up being like a 60-yard touchdown at the bottom of the screen,

left-hand side of the screen, and it's a play you throw in warm-ups as you're getting ready for the game with like no pads on. You know, just a quick little flat route to the running back. But they got pressure on, to his blind side, he sees it, understands it, knows that that's the answer. So you can, you can tell just by plays like that during the game, not just the big splash plays and the deep shots and whatever. A lot of guys can do that in college. But when you make little plays like that that end up giving you something, you could just tell that they're in the right mind frame.

You could tell this kid gets the game. And I mean, once again, it's only one game. I got to be careful with with some of these expectations we place on these guys but you just it just showed me a lot and I can't wait to watch it. They couldn't run it much, Mark. No, no doubt. I don't think the game plan going into this thing was, hey, let's throw it 70 times, right? In your first college start, like on the road and, you know, with all the buildup and stuff, I highly doubt that was that was the game plan. So to be able adjust during the game to understand where your pressure and where you're weak, boom, and get the ball out. I mean, the kid looks nailed. so it definitely made me excited about...

What did you make a Dion? What did you make of the whole moment? I just, I didn't know what to expect. But when I... 70% transfers. But when I go back to it, it's like, what else would you expect from Dion? Like, why not?

Of course he's going to show up. It's going to be loud, and it's going to be awesome. And the unies are going to look right. You know what I mean? Everything, the warmups are going to look right. Everything's going to look good. And then, you know, get ready for some splash plays

because that's what Prime did his whole career. Yeah, I had a scout I was texting. He said, what was his line? He said he goes, prime time does not bring in average players. Yeah, right? He knows. I mean, he said it at the beginning with the Louis luggage. You know what I mean? It's like,

he didn't say, you know, the Amazon Labor Day sale luggage. He said, I'm coming in with some Louis luggage. It's like, I'm bringing some ballers. So that's the way it is. And he's not a beat around the bush kind of guy. He's not. You know what I mean? He's pretty direct. Okay. So you're doing the Rams and the Seahawks. Um, throw us, we got one minute left. Uh-oh. A team.

If it's gambling, send it to J-Mack. No, if I said to you, give me a team, Mark Sanchez, that's going to be better than the country thinks that you just think is sneaky good, a sneaky good NFL team. I honestly think New Orleans. I would, I would not be surprised if their car goes in there looks really comfortable. I think, um, I think they're going to shock some people. Good roster. And be tough enough to just weather the storm. they have enough veterans there that can weather a storm,

and we see as horrible as it is. But guys like Kelsey go down, certain things. Joe Burroughs coming back. I mean, where are they going to be at the beginning? Who knows how this whole thing ends up? It sure looks good on paper and sounds good, you know, and all these interviews leading up to the season. But show me on Sunday, and they've got a lot of guys who played on Sundays.

They're figuring it out. I think that team's going to be good. I mean, this isn't under the radar team, but Chargers look solid, man. Their training camp look good. How about a first game? Chargers dolphins. It's old, we said the old Troy Aikman rule. Let Troy Aikman off the bus first, you know,

because he's like this big Adonis of a body that's Justin Herbert. And oh, by the way, we got freaking Leon Lett. I mean, you name it, walking off the bus. So they have some head turners at practice. Once again, those guys are healthy. Look out. Chargers, Saints, agree with both. All right, Mark Sanchez, he'll do Rams.

Seahawks, as always. We absolutely love having them on the show. Thanks for watching. We'll see you tomorrow. First things first next. 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 I-Heart Radio app. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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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 2.

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