REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
WildCard Weekend Recap, Tomin / Harbaugh and CFB Championship Preview w/ Jon P
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We break down a wild playoff slate where coaching choices, conversion downs, and identity swung games more than raw stats. From Philly’s slide and San Francisco’s answers to Chicago’s surge, Buffalo’s grit, Houston’s defense, and the Chargers’ structural woes, it’s all on the table.
• Eagles’ lack of adjustments against a disciplined 49ers plan
• Bears’ fourth‑quarter resilience and Caleb Williams’ growth
• Packers’ collapse and what it says about situational football
• Bills leaning into Allen’s power and Jags’ inconsistency
• Chargers’ red‑zone failures, protection issues, and identity drift
• Rams’ late answers versus a ferocious Panthers defense
• Texans’ defense turning chaos into points
• Coaching vacancies, Harbaugh fits, and front‑office impact
• Divisional picks and who holds real January edges
• College football notes on Indiana’s surge and Texas hypotheticals
Welcome Back And NFL Headlines
SPEAKER_00And welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk Doc. You doing all right today?
SPEAKER_03Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We got one of our special guests again. Do the intro, brother.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. So John joins us uh today. So um definitely glad to have him back. There's a lot going on, of course. NFL, ton of stuff going on in NFL between coaches getting fired and and meltdown games and all that stuff. But uh yeah, John joins us. What's up, man? How you doing?
SPEAKER_01Happy to be here, man. Um happy new year, both of us.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, yes, thank you, thank you, John. Happy new to you also. You know, let's do it.
SPEAKER_00So so with John being a uh a Cowboys fan, uh I know he was thoroughly enjoying that Eagles game. So we'll start with that one first. Uh 23-19. Um I mean 49ers, Kristen McCaffrey can essentially do it all. Um definitely they lost um uh Kittle, which which is gonna hurt them down the road. But overall, the from top to bottom, the Eagles did not look great. But this was a sample of what we saw all season. So, John, real quick, what were your thoughts on this uh Niners Eagles game?
SPEAKER_01Well, first let's be clear, I I don't necessarily I'm not gonna say happy the 49ers won. I wish they could have both lost Calvin, but I'll let that go. I'll I'll let that go. No, I I mean I thought the Eagles show who they were. They're they're a team that plays well in the first half, struggles to make adjustments. Um the 49ers have a lack of they have a lot, they're they're shorter linebacker, and the Eagles couldn't run the ball. Well, a team that was designed to run the ball, that's how they won a Super Bowl, was because they could run the ball. 49ers took that away from them, and they had no response. They had no idea how to how to recover from that. And they just they struggled to make big plays and in crucial moments, making catches, making blocks, keeping on the ball. The deep their defense actually played extremely well, and uh they just kind of gave the game away.
SPEAKER_03That's my point. Yeah, Doc. Well, John, I tell you, John, John makes a good point. You gotta give Coach Shanahan tremendous credit, gentlemen, because his team is depleted to no end. Over 200 games missed by major starters. Greenlaw, Bosa, and some other cats, you know, the star receiver got paid that didn't decide to play. But it's one of those things where I pick Philly in Philly, John, for obvious reasons, you know, and and uh turns out Sirianni got bit in the ass because he could have took off Green Bay if he had the two seed by playing his starters. I understand rest, but this is a major upset, man. A lot of stuff going on in the locker room and being an NFC East man, you know, John, that AJ Brown and Sirianni going at it trying to put on a good face. I don't think AJ Brown's gonna be there next year, but to the game, I'm just shocked the way they got manhandled on the line of scrimmages, you know. And uh I everybody knows CMC is a superstar, but I didn't see nothing from Jordan Davis. Jalen Carter made a few plays, Nolan Smith. And then on offense, where the hell was Jalen Hurts, John?
SPEAKER_01You know, you're at the crib at home. And he just seemed he just seemed flat. And then sometimes I, you know, like I always say this about NFL quarterbacks, their preparation matters a lot. Jalen Hurts came out and he seemed uncomfortable from the very beginning. He seemed uncomfortable throwing the ball. And he got he got a little bit more relaxed, a little short kind of play action stuff, and I thought he'd kind of develop and work into it. But I mean Brock Purdy wasn't playing very well either. And Brock Purdy bro Brock Purdy at the end got on, got consistency, lost his best target really in that game, and still played better than Jalen Hurt. So I don't really think there's any excuse for Jalen Hurts. This one this one does fall on him and the offense.
SPEAKER_03Well, it it's too late now, but they did fire the OC, I think. Yeah, they fired him. I can't I forget his name, but it's too late now. You know, uh Barkley's a year older. He didn't have a great year that people expected. But if all falls on Sirianni, man, had they played and got the two seed, then I'm sure they would have took care of Green Bay, even though love through 14. I I think in Philly against that particular matchups matter. And Shanahan is one of those coaches where he makes adjustments in game, Marlon and John. And then he Sirianni got out coached in spite of being the defending Super Bowl champ. This was a shockingly disappointing year. But I digress. Go ahead, fellas.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. For a team that has that great of a lead, and uh for a team that really were and I I'll just I'll finish with this on Philly, and I I do enjoy rubbing this in the Philadelphia Eagles, but the team essentially the team essentially had first place in the NFC and just could win out. And even in easier games that they should have won, they got beat by teams that they should they they got beat by teams that they that they weren't as good at. And they just in the in the end of the year, they totally collapsed. So letting your starters rest when your offense isn't isn't isn't in motion, it isn't consistent, I think that was a dumb, I think that was a dumb mistake. And I think you saw the offense come out again flat, just like it did for the previous month before that. Nothing changed. So I think that was a really bad coaching decision, just kind of where the coach is a CEO. That was a bad CEO move. That's that's just my opinion.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, absolutely, brother. Good. Yep. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And probably the next best game, that Saturday night game, Green Bay, uh at uh Chicago. And you just thought by the second quarter, you're like, man, this game is over. It's done. 21 to 3. And then that fourth quarter comeback scoring 25 points in the fourth, definitely was a one of the greatest comebacks, playoff comebacks, probably we've seen of all time. So, Doc, what were your thoughts on this uh huge Bears comeback?
SPEAKER_03Can we start giving Caleb Williams his his his his uh flowers and a big spot? You know, last year he was a rookie year and it took undue criticism, and he still only had six interceptions and like 19 touchdowns. But this year he's growing up under Ben Johnson, who's been a coupe de gras for this young man. And the throw he made, John, on fourth and whatever, uh jumping up in the air, and that was that was the throw of the year. Going to your left talent. Yeah, yeah. And and just to sit to answer your question, Marlon, it's one of those things where we better take the Bears seriously. And um, I'm taking the Bears to win. But that that I digress. This game here against Green Bay, now Love had four T E passes. So you're talking about a shootout. I think Caleb Williams showed that in addition to DeAndre Swift, John, and and and uh the rookie, uh, that the rookie running back. I think this game is for real. Yeah, yeah. Uh no, the rookie running back. I forget his name. The rookie Monaga, Monaga or whatever. Defensively, yeah, I know. I can't I I get lost on these names, Marlon Last. But defensively, they did just enough. Now they gotta have to have an uptick to uh defensively under Dennis Allen. But it's one of those things where uh, John, I think you'll agree, Chicago has arrived. This is not a mistake. How many games have they won in the fourth quarter with two minutes left? Seven or eight, the cardiac kids. But then in a big spot in a postseason, they're already saying Caleb Williams, John, is the best quarterback in the history of the franchise. And we're going back to Sid Luckman. Yeah. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_01I I I agree. I think Caleb Williams, I think the reason why Caleb Williams isn't uh gets a lot of a lot of negativity is because he's not your typical prototypical, he doesn't seem focused on the surface. But in that game, you saw his dedication, you saw his passion, you saw him sit there and he was focused. He got knocked down. I mean, if you want to talk about Hart as a quarterback, he displayed that. He displayed that right there on the field. Um, I also want to just again, as a Cowboys fan, just appreciate Green Bay giving us that 20th overall pick. We really appreciate that uh for the for Mr. Carson. Um but they the the the Green Bay Packers really have to look at themselves in the mirror right now. You you just spent a lot of money on a lot of players, and you got the same result as you did last year. That's not there's no positive here. There's no net win there. The the team that's on the uptick is the Bears. And the Bears just what just went in there and literally destroyed you. I mean, if you had a lead like that, you lose to the team, there's no what was the odds I think they said of a team coming back at that point was like 83% that should have won that game at the point and they lost. That that's heartening. That's that's a franchise. I I think that's uh that's an era-breaking win. That's one of those wins where it's like, okay, this is Caleb Williams era now. I just started right here with this win. He walked in there, did that, he he played like a like a true professional, put the suit and tie on and went to work.
SPEAKER_03It was not like he had a clean game. Remember, fellas, he threw a red zone interception late. And I thought that was it. And then and and and Caleb Williams came back and he displayed the heart as you referenced. Now, on the other end of the spectrum, where do they go from here? Because you had the running back and Josh Jacobs, you had the receiver and and and Watson, and Love did throw four TD passes, John, to be fair, but at the end of the game, LaFleur lost this game. Coach LaFleur, there was some rumors about him, but they're gonna re-up here. Go ahead, John.
SPEAKER_01I always think that we have to be very careful because stats are very misleading. Yes, he scored four touchdowns, but I'm always concerned with did you convert third downs? Did you convert the the fourth downs that you needed? Those are the stats that really matter because that means that keeps the opponent off the field. If he keeps Chicago off the field, Chicago wouldn't have scored. So the four touchdowns were great. And Matthew Golden had a great play, but he really just extended yards at the catch on that play. He really ran that in with heart. But but to me, to Jordan to add to Jordan Love, I thought Jordan Love looked flat. I thought he he he put a lot of balls really low. He was throwing passes that just didn't seem crisp. I don't know if he wasn't comfortable. I don't know if he if the weather was bothering him. I don't know what it is. But he did not seem like Jordan Love that I was like, okay, this isn't the same guy that can light up offenses. Yes, the stats looked good, but the play wasn't there, in my opinion.
Bills vs Jags: Allen’s Will And Lawrence’s Ceiling
SPEAKER_03Wow. Okay. I I I kind of begged the difference, but I could see your point in game, John, relative to what happened, transpired. But uh, you know, they were up 21 to 3 or 21 to 6 or 21 to, you know, because of love. And then you mentioned Gold 21-3. Yeah. It's reminiscent, Marlon, of the 28-3. My Falcon suffered the defeat to Tom Brady in a bowl in a big spot. And to John's point, this is this is uh this is gonna hurt for years to come. And I don't think love will be the same. That's right, he was yeah, he was the quarterback coach. So yeah, good point on that, John. For sake of time, we could talk about this forever with props to Caleb Wills. But go ahead, go ahead, Marlon. Continue.
SPEAKER_00And then on the Bills and the Jags, that's another great one. Big comeback by uh Josh Allen. You thought he left a little too much time on the clock uh for him, but they were able to get an interception on the defensive side. So uh, John, thoughts on this game? And is this gonna be the year for Josh Allen to finally get over the hump and at least get to a Super Bowl without the big uh some big names in the AFC out the playoffs?
SPEAKER_01I I still think there's this monster in Denver that's gonna give Josh Allen a lot of problems with that pass rush. I just I I don't think he goes through to the Super Bowl without going for Denver. And I think their defense is just it's just stout. It just shows up. They make plays, they're smart, they're prepared. Sean Payton has a team ready every week. I mean, they come out and they their pass rush is historically just monsters. Nothing's come close to it. And so when you have a pass rush like that, it makes coverage different. But then you go in their secondary and they're loaded with talent out there, too. So I I don't I don't think Josh Allen gets through Denver. That's just my opinion.
SPEAKER_03Well, John, this was an epic meltdown, and I picked Jacksonville at home because I thought they was on an eight or nine game rain streak. Something yeah, and then Sunshine, uh he just didn't perform up to Josh Allen's level. That's what it basically comes down to, Marlon and John, because that number one, you're at home. And number two, you had the number one ranked defense against the run. Now, you might have did a number on Cook, but what if they kept going to the to the tush-push with Josh Allen? You had no answer for it. You know, big, big, big guy. Everybody knows Josh Allen's massive, you know, and and and he's still young enough to take the blows, and uh, I think he's 29. And Josh Allen willed himself this win, Marlon and John, because I expected more out of Sunshine.
SPEAKER_01Trevor Lawrence, man, you know, and it's also showed up on critical plays, and that's that's kind of what I was alluding to the kind of last. Sometimes the stats look great, but in those critical moments, is your defense just gonna show up on that third down and in that drive? Is they're gonna are they gonna stop that fourth down conversion? Those are the critical moments. You can you can because it it's kind of like when you're ranked all season, you had all this stuff going all season, but right now in this game, you're second place, and being second place in that game means you lose.
SPEAKER_03Well, John, is this the ceiling for uh Trevor Lawrence? Do they recover? Because they were red hot, you know, and everybody is young. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_01Trevor Lawrence is giving this kind of, and I don't mean to be down on him, I think Trevor Lawrence is a human being, great guy. As a quarterback, he shows flashes in the season where he is elite, and then he shows other games where he goes on stretches where he's just very average. He lost a lot of talent, he had a few injuries, don't get me wrong. But this is not the first year he's done this. In my opinion, and I don't mean this to insult him, he seems like a backup. He seems like a guy that goes in and wins seven, eight games while your starter is out, and then he disappears. That's what it seems like. Um he doesn't he doesn't seem like the franchise guy. I know he was drafted first overall, I know he's a he's a he's a great guy, people down there love him, but he doesn't have that that that that that that gumption, that, that's the case. What Caleb Williams had in the against Green Bay, when even when you're down, he didn't have it in the in that game. It was a it was a tail of two quarterbacks.
SPEAKER_03And Marlon, to John's point, this was a damning loss. Liam Cohen was up for coach of the year, and he had an excellent year. But I think as John referenced, I I think this is it for uh Sunshine, man, you know, and they didn't utilize it in the running back like they should have to keep Josh Allen off the field, you know. So we'll see what transpires. The defense is tight, they're good, they're there, but uh they lost at home. Go ahead, Marley. Yeah.
Chargers’ Meltdown: Herbert, O‑Line, And Coaching
SPEAKER_00Now uh on to the Sunday night football game. So um I'm I'm gonna break this down into uh I'll let you talk about this one. Um I'm gonna break it down into a couple parts um as far as who's uh to blame uh for this one. So I'll start with Herbert. We obviously know that he was not great. Um he didn't really have a lot of time to do stuff, but he wasn't great. He wasn't really given a receiver expands, he wasn't really aired it out. I think in his mind he was thinking about hearing everybody talk about the being open to in the playoffs. So he didn't want to have a few players, but still overall just needed to be better. So Herbert bad game by him. The offensive line, uh one out of four the offensive line. Uh of course you've got to blame them. They were awful, but they are one of the worst. I mean, we're talking backups to backup, so they were bad. Um and then the third part of it uh is Greg Greg Roman, uh the coordinator that we just fired. So some of the play calls that he called were not great. There's no way or reason why we're we get that turnover, we're in the 10-yard line and we can't score. So that was bad. Some of the play calls, some of the play calls into as well was bad. And then I've got to throw a little bit of hardball to as well because there were some who knows that that field goal uh you know at the end trying to go for it. I understand you want to be aggressive, but who knows? If we go up 3-0, it puts a little pressure on it, we have a little bit of fight in it. So who knows? Who knows what could happen? So there were a lot of questionable calls from Harbaugh and the coaching staff as well. But I'm gonna go back around and so when I go back to Herbert, I can't put all the time on Herbert because he didn't have time to draw. The offensive line is bad. There's only so much that he can do. I can't put it all on him. I can't go ahead and blame everything off on the old line because the past couple games at least giving him a little bit of time to do something. It's not all the old lines. I can't really play too much because that's what you have to work with. You cannot call up these plays that these run plays for when you know your offensive line is bad. If it's third at 15, you can't really call a five-step draftback pass play because it's not gonna have the two seconds to get the ball back and make it roll. So and with hardware, it's like I can't blame him too much because he's trying to win. So as much as I can put the blame on all of those, it's I I give all of those a pass. So it's the blame does not go on one person until everybody wants to just blame our person. I get that. But it it goes to everybody. This offense was just overall so bad. The defense did a great job getting all those turnovers, five sacks, the electric may scramble and get out a couple times, but you know, it is what it is. But for the most part, uh Doc, I'll go ahead and let's talk about this one. But for the most part, the defense was was was great, in my opinion, of to have only six six or nine points, I believe, in that first half. They did a great job. Offense couldn't get anything going. And between all those points that I just made, as far as with the with what was wrong with the offense, it was the collective, you know, there's no it's like the Spider-Man where everybody's pointing at each other. It was it's everybody's fault. So it's not just on Herbert. Go ahead, Doc.
SPEAKER_03Well, it's one of those things, and I know you don't want to hear this, Marlon, but you got clown man on both sides of the ball. But not only the young quarterback, but on defense too. Everybody knows you have injuries. I'm sure people in San Francisco, Marlon, don't want to hear you bitch about injuries with the people they lost. This is why Harbaugh had the game plan. And if you had to run the rock 50 times, you do it. You do something to protect Herbert because it looks bad. I know he's playing with a wrist or uh something like that on his non-throwing hand, John, but it's times that he did have a little bit of time to throw. He was missing people. You know, I'm I'm I'm sure one of the receivers had a good game and uh Lam McCunky had made a good catch, but eventually you're paying almost$300 million for Herbert to overcome some of this stuff, you know, and it just looks bad, man. You know, and uh sorry, Marlon, but yeah, go ahead, John.
SPEAKER_01I I think I think also we we have to this is where I think we have to realize that sometimes players are put in bad positions by coaching. Um this was a in my opinion, Marlon, I'm not a Chargers fan, so I'll just my objective opinion, I think this was a coaching loss. I think that I think the Patriots. It's outcoached the the Chargers. And usually what I say is if I tell someone how it got outcoached, if my players have a bad game, but they execute the strategy of that game and I win, that's coaching. Uh when players overcome that strategy despite having disadvantages, that's a great player playing. What I mean by that is if you know kind of what Doc said, if you know you don't have a passing game and you know you have your offensive line's depleted, okay. Well, don't do a five-step drop. Do or do a do a bootleg, roll out, give them some play action, establish the run, you know, play keep away from it. Your defense actually caused turnovers. When you get them in the corner, when you get them in the corner, you're at the goal line, you gotta execute there. That's when I include put that on Greg Roman. Okay, cool. You don't have everything else. Can you score at the three-yard line? If you can't score at the three-yard line, you shouldn't be calling plays in the NFL. That's that's how I view it. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe that's too aggressive, but when your defense gift wraps you a touchdown, take it. Because you get those two touchdowns, this game's a win. The Chargers will beat the Patriots. And the Patriots really, let's be honest, they've only beaten one team with a winning record this year, and that was Buffalo. Every other team they have has a losing record. They're not, they haven't beaten anybody that great. They're winning. Mike Ravel's done a great job patching that team together, but they're not necessarily an elite team, in my opinion. So I think the Chargers could have won that game, and I think they left a lot of meat on that bone they could have scored on.
SPEAKER_03And especially. And Hombron calls himself a great coach. I'm sorry, Marlon, but three points is three points. And you're better than that. That that's just a field goal. And to John's point, man, it's not only uh players, but it's coaching too. Three points, dog. Marlon, that hurts you. I can see it in your voice when you call in. I can hear it now. This is the Chargers who who uh by most estimates is they love Herbert as a physical talent, but something's not there, John. The last two or three playoffs, if something's not there. Eventually you have to fall back on, you know, the quarterback, you know, regardless of his injury status. Because like I referenced, John, the people in 49, I want to hear this bullshit. And it's many people they lost. You know, so I think I agree with you.
SPEAKER_01And I also want to say that also just an organizational shot, and I I say this, and I've said this about the Cowboys during the during the late 2000s, early 2010s. The problem with the the the Cowboys didn't get good until they actually lost Tony Roman for the season and they got Ezekiel Elliott with a top five pick. The problem with the Chargers is that they're so middle of the road that they never get to the elite draft picks in the draft. They're making the playoffs. They're right there. They're 11 and 5, they're good. But what you really need is you need a, you need a if you're gonna get a receiver, are you gonna get a receiver for Herbert? Are you gonna get a dominant tight end? Kyle Pitts is gonna be a free agent. Are you gonna go grab go grab something? Make this guy better. Because the team you have right now is not competitive. And you if you can't leave that much on the boat. If you're gonna be a running offense, awesome. Then spend your draft capital on that offensive line and make it a big offensive line and beat people up. But find an identity. They seem like they want to be a pass, they want to be a pass first team, then they want to be a run first team. They don't know what they want to do. And they they they need to find an identity.
SPEAKER_00I got one better for you. So one, we got a hundred million dollars in cap space. So we're gonna make a lot of changes and moves. Um but but two, to your point, uh the the defense was the strongest part last year and the strongest part of the team. But even better going further, just like our identity. We want it to be that running team with last year 15k defense, 15. We were going to get efforts with 15 seconds. That was going to be our identity. So we're definitely gonna have to get it. Yeah, but I think it's two years of defense. I think the Raiders are quite a bit. I think the Raiders. But um, I think our defense is gonna be fine. Offense we gotta get protection first and then receivers. I don't think we're gonna bring Keenan Allen back. It was great, uh a little reunion, but we we have to see what's what's there with Trey Harris. Uh so we we have to explore that and uh go from there. But for sure, O line O line is first.
SPEAKER_01I mean go trade for AJ, go trade for AJ Brown and bring in Rico Duaddle. I mean, go go go I mean, but it's kind of like at this point, at this point, at this point, you're wasting Herbert's youth. You're wasting his experience. You're you're you're you're it's you're kind of you're kind of watching a guy, and eventually, and I think Herbert has a lot of uh kind of Dak Prescott luck right now. Like I say this the same thing with Dak, how he one year he has a defense and then he has no offense, and he gets an offense and he has no defense. It's either or. Herbert doesn't have the weapons really on that team. He has Lyon McConkie, but that gets taken away, and then he has no running game or he has no line. You have to give him a compliment before you can really give him because he's put up incredible numbers some seasons, and then he's had the team, and then the defense shows it doesn't show up in the playoffs. Defense showed up in the playoffs, it's not the offense didn't show up. So it's always uh this or that. And that that's just to my opinion, is they have to if they're gonna if they have that much cap space, then they need to go use that cap space now. Like it there's no holding back. You you're in Los Angeles, you're in one of the highest one of the highest markets in the country, and and you're sitting there and you're sitting there not attracting to uh attracting free agents. I don't understand it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Well, then you to your point, real quick, John, you see what the Bears did. They got Joe Toomey, they drafted uh the kid from Tennessee three years ago, number 58. They dressed that offensive line to protect Caleb. Now, I don't know who your O-line coach is, Marlon, but do you go zone with all the injuries? It's just adjustment that your old line coach could have done. It's not like the Pantries have an 85 Bears defense, or do you put a man on man on a hat without the with the without your starters? I don't know, man. To me, you go zone and do zone block into something to make the adjustment up front because that's where it begins. You know, you do the free agent on the O line first that the Bears did, like Joe Toomey from the Chiefs and some other cats, and uh take it from there, man, because your O line is right now. Now they'll be back next year. We're talking about this year. Bottom line is three points is three points, Marlon. But I digress, continue.
Rams Edge Panthers: Stafford’s Poise, Carolina’s Defense
SPEAKER_00And the O line coach got fired too as well with with uh uh Greg Roman. So we'll yeah, I agree. I agree. Spend some money and and and let's at least get come back full strength and make something happen. So okay, all right. Um so the other game in LA, uh we'll take one uh the other LA team, uh, Ransom Panthers. Um another great game uh by him. It was looking like the Panthers. They had that home foot advantage, the place was rocking, uh, and they came back to win on that one. So uh Doc, I'll start with you real quick on that one, and then we'll go ahead and look forward to the divisional games.
SPEAKER_03We all knew that the Panthers in a bad division was like a farce, you know, and to their credit, they won the division by default, John. But they did get the Rams, and to me, Bryce Young is just not that guy. We talk about a guy that's gonna be a Frank. He's just not that guy. Stafford is. Stafford is a first battle hall of fame, and to his credit, he brought that team back by certain defeat. What the Panthers do have is the line, John, that Derek Brown and some of those other cats they have on defense. And the Rams River Mel could have lost. But Stafford said it himself. Let's snatch their heart from these fools and get out of here on the road. This is another team that should have won the division. They somewhat underperformed, losing to my Falcons and some other teams. They lost to the Panthers earlier, but you gotta give credit where credit is due. The MVP of this league, most likely, brought his team back with a great pass to a tight end nobody heard of, and that's what you're supposed to do. You know, take victory from the jaws of the feet.
SPEAKER_01That's right. He took the open manner system. And uh I'm sorry, I'm gonna interrupt you. Uh Mike Williams and Jay and JC Horn also. Give the Panthers credit on this. They they didn't belong in that game, but you sure couldn't tell by watching it. So I'll give them credit that they showed up. They showed up and they played a game. They didn't turn over. I mean, they gave a way better game than the Steelers did. Um they showed up, they showed up, they looked competitive, and they gave great football. They could walk out of there with their heads held high because, in all honesty, they shouldn't have been in that game. And they held toe-to-toe with one of the best teams of the NFC. Uh their defense looks incredible to me. I I I think that defense is your nucleus where you build that team if you're if you're in Carolina, because that defense is that defense is a problem. Their cornerbacks can both lock down. They took away Devontae Adams, they took uh they took away Puka Nakua, they took these guys away from from uh from um Stafford, and Stafford found someone else to beat you. I mean, yeah, that's great football, man. I I can't complain about that.
SPEAKER_03And McVeigh is a Super Bowl-winning chose, Marlon, so it goes noted that in spots he had to run Williams and the other cat to help out Stafford. This is in-game coaching that we're talking about tonight. And I think the fact that McVeigh did what he had to do. No, no, Stafford is great, but he still had to make the plays and the plays that were sent in. But uh it goes noted, man. And talk about the Steelers. Go ahead, Marlon, do the intro on this. Damn.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna kind of do a little two-in-one special uh in this one because this was uh I know my game was bad, but this game might have been worse. Um so the the Houston, they end up beating uh you know Pittsburgh, CJ Stroud. I the problem we have is with the Chargers, they they have their own offensive problems too as well. They got the they got the running back, they got the receivers, but the quarterback just can't figure it out. So as they get ready to go on to the next round, how are you feeling that you think CJ Stroud can possibly upset uh the Patriots going forward, Doc?
Texans’ Defense Carries Stroud Past Steelers
SPEAKER_03Well, I I I think the fact that that defense is so stout that CJ Stroud can have four or five turnovers and they still win, but that's the Steelers. But he did do it on the road. That's still that defense came through. It was like the 78 Steelers, that defense. You meet Joe Green and LC Greenwood, John. And then of course, CJ Stroud did not play a clean game at all. And if they're going to advance, he can't go through that bullshit again. Uh the running game where Mark and Chubb kind of held it together because CJ Stroud was so called, but CJ Stroud did make some critical plays in moment uh to help his team out, some pass plays. But, you know, credit to defense for making two defensive touchdowns, you know, one by rankings, the other by that corner. And that's a product of the Steelers. The old man is the old. I don't expect him to play another year. He's gonna retire. Should have retired last year. First battle hall of fame or John and and Aaron Rodgers, but this was ugly, man. This was really ugly for the Steelers fans.
SPEAKER_01I think we gotta give, we gotta give Houston's defense credit where credit's due. That team, sorry, that team, that team is running on that defense. And that defense is incredible. And I really think, I mean to be honest, I think that that Denver game is gonna be a low-scoring game. I don't think this offense is gonna do well. I honestly think this is gonna be one of those games where whoever gets the most pick sixes, most turnovers, most fumbles, they can do this. This is going to be a coaching game. This is the uh this is uh D'Amico Ryan versus Sean Payton. And you're gonna see a bag of tricks, and you're gonna have to do something to get those defenses off the off their game. Um, I mean, Sean, they can't do this, they can't do Sean Sean Payton can't do his his his typical onside kick thing that he normally does the rule. But he's gonna do some just expect the unexpected with him because he know he watched that game too, and he watched the team to turn the ball over, and he's saying, okay, can my offense convert better against that defense than what the Steelers did, even if we turn the ball over? But can my defense take CJ Stroud's turnovers and turn those into wins? I think Denver wins that just because of that reason.
SPEAKER_03Well, that's a good point, John and Marlon. I think we'll all agree. Yeah. Oh, they're playing the Patriots, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they're playing the Patriots. I messed that up. I must I'm I'm sorry, that's my fault.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think I think they're gonna I think they're gonna beat the Patriots. I'm picking Houston versus Denver. I'm going ahead of the I'm going ahead of the game. Yeah, sorry. I'm picking Houston too.
SPEAKER_03That's a good point. But getting back to this game, though, fellas, I think we'll both agree that we've never seen a quarterback play so horrific and still win in a postseason. It's not regular season. On the road. So your point goes noticed, John, that this defense, you remember the 85 Bears and all those guys, the single carry and dent and all that, and that ain't happening. McMahon didn't make, he didn't really play all like that. He wasn't like a first team all pro, but he didn't turn the ball over.
SPEAKER_01So he's the greatest running back, he had the greatest running back the world's ever seen, and Walter Pate. Um catch, throw, and do everything else you could imagine. And so you get that in a good defense, you can beat a lot of people.
SPEAKER_03Houston's running game is serviceable, but he has to stop turning the ball over for them to advance. And credit, credit uh D'Amico Ryan, who's an ex-R-Pro linebacker himself, tell us, to let this defense make an identity, especially in a in a city like Pittsburgh. This is Steelers here. You know, you can argue that they shouldn't have been there to begin with, the Baltimore's missed kick, but I think I think Tomler knew before the game that he was out. He was gone. You know, I think he is.
SPEAKER_01I don't think that I don't think that I I really don't think that the the I to be honest with you, I don't think Baltimore would have done much better in that game than Pittsburgh did. Um just being honest, just being honest, I think the NFC, I think the NFC North, dare I say it, and people can burn me on this, I think it's the weakest division in football right now. Um I think it's I think it's even weaker than the NFC than the AFC South used to be. With uh when they were when they were pretty bad. Right now, everybody there is banged up. The the Cincinnati Bengals aren't good, the Browns are young. Other than Miles Garrett, there's nothing really special on that team. And now you look around, it's just kind of a it's kind of a destitute, destitute era. Because now, I mean, when Rogers leaves, the Steelers have no future. That's wide open for the taking there if the if the Ravens get their head on straight.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I can see that's fair. It would have been no difference, given that the defense is so dominant. I mentioned a 78 steel, that's real talk, man. From all three levels, Marlon, the corners, the defensive backs, linebackers, Will Harris, I mean Will Anderson the third from Alabama. He was an all-America then, you know. But all those guys are good. All those cats, they can do it, man. That they just had five turnovers, John. Come on. On the road.
SPEAKER_01I hear you. And I don't that that that's that that's sometimes why I said what I was saying. Like, you know, sometimes we kind of tell about these quarterbacks, we would say, oh, well, look at their playoff record and look at this. Well, Jalen Hurts, we saw a quarterback that has a great winning playoff record. CJ Stroud just won a playoff game that he shouldn't have won. On any other team, he wouldn't have won that. So it's kind of we have to we have to be careful when we look at these stats and look at the that's what I said. Sometimes you have to look at the game because the game tells you far more than who won or lost. It's uh coaching won that game. When a player failed to execute and a coaching still won, that's great coaching.
SPEAKER_03That's right. Well, Marlon, I know you want to get into these coaching finals. Some big names out there, but go ahead. You're gone. Let's go.
Coaching Carousel: Tomlin Pause, Harbaugh Sweepstakes
SPEAKER_00Yeah, some big names. And the biggest news now, um, as we heard earlier today, Mike Tomlin's stepping away. So they're they're pretty much told that he will probably be back at some point, but he is stepping away, at least for now. And of course, John Hobb on the news. Uh Doc, I want to get your thoughts on this when he stays in the interview with the Titans, the Giants, and of course your Falcons. So when you think about I don't know why the Titans are taking out, of course, you have to quarterbacks rebuilding. You don't really know where you guys are at right now. And that's about the best thing that you guys got going. But then when you look at the Giants, I mean they have Jackson Dart, they have uh uh pretty much about it. It's Jackson Dart. But uh but I mean, would you want uh you know a hardball coming to town? Well, what's your um?
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. Yep. I want him, I want him in the worst way, John and Marlon, and I say that because not only does he bring the pedigree, but he brings the football acumen and the how-to-do with a young quarterback. Now, we're gonna have to get a like guy like Malik Willis, you know, or somebody like that to fill the void right now, because I don't think Kirk Cousin, we can cut Kirk Cousin, it wouldn't be a cap here because he he restructured his deal. But you mentioned Kyle Pitts, who I think we're gonna resign. He had 88 catches, John, a career year. You don't want to go backwards. He's only 25. Dejan Robinson arguably is the best running back in the league on this side of Saquon. And then defensively, Marlon, you got, and this is where he made his money. You got James Pitts Jr., who had 10 sacks, 10 and a half, and you got Jalen Walker, who's the 15th overall pick. He has six sacks. And you got a lot of other pick people on that side of the ball, like Xavier Watts, the rookie from Notre Dame, John. Led all rookies with five minutes up, playmaker. So to ask your question directly, Marlon, I want him. We did interview Harbor for a little bit just to see where he's at. And we did he wants a lot of control. And I don't think Mr. Blank was to give it up. That's why we interviewed the Seattle OC and some of the other people that is out there. But yes, I want him. Tomlin, Tomlin's still on the contract. You have to give up some kind of uh compensation at Pittsburgh to uh get his services in Atlanta, and we don't have a number one pick, you know, because we traded to get Pierce with the Rams. You can give up a second or a third, but is that too much? And and by the way, he might want to get away from it for a year or two. But he his contract ends with Pittsburgh in 027. So why would you mess a paycheck up and not coach when you're getting paid by Pittsburgh, you know? So I don't know. You I we don't have that conversation to get there. Go ahead, John.
SPEAKER_01I I I I also I will say before I I think Saquon has been dethroned by Jonathan Taylor, but uh that's just my opinion. I'll leave that on a running back. In a running back race, I put Bijan in Jonathan Taylor, my top. But uh, but I will say this, and I just want to throw this out there. Mike Tomlin, we have to really be have a real conversation about what he is. The Steelers are 0-7 in the last seven playoff games. I mean, Mike Tomlin came into a great situation and he won with that. But since then, since he's been cooking the dinner, it hasn't been that great. With no Rothis Burger, he hasn't been that great. With no with with none of the guys that that Bill Coward brought in and set up. I think that Mike Tomlin is respected. I think he's a great organizer. I'm just not sure if his coaching style works right now. So he might need to be in the front office. He might be great in that. Um, it is also the Harbaugh talk is also Miami and the Giants. That's right. A lot of coaching vacancies. A lot. I mean, Miami has got to go get a GM and then go. Find a coach. There's gonna be a lot of stuff. I don't know if they pull out of the college ranks. Who knows? Um, but I think Atlanta, Atlanta has a nucleus to build on there. And if I were a coach, Atlanta looks like the most interesting job to take. Because again, I believe you fired your GM as well, if you correct me if I'm wrong, Doc. Yeah, you did.
SPEAKER_03We did. He's out. Yeah, front note. Yeah, he's gone.
SPEAKER_01The front office the front office of these teams really matters when you're a coach because you walk into these situations and you're like, okay, am I going to be in a situation where I can win with the talent here, that I can add pieces? Can I bring talent in? Do I have a skill set that brings in talent? Do I have a reputation? The guys want to come play for me. What do you have? And so I really think if I if I were if I'm looking at that, you have Drake London, you have uh you have Drake London, you have Pitts, you have all this talent here. Maybe Michael Phoenix isn't the guy. Maybe you go because he's he's gonna be what 28, 29, I believe coming off now?
SPEAKER_03So he'll he'll be uh 27 this year. He's not that old, yeah, 27. Okay, coming off of ACL. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Right. Maybe then you don't have the first round draft pick, but maybe in the draft, you look at building bringing in a replacement, maybe in free agency. I don't know. But I don't I think with the amount of talent they have there, they have a window to be great because again, while Carolina has that defense, like you said, Bryce Young might not be the guy there. That division, there's a lot open there. The see the Saints are the Saints are a toss salad of I don't know what right now. They have no idea what they're doing. So you get yeah, you can go around and you can probably run that division for a little bit. But I mean Baker Mayfield looked great, but that team was banged up, and they're about to lose a lot of those guys too, because they're getting older. So that's what Atlantic Falcons are in a good spot right now. They just gotta they just gotta execute and get make some good choices.
SPEAKER_03Well, John, remember, and Marlon, uh Matt Ryan was hired to be the president of the uh organization. We reassigned Rich McKay. He's more like a figurehead now, Rich McKay, uh the son of old John McKay, you know, and he might have been a problem with these some of these pieces. Now, gentlemen, I'm gonna throw something out there relative to the Falcons. Uh, Trinidad Chamberless is not slated to go in the first round, and he petitioned the NCAA for a seventh year of eligibility and it because he hired his lawyers. Now, if he gets turned down, he's pretty much forced to be in the league. And I'm trying to ascertain from you two do we take a shot at him in the second round, given what he did to Georgia and some of the teams all year, what he did against Ole Miss, because he's not a first-round talent. Uh, but it he it looks like he's gonna get turned down for a seventh. He was at Ferris State, and he's one of those guys, a playmaker like that, that can come in and wash the laundry until Penix gets healthy and take it from there. I don't know. Have you heard anything? Like is he is he gonna get a seventh year? Or is he somebody that Atlanta might want to look at, or is it Malik Woolett, a veteran for a bet uh pretty much a young vet team? Your call. I don't know.
Roster Building And Draft Philosophy
SPEAKER_01I I what I I if I if I was if uh if you if John Parker's GM walking in, I don't bank my franchise on a player that's that doesn't want to play in the NFL. That's how I that's that's just my opinion. If he wants to stay in college, if he wants to stay in college, let him stay in college. Great for the NIL, that you know, these kids can go out and hire lawyers because they got some money now. I love it. I love the fact they can take the NCAA to court. Love it, keep doing it. But my but my point is that if you're if you're if you're looking at if you're looking at the uh you're looking at the franchise as a um if you're looking at the franchise as a whole, does this yeah, is this the guy that I want to spend capital on? I I I don't think so. Personally, I wouldn't put my capital in him. But right, I think what you could do is you may be able to trade back into the late first round, and I would grab him, I would grab him on a five-year deal or somebody like that at the 31st pick. I'd do something like that. That would be good because you're picking pretty early, so you're just moving by what, seven, eight picks up. It's not that big of a deal.
SPEAKER_03You could Yeah, but John, we don't have a we don't have a first round pick, man, because we traded to the Rams to pick up James Pierce Jr. That's why Fatno got axed. We don't know.
SPEAKER_01But I mean what I mean is that use a second round pick because you're drafting high. Oh, that's right, yeah. And you move up, you move up a few picks and pick them at 28, 29 on one of these, one of these other teams and trade a little capital there. So you kind of move him in the first round pick because if he is a good talent, you're gonna want him on a five-year deal. You don't want him on a four-year deal because the three years you've got to resign them and it costs more money, and it just it goes on this whole thing. That's what I'm that's what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_03Well, you hit on something on your first statement, and Marlon, we'll move on before I say this. It's just if it does he want to go to the league, you know, will you be forced? That's the key right there. His his skill set says he can do something as a backup, but as you reference, you know, is he ready for the league mentally? He came from Division III. And this is really his first year of really showing out a D1. He's just a name because he tore Georgia with some unbelievable accuracy and throws a deep. He has the arm talent and the mobility. But uh uh uh, I don't know, you know, I think.
SPEAKER_01You gotta develop, you gotta develop, you gotta develop these guys, and and and and it's kind of what I said about Shador Sanders. I'm not knocking Shador. I think Shador is a great quarterback, but don't be afraid of that development time. Don't be afraid of getting a bit in a veteran and sitting there and learning a little bit. Because you see a lot of these games, you see Trevor Lawrence, you see these guys. A lot of these guys they come in and start as a rookie, they go on to the playoffs, people, oh, they didn't perform. It's a process. There's a process that goes into being a professional, to being a starter. In my opinion, a lot of the guys that they struggle a lot early in their career, or they have really great seasons, they have ups and downs, like CJ Stroud. He needs a good veteran to sit there, show him how to organize his planning and preparation for the game. It makes him a better player. That's just my opinion. I mean, you look at you look at Drew Bleso and what he did with what he did with Tom Brady. Tom Brady said, Hey, I learned a lot from Drew Bleso. I learned how to prepare for a game to do that. You see Aaron Rodgers with Brett Farr, they learn what the starter does and they go from there. Then they put that all together. They put their own talent, their own mix, everything else in there, but they learn from someone who's done it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, that's good. But real quick on these coaching vacancies, I don't know which coaches' vacancy. The Raiders need severe help. You know, they're gonna draft a kid at one. But uh, you know, who's gonna be their coach? And does Harbaugh go there with a rookie quarterback? He's not Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh was there, LJ was there, rookie. Right. But uh this kid here, he does have accuracy. He just clowned uh the other night against Oregon. Three incompletions, five touchdowns. Yeah, but I don't know. Who knows what the Harbaugh's thinking? I don't know who's gonna be the coach.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Giants, you have the Giants, Arizona, Arizona, yeah. Arizona, there's a lot of vacancies in the NFL. And the Tennessee Titans are sitting there with young Cam Ward in a solid defense. I I mean that's a that's appealing to a lot of teams. If you're a solid defensive coach, you have a young quarterback, you can build, you can build a reputation there. It's to me, in my opinion, a lot of these teams, they need a younger quarterback, they need a younger coach. Some of these teams need a veteran coach, they're already there. Some of these teams need to be developed into something and kind of bring in something new, something fresh. But that's I said it also depends on the staff they bring with it. So there's a lot to this on those vacancies. How come Brian Flores' name is has not come up?
SPEAKER_03Is it because he sued the league?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Is it because he's an African-American? I don't know. That's a core. I want to ask you that. Yeah, go ahead.
SPEAKER_01Brian Flores is being mentioned right now. The Dallas Cowboys asked permission to interview him for the defensive coordinator job. They also asked you to interview Jim Leonard at Denver, uh, a couple other guys. Brian Flores, though, uh, from this is just from what I've heard, he wants a lot more control of his personnel if he's defensive coordinator. That's something that would clash with some owners. I don't know. I personally think he did a solid job in Miami. I'd love to see what he could do with the defense like Atlanta. I'd really love to see what he could do with that. With that young calendar. That'd be great. But there's so many more in like the the head coaching job is so much more of a and not an X's and O's thing. A lot of those guys are great organizers. And they just organize good people that are good at their jobs. And so I think some and I think Brian Flores, I don't know. I we haven't to be fair, he hasn't been given a fair enough shot to assess whether or not he's a great coach, a good coach. He did have a he had a bad start to that season and then finished strong. But we don't know what he is what he really is. So that might be hard for teens to bank their whole whole whole future on, but the man can coach. X is and O's, he is, he is, he is top of the game. He can do that. So I just want I'm I'm critical to see how I'm critical of teams to see how they handle that. Do you put someone with him that you want to do that, or how much control do you give him of his coaching staff? There's a bunch of things that go into that.
SPEAKER_03That's fair. I know we run out of time, Marlon. So let's get to our picks for this weekend's game. And I'll start it off. I like, I like, I like uh, to be honest with you, I like Houston, Texas, John briefly read. I like the Houston, Texans. I like the Rams to do the number, and I like Seattle. Yes, I said it. I like Pacific Northwest. And then we'll take it from there. And uh, you know, it's gonna be great, this divisional round. But go ahead, John. I know I'm missing a game or two.
SPEAKER_00Sorry, Bills and Broncos, Doc. Who you got in that one?
SPEAKER_03Who and the Broncos? Who's that? Bills?
SPEAKER_01Bills and Broncos.
Divisional Picks And Playoff Paths
SPEAKER_03No, no, I'm going with Josh Allen, baby. I'm going with Josh Allen all the way, Milano and then uh Ed Oliver. I'm taking James Cook. I and I don't like McDermott, but I, you know, I I I think Josh Allen just being Superman, he's much better than Bo Nicks if you want to go there. And I love their defense. It's gonna be like a 13-10, 14-10 type of game that they have in in Denver. But I think Josh Allen's gonna do enough, gentlemen, that he's gonna win that game. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01I'm I I I'm gonna take the I I I'm I I'll just kind of take the suspense away. I still think the Super Bowl is Denver Broncos versus Seahawks. And uh I think that's how that's how it's gonna go. Uh I I think that the I think that the Patriots, I don't think they played enough really good teams, and I think that they'll kind of get they'll kind of Drake Mays played well and he'll do well, but that defense is incredible in Houston, and they'll give him they'll give him some fits and they'll give him some problems. I think Houston wins that game. I think bro I think it I think the AFC championship is Houston versus the Broncos. I think if C I think it's definitely gonna be the Seahawks gonna take it. NFC. NFC, NFC. I can't argue with that. Yeah. I'm gonna go, you know what? I'm gonna go bear Seahawks for the NFC title. Wow.
SPEAKER_03Wow! Wow! You talk of Matthew Stafford going down, John. I love it. I love it.
SPEAKER_01I I I got that's my risky pick. I I I still think Matthew Stafford will do it. I just I'm I just like I just like the way Caleb Williams played in that last game. I just love to see him do it.
SPEAKER_03It's an imp factor with Chicago, Marlin, right now, today. It's in Chicago. Cold weather.
SPEAKER_00Not that it bothers Stafford, but it's gonna be 18 degrees out there Sunday night. So it's gonna be a cold weather.
SPEAKER_01They got a little swagger, they got a little swagger in the step right now. So I I'm not I think Chicago believes in themselves more than you believe in Chicago. And so to me, that us against the world mentality, when you don't believe in our quarterback, we still beat they beat their hated rival, they beat him on a national on a national stage, they beat him at home in the city that hasn't had a win in a long time. I I wouldn't want to play that team right now. They got all the momentum. The Rams, while they pulled out a Gussie win, that was a team that should have been an easier win. I still think it's kind of kind of they might be in a little shock after that, where Chicago's on the up, the Rams are trying to fix things. But again, McVeigh is an incredible coach, so we'll see what happens.
SPEAKER_03Don't forget, fellas, the Bears do have talent with a doze his second year, and then you got uh Moore. And I love, I love, I love Swift. He's he's really helped out that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they can run the ball and just grind you out if they want to as well. They can play a lot of different styles of football. So yeah, that's the same.
SPEAKER_03That's a n that's that's that's a low score. I'm gonna go 21-17 Bears. I like that.
SPEAKER_01I like that. Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_03I'll go.
SPEAKER_01I'll go I'll go, uh, I'll go, I'll go. I think Coastal Lugan's been coming on lately. He's been playing well and catching the ball in critical moments in the third down. I'm gonna go 24-17 Bears.
SPEAKER_03Okay, okay. And then uh, you know, and the other one, Seattle. I don't know how uh Shanahan's doing it, but Seattle's gonna take care of business. I refuse to believe, and that coach needs to get some votes for Coach of the Year. This is the Pacific North one. Nobody really talks about Seattle, you know, that bothers me. And they manhandled them last time, you know, held them to three points.
SPEAKER_01That running that running game and their defense just grinds people down. And I mean, they literally just they they they're they kind of play a really old school style football. Um, it it's really and Jiggly Smith is the leading receiver in the NFL, and you kind of don't even notice that he's there sometimes, and he just makes these catches like, wow, okay, I thought this was a running team I was watching. And then they suddenly start passing, and they're good at that too. So, yeah, I think Seattle takes this.
SPEAKER_03Sam Darnold for last year with the Minnesota. Like, I think he's learned this last year, Molly. But go ahead, you know, uh uh college football. I know we run out of time. Let's go, baby.
SPEAKER_00So looking at what looking at Oregon, I I definitely was somebody that thought Oregon could run the table with what they did, uh Texas Tech and that ended up running into Indiana. Um so, real quick, Doc, your thoughts on on Indiana taking care of business. Uh, and did you think that Oregon had a chance? Doc, go ahead on that one first.
SPEAKER_03Well, I I think uh that was a mismatch from the beginning when the quarterback, who I like, Dante Moore, Johnny the first first play, he threw a pick six, and from there it went downhill. You know, in Indiana, Kurt Kurt Sanetti got this thing rook moving, man. And it's one of those things where it's almost stunning to see a quarterback have only three incompletions, and over two games he got eight touchdowns, you know. That's sick. Yeah, the and the the year that Joe Barrow had at LSU can be comparable to this kid here uh with Mendoza. But I I think it's gonna be a good game, provided Beck doesn't uh turn the ball over. And Marler, remember, that defensive line from Miami is physical, man. You know, Bain is a top five pick at the edge, and the other cat on the other side is a top 15 pick. And can Indiana's O line, you know, uh withstand the barrage that that defense, you know, is gonna bring. And this is a good matchup because their defense and linebackers are safeties, but the running back from Miami, he's the key, Fletcher. And does Beck have enough not to turn the ball over to your sick net is defense? I'm going to Indiana, man. I love the story. There's a real thing here with the quarterback, you know, and I I think it's gonna be 24-21. Indiana.
College Ball: Indiana’s Surge And Texas What‑Ifs
SPEAKER_01I I think Indiana, I think Indiana, Indiana has uh has an underrated pass rush. Their pass rushes terrorize everyone they play. They're small, they're undersized, they're undersized. Miami's Miami's offense average offensive lineman outweighs them by 50 pounds. It's an incredible thing. They have an average weight of 50 pounds and four inches in height above upon average against against them. I still think Indiana wins this. They have more six-year starters, they have more guys that have been doing this longer. I I think the veteran the veteran play comes down. I think Indiana wins this big. I I I say this. I know Mike, I know Michael every wants to pull his belt out. I think they beat him by 30. Woo!
SPEAKER_03I agree with you, the experience, man, but the uh the use of the big thing.
SPEAKER_01I think I think talking pick six and runs, man. I think they just I think I think Indiana really does take this. And uh shout out to my buddy Rich, who your former who's as well. So he's played with football there. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'm buying in the Indiana, that's why I picked him, but you're saying a route. You're assuming that Carson Beck's not gonna pick the you see what you're assuming Carson Beck's not gonna protect the ball. That's what you're saying.
SPEAKER_01I'm assuming that I'm assuming that Indiana is gonna play the same way they played. And if Carson Beck played the way he's played, no matter how good that defense is on Miami, Indiana will Indiana will come out on top. And I think they come out on top big.
SPEAKER_03Okay, you're on record. Marley, you hear this? You're writing it down. Wow. Okay. All right.
SPEAKER_00Now, just one last question for you guys. Do you think if Texas made it, do you think they could possibly have a type of run like Miami did? I know there was a lot of controversy about Texas and Miami getting in. Do you think Texas could have made a run like Miami did in the top of the ball playoffs? Go ahead, John.
SPEAKER_01Well, Archie.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, go ahead, John. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_01Uh I think that uh I I think what I was thinking is Arch Manning isn't as experienced as a lot of these quarterbacks. While the defense on Texas did play solid, they did play great. I think they could have won a game, maybe two, but I don't think they would have matched Miami's run. I don't think they would have done that. I think they would have beat a couple teams. I think they would have struggled if they played Georgia. I think they would have paid a lot of teams they would have struggled with, but they could have beat up, they could have beat Texas Texas, they could beat AM again. They could beat those teams. I just don't know. There are teams in the tournament they could beat. I just don't know when you get to that top five. Like, I think Texas would get dog walked by Indiana. I don't know. I think a better game would have been Texas versus Oregon. That would have been a fun game to watch, but I don't think they I don't think they beat, I don't think they they would be in the title game at all.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I agree with John. This is a big boy. And Arch Manning, you gotta be fair. This is first year at a big spot, you know, and and he he did good down the stretch, beating AM and all that. But uh, yeah, next year they're doing a lot of good things with some transfers and some recruiting. So you'll see them next year. Big time.
SPEAKER_01They picked up Coleman, Coleman from Auburn. They got running backs coming in. This the Texas is gonna be stacked next year.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. But for this year, Marlin, all they they wouldn't have made a run, to be fair. You know. So I I agree. I you I think it's gonna be closer, but he John picks a route. You're on record, brother. This is great dialogue, man. I know we went over it.
SPEAKER_01I'll take the pain and punishment. I'll take Lori. I'll take the boys.
SPEAKER_00And I will I will leave you guys on this note. Uh other three quarterbacks uh that lost their first three playoff starts. Tate Manning, Matt Stafford, and Matt Ryan. So Herbert's gonna be a good thing. It's gonna be fine. I wouldn't mind Michael Daniels from Miami. I also would not mind Brian Dallas. To see what he did with Josh Allen, I wouldn't mind to see him uh in LA.
SPEAKER_01Uh button's can I can I just can I just can I just say this? And I I mean this as a Kowboys fan. Yeah, you don't want problems. Brian D Ball, Brian D Ball, I watched his offense for about seven years. I I Dak Prescott since Brian never lost a game playing Brian D Ball as head coach. I just want to bring that up. His play calling, the defense was predictable. Saquon Barkley left for a reason. I don't wish that that that that anguish on Herbert. I think Herbert is a great player. Brian D. Ball did have Josh Allen, but he there there are better there are better systems to run than that one, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_03That's fair, John. That's fair. I'm a reserve comment and see what they're gonna do in the offseason with the Chargers. A big market, big organization, big fan base. So I'm keeping my mouth shut until I see Harvard do this thing. Right now it's ugly. But go ahead.
Closing Thoughts And Sign‑Off
SPEAKER_00That's all I got for you guys. Uh so we will uh tune into the game, championship game on Monday. Obviously, have the games uh this weekend. See who comes through, but other than that, we appreciate you guys for joining. Doc, you got anything else for us?
SPEAKER_03No, this is brilliant talk. Yes, hopping on at the King Day D, John. We love you, man. Good dialogue.
SPEAKER_01Appreciate it, gentlemen. Always love being here.
SPEAKER_00All right. We'll catch you guys next time. Peace. Peace.