SCARLET ORANGE BROWN

Why Ohio State looks unstoppable while the Bengals gamble on Flacco and the Browns juggle quarterbacks

• Ken Carpenter and Chris Huesman • Season 1 • Episode 7

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Defense can set the ceiling on a season, but only if your offense knows how to cash the checks. We open with Ohio State’s 42–3 dismantling of Minnesota—numbers that only tell part of the story. The Buckeyes are thriving because the tight end has returned to the center of the script, the offensive line is bullying fronts with Ohio-bred starters, and the receiver room punishes any coverage choice. Jeremiah Smith draws gravity, Carnell Tate explodes into space, and Max Clare keeps chains moving. With Illinois on deck, we walk through the matchups, injury notes, and why veteran focus has erased those old midseason trap-game vibes.

Then we head to Cincinnati, where the Bengals just made one of the most intriguing moves of the year: trading within the division to bring in Joe Flacco. It’s unconventional—and it’s exactly the kind of stabilizing bet a roster with elite pass catchers needed. We break down how a five‑man front and added heat on quarterbacks quietly boosted the defense, why Browning’s turnovers made the pivot unavoidable, and how a quick-processing veteran can turn protection into points. We also set expectations for Packers week, from spreads to live upset paths.

Cleveland’s story is about the last two minutes. Dylan Gabriel’s debut was steady, Quinshon Judkins ran with purpose, and the defense remains a force—but endgame execution keeps slipping. We get candid on Kevin Stefanski’s conservatism, the quarterback depth chart questions, and the simple formula that fits the Browns’ identity: aggressive calls, heavy run, and defense dictating terms. Along the way, we zoom out to Penn State’s pressure cooker—buyouts, NIL, big-game records—and the league-wide reality that injuries and thin margins separate contenders from almosts.

If you love Ohio football—Buckeyes dominance, Bengals recalibration, Browns grit—this one delivers strategy, context, and clear takeaways you can argue about all week. Tap follow, share with a fan who needs the receipts, and leave a quick review to tell us your Illinois and Bengals–Packers predictions.

Tune in every week for a new episode!

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to the Scarlet Orange and Brown Podcast. This just brings you the best of Ohio Football every single week. From the Ohio State Podcast to the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Browns, we've got every inch of the Fockey State covered, inside the backs, and plenty of gold opinions. Because here it's all football, all Ohio, all the time. Here's your host coming to you live from the Dublin bubble, Chris Newsman, and Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_01:

Hello and welcome to the SOB Scar of the Orange and Brown podcast. I'm your host, Coach Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm Chris Usman.

SPEAKER_01:

And welcome to another week of Ohio football. And uh as always, we start off with the Ohio State Buckeyes. They they played Minnesota this past week and kept up their uh defensive uh domination by winning 42 to 3. PJ Fleck just couldn't believe couldn't drop enough accolades for the Ohio State program. Uh they travel next to Illinois, and I just think that any team that wants to focus on Jeremiah Smith, they're gonna be in trouble because Carnell Tate is out there in their deep their Max Clare, they're tight end. They just have way too many weapons and they just seem to get better every week.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I I totally agree with you, Kenny. And um, I think we saw how important Max Clare was in the game planning uh this week. Um I mean, they were hitting him on outs, they were hitting him on 10-yard ends, um, you know, all over the place. But um, you mentioned a couple things there I wanted to expound upon, and that was just insane. Um that, you know, focusing on Smith, I mean, Smith's gonna be Smith. I mean, he's gonna get his touchdowns, he's gonna get his yards, but uh Carnell Tate, I mean, I wouldn't have believed it, but he had 183 yards Saturday. Yeah. And, you know, I think he's just one of those types of receivers that would be a number one anywhere else, kind of like a T. Higgins uh in that situation, uh, being overshadowed by Jamar Chase. But, you know, I think uh Tate is one of those guys, you know, you can't turn your back on. And then, you know, something that I really, really like is the addition that we are going to our tight ends like we did in the olden days. Um, when I say olden days, I'm talking 10, 15 years ago. Um, but we would use our tight ends so much, so much. Um, you know, it's just evident by the number of tight ends that a high state has playing in the NFL uh right now. But um, you know, Claire's special. Uh he's not only can he block, but he can uh you know bring out and you know that tight end room is just amazing. I mean, Kasmarick's in there too, as well. So um, yeah, very, very happy with high estate's performances. Their passing game is on point. Uh their running game is getting better as we speak. Uh the offensive line is asserting their will, uh, led by you know Austin uh Searveld. And, you know, it's just they're they're to me, they're outclassing uh their opponents by their maturity level that they have. It seems like they know what they want to do and they know uh how to get it done, um, whether that's coaching or uh whether it's just um you know guys that have been there for a while. This watch other uh guys that have ended up in the pros do it. Um, but the O-line is special. Um you combine that with some creative play calling, like Brian Hardline has been doing lately. Um, and I think we're starting to really click on offense. Um defensively, they're the best in the country. I think they're third in the points per game allowed, and that's around five now, I think. Um, but uh only 215 yards per game. Uh they're giving up. Um, and you know, not only are they sting uh uh stingy, but they're stingy. Um, you know, they fly to the ball, it's like the silver bullets of old, uh, they're relentless. Um and then the last couple things I had written down this week, Kenny, was just Coach Day's focus, I think, is um really paying dividends for us. I think in the past he would concentrate mainly on the bigger games coming up, and some of those teams that like Minnesota and you know, whoever else that we would play would, you know, have a chance to pick us off. Um, it seems like we'd always have a close game with an Illinois or a Purdue or an Iowa, you know, or an Indiana or whoever that might be. And it shouldn't have been that way. But I think his focus is to the point now. I think he learned a lot last year, especially with the playoff system in play, and that focus every single week and how important it is. Um, and then again, I just wanted to reiterate that veteran presence, you know, key juniors and seniors out there that are um, you know, just making a great example for these younger players. You know, one of the things I think we're really gonna need against Luke Altmeyer and the Illinois quarterback, and I think this is the second one that you mentioned, is, you know, I'd really like to see Kenyatta uh Jackson back from injury. And the way they've been talking this week, um there's a real good chance he could play. Um, but Illinois is gonna be stingy uh at home. Um they're very good when you get them on their home turf.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, you know, the the thing that just I I don't think people give him enough respect, even though he's leading the country in passing efficiency, is Julian saying he is doing everything that uh you could possibly ask. And and it helps that you have an offensive line that uh the what I like to see is four of the five starting offensive linemen are from the state of Ohio. So it's getting the right guys here in the state of Ohio when it comes to recruiting Ryan Day is and uh you know it's just uh one of those things, you know. You you talk about you know, the the best receiver in the country and uh you know he was he was probably that last year. And um the secondary receiver, Carnell Tate, took advantage of it this past weekend and he looked back to last seeking season. The guy that got was the second option, I guess, was a Meko Buka.

unknown:

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01:

And he is probably on track to be uh rookie of the year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So they they they do so many things right. And you know, Bo Jackson just uh, you know, what once his body fills out, and I I can't imagine how good he's gonna be as a sophomore and a junior. And uh, you know, th they're doing the right thing by giving him the majority of the snaps. And I think it uh it really wakes guys up when you uh don't produce or you make a mistake.

unknown:

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01:

There's somebody behind you because uh a perfect example was when they brought in uh uh Keenholz to to run a a play and he didn't cut it up and run it right up where they were supposed to, and he ran outside and he tripped and fell. And Ryan Dane talked about it at the end of the half.

unknown:

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01:

And the next time he got that opportunity, he ran it straight up the middle and took it in for a score. So they're doing so many things right, but like you said, Illinois, uh, it's a game that you can't overlook. But if I think if they do everything they're supposed to do, they should be okay. Uh-huh. And they they they should win. And I think they're uh doing all the right things, like you said, about the coaching. And the thing that I I someone mentioned to me today was Chip Kelly left for five, six million dollars to go coach the Raiders offense. I bet he would love to be back here at Ohio State right now, calling plays with with the offense he has here right now.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I mean, same thing with uh Bowman. I mean, uh you ask him right now if he'd love to be back here. I don't think we'd take him, you know, with Matt Patricia uh and what he's doing. Um, you know, uh it's just incredible what he's done. And you mentioned a couple things there that I wanted to touch upon too. That you know, I was at on a couple sites this week that um that said, you know, how how how really good is Ohio State? I mean, we saw Penn State play bad, get beat. Uh they played bad for two weeks in a row, uh, you know, culminated out with a loss to UC, a winless UCLA team. Um uh OU got beat by Ball State, uh, Texas got beat. Um, you know, and people are starting to wonder, you know, is a high state really that good? You know, and my response is uh yes. Not only do they win every game they, you know, they've been playing, um, but you know, uh, I mean, all you really have to do, Kenny, at the end of the day is you just have to watch them. I mean, you talk about everything from special teams to defense to offense. I mean, they legitimately could score on every play uh they execute. And you know, it's one of those things where um, yeah, I think this is a special team. I mean, is it a national championship team? I'm not sure, but I don't know of any other team in the country right now that's playing better than them. All right, you can hype on Miami all you want, but you know, we we've been in that same song and dance and that same boat before where you know all these SC teams were better than us, and you know, all these uh ACC teams and Notre Dame and you know the w the outwest, they were better than us. We haven't played anybody, and you know, we put that to bed real quick, you know, last year going through that gauntlet of a schedule at the end. And you know, I just think that we're we're we're right where we need to be. We're focused on Illinois, and that's all we need to worry about.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, and the thing I I think about is basically if Ohio State would only have one touchdown in each of their games this year, you know, they pretty much would have still been undefeated. Your defense is only giving up five and a half a game. I mean, that's incredible. And uh you know, I going into this Illinois game, what do you think uh uh the Buckeyes will do? And what do you have for a final score?

SPEAKER_02:

Um I got a final score down here at 34-13. Um, I keep saying 13 on these scores, and you know, they keep giving up three or six. So, you know, I think this Luke Altmeyer is pretty good, though. I mean, they might even score 20 on us, but um, you know, I think our offense is is just too good, too many weapons. You know, if uh if they're uh double covering uh Jeremiah Smith, we have uh Tate and uh we have Claire, I mean, and then we have um you know Ennis and you know who and then the running game. I mean, you know, it's it's just endless. It's just too much for a defensive coordinator in one week to try to stop. 34-3 or 34-13.

SPEAKER_01:

Definitely uh definitely have to agree with you on the Buckeyes winning. I'm gonna go with a score of 37 to 10. Buckeyes win. Now let's move on to uh the Cincinnati Bengals. And at the time of this recording, we have just found out that despite losing 37 to 24 this past weekend to the Detroit Lions, uh, there's a glimmer of hope. And they uh went to the Cleveland Browns and they they uh proposed a trade, and the Cleveland Browns uh offered up uh Joe Flacco. Flacco is now a Cincinnati Bengal, and the best thing they could have done there, in my opinion, is Flacco's played the Green Bay Packers just a couple games ago.

SPEAKER_02:

So well, you know, Kenny, it it's funny you say that because I can't remember the last time a divisional opponent traded their former number one quarterback to another divisional opponent. Yes, you know what I'm saying. Um, and so this would this is this is something that tells you right now that they're committed to Dylan Gabriel. Um it tells you that they'll probably look a little bit at Shadur Sanders um and see what he has as well in these situations, but they drafted them. Why not take a look at them? Why not see what they got? Um, but I'm you're right. Uh I I didn't even realize the Flacco had already played Green Bay. Uh the site I was on today said that he would probably start this week. Um, so you know he's uh he's older, obviously, he's uh understood, he's been in a lot of systems. I'm sure he can pick up fairly quickly, you know, our offense um too as well. But uh yeah, I think um the addition of Flacco, I mean, we have nothing to lose there. Cleveland had everything to gain there. Um, I think they gained right a fifth-round pick, uh, if I'm not mistaken, fifth or sixth-round pick. Um, but um, yeah, I mean, nothing to lose there in that situation. Um, I thought it was a fine trade, to be honest with you. Um, on the Bengals, my end of it is, you know, the offense is just struggling mightily. I think the defense played very well um last game. Uh we turned it over twice, almost in the red zone, um, and held them without scores. Um, you know, the defense was just on the field way too long. I thought the defense added an extra down lineman, which I think is huge, um, which I haven't seen before. Usually we play a four-man front, a four-three. Um, now we started playing a five-man front, um, five-two, and I think it really paid dividends. Um, and hopefully we continue to do that. Uh, what that means ultimately, Kenny, is that you're either going to have to probably have one safety. Um, in that case, it'd be Geno Stone or uh Jordan Battle. And, you know, I think at this point, what do you have to lose? Um, you know, let's start bringing heat. We've brought a lot of heat on uh Jared Goff and it paid off. Um it's just, you know, they have so many weapons that, you know, they hurt us a couple times on that. But I I like the fact that we didn't at least roll over and die this weekend. Um they played with some heart and some warrior mentality, and that's really all we asked for. I mean, you know, with Jake Browning and his ineffectiveness, um throwing all those interceptions on some of the balls. I'm just trying to think and put myself in Jake Browning's shoes and look, and I'm like, it was he threw it right to the linebacker, or you know, he's he's throwing it behind a receiver. Those are the things that you can't, and I think that's what Zach Taylor looked at and finally said, now we can't have this anymore. Those were just terrible throws. Um, you know, and I think his ineffectiveness basically prompted that Flacco move. Uh, I thought the offensive line played a lot better this week. Um, you know, we just you saw what happened when we start when Chase starts getting open. Uh they started having penalties. Uh uh Detroit, they started having injuries uh in their secondary, and we just exploited that and finally scored 24 points. Uh usually you score 24 points in NFL, it's gonna equate to a victory, not us, not the Browns, not us. Yeah, so you know, we've got to cut down on the penalties. Um, you know, we have to um uh uh just get some momentum and and keep it. And um, you know, right now we're just lacking belief, we're lacking, we're lacking motivation in the quarterback department, and you know, that just uh it gets affected by the rest of the team.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, you know, I I don't think uh it could have been a better situation for the Bengals. You you bring in Flacco, he's not very mobile, but if your offensive line gives him any time and with the receivers that the Bengals have, he he's gonna light some teams up. All he's gonna take is the line, giving him some protection. And the fact that he's already seen Green Bay and he knows what to expect. Wow, that's just a great pickup, and he knows his role. He's gonna have to keep the boat afloat until Joe Burrow comes back and and I the Vandals are notorious for not wanting to spend money. Yeah, they gave up a fifth round pick for a starting quarterback in the NFL until this past weekend. So I you know you gotta give them credit, but like you said, why would the Cleveland Browns give up a player to an AFC North team like that? And I I shake my head and say, well, that's that's Cleveland Browns at this point. And you know, so now they're moving on to their 41st quarterback in the last 20-something years, so you know that it goes. But I I I love the pickup by the Bengals.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, and that's that's a good point. And I I I just wonder if anybody has ever been beaten twice in the same season by the same quarterback, but that quarterback has played on two different teams.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So I just wonder if that has ever happened before in the NFL. If that does happen, it'll be like unbelievable. Not only would it put the Bengals back to three and three, um, and then second in uh the league uh or the division, um, you know, it would put us back in possibly a wild card spot at this point in time, which is still early. Um, but I mean that would just be what the doctor ordered for us.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I got the Bengals, um, I got Green Bay, uh, I got Green Bay winning 27 to 20, believe it or not, 27 to 20. Um, and I think that is also my um lock of the week is to take the Bengals plus 14.5, and what did it for me was that 0.5. Um, so you're basically starting out 15 to nothing. Um, you know, on the scoreboard, and I even think the Bengals can overcome that. They're starting to they're starting to play a little bit better.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, I I agree with you, but I but I'm a little bit different. I picked the Bengals for this to be their uh an upset game for them. I think that they have a chance to to to beat the Packers, and it's it's gonna be one of those things where the city of Cincinnati is going to be huge Joe Flacco fans.

SPEAKER_02:

They're gonna look at that guy. So I can see it. I mean, just what just look what he did to Cleveland. I mean, when he came in. Um, I mean, everybody was a Flacco fan, you know. And then when they trade, didn't they trade him and they got him back?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_02:

So um, I think he went to Indianapolis, I think, for a brief stunt, and then they got him back. But um, yeah, that's that would be just what the doctor ordered. What do you think about the Browns um coming up here, Kenny?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I I watched them Sunday morning, and you know, at no point did I get excited when they they were leading basically the entire game until the very end where they gave it away. But I just uh Gabriel two touchdowns. I thought he he played well. Uh you know, a couple of his throws, he really overthrew 'em. You know, I don't know if that's the being a short quarterback and trying to throw over offensive linemen or just he flat missed or whatever it may be. But I thought he played well enough for them to win and they they should have won. And uh you know, with the Browns defense, you thought, well, you know, some people question why was it uh Stefansky calling time out there and you know you're saying, well, he wants to save some time in case they do score. You know, but you think you got the Cleveland Browns defense, you ought to be able to get a stop. And obviously they didn't. And um they lost another game that they should have won. They easily their record could be a lot different than it is right now. So now they they play Pittsburgh and uh the Steelers are the Steelers, and uh it I think it's gonna be a a good game. I I just don't know what to expect. I mean, I they're on to quarterback number 41 in the last twenty-five years or however long it's been, so hopefully Gabriel can do the job, but uh I wonder is uh Shadur Sanders the number two now? Are they gonna bring up Bailey Zappe? And the one that's gonna drive Cleveland fans crazy is this the window where they open up Deshaun Watson and he becomes one of the uh the backups. And yeah. I'm not a Deshaun Watson fan, so I'm hoping that Dillion does the job, but I just have no idea what to expect.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. What's the status of Deshaun Watson right now?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, yeah, I believe he was on injured reserve, but I think he's got a three-week window where he can be activated. So it's either him or Zappy as the third quarterback, I would think.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I you know, I I'm like you. I mean, I I think Dylan Gabriel had a solid debut. Um, you know, the offense to me looked functional. Um, you know, he lead the offense to two, like you said, the two touchdowns, um, field goal. Um, they didn't commit a turnover, I don't believe.

unknown:

No.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, and I think there was some confidence um in the rookie. I mean, obviously, with the trade of Joe Flacco, there is confidence in him. But, you know, the more things that I looked at too was how Quinshawn Judkins is uh is basically just a workhorse.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I mean, 110 yards, 23 carries. Um, you know, he's just he's just it's something that we saw here at Iowa State. You know, we had the two-headed monsters of him and Trayvon Henderson, and to me, Trayvon Henderson should be starting uh and getting the majority of the carrier carries for New England, but he's part of a three-way situation, and that's probably why they have the record that they do, but even though they won like the Bills, but um, yeah, Quinshawn is just uh, you know, he to me, he's like Nick Chubb-esque. I mean, he's you know, he's very impressive, his ability to run the ball is just unbelievable. Um, you know, and again, it's just one of those things where you know, if you take away the last two minutes of an NFL game and the Cleveland Browns, I mean, you guys would be one of the greatest franchises in the history of the NFL, you know. It's just those last two minutes, and the Bengals are that way too, somewhat. So um uh but the difference is you know, we got Joe Burrow usually back there, and and you know, um the Browns didn't, but you know, I just think that the penalties, the miscues, if those things get um, you can factor those in a defeat, but if those get corrected, and um, you know, uh I I just think that defense is is could be a game changer. Um, I really do. Um, and then you add a great running game in there, which the Browns usually have. Um but again, I have a question about the wide receiver room, and I have a question about the quarterback room. And um I think once they get those things done and taken care of, then they'll they'll roll. I actually, since we're on the Cleveland Browns, I actually am picking, that's my upset special of the week, is Cleveland plus 5.5 um against Pittsburgh. Now, will they win it uh mainline, moneyline? I'm not sure. Straight up, I'm not sure, but I just think you know it's usually a battle with Cleveland and Pittsburgh and five and a half points, and you're giving it to Cleveland with a new quarterback with something to prove, um, yeah, it could happen.

SPEAKER_01:

Let me ask you a couple questions here. Stefansky, I believe his record is 3 and 20 something since going back to last year. Uh I I personally like him as a coach, but at what point do the Browns sever ties if they don't start winning some football games?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I think the knock on uh Coach Stefansky was he he's getting really, really conservative. Um and you know, I think with him just not letting these players go out and and and and play the game, you know. I mean, at this point, what do you have to lose?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, you know, just go ahead and and let these guys open up that playbook and let these guys go at it. And you know, I'm a big proponent of you know, a quarterback not sitting in the pocket and sitting there looking at his passing tree. One, two, three, four, you know, by that time you got a 330-pound guy laying on top of you, you know, and it's over. So um, you know, I I watched uh the football that I watched this past weekend. I watched um um uh Buffalo Bills, um, quarterback. Sorry, it's been a long day, but uh uh Josh Allen. He's been I saw him scramble. Um very rarely did Josh Allen just go back in the pocket a couple steps and just sit there and turn and you know and look and look in this passing tree. I mean, Josh Allen is uh you know, and the Bills have a great offensive line. Um I mean he was scrambling around, and that was my problem with Joe Burrow uh during the Jacksonville game. I I looked at Joe Burrow and was like, that sacks on you, Joe. I mean, move, roll, get out of pocket. And um, you know, he's really effective when he gets out of the pocket. So um, you know, I think that uh a lot of these quarterbacks, I saw Patrick Mahomes scrambling and run. We saw uh he scored a couple touchdowns, we saw uh Lawrence uh for Jacksonville. We called that upset last week. Um we saw him score a couple touchdowns last night in Monday night football. Um these guys are getting out and running, Kenny. You know, and that's what's amazing me about uh how Pittsburgh has done so well with Rodgers, um, you know, and it's what kind of scares me a little bit with Flacco. Um even though Flacco's like 6'6 behind that line, you know, uh he'll be able to see a lot better. But um I don't know, we'll see. But Stvansky, you know, I think he's a good coach. I just think he's been bitten by that Cleveland, that Cleveland bug a little bit. And um, you know, I just think if he, you know, look, you you guys had at one point you guys had Belichick, you know, you had um, you know, all kinds of things that just didn't work out. Look how look they're talking about Baker Mayfield right now being um uh MVP and NFL. Um, you know, those things, I think there's something to be said just sticking with it and trying to see it through. Um, but you know, I I'm still a Stefansky fan. Um, but um, you know, I I root for him this weekend because everybody hates Pittsburgh.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, definitely. Well, you know, you mentioned your lock. I gotta throw mine out there. I got Philadelphia over the Giants. I think that's one. So um, but staying on the topic of the NFL, something had happened this week in Indianapolis. Mark Sanchez, former NFL quarterback, known for the butt fumble, is there to announce the game for Fox and does what he does in an alley with a 69-year-old man and you know, he gets stabbed, he's in the hospital, and he's got felony charges. What the only thing I can think is that's a perfect example of why you shouldn't drink.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, and I mean you're on it, Kenny. I mean, al uh here, I'll go you one further. Alcohol and mental illness or mental health issues, that's that equals disaster. Okay. So uh, you know, I don't care how uh how much money you make, how good looking you are, you know, you're a quarterback in the former quarterback in the NFL, and this, that, and the other. I mean, people don't know what goes on behind closed. Yes. I mean, you know, I mean, when I shut the door in my house or you shut the door in your home, you know, or any of our listeners shut the door in their home. Um, you know, things happen. And and um, you know, it's one of those things that you know I think people uh in today's age. You know, people in this, you know, the spirit of today's America right now, it's just, you know, it's it's very tough. And people say things and you know, people's feelings get hurt, and you know, you mix in some mental health issues, and uh then you throw alcohol in that mix. I mean, you're just pouring, you know, you're it's it's just you're pouring gas on a fire. And um I hope both parties end up okay. Uh, but yeah, you're right. It's just it's just another example of what could happen when you mix alcohol and you know, uh and something, and it's just not going to equate to anything good.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, you know, and it, you know, you I'm sure as a retired head baseball coach, you know, I'm sure how many times have you told players nothing good happens after midnight?

SPEAKER_02:

You know, yeah, yeah, 100%. And and you, you know, you can talk until the uh you can talk until you're blue in the face to these people, but what it comes down to, the the thing that they really uh have to to get is the experience. They have to experience it for themselves. And once they experience it for themselves, they'll be like, hey, you know what, you're right. And you're like, yeah, I know I was right. That's why I was trying to tell you about it. You know, we were trying to avoid you having to experience this and go through this situation in the first place, uh, but a lot of times people won't listen, they'll have to experience it for themselves. Um, I guess there's a little bit of invince, you know, invincible uh you know qualities that they feel that they have. Um you know, and it's just one of those things that we're you know, we've we've talked, we've I know you and I have been in enough situations where we've talked to players and counseled them, and you know, here they run right back out there and do the same thing over again. And um, you know, it's just um you don't learn until you you experience it and you get the blowback and the pushback. And unfortunately for Mark Sanchez, he's getting that that blowback right now.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. I wanted to jump back with one more quick topic for you. Going back to college football James Franklin. I think they owing 50 million for a payout if they were to get rid of him. They're doing stadium renovations. You have to deal with NIL, and if you were to bring in another coach, which would be most likely a high profile coach, do at some point do you say, you know, you're you're winning a lot of games, but when it comes to the big ones, that's where you're uh you're failing. And I think I don't know, I saw his stat was like three and twenty in like big top ten games or something like that. Is it what is your opinion? Do you do you keep him around and or do you take a chance? Because if you think about it, um you know, you you look at some of these teams where they get rid of a coach and things get worse.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I think I think um a lot of it too is you know uh what the boosters around to are feeling on the fan base, you know, what's the temperature and the climate like around um campus, you know, how's everybody feeling about this? Um a lot of times, and I called it uh I don't know, we were here two or three, four weeks ago when we did one of our podcasts on this, and we were talking about Penn State, and I said Penn State has absolutely zero excuses this year. None. You know, it it's come to the point now where you know I think Drew Auer went from the number one pick to maybe catching on as a free agent. I mean, you know, uh I mean it's just it's sad. And um, you know, they had uh their big coup was they got Jim Bowman from Ohio State, you know, the defensive coordinator. And um, you know, they had Drew uh Aller coming back. Uh this is fourth, fifth year in the program. Um, you know, their schedule was Uber easy. Um I mean, I think they played three non-FBS teams, their first three games, and you know, then they played Worgen, which was a good game. They started to actually turn it on at the end a little bit, which is good to see. Um, but then they went out there and played a bad UCLA team that was amped up, their coach was fired, they had a brand new offensive coordinator that was only there a week in New Ha New Heisel's son. Um, you know, I mean, dude, I mean, I that was just that was a bad loss. That was a real bad loss.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, and you know, hopefully they don't you don't see like what was happening with Belichick down in North Carolina where halftime the whole entire stadium empties out, and if people aren't in the stands, that's that's gonna be a big uh check mark in the uh get rid of the coach column, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_02:

100%. And you know, I mean with Belichick, you can almost say, you know, all right, well, um, you know, you know all this stuff, you're a guru and everything that you coach. But at the end of the day, Kenny, you you gotta have the athletes. You and I both know that. I mean, you know, if you have the athletes, it doesn't matter how bad of a coach you are, you're gonna win some games. Yeah. And um, I they just I I look at them, I've watched them a time or two, and I'm just looking and I'm like, there they have no defense, they have very minimal weapons on offense, and it's sad, you know, what they what they've become. I mean, there's a reason that you know that coaching job was open, and um, you know, it's it's gonna take him a couple years. Um, I'd like to assess it maybe in two years and see what it's gonna be like there in North Carolina, but um he's just he has nothing there to work with her.

SPEAKER_01:

And it doesn't help with uh 24-year-old girlfriend roaming without the sidelines.

SPEAKER_02:

Doesn't help at all. That poor man didn't have a heart attack uh soon. I don't know, you know, I'm not hoping he does, but at the same time, it's he's got a lot on his plate.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, I I've never looked at the stats of his record without Tom Brady, but uh I think that to me it just goes back to when he had Tom Brady, he's he was good. And like you said, if you got the athletes, you're gonna be a good coach.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, and I wanted to run this by you too, and um I you know Baltimore. I mean, you know, at this point they're what one and four. At this point, um Kansas City, two and three. Um, you know, I mean, what's going on with those two programs in your mind that you think that would you know, why are they not uh dominating like they usually do this year?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I think with Baltimore, a lot of it has to do with the injuries that they're facing and uh Kansas City You know, maybe they they had their run, you know, and it's they're coming back to the rest of the pack. But um you know, with the NFL though, you know, I'm I'm gonna find it hard to believe that the Kansas City Chiefs ain't gonna be somewhere near the playoffs when it's all said and done. Because you hear all the talk about Mahomes kids' favoritism with the referees. And you know, if you can get Lamar back in the lineup, I think they're they're gonna win some more games. But but when you have injuries, it's just these guys are just too good in the NFL. And even though it's the next man up, a lot of times, like the Cleveland Browns are facing, they got a lineman, left tackle that he's a backup, and they're exploiting him big time. And you know, he he had a costly penalty that cost him a touchdown Sunday. So hopefully uh, you know, they these guys will get back healthy, but uh, you know, being a Browns fan, you know, uh maybe something will turn around, but you know, the longer Lamar's out, the better for the other teams in the league, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I did hear you know some uh some more bad news with Joe Burrow that um you know the offensive line apparently went and visited him you know at his house the other day, and he still managed to get sacked twice. Oh, jeez. So yeah. Yeah. So I I I mean, never know about these guys, you know. I mean, watch them turn around and beat Green Bay, and then Cleveland turns around and beats uh the Steelers, and you know, all's right with the world.

SPEAKER_01:

At least for a week.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, that kind of wraps it up for this week. Uh as always, uh, thanks for listening to the SOB, Scar Orange and Brown. I'm Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_02:

And I'm Chris Huseman.

SPEAKER_01:

Take care.

SPEAKER_02:

SOB.