Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Harbaugh Is Perfect For The Bills, Love “Actually Good”, Sharp Or Square

he's rigid, He's a blamer. You know, that's why the defensive coordinator is quit. He fashions himself as a great leader but doesn't inspire players. But the most damning part of the article to me, and something I've talked about so often that I do worry that it's just it's fatiguing to the audience, is defensive coaches do not have relationships with quarterbacks. We've seen Mac Jones and Belichick regress terribly, Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson really bad. Mike Zimmer and

Kirk Cousins reportedly huge fissiers in that relationship. In the Tyler Dunn story, the part that would really concern me is the quote that Sean McDermott, all these years with Josh Allen doesn't really have a great relationship.

with Joe Flakel last week, surprisingly capable. You look at defensive coaches who have to deal with backups Belichick and Bailey Zappi, Dennis Allen having to deal with Jamis Winston and New Orleans. So there is a thread here. Offensive coaches consistently have better relationships, not surprisingly with their quarterback. But when your quarterback is Josh Allen, you got to

get it right. And in that Tyler Dunn article, McDermott has no real tight relationship with his star quarterback, and listen, you just don't see very often he's a blamer. In the article, a defensive coordinator resign like Leslie Fraser, a respected guy. This year they blamed Ken Dorsey. He gets fired. So Buffalo's a small market, a very small market by pro sports franchise market comps, and so I have my

questions whether they'd fire him or not. But the reason I talk about this it leads me to the second story, which is Jim Harbaugh is negotiating an eleven and a half million dollar a year deal with Michigan Think Think. The only great job available in the NFL is potentially the Buffalo Bill's job. The Chargers would be a good job at Brandon Staley hasn't been fired, and the Dean Spano's children, the boys are upstairs in the front office,

which has scared off other coaches. It's not ideal. You won't get much of a say in personnel, which Harbaugh wants. Buffalo is different. They have drafted pretty well, not great, but what they're missing is somebody to build a consistently good run game and O line. That is exactly what Jim Harbaugh has done with the Niners, with Stanford and with Michigan. What the Bills lack as a coach, vision, quarterback elevation, physicality, and a consistent run game. That's exactly

what Harbaugh does. So Jim Harraud to Buffalo is a perfect fit. The defense is good enough, the roster is good enough, there are things they do well. But how many years does this defense of coach get to use alibis to explain the inability to run the ball consistently. Also struggling to run the ball consistently defensive coach Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh. So it's a pattern. The tighter dun story is I opening. Check it out on Bill's coach

Sean McDermott does not paint a pretty picture. And in line with that, juxtaposed with the Jim Harbon news, if I was Jim Harbaugh, I would accept Michigan's offer. I don't think there's a great job out there. You get about one great job opening every three or four years, Cowboys, Mike McCarthy job, you get Dak the Old Line, a committed franchise, good money, great city, good job, Matt Lafleur, Packers, Aaron Rodgers, late Prime, great job, not many. You can say, oh, oh, well,

look at Pete Carroll took the Seahawks. They didn't have quarterback right. Pete couldn't get the quarterback right for a couple of years. That looks like a good franchise, was it when he took it over? Oh? The Houston Texans were a Demiko Ryans is great and C. J. Stroud has been shockingly good. It's not a good job. Most of these openings. You've got an owner issue, a roster issue,

or a pressure and unrealistic expectation issue. Like Carolina. Bill's not only a great job opening because of Josh Allen steady ownership, good roster. Belichick's leaving soon. Aaron Rodgers' situation is still a mess. Tua his They haven't given him an extension, so you don't really know if the organization's all in on Tua, who has been historically injury prone. That's the only job. If I'm our baw, I pause on the Michigan contract offer. Other than that, I'd sign

it tomorrow. The Packers went over Kansas City. It was their game from the very beginning. And I said this during the week on FS one. It didn't matter if Green Bay won in terms of the big picture. What Jordan Love had to do with Patrick Mahomes on the other sideline is to be able to match him, and you know we don't. Holmes is the better cornerback. Can he make throws? Can he look confident? Can he move? And I thought Jordan Love was everything and more. You know,

it's interesting. For years I've said about Green Bay is I think they draft and develop as well as anybody in the NFL. Just look at their wide receiving talent. Watson, Jaden, Reid, Romeo, Dobbs and Wicks. The four really really twitchy. Watson's a burner, They're really clever athletes, all can play. New England hasn't drafted a legitimate receiver in over a decade. Green Bay's got four in two years. They just do it well.

And it's what's interesting. If you look at the Packers history, they don't take a lot of players, offensive players in the first round, but yet they always end up with elite tackles, very good running backs, excellent receivers, better than average tight ends. It's a really offensive leading culture. Home run in the McCarthy, in the Matt Lafleur. They do offense well. Steelers do defense well. Packers do offense well, and this of course helps Jordan Love, whereas Kenny Pickett

is going to be kind of on his own. Jordan Love's got great aids to his left, to his right. He also, and we've discussed this, you know, ad nauseum. Aaron Rodgers was like, you know, a fifty year old lead singer and the band was a bunch of twenty year olds. He didn't fit all these young players as they were rebuilding the offense. This generationally works. Jordan Love and these guys like they feel like, you know, they're

going to be around four years and years together. And you know, I just think if you if you look around at the majority of the young quarterbacks who can struggle, it's often with defensive coaches. Look at what McVeigh did to Goff, Look at what Shanahan's doing to Purty, Look at what Mike McDaniel did to resurrect Tua. Yet look what Belichick's done to Mac Jones. He gets worse every year.

Now he's just a shot fighter. So I'm not saying Jordan Love doesn't have talent, but you've watched the development in the last six weeks. He's like a different player. He was always tall and moved well. He always had a good whip that was never a question. You could watch his YouTube highlights as you did, and I did at Utah State. He was always a big kid who moved well and had a whip that was never the issues. A little bit erratic as a thrower, he was tonight too,

But this is just confidence development. And you can tell a lot years and years ago. I remember a story They've got confidence with Jordan Love now in the building. That's why tonight was already crucial, and you saw it a little bit against the Chargers, a lot against the Lions, and really a lot tonight is that you got to

get buy in in the building. Years ago, a long long time ago, I helped create a show at ESBN called a Sports Nation and it was offbeatn kind of quirky, and we didn't know if it was going to work because it was so different than anything on the air. But an executive said, well, if the people in the building like it, if you get buy in in the bill, it doesn't matter what the ratings are, they'll support it. And I always thought that's interesting. Get buy in in

the building. It's a lot like that for a quarterback. Watch the Chicago Bears play calling with Justin Fields. He has no buy in in the building. The coordinator doesn't trust him, the coach doesn't trust him. Seventy percent of the throws are behind the line of scrimmage. He's got no buy in in the building. CJ. Stroud complete buy in. Jordan Love did not have it in the preseason and in September we kept saying, it's their babysitting him. They're

coddling him. Let him throw it. It was just slow growth. Let's wait until we're comfortable. Let's let this thing develop. The Packers knew better now when you watch it. They just let him go. I mean, it's got a backyard field to it. Just let him go. And he's never going to be as precise as Aaron Rodgers. That's not who he is. He's got the far playmaking ability with sort of the whip of Aaron Rodgers, but he's not a precise thrower. He's not Joe Burrow. That's not what

he is. You know, he can get erratic. His mechanics are a little you know, they are what they are. It looks a little backyard football. But he's playing with a ton of confidence. He has tremendous young offensive personnel around him, and they're all getting better. Watson, Dobbs, Wicks, those guys are all going to get better. You don't have to pay any of them for three years, so that'll let you dip in and solve any issues you have anywhere else in the roster, because right now Jordan

loves Not doesn't have a punitive contract. So you know the other thing that jumps out to me is that not only do the Packers draft and develop, well, I mean, how many quarterbacks have succeeded there? You know, a lot for the biggest three of the biggest quarterbacks in league history, you know our Packers, but the two more recent obviously

are Farvan Rodgers. And you know it's it's sometimes because they don't have an owner to call you on your you know crap, and because it's the smallest pro sports city in America where you can't even go to the grocery store. I always call it the Green Bay Packer quarterback syndrome, where like far of An Aaron, Rodgers are very different people, but it kind of dissolved into the

same threatening retirement, unhappy with front office. And you know, when you think about it, that was perfect for farv An Aaron Rodgers to start. It may have ended poorly, but you know, Green Bay tends to be very supportive, very much into development. You don't have to worry about the press breathing down your throat. I mean the cheeseheads, Lambeau, totally supportive, thick and thin. It really is a perfect environment for a young quarterback trying to find his footing.

Former NFL scout for the Philadelphia Eagles, John Middlecough as we get ready for close to an hour of breakdown of college football, some thoughts on very coaches in the league who are on the definite hot seat. But we start, John with San Francisco and Philly. There were two games this weekend that I loved. I loved the Niners and I love the Lions. So let's start with San Francisco

and in Philadelphia. I thought, at least in the first half, it felt like your classic matchup of great teams, playmakers, speed, strength, coaching, kind of the class of the NFC. But I do wonder if that emotional game with a lot of snaps for the Eagles defense last week against Buffalo, and that was one of the reasons I like San Francisco At this time of the year. John every day counts for rest,

so the Niners get several days rest. The Eagles play an especially long game against Buffalo defenses on the field, and I think they looked absolutely worn down in the second half defensively. That was my take.

The Eagles defense isn't very good. I mean, their linebackers are decimated with injuries. They're on like their third string nickel corner. They had to trade for a safety, and the forty nine ers from Ayuk to obviously Debo, who has been running his mouth for nine months. And listen, I got no problem in an individual sport. You're connor McGregor. You're Tiger Woods, your whatever. You run your mouth, only you have to back it up. Deebo can back it up.

I was nervous some other guys on the team, you know, the right tackle trying to block Redick. It didn't matter. I mean, Deebo dominated that game. Kittle was awesome, McCaffrey was flying around. They came ready to play, but most

importantly Colin in solidarity with the quarterback. How about that MVP type performance from brock perty after starting the game oh four, where it's just he looks shaky, Yeah, nighten of twenty three the rest of the game and just throwing dots, keeping plays alive with his legs, keeping his eyes downfield. He's how about the run he had where he broke the tackle. I'm not saying the guy's the MVP, but if he's not in the discussion, we're all not watching football. He was brilliant today.

But I do believe that there are just certain throws that c J. Stroud makes and I'm like, oh, yeah, that's a franchise quarterback that Kenny Pickett can't make, right, And so there are throws perty You'll make about three throws a game and he'll let go of that puppy before the receiver breaks and you're like, oh, yeah, that's a franch And for the record, I don't see joh Fields make those. I don't see him as an anticipation thrower. So and it's not a knock. I don't see Zach

Wilson make those. A lot of this stuff is innate. And you know, years ago Bill Parcells had a rule no celebrity quarterbacks, which forget that. Now with nil, they're gonna be slighties. But I want three years of starting. And I remember when I really noticed this. I covered Akieley Smith in Oregon and I love the way through the ball, but he was like a one year starter and he went to the NFL and he just did not have enough reps. He just did not have enough reps.

He was overwhelmed. And it wasn't because he was a good kid. He could move, he had a hell of an arm, he had a baseball arm. But he just didn't have enough starts. And you know, the NFL is impatient by year two, Like if you don't, they're not sitting around waiting for you, as everybody's gonna lose their job. I think a lot of this with Perty is he came in high school college, he had like eight straight years of snaps. He's just fun to He is just cognitively ready to play football.

these last couple of years. The other thing is, wouldn't you say probably the best average arm quarterback over the last probably a couple decades, was like Drew Brees, Yeah, you know, and we and listen, you were right on Baker Mayfield. I personally thought he could become that. Clearly, he never sniffed that. I actually think this guy has a lot of those traits in the pocket. But he also has unlike Drew. Now, Drew was much more accomplished

as a passer coming out of college. But this guy clearly is comfortable to go in into environment like that dreary day Philly, and I get they were running out of gas and the Niners were favored for a reason, but that kid was dominant, you know, just in terms of accuracy and what's the key if you're gonna play with really good players, put it on them because well they got a lot of yards after the catch. Well

he hits them in stride the ball. The McCaffrey down the middle, a couple of balls to debo, a couple balls as a kittle, and his athleticism, I think his ten yard split is pretty much the same time as Christian McCaffrey. So he's not Lamar Jackson or Cam Newton down the field as a runner, but you know, in those little bursts, he can keep plays live a lot like Jalen right, and that's an underestimated part of his

game that has taken the Niners to a whole nother level. Now, once they pulled away, it was not a fair fight because the Eagles, like you said, ran out of gas. But I also think you see, like even if the Eagles had gas, let's face it, the Niners are a little better, right fully healthy, and the Eagles just they're not getting healthy guys in the secondary, like brad Bury and Slay are their corners. And the way they use their number one wide receiver and Debo is not like

an AJ Brown. They don't just put them out there and say cover Darius. Slay would like that with a receiver. They're moving them all around. They're using them like a running back. I use a very shifty in and out of cuts a lot like Devonte Smith. Why nobody can cover him. And then you got Kittle, who is just one of the most unique players in the league to go on top of McCaffrey. So it's just a tough situation. It's a tough matchup for Philly.

without the yard sale of skis flying everywhere. They're like a streamlined avalanche. And you just can't with all these weapons. But here's the one thing about Philadelphia I worry about is that Ferguson for the Cowboys. Now, Randon Cooks are productive, Ceedee Lamb's a top four receiver.

incredible rule exists. So all of a sudden, you start looking at Philly and you're like, well, they don't match up necessarily well with the top three teams in the NFC.

they were clearly running on fumes. That's why, let's face it today through everything, I mean, McCarthy, I'm sure feed up eating a sandwich at home with a big smile on his face because he has the opportunity now at home. The Niners took care of business. The Niners now place Seattle. All of a sudden, if Dallas wins and the forty nine ers wins. The Eagles are kind of looking up. I'm with you. You gotta be able to It's not like Andrey Thomas and Leonore or Richard Sherman and Dreux

Reeves in the prime, but they're functional players. And the main difference between the Eagles and the Niners because both of them have countless d linemen that every team would want. It's the linebackers. I mean, Fred Warner is a dominant player. Greenlaw, who got in a fight with Dom on the sideline, is probably the best number two linebacker. But even when those guys, there was a moment when when Greenlaw got tossed and Fred's schue came off. The Nighters have two

other backups who are solid. Those linebackers are Kyle Shanahan was this is why Deebo and those guys were talking so much shit all week. They don't think that all those guys have a chance to handle their speed, their physicality.

Aj Brown had some big time moments to Vonte that their offense is really special and that's why they've won a lot of these games, right, because it's essentially been shootouts in the second half. Harder to have shootouts with the forty nine ers, I think because their defense that they're just not really going to play in a thirty eight to thirty five type game.

In a weird way, they were best served to get their butt kicked because they'll come against Dallas, they'll play a great game. They'll play a great game. But I do think there is a fundamental problem that they can only overcome with ball control offensively, which is their back They're back four back seven linebackers are weak. Corners aren't great. They have one good safety. The only way to overcome that is with ball control, and that's it, and now they have the components to do that.

but he's not gonna give the other team. He's an old school kind of Andy Reid, his dad, like, it's not about he doesn't want to get involved in the thing. And I do think their coaching staff. You got Sirianni screaming at people pregame. He just listen. That works against the majority of opponents. It's not gonna work against the Chiefs. Maybe it works a little bit against Dallas, but it's not gonna work against the forty nine ers. It's more just x's and o's. We're gonna hit you in the

mouth and we're gonna be relentless. So all that stuff, you know, that kind of typically feeds into Philly, like they loved when Dom got tossed, and they feed off that souff The Niners are they have proven that this core of guys have won so many games on the road, went to Green Bay and one went to Dallas and one like that. They're not gonna be intimidated by difficult circu They easily could have won a couple of years ago against the Rams, right you know, when Tart dropped

the ball. So they go into these environments a lot like some great like NBA players like Curry group over the years, Like they're not intimidated. They might need a couple series to kind of gather themselves, but they're gonna be okay. So the Eagles, it's gonna be a scheme game versus them. Can you out scheme them? Because all the other shit, Like the Niners aren't gonna be phased by that crap. Can you can you outthink them? Can

you out call like Andy Reid? Can you out call plays against whatever their their looks are offensively or defensively? And you saw today it wasn't really a fair fight. Now, I, like you said, I'm gonna give them the benefit of doubt, little gas. I think if you told me there was a rematch, I would expect a much better Philly fs. But I do think big picture, do they have like their head coach, he's not calling the plays on either side.

He's just kind of screaming on the sideline like the forty nine ers guy is their play caller, Like it's him versus you. You know, so I that's a disadvantage for the Eagles.

But I'm trying to think of a roster. I mean, that's I remember that Seattle team was so good that they went and just rented Percy Harvin almost never used him as a toy. And then they went and got Cliff Averel said yeah, we'll bring another pass rusher. And You're like, yeah, that's a luxury of a rookie contract.

You can't do that with a veteran quarterback. But I think this roster, you know, I find myself rooting for San Francisco to win because it would be such a shame if this roster didn't at least want like that Seattle roster. John it was too damn good not to win a Super Bowl. It was just too good. That was just fundamentally too good. The Ravens roster with Dilferd, there's like seven Hall of famers. I grew up with the Steelers in the seventies. There were a couple of

Raider teams. You're like, yet the Cows Jimmy Johnson roster, they need to win a Super Bowl. There's too many good players. All right, time for another edition of Sharper Square. Chad Milman, c CEO Action Network. All olds provided by Draft Kings. All right, let's start sharp Square. So let's go underdogs first. I'm prone to like underdogs. Saints are all beat up. You got a new coaching staff with the Panthers trying to impress the owner who's an impulsive,

impatient man. Saints have been an underachieving team all year. I'm gonna take Bryce Young plus five against the division rival.

in his tenure of the past twenty years. They're one to nine this year as a favorite. Meanwhile, the Panthers defense has been improving. They got j cd hornback last week. He is a difference maker in the backfield, defensive backfield, and the Saints just haven't been very good, like everyone talks about their defense. Defense is like thirtieth in EPA per play in the past six weeks. So not a good spot for the Saints, and that's why the wise guys are playing them.

couldn't beat them. I would take the Broncos in a rivalry game here plush three sharper square.

when they are the road dog. The Broncos last week, aside, they had their moments, they had a shot to cover and win against the Texans even playing terribly. So now they're getting a much better coach in a smash spot for the wise guys. They are on the Broncos.

It's kind of stabilized on Sunday night, opened about twelve, twelve and a half thirteen. Immediately that number got that down, and you do have a lot of things here. Look you, it is as high as high as it gets on the Niners right now, right their four game win streak. When Deebo and Trent Williams are playing, they are nine to zero. They're beating teams by three touchdowns when that duo is on the field. Brock Party where it's invincible. When those guys are playing and he has those weapons.

much at minus seven and a half. But Baltimore's done this time and time again as a home favorite against West Coast teams. Ravens minus seven and a half.

we get find his receivers. The Ravens are playing a little bit more lax, and they cover the back door at seven and a half because you know you got the hook at seven. It's a little bit more cautious for the Wise guys. There's one factor here. Lamar Jackson as a favorite of more than three is not very good. Twenty one and thirty one against spread, so and Lamar Jackson is a favorite more than three at home not very good. John Harbaugh historically incredibly profitable, not very good

as a favorite of more than three at home. So this is not a great spot for the Ravens. However, they have been turning it around a little bit this year. That Colts game, I think was in anomaly. We saw with the Seahawks, we saw it with the Lions, but don't remember, don't forget those games were under a touchdown, So you're playing with fire if you're going to take seven and a half.

I'm gonna take the Browns to cover. I think it's a blowout. I think they blow out a Jags team. CJ. Bethard is a borderline NFL guy.

defense for the Browns is different at home. Ten points per game at home, thirty points per game on the road. They are relatively healthy. Forget about Joe Flacco for a second.

They are favored by only one and a half against the Bills, who I just think, going back to last year's playoff game, are a bit of a mess inside the walls of that organization. I'll take Kansas City to cover Sharper square.

now needing to win this game to get to the playoffs. Haven't the Bills been desperate for like a month and it hasn't mattered, right, So why is this game going.

seven game. I don't want to bet against Patrick Mahomes as less than a field goal favorite in November and December when he's at home. So if you're telling me I got to get Patrick Mahomes and he's just got to win by one point, come on. Of course we're taking the Chiefs.

divisional game, Cowboys may win. But the hook I'd take, why isn't everybody seeing this as an obvious Eagles play.

But if you look at what Dak is doing this year, Key and Ceede Lamb are making connections and that ability to drive the slant route and connect on that is going to be really challenging for the Eagles, especially in the middle of the defense for them. So I think that's one reason. Also, the Eagles have not been running the ball lane. Johnson injured. I think that's a huge

tell for the wise guys. But the truth is, Colin, you look at every metric, you look at number of bets, you look at an amount of money, it's pretty split fifty to fifty, which is why this thing has basically stayed where it is. There was the initial push opened at two and a half. Wise guys took the two, they took the three, and now it's a three and a half. It hasn't gone up to four because everything is basically stabilized. So I think this is where it's

going to be for a little while. No consensus. I'm on the Cowboys for what it's worth.

their defensive line. That is a huge impact that people who know football are talking a lot about. So now you're getting a team on the road, playing in Chicago where weather is going to be a factor. Jared both in his career averaging less than fourteen points per game when the weather is under fifty degrees against a team in justin field a lot of our po We've seen what they've been doing when he is on the field since his injury. A lot more running. They kept this

game close against the two weeks ago. They beat the Vikings last week. This Bears team doesn't get credit for how much more it's improved since the bye week. So the wise guys are on the Bears one more. Well, you mentioned backup quarterbacks and you talked about sort of they're getting these opportunities to shine quickly. Jake Browning did not play well in his first game against the Steelers, but he played very well in his second game against

the Jags. Very accurate. Look at what this Colts team has done. Who have they beaten up the Panthers, the Patriots very lucky against the Titans last week to get a win and continue this winning streak. So is this a Jake Browning spot? The wise guys think so. The wise guys have been betting this game down. The Bengals opened about two to two and a half. It's now down to one. I think if you can get the Bengals as an underdog, you still take it.