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Now, on with the show. How about the cowboys? This is the Rich Eisen Show. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Today's guests.
Quarterback consultant Jordan Palmer. Titans head coach Robert Sala. ESPN Cowboys reporter Todd Archer. And now, it's your Rich Eyes End. Oh, hey, everybody.
Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show, live on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio SiriusXM channel, 8844-204, which is the number to dial overreaction Monday. Chris Brockman and I have already recorded it. It's sitting right there in your RSS feed. If you want to listen to it, you can watch it also on youtube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show. It is the first overreaction Monday since our post-Super Bowl show, where we're reacting to actual football action.
Now, obviously, a Super Bowl is one thing, and preseason week number one is another, but that means there's stuff to absolutely completely overreact to, and we do exactly that. And we'd love for you to join us today on this program by calling us for all three hours. Hang with us. Good to see you over there, Chris Brockman. How are you?
Hey, buddy. What's up, man? DJ Mike E.D. is in D's nuts. Good to see you Mike Del Tufo.
Good to see you. And TJ Jefferson Candles Lit. What's going on over there? I mean, football is here. That's what I mean.
It is that. It is that. And listen, I've been catching. Taping for the Cowboys for a few months now. I put them in my top five and my way, way, way too soon power rankings, and then my way too soon power rankings.
They stayed in the top five, moved up to number four, and they just keep. They just keep me. thinking that They've made the right moves on the defensive side of the ball to support an offensive side of the ball that's already championship worthy if they can protect their quarterback and keep the run game that Javante Williams had a renaissance in last year, or at least an ascension that we hadn't seen in quite some time from him. We were eager to see that the defensive side of the ball. They gave up the most yards.
On the ground and in the air last year, that if they're able to tighten the bolts on that. They have a real shot. to make a run. Finally, get to the NFC championship game, or heaven forbid. Make it to SoFi Stadium.
To play in Super Bowl 61 on the Disney family of networks. Look, Rich, right now I'm like Bart Simpson. I'm at the chalkboard and I'm writing, I will not overreact to a week of preseason games. It's not that. It's not that.
It's the addition of Von Miller on Sunday. Von Miller.
Now, listen, you could sit here and say, Vaughn's long in the tooth. What does this mean? What does that mean? Last year, the Dallas Cowboys were led in sacks by Jadavian Clowney, eight and a half. Last year, Vaughn, in a non-starting role for the Washington Commanders, Had nine sacks.
Vaughn would have led the Cowboys in sacks. Last year. And the cowboys Added Rashawn Gary. And the Cowboys have young kids all over the place that Von Miller can now walk in the locker room and be the OG. For them.
That's going to be his biggest contribution. Damn straight, it is. Damn straight. You think, how many other pass rushers can come in and have Rashawn Gary look at him and go, oh, okay. Not many, because Rashawn Gary's a grown-ass man himself.
And Kenny Clark and Quentin Williams right up the middle. And Ezaraku and Overshone, and Caleb Downs now has somebody like Von Miller. To show him some ropes. And I know they don't do the same thing, but they're professional football players. And then on top of it, Vaughn is a state of Texas legend.
who I think in the many times that we've interviewed him has been a Cowboys fan since birth and is a Texas AM Aggie and a first ballot Hall of Famer, who now could come in and he's because he's older than his defensive coordinator and Christian Parker, be an avatar for the team and the coaching staff. And a leader. I mean, this fits on every single possible way. And all he's got to do is do what he did last year. He started three games for Washington.
That's it, but he played in all 17. Nine sacks. He's got to even just do half of that, and it's still a cherry on top. For a Cowboys team that had 35 sacks total last year.
Okay. What a great addition this was. I heard this and I'm like, okay, the Joneses are pushing buttons. They know exactly what the hell they're doing. You think Brian Schottenheimer and Christian Parker are sitting around thinking, can we get Von Miller?
And then you get a phone call saying, You got Von Miller? They must have been doing friggin cartwheels. Yeah, I mean, the word was out that he wanted to come, but it's like, is he really gonna do it? And then he did it. It's like, oh, okay.
Then he did it. But, Rich, it's cool. Here's the deal now, right? As a Cowboys fan, as someone who's been in this hanging on. If you're going to make this move.
Let's not wait. Like if you're really gonna be all in, you're really gonna bust the budget, go get that dude. Who's that? The dude in Las Vegas. I don't think he's available.
I don't think he wants to be available. And I think that he's not going to be available right now. And I know we keep mentioning that. And I swore I'm going to get off that train because he has said over and over again, I don't want to go anywhere. I don't think we should get off.
And hey, you know, and the Raiders have got their own reasons to feel. you know, good about themselves coming off of their preseason loss, yes, to Arizona. But I don't think they're going to be in the business of trading away or giving away any of their blue chippers. Right now, we'll see how everything plays out. They could potentially add him midseason in the same way they just added Von late in the summer.
Where moves are it's difficult to counter those moves within your division, within your conference, because they're made so late. Who else is going to be around? Who's got nine sacks sitting around? That's why the Texans went ahead and said, you know what, we've got a ton of players here. Let's just add to Devin Clowny.
Let's bring him in. Eight and a half sacks to add to Will Anderson and the rest of that team. When you can add smart Good. Hall of Fame talented players who may not be at the top of their Hall of Fame talent right now, and you could do that. High character guys in a locker room.
Let's go.
Well done. Todd Archer will be along later on in the show. He covers Dallas Cowboys for real. ESPN, he's going to be in hour number two of this program. Right in the middle.
Meanwhile, Preseason action week number one. Lots to overreact to. But we're finally seeing quarterback competitions play out in preseason action. The Cleveland Browns kicked off the NFL network triple header on Saturday against the Chicago Bears. We did not play Caleb.
It was a Tyson Bagent Saturday. to start for them. Antoine Randall L. Call plays in the second half, so this is what they're using their preseason for. Because they got Caleb Williams and they got a roster full of young talented players.
that they're ready to go into battle with, come up. In week number one for the Chicago Bears. When it all toe meets ball for them at Carolina. Make a week one game that I think will serve to be underneath the radar with two first overall drafted quarterbacks going against each other. Two division winners, right?
But we're all talking about the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition. Todd Muncin, unlike the Minnesota Vikings, going full deep into the. Preseason season. before making a decision. And the only decision Monk had made was: we're going to go with Deshaun Watson first.
On Saturday against the Bears, Shadore to follow. And then the following preseason week, we're going to go with Shador first and Deshaun Watson to follow. And Watson overall looked pretty darn good. I almost went higher register.
Well, I mean, it wasn't perfect. It wasn't perfect. He did, you know, fumble on a second quarter drive. The ten points the Browns put up were both On drives, the two, the touchdown and the field goal, on drives that Watson was quarterbacking. Casey Concepcion ran one in.
Give you no idea of how Moncken can use some of his Latest Rookie weapons. Last year's rookie weapons are now second year players, and all the Browns have got to do is get some quality quarterback play and they can make some hay. And I'm just rhyming now. Yeah, I know. Hey, Miles Garrett's out here.
But they got Jared Verse, and that young Turk, that young squire, is going to want to prove to a bunch of people. That the thing that he does is sack quarterbacks and he wants to be a leader here. All we got to do, Cleveland Browns fans, is get some quality quarterback play and they can really. Be a sleeper team in 2026 for real. The question is, is.
Is the quarterback play going to be average or above average? And I'll say, Deshaun Watson is going to have the thumb on the scale for him because of how much money they've put into him and how much. Capital, blood, sweat, and tears have gone into. Waiting for him to be healthy and full, mature. and clear of all his past and his problems, and just focusing on playing quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
Which he did. To the tune. I'm going to get this correct of 11 for 14. 11 for 15, 126 yards and two scoring drives. Todd Monken said it was awesome to watch.
How did you think Deshaun Watson did in his behalf of? Oh, it was awesome. I mean, it was so cool to watch him play. I get all of the The frustration. Right.
fans himself But for him to come back and work like he did. Is an unbelievable credit to him, and then to go out there, he was having fun today. And that is so cool, and I thought he really functioned at a high level, certainly. We don't want to be taking time outs. We sure as heck can't take delay games, okay?
But it was fun watching them play and watching us. Put the next step forward and see where we're at. And Watson for his uh his uh own right, stepped to the podium and talked about his journey to get to this point. And he was asked to You know, hey, coach said it looked like you were having fun out there. What are your Can you confirm?
Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's always been my mentality.
So I don't think that's anything that I doubt into myself. That's the reason why I work hard these last two years, you know, to get back to that. You know, I had some challenges with some injuries and suspension. And, you know, now being able to, you know, get a full offseason and continue to work my way back up, you know, it takes time. But at the same time, I don't doubt myself in any way that I can't play at a high level.
He turns 31 on the 14th of September.
So in between weeks one and two, he will be just a 31-year-old quarterback with not a lot of. Gameplay From ages. You know, 27 through 31. Right. You know, and so that's the question: is can he get back to the Washington, the Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans, the one that the Browns said we'll take you even with the suspension coming, we'll take you, even with all that baggage that led to the suspension and all the negativity and all the awfulness that we'll read about about what he did back in the day, and that he is now soon to be a 31-year-old guy who's turned his life around, we hope.
and playing free and playing fun. And with all that experience and with all that capital in him. Shador can't be airmail and passes. Drop in footballs. He did make some good throws.
As is his wont, and then he showed up at the podium or his press conference afterwards in front of the media with a smile on his face because that's who he is. But he's got to kind of play perfect. He's got to practice. Perfectly, and his next preseason start better go gangbusters because I don't know. I I I always thought there was a thumb on the scale and When the Cleveland Browns are opening up their season at Jacksonville and then at Tampa.
You know, where Baker's going to be gunning for whoever is out there. Mm-hmm. I kind of feel like they're going to want a more veteran steady hand just to see what they have and who they have and Watson. May not be popular in Cleveland, but I've always thought that, even though I cape for Shador best I can, because. I believe in him and obviously I I love the Sanders family.
Monken had this to say afterwards about where the quarterback competition goes from here.
Well When we practice against Buffalo, we will give. Both of the quarterbacks opportunities with the ones against the Bills. Shador will start against the Bills. Deshaun will play in the third quarter, and Dylan will play in the fourth.
So it ju it just flipped. Yep, there you go.
So it's going to be f you know, I guess, fair. Deshaun Watson in the third quarter against maybe second-stringers for Bills is going to look good. Let's be honest. All he's got to do is just. You know, be efficient, run the offense.
And Shador is going to, that's going to be a massive first half for him. And it may not be enough. But Monken's going to just continue this thing deep into. The summer. And then we'll see.
What happens? Because at some point You know, I don't think they're gonna Monkin's gonna play this thing all the way out. And leave Jacksonville guessing who's going to be the.
Okay. The starting quarterback. I think he's going to want the reps to go specifically to somebody, just like Kevin O'Connell made that decision even before snap was made. for the Vikings in New Jersey. Against the Giants.
But that's preseason action number one. Nobody really. lit up The lamp. To the point where it's like, okay, that's it. But I kind of watched Deshaun Watson, I'm like, okay.
That's kind of it. It's the way I thought. 'Cause Monkin hasn't made a decision yet. And he's not uh he's not shown his cards. When he says we're just going to go with the plan.
And then we'll see what happens in preseason week number three.
So much to talk about, including Jackson Dart's Day against the Vikings. Where he wound up in the big blue tent again, and he's pissed about it. I've got some thoughts on all of that. And let's take a break, though, because our friend Jordan Palmer is about to join us right here on the Rich Eisen Show, and he knows all about getting quarterbacks ready for play at every level, collegiate and professional. The founder and coach of the QB Summit and Threads Performance coming up.
Yeah. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. After all these years talking to athletes, coaches, entertainers, and people at the top of what they do, one thing is pretty clear. Success usually depends on getting the details right. For small business owners, that includes payroll, hiring, onboarding, benefits, you know, the work that keeps everything moving, even if it's not the reason you started the business in the first place.
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The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Jordan Palmer, founder of QB Summit and Thread Performance, is also what he's here in support of, right here on the Rich Eisen Show, looking at Fernando Mendoza from Thursday night. And knowing the situation, new coach Kirk Cousins is there. What do you think? Suss out for me how you think Clint Kubiak's going to run the quarterback room and get Mendoza up to speed as soon as he possibly can.
Jordan?
Well, I don't know that my answer is specific to Clinton, how he's going to go about it. I certainly don't know. But I just think with any rookie that's drafted high, particularly at one overall, if it's close, then play him. If they're ready, then play them. And if they're not, Um Then you've got a great person to start the season off, and Kirk Cousins, who's done it and looks pretty good from everything that I've heard.
But with Fernando, again, I kind of make my point earlier. Playing well in the preseason, in my opinion, he should. He's a really good player. He played a much higher level in college last year. We talked about going through the Big Ten and then going through the college football playoff and winning it all, beating Miami and all that.
Um he should play well in the preseason. And you know, even from a game planning perspective, the volume is so much lower of what you have in on offense. And so, the anticipation that the player is able to play faster and. whether that's get out of the huddle faster or go through progressions faster. That makes sense to me.
And Fernando, essentially, to me, just looked the part. I kind of expected him to go in there, go through progressions, and play well. And throw with confidence and conviction, and that's what he did. And so it really is. It's just a it's just a kind of a glorified practice in terms of Yeah, there's people in the stands and there's lights and it's on TV, but not if your context is Heisman Trophy and national champion.
These lights are not very bright at all. And the expectation that I would have for players like him is to go in and play well and look the part.
So, what is it? How can somebody make an evaluation, right? How can Monken make an evaluation between his two quarterbacks and the evaluation that. KOC just made without a snap being made in Minnesota, and what, you know, Kubiak's looking at, what Also, I guess Stefanski is looking at. He's got one guy who's coming back from injury, may not even be ready, and it's Tua, who did not look very good at all in his first two possessions the other night.
Is there a through line of what you're looking at? Like when you say they're close, they're ready, one's not ready. Is there a specific type of play or a down and distance, a third down, or something like that? A coach says, if you can't handle this, you're just not starting. Is there a through line here?
Jordan?
You know, I think it would be case by case. You know, if Fernando, like I said, if if he if he looks Ready to run this offense and nothing's too big for him, then I personally, you know, I go with him. I don't think that you can play to try and protect your guy. You know, let's let's if he's not ready to play, then don't play him and protect him. But I don't think you can say he's our guy, but let's protect him with less volume or you know, shipping when we n wouldn't normally chip.
You know, in Atlanta, I think that's a different scenario because you've got One player coming off of an injury, like you said, Tua in a new situation. And you have a lot of horsepower on offense, so the expectations are high that that offense can go.
So we really need a quarterback to come in and distribute. On paper, you would think that would be Tua because. He's done it at the NFL level. and done it at a high level. Uh and so I you know, I don't know enough about You know what went into his performance.
But I think that you've got an interesting situation there. And with Tua, It's going to be because he's played so much football and he's played at a high level. It's, can you match that level that you played at before? If not, then let's go with the guy that we drafted. But that's going to be honestly out of all of them, that's probably the one that I'm paying attention to the most, even though I'm not connected to either quarterback in that room, paying attention to how Stefancy's going to handle that.
Because, like I said, it's not just the fans' expectations of that offense and the horsepower they have, it's the people in that huddle's expectations. You know, the Drake Londons and the Bijons that You know, they've got a little bit of a quarterback drought there the last few years.
Some of those guys haven't really played with an elite guy yet. And uh And so that that usually that uh The grace period is pretty short. The lease is pretty short, and the expectations are going to be really high. All right, let's talk about some of the elite guys that you have an association with. Jordan Palmer here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Sam Darnold, superpower, man, is Even Keel, right? But he's the same kid, same guy, whether he gets traded from the Jets or he's acquired by the Vikings and crushes it and finds his new spot in Seattle and wins the Super Bowl.
So I asked the question. What what's he going to be like with the ring? And the confidence and the knowledge. What what's going to be this season in Seattle, in your estimation, for him?
Well there's there's a lot of things I I think uh With Sam, his superpower, the way I frame it, is just his ability to keep everything really simple. And, Rich, you know, you're really good friends with a lot of these guys over the years. Being a starting quarterback in the NFL is not a simple life. There's a lot going on. You can pull in a million directions.
And. I think that's his superpower. And all the hard times that he went through in New York and Carolina and being a backup. Um, that the self-confidence that he had that there'll be a time, a place where all I have to do is play to the best of my abilities, and I'll be in every game with a chance to make a run at the end. That held true in Minnesota.
It held true last year. The thing I'm really excited about. Is, you know, most people, it's funny. I asked quarterbacks ago, how many teams has Sam Darnell been on? Everybody guesses three or four.
You forget this is his fifth team. Right, in like nine years, and that's not because he clawed his way into the league, that's a third overall pick in the draft. But this is his first offseason. Gosh, I think in five or six. where he just was on this team last year with these guys.
So, if you think about March, last March, not this past March, but the one before the Super Bowl, he was doing things like asking what we call this play. He was doing himself things like saying, Hi, my name's Sam. Nice to meet you to teammates. Right. And the other thing is, and this is something I do have expertise on, is the volume of throws on a new team is so much higher.
It's almost like a draft year. Where your season ends, and then you immediately start throwing again. Because last year when he got to Seattle, the free agency was in March, right?
So he showed up in March. He's introducing himself to people, he's learning verbiage, he's learning the language. They're talking about entry-level things because he just entered.
Now, this offseason, having just one season under his belt with those guys, I would expect the floor to be how well he played at the end of last year. And really, throughout the entire year, I think that's the new floor when you have this type of camaraderie, you have this type of. You know, just experience of playing in games, solving problems, understanding how guys like things, understanding what we can and can't do. And so, yeah, you lose the running back and you lose the coordinator and you lose pieces. That's what happens when you win a Super Bowl.
But, you know, the foundational elements of what made the Seahawks champions last year, I think, are all there. And I would expect Sam Darnold to have another fantastic season. As for Joe Burrow, Jordan, after the preseason action against the Lions. Um is this did you give him this hat? Where where does he get the I Work Here hat, uh Jordan?
Where w what he's got this website he shops off of. I can't remember what it's called, but I went on there and there's some way too expensive stuff on there. But he's He fancies himself a fashion guy. I'm here for it.
Okay. But he just works there. I mean, like, again, we're all looking at Joe, like. You know Yeah. All the Bengals, I'm just going to come through the front door.
All the Bengals fans are afraid he's going to turn into your older brother, man. You know, he's going to turn into Carson and say, I don't want to be here anymore. And he's wearing his I Work Here hat. But there's chase, there's Higgins, there's Chase Brown, you know, like they're so loaded. If they can just keep him upright, what will you are you willing to share about what's going on between his temples?
I think Joe's done an unbelievable job of resetting every single year, and the consistency at which he approaches. Uh his development, his body, his nutrition, uh is You know, it is up there with anybody. I actually just got back from Spain and I spent some time with somebody who works with some of the best soccer players in the world. And we were kind of swapping stories on the. You know, the Ronaldos and some of the things that those guys approach, and it just sounded like some of the best footballers in the world.
You know, Joe's up there with those guys in the approach. I know that he thinks that if he's on the team, and a lot of guys think this way, so this isn't a joke thing. If they have him, that they have a chance to win the Super Bowl. I also agree with that. Not putting words in his mouth.
I just think that's the top guys need to have that belief. And he certainly does. And the focus and the commitment has never been in question. I doubt his teammates would say anything different, even behind closed doors. And uh, but also, you know, the comments he made in the media about, you know, how confident he is in this team going back to the LSU season when Adam was going into his senior year in college.
And I, you know, watching watching tape and seeing what they're doing. I can see why he believes that. And it's always going to be a question, right, if we can keep him upright, right? Or if the team can stay healthy, or if they can, that's what fans do before the season. If this happens, then that will happen.
And so I think it's going to be the same thing with Joe every single year. If he has time to get the ball off, He's shown that he can put it on the money as consistently as anybody who plays in this league, and I'm expecting a huge year. out of Joe and I like a lot of the stuff that they're doing and some of the pieces that they added as well. Um and uh uh particularly on defense. And Maybe it is a sign of different times, right?
We all talked about it: how you know, the Bengals traded the 10th pick away to get Dexter Lawrence and. How much sense that move made. And yeah, that helps the D-line and it helps the defense, but I think it also might be signaling that. You know, the Bengals are starting to get outside of what they've been doing for a long time and putting their team in a position to win, maybe in a different way than they have in the past. And I think there's confidence oozing out of that building right now.
And you can see it on social. I can see it from my vantage point. And I think the fan base is seeing it as well. Yeah, I mean, again, it's just. How one continues to get up off the turf.
And how that affects your play, right? Over and over. Twice in the preseason action. One. He got sacked, you know, on um On what didn't just appear to be a regular rush.
Another one, he got blindsided as he let go of the ball. And I'm wondering how you handle that sort of thing. You know what I mean? Like, what do you coach? How do you coach somebody up, even if there is great as Joe Burrow.
On that space.
Well, this comes down to controlling what you can control. And it plays out in life, but definitely a quarterback. And so, what Joe's done. to help O-line play is become a more efficient mover, play with leverage, and it's turned him into You know, one of the most difficult guys to tackle, you know, behind the line of scrimmage, and there's plenty of highlights that support this statement. One of the most difficult guys to tackle behind the line of scrimmage, despite not having.
Tier one top-end athleticism. You know, that we're not comparing him to Lamar Jackson in terms of athleticism. But it was funny, I went up to the Super Bowl in San Fran. I live in Southern California, and I was on the plane. I'll just say with an all-pro defensive player that I've known a long time.
And I love asking those guys about quarterbacks. And I asked him, rank this guy, rank this, rank this, rank this. And this guy kind of said Joe in almost every category. One of them was most difficult to tackle. And so I think that's what he's done to control.
He can control, is continue to become an efficient mover. Play with leverage. I certainly know every off-season we look at any movements that were inefficient and unstable and had poor leverage, and builds his off-season program around training those. Um, it gets really complicated, but the solution is really simple. Uh, and so I think that he's a mass he's mastered controlling what you can control, which is why you don't hear him venting about anything.
Um, and I think a lot of quarterbacks are this way: if you can give me a really good offensive lineman or you can give me a really good, you know, target to throw to, give me the target. Yeah, I hear you. Refer to my comments the year before my last year at LSU about how I felt about the offense then, is how I feel about this offense here. And then he. You know, he did what uh I guess he's the last guy since Mendoza to go undefeated Heisman Trophy and win a championship, although he threw 60 touchdowns, wearing number nine that apparently is not being given away in LSU, if I'm not mistaken.
Jordan. No, it's not. This is a fascinating saga. I mean, just. Jaden Daniels, I mean, of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL right now, I mean, maybe one of the most likable guys, teammates, fans, and people.
I've known him since he was in high school. Um, I had he was my quarterback on my elite 11 team. Him and Bo Knicks were duking it out. Nice. Um.
Taking and playing against Spencer Rattler in that one, right? And so, one of the most likable guys. I was reading this, like I said, just got back from town, and I'm like, following along with this, and it's crazy, but. My only context is: I got a text years ago from Lincoln Riley saying, Hey, I'd love to connect with your brother if I can get his number. I want to ask him about something.
And he was calling to ask if Jordan Addison, who was transferring in from Pittsburgh, could wear number three. And at SC it is retired. And that's a, you know, they got eight Heismans there, I think, so that's what they do. And Jordan Edison wore number three that year.
So I don't know. Lane, I don't know all the dynamics there, but it's been fascinating to watch this Jane Dano storyline. I don't know what's him, what's his. you know, it's mom's part of it. I I yeah, I don't I don't know.
I just Context for it is just that that's how it was handled at SC, and Jordan Edison wore number three and had a great year. I don't think there's number three on the roster right now at SC, but. Part of that is Lincoln doing it the right way, and part of that is my brother being cool and going, Yeah, support my alma mater any way possible. I got Jordan Palmer, a few minutes left with Jordan. All right, I think I've held off long enough.
I think I've shown enough professional restraint. Because you've got my guy, Bryce Underwood, in your care when he's not with Kyle Whittingham and the staff. What do you got for me, man? How different is it going to look this year than last year where sometimes it looked like he was fumbling for the light switch? We're talking about obviously the coaching there is different.
from last, what do you got for me on this whole situation?
Well, I you know, I I got a lot of college clients, and so what I I'm breaking down their game. I shoot stuff for them every single week.
So, what I don't really have time to do is watch a non-client. Like, just turn on the big game and catch it. I also have four little kids. Nice. So I didn't watch a lot of Michigan Live last year.
And I started to work with him this offseason.
So the first thing I did was go through every single snap. And then I started spending time there. He spent a lot of time out here. And the more I learned about the scenario last year, and then obviously the Coach Moore and that situation and all the stuff, you're an insider, you know everything that's going on there. The more I learned about what was going on there, the more I was impressed with how well he played as a true freshman.
And I'm not. Saying that he threw 39 touchdowns. I'm just, there's the stat line, but I don't look at stat lines. I'm looking at. 17-year-old, because that's how he started the season, with those pressure and expectations, better understanding just.
How everything was going on around him.
So the best way I'll say it, I was actually pretty impressed. He held it together, made some good throws, made some plays. With that being said, yeah, I think there's a lot of steps forward. I mean, part of this is I've worked with Kyle Winningham in the past at Utah, Cam Risey. There was a lot of times when I was kind of saying to myself, you know if i'm the top kid in the country i actually might go to utah And it wasn't because I love Salt Lake City, it was because the program that I saw running, the strength staff, and the PT staff, and the way they ran practices, and I just.
I've just been impressed. I've been a Kyle Winningham fan. I don't even know him now. I've just been a fan for years because I was working with Utah and he's a defensive coach.
So when I would go work with Utah, I wasn't working with the defensive coach, I was working with the offensive staff. and the players and I just think this is an exciting time to be a Michigan fan, and I think it's an upgrade. Over maybe the regime before. And I'm not trying to add to the hype here. And they have a lot of pressure on them and they have a difficult schedule and all that.
But the biggest takeaway I have from Bryce Underwood is blown away by the professionalism, the work ethic, and the attention to detail. The physical traits are well documented. Everyone can see that in the opinions. And the noisier this offseason's gotten, Nothing's changed about that approach. And so I'm bullish on nineteen and the staff around him.
Coy Denver Jr., the quarterback coach, is a coach to watch for sure because if the season goes the way that I think it's going to go for Bryce in Michigan, Coy Denver Jr. is on a fantastic I know a lot of quarterback coaches, traditional ones on teams, and I'm as impressed by Coy Dupmer Jr. as any of them. And so yeah, I just think I think this is an exciting time to be a Wolverine fan.
Well, it's obviously in heartening to hear, but what are you going to, or at least could you share? That he's worked on, that you're like, okay, didn't see that on tape last year. Gonna see it on tape this year. What do you got for me on that? Anything specific?
Well, yeah, I just think young players, right?
So, true freshmen and rookies, you know, one of the things you got to start with is really just quick game footwork and intermediate passing game because those are kind of like free throws, right? Like, if I'm going to do quick game footwork and I'm going to throw a sticker out to my tight end, a little five-year-old. I shouldn't, that shouldn't be a contested throw. Like, there's actually not enough time for the D-line to get there.
So, it really comes down to putting myself in the same position. from a leverage perspective, from an alignment perspective, from a Which foot left, then right? How do I turn? And it seems really simple, and fans will watch a guy miss a slant and go, Oh my gosh, how's that guy missed that? He's wide open.
But I think quick game footwork, typically that's where I start with guys. Because similar to basketball, right? You got three kinds of shots in basketball: you got an uncontested shot, you got a contested shot. And then there's turning a contested shot into an uncontested shot, like a step back jumper or a fadeaway. And quarterback, it's the same way.
And quick game screens, things like that. You know, those are uncontested shots.
So, getting yourself in the same position of leverage and alignment is kind of the first place to start with, guys. And when that gets better, and quick game accuracy, I had a guy, DeMon Williams Jr., that I worked with at Washington, who last year, That was a big point of emphasis. Coming off of his true freshman year and his true sophomore year, he led college football in quick game efficiency. That's probably more of a testament to how you're getting yourself to. A position of leverage and alignment than it is necessarily accuracy, and so I would say that would be a big one, but I think you're just going to see across the board.
I think. They don't know much ton about what they're going to do on offense, but man, they have weapons. And I did watch a lot of Utah last year. Different. Different huddle, different guys.
But I'm excited to see what they're able to do and build off the run game that should be really, really strong for Michigan this year.
Okay, good. Just to continue the basketball analogy, I just want him to make LeBron miserable. You know, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, that's all. Thread performance is what people can go to what for their kids for nutrition, just for the kids. It's for the whole family as well.
Some hydration tips as well for your the young athlete. in your life? Yeah, it's a little bit of a rocket ship, Rich. Awesome. speaks to the the growing demand.
I mean So many people invest so much time, effort, energy, money into their kids' careers. And whiff on the nutrition part. And so, whether that's the collagen, protein, The vitamins and then our hydration is we just launched this last year. A bunch of different flavors is, I would say, is the best hydration product on the market and tastes amazing and no sugar.
So, to be able to have like really clean, healthy ingredients that actually taste great for kids, but give their bodies what they need when they're going through puberty is why we started the company. And I think why it's growing the way that it is, is because the demand is there. You're the man. Thanks for the time, Jordan. We'll chat again soon, brother.
You be well. Thanks, man. You got it at Jordan Palmer. Everybody, check out Thread Performance and obviously all of Jordan's Pearls of Wisdom on socials. 844-204-Rich, number to dial.
We're up against it. Got to hit the radio break back on Disney Plus and the Samuel Cast coming up. Oh. Get into the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event and get away with a deal so right it almost feels wrong. Right now, you can get great deals on our most popular models, including our adventure ready SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Santa Fe hybrid and the Tucson or Tucson hybrid.
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Um so Let's do it again, man. I think this is the third week that we're doing this. Still going. Is he back yet? AA Ron.
Is he back yet? Where is Aaron right now? And I knew that when we started this segment, Is He Back Yet? Um that it would come to an end eventually. I didn't think it would have these many legs.
Last year powers, you think? He's still not back yet, I don't believe. Although, for a second time.
Now second time He showed up on the NFL wire. It's having Tried out. With the Rams, because that's the verbiage that must be used because he's not on the roster. But he is working out in team issued gear. for the Rams, which means It's being listed as a tryout.
You know, actors audition, so I get it. I guess it's my sense, huh? Oh, yeah.
So he's tried out again for the Rams. I just love the Donald, Aaron, DT, Pittsburgh. What else do you want? I mean, you could put man, grown ass. You know, you could do that.
You know? Yeah. You could put hero, super three times. Like, what else do you want to? Yeah.
All right. I don't know why he's not back yet. I have no idea what the process is. Honestly, the information men and women covering this stuff have run out of ways to talk about it. You know, he's going through a process.
He needs to figure this thing out. He needs to figure that thing out. I guess doing this rather than working out with the team is something he prefers to do. I don't know. Whatever the hell's going on, at the end of the day, I think there's going to be.
Uh a couple extra bags. And what, 270 more pounds on the uh on the flight. Whatever his 250, 260, whatever he is. I don't know. It's going to be on the flight.
to Melbourne, Australia. And that first game for the Rams, we will see Donald and Garrett. It would be a surprise to me the other way around. Because other than that, These tryouts are for nothing? To try out with the team.
I mean,.
Well, what are we waiting for? I don't know, man. I don't know. He wastes his time. I have no earthly idea what the hell's going on.
He's playing. Other than the fact that he's not back yet. And the question still stands: is he back yet? Because he's coming back. It's not like he was going to play in the preseason anyway.
Exactly. I know. Not playing in the preseason. He's not going to do this just so he can pop out there against the Saints in SoFi Stadium coming up this weekend, number two, just to test it out. Just as some you know some Some tight end who wants to, you know, get a pelt on his wall to make the team with the Saints and take a shot at him.
That's just not going to, you know what I mean? Right. to double them and take a shot. You know, someone a wham block, and then knock him on his ass, and then all of a sudden he's not available. Like, that's just not happening.
He just isn't back yet. He's going through a process. Everybody, back off. Otherwise, he's going to come for you when he is, in fact, back. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
