Jay Gruden, Former NFL Head Coach

Jay, appreciate the time. How are you? I'm doing good, Zach. How you doing? Well, I'm doing fantastic.

Appreciate you coming on. You know, I want to start you off with the Pittsburgh Steelers because when I watch Kenny Pickett, I think he's ready to start Week 1. As a coach, how do you know and what do you look for to determine if a young quarterback's ready to start in the NFL? Well, you have to look at all the practice reps, everything leading up to training camp and then training camp, how they're adjusting to all the different looks they're going to see when you throw in the preseason games and see how they do against different offenses and then just continue to monitor their progress. You have to make sure they protect themselves, understand protections, understand audibles, being able to get in the right run. There's a lot of mental part of the game that we can't see other than, you know, when you watch a preseason game, you have to see them complete a 10-yard out route, but is he audible and getting out of bad runs?

Is he protecting himself with the protection schemes? Those are all critical and only the coaches probably know that right about now, but he does look good. What do you think they'll end up doing? You think they start your Biscuit Week 1 or they go with Pickett? I would say, you know, to me, if you're going to start a rookie quarterback, it has to be his job day one because he has to get all the first-team reps. You know, when I was with Cincinnati my first year, we dropped in Andy Dalton and the whole practice and everything was scripted for Andy Dalton to be the starter.

And if you have a competition, it's very difficult for a rookie quarterback to get the needed reps to get himself ready for Week 1. I see Mr. Trubisky starting. If he does well, he'll keep the job. If he struggles at all, then I don't think they'll hesitate to put in Kenny. Then what do they do then behind the scenes?

If you're right, it is Mitch Trubisky Week 1. What do they do behind the scenes to continue to develop Kenny Pickett when he's not playing in the games? Well, that's his job to continue developing.

He's got to make sure he takes as many metal reps as he can. When he does get the reps, he utilizes them and does a good job with those to make sure he shows the coaches that he will be ready when his time is called. Even if it's scout team reps where it's a play that they don't even have in their playbook, he's got to complete the ball and footwork and accuracy is going to continue to be important for him throughout the development stages.

But really, knowledge of the game is the most important thing. Handling protections and running game and all that, what I mentioned earlier. Talking to Jay Gruden right now on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. When we get to your former football team, they brought in yet another quarterback. This time it's Carson Wentz. Do you have any optimism with Carson Wentz or is he going to be the guy that we've seen Philadelphia say goodbye to and then eventually Indianapolis? Well, you know, it's odd that a quarterback at his age has been on three different teams already.

That's a little concerning. He does have a talent. He does have a skill set. He's an upgrade, I think they believe, down there at Washington. He's got great weapons around him with Terry McLaurin and Dobson and Curtis Samuel. He's got a good tight end, a Logan Thomas. They've got three backs that are big tight backs that can handle the passing game and the running game with Robinson the rookie and McKissick and Antonio Gibson. So they've got their weapons and I think their defense should be okay. So as long as he manages the game, doesn't turn the ball over, can make some big plays every now and then, they should be fine. But he does have a lot to prove because this is his third team, like you mentioned, and he didn't fare too well at Indianapolis.

I know it's crushing for them not to be able to beat Jacksonville the last game to get to the playoffs. But he's still a young quarterback. He's still developing and how he handles Scott Turner's offense will be how it goes in Washington. Inside the NFC East, a lot of people are predicting this is going to be between Dallas and Philadelphia. Do you give the edge to one team over another? I would always give the edge to the better quarterback and right now I still believe that's Prescott. And I think his ability to move the pocket, his accuracy I think puts him over the top. He did lose a couple weapons but I still think the tight end that they have and some of the receivers that they have and obviously the running game that they have and his ability to run with his own reads still make them more dangerous.

I do like Philadelphia's defense a little bit better, which will make them very, very competitive in that division. If he can hold teams and keep games close and Jalen Hurst can hurt you with his legs, as long as the game's close, he'll be effective. But if they get behind, I question the ability for him to bring them back with the passing game.

So if he becomes one-dimensional, they'll struggle. If he can stay close and have a lead in games, then Philadelphia will be very dangerous. I like what Philly did this offseason, though, because a year ago they got him Devante Smith. They've had a connection in the past and then you go get A.J. Brown and we've seen a lot of teams around the league, whether it was Josh Allen a few years ago getting Safon Diggs, Kyler Murray with DeAndre Hopkins. I love when these teams go get these big wide receivers for the young quarterbacks.

Yeah, I do, too. That's important. You've got to have that. You've got to have a good, strong running game. And Milison has got to produce better. Timothy Commonwealth has got to play better. Their blocking has to be better. I do have a big offensive line, which I think will help their running game out a lot, which will help and turn the young quarterback and their defense.

Like I said before, should keep them in games and could actually win games for them early, where the play-action pass and things that Jalen Hurst could do effectively will be effective in the games through four quarters, not just once. Jay Gruden here with us. We talk about a young quarterback getting some help. A year ago it was Jalen Waddle, now Tyree Kill with the Dolphins. Jay, are you a believer in Tuatunga, Vailoa? You know what?

Jury's still out. Young quarterbacks, it's time for them to start taking major steps in a productive way. In order to do that, you have to surround them with talent, and Miami has done that. They've got two of the most explosive wide receivers in the game, and Cedric Wilson is a good possession receiver to man the slot as well. He has good speed at running back in Edmonds and in Beaux-Arts. And Sonia Michelle, they've got a good tight end that can catch the ball very effectively.

So he has the weapons, they have no excuses. Their defense is pretty good. They've got two great shutdown corners.

The iron zone was Adrian Howard, past us at Melvin Ingram. So yeah, there's no excuses for Miami without a doubt, and Tua's got to make a big step. But he is still young, he's going to make a mistake, but he does have the arm talent to get the ball deep to those players. And then that should open up the running lanes for the backs that I mentioned. What are the Dolphins getting in their head football coaching in Mike McDaniel? Well, anybody who's studied off the palestinians, when we get the good outside zone running game, the play passes off of that to get them outside the pocket, and a good play pass is down on the field. So I think it starts with the outside zone game. The running game will be effective, which in turn opens up the play passes, which Kyle and Sonic Bay and these guys have done so well over the course of time.

When you get the ball outside the pocket where Tua can see, get a speed set and watch it, that would be very, very dangerous on those play passes. Jay Gruden is my guest. Do you have a thought on Brady missing 11 days? That's not usually what Tom Brady does, but I guess he just wanted some family time. Tom Brady I believe could show up on game day week one and still be effective.

That's just the way he is. He's going to be ready, he's going to be in shape, he's going to put his TV 12 products, eat right, he's going to be mentally ready to go. He does need to get in there and get some reps with his receivers, which he'll do, but they'll be ultra dangerous. Their defense is solid, he's the best quarterback in the game and he's got great weapons around him. So Tampa Bay will be just fine, whether he misses a week, two weeks, or a month.

Yeah, I think it's a non-story now. He's back at practice after missing 11 days. I feel like, and I usually never predict when Tom Brady's career is going to wrap up because people have been doing that for the last decade and no one's got it right. With the contract being agreed upon, him going to Fox whenever he retires, I just get the feeling that this is going to be the final year for Brady.

We know he already walked away, then came back. Your thoughts on that, Jay? Yeah, I thought his final year was going to be when he won the Super Bowl the last time, but he keeps proving everybody wrong. I think he's going to read what everybody says, what everybody says, he'll do the opposite.

That's just the way he is. He's very competitive. If he feels like he can play and be effective and he's having fun, I think he'll continue to play. He does have a great job waiting in the wings. That'd be a nice little nest egg to have. Hey, he's got $350 million to announce football games.

That's kind of fun. Yeah, not bad. It all depends on his health. If he stays healthy, I can see him playing another year. If he has success, if he has fun.

Otherwise, he'll be great on TV. We know how great Devante Adams has been for Aaron Rodgers and how great Aaron Rodgers was for Devante Adams. Now, Devante Adams with the Raiders. How does Rodgers quickly build that chemistry with these young wide receivers? It'll take some time. I think that despite how good Aaron is, it'll still take some time.

I think he'll rely on Tanya a little bit. They do have the veteran Randall Cobb man on the slot. These young guys don't have to step up. But the good thing is they have two great backs. AJ Dillon is proven. He's a top back in the league in Aaron Jones.

That's a great one-two punch. It'll take some pressure off the passing game for sure. And I think they have a great defense.

I really do. I think they have one of the best secondaries in the league. They're going to be able to keep games close. And if you keep games close against Aaron Rodgers and keep giving him opportunities with a close score, he will take advantage no matter who his receivers are. I still think they're going to be very competitive. They will struggle early on in the passing game, I believe. But Aaron will get it right.

And they will be explosive by the time mid-season rolls around. I'm Aaron Gruden here with us for a few more minutes on CBS Sports Radio. Going to the right spot is so important for Trey Lance. He gets to go to a very fine organization, the 49ers. Really good coaching Kyle Shanahan. You got Deebo, you got Kittle, you got a really good offensive line. They love to run the football.

He's been in that organization for a year now as he gets set to year number two. He's finally going to be the starter. How do you think Kyle will use Trey Lance throughout the season as a starting quarterback? I think pretty similar to how he used Robert Griffin III when Robert won the rookie of the year. The running game, the zone reads are very effective. Then the play actions off of those are brutal for defenses.

You're working on your zone fits. Who's got the quarterback? Who's got the dive?

Then they pull it out and launch a slander up. Deebo Samuels or Brendan Iuche, very effective. Then they got Kittle working the third down option routes.

He's just excellent at that. When in doubt, just run left behind Trent Williams, who's the best at business without a doubt. Elijah Mitchell should be explosive in year two. I'm excited to see him. What do you say about their defense? They're big, they're fast.

Nick Bose is coming back. Armstead is a big, huge man. Kinlaw is gigantic, so their defense will keep them close as well. Any of these young quarterbacks, if they have a great defense, they don't have to have a lot of pressure on them to score every time they have the ball. They can punt on fourth down. They can run the ball on third to five from time to time to take some pressure off these guys. With Trey's ability to make plays with his legs, I think they'll be dangerous, very effective. Jay Gruden, what do you look for with Baker Mayfield this year as he's now been named the starting quarterback with the Panthers?

Baker, it's good that he won the competition supposedly, but he's still going to have that guy looking over his shoulder if he struggles a little bit. I don't know if they have the skill on offense. They have Robbie Henderson who can run and DJ Moore is a good receiver and Terrence Marshall. They do have Chris McCaffrey.

That is the key. If he can stay healthy, his ability to run the ball and catch the ball on that backfield will be a huge, huge relief for Baker. But can their defense play as effectively as they need to to keep games close? They played pretty well last year, so I think Carolina is probably flying on their radar a little bit. If Baker can manage the game and not turn the ball over, their defense is pretty darn good. They played pretty darn good last year. The division, other than Tampa Bay, New Orleans is going to be down a little bit. Atlanta is down a little bit.

So they have a chance to win some games and shock some people. Right now, who do you go with, Jay Gruden, to win the AFC West? That's been the million dollar question this offseason.

That's a tough one. I think I still go Kansas City. I just think that guy is a different quarterback.

That's a great quarterback division, but I still think Kansas City with their quarterback and his ability to make plays and Travis Kelce, the best tight in the league. They have G.G. Schuster take a step back at receiver and lose it to Tyree Kil, but they still have hard move G.G. Schuster and they drop to Skyborg, so they have to get the ball through. The running game is okay with Clyde Edwards and Jack McKinnon. I can see how this rookie does from Rutgers, that's Petchico, whatever his name is. And then defensively, I think they did lose a couple guys.

They added Dunlop. They had Frank Clark. They should be pretty good on defense.

They might take a step back, but you just can't bet against Patrick Mahomes. He's too good. He's just too good. His ability to make plays outside the pocket and buy time. Unscripted plays are second to none in the NFL. He can't coach it.

He's just a great player. On the way out with Jay Gruden, I saw Dana White had a big news item this weekend. He claims your brother blew up the deal that prevented Brady and Gronk from being a Raider. Was that the first time you heard that story?

Oh yeah, that's the first time. There's a lot of stories when you're out for a year or two, whether it's true or not. I know John had a great relationship with Derek Carter. Derek Carter is a great quarterback.

Whatever the story is, I think John had a lot of loyalty to Derek and Derek had a lot of loyalty to John. They were going to have some success if what happened didn't happen. They have a very good offense now coming back as well.

The skills they have on offense are very dangerous as well. The reason for everything, I think Tom Brady is probably better off going to Tampa Bay. I know Derek Carter is happy still being a Raider. If you were the head coach of the Raiders, would you have made the same decision? Be loyal to Carter and not bring in the GOAT, Tom Brady?

I don't know. Tom Brady is pretty good. He is the GOAT. If you have a chance to get him and a tight end like Gronk, but they already had Darren Waller.

There's only one ball. I think in the contract situation, Derek Carter is still a young quarterback. He's very smart. He handles the offense very well. He's no Tom Brady.

I'm not saying that at all. I hope that he surrounds Derek Carter with some great players like he is going to have this year. You'll see a different Derek Carter again. He's very effective. It would be hard for me to ever turn down Tom Brady.

He's my favorite all-time quarterback to watch on film. If I ever had a chance to get him, I would have got him, but that's just me. Do you and your brother talk about this when this story comes out? Like he is your brother. Do you call him up and say, hey, is this true? No, I haven't talked to him yet. He's down in Florida playing golf.

I didn't bring it up. He's a little salty right now. He doesn't like all these rumors floating around. I don't know if it's true or not, but I'll get a hold of him and find the scoop. I think the decision he made to keep Derek, I don't think that was a bad one.

I think with Darren Waller and Derek, the development Hunter Epro made with him before he left was pretty fantastic. Jay Gruden, appreciate the time. Thanks so much. You got it. Thank you.