Picketting For Kenny (Hour 3)

How's your mental health?

I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know, I think for me in 2014, when I found myself in that dark, dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself. After sitting there and thinking about everything, I wanted to find a different way.

I wanted to find a different answer. I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt, and that's why I started to seek help, and that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at I'mListening.org. Talk saves lives. How's your mental health?

I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know, I think for me in 2014, when I found myself in that dark, dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself. After sitting there and thinking about everything, I wanted to find a different way. I wanted to find a different answer. I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt, and that's why I started to seek help, and that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at I'mListening.org.

Talk saves lives. And we're coming to you live from the Rocket Mortgage studios. Whether you're looking to purchase a new home or refinance yours, Rocket Mortgage can help you get there.

For home loan solutions that fit your life, well Rocket can. Football Friday, week three. Steelers lose to the Browns in Cleveland last night. Got some big college football games this weekend.

One of them is, of course, Tennessee hosting Florida. Now joining us is a former offensive lineman and played his college ball at Tennessee and then did play in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that of course is Ramon Foster. Ramon, how you been? I'm good. How are you doing?

Well, I'm doing fantastic. Can't complain. So I know after the game last night, and that's always a tough spot for a coach, I'm not expecting Mike Tomlin to say that they're going to make a quarterback change. He said definitively no, though, when asked if there would be a new starting quarterback by week four when the Steelers go up against the Jets. Would that be a mistake if they don't start Kenny Pickett at this point up against New York?

Is it a mistake? No, because I'll say this. Mitch did some good things last night. That was a lot more to it than Mitch last night, to be fair to him. And just the way they're going to go about, you know, the process with Kenny Pickett. I think everybody knows he's the quarterback of the future.

Mitch knows it. Heck, Mason Rudolph found this out and everybody involved with Pittsburgh Steelers and their fan base know that eventually he will be the guy. I just think they're in a situation right now.

They just don't want to rush it. When you see young guys out there super fast, they can get shell shocked, especially when they also have their questions, too, as far as how they're going to go about being pros. We've seen, you know, guys get put in bad situation right now. This offensive line for the Steelers is still jelling, still trying to find their niche as far as what their identity is going to be. You look at the wide receivers. Honestly, if you put those type of wide receivers, and I say this in a good way, like guys that are really good, that want the ball, kind of command the ball, they can really get to a quarterback.

Well, who do I throw to? You know, it's one of those types of things of trying to please everybody could probably mess the young kid up as far as handling that situation. I think whatever, whenever they decide to put Kenny Pickett in, it will be a situation where it's like everybody understands that he's the guy that's going to move forward. And as far as maybe trying to force him into throwing you the ball, putting you in a better situation than it means for the team, I think all of that would be out the window. I'm not sure what the record is going to suggest at the time when that happened, but if he said definitively no, one, that's what he's supposed to tell us. But two, I do believe it's a not right now type of moment for him. If they wait three or four weeks, because you're right, this will inevitably happen that Kenny Pickett will start games this year for the Steelers, what really changes in three to four weeks?

His knowledge and understanding. I think one thing a lot of us are seeing right now, unless you have one of those types of teams, as far as like really strong teams, let's say the way Buffalo has kind of jumped out a little bit. Let's go and say like Miami has a whole lot of talent behind them.

Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City has a whole lot of talent behind them. We're seeing a lot of teams right now that kind of struggle out of the gates a little bit. We're watching Green Bay drop games they're not supposed to drop. We're seeing a team that's supposed to be pretty strong in Minnesota drop games they're not supposed to drop, simply because of Baltimore or Cleveland dropping games. I think us losing that fourth preseason game kind of takes away from that dress rehearsal of putting your group together.

Now there's a full acclimation period and me being a former player, I like all of those things. It's just that if you're not ready to go from the gates, which a lot of teams aren't, especially offensively, then you do kind of have that acclimation period or that still ramp up part of being a complete team because the reps are because the reps are a little bit less now in the preseason. But didn't he look pretty ready to go, Ramon Foster, in the preseason? Well you got to look at who he was going against. I think Kenny is going to be good.

How good? He's following a future Hall of Famer and Bam Roethlisberger, so that's yet to be seen. But it's a matter of putting him in that right spot and knowing that coaching staff and Kenny Pickett is going to know what that is. Saying that he's going to be a world beater and take him to the Super Bowl, heck it was a lot of people that denied how good Patrick Mahomes was going to be.

We got Tula in Miami. A lot of people are willing to write off. You put the right talent around him and next thing you know, he's a good player. He's killing it as far as everybody's fantasies. The same can be said about Lamar and Dak and everybody else.

I think it's a growth type of thing. Not just for Kenny Pickett, but I also think it's for the Pittsburgh Steelers also as far as like, look, you got to have a great support system around them. I'll say first and foremost, that is finding what works right for that offensive line up front because if they can't block him and give him the time to have him be comfortable in the pocket, what good is tossing him out there? I think we saw a little bit of that from Justin Fields and the way Chicago bears have handled him a little bit. Ramon Foster here with us. Do you have any optimism with this Steelers team after a 1-2 start? One thing you do is never just count them out. Simply because what the underlying goals of Pittsburgh are, they're always there.

They always have good components in place to really kind of help move them along. I know a lot of people are always going to bring up, you know, Coach Tomlin hadn't had a losing season and he's the only one I think in the league without that for as long as he's been in. I'm not on board yet to say it's going to be a losing season, but I'll just say this, they got a tough road ahead of them. I know this also after watching last night, the absence of T.J. Watt does mean a lot. We talk about teams and, you know, all types of mystique that they have with their history, but if you don't have the Jimmy and Joes in place to actually make plays for you like a T.J. Watt on defense, man, it makes a hard day at the office.

You know the standard in Pittsburgh. It is Super Bowl or bust, and it feels like it hasn't been that way in quite a few years where we've just been saying, oh, go make the playoffs and then we'll see what happens from there. You know, Apex is just being like a wild card team. Maybe you win the North, things like that. Are you disappointed with the state of the franchise right now? Man, depending on swings on everybody, it just simply does. We're watching the team in New England right now kind of go through that a little bit to where are they as an organization? Eventually, you've got to get to a point where you don't want a hard reset. You want to, you know, kind of watch your offense and defensive line. What is your defense consistently looking like?

And then you build from that point on out. Pittsburgh as a fan base, I know you understand this too. They've been spoiled for a very long time.

You got to say to yourself, it's been 20 plus years of fame. You're going to be that steady. When change happens and you don't have that type of franchise guy behind center, then a lot of people do throw that fear, that expectation out.

I'm not disappointed. I think it's just one of those things I kind of knew or saw it coming, but I still think it'll be a level of consistency or they'll end up winning games. You say, man, they're probably out of it and they find ways to kind of pull it back together. Ramon Foster here with us. When we get to the Browns, the team the Steelers lost to last night, they are 2-1 after three weeks. They should be 3-0 after the disaster last week up against the Jets, but they blew that game. After this week, they play the Falcons next week, but then after that, the schedule does pick up in intensity. Watson doesn't come back until week 13. Do you think this team can weather the storm and keep the ship from sinking until Watson gets back?

Well, the Wager-Covey reset play last night, if Kostas Afanski can put that plan together in some type of fashion against everybody else. Cleveland has one of the best offensive lines in the league with Conklin being back out there, and they just got a bunch of studs up front. They devised a game plan last night on Thursday Night Football that said, get the ball out quick.

Let Amari Cooper get busy. Then they started going over the middle to David and Joko. Then, of course, that one-two puncher they have with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb says to me that if they don't Cleveland ground themselves, and you know what I mean by that, they can be a really good team. They did that last night without Jadaevian Clowney.

I'll be honest with you. Cleveland is just one of those organizations where they always do play hard. They have a very good fan base, but it's a matter of them getting out of their own way. I know a lot of people side out of the Sean Watson signing and everything else, but when you're starving for wins in a championship and a fan base that's rabid to be relevant to everybody, that's why you go get a guy like him.

I think they'll be fair, man. Their team to really watch if they get out of their own way and just let those guys with all of that talent on the field make plays for them. The team that you cover now, the Tennessee Titans doing radio in Nashville, they're off to an 0-2 start. The only saving grace is the AFC South sucks right now, Ramon Foster, but how concerned you? I thought they were going to regress this year, but they still have a chance because this division's just brutal. Yeah, and that's as good as the Titans have been as far as being competitive. Number one overall seat last year, right? The one knock that they have on themselves is being in the AFC South.

Now, I'll say this. It looks like Jacksonville is getting their stuff together. It seems like Houston plays a brand of defense that's going to make it hard for teams to beat them.

With Davis Mills at quarterback, who can make plays occasionally? They went toe-to-toe with Denver up to a certain point. I don't know if that's a good thing, though, these days to go toe-to-toe with Denver. Denver's not good right now, especially with that coach, man.

I know that they have one of those guys. They got Russell Wilson at quarterback, man. He's not looking good so far. Hey, he's a great quarterback, but he's not looking good right now.

Man, I know, but gosh. But the tightest situation though, man, they have a situation on their hand where they have made themselves a run-heavy team. And as of late, and I say this with a lot of respect, and a lot of people say, well, there's disrespect coming behind that. But the way teams have been approaching them with that running game, meaning if they can get Derrick Henry at the line of scrimmage, then they know they got them because the way they have been counted, they lost Taylor LaJuan and you saw how the New York Giants attacked them. And then the following week, you have another team that comes in and does the exact same thing, man, to where it's just like, well, I'm not saying that they don't fear what the Titans have going on, but in this league, and you guys know it to be true too, if you can't spin the ball through the air and make teams fear you over the back end of the defense, then that makes for a very long day. And I know Buffalo is really good, but they have DB stacked at the line of scrimmage, eight, nine guys at the line of scrimmage, because until they start going to the young rookie Tralen Burks or devising the plan to get Nick West, Rook or Keena down the field to make them be honest, they're going to attack that line of scrimmage, man. And that makes a very long day at the offense for that offensive line and for Derrick Henry, and it makes their offense very stagnant. So I'm waiting to see when they're going to get Ryan Tannehill the keys to the car. And they say to him, hey, it's on you now. Run those tech with me's at the line of scrimmage, because if they are waiting 20 plus reps to get Derrick to 100 yards or get Derrick to 70 yards, where they've kind of been holding them 70, 80 yards a game, then I mean, that's a tough way to operate.

I feel like you know that too. Yeah, but you know this, when you ask Tannehill to throw the football more, eventually he's going to make a mistake. That dude's not a great quarterback. Well, as of late, these first two games, he hasn't been the reason they lost. I know the Buffalo game was one thing. He threw some picks as of late, but we talked Buffalo's just good.

They are. They get up to the quarterback. Von Miller's out here doing ghost rushes against tackle, not even touching them and sacking the quarterback. So up until late, he hasn't been the reason.

I think it's a lesson of, you know, what have you done for me lately? And from that playoff game last year against Cincinnati, I just don't know. Yeah. And I don't know if Todd Downey has kind of, you know, himself let that go because you, if you can't spin it through the airman, name me one team that's operating like that right now. Even Cleveland last night, they put the ball in Jacoba Brissett's hand. Is Malik Willis, do you think he could be a player for them? I know he's so raw and he fell to the third round. No one expected that, but what's kind of your read on Malik Willis?

He got the right team to go to, simply because Tannehill is the guy, no matter if he's throwing the ball or not. And if you see Malik and watch him in preseason, he did some good things, but he did those things against guys that got cut on the final cut day in the NFL. He's got to grow. He's got to understand that, look, these guys are a whole lot faster.

Your reads are a whole lot quicker. We saw him in his past game kind of run the ball and have a fumble in that game. And he got popped by a linebacker.

I think it was a Molino that ended up popping him in a game. Like you can't do what you did in college and the anticipation of passes and being able to see downfield and make plays. He just needs more time, but I'll say this. If they are in a position with Malik and he's probably not the starter by year two, it's not many guys that sit back in this league that are drafted to be the successor.

And they don't start in year two. If that's not the case, then they'll probably be looking for another guy. That's my personal opinion.

And I don't know many guys. This is like Jordan Love right now. Are they really going to make him the franchise guy?

I just don't see it happening right now. Well, let's be real. The biggest mistake they did was give Tannehill that four-year extension.

Very able with his relationship, but Brady should have got Brady to Tennessee. Oh, man. You know what? Everything is like that in hindsight. They were FaceTiming at that Syracuse game with Edelman, if you remember.

Yeah, I do, man. And I don't know what it was. There was also rumors that he was here in Brentwood, Tennessee, looking at schools and, you know, where there's smoke, there's fire sometimes. But it didn't happen. And they kind of held on to the run first ideas.

And it works until that fear kind of goes away. And they got a tough outfit this weekend against the Raiders to kind of, you know, right this ship. Let's be real. Was Tannehill the mother bleeper or was it Derek Carr or was it someone else when you get into that Brady conversation? This could be the mother bleeper game. Man, this could be. It's one or the other, right? It's one or the other. I couldn't tell you, man.

Brady's so calculated and I'm glad we're getting a chance to see him, beat him. But gosh, I'd hate to be whoever that was. Do you have any concern about Derek Henry right now? No, not really. I was talking to a good friend of mine who's a very respected guy that talks on TV. And I was like, you know, is it fear? Is that fear gone? Like, is it, you know, that lack of respect for what Derek does gone? And he was like, you got to be careful when you say fear.

And I was like, okay. And I think it's just a matter of the way they've schemed up stuff for him and how he has to have that blocking at the beginning of the line of scrimmage. I think teams are saying, if we get at his legs before he gets going, then we got a good opportunity to stop.

And that doesn't mean that they don't respect or fear him. It's just that the execution of what others have done, other teams seems to be following suit with getting him at the line of scrimmage as quick as they can. And the play action that the Titans do is really good. They can burn you over the top, but they haven't, you know, the loss of AJ Brown was huge. They got a rookie in that position right now. And when you don't have that threat, it makes a hard day for a guy like Derek Herring to get back to 2000 yards. Now I'll say this, he'll go for 240 yards this weekend.

Yeah, against that Raiders defense, he should probably maybe get 400. The thing that I hate Ramon Foster was, and you just said it, that they got rid of AJ Brown. I thought for a team that's been good the last few years, that sends a bad message to the locker room. I also wonder, Henry only has one more year on the contract after the season, and maybe he gets fed up and tries to force away out of Tennessee and tries to make a little trade request. Man, that may end up in a case.

I'm not sure if they're in a reset right now. You know I have this morning show here in Nashville where we talk about the Titans daily and a bunch of the football topics. I'll say this, what Derek has done in the past, he deserved that pay increase. He plays that position that's very hard and when you're not done with joining this league, they're absolutely done. If they decide to make a move like that, then they got a nice young guy, Hassan Haskins, out of Michigan if I'm not mistaken, that runs the ball pretty good.

He has good breakaway speed enough to get to the open field and get you those explosive plays. It'll just be another era and it doesn't also help too that you've kind of missed on a couple of offensive linemen. You remember the Isaiah Wilson draft and how that went down and then they get the young kid out of North Dakota State Dylan Radens last year and he's not in the starting rotation, but Taylor Lewan goes down right now. I think he's inactive this week, but they got a rookie at right tackle. You see what I'm saying?

It's a combination of a lot of things. Any guy that has tread left on his tires would think that, but from my understanding, Derek is a very loyal type of guy and it may be a team decision before it's an actual Derek Henry decision. Let's get to your volunteers. Tennessee this weekend with a big game up against Florida. We all know how good of a quarterback Hendon Hooker is, but I still feel like he doesn't get that respect nationally. I feel like this is one of those put some respect on my name type of game if he goes gets a victory with the way that he's been playing.

Yeah, he's a solid man and the system in which he's playing, he's kind of thrived in. The thing about this series though is Florida always gets up for the UT Florida game. They're coming into Knoxville. I'll actually be there tomorrow, man.

It's going to be chaotic. Anybody that's almost ever played at the University of Tennessee is going to be there. One of my former teammates guys that came in with area foster, he's back at University of Tennessee for the first time since he left and you know there was a whole lot of conversation around him when he left and he recently posted a picture. This is unusual and Hendon's got a lot on his shoulders as far as you know making those plays. If he comes into that game and he starts fast and that's the one thing I've been concerned about as of late with him is you know pick game, count up high balls, low balls and even in some the Akron and Ball State games he was you know not as steady as he should be. I'm hoping those games were warm-ups for what SEC play is, man. The kids got it. He's a six-year senior right now and he's taking full advantage of Josh Heupel's offense right now that he's making himself some coin as far as the NFL goes with the ability to kind of spin the ball through the air when he's hot.

Give me the state of the Tennessee Union. Are you guys buying into you drinking the Josh Heupel Kool-Aid through two years so far? Man, we got something called BVS, battered ball syndrome, okay. Me being like the Jets, you know somebody like as soon as you get something good it snatches away from you. I like what he's done so far. He's been a guy that's been one of those types of coaches. Andy Reid type, you know Coach Tomlin type, a Belichick type to where they don't give us and the media or the fans everything that they have, but behind closed doors he finds a way to get his guys to buy into him.

He finds a way to kind of get the most out of his guys to get them to believe. You know when the last coach ended up leaving it really put him in a bad spot only playing with 61 scholarship players and still pulled out I think seven wins last year. So as of right now Zach, I'll tell you this, I like the steps that he's made and he's not making it about himself which a lot of the coaches we have had in the past and I think you know a few of them, they've really made it about them. How can I be a big rock star in this University of Tennessee outfit? I was a little bit surprised he didn't go to Oklahoma this offseason.

You see what I'm saying? But when you look at where he come from and I think you know he's a guy that played in the era and watched Tennessee be good and you see him and you hear his press conference and kind of say I know what this place is and the athletic director that we have in Danny White, I think they're trying to build something here that they can just be guys. There are a lot of time coaches are looking for that other job and we saw another guy Scott Frost go back to his alma mater and say he was going to do this and do those things and that pressure is immense when you have one of those historic universities that's won a whole lot less than the early or late 90s early 2000s and then you find yourself fired and they also could have waited to fire you but instead they said here take the seven million dollars and we just want to get rid of you. Going back to your alma mater man is a big, big, yeah it's rough and the expectations I think is twice as high. Well here's the good news, I know you guys are off to kick ass start, if it goes poorly the former UCF athletic director could just start claiming national championships again for your Tennessee volunteers.

No see we don't live that life anymore Zach we're done with that man I promise you this is what we got to do we just got to one at a time not believe what is Nick famous that snake venom we can't we can't wrap up to that rat poison yeah that's what that is we can't we can't have any of that. Well Ramon Foster always great to catch up with you hey one last one just going back to the Steelers conversation if you were still in that locker room if you had to give me an honest answer right now would you be ready to go to Kenny Pickett if you were a player you say okay I've seen enough of Mitch. You know I had to give you my PC answer because I'm on this side of it but yeah I probably would just simply because they got a buy right now a mini buy they got 10 days before the next game. If I saw stuff in practice that said he could get us going this is the other part of it though too is you'd have to let everybody involved know look we got to protect them they're going to combat him a little bit harder they're going to make things crazy for them he doesn't know the way NFL defenses operate and it's got to be at least offensively it's got to be a collective goal to say we're going to make him look good because if he's good then everybody's eating we saw what he did at Pitt and we see where Pitt is now as far as quarterback play since he's left. Clovis is good but you have a guy that has a really good year that's played in that environment too I know a lot of people talk about his hands and stuff but he's conditioned for that type of play man me personally as a player I'd probably be ready for it.

Well Tomlin may give you a call then because they could use your protection up front. You know what everybody misses you when you're gone man I like this side a whole lot better. Ramon Foster appreciate the time as always you're the best thanks so much.

No doubt no doubt. Coming on back Zach Gilp show CBS Sports Radio on a football Friday. The listening you love is on the free Odyssey app your trusted local radio stations coverage of your favorite teams live news from your hometown and millions of podcasts on demand best of all you can completely customize your listening experience follow topics you care about like leagues and teams pause or rewind your local sports and news and add shows to your queue to catch up later there's a lot to listen to so get started and download the free Odyssey app today. How's your mental health? I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know I think for me in in 2014 when I found myself in that dark dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself after sitting there and thinking about everything I wanted to find a different way I wanted to find a different answer I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt and that that's why I started to seek help and and that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at i'm listening.org talk saves lives. How's your mental health? I'm listening with Michael Phelps.

You know I think for me in in 2014 when I found myself in that dark dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself after sitting there and thinking about everything I I wanted to find a different way I wanted to find a different answer I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt and that that's why I started to seek help and and that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at i'm listening.org talk saves lives. Viator is the world's leading travel experience marketplace offering everything from simple tours to extreme adventures and all the niche interesting stuff in between. Extensive options, ease of selection, and flexibility at your fingertips help make sure your time is wonderfully spent. Viator is the place to go to book experiences that will create long-lasting moments that make lifetime memories and Viator has over 300,000 bookable experiences to choose from in over 190 countries. In fact just last year Viator helped my family put together this amazing adventure on the island of Kona. Swimming with the manta rays trying to avoid the barracudas whatever your wildest dreams if you can imagine it Viator probably has an experience just for you. Download the Viator app now and use code Viator10 for 10% off your first booking in Viator's world of wonderful experiences.

Viator one site over 300,000 experiences you'll remember. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show. Well Mitch Trubusky needs to be going somewhere and that's to the bench. Not that he's been awful, he hasn't been good, but there's no upside anymore and that's why I asked Ramon Foster about that at the end of our conversation that we just had with him a few moments ago on CBS Sports Radio.

If you were in that locker room would you feel like it's time? Now the offensive line has not been good. They used Pickens a little bit more last night and he made a heck of a catch. Deontay Johnson's solid.

Chase Claypool is solid. Najee Harris clearly is at 100%. But you got to eventually take the floaties off and throw Kenny Pickett into the deep end because we got to see what Kenny Pickett is and he's a first round quarterback. It's not as if this was a first round quarterback that they drafted where you have an established great quarterback in front of you and you understand it's a development process. You understand the quarterback's gonna sit two or three years. Every single person said about Kenny Pickett that, and I know it was a large draft class this year when it came to quarterbacks, that he was the most NFL ready quarterback. He did his job in the preseason. I know you could question the quality of opponents and the players that he was going up against, but everything you've asked of him so far, he's done.

So do you keep on just going to Trubusky because of fear? Because of we don't want to ruin Kenny Pickett if we throw him in now? The Steelers should know how to develop a quarterback. Mike Tomlin is a heck of a coach. And yes, this is not a great Steelers team. This is not an offense that has found any rhythm, any consistency yet, but you do need a spark plug.

You do need new life and a new jolt of energy. And Kenny Pickett would actually make the Steelers exciting. I don't know if he'll play well, but there will at least be a reason to watch this team. I know it's one and two and Steelers fans say, oh, it's not over, it's not over, it's not over. This is not a good team this year. And you don't have TJ Watt right now, so you take a hit defensively as well.

You got 10 days. I know Tomlin last night after the game says that it's not going to happen. It's a rough spot for a coach after the game. No coach is going to tell you right afterwards, oh, Kenny Pickett's starting next week and we're going to change who's calling the plays on it. Like that's just not going to happen. So I anticipated that answer from Tomlin last night.

No, no, no, no, no. And he was going to be adamant about it. Question is, is he adamant about it next Sunday? And if you don't start Kenny Pickett at home going up against the Jets, you know what's going to happen. Because Mr. Biscay is not going to have success. So the moment he makes a mistake, the moment the offense goes three and out, the fans are going to chant, we want Kenny. We want Kenny.

The first home game, they did it. And I know you have Big Ben defending Kenny Pickett, defending Mr. Biscay. Oh, he didn't play that well. It's not fair to Mr. Biscay. You know, it wasn't that bad, blah, blah, blah.

Like, come on. You don't have a desirable person at the quarterback position. You don't have someone that could inspire confidence and make you think, okay, this guy at least gives us a chance. There's a reason to put him in. So that's what I'm saying. I'm saying, I'm saying, I'm saying, I'm saying, I'm saying, there's a reason to put him in. So that's why Chubisky has to go to the bench.

And that's why you have to go to the youngster in Kenny Pickett. If there was upside, if Kenny, if Mitch Chubisky was a good quarterback, that's one thing, but there's no upside. Not going to be there next year. We all know he's not going to make it through the entire season. We know he's not a good quarterback. So why not start the future now? I know the schedule gets tough for Pittsburgh.

You have the Jets though. This is the perfect time to do it. I thought they should have done it week one of the season. They should have played in week one.

They didn't like to do so. You're just delaying the inevitable. I don't like when you're delaying the inevitable, just the delay of the inevitable out of fear. And that's what I think it is. I think they're apprehensive to start Kenny Pickett because they don't want to ruin him early on in his career.

And if that's the case, he's not a franchise quarterback. If you fear that you're going to ruin his confidence or you're going to ruin him as a player, guy should not be a first round pick then. I think there is no harm at this point with what we've seen through the first three games going to Kenny Pickett.

And maybe it could give a little new energy, new life and inspire this team to actually do something positively on the offensive side of the ball. How's your mental health? I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know, I think for me in 2014, when I found myself in that dark, dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself after sitting there and thinking about everything, I wanted to find a different way. I wanted to find a different answer. I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt. And that's why I started to seek help.

And that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at I'm listening.org. Talk saves lives. The listening you love is on the free Odyssey app, your trusted local radio stations, coverage of your favorite teams, live news from your hometown and millions of podcasts on demand. Best of all, you can completely customize your listening experience. Follow topics you care about, like leagues and teams. Pause or rewind your local sports and news and add shows to your queue to catch up later. There's a lot to listen to.

So get started and download the free Odyssey app today. How's your mental health? I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know, I think for me in 2014, when I found myself in that dark, dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself after sitting there and thinking about everything, I wanted to find a different way. I wanted to find a different answer. I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt.

And that didn't happen. I was tired of feeling how I felt. And that's why I started to seek help.

And that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at I'm listening.org. Talk saves lives. Viator is the world's leading travel experience marketplace, offering everything from simple tours to extreme adventures and all the niche, interesting stuff in between. Extensive options, ease of selection and flexibility at your fingertips help make sure your time is wonderfully spent. Viator is the place to go to book experiences that will create long lasting moments that make lifetime memories. And Viator has over 300,000 bookable experiences to choose from in over 190 countries. In fact, just last year, Viator helped my family put together this amazing adventure on the island of Kona, swimming with the manta rays, trying to avoid the barracudas, whatever your wildest dreams. If you can imagine it, Viator probably has an experience just for you. Download the Viator app now and use code Viator 10 for 10% off your first booking in Viator's world of wonderful experiences. Viator, one site, over 300,000 experiences you'll remember. You're listening to the Zach Gelb Show.

You can think of Riley Auto Parts for all your car care needs, get guaranteed low prices and excellent customer service from the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Five questions, five answers. Let's not even waste five more seconds. It's time for Onside's Offside Haute Kiki.

Hit it! Zach's taking on the most polarizing issues in sports. Which side of the line of scrimmage will he end up on? Offside, defense number 69. It's Onside's Offside's with Zach Gelb on CBS Sports Radio.

All right HTH, what do you got for me? Zach, the race for the third best team in the SEC could shape up this weekend as number 20 Florida visits number 11 Tennessee. The Gators own one of the best wins of the season so far when they took down number seven Utah Open this season but did stumble at home the next week against Kentucky. The Vols went on the road and beat a ranked pit team and do right now own the fourth highest scoring offense in the country. When you get the rankings, both Kentucky and Arkansas are currently ranked higher than both Tennessee and Florida. Onside's are offside Zach. The winner of Florida Tennessee should be considered the third best team in the SEC behind Georgia and Alabama. Offside's.

Offside. If Florida wins this game, Florida just lost to Kentucky, how could we say they're better than Kentucky if Kentucky continues to win? I would say I would not say yes and the two impressive wins but I would not say that Florida is better than Kentucky right now. Yeah that's what I just said. Yeah I'm agreeing with you.

Okay gotcha you worded that horribly. No you were asking me like you know you're asking how can I say that Florida is better than Kentucky so I'm saying you can't. Now if Tennessee wins I think it's a trickier conversation and I don't know how to differentiate and definitively say that Tennessee's better than Arkansas, Tennessee's better than Kentucky right now. So I think if Tennessee wins it's a closer conversation but if Florida wins just because Kentucky just recently beat Florida I don't gotta you could then say Florida so that's why I went offside. Only one matchup in week three in the NFL pits undefeated teams against each other. Could you guys do me a favor can you pull up Tennessee schedule right now?

Sure. When pull up Tennessee schedule and just go through the scores of the games that they've already played you know they obviously beat Pitt we remember that game that was a good game recently uh back and forth action there and I just want to hear their schedule the rest of the way. They played no I think it's like Akron and yeah another you know Little Sisters of the Poor school it's oh come on you're you got Ball State fun you gotta keep who you're playing what Eastern Michigan this week? Central Michigan I'm not saying I'm not pooping I'm just I'm just saying like we're talking about you know strength of schedule Tennessee's played no one so far it's out of Pitt outside of Pitt okay go Akron and Ball State scores 59-10 against Ball State 63-6 against Akron and 34-27 over time over Pitt.

Okay rest of the way schedule? They have LSU in Baton Rouge in two weeks Alabama after that UT Martin watch out Kentucky at home Nealon Stadium the Wildcats do come to Knoxville so there's one for you on the road at Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt to end the season. Yeah I gotta say Kentucky right now it's it's Kentucky Arkansas regardless of this outcome of the game coming up this weekend. Can Florida can Tennessee get there?

Can Florida get there? Sure but once again Florida lost to Kentucky and Tennessee let's see what they do in the meat of that SEC schedule. So the NFL only two teams that are undefeated will play each other in week number three that is the Bills and the Dolphins.

The Bills have blown the doors right now for the first two opponents that are the Rams and the Titans. They have won by a combined score of 72-17. They didn't play great the first game they still won by 21. Yeah it was a four turnovers right and still blew out the Rams crazy. On the other side Tua Tongaveloa started off year three.

And that wasn't a sister of a poor team. No that was a defending Super Bowl champs on their home turf getting their banner race that was a very impressive win that is for sure. Tua on the flip side has played great so far six touch-on passes in the win over the Ravens on Sunday.

He does lead all quarterbacks with 739 passing yards. Right now the Bills are a five-point road favorite in Miami. On sides or off sides the Bills will win and cover against the Dolphins. The Bills right now are getting the Alabama treatment.

They're getting the Kansas City treatment of the last few years. If you think about taking them I just can't lead my like going against them. I just can't lead myself to do that. I would not have a play in this game on the spread. I would take the over in this game. I think there's going to be a lot of points also with the Hyde injury. And then I think Diggs and Davis even though that Dolphins defense is really good is gonna are gonna have a day.

Uh Dawson Knox too. So I would take the over in this game. But if you're asking me to make a pick on the spread and you're saying it's a five-point favorite.

I personally don't like the number because it gets the a backdoor covering happen here. But I would take the Bills because I just can't in good conscious right now bet against Buffalo. So give me the Bills if I had to make a pick on the spread here winning and covering over the Miami Dolphins on sides. There are a few trap games in college football this weekend for ranked opponents. Number five Clemson goes on the road take on Sam Hartman and number 21 Wake Forest and Winston Salem. Who they struggle against Wake Forest. They always struggle against Clemson.

Yes yes they do. Even last year. They got blown out last year. They got blown out and that was a bad Clemson team last year.

That was indeed it was. Number six Oklahoma they welcome Kansas State to town as the Wildcats have been the Sooners two out of last three years. Number 10 USC goes to Corvallis take out Oregon State and the Beavers. They're six point right now underdogs at home. They have received the most money on them according to Cedars, uh, Caesar's sports book of any college or NFL team this week. And if you're thinking the Sharps are on the Beavers this week possibly. Number 15 Oregon they travel to Washington State and number 22 Texas they could have Quinn Ewers back as he will travel and dress for the Longhorns in their road match up against Texas Tech.

Onsides are offside Zach. USC is a team most in jeopardy of being upset this weekend. You're saying the most money's on the Beavers in that game? Yes. That makes me like USC even more. The USC's offense has impressed me so much.

Um, you asked me USC is the team in most jeopardy of being upset this weekend? No. Offside. Can I say offside here Hickey?

No it's just quick triggers. Hi. Wow. Look at you having a Jack Stern moment right there trying to assert yourself into the program. I'm just kidding.

Like a referee taking over the game. Look at me. Look at me. I said, yeah, yeah.

The moment I compared you to Jack Stern, I just stopped in my, in my tracks because then I knew if Jack Stern was actually here, there would be a lot, a lot of problems. Um, I think that's a tricky spot for Oregon. Letdown game potentially coming. You're going to hostile environment. You just beat BYU.

You smothered them when you were playing at home. I could see Washington state winning this weekend. Um, so you're saying USC is the team in most jeopardy of being upset.

Yeah. I went off sides. I like Washington state to give Oregon a run for their money. I'm also trying to figure out what Oregon is. They're going up against Georgia. They get blown out. Now everyone's going to get blown out up against Georgia, unless it'd be like Alabama. And then you just had that performance against BYU. Who's not like a great team, but they're a very good team.

So I'm still trying to figure out what Oregon is. I'm just going to rely on Bowdix on the road, having a bad performance. That's where I'm going on that one. Very fair bet to say the least.

The Buccaneers, they head into their matchup against fans. Now you're going to win by 40. The way I pick games these days.

Yeah, that's true. Oh, for six. Shut up. Are you going to give your picks for the DA show? Like what you picked or is that going to come at nine 20 Eastern? Well, I have picked so far every week. The picks on the DA show have been the picks on our show this week on the DA show.

I went with three favorites. Okay. So an hour show picks, as you know, you have to do an underdog.

So I'm trying to figure out which favorite I have to get rid of it. Then which underdog I actually do like. Okay. So the underdog pick is still in the works is what you're saying. Yeah. Coming out to the wire. Okay.

I know who I'm going to take. I'm just not going to tell you now, because then what's the point of doing this segment with Jersey Jerry at nine 20 PM. I agree. I'm not trying to spoil and just, I just was trying to see, you know, that's all. Yeah. Buccaneers.

They head into their magic against the Packers. Extremely banged up doing in hickeys pickies, by the way, you were all for the first week. What happened after that? Well, you didn't do last week, right? Cause you were, well, I did it myself at Penn state, but you didn't go up against the fan. No, I just need your cough right there. I did it myself. Oh, for five. Really? Oh, for five. So you were now one in four. Oh, and five and week three.

What were you weak to? Uh, my record is right now four and 11. So whatever the math is three and two, three and two, we're killing it.

We're killing it for an 11. Look at a murderer's row. Hey, the check's still clear. Now what the heck is up with your voice? My voice sounds bad.

I thought it sounded better. You're not making it through your show. You're coughing the entire time.

It's a microphone. I, in case anyone is doubting my, you know, my legitimacy of being sick, cultural, cultural, quote unquote, cultural. Well, the, the bucks may have the bucks flew because everyone right now is out for this game on Sunday. Chris Godwin out a key mix out who Jones Russell gauge. They're questionable. Mike Evans. He's going to be actually serving a one game suspension for Friday, Marshawn Lattimore, the bucks, even with all these injuries and question marks are one point favorites at home against green Bay onside your offside. Zach, the Packers will win on Sunday. Well, you didn't mention his out for, for green Bay, Sammy Watkins, Sammy Watkins, and they have like every other receiver questionable. So they may need me honestly, and no one's going to have any receivers healthy right now. Well, you couldn't catch a cold though. Wait, actually you could exactly right. Yeah.

I had something like a vacuum over here. Packers eventually have to beat the bucks. I just don't think it's happened in this week because the defense for Tampa is great. Now green Bay has a good defense, but it's not as good as the Tampa defense. And if this is an offensive struggle for both quarterbacks, because they have really no one to throw the ball to.

Yeah, sure. Green Bay's run game is better, but Leonard Fournette's been good. I'm just, I'm not going to bet against Brady. So the Packers will win on Sunday.

We went offsides. I would not make a play on that game, but if you made me make a play on that game, I would take Brady. And finally Thursday, which means the Packers are going to win by 500 points. Lock it up.

Shut up. Thursday was another tough night for the steel. His offense is going to 17 points in their loss to the Browns. Mitch Trubisky threw for 207 yards. Did it at a rushing touchdown, but man, Pittsburgh did, didn't have the ball whatsoever.

Held the ball for just 23 minutes in this game. After the game, Mike Tomlin said, basically, they're not going to have any sort of quarterback switch saying to a question, will there be one definitively? No. Onsides are offsides.

Kenny Pickett will start week four against the Jets. He should. And this question was should.

No. I said, if I know question should, I would say onsides. I still don't buy Tomlin. It's right after the game. That's a tough spot. I'm not expecting to make the announcement then. I think they'll go to Kenny Pickett to start up against the Jets.

And if they don't think Kenny Pickett will get on the field at some point, because those fans are going to be ruthless. So onsides on that one. How's your mental health?

I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know, I think for me in 2014, when I found myself in that dark, dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself after sitting there and thinking about everything, I wanted to find a different way. I wanted to find a different answer. I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt. And that's why I started to seek help. And that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at I'm listening dot org. Talk saves lives. How's your mental health?

I'm listening with Michael Phelps. You know, I think for me in 2014, when I found myself in that dark, dark place where I didn't want to be alive in those four days when I was in my room by myself after sitting there and thinking about everything, I wanted to find a different way. I wanted to find a different answer. I was sick and tired of feeling how I felt. And that's why I started to seek help. And that's when I checked myself into a treatment center. More at I'm listening.org. Talk saves lives. your cue to catch up later. There's a lot to listen to. So get started and download the free Odyssey app today.