Hour 1: AJ Brown Gripes Again, Jameis Named Giants Starter, plus NFL Network’s Kurt Warner

23:23So I would say it's more on just, you know, them not winning in the same way that they did last year. You know, them not finding a way. And it might be the defenses that they're playing against. you know, maybe they were out of position, whatever it was last year that allowed, you know, four or five yard run to become a 60 or 70 yard run. And those things aren't playing out this year. And, you know, so I just it's hard for me to believe that they changed their entire run game. You know, we all know sequencing and play calling. It's not as easy as just, you know, closing your eyes and pointing to a play on a, you know, on a piece of paper.

24:01There's got to be a feel to it. There's got to be an understanding to what you're getting and what you're seeing from other teams. But I can't imagine that they've changed their run game, that the scheme is all the same that they had last year. It's just not dominating like it did.

24:16Rich Eisen:So then let's turn to Green Bay, Kurt. Two weeks ago in this very spot in your usual Wednesday appearance on this program, we were praising Jordan Love for that performance against Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers on the other side of the field, 370 yards passing, three touchdowns, almost a perfect passer rating. I mean, we had no idea that they were approaching a cliff offensively. What ails them and what is potentially fixable? Is it as simple as Tucker Kraft goes out and throws the whole thing off? Or what is it? I mean, that obviously is a part of it. You know, when you lose a playmaker and lose a guy that, you know, got so much run after catch, short throw, make him into big plays, makes the game easier for everybody.

25:05But I just, you know, it's such a stark contrast because, yeah, that game against Pittsburgh, it just looked like Jordan was on top of his game and he was seeing everything and he was getting the ball out on time and he played great. And then these last couple of weeks, it's been the opposite. You know, I'm just watching the tape going over for QB Confidential before I jumped on here. And there's a number of plays that are out there to be made. Now, you know, I don't know the definitive answer, but, you know, I've talked about a lot on our show, this whole pure progression type offense thing where, you know, you call a play and a quarterback has to read the play.

25:45One, two, three, four, five, the same way, no matter what coverage you get. and I believe that's something that can really hurt a quarterback where if I looked at certain plays I go okay I'm going to eliminate the whole left side of the field even though in a pure progression that's one two and three I'm eliminating it because of the coverage and I'm getting right back here to this concept that I know is good against that coverage and so I'm there in a timely fashion and can get it out of my hands if I've got to read the left side of the field before getting back there there's times I can miss those things and you know I'm too late getting back there I'm hanging on something you know too much or seeing if I can fit a ball in to a receiver instead of allowing the defense to dictate what I'm doing and so when I watch them play I think there's some of that going on where he's looking someplace way too long and I think he should be moving through his reads because there's some some open opportunities there are some other times where it sure looks like he's looking right at an open receiver and he's not throwing it and And you have to sit back and go, okay, why?

26:49What's going on here where everything that you're doing says you're looking right at this guy, he's open in front of you, and you're not throwing the football and you're hesitating and it's leading to sacks or you're trying to create instead of just taking what the offense has in front of you. And so it's hard to put your finger on when you saw him play the way he did a couple weeks ago, and then you're seeing the way he's playing now. And sometimes as a guy that analyzed it and having played the position, And sometimes I sit back when I see that stark contrast and go, is it because in certain games, you know, the offense just works wherever he's looking, the guy's open.

27:28And so he can just come back and throw it. And then when teams make it harder on them and they've got to work through things, they're just not as comfortable and not as fluid. and it's causing them to be late, to miss things, to jam things in instead of allowing the defense to read the defense and see what's going to be coming open within the offense. So it really does lend yourself to kind of step back and go, okay, who is Jordan Love? What is he able to do? I could say the same thing about Tua. We've had lots of conversations about Tua. Tua is really good with his first read. When he's got to get beyond his first read, he really struggles.

28:04Why is that? Is that the nature of the offense or is that something that's a bit of a flaw with Tua that he's got to get better at moving forward? And so you start asking those questions when you see guys kind of riding these waves that are up and down because it's like this guy plays too good in certain moments for you to think that they should, you know, have two or three games where they're missing all kinds of stuff and not seeing things. So it makes you start to wonder, is it just when the offense works that it looks really good? And when it's not perfect, they struggle a little bit and give you a little more insight on where they are as a quarterback at this stage in their career.

28:41Rich Eisen:All right. Then sports talk radio question before we move on. Which offense that struggled on Monday night and seems to have issues is the most fixable? Eagles, Packers, Kurt Warner. Wow. Good. Good question. I'm going to go Eagles just because they've done it. They've been there. I like the talent, the top-level talent that they have, although I think the Packers are a good football team. When you look at their receivers on the outside, they're not as dynamic. You know, they're good players. I don't think they're great players. When you look at the Eagles, you've got Saitwan, you've got A.J., you've got Devontae, Dallas got – I mean, you've got a lot of guys.

29:26you know, Jalen, who's won a Super Bowl. And so I just believe because of the personnel that it's more fixable in Philly, you know, and I think it's going to be a bit of a more of a struggle for the Packers, especially if the offense just doesn't play in their favor because, you know, losing Tucker Craft, you don't have him. Golden's hurt. I mean, you got some issues there with some of your playmakers that you had a year ago. I think it's gonna be tougher for the Packers.

29:56Rich Eisen:Kurt Warner. We're in the middle of Warner Wednesday right here on the Rich Eisen show. We may have a new nickname here, Kurt. Caleb time in Chicago. Caleb time. I'm not saying it's Tebow time, but certainly the last two weeks, and I'm not saying the struggles were similar to Tim Tebow's during the first, what would you say, 50 minutes of a football game that we used to see? But Caleb in the fourth quarter passed a rating of 123.5 the last two weeks. And it's clicking, making plays with his legs, making plays with his arms. And now suddenly the coach isn't talking about getting the ball out on time.

30:37Rich Eisen:He's talking about magic. He's Houdini. You know, I guess that's the difference between winning and losing. What are you seeing on film, Kirk? Well, I mean, first thing is I'm seeing a young man that's competing every time out there. Not a finished product yet. There's still times where he throws the ball too hard. times where you know he's not smooth and getting through his reads and that comfort level of staying in the pocket and and working through his progressions you know times where he misses some throws but I've seen a huge uptick from where he was last year which is the first thing that that you love to see and then the second thing is as I said is that the kid's competing and he is battling every time out and he wants to make a play on every snap and guys are feeding off of that.

31:23And as you said, and late in games, he's finding a way to do those things and to finish games for him, even if they're not pretty throughout the rest of the game. And that's what I love. I love watching him compete because, you know, guys are going to go to bat form and battle with them every time out. You know, there's things that have to get better and make the game easier on them. You know, at times when you watch him, you're like, my gosh, he's making it hard. But because he's so talented, you know, he'll miss a read and then he'll come back to that throw when he's scrambling and he makes this ridiculous 45 yard throw on the move.

31:59And you're just like, oh, my gosh, made it way harder than it had to be. But but we got there and we got it done. And so I think that's the beautiful thing about where they're at right now is they're winning games and having some semblance of success without it all being put together yet. and that's what excites you. I still don't know what Caleb's going to be long-term, how good he's going to be with, you know, in the pocket and in structure and on schedule type stuff. But I'm excited because I've seen, you know, improvement there. And then I'm excited because they're finding ways to win games this year, even when it's not perfect, which bodes well for, you know, what you hope is growth in the future within this offense and with Ben Johnson.

32:43Rich Eisen:And then it's kind of crazy, Kurt, you know, just to finishing up in this division right now. Like if I had told you prior to the season that in week 10, there would be a surprise new play caller in Detroit and it would be Dan Campbell. You'd say, oh, this is a lost season or or nothing good would come out of it. And they they had one of their best offensive days of the year, maybe outside of beating Ben Johnson's Bears in week two. What did you make of this decision? You know, I love it. you know, from a couple of different standpoints is that, you know, taking a big picture view of things. And, you know, I know the automatic reaction is, oh, Johnny Morton's not the right guy.

33:24You know, they hired the wrong guy. He's taking away the play calling, you know, right away. But there is an art to calling plays and getting a feel for games. And it's so funny that, you know, we want to throw these young quarterbacks in and want them to be a finished product as soon as they step on an NFL field. And we put these guys in as coordinators and they're supposed to be a finished product because they're in that position without having the opportunity to grow into the position. And I think that's basically what, you know, Dan is saying here. He's not saying, oh, I hired the wrong guy.

33:57This guy can't be great at this. I think he's just saying, OK, you know, we've experimented. He's not quite there yet. So I'm going to take over because I've been there and I've done this and I know what I want. And I'm going to be able to guide him a little bit. I'm going to coach my coaches. It's not just coaching players, but I'm going to coach my coaches and I'm going to get him up to speed, however long that takes. Right. He said, hey, you might get it back this year. It might be next year. All that. But he's just saying, hey, we tried this. It's not exactly where I want it to be yet. And not that I expected it to be.

34:31I think we all hoped it would be, but it isn't there yet. That's OK. but I'm going to be smart enough to go, well, I'm not just going to, you know, just keep riding this wave. If I don't feel like it's where and to our standard right now, I'll take it over. And, you know, I believe I can do a good job and we'll get back to the standard and then I can bring my guy along with me and I can teach him and talk to him through some of this stuff so we can get him up to speed and ready to go whenever that is, because we believe we have the right guy in that position. So I love the decision and I love the way that he talked about it and didn't just kind of say, oh, I made a mistake.

35:10This is done. No, I understand there's a process here. There's a process for every guy that has to go from one level or one position to another position. You're never just a finished product and it takes time to get there. And I think that's what Dan said. And in the meantime, he's going to help grow that coach until he feels he's ready to take back over.

35:31Rich Eisen:I was saying again, you know, we have our overreaction Monday pod and Brockman's like, you know, if Dan Campbell's going to keep the play calling and they're going to finish the one seed. I said that that's kind of an overreaction. But if they're good enough to be the one seed and he keeps the play calling, that puts him in coach of the year category for sure. Right. I mean, for to make a move in the manner in which you said we didn't catch a wind of it. and so there wasn't there wasn't controversy leading up there wasn't pressure during other than whatever he was putting on himself by making that move and then the way you talked about it afterwards removed a lot of the potential controversy it helps to win and get 500 yards total and jameer gibbs look like gale sayers you know but but kudos man like big time yeah Yeah, exactly.

36:20And the other thing is, is that I think we've seen Dan, you know, do thing after thing after thing in his time with the Lions that you just keep reiterating the fact that he's a really good football coach. He's a really good leader. And you hear his players say that you hear coaches that are with them say that, you know, people around the league respect him for that. And so I think he already has tremendous respect in this league. And he continues to win and he continues to find ways to have success with different guys in different positions. And so, yeah, I mean, that would not be out of the realm of possibility that this is a good football team.

36:59If they play like they did under his play calling this past Sunday and make a run and finish, you know, top in the NFC for sure, but up there in the NFC. Yeah, I think he definitely belongs in that conversation again for a coach of the year type situation. But again, I just think we continue to see how good a football coach he is and how he seems to have a great pulse of his team and what's going on and seems to push the right buttons at the right times.

37:34Rich Eisen:Lastly, Kurt, let's finish up with Matthew Stafford. I mean, because listen, we're sitting there. You and I are sitting there in London. OK, we're getting set to call Rams Jaguars. We're talking to Sean McVay on a Zoom and he tells our group, listen, we've been really puka heavy and he's not in this game. And it's kind of a challenge to us to learn how to play without this guy and to be more diverse on offense. And all Stafford's done is throw 14 touchdowns in the next three games and no interceptions. which is by the way the first guy to ever do that in three straight games that many touchdowns and no interceptions nobody's ever done that before and find seven different receivers for touchdowns one of them is Puka when he came back I don't know I mean so mission accomplished right they're a better team maybe because of all that they look terrific and Stafford's I'm wondering what goes through your mind Rams Super Bowl winning quarterback MVP watching this guy on film in this uniform right now?

38:38I mean, the first thing that goes through my mind is this guy is just ridiculously talented. Like, you know, I'm just envious of, you know, what he can do with a football, first and foremost. You know, when we did some of those meetings, remember Devontae was talking to us and he said, you know, this guy is the best manipulator of defenses that I've ever been around. And you see that time and time again. I don't know if this is the play, you know, You got that shot up there. But he had a touchdown pass in the game against the 49ers where it was a naked bootleg and everything was covered. And it looked like he had kind of given up on the play and was ready to run out of bounds.

39:15And then the last second, he flips it over the top of the defense. He got the defense to kind of suck up, flips it over the top of the defense and throws a touchdown pass. It's things like that that he does that you're just like, man, what's going through his mind? And how is he figuring these things out? And then I think you couple that with Sean McVay, who I think does a tremendous job of his creativity of what he does. You know, I think they could run naked bootlegs for every single play of the game and they would continually win football games because Sean is so creative. And Matthew is so good at, you know, at running those things and manipulating and finding the right guy.

39:58it's just it's a joy to watch right now you know the way he's playing um you know i think him and jonathan taylor have to be right up there as the two front runners for the mvp right now um you know putting him with sean mcveigh and then putting him with hookah uh and davante um i mean it's almost unfair uh with with what they're doing especially when they get tight to the red zone i mean what do you want to do i mean put davante in any one-on-one situation it's i mean give him a slant or a fade and it's hard to stop. You know, Puka, you can flip it to him at any point in time from inside the five and he'll find a way to get into the end zone.

40:35I mean, you know, and then the creativity. I just, I really enjoy watching them play. I think Matthew's playing at as high a level as he's ever played at, which is saying something because we know how good he has been for how long in this business. So I really think they're the best team going right now in the NFC, but it starts with coach and quarterback, you know, in their bag.

41:00Rich Eisen:Kurt, I know I haven't done this to you before, but I'm going to roll the dice here. We're up against a commercial break. Do you have a couple more minutes, potentially, on the other side? Yeah. Kurt, okay, great, because Mike Kafka just did name Jameis Winston the starter for the Giants this week, and I want to ask you your thoughts on that. Okay, no problem. If I may, for the TV side of things, when we come back, I'm going to stray into your all 22 lane and see if I got this one right okay Kurt alright let's do it that's Kurt Warner here an extended Warner Wednesday because he's that type of guy everybody check out QB Confidential on YouTube also let's take a break back with Kurt Warner on that front and more in a moment The Rich Eisen Show The Podcast The Rich Eisen Show Auto Parts can help take the guesswork out of your vehicle's check engine, ABS, or maintenance light with O 'Reilly Veriscan.

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42:39Rich Eisen:ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. See why over 43 million drivers trust Progressive to stay protected on the road. See for yourself at progressive.com. All right, Kurt, this is why I kept you after class. Jameis has just been named the starter for the Giants. What's your opinion, thoughts? Unfortunately, obviously, Jackson Dart is not going to be able to go. He's in the concussion protocol. New coach, Mike Kafka, interim, says it's Jameis. You're two cents on it. I got to say I'm not surprised. I thought they would go this direction if Jackson couldn't play. I think they've seen kind of Russell in what he is, And that hasn't worked out.

43:21And it doesn't seem like the team, even when he's been kind of placed in there a couple of times as Jackson's been banged up, that they've got that confidence in him. And so I felt it was the, you know, the natural move to go to Jameis and give him a shot. And, you know, I love Jameis. I think Jameis is good enough to be a starting quarterback in this league. We all know the reason that he's not is that, you know, too often he can't get out of his own way. But you'll watch tape on Jameis, and I say it all the time. When I watch tape on Jameis, I think he makes more good decisions than most starting quarterbacks in the league in the course of a game.

44:01The problem is he's always got two or three of those decisions where you're just like, where did that one come from? What are you doing? He loves all windows.

44:13Rich Eisen:All windows are throwable. I don't mind interceptions at all. Like if an interception is based off of a good decision and it just doesn't work out, like you miss a throw, a defense makes a great play, it's a little miscommunication. Like I can live with those. The problem with Jameis is that a lot of the throws that he made or the interceptions that he makes, you're just like, where did it come from? Like what are you looking at? Like there was really no chance, you know, from the get-go. And so there's just too many of those. And it's so unfortunate because, like I said, to start, he makes more good decisions and sees the field and reads the field as well as, you know, most guys in the National Football League and why he should be a starter because he has that ability.

45:00but you know we're just at that point where it's like you know is it too far gone will you never be able to get out of your own way but it's you know to me it's just unfortunate because I love the kid he wants to work he wants to be great he's a great leader I mean all of those things he's got all of those things it's just that one thing to me that's preventing him from doing it and you know we're just you know when these guys get this far into their career you just kind of throw up your hands and go, well, I guess that's just who he is. Maybe he can't change that. But it's too bad because I do think he is that talented and that good of a quarterback that he should be starting in the league if he could just avoid those plays.

45:44Rich Eisen:Well, we'll see how long Dart is out. And he certainly has an opportunity. It's against Green Bay, which desperately needs this game. I mean, this is a – Well, I'll probably talk a little bit about that. Like, I mean, Brian Dayball, I know he's out. um you know could part of the reason be or at least moving forward we've got to stop jackson dart from taking so many hits well in terms of that in terms of it yeah in terms of that crazy yeah no in terms of that um our radio audience is about to go away and i don't want to cut you off in the middle of that answer um you know how this works hard outs all that sort of stuff in the meantime um you know i'm seeing you this weekend right correct am i seeing you i'll be In advance of commanders and dolphins in Spain, the finale of the international series.

46:29Rich Eisen:That's Kurt Warner here in our number one. The Ridge Eisen Show podcast. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required. Compatibility and availability varies 18+.