Cycle Overview by: Coach Quinn

As I sit here watching the playoffs again unfold I decided to look back over the squad and see how the progression has been for the guys that have made the biggest impact on the team. Now going through seasons from 2023-2027 should normally take a ton of time, we are blessed with the misfortune of the playoffs taking entirely too long to get done so I was able to compile the data to have some fun. I also figured that I would review some of the draft picks from the cycle that have turned out to be a pivotal part of the organization.

Starting off we take a look at our first pick of the cycle in Zach Bryan. Mr. Bryan was drafted 12th in the first round of 2024. Coming in as a star 81 overall he was a great pick to help rebuild part of the secondary. Over his 4 year career he has become one of the top safeties and coming in as a 91 overall. His coverage has been the highlight as he has gone from an 83 to a 94 in zone coverage. 

The very next season we drafted our superstar DT Taylor Ferrell with the 30th pick in the 3rd round of the 2025 draft. As he was rough around the edges he took a lot of time and dedication to develop, but he has become one of the best nose tackles in the league. Coming in as a 73 overall he has developed up to an 86 overall in just 3 years while hitting the weight room helping him reach 97 strength. 

That same year we snagged MLB Reggie Buchanon in the 4th round pick 16. The true definition of an x factor has been a main piece of our defense as we continue to bring in more youth. His development has not been the best overall stat wise, but what he has managed to do on the field cannot be put into words. 

The last big name that we were able to get was Joey Gray. Picked #3 in the first round of the 2027 draft he came in an showed why he is the guy. Pairing him with Woolen he has learned a ton going from 76 awareness and 82 man coverage up to 80 awareness and 87 man. He is the future of lockdown corners for this organization. 

Even with the large influx of youth through the draft that have made an impact there has been a handful of individuals who have been here from the start, or signed in FA with us that have been a reason of what success we have had. Looking into the stats we can see that Walker, Willis, Smith-Njigba, and Mclaurin have all become weapons that other teams need to account for. 

Willis has had his moments of inconsistency while the offensive line has struggled pass blocking, but Willis has managed the games fairly well. As we can see that he is completing over 61% of his passes and managed a solid 90.6 QBR. Overall, being a run heavy team the numbers are not flashy and Willis has only broken 4,000 yards once this cycle. Managing the game is more important for us and we are unsure if he will be our starter come next season at this moment. We are keeping all options open and have our eyes on a young guy in the draft.

As we mentioned, passing the ball is not something that we do that well nor do we try to throw as much as others in the league, but we do know we have to keep the defense honest. Two big targets the last couple seasons have been Scary Terry and JSN. McLaurin has been great the two years we have had him since signing with us in FA. Injuries have put a damper on life as he missed a handful of games this past season, but his contributions have been a good shot in the arm. 

JSN had a slow start to his career as he was #3 on the depth chart behind Lockett and Metcalf. With the departure of Metcalf and Lockett we saw production skyrocket for JSN. With a huge injury in 2025 dropping the overall average due to missing 10 games, he has had a solid career in Seattle so far. He continues to be the difference maker in the passing game as he is WIllis’s favorite target every game. 

Now we get to the workhorse of the organization and someone who is the reason for the success that we have had overall. Walker has been the one constant every season where he has been towards the top rushing, and one of the better receiving backs overall. We still plan on riding him as the primary threat for the offense in the upcoming season and expect him to take that last stride to solidify himself as one of the top backs overall. 

Overall, the win totals have been up and down from year to year, but Seattle is happy with the direction we are going as they just extended my contract. If we hit with the two picks in the first round this year I believe we are in a position to battle for the wild card again. This all depends on the guy in charge at QB and how that battle turns out this off season. I figured this is enough rambling to help pass the time for you guys as we wait another 2 months for the super bowl. Best of luck to those still in the hunt for that RZ Super Bowl and here is to a fun off season!! 

Go BAKER Shock The World!!!

Herbstreit’s Week 6 Picks

Since the power rankings have been such a big hit I figured I would throw out the picks for each game this week. Please see the games picked with projected scores of each game. As always RZ enjoy and let the discussions continue!

Herbstreit Power Ranking  Week 5

We are cruising along with season 84. Teams are starting to hit the bye weeks while others are just imploding early. We had some huge movements throughout the week due to the SOS changes. It will be fun to see how this pans out during the next few weeks. I don’t want to take up too much time on your Wednesday so here are the standings thus far!

Herbies Power Rankings Weeks 1-4

We know that so many people try to do power rankings and the media can be over saturated, but who cares? It is the fun in doing it and seeing the differences in all of them. There were many factors that went into doing these rankings. We took the time to factor in opponents win %, point differential, and team overall. We break each one down and give it a value and wala here we have our rankings. To break down what you will see you will have the ranking, team, coach, record, and then the power ranking score. The higher the score the worse off you are as you were towards the bottom of each variable. So without further ado please enjoy a rookie media producers power ranking!

Projected Standings Season 84

BY: Kirk Herbstreit

One of the most exciting parts of the beginning of the season isn’t the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of the stadium after a big play, or even the grilled food at the Sunday football cookout. No, it is where we all get together and pretend we know what we are talking about and give our predictions like a bunch of degenerates. One thing that sticks out is how only a handful get to voice their opinions on how they think things will shake out on the season and I thought why not let everyone finally have a say? 

So on this journey we will look at the halfway mark of results to see where people think teams will end up come seasons end. To make this a bit more exciting I have compiled the data and we will present the overall projected standings for the divisions then move onto a small breakdown of each one. Without further ado here are the results so far on the survey!

AFC East

BM and the Bills took a commanding 74% of the votes for first place. With the division partially in shambles due to salary cap and just lack of knowledge of the roster it is hard to disagree with that projection. BM made sure to get his guy in the draft while filling holes in FA. King Henry is a great addition to help take some pressure off of Allen. The one that might surprise everyone is New England being on the bottom! I am just kidding, we know that is where players go to die now. The real surprise is everyone believes Miami is going to jump New York for that second spot. Miami had a hard go at it last year with a talented roster, but looks prove everyone wrong by trading one of the best young QBs in the league for one that under Coach Moji. We all know that Levis’s success will transfer with him I am sure. 

AFC South

What more can we expect to see when Coach Moji is given millions of dollars to spend in FA while making moves to better his team in the off season than winning the division the next season. His hold on the division is not as tight as you may think as only 65% of the people believe the division is his. Jacksonville has shown their talent and ability to make waves and holds onto second place with no issue at all. The surprise of the division is that most people believe the sophomore slump will happen for Richardson as Indi was predicted to finish last. 70% of people do not have faith in the former Gator and I personally think that teams will get use to him like every other super athletic quarterback to enter the league.

AFC North

A surprising figure came out to win the north. Kelly and the Browns look to bounce back after a scandal in the playoffs and a rough start to season 83. His team is set up well and cap issues were fixed……for now. Pat without Joey B will be the interesting story to see as he plans to go with the rookie to lead him to victory. If he hadn’t done it before it would be hard to believe. More surprises from the north as RFox is predicted to finish 3rd with Alabama’s B team on the field over the Ravens and Coach Jim. Hopefully Jim figures out how to handle Lamar and continues to improve on offense to make it a fun division. 

AFC West

The wild wild west. One that Kansas City has ran through this past season. However, the tides are changing and this was the closest race out of any division of a 52% to 44% battle of first place votes. However, Coach Adel manages to escape and is predicted to hold onto the division title. No surprises throughout this division so not much to speak on. Chargers will try their best while Las Vegas doesn’t tank this time. We don’t need to talk about Denver really. I mean they lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide B Team in their first game. Sorry Sorry I meant to say Pittsburg Steelers. 

NFC South

Long live the king! Long live the King! To nobody’s surprise Doni received 96% of the votes to win this division. Some lone sad person voted for Carolina, but I believe it was out of pity really. The fun begins when we look at second and third place. New Orleans beats out Carolina for second by 9% and this still may be a toss up when the season is done. Can New Orleans and super star Carr continue to win? Will Carolina decide they know how to play football? Who knows, no sense wasting time on something that doesn’t matter. Speaking of doesn’t matter let us not forget Atlanta will finish 4th with their stud QB that they traded up for even though he would have been there in the 4th.

NFC East

O boy O boy! The dad of RedZone had a great first season. Unfortunately he still has to compete with Barkley and the Giants. New York is predicted to win while the Commanders hold a solid lead on second place. Phily and Dallas look to duke it out for 3rd and 4th, and will come down to the end to see what happens. Look for Phily to take it as Dallas got rid of Dak.

NFC West

One of the best personalities in all of RedZone fights his way back to the top of the division with his Cardinals finally. At least that is what I would like to say, but in an overwhelming show everyone picks San Fran to win the division receiving 78% of the vote. As a matter of fact everyone predicts the standing to end the same way they did last year. Guess we will see how that shitty offense in Seattle does and if the defense can do any better after last year to make a push on Arizona. Coach Jp ramped up his team and looks to be as high powered as ever after that binge of improving the offensive line.

NFC North

To nobody’s surprise Astin and Chicago received 87% of the votes. Minnesota sits in second after a good first season and Robo in Detroit holds solid in third. Second and third are up for grabs really depending on how well Robo operates that offense. What we hope for is that Chicago continues to lose on the road to make it interesting. 

As mentioned this is just a small look into the data and breakdown so far as we will revisit this soon when more data is compiled. Look towards the halfway mark to see where these predictions stand and how teams are doing. It is always fun to see what everyone thinks since not everybody is vocal. 

Team Overall Comparison from Season 83-84

BY: Kirk Herbstreit

Season 83 has come and gone and now we have blown through the free agency period. The draft is on its final countdown and teams are chomping at the bit to get their hands on the future of their franchise. The draft is always the most exciting part of the league, but free agency is where teams can be made or broken. We saw teams with a lower overall do well during the season and some of the best teams struggle. Astin posted team overall rankings after free agency ended and got me thinking about how that compares to where they started? Did those teams improve or did they just blow it up? Well let us take a look at all 32 teams and how they did.

As we can see there were some heavy hitters in free agency while other teams were struggling. Yes, cap played a huge part as teams were just trying to balance filling a roster while others had the cap to pay top dollar for the big names. It will be interesting to see after this season where teams fall in comparison. Hopefully this change in overall will help teams become more competitive while making those high powered teams a bit less dominant. Only time will tell. Until then let us all sweat it out in hopes our picks fall to us!!

“The RZ Recap”

BY: Kirk Herbsteit

As we continue across the country talking to some of the RedZone coaches, we find ourselves making a stop back in the music city. Coach Moji took us out for the night and we got a chance to talk about the past season. 

Kirk- Coach, thank you for taking the time to sit down with me. I know that the season is over for your group, but there is never a day off for RZ coaches. So we are wondering: Did the season go as planned? We know not every team can go 17-0, but did the team perform as well as you expected? 

Coach Moj- I wish we went further, honestly. But I am proud of this group. In hindsight everyone will say “oh. We knew the Titans would be in the playoffs” but there were a lot of doubters at the start of the season. Rookie QB, older roster everywhere else.  I always want to win it all but this team played well all season long. This year was nothing to celebrate, but at the same time it wasn't a total failure.  

Kirk- What was one of the bright spots for your team this year?

Coach Moj- I think the balance we had on offense was great. Our Rush/Pass splits were so close to even & we were effective rushing & throwing. Henry was so good & then guys like Hollywood & Patterson really gave us a lot of versatility when dialing up plays

Kirk- Was there any aspect that let you down that you expected better?

Coach Moj-I think going out how we did was disappointing. To get dominated in the trenches, by a better team, sure, but to get pushed around how we did was a let down. The Oline was solid all year & the d line had a great mix of rushers & run stoppers. We just did not execute vs the Chargers & that will stick with me. I thought we could have been better.

Kirk- What holes does this team have that need immediate attention this off season?

Coach Moj- Well we will have a lot of new faces here next year. Just coming into this season there were a lot of vets & I only added more to make a run. With $85M in cap space but not a lot of picks, there will have to be smart cap management moving forward. I expect us to get younger in spots then plug holes with some vets on 1 year deals. Addressing some of those spots with long term options down the line

Kirk- Do you plan on making any coaching changes going forward this season?

Coach Jim- No

Kirk- This is a fun question to ask.  Are you adaptable? Will you adapt your style and scheme for the players you have and injuries we will sustain or will the players fit the system you are introducing regardless?

Coach Moj- We have a very specific scheme we run here in Baltimore and try to get players who fit that.As most humans are creatures of habit it is hard to change what you believe in. The ol 3 yards and a cloud of dust with defense wins championships mentality doesn’t cut it anymore. Change takes time and I am making the effort to adapt the offense to be able to handle what the defense throws at us instead of the run first, second, and third.

Kirk- Do you, your staff, or players pay any attention to the media? Do you believe that the media plays a role within decision making or game play?

Coach Moj-Yes, we will be moving to a 3-4 playbook defensively. Historically my teams run a 3-4 but I adjusted to fit my team. I think the 3-4 allows us to disguise things more. Having more guys standing off the LOS, it's harder to pick up whose rushing & whose dropping back. I think in the long run this will help us & can now get the right pieces in the door to make the 34 work

Kirk- We have seen where coaches like Brian Daboll and Dan Campbell were hard on their athletes during practices and do not mind making it hard on everyone. How did you approach your practices and would you have done anything differently at the start of the season?

Coach Moj- I think this is a great question. Practice is so dependent on your roster. I am a firm believer in having your guys as healthy and fresh for the playoffs as possible. But if you're a young team that really has to focus on development, you should be pushing those kids harder than a team of established vets. I mean this past season we pushed Will pretty hard in practice, but as a rookie he could use the work. Some of my veteran lineman? Not so much. I'd rather them be fresh & ready to go on Sundays. 

Kirk- What expectations do you have for next season?

Coach Moj- We are in a bit of a transition. Lots of turnover & not a lot of picks. So like I mentioned earlier there will be lots of stop gaps in the lineup as we continue to add to the core. I always want to win & the SB is my goal every season. Playoffs are a requirement around here. Missing them is always unacceptable. How far we go in the playoffs is what determines the success of my season. With so many questions as we wait for the offseason to get here, I'd say this team should get back to the divisional round. We have a tough division, in a brutal conference, but we will make sure we have the best possible 53 out there to continue to compete. I am very excited to dive into this offseason & be able to really reconstruct a lot of the roster. 

Coach Moj is not one to hold back on his answers. One thing we know for sure is that the key to success is locked in Coach’s safe and he will be getting it out for the off season. We look at Coach making a big splash this off season and revamp the aging roster. Our second to last stop takes us to Skoal Country to talk to Coach LD.  Thanks for reading and let us know if there is a coach you would like to see on RZ Recap.

“The RZ Recap”

BY: Kirk Herbsteit

With season 83 wrapping up we are going to continue to pump out recaps till the draft. First off congrats to the Bucs for pulling the perfect season and making it look easy. The off season is in full swing as we see all of the trades getting turned in finally. However, that is not why we are here. You came to read what these coaches had to say about the season. So let's jump in and see what the head coach of the Ravens has to say.

Kirk- Coach thank you for taking the time to sit down with me. I know that the season is over for your group, but there is never a day off for RZ coaches. So we are wondering: Did the season go as planned? We know not every team can go 17-0, but did the team perform as well as you expected? 

Coach Jim- No, defense underperformed and we hit our stride on offense too late.

Kirk- What was one of the bright spots for your team this year?

Coach Jim- Zay Flowers had an excellent rookie season.

Kirk- Was there any aspect that let you down that you expected better?

Coach Jim- Defense was not good, lacked pass rush and the ability to stop the run.

Kirk- What holes does this team have that need immediate attention this off season?

Coach Jim- Front 7 outside of the MLB and offensive line.

Kirk- Do you plan on making any coaching changes going forward this season?

Coach Jim- No

Kirk- This is a fun question to ask.  Are you adaptable? Will you adapt your style and scheme for the players you have and injuries we will sustain or will the players fit the system you are introducing regardless?

Coach Jim- We have a very specific scheme we run here in Baltimore and try to get players who fit that.As most humans are creatures of habit it is hard to change what you believe in. The ol 3 yards and a cloud of dust with defense wins championships mentality doesn’t cut it anymore. Change takes time and I am making the effort to adapt the offense to be able to handle what the defense throws at us instead of the run first, second, and third.

Kirk- Do you, your staff, or players pay any attention to the media? Do you believe that the media plays a role within decision making or game play?

Coach Jim- No one pays attention to what happens outside of our building.

Kirk- What expectations do you have for next season?

Coach Jim- Improvement in all aspects of our football team.

Coach Jim is a man of few words. Mix in that he was chomping at the bit to get out and make sure he improves the team this offseason so we can understand the short responses. Baltimore has a nice mixture of old and new talent. Seeing how Coach handles the salary cap issues and the Lamar contract will be fun to watch. Next up we travel to the music city as we talk to Coach Moji about the season with the Titans.  Thanks for reading and let us know if there is a coach you would like to see on RZ Recap. 

“The RZ Recap”

BY: Kirk Herbsteit

With the playoffs in full swing we can look back on a season of surprises and disappointments. Throughout this series we will talk to a few coaches to get feedback on their season and what their plans are going forward. First up is a coach who has started to move his way up to the middle of the pack. With a couple playoff appearances he hopes to bring back a new legion to the 12th man. Coach LV is making strides and hopes Seattle is the team that takes him to the next level. Without further ado let us take a look at the talk.

Kirk- Coach thank you for taking the time to sit down with me. I know that the season is over for your group, but there is never a day off for RZ coaches. So we are wondering: Did the season go as planned? We know not every team can go 17-0, but did the team perform as well as you expected? 

Coach LV- No problem Kirk. This is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the off season. The season did not go as planned as we thought we would be a wildcard team. Beginning of the season the team was playing well and we got off to that 3-1 start going into the bye week. Unfortunately, we ended up struggling after the break finishing just 3-9 to end the season. Injuries to key positions on defense then the injury to Walker towards the end of the season derailed all hopes. 

Kirk- What was one of the bright spots for your team this year?

Coach LV- Even though it was not on the level of Tampa or KC our offense was a very pleasant surprise. We had one game where we had troubles scoring against Washington, but besides that the offense did enough to win most games. Willis was phenomenal in his first season with the team. Throwing for over 3k yards and adding another 600 rushing he was invaluable. Our rushing attack as a whole was one of the best in the league so we were able to control the clock.

Kirk- Was there any aspect that let you down that you expected better?

Coach LV- I am one that normally lives off the defense as the offense struggles. However, this year was different as we got into shootouts with opposing teams. The entire defense struggled as we could not get any pressure or make stops when needed. Definitely something that we need to work on in the future. 

Kirk- What holes does this team have that need immediate attention this off season?

Coach LV- The defense is getting a new front 7. A couple guys from the front 7 will get to stay and they better thank their agents because if not for the contracts I would boot their ass out the door. We have been in talks with multiple teams about positions of improvement. DT, DE, OLB, MLB, and O-Line are all areas we are hoping to get squared away this off season. 

Kirk- Do you plan on making any coaching changes going forward this season?

Coach LV- We have opened up the interviewing process for the OC position. Our current OC is in the running just as much as the couple candidates that we have reached out to. Time will tell, but I can tell you that something needs to change. 

Kirk- This is a fun question to ask.  Are you adaptable? Will you adapt your style and scheme for the players you have and injuries we will sustain or will the players fit the system you are introducing regardless?

Coach LV- As most humans are creatures of habit it is hard to change what you believe in. The ol 3 yards and a cloud of dust with defense wins championships mentality doesn’t cut it anymore. Change takes time and I am making the effort to adapt the offense to be able to handle what the defense throws at us instead of the run first, second, and third.

Kirk- Do you, your staff, or players pay any attention to the media? Do you believe that the media plays a role within decision making or game play?

Coach LV- No, we have a rule during the season that the only people within the organization that has access to the media is our Social Media Manager. We want to limit all distractions possible to allow the most efficient preparation each week. 

Kirk- What expectations do you have for next season?

Coach LV- I have set the goals as making the playoffs. Every coach strives to make the playoffs but this feels more like a make or break season. Arizona is going to get better because there is nowhere but up to go when you start in the basement. San Fran should slide a bit as the roster starts to change due to salary cap issues. 

We know that the Seattle faithful are waiting in anticipation to see what moves happen during the off season. One thing we can expect is that the defense will not finish in the bottom of the league again. That secondary is set up for success Coach just needs to get some form of a pass rush to help create more turnovers to give that offense more touches. I believe that the Seahawks can make a wildcard next season and even stand a chance in fighting for a division title. Time will tell, but we can not wait for our next coach talk. Next we take a trip to Baltimore as we pick the brain of Coach Jim. Thanks for reading and let us know if there is a coach you would like to see on RZ Recap. 

“In The Pocket”

By: Kirk Herbstreit

We are at the end of another great season of redzone! There have been plenty of surprises along the way which always makes things more exciting. If you have been following the “In The Pocket” series you know we have reviewed rookies, interviewed coaches, but we have not gone through and listened to other experts this year yet. So for the third and final part of the series we sat down one Saturday night with a group of everyone’s favorite analysts and asked fun questions. So without further ado here are the results from that sit down.

1. What team do you think was the biggest surprise team this year for you and why?

Rich Eison- The Bucs are shocking, regardless of what you make of their HC. I think as time goes on he will join the pack a bit more, teams need to get film on him & figure things out.  I am also surprised with the Commanders, I think that they have a pretty decent roster, but this is Coach Bubba Bitz' best coaching job to date

Donavon McNabb- Has to be the New York Football Giants. The names don't jump off the pages for that roster, and they have a new and unproven coaching staff. But they are right in the mox for the division title and a home playoff game. They've been consistent throughout the season.

Field Yates- Everyone is going to say the Bucs, so I will veer away from that one. I think the NFC East has two surprises in the Commanders and Giants. VC was an unknown going into the cycle, he has played very well thus far and should continue to contend moving forward. Coach Eikim, a league favorite coach, has always had hit or miss seasons, so it is nice to see him come in on the first season and start winning games, and he's got that defense playing tough.

Colin Cowherd- Regardless of user, new or veteran of RZ, I don’t think anyone would have called Tampa Bay. Talented for sure, but questions at QB. Trade for Lance and he was the magic sauce? Easy choice here.

Ryen Russillo- Cardinals. Even with a 7-9 record, JP getting 7 wins and being competitive with that roster is unbelievable. They started 0-3 and went 7-6 since.

2. Who do you think the biggest letdown team this year has been for you and why?

Rich Eison- Several teams come to mind - I am shocked at the underperformance of Miami, Baltimore & Dallas. All have very strong rosters with star power throughout their respective lineups.  I just expected more.

Donavon McNabb- Easily the Eagles. That team is loaded with talent at every level. They've struggled in different facets of the game at some point throughout the course of the season.  They made big off-season moves to bolster and already impressive roster. And they're flirting with a .500 finish for the season; most probably going to be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Field Yates- Coach Adam and the Raiders. They are letting me down with their season efforts, basically equivalent to punting on 1st down.

Colin Cowherd-Ravens. Lamar, Run game, MAndrews, defense. This roster seemed to be tailor made for Coach Jim. Just hasn’t come together this season.

Ryen Russillo- Definitely the Dolphins. That offense is loaded and Coach Spencer hasn't figured out how to use Tyreek Hill and Waddle consistently. 

3. What do you think the biggest surprise athlete has been this season and why? Think hard on this as it does not have to be the big name guy

Rich Eison- I think it has to be Darnell Mooney. Mooney has been money for the Cardinals this season & if you look at the top of the leaderboard, its littered with familiar names. Your Chase's, Kelce's, Hill's etc.  Mooney was never considered to be that Tier of WR & he has really shown out in the Panos Offense.

Donavon McNabb- N/A

Field Yates- Taysom Hill. He is nearing a 1k yard season as the TE2 on the team. That is unheard of.

Colin Cowherd- NYG CB Cordale Flott. 2nd yr man out of LSU. 9 INTs on the season. And is among some of the top tier DBs in all of RZ. He’s a star in the making

Ryen Russillo- Darnell Mooney. After being traded to the Cardinals, he is currently tied for the league lead in touchdowns with 19.

4. Who do you think is the team to watch next year based off how they played this season and the way they are building the team?

Rich Eison- I think the team building will really kick off this offseason where all of these coaches wrap up their first season with their new teams & can leave their mark. That being said it could take any good feelings we have now about that team & totally ruin it with a poor offseason.  Based off what I saw this season I would say its Houston. They made the move to add Jefferson & he has been a stud. There is not a lot of star power elsewhere on that team & it shows. They are competitive in most games & even with an underdeveloped roster they battle & make teams earn their W's, unlike a team in Vegas. 

Donavon McNabb- Trey Lance in TB is the first name I think of. Looked over in SF and shipped out without a 2nd thought. All he's done is lead his team to a 15-0 start, in phenomenal fashion.This has to be his version of a "disrespect tour," right?

Field Yates- Vikings. They traded away Jefferson and Hock to get a handful of high draft picks, and they are still likely to make the playoffs this season. If he can develop guys, he is going to start making some noise.

Colin Cowherd- Vikings. Took all the slings and arrows for trading their two best weapons. And right in the middle of a division race with CHI and DET. Plus, the draft capital to get their QB if it’s not Capitan Kirk.

Ryen Russillo- Texans. They have draft capital and a ton of money, they're going to bring in more help around Stroud and Justin Jefferson.

5. Is there a coach on the hot seat? What do you think he needs to do to save his job?

Rich Eison- I think the Blatant tank job in Vegas is deplorable & he should be escorted out of that building immediately. But scandals aside, I think the Ravens have to be better, its really poor what we have seen from that team. There is so much talent on the roster they need to be able to string together more victories.  Their coach's strength is usually defense & team building.  Well the team came into the cycle in great shape, but it hasnt translated. The reported reluctance to talk trade with a majority of the league is going to bite him in the backside as well, sometime thinking you're the smartest guy in the room does not mean that you are.  Sure trading Lamar is GM Malpractice, but moving other pieces to get in guys that better fit your system is a totally normal thing & shutting talks down before they even happen on a majority of your roster, is just bad gm work.

Donavon McNabb- Coach Alonzo Creasy-McCall in Philly. Early on it wasn't looking good for him at all, but they've made some changes on defense and started to open up the playbook more. It looks like they're on the right path to redemption. The future can begin to get brighter if they somehow manage to make the playoffs, or can look more bleak if they do in fact miss the post season tournament.

Field Yates- Kad has been here like 4 weeks and the people of Boston are already calling for his head. The roster isn't great, and we all wonder what Kad's plans are to change the outlook.

Colin Cowherd- Always enjoy my time speaking with Coach Spence. But there’s not enough Chex Mix in the world to answer for how these Dolphins have struggled. While the defense is holding up their end, this offense is not a bottom third offense.

Ryen Russillo- White Greg. Suspension issues, disappointing season, and inactivity. Needs to get Bijan the ball more and get invested in the league again.

6. Out of Denver, Houston, Dallas, and the Rams who will have a better bounce back season?

Rich Eison- Easily Houston, previous SB winning coach & the only one I have any faith in currently.

Donavon McNabb- I think it's Houston. They have their QB of the future as well as a HoF caliber WR already in tow. Cap space will make it possible to go out and acquire talent via FA during the off season.

Field Yates- Houston. They are one of the youngest teams and all their best players are all on rookie deals. They are going to develop into something great. Oh, and that Justin Jefferson guy is pretty good too.

Colin Cowherd- Texans have a WR1, QB and run game in place. Defense should be the sole focus this offseason and be ready to enter the mix in the AFCS.

Ryen Russillo- Houston or Dallas. I like the coaches and the rosters. Denver and the Rams have question marks everywhere and I don't see a way out for Denver until they get rid of Russell Wilson.

7. The Cards, steelers, and Chiefs have all been sacked 60+ times this season. Why do you think the sack numbers are so high and what can those teams do to fix it?

Rich Eison- It is a combination of things, poor Oline doesnt help anyone, but also the systems that some of these guys run is to blame.  Arizona likes to chuck it deep, and honestly why not have Kyler use his legs to extend plays & get things down the field. If he is able to limit turnovers & take "smart sacks", I think the risk/reward to him holding the ball, can swing in his favor.  The same with KC, I would rather have my guy take some more sacks if it means we will have more shots at Big Plays.  A team like Pitt who does not have a strong QB should be working to get the ball out quick & setting up their qb with easy throws. I have way less faith in Pickett making a splash play by holding the ball too long then someone with the skillset of Kyler...and Mahomes is Mahomes.

Donavon McNabb- QBs waiting for long developing routes to open. Historically this has been reqard well worth the risk as very frw QBs have ever been hurt in RZ, in recent memory. But lately we've seen QBs miss time due to injury i.e. Kyler Murray. I would be weary of this level of awareness.

Field Yates- I don't hate sacks. If you look around the league, a lot of the teams that are bottom in sacked also throw a lot of INTs. Some plays will have no one get open and there's not much you can do if you can't get outside the pocket. You can take a 6 yard loss and come out on 2nd and 16, or you can throw into traffic and hope for the best. I'll take option 1.

Colin Cowherd- All three have holes on the OLine. I expect all three to either spend some cap or high draft picks on some OLine help. This class seems to have some Day 1 starters in there at multiple spots.

Ryen Russillo- Holding the ball to avoid interceptions. I don't think it is something that is necessarily fixable, more so the lesser of two evils.

8. Who do you believe the super bowl champ will be? 

Rich Eison- The LA Chargers - Great on both sides of the ball, had a hiccup early in the season but has been really strong as of late. The roster is ready to win, they have a multi time SB Winning coach, and picking the Chiefs or Bucs just isnt fun

Donavon McNabb- Kansas City - Mahomes + Adel = 'Nuff said

Field Yates- Stupid Adel and the Chiefs

Colin Cowherd- I think both current #1 seeds trip up and the one true Don of RZ gets the monkey off his back. Moji makes Nashville TITLETOWN!

Ryen Russillo- Chiefs or Buccaneers. They've been the best two teams all season.

9. Is there a sleeper team that could make some waves come playoff time?

Rich Eison- How do you count out coach Astin? I dont think the league wide belief right now is the Bears are a SB team, especially with teams like Tampa & KC sitting out there. You cannot discount how good this team has been defensively & I think when the weather gets worse during playoff time, Fields can use his legs to create more then some of the QBs he will go up against in the playoffs.  Plus you know they won't be out coached

Donavon McNabb- Cleveland Browns - if the Cleveland Browns make it in, Coach Honeycutt can easily get on a crazy hot streak and shock the world.

Field Yates- Coach Kelly and the Browns are quietly surging as of lately. After a rocky start of the season, it feels like he is putting it all together.

Colin Cowherd- Brother Glenn and the Saints. Top passing game in all of RZ and he’s not afraid to sling it around the yard.

Ryen Russillo- Bears. They are a tough out every single week, and will have a home playoff game. Astin is as battle tested as they come.

10. Wildcard question.....No question at all. You are free to say any bit that you want here. blast someone, praise someone, or anything you like. 

Rich Eison- I want to say how happy I am that RZ is back, it was a long off-cycle period & I am glad things are clicking here early in this cycle. Hopefully activity stays high & media keeps on churning.  The league is better when we have more off the field projects.  I implore all of the new guys to get more involved in media. I would love to hear two of the new guys partner up & make their own Pod. Its always great to see different perspectives into RZ & not the same 5 voices all the time.  I think seeing how new guys come into RZ & share their challenges, thoughts, opinions & suggestions can be very helpful.  And sure if your suggestion sucks we will tell you, but its not personal. Everything is to keep driving RZ forward, so get involved!

Donavon McNabb- N/A

Field Yates- I can't wait for the offseason. The first one is always the best.

Colin Cowherd- The Eagles are not out of the playoff picture by any means. But with this roster and the coach that were in place to start this cycle, 8-7-1 is not what I would have expected. Based on roster alone, they should have ram and hid with this division.

Ryen Russillo- Shoutout to the Rams on not tanking and trying to remain competitive every single week...big win over the Commies in Week 15.

This has been a great season and the rest of the cycle looks promising. There are always the booms and busts during the year, and we will always have one of these fine gentlemen share their thoughts on the matter. We appreciate everyone taking the time to read through and now we wait for the offseason! Offseason is even more exciting than on the field sometimes. Now time to sit back and watch as the Niners come out and surprise the world in the playoffs!

In The Pocket Part 2

By: Kirk Herbstreit

As we near the end of season 83 there have been some amazing performances in the league, and some terrible performances. Everyone has a pretty good idea on what to expect with veteran players and the output they will produce, but nobody is ever sure on how good the rookies will be. Earlier this year we took a look at some rookies that I believed would make an impact in the league based on the hype and overall skill sets along with the coaching they would have. So let us take a look at how well these rookies have performed so far. 

Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons

First we will look at Bijan Robinson. Robinson came in as the best Rb in the rookie class, and that has not carried over as well as we imagined it would. Starting with an 81 overall he has been one of the best rated rookie Rb in recent memory. Put that with how much Atlanta likes to run the ball we should have seen unreal numbers from him. He has produced fairly well, but not to the level expected. However, he is one of three superstars in the rookie class and has jumped up 4 dev points since the beginning of the season so it won’t be long before he is in that luxurious 90s club.  

Stats: 162 carries 737 yards 2 td 28 receptions 292 yards 30th in rushing in the league.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks

Next up on the list is rookie sensation Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Normally we wouldn’t care about what receivers Coach LV has as he does not do well passing the ball or developing talent at the wide out position. However, Smith-Njigba has made good progress over the season by gaining four dev points as well. Starting as a 78 super star and is sitting currently at an 82 overall the progress can be seen easily. Smith-Njigba was putting on a very solid rookie season before an injury derailed his season, and caused him to miss the last 3 games with injuries.

Stats:  56 receptions 598 yards 1 TD (83rd in yards 30th in receptions)

Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks

Next up is rookie corner Devon Witherspoon. Starting as a 78 overall it was going to be difficult adjusting to the speed of the NFL. However, Witherspoon has shown that he is more than capable of helping shut down half the field for Seattle. Only developing two points this season makes sense as many of the targets are thrown away from Witherspoon and Woolen targeting the middle of the field. He will continue to progress and become a shut down corner when it is said and done. Coach LV always manages to make the defense the best part of the team and Witherspoon will be a focal point in this.

Stats: 36 tackles 9 deflections 1 int 

Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions

Coach Robo is known to be particular on who he wants at Hb, but is also one to start the young guy even when he has a better vet to play. Jahmyr Gibbs is no exception to this and has shown that he can produce at a high level. Gibbs is sitting currently at an 81 overall after  starting at a 77 overall. Gibbs currently is sitting 1st in rookie rushing and 15th in league. Being the workhorse for the team has shown that he isn’t just going to be a star for the Lions, but may even be the superstar that Coach Robo has been looking for.

Stats: 236 carries 1035 yards 11 td 45 receptions 455 yards

Jalen Carter Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Carter seems to be the one guy with all the talent in the world, but has not taken advantage of it yet. Coach BP is known for having a tough defense and Carter was poised to be a force with Davis in the middle. The lack of plays has hindered the development as he sits as an  82 overall after starting at a 79 overall. With the departure of Cox in the future we can expect this talent to take off.

Stats: 11 tackles 4.5 sacks  star

Bonus Player

Rashee Rice Kansas City Chiefs

Sometimes there is a guy who is drafted that nobody pays attention to except the die hard fans who booed the draft pick at that time. Then that guy comes in and starts dominating right away from training camp and through the season. Rice impressed everyone during camp, and is now torching defenses during the season. Having a huge development year he started as a 73 overall and is sitting pretty at a 79 overall. This guy has all the makings of being a star in the Chiefs offense as Mahomes continues to sling the football everywhere on the field.

Stats: 88 reception 1127 yards 11 Td. 

Rookies are possibly the most exciting part of the football season every year. Seeing who will be the best or a bust is what makes it so exciting. The guys spotlighted are set to be forces as long as the development and coaching allows them to continue growing. Stay tuned as the season unfolds as we will be having a surprise panel to evaluate the season and look at the expectations for next year. Remember, just because they are young and not as good doesn’t mean the rookie can’t play ball. He made it to the NFL which is more than we can say isn’t it? Well I am going to enjoy the day with Corso as we prepare to hit the beach and meet the panel. Till next time redzone!

In The Pocket Part 1E

By: Kirk Herbstreit

Good morning RedZone!! I decided that since the football gods have blessed us with all the football we can handle today I would bless you with more interviews of coaches around the league. This interview is one that I really enjoyed as we traveled to “The Capital of the World” and talked to Coach Bubba Bitz of the Commanders

Coach Bubba Bitz and the Washington Commanders

Herby- How would you rate the overall performance of your quarterback this season so far?

Coach- Sam Howell started the first few games of the seson off hot.  He was making great reads and not making many mistakes.  Establishing the run game early and with Brian Robinson off and running, this opened up the passing game for Sam.  Now that teams have keyed in on stopping the run game, it has forced us to rely on the pass more frequently and Sam hasn't been as efficient as early on in the season.  This is on me and the coaching staff to put Sam in better situations by calling the right plays and telling him it's okay to take the sack instead of forcing the ball into tight and or double coverages.

Herby- With being such a young player, have there been any issues with the development this season? What kind of specifics can you share?

Coach- Howell believes in his heart of hearts that he can make any throw out there on the digital gridiron and while we have faith in him to make some difficult throws, it's best sometimes to just pull the ball down and make a play with his legs or throw the ball out of bounds to live another play.  We as a coaching staff should be utilizing play action more since the run game has been very effective, that's on us as a coaching staff to call the right plays and on the Sam to execute those plays when called.

Herby- How much do you associate the success, or lack thereof, with the performance of your young signal caller?

Coach- I'd say when Sam has been successful, it is mostly on him and when he has struggled it has been on us, the coaching staff.  I've relayed to Sam that he has our full confidence in going out there and to just play without thinking too much.  We'll continue to work with Sam in practice so that he can go through his proper reads of specific plays and concepts so that he and we can limit our turnovers.

Herby- We have seen many young QBs come in and sit behind a mentor to develop, or some get thrown in right away without that adjustment period. Do you believe that you have adjusted the playstyle and play calling to help cater to a younger QB, or have you gone with trial by fire in hopes he fits in right away?

Coach-  I would say our playcalling is still a work in progress as we continue to adjust to Sam's style of play as we see more and more action on tape and what his true capabilities are.  I definitely feel he is underrated as a runner and often forget myself that he can make plays with his legs.  Sam is fully capable of being able to lead this team throughout this cycle and we want him to be able to do that.  Hopefully we see more improvement as we continue to play here in season 83. 

Herby- We have seen this as a Quarterback first league so it is interesting that the younger guys just can't keep up with the veterans stat wise.  Only two rookie or 2nd year quarterbacks are in the top 10 of TD thrown this season as we near the halfway mark. Do you think the efficiency of the young guys are hindered by coaching, the development, or the overall of the team so far?

Coach- I would completely say that efficiency of a QB in this league is either hindered or aided by the coaching staff and how they inject their philosophy upon the offense.  At the time of this writing, I believe Sam ranked 9th in TD throws, but we really need to have him stop throwing interceptions.  Sam has weapons he can utilitize out there in McLaurin, Dotson, Samuel, Robinson, and Gibson.  Sam is 22 years young and if he can be a game manager for the first couple years by limiting mistakes, getting the ball to his playmakers in open space, then I think he has a real chance to continually improve and then truly be an impact player on this team.

Herby- We have seen how coordinators make such an impact on total offense and the system in which younger quarterbacks struggle or flourish.  Do you see any changes coming in the way you handle your young QB in development the rest of the season or next year? New offense possibly, or having the coordinator focus on bettering his own tree to help develop others better?

Coach- We don't anticipate any changes at this time as we really like the core guys we have here on offense.  I think we'll continue to be a run first team and really start forcing teams to bring up their safeties and stack the box which will hopefully provide further opportunity for Sam to flourish.  While this team may not look exactly the same on paper next season due to the CBA and 3+1 guidelines, we won't be shy to bring in any offensive talent that will make this team better.

Herby- Any advice you believe should be shared from one coach to another for those who will be drafting, signing, or trading for a young QB?

Coach- There is a lot of pressure that comes having the first overall pick in this league.  If you're thinking about drafting a QB very early in the RZ Draft, you have to be honest with yourself and your playstyle.  If you truly think drafting a QB with the talent and upside will alone win  you games, then take that chance on the young man.  If you think the results would be just about the same as if you had a savy veteran QB on your team, then I'd think really hard about trading that high draft pick to recoup a plethora of picks that could really rebuild and strengthen your team, and draft a QB the following year or go with a solid veteran. 

   I speak on this issue out of experience when in a previous cycle their was massive hype about QB Kamryn Killings and he was clearly going to be the 1st overall pick and I traded away that pick for a massive haul of picks over three drafts (three 1st rd. picks, two 2nd rd. picks, and one 3rd rd. pick).  I was honest with myself and just knew I wouldn't be able to utilize Killings to his full capacity, and while that makes me sad, the truth hurts sometimes.

Talking to Coach Bitz is one of the more enjoyable things an analyst can do. The dad of the league is very informative and encouraging at the same time. He has taken this Commanders team and turned them into a force within the NFC and can make waves with his style of play. Howell has definitely helped get them to this point with his legs and arm. I am excited to continue to watch this team develop under Coach this cycle. I will have to come back and have another drink with him when the season is over to see how he thinks things went. Thank you for joining us as we went through some of the coaches in the league and talked about their Qbs. Up next is part two of “In the Pocket '' as we dive into the rookies I spotlighted at the beginning of the season and see how they are faring against the league.

In The Pocket Part 1D

By: Kirk Herbstreit

Good morning RedZone!! It is another beautiful day here as we get ready for the last part of season 83. One of the benefits of this job is how I get to travel to all these great cities in the league. This week we have a treat for everyone as we visited a long tenured coach who has shown he can be successful with any QB he is given. Join as we go to the Music City and talk to Coach Moji about his young QB Will Levis.

Coach Moji and Tennessee Titans

Herby- How would you rate the overall performance of your quarterback this season so far?

Coach- I am very proud of Will, when we were in the early stages of OTA’s & rookie camp, he was the low man on depth chart. He battled & just focused on improving.  And it was a huge test to come in during the second half of week 1, down double digits to the Saints. That young man made throw after throw to lead us back. Honestly, I regret not starting him week 1. He has won that locker room over & he has my full trust. And you know what they say about trust, that shits earned..

Herby- With being such a young player, have there been any issues with the development this season? What kind of specifics can you share?

Coach- I wouldnt say issues, more growing pains. And those are natural. Hes been pretty great with his decision making for the most part. A couple of throws hes come to his 3rd read late & tried to force it, things you can’t get away with anymore. I think for Will, he would say his completion % is a little lower then where he wants it to be. But hes gotten better every week & has good command of the offense.

Herby- How much do you associate the success, or lack thereof, with the performance of your young signal caller?

Coach- Hes a huge piece of the puzzle for us. I think the front office did a great job adding pieces pretty late in the offseason. Hop, Patterson, Hollywood, thats pretty great.  We also added 3/5 of a line to protect him. But if he doesnt make the throws, or turns it over, none of it matters.  Im happy with how the offense looks right now & he deserves a ton of credit.

Herby- We have seen many young QBs come in and sit behind a mentor to develop, or some get thrown in right away without that adjustment period. Do you believe that you have adjusted the playstyle and play calling to help cater to a younger QB, or have you gone with trial by fire in hopes he fits in right away?

Coach-  I think we do a good job of getting creative with the offense & setting up a lot of easy completions. We have some great playmakers that can get the ball all over. And while they are worried about the stuff outside, Henry will smash you in the mouth. As we have gone on Will has taken more & more onto his plate.  Hes an athletic guy with a big arm, hes going to fit most systems & he certainly fits mine.  Switching from Tanny to Will actually helped open my book up a little more, just due to that right arm.

Herby- We have seen this as a Quarterback first league so it is interesting that the younger guys just can't keep up with the veterans stat wise.  Only two rookie or 2nd year quarterbacks are in the top 10 of TD thrown this season as we near the halfway mark. Do you think the efficiency of the young guys are hindered by coaching, the development, or the overall of the team so far?

Coach- As a guy with a rookie QB towards the tops of the league in passing id like to say its coaching. There are ways to scheme easy completions, and set your young qb up for success. Sure it's also on the Quarterback himself, but we have seen PLENTY of bad coaches link up with some pretty successful QB’s & there is a clear regression there.  Of course,  if the pieces around the QB are lacking, you're doing him no favors either. So it's certainly a mix, but coaching can overcome a lot of shortcomings on the field.

Herby- We have seen how coordinators make such an impact on total offense and the system in which younger quarterbacks struggle or flourish.  Do you see any changes coming in the way you handle your young QB in development the rest of the season or next year? New offense possibly, or having the coordinator focus on bettering his own tree to help develop others better?

Coach- With Will taking over in week 1, I decided a change was necessary. I brought back my old QB coach & we have started implementing the same system that I have used for years. We have a great QB room & our coaching in that department is top tier. We think Will’s arm will continue to develop at this level & can get even stronger here. So I don't expect any more changes, I am very pleased with the change we made & how the staff is set up.

Herby- Any advice you believe should be shared from one coach to another for those who will be drafting, signing, or trading for a young QB?

Coach- Haha I don't know if I should share any secrets so early in a cycle, but I think it is vital to surround a young QB on offense.  Even if its a very veteran offensive line, protecting him is imperative to his success.  Wideouts that fit your scheme are also important. Get the guys who you can put where you need to create mismatches & get those easy completions. You have to think, usually these young QBs are making less then some of the top guys in the league. If that's the case then you need to spend that money to surround him with talent. Get him comfortable & give him the best chance to turn into “The Guy''.  Having that guy also helps you overcome a lot of roster shortcomings.

Talking to Coach Moji is very enlightening for everyone. A coach with a track record like his should give credibility to his views and statements. He may be one of the more outspoken individuals within the league, but he is one that is always willing to sit and talk with anyone to help them. If you want honest feedback and help I would recommend going and talking to Coach Moji. He is doing great with a roster that has been lacking in certain positions, and will build a consistent contender there in Tennessee. Be on the lookout for the last installment of part 1 of “In the Pocket” as we travel and interview a coach that everyone loves and adores.

In The Pocket Part 1C

By: Kirk Herbstreit

A good evening to everyone! There have not been many bright spots in the history of the Texans organization, except JJ Watt, we may have to keep a small eye on this team in the future. Bringing in a new JJ (Justin Jefferson) to give a weapon to ex-buckeye stud Shroud we can see glimmers of hope within an organization of disappointment. So without further ado let us travel down to H-Town and have a talk with Coach Trent and the 3-6 Texans

Coach Trent and the Texans

Herby- How would you rate the overall performance of your quarterback this season so far?

Coach- This season has been full of ups and downs for CJ Stroud. While he has shown flashes of being the franchise QB we all know he will be, he has definitely had his rookie mistakes. We are fully confident that he will finish the season strong.

Herby- With being such a young player, have there been any issues with the development this season? What kind of specifics can you share?

Coach- The biggest hindrance to his development so far is not being able to stay on the field. I believe, like many others, that the only way for a young QB to develop in the NFL is live snaps. CJ has had a couple of games that he didn’t finish due to turnover issues. Every snap is important at this stage of his development.

Herby- How much do you associate the success, or lack thereof, with the performance of your young signal caller?

Coach- There have been several games that could have gone our way had it not been for the turnovers, but I place more of the blame on me as a play caller than CJ. We have not held back with our game plans and have expected a lot from him. We are willing to work him through some of these rookie mistakes as we all learn the best way to run the offense in this league.

Herby- We have seen many young QBs come in and sit behind a mentor to develop, or some get thrown in right away without that adjustment period. Do you believe that you have adjusted the playstyle and play calling to help cater to a younger QB, or have you gone with trial by fire in hopes he fits in right away?

Coach-  We have definitely went with the trial by fire method, for better or worse. When you have a playmaker like Justin Jefferson on the outside, it is very difficult to allow ourselves to hold the play calling back. Moving forward out of our bye week we have made necessary playcalling adjustments to give CJ some help as he continues to improve.

Herby- We have seen this as a Quarterback first league so it is interesting that the younger guys just can't keep up with the veterans stat wise.  Only two rookie or 2nd year quarterbacks are in the top 10 of TD thrown this season as we near the halfway mark. Do you think the efficiency of the young guys are hindered by coaching, the development, or the overall of the team so far?

Coach-Many of the young starting QB’s are on the worst rosters in the league. I believe this does have a lot to do with it as they are not in the best positions to succeed. But a lot of it has to do with their comfortability with the coach and the offense. This just comes with reps and I believe that many of the young QBs around the league will have a much better second half of the season.

Herby- We have seen how coordinators make such an impact on total offense and the system in which younger quarterbacks struggle or flourish.  Do you see any changes coming in the way you handle your young QB in development the rest of the season or next year? New offense possibly, or having the coordinator focus on bettering his own tree to help develop others better?

Coach- Yes. Going into our bye week deep dive, we knew that changes on offense were necessary if we wanted to compete at a higher level this season. There is still some work to be done on this front but will be emphasizing these changes on offense to put CJ in a much better situation moving forward. We wholeheartedly believe that CJ’s best football of the season lies in the coming weeks.

Herby- Any advice you believe should be shared from one coach to another for those who will be drafting, signing, or trading for a young QB?

Coach-I believe that the main attribute in the relationship between Coach and QB is trust. This trust is built through time spent together and time spent on the practice field. I would advice the coaches to spend as much time as they could with the young QB on the practice field. It allows the coach to better understand the skill set of the QB and allows the QB the necessary reps to further develop in the coach’s offense. 

Talking to Coach Trent is always a blast. A great guy who has the ability to turn this organization around. Bringing in once in a generation type talent with Jefferson will definitely help Shroud in the long run. Add that to a young core of receivers and a good running back we are in store for a few years of some fun. Hopefully, the defense is able to turn it around and another receiver other than JJ can become more of a threat. Stay tuned as we talked to a RZ Vet about his QB carousel to start the year.

In The Pocket Part 1B

By: Kirk Herbstreit

A good morning to everyone! There are no days off in the life of a RedZone analyst, so we are releasing part 1B of “In The Pocket”. This time we travel to the crossroads of America through all the cornfields and wind farms. Yes, we are talking about no other than Indianapolis Indiana and the Colts Organization. We were able to grab Coach Mayne after practice and got the downlow on rookie sensation Anthony Richarson. 

Coach Mayne and the Colts

The second team we are going to look at are the Indianapolis Colts led by Coach Mayne. The season has started off as expected by many of the analysts. The Colts had a roster able to make waves in the division once they found their QB. Now with Richardson they are holding their own in the AFC South. Without further ado here is the interview. 

Herby- How would you rate the overall performance of your quarterback this season so far?

Coach- Easily the most talented QB that I’ve had the pleasure to coach in my RZ career. Has the arm to make all the throws from the pocket. And can scoot out of the pocket to either by time or make a play with his legs. He’s had his share of rough spots vs top tier coaches and defenses. But he’s only going to get better from here. I’m excited to see what he becomes later in this cycle.

Herby- With being such a young player, have there been any issues with the development this season? What kind of specifics can you share?

Coach- When you are the kind of talent Anthony is, your arm strength and legs can carry you through high school and college. When you get to the pros, it’s about accuracy and timing. With our OC Garrett Pratt and myself, we feel we’ve developed a system that best fits his skill set. So now it’s honing in on the accuracy and making the correct reads and decisions in practice. Then making sure that translates to gameday.

Herby- How much do you associate the success, or lack thereof, with the performance of your young signal caller?

Coach- Some people like to say that wins are a QB stat. But football is a team game through and through. So the blame that gets placed on the QB can also get placed on the 53rd guy on the roster. And the same thing goes with the praise for quality play. There will be times where Anthony will carry us to victory, while other times it will be the offensive skill spots or the defense making big plays. And I’m sure there will be people that point out times when all of those people miss plays or come up short, which would result in losses.

Herby- We have seen many young QBs come in and sit behind a mentor to develop, or some get thrown in right away without that adjustment period. Do you believe that you have adjusted the playstyle and play calling to help cater to a younger QB, or have you gone with trial by fire in hopes he fits in right away?

Coach-  In a perfect world, you’d love to have a guy in place, draft his eventual successor, have him develop behind him and have a smooth transition. But nothing in RZ is ever perfect. Plus, it’s a case by case basis. In our case, Anthony’s talents and abilities shined in mini camp and all through the joint practices and preseason. So we felt our best course of action was for him to play and for us to get him as many weapons on offense that we could. Hence the acquisition of TJ Hockenson.

Herby- We have seen this as a Quarterback first league so it is interesting that the younger guys just can't keep up with the veterans stat wise.  Only two rookie or 2nd year quarterbacks are in the top 10 of TD thrown this season as we near the halfway mark. Do you think the efficiency of the young guys are hindered by coaching, the development, or the overall of the team so far?

Coach- I think there’s a certain amount of development that needs to happen for a young QB, regardless of how highly touted they are coming into RZ. I can’t think of the late time a rookie QB came in and was hot out the gate. Plus, in most cases, the team that the young QB is going to may be devoid of talent, hence why they are drafting so high in the draft. So I’d say development and team around the young QB are the big two reasons.

Herby- We have seen how coordinators make such an impact on total offense and the system in which younger quarterbacks struggle or flourish.  Do you see any changes coming in the way you handle your young QB in development the rest of the season or next year? New offense possibly, or having the coordinator focus on bettering his own tree to help develop others better?

Coach- After Mr. Irsay hired me and then I met with both coordinators, they both sold me on each of their systems. I believe wholeheartedly in what we are trying to do. And I do not foresee making any changes this season, next season or in the future.

Herby- Any advice you believe should be shared from one coach to another for those who will be drafting, signing, or trading for a young QB?

Coach- Do your research. Don’t settle. If you draft a QB and he’s not the guy, don’t be afraid to move off of him. Also, if someone else drafts a guy and your scout believes they may be willing to move off of their guy for a new guy, reach out and see if the QB may be a better fit in your system. That’s how I was able to get my hands on Travis Peterman two cycles ago. 

As far as signing a big-ticket QB in free agency, make sure you have all your other pieces in place first. Weapons, OLine, defense. Let that be the last piece you need before making the push over the hump. 

Talking to Coach Mayne is a pleasure and always very enlightening. Coach can woo an entire room when he speaks and this time was no different. Richardson is the freak athlete that coaches dream of getting, but are sometimes nervous about how rough around the edges they may be. I love the fact that Coach puts the responsibility of team success on all 53 men on rosters. The culture there in Indy was noticeable as soon as you walked in the building. Coach Mayne has the guys in place with a system and culture of inclusion and accountability. This team will be exciting as the season goes and can’t wait to see where they finish in a tough division.