NFL Coaching Changes & Fantasy Impact, It’s Birthday Time - Fantasy Football Podcast for 3/3

Behind the, like, well, you know, we had some good things from Bridgewater. No, everything they're putting out publicly is we know we have to fix the quarterback position. We are going to do anything possible that we can to fix the quarterback position. Because the Denver Broncos are a good starting quarterback away from competing in that division and possibly making a playoff run. So that just at least gives me some confidence that they.

whatever stone they can turn over to try and find a quarterback, they're at least going to go after it. Meanwhile, like the Panthers, I don't know that they can't. With everything that they've done in the last couple years, kind of removing some of the options that they could take to fill the quarterback void, I think that the Broncos can really make a move. I mean, there was a lot of speculation, including former...

GMs of the Packers who said that you'd need to pay attention that if Hackett goes to Denver, there might be some smoke there to Aaron Rogers. So if he goes, everybody's great. If he doesn't, it's going to be more of the same of last year. Houston Texans have a new head coach and a new offensive coordinator, but they're familiar names, both of them. Lovie Smith, the new head coach replacing David Coley. You probably remember Lovie Smith the most from the...

long run with the Bears as a successful head coach in Chicago from 2004 to 2012. And then Pep Hamilton, who I really like Pep Hamilton. I like his name. I like the connection here between Pep and the progression for Davis Mills. I think Hamilton is especially talented when it comes to developing quarterbacks and bringing them along. And I liked what I saw from.

from Davis Mills, General Mills himself in year one. So I can't, you know, what do you get here? You get quarterback development on the offensive side of the ball and you get stability and established name with Lovie Smith as the head coach. So I think these are both good hires. I mean, this was an atrocious offense last year. They're still finding their way through this Watson situation and what picks they're going to get.

which they need desperately because they don't have a lot of picks. So what was your take on these hires, Jason? I think that I'm glad they hired Lovie Smith. He deserved it. He was, I mean, the defense played fantastically given their roster last year. Pep Hamilton, he was part of the development of Andrew Luck. So that's kind of the pro like, oh, you know, he's shown that he's been there for a young quarterback and brought about success. That's great.

That's also Andrew Luck. Like he was the 101 in the NFL draft. He was expected to be great. You know, I'm fine with these hires. It's really a matter of talent. And Davis Mills, I don't know. Is he the, is he the third best, like quarterback from last year's draft? Is he the best? No, I think he's up there, yeah. And I want to give Pap Hamilton more credit than that. He was also Justin Herbert's quarterback coach last year.

So he's, he, Justin Herbert made huge strides as a, is a young quarterback as well. So, you know, chicken or egg always in the NFL. Houston has an NFL leading 35 million in dead cap for 2022 for players that aren't on the roster. So there's a lot that the team needs to figure out. And they need, they need better personnel. They just do. Billy O'Brien. He, thank you for your services. Still haunting. Yeah, he is.

Yeah, what he did was play fantasy GM. And then, you know, it's not like he quit. So he didn't walk away from him. But they fire him and they're left with all the sewage. Like we've, we've all taken, well, not all, but we've taken over orphaned dynasty teams before. And you're like, how in the heck am I? Yeah. How do I fix this disaster? There's personnel problems is the tough division. So.

We'll move on. Jacksonville, new head coach, new offensive coordinator. Doug Peterson. After taking a year off, I have it in here from Kyle sat on his butt in 2021. Do you have, do you have the proof for that? He's nodding. Yeah, I mean, extensive photos. It could have been gardening. That could be hard work. Yeah, butt gardening. All right. He's just scooting around. Press Taylor, the new offensive coordinator.

Younger brother of Zach Taylor. And fun fact, he's credited with the Philly Special Play Call. Oh. So this is someone that's obviously worked with Doug Peterson. He was a longtime assistant quarterback coach with the Eagles when Doug Peterson was there. So I like the familiarity. I like the fact that this is, you know, part of a coaching staff that won a Super Bowl that developed Carson Wince.

And now, you know, I, this is this is the example here of trying to really bring a team around your, you know, hopeful franchise quarterback rookie. I don't know that I saw enough on the field to like be, you know, thoroughly in on Trevor Lawrence's future. But this staff gives me a lot of hope. So you weren't persuaded by the.

lowest points per game 14.9 per game last year from rookie Trevor Lawrence. I was persuaded, but the wrong direction. Okay. The 32nd ranked in passing touchdown. He was so stinking bad. I mean, and it was like you watch. Two percent touchdown rate. You watched the film and you just had some throws that were, they were so bad you don't call them inaccurate. You think he made a bad decision.

But I question was the decision like, oh, wait, where was he throwing? Or was it just a super inaccurate pass? That being said, he had a lot of passing yardage for a rookie. You know, and obviously he has the talent, the raw skills to do it. But not every first round, first selected quarterback overall pans out. If there's a job of a head coach with a rookie quarterback, it's to proverbially equip that player to run out on the field.

And it seemed like Trevor Lawrence ran out in the field without any tools in the tool belt a lot last year. And that meant no confidence. That's what I saw. I saw a player that was running out there who didn't really know what to do. And it definitely makes us wonder what the future is going to be for Trevor Lawrence. But.

And they don't have the receiving corps around them now, but I do think that they have the ammunition. I expect them, I would, I think I would be more surprised if they don't trade out of the 101, unless they just can't to amass some more weapons. If they do, they could grab the first wide receiver off the board a little bit later in the draft. They've obviously got Travis E.T.N. coming back. So I think there could be a good core going in. And Doug Peterson, yeah, I'm in on this higher. Four years in.

Four and a half in Philadelphia, I guess it would be five years. He coached all of 2020. Seven and nine, then 13 and three won the Super Bowl, nine and seven, nine and seven, four, eleven, and one. So, you know, we'll see. I think there are people on both sides of the Doug Peterson. It seems like the Philly fans felt like he was just scapegoat for a lot of what happened. But the Raiders, new head coach, new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels.

Let's do it again. Here we go. He was the Denver head coach, which amazingly was all the way back in 2009, 2010. That feels like I can't believe, what is, 12 years ago? That's incredible. He was the Colts head coach in 2000. He was, yes. What year was that for about 30 minutes? Yeah. And then he pulled back out of the accepted offer. That's crazy.

Yeah, so he wasn't right for him, Jason. He was waiting for the Raiders. Apparently. He's waiting for the Raiders job. Mick Lombardi replacing Greg Olson is the offensive coordinator. So do we still, does he still have the shine that he used to have, Josh McDaniels? Because if there was ever a player that or a coach that, you know, you're with the goat for the majority of your career, however, it was a nice first season for Jones in New England.

Yeah, as far as the shine, I mean, it was basically every offseason. You had the, well, Josh McDaniels is connected to this job. And this is the one where McDaniels finally decides to go in on it. The Raiders are, they're a very strange team. At least publicly McDaniels is kind of saying like Derek Carr is our guy. Like there was the rumor mill what a week ago or whatever about Derek Carr is going to have.

Get a new contract out there. But you have a ton of holes on this offense, especially at the wide receiver position, aside from Hunter Renfro, who looks like a great long-term option for the team. McDaniels is up against it. And for fantasy football, it's, I don't know that a lot is changing here for the Raiders. I don't know that McDaniels is going to elevate anybody else in this office. I think he'll elevate the screen game out of the backfield. I think it means.

I mean, maybe I'll stand alone with it. Does that mean Jacobs or does that mean a New England Patriots 5,000 running back roulette? Yeah, I mean, to be determined. This was an offense that was in the upper echelon in past attempts, passing yards, total yards. So they moved the football. And that's why people like Derek Carr or understand why Derek Carr is still considered to be a franchise quarterback. But I think somebody like Josh Jacobs could see.

better utilization. They couldn't functionally run the football, and that's something that Josh McDaniels has been able to do, and that's something outside the bounds of the everything comes with Tom Brady for his career. I mean, he has had success on offense. Last year, they were very good without Tom Brady, and no one expected them to be. So it does seem like he has confidence in Derek Carr, the way he's speaking about him, which he has no obligation to talk that way about Derek Carr. He can walk in the door and say, we'll see.

and they could go find another quarterback, and I bet they'd listen the way that that organization puts it into the head coach's hands. Yeah, I think McDaniels wants Carr there. Carr's a good quarterback. Carr's not a great quarterback, but he is clearly a franchise quarterback, and compare that to all these other head coaches, right? All these, you know, we're talking about Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields and Teddy Bridgewater and Davis Mills, like.

Going into a team with Derek Carr, I think you've got two really experienced veteran NFL minds here. And I think he can succeed here. They need another weapon now that they've lost rugs and Brian Edwards is, you know, nothing. But you've got a system that he has had for a long time that has, you know, been great for good slot players and you've got one of the best slot.

machines in all of football. So I think that this, and Josh Jacobs can, like Andy said, catch passes out of the backfield. McDaniels has had the opportunity to pretty much have the pick of his litter for a long time. And there were, you know, many thoughts of, well, he must be in line for the Patriots. That's why he pulled out of the Colts job. But he chose this. I think it's a good team. I mean, there were a 10 and 7 team.

and I think he's going to succeed here as best he can. I'm sorry. Who said pick of his litter? That was Jason. So I just, when I read it, I was letting it slide. I was like, when I heard it, when Mike brought it up, I go, well, that's right. Pick of the litter. And then I said, oh, wait, he's got a litter. They're going to get rid of all the other babies. I was just imagining like Josh McDaniels and like hybrid cat babies. Yeah, I know. Listen.

Here's a question for you. Better than butt gardening. Here's the question I have for you, though. When I look at these opportunities to this point, would you rather be coming into the Denver situation where it seems like the peripherals outside of quarterback are pretty good? Or come into this Raider situation, which they did fight for a playoff spot. They made the playoffs. Right. With an established quarterback, albeit not maybe, you know, depending on the opinion of, you know, upper echelon.

Would you rather be the Raiders head coach in their situation or the Broncos? Assuming that you don't get Aaron Rogers, I would much rather be the Raiders head coach. The Miami Dolphins moved on from Brian Flores, and they brought in Mike McDaniel. And don't you dare say McDaniels. It's only one. There can be only one. There's not multiple. It's McDaniel. And they have Frank Smith, offensive coordinator. This is a new, this is going to be a new offense.

This is going to be something maybe for the first time really built around Tua. So do you have optimism in the Mike McDaniel higher? Coming over from San Francisco, obviously one of the younger head coaches, this was a 9 and 8 team. Do you feel encouraged at the hope that maybe Tua?