Overview of Pardon My Take featuring Derek Carr and Eric Morris
This episode mixed NFL Week 1 fallout, a deep college football recap, and two football-heavy interviews with Derek Carr and Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris. The biggest themes were the Chiefs looking fully alive again after destroying the Broncos, how quickly the NFL “must-win” pressure starts after one week, and how Saturday’s college slate reshaped early-season narratives for Texas, Oregon, Michigan, and others. The show also included the usual “Hot Seat / Cool Throne” chaos and a batch of listener takes ranging from Justin Herbert discourse to AI doom scenarios.
NFL Recap: Chiefs Look Back, Broncos Look Broken
Chiefs-Broncos takeaways
- The Chiefs’ Monday night win was framed as a statement that Kansas City is “back.”
- The offensive line and run game were the story:
- Kansas City ran the ball down Denver’s throat.
- The run game was described as the best the Chiefs have had in years.
- Patrick Mahomes looked healthy enough to run, even if his timing was still a little off.
- The Chiefs were praised for being built to:
- play with a lead,
- shorten the game,
- and let Mahomes settle back in over the course of the season.
Broncos concerns
- Denver’s defense was roasted for its tackling effort.
- Bo Nix looked tentative and out of rhythm.
- Sean Payton’s decision to hand off play-calling drew scrutiny, since he can always take it back if things go wrong.
- The Broncos’ upcoming schedule was cited as brutal, making the next few weeks feel like an early-season crisis point.
Bigger AFC thoughts
- The AFC was described as extremely stacked.
- With Mahomes, Burrow, Lamar, Allen, Herbert, and the Jaguars all in the mix, the conference feels loaded again.
- One recurring point: Week 1 overreactions are unavoidable, but the NFL season still needs a few weeks before the true hierarchy settles in.
College Football Recap: Texas, Oregon, Michigan, and More
Texas vs. Ohio State
- The discussion landed on Texas as the winner of the game rather than Ohio State choking.
- Arch Manning’s second-half turnaround was the key storyline.
- Ohio State was criticized for conservative play-calling late.
- Texas was praised for:
- responding to a bad first half,
- surviving the early fumble,
- and showing composure under pressure.
Oregon’s upset loss to Oklahoma State
- Oregon losing as a massive favorite was one of the weekend’s biggest surprises.
- Oklahoma State was credited for:
- playing physically,
- simplifying the plan after a disappointing opener,
- and dominating the line of scrimmage.
- Dan Lanning’s team was compared to Penn State last year in the sense that one bad loss can trigger a season-defining spiral if the next few weeks go poorly.
Michigan, Oklahoma, and Penn State
- Michigan’s defense was labeled for real.
- Bryce Underwood showed flashes, especially with his legs.
- Oklahoma’s offensive identity was flipped on its head:
- their defense is good,
- but the offense looked bad in a way that’s hard to ignore.
- James Franklin’s press conference got a shout for its awkward, funny “Michael” repetition moment.
Other college notes
- LSU vs. Ole Miss was hyped as a massive upcoming game with a chaotic environment.
- Alabama’s defense looked strong against Kentucky.
- The episode also joked about Arch Manning getting in trouble for admitting he saw an AI-generated video and found it funny; he later apologized.
Interview: Derek Carr
Retirement, coaching, and staying involved
- Carr confirmed he is still retired.
- He described his role as a special advisor at UCLA as a true “learn ball” opportunity.
- He said he’s helping with:
- game planning,
- quarterback development,
- recruiting,
- and general football strategy.
- He also noted he’s still coaching his kids’ youth football team.
Thoughts on Broncos-Chiefs
- Carr said Bo Nix looked rusty and a little overwhelmed, which is normal for Week 1.
- He emphasized how difficult it is for quarterbacks to face Spagnuolo’s defense, especially early in the year.
- He expects Nix to improve with more reps.
NFL development and quarterback play
- Carr made a strong case for more under-center offense in both college and the NFL.
- He argued that quarterbacks need more reps under center because:
- it helps with play-action,
- it forces better defensive reading,
- and it better prepares players for the pros.
- He said a major issue in football is quarterback development, especially with players transferring so often.
Other Carr highlights
- He said the Browns’ locker room needs to rally internally because outside noise will only make things worse.
- He explained how pressure felt different with the Saints versus the Raiders:
- the Saints had bigger expectations,
- the Raiders were coming from such a low baseline that any improvement felt huge.
- He also shared that he once hit a hole-in-one without anyone seeing it, which he said was bizarrely unsatisfying.
Interview: Eric Morris
Oregon upset and team response
- Morris said the first game was disappointing, but the Oregon win was the result of a hard reset:
- more honest self-scouting,
- simpler game plans,
- and a tougher practice week.
- He said the team came out with real edge and physicality after being challenged all week.
Mike Leach influence
- Morris told a great story about Mike Leach nicknaming him “the magical elf.”
- Leach had him wear a green elf costume in practice after a film moment made him look small on screen.
- Morris credited Leach as a major influence on how he thinks about football, culture, and accountability.
Offensive philosophy
- Morris said elite offenses need to be both explosive and physical.
- He pointed to championship-level teams that run the ball enough to be balanced.
- He emphasized:
- using tight ends,
- being tougher up front,
- and making quarterbacks more ready for the next level.
Quarterback development and coaching tree
- Morris said he’s been shaped by coaching and evaluating quarterbacks under:
- Lincoln Riley,
- Dana Holgorsen,
- Sonny Dykes,
- Mike Leach,
- and Cliff Kingsbury.
- He talked about Patrick Mahomes, Cam Ward, and other quarterbacks he’s coached, noting that the best ones share elite spatial awareness and fast processing.
Extra fun details
- ESPN’s push alert about him shooting an armadillo became a running joke.
- He said he’s an avid duck hunter, which made the Oregon win extra funny in hindsight.
Hot Seat / Cool Throne
Hot seat
- Humanity / AI: The hosts joked that AI doom is real, and maybe we’re all in trouble by the end of the decade.
- Sam Darnold’s butt: His injury was described as an unusual deep glute issue.
- Chester Zoo: A “Predator Tour” typo turned into “Child Predator Tour,” which was predictably disastrous.
- Sydney Sweeney critics: The episode mocked backlash around her continuing to dominate internet attention.
Cool throne
- Fullbacks: Usage was up in Week 1, and the hosts declared fullbacks “back.”
- LeBron’s boat racing team: LeBron’s E1 powerboat involvement was discussed like the future of elite billionaire entertainment.
- Conor Bedard: Named captain of the Blackhawks.
- Mitch Voit: A very handsome, oddly AI-looking Mets prospect got a shoutout.
- Romania’s ass-slapping league: Yes, that was a real thing discussed.
Listener Submitted Takes
Justin Herbert and the AFC West
- One listener joked Herbert is going to be bad all year so he can spend more time with his very attractive partner.
- The crew mostly treated it as a funny, unserious theory.
Chiefs / NFC West competitiveness
- A listener asked whether the AFC West or NFC West is more competitive.
- The answer leaned NFC West after Week 1, especially with the Rams, 49ers, and Cardinals all looking live.
Refs should wear masks
- A listener suggested anonymous officials to reduce attention and potential bias.
- The hosts joked that if anything, that would probably make things worse.
The real start of the NFL season
- One listener argued the first three weeks still carry too much offseason carryover.
- The consensus: the season really starts to feel real around Weeks 3–4, once the initial noise settles.
Browns vs. Falcons QB rooms
- A listener asked which team would win more games if the Browns and Falcons swapped quarterback rooms.
- The joke answer centered on how bleak the Browns’ situation feels.
Notable Running Themes
- The NFL is already producing “must-win” urgency in Week 2.
- Under-center quarterback play is making a comeback.
- The Chiefs’ run game may change how dangerous they are as the season progresses.
- College football chaos is very much alive, especially when underdogs get physical and simplify.
- The episode stayed true to the show’s mix of real football analysis, absurd jokes, and random viral side quests.