Overview of THE HERD – HOUR 1
This hour centers on three big themes: the Dodgers’ alarming slump, why Mike McCarthy’s coaching reputation may be far better than the public gives him credit for, and whether Josh Allen and the Bills are finally headed toward a Super Bowl run. The discussion also branches into broader NFL quarterback evaluation, including Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, and the current state of several teams entering the season.
Dodgers in Disarray
Colin opens by pushing back on the idea that the Dodgers’ struggles are just media overreaction. His argument is that this team has real structural problems:
- They’re old, expensive, and brittle
- Their best players are hurt or underperforming
- The bullpen and team ERA have collapsed
- Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani are not carrying the offense
Main takeaways
- The Dodgers have lost five straight and seven of nine.
- Colin says the team is no longer a dominant machine, but rather a club “winning on the margins.”
- He frames the trade for Tarik Skubal as more of a life raft than a luxury addition.
- He points out that teams like the Braves, Red Sox, and Cubs currently look better.
- He also notes that Wrigleyville feels like a bucket-list baseball atmosphere, especially in summer.
Notable point
Colin argues that the Dodgers’ reputation as a superteam may be misleading. In his view, the hood should be opened up: the roster has real age and health issues.
Mike McCarthy Is More Respected Than His Reputation Suggests
A major segment is devoted to defending Mike McCarthy as an underrated coach. Colin argues that McCarthy has been unfairly judged, largely because of how the public framed his partnership with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
Main points
- McCarthy has won eight division titles between Green Bay and Dallas.
- When Dak Prescott was healthy, McCarthy’s offenses were among the league’s best.
- Colin compares McCarthy’s résumé favorably to coaches like John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin.
- He believes the media narrative in Green Bay unfairly placed more blame on McCarthy than Rodgers.
Core thesis
Colin’s view is that the Green Bay years created a lasting reputation problem for McCarthy, even though the reality was more balanced:
- Rodgers and McCarthy both deserve credit/blame.
- McCarthy absorbed most of the criticism.
- That early narrative stuck.
Josh Allen, the Bills, and Super Bowl Expectations
Colin says that if he had to pick Super Bowl teams right now, he’d go with the Rams in the NFC and the Bills in the AFC. The Bills segment turns into a broader discussion of elite quarterbacks who have or haven’t broken through.
Why Allen remains a title-level quarterback
- Allen is elite enough to win a championship.
- Colin stresses that great quarterbacks often need the right context, roster, and timing.
- He compares Allen’s arc to legends like John Elway and Jim Kelly, noting that even great quarterbacks can wait years for a title.
Main concern for Buffalo
Colin worries that Buffalo’s championship path may get harder because:
- they may have to play road playoff games
- the roster around Allen may be less talented than New England’s young core
- the Bills’ margin for error is shrinking as Allen’s cap hit rises
Bottom line
Allen is still viewed as a quarterback you can win it all with — the issue is whether Buffalo can give him enough support.
Quarterback Tiers and League-Wide Evaluation
The hour also revisits quarterback rankings from Mike Sando’s annual tiers, with Colin weighing in on several notable names.
Jalen Hurts
Colin is very high on Hurts for one simple reason:
- You can win a Super Bowl with him
- He brings composure, leadership, and steadiness
- In a loud market like Philadelphia, that matters a lot
He also says Hurts is one of the best quarterbacks in the league at the podium and a natural fire extinguisher in a high-pressure city.
Dak Prescott
Colin says Dak is aging unusually well and may be one of the hardest quarterbacks to evaluate early in his career.
- He views Dak as a disciplined, smart, steady professional
- Prescott’s production numbers are historically strong
- Colin believes Dak is absolutely good enough to win a Super Bowl
Lamar Jackson
Colin says Lamar is still dynamic, but no longer quite as explosive as he once was.
- He’s still dangerous
- But he’s less likely to “humiliate” defenses the way he used to
- Colin wants to see more evolution as a pocket passer for long-term longevity
Brock Purdy
Colin pushes back on the idea that Purdy is just a system quarterback.
- He’s a starter, not a backup
- He processes the field very quickly
- He does have physical limitations, but Kyle Shanahan’s system maximizes him
- Colin compares Purdy’s trajectory to quarterbacks like Dak Prescott or Jared Goff: not elite in the Mahomes/Allen tier, but good enough to win big with the right structure
NFL Camp Notes and Team Outlook
A smaller news segment touches on a few other teams and quarterbacks:
- Colin is intrigued by the Raiders, saying they look more coherent and watchable than they have in recent years.
- He mentions optimism around their coaching, offensive structure, and skill players.
- He also notes the importance of giving young quarterbacks time to adjust, especially in offenses that use a lot of under-center concepts.
Key Takeaways
- The Dodgers’ slump is real: this isn’t just bad luck or media overreaction.
- Mike McCarthy is underrated: Colin believes the public narrative around him has been unfair for years.
- Josh Allen remains a legitimate Super Bowl-level QB, but Buffalo’s window may depend on roster health and playoff path.
- Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Brock Purdy all get positive reviews as quarterbacks you can win with.
- Lamar Jackson is still elite, but Colin sees signs that his athletic peak has begun to taper.
Final Thought
The hour is essentially Colin Cowherd’s mix of roster-based analysis and quarterback philosophy: championships come from timing, context, coaching, and surrounding talent, not just star power. The Dodgers, Bills, Rams, and several high-profile quarterbacks are all used as examples of that broader theory.