THE HERD - Hour 2 - New Blazing 5 picks, Urban Meyer joins The Herd

Hour two on a Friday, Urban Meyer in five minutes. The league that used to steamroll everyone looks more like a mid‑major with giant venues, and I think Saban saw the slide coming.

So where is this headed in a few years? With boosters writing huge checks, could a Big Ten program jump the line?

In the NIL era, the quality of money and organization matters more than slogans. Indiana’s set up well, Texas has true oil backing, and places like Texas Tech have billionaires; that’s a different game than car dealers and local sponsors.

Blazing Five, postseason: I’m on the Rams big because they win in blowouts when they protect the ball, the Bears in bad weather with a stronger line and run game, the Jaguars because they’re the hottest team and Buffalo can’t stop the run, the Eagles on health, red‑zone sevens, and the Fangio wrinkle, and Indiana over Oregon for elite efficiency and mistake‑free ball.

Love Rams and Eagles. The rematch vibes make Oregon‑Indiana feel like a coin flip; does the second meeting help Oregon?

Urban Meyer joins us. How much does a second matchup actually matter here?

Very little beyond comfort with personnel. Oregon’s wired, but Atlanta feels like Indiana Central right now.

Indiana doesn’t fumble or drop it. How do you build that?

It’s culture and daily habits. Their fundamentals jump off the tape; you almost never see a blown detail with them.

Miami under Cristobal is huge, aggressive, and sometimes sloppy. What do you love and what worries you?

The sport is tilting back to physical teams that win the line of scrimmage and choke you on defense; Miami is a problem like that. With the quarterback taking care of the ball, they’re a nightmare for whoever survives tonight.

SEC defenses don’t look like they did a few years ago. The fear factor’s gone.

Agreed. I lived both worlds and that front‑seven dread isn’t the same; teams are standing up to them.

Washington’s QB signed, then flirted with the portal before recommitting. How does that land in a locker room?

It’s the worst thing I’ve heard in years. Hard to repair that trust; the sport needs some guardrails for the good of the game and the players.

End‑game pass interference is tricky; I hate deciding titles on marginal flags. Would you call it there?

Only if it’s obvious. After watching it a bunch I’d probably throw it, but I hate when the official becomes the story.

That Ole Miss quarterback just makes plays. I’d draft him late as a grown‑up backup who can move and juice an offense.

So a true No. 2 type?

Think steady veteran traits with better legs. He took the long road and still looks like a Sunday player.

We’ve talked Jags more than ever. Tom Brady says Liam Cohen’s giving Trevor layups, and that’s changed everything.

Good coordinators manufacture easy throws so the quarterback doesn’t have to be a superhero on every snap.

Exactly. You set up four or five big‑time throws a game and fill the rest with clean, easy completions.

What about adding Jacobi Meyers? The offense popped.

He’s plug‑and‑play and professional; learns fast and produces. Wild that teams keep letting him walk when he upgrades every room.

Keep an eye on Jags DC Anthony Campanile. If they smother Buffalo, he’s getting interviews.

The line’s fishy; the hot, complete team isn’t getting credit. Helmets don’t play, people do.

Mike McDaniel to the Lions as OC is buzzing. Better fit than chasing a head job right now?

Detroit should do it yesterday; Goff and that line fit him perfectly and it flips their ceiling. Head jobs are scarce and a few proven guys soak them up.

Why isn’t Brian Daboll’s name out there? Buffalo reunion?

Strange it’s so quiet. Drop him in Atlanta or Buffalo and he lifts the whole operation.

Mock Draft 1.0 is heavy on trenches.

Top group isn’t stacked with SEC like past years. If the Giants grab a tackle like Spencer Fano, that’s a decade of stability.

Tonight you’ll see two of the best college quarterbacks, with Indiana playing older, cleaner, and pushing it downfield. Mendoza’s the key and the coaching polish is obvious.

Their ball security is a cultural promise, and you can see it in every traffic rep.

Wildcard slate has everything: a likely Rams cruise, a muddy Bears‑Packers rubber match, best‑player Bills against the hottest Jags, and Niners‑Eagles hinging on health. Expect at least one weird twist.

Bold headline: Jags 31‑10, Bills fire their coach, and everyone questions mega QB deals.

January favors rookie‑scale or team‑friendly quarterback contracts. The expensive cap hits shrink your roster.

If the Chargers lose, the Herbert narrative heats up fast.

Context matters: their line grades at the bottom, and nobody wins big with protection that bad. If they advance, you’ll see why Denver’s roster looks so deep with a tiny QB cap number.

Last hour of the week coming up. Maybe we saved the best for last.