Former NFL coach and player Jeff Saturday: Bears drafting Caleb Williams would be a mistake

Jeff Saturday: great player, terrible coach. Does his view matter?

Jeff Saturday was a great NFL center with the Indianapolis Colts. He played on the Colts’ elite offensive line in Front of Peyton Manning and won a Super Bowl with the franchise. He knows what great quarterbacks look like. He played with one. However, Saturday was an awful NFL head coach. He made horrendous decisions and showed no feel for the job. He did not last long in a very demanding line of work. With all of this in mind, how much should Saturday’s opinions count for when evaluating NFL draft prospects such as Caleb Williams?

Saturday thinks the Chicago Bears would make a mistake if they drafted Caleb Williams. Is this more a product of Saturday being skeptical of Caleb and what he sees in the quarterback, or is it more a product of Saturday thinking Justin Fields deserves more time and one more genuine opportunity in Chicago? It’s the debate a lot of NFL experts are having, and it will continue through April and the draft. All eyes are on Caleb Williams as the center of the conversation in this NFL offseason.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Josh McDaniels’ 5 most humiliating Raiders losses, including a defeat to Jeff Saturday

Josh McDaniels’ Raiders tenure had a disaster every week, but some were worse than others.

Josh McDaniels came, saw, and did not conquer with the Las Vegas Raiders.

On Wednesday, the organization fired McDaniels, arguably the NFL’s worst head coach, along with general manager, Dave Ziegler. After Jon Gruden, McDaniels is now the second sideline leader the Raiders are paying not to coach the team. Now, Las Vegas is back at square one while making it abundantly clear that Mark Davis’s organization is a coaching graveyard.

That got me thinking.

What was the most excruciating part of McDaniels’ embarrassing tenure in Las Vegas? Was it blowing five double-digit leads for losses? What about the “ingenious” offensive mind overseeing a team that failed to score 20 points in nine of his last 10 games? I personally loved watching a coach who made it unclear whether he was actively sabotaging his own team. There’s honestly so much McDaniels disaster to choose from, it boggles the mind.

In just 25 short Las Vegas games, McDaniels turned himself into the NFL’s preeminent punching bag. And deservedly so. Let’s rank the worst moments (i.e., losses) of a coaching job that never went anywhere.

Rutgers football: ESPN highlights Kyle Monangai for his block against Indiana

Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai gets a shout out for his blocking this past Saturday.

Kyle Monangai is getting some serious attention, not just for his ability running the ball but also for his blocking. The Rutgers football running back got a big-time shoutout on ESPN on Wednesday morning.

On the ESPN morning show ‘Get Up,’ a Monangai block from this Saturday’s 31-14 win at Indiana was shown. In a segment entitled ‘Sit Down,’ the crew highlighted Monangai’s block on a run by quarterback Gavin Wimsatt.

And very astutely, the crew noticed that Monangai didn’t just have one block on this particular play. The Rutgers running back finished one block and then went to another to key a run from Wimsatt.

Former NFL offensive lineman Jeff Saturday led off with the talk about Monangai’s blocks.

“He gets one down, he gets up and blocks for his boy again,” Saturday said on the ESPN segment.

“You got to love this.”

 

 

Saturday was six times a Pro Bowl selection and four times an All-Pro. During his 14 years in the NFL, he won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts.

[lawrence-related id=31458,31455]

On the season, Monangai has 744 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He is one of the top running backs in the Big Ten in rushing yards this season.

Rutgers is 6-2 (3-2 Big Ten) and on a bye week. They host No. 3 Ohio State next Saturday.

 

Raiders 30-12 loss in Chicago contender for most embarrassing of Josh McDaniels’ era

Raiders debacle in Chicago contender for most embarrassing of Josh McDaniels’ era

As bad as the Raiders have been at times this season, they were actually 2.5-point favorites in Chicago Sunday. That’s because the Bears were one of the worst teams in the NFL and were without starting quarterback Justin Fields and starting an undrafted Division II rookie Tyson Bagent in his place.

The Raiders were without their starter as well, with Jimmy Garoppolo down with an injured back. In his place was 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer.

The thinking seemed to be that Hoyer was able to do enough last week to let the Raiders defense secure a 21-17 win over the Patriots. And with the Bears not figuring to be able to mount much of an attack on offense, Hoyer could at least be a steady presence over rookie Aidan O’Connell.

None of this game went the way the Raiders had hoped.

The Bears ran all over the Raiders’ defense while the Raiders offense was stuck in cement. And at QB, it was Bagent who was the steady presence while Hoyer completed just 17 passes for 126 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions — one a pick six.

The Bears jumped out to a 14-0 lead early and were up 21-3 by the end of the third quarter. Their third touchdown looking like the one that iced it because the Raiders offense hasn’t broken 20 points all season. They only managed 21 points last week because of a game-clinching safety.

But even being down that much with 12 minutes left in the game, after the offense failed to get a touchdown on seven attempts from the nine-yard-line and Josh McDaniels sent out the field goal unit.

A field goal and a pick six put the Bears up 30-6 with just over five minutes left.

The debacle had many people asking is this was the most embarrassing of Josh McDaniels’s time as Raiders head coach.

It’s a valid question because there have been at least two more losses that may give this one a run for its money.

Last season the Raiders faced the Colts with recent high school coach Jeff Saturday making his NFL head coaching debut. Saturday’s Colts would beat McDaniels’s Raiders and then fail to win another game.

A few weeks later, the Raiders would face the Rams with Baker Mayfield at quarterback having signed with the team two days prior and not even having had an official practice and Mayfield carved the Raiders up.

For what it’s worth, the Saturday/Colts loss got my vote.

The mere fact that we’re asking this question is saying a lot. That in just 24 games as head coach of the Raiders, we have three losses that are so completely embarrassing that it’s hard to say which one takes the prize.

And it’s not like the Raiders have played well otherwise and this game comes out of nowhere.

After a 17-16 win over the Broncos in the season opener thanks to the Broncos missing a field goal and an extra point, the Raiders rattled off three straight losses. Then, despite the offense scoring 17 and 19 points, they managed to put together consecutive wins against struggling Packers and Patriots teams to pull to .500.

The Bears came in bad enough most figured the Raiders — despite clearly being one of the worst teams in football — would still be able to get the win to pull to a winning record. Not only did they fail to do that, but it was never close.

It isn’t often a team is even put in a position to face either a recent high school coach in his debut or a quarterback who was signed two days prior, or an undrafted former Division II rookie making his first start. Let alone look as terrible as the Raiders have in those matchups.

For that reason, it’s hard to imagine McDaniels will have another game this season that will measure up to the level of embarrassment we saw Sunday in Chicago. But I won’t rule it out. They have ten more games this season to top it.

Colts’ Chris Ballard ranked 17th among NFL GMs

Colts GM Chris Ballard was ranked 17th among NFL GMs.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

With another offseason comes more time to evaluate the state of the NFL. This includes assessing critical leadership positions, like the general managers of all 32 teams.

NBC Sports writer Patrick Daugherty has released his 2023 rankings of the league’s general managers. Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard lands in the middle of the pack at No. 17.

Ballard is down six spots from the 2022 rankings and eleven from the 2021 rankings.

Chris Ballard has lost control of this ride, but he doesn’t want off. At one point famous for assembling one of the league’s most complete rosters, Ballard is now better known as the general manager who loves elderly or washed-up quarterbacks, sometimes at the same time. Not anymore. Ballard took owner Jim Irsay’s not-so-subtle Jeff Saturday hint. No more thinking small. Ballard shattered his Philip Rivers mold with April’s selection of Florida QB Anthony Richardson. Quite literally everything Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan were not, Richardson arrives with the widest range of potential outcomes as any quarterback in recent memory. Thankfully, he won’t be working with Saturday. Ballard made a solid hire at head coach when he plucked Shane Steichen away from the Eagles. In his two short years under Nick Sirianni, Steichen gained invaluable experience with dual-threat quarterbacks, run-based offenses and more pass-heavy schemes. He will be ready for whatever Richardson’s inexperience throws at him. That’s good because the rest of the roster has fallen from its 2019-20 heights. Now that he has finally settled his biggest question, Ballard can get back to work on rebuilding his offensive line and stockpiling defensive difference makers.

Ballard has lost some ground, far removed from being considered one of the top general managers in the league just a few seasons ago. The 2022 season was perhaps the most tumultuous in recent memory for Ballard. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time as bad decisions for several seasons since Andre Luck retired came back to haunt the team.

It all came crashing down with a 4-12-1 record and an end-of-season press conference where Ballard emphatically stated, “I failed.” He openly admitted that he made several missteps that landed the Colts in their position that day. In his words, he was very “dogmatic” and “bullish” in certain areas, costing the organization.

The brutal but honest assessment from Daugherty gives Ballard credit for getting off the quarterback carousel, ending the Jeff Saturday experience, and landing Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson. Daughtery also says Ballard must rebuild the team’s offensive line and stockpile defensive playmakers.

Chris Ballard was potentially ahead of Daugherty’s thinking with the 2023 draft class. The team drafted a record 12 players, including six defensive players and two offensive linemen. Ballard also added an initial group of 15 undrafted free-agent players, including some strong candidates to make the roster, like Alabama’s Emil Ekiyor.

Time will tell if Ballard has learned from his mistakes. The climb for the Colts begins again as off-season activities are underway this week.

WATCH: Jeff Saturday thanks Colts for interim head coach opportunity

Former Colts interim HC Jeff Saturday sent a classy ‘Thank You’ video after the hiring of Shane Steichen.

The Indianapolis Colts concluded their head coach search by officially hiring Shane Steichen on Tuesday, which means Jeff Saturday’s tenure is over after eight games.

Saturday, who was hired as the interim head coach following the firing of Frank Reich, was thought to be considered a finalist for the permanent head coach role. However, the Colts ultimately went with Steichen.

In a classy manner, Saturday tweeted a “Thank You” video to the Colts organization and the fanbase as a whole, showing gratitude for the opportunity he was given.

He wished Steichen the best of luck and even though the team went 1-7 during his interim, he’s still a Colts fan at heart and is rooting for the organization he spent 13 years with.

[mm-video type=video id=01gs8sn2hkpnvfnkq5x3 playlist_id=01eqbwdn1cy47y964q player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gs8sn2hkpnvfnkq5x3/01gs8sn2hkpnvfnkq5x3-d1aee699d8d415dc3b4f88b64e9369c3.jpg]


Like Colts Wire on Facebook
Follow Colts Wire on Twitter
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinHickey11)

Jim Irsay might’ve accidentally spoiled the Colts’ first-round draft plans two months early

Wait, did Jim Irsay just spoil what the Colts are going to do in the draft??

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has had himself a very interesting past few months.

After firing Frank Reich only to hire Jeff Saturday in one of the most bizarre coaching sagas in NFL history, Irsay might’ve spilled the beans on what the Colts are thinking about doing with the fourth-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

It wasn’t enough for the Colts to make a perfectly normal hire in Shane Steichen as their new head coach. No, Irsay had to make things frisky again by potentially spoiling that a young quarterback could be coming to town this spring.

Let’s just say Indy general manager Chris Ballard was a bit shocked by Irsay’s candor. Irsay went as far as to hint at which quarterback he might actually want to draft in April.

With the Chicago Bears holding the first-overall draft pick, it seems like the Colts might be the team to watch to trade up for Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

Our source on that seems pretty enamored with Young’s talent, and he’s got a lot of sway in the Colts organization. Heck, he owns the team.

Did Irsay really just reveal what the Colts are going to do in the draft? Time will tell, but with the way things have gone in Indy recently, it’s very possible he just did.

Jeff Saturday delivered a classy farewell message to Colts fans after he didn’t get Indy job

Well, this was nice from Jeff Saturday.

Jeff Saturday’s time as interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts didn’t last long, but at least he doesn’t seem too sad about it.

Saturday posted a classy farewell message to Colts fans on Tuesday as the team announced Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as its next head coach.

With a big lake in the background, Saturday shared his well wishes and affirmed that he’ll always be a part of the Indianapolis fanbase. After all, he was a Pro Football Hall of Fame center for the team in his playing days.

Even though Saturday’s interim hiring turned out to be a giant mess, he seems to be taking everything in stride.

While we don’t know exactly what’s next for the former Colts interim coach, a return to ESPN doesn’t seem out of the question.

At the very least, we doubt Saturday gets a NFL head coaching gig anytime soon. That ship has probably sailed, maybe in that big, beautiful body of water Saturday delivered his farewell message in front of.

[mm-video type=video id=01gs8g3n57hhe1v1v9kk playlist_id=none player_id=01gp1x90emjt3n6txc image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gs8g3n57hhe1v1v9kk/01gs8g3n57hhe1v1v9kk-29d54df3eef2af86ce1182bd1da0d248.jpg]

Why Shane Steichen is the right head coach hire for Colts

Why Shane Steichen is the right head coach hire for the Colts.

When the Indianapolis Colts began their previous coaching search, they unknowingly planted the seeds that became Frank Reich and Jeff Saturday.

General Manager Chris Ballard noted that the right guy would need to put together a strong staff and that lack of experience would not impact their evaluation.

“They’ve got to be able to hire first-class staff that can teach and develop players,” Ballard said.

To get the right hire, the team was even willing to go through the college ranks, and Ballard doubled down on the team’s willingness to keep an open mind.

“When you hire an inexperienced coach, somebody that’s never done it before, they’ve got to have a presence. They’ve got to be able to lead the room.”

The team requested permission to interview young NFL candidates, including New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. They interviewed McDaniels twice and were sold on his abilities, agreeing to terms.

Until they didn’t.

The Colts were left jilted, a tale of unrequited love.

The team signed then-Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich five days later to a five-year contract. Lost in the hiring of Reich was a flawed hiring process that they hadn’t cast a wide net of varying candidates. They were always locked in on McDaniels.

The team was fortunate to land Reich, but even that signing had shortcomings. As strong as Reich was for several years, his philosophies, combined with Ballard’s missteps, landed him out the door. The team hadn’t lived up to its mission to develop players or men.

Then, Jeff Saturday arrived.

The other side of their previous search, a willingness to hire with no experience, was staring the team in the face as owner Jim Irsay grappled with the reality that his franchise was faltering. Although it seemed highly unconventional, the path to hiring an ESPN analyst and former Colts center was already made.

And predictably, it didn’t work.

Saturday could lead men, but developing players was up for debate. The lack of experience also loomed large as the team put on some of the worst displays of football in recent memory.

The problem was that the team started with an end in mind from McDaniels to Reich to Saturday. Their words didn’t match their actions. But things changed with the hire of Steichen. The team was thorough, intentional, and patient. Despite a strong case from Jim Irsay to keep Saturday, Chris Ballard took his time, promising to “get it right.”

For the Colts, this is the right hire.

It aligns with the team’s initial vision in 2018: a young coach who could develop players and lead men. This time, it comes with the experience the team needs. Steichen is one of the best offensive coordinators in football, with a top-three offense that convincingly scores at will. His ability to adapt to challenges in-game, with a tactical attack, is remarkable.

Moreover, Steichen has worked with former Colts quarterback Phillip Rivers and the next generation of young talent in Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts. He pours into his quarterbacks and sees the field like them, trusting them to execute his visions while also playing to their strengths.

The depths of Steichen’s mind lay on the field in a toe-to-toe battle with the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s Superbowl, resulting in 400-plus yards of offense and a four-touchdown performance led by Jalen Hurts.

Shane Steichen will need to bring his best “mad scientist” toolkit. The journey to creating a sustainable masterpiece starts now.

[mm-video type=video id=01gs6p66kwssyz6pdsrz playlist_id=01eqbwdn1cy47y964q player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gs6p66kwssyz6pdsrz/01gs6p66kwssyz6pdsrz-c6789f34cf01a330d5d2ba2d4f125c75.jpg]

Robert Griffin III accidentally roasted Jeff Saturday’s time with Colts while discussing his potential return to ESPN

Robert Griffin III accidentally ROASTED Jeff Saturday.

Former NFL quarterback turned ESPN commentator Robert Griffin III accidentally burned one of his old (and maybe soon-to-be) co-workers.

While discussing the Indianapolis Colts hiring Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as their new head coach, Griffin mentioned former interim Colts coach Jeff Saturday potentially heading back to ESPN.

While it’s not necessarily what Griffin said, his quippy delivery of the line “guess we’re getting Jeff Saturday back” after talking about the Eagles and Colts once again sharing coaches made himself and his fellow ESPN analyst Booger McFarland laugh.

You can see the video in full from Awful Announcing below.

For context, Griffin actually wasn’t a fan of the way Saturday got hired in Indy, even if he was happy for Saturday the person and tried to find positive in the move.

To be honest, it is a little hilarious that Saturday could be going from his bizarre interim stint with Indy to his old gig at ESPN.

Colts owner Jim Irsay turned a lot of heads when he made that befuddling coaching change for Saturday last fall, but it was ultimately all for naught with Steichen’s hiring. At least Saturday has his previous job to fall back on.

[mm-video type=video id=01gs5te6n945ssje32cy playlist_id=none player_id=01gp1x90emjt3n6txc image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gs5te6n945ssje32cy/01gs5te6n945ssje32cy-ae6e565396a30614f734686fb76ba6f4.jpg]