Tag: kurt warner

Hall of Fame QB is a big fan of Jayden Daniels, but cautions everyone to remain patient

Hall of Fame QB believes Jayden Daniels is already a star, but hopes everyone remains patient with him.

Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm in 2024. The Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback broke numerous records and led his team to its best season in 33 years, two road playoff wins and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The future is bright for Daniels and the Commanders. But critics will tell you to be careful in expecting Daniels to repeat his 2024 success, often pointing to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud led the Texans from worst to first in 2023, breaking numerous rookie quarterback records before struggling at times in 2024.

Ultimately, Stroud settled down to have a solid second season, but some were disappointed that he didn’t take a more significant step forward in 2024.

Kurt Warner can say he’s lived in Daniels and Stroud’s shoes. The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback was thrust into a starting role in 1999 after Trent Green’s injury and would lead the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl as a first-year starter.

A two-time MVP winner, Warner enjoyed a 12-year career before retiring, but things weren’t always as easy as they were in his first year as a starter.

Last week, in town for Super Bowl LIX, Warner joined Grant Paulsen of the “Grant and Danny” show on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., where he discussed Daniels.

“He’s a really good player. I know sometimes we get caught up in rookies aren’t supposed to be successful, but I can go back to ’99 when I felt I was a good player and so I played well, and that’s what I think about Jayden Daniels,” Warner said via Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “You watched him last year win the Heisman, and coming out, you knew that if everything you saw on tape translated to the NFL, this kid’s gonna be a phenomenal player because he can do everything really, really well. And I think that’s what we saw this year.”

Warner was most impressed by Daniels’ poise and how nothing ever rattled him.

Warner already believes Daniels is a big-time NFL quarterback. However, he believes some should tone down their expectations for Daniels. Not because he thinks Daniels can’t exceed them but because if Daniels takes even a small step back in 2024, it will be held against him because of the bar he set in 2024.

“Jayden’s gonna put in the work, and sometimes, you have off games or off seasons, but you don’t go into things thinking, he’s gonna have a sophomore slump, or, he’s got to be better than he was this year,” Warner said.

“To me, it’s always about letting it play its course. I’m always a believer of give me three years of seeing a guy, because there’s going to be ebbs and flows, but then I can tell you who I believe he is as a quarterback. So I think the hard thing is having a year like this is you guys are going to come back and go, if he doesn’t do better than this, then what’s wrong? But if he just drops a little bit from what he did this year, it’s still gonna be a phenomenal season for him, so we have to put things in perspective. You’ve got a really good quarterback who I believe is going to be good for a long time, let him show us who he is over a few years and let it play out – I think you’re going to see that Jayden Daniels is going to be a solid NFL starter for a long time.”

This is very good advice from Warner. He had a phenomenal start to his career before crashing down to earth a few years later. Warner recovered and was still playing at a high level when he retired after the 2009 season.

These days, there is always a hurry to anoint or crown someone immediately. That happens in football, other sports, or even the workplace. Daniels doesn’t need to put up better statistics in 2025 to prove his rookie wasn’t a fluke. He understands what needs to be done to take the next step, and there’s no reason to doubt next season will be just as big for Daniels.

NFL Hall of Fame QB fired up about Patriots rookie Drake Maye

Kurt Warner is loving what he’s seeing from Drake Maye

NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner was fired up about New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s Week 11 performance against the Los Angeles Rams.

The rookie went 30-of-40 on the afternoon, throwing for 282 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His 75 percent completion percentage was his highest of the season. The 282 passing yards were also a career-high for him to this point.

Overall, it was a solid day for the 22-year-old quarterback, despite the loss and game-ending interception. Warner liked what he saw as the Patriots battled it out against his former team.

“The game that #DrakeMaye played today was the 3rd best rookie QB performance I have seen all year (the other 2 were by #JaydenDaniels)!!!” Warner posted on the X platform. “Saw the field, made the throws, anticipated, threw it away when needed to & made some off schedule plays when nothing was there!! #Impressive”

Maye’s growth has been evident considering he keeps getting better every outing. His ability to keep plays alive in addition to his quick decision-making is helping generate offense. His running ability, in particular, has been an asset for the team behind a struggling offensive line.

The Patriots still need to do right by him by surrounding him with the necessary talent to compete. Regardless, the early returns have been solid, and he is helping the offense find its groove.

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Dolphins offense reminds Raiders HC Antonio Pierce of Greatest Show on Turf

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce drew a strong comparison between the Dolphins offense and that of the Rams ‘Greatest Show on Turf’.

Much has been made this week about the sheer speed the Dolphins possess on offense. With the likes Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, and De’Von Achane, they have elite speed. Or as Raiders DC Patrick Graham put it ‘they can run-run‘.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce played in the league for nine years from 2001-09. And when he was asked Friday what offense the Dolphins offense reminds him of, he made a strong comparison.

“The Rams. On the turf,” Pierce said referencing the St Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense. “Like that was real. When they were rolling with Kurt Warner and [Tory] Holt and [Isaac] Bruce and Marshall Faulk. Even later on down the road, didn’t even matter if it was on grass, they were fast. Like it was on you right now. The speed is legit. You can’t mimic it. We’re doing the best we can in practice.

“But the good part about it like I said, we went against these guys last year and really felt the speed of Hill and Waddle and those guys over there. So we understand that, and we respect it. But at the at the end of the day, with speed you have put hands on them, right? Physicality needs to show up.”

It’s one thing to have to deal with great speed at receiver where the defense lines up their fastest players. It’s another thing to then also have to account for the running backs coming out of the backfield as well as making plays in the passing game.

De’Von Achane leads the team in rushing (457) and yards from scrimmage (774). He’s a legit game breaker whose career has been mired by injuries, including when the Raiders faced the Dolphins last season.

“Just dynamic. Everything’s explosive. Everything’s a big gain,” Pierce said of Achane. “Everything’s an explosive gain in the run game, the pass game, route-running. I think, obviously you look at the size, you think a smaller guy, but he runs like a big boy. He runs behind his pads, does a good job. He gets on you fast, and the arm tackles is not going to work with a player like this. You have to chest him up. You have to just put the body blows on him to slow him down throughout the game.”

That’s your Holt, Bruce, and Faulk comps right there. Tua Tagovailoa is a far cry from Kurt Warner, but with those weapons he may not have to be.

Hall of Famer Kurt Warner defends Will Levis’ interception

Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis threw another interception against the Dolphins and again Hall of Famer Kurt Warner breaks down the play.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis injured his shoulder in the first quarter of their 31-12 Monday night win over the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, he also threw another interception before exiting the game. 

Ironically, for the second week in a row, a Hall of Fame quarterback has again come to his defense for an interception and broke down the play. 

Warner does a great job breaking down the read and the pass. He also explains what is transpiring at every level of the defense. As he points out, he is not defending Levis overall; he is just detailing this snapshot in time. Warner also states the simple fact that young quarterbacks are facing more athletic defenses, and it takes time to develop. 

It’s true that Mason Rudolph looked calm in the pocket and didn’t force the ball after taking over. But, Rudolph is an experienced veteran and has enough snaps under his belt to recognize certain coverages. The jury is still out on whether Levis will develop or not, but he has to play to gain that experience. 

Head coach Brian Callahan has stated that Levis will return to the lineup when healthy, but after watching Rudolph against the Dolphins, they will likely not rush Levis back until he is close to 100 percent. 

Will he return against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6? Everyone will have to wait until after the bye week to find out. 

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Hall of Fame QB stunned by Saints’ second straight late-game collapse

Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner was stunned by the Saints’ second straight late-game collapse: ‘They should be sitting at 4-0 right now!’

It takes a lot to surprise a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, but the New Orleans Saints found a way. Kurt Warner was stunned to see the Saints lose two games the same way in as many weeks — blowing late leads to the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, dropping their record to 2-2 on the season so far.

“They should be sitting at 4-0 right now!” Warner wrote from his official Twitter/X account, pointing out that both losses came down to similar situations. Just like Saints fans in the stadium seats and at home, he’s seen too many big plays given up in man-to-man coverage in the game’s final minute.

Unfortunately, this has been a trend for the Saints under Dennis Allen. The team hasn’t closed many tight games over the last few years. They’re 0-4 when holding onto a narrow lead late in regulation since 2022. It’s something they must figure out, and quickly, or else it’ll bring Allen’s tenure to an end.

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Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner breaks down Levis’ critical pick six

Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner broke down the elements on the Will Levis interception that changed the game on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans fell to 0-3 on Sunday with their 30-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. In this game, the Titans were outplayed in every facet and didn’t appear ready to play. 

The offense was bad. They lacked any semblance of a rushing attack, their passing game was erratic, and the offensive line was porous. Their promising defense wasn’t much better, and the special teams again had an adventurous day. 

In the aftermath, QB Will Levis and the offensive line have been at the center of many debates. While Levis has not been great, everything wrong with the Titans’ offense is not his fault. Between the offensive line and the play calling, there are many areas that the team must clean up. 

One of his biggest mistakes was the focus of Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner in a segment of his #StudyBall series. 

As Warner pointed out, this interception was not all about Levis, and many factors were at play. This does not absolve Levis, but it demonstrates the problems that have plagued the Titans offense early in the season. Between decision-making, pressure, play-calling, and design, the offense has been dismal and lacks an identity. 

At this point, the Titans have nowhere to go except up, and they can start this week against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.

Kurt Warner offers an interesting analysis of Lamar Jackson’s performance vs. Chiefs

Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner offers an interesting analysis of Lamar Jackson’s performance vs. Chiefs

The Ravens overcame some early adversity but couldn’t make the big plays when needed most, causing overreaction on Lamar Jackson ahead of Week 2.  Isaiah Likely was one toe length away from potentially giving Lamar Jackson a chance to win the season opener on a two-point conversion attempt.

Jackson is now 1-5 against Patrick Mahomes after a thrilling 27-20 loss at Arrowhead Stadium. Baltimore’s MVP quarterback dominated on the night but missed two much-needed throws late in regulation.

During a recent on the Rich Eisen Show, Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner was somewhat critical of Jackson, stating that the almost 400 yards of total offense recorded by Jackson included too many moments of the MVP quarterback being “impatient” in the pocket.

“I saw the impatience of Lamar. … I felt like he was dropping back and looking to run as opposed to really letting those things play out in front of him. … There just has to be a balance between the two.”

https://Twitter.com/bobbybaltim0re/status/1833607050422849779

Jackson played 80 snaps in the game, throwing for 273 yards and a touchdown while adding 122 yards as a runner. Warner’s comments may have some validity, but they can’t be made without focusing on the struggles of Baltimore’s offensive line against Kansas City’s stout defense in pass protection.

The Ravens will face another solid pass rush unit when Maxx Crosby and the Raiders enter M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.

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Kurt Warner says Greatest Show on Turf had more firepower than current Chiefs

In a recent interview, Rams legend Kurt Warner gave his reasons why his offense in St. Louis was better than the current one in Kansas City.

Legendary Rams quarterback and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner stated in a recent interview with Talk Sport that his Greatest Show on Turf offense was better than the current Kansas City Chiefs offense, led by Patrick Mahomes.

Warner, a generally positive man in retirement, took time to praise the play of Mahomes, agreeing that the Chiefs possess a tremendous attack.

“Oh, yeah, we were better,” Warner said. “That’s for sure. I’m not sure the quarterback was better. But, overall, we were better. I mean, we had more talent … Hall of Famers all over the place.

“We did something in an era that had never been done before.”

As good as the Chiefs have been with Mahomes under center, Warner cited several factors that he believes made the Greatest Show on Turf better than Kansas City.

Warner stated that the Rams offense had more talent, a better ability to get the ball downfield and was revolutionary for their era compared to common passing attacks of today.

“We threw the ball down the field,” he said. “We pushed the envelope. It was about being accurate and making plays down the field every game.”

Warner also says that the Rams helped reshape the negative narrative behind having a pass-heavy attack, a narrative that was plaguing football at that time.

“We ushered in what is the NFL right now, with showing people that you can throw the football to win and you can consistently be good at throwing the football,” Warner said. “I think the mentality back in the day was, ‘Oh man, just bad things happen when you throw the football — incompletions and interceptions and turnovers.’

“You know, run the football and play good defense. We showed people that you could do the opposite, if you have attention to detail.”

As trailblazers, Warner and the Rams rewrote offensive philosophy in the NFL. When talking about his time in the Mike Martz offense, Warner said, “I do believe that our team was different and I haven’t seen anybody that quite equals it.”

The Greatest Show on Turf produced four Hall of Fame players, six All-Pros, two MVPs and a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Ex-Giant Kurt Warner: ‘Nearly impossible’ to scout college quarterbacks

Ex-New York Giants QB and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner, says it’s “nearly impossible” to accurately scout college quarterbacks.

With the 2024 NFL Combine about to begin and the pro days and the NFL draft right behind it, there will be a lot of speculation and debate regarding who the best pro prospects really are.

Quarterback is the most prominent position in the draft and there are plenty of potential stars to choose from. But which one will that ‘slam dunk’ this year?

That’s the million-dollar question that former New York Giants and Hall of Fame quarterback, Kurt Warner, says is impossible to answer at this point of the process.

“I know many of you LOVE college football, but as I start to dive into these college QBs, it’s hard for me to even watch: very few play on schedule, the pass concepts are a mess most of the time, they run the same play over & over, a million bubble screens, can’t find many concepts that translate to next level,” Warner wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “And then ppl are asked to figure out how good they will be at next level!? (Nearly impossible in my mind)

“For me CJ Stroud is a great example – obviously really good in college & OSU runs more pro-style concepts than most but they didn’t ask him to process & get ball out as quickly as he did last year in HOU – so I had no idea he would be so good at processing so fast! He’s better in NFL than what we got to see in college, but many times you just don’t know until you know!”

The Giants could be looking to select a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft in April and, if Warner is correct, they’ll be rolling the dice, hoping they don’t crap out.

Warner says, “You just don’t know until you know” about quarterbacks, which is disheartening for the teams who are searching for their franchise guy,

The Giants are still wrestling with that question five years after taking Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft.

They’ll be back on the clock at No. 6 this year faced with the same daunting task they failed to complete five years ago.

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NFL legend offers perfect analysis of the struggle of scouting college QBs

Kurt Warner offered up a great breakdown of the problem with college quarterbacks moving to the NFL.

When it comes to player evaluation for the NFL draft, it is as much about projecting how a player will adapt to the NFL game as it is about how well they played in college. For some positions, that transition is a guessing game and getting more and more challenging.

Legendary NFL quarterback Kurt Warner talked about this challenge when it comes to quarterbacks and summed it up perfectly on social media.

I know many of you LOVE college football, but as I start to dive into these college QBs, it’s hard for me to even watch: very few play on schedule, the pass concepts are a mess most of the time, they run the same play over & over, a million bubble screens, can’t find many concepts that translate to next level… and then ppl are asked to figure out how good they will be at next level!? (Nearly impossible in my mind)

For me CJ Stroud is a great example – obviously really good in college & OSU runs more pro-style concepts than most but they didn’t ask him to process & get ball out as quickly as he did last year in HOU – so I had no idea he would be so good at processing so fast! He’s better in NFL than what we got to see in college, but many times you just don’t know until you know!

Quirky college offenses look complicated on the television broadcast but as Warner points out they are actually over-simplified and don’t give NFL teams much to look at.

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