Football 301 with Nate Tice

Latest Episodes:

Final predictions for every AFC team: Jets, Titans, Steelers & more Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald join forces to preview every team in the AFC. For each team they discuss win totals, give a player to watch and try to predict why each team could under- or over-perform expectations this season.

After discussing why the Georgia Bulldog championship-winning defense has underperformed so far in the NFL, Nate and Charles dive into why they are hyped about the AFC South, as Nate predicts that all four teams will go over their win totals. They're especially curious about the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts.

The AFC West looks worse than it has in years past, and both expect the Kansas City Chiefs to get plenty of easy wins against their division rivals.

The AFC East is up next, as Nate thinks Drake Maye should start immediately for the New England Patriots, and that the Buffalo Bills have an underrated run game.

Finally, the AFC North looks to be an absolute bloodbath, as each team has major question marks that could slow them down, but the talent on all four rosters is too good to ignore.

(2:20) What happened to the national champion Georgia defense?

(10:30) AFC South: Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans

(51:05) AFC West: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs

(1:16:20) AFC East: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills

(1:42:45) AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens

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Takes we need to get off our chest, Nate's 2025 preseason big board Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald come to you live from Yahoo Studios in Los Angeles to finally get some takes off their chest. The duo start with some more preseason takeaways they forgot to mention last episode and debating over Tom Brady's quarterback rankings before getting into their takes. Nate and Charles cover broadcaster salaries, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Jets offense, Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings' playoff hopes. The two finish things off by diving deep on Nate's 2025 preseason big board, where he gives his top 40 draft-eligible players in college football to watch this season.

(2:30) More of Nate's preseason standouts

(8:05) Tom Brady's top four QBs: agree or disagree?

(12:10) Broadcasters don't matter as much as networks think they do

(16:00) Is Joe Burrow cooked?

(20:10) Cowboys could make the Super Bowl or miss the playoffs

(24:45) Jets offense could be top five

(29:35) Jameis Winston will be the Browns starter by the end of the season

(32:20) Vikings can/will make the playoffs this season

(36:40) Nate's preseason 2025 big board

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📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

2024 breakout candidates: the obvious & the obscure Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald join forces to give their top breakout candidates to keep an eye on for the 2024 NFL season. The duo start with their takeaways from Week 2 of preseason action, as they discuss the Michael Penix Jr. debacle, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Brian Thomas Jr. and more impressive rookies.

Nate and Charles move onto their breakout candidates to watch, starting with the bigger, more obvious names like Drake London, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tre McBride, Derek Stingley Jr. and more before moving on to the less obvious, "hipster" candidates and unsung heroes like Keanu Benton, Alim McNeil, Roy Lopez, Joey Porter Jr, Tyrique Stephenson, Charles Cross, Bernhard Raimann and more.

Nate finishes off the show by diving into his preseason 2025 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft, which drops later this week. Nate goes through his top ten and Charles discusses a few of the more interesting picks.

(3:30) Preseason Week 2 takeaways: top rookie performers

(26:30) Obvious breakout candidates

(42:30) Obscure hipster breakout candidates

(59:30) Nate's preseason 2025 big board sneak peek

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Bo Nix, Michael Penix, Giants offense: preseason mailbag episode Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald answer questions submitted by listeners ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The duo kick things off with the news that Matt Judon has been traded to the Atlanta Falcons to shore up their pass rush, and Jordan Phillips has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys to give Mike Zimmer the nose tackle he requires.

Next, Nate and Tice tackle questions from listeners on ascending NFL coaches, how to counter the Mike Macdonald defense, Brian Thomas Jr, the 1990 New England Patriots, offensive line play, players that signal a team's identity shift, Bo Nix, Tom Telesco, Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons, the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Giants offense and flag football in the Olympics.

(2:10) Matt Judon and Jordan Phillips trade analysis

(8:00) Who are some ascending NFL coaches around the league?

(11:20) How will teams counter the Mike Macdonald defense?

(16:00) How will Brian Thomas Jr fit with the Jacksonville Jaguars?

(20:10) What modern tactics would you bring to a struggling 1990s football team?

(24:45) How does being a "physical freak" translate for offensive linemen?

(30:20) Who are some players that signal a team's changing identity?

(35:40) How does Bo Nix's style mesh with Sean Payton?

(43:45) Is Tom Telesco the worst GM hire ever?

(47:00) Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons

(55:55) Can the Colts win the AFC South?

(56:50) What is the best case scenario for the Giants offense?

(1:02:10) Flag football in the 2028 Olympics

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💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars!

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Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

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Best, worst and most interesting units to watch this season Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

Nate Tice is joined by the great Charles McDonald to break down a few of the most intriguing position groups or units to watch this NFL season, whether good, interesting or primed for implosion. The duo start off the show with the news that Minnesota Vikings first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will undergo knee surgery, as the two give their (surprisingly positive) thoughts on presumed Week 1 starter Sam Darnold.

Next, Nate and Charles give their two units to watch that should impress this season: the Chicago Bears back seven and the Detroit Lions secondary, both improved over last season.

The most interesting units to keep an eye on are the Green Bay Packers defensive front, the New York Jets offensive line, the San Francisco 49ers defensive backs and the new additions to the Kansas City Chiefs offense.

Some unit groups already look like they're ready to implode before our eyes this season. Nate and Charles highlight (lowlight?) the Atlanta Falcons defense, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line and the Cincinnati Bengals defensive line.

The duo finish off the show with a lightning round of their favorite individual performances from Week 1 of NFL preseason action.

(3:30) J.J. McCarthy to undergo knee surgery

(10:20) Chicago Bears & Detroit Lions both have very underrated secondaries

(21:45) Most interesting units: Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs

(47:05) Implosion candidates: Atlanta Falcons defense, Jacksonville Jaguars offense, Cincinnati Bengals defensive line

(1:01:40) Preseason standout performances

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46gILkF

🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3A4mYAD

📢Yahoo Sports podcast network: https://apple.co/3zEuT

💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars!

🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.

🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

Friskiest teams of the 2024 NFL season Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Nate Tice is joined by the great Charles McDonald to determine the "friskiest" NFL teams this season. Nate and Charles start by defining "frisky" as any team with a win total below 9 games that will be a tough out for any opponent. The duo highlight the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans as the friskiest of the bunch, before highlighting why people might be sleeping on the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Nate and Charles finish off the show with two "reverse frisky" teams (teams with a sub-9 win total that deserve to be even lower): the Los Angeles Chargers, who are still at least a year away, and the Washington Commanders, who have built a comparatively small and slow roster that doesn't appear ready to beat many NFL teams this season.

(3:20) The Arizona Cardinals will surprise people this year

(12:30) The Tennessee Titans added a ton of good players

(22:55) The Seattle Seahawks are being slept on

(28:00) The New England Patriots are not the worst team in the league

(37:55) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back all their good players

(46:10) The Los Angeles Chargers are at least a year away

(53:40) What are the Washington Commanders doing?

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46gILkF

🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3A4mYAD

📢Yahoo Sports podcast network: https://apple.co/3zEuT

💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars!

🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.

🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

NFL teams that need to have prove-it seasons in 2024 Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

With Week 1 of NFL preseason action right around the corner, Nate Tice and Matt Harmon share which NFL teams need to have a prove-it season in 2024.

They open up with Level 1 of which teams or players should be the least worried, featuring the Steelers offense, Sean McDermott following a lot of staff turnover, and Sean Payton after completely blowing up the Broncos offense. They move onto Level 2, discussing the teams that are in the most danger of needing to hit the reset button next year. Harmon and Tice dissect the entire underperforming NFC South, Aaron Rodgers coming off of an Achilles injury, and the Jaguars coaching staff needing to maximize Trevor Lawrence. They wrap with Level 3: Threat Level Midnight. This category focuses on Rashod Bateman needing to finally break out, Calvin Ridley after getting a huge contract and two hot seat head coaches.

Harmon and Tice close out the show with a brief thought on the over coverage of Brandon Ayiuk's trade situation.

(2:20) What is the Steelers offensive identity?

(11:45) Can Sean McDermott win with his new defense?

(16:50) What is Sean Payton's vision for the Broncos?

(26:15) The entire NFC South has a lot to prove

(49:30) Is Aaron Rodgers the same QB he once was?

(53:25) What are the Jaguars doing offensively?

(57:30) Will Rashod Bateman ever break out?

(1:01:30) Was Calvin Ridley worth the huge contract?

(1:04:55) Are Nick Sirianni & Mike McCarthy on the hot seat?

(1:11:50) The Brandon Aiyuk trade saga

💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars!

🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.

🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

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🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

2024's NFL teams that make us want to cry, Justin Herbert in a boot, Tristan Wirfs gets the bag Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

It's only August 1st and things are already looking charger-y for the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert is in a walking boot for the next two weeks, following a plantar fascia diagnosis on Thursday afternoon, so Nate Tice and Charles McDonald kick off the episode with the latest bad omen for the team that just can never seem to catch a break.

Later, after discussing the new contract for Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, arguably the most successful tackle product from the 2020 draft class, the guys return to the sour note and share the teams, players and general football things that make them the saddest entering the 2024 season. Both Russell Wilson's current team (the Pittsburgh Steelers) and his former team (the Denver Broncos) make the cut, as well as both teams Derek Carr has suited up for in the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints. Who else is making Nate and Charles sad as football season approaches? Give the episode a listen to find out.

(3:06) - Justin Herbert dealing with a foot injury

(5:34) - Tristan Wirfs secures the bag, remembering the 2020 NFL draft's round 1 OTs

(12:43) - Things that make us want to cry: The Pittsburgh Steelers offense with Russell Wilson

(17:44) - New Orleans Saints offensive line

(23:46) - Everything about the Denver Broncos

(29:14) - Las Vegas Raiders QB situation

(34:17) - The quarterback "discourse"

(40:58) - Wednesday NFL games

(44:06) - Get off my astroturf!

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

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🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

Tua & Love get extended, plus 6 quasi-baked takes before the NFL preseason Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

The NFL preseason is just days away and the 2024 season right around the corner, but Nate Tice and Matt Harmon have been stewing with some half-baked NFL takes they've been tinkering with off-season.

After kicking off the podcast discussing a pair of quarterback extensions in the deals for Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love, the guys open up their notebooks from the offseason and share some theories that are not quite ready for the primetime, but may prove right by the time this season is over: the Los Angeles Chargers offense may not be as bad as it seems, the Tennessee Titans might be better than this divisional foe this season and a wild NFC West playoff prediction.

(4:15) - Tua Tagovailoa's extension & the Miami Dolphins' ceiling

(10:01) - Jordan Love extended in Green Bay with young group of pass-catchers

(23:45) - Half-Take 1: LA Chargers offense won't be as bad as you think

(32:11) - Half-Take 2: Titans offense will be better than the Jaguars offense

(41:11) - Half-Take 3: Diontae Johnson was the best acquisition of the offseason

(47:58) - Half-Take 4: Bijan Robinson will be offensive player of the year

(52:28) - Half-Take 5: Ken Dorsey as the Cleveland Browns OC signals...something

(1:01:43) - Half-Take 6: Seattle Seahawks will make the playoffs

Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:

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Predicting the top 10 defenses of 2024 Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

On today's episode of Football 301, Nate Tice and Charles McDonald look ahead to the 2024 season and predict which teams will finish with the top 10 defenses in the NFL.

Can the New York Giants' defense be carried by its defensive line? Will the Baltimore Ravens' new faces in their secondary and linebacking core keep them at the top? Are the New England Patriots built perfectly for Jerod Mayo to hit the ground running in year 1? Is Mike Zimmer the right man to lead the Dallas Cowboys' aggressive secondary and athletic front 7? All of that and more is answered on today's show.

(1:51) Jacksonville Jaguars

(7:38) New York Giants

(11:33) Las Vegas Raiders

(15:25) Chicago Bears

(21:02) Dallas Cowboys

(26:18) San Francisco 49ers

(30:33) Baltimore Ravens

(36:48) Kansas City Chiefs

(40:12) New England Patriots

(44:01) New York Jets

(51:40) Cleveland Browns

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube