Cover 3: Your Weekly Insight Delivered Every Thursday

Cover 3 is a digital newsletter that covers 3 different stories around football every week. From the locker room to the front office, we’ve got you covered.

Each Thursday, an email will land in your inbox from me, Jordan Palmer.

Our goal is not only to give you the stories you won’t get anywhere else - but another perspective that can help you build your relationship to the game, your family, and all the people you enjoy spending time with.

A New Coach Means New Energy, Heisman Stakes, and The USC Fix

In today’s email:

When it comes to the NFL, coaching changes mid-season can send shockwaves through a team. This year's been no exception.

The Heisman Trophy race is reaching its peak and it's all boiling down to the performances in the next couple of weekends.

USC's recent shake-up, parting ways with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, wasn't just necessary—it was overdue.

New Coach, New Energy in the NFL

When it comes to the NFL, coaching changes mid-season can send shockwaves through a team. This year's been no exception. We've watched the Las Vegas Raiders part ways with a head coach who doubled as offensive coordinator and play caller.

And just like that, after a tough Monday night, the Buffalo Bills switched things up, swapping Ken Dorsey for Joe Brady, the quarterback coach with a hefty resume from his stints with the Carolina Panthers and LSU, where he orchestrated Joe Burrow's standout senior year.

The Bigger Picture

But let's zoom out from the specifics of these teams and look at the bigger picture—the ripple effect of changing your offensive maestro mid-season. Over in Vegas, we've seen an immediate uptick with two straight wins post-change. Sure, critics might say it's about the quality of the opposition, but let me tell you, in the NFL, every win's hard-earned.

Leveling The Playing Field

Elevating the QB coach to offensive coordinator in both these instances does a few things. First off, it levels the playing field. Take Josh Jacobs, for example. Maybe under the previous regime, he didn't have much say in the run plays. Now, there's a new voice at the helm, and suddenly, he's got input. It's a fresh start, a clean slate, and it hasn't even hit game day yet.

In Buffalo, what if there were plays Josh Allen had up his sleeve that didn't make the cut before? Now Joe Brady's in, and those ideas get a shot. That's revitalizing. That's like hitting the reset button for players who felt unheard.

You Don’t Wanna Complicate Things

Secondly, when you make a mid-season change, you're not looking to complicate things. You don't toss the playbook and start from scratch with more complex schemes. No, you streamline, you simplify.

You make it so your players can hit the field running, literally and figuratively. The less they have to overthink, the faster and more confidently they play.

Bringing Ideas Into Play

And the third piece of the puzzle? It's about bringing those sidelined ideas into play. I'll give you a personal example. My kid just turned one, and we've got this special "Happy Birthday" plate we use for occasions like that. It's not part of our daily dishware, but when the time's right, it takes center stage.

It's the same with football plays. Joe Brady probably has a stack of concepts he's been itching to try out. Now, he's got the reins; he can bring those ideas into the light.

A Catalyst For Change

So, what does a coaching change really bring to a team? It's a chance to wipe the slate clean, to empower players with renewed purpose, and to introduce strategies that have been waiting in the wings. It's an opportunity to inject new life into the team's offensive dynamics, tapping into the potential that's been there all along.

And that's why, when you see a mid-season coaching switch, it's not just a shuffle in the staff—it's a catalyst for change, a breath of fresh air for everyone from the front office down to the players on the field. It's a new chapter, and in the high-stakes world of the NFL, sometimes that's exactly what a team needs to rediscover its edge.

Listen To The QB Room Podcast

There's one room in every NFL building where it all happens: the quarterback room. It is the room where the most high-level football conversations happen. It is the room where General Managers stop by to get a pulse of the team. It is the room where conversations can range from game plans to life plans. It is The QB Room.

I partnered with Kyle Allen (QB for the Buffalo Bills) to give you access to this room few people have ever experienced.

Watch on Youtube

Listen on Apple

Heisman Stakes

The Heisman Trophy race is reaching its peak and it's all boiling down to the performances in the next couple of weekends. We're talking about a trio of quarterbacks who've got the spotlight squarely on them: LSU's Jayden Daniels, Oregon's Bo Nix, and Washington's Michael Penix Jr.

Sure, there's a cast of others in the wings like Michigan's dynamic duo J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum, and let's not sleep on Brock Bowers from Georgia, but let’s dial in on the main contenders.

The Heisman isn't just about season-long excellence; it's about how you slam the door at the end. I remember when my brother Carson was lighting it up at USC. Back then, the Heisman was a long shot for a West Coast guy, but then came the home finale against Notre Dame.

That's the kind of closing argument that seals the deal with Heisman voters – it's your last shot to make a statement, the final sprint in the marathon.

A Pac 12 Showdown

This year's narrative couldn't be scripted better. If the cards fall right, we could be seeing a Pac-12 showdown with Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr facing off, each with a golden opportunity to outshine the other, not just for the conference crown, but for the Heisman itself.

They’ve both got the reins to their fate, a chance to make their case when it counts the most.

Jayden Daniel’s Monster Performance

Then there's Jayden Daniels at LSU, who's coming off a monster performance – the kind that makes history books. But here's the kicker: LSU's got matchups against teams that, on paper, don’t stack up.

Big favorites over Georgia State this weekend, and then there’s Texas A&M, who’s in the midst of coaching upheaval. So even if Daniels lights up the scoreboard, will it be enough to sway Heisman minds? It's tough when the competition isn't seen as competitive as what the other contenders are up against.

 Last week, Daniels did all he could, putting up numbers that'll be talked about for ages. But in the Heisman race, timing is everything, and his Heisman moment might've come just a tad early.

It’s a contrast to last year when Blake Corum and Hendon Hooker’s injuries shook up the field, pushing Caleb Williams into the limelight despite USC missing out on the Pac-12 title.

So, as we gear up for the final act of the college football season, it’s a three-horse race with only two in the driver's seat. It’s going to be edge-of-your-seat stuff watching how the Heisman stakes unfold. 

The USC Fix

USC's recent shake-up, parting ways with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, wasn't just necessary—it was overdue. Fans and pundits alike have been calling for change since last season's defensive woes cost the Trojans a shot at the Pac-12 title and left them smarting after a bowl game upset. But dwelling on the past isn't the Trojan way; looking forward is where it's at.

Looking Elsewhere

Right now, there's a bit of a shuffle happening on the coaching staff with co-interim defensive coordinators stepping up. No doubt they're hustling for the full-time gig, but from where I'm sitting, the answer isn't on that current roster of coaches.

And while I might not have their names at the tip of my tongue, what's clear is the fix USC needs likely isn't on the payroll yet.

With the Trojans moving to the Big Ten and waving goodbye to the Caleb Williams era, the spotlight turns to Malachi Nelson. I've watched this kid, and let me tell you, he's got the goods.

The kid's a star in the making, but even the brightest stars need the right constellation around them. Nelson hasn't been tested in the fires of college football, and like any top draft pick, only time will tell.

The Need For An NFL Pedigree

USC's solution? They can't just snag the latest hotshot defensive coach with a playbook full of fancy blitzes and a high-octane recruiting pitch. They need someone with an NFL pedigree, someone who's navigated the pro trenches and knows how to mold raw talent into draft gold.

The key to turning the tides isn't just a fresh face with new ideas; it's about credibility. To lure top-tier defensive talent from the transfer portal, USC needs more than a shiny weight room or a hefty NIL deal. They need a promise, a guarantee that suiting up for the Trojans is the fastest route to the NFL draft stage.

The pitch is simple: USC is a few defensive game-changers shy of a revolution. A handful of impact players could skyrocket the Trojans from defensive underachievers to a formidable force. And if USC can clinch a seasoned NFL vet to steer the ship? That's the kind of move that makes a statement.

So, while interim coaches hold the fort, USC's search for a defensive coordinator should zero in on proven NFL success stories. They need a name that resonates with ambition, a coach who can say, "I've been there, I've done that, and I can get you there, too."

That's how you rebuild a defense. That's how you transform a program. Not with quick fixes, but with strategic, surgical precision that sets the stage for long-term dominance.