The Football Diner Big Interview:
Nat Coombs
interviewed by Brian Davis
September 11th 2010
 
Nat Coombs is a writer and broadcaster who hosts the chat show Talk of The Terrace on on ESPN, and both NFL & MLB coverage on BBC Radio Five Live. He also anchors the US sports podcast Americarnage and writes a column for ESPN America
 
BD: How do you feel the lockout has affected the preparation for teams this season?
 
NC: Dramatically. Though, like many things in life, when you have less time than usual to do things, the human mind often moves into a "just get it done" mode. But mistakes are bound to happen. Which presumanly explains how Derek Anderson got a deal!
 
BD: Which team from those with new Coaches/Coordinators/Quarterbacks, tipped to struggle, do you tip to fair the best?
 
NC: Overall this season, I think Buffalo may surprise a few people, but based on the peramaters of your question, Cam Newton is the most intruging, and I suspect will be rather good, and I predict we'll see Jake Locker by week 8. And Jim Harbaugh is gonna have a long season.
 
BD: And how about the mad dash Free Agency, a good thing for the league or do you prefer the Pre-Draft format?
 
NC: I think, much like tequila, it's fun once in a while, but you don't want it on a regular basis. Clearly, there was less wheeling and dealing in the Draft as teams played it safe - and that was a shame, but I guess it balanced out the excitement.
 
BD: How do you see Peyton Manning’s injury affecting the Colts season? Is Kerry Collins really good enough to steer the team to a playoff berth in a tough division?
 
NC: Huge problem. It's hard to see the Colts doing anything this year. It's odd they haven't considered developing a younger QB to take over - though that whole process seems to be way out of vogue these days, Aaron Rogers notwithstanding.
 
BD: Detroit appear to be the “sexy pick” for this year (I was on the bandwagon before it became sexy by the way!) but how do YOU see them doing this season?
 
NC: I like Detroit but, as has been pointed out on many occasions, so much depends on the health of Stafford. Their schedule is tough too. I'm not sold.
 
BD: Tim Tebow…Where did it all go wrong? From Starter to possible '4th best QB on the roster'
 
NC: Like any job, when the guys who bring you in disappear, the security of your position is theatened. Tebow, like a lot of entertainers actually, may struggle from finding his true place in the scheme of things. It's interesting when you look at High School QB's who have to take a role of lesser prominence when graduating to College. Or star WR's who move from College to the NFL and settle for a place on Special Teams. Tebow may need to accept that, if he wants to make it as a pro, it may not be as an every down starter.
 
BD: We’ve seen a larger number of UDFA’s make roster spots this year, having a starter who was a UDFA appears to be the new sexy (that’s 2 sexy references in questions so far, I’m starting to worry!) What do you make of that number increasing, given the shorter amount of time Coaches have had with their players?
 
NC: I love any story of an UDFA making it good - or in fact, making it to the pro's full stop. It's so easy to "miss" on high profile draft picks, and indeed "miss" on players full stop. I think there is a pragmatism being applied by a new generation of talent evaluators - much like the progress Billy Beane and co introduced into Baseball. Would Darren Sproles be playing 25 years ago? I doubt it.
 
BD: The Philadelphia Eagles “Dream Team” Are you buying it?
 
NC: Nada. Overrated - but they will still contend. Vince Young intrigues me. Hell of a College player and a winner. If Vick goes down, this could be the making of him.
 
BD: With the #1 pick of the 2012 draft the...
 
NC: Indianpolis Colts...
 
BD: select…
 
NC: Andrew Luck
 
BD: Your Super Bowl teams are?
 
NC: Green Bay & New England.
 
BD: The Bears and the Bucs will be taking part in our Annual International Series this season, tell us what you expect to see?
 
NC: A close game, another great atmosphere at Wembley with our fans doing us proud by once again displaying their literacy and taking us a step further to more games over here.
 
BD: Nat, can we expect to hear you on the BBC again this year?
 
NC: Yep - I'll be anchoring coverage on Five Live with Greg Brady, expect for the games live in the US where Darren Fletcher runs the show. V excited - I love doing radio, and Greg is great to work with and one of those broadcasters that keeps you on your toes, and on top of your game.
 
BD: And Anything else you’d like to plug?
 
NC: I'm doing a second season of my chat show Talk of the Terrace on ESPN (Monday's 6.30PM) and loving hosting the US sports podcast Americarnage with Mike Carlson and Dan Louw, a most talented comedian, who is also a Colts fan, so i'll be ripping the p*** out of him all season.
 
BD: Many Thanks for your time and Enjoy the Season!
Brian
@BrianDavisRFC