Advertise on podcast: The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima

The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima and guest Anthony Meglin features an in-depth preview of the upcoming Browns game against the Texans, analyzing the decision to start Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders. They discuss Jared Verse’s admission regarding his mental health struggles and how team culture impacts player performance. Interviews with Daryl Ryder and Nathan Zegura provide additional insight into the playoff race, potential roster injuries, and the necessary strategic shifts for the Cleveland running game. (00:02:00) Ken Carman Show Intro (00:06:03) Browns Vs Texans Preview (00:10:41) NFL Trade Deadline Analysis (00:16:11) Cavaliers Tournament Preview (00:22:20) Jared Verse Mental Health (00:27:04) Evaluating Defensive Performance (00:33:08) Watson Confirmed To Start (00:38:24) AFC Playoff Picture Analysis (00:46:38) Comparing Watson And Shedeur (00:57:24) Future Stadium Plans (01:02:51) Shedeur Sanders Maturity (01:13:59) About Last Night Segment (01:23:50) Cavs and James Harden (01:37:28) Daryl Ruiter Interview (01:46:51) Ruiter On Jared Verse (01:55:17) Browns Running Game Struggles (02:05:40) Nathan Zegura Interview (02:22:07) Roster Injury Updates (02:39:31) Coming In Hot Segment

Anthony Lima and Anthony Meglin break down the high-stakes game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans for The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima, exploring potential playoff consequences. They address defensive end Jared Verse’s recent comments about his mental performance blocks and lack of production this season. Additionally, they debate if Deshaun Watson is entering a week-to-week evaluation period. (00:02:40) Browns vs Texans Preview (00:07:17) Monken and Shedeur Sanders (00:11:01) AFC Playoff Picture Analysis (00:15:43) Upcoming Show Guest Rundown (00:20:36) Jared Verse Mental Hurdles (00:25:38) Athletes and Mental Health (00:34:41) Deshaun Watson Starting Status (00:39:11) Evaluating Watson's Performance Leash

Anthony Lima and Anthony Meglin react to Coach Prime's viral claims of dysfunction surrounding Shedeur Sanders' tenure with the Browns. They also break down the Deshaun Watson quarterback battle and Mike Tomlin’s blunt assessment of Mason Rudolph. (00:01:50) Ken Carman’s Travels (00:06:05) Comparing Watson and Sanders (00:11:21) Monken and Watson’s Job (00:19:09) Deion Slams Browns Dysfunction (00:32:31) About Last Night Highlights (00:37:02) Oregon and Michigan NIL

Anthony Lima and Anthony Meglin discuss James Harden's admission that he is playing his way into shape after skipping offseason basketball activities. Daryl Ruiter joins to evaluate Deshaun Watson's future as the Browns starter and critiques the "dysfunction" surrounding Shedeur Sanders. They also analyze the struggles of the Cleveland running game and the impact of weather on the upcoming matchup against the Houston Texans. (00:02:11) James Harden's conditioning (00:06:27) NBA vs NFL mindsets (00:10:38) Cavs depth and coaching (00:15:56) Daryl Ruiter joins (00:19:51) Browns vs Texans preview (00:25:01) Jared Verse mental health (00:29:54) Sanders family dysfunction (00:37:16) Browns run game woes

Nathan Zegura analyzes how potential bad weather could give the Browns an advantage against C.J. Stroud and the Texans. They explore Jared Verse’s development, offensive aggression strategies under Todd Monken, and the Cavaliers' new DAZN broadcasting deal. (00:02:16) Nathan Zegura Interview (00:07:16) Jared Verse Discussion (00:12:24) Offensive Game Plan (00:19:29) Cleveland Sports Update (00:24:13) Deshaun Watson Analysis (00:34:17) Cavaliers DAZN Deal (00:37:38) Coming In Hot

Lima and Anthony Moeglin worry about Denzel Boston’s toe injury and what it would mean for the Browns’ receiver room, with Jerry Jeudy a possible beneficiary after making the biggest catches in three straight games. They argue Todd Monken and Travis Switzer need to call their best game yet, getting Harold Fannin, KC Concepcion and Boston manufactured touches every quarter to help the offense sustain drives. They also talk about why fans overreact to one bad Deshaun Watson game, why quarterback development is never linear and why this C.J. Stroud is the one that shredded Cleveland in last year’s playoff game.

Browns Radio Network analyst Nathan Zegura tells Lima and Anthony Moeglin that a cold, rainy Sunday favors Cleveland, since Houston’s offensive line is struggling to run block and the Browns have had their best rushing success against four-man fronts. They break down how to handle the Texans’ league-leading pass rush by staying out of third and long, playing with tempo and being more aggressive early instead of waiting until the fourth quarter. Zegura also discusses the secondary without Ronnie Hickman, Jared Verse’s sack drought and why Deshaun Watson stays the starter as long as the Browns keep winning.

Lima and Anthony Moeglin point to the snap counts from the Saints game, where Dylan Sampson played 47 snaps to Quinshon Judkins’ 25, and note Judkins is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry without the cutback instincts Nick Chubb had. They argue the Browns should ditch under center plays altogether, since the offense is among the worst in the league running and throwing off play action from that look. They also say the team has to bring back the zone read action that worked in the first Pittsburgh game to put defenses in conflict, with rain in the forecast for Sunday.

Browns beat reporter Daryl Ruiter tells Lima and Anthony Moeglin that Deshaun Watson’s leash lasts as long as the Browns are in the playoff hunt, and that there’s no obvious cutoff game for a switch to Shedeur Sanders. He explains why Texans week is tough, with C.J. Stroud hot, the Browns’ run defense struggling and a rainy forecast that could be the great equalizer, and weighs in on Jared Verse’s mental health admission and the Ronnie Hickman injury in the secondary. Ruiter also respectfully disagrees with Deion Sanders’ dysfunction comment, arguing the Browns have been fair to Shedeur and that much of the drama is self-inflicted.

Lima and Anthony Moeglin react to Joe Vardon’s one-on-one with James Harden, who admitted he came to camp out of shape and is playing his way into form after a season-high 32 points in the Cavs’ win over the Knicks. The hosts and Owen split on whether it matters, with Moeglin pointing out that 12 games is the equivalent of two NFL games and Lima saying he only needs Harden to be good in April, while Owen calls it a slap in the face to fans after the Hornets loss. They also make the case for giving Tyrese Proctor and Malik Thomas more minutes and wonder what Kenny Atkinson does with the rotation as Jalen Tyson and Nae’Qwan Tomlin get closer to returning.

Lima and Anthony Moeglin bring in producer John to react to Mike Tomlin joking on Cam Heyward’s podcast that Rudolph has a punchable face, which they call a rough joke that doesn’t let Myles Garrett off the hook. They also discuss J.J. McCarthy’s strong Thursday night showing and Jackson Dart’s struggles, adding both to the ever-growing list of possible Browns quarterback targets. The segment wraps with Kyle Whittingham’s Oregon NIL comments, Dan Lanning’s shady rebuttal, and the irony of Utah sitting at number two after Whittingham’s exit from Michigan.

Lima and Anthony Moeglin react to Deion Sanders praising Shedeur’s maturity while mentioning the “level of dysfunction” around him, debating whether he was talking about the Browns or just the media circus after Shedeur’s Saints press conference answer. They agree the dysfunction label doesn’t fit this year’s two-quarterback setup, and that Shedeur handled his postgame question about the starting job perfectly. The conversation turns to whether Deion is salty his son isn’t a priority for the first time, with the hosts arguing Shedeur doesn’t have his dad’s talent to skip the work and has to earn every job in the NFL.

Lima and Anthony Moeglin break down what Deshaun Watson could take from watching Shedeur Sanders throw vertically, pointing to Next Gen Stats that show Watson at 8 of 29 on deep passes this season compared to Sanders going 3 for 3 for 154 yards. They explain why the Browns’ limited offense makes every turnover deadly, and why Moeglin believes Watson has to at least give Denzel Boston a chance on deep balls. Callers jump in with Kool Ray accusing Watson of taking himself out of the Saints game and Chuck arguing Sanders was playing at his floor while Watson is at his ceiling, which sparks a debate over whether this is the week to chase upside.

Lima and Anthony Moeglin debate how long Deshaun Watson’s leash really is, with the bye week looming and a rainy, 42 degree forecast that Owen points out is bad news for a quarterback with a history of struggling in the wet. They bust the myth that the bye gives the Browns two full weeks to prepare a quarterback change, then work through the playoff picture involving the Texans, Ravens and Raiders. Lima thinks Watson gets at least a couple more games even with a loss, while Moeglin and Owen focus on the Browns needing to slow C.J. Stroud and the Houston passing attack.