1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: This is the Mark Madden Show. Do I sound better today? 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: I was real sick Monday, real sick yesterday. A little 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: better today. 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 2: So here I am. 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: The number to call is for uh damn it, eight 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: three three four one two w xdx. That's a three 7 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: three four one two wxdx. Or you can follow me 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Mark Madden X. Get a bunch of 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: calls in today because I will do better in conversation 10 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: than I will do with My chest is not really 11 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: congested more my head and even that's not that bad. 12 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: My voice is just a little rocky. But you can 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: call eight three three four one two wxdx. 14 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. 15 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: That Pickens narrative, like some of these narratives, just like 16 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: annoyed the frig out of me that they should have 17 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: kept Pickens. Now, I don't think so that the Bronze 18 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: traded flat under the Bengals to screw the Steelers. 19 00:00:58,520 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 2: Nah, I don't think so. 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: The whole friggin football world doesn't revolve around the Steelers. 21 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: The idea that the Brons were wrong for trading Flacco 22 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: because the Bengals in the division. Now, I don't think so. 23 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: Tom was wrong about that. Ba's wrong about that. You 24 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: make the best deal for your team, no matter who 25 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: it's with. I think the Brons were lucky to get 26 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: anything at all for Flacco. 27 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: They're season that going nowhere. They're gonna use the kids now. 28 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: Another narrative, and Tom and I addressed his briefly, is 29 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: that Herbig is a better pass rusher than what I 30 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: hear it said. Swear to God, he's a better pure 31 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: pass rusher, whatever pure means. That's absurd. I'm not the 32 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: biggest WAT fan. He's a Jim Teacher's a meathead. I 33 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: don't like him, but he's an all time great and 34 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: not quite in his prime no more, but pretty close. 35 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: And Herbig is terrific, but he benefits by operating and 36 00:01:55,080 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: watched shadow. Herbig isn't getting chipped and double teamed and 37 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: triple teamed and quadruple teamed and HOGTI and all those 38 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: excuses that get made on Watch behalf. 39 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: He's real good, though. Herbing is real, real good. He 40 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 2: just ain't what now that Penn. 41 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: State thing firing Franklin, I guess Terry Smith's probably gonna 42 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: coach the rest of the season right as interim, you 43 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: would think, right, because whoever they get probably has a 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: job somewhere else. The new coach is gonna be Matt Role, absolutely, 45 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: one hundred percent gonna be Matt Rule from Nebraska, one 46 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: thousand percent. I guarantee it. I'll bet anybody that wants 47 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: a thousand bucks right now it's Matt Rule. He's the 48 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: eighties close friend Buddy system and all that. There's a 49 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: report Penn State's gonna go after Signetty and in Indiana 50 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: in the Notre. 51 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: Dame coach Marcus Freeman. 52 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: Why in the frig would those guys leave where they're 53 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: at to go to Penn State. Penn State's going the 54 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: pit routes. And that's a great statement to make because 55 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: I can get the Penn State people Matt at the 56 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: same time as I get the pit fans Matt. Penn 57 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: State is going to pit route. Penn State doesn't understand 58 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: it's ceiling. Penn State isn't probably ever gonna win a 59 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,399 Speaker 1: national championship. That is beyond their reach. The best they're 60 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: gonna do is Final four once in a while, like 61 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: last year when they were coached there by James Franklin. 62 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: Big mistake A three three four one two w XDX. 63 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 2: What else do I got here? 64 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 3: Oh? 65 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: We were talking about the the field, the playing surface, 66 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: and aquasher because it was bad Sunday when the Steelers 67 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: be Cleveland, Boswell slipped and miss. 68 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: Could have been worse. 69 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: He could have got hurt like Miles Killerbrew did the 70 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: Special Teams Wizard for the Steelers, blew out his knees 71 00:03:59,240 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: out for the year. 72 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: And that's a big loss. And that's awful for Killer 73 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 2: Brew's career. 74 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: I mean, he's gonna rehab, he's gonna get a chance 75 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: to stick. But a special teams guy, those come and go, 76 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: he might never be what he was, might never have 77 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: the same value. And that happened because the turf was bad. Seriously, 78 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,919 Speaker 1: this guy's life, his career, his family affected because the 79 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: turf was bad. 80 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 2: And that's unforgivable. It ain't pits fault. It ain't pitch fault. 81 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: Pitt ain't played there for eight days before what happened 82 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: happened to Killer Brew and Boswell. It ain't pits fault. 83 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: The Steelers have played four games their total, including the preseason. 84 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: Pitt's played three games their total so far, so that's 85 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: seven games in about seven weeks, right, seven games total, 86 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: So that ain't Pits fault. Place the blame where it 87 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: should be on the eyes who were paid as a 88 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: full time job to take care of that field. The 89 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: grounds keepers, they're clearly idiots. And if any of you 90 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: guys are listening and take offense to that, tell it 91 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: to Miles Killerbrew's wife and family. You're clearly not good 92 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: at your jobs. You have one thing to get right, 93 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: and you didn't. I mean, when the quarterback is saying 94 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: the field was border and unplayable, dude, do better or 95 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: Nation five like. If this is how we pretend the 96 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: Ruonies are in their pursuit of excellence, then fire some 97 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: guys and bring other guys in to fix that field. 98 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: But they won't because that's not how the Ruonies are. 99 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: The Ruins are buddy buddy, like I've been saying. They 100 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: brought the same dopes like Dirt DeNardo. Actually I like Dirt. 101 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: I think he passed. But Dirt donardos head grindskeeper at 102 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: three Rivers, where all they did was take care of 103 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: a carpet. What you need groundskeepers take care of a carpet, 104 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: just need a sweeper, like one of those things. Those 105 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: swiffers need a big swiffer to take care of it. 106 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: A turtle but they brought the same guys over from 107 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: Three Rivers to do the natural grass at Hinz Field, 108 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: and it didn't go too good for a while. And 109 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: I know the way the Steelers operate, all them guys 110 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: and Actor sure now are sons of the guys who 111 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: took care of three Rivers in Hides Field, because that's 112 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: how they operate. That's who's in fault period, the grounds keepers. 113 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: And if any of groundskeepers are out there and you 114 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: want to challenge that, go ahead and call. Go ahead 115 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: and call, because you're in fault period. Not Pitt, not 116 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: lack of a stadium on Pitt's campus, not the high 117 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: school championship games every Thanksgiving. 118 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: You are the grounds keepers. Your fault. Not to be critical. 119 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: What else do I got? 120 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: Oh, we've been debating who's gonna cover Jamar tomorrow night, 121 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: who's gonna cover t Higgins. 122 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,239 Speaker 2: We'll get to that in detail in just a minute. 123 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: But again, we got told that Ramsey was gonna follow 124 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 1: the other team's best receiver around. That hasn't happened. But 125 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: I got no problem because what they're doing is working. 126 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: Then again, Joe Flackley's gonna lively arm Higgins and Jamar. 127 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: I think Jamar is the best receiver in football, and 128 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: I think that's the best one two receiving punch and football. 129 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: They're a whole different kettle of fish, and covering them 130 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: presents some legitimate problems and I am curas to see 131 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: how the Steelers are gonna handle that. You can make 132 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: your suggestions down now eight three, three, four, one two 133 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: ninety nine thirty nine. 134 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 2: This is the Mark mannon showing one oh five nine. 135 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for making my day. 136 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, what you said the exit, one oh five nine. 137 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,559 Speaker 2: Here's some Steeler news. It's not good. 138 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: We knew Calvin Austin wasn't gonna make the trip to Cincinnati, 139 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: which is no big deal. They barely use the number 140 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: two receiver anyway. But now that Shawn Elliott did not 141 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: accompany the team, He's not injured. 142 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: He is said to be questionable now with a. 143 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: Personal issue, so we will keep you updated on that. 144 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: But that ain't good. 145 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: He is such a physical cornerstone of that Steelers secondary. 146 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: If Jalen Ramsey's the brains, then the Shawn Elliott's lebron 147 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: a big hitter, and you would hate to go into 148 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: that game where you got to tackle a guy like 149 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: t Higgins after the catch, and Deshaun Elli can certainly 150 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: help with that. So that's the latest news on the 151 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: Steelers lineup situation. Here's Big Ben talking about the bad 152 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: playing surface at Akrosuur Stadium anymore. 153 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: I'm saying this for multiple reason. 154 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 5: I'm saying this for Pitt's sake as well. I firmly 155 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 5: believe that Pitt should put like a thirty five thousand 156 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 5: person stadium up up on Oakland. Pack that thing, because 157 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 5: when you've got sixty five thousand or seventy thousand in 158 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 5: Akroshure and it's only half full, what's that look like? 159 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 5: Go pack put a twenty five thousand person stadium and 160 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 5: then have it like just bumping crazy loud fans everywhere 161 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 5: the students. 162 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: The students will have to drive anywhere. 163 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 5: They can walk to camp, they can walk to the stadium, 164 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 5: walk to the game, walk back to their dorms, and 165 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 5: then you keep them off of that field for the Steelers. 166 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's big bet on his football and podcast up. 167 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: If Ben would pay for the new football stadium in Oakland, 168 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: I'm sure Pitt would acquiesce, except there's really no place 169 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: to put it. Everything been described would be great for 170 00:09:55,679 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: pit football, except there's no place to put it. And 171 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: like I keep saying, the problem ain't pit and a 172 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 1: handful home games for them at Akroshore, what I think, 173 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: let's see seven home games will fit this season, and 174 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: the Whippio games which are gonna get blamed, and hey, 175 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: you can't take the Whipio games out of there. That's 176 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: a taxpayer funded stadium. The high school kids deserve their 177 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: day at Akroshore. The blame goes totally to the people 178 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: hired by the Steelers to take care of that field 179 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: as a full time job. They should do a better job. 180 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: That field should be impeccable. The grinds keepers are the problem. 181 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: Not even remotely Pitts. 182 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 1: And by the way, Jimmy Sacho, he runs the stadium, 183 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: he's this big shot down there. 184 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 2: This is on him. 185 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: He gonna do a better job. You want to be 186 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: a big shot, do your job like a big shot. 187 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: Eight three three four one two WSDX is the number 188 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: to call. I want to get back into this debate 189 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: and we'll talk to Mike de Courci about it in 190 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,559 Speaker 1: just a couple of minutes. Who's gonna cover Jamar tomorrow night? 191 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: Who's gonna cover t Higgins tomorrow night again to repeat. 192 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: We got told Jalen Ramsey when the Steelers picked him up, 193 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: it was said he was gonna follow the other team's 194 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: top wide out all around the field. That hasn't happened. 195 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: I got no problem. What they're doing is working. And 196 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: now we're told that the depth at corner with Ramsey, 197 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: Porter and Slay, who were all pretty good at man demand, 198 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: we're told that having Ramsey follow the top guy round 199 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: isn't necessary. But okay, the Bengals got two top guys 200 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: with Chasin Higgins. It's a tough deployment. What do you 201 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: do because Higgins is the much bigger and physical and 202 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: Jamar as fast as frig and Jay amazing. He's the 203 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: number one wide receiver in football period. Jamar Chase is 204 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: the number one Why not in football period? But I 205 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: think you need more to double up on Higgins because 206 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: he's sixty four two twenty. 207 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: He's all elbows and buttholes. 208 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: It's good that it appears the Steelers have everybody available 209 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: at quarterback, not safety with the Shawn questionable, but at 210 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: quarterback you got everybody. 211 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 2: We think. 212 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: I guess Slay's okay because the depth all due respect 213 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: to Ramsey, who's making such difference. But the depth in 214 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: that secondary is that unit's biggest strength. So you tell 215 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: me what would you do. The guy I would double 216 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: would be Higgins. I would be tempted to double Higgins 217 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: and give Ramsey or Porter the shot one on one 218 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: with Chase, It's been Porter in the past. He's done 219 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: a reasonable job when a Porter did the hacker shack 220 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: last year with Higgins, where he just kept taking interference 221 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: after interference, like Tom Opframan said earlier, Tom Win liking 222 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: that to hack a shack, except when you do that 223 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: to Shack, he only gets one free two free throws, 224 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: well one plus one and he usually misses the first 225 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: with with with Jamar, if you with the Higgins whoever, 226 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: you would give Joe Burrow the ball on the one 227 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: after interference in the end zone. But uh, I don't know. 228 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: This is Flacco, it's not Burrow. It's a different year, 229 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: a much deeper stealer secondary. I'm just curious about the 230 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: division of duty. I think they can do it, no problem. 231 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: I just want to see what transpires A three three 232 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: four one two w xdx up. Next, we got Mike. 233 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: The course of the Sporting news here on one oh five. 234 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 2: Nine one O five nine d X. 235 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 4: It's your shot at extra cash because we're nice. 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This is Doug gotlib. 244 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 4: Here's what's trending from the Iheartsports. 245 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 2: Network, presented by Matthews Wallinger and waterproofing. 246 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 6: Ex Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on his podcast this week, 247 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 6: pit should have their own stadium that would keep Backerscher's 248 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 6: Stadium's grass in tap. Whenever Rodgers takes the field for 249 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 6: the Steelers against the Bengals Joe Flacco this week, that'll 250 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 6: be just the second meeting of forty plus year old 251 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 6: QBS and NFL history and Dodgers writing. Yoshinobu Yamamoto toss 252 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 6: baseball's first postseason complete game in eight years last night 253 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 6: in Milwaukee. 254 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 4: I'm Scott David said, if you're selling your home and 255 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 4: have a wet basementner case is always a component of 256 00:14:58,360 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 4: any nice date. 257 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 2: Thank you for ma my day. Yeah, what you said. 258 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,239 Speaker 2: The exit one oh five nine. 259 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: Steelers at Cincinnati tomorrow night, it feels like kind of 260 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: a trap game. Then again, with these Steelers, they all 261 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: feel like trap games to me. Joining me now to 262 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: talk about it from the Sporting News, he's Mike de Corsi. Mike, 263 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: we just got word that Deshaun Elliott is questionable because 264 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: of a personal situation. We already know Calvin Austin's hert, 265 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: but I think Elliott is by far the bigger loss. 266 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: How would that effect what the Steelers can do against 267 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: those great Cincinnati receivers. 268 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it would certainly make a huge difference. His re 269 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 3: entry to the lineup was significant. I mean they had 270 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 3: played poor defense. I don't think it's unfair to say 271 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 3: in the Seattle game, in particular to a lesser extent 272 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: in the New England game, but not a much lesser extent. 273 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: It was mitigated by the massive number of turnovers they created. 274 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 3: And then the Viking games. The Viking game comes around 275 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 3: in Ireland and Deshaun's back and the defense is back, 276 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 3: and so if he is unavailable on Thursday night, it 277 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 3: would have a significant impact in part because what it 278 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 3: does to Jalen Ramsey's situation. You recall, Ramsey ended up 279 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 3: playing some snaps at safety when DeShawn was out, and 280 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 3: it it's not that Ramsey did a poor job there. 281 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 3: He just wasn't the guy that was throwing down a 282 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 3: couple of secs in the last few weeks and making 283 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 3: a huge difference in coverage earlier. He's just an impact 284 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 3: player and when he's playing deep safety that he's not 285 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 3: that guy. 286 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I one hundred percent agree, and I hope it 287 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: doesn't cause them to be more conservative with the way 288 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: they handle coverage, which begs the question like who covers Chase, 289 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: who covers Higgins, who gets doubled, who doesn't? 290 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: How's that break down? 291 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 3: Well, I think that what they have traditionally liked to do, 292 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 3: and they've had a reasonable degree of success with this, 293 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 3: is they like to usually double the secondary receiver in 294 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 3: this matchup and try to control Chase. I don't think 295 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 3: they ever feel like they're gonna stop him, but I 296 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 3: think they try to control Chase with the player who's 297 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 3: their best corner, and of course if Ramsey is playing 298 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 3: straight up then he can do that. I think they'll 299 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 3: They would probably rotate it a little bit more. It 300 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 3: would be more since they have three high level cover 301 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 3: corners with Joey, Porter and Sleigh and Ramsey, they might 302 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 3: mix that player up more. They might not trail from 303 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 3: side to side. They might just rotate a little bit 304 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 3: more so that you're getting a fresh, good defender on 305 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 3: Chase instead of necessarily your Taylor, so to speak, and 306 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 3: so that I think that might be the approach. But again, 307 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 3: some of that depends on whether or not they're able 308 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 3: to keep Ramsey totally focused in the corner rotation and 309 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 3: not have to drop him back. 310 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, because their depth and safety beyond Elliott really their 311 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: personnel guys like Thornhill and Clark, it ain't necessarily that good. 312 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: But getting back to those matchups, Mike, the thing with 313 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: Higgins is, I think Chase is the better receiver. 314 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 2: I think he's the best receiver in football. 315 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: But Higgins at six four, two twenty, it actually behooves 316 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: to double him more because of the threat his strength 317 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: and size postes, isn't it. 318 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 3: I think that's why they do it for that reason. 319 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 3: Chase is brilliant as certainly I agree with you that 320 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 3: he's the best in football now, and you have to 321 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 3: you know, you could have a nice conversation, you could 322 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 3: go for a while on okay, like where does he 323 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 3: rank in this century of the best receivers. He's that 324 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 3: special and he's had the misfortune there not a not 325 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 3: having a great quarterback, but often not having that great 326 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 3: quarterback available, right, and that's made a difference. But I 327 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 3: agree Higgins is a tough cover and I think that 328 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 3: using the double on him has worked well. And although 329 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 3: I don't think they do the same thing on every 330 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 3: single possession, I think if you look at it, by 331 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 3: the end of the game, the majority of those that 332 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 3: they will try to get by, with Higgins being the 333 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 3: guy they gang up on. 334 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: You heard Tom On on Monday complaining about Cleveland trading Flato 335 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: to Cincinnati. 336 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 2: Is he scared of Flacco? 337 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: Flaco beat the Steelers last year with Dindy and for 338 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:28,640 Speaker 1: an old guy, he has a lot left. 339 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 2: I think he does. 340 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: I think I think he respects him, and that the 341 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 3: reason for that respect was reflected Sunday at green Bay. 342 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: They played green Bay very well and Flacco played fine, 343 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 3: And what was interesting was what a difficult time Green 344 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 3: Bay had getting to Flacco and Parsons was not he 345 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 3: was not invisible, but he was not a terror either, 346 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 3: and as he so often was when he was in Dallas. 347 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 3: And somehow much of that is gomatic and how much 348 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 3: of that was just Cincinnati's line blocking, Well, I couldn't 349 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 3: tell you. I didn't go back and look at what 350 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 3: the Packers coaches or the Bengals coaches said afterward. But 351 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 3: I was impressed with the protection that he was given 352 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 3: relatively how competitive they were. I wasn't at all surprised that, 353 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 3: given protection and with those two guys out there chasing 354 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 3: dal passes along with Tsiki, that he was able to 355 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 3: complete some throws. He's got a classic NFL arm, and 356 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 3: if you give him time, he will he will find 357 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 3: receivers and hit the passes. 358 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 1: Now, we knew that Cincinnati defense would be bad, and 359 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: it is. It's a lot, at least twenty seven points 360 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: against in every game but one. And it looks like 361 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: Hendrickson won't play. He's been banged up. Do you think 362 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 1: the Steelers will expand their horizons and offense at all 363 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: or just keep coming at him with that jumbo package. 364 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 3: Well, I think they did expand the horizon a bit 365 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 3: in the Cleveland game. But the Cleveland game was a 366 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 3: challenge because of the nature of the Browns defense, which 367 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 3: we discussed a week ago. Although I didn't think the 368 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 3: Bengals were as poor on Sunday as I'd seen them 369 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 3: in past games, the Vikings game earlier this year, nearly 370 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 3: all of twenty twenty four, they were horrendous, they looked 371 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 3: fairly respectable on Sunday. I don't know how much of 372 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 3: that was the Packers not getting it done and how 373 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 3: much of it was a little bit of improvement on 374 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 3: the Bengal side. But I wouldn't expect like the forty 375 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 3: five points that the Steelers threw on them last year. 376 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 3: Even if they went for that, I don't know that 377 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,479 Speaker 3: they get to that. I don't think this Bengals defense 378 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 3: is as poor as that one was. 379 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,479 Speaker 1: No, no, I agree, but I think I don't think 380 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:51,880 Speaker 1: they're going to score forty five. 381 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 2: But I think they're going to need twenty eight. 382 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I think they could need twenty eight. Absolutely, 383 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 3: It depends on if everybody's in place for the Steelers 384 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 3: and everybody feels at least reasonably fresh. They have beaten 385 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,719 Speaker 3: better offenses than this one. The Vikings offense, even with 386 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 3: the wins, is a better offense. The Patriots offense is 387 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 3: a better offense, although obviously they had to turn it 388 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 3: over to beat it. So I think we're seeing them 389 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 3: make progress on the defensive side of the ball, and 390 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 3: we're seeing exactly what you'd want to see progress over 391 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 3: these games. They're becoming more aggressive. They're hitting the quarterback 392 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 3: a lot. If they get there against Lacko, he's got 393 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 3: problems because he's not mobile. 394 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: We're talking to Mike the course of the Sporting News. 395 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: He's brought to us by south Fields Kia. South Fields 396 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: Key has the ride and a price you'll love. Mike, 397 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: what's it say about the NFL and it's quarterbacks when 398 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: you got to forty year olds starting in this game. 399 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 2: I'm not sure it's good or it's bad. It just 400 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: says something. I think. 401 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 3: I think what it says is what if you think 402 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 3: about it almost throughout NFL history, that great quarterbacking play 403 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 3: is rare and sufficient quarterbacking play is not abundant, and 404 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 3: so if you can do this and remember, it's different 405 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 3: now because athletes can stay in shape longer. I mean, 406 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 3: Lebron James is a rarity to be doing what he 407 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 3: is doing at forty plus, but there are more and 408 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 3: more of athletes reaching their late thirties and early forties 409 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 3: in all these sports. Look at said right right here 410 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 3: in town. Why am I not mentioning him? I mean that, 411 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 3: and even Gino with the way he started this season 412 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 3: that you can see that those guys continue to succeed 413 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 3: and in some ways, in many ways, their job is 414 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 3: more difficult than a quarterbacks. The quarterback has to hand 415 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 3: the ball off, he has to he has to be 416 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,239 Speaker 3: able to move when there's pressure, and obviously he has 417 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 3: to process all that. I don't mean their job is less, 418 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 3: is more mentally demanding. No one's got a tougher job 419 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 3: on a field of play than a quarterback does. But 420 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 3: from a physical standpoint, they don't often have to do 421 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 3: much more than trot back a couple of paces and 422 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 3: then use their arm to find the receiver. So I 423 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 3: think it really says more that the modern NFL athlete 424 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 3: is going to be playing to this level more often 425 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 3: if he desires to. You have to want to play 426 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,640 Speaker 3: this long because even at what I said that it's 427 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 3: not as physically punishing for the quarterback or as physically 428 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 3: demanding for the quarterback as it is other positions, it 429 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 3: can still hurt a lot. 430 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: Taba was put off because Cleveland traded flat go to Cincia, 431 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,360 Speaker 1: trade within the division to a team that needed help 432 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: at quarterback. I had no problem. I think he overreacted. 433 00:24:58,640 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: I think he'd just rather not play for. 434 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 3: I you know, I think that one of the things 435 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 3: that happened is that Mike says so many things repetitively 436 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 3: and so few things that are even remotely inflammatory, that 437 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 3: when he does, we really react hard. Here in Pittsburgh. 438 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 3: The fact that he was willing to take a shot 439 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 3: at at Cleveland's GM was just it's just almost unprecedent. 440 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 3: But what what when you think about it, is that 441 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 3: he should think that the guy who gave to Shaan 442 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 3: Watson a two hundred and thirty million dollars guaranteed contract 443 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 3: and traded seventy five draft picks to get him that 444 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,679 Speaker 3: should be his best friend because he has kept Cleveland 445 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 3: sunk for a period of time when the when when 446 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,239 Speaker 3: this Browns defense is phenomenal, when the Browns had at 447 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 3: one point ascended to level footing with the Steelers beating 448 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 3: them in a playoff game in an empty three river 449 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 3: excuse me, an empty ackersuer then and then they completely 450 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 3: tanked the whole thing. That guy should be Tomlin's favorite 451 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 3: GM in the whole league. 452 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:06,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I think Jimmy Haslim, the owner, probably had 453 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 1: more to do with that than the GM did. 454 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 2: And as far as trading within. 455 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: The division, Craig Patrick, the Penguins GM always said, it 456 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: doesn't matter who you make the deal with a rival, 457 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: a division foe, shouldn't affect it. 458 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 2: Make the best deal for your team. 459 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, absolutely. I mean, if there'd been another team 460 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 3: out there starting the equivalent of Jake Browning a quarterback 461 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 3: that was willing to give up something to get Joe Flasco, 462 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 3: I think the Browns would have preferred to do that. 463 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 3: But there wasn't any and the Bengals were. The Bengals 464 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 3: thought that they might be able to salvage this season 465 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:46,120 Speaker 3: with a better option than Browning holding the fourth until 466 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 3: until you got Joe Burrow back, and they didn't feel 467 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,880 Speaker 3: like they traded that much to try to do that, 468 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,239 Speaker 3: And so absolutely the Browns decision to do this was 469 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 3: not with nothing but other than what they felt was 470 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 3: the best for their team. It's just that getting themselves 471 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 3: into this position where that was the best thing for 472 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 3: their team is more evidence of mismanagement by Cleveland. 473 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 1: Now we talked at about Ramsey and the effect he's 474 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 1: had on the defense. 475 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 2: What about Derek Harmon, the rookie. 476 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,719 Speaker 1: When he was out and the run defense got gashed 477 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: all the time, Mike I said, Okay, I'd like to 478 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: see this Harmon. I don't think one guy can fix 479 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: the run defense. He got back, and it's fair to 480 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: say he's come pretty close. 481 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 3: Isn't it. Well, he has made a huge difference, and 482 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 3: I think he's made everybody except maybe Cam Hayward, who 483 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 3: didn't need to get much better right better around him. 484 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 3: He's made Keanuventon a better player. He has made as 485 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 3: I suspected he would, the two inside linebackers better players 486 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 3: because he's keeping bodies off of them, whether it's Hulcombe 487 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 3: or Wilson or Queen, who has been really good all year. 488 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 3: He's kept more bodies off those guys so they're able 489 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 3: to make more plays. You see more runs getting strung 490 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 3: out to the sideline on those zone type plays. That's 491 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,640 Speaker 3: all that had always been a Steeler staple over the 492 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 3: previous decade and had started to fade over the course 493 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 3: of the first four or five games of this year, 494 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,200 Speaker 3: and Harmon coming back in has allowed them to get 495 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 3: back to that. 496 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: You know, I hate to attach too much importance to 497 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: games this early in the year, especially one against the 498 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: team that probably is going nowhere like Cincinnati with no Burrow, 499 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,960 Speaker 1: But I predicted the Steelers would start five to one. 500 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: If they win this game, that's what they are. It'll 501 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,479 Speaker 1: be no more, no less than what I thought they 502 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 1: should do to this point. But if they lose, you're 503 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,959 Speaker 1: four and two. You got tough games coming up. It 504 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: kind of feels like last year before things went bad. 505 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 2: If you lose this game, well. 506 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 3: I feel like it really depends on how you would 507 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 3: lose this game. If you lose it, remember this is 508 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 3: a you know, this turnaround is not typical. So their 509 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 3: path changes not by anything that they do, but what 510 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 3: is being done in front of them and what they are. 511 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 3: You know, I hear a lot of questions who's the 512 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 3: best team in the league. I mean, before Sunday, half 513 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 3: the media people in the world were saying Detroit's the 514 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 3: best team. In the league. And I don't really care 515 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 3: who the best team in the league is now because 516 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 3: it doesn't mean that much. It doesn't mean anything really, 517 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 3: because when you get to December and January, that's when 518 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 3: you want to be the best team in the league 519 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 3: and getting and for the Steelers, I don't think they're 520 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 3: ever going to be back this year. You want to 521 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 3: be the best Steelers by December and January. And so 522 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 3: if you take a step back now because you didn't 523 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 3: have a normal prep week, maybe because you're missing a 524 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 3: key player or whatever it might be, or maybe it's 525 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 3: just that you have a tough night from the rest. 526 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 3: Whatever whatever reason produces might produce a defeat in Cincinnati 527 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 3: on Thursday night. I think it's really more about the 528 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 3: trying to continue to ascend. They started out not great, 529 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 3: and they were able to win a couple of games 530 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 3: that they probably shouldn't have they but they knew that 531 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 3: they needed to get better and they have continued to 532 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 3: get better on both sides of the football. And that's 533 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 3: really what matters. Even if they take a step back 534 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 3: on one side or the other on Thursday, what matters 535 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 3: is that when they get back on the field in 536 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 3: ten days after that that they resume the ascent and 537 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 3: if they don't, then it won't matter what they do 538 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 3: against it. 539 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: Tonat who is responsible for the field being borderline unplayable, 540 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: like Aaron Rodgers said at Akrosher Stadium. 541 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I guess the people who are in charge 542 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 3: of the grounds. That's their job. And I know it's 543 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 3: not an easy job. But I looked on and I 544 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 3: would imagine they have a fewer football games played in 545 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 3: Green Bay at lambeau Field than they do at Akrosure 546 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 3: with pitch sharing the stadium. But that was a pretty 547 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 3: nice field on Sunday that the Bengals played at the Packers. 548 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 3: And I'm pretty sure Lambo's a grass surface. I'm not 549 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 3: a thousand percent sure of that, but I'm pretty sure 550 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 3: no it is. 551 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: I mean, and we got four other stadiums in the NFL. 552 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 1: Mike did all seas by college teams, Miami, Tampa Bay, 553 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 1: Philadelphia in Vegas, and you don't hear any complaints about 554 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: their surfaces. I think blaming Pitt, I think that's the 555 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 1: easy way on. 556 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 2: I agree with you. 557 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 3: I think, yeah, I mean, no, I don't blame Pit. 558 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 3: They have a deal to play there. The Steelers arrange 559 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 3: that years ago. It helps make sense to have a 560 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 3: football stadium that you paid a lot of money for 561 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 3: and that maybe you'll invest more in over time to 562 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 3: continue its upkeep. 563 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 2: No, I don't. 564 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 3: I don't blame Pitt for that. It's just it did 565 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 3: it didn't. It's been an odd climate year with the heat. 566 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 3: Maybe they weren't anticipating that or couldn't figure out a 567 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 3: way to cope with it. Maybe they should have done 568 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 3: the RESAWD prior to that game. I don't know if 569 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 3: that was a cost issue or not that they when 570 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 3: you look at it before they start to play and 571 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 3: you see how bad it is, I mean, I don't 572 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 3: know why they didn't go ahead and do the RESAWD 573 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 3: after the most recent pit game and before this game, 574 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 3: because certainly that game was not played on a Class 575 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,719 Speaker 3: A service, And how many how many Steelers fans, how 576 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 3: many people in the Steelers nation now are still you know, 577 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 3: have a little bit of flutter in their heart after 578 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 3: Boswelf's plant leg went sideways or certainly not in the 579 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 3: right direction when he attempted that last field goal. 580 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 1: Well yeah, and it ended Killer Bruce season. I mean, 581 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: and he's a real valuable guy. I never underestimate special teams. Mike, 582 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: that is not a guy they wanted to lose. Finally, 583 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: this coming Sunday, I will be at anfield. You're right 584 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 1: as well. For Liverpool Man United. Three weeks ago this 585 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 1: seemed like a four zero win. Now I'll settle for 586 00:32:58,720 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: two to one. 587 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you settle for any victory at this point 588 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 3: with the with the struggles they've had, the first on 589 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 3: defense to keep goals out of their net and then 590 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 3: trying to trying to sort of figure out the right side. 591 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 3: I mean, not having Trent Alexander Arnold has made an 592 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 3: impact on how Mosala has played. They need to find 593 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 3: a chemistry over there. I honestly thought Soba Sly had 594 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 3: the best chemistry so far when he filled in it 595 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 3: right back with uh with Mo and without without that 596 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 3: chemistry on that side, Moe is really struggling to get involved. 597 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 3: And without him get involved, I don't care whether it's 598 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 3: his goals or others. Early in the year it wasn't 599 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 3: always his, but when he was, when he's involved in 600 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 3: creating chances, they're so much more dangerous, and in the 601 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 3: last few games they have not been able to do that. 602 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 3: With Connor Bradley that there has been no connection at 603 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,440 Speaker 3: all between the two of them, and I think they 604 00:33:57,520 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 3: have to reconsider whether that's the right approach. 605 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 1: Mike, that analysis is disturbingly accurate. So with that, I'm 606 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: gonna let you go. As always, great stuff. We'll talk 607 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 1: to you next week. 608 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:08,040 Speaker 3: Thanks, we'll see you soon. 609 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 2: That's Mike. 610 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 1: The course he brought to us by our good friends 611 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 1: at South Hills, Kia. A'm Mark Madden one oh five 612 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 1: nine