1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: This is the Mark Madden Show. You like it, you 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: love it, you want more of it. The number to call, 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,959 Speaker 1: because we have calls on the fifteens just around the corner. 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: The number is eight three three four one two wxdx. 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: That's eight three three four one two wxdx. Or you 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: can use the secret number four one two three three 7 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: three wxdx and we'll. 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 2: Get you on right away. 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 3: Uh. 10 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: I've been talking a lot how some people got some 11 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 1: stuff to prove in this game on Monday night, And 12 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: that's true. 13 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: It's damn true. 14 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 4: TJ. 15 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: Wats never won a playoff game. You want to dig 16 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: a little deeper. He has won sack and four playoff games. 17 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: You want to go more current. He had one multi 18 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 1: sack game all year. He's been a bust this year. 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: Under the terms of the deal he signed forty one 20 00:00:53,960 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: million per year average annual value, no denying metcalf thirty 21 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: three million average annual value. Has had eight games this 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: year where he's caught passes for less than fifty yards worth. 23 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: He had a ninth game right at fifty and then 24 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: he got suspended for those two games for smacking the 25 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: fan in Detroit, which was the stupid cherry on top 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: of the Sunday of dumbness. Don't you feel like those 27 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: guys should come up with big games in the biggest 28 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: game of the year. Don't you feel like TJ Watt 29 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: and DK Metcalf should pay their bills? 30 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: Because I do, even Cam. 31 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: I kind of forty and slipped Cam's name in there 32 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: for a second. Cam's had a great year. He might 33 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: be first team All Pro again. He is out performing 34 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: his contract. I shore at some point he'll find the 35 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: time to whind about that again, even though he's making 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: more this year than I will in a lifetime and 37 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: I'm pretty well paid. Cam's won one playoff game ever. 38 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: In the nine playoff games he's played, he has one sack. Cam, 39 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: I have a suggestion for you. Instead of trying to 40 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: further tradition. And by the way, when Cam says that 41 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: he wants Rogers, he got Rogers to walk off the 42 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: field after games with him and Tom Win, what Cam's 43 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 1: really saying is I'm as big a deal as those 44 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: guys are, So Cam, instead of worrying about tradition, that 45 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. Nobody gives a frig about unless on Monday night, 46 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: the three of you walk off the field after playoff win. 47 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: My advice to you, Kim is don't worry about that. 48 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: My advice is pay your bills. The Steelers, oh, the fans, Cam, 49 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: tj DK. They owe the fans, Mike Tomlin more than 50 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: anybody owes the fans time to stand and deliver Monday 51 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: Night or Art Rooney the second should burn it down, 52 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: but he won't because he's smart. 53 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: He can do things. 54 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: He's not done like people say now, He'll just want 55 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: it back no matter what. 56 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: But but let's. 57 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: See if the tradition that I keep hearing about for 58 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in the 59 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: past eight years, let's see if all that tradition can 60 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: translate to a playoff win for a change. I don't 61 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: like as a guy who grew up in the seventies, 62 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: I don't like guys like Kim glomming on to like 63 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: me and Joe Green and spewing words like tradition when 64 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: that doesn't belong to him, even the ben era, it 65 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: doesn't belong to him. You want to create tradition, Tomlin, 66 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: you want to create tradition. Tj you want to create tradition. Cam, 67 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: you want to create tradition. 68 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: DK. 69 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: You want to create tradition, establish your own tradition, and 70 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: have it get into effect Monday nights. Then you can 71 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: walk off the field hand in hand. You can walk 72 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: off the field wearing no pants. You can French kiss 73 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: in the tunnel. Then you won. Then it's tradition. Until 74 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: then it's just jerking off. Then I'm gonna call eight 75 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: three three four one two WXDX. By the way, we 76 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: were talking about this week about how Demiko Ryans is 77 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: a rock fight kind of coach, that he doesn't try 78 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: to extend leeds, he tries to hold them. He relies 79 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: on defense, and hey, why wouldn't he With that defense? 80 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: The Houston Texans have the defense that the Steelers pretended 81 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: they do this year, the last couple of years, with 82 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: all that money spent, the Houston Texans. 83 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 2: Really have that defense. 84 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: But here's a stat that confirms his willingness to be 85 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: in a rock fight. Houston has kicked forty eight field 86 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: goals this year. That's like the most field goals in 87 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: the league by almost ten. Forty eight field goals this year, 88 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: that's a rock fight statistic. And if that what that 89 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: game turns into Monday Night Tomlin is good at rock fights, 90 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: not a lot else. What if it turns into a 91 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: rock fight and bos Miss is the big kick, because 92 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 1: you gotta be worried. 93 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: I know, I. 94 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: Am a pleasant occurrence. 95 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 2: Last night at the Penguins game. 96 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: I talked to you like I almost always do when 97 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 1: I happen to see him. Devil's color commentator Chico Resh, 98 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,559 Speaker 1: who's seventy seven, looks great, still does a great job 99 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: at the microphone. Chico was the goalie for the Islanders 100 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: in seventy five when they pulled the comeback from three 101 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: games to none down in the second round of the 102 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: playoffs the quarterfinals against the Penguins. And I hadn't seen 103 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,239 Speaker 1: Chico in a while, went about fifteen years ago. I said, 104 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 1: that guy, he ruined a young kid's life, and he goes, 105 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: what do you And then he goes, oh, because I 106 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: guess he figured out how old I might have been. 107 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: But but Chico's a top man. Love him to death. 108 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: Great to see him, and they'll hate him for beating 109 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: us in that series. You know, the Islanders went on 110 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: their dynasty run like five years later. But the goalie 111 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: who won all those Cups, the four Cups with the Islanders. 112 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: Billy Smith was on the team then and he played 113 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: the first three games. They put Chico in for Game 114 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: four and he just went on this tear and knocked 115 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: the Penguins ot And in the next round, the Islanders 116 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: told the Flyers three games to none and came back 117 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 1: and made it a game seven, but unfortunately. 118 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: Lost, and those douchebags won the Stanley Cup. There their 119 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 2: second in a row. 120 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: Some good news for the River Haunts today after winning 121 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: the championship, they got the league's leading scorer from a 122 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: couple of years ago when he played for them a 123 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 1: couple of years ago. Albert Dequa aka Chico is coming 124 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: back to Pittsburgh. That's a pretty good thing when you 125 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: take a championship team and a had the one thing 126 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: they were lacking last year, which is a nailed on 127 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: goal scorer. 128 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: I mean, come on, do the math. 129 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: They won four playoff game they scored one goal in 130 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: those games one three shootouts. So welcome back, Chico. Uh, 131 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: you'll provide more goals and you'll you'll make it more 132 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: exciting as well. I'm gonna talk later. I was flipping 133 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: a dial this morning and I came to Rocky three. 134 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: Rocky three It's not the best of the Rockies, far 135 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: from it, but it has some unforgettable scenes. You know, 136 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: it might be my favorite scene in any of the 137 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: Rocky movies, any of the Rocky movies. Rocky versus Thunderlips 138 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: in the Fish Baby. 139 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: Get your calls in now. 140 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: Eight three three four one two w xdx is the 141 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: Mark Man Show one O five nine. 142 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: The super genius Mark Madden. 143 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 5: He's a little guy. 144 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 4: I'd love to get very good point d x at 145 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 4: one O five nine. 146 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: Get your calls in for calls on the fifteen still unsponsored. 147 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: We got Tim Bens at the bottom of the hour, 148 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: tar match at the top of the hour, but the 149 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: number to call now is eight three three four one 150 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: two wxdx or four one two three three three wxdx. 151 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: Matt Williamson is just killer with his analysis and the 152 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: stats he puts on Twitter. Here's another great stat from Matt. 153 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: Houston has the best pass defense in the league. On 154 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: passes below ten air yards, they allow an average of 155 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: just five yards per attempt, and on those passes, Houston 156 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: has eight interceptions against, allowing six touchdowns this season, and 157 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: the success rate on those throws against Houston is under 158 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:46,599 Speaker 1: forty percent. Keeping it that low, it seems almost impossible. 159 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: The point is under ten air yards. That is a 160 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: disproportionate percentage of Rogers's passing attack. So that's not good. 161 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: We got a sign bite from Chris Simms later. It 162 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: might convince you that the Steelers can't win, talking about 163 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: the Houston defense against the Steelers offense. It's just about 164 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: convinced me that the Steelers can't win. Uh, let's go 165 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: to Dave. 166 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 2: Dave, you're on with Mark, I beg Saxe. 167 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 6: Uh sure, miss Grants in Millville, but in any way. 168 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, Grant far me too. 169 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 6: But them stopping the game for Garrett when he got. 170 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: That sack, not wrong with that, Nothing wrong with that. 171 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 6: I got to let it upset with all these celebrations 172 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 6: and you know, run the guy. 173 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 1: The guy broke the all time single season sack record. 174 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: Do you think they should have slow played that, ignored 175 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,599 Speaker 1: it altogether. I don't get where you're coming from. You 176 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: don't think the Steelers would have stopped the game in 177 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: a similar situation. They might not have gone as far 178 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: as the Bronze did. But what did the Brons have 179 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: to sell break? Then again, what have the Steelers had 180 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: the last decade to celebrate. 181 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 6: Well, I'm also talking about a lot does that high 182 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 6: leg kick and all these guys like immature kindergard How 183 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 6: old are you? Yeah, seventies. 184 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, if it's too loud. If it's too loud, you're 185 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: too old. But I mean, I get it, but I mean, 186 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: I just it's just how it is. 187 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: Now. 188 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: You're never going to see the guy just hand the 189 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: ball to the ref again after a touchdown. 190 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 2: That part of it's dead. 191 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: I have no problem with expressing emotion after big play. 192 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: We've often said, and this applies to one athletes to 193 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: interviews too, that they're too boring, they're too vanilla. Then 194 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: we say they're hot dog in it when they express 195 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: that emotion. You can't be critical both ways, and too 196 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: many people too often are. But thank you for the call. 197 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: Good stuff number to co eight three three four one 198 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: two w xd X. I still can't it over that 199 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: that power play goal by Gino last night, the five 200 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: on three. It was the worst five on three ever. 201 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: Penguins couldn't even get set up. Then they got set 202 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: up and a couple passes Carlson and Sid and Gino 203 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: buries it. Uh fourth line scored again well like like two. Well, 204 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: they scored one goal with the fourth line out there. 205 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: That was Lazotte getting set up by a chary right 206 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: in front to make it for to one, and Connor 207 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: Dore scored on a breakaway coming out of the box. 208 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: He was not there with the fourth line, but he 209 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 1: is a fourth liner. Sid got a couple of helpers, 210 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: which kind of diffused Yoi's story about how he doesn't 211 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: produce when he's had three days or more off between games. 212 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: But then again, YOI talked to Sid for that story. 213 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: I think Sid took notes and uh, and you know, 214 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: I always hesitate to say Sid turned it up a notch. 215 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: I think he turns it up notch every time he 216 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: goes out there on the rink. But good to see 217 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: him produce in a situation where he sometimes doesn't. And 218 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: now Calgary is here tomorrow three pm start time, and 219 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: they're not so good. So maybe lucky seven in a 220 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: row for the Penguins. The Penguins are in a rich 221 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: vein of being very fundamentally sound. 222 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 2: Who'd have thought that was ever possible. The standings are. 223 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: So tight, so tight tight, like well, you know, but 224 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: the Penguins are only one point one point out of 225 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: second place in the Metro. It is just a crazy 226 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: year top to bottom in the Eastern Conference, and it's 227 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: caused the loser point. The loser point ruins the standings. 228 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: It provides an inaccurate reflection of what's happened. 229 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 2: But that's what they want. 230 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: They want close standings, and certainly they got them that 231 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: number again. Uh four one two three three three WXDX. 232 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: I was flipping the dial today, like I said, and 233 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: I saw Rocky three and the scene where Hogan and 234 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: Rocky have the match for charity with Leroy Nieman as 235 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: the ring announcer. Hal Cogan pops Polly and knocks him 236 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: down in the brawl. 237 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 2: It was like a classic wrestling brawl. It was so good. 238 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: It was like with every boxer it They used to 239 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: do boxer versus wrestler occasionally. I remember they did Chuck 240 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: Webner versus Andre the Giant on the undercart of that 241 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: phony baloney antony and Oki Muhammad Ali fight, although actually 242 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: it was supposed. 243 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 2: To be phony baloney. 244 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: It was supposed to be a work with Anok winning 245 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: and then Ali at the last minute refused to drop 246 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: the decision and they had a fight for real and 247 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: it was boring af but that Rocky Thunderlips match was 248 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: everything boxer versus wrestler should be. And really that was 249 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: the breakout vehicle for hal Cogan, who was not yet 250 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: in He went there shortly thereafter, and between you know, 251 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: his natural charisma, his body and and him having been 252 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: in Rocky three, that's what enabled Vince McMahon to blow 253 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: the roof off with Hulk at w to B Hulk's 254 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: the biggest wrestling star ever. There were certainly better performers, 255 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: but Hulk's the biggest wrestling star ever. 256 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 2: All right, up next, going to talk to Tim Benz 257 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 2: one oh five. 258 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: Nine, Rob King here, stay, yeah the ex. 259 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 5: At one five nine. 260 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: I feel like the Steelers playoff game should have been 261 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: last night. The hype's just unbearable at this point. But 262 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: still we persevere, and with that in mind, we bring 263 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: on Tim Benz from the Trib. Tim who has to 264 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: come through for the Steelers in this game. Not by 265 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: way of having to win, because Aaron Rodgers is a 266 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,479 Speaker 1: good place to start there, but I'm talking about redemption. 267 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: Is this redemption time for TJ. Watt who's never won 268 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: a playoff game? Or DK Metcalf who's never had a 269 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: good game for the Steelers outside of maybe a couple 270 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: hundred yarders, and he got suspended. 271 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 2: Who has to make good on Monday night. 272 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 7: Yeah, I might want to throw the placekicker in there 273 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 7: after the blocked extra point last week, although I don't 274 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 7: think that's entirely or if even mainly on him. But 275 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 7: you know, he's even slipped a little bit and they 276 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 7: might have to just OutKick their way to a victory here. 277 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 3: Against the Texans. I'm not ruling that out. 278 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: The Texans with the most field goals in the league 279 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: forty eight this year. That's an unbelievable numbers, so you 280 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: know that they're up for a rock fight. 281 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 7: And honestly, Mark, I'm not as concerned about Boswell as 282 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 7: a lot of people are. Like I said, that was 283 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 7: pretty poor blocking. If it wasn't blocked, it was darn close. 284 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 7: And I think he was thrown off by the guy 285 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 7: running in his face. He missed a fifty four yarder 286 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 7: in Cleveland. That's gonna happen. He had one bad kick 287 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 7: against Detroit, so I'm not freaking out about Boswell. I 288 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 7: think both kickers are going to be very much involved 289 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 7: in the outcome. 290 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 5: Of this game and part of the reason. 291 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 7: They rely so much on their kickers. They're not good 292 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 7: in the red zone, Houston. But to answer your specific question, 293 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 7: the first game that popped in mind, and you started 294 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 7: on defense, I went to offense first. And that's dk 295 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 7: redemption for them not being able to rest their players 296 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 7: last week against Baltimore, redemption for them having to fight 297 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 7: the Ravens to the death, redemption for that offense looking 298 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 7: as futrid as it did against Cleveland in his absence. 299 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 3: And yeah, it's just redemption maybe. 300 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 7: For a season where he didn't dominate as much as 301 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 7: his price tag should suggest. He's got a pretty good 302 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 7: postseason track record. It really better manifest not only because 303 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 7: they need him to be an alpha. 304 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 5: At the wide receiver position. 305 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 3: He's got to be better than the alpha on the 306 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 3: other side of the ball. 307 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 7: And Stingley, who's one of the best corners in the 308 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 7: league and the guy that runs with them, and last. 309 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 5: Year's pretty good too. 310 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 7: And I like his matchup if he's healthy, if he 311 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 7: can really run without the ankle and knee intrees. I 312 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 7: like his matchup Houston perspective, against whoever he's guarding as 313 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 7: the Steelers number two receiver. 314 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I I don't think. 315 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: I mean I think DK f'd up royally by getting suspended. 316 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: I think he's been a bust this year. I do 317 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 1: think that he's so easy to cover in the context 318 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 1: of that offense, and that certainly won't change any Monday night, 319 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: will it. 320 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 2: Now. 321 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 7: I can't remember if you were brought this up, or 322 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 7: maybe it was Tom who was in the two o'clock hour. 323 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 5: With you, but word's the effect of for a guy. 324 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 7: Who hasn't had the kind of season that his price 325 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 7: tag would suggest. You know, it's it's almost a self 326 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 7: defeating thing at this point because he's so clearly still 327 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 7: their number one option. 328 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 3: That he's even easier to cover. 329 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 7: Because you're not feeling like you're sacrificing much by throwing 330 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 7: that much attention at him, So it makes him. 331 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 5: Even easier to cover. 332 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 7: But I don't think Houston has to worry about it 333 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 7: all that much in this game, at least in terms 334 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 7: of deep shots. And if the Steelers can get. 335 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 3: Creative and figure out a way to get it to. 336 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:07,360 Speaker 7: DK Metcalf quickly, more power to him, and that might 337 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 7: be the key to victory because Rogers isn't gonna stand 338 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 7: back there and hold the ball for a while. He's 339 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 7: not gonna have time against this defensive front for the 340 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 7: Houston Texans. And I also think the Texans have a 341 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 7: little bit of an X factor here in that they 342 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 7: swarm to the ball well. They have good second and 343 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 7: third level guys as well as their front, and those 344 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 7: little flat passes to Warren and gain Well might not 345 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 7: get the run after Cats and the Steelers are used 346 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 7: to getting tim. 347 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: I want to stick with Rogers for a bit because 348 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: obviously the game hinges on how he plays. 349 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 2: Is he afraid to get hit? 350 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: We talk about how he got rid of it real 351 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: quick against Cleveland because they had pressure, and you know, 352 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: if he wanted Garrett to get the record, did he 353 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 1: want to prevent that? I mean, who cares? But has 354 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: he been that way all season? And maybe we just 355 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: have started to notice some more lately. 356 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,199 Speaker 7: I think it has been that way all season. He 357 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 7: doesn't want to get hit. I don't think Ben wanted 358 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 7: to get by the end. I don't think Russ particularly 359 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 7: wanted to get hit by the end. 360 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 1: You know, but in this game, you're gonna have to 361 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: get hit to make plays. 362 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 2: Given their pass rush and their pressure. There's no choice. 363 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 7: Not only that, but like I just said too, I 364 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 7: don't think you're gonna get the yards after catch to 365 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 7: throw short, to run long stuff that they like to 366 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 7: rely on, because they're just too good to get to 367 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 7: the ball. And that's part of the reason why they've 368 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 7: limited every other opposition to the lowest yards per game 369 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 7: in the National Football League this year. It's not just 370 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 7: all about sacks. I mean, my god, that Steelers have 371 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 7: one more sack than Houston. 372 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 3: Does you know? 373 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 7: The Steelers are three to one against teams that have 374 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 7: more sacks than Houston does. 375 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 5: But their pressure rate is high. 376 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 3: They force you to get rid of the ball. 377 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 7: Their pressu rate's even better than what their sack total is, 378 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 7: which is good. And you know, as we kind of 379 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 7: saw against Cleveland, you can be as aware as humanly 380 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 7: possible to not let a pass rusher wreck the game 381 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 7: by getting you down to the ground. 382 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 5: But if you're that aware, he's. 383 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 7: Kind of doing it anyway, because you're limiting the playbook 384 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 7: and anything beyond the second wave of defense, you're barely 385 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 7: even threatening the secondary. 386 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: I find this game extremely difficult to handicapped in. I'm 387 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: leaning toward Houston, and I got a Chris Sims SoundBite 388 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: later that really makes it impossible to think the Steelers 389 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: will win this game because it makes so much sense. 390 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: But I look at a certain trends that go against 391 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: conventional wisdom. For example, we keep getting told that Houston's 392 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,239 Speaker 1: offensive line isn't very good, and it probably isn't, but 393 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: it has no a lot of sack in the last 394 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: three games and allowed only one in the game before that. 395 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: I mean, what are these going to what are these 396 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 1: guys gonna come up like on Monday night. 397 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 3: I'm not impressed by their offensive line either. 398 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 7: I find it to be more of a concern from 399 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 7: a running game standpoint if I'm looking at it from 400 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 7: Houston's perspective, Because you know, Nico Collins has had a 401 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 7: plenty good enough season that passle of Iowa state wide receivers, 402 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 7: and you know those next three or four guys that 403 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 7: they have at the wide receiver position are fine. Dalton 404 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 7: Shult said a really nice year as a tight end. 405 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 7: So whatever their offensive line isn't And like you said, 406 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 7: the sack total numbers are low. 407 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 6: C J. 408 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 7: Stroud knows how to get rid of the ball without 409 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 7: putting it Harm's way. It doesn't seem to be affecting 410 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 7: the passing game all that negatively. 411 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 5: They just can't do anything. 412 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 7: Running the football now if they like, just if they 413 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 7: stay with it and they're stubborn about it and the 414 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 7: Steelers stop it, and CJ. Stroud's in third and nine, 415 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 7: third and ten of all time, Yeah, he will get 416 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 7: sacked eventually. Maybe it'll be a strip sack, Maybe be 417 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 7: a ball that's bad at the line of scrimmage and 418 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 7: winds up in TJ. Watt's stomach again like we saw 419 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 7: last week. Like that, that all could happen, but it 420 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 7: would require the Steelers defense to at least be the 421 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 7: second best unit on the field. 422 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 3: And your colleague is on with you all the time. 423 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 5: I'm with him once a week, Matt Williamson. He always 424 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 5: loves to break. 425 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 7: Down the game in the four unit thing, like, what's 426 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:10,679 Speaker 7: the best unit on the field. 427 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 5: Clearly it's Houston's defense. 428 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 3: The Steelers defense better be the second unit. 429 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 5: Because I think that it's just. 430 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 7: A race of which one of those two offenses can 431 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 7: get to nineteen or twenty first, or maybe get there 432 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,199 Speaker 7: and avoid overtime. I picked the whole week has been 433 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 7: twenty three to twenty Houston in overtime. 434 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that certain would not surprise me. And you're right. 435 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: If the Steelers defense can at least keep up with 436 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: the Houston defense, it could be a long evening at 437 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: Acres Short. We're talking to Tim Benz from The Trib. 438 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: Tim brought to us by Calusi Chevrolet, serving the Pittsburgh 439 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: area for one hundred and seven years. Tim, what about 440 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: the other side of the coin in the trenches? How 441 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: will Faltanu and Dylan Cook do against their pass rush 442 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: duo of Anderson and Hunter. 443 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 7: I think they'll do better then what the outside is anticipating. 444 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 5: I think I don't know what the number is. 445 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 7: But I take a good look at what the projected 446 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 7: sack total is for Houston and maybe go under. 447 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 5: But I'm not so sure it'll be because of. 448 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 3: Faltanu and Cook. 449 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 7: I think, as has been the case the entire season, 450 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 7: Aaron Rodgers is his own best pass protection. Again, it's 451 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 7: just how willing are they to allow this game to 452 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 7: look like the Cleveland game? Insofar as the best play 453 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 7: possible is Aaron not getting sacked, and if that results 454 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 7: in little dumpoffs to Warren and Gain, well that now 455 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 7: only gain three yards instead of six Okay, that's a 456 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 7: tough way to live, and it's a tough way to 457 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 7: keep doing that without a mistake. But I guess it 458 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 7: keeps strouding the offense off the field, and that's when 459 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 7: you get down to an even lower scoring game of 460 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 7: the one I just projected, especially if, to use your vernacular, 461 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 7: the Steelers defense keeps up with the Houston defense. 462 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think that Dylan Cook's gonna get overwhelmed. 463 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 1: Then again, who knows how much chipping and extra offensive 464 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 1: linemen and lining the tight end up over there the 465 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 1: Steelers are going to do. 466 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 2: But but Tom earlier came up with what I would 467 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 2: agree with. 468 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: I would have Tana and Cook go mostly one on 469 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: one with both guys in the interest of not crippling 470 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: my offense by frankly being too scared. 471 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 7: That's the biggest lesson that they should have taken away 472 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 7: from the second Cleveland game I hope that they did, 473 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 7: is that you know, if you were if he's literally 474 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 7: your team MVP, Like, if you're gonna leave Kenneth Gainwell 475 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 7: in the backfield to just chip and eat contact with 476 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 7: Miles Garrett or in this case, Hunter and or Anderson, 477 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 7: then you're not going to get the best production out 478 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,360 Speaker 7: of your MVT, and Warren has kind of. 479 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:53,120 Speaker 5: Used the same way. 480 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 7: Now, I suppose what they could do is go with 481 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 7: the theory of having Warren back there and kind of 482 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 7: use Gainwell as a slock guy. 483 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 5: I saw some of that against Baltimore. 484 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 7: You know, having DK back changes some of that calculus too, 485 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 7: But still it's the two backs and gain Well. 486 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 3: Excuse me, two got two backs and Metcalf that. 487 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 7: Are the weapons, and as mentioned before, Stingley I think 488 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 7: can go a long way to Houston not having to 489 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 7: throw too much attention at Metcalf, and then there's a 490 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 7: lot of other positions in the field after that where 491 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 7: I like the. 492 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 3: One on one matchup that Houston has on that side 493 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 3: of the ball. 494 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 2: Tim, I gotta get this in there. We have breaking news. 495 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: They're having an exhibition game, like just a couple of 496 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: local teams I think, at the Olympic ice Arena in Milan, 497 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 1: and the game is being delayed because there's a giant 498 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: hole in the ice. 499 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 2: Doesn't really bode well, does it. 500 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 5: No, it doesn't. I thought you were going to say, 501 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 5: we have breaking news. 502 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 7: Mark Cuban is buying the post gazette. I thought that's 503 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 7: where we were going with this. 504 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: I'd actually like to see it because that would be 505 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: the first time he ever did anything for the City 506 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: Sides run his big fat yapper. Getting back to the 507 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: Steelers in Houston. 508 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 3: Oh wait, wait, wait, where's the hole in the ice? 509 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 5: Where's the hole in the ice? Exactly? 510 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,679 Speaker 1: It looks to be in the slots, So it's not 511 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: like they could play around it. 512 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 5: In the slot. 513 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 3: So it's not even like some weakness along. 514 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 5: The wall that could be taken care of. 515 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 7: It's right in the it's right in a playing area 516 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 7: in front of the goaltender. 517 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 5: That's that's not great. That's bad news. 518 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 2: That could really hurt Sid's two hundred foot game. 519 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: Let's look at let's look at how these Steelers are 520 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 1: going to handle the Houston passing attack because they don't 521 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 1: ask Straw to do a lot. But he does have 522 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: a deep arm, he can't play catch up, and he 523 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: does have Nico Collins who torched the Steelers badly. Uh 524 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: when the teams last played two years ago, how will 525 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: the Steelers handle covering Nico Collins? To me, it's a 526 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: no brainer to man up. Joey Porter Junior on him. 527 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: But whenever you say no brainer with the Steelers, that 528 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: can be very easily contradicted by. 529 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 5: Them, right because they like to think. 530 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 7: I think their own brains, such as they are, I 531 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 7: think it's a lot easier for them to rationalize putting 532 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 7: Porter on Collins and just following them around because of 533 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 7: a body type matchup. 534 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 5: I don't think they're. 535 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:19,639 Speaker 7: Wild about that Zay Flowers versus Joey Porter matchup. He's 536 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 7: a little shifty, he's a little slotty. You know, That's 537 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 7: not the kind of guy that they like to throw 538 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 7: Porter on. 539 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 5: And I think they feel like. 540 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 7: They're wasting size when they do that, to say nothing 541 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 7: of quickness and just flat out speed. And you know, 542 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 7: I think they like the Porter versus a guy who's 543 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 7: built like Porter thing. So that strikes me as Collins. 544 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 7: And then after that it gets interesting, like do they 545 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 7: put Pierre on Higgins? 546 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 3: And if so, then it gets weak. Then I get worried, and. 547 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 5: They really have you Schultz a ton. 548 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 7: The Steelers largely have been good against tight ends this year, 549 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 7: especially in the last two to the season, but you know, 550 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 7: those other two three wide receivers, they got the other 551 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,719 Speaker 7: Iowa State guys and Kirk like they could be a 552 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 7: problem for those depth secondary guys that the Steelers have. 553 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: Tim I went through the litany of woe in the Steelers' 554 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 1: last five playoff games, the common thread being they trailed 555 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: very badly, very early in all of those games. Whose 556 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: fault is that? And how do they keep that from repeating? 557 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 1: Because while I think that, you know, those games have 558 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: nothing to do with this game in theory, I wonder 559 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: if it's in their DNA by now, and in particular 560 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: in the head coaches DNA. 561 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:40,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, whose fault is it? 562 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,240 Speaker 7: That speaks to coaching more than anything else when you 563 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 7: get up to that battle start. 564 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 5: I also think it's talent assembly. 565 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 7: I think they were outclass talent wise by Baltimore, Buffalo 566 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 7: and Kansas. 567 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 3: City in the road games. 568 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 7: And then honestly, Mark, it was the veteran guys just 569 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 7: not playing well against Cleveland, you know, the guys that 570 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 7: were just getting too old too fast, like Pouncy and 571 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 7: Ben and some of the older guys on defense. So 572 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 7: I mean, there's plenty of blame to spread around. But 573 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:09,239 Speaker 7: I'll give you something that exacerbates the concerns about the 574 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 7: fast start, and it's how Houston finishes. Houston, I believe, 575 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 7: is at plus seventy eight, the best point differential in 576 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 7: the fourth quarter of any team in football. So the 577 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 7: second half comeback, you know, the second half offensive explosion, 578 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 7: the warming up to the process, the getting used to 579 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 7: the defense thing is not going to be as present 580 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 7: to the Steelers in the fourth quarter. And you know, 581 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 7: there's also kind of a quotion to this that's been 582 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 7: evident with Rogers, where he's smart enough, been there, done that, 583 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 7: seen it all, evaluates processes and he gets used to 584 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 7: things as they go. 585 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 5: But it just might get late early. 586 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 7: Against Houston as opposed to some of the other teams 587 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 7: they've beaten. Also, keep in mind, this is a team 588 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 7: that was one in five against playoff teams. I'm talking 589 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 7: about the Steelers one in five against playoff teams this year, 590 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 7: and the one team that they beat gave them the 591 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 7: ball five times in New England, and Houston doesn't give 592 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 7: the ball to anybody. Meanwhile, Houston during their nine game 593 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 7: win streak has three wins against playoff teams, and I 594 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 7: believe it was four and four overall with a plus 595 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 7: twenty nine point differential. So none of those numbers speak 596 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 7: well to the Steelers' chances, which is why I'm giving 597 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 7: Houston a very narrow victory. The Steelers have a chance. 598 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 7: There's more reason for optimism than when they took Mason 599 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 7: Rudolph into a blizzard in Buffalo or had to go 600 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 7: into that, you know that. I don't know how you 601 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 7: call it, just that the witch saw that they had 602 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 7: to deal with getting right back into Baltimore again and 603 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 7: going to Kansas City. It's not like that they can 604 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 7: win this game. But I'm still taking Houston to win it. 605 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 3: Here. 606 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: I expect Rogers either to have a great game like 607 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: throw for two hundred and fifty yards and make Keith rows, 608 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: or to totally soil the bed, maybe get hurt, and 609 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 1: maybe if the game gets out a hand, team get 610 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: quote unquote hurt. If you know what I mean, I 611 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: don't expect much Middle. I think he'll be the reason 612 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: they win or the reason they lose. 613 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 5: So that would be what like the Cleveland game and 614 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 5: the Charger game, then yes, yeah, I could see it. 615 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 7: I could see that Houston defense just overwhelming the Steelers 616 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 7: offense so much that we go back to that whole 617 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 7: one through four ranked the units thing and the Steelers 618 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 7: offense is a distant fourth, and the Houston defense is 619 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,959 Speaker 7: by far number one. And then whatever Houston gets, it 620 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 7: gets and they win in a game that stays under 621 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 7: twenty on the point total. 622 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:34,959 Speaker 3: I could see it. 623 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 7: This is not a matchup I want. It is for 624 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 7: that exact reason. Getting Metcalf back I think will help. 625 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 7: The improved offensive line play over the last three or 626 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 7: four weeks I think will also help. 627 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 5: But I'll underscore the point I made before. 628 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 7: The biggest pass protector of Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers, 629 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 7: and no one knows that better than Aaron Rodgers. And 630 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 7: that's I think a big reason why you saw the 631 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 7: Miles Garrett effect conversation that we had after Week seventeen 632 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 7: up in Cleveland. 633 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: Well, at least Aaron Rodgers probably won't fall through a 634 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 1: hole in the ice. Tim, good stuff, Enjoy the game. 635 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you on the podcast Sunday night. 636 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 3: You don't know that Rusty. 637 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: That's Tim Benz, Im Mark madd and we got Charlie 638 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: Batch at the top of the hour and up