1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: A really big chunk of this business is largely about 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: organizing your thoughts before you write them down for a 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: column or spit them into a microphone for a talk 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: show or go on set for a TV sportscast. And 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: that's pretty much what I do three hundred days a year. 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: Every now and then, though, it is beneficial to have 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: the words come out of your mouth first extemporaneously and 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: then just organize the word vomit as it spills out, 9 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: kind of find the thought along the way. It's the 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 1: process working backwards more or less. And such was the case. 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: Last night. I was at a charity function over at 12 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: the AVI Area to raise money to fight Parkinson's disease. 13 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: Jay Coffield was there, Kevin Stevens was there. Good to 14 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: see those guys out. And the moderator was my Duke 15 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: Cane broadcast partner, Elis Cannon, and he teas up the 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: Steelers segment by asking me what I thought. And this 17 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: whole format, by the way, was the Great Pittsburgh Sports 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: Debate without all the swearing and no gene sterotor seven 19 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: Manhattans in so LST's up the Steelers portion in the 20 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: conversation by asking me what I had been expecting before 21 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: the early negotiation window opened up early yesterday, and what 22 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: I expected in the draft, And my first response was gleefully, happily. 23 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: I have no idea. And this business, you're always supposed 24 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: to act like you know what's coming. You're always supposed 25 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: to act like you know what you just saw was 26 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: supposed to happen. You're always supposed to have insights and 27 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: sense of what's gonna happen before it does. 28 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: But I'm not gonna lie. I don't know what Mike 29 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: McCarthy's thinking. I've never covered Mike McCarthy before. I don't 30 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: know what Omar kh is thinking when he's the guy 31 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: that's in charge. He's never been that before. 32 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: I know what it looks like with Bill Kaher, I 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: know what it looks like with Mike Tomlin, and I 34 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: know how. 35 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 2: Similarly those two looked at the game of football. 36 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: There were subtleties and nuances and changes that happened between 37 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: the year nineteen ninety two when Cower took over and 38 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: when Mike Tomlin left at the end of last year, 39 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 1: and certainly the split in between when Tomlin took over 40 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: for Kower after two thousand and six Obviously, yes, things 41 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: did change, but the overall scope of what the organization 42 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: thought of players who they kind of liked coming out 43 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: of the draft, how they thought of the three four 44 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: defense and who was going to fit into that three 45 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: to four defense. The kind of lineman they liked, the 46 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: kind of wide receivers they liked, the kind of quarterback they. 47 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: Liked, all those things. 48 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: You could kind of get a sense like Tomlin's not 49 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: going to go for this guy in the draft he 50 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: went to Toledo. He'd rather go for the second best 51 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: guy out of Georgia. That sort of thing, you know what, 52 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: the tweener pass rusher that could be the outside linebacker 53 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: in the three four. 54 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: That kind of thing. You had a sense for it. 55 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: I was really looking forward to this legal tampering period 56 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: or whatever we're calling it now. I was really looking 57 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: forward to this free agency period because I kind of 58 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: want to learn, I kind of want to get a 59 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: sense of something different. I kind of want to see 60 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: something new in the process, because I don't feel like 61 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: this is going to be a team that's going to 62 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: have the obligation to hammer its own square pegs into 63 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: already existing round holes, which is what I thought the 64 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: Steelers had largely been doing for many years. Anyway, eight three, three, 65 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: four one two, ninety nine thirty nine. We're gonna talk 66 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: some hockey with Peerter maguire coming up in just a 67 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: little bit. But to sort of continue the thought on 68 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: where we went with the discussion after that is when 69 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: you see Michael Pittman come on board. That's one that 70 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: could have made sense any of the past few years 71 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: when the Steelers swung and missed on trying to build 72 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: a wide receiving core around their number one. Going out 73 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: and getting Rico Dabble, though interesting, I don't think last 74 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: year's regime would have done that. You just heard what 75 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: Jay Ritcher had to say about Jamel Dean. Would they 76 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: have been aggressive enough to think that they could get 77 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: that guy from Tampa or be willing enough to outbid others, 78 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: including maybe his home team, to keep them. I don't 79 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: know that they would have. Maybe they just would have 80 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: felt more cozy sticking with James Pierre. 81 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: The fact that we're sitting here. 82 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: Talking about these different moves, and on top of that 83 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: that they went out and got a Sante Samuel and 84 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: kept him around, that was interesting. 85 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 2: To me as well. So I put a webpole up 86 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: before we started the show today. 87 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: Earlier this morning, when I got up to do breakfast, 88 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: the bands and I said, what was the most interesting? 89 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: To take that back, what was your favorite? Not most interesting? 90 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: What was your favorite Steelers free agency moves so far? 91 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: Sixty percent of. 92 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: You going with Pittman, eighteen percent of you going with Dean, 93 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: sixteen percent of you going with Uncle Rico, and then 94 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: keeping a Sante Samuel an understandable distant four point three. 95 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: But sixty percent of you say that Michael Pittman Junior 96 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: is the best signing so far. Like I said to Tom, 97 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go Rico because I think he has the 98 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: potential to be the best player at that. 99 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: Position on the team. 100 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: Pittman, if things work out great for what he does 101 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: for the Steelers, he won't be the best receiver on 102 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: the Steelers. 103 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 2: He'll make Dk Metcalf better. 104 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: He'll make the rookie that they get in the draft, 105 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: hopefully in the first or second round better. Like I 106 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: don't see Michael Pittman coming here and at the end 107 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: of the season saying, oh my god, he's Chinakov, Like, 108 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: that's not my goal with this signing. My goal with 109 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: this signing is to have a guy who's enough of 110 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: a threat that he can pull coverage away from DK 111 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: metcalf or if he doesn't do that, then either he 112 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: or the rookie wide receiver that they get as a 113 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: result are good enough to make impact plays where other 114 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: receivers that they have had with Pickings in this role 115 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: or last year with DK in the top role, those 116 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: receivers couldn't do that. 117 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 2: Those receivers couldn't exploit that. So I think Doubtell is 118 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: the guy who. 119 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: Can influence his own position more with his own stats 120 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: and his own numbers. But if Pittman does what I 121 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: just described, hey job well done, signing, well made, I 122 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: do think, and we'll get more into this as the 123 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: show goes along, but it is pretty clear that they're 124 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: addressing agendas that they want to address in free agency 125 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: and trying to give themselves some space to operate in 126 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: the draft. They've taken care of corner. They don't want 127 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: to muddy the waters there. Okay, pay attention to safety 128 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: in the draft. You might like the safety class better 129 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: than you did the corners. I like that thinking. There's 130 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: clarity to that thinking. They're leaving open the offensive line 131 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: position as of now to the degree that they let 132 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: Seeamalu walk And maybe I missed something. I'll double check 133 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: during the commercial break, but I didn't see them go 134 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: out and get another offensive lineman yet. Maybe that's because 135 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: they like the guard from Penn State as much as 136 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: Mike pursued and I do. Maybe that's because they think 137 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: they're okay tackle with Cook. Don't know if that's the 138 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: right way to think about it, or maybe they love 139 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: the offensive tackles late that they can get in the draft. 140 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: That to me is becoming indicated by how they approached 141 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: free agency. But it has been fun to not know 142 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: this crap in advance because I always knew. 143 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 2: The road that the Steelers would take to get to 144 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: ten and eight. 145 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: The unfortunate part is it feels like they're gonna take 146 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: the familiar path. 147 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 2: With cornerback to get to ten and eight. 148 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: We'll talk about more as the show goes along, but 149 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: next we'll talk to Pierre McGuire discuss hockey. He's on 150 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: the way in your Home for the Pens one oh 151 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: five nine, The X of Loose Talk. 152 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: I like it. 153 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 4: I like it. 154 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: The X at one oh five nine. 155 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: TN to Talk Penguin hockey Right now, it's Tim ben'z 156 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: on your home for the Pens. The Pen's playing tonight 157 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: against the Carolina Hurricanes. Pierre Maguire joining us right now. 158 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: Brought to us by always Say flagging and traffic control 159 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: on a little earlier than normal in the three o'clock 160 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: our Pierre, Thanks for adjusting, appreciate that and looking forward 161 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: to this game tonight, one of two on the road 162 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: trip for the Pens. It's a long enough road trip 163 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: that they're hitting one place twice. Unfortunately it's Carolina, first 164 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: place in the metro. This is gonna be a tough 165 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: test of road games for Pittsburgh, isn't it, no question? 166 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 3: Ten Nice to talk with you, by the way, Yeah, 167 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 3: it's not gonna be easy Carolina is It's obviously the 168 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 3: top of the division. They've got some serious firepower. They've 169 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: got a budding young goaltender and busy Brandon Bussey who's 170 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 3: a free agent out of Western Michigan. But the biggest 171 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: thing you gotta do is you got to eliminate their 172 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 3: top line with Seth Jarvis, Sebastianajo and get and says 173 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 3: sketching the coff And if you do that, you got 174 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 3: a real good chance to win. The rest of the 175 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 3: lineup is really consistent defensively, but it's not a great 176 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 3: overwhelming offensive lineup. And then if you can attack that defense, 177 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 3: they got a lot of guys that are playing too 178 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 3: high in the lineup, and if you can attack that defense, 179 00:08:58,200 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 3: you got a chance to win. And you kind of 180 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: play into the way the Penguins play. So we'll see 181 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 3: how it plays out tonight. 182 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: What do you like about Bussy? 183 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 3: His rebound control is good, He's very athletic, he's long, 184 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: and watching him play a lot in college at Western Michigan, 185 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 3: I think the biggest thing is a lot of people 186 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: doubted him, and because people doubted him, he's a whole 187 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 3: lot of PPW. He wants to prove people wrong and 188 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: he's carried that with him and I think that's really 189 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 3: helped him because he's such a battler. 190 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: Do you look at the Carolina Hurricanes and say they 191 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: should win the East or do you look at the 192 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: Hurricanes and say they're still not as good as whoever 193 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: comes out of the Atlantic. 194 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 3: Potentially, Yeah, I don't think there's good as who comes 195 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 3: out of the Atlantic. I've said it many times. You know, 196 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 3: they've tried to address it. They're a team built on analytics, 197 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 3: and analytics can't measure the size of a man's heart, 198 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 3: his courage, or his desire to overcome somebody else. It 199 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 3: can talk about a lot of their athleticism, but I 200 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: can't talk about the good factor that's necessary to win 201 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 3: the playoffs. So their team built on analytics. They try 202 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 3: to address it by going out and getting Nick Glory 203 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 3: from the Philadelphia Flyers. Nick is one tough home break. 204 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 3: He's a tough kid, he really is, But I don't 205 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 3: know he's got enough game to make them relevant. He's 206 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 3: not a Tom Wilson, do you know what I'm saying, Tim, 207 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 3: He's not one of those guys that makes a difference 208 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 3: with smash mounts component hockey that you have to have 209 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 3: if you know later the playoffs. So I still think 210 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 3: they're a little short, and I don't think they're better 211 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 3: than the top three teams in the Eastern Conference in 212 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 3: the Atlantic Division season. 213 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I do think they are comfortably better than either 214 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh or New York right now as those two teams 215 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: are currently constructed. But I will say this for their 216 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: long term benefit, you know, should have come down to 217 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: them versus say Buffalo or Tampa, who might be nipping 218 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: at their heels in terms of point totals. Man, if 219 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: I'm Carolina, I want to play at home as long 220 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: as possible. They are excellent on home ice. They've got 221 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: twenty three home ice wins, which I believe is second 222 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: best in the conference. 223 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it couldn't be more correct. The biggest thing is, 224 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 3: I don't think anybody's gonna want to go through Buffalo 225 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 3: anytime soon. That place is heating up like you can't believe, 226 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 3: which is tremendous for the fans there because it's long overdue. 227 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 3: It's great for the organization, but it's really good for 228 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 3: the city. It's really great for the city of Buffalo. 229 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 3: So I know people in Pittsburgh don't want to hear that. 230 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 3: I get it, trust me. But I'm happy for those fans. 231 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 3: They've been suffering for a really long time. 232 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: I feel like it's a little redundant to say this 233 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: because maybe it's sustained enough. But how sustainable is what 234 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: Buffalo is doing, Pierre, since you brought them up, Oh. 235 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 3: Very sustainable. One of the things they did at the 236 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 3: trade deadline that I thought was so smart and I've 237 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 3: known arm will keep a line and their general manager 238 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 3: a long time. He and I worked together in Ottawa. 239 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 3: He tried to hire me to go coach his team 240 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 3: over in Helsinki, Finland, back in the nineties, so I've 241 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 3: spent a lot of time with him over time. I 242 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 3: think he noticed that his team needed a little pushback, 243 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 3: a little physical intimidation, by adding Sam Carroll from the 244 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 3: New York Rangers. He did that by adding, you know, 245 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 3: I think a guy that in the summertime, Kessela Ring 246 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 3: is a really tough kid. And then you go out 247 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 3: and you add two big defensemen and Logan Stanley and 248 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 3: Luke Schen He's done. He's done some really good stuff, 249 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 3: both as an assistant GM and as a GM. And 250 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 3: they're they're gonna be a hard out. I mean, four 251 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 3: months ago, Zak Benson was playing as a first line 252 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 3: left linger. There now Zach Benson's playing as a fourth 253 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 3: line left Where you were Sam Carrick and Beck Mallenstein. 254 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 3: That team's roster has completely been overhauled. 255 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: As we approach roughly five and a half six weeks 256 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: left to go here in the regular season, Pierre, as 257 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: you look at it for the teams behind Carolina in 258 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: the metro, Pittsburgh, the Islanders, and Columbus. How would you 259 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: power rank those clubs right now their chances? How would 260 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: you handicap their chances of making the playoffs. Finally, Columbus 261 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: looks like it's cooled off a bit, having lost a 262 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 1: couple of games, but still both five four overtime games 263 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: to Utah and LA So maybe that's cool their heels 264 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 1: a little bit, as they came out fairly strong from 265 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: the Olympics. But you tell me, if you were to 266 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: rank those teams one through three for the playoffs right now, 267 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: what would it be? 268 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 3: The one thing I'll had about Columbus. They lost yesterday 269 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 3: to La Adrian Kempy with an overtime winner as an 270 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 3: afternoon game, but they have to play in Tampa the night. 271 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 3: That's a tough turnaround. That's really tough for them. So 272 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 3: they can't afford to lose that game. I know people 273 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 3: say they still got plenty of time. No, because you 274 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 3: lose the game and you lose the points. So they 275 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 3: got to take care of business tonight. If I were handicapping, 276 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 3: and if Sydney was healthy and I knew Geno, obviously 277 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 3: Gino's gonna be back sooner round than later once they 278 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 3: had their roster. Pittsburgh, I think Pittsburgh's really dangerous, so 279 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 3: I would say and Gerard. I know Sammy Gerards are too. 280 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 3: I guess say Pittsburgh one, Islanders to Columbus three, because 281 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 3: the Columbus doesn't have a lot of wiggle rooms. The 282 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 3: other guys have a little bit of wiggle room. The 283 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: Columbus doesn't that many, so tonight could be a huge 284 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 3: turnaround game in a bad way. So then if they lose. 285 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 2: In Tampa, I think it's a good point, Pierre. 286 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: I might even be a little inclined to put the 287 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: Islanders first out of that because I think they have 288 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: the least amount of variance. I think there's a higher 289 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 1: degree of variance with the other two teams, in large 290 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: part because of what you just pointed to the suspension 291 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: of Malkin for another few to go here and Crosby's health. 292 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's fair. Here's what I'm worried about with the 293 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: Amners there for a lot, they got a lot of 294 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 3: people sleeping, and now people are looking at the standings saying, oh, 295 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 3: but these guys are for real. So you got a 296 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 3: young kid that's dominating a lot of their games in 297 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 3: Matthew Shaffer, and he's never been through this before. And 298 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 3: if you were to talk to people that are on 299 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 3: the inside, they'll tell you he's gonna get it. I mean, 300 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 3: now people drop their game plans and that's a hard 301 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 3: gig to deal with. So it's gonna be very, very 302 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 3: interesting to watch how it all plays out there. I 303 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 3: don't give them as much, but I will say this, 304 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 3: I think it's fair. Dan Ues and Patrick Kawah those 305 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 3: were the two major question mark scoring season. Could Dan 306 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 3: use coach NHL players as a head coach? And was 307 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 3: Patrick Gua going to be the first guy fired? Both guys? 308 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 3: At gun Fan asked the coaching johnps both of them. 309 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: Peter Maguire with us, you walked me down the path 310 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: that I wanted to go next year, so I'll follow 311 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: you there. About Dan Mughes of the two, obviously, the 312 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: answer to this question is both. I mean, there's a 313 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: little bit of both to the answer, I'm sure. But 314 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: is it a more direct reflection of roster construction and 315 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: changes that Dubis has made as to why the Penguins 316 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: are surprisingly good, or is it how Mwes has coached 317 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: up who he's had. What's been the biggest X factor 318 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: as to why the Pens are so much better than expected. 319 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 3: I think that Dan Newes was a breath of fresh air. 320 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 3: And it's not a knock on Mike Sullivan. He was 321 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 3: there a long time. The message got stale. There wasn't 322 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 3: a lot of success, and when you don't have success, 323 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 3: the coaching message skips even more stale. They missed the 324 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,080 Speaker 3: playoffs three years in a row, a lot of the 325 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 3: same sound bites just because you don't know what the 326 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 3: same When you continually lose, to keep going back to 327 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 3: the same well and it doesn't really play well with 328 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 3: your players. That's part of the problem Dan. The one 329 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 3: thing I'd say is, you know, if you look at 330 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: what dan' stugg he's really improved the power play. The 331 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 3: penalty killing has been fantastic, and he was a big 332 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 3: part of the penalty kill with the Rangers. He's only 333 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 3: one of the only positive parts of the Rangers under 334 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 3: his assistant coaching reign with Peter Lavolette and Phil Howsley. 335 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think Dan's made a big difference. Obviously, 336 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 3: you got to give some credit to the front office 337 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 3: with Kyle Duvis and Jason Spence in the pro scouts. 338 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 3: They've done some good work because look at the way 339 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 3: Wolfsburry's playing. So they've done some really good stuff. And 340 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 3: the Penguins are going to be a formidable force. The 341 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 3: fact they're winning some games without Malcolm and Crosby is 342 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 3: huge for their confidence. 343 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: I want to follow up on that thread you just 344 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: discussed about, you know, Sullivan going out the door and 345 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: he was taking over, and you're right, the exercise of 346 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: let's berry Sully on the way out the door is 347 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: a little bit cliche. So and I'm sure some of 348 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: that will happen here in Pittsburgh, like if Mike McCarthy 349 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: wins thirteen games, I mean, it'll be the same exercise 350 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: in the NFL, should that be the case. But you know, 351 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: I thought that Eric Carlson, you talked about some sound 352 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: bites and things like that. You can't hear the same 353 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: thing over and over again. But Carlson said a couple 354 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: things in recent weeks. I think one of them on 355 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: this show when he came on with Mark Madden and 356 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 1: certainly won. After the Penguins won that overtime game on TNT, 357 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: when he's talking to Bizanette and that crew for their 358 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: postgame show, like Biz asked, why are you playing better 359 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,959 Speaker 1: on defense this year? Just flat out asked him that, 360 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: And his response was, you know, like sometimes you can't 361 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: have everybody play exactly the same way, and if you 362 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: feel like you're better in certain situations using your stick 363 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: as a way to help yourself defensively and not bodying 364 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: everybody up, that's a way that I can play defense better. 365 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: And it was almost like saying a reiteration of what 366 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 1: he had told Mark, which is you can't have everybody 367 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: play the same way all the time. And I think 368 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: with Sullivan's success here, Pierre, he tried, he felt empowered 369 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: to do that and maybe that just stopped working. 370 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, John Turner WILLI is very much the same 371 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 3: and that's his mentor. So No, it's it's very fair. 372 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 3: It's not a criticism. It's just you know, looking at 373 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 3: it throughout without rose colored glasses, but clear glasses. Here's 374 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 3: what I would tell you. I had the honor of 375 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: coaching in that city. We had a lot of success. 376 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 3: Every defenseman was coached differently. I didn't coach Jimmy Pack 377 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 3: the same way that I coached Sel Samuelson. I didn't 378 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 3: coach Shel Sanderson the same way I coached ol Samerson. 379 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: I didn't coach Gordi Roberts the same way that I 380 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 3: coached Larry Murphy. You know, I didn't coach Grant Jennings 381 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 3: the same way I would to coach Gordy denied. They're 382 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 3: all different. They all have strengths, they all have weaknesses, 383 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 3: so you try to enhance the strengths and work to 384 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 3: make the weaknesses a little bit less. So we coached 385 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 3: them all a little bit different. We were a huge 386 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 3: at that time in my career. We were a huge 387 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 3: matchup team because of who my boss is here, and 388 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 3: because of that, we played to the players strengths when 389 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: we set up matchups, you know, the day before a 390 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 3: gamer and even the afternoon of a game. So yeah, no, 391 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 3: you're right. I don't think he can coach players the 392 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 3: same way. Everybody's a little bit different. 393 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: I asked this if Mark, when we were doing a 394 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: podcast together. I'd like to throw this question at you 395 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: and maybe you can speak to it from your time here. 396 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: Just other times we've covered the Penguins over the years, 397 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: have you seen a guy arrive here after kind of 398 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: being given up upon or miscast or misunderstood as much 399 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: as Chinikov, and then blossom as quickly as Chinikov has here. 400 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: People keep saying Covialev to me, but I thought Covialev 401 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: was more established in New York even before he got 402 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: to Pittsburgh and thoroughly blossomed in the early two thousands. 403 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 3: I'll give you some revision of history. Go google the 404 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 3: headline stories from Hertford when we got Ronnie Francis and 405 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 3: what was being said about Ronnie. 406 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, Hartford wins the deal. 407 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was bad. It was really really bad. It 408 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,719 Speaker 3: was actually mean spirited, and at that time it wasn't 409 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 3: the media wasn't as nasty as they are now. It 410 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 3: was really it was not appropriate. Craig and mister Patrick 411 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 3: had asked me to spend I think it was like 412 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 3: seven to ten days in that area, and I stayed 413 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 3: at the Sheridan Hotel. I would it was a really 414 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 3: crazy schedule. I think Hartford played four games and eight 415 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 3: nights at home, and their minor league team was a 416 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 3: little bit the same up in Springfield. So I just 417 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 3: worked out of there and I would read the Hertford Current. 418 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 3: Every day in the morning when I was having a 419 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 3: cup of coffee, I couldn't believe it was being written 420 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 3: about that guy, in particular because I'm watching them players go. 421 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 3: He's a good player, and eventually we get him and 422 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 3: we went to Stanley Cups with him and Craig Patrick 423 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 3: was just so brilliant. But here's the part that's crazy. 424 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 3: After we won the two Cups, Brian Burke becomes a 425 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 3: GM in Hartford and he offers me a whack of 426 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 3: money and I leave Pittsburgh to go to Hartford with 427 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 3: no Runnie for instance. 428 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: Well, Pierre, thanks a lot of the time. It was 429 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: great catching up with you as always. Thank you, thank 430 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: you for doing this. Thank you for bumping up a 431 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 1: little bit in time. I really appreciate the flexibility. We'll 432 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 1: talk again soon, okay, I can't wait. 433 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 3: Ten Thanks a lot. 434 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: Joining the week, everybuddy, Peter Maguire joining us here on 435 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: one oh five nine the X, your flagship station for 436 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. You can hear Pierre of course here 437 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: during Penguin games as well in the pregame show and 438 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 1: listen for the Hockey Nights Show at five point thirty 439 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: and then at six the pregame show tonight in advance 440 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: of Pens and Hurricanes. 441 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 2: Here on one O five nine the. 442 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 5: X every weekday at ten am is Travis I'm starting 443 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 5: your workday commercial freight on one O five nine. 444 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 2: This is former not Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. Here's what's 445 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 2: trending from the Ihearts Sports Network. Here is an invite 446 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 2: text now. 447 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 4: Several new faces will be on the Steelers practice field 448 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 4: for OTAs after the team added Jamel Dean, ric o'dowdell 449 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 4: and Michael Pittman yesterday. Penguins are back on the ice tonight. 450 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 4: They're in Carolina. Pittsburgh second now in the Metro Division. 451 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 4: There are eight points behind the Hurricanes and pro golfer 452 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 4: Gary Woodward. He told the Golf Channel that he's been 453 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 4: suffering with PTSD since having brain than surgery three years ago. 454 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 2: I'm Scott David said. 455 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 6: Other wireless carriers tell you when to pay. 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Hi, I'm Maria Salon owner. 466 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 6: You know the jingle, now discover the facts about a 467 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 6: zebek a gop one. 468 00:22:57,840 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 2: I just said, I don't know what I said. I 469 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 2: don't know what you Yeah, The Exit three'clock hour, the 470 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:06,640 Speaker 2: Mark Madden Show. 471 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: Tim Benz here on one five nine the X Mark 472 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: Off today on his way to Vegas. I'll be with 473 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: you today and tomorrow on the DV Morning Show. Then 474 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: for me on Thursday, before the A ten tournaments at 475 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: PPG Paints Arena, wanted to talk a little bit more 476 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: right here about the Michael Pittman acquisition for the Steelers. 477 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 2: Michael Pittman Junior the wide receiver from Indianapolis. 478 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: And in order to fix the Steelers wide receiver problem, 479 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:43,679 Speaker 1: omar Con needed to actually admit a problem existed first, 480 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: and that's something he has previously been unwilling to do 481 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: the last couple of years is we all know out 482 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: loud Omar would say things like we liked the group 483 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: that we have when it came to the receivers, and 484 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: then the whole time he was working to get other 485 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: receivers and just not acknowledging it publicly, and rarely did 486 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: those efforts ever come to conclusion. Rarely did you see 487 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: those things manifest and at least when they did, they 488 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: didn't work out great. But in trading for Michael Pittman 489 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,360 Speaker 1: Junior from the Colts, at least here con is acknowledging 490 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,680 Speaker 1: that it has been a problem and they can't get 491 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: around it anymore. That to me is the most important 492 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 1: part that the Steelers have at least acknowledged that what 493 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: they've had the past couple of years, which was basically 494 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: one big target and nothing else, be it Pickens or 495 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: DK Metcalf, that was no longer a workable formula. 496 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 2: Now, according to what. 497 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: ESPN has said, they're gonna get Pittman for a late 498 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: round draft swap. The exact exchange is still to be determined. 499 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: The NFL Network says that part of the trade's gonna 500 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 1: include a reworked three year, fifty nine million dollar contract 501 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: for Pittman. He was previously owned twenty four million for 502 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six and what was his expiring deal in Indy. 503 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: Should Steelers fans have preferred getting Alec Pierce, Pittman's teammate 504 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: with the Colts. Yes, Unfortunately the Colts preferred him as well. 505 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:24,439 Speaker 1: That's why they were willing to part with Pittman for 506 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 1: minimal return, while they gave Pierce sixty million guaranteed as 507 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: part of a one hundred and fourteen million dollar four 508 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: year contract extension to stay out there. Now, I'm not 509 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: even sure if Pierce is a true number one. Forty 510 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: seven catches one thousand and three yard six touchdowns good numbers, 511 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: but I'm not sure he's a true number one, but 512 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: he's being paid like one. I certainly know Pittman is 513 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: not a number one, but I think he's a capable 514 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: number two. His stat line last year eighty catches, seven 515 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty four yards, seven touchdowns. And if the 516 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: Steelers can select a stud wide receiver of the future 517 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: in the first or second round of the draft next month, 518 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: I think Pittman could be a very good even if 519 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: dramatically overpaid number three target. That's important because Mike McCarthy's 520 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 1: offense used three wide receivers a. 521 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,360 Speaker 2: Lot in Dallas and in Green Bay. 522 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 1: In fact, in twenty twenty four, which was McCarthy's last 523 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 1: year in Dallas, only three teams ran more plays out 524 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: of eleven personnel, one running back, one tight end, three 525 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: wide receivers. Only three teams ran that formation more than 526 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: Dallas did with McCarthy. Prior acquiring Pittman, the Steelers only 527 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: had two other wide receivers besides Metcalf under contract for 528 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six, Ben Scronick and Roman Wilson. Those guys 529 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: had sixteen catches for two hundred and thirty five yards combined. 530 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:54,880 Speaker 2: That was it. 531 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: So the Steelers can't be done at the position, but 532 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: they are no longer in a spot where they have 533 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: to feel obligated to panic pick at the position in 534 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: the first round. If there's an early run on receivers, 535 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to turn into a Troy Edwards situation 536 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 1: way back in what was that nineteen ninety nine con 537 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: can also be versatile when it comes to what. 538 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 2: Type of receiver to draft. 539 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:29,719 Speaker 1: Normally, Pittman lined up outside the numbers in Indy. If 540 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:33,439 Speaker 1: you look at his snap distribution nine hundred and nineteen 541 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: snaps according to Rodewire, five hundred and sixty one times outside. 542 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 1: So if con wants to find a smaller, shifty slot 543 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 1: receiver who can bounce outside when needed, Pittman can compliment 544 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 1: that kind of player, and Metcalf would be the other 545 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: guy outside the numbers for the most part. But at 546 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,119 Speaker 1: six four two twenty three, he also lined up as 547 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: a big slot himself two hundred and sixteen times and 548 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: was tight seven seven times. So if the Steelers prefer 549 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: to go with another outside the numbers player early in 550 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,479 Speaker 1: the draft or via another trade or free agent signing, 551 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 1: Pittman could probably work out under those circumstances too. He's 552 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: not great, he's good. He's not off in dynamic. He's 553 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: more steady and consistent, and he's only missed three games 554 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: the last five years. In twenty twenty five, which was 555 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: his age twenty eight season, he had a career eye 556 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: seven touchdowns but just nine pointy eight yards per catch. 557 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: That was nearly a career low after being at eleven 558 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: point seven and twenty twenty four. 559 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 2: Now he's six years into his career. He's never been 560 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 2: an All. 561 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: Pro, but he does have two seasons over one thousand 562 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: yards and a third over nine hundred. 563 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:48,959 Speaker 2: There's no way to say it nicely. 564 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: DK Metcalf didn't live up to the hype in his 565 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: first season with the Steelers. Too many drops, too many 566 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: games where he didn't get to one hundred yards, just 567 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: two overall in the season, not enough big play, just 568 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: three touchdowns after the Week four game in Dublin, and 569 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: his late season suspension nearly cost the team a division title. 570 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: I would say, though, that Metcalfs woes weren't entirely his doing. 571 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy should have a more receiver friendly offense than 572 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith did. Pittman and whoever rookie wide receiver X 573 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: ends up being will hopefully pull some of that attention 574 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: from DK this year. 575 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 2: No one did that in twenty twenty five. 576 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: Pearson, Rashid Shaheed. They've stayed with their current teams. Mike 577 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: Evans was going to pass up go to San Francisco 578 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: to come to Pittsburgh without a clear answer a quarterback. 579 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: Pittman isn't perfect, He's not, but he's better than anything 580 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: else the Steelers had, and he may have been as 581 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: good of an option as Omar Khan had to acquire. 582 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: Grabbing Pittman won't. 583 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: Erase the Steelers wide receiver depth this year, but he's 584 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: a real good step towards solving it. 585 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 2: Tell me what you think. Eight three three four one 586 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: two w xdx. That's the number to call Michael Pittman. 587 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: Is he enough for what the Steelers can do this 588 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: offseason at wide receiver? 589 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 2: Should they still do more? 590 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: I think they should do more, but I do think 591 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:24,400 Speaker 1: that's probably about as much as they could have done 592 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: in free agency or the trade market. 593 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 2: For now. We'll see. 594 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: Maybe they can still get creative, but I'll give that 595 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: move to this point a thumbs up. 596 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 2: How about you? Eight three three four one two w xdx. 597 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 1: We'll talk more about Pittman in the four o'clock hour 598 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 1: with Kevin Bowen, who covers the Colts for the Fan 599 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis here on one O five nine the x YO. 600 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 2: It's the White Show. 601 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 7: Yeah, and we have your chance to join us for 602 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 7: the Witie Show after hours takeover at Disney California Adventure 603 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 7: Park in Anaheim, California. 604 00:30:57,680 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 605 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 7: Round trip Bear Fair from the berg SoCal for a 606 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 7: three day two night trip to the Disneyland Resort April 607 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 7: nineteenth through the twenty first, and all you have to 608 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 7: do to register is listen to The Woody Show for 609 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 7: your chance to call in and win. 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