1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Tom Offerman in for Mark Man Today. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 2: This segment is brought to us by eighty four Lumber, 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: a dynasty partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, joining me now 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 2: in studio. You hear him on the Drive every day 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 2: with Matt Williamson on Steelers Nation Radio. He is Wesley Yuler. Wes, 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 2: thanks for joining me in studio, partner. 7 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 3: Always fun to put a face to the legend that 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 3: is Tommy Radio. Let's be honest. You just finished the 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 3: drive and you just mosied on over here. Yeah, I 10 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 3: mean I came down like two studios. It was a 11 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 3: really far trip. But you know, in these gray, soulless studios, 12 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 3: you can never really tell which room is which. 13 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: Well, the big news that just broke was Darius Slay 14 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: getting released by the Steelers. I don't think that's a 15 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 2: big deal at all because he was probably going to 16 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: be an act of moving forward every week as long 17 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 2: as everybody was healthy in that secondary. And I think 18 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: they got enough out of us Sante Samuel where they 19 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 2: were like, hey, we're good with him moving forward. It's 20 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: going to be him and Pierre's kind of that duo 21 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 2: opposite of Joey Porter Junior And do you want to 22 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 2: go out and try to find your way with someone else. 23 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Darius Slay feel free. 24 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I like that they give him that option, 25 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 3: you know, for a veteran guy end of his career. Hey, 26 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 3: we're not just gonna make you inactive for the rest 27 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 3: of the season. Go ahead and see if you can 28 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 3: seek employment somewhere else. But I think you're right the 29 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 3: writing on the wall. Maybe we should have seen this. 30 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 3: I mean, his role has steadily decreased. He was a 31 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: healthy scratch. He was inactive on Sunday against Buffalo. And then, yes, 32 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 3: I'll be it, in a small sample size, you saw 33 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: a Sante Samuel Junior finally after a couple weeks of practice. 34 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 3: And then, you know, Mike Tomlin earlier today it is 35 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 3: weekly Tuesday press conferences. You know, I forget what the 36 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 3: exact line was, but he said something like, we liked 37 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: what we saw or we liked what we've seen with 38 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: a Sante Samuel Junior. So I think this makes a 39 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 3: ton of sense. I think he can slot in well 40 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 3: right now with what you're asking him to do. And 41 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 3: tom if it goes pretty you know, Darius Slay was 42 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 3: a one year lease, you know, in an apartment downtown, 43 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: whereas a Sante Samuel, he could be a mortgage for 44 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 3: you for a few years. If you like what you 45 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 3: see here, in the next couple of weeks, you bring 46 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: him back. He's in Latrobe in late July. He's in 47 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 3: the mix, you know, with Eckles and Joey Porter Junior, 48 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 3: and hopefully maybe there could be something longer term here 49 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 3: with him too that you were just never gonna get 50 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 3: with Sleigh. 51 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 4: Yeah. 52 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: I mean, he's on the right side of thirty by 53 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 2: a couple of years. I'd still think he'd be in 54 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: the Charger second area right now if he didn't have 55 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: that devastating injury at the end of last season. Today 56 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: at Mike Thomlins press conference West he ruled out Derek Harmon, 57 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 2: which I think is just great news considering the Bills 58 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: just ran for two hundred and forty nine yards without 59 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: Harmon out there, and they're facing Derrick Henry and the Ravens, 60 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 2: who in their previous two games combined for two or 61 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: for five hundred and nineteen rushing yards against the Steelers. 62 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: So you need Harmon out there. 63 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: I don't want to put it all on the rookie 64 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: shoulders and say, hey, you have a great run defense 65 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 2: with him, a terrible one without him. But kind of 66 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: seems to be that way, doesn't it. 67 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 3: One of the things that I talked about with our 68 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 3: buddy Matt Williamson on the drive today was how there's 69 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 3: not much I know about this team for sure right now. 70 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 3: You know, I know the defense is heavily reliant on takeaways, 71 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 3: and when they get him, the Steelers can win. When 72 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 3: they don't, the Steelers aren't gonna win. And even sometimes 73 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 3: when they get him, like they did in the first 74 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 3: half against Buffalo, it only gets you a four point 75 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 3: lead and not as worthwhile as you need it to be. 76 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: The Bears game got him, didn't win the game. 77 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: And even you know, against New England in Indianapolis, you 78 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: got five and six and it was only a one 79 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: possession of inner. I know how reliant this team is 80 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 3: and this defense are on splash plays. There's not a 81 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 3: ton else that I know other than this area or 82 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 3: that player has underwhelmed. But another thing that I do 83 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 3: know is if you look at this Steelers run defense 84 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 3: with and without Derek Harmon, it's a drastic difference. 85 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: It's like it was with Cam Hayward. Last with Cam Hayward. 86 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 3: Last year, the Steelers were like a top five run 87 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 3: defense when he was on the field and a bottom 88 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 3: five run defense when he was off the field. And 89 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 3: it's almost getting to feel that way with Derek Harmon. 90 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 3: Think about how much they struggled against the run those 91 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 3: first two weeks when he was absent at the start 92 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: of this year, and then he comes back in New 93 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: England and they get better, and they were really good 94 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: in Dublin in that department against the Vikings. There was 95 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 3: I think a direct correlation between Harmon's absence and James 96 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 3: Cook running right at where he typically is on the 97 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 3: defensive line to great success on Sunday, over and over 98 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 3: and over again. And you're right, you shouldn't be putting 99 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 3: that on the rookie. You shouldn't be that reliant on 100 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 3: one player, especially a rookie, on your defensive line. But 101 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 3: I think it's pretty clear, and maybe high Smith deserves some, 102 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 3: you know, some credit in this regard to because he's 103 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 3: good against the run and has missed a few weeks. 104 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 3: But Derek Harmon has been so crucial to the kind 105 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 3: of ebb and flow the pendulum that we've felt about 106 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 3: this Steelers run defense. And it really showed on Sunday, 107 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 3: and you mentioned against a guy like Derrick Henry, even 108 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 3: with Lamar clearly not being healthy and his you know, 109 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 3: athleticism and his legs not being as big of a factor, 110 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 3: you could see Derek Henry getting like twenty five carries 111 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 3: and just them being unable to slow him down. Once again, 112 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 3: Harmon is a is a huge absence. I think we 113 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 3: all spent time last week talking like what's the bigger loss? 114 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 3: Broderick Jones on the offensive line, Derek Harmon on the 115 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 3: defensive line, both in the trenches, both big guys. With 116 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 3: all due respect to Broderick Jones, I think it was 117 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 3: shown that it's Derek Harmon. On Sunday, we have some 118 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 3: more Steelers breaking news. You ready for this, He's a 119 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 3: little spicy. They have claimed veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen 120 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 3: off of waiver. No, Lord, I got a feeling Adam 121 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 3: Thielen is a Pittsburgh Steeler. 122 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: Does that solve anything as far as the wide receiver 123 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 2: too is concerned. I don't even know if like they 124 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 2: got a Jacoby Meyer type of player in here, that 125 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: it would have solved anything, because I just don't know 126 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: if they know how to use it properly, Like, I 127 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: don't know if that offense is capable of getting the 128 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: most out of a number two wide receiver because they 129 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: ain't getting the most out of the number one wide receiver. 130 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 3: Like, how are we going to talk about getting more 131 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 3: out of your number two wide receiver when we're having 132 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 3: that same conversation, when we're having that conversation with John 133 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 3: hu Smith and Pat Fryarmouth. 134 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: It's everybody in the past game. 135 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: You might have Rob Gronkowski dipped in Randy Moss in 136 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 3: their prime walking out there on Sunday, Tom and I'm 137 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 3: not sure if they could put up numbers. 138 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: It's a massive issue. 139 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 3: It hasn't mattered who the quarterback was, It hasn't mattered 140 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 3: who the number two wide receiver was. It hasn't mattered 141 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 3: how you deploy the tight ends. Maybe this is another 142 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 3: thing that we know for sure about this team. The 143 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,559 Speaker 3: pass game has been utterly ineffective. You know, they signed 144 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 3: MVS to the practice squad a few weeks ago. Haven't 145 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 3: seen him, And I'm not saying I'm like beating the 146 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: door down for that guy, but at least he's a 147 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 3: different body type than Calvin Anderson and Roman Wilson. He's 148 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 3: bigger and has some of that, you know, not nearly 149 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 3: to DK Metcalf size, but he again is certainly bigger 150 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: than Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin. I just they have 151 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 3: had failure to launch on so many elements of this offense. 152 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 3: I think a lot of it gets back in the 153 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 3: in the inconsistencies in the ground game. But even still, 154 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: when they've had Jalen Warren running really effectively, it hasn't 155 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 3: translated to opening things up and having success in the 156 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 3: pass game. 157 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: Tom. 158 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 3: This is kind of like, I give them a smidge 159 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 3: of credit for at least trying something, But this is 160 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 3: also like, this is the equivalent of like showing up 161 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 3: for your college class when you're hungover at eight thirty 162 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 3: in the morning. Yeah, you're there, but are you really 163 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 3: gonna do anything? Are you really gonna learn anything? 164 00:06:58,920 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: I doubt it. 165 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: And it's just another player that, you know, if this 166 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: was in twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen, this would be great. 167 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 2: I'd love having Adamtheland on the team. It's just passed 168 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 2: his prime. Played in eleven games for the Vikings this year, 169 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: caught eight balls for sixty nine yards, did not find 170 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: the end zone. Last year with Carolina, started ten games, 171 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: six hundred and fifteen yards on forty eight catches for 172 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 2: five touchdowns. This is a former second team All Pro, 173 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: former Pro bowler who's just way past his prime. And again, 174 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: you know when people keep talking about how great George 175 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: Pickens is doing in Dallas in that same vein that 176 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: we were just talking with Jacobe Meyer as someone who's 177 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: better in their prime than Adam Thielen coming in here 178 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 2: being a wide receiver too. I just don't trust this 179 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 2: offense to get the most out of them. So I 180 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: get what you're saying, like it's they haven't done to 181 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 2: them for addressing it right now and trying something, But 182 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: this is not going to do anything for them. 183 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: No, they haven't figured it out with DK, they haven't 184 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 3: figured out with John news Smith, guys that are much 185 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 3: more in their prime and much more talented. And yeah, 186 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 3: Tom again, like you have to do something, but it 187 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 3: almost feels like polishing the brass on the Titanic. 188 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: Should Aaron Rodgers be playing right now in your opinion, 189 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: especially since it's so clear he cannot take a snap 190 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: under center and that limits your playbook especially the running 191 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: portion of your playbook. 192 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 3: I'm gonna steal a Matt Williamson line and say, this 193 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 3: isn't exactly what you asked me. But he loves saying that, 194 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 3: doesn't He does love saying that. And you also know 195 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 3: too that that's when you're gonna get the good stuff. 196 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: Yeah right. I don't know if I can say the same, You. 197 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 2: Know, is that an insult to us, by the way, 198 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: because it's like, why aren't you asking me the right? 199 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: Why aren't you asking me something? 200 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 3: I think he's an NFL head coach here or something 201 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 3: he could dictate how the questions are asked, you know. 202 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 3: I I don't know, I. 203 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: Tom, I just I don't know. 204 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 2: I don't think he should play. I think if you 205 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 2: can't get under center, it limits you too much. 206 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: What I would have really liked to see. 207 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 3: And again this is the not what you asked me 208 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 3: and easy to see in hindsight or easy to say 209 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 3: in hindsight. 210 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: Pardon me. 211 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 3: It would have been probably better to sit him down 212 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 3: against Buffalo again this past Sunday, give him that kind 213 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 3: of two games off three weeks to get right. Here's 214 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 3: the fence that I sit on, is I don't think 215 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 3: it's gonna get much better with Mason. Like, your only 216 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 3: chance of somewhat improving this offense, somewhat saving the season, 217 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 3: maybe going to the playoffs, is for Aaron Rodgers to 218 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 3: perform like he did, you know, back at times in 219 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: September and October. 220 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Jets game, Bengals game, they lost. 221 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 3: Absolutely right, even you know, like the Browns game coming 222 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 3: out of the Byway, the offense was effective. There's been times. 223 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 3: I'm not saying that they were a top five, top 224 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 3: ten unit in the NFL, but there's certainly been times 225 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 3: where they've been effective, and he's been the straw that 226 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 3: stirred that drink. That's your only hope of really turning 227 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 3: a corner or you know, noticeably improving as an offense. 228 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 3: But it's also very clear that he is not one 229 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 3: hundred percent healthy. Tom He turns forty two years old today. 230 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 3: He turned forty two years old today, and he got 231 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 3: a thirty five year old wide receiver as a gift. 232 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: And he got a thirty five year old wide receiver 233 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 3: as a gift who caught eight passes so far this season. 234 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: How's that risk gonna you know, if he was thirty, 235 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 3: maybe it's a different conversation. But I think even if 236 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 3: you set him down for a couple weeks at this point, 237 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 3: it probably doesn't make that much of a difference. And 238 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 3: here I am talking in circles about this because there's 239 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 3: no clear cut answer. But I would continue to stick 240 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 3: with Aaron Rodgers because I again, I think Mason is 241 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 3: a fine, serviceable backup, but he's not going to change 242 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 3: the trajectory of your season. Neither is Will Howard, who 243 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 3: hasn't taking a meaningful snap until early August. 244 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: I'm sure him in. 245 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 2: There, six and six, six and sixth Baltimore, I'll go 246 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 2: into the Ravens House for a chance to take control 247 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 2: of the division. Throw the kid from the sixth round 248 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 2: in there. Can't run, can't throw, can't protect. But let's 249 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: put in the quarterback who hasn't thrown a pass since August. 250 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 2: I just there is no right answer, so I'm a 251 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: default too. I'll continue to ride with the future Hall 252 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 2: of Fame quarterback, even if he's clearly only seventy seventy 253 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 2: five eighty percent healthy, whatever it is, because that's your 254 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 2: only hope to get right, is him getting right. 255 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 4: Now. 256 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 2: They do go to Baltimore this weekend to face the Ravens, 257 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: one of two games against Baltimore in the month of 258 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 2: December for the down the stretch run. Their last game 259 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 2: of the season in January at home against the Ravens 260 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 2: as well. It's sad to say this, but the best 261 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 2: thing that the Steelers have going for them right now 262 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 2: between these two six and six teams is that the 263 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 2: Ravens aren't playing well either. Is that they're having the 264 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 2: injured and they're having these same talks on their Ravens 265 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 2: Nations radios and all their Ravens talk shows too. 266 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: Is that what's. 267 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 2: Wrong with the offense? We can't get complimentary football going. 268 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 2: Once the defense, you know, gets up to speed, our 269 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 2: offense all of a sudden disappears. 270 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: So similar criticisms for the coaches exactly past their prime. 271 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: Things are getting stale. 272 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: So the Ravens are in a lot of the same 273 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 2: places that the Steelers are. 274 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: In right now. 275 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: So at least you have something going in your favor. 276 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 2: Is that they stink too. So it's like who can 277 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: stink less? 278 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 3: On Sunday tom one of these two teams has to 279 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 3: make the playoffs or do they? And well, I don't 280 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 3: think the Bengals coming off from the outside. I think 281 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 3: the Bengals if they had if they were five and 282 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 3: seven instead of four and eight, completely different conversations, they 283 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: could have won one more games like that one against 284 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: Chicago that they gave as game Jets game that they 285 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 3: gave away. Either of those, they would really be scary 286 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 3: right now, because I do think their defense is slightly improved. 287 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 3: But for Baltimore and Pittsburgh, one of these teams has 288 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 3: to make the playoffs, and it's almost like one of 289 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 3: them is gonna be the ugliest girl at the beauty pageant, 290 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 3: you know, and hey, you if you're at the beauty pageant, 291 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 3: there's still something to be said for that. But it 292 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 3: is a very interesting. This is another thing Matt and 293 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 3: I talked about. You know, typically when you get to 294 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 3: this time of year, Steelers Ravens historically, right, it's like two. 295 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: Dogs, one bone. You know, one of these teams. 296 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 3: Is gonna win the division, one's gonna go to the 297 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 3: AFC Championship Game. 298 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: One's gonna have a chance to win the super Bowl. 299 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 3: It's now it's kind of like who can crawl to 300 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 3: the finish line and just outlast the other that's had 301 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 3: a disappointing year, that's dealing with a lot of injuries, 302 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 3: that has a roster and a coaching staff, and an 303 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 3: organization under fire from its fan base, all those different things. 304 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: It is a very weird because. 305 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 3: If you squint right and the image is kind of blurry, 306 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 3: it's like, oh, it's Steelers Ravens in a big game 307 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 3: with playoff implication in December. But it is again, it's 308 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 3: like choosing the ugliest girl at the beauty pageant in 309 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 3: a couple ways. But at the same time, if you're 310 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 3: both of these teams right now, if you do want 311 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: any hope of kickstarting your season and feeling a little 312 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 3: differently down the stretch, going out and handling business against 313 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,839 Speaker 3: your biggest rival is maybe the only way to realistically 314 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 3: get there. 315 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 2: Wes, as always, thanks for the time, partner. Enjoy listening 316 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 2: to you with Matt on the Drive. We'll keep doing so. 317 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 2: We'll talk to you soon. Thanks Tommy. A's Wes Yehler 318 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 2: from the Drive Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers 319 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 2: Audio Network eight three, three, four one two ninety nine 320 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 2: thirty nine. Get your calls in right now. Tell me 321 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 2: what you think of the Adam Theelen claim off of 322 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers, does he fix the offense? 323 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 2: It's tom Off from an Infra Mark one O five 324 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 2: ninety X. 325 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 4: Thanks to Wes. 326 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:44,679 Speaker 1: Yeuler for just joining us. 327 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 2: Mike de Fabo's coming up in about ten minutes or 328 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 2: so to talk more Steelers tuck more Adam Thielen. Steelers 329 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 2: claim thirty five year old wide receiver Adam Thielen off 330 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 2: of waivers just a little bit ago. And you cannot 331 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 2: make this up, our buddy, said Throorbaugh tweeted out after 332 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: the Steeler game on Sunday. Seth of course covers the 333 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 2: Penguins for the trip. He said, Mike Tomlin will say 334 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 2: something like we can't eat soup with forks, we need spoons. 335 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 2: Then the Steelers will sign a twenty eighteen pro bowler 336 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 2: to the practice squad. That was seven oh two pm 337 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: on Sunday that Seth tweeted that out. Well, fast forward 338 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 2: to today, we had the Mike Tomlin press conference where 339 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 2: he probably did say something like we can't eat soup 340 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 2: with forks, we need spoons. And then just about five 341 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: or six minutes ago, the Steelers signed a twenty eighteen 342 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: pro bowler to their practice squad in Adam Thielen, It's 343 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 2: kind of pathetic to be honest with you, like, sure 344 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 2: they need help at the wide receiver position. What the 345 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 2: hell is Grandpa theln gonna do? Couldn't see the field 346 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 2: in Minnesota, Carolina didn't want him after last year. 347 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: This guy just needs to retire. 348 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: And now the Steelers bring him in and what they're 349 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 2: gonna work him into the offense. 350 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: They signed Valdez Scanlon like three weeks ago. He can't 351 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: get off the practice squad. 352 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 2: And Thelan could come to Pittsburgh and tap into his 353 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: prime years, his second team All Pro form that he 354 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 2: had once upon a time in Minnesota. The Steelers' offense 355 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: isn't capable of getting a lot out of a player 356 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 2: like that, of getting a lot out of a wide 357 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 2: receiver too. It really just seems like such a move 358 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 2: just for the sake of making a move. They also 359 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: waved Darius Slay today. That makes a lot of sense 360 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 2: to me. I'm sure Slay and the Steelers had a 361 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 2: conversation where Slige would prefer to be available for other 362 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: teams if the Steelers are going to keep making him 363 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 2: an active I don't know what other team's gonna want 364 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 2: him though, after seeing how badly he's stunk in Pittsburgh. 365 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: It is crazy, though that the Steelers released Darius Slay 366 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: and then somehow got older by signing Adam Theelean. 367 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 4: Now. 368 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: I don't know if Flan's gonna. 369 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 2: Start on the practice squad like Asante Samuel did, like 370 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 2: Valdez Scantling still is. But I can't imagine that Adam 371 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 2: Thelon is going to be the needle mover that changes 372 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 2: this offense in such a dynamic way and thrust them 373 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: back into contender category eight three three four thirty nine. 374 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: What do you think about the Adam Thielen signing Mike 375 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: de Fabo from the Athletic. He's going to join us 376 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 2: next share his thoughts on that and a lot more 377 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: things regarding the Steelers. It's Tom Afferman infromark On one 378 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 2: of five nine the x Tom Afferman inframark Mann joining 379 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: us now as he always does on Tuesdays, is Mike 380 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 2: de Fabo from the Athletic. 381 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: Brought to us by Armstrong the Internet. 382 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 2: You count on the people you trust Armstrong one wire 383 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: dot com. 384 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: Uh Mike. 385 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 2: Just a little bit ago, the Steelers claimed wide receiver 386 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: Adam Thielen off of waivers. Has the offense been fixed 387 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,479 Speaker 2: and thus the season been saved? 388 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 4: You know, back from my days of covering the Penguins, 389 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 4: that was good buddies with SEPs Or Bough and he 390 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 4: had a hilarious isn't that amazing? 391 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: I brought this up or just before you came on. 392 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean Seth was was spot on. I'm look, 393 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 4: the Steelers had interest in Adam Delan last year at 394 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,959 Speaker 4: the trade deadline, so it makes sense that if they 395 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 4: could get him for free, they can kick the tires. 396 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 4: But if you're thinking that this guy is going to 397 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 4: suddenly ignite an offense that cannot throw the football downfield, 398 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 4: has not been consistent running the football that Aaron Rodgers 399 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 4: has looked very poor over the last you know, ten 400 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 4: quarters that he's played. You know, you're lying to yourself, 401 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 4: you know, I think that philosophically, if he was in 402 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 4: his prime, he would make sense. He's a big body guy, 403 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 4: he's a willing blocker, he can work in the middle 404 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 4: of the field. All those things mesh with Aaron Rodgers, 405 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 4: who wants to coordinate a precision passing game at Arthur Smith, 406 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 4: who wants to run the ball a ton, but he's 407 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,119 Speaker 4: thirty five years old. He had eight catches in eleven games. 408 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 4: He was a healthy scratch on Sunday. So I file 409 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 4: this into the Marquez Valdez Scanbaling category of aging player 410 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 4: that probably shouldn't expect much from. 411 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 2: Well, that's just the thing, Mike, Like, we just did 412 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 2: this a few weeks ago, and he can't get a hat. 413 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 2: He's still stuck on the practice squad. I haven't seen 414 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,120 Speaker 2: officially yet if Fland was added to the practice squad 415 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 2: or not. I don't know if you know that yet 416 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 2: or not, But like exactly, it's the same exact type 417 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: of move. It feels like it's almost just we're making 418 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 2: a move because we feel like we need to make 419 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 2: a move. 420 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: But this really isn't going to fix any of our problems. 421 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 4: It's too little, too late. When the Steelers traded George Pickens, 422 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 4: and I will continue to defend that decision big picture, 423 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 4: because I think that his expiration date had hit in Pittsburgh, 424 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 4: the next move should have been to go out and 425 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 4: get a legitimate wide receiver too, and they just simply 426 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 4: did not. They ignored it. They had too much faith 427 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 4: that Roman Wilson was going to step up the season, 428 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 4: misplaced belief in Roman Wilson. They had too much faith 429 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 4: in Calvin Austin and it's just not worked. And so like, yeah, 430 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 4: you can make a move right now week fourteen of 431 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 4: the season, but they should have made a more substantial 432 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 4: move bringing in a younger and more talented receiver about 433 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 4: sixteen weeks ago. 434 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 2: I do have to say, though, Mike, it's not like 435 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 2: I'd be overly confident in the Steelers offense under Arthur 436 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 2: Smith being able to get the most out of a 437 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 2: younger number two wide receiver. I agree with you that 438 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: I am still on board with the Steelers getting rid 439 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 2: of George Pickens. I think he did hit his expiration 440 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: date here, but I also think a part of that 441 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 2: is what he's doing in Dallas would not be happening 442 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: here in Pittsburgh. I mean, they're struggling getting their number 443 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 2: one receiver going. Mike, Now you want to make a 444 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: number two part of that equation. 445 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, I completely agree the Steelers. I mean, well, first 446 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,719 Speaker 4: of all, George Pickens is with a better quarterback than 447 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 4: what he would have in Pittsburgh. He's with a better 448 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 4: play caller and offensive mind than he would have in Pittsburgh, 449 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 4: he has a better number two or number one B 450 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 4: to take some pressure off him than he would have 451 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 4: in Pittsburgh. And like in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have the 452 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 4: least wide receiver friendly offense in the entire league. They 453 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 4: use multiple receivers the least amount out of anybody, they 454 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 4: throw it to their receivers less than anybody, and they 455 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 4: throw downfield less than anybody else. So none of that 456 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 4: would marry well with what George Pickens does. Well not 457 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,880 Speaker 4: to mention the fact that the Steelers had George Pickens 458 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 4: for three years and were never able to help him 459 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 4: reach his potential, and he was frustrated. He clearly wanted out. 460 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 4: I mean, let's all remember he was making cryptic statements 461 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 4: on social media all the time about, you know, how 462 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 4: ineffective the quarterback play was around him. So, you know, 463 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 4: George is a fantastic player. He's one of the best 464 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 4: athletes I've ever seen in person, and if he can 465 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,360 Speaker 4: keep his head on his shoulders, he has the potential 466 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 4: to be a Hall of Fame receiver. And I've always 467 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 4: believed that whether he's able to do that, I don't 468 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 4: know if he was going to be able to do 469 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 4: that in Pittsburgh. I know for a certain he was 470 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 4: not going to be able to Today. 471 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: At Mike Commins press conference, he ruled Derek Carmon out 472 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 2: again this week against Baltimore, which is a terrible blow 473 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: for the Steelers. The Bills put up two hundred and 474 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 2: forty nine yards rush against the Steelers without Derek Harmon. 475 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: The last two times the Steelers met the Ravens and 476 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 2: Dereck Henry Mike, they put up five hundred and nineteen 477 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 2: yards combined against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I don't want to, 478 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 2: you know, pin all of the successes on the run 479 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 2: defense to just one player, rookie Derek Harmon, but it 480 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 2: does seem to be a drastic difference when he's in 481 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 2: there and when he's not. 482 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 4: Well, you look at it and go back to OTAs 483 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 4: and Taroll. Austin was pretty transparent. He said, we had 484 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 4: a Baltimore problem last year, So what did they do 485 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 4: to address that? They drafted Derek Carman in the first round, 486 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 4: expected him to be a great immediately and to play 487 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 4: all seventeen games. When he's played, he's been very good. 488 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 4: And I think that was that was a good draft 489 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 4: pick and he's going to turn into a very good 490 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 4: defensive lineman. 491 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 1: Agreed. 492 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 4: The problem is that's the only thing that they did 493 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 4: that's different, right, Like, they didn't bring in they should. 494 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 4: It should have been an and situation. It should have 495 00:21:55,680 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 4: been draft Derek Carmon and sign legitimate started caliber or 496 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 4: new year starting caliber defensive lineman. Instead they went out 497 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 4: and they got Daniel Ekuala who had a history of 498 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 4: peed offenses and he failed a p now suspended. They 499 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 4: had Dean Lowry who was on his last leg as 500 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 4: a mid thirty defensive lineman and he tore his acl 501 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 4: in the last leg that he was standing on. You know. 502 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 4: They had Isaiah Laudermilk who has never developed into much 503 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 4: of anything, and they brought him back and he continued 504 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 4: to not develop, and now he's injured. So they didn't 505 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 4: do anything to change it. Their whole face and the 506 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 4: whole reason why you could say, well, this will be 507 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 4: different this time around Steelers versus the Baltimore Ravens was 508 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 4: counting upon Derek Harmon being the savior to make a 509 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 4: meaningful and significant change. Now with him injured. I just 510 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 4: I'm a skeptic. I have a hard time believing that 511 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 4: this defense that we just saw get run all over 512 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 4: by the Buffalo Bills using the same play over and 513 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 4: over is going to suddenly go to Baltimore and produce 514 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 4: a different result. 515 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 2: No, I'm skeptical as well and sticking with that Bill's 516 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 2: rushing attack. What did you make of James Cook's comments 517 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 2: after the game saying that they really look to attack 518 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 2: the Steelers' corners. They recognize that they're extremely weak tackling 519 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 2: in that cornerback room, and once they got to the edge, 520 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 2: they were able to exploit that. I honestly thought Mike 521 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 2: Joey Porter Junior had some pretty decent tackles in that game, 522 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 2: you know, maybe put the lid on what could have 523 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:28,679 Speaker 2: been an even worse run. But I think there is 524 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 2: something to what James Cook was saying, and it's something 525 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 2: that teams like Derrick Henry and the Ravens, Jamier Gibson, 526 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,679 Speaker 2: the Lions down the road are going to exploit an attack. 527 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, I agree with you, Like, I don't know that 528 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 4: if I'm assigning blame for who is responsible for the 529 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 4: defense getting gash on the ground, Joey Porter Junior necessarily 530 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 4: would be a top list. I think what he's getting 531 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 4: at is when teams run, you know, use the zone runs, 532 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 4: which was a lot of what the Bills were doing 533 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 4: that often is meant to put corners in one on 534 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 4: one tack going situation, and the Steelers weren't good enough 535 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 4: in that area. But I mean I look back at it, 536 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 4: and you know, watching the film and stuff, seem PJ. 537 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 4: Watt getting man handled by a tight end one on 538 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 4: one against a tight end is just startling. And you know, 539 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 4: guys up front that they've invested in, like he on 540 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 4: event not taking a step forward. You know, ya Black 541 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 4: just looking like a developmental fifth round pick. He's not 542 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 4: a bad player, but what do you expect out of 543 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 4: a rookie who's the fifth round pick? And that's why 544 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 4: they needed to address things in a different way. I 545 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 4: also put it on the inside linebackers. I think that 546 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 4: Patrick Queen, as much as he's you know, a fast 547 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 4: and fearless player who's good in coverage, he's not a 548 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 4: guy that can come downhill and hit and be an enforcer. 549 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 4: You know, Malie Harrison feels like he's been a step 550 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 4: back from a Landon Roberts from a physicality standpoint. Cole 551 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,479 Speaker 4: Holcomb looks like you know, he's fighting to keep his 552 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 4: career alive at this point. So they've got they've got 553 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 4: a lot of problems, And I get what James Cook 554 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 4: is saying, but I think that I don't know that 555 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 4: Joey Porter Junior was the reason why they gave up 556 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 4: nearly two hundred and fifty rushing yards. 557 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 2: It's really hard to analyze that offensive performance, isn't it. 558 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 2: I mean, they only had the ball for eighteen minutes, 559 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 2: but there's just really nothing there in that game against 560 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 2: Buffalo that you can build off of even a little bit. 561 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 4: No. I mean they only had the ball eighteen minutes 562 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 4: because they kept going three or three and out or 563 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 4: you know, five play drives, seven play drives. So I 564 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 4: think that that was a big part of it. Unfortunately, 565 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 4: I think that right now the offense is confirming my 566 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 4: worst fears coming into this year. You know, I felt 567 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 4: like we had seen this story before. We had seen 568 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 4: Ben Roethlisberger lead the Steelers to an eleven to no start, 569 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 4: relying on a short, quick passing game and supported by 570 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 4: a decent defense, only for the whole thing to unravel 571 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 4: at the end of the y. We saw Russell Wilson 572 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 4: in an advanced age get the Steelers off to a 573 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 4: hot start, only for things to completely unravel down the stretch, 574 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 4: and so I just feel like it's history repeating itself. Unfortunately, 575 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 4: with old quarterbacks, they give you glimmers of hope. They 576 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 4: don't their skills and their amazing gifts don't just disappear overnight. 577 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 4: You still see the flashes of why they were once great. 578 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 4: And even in the worst performances that Rogers has had, 579 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 4: I e. That Chargers game, he made some incredible throws 580 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 4: over the middle of the field where he looked like himself. 581 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 4: The problem is you can get intoxicated by those brief, 582 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:43,880 Speaker 4: flittering moments and forget that it takes a quarterback doing 583 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 4: that for sixty minutes. And right now their biggest problem 584 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,239 Speaker 4: is they just simply cannot throw the football downfield. And 585 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 4: it's partially on Rogers. When he throws the deep ball, 586 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 4: it flutters on him, it's inaccurate, it's not on target. 587 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,440 Speaker 4: He doesn't want to get hit, so he's not sitting 588 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 4: in the pocket long enough to tack downfield. But it's 589 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 4: also on his receivers. Even DK Metcalf has not been 590 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,479 Speaker 4: getting open well enough. You know, they don't have a 591 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 4: competent receiving core to give Rogers a variety of weapons. 592 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 4: The offensive line, you know, has not come together as 593 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 4: much as they needed to protect Rogers and give them 594 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 4: the time to attack. So because of that, what what 595 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 4: you're looking at is is an offense that just seems 596 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 4: to rely way too much on short, quick passes and 597 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,159 Speaker 4: yards after the catch. And if they're not getting the 598 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 4: ball to DK Metcalf and he's not bursting, you know, 599 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 4: downfield for a long yards after the catch, you know, 600 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 4: play there's very little that they can count on that 601 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 4: they can do consistently. There's nothing really other than that 602 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,400 Speaker 4: that I could point to and say they've done this 603 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 4: well through all thirteen weeks of the season. They've just 604 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 4: been inconsistent. Running the ball, getting the ball to playmakers 605 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 4: has been inconsistent. Personnel usage has been puzzling. I can't 606 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 4: believe that they have two of the top ten paid 607 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 4: tight ends in the league, and yet Darnol Washington's probably 608 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 4: the best tight end that they've got. It's just up 609 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,400 Speaker 4: and down the board. They've got warts and they've got problems, 610 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 4: and that's the reason why they're six and six right now. 611 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 2: We're talking to Mike de Fabae from The Athletic here 612 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 2: on The Mark Man Show. 613 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 1: Mike's brought to us by Armstrong. 614 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 2: Do you think Rogers should be playing, especially if he 615 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 2: can't take a snap under center, and he so clearly 616 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 2: cannot do that. 617 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 4: I do, just because I have no faith in the 618 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 4: other options. We've seen what Mason Rudolph is. We know 619 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 4: what Mason Rudolf is, and it's the guy that came 620 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 4: in and through the interception. You know, when you were 621 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 4: counted on him to just manage a game and not 622 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 4: let it get away from them. And Will Howard is 623 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 4: just not ready. He missed virtually. I mean he's only 624 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 4: been practicing. And when I say practicing I mean taking 625 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 4: some scout team reps over the last handful of weeks 626 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 4: because he was inactive and injured for most of the year. 627 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 4: I guess fake injured, pretend injured to stash him on 628 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 4: injured reserve. 629 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 2: Ah, forget it, Mike, Just throw him out there in 630 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 2: Baltimore with the division on the line. 631 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: He'll go great. 632 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 4: I mean to me, the only reason why you would 633 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 4: go to Will Howard is if you gave up on 634 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 4: the season. You want to see what the younger has 635 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 4: and you want to develop him. I don't think they're 636 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 4: at that point. If they lose three more games, yeah, 637 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 4: maybe then you're at that point. But let's just be 638 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 4: logical about this. Mike Tomlin isn't walking into the meeting 639 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 4: room and telling Aaron Rodgers his career is done and 640 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 4: that Will Howard is going to be the starting quarterback. 641 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 4: You made your bed when you decided to wait Rogers, 642 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 4: and now you've got to lay in it. And now 643 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 4: you've got to ride this out. And maybe they still 644 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 4: look they still could could win three of their last 645 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 4: whatever games and make it to the playoffs, and you're 646 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 4: going to need Aaron Rodgers to start in that game. 647 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 4: So for that reason, you've got to keep starting Aaron 648 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 4: Rodgers even with his limitations. 649 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 2: Now as they head to Baltimore Sunday, with the division 650 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 2: really hanging in the balance, both teams six and six, 651 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 2: this will go a lot way. Whoever wins this game 652 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 2: is the best thing the Steelers have going for them. 653 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 2: Just how bad the Ravens look too. Like it's not 654 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 2: a good place to be in when you're looking at 655 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 2: your own team. But Baltimore is not without their struggles. 656 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that that should be the reason why 657 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 4: Steelers fans have the most hope or optimism is that, 658 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:24,400 Speaker 4: you know, as much as the Steelers have disappointed, I 659 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 4: think this is what everyone kind of expected out of 660 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 4: the Steelers, but the Ravens have been like significantly worse. 661 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 4: And it doesn't look like Lamar Jackson is healthy. He's 662 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 4: not moving around like he once was. And I feel 663 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 4: like you have the good and the bad with with Lamar. 664 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 4: And he takes sacks and he holds onto the ball 665 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 4: too long, but you can live with that because he 666 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 4: is just an elite athlete and a magician with the 667 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 4: football in his hand. But right now you're seeing the 668 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 4: bad come out without the good to justify it. And 669 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 4: so like this, this Ravens offense, like this Ravens offense 670 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 4: is supposed to be a juggernaut and supposed to have 671 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,840 Speaker 4: this two headed monster with Lamar and Derrick Henry. They 672 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 4: put up twelve points against the Bengals defense that's historically 673 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 4: bad and that's not overstating it one bit. They literally 674 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 4: might be the worst defense of all time. So I 675 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 4: think that that's the Steelers' best bet is that just 676 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 4: the Ravens never figure it out and they continue to 677 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 4: go into this tailspin and somehow the Steelers could sneak 678 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 4: into the playoffs with you know, eight or nine wins 679 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 4: in you know, at that point, who knows, But let's 680 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 4: just acknowledge the fact that even if the Steelers get 681 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 4: into the playoffs, they are not playing like a playoff team, 682 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,959 Speaker 4: and getting into the playoffs was never the goal. This 683 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 4: was always about when they signed Aaron Rodgers and brought 684 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 4: in an old Jalen Ramsey and you know, brought in 685 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 4: John news Smith who's thirty one years old, and reassigned 686 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 4: TJ Watt, it was about ending this play off drought 687 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:03,479 Speaker 4: that has gone on for too long, and anything short 688 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 4: of winning a playoff game should absolutely be taken as 689 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 4: a complete and utter failure for this franchise. 690 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 2: Finally, Mike, we got about a minute or two here. 691 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 2: Do you think there is a chance that eight and 692 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 2: nine could win the AFC North this year? And do 693 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,560 Speaker 2: you still give the Cincinnati Bengals an outside shot? 694 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 4: I think that there is a chance that eight and 695 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 4: nine could get it done, just because none of the 696 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 4: teams within the AFC North have proven that they're even 697 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 4: remotely competent. And you look at the schedule that the 698 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 4: Ravens have Armenian, So they played the Steelers twice. Obviously, 699 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 4: they've also got to play the Packers, and they've also 700 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 4: got to play the Patriots and the Bengals since the game. Yeah, 701 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 4: so I mean you're looking at them. I mean, maybe 702 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 4: they split with the Steelers, you know, maybe they beat 703 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 4: the Bengals in the rematch, and where's their other win 704 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:58,239 Speaker 4: going to come from? 705 00:32:58,760 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 2: You know? 706 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 4: And similarly at the Steelers, like I feel like they're 707 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 4: a team that just plays seventeen coin flip games this season, 708 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 4: So just flip your coin and determine whether they're going 709 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 4: to finish nine and eight or eight nine. So, you know, 710 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 4: I think as much as it's been bad football, there 711 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 4: is still some drama and I think that there's going 712 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 4: to continue to be intrigued until the last game of 713 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 4: the year. 714 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 2: Mike, great stuff. As always, We'll talk to you next week. 715 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 2: Enjoy the game Sunday in Baltimore. 716 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 4: All right, sounds good, Tom, Thank you for having me. 717 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 2: Mike Defebo from the Athletic read his fine work there 718 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 2: and he's brought to us by Armstrong the Internet. You 719 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 2: can count on the people you trust Armstrong one wire 720 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 2: dot Com, Tom Afferman, inframark On one oh five ninety 721 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 2: x