WEBVTT - HR3: Live from Training Camp 2026 Day 2 0:00:00.640 --> 0:00:04.600 This is live coverage of the twenty twenty six Steelers 0:00:04.680 --> 0:00:09.880 training Camp or the Steelers Audio Network, presented by bud Light, 0:00:10.200 --> 0:00:13.119 Easy to Drink, Easy to enjoy, and brought to you 0:00:13.240 --> 0:00:17.799 in part by your neighborhood Ford Store creator, Pittsburgh Community 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:22.240 Food Bank, First National Bank. Let's Get Started Member FDIC 0:00:22.640 --> 0:00:28.920 West Shore Home Remodeling Reimagine by Leecom Digital, Donz Appliances 0:00:29.240 --> 0:00:34.640 Visit Donzappliances dot Com guaranteed lowest prices, free next day delivery, 0:00:35.280 --> 0:00:44.200 CGR Wholesale and Hossa's Steak and Seahouse hass Is is hospitality. 0:00:45.840 --> 0:00:48.720 Good evening, Steeler Nation, How we doing well? That's good 0:00:48.920 --> 0:00:51.760 us too. It is our number three, the Bonus Hour 0:00:51.840 --> 0:00:56.760 here as we roll into Thursday evening and the Steelers 0:00:56.800 --> 0:01:01.080 second day of training camp proceeding second practice. They've been 0:01:01.080 --> 0:01:02.880 here for three days, but we kind of count the 0:01:02.960 --> 0:01:05.680 days and in terms of practices. And you know how 0:01:05.680 --> 0:01:07.640 we're gonna kick off this hour, Matt, it is by 0:01:07.760 --> 0:01:11.080 getting to the tweets and our buddy Michael Edesso passing 0:01:11.160 --> 0:01:13.080 this along. We I mentioned I'd love to see the 0:01:13.160 --> 0:01:17.560 numbers of Ohio state wide receiver contracts just over the 0:01:17.640 --> 0:01:20.640 last two years, Jack and Jackson Smith and Jig but 0:01:20.720 --> 0:01:23.000 four years over one hundred and sixty eight million. 0:01:23.040 --> 0:01:24.240 I think he's top of the market right now. 0:01:24.240 --> 0:01:26.720 He has the number one. Yeah, Chris o'lave four years, 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:29.600 one hundred and thirty two million, not bad. Garrett Wilson 0:01:29.680 --> 0:01:31.560 four years, one hundred and thirty million, I. 0:01:31.560 --> 0:01:33.040 Forgot, he already did get extended. 0:01:33.160 --> 0:01:35.800 And Terry McLaurin three years, ninety seven million. 0:01:35.840 --> 0:01:38.000 You forget about McLaurin sometimes in this max. He's a 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:39.880 little older than the other group. He's a third round pick. 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:40.960 He wasn't a top twenty pick. 0:01:41.000 --> 0:01:43.160 Like he's like the only Ohio State guy that wasn't 0:01:43.160 --> 0:01:44.040 a first round pick. 0:01:44.240 --> 0:01:46.040 Right. But think you said to Buka is on the 0:01:46.280 --> 0:01:48.560 on the war path coming up here, and you know 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:50.280 Tate and I mean they got tons of them. 0:01:50.320 --> 0:01:52.560 I'm telling you, Jeremiah Smith might be the first overall 0:01:52.640 --> 0:01:53.520 draft pick next year. 0:01:53.600 --> 0:01:56.160 Yeah, I think he'll be first quarterback take non quarterback 0:01:56.160 --> 0:01:56.920 taking for sure. 0:01:57.280 --> 0:02:00.800 Chris Henry's son, Chris Henry Junior, who he's a Onster recruit, right, 0:02:00.880 --> 0:02:02.320 I think he's I think he was the number one 0:02:02.400 --> 0:02:04.480 recruit in last year's class. 0:02:04.600 --> 0:02:05.520 Daddy was talented. 0:02:05.680 --> 0:02:07.680 Yes, yes he was, he sure was. 0:02:07.840 --> 0:02:10.239 I watched Daddy at WU and I was with the Brownies. 0:02:10.520 --> 0:02:13.160 I watched Daddy at WU when I was knee high 0:02:13.200 --> 0:02:15.639 to a grasshopper. No, I mean I was like twelve thirteen, 0:02:15.680 --> 0:02:17.480 four year and so on topic. I think I was 0:02:17.480 --> 0:02:19.000 in middle school. Oh yeah, that was kind of like 0:02:19.080 --> 0:02:22.280 right the start of really becoming a sports fan. Steelers 0:02:22.280 --> 0:02:26.080 were kicking booty WVU was actually good. I didn't realize 0:02:26.080 --> 0:02:27.640 how good I had it at the time. I tell you. 0:02:28.680 --> 0:02:30.720 Matt tweets us and says, do you guys have any 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:34.360 concerns about Rico Dowdell in pass protection? Could he be 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:36.440 two one dimensional? In sort of a tell to the 0:02:36.520 --> 0:02:40.040 defense worried about him blocking for the quarterback who's a 0:02:40.040 --> 0:02:40.720 little bit older. 0:02:41.000 --> 0:02:43.359 Yes, I do. I think that's his number one negative 0:02:43.680 --> 0:02:46.840 and doesn't mean he's only going to be out there 0:02:46.880 --> 0:02:50.120 on first downs, but it has been a problem throughout 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:53.919 his career at two different stops. Obviously, McCarthy is familiar 0:02:53.919 --> 0:02:56.240 with him and probably won't put him in those situations, 0:02:56.760 --> 0:02:59.320 but it definitely is a tell. I mean, when defense 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:03.520 is no, you're running back is not. I don't want 0:03:03.480 --> 0:03:06.080 to say capable. I mean, because Dowdell's capable. It's not 0:03:06.120 --> 0:03:07.960 like he's just out there with and left and right. 0:03:08.320 --> 0:03:10.079 But if they know it's a problem, you're going to 0:03:10.120 --> 0:03:13.080 get more blitz, you know. But I also think Rogers 0:03:13.080 --> 0:03:15.560 helps alleviate that stuff too, you know, and Frasier at 0:03:15.560 --> 0:03:18.560 this point being smart just changing protections to try to 0:03:18.960 --> 0:03:21.520 A huge thing with pass rush schemes right now is 0:03:21.520 --> 0:03:25.720 trying to isolate backs against linebackers. But if you can 0:03:25.960 --> 0:03:28.200 defensive ends and edge rush shorts, you know, anytime you 0:03:28.240 --> 0:03:31.359 can isolate a running back, it's in the defensive advantage. 0:03:31.400 --> 0:03:34.200 Even if he's the best pass walking back in the league. Well, 0:03:34.280 --> 0:03:36.280 Dowdle's going to have more of a struggle with that, 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:38.520 and Rogers might have to help them in terms of 0:03:38.600 --> 0:03:40.720 moving them around pre snap or setting them up to 0:03:41.040 --> 0:03:43.760 have easier matchups. But I want people to be aware. 0:03:43.920 --> 0:03:45.680 I mean, none of these guys are perfect players, and 0:03:45.720 --> 0:03:47.680 that's definitely one of his biggest negatives. 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:50.360 Whereas for Jalen Warren, that's something that I think is 0:03:50.360 --> 0:03:53.000 actually a pretty very underrated element of his team. And 0:03:53.040 --> 0:03:54.760 I wonder if that ends up. I wonder if that 0:03:54.840 --> 0:03:57.440 ends up kind of being the difference in I don't 0:03:57.440 --> 0:03:59.760 think there's going to be a huge difference in this 0:03:59.800 --> 0:04:02.560 guy clearly RB one and this guy's clearly RB two. 0:04:02.560 --> 0:04:04.360 They're both gonna get a lot of spin, both gonna 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:06.240 get a lot of reps. But maybe that pass pro 0:04:06.320 --> 0:04:10.880 stuff will be what important makes Warren more more usage 0:04:10.920 --> 0:04:15.080 than Doubtell, because it is very important. Not especially yeah, right, 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:18.800 especially lev Bell was a spell a stud at it, 0:04:19.760 --> 0:04:20.800 and especially. 0:04:20.480 --> 0:04:23.680 Every down backs you better be more than capable in. 0:04:23.600 --> 0:04:26.440 Protection, especially when your quarterback is forty two years old. Yeah, 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:29.160 you know, and and isn't Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson 0:04:29.200 --> 0:04:31.760 in terms of mobility back there, It's certainly gonna be 0:04:31.760 --> 0:04:32.640 something to keep an eye on. 0:04:33.080 --> 0:04:35.440 As for Dowbdell, I don't know how much we'll I 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:37.120 don't think we'll see backs on backers. I don't know 0:04:37.120 --> 0:04:39.960 how much protection stuff will actually see here in Latrobe, 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:43.080 and I don't I'm my hunches. He won't play a 0:04:43.120 --> 0:04:45.520 ton of snaps in the preseason either. I would think 0:04:45.560 --> 0:04:48.000 that it's gonna be Caleb Johnson and younger backs. I 0:04:48.200 --> 0:04:51.480 wouldn't think Warren and Dowbell you need to beat them 0:04:51.520 --> 0:04:52.440 up at all. In the preseason. 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:54.719 Would like to see a lot of Caleb Johnson in 0:04:54.720 --> 0:04:59.760 the preseason. Pittsburgh Conversation asks, could the attention to detail 0:04:59.800 --> 0:05:02.159 that my McCarthy has brought to camp just be the 0:05:02.200 --> 0:05:04.480 missing ingredient needed to make a playoff run? 0:05:05.120 --> 0:05:05.480 Sure? 0:05:05.720 --> 0:05:06.200 I hope so? 0:05:06.360 --> 0:05:07.159 Yeah? Right right? 0:05:07.320 --> 0:05:10.240 I mean, listen, you, you and I have laid this out. 0:05:10.400 --> 0:05:12.880 There is no perfect way to coach. There is no 0:05:13.000 --> 0:05:17.679 perfect offensive or defensive scheme. There is no perfect level 0:05:17.680 --> 0:05:20.800 of physicality or lack thereof in training camps. If there 0:05:20.839 --> 0:05:22.480 was a perfect way to do it, everybody would do 0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:28.440 it that way if if it was, he sure did 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:30.960 there is uh, you know, it's it's funny, Matt, I 0:05:31.000 --> 0:05:33.160 always you know that phrase. There's more than one way 0:05:33.200 --> 0:05:35.560 to skin a cat. I don't know why we have 0:05:35.600 --> 0:05:37.839 to skin the cat, right, I'm not even a cat 0:05:37.839 --> 0:05:39.800 guy myself, but I don't need to skin the cats. 0:05:39.839 --> 0:05:41.520 Let's leave the cats alone and let them do their 0:05:41.520 --> 0:05:45.360 thing exactly exactly, exactly right. I'm good on all that. 0:05:45.520 --> 0:05:48.120 Let let the cats be. But you know, there's more 0:05:48.160 --> 0:05:52.920 than one way to peel a potato. I'm sorry, I 0:05:52.960 --> 0:05:56.080 don't know. I guess it works, but there really Isn'telle. 0:05:56.160 --> 0:05:58.000 You could go from the tob or from the bottom. 0:05:58.080 --> 0:06:01.560 Yeah, but there's really only one way to peel bit. 0:06:01.600 --> 0:06:03.000 I think you're right. I think you're the potato. 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:04.200 You can go a lot of different directions. 0:06:04.600 --> 0:06:08.000 You certainly, you certainly could. I think the attention to detail, 0:06:08.040 --> 0:06:11.239 but really the attention to keeping these guys healthy matt 0:06:11.320 --> 0:06:13.520 to me. You know, to me, that feels like what 0:06:13.600 --> 0:06:16.480 could be the kicker. We talked a little bit about 0:06:16.480 --> 0:06:19.680 the fourth quarter defense struggles earlier in the show Brutal, 0:06:19.720 --> 0:06:22.039 as we mentioned a few weeks ago on the drive, 0:06:22.120 --> 0:06:24.440 you and I really dove deep into those numbers and 0:06:24.480 --> 0:06:26.680 they were not great. And he tweeted us and said, 0:06:26.720 --> 0:06:29.040 I won't soon forget your all's discussion about the Steelers 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:31.680 fourth quarter defense. The numbers matched what our eyes were 0:06:31.680 --> 0:06:34.960 telling us, but it was still painful and sobering to 0:06:35.000 --> 0:06:36.000 have it quantified. 0:06:36.520 --> 0:06:38.920 Maybe that's the numbers were worse than what our eyes 0:06:38.960 --> 0:06:40.839 were telling us. And did you look back? It was 0:06:40.920 --> 0:06:41.400 that bad. 0:06:41.680 --> 0:06:45.080 And maybe that's the kind of attention to detail aspect 0:06:45.120 --> 0:06:47.440 of this. Of Hey, when we get to fourth quarters, 0:06:47.480 --> 0:06:52.120 particularly in you know, holiday season, late November December into January, 0:06:52.160 --> 0:06:55.040 when you're making that playoff push. We need these guys fresh, 0:06:55.120 --> 0:06:57.599 We need these guys you know, peaking at the right time. 0:06:57.760 --> 0:07:01.000 Yeah, yeah, then we wouldn't I mean not to reiterate it, 0:07:01.000 --> 0:07:02.599 because we will talk a lot about it a lot, 0:07:02.680 --> 0:07:06.680 but I mean going forward, But there's numerous reasons in 0:07:06.720 --> 0:07:10.160 my opinion why the fourth quarter defense flat out failed. 0:07:10.680 --> 0:07:13.200 One of them was being on the field too long. Definitely, 0:07:13.400 --> 0:07:16.800 lack of adjustments. One of them could be conditioning, slash age. 0:07:18.040 --> 0:07:19.760 And if you could maybe get better in two of 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:23.080 those three areas great, I mean, there's almost nowhere to 0:07:23.120 --> 0:07:25.520 go but up. In terms of the fourth quarter defense. 0:07:26.480 --> 0:07:31.240 It was the numbers were drastic, they were jarring. They 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:33.840 were the worst in the NFL. And yeah, if you 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:35.920 go back, if you go back into our podcast feed 0:07:36.040 --> 0:07:37.840 into the last couple of weeks, and you want to 0:07:37.840 --> 0:07:41.240 find that also on the YouTube page, Matt did had 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:44.480 some great numbers in terms of the Steelers fourth quarter 0:07:44.520 --> 0:07:47.560 defensive struggles. And that's one of the things every every offseason, 0:07:47.680 --> 0:07:51.240 you know, we've discussed points of emphasis for this team 0:07:51.280 --> 0:07:53.920 and not just oh you got to find a franchise quarterback, 0:07:53.960 --> 0:07:56.000 like real tangible you need to get back towards the 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:57.840 top of the league. In sacks, you need to improve 0:07:57.880 --> 0:07:58.880 your yards per carry. 0:07:58.960 --> 0:08:00.920 Those are our two big ones we harped on last. 0:08:00.760 --> 0:08:03.680 Year, last year, this year, fourth quarter defense man has 0:08:04.280 --> 0:08:06.480 to be has to be better. And you know, you 0:08:06.520 --> 0:08:08.440 and I laugh normally when people say things like, well, 0:08:08.440 --> 0:08:09.920 it can't get any worse, but it. 0:08:09.880 --> 0:08:10.960 Always can always get worse. 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:12.800 But it almost couldn't for the Steelers in terms of 0:08:12.800 --> 0:08:14.880 how bad that when you're last in the league, chances 0:08:14.880 --> 0:08:17.520 are you're going to go up, obviously, yes, but I 0:08:17.880 --> 0:08:20.240 do love when people are like, can't possibly be as 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:21.160 injured as you were last? 0:08:21.320 --> 0:08:21.520 Are you? 0:08:21.560 --> 0:08:21.880 Certainly? 0:08:21.920 --> 0:08:23.000 This league's pretty rough. 0:08:23.320 --> 0:08:29.440 It's pretty rough, Yes it is, Ian says uh tuning 0:08:29.480 --> 0:08:31.520 in late so sorry if you guys already discussed this, 0:08:31.600 --> 0:08:34.280 But how has the offense looked so far under Mike 0:08:34.360 --> 0:08:36.920 McCarthy's new system seems to have a little bit of 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:39.040 an air and out feel so far, and I dig it. 0:08:39.160 --> 0:08:42.400 Thanks, love you guys. Yeah, it's still early doors in 0:08:42.440 --> 0:08:43.120 that conversation. 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:44.560 And they're also not going to work on the run 0:08:44.600 --> 0:08:47.199 game here, mashing people. You know, I mean not that 0:08:47.200 --> 0:08:48.840 you won't work on the run game, but you're gonna 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:51.319 do more route concepts and stuff like that in this 0:08:51.480 --> 0:08:53.800 environment before the pads go on. 0:08:53.880 --> 0:08:57.280 Too too early to say, I do think it's too 0:08:57.320 --> 0:08:58.000 early to say. 0:08:58.559 --> 0:09:00.720 I think Growman Wilson's look good. I think Jeremy Bernard's 0:09:00.760 --> 0:09:02.719 look good. I mean, those are new additions that you're 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:03.679 happy about. 0:09:03.720 --> 0:09:06.080 You know, Jeremy Bernard's a fun one to be keeping 0:09:06.080 --> 0:09:08.640 an eye on out here, because I think we're going 0:09:08.679 --> 0:09:10.200 to continue to see him get more and more on 0:09:10.240 --> 0:09:15.600 his plate. And how will he respond to that? Matt says, Hey, guys, 0:09:15.640 --> 0:09:18.160 happy training camp. Is there any chance that Joey Porter 0:09:18.240 --> 0:09:21.760 Junior could get franchised next year? Also, what do you 0:09:21.840 --> 0:09:24.520 like better? No red lights on the way to work 0:09:24.640 --> 0:09:26.800 or no red lights on the way home from work? 0:09:27.440 --> 0:09:28.640 I don't really work both. 0:09:29.720 --> 0:09:33.600 I don't really work, he says. I would say probably 0:09:33.640 --> 0:09:36.160 on the way to work, because you know, I'm usually 0:09:36.200 --> 0:09:37.960 cutting it a little tight on razor thin margin. 0:09:38.000 --> 0:09:38.600 I don't want to be late. 0:09:38.960 --> 0:09:40.400 I don't want to be late. Yeah, you know, I'll 0:09:40.400 --> 0:09:42.600 get home when I get home. Although it is nice 0:09:42.640 --> 0:09:43.160 both ways. 0:09:43.240 --> 0:09:45.040 But that is a card in the Steelers back pocket. 0:09:45.080 --> 0:09:47.240 If they can't get a deal done, he will be 0:09:47.600 --> 0:09:49.400 up for free agency. I'm sure he won't like it. 0:09:49.480 --> 0:09:51.400 Nobody does. But it's also not the worst fate in 0:09:51.400 --> 0:09:53.760 the world to get X amount guaranteed is a top 0:09:53.800 --> 0:09:57.200 five corner that if he is an awesome season or 0:09:57.280 --> 0:09:59.600 a good season, or is playing like he is now, 0:10:00.040 --> 0:10:03.600 he's good enough to franchise. I mean Benton for example, 0:10:03.640 --> 0:10:04.840 I'm not picking on him, but he could have a 0:10:04.840 --> 0:10:07.079 real good year and he's not going to be franchise worthy. 0:10:07.280 --> 0:10:09.800 Porter could be franchise worthy. 0:10:10.120 --> 0:10:14.120 Yes, you know, yes, I would be hard pressed to 0:10:14.160 --> 0:10:16.360 find a scenario where Joey Porter Junior is not a 0:10:16.360 --> 0:10:20.720 Steeler in twenty twenty seven, right, whether it's a contract extension, 0:10:20.720 --> 0:10:22.480 whether it's a franchise tag, it would have. 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:25.000 To be something crazy like bad blood exists through this 0:10:25.080 --> 0:10:27.880 contact extension and he demands a trade or something crazy 0:10:27.920 --> 0:10:30.400 like that. I mean, I'm really reaching here though. 0:10:30.559 --> 0:10:35.520 Yeah, no, absolutely, it just it feels inevitable in some 0:10:36.360 --> 0:10:38.080 type of some type of regard. 0:10:38.280 --> 0:10:42.319 However, through two practices, his starting replacement of Sante Samuel's 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:44.880 really shined. Oh yeah, he never gets talked about. But 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:47.760 I mean, with all these corners out, Samuel's thriving. 0:10:48.160 --> 0:10:52.040 Absolutely, absolutely me tweets us and says doctor Wes and 0:10:52.080 --> 0:10:55.079 Professor Matt how we doing. Here's my biggest camp question 0:10:55.200 --> 0:10:58.240 for you. If you had a Godzilla sized Steely mcbeem 0:10:58.720 --> 0:11:01.960 versu a Godzilla size pirate parrot vers a God's Deli 0:11:02.040 --> 0:11:05.000 sized Iceberg, who wins and what's the finishing move? 0:11:06.040 --> 0:11:06.360 Wow? 0:11:07.080 --> 0:11:10.320 Well, I like Steely mcbeam's chances if he's especially carrying 0:11:10.320 --> 0:11:11.240 around the steel beam. 0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:14.839 Yeah, some of these are very formidable in the mascot world, though, 0:11:14.960 --> 0:11:15.360 be like the. 0:11:15.360 --> 0:11:17.839 W W wrestler who comes into the ring with a chair, 0:11:18.000 --> 0:11:20.880 you know, and and just starts taking four had two 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:27.120 by four Jim or whatever that sound. The iceberg, you know, 0:11:27.200 --> 0:11:29.000 could take his skates off and stab somebody with it, 0:11:29.040 --> 0:11:30.079 so he would have that going. 0:11:29.880 --> 0:11:32.040 For I would say in mascot world, though they're low 0:11:32.080 --> 0:11:34.680 on the list, there's there's gonna be some tougher mascots 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:37.360 out than those three. Steele's kind of muscled. 0:11:38.000 --> 0:11:40.480 Hold on, hold on, are any mascots, I mean, you know, 0:11:40.520 --> 0:11:42.600 are any mascots intimidating and scary? 0:11:42.640 --> 0:11:45.200 And I think that kinds there like a San Jose 0:11:45.520 --> 0:11:48.040 or I'm sure there has to be tigers and lions 0:11:48.080 --> 0:11:48.480 and scary. 0:11:48.640 --> 0:11:50.560 You know some of those SEC schools they have real 0:11:50.600 --> 0:11:52.840 animals as their mascot, Like l s U has an 0:11:52.880 --> 0:11:56.000 actual tiger that sits there. You know, Texas has Beavo 0:11:56.280 --> 0:11:59.520 and yeah, Colorado has the Buffalo Bulldog and yeah there's 0:12:00.120 --> 0:12:00.600 the Georgia. 0:12:00.679 --> 0:12:00.959 Ugah. 0:12:01.320 --> 0:12:04.600 Yeah that's right. Ugah. Nate says, with you guys doing 0:12:04.600 --> 0:12:06.679 so much radio throughout training camp, how do you keep 0:12:06.720 --> 0:12:07.920 your voices fresh? 0:12:08.400 --> 0:12:11.480 So I did read that. I've never done one bit 0:12:11.720 --> 0:12:13.480 about that, you know, like I do that podcast with 0:12:13.520 --> 0:12:15.920 Peacock every morning. Yeah it's a morning for him because 0:12:15.920 --> 0:12:17.720 he's on the West Coast and he's like a professional 0:12:17.800 --> 0:12:20.360 radio guy. I guess I am too, But I've never 0:12:20.400 --> 0:12:22.560 had any training. Like he went to you know, school 0:12:22.600 --> 0:12:25.520 to do these things, and he does like exercises before 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:27.400 because it's the first thing he talks all morning. Like 0:12:27.440 --> 0:12:29.360 he's got a young son. He's like, well, you're the 0:12:29.360 --> 0:12:31.440 first adult I talked to every day. I talked to 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:34.000 my my not infant, but like five year old son. 0:12:34.480 --> 0:12:36.640 So I gotta warm my voice up. I'm like, I 0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:38.840 never do any of those things. You know, do you 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:39.640 care one bit? 0:12:40.559 --> 0:12:42.080 I so you'll laugh. 0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:43.079 I've never got an issue. 0:12:43.120 --> 0:12:44.840 I never had an issue, and you know this, and 0:12:44.880 --> 0:12:46.440 I think I might have shared this with our audience 0:12:46.480 --> 0:12:48.600 a few months ago, but you know this, I never 0:12:48.640 --> 0:12:49.960 had an issue until a couple months ago. 0:12:50.000 --> 0:12:51.040 I didn't know if you were gonna bring it up 0:12:51.080 --> 0:12:51.160 or not. 0:12:51.440 --> 0:12:54.720 Yeah, back in back, it was around the NFL draft 0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:58.880 time for whatever. I had vocal cord inflammation and it 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:01.240 was weird, and it was every day Matt and I. 0:13:01.360 --> 0:13:02.520 You know, it was like a couple of weeks where 0:13:02.520 --> 0:13:03.760 Matt and I would do the show and I'd be 0:13:03.840 --> 0:13:05.560 driving home and I'd be like, not like I was 0:13:05.600 --> 0:13:07.880 in a crazy amount of pain, but I'd be like, 0:13:08.000 --> 0:13:11.040 why is my voice so sore? Discomfort is that is 0:13:11.080 --> 0:13:14.120 the term that I would use. I'd say, I'm almost 0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:16.120 I had to do pregnant zone, which is a steroid 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:17.560 for a couple of weeks. Like they told me to 0:13:17.679 --> 0:13:19.360 drink a ton of water, drink a ton of tea. 0:13:19.480 --> 0:13:21.320 Just give it time, you know, rest your voice. This 0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:23.880 time of year when you can type thing, it's it's 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:25.880 so much better now than it was a few months ago, 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:28.040 but it's still from time. Like yesterday, you and I 0:13:28.080 --> 0:13:31.400 did five straight hours of radio today and and and 0:13:31.559 --> 0:13:34.320 last night, like I I had a throat laws enge 0:13:34.360 --> 0:13:36.560 and you know, some stuff like that. So I would 0:13:36.640 --> 0:13:40.000 say I pay a little more attention to it now, 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:42.480 but I never used to until a few months ago. 0:13:42.600 --> 0:13:44.760 I'm almost never on the air. I'm never on the 0:13:44.760 --> 0:13:47.120 air without either coffee or water in front of me. 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:49.800 I maybe that helps, but I don't do any I 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:50.920 don't give it any thought ever. 0:13:51.120 --> 0:13:53.199 Yeah, and I didn't either, like I said, until a 0:13:53.240 --> 0:13:54.880 couple months ago when I was kind of forced to. 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:57.680 But hopefully that was just a little just a little roadblock, 0:13:57.720 --> 0:13:59.959 and it won't be won't be an issue moving forward. 0:14:00.040 --> 0:14:04.400 All we're going to get to a break here in 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:06.480 this hour. Maybe we'll get to some more tweets as 0:14:06.520 --> 0:14:08.760 we roll along. I do want to, though, hear a 0:14:08.800 --> 0:14:11.280 little bit from Broderick Jones. He spoke today for the 0:14:11.320 --> 0:14:14.320 first time about that neck, about the new look coaching 0:14:14.400 --> 0:14:17.599 staff and offensive line. As we'll kind of continue, you know, 0:14:17.679 --> 0:14:19.640 it's just been an offensive line day here on the program, 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:22.320 highlighting the big guys and making tungching Wolf happy in 0:14:22.360 --> 0:14:24.440 the process too. Matt, we'll hear a little bit from 0:14:24.440 --> 0:14:27.000 Broderick talk a little bit more about Broderick and that 0:14:27.120 --> 0:14:30.000 O line. When we return here in our bonus hour 0:14:30.080 --> 0:14:33.320 of the Drive, West Shuler, Matt Williamson, It's all happening 0:14:33.400 --> 0:14:35.640 on the campus of Saint Vincent College. We are at 0:14:35.680 --> 0:14:39.600 Chuck Nolefield and Fabulous Latrobe. It is the Drive Steelers 0:14:39.680 --> 0:14:41.720 Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. 0:14:42.920 --> 0:14:46.920 This is live Cobry Chup Dot twenty twenty six, Steelers 0:14:47.000 --> 0:14:52.160 Training Camp or the Steelers Audio Network, presented by bud Light, 0:14:52.480 --> 0:14:55.440 Easy to drink, easy to enjoy, and brought to you 0:14:55.520 --> 0:15:00.000 in part by your neighborhood, Ford Store Creator, Pittsburgh Community 0:15:00.160 --> 0:15:04.520 Food Bank, First National Bank. Let's get started, remember FDIC 0:15:04.960 --> 0:15:10.480 West Shore Home Remodeling re Imagine by Leecom Digital, Donz 0:15:10.520 --> 0:15:16.160 Appliances Visit Donzappliances dot Com. Guaranteed lowest prices, free next 0:15:16.200 --> 0:15:21.200 day delivery, CGR Wholesale, and by Haas's Steak and Seahouse. 0:15:21.520 --> 0:15:23.960 Hass Is his hospitality. 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:28.200 Back on the Drive here as we roll along in 0:15:28.440 --> 0:15:31.160 the bonus hour, There's been a lot of offensive line 0:15:31.240 --> 0:15:33.880 conversation on the show today and really these first couple 0:15:33.920 --> 0:15:36.520 of days. Matt, it's a big X factor for the 0:15:36.560 --> 0:15:40.800 Steeler's success and the guy who might personify that the most. 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:44.080 Maybe not necessarily for the overall unit's success, Matt, but 0:15:44.200 --> 0:15:47.000 certainly for him in a crossroads year and a crossroads 0:15:47.040 --> 0:15:48.640 moment is Broderck Jones. 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:53.800 Absolutely, I think he could reach his immense ceiling and wow, 0:15:53.920 --> 0:15:55.640 what are we gonna do with them now? Contracts up, 0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:58.360 he ends up being your starting right tackle or maybe 0:15:58.400 --> 0:16:00.920 factors in a guard and what I've seen through two 0:16:00.960 --> 0:16:04.960 practices he's only aligned at left tackle as a backup, 0:16:05.320 --> 0:16:06.880 but subject to change. Who knows. 0:16:07.120 --> 0:16:09.880 Absolutely, And obviously we were all encouraged that he was 0:16:09.960 --> 0:16:13.280 here and ready to go after that scary neck injury 0:16:13.480 --> 0:16:16.000 back in was I think early November when we were 0:16:16.040 --> 0:16:18.880 in Chicago there at Soldier Field in that loss to 0:16:18.960 --> 0:16:22.800 the to the Bears. Roger Jones speaking today talking about 0:16:22.800 --> 0:16:26.360 his neck, his recovery, this new look coaching staff and 0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:28.840 offensive line. Here's what the big man had to say 0:16:28.880 --> 0:16:31.320 after practice. How you feeling good? 0:16:31.680 --> 0:16:34.400 Good? Glad to be back with the team. You know, 0:16:34.400 --> 0:16:35.440 I'm knocking the rust off. 0:16:35.720 --> 0:16:37.360 It's been a long time since I've been out there 0:16:37.360 --> 0:16:38.520 on the field with the guys, so you know, I'm 0:16:38.520 --> 0:16:40.160 just glad to be back with him. Well, the biggest 0:16:40.200 --> 0:16:43.800 hurdle for you, the biggest hurdle I'm getting back here 0:16:43.840 --> 0:16:47.560 and healthy. Probably just the conditioning part, like on the 0:16:47.600 --> 0:16:49.960 back end of like rehabing stuff, like trying to get 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:53.520 clear knowing we're coming back to camp, Noring's gonna be hoigh, 0:16:53.560 --> 0:16:56.120 you know, just trying to because I wasn't doing nothing 0:16:56.200 --> 0:16:58.640 for like I would say, like three months, three or 0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:01.480 four months, so you know, just trying to get back 0:17:01.520 --> 0:17:05.040 in shape, hitting the gym hard, you know, just enjoying, 0:17:05.240 --> 0:17:06.200 enjoying the time out. 0:17:06.040 --> 0:17:06.520 Here with the team. 0:17:06.560 --> 0:17:07.960 So were you ever concerned? 0:17:08.000 --> 0:17:09.920 Were you ever concerned this was gonna be a career 0:17:10.119 --> 0:17:10.760 ending injury? 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:17.240 Yes, and no at first when it first happened, just 0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:18.960 because of how serious it was. That was that was 0:17:19.040 --> 0:17:23.080 my first like serious injury ever, like, so it was 0:17:23.200 --> 0:17:27.159 it was kind of an eye opener for me. But 0:17:27.400 --> 0:17:30.480 you know, now, I know talking with the team docs 0:17:30.520 --> 0:17:33.760 and talking with doctor doctor Oh, he did a great job. 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:36.360 He said, the MRIs and stuff are coming back great. 0:17:36.480 --> 0:17:38.360 So you know, I'm just trying to continue to get better. 0:17:40.160 --> 0:17:42.680 It was a pretty serious rember, know I did it. 0:17:42.880 --> 0:17:46.520 Yeah yeah, no, like yeah, it was after the MRI, 0:17:46.560 --> 0:17:51.000