1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Your Tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation. 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 2: Radio Bonus hour. Here on the Drive, we are live. 4 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 3: From Fitzsimon's Temple Bar in Dublin, where the crack is amazing. 5 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 4: That's what they say here in Ireland. What's the crack? 6 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 4: Like I heard that. 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 3: What's happening? What's the word? You know, what's going on? 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 3: What's the crack? Well, the crack is fantastic here on 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 3: a Friday night, and I think just one of the 10 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 3: coolest cities in the world. Man, this place is off 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 3: like we're gonna keep saying that, but this place is awesome. 12 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 4: And Matt I was laughing. 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 5: They have a good time even when Stueler Nation doesn't 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 5: invade it. 15 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 4: I think they're known for that. In fact. 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 3: Actually yeah, and I was telling you this off air, 17 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 3: and Justin and you guys were laughing. I learned today 18 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 3: at Guinness that Artur Guinness, you know who started Guinness 19 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 3: working way back, you know, hundred some years ago, signed 20 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 3: a nine thousand year lease for that piece of property 21 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 3: at Saint James's Gate where they have the Guinness Brewery 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 3: for like forty bucks a month. 23 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 4: Oh really, yeah, a pretty good deal. 24 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 3: Oh you want to talk about like some of these 25 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 3: Mark Cuban, these business people like that's a pretty good deal. 26 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 5: By they don't they do now, okay, okay, right. 27 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 4: But they were like they were like, we leave that 28 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 4: They were like, we leave that information. 29 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 3: To the side because it just sounds cooler if we 30 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 3: signed a nine thousand year lease for forty bucks a 31 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 3: month for a month. Incredible, incredible. Also contract that's a 32 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 3: great exam Every year on July first gets one point 33 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 3: one million dollars from the New York Mets. 34 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 4: Maybe he drinks a Guinness to see every July first. Uh. 35 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 3: Our guy Wallace on Twitter, who's a OYL Steelers Nation 36 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 3: radio listener and tweeter tweeted us this and I thought 37 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 3: this was pretty cool, he said, just so you guys know. 38 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 3: And and Wallace has tweeted us like a couple Irish 39 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 3: sayings over over the last week, so he must speak 40 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 3: Gaelic pretty well, he said. F yi, the fits and 41 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 3: FitzSimons is the Norman French equivalent of Irish and Scottish 42 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 3: Gaelic Mac, which means son or son of. So the 43 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 3: bar you guys are broadcasting at FitzSimons means son of Simon, 44 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 3: like Williams Son, like Williams Son, Matt, oh, Williamson, gotcha. 45 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 4: Okay, so cool, so cool? 46 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 3: Maybe, uh, you know, maybe Simon's dad had a bar 47 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:28,239 Speaker 3: and then fitz. 48 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 4: Simon's dad or whatever. 49 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 3: Right, okay, but pretty cool stuff there as uh, you know, 50 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 3: we'll continue to kind of peel back the curtain on 51 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 3: all the things. 52 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 5: You guys want to chime in with that stuff educate us. 53 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 5: I'm the first to say I am not edited worldly 54 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 5: in any way. 55 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 4: I think I'm slightly but not not nearly to the 56 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 4: extent of some people. Matt. But you are very football educated. 57 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 4: And you said there in our our last segment of 58 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 4: the second hour before we got to this yere bonus hour, 59 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 4: that you wanted to talk a little bit more about 60 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 4: Nick Herbert. 61 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 5: Yeah. I think he's so good. I mean it, I 62 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 5: know that it can be small sample sizes, and it's 63 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 5: kind of like Warren before he got a full time 64 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 5: role that you know, his past rush production per snap 65 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 5: is as good as anyone to leave. I mean, it's 66 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 5: Miles Garrett, Michael Parsons maybe better, and it's easier to 67 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 5: do it on just third and eight and you're not 68 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 5: getting doubled. And TJ. Watt's over there. 69 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 4: We know, all in your ears back after the quarterback. 70 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 5: But he was pretty much in every down player this 71 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 5: past week and they're running at him and he held 72 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 5: up fair enough. He'll never be a dominant TJ. Watt 73 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 5: edge defender against the run. He's gonna be James Harrison 74 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 5: set in the edge. But what he brings to the 75 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 5: table is so valuable. You know it's been a while, 76 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 5: but let me just take a step back here. The 77 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 5: salary cap has gone up thirty four percent since COVID. 78 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 5: I mean, we know it's growing up like crazy. 79 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 4: I know where you're going at. 80 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 5: So all these players think, man, I'm getting I'm getting 81 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 5: so much more than the last guy. And they are, 82 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 5: but they still aren't getting thirty four percent more. The 83 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 5: owner Steve Downer going, this is good. 84 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 4: I like that, right, all right? 85 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 5: I mean this running back, it's a two million dollar raise. 86 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 5: They think it's great, but it's twenty percent raise. It's 87 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 5: not a thirty four percent raise in the pocket man, right, 88 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 5: I mean there's more income coming in on the back 89 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 5: end here then, So as much as most of these 90 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 5: contracts have escalated over the last couple of years, and 91 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 5: a lot of fans are like, how do you get 92 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 5: DK me Cat that kind of money. Well, it's still 93 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 5: a deal. It's all read the pie so much bigger, 94 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 5: that's it. But other than quarterback, which is a weird 95 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 5: thing because if you're Josh Allen, I mean some of 96 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 5: those quarterback contracts are so big. Yeah, yeah, I mean 97 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 5: they're they're kind of their own beast, and they're not 98 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 5: even ballooning so much as they're just some guys are 99 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 5: gonna get a ton and some will get they kind 100 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 5: of slot. But edge rushers are the only position that's 101 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 5: kept up with inflation. So if you look at like 102 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 5: the top ten or twenty edge rusher contracts signed since COVID, 103 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 5: they're all getting in the thirty thirty five percent bump 104 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 5: because the league knows how valuable they are and how 105 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 5: hard they are to find, you know what I mean, 106 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 5: no doubt, So I have often I love everyone's loved 107 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 5: Herbig from the start, of course, but we know what 108 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 5: just signed a monster deal. High Smith was signed recently, 109 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 5: so I've kind of just assumed that Herbig's a really 110 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 5: nice player. He'll let him walk, he'll probably yield a 111 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 5: third round compick because he's going to get up nice. 112 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 5: That guy on the open market would make a fortune. 113 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 4: He had. Pressures like that don't hit the open market 114 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 4: very often. 115 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 5: It's so hard to find. And I thought, Okay, you 116 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 5: get four really good years out of him. He goes 117 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 5: on his way, third round pick, comes back draft another. 118 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 4: In the third round or was he second round? 119 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 5: He was a third, he was a fourth, he was 120 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 5: a fourth third. Yeah, so he made money and you 121 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 5: got a lot of production out of him. I just 122 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 5: don't know how you can let him walk out the door. 123 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 5: And I know we're not here to all, you know, 124 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 5: talk about off season and all that stuff. It's like, 125 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 5: I'm I'm not letting that I walk high. Smith's got 126 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 5: a bit of an injury history. Wat's not young. 127 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 4: He is on the other side of thirty, no. 128 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 5: Question, you know. I mean, and I'm not even implying, 129 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 5: you know, well, I am implying. I mean, if you 130 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 5: would sign herbig now not they wouldn't do it during 131 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 5: the season, they never do. But as soon as the 132 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 5: season the season, as soon as you possibly can, like 133 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 5: they did with Warren, you would get a better deal 134 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 5: than obviously if he's on the open market and you're 135 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 5: fighting the cowboys and bears for him, because then he 136 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 5: gets priced out. I mean, he's gonna make a time. 137 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 5: And then I might entertain trade offers for Heismith. You know, 138 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 5: you might get a really nice pick or another nice 139 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 5: pick piece. And that's not a knock on him at all. 140 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 5: Or I'm not worried as much about his injuries. So 141 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 5: that's a side note. Yeah, you know, because then you 142 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 5: have a younger guy and you have wat you can 143 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 5: stagger your money a little bit different. But I might 144 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 5: just give him money anyway, and I probably personally, I 145 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 5: probably would. And this teams know, if you really want Alex, 146 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 5: you could blow my doors off and then I might 147 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 5: draft one the second round as long as before the draft, 148 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 5: maybe you could. You know, you could convince me, but 149 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 5: it ain't gonna be cheap. I can live with these 150 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 5: three on our budget totally. And then the other thing, 151 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 5: it's more prudent and more you know, after the bye 152 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 5: type of thing. They haven't done a ton of it 153 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 5: over the years, but there was a stretch there when 154 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 5: Ingram was here in Dupree, and watch that they got 155 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 5: the three of them on the field a fair amount together. 156 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 5: If you want to get your best eleven out there, 157 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 5: If you want to put your best five basketball players 158 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 5: on the field, and you happen to have two centers, 159 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 5: you put Robinson and Duncan out there anyway. 160 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: For the Golden State Warriors, and you got fifty guys 161 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 3: you can hit threes. 162 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 4: You play a line up and you shoot three, and. 163 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 5: You shoot three, right. I mean I know that someone 164 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 5: would plays somewhat out of position or whatever. Sure, but 165 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 5: nobody wants to block those guys, no, because nobody can. 166 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 5: So I think that's something you'd have to explore post 167 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 5: buy is let's get all three of them out there 168 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 5: a fair amount because they're hard to block. And Herbid 169 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 5: I know this sounds blasphemous, but one on one, Herbig 170 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 5: might be the hardest guy on the team to block 171 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 5: pass rushing, including what pass rushing right this minute. Yes, 172 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 5: and I don't not even implying watch declining. I'm just 173 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 5: saying I go one snap on thirty nine. Yeah, yeah, 174 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 5: and I know someone's gonna get singled. I probably would 175 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 5: pick Watt, but now it's probably it's. 176 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 4: A testament to hurb good. 177 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 5: It's even a conversation that good, is my point. And 178 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 5: I used to say these things to a lesser degree 179 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 5: about Warren, like you gotta get out there more, you 180 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 5: gotta get them out there more. He's one of your 181 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 5: best guys, you know, and herbig to me is a 182 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 5: potential Pro Bowl type producers. 183 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 4: I think that's well said. I am. 184 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 3: I'm with you in the sense of, hey, listen, you 185 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: need you need Highsmith to be healthy. And that's kind 186 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 3: of the baseline of this. You know, what could you 187 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 3: do with those three conversation? And that's also again, this 188 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 3: is a bigger picture thing that we could spend more 189 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 3: time on in the. 190 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 5: Off season a later date, like now's not the time 191 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 5: for contraction. 192 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I just I don't know how gung ho 193 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 3: I would be to go out and give up a 194 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 3: bunch of picks for for high Smith when he's had 195 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 3: the injuries that he's had over the last couple of years. 196 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 3: But again, different different conversations for a different time. 197 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 5: Last note on that, But if he comes back from 198 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 5: the by racks up seven or eight more sacks has 199 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 5: a typical high would take a chance. Yeah, there a shortage, 200 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 5: so I'm gonna give you a lot. 201 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 3: You're absolutely right it's a position that almost everybody in 202 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 3: the league needs help, right. 203 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 5: I could name eight I mean the Niners just lost 204 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 5: Fosa and the Cowboys just lost Parsons, and I mean 205 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 5: you can name eight or nine teams that would be 206 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 5: really excited about it. 207 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,199 Speaker 3: But I'm with you in the sense of getting those 208 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 3: three guys on the field together. 209 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 5: That's the more conversation. 210 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, finding ways to to just creatively deploy them. Going 211 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 3: back to what we talked about Brian Flores two hours ago, 212 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 3: sometimes it's like he's rolling the dice and it predictable. 213 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 4: Here's what we're gonna do it. 214 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 3: We're gonna show a quarter's look and then we're gonna 215 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 3: drop this guy down, and our safeties are gonna drop 216 00:09:59,440 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 3: down on. 217 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 4: Our line backers are gonna go. 218 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 5: Like I got a lot of positionless football with his 219 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 5: defense too. 220 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 3: It is very much in that kind of basketball sense. 221 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: That's what we were talking about. Like, positionless basketball is 222 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 3: a huge I know a lot of people who just 223 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 3: who listen to our shows or just football people who 224 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 3: don't really give a rip about anything else. Positionless basketball 225 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 3: is like a big thing in the basketball world right now. 226 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 4: I don't need a joint guard I don't need a. 227 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 3: Point guard and a shooting guard and in a center, 228 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 3: I need five guys who could play yeah, you know, 229 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 3: and my center can step out and hit a three 230 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 3: if he needs to. 231 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 5: My you know, like the opponent goes big, I don't 232 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 5: have to stub out exactly my best out there because 233 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 5: they can all do stuff. 234 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 3: I think that that's a fair you know, I don't 235 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 3: even if criticism is the right word, conversation point whatever 236 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 3: is they it's been three games, but again there's also 237 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 3: the backdrop of history there with the same head coach 238 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 3: and it's now been multiple years with the same defensive 239 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 3: coordinator of being static. 240 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 4: And I think I think at times. 241 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 3: That's worked very well for the Steelers when TJ and 242 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 3: Alex and Cam when they're when they had stuff on 243 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 3: to it almost are healthy and in their primes, yes, 244 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 3: stay static because you ain't gonna stop us. But I 245 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 3: think in times like now where you are, let's be honest, too, 246 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 3: as much as you added to that defense, you're still 247 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: kind of a defensive group. And in a little bit 248 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 3: of transition, you know, like there's a lot of different 249 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 3: faces in there. You've started to infuse the you know, 250 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 3: you've drafted Benton and Harmon and Ya Black and you 251 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 3: start doing you know, Peyton Wilson is a second year player. 252 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 4: Like, I'm with you, I would I would like to 253 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 4: see a. 254 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,479 Speaker 5: Special versatility on the back end too, especially. 255 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 3: Especially post bye week, because I think some people might 256 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 3: look at it and say, like, well, Flores has been 257 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 3: doing it all year with the Vikings, why can't you. 258 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 5: You can't just implore it tonight. 259 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: The Steelers also, they did, they made a ton of 260 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 3: changes to that defense this off season, but post bye week, 261 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 3: I'm with you, I think is when it would really 262 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 3: start to get interested. 263 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 5: So and again, we know that the Steelers have not 264 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 5: won playoff games lately. They've gone, but they haven't. 265 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 4: Won for the last five years they've been there. 266 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, And I even those really good defenses you mentioned 267 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 5: with two and those guys, Okay, they're really execution based. 268 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 5: And my guys are better than yours. And we'll have 269 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 5: fewer mental busts if we're not moving a lot of 270 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 5: things around, and you know, and and. 271 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 4: Static teams have twelve plays drives down the field if 272 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 4: they're gonna score. 273 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, and we're gonna create big plays and all those things. 274 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,119 Speaker 5: But when you get to the playoffs, you're almost inevitably 275 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,839 Speaker 5: playing a good quarterback. You're almost inevitably playing at least 276 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 5: your equal team. The coach is probably pretty smart, and 277 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 5: they're probably pretty healthy, you know what I mean. Like, 278 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 5: you're not throughout the course of the year you're gonna 279 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 5: run into a team that's just beat up. They're limping, 280 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 5: even if it's the Chiefs or Eagles, as it's gonna 281 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 5: be not their day, they're they're beat up. That's rare 282 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 5: in the playoffs, or they wouldn't have gotten that far 283 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 5: or survived, you know what I mean. Sure, Like I 284 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 5: think those things show up much more in the postseason. 285 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 5: And I don't think they walk into Buffalo or walk 286 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 5: into Kansas City these last couple or Baltimore and win 287 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 5: those games if they just move cam to the left 288 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 5: or the right, of course, but I think it's something 289 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 5: you need to examine to start winning playoff those two. 290 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 3: You know, Hey, it's the whole definition of insanity thing, right, Yeah, 291 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 3: you keep doing what you're doing, you're gonna keep getting 292 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 3: what you're getting. And the double digit win seasons playoffs 293 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 3: for the last five years, that's nothing to sneeze at, 294 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,719 Speaker 3: you know, what I mean, that matters, But if you 295 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 3: want to take steps further, if you if you want 296 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: to get to the next level, I think all options 297 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 3: have to be on the table. 298 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 4: Certainly two more segments. 299 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 5: And lastly on that too, is in a lot of 300 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 5: those playoff matchups, you obviously overmatch the quarterback position, and 301 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 5: that's a whole different story, for a whole different hour, 302 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 5: you know what I mean. I mean, maybe Rogers on 303 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,599 Speaker 5: his best day can duel with the Alan or in 304 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 5: a home maybe. Yeah, I mean better than the last 305 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 5: few have been able to at least give you a chance, you. 306 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 3: Know, probably since since pre elbow injury Ben exactly. 307 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 5: You know, at least you maybe have a dog in 308 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 5: that fight now. But that's always gonna be hard to overcome. 309 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 5: I mean, there's a lot of superheroes in the. 310 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 4: Conference there, there's certainly there's a lot of superheroes in 311 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 4: the AFY and justin Herbert looks like he's ascending into 312 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 4: that territory. 313 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 3: Cam Ward could be there before too much longer. Drake 314 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 3: may could be there before too. Muchever, Right, we gotta 315 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 3: get some of these guys in the NFC, man, Let's 316 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 3: get some of these guys. Let's get some of these 317 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 3: guys out of the AFC for sure. Two more segments 318 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 3: to go here live from FitzSimons. Simon says fitz Simon's 319 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 3: Temple Bar in Dublin. Steeler Nation is out here having 320 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 3: some fun, as are we, and we will continue the 321 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 3: conversation when we roll along on the other side. 322 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 4: West Huuler. 323 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 3: Matt Williamson, it is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio 324 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 3: on the Steelers Audio Network. 325 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to 326 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 327 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 3: I'm scrolling through the news of the day here, Matt, 328 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 3: and and uh, you know, Aaron Rodgers had his press conference, 329 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 3: uh not too long ago, of course, at that Carton 330 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 3: House castle outside of Dublin that we were talking about 331 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 3: in the first hour of the show, and he was 332 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 3: talking up Guinness. He was talking about how he needs 333 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 3: more time in Ireland, and I think that's something we 334 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 3: all agree. We were just talking to some bands commercial breakware. 335 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 3: People are asking us, like you enjoyed it? You having 336 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 3: a good time. We're like, this is incredible, and are 337 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 3: you kidding made It's like the best time I've ever 338 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 3: had in my life, But. 339 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, I I did. I'm sure for like it's it's 340 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 4: for us. 341 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 3: We're kind of like towing the line of yeah, this 342 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 3: is a lot of fun, but it's still a work trip, right, 343 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 3: Like we still have shows, whatever responsibilities. Right for those guys, 344 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 3: it's got to be so tough, like they are the 345 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 3: center of the show. They are the reason that everybody's here. Yeah, 346 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 3: but they got they gotta be laser focused. 347 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 5: Right, this is an important game. They only do seventeen 348 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 5: of them a year. You can't just kind of blow 349 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 5: it off. 350 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 4: Or we're in Ireland, who cares? 351 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 5: I mean, distractions galore. I would think for both of 352 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 5: the teams or all the all the overseas stuff. And 353 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 5: if I were in charge, I'd keep him far away 354 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 5: from this environment. 355 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 3: I think that's smart that they're you know, like I 356 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 3: was saying, like not far, like thirty forty minutes outside 357 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 3: of the city whatever it is. 358 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 4: I think that makes a lot. 359 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 5: Of sense, absolutely right. I keep him well out. 360 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 3: Of territory, well out of the Temple Bar area down here. 361 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 4: For sure. 362 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 5: There's something people want to talk to you, and I 363 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 5: mean it's great for our cause, but not for Aaron Rodgers. 364 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 4: Or no right, No, right, no, absolutely not. 365 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 3: And you know, maybe that's something that they kind of 366 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 3: deduced from that twenty thirteen experience when they were in London. 367 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 4: Like I was taught. 368 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,359 Speaker 3: I've referenced our our Steelers radio broadcast producer. 369 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 4: Dan Quinlan a couple of times. 370 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 3: This is his fifteenth season being the producer of the 371 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 3: Steelers game day broadcasts, so it was like his second 372 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 3: year I think was that was that that London trip 373 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 3: in twenty and thirteen? Uh? And he said they stayed 374 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 3: in like an Intercontinental hotel, like right in the middle 375 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 3: of downtown London really, and so there was a lot 376 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 3: of reports from that game about the Steelers being jet lagged, right, 377 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,239 Speaker 3: And like Hayward talked about that last week, and I 378 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 3: certainly think listen, that's just part of it. 379 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 4: You and I alluded to. 380 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 5: How you avoid it? I mean maybe, I mean you've 381 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 5: become two days early. I mean to help. 382 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 3: I mean I think, like I think the only way 383 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 3: to avoid it would have been to get in here 384 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 3: like Monday or Tuesday, you know what I mean, and 385 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 3: really give yourself time. 386 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 5: You wanted to ask Max that last night as he 387 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 5: came straight from the New England game. Yeah, is he 388 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 5: figured it. 389 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 4: Out yet, because I'm far from it same. I can't believe. 390 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 3: You know, it's it's in the five o'clock hour here 391 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 3: locally as you and I sit, it's just yeah, it's 392 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 3: it's all over the place. 393 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 4: Ye, it's a mess. 394 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 3: But for those guys, listen, that's one of those things 395 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 3: no one like, No one cares, No one cares about 396 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 3: the labor show me the baby. 397 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 4: Yeah. 398 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 5: Yeah. You know, if you could beat bad, they don't 399 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 5: want to hear about it. Right. 400 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 3: If you win, everyone's going to talk about how great 401 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 3: it was. If you lose, we don't want to hear 402 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 3: about it. 403 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 5: You know, it's Minnesota's coming further than Pittsburgh, you know. 404 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 3: They yeah, that's that's right, they all yeah. And they're 405 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 3: staying in London next week. It'd be a lot of 406 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 3: fun to be a Viking game. 407 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 5: I think that's a big advantage for next week. 408 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 4: Because they play the Browns. The brown of the Brown's 409 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 4: gonna come over Thursday Friday. 410 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 5: Right, I mean, they're just gonna take a short trip 411 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 5: from here to London. I think that's a massive advantage 412 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 5: for that mass. It's kind of weird that the NFL 413 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 5: set that up for a team that I know. Jacksonville 414 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 5: did it once, but Jacksonville almost as London is. 415 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 4: Our home games there a year usually. 416 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 5: I don't know if it would be a regular thing 417 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 5: that they'll send some team over and let them stay 418 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 5: for two games. 419 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 3: Wouldn't be terrible, Like I said, it'd be a lot 420 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 3: of fun. If you were an employee of the team, 421 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 3: you're like, oh, we get a few days in Dublin, 422 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 3: we get a few days a week in London. 423 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 5: Yeah, that'd be even better than our seduce. 424 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 4: It could be a lot worse. This could could be 425 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 4: a lot worse. 426 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 3: Is yeah, that's one of Is that any home game 427 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 3: for Cleveland or for Minnesota next weekend? 428 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 4: Do you know? I can look it up here. 429 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 5: I assume Cleveland because the AFC has nine home games 430 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 5: and the NFC is. 431 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 3: A great call, and it is. You are correct, it's Cleveland. 432 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 5: Is their home game for Cleveland. 433 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 4: That's kind of a ruse. For Minnesota. 434 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 5: That's a nice perk for Minnesota, and like two fronts. 435 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 5: First off, they have that massive layover advantage next week 436 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 5: from being here, and they get two road games that 437 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 5: aren't really road games and they aren't really true home games. 438 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 3: Now For granted, these games are early in the season, 439 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 3: right This one's in September. 440 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 4: They'll be playing the Browns in October. 441 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 3: But what if they had to come to Pittsburgh at 442 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 3: Thanksgiving and Cleveland at Christmas? 443 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 5: Exactly? 444 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 4: That's a completely different story. 445 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 5: Completely different story in terms of fan base all that too. 446 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:33,959 Speaker 5: You know, like most teams might not travel as well 447 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 5: as Pittsburgh, or how many Browns fans will be there, 448 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 5: I don't know, but whatever I think I would if 449 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 5: I have nine road games, as all NFC teams do, 450 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 5: and the Vikings are one of them, if I get 451 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 5: two of them, if I can knock off two of 452 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 5: them back to back at a neutral field, sign me up. 453 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: That's you talk about, like those rest advantage statistics and 454 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 3: things like that, and how the schedule. That's a very 455 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 3: very nice way that it all played out for Minnesota, 456 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 3: does tougher Man. We've talked a lot about how Cleveland 457 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 3: kind of got the for the their first not that 458 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 3: we're crying for them, but the first six or. 459 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 5: Seven weeks, difficult opponents. 460 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 3: Difficult opponents. They're losing a home game to play the Vikings, 461 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 3: who are gonna be. 462 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 5: He steer a week, But yeah, but you'd rather be 463 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 5: in the front end of that against the Vikings on 464 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 5: the back end. 465 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 3: And then Cleveland comes home and they got to play 466 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 3: in Pittsburgh. They don't get a bye week. They don't 467 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 3: even get a home game. 468 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 5: Everyone hits a bye after going overseas. And maybe the 469 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 5: Browns requested, they didn't And I've been told that the 470 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 5: Steelers requested they didn't get one either because they didn't 471 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 5: want one that early, that early, which I would understand. 472 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 5: But boy, if you had, like the Bears come in 473 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 5: to town next week, you wouldn't love that. 474 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 4: No, you would not. You certainly would not. Matt another. 475 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 3: Matt stats that I wanted to run by you here, 476 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 3: and we're starting to run out of time in today's show, 477 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 3: so I wanted to make sure I get this one in. 478 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 3: The Steelers opponents have twenty one more first downs, thirty 479 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 3: more rushing attempts, two hundred and twenty nine more rushing yards, 480 00:20:58,280 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 3: for an average of one and a half more yards 481 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: per rush than the Steelers do. 482 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 5: Yeah. I mean that's all time possession stuff. 483 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 3: That's you know, that's problematic for anybody, for anybody, but 484 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 3: especially again when kind of getting back to where we 485 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,479 Speaker 3: started the show a couple hours ago. When you're an 486 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 3: offense that wants to be predicated on running the. 487 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,159 Speaker 5: Foot play, yeah yeah, And as good as Rogers is 488 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 5: and could be, you're not going to be a top 489 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 5: ten passing offense, just not. I mean, look around the league. 490 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 5: I mean, you're not going to compete. 491 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 3: With such a mark Chason T. Higgins, Jordan Addison and 492 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 3: Justin Jefferson, right. 493 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 5: And elite quarterbacks and all those things. And to me, 494 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 5: that stat just screams they're losing too many downs on 495 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,719 Speaker 5: a down to down basis. And we mentioned, you know, 496 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 5: they're really good at creating splash, especially on defense and turnovers, 497 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 5: and I have a thousand percent that they're as good 498 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 5: as any team out there, and they stress it and 499 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 5: that's great. But if you're still losing on first and 500 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 5: ten time and time again, if those are six yard 501 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 5: runs and you're getting two yard runs, so it's your turn. 502 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 5: It's if it hasn't taken its toll yet, then it hasn't. 503 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 5: Because they're two and one. It will soon if you 504 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 5: keep it up. It just will. 505 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 4: It absolutely will. 506 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 3: And kind of piggyback off of that, the Steelers have 507 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 3: actually been outscored by five points this season if. 508 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 4: You add up their their aggregate. 509 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 3: Point totals Minnesota plus twenty five and now by that 510 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 3: massive thirty eight point win over Cincinnati last week. But 511 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 3: you know this, this to me is a real again 512 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 3: getting back to early in the season. It is easy 513 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 3: to say it's September. You know, it's an extension of 514 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 3: the preseason. We talked a lot about that with Bob 515 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 3: Labriola the first week or two. But this is the 516 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,120 Speaker 3: point now where the rubber has to meet the road. 517 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 3: This is the point now. You know, I make this 518 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 3: reference a lot. It doesn't have to be a Mona Lisa, 519 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 3: it doesn't have to be a work of art, but 520 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 3: you need those trends are starting to develop, and for me, 521 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 3: most of them for the run game are concerning a 522 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 3: lot of other areas you can point to and you 523 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 3: can say it's either good or it's getting there. 524 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, yeah, but the right direction or at least 525 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 5: I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, 526 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 5: you know, right. 527 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 4: I am. 528 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 3: I'm hoping regardless of what the score is on Sunday, 529 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 3: and we're getting back on that plane Monday morning. We're 530 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 3: feeling better about the run game, that to me would 531 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 3: almost mean as much as a victory. 532 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 4: Yeah. 533 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 5: I forget how Mike Pursuda mentioned it to me on 534 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 5: the morning show, but he said, what if the run 535 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 5: game is noticeably better and more consistent and you don't 536 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 5: see you see more down to down consistency and defense 537 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 5: is pretty stout, but in the end you lose on 538 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 5: the last second field goal or whatever. Sure, is that 539 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 5: a promising turn of events or not. I'm like, I 540 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:45,159 Speaker 5: think that's. 541 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 3: A promising heading into the bye week, I would say, 542 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 3: especially yeah. 543 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 5: And then speaking on the by he kind of had 544 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 5: a two part question. He said something along the lines 545 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 5: of what if things are a disaster and you get 546 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 5: to win. I'm like, well, that wouldn't That would start 547 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 5: to worry me because we're getting to the point where 548 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 5: the season where I can't the excuses are they're not 549 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 5: facts or excuses. Now, Yeah, you know, like you've played 550 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 5: too much football, But at least you have that entire 551 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 5: bye week to work on it, you know what I mean? Like, 552 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 5: if things are bad on Sunday, and I'm not suggesting 553 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 5: they will be, but they might be. Any game could be, 554 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 5: I would think we'll spend a lot of time doing 555 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:29,199 Speaker 5: our bye week shows, saying, well, times are tough, but 556 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 5: at least you have this long stretch. Go back to 557 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 5: the drawing board, get it right. Do some self scouting, 558 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 5: as teams do during the bye. How is everyone attacking us? 559 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 5: How are we handling it? Where are weak spots? Maybe 560 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 5: get a little healthier, you know, high Smith or whoever 561 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,159 Speaker 5: or Porter Elliott doesn't play an out there. Yeah, you 562 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 5: would hope they're back by then. So I told him, 563 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 5: you know, he said, should I just like get in 564 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 5: line to jump off the bridge or should I just 565 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 5: jump off the bridge? And I said, just get in line, 566 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,199 Speaker 5: you know. I mean, let's let's get the coaching ask 567 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 5: some credit for what they can do after the bye, 568 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 5: even if Sunday is disastrous, you. 569 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 4: Know, and and listen. 570 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 3: A lot like that is commonplace for a lot of 571 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,399 Speaker 3: teams that end up having successful seasons. 572 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 4: The Philadelphia Eagles were a mess at their bye week. 573 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 4: Oh Aj Brown and Jalen Hurts were bickering with each 574 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 4: other in the in the meat you remember that A. J. 575 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 3: Brown was asked, what's your guys biggest issue right now? 576 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 3: And he said passing? 577 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 5: Passing? 578 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: I mean like there was there was a lot going 579 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 3: on there, and then they looked like world beaters and 580 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 3: rolled through a Super Bowl, right, I mean the Chiefs. 581 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 3: I always remember this, Matt and like Motes and I 582 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: used to laugh about this when we would bring up 583 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 3: examples like this. 584 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 4: The year that the Chiefs. 585 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 3: Won their first Super Bowl, so twenty twenty, right before 586 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 3: COVID hit in February of twenty twenty, when they when 587 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 3: they won that first Super Bowl for Andy Reid, for Mahomes. 588 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 3: Year after losing in the AFC Championship game in overtime 589 00:25:55,320 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 3: at home to Brady, Right, they the Chiefs heading into 590 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 3: that next seat, so they they bring Mahomes in, They 591 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 3: have a good year, They go to the AFC Championship Game, 592 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:08,439 Speaker 3: they lose in overtime to the Patriots and Tom Brady. 593 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 3: The next season they were seven and five thirteen games 594 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 3: in before they won the rest of their games the 595 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 3: rest of the way, I believe, the regular season, end 596 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 3: of the playoffs, there were newspaper articles and you know, 597 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 3: the the Jerry Dulax and Mike Pursudas of the world 598 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 3: were writing articles in Kansas City, it's time to get 599 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 3: rid of Andy Reid. 600 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, like he's he can get your close. He can 601 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 4: get you good. 602 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,239 Speaker 3: But like, come on, like you're not you're you're not 603 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 3: taking a step forward with Patrick Mahomes in his third year. 604 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 3: Now you're just in THEFC Championship game seven and five 605 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 3: around Thanksgiving, it's time to make a change. And they 606 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 3: win the super Bowl and then win two more and 607 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 3: go four the year. You know, they're there every year. 608 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 3: So teams are allowed to get much better and improve, 609 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 3: you know, even after Halloween. But you have to start 610 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 3: seeing it at some point. It's not just gonna come 611 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 3: out of nowhere. 612 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 5: A thousand and you'd like to see noticeable improvement this week. Now. 613 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 5: I'm in favor, especially with an older team like this, 614 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,400 Speaker 5: that a later bye week could be better than earlier one. 615 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 5: I'm with you, you know, like coming back it could 616 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 5: be a grind. But if the down to down stuff 617 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 5: is bad, maybe you welcome the early bye week and 618 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 5: just say we need to fix stuff now. You know. 619 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 4: It's a pretty good point. 620 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, and we have we have depth. Maybe we can 621 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 5: handle you know, coming off a bye a little healthier. 622 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 5: Trust some of these dudes that got thrown into the 623 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 5: action early to spell some of the older guys, the 624 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 5: echoes of the world. Guys like that that have played well, 625 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 5: the Echually's and those type of guys black and you know, 626 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,679 Speaker 5: we've seen some of them in the first month and 627 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 5: they vote basically passed that test that we can give 628 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 5: Cam Hayward December snaps off, if we could fix the 629 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 5: running games, ring the bye week or you know what 630 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 5: I mean? 631 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 4: Yes, you know which is important? 632 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 5: It's important. 633 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, Matt, I've got two things, you know, and we've 634 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 3: got a couple of minutes left in this segment and 635 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 3: then one more segment to go. Two things that I 636 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 3: want to discuss with you before we get out of here, Kay, 637 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 3: Carson Wentz because you got to talk about a redhead 638 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 3: when you're in Ireland, obviously. The second is the Steelers' 639 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 3: final practice report just came out like seconds ago. 640 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 4: You want that right now or you want to use 641 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 4: it on the other side, So let's do it right now. Okay? Good? 642 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 4: You want good news? Are bad news? First? Bad? 643 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 3: Joey Porter Junior, Jalen Warren, and John new Smith all 644 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 3: listed as questionable for Sunday. 645 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 5: Ooh that John new One and Warren are kind of. 646 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 3: Newish, not great. I think we all expected that for 647 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 3: Joey Porter Junior. 648 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:30,919 Speaker 5: Right, that's not shocked. 649 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 3: But Jalen Warren and John new Smith both limited in 650 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 3: practice all week and are listed is questionable going into Sunday. 651 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 5: You hate being that reliant on one running back at 652 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 5: a position you can find guys, but they would be 653 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 5: in a lot of trouble without. 654 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 4: Warren, big lot. 655 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 3: I mean, other than Aaron Rodgers. He might be the 656 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 3: one guy on offense they could afford to lose the least. 657 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 4: Yeah. 658 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 5: As much as I like Baltanu and Fraser and Metcalf 659 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 5: and all those guys, I mean, there's a conversation that 660 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 5: Warren's as valuable as anyone, which is a fragile position 661 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 5: to be And you don't want to be that reliant 662 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 5: on a running back. And I like Warren, but he's 663 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:05,479 Speaker 5: not Walter Payton, you know what I mean? 664 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 3: Correct, Correct, He's not Barry Sanders, right right, right, Good 665 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 3: news though, we need some good news. Yeah to Shaun Elliott, 666 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 3: no injury designition set to return. 667 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 5: Cool. I think that's great. Hawkinson has really stepped up 668 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 5: for them this last week. Teams are attacking the middle 669 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 5: of the field from what I've been told, and no 670 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 5: one should be surprised. Elliott is really the communicator on 671 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 5: that back end. He's the quarterback of the secondary, so 672 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 5: even the mental stuff would be helpful. He's a very 673 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 5: good run defender as well, quality player. So I wonder, 674 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 5: and maybe this is post by, I think Clark's role 675 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 5: diminishes massively because Pepper. I think Pepper's goes ahead of 676 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 5: Clark flat out. But that was easier to say when 677 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 5: they were both. All three of them are strong, you know, 678 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 5: strong safeties. Now I wonder can Pepper's even put a 679 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 5: dent in Thornhill's. Yeah, I could write the story where 680 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 5: Elliott and Peppers are your best two safeties, you know. 681 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 5: And I don't dislike thorn Hill. Clark worries you need 682 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 5: to know end. I don't think he runs well enough. 683 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 5: And I think Clark all of a sudden we'll be 684 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 5: phased out or maybe even like to motor to the 685 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 5: practice squad before you know it or who knows, you know. 686 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 5: But I wonder is Thornhill not in trouble? But does 687 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 5: he not as good as Peppers? Which would be a 688 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 5: good problem, Like, I mean, this unpossible. 689 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 3: Sure, I think I think that there is a certainly 690 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 3: certainly plenty of there to uh to get into. As 691 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 3: our buddy Chris Hallick from dk Pittsburgh sports off and 692 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 3: walks into the Fitz seven. We got one segment to 693 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 3: go after this. You want to you want to hop on? 694 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 3: All right, sweet, that'll be a great way to close 695 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 3: it down. We'll have our buddy Chris Hallick uh join 696 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 3: us to wrap this thing up on the other side 697 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 3: from an electric Fitzsimon's Temple Bar here in Dublin. Wes mculler, 698 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 3: Matto Williamson back for one more segment with you to 699 00:30:58,120 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 3: wrap this thing up and we return on the other 700 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 3: It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio. 701 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: Network, your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to 702 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 1: seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 703 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 4: Our final segment here on this Friday from Fitzsimon's Temple 704 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 4: Bar in Dublin. We will be back tomorrow along with 705 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 4: the DV Morning Show. 706 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 3: We're doing Geez Matt, what like six seven, eight, nine 707 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 3: hours of live shows here every day. 708 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, they've been great. Host hard tomorrow. 709 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 3: Oh, we sure are literally and figuratively as uh. It's funny. 710 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 3: We were like we were just laughing. Man, this place, 711 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 3: it kind of like died down for like. 712 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 5: An app maybe the relatively speaking, like the morning. 713 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 4: The morning crew kind of cleared out right, and now 714 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 4: the evening crew is starting to roll in. 715 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 5: Got a lot louder in the last fifteen minutes or so. 716 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, it sure did, it absolutely sure did. But it's uh, 717 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 3: it's picking up. It's getting a little bit, getting a 718 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 3: little little little bit louder here as we you know, 719 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:08,400 Speaker 3: as we as we get towards evening time here on 720 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 3: a Friday night in Dublin and joining us now with 721 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 3: a fresh point in his hand. He is He is 722 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 3: one of our regulars on the show. Covers the stillers 723 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 3: for dk Pittsburgh Sports Chris Hallick, Chris, what's up, dude? 724 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 4: What's the crack? 725 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:26,320 Speaker 5: Oh my gosh, man, it is awesome here is unbelievable. 726 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 6: It's awesome. I really cannot get over. This is like 727 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 6: my first time in Ireland all together. But man, all 728 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 6: three of us six. Not only is does the guinness 729 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 6: just taste so much better here? Wonderful, but the excitement 730 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,440 Speaker 6: over this game. I've talked with a number of people 731 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 6: even here at Fitzsimmons, and then, uh, you know, just 732 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 6: throughout the city. Just the excitement here is just awesome. 733 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 6: And I'm I'm it's got me stoke for the game. 734 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 6: And I'm I'm like, I'm going there covering it as 735 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 6: a journalist. 736 00:32:57,320 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 4: Right, how can you not get caught up. 737 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 7: A lot of fun? 738 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 5: It's just a lot of fun. 739 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 4: Were you at practice today? 740 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 7: Yes? 741 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 4: Talk to us about practice and the setting there where 742 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 4: the Steelers are staying. Dude, it looks crazy like a castle. 743 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 3: No. 744 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 6: I mean, the first off, the grass, like the pitch, 745 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 6: the pitch you have to use the right, the right 746 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 6: ling over here, the pitch was immaculate, Like, is it different? 747 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 6: It's not the same grass that we have over on 748 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 6: the South. They didn't think so, Yeah, it was. It 749 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 6: was really cool and I was really paying attention to 750 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:29,120 Speaker 6: like how are the players, like how are they acclimating? 751 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 7: And I actually thought that they looked pretty awake. 752 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 5: Really. 753 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 7: They didn't look like they. 754 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 6: Were groggy and like they were being dragged out there, 755 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 6: like oh god, yeah, no, no, no, they actually looked like 756 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 6: they were there and. 757 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 5: Energetic and excited for a practice. And I'm sure they 758 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 5: had them sleep as much as humanly possible, but who knows. 759 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 7: You know, it was it was good. 760 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 4: Yeah. 761 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 6: I actually I thought it was a pretty good practice. 762 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 6: They didn't do anything like crazy. They didn't have helmets 763 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:55,480 Speaker 6: on or. 764 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 7: Anything like that. 765 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 6: I didn't expect it to come out full pads and 766 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 6: stuff like that, but. 767 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 7: I think they got their work end that they wanted 768 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:01,640 Speaker 7: to get into. 769 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 4: Today. 770 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 5: Well, let's talk a little bit about it. Though we 771 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 5: mentioned it quickly. Sounds like Elliott is back, Yes, Is 772 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,040 Speaker 5: it time to worry about John hu or Warren or 773 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:12,359 Speaker 5: do you think that's just precautionary. 774 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 7: Well, they're officially questionable for the game. 775 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 6: So I whenever I saw the injury designation come across 776 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 6: for both of those guys in the jury report, I'm like, Okay, 777 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 6: this isn't just vet rest, like they're actually going with 778 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 6: some stuff. 779 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 7: And the big. 780 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 6: Concern with Jalen Warren really is like, Okay, you want 781 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:30,879 Speaker 6: him to be the feature back. 782 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:32,359 Speaker 7: He looks like a feature back out there. 783 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,840 Speaker 6: But then also at the same time, the big concern 784 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,720 Speaker 6: with him has been durability. 785 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 5: You know, even when he hand. 786 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 7: He's played a lot of games. 787 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:43,760 Speaker 6: I think he's only missed three games in his career, 788 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 6: but he's been less than a hundred percent, you know, 789 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 6: a decent amount, you know, a little too often, so 790 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 6: I'm a bit concerned about it. 791 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 5: But we were saying he's more critical than ever. I mean, 792 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:56,759 Speaker 5: you're being really rough shape without Warren right now. 793 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 6: I mean Caleb Johnson, like he's obvious not been in 794 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 6: a really good like headspace, like especially ever since the 795 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:08,400 Speaker 6: return issue. And you kind of wonder, like, is he 796 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:10,760 Speaker 6: gonna be like if Warren can't go for whatever reason, 797 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 6: like you're gonna have to lean on him. Are you 798 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 6: gonna bring Trey Sermon up to immediately becoming RB three? 799 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 6: I mean, it's possible. 800 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:18,879 Speaker 5: He's here. 801 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 7: I mean, you can do that. 802 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:21,440 Speaker 5: But and I would think you want to run the 803 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 5: ball a lot in this game to get Flores out 804 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 5: of his crazy zone. You know, you would like to, Yeah, 805 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 5: you would love. 806 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 6: To be able to run the ball and then be 807 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 6: able to dictate what Floraes does on the defensive side 808 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 6: and not just allow him to just throw everything he 809 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 6: has at you. 810 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 3: I do want to talk with you about that a 811 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:37,640 Speaker 3: little bit more, but but first let's get to that 812 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,279 Speaker 3: kind of I guess good news of the day, if 813 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:43,239 Speaker 3: you will to Shaun Elliott, no more injury designation. 814 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 4: Good to go? How important is that gonna be for 815 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:46,240 Speaker 4: the secondary? 816 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:50,280 Speaker 6: Uh, that's huge, And I know there's like some concern 817 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,440 Speaker 6: from fans at least on our app whenever they get 818 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 6: questions like, okay, but ja Brow Pepper has looked really 819 00:35:56,640 --> 00:35:59,280 Speaker 6: really good. Know they kind of play the same position. Well, yeah, 820 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:00,840 Speaker 6: but that's a great problem to have. 821 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 5: We were just talking about that little Now you don't have. 822 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 6: To worry about rushing Deshaun Elliott back to play this 823 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 6: insanley high snap count you can have. Hey, you know, 824 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 6: we don't want to go too fast, too soon. We 825 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 6: want to make sure he's healthy. We can put Peppers 826 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 6: out there for a certain number of snaps, and again, 827 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:17,799 Speaker 6: when you have too many good players, then what can 828 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:20,239 Speaker 6: be on the field at the same time. It's a 829 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:23,359 Speaker 6: great problem any team will take. But it's still been 830 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 6: I mean, Deshaun Elliott, his impact is very, very clear. 831 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 6: It's great for them to have him back, for sure. 832 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 6: But again, that's just a great problem for the Steelers 833 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 6: to have. 834 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 5: I'm getting the point where the least Chuck Clark I 835 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 5: see the better. To be honest, I know that sounds rough, 836 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:44,800 Speaker 5: but with Peppers, Thornhill now Elliott back, I think Peppers 837 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,280 Speaker 5: could even I know they played different positions even challenge 838 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:51,320 Speaker 5: Thornhill for snaps and some packages, let alone, really relegate 839 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,359 Speaker 5: Clark to a backup role, I mean a total backup role. 840 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 6: Well, the thing that I'm wondering, the thing that I'm 841 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,239 Speaker 6: wondering about that is Chuck Clark played more snaps than 842 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:01,880 Speaker 6: one thorn. 843 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 5: Hill last week. I know, I'm wondering where Thornhill fits 844 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 5: in at the moment. 845 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,320 Speaker 6: Because you know, Elliott's not a free guy and pepperis 846 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 6: is in a free guy. 847 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:13,000 Speaker 5: So like, are we gonna see less single high That's 848 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:15,920 Speaker 5: what I've been I'm hoping. I mean, they're so static 849 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 5: with their single high stuff, you know, I. 850 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:20,799 Speaker 6: Mean I would I would like to think, and I 851 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 6: have a pretty good hunch that the Steelers have more 852 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:26,879 Speaker 6: too high looks in their defensive playbook than what we've 853 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:30,359 Speaker 6: seen so far. At the same time, I still think 854 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 6: that I think I think, yeah, a single team, whether 855 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 6: it's Cover one or Cover three, I think they are 856 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 6: more of a single high team. 857 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:39,880 Speaker 7: But hopefully we see more too high looks. 858 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 3: Certainly think that that is a possibility. And I'm with 859 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:45,520 Speaker 3: you guys there it is. Chris Halleck of DK Pittsburgh 860 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:47,879 Speaker 3: Sports with us here. Yeah, I was gonna say, I'm 861 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 3: trying to this is me trying to cover time for you, 862 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:51,719 Speaker 3: so you could take a sip of your of your 863 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:53,960 Speaker 3: delicious frosty beverage. 864 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 4: Let's go. 865 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:57,920 Speaker 3: Okay, So going back to that run game thing, Listen 866 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 3: Vikings have some super stars on their roster, particularly on 867 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:03,719 Speaker 3: the offensive side of the ball, but it like, it 868 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:05,360 Speaker 3: feels like the biggest key of the game for the 869 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 3: Steelers is just the run game. We have yet to 870 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:12,520 Speaker 3: see it really fine footing, really grow and progress and 871 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,200 Speaker 3: have an real impact on a game. It kind of 872 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 3: looked that way at the start at Foxborough last week, 873 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:20,279 Speaker 3: right first drive was encouraging, and then reverted to what 874 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,279 Speaker 3: we had seen the first two games. I know it's 875 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:24,680 Speaker 3: kind of very simple, like very black and white, But 876 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:26,800 Speaker 3: is that the biggest key of the game from a Steelers' 877 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:29,320 Speaker 3: perspective is just establishing that run in line of scrimmage. 878 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 6: I think it's the biggest key for them. Almost doesn't 879 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 6: matter who the opponent is, because I. 880 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:35,000 Speaker 5: Think it's the biggest key for the Sea the season 881 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:35,399 Speaker 5: for sure. 882 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 6: Like, well, yeah, I was just gonna go this team, 883 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 6: I don't remember what the exact number is, but I 884 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:41,800 Speaker 6: looked at it earlier this week and I think according 885 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 6: to Fantasy points, the Steelers are seeing like the six 886 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:48,280 Speaker 6: or seventh highest amount of two high looks from defenses 887 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 6: throughout the league. Like they're seeing a lot of too 888 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 6: high looks and that is pretty much the defenses. And 889 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,359 Speaker 6: you know you're gonna get it from Flores because that's. 890 00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:57,920 Speaker 5: What the Vikings do. Good point, but they're. 891 00:38:57,719 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 6: Pretty much telling the Steelers, hey, we're gonna played two 892 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:01,319 Speaker 6: safeties back here. 893 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,839 Speaker 7: I dare you to run the ball. And right now, 894 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:04,799 Speaker 7: the Steelers aren't doing that. 895 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:08,320 Speaker 6: Yeah, and until they forced defenses to bring an extra 896 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 6: guy down. 897 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,120 Speaker 5: But to there throwing it behind the line of scrimmage 898 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 5: and that kind of stuff because they don't trust the 899 00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:16,800 Speaker 5: run game. But it's opportune looks to run the ball, 900 00:39:16,840 --> 00:39:18,160 Speaker 5: and they're not successful at. 901 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 7: No they have to. 902 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:22,000 Speaker 6: So what they have to do is they I think 903 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:24,840 Speaker 6: back to like when they were running the ball so 904 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:26,640 Speaker 6: well in the one twenty twenty. 905 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:28,080 Speaker 7: Three game against the Seahawks. 906 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:31,919 Speaker 6: It's like it didn't matter what the Seahawks were doing, 907 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:34,560 Speaker 6: they couldn't stay one step ahead of the Steelers because 908 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:36,880 Speaker 6: they were running the ball very effectively, and as soon 909 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 6: as the Seahawks started trying to come up and take 910 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:42,320 Speaker 6: that away, because I think they were trying to initially 911 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:44,359 Speaker 6: take away the deep ball because of what they had 912 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 6: seen with Mason Rudolph George Dickens in the pass that 913 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:48,680 Speaker 6: they were like, Okay, we're going to take that away. 914 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 6: But then the Steelers started running the ball, forcing the 915 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:53,439 Speaker 6: Seahawks to bring a team, bring an extra guy down, 916 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:56,440 Speaker 6: and then that's whenever they're able to hit the downsfield passes. 917 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:58,839 Speaker 6: This offense needs to do the same thing they needed 918 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:01,320 Speaker 6: to force defenses of bring an extra guy into the box, 919 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:04,919 Speaker 6: because by running the football, then when we're talking about 920 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,520 Speaker 6: all this downfield passing stuff, you'll see that open up 921 00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:08,879 Speaker 6: more often if they can run the ball. 922 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 7: Aaron Rodgers said the same thing today. He's like, we 923 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:11,520 Speaker 7: got to run the ball. 924 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 5: It's funny that you mentioned the too high looks they're seeing. 925 00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:19,200 Speaker 5: I don't look at that as a compliment that we're 926 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,480 Speaker 5: so afraid of your deep ball. I think it's more 927 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:22,880 Speaker 5: a slap in the face and we're not afraid of 928 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 5: your run game. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. 929 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:29,080 Speaker 6: That could absolutely be part because I think when defenses defenses, 930 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:31,920 Speaker 6: ideally in today's NFL, with how much cover flow there 931 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:35,000 Speaker 6: is and how much too high there is. Ideally, if 932 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 6: a defense can be like, we're gonna run too high 933 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:42,560 Speaker 6: and still stop the run, then that's like that's goalie. Yeah, 934 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:46,160 Speaker 6: that's exactly. And right now the Steelers are playing into that. 935 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,600 Speaker 6: They're they're not forcing defenses to adjust. 936 00:40:49,719 --> 00:40:52,080 Speaker 7: And that's a problem. Until that's taken care of. 937 00:40:52,160 --> 00:40:55,719 Speaker 6: It's you got to run the ball, just like you're saying, 938 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:56,759 Speaker 6: was she got to run the ball? 939 00:40:57,800 --> 00:40:58,200 Speaker 4: Chris. 940 00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:00,120 Speaker 3: I want to ask to you a little bit of 941 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:03,680 Speaker 3: your thoughts on Carson Wentz as well too. I can 942 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 3: kind of see both sides of this equation. I think 943 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:07,680 Speaker 3: you could argue it. You could say, man, this stinks 944 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,560 Speaker 3: like JJ McCarthy for all intents and purposes as a rookie. 945 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:12,480 Speaker 3: He's made you can count the amount of starts he's 946 00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:15,200 Speaker 3: made in his career on one hand. But Carson Wentz 947 00:41:15,239 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 3: is also still a backup and a journeyman for a reason. 948 00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:21,160 Speaker 3: Small sample size so far this year, just the one game. 949 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:23,879 Speaker 3: What's that going to be like? Game planning for him? 950 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:25,879 Speaker 3: And do you think it might actually be a greater 951 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 3: challenge for the Steelers than if it was JJ McCarthy. 952 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:30,920 Speaker 6: Listen, I understand there's a lot there are a lot 953 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:32,600 Speaker 6: of fans that are like, oh great, we get the 954 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:33,400 Speaker 6: back of Carson. 955 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 4: He's a redhead in Dublin here, come on, man. 956 00:41:37,719 --> 00:41:43,240 Speaker 6: Even outside of that, listen, before he had his injury 957 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:45,440 Speaker 6: on that Eagles team that won the Super. 958 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:47,440 Speaker 7: Bowl, he was playing at an MVP. 959 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:50,400 Speaker 6: Level, like he was playing a really, really good football 960 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:53,200 Speaker 6: And I understand that. 961 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:56,640 Speaker 7: No, it's not the same it's not the same guy 962 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:57,400 Speaker 7: that he was back then. 963 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:00,759 Speaker 6: But at the same time, he's got Kevin O'Connor as 964 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:04,600 Speaker 6: his coach, very very brilliant offensive mind. He's got Justin 965 00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:07,760 Speaker 6: Jefferson to throw to, Jordan Natas to throw to TJ. 966 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:10,839 Speaker 6: Howcketts in the throw to Like, he's got weapons, He's 967 00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:13,160 Speaker 6: got a great offensive mine who knows how to get 968 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 6: those guys open. All Carson Wentz has to do is 969 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:16,560 Speaker 6: play with instructure. 970 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 7: And he's been in the league long enough or he 971 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:19,040 Speaker 7: can do that. 972 00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:22,000 Speaker 6: He can play with instructure, he can operate it within 973 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:25,120 Speaker 6: an offense totally. I don't think that this is one 974 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:26,719 Speaker 6: of those games where you're like, oh, great, we have 975 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:27,400 Speaker 6: the backup end. 976 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:29,120 Speaker 7: This should No, I don't think it's that type of 977 00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:29,600 Speaker 7: a game at all. 978 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:32,440 Speaker 5: And you and I haven't had this conversation yet because 979 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:36,440 Speaker 5: we talk three hours, but we didn't quite get to it, 980 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:38,239 Speaker 5: and you popped in and we're like, oh, let's put 981 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:41,480 Speaker 5: Chris on it, so to what Chris was saying. But 982 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:45,000 Speaker 5: even to take this step further, I think O'Connell has 983 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:48,160 Speaker 5: really had to trim his playbook. And his playbook is brilliant. 984 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:51,360 Speaker 5: It's it's a Shakespeare novel. I mean, it's wonderful. It's 985 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:53,600 Speaker 5: a Mona Lisa even using that a lot. And I 986 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:56,920 Speaker 5: think now a lot of chapters that haven't been explored 987 00:42:57,040 --> 00:42:59,319 Speaker 5: are going to be open for this game because now 988 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:02,359 Speaker 5: we have went you know, he might not be Kirk 989 00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:04,160 Speaker 5: Cousins or what you know, some of the other older 990 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 5: guys they've had, But like Donald, I can do all 991 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:08,160 Speaker 5: my stuff as a coach. 992 00:43:08,680 --> 00:43:11,160 Speaker 4: You know. Interesting that makes a lot of sense he does. 993 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:12,840 Speaker 5: Which makes them harder to play against. 994 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:15,359 Speaker 4: Totals totally totally, because I. 995 00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:17,000 Speaker 5: Fear O'Connell more than I fear or either one of 996 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:17,719 Speaker 5: their quarterbacks. 997 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:20,120 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, yeah, it's like the one thing on their 998 00:43:20,200 --> 00:43:22,839 Speaker 3: roster that maybe you don't fear is the quarterbacks, which 999 00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:25,279 Speaker 3: is odd for a team that won fourteen games last year, 1000 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:27,000 Speaker 3: but I guess that's the reason why Sam Darnold got 1001 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:28,040 Speaker 3: that money from Seattle. 1002 00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:29,120 Speaker 4: Chris. 1003 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:31,640 Speaker 3: As we start to wind this thing out, you mentioned 1004 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 3: first time in Ireland. 1005 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:34,439 Speaker 4: Correct, all three of us in the same boat there. 1006 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:36,880 Speaker 3: Matt and I were talking a little bit in the 1007 00:43:36,920 --> 00:43:40,000 Speaker 3: first hour, like swapping, so we did one segment where 1008 00:43:40,040 --> 00:43:41,240 Speaker 3: we just talked about Ireland. 1009 00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:44,200 Speaker 4: So far. It is a work trip for all of us, 1010 00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:47,440 Speaker 4: but obviously it's it's not covering a game in Cincinnati 1011 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:52,720 Speaker 4: or Carolina skyline, right, Like we'll all be looking forward 1012 00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:55,040 Speaker 4: to going to Chicago in La later on in the year, 1013 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 4: but it ain't Dublin, and. 1014 00:43:56,239 --> 00:43:58,799 Speaker 3: It it's not this talk to us just a little 1015 00:43:58,800 --> 00:44:01,359 Speaker 3: bit about what you've seen around the city, what you've 1016 00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:03,840 Speaker 3: done so far, and what you're looking forward to doing 1017 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:04,879 Speaker 3: while while we're still here. 1018 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:08,040 Speaker 6: I have, unfortunately, have not gotten a chance to do 1019 00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:12,080 Speaker 6: a lot of personal things just yet, just because I've like, 1020 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:15,840 Speaker 6: ever since I got here, it's been working practice and yeah. 1021 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,000 Speaker 7: Yeah, so I've kind of been going all over like 1022 00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:18,479 Speaker 7: for work. 1023 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:20,600 Speaker 6: But I think tomorrow I'm finally gonna get a chance 1024 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,560 Speaker 6: to to kind of look at I'm. 1025 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:24,680 Speaker 7: Gonna go to Guinness tomorrow and and become. 1026 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:29,120 Speaker 5: Are you a certified poor of Guinness? 1027 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:33,160 Speaker 4: And I got my picture printed in like the foam 1028 00:44:33,239 --> 00:44:33,719 Speaker 4: on the top. 1029 00:44:33,880 --> 00:44:35,880 Speaker 7: You gotta teach everybody back in the States how to 1030 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:36,080 Speaker 7: do this. 1031 00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:38,759 Speaker 4: The best changed my life forever. Man. 1032 00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:39,560 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean it was. 1033 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 4: It was so cool here. 1034 00:44:41,560 --> 00:44:47,600 Speaker 7: That's amazing. Oh that's your picturing. That's awesome. No, I 1035 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:49,000 Speaker 7: mean so I'm gonna do that tomorrow. 1036 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:52,200 Speaker 6: I'm gonna try to get some shots on the countryside. 1037 00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:55,200 Speaker 7: Just go somewhere and just get some pictures. 1038 00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:58,200 Speaker 6: Part of my my duties here is also a big 1039 00:44:58,200 --> 00:45:00,200 Speaker 6: a good husband because my wife. 1040 00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:02,759 Speaker 7: Unfortunately couldn't come with me. And Ireland has. 1041 00:45:02,719 --> 00:45:04,719 Speaker 6: Been at the top of her bucket list, okay for 1042 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,759 Speaker 6: like forever, and she is insanely jealous that I'm here, 1043 00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:10,920 Speaker 6: and she's like riding that line between like I hate you, 1044 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:12,680 Speaker 6: but please send me everything. 1045 00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:13,080 Speaker 4: That you see. 1046 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:13,400 Speaker 5: Yeah. 1047 00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:15,960 Speaker 6: So I am going to be continued to do that 1048 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:19,600 Speaker 6: as well whenever I get that done. So it's been 1049 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:22,239 Speaker 6: it's been a great experience so far. And I'm I'm 1050 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:25,320 Speaker 6: these five days are gonna go by so fast. 1051 00:45:26,120 --> 00:45:27,239 Speaker 7: But it's been it's been great. 1052 00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:29,359 Speaker 5: So like when we go to the combine, they'll take 1053 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:31,320 Speaker 5: us to an awesome dinner and I'll like take pictures 1054 00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:33,000 Speaker 5: of it and send the fam this is and they're 1055 00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:35,160 Speaker 5: they're like, we have nothing in the fridge. We've been 1056 00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:37,200 Speaker 5: eating these. We got a couple of four grapes in 1057 00:45:37,239 --> 00:45:39,920 Speaker 5: the fridge. I hate you. So she's talk quite to 1058 00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:42,920 Speaker 5: that point with your wife, but she's jealous, but she 1059 00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:44,719 Speaker 5: wants the pictures of them. 1060 00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:49,920 Speaker 6: She she's obviously really happy and like, I'm like determined now, 1061 00:45:49,960 --> 00:45:52,120 Speaker 6: like we are going to come back here for a 1062 00:45:52,120 --> 00:45:54,840 Speaker 6: non work related to like it's gonna be like your vacation, 1063 00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:57,960 Speaker 6: and who knows, maybe we'll even include a trip across 1064 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:01,399 Speaker 6: to the other island over here. I'm to the UK too, 1065 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:03,479 Speaker 6: but No Ireland's been at the top of her list 1066 00:46:03,520 --> 00:46:07,160 Speaker 6: and I'm kind of trying to do what I can. 1067 00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:11,040 Speaker 5: You're a scouting mission for yeah, scouting right now as 1068 00:46:11,080 --> 00:46:11,520 Speaker 5: well too. 1069 00:46:11,640 --> 00:46:14,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's been incredible. 1070 00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:16,319 Speaker 4: I mean, it absolutely is. 1071 00:46:16,480 --> 00:46:18,880 Speaker 3: And and just last thing before we go, how about 1072 00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:21,640 Speaker 3: I know this surprise is absolutely no one because it's 1073 00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:24,319 Speaker 3: what we do, it's everywhere we go. But how about 1074 00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:26,759 Speaker 3: the Steeler Nation presence here in Dublin, dude, it is. 1075 00:46:26,920 --> 00:46:30,360 Speaker 3: It's overwheeling, it's overwhelming. It's on all the all the 1076 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:33,120 Speaker 3: buildings down here in the downtown district. There's Welcome to 1077 00:46:33,120 --> 00:46:37,120 Speaker 3: Steelers Country banners hanging everywhere you go, people wearing Steeler stuff. 1078 00:46:37,160 --> 00:46:39,360 Speaker 3: I told Matt when I went to Guinness today, like 1079 00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:43,000 Speaker 3: I walked past Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College, two 1080 00:46:43,040 --> 00:46:46,120 Speaker 3: big tourist locations as well, eighty percent of the people 1081 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:49,919 Speaker 3: in lines for those things are wearing Steelers gear as well. Again, 1082 00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:52,759 Speaker 3: it doesn't surprise anybody, but it's still it blows you 1083 00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:53,560 Speaker 3: away when you see it. 1084 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:58,120 Speaker 6: You absolutely, So I was a little skeptical because I 1085 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:01,359 Speaker 6: know how much of the Vikings like they're how big 1086 00:47:01,400 --> 00:47:03,880 Speaker 6: their fan base is like in the UK, and so 1087 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:06,480 Speaker 6: it's it's not a long flight to come over here. 1088 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:09,040 Speaker 6: It's less than an hour from Manchester, it's an hour 1089 00:47:09,080 --> 00:47:09,520 Speaker 6: from London. 1090 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:10,359 Speaker 7: Like, It's it's not far. 1091 00:47:11,840 --> 00:47:14,799 Speaker 6: And on my flight from I had a layover in 1092 00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:17,799 Speaker 6: Rakavic Iceland before coming over here, and my flight from 1093 00:47:17,880 --> 00:47:19,920 Speaker 6: Raykvic to Dublin had more Vikings fans on it than 1094 00:47:19,960 --> 00:47:20,640 Speaker 6: Steelers fans. 1095 00:47:20,680 --> 00:47:22,400 Speaker 7: So I'm like maybe this will be more even split. 1096 00:47:22,440 --> 00:47:27,120 Speaker 6: Yeah, no, like I got here, and yes, definitely over 1097 00:47:27,160 --> 00:47:29,520 Speaker 6: in this like Temple Bar area, there are more Steelers fans. 1098 00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:31,200 Speaker 7: But even when you go further down to where the. 1099 00:47:31,239 --> 00:47:33,880 Speaker 6: Vikings Pub is, like, you still see a lot of 1100 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:36,160 Speaker 6: Steelers fans over there too. So I do think that 1101 00:47:36,200 --> 00:47:39,680 Speaker 6: when we get to Croke Park on Sunday afternoon, we 1102 00:47:39,760 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 6: are going to see more Steelers fans here than Vikings fans. 1103 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:45,480 Speaker 6: But I think you're gonna see great representation from both 1104 00:47:45,560 --> 00:47:48,760 Speaker 6: fan base for sure. And I think that's exactly like 1105 00:47:48,760 --> 00:47:51,080 Speaker 6: like both Art Rooney, Andy and already talked about it 1106 00:47:51,080 --> 00:47:53,640 Speaker 6: today where they want this to be a. 1107 00:47:53,640 --> 00:47:55,520 Speaker 7: Launching pad for future games here too. 1108 00:47:55,800 --> 00:47:57,640 Speaker 6: It's not just it's not just a one and done 1109 00:47:57,640 --> 00:47:59,120 Speaker 6: deal where it's one game in Dublin. 1110 00:47:59,160 --> 00:47:59,879 Speaker 5: Oh remember that one. 1111 00:48:00,440 --> 00:48:01,440 Speaker 4: Look what's happened to London. 1112 00:48:01,520 --> 00:48:03,560 Speaker 3: I mean they have multiple games there now, a multiple 1113 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:04,439 Speaker 3: stadiums every year. 1114 00:48:04,520 --> 00:48:06,240 Speaker 7: Yeah, and that's what they want for Dublin. 1115 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:09,239 Speaker 6: Maybe not quite on the London scale, sure, but at 1116 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:11,359 Speaker 6: least have a game here, whether it be every year, 1117 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:13,799 Speaker 6: every other year, whatever it is. They want Dublin to 1118 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:16,160 Speaker 6: be part of this rotation. That's part of the NFL 1119 00:48:16,160 --> 00:48:18,400 Speaker 6: International Yeah. 1120 00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:19,480 Speaker 4: I think we would all agree. 1121 00:48:19,480 --> 00:48:21,560 Speaker 3: We'll sign every other year when the Steelers have the 1122 00:48:21,600 --> 00:48:24,040 Speaker 3: extra home game, we'll all sign up to come back here, 1123 00:48:24,360 --> 00:48:26,200 Speaker 3: you know, every twenty four months or so and do 1124 00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:29,520 Speaker 3: this again. Chris Alec DK Pittsburgh Sports one of our 1125 00:48:29,560 --> 00:48:32,200 Speaker 3: regular guests here on the Drive, but we're doing it 1126 00:48:32,239 --> 00:48:34,840 Speaker 3: on location in Dublin, as he takes one more ship 1127 00:48:35,239 --> 00:48:36,520 Speaker 3: of his delicious Guinness. 1128 00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:38,239 Speaker 4: Thank you for the time, dude, and have some fun. 1129 00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:39,480 Speaker 7: Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. 1130 00:48:39,480 --> 00:48:41,600 Speaker 4: Guys that will do it for our show today. 1131 00:48:41,760 --> 00:48:44,560 Speaker 3: We will be back with you tomorrow with more here 1132 00:48:44,600 --> 00:48:48,239 Speaker 3: from the FitzSimons Temple Bar. Big shout out to Steeler Nation, 1133 00:48:48,560 --> 00:48:50,279 Speaker 3: and a big thank you to our guy Justin back 1134 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:52,799 Speaker 3: at the ranch like five hours behind. 1135 00:48:52,520 --> 00:48:53,759 Speaker 4: Us producing this whole thing. 1136 00:48:53,920 --> 00:48:54,719 Speaker 5: Nice Justin. 1137 00:48:54,920 --> 00:48:55,879 Speaker 4: Big thanks to Justin. 1138 00:48:55,960 --> 00:48:58,440 Speaker 3: If you are a Steeler fan who's getting into Dublin 1139 00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:00,400 Speaker 3: today or tomorrow morning, make sure you come out and 1140 00:49:00,400 --> 00:49:02,960 Speaker 3: see us tomorrow here at fitz Simons. It's been a 1141 00:49:03,040 --> 00:49:06,640 Speaker 3: blast and it's only going to get better from this point. 1142 00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:10,719 Speaker 3: For Matt Williamson, I'm Wes Shuhler. Take care everybody, Oh 1143 00:49:10,760 --> 00:49:12,920 Speaker 3: Williamson and mick Yueler will talk to you tomorrow. 1144 00:49:13,000 --> 00:49:13,520 Speaker 4: As always. 1145 00:49:13,520 --> 00:49:15,239 Speaker 3: You know where I'm gonna keep saying that is the 1146 00:49:15,239 --> 00:49:18,040 Speaker 3: whole weekend while we're here. In fact, my halftime report 1147 00:49:18,040 --> 00:49:20,800 Speaker 3: on the broadcast, i'm gonna say, I'm Wesley mckuler. 1148 00:49:20,360 --> 00:49:21,239 Speaker 4: Here at Rok Park. 1149 00:49:23,239 --> 00:49:25,319 Speaker 3: It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the 1150 00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:26,400 Speaker 3: Steelers Audio Network