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Speaker 1: Welcome to the drive.

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Speaker 2: I'm Dale Lalli.

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Speaker 1: He is the Matt Williamson and it is a Wednesday.

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Speaker 2: I was thinking it was Thursday. I it was Tuesday.

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Speaker 1: Season Now where next week screws you all up? Yeah,

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Speaker 1: next week's got to really screw us up. And then

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Speaker 1: well we'll see about what the the date is for

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Speaker 1: the game against the Indianapolis Colts. Could be Saturday, could

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Speaker 1: be Sunday. I'm guessing it's going to be on Saturday

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Speaker 1: because both teams are playoff relevant. If you look at

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Speaker 1: some of the other games that are in that window

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Speaker 1: of potential for movement yet all there's only a couple

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Speaker 1: of them that are real playoffs, have real playoff implications

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Speaker 1: feature Yeah. Yeah, and of course the Steelers being the Steelers,

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Speaker 1: you you know.

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Speaker 2: It goes a long way to him.

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Speaker 1: Yeah.

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Speaker 2: So then we got Christmas after that, right in another

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Speaker 2: Saturday game. Yeah, right, things, just when you think it's

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Speaker 2: Groundhog Day, it isn't. You know, everything's changing and squashed

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Speaker 2: into a short week there we go.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, but uh, you know, the judging from the the photos,

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Speaker 1: at least at the very least from I haven't seen

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Speaker 1: a practice report just yet, but uh, looks like, makea

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Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick should be apant this week. Nice, so the Steelers

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Speaker 1: will get him back, you know, being over there practice

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Speaker 1: days very cold.

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Speaker 2: Oh, here's the practice report. How about that? Like they

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Speaker 2: had us in mind?

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Speaker 1: Kenny Pickett a full participant today, even though Mike Tomlin

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Speaker 1: said that the ankle would be troublesome. Okay, some players

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Speaker 1: got some rest. You had Alan Robinson, you had Patrick Peterson,

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Speaker 1: you had Isaac sam Malow, you had Cam Heyward all resting.

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Speaker 1: Uh makeing Fitzpatrick with the hamstring a full participant and

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Speaker 1: as was montrevious Adams. The only player who did not

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Speaker 1: participate that was an injury related issue was Calvin Austin.

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Speaker 2: Okay, what's his issue? He is an ankle. He is

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Speaker 2: an ankle. Okay. Interesting, all the veteran stuff makes all

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Speaker 2: the sense in the world. We're getting, you know, almost

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Speaker 2: in a sounder and a lot of games coming up

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Speaker 2: in a short amount of stretch. That makes perfect sense.

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Speaker 2: Make as tremendous news. I mean, I'll be honest, I

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Speaker 2: don't think you need him all that bad against this team.

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Speaker 2: Butts is a little dangerous and it's great to get him

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Speaker 2: back out there. And i'd like to see him play

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Speaker 2: with Thompson and those guys as well. Maybe some big

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Speaker 2: nickel stuff you're capable of.

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Speaker 1: We gonna ask you that we're probably gonna see some

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Speaker 1: of that. Thompson is.

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Speaker 2: I think he's like made a name for himself, played

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Speaker 2: pretty well. Yeah, if you're looking at.

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Speaker 1: You, I was.

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Speaker 2: It was funny. I was looking.

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Speaker 1: I don't, you know, take into this what you what

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Speaker 1: you want, or take out of this what you want.

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Speaker 1: But they those research notes that the NFL puts out everything.

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Speaker 1: They again put the PFF grades in there for everybody

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Speaker 1: in the league, and you do well.

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Speaker 2: I'm just looking.

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Speaker 1: I thought, I remember seeing him in here somewhere ninety plus.

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Speaker 1: Where's he at here? Yeah he had he had a ninety.

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Speaker 1: He had a great over ninety percent last week.

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Speaker 2: Okay, So I mean I think one hundreds are best.

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Speaker 2: So if that's great, nobody ever gets a hundred, No,

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Speaker 2: I don't think so.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, Like, if you score ninety five, iss, you're doing

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Speaker 1: pretty well.

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Speaker 2: So I think him, and to a slightly lesser degree,

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Speaker 2: but also deserves credit. Walker the linebacker.

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Speaker 1: Oh, he's played ball two.

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Speaker 2: They both have been real solid off the scrap heap

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Speaker 2: replacement guys that you didn't count on certainly in week one,

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Speaker 2: you know, I mean or in camp, and I think

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Speaker 2: they've acclimated really well. Give those guys all the credit

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Speaker 2: in the world, but nobody looks at this way like

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Speaker 2: the coaching staff has a lot to do with that.

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Speaker 1: Yeah about that, you know, so trusted Trent Thompson was

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Speaker 1: with the team. He signed late and like a couple

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Speaker 1: of weeks into training camp.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I remember.

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Speaker 1: So he got onto a moving train then.

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Speaker 2: And showed up right away.

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Speaker 1: He really did.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, we were talking about him a lot.

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Speaker 1: And then you know has been there on the practice squad,

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Speaker 1: and you know, you look at the practice squad and

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Speaker 1: the practice squad is there, so your team can practice, yes,

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Speaker 1: but they're running stuff off the other team's cards and cards, right,

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Speaker 1: but you're still the coaching staff still is coaching them

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Speaker 1: up and teaching them the defense. It's it's really a

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Speaker 1: tough safety.

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Speaker 2: Meeting room and they're in a linebacker meeting room, you know, So.

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Speaker 1: You're not only learning what you need to learn for

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Speaker 1: your own team, you're also during practice doing stuff that

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Speaker 1: the other team does. And so it's not an easy job.

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Speaker 2: No, it's a really difficult job. I mean in a way,

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Speaker 2: you're sort of a tackling dummy, you know, like you

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Speaker 2: just read his card, do what we think the Cardinals

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Speaker 2: guy is going to do, you know, and you're pretending

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Speaker 2: to be Rondel Moore today or whatever. And then meantime, yes,

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Speaker 2: your position coach is coaching you up on the defense.

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Speaker 2: You're sitting there in the meeting rooms with Cam, Hayward, Watt, Minka,

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Speaker 2: whoever you know and watching them ask questions and all

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Speaker 2: that stuff. So you're definitely learning on the chalkboard. But

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Speaker 2: unlike Camp, I doubt many position coaches have the time

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Speaker 2: to grab a practice squad guy and work on his

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Speaker 2: footwork or you know, fundamentals or things like that.

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Speaker 1: Well, they do that kind of stuff as a group individually.

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Speaker 1: Practice Yeah, but even on like Fridays is usually a

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Speaker 1: day where the guys down the depth chart, Like Wednesday

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Speaker 1: and Thursday are big days where the first and second

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Speaker 1: team guys get the majority of the snaps. They get

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Speaker 1: all the snaps on.

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Speaker 2: There's really only two major days of practice.

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Speaker 1: Fridays about you know, getting those second team guys a

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Speaker 1: few more snaps just in case something happens, and then

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Speaker 1: you know, maybe you get some of the practice squad guys,

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Speaker 1: get some some you know, run in the in the

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Speaker 1: regular defense, and that's really about it.

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Speaker 2: That's about it. I mean people think that they well,

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Speaker 2: they had all week to prepare, like not really two

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Speaker 2: hours a day to practice hours a day and really

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Speaker 2: two days of it. Yeah, and a lot of these veterans,

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Speaker 2: to credit to them, they take a Wednesday off or whatever.

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Speaker 2: You know, they're still in the meeting rooms. They're still

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Speaker 2: in the building, they're still learning, but they're not out there.

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Speaker 1: So Trent and Thompson's Pro Football Focus great here. I

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Speaker 1: just found it was ninety point one last week, which

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Speaker 1: is excellent.

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Speaker 2: Again, we don't take their grades as gospel, but if

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Speaker 2: it's five points better or worse than that, it's still

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Speaker 2: tremend Yeah. So it's not like we're taking yeah umbridge

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Speaker 2: with it at all. Yeah.

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Speaker 1: They had a few guys on this week because the

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Speaker 1: league puts out everybody who had nine years above score.

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Speaker 2: Oh okay, because it's rare.

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Speaker 1: Yeah. So you had Pat Fryarmouth at ninety three to five, Okay,

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Speaker 1: that makes a lot of sense. Kenny Pickett at ninety

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Speaker 1: one six makes a lot of sense. Yeah, TJ. Watt

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Speaker 1: at ninety point seven.

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Speaker 2: He's been there before, yeah, been there before.

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Speaker 1: And then Trenton Thompson at ninety point one.

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Speaker 2: That's great. I mean to have four of them is

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Speaker 2: pretty impressive.

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Speaker 1: Yeah. And the of the guys that you would look

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Speaker 1: at on that list. If I'd have told you in

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Speaker 1: training camp that in week thirteen, Trenton Thompson, it's.

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Speaker 2: Gonna be one of the highest graded safeties in the

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Speaker 2: league that year that week, Yeah.

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Speaker 1: I mean, just looking at the safety the only safeties

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Speaker 1: that were rated higher than him were Javon Holland ninety

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Speaker 1: nine touchdown, Yeah, Xavier McKinney, Jesse Bates.

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Speaker 2: Who also had a return for touchdown, and Tyram Mathow okay,

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Speaker 2: who might go to the Hall of Fame. So that's great.

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Speaker 2: I think I asked you yesterday it might have been Monday,

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Speaker 2: and again I thought today was Tuesday. So what do

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Speaker 2: I know about about him? You know, do you think

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Speaker 2: I think it? I mean Thompson's future, you know, big

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Speaker 2: picture stuff with him globally speaking with him, I think

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Speaker 2: he's going to be the three when Menca's back, Menca

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Speaker 2: and CAZy will be the starters. He's the three Neil

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Speaker 2: still on IR of course, but I think he's going

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Speaker 2: to be on the roster like next year, you know

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Speaker 2: what I mean, Like, you don't need to.

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Speaker 1: Go out and sign another veteran this offseason because now

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Speaker 1: you've got a guy that you've seen play in your

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Speaker 1: system who you know, Okay, if we've we've played with

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Speaker 1: this guy, he's he's pretty good. We can win games

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Speaker 1: with this guy.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think you can count on him

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Speaker 2: as your off season plan that we're happy with him

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Speaker 2: on the fifty three. Yeah.

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Speaker 1: So instead of spending that two million dollars to go

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Speaker 1: out and sign a veteran.

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Speaker 2: Like they did with Neil orkzy year, you know somebody

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Speaker 2: like that, right.

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Speaker 1: And you could still bring one of those guys back,

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Speaker 1: you know, but you can look at it and say, well,

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Speaker 1: we've got that guy right here.

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Speaker 2: M h Yeah. I mean it's such an advantage. And

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Speaker 2: they have such a good history of finding the Warrens

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Speaker 2: and Willie Parker's and you know, guys off the cheap

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Speaker 2: that you don't even have to invest a draft pick

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Speaker 2: in and make them a formidable piece of your roster.

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Speaker 2: It's like stealing.

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Speaker 1: It's all about the opportunity, as well and then making

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Speaker 1: the most of it. I mean they're all there are

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Speaker 1: guys across the league who get that opportunity to play

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Speaker 1: coming off the practice squad. It doesn't always work that.

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Speaker 2: Way, might work that way. And I assume that he's

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Speaker 2: good on special teams. I mean, he plays special teams.

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Speaker 2: I assume that's helped his cause. I don't know how

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Speaker 2: much will matter this week, but just it's another club

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Speaker 2: in your bag. They've played very little big Nickel with

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Speaker 2: Meka Hert. There's not enough safeties. Yeah, they don't kill

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Speaker 2: a brew out there. They mean enough safeties, But now

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Speaker 2: I think he can.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, how would you defend the Arizona Cardinals? Would you

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Speaker 1: use a Lamar rules on him?

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Speaker 2: I don't know, And by that I mean I'm not

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Speaker 2: sure everyone knows exactly what you mean. You mean, keep

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Speaker 2: him in the pocket, hit him as much as possible.

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Speaker 1: For the most with him.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, So the more Kyler homework I've done, he's struggled.

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Speaker 2: I mean, I think he's by far the best quarterback

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Speaker 2: they've had yet. And he scares me because I think

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Speaker 2: he's extremely talented and is an underrated player in the

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Speaker 2: national landscape. But he's running here and there. I mean,

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Speaker 2: he looks good when he's doing it. He's not hampered

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Speaker 2: it all from the injury. His deep ball's been really bad.

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Speaker 2: But I think their weapons are a little scary. Not

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Speaker 2: that Baltimore's aren't, you know, but McBride, now we think

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Speaker 2: about it, McBride's kind of the Andrews. He's getting like

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Speaker 2: eight to ten targets.

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Speaker 1: Well, he's been ridiculously targeted over the last four weeks.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, and his numbers for the season are really impressive.

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Speaker 2: I mean, he was the first tight end taken in

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Speaker 2: his draft. They're small, but Marquis Brown's a NFL starting

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Speaker 2: receiver for anybody. Dorch has really stepped in big with

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Speaker 2: Wilson being out, and.

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Speaker 1: And George and Wilson are really kind of the unicorns

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Speaker 1: in their offense. They're the two big receivers. Yeah, and

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Speaker 1: they're not even big big receivers, like six to one.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. Wilson's a well built two hundred and ten pound guy,

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Speaker 2: you know, like.

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Speaker 1: The rest of their the rest of their offense outside

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Speaker 1: of McBride and Connor, all the other receivers and the

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Speaker 1: quarterback are smurfs.

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Speaker 2: They're small, very much so. And Ron del Moore is

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Speaker 2: the last name who's five to seven on a good day. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: you know, he's kind of thickly built, and you know

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Speaker 2: it doesn't go down super easy. But he's sort of gimmicky.

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Speaker 2: But all those guys can run though, too. I mean,

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Speaker 2: you screw up a coverage or whatever or let Kyler free,

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Speaker 2: they'll hurt you. I mean to me, that's the frankly,

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Speaker 2: the only good part of their team, and it's not great.

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Speaker 2: It's not the Ravens, you know, Larn You know, so

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Speaker 2: I don't know how you handle Kyler. I mean it

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Speaker 2: used to be I really respected him as a pocket passer.

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Speaker 2: You know I didn't. I thought he could win from

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Speaker 2: the pocket if you didn't get after him. He hasn't

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Speaker 2: shown that as much. But he's only been back for

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Speaker 2: three games. You know, it'd be great to hit them.

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Speaker 1: You don't want this to be the game though, that

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Speaker 1: he gets it bad.

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Speaker 2: I know, I know, I hear you. So I'm not

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Speaker 2: sure exactly how i'd handle that. I do think you

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Speaker 2: don't have to blitz them much. I mean, I think

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Speaker 2: your D line will rule the day. Their interior lines horrible,

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Speaker 2: Their tackles are young, and I mean they're not as

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Speaker 2: good as wattn Eismith, you know, yeah, you know, so,

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Speaker 2: I think you can win up front, whether you mush

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Speaker 2: rush them or whatever it is you do. I don't

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Speaker 2: think you have to drop you can drop seven in

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Speaker 2: the coverage a lot.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, just looking at the the pressure rate allowed for

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Speaker 1: the for the Arizona Cardinals is thirty seven point three percent,

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Speaker 1: which is actually twentieth best.

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Speaker 2: Is not horrible, They're horrible there A lot of their

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Speaker 2: stats are just bottom.

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Speaker 1: But yeah, they just I mean, especially defensively, Yeah, very

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Speaker 1: like if you look at their team defense EPA rankings,

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Speaker 1: thirty second in passing EPA, thirtieth in rushing EPA. They're

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Speaker 1: thirtieth in blitz rate. They don't blitz.

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Speaker 2: No, they're loud. I thought they were last.

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Speaker 1: They're thirty first in pressure rate. They don't pressure the quarterback.

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Speaker 2: They actually do have sacks, but not much pressure, not

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Speaker 2: much blitz. Yeah, I mean they're like twentieth in sacks

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Speaker 2: or something.

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Speaker 1: And they play this was shocking to me. Thirty percent

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Speaker 1: of the time they're in base defense. But I thought

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Speaker 1: about this, and the reason that probably is is because

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Speaker 1: you can run so well against them. Yeah, you never

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Speaker 1: need to get out of your your base. You know

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Speaker 1: your we can run three tight end package, two tight

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Speaker 1: end package, whatever we want to do here. First down,

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Speaker 1: we're getting five yards. Second down, we're getting a first down.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. I haven't seen that packet yet, but you know,

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Speaker 2: the research I did it shocked me, which is right

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Speaker 2: along those lines. I mean, I think you nailed it.

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Speaker 2: They see a huge percentage of two back, you know,

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Speaker 2: which is really the same as twelve or thirteen. I

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Speaker 2: mean it's yeah, you're not probably gonna run, You're probably

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Speaker 2: gonna run. I mean, I know they played the Niners.

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Speaker 2: It's a big two back team. The Steelers saw a

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Speaker 2: fair amount of it. Seattle as a full back.

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Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, I mean they've seen rams on fullback, so

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Speaker 1: their division.

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Speaker 2: I think it's a divisional thing. But it's also been

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Speaker 2: very working a great deal. Like seventeen percent of the

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Speaker 2: snaps that they've faced on defense, I've had two backs

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Speaker 2: in the game. That's extremely high number.

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Speaker 1: They play split safety, which we just saw the Bengals

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Speaker 1: do last week.

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Speaker 2: I bet it's really high fifty.

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Speaker 1: Five point one percent of the time, which is second

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Speaker 1: most in the league.

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Speaker 2: So I think it's just we're not gonna blitz. We're

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Speaker 2: just hoping you screw up, we will let you run

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Speaker 2: the ball. Yeah, and we know we don't have good players. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: I mean, frankly, you know I'm not gonna let you

302
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Speaker 2: death by a thousand paper cuts us is better than

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Speaker 2: walking into the tyson, you know, right, the teeth right,

304
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Speaker 2: and I'll blame them. I mean, I don't know what

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Speaker 2: I do is the coordinated.

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Speaker 1: So if they're gonna sit back with the two deep safeties,

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Speaker 1: two high safeties and they're guys, the linebackers aren't great. No,

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Speaker 1: they're gonna they're gonna try to play five defensive linemen.

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Speaker 2: They like that, that five man eagle front.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, but you don't have the Eagles guys, but.

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Speaker 2: They're none of them are particular good.

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Speaker 1: Right, We've seen the Steelers over the last month are

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Speaker 1: more than the content to just sit there and run

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Speaker 1: the football down your.

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Speaker 2: Throat, Yeah, which I think they'll do. But making things

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Speaker 2: even worse. I mean, with that approach, you would think, boy,

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Speaker 2: they don't allow the deep ball and all that.

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Speaker 1: They still I mean, it's still some point of those

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Speaker 1: safeties you're naturally when teams are running the ball on

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Speaker 1: you like crazy, those safeties are gone. That's much like

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Speaker 1: the second level linebackers. Sure, your first step is going

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Speaker 1: to naturally be forward, Yeah, because they're I got to

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Speaker 1: keep coming up and make tackles here because nobody's making

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Speaker 1: the tackle in front of me, and then boop the

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Speaker 1: balls over your head.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean Kyra and Williams last week just dashing

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Speaker 2: him and he's not a superstar. I'm sure you know

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Speaker 2: their numbers against the run are terrible, but their numbers

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Speaker 2: against deep balls on the outside, which I know we're

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Speaker 2: all excited about middle of the field throwing for the Steelers,

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Speaker 2: but Deontay and Pickings still line up outside the numbers

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Speaker 2: like more than any duo in the league. Yeah, you

333
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Speaker 2: can have all sorts of success doing that against these guys.

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Speaker 2: I mean, it's I mean, they don't good players. They

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Speaker 2: don't have good players.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, and it is much I.

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Speaker 2: Don't know.

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Speaker 1: I mean, I just look at this game and and yes,

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Speaker 1: I think that the Cardinals offense is it's certainly better

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Speaker 1: than it was a month ago.

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Speaker 2: And there are some good players over there.

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Speaker 1: But I think their defense has gotten worse. Yeah, over

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Speaker 1: the last month, losing guys like Kisier White and good point.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. And the other thing, which you know we've harped

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Speaker 2: on now for weeks. They're always on the field too.

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Speaker 2: I mean, like they keep losing turn or time and

347
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Speaker 2: possession worse and worse every week. And with a team

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Speaker 2: that isn't very talented and has no depth, I'm sure

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Speaker 2: that's wearing them down to Like I can't imagine the

350
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Speaker 2: last month of the season being even the past the

351
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Speaker 2: Steeler game going well for them at all, you know,

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Speaker 2: I mean in terms of defensively, and they don't even

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Speaker 2: have many prospects that are you know, getting better type

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Speaker 2: of thing either. Yeah, it's it's you know, the reason

355
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Speaker 2: everybody picked them to probably get the first pick in

356
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Speaker 2: the draft, which I don't think they will. But I

357
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Speaker 2: mean they're not attack.

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Speaker 1: They still could, They still could, They still could.

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Speaker 2: New England could win a game. You know, Carolina could

360
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Speaker 2: win a game. But I don't know Arizona's gonna win.

361
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Speaker 2: An don't have any three of those teams that win anymore.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I just looking here at their the stats,

363
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Speaker 1: there's nothing, not much good. They've been out gained by

364
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Speaker 1: almost eight hundred.

365
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Speaker 2: Yards, mostly through the air too.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, they've had one hundred and one hundred and fifteen

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Speaker 1: more plays run against them.

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Speaker 2: Is that how many? Yeah, ton, I mean it's just

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Speaker 2: a huge amount of play. That's more.

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Speaker 1: You know, the Steelers were at seventy five going into

371
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Speaker 1: last week's game. They cut that and you know, basically

372
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Speaker 1: twenty five plays off of that, so now they're at fifty.

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Speaker 1: This defense has been on the on the field twice.

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Speaker 2: It's two full games. Yeah, I mean all we could

375
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Speaker 2: talk about going into Steelers Browns was the Browns had

376
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Speaker 2: run one hundred and fifteen more plays than their opponents.

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Speaker 2: I mean that's like another It's like a I only

378
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Speaker 2: have to go ten rounds, you have to go fifteen. Yeah,

379
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Speaker 2: it really is. I mean it's just too much of

380
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Speaker 2: a discrepancy, and they don't have the players to do it.

381
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Speaker 2: You know, like if you had hockey lines worth of

382
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Speaker 2: great defensive linemen shifting in and out, you could handle it.

383
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Speaker 2: But the guys that are playing now are probably backups

384
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Speaker 2: in the long term.

385
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Speaker 1: To begin with, they've given up They've given up one

386
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Speaker 1: hundred and one first downs they have seventy six. Yeah,

387
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Speaker 1: I mean that's a pretty big difference.

388
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Speaker 2: I know, their passing yards discrepancy is massive. Too.

389
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Speaker 1: Yeah, they've given it. It's over five hundred more passing

390
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Speaker 1: yards than they have. They've given up twenty one touchdown passes.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, just huge numbers.

392
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Speaker 1: Yeah, they have ten. Now the Steelers have given up

393
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Speaker 1: more touchdown passes than.

394
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Speaker 2: They have the same with passing yards, but.

395
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Speaker 1: They haven't given up nearly as many touchdown passes.

396
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Speaker 2: No, they've been great about it lately too. Yeah, I mean, yeah,

397
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Speaker 2: the one thing they do. There's there's one stat that

398
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Speaker 2: I found that they're kind of near the top of

399
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Speaker 2: the league is yards per rush. And that's even before Kyler.

400
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Speaker 1: Yeah kid, great, Well Dobson was running, and you know, so.

401
00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,639
Speaker 2: The running quarterbacks certainly helps. And I also bet, I

402
00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,800
Speaker 2: will bet everything I own there's some dime defenses when

403
00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,440
Speaker 2: you're losing by twenty and here's a draw for eight yards.

404
00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,080
Speaker 2: You know, like they don't control games on the ground. No, No,

405
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Speaker 2: they they're they're allowed.

406
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Speaker 1: They get They average four point eight yards per rush

407
00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,040
Speaker 1: attempt to your point, Yeah, they allow four point five.

408
00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,600
Speaker 1: Over the last month, however, that's been four point seven. Yeah,

409
00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:34,520
Speaker 1: it's getting worse.

410
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,200
Speaker 2: I think it was like six to two or something

411
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Speaker 2: against the Rams. Yeah, the Rams just they were over

412
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Speaker 2: tortured them on the ground, tort on the ground, big

413
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Speaker 2: chunk run after chrunk run. At the time, I was

414
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Speaker 2: still going to stay in two high safety for probably. Yeah.

415
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Speaker 1: The time of possession is uh, it's getting worse and worse. Yeah,

416
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Speaker 1: I don't see that here either, But they're we mentioned

417
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Speaker 1: that the Steelers average starting point.

418
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Speaker 2: Starting field positions.

419
00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:58,840
Speaker 1: Yeah, these guys are at twenty six point one.

420
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Speaker 2: Are they worse?

421
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Speaker 1: That's that's the team that that's the one that that's

422
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Speaker 1: the one team that had been worse, yes than the Steelers.

423
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Speaker 1: And average start possession Yeah, starting pitch it's rough.

424
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Speaker 2: So here's the time possession stuff. I thought was kind

425
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Speaker 2: of interesting too, or like, right now, the Steelers are

426
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Speaker 2: at twenty eight to thirty, Arizona's at twenty seven to

427
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Speaker 2: forty six. Okay, I mean neither as a comparable, but

428
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Speaker 2: over the past three games, the Steelers are at thirty

429
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Speaker 2: two oh seven and Arizona's at twenty seven to twenty three.

430
00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,639
Speaker 2: You know, it's just they're both going to totally opposite direction.

431
00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,520
Speaker 2: You know, the Steelers had thirty seven seventeen last week

432
00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,080
Speaker 2: and the Cardinals were a twenty five oh eight. You know,

433
00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,440
Speaker 2: if it goes something like that, this will not be closed.

434
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Speaker 1: The average drive for the Cardinals offensively.

435
00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:50,520
Speaker 2: Defensively, well, I know they allow the most points per

436
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:51,640
Speaker 2: drive league.

437
00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,159
Speaker 1: Two point four to seven points per ve.

438
00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,560
Speaker 2: Two like, so what's guarantee to feel?

439
00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:58,520
Speaker 1: So if there's ten drives, you get ten possessions in

440
00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:59,160
Speaker 1: a game.

441
00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:02,760
Speaker 2: Including kneel down and a half all those kind of things. Right, Yeah,

442
00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,320
Speaker 2: you fumble the first snap of the drive, you still

443
00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:07,720
Speaker 2: get a field goal basically out of it. Yeah, horrible.

444
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:11,480
Speaker 1: It's forty three point eight percent of their their opponent's

445
00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,640
Speaker 1: drives against them, and in some kind of score there

446
00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,240
Speaker 1: has to be number one. Yeah, I mean it's just

447
00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,639
Speaker 1: a I mean yeah for them. For them, it's thirty

448
00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:19,240
Speaker 1: point five.

449
00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:25,640
Speaker 2: I mean the discrepancies are massive. So, like if we

450
00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,159
Speaker 2: were doing Cardinals Nation Radio and you start talking about, well,

451
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,520
Speaker 2: what are our offseason needs everything, I say, you need

452
00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:36,920
Speaker 2: like nine or ten defensive starters and then all these

453
00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,320
Speaker 2: guys could be backups and then maybe you have a defense.

454
00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,280
Speaker 2: I mean that's about where they're at. Yeah, I mean,

455
00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,440
Speaker 2: there isn't any building blocks. Buddha Baker, I guess he's

456
00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,280
Speaker 2: a great leader. Blah blah, blah. They keep drafting these

457
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,920
Speaker 2: linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins that don't really have homes,

458
00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,439
Speaker 2: and Simmons isn't even on a team anymore. They cut them,

459
00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,040
Speaker 2: or they trade them for a late round pick. There's

460
00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,960
Speaker 2: no building blocks. No even like one of their best

461
00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,639
Speaker 2: players last year, Zach Allen, is now playing for Denver

462
00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:04,960
Speaker 2: doing really well. I mean they can't bring him back.

463
00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,800
Speaker 2: You know, it's rough. Yeah, I don't.

464
00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,159
Speaker 1: I mean, we're not trying to paint a super rosy

465
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:13,320
Speaker 1: picture here, but this is what they are.

466
00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:14,440
Speaker 2: This is kind of you.

467
00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:19,440
Speaker 1: This is not a game that the Steelers can They

468
00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,600
Speaker 1: can't overlook this team. Of course, you can't overlook either

469
00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,280
Speaker 1: of these next two games. You got to take care

470
00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:24,800
Speaker 1: of business.

471
00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,600
Speaker 2: Like, I think the Patriots are scarier than these guys,

472
00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,760
Speaker 2: or the Giants or Carolina. I mean they're all terrible,

473
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,639
Speaker 2: but like, I don't know how this defense stops anymore.

474
00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,520
Speaker 2: They don't stop anybody. Yeah, I mean, at least their

475
00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,480
Speaker 2: offense is scary. I mean, like New England's offense isn't scary. Yeah,

476
00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,639
Speaker 2: they're the exact opposites. Yeah, yeah, they're bad. I mean,

477
00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:43,720
Speaker 2: they're defenses and.

478
00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,359
Speaker 1: We say their offense is scary, and it's a middle

479
00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,040
Speaker 1: of relatively, it's a middle of the road offense. It's

480
00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:50,639
Speaker 1: an average NFL offense.

481
00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,720
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean there's some players on that side of

482
00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:54,639
Speaker 2: the ball. I mean there's some former first round picks

483
00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,879
Speaker 2: or some athletes or some explosive dudes, but they're never

484
00:21:57,920 --> 00:21:58,800
Speaker 2: on the field anymore.

485
00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,080
Speaker 1: Yeah, they can't get on the field because the defense

486
00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:01,720
Speaker 1: can't get off.

487
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,480
Speaker 2: The other thing about being so small on one side

488
00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,080
Speaker 2: of the ball, this was a Kingsbury thing, but they

489
00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,240
Speaker 2: even when they were good during the Kyler era, that'd

490
00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,560
Speaker 2: start well for like two months and then crash and burn,

491
00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,000
Speaker 2: Like this is a big man's game, and you know

492
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,600
Speaker 2: you wear that. Little guys take big hits. Yeah, you

493
00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,159
Speaker 2: just get beat up over the course of the year

494
00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,320
Speaker 2: and you're not quite as fast anymore in December or

495
00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:25,040
Speaker 2: there's weather, and you know, it's a hard way to

496
00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:25,680
Speaker 2: build your team.

497
00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,320
Speaker 1: Absolutely, we're gonna get to a break. He is Matt Williamson.

498
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,479
Speaker 1: I am Dale, Lolly. You're listening to the drive here

499
00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,600
Speaker 1: on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be back with more right

500
00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:39,440
Speaker 1: after this. Steeler friends, you can gear up with the

501
00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,160
Speaker 1: latest sideline apparel, hats or jerseys of your favorite players,

502
00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,200
Speaker 1: Authentic memorabilia, custom items, and exclusives you can only find

503
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,880
Speaker 1: directly from the team at one of the official Steelers

504
00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,680
Speaker 1: pro shops located at Akrosher Stadium, Grove City Premium Outlets,

505
00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,560
Speaker 1: or Tanger Outlets, or you can visit online at shop

506
00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:01,120
Speaker 1: dot Steelers dot com. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale,

507
00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,760
Speaker 1: Lallie and Matt. There's only one.

508
00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:06,480
Speaker 2: T J.

509
00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,919
Speaker 1: Watt, no no doubt, and just looking here at the

510
00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,920
Speaker 1: story here on its piece on ESPN dot com, the

511
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:21,000
Speaker 1: NFL sack leaders t J. Watt, Miles Garrett chase the record. Well,

512
00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,120
Speaker 1: first of all, what's the number two and a half

513
00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,400
Speaker 1: which TJ. Watt already owns a part of? So they

514
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:32,040
Speaker 1: break down the odds here, guys who have a legitimate

515
00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:37,760
Speaker 1: shot to at least be in contention for the There's.

516
00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,080
Speaker 2: Got to be more this year that at least have

517
00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,200
Speaker 2: a shot than any year I can remember.

518
00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,200
Speaker 1: Well here, so what they have here to so legitimate shot?

519
00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,440
Speaker 1: Watt leads the list here because he's tied for the

520
00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,840
Speaker 1: league lead, but he's played one fewer game than.

521
00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,639
Speaker 2: Danielle Hunters off this upcoming week.

522
00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:53,360
Speaker 1: And he's off this week, so what if he gets

523
00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,840
Speaker 1: a sack, goes into this knowing at least during his

524
00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,480
Speaker 1: game that unless you know, if.

525
00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,600
Speaker 2: He gets half a sack, he's the leader unlessbody behind him,

526
00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,679
Speaker 2: unless something crazy happens Thursday, and you know they you know,

527
00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,200
Speaker 2: they get a bunch of sacks on Thursday.

528
00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,040
Speaker 1: So right now Watt has thirteen and a half sacks

529
00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,760
Speaker 1: and eleven games. That puts him on pace for twenty

530
00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:13,639
Speaker 1: one for the season.

531
00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,840
Speaker 2: Okay, that adds up on twenty one. Twenty one huge

532
00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:18,800
Speaker 2: numbers too.

533
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:23,199
Speaker 1: Twenty one you're playing seventeen games now. As if you

534
00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,600
Speaker 1: recall though when what tied the record at twenty two

535
00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:28,479
Speaker 1: and a half, he only played fifteen games that year.

536
00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, exactly, I do remember that, which is unbelievable, right, yeah,

537
00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:36,120
Speaker 2: that's what Nace was. Even better than that, he has

538
00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,440
Speaker 2: a six game home streak of sack his.

539
00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,000
Speaker 1: Sack now, his sack numbers at home are ridiculous.

540
00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,080
Speaker 2: They're unbelievable, just like how you said with the you

541
00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,640
Speaker 2: did the breakdown of the AFC North stuff too, it's ridiculous,

542
00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:50,200
Speaker 2: but his home stuff is crazy.

543
00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,879
Speaker 1: He has uh, he's played twenty nine career games in

544
00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:55,399
Speaker 1: the month of December.

545
00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:57,760
Speaker 2: Oh, I have a feeling this is going to be

546
00:24:57,760 --> 00:24:59,880
Speaker 2: a big number. He has twenty one and a half career.

547
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,639
Speaker 1: He has nine forced fumbles in December and December. Wow,

548
00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,160
Speaker 1: in twenty nine game he gets it. Basically, he got

549
00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,640
Speaker 1: sacked every three games, a fumble, forced fumble every three

550
00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,120
Speaker 1: games in the month of December. Unbelible over the course

551
00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:16,040
Speaker 1: of his career. Remember, he talked about his rookie year.

552
00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,320
Speaker 1: He said he hit the wall on like late November

553
00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,560
Speaker 1: and didn't what wasn't real active in December.

554
00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:24,520
Speaker 2: That year I can't remember, and even last year much time. Yeah,

555
00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,680
Speaker 2: and he wasn't the same right when he came back. Yeah,

556
00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:27,600
Speaker 2: it took him a while.

557
00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,840
Speaker 1: Remarkable, So there's a good chance here he puts on

558
00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,800
Speaker 1: a little closing kick to this season. Plus then you

559
00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:35,400
Speaker 1: look at who.

560
00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:40,080
Speaker 2: They're playing starting now, Well, Cincinnati wasn't a great matchup either,

561
00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:45,159
Speaker 2: but starting now, I mean who's blocking him? Yeah, I mean,

562
00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:45,960
Speaker 2: I mean.

563
00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:49,480
Speaker 1: The Paris Johnson's had a fine rookie season by all accounts.

564
00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,399
Speaker 1: But if the Arizona Cardinals leave him on an island

565
00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,879
Speaker 1: with TJ. Watt out of their mind, yeah, now they

566
00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:58,240
Speaker 1: do play three tight ends a lot.

567
00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,159
Speaker 2: They do, they do, so they'll be part of the equation.

568
00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:02,560
Speaker 2: But McBride's a receiver.

569
00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:07,800
Speaker 1: Yeah, he has ninety one sacks in ninety eight career games,

570
00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:09,639
Speaker 1: the fewest games.

571
00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,280
Speaker 2: That's gonna be the best ratio. Yeah, anyone right now, Yeah,

572
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:15,920
Speaker 2: I mean anyone playing. Yeah.

573
00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,400
Speaker 1: He and Garrett were going back and forth with that. Yeah,

574
00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,520
Speaker 1: he had two sacks the last game, Garrett had none,

575
00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:23,680
Speaker 1: and so he's he's taking that over.

576
00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:25,959
Speaker 2: Yeah, over. They actually are pretty close. I remember when

577
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:31,440
Speaker 2: the Browns came to town, Garrett was slightly above them.

578
00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,959
Speaker 1: He needs if he has I think he has twenty

579
00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:38,879
Speaker 1: career games with at least multi with multiple sacks.

580
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,160
Speaker 2: Twenty twenty. Wow, Miths, that's hard to do.

581
00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:46,760
Speaker 1: That's forty sacks in itself. If you just have two.

582
00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,639
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's like saying I have twenty career games with

583
00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,120
Speaker 2: triple doubles or hat trick or you know what I mean,

584
00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:53,040
Speaker 2: multiple home run.

585
00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,080
Speaker 1: You'll only play a certain number of games each.

586
00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,639
Speaker 2: Season, exactly except one of the number of games. And

587
00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,960
Speaker 2: there's other sports too. All his stuff's ball.

588
00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,840
Speaker 1: It's off the charts. He's if he retired now.

589
00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,000
Speaker 2: I think he's in he's a Hall of Famer. Yeah,

590
00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,960
Speaker 2: and we compared him to Mahomes. Yeah, I mean the

591
00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,840
Speaker 2: rings are different than you and that type of thing,

592
00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:12,800
Speaker 2: but it's pretty similar. Yeah.

593
00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,160
Speaker 1: All he's all he is missing at this point are

594
00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:17,000
Speaker 1: the playoff latitudes.

595
00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,199
Speaker 2: I mean, another defensive Player of the Year forget about it,

596
00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,639
Speaker 2: you're in Yeah, which he could get a couple.

597
00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,840
Speaker 1: Because JJ didn't have a ton of success in the postseason.

598
00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,520
Speaker 2: Then won a couple of games, but those Houston teams

599
00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:33,800
Speaker 2: were like nine and eight. You know, ten win teams

600
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:34,760
Speaker 2: more often though.

601
00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:36,280
Speaker 1: But this could be the year. This could be a

602
00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,320
Speaker 1: year where they they make make some noise in the

603
00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,280
Speaker 1: playoffs and then we'll see what happens next year when

604
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:41,520
Speaker 1: you if you can build off this year.

605
00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:43,840
Speaker 2: Uh. His Hall of Fame case, I think is oh,

606
00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:45,120
Speaker 2: I mean it's almost I mean.

607
00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,200
Speaker 1: I'd love to make that that statement they just get

608
00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:47,840
Speaker 1: up and say TJ.

609
00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,200
Speaker 2: Watt. I don't think people look at him in that light. Yeah,

610
00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:51,680
Speaker 2: at this stage.

611
00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:54,320
Speaker 1: When Mike Tomlin talked to him yesterday about him being

612
00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:56,920
Speaker 1: the best player, the best defensive player on the planet,

613
00:27:58,119 --> 00:27:59,800
Speaker 1: he might have been able to say the best player

614
00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,919
Speaker 1: the plant. Yeah, right, I mean there's some arguments for

615
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,160
Speaker 1: Mahomes and but he's at that level.

616
00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:09,040
Speaker 2: He's at that level. I mean, he's at McCaffrey level. Right.

617
00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:11,399
Speaker 1: He's as good at what he does as they are

618
00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,720
Speaker 1: there anyone is. Yeah, that's what's so tough about football.

619
00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:16,679
Speaker 1: Like basketball, I can look at somebody said, well, he's

620
00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,240
Speaker 1: the best player in the league easily because they all

621
00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:20,959
Speaker 1: do the sub They can do some things that are

622
00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,880
Speaker 1: pretty you know, he scores, he rebounds, he doesn't. Football

623
00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:24,520
Speaker 1: is just different.

624
00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,760
Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean like Larry Allen, the guard from the Cowboys,

625
00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:29,800
Speaker 2: could have made that case too, but nobody would say, oh,

626
00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,080
Speaker 2: you're the best player on the planet. But he just

627
00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:34,639
Speaker 2: mashes people into the ground snap after snap. Yeah, but

628
00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,280
Speaker 2: he's a guard, So who cares Dermony Dawson or you know.

629
00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,920
Speaker 1: Yeah, Garrett right now has thirteen sacks and eleven games.

630
00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:48,160
Speaker 1: He's on pace for twenty. Okay, he's capable of that.

631
00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,480
Speaker 1: He gets his sacks. He had three and a half

632
00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,480
Speaker 1: sacks and went over the Titans earlier this year, like

633
00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,720
Speaker 1: they'll come in some bunches. He hit a game against Yeah.

634
00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,840
Speaker 2: I'm good for him, but he destroys some bad But.

635
00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,440
Speaker 1: He also has some games where he disappears a little bit.

636
00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:09,080
Speaker 1: The word out of Cleveland today is that that shoulder

637
00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:13,040
Speaker 1: injury that he has is something a little more serious

638
00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:13,920
Speaker 1: than what they're letting on.

639
00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:15,160
Speaker 2: I wonder if he plays it.

640
00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,000
Speaker 1: He's going to play through it, but he is compromised.

641
00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,240
Speaker 2: Yeah, So, I mean, I know they're schedule. They're gonna

642
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,200
Speaker 2: be in it for a while in terms of playoff release,

643
00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,160
Speaker 2: So it's not like they're on the verge of elimination

644
00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,880
Speaker 2: and then he'll stop when that point comes. But maybe

645
00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,560
Speaker 2: they'd string a couple losses together and he's like, let's

646
00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,600
Speaker 2: shut down our most important guy. And then comparing him

647
00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,600
Speaker 2: and what I very much feel, and I don't think

648
00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:44,360
Speaker 2: this is homer ism that the Steelers offense is trending up,

649
00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,400
Speaker 2: the Browns offense is trending down. And where I'm going

650
00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:53,080
Speaker 2: with this is how many pass rush snaps will Garrett

651
00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:54,760
Speaker 2: have versus Watt going forward.

652
00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,640
Speaker 1: The other thing is they've played them. They've played the

653
00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,800
Speaker 1: majority of their home schedule at this point, they played

654
00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,400
Speaker 1: they played on a bunch of games at home. Now

655
00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,280
Speaker 1: they're going to start playing some road games. Back to

656
00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:09,680
Speaker 1: back road games this week. Their defense much different at

657
00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,160
Speaker 1: home than on the road, and he's much different, Yes,

658
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,080
Speaker 1: much different on the on the road.

659
00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,160
Speaker 2: I'm sure you'll get to like Micah Parsons. But that's

660
00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,120
Speaker 2: a huge advantage he has is he's gonna have a

661
00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,240
Speaker 2: lot more pass rush opportunities, yeah than water Garrett, just

662
00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,240
Speaker 2: offense because they score. They scored a ton and the

663
00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:28,160
Speaker 2: big leads, you know, uh Khalil Mack and Weather, I mean,

664
00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:30,440
Speaker 2: Cleveland's and Pittsburgh's a lot different than.

665
00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:31,680
Speaker 1: Dallas, Khalil Max.

666
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:33,480
Speaker 2: What a season he's happened, by the way, He's on

667
00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:34,560
Speaker 2: a pace for twenty sacks.

668
00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,600
Speaker 1: He's got He's got like like Garrett thirteen sacks and

669
00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:41,000
Speaker 1: eleven games now. He had six in one game against

670
00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,880
Speaker 1: the Raiders, which should never happen. That's true, that should

671
00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:45,440
Speaker 1: never happen.

672
00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,480
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like who's got Wilt? You know, I mean, who, Yeah,

673
00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,520
Speaker 2: I hear what your saying. I've been so impressed with

674
00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:53,320
Speaker 2: him though, I mean, I think he's having a just

675
00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:55,640
Speaker 2: a tremendous year. Every game I've watched the trophe.

676
00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:57,960
Speaker 1: He might have five sacks this week against the Patriots.

677
00:30:58,600 --> 00:30:59,640
Speaker 1: They're gonna start Bailey z.

678
00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:02,320
Speaker 2: Appy, Yeah, he might. He's gonna hold the ball and

679
00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:04,720
Speaker 2: it's gonna be bad. They could have multiple quarterbacks in there.

680
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:06,560
Speaker 2: I don't know if MA can get to twenty. But

681
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:09,280
Speaker 2: he's a Hall of Famer. Yeah, then he's you know,

682
00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:14,800
Speaker 2: this year I think just cements it. Yeah, I guess

683
00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:16,400
Speaker 2: Hunter would be in the race. Parsons.

684
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,120
Speaker 1: Daniel Hunter right now is on pace. He is thirteen

685
00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:21,520
Speaker 1: and a half in twelve games, so he's technically tied

686
00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:25,600
Speaker 1: for the league lead with Watt, but he's on the

687
00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:27,640
Speaker 1: buy this week. They've already played twelve games. He's on

688
00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:29,200
Speaker 1: pace for nineteen point one.

689
00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:33,680
Speaker 2: Sex phenomenal player. I think he's slightly below. I think

690
00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,480
Speaker 2: he's a tier two guy, you know, in terms, and

691
00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,680
Speaker 2: I'm not taking anything away from him. He's tremendous and

692
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,440
Speaker 2: he's probably having his best year. But as much blitz

693
00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,280
Speaker 2: as they get, it also frees him up for one

694
00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:44,920
Speaker 2: on one stuff, you know. I mean they blitzed Moreny

695
00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:45,680
Speaker 2: won the league, but.

696
00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:46,280
Speaker 1: He gets home.

697
00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:46,920
Speaker 2: Oh he's great.

698
00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:51,640
Speaker 1: Yeah, he's great, and he will without a doubt, he's

699
00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:52,360
Speaker 1: gonna cash.

700
00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,000
Speaker 2: In this offseason. Oh yeah, he's up.

701
00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,360
Speaker 1: Huh, somebody's gonna overpay because he's thirty and this will

702
00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:00,040
Speaker 1: be as good as he ever gonna.

703
00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,400
Speaker 2: Be probably yeah, I mean, maybe might get franchised. I

704
00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,320
Speaker 2: don't know. I don't know how you let him walk.

705
00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:08,920
Speaker 1: Josh Allen with the Jaguars has stood him. He has

706
00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,000
Speaker 1: twelve sacks in eleven games, so he's on pace for

707
00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:11,920
Speaker 1: eighteen and a half.

708
00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,360
Speaker 2: I think he's a free agent after the year two. Yeah,

709
00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:17,960
Speaker 2: definitely having his best year. I can't imagine him getting

710
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,560
Speaker 2: to twenty. But boy, that's again step four.

711
00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:22,280
Speaker 1: Eighteen and a half would be a big season.

712
00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:26,520
Speaker 2: Man rare and more sacks than games is unbelievable.

713
00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,479
Speaker 1: They list the long shots here. Michael Parsons has eleven

714
00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,400
Speaker 1: and a half in eleven games, so he's on pace

715
00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:33,640
Speaker 1: for seventeen point eight.

716
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:38,680
Speaker 2: Okay, possible, right, I mean he's do they play Washington?

717
00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:40,120
Speaker 1: They get another game against Washington?

718
00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:42,120
Speaker 2: Yeah? And the Giants, yeah, I mean they're the two

719
00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:43,200
Speaker 2: most sacked teams in the league.

720
00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,120
Speaker 1: I'm sure they play Seattle this week and Gino Smith

721
00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,240
Speaker 1: was just sacked six times, like on a.

722
00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:52,080
Speaker 2: Short week too. Yeah, he could find I don't know

723
00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,560
Speaker 2: if you could get the six like Mac. But Parsons

724
00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:56,280
Speaker 2: could have one of these games where he gets four

725
00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:57,800
Speaker 2: and then all of a sudden he's right the top

726
00:32:57,800 --> 00:32:59,520
Speaker 2: of the list. Yeah, he's right there. Yeah, you know,

727
00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:01,280
Speaker 2: I mean he's a tier one guy.

728
00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:07,440
Speaker 1: They talk about the pass rush win rate, he's at

729
00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:10,720
Speaker 1: thirty four point sixty season. I don't want to hear

730
00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:16,360
Speaker 1: that pass rush win rate used in the Defensive Player

731
00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:17,320
Speaker 1: of the Year conversation.

732
00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,920
Speaker 2: No, No, that's we're getting a little ahead of our

733
00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:21,640
Speaker 2: Tell me what.

734
00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:23,800
Speaker 1: Tell me what it is. You know, if you're going

735
00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:25,520
Speaker 1: to use that as a statu you've got to tell me.

736
00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:27,200
Speaker 1: You got to explain to me what that.

737
00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,760
Speaker 2: Is and show me. Let's put it on.

738
00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:31,160
Speaker 1: Show me how it affects the GAV.

739
00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:33,200
Speaker 2: I mean, show me. Let's get the clicker out.

740
00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,360
Speaker 1: Because I know the sack effects the game. I know

741
00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,200
Speaker 1: the quarterback hits affect the game.

742
00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,360
Speaker 2: And tell me who Johnny Freddy Sally is saying, Okay,

743
00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:47,080
Speaker 2: that's a win. Yeah it's different than I caused ten fumbles. Yeah,

744
00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:50,680
Speaker 2: I can't quite go there, Like like, I don't want

745
00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,760
Speaker 2: to hear that for Hall of Side note, Like I

746
00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:56,520
Speaker 2: hope Hall of Fame voting isn't like, well, his PFF

747
00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,120
Speaker 2: grade is. Oh, I would go nuts. I think that's

748
00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:01,239
Speaker 2: going to happen someday. I don't doubt it, but I

749
00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,200
Speaker 2: hope people don't take that as gospel. Yeah, pounce he

750
00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,479
Speaker 2: can't go because he is a low PFF grade but

751
00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:08,960
Speaker 2: he never got help blocking anybody. But we don't care,

752
00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:09,520
Speaker 2: you know, right.

753
00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,560
Speaker 1: Max Crosby has eleven and a half sacks in twelve games,

754
00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:15,320
Speaker 1: so he's on pace for sixteen point three.

755
00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:16,720
Speaker 2: He's fighting a major injury.

756
00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:18,600
Speaker 1: Yeah, even he wasn't.

757
00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:21,040
Speaker 2: He was doubtful to play last week and still playing

758
00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,239
Speaker 2: besting for the organization to shut him down. He won't

759
00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:23,440
Speaker 2: be and.

760
00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:25,840
Speaker 1: They're never going to have leads, never lead, Yeah.

761
00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:29,439
Speaker 2: Which makes him all that more incredible. But I can't

762
00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:30,640
Speaker 2: imagine him getting twenty.

763
00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:31,839
Speaker 1: Those are the guys though.

764
00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,160
Speaker 2: That's it, guys. Yeah, Bosa is not in that conversation. Yeah,

765
00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:38,440
Speaker 2: he's having a good year, but not that level. So

766
00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:41,960
Speaker 2: is there anyone for defensive player of the Year? Is

767
00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,680
Speaker 2: there a lineback? I can't go for bland by the

768
00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:45,520
Speaker 2: Warner would.

769
00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,640
Speaker 1: Be the only that I would look at and say, yeah,

770
00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:50,640
Speaker 1: maybe because he's got some interceptions.

771
00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:55,279
Speaker 2: Their defense is great, yeah yeah, but I mean back

772
00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:57,680
Speaker 2: seven guys in general. I know people will talk about

773
00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:01,799
Speaker 2: Bland because he's I mean again, he's a Yeah. I mean,

774
00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:03,959
Speaker 2: I know I saw with the with the.

775
00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:09,000
Speaker 1: Parsons vote when he's ended up splitting votes with with

776
00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:10,920
Speaker 1: Bland in that situation, I.

777
00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,000
Speaker 2: Mean, Parsons is more important than Bland. Yeah, I'm not

778
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,400
Speaker 2: taking away from the young man's season. It's remarkable. And

779
00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:19,600
Speaker 2: I heard this today that you know how they have

780
00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:24,479
Speaker 2: a quarterback rating against you know, what's your quarterback rating

781
00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:28,440
Speaker 2: when you're targeted. Yeah, they'd been better never targeting him

782
00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:28,879
Speaker 2: all year.

783
00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:32,080
Speaker 1: Well, because of the interse, he's giving up more than

784
00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:36,400
Speaker 1: a fifty percent catch exactly. Yeah, Joey Porter Junior is

785
00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,520
Speaker 1: giving up forty eight point five percent complete percentage in

786
00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:44,360
Speaker 1: his targets of the receiver he's covering, which is phenomenal,

787
00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:46,480
Speaker 1: which is phenal. Blands at like fifty three point two,

788
00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:50,560
Speaker 1: which is great. Yeah, okay, it's great. But it's not like, oh,

789
00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:52,600
Speaker 1: he's just a shutdown cornerback.

790
00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:54,360
Speaker 2: Right, I mean there's some luck with pick sixes. Yeah,

791
00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:58,719
Speaker 2: of course, you know, right, So it's fantastic. Yeah, but

792
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:02,000
Speaker 2: i'd be pretty if he wanted over what or if

793
00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,080
Speaker 2: I was in Cleveland, if they wanted over Garrett. Yeah,

794
00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:05,720
Speaker 2: I think it's those two guys.

795
00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:06,040
Speaker 1: Really.

796
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,280
Speaker 2: Garrett's kind of holding on by a string with that injury.

797
00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,160
Speaker 1: And if you look at him side by side, the

798
00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:14,640
Speaker 1: stats side by side, wats are everything with.

799
00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:17,200
Speaker 2: What is just a little bit better to smidge better? Yeah,

800
00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:19,399
Speaker 2: and that throughout the course of the year that's leaned

801
00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:20,800
Speaker 2: one way or the other here and there.

802
00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:24,280
Speaker 1: But the other thing is is that the Steelers defense

803
00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:25,120
Speaker 1: is trending up.

804
00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:26,719
Speaker 2: Yeah, the whole team is.

805
00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:29,120
Speaker 1: I mean again, fifteen points per game over the last

806
00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:32,720
Speaker 1: seven games. Cleveland's defense is going kind of the other way.

807
00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:34,200
Speaker 2: And their offense isn't going to help them by stay

808
00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,680
Speaker 2: in the field like they have all year either. I

809
00:36:36,719 --> 00:36:39,319
Speaker 2: know the Bland thing might hurt him, but I still

810
00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:43,759
Speaker 2: think Parsons isn't out of it, you know. The defensive Yeah,

811
00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,799
Speaker 2: I mean he could blow up on National TV on Thursday,

812
00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:51,680
Speaker 2: kill the Commanders and Giants for eight combined sacks in

813
00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:54,000
Speaker 2: those two games or whatever. So I think it's the

814
00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:54,400
Speaker 2: thing though.

815
00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,400
Speaker 1: Can you have because people are talking about Dak Prescott

816
00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,480
Speaker 1: being potential on v but can you have like the

817
00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:04,000
Speaker 1: offensive defensive MVPs from the same team basically and they

818
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:05,000
Speaker 1: don't even win their division?

819
00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:08,920
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean probably not. But who's the better candidates?

820
00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:14,759
Speaker 2: I do think Niners Eagles will go a long way

821
00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:16,960
Speaker 2: in the MVP race. I don't know if Perdy can

822
00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,200
Speaker 2: win it, but if Hurts wins that game, I don't

823
00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:21,640
Speaker 2: think you think he's played like an MVP.

824
00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,840
Speaker 1: Hurts wins. If Eagles win that, they're three point underdogs,

825
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:27,480
Speaker 1: by the way, at home. At home, I mean, I'm

826
00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:30,080
Speaker 1: ten and one team is a three point underdog.

827
00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:33,160
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the Niners are better, but that's still

828
00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:35,560
Speaker 2: a little crazy. We picked games today on the pod

829
00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:37,600
Speaker 2: and I took I'm like, I'll take the points at home.

830
00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:40,960
Speaker 2: They know how to win close games. I mean, I

831
00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:43,000
Speaker 2: think the Niners are better and I think they might win,

832
00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:45,719
Speaker 2: but I don't know if they cover. Yeah, saying a lot.

833
00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:48,319
Speaker 1: I mean, they the Eagles, no matter what how you

834
00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:50,280
Speaker 1: feel about them, they're battle tested.

835
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:51,160
Speaker 2: They're battle tested.

836
00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:54,719
Speaker 1: They've found ways to win these these close games regardless.

837
00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:56,560
Speaker 1: I mean, they got a fifty nine yard field goal

838
00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,480
Speaker 1: in the rain to send that game into overtime last.

839
00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,400
Speaker 2: Year because they're so good. The Lions grimmt. Yeah, you know,

840
00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:04,960
Speaker 2: they went in the fourth quarter. So I know one

841
00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:07,919
Speaker 2: of our biggest concerns with the Ravens is they don't

842
00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:09,240
Speaker 2: close Eagles.

843
00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:12,440
Speaker 1: The Eagles close, Yeah, yeah, I mean if it's close,

844
00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:15,280
Speaker 1: they're you know, like, if they're even, they're leaving.

845
00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:19,440
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. The Ravens need Rob Dibble or Dennis Eckersley,

846
00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:22,399
Speaker 2: you know something. Yeah, the Eagles have them. They do.

847
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,200
Speaker 1: We're gonna get to another break. He is the Matt Williamson.

848
00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:26,120
Speaker 2: I am Dale Lolly.

849
00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,520
Speaker 1: You're listening to the Driver on Steelers Nation Radio. We

850
00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:32,759
Speaker 1: will be back with more right after this. Loo come back.

851
00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:36,120
Speaker 1: I'm Dale Lolly. He is d Matt Williamson and Matt.

852
00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:39,279
Speaker 1: Let's go over this Cardinals roster here real quick. I'll

853
00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:42,040
Speaker 1: do my best their depth chart. You're gonna go offense

854
00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:42,640
Speaker 1: or defense.

855
00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:45,920
Speaker 2: I'll sound smarter talking about the offense. The defense is

856
00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:48,560
Speaker 2: worse than talking about the Rams defense a couple of weeks.

857
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,879
Speaker 1: All right, So wide receiver, you've got Marquise Brown. You've

858
00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,799
Speaker 1: got Michael Wilson, who's hurt. We'll see what his status is.

859
00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:59,200
Speaker 1: Uh Ron Dell Moore, Greg Dortsch would play if Michael.

860
00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:00,560
Speaker 2: Wilson, Yeah, he's been I'm not.

861
00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:04,440
Speaker 1: And then behind them Zach Pascal who's been around a

862
00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:10,120
Speaker 1: little bit, and Andre Bosselia also that's.

863
00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,520
Speaker 2: Probably their best position group were one. Oh and it's

864
00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:17,320
Speaker 2: not great. Yeah, I mean it's the twenty third best

865
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:20,480
Speaker 2: group of receivers in the league. Maybe yeah, and they're

866
00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:22,240
Speaker 2: lost mall, but there they can run.

867
00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:25,520
Speaker 1: Uh. At tight end, you got Trey McBride. You got

868
00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:29,279
Speaker 1: Jeff Schwaim, Elijah Higgins, and Blake Whiteheart. They got four

869
00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:33,759
Speaker 1: of them. Two of them are rookies. McBride is a

870
00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:36,480
Speaker 1: first round a second round draft pick from last year. Uh.

871
00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:38,800
Speaker 1: He's kind of been thet kind of a star in

872
00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:40,560
Speaker 1: the making, yeah, kind of been the go to guy.

873
00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:42,399
Speaker 1: Doesn't run super well.

874
00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:45,160
Speaker 2: No, I mean he's not a it was super productive

875
00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,440
Speaker 2: of Colorado State, not a great tester, but in a

876
00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:49,239
Speaker 2: weak tight end class, he was the first one off

877
00:39:49,239 --> 00:39:51,359
Speaker 2: the board. I think people know I do a lot

878
00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:55,120
Speaker 2: of dynasty stuff, like in the world of fantasy Dynasty.

879
00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:58,320
Speaker 2: He's like the sixth best tight end out there, you know,

880
00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:00,360
Speaker 2: I mean, like want to earn him the rest of

881
00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:02,920
Speaker 2: his lead his career. Yeah, you know productive, he's having

882
00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:03,600
Speaker 2: a really good year.

883
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:07,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, but the Steelers has done a great job defending

884
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,440
Speaker 1: tight ends this year. At quarterback, you got Kyler Murray

885
00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:11,520
Speaker 1: Clayton toon.

886
00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,919
Speaker 2: One thing, about Tuon is like when they do push

887
00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:17,640
Speaker 2: pushed though they bring him in now.

888
00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:20,720
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, because Kyler's tiny, because yeah, they could actually

889
00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:22,200
Speaker 1: just pick him up and put him in the ends

890
00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:27,000
Speaker 1: on him to the top. It'll be funny. Actually, Yeah,

891
00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:27,880
Speaker 1: toss the quarter.

892
00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:30,480
Speaker 2: Of hard in the background and Kyler jumps in his

893
00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:33,320
Speaker 2: arms and throws him over the top higher like Andre

894
00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:36,799
Speaker 2: the Giant him really high in the air. Yeah.

895
00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:39,640
Speaker 1: Running back, it's Shames Connor, Michael Carter who they got

896
00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:41,200
Speaker 1: from the Jets a couple of weeks ago, and then

897
00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:43,320
Speaker 1: and Maury uh De Mercado.

898
00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:45,200
Speaker 2: All of them are good. I mean people are familiar

899
00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:47,480
Speaker 2: with Connor that they're kind of easing him back slow.

900
00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:50,200
Speaker 2: The other two are better receivers, but Connor is a

901
00:40:50,239 --> 00:40:53,399
Speaker 2: good receiver. I mean he's a banger. I'm not sure

902
00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:56,520
Speaker 2: why they released Carter, to be honest, that makes sense. Yeah,

903
00:40:56,520 --> 00:40:58,680
Speaker 2: I think he's an NFL player. Yeah, third down type back.

904
00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:03,400
Speaker 1: But the offensive line at left tackle is DJ Humphries.

905
00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:05,799
Speaker 2: Yeah, they paid him. He's a former first round pick.

906
00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:06,319
Speaker 2: They like him.

907
00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,160
Speaker 1: Yeah, he's getting a little long in tooth though, m h.

908
00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:14,600
Speaker 1: Then you've got Tristan Cologne at left guard. At center,

909
00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:16,839
Speaker 1: is a hajjat for a holt.

910
00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:17,120
Speaker 2: I can.

911
00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,440
Speaker 1: I can pronounce the last for a hold, but the

912
00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:24,479
Speaker 1: other part a little trouble troublesome. Uh. Will Hernandez should

913
00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:30,439
Speaker 1: live in the Shire. Yeah, Will Hernandez a right guard.

914
00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:32,680
Speaker 1: And then the rookie Paris Johnson, their first round draft

915
00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:33,760
Speaker 1: pick at right tackle.

916
00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:36,520
Speaker 2: They think they have a bookend pair of tackles. One's older,

917
00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:41,080
Speaker 2: ones younger, both FoST round picks. The whole inside needs revamped. Yeah,

918
00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:42,719
Speaker 2: you big picture, I'm talking.

919
00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:45,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, so uh. I mean if we're looking at this

920
00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:47,760
Speaker 1: in terms of who has the advantage at each position,

921
00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:51,080
Speaker 1: I'll take the Steelers at wide receiver. I'll take the

922
00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:54,480
Speaker 1: Steelers at tight end. Now that fire mouse back, I

923
00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:55,799
Speaker 1: think the depth is is better.

924
00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:56,960
Speaker 2: The three of them are better.

925
00:41:57,120 --> 00:42:00,640
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'll give them the edge of quarter back Colors.

926
00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:05,040
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's accomplished. Yeah, running backs, I don't think of Steelers. Yeah.

927
00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:07,480
Speaker 1: And then offensive line is the Steelers.

928
00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,080
Speaker 2: I'm not sure Connor would be active on game day here,

929
00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:12,440
Speaker 2: Like he's a really good player. Cutting on Connor, but

930
00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:14,560
Speaker 2: I mean if he doesn't play special teams and he's

931
00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:17,120
Speaker 2: your third back with a Steeler, I can't use young

932
00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,839
Speaker 2: game day. Yeah, and you a line to Steelers. Yeah. Yeah,

933
00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:21,880
Speaker 2: the other lines just terrific. I love that. Paris Johnson,

934
00:42:21,960 --> 00:42:23,360
Speaker 2: but he's similar to Roger Jones.

935
00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:27,359
Speaker 1: Yeah. Moving over to the defense. Uh, they also play

936
00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:29,640
Speaker 1: a three four, so this is actually pretty easy on

937
00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:34,640
Speaker 1: the defensive line. Jonathan Ledbetter, Roy Lopez, Kevin Strong is

938
00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:37,080
Speaker 1: this usual starter right defensive end. He's hurt right now.

939
00:42:37,239 --> 00:42:40,120
Speaker 1: So the only other guys, they only have four defensive

940
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:41,160
Speaker 1: linemen on their roster.

941
00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:43,000
Speaker 2: So you're talking about like.

942
00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:47,680
Speaker 1: Dante Stills, who's a six round draft pick this.

943
00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:50,640
Speaker 2: Year, is the other And none of those names move

944
00:42:50,719 --> 00:42:51,319
Speaker 2: the needle at all.

945
00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:52,279
Speaker 1: No, not at all.

946
00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:57,920
Speaker 2: No, I mean they're offensive tackle aside, they couldn't be

947
00:42:58,040 --> 00:42:59,720
Speaker 2: worse in terms of three hundred pounders.

948
00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:03,759
Speaker 1: It's on the team like Arma and Watts would be

949
00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:04,640
Speaker 1: a star on this team.

950
00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,480
Speaker 2: He'd be a star on this team. Or Adams or

951
00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:10,120
Speaker 2: louder Milk would a lot, you.

952
00:43:10,160 --> 00:43:12,160
Speaker 1: Know, right, I mean those guys would play and play

953
00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:12,440
Speaker 1: a lot.

954
00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:15,160
Speaker 2: Steelers are so loaded a d tackle right now. Yeah.

955
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:20,880
Speaker 1: So obviously the Steelers obviously the linebacker group. It's Zavan

956
00:43:20,920 --> 00:43:24,040
Speaker 1: Collins at one outside linebacker spot. Uh. The other is

957
00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:25,400
Speaker 1: Dennis Gardeck.

958
00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:29,239
Speaker 2: He's actually good. Okay, nobody knows anything about him. I

959
00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:31,359
Speaker 2: get that. I don't know a ton about him. He's

960
00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:35,000
Speaker 2: still a fifty percent snap count type of dude. He

961
00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:38,640
Speaker 2: would be a great number three edge guy here. He's

962
00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:43,160
Speaker 2: an accomplished pass rusher that somebody to worry about. They

963
00:43:43,239 --> 00:43:43,919
Speaker 2: got great.

964
00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:45,800
Speaker 1: They got b j O Jalari, who they took in

965
00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:46,680
Speaker 1: the second round this year.

966
00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:50,399
Speaker 2: Yeah. His four sacks. I mean he's second round pick.

967
00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:52,839
Speaker 2: I mean he's a talented player too. Yeah. So those

968
00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:56,920
Speaker 2: guys are okay, there's not the Steelers. Yeah right.

969
00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:59,920
Speaker 1: Uh, if it was just if even if what was

970
00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:03,000
Speaker 1: out right now, then's conversation. I'd still take high Smith

971
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:03,359
Speaker 1: over there.

972
00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:04,759
Speaker 2: Guys. Oh, I thought you were to say, if the

973
00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:06,880
Speaker 2: starters are out her Big and Golden.

974
00:44:07,640 --> 00:44:10,319
Speaker 1: No, I'm just saying, if taking one out of the act.

975
00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:12,000
Speaker 2: Take a Steelers. Yeah, but if you take what in

976
00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:15,440
Speaker 2: high Smith out, it's a conversation. Yeah, that's that's what

977
00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:16,120
Speaker 2: you're looking at here.

978
00:44:16,160 --> 00:44:18,120
Speaker 1: I mean Golden used to be that guy for them,

979
00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:19,760
Speaker 1: you know, I mean he had a double digit second

980
00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:22,239
Speaker 1: season for them a couple of years ago.

981
00:44:22,280 --> 00:44:23,160
Speaker 2: Her BIG's nose louch.

982
00:44:23,320 --> 00:44:25,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, right, you're an incredible slouch.

983
00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:25,920
Speaker 2: You're incredible.

984
00:44:26,680 --> 00:44:32,000
Speaker 1: Inside linebacker. Chris Barnes and Josh Woods.

985
00:44:32,960 --> 00:44:34,239
Speaker 2: Two guys have never been in my kitchen.

986
00:44:36,280 --> 00:44:38,320
Speaker 1: I mean, the two guys wouldn't play for the Steelers

987
00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:38,719
Speaker 1: right now.

988
00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:41,440
Speaker 2: They would make team, but maybe one of them was

989
00:44:41,440 --> 00:44:43,040
Speaker 2: still on maybe one of them would be the two

990
00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:48,359
Speaker 2: major injuries right right, right, Yeah, it's brutal at cornerback.

991
00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:50,160
Speaker 2: This is even worse.

992
00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:55,960
Speaker 1: So the two starting cornerbacks are Antonio Hamilton and Starling Thomas.

993
00:44:56,600 --> 00:44:59,120
Speaker 2: Both of them are hurt right now, are they so?

994
00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:03,359
Speaker 1: Last week against the Rams, they started l Clark, who

995
00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:05,680
Speaker 1: was a six round draft PIAK picked this year, Kate

996
00:45:05,719 --> 00:45:12,320
Speaker 1: Trell Clark, I should say, uh, they started Marco Wilson

997
00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:14,719
Speaker 1: and I'm not Marco Wilson, another rookie. Uh.

998
00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:17,479
Speaker 2: I think Marco Wilson still on the team.

999
00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:21,040
Speaker 1: Yeah, but you also had Garrett Williams, who's the third

1000
00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:22,640
Speaker 1: round pick this year. He's a guy from kid from

1001
00:45:22,680 --> 00:45:25,719
Speaker 1: Syracuy injured comes injured, Yeah, uh, and they had another

1002
00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:27,200
Speaker 1: rookie in there. Anyways, they were.

1003
00:45:27,360 --> 00:45:30,279
Speaker 2: Byron Murphy's gone. Yeah, I mean it's it's horrendous.

1004
00:45:30,760 --> 00:45:34,520
Speaker 1: Yeah. Really, Williams is their nickel but they never played nickel.

1005
00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:37,080
Speaker 1: They're all fifty percent of the time they're in like bass.

1006
00:45:39,360 --> 00:45:41,200
Speaker 2: It's not good. It's not good at all. And Buddha

1007
00:45:41,239 --> 00:45:43,640
Speaker 2: can play some nickel, I mean some slot. We'll get

1008
00:45:43,640 --> 00:45:46,399
Speaker 2: to him. He's their best defensive player by far. Their

1009
00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:50,200
Speaker 2: corners are maybe the worst corners in the league. Yeah,

1010
00:45:50,400 --> 00:45:53,680
Speaker 2: I mean it's even when even when they're healthy, even

1011
00:45:53,719 --> 00:45:57,600
Speaker 2: when they're opening day everyone rate a roll. Yeah, brutal,

1012
00:45:57,960 --> 00:45:59,840
Speaker 2: And then you have their team needs are insane.

1013
00:46:00,040 --> 00:46:02,880
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's safety. You have Jalen Thompson and Buddha Baker.

1014
00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:03,839
Speaker 1: That's a good duo.

1015
00:46:03,960 --> 00:46:06,239
Speaker 2: That's a good duo. Yao. And Thompson's actually pretty good

1016
00:46:06,239 --> 00:46:09,000
Speaker 2: player too. He's a really good robin. There's actually a

1017
00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:11,879
Speaker 2: conversation there. If Meco wasn't in the equation, it would

1018
00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:12,960
Speaker 2: be easily that's the.

1019
00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:15,920
Speaker 1: Best part of their defense easily. But it's two safeties.

1020
00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:18,600
Speaker 1: It plays that you play too deep with that just

1021
00:46:18,680 --> 00:46:21,479
Speaker 1: clean up the mess that they're just they're fifteen yards

1022
00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:23,360
Speaker 1: from the line of scrimmage and.

1023
00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:27,200
Speaker 2: Watching people play badly in front of them. That's their

1024
00:46:27,239 --> 00:46:27,719
Speaker 2: biggest job.

1025
00:46:27,840 --> 00:46:31,279
Speaker 1: They just sit there and watched the car wreck every Yeah.

1026
00:46:31,320 --> 00:46:33,160
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's what they do. And Dudah is a good

1027
00:46:33,239 --> 00:46:35,560
Speaker 2: leader and he's tough, but now he's expensive. I mean,

1028
00:46:35,760 --> 00:46:38,360
Speaker 2: so it's a really bad defense.

1029
00:46:38,440 --> 00:46:39,520
Speaker 1: It's a really bad team.

1030
00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:42,719
Speaker 2: It's a bad roster, maybe the worst. It's a really

1031
00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:46,560
Speaker 2: bad Carolina has at least some dudes. Kyler has some weight,

1032
00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:50,000
Speaker 2: you know, but I mean not much. He's maybe one

1033
00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:52,120
Speaker 2: hundred and ninety five pounds. Sure they might throw him,

1034
00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:54,480
Speaker 2: throw him over the over the pile. Luckily for them,

1035
00:46:54,480 --> 00:46:56,680
Speaker 2: they're going to have their first round pick, which should

1036
00:46:56,719 --> 00:47:02,080
Speaker 2: be very very high, and Houston Houston's. Houston could have

1037
00:47:02,120 --> 00:47:04,600
Speaker 2: traded Cleveland's or Houston for the Houston's.

1038
00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:06,360
Speaker 1: Which isn't going to be hind now, which isn't going

1039
00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:07,080
Speaker 1: to be that high.

1040
00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:12,680
Speaker 2: Right, So maybe they add like Marvin Harrison Junior and

1041
00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:17,680
Speaker 2: hopefully alignment you know, on either side anywhere somebody is

1042
00:47:17,719 --> 00:47:20,880
Speaker 2: three pounds more than four to three hundred pounders on

1043
00:47:20,960 --> 00:47:23,240
Speaker 2: your defensive ross line is crazy.

1044
00:47:23,400 --> 00:47:26,880
Speaker 1: Yeah, there's no wonder the rams every running play was like,

1045
00:47:26,920 --> 00:47:30,800
Speaker 1: oh there's the line was just the line of scrimmage

1046
00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:32,680
Speaker 1: was lost on every single play.

1047
00:47:33,239 --> 00:47:35,480
Speaker 2: If I'm a free agent, I'm not psyched about that rebuild.

1048
00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:39,359
Speaker 1: No, but I'll move to Phoenix. I mean, that's that's

1049
00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:40,960
Speaker 1: the one thing that they have going for them that

1050
00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:43,040
Speaker 1: others don't. A lot of guys actually live in Phoenix

1051
00:47:43,080 --> 00:47:44,200
Speaker 1: in the off season, so.

1052
00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:45,919
Speaker 2: That is nice. Yeah, I'll live there a year round

1053
00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:49,640
Speaker 2: if I'm make millions in play. Yeah, but yeah, I

1054
00:47:49,800 --> 00:47:51,239
Speaker 2: get it. I mean, if you want to win, that's

1055
00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:53,479
Speaker 2: probably not They're a year away from a year away

1056
00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:53,879
Speaker 2: at most.

1057
00:47:54,040 --> 00:47:54,239
Speaker 1: Yeah.

1058
00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:56,960
Speaker 2: I mean, if Kyler works out and is great, yeah,

1059
00:47:57,280 --> 00:47:57,680
Speaker 2: I hear you.

1060
00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:00,239
Speaker 1: That's going to do it for our number one. We're

1061
00:48:00,280 --> 00:48:01,800
Speaker 1: going to be back with our number two after this.

1062
00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:03,240
Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson.

1063
00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:04,040
Speaker 2: I'm Dale Ellie.

1064
00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:06,600
Speaker 1: You're listening to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio.