1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold, Steelers Nation Radio. We 3 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: are back on Steelers Nation Radio. I'm Dale Lolly here 4 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: with Matt Williamson. Pleased to be joined now by one 5 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: of Pittsburgh's favorite native sons. That would be Dave Damashek 6 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: of NFL dot Com, NFL Network and you can hear 7 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: him on the Minus three podcast as well. How you doing, Dave, 8 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: I'm doing all right. I appreciate the kind words there, 9 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: but I think right now we all need as a 10 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: sports town to get behind our favorite son being Mark 11 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: Cuban so that he can take another carnack and buying 12 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: the buckos. That would really restore the Black and Gold 13 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: to where it belongs. Right, Yeah, for sure, that doesn't. 14 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: I mean if if people think that the the Penguins 15 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: and Steelers, uh, what they're doing or what they've done 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: in the last year or two, uh is well disappointing. 17 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: Wait till you see this Pirates team this year. Yeah, 18 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: we need everybody who wants the Steelers to tank should 19 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: take a look at the buckos exactly. That's exactly what 20 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: I've told him, Dave. That's exactly what I've told them, 21 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: like that they're in a constant rebuilding. You know, just 22 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: because you tank to get a high draft pick doesn't 23 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: mean you know, the Bengals have been tanking for years. 24 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: The Browns did it for years. It took them twenty 25 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: years to finally maybe get it right. I think that 26 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: my my hypothesis is is that it's that kind of 27 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: um perfect storm of what potentially could really really go bad. 28 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: The perfect storm is looking at teams like the Jets 29 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: and the and the Bungles, and I fi, I know 30 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: what happened in January and Heimsfield, but that game, notwithstanding 31 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: the Browns and the lines and all these teams that 32 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: never get over and the experience that longtime Steelers fans 33 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: had after Bradshaw stepped aside, and the and the gap 34 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: between him and Roethlisberger, has everybody spooked about we gotta 35 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: move on, we gotta find the next guy, and we 36 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: don't find the next guy, what are we gonna do? 37 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: And all of that. The only way in the age 38 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 1: of free agency steel is fans who are nervous about 39 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: getting Cliffs Saladd and Mark Malone and David wood lead 40 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: and and the rest of it the lean years. Of 41 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: course we're talking about here. The only way that could 42 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: happen these these these the talking heads in Pittsburgh now 43 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: who are declaring the next decade is gonna be grim 44 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: for the Steelers. The only way that happens is if 45 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: their personnel guys fail repeatedly. And that's what the Jets 46 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: and Browns and Bengals and so on have done. It's 47 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: the free agency era. And there are any number are 48 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: quarterbacks available every spring in the college pipeline. This is 49 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: not equal three. So everybody chill out a little bit. 50 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger one last run here, presumably, and then the next 51 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: guy could be right around the bend. Yeah they agree. 52 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: I mean you mentioned it. You these blow up teams 53 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: they don't have they they envy the foundation that the 54 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: Steelers have of tradition and handing down you know, from 55 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: Aaron Smith to Casey Hayward. And you know they're they're 56 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: not Casey Hayward. Dam Hayward. What am I talking about? 57 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: You know, all the leadership guys that step up and 58 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: now they have the next wave of lot and these 59 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: type of dudes. You know, that's what you miss whenever 60 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: you try to blow something up and if two thousand 61 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: nineteen showed us anything, the floor for this team, with 62 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: this coaching staff and this structure is really high. I 63 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: don't think people realize that. Well, that's my recurring point 64 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: to everybody out there shouting that the Heelers need to 65 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: cut Roethlisberger. And the question back is to do what exactly? 66 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: You know? The idea of it's it's sort of in 67 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: the same vein as fire Tomlin, Okay, and replace him 68 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: with what you know, Like, what exactly is the math 69 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: for and beyond, let's say you release Roethlisberger um as 70 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: soon as we hang up the phone here. If that happens, 71 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: how does it exactly change one roster? And beyond what 72 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: does it allow the Steelers to do that they otherwise 73 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: can't do with Roethlisberger without And to your point, that's exactly. 74 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: This is not like Hugh Jackson's Browns a few years ago. 75 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: There is no ability to just stink uh to high 76 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: heaven and go oh. In sixteen T J. Watt, Cam Hayward, 77 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: Minka Fitzpatrick and beyond prevent that from happening. Duck Hodges 78 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: went eight and eight. Do you think that Mason Rudolph 79 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: is gonna is gonna conjure two and fourteen season. It's 80 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: I would win three games under center, and there's just 81 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: no there's just no path to like even if you 82 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: even if you're desperate, like, yeah, you know, I love 83 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: Spencer Rattlers so much. I hope we go over in sixteen. 84 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: It's an impossibility anyway, You're not going to get one 85 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: of those guys. And by the way, draft class, I'm 86 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: trying to have to tell you, guys, it happens to 87 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: be leaner than it's been in the last two to 88 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: four years. Let's say yeah to a couple of your 89 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: points in our yes is Dave Damaschik of NFL Network 90 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: NFL dot Com. Um, the Patriots this year, No Tom Brady, 91 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: he's he's gone, and they still want They still won 92 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: seven games. They're drafting because they had that foundation. They 93 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: may have been the worst roster in the league. It was. 94 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: It was terrible. They had no talent, but they finished 95 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:57,119 Speaker 1: precisely and you know, I think that. Um, the other 96 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: side of that coin is what the Steelers are capable 97 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: of doing. And you know, I'm not a pie eyed 98 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: optimist about where they're headed in the upcoming season. But 99 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: I also think that people have been very quick to 100 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: make assumptions based on what we saw in the last 101 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: you know, six weeks of the season, and you know, 102 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: talk about a spoiled fan base or or whatever the 103 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: declaration that we're doing. I believe me, I was as 104 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: embarrassed as anybody out there as a longtime Steelers fan 105 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: to watch the atrocity, the unspeaker of unspeakable events in 106 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: Hines Field, starting with that snap over number seven head 107 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: there um and beyond that was that was a miserable, embarrassing, 108 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: maybe the most embarrassing loss that I've watched as a 109 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: Steelers fans. Um. But I also point you to, you know, 110 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning with the Broncos, even you know, you talk 111 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: about the the Brady and where he went. Brady was 112 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: very good and obviously makes a lot of difference in 113 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: locker room and in bringing a mindset to that franchise. 114 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: But it's not like he was in terms of between 115 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: the lines. The key figure in the January run, the 116 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: defense was the start. There's something to be said for 117 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: the for the for the math of a high end defense, 118 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: a future Hall of Famer quarterback providing if nothing else, 119 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: some stability back there, and I really do think if 120 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: they can you know, I know everybody keeps saying it, 121 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: but if they can find some form of a ground game, 122 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: I don't think that it's just an insane notion to 123 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: suggest double digits a playoff appearance, and and once you 124 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: get into the mix, who knows. I mean, Tom Brady 125 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: is the hero of heroes once again, but he also 126 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: almost lost to Hei Niki in the wild card run. So, 127 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: as I always say, you get into the playoffs and 128 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: who knows what's gonna happen, Who knows how everything's gonna break. 129 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: I don't think that the Chiefs are necessarily destined for 130 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: the next decade be the number one seed. Look within 131 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: that division, and once you start knocking down the most 132 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: talented team in the conference, you know, it really is 133 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: uh an open tournament. If you can just get into 134 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: it come January, there's no reason to think of that 135 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: defense and otherwise that the Steelers aren't gonna wind up there. Um, 136 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: you know, ten months from now, Dave, you cited some 137 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: you know, all time great Hall of Fame quarterbacks with 138 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 1: really strong defenses, being highly competitive, but you didn't mention 139 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: Elway at the end you know. I mean, to me, 140 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: that's the one that's the model here. Get me the 141 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: Terrell Davis, you know, take something off his plate. Say 142 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: what you want about Ben. I just think he had 143 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: and maybe some of it self induced. Just how to 144 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: get stuff off his plate. I think that's right. And 145 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: you know, you know, I'm not inside the huddle. I'm 146 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: not uh, you know, I'm not in the coach's box 147 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: talking in Roethlisberger's here, so I'm not exactly sure. I mean, 148 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: what i'd love, I really wish, and I don't think 149 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: we're ever gonna fully get it, but I would really 150 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: love to know what precisely happened in those last five 151 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: weeks of the regular season in the sense that and 152 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: and by the way, the undercover thing, I think people 153 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: are starting to catch on and point out it a 154 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: little bit for a dominant defense statistically and otherwise, they 155 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 1: didn't exactly get big stops in big spots in second 156 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: halves against even the Bengals. Is talking about an embarrassing loss. 157 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: But they didn't get big stops against the Bengals. They 158 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: didn't get them against the Bills in the second half, 159 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 1: and really the games could have swung on those and 160 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: that was if you remember how we went into season 161 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: in August and into September, it was supposed to be 162 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: we didn't know what Roethlisberger with his elbow and and 163 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: all that was gonna be. It was supposed to be 164 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: a defense dominant team. And that's what it has to 165 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: be next season as well. I mean, that's the idea 166 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: that the superstar quarterback has to cover up all the wars. 167 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: At this point, that's overly optimistic. But the defense has 168 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: to rise up and get the stops that we um 169 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: assumed they would. But that's exactly right about the about 170 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: the elway. I know it's it's a lifetime in football 171 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: terms that had happened in the in the late twentieth century, 172 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: but I still think it's relevant that right, if you 173 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: have a guy, you know, the people who are just 174 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,599 Speaker 1: completely wrong, those who would say he's dead armed, the 175 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: arm is gone. If you watch the Colts game, that's 176 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 1: obviously not true. You saw some of the throws in 177 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 1: the different styles of throws that he was making in 178 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: that second half. It's impossible to reach that conclusion. Um, 179 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: But I'd love a deep dive on what really I 180 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: wish you Roethlisberger would would tell us or whomever close 181 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: to it and say, yeah, listen, I was beaten up. 182 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: I knew we were going to the playoffs, and I 183 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: made a calculated decision with seetner Um and company that 184 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: I was gonna limit all contact. I was gonna take 185 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: zero contact coming down the stretch. And then as the 186 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: losses started the mouth, all of a sudden, it got 187 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: scary there for a second, wait and say, we're gonna 188 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: not win the division. Then they have the second half 189 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 1: rally against the Colts and they put their feet up, 190 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: and I mean, I was shaken absolutely by that first quarter, 191 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: and by the way Mathan Rudolph coming out there and 192 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: throwing the ball down field with ease um to the 193 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 1: same receivers Roethlisberger had been struggling with um. And then 194 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: combine that with what happened in the wild card round, 195 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: it definitely raised my eyebrows um because Roethlisberger definitely has 196 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: to take a ton a ton of the blame talents 197 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: he put him behind the eight ball. But Roethlisberger really 198 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: threw some atrocious passes in that first quarter there. But 199 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: what happened there and that kind of would point me 200 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: to if it's just it's absolutely over for this guy, 201 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: Like is he just spooked by the notion of contact 202 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: my my senses? No? Um, And for one last ride. 203 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: I the bottom line for me is with Roethler, what 204 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: are they gonna do? Realistically? Not pie the sky crazy 205 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: stuff like go trade for Deshaun Watson happened to stop 206 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: talking about that? Um, you know what are they gonna 207 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:12,599 Speaker 1: do at QB if not Roethlisberger. It is not sufficient 208 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,719 Speaker 1: to say, hey, let's burn a career a year off 209 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: the careers of Hayward and Watt and Minka to see 210 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: if Mason Rudolph, a third round pick in his fourth year, 211 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: has the goods. If we don't know that now, then 212 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: I think we need to make the assumptions of what 213 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: we think is true, which is he's not the long 214 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: term solution. So I go back to seven one last year. UM, 215 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: with the team as constituted, I think people are being 216 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: a little doom and gloom about what the high end 217 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: possibility is. Even in a conference that includes Patrick Mahomes 218 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: and the rising Bills and uh and the Chargers are 219 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: gonna be good and so on. I'm not as as 220 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 1: spooked by the Browns and the Ravens I think, as 221 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: a lot of other people are. I don't think they're 222 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: necessarily either one of them, given some of the choices 223 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: the Ravens have to make in their defenseive front seven 224 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: and Baker Mayfield. Still I'm not that they are fixed definite, 225 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 1: double diget winning teams. I think the division is winnable 226 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: with number seven. Yeah, I agree, Dave and Matt and 227 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 1: I've talked about that a lot. I mean, if you 228 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: start going through the conference, um, you find you have 229 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: a hard time finding seven teams that well, that team 230 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: is absolutely better than the Steelers. I mean, that's that's 231 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: what you're that's what you gotta do. There's they take 232 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: seven to the playoffs, so you gotta be just in 233 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: the top seven. And then once you get into the playoffs, 234 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: you know, you take your chances. I mean I tweeted 235 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: during the Super Bowl that that you know, the Chiefs 236 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: that were on the field that day against the Tampa 237 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: Bay Buccaneers would have struggled mightily against the Steelers. The 238 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: Steelers would have had a chance to beat them that day, 239 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: no doubt in my mind, because that offensive line could 240 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: not have blocked you Me and matt Oh, I mean, yeah, listen, 241 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: and and and that's what we've learned too, is I 242 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: think that's a big lesson because five years ago, eight 243 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: years ago, ten years ago. Um, I'm sure our conversation, 244 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: my conversations with Williamson date that far back about um, 245 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: the not unique but the stinct skill set that Roethlisberger 246 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: had in twenty one century pro football. And I still 247 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: count only two guys who are alongside with him in 248 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: their primes. Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers Russell Wilson could negate not 249 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: a mediocre the offensive line but a bum one when 250 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: the Steelers last won the Super Bowl against the Cardinals. 251 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: That was not like that. It's so line. That was 252 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: a bad offensive line, and Roethlisberger could overcome that. That's 253 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: no longer the case, and for better or worse. You 254 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: now hear Russell Wilson as we speak, complaining about Seattle's 255 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: old line. You saw what happened to the guy who's 256 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: been anointed the greatest to ever do it, Patrick Mahomes. 257 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: You see him behind a bad offensive line, he looks 258 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: awfully mortal. Um. So the point is that I think 259 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: if you do the math and look around the league 260 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: and how teams do when they don't have a decent 261 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: offensive line. I think you can rightly let Roblis Burger 262 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: off the hook a little bit and say, boil boy. 263 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: That was real, real bad for a guy who you know, 264 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: it's not like I say, prime Roethlisburger anymore shaken off 265 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: tacklers or really even moving off his spot. He's you know, 266 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: last year coming down the stretch especially, he was literally 267 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: more immobile than Tom Brady was. I mean he literally 268 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: locked into his spot and didn't move his feet, and 269 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: on many throws from the spot at which he was 270 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: received a snap. But you know that was also the 271 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: um you know, whether it was Chase Young or Miles 272 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: Garrett or anybody else, villain a wave wasn't providing a 273 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: ton of resistance. Um there. And that was on both 274 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: sides of the old line that that collapse was happening. 275 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: So again, if they can find a couple of pieces 276 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: in the draft apt and some cheaper options, um you 277 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: know in free agency, I you don't, I just don't. 278 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: I just don't share the pessimism about and it's certainly 279 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: not worth throwing any of that potential off the window 280 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: on the sort of half baked ideas about what the 281 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: alternative is. You know, it's like the idea that Kyle 282 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: Trash is the answer. I mean fact to quote Myron Cope, 283 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: I mean what I mean, like, that's the answer that's 284 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: gonna inspire us. Mac Jones might be a fine replacement 285 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,479 Speaker 1: if he fell to them, but it certainly isn't inspiring. 286 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: And I don't think, by the way that Matt Jones 287 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: is gonna be there. Williamson knows that at least as 288 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: well as I do that as as draft day draws 289 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: ever closer, the more those guys are gonna move up 290 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: the board, and um, you know, Trey Lance is gonna 291 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: be long gone, and Justin Field and the idea that 292 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: they're gonna be able to trade up into that spot 293 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: with what exactly what assets and then let's say it 294 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: is Justin Fields. But so Justin Fields was gonna get 295 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: thrown to the Wolves for the next uh uh two 296 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: to three years before they can assemble some sort of 297 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: an offensive. And it's just it's so imperfect that to 298 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: me run it back with number seven one last time, 299 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: because in all likelihood, unless you guys have some um 300 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: some trigonometry to share with me, that can show me 301 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: where I'm where I'm wrong about the cap, and otherwise 302 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: we're gonna be having basically the same conversation a year 303 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: from now that we're that we're having right now. They're 304 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 1: gonna have to try to move on to a quarterback. 305 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: I don't know who that is right now. But the 306 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 1: good news is we've reached full QB saturation in pro football, 307 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: which is to sayven when teams were reaching for guys 308 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: like Christian Ponder and Jake Locker, that was a decade ago. 309 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: That's no longer the case. You don't need to do 310 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: that anymore because of all the good college quarterbacks and 311 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: all the viable starting options in free agency, Jameis Winston, 312 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 1: Marcus Mariot, that can be had, Tim Newton. I know 313 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: people are down on the year just that he just had, 314 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: but that guy is borderline Hall of Fame, maybe a 315 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: cut below. Right now, there are a lot of really 316 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: good options. I mean, it was wasn't that long ago 317 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: that we were seeing, um so some really dreadful guys 318 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: get the starting gig. That just doesn't happen. That's just 319 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: not true anymore in pro football. Over the last couple 320 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: of years, there are so many decent options at quarterback. 321 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: We don't need to move heaven and earth and worry 322 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: ourselves sick about who's gonna replace Roethlisberger because the year 323 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: from now there will be anywhere between one to six 324 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: guys to go and get. Maybe, if we get lucky, 325 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 1: it'll be Dwayne Haskett, who knows. I'm not that optim 326 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 1: a lot of the same stuff. You know, this isn't 327 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: the off season to do it unless some gift happens 328 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,719 Speaker 1: to fall in your lap. To build the nest first, right, 329 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: always talking about building a nest for the baby bird 330 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: to come to. I mean, give me, give me a 331 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: couple of young lime in a running back that I 332 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: can hand the ball to and trust to get more 333 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: yardage than is blocked. And you know a year from 334 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: now we were talking about around the league, boy, there's 335 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: there's more quarterback movement this year than ever and well 336 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: until this year, now there's more. We said the same 337 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: thing last year. These guys are always on the move. 338 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: There's a lot of quality options. You'll get somebody next year. 339 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 1: Deal with it. Then that's I mean, that's exactly right. 340 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: And I know that doesn't sound like a plan per se, 341 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: but it's as much, it's as much of a plan 342 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: is well, they should release Roethlisberger. And I mean I've 343 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: I've been talking around with a lot of people in 344 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh sports media about this, and that's where we 345 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 1: we we always wind up. It's okay, fine, Roethlisberger is done. 346 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: He can't do it anymore. They can save some cash. 347 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: Three touchdown passes last year. What's part of part one 348 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: of the plan of getting rid of Bend is fine? 349 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: What's part two of the plan that is exactly right? 350 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,479 Speaker 1: What is it? And it comes back to some combo up. 351 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,239 Speaker 1: Let's see what Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph can do. 352 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know that Dwayne Haskins is gonna 353 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 1: be on the roster, and I mean what I would 354 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,959 Speaker 1: do really and I really think this is a plausible 355 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: thing with some of the people I've talked to. I 356 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: think that the Steelers could get Sam Donald for a 357 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: future second round. If they offered up second round for Donald, 358 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,400 Speaker 1: I think that would be enough to get them um 359 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: to the Jets. That would get them Donald back. I 360 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: think that's worth it based on I mean, I think 361 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: the Adam Gates factor is real uh, look at Ryan 362 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: Dannehill and otherwise. I think that's worth a gamble at 363 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: a relatively low cost. But either way, if you don't, 364 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 1: So if you do that, then maybe you get a guy. 365 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm a pedigree snob, and everybody loved Darnald 366 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: coming out. I don't believe that collectively, all the scalps 367 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: in the world got it this wrong on Donald. I mean, 368 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: I do think he you know, that has an unfixable 369 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: um issue with interceptions. But you know, given the losses 370 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: that we assume the Steelers are gonna take in free 371 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: agency and um, you know, Roethlisberger moving on one way 372 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 1: or the other after this year, they're gonna be in 373 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: a much better situation financially, and they're gonna have draft picks. 374 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: They're gonna get compensatory picks that they could then flip 375 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: for a quarterback to move up in the first round 376 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,959 Speaker 1: if that's the way they wanted to make things go 377 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 1: and go get the Caroline a kid or you know, 378 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: that's just threw the draft. But to to to your point, 379 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: it's a different world than it was even five years 380 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 1: or so ago. I mean, remember, if clings, If Cliff clings, 381 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: Cliff Kingsbury does nothing else besides show off his fancy 382 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: tony home in the desert social media, if he does 383 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 1: nothing else. During his time in pro football, he pulled 384 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: a move that was unthinkable five years ago. They used 385 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: the test overall picked on one quarterback, then dumped him 386 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: to get another first. They use the first overall on 387 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,479 Speaker 1: another quarterback, So all bets are off now when you 388 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: when there is when people say, without irony or or other, 389 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: I mean to a year ago, was the guy? Wow, 390 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 1: Joe Burrows a hisman, So he's the guy you gotta get, 391 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: but too if not for the hip, I don't know 392 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: if I go Burrow or two. Ah. Now it's universally understood. Well, 393 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: well he's not. He's not justin Herbert. And now the 394 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: discussion is in Miami, do we flip to us to 395 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: try and get the Deshaun Watson or or or or 396 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: do something like that? Point being, these things move off 397 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,479 Speaker 1: move so fast um that you know you're not locked 398 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: into And the only mistake you can make is the 399 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 1: one that the Rams made or that the Eagles made 400 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: and locking in because just because you use the first 401 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: a first round pick out of QB and then you 402 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: groom him and bring him along to a point, and 403 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: then you make the mistake of signing him too a 404 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: second contract. It's not suddenly going to magically turn him 405 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: into the I. It doesn't. Because you take those steps 406 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 1: doesn't mean that it yields the result you wanted to, 407 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: which is a long term um franchise QB. Who's gonna 408 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 1: carry you and cover up warts and all in the 409 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: lean years when the roster doesn't work out and he's 410 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: gonna be able to obscure the weaker parts of your roster. 411 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: You can't pay your way past that. Jared Goff is 412 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: still Jared Goff. So as long as the Steelers don't 413 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: make that mistake, and they're about it would appear to 414 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,360 Speaker 1: be they're about to be able to negotiate their way 415 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:36,959 Speaker 1: around that issue. Um by by you know, playing one 416 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: more year with Roethlisberger and you know, I'm just with you, guys. 417 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: I think that a year from now, they're gonna be 418 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: some options out there, whether it's a one term, I mean, 419 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: a one year fixed like Jameis just had down there 420 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 1: in New Orleans to prove it deal, or maybe the 421 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: guys out there that they are excited about that they 422 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: can lock up long Sore. Maybe it's Sam Donald, maybe 423 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: it's Dwayne Haskins. I'm pretty sure it's not Mason Rudolph though. 424 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: I mean right now, as who sit here, they're gonna 425 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: have a fifty million dollars in cap space. Now, it 426 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: certainly won't be that much when we get to that. 427 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: Don't use some of that up between now and then, 428 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: but they're still gonna have way more cap sas they'll 429 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: probably have more cap space going in the next year 430 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 1: than they've had in the twenty eight years combined that 431 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: I've covered them going right up against it, and they 432 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: just won't be next year. So I mean they've kind 433 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: of planned for this. I mean along those lines, I 434 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 1: mean your look ahead the league hasn't changed so much, 435 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: but they could be the team that trades for We'll 436 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: give you a second and for Derek Carr and we 437 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: can easily fit them under the cap. Or there's gonna 438 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: be five other names that are similar with where that 439 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 1: team Matt Ryan or you know whoever it is. There's 440 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: gonna be some expensive quarterback that's been around the block 441 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: that they can fit under the cap, or similar to 442 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: the Donald situation, that could be Daniel Jones or Tua 443 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: next year or who knows, you know, like the lead 444 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: changes so fast, or maybe Justin Fields looks terrible in 445 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: his rookie year and whoever drafts was picking first overall 446 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: and you can get him for a second, you know, 447 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: like there's gonna be options. I mean precisely decily, and 448 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 1: you know exactly that. I mean, what else can I 449 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: say except think you guys are right? And uh um, 450 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: I think the freak out. It's like I say, looking 451 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: around the neighborhood and seeing how bad you know, like, 452 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: oh no, oh no, we're gonna be the Browns or 453 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: Bengals now for the next decade. No, we're not unless 454 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: Kevin Colbert and or his successor uh lose the ability 455 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: to evaluate personnel. That has not been a major issue 456 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: for the Steelers, and we've been very lucky in that regard. 457 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: And two, the you know, Malone, Scott Campbell, how many 458 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: of has a good game? Wonder how many see we 459 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: we've been the three of us should be able to 460 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: reel off every guy. I just wrote that a couple 461 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 1: of weeks ago. Yeah, I could rattle him off, you know, 462 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: pretty quickly. But I got David Woodley throwing the Louis lips. 463 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: That was the combo that Louie Lipz got in his 464 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 1: rookie year. Donald, you got Mike tom Zack, I mean 465 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: you can Jimmy Miller. Yeah, it was. It was a 466 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: glorious run, There's no question about it. But I mean again, 467 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: that's all that is, or at least you know as 468 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: as you run up to um, you know from from 469 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: the Jim Miller in the Cordell and tom Zack and 470 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: that whole kind of that little Neil O'donnald finally making 471 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 1: the scene and taking over there. Um, that was all 472 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 1: pre free agency. In other words, it's irrelevant as it 473 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: applies to, you know, making a decision like this. And 474 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: also the cap didn't just go down on the Steelers, 475 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: and the Steelers with the way that Kin likes to 476 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: work in versus most other organizations, the Steelers got jammed up, 477 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: maybe a little more than if the other teams did. 478 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,679 Speaker 1: But everybody is or not maybe everybody, but most teams 479 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: are gonna are about to have a blood letting. I 480 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,959 Speaker 1: mean the idea that this guy is following, it's not 481 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 1: just falling in Pittsburgh. If that makes you feel any 482 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: better everybody, because everybody is about they're gonna be some 483 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: big name guys about to hit the market here, and 484 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: in fact, you're already started to see it with Miami 485 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 1: Um Dump and Van noy Um. I think that's that 486 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 1: sort of thing is is about to go down. And 487 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: like I mentioned before, the the other factor, it's hard 488 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,679 Speaker 1: to assess in in March, with uh so much to 489 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,439 Speaker 1: come between now and the start of the season. You know, 490 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 1: I'm not a convinced that the Ravens are all set 491 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: because you need I know, this is uh rhetoric that 492 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: you would hear back in UH from Don Crickey calling 493 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: an Orange Bowl UM involving the Oklahoma Sooners in. But 494 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: it's true that that offense, the limitation of that Ravens 495 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 1: offense remains that it's not great coming from behind, and 496 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: that is a bigger issue in twenty one century NFL 497 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: than it is in Big eight football in the mid eighties. UM. 498 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: And so I'm not convinced, I think the Ravens and 499 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: in fact, I talk with people who are aware that 500 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: that within the building, they're concerned about their ability. They've 501 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: already announced we're not gonna go after any big name 502 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: number one wide receivers. I wonder if that's preemptively saying like, yeah, yeah, 503 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: we're not fired. We're not fired. We quit because they 504 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: know what free agents gonna go to Baltimore to be 505 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: a part of that, you know what I mean. You know, 506 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: I've seen many times float the idea of Juju, which 507 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: would be devastating of course, and it does make some 508 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: sense with the way they run things, but uh, point 509 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: is they need a complementary defense. You can't that defense 510 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 1: has to kind of borderline dominant for the team to 511 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: win games. And I don't know his minimum. They have 512 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: some decisions to make on their front seven. And again, um, 513 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: the league did catch up a little bit last year. 514 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: Maybe we can attribute it to Lamar Jackson and the 515 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: whole COVID thing in the middle of the season sit 516 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: down and everything, because they did come on at the 517 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: back end of the year. But um, I'm not convinced 518 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,479 Speaker 1: still that that's the greatest way to operate in in 519 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: the NFL. They still, you know, for what it's matter, 520 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: For what it matters, it's a limited stable size, but 521 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: they still haven't played in the title game. Is uh 522 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,719 Speaker 1: as since Lamar Jackson took over, I know that's an 523 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: unfair standard, but that's the one people are applying to 524 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 1: the Steelers right now. They they only won three playoff games, 525 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: and that sucks. It's it's not good. It's also hard 526 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: to win playoff games. It's hard to get to the playoffs. 527 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 1: It's not a small thing that Mike Tomlin loves this 528 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: has never had a losing record thing. He loves that 529 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: and he wants to protect that. He should kind of 530 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: crazy thing to be proud of. Its a great thing 531 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: that Ben Roethlisberger, for all the negatives and all the 532 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: ups and downs in his career and the leen rosters 533 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 1: versus the loaded rosters, the guy has never had a 534 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: losing season. That's not something to turn your nose up at, 535 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: especially when we don't know what the solution is. Um 536 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: behind him? So and then and and now, uh as 537 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 1: we do a way too early deep dive on the 538 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: A f C. North Um. The Ravens to me, are 539 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: you know they do a great job of always loading 540 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: up with the line of scrimmage on both sides, so 541 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: they'll probably solid, be solid. Are we positive that the Browns, 542 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: because they almost beat the chief in Arrowheads, are definitely 543 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: gonna be good. I mean, I'm inclined to think they 544 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: will be, but it's not. It's not a lock. I 545 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: I absolutely think the Steelers can once again hit Pete. 546 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 1: As much as everybody will will say that it's that 547 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow relegates Roethlisberger to being the fourth best quarterback 548 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 1: in in the division, I still think that the Steelers 549 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: can still finish number one in the division if things 550 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: break right and um, you know, they catch a break. 551 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 1: I mean, everybody has injuries in the twenty one century. Um, 552 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: but it really is devastating that Devin Bush goes out 553 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: and before that, the human tragedy of Ryan shays Ere. Um. 554 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, you really, you know, if you want to 555 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: go glass half full if those things don't happen, you know, 556 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: especially with the way they were playing with shays Ere 557 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,480 Speaker 1: in the middle there, I think the sky was kind 558 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: of the limit with them and the tragedy as side 559 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: in football terms, I really, you know, I think that 560 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: that really debilitated the Steelers significantly there. And then Devin Bush, 561 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: you plucked him out of that roster, out of that 562 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 1: what the defense was trying to do a year ago, 563 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 1: that really, um, you know, turned them mortal quite a 564 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 1: bit too. And again it wasn't as though going into 565 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: the season it was like, well, our superstar quarterback has 566 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 1: to throw forty five touchdown passes and dominate. Um, that's 567 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: not I thought, what Aaron Rodgers. Well, Aaron Rodgers did 568 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: kind of dominate, but he did, he did, and Tom 569 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 1: Brady did and started to get themselves under center a 570 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: little bit, turn around, handed off to the running back, 571 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: run play action. That's I guess the biggest question I 572 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: have going forward is how much and you guys can 573 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: address this better than I can. How much do you 574 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: anticipate number seven in bracing what Matt Canada wants to do? 575 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: That's my question, and I think that my bet is 576 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 1: that that's what our two. That's what the meeting that's 577 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 1: nothing about the wasn't about the contract. It was about, hey, Ben, 578 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 1: can you do this? Can you buy into what we're 579 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: gonna do here? This? Right? Will you run the football? 580 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: That was my sense? Right it's And by the way, 581 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: if things break for us on draft day and all 582 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: of a sudden, like we have a path to you know, 583 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: justin fields or whatever, we're gonna take him and we 584 00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: don't want any nonsense out of you if it goes 585 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 1: that way, or if we sam Donald that that's what 586 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: we have to do. We're thinking about the franchise beyond 587 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: just this season. Um. And you know, it's the same 588 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: thing as Aaron Rodgers reacting like, wait, who did you 589 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 1: take I'm still playing? You know, it could be that 590 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 1: for Roethlisberger. And maybe they were preemptively or or two 591 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 1: was trying to preemptively get in the way of that. 592 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: But I really do think as long as you get Roethlisberg. 593 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: But I don't think that's a small matter either. I 594 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 1: do think Roethlisberger, um like spacing the defense, I don't 595 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: think he and I don't think he is Tom Brady 596 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 1: in the quick read of the defense when the ball 597 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: hits his hands or at the line of scrimmage pre snap. 598 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 1: I don't think Roethlisberger has that same Uh, and who does? 599 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 1: I guess that's probably Brady and Peyton Manning gets above 600 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 1: every other quarterback in the history of people. Is to 601 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: divine what's what's available to him pre sound. But so 602 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 1: I get Roethlisberger doesn't want to turn his back to 603 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: the defense to run play action. But um, you know, 604 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,160 Speaker 1: clearly the results are in in the short term. That 605 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,640 Speaker 1: is what's effective in pro football, or has been for 606 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: the last two years, So as long as he'll started 607 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: involving some of that. I don't specifically love him running 608 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 1: RPL because am I crazy or did he have a 609 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 1: hard time gripping the ball or something when he runs RPL. 610 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: And it's also not the step that when you know 611 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 1: the quarterback is going to keep it of the time 612 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,600 Speaker 1: uh as well, But I mean I don't know that 613 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 1: he's going to do that. But I have no concerns 614 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: in broad strokes. I am concerned about that specific relationship 615 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: with Canada and what Canada wants to do. Yeah, what 616 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: we gotta let you go here, Dave. We appreciate all 617 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,120 Speaker 1: your input, A lot of good stuff. There a lot 618 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: of stuff that we've been saying on the show as well. 619 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:40,399 Speaker 1: But our guest has been Dave Damask. Check him out 620 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 1: on NFL dot com. You can go uh uh see here. 621 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,800 Speaker 1: No no, no, no, no, not a not at about 622 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 1: I talked about the NFL All Sports now on Extra 623 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,919 Speaker 1: Points with cousin Stalk and there you go. Three Uh 624 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 1: we're you know, and and minus three is especially appealing 625 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: to to your listener because we focus only on Pittsburgh, Philly, UM, 626 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:07,800 Speaker 1: and New York, New Jersey. That's our that's our focus 627 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:10,880 Speaker 1: is on all those teams that play in those divisions 628 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:13,799 Speaker 1: in those states. So UM, I think your audience will 629 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: like that one. Yeah, check that one out. We appreciate 630 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 1: you stopping by those DAVE always a pleasure, and uh, 631 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna take a break. He is Matt Williamson. I'm 632 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 1: Dale Lally. We want to thank Jacob Breck for keeping 633 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:24,960 Speaker 1: us on the air, and we want to thank you 634 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 1: for listening to this edition of the Drive on Steelers 635 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: Nation Radio.