1
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,640
Speaker 1: Your Tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven

2
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:12,600
Speaker 1: home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

3
00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,839
Speaker 2: Good afternoon, Steelers Nation, and Happy Friday. It's the Drive

4
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,760
Speaker 2: on the Steelers Audio Network. West Shooler and Matt Williamson

5
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,320
Speaker 2: with you here as we get ready for Steelers and Seahawks.

6
00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,200
Speaker 2: It's the home opener Sunday, one o'clock on the North

7
00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:45,839
Speaker 2: Shore at Akershuer Stadium.

8
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:47,560
Speaker 3: Matt, how we doing, how we feeling?

9
00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,559
Speaker 4: Real good, beautiful day out there. I'm ready for game day.

10
00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,640
Speaker 4: I saw a good one last night. Not much more

11
00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,640
Speaker 4: to add now, ro Man. I think that's in the

12
00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,000
Speaker 4: heart of the season. We are certainly getting into it.

13
00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,800
Speaker 4: It's gonna be I think, another beautiful weekend here in

14
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,120
Speaker 4: Pittsburgh where we've had great weather already this week. If

15
00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,240
Speaker 4: you're seems like, yeah, some of the sixty seven ish

16
00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,920
Speaker 4: thousand that's going to be in attendance on Sunday, I

17
00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,560
Speaker 4: think you're in for a fun afternoon out there in

18
00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,360
Speaker 4: the elements or the lack thereof. And it'll be a

19
00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,800
Speaker 4: big week across the NFL here in Week two, another

20
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:21,679
Speaker 4: big slate of games that we'll get to on the

21
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,920
Speaker 4: show today we'll talk to Missy Matthews about, you know,

22
00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,679
Speaker 4: about fifteen twenty minutes from now, get her thoughts as

23
00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,360
Speaker 4: she'll be patrolling the sidelines. But matt I just kind

24
00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,520
Speaker 4: of wanted to start big picture with you here before

25
00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,720
Speaker 4: we get going, or as we get going, maybe I

26
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,440
Speaker 4: should say, and how do the Steelers get this run

27
00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:39,000
Speaker 4: game going?

28
00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,200
Speaker 2: I know that's a Listen, there's a lot of layers

29
00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,280
Speaker 2: to this, right if they could get that run game going,

30
00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,200
Speaker 2: particularly right out of the shoot, what that would mean

31
00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,280
Speaker 2: for Aaron Rodgers in the past game, what it would

32
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,720
Speaker 2: mean against the Seattle defense that has a stout front

33
00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,920
Speaker 2: but it's pretty banged up on the back end. Now

34
00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,360
Speaker 2: we'll get to that exact report here as well today,

35
00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,520
Speaker 2: but just thirty thousand foot view, how do we get

36
00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,240
Speaker 2: this run game going? Because that feels like a really

37
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:04,600
Speaker 2: big element of Sunday's coming.

38
00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,560
Speaker 4: It feels like a real crucial part for the rest

39
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:09,480
Speaker 4: of the year. I mean, it's early to get ahead yourself.

40
00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:10,839
Speaker 4: You know, if you don't get a run game going,

41
00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,440
Speaker 4: this is gonna be an uphill climb. But it's gonna

42
00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,080
Speaker 4: be an uphill climb if you don't get a running

43
00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:19,280
Speaker 4: game going. And I have some answers for how can

44
00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,320
Speaker 4: they stop the run better, how can they get more sacks?

45
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,640
Speaker 4: How can their protection improve? I don't have great answers

46
00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,440
Speaker 4: for this though. I mean, I think they kind of

47
00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,639
Speaker 4: are what they are, and that they're a zone outside

48
00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:35,000
Speaker 4: running team. Then I absolutely think there's truth. I'm not

49
00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,280
Speaker 4: saying that there's no hope for I mean, oh, forget

50
00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,720
Speaker 4: about it, this season over, But I mean I think

51
00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:47,359
Speaker 4: that there is truth to running. Games don't mature overnight.

52
00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,240
Speaker 4: I mean the physicality of it all, and it's gonna

53
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,320
Speaker 4: take some time. You gotta they say pound the rock

54
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,160
Speaker 4: for a reason. You gotta keep swinging that swell sledgehammer

55
00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:02,000
Speaker 4: before the rock breaks. But I don't see like major changes,

56
00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,760
Speaker 4: Like I'm not gonna say, make Caleb Johnson the future

57
00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,000
Speaker 4: bash or I mean, I'd like to see more Darnell

58
00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,240
Speaker 4: Washington snaps. I mean, I think that maybe they regret

59
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,600
Speaker 4: that in terms of helping Broderick in protection as well

60
00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,280
Speaker 4: as just getting him out there secure in the edge

61
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,720
Speaker 4: on the outside zone, just because he's such a force.

62
00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,600
Speaker 4: But other than that, I think it's just going to

63
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,920
Speaker 4: be a patience thing. I think it's going to be

64
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,079
Speaker 4: Rogers getting you in the right place pre snap, which

65
00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,960
Speaker 4: I am. That's the part I'm confident about, you know.

66
00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:33,720
Speaker 4: I think he'll do.

67
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,200
Speaker 3: That, you know, I think everybody should be confident about that.

68
00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:36,960
Speaker 4: Yeah.

69
00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,800
Speaker 2: I to me, there's a kind of a weird chicken

70
00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,120
Speaker 2: or egg thing going on, right, Like what came first

71
00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,600
Speaker 2: the chicken of the egg? Do you need to continue

72
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,600
Speaker 2: to have success in the past game to set up

73
00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,160
Speaker 2: the run or do you need to establish the run

74
00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,120
Speaker 2: so that you can continue to have success in the

75
00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,840
Speaker 2: past game, right, Because I think we're all very encouraged

76
00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,200
Speaker 2: from what we saw by Aaron Rodgers this past Sunday.

77
00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,000
Speaker 2: But I also think we don't want him to have

78
00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:02,840
Speaker 2: to do that sixteen more times.

79
00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:07,760
Speaker 4: Yeah, And I also think that I have more I

80
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,360
Speaker 4: hope it's not the latter. I hope that you need

81
00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,760
Speaker 4: the run game in order to have a successful pass game,

82
00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,359
Speaker 4: you know, because I'm more confident in Rogers and his

83
00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,680
Speaker 4: pass catchers and his protection than I am who they're

84
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,680
Speaker 4: handing it to and who's blocking, and the consistency of

85
00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,359
Speaker 4: the run game. I keep coming back to the yards

86
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,559
Speaker 4: per carry. I mean, I gotta be over four at least,

87
00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,400
Speaker 4: at least I know we were shooting for over four

88
00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,440
Speaker 4: to one all off season. I want it like four

89
00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,840
Speaker 4: three four four, But I mean after he'd last week

90
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,000
Speaker 4: get them at least around four, you know, I mean,

91
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,000
Speaker 4: come on, stay ahead, the change a little bit.

92
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,080
Speaker 2: And it could be a growing process. Let's see it be.

93
00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,080
Speaker 2: It doesn't have to be four point going to happen over.

94
00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,040
Speaker 2: It's not going to happen overnight. But you've got it,

95
00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:49,960
Speaker 2: and I know you have done a good job of

96
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,120
Speaker 2: laying this out too. Like progress is not always linear,

97
00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,400
Speaker 2: of course. I think you saw that a little bit

98
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,720
Speaker 2: with the Washington commanders last time, talking about that you

99
00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,960
Speaker 2: can take five steps. You can take five steps four

100
00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,400
Speaker 2: then two steps back. Doesn't mean you still haven't.

101
00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,480
Speaker 4: Improved, yes, but the ship's still going right.

102
00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,080
Speaker 2: Progression is not always linearar You're not always climbing. Sometimes

103
00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,200
Speaker 2: you are gonna gonna have step backs or maybe take

104
00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,479
Speaker 2: a little step back. I know that progression is not

105
00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,440
Speaker 2: going to be linear in the run game, but you

106
00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,000
Speaker 2: need it's time to see some of the steps forward

107
00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:19,040
Speaker 2: one thousand percent.

108
00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,040
Speaker 4: And Jets are a good front. Seattle is a good front.

109
00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:23,800
Speaker 4: They are You're gonna face a lot of good fronts.

110
00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,280
Speaker 4: I mean that's you're in the NFL. I mean, this

111
00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,279
Speaker 4: is not gonna be easy. So one note then, I

112
00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,080
Speaker 4: don't have a real strong take on it. But I

113
00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,320
Speaker 4: think they're happy with their ballcarriers. And I say this

114
00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:40,640
Speaker 4: because money talks, resources talk. All three of those guys,

115
00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,800
Speaker 4: one you used a third round pick on one, you

116
00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,280
Speaker 4: went out and got gain Well and Tomlin mentioned him

117
00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,719
Speaker 4: by name after the press conference or after the game

118
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,000
Speaker 4: in week one. And the other guy you just extended.

119
00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,720
Speaker 4: So all those dudes you just put resources into. Now

120
00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,240
Speaker 4: they could be like, wish I didn't use a third

121
00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,160
Speaker 4: round pick on Caleb Johnson. I mean there's you know,

122
00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,320
Speaker 4: buyer's remortional angels, Why we give why do we get

123
00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,520
Speaker 4: WARRN extension? What were we thinking? But in the very

124
00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,800
Speaker 4: recent memory, they just put stuff into these three. Now

125
00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,359
Speaker 4: I'm not saying they're Franco and lev Bell combined. I

126
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,040
Speaker 4: don't think it's a great backfield, but I think the

127
00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,400
Speaker 4: ball carriers are good enough.

128
00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,880
Speaker 3: I think they're certainly better than what they showed Sunday

129
00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:19,719
Speaker 3: at MetLife Stadium.

130
00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,120
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's a good way of putting it.

131
00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,880
Speaker 2: And and and that to me needs to I just

132
00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,600
Speaker 2: what the exact numbers look like I just I want

133
00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,080
Speaker 2: us to come in here on Monday to do a

134
00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,200
Speaker 2: show and feel better about the run game. I don't

135
00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,240
Speaker 2: know if I exactly have the parameters for that right now.

136
00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,240
Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't know what that number is or feeling.

137
00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,560
Speaker 4: It's more of a feeling, it's.

138
00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,000
Speaker 2: It's it's more of a feel like I'll know it

139
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,000
Speaker 2: when I see it type thing. And I think that

140
00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,040
Speaker 2: that's I think that's a reasonable starting point to improve

141
00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,560
Speaker 2: here in week number two in the run game. And

142
00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,200
Speaker 2: another part of that, Matt, is how much play action

143
00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,280
Speaker 2: we saw Sunday against the Jets. How successful that play

144
00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,960
Speaker 2: action was Sunday against the Jets. I want that to

145
00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,880
Speaker 2: continue a a a run game that defenses. I'm not

146
00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,880
Speaker 2: even saying the defense has to fear the run game.

147
00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:05,720
Speaker 2: Just a run game that they.

148
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,960
Speaker 4: Have to respect, respect and honor.

149
00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,440
Speaker 3: Goes a long way in that regard to it.

150
00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,320
Speaker 4: It does it does? I mean, I half believe them.

151
00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,720
Speaker 4: There's a lot of studies out there that even if

152
00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,720
Speaker 4: you don't run the ball, great, you still play action

153
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:23,640
Speaker 4: is still highly effective. And I'll concede, yes, using it

154
00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,800
Speaker 4: is helpful no matter what. And the numbers basically say

155
00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,320
Speaker 4: the yards for play play action across the league are

156
00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,840
Speaker 4: better than without. Okay, I'm on board with that, but

157
00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,119
Speaker 4: there's some human nature too. I mean, if you're looking

158
00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,200
Speaker 4: in there's Derrick Henry or Jerome when he's just dashing you,

159
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,720
Speaker 4: you're gonna step up a little bit as a linebacker.

160
00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,400
Speaker 4: You're just gonna I can't one hundred percent believe that,

161
00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,160
Speaker 4: oh garbage running game play action is gonna tear people up.

162
00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:50,840
Speaker 4: I'm not on board with that, even though I am

163
00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:51,600
Speaker 4: a numbers.

164
00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,760
Speaker 2: Guy, particularly in the second half, when you're a little

165
00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,560
Speaker 2: bit more winded, you're not quite sharp mentally, you're not.

166
00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,560
Speaker 4: Tackling this back all day long, and it's getting old, right.

167
00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,200
Speaker 2: One hundred per and so that that to me is

168
00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,560
Speaker 2: kind of again that whole ecosystem.

169
00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,040
Speaker 3: That works together that we talked about this with Labs

170
00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:08,800
Speaker 3: a little bit yesterday.

171
00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:08,960
Speaker 4: Like it.

172
00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,280
Speaker 2: It is not going to be a finished product anywhere close.

173
00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,360
Speaker 2: We might even be getting into October and closer to

174
00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,200
Speaker 2: Halloween before we start to feel that it's where it

175
00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,080
Speaker 2: needs to be. But I want to see it take

176
00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,200
Speaker 2: a noticeable step forward. I want to see some progression

177
00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,120
Speaker 2: this week, a baby.

178
00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,120
Speaker 4: Step forward this week. I think would make me happy.

179
00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,080
Speaker 2: Would make me happy, because, as you mentioned too, this

180
00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,040
Speaker 2: is a this is not a schlub defense that they're

181
00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:32,600
Speaker 2: going up again.

182
00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:33,600
Speaker 4: Yeah they can.

183
00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,280
Speaker 2: If they can have success in the run game against Seattle,

184
00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,680
Speaker 2: that I think would bode well for how we feel

185
00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:40,760
Speaker 2: about their success in the run game going forward.

186
00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,679
Speaker 4: And I don't need to tell our listeners this. I mean,

187
00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,040
Speaker 4: there's obviously way more benefits than just it helps play action.

188
00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,160
Speaker 4: I mean obviously, I mean I keep coming back to

189
00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,680
Speaker 4: Seattle having twenty two minutes of time possession, you know,

190
00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,280
Speaker 4: like you can keep those guys off field. It's not

191
00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,920
Speaker 4: that their offense is super dangerous, but they're they are

192
00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,360
Speaker 4: not a inning eating offense by any stretch. They have

193
00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,520
Speaker 4: their own issues. They couldn't really run the ball either.

194
00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,040
Speaker 4: If you're just the maybe I'd even put it this,

195
00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,760
Speaker 4: you know, like if they just were the better in

196
00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,800
Speaker 4: this case, because I thought the opposite last week. If

197
00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,560
Speaker 4: they're just the better running team in this game, I'll

198
00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,240
Speaker 4: take that as a team win because that means on

199
00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:19,439
Speaker 4: defense was a little better too.

200
00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:21,600
Speaker 2: I think that is another one of those kind of

201
00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,120
Speaker 2: what exactly that looks like with the numbers look like.

202
00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,120
Speaker 4: I'm not sure for interpretation. Yeah, yeah, I don't want

203
00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,840
Speaker 4: to average two point something yards for Carrie anymore.

204
00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,720
Speaker 2: But you know, if at four o'clock on Sunday we're

205
00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,079
Speaker 2: saying the Steelers ran the ball more successfully than Seattle,

206
00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,400
Speaker 2: did I really like our chances to be saying that

207
00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:37,680
Speaker 2: the Steelers are two to zero as well.

208
00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,480
Speaker 4: Yes, all that stuff being said, some of our goals

209
00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,760
Speaker 4: for the year starting faster, first quarter differential, sack differential.

210
00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:49,880
Speaker 4: The one I'm most worried about is getting the running

211
00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:54,080
Speaker 4: game back up, you know, because I think we were

212
00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,400
Speaker 4: shooting for four to two, four to three, whatever, you know,

213
00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,480
Speaker 4: get to twentieth in yards for Carrie. They're not going

214
00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,960
Speaker 4: to have a quarterback that runs for ever a.

215
00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:04,600
Speaker 3: Big game justin fields things.

216
00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,880
Speaker 4: No, you lose that aspect of it. And I just

217
00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,760
Speaker 4: said the ball carriers are fine, but they're not Pro bowlers,

218
00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,360
Speaker 4: you know. And I don't know that any of them

219
00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,400
Speaker 4: are going to get you the eighty yarders to boost

220
00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,439
Speaker 4: that up. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it's

221
00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,120
Speaker 4: gonna take time. I mean to me, that's of all

222
00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:22,600
Speaker 4: the goals that we set in the offseason and discussed

223
00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,800
Speaker 4: over and over that's the one I'm least confident they hit.

224
00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,560
Speaker 3: If you were yes, no doubt, you know, without a question.

225
00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:32,960
Speaker 2: And I I think that that would be pretty unanimous

226
00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:34,560
Speaker 2: across the board if we were to pull people in

227
00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:36,719
Speaker 2: that regardless. Yeah, I know, the sack numbers weren't there

228
00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,720
Speaker 2: for the Steelers last week. That's also probably, other than

229
00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:41,920
Speaker 2: Lamar Jackson, the most mobile quarterback they're going to see

230
00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:42,560
Speaker 2: the rest of the year.

231
00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,200
Speaker 4: And I also did some more homework on that too.

232
00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,600
Speaker 4: Steelers blitzed more than you thought in that game, and

233
00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,000
Speaker 4: they brought six. That's the thing they've been doing last

234
00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,240
Speaker 4: year too, is when they blitzed, they don't bring five

235
00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,800
Speaker 4: nearly as much as most defenses. When they blitz, they

236
00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,840
Speaker 4: blitz big. But I also think they blitzed for different

237
00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:03,680
Speaker 4: reasons too, and they were probably regret it because fields

238
00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,280
Speaker 4: made him pay. But I think they were pretty focused

239
00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,280
Speaker 4: on keeping him in the pocket and not scrambling. It's

240
00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,679
Speaker 4: different ways to like mush rush type, yeah, I mean,

241
00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,880
Speaker 4: and still just to operate because if you look at

242
00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,719
Speaker 4: all of his rushing yards, almost all of them are

243
00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,360
Speaker 4: off designed runs. They're not scrambles, you know, And he

244
00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,280
Speaker 4: was not beating people from the pocket when he was

245
00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,800
Speaker 4: here or with the Bears, and to his credit, he

246
00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:29,679
Speaker 4: got better at it and had a good game at

247
00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,440
Speaker 4: his best game, And I think they wanted to make

248
00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,400
Speaker 4: him do quarterback stuff. So I'm not saying they could

249
00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,360
Speaker 4: have had more sacks, but I think if they rush differently,

250
00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,920
Speaker 4: especially a guy like darn Old, who's a good athlete

251
00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,520
Speaker 4: but nothing like that, you probably put the quarterback on

252
00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,360
Speaker 4: the ground more. Plus I thought Fields did a really

253
00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,960
Speaker 4: good job of alluding when they did get near him.

254
00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,000
Speaker 4: He was really tough to get on the ground, really

255
00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:51,480
Speaker 4: tough to get on.

256
00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,120
Speaker 2: I know we talked about this on Monday, but there

257
00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,040
Speaker 2: was a couple of times that I felt TJ Alex

258
00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,480
Speaker 2: Patrick queen and they read what he was doing part

259
00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,079
Speaker 2: they could not have read and broken on the play better.

260
00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:03,040
Speaker 3: But he just beat him.

261
00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:03,880
Speaker 4: But he was just the better.

262
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,439
Speaker 2: He's just the better. He's just he's just so shifty,

263
00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,600
Speaker 2: so quick. Yeah, you give him an inch, he's going

264
00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,680
Speaker 2: to take a mile in the run game there. So yeah,

265
00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:14,760
Speaker 2: they will not have that threat with Sam Darnold this week.

266
00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,960
Speaker 4: That is that is good athlete. He was a high pick.

267
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,480
Speaker 2: I mean, he's not going to be the statue of

268
00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:19,920
Speaker 2: liberty back there in the pocket.

269
00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,080
Speaker 4: But he moves better than Rogers or Flacco at their ages.

270
00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,560
Speaker 4: But I mean, he's nothing like these runners like that.

271
00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,240
Speaker 4: And you also get her big back most likely, who's

272
00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:29,960
Speaker 4: a really good pass rusher, very.

273
00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,080
Speaker 3: Good, very good.

274
00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,000
Speaker 2: Matt taking a look, because obviously, with the time change difference,

275
00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:40,080
Speaker 2: we did not get the Seattle Seahawks ye injury report

276
00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,200
Speaker 2: until we were way off, when we were way off,

277
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,280
Speaker 2: because those usually typically come out around four or five,

278
00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,760
Speaker 2: and if you're going West Coast time four or five,

279
00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,360
Speaker 2: that's seven or eight our time. Obviously if you're if

280
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,400
Speaker 2: you're doing the map there. Not good for the Seattle

281
00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:54,520
Speaker 2: Seahawks to say, I don't.

282
00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:55,600
Speaker 4: Think it is secondary.

283
00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,880
Speaker 2: They could be without three of their top six defensive backs.

284
00:12:59,200 --> 00:12:59,880
Speaker 4: Let's talk about that.

285
00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:06,559
Speaker 2: Devin Witherspoon did not participate in practice Thursday or Wednesday.

286
00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,960
Speaker 2: Both did not practice Wednesday or thirty. Julian Love, let's start.

287
00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,320
Speaker 4: Let's just go one by one real quick. Witherspoon's a really,

288
00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,280
Speaker 4: really good player. He was like the fifth or sixth

289
00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,240
Speaker 4: pick in the draft despite being kind of an undersized

290
00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,480
Speaker 4: corner because he is nasty and he runs well when

291
00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:26,760
Speaker 4: he throws his body around, and these teams, including the Steelers,

292
00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,160
Speaker 4: that are valuing slot corners, whether it's a Brian Branch

293
00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,560
Speaker 4: or a dejene or Ramsey, he's right in that mold

294
00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,280
Speaker 4: and really really good at it. And when they're in

295
00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:42,040
Speaker 4: two corners, he's an outside guy with Rike Wolan, who

296
00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,520
Speaker 4: they're not saying anything good about Rereke Woland. But if

297
00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,400
Speaker 4: Wollan Wolland had tough game in week one, the other

298
00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,600
Speaker 4: two corners had really nice games, job especially, but Wolan

299
00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,440
Speaker 4: had a really tough game in Week one, blew some

300
00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,160
Speaker 4: assignments from what I understand, and I think the head

301
00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,480
Speaker 4: coach basically said, we're not real thrilled with this, but

302
00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,120
Speaker 4: if there's corner injuries, doesn't make your thrilled or not.

303
00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,720
Speaker 4: He'sa be out there right. Yeah, that is a big

304
00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,600
Speaker 4: ripple effect. He's definitely one of their best players.

305
00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:12,199
Speaker 2: Witherspoon did not practice Wednesday, did not practice Thursday. Witherspoon

306
00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,360
Speaker 2: and not much better for their safeties. Julian Love. He

307
00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,960
Speaker 2: was limited on Wednesday and then did not practice on Thursdays,

308
00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,920
Speaker 2: a terrible which is always a terrible sign.

309
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,240
Speaker 4: And it brings it up all the times like if

310
00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,720
Speaker 4: you go backwards Wednesday to Thursday or Thursday to Friday,

311
00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,440
Speaker 4: not good percentage is a really bad you play not good.

312
00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,400
Speaker 2: And then Nick even worry h has been listed as

313
00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,440
Speaker 2: out week to week and is still not practiced.

314
00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:38,800
Speaker 3: Yet this week.

315
00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,400
Speaker 4: I never thought he really hadn't He was.

316
00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:41,800
Speaker 3: The one that it felt like he was.

317
00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:42,160
Speaker 4: He was.

318
00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,360
Speaker 2: They haven't officially ruled him out, but that he didn't

319
00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,440
Speaker 2: have much of a chance, like you said so against touch.

320
00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,640
Speaker 4: On those two real quick. Love's just a really good

321
00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,280
Speaker 4: all around safety, Like he's a starter all day long,

322
00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,920
Speaker 4: like an Elliott level safety. Like you're really happy with him.

323
00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:59,680
Speaker 4: Every one of the team thinks he's a good player.

324
00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,160
Speaker 4: He's not a star, he's not going to Canton, but

325
00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:03,680
Speaker 4: he doesn't have discernible weakness.

326
00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,080
Speaker 3: He's on an NFL field, he's a starter.

327
00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,520
Speaker 4: On just about most teams, you know what I mean.

328
00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,200
Speaker 4: And men Wari is really interesting to me because first

329
00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,280
Speaker 4: of all, he's two and twenty pounds and it's an

330
00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,360
Speaker 4: obscene tester at the at the combine. I mean, he's

331
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,000
Speaker 4: a rare size speed freak that we can't forget that

332
00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,440
Speaker 4: Their head coach was defensive coordinator Baltimore. They see Kyle

333
00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,960
Speaker 4: Hamilton stuff in him. They traded up to get early

334
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,480
Speaker 4: in the second round. They had to go o line

335
00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,640
Speaker 4: in their first round because it was such a disaster,

336
00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,800
Speaker 4: and then the coach got, I really want that shiny

337
00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:38,720
Speaker 4: little object, you know? Can we trade up in the

338
00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:39,240
Speaker 4: second round?

339
00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:41,200
Speaker 3: Like, all right, go get the first round picks for

340
00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:42,600
Speaker 3: the team, second for me.

341
00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,120
Speaker 4: Yeah, I need one of those toys, like a Kyle

342
00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,000
Speaker 4: Hamilton type. Can he be it? Maybe? You know, But

343
00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,160
Speaker 4: he's a rookie though too. He hasn't played it.

344
00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,320
Speaker 2: And doesn't sound like he's going to make his debut

345
00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,240
Speaker 2: this Sunday in Pittsburgh. So that's the latest on the

346
00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,800
Speaker 2: Seattle Seahawks. Some significant apps is put.

347
00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,760
Speaker 4: They potentially play more eleven so that they have to

348
00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:05,880
Speaker 4: keep defensive backs on the field a high percentage.

349
00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:06,880
Speaker 3: It's an interesting strategy.

350
00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,240
Speaker 4: Does Reaman Wilson get more run? Especially if you're not

351
00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:09,760
Speaker 4: running the ball?

352
00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:11,800
Speaker 3: Well, you know what I mean, that's where it starts.

353
00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,280
Speaker 4: Yeah, if you run the ball, well, keep run the ball.

354
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:15,920
Speaker 2: If you run the ball, well, keep running the ball,

355
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,760
Speaker 2: and then you know, maybe hit him with some of

356
00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,280
Speaker 2: that stuff. Once you think you got them right where

357
00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,600
Speaker 2: you want them right, right, but if you're not running

358
00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:23,880
Speaker 2: the ball, well, if you've got.

359
00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,120
Speaker 4: Two point two seven's deep and good real good.

360
00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,200
Speaker 2: Well, we'll talk about that maybe at the bottom of

361
00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,480
Speaker 2: this hour when we start to get into some of

362
00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,360
Speaker 2: our matchup stuff. If you're if you're at halftime and

363
00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,360
Speaker 2: you're running for two point two yards a clip like

364
00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,120
Speaker 2: you were through thirty minutes, it met life.

365
00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:38,960
Speaker 4: Yeah, I might get roaming Wilson out.

366
00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:44,240
Speaker 2: There there wide and right right, yeah, go go go

367
00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,440
Speaker 2: be the offensive coordinator at the lone of scrimmage.

368
00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,880
Speaker 4: And then we saw Rogers fine matchups to his advantage,

369
00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,040
Speaker 4: and I thought, when not knowing injury reports stuff like

370
00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,560
Speaker 4: as soon as that game ended, I'm like, they don't

371
00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,920
Speaker 4: have as many guys to pick on. They don't have sauce,

372
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,280
Speaker 4: but there's not many guys to pick on. Well, now

373
00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,320
Speaker 4: they might be guys pick on, right, all right, Right.

374
00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:04,800
Speaker 3: It'll be very interesting to see how that all plays out.

375
00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:06,720
Speaker 4: It's safety. Maybe that's a John you thing.

376
00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,400
Speaker 3: Maybe oh, now you're speaking my language.

377
00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,440
Speaker 2: We'll talk about all this and more when we return

378
00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,240
Speaker 2: on the other side with our friend Missy Matthews, Steelers

379
00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,919
Speaker 2: sideline reporter. We'll get her thoughts on Steelers Seahawks. The

380
00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,320
Speaker 2: home opener Sunday, one o'clock at Akroscher Stadium. It's the

381
00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,359
Speaker 2: Drive West Shouler Matt Williamson on Steelers Nation Radio on

382
00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:38,360
Speaker 2: the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.

383
00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,520
Speaker 1: About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of

384
00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,000
Speaker 1: the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

385
00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,639
Speaker 2: It's a Friday here on the Drive, and that means

386
00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,840
Speaker 2: a couple things. First and foremost, our good friend, the

387
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,199
Speaker 2: Queen of the Steelers sideline, Missy Matthews, going to join

388
00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,080
Speaker 2: us on the phone lines here as we talk a

389
00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,120
Speaker 2: little Steelers and Seahawks.

390
00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:15,280
Speaker 3: What's up, Missy? How we doing?

391
00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:17,400
Speaker 5: It's great?

392
00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,080
Speaker 4: How are you? Couldn't be better?

393
00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:19,879
Speaker 3: Couldn't be better?

394
00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,560
Speaker 2: In fact, Missy, I am better now than I anticipate

395
00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,800
Speaker 2: I will be tomorrow evening when the backyard brawl concludes.

396
00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,880
Speaker 3: But I'm sure you'll give me plenty of grief, rightfully,

397
00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:31,520
Speaker 3: So about that on Sunday.

398
00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:33,960
Speaker 5: I'm sure we'll talk about it a lot.

399
00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,920
Speaker 3: Well, miss Missy. Let's jump into the.

400
00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,680
Speaker 2: Sunday game on the radar here for everybody in the

401
00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,679
Speaker 2: Steel City, of course. The opener, Steelers and Seattle one

402
00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:51,840
Speaker 2: o'clock at Akroscher stadium has sounded like good news for

403
00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,040
Speaker 2: Nick Herbig and his availability, maybe not so great for

404
00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,320
Speaker 2: Joey Porter Junior and his status.

405
00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,280
Speaker 3: What do you expect for those two on Sunday?

406
00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,760
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean two days of not practicing for Joey

407
00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,480
Speaker 5: on Wednesday and Thursday, so waiting to see, you know,

408
00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,600
Speaker 5: the injury designation. It's usually the status report will come

409
00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,680
Speaker 5: out a little bit later because you're dealing with Seattle,

410
00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:17,280
Speaker 5: different time zone, which just stinks. You know, it's sound

411
00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,800
Speaker 5: only Coach Homlin was a little bit optimistic earlier in

412
00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:23,399
Speaker 5: the week, but you know, the hamstring injury, which is

413
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,800
Speaker 5: what Nick was dealing with. He got hurt in that

414
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,760
Speaker 5: home preseason game and he's just getting back this week.

415
00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,040
Speaker 5: So hopefully it doesn't take as long for Joey, but

416
00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,399
Speaker 5: I don't anticipate him being out there this week.

417
00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,879
Speaker 4: So Missy always like to pick your brain on Fridays

418
00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,320
Speaker 4: about how the sidelines were and during the game and

419
00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:45,600
Speaker 4: things like that. Of the previous one and there's only

420
00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:49,639
Speaker 4: been one, but there's a lot of new faces and

421
00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,200
Speaker 4: prominent names on this team that weren't on the team

422
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,080
Speaker 4: in twenty twenty four. Rogers Metcalf Ramsey sleigh on and on.

423
00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,240
Speaker 4: Could you feel a real different vibe on Sunday?

424
00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:05,280
Speaker 5: I mean it is crazy, like there's twelve new quote unquote,

425
00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,760
Speaker 5: you know, not rookies, so we'll say like veteran players

426
00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,080
Speaker 5: who never played in the Steelers' uniform until that game,

427
00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,080
Speaker 5: and then for rookies got a chance to play in

428
00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,400
Speaker 5: a regular season game. So that's a lot of new.

429
00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,919
Speaker 5: I definitely think Aaron Rodgers what you have seen at

430
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,639
Speaker 5: training camp throughout the preseason, just that leader, how he

431
00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,720
Speaker 5: handles himself, how he composes an offense when things aren't

432
00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:33,040
Speaker 5: going well. That translates to the game even more so,

433
00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,359
Speaker 5: even just you know, the conversations you see him having

434
00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,080
Speaker 5: with the surface or without one after a drive with

435
00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,680
Speaker 5: Arthur Smith, you know, that was really cool to see

436
00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,919
Speaker 5: just how much they keep going back and forth and

437
00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,399
Speaker 5: looking at things and tweaking things. You know, Aaron talks

438
00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,159
Speaker 5: every position group on the offense. He even talks to

439
00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,640
Speaker 5: the defensive guys, you know when he's he's watching them

440
00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:58,240
Speaker 5: play and whatnot. And I think obviously Jalen Ramsey on

441
00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,119
Speaker 5: the field set the tone, but also off the field,

442
00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,040
Speaker 5: especially when you know Tara Austin the defensive coordinator at

443
00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,160
Speaker 5: one point gathered the entire defense and kind of had

444
00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,639
Speaker 5: them sit where the D line guys were and stand

445
00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,560
Speaker 5: around and kind of tuned them out a little bit

446
00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,080
Speaker 5: rightfully so, and then you know, Ramsey just kind of

447
00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,119
Speaker 5: continued that throughout the rest of that second half of

448
00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,040
Speaker 5: just rallying the troops and helping people out. So it

449
00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,240
Speaker 5: was definitely cool to see, as you said, like the

450
00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,760
Speaker 5: new faces and how they operate on a game day

451
00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,359
Speaker 5: and excited to see what it looks like, especially at home.

452
00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,560
Speaker 5: You know that crowd is going to be insane, the

453
00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,439
Speaker 5: weather is going to be literally perfect, and then oh,

454
00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,199
Speaker 5: of course, by the way, some of those guys on

455
00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:41,879
Speaker 5: defense will get to experience running gate for the first time.

456
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,720
Speaker 4: So I've never spoken one word to Aaron Rodgers. He

457
00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,639
Speaker 4: probably has no clue who I am, But I, like

458
00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:53,080
Speaker 4: everyone at camp at mini camp, every step of the way,

459
00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,520
Speaker 4: you're glued to the guy. You just watch them like

460
00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,439
Speaker 4: get like no other player on the Steelers. And my

461
00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:03,880
Speaker 4: observations then in the downtime at practice, between periods, everything

462
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:11,000
Speaker 4: he seems to do is really well thought out, deliberate, engaged,

463
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,119
Speaker 4: whether he's talking to a coach or coaching up a

464
00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,080
Speaker 4: younger player. I assume that's how he was on game

465
00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:17,720
Speaker 4: day as well.

466
00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,840
Speaker 5: Oh for sure. I mean even you know, he rode

467
00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,600
Speaker 5: the first team buses. Three of the buses go first

468
00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,720
Speaker 5: and then the second three follow up as usually the

469
00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,960
Speaker 5: buses coach tomlins On, and he was on the first

470
00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,160
Speaker 5: wave of buses, you know, had his headphones in, was listening.

471
00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,159
Speaker 5: And then it was like the second he spotted one

472
00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,280
Speaker 5: of the locker room attendants for the visiting team's locker room,

473
00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,840
Speaker 5: somebody that I guess used to work for the Jets,

474
00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,080
Speaker 5: just like literally dropped his stuff, gave him a hug,

475
00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,120
Speaker 5: said hello. Then he quickly went back inside the locker room.

476
00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,360
Speaker 5: And then it was interesting, you know, when he came

477
00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,200
Speaker 5: back out, he kind of sometimes it's just him, he'll

478
00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,040
Speaker 5: walk around a little bit. But then he saw that

479
00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,040
Speaker 5: locker room attendant again and he said after the game,

480
00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:02,879
Speaker 5: he's like, hey, he used to be with the Jets.

481
00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:04,600
Speaker 5: This is a guy used to warm up with. And

482
00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,520
Speaker 5: he told me, hey, I'm not with the Jets anymore,

483
00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,359
Speaker 5: but I'm helping out on the visitor side today. He goes, well, great,

484
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:14,120
Speaker 5: then let's let's catch, you know, let's throw, and he said,

485
00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,240
Speaker 5: it was just good to see him. That felt normal.

486
00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,280
Speaker 5: You're obviously back in a place that you know, well.

487
00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,040
Speaker 5: He spent two seasons there, whether he was on the

488
00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,080
Speaker 5: field or not, for all of it in the building,

489
00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,960
Speaker 5: oh for sure. And you know, especially when he was

490
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,680
Speaker 5: out there for what I call the pre pre warm ups,

491
00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:33,600
Speaker 5: it's like, you can go out if you want to,

492
00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,240
Speaker 5: you don't have to. He always does go out there,

493
00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,000
Speaker 5: and just watching him from up in the press box

494
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,680
Speaker 5: at that point, you just see how many people want

495
00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,359
Speaker 5: to go over to say hi to him. And again

496
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,720
Speaker 5: it goes back to, you know, the bad rep that

497
00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,399
Speaker 5: the people have tried to make him out to be,

498
00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,720
Speaker 5: this bag reputation. And I can't tell you how many

499
00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,840
Speaker 5: people wanted to do their best to be like just

500
00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:58,639
Speaker 5: to shake his hand or say hi or give him

501
00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,240
Speaker 5: a hug. That we're not affiliated with.

502
00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:06,520
Speaker 2: The Steelers, Missy another you know steeler facing his former

503
00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,200
Speaker 2: team storyline this Sunday. It's not on the road in

504
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,560
Speaker 2: Seattle where he used to play, but DK Metcalf will

505
00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,160
Speaker 2: line up against his former team here in just week

506
00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:20,000
Speaker 2: number two after being traded from Seattle to Pittsburgh this offseason.

507
00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,520
Speaker 2: He's downplayed it he said all the right things this week,

508
00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,679
Speaker 2: as I think we would expect him to. I was

509
00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,639
Speaker 2: actually laughing. He was kind of ribbing our buddy Brian Baco.

510
00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,800
Speaker 2: DK Metcalf was. He was like, man, you keep trying

511
00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:32,920
Speaker 2: to ask me about the Seahawks, Like, what's what's going

512
00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:34,760
Speaker 2: on here? This is about us?

513
00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,680
Speaker 4: But he's a real yes, sir, he is.

514
00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:41,560
Speaker 2: He's very well spoken, very formal in his interviews. But

515
00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,560
Speaker 2: I think the three of us can all agree. He like,

516
00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,480
Speaker 2: these guys aren't robots, these guys aren't cyborgs. I don't

517
00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,000
Speaker 2: think he would be human if there was, even though

518
00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,240
Speaker 2: he does look like one. Absolutely like, these guys wouldn't

519
00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,199
Speaker 2: be humans if you wouldn't want to prove something to

520
00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:58,040
Speaker 2: the team that just traded you away a few months ago.

521
00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:00,560
Speaker 2: What's kind of the sense that you're getting from DK

522
00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,880
Speaker 2: metcalf in what feels like Missy a banged up Seattle

523
00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,600
Speaker 2: secondary where there could really be an opportunity for him

524
00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,159
Speaker 2: to make some plays on Sunday.

525
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,800
Speaker 5: It is really crazy when you look at their secondary

526
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,760
Speaker 5: and how many guys are potentially not going to play,

527
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,119
Speaker 5: which just seems to vote too well on the Steeler

528
00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,399
Speaker 5: side of luck for that one, But I agree DK

529
00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,439
Speaker 5: is a human. It's just like Aaron last week. It's

530
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,640
Speaker 5: almost like the NFL knew what they were doing when

531
00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:30,399
Speaker 5: they set the schedule. But I think DK is able

532
00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:33,960
Speaker 5: to compartmentalize it and it isn't going to be something

533
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,560
Speaker 5: that's going to be in his head. If that makes sense.

534
00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,680
Speaker 5: How can you not think about it? But I did

535
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,679
Speaker 5: see and it was after he had already spoken to

536
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,160
Speaker 5: the media earlier in the week. His first NFL touchdown

537
00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:50,200
Speaker 5: was actually in Pittsburgh. I totally forgot that that would

538
00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:54,040
Speaker 5: have been his rookie season. So hopefully his first touchdown

539
00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,720
Speaker 5: as a Steeler will also be in the same spot,

540
00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,480
Speaker 5: since we didn't get a chance to see him in

541
00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:00,119
Speaker 5: the end zone week one.

542
00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:05,480
Speaker 4: How was the reception from Fields' former teammates. I assume

543
00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,199
Speaker 4: a lot of them were pretty excited to see Justin too.

544
00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:08,560
Speaker 4: I think he was popular when he was here.

545
00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,159
Speaker 5: I mean, everybody like this is Christianist, went to go

546
00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,720
Speaker 5: say hi to Justin. Yes, like everybody loves Justin And

547
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,399
Speaker 5: I think, you know, it was good to see. He

548
00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,639
Speaker 5: was definitely one of those guys that everybody loved playing

549
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,160
Speaker 5: with and playing four and you saw what they were

550
00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,800
Speaker 5: able to do in those six games where he got

551
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,320
Speaker 5: a chance to be the starter, to come to a

552
00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,520
Speaker 5: new environment after the whole debacle in Chicago, and it

553
00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,160
Speaker 5: felt like it was a good reset for him. But definitely,

554
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,040
Speaker 5: you know, all those guys on offense especially were very

555
00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:41,920
Speaker 5: excited to see him.

556
00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:46,879
Speaker 2: Missy Matthews, queen of the Steelers sideline kind enough to

557
00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,280
Speaker 2: share some over time with us here on this Friday, Missy,

558
00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,120
Speaker 2: great stuff, Thank you, and we will see you on Sunday.

559
00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:53,800
Speaker 4: Perfect.

560
00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:55,120
Speaker 5: Can't wait. Have a good one.

561
00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,000
Speaker 3: Guys, you as well, Missy Matthews.

562
00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:58,919
Speaker 2: Make sure you're checking her out on the broadcast with

563
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,960
Speaker 2: Rob King and Max Starks of course one o'clock on

564
00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,480
Speaker 2: the Steelers Audio Network in your flagship station for the

565
00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,119
Speaker 2: Black and Goal w d v E. When we come

566
00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:10,800
Speaker 2: back on the other side, we'll get into a little

567
00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,240
Speaker 2: five star Friday start targets and matchups here on the

568
00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,760
Speaker 2: Drive West Hueler and Matt Williamson on Steelers Nation Radio

569
00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:25,800
Speaker 2: on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.

570
00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,960
Speaker 1: About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of

571
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,399
Speaker 1: the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

572
00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,119
Speaker 4: It's a five star match because.

573
00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:46,320
Speaker 5: We're in the.

574
00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,800
Speaker 2: Juxtaposition of a cool, calm and collected Troy Polamalu there

575
00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,200
Speaker 2: with going out of his mind to Shay Tows is

576
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,720
Speaker 2: always a nice kind of Troy. It's a five star

577
00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:08,359
Speaker 2: matchup because we're in It's.

578
00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,680
Speaker 4: How the locker imagine probably be with he's around there with.

579
00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:14,360
Speaker 2: Him, right, guys, We're going to go destroy the Cincinnati

580
00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:15,400
Speaker 2: business afternoon.

581
00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,560
Speaker 3: It is time for a little five Star Friday.

582
00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:21,720
Speaker 2: It's quite simply our matchup segment and a big thanks

583
00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:23,959
Speaker 2: to Missy Matthews for joining us there as well. Make

584
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,880
Speaker 2: sure you're listening to her. On the sidelines are Steelers

585
00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:34,200
Speaker 2: Audio Network broadcasts on WDVE and Steelers Audio Network. Uh

586
00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,679
Speaker 2: matt will be on at nine am with Tom for

587
00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,800
Speaker 2: the pre pre show and then the pregame show.

588
00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:40,880
Speaker 3: Yeah, Pursuda.

589
00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,440
Speaker 2: Labs and Jerry Dulac starts at eleven and then of

590
00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:48,240
Speaker 2: course kickoff with Rob King, the Kinger, Max Starks, and

591
00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:52,200
Speaker 2: Missy Matthews at one pm. For the Steelers opener, Matt

592
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,440
Speaker 2: I wanted to start with something that we talked about

593
00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,120
Speaker 2: kind of briefly, you know, mentioned at the start of

594
00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:58,840
Speaker 2: the show at the top of the hour, and that's

595
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,960
Speaker 2: the Seattle Defensive Front. Oh Steelers saw a good one

596
00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,360
Speaker 2: last week in New York. Might they be seeing a

597
00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,160
Speaker 2: better one against Seattle this Sunday?

598
00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:12,800
Speaker 4: Yes, I think it is. I'll take something Dale and

599
00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:14,720
Speaker 4: I did a lot was like, if you compare the

600
00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:17,320
Speaker 4: two my first pick is Quinn Williams.

601
00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:18,680
Speaker 3: I had a feeling that's where this was going.

602
00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:22,800
Speaker 4: But then a lot of the new three four Seahawks,

603
00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:24,720
Speaker 4: you know, like and I really like those two edge

604
00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,960
Speaker 4: guys from the Jets in former first round picks, and

605
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,040
Speaker 4: they caused problems Johnson and McDonald. But I think these

606
00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,160
Speaker 4: guys are equal. They're not as well and none of

607
00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,640
Speaker 4: them are really well known. They're not Miles Garrett, but

608
00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,680
Speaker 4: Mafey is a really good player and he gave Trent

609
00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,240
Speaker 4: Williams a lot of problems last week. Who's one of

610
00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:43,960
Speaker 4: the best left tackles I've ever seen. I know he's

611
00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,320
Speaker 4: up in age right. He's an all time great and

612
00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:47,880
Speaker 4: one of my old time favorite or one of my

613
00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,920
Speaker 4: favorite like sleeper pass rushers in the league right now

614
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:54,479
Speaker 4: is Derek Hall. He is hot, He's like they're herbig,

615
00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:56,440
Speaker 4: you know, like when he's out there, he makes plays

616
00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:57,920
Speaker 4: all the time. I don't know if he could do

617
00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,040
Speaker 4: it if he played seventy snaps.

618
00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:04,000
Speaker 3: But in the oppos why is he ripping us water

619
00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:05,680
Speaker 3: Alex Smith, who's this herbig guy?

620
00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:09,880
Speaker 4: Yeah, and Hall's very similar and maybe he gets the

621
00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:11,640
Speaker 4: point where he isn't every down player this year and

622
00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:13,480
Speaker 4: that was fifteen sacks, Like I could see that in

623
00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:16,240
Speaker 4: his future. And then they go get a veteran who's

624
00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,680
Speaker 4: a lot different than those guys. Those guys are edgebender

625
00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:24,080
Speaker 4: explosive types, a little undersize, and DeMarcus Lawrence, who's been

626
00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:27,240
Speaker 4: around the block a long time. He's not as bendy

627
00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,640
Speaker 4: as he used to be, but he's powerful at the

628
00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,800
Speaker 4: point of attack. He's really good against a run. Old

629
00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:37,360
Speaker 4: man's strength at this point. And he's not quite Quinn Williams,

630
00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:44,400
Speaker 4: but they're Williams. Leonard had probably an equal season last year.

631
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:46,600
Speaker 4: He kind of reminds me of Cam Hayward. I mean,

632
00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:49,920
Speaker 4: this guy's played a really long time, understands the game.

633
00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:51,880
Speaker 4: He was like the fourth pick in the draft. I

634
00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:53,200
Speaker 4: thought he was the best pick in the draft when

635
00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,200
Speaker 4: he came out way back when, and he had maybe

636
00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,760
Speaker 4: his best year as a pro. That's why I consider

637
00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:01,080
Speaker 4: him like Cam. They're built similar and they at this

638
00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:05,160
Speaker 4: age agent rows. Yeah, and they also have the young

639
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:09,000
Speaker 4: pop like the Steelers and Murphy that I think has

640
00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,040
Speaker 4: a chance to be a star. So it's deep and

641
00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,160
Speaker 4: it's good. And darn Reid's still on this team. He's

642
00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,040
Speaker 4: been a successful more run stuffer guy. So I mean,

643
00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,440
Speaker 4: we just named six seven dudes across the front. They're

644
00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,120
Speaker 4: gonna stay fresh and they're gonna be good.

645
00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,400
Speaker 2: And they were last week against San Francisco. A big

646
00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:28,840
Speaker 2: part of the reason why, as you mentioned, only twenty

647
00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,320
Speaker 2: two minutes of possession, not much going for the Seattle offense,

648
00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,560
Speaker 2: but they were able to hang in that game, kept.

649
00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,080
Speaker 4: Them in that game right be on the field the

650
00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:35,560
Speaker 4: whole time.

651
00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:39,320
Speaker 2: Off off of that good against the run and just

652
00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,320
Speaker 2: pat like you mentioned, I mean, they it's almost like

653
00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:45,680
Speaker 2: line changes in their pass rush. It's it's like, hey,

654
00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:47,680
Speaker 2: as soon as you think you've got to beat on

655
00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:49,720
Speaker 2: these guys, here come two or three more guys hopping

656
00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:52,960
Speaker 2: over the boards to you know, fresh and coming after you.

657
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,600
Speaker 4: Which is extra important this time of year when nobody's

658
00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:57,200
Speaker 4: fresh and.

659
00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:58,840
Speaker 2: Everyone's still trying to get at the football speed and

660
00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,760
Speaker 2: really trying to get their legs underneath them. A that's

661
00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:05,440
Speaker 2: a great point and I you know again though, that

662
00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:09,120
Speaker 2: that all goes into the Do the Steelers come out

663
00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,840
Speaker 2: trying to run to back that off? Yeah, they come

664
00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,360
Speaker 2: out trying to pass so that they can't be as

665
00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,360
Speaker 2: heavy in the box, and then maybe that opens up

666
00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:21,360
Speaker 2: things for the run game. I think, Matt, everybody, I

667
00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,120
Speaker 2: use this word earlier in the week. I think everybody.

668
00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:26,200
Speaker 2: And I'm guilty of this too. I throw myself into

669
00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,360
Speaker 2: this everybody group. We get too pedantic, we get too

670
00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:34,520
Speaker 2: hyper focused on the script for offenses coming into games.

671
00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:34,920
Speaker 4: Right.

672
00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,440
Speaker 2: It's something that we are obsessed with, and I think

673
00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:41,640
Speaker 2: part of that is because everybody knows how much of

674
00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,320
Speaker 2: a thing that is in the football world. And another

675
00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:46,120
Speaker 2: part of it is, I mean, the Steelers didn't have

676
00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,440
Speaker 2: a single first opening drive touchdown all of last year,

677
00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,680
Speaker 2: so home, I under it hits home.

678
00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:52,920
Speaker 3: I understand why.

679
00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,000
Speaker 2: To me, though, that script will be very interesting in

680
00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,600
Speaker 2: the sense of how they want to because, as you

681
00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,200
Speaker 2: have mentioned rightfully so as a lot of football savvy

682
00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,120
Speaker 2: people mention, yeah, the purpose of that script is to

683
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,000
Speaker 2: go out there and score points, of course, but it's

684
00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:09,680
Speaker 2: also to figure out when we do a how are

685
00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,520
Speaker 2: they going to defend us when we do B, how

686
00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,040
Speaker 2: are they going to defend us when we do C?

687
00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:15,000
Speaker 2: How are they going to defend us? Are they going

688
00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:16,360
Speaker 2: to be in base? Are they going to be a nickel?

689
00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:17,440
Speaker 2: What's their personnel going to be?

690
00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:17,480
Speaker 5: Like?

691
00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,520
Speaker 3: It's as much information gathering big time as it.

692
00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,160
Speaker 2: Is trying to kind of assert your will and establish

693
00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:28,320
Speaker 2: yourself at the same time. Do you have an inkling

694
00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:31,800
Speaker 2: of I would try and back off that pass rush

695
00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,640
Speaker 2: and maybe make the make the box a little bit lighter,

696
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:36,680
Speaker 2: or do you do you want to come out and

697
00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:39,640
Speaker 2: go right at these guys and try and establish that

698
00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:40,400
Speaker 2: run game early.

699
00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:45,160
Speaker 4: I don't know about opening series stuff or early versus late,

700
00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:47,680
Speaker 4: but I did just tweet this out this morning. I

701
00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,520
Speaker 4: was looking at personnel usage and you find a lot

702
00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,840
Speaker 4: of stuff on Sumer sports dot com does all the

703
00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:58,320
Speaker 4: offensive stuff, and I was fiddling with it today and

704
00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:01,200
Speaker 4: the Steelers only played a little over seven percent of

705
00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:05,520
Speaker 4: thirteen personnel, which I think is gonna go up drastically.

706
00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:08,200
Speaker 4: And I don't know if it's true, but when I

707
00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:11,120
Speaker 4: did a night show with Tim and Tom Benzi said

708
00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,360
Speaker 4: he thought Washington limped off at one point, and I

709
00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,120
Speaker 4: was watched on TV and I never saw it, and

710
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,440
Speaker 4: his snapcount was a little lower than I thought, So

711
00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:22,640
Speaker 4: maybe there was something a little going on there. I

712
00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:25,600
Speaker 4: don't know, but I'm just throwing it out there. But

713
00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:27,479
Speaker 4: the fact that there was only a little over seven

714
00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,799
Speaker 4: percent with those three tight ends on the field, I

715
00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:33,560
Speaker 4: was a bit surprised. And I think that goes up

716
00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,560
Speaker 4: because I think that puts people in binds. I think

717
00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,560
Speaker 4: that's gonna be the Steelers identity. It's not gonna be

718
00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,319
Speaker 4: fifty percent, but I think it could be twenty, which

719
00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:41,080
Speaker 4: is still lead.

720
00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:42,760
Speaker 3: To lead Bio super wide bar charging.

721
00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,960
Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they also, I mean you can't

722
00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:48,480
Speaker 4: not all these things can go up. But they only

723
00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:51,600
Speaker 4: did play thirty seven percent of eleven too. I mean

724
00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:55,560
Speaker 4: that's obscenely low for the league, for the league, you know,

725
00:34:55,760 --> 00:35:00,600
Speaker 4: so if you think you can protect and that's the problem,

726
00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:02,440
Speaker 4: I mean, their pass rush worries me even more than

727
00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,879
Speaker 4: their run stuffing because all those guys we mentioned get

728
00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,719
Speaker 4: after it. But might we see Roman Wilson more than

729
00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:09,880
Speaker 4: ten snaps? I mean I would think the answer is

730
00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:10,880
Speaker 4: probably yes.

731
00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:12,680
Speaker 3: There's a week to see it.

732
00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:14,640
Speaker 4: This is going to be the week for those d

733
00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:15,920
Speaker 4: back injuries, right.

734
00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:19,120
Speaker 2: And staying with that, the defensive back injuries and potential

735
00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:23,000
Speaker 2: wide receiver usage. It's the second straight week that we have.

736
00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:25,799
Speaker 2: It's not nearly as ramped up as the opener, when

737
00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:27,799
Speaker 2: you not only had Aaron Rodgers against his former team,

738
00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:29,880
Speaker 2: but you had justin Fields against his former team as

739
00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:32,279
Speaker 2: well too. Second straight week, we kind of have that

740
00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:34,520
Speaker 2: storyline of DK metcalf is the one who is going

741
00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:37,920
Speaker 2: against his former team. So banged up secondary. As we

742
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,320
Speaker 2: discussed in the injury report at the start of the show,

743
00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:41,920
Speaker 2: how does Seattle go about?

744
00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:43,560
Speaker 3: You know, if we're kind of focusing on I.

745
00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:45,880
Speaker 4: Think they're having a hard time with that. I bet yeah,

746
00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,200
Speaker 4: because and the way they work their corners when there's

747
00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,720
Speaker 4: two on the field. There's Reek Wolan, who we've mentioned

748
00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:52,839
Speaker 4: before had a rough day.

749
00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:55,920
Speaker 3: He's had a good career, but yeah, start this year.

750
00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:59,000
Speaker 4: And his rookie year was better than year two last year.

751
00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:03,359
Speaker 4: Last week was very up and down. But he has

752
00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:06,520
Speaker 4: the traits I mean he has. He's six'. THREE i,

753
00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:09,279
Speaker 4: mean he's a rare looking corner that can. Fly HE'S

754
00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,839
Speaker 4: i mean he's bigger than porter and probably. Faster he's

755
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,040
Speaker 4: not as good as, football but you would think you

756
00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,759
Speaker 4: want your big guy on the big, guy you know

757
00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,160
Speaker 4: WHAT i, Mean but he's kind of the weaker. Dude

758
00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,560
Speaker 4: so when they play two, corners It's witherspoon and. Him

759
00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:25,360
Speaker 4: but as Everyone Nicol witherspoon goes from the outside in

760
00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:28,600
Speaker 4: and they bring In, job who people don't know a lot.

761
00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:32,200
Speaker 4: About but he was awesome in week, one and you

762
00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:34,719
Speaker 4: know HOW i put some stock IN pff. Stuff he

763
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,080
Speaker 4: was like their number one graded, corner Where reek was

764
00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:40,799
Speaker 4: like their last rated. Corner one was like, second and

765
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,040
Speaker 4: one was like one hundred and thirty. Fifth, NOW i

766
00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:47,000
Speaker 4: don't think the screpancy's that, big but still they don't

767
00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:48,640
Speaker 4: have him out there all the time though for a.

768
00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,360
Speaker 4: Reason you, know they think he's their third best. Player

769
00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,359
Speaker 4: but If witherspoon's, hurt you're going to have those two

770
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,719
Speaker 4: out there all the. TIME i don't think he the

771
00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:01,200
Speaker 4: one's all that, Scary and as good As witherspoon is

772
00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:05,839
Speaker 4: in the, slot he's not going to See. Metcalf but

773
00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:08,279
Speaker 4: The steelers also don't use three three wide very, much

774
00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:09,879
Speaker 4: so they aren't going to go To nickel as. Much

775
00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:13,320
Speaker 4: you know What i'm. Saying would you put the, smaller better,

776
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:19,160
Speaker 4: Player witherspoon or the. Talented hard to bet On woolen on,

777
00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:21,000
Speaker 4: them BUT i don't know That spoon's even going to

778
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:21,200
Speaker 4: be in.

779
00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:24,759
Speaker 2: It it's not looking in that.

780
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:25,919
Speaker 3: Regard and your.

781
00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:27,400
Speaker 4: Safety helps not great at the.

782
00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,919
Speaker 2: Moment, No and it's banged up as well, Too AND

783
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,279
Speaker 2: i mean they could be Down witherspoon and both of

784
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:35,120
Speaker 2: their at least who they projected were going to be

785
00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:36,759
Speaker 2: their starting safeties coming into this.

786
00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,000
Speaker 3: Season, yeah it's not a great place.

787
00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:41,319
Speaker 4: To, be. NO i, mean the pass rusher might make

788
00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:43,399
Speaker 4: up for, it and the ball coming out quick might

789
00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,799
Speaker 4: make up for it from A seattle, perspective but it

790
00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:51,040
Speaker 4: also could be that. GAME i, mean it felt like

791
00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:55,440
Speaker 4: every snap That metcalf didn't get sauce the ball went to.

792
00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:58,839
Speaker 4: Them this game might just go To metcalf every time

793
00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:02,319
Speaker 4: all the, time right. Right that guy can't cover.

794
00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,040
Speaker 3: From boom fourteen targets for Dk.

795
00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,640
Speaker 4: Rogers rogers things absolutely, Right he's.

796
00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:11,839
Speaker 3: Not if there's water, there he'll go to the well

797
00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:14,839
Speaker 3: he wants. To and so.

798
00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:16,879
Speaker 4: That's metcalf could have a big game.

799
00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,800
Speaker 3: MORE i THINK i Think metcalf could could have a

800
00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:20,720
Speaker 3: big game. Tomorrow.

801
00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:23,080
Speaker 2: CERTAINLY i THINK i would have thought that even if

802
00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:25,319
Speaker 2: The seattle secondary was healthier than they, are.

803
00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:27,040
Speaker 4: Right even if it wasn't his former. Team But i'm

804
00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:28,640
Speaker 4: sure they give him the ball like the first play

805
00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:30,480
Speaker 4: of the game and he runs somebody over and you

806
00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:32,759
Speaker 4: know WHAT i. Mean, yeah there's an emotional side of it, too.

807
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:36,000
Speaker 2: Oh, there, absolutely, Yeah and you know we WE i

808
00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:38,000
Speaker 2: think we saw a lot of that stuff On, sunday

809
00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:42,680
Speaker 2: the emotional side of things for This steelers. Team, yeah

810
00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:44,560
Speaker 2: AND i think we will certainly see that in the

811
00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:50,440
Speaker 2: home opener AGAINST uh Against seattle and what is is

812
00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:51,879
Speaker 2: going to be a game that's gonna have a lot

813
00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,279
Speaker 2: of different reasons for these guys TO uh to have

814
00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,640
Speaker 2: things circled and highlighted and ready to. Go but that,

815
00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:59,799
Speaker 2: that FOR Dk metcalf feels like.

816
00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:02,320
Speaker 3: A real.

817
00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:06,600
Speaker 2: Opportunity he had a good day this Past sunday At MetLife,

818
00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:08,920
Speaker 2: stadium he could have a great day in his first

819
00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:10,440
Speaker 2: his first time at home At Acrescer.

820
00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:10,800
Speaker 3: Stadium.

821
00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:14,000
Speaker 4: Yeah and he's one of, many as people, know Prominent

822
00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:16,200
Speaker 4: steelers playing their first home game in black and.

823
00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:19,520
Speaker 2: Goal you, know absolutely, Absolutely AND i got to Think

824
00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:22,759
Speaker 2: i'm trying to, REMEMBER i, mean this is like year

825
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,360
Speaker 2: eight for me now of doing this thing and working the.

826
00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:27,440
Speaker 2: GAMES i should remember, this BUT i feel, like you,

827
00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:30,360
Speaker 2: know The steelers, do they introduce one side.

828
00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:33,520
Speaker 3: Of the football warm ups for home.

829
00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:37,839
Speaker 2: Games it alternates every, game but it'll TYPICALLY i feel

830
00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:39,360
Speaker 2: like at the beginning of the season start with the,

831
00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:41,120
Speaker 2: defense and then second home game it's.

832
00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:42,360
Speaker 3: The identity and then It.

833
00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:47,440
Speaker 2: Goesbert for the last few, years that's been where all

834
00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:49,239
Speaker 2: the money has been spent has been on The you,

835
00:39:49,239 --> 00:39:51,600
Speaker 2: know you've Got, Cam you've GOT, Tj you've got bigger

836
00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:53,520
Speaker 2: name stars on that side of the, football where you

837
00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:55,960
Speaker 2: had a lot of rookies and, young unproven guys on

838
00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,640
Speaker 2: the offensive. Side BUT i think they got to you

839
00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:00,799
Speaker 2: got to introduce the off to let the place go

840
00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:04,399
Speaker 2: mad For Aaron rodgers and FOR dk that big pot

841
00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:06,319
Speaker 2: for him against his former team in the first.

842
00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:08,120
Speaker 3: TIME i think that would.

843
00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:11,320
Speaker 4: Be pretty cool That matt one hour in the, books

844
00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:11,960
Speaker 4: another hour to.

845
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,480
Speaker 2: Go when we returned to start hour number, two what

846
00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,359
Speaker 2: do you say we kind of spin the block here

847
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:21,080
Speaker 2: and we'll do matchups from A steelers defense Against seattle offense.

848
00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:22,960
Speaker 3: Perspective, yep we will get.

849
00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:26,560
Speaker 2: There to begin the second hour of the, drive It's

850
00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:27,759
Speaker 2: West uler And Matt williamson with.

851
00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:30,360
Speaker 3: You here On Steelers Nation, radio on The Steelers Audio,

852
00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:30,760
Speaker 3: network