1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: At least. He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: Williamson on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: It's a lovely Friday here. We jumped right into last week. 5 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: At this time it was like thirty degrees and raining, 6 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: and I guess it was. I was just one week ago. Huh, 7 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: Like every you know, overnight frosts and things of that nature. 8 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: We're still happening and now it's like ninety degrees. Yeah. 9 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: We actually got the text from the fam. Get the 10 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: fans out of the windows. We're closing it up. Air 11 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: condition time. Yeah. I told my wife that last night. 12 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, it a good time to turn on the 13 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: air condition. She's like, we were getting freezes last week. Yeah. 14 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: Well it's beautiful out though. But yeah. Lots of stuff 15 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: happening around the league. Interesting, the Julio Jones stuff going 16 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: on that maybe possibly moving on from him. Um, people 17 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: thinking maybe the Ravens will will jump into that market, 18 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: maybe the Patriots. I see New England you have to 19 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:43,559 Speaker 1: give I don't know what you give up for Julio 20 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: Jones At this point it's funny. I had a long 21 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: conversation about this whole situation on my podcast today, and 22 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: some of the team's mentioned don't make sense to me. Baltimore, 23 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: San Francisco, those two don't make much sense to me. 24 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: Green Bay makes sense to me. But I think the 25 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: only way to do it, because they don't have a 26 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: ton of cap space, is we gotta make nice with 27 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers. We're gonna get your Julio, but we need 28 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: you to restructure. You need like some contract cooperation from 29 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers. Is he gonna be, you know, super open 30 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: to that. Probably not, but j Jones to make him 31 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: Julio Jones and everybody kisses and makes nice. And I 32 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: was even taking this step further. If you were Green Bay, 33 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: would you consider sending Jordan's love for Julio Jones. I mean, 34 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: I might want to fourth round pick back as well 35 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: or something, But that's pretty appealing if you're Atlanta, I mean, 36 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: you don't have anything. He's not expensive cap wise. You 37 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: didn't get your your quarterback, you know, so that one 38 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: kind of adds up to me. Um and then the 39 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: a f C. I've heard the Raiders and I'm sure 40 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: they're always interested in stuff like that. I think of 41 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: England just screams Julio, especially with some Bama tize they 42 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: made that trade for snow with Atlanta last year. And 43 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: then one I think would really change the balance of 44 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: power in the a f C South is the Colts 45 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: or Titans or two names I've heard. I mean, if 46 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: one of those guys got Jolio, that might be enough 47 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: for me to say he's the problem. I don't think 48 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: the Titans could afford him. They they got problems. The 49 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: Colts can, The Colts can, the Patriots can. He's fifteen 50 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: point three million dollars in base salary this year. He's 51 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: also got two point seven five million dollar option. I 52 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: think that's probably already picked up by the by the Falcons. 53 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: So it's fifteen point three million dollars against the chap 54 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: this year for a thirty two year year old receiver 55 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: to me the Patriots. If if the Patriots calling him 56 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: the Falcons, I'm like, well, you gave me a two 57 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: last year for Sanoo or two years ago for Sanoo. 58 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: It's a different staff in Atlanta. I gotta have more 59 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: than he's gotta be more than a two. Yeah, with 60 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: the two is what it's what the deal is. I mean, 61 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: I think everyone knows that Atlanta is in such bad 62 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: caps situation that they can hardly even like get their 63 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: pick signed. I mean, I would imagine I hear what 64 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: you're saying. But if I'm Belichick, I'm like, yeah, but 65 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: I'm not happy I gave you to right, you know, 66 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: I mean it didn't work out. Um, And there are 67 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: two different situations. You know, they overpaid for some new Um, 68 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: I think two. If I'm Atlanta would get it done. 69 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: I'm looking here, it's at Julio Jones contract. It's not 70 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: that bad. It's it's not for the new team. For 71 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: the new team. For the Falcons, it's forty five million 72 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: in in dead cap space. If you get rid of him, right, 73 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: you better off just keeping him? Why you guess they're 74 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: so strapped that they can't get their their their draft 75 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: picks signed? Though? Is the way that I I mean here, 76 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 1: here's the thing is cap hit is twenty three million 77 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: this year, but his dead cap hit if he's not 78 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: on the team is forty and a half. So you're 79 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: you're losing cap space. Yeah you are. So that doesn't 80 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: do you any good. I'm trying to figure out how 81 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: that adds up then, and why unless the other the 82 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: other thing that they could do would be to extend 83 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: Julio Jones and give him some you know, let's we're 84 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: just gonna extend you and give you some some you know, 85 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: dumby years. At the end of this, you just get 86 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: that gets avoidables on there because he's signed through three 87 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: right in the contrast, not terrible for the new team, right, 88 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: you know, I assuming he's still now next year, next 89 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: year his dead cap number goes down to seventeen and 90 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: a half million on it with an eleven and a 91 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: half million dollar salary next year, you could afford to 92 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: move on. Isn't that after isn't you first at all? Well, 93 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: you could eat you could take half of that that like, 94 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: so you cut you trim twenty million of that dead 95 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: cap space off this year. I knew he couldn't move 96 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: until after June, but you're pushing some of that into 97 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: next year, then it does you know. Yeah, now you're 98 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: you're just pushing the problem down the road. You're gonna 99 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: be paying it, you know, their restructure Matt Ryan to 100 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: a bunch of money next year for a guy who's 101 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: not on your roster. No, I hear you. It's a mess. 102 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess they're the worst cap situation in 103 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: the league because they don't have a lot of guys 104 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: that they can move things around with either. The other 105 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: name I heard from their roster is Grady Jarrett, the undersize, 106 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: really productive defensive tackle. But I guess whoever his agent 107 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: is isn't a restructure like okay, great, well, well, I 108 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: mean that's something that's something where you know Grady Jared, 109 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: you go to him directly, is hey, Grady, we want 110 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: to give you. There's a big check. We're gonna give 111 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: you a big check right now. Yeah, yeah, right right, 112 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: Your your your agents also going to get said big 113 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: check right now. You need to talk to him here 114 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: and we need to we need this cap space. Yeah, 115 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: you're going to keep Julio right. Take this isn't taking 116 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: one like people think that when the the player restructures 117 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: his contract he's doing the team a favor. They're actually 118 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: doing him a favor. Everyone's it's a favor for all. Yeah. 119 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: Any players should say, yes, you get your you get 120 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: your entire or most of your check right now. Yeah right. 121 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: I mean, if you bought a U S savings bond 122 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: and got a two percent interest or whatever. You're making 123 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: more money now as opposed to every week. And it 124 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: also guaranteed pretty much guarantees you that you're gonna be wealthy, 125 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, like and you're gonna be Yeah, you're gonna 126 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: be on the team, security and all those things too. 127 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 1: So No, it's a it's a present for the player. Yeah. 128 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: Actually maybe it called Grady Jared's wife, Mr Mrs Jared. 129 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: Would you like a ten million dollars right now out 130 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: gradies agents? Isn't grabbing? Can you come pick it up? Yes, sir? 131 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: On it. Um. It sounds like COOLi was getting traded though, 132 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't quite understand the numbers. I know 133 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: it's gonna be an after June. There's gonna be something. 134 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: There's some kind of value in it for the for 135 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: the Falcons, or they wouldn't be doing that, I don't think. No, no, Um. 136 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: Another interesting thing happening. We mentioned it on Wednesday that 137 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: Morgan Moses with the h Washington football team was earlier 138 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: in the week was granted permission to seek a trade. 139 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: Obviously that's not happening. Uh, They've released him. That shocked 140 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: me a little bit too. I mean a lot of 141 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: these tackles moving post draft. You know, Villaneuavea was one 142 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: that we obviously knew and kind of saw common. It's 143 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: Chicago trades up for Jenkins after they took took fields 144 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: and then they cut Leno, which I thought didn't make 145 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: sense to me. How to cut Jimmy Graham and you know, 146 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: kept Leno around and gone with Jenkins. Can never have 147 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: enough lineman, You never have enough lineman. I'm not sure 148 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: that their line got better, he got younger. And then 149 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: Leno gets quickly picked up by Washington, who has the 150 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: the dude from LSU last year, the fourth round pick. 151 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: He started for them. He had some off the field 152 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: issues and they drafted cause me, but do you have 153 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: to get rid of Moses? I mean, he's a starting 154 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: right tackle. He's going to be a starting right tackle 155 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: somewhere this year. And he was making a decent bus 156 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: he was he was, but he's been durable. Yeah. I 157 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: always started, like, you know, a hundred straight games. He's 158 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: not a Pro bowler, he's not a Hall of Famer, 159 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: but he's a starter. Yeah. Um, if I were the Steelers, 160 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: I'd at least give him a call and say Hey, 161 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: what are you looking for here? I hadn't even thought 162 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: of that connection. I always keep thinking corners and outside 163 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: linebackers with Steelers. But it's not bad. I mean, he's 164 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: a pure right right, which is fine. You know, Banners 165 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: played both, Jukes was played both. Um, he might be. 166 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: I don't say he's their best tackle, but he's the 167 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 1: most bird in the hand ish. I mean, I know 168 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: what he is. He's a quality player. I mean, if 169 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: you think if the Ravens had the Ravens had known 170 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: that the Washington was going to release Morgan Moses, they 171 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: move on villain the wave. It's a great point. I'd 172 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: much rather have a mother of Moses who's playing his 173 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: natural position as opposed to he's the more physical, powerful player, 174 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: you know, the more prototypical, right. Like, if you're the 175 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 1: Steelers and you look at that, you go, okay, we 176 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: we could sign him, put him at right tackle, move 177 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: Banner over to left tackle, let him compete with Chukes 178 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: over there, and all of a sudden, you're you know, 179 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: let's say, if Banner wins that left tackle job, you're 180 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: run blocking got a whole lot different, a whole lot different. 181 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: I'd even consider would you consider sign himbout two year 182 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: deal potentially, yeah, because you know, because then you kind 183 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: of eliminate that need for the next year if you 184 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: thought there was now what I what I don't know 185 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: is how well he would fit into his own blocking, right, 186 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: you know, does he fit with what you want to do. 187 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: I don't know that a percent. But they did resign 188 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: Banner quickly. It was moved better than people think. But 189 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: he's a masher. I mean it's hard, so I'm m 190 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: sure that stuff is as defined as it used to be, 191 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 1: even the Shanahans of the world. Yeah, they're heavy his 192 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: own team, but it's not like they don't run you know, 193 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: other stuff. Yeah, you know, and this, and that's the 194 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: thing with the Steelers. Are still going to run power packages, 195 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: you know, even in college. You know. Um, you look 196 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,439 Speaker 1: at Naja Harris's stats from last year, bamap split it 197 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: up above fifty fifty in his in his own runs 198 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: and his and his power runs. Yeah, you know, so 199 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: you're gonna do that, and boy, you might do it 200 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: better if you signed a guy like that. Yeah. I 201 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: hadn't thought of that option at all for Pittsburgh, and 202 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: it was kind of shocked. They couldn't trade him. I mean, 203 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: I guess it's a financial thing, and there's not a 204 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: lot of tea he was making like nine and a 205 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: half or something like that or ten um. You know 206 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: you're not gonna trade for that. There's not many teams 207 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: that have a lot of yeah, open space. Now you 208 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,599 Speaker 1: can sign him if you know, maybe he cost you 209 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: four this year. I was thinking like nine million over 210 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,079 Speaker 1: two years with a little bit of a bonus or 211 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: something like that, and maybe even uh, you know, you 212 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 1: plug him in at right tackle. But that doesn't mean 213 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: he can't lose his job a year from now, or 214 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: you know, if Chukes is awesome murder, you know, somebody 215 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: shines in camp that he doesn't even win the job again. 216 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 1: He would make you a better football team. I think 217 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: it would. It would certainly help physicality, short yardage. Some 218 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: of the things have been problems with people talking. I 219 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: think if the Steelers made a move like that, suddenly 220 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 1: their offensive line would look. People be going, Okay, they 221 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: upgraded their offensively lining, but Moses next to the Castros, 222 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: there's two pros, you know, and then three other spots 223 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: need to shake themselves out. And I think it means 224 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: I think I think everybody, at least everybody in Pittsburgh 225 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: loves Dotson. I don't think he gets to respect nationally 226 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: that right, and the team loves him obviously. So really 227 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: you're fighting, you know, a rookie verse Finniot center and 228 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: just like last year, a banner versus chokes battle at 229 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: left tackle, and you have Hag. You know that's a 230 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: bird in the hand that could play probably any of 231 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: the four spots beside center. And you know you drafted 232 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: more too, so see what he does. But you'd love 233 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: the red shirt him for the season. They're not big names, 234 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: I mean, besides the Castro, but that doesn't matter. No. No, 235 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: I kind of like your idea there. Uh to your 236 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: point on that, I did a little deep dive uh 237 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: in the Najer Harris the people who are still saying 238 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: that Nager Harris shouldn't have been the Steelers pick. I 239 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 1: actually went back. I looked at what here's what mel 240 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: Kuiper said last year when when the Kansas City drafted 241 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: Clyde Edwards Hilaire in the first time. I don't know 242 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: what he said, but everybody was Raven Oh, Scott Richards, Smart, 243 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: Andy Reid, you know, right, Uh, to quote, Melly said 244 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: he's a perfect fit for Andy Reid's offense, which will 245 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:56,319 Speaker 1: be scary again in that's what he said about, uh 246 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: with the thirty second pick last year. Now all the sudden, 247 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: here's what he had to say about the Steelers selection 248 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: of Naja Harris, eight picks earlier than what this. So 249 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: I'm not a huge difference there. This was tough for 250 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: me because I'm a big fan of Naja Harris, but 251 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: I'm almost always against taking a running back in the 252 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: first round. Well you weren't last year. Mill Round one 253 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: is too valuable. Harris needs to be a superstar every 254 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: down back for this to work out. Okay, Well, I 255 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: think that's what they think. He is certainly in every 256 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: down back. I mean I think he we already know 257 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: he's in every down back. Do we know he's a superstar? No, 258 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: but we we They mel all like the player. Here's 259 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: the thing. Clyde Edwards Hilaire last year, and this is 260 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: through Football Outsiders d v o A rankings for running 261 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,599 Speaker 1: backs was thirty three in the league. In d b 262 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: o A among running backs. That was one spot ahead 263 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: of James Conner. Yeah, who was thirty four. Uh, James 264 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: Conner had a minus what was a minus set up 265 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: in point five rating in that zero is average, flat 266 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: out average. Yeah, and this is all with you know, 267 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: somewhat of a sample size you mentioned before, like twter 268 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: carries and more or something like that. It was a 269 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: hundred character um. Benny Snell, the Steelers primary backup last year, 270 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: was a minus twenty six point three, which was forty 271 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: six out of the forty seven qualifying running backs. I 272 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: think the guy who was last with the Chargers rookie 273 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: uh oh, it was definitely U C l a kid. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Okay, 274 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: so you go and you get the lead. Yeah, Joshua Kelly, 275 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: you make the move to get Naja Harris, who I 276 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: think we would both reven though we liked Clyde Edwards 277 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: Hilaire and last year's draft. If I'm drafting, if I 278 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: have to pick between Clyde Edwards Hilaire and Naja Harris, 279 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: I'm taking Naja Harris every time, especially the Steelers. Yeah. 280 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: I can see where Kansas City might not, but they 281 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: probably would. They would have taken Naja Harris, but I 282 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: could see what the city saw and Edwards Hilaire compared 283 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: to Dobbins, and Taylor and those other guys. I'm sure 284 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: they saw Westbrook Eagles Andy read together great and they 285 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: also were a little bit of hubrist there. We don't 286 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: really need anything would take this. We're just taking this guy, 287 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: kind of like the A T. N pick a little 288 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: bit too. But U asked the Steelers, I don't even 289 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: think they would consider Edwards Hilaire if he would have 290 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: been in this draft at the Chiefs didn't use him. 291 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: Isn't every down back? No, he doesn't run stret he doesn't. 292 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: He doesn't get the ball in short yard and he 293 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: doesn't get the ball to goal line. You can't use 294 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: him in all third down situations because he can't block 295 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: the terrible in protection and that then it becomes a 296 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: tell and you know he's not, you know, staying in 297 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: the block, and that you know when Kelsey was staying 298 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: in the block, you know, so then you have a 299 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: five man protection and by the way, your line was 300 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: bad and you know, people figuring things out pretty quick. Um, 301 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: and even with David Harris not in the mix, I mean, 302 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: that was their best guy and then he opted out 303 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: with COVID, so he would have played even more problem, 304 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: which is why they made a move for Levy on 305 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: Bell even though they I'm not using him a lot 306 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: down the stretch, there were times during the season where he, 307 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: you know, they did use him as their third down 308 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: back or there you know, things can protect and he 309 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: can play do short yardage, yeah what he used to be. 310 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: But you know, again, and bells a lot more like Harris. Now. 311 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: There were people, of course, and there's still some people 312 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: who said, well, the Steelers should have went and drafted 313 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: an offensive lineman instead, And that's I think what what 314 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: mel and some of these other people who were grading 315 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: the Steelers were looking at what they need offensive lineman, 316 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: they need offensive line help Minnesota's offensive line last year. Oh, 317 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: that's a great example. The tackles were Riley Reef and 318 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: Brian O'Neill and those two okay, the center was Garrett Bradberry, 319 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: former first round pick who's getting better but as a 320 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: work in progress. Guards were maybe the worst position group 321 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: in the NFL. One guard was Dacoded Dozier and then 322 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: they started four other guys at right guard. Yeah, they 323 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: were just searching. So this offseason they get rid of Reef, 324 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: they get rid of Dozier in their starting lineup. Reef 325 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: is now a right tackle for the Bengals, and they 326 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: had Christian Dry saw Him White Davis, two premium picks 327 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: on that offensive line, both of whom are going to 328 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: start from John. Here's the thing. The Vikings offensive line 329 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: last year ranked eighteenth according to Football Outsiders and run blocking, 330 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: but the guards were really bad. They were twenty nine 331 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: in pass blocking, but according to Football Ciders they were 332 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 1: number one in adjusted line yards and number five and 333 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: running backyards. Why is that? Well they had Dalvin Cook, 334 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: who I met on ther d b o A ratings 335 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: is pretty It was really high and certainly higher than 336 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: Connor and Snell. The Vikings average a hundred and forty 337 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: two point seven rushing yards per game last year. That 338 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: was fifth in the league with an average average offensive 339 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: line in terms of in terms of what the run 340 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: blocking was. How much better if you put Dalvin Cook 341 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: behind the Steelers offensive line last year compared to what 342 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: they compared to what they played with, and it just 343 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: did my running back ranks and you can find them 344 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: on online, and we talked about them, and when I 345 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: dug into them, I realized also on a per game basis, 346 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,479 Speaker 1: only Derrick Henry average more yards than Cooked he had 347 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: a hundred eleven yards per game. He missed two games, 348 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: MR games, and he's a durabil He's a little bit 349 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: of an issue with him, but he's an unbelievably productive 350 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: running back and a lot of things unpeeled there too, 351 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: like with two real holes in the offensive line. Another 352 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: thing about the Vikings. You know, I'm a big yards 353 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: per play guy. The Vikings were at the very top 354 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: of the league offensively yards per play and coincidentally were 355 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: at the bottom of the league defensive. Well, Cook didn't 356 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,120 Speaker 1: hurt that because Cook average five yards of carry right, well, 357 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: he did help him part of the He didn't hurt that, 358 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: I should say, yeah, yeah, And that was without great 359 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: offensive line play. The two games where he was out 360 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: in Alexander Madison, whoever's four and a half yards of 361 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: carry last year, He's fine. I mean the two games 362 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: that he had to start, he averaged three point nine 363 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: yards of carry. There's a difference. There was a difference 364 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:55,959 Speaker 1: of being the guy as opposed to I'm gonna come 365 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 1: in after Cook has warned that the other team down 366 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: for most of the game, I'm coming in and I'm 367 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: gonna you know here, I am in the fourth quarter. 368 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: We've got to lead and I'm just gonna run the 369 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: football here and you can't tackle me. I think you'd 370 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 1: agree the Steelers would have sure liked to have Madison 371 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: last year. Yea lute alone, a top ten back like 372 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: Cook and what we think Harris is um the other 373 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: thing which is really hard to judge, and even the 374 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: football siders and analytics folks probably don't have a good 375 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: feel for. If I'm playing the Vikes, I'm playing different 376 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: defensive Cooks on their verse. Madison after Jefferson catches, he 377 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: catches the ball extremely well, so I'm gonna have light 378 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: active linebackers to deal with him. I'm certainly going to 379 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: back off the line of scrimmage once Jefferson emerges a 380 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: stud and feeling as a star, you know. So I'm 381 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: gonna make life easier for Madison to run the ball 382 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: than I did for Cook and he still don't do 383 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,919 Speaker 1: it happens, Well, it's it's the it's the Jerome Bettis 384 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:54,679 Speaker 1: versus Richard Huntley argument. You know, Richard Huntley averaged like 385 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: six yards of six yards of carry, uh and like 386 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: two better in like nine on nine. Uh. So Bill 387 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: Coward decides that we're gonna try to give him, We're 388 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,239 Speaker 1: gonna try to make him the starter and move on 389 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: from Jerome at the end of the day. At the 390 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: by the end of the season, they're back to Jerome 391 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: again because they realized that Richard Huntley was not in 392 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: every down running back and and yards per carry is 393 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: not the best number to me, especially if you're a Baddest, 394 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: especially if you're a third year guy who's on the 395 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: field a lot in third downs. Bettest was not, but 396 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: she's not. You know, you're you're breaking night and you 397 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: get a six yard game or third and twenty and 398 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: they let you get fifteen against time, yeah right, or 399 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I know it's only thirty forty carries a game, 400 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: but it's fourth and one or on your other one, 401 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: the one you know, one yard line and you know 402 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: he's never going to break the eighty if the just 403 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 1: scue the whole thing, like did my running back list. 404 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: Miles Sanders was near the top of the league in 405 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: yards uh per carry. You don't have a great year, 406 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 1: and if you remember against Steelers he busted off an 407 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: eighty yard You know, if they won, you run out 408 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: of there. It goes down, you know, three tenths of 409 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: a yard. Well, that was one of the arguments that 410 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: somebody made with me with Connor, you know, because I 411 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: mentioned that. You know, James Conner have his four point 412 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,919 Speaker 1: three yards of carry last year behind this supposedly awful 413 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: offensive line, and it wasn't good. I'm not I'm not 414 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: attending it was great. It's not what it used to be. 415 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: But he averaged four point three yards of carry and 416 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 1: the rest of the running backs on the roster average 417 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: three point one yards of carry. And we can all 418 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: excuse stats, and you know, I forget the saying about 419 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: stats and lies and all those things, but that that 420 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: also passes the eyeball test. You watch McFarlane run, and 421 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 1: especially Snell verse Connor on a good day. Connor, he's 422 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: much better than those guys, and anyone out there watching 423 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 1: you're listening, let alone, you know, the Steelers running back 424 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: coach an offensive coordinator can watch Nase versus Connor on 425 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: a good day and the GAP's just as big. What 426 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: I mean, right, yeah, I mean you're so you're talking 427 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: about a guy who was the thirty four best running 428 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 1: back in the league last year. This is through the analytics, 429 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: because that's what would be told, is gonna follow the 430 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: analytics on this. If Naja Harris is seventeen, they're better. 431 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: If he's half as much better than Connor, they're a 432 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: much better football team, very much better football team. It's 433 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: easier on the defense. You convert more, uh, you know, 434 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: short yardist situations, you can score some more touchdowns. Your 435 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 1: play calling becomes different. You you would hope that, you know, 436 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 1: the deep ball opens itself up a little bit more 437 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: as well, maybe play actions more more useful. You know, 438 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,640 Speaker 1: there's a lot of ripple effects to having that guy 439 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: in the backfield. And frankly, I've heard a lot of 440 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: fantasy people that I respect saying I'm gonna draft Naj 441 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,119 Speaker 1: Harris really high. He'll probably average three point eight yards 442 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: to carry behind this terrible line. And but he didn't 443 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: get volume. Even if that happens, that's still okay because 444 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,160 Speaker 1: he's still get He's also gonna catch fifty past, right, 445 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: I mean, if he's getting volume, things are going well. 446 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: But there was also like the one of the no, 447 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: I don't think so either. One of the arguments that 448 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: that that was raised was, well, if you take out 449 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 1: James Conner's two best runs of last year, he averaged 450 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: three point seven yards of carry. But you don't get 451 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: to do that. Those runs happened. They count be different 452 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: if it was a twenty carry sample size. You know, 453 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: if it's a hundred or more and you can't take out, 454 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: you can take I was five worst. I said, Okay, 455 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 1: So if we do the same thing and we take 456 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 1: out Anthony McFarlane's best run from last year here was 457 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: two point seven yards of carry. Yeah, it's horrific. Yeah, 458 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: it's back to my Miles Sanders argument and better back 459 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: than these guys. Interesting that you bring up Miles Sanders 460 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 1: because guess who was fifteenth in the league last year. 461 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: He's league average, He was league he was a league 462 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: average running back in terms of the d v o A. 463 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: And by the way, their offensive line was horrible too. 464 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: It was just riddled with injuries. Barrett Brooks, all these 465 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: guys missed a lot of time. And what would he 466 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: look like under You know, if you put up put 467 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: Miles Sanders in the Steelers offense last year, it would 468 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: have been a lot better. And I think Naj is 469 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 1: better than Miles Sanders. The average players last year, the 470 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: two guys who were league closest is zero we're Adrian 471 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: Peterson and Kareem Hunt. Okay, yeah, I mean I would 472 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,679 Speaker 1: take Naja Harris and Age a side over either one 473 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: of those guys right now, without question, without question, especially 474 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,719 Speaker 1: when you factor in the passing game with Peterson. I mean, 475 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: Peterson's the shell what he used to be as a 476 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:20,439 Speaker 1: special specimen. But I think Nausea is as well. You know, 477 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: he's no slouch um. You know, Kareem Hunts a really 478 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: good player on what I think is the best offensive 479 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: line in the league. But he was It's almost like 480 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: the same conversation in Cleveland that I bet they're having is, well, 481 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: we really like having Hunt involved, but Chubbed so much better. 482 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 1: Chubbs just better. And you see the difference when they 483 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 1: have him and when they don't. Like, Hunts a great 484 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: backup and he would start for a lot of teams 485 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: around the league. But you know, the Steelers would have 486 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: loved to have Kareem Hunt last year and they still 487 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: mighty drafting, but he's not He's not chub you know, 488 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: like Nick Chubb goes out of the lineup and incomes Hunt, 489 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: Cam Heyward and two Itt and Bush go good. Yeah, right, 490 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: that's much better. Get that other guy. He's not going 491 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: to run away from much like the other guy is. 492 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 1: Right right, Um, could you do me a favor and 493 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: pull up the draft from this year draft history dot 494 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: Com or whatever, because I understand the argument of Steeler 495 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 1: show had taken an offensive lineman instead of running back. 496 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: That's fine. We've talked about this a million times. That's 497 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: fine in a nutshell, not in the real world. And 498 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: when we were live on the air, I kind of 499 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: shrugged the sigh of relief when Derrissaw went to pick 500 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: before Steelers because they didn't have to have this conversation 501 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: over and over. But if you if you look at 502 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: the first round, there's a huge gap from dry Saw 503 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: three Harris until the next lineman. So whoever the Steelers 504 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: favorite lineman was at that time, we don't know who 505 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: that is, but we know what the league thought of 506 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: the line group. There were six taken, there were six gone, 507 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: so you're getting seven. The difference between six six and 508 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: seven was the next guy take him was Landon dick 509 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: Person at thirty seven. It's a big gap. I mean, 510 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 1: we had half a round of NFL Draft go by 511 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: without an offensive lineman being taken. Two teams that needed them, 512 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: like Baltimore. I mean, like all these playoff teams and 513 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: early round picks that you know that needed offensive lineman. 514 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 1: Don't tell me all those teams didn't have offensive line needs. 515 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: The next offensive tackle taken was Tevin Jenkins at thirty nine. Yeah, 516 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: that's that's what I'm saying, you know. Like so even 517 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 1: if you want to say they should have taken a 518 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: linement instead of a running back, I get that argument, 519 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 1: and and I think there's a strong case for it. Well, 520 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: which one, you know what I mean? That was? That 521 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: was with Alex Leatherwood going a seven team, which was 522 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: a surprise to a lot of people. Good point, good point. 523 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: And either the Steelers love Leatherwood where they had taken 524 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:53,959 Speaker 1: them twenty four, probably not so in this particular draft 525 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: didn't work out that way. They didn't They weren't going 526 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: to trade up for one. They weren't in a position 527 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: to trade up. Let's put it this way, all the 528 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: all three of the top running backs were taken before 529 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: that next offensive lineman went. Good point, good point, Right, 530 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: I mean there were three. The league told us what 531 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: they thought of that, and you talked about gaps. What 532 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: what's the gap from Javante at the very early second 533 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: to I think Sermon was the fourth one off the board. 534 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 1: It was a full round, it was at least it 535 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:21,719 Speaker 1: was actually about a round and a half more than 536 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: that Orty picks. So we set it going into the draft. 537 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 1: There's three backs that are worth it. I'm not even 538 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: sure e t N would have been in in the 539 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,159 Speaker 1: in the equation at twenty four. I think he's too 540 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:34,360 Speaker 1: much like Clyde Edwards. I mean, they're they're playing, they're 541 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 1: they're they're trying him out a wide receiver in Jacksonville, 542 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: work on his route running, work on his route running, 543 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 1: which to me, I didn't look too much into that. 544 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,199 Speaker 1: But I mean they have Robinson who they probably like. 545 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: I'm sure urban Meyer sees a lot of Percy Harvin 546 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: in a t N. But you've been to minicamps and 547 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: some of these things too. It's hard to do running 548 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: back things. I mean, it might be more valuable to 549 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 1: go run routes with the receivers. Nobody you're not making anybody. 550 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: You know, there's no blocking, there's not you know, go 551 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: run receiver routes and learn something. Now you might learn 552 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: some protections and things that you know. Those kind of 553 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: things because you're you're doing some stuff alive, but the 554 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:13,919 Speaker 1: mental reps. But it didn't I didn't look too much 555 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: into that situation. Like this guy is only going to 556 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: line up in versuit. He's like carry's he's gonna get running. 557 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: Then the ideas are going to use him as a 558 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: third down back kind of guy. So yeah, maybe you 559 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: want him to eight. We want your running out of 560 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: the slot a lot, because that's where you're gonna be 561 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 1: at on third downs. Like I don't think when training 562 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: camp opens a t NS and go to the wide 563 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 1: receiver room, no working out with the receivers have become 564 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: a better receiver right when they're in padded practices, playing 565 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: eleven on eleven and stuff like that. I mean, he's 566 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: going to be in the backfield, right, I agree, But 567 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: that's gonna do it. For this segment of the Drive 568 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: here on Steelers Nation Radio, so former partner Matt Williamson 569 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: for Jacob Reck here on site keeping us on the air. 570 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: I'm Dale Lally. We thank you for listening to this 571 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 1: edition of the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio.