1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 2: Good evening, Steeler Nation, how you doing well? That's good 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: us too. It is our number two of the Drive 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: here and we go to the phone lines to talk 6 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 2: to the Dean of Doom, the lord of living in 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 2: his fears, Steeler's historian and our friend Bob Labriola Labs. 8 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 2: Thank you for taking the time for us on a Thursday. 9 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: As always, Matt and I kind of kicked around a 10 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers question to start the show, and I wanted 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 2: to get your opinion on it to this point, Aaron Rodgers, 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: has he met your expectations? Has he exceeded your expectations? 13 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: Or do you still need to wait and see how 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 2: these last three plus games play out? 15 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 3: Stole my question for. 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 4: I gotta say he's exceeded my expectations. I mean, the 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 4: you know, the physical part of it, the way he 18 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 4: plays the game is still at a high level. I mean, 19 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 4: and I didn't really have any you know, I wasn't 20 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 4: really paying close attention to him, you know, when he 21 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 4: was with the Jets, so you know, watching it from Afar, 22 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 4: hearing about it from afar, you know, forty two year 23 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 4: old man, you know, the whole thing. But he can 24 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 4: really still play. He can spin it, he sees it, 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 4: he can often anticipate it, and he's throwing the ball 26 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 4: in an anticipatory and on time way. But what has 27 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 4: really impressed me is, you know, the way he has 28 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 4: been a quarterback, a leader. He is available for his teammates. 29 00:01:53,720 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 4: He's an example. You know, the narrative that was you know, 30 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 4: following Aaron Rodgers around, you know, in terms of what 31 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 4: kind of guy he was teammate and all that kind 32 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 4: of stuff to me is nothing. There's nothing farther from 33 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 4: the what we have learned to be the truth. So 34 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 4: uh yeah, I'm really uh, I'm really high on what 35 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 4: the Steelers have gotten from Aaron Rodgers this season. And 36 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 4: you know, if he's interested and I was in charge, 37 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 4: which I am not, I would be interested in, uh 38 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 4: maybe making it more than a one year situation. 39 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's where I was going to kind of piggyback, 40 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 3: is I. I know you're not deep into the draft 41 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 3: prep and all that stuff, but it doesn't look like 42 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: a lot of great options to go down that road. 43 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 3: And even if they were, who would be a better 44 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 3: mentor than Rogers to spend a year in the quarterback 45 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 3: room with. And again I have no clue if he 46 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 3: has any interest at all, but I don't see a 47 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 3: lot of other options, and I'm happy with this one. Hey, Aaron, 48 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 3: you to do it and try it again? 49 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 4: You know? Yeah again, No, but I mean he's gotta 50 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 4: I don't know if he is interested. Yeah, yeah, And 51 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 4: I and I think that that is the you know, 52 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 4: his level of interest, his buy in, his wont to 53 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 4: all of that is what may is in my mind, 54 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 4: what is what has made him more than what I expected? Again, 55 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 4: I mean I had nothing to concrete in terms of 56 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 4: having seen any of that, So you know, I almost 57 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 4: kind of feel guilty saying that what he's doing now 58 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 4: is beyond my expectations because you know, maybe that's been 59 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 4: him all long and I just didn't know it. So 60 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 4: but you know, the answer the question, I would say, 61 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 4: he has exceeded my expectations. And what has really impressed 62 00:03:54,640 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 4: me is, you know, more than the above the next stuff. Yeah, 63 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 4: the presence and yeah he's not wearing a wristband, what 64 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 4: plays on it? Seriously, I mean, this isn't somebody who 65 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 4: you know, was in this system before he has no 66 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 4: he had no history with Arthur Smith, so you know, 67 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 4: there's no easy hook for him in terms of learning 68 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 4: this offense. And the guy never wore the wristband. I 69 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 4: mean he is capable of learning it and hearing it 70 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 4: and communicating it to his teammates, you know, within the 71 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 4: parameters of the play clock, and has been since this started. 72 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 4: So you know, I don't I don't think that that's 73 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 4: an I don't think that's an insignificant thing in terms 74 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 4: of his intelligence and awareness. 75 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 3: If the Steelers were we haven't tug into the practice report, 76 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 3: but if Watt and her Big you're both out for 77 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: this game, how much does that concern you? Against this 78 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 3: passing attack they're going to visit. 79 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 4: How about this running attack? 80 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 3: Well, all the above, I guess yeah, yeah. 81 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, if no Want and no Herbiic 82 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 4: that's two of your top three edge people, then that's significant. Uh. 83 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 4: But you know this is I don't know the Lions. 84 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 4: This is a very difficult opponent. I'm not really comfortable with, 85 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 4: you know, the the living in my fierce thing. You 86 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:48,679 Speaker 4: look at the Steelers injury report, you know there there's 87 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 4: just seems to be a lot of areas where you 88 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 4: know the Steelers are going to be kind of dipping 89 00:05:54,040 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 4: down into the well of their depths, right, James Pierre 90 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 4: gonna play because those two receivers aren't bad either. Think 91 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 4: Brown and Jameson Williams. And you know, Golf he can 92 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 4: he can be very efficient if given the time. And 93 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 4: you know, I don't think you can necessarily blitz him 94 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 4: because you know that will leave you thinner in terms 95 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 4: of the people you can commit to the coverage. As 96 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 4: already said, the receivers I think are both pretty good. 97 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 4: So you know, the Lions of the highest scoring team 98 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 4: in the league, you know, and we're in We're in 99 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 4: week what is this week sixteen? Yeah? Yeah, okay, So 100 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 4: this isn't one of those small sample sizes where you 101 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 4: can say, yeah, they they blew out a couple of 102 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 4: teams and they ranked number one in the NFL scoring 103 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 4: a This is a multi month deal for them, and 104 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 4: they're at home, and so I mean, I you know 105 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 4: they're gonna they're gonna score a lot of points. 106 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 5: I believe the score in twenty four no, uh, because 107 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 5: you know, high twenties might get you by if you 108 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 5: had all. 109 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 4: Your defensive players, but you don't so uh. And and 110 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 4: some of the guys you're missing are your potentially dynamic playmakers. 111 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 4: And I know that's the way I think you've got 112 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 4: to play defense against this team too. You cannot expect 113 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 4: to shut them down. They're not going to go three 114 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 4: and out a bunch of times. You're gonna give up yards. 115 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 4: They're gonna move the ball, they're gonna possess the ball. 116 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 4: But hopefully, you know, you do enough in some situations 117 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 4: to create negative negativity for them. Maybe they have to 118 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 4: settle for some field goals and maybe you get a 119 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 4: few takeaways, and that's gonna be the way you play 120 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 4: good defense against them. But again, you know, no what, 121 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 4: no herbig, no James Pierre so far, and all due 122 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 4: respect to James Pierre, Uh, you know he's not in 123 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 4: any danger of getting voted to the Pro Bowl either. 124 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 4: And you know you don't even have him, so yes, 125 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 4: very much so. And then in terms of the your 126 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 4: your offense to try and you know, keep up with them. 127 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 4: Who's responsible for Aden Hutchinson? Well but yeah, right, I 128 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 4: mean because they list him. You know, I've seen various 129 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 4: depth charts, you know the line sometimes they list him 130 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 4: as an edge. Sometimes they list him as a left 131 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 4: defensive end. And I'm enough about the Lions too, you know, 132 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 4: do they keep it? Is he kind of anchored in 133 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 4: one spot? Okay? So I mean, uh, whose problem is that? Yeah, 134 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 4: you know Dylan Cook played well last week, but uh 135 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 4: that happened against a uh players who are lesser than 136 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 4: Aiden Hutchinson, and uh, you know he got some help, 137 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 4: which you know it was only fair and right. So 138 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 4: I mean, I don't you know, this is a. 139 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 3: Tough game in their building and. 140 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 4: Right, all of that stuff. So you know, I understand 141 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 4: there are you know, best case scenarios in terms of 142 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 4: what could happen to where that Week eighteen game against 143 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 4: the Ravens is meaningless in a good way for the Steelers. 144 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 4: But I don't. I only anticipate the Steelers path to 145 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 4: that being a simple one or an easy one. So 146 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 4: you know, I would sitting here right now if you 147 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 4: ask me what I think is going to be the 148 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 4: outcome Sunday, I wouldn't be real confident in a victory. 149 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 4: I'll tell you that. Yeah. 150 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 3: I'm leaning that way too. 151 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: I think we all are, especially with some of the 152 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 2: injury stuff that has popped up. The one thing I 153 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: will say, though, LABS is certainly feels, you know, a 154 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 2: lot different amongst Steeler Nation in Western Pennsylvania and countrywide 155 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 2: and worldwide here on December eighteenth, twenty twenty five than 156 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: it did three hundred and sixty five days ago, when 157 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 2: this team felt like it was going in the opposite direction, 158 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 2: the wrong direction at the absolute worst time. Now it 159 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: feels like the quarterback is getting better, the offense is 160 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: getting better, the defense, despite some key injuries, is maintaining form. 161 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 2: I'm with you, guys, like it does seem like they're 162 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: kind of stepping into a hornet's nest on Sunday against 163 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: a desperate team and a tough environment, a physical team 164 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 2: too that can kind of match how the Steelers want 165 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 2: to play in that regard. But I also got to 166 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 2: think there's a lot more optimism, There's a lot more 167 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 2: you know, just kind of energy and juice down there 168 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: on the south side. Then again, you know three hundred 169 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 2: and sixty five days ago, where it felt like this 170 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 2: was heading in the opposite direction. 171 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, and again I trace a lot of that back 172 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 4: to the quarterback totally. I just do I mean, I 173 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 4: just think that you know, Rogers Aaron Rodgers has it it. 174 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 4: You know, they refer to as it. I don't know 175 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 4: how I would necessarily define the word it in that context. 176 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 4: But you know, he's one of these guys who you know, 177 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 4: when you hear Deon Sanders talk about the Hall of Fame, 178 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 4: you know, and he says there's different wings and plateaus 179 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 4: and all that stuff. You know, Aaron Rodgers is at 180 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 4: the upper level of his position. Uh. And he is 181 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 4: a certain in my opinion, you know, sure sure thing, 182 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 4: first ballot inductee. So you know, a lot of I 183 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 4: don't know presence or again I don't I don't have 184 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 4: any firsthand experience with any of this stuff. But I 185 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 4: just got to believe that this guy, you know, kind 186 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 4: of like the pied piper. I mean, he's playing the 187 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 4: tune and everybody's listening and following and they're in line. 188 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 4: And you know, he's a guy who I think his 189 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 4: performance even gives his words more impact and credibility. Uh. 190 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 4: You know, last week, would he completed eighty three percent 191 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 4: or some ridiculous I mean seriously, you know. 192 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 6: His career, Yeah, and. 193 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 4: But and hey, you know, Ben roff Burger is a 194 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 4: franchise all time player, at the position. He's a Hall 195 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 4: of Famer two and all that kind of stuff. But 196 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 4: they are different guys. You know, the way Ben won 197 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 4: games is not the way Aaron Rodgers does it. And 198 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 4: I'm not saying one is better than the other, but 199 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 4: they're different. And you know, watching it, maybe it's because 200 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 4: you know, we're used to Ben, or we grew up 201 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 4: with Ben, or however you want to And that's fine. 202 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,719 Speaker 4: Like I said, a lot of great statistics, a lot 203 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 4: of comeback wins, playoff games, championships, all that good stuff, 204 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 4: but Rogers is just different. You know, I don't Ben 205 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 4: would make big plays and have big games and go 206 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 4: down the field deep and all that kind of stuff. 207 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 4: But I don't remember a whole lot of eighty percent 208 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 4: completion games either. So, as I said, it's different, I 209 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 4: think that Rogers has a I don't know an aura 210 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 4: about him. That's again Ben had that too, But they're different, 211 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 4: And especially when you're comparing Rogers now with with Russell 212 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 4: Wilson last year. And again I'm not running him down either, 213 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 4: but I mean there's to be there. There's those guys 214 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 4: are on two different levels, and you know it's I'm 215 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 4: just like I see it. I'm not trying to run 216 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 4: down Russell Wilson or any of that stuff. I mean, 217 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 4: it's just if you can't watch Aaron Rodgers and Russell 218 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 4: Wilson play and see that there's a significant difference in 219 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 4: the way they play, the way they handle themselves, the 220 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 4: way they comport themselves, the way they interact with teammates, 221 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 4: and how their teammates interact with them as as a 222 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 4: result of that, well, then you know, I don't know 223 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 4: what you're watching live. 224 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 3: Last thing I got for you is Wes mentioned, you know, 225 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 3: the end of last year, and I understand that Pierre 226 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 3: might not play this week again, and Elliott is on 227 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 3: injured reserve. So it's killerbrew. That's an another thing people 228 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 3: want to talk about. But boy, the Steelers have churned 229 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: through defensive backs since the end of last year at 230 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 3: a remarkable rate. And you could say, hey, maybe they 231 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 3: don't evaluate defensive backs well, or you know, we're about 232 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 3: to make a Ramsey trade blah blah blah blah. But 233 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 3: I think they may have gotten it right. I mean, 234 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 3: I'm pretty I'm very happy with where this secondary is. 235 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 3: I mean, there was a lot of puzzle pieces that 236 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 3: didn't quite go together, and now I think they're starting 237 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 3: to snap together where they're supposed to be. 238 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I do think that, you know, And there 239 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 4: were some misses, yeah, in terms of accumulation of right right, 240 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 4: thorn hill sligh. But let's love forget Beanie Bishop was 241 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 4: a big part of this secondary last year. Right, Yeah, 242 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 4: Beanie Bishop. Again, nothing against Beanie Bishop. He's got good 243 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 4: enough to play with this group this year, right. Uh. So, 244 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 4: you know, And and Ramsey, Jalen Ramsey is he's kind 245 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 4: of the Aaron Rodgers of the defense. I think he 246 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 4: is a guy who he is just a presence. He 247 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 4: is a force as a personality, and I think a 248 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 4: lot of times you need that kind of stuff coming down, Uh, 249 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 4: this the stretch of a season like this, big game 250 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 4: after big game after big game. You know, Mike Toman 251 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 4: always says, don't blink. Ramsey won't let you. You know, 252 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 4: he's the first, he's he'll stick his face in anything. 253 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 4: He will talk to anybody. Uh, there's no intimidation of him. 254 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 4: He doesn't back down from anybody or anything. Uh. And 255 00:16:54,440 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 4: you know that's a good addition, right, A good addition 256 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 4: in terms of both his skill set and the demeanor 257 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 4: that he brings to that unit, and to that the 258 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 4: unit of the defense and the defense as a whole 259 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 4: part of the team. I you know, the thing with 260 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 4: chemistry with me has always been, you know, the question 261 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 4: is does good chemistry on the team lead to winning 262 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 4: or does winning lead to good chemistry on the team, 263 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 4: because you know, I don't know that chemistry is going 264 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,360 Speaker 4: to get you through many losing streaks. 265 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 3: If you're talented. 266 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 4: Right. Yeah, So again, like you said, yeah, I think 267 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 4: I agree with you, Matt. I think they did a 268 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 4: lot of good things. They hit on a lot of 269 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 4: these moves that they made guys that they brought in. 270 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 4: They didn't hit on. 271 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 3: Them all, but they didn't sit on their hands either. 272 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 4: Well right, Yeah, And a lot of this kind of 273 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 4: roster turnover might have might seem drastic when you look 274 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 4: at it in the rear view mirror, but as you mentioned, 275 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 4: compared the team December twenty twenty four to December twenty 276 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 4: twenty five, I think pretty much all of it was necessary. 277 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 2: Great stuff is always with the Great Bob Labriola, the 278 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 2: Dina Doom, the Lord of living in his fears labs. 279 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 2: Thank you, and we'll be listening on Sunday for you 280 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 2: part of the pregame show with Mike Persuda and Jerry Dulac. 281 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 6: Thank you for the time as always, Hey. 282 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 4: No problem, have a nice weekend, sools you as well. 283 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 6: There he goes Bob Labriola. 284 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 2: Oh and we should have told him because next Thursday's 285 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 2: Christmas spoiler alert, We're we're not gonna have a show Thursday, 286 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 2: so we should have given Labs the old Happy Holidays, 287 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas. 288 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 6: But that's all right. We'll talk to him. 289 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 2: We'll talk to him between now and then when we 290 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,479 Speaker 2: come back on the other side, Matt, we do have 291 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: the Steelers injury report. There's less some encouraging news there. Yeah, 292 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 2: want to get into that with you, as well as 293 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 2: the Steelers and these AFC playoff scenarios that we've gotten 294 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 2: a few tweets about in the last forty eight hours 295 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 2: or so. Here, we'll do all that and more as 296 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 2: we roll along. U'ler Williamson, It's the Drive on Steelers 297 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 2: Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes. 298 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of 299 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio. 300 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 2: Back on the drive here and we have the Steelers 301 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 2: Thursday practice participation Injury Report Week sixteen edition. 302 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 6: We also have it for the Detroit Lions. 303 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 3: I haven't seen the Lions, Matt, how about. 304 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 6: The I know what's the. 305 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 2: That's the joke I was trying to make you when 306 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,239 Speaker 2: you said I haven't seen the Lions. I was going 307 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 2: to say, well, how about the Tigers and Bears? Oh my, 308 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 2: but I just totally brain farted and completely completely stepped 309 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 2: in it. Instead, you want the good news with the 310 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 2: bad news bringing on TV good news or bad news 311 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,719 Speaker 2: thumbs up, thumbs down. Oh, he does his best walking 312 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 2: Phoenix and Gladiator. 313 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 3: I think there's more bad than good. 314 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 6: There's more bad than good. 315 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,400 Speaker 2: Zach Fraser did not practice today with a triceps injury. 316 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 6: That's new, right, that's new. 317 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 3: I don't know if we went over yesterday's I don't 318 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 3: think we didn't think we did. 319 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: We had so much, We had so much going on. Yeah, 320 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 2: we usually do that towards the end of the show. 321 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 2: And we had Jalen Warren call in yesterday's was was 322 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: smart like Derek Harmon was a full participant. Herbig didn't practice? 323 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 2: Uh Sayamal who didn't practice? Not a lot of surprising 324 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 2: in there yesterday. 325 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 3: The reason I asked is Fraser was not on it yesterday. 326 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 4: He was not. 327 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 6: That's important. That's important to note, as was christ Alignment maybe. 328 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,479 Speaker 2: As was Christian Koontz who was not on it yesterday, 329 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 2: who was today with a knee issue. 330 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 3: Now, these things could both be minor. 331 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 2: It could be a it's this point in the season, 332 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 2: we're gonna be extra cautious. Give him a day. Yeah, 333 00:20:58,200 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 2: but on a Thursday. 334 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 3: Warren is an illness before the game because he has 335 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,199 Speaker 3: an illness, but he's playing, yes, yeah. 336 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 2: But not great with with Fraser when you already have 337 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 2: the other injuries on the offensive line and Isaac Sayamalu 338 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 2: still has not practiced yet this week. 339 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 6: He was d NP again today. So no Sayamalu Wednesday 340 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 6: or today Thursday. 341 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 3: So here's what that Fraser today talk about real quick. 342 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 3: I mean, like worst case scenario, Seamalu doesn't play, Pete 343 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 3: doesn't play, Fraser doesn't play. I'm just saying that. 344 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,439 Speaker 6: He was limited today. Okay, But the other two d n. 345 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 3: P because Calvin would be your no. Spencer would be 346 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 3: your left guard. Yeah, I did it every time. 347 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 6: McCollum would be yourself. 348 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 3: Would be your center. But then your six to zero 349 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 3: line stuff goes out. 350 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 2: The door, completely out the work, right, and you better 351 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 2: start praying you don't pick up another. 352 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 6: Knock Ford Field five fifteen. 353 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 3: On Sunday, exactly because if Fraser plays, there was talk 354 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 3: or I at least asked McCollum would play left guard 355 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 3: and Erson would do his sixth guy stuff whenever, you'd 356 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 3: still have that possibility, which I don't love either. I 357 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 3: think McCollum's really only a center. I'm with you anyways, 358 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 3: I'm just trying to put but yeah, no, it's it's 359 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 3: a messy. 360 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 6: It's messy. 361 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 2: There's a lot more questions than there are answers. Yes 362 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: at this point, certainly so Fraser d n P triceps, 363 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 2: say Malo d n P triceps. Pete limited with that concussion. 364 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 2: He was limited yesterday on Wednesday, So not necessarily a 365 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 2: step forward, but not a step back either. Yeah, maybe 366 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 2: a wait and see. 367 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 3: Right now, do the concussion arithmetic here. 368 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 6: Like not our strong sat. 369 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 3: Is he still on schedule or is that a setback. 370 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 6: To be limited and then limited? 371 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know. I don't know that he had pool. 372 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,400 Speaker 6: You'd like to see him, but yes. 373 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 3: So limited can be a wide variety of things too, 374 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 3: all right. 375 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 6: Yes it can. 376 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 2: Keanu Benton was not on the practice report yesterday, Matt 377 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 2: he popped up limited today with an ankle injury. Yeah, 378 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 2: so again some some more not so great news there 379 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 2: as you're looking a little thin and some of your 380 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 2: offensive and defensive lines and the trenches there. And then 381 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 2: finally as I'm feeling like the Dina doom now and 382 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 2: the bearer of bad news, Nick herbigs still d NP 383 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 2: with that hamstring. Doesn't sound great for Sunday for him, 384 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 2: especially when you consider even more so, it sounds like they. 385 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 6: Brought in Jeremiah Moon. 386 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 3: Yes, they made He. 387 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 2: Practiced yesterday with the Panthers. Apparently got in at one 388 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 2: A according to I think it was Kabali who reported this. 389 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 2: Landed at one am practice with the Steelers today. 390 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 3: So did they sign Moon off the practice squad? Yes, 391 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 3: so he went straight to the fifty. 392 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 6: Three, I believe. 393 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 3: So he's playing. I believe that tells you everything. 394 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 6: That tells bring the tea leaves there, Okay. 395 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 3: I thought that I wasn't certain if they had Moon 396 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 3: off the street to their practice squad or I didn't. 397 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, he was with the Panthers now, he has to. 398 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 3: Be on a team for three weeks. 399 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 6: I believe, yes, that is that. 400 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 3: That's the that's the practice squad on the fifty three 401 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 3: for three weeks. A special teamer though too. 402 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, And he's familiar with the organization, and he's about 403 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 2: for needing somebody desperately at this point. 404 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 6: He's about as good as you. 405 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 3: Can get, right, But it sounds like you need someone desperately. 406 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 6: It just sounds like you need something desperately at this point. 407 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 3: And obviously Wat didn't do any today, right. 408 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 6: No, he did not? He did not. Good. 409 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 2: Wait, also, still no James Pierre yet this week? He 410 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 2: DNP on Wednesday and today. 411 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 3: I don't like that at all. 412 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 6: Don't like that one bit. 413 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: No, I don't hate the trio of Porter Echels Samuel same. 414 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,920 Speaker 3: But again, what if someone gets hurt at Ford Field 415 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 3: at five pm or whatever? Right, like, oh no, what 416 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 3: are you doing there? 417 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 6: Your depth is almost completely wiped out. 418 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 3: At this Ramsey a corner again or you know. 419 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 2: Right, jabro Pepper's d MP with an illness, Ben Scronick 420 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 2: limited with an illness. 421 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 6: Matt. You know what they say TV, you know what 422 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 6: they say. 423 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 2: There's something going around around, something going around this time 424 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 2: of year, so that's kind of the bear of bad 425 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 2: news stuff. Zach Fraser pops up with a tricep injury, 426 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,400 Speaker 2: Keanu Benton pops up with an ankle. Not good news 427 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 2: on Pierre Pierre Herbig or say Amalou. Yeah, the good 428 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 2: news is Derek Harmon both Wednesday and today full practice participations. 429 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 6: Looks like he's back in a green light for him. 430 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 3: So that's that's very good. 431 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 2: I wanted to end with some good news there, and 432 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 2: that's about all that I can deliver. Where the rest 433 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 2: of it is, it's. 434 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 3: Cops a lot more half empty than half full. 435 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 2: That cup is maybe thirty five, right, and at a 436 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 2: time where hey, listen, as we've laid out, Detroit's got 437 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 2: some injury concerns too. 438 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, but they've been hit hard, especially their secondary 439 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 3: last I mean, they lost Branch and Arnold. 440 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 2: And right, you were hoping that your health was moving 441 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 2: in the right direction this time of year, whereas today 442 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 2: it's moving in the wrong direction. And these things can 443 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:45,959 Speaker 2: change change quickly, and we'll keep an eye on on 444 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 2: everything tomorrow. But I would say I'm I'm certainly more pessimistic, 445 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 2: definitely less optimistic about some of this Steeler's injury stuff. 446 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 3: We just went over then. 447 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, then when you and I sat down together a 448 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 2: couple hours ago. We have gotten a few tweets in 449 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 2: the last forty eight hours ish, you know, since the 450 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 2: aftermath of that win on Monday Night football against the Dolphins. 451 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 2: RJ tweeted us about it. JC tweeted us about it. 452 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 2: Must be something with having a two letter RJ. 453 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 6: JC. 454 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 2: Frankie Z tweeted us about this, and there was one 455 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 2: more I think here, Rob I think was the other 456 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 2: one maybe who tweeted us about this, But asking about 457 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 2: it seems really confusing. Now in the playoff scenario scenario 458 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 2: for the Steelers, can you break that down? 459 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 6: Can you lend some clarity? It is really confusing. 460 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 3: Yes, I'm not the one to do it. I hope 461 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 3: you're taking the ball and run with it. Here. 462 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 2: I will tell you this, there is no way for 463 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 2: the Steelers to clinch this weekend, right, So even if 464 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 2: the Steelers win and the Ravens lose, it's still not 465 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 2: a done deal for the Steelers to win the division. 466 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 3: Obviously, they control their own fate, not destiny. If they 467 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 3: win out they win. 468 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 2: Absolutely, no, absolutely, and I think basically at the same time, 469 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 2: if you beat the Ravens in week eighteen, nothing else matters. 470 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: You could lose to the Lions, lose to the Browns, 471 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 2: but as long as you beat the Ravens, yeah, you're in. 472 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 3: I don't know if you know any more about this 473 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 3: than me, but I've been asked several times. I know 474 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 3: there's a pretty sure there's a scenario where the Browns 475 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,159 Speaker 3: game means nothing like that might not. I can't remember 476 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 3: if this if it means the Steelers win this week 477 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,360 Speaker 3: and the Ravens win this week, or vice versa, or 478 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 3: one or the other. But there is something out there 479 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 3: mathematically that the Browns game might mean zero. 480 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 6: May interesting. 481 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 3: And if I'm right about that, would you react. 482 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 6: Everybody that would? I get what you're saying. 483 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 2: If yes, because the Browns game it would be im 484 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 2: possible to clinch. 485 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 6: So it would all come down to Week eighteen anyways. 486 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 3: Right like Week eighteen basically playoff start Week eighteen, right 487 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 3: that and eight Week seventeen could basically be a meaningless game, 488 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 3: could be maybe. I don't know how you get there, though. 489 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 2: The way that you get to who there, I think 490 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 2: is the Ravens beat the Patriots. I want to say, See, 491 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 2: I don't even think that factors in because it's an 492 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 2: NFC game. 493 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 6: Head to head is the number one tie breaker. 494 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:17,400 Speaker 2: The misnomer, I think is a lot of people think 495 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 2: your division record is kind of the end all be 496 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 2: all after that, but your common opponents record is a 497 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 2: big deal too. I think that means more than your 498 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 2: AFC records. Your common opponents record means more than your 499 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: AFC record. So if the Steelers and Ravens split and 500 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 2: they have the same divisional record, it would come down 501 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: to your common opponents record, which currently actually is the 502 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 2: only tiebreaker that Baltimore has over Pittsburgh. 503 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 6: Gotcha, Okay, now. 504 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:43,479 Speaker 3: But the Browns are a common opponent. 505 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 2: The Browns are a common opponent. Yes, the Lions are 506 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 2: also common opponents. So I think the only way really 507 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 2: that the proverbial Cleveland doesn't matter is if you both 508 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 2: take care of business before then and then it all 509 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 2: comes down to. 510 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 6: Week eighteen regardless. 511 00:28:58,040 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 4: Ok. 512 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 2: You get what I'm saying, But I think it's still 513 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: difficult for that to be a scenario where the Cleveland 514 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 2: game would mean nothing but beat the Ravens Week eighteen 515 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 2: and nothing else matters. We know that as of now, 516 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 2: there's two ways to clinch a spot before then. Okay, okay, 517 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 2: for the Steelers, the first is beat Detroit and Cleveland 518 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 2: and have the Ravens. 519 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 6: Lose once, only once, only once. 520 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 2: Because then with the common opponents thing, you would have 521 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 2: the division upper hand and the common opponent's upper hand, gotcha, 522 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 2: So if you split the. 523 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 3: Head to down pay the Packers. They played Patriots this week. 524 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 3: They play pack. 525 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 6: Patriots at home, Packers on the road. 526 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 3: So I just don't love chance of winning Detroit. 527 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 6: Neither do I. But I don't love I don't. 528 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 2: I do like Baltimore's chances of losing at least one 529 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 2: of those games. 530 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 3: Me too. A lot of people think that they have 531 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 3: an easy game in its Patriots. I think the total opposite. 532 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 3: I think it's an awful game for the oh. 533 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 2: I think the Patriots now they're sitting up straight in 534 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 2: their chair and they've recaptured their attention, and yeah, Buffalo's 535 00:29:57,840 --> 00:29:59,479 Speaker 2: hot on our heels and we want to keep this 536 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 2: home old advantage and all that. 537 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 3: So the Packer games a week or two. 538 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 6: Agree, but it's still on the Lambeau. Whether it could 539 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 6: be crazy. 540 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 2: How much is Lamar going to be able to move 541 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 2: if it's seven degrees and snowing and. 542 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 6: He's already compromised. Packers are good. 543 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 2: So you beat the Ravens in week eighteen and nothing 544 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 2: else matters. The two ways to clutch a spot before 545 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 2: then you beat Detroit and Cleveland, and the Ravens lose 546 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 2: to either Green Bay or New England common opponents, right, 547 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 2: or you beat you win one of your next two games, 548 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 2: and Baltimore loses to both New England and then Green Bay. 549 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 3: To me, that's the most. 550 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 6: Likely, I would think. So you beat, you win. 551 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 3: That's what you're truly rooting for. 552 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 2: I mean, if you ask me of other than just 553 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 2: straight up beating the Ravens week eighteen, the next most 554 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 2: realistic scenario is you losing Detroit this weekend, you beat 555 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 2: the Browns, Ravens lose both at home to New England 556 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 2: and then on the road in Lambeau, and then it's 557 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 2: you've built yourself a cushion in week eighteen. 558 00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 6: Doesn't matter, of. 559 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 3: Course, the world doesn't work this way, the league doesn't 560 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 3: work this way. But just based on Vegas spreads, Vegas 561 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 3: is telling you you're a dog in Detroit. I bet 562 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 3: you're going to be a favorite in Cleveland. Yeah, yes, so, 563 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 3: I mean one in one is what they are predicting. 564 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of other stuff that can happen 565 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 2: again related to Baltimore, related to the Steelers. But what 566 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 2: we know here today December eighteenth, Year of Our Lord 567 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five Matt Williamson, is you beat the Ravens 568 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 2: in week eighteen and nothing else would matter. But if 569 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 2: you want to clinch before then beat Detroit and Cleveland 570 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 2: and have the Ravens lose once over these next two weeks, 571 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 2: or split with Detroit and Cleveland and have the Ravens 572 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 2: lose twice to New England and Green Bay. It's also possible, 573 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 2: but insanely unlikely, that the Steelers could finish ten and 574 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 2: seven and get a wild card spot, but a lot 575 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 2: of stuff because they don't have that they have they 576 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 2: don't have the tie breaker over the Chargers. They don't 577 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 2: have the tie breaker over the Bills. So it would 578 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,240 Speaker 2: have to come down to it. It would have to 579 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 2: come down to, like a weird they end up with 580 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 2: a better AFC record than Houston or something like that. 581 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 3: Good teams would have to lose the Houston's and Jacksonville 582 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 3: or the. 583 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 2: Colts somehow find a way to factor in and you've 584 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 2: got the head to head against Indianapolis. 585 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 6: But that's very unlike. Yeah, yeah, those are kind of 586 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 6: the three. 587 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 2: Again, a lot can move, a lot can change, but 588 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 2: the three things right now that are ironclad. You beat 589 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 2: the Ravens week eighteen, nothing else matters, but before then, 590 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 2: beat Detroit and Cleveland and the Ravens lose once to 591 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 2: New England or green Bay. Or you beat one of 592 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 2: Detroit and Cleveland and the Ravens lose twice in these 593 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 2: next two weeks at New England or sorry hosting New 594 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: England and then at Green Bay. 595 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 3: And I know, I assume that this will get a 596 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 3: lot clearer and a lot easier to understand on Monday. Yeah, 597 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 3: Like when we get in here on Monday, it'll be like, well, 598 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 3: as long as you win one of these two games, 599 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 3: you'll win. Or I mean, I think it'd be pretty 600 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 3: simple on Monday. 601 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 2: It's a little bit of a Hodge dodge right now. 602 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 2: Matt Williams, Matt Willimson, But I think you're right. I 603 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 2: think that it will be much that this will be 604 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 2: much clearer on Sunday. I think particularly because of what 605 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 2: happens with Baltimore and New England and what that means 606 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,240 Speaker 2: for common opponent record and all those. 607 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 3: Thea the common opponent stuff I. 608 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 6: Know is very important and all those tie breakers that 609 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 6: makes it convoluted too. Yes, another tweeter or two to 610 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 6: close us down. 611 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 2: On the other side, we also have to give some 612 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 2: thoughts about this big Thursday night football game in Seattle 613 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 2: tonight between the Seahawks and the Rams. We'll do that 614 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 2: to close down the show. 615 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 6: When we return. It is the Drive on Steelers Nation 616 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 6: Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. 617 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 618 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 619 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: Down the home stretch here on the Drive, as we 620 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 2: will cross our final tees and dot our final eyes 621 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 2: before we get up. 622 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 6: Out of here. 623 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 2: We got a tweet here from Mojo Matt along the 624 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 2: you know the topic lines of like our around campus 625 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 2: and NFL draft and quarterback discussions. Do you think that 626 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,399 Speaker 2: there's a chance if they you know, if they don't 627 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,759 Speaker 2: land one of these big guys Mendoza and more and 628 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:21,799 Speaker 2: no one else emerges as a viable option. Does it 629 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,359 Speaker 2: feel like it could be Mason and Will Howard as 630 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:26,319 Speaker 2: the plan in twenty twenty six, and then you go 631 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:28,760 Speaker 2: back to the quarterback draft well in twenty seven. 632 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 6: No, I think the second. 633 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 2: Part of that's true. Part two is yes, I think 634 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 2: there is a great chance now that they decide to 635 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 2: go back to the quarterback well in twenty twenty seven. 636 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 6: Right, because listen. 637 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 3: We've been we've been mining a man, there's not much WoT. 638 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 2: Look at how much the around campus segment changed from 639 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 2: when we started it in September to Club Nick Seeya 640 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 2: Allor se Ya nuss Meyer, Seeya Sellers is coming back 641 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 2: to school, Arch is coming back to school. 642 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 3: Let me shop you real quick. Those first three you mentioned, 643 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:02,359 Speaker 3: could any of them. 644 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 2: Yes, get back in So you know what's funny is 645 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:08,840 Speaker 2: if we and maybe we should do this before we 646 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 2: get to Indianapolis in the car, if we can have 647 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,160 Speaker 2: one of these draft. 648 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 3: Nicks on, Oh, we'll find somebody. 649 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would like to ask them that question, right right, 650 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 2: of all the guy of the big names, and obviously 651 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 2: Arch and Sellers are out of the equation because they're 652 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:25,320 Speaker 2: returning to school. But of the club Nick Nussmeyer Allers, 653 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,440 Speaker 2: the three of the five big names going into this 654 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 2: year that are going to be in the draft, right 655 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 2: that all had different injuries and performance issues. Could any 656 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 2: of them which one would be the most likely to 657 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 2: work their way into the first round or even Tyler 658 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:39,800 Speaker 2: shuck range. 659 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:43,279 Speaker 3: High seconds and say or potential starters, because definitely one 660 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:45,440 Speaker 3: of them can settle for a nobody. I don't want 661 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 3: to say settle for anybody. 662 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:46,719 Speaker 5: I want. 663 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 3: I want a difference, man, You and I. 664 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 2: You and I have talked about when the time is when, 665 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:52,040 Speaker 2: whenever the time is. If it's in twenty six, if 666 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 2: it's in twenty seven, I want to go shopping at Mercedes, 667 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:58,920 Speaker 2: Benz and Porsche, and like I want to go I 668 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 2: want to go to the lux card a lot when 669 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 2: I'm looking for my next quarterback. 670 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:05,520 Speaker 6: I don't want to keep going to Uncle Bob's used 671 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:07,800 Speaker 6: car sales around the corner. I'm going to the port. 672 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:10,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to the Porsche dealership, baby, and I'm taking 673 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 2: my swing on a on a sports car. 674 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:13,080 Speaker 4: Yeah. 675 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 3: Like, this is a great Honda Cord and it's thirty 676 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 3: percent cheaper than it should be. It's the best deal 677 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:21,319 Speaker 3: in town. Like that's done. 678 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 6: I'm gonna look at Ferraris and Lamborghinis. And Porsche and Mercedes, 679 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:25,440 Speaker 6: Benz and right. 680 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 3: And if you miss, you miss, and I'm gonna do 681 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 3: the same thing. 682 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:29,440 Speaker 2: If it's a lemon grat and I'm gonna step back 683 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:30,680 Speaker 2: up to the plate in two years again. 684 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 3: I want home run hitters. 685 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 2: I want home run hitters. And a lot can change 686 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,239 Speaker 2: between now in April, but I'm I'll be the first one. 687 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:38,880 Speaker 6: Like hand up. 688 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 2: I thought this was going to be an all time 689 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:42,520 Speaker 2: quarterback class, and a lot of people did. And it 690 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,720 Speaker 2: feels like that canon. This could still, I think, surprise 691 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 2: people and be a good one, but it feels like 692 00:36:46,719 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 2: that can has been kicked down the road, especially when 693 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 2: let's be honest, the two biggest names were Arch and Sellers, 694 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 2: and they're. 695 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 6: Both going out, Yeah yeah, yeah right. The other big 696 00:36:57,560 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 6: three all had issues. 697 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:01,479 Speaker 3: Three were pretty well saw there. 698 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:04,560 Speaker 2: They were very well sat but they weren't Arch and Sellers, 699 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:07,759 Speaker 2: who were the top two. And I like to pat 700 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,719 Speaker 2: ourselves on the back. We mentioned Mendoza along with those 701 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 2: five back starting in August, because you and I had 702 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:17,720 Speaker 2: some conversation with some some football people who were like, hey, 703 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 2: everyone's talking about these big five, but keep an eye 704 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 2: on Fernando Mendoza as well. 705 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 6: I mean, Matt, you know, is so impressed. He's coughing 706 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 6: a lung out here. Yeah. 707 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 2: I'll be the first one to say this twenty sixth 708 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,960 Speaker 2: class is not panning out to be the historic one 709 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:32,239 Speaker 2: that we all thought it was gonna be. 710 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:36,400 Speaker 6: There's definitely some interesting names. Oh boy, hey, did you 711 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 6: just hit an allergy or something? I say a name 712 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 6: that you're a larger actor. 713 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:43,600 Speaker 2: DJ Lagway could factor into this conversation. The Florida quarterback 714 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:45,560 Speaker 2: who was injured all year. He's in the portal two. 715 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:48,080 Speaker 6: Should have probably should have probably mentioned him last year. 716 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 3: I am very, very interested. We talked about yesterday in 717 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:53,000 Speaker 3: Baylor in Arkansas. 718 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,440 Speaker 2: Robert Robert, Taylan Reed, and Sawyer Robinson same. They're my risers. 719 00:37:57,480 --> 00:37:59,480 Speaker 2: They're they're might there, might have. 720 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:01,319 Speaker 3: A very sharp eye on those two one. 721 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 6: Hundred per I'm with you. 722 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:05,399 Speaker 2: They're the ones that could potentially tip this class back 723 00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 2: into being. Okay, maybe it's not as great as we 724 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 2: thought it was going to be, but it's still pretty 725 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 2: stinking good. 726 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,759 Speaker 3: And I think we can't forget people we trusted in 727 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:17,040 Speaker 3: the draft world, the Danes and mcshay's, et cetera. There 728 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:20,480 Speaker 3: was something they liked about nuts Aller and club Nick. 729 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 3: Not all of that went away just because they that 730 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:25,440 Speaker 3: was three months ago, no doubt, you know. 731 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 2: Seem like an eternity again. Three months ago, those guys 732 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 2: were first round, second round. 733 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 3: Right now, they all could be terrible. But let's not 734 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 3: throw the baby out with the bathwater type of thing. 735 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,480 Speaker 6: You know, exactly right. There's a middle ground there, yeah. 736 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:43,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, And let's explain why things went the way they. 737 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:44,879 Speaker 6: Did, you know, exactly right. 738 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 2: Rob tweets us and says, hey, guys love the show, 739 00:38:48,719 --> 00:38:51,279 Speaker 2: Thank you Rob. Quick question, Have we heard the last 740 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:53,919 Speaker 2: of Roman Wilson? I really wanted him to succeed this year. 741 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:56,360 Speaker 2: I don't think we've heard the last of them, the 742 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 2: last in total, but maybe for these final few weeks. 743 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 3: I mean to be in camp next year. 744 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,960 Speaker 2: I don't think the book is completely closed on him 745 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,440 Speaker 2: for his Steelers career, but it might be for the 746 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 2: rest of twenty twenty five. 747 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:11,680 Speaker 3: I think the plan is to have him on the 748 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:14,239 Speaker 3: outside looking in the rest of the way, assuming these 749 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:17,399 Speaker 3: guys keep playing the way they are, and I get 750 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,680 Speaker 3: the impression Miller's more valuable than him right now. I mean, 751 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:24,600 Speaker 3: he plays on teams and Miller's Miller's a little bit 752 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 3: underrated and Scornic is more valuable for him on a 753 00:39:28,719 --> 00:39:31,279 Speaker 3: Sunday afternoon in terms of who gets a helmet, yes 754 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:31,879 Speaker 3: or yes? 755 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 4: Might? 756 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 3: I mean, this front office makes a lot of trades. 757 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:40,960 Speaker 3: Could Wilson end up on another team as opposed to 758 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 3: coming back to camp next year? Maybe? I don't think 759 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:48,719 Speaker 3: that's crazy. You know, if you're moving guys around, you 760 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:51,799 Speaker 3: just swap them out, especially if you draft one high 761 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 3: or I think they're going to add some receiver of 762 00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:57,839 Speaker 3: pedigree to this team in the offseason, So I think 763 00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:00,960 Speaker 3: it's possible. I mean, I hate to say it this bluntly, 764 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:05,080 Speaker 3: but Wilson's been in Pittsburgh Steiler for two years, and 765 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,400 Speaker 3: I know there's more at play here than just this, 766 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:10,200 Speaker 3: but it's been one of the worst wide receiver rooms 767 00:40:10,239 --> 00:40:15,200 Speaker 3: in the league for two years and he hasn't cracked it. No, 768 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:16,879 Speaker 3: it's a fair I mean, it was just fast. 769 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,920 Speaker 6: It's not the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver room or the Cincinnati. 770 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 3: Bengals LSU with Jefferson and the Rams Chase Yeah, you're right, right, yeah, neighbors. 771 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,359 Speaker 3: I mean, he couldn't good on and he couldn't prove 772 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:30,959 Speaker 3: to be on the field over not so great people 773 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:32,719 Speaker 3: ahead of him for two years. And I know there's 774 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:33,400 Speaker 3: injuries and all this. 775 00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:35,799 Speaker 2: Stuff too, but right, there's a reason that they have 776 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:38,080 Speaker 2: turned over a ton of stones in that wide receiver room, 777 00:40:38,080 --> 00:40:40,600 Speaker 2: and guys like MVS and guys like Adam Feeling and let. 778 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 3: Alone the Ayuk rumors and stuff, you know, like that 779 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:44,720 Speaker 3: kind of thing too, right. 780 00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:46,480 Speaker 6: Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. 781 00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:50,279 Speaker 2: Darrell tweets us and says it's the Steel City Shove. No, 782 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:51,360 Speaker 2: it's the Pittsburgh plunch. 783 00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:53,440 Speaker 3: Okay, I heard a lot of people talking about different 784 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:53,839 Speaker 3: stuff here. 785 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 2: I don't care what Rob King says. I don't care 786 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:58,319 Speaker 2: what anybody down there on the south side says. It's 787 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:01,880 Speaker 2: a Pittsburg plunch, all right, Steel City shop. Too many words, 788 00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh plunge, nice and easy, like push push, two words. 789 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:08,400 Speaker 6: Nice and easy. I like that Pittsburgh plunge. 790 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,840 Speaker 3: I'm looking at a different angle. I wanted to be 791 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:16,960 Speaker 3: something along lines of Aaron Rodgers' viewing party or something 792 00:41:20,120 --> 00:41:24,400 Speaker 3: Rogers express. Yeah, Rogers, just Rogers on a lazy boy, 793 00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:26,799 Speaker 3: you know, Like I don't quite understand why he's out 794 00:41:26,840 --> 00:41:27,239 Speaker 3: there for this. 795 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,000 Speaker 6: No, we talked about that the other day, Right, I mean. 796 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:32,040 Speaker 3: He just sits there with his hands in his. 797 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:34,399 Speaker 6: He's got the best view in the world, right, I. 798 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:36,680 Speaker 3: Mean his hands aren't even they're they're warm in the 799 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 3: little cuddly thing. 800 00:41:37,719 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 6: You know, is this You could sit lazy boy back 801 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:42,319 Speaker 6: there for for for. 802 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 3: There's something creative and funny about Yeah, something Rogers related here. 803 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:47,840 Speaker 6: There absolutely is that. 804 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 2: That's a good matt as we've mentioned a few times. 805 00:41:52,360 --> 00:41:55,560 Speaker 2: But tonight kicking off an absolutely fantastic four or five 806 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,880 Speaker 2: days in a row here of some really meaningful NFL actions, 807 00:41:58,920 --> 00:42:02,120 Speaker 2: some some college football playoff first round games that are 808 00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:05,839 Speaker 2: on campus and have a really cool atmosphere. It all 809 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 2: begins tonight with what could be the de facto NFC 810 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 2: number one seed. Play in game I guess playing would 811 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:15,000 Speaker 2: be wrong, but to earn the number one year sea 812 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:17,800 Speaker 2: as the game of the year so far. Now, whoever 813 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:21,160 Speaker 2: wins could fumble their position of advantage over the last 814 00:42:21,239 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 2: couple of weeks and and end up, you know, surrendering 815 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,000 Speaker 2: that number one seed. But whoever wins tonight will have 816 00:42:27,080 --> 00:42:29,560 Speaker 2: the inside track to win the NFC West, to be 817 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 2: the number one seed in the NFC and of course 818 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,399 Speaker 2: to get that first round by while the other will 819 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:36,239 Speaker 2: drop all the way down to five and have to 820 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:42,400 Speaker 2: go on the road for the postseason playoffs eight to fifteen, 821 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:46,439 Speaker 2: of course on Amazon Prime in Seattle, where the Seahawks 822 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:48,040 Speaker 2: are one and a half point favorites. 823 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:53,000 Speaker 3: Doesn't sound like that. Wantay Adams is playing cross a 824 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:55,960 Speaker 3: very good left tackle for Seattle. He's also out. Those 825 00:42:55,960 --> 00:42:57,200 Speaker 3: are the big injuries. He's missed some. 826 00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 6: He's missed some time this year, hasn't he. 827 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:02,400 Speaker 3: He got her this past week been pretty good and 828 00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:05,200 Speaker 3: that's a really good pass for USh Jared Vers and company. 829 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:07,640 Speaker 3: I don't like that part because their line's a little 830 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:10,719 Speaker 3: thin to begin with. I have great respect for Seattle. 831 00:43:11,080 --> 00:43:13,080 Speaker 3: I just have a lot more respect for the Rams 832 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 3: in McVeigh and Stafford and you know me, I really 833 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:18,600 Speaker 3: wish this was not on Thursday football because I think 834 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:21,320 Speaker 3: Thursday football is a lesser product. It greades to be crazy. 835 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:29,719 Speaker 3: But frankly, no matter the location, no matter the opponent, 836 00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:32,040 Speaker 3: if you're gonna give me points to the Rams, I'm 837 00:43:32,080 --> 00:43:34,960 Speaker 3: taking it. Give me points to the league. 838 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:36,319 Speaker 6: I think that's fair. 839 00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:39,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, especially when Seattle is that weird anomaly of they 840 00:43:39,640 --> 00:43:42,160 Speaker 2: are a juggernaut on the road and pretty good at 841 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:42,520 Speaker 2: home and. 842 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:44,840 Speaker 3: Good at home. Right. McVay has been there a million times, 843 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:46,800 Speaker 3: and yes, and it's it's a Fay stafford. 844 00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:48,880 Speaker 2: They still have a great home field advantage. We were 845 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:50,600 Speaker 2: out there a couple of years ago and saw it. 846 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:53,560 Speaker 2: Like I've told you this, it's loud. The Steelers, I 847 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 2: honestly think once twice, maybe three times a year truly 848 00:43:57,520 --> 00:43:58,960 Speaker 2: step into a hostile environment. 849 00:43:59,160 --> 00:43:59,319 Speaker 5: Yeah. 850 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, because so. 851 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:03,000 Speaker 2: Many of the times on the road it's thirty forty, fifty, 852 00:44:03,160 --> 00:44:04,720 Speaker 2: sixty percent Steelers fans. 853 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:06,400 Speaker 6: It's like a bowl game environment. 854 00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:08,799 Speaker 2: It's a good environment, but half the time the home 855 00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:11,680 Speaker 2: team's on a silent Like that always cracks me up 856 00:44:11,960 --> 00:44:15,440 Speaker 2: is when the Steelers win a game in La or 857 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:20,279 Speaker 2: Atlanta or Vegas and like the postgame press conference, they'll 858 00:44:20,280 --> 00:44:22,680 Speaker 2: talk about getting it done in a hostile environment, but 859 00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:25,320 Speaker 2: then TJ. Watt will give credit to like our fans 860 00:44:25,360 --> 00:44:27,239 Speaker 2: had them on a silent count at home. 861 00:44:27,280 --> 00:44:29,120 Speaker 6: That's so demoral. Well, which one is it? Was it 862 00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:31,080 Speaker 6: a hostile environment and did your fans have them on it? 863 00:44:31,120 --> 00:44:31,600 Speaker 6: But I get it. 864 00:44:31,640 --> 00:44:35,040 Speaker 2: That's that's that's just that's coach speak, player speak. That's 865 00:44:35,080 --> 00:44:37,360 Speaker 2: what they do. Seattle is one of those places. I 866 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:39,120 Speaker 2: don't think it's as hostile as it was in the 867 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:42,080 Speaker 2: Russ Wilson legion of boom days when they were, you know, 868 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:44,560 Speaker 2: winning super Bowls and going to winning a super Bowl 869 00:44:44,600 --> 00:44:48,440 Speaker 2: and going to another. But it will be rocking for 870 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:50,840 Speaker 2: a Thursday night game. But I think I'm with you, 871 00:44:51,120 --> 00:44:52,840 Speaker 2: like I if you're gonna give me the I know 872 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:54,960 Speaker 2: it's only a point, it's only it's only a point 873 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:58,000 Speaker 2: and a half. But I think the Rams have the 874 00:44:58,520 --> 00:45:00,279 Speaker 2: juice to get it done and what will be a 875 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,799 Speaker 2: close one, But I you're gonna give me, you know, 876 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:04,440 Speaker 2: the Rams plus one and a half. This could, I 877 00:45:04,440 --> 00:45:07,680 Speaker 2: think easily be one of those games that LA wins, 878 00:45:07,719 --> 00:45:11,040 Speaker 2: like twenty three to twenty two, you know, three to 879 00:45:11,040 --> 00:45:13,759 Speaker 2: twenty one over unders forty two and a half, so 880 00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:15,799 Speaker 2: like low twenties, is you know about. 881 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:16,440 Speaker 3: The range safe? 882 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:17,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm with you. 883 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:19,360 Speaker 2: Though I wish that this was like the the Sunday 884 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:22,040 Speaker 2: night game. Me too, you know, even Monday night instead 885 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:22,279 Speaker 2: of the. 886 00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:25,680 Speaker 3: Rams were in Philly, in Buffalo wherever getting points. I'm 887 00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:28,640 Speaker 3: taking the Rams. It's yeah, I don't Monday night. 888 00:45:28,840 --> 00:45:32,440 Speaker 6: They don't hate it. Yeah, I don't hate it. Whatever, Matt. 889 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:34,880 Speaker 2: We will be back tomorrow to talk about what happens 890 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:38,720 Speaker 2: in Thursday night football and obviously to deep dive into 891 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:42,479 Speaker 2: a Lions Steelers preview and all the Week sixteen action 892 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:43,320 Speaker 2: across the NFL. 893 00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:44,800 Speaker 6: But that will do it for us today. 894 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:47,600 Speaker 2: A big thanks to Bob Labriola for joining us, shout 895 00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:51,320 Speaker 2: out to Nathan for producing, and to mister TV Tyler 896 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:54,239 Speaker 2: V for keeping us handsome and crisp on the video 897 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:57,399 Speaker 2: side of things. For Matt Williamson, I'm Wes Shueler. Take 898 00:45:57,400 --> 00:45:59,120 Speaker 2: care of everybody, and we'll talk to you tomorrow. As always, 899 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:00,640 Speaker 2: you know where to find us on your twenty four 900 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:02,800 Speaker 2: to seven home of the Black and Gold. It's Steelers 901 00:46:02,920 --> 00:46:04,879 Speaker 2: Nation Radio, on the Steelers Audio networ