1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: Welcome back. I am Dale Lilly. He is Matt Williamson, 4 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: and this is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. We're 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: going through a position by position. Here. Look at the 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: offense today, Wednesday will do the defense. Uh Matt, Looking 7 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: here at the wide receiver position. You've got Deante Johnson. 8 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: You've got George Pickens, Steven Simms, Miles Boykin, Gunner Rochowski, Um, 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: Calvin Austin coming back next year. Didn't play down this year, 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: by the way, not even in the preseason. Anthony Miller 11 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: kind of the same way, missed the entire season with 12 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: with an injury. Uh Miller in an unrestricted free agent. 13 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: You've got uh Boy can Boy is also also unrestricted. 14 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: Um everyone else is under contract. I think there's Sims. 15 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: Sims is restricts restricted, but you might as well pick 16 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: him up. I mean that's gonna be cheap. Yeah, I 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 1: mean you're looking at three million dollars basically to pick 18 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: that up. And UM, so how are we handling this? 19 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: So we've given grades from last season or where they're at, 20 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,119 Speaker 1: the state of the union where they're kind Yeah, okay, 21 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: well I think you have a top two in place. Clearly, um, 22 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 1: I'm must saying I'm down on either, but I'm gonna 23 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: throw some negative stuff here too. Pickings needs to advance 24 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: himself as a route runner. Absolutely. Statistically, Deante's year isn't 25 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: where it usually is, and I think there's a lot 26 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: of circumstances there, some of which is bad luck. But 27 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: I think you're really happy with your top two for 28 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: now in going forward. I don't think their worst days 29 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: or ahead of them or anything like that. Currently, I 30 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: think they're short one. I mean I would like a third, 31 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: and that might be Austin. But I can't just say 32 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: I'm fine with him for you guys never lay yeah right. 33 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: I want him to enter the camp fighting for the 34 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: third spot or blow my doors away or oh no, 35 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: I have one too many good receivers, you know. That's 36 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: that's what you did this year, and then you traded one, 37 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: you flipped him for a second round. Pick Yeah. I 38 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: I look at this group and I agree. I think 39 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: they've got you know, one and two, and I would 40 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: agree that Pickens needs to I know everybody's high on 41 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: George Pickens. There's plenty of love there is. His route 42 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: running needs to improve. Yeah, if you look at this 43 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 1: the separation that you just mentioned, he didn't have any No, 44 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: not much. He's a great contested catch guy, but if 45 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: he wasn't, he wouldn't be making a lot of catches, 46 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: you know. And he has the ability to get better 47 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: as a route runner. And he didn't play a lot 48 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: last year at Georgia, you know, so you know, I'm 49 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: not worried about him. But he's not a sure fire 50 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: top ten receiver. Forget about it now, are we? You 51 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: know when we made the comps for him, and you know, 52 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: the the automatic comp was for another Georgia guy, a J. 53 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: Green and body type wise, he is, he's that. I 54 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: don't know if he's mean. Is he more DeAndre Hopkins? Though? 55 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: Well I heard this last week and I think it 56 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: was Matt Harmon, who was one of my favorite wide 57 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: receiver and analysis and he said, at worst, and people 58 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: aren't gonna like hearing this, but this is rock bottom. 59 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: He's DeVante Parker, which to me, that's the floor, you know, 60 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: like he's a big guy, go up and get it. 61 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: He's you know, he's not a real explosive Sinker's hip 62 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: type guy. I don't know if he can be a J. Green. 63 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: I think he's more of a separator than Hopkins though, 64 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: you know. I mean he's faster, he's faster, he's taller, 65 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: he'll run away from people. He does have that physicality, 66 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:47,119 Speaker 1: absolutely absolutely, And Hopkins might go to Hall of Fame too. Yeah, 67 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: what George Pickens turned into DeAndre Hopkins. Everybody's happy million 68 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: years in a row, and go look at his highlight tape, 69 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: you know. And I'm not saying that's his floor. I 70 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: mean so, I'm not sure who the comps is, but 71 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: I did throw a Parker out there as war case scenario. 72 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: You know. I could see that type of player if 73 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: he doesn't expand his route running skills and Parker's I 74 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: don't know what the floor is there. I think he's 75 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: I think he's a better player right now than Parker 76 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: has been in his career. Probably the rest of it. 77 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: I mean, they got some production from Sims, they got 78 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: some production from Wolschewski. Uh, they all had ample opportunities. 79 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: They all played much more after Claypool was gone, and 80 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: they played a much different style. As we mentioned in 81 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:35,239 Speaker 1: the previous segment, fewer passes per game. That's not gonna 82 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: offer as much. The pie got a lot smaller. Yeah, 83 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: I mean, like why I have a problem with as 84 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: much as Gunner played, But I understand it, you know, 85 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: Like I think he's one of those guys that the 86 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: defense is happy to see on the field, but he 87 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: throws his body around when you're running the ball down 88 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: their throat. Same thing with Boykins. I think Boyken is 89 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: interesting to me. I like Boyken. I wouldn't mind bringing 90 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: him back because I know that he's also gonna make 91 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: a lot of play. He was let kickoff coverage and 92 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: things like that too. Sims to me, is better than 93 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: Ray Ray was has value, but I went an upgrade 94 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: over that, and I think Austin and Miller are both 95 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: better than him. I don't know if Miller will be 96 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: back or not. I bet he was cheap last year 97 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: and its price didn't go up. I mean I'd be 98 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: very interested in bringing him back in like a third 99 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: round pick. And nobody else saw him in training, kim right, 100 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: I mean, no one's like, oh man, I'm gonna invest 101 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: now in Miller. Yeah, so that's an interesting group. Moving 102 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: on to the tight ends, you get fire move, you got, 103 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: Gentry got Hayward. Gentry is headed towards unrestricted free agency. UM. 104 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: Blocking tight ends, you would usually say, well they're a 105 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: diamond dozen, you can get those guys. But you know, 106 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: he's played a lot of snaps for this team. And 107 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 1: get the Gentry in a minute. But we had a 108 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: good Niners conversation last segment. I think Hayward is used 109 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: check yeah, and I mean that in a in a 110 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: glowing way because people don't know who you know what 111 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 1: you've checked. He does everything. And I think Hayward is 112 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: not just a te I think he's an offensive weapon. Um. 113 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: I think Friar moves the star in the making. My 114 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: only concern with him is durability. Yeah. I mean he's 115 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: had a lot of things throughout his career, probably just 116 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: bad luck, who knows. And I mixed feelings on Gentry 117 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: because we've seen so many of these tight ends that 118 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: are number two guys. Jesse James is a perfect example 119 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 1: that he's gonna hit free agency and they tend to 120 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: get more than they should and you'd rather have the 121 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: comp pick, you know, and when it's all said and done, 122 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: and I think he's got to find somebody who right, 123 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: and they're gonna want that style. I mean, they're gonna 124 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: want they don't want and someone looks like Hayward, they don't, 125 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: you know, they don't want another They want somebody put 126 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: his hand on the ground and block defensive ends. Yeah, 127 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: And I think Gentry is a slightly above are slightly 128 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: overrated blocker. I mean, I think he's a good blocker, 129 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: but he's not Mark Bruner. And you know, some of 130 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: these guys we've really seen that are just power dudes 131 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: that can put defensive ends on their back. So I 132 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: think that one just comes down to cost because he's 133 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: gonna get a bump. He's gonna make a couple million 134 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: a year from somewhere and made more than that, I 135 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: said Jesse James, And I mean there's in the last 136 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: three years a ton of these number two tight ends 137 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: have made four or five six million a year. And 138 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: I'm that's not my neighborhood with him. The problem is 139 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: is all the guys coming out of college can't block 140 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: a lick, right, none of them. One of the ways 141 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: you can kind of over compensate for that is some 142 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: of these tight ends, like Marcedes Lewis that are a 143 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty years old. They last forever, and they 144 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: can't run better than you and I, but they can 145 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: block and they teach. You know that, they fade away slow. 146 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: Sometimes you can just get an old dude. That's a 147 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: that's an interesting underrated need. Yeah, I think I think 148 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: so too. You know, as I've been fiddling around with 149 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: some mock drafts, I'm like looking at the tight end position, like, 150 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: because here's the problem as we move on to running backs. 151 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: So you got obviously Harris Warren quick before we go there, 152 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: I meant to ask this a second ago. I'm assuming. 153 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: I don't think it'll be the Bend years, but I 154 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: think that they'll play more eleven with three receivers on 155 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: the field than they did post Claypool next year. I 156 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: don't know if they will because because it worked, it 157 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: worked so well. I mean, you ran the crap out 158 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: of the football and it allowed you to win games. Yeah, 159 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: I mean it was a winning formula. But you need 160 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: to get more explosive to I mean, there's a juggling act. 161 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: You can still do that out of that heavy package 162 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: and and you know, um yeah, we'll see. But looking 163 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: at the running backs, you got Nasea Harris you got 164 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: Jay Lamarren, both of those guys under contract, and her 165 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: solid one two punch. Yeah, it's kind of the Pickings 166 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: Johnson conversation, but chiever and younger. You know, But Benny 167 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: Snell is a unrestricted free agent. Derek Watt, the fullback, 168 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: is an unrestricted free agent, and that's why I wanted 169 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: to mention that. Before we got the Hayward who's listed 170 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: as t E slash FB oh, I thought he was 171 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: just te so you might need if he takes over 172 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: as your full time fullback. Yes, he can do some 173 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: things and maybe we get more playing time for him 174 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:18,199 Speaker 1: that way. But you know, if if something were to 175 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 1: happen to friar Mouth next year and you don't have Gentry, 176 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: you're not lining up and using Heyward as as you're 177 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: only tight. You need somebody else to handle or you know, 178 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: maybe to somebody your first round offensive tackle. You're not 179 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 1: just gonna live in six offensive linsets or things like that. Yeah, 180 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: I mean I kind of feel like you need four 181 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: tight end fullbacks. Yeah, you know, I mean, I friar 182 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: Mouth is gonna be there, Heyward's gonna be there, but 183 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: that's the only ones we know. So there's left. I mean, 184 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: you're gonna go get a Dan Cryder and say Connor, yeah, 185 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: we couldn't continue to use you as we have used you, 186 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: or do you do you? You know, go get another 187 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: tight end and say Connor, you're the fullback. Sometimes you'll 188 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: do some tight end stuff, right, and can they live 189 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: without a true fullback? Or but what if Hayward gets hurt? 190 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: You like, if he's playing both roles, then you have 191 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: friar muth and three blank spaces, you know what I mean, 192 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: there's more exposure for him to get hurt, right, right, 193 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: and he's gonna probably get a bumping snaps. But none 194 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: of those guys are look like gentry. Yeah, you know, 195 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: so you're gonna have to find somebody that looks like 196 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: gentry that does gentry stuff. And the thing is they 197 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: used what more In terms of not necessarily he played 198 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: fewer snaps this year. It's like eight fewer snaps this 199 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 1: year than he did last year, but the second half 200 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: of the season had to be higher per game than 201 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 1: any point. But he scored a rushing touchdown, he scored 202 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: a receiving touchdown, you know, by the way, eight of 203 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: his nine carries this year went for first out. He 204 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: was a Yeah, he was a short yardage hammer about 205 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: having to be a high third down conversion team. Oh, 206 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: he helped with that for sure. I mean, either as 207 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: a blocker or the ball in his hands. He's not 208 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: cheap though, and he's probably not gonna come back for 209 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: less money. Maybe maybe if he sits on the Olden 210 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: market for a couple of weeks. It's a full back. 211 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: It's a full back. Half the teams in the league 212 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 1: don't even have one on their roster. And you and 213 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 1: I kind of not even have brought this up because 214 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: we've said eight million times, so I'm sure some of 215 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: our listeners don't know. He's one of the best special 216 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: teams in the league, you know. I mean, like that's 217 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: why he's making what he is, not because of his 218 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: offensive contributions. Could you afford to lose him and Snell? 219 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: You know, special teams wise, now they you know they've 220 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: they've uh given a futures contract to Anthony McFarland, which 221 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: is interesting. Which is interesting because the one game he 222 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: played last year, he hit five carries for thirty yards 223 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: and two catches for I think seventeen yards, Like he 224 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: was a weapon in that game. He was a weapon 225 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: in that game, which brings me to one conversation that 226 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: I'm not standing on the table four but instead of Snell, 227 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: I wouldn't mind a two pound guy that can catch 228 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: the ball, that runs a four three and it's just 229 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: something different than the other two guys, and he could 230 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: be on. Maybe he can line up in the slot. 231 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: Like I'm not saying go trade for Christian McCaffrey, but 232 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: if you can get the the fifth round there and sprawls, 233 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And there's always a hundred 234 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: of those guys. That's your kickoff returner. He plays twelve 235 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 1: snaps a game, can line up in the slot and 236 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: can run. I'm maybe swapping out of Snell for that guy. 237 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: I'm not sure that McFarland isn't that that's and you 238 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: might have him in house. Might kind of like the 239 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: Austin conversation, The problem might not. Yeah, the problem becomes 240 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: is Snell him what we're two of your highest the 241 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: top five special team snaps might be the most important. 242 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: Who knows? But there in Boykins up he's another one, 243 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:40,719 Speaker 1: you know, So I mean you can those guys will 244 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: come out of woodwork. They didn't count on boyk in 245 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: a year ago to be one of those dudes. But 246 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: I think they did. They signed him when they signed 247 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: but he wasn't on a team last year. Yeah, that's 248 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: why I meant um so yeah, I mean that's a 249 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: balancing act. Like the bottom of the roster has to 250 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: be devoted to special teams, and Snell is good at it. 251 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be opposed to them bringing Derek what back 252 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: on him when you're I wouldn't either deal. No, I 253 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: mean four million something like that. I don't even know 254 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: if it would be that high. It might not be 255 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: that high, right, because he would play he helps you win. Yeah, 256 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: I mean he's you know, yeah, he's he's only gonna 257 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: play sixty five offensive snaps for you, like he did 258 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: this year. But they were sixty five important ones. You know, 259 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: two of them were touchdowns and and eight of eight 260 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: of his nine carries went for first downs. And there 261 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: were some teams I'm thinking of the Browns this year 262 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: that aren't real equipped to deal with big, heavy offenses. 263 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: You know, some teams are gonna want to the opposite 264 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: were Sorry, Derek, you're not gonna see the field at 265 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: all this game, and we're gonna put we're gonna spad 266 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 1: the field, You're gonna play on a special tem special 267 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: you know, Jersey still gonna get dirty. Yeah. So No, 268 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: I do think he has value, and I think a 269 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: lot of people and if they do that, it's not 270 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: just because he's t g words brother. Yea, his last 271 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: name was Jones. Same way with Connor Heyward. They didn't. 272 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: They didn't draft Connor Heyward just because he's Cam Heyward's brother. 273 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: It's ridiculous, It's ridiculous. They may know more about those 274 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: guys than the other teams do, but they're trying to 275 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: win games. They're not trying to make t J and 276 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: this is not a family affair, no right, And it 277 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,199 Speaker 1: helps though, I mean, you know, though you know more, 278 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: as you said, more about these guys, you know what 279 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: makes them tick. I mean, I think it's helpful that 280 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: you drafted Rudolph in Washington together, you know, because they 281 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,079 Speaker 1: know each other and they're in foeign Land or they 282 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: took a t N in Trevor Lawrence together, like makes 283 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: their acclamations a little EASi. There is a human side 284 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: to this too, absolutely not. But none of those are 285 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: hard to find, right, even the running back tight end conversations. 286 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: These are no I mean, but there are holes that 287 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: need address. In fact, we'll see some of those guys 288 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: signed before free agency starts in March. And people don't 289 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: think twice about it. But it just checks a box, right, 290 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: you know. They're sitting there in the GM room going, well, 291 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: we got all these spots while we just knocked that 292 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: one out, We knocked this one out. And they won't 293 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: get headlines, but it matters looking at the offensive line, 294 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: the entire starting unit, Dan Moore, Kevin Dotson, Mason Cole, 295 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: James Daniels, Chooks core for He's still under contract next year, 296 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: which I think is brilliant. Yeah, And I remember writing 297 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: an article when it happened, like you can let this 298 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: group gel. They're all very young, they're a very I 299 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: think the words I used were, this is a very 300 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: rare blend of youth and experience, you know, and that 301 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: showed that like tripled this year because they all played, Yeah, 302 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: and they all got better. Here's where it gets dicey, though. 303 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: I don't think any I don't know, but anybody else 304 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: Trent Scott, Jesse Davis, who are two of the backups 305 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: to tackle Do you feel like you know any more 306 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: about them than when they became Scott played a little 307 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: bit a little yeah, um, and he's played a decent 308 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: number of snaps in the NFL. Yeah. I mean, it's 309 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: not like he's a complete unknown. But they're both unrestricted. 310 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: J C. Hassenaur is restricted. I think I tender him, Yeah, 311 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: at the lowest tender or whatever. I mean, he wasn't 312 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: a draft pick, so that that's not expensive. It doesn't 313 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: mean it makes team, but that means that you're only offense. 314 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: You've only got six under contract. Ken Kendrick Green is 315 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: one of them, and he didn'tee a snap this year. 316 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: Let's start there. Do you think it's safe to say 317 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: Green is in camp? Yeah, he'll be in camp. He's cheap. 318 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: He's cheap, and you might as well. And maybe he 319 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: figures it out. But I have no faith in it. 320 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: I mean, like you can't look at him and think 321 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: he's part of the answer. No, I don't. I don't 322 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: know that they're going to go into camp this year 323 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: as they did last year and say, well, Kendrick Green 324 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: is gonna compete with Kevin Dotson for the left guard spot. 325 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: He's gonna have to earn a play a spot on 326 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: the team, but let alone, you know, time on the field. 327 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: So to me, that leaves at least two holes, maybe 328 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: three roster spots of guys you want to develop. And 329 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: I would look mostly to the draft, but I bet 330 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: you'll have a Trent Scott, you bring back one of 331 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: those guys, somebody on the team that you know and 332 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: you trust. And I just don't know enough about those 333 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: two as Steelers. I mean, Jesse Davis has played a 334 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: decent numbers that like. Coming into the season, Trent, Trent 335 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: Scott and Jesse Davis had played as many, if not 336 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: more snaps than a lot of the Steeler starters. Oh yeah, yeah, 337 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, you're understand right, and they'll be if they're 338 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: not Steelers, they're gonna be will be somewhere somewhere right 339 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: right right um. Ideally, and I think we've talked about 340 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: this a lot. I'd love to see them get a 341 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: left tackle that might have a high that has a 342 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: high pedigree. That doesn't even mean with the mid first pick. 343 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: It's not even a knock on Dan Moore. It's just 344 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: i'd like to see six offensive lineman. I wouldn't mind 345 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: seeing more throws hat in at the left guard spot 346 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: or one of those guys either the tackle or more. 347 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: The rookie or more is just your your swing tackle 348 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: with upside. I mean, the same five are not gonna 349 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: play every snap again, That's yeah, that's crazy. That's why 350 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 1: you had Trent Scott and Jesse Davis on your on 351 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: your roster because they had their backups who have played 352 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: a lot of NFL football. Yeah, and they will have 353 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: a journeyman type like that, I'm sure. But I'd like 354 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: to have fourth round center that can really run but 355 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: needs to get stronger, or you know, a left tackle 356 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 1: in the second round that has technique work to do 357 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: or something like that that might have higher ceilings. But 358 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 1: you know, part of the beauty of that line this year, 359 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 1: that how it was constructed was that all of your 360 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: backups have started games. And you know that that doesn't 361 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: you know, if you go the rookie route on that, 362 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: you can't have an entire bench of rookies, right because 363 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: somebody somebodyet tart the camp. It's just one of the 364 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: starting fives. Like, hey, rook you're in there. You're in there. Yeah, 365 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: But I don't much different than the previous years. I 366 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 1: don't think you look at like, oh boy, do they 367 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: got a draft he's got to start, Yeah, like we 368 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: do not. We have three starters, and there's a lot 369 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: of teams right now we're looking at the line. We 370 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: got three starters, we got four starters. The Bengals might 371 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: not even have that right now, and they're in the playoffs, 372 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, right so I think the seals of 373 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: five starters, which is enviable, and they're still young, and 374 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: they're under contract. And the run blocking this year was 375 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: really went forward. Yeah, I mean they've from first half 376 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: the second half when they decided, Okay, we're gonna just 377 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: do run power here and just blast the ball down 378 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: people's throats. They did a good job. And I think 379 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: the protection is more than good enough. I mean, I 380 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: can't leave damn More one on one of Miles Garrett 381 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: all day, and it's not how you leaving anybody, you 382 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: know in that situation. And I think More gets a 383 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: little bit of a bad rap. I think he's one 384 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: of the best thirty two left tackles in the league, 385 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: and I think he's one of the best five. You 386 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: might be one of the top. Yeah, and he can 387 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: get better too. He's still young as well. Yeah. So 388 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: you know, that's so much of offensive line, Like you 389 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: block a guy fifty two consecutive plays on the fifty 390 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: three he goes, he goes past you. Well, he had 391 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: a bad game because he sees it, you know, right, yea, 392 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: So no, but depth is worrisome and I don't know 393 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: how you'll find that. Like I prefer not to be 394 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: shopping forward in free agency, but if the right deal, 395 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: Rose is, you're my you're my strelsic you're my six guy, 396 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: I'm interested. Would you rather have Damn Moore Jonah Williams 397 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: for the buck and more without do he was one 398 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: of most over a players in the league and twelve 399 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: sacks is more to not do that? And everyone everyone 400 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: looked at that line like, well, you're set with left tackle. 401 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: You know he's BAMA first round pick. He's not good. No, 402 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's interesting. Um, that's the Steelers offense is 403 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 1: I mean, there's some movement that's gonna happen. And when 404 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: we talk about there's no holes in the starting there's 405 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: a lot on defense without a doubt there strangely enough, 406 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 1: you know, but this was done. I hope people give 407 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: this Runt office, including Kevin credit because This was the 408 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: vision is. We don't want a lot of moving parts 409 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: around a rookie quarterback. We want all these guys to 410 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: come back. We want them all to be on first contracts. 411 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: And everyone harps on or the defense is most expensive 412 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: in the league. Well that's kind of a design too, 413 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: but it's also a bit of an operation. It's not 414 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: like no one's making any money on the on the 415 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: offensive side of the ball. You can't invest more on defense. 416 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: It's already the most defense defense league. Yeah you can. 417 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: Why can't you be? You can do them because your 418 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: offense is cheap. That's the whole who did the front 419 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: office did this? You know, by the time Cam Heyward 420 00:20:57,920 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: is done with his career and maybe he plays until 421 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: he's forty, but by the time his contract is up, 422 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: as when you're going to be looking at giving pick 423 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: it a new contract. Attention. There's things like that. The 424 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: day's lineman's you know, the contractor up. It's well, we 425 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: can find a right guard because we get a quarterback. 426 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: We've already been settled. You know. That's how that's how 427 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: you roster build um. You know, when you have a 428 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: cheap quarterback, that's that's what you can do. But they've 429 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: made all these contracts so that they're not expiring like 430 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: popcorn all over the place on the offense, and they 431 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 1: want them all to come back. Yeah. Absolutely. You can 432 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: subscribe now to The Drive. Every episode we do is 433 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: available for you to download. Subscribe today through the Steelers 434 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: Mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, and wherever you 435 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: find your podcast. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale, Lolly. 436 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 1: You're listening to The Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 437 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: We're gonna take a break and we come back. It'll 438 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: be time for the Fantasy Football Focus. We will do 439 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: that right after this Black and Gold football leaves here. 440 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: Seven you're listening to s N