1 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: At least. He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: Williamson on your home of the Black and Gold Steelers 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Nation Radio. M Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Ally 4 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: here with Matt Williamson. It is a Wednesday here in Pittsburgh. 5 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: The Steelers getting ready to play the host I should say, 6 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Actershire Stadium one o'clock on Sunday. 7 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: And well, they had their first true practice today and 8 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: it's a laundry list. Did not practice here. Deante Johnson 9 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: limited with a hip issue, Cam Sutton, a Kello Weatherspoon, 10 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: Levi Wallace all did not practice. Uh. Sutton dealing in 11 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,639 Speaker 1: Weatherspoon dealing with hamstrings, Leavy Wallace with a concussion. We'll 12 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: see where that goes the rest of this week. Terrell 13 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: Edmonds was a full participant today. He's back from the concussion. 14 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: She's promising news. Yeah. Making Fitzpatrick did not practice. That's 15 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: kind of more of a rest day, uh. Montravius Adams, 16 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:19,639 Speaker 1: Mason cole Zach Gentry, Pat Fiarmouth, Larry Ogan Jobi also 17 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: not practicing. That's it. Hum. That's basically all starters or 18 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: key members of the team. UM They're not exactly in 19 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: the best place record wise as we speak to and 20 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: not exactly in the best spot health wise either. Of course, 21 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 1: Kzy and Water are not on that list, but are 22 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: not in the mix as well. So the defensive backfields 23 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: a bit of a concern. It is a bit of 24 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: a concern. I would expect that the trend a little 25 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: differently here is the week goes on, I would think 26 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: a Kello Weatherspoon, you know, maybe gets at least a 27 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: limited tomorrow. Maybe we see Cam Sutton limited by Friday. 28 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: The concussion stuff to me like, did Miami Dolph have 29 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: already ruled Teddy Bridgewater out right? And two is out 30 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: of too? I mean, and I asked, I asked Mike 31 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: Tom understand the prist day? Um? I asked him yesterday 32 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: at the press conference, is the league changed the the 33 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: rules on this stuff at all? Day? I was thinking 34 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: that with Edmund's last year, and he said no. Um. Now, 35 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: maybe I didn't ask the question the right way, but 36 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: it seems to me these guys are being declared out 37 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: with concussions and then there's none of this. Uh, well 38 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: you'll you'll get a limited practice on Wednesday. Yeah, like 39 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: you laid out the protocol really well turn into a 40 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: two week thing. And now it just seems like if 41 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: you're out of if you go out of a game 42 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: with a concussion, you're not back the next week. And 43 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: there's numerous occasions, you know, like I'm curious, you'll be 44 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: down there. I'm curious, like, how's Friarmouth handled this week 45 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: because he's gonna be in the same shoes as Bridgewater 46 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: as a concussion, you know, in a Sunday game. Usually 47 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: that wouldn't be a deal breaker. Yeah, I'm just interested 48 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: to watch how this plays out this week after Edmonds again, Uh, 49 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: you know, everything I saw from Terrell Edmonds last week 50 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: looked fine, normal stuff in terms of everything he did, 51 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: how he interacted with the teammates, all that kind of stuff. 52 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: And then you know, Saturday he did not passing the exam, 53 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: the neuros logical exam. So I don't know, I'm not 54 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: saying something's fishy. That's the wrong word. I just can't 55 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: come up with a better word. I think they think 56 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: seem Yeah, it seems like maybe the league is is 57 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: I don't know, if you want to say overcorrected on 58 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: this were at least very cognizant. Well, I mean, one 59 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: thing we know for sure is when they suspect you, 60 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: you don't go to the Blue ten anymore. You just 61 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: go back to the locker room. And I don't know 62 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: if anybody's returned since to a in a situation like that, 63 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: because I thought I might be wrong on this, because 64 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: I heard this somewhere and I don't remember watching it live, 65 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: but I thought Bridgewater was not ruled having a concussion. 66 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: They said that he did, he passed the cognitive test, 67 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: and they still wouldn't let him go back. They still 68 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: would let to go back in. I mean, I I'd 69 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: like some clarity on it. I mean, I think that, 70 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: especially doing what we do for a living, it's really 71 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: hard to comment on these things. I don't know if 72 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,119 Speaker 1: the coaches are frustrated or if they just know deep 73 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: down that you know, it's gonna be the game that 74 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: you get ahead shot and the next is that just 75 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: going to be the standard from that one? Yeah, I 76 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: don't know. Changing the playoffs, you know, like I think 77 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: it's a little bizarre. Yeah, I just I mean, it 78 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: is different. Yeah, it's uh so, of course the Steelers 79 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: face the New England, Yet New England Patriots, and that's 80 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: just Tom Brady on the mind. Yeah. Yeah. They faced 81 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: Tom Brady in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, and 82 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: I sent you these stats. I don't know if you 83 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: get a chance to look at I did. I'd incorporated 84 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: some of them into my stat pack, which I then 85 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: sent back to you. I don't know if you've had 86 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: a chance to look at those actually did today? Okay, Well, 87 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 1: but that I didn't know if you had some of 88 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: that stuff in there already. And then I had some 89 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: and I added a few things too. There was a 90 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: Brady nugget I liked against the Steelers and a couple 91 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: of things like that. But I didn't go deep into 92 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: brady lifetime and call publishments or the file would have 93 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: been eight thousand million words. Yeah. Um, Brady against the 94 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: Steelers twelve and three all time, thirty four touchdown passes, 95 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: five interceptions. That's the thing that now we say that 96 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: Steelers won the last time they faced him. Okay, I 97 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: didn't think of that. So that includes playoff games. You're 98 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: talking about playoff games. They beat him here if you remember, 99 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: they should have beatn him in the Jesse James game. 100 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: James James caught that ball um, you know. So they've 101 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: had success lately, they've had so yeah, it's not been 102 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: the they Brady I just always beats the Steelers. That's 103 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: not been the case the last couple of times. He 104 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: has not been nearly as sharp the last couple of 105 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: times he's faced him. And this time this version of 106 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: Tom Brady, while still good, I don't think he's the 107 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: Tom Brady that he was five years ago. I don't either. 108 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: But I mentioned all the stat geet Nerd stuff I've 109 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: been doing. The last two games have been stuff redundant, 110 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: it is pretty and he's frown fifty two passes in 111 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: each of the last two games. And they basically just 112 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: don't even run anymore because they were so bad at it. 113 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: But all their's stats, at least geat Nerd stuff is 114 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: much better the last two weeks than it was the 115 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: first three. So I'm not saying he's mahomes Allen level, 116 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: you know, or an elite player, but they are figuring 117 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: things out. They're still not scoring points, so no, they're not. No, 118 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: which is a little which is the general idea of playing, 119 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: you know, playing offense in this league of scoring points. Again, 120 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: you know that was the problem that we had with 121 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: with Kenny Pickett's first start. Yeah, he threw for three 122 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: six yards, did everything that you wanted to do until 123 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 1: they got inside of twenty and then there was no 124 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: points on the scoreboard and then you lose. Um. The 125 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 1: thing that stood out to me about the step package 126 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: you sent me, Um is that the bucks Um. You know, 127 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: Mike Evans is averaging like fifteen point eight yards of catch. 128 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: He's been a real difference maker for that, and yet 129 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: they're they're there in the bottom five and a league 130 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: and plays over twenty yards. Yeah, there's no explosive there's 131 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 1: nothing after the catch. Know, there's nothing after the catch, 132 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: especially early in the season. Nothing after the catch. It's 133 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: not really his game, none of their games really. I mean, 134 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: like Godwin has a really there's something good, good numbers 135 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: about Godwin being um high completion percentage when targeted, but 136 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: they're still easing him back. I don't think he's a 137 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: I mean I think it's doctor's orders on a snap coount, 138 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: pitch count type of thing. Um. Evans has been really good, 139 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: but he's not an after the catch guy. You know. 140 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: I'm uh, there are some numbers that I didn't put 141 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: in there that I found kind of interesting that the 142 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: games that Evans has played with Brady without Antonio Brown 143 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: is remarkably high. Like people forget how good A B 144 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: was you as a buck, because he really cut into 145 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: Evans and in a way A B was there one 146 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: with Brady and when Abs not in the picture, which 147 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: was often and is still going on of course Evans 148 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: and lighten it up. Yeah, Brady is twenty three and 149 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: his five in his career against rookie starting quarterbacks, including 150 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: twelve in a row, uh four and oh with Tampa 151 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: Bay in that span. Um. His last loss was in 152 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: Week seven two. Geno Smith, Geno him, Gino got him. 153 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: There we go his first loss. He's coming back to 154 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: the same stadium. Ye. Ben Roethlisberger in two thousand four 155 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: got him that year they were unbeaten. Yeah, the Steelers 156 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: beat beat them. I think I broke like a twenty 157 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: six game road winning streak or something like that. That 158 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: was for the Patriots, and then they beat the Eagles 159 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: the next week, who had been on beating. Is the 160 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: first time a team had beaten two teams that late 161 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: in the season Week seven and Week eight back to back. 162 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: That we're both unbeaten one the Steelers team that was 163 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: pretty good. Yeah, it's pretty good to Um, you know 164 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: so it has yeah. Um, in those games, the Brady 165 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: is average two point three yards. The rookies have average 166 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: two hund four point two yards. Brady has thrown fifty 167 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: touchdown passes against seventeen interceptions. The rookies have thrown twenty 168 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: seven touchdown passes against thirty nine interceptions. Take care of 169 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: the football, which is also a Belichick stat by right, Yeah, 170 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: never loses to Roeck quarterbacks. Why I think it was 171 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: a Brady Belichick thing, right, But the interceptions Tom didn't 172 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: make the rookies throw interceptions. Um. If you look at this, um, Brady, Uh, 173 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: where is that stat? I'm looking here, I can't see it. 174 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 1: If I can't find it. I was something about Brady 175 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: and versus a rookie in his first or second overall 176 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: career start, and it doesn't look it doesn't. It's even worse. Yeah. Um, 177 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: it's not even just a rookie and the Steelers trying 178 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: to makestend a little bit. Say that I didn't know 179 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: this at the time, but just saw this. Uh, Kenny 180 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: pickets passing or passing yards the most ever for a 181 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: Steeler's rookie. Really, Okay, that adds up. Ever, I mean 182 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: that's a big number. Ever, so that's the number one game? 183 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: Are you talking about the first ever game? Both? Well, 184 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: I guess both. Yeah. I mean, if if one applies 185 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: that certainly the other one does too. So that game 186 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: was the highest passing yards by a Steeler rookie ever period. 187 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,079 Speaker 1: And the sentence. Yet, if he has a three yard 188 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: passing game this week, which I think could be, which 189 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: could be in the cards, he would join. This is 190 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: a nice company to keep Cam Newton, Kyler Murray, and 191 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert as the only quarterbacks sent in the Super 192 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: Bowl era to throw for back to back three hundred 193 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,599 Speaker 1: yard games to start to start your career. Okay, I 194 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: think that's possible. Yeah, I mean, I mean or lose 195 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: three yard game I think could be in the card. 196 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: Who thought a doubt? Because I think you know, obviously, 197 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: the Bucks are a tough nut to crack on the ground, 198 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: they are, they are. Their numbers like on the and 199 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,599 Speaker 1: against the run aren't aren't great. But a lot of 200 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: that's because Atlanta that's ran and ran and ran and ran. Yeah, 201 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: and running on the box's heart. Atlanta did have some 202 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: success with Mariota. That's a good point. Ye, running quarterbacks 203 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: were giving him an issue. Yeah. Now, whether the Steelers 204 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: want to go that route with Kenny Pickett and have 205 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: him do some designed runs, it's not the worst idea. 206 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe you break out a couple of them. I mean, 207 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: he's mobile enough. He was asked about that today and 208 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: he said, well, you know, Mariota is faster than I am. 209 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: I'll give him the nod there, but he is ken. 210 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: He's a pretty good runner. He's a better runner, I 211 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: think than a lot of us imagined. You know, he's 212 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 1: more than just a functional runner. He's a plus. He's 213 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: a good feel for it's a good feel for it 214 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: accelerates pretty well. Um, he has a little bit of 215 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: agility and make you missed to him. Well, and he's 216 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: not just a Aaron Rodgers. You know everyone turns their 217 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: back and man coverage take six yards slide. You know 218 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: he does more than that. Yeah, so I think it's 219 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: an interesting game. Um, and that here's another staff for you. 220 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: Matt George Pickens has six receptions and eight plus receiving 221 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: yards and back to back games. If he gets another 222 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 1: one of those he would be the first rookie Steelers 223 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: rookie in the Super Bowl era with a three game 224 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: streak of six and eighty. Okay, I think he's gonna 225 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: get plenty of They've had some pretty good receipt rookie 226 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: receivers over there. Oh yeah, right, a lot of first rounders. 227 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: And you know that's a good call um the key 228 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: kind of like we said to start the show, no 229 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 1: receiver's cat touchdown, Like they didn't get the good you know, 230 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: picking pick it talk today, And and I think they're 231 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: they're skimming some things up there too. Maybe you might 232 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: see George Pickens get an end zone target this week. 233 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: That would be right, right. I mean he's a go 234 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: up and get a guy. I mean he's built for it. Actually, 235 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: I'm working on a story for Steelers dot Com on him. 236 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: And and I talked to his high school coach today. 237 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: I bet he was good in high school. Yeah, he 238 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: said he's He's like, look, his catch radius is just ridiculous, 239 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: and he's he's just so so competitive that you know, 240 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: when the ball is in the air, he just doesn't 241 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 1: even think like and and you know, we talked about 242 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: the highlight catches and things that He practices that stuff 243 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: because he's like, well he you know, a lot of 244 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: guys dreamed these things where where they think about it 245 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: after the fact, well I should have done this, Like, 246 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: he practices those kind of catches because he's thinking. He's 247 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: thinking about it ahead of time, because when the balls 248 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: in the air, it's his. That's how he approaches it. 249 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: I mean a lot was forgettable about this last game, 250 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: but he might have my two favorite players of the year, 251 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: one of which was the awesome catch down the sideline, 252 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: of course, and then the other one was he just 253 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: blows apart of corner trying to trying to cover him, 254 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: you know, like, are you gonna press me? I'm just 255 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: gonna knock you on your back like I'm wolf, you know, 256 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: I you know I your At what point teams stopped 257 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: pressing him because of that, right many corners because corner 258 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: you know, physically, at the very least, if you're a cornerback, 259 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: you're thinking, okay, if I if I try to, you know, 260 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: get up and get my hands on this guy, he 261 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: might just jolp me and throw me back five yards 262 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: and I'm might open. It's like Melbolun and I'm gonna yeah, 263 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna end up on the ground and he's you know, yeah, 264 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: he's gonna get a reputation real quick. And guarantee. The 265 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: defensive coaches showed that clip over and over. Don't get 266 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: off balance against this guy. You're gonna be on the poster. 267 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: Teach me to posterize. I mean, he's remarkable. And I 268 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: know the season is not going great, but these first 269 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: two picks could really be foundations for a decade. Yeah. Yeah, 270 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: and again I like what I've seen from lealh. You know, 271 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: there's yeah to your point. I was just listening to 272 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: a fantasy show today and they're talking about the Steelers 273 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: and then like this everything that has happened, this is 274 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: like complete worst game scenario. Oh, this entire season for 275 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: the Steelers thus far, for fantasy or just just general 276 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: in general. You know, everything has been worse case scenario. 277 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: Because they're talking about Nagy Harris and his slow start, 278 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: I would say he's one of the fantasy busts, you know, right, 279 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: and um, like, you know, this has just been worst 280 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: case scenario all the way around for the Steelers. You know, 281 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: you you lose t J. Watt in the you know, 282 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: in the opener um you know, the the offenses. I 283 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: don't want to say worst case because again, the offensive line, 284 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: there's a lot of optimism. Yeah, I don't quite share 285 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: that view the offensive and they just they've had some 286 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: bad bouncers that have gone against them, no doubt. You know, 287 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: the plays they are, those fifty fifty plays that go 288 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: one way or the other to decide a game. I've 289 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: all gone against them. They've all gone again, even in 290 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: the even in the Buffalo game, but they were lost 291 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: if they was the other way around. Yea, they were 292 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: in that game. They were like five of them and 293 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: they all went the Bill's way and it made it 294 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: look worse than it was. But there's been a ton 295 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: of them. Patriots really come to mind. There was like 296 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: two big ones there. I'm trying remember the dropped interception 297 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: by Sutton and then after that the the muffta punts. 298 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: Then I mean that's the game. That's ball game. I mean, 299 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: I know it's only one game, but they feel like 300 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: a two and three type of team, not a one 301 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: and four tea, you know, like or even through I mean, 302 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: they could be three and two, and that's what's unfortunate 303 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: about it is, Yeah, you need a game like this 304 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: one where you get that bounce, you know, and you know, 305 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: I'm talking about this the other day, you know, and 306 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: somebody somebody texted me about or tweeted at me about it. 307 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: You know what's Ben Roethlisberger saying. But I'm like, look, 308 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: we said on this show all along that was the 309 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: part that they were gonna miss about Ben Roethlisberger. Fourth quarter, Ben, 310 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: it was really good last year. It was really good. Um, 311 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: you know for quarterback Ben one through three quarters. One 312 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: through three was not right. It looked much like it 313 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: it has at times this year. But in the fourth 314 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: quarter he was able to flip that switch and figure 315 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: things out and get some stuff done. Uh, you know 316 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: that hasn't been the case this game. And how often 317 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: have we talked about one score games since we've been 318 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: doing the Drive. I mean, football Siders tells you if 319 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 1: one score games are gonna come back to the mean, Well, 320 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: unless you're in New England, Seattle or the Steelers or 321 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: Green Bay during this era, well they had some pretty 322 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: good quarterbacks and coaches, you know what I mean. Like, 323 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 1: so if you lose just that three and two turns 324 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: into one and four, you know, and it's pivotal. I mean, 325 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: it's the league once parody and they're getting it. And 326 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: if you do, if you don't have that little edge, 327 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 1: you all of a sudden, you're one and four. I'm 328 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 1: I mean, they really am not much worse than the 329 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: Giants or four and one, you know what I mean. 330 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: I mean, it's all about schedule when you play, when 331 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: you play them, things like that that uh you know, injuries, Um, 332 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: you know that's what worries me right now. That's just 333 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: the thing. Yeah, that's the second. The defensive injuries. Like 334 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: if you don't have Friarmuth, so be it. You can 335 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: gentry it up and I wouldn't see Heyward anyway. But 336 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: if these defensive injuries, if you're down three corners against Brady, 337 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: I mean, like that's not a good place to be out. 338 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: That's what worries me the most because the pass rush 339 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: hasn't made up for it and there's not a strength 340 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: to counterbalance these slew of injuries. But I I think 341 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: the offense is close. I do too. I don't know 342 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 1: why I feel like. I mean, the stats are brutal 343 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: on the offense, but the tape is encouraging to me 344 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: that it's improving. It's you know, and don't Pickett said 345 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 1: it well today he says, Look, it's when we've been 346 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: in the red zone, it's been a you know, a 347 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 1: toe here, or you know somebody didn't get a foot down, 348 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: or I don't you know that I don't put the 349 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: ball on a spot where they can catch it. You know. 350 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 1: It's just so it's just you know, an inch here 351 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: or there that that's been the difference between them. Like 352 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: Deante is a perfect example. He's ad too now. Yeah, like, 353 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: oh he's not having a good year. Well, there's like 354 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: two plays that are an inch or two away from 355 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: being spectacular. And then all of a sudden you be like, 356 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: why Dante is having a great It really feels like that. Yeah. 357 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: And some of that again is ball placement. Oh yeah, 358 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: I mean I'm not sure Trobisky helped him a lot 359 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: with that. Yeah. And and he's also adjusting to a 360 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: new quarterback too. He had quite quite the rapport with Ben. 361 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: But still, I mean, if he makes one of those 362 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: plays or two or three more you know that have 363 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: been super close. I mean, we're not making an excuse 364 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: touchdown in the Jets game. If he if he makes 365 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: that catch you know, it probably plays against the Bills, 366 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 1: but he plays me against the Bills because they're getting 367 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: blown out. It maybe comes at half time of that 368 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: game as opposed the Jet game. That means a great throw, 369 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: as one of the best rows of the year. Absolutely, 370 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: I mean I looked at this up. I was surprised. 371 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: Um Trabisky in terms of aggressive throws this year was 372 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: second in in the NFL in terms of aggressive throws. 373 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: It is a little surprising to me because you think 374 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: about him turning things down, but he also lets it go. Yeah, 375 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean he tried to. He could, for 376 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: better or worse, tried to force some balls into some spots. 377 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 1: Um didn't turn it over, but didn't turn it over. 378 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm I'm all in favor of pick it. 379 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 1: We just say good things about him, but turnovers need 380 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: to slow down a little bit. I mean, something almer 381 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: been his fault, but all of a sudden, I mean, 382 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: of course, the Bengal game was crazy with turnover ratio, 383 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: and you knew that was gonna come back closer to zero. 384 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: But every week it gets a little worse. Well, I mean, 385 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: you had the four in the game against the um 386 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: against the Jets, that brutal, Right, that can't happen. But 387 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: this team can't turn the ball over here, how they 388 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: come they can't they can't turn the ball over. Yeah. 389 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: If you know, pickt had one interception last week, the 390 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: muff kick can't happen. That that kind of stuff, and 391 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: the defense did hold up in that situation. Um, but yeah, 392 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,679 Speaker 1: those are the kind of things that you can't look 393 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:39,360 Speaker 1: special teams. Turnovers are killers killers. I mean not only 394 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: they're just total fields flippers, but they're almost immediate points. 395 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: Yeah nine times out of ten, yeah or whatever. Yeah. Yeah, 396 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be interesting this year, um or this week, 397 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: I should it seems like they're due for a cam 398 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: tipped ball that falls into Bush's lap and he takes 399 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: it to the house. You know, they've had some balls 400 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: that they've they've batted, They've batter the fair number of 401 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: balls in here. They just haven't fallen in anybody's hands, right, 402 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: you know. I mean Leo started the game last week 403 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: against the Bills back to back bad and passes. I 404 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: mean those things keep up, good things will happen, you know, 405 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 1: and then they get the touchdown. You know, if one 406 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: of those two bad of balls turns into a touchdown, 407 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: you know, falls into somebody's hand. That's a game changer. 408 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,479 Speaker 1: I would use this analogy, but if the Penguins are pirates, 409 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 1: have a four game stretch where you know, hits just 410 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: aren't falling, or your goalies a little off. Okay, you 411 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: know now, it's like all the season's over. I mean, 412 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: that's just the beauty and the rough things about football, 413 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: you know, like absolutely, that's why we love it. Every 414 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: game is meaningful. You can subscribe to snr's newest podcast, 415 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: The Godfather of Pittsburgh Sports is talking Nothing but Steelers. 416 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: It's Severeign on Steelers. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday. 417 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: You can subscribe today. It's available on the Steeler's mobile app, 418 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app, and wherever you get your podcast. 419 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lali listening to 420 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll take a break. 421 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: We'll be back with more right after this