WEBVTT - Hr. 3: McCarthy Camp Presser  0:00:03.440 --> 0:00:07.400 This is live coverage of the twenty twenty six Steelers 0:00:07.480 --> 0:00:12.680 Training Camp or the Steelers Audio Network, presented by bud Light, 0:00:12.960 --> 0:00:15.920 Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy, and brought to you 0:00:16.000 --> 0:00:20.080 in part by Pennsylvania one Call Systems Dial eight one 0:00:20.200 --> 0:00:24.440 one before You dig SNT Bank People Forward Banking by 0:00:24.520 --> 0:00:28.400 Kalusy Chevrolet, serving the Pittsburgh area for over one hundred 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:32.640 and eight years. Clearview Federal Credit Union. For every touchdown 0:00:32.680 --> 0:00:36.240 the Black and Gold Score in twenty twenty six, Clearview 0:00:36.240 --> 0:00:39.000 will donate five hundred dollars to the Light of Life 0:00:39.040 --> 0:00:44.040 Mission list in CLEARVIEWFCU dot org and by iron Workers 0:00:44.080 --> 0:00:47.280 Local Union Number three. We don't go to the office, 0:00:47.360 --> 0:00:48.120 We build it. 0:00:49.720 --> 0:00:52.280 Good evening, Steeler Nation, how we doing well? That's good 0:00:52.520 --> 0:00:55.520 us too. It is the bonus hour here of the drive. 0:00:55.560 --> 0:00:58.120 We are into the five o'clock hour. The sun's starting 0:00:58.120 --> 0:01:00.600 to poke out a little bit here on campus as 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:03.440 hopefully what was kind of an overcast and wet and 0:01:03.560 --> 0:01:07.360 soggy day has a nice ending here this evening, Matt Williams, 0:01:07.360 --> 0:01:11.199 such as campus has been quiet here with practice being 0:01:11.280 --> 0:01:14.360 moved inside. If you missed it, they got about thirty 0:01:14.400 --> 0:01:17.520 forty minutes of work in outdoors before some lightning rolled in. 0:01:17.640 --> 0:01:19.880 Had to clear the fields of all the fans and 0:01:19.920 --> 0:01:21.840 of course the guys on the team heading over to 0:01:21.920 --> 0:01:24.960 the brand new dun Lap indoor facility, which. 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:27.080 And they're there right now for the walk through. 0:01:27.240 --> 0:01:28.800 I was gonna say they and that's not They had 0:01:28.840 --> 0:01:30.720 used it a couple times earlier in camp for the 0:01:30.760 --> 0:01:33.240 walk through in the evenings, but today was the first 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:35.920 day that they had to take the practice inside. Hopefully 0:01:36.240 --> 0:01:37.800 that'll be the first in the last time that we 0:01:37.840 --> 0:01:38.640 see that this camp. 0:01:38.680 --> 0:01:40.400 But always the part way better than doing a walk 0:01:40.440 --> 0:01:41.200 through in a gym. 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:43.240 So much better. And uh, Matt and I have not 0:01:43.360 --> 0:01:45.959 been into the new facility yet, but we have been 0:01:45.959 --> 0:01:48.200 into the gym across campus before and it's I mean, 0:01:48.200 --> 0:01:50.960 it's like a high school gym gym. It's an old school, 0:01:51.160 --> 0:01:54.720 you know, old college campus gym and would be tough 0:01:54.760 --> 0:01:56.880 with you know, one hundred bodies in there trying to 0:01:56.880 --> 0:01:59.560 get work done. Haven't seen the new facility over here, 0:01:59.560 --> 0:02:03.800 but it does have a indoor turf area. Asked Bob 0:02:03.880 --> 0:02:06.639 Labriola about this earlier and he said it's a sixty 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:10.600 yard field plus the end zones, so yeah, okay, he 0:02:10.639 --> 0:02:12.120 was like, he was like, I don't want to tell 0:02:12.160 --> 0:02:14.200 you that the end zones are exactly ten yards like 0:02:14.240 --> 0:02:15.880 they are in the NFL. But he's like, it's a 0:02:15.919 --> 0:02:19.400 sixty yard field and that doesn't include shock if they're not. So, 0:02:19.480 --> 0:02:22.880 I'm thinking it's probably about eighty yards in total, but 0:02:22.919 --> 0:02:25.600 certainly enough to get a pretty good days of work 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:27.960 in and better than having to go into a tiny show. 0:02:27.840 --> 0:02:31.320 Crowded with this size roster. But I mean like that, 0:02:31.400 --> 0:02:33.320 that's the same size we had as our indoor with 0:02:33.360 --> 0:02:35.360 the Browns too, you know, but just it was connected 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:38.799 to the facility. I should know this. But the once 0:02:38.960 --> 0:02:41.480 south side is it? I don't think it's full. 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:43.560 It's not a four hundred. I think it's eighty as well, 0:02:43.919 --> 0:02:46.680 closed plus end zones eighty plus. Well that would make 0:02:46.720 --> 0:02:50.239 it a hundred right then, But well, yeah, get what 0:02:50.240 --> 0:02:52.000 you're saying. Yes, it's one hundred yards and we don't 0:02:52.000 --> 0:02:53.720 call this one in front of us one hundred and twenty. 0:02:54.480 --> 0:02:59.240 Good point, Yeah, good point. Smooth Dave tweets and first 0:02:59.280 --> 0:03:00.919 segment here of the bone. You know what that means. 0:03:00.960 --> 0:03:03.280 It's time to hit some tweets. Smooth day of tweets 0:03:03.320 --> 0:03:05.960 our NFL contracts close to hitting a bubble. Seems like 0:03:06.000 --> 0:03:09.080 every contracts these days are breaking records, and not just 0:03:09.120 --> 0:03:12.440 the superstars. Yeah, but along those lines, is this simply 0:03:12.480 --> 0:03:15.600 the going rate for average to above average players? DK Metcalf, 0:03:15.680 --> 0:03:18.160 Michael Pittman, Junior, Patrick Queen, Jalen Ramsey. 0:03:18.960 --> 0:03:23.280 Yeah, I'm not economics major. I trust that these teams 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:26.040 are not overspending because it's league wide. We kind of 0:03:26.120 --> 0:03:29.799 ended last hour on this that contracts across the board 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:32.560 are really really going up, especially at the top of positions. 0:03:33.120 --> 0:03:36.320 But no, I mean, the term bubble makes it sound 0:03:36.360 --> 0:03:38.120 like it's gonna pop and it's gonna be bad. I 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:40.640 don't think that's the case. I'd be shocked if all 0:03:40.680 --> 0:03:42.600 of a sudden the league gets less healthy. 0:03:42.400 --> 0:03:46.000 Unless tens of millions of red blooded Americans suddenly decide 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:48.520 to stop watching and consuming football. 0:03:48.160 --> 0:03:50.520 Or if there's a COVID situation or something weird like that. 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:52.160 But I would be really shocked. 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:54.400 Matt, I spent some time in that break I was 0:03:54.440 --> 0:03:59.360 trying to find a reliable breakdown of because what this 0:03:59.400 --> 0:04:01.760 really comes down to now, folks, is just percentage of 0:04:01.760 --> 0:04:02.280 your salary. 0:04:02.320 --> 0:04:03.760 That's the most important way looking at it. 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:05.920 That's really, I think the only way to look at it. 0:04:05.960 --> 0:04:08.360 Because the numbers are big, the numbers are jarring. But 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:11.520 what percentage of your salary cap is it? That's where 0:04:11.560 --> 0:04:15.240 it really matters. And I couldn't find complete composite rankings, 0:04:15.280 --> 0:04:17.800 but I did find spot Track, who's very reputable in this. 0:04:18.360 --> 0:04:21.839 In this regard, they broke down the top salary cap 0:04:22.120 --> 0:04:27.200 percentage earner for each position. So like Joe Burrow, for example, 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:33.280 he commands twenty four point five percent of Cincinnati's cap. 0:04:33.360 --> 0:04:34.320 That's a big number. 0:04:34.440 --> 0:04:36.960 It's huge, right, Like fifty two other guys have to 0:04:36.960 --> 0:04:37.400 get paid. 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:39.440 And now a lot of that is because again just 0:04:39.480 --> 0:04:40.400 because these guys have. 0:04:40.400 --> 0:04:43.479 The average ends which year, and you know where. 0:04:43.279 --> 0:04:45.280 Do the bonuses come in and all those different things, 0:04:45.320 --> 0:04:47.640 because they all have the same average annual value. 0:04:47.680 --> 0:04:50.039 But what I assume that's his twenty twenty six cap 0:04:50.080 --> 0:04:52.120 hit correct, not necessarily. 0:04:51.680 --> 0:04:55.400 His it's almost seventy five million dollars this year for him. Wow, 0:04:55.680 --> 0:04:57.840 because again the way that the bonuses and everything are 0:04:57.839 --> 0:04:58.839 structured in a line. 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:01.320 But last year might have been ten million. 0:05:01.480 --> 0:05:04.880 Last year, Lamar was the number one in terms of 0:05:04.960 --> 0:05:07.919 salary cap and his was like nineteen point some percent, 0:05:08.360 --> 0:05:11.039 which is about the usual. This is a high year 0:05:11.080 --> 0:05:14.039 for Joe Burrow and the Bengals. This is where you 0:05:14.040 --> 0:05:16.080 can get into trouble is because not only does Joe 0:05:16.120 --> 0:05:18.680 Burrow take up twenty four and a half percent of 0:05:18.680 --> 0:05:21.080 their salary cap on his own, almost a quarter of 0:05:21.120 --> 0:05:25.200 their salary cap, Jamar Chase takes up fourteen point four 0:05:25.240 --> 0:05:29.080 percent himself. So between those two matt it's close to 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:33.400 thirty percent of your salary cap in just two players. Now, 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:36.400 so those are two absolute superstars players. Right, that's a 0:05:36.400 --> 0:05:38.520 problem I think that a lot of people would would have. 0:05:38.960 --> 0:05:40.920 But that's I think the real way to frame it. 0:05:41.080 --> 0:05:43.920 My hunch is something like Dexter Lawrence probably is really 0:05:43.920 --> 0:05:46.200 low this year, but he's scheduled for a big one 0:05:46.279 --> 0:05:48.200 next year. You know, Like I think you need to 0:05:48.240 --> 0:05:52.359 stagger those things, which is somewhat why percentage of cap 0:05:52.480 --> 0:05:56.479 can be misleading. It's the most important thing, but because 0:05:56.640 --> 0:05:59.880 NFL structure or NFL you know, yeah, what you get 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:02.480 per year, if you got this huge signing bonus, you 0:06:02.520 --> 0:06:05.520 get very little that year probably can be misleading in 0:06:05.600 --> 0:06:08.200 terms of value to team and all that kind of stuff. 0:06:08.240 --> 0:06:08.440 Too. 0:06:08.600 --> 0:06:11.440 So I do think to your point, and I've brought 0:06:11.480 --> 0:06:14.479 this a million times, percentage of cap is the best 0:06:14.480 --> 0:06:17.200 way to look at it. But I think you almost 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:19.120 have to do it over the course of the contract, 0:06:19.200 --> 0:06:22.119 not just this particularly year. Oh he's only five percent 0:06:22.120 --> 0:06:24.479 of the cap. Well, next year he's forty percent of 0:06:24.480 --> 0:06:26.120 the cap. You know, it's the same contract. 0:06:26.360 --> 0:06:28.600 If someone can find a good breakdown of this, yeah, 0:06:28.760 --> 0:06:32.360 my hastily researched five minutes during break send it during 0:06:32.360 --> 0:06:34.560 our way. But like we talked about Laramie Tunzel and 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:38.440 his likely season ending injury earlier today, he's the number 0:06:38.480 --> 0:06:43.160 one OH CAP earner for offensive tackles, over eleven percent 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:46.280 of the commander's cap he commands, and. 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:48.120 I mean other than Daniels, he's the guy they least won. 0:06:48.080 --> 0:06:51.240 To lose, absolutely, no question, Absolutely the highest guy on 0:06:51.360 --> 0:06:55.880 defense in terms of cap commanded his way this season 0:06:55.960 --> 0:06:59.440 is Michaeh. Parsons, who makes up about sixteen point seven 0:06:59.520 --> 0:07:03.520 percent of the of the Dallas the Dallas or the 0:07:03.600 --> 0:07:04.680 part of me the Green Bay Packers. 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:08.000 That's not extraordinarily high if you're if that's number one. 0:07:08.040 --> 0:07:10.120 That I honestly expected it to be a little bit more. 0:07:10.280 --> 0:07:14.000 Yeah for for the number one guy. Mister Steele City says, 0:07:14.040 --> 0:07:16.520 when will we know how quarterback reps will be distributed 0:07:16.520 --> 0:07:18.679 for the first preseason game? And how do you guys 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:19.920 think it'll be split up? 0:07:21.080 --> 0:07:24.360 Interestingly, and not that he knows, but Labs, I had 0:07:24.360 --> 0:07:27.360 this conversation while you know, we were watching practice today. 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:28.640 He said, how would you do it? 0:07:28.680 --> 0:07:28.880 Matt? 0:07:29.240 --> 0:07:31.560 And I didn't give it a whole lot of thought. 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:33.640 I was off the top of my head and I said, hmm, 0:07:34.640 --> 0:07:40.680 how about this. Rogers doesn't dress, Rudolph gets one series. Yep, 0:07:41.440 --> 0:07:45.040 Howard finishes the first half, Aller takes the second half. 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:47.880 I think that's about right. Maybe you give Howard one 0:07:48.000 --> 0:07:50.840 series out of a halftime. Let's see how he can adjust 0:07:50.880 --> 0:07:51.840 and take some coaching. 0:07:51.960 --> 0:07:53.840 Maybe you see how it goes, or you know, but 0:07:53.920 --> 0:07:56.000 I like him to run the two minutes. You'd like 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:58.000 both young guys to run the two minute drill at 0:07:58.000 --> 0:07:59.480 the end of that respective halves. 0:08:00.400 --> 0:08:02.960 Should we even set an over under of preseason snaps 0:08:02.960 --> 0:08:05.400 played by Aaron Rodgers or should it be zero? Should 0:08:05.400 --> 0:08:06.360 it be half half? 0:08:06.520 --> 0:08:08.840 I think he's gonna actually show up. Yeah, I mean, 0:08:08.960 --> 0:08:10.040 didn't he say he wants to. 0:08:10.160 --> 0:08:13.960 I mean they did, but he said Aaron Rodgers, they 0:08:14.000 --> 0:08:15.920 left it both left it pretty open. But Aaron did 0:08:15.960 --> 0:08:19.120 say that Mike wants him to play. Now, what exactly 0:08:19.160 --> 0:08:19.720 does that mean? 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:23.080 I think at most it's a series for Rogers. 0:08:22.720 --> 0:08:24.120 Five and a half. Is that the is that the 0:08:24.120 --> 0:08:26.320 game under for Snaps four and a half? 0:08:26.600 --> 0:08:28.480 Yeah, and that's game two. 0:08:28.680 --> 0:08:31.320 That's game two, okay. And then for Mason, I would 0:08:31.320 --> 0:08:35.520 put it at probably high teens. Eighteen and a half, 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:38.400 nineteen and a half, entire preseason, not one game, yeah, 0:08:38.440 --> 0:08:39.520 eighteen nineteen round. 0:08:39.880 --> 0:08:42.280 Maybe he doesn't even play at all. Maybe that's just 0:08:42.320 --> 0:08:43.480 all young guys in the three. 0:08:43.320 --> 0:08:45.440 Way again, maybe he does the first series and then 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:47.320 it's all it's all young guys the rest of the way. 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:48.600 How would you do it for this one? 0:08:48.800 --> 0:08:51.920 For the first preseason game, Yeah, I would. I would 0:08:51.920 --> 0:08:57.360 give Mason, uh two series, okay. And then however, like 0:08:57.679 --> 0:08:59.800 then I would split the other try and make it 0:08:59.800 --> 0:09:01.360 as close to fifty to fifty for the other two 0:09:01.400 --> 0:09:03.400 if it's if it's forty five to fifty five. 0:09:03.480 --> 0:09:05.480 Yeah, it's hard to predict, right, but you have to 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:08.000 pull him in the middle a series or ends, and 0:09:08.080 --> 0:09:08.760 you know, right. 0:09:08.840 --> 0:09:10.440 You're not gonna call on a pinch hit or anything 0:09:10.480 --> 0:09:12.719 like that. I don't think though, that we'll know this 0:09:14.520 --> 0:09:17.600 maybe until Thursday. I don't think Mike McCarthy's gonna come 0:09:17.600 --> 0:09:19.360 out and say this is exactly how we're gonna He 0:09:19.440 --> 0:09:21.559 might come out and say Mason's gonna start, but I 0:09:21.600 --> 0:09:23.200 don't know if we'll get real deep into the weeds 0:09:23.200 --> 0:09:24.520 with him in terms of that information. 0:09:24.840 --> 0:09:26.840 Labs and Rob were talking about it today and I 0:09:26.960 --> 0:09:29.040 just half overheard it. That's why I almost didn't repeat 0:09:29.040 --> 0:09:31.880 it now. But I think he said something along the 0:09:31.920 --> 0:09:35.880 lines of McCarthy will not tomorrow. But you know he 0:09:35.960 --> 0:09:39.120 speaks before practice. He will not give us that answer 0:09:39.559 --> 0:09:41.719 that I would be shocked right right. So it'll be 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:44.320 sometime we won't know this when we're on the drive tomorrow, 0:09:44.600 --> 0:09:45.560 we won't have that answer. 0:09:46.320 --> 0:09:49.800 Ian a lot of quarterback questions and conversation today. Ian says, 0:09:49.800 --> 0:09:52.360 Happy Monday, gentlemen. With Mason getting more and more of 0:09:52.360 --> 0:09:55.160 the second team snaps in practice, is the possibility of 0:09:55.240 --> 0:09:58.240 keeping four quarterbacks on the roster becoming more likely? Or 0:09:58.240 --> 0:10:01.600 are they trying to showcase Mason or other teams. My gut, 0:10:01.679 --> 0:10:04.040 someone is gonna get quote hurt and go on. 0:10:04.160 --> 0:10:08.240 I r they might the problem with getting quote hurt 0:10:08.840 --> 0:10:09.480 they can't. 0:10:09.240 --> 0:10:12.040 Practice practice, which I haven't found about that too. 0:10:12.200 --> 0:10:13.840 I need to practice anyone, I need to use them. 0:10:13.880 --> 0:10:15.840 Okay. But also because you would know this better than me. 0:10:16.360 --> 0:10:19.400 How much is your third quarterback really practicing throughout the 0:10:19.400 --> 0:10:20.760 course of the week. It's not. I mean, it's better 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:23.480 than running, it's better than nothing. It's not. 0:10:23.960 --> 0:10:26.880 They're throwing balls and they're involved. Yeah. I mean, now 0:10:26.920 --> 0:10:28.560 they'd be in the meeting rooms and they can like 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:31.800 lift in all those things, but that wouldn't be the 0:10:31.880 --> 0:10:35.479 end of the world. Again, I I don't get the inclination, 0:10:35.600 --> 0:10:38.760 but to be determined that they're comfortable enough with Howard 0:10:38.840 --> 0:10:41.679 to be the game day number two yet, I mean 0:10:41.760 --> 0:10:42.760 it seems like a stretch. 0:10:42.800 --> 0:10:44.280 Be very surprised if that were the case. 0:10:44.520 --> 0:10:47.880 And four, I mean we're aways from this, but if 0:10:47.920 --> 0:10:51.520 you start really putting a fifty three together, you're awfully light. 0:10:51.600 --> 0:10:54.199 If you keep four, I mean somewhere. 0:10:54.120 --> 0:10:58.200 Right in in a not so not in a vacuum, 0:10:58.200 --> 0:11:01.000 in a bubble. I I I think the idea of 0:11:01.080 --> 0:11:03.319 keeping four quarterbacks is very plausible. 0:11:03.760 --> 0:11:06.360 Yeah, I mean, on the surface, until you actually build 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:07.000 a fifty three. 0:11:07.360 --> 0:11:09.040 Then it starts to become pretty difficult. 0:11:09.080 --> 0:11:11.600 Now, there is some finaggling, especially early in the season, 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:14.280 where you can put veterans on the practice squad and 0:11:14.320 --> 0:11:16.960 pull them up on game day and move them around, 0:11:17.040 --> 0:11:19.840 and that buys you some times. And there are some 0:11:20.600 --> 0:11:24.840 loopholes and things. They're not loopholes. Everybody does it. That 0:11:24.960 --> 0:11:28.000 makes it easier because you'd have probably two quarterbacks inactive 0:11:28.000 --> 0:11:30.480 on game day if four were on the fifty three. 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:34.200 But there's a reason teams don't do it, you know. 0:11:34.720 --> 0:11:37.360 Jeff says, in your opinions, has Howard or Aller looked 0:11:37.400 --> 0:11:39.679 significantly better than the other so far in camp? 0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:42.120 I wouldn't say both like what you thought they'd be, 0:11:42.320 --> 0:11:42.520 you know. 0:11:42.679 --> 0:11:45.240 I think Aler's highs have been a little higher, Yeah, 0:11:45.240 --> 0:11:48.080 but Howard's been a little more steady, aety consistent throughout 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:48.480 the time. 0:11:48.640 --> 0:11:50.920 They both turned the ball over. They both been throws. 0:11:51.000 --> 0:11:54.640 They both look young. No, I think they both have 0:11:54.720 --> 0:11:58.760 been as expected for better or worse, to be honest, and. 0:11:58.760 --> 0:12:01.880 I know that not every single day, but there's been 0:12:01.880 --> 0:12:03.760 some days that Mike McCarthy said, we need better from 0:12:03.800 --> 0:12:05.719 the quarterback play. We need better from the offense. Too 0:12:05.720 --> 0:12:08.520 many turnovers, too many issues. So I think he would 0:12:08.520 --> 0:12:11.360 probably echo that centiment as well. RJ. We got a 0:12:11.360 --> 0:12:13.480 couple more to get to here before we close down 0:12:13.800 --> 0:12:17.000 this first segment of the first hour. RJ says, what's 0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:19.640 been the biggest breath of fresh air this training camp 0:12:19.720 --> 0:12:22.720 so far with the new coaching change and new regime. 0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:24.120 That's a good question. 0:12:25.080 --> 0:12:27.120 I was just say, like Roman Wilson, but then we 0:12:27.200 --> 0:12:30.480 said when he made a coaching specific I love how 0:12:30.520 --> 0:12:32.880 open McCarthy is and how organized he is. 0:12:34.240 --> 0:12:37.640 I love how much there is going on during practice tempo. 0:12:37.800 --> 0:12:40.600 It's not the most it's not the. 0:12:40.520 --> 0:12:44.040 Most physical everywhere certainly, which takes away I think some 0:12:44.120 --> 0:12:46.240 of what you can deduce. But at the same time, 0:12:46.800 --> 0:12:49.240 there is always so much going on during practice. There's 0:12:49.240 --> 0:12:51.640 always so much to watch that you almost have to 0:12:51.640 --> 0:12:53.880 tell yourself, Okay, for the next ten minutes I'm watching 0:12:53.920 --> 0:12:57.800 the quarterbacks. You'll find your ADHD brain will be looking 0:12:57.840 --> 0:12:59.640 all over the place. It's seven different. 0:12:59.320 --> 0:13:00.120 Things going on. 0:13:00.240 --> 0:13:02.360 Yeah, there's a lot going on. There's a lot to 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:04.800 take in every day. It's not necessarily the most physical 0:13:05.280 --> 0:13:07.600 or the most violent or and intense, but there's a 0:13:07.600 --> 0:13:08.200 lot going on. 0:13:08.280 --> 0:13:09.920 There's a lot going on, and it's it's it is 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:13.120 almost impossible to digest it all, like in real time. 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:15.560 Oh, this is pretty cool. And he tweets us and 0:13:15.600 --> 0:13:18.320 she's it's a picture of a Cleveland Brown Stadium Huntington 0:13:18.320 --> 0:13:20.280 Bank Stadium. She says, I'm about to enter the belly 0:13:20.280 --> 0:13:22.960 of the beast for a good cause. Food Fighters show 0:13:23.000 --> 0:13:25.520 tonight in Cleveland. Okay, very nice, and he have fun. 0:13:25.880 --> 0:13:28.480 I was there at a Huntington Bank Stadium back in 0:13:28.520 --> 0:13:31.320 May for a Zach Bryant concert. Good concert venue there 0:13:31.400 --> 0:13:33.000 right on the right on the lake in Cleveland. 0:13:33.160 --> 0:13:36.480 I saw the food fighters when he had the broken leg. 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:38.960 Okay he deave girl. 0:13:39.080 --> 0:13:42.640 Yeah, Dave Girl had a like this huge like throne 0:13:42.679 --> 0:13:45.640 built that he couldn't. 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:47.280 Is this when you were with the Brown still or no? 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:49.560 No, no, I was. It was a starlake Okay, But 0:13:49.600 --> 0:13:50.559 I did see the food fighters. 0:13:50.679 --> 0:13:50.880 Nice. 0:13:51.000 --> 0:13:53.959 I've actually never seen the food fighters and uh, I 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:56.559 wouldn't mind it. Yeah, I wouldn't like go crazy out 0:13:56.559 --> 0:13:57.839 of my way to see the food fighters, but I 0:13:57.840 --> 0:14:00.800 would definitely like to see see them in cons Andie. 0:14:00.800 --> 0:14:02.880 Hopefully the weather holds out for you in Cleveland, and 0:14:03.040 --> 0:14:05.120 has been a little bit better there today, good point, 0:14:05.120 --> 0:14:08.920 And then it has been here in uh in Pennsylvania. Oh, 0:14:09.120 --> 0:14:12.040 let's see, we think we got time for one or 0:14:12.080 --> 0:14:15.760 two more here, Uh, Steelers Burner says, your guys. Thoughts 0:14:15.800 --> 0:14:21.280 on the running back bought battle. You know, Caleb Johnson 0:14:21.320 --> 0:14:25.160 often looks like he has got brick shoes on to me. Uh, 0:14:25.200 --> 0:14:27.760 you know, I am still kind of uh you know, 0:14:27.800 --> 0:14:30.560 looking for for an explosive back to emerge outside of 0:14:30.600 --> 0:14:33.560 Warren With Rico, I don't think the you know, the 0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:36.920 contrast matters as much between him and Warren. So who 0:14:36.920 --> 0:14:38.720 do you feel like is the last one on the roster? 0:14:39.080 --> 0:14:39.240 Uh? 0:14:39.280 --> 0:14:42.480 He's saying he likes Eli hiden Reich. That's just that's 0:14:42.520 --> 0:14:45.160 an interesting one though, because it's gonna be tough for 0:14:45.200 --> 0:14:46.360 Eli at running back. 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:47.080 Yeah. 0:14:47.240 --> 0:14:48.920 I'm also starting to think it might be tough for 0:14:49.000 --> 0:14:52.160 Caleb Johnson, man, I know, because I do think Travis 0:14:52.160 --> 0:14:54.200 hom Travis Homer is the real kicker in this. And 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:56.800 again you're kind of what you just laid out of. 0:14:56.880 --> 0:14:58.400 You could get the fifty three really quick. 0:14:59.040 --> 0:15:01.640 If you think for running backs it's real tough, especially 0:15:01.720 --> 0:15:02.160 the full back. 0:15:02.200 --> 0:15:04.040 I don't see how, and they are going to keep 0:15:04.080 --> 0:15:06.000 a full back it seems yeah, So I don't know 0:15:06.000 --> 0:15:08.680 how you could keep four running backs and four quarterbacks. 0:15:08.760 --> 0:15:12.440 Nowakowski's making the team, Rico and Warren are making the team. 0:15:12.880 --> 0:15:16.040 So I'd said that leaves one spot for Caleb or Homer, 0:15:16.200 --> 0:15:17.760 and Homer's the personal protector. 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:19.320 That's such a giveaway. 0:15:19.400 --> 0:15:20.520 He's a special teams guy. 0:15:20.600 --> 0:15:22.560 I mean, he's your killer Brew, he's your you know, 0:15:22.600 --> 0:15:27.280 your most important non kicker punter on special teams as 0:15:27.320 --> 0:15:30.240 the personal protector, so he's probably gonna make the team. 0:15:30.280 --> 0:15:32.280 That doesn't mean it. No one else could possibly do 0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:36.360 it Caleb. But I think what's gonna be really important 0:15:36.400 --> 0:15:38.760 for Caleb is the three games. I mean, if you're 0:15:38.800 --> 0:15:41.520 not breaking tackles out here too, running back evaluations are 0:15:41.520 --> 0:15:42.360 pretty darn tough. 0:15:42.520 --> 0:15:44.800 Very tough, yeah, very tough. And there's been times where 0:15:44.840 --> 0:15:45.560 he's looked uh. 0:15:47.280 --> 0:15:50.640 Okay, yeah yeah. But the cement feet thing, I don't 0:15:50.680 --> 0:15:51.640 see a lot of that here. 0:15:52.160 --> 0:15:53.400 I I don't. I don't either. 0:15:53.480 --> 0:15:55.880 I saw some indecision as a rookie, but you know. 0:15:55.880 --> 0:15:58.520 Right, absolutely, But again, it's just running backs have been 0:15:58.520 --> 0:16:00.640 so hard to judge out here. Because they're they're not 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:04.800 live tackling, and they're not protecting Steeler Nation. Nine to twenty. Well, 0:16:04.800 --> 0:16:07.000 here's a here's a good here's a good call back 0:16:07.080 --> 0:16:10.040 joke from our Freaks list earlier. Who was the freakiest 0:16:10.080 --> 0:16:13.960 athlete to come out of each of your colleges? Carlon Asselry, 0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:15.000 that's a good one for you. 0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:17.800 All right, that's the only one we got though a 0:16:17.840 --> 0:16:23.120 football team. I mean, all right, but he counts Yours 0:16:23.200 --> 0:16:23.840 might be Austin. 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:27.040 Probably Tavon Austin. Yeah, I know it's from a long 0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:30.240 time ago, but but uh, Chuck Halley would be a 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:32.480 tough one. It was a really five sport letterman and 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:35.600 Super Bowl MVP and Jerry West Jerry West logo of 0:16:35.640 --> 0:16:37.440 the NBA. But if we're going recent days, I think 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:40.880 it's I think it's definitely Tavon Austin. But that's a 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:41.360 good question. 0:16:41.360 --> 0:16:43.240 I'm sure there's some sharpshooter that's pretty good at what 0:16:43.240 --> 0:16:45.520 they do. But oh, without a doubt, that depends how 0:16:45.520 --> 0:16:47.160 you define athletes exactly right. 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:49.480 There's been a couple of gold medal riflests to come 0:16:49.520 --> 0:16:52.880 through Morgantown. But some people might that's like NASCAR, Matt like, 0:16:53.000 --> 0:16:56.720 is that it's it's it is. It certainly takes levels 0:16:56.720 --> 0:17:00.000 of athleticism and coordination and all that stuff. Oh yeah, 0:17:00.120 --> 0:17:03.080 is shooting a gun really a sport? Is driving a 0:17:03.080 --> 0:17:05.439 car really a sport? I think it probably is, But 0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:07.720 I also think it's a discussion. Like I've done, it's 0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:10.000 more of a sport than playing poker, is right? 0:17:10.880 --> 0:17:15.760 I mean, like, does athleticism count for bowling? Or you've 0:17:15.800 --> 0:17:18.200 got to have hand eye corn. There's reasons someone's better than. 0:17:18.800 --> 0:17:21.160 Even with you know, even like NASCAR and Formula one. 0:17:21.040 --> 0:17:24.080 Of the F one four. I mean, they do so 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:28.040 much off the field in terms of conditioning and their 0:17:28.080 --> 0:17:32.240 eyes and their reaction time. So I'm not discrediting at all, 0:17:32.560 --> 0:17:33.760 you know, but but it's. 0:17:33.640 --> 0:17:36.120 A different than football, basketball, baseball. 0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:38.760 Yeah, Like the the tweet was who was the best 0:17:38.840 --> 0:17:41.199 athlete that came out of w if they had the 0:17:41.240 --> 0:17:44.120 best rifle shooter? Ever, I'm not sure I can give 0:17:44.119 --> 0:17:51.600 it to that person. If you're saying an athlete, if 0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:54.080 you've got like best, that such a different question. 0:17:54.160 --> 0:17:56.600 You've got some swimmer or some track person who's winning 0:17:56.640 --> 0:18:00.640 all championships. Absolutely, but that's that is I've always that's 0:18:00.640 --> 0:18:03.200 one of those like late night random. 0:18:02.920 --> 0:18:04.840 Laying on a hillside with a gun. I mean, I'm 0:18:04.880 --> 0:18:08.480 not sure that that's super athleticism. 0:18:09.320 --> 0:18:11.640 Definitely more. I used to laugh though, like what people 0:18:11.640 --> 0:18:13.480 would say, like poker is a sport. I'd be like, 0:18:13.480 --> 0:18:16.120 get out of here. That ain't a sport. I ain't 0:18:16.160 --> 0:18:19.760 a sport at all. But certainly rifle and NASCAR and 0:18:19.760 --> 0:18:20.679 that kind of stuff. 0:18:20.400 --> 0:18:22.720 Oh, they're a sport. I mean they're competitive. Yeah, they're 0:18:22.760 --> 0:18:25.640 just in terms of athleticisms too big a term. 0:18:25.520 --> 0:18:29.760 To very wide spanning term. Certainly talk to little special 0:18:29.800 --> 0:18:32.439 teams in some of those things. With Travis Homer and 0:18:32.480 --> 0:18:35.080 some others on the show. Today, we'll hear from special 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:38.040 Teams coordinator Danny Crossman. He spoke for the first time 0:18:38.119 --> 0:18:40.560 during camp earlier. Maybe we'll continue to get to some 0:18:40.560 --> 0:18:43.479 of your tweets. Continue to keep you post on all 0:18:43.480 --> 0:18:45.360 the moving and shaking here on campus as we roll 0:18:45.400 --> 0:18:48.879 along in this bonus hour, West Shuler, Matt Williamson. It 0:18:49.000 --> 0:18:51.359 is the Drive High a top Chuck Nolefield on the 0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:53.760 campus of Saint Vincent College. 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US steal Mine, Melted and made in the USA, 0:19:37.800 --> 0:19:41.840 your neighborhood Forward Store and by the Steelers Pro Shop 0:19:42.200 --> 0:19:45.200 visit Shop dot Steelers dot com. 0:19:45.440 --> 0:19:48.639 Rolling along here in the bonus hour of the drive, 0:19:48.680 --> 0:19:52.240 as we're getting closer to the conclusion of today's coverage, Matt, 0:19:52.320 --> 0:19:55.960 a lot of UH with the off day yesterday, a 0:19:56.000 --> 0:19:59.560 lot more kind of audio and UH and coordinator speaking 0:19:59.600 --> 0:20:02.000 of things like that. As we're getting to the end, 0:20:02.400 --> 0:20:04.399 it is and you know, again, Matt and I have 0:20:04.560 --> 0:20:07.159 we've laid it out, are kind of honest feelings. Sometimes 0:20:07.240 --> 0:20:09.640 some audio can get a little redundant, but I think 0:20:09.680 --> 0:20:13.280 when it's all new coaching staff, new offensive coordinator, new 0:20:13.320 --> 0:20:16.560 defensive coordinator, new head coach, and new special teams coach 0:20:16.640 --> 0:20:19.240 Danny Crossman. Matt, we always want to take a listen. 0:20:19.720 --> 0:20:22.800 We go from Danny Smith to Danny Crossman. Maybe that's 0:20:22.840 --> 0:20:25.640 a new bylaw in the Steelers organization right here. First 0:20:26.320 --> 0:20:27.600 name has to be Danny if you're going to be 0:20:27.600 --> 0:20:31.040 the special teams coach. But it's certainly been a different 0:20:31.080 --> 0:20:34.320 training camp from that perspective, but a lot of familiar names. 0:20:34.520 --> 0:20:37.280 Chris Boswell at the forefront of them with that special 0:20:37.280 --> 0:20:40.720 teams group. Danny Crossman, new special teams coordinator, speaking for 0:20:40.760 --> 0:20:43.119 the first time at training camp this team. 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:48.160 In the past several years under the previous special teams coordinator, 0:20:48.560 --> 0:20:50.359 I've watched a lot of kicks and punts from on 0:20:50.480 --> 0:20:53.159 the top of the NFL. Is that something that you 0:20:53.840 --> 0:20:55.679 specialize in as well as far as something that you 0:20:55.680 --> 0:20:58.600 want to recreate and how do you go about creating 0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:00.679 more moments where you're he your. 0:21:00.600 --> 0:21:01.840 Unit can can do that. 0:21:02.200 --> 0:21:04.919 Yeah, I mean we look at the numbers. Yeah, we've 0:21:04.920 --> 0:21:08.320 had a pretty good history of blocking kicks and getting 0:21:08.359 --> 0:21:10.760 some scores out of them and setting up good field positions. 0:21:10.760 --> 0:21:12.080 So that's always going to be part of the plan. 0:21:12.119 --> 0:21:15.600 But again it's a week two week and opposition, base 0:21:15.840 --> 0:21:19.520 protection personnel, and then situation of the game. I've gone 0:21:19.520 --> 0:21:21.879 into games with what you think are is a great 0:21:21.920 --> 0:21:24.520 plan in the return game and you don't get any 0:21:24.520 --> 0:21:26.840 ops to work the return game where you have some 0:21:26.920 --> 0:21:30.000 blocks that you really like, but the situations really never occur. 0:21:30.160 --> 0:21:32.639 So we'll have stuff in and you know, we'll be 0:21:32.640 --> 0:21:34.760 aggressive when we can, we'll be smart when we need 0:21:34.800 --> 0:21:38.080 to be, and try to make plays for the stillers 0:21:38.119 --> 0:21:40.920 to end up with a dub. It's all anybody cares about. 0:21:41.680 --> 0:21:43.360 I know that we're not supposed to take put much 0:21:43.359 --> 0:21:45.760 stock in the first stepth chart that came out that 0:21:45.840 --> 0:21:48.240 Katie Leegen was listed as the starting returners. 0:21:48.280 --> 0:21:51.000 What have you liked about him so far in camp? 0:21:51.119 --> 0:21:52.400 Just getting into that role. 0:21:52.400 --> 0:21:53.800 A lot, a lot of the same things that we 0:21:53.880 --> 0:21:57.080 celid tape. You know, good decision maker, it's got good 0:21:57.080 --> 0:21:59.840 bursts and got very good visions. So you know it's 0:22:00.200 --> 0:22:03.359 we're still, you know, in my opinion, very early in 0:22:03.359 --> 0:22:06.440 this race, but we've been very happy with what we've 0:22:06.440 --> 0:22:07.440 seen from him so far. 0:22:08.160 --> 0:22:09.880 With Kate for a minute, I mean he was very 0:22:09.880 --> 0:22:11.240 productive at the college level. 0:22:12.320 --> 0:22:12.919 Kickoff is a. 0:22:12.880 --> 0:22:14.760 Little bit different, the punts a little bit different at 0:22:14.760 --> 0:22:18.000 this level. Where do those changes show up and what's 0:22:18.040 --> 0:22:20.159 going to be important for him to adapt to some 0:22:20.160 --> 0:22:21.439 of the differences within there. 0:22:21.840 --> 0:22:25.920 Again, there's a very different game, but a lot of 0:22:25.960 --> 0:22:28.000 the skill sets are going to translate, you know, so 0:22:28.119 --> 0:22:30.920 making good decisions, catching the football and getting vertical in 0:22:31.080 --> 0:22:33.639 both phases, just like you did at the University of Iowa, 0:22:34.280 --> 0:22:37.320 those same traits continue. We feel very good about him 0:22:37.359 --> 0:22:40.639 having some success at this league. May not happen right away, 0:22:41.200 --> 0:22:43.359 you know, obviously we hope it does, but you know, 0:22:43.600 --> 0:22:46.600 we're very early in the process and we're very fortunate 0:22:46.600 --> 0:22:47.720 to have him and we think he's going to be 0:22:47.720 --> 0:22:48.480 a good player for us. 0:22:48.800 --> 0:22:50.880 When you look at his I would say a lot 0:22:50.880 --> 0:22:54.240 of broken tackles just in really short areas that look 0:22:54.359 --> 0:22:54.760 like it's. 0:22:54.640 --> 0:22:55.960 Tough to get out of, but he gets out of. 0:22:56.320 --> 0:22:59.120 What traits do you think Kateen has that allows him 0:22:59.119 --> 0:23:01.840 to be such a great tax breaker breakout of those losers? 0:23:01.840 --> 0:23:05.120 Well, they said, if number one is vision number two, 0:23:05.320 --> 0:23:09.000 you know, all the great ones that have the ability 0:23:09.000 --> 0:23:10.639 to make people miss in a short area which is 0:23:10.680 --> 0:23:13.360 what this is all about. So you know, he's show 0:23:13.400 --> 0:23:15.200 you showing that in the past at the collegiate level. 0:23:16.000 --> 0:23:18.560 Obviously we believe that that will translate to our level. 0:23:18.920 --> 0:23:21.160 But all the really good players can make people miss 0:23:21.359 --> 0:23:24.800 and or run through arm tackles. You know, you can't 0:23:24.800 --> 0:23:27.240 be brought down by arm tackles. If you are, it's 0:23:27.240 --> 0:23:29.600 gonna be hard because there's gonna be people, you know, 0:23:29.720 --> 0:23:32.000 in the vicinity that's the National Football League. There's great 0:23:32.000 --> 0:23:35.560 players on every club. So but we feel very good 0:23:35.600 --> 0:23:38.119 about where and what direction this is gone with Caden 0:23:38.160 --> 0:23:39.359 and some of the other returners. 0:23:39.560 --> 0:23:40.960 When you play off the draft board. 0:23:40.960 --> 0:23:43.439 On drafting, I mean you're like, wow, I got this 0:23:43.520 --> 0:23:44.119 kid to work with. 0:23:44.320 --> 0:23:45.119 What was your reaction to? 0:23:45.160 --> 0:23:47.359 How much maybe input did you have it as well? 0:23:47.400 --> 0:23:49.560 Obviously you know I voiced my opinion in terms of 0:23:49.720 --> 0:23:52.560 rankings and players that we like. But that's with you know, 0:23:52.640 --> 0:23:55.240 every position. You know we're going to coach the daylights 0:23:55.240 --> 0:23:57.640 out of whoever they give us. Obviously, you know you're 0:23:57.680 --> 0:23:59.960 excited to get a good player, but I mean believe 0:24:00.000 --> 0:24:01.800 I mean, that doesn't last more than a second and 0:24:01.840 --> 0:24:04.440 then you're just tracking what's happening. Next, what's the next 0:24:04.440 --> 0:24:07.120 thing available? I mean, as soon as it happens, it's done, 0:24:07.119 --> 0:24:10.440 it's history. Let's move forward. But it gives you a 0:24:10.480 --> 0:24:13.320 piece to start planning around with the idea of what 0:24:13.359 --> 0:24:13.920 you may have. 0:24:16.119 --> 0:24:19.639 Danny the death of running back with like Caleb and 0:24:19.680 --> 0:24:20.480 Travis and Euli. 0:24:20.640 --> 0:24:22.280 You know, those guys. You know, in order to make 0:24:22.280 --> 0:24:23.480 the roster are going to have to be able to 0:24:23.520 --> 0:24:24.560 contribute on special teams. 0:24:24.560 --> 0:24:27.280 But imagine, so where do you see from those three guys, 0:24:27.480 --> 0:24:29.640 the roles that they're playing and how they're contributing so far. 0:24:29.840 --> 0:24:31.679 Well, I wouldn't even say three, I'd say four with 0:24:31.840 --> 0:24:34.240 you know, with with Lou Nichols. Well, it's a very 0:24:34.240 --> 0:24:36.520 good group. I mean it's a very good group. And 0:24:36.560 --> 0:24:38.720 I'm not going to speak for the offense, but a 0:24:38.760 --> 0:24:42.160 lot of versatility in that room, a lot of very 0:24:42.160 --> 0:24:45.840 good football players, a lot of intelligent football players. You know, 0:24:45.880 --> 0:24:48.840 we like that whole group. Each of them brings something different. 0:24:49.160 --> 0:24:53.040 You know, some of them are more working with return 0:24:53.240 --> 0:24:55.720 in the kickoff from punt return phase, and you know, 0:24:55.760 --> 0:24:58.080 and obviously all of them working in the coverage phase, 0:24:58.119 --> 0:24:59.920 but some other guys working in the in the block, 0:25:00.119 --> 0:25:02.920 in the front line. So it's a very good room 0:25:03.160 --> 0:25:05.920 to work with. As far as a Special Teams coach, 0:25:07.520 --> 0:25:11.520 Dandy Mike Toman once described Chris Boswell as a serial killer. 0:25:12.880 --> 0:25:15.240 What if when you talk about that in the spring, 0:25:15.320 --> 0:25:17.159 that's that's somebody else. I don't honest that. 0:25:17.400 --> 0:25:20.040 Yeah, you continue to get to know him. 0:25:20.080 --> 0:25:22.120 What's impressed you about his day to day work? 0:25:22.119 --> 0:25:24.919 Ethnic He is an outstanding kicker. He knows his body, 0:25:24.960 --> 0:25:27.119 he knows what work he needs to get done. He 0:25:27.240 --> 0:25:30.159 is a true professional, and you know so very glad 0:25:30.200 --> 0:25:32.080 that he is our kicker. 0:25:32.880 --> 0:25:35.560 You got a number of young players that looked like 0:25:35.600 --> 0:25:38.320 they had the potential to be sort of core special 0:25:38.359 --> 0:25:42.560 teams guys, Guys like Riley Eli, Priver, Spiars, Jennings. Have 0:25:42.600 --> 0:25:45.040 you seen the rookies who are coming in, maybe for 0:25:45.040 --> 0:25:48.400 the first time, into that role taking to special teams work. 0:25:48.480 --> 0:25:52.919 So far, it's really good class, I mean, and what 0:25:53.080 --> 0:25:55.680 really helps the young players is some of the veteran players. 0:25:55.680 --> 0:25:58.479 We got pretty good veteran leadership in terms of in 0:25:58.520 --> 0:26:00.840 my meetings with some of the some of the older 0:26:00.880 --> 0:26:03.159 players who are who are helping those guys alone. But 0:26:03.560 --> 0:26:07.040 it's a very good class. They're very willing. They're anxious. 0:26:07.600 --> 0:26:12.200 Uh they understand that, you know, roles need to be claimed. Uh, 0:26:12.240 --> 0:26:14.679 so they are. They are working very hard along with 0:26:14.800 --> 0:26:17.160 you know, all the veteran guys too, but very happy 0:26:17.200 --> 0:26:19.040 with the rookie class. What's going to happen over the 0:26:19.080 --> 0:26:21.240 next four weeks will determine a lot in terms of 0:26:21.280 --> 0:26:23.640 what's going to happen on the field. But i mean 0:26:23.880 --> 0:26:26.520 until we start playing games, you know, it's it's still 0:26:26.560 --> 0:26:30.239 a lot of decisions are are truly unknown. I mean, 0:26:30.240 --> 0:26:31.480 we've got to be able to do it on the field. 0:26:31.520 --> 0:26:33.600 The rest of it's you know, in my opinion, really 0:26:33.680 --> 0:26:37.199 it's it's important. It's what we have. But you know, 0:26:37.280 --> 0:26:40.119 the relevancy is going to come when we play games. 0:26:40.359 --> 0:26:42.720 Ben was a Pro Bowl or for special teams. 0:26:42.720 --> 0:26:44.800 Has he's been one of those veterans helping out some 0:26:44.880 --> 0:26:46.240 of the younger guys in those rooms. 0:26:46.359 --> 0:26:48.960 Yeah, he has. You know, when you look at Ben 0:26:49.000 --> 0:26:51.280 and you look at Travis Homer and you look at Koholk, 0:26:51.320 --> 0:26:52.959 I mean, you look at Carson Bruin or I mean, 0:26:53.240 --> 0:26:55.960 we really have a good group that's that's been here. 0:26:56.040 --> 0:26:58.200 And then even you bring in guys like Robert Tanyan 0:26:58.280 --> 0:27:01.719 and guys that have our vet players, but understand what 0:27:01.800 --> 0:27:04.120 it takes to play in the National Football League. If 0:27:04.160 --> 0:27:07.320 you are not that number one guy at your position, 0:27:07.560 --> 0:27:09.360 you know, you better buy in and you better buy 0:27:09.359 --> 0:27:12.520 in quick. That's how you're going to help the club. 0:27:13.359 --> 0:27:15.480 What are traits or things that you're really going to 0:27:15.480 --> 0:27:18.160 focus on from this tape that you'll have after Thursday. 0:27:18.720 --> 0:27:21.959 Well, I think the biggest thing is it is truly 0:27:22.800 --> 0:27:27.720 full speed contact. You know, this is a collision contact sport. 0:27:27.720 --> 0:27:30.359 And I say you know collision first, because there is 0:27:30.400 --> 0:27:32.639 a lot of contact sports. I mean you watch the NBA, 0:27:32.720 --> 0:27:35.120 you watch it. I mean those are I mean those 0:27:35.119 --> 0:27:38.119 are contact sports also. But the collision aspect of the 0:27:38.200 --> 0:27:44.040 National Football League and big spaces, tight spaces, those are 0:27:44.080 --> 0:27:45.480 the things that are going to show up and those 0:27:45.520 --> 0:27:47.240 are the most important things that we'll be looking for. 0:27:48.760 --> 0:27:51.200 Danny, I want to specifically ask about Caleb Johnson when 0:27:51.200 --> 0:27:52.000 you talked about. 0:27:51.800 --> 0:27:52.520 The running back groove. 0:27:52.520 --> 0:27:54.840 You know a lot of those guys had special things backgrounds, 0:27:54.920 --> 0:27:57.240 Kleb's kind of learning special teams. How have you seen 0:27:57.320 --> 0:27:59.840 him embrace that new challenge and try to learn some 0:27:59.840 --> 0:28:01.560 of those roles on the special teams? When he hasn't 0:28:01.560 --> 0:28:02.280 played in the past. 0:28:02.320 --> 0:28:04.360 I mean he's been great. You know, he's very attendant 0:28:04.400 --> 0:28:06.040 at every meeting. You know, he's getting a lot of 0:28:06.080 --> 0:28:09.520 reps from the practice field. I mean he understands, you know, 0:28:09.840 --> 0:28:12.320 the situation and how things work in the National Football 0:28:12.359 --> 0:28:14.879 League with a couple of very good running backs that 0:28:15.040 --> 0:28:18.480 you know will predominantly be the running back. So I've 0:28:18.480 --> 0:28:20.400 been very happy with Caleb and you know, I think 0:28:20.400 --> 0:28:22.840 he's a very good football player and anxious to see 0:28:22.840 --> 0:28:26.800 what he does on Thursday, Friday, Thursday Day. 0:28:26.720 --> 0:28:29.880 With Cam Johnston don't with a serious injuries a couple 0:28:29.880 --> 0:28:32.479 of years ago, Do you guys feel that he's totally 0:28:32.520 --> 0:28:35.000 past that now and how's he performed for you so far? 0:28:35.119 --> 0:28:35.400 We do. 0:28:35.800 --> 0:28:38.160 He's had no issues, no setbacks, so we feel very 0:28:38.680 --> 0:28:41.080 good about where he is from the injury standpoint, and 0:28:41.120 --> 0:28:43.360 then we feel like he's had a very good start 0:28:43.400 --> 0:28:46.240 to training camp, which stacks on top of what we 0:28:46.680 --> 0:28:50.040 thought was a very good Spring. So very happy with 0:28:50.280 --> 0:28:53.040 where he is and anxious to see what the next 0:28:53.120 --> 0:28:53.800 couple of weeks spring. 0:28:55.120 --> 0:28:57.720 When it comes to the gunners, what kind of attributes 0:28:57.760 --> 0:28:59.120 are you looking for there and who are some of 0:28:59.160 --> 0:29:01.240 the guys that have own early that they could thrive 0:29:01.360 --> 0:29:02.040 within that role. 0:29:02.240 --> 0:29:05.440 I mean that's especially when you start talking about getting vice. 0:29:05.480 --> 0:29:07.719 That's one of the hardest things in the National Football League, 0:29:07.840 --> 0:29:10.040 you know. So number one, you have to have a plan, 0:29:11.400 --> 0:29:15.080 and then that plan, as Mike Tyson said, goes out 0:29:15.080 --> 0:29:16.480 the window and you get punched in the face. So 0:29:16.520 --> 0:29:17.920 you have to have a plan, but then you need 0:29:17.960 --> 0:29:20.160 the attribute. You need to be explosive, you need to 0:29:20.160 --> 0:29:23.600 have great change of direction, you need to have great hands, 0:29:24.440 --> 0:29:26.520 you need to be able to close and what we 0:29:26.560 --> 0:29:28.720 refer to as stacking players, so you'd be able to 0:29:28.760 --> 0:29:31.680 get behind the corner of safety and type position and 0:29:31.800 --> 0:29:34.840 know there's somebody else coming. So it is a very 0:29:34.880 --> 0:29:39.120 difficult thing to do. But we feel like between some 0:29:39.200 --> 0:29:42.640 of the older players Ben eccheles and then some of 0:29:42.640 --> 0:29:44.880 the new players and the young players, we have some 0:29:44.920 --> 0:29:48.040 guys that you know will show that they can be 0:29:48.360 --> 0:29:49.440 successful in that role. 0:29:50.560 --> 0:29:53.040 And when we talk about personal protector on the pump protection, 0:29:53.120 --> 0:29:56.560 you'll think about this as like the quarterback of that unity, 0:29:56.600 --> 0:30:00.400 how much is on their plate pre snap and why did. 0:30:00.320 --> 0:30:01.520 You trust Travis Holmer. 0:30:01.240 --> 0:30:03.360 Can kind of take that rule start well? You know, 0:30:03.920 --> 0:30:05.760 Number one, you're dealing with a player who's done it 0:30:05.920 --> 0:30:09.880 for several years in the National Football League. But along 0:30:09.920 --> 0:30:12.080 with Travis, some of the young players you know, have 0:30:12.440 --> 0:30:14.840 gravitated to understanding that is the role. I mean, you 0:30:14.880 --> 0:30:18.479 are the signal caller, you are the communicator. You got 0:30:18.520 --> 0:30:21.360 to own that operation. Everyone's going to respond off of you, 0:30:21.480 --> 0:30:24.760 even if you're wrong. If we're all doing the wrong thing, 0:30:24.840 --> 0:30:26.440 but we're doing it right, you know we're going to 0:30:26.520 --> 0:30:28.760 have a chance to be successful. But you've got to 0:30:28.800 --> 0:30:32.520 be a quick decision maker and make sure everybody's on 0:30:32.560 --> 0:30:35.080 the same page of what and how you see it. 0:30:35.240 --> 0:30:37.680 So the vision and the spending the time with the 0:30:37.720 --> 0:30:40.600 tape and with myself to make sure we're really doing 0:30:40.640 --> 0:30:43.840 a good job of understanding. We feel like we've got 0:30:43.840 --> 0:30:46.000 a good room and Travis is a great leader in 0:30:46.080 --> 0:30:48.400 that room. Appreciate you. 0:30:49.240 --> 0:30:52.920 That's Danny Crossman, special teams coach, special teams coordinator for 0:30:52.960 --> 0:30:56.560 your Pittsburgh Steelers and Matt I tell you what it's 0:30:56.600 --> 0:30:59.360 been different the emphasis on special teams here in this camp. 0:30:59.600 --> 0:31:01.240 Yeah, same time, I think the judge. 0:31:01.240 --> 0:31:04.520 But yeah, what's what's been weird is not even weird, 0:31:04.520 --> 0:31:06.480 but I think the difference that I've noticed is they're 0:31:06.520 --> 0:31:10.240 still doing the special teams periods. Maybe not. It felt 0:31:10.280 --> 0:31:12.400 like there used to be two in every Mike Tomlin 0:31:12.440 --> 0:31:15.480 practice and they and they'd be like ten to twelve 0:31:15.560 --> 0:31:19.800 minutes a piece. Right now it's there's one, and it's 0:31:19.840 --> 0:31:22.280 about that same ten to twelve minutes. But instead of 0:31:22.320 --> 0:31:24.800 in the past where all the offense and the defense 0:31:24.880 --> 0:31:26.720 kind of use that as a break time and get 0:31:26.760 --> 0:31:30.040 their drinks and talk to their coaches. Now while Chris 0:31:30.080 --> 0:31:33.600 Boswell's kicking field goals or Cam Johnson's punting, the offense 0:31:33.640 --> 0:31:35.800 and the defense are over on other fields getting working 0:31:35.960 --> 0:31:36.440 still too. 0:31:36.560 --> 0:31:38.360 So it's maybe that's why I feel like it's less 0:31:38.360 --> 0:31:39.440 because I'm watching other things. 0:31:39.440 --> 0:31:42.520 While that really grabbed me the other day, I meant 0:31:42.560 --> 0:31:44.120 to bring to bring that up to you. Of like 0:31:44.680 --> 0:31:47.640 in Mike Tomlin and Danny Smith era, when special teams 0:31:47.680 --> 0:31:49.920 period was going, special teams period was going and that 0:31:50.040 --> 0:31:52.480 was it. Now they're still having special teams, but there's 0:31:52.520 --> 0:31:54.720 still the offense and the defense doing their thing as well. 0:31:55.320 --> 0:31:57.479 But I will be happy to report, and I'm sure 0:31:57.480 --> 0:31:59.360 everyone will be happy to listen to. Chris Boswell is 0:31:59.360 --> 0:32:02.000 still doing his thing, drilled about a six fine, drilled 0:32:02.000 --> 0:32:04.240 about a sixty yarder out here earlier today in some 0:32:04.320 --> 0:32:07.200 of the portion of practice that we did get to see, Matt. 0:32:07.240 --> 0:32:09.120 One more segment to go on the other side. We'll 0:32:09.120 --> 0:32:11.880 close down the day's proceedings with some final thoughts. We'll 0:32:11.880 --> 0:32:14.600 hear some comments from the head coach, Mike McCarthy cross 0:32:14.600 --> 0:32:17.120 somet's dot some eyes before we get out of here 0:32:17.160 --> 0:32:20.360 on this Monday evening West ruler Matt Williamson. It is 0:32:20.400 --> 0:32:22.640 the drive all part of our ongoing training camp coverage 0:32:22.680 --> 0:32:25.320 Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. 0:32:27.240 --> 0:32:33.840 This is live coverage OLP dot twenty, a Steelers Audio 0:32:33.920 --> 0:32:38.760 network presented by bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy, 0:32:38.920 --> 0:32:41.920 and brought to you in part by Always Safe Flagging 0:32:41.960 --> 0:32:45.760 and Traffic Control making traffic safe again called four one 0:32:45.800 --> 0:32:49.280 two three oh one three hundred or visit us online 0:32:49.320 --> 0:32:53.520 at awsafe dot net for a quote today by FedEx 0:32:53.760 --> 0:32:58.280 the new power move Independence Health System Expert Care here 0:32:58.440 --> 0:33:02.840 Remax Select Realty li said Remax Select Pittsburgh dot com. 0:33:02.880 --> 0:33:07.960 The Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania visit go Laurel Highlands dot com. 0:33:08.000 --> 0:33:12.280 The Steelers Pro Shop, visitshop dot Steelers dot com and 0:33:12.480 --> 0:33:15.240 buy Condiente Pizza and Drafthouse. 0:33:16.280 --> 0:33:19.640 Final segment of the drive here on this Monday, as 0:33:19.680 --> 0:33:24.040 we get ready for hopefully a dryer, cleaner, more full 0:33:24.240 --> 0:33:28.280 practice tomorrow on Tuesday from the Steelers. Tomorrow will be 0:33:28.320 --> 0:33:30.840 our last day on campus here until the weekend is 0:33:30.880 --> 0:33:34.240 we'll have Wednesday off, then preseason game on Thursday, then 0:33:34.320 --> 0:33:37.800 Friday off, and of course the final stretch of practices Saturday, 0:33:37.840 --> 0:33:40.840 Sunday and Monday here at Saint Vincent College for this 0:33:40.920 --> 0:33:44.440 public portion of Steelers training camp. Public portion, right, Matt, 0:33:44.440 --> 0:33:46.840 because as Arthur Mos, as Arthur Mots would always tell us, 0:33:46.840 --> 0:33:48.960 trading camp isn't over just because you leave Saint Vincent. 0:33:49.160 --> 0:33:51.480 Yeah, it has gone quick though. I'm going to open 0:33:51.560 --> 0:33:53.680 the show talking about that. That the way the schedule 0:33:53.880 --> 0:33:56.960 this year hasn't been like a long stretch you know 0:33:57.040 --> 0:33:58.680 where it kind of feels like you're in the desert. 0:33:58.920 --> 0:34:01.760 Yeah, right, exactly right, exactly right. And of course that's 0:34:01.880 --> 0:34:04.360 will continue to keep an eye on all the differences 0:34:04.400 --> 0:34:08.480 this year and new methods applied by Mike McCarthy and 0:34:08.520 --> 0:34:11.320 his coaching staff kind of heading into this important stretch 0:34:11.320 --> 0:34:13.959 of a couple of practices before your first preseason game. 0:34:14.280 --> 0:34:15.880 Here's what the head coach had to say. 0:34:19.400 --> 0:34:22.080 Last year from what he played, What have you seen 0:34:22.080 --> 0:34:25.080 from him in his first two weeks? Did maybe see 0:34:25.120 --> 0:34:27.759 in those three understands last year? I'd say Dylan has 0:34:27.760 --> 0:34:32.360 been consistent. Number one. I think clearly I really followed 0:34:32.400 --> 0:34:35.560 him in the past. Protection first, you know, and which 0:34:36.320 --> 0:34:39.080 which is a good thing, you know, because to be 0:34:39.120 --> 0:34:41.040 able to do that early in camp, you know, without 0:34:41.080 --> 0:34:43.480 the pads, you know, so I was impressed with that. 0:34:43.600 --> 0:34:45.439 And you know, just like the rest of the guys, 0:34:45.480 --> 0:34:48.000 I think they're starting to get their pads underneath them, 0:34:48.000 --> 0:34:49.680 you know, getting the padd level down. You know, really 0:34:49.680 --> 0:34:52.600 we need to get a paddlel down as the whole front. 0:34:53.120 --> 0:34:55.799 But yeah, I think he's having a nice camp with 0:34:56.560 --> 0:34:59.800 three year top defenders not practicing and said, when you 0:35:00.160 --> 0:35:02.400 did anything new, is it is that much of a 0:35:02.480 --> 0:35:05.279 setback or no? Uh, I mean I wouldn't say it's 0:35:05.280 --> 0:35:07.759 a setback because you know, they're they're still in the room. 0:35:07.840 --> 0:35:11.319 You know, they're still part of the communication. And you know, 0:35:11.400 --> 0:35:14.759 I think, just like anything, you know, we need everybody 0:35:14.920 --> 0:35:19.120 and and this is actually a very healthy, normal exercise 0:35:20.040 --> 0:35:23.239 when when younger players get opportunities. So, I mean, you know, 0:35:23.239 --> 0:35:26.960 when you have veterans that are going through injuries, it's 0:35:26.960 --> 0:35:28.560 important to get them to get them back. You know, 0:35:28.600 --> 0:35:32.319 obviously they have there's history there, you know, but they 0:35:32.320 --> 0:35:34.920 are part of the meetings and the communication and so forth. 0:35:35.080 --> 0:35:38.280 So I just think it's it's really a good opportunity 0:35:38.280 --> 0:35:39.480 for the younger players. 0:35:39.719 --> 0:35:42.640 In particularly taken advantage of that opportune Oh. 0:35:42.719 --> 0:35:45.120 Yeah, I think all the young guys. I mean it's 0:35:46.560 --> 0:35:50.080 I mean, going through last night and I mean, you know, 0:35:50.280 --> 0:35:52.359 I'm I'm a little bit focusing on the pre snept 0:35:52.440 --> 0:35:54.560 right now because we're not We're not where we need 0:35:54.560 --> 0:35:59.200 to be, you know there. But yeah, I think you know, 0:36:00.080 --> 0:36:03.000 you know, with the injuries in the practice Saturday night, 0:36:03.080 --> 0:36:05.120 I thought Jeremy he really stepped up with his extra 0:36:05.719 --> 0:36:10.520 his extra reps, you know, in the receiver room. But yeah, 0:36:10.560 --> 0:36:13.000 I mean, I don't, I don't have anybody specific. I'm 0:36:13.040 --> 0:36:15.759 not good other things we're focus on a right now. 0:36:16.160 --> 0:36:17.880 Mike is not today. 0:36:18.000 --> 0:36:21.880 I'm sorry, Maxwell will not be He won't be out 0:36:21.880 --> 0:36:22.360 there today. 0:36:22.520 --> 0:36:24.640 Do you have a timeline as far as what we 0:36:24.719 --> 0:36:25.560 might be about. 0:36:25.800 --> 0:36:28.479 No, I don't, sorry, Mike, what's different for you guys 0:36:28.520 --> 0:36:29.919 this week as you're preparing. 0:36:29.640 --> 0:36:33.000 For the well today is installed recall seven, So we 0:36:33.080 --> 0:36:35.279 have one more installed today. So we have a lot 0:36:35.320 --> 0:36:37.440 of going in as far as you know, this is 0:36:37.440 --> 0:36:41.600 our last third down installation. Uh, we're gonna work backed up. 0:36:41.760 --> 0:36:44.520 So we'll have a segment where we you know, have 0:36:44.560 --> 0:36:47.319 a competitive backed up situation. We have three series of that, 0:36:47.840 --> 0:36:49.560 So just trying to make sure we're hitting you know, 0:36:49.600 --> 0:36:53.440 all the situations, highlighting them, you know, get reviewing them 0:36:53.440 --> 0:36:55.719 into in the in the team meetings and you know, 0:36:55.760 --> 0:36:57.800 the meeting part of it. And we'll hit that again today. 0:36:57.880 --> 0:37:01.440 So and then we'll we'll shift gears tomor and start 0:37:01.440 --> 0:37:03.480 trying to focus on you know, who's gonna play and 0:37:04.040 --> 0:37:06.319 how we're gonna play, and you know what we want 0:37:06.360 --> 0:37:08.960 to do against Green Bay. Wait, when you're having a 0:37:09.000 --> 0:37:12.080 lot of turnovers in practice, can you say you good 0:37:12.160 --> 0:37:14.800 for the defense? Are you mad at the offense? Or sometimes? 0:37:14.840 --> 0:37:16.719 Does it depend? I think that's the beauty of being 0:37:16.719 --> 0:37:18.800 the head coach. You get to you get to answer 0:37:18.840 --> 0:37:21.800 those questions, you know, standing on the fence. But uh, 0:37:22.160 --> 0:37:24.560 you know, you know Obviously, as as an offensive player 0:37:24.840 --> 0:37:28.160 or coach, you don't want to have giveaways like that. 0:37:28.239 --> 0:37:31.160 And I think the biggest thing that I look for is, 0:37:32.000 --> 0:37:34.960 you know, how did the giveaway or takeaway happen? You know, 0:37:35.080 --> 0:37:38.359 someone there self inflicted giveaways. That's it, you know, that's 0:37:39.160 --> 0:37:41.480 you know, and that's we're not looking for that. But 0:37:41.520 --> 0:37:44.000 when the defensive guys make a tremendous player, you know, 0:37:44.600 --> 0:37:46.600 and they're definitely taking the ball away, you know, there's 0:37:46.640 --> 0:37:50.160 a difference between a giveaway and a takeaway. So you know, 0:37:50.320 --> 0:37:52.359 that's that's the way we break them down. That's how 0:37:52.400 --> 0:37:54.719 we calculated, and that's how we present it to the 0:37:54.880 --> 0:37:55.640 to the team. 0:37:56.200 --> 0:37:58.000 When we talked to you back in the spring, you talked. 0:37:58.040 --> 0:37:59.759 One thing you said that you're excited about this roster 0:37:59.840 --> 0:38:01.880 was the first guys off of us to be the 0:38:01.880 --> 0:38:03.239 big guys on on your team. 0:38:03.640 --> 0:38:05.359 Gabriel Rubio seems to. 0:38:05.280 --> 0:38:07.040 Be getting getting in a lot of work and doing well. 0:38:07.120 --> 0:38:09.000 What have you seen from him as a rookie like 0:38:09.120 --> 0:38:11.520 late round pick who's been able to rest plenty. 0:38:11.880 --> 0:38:13.920 Well, I think the biggest thing, you know, down in 0:38:13.960 --> 0:38:15.920 the trenches, you know, for all the guys when they 0:38:15.960 --> 0:38:18.400 first get in there, and and you could throw Max 0:38:18.480 --> 0:38:21.840 in the in the same categories. You know, do they belong? 0:38:22.040 --> 0:38:24.719 You know, can they and you know they jump out 0:38:24.760 --> 0:38:27.080 there in their first one on one, their first you know, 0:38:27.360 --> 0:38:32.200 inside run type situation and so forth, And Gabriel's definitely 0:38:32.280 --> 0:38:35.320 that guy. So I think he definitely belongs. And but 0:38:35.440 --> 0:38:37.439 he's young. You know, he's young, but he's got great 0:38:37.480 --> 0:38:39.480 bitter presence around him. 0:38:40.080 --> 0:38:40.200 You know. 0:38:40.320 --> 0:38:42.839 I think the you know, the one thing we're trying 0:38:42.880 --> 0:38:45.759 to focus on is get more reps for those guys. 0:38:45.840 --> 0:38:49.719 You'll see us walk the field after practice is over 0:38:49.840 --> 0:38:52.440 with the with the younger players and just doing focus 0:38:52.520 --> 0:38:55.040 more in two minutes and so forth. But but he 0:38:55.320 --> 0:38:56.040 definitely belongs. 0:38:56.360 --> 0:38:59.280 Mike, what's been your history keeping nine or ten offensive 0:38:59.320 --> 0:39:01.960 linemen and when you keep what are the reasons that you. 0:39:02.000 --> 0:39:04.279 Want to keep the extra guns? Well, I think the roster, 0:39:04.440 --> 0:39:06.840 the overall roster, you know, answers that question. You know, 0:39:07.080 --> 0:39:10.279 it's you know, I I I I'm really focused on 0:39:10.480 --> 0:39:12.400 since you know, sixty eight players, you know, we need 0:39:12.480 --> 0:39:14.359 to come out of here. You know, it's a it's 0:39:14.360 --> 0:39:17.600 a it's a good ninety man roster. I'm I'm really 0:39:17.640 --> 0:39:20.240 focused on you know, who are those sixty eight players 0:39:20.280 --> 0:39:23.480 and you know see those there's decisions and you know 0:39:23.640 --> 0:39:25.880 projection that comes, you know, down to that there at 0:39:25.880 --> 0:39:28.920 the end. So but I I think we definitely can 0:39:29.000 --> 0:39:30.719 make a case for at least ten making our team. 0:39:31.120 --> 0:39:33.040 Might could have been a while since Broderick had played, 0:39:33.120 --> 0:39:35.560 however you set him to progress, especially with the pads. 0:39:35.760 --> 0:39:37.560 I thought Roderick picked it up the last two the 0:39:37.680 --> 0:39:39.800 last two practices, you know, I I think you know, 0:39:39.840 --> 0:39:42.480 obviously at the opportunities, you know, the reps available with 0:39:42.560 --> 0:39:46.680 Max naw practicing. You know, we had a conversation about 0:39:47.280 --> 0:39:49.440 his ability to play both left and right. You know, 0:39:49.680 --> 0:39:52.000 you know, but you could remember he's coming back from 0:39:52.040 --> 0:39:54.240 a significant injury. You know, he's he's not one hundred 0:39:54.239 --> 0:39:56.880 percent back, and then you know, so, but I I 0:39:57.000 --> 0:39:59.520 thought he definitely picked it up the last two practices. 0:40:00.239 --> 0:40:03.239 When it comes to the quarterbacks, especially the two young guys, 0:40:03.280 --> 0:40:05.240 I mean, is there a way to kind of gauge 0:40:05.320 --> 0:40:08.560 or stimulate or evaluate their playmaking sack avoidance in a 0:40:08.640 --> 0:40:10.040 practice setting or do you kind of just have to 0:40:10.080 --> 0:40:11.040 wait for I mean two. 0:40:10.960 --> 0:40:13.359 Point yes, I mean two point I mean we that's 0:40:13.400 --> 0:40:15.080 why we do the drills that we do and then 0:40:15.840 --> 0:40:18.120 and and it's how we practice in team periods. You know, 0:40:18.200 --> 0:40:21.840 there's when a when a when a defender rushes the 0:40:21.920 --> 0:40:25.279 passer and wins the pass rush, you know, and he 0:40:25.360 --> 0:40:27.360 gets the sack he's taught to you know, run by it, 0:40:27.640 --> 0:40:30.319 you know, and and he's credited with a sack when 0:40:30.320 --> 0:40:32.560 we grade to take but you know, there's still twenty 0:40:32.600 --> 0:40:35.960 one other guys working. So you know, you'll have eight 0:40:36.360 --> 0:40:38.800 times a game where the quarterbacks are gonna have to 0:40:38.800 --> 0:40:41.640 slide his feet, scramble and make a play. So we 0:40:41.760 --> 0:40:44.080 try to simulate that the best we can in practices. 0:40:44.160 --> 0:40:47.480 So that's why you'll see the scrambles and extended plays 0:40:47.480 --> 0:40:49.560 in the team periods. And and those are important reps. 0:40:50.440 --> 0:40:51.439 Like both uh. 0:40:51.640 --> 0:40:54.919 Peco and Jory. I've played in this league a long time. 0:40:55.280 --> 0:40:57.800 How have you seen their coach and translating the message 0:40:57.800 --> 0:40:59.440 into the players and what does that mean to them? 0:40:59.840 --> 0:41:03.319 It's fun to watch, you know, both those their outstanding 0:41:03.400 --> 0:41:06.600 men number one. I mean it's obviously their playing career 0:41:06.680 --> 0:41:09.000 speaks for themselves. I mean it's you know, you're talking 0:41:09.000 --> 0:41:12.000 about two Hall of Fame caliber UH type careers. But 0:41:12.080 --> 0:41:16.880 they're just high quality men. They're great examples for our players. Uh, 0:41:17.000 --> 0:41:19.960 and I just really enjoy watching them work the one 0:41:20.000 --> 0:41:23.080 on one relationships. You know, their voice in you know, 0:41:23.160 --> 0:41:25.960 and their voice will in how they handle the room. 0:41:26.080 --> 0:41:28.800 And you know they'll fund the voice more in the 0:41:29.000 --> 0:41:31.520 in the commanding, demanding way as they grow as coaches. 0:41:32.040 --> 0:41:34.080 But they have done it, I thought, I think an 0:41:34.080 --> 0:41:37.040 excellent job, particularly in the one on one opportunities. 0:41:37.680 --> 0:41:39.960 Last year, Will Howard talked a lot about how Aaron 0:41:40.080 --> 0:41:41.759 was such a will ding toward to him. 0:41:42.600 --> 0:41:44.440 Now that you've had a chance to be around. 0:41:44.200 --> 0:41:46.319 This, just what stands out about the way that Aaron 0:41:46.320 --> 0:41:47.960 has worked with these two young quarterbacks. 0:41:48.160 --> 0:41:51.040 You know, Aaron always has done that which which I 0:41:51.120 --> 0:41:52.680 have a lot of respect for, and I think it's 0:41:52.719 --> 0:41:56.520 an important component of your quarterback room, the dynamics of 0:41:57.040 --> 0:42:01.680 the quarterback room and developing everybody, the coaches included, and 0:42:01.920 --> 0:42:05.960 and you know, keeping the accountability you know, throughout that process. 0:42:06.760 --> 0:42:09.160 But it's at a different level now. I mean, he's uh, 0:42:09.880 --> 0:42:14.480 you know, he he he shares constantly, he's you know, 0:42:14.680 --> 0:42:18.520 I think he's very reflective and obviously as you make 0:42:18.560 --> 0:42:21.520 tweaks because it's it's not really about the plays we 0:42:21.840 --> 0:42:24.440 decide to run. It's it's it's it's really down into 0:42:24.520 --> 0:42:27.719 them in the specific of every single one. So you know, 0:42:28.000 --> 0:42:31.040 and because you got you have an offense that's you know, 0:42:31.120 --> 0:42:34.000 there's some things from the past you like to grow 0:42:34.120 --> 0:42:35.800 with the guys that have been here. You know, obviously 0:42:36.400 --> 0:42:39.279 we've always built a court in my time, built the 0:42:39.360 --> 0:42:42.160 offense around making the quarterback successful. So you know, his 0:42:42.320 --> 0:42:45.400 input is is very important important, But really you know, 0:42:45.520 --> 0:42:48.040 Taylor and down it's in triming and get the little things, 0:42:48.120 --> 0:42:51.600 the details, and you know, he's he has tremendous history 0:42:51.840 --> 0:42:56.200 in these concepts. You know how they were defended fifteen, 0:42:56.239 --> 0:42:58.920 twenty years ago and how they're being defended now. So it's, uh, 0:42:59.640 --> 0:43:02.400 it's it's a fun. It's a lot of fun to 0:43:02.440 --> 0:43:03.319 be in that quarterback room. 0:43:04.200 --> 0:43:06.279 That's Mike McCarthy and that will do it for us 0:43:06.440 --> 0:43:09.040 on this edition of The Drive, Matt A little bit 0:43:09.080 --> 0:43:11.840 different of a day today, a little weird why we 0:43:11.920 --> 0:43:13.839 had to pull some content from out of the ether. 0:43:14.560 --> 0:43:17.600 But hopefully tomorrow's practice, mother nature won't get in the 0:43:17.640 --> 0:43:19.360 way and we can really get some good work in 0:43:20.239 --> 0:43:22.560 before a little time off here in that first preseason game. 0:43:22.640 --> 0:43:24.640 Yeah, I haven't checked the weather, but I'm hoping that's 0:43:25.000 --> 0:43:27.279 something we can get a real good look at it. 0:43:27.280 --> 0:43:30.200 I feel like it's been a while. Yeah, good stuff. 0:43:30.600 --> 0:43:33.280 Absolutely, it sure was. Thanks to our guy Justin Miller 0:43:33.600 --> 0:43:36.520 for producing back at the ranch as always, for Matt Williamson, 0:43:36.520 --> 0:43:38.680 I'm with Shuler. Take care everybody, and we'll talk to 0:43:38.680 --> 0:43:40.560 you tomorrow. As always, you know where to find us. 0:43:40.600 --> 0:43:42.120 It's on your twenty four to seven home of the 0:43:42.120 --> 0:43:45.640 Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.