1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Please. He's The Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly here with Matt 4 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: Williamson as usual, and uh, we are pleased to be 5 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: joined today by a gentleman who usually joins us at 6 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: the NFL Scouting Combine. Of course that didn't happen this year, 7 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: but we've got Greg Crocell of the of course NFL 8 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: Films in the NFL Matchup Show, and he's also doing 9 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: a new thing this year with Fantasy Points Draft Guide. 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: It's gonna be available soon here where he'll be breaking 11 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: down guys for this year's draft. And of course we 12 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: want to talk to Greg a lot about this year's draft, 13 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: as we do at the combine usually. But how you doing, Greg? 14 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: I'm doing great, guys, are you? We're fantastic. It's great 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: to talk to you. And my buddy Ross Tucker always 16 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: introduces you as the greatest film guru amongst civilians. So 17 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: I like that intro too. That's because I'm crazy and 18 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: I just sit here and watch far too much tape, 19 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: you know, for years in a row. Huh, well, I 20 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: haven't been doing it all for all forty one. But yeah, 21 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: I just finished my forty first season here at the 22 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: NFL Films. Uh, probably been watching college tape and trying 23 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: to think for a good amount of time. I can't 24 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: remember exactly how long, but it's been a while. Well 25 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: let's let's get ready to it. Greg. First, we want 26 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit about the Steelers in their situation, 27 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: UM bringing Ben Roethlisberger back this year. Uh, what in 28 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: your mind, what do the Steelers need to do with 29 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger for him to be successful or can they 30 00:01:53,160 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: be successful with him? You know, it's really fascinating because normally, 31 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: when you watch a team's offense, you you kind of 32 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: know how they see their players because coaches tell you 33 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: what they think of their players by what they do. 34 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: UM and the Steelers this year were very interesting from 35 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: a passing game standpoint, because obviously they did not run 36 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: the ball a lot. They threw it by choice an 37 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 1: awful lot, but it was how they threw it. Every 38 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: once in a while they might sew a vertical route, 39 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: but for the most part, everything was quick, short passes, 40 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: quick game. The ball got out. So I guess the 41 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,679 Speaker 1: question is did they do that because of Ben. Did 42 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: they do that because of their offensive line? But at 43 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: the end of the day, that's what they did. That's 44 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: what the tape shows. It's not an interpretation, guys, you 45 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: know this, it's what the tape shows. So are they 46 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: Is their offense going to look the same next year? Uh? 47 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: That's hard to know. Obviously Ben's going to be the quarterback. Uh, 48 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: they do have vertical threats at the wide receiver position. 49 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 1: Are they going to try to attack more intermediate and vertically? 50 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: If they do, then they're going to need to shore 51 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: up their offensive line. If they're going to play the 52 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: same kind of offense that they did a year ago, 53 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: my senses, they would need to run the ball with 54 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: a little more consistency and a little more volume. Greg, 55 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: do you agree it's not to the same level. I mean, 56 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: to me, Ben is one of the all time great 57 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: throwers of the football, but I still think he shows 58 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: enough that he can make arm strength throws, you know, 59 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: deep Diggs and they just they don't do it much, 60 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: but we see it a handful of times a game 61 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: or you know, here and there. I think it's still 62 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: in them. Yeah. So I guess the question would then 63 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: be why didn't they do more. I mean, ultimately that 64 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: would be the question. Um. I can't answer that. You 65 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: probably can't either, Um, But I think that their offense 66 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: became very stagnant. It became very condensed instant um. And 67 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: if you can't run the ball, you get stuck in 68 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: a situation where you're you're asking Roflisburger to have to 69 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: drop back forty plus times a game by choice. I'm 70 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: not sure they really want to do that. Maybe they do, 71 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: I don't know. I mean, obviously they're going to have 72 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: a new offensive coordinator. I don't know if the offense 73 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: is going to change. But when all said and done, uh, 74 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: there's going in my view. I know there's big debates 75 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: now about the run game and whether it has any 76 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: meaning whatsoever that that's that's a whole another debate. But 77 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: I think that they do need to run the ball 78 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: with more value and more success with what with what 79 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: they're going to put out there. Yeah, I think to 80 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:47,119 Speaker 1: your point there. You know, people discredit the run game, 81 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: which I get it. Uh, you know, in terms of 82 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: of the you know, all the analytics and everything. It's great, 83 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: you know, and that's fine until you can't run the 84 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: ball where you don't have a running game, right, Well, 85 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: they don't go run game because of the reality, of course, 86 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: is that more explosive plays come out of the past 87 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: game than the run game, and the league basically has 88 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: trended toward explosive plays. Offensively, you're trying to create them. Defensively, 89 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: you're trying to prevent them. That's what the league theoretically 90 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: is is explosive plays. And the run game does not 91 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: give you anywhere near the number of explosive plays percentage wise, 92 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: so we'll see. But your your points exactly right. The 93 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: run game doesn't matter until you can't run it at all. 94 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: And there's a lot of reasons why the Steelers run 95 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: game hasn't been successful. I mean, they haven't stuck with it. 96 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: They're not moving bodies off the line of scrimmage as 97 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: well I did back in the day. People are crowding 98 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage because they don't fear the deep ball. 99 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: And I know to take that, you know, the running 100 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: game doesn't matter, and then here running backs don't matter 101 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: at all. You never never invest in them. But boy, 102 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 1: the ball carriers here over the last couple of years 103 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: have really been a detriment to me. Yeah, you know, 104 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: I thought James Conner would would be a good back, 105 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: and he had that stretch this season when it was 106 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: four or five games early in the season. I think 107 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 1: he gained a hundred yards and three or four of 108 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: them there was some volume to his running. I think 109 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: in that stretch the average about the team carries a game. 110 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: Then he got hurt and the run game kind of 111 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: went away. Um and again, now you get into play 112 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: calling and concepts, and those are hard questions to answer. 113 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: But the bottom line is now we've got some issues 114 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: on the offensive. The line counts he's retired, you know, 115 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: the interior of the line, with the exception of the castro. 116 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: I guess those are question marks to some degree right now. Um, 117 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: So we will see how they approach the offense this year. Uh. 118 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not a big believer it. Again, without 119 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: getting into the whole run game discussion, I think it's 120 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: hard and Ben's passed the point where he's really a 121 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: second reaction quarterback. Can he do it every once in 122 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: a while, Yes, But it's very hard in my view 123 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: to throw the ball forty plus times a game by 124 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: choice in this league because of the defenses. Now, if 125 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: everything is going to be quick game. Hey, that's fine, 126 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: the ball comes out, but then it's very hard to 127 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: really sustain your offense just throwing quick game throws. Also, 128 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: so what's the balance There's there's no definitive answer to that. 129 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: It's not a quantifiable thing. Every team has to figure 130 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: that out. So that's why I'm just not sure what 131 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 1: they think their offense will look like this year. Well, 132 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: greg to to moving on to the draft, which one 133 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: of those things is easier. Where is the quicker fix 134 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: do in terms of the offensive line or the running back? 135 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: Can the running back make the offensive line better or 136 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: vice versa? Is there one? Is there a better way 137 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,239 Speaker 1: to do that? Do you build the offensive line first 138 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: and and and the running backs will get their yards? 139 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: Or do you build you get the running back and 140 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: then build it that way. Well, it's funny I was 141 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: told years and years ago, and I'm sure the alytics 142 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: people will say this is absolutely false, but I was 143 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: told this by coaches that the running back makes the 144 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: running game, not the offensive line. Um. Now, obviously you've 145 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: got a terrible offensive line, that's different. But assuming your 146 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: offensive line is is good enough and you have some 147 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: kind of commitment to running the ball whatever that means, 148 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: and that will be team specific. Then you can have 149 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: success if you have a quality back. Um. So my 150 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: guess is the Steelers would probably be in the market 151 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: for a back. UM. I don't know what MC Canada's 152 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: whole point of view is, what his you know, worldview 153 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 1: of offense is. Um if he spent a lot of 154 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: time talking about it. Um, I'm being honest, I don't 155 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: know what. We haven't talked to him at all yet 156 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: this show. We had him once on a conference call 157 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 1: this year. That was it. I don't know, you know 158 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: what his whole worldview is. Given the personnel. Um, you know, 159 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 1: I guess Smith Schuster is a free agent, right and 160 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: he was not tagged not alright, But still they've got weapons. 161 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: I mean, they have three guys who are vertical threats 162 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: in Johnson, Washington and Claypool. So they have players who 163 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: can stretch the field and cause defenses to have to 164 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 1: defend a certain way because the blasting defense is one 165 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: is to be beaten over the top. So, uh, we'll 166 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: see where they go with the run game. But you know, 167 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: I think that to me, a really really good back 168 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: can can give you a run game. Now does that 169 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: mean he's going to run sixty yards for a touchdown. No, 170 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: but you don't. Backs don't necessarily have to do that 171 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: to be good backs along those lines, I mean, it 172 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: certainly leads where we really want to talk to you about, 173 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: and that's some of these these incoming running backs in 174 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: the draft nause. Harris has been linked to the Steelers 175 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: a lot by mock drafters out there. Javonte Williams name 176 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: comes up on this show by us a ton um. 177 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: I know you've watched Williams. I assume you've watched Harris. 178 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: What do you think I have to Yeah, I mean 179 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: to me, if we start with Nigy Harris, see, to me, 180 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: Harris is a volume runner. To me, Harris is not 181 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: a guy you give the ball to seven or eight times. 182 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: I think he's a volume runner. The question for me 183 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: with Harris is whether he is truly a three down 184 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: back in the NFL. We saw in college that he 185 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: had excellent hands. He ran a variety of routes in 186 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: Alabama's offense. Um, but his body type does not necessarily 187 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: convict fit the conventional mold of the third down receiving back, 188 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: which doesn't mean he can't do it. It's just normally 189 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: you don't see third down receiving backs built you know 190 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: who were six to thirty. Um. But you know, I 191 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: think based on his skill set and his traits, he's 192 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: a volume back. He's you have to give him the football. 193 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: That's the way he that's what he is. So if 194 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: you draft him, it would seem to me you're making 195 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 1: a commitment to run the football. And what's your thoughts 196 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: on Williams. I know you're a fan. I am a fan. 197 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: I again, I think you couldn't make the argument that 198 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: he's the number one back in this draft in terms 199 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: of just running, he's not. You know, the receiving part 200 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,119 Speaker 1: I think is a work in progress with him. Um. 201 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: And you have to be fair, that's what the tape 202 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: tells you. UM. But I think when you look at 203 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: his size, his compact build, he has patients. He has visioned. 204 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: He's got subtle lateral quickness and confined space. He's got birst, 205 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: he's got speed, he's got natural power. He might have 206 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: as good a contact balance as I've seen in a while. 207 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: His his his ability to run through and break tackles 208 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 1: is really really good. He's physical, he finishes, he's competitive, 209 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: to me, he is a sustaining back that does give 210 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: you big plays because he's got speed as well. So 211 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: again to me, and I know he shared a workload 212 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: in college with Michael Carter, but I think when all 213 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: say it and done, do you have to give it 214 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: to twenty times a game? No, But you're also if 215 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: you draft Avanta Williams, you're not drafting him with the 216 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: idea that you're going to give it too many times 217 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: a week, Right, And that's the that's the thing that 218 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: you know, they just have to stick with it, I think. 219 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: And I went back and looked at this a couple 220 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: of weeks ago, when the Steelers had Levan Bell the 221 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: last year, the last four year that they had Levan 222 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: Bell and Ben Roethlisberger, they ranked fifteen and Russian or 223 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: fifteen and rushing attempts the last two years without with 224 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: four years with Roethlisberger and no Bell, they've been twenty 225 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: nine and thirty second, Right, I think it's it's a 226 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: lack of confidence in the in the running in the 227 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: running backs. The other thing about the running game too 228 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: is as as you guys know, the run game is 229 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: about patients because you get a lot of one yard 230 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: runs and two yard runs and sometimes you get a 231 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: minus one. And it's very easy as a play caller, 232 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: particularly when you design pass plays and people do more 233 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: and more now a task game concepts with motion, with 234 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: jet sweep action, with orbit reverse action, with all kinds 235 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: of motions. So um, I think people feel, hey, why 236 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: run it when there's a chance on any given play 237 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: for a big chunk play. But a run game is 238 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: about patients and now, not a lot of coaches in 239 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 1: this world, particularly younger coaches coming up through the ranks 240 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: where there's more big plays in high school and college, 241 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: not a lot of coaches, I think, are willing to 242 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 1: be patient with the run game. Now, that makes a 243 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: lot of sense. And a quarterback, I want to ask 244 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: you about if you watched Matt Jones yet and if so, 245 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: what all the quarterback? Okay, I figured he did that first. 246 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: What do you think? I mean, a lot of these 247 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: Rosen Haskins quote not great athletes have struggled earlier in 248 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: their career. But he's such a quick processor. Do you 249 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: think he can be the exception? Well? To me, with 250 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: Mac Jones, you have to decide one thing essentially. With 251 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: Matt Jones, do you believe in today's NFL that it's 252 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: essential for a quarterback to have second reaction ability. If 253 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: you believe that to be the case, he's not true. Guy. 254 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: If you don't believe that to be true, in other words, 255 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: you think it's been nice to have, but it's not 256 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: absolutely essential, then you may believe that you can line 257 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: up with Mac Jones. Because Mac Jones, first of all 258 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: the six too. He does not have a big arm um. 259 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: He's not a very good athlete. Um. He's got no 260 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: twitch to him whatsoever. Um. But there's a lot of 261 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: positives about his pocket play. He's got a really strong 262 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: sense of anticipation and timing. He's got a feel for 263 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: manipulating the defense. He does have just enough pocket movement. 264 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: He's not quick footed, but he has just enough pocket movement. 265 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: He understands zone coverage concepts. He can throw with anticipation 266 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: into his own windows. As you said, he's very decisive 267 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: with what I call elimination and isolation, and his ball 268 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: location is consistently precise. So there's a lot to like 269 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: about mac Jones. Look, it's very possible and that some 270 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: people think and the name I'll throw out is not 271 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: because he's going to be this guy tomorrow. But there 272 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: may be some people who think as he plays and 273 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: matures that he could play the position like a Tom Brady, 274 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: that he's not Tom Brady, but he could play it 275 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: like that. If you believe that, then he is your guy. 276 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: So you have to decide what's important to you in 277 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: today's NFL where so many quarterbacks obviously not Tom Brady, 278 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: but the larger larger majority of quarterbacks seem to have 279 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: to have some kind of second reaction movement ability. Our 280 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: guest is a Greg coach Sell of NFL Films in 281 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: the of course NFL Matchup Show, gregor, are there any 282 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: other quarterbacks in this draft that you're looking at the 283 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: are you like in the later rounds of people aren't 284 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: talking about as much as they should be. Well, you know, 285 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: later round stuff, as always, becomes a function of so 286 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: many things. And you know, you guys, we all do this, 287 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: and you know we're all on Twitter, and you know 288 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: you'll get you know, we all get ripped by the 289 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: guys in the basement in their underwear you work. So 290 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: so when you talk about guys who are later round picks, 291 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: so much becomes a function of where they go. The 292 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: team that's around them, the scheme that they're asked to run, 293 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: the coaching staff. Can they be with the coaching staff 294 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: where they're with the same staff for two, three, four years. 295 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: So there's so many variables that go way beyond just 296 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: what the guy is. Because if he's going to be 297 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: drafted in the later round, he's drafted in the later 298 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: round because his traits aren't as good. Right, So so obviously, 299 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: you know, if a guy is the first, you know, 300 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: we don't have to worry about Trevor Lawrences traits. They're 301 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: pretty good. So um so if a guy is drafted 302 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: in the later round, you start getting into okay, you know, 303 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: he's lacking some things, and then you get into other areas. 304 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: So I'll give you a guy that could easily not 305 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: make it, but yet he fascinates me, okay, And that's 306 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: saml Elenger from Texas. He's not a classic thrower by 307 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: any stretch of the imagination. His delivery is a little elongated, 308 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: he's got a little bit of a wind up. He 309 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: drops the ball at times almost to his waist um. 310 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: He causes him to putiative time. So he's not what 311 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: you'd call a natural or a dry velocity thrower. UM. 312 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: But so he needs a lot of work on a 313 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: number of things, UM, and to really have a chance 314 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: to line up on Sundays, those things would have to improve. UM. 315 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: But the more I watched him, and I watched six 316 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: full games because I was also watching their left tackle 317 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: Samuel Cosmi, Um, there's something there about this kid. And 318 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna sit here until he's Dak Prescott because 319 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott has become a really, really good NFL quarterback 320 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: and not just because he signed a big contract. But 321 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: Prescott was a fourth round pick for a reason. No 322 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: one viewed Prescott as the first round pick coming out 323 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: of Mississippi State. And you know, the more I watched Allinger, 324 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: I kept saying to myself, is there something about him 325 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: that reminds me of Prescott? They're not not the exact 326 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: way he plays, but just can this kid be a 327 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: fifth round pick and all of a sudden three years 328 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: maybe he gets an opportunity to play based on where 329 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: he is. And so I was. I was a little 330 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: intrigued by and plus I had a chance to meet 331 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: the kid, and there's I'm not a believer in it. 332 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: That's not why guys make throws, But there's something about 333 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: the kid, and from what you hear from Texas, he's 334 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 1: as physical and competitive a kid as you'd ever want 335 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 1: to be around. Interesting you mentioned Dak Prescott. I kind 336 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: of a philosophical quarterback question for you, because we've really 337 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: seen it with Josh Allen too, where these guys have 338 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: actually gotten more accurate at the NFL level than they 339 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 1: were in college and growing up in the scott That 340 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: was something that you never that never happened, is that 341 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: all these individual quarterback coaches, has the biomechanics of the 342 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: world gotten better? Is its scheme? Is it all the 343 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: above or don't we don't we know that answer. That's 344 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: a great question, and I don't know if we know 345 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: the answer. I mean, Prescott had major ballplacement issues in 346 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 1: Mississippi State, clearly Josh Allen did at at Wyoming. UM. 347 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: What Josh Allen has done is pretty remarkable. Uh. You know, 348 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna sit here and say he's the most 349 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: accurate passer now we've ever seen, but he made throws 350 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:36,199 Speaker 1: this year that we're really degree of difficulty throws with 351 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: really precise ball placement. Um. Prescott has become a much 352 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: more accurate thrower in the NFL. Uh, And I think 353 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: that d Prescott's a really, really good quarterback. Uh. You 354 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: know it's funny. I'm going to throw this out and 355 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 1: this will come across as bald and controversial, but you know, 356 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 1: it's just it's all based on tape study. I don't 357 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: make bald and controversial statements. I watched the tape. Somebody 358 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 1: asked me, you know who I thought was a better 359 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: quarterback right now, Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott, And I 360 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 1: said Dak Prescott based on tape study, and Dak Prescott 361 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: is playing and then it was a shame he got 362 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: hurt this year. Was playing at a very very high level. Uh. 363 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: So that's a really difficult question to answer. Sometimes it 364 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: can be mechanics. Um. I think in Josh Allen's case, 365 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: mechanics do have a lot to do with it. But 366 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: normally you don't see a leap that big even with 367 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: an improvement in mechanics. Uh. Real quick, Greg, you mentioned 368 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: the the the offensive tackles here. This is as deep 369 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: of an offensive tackle classes I can remember seeing. Again, 370 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: I haven't been covering the league as long as you, 371 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: but this is my twenty year I can't recall one 372 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: that's that's quite has the depth in the second and 373 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: third rounds as this one. Yeah, and and here's the 374 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: not the issue I have. I mean, you're right about 375 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:57,959 Speaker 1: the players is from watching the NFL as closely as 376 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: I do every year, you know, watching tape every week, 377 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: trying to get through as many games as I can 378 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: every week. Um, there's always talking about well, he's not 379 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: a tackle, he's a guard. I think we have to 380 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: stop that because you know, not everybody is Joe Thomas. 381 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: Not everybody has really light feet and as a dancing bear, 382 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: you have to line people up a tackle. And the 383 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 1: game has changed. There's a lot more quick game, there's 384 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: a lot more misdirection elements. But this is not twenty 385 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: years ago where quarterbacks took seven step drops and tackles 386 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: had to block great pass rushers for three point one 387 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: three point three seconds on an island. The game has changed. Um, 388 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: so not everybody, you know. You look at someone like 389 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: Jack Conklin, who came out of Michigan State as a 390 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: top ten pick in a draft. And taking nothing away 391 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: from Jack Conklin, but he's not a light footed guy. 392 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: But he went to Tennessee and they featured the run game. 393 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: He's in Cleveland where they feature the run game, and 394 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: the past game works off that. And he's a very 395 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: good tackle. So you know, I think that all these 396 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: guys like you have a kid from Clemson, Jackson Carmen. 397 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: I'm sure a lot of people will say, well, he 398 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: should play guard. Well, he probably could play guard, but 399 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: I think he's a tackle in the NFL. The way 400 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: the NFL has played today. Um, And the other thing 401 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: that I will say is I don't think there's a 402 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: meaningful delineation anymore between right tackle and left tackle. I 403 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: think that that's an easy thing to say now for 404 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: people that don't study the NFL in great detail, and 405 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: to your point, people forget every Sunday you gotta line 406 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: up sixty four tackles on when the whistle starts, Yeah, 407 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: and correct, you correct, and you know what, not everybody 408 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: is going to be a great tackle, you know. Uh. 409 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: But you know, I think that right tackle left tackle 410 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: delineation with for years and years, we just threw out 411 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: there as if it was gospel. I think the way 412 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: the defense is playing now, I don't think that really matters. Yeah, 413 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: it really doesn't. I mean t J. Watt lines up 414 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 1: on that side on the over on the right side, 415 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: Von Miller lines up on the right side. I mean 416 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: a lot of teams put their better pass rushers on 417 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks quarterback and see Hi coming. They still can't 418 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: get rid of the ball, and teams move guys around. Now, 419 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: Plus with with the increase in pressure packages and the 420 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: increase in sub defenses, with five defensive backs, six defensive 421 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: backs on occasion seven defensive backs, you've got more speed 422 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: rushing the quarterback. And they don't just say, oh, the 423 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: speech can only come from the left side of the offense. 424 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,120 Speaker 1: So you know that delineation to me just doesn't make 425 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: sense anymore. Well, Greg, we we won't keep you any longer. 426 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: We could talk to you all day long, but we 427 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: know you get other things to do with it. Our 428 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: guests has been Greg co Sell of NFL Films in 429 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: the NFL Matchup. You can check out his work as 430 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 1: well at the Fantasy Points the Draft guide that is 431 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: coming out soon. That's Fantasy points dot Com. But we 432 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,199 Speaker 1: appreciate your time as always, Greg, and hopefully next year 433 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: we'll get to see at the combine. I think there'll 434 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:48,719 Speaker 1: be a combine next year. I think it seems like 435 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 1: we're moving in the right direction. So let's got soap 436 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: that continues to happen. Absolutely, but I've been Dale Lally. 437 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: He's Matt Williamson. We want to thank Jacob Breck for 438 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: keeping us on the air as well, and we want 439 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: to thank you for listening to this edition of The 440 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,400 Speaker 1: Drive on Steeler's Nation Radio