1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson, home 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome to 3 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: the Drive. I'm Dale Lollly here with Matt Williamson and 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: Matt We are a week away from draft eve. I 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: know draft eves harder to sleep than Christmas. Got a 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: little better in my old age, get into my forties. 7 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: It took me a good visions of edge rushers dancing 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: in his head. That's right. But now we're getting down 9 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: the home stretch here. This is always a tough week 10 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: or so because everything you read and here is bs. 11 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: To be honest with, I don't believe any of it. 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: Maybe we'll get a trade or a signing or something 13 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: like that, but mostly these teams are buckled down. So 14 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: it's just a lot of anticipation. Yeah, today was the 15 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: last day for for college visits. UM. The Steelers having 16 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: the que Willison today. Uh. Then they'll they'll hunker down 17 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: um and and finalize their draft board and they'll talk 18 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: about you know, where they have they will have every 19 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: player right. Well, he had Bob Labriol on a couple 20 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: of weeks ago. I thought he explained as well, like 21 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: there's never a quote unquote tie when it comes to 22 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: these pas, No, they will have them. They will have 23 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: them ranked and slotted in their spots. Now you may 24 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: get to the pick or the fifty second pick and say, okay, 25 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: here's who's available. We have this guy rated slightly ahead 26 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: of that guy, but this guy's at a more of 27 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: a need position, so we're gonna take him. But they're 28 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: not fighting about it three minutes before the pain. No. No, 29 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: that's why. So often, as we've seen in the draft process, 30 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: and you and I have covered a bunch of these 31 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: together now on the radio, how many times do you 32 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: see Steelers around the clock and then boom it goes 33 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: to the pick is in. They're always quick about it. Yes, 34 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: they know, they've already they've already had the conversations. Yeah, 35 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: they've done their homework, They've done down this road many times. 36 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: They don't need all the time, real quick, I mean 37 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: from my experience, and I'm sure the stealers do this 38 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 1: the same way, because every team does. What you need 39 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: to know is the first steps of building the board 40 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: are position rankings. You rank all your quarterbacks one till 41 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: not draftable anymore. Basically, So, okay, I got a list 42 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: of twelve of them. You do that with every spot. 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: You know, however you want to make your positions. There 44 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: are the guys who aren't on there because of medicals, 45 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: are because of off field stuff. Those guys off the board. Yeah, 46 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: and there won't be thirty two times seven rounds plus 47 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: comp picked names on your front board. They're probably half 48 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: that they'll have. They'll have, you know, a hundred and 49 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: fifty names on their board. Yeah, and the Patriots historically 50 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: have like a hundred, you know, and they pick some 51 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: weird dudes. But anyway, and then your sideboard that if 52 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: you have to go to it, that's not ideal. Usually 53 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: those are your priority free agents that type of thing. 54 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: But more importantly or the thing that people might not realize, 55 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: like hey, Williams and I realized they ranked their tackles. 56 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: I get that, you know, everyone does, just like you 57 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: do on your fantasy drafts. But what's important is the 58 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: horizontal board is is my fifth running back better than 59 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: my eight tackle? You know what I mean by the 60 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: horizonal board is just look at an Excel spreadsheet and 61 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 1: at the top it has all the position groups and 62 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: again you just rank your you're you're running backs all 63 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: the way down one to twenty whatever. But there might 64 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: be a huge gap between running back eight and running 65 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: back nine. You know, that doesn't mean running back eight 66 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: might be my big guy you've taken the third round. 67 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: Running Back nine is a guy you take in the 68 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: sixth round. Right, And there's ten offensive linemen in between them, 69 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: you know, So it's not just one after another. There's 70 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: all these gaps there. So you when I say positional 71 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: or the horizontal board, look at it from left to right. 72 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: And that's where a lot of fights are happening now, 73 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: you know, like, if we already have a receiver, do 74 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: we like this corner better than this center, Well, that's 75 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: a hard conversation, right, and then need comes into play. 76 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: And and that's where you know when when people talk about, um, 77 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: the best available guy, the best available guy is always 78 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: at a position of need, always right. Rarely, really do 79 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: you see a team, yeah, you really see a team 80 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 1: with we've like the Bengals this year. Do you think 81 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: the Bengals are taking a wide receiver in the first 82 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: three rounds of this draft? Probably not, you know, they 83 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: don't think the first round great on them or something. 84 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Let's you know, unless Jamison Williams is available in the 85 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: third round, then you're talking best available player. But in 86 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: the first, first couple of rounds, nobody's taken. Oh, he 87 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: was the best guy available. Well, no kidding, he was 88 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: the best guy avail because because you looked at those 89 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: guys through the prism of what you needed, right, because 90 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: you need rookies to play, you know, that's the first 91 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: round picks. They don't sit around. And boy, there's nothing 92 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: worse than than than having to the answer to fans constantly, 93 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: but well, why isn't Lawrence Timmins playing this year? Right? 94 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 1: And I get it because you know, the Steelers didn't 95 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,239 Speaker 1: meet him to play right away. But there's still luxury 96 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: the teams rarely have. There's still those questions. Yeah. Now 97 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: because of the way the contracts are structured in that 98 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: fift yeer option, Yeah you have the fifty year option. 99 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: But the fift yeer option is expensive. Oh yeah, that's 100 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: on a slam dont no brainer, and it's fully and 101 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: it's fully guaranteed. So you want to have you want 102 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: to know what that guy is by year three because 103 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: you gotta make a decision after year three. So much 104 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: of this is financial, it's not is the player good 105 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: or not? It's is it worth the money? Yeah? Yeah, 106 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: So anyway, I mean that's what's going on now. Though 107 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: there's fights of is running back six better than safety three? 108 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: You know, maybe it is? You know, I mean that 109 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: that's the kind of thing that is hard for the 110 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: GM or the final decision maker. Yeah, I have a 111 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: hard time. But like when people talk about uh, you know, 112 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: they'll talk about the drink away he was pounding the 113 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: table on draft day, nobody's pounding the table on draft 114 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: day about this stuff. Stuff's already decided if you know 115 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: what you're doing. Yeah, I mean, you don't know how 116 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: the board's gonna fall, and there's gonna be some unexpected 117 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: surprises or hurdles. But the well prepared teams, which all 118 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: of them are well prepared, understand that, well, this is 119 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: a sweet spot for how how often have we talked 120 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: about there's what six or seven safeties and after that? 121 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: I don't really have one that, you know, that I 122 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: think can do what the Steelers need him to do. 123 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: You know, So if we don't get one here, we're 124 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: out of luck. You know. Then you then you're developing one. 125 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: He's gonna be on your bench for a couple of years. Yeah, 126 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: or you're calling a free agent. You know, like there's 127 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: a pocket here that we have to hit or we're 128 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: not getting that position. So for us to go away 129 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: from a safety has to be a player that maybe 130 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: has a noticeably better grade on them, just for example, 131 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: you know, right right, you know, for example of pet 132 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 1: Friar Moose last season, Steelers had a first round grade 133 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: on him. He was there in the middle of the 134 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: second round. You take him. It's a position, yes, it's 135 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: a position of of somewhat of need. Yet but they 136 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: you know, they didn't necessarily have to have Pat Frere 137 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: Moves coming and play right away. They had Eric Keybron. 138 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: Now he brought ended up getting hurt, but you know, 139 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: it kind of speeded up the process a little bit. 140 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: They knew they probably were going to resign eric Hebron. Right, alright, 141 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: I'm a big picture thinking. I'm sure they wanted to 142 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: draft a tight end at some point. I'm sure he 143 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: was their second ranked tight end. What you know, Pitts 144 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: is a different animal obviously, and they knew they weren't 145 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: going in the pits market. So wow, I mean, if 146 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: if he's our thirtieth best player on the horizontal board 147 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: and he's sitting there in the middle of the the second round. 148 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: We're gonna gram yeah um. And so you know, I 149 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: think I've gotten a lot of second guessing on that one, because, well, 150 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: they could have taken Creede Humphrey there, Yeah, they could have, 151 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: but then they would they wouldn't have had fire mouth, 152 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: you know. And that's a great example though, Like remember 153 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: last year there was like five centers probab we let 154 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: By Humphrey down to Kendrick Green and guys in between that. 155 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure they're head conversations three sixty five days ago, 156 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: a week before the draft. Well, what if all the 157 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: centers are there and Friar moves, what are we gonna do? 158 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: We can have our pick of the centers or but 159 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: there's there's good Yeah, there's no tight end that we 160 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: have ranked this high exactly. The rest of these tight ends, 161 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: the rest of the tight ends are like fourth round guys, Okay, 162 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: then we then we take the tight end. That's you know, 163 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: that's that That's how the conversation goes. Yeah, you end 164 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: up now you end up passing on Creed Humphrey, But 165 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: nobody Creed Humphrey was not a slam dunk. Oh, he's 166 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: gonna be a star pick. Otherwise he would have been 167 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: the first rounder. He's a really good prospect, but he 168 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: wasn't noticeably be better than the other four or five 169 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: this time last year. The Chiefs passed on him in 170 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: the second round last year to take Nick Bolton like 171 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: they didn't. If they would have thought he, well, he's 172 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: gonna be he's gonna be a potential Pro Bowl center 173 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: in his rookie year, they would have taken him with 174 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: their first second round pick. They wouldn't have waited to 175 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: the second second round pick, right. I mean, I do 176 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: remember all the mocks we did last year. We ended 177 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: up with Creed Humphrey in the second round quite often. 178 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: Or I remember being on the air live when the 179 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: Steelers second round pick was you know what it came 180 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: up and I thought, and I'm sure I said, Creed 181 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: Humphrey seems like the logical player here. But I didn't 182 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: do as much homework on the Steelers horizontal board versus 183 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: the vertical board, where there's only one tight end worth grabbing. 184 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 1: And if you get him now, great, And I'm sure 185 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: they felt pretty comfortable. And I know Kennrick Green didn't 186 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: play great in his rookie year. That there's only four 187 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,839 Speaker 1: teams in the center market. One of these five will 188 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: be there in round three. We'll get one of these guys. Yeah, 189 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: especially at center, because you know the teams that need centers, 190 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: right right. I mean that's that's very obvious, pretty obvious. Yeah, 191 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: it's it's you know, that's why your personnel, your pro 192 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: personnel department plays a BA factor in draft day because 193 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: they're like, right now, I think Dallas is a center 194 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 1: needy team. I'm just picking one out of the blue. Well, 195 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: they're looking around, going, but the Steelers aren't gonna take one, 196 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: you know, right, Yeah, That's that's what's going on right now. 197 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: That's you know, and I keep seeing again mock drafts 198 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: come out with the Steelers that have the Steelers taking 199 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: in the interior offensive linemen. Continued. Now we're we're a 200 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: week out from the draft, and I and I still 201 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: see that. I'm like, no, they're not going to take 202 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: an interior offensive line. They're not taking Kendrick Green or 203 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: not Kendrick Green, uh uh, the Kenyan Yeah, Kenyan Green, 204 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 1: Linder Bomb and I Zion Johnson. I just the Steelers 205 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: aren't taking those guys in the first round because they've 206 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: got four starter caliber interior offensive linemen on the roster 207 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 1: right now, and that doesn't even include Hassin our Blue. 208 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: You know, I think those guys are making the team, 209 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: those guys. Yeah, so that's six eyes on the interior 210 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: offensive line you're not keeping. You know, six will be 211 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: the most you would keep. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Maybe it's 212 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: a late Day three guy, or maybe there's a third 213 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: round pick of a player that is six four you 214 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: know that is maybe a guard guard tackle. Yeah, yeah, 215 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: but you start him at tackle and if he fails, 216 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: he bumps inside in the year. Maybe, but you don't 217 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 1: have to have a high grade on that player. Yeah. Absolutely, 218 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: switching gears up real quickly. Um. Steelers announcing today, not surprisingly, 219 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: that they're going back to Saint Vincent College. Um, that's awesome, 220 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: fantastic news. I know Mike Tomlin very happy, but that 221 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure aren't Rooney happy about that as well? As 222 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: are we? I would say we are quite happy. A 223 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: little conversation and I think, yeah, it's happy. I think 224 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: fans will be happy about that as well. I mean, 225 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: they could go to the practices at Hines Field, but 226 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: it wasn't the same, and it just wasn't. Um you 227 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: had to sit in the stands. You couldn't. They couldn't 228 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: sign autographs. Uh, you know all the stuff that that 229 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: that you like to do and take the kids out 230 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: and watch a practice and go to to what I 231 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: always call Rooney World where they kids can do the 232 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: forty yard dash and all that kind of stuff. I mean, 233 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: there's just so much there, you know, that's it's all. 234 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: Lock it up the Hill was so cool to me, 235 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: you know, signing autographs all sweaty or before practice you're 236 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: right next to them in their pads and they're walking. 237 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: For a lot of those guys, Matt, that's what that. 238 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: That's all they've got. Like if you're you know, you're 239 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: an undrafted free agent or whatever, and you know this, 240 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: I would drink that in like it was the golden 241 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: nectar of the gods. Like I would. I would stand 242 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: there and sign autographs for three hours because you're not 243 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: what are you ever gonna get that chance again? Like 244 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: you've got thousands of kids are and maybe you make it, 245 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: maybe you don't. I'm sure they all believe they have 246 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: a chance to make it. Oh my god, that's that's 247 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: it's a chance of a lifetime, Like, oh my god, 248 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: all these key people are here and they want my autograph. 249 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: Are you kidding me? This is great. It's a great environment. 250 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: If if you guys have never come sat in the bleachers, 251 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: round the hill, whatever, you should definitely do it. And 252 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 1: especially if it's not a crazy ride for you. It's 253 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: a cool day. Um, not the knock any of the 254 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,719 Speaker 1: wind out of your balloon here. But if you've never 255 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: watched an NFL football practice, it's not quite as exciting 256 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: as you might think, right right, But it's more about 257 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: the being there. Yeah, and then you know what happens 258 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: before and after practice that that really makes it special. 259 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: Stop by radio booth and say hello, and say hello, 260 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: we're out there. We're broadcasting. There'll be somebody from Steelers 261 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: Nation Radio broadcasting pretty much all day from training camp, 262 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: including ourselves. So it's it's very exciting time. And for 263 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: for me as a journalist, I love it because I 264 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: get an opportunity to have one on one conversations with 265 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: these guys, um, you know, top of the top of 266 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: the roster, all the way to the bottom, you know, 267 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: I you know, I try to talk to fifty or 268 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,439 Speaker 1: sixty guys throughout the course of training camp. Uh yeah, 269 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 1: just because you can. You can get them one on 270 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: one and you can you can learn a little bit 271 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: more about them. Same thing with the coaching staff. You know, 272 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: they're there are coaches on the Steelers coaching staff that 273 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: have been here for a couple of years that outside 274 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: of maybe one zoom call or something like that, I 275 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: haven't talked to and a zoom calls a much different. 276 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: It's completely different. People ask me questions about Matt Canada's 277 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: you know, what's what's Matt Canada's philosophy. I'll be honest 278 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: with you, I don't know, because I haven't had a 279 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: one on one conversation with the man. They have to 280 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: asked that question. Hey, because I don't want to give 281 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: it to everybody else. I'm not gonna ask questions, the 282 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: probing questions like that in front of all the other 283 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: writers because then they're gonna have it too. They want 284 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: to ask if they're gonna have to ask it then 285 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: privately themselves. So I think I think it's a huge 286 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: I think, you know, it will provide much more insight 287 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: into the team. Uh for you know, for a fan perspective, 288 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: because they'll be ab the reporters will be able to 289 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: do it to find that stuff out. Uh, it's just 290 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: so much more that you can you can glean from 291 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: being at those practices, and also we can report what 292 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: we see. That's huge. That's huge, right, you know that 293 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: that's what you talk about it, Yeah, that's absolutely big. 294 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: A couple of notes. There are some things you said 295 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: is you will often reference throughout the season or a 296 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: year or two later. Boy, I remember talking to Raider 297 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: at his first from training camp or whatever. You know, 298 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: some of these guys that aren't huge names and everyone 299 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: has a mic in their face, you know, the first 300 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: round pick, everyone's talks too. But that that you have 301 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: a good knack for picking out the undrafted free agent 302 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: that's catching the eyes of coaches or maybe a coach 303 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: told you, and that's just that's just kind of Those 304 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: are the kind of conversation you know you talked to. 305 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: I make it a point to talk to every position 306 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: coach at training camp at least once, sometimes twice, and 307 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: you do that because you want to find out about 308 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: these always like, hey, this guy's flashed a little bit. 309 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: I've been watching him in my off base there you know, 310 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: where's this guy got a chance? And nothing? They might 311 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: tell you privately, they're not going to say it publicly. 312 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: I don't know the tricks of the trade. I'm not 313 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: a reporter, but if a position coach were too unsolicited 314 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: mention a name to me, that's not an obvious one, boy, 315 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: I mean, radars go remember, no, no, I'm gonna watch 316 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: that guy a little a little more closely and see 317 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: what's there. You know, by the same token, I can 318 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: remember seeing, you know, James Harrison's first training camp and 319 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: you see James Harrison winning is one on ones like 320 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: crazy and just beating people up, and then you asked 321 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: a position coach about it, or one of the coaches 322 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: about him, like, yeah, but he doesn't know what he's doing. Yeah, 323 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: I don't think that these players know what they're doing. 324 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: But you know, like does he aligne right before the snap? 325 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: You know, does he read the play? I mean, they're 326 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: so it's mind boggling to me. Whenever you get a 327 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: chance to go in a position room or a coach 328 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: is only meeting at defensive staff meeting and they're talking 329 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 1: about the finer, finer points of the game. That's what 330 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: they're looking for and you know, I'm not bashing leak Willis. 331 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: I love the leak Wills. I hope he's a Steeler, 332 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: don't come wrong, but like he knows none of that 333 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 1: stuff yet. Snow, you know, exactly right, right right, totally 334 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: multiple clay that could go good or bad, you know. Yeah, 335 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: one last thing I wanted to touch on here. Report 336 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 1: coming out today that Deebo Samuel was asked Tots for 337 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: a trade. Um, people get well the Steelers with the 338 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: Steelers trade for Deebo Samuel. Ye, would they be a 339 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: whole segment? Yeah, but it would they'd be interested in 340 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: Deebo Samuel. Sure, I'm sure they would be interested in 341 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: Deebo Samuel. But then you got to pay him. Yes, 342 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: I mean again without going twenty minutes on a diet 343 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,239 Speaker 1: tribe about this first off. Two, the Steelers picked up 344 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: myleth Boy Catt today. But I think it's a little 345 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: bit noteworthy to big strong fast didn't work work with 346 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: the Ravens at all. But it's you mentioned last week 347 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: you thought there was more of a need for a 348 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: big outside guy than there are. It's an interior and 349 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: that fills it, and that it doesn't fill it fill it. 350 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 1: It provides you with a guy who has played NFL 351 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: snaps right to fill. At worst, he's your he's your 352 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: fifth receiver because he could play special teams right right, 353 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: right exactly, you know, so a limit, it lessens the 354 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: need on draft day. But again, this is a huge 355 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: conversation because I think there's a lot going on to 356 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: the receiver position in the NFL right now. But Debo 357 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: is not alone. He's just the one in in the news. 358 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: Metcalf A, J Brown, McLaurin, Deebo and Frankly Deante Johnson 359 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: who hasn't made any stink. But all those guys were 360 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: drafted on Day two the same year and have been 361 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: phenomenal football players. They're heading into year four and heading 362 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,679 Speaker 1: into year four and haven't made any money, you know, 363 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:59,479 Speaker 1: like they're frustrated. I mean, and there's massive wide receiver 364 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: played iconics, changing moving around the NFL right now. You 365 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: mentioned mc Canada. I think he would adore Deebo Samuel, 366 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: but you gotta pay him a year from now two. 367 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: I mean him and Deonte are in the same boat. Yeah, 368 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: if you trade for him, then you gotta pay him, 369 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,120 Speaker 1: and you what you're gonna have to pay him there's 370 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: a reason he wants out of San Francisco because they 371 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 1: don't want to pay him. Or yeah, I'm not sure 372 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: how all these things are going, you know, because would 373 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: you rather And again, seel is gonna face this with 374 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: Deante Johnson because it might be a situation too with 375 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: with the Deebo Samuel that he doesn't like how they're 376 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: using him. It's possible. I was thinking he's a little 377 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: bit different than everybody else. He maybe look at Disco. 378 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: If if I'm gonna be part running back, part wide receiver, 379 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: my career is gonna get shortened. And it will and 380 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: it will absolutely know if I'm carrying the balls, if 381 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: I'm carrying the ball six to ten times, and there 382 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,959 Speaker 1: were games last year where he had double digit carries 383 00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: and these are in the round carries. These are they say, 384 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: running back carry's, which makes which makes no sense to me, 385 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,479 Speaker 1: because one thing if forts have had left and right 386 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: is running backs. Oh yeah, and they've proven for thirty years, 387 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: going back to Daddy Shanny, that you can win with 388 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: okay running backs. You know, they're better with good ones. 389 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: I think the beating they gave they gave Debo was 390 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: a little foolish but they were Final four team and 391 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: they were winning. And it's hard to you know, tell 392 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: a coach that stop doing what you're doing when you're 393 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: winning playoff games left and right. But yeah, I mean 394 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: the idea is to win. But right, right, right, you know, 395 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: it's not good for debo, not good for debo. But 396 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 1: I don't I don't see the Steelers getting into that conversation. 397 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: We're gonna take a break. He is Matt Williams and 398 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: I am Dale Lally. You're listening to the Drive here 399 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: on Steelers Nation Radio. When we come back. Well, Tom 400 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: mcshae and uh uh right, mel Kiper have put together there. 401 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: They're three round dueling. We'll we'll go over that next 402 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: right after this on the Drive