1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Football is about the Jimmy's and Joe's, and x'es and o's. 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 2: Check New York vote. 3 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: Banker Bruce, It's time to get out the chockboard and 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: diagram some plays. 5 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: Here's what it all starts right here. That's why jamiey Christmas. 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: This is Inside Football with former Colts and the NFL 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: coach Rick Venturie. 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: Hey, we are back at it again here on Inside Football. 9 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: Thanks for coming back. This is our weekly podcast with 10 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: Rick Venturry, or Colts color analyst on radio, discussing the 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 2: Colts and breaking down the upcoming opponent. And this is 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 2: your one stop schematic shop for all things Colts football 13 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: heading into Saturday's game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This Saturday, 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: we've got the seven and six Colts, the seventh seed 15 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 2: in the playoffs as of now, and the seven and 16 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: six Steelers the sixth seed in the AFC currently in 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: after last week's loss to the Bengals. This has all 18 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: the feelings of a playoff game given the magnitude of 19 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: this game and all that's on the line here with 20 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: six teams kind of six teams in the AFC right 21 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 2: now sharing records of seven and six here at the 22 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: moment going in week fifteen. 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, this is this is the Lando seven and six 24 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: ers there really truly is and and again we just 25 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 3: keep saying it every you know, every every December game 26 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 3: takes on more and more importance. You know, both of 27 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 3: these teams Sunday, this will be interesting. I think. I 28 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: think there's a lot of issues to this, a lot 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 3: of onions that can be peeled. Obviously, it's a do 30 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 3: or die game. I mean, you live and you play 31 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 3: on you lose and you die pretty well, and so 32 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 3: there's no question about the actual you know, statistical and 33 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:52,639 Speaker 3: ranking and seeding and all that. What is there. Also, 34 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 3: you have two teams that really and you know, just 35 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 3: tell it like it is. Both teams came off disastrous 36 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 3: losses last week. So you know, I think both teams 37 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 3: will have, you know, a great resolve. You know, they've 38 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 3: had a little bit more time to lick their loans 39 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 3: and try to fix things. We're on a short week, 40 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 3: but sometimes after a bad game, a short week is 41 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 3: better in my opinion, because you just you have to 42 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 3: spit it out. Like I said, spit this went out. 43 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 3: It was you know it was coming. It was just 44 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 3: one of those games where you know, everything went bad. 45 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 3: You can't. You can't say, well, you know, this group 46 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 3: played good, this group didn't play good. It was a total, 47 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 3: really collapse of all issues. We've had a lot of 48 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: those issues, but they've been masked and winning, and they 49 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 3: just all came to fruition in one day. You know. 50 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 3: Hopefully we can fix them in that they're in some 51 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 3: respects anomalies. But you can't, like you said, you can't 52 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 3: underestimate the importance of this game. You know, I'll cover 53 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 3: it at the end. I mean, this is a Steeler 54 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 3: team that is struggling, really struggling without pick it. You know, 55 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: it's it's a team though that you know, three or 56 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 3: four weeks ago looked like a pretty good contender, you know, 57 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 3: and then ended up on a two game death slide. 58 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 3: So again, we just we don't know. But it'll be 59 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 3: a fun game with those retro uniforms. Yeah, yeah, you know, 60 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 3: looking no looking forward. 61 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 2: To it, Yeah, no doubt about. It's going to be fun. 62 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: Saturday games are always fun and interesting, and they kind 63 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: of take on a different dynamic playing a day earlier, 64 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 2: and we're going to break down those Steelers in full 65 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 2: detail coming up in just a moment. But Rick, let's 66 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: put a bow on the Bengals as the Colts fell 67 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: by by twenty points in Cincinnati, their largest defeat of 68 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: the season. And you know, the Colts offense, they only 69 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: scored seven. They struggled to run the ball, and the 70 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: team really suffered a season high nine penalties that was 71 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: an underlying issue in the game as well. And a 72 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 2: defense that allowed only five plays of forty or more 73 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: yards all season going into the game. They gave up 74 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 2: three of those types of plays and we're out score 75 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: twenty to nothing in the second half. All three phases 76 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 2: kind of let the Colts down. Special teams was an 77 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: adventure all game long. Met Gay missed two kicks, the 78 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: Colts muffed a punt that led to a Bengal field 79 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 2: goal late in the game. So again, just kind of 80 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: an all around disappointment, maybe the sloppiest game of the 81 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: year for the Colts. Rick. So they're trying to, as 82 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: you said, rebound in a big way this weekend on 83 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 2: a short week. 84 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, you have to rebound, and you really have to 85 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: clean things up, and you know, when something pops up, 86 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 3: you have to fix it really quick. You know, a 87 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 3: lot of things on defense have been masked, and we've 88 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: talked about that. Even in winning, they've been masked by 89 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 3: the ability to take the ball away and the ability 90 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: to sack the quarterback, which we went into the game 91 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 3: number two in both categories. But you know, we really 92 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 3: we weren't able and it surprises me totally. But it's 93 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 3: fact we didn't get any pressure on Browning all day, 94 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 3: which was our strength, and we really didn't take it away. 95 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 3: It just wasn't our day in that regard. But I 96 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: will say that the biggest thing coming out of here 97 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 3: is now you have to fix the screen game. I mean, 98 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 3: the one thing that you know, we really blew a 99 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 3: tire on, you know, was given up two hundred and 100 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 3: thirty yards basically to brown Into mix them. You know, 101 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 3: that really killed us, the two hundred and thirty to 102 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 3: those two guys, the one hundred and twenty four on 103 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 3: three screen passes. And you know, as the players say, 104 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 3: you know, when you give up something like that, you 105 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 3: know you really now open up a Pandora's box to 106 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 3: quote you know, various players on our team, which means 107 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 3: now we really have to do a really good job 108 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: to take away the screen vulnerabilities because Pittsburgh is kind 109 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 3: of going through and they're just trying to find themselves 110 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: the same thing that since he went through in this 111 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 3: regard Matt in that they have to nurse Trubisky into 112 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 3: the game and the best way to do that is 113 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 3: with our pos and screens and really and truly they 114 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 3: have almost a mere image of the Bengals in that. 115 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 3: You'll see this. We'll talk about this with Nagy Harris 116 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 3: and with Brown. So they can, you know, they can 117 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: try to exploit that. But you know, just going back 118 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 3: to the issue was we have to fix that immediately 119 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 3: because as soon as you have a vulnerability, boom, they're 120 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 3: going to get after it. And then I thought, offensively, 121 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 3: we kind of fell back into the trap that when 122 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 3: we haven't played well has killed us, and that's the 123 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 3: running game has really been shut down. I mean, you know, 124 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 3: Moss ran what two point two this is almost two 125 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 3: weeks in a row. In our passing game, you know, 126 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 3: we didn't take any shots deep. You know, we were 127 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 3: five point four per attempt, which means you're just not 128 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 3: moving the ball. I mean, you're not pushing a deep, 129 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 3: You're not you know, you're not running the ball. Even 130 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 3: if Michael catches ten balls. It's going to be for 131 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 3: one hundred yards. It's not He's not going to have 132 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 3: a two hundred and fifty yard day. So you know, 133 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 3: those things. We just have to be able to push 134 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 3: the ball and with this ball club, we have to 135 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 3: be able to run it. And I would say those 136 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 3: two things more than anything, really have to be fixed. 137 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: And then you know, not to not to not to 138 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 3: attack him, but you know, Ryman just had a nightmare 139 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 3: really and what really came up were things that killed 140 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 3: him as a rookie. He just got powered. I mean 141 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 3: they you know, Hendrickson just absolutely powered him. And of 142 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: course when you show that on tape, you know, and 143 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 3: now you know, if high Smith plays, you're gonna you know, 144 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 3: you're going to get that power rush off that side. 145 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 3: And then if you know, obviously, if if Freeland has 146 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: to play again at right tackle, he's going to have 147 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 3: his work cut out for him. With Watt, you know, 148 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 3: who has ninety one and a half sacks. We'll get 149 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 3: into that, but again, we've got to find ways to 150 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: run the ball against Beer, We've got to find ways 151 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 3: to push it. Deep press coverage just killed us in 152 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 3: the second half, and then we got to make sure 153 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: that we're shored up at offensive tackle. This week, You're right, 154 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 3: penalties killed us. You know, it was a typical for us, 155 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: but you know, we had what nine of them, and 156 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 3: you know, they occurred in such bad situations. They occurred 157 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 3: in the red zone, which also destroyed the red zone 158 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 3: this week. You know, they occurred going in, they occurred 159 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 3: going out. They either led to you know, a score 160 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: that we didn't get or in two cases we gave 161 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 3: the Bengals extensions where they got fourteen instead of three. So, 162 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 3: you know, I don't know what happened in the second half. 163 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 3: I thought that the momentum, you know, coming out of 164 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 3: Harrison's interception and the two point play, I thought, man, 165 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 3: we're in great shape here, and you know, we just 166 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 3: really got slaughtered in that third quarter, and we got 167 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 3: slaughtered all over. They got they we were three and out, 168 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 3: you know, they got in that bear and then they 169 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 3: pressed and then blitzed, which is rhythm against us, you know, 170 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 3: and then they just they made the big play and 171 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 3: then they got it. So again, the most important thing 172 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 3: is just to make sure that anything that hasn't been 173 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 3: there or has been there really gets gets fixed. By Saturday, afternoon, no. 174 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 2: Doubt about it. That's the task at hand coming up 175 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: on a short week here up next the seven and 176 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: six Steelers Rix. So let's tee him up here. Let's 177 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: turn the page. Get ready for week fifteen monster game 178 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,199 Speaker 2: on Saturday, because the Colts and the Steelers, they're one 179 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: of six AFC teams as we said that are seven 180 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 2: and six. So this head to head meeting on Saturday 181 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 2: is gonna have It's gonna pay, you know, big dividends 182 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 2: for the Colts if then get this win. It's also 183 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 2: a conference game that's a big significant tiebreaker for the 184 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 2: wild card spots as well, and both teams are five 185 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 2: and four against AFC competition this season going into the game. 186 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: So here's kind of the big picture set up here. 187 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 2: We know about the series here. The Colts have lost 188 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 2: eight straight games to the Steelers. That is their longest 189 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,959 Speaker 2: current losing streak to any team in the NFL but Pittsburgh. 190 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: They've lost three of their last four coming into the game, 191 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: coming off two really disappointing losses at home to the 192 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 2: Cardinals and the Patriots. In fact, the Steelers are the 193 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: first team rick with a winning record to lose consecutive 194 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: games to opponents with a two to ten record. So 195 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 2: obviously they're kind of at a low point on their season. 196 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 2: They've had some time to rest up having played on 197 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 2: Thursday Night football. You know, you look at it too 198 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: that the Colts have been good in one score games 199 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: this season, but the Steelers have been great. They're seven 200 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: and two in games signed by eight points or less, 201 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 2: but they've been outscored by forty points on the season. 202 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 2: And to take it a step further, the Steelers became 203 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 2: the first team ever to have a winning record while 204 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: being outgained in each of their first eight games of 205 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: the season. They went five and three in those games, 206 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: and the only win this season where they actually outgained 207 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: their opponent was Cincinnati a few weeks ago. That's their 208 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 2: latest win on the season their sluggish off. Now, gotta 209 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 2: buy Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. He's in now for the 210 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 2: time being for the injured Kenny Pickett due to his 211 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 2: ankle injury. The defensive point total pretty good despite ranking 212 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: twenty first in yards, and the Colts might get a 213 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 2: break this week. We say might get a break without 214 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,839 Speaker 2: having to see defensive ends TJ. Watt and Alex Highsmith 215 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: who are in the concussion protocol. Now we're taping this 216 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: on Wednesday. On Tuesday, both of those men practice on 217 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 2: a limited basis, so their status for Saturday is still 218 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: very much up in the air dealing with concussion. So 219 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 2: that's kind of the setup on the Steelers, Rick, What 220 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 2: else do you have on them on the big picture 221 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 2: going into Saturday's game. 222 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I say two things, and they're kind of opposed. 223 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 3: But I'll say, you know, my first year in the 224 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 3: league was nineteen eighty two and played the Steelers and 225 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 3: three Rivers back then, and you know they were you know, 226 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 3: that was Frank o'harris and all the Hall of famers, Bradshaw, 227 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 3: Swan stal Worth, all those great guys, Joe Green on defense, 228 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 3: and so I've seen him for you know, forty two years, 229 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 3: and I will say this is not your father Steelers, 230 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 3: just so that we don't put them on a pedestal. 231 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 3: But I will also say that I think the reason 232 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,079 Speaker 3: that they were able to do the impossible, which was 233 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 3: have a winning record and get outscored in those first 234 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 3: aid games, was really a credit to their good head 235 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 3: coach and Mike Tollin. I mean, Mike has had those 236 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 3: sixteen non losing seasons. You know, his record stands for itself. 237 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 3: I've known him since he was a rookie secondary coach 238 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 3: in the league. He's under a lot of fire right 239 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 3: now because Pittsburgh is just unforgiving with the Steelers. But 240 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 3: he's smart and he's tough and he can motivate. So 241 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 3: if someone can find a solution here in a long weeks, 242 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 3: it's really Mike. You're right. They have really struggled, and 243 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 3: they really struggled last week with Trubisky. On offense, you know, 244 00:12:55,400 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 3: they're not explosive. They have solid receivers Pickens and Johnson, 245 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: which I'll get into. You know, specifically, they're solid where 246 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 3: I think they're very good, and you know that shows statistically. 247 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 3: The only offensive statistic that is impressive for them is 248 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 3: they still are number fourteenth in the league with a 249 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 3: four point two rushing average per So they can run 250 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: the ball with two really good runners, in my opinion, 251 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 3: two different runners basically, like I said, very much like Cincinnati. 252 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 3: Harris is the pounder. You know, Harris would equate to Mixing, 253 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 3: and then Warren is fast. He comes in, he adds quickness. 254 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 3: You know, he would equate to Brown. So you have 255 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 3: a little bit of the same issue again, two solid receivers. 256 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 3: Alan Robinson's a big body slot and I think the 257 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 3: guy that's really coming and you got to really be 258 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 3: ready for situationally third down in red zone is Friarmouth 259 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 3: a tight end. I think he's coming. Their offensive line 260 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 3: blocks the run pretty well, but they're right side. I'll 261 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 3: get into this. Really struggles on protection. Uh. You know, 262 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 3: their quarterbacks are good athletes, and you know, I have 263 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 3: to say Trubisky is a good athlete. He can extend, 264 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 3: he can get out of trouble. He's capable that way. 265 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 3: But they you know, they have a tough, tough time, 266 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 3: uh in there in that situation in terms of protection. 267 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: I think something that really hurts them. You know, they've 268 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 3: had the they fired the offensive coordinator finally. But they 269 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 3: are ultra conservative on offense. I mean they are ultra conservative. 270 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 3: Their running game is very very simple. They don't take 271 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 3: a ton of shots, and so you know, I also 272 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 3: think that works against him. Trubisky, you know, had a 273 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 3: terrible night the other night. You know, he threw one 274 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 3: away and he had another one that should have been 275 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 3: thrown thrown away. But he's a he's another guy that's 276 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 3: a box of chocolates. You know, he's had had some 277 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 3: big days in Chicago and he's had a lot of 278 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 3: bad days. I think he's guy you can shake easily. 279 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: I think he loses confidence quickly, has that deer in 280 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 3: the headlight look in some and he's definitely not a 281 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 3: force multiplayer. So it's really important that you come out 282 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: on fire, not like last week, just the opposite and 283 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 3: really upset that. And then on defense, this team is 284 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 3: really capable of big games. You're you're right in that. 285 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 3: The one thing they really are is they're stingy and 286 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 3: points given up. And you know a lot of that 287 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 3: is because you know they're number seven there, but a 288 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 3: lot of that is because they really they can. They 289 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 3: really number eight. They can play in the red zone 290 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 3: and they're number fourteen when it comes to rushing the passer. 291 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 3: You know they can get after your passer. So you know, 292 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 3: again what we know what he is. I think you 293 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 3: have to prepare for him. If he's not there, we 294 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 3: thank God and go on. But you know, former Defensive 295 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 3: Player of the Year, he's absolutely amazing. Nine and a 296 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 3: half sat ninety one and a half sacks. He is 297 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 3: just a tear, and he's gonna they don't move him 298 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 3: that much. He's gonna be on our left side almost 299 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 3: all the time. Occasionally they'll walk him back inside and 300 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 3: blitz him, but he's gonna be on our right side, 301 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 3: which is gonna be a real challenge for Freeland over there. 302 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 3: And then high Smith is on the other side. They 303 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 3: got a couple of backups, which we'll get into later 304 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: if those guys aren't ready. I think their stacks are good. 305 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 3: Roberts is a really good tackler, and Walker has got 306 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 3: a lot of pass defended. He's kind of their athlete, 307 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 3: you know. I think Peterson is solid at one corner, 308 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 3: and I think that Porter has talent the rookie. He 309 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 3: was a high draft pick. He's long. I think he 310 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 3: grabs a lot. I thought he grabbed a lot in college. 311 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 3: I think you have to go after him at the 312 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 3: other corner. Then they play a lot of different guys, Sullivan, Thompson, 313 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 3: and even Peterson sometimes at the nickel, they'll use a 314 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 3: lot of different guys. I'll just say in brief that 315 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 3: this is an old Pittsburgh scheme. This is the one 316 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 3: they've used for ever and ever, which is based on 317 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 3: underfront rather than over, which I'll get into later, and 318 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 3: some bear based on both outside edge guys rushing. Their 319 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 3: defense is based really on a five man rush. So 320 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 3: you know, those are the things we'll get into. I'll 321 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 3: get into the specifics as we go, but again, very 322 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 3: stingy on defense. You know, they can run the ball 323 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 3: and they can rush the passer. 324 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 2: All right, well done right there on the big picture, 325 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 2: Rick Vin Terry right there here on inside football. Let's 326 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 2: begin to roll out the blueprints for success here, Rick, 327 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 2: Let's begin first with the Steelers on offense. As you said, 328 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 2: now got it by quarterback Mitch Trubisky because of the 329 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 2: ankle injury to the starter Kenny Pickett. Pittsburgh, they're only 330 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: putting up sixteen points a game, and they've scored just 331 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 2: thirteen and a half points on average here in the 332 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 2: last four which ranks twenty seventh in the league in 333 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 2: that span. They've been really focused, though, Rick, on run 334 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 2: of the football lately, because their passing game has just 335 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,400 Speaker 2: been so inconsistent. The Steelers have rushed for jim over 336 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 2: nine hundred yards in the last six games, which is 337 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 2: the most in the NFL. In that span. They've got 338 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 2: running backs Nase Harris and Jalen Warren. They are spearheading 339 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 2: that attack. They've had a hard time moving the ball 340 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: this season. They've got forty one to three and outs. 341 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: That also includes four last Thursday against the Patriots. Their 342 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 2: passing game has really killed them in their six losses. 343 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: They're only averaging one hundred and seventy six yards through 344 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 2: the air in those six defeats. Their top targets are 345 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 2: George Pickens and Deontay Johnson. Pickens is putting up i 346 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 2: should say, racking up seventeen yards a catch this season, 347 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 2: which ranked second in the NFL. So he's a big 348 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: play guy. And then Johnson went over four thousand career 349 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 2: receiving yards earlier this season. That's the third most by 350 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 2: a Steeler in franchise history in their first five NFL season. 351 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 2: So how do you see the Steelers trying to move 352 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 2: the ball on a Colts defense on Saturday? Rick now 353 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 2: guided by a backup quarterback if you will, and Mitch Trubisky. 354 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, here are some specifics I think to look for, 355 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 3: and then we'll talk about blueprints for stopping them. I 356 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 3: think one, I think they're very conservative and they're very predictable. 357 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 3: You know, they have three big personnel groupings twelve which 358 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 3: is two tight ends, eleven which is three wide receivers, 359 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 3: and then they'll use a jumbo thirteen where they're using 360 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 3: two tight ends and the tackle to pound you. Their 361 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 3: running game is really direct. It's simple outside zone, inside 362 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 3: zone tosses. When Warren's in the game, again, I would 363 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 3: expect and we have to be alert a little bit 364 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 3: more draw and screen. Now. What they like to do 365 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 3: technically is they like to get to a three man, 366 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 3: four man or five man side. In other words, they'll 367 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 3: motion and create a power side and you'll be saying, 368 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 3: you'll be calling it as you know, trips to the right, 369 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 3: you know, and they'll like to run the pound there 370 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 3: or run the toss there. They really like to build 371 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 3: the side. If you over if you over shift, they'll 372 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 3: audible away. But again, the best part of their team 373 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 3: right now is you know, it's not great, but the 374 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 3: best part they're two running backs in number fourteen to 375 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 3: four point two. You know they're gonna they're gonna move 376 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 3: Trubisky around. They like boots and boot throwbacks, quick screens 377 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 3: to Robinson. Their best offensive line made is Ciamalo the 378 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,239 Speaker 3: left guard. He's a he's a road greater, uh you know. 379 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 3: So I mean basically what they like to do with 380 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 3: their receivers is Pickens is really a vertical guy. They 381 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 3: when they want to take shots, they like him on 382 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 3: the outside vertical. And you know, I think Johnson is 383 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 3: really played well. Johnson now is I would say their 384 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 3: overall go to guy, and he's the guy that will 385 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 3: move around. I think if I think you stay on 386 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 3: top of Pickens and you and you and you make 387 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 3: sure that you have some defense basically to lean towards Johnson. 388 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 3: Now again, Friarmouth is outstanding in certain areas that third 389 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 3: down in possession, that money down five to seven, he's 390 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 3: a really good option guy. Or sometimes they'll be at 391 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 3: number three and they'll run the stick in those money down. 392 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 3: So again you've got to have some underneath coverage to him. Again, 393 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 3: they've struggled. They're not explosive. That's what's killing them. That's 394 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 3: kind of like we've been lately at sixteen point two, 395 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 3: you know, and the loss of picket Course was a killer. 396 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 3: And I just add the obvious. You know, after Cincy, 397 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 3: you've got to expect the screen game, particularly to warn 398 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 3: He's their version of Brown. All right. My blueprint for 399 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,479 Speaker 3: victory on the Colts defense is number one. You have 400 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 3: to stop this running game. This is everything. You know, 401 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 3: between Harris and Warren, they have like thirteen hundred yards, 402 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 3: I mean they got a lot of yards and then 403 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 3: four hundred yards passing, so they account for about seventeen 404 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 3: hundred yards. So you know they're the real deal. Don't 405 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 3: underestimate these guys. You know, again, when you look at Harris, 406 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 3: he's strong tackle, you know, very much like mix it. 407 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 3: He can break tackles. He's gonna run the zones and 408 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 3: the tosses, and then Warren's gonna come up to give 409 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 3: you the quick burst guy, you know, and gadgets at times. 410 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 3: But you know, and Warren has forty two catches as well, 411 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 3: so you know therein lies that screen game. You just 412 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 3: got to be alert. Very simple running game. You know, 413 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 3: we got to stop it. Occasionally there's a gadget to 414 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 3: austin the white out, the reverses and the speed, you know, 415 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 3: and again with Trubisky struggling, look for the Cincinnati game plan, 416 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 3: which basically just tries to get the quarterback into it 417 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 3: eat early with running the ball in easy plays, and 418 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,679 Speaker 3: they'll try to shorten the game after they've looked at it. 419 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 3: And again big expect screens to warn. So just going 420 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 3: back to it, do not let Harrison Warren beat you. 421 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 3: They right now are the guys I think Number two 422 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 3: control Pickens deep okay, forty nine catches, as you said, 423 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 3: fifteen to seven. Okay, he's a guy. I don't think 424 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 3: you have to double him, but you have to stay 425 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 3: on top of him. And then I think you have 426 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 3: to control Johnson. I think he's the go to guy. 427 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 3: He will be outside or inside, so I think, you know, 428 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 3: basically we have to have some coverage to him. They're 429 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 3: going to try to isolate our corns. They're gonna see 430 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 3: Baker struggle the other day and they're gonna go after him. 431 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 3: And Johnson is sneaky fast and he can go get it. 432 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 3: You chronicled his overall statistics. They're pretty good. Keep those 433 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 3: two guys under control. Nothing easier vertical. Make Trubisky work 434 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 3: all day, don't give him anything, all right. Number three 435 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 3: you got to defend Friarmouth. I think in those situations 436 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 3: I talked about, all right, he's really good and they 437 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 3: like him, particularly Trubisky. Likes him. You can just tell 438 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 3: they like him in those third and four to sevens 439 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 3: where you run the option routes, the stick routes, all 440 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 3: that type of comp And he's also he's becoming big 441 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 3: in the red zone. So those two situations in the 442 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 3: medium and then in the red zone, you've got to 443 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 3: have defense for Friarmouth. Okay, Otherwise you know it's just 444 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 3: a solid guy in Robinson and the gadget guy in 445 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 3: Austin number four. Okay, this is why stopping those those 446 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 3: running backs is so important. We've got to We've got 447 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 3: to just attack and dominate this Steeler offensive line in 448 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,680 Speaker 3: pass rush. This is what got away from us last week. 449 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 3: This was our strength. This this was the thing that 450 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 3: masked everything poor in the defense. Now understand, Trubisky is 451 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 3: a good athlete. He can move and extend, but we 452 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 3: have to attack that right side. Daniels Jones and in 453 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 3: the center Cole on the right side they struggle. I 454 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 3: do think that, uh, you know, you can run the hoop. 455 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 3: By that, I mean you can run up and back 456 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 3: around him. Uh. And you know that would be Ebu 457 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 3: Khan on their left tackle Jones on the blind side. 458 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 3: I think there are sack numbers which look good on paper. 459 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 3: I think that has a lot more to do with 460 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 3: their quarterbacks pick it and now Trubisky's ability to escape 461 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 3: than it really does value protection, I think, and I 462 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 3: think this is critical. We've got to get that mojo back. 463 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 3: I mean, that's where that four game stretch, that's where 464 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 3: we were tremendous and we lost it last week. We 465 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 3: got to get it back. And then number five, you 466 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 3: just got to ruin Trubisky. Okay, he's the guy that's 467 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,879 Speaker 3: had big numbers, but he's still he always has a 468 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 3: high interception rate. He has the athletic tools. That's why 469 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 3: they moved the Bears moved up to get him and skill. 470 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 3: But you can and you can't bank on a bad game. 471 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 3: You have to force it. You have to rush him 472 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 3: and confuse him with coverage, force him to turn it over, 473 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 3: stop the run early, and make it a Trubisky game. 474 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 3: Now close the edges because he can move and he 475 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 3: can get out there, and keep your rush discipline. All right, 476 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 3: we have to force another Patriot game which was really bad. 477 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 3: And when things go bad and you force him into 478 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 3: a bad game, you'll see it in his body language 479 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 3: and his eyes, and they're deflating for a team. Instead 480 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 3: of force multiplying, he forced displays deflates him. So it's 481 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 3: so important, and all those things related, they all come 482 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: together really really important. But it starts with stopping Naji 483 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 3: Harrison warn. 484 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: All right, Rick Vincerry, right there, this is inside football. 485 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 2: That's the skinny on the Steelers offense. Let's shift over 486 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 2: to the defensive side of the ball, and Rick, you 487 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 2: would agree to. I mean that unit has been the 488 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 2: more reliable of the two units for the Steelers. After 489 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:43,399 Speaker 2: fourteen games Pittsburgh, they've held ten straight opponents to twenty 490 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 2: four points or less. Their point total allowed on the 491 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:49,639 Speaker 2: season rank seventh, and their yardage numbers it's not going 492 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 2: to blow you away, but they do keep teams out 493 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 2: of the end zone because they rank in the top 494 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 2: eight in both takeaways and red zone defense. And the 495 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 2: X factor this weekend, like we talked about, it's gonna 496 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 2: be the availability of TJ. Watt and Alex high Smith 497 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 2: off the edge. Both men are in the concussion protocol 498 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 2: stemming from last week's game against the Patriots. Again, as 499 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 2: we sit here and tape this midweek here, we don't 500 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: know about their availability for Saturday's game. But TJ. Watt, 501 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 2: He's got fourteen sacks on the season already, he ranked 502 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 2: second in the league. Is ninety one and a half 503 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 2: career sack total. That's the most in Steelers franchise history already. 504 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 2: High Smith is another force off the edge as well, 505 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 2: his twenty one and a half sacks since the start 506 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,159 Speaker 2: of last year that ranks tenth in the league in 507 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 2: that span. And it's big. I mean, if those guys 508 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 2: can't play, there is a drop off. I mean, at 509 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 2: least no disrespect Rick to the veteran Marcus Golden and 510 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 2: the rookie Nick Herbig as their replacements, but they are 511 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 2: not what they are, not high Smith. Golden actually was 512 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,120 Speaker 2: a healthy scratch against the Patriots last week. Their best 513 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 2: player in the secondary is Minka Fitzpatrick. The Colts are 514 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 2: all too familiar with him. He's got twenty two total 515 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 2: ten away since twenty nineteen that ranks fourth in the 516 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: NFL in that span. And I'm sure you've also seen this, Rick. 517 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 2: This also kind of stood out to Ta Casey and 518 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 2: I as we were getting ready for this game and 519 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,199 Speaker 2: in putting the big board together, Rick, the Steelers have 520 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 2: been a much better second half defensive team compared to 521 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 2: the first half. They have been outscored as a team 522 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 2: by seventy one points in the first half, but their 523 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,640 Speaker 2: defense is elite in the second half. They've allowed only 524 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:29,880 Speaker 2: ninety one points in the second half all season. That's 525 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 2: an average of just seven second half points per game, 526 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: and only forty four of the second half points they've 527 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 2: allowed have come in the fourth quarter. That ranks second 528 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 2: in the National Football League. They have won four games 529 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 2: this season when trailing at the end of the third quarter, 530 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 2: which is the most in the NFL. So definitely a 531 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 2: second half team coming into this game against the Colts 532 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 2: on Saturday, Rick, So what do you make of these 533 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 2: Steelers on defense, maybe with and without TJ. Wadd and 534 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 2: Alex Highsmith on Saturday. 535 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 3: Well, it's something along with that dialogue in there that 536 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 3: I think is important that I noted this here when 537 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 3: I got ready for him. You know, as I said, 538 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 3: I use the term conservative, okay, really conservative on offense 539 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 3: because their formula and they know they can't score a 540 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 3: lot of points. They're not explosive, So their real formula 541 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 3: has been run the football, play really good defense, take 542 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 3: care of the ball and take it away, and if 543 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 3: you know, if you look at those four things, they're 544 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 3: very good at that those four things, even though they 545 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 3: have a lot of weaknesses, and that's why they got 546 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 3: out statistic all in all those games, but still want 547 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 3: to because those four things, run the ball, play defense, 548 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 3: take care of it, and take it away. You know, 549 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 3: those have been really really good for them, just outstanding. 550 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 3: Now when you as far as the second half, I 551 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 3: think part of that is Tomlin. I think you know, 552 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 3: Mike has the defensive background. He's been in that system 553 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 3: for sixteen years. That Steeler system has really not changed 554 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 3: much over the year. It's gotten a little bit more 555 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 3: of vanilla, but overall a lot of the principals are 556 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 3: still there, and I think they can easily It's a 557 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 3: little bit like Iowa is in college. They can easily 558 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 3: adjust that system, and I think that's why they make 559 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 3: proper adjustments and end up playing better in the second half. 560 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 3: That's just my theory. 561 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 2: That's that's such a good point, Rick, And in my mind, 562 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 2: I'm nodding along with you. And it's the same color 563 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 2: scheme too, Iowa and Pittsburgh, like they're the same team 564 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 2: at two different levels right there. That's an awesome comparison. 565 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, and basically they play this scheme and I'm not 566 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 3: going to get into it. We take too long because 567 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 3: there's a strain. It runs through the Steelers and the 568 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 3: Iowa on defense. But when I say that Iowa, the 569 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 3: Steelers are what I call old school. Okay, Mike's haven't 570 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 3: been there and he kept the continuity from from Cower 571 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 3: and all those guys and there by today's standards because 572 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 3: they have what we call an underfront. Okay, they under 573 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 3: shift the defense. You know, for twelve Sundays, I've been saying, 574 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 3: you know this is over over, Well, they play the underfront. 575 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 3: They'll play some over, but they'll only play over when 576 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 3: their nickel is in the game. And they'll play a 577 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 3: lot of Cover eight, which is quarter quarter half on 578 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 3: first down and so forth. And then they will you know, 579 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 3: they are using the bear, and I would imagine that 580 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 3: if those two leading ladies aren't there, that we would 581 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 3: see a lot of bear so that they could blitz 582 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 3: those guys at least off the edge and maybe bring Fitzpatrick. 583 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 3: If they're not there, I would expect a blitz barrage. 584 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 3: To be honest with you, they will use cats and 585 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 3: dogs by Cats. That's bringing Fitzpatrick up and blitzing him 586 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 3: dogs means they're bringing one of the linebackers inside. But 587 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 3: they are a two dog edge concept period with Watt 588 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 3: and high Smith. You know they'll drop them some, but 589 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 3: those guys don't look nearly as good. I like Jay, 590 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 3: I like TJ. Watt dropping. I'll pay for that. If 591 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 3: we can get him to drop all day, I'll be 592 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 3: in good shape. You know. And on the unknown downs, 593 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 3: early downs, you know it's Cover eight, it's Manda man, 594 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 3: it's fire zone three or six. It's all you know, 595 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 3: single high or Cover eight. So just all that means 596 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,720 Speaker 3: is the strong side corner is basically undressed the whole 597 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 3: game until you get into longer yardage. Now you get 598 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 3: in a longer yardage, you'll get a lot of match coverage, 599 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 3: a lot more Cover two than other teams. You know 600 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 3: that they play and in Cincinnati does too, so it 601 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 3: might be a little bit to do with that AFC North, 602 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 3: but they play a lot of different cover twos to 603 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 3: confuse you and even to blitz with it. Then on 604 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 3: third down they're gonna give you the overs and the 605 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 3: even mugs. And you know when I always say mug. 606 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,240 Speaker 3: I just mean that means they're linebackers, their mic and 607 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 3: their dime are walking up either in both A gaps 608 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 3: or in one of the B gaps. And what they 609 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 3: do more than anything for that. One of the reasons 610 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 3: they do that is that they want you to take 611 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 3: your back or whoever your extra guy is and focus 612 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 3: on that inside blitz. And if you do that, then 613 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 3: you're isolating high Smith And what isn't it isn't so 614 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 3: much where they're doing it to blitz. It's almost like 615 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 3: they're doing it to get isolation with those two guys 616 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 3: on the edge. So you've got to be really careful 617 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 3: that you don't allow that to happen. Just because of 618 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 3: the look. This is different than a lot of teams 619 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 3: that you play. So my blueprint for them, for our 620 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 3: you know, basically our offenses, I think number one we 621 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 3: have to play with balance on early downs and getting 622 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 3: the head of the count. I think we've kind of 623 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 3: gotten into a rhythm of run, run, pass and just 624 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 3: the last couple of weeks, and I think it kind 625 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 3: of hurts our running game because that's when you're running 626 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 3: into the bear front, the eight man front, that's when 627 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 3: you're running into the most opposition they're on the run. 628 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,080 Speaker 3: I do think you have to run it though, and 629 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:13,800 Speaker 3: I think you have to run it off tackle and 630 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,279 Speaker 3: outside because I think you have to keep those edge 631 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 3: guys off balance. You know, i'd pound it at what, 632 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:22,840 Speaker 3: toss it at what. You know, they'll play heavy inside 633 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 3: with bear and under under eye really, which means that 634 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 3: the five technique actually shades inside. But I if you can. 635 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 3: The other thing is if you can force them, and 636 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:36,280 Speaker 3: you can't always do it, but if you can force 637 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,759 Speaker 3: them with three wide receivers into an overfront. They don't 638 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 3: nearly play as well on the run. Okay, that's that 639 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 3: is really you know, that's an issue with them. But 640 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,400 Speaker 3: I think you know, I usually say establish the run. 641 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:52,319 Speaker 3: I just think we have to be successful on first down, 642 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 3: and I think that that means balance. I think you 643 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 3: have to mix your passes and runs in that situation. Two, 644 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:03,240 Speaker 3: you just have to have a plan for what. Okay, 645 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 3: and you know, if he's not there, like I said, 646 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 3: we'll thank the Lord and go on. You know, this 647 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 3: is ninety one and a half career sacks, Defensive Player 648 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,360 Speaker 3: of the Year in twenty one, he has fourteen right now, 649 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 3: you know, he's got, you know, twenty six strips, forty 650 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,840 Speaker 3: four PBUs. He is going to be on our right side. 651 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 3: And you know, but we'll occasionally they'll just walk him 652 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 3: back in and he'll hit an a gap blitz, but 653 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:33,879 Speaker 3: not very much. Okay, we just can't let him ruin 654 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 3: the game because we know that he is you know, 655 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 3: he is like the guy from Cleveland. I mean, they 656 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 3: can ruin it, will ruin it, you know, and we 657 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 3: it took us a half against Cleveland to double the guy, 658 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 3: and once we did, he was no longer a factor. 659 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 3: And I mean, I think you have to go into 660 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 3: this one. You just know this is a player of 661 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 3: the year. And you know, we were exposed last week. 662 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 3: Ryman was exposed on power Rushes and we know Freeland 663 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:05,919 Speaker 3: has been so I mean that's something that we really 664 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 3: got to fix that anchor up and chip and do 665 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:11,319 Speaker 3: different things so that those guys just don't get that 666 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 3: pure one on one. Okay, number three, you got to 667 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 3: handle two other guys, even though you may have to 668 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 3: direct all of it towards what but there's still two 669 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,399 Speaker 3: guys you got to handle, you know, and that's high 670 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:28,279 Speaker 3: Smith with twenty eight and a half career sacks who 671 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 3: will be on the other side, on the right side, 672 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 3: and if Herbig's in there. Herbig is a kid that 673 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:37,520 Speaker 3: has terrific speed. He's undersized, but he's terrific speed, you know. 674 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 3: And you mentioned Golden over time. He's a veteran. So 675 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 3: they got a couple guys they can play with. But 676 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 3: the two guys opposite Watt is high Smith on the 677 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:49,720 Speaker 3: outside and then Hayward on the inside. Hayward is thirty 678 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,879 Speaker 3: four years old, but he's got seven and seventy nine 679 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 3: and a half sacks, and he's got strips and all 680 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 3: that stuff. And what they'll do when they get on 681 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 3: those third down packages and they walk those linebackers up, 682 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 3: not only will they try to isolate you outside, but 683 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 3: they'll take they'll take Hayward and they'll move him around. 684 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 3: Sometimes he's into three and they'll stun him. Sometimes he'll 685 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 3: get down on Kelly late and get on Kelly's shoulder 686 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,600 Speaker 3: and rush with no help. So I mean, they've got 687 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,960 Speaker 3: a really good package. But again it's Watt first, and 688 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,200 Speaker 3: then you have to individually. You gotta bowl your neck 689 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 3: and you gotta handle high Smith and Hayward all right, 690 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:32,439 Speaker 3: Number four, you got to attack their corners on first down. 691 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 3: First down is when they don't help them. They're eight 692 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,399 Speaker 3: man front almost all the time, or their cover eight 693 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:42,280 Speaker 3: is like an eight man front. And I would say 694 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:45,920 Speaker 3: more than anything, the strong side corner of your formation 695 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:49,000 Speaker 3: will always be undressed, because even if they're an eight 696 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,800 Speaker 3: and they have a week row, the strong side corner 697 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:55,600 Speaker 3: is Manda Man. And I would rather go after Porter 698 00:37:56,400 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 3: than I would Peterson. I think Porter has a lot talent. 699 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 3: He was a high draft pick. He's long, but he 700 00:38:04,719 --> 00:38:08,760 Speaker 3: is not tremendously fast, and he does a lot of grabbing. 701 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:12,279 Speaker 3: So I'm going to play action to freeze people, and 702 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 3: I'm going to take some shots. And I don't think 703 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 3: you can take one shot and go home. I mean, 704 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,719 Speaker 3: you know, we hit two big ones two weeks ago. 705 00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:21,440 Speaker 3: I think we have to have that mentality. If we 706 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:25,880 Speaker 3: throw five, if we throw six deep balls and you 707 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:28,600 Speaker 3: hit two, that's fourteen points right there. That's more than 708 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:31,759 Speaker 3: we got last week. So I think that, and then 709 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:33,719 Speaker 3: I think we really have to be ready for a 710 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:37,799 Speaker 3: hard man demand game because press coverage takes Pittman out 711 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:40,200 Speaker 3: of the game, and so we have to find ways 712 00:38:40,239 --> 00:38:44,120 Speaker 3: to get contribute, to get him free access. I'd like 713 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 3: to get downs back into the game at the slot 714 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:52,520 Speaker 3: with runaway routes and over routes, running away from coverage 715 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:55,520 Speaker 3: and that type of stuff. But I think, again, we 716 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:57,799 Speaker 3: have to attack him with the pass, and there's got 717 00:38:57,840 --> 00:38:59,720 Speaker 3: to be X amount of attacking them with the pass 718 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 3: on down now number five. I just threw this in 719 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:07,080 Speaker 3: there because my experience has been with them against this defense, 720 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 3: particularly when I was in Cleveland and we were in 721 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:12,879 Speaker 3: the division. You talk about studying a team, and one 722 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,560 Speaker 3: thing I always have thought, and I saw it. I 723 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:18,960 Speaker 3: seen it this year as well. Give the Steelers a 724 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,400 Speaker 3: lot of slot formation. That is, your two wide receivers together, 725 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:25,360 Speaker 3: or if it's if you have three wide receivers in 726 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:28,200 Speaker 3: the game, you put three of them together. And that's 727 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 3: what I call a speed trips. When it's all three 728 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:34,440 Speaker 3: wide receivers together, you get. You gain two things with this. 729 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:38,560 Speaker 3: No matter how complex their defense is, when you get 730 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,880 Speaker 3: in a slot or a speed slot, they will almost 731 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:46,359 Speaker 3: always show you with their corners come over. You got 732 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:49,480 Speaker 3: mannda man. If they don't come over, then you have zones. 733 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:53,040 Speaker 3: So the first advantage you have is you've given Gardner 734 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,920 Speaker 3: a really good pre snap look as to what coverage 735 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:00,040 Speaker 3: package that he's going to get. Now the other and 736 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 3: the thing that has happened to them this year is 737 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:05,480 Speaker 3: if you have a good tight end on the weak 738 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:10,960 Speaker 3: side away from that, whether it's Grandson or now Mallory 739 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:13,319 Speaker 3: or any of the guys you want to use, but 740 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:18,279 Speaker 3: primarily your best receiver guys, okay, you can get matchups 741 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:22,279 Speaker 3: you want back away, particularly if they want to play 742 00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 3: a lot of man demand. And I've seen these tight 743 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:29,080 Speaker 3: ends really hurt them on the weak side, which I 744 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:32,920 Speaker 3: call the tax position tight end at an ex position, 745 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,920 Speaker 3: and I just think it's really important. I think our 746 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:38,799 Speaker 3: tight ends this week have to have a great day 747 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:39,439 Speaker 3: against them. 748 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:42,960 Speaker 2: That's the film study right there on the Steelers defense 749 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:45,960 Speaker 2: with rick Vin Turrey. You're closing it out here on 750 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:48,919 Speaker 2: Inside Football, I'm Matt Taylor and again Rick to put 751 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 2: a bow on everything. I mean, the magnitude of this 752 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:54,319 Speaker 2: game is so big, right, This game has so much 753 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 2: writing on it. It's got the feel of an elimination game, 754 00:40:57,680 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 2: to be quite honest with you, right, given the crowd 755 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,840 Speaker 2: of nature of the AFC and the dwindling time remaining 756 00:41:02,840 --> 00:41:04,960 Speaker 2: in the season here and if you look at all 757 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 2: the analytics right the New York Times the Playoff predictor there, 758 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:10,920 Speaker 2: they currently have the Colts with a forty one percent 759 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 2: chance of making the playoffs. That number goes up to 760 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:16,760 Speaker 2: nearly sixty percent with a win, down to about eighteen 761 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:19,160 Speaker 2: percent with a loss. In this game to the Steelers. 762 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:21,719 Speaker 2: It's not a primetime game, but it is what we 763 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:25,319 Speaker 2: call a standalone window game for the Colts, and it's 764 00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:27,319 Speaker 2: an ability for them, you know, to show what they 765 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,920 Speaker 2: can do against a team that is competing for the 766 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:34,080 Speaker 2: playoffs right a playoff competitor in the AFC. And it's 767 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 2: also a chance to showcase the home crowd. It's a 768 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:39,640 Speaker 2: chance to prove that last week was only one game, 769 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:42,480 Speaker 2: kind of a blip on the radar snapping that four 770 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:45,520 Speaker 2: game winning streak. And the time is now, Man, the 771 00:41:45,560 --> 00:41:48,239 Speaker 2: time is now because of where we're at in the season. Rick. Also, 772 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:51,160 Speaker 2: the time is now to end this eight game losing 773 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 2: streak to the Steelers franchise that's been one of the 774 00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:55,919 Speaker 2: best in the AFC for a long long time, as 775 00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:58,080 Speaker 2: you said under head coach Mike Tomlin. 776 00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, I really liked the way you put that. I think, 777 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:05,400 Speaker 3: I think the great word for this is the elimination game, because, 778 00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:08,440 Speaker 3: let's face it, that's in essence, really what it is, 779 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:11,440 Speaker 3: because of the head to head tiebreakers that we have, 780 00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 3: that we're on the negative side of several of them. Okay, 781 00:42:15,080 --> 00:42:17,439 Speaker 3: in the end, you know, it's do or die. It's 782 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:20,040 Speaker 3: do or die for the Horseshoes. It's now, you know, 783 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:23,240 Speaker 3: the December showdown. Now in the land of the seven 784 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:28,040 Speaker 3: to six playoff seating tie breakers. It's it's large, all right. 785 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,839 Speaker 3: In a sense, this is the game of our football life. 786 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:32,440 Speaker 3: And I think you got to look at it that 787 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:35,720 Speaker 3: way and think about it. Win and live, lose and die. 788 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 3: Steelers have been tough for the Colts, but again, this 789 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,960 Speaker 3: is a struggling Golden Black team. This is not your 790 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:48,720 Speaker 3: father's Steelers. It's just not all your investments and time, effort, 791 00:42:48,840 --> 00:42:52,280 Speaker 3: sweat pain you know that go back years that certainly 792 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 3: go back to you know, to April and May and 793 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:58,200 Speaker 3: June and training camp. There. You know it's all on 794 00:42:58,239 --> 00:43:00,279 Speaker 3: the line, you know, give it up and it's all 795 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:04,720 Speaker 3: for nothing. So you hold nothing back. You attack these guys, 796 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:09,359 Speaker 3: attack these guys, but nothing but your best effort is acceptable. 797 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:12,319 Speaker 3: This week. I believe this. I believe This was my 798 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:15,879 Speaker 3: heart that we are the better team, but we have 799 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:19,880 Speaker 3: to control the day, play by play, inch by inch. 800 00:43:20,320 --> 00:43:23,239 Speaker 3: Both games, frank both teams, frankly are coming off of 801 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:26,319 Speaker 3: disastrous games. So it's going to come down to the 802 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:30,239 Speaker 3: team with the most resilience, which we've basically had most 803 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:32,799 Speaker 3: of the time, and the team and this is just 804 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:36,360 Speaker 3: the way you put it that empties their bucket and 805 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,560 Speaker 3: Lucas Oil. You know, as you said, the nation is 806 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 3: going to be watching this and they want they're watching 807 00:43:42,239 --> 00:43:44,640 Speaker 3: to see what the twenty three colts are all about. 808 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:46,719 Speaker 3: Let's not disappoint them. 809 00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:49,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, empty out that bucket, leave it all out there. Man. 810 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:53,680 Speaker 2: It's definitely has the feel of that elimination type atmosphere. 811 00:43:53,719 --> 00:43:58,319 Speaker 2: Coming up this Saturday, Rick Venturry Inside Football, fantastic job 812 00:43:58,360 --> 00:44:01,440 Speaker 2: as always with the film breakdown, My friend, get ready 813 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:03,600 Speaker 2: for Saturday? Are you are you a fan of the Saturday, 814 00:44:03,719 --> 00:44:06,760 Speaker 2: the early weekend game if you will, instead of playing 815 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:08,440 Speaker 2: on Sunday traditionally, you. 816 00:44:08,440 --> 00:44:10,640 Speaker 3: Know, if we had to go on a road I 817 00:44:10,800 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 3: might feel a little bit different. I'm playing on I'm 818 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:16,960 Speaker 3: traveling on Friday. I absolutely loved this. I mean, we're ready. 819 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:20,960 Speaker 3: I mean it's Saturday afternoon. We got Nation watching this, 820 00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:24,640 Speaker 3: you know, I mean, I just I'm so excited and 821 00:44:24,719 --> 00:44:27,360 Speaker 3: four thirty to me, it's just perfect. I mean it's 822 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:32,279 Speaker 3: you know, I still get home for my bedtime, but 823 00:44:32,360 --> 00:44:35,440 Speaker 3: it's you know, it's just great. I'm just great. And 824 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:38,319 Speaker 3: I got to tell you. I got to tell you 825 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:40,840 Speaker 3: December is huge. I mean, may have mentioned this to 826 00:44:40,880 --> 00:44:44,279 Speaker 3: you the other day. Yes, absolutely, my grandson goes. He 827 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:49,680 Speaker 3: turns twenty one tomorrow. But more importantly, Miss Sherry and 828 00:44:49,840 --> 00:44:55,239 Speaker 3: I will be celebrating on Sunday rather than Saturday, but 829 00:44:55,400 --> 00:44:58,759 Speaker 3: our fifty sixth wedding anniversary, which is on the sixteenth. 830 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 2: Well done, Well done, Miss Sherry. 831 00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:04,960 Speaker 3: Miss Sherry is used to kickoffs getting the way of Rick. 832 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,279 Speaker 2: Could can you could you imagine being married to you 833 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:10,080 Speaker 2: for fifty six years? I mean, how about some self 834 00:45:10,080 --> 00:45:11,160 Speaker 2: reflection right there? 835 00:45:11,719 --> 00:45:14,840 Speaker 3: Well, you know people always people always ask me, you know, 836 00:45:14,920 --> 00:45:17,200 Speaker 3: what are you doing for Thanksgiving? And I always said, well, 837 00:45:17,200 --> 00:45:19,719 Speaker 3: that's Red Zone day. Oh yeah, I had a Thanksgiving 838 00:45:19,719 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 3: off and depending on Christmas, depending on what day it 839 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:25,759 Speaker 3: came on, you know. So, I mean there were many 840 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:28,399 Speaker 3: times I remember in New Orleans when we were we 841 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:31,719 Speaker 3: were going into playoffs. And I remember on Christmas Day, 842 00:45:31,760 --> 00:45:34,520 Speaker 3: I mean I remember the wives bringing dinners over for us. 843 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:36,759 Speaker 3: I mean, you know it was oh yeah, I mean, 844 00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:39,279 Speaker 3: it's just it's just the way of the world, you know. 845 00:45:39,360 --> 00:45:41,480 Speaker 3: We just we didn't know any other way. That's the 846 00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:43,880 Speaker 3: way we lived. But I'm great, I'm glad you're bringing 847 00:45:43,920 --> 00:45:46,160 Speaker 3: out because those those coaches wives are. 848 00:45:46,080 --> 00:45:48,239 Speaker 2: Saints, and you would not be half the man if 849 00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:49,960 Speaker 2: it were not for a missionary. 850 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:51,080 Speaker 3: Right, come on, absolutely not. 851 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:55,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely right there, well said, get ready for Saturday. 852 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:57,880 Speaker 2: It's going to be fun. Downtown Indianapolis is going to 853 00:45:57,960 --> 00:45:59,560 Speaker 2: be rocking. It's going to be the place to be. 854 00:45:59,680 --> 00:46:03,280 Speaker 2: We got college basketball going on downtown Indianapolis as well, 855 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:06,480 Speaker 2: opposite of the Colts and the Steelers matchup at Lucas 856 00:46:06,560 --> 00:46:09,600 Speaker 2: Oil Stadium. I know we've got college basketball going down 857 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:13,360 Speaker 2: at Bloomington early in the day. So yeah, Saturday, December 858 00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:17,120 Speaker 2: sixteenth shaping up to be one hillacious sports day in 859 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:20,040 Speaker 2: Central Indiana. Hopefully it's all capped off by a Colts 860 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:23,480 Speaker 2: win in week fifteen as they try to navigate their 861 00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:26,440 Speaker 2: way to a playoff berth for the first time since 862 00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:29,640 Speaker 2: two thousand and twenty. Rick Ventury right there on Inside 863 00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:33,280 Speaker 2: Football RV. As always, as I said, appreciate the film breakdown, 864 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,840 Speaker 2: and we will see you a day early on Saturday 865 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:37,800 Speaker 2: up in the Big Booth, my friend, can't wait. 866 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:40,160 Speaker 3: Can't wait, man, Saturday afternoon, let's go. 867 00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:43,840 Speaker 2: Let's roll, Rick Venturrey, I'm Matt Taylor, and that'll do 868 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:47,840 Speaker 2: it for this week's installment of Inside Football. Everything you 869 00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:50,480 Speaker 2: need to know about the Colts and the Steelers matchup 870 00:46:50,480 --> 00:46:53,200 Speaker 2: this weekend, and for more on the ball game, keep 871 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:55,560 Speaker 2: it locked here on the Colts Audio Network. We're gonna 872 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:58,600 Speaker 2: talk to you on Thursday as always with our traditional 873 00:46:58,680 --> 00:47:02,759 Speaker 2: Official Colts Podcast with Bill Brooks Casey Valier. Those two 874 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:05,680 Speaker 2: gentlemen will join me on that and of course on 875 00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:10,279 Speaker 2: demand anytime on the Colts Audio Network. Inside Football, the 876 00:47:10,320 --> 00:47:14,719 Speaker 2: Official Colts Podcast, Locker Room Conversations, interviews, Everything you need 877 00:47:14,760 --> 00:47:17,080 Speaker 2: to know about the Colts one stop shop here on 878 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:19,399 Speaker 2: the Official Colts Podcast, and we will talk to you 879 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:22,440 Speaker 2: next week here on Inside Football, breaking down Colts and 880 00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:25,640 Speaker 2: Falcons coming up on Christmas Eve. But until then, have 881 00:47:25,719 --> 00:47:28,120 Speaker 2: a great rest of the week and thanks for listening 882 00:47:28,120 --> 00:47:31,040 Speaker 2: to Inside Football with Rick Van Turrey. So long