1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. We 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: are back on Dale ally here with Matt Williamson. This 4 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: is the Drive and as we are every Wednesday, We're 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: joined at now by esteemed editor of Steelers Digestive Steelers 6 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: dot Com, Bob Labriola. Uh, Bob, are you living in 7 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: your fears right now? Are you still celebrating the wind 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: from Sunday? Um? Hey, you only if you have twenty 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: four hours to celebrate a win. So I'm back into 10 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: my sears. Well, you're not playing on on that Thursday night, 11 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: you can celebrate a little bit longer. Well, you know, 12 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: you know It's look I kind of agree, but more 13 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: than Connor, I do agree with Ben Night what he said. Uh. 14 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: And then media availability um earlier this week about every 15 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: games that must win, especially with the really kind of 16 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: topsy turvy situation one week to the next with regard 17 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: to the a f C teams that you think are 18 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: you know, rounding into form going down the home stretch 19 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: all of a sudden lose to some a bad team 20 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: and or vice versus team that you think, oh they're 21 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: done now after last week's game, like the Steelers and 22 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 1: they rise up and beat a team that you thought 23 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: was maybe one of the better teams in the conference. 24 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: So uh, this is really the every Dame any different 25 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: Sunday year, it teems to me. And so yeah, in 26 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,919 Speaker 1: twenty four hours, I'm a back to living in my fears, 27 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: you know the latest if you want to get nervous, 28 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: which you know kind of might where I lived my life. Um, 29 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook, Yeah, I'm not buying that for a second. 30 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: I don't think I don't think they would want him 31 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: to play against the Steelers on turf, But you know, 32 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: I feel much more comfortable if, you know, if he 33 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: would take another game off, you know, the rest that 34 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: shoulder for those NFC playoffs. I think that would be 35 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: a good idea. Labs, I'm gonna put you on the spot. 36 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: If you don't know the answer, totally blow me off. 37 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: But if anyone knows this answer, it's you. Do you 38 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: have any clue what the Steelers success rate or winning 39 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: percentage is post raven games the week after I actually 40 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: actually look at you. I looked them up for the 41 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 1: last ten years. It's actually not bad over the last 42 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: ten years. Really, I would ass both of them are 43 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: bad for you know, post stealers. If you're the Ravens 44 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: and post you know, just think you're beat up. Now 45 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: they're They're five hundred over the last decade after the 46 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: week after playing the Ravens. So thats not not as 47 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: bad as it used to be. Worse right right right 48 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: when I went back a couple of years ago and 49 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: looked at it, and both teams were well under five 50 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: hundred the week out of weekend and playing each other, 51 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: but not not as much anymore. There's five hundred, you're 52 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: right on top of that. It shouldn't have sold you short, 53 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: you know what. I as as you were asking the 54 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,839 Speaker 1: question and then the stale was answering it, another thing 55 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: I was thinking, and this is just you know, the 56 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: way my mind works. Um. What I'd like to know 57 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: is how many times the Steelers have had to play 58 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: the Ravens on a short week, or come off a 59 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: Ravens game to play in a short week, or you 60 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: know those kind of things. It always seems like that 61 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: to me. And play him on a Tuesday or was 62 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: it a toothday or Wednesday or whatever the heck it 63 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: was some non football day. Yeah, yeah, lose a by 64 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: because of the raven um. But you know that's probably 65 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: my paranoia and or general um take or the franchise um. 66 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: And they're fine, coach. Yeah, the Steelers are eleven and 67 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: nine over the last decade the week past after playing 68 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: the Ravens. So there, how about that. I'm impressed. You know, 69 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: I leave no stone unturned when I'm looking in the 70 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: you know, I look into everything, including who the officials are, 71 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff. See if anything jumps out 72 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: at me to uh that maybe it gives me a 73 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: little something of interest to inform the readers. But Bob, 74 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: looking at the defensive game plan last week against the Ravens, um, 75 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: good defensive game by the Steelers. How did how did 76 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: you view that one? Uh? You know, I think it 77 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: was um you know, because I really believe that going 78 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,799 Speaker 1: into every Ravens game, or at least the ones where 79 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: you know Lamar Jackson, Uh, since Lamar Jackson has been 80 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: their quarterback, that job one you got to deal with him. 81 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: And I talked the Steelers largely do a decent job 82 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: with that. I mean, made some plays, he he bought 83 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: some time in the pocket, he made some throws, But 84 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: I mean at no point, did he or at least 85 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 1: in my watching and the way I felt as I 86 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: was watching, did he take it over? And I've seen 87 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: him do that and just terrorize an opponent, and um, 88 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: so you know, I know that when I remember Bill 89 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: Coward doing this with the Bengals when they had Rudy 90 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: Johnson as the running back, Carson Palmer and then he 91 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: had Ojo Sinko and Usman Zada, and you know a 92 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: lot of times Bill Cower would make a decision such as, Okay, 93 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: we're gonna we're gonna shut down or minimize these my 94 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: phones were we're gonna minimize Carson Palmer to his wide receivers. 95 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 1: And you know, Rudy Johnson would have some decent statistics, 96 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: but it wasn't enough to win the game. And so 97 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: I think that you kind of have to do that 98 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: with Lamar Jackson too. You have to take him away 99 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: and some of the things that he really likes to do. 100 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: And you know, I thought the Steelers largely did that. 101 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: So it kind of leads me to the Bikes. I mean, 102 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson is a total star. I mean, do you 103 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: think that they know how they treated Adams in the 104 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: Green Bay game? Or Waller in the Raiders game. Do 105 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: you think they go all out to really limit him 106 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: or did he just get his and you don't let 107 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: everyone else beat you? You know, well, I mean I 108 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: think that the way it looks now and if if 109 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: Dale is correct, and I hope he is, but Dalvin 110 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: Cooks do them play that are ruled? Adam feeling out? 111 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: Um and iffected. It's a short week, you know, I 112 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: don't know that you have a lot of time, not 113 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: necessarily to divise what you would like to do, but 114 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: to teach it and get it how the information absorbed 115 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: by the players. You have one practice, um, and then 116 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: you have you know, even today for example, the excuse 117 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: me on Wednesday, the Vikings were able to probably have 118 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: a much more in depth practice and meeting schedule than 119 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: the Steelers were, just based on the fact that you know, 120 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: one team's traveling and the other team isn't. And you 121 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: know that's why. Um, you look at the Steelers record 122 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: on Thursdays, it's eleven and eleven, but there are two 123 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: and nine on the road. And I think if you 124 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: would look, um, you know league wide probably you know 125 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: road the record of road teams on Thursday nights has 126 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: to be my guests would be awesome. It used to 127 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: be the case, um, like the first couple of years 128 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: they did this, and then it's kind of it's kind 129 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: of evened out a little bit more over the last 130 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: few years because well, quite frankly, they league puts all 131 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: the bad teams after have Thursday and night games too 132 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years to make it do. 133 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: And that's what makes this one so strange is that 134 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: it's not a division game. Uh. And therefore you you know, 135 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: neither team has that real familiarity with the with the 136 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: opponents that always bothered me those division games because they 137 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: count more. I think you should play the NFC in 138 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: this one. You know, if you're not prepared, it doesn't 139 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: kill you as bad for anyway, back to the to 140 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: your question, I don't know that they have time to 141 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: do that. And you know, if anything, maybe, um, you know, 142 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin has spent some extra time with Linka and said, 143 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: don't let this guy get away from you. Uh. And 144 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: maybe instead of trying to make it in eleven man 145 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: project to deal with him, you just take one guy 146 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: and say, okay, um, you know you I can I 147 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: know I can tell you something and you will be 148 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: able to understand it and executed at a high percentage 149 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: of success. Don't let this guy, you know, get behind right, 150 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: And that's the that's the key is you just make 151 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: sure that you're over the top of him on every 152 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: play because the other guy now opposite him as kJ Osborne. 153 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: And if k J Osborne walked into this room and 154 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: punched Matt in the mouth, I wouldn't know who he is. 155 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: I'd I'd laugh. Um, yeah, I mean that's and then 156 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: the other thing is gonna the Vikings have so far 157 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,359 Speaker 1: this year anyway, have had some issues on the offensive 158 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: line and a lot of teams have and you know, 159 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: you got to t J Watt and saying you get 160 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: after him. You know, is that NFL Films clip of 161 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: Bill Coward back at ninety two he talked to Greg Lloyd. 162 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: You know he's tapping him on the shoulder. Penders just 163 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: rush the quarterback. And so if you get some pressure 164 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: on Um Cousins and you have your two time first 165 00:09:56,040 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: team approfully safety find um clued in on not allowing 166 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: him Jefferson to uh, you know, break your back. I 167 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: think that that's probably in terms of strategy, uh as 168 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: far as you can go in a short week like this. Yeah, 169 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: I agree, And uh, you know, I think Matt and 170 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: I were talking in the previous segment, if you can 171 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: turn this into a one score game in the fourth quarter, 172 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: which is all the bikes play, which is all the vikings, 173 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: do I know where my money is going to be placed, 174 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: where I'm gonna put a chip down? And who's gonna 175 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: win the football game? Because Roethlisberger has just done it 176 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: too often for it to be a fluke, even this year. 177 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: But I really think, you know, maybe this was just 178 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: my sense of it. I certainly, um don't have any 179 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: first hand information, uh you know, from thing, but I 180 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: don't know. I just think that the whole issue last 181 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,839 Speaker 1: week of you know, uh maybe this is gonna be 182 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: bends last season kind of being big news that was 183 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: so comical to me. Uh. But I do think that, 184 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: you know, Ben is starting to and his teammates are 185 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: starting to maybe you know the reality of it is 186 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: taking hold a little bit and you can see the 187 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: end and you know, you understand, you know that what 188 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: what each of these weeks means as a result of that, 189 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: Excuse me, And so I don't know, I just think 190 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: that we may get, not that he hasn't been giving 191 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: his best, because that's ridiculous, but just a little bit 192 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: more from him in terms of some of these kinds 193 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: of situations that in his past he has come through 194 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: sos ectacularly. It wouldn't surprise me at all if you know, 195 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: we see more of that what we saw against the 196 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: Ravens in the fourth quarter. Uh, those kinds of as 197 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: Mike to use his friend Mike Commins phrase, smiling in 198 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: the face of adversity, because he's the only guy on 199 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: that team in terms of quarterbacks who's going to give 200 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: you that. And so any notion of hey, let's see 201 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: what Dwayne Haskins can do, you know, I get a 202 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: lot of that. Just put him in there and see 203 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: what he can do. Yeah, some meaningful playing time. Um, 204 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: but you know, I just see And if I were 205 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: if it were up to me, which it is not, 206 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: I would be depending on that or counting on that 207 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: a little bit more maybe than the Steelers have to 208 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: this point of the season. I'm not saying you turn 209 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: it completely over to the quarterback, but I would certainly 210 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: not waste these last what is it, uh, do help 211 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: me with the masks five games. Yeah, these last five games, UM, 212 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,719 Speaker 1: wasting the resource in my opinion that Ben Roethlisberger is 213 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: that I don't know that you're gonna play any any 214 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: of these last five teams that you're playing. I don't 215 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: know that any quarterback that he's going to face will 216 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: be able would be able to provide his team with 217 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: the resources that Roethlisberger can provide his team in terms 218 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: of smiling in the face of adversity and bringing a 219 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: team back and instilling the kind of confidence that a 220 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: team needs to be able to make that kind of comeback. UM. 221 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: And so I would be depending on that and counting 222 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: on that and trying to use that as much as possible. 223 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: We'll see if that happens. That's just my theory. Total 224 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: opposite end of the spectrum with the roster. Where are 225 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: you at on Adams, Witherspoon and Lagalue? I like Adams. 226 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: I think that you know because I don't know if 227 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: I said it on this show with you guys, but 228 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: I know I've said it. I've written it to UM. 229 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 1: If you're asking me to say right now where the 230 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: Steelers Number one need is to me? A's the sense 231 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: of line because aside well no, including quarterback. Um. So, 232 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: especially the way the perspective talent appears to be that's 233 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: going to be in the next draft class, Um, I 234 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: don't know. To me, there's not a quarterback that I 235 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: gotta have, you know, um, And if you want to 236 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: know what I want, right young, that's what I want. 237 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: And when fans asked me, who do you want the 238 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: Steels get after that Alabama George game, That's who I want. 239 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: And then you better lose every game. I understand that, 240 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: but that's what I want, don't I often don't get 241 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: what I want. But um, but I just think that 242 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, if you're picking in the top half and 243 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: I'm just getting in, if you're picking in the top 244 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: half in the first round in two, I think your 245 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: chances are much better to get it put intensively difference 246 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: making defensive lineman than it is to get a potentially 247 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: difference making quarterback just from what I've watched the college football. Now, 248 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: you know, we'll see how the pre drafting process works out. 249 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: But so I think Adams can not necessarily replace that 250 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: that kind of talent that you would get in that 251 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: at that point of a draft. But I certainly think 252 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: you know, he can give you um some valuable depths 253 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: because all the while it was another e's I'm restricted 254 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: again next year. You know, he's in his thirties. He's 255 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: coming off that a broken ankle. I'm not saying he 256 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: can't come back, but I'm not saying he can. And 257 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: if he can do he woly want to stay in Pittsburgh. 258 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: I don't know any of that stuff. He's a gigantic 259 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: question mark to me, as is the faun to it actually, 260 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: although I was in a contract for next year. Yeah, 261 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: he signed a two year deal. Oh thank you. Okay, 262 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: well okay, but to it is a is a gigantic 263 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: unknown to me. And uh, they could inject some youth 264 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: in that room, you know, a high pick one way 265 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: or the other. I mean, Cam's Cam's gonna be thirty three, 266 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: All's gonna be thirty six two, it's getting closer to thirty. 267 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: You need to start building the future the first second 268 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: round pick type, right. And I really I do not 269 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: believe for thirty seconds that Isaiah Bugs is wearing the 270 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: Steel's uniform when O t a start there. Yeah, he has, 271 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: he had his chance and he blew it. Yeah. Yeah, 272 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: Carlos Davis, um, you know again, so far it's been 273 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: an entire season ruined by injury. I don't know what 274 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: you have there, one way or the other. But yeah, 275 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: Montrevius Adams, I believe as a guy that and he 276 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: seems based on the story Mike Common told about walking 277 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: up the tunnel with him after the Ravens game, he 278 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: seems to be very appreciative of the opportunity. And you know, 279 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: maybe that has that comes from having been cut. You 280 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: know a lot of times guys don't think they can 281 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: get cut because they've been the star in high school, 282 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: star in college. They get drafted into the NFL. UM. Yeah, 283 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: he was a five. He's a big recruit and things 284 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: have come easy to until now, right, and so maybe 285 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: you know he had a come to Jesus moment, so 286 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: to speak, when he started being told you're not good enough. Packed, 287 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,959 Speaker 1: you know, pack your backs. So I think he's got that, 288 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: which is also could be attractive to a team like 289 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 1: the Steelers. Um witherspoon Um. You know again, he's he's 290 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: exactly what I was told he was when they acquired 291 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,959 Speaker 1: him in the trade. You know that he's a UM 292 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: insurance policy against injury to an outside cornerback. H he 293 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: hasn't been active because he's really not good playing special teams. 294 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: You only got so many helmets on those days. But 295 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: when you have Hayden out for sure, um, you know, 296 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: and James Pierre, I think he will make me a 297 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 1: little shell shot at this time. Um you know he 298 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: said he Witherspoon is as a nice option. You know, 299 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: he's you can put him out there, uh cover. He 300 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 1: plays a man the man you know, keep it kind 301 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: of um simple. Maybe not that he can't understand, but 302 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: he hasn't had the benefit of an off season, you know, 303 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: or a preseason or a training camp, so you know, 304 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: you don't want to paralyze him with too much information. 305 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: And I thought he did a nice job against the 306 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: Ravens and the other guy. The glue. Now this is 307 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: this is the thing about the glue that is impresses me. 308 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: Uh You when you talk about position flexibility with the 309 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: offensive line, you get a guy fairly frequently he can 310 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: play the left side, in the right side. Okay, that's 311 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: probably level one. Level two is a guy who can 312 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: play guard and tackle. Okay, that's that's a little bit 313 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: better position flexibility. Then you're throwing a guy who can 314 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: play uh tackle, guarden and center. You really got something 315 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 1: there because usually, um, a garden to a tackle is 316 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 1: very rare because you're going from playing in a phone 317 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: booth to playing on an island. And then if you're 318 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: further complicated by putting the ball between his legs, he's 319 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: gat you gonna deal with this now too. Um. Guys 320 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: usually crumble. But you know la glue and not that 321 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: he is you know John Hannah or Allan Santeco or 322 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: David the Castle or Marquis Ponty. But he sees at 323 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: least what I've been told and what we saw anyway, 324 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: so far as he's fairly steady in terms of the 325 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: level of his play no matter where you put him. 326 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:07,959 Speaker 1: And to me, that's extremely valuable, extremely valuable. It's an 327 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: easy way to get a hat on game day. Two, Yes, 328 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: easy way to get a hat on game day. There's 329 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: another thing, the have a costume a cap. Yeah. Yeah, 330 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: And he's obviously smart. Um. You don't pick up all 331 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: those and make on the moves that he's made without 332 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: having it going on between years and being able to 333 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: handle the center responsibilities right. And he's another guy who 334 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: I believe um has been stung a couple of times 335 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: by being told you're not good enough. Um, and you know, 336 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 1: get get expose yourself to him as someone who you know, 337 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: we like you. We want to give you this opportunity 338 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 1: to give him a chance to play, Uh, show him 339 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: a little love, help him try and get better. And 340 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 1: I think that you're getting a player who maybe might 341 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: be a little bit more mentally and emotionally invested then 342 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: someone who, um, you know, has been told how great 343 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: is his entire career? Yeah, I mean there's a little 344 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: bit of Matt Filer going on there. Filer was a 345 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: guy that they did one Yeah, they pulled off the 346 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: Houston Texans practice squad. He had been cut a couple 347 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: of times. You bring him in. He's your swing guy. 348 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: He's playing guard, he's playing center, he plays tackle for you. 349 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 1: Those guys are valuable. I was actually thinking justin Strelzick, 350 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: you know, just because he played all over the line too, 351 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 1: you know, before settling. Yeah, and you know, um, Filer 352 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: was Bloomsburg, that's what you want to call it, Shippensburg, Ohio, 353 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: was one of one of the one of the Burgs. 354 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: Strelsk was from Main. He was a defensive lineman who 355 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: I remember Tom Modrek telling me, Um it was noal 356 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: watching at that time. I believe it would have been 357 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: film um of Strels because the defense, it's a player 358 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: at Maine and he told, you know, the scouts and 359 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: the jack was one of them back an offensive lineman 360 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: right there, and the steel has picked them twelfth round 361 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: I think it was, and switched them, and you know 362 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: he was he started in the Super Bowl. Yeah, they 363 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: did okay with this twelve round conversion picks back then. 364 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: That's when that's where they got to hasslorg as well. Yeah, 365 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: but Bob, this, uh, this Vikings team has found interesting 366 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: ways to lose games, particularly at the end of halfs. 367 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: I think they've given up a hundred and twelve points 368 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: in the final two minutes of their of either of 369 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: both halves. I mean, it's been pretty bad. Again, I 370 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: go back to I look at that and I say, well, 371 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: that's when Roethlisberger has been at his best this season. 372 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: Is when is it? Is it? I know, like Canada 373 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: Matt Cannada said, you know we're we aren't using a 374 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 1: hurry up, we aren't using no huddle. Roethlisberger said, well, 375 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: it's not truly a no huddle. It sure looks like 376 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,639 Speaker 1: a no huddle to me. Yeah, what say you? Is that? 377 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: Is that a no huddle? Are they parsing words here? 378 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: What's going on with that? Yeah? I mean this is 379 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: one of the things that what you just described to 380 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: me is one of the things that um, you know, 381 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:19,880 Speaker 1: it annoys me a little bit. Uh, you know, who cares? Why? 382 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 1: You know, I don't understand why. Um, both of them, 383 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: the quarterback and the coordinator can just kind of stop 384 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: trying to be right, you know. I mean, who cares 385 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: if it's no huddle or hurry up or just using 386 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: a templo, you know, whatever. It's To me, it's it's 387 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: something that is shown to be successful in the past, 388 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: recent past, And I think that really when you look 389 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: at it and the personnel that the offense has available 390 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 1: to it, um in the in the deficiencies that the 391 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: unit has to try and overcome. You know, it's should 392 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: be a component of what you do on a week 393 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 1: to week basis. And you know, the fight over the terms, 394 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: fight over control, fight over terminology. Hey fellas, you know 395 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: we've got five weeks left, doesn't matter. I mean, really 396 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: does this matter now? Um? So it is it is 397 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: and it's kind of productive. Uh, and somebody needs to 398 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: be the adult, and you know, just just stop, stop 399 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: talking about it, stop correcting the other side, just stop 400 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 1: and and you know, focus your attention on what really matters, 401 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: which is winning the game. Um. Now, just to kind 402 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: of get back to, you know, what you were at 403 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: the point you were making deal about the Vikings, I 404 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: think that, you know, twelve games into a season, a 405 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: team has shown what they have shown to this point 406 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: really is kind of what they are. You know, the 407 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: Vikings lose a lot of close games, so they're the 408 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: kind of team that does that. It's not a fluke anymore. 409 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 1: It's not a quirk. It's who they are. And so, um, 410 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: you know, I would think that the Steelers not only 411 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 1: should be able to take advantage of them in those situations, 412 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: but they possibly might need to take advantage of them 413 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: in those situations to leave Minneapolis with the win. No, 414 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: I'm with you there, I agree. But that's all the 415 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: time we have here, Bob. We could sit here and 416 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: talk to you all day, of course, but I appreciate you. 417 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 1: Dropping by is always, but we're gonna We're gonna let 418 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: you go. He is Matt Williams and I'm Dale Lali. 419 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 420 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: We'll be back with the Fantasy football focus right after 421 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: this