1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: At least. He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: Williamson on your home of the Black and Gold Steelers 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: Nation Radio. Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Alli here 4 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: with Matt Williamson. It's a chili Wednesday here and uh 5 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh. And while the Steelers are back on the 6 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,919 Speaker 1: practice field. Um, you know there were day away from 7 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: week eleven starting. I mean we were flying along here. 8 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: It is crazy. Got the Steelers practice report from today start, 9 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: fresh off the fresh off the wire, perfect timing. Yeah, Um, 10 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: all the Naja Harris teeth gnashing that that that's been 11 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: going on among fantasy the fantasy football crowd. He is 12 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: a full participant today. Yeah, and I don't know where 13 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: that's coming. As Mike Tomlin said, he had some knee soreness, 14 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: nice soreness. He probably took a helmet on the knee 15 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: or something. You get twenty carries, there's there's probably every 16 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: you get twenty carries in the NFL, every part of 17 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: your body's gonna have some soreness, right right. Soreness is 18 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: a Tuesday Wednesday type of thing. Uh. So he was 19 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: a full participant today, not held back at all. Um. 20 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: T J Watt a full participant. They list him on 21 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,119 Speaker 1: everything pectoral thing just because yeah, uh, you start looking 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: at some of the other stuff. Keller Weatherspoon did not practice. 23 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: I was a little worried, like is or Wednesday is 24 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: going to be a non t J day. But it 25 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 1: doesn't sound like, yeah, it doesn't. Doesn't look like that's 26 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: going to be the case. Obviously, make a Fitzpatrick still 27 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: not practicing. Expect that to maybe changed by the end 28 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: of the week. Don't rule him out though, Huh. Yeah. 29 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: Kevin Dotson with a hip injury did not practice again. 30 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin saying yesterday that that was a possible old uh, 31 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: Trent Scott backup offensive lineman didn't practice. He's got a 32 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: back issue. Um hurt and practice or something, or we've 33 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: had to her lifting weights or something. Just maybe slept 34 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: on it wrong. I don't know. Um, it wasn't a 35 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: big topic of conversation. I'm sure Devin Bush with a 36 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: little bit of a knee issue didn't practice that. I'm 37 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: sure that was rest related. Same with Larry Ogunjobi with 38 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: his knees coming back from that but played through it 39 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: last week. And then Marcus Allen missed with an illness. 40 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: So that's it. Wow, it's good. Um, I guess Witherspoon's 41 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: one that he's the most Yeah, he's the most up. 42 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: I guess. Yeah, I guess technically Mink is as well, 43 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: but not bad overall overall. It's it's a good list 44 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: for like I said, week eleven and some bumps and 45 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: bruises for a Wednesday. Um, where was I thinking with that? 46 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: Did you see the Brian Baldinger video that he put out. 47 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: I tweeted it out last night. He broke down like 48 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: five plays and showed how how T. J. Watts presence 49 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: changes things completely for the Steelers defense. And there were 50 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: times where like obviously he was getting double chipped by 51 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: the running back or chipped by the tight end before 52 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: they go out, that kind of stuff. There were a 53 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: couple of times, and in the uh the Alex Highsmith 54 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: strip sack, it was definitely one of them where the 55 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: Saints slid not just their tackle out, but their guard 56 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: out as well. The tackle and guard both slide to 57 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: the left, leaving three on three on the other side, 58 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: and that's when that's when high Smith gets home and 59 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: gets the sack. And if he hadn't gotten this, the 60 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: strip sack Heyward was Hayward was going to get the 61 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: sack type of deal. Um. Again, I'm putting together by 62 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: stack pack. It's almost done, and there's a couple of 63 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: little nuggets in there about their numbers when he's on 64 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: the field versus not. It's mind boggling. I mean, it's 65 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: a yard and a half per played difference, you know, 66 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: one of them four point oh, which is really good. 67 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: It's in five point five, which isn't you know? And 68 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: the seven turnovers in two games. Seven turnovers in two games, 69 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: speaking of seven his last seven home games, sacks and 70 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: he didn't have one on Sunday, And yeah, that was 71 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: only one of them. But that's insane to me. Um. 72 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: Some of the numbers versus the pass you know, their 73 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:20,799 Speaker 1: percentage of UH sacks per dropback are like triple things 74 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: like that. But I thought yet or Sunday was a 75 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: perfect example schematically in that they really especially when the 76 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: game went along, only he really had, you know, one 77 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 1: quality lineman left that that was Ramcheck, whose job is 78 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: what so you would think, you know, one of the 79 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: best right tackles in the league, who actually knows him 80 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: well from let's leave him alone. Because the Throck be 81 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: in there need even more help. Yeah, you might want 82 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: to help that guy with Cam so that guy with 83 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: with with Alex heismanth who's now second in the a 84 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: f ceven sacks And I'm sure the Baldinger thing reflexus, 85 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: but they kept helping ram Check and it didn't. It 86 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: didn't in the game. I mean it's I mean, I'm 87 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: sure you were asked this eight thousand times too. I mean, 88 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: how much it would help when TJ's back. I'm like, 89 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it's the bulls fairly obvious. Yeah, right right. 90 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: I mean he's a game setting, top five type of 91 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: defensive player. Is there anybody? Is there any other defensive 92 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: player in the league who when he doesn't play, has 93 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: that big of an impact. I'm sure the answers, yes, 94 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: Aaron Donald's only missed two games, and thinking like, I 95 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: don't remember Donald missing games. Um, I think Parsons is 96 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: in that neighborhood. To be very honest with you, you 97 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: know who's not. You're gonna say Garrett. I'm gonna say 98 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: Miles Garrett. Yeah, he is, Like I saw you. You 99 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: sent me the thing on the the defensive line rankings today. Yeah, 100 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: I just read the Steelers and Bengals. I didn't go 101 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: through them. The Browns were not ranked as they were. 102 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: They were like a third tier defensive unit that was 103 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,239 Speaker 1: from Brandon Thorne. Because nobody else does anything. Oh nobody 104 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: else does anything. Like we've said for years, clown he's 105 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: one of the most overt players in the league. And 106 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: I think the Browns of maybe the worst group of 107 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 1: d tackles in the league. I I do think Garrett 108 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 1: is in. I think he's good. He's in the watch 109 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: the stratosphere. Um, how about Nick Bosa. There was that 110 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: year he missed, Yeah, but he was real early charges 111 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: have been pretty bad too. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure 112 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: there's a few that are in the neighborhood. I mean, 113 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: if Donald was off of that awful Rams team, they 114 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: may lose by thirty to everybody, I mean the way 115 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: that they're currently constructed. But I do think Michael Parton 116 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: defensive tackles are so much easier to double they are 117 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: they are. I mean, you don't have to screw up 118 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: your protection as much. You don't have to slide like 119 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: I mean the Saints were sliding. The protection the whole 120 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: the whole right side of their line goes out to 121 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: what like, you don't still see that? You don't see that? 122 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: I mean that that opens up a lot of lanes obviously. 123 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: I mean there are double teams and then there are 124 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: double teams. Yeah, I mean it's not a back chipping 125 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: him on the way out, or a tight end even 126 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: doubling or the trio he's had to go through at 127 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: times and still somehow gets home. No, you're right. I mean, 128 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: I'm sure there's a lot of instances over the last 129 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: ten years where a defensive player gets that sort of attention, 130 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: you know, or did Joe Green in his day? I mean, 131 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: certainly Lawrence Taylor did in his day. I mean, guys 132 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: like that. But that's the stratosphere he's in. Yeah, you 133 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: mentioned those home roads are the home situation for t J. 134 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: Watt fifteen sacks and what his last seven the last 135 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: seven games at home this season at home, the Steelers 136 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: are allowing eighty one and a half rushing yards per game. 137 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: That's the third best in the league. Um, so they've 138 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: done a nice job. They're stopping the running home. Uh. 139 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: They're also some other stats here that I had. I was, 140 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: I was looking up some stats today. Um, let's get 141 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: into this Okay, so I saw this today. I'm gonna 142 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: steal this off of one of the TV shows. I 143 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: can't remember which one. I steal stuff all time. The 144 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: NFL this season is averaging eleven yards per completion eleven 145 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: point oh. That is the lowest total since when the 146 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: ball was like a big balloon the first year the 147 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: Steelers were in existence, nineteen thirty three. That's bonkers. Likewise, 148 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: the league is averaging four and a half yards per carry. 149 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: That is the highest in NFL history any season. Four 150 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: and a half yards. Wow. It's interesting. We've talked about 151 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: this because an article went live that I wrote last 152 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: night on d k Psburg Sports kind of talking about 153 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: a combination of things we've talked about this week of 154 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: life without Claypool. Who's gonna get those snaps? And I 155 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: I used the Giants, Bears, Falcons example of these guys 156 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: are collectively five hundred and then we'll make a player. 157 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: They just run the ball, and they just run the ball. 158 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: They're the top. They're three of the top four rushes 159 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: per game. And it's all about voluminous rushing, you know, 160 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: just keep going. And I used the Commander's win over 161 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: the Eagles example. They ran the ball like forty nine times, 162 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: but for only three point one yards of carry. I mean, 163 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: nauzs that's about quint his averages too, and you're just 164 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: controlling the games. Actually he's up to three point six. 165 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say, like when when people bash some of these, 166 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: you know, oh, he's only getting three yards of carry 167 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: or whatever, get me three? Yeah, really make sure it's 168 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: three every time at least. There's definitely a massive trend 169 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: here just with and it's not even huge plays in 170 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: the run game. It's not Nick Chubb taking at eighty. 171 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: It's just keep pounding, pound and keep pounding. It's protecting 172 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: some of these quarterbacks, of course, which the Steelers qualify. 173 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: But I use the example yesterday and in the article 174 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 1: Brady and Rogers, I mean, they're they're audible in the 175 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: runs time and time again. Between the two of them, 176 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: they threw the ball forty nine times and two winning efforts, 177 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: you know, in in nine quarters of play. The Ridge 178 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: NFL team this season is scoring twenty one point eight 179 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: points per game. That's the lowest since two thousand eight, 180 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: um and the reason for that, when you look at it, 181 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: it's somewhere right around this number. But you're seeing nickel 182 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: defense played of the time across the league, is probably right. 183 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: So teams are out there with extra defensive backs in 184 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: the field, and so offensives are saying, okay, you're gonna 185 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: do that. Here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna run 186 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: the ball down. So to that point, power runs this year, 187 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: straight ahead power runs are averaging five point three yards attempt. 188 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: That's up from four point two last year over a yard. 189 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: Counter runs again another power type. Yeah, five point two 190 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: yards per carry this year. Last year was four point four. 191 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: The outside zone stuff is basically the same, but they're 192 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: both under those and the power runs are are you 193 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: just run straight now you're gonna put two twenty pound 194 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: linebacker on the field and another defensive back. Okay, we're 195 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: gonna run at you. I mean powers when they pull 196 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: a guard. And you know, I mean so counter and 197 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: power are man blocking schemes. They're not zone blocking schemes 198 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: and zone blocking schemes. The best way I can describe 199 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: it is elephants are synchronized swimming with elephants. You know, 200 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: there are five guys all the Shanahan, you know, and 201 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: those guys are more athletic they're usually not three fifty 202 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: pound guards, you know what I mean, because they just 203 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: don't move well enough, were quick enough. But you can 204 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: handle that with the lighter sideline. The sideline players shoot 205 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: the gap and they get the back in the backfield. Right. 206 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: But if it's a man blocking scheme and that guard 207 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: has that linebacker no matter where he goes, and he 208 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: mashes him and he's a hundred pounds heavier, who's gonna win? 209 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: We can see where the problem lies there. Right. So 210 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: what I'm really interested in is two things trend wise. 211 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: First of all, you know I'm an analytic dorc I do. 212 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: I am interested to see what analytics stuff is found 213 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: the soft season. That would be a lot different from 214 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: previous off seasons because I think there'll be a lot. 215 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: And also, let's say Jerome Bettis comes out in this draft, 216 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: which I know he's not someone like him. Does he 217 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 1: go around or two higher than he would have? Well, 218 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 1: you know, running backs in general, Matt, nobody wants to 219 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: take many. Can you get those guys anywhere? Umn? You 220 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: know Derrick Henry type, You know that we want them 221 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: more than we did two years ago. I think the 222 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 1: answer might be s. I think it might be s again, 223 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: if all your if all the linebackers. We've talked about 224 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: this the last couple of drafts, like how all of 225 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: a sudden, now there's you know, when when the Steelers 226 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: drafted Brian shas Ere, he was a unicorn. Yeah, you know, 227 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: and then when they drafted Devon Bush in the first round, 228 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: there were a few more of those guys. But those 229 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: those two hundred and thirty pounds sideline to sideline guys 230 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: who could cover and do all those kind of things. 231 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 1: You know, there there's still weren't that many of them. 232 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: Well not the last couple of drafts. There's been a 233 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: you know, fifty of them in the draft because teams 234 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: are taking college teams are taking their safeties, balking him 235 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: up and making him linebackers, or they're just saying, don't 236 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: even bulk up, we'll play at two ten pounds as 237 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: a linebacker. Yeah, and like j Ok for the Browns, 238 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: could may end up having a great career, and he 239 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: certainly flashes now or Simmons, but you can run the 240 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: ball straight down their throats. I mean they're yeah, I 241 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: mean Isaiah Simmons is drafted as a linebacker. He's actually 242 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: more of a slot corner than he is a linebacker. 243 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: But he will line up in the line and take 244 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: on a guard head on, and those guys don't even 245 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: know how to take on blocks necessarily. Yeah, the idea, 246 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: and I know that this was a Mike tomlinism, the 247 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: idea of position those football on defense. I think we're 248 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: seeing something. Teams have turned back to clock to combat that. 249 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: All right, you want to put all these light guys 250 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: on the field, We're gonna run it right down your throat. Yeah. Yeah, 251 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: and again I like Tyler Linder Bob coming out, but 252 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 1: our team is gonna want pounds center or give me 253 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: the guys who can win in the in the phone 254 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: booth as opposed to Well, he can get out to 255 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: the edge, that's all well and good, but he can't 256 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: he can't block a nose tackle right over to right over. 257 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: And I thought that Aaron Smith is the world, you know. 258 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: You know, even when we were talking about a guy 259 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: like Jordan Davis at draft time, it wasn't that, oh boy, 260 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: he can really eat some space up here, and it's yeah, 261 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: but he can get after the passer. Everything was set up. 262 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: Can he get after can he can he rush the 263 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: pastor can you rush the pastor can you rush the passer? 264 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: Vince will Fork could be a fourth round pick. But now, 265 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: if if this is how teams are going to attack this, 266 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: you gotta have some of those big guys. That's what 267 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: I'm thinking too, you know, is I mean maybe Camp 268 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: is a good example, like if you can give me 269 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: Veya and Sue Veya and Hicks, well, then maybe I 270 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: can get away with a twin and twenty pound linebacker. 271 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: But maybe we have to protect those younger guys more 272 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: because the passing game is not going away. Team speed 273 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: is not going to be less coveted. But maybe you 274 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: need one dude that doesn't influence the passing game that's 275 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: always gonna draw a double team on run plays. I 276 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: don't know. It brings me back to the Steelers did 277 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: their self scout until can look at the league during 278 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: their bye week? And what did they do when they 279 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: came out of their bye week? They ran the ball 280 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: forty times, and they used heavier people, and he used 281 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: twelve personnel, and Gentry played a lot. I know they 282 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: played more snaps than ever, but even I'm used the 283 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: example boykin boy played more snaps than he hasn't any 284 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: any times a Steeler while he's the biggest receiver and 285 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: he's a good blocker. Um, what played seven or eight snaps, 286 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: you know, like that's big personnel. And if you're gonna 287 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: get Nickel, you're gonna get Dime. I mean, Boykin is 288 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: gonna beat up. I mean he can deal with a 289 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: j Okay, let alone corners and things like that. Yeah, 290 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: so it's it's just I'll be interested to see if 291 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: that's what they do this again again, very citrical. Love 292 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: Mike Hilton to death. And one of the reasons why 293 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: you like Mike Hilton while he does he's really tough 294 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: against the run. He's still a hundred eighty pounds and 295 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: he's not gonna take on a pooling guard. I just 296 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: remember here, you know, two years ago when he was 297 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: still a Steeler, when he got hurt. You know, it 298 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: was him knifing into the backfield and getting run over 299 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: by two forty pound cream hunt you know. Um, and 300 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: then you know he was in and out of the 301 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: lineup the rest of the year that season. Um, those 302 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 1: little guys take a beating against forty pound running backs 303 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: even Yeah, oh absolutely, so I'm curious. And it doesn't 304 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: mean that they'll still be able to run the ball 305 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: well going forward. I mean, maybe that was a one off, 306 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: but it's a mentality though. I think it's a mentality 307 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: that the lineman eat it up. And I think their 308 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: personnel usage implies, yeah, well maybe we are going to 309 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: treat as like where the Bears are giants or one 310 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: of these teams are you know, and realize what you 311 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: know zag when the league zigging and spreading, spreading the 312 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: ball out and they're spreading things out with your three 313 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: you know third three obviously of your sets and you 314 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: know you're eleven personnel. Now you don't have that that 315 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: Chase Claypool there right right, guy? You know a guy, 316 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: Well we gotta get him on the field, he's one 317 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: of our best eleven. Well, now you don't have him, 318 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: so now you're your best eleven. Maybe it is gentry 319 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: and a lot of situations. Maybe it is you know, 320 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: having wad out there in a lot of situations. You 321 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: know you have to look at well, it's thirtain third 322 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: and two here, Uh, do we want another wide receiver 323 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: on the field or do we want to bring in 324 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 1: a bigger, bigger body. And I think Hayward is really 325 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: interesting too, and that you know, Hayward is closer to 326 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: Boyken than he is the Gentry. Yeah, I mean to me, 327 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: he's obviously more of a slot type, you know, way 328 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: he wins Aro out some and things like that. But 329 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: I mean, so what kind of personnel groupings of Boyken 330 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: and Gentry or Hayward are out there, because they'll block, 331 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: you know, I mean the block more than Claypol did. Um. 332 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: I never thought Claypol had to go, and I bet 333 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 1: they didn't think, oh, he has to go. But I 334 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: bet they knew this before the trade, that we see 335 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: what the league is doing. Our counter won't be more 336 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: snaps for Steven Sims. It'll be or you know, or 337 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: develop a third receiver. It's let's get big, Let's get big. Yeah, yeah, 338 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: that seems to be Yeah. Um again, I you know, 339 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: shortens the game, makes things easier for your defense, and um, 340 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: you know when you're playing an explosive offense, okay, now 341 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: instead of need you know, it goes back to that 342 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: game last year, the playoff game against Kansas City. The 343 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: Steelers go out defensively to open the game and stop 344 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 1: that gets stopped. The Chiefs on six consecutive possessions and 345 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: the first half was still going on. Like, they ended 346 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: up with nine possessions in the first half. That's too many, 347 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: way too many, way too many. I mean usually get 348 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: like a twelve in a game. Yeah you know. I mean, 349 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: you can't ask your defense to go out there and 350 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: play and play fifteen possessions against the Chiefs in Kansas City. 351 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: That's just a recipe for disaster. Always too much defense. 352 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: So if you cant shortened the game by running the football, 353 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: uh and cut the game down to nine possessions total. Okay, 354 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: now you've now you've made this. You think you've got 355 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: a defense, especially with Watt on the field now that 356 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,479 Speaker 1: can get stops. That's gonna force some turnovers. Okay, so 357 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: if you you know, you stop them. Okay, let's say 358 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: they score in three of their possessions. That's twenty one points. 359 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: I mean, if the Steelers play the Chiefs right now, 360 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,719 Speaker 1: the Chiefs are the more talented team, they're the more 361 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: explosive team. You have a better chance of winning if 362 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: there's nine possessions a piece than for sixteen, right that 363 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: doesn't play the years. Yeah, they're gonna score. If you 364 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: give a team like the Chiefs or the Bengals or 365 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: a team like that. You give them six team possessions 366 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: in the game, They're they're gonna score thirty or forty 367 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: points against every defense in the league, right. I mean, 368 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: I always use this stupid example of if I'm having 369 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: a three point contest with Curry and it's first one 370 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: to hit a three, I might win. You might win, ye, 371 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: But if it's the first one to hit a hundred threes, 372 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: I will never win, ever, ever, ever, unless you take 373 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,239 Speaker 1: a baseball bat and hit him in the knee right 374 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: and then still probably don't. You might limp out there 375 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: on one leg and still beat And Atlanta and the 376 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: Giants and the Bears are Williamson in this conversation. You 377 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: know they don't make good guys. I mean, they really don't. 378 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: But if you shorten the game and run the ball 379 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: a ton with volume, you got a shot. Well for 380 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: the in the situation with the with the Giants, they 381 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: can say Kwan Barkley if you' makes it makes a 382 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 1: ton of sense for them. And I think the team 383 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:08,400 Speaker 1: that really, the team that really started it was the Titans. Yes, yes, okay, 384 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: all right, we're gonna run Derrick Henry thirty five times 385 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 1: you know every game. Well, if you're worried about his workload, no, 386 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 1: we're not worried about his work because we're trying to 387 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: win games. So that's what we got. That's what we've got. 388 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 1: That's what we got. You know, you got red paint 389 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: of paint the barn red, as Mike Tomlin likes to say. 390 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: And there's an attitude that comes with it too. It's 391 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: not just xs and os. Yeah, I mean the Titans 392 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 1: exemplify that. So I'll be interested to see if the 393 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: Steelers continue with that philosophy this weekend, because well, you 394 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: can win a lot of games like that. And one 395 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: thing I mentioned in the article though, is the problem 396 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: not not so the problem, but like Washington won the 397 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: turnover battle by two, you know, you can't be self 398 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: inflicted with Yeah, but there's a less chance you'll have 399 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: self inflicted wounds by running it then asking pick it 400 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: to throw at fifty times. Correct. You know, there's there's 401 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 1: you know, as as they used to say, there's there's 402 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 1: three things that can happen on a pat when the 403 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: balls in the air, and two of them are bad bad, 404 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: So yeah, they have it. No, I think that's what 405 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 1: the league is doing my worry in the off season, though, 406 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 1: is the league might be like, we gotta do something 407 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 1: about this. You know, scoring is too far down. That's 408 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: not what people want to see. So we'll make holding 409 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: legal again. You know. I hope that's not what happens. 410 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: You know. Yeah, well, we'll see. But it is a 411 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: league that it goes from year to year and and uh, 412 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: these trends happen, and uh yeah, you gotta you gotta 413 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: adjust to them. So we'll see if the Steelers have 414 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: done that. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lally. 415 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: You're listening to the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. Um, Matt, 416 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 1: did you know? I did? You did? All right? You 417 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: know what I'm gonna say here. I have a pretty 418 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: good hunch you can now listen to Steelers Nation Radio 419 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: anytime anywhere through your smart speaker. Just say Alexa place 420 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio from my heart and Alexa, We'll take 421 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: care of the rest. How about it. We're gonna be 422 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: back with more. This is a drive on Steelers Nation Radio.