1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Sysday dot com to register to receive reminders for when 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: experiences like this and more go live on June first. 3 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Welcome back. I am Dale Allie. He is Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: This is a special edition of The Drive here on 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio and ESPN nine to seventy. We are 6 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: live from the Steeler Ota sessions here at the upmc 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: rooney Sports Complex and the Steelers out here practicing in front. 8 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: Of us here. 9 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: That's good stuff for the next probably twenty minutes or so, 10 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: fifteen to twenty minutes here they get practice wraps up 11 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: a little after noon. We will be here until one. 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: We are expected to be joined by a player here 13 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,319 Speaker 1: as they come off the field. So lots of good 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: stuff going on here. You don't want to go anywhere. 15 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: You don't want to miss that. Matt continues, I think. 16 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: That should be pretty much a regular thing right around noon, 17 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: right around hopefully allmine. But we can't promise anything, but yeah, 18 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: well certainly. 19 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: Hopefully end the player and I have been communicating with 20 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: the pr staff. 21 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 2: Here, so that's worked that well in the past too. 22 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: So just to continue on the subject of what we 23 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: were talking about, Yeah, if you think about so that 24 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen season, the Steelers were the more talented team 25 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: than the Jacksonville Jaguars. 26 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 2: They were they. 27 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: But stylistically style that Jaguars were a bad matchup for 28 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: the Steelers because they ran the ball and they played defense. 29 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: People look at that game, well, they lost the Blake Bortles, 30 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: not so much Blake boy. They give up with three 31 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: return touchdowns in that playoff. 32 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think of the specifics, and I remember 33 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 2: the Steelers ran all over them, and I also think 34 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: that was somewhat of a war of attrition. From what 35 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 2: I recall too, the d line was kind of held 36 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 2: together by Duc Tape at that point, which happens in 37 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: the NFL playoffs. I mean, nobody cared. Nobody cries for 38 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: you when you're on the other side of it. And 39 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,559 Speaker 2: the Steelers are probably benefited over their history of playing 40 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: teams that were less than one hundred percent as well. 41 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: But I wonder, you know, as you were referencing that, 42 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: I bet that didn't stick well in the minds of 43 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: ownership front office. You know, the history of this team 44 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: is they're going to be the bigger, more physical team, 45 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 2: and I think that not that it was a wrong strategy. 46 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: But in that neighborhood is how do we stop Brady? 47 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: You know, how do we stop Michael George? 48 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: They just lost, They just lost to the Patriots in 49 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: AFC Championships right before. So everything that off season was 50 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: predicated on. Okay, but we got to beat the Patriots. Yeah, 51 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: gotta beat the Patriots. Was that the off season of 52 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: man coverage? Yeah? 53 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, everything was we gonna play more man coverage. We 54 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: can't let Welker get free releases and those type of things. 55 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: But stylistically for a team like the Jaguars. 56 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, and that's true in every playoff that boy, 57 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 2: we just got the wrong draw. You know, the best 58 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: team doesn't always win, but the you know that it 59 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: matters who you play without question. But I do think 60 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: that physicality travels and running the ball travels. You would 61 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 2: worry about the Steelers if they had a you know, 62 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 2: you mentioned the return in that game. If the Steelers 63 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 2: are playing any team, a playoff caliber team and they're 64 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: down seventeen to nothing before you know it because of 65 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: a bad bounce or a deflected pass or you know, 66 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: a block field goal or something like that, can you 67 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: play the other style? You know, we don't know that 68 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: answer yet. I mean, I think they're they're going that direction, you. 69 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: Know, yeah, you know, so they have that ability to 70 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: be physical. I think they do have the ability if 71 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: they need to throw the football a little, but they 72 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: get the weapons. 73 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 2: Yeah. 74 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: I think it's a you know, a pretty deep team 75 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: that can be diverse. To your point about being able 76 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: to mix and match and do different things. 77 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I mean, two guys want to Brett mention 78 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: and we bring up pro football focus a lot, mostly positive, 79 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 2: sometimes negative. I have mixed feelings about them, but they 80 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: have numbers and yards per route run and data that is, 81 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: you know, just out there to compare the rest. 82 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 3: Of the league. 83 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: And I think that's very valuable. And two guys, Forth 84 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: and Warren are really near the top of the league 85 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: amongst running backs and tight ends as in pretty much 86 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: all receiving metrics. And where I'm going with this is, 87 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: let's say you are down, you get some bad bounces 88 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: and you're down fourteen nothing, seventeen nothing. Before you know it, 89 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: you could throw out a five man receiving group of Friarmuth, 90 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: Warren and your top three receivers that can maybe compete 91 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: with any five out there. To be honest with you, 92 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: I mean, maybe the Niners are better, maybe the Bengals 93 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: are better, but that's a pretty strong group of just 94 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 2: potential quick strike passing game guys. 95 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's not to your point about that. It's it 96 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: may not be the name value. 97 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: Right, I think it's developing right right, rightly. You don't 98 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 2: look at Friarmuth like he's Kelsey isn't. But he's not 99 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: as far off as people think. 100 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: But we might be sitting here next year at this 101 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: time and talking about, Wow, we didn't see this coming 102 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: with this, you know, Pat Fryermuth really is. He's a 103 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: top five He's a top five tight end in the NFL. 104 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: Or why boy George Pickets took a big, big step forward, 105 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: or wow, you know everybody was down on Deontay Johnson 106 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: because he didn't catch touchdown. 107 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: Pass seven of them and this year or whatever, right, 108 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 2: and boy that Calvin Austin guy they have because a 109 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,559 Speaker 2: different style of what they had, and boy Robinson's career 110 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: looks a little better than it did at this time 111 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: this year. You know. 112 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 1: Oh no, by the way, oh Najie Harris, who everybody 113 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: was down on, right for the first half of last year. Okay, 114 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: so he had a thirteen hundred yard season. 115 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: And maybe one of the best tight end rooms in 116 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: the league. And oh, by the way, this all stems 117 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: from how we started the conversation of you got a 118 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 2: good deep O line, the skill positions usually fall into place. 119 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, And the other part of that equation is can 120 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: he Pickett? 121 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: Sure? 122 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: You know, of course, and you know, rounding in the 123 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: form and becoming that guy. I just think there's a 124 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: lot of lazy analysis when it comes to Picket. That 125 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: people just lost seven touchdowns, nine interceptions. He didn't have 126 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: a good rookie year. 127 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: No, I think you're not watching the tape, you know. 128 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I think he came a really long way, 129 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: and frankly, I thought Cloud he looked like he belong 130 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 2: from the start, which is rare. The numbers didn't reflect it. 131 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: You know, they're losing to the Eagles by a million, and 132 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: you're losing by the Bills, the Bills by a million, 133 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: and it didn't get some bounces latent games or didn't 134 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 2: come through latent games. One thing he did and then 135 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 2: he did, and then he did looked and made those 136 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: around him better. I mean, I don't think he's a 137 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: locomotive yet pulling the train. But I don't think he's 138 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 2: a caboose either at this point. 139 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 3: Yeah. 140 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 2: One thing I can't stress enough because they're massive, massive 141 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: anomalies with the offense last year. One I think is 142 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: good and one is bad is they were unbelievably healthy, 143 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: and they were unbelievably young. And I don't mean just 144 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 2: compare compared to the rest of the league. I mean 145 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 2: compared to the last twenty five years of the league, 146 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: you know. Yeah, and the youth thing is great. I 147 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: mean you with stood all the growing pains of the 148 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 2: youngest offense in the league and got better. Like to me, 149 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 2: that is unbelievably encouraging. 150 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: And one football games like and one football right, I 151 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: think people underestimate the ability of a team to close 152 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: out and win those kind of games. There are franchises 153 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: that you don't trust to do that. 154 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 2: No many Yeah, like the Chargers them. 155 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: Right, just keeps waiting for the right something's going to 156 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: happen here. 157 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 2: They're going to blow it right before Burrow. The Bengals 158 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: weren't exactly great at that either, you know. 159 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: I mean, allion's historically there's just teams that you look 160 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: at and you go they're going to find a way 161 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: to figure out a way to screw this up. 162 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: And a lot of that comes down to the head coach. 163 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: And I'm not picking on any of those head coaches, 164 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 2: but I know this head coach knows how to win 165 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 2: games when it matters most, and you know those type 166 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: of things. But I think the front office told us, hey, 167 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: we know we got a little lucky on the injury 168 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: front too, But now Robinson, Austin, Miller, Washington, all those 169 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: offensive linemen weren't the equation last year, right. 170 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: I mean again, it goes back to that depth that 171 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: they've built, and it's it's impressed this might be. 172 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 2: Because injuries are coming. 173 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: Well absolutely, I mean I can think back, I go 174 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: back thirty one years covering this team, and I'd be 175 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: hard pressed if to find a team that has the 176 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: depth of this one. I can probably if I really 177 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: sat down and thought about it, like, I might be 178 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: able to find one or. 179 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 2: Two, I'm sure, but that might be two, right right, 180 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 2: that just. 181 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: Might be it. And it all therefore to me Hinges 182 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: on the quarterback play. 183 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: Of course, of course, but they've made I don't say 184 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: his life easy, but they've they've set up They've set 185 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: him up to succeed, right, and so many mistakes are 186 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: made in this league of not helping your young quarterback, 187 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: usually first rounders. Yeah, nearly enough, he drafted him forth overall, 188 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 2: we got to play him right, right, right, whether that's 189 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 2: good for the quarterback or not. Yeah, I mean Dwayne 190 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: Haskins rest in peace when he was thrown in with 191 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 2: Washington had no chance to succeed, ye, you know. I 192 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 2: mean there's so many examples. There's at least as many 193 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 2: examples a. 194 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: Dozen Browns quarterbacks right right. 195 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 2: I mean Car with the Texans, and I mean so 196 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: many of those guys. And I say this all the 197 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 2: time on like national stuff that when we talk draft 198 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: and landing spots for quarterbacks or project their futures, I 199 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 2: might care more where the quarterback lay than who the 200 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: quarterback even is. I mean they're all talented. 201 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, they all where they wouldn't be drafted where they're 202 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: drafted right right right, At the same time, you can 203 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: get you can you can play and get. 204 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: Ruined, you can get ruined, right. 205 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: You know, he's just getting you know, the tar knocked 206 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: out of him week in and week out, or he's 207 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,839 Speaker 1: making this mistake and there's nobody around him to help 208 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: him out. He's got nothing else to fall back on. 209 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 2: I mean, Houston's been a miserable organization for the last 210 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: two or three years. I mean the bottom of the league. 211 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: And they would tell you that. I mean, the numbers 212 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 2: show it out, the Watson situation. But I think their 213 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 2: defense needs a ton of work. But at least they realized, hey, 214 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 2: we're gonna trade for Shaq Mason and Robert Woods. Are 215 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 2: those guys great players? No, but their NFL star. 216 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: Has been there, done that guy right as Mike Tomlin. 217 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 2: And let's say, like Stroud talent aside, Stroud has a 218 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: much better chance to succeed than Mills. There's nothing around 219 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 2: the guy. Yeah, absolutely, but the Steelers have surrounded their 220 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: guy with. 221 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 1: A lot and we're gonna take another break here. That's 222 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: we're at the top of the hour. Here he is 223 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: Matt Williamson. I am LO. We are live here on 224 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio and ESPN nine to seventy from the 225 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: Steelers Ota session here at the upmc rooney Sports Complex. 226 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: We are live until one o'clock. We're hopefully be joined 227 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: by a player here soon after practice ends here there 228 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: maybe get a session or two left here. Yeah, before 229 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: we're done here, but energy though, absolutely it looks like 230 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: it's well attended as well. So he Matt and I 231 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: will be back with more right after this. Welcome back. 232 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: I am Dale Lolli. He is Matt Williamson, and this 233 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: is a special edition of The Drive here on Steelers 234 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: Nation Radio and ESPN nine seventy. We are live here 235 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: from the Steelers Ota Sessions at the upmc rooney Sports Complex. 236 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: The team just wrapping up practice as we speak here. 237 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: Everybody huddled up in the middle of the field here 238 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: getting ready to break. The media assembled here also making 239 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: its way over to head into the locker room. And 240 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: that means we'll be joined by a player here soon. 241 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and very just gonna break the action whenever he 242 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 2: does join us. 243 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: But yeah, so we'll jump into that when when when 244 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: the player comes over here to talk to us our 245 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: player today, I can say this now, nobody save nobody 246 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: has told me any differently. Let me check the little 247 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: text machine here and uh yeah, nobody. Nobody's pulling the 248 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: plug on it. Nobody has told me differently. We're expected 249 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: to be joined by Cole Holcombe, the Steelers inside linebacker 250 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: who joined the team as a free agent this offseason. Uh. 251 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 1: Interesting guy. Uh see what he has to say here. 252 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: I did do a zoom call with him earlier this 253 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: year after he signs again. Good talker and a big 254 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 1: part of well, what's expected from this defense this year? 255 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, and all this stuff still to be determined. I mean, 256 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 2: I'm more predicting than anything, but I would think he's 257 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: got a chance to be the green dot guy, the 258 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 2: the every down second level player. I think he's an 259 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 2: upgrade with over the who they played with last year. 260 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: And he kind of slipped my radar when we were 261 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 2: looking at potential free agents. I mean I really went 262 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,839 Speaker 2: into depth with like a dozen these off the ball 263 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 2: went so many of them right, and he missed a 264 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 2: lot of time last year, so I kind of forgot 265 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 2: about him until we got deeper into the free agent 266 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 2: process and guys were falling off the board and I'm like, Oh, 267 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 2: this guy's better than people think, you know, I mean, 268 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 2: and he's an ascending player. I urge people just do 269 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 2: a Google search on Cole Holcom's combine numbers or workout numbers. 270 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: They're exceptional. I mean, he's change of directions, his jumps, 271 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: his forties and that was a while ago. But I 272 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 2: mean it's not like he's he's a try hard guy 273 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 2: that you know, right, you know, he's just smart and tough. 274 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 2: I mean, he can really run and change directions and 275 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 2: has explosive traits. 276 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: And unlike many of the other guys who have some 277 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: of those traits, has some size to him. 278 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 2: Too, absolutely some length and all this stuff. So you know, 279 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 2: I think he I would say, he's the answer. I 280 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 2: mean that he's, you know, the best guy they've had 281 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: since Shazir. I mean, because I did say that about 282 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 2: Jack last year at this time, and he was Okay, 283 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 2: he wasn't great, and but I think he's going to 284 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 2: be a very valuable member of that defense and a 285 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 2: lot should probably be asked of him. 286 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think the difference between a guy like a 287 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: Cole Holcomb in a Miles Jack is Cole Holcomb doesn't 288 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: have He's twenty six years old. You're getting him still 289 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: as an ascending the. 290 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 2: Right word right, and he wouldn't see it because he 291 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 2: missed so much time last year. 292 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: It's almost like, you know, for the for the inside 293 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: linebacker position, I've come to believe is very much like 294 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: tight end, where it takes you a few years to 295 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: get it. Keith Butler used to talk about that all 296 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: the time. Where you know that position, that twenty six 297 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: to twenty eight age range is where everything kind of meshes. 298 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: You got you now have the experience and it now 299 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: matches your you know you're asking. 300 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 2: The graph the two axes. Yeah, that's when they collide. 301 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 2: Is the athleticism and the head and the body. 302 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: Is everything matches it right right right Early in your 303 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: your career, you may make plays based on your athleticism. 304 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 2: Your body, in your traits. 305 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: And then later in your career, you know, after you've 306 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: you've reached that apex, you're making plays based on your knowledge. 307 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 2: You become the old man why you know, the nose 308 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 2: out of boxing. 309 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: You're that twenty six to twenty eight range. You kind 310 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: of have the best of both. And well here comes 311 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: Cole Holom Now, yeah, good, so well ask him about that. Yeah, 312 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: I was anyway, so Cole, good to have you. We're 313 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: being joined here by Cole Holcombe, Cole, Matt Williamson, and 314 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: Dale Lalli. I'm Dale, he's Matt. 315 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 2: We were just. 316 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: Talking about the situation at linebacker in the NFL and 317 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: Keith Butler, who is the defensive coordinator here, used to 318 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: say that linebackers, especially inside linebackers, you've reached that peak 319 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: of about at about the age of twenty six, where 320 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: you're at where everything kind of meshes. You now have 321 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: the experience this, but you still have the athleticism that 322 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: you're kind of in that that soft peer or that 323 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: that that pure period where everything matches up. Do you 324 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: do you feel that it's that way for you? Uh? 325 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I've definitely seen, you know, had a 326 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 4: lot of experience seeing a lot of ball, you know, 327 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 4: noticing concept of repeat concepts, you know, things that are 328 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 4: becoming second nature and just allowing you to play faster 329 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 4: and not really thinking about like you know, specific things 330 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 4: that you know, you develop these habits and they. 331 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 3: And it's really like like. 332 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 4: I said, you see so many plays it oftens comeing, 333 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 4: run so many plays right, you know, so you just 334 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 4: see the same concepts over and over and over again. 335 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 3: They just try and. 336 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 4: Doctor it up, do it different, try to manipulate you 337 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 4: a little bit so, but in the end they're still 338 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 4: trying to do the same concepts. So if you can 339 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 4: figure out and get past the window dressing of it, 340 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 4: you get down to the basics. 341 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 3: You know, you know what concepts you're getting. 342 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 2: So a term we've been using to describe you. And 343 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 2: it's great to meet you. By the way, congratulations. Being 344 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 2: a Steeler is ascending. 345 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 3: You know. 346 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 2: It seems like every year gets better than the last, 347 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 2: and unfortunately last year was cut a little short for 348 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 2: you with injuries, so maybe you didn't get to show 349 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: the world as much that you really are hitting your peak. 350 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 2: But to expand on what Dale was saying, there are 351 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 2: so many examples of first second round, especially first round 352 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 2: linebackers that are just great athletes get thrown right in 353 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: the mix because they're first rounders, and these great play 354 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: callers and offensive designers just manipulate them like crazy. I mean, 355 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 2: is that part of it to you? 356 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 4: Uh? Yeah, I mean I think I think you know 357 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 4: it's it's you really have to like to play line 358 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 4: back in you gotta love watching ball, Yeah, yeah, learning 359 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 4: tendencies and yeah, and I think, uh you know, I'm mean, shoot, 360 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 4: my rookie year, I was biting on every play action. 361 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: I bet a to say play action anytime the ball 362 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 2: I was running forward. I was like crossing the ground 363 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: right behind you. 364 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I was getting over all day and you know, 365 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 4: now now it's like they run and run a play 366 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 4: action looks sounds feels different, Like you know, a rookie 367 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 4: might come in and he might do the same thing 368 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 4: I did. 369 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 2: Is that really hard to hold your water on play action, 370 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: especially as a young guy, like since you've been trained forever, 371 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 2: as soon as that ball comes out, youah pack down hill? 372 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 4: Yeah right, you know, but then you start realizing you start, 373 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 4: you start, it's like it's like a sixth sense, like 374 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 4: you're like, uh, it looks like it's a little fishy. Yeah, yeah, 375 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 4: something doesn't feel right. 376 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: And to your point, you watch the film and you've 377 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 1: seen the tendencies of these Okay, I can read things differently, 378 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: whereas you know, when you're twenty one, twenty two, twenty 379 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: three years old, maybe you don't understand that like you 380 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: do now. 381 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I think I think it's uh, you know, 382 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 4: sometimes it could be more so like guys thinking about 383 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 4: what his job is versus like what's what's the offense 384 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 4: trying to give you? 385 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 2: Mm hm. 386 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 4: And you know, the more you you understand defensive concepts, 387 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 4: like you can you can plug and play, you know, 388 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 4: I feel like like every every defense, Like just like defense, 389 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 4: the same with offense. You know, you only have so 390 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 4: many plays, so many coverages, so many different types of 391 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 4: you know, every team might have their little tweaks and 392 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 4: things they like to do a little bit differently within 393 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 4: that coverage, but in the in the end, it's all 394 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 4: you know, single high, too high, you know, cover three 395 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 4: to cover two quarters. 396 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 2: People playing this game a long time, there's not that 397 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 2: many Yeah, changes over hundred. 398 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 3: Years, right right. 399 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 2: I would think a big adjustment to though, is in 400 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 2: the man coverage world, there aren't many McCaffrey's and camaras 401 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 2: and kittles, and you know, the tight end and running 402 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 2: back route runners in this league are so much better 403 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 2: than in college mm hmm. Oh yeah, yeah, I mean 404 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 2: it's not even close. 405 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, And that's why, you know, I feel like this 406 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 4: position has changed. You know, you got to be able 407 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 4: to cover, you got to be able to play, you know, 408 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 4: because there's always going to be an incident where you're 409 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 4: matched up on a wide out, yeah, or you're on 410 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 4: a slot on a slot, you're on a receiving tight end, 411 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 4: you're on a receiving running back. 412 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 2: Like, and they're all shaped different to move differently. 413 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: Different. 414 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, I feel like the you know, the way linebackers 415 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 4: play has changed a little bit, a lot of aspect 416 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 4: of of you know, you've got to be able to 417 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 4: run and hit, and you got to be able to cover, 418 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 4: and you gotta able. 419 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 3: To play running. 420 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: So you get through this ot sessions that you've been 421 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: doing this now for a few weeks with your with 422 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: your new teammates. Uh, you settling in here pretty well? 423 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, No, love the guys, love the competition that they 424 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 4: bring out here. I mean I love the coach staff 425 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 4: like it's it's it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be 426 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 4: a fun, fun year for the for the kid. 427 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 2: So another huge portion of your position, this has always 428 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: been the case. It's communication and getting the calls in 429 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 2: and out. Do you expect to get a lot of 430 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: those responsibilities, you know in terms Yeah, you getting on 431 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 2: the field with your with your guy as well and 432 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: absolutely getting all the play calls where they need to be. 433 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 434 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 4: Communications, communications key, you know, like I just want to 435 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 4: make sure everybody's on that same page and we all 436 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 4: get everything figured out. And you know, whatever my role 437 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 4: needs to be, I'll do it to the best of 438 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 4: my abilities. And you know, I'd love to I like 439 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,239 Speaker 4: running it. I would love to do that. 440 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 2: Were you a Green Dot guy in Washington, I thought, so, yeah, great. 441 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: Now for fans who don't understand what what goes into 442 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: I mean, you obviously have to not only communicate to 443 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: your teammates what the play call is, but you have 444 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: to understand it a little bit more so than everybody. 445 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 2: Do you look at. 446 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 4: The it's it's a big picture kind of thing. Big 447 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 4: picture of a small picture, you know. I think, I 448 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 4: think when you're calling it, you really do have to 449 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 4: have a full understanding of the defensive call in its entirety, 450 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 4: just because so many things can change within that one call. 451 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 4: There there canna be a laundry list of checks that 452 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 4: you might have to make or adjustments that we're gonna, Hey, 453 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 4: if they do this, we're gonna change this. 454 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 3: If they do this, we're gonna we're gonna adjust this way. 455 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 4: So I feel like when you're when you're that play call, 456 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 4: you have to be able to anticipate that it's gonna happen. 457 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 4: It's not like a react like, oh, snap, it happened. Yeah, 458 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 4: now we're adjusting. 459 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 1: I got this guy, and that's what. 460 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I feel like It's like it's like chess. 461 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 4: You're thinking Tumo's ad and so you're always anticipating what 462 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 4: could possibly happen. You know, what adjustment you're gonna have 463 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 4: to make if they do this, if they do that. 464 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 2: So fans ask me a lot. They're like, why would 465 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 2: a middle linebacker, inside linebacker tap a D tackle on 466 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 2: the button move them over six inches? Like how could 467 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 2: that possibly matter? It matters a ton, doesn't. It's in 468 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 2: the right alignment in front. 469 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 4: Of Yeah, alignments mean a lot, and you know, I 470 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 4: mean that's it goes. It goes both ways as within. 471 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 3: You know, not only D line alignment, but our alignments 472 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 3: and learnebackers. You know, it changes. 473 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,400 Speaker 4: It can change blocking schemes, like you know where they're targeting, 474 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 4: who they're targeting. 475 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 2: So, yeah, the little things mean a time. 476 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 1: Are you health wise? 477 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 3: You you're back close to feeling feeling good man. 478 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 4: I'm I'm trumping at the bit, but you know you're 479 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 4: we're still taking a little slow, but. 480 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: Just being smart with it. I mean, yeah, the idea 481 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 1: is to play seventeen games, not exactly practices in May. 482 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 4: Yes, sir, be ready to be ready for September. And 483 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 4: I think you know our coaches, you know training staff. 484 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 4: They all have the right mindset, and you know I'm 485 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 4: behind them one hundred percent. 486 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: Now, are you a guy that, sorry, Matt, are you 487 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: a guy that can sit and watch from the sideline 488 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: and still get your mental reption? Some guys have to 489 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: be on field and stuff. 490 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:52,160 Speaker 4: No, I mean that's that's been the story of my life. 491 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 4: So I've obviously learned how to get good at that. 492 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, you weren't really handed anything that the field, whether 493 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 2: you deserve it or not, so that it's a good 494 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 2: looking at it. If we're not gonna ask you, you 495 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 2: plan on participating in all all nine and assuming the injuries, Okay. 496 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 4: And yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever they allow me to do, 497 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 4: I'm gonna I'm gonna participate. I'm gonna go go one 498 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 4: hundred percent with whatever they allow me to do, and 499 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 4: wherever they tell me. I gotta chill out a little bit, like, Okay, yeah, 500 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 4: I'm sure that's hard to do, but yeah it is. 501 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 3: It is, man, I'm competitive competitive. 502 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 2: You need to get to the starting line though. Oh yeah, so. 503 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: You go from college, uh in North Carolina, you go 504 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: to Washington still kind of in that same southern area here, 505 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: what's it been like for you, h here in Pittsburgh. 506 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 3: Oh, man, I love it up here. 507 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 4: I mean I got I got a lot of family 508 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 4: actually from upstate New York and uh, you know, so 509 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 4: I've been up that way a couple of times, and man, 510 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 4: it's been beautiful in the past couple of weeks. We'll 511 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 4: see when. 512 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: Wait till I get November is ship. 513 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, but you're settled in with your house and know 514 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 2: everything's and everything figured out. 515 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 4: I mean, I got the guys have been awesome. They've 516 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 4: showed me, showed me around the town. 517 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 2: Well, you know, show me the ropes, good spots to eat. Yeah. 518 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 519 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: Traffic's not quite as bad here as it is in Washington. No, 520 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: we have some times a day that it's a little. 521 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 3: Different, but but it's it's nothing like that. 522 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: So for people didn't know you were a walk on North. 523 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 4: Carolina correct, Yeah, yeah, just calling schools asking if I can, Yeah, 524 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 4: who who would let me come to their school? It's 525 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:29,640 Speaker 4: gonna go walk on a duke at first, and then 526 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,360 Speaker 4: that fell through and then went to North Carolina. 527 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 2: It's been a good student in high school. 528 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:39,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, high school. Yeah, I mean once I got 529 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 4: to once I got there, I was like, okay, I 530 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 4: can I can compete with these guys. So, you know, 531 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 4: the mindset I had going into it definitely changed. And 532 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 4: I was like, I'm I'm on a scholarship and I'm 533 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 4: gonna earn one. I'm gonna do whatever it takes. 534 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 2: And so it just dawned on me. I mean, with 535 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 2: Isaac being an Eagle and the guard and you being 536 00:23:57,680 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 2: in the division, you guys took each other on quite 537 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 2: a bit. You know, what, what are the Steelers getting 538 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:02,880 Speaker 2: in him? And there looks like a starting car? 539 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 4: Dude, I mean, should we got three guys that were 540 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 4: formerly with Philly? 541 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, her break, I guess them. Yeah, okay, give us 542 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 2: a scouting report. 543 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 3: Did there? 544 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 4: I'm like that was I thought Philadelphia's the line was 545 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 4: one of the best lines in all around. And you know, 546 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 4: Isaac was one of them. He was he was a dog, 547 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 4: and I thought like that entire line had my respect. Yeah, 548 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,119 Speaker 4: hard to play against. Yeah, No, they all were. They 549 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 4: all were had their strengths, they all had they were 550 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 4: all good. They were all you know, Jason freaking the 551 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 4: leader of the group, and yeah, right, like I always said, 552 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 4: he was like a gnat. He's just fast, just never 553 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 4: go away. But no, they were all they like I said, 554 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 4: they all have my respect and I played all of them. 555 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 3: And you know, I think we got some some great players. 556 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Steelers made some nice editions from your 557 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 2: division as a former division. 558 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,159 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Well, we'll let you go here. I'm sure you 559 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: have a busy day here. I guess it's been Cole Hulcombe, 560 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 1: the Steelers that new in linebacker, and well, we appreciate 561 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: you coming on. 562 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: Cole. 563 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, thanks for having melcome, Absolutely welcome to Pittsburgh and 564 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: hope by everybody enjoyed hearing from Cole. 565 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 2: Absolutely good stuff, good stuff from Cole. 566 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson, I am Dale, Allie, you're listening 567 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: to the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio and ESPN 568 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: nine to seventy. That was just one of the many 569 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: guests we're going to get here over the next couple 570 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: of weeks, so you don't want to miss that good 571 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: stuff from Cole Holcombe. Welcome addition to this team. 572 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think he's a really nice pickup to be 573 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 2: honest with you, and hadn't thought about boy, he did 574 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 2: battle with a lot of those Eagles that are now 575 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 2: on this field as well, again, a sending player had 576 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 2: some good things to say about things you and I 577 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 2: have talked about at length, you know, and becoming a 578 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 2: linebacker in this league takes a lot of reps, a 579 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 2: lot of film work, you know, not biting on things, 580 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 2: you know, things of that nature. So I think they're 581 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,119 Speaker 2: getting him at the right time of his career. 582 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, if you look at it. He's played four 583 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: seasons in the league, was a starter as a rookie. 584 00:25:58,040 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, for Washington, he. 585 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: Mentioned, you get manipulated a little bit there, but even 586 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: at that. 587 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 2: Even a minute, he's like, I bit them play. 588 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: Actually yeah, but if you look at the production, you know, 589 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: one hundred and five tackles that rookie year again a 590 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: little bit of injury issue. Year two played eleven games, 591 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:19,199 Speaker 1: started ten, but year three sixteen games, one hundred and 592 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: forty two tackles. 593 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 2: You know, just when used every down player at that point, right, Yeah, yeah. 594 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 1: Seven pass defenses, you know, so he can't get back 595 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: and cover two forced funnels. He had three forced fumbles 596 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: his rookie year. Two interceptions. 597 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, he does have good ball skills, and you know 598 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 2: he's I don't think balls will clank off his hands too. 599 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 2: Often he does find the football and has some soft hands. Oh, 600 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 2: he finds a football. Yeah. 601 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: Even last year, you know, only seven games because of 602 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 1: that foot injury, sixty nine tackles in that season. 603 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 2: He started off a house of fire. 604 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you're averaging ten tackles per game. 605 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 2: And not that like the rest of the league didn't 606 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:56,399 Speaker 2: even know who he was. But I do think a 607 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 2: lot of the media and articles, and hey, I write 608 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 2: them too, of these are some exciting free agents could 609 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 2: easily overlook because Washington wasn't the most fun team to watch, 610 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 2: you know, to be honest with you, and he missed 611 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 2: a big portion of the season, But every year was 612 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 2: better than the one before, and that was really true 613 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 2: this past year. I mean, he was definitely on pace 614 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 2: to have his best season in a highly productive season 615 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 2: by any linebacker metric or numbers. 616 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, But we're gonna take a break. He is 617 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 1: Matt Williamson. I am Dale, Lollie. You're listening to a 618 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 1: special edition of The Drive here from the upmc rooney 619 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: Sports Complex. The Steelers just wrapping up their OTA sessions here. 620 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: Still some guys out there working on the field as 621 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: you would expect, and well We'll continue to work here 622 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: raight through the one o'clock hour. We're gonna take a 623 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: break right now. We'll be back with more right after 624 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: this Black Him Gold Football leaves here. Twenty four to seven, 625 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 1: you're listening to SNR