1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: This is The Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale here with Matt Williamson 4 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: and the Mat could see Thursday here in Pittsburgh to 5 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: see the day like kind of worked out, like I 6 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 1: think the Steelers season might work out. It was really 7 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: crappy this morning outside. Yeah. Yeah, and it's gotten nicer 8 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: as that as things went on here. It's better. It's 9 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: a beautiful day. It's great out right now. Yeah. So 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: I see what you're getting to stay in there with 11 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: the season, You see that. Yeah, Yeah, I'm not sure 12 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: this week is when it turns. All this is about. 13 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: This week is probably about ten o'clock this morning that 14 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: the darkest could be. I mean, I'm not writing them off. 15 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: I mean they have a chance to win the game. 16 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: Of course, it's just a really stiff task. And this 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: is an excellent team in their building coming off of 18 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: by their the Eagles are in really good shape. Yeah, 19 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: somewhere you've never won before, regardless of venue. The Steelers 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 1: haven't won in Philadelphia since nineteen sixty five. I was shocked, 21 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: and you said you've never seen a win there and 22 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: that was well before your time. Even I can't remember 23 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: preseason wins there. It's like it's just never good. Us 24 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: always goes badly for whatever reason. H one thing is 25 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: not going so badly. Mad is the Steelers injury. Let's 26 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: hear it, uh today um Kello Weatherspoon another full participation, 27 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: Montravius Adams back at practice a full participant, Stephen Simms 28 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: a full participant. Pat Fiarmouth a back in practice a 29 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: full participant. They did rescue him. He was limited. Yes, 30 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: miss that again. That was with an ankle. Uh. Cam 31 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: Heyward got the day off today. That was a veteran 32 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: day of rest. Ogan Job and um Leavi Wallace were 33 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: the only DMPs. Josh Jackson got a limited. Um. I 34 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: expect Ogan Job to play. We'll see still about about 35 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: Wallace in the air. Yeah, um, you know, they may 36 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: just want to rest that shoulder with with Witherspoon back 37 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: this week, and you've been happy with the way some 38 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: of the other guys have been playing here in particular. Yeah, 39 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: I think so, don't rush him back, let him let 40 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: him get the shoulder completely healthy, and that would make 41 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: some sense, Yeah, especially the bylooming. Yeah, if you doing 42 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: that thing again, you know, so that would make some sense. 43 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: So basically the Wallace is the only guy. Yeah, so 44 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: does what go on the injury report. No, he's not 45 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: been activating the same thing with them, Monte Casey, but 46 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: you can for the game. But they could, Yeah, they can. 47 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: They could make that move Saturday. Um, you just have 48 00:02:58,120 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: to do I think twenty four hours before the game 49 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: when you have to declare those guys active or inactive, 50 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 1: which means you gotta take someone off the roster. That 51 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: I've been told by a little birdie. Actually Casey said 52 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:10,959 Speaker 1: it yesterday that he has been told he's going to 53 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: be activated. Good. I was expecting him and I was 54 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: I wish you wash you about what. Yeah, we'll see, 55 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: we shall see. Um, sometimes it gets hard to hold 56 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: those guys back, and so you if you're Mike Tom, 57 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: then you don't even have him start practicing until you're 58 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 1: ready to bring him back because he's gonna push to play. Yeah, 59 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: I'm sure, especially Wat and it sounds like he's been 60 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: doing as much as possibly can on the side. And 61 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: you know some of these guys owner that ability. Um, 62 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: could it hurt the dress him? Yeah, I mean if 63 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: you put him on a pitch kade. You say, hey, 64 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna put you out there when any on any 65 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: third and lungs. Yeah, I mean as long as your 66 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: team doctor said it's okay. Yeah, you don't just know 67 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: it's still torn, We're gonna throw you out there. Yeah. 68 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: I mean it was September eleven that that he injured 69 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: four six at that point, right, uh um or sixty eight. 70 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: I think people were saying six to eight. Um, so 71 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: now you're at let's see about six I mean today. 72 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: So yeah, so one, two, three weeks, a little over 73 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: six weeks, four five, six game they will be seven 74 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: weeks the game, they will be seven weeks. Yeah, so 75 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: that's on schedule, right. I mean, I guess the bye 76 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: week hanging there is a factor though. Yeah. You know, 77 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: I understand, I understand if they don't want to rush it. 78 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: At the same time, you'd like to have t J 79 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: what back. Um, you know, some of the numbers and 80 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: the pitch counts are fun, are fine, but then you 81 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: get tempted in the second half Jay sweaty and you're like, 82 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: I'm fine, I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go, 83 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,799 Speaker 1: and you know, you know, yeah, um, so we'll see 84 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: what happens with that. But this is a team the 85 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: Steelers could certainly use a t J A one against 86 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: Um there. We talked to uh to Tarall Austin today 87 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: and I know that. To him, I said, you know, 88 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: you guys haven't blitzed as much even last year. Last 89 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: year they blitzed twenty four point nine percent of the time, 90 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: which was down from you know, this year, they're blitzing 91 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: even less, and they're not getting to the quarterback right 92 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: because they don't have t J. Watt. You know, if 93 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: you have what there, then you can get there with four. 94 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: But they're you know, three games this season already without what. 95 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: They've not gotten to the quarterback. I know, and you 96 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: mentioned that yesterday. I do think that's noteworthy. I mean, 97 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: one blitz against Brady. I don't know how many there 98 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: were last week, but it was low, you know. I mean, 99 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: Austin said they blitzed a couple of times early and 100 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: the ball got out so quickly because of the r 101 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: p O s and they just said, okay, we're not 102 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: gonna do that Andy wasting a guy. Yeah, So that 103 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: was kind of my point is I understand that the 104 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: pressure hasn't been there the quarterback hits and that I'm 105 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: not forgiving that. That's I mean, that's a problem. They'll 106 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: get me wrong. But part of it was how they 107 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: schemed things up. And I referenced the I in the 108 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: Sky podcast. It's kind of like what we do here, 109 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: but the Eagles one friend Duffy does it and I 110 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: was on today, but we're better on the wrong side 111 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 1: of the state. But what Greg was saying about the 112 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: Steeler pass rushes, He's like, yeah, they're definitely missing a lot, 113 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: of course, you know, but he said they've done a 114 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: really good job influencing quarterbacks with their coverage, you know, 115 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: you know, making Brady pat the ball one extra turn 116 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: or screwing up the stead. I thought they really affected Brady. 117 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: They got to him twice, but they moved him off 118 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: a spot a bunch of times. Yeah, and and his 119 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: eyes would drop the pat the ball one extra time 120 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,679 Speaker 1: or you know, don't. He's such a timing and rhythm 121 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: guy and so as to it, to be honest, when 122 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: he hurts, isn't as much trying to be and he's 123 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: getting that way. But if you can just make him 124 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: hold the ball for that extra split second because of 125 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: your coverage, that that doesn't do the same thing. It's 126 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: that's how they're scheming. Is one thing that Austin said 127 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: that you know the reason why that he's She's like, look, 128 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: we you know we've been missing guys on the back end. 129 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: We don't want to blitz a lot and put those 130 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: guys on the back on the back end at more 131 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 1: risk because you know you're you're missing guys. So I 132 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 1: get it. And you're playing these r PO teams. These 133 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: teams are like a Brady, like a two of that 134 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: want to get the ball out quickly. It's the same 135 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: thing with Hurts and those receivers. I mean, Godwin, Evans, 136 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: Hill Waddle pretty darn good group. I mean not that 137 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: this group coming in isn't um, but especially last week, 138 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: those guys are so terrifying with the ball in their hand. 139 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: Without doubt, they just changed the game, you know. I mean, 140 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: Evans isn't gonna be on a you win as many guys. 141 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: You know, if you can get seven guys on the 142 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: back end, uh, and it helps you get those guys 143 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: on the tackle the catch. They've done that very yeah. 144 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: I mean they have not generated pressure, but the last 145 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: two matchups a lot of it to me, is ball 146 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: coming out quick and not listening, you know. I mean, 147 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: so it's not as massive as a problem as I 148 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: think people are making it out to be. It's still 149 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: far from ideal in terms of the PASTA One thing 150 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: is interesting to note here with with Jalen Hurts Matt, 151 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: I've looking up some different stats today. I couldn't work 152 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: this into my story. We mentioned yesterday how he's getting 153 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: rid of the ball average two point seven seconds, which 154 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: is down from like three. Oh. Okay, So when he 155 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: this is corn your pro football reference, when he gets 156 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: rid of the football in two point five seconds or less, 157 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: he's ninety one of one twenty one. That's seventy five 158 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: point seventy five point two percent completion percentage sixty five yards, 159 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: four touchdowns, one interception, get a passer rating one oh 160 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: five point six. When he when he holds it two 161 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: point five seconds or more, twenty four or twenty five 162 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: of fifty four, that's a forty six point three percent 163 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: completion percentage four yards. So there are some plays there. 164 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:52,319 Speaker 1: Two touchdowns, one interception, eight three point five passer rating. Interesting. 165 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: I was gonna ask you about Blitz, but this might 166 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 1: be even a better conversation because as a passer, he's 167 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: a working for address and he's progressing very fast, you know, 168 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: and he's he's come a long time way. I didn't 169 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: think he was an NFL starting quarterback as a passer, 170 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: and ever would get there, and I was wrong. Um, 171 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: obviously those numbers, not that they're skewed or don't mean anything, 172 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: but some of them. I mean, if you throw a 173 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: screen or if you throw a bubble, you're gonna complete 174 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: him a lot more than a longer developing play. Of course, 175 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: I mean they're the completion percentages aren't going to compete 176 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: with one another, and you're gonna get more yardage the 177 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: longer you hold it, probably, But I do think making 178 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: him process, whether that's blitz or holding the football, and 179 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: his blitz numbers are much worse than none. But I 180 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: might even rush three, you know what I mean, like 181 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: drop guys into the passing passing ESA football again, hold 182 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: the ball a little longer, and you know, again tackle 183 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,079 Speaker 1: the catch. Or I would even do some delayed rushes 184 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 1: where you know I do that immediately drop you know, 185 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: maybe you drop an end into the into a passing lane, 186 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: but then you blitz, you know, delayed blitz of a 187 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 1: linebacker at the middle of that nature. Yeah. I mean 188 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: I think so too that I want him processing more 189 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 1: like Brady. You don't want processing, you know, you want 190 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 1: to hit and you don't want to get the ball 191 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: out his hands. But I think I want him thinking 192 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: about things a little longer, getting later into the down, 193 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: no matter how you do that, right. You know. The 194 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: other thing about is everybody talked about well, he's you 195 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: know a lot of r p O s r pos RPOs. 196 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: That's been the hot topic this week. This according to 197 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: Pro Football Reference, you know many r PO passes Jalen 198 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: hurts his thrown not very many. Just watching their offense. 199 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: He's throwing thirty one. Okay, that's probably low. He's twenty 200 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: one of thirty one. He has a passer rating of 201 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: one point six. He has throwing three of his touchdown 202 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: passes off of RPOs. Uh non r p O s 203 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: um the completion percentage Office show isn't is good. Three 204 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: touch three touchdowns. Both of his interceptions have come in 205 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 1: those situations. Two point one in all. The thirteen of 206 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 1: the fifteen sacks have come have come on non r 207 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: p O. So if you can get them out of 208 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: those kind of things. Yeah, right, right right, you probably 209 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: need to play close to the line of scrimmage, though, 210 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: I mean, like a couple of things. I don't have 211 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: a great answer for it, because they're a really good team. 212 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 1: Is do I want to blitz him a lot? If 213 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: Watson there, I think the answer is no. If he isn't, 214 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: I'm not sure. I think I want to vary things. 215 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: Do I want to play press man coverage against those 216 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: receivers with single high you know, and disrupt them that way, 217 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: or am I just playing off and doing what's working 218 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: and tackle. I'm kind of torn on where do you 219 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: layer it? Do you? You know, cage Um, you know, 220 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: one time you you you play tight on you know, 221 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: re press on the right side, and next time you 222 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: play it's tight on the left side. Make him processes 223 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: a line of scrimmage where he wants to go with 224 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: the football quickly. I would imagine that's gonna be part 225 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: of it, because they have really vary things. Well yeah, 226 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: I mean I think that they are not going to 227 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: be very staff. That's it's it's very much to me 228 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: what they've done last week and even against Brady Um. 229 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: If you ever watched Star Trek and next generation stuff, 230 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: which I did. When they're fighting the Borg and for 231 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: a while, like the first three or four times they 232 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: use their from from the stats guy, the first three 233 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: or four times they use their phasers against the Borg, 234 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: they work, but then the Borg figure it out the 235 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: modulation of it, and then they get a a little 236 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: force field, so they have to keep changing the modulations 237 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: on their phasers, so the board can't can't lock in 238 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: on what they're doing. So this being the same thing here, 239 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: you're kind of fighting the Borg in this situation and 240 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: you gotta try to mix it up on the back 241 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: end well, which brings me to I think an advantages 242 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: might be a strong word, but the CAZy effect is 243 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: big here. You know, like if they can get him 244 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: back exactly, I'm gonna say it's a slam dunk. But 245 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: you can allow Edmonds to creep into the line of 246 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: scrimmage or play man verse Goddard, which is good at 247 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,959 Speaker 1: or Minca and caz as your deep too on third 248 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: and eight is better than Edmonds in make back there 249 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: does stuff. Just put him in the middle of the 250 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: field and say read the quarterback size and yeah make play, 251 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: Yeah be Troy. You know what I mean like that 252 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: type of thing because we were so excited about it 253 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: before the season of three legit safeties. And Norwood is 254 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 1: a good player too, and he gets kind of thrown 255 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: to the bus here. It's not what I'm going for. 256 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: But Caz doesn't have that experience the case brings to. 257 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: But I would expect three safeties to be in the 258 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: field a lot against this team if Casey can go. Yeah, 259 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: And I don't think you're gonna see that three linebacker 260 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: package with Splane and Bush and Jack anymore either, boy, 261 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: Casey better get back soon. Not that it's been awful 262 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: when the times, but I just don't love it. I 263 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: have a hard time with Splane, to be honest with you, 264 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 1: and I make no mistake about it. I do understand 265 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: that they're really looking for a lot replacement and he's 266 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: walked down on the line of scrimmage in that spot 267 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,719 Speaker 1: and he's the dimebacker. It's just if you would have 268 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: watched every trading camp practice this kid. It's hard to 269 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: get that out of my mind. No, I hear you 270 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: on that one. Um, So this offense is you know, 271 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: I did a thing for the Steelers today and a 272 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: video and one of the questions, was, well, they just 273 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: played a an r P O heavy offense. Can they 274 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: know learn from what they did? Their Miami is much 275 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: RPO heavier than Phil. I'm calling up there based on 276 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: great at it. He was great at Abama. Um, just 277 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: because he's such a sharp decision maker. There's a misnomer. 278 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: I mean, just because you're a good running quarterback doesn't 279 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: mean you're an RPO guy. Yeah, you know. I mean 280 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: they had been running RPOs last year. There's no there's 281 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: no run in the in the RPO with the run 282 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: run and RPO is your handed off, there's no there's 283 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: no quarterback potentially keeping it. I mean what they do 284 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: is they run option. You know where they're going to 285 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: keep a defensive end unblocked. And Hurts is either he's 286 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: gonna put in that guy's belly and either pull it 287 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: out and run himself, or he's a I mean that's option, 288 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: that's not r PO. People get those mixed up. Are 289 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: you spying too in this Spying here hurts in this game, 290 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: especially with three safeties. I mean, Bush and Jack and 291 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: those guys can run with them. But I almost feel 292 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: like it could be a bit of a waste. Um. 293 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: If I'm playing man coverage. I think you have to 294 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: have someone in the middle of the field, you know, 295 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: if you're playing zone, not as much. Yeah, but you 296 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: do have to be cognizant of your rush lanes very 297 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: much so, very much, so, very much so. And they've 298 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: been good about that. I mean, a discipline pass rush 299 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: plan is important here. And that's also a little bit 300 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: of the reasons. Again, I'm not making excuses for him 301 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: that the past rush hasn't been as good. You know, 302 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: they're more a little more, you know, I think they 303 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: want to keep some of these guys in the pocket, 304 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: But then I think it'll be a key to this 305 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: game as well. I don't maybe I'm selling them short, 306 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: but I don't look at Hurts as Josh Allen mahomes 307 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: improv guy, you know. Now, he's not that you really 308 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: want to keep them in the pocket and they hurt 309 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: you either way. But I don't think of parts like 310 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: seven seconds into the play running around, you know, like 311 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: as we just said, to stay, that's not his forte No, No, 312 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: that's the longer the play goes, the worst. He is 313 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: exactly exactly. I think you want him holding the football 314 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: as long as the game behind the line of scrimmage, 315 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: no matter how you get there. One other thing here 316 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: that's kind of surprising to me, Matt on third downs, 317 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: Philadelphia is not great. It's they're not great in the 318 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: second half. They take the ball away, they take the 319 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: takeaway things. That's the huge part. That's a huge part 320 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: of it. You saw the stat pack and I saying 321 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: it like, the second quarter is ridiculous, but the second 322 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: half isn't. And it's not because they're winning by fifty 323 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: and if you can weather the storm in the second quarter, 324 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: which I look, by the way last night, I almost 325 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: I almost look like the turnover differentials in second it 326 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: must be a bunch. Yeah, But I was looking for 327 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: my guarantees this week in the on on the draft Kings, 328 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: the Eagles minus three in the second quarter was one 329 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: of the Oh yeah, I couldn't bring myself to make 330 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: that one of my guarantees. But um, yeah, they're defensively. 331 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: They gave up five yards a rush. They allow forty 332 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: four point six conversion right on third downs, which is 333 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: twenty nine the league. Exactly. Um. The only thing that 334 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: they're really good at is is shutting down outside receivers. 335 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: The two cornerbacks have played well. Um, you know, the 336 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: pass rushes to the top of League of Zacs, but 337 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: there when the players are good. Um, I don't know 338 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: what to do about the run game either, Like the 339 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 1: Steels aren't the best running team in the league. But 340 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: if you're the Browns or whoever, and you are a 341 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 1: really good run team facing these guys, I would think 342 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: the whole game plan would be run like run, run, run. 343 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 1: And they faced the They faced the fewest rushes in 344 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: the league. And again they are winning late in games, 345 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 1: but they're not blowing people out by twenty and people 346 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: to stop running. I mean five yards of rush. You 347 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: would think run, run, run, And I'm not sure that's 348 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: the Steeler formula, but I'm surprised they faced the fewest 349 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 1: rushes in the league. Here the scores of their games. 350 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: So they beat Detroit thirty thirty five and the opener 351 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: they beat Minnesota to seven. That game wasn't competitive. Uh. 352 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: They then beat Washington eight, They beat Jacksonville swampo. Yeah, 353 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: they beat Arizona seventeen, they beat Dallas. They're not blowing 354 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: people out, They're winning every game. This is not like 355 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: Buffalo at Home has just destroyed people, right like I 356 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 1: bet nobody runs the ball against Buffalo in the fourth 357 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: quarter all year. Ten rushing attempts. I mean they've they've 358 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: had one, you know, even at home, one real blowout. 359 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 1: I just don't know like this, Like the line on 360 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: this one was ten and a half. I mean, they're 361 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: not beating many teams, right yeah, I mean they're even 362 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: their school wars thirty eight, twenty four, twenty six, and 363 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 1: that thirty eight was against Detroit, which might have the 364 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: worst defense in the league, right right, right, absolutely, So, 365 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: I mean some of that. They had four fifty five 366 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: yards of offense in that game. They had four eight 367 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: six against Minnesota, But the last few weeks it's been 368 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 1: four hundred for a one, three fifty seven to sixty 369 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: eight against House and Dallas is a really good defense. Um, 370 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: so there's somewhere in the middle. Yeah, there. I don't 371 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: think this is a super explosive offense. No, I agree 372 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: with you. It's a great team. I mean we're not 373 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: selling them solid. The offensive line is really good, the 374 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: defensive line is good. But there are a couple of 375 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: little things that don't quite add up, and the turnover 376 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: skew a lot of that stuff. It does it really does. 377 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 1: I mean, they have to watch every game play after 378 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: play and figure out the game scripts. But like A. J. 379 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: Brown has very few catches in the second half of 380 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: game sname with Goddard, you know, and it's not like 381 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: they're just running down people's throats. And it's a little 382 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: odd with that, you know, trying to figure out why, 383 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: like Jacksonville turned the ball over five times, they lost 384 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: the turnover a battle five to one. Jackson was winning 385 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,479 Speaker 1: that game in the second half, right, Lawrence just kept dropping. 386 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: The wall was wet, I mean, and the winning by 387 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: eight points in a game that they lost a turnover 388 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: battle or five to one. Yeah, no, they wont to 389 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: turnover battle. I'm saying, yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah again, I 390 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: think they're really good. Um, there are some odd anomalies 391 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 1: though for their season. And I keep coming back this 392 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: blitz thing. The first two weeks or first three weeks, 393 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: nobody blitz them, you know, and that's the running quarterbacks 394 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: don't get blitzed. I keep comparing it to Lamar. But 395 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: every week since higher percentage of blitz, higher percentage of 396 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: blitz because they're not really handling it and the offense 397 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: might be a little susceptible. But what do you think 398 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: they did? All by week? We handled stuff. Doesn't mean 399 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: he got good at it though, No, not at all. 400 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 1: You know. That's that's I would. I would try it out. 401 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: I would, I would at least go out a couple 402 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: of times. Yeah, I mean, because you think about it, 403 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: if you're a really good running quarterback, you probably haven't 404 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: been blitzed very much in your career because people are 405 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 1: petrified and most blitz is, at least historically, our man 406 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: coverage behind it, so it's just a fear thing. So 407 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: you know, Lamar didn't deal with blitz until last year 408 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: all that much, you know, and then he got good 409 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: at it, you know, so uh and hurts his further 410 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: behind in its development. And then a guy like Lamar, 411 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, so it's gonna be interesting to see 412 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: what the Steelers have dialed up for this Philadelphia Eagles team. 413 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: You gotta leave it, you know, every everything in the 414 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: everything as you got. I was say, you shoot all 415 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: your bullets. Yeah, there's no reason to hold anything back, 416 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: and it means a fake point or a surprise on 417 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: side or whatever, you know, go for it. Yeah, now's 418 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: the time. You can subscribe now to the Drive on 419 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio. Every episode we do is available for 420 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: you to download. You can subscribe today through the Steelers 421 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: Mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, and wherever you 422 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: find your podcast. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lally. 423 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 424 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: We'll be back with him more right after this