1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson, home 2 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome to 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly, Welcome to the Drive. We're now, 4 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: we're here, we're modeling, are modeling through this whole thing. 5 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: Um Steelers with a very disappointing performance on Sunday in 6 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: Cincinnati to ten. They lose to the Bengals. I don't 7 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: even know that it was that closely. It really wasn't. 8 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: They really didn't show up. And you know, Matt Um, 9 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 1: I'm here with Matt Williamson only issues. Shouldn't everybody know that? 10 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: But the league this year, I don't know that you 11 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: could like anything, is that you can figure anything out. 12 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: It's really hard hard, There's no doubt about that. And 13 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: you know, football is such a match up drive in 14 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: sport that you just look at it and you know, okay, 15 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: Like you know, I looked at, like, for example, the 16 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: Chargers going into Denver this week, and I thought, back 17 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: to back Charger performances so odd, you know, I thought, 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: you know, this could be a tough matchup for the 19 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: Chargers just because the Broncos run the ball so well 20 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: and they end up losing the game and we'ren't competitive 21 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: in it being a pretty bad and I just wonder 22 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: if the if the Bengals are a bit of a 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: matchup issue for the Steelers and constituted. I mean, they've 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: they lost both games to them. You know, it's like, Okay, 25 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: the Bengals are now three and one in the division. 26 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: I think they're the best team in division. And it's 27 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: not just recency bias, and it's also watched. That's what 28 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: they've done. It's what they've done over the course of 29 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: the season. They've now beaten the Steelers twice convincingly. They 30 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: beat the Ravens in Baltimore convincingly, but but they got 31 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: slaughtered by the Browns at home just like a month ago. 32 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: It's the matchups. It's crazy, yeah, And there's many many 33 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: examples around the league of this. Who mean, even I 34 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: was so bold a couple of weeks ago to be like, oh, 35 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: there's five teams in the NFC and they're definitely getting 36 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: in and Dallas and the Rams really that good anymore? 37 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: You know, they've been you know what I mean, like 38 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: I thought they were the Rams. The Rams trade for 39 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: von Miller right Odell sign sign Odell Beckham and haven't 40 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: won a game since the Broncos trade Von Miller away 41 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: and their two and one. As I mentioned the Broncos too, 42 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: you brought him up. I was three weeks ago. I'm like, 43 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: this seems terrible. They got no chance. You know. The 44 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: a f C is crazy, you know, And now I'm 45 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: looking at teams like Tennessee. Well, there's actually a couple 46 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: of teams that I guess are in the playoff hunt. 47 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: Tennessee probably gonna go to the playoffs by default default most, 48 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: I mean, because the Colts lost and they beat him 49 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: head to head twice. They think, and you look at 50 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: the Titans and the Saints and the Browns are close 51 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: to this. They have nothing at the school position players, 52 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: you know, like anyone plays fantasy. It doesn't even know 53 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: the guys getting the ball on these teams, and they're 54 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: still in the hunt to some degree. I mean, it's 55 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: a crazy Dolphins are back in it. Dolphins are back. 56 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: They're on a hot streak. You mean they're back, Um? Yeah, 57 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: I mean the Steelers are five five and one, and 58 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,839 Speaker 1: there's eleven teams in the a f C with six 59 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: wins or more, and that doesn't even include the Dolphins, 60 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: who are on a tear or five and seven playing 61 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: better than the Steelers right now, you know, I mean 62 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: it's craziness. Yeah. Realistically, if you look at the only 63 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: teams in the a f C who have no shot 64 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: that anything are the Jets, Texans and Jaguars. Right, everybody 65 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: else is in it. Everybody else is in it now. 66 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: You know, the Dolphins have a climb there are there 67 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: right behind the steel you know, EBB and flow to 68 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: every season, um, you know, and we've definitely seen that 69 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: with the Steelers this year. You start out one in three, 70 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: you win your next four. Um, there's been streaks, yeah, 71 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: they've they've been very streaky, you know. I don't know, 72 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: you know they did they hit bottom on side day? 73 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: Did they just get worse? Did they just run into 74 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: the wrong team at the wrong time? You know? I mean, 75 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: I do think that the Bengals are difficult matchup for them. 76 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: And here's why they play them twice a year. They've 77 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: they've obviously figured out the plan to limit the Steelers offense. 78 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: I don't think there's any doubt about that. Now. I 79 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: don't know that every team can do it the way 80 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: that they do it. Um, but they've also got the 81 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 1: offensive weaponry that you can't. You know, when the Steelers 82 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: played the Browns, they just shut their running game. They 83 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: loaded up to shut the running game down. All right, Cleveland, 84 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: you want to you wanna have Baker Mayfield, you want 85 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: to throw the ball, have at it. And so they 86 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: gave up some yardage in that game, but they shut 87 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: down the running game and shot down the Browns. The league. 88 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: You can't do that against Cincinnati. That's very true. Two 89 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: things on that is. First of all, I always tell 90 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: the story that when I was in the draft room 91 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: with the Browns, we opened the meetings with what can 92 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: we do today to get bad or to beat the Steelers. 93 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure the Bengals have been doing something similar with 94 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: the Ravens Steelers in mine, our whole lifetime, basically, and 95 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: I think they're getting it. I mean, they're building an 96 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: a f C North physical football team that doesn't have 97 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: a lot of weaknesses, that can do things in a 98 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: lot of different ways. And Burrow is really good. You 99 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: know that, that's obviously a key component, you know. Um, 100 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: But I think you're right because it used to be 101 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: even as early as last year, the best offenses in 102 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: the league. We're the ones that through all over you 103 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: and then the Bills in the Chiefs. Absolutely, it's all 104 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: about balance now. It's all about balance now. I mean, 105 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: I look, that's one of the reasons I mentioned Dallas like, 106 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: I'm like, they can beat you anyway you want, not 107 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: with his hurt Zeke Elliott and Ceedee Lamb on the 108 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 1: mix and Cooper on COVID. So these balanced offenses and 109 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: Cincinnati is a great example, are really the way to 110 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: play this year right now. And I look around the 111 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: a f C and I think they have the most 112 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: balance in offense. Yeah, I think you're probably right. I 113 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: haven't thought about it. I mean definitely in the division, 114 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: more balanced than New England or Buffalo. I mean I 115 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: think maybe the Chargers will be the the next closest 116 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: thing to that. Yeah, but they're so finesse. Yeah, they 117 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: don't have the physical back I mean mixing, Yeah, mixing 118 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: makes the difference there exactly. Like I'm not saying he's 119 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: better than that. This is what Cleveland thought they had 120 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: if O'Dell would have hit makers the guy they thought 121 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: he was. But it's not what they do have. You know, 122 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: Buffalo doesn't. Buffalo doesn't want to run the football. They can't. 123 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: They can't. The Chiefs don't want to run the football. 124 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: They barely can. The Titans wanted to run the football, 125 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: but they don't really throw it that well, especially not 126 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: as currently destructed. They don't have any guys now. The 127 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: Patriots really don't throw the football kinds. Yeah, the Colts, 128 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: you know, the Colts can run the football, but you 129 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: don't fear their passing game. And the Ravens. Ravens are 130 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: interesting because they're actually trying, trying, but Lamar is not 131 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: there yet. He showed that last night four interceptions and 132 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 1: that keep playing very poorly night. Those interceptions were bad. 133 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: But they've constructed themselves. Matt's having some issues here going 134 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: on here, but they constructed themselves to realize we are 135 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: to one dimensional. Let's go build a passing attack. And 136 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: it's still work in progress. And they're lucking into wins 137 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: in a way. Um, but I don't think they're a 138 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: good team. I don't think they're a great team. I 139 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: should say I think they're good. They're there are they are? 140 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: They are in that group of a f C teams 141 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: that is good this year. I think it might be 142 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: the entire a f C could get hot. Yeah, it's 143 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: all about getting hot at the right time and very 144 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: fortunate with outcomes of games. And again we always talked 145 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: about there's you know, a skilled to that and maybe 146 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: the Bengals are still learning how to win in this 147 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: league and things like that. I think, yeah, yeah, I mean, 148 00:07:57,840 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: that's how you lose to the Jets. That's how you know, 149 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: you don't get up for those games like you do 150 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: a game against the Steelers or the Ravens, and so 151 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: you know, you take those kind of things for granted. 152 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: I'll say this, I looked this up last night. Um. 153 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: You know people that say, well, you can't change, you 154 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: can't fix that quickly. In the NFL, the Bengals went 155 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: out and signed Trey Hendrickson in the off season. He 156 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: was their big signing five four years, sixty million dollars. Well, 157 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: the Steelers don't need to do that, No, No, they've 158 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: got their edge rushers. Um. Then they signed Mike Kilton 159 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: four years, twenty four million dollars six million dollars a year. 160 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: They signed a Woozier three years twenty one point seven 161 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: five million dollars seven million dollars a year for another 162 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: starting corner. So there are two paid to two starting corners, 163 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi one year six point two million dollars, 164 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: and then they signed Riley Reef one year seven point 165 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: five million dollars and they've gotten production of all those. Yeah, 166 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: those guys all started yesterday against Steer. Um. They actually 167 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: have two off seasons of this though. Yeah, they just 168 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: got robbed. Well, they got Reader and guys like that. 169 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: But again, the Steelers don't need They've got Cam Hayward. 170 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: They've got some of those pieces in place. I mean 171 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: the Bengals d Yeah, it was much worse on paper 172 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: a year or two ago than what the Steelers have. 173 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: And we'll go in to the off season. Yeah, the 174 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: bottom line is that those those five key players for 175 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: them cost them against the cap this year thirty five 176 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: million dollars. The Steelers have forty five million dollars in 177 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: cap space heading in the next year. Now, you you're 178 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: probably gonna have to get a quarterback, but you don't 179 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: have as many holes as the Bengals had. No, no, 180 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: right like, and you're not gonna get the first overall pick, 181 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: but you're doing a pretty decent draft pick again too, right, 182 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: Um and again, I'm not ready to say, oh, this 183 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 1: season is over, it's done. Get six games left. You 184 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 1: got six games left, five of them against the people 185 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: you're fighting with first you win. If you win five 186 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: of those six, or even four of those six, because 187 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: of the tie, you'll be in the hunt. Yeah, I mean, 188 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: and the ending on who you beat as well. Yeah. 189 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I feel like we're dancing around the elephant 190 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: in the room of just how bad the Steelers played. 191 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: They played really badly. I mean, there's no way around that, 192 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: and we can analyze it to no end. But it 193 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: was I don't know if you had this issue. It 194 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: was kind of hard to write a postgame article because 195 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: it really wasn't good. It really wasn't for me because 196 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: they I just used what they said. We sucked, we 197 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: were bad. You know, this is bad scrimmage time and 198 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: time again, and we're the lesser team physically, which shocks. 199 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: They got man handled the line scrimmage, and I think 200 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: Tom Wins aid it. You know that when you lose 201 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: it the line of scrimmage on both sides the ball. 202 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: This can happen in the NFL, you know, and that 203 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: recognized it for years. The Bengals, I used to try 204 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: to play the bully against the Steelers, and they would 205 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: get the personal files. Yeah right right, and try to 206 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: show that the Steelers how tough they were. Yesterday, they 207 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: actually did show them how tough they were without question. 208 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 1: And even they're tight ends are playing hard and blocking 209 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: and Tyler Boyd and Jamaar Chase or blocking down field, 210 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: and you know, it's a group effort, but it's there's 211 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: a difference to like you said, get a bunch of 212 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: tough guys with questionable character that take cheap shots and 213 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: hit it in the head. Yeah, that's how they show 214 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 1: they're tough. No, I'm tough. I'm tough. I can smack you. 215 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: You know. It matter to a good technique and good effort, 216 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, without question, and they're getting it. 217 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: I mean the Bengals. To think that teams like the 218 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: Browns and Bengals are gonna stink forever, it's crazy. At 219 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: some points, you are, I mean again, you do what 220 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: you do? What they did here, um again spending thirty 221 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: five million dollars this year in free agency. But that's 222 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: not a crazy amount of mind, it's not crazy. It 223 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: was it was very Steeler like and who they signed. 224 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: It wasn't the they didn't make the splash. They didn't 225 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: go Browns here and try to sign a bun. We're 226 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: gonna sign a bunch of big names to big money. 227 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna pay We're gonna pay eleven million dollars a 228 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: year for a Stin Hooper, you know, things like that. No, 229 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: they signed guys who were you know this, this is 230 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: your middle class. This is the problem I have right 231 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: now with the Steelers. They don't have a middle class 232 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: and the aster. That's a really good converse. It's stars 233 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: and young guys and you and you know, if the 234 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: stars don't play well, the young guys aren't consistent. But 235 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: it's not consistent enough to be able to expect it 236 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: from week to week. Point in case in point, Chase 237 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 1: Chase Claypool yesterday finishes with three catches for a d 238 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: two yards. You're like, oh, he was okay, two big drops, 239 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: two more penalties. He leads the NFL and all NFL 240 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: wide receivers with nine penalties. Yeah, that's a problem. It's 241 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: a problem. He's I actually listed him and I was 242 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: really torn on this is one of the few bright spots, 243 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: but I lumped them with friar Muth and Deonte and 244 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: really said I said, frear Muth and Deonte were the 245 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: only bright spots. I put the three of them together 246 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: because they were productive, but boy, it was against garbage time. 247 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: And and then I think the sentence I typed was 248 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: Claypool is still maddening because he's a very immature player 249 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: and is not developing quickly in that regard. And a 250 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: massive drop in the first half. It's third and one, 251 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: there's two they come out of the two minute warning, 252 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 1: third and one. He's wide open across the middle, doesn't 253 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: catch the ball cleanly. Wasn't a great ball, but it 254 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: was in his hands. He caught it like he tried 255 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: to catch it like four different times. Jesse Bates comes in, 256 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: knocks it free. The Steelers punt. They hadn't stopped the 257 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: Bengals all day long. You go with the fourth and 258 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: one at the end of the half. Yes, I lost 259 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: my mind when they pointed, yeah, it's at that. I 260 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: get it. It's at the thirty four. But you haven't 261 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: stopped them all day long. Now they have three time out. 262 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: We can also talk about the sequence that led up 263 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 1: to that. They get the ball back. There's like two 264 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: fifty left in the first half. You come in and 265 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: you run the ball twice, run down to the two 266 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: minute warm. What in the hell are you doing there? 267 00:13:58,080 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: This has been somewhat of a trying to establish the 268 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: running game, right mont Naja Harris had three carries to 269 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: that point three and they weren't going anywhere, and it 270 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: wasn't like your gouge in them. Clock management there was 271 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: really bad because that was making me crazy. And then 272 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: the punt to me was just totally unexcusable because you're 273 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: losing bad. You know they're gonna walk right down. You've 274 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: got an opportunity there. Stopped them on one play. Let 275 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: al in one drive. You got an opportunity there. It's 276 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: still to three, it's still in the game. You're still 277 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: we're still in the game four halftime, right. If you 278 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: punt the ball back to them in that situation, which 279 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: they did and the Bengals at three time out, there's 280 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: no guarant you haven't stopped them yet other than stopping 281 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: them when they had first and go with the five 282 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: after the first interception. That's a stop. But it's not. 283 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: But I mean it was let's just say, you don't 284 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: don't give me the Oh we're gonna put it. We're 285 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: a defensive minded team. We're gonna go with our strengths. 286 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: That's a abysmal where you think that you can stop 287 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: them because they're gonna be in past, past, past, MOBEI 288 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: at the end of the half, Well, that didn't happen either. 289 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: It didn't matter that, it didn't matter any wanted. I mean, 290 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: you had to recognize it. So I mean, if if 291 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: you get the ball, if you keep the ball there 292 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: and you go down, at least kick a field goal 293 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: right right right, you have the ball coming out of 294 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: the second, the second starts the second half. Now you 295 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: took a little bit of momentum into the half. Yeah, 296 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: and the Bengals don't have any more, you know, and 297 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: and maybe you score a touchdown and make now you're 298 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: back in the game. At least you didn't give yourself 299 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: a chance by punting there. You know, make it your 300 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: last ditch effort to be in the game. Make it. 301 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick comes up with the interception to keep them and 302 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: the Steelers get the ball back with thirty seconds. That 303 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: doesn't mean that wasn't the right decision. Wasn't the right 304 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: decision In a way, It ended up good because Makeum 305 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: made a great play, but then then you throw the 306 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: interceptions three Anyways, now the game is over. But the 307 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: coaching decision to not go for it on fourth and 308 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: one and even leading up to that, to me was 309 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: insane and no sense. It just showed no trust in 310 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: your offense at all. But how do you trust your defense, right? 311 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: I mean, neither one's working, but you know I need 312 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: the yard. Yeah, I just thought that that was I 313 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: don't want to say waving the white flag in the 314 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: first half, um, but it just wasn't the right decision. 315 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I don't know. I'm not a 316 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: guy again, I I I don't go for it all 317 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: the time. One fourth down in that situation, I'm going 318 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: for it considering your defense can't stop a soul, right, 319 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: And to me, that's what was there to lose. I 320 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: can't put my defense on the field right now, as 321 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: I thought. You know, I've seen this parade over and 322 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: over and really for the last couple of games. I mean, 323 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: just getting gouged and I don't have it in front 324 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: of me. But I mean the first two paragraphs of 325 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: the article I wrote were just abhorrent numbers defensively, not 326 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: only in this game, but over a two game stretch, 327 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: a three game stretch they've fallen from. I think at 328 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: the start of the month they were eight nine tent 329 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: somewhere in that range defensive dB o A. They went 330 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: in this week this week, Yeah, and they had to 331 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: go backwards. I mean, so it's it's not been pretty. 332 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: Um know, whatever's stretched now, whatever has been exposed here 333 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: on defense is not getting fixed. No, not, you know, 334 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: and you could you know, we talked about it last week. 335 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: Well they I wrote about well that ninety of the 336 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: rushing yards they gave up last week were to Justin 337 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: Herbert on stuff. Okay, that you know, that's not some 338 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: things away in the game here and there. And one 339 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: of the things I wrote last week, we're I thought 340 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: this defense went into the Chargers game with one about 341 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: above average starter. What do you expect? Okay, but the 342 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: lines ran all over the week before and these guys 343 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: come out and move the ball anyway they want on 344 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 1: you know, this was this was just a butt kicking absolutely. Um. 345 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: They were less physical team that worries me. Um. A 346 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: stat that I cited to was in the last two games, 347 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: every first half drive but one has resulted in points 348 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: like we know this team can't play from behind, they 349 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: have to play a certain way, and they're getting blown 350 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: out from the get go. You know, like, yeah, it's 351 00:17:57,560 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: it's not been pretty. And you know, you look at 352 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: nobody thought that the offense would be the better it 353 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: was yesterday. It has been again. You look at the 354 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: d v O A. The offense went into this week one, 355 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: the defense went that's not pretty. That's that's that's how 356 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 1: you end up at You know, you're you're fortunate to 357 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: be five and five at this point. And they're not 358 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: running the ball well either, I mean obviously, but they 359 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: didn't even try yesterday. I that's the other part of that, 360 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: that that equation in this you didn't try to run 361 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: the football against him? Did you just look at their 362 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 1: numbers say oh we can't do that, right? Absolutely? I 363 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: mean Najia Harris head three carries in the first half 364 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: before that that last two minute drive and three losing, 365 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: but still threes not that much much because that's he's 366 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 1: still the driving force of the offense, whether you want 367 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: it to be or not. And unfortunately, in a way, 368 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: and this isn't a knock on Naji he's the he's 369 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: a compiler. I mean, he's the style of back where 370 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: the more you give it to him, the more you 371 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: dedicate the right and the more it's gonna pay off. 372 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: And we've seen enough of that evidence to understand that. 373 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: And you can blame this offensive lines, the offensive line good, no, 374 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: but neither Cincinnatis supposedly right, But if you let him 375 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: just keep coming off the ball, it's gonna pay off. 376 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: This something to go. Joe Mixon had twenty carries in 377 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,680 Speaker 1: the first half of that game. Yeah, that's a full 378 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: game's worth, the full game's worth. I mean he was 379 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: over hundred yards of that and the other you know, 380 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: the other part he had twenty carries. Burrow was twelve 381 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: or fourteen throwing the ball and one of those was 382 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: an interception. Yeah, absolutely, you know. So they did what 383 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: they did, whatever they wanted to do, and from the beginning, 384 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: from the beginning, and the defense had no answer, none, 385 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: not at all. And everyone's to blame. Really, I mean, 386 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: you could call out James Pierre, he's the latest whipping boy. 387 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: Had a terrible game. Bush has been on the hot 388 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: seat for a while now. Terrible game. I mean, the 389 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: d line besides Cam. I actually didn't think they were 390 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: as bad as they've been, but they we're bad. You know, 391 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 1: they were still getting pushed off the I mean every 392 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 1: time I watched the line of scrimmage, you know, they 393 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: were getting driven to three yards down the field. You know, 394 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: it were turned wherever the Bengals wanted to turn them. 395 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: Um what was the shellow himself? You know, And you 396 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: know there's definitely schematic things going on to people are 397 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 1: just coming out doing the same things, you know, and 398 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: those stretch runs and downhill runs, and I mean it's 399 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: it's not super advanced stuff. It's a little surprising, but 400 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,239 Speaker 1: we've seen stretches where they've been able to stop it, 401 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: which is what's baffling about the whole thing. You know, 402 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: you reference to the Detroit game. First quarter of the 403 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: Detroit game, they gave up twenty yards on six carries, 404 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 1: take it all day long, and that they were dedicated 405 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: to running the ball with six offensive linemen and second 406 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: quarter in the first drive. In the third quarter they 407 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: had you know, the next thing, you know, they have 408 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: a hundred nine rushing yards, So they had a hundred 409 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: seventy nine rushing yards from the second quarter to the 410 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: first drive of the third quarter and then they didn't 411 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: run the ball again effectively the rest of you know, 412 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: it's like again, ten carries for nineteen yards the rest 413 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: of away, what the hell happened? You've cited Seattle game 414 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: a lot too, like there was one really bad quarter 415 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 1: and then tackling wasn't great, But it wasn't like this 416 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 1: where you were just start to finish. It could have 417 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 1: went to fifty if that was what they chose to do, 418 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And a couple of things 419 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: to bring up. I mean, there's so many things we 420 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: could bring up, and we'll talk about him throughout the 421 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: week too, But like I understand the whole, we're trying 422 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: to set a precedence. We want leaders. Um, there's a 423 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: toughness involved. But get Ben and Cam and Watt out 424 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: of the game. So I don't have a problem with 425 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 1: playing them. Why what I do? Because he was especially 426 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: he fighting an injury but has only played half the snap. 427 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:52,719 Speaker 1: Though as a guy, I've been in that situation before. 428 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: The player wants to stay on. I get that. Um. 429 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: I wanted something bigger to fight for. I wanted to 430 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,439 Speaker 1: fight to the to the bitter end. I wanted to 431 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: play and you know, let's keep because that's how you 432 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: get better. I get that. I get that part. I do. 433 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: I mean, so I'm like, I get both sides because 434 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 1: in the other part of the equation with that, okay, 435 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: because they're early in the second half, people they should 436 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: just put Mason Rudolph in. What do you want then, 437 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: because if you're gonna put Mason Rudolph out there, just 438 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 1: quote unquote see what he's got. Does that mean you're 439 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: also playing Claypool and Deonte because you gotta give him 440 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: a chance. Oh yeah, I'm playing the number one other line. Okay, 441 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: So then if Deonte Harris gets gets injured, then people 442 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: are screaming like as they did later. You know, why 443 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: are you playing him in this game? See that was 444 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: uncalled for in my opinion by the fans. He was 445 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: in the last play the game and he got hurt. 446 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: That's just bad luck, that's not I mean, people don't 447 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: realize it's hard to feel a football team with the 448 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: number of guys you have out there. You can't just 449 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: get everybody. You got forty seven active on game, and 450 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: two or three or the starters, Yeah, got hurt in 451 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 1: the middle of the game. I would have got banned out. 452 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 1: I would have got Cam out. I would have got 453 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: waked out. I mean, I'm still even minca in and 454 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, I mean Watt's fighting an injury. Cam has 455 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: been a warrior, and Ben's old, you know, and all 456 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:08,719 Speaker 1: those guys. I mean that both those guys are up 457 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: in age. I would have got them out of the 458 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: game because I'm not saying Tom's talking about both of 459 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: his mouth with it. But when I looked at snap 460 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: counts today, I couldn't believe Nase only played about half 461 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: the snaps. And it also wouldn't shock me, is there's 462 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: something going on with them, because if it came out 463 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: that he's fighting a little something, it wouldn't shock me either, 464 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: because his usage the last couple of weeks has been down. Well, 465 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: he was on the injury report that foot injury a 466 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago. Yeah, now he's played and he's 467 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: looked good. He's tough and he's still effective. But yeah, 468 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: there's a lot, you know, there could be something there 469 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: that he's yeah fighting, that would add up to me. 470 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: But I mean I think Tomlas said something like, well, 471 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,199 Speaker 1: we were kind of looking for anything, but don't you know, 472 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: snow and looking for anything is not Benny Snell. Look 473 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: else we're looking. If that's what you're If that's what 474 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: you've found, you found the wrong thing, right. Let him 475 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: cover kicks and punts and yeah, he doesn't need touches. 476 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: I mean, it's different if you're losing by a million 477 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: and the flag has been waved. But okay, but really 478 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: bad game, really bad game. UM. I've seen stuff like 479 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: this before, and I've seen you know, I like, I 480 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: can remember UM and the ones uh Super Bowl year 481 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: they went to They've gone to the Philadelphia a couple 482 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:22,680 Speaker 1: of times and just gotten destroyed at the line of 483 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: scrimmage and Broethlisberger sacked nine times and that kind of stuff, 484 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: and then they bounced back. I wonder, you know, if 485 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 1: you're sitting in that meeting in the team meetings today 486 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: and Mike Tomlin, who I guarantee is very frank about 487 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: this stuff, UM, was calling out pretty much everybody. Yeah, 488 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: I can guarantee you didn't one of you guys ask him, 489 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: you know, or are the gonna be changes? You kind 490 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: of said, no jobs saved type of deal to me, 491 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: that would include, let's let's be honest here. Mike Tomlins 492 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: is the defensive play caller on this tea, I might 493 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: take I might have to look in the mirror and 494 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: because he's guessed wrong on some of these in some 495 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: of these situations. He talked about it in the Detroit game. Well, 496 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: I thought on third and longs that they would pass 497 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: the football. Well they didn't. You know, they just kept 498 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: running the ball. Um. You know, you know there's something 499 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: be said for that. You know you've got If you 500 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 1: don't want to have Keith Butler called the plays, you 501 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 1: don't think he's the guy, This would be a good 502 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: time to get Tarrell Austin involved in that. He's done 503 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: it before. If he's your if he's your heir apparent, 504 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: which I believe he is, is your defensive coordinated Butler 505 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: sixty Yeah, yeah, let him Let him call the last 506 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 1: six games of the season. See that stuff happening around 507 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,679 Speaker 1: the league all the time. You're way closer to the 508 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: organization and this coaching staff than I am. But I 509 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 1: mean I heard it Terrell Austin twenty years ago. It 510 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: was an extremely bright, super high future type of dude. 511 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: I'm sure all those things still apply, and it would 512 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: make a lot of sense, make a lot of sense. 513 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: I mean he's already he's upstairs. Um, he's he's seeing 514 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: the entire field. I'm sure he has a hand what's 515 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: called and nature. But I didn't say Terrell once you 516 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: why don't you call this game that defense shouldn't look 517 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: like that just because Joe Hayden and bugs are inactive, 518 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: it's bad the bugs thing. Was he a healthy scratch? Yes, 519 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: kind of how it was reported. Yeah, okay, Um, they 520 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: could have used they wanted to. They wanted to play Hayward. 521 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: It's a nose and they weren't going to play much 522 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 1: three four in this game. But this is a heavy 523 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: three receiver tea. Yeah, this is a team. This is 524 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: a game that you're going to play a lot of 525 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: nickel in. Um. But they ran all over your nickel. 526 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: They ran all over your base. It didn't matter. It 527 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:41,959 Speaker 1: did better, You're right, I mean, and they will come 528 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,479 Speaker 1: out with two tight ends and hammer you you know, 529 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: and they did some of that. Um. I'm okay with 530 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 1: Hayward on the nose on third downs, but against the 531 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: physical running team, it's asking a lot from him. He's 532 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: certainly capable. But along those lines, something I wrote about 533 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: the D line and was, yeah, it was really bad. 534 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: And it's really easy just to say it's Hayward and 535 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: the Pips, and it is. I mean, I don't even 536 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 1: think it's said anymore. Yeah, these Pips can't sing a 537 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 1: note in the right. But I think Wormley and louder 538 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: Milk are okay. But they're not noses. You know, they're 539 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 1: they're okay at what they can do, and they're useful 540 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: when they should be on the team. Same thing they like, 541 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: they brought it. They kept Daniel archer Bond. They brought 542 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: him up off the practice squad when he's a six. 543 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: Yeah right, he's not a nose. He's not gonna anchor, 544 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: and you know they're going to move those guys in 545 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: the run game. And that's not the quite frankly. I 546 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 1: mean it's not not like Bugs has been anchoring either. No, No, 547 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: he's just okay, you know, right, he flashes here and there, 548 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: but yeah, right, exactly, they don't. And again it goes 549 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: back to our first conversation about offenses that are balanced 550 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 1: are really taking over the league. And I'm not saying 551 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 1: the Steels should go sign Casey Hampton, but they got 552 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 1: away from a true nose, as has every team. You know, 553 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: and they're going even a LUA lou is not the 554 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 1: old school Lebo knows, you know what I mean like 555 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 1: and one knows isn't gonna face. We've said before. They're 556 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:14,360 Speaker 1: not a team that's built to just slam the door 557 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: in your run game. They're built is any good defense 558 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: in today's NFL, and they're built just to penetrate. You know, 559 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 1: get Okay, you're gonna get five, you're gonna get six, 560 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: You're gonna get five, and then they get you for 561 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: a two yard loss, right which is the way that 562 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 1: NFL defenses are getting drawn up right now. But it 563 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: also goes back to, okay, if we're gonna be super 564 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: disruptive with our it's all built on the pass rush. 565 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: When you go into the season, anyone that has eyes 566 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: do the best thing about this team was the pass rush. 567 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: But everybody else knows that as well, so they try 568 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: to stay away from it, hence continually running the football. 569 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: And the pass rush isn't an A plus now, it's 570 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: a B, you know, due to circumstances, which that's why 571 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: the NFL is still hard to succe seed. But then 572 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: the other part, you know, the coin flip of it, 573 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: and this isn't to me blaming coaching is. I hate 574 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: when people ask me how can they create more tone? Nerves? 575 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 1: I think a lot of this just the way the 576 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: ball bounces and all those type of things. But they've 577 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: had two games where they haven't created a turnover and 578 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: no games where they've created more than one. You like, 579 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: with the state of the offense. If I even said 580 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: I could talking about that game, I think I was 581 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: with Tim Ben's or somebody like, if they could just 582 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: create a couple more turnovers the second half of the season, 583 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: a lot of the problems will go away. And maybe 584 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: that's still coming. I don't know, but it hasn't been there. 585 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: It definitely has not. But we're gonna take a break. 586 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson. I'm Dale Lally. You're listening to 587 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. Steelers have a 588 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: well big game this week against the Ravens. If they 589 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: can win this, they can win this one given the 590 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: eight FC right now, they're right back in it. We'll 591 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: talk about what happened around the league, and uh with 592 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: that Ravens Cleveland game yesterday in particular, Yeah, just ugly, ugly, 593 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 1: But we'll talk about that when we get back he is. Uh, 594 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: you're listening to the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 595 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 1: You're listening to the official voice of Black and Gold Nation, 596 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: Beloved Black and Gold s n R.