1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome 3 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: to the Drive. I'm Dale. I'll be here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: It is a lovely Monday here in Pittsburgh. After a 5 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: little wetness this morning and last night. Beautiful days are 6 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: things you're looking up here. The Steelers breaking camp after 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,919 Speaker 1: well actually before their game Saturday night in Jacksonville. Uh, 8 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: they were back on the South side and at it today. 9 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: Those practices are closed to uh two fans, so you 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: were there though. Actually I took the day off today. 11 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: I was given the day off, you know, after twenty 12 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: seven straight days of work, Uh day off. I flew 13 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: back from Jacksonville yesterday and I looked at the schedule 14 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: and Dale's off today. Well, I'm off at d K 15 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Sports. But I'm not off here, right. You're still working, 16 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: and I'm sure you'll do some other things. And you know, 17 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: I still looking at some stuff and the digesting what 18 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,199 Speaker 1: happened in that game on Saturday night, and uh, well 19 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: let's let's look at the good and the bed from 20 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: that game. Matt. There's some extremes of both there are 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: some extremes of both. UM. I was listening to a 22 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: show today and they were it was a fantasy football show, 23 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: and they were talking about, um, the Steelers wide receivers. 24 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: And I don't know what we should do with these 25 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: Steelers wide receivers because that that quarterback position is so 26 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: unsettled and we don't know what's gonna happen. I'm at 27 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: the point now where I don't care which are the 28 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: quarterback starts, because all three of them have performed well 29 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: in this preseason. I mean, I would still vote for 30 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: Tribsky and and I'm shocked that I'm even considering else, 31 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: you know, anything other than that pick. It's been that impressive. UM, 32 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: I think pickt Verse Rudolph for number two is a 33 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: is a conversation as well. UM. I'm but to reiterate 34 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: what you said, all three have been really good. Watch 35 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: some of these other preseason games. Oh man, see what 36 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: you can see what bad quarterbacking looks like? Did you 37 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: Josh Rosen yesterday? Six? And other rookie quarterbacking going on, 38 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: and it's not happening for the Steelers. I think all 39 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: three guys, and you you heard Mike Tomlman, he was 40 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 1: asked about it Saturday night talking about that. You know, Um, 41 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: you know, he didn't he really didn't want to say 42 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: anything about Mitch Robinski's performance because the offensive line wasn't 43 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: very good in front of him. Um, but he still 44 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: moved the team. I thought Mitch was as impressive as 45 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: any of them. Absolutely, he had no no blocking. I 46 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: mean his thought was blocking was really poor. And he 47 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: made a lot of out of structure plays, you know, 48 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: I mean his athleticism, his experience and it's experienced things important. Um, 49 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: showed you know that he can and do things when 50 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: the play breaks down, and and how things worked in 51 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: that in that capacity where Kenny was great, but he 52 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: was on script you know, boom and nails in them. 53 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,119 Speaker 1: The plays were kind of runned as designed a little more. 54 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: And I do want to throw this out there before 55 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: we get real far. I mean, you're sure, I'm sure 56 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: you're aware of this, but the Steelers ran twenty two 57 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: plays in the first half. You know, So those two 58 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: guys we just mentioned combined to play the winning two plays, 59 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,119 Speaker 1: and I think Kenny played nine or ten. Yeah, so 60 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: they were great. And again I'm really happy with all 61 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: three quarterbacks, but twenty two snaps between the two of them. Enough, 62 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: let's not get a Canton jacket for either one of 63 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: them quite yet, you know what I mean. Yeah, No, 64 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: I'm looking at the total picture here of the first 65 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: two preseason games, and I'm feeling pretty good about the 66 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: Steelers quarterback situation to the point where, okay, I think 67 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: it will be better than it was last year. I 68 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: do too, I absolutely do. We're not here talking again. 69 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: But he had to play a certain way, and you 70 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: know that would Ben would have got sack six times 71 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: in that first half. He was playing like pick it 72 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: in the two minutes roll at the end of the 73 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: half was more Roethlisberger like, it was just catch the ball, 74 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: get rid of a catchu ball, get rid of a catchupball, 75 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: get rid of it. Um. That doesn't mean it doesn't 76 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: mean he didn't make the plays, of course, but some 77 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: of the plays that Robinsky made off script there was 78 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: and even the one that he missed and I didn't 79 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: even blame him as much on the deep ball to 80 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: Deante Johnson, Johnson tripped. Watch that again, if you watch it. 81 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: I'm watching him from the press box and it was 82 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: there he led him and Johnson had a chance to 83 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: run under the football and he tripped about four steps 84 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: before he got to the ball. Otherwise that's a touchdown. Okay, 85 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: you're you're the way you opened the show about I'd 86 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: be hesitant to draft Steeler pass catchers because of the quarterback. 87 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: I don't agree with that at all. No, Deante looked great, 88 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: and friar Muth looked great. Claypool looks really good. We 89 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: know Pickens as a star in the making. So whoever 90 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: is the quarterback? And I do very much think it's 91 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: gonna be Robinsky and that would be my vote as well. Um, 92 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: that's not what's going to trip up this offense to me, 93 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: And I also think that, I mean, i'd like to 94 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: see what this offense looks like with Naji Harris in 95 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: the backfield as well, because some of the runs that 96 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: they attempted to make in the first half of that game. Um, 97 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: with Benny Snell, I'm sorry, but a real, a true 98 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: star running back get some yardage out of those things, 99 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: whereas he probably he couldn't get to you know, he 100 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: just he didn't have any burst, right. I would even 101 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: like to see Warren get the opening steps. You know, 102 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: Snell is going to make the team, he has a role, 103 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: he looks a little bit better. He's find way in 104 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: the end zone. He makes special teams plays, which is 105 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: a key. But I kind of felt like, especially with McFarland, 106 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: I felt like they almost kept him out on purpose 107 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: and to some degree like let's not let the show 108 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: that him yet, because he's a different wrinkle that we 109 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: haven't had. And Warren, I think the cats out of 110 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: the bag. But I thought I thought it was kind 111 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: of a seniority thing that, you know, let's I will 112 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: start the game. Yeah, because that's not what we had 113 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: seen in Thursday's practice, right, Wren's ahead him on the death. Yes, 114 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: whether whether they listed that way or not. If Nausea 115 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: were to pull a hamstring and not play in week 116 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: one more and would be the leading ball care yeah, 117 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: I mean you believe that, right, I do? I do? Um, 118 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: you know, I thought the past catchers were good. Um, 119 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: I think they just look good. Tyler Vaughns is two 120 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: games in a row now where he's made plays down 121 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: the stretch, and I understand it's against the other team's 122 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: third and four doubt for string guys, but he just 123 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: keeps making plays. And he did debt through a training 124 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,679 Speaker 1: camp kind of under the radar, like, Okay, there's Tyler 125 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: Vaughn's making a nice kiss. You know, but you you're 126 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: you know so much about the other guys, it's just like, 127 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: you know, you kind of forget about it. But he's 128 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: got something there. There's there's a little something there, Like 129 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: I hope he's a practice squad guy and you get 130 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: a crack at him, and who knows, how the season goes, 131 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: they may have to call him up at some point, 132 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: but maybe he gets in the mix next year or 133 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: who knows. But yeah, he's a find. Yeah he makes place, 134 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: he makes place, he makes place. Uh um, you know. 135 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,479 Speaker 1: Other than that, offensively, to me, the old line was 136 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: just dreadful. It was awful, and I mean as bad 137 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: as you're gonna see. It was as bad as Rosen 138 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: playing quarterback, you know, for the Browns or whatever. So 139 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: everything that's the anchor right now. Like I don't think 140 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: you and I think that this team is going to 141 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: pick in the top five of the draft, But if 142 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: they end up being a five or six win team, 143 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: I think you and I are going to say, boy, 144 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: it was really hard to evaluate, Noisy, It was really 145 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: hard to evaluate Trobiski pick it. See. I think you 146 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: could cover up. I've seen this, Like the two thousand 147 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: eight offensive line was not good. There's been bad, but 148 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: the Steelers made up for it by being good at 149 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: the skill positions and having a mobile quarterback. And I 150 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: think and I and I think like when when when 151 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: Mason Rudolph was out there, they were having trouble blocking 152 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: for him early in the second half. So what did 153 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: they do. They were like four straight players where they 154 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: rolled the pocket. Yeah, and that kind of slowed the 155 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: pass rushdown a little bit and then they were able 156 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: to function. Um, So I think you can do some 157 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: things with these quarterbacks, in particular even Rudolph if if 158 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: you know, need be that you can do some things 159 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: and and throw on the run and makes things happen 160 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: that way that that kind of slows down that passers. 161 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: That's what people, I think need to understand about this. 162 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: They did a little bit of game planning for this 163 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: game against the Jaguars, who have I mean, they've got 164 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: four high picks Hidraft picks on their defensive front. I'm 165 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,679 Speaker 1: gonna the line, but I think the Jags defensive front, 166 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: including their linebackers, is going to be very good. I 167 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: think they have a lot to see other building their 168 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: first round picks galore, all new linebackers, a lot of 169 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: money invested. But that's what you're gonna see every right, 170 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: that's what you expect to see NFL Front seven. But 171 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: I think if you scheme it up knowing that, Okay, 172 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: these guys are really good up front, we're gonna scheme 173 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: up more rollouts and missed direction and things of that 174 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: nature to take advantage of that, I think it looks 175 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: a little bit better. I'm not saying that that the 176 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: guys still don't get beat, but I think it does 177 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: look somewhat better. Uh, you know, if you do start 178 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: scheming some things up here, because that's what they did 179 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: in the second half, and that's you know, kind of 180 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: slowed some things down for Mason Rudolph. Rudolph was seventeen 181 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: twenty one in the second half. I mean, he played 182 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: very well. He was he was easy guy of course 183 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: once again, Yeah, but I thought, you know, he I 184 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: hate to say he's the biggest winner of the quarterbacks 185 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: in the preseason. He's the one that's being sold shortest, 186 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: that's for sure. I Mean, he's he's done nothing wrong 187 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: at this. I mean, he looks a hundred times. You know, 188 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: think back to two years ago and Mason rum if 189 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: you're like, yeah, okay, but he looks like a legitimate 190 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: NFL quarterback, and I think he's obviously the third most 191 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: valuable guy. I wouldn't have a problem though, if he 192 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: is the true number two on Week one, you know, 193 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: that would make sense to me. That's kind of been 194 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: the plan all along. I think he's done enough that 195 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: maybe another team might give you a little more than 196 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,319 Speaker 1: we thought for him. But I'm not giving him away 197 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: for a six or seventh round page. Nick Mullins got 198 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: traded today, Um, I'd rather Rudolph. Yeah, I would too. 199 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: Minnesota traded him for got him for a conditional draft pick. 200 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: I'm not interested in a conditional draft pick. They got 201 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: a conditional seventh next year. Next year, I think he 202 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: has to make the team. Yeah, So basically they were 203 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: telling him we're cutting this dude. Yeah, this is the 204 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: guy we're not gonna have around. So if you cut him, 205 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 1: you know, okay, if you don't cut him, we get 206 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: a seventh round draft pick. I'm not interested in that 207 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: for Mason. Rudolph not even closed for that. If you 208 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: want they give me a fifth next year. Now we're 209 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: having a conversation, you know. But he has value, He's 210 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: played well and nobody seems to recognize that. But the 211 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: other two are more exciting. Yeah, Oh, there's no doubt. 212 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: I mean, those are the two guys that they've kind 213 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: of hitched their wagon to to a large degree. Um. Defensively, Um, 214 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: you know, I thought I thought there were some good 215 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: and bad defensively. Uh, there were times where they stopped 216 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: to run pretty well. There were other times where they didn't, 217 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: which is gonna happen again. You're not scheming up anything. 218 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: La Tourell Edmonds at at a strong game. I think 219 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: he's been really good lately. In general, I thought Casey 220 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: was really good. I think to figure out ways to 221 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: get those three safeties on the field together, and they're 222 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: play a lot together. I mean their base might be 223 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: big Nickel, you know, with especially considering the uncertainty at 224 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: linebacker besides jack Um. Yeah, I think there's a handful 225 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: of those defensive players leao. I know it was late 226 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: in games too, there was a handful of those guys 227 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: that really shine, and I think the safety trio is 228 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: gonna be one of the strengths of the defense. I 229 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: think it might be. Uh, I can you know, I 230 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: know Baltimore has a good one in terms of having 231 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: three guys. One of them is a rookie, you know, 232 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: but he was a high drafted rookie. There aren't many 233 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: teams with like three brands. There are many three teams 234 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: are three good safeties like that? Yeah, Buffalo Green Bay 235 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: have a great pairing. But I might even positive who 236 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: the third is because he never plays right. They don't 237 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: invest in a third one. No, I think this gives 238 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: them a new wrinkle. Um. I think there are a 239 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: lot of stand there, you know, strong performances on defense. 240 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: I didn't have much qualms with the defense. No, I 241 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: didn't either. People were losing their minds early. They did 242 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: gag Alarays hit a couple of runs. Oh this defensive 243 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: line stinks again. And let let you know, you see 244 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: so much and we do a live file on on 245 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: d K Pittsburgh Sports, so I see all the comments 246 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: on there's the game goes on and typically as soon 247 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: as something one bad thing happens, I cut them all 248 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: that this this is here we go again with his stuff, 249 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: like settled down, watched the game, let me let's see 250 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: what it is when when you know everything is set, 251 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: all said and done here and so you know, I 252 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: look at the stats there for the child you're looking 253 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: at that, I mean run defense to me through two 254 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 1: games has been a lot on the edge of guys too, 255 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: especially the first game. And Tusca can't hold his own. 256 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: You know, I think Avery is a good player, but 257 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: I don't want him taking on tackle blocks time and time. 258 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: And I thought he actually did. I thought a good game. 259 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: Yeah I did in Rush of the Past promising Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. 260 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: But um but Travis at n average three point six 261 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: yards of carry, Yeah, you can live with that. Yeah, 262 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: he's an explosive good players. He had one ten yard runs, 263 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: so on his other seven runs he had nineteen yards. 264 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: You live with that all day long. You live that 265 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: all day long. Yeah. By the way, again, I always 266 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: like to at least mention the opponent. Trevor Lawrence played very, 267 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: very well. He made a Those couple of the throws 268 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: that he made were high level throws, did you know what? 269 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: They were a little off for the first series or so, 270 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: and then he got real comfortable. I'm listening to Jaguars 271 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: Radio on the drive back to my to my hotel 272 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: Saturday night, and they're talking about Trevor Lawrence's issues getting 273 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: the ball into into the end zone in the red 274 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: zone and said, you know, he looked yeah, he looked 275 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: okay out there, he looked good. But we haven't seen 276 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: any of those wow moments from from Trevor Lawrence said, really, 277 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: the only wow moments we saw in this game were 278 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,599 Speaker 1: from Kenny Pickett. So there was a big guess. I 279 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: could he understand that. I mean, you're number one overall 280 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: pick You're expecting you expect him to make you know, 281 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: the one throw that he made over Sutton, Yeah, there 282 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: was another one later in the game. I couldn't tell 283 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: who the defender was, uh, but if I think it 284 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: was one of the linebackers, it might have been Jack. 285 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: He put the same thing, put it right over the linebacker, 286 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: drop it. Yeah. I thought he was really advanced with 287 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: seeing a blitz and then throwing it in the void, 288 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: or reading blitz pre snaps, switching to a run and 289 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: running right at it. You know, those type of things, 290 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: getting them in the right plays, in and out of 291 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: the huddle, knowing where to go with the football, and 292 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: if you'd have been a little sharper earlier. I mean, 293 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: he's gonna carve up a lot of defense. Yes, you know, 294 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: he looks a lot better in here. Two. I know 295 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: the um you know, I was. I was keeping track 296 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: of when the Steelers went to their dime defense, and uh, 297 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: they mixed it up. They went dime, you know with 298 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: with Man they went dime with the zones and it 299 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: didn't seem to affect him a whole lot. No, his 300 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: comfort level and giving him a couple NFL you know, 301 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: worthy receivers like Kirk who they featured a little bit 302 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: there too. I think we'll go a long way. You 303 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: know that surrendering yards to this offense, to me, isn't 304 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: the end of the world. I didn't think they got gashed. 305 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: I mean everyone's up six points, right, and I can 306 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: see where Jags fans would be like, man, you gotta 307 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: start converting in the red zone. But Steelers, that's why 308 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: they won the game. It was a red zone and 309 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: things like that, hurry up, you know, two minute that 310 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: type of stuff. But they practiced a lot. Yeah, I 311 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: mean the offensive line to me was a big was 312 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: a big downer. UM would have liked, I would have 313 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: liked to have seen those guys take a big step forward. Now. 314 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: I did talk to a couple of the guys in 315 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: the locker room after the game, and they felt like 316 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: they did take a step forward in terms of the 317 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: communication because there were some errors for sure in the 318 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: Seattle game in terms of communica. These were just these 319 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: are situations this week where guys were just getting beat 320 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: Like Alan the defensive end, Josh Allen, not the Bill's guy, 321 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: is a very very good player. If he's alone on 322 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: Dan Moore, he has an advantage. And well he beat 323 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: up on Day More, you know what I mean. Marden 324 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: Key got him one time. It was just high draft pick. 325 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: He's another one that would have been a first round pick, 326 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: so he had all kinds off the field stuff, you know. Yeah, 327 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: but you're gonna face these guys every week. I mean, 328 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: we're not making excuses here, know that. I actually thought 329 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: a core Ford did a nice job on the other 330 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: side against Walker. Yeah, I thought he was the best 331 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: of the group, to be honest, and Mason Cole I 332 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: didn't think the guard play still baffles me a little bit. 333 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: I mean, they're struggling there. I thought Green was the 334 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: worst of the guys that are in the starting mix. Yeah, 335 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: and well today Kevin Dotson took back over as the soul. 336 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: That's the right move. Yeah, I mean I think they 337 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: were wishful things. They would have liked for Green to 338 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: win that job, you know, dot leticisms there and all that. 339 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: But that's too many mistakes and that that performance was bad. 340 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: Yeah you know, yeah, he he got whipped a couple 341 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: of times. It was just you can't happen. No, you 342 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: can't happen. So I actually think that's promising if they're 343 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: just gonna stick with thoughts and as long as he's 344 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: on the field, stay healthy. That's that's the knock on him, 345 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 1: But I'm not sure that's his fault, of course. And 346 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: if he can say healthy, I think you have a 347 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: solid left card. The healthy. The stuff about his health 348 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: is one thing. Um, you know, he even talked about 349 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: it earlier in this training camp, how he maybe didn't 350 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: necessarily take his rehab quite as seriously as he should 351 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: have last year. So that's a big no. No. Yeah, 352 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: he can't do that Canada. But he's young and hopefully 353 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: he learns. I still have a massive hope for James 354 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 1: Daniels too, but it's been a struggle. Um, I'm not 355 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: throwing anyone under the bus. And I always have always 356 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: hesitate to talk about assistant coaches because I've been in 357 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: buildings and understand their value and understand how hard it 358 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: is to analyze them from afar. But I think you gotta, 359 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,120 Speaker 1: you know, throw some some concerns about the old line 360 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: coach too. I mean, Dave, their technique is sloppy. Nobody 361 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: seems to be getting better. But this is a big 362 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: picture project too. We knew this was not going to 363 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: be a quick fix. I mean, I need to see 364 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 1: progress though, And I don't know who's to blame, but 365 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: I'm not seeing guys getting better. I always blame the 366 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: players in that situation. If you're not getting better, you're professional. Yeah, 367 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: it's your job to get better. It's your job to 368 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: do your job. And if you're not going to do 369 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,479 Speaker 1: your job, you're not gonna be around very long. So 370 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: I you know, people always well, this is offensive line 371 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: that that coach, this coach, that coach. Look if the players, 372 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: if the message isn't getting sinking into a players, as Chuck, 373 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: no one's once said, I'm not here to motivate you. 374 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: No motivation should never be it. That should never be 375 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: an issue. So you know, I when I talked to uh, 376 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: when I talked to James Daniels after the game, he said, 377 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: he said, you know, we all have to get better 378 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: on our technique. Uh, you know, we worked. We were 379 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: too sloppy out here today. So I think I don't 380 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: think motivation is a problems. I think the players. I 381 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 1: think maybe you spend so much time the past week 382 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: working on your communication that the other you know, so 383 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: it's it's you're you're putting fingers in the dike out 384 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: there trying to stop leaks. So all right, we're gonna 385 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: work on this this week. We gotta really really focusing 386 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 1: on the communication and communicate, communicate, communicate. Had that beaten 387 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: into your Yeah, because I didn't think that was a 388 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: problem in the first game as much, not as much. No, 389 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: I think technique was worse than this game. They also 390 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: played a much better opponent. If communication and some continuity 391 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: starts to become less of a problem for them, that'll 392 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 1: go a long way. I mean, just in itself, you 393 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: know it, and you know coach calls it popcorn, but 394 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: you're definitely seeing that with some of this line too. 395 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: Is four out of five or fine, but it's not 396 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: always the same guy and it's not always the same problem. 397 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's a whack a mole situation, which 398 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: I think gives you more or less hope. I mean, 399 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: if it was one player that's just terrible, you could 400 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: replace right and in this situation though, But a four 401 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: or the five, and it's a different four every time 402 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: are doing their job. Well, at least I've seen that 403 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: they can all do their job, you know what I mean. 404 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: You know the other thing that goes back to the 405 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: to the game scheming process of this. All right, if 406 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: you see Dan Moore's having trouble at left tackle, you 407 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: give him some help. Gentry is gonna be there. So 408 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 1: we saw actually the Jaguars actually did on the right 409 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 1: side with t J. Watt when he was in there. 410 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: I think the once they give up the sack, it's like, okay, 411 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: the next time he's getting tripled. Yeah, that's just how 412 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: it goes. But because you don't watch quarterback to get killed, 413 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: of course, of course, and you know, I was just 414 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: on the air with Mart Madden and he, you know, 415 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: he kind of asked it, do we overreact the preseason games? Yes, yeah. 416 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: I mean it's a short answer is yes. I mean, yes, 417 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: you'd like to see those guys win more one on 418 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: one battles, But Gentry probably would have been next to 419 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: more every snap if that was you know, a live 420 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: action you know, where you get any Harris in the 421 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: background when you're dropping back to pass. Who's always the 422 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: quarterbacks left? Yeah, you know, and then it was you know, right, 423 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: So there's things that you can do, right, And so 424 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: my hunch, and you may know better than may being 425 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: down there and close to the team, we want to 426 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: see more one on one. We don't want to help him, 427 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: you know. I want to put out as much tape, 428 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: you know, good or bad where he's going against the 429 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: high quality opponents, so I can evaluate it for the 430 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: regular season, you know what you need to do. Yeah, exactly. 431 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: And that kind of brings me to Joe Hag like 432 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: I feel like Hag into a stir degree Laglu and 433 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: Hawson howerd like they're grade never changes, Like I know 434 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: exactly who those dudes are. I don't need to throw 435 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: Hag in there as a replacement because he's gonna give 436 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: me C T C minus level play every time. And 437 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: that consistency is great. I want more to learn, I 438 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: want more, more reps of more that I can evaluate. 439 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: And I think that's why he didn't see Haig. And 440 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: if he's a problem, I think you could see Haig 441 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: replace him. But that's a long way away. Yeah, I 442 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: think we're a ways away from there. He is Matt 443 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: Williams and I am Dale Lalli. You're listening to the 444 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: Drive here on Steelers National Radio. We're gonna take a break. 445 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: We'll be back with more right after this