1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: your home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I am Dale Lolly here with 4 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: Matt Williamson, and it is the first snowy Tuesday of 5 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: the year. I actually have pants on. Probably happy once 6 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: you got into this studio and so was that you 7 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: are wearing pants. Yeah, this coffee is shrinkage the freeze. 8 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: I mean you shrinkage from this coffee and whatnot. Yeah, 9 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: coming out of the pool. Yeah, but yeah, it's a 10 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: little chilly. And this is the hoodie and long sleeve. 11 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: The long pants aren't quite enough at the moment. But 12 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: if you have, you got like three layers. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, 13 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: you came prepared absolutely. I you know, I'm covering a 14 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: football team. I'm not sitting in my my living room 15 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: most of the day. I'm out in the cold. Uh 16 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: speaking in which Mike Tomlin held his news conference today 17 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: and uh well said that Maka Fitzpatrick ran today. Wow, 18 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: that seems like an awful quick recovery. I mean, I 19 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: think you told me you had the same thing done 20 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: and played hoops. It's different like when I had my 21 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: surgery again, I was sixteen years old, so we're talking 22 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: thirty eight years ago, soon to be thirty eight years ago. 23 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: Birthdays next this weekend. But I didn't really Me and 24 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: Bill hill Grove share the same birthday. Yeah, I share 25 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: mine with the Antichrist. That was a good guy. Uh yeah, 26 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: Billy and I will celebrate our birthdays on November twenty. 27 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: That will be the game day this weekend. Um. But 28 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: uh yeah. So when I had mine done that there 29 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: was an actually actually made about a four wrench incision 30 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: and then they go and they take it out and 31 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: then they stapled me up. This is much different now. 32 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: I think they go in those times that you have 33 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: to like chew on a piece of wood or Oh no, 34 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: I was out. I was Civil War tech. Um I was. 35 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: But I was in the hospital and the next day 36 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: and then they released me, and then the day after that. 37 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 1: I wouldn't played in a pickup were not a pickup 38 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: basketball games, a summer league basketball game. I was just 39 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: supposed to be there watching and for a couple of 40 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: the other guys didn't show up, and so we only 41 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: had five and I was the fifth, and usually I 42 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: played forward, but in that game, I played on the wing, 43 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: so I didn't have to bang around it as much. Um, 44 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: I was worried. It was like a Burrows situation. Well, 45 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: Burrows burst, So there's that's the difference. So when when 46 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: the when the appendix bursts, Uh, they have to go 47 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: in there and clean out all the infection and other stuff. Yeah, 48 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: so that's why it took a little bit longer make 49 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: as they caught early. Um, he just he had some discomfort. Yeah, 50 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: so they checked it out. That's a laparoscopic surgery. Now 51 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: are they going through the belly button? I believe yeah, right, 52 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: you don't even know it's there, Like I still have 53 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: the scar from my long faded now. But but yeah, 54 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: so it's a it's a much less intrusive and the 55 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: initial prognosis for him was seven to ten days. Well, 56 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: game day on Sunday would be day eight. Really okay, 57 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: I guess that makes sense. So was they found it 58 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: Saturday before the game? You know? So it sounds like 59 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: there's a chance. Yeah, And in fact, Mike Tomlins said 60 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,839 Speaker 1: it's they're feeling very optimistic about Maker Fitzpatrick this week. 61 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: So and he's a guy that um, you know when 62 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: when he first of all, he wants to practice constantly. Um. 63 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: But he also when when he's not practiced, when he's 64 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: not on the you know, in the play, he'll sit back, 65 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: you know, with uh, you know, forty yards down field 66 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: and watch from the middle and take those mental reps 67 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 1: right from extended behind. Always noticed that. I think that's 68 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: and I don't know why they all safeties done, are 69 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: all free safeties, and that's their view. That's how you 70 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: see the game, right right, right, So it's the hugest week. 71 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: I mean, it's obviously a dangerous group of receivers at 72 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: a good quarterback and we don't know about Jamaar Chase yet, 73 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: but either way, you know, yeah, you'd like to have 74 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: Makeitzpatrick back. In fact, if you remember, it was a 75 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: mank of Fitzpatrick interception in return for a touchdown in 76 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: the first game of the season, that kind of set 77 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: the tone for that whole game, right right, absolutely, And 78 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 1: I just want to see him with Kyzy as well, 79 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: and you know, the full cast of safeties. Yeah, so 80 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: there's a good chance that the Steelers would have their 81 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: entire defense healthy for this one. No other bumps and 82 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: bruises that you're particularly worried about, or it looks like 83 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: a kellow Weatherspoon's probably pretty iffy for this one. Still 84 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: with that hamstring. Um, Najia Harris has a little knee soreness, 85 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: but they don't he's not concerned about that. Um. You know, 86 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: how do we know the Witherspoon still a starter? That's 87 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: the that's the thing. Yeah. Kind of foggy at the moment. Yeah, 88 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: I mean, Levi Wallace has come and off a really 89 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: good game. Um, you know, against a good young receiver, 90 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: you'd like to have Witherspoon available obviously, but I mean 91 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: he'd be active on game day, yeah, right right, And 92 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: Pierre has been good. I think Jackson could be the 93 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: starter when he returns or whatever to who knows, you know, 94 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: so they have some options there at least, and um, 95 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: if they're able to run the football, yes, like they 96 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: ran the football on Sunday. I don't care who they're playing. 97 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: You saw it last night in the game night Yeah, 98 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: the Monday night game last night was Philadelphia and Washington 99 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: and this was you know, you and I. I hate 100 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: to say it, but you and I were talking about 101 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 1: this going into that Philadelphia game a couple of weeks ago. 102 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: Like the Eagles have run stopping problems have all season long. 103 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: They give up five yards of carrying. Yeah, they did 104 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: go into the Steeler game him, it's in the same neighborhood. 105 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm sure you were in the same boat, 106 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: and you and I talked about it back and forth too. Yeah. 107 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: I was asked a thousand times this Eagle team looks 108 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: to be unbeatable. What are their weaknesses? And I'm like, well, 109 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: they're not easy to see, you know. At that point, 110 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: the big things were, they're not handling blitz very well. Well, 111 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: they did against Steelers, and you know, their run defense 112 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: allows five yards to carry, you know, and that was 113 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: with Jordan Davis in the mix too, and he's out, 114 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: he's out. Yeah. Um. So if you look at what Washington. 115 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: First of all, Philadelphia had been killing teams in the 116 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: second quarter of games this year, unbelievable. Into Yeah, Washington 117 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: was actually a team that won the second quarter nothing, um, 118 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: and so they were able to continue running the ball. 119 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: They only average three point one yards to carry. You 120 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,679 Speaker 1: have the box score up, but they ran at times. 121 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: That's the thing, Like the Eagles average the yard and 122 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: a half more per play. I mean, they moved the 123 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: ball more chunky. They had four turnovers, but Washington had 124 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: two turnovers. But that's the key, I mean, voluminous. I 125 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: have a really hard time with that word. Volume running 126 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 1: is to me not a cheap code. But boy, if 127 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: you can run with volume in today's NFL three four 128 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: or five yards of carry, they don't You don't even 129 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: have to break the long one. Third and four is 130 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: so much different, you know, than than third and seven. 131 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: You know that. But where I was going with it, 132 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: and I always referenced the Giants, the Bears, you know, 133 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: the Titans. Some of these teams don't really have much, 134 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: you know, in terms of talent. The Browns that have 135 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: just leaned on the Atlanta's the best example that I think. 136 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: It narrows the gap between a talented team and a 137 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: not so talented team if you can just run it 138 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: over and over, even if you're not great at it, 139 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? Yeah, And that was the 140 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: case last in this instance. So Washington wins the time 141 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: of possession in that game by massive amount, forty minutes 142 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: and four seconds to nineteen thirty six. Uh. And the 143 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: only reason that game was thirty one is because they 144 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: scored on the last game, much like the Browns game 145 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: for the Steelers playing keep away and beating them up 146 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: and beating them up. If you look at that, Washington 147 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: was twelve of twenty one on third downs, and that's 148 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: still a pretty good percentage. I mean, yeah, they were 149 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: still over and they converted their only fourth down attempt, 150 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: so they kept possession. Really thirteen twenty one times my 151 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: hunches and I watched it, I said, and take notes 152 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: of it, but I doubt there was many thirds and 153 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: longs to your point, you know, right, and yeah that 154 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: maybe you go for it if you don't get there, 155 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: you know. Um No, but I know I'm a stat 156 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: dorc and I'm sure I said this. It might even 157 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 1: been yesterday. But I'm really interested to see what the 158 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: real state nerds, the football outsider people, and the guys 159 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: that do deep studies come back with their studies this 160 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: offseason about running the football because you know, scoring is down. 161 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: Nobody wants to allow the big plays. But these teams 162 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: that don't have lot of talent are winning games and 163 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: being competitive for one reason because they're running there, running 164 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: the ball like crazy. Uh. To that point, I looked 165 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: this up today, um, right now as we sit here, 166 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: um in week after week ten. Yeah, there are fifteen 167 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: teams this year averaging a hundred and twenty more or 168 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: more yards rushing per game. There are only now six 169 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: that aren't averaging a hundred yards rushing this season. The 170 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 1: fifteen teams averaging over a hundred and twenty yards rushing 171 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: is the most in two decades. Okay, I didn't know 172 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: what to compare that too. Yeah, I went back and 173 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: and like trying to find some kind of commonality. The 174 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 1: Bears lead to league in rushing. They're averaging two D 175 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: one point seven yards rushing per game. You'll notice a 176 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: trend here the top of the top seven rushing teams Chicago, Baltimore, 177 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: the Giants, It, Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Jacksonville. All of 178 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: their quarterbacks have at least a D seventy eight yards 179 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: rushing the season. And fields is I can't believe he 180 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: brought this up because we never prefaced what we're doing. 181 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: But you walked back here, luckily put the door, yes, 182 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: And you walked back here and found out it's two 183 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: degrees in here. You open the door, maybe get a 184 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: little heat would trickle in. And I was in the 185 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,719 Speaker 1: middle of typing something and I'm like, I'll be back 186 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: in a minute, and what I came up with was 187 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: the I was looking at that exact same thing. I 188 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: was shocked by, Wow, Fields is really you know, lapping 189 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: the field in the field. I mean he's up like 190 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: seven fifty or something like that. But I was looking at, 191 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: just where's Pickett in yards per game? And here's what 192 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: I was typing two minutes ago. Um, he's eight eight 193 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: carries last week was a career high high. So he's 194 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,359 Speaker 1: only been in six games, and he's twelve among quarterbacks 195 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: in rushing. Seven the quarterbacks ahead of them and played 196 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: nine games and the other four played ten. You know, 197 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: he's right there with like Lawrence, but on a per 198 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: game basis, he's Lawrence was the low guy on that list. Um. Yeah. 199 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: So when you get that from the quarterback position, and 200 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 1: as Mike Tomblin said today, we're gonna we're gonna continue 201 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 1: to be thoughtful when we have him run. They're not 202 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: gonna they're not gonna start designing runs for Key unless 203 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: it's just unless it's a quarterback sneak, which by the way, 204 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: he's pretty good att Yeah, he finds the finds the 205 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: hole in scoops through ye. Yeah. But just the mobility 206 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: that he brings to the position helps your running games 207 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: so much, so much, you know they're now opt as 208 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: Steelers now averaging a hundred and eight point four yards 209 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: rushing per game. You think back the last three three 210 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: or four seasons, they haven't had that. Ben Roethlisberger didn't 211 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: have as many rushing yards as Kenny Pickett already has 212 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: since two thousand and ten. That's how long it took 213 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: for him to get to He didn't even have a 214 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: hundred rushing yards in any of those seasons from two 215 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: thousand eleven on. That's not surprising, I guess, I mean 216 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: even but he moved pretty well back in eleven. He did, 217 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: but they were more content to throw the football, and 218 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: I don't think it was stressed as much as it 219 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: is today across the league. Now, that's that's the trend, 220 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: t have your quarterback take off. And here's here's what 221 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: I think how this affects other things, Matt do. Teams 222 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: now start to look at Kenny pick and say, we 223 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: have to we can't play as much man to man 224 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: defense against them. That's some of the beauties because you 225 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: can start dictating coverage is a little bit. Teams have 226 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: to develop a different pass rush plan, you know, so 227 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 1: maybe they don't explode. I mean, the Saints were the 228 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: Saints were getting past him and he was taken off, 229 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: and I'm sure the books being written now we gotta 230 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: be a lot more cognizant of that. You know, we 231 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: can't give him for yardage or we might have to 232 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: stick a spy in the middle of field, which limits 233 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: what you do bridge. Yeah, I mean I use this 234 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: reference all the time. Like when Lamar became Lamar and 235 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: they start building the team around him, They're like, no 236 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: one's gonna play man against us, right, that's insane that 237 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 1: we We'll just get any any old receivers we want. Basically, 238 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: we're not going to invest in those guys. And then 239 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: they kind of defense has come up with that we 240 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: can blitz him and play man and still live with it, 241 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: you know. I mean, sure he'll break a long one 242 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 1: here and there, but they didn't have man beating receivers 243 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: because they built things. Then we're gonna see all the 244 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: problem is the Steelers do have man beating receivers exactly, 245 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: you know, very much. Yeah, So it's gonna be interesting 246 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: to see, you know, after picking it, put a game 247 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 1: like Sunday on tape. I mean, that's that's twenty plus 248 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: yard run. You know, there's probably what seven or eight 249 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: quarterbacks period in the league this year that have a 250 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: run have a run that long, and that's all the 251 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: usual names, the Lamars and um you know, when you 252 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: show that you can do that, and they went, like 253 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: for example, last year when the Steelers played the Chargers 254 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: and Herbert had Herbert had almost I think he might 255 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: even had a hundred yards rushing in that game. He's mobile, 256 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: but that's not they're not that mobile. That was more 257 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 1: on the Steelers. Yeah, because they're playing man they're playing 258 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: man defense, and they're forty yards down field with their 259 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: eyes on their guys. He's twenty five yards down the 260 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: field before anybody even realized he's running with the ball. 261 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: And you're gonna get that too, I mean, just where 262 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: the c's part and you know, eight yards, slide first 263 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: down whatever, you know. The difference. The difference here is 264 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: that Pickett can actually get twenty instead of five, right, right, Yeah, 265 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: I mean there's half the quarterbacks in the league get 266 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: a few steps in and then you know, get that, right, 267 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: But he's gonna do a little more than that. Yeah, 268 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: so that, I mean, that's a component of it. It's 269 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: it's definitely a weapon. It's one that I think you're 270 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: going to see them use more, you know, pick it 271 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: talked about it, uh in in the Miami game, Um, 272 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: the last before his last interception. If he runs that ball, 273 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: now there was like nineteen seconds left in the game. 274 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: But if he runs that, he gets inside to ten. Yeah, 275 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: I mean he could have, you know, but he tried 276 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: to take a shot to Deonte Johnson. Um. But that 277 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: game could end up differently. But he's talked about it afterward. 278 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: He's like, yeah, I probably should have run that in 279 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: that in that situation, maybe he gets fifteen yards and 280 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you got first and goal from 281 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: the five. Yeah, you know, now you get some now 282 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: your playbooks opened up. But I mean it's a new 283 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: club in the Pittsburgh Steel quarterback bag obviously. Yeah, you've 284 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: got you've gotten a new driver for Christmas, right, and 285 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: it goes you smack that thing, right. But No, it's 286 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: definitely a weapon. I'll be honest, I think he's been 287 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: too quick to run and at times and he ran 288 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: himself into some trouble. Yeah. On Sunday, as well, I 289 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: didn't like what he did in the pocket, but they 290 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: resulted in better runs. But if he doesn't have that 291 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: in his bag, their sacks, right, I mean that's a beauty. 292 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: I mean Robert Griffin the third was one of the 293 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: best examples. I mean he that was a long time 294 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: ago in the running quarterback world. I mean, it doesn't 295 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: seem like it, but it was. Shanahan designed a lot 296 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: of runs for him and a lot of play action stuff, 297 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: but he was very much developing as a quarterback. Same 298 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: with Kaepernick. You know, like those guys weren't a pickets level, 299 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: you know, six games into their career either, and at 300 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: least it's crutch while you'll learn, Yeah, but you're still 301 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: gonna learn. Yeah. I was just gonna say, you know, 302 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: Fields has been sacked thirty six times. It's the most 303 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: of any quarterback in the league. But again, some of 304 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: those he's running himself into those situations. Um, you know, 305 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: you look at some of the other teams that are 306 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: up there, the Giants twenty seven sacks allowed because Jones 307 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: is mobile and he'll run himself into some stuff. Has 308 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: done all years run Yeah, I mean part of this 309 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: because receivers are so bad, but I mean he's not 310 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: a great thrower, even like the Falcons. The Falcons have 311 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: they've dropped back. They have twitter and thirty one pass 312 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: attempts this year the Steelers. The Steelers have three five 313 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: Atlanta has one fewer sack allowed because Mariod is gonna 314 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: run and sometimes those guys catch you. You know, that's 315 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: just the reality of it, you know. Uh Jalen Hurst 316 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: is a fantastic runner. He's been sacked twenty three times 317 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: this year, behind the best behind the best line of league. Yeah, 318 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: I understand. So there's given take. Yeah, you're gonna you know, 319 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: sometimes when you start to run, somebody loops around from 320 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: behind you and schease you because they're big and fast. 321 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: To the last couple of years, Brady and Ben not 322 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,120 Speaker 1: a lot of sacks. Yeah, I mean, the Steelers probably 323 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: could have had one more sack, at least one more sack. 324 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: On Sunday, uh Andy Dalton scrambles and gets half a yard, 325 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: so he gets a one yard game and t. J. 326 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,239 Speaker 1: Watt misses out on his sack. But the results are 327 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: basically the same. Second and eleven became third and ten. 328 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: It's still it's the same thing, right, A little bit 329 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: of some annex there a little bit, but yeah, so um, 330 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: you know, I think if they can. They had a 331 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: hundred forty four yards rushing against the Eagles before the break. 332 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 1: They had two hundred seventeen this last week. That's the 333 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: first time since two thousand and sixteen that they've had 334 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: was a three fifty plus yards rushing and back to 335 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: back games a long time, A long time. It's a 336 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 1: long time. I mean my hunches last week will be 337 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,959 Speaker 1: there best rushing output of the year. Yeah, I mean 338 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: it was their first time over two hundred yards since 339 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: and a lot of carries. But just like the Washington 340 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 1: comments from yesterday or from last night or yeah, I 341 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: was blown away with Green Bay and Tampa so much. 342 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: And you know their quarterback has massive influence here Rogers 343 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: even yelling on the sideline run the ball, you know, 344 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: like actually even those those guys realized the third and four. 345 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 1: If you get three yards and three yards, it just just 346 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: third and four. Yeah, I can do I can. I 347 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: can work with that. I don't want third and eight. 348 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 1: I don't want third nine. Right, Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, 349 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: I mean, no matter who you are at quarterback, I 350 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: mean there was a stat last week when I was 351 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: watching the Bucks that they were like one for thirty 352 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: on third and ten or longer. This year it was 353 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: just I mean, so run the football, run the football. 354 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: And maybe that's their conclusion, even though they weren't good 355 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: at it. She was weren't good at it for most 356 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: much of the year. But there is something to pound 357 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: on the rock, pound in the rock. And by the way, 358 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 1: you've got twent a forty pound running back, let him 359 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: get him twenty touches every game in war and you know, right. 360 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: And the other thing about it too, is oh line 361 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: like it better. Well, there's not a dobt. I talked 362 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: to some of the offensive lineman after the game and 363 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: they were they were giddy. Like I talked to Dann 364 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: Moore and he's like, he's like, look, I'm a I'm 365 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: a left tackle and I want to run the ball. 366 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: Like that was a fun day for me. I'm gonna 367 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 1: I want to run the ball. Yeah, I mean, there's 368 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: something to do that too. Your gay momentum. Keep those 369 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,679 Speaker 1: big suckers happy and have them smiling, and things go 370 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: a lot smoother. And they're they're firing off the ball 371 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: and they're you know, and it slows down the pass rush. 372 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: I mean, if you guys don't explode off the ball. 373 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: If you watch the playback of the thirty six yard 374 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: run by Nagy Harris, he didn't get touched until he 375 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: was fifteen yards down the field. They caved the entire 376 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: left side of that line in and he's so hopefully 377 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: more of that, do some of that, Yeah, I mean, 378 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: the problem is it goes hand in hand without making 379 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 1: mistakes though too, you know, like of course, the Eagles 380 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: turned the ball over two more times in Washington last night. 381 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: I don't remember a lot of really crucial penalties from Washington. 382 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,360 Speaker 1: You gotta play a pretty clean game. You don't put 383 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: yourself in that type of thing too, you know. And 384 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: then that's been part of the problem from the Steelers. 385 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: Is here too, yeah, um, so we'll see, you know, 386 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: they play the Bengals again this week. Cincinnati held them 387 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: to uh I think it was for seventy five in 388 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: the opener, and Chase Claypool was their leading rusher in 389 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: that game. Do you remember he had like seven end 390 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: of rounds for like or not? But he's well, they 391 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 1: were a good run defense the last few weeks. They 392 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: I mean, they've they've kind of stumbled a little bit 393 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: to the point now where they're they're more middle of 394 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: the pack. Um. They had been good early in the season, 395 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: but now they're allowing h what we got here, they're 396 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: they're allowing hundred and put this way, the Steelers rushed 397 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: defense is much better. They're allowing one eight team point eight. 398 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: The Steelers are now down to a hundred eight rushing 399 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: yards per game. Interesting, So you can run on these 400 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 1: guys a little bit. Yeah, especially without reader readers is good. Yeah, 401 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: I mean I think he's our best and they've been 402 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: missing Wilson. I would assume Wilson's back for this one. 403 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: But still run the footbellyeah, run the football, absolutely, no, 404 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: but it's take some pressure off. More competitive. I mean, 405 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 1: I'm actually thinking about writing an article about it tonight 406 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: of just going around the league of You can't tell 407 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: me the Giants and Falcons and Bears are talented and 408 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: quite quite a bit of quite a bit of wins 409 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: and competitive games. Yeah, you can listen to Steelers Nation 410 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: Radio anytime anywhere through your smart speaker. Just say Alexa, 411 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 1: play Steelers Nation Radio from my heart, and Alexa will 412 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: take care of the rest. He is Matt Williamson. I 413 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: am Dale Lally. You're listening to the drive here on 414 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio. We're gonna take a break. When we 415 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: come back, it's time for power rankings. You see where 416 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 1: the Steelers end up this week. Right after this