1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 2: Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers 4 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 2: Audio Network Web. Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here 5 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: on a Thursday, getting ready, getting closer to a big 6 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 2: battle in the AFC North this Sunday at Akrashuer Stadium. 7 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: Planning to get into today. We are going to deep 8 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 2: dive into bout stats like we always do. We're gonna 9 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 2: catch up with our buddy Bob Labriola here before too 10 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: much longer. Really start turning the page to the Cincinnati game, Matt, 11 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 2: as we do on a Thursday. 12 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 3: Well quick on that, and I know we got other 13 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 3: things to talk about. But this is one of the 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: least in depth game breakdowns that I've done in a 15 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 3: long time. I think, no matter what Bengals game you 16 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 3: break down, it's like the defense stinks and they let 17 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 3: up a lot of points. The passing game's awesome, and 18 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: they score a little less than they usually give up, 19 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 3: you know, and there's not a lot of intricacies to 20 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: this team. 21 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 2: No I was. I was doing a segment with with 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: with Ed and Jacob Steelers Steelers standard, and I was like, 23 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: there's there's no questions about familiarity with these things now. 24 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 3: And there's that part too, like everybody knows everybody and 25 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 3: you just played him a couple of weeks ago. 26 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: And it was kind of funny to me. You know, 27 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: the ebb and flow of Mike Tomlin's weekly press conference. 28 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 2: You know, every Tuesday, he recaps the previous game, he 29 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: gives quick injury updates, and then he previews the upcoming opponent. 30 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 2: And I was kind of laughing in the back of 31 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: my head because when he started talking about the Cincinnati Bengals, 32 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: he was like, well, they traded Logan Wilson, so they've 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: been doing some new stuff with their linebackers. Because that's really, 34 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: like I'm thinking, in my mind, that's probably the only 35 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: thing he can talk about that people that isn't gonna 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: just sound redundant. 37 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, And he was kind of benched. I mean, 38 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 3: he wasn't even a starter a couple of weeks ago. 39 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: I mean, at least the Bengals head coach could be like, well, 40 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 3: they moved Ramsey to safety and they've had a couple 41 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 3: of defensive backs, and yeah, there's a little bit of difference, 42 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 3: But Missy and Rob and I did. It was on 43 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 3: facility today, which I know is going to lead to 44 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 3: next conversation, but it was on the facility today, and 45 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 3: we do this video and Rob and Missy and I 46 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 3: each pick a key match up on each side of 47 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 3: the ball, and it's like, probably should just take the 48 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 3: video from three weeks ago. 49 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 2: A couple of weeks it's still to slow down. 50 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 3: Still t Higgins exactly Brown, pretty similar. 51 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: Not a lot of unknown going into this one. And 52 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 2: you know, styles make fights. That's an old, an old saying, 53 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: and it quite often can go one of two ways. 54 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: When you have this type of familiarity, it makes for 55 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 2: a great fight, or it makes for kind of a 56 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 2: boring who's gonna blink first, who's gonna make the first 57 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: mistake fights. 58 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 3: I'm leading to see a lot of like Raven Steelers 59 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: with that, like Harvought and Tom kind of Likey versus 60 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: Spy kind. 61 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: Of I'm leaning towards the this is going to be 62 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 2: a high scoring, high flying flight fight like we like 63 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: we saw in Cincinnati and will be kind of like 64 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: what you said after that Thursday night game when we 65 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: came in here on Friday. If you're the other thirty 66 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 2: teams around the NFL. You really enjoyed that one last Yeah. 67 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,839 Speaker 3: Right right, fun Gunslingers. 68 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's going to be similar on Sunday, albeit it 69 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 2: won't obviously have all the eyes on it like a 70 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,239 Speaker 2: standalone Thursday night game. Did. 71 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 3: I'm not downplaying the importance of it. I just don't 72 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 3: think there's a lot of intricacies of you know, I 73 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 3: know what you're going to do, and when they kind 74 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 3: of do what they do, you know. 75 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: The importance of it is massive. Yeah, yeah, I mean. 76 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 3: Maybe even more so for the Bengals. I mean the 77 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 3: losses they lost. 78 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: Their seasons over. But you know what for the Steelers, 79 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: a loss and like all the good that you had 80 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: built up at the start of the season and division 81 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: lead is gone. 82 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 3: Washed right, You're back to even steven. 83 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 2: And this was another thing I was talking about with 84 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 2: with Ed and Jacob, was you know, it's one thing 85 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 2: you lose to the Packers, you lose to Seattle. Okay, 86 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: those are NFC losses. Yeah, if it comes down to 87 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: a scenario at the end of the season where the 88 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: Steelers and the Ravens are both ten and seven, they 89 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: split the head to head matchups. That tie breaker is 90 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: gonna be division record AFC conference, So it's very big 91 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: in that scope as well too, potentially down the road, like, yeah, 92 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: you want to win both, but you'd rather win this 93 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 2: than lose to Cincinnati and beat Chicago, you know what 94 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: I mean? Because the division win, the conference win. What 95 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: that means for tie breakers? And how close this could 96 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: be with Baltimore now straight. 97 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: And a couple of weeks ago I thought it was 98 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 3: a four gone conclusion only one team out of the 99 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 3: North would go to the playoffs. I think there's a 100 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 3: real good chance of Steelers and Ravens could go, certainly possible, 101 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 3: or if the Bengals get on a run, they could 102 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 3: even be in that man. 103 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: But again, though you're gonna need it's gonna come down to, Okay, Houston, 104 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh or who's who's got the better AFC conference record, 105 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: who's got the better division record? That is massive in 106 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: this one. And yet don't look now the Chicago Bearris, 107 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 2: who have won five of their last six games, that. 108 00:04:58,400 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 3: Can be a pushover all. 109 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: The road could be nasty weather elements like always in 110 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 2: Chicago this time of year. You've got the Buffalo Bills 111 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 2: coming to town. Not too much longer. You know, you 112 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: base a few days after Thanksgiving, you still got the 113 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: Ravens twice. You still have to go to Detroit. I 114 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: mean that's still over a month away. 115 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 3: But no, but we're coming down the homestack. Look at that. 116 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: The road is narrowing, and the path. I don't want 117 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: to say it even becomes easier with a win Sunday 118 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 2: against Cincinnati. No, but it's a lot worse. It's a 119 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: lot more difficult with a loss. 120 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 3: Right, not to mention what our audience is going to 121 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 3: be thinking about. I mean, I know they don't they 122 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 3: don't have to play on Sundays, but man, it's going 123 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 3: to be a very different vibe if you lose that game, 124 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 3: even if it's thirty one to thirty on the last 125 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 3: second kick and you played well, right, I mean, but 126 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 3: it's gonna be a lot different feeling. It's a big game. 127 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: I'm thinking of our departed brother, tuns Jilkin, who used 128 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 2: to say, don't tell me about the labor, just show 129 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: me the baby. 130 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: Yeah. 131 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is one of those just right, don't care 132 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 2: about the labor or don't care what it looks like. 133 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 2: Just get a win. 134 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 3: You lit a five hundred yards and thirty points. Well, 135 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: as long as you score thirty one, I don't care. 136 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 2: Whether it's forty eight to forty five, Yeah, eight to five. 137 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 2: Just get a win, man, Just get a win in 138 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 2: an important AFC North tilt here in November, something that 139 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: feels like a birthright in this division. Speaking of which, 140 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: you were down at the facility. 141 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 3: Today, Yeah, it's my Thursday routine, right, And I. 142 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 2: Heard that some of the some of the crew down there, 143 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,679 Speaker 2: some of our people down at Steelers HQ, we're getting 144 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: a kick out of. 145 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 3: Our yesterday conversation. 146 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: Yesterday's conversation about like building your All AFC North team 147 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,679 Speaker 2: and you're starting eleven and you're all fifty three, man Ross, 148 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: we might be able to roundtable this thing in the 149 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 2: off season. 150 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 3: I think we might, so people like that. A couple 151 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 3: of folks down there were like, man, I like that 152 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 3: segment about the All AFC North team, and I've been 153 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 3: giving it some thought, and they're like, let's take a 154 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 3: step further, let's build it all fifty three. That's like 155 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 3: in a media I'm like, dude, I don't have that 156 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 3: kind of time. But then you start and through it. 157 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 3: It's not that hard. 158 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 2: For the AFC North, it would be pretty because you 159 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: just know the teams going to do the other seven divisions. 160 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: That would take a lot more research. 161 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 3: And I'll be honest, I'd be good at the other 162 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 3: seven divisions, but this one would be easier obviously. And oh, 163 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 3: by the way, on that fifty three man roster, about 164 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 3: twenty five of them are probably Steelers. Yes, yeah, I 165 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 3: mean there's not many Bengals. We were chatting through it 166 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 3: and I decided, let's make the rules super Bowl era 167 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 3: because Jim Brown was going to be the running back. 168 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 3: But then it's like then we get into like Graham 169 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 3: and Ernie Stottner, like real just like helmets as much, 170 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 3: and it's really apples to oranges. Then, you know, so 171 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: Jim Brown would be great, But let's start it with 172 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 3: like Super Bowl era. It's not as hard as you think. 173 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 3: I mean, you don't even have to have a depth 174 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 3: chart for this division. Right, give me Dawson and Webby 175 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: at center. Yeah, right, you know what I mean. 176 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: Like wide receiver be a lot of fun. 177 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 3: Wide receivers a lot of fun. 178 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: I want I want a b I want Chase, I 179 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: want Swan, I. 180 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 3: Want Star And then a fifth guy. 181 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: I think I'm going Hines because I want a different 182 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 2: I want someone who could play in the slot and 183 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 2: knock some head off. 184 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, but even like our edge, getting. 185 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 2: Someone like Steve Smith from Baltimore, you'd be leaving off right. 186 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: It's true though he's more of a Carolina Panthers raven 187 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: to be fair. 188 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 3: But like tight end isn't super strong. It was Ozzie 189 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 3: is be your one, he Heath or Heap, Andrews Mark Andrews. Yeah, 190 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 3: I think we came up with Andrews is a two. 191 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 2: The offensive line would be really good, really good quarterback 192 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: depth would be really good. 193 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 3: I mean, you could fight about the depth chart, but 194 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,839 Speaker 3: we came up with Lamar and Ben. And then that 195 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 3: was Bradshaw versus Burrow. 196 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: Oh, you're gonna make some people angry about it. Direct 197 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 2: all angry tweets and comments towards Matt Williamson. 198 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: That was not I'm just tying how the conversations went. 199 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 3: We didn't make any final decisions. We were just chatting 200 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 3: through it. But like, I think, Lamar and Benn have 201 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 3: to be there. And I know there's some people that 202 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 3: take Bradshaw over Ben. I get that. I'm a Ben 203 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 3: over Brad. 204 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 2: I was gonna say, forget Lamar over. There'd be some 205 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: people that are like, how you're leaving Bradshaw out for Ben? 206 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 2: Oh Man, this could be fun. 207 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 3: I mean, you're gonna take three so we don't even 208 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: have to do the death charge. 209 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 2: Well we need to do ano. There's somebody out there 210 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 2: listening right now who runs a fine dining establishment or 211 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 2: something in the western Pennsylvania area. Invite us out in 212 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 2: the off season. All right, Well we'll sit around, we'll 213 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: have this. All these debates of Ben and Bradshaw, Lamar 214 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 2: Burrow running back would be tough too, man. 215 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 3: Running without Jim Brown in the mix. It's tough like 216 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 3: Franco lev Bettis, Jamal Lewis and. 217 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 2: J Lewis gonna say, has to be in that conversation. 218 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 3: There's another obvious when I'm missing Corey Dillons wasn't good enough, 219 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 3: But I mean it could be all Steelers. I mean 220 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 3: you start going position by position, then you build a 221 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 3: defensive front. That was interesting too, Like we took two 222 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: nose tackles, took not Ann Hampton. 223 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 2: Of course, and base fifty three roster loaded. 224 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 3: Up, yeah, and basically played like a three four with 225 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 3: Joe Green as Joe Green and Cam as the guy's 226 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 3: next to the nose, and then people debate. Let me 227 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 3: go Watt and Garrett here. I know it's kind of early, 228 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 3: but what and Garrett of the guys. 229 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 2: I I'm the The off ball linebacker debate would be incredible, 230 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: the linebacker debate in general, because we build it like 231 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 2: the guys. But you realize you're leaving sugs out. Then 232 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 2: who's like fifth all time? 233 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 3: And he's the He's in the fifty three. 234 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: He's like fifth or sixth all time in Saxon League history. 235 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 3: He's on the fifty three. And then I put Harrison 236 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 3: as my fourth outside linebacker guy. But that's I mean, 237 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 3: it's like no l C or Dwight White. 238 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: Or could you imagine being a running back coming through 239 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 2: the A gap and you got Ray Lewis and Jack 240 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: Lambert waiting for you, right, have fun. 241 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 3: Right right right? 242 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 2: Show that one. 243 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean we had those build him. We built 244 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 3: it like a modern day team, like who's your nickel? 245 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 3: All right? The nickel corners kind of tough because I 246 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 3: got Woodsend and Blunt on the edge on the outside. 247 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 3: That's pretty good. But who am I gonna do? In 248 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 3: the nickel, you know, like it's not quite as strong. 249 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: I might have, like a you may have blunt, you're 250 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 2: gonna have Blunt and Rod Woodson on the outside. That's 251 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 2: as good as it get. That's as good as I mean, 252 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 2: you would be hard pressed. That's a defined much better 253 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 2: than that. 254 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 3: And I got Troy and that's my starting second. 255 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,199 Speaker 2: I don't need a nickel formation the whole game. 256 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,599 Speaker 3: But let's make Donny Shell the modern day nickel. I'm like, 257 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 3: because he actually kind of did that at the time too, 258 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 3: I'm like, he's Hall of Famer. I mean, that's not bad. 259 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 3: Riley the safety from. 260 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 2: The Bangle, Like someone like Kyle Hamilton is a nickel. 261 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 3: His name came up. I'm like, too early for those guys. 262 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 3: It's not too early for Chase, but Hamilton's name came up. 263 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 2: Like I wouldn't want Joe Hayden in a nickel role. 264 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 2: That's not his it's not his game on the fifty three. 265 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 2: Probably is one of your debuts. 266 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 3: He spent enough time in the division too. Yeah, so 267 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 3: that's it's not a terrible name. But like I mentioned, 268 00:11:55,559 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 3: likes Ward Minifield and Dixon. Chris McAllister was a really 269 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 3: good player. I'm a big fan of those, but none 270 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 3: of them are nickelish, you know, kind of cool. But 271 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: it's a fun conversation maker. 272 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 2: Kyle Hamilton playing the nickel. 273 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 3: That's not bad. It got to be something, is Hamilton. 274 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: It's got to be some safety type. 275 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 3: And I said, we're making a fifty two man roster 276 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: because I am not picking a long snapper. 277 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 2: But give me, give me a long snap. Remember swim 278 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 2: Literally the ball was in the water. It worked out swimmingly. 279 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 2: As you can see. We could kill a whole showing 280 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: this conversation things, but we will table this for later. 281 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 2: I love that our friends down on the South Side 282 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 2: enjoyed this. I'm also glad to know they're listening too. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 283 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 2: I'm always glad to know somebody other than my mom 284 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 2: is listening to the show. It's always always, always good 285 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: to know. Let's take a break here, reset. We're going 286 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: to dive into Matt's stats when we return on the 287 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 2: other side and really start to get into some Bengals 288 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 2: and some Stiller's conversation. All of that and more. Just 289 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: getting started here on the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio 290 00:12:57,679 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: on the Steelers Audio Network. 291 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven 292 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 293 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 2: All right, so I'm thinking more about this fifty three 294 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 2: man roster and what about. 295 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 3: It. 296 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: It is a lot of fun. And you know this too. 297 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 2: I always laugh at like the low Hanging fruit Fodder 298 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,479 Speaker 2: radio every time I hear somebody do a mount rushmore 299 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 2: of Yeah, that was happening today. Paul Skeens won the 300 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 2: cy Young I congratulations to Paul, outstanding pitcher. Unfortunately not 301 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 2: much else around him. And like I'm here, everyone's like, 302 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 2: oos your mount rushmore of Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers, and I'm like, 303 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 2: We're like, really, we're doing this. We're doing this in November, 304 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 2: in the middle of football season and everything going on. 305 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 2: But it's also a lot of fun. I'll put my 306 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: hand up. I'm guilty of it too. It's a lot 307 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 2: of fun to have those conversations. We will do plenty 308 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: of that in about June time when we're kind of 309 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: wandering through the wilderness looking for content. But Matt, we 310 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 2: are not looking for content today because we have got 311 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: angles on tap. We've got another outstanding edition of Matt's 312 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 2: stats to comb through, and I feel like there's kind 313 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 2: of a funny ebb and flow of what I like 314 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 2: to pick first to discuss with you. 315 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I always wonder what you're dropping on me first, Like. 316 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: If the offense has a really good week, I'm like, 317 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 2: we're gonna go to an offensive statistic. The defense force 318 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 2: is six to well five turnovers against the Colts and 319 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 2: you get one on special teams. I'm like, we're gonna 320 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 2: talk about some defensive statistics. I want to start with 321 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 2: something that kind of jumped out at me because I. 322 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 3: Some alarming good and bad in this packet. 323 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, you and I have pointed this out. I don't 324 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 2: think the defense played poorly on Sunday. 325 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 3: No. 326 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 2: I think they held off the dam for a long 327 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 2: time and it finally broke and they were on the field. 328 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 2: So you combine how often they were on the field 329 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 2: with the lack of splash plays, that's kind of the 330 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 2: kryptonite for this defense. Yeah, if they're on the field 331 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 2: a lot and they're not getting splash, that's when things leave. 332 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 2: But I thought that they overall did their part. I 333 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 2: don't think that. 334 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 3: They were they played winning football. 335 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: They played They played well enough for that team to win. 336 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 3: Certainly, my two complaints of the defense was, and these 337 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 3: are going to happen as the game goes on when 338 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 3: you're out there too much. Was there were some holes 339 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 3: that were large for Viidel to run through. 340 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: Particularly in the second half. 341 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 3: Best particularly in the second half, and then not being 342 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 3: able to really stop mcconukee. But I didn't think eccles. 343 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 3: I mean, he had a tough game against mcconaukeae in particular, 344 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 3: and that one play was a remarkable throw catch. The 345 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 3: coverage wasn't bad, but that I mean, all in all, 346 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 3: I'll take that from the defense. Every game you win 347 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 3: more often than not when the defense plays like that. 348 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 2: Agreed, Agreed. I want to go to a defensive stat 349 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: here that I think tells a tale. The Steelers defense 350 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 2: fifth highest and blitz rate. Okay, that's something we talked. 351 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 3: About starting to drop, and I think it's going to 352 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 3: keep dropping. 353 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 2: I think so too. It's something that we talked about 354 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 2: a lot going into this season. Play more man to man, 355 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 2: play more press coverage that allows you to dial up 356 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 2: some blitzes. Bring Patrick Queen, bring Peyton Wilson, Bring Jalen 357 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 2: Ramsey out of the slot. It's your birthright in the 358 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 2: black and gold here, and I think at times in 359 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: the beginning of the season it was working. I'm with you. 360 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 2: I think they have clearly dialed that back due to 361 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 2: injuries and just some. 362 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 3: I don't think the man cover guys to do it right. 363 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 3: They have to do it. 364 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: Differently, particularly when Ramsey is not up at the line 365 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 2: of scrimmage. Yeah, Steelers defense fifth highest and blitz rate, 366 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 2: but twenty third in EPA when they blitz. 367 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 3: So it hasn't gone well either. 368 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 2: So it hasn't gone well, which to me points to Okay. 369 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly, doubt back. Your four man rush is great, 370 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 3: huge thing we talked about leaving in the Colts game, 371 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 3: which and they look like this juggernaut going into that game. 372 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 3: I don't know how they could ever beat the Colts 373 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 3: and there they are really good. I mean, they're the 374 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 3: only team that's done it well. Yeah, And the thing 375 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 3: we said over and over that week was just make 376 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 3: Daniel Jones tap the ball a second half a second longer, 377 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 3: you know, because the pass rusher will get home. Some 378 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 3: of the stuff I've been tweeting lately about, like the 379 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 3: Steeler pressure rate and things like that, are phenomenal. Like 380 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 3: I've gotten so much responses on Twitter. It's like, it's 381 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 3: not the pass rush's fault. I've been telling you this 382 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 3: for a one hundred years, right, I mean, I don't 383 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,479 Speaker 3: need numbers to back it up. They have great pass rushers. 384 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 3: It's not the pass rush's fault. So they don't have 385 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 3: to disrupt the game by bringing five. And I also 386 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 3: think it's been a when they blitz, they bring six 387 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 3: a high percentage too. That's somewhere in the packet, and 388 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 3: they're at the top of the league in terms of 389 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,719 Speaker 3: six or more man pressures, and that just that's just 390 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 3: a lot of grass to cover. And the Bengals game 391 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 3: is a perfect example. It's like, I don't even care 392 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 3: who's on Chase if Lacco hits him in stride. I 393 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 3: don't have any linebackers or safeties or anybody else to 394 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 3: at least, you know, dislodge the ball or help me 395 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 3: tackle them or so I think they've figured out, Hey, 396 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 3: maybe these corners aren't as good a man as we thought. 397 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 3: And even if Samuel factors in, or Whenny factors in, 398 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 3: he's much more of his own guy. And it doesn't 399 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 3: mean you have that's the only way to skin a cat. 400 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 3: You know, I mean just drop guys into into zones 401 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 3: and make them tap the football that way and you're 402 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 3: forced to get home. 403 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 2: And you know, even with that, you tweeted out a 404 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 2: chart of EPA from. 405 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 3: Yeah phrase like the big plays you've made and yeah, 406 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 3: right right. 407 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 2: Based off of a solo and assisted tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, 408 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 2: fumble recoveries, and sacks. 409 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 3: And that's a EPAS two ways of looking at there's 410 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 3: like an EPA per game situation, you know, or per 411 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 3: Actually it's per play. I mean that's the beauty of 412 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 3: it is they break it down the clothes column dominator, 413 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 3: but when they talk about players sometimes they accumulate too, 414 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 3: like the quarterback is it's it's a counting stat as well. 415 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 2: Yes, TJ. Watt at the top of that list. 416 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 3: Number one amongst all defenders. 417 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 2: And Nick Herbig number nine on that list. 418 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, and they're all the names you think so. 419 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, Josh Sweat, Will Anderson, Aiden Hutchins, Yeah, Jared Verse, Miles, 420 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 2: Garrett Montes, Sweat, Joey Bosa, all these guys. Yeah, Shaun Gary, 421 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 2: who we just saw a couple of weeks ago. 422 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're highly productive players. 423 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 2: That to me even more kind of supports. You'll still 424 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 2: get home. You'll still get home before. 425 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 3: Trust these guys. 426 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: Trust these guys. 427 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 3: And everyone's like, that's the highest paid defense in the league. Yeah, 428 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 3: because those guys cost money because they're good. I mean, 429 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 3: Hei Smith doesn't play for free and Watt doesn't play 430 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 3: in cam and these guys. 431 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 2: That's why I know, I've told you this before, and 432 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 2: I laugh at this, and I get it. I do 433 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 2: it too. But every time the Steelers defense doesn't have 434 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 2: their best outing, one hundred and eighty million dollars highest 435 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 2: paid defense is But when they forced five turnovers against 436 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 2: the Patriots or the Colts, no one's like, never, that's 437 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 2: money well spent. 438 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 3: I've never heard on Monday boy. Good investment there. 439 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 2: Wow, great investment. Right. It does work both ways. 440 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 3: And everyone talks like it's their money. What do you 441 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 3: care what they pay? 442 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 2: The salary caps fake anyways, I worked in Philadelphia for 443 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 2: three years. I keep an eye on what Howie Roseman's 444 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 2: been doing. Salary CAP's fake anyways, it's just a bunch 445 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 2: of I'm like Matthew McConaughey and absolutely fugazy fugazi. 446 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 3: It's fairy dust exactly. Keep him investing Matt. 447 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 2: Let's get to some stuff here on the offensive side 448 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 2: of the football. As we kind of bob and weave 449 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: through some Matt stats. Pittsburgh's offense facing a too high 450 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 2: shell fifty four percent of the times, the second highest 451 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,439 Speaker 2: rate in the NFL. Yeah, run the ball, and I 452 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 2: think get back to some of those quick hitters that 453 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 2: we were seeing work so well with DK Metcalf at 454 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 2: the beginning of the season. Get him the ball four 455 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: or five, six, seven yards off the line of scrimmage 456 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: in space. 457 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's a general thing. But the opposing teams 458 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 3: are as opposed a single high are having a too 459 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 3: high shell against Pittsburgh a high percentage the time. And 460 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 3: I bet people were shocked by that, and in some 461 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 3: ways I am too, Like why are teams choosing to 462 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 3: do that? 463 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 2: Look at the pass chart. Steelers aren't throw the ball deep. 464 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 3: They're not throwing the ball deep right right, I mean 465 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 3: they're not holding the ball. I mean the ball's coming 466 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 3: out as fast as any team in the league, ifs 467 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 3: not faster. But Seattle was the same way last year. 468 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 3: It's a Metcalf thing. People still fear him taking the 469 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 3: top off and say what you want about them needing 470 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 3: another receiver or whatnot. Anderson's or Austin is also fast. 471 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 3: Their pair of receivers are basically as fast as anyone 472 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 3: in the league. I mean they're Tyreeque and Waddel. I 473 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 3: mean just pure speed. One of them's seventy pounds or 474 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 3: the other. But just in terms of winning a race, 475 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 3: those two are fast. And I think that's that's the 476 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 3: only thing I can come up with, because not only 477 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 3: you're seeing a ton of two high shelves, but you 478 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 3: play with heavier personnel too. I mean, you're bringing three 479 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 3: tight ends on the field, an extra lineman on the field. 480 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 3: I mean, and you're playing with big, heavy people on offense, 481 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 3: and they're still not really crowd in the box. You 482 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 3: can't tell me that there's not run looks there, yeah, 483 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 3: I I mean you can't tell me. 484 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: I'm not trying to tell you. Yeah. It's the opposite. 485 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 2: And even kind of piggybacking off of that as it 486 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 2: relates to this Sunday's clash with Cincinnati, the Steelers throw 487 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 2: short at the NFL's highest clip. I don't think that 488 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: surprises anybody, no, of course, but the actual percentage is 489 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 2: kind of alarming. Nearly seventy nearly seventy six percent of 490 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 2: the time. Seventy five point seven percent of the time 491 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 2: they're throwing short under ten yards are under the highest 492 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 2: clip in the league, a lot three out of four 493 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 2: passes right seventy six percent of the time. Bengals. 494 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,439 Speaker 3: I'd like to get a little less strong in that department. 495 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 2: I'd like that to be down in the sixties. 496 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, especially in this game without a big pass rush 497 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 3: to worry about, you know, like, can we push them 498 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 3: all down field little bit? You know? 499 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 2: But the Bengals defense is last in the NFL and EPA. 500 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 3: Versus short throws, yes, c NDPA in a lot. 501 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: Of you've seen them. The defense come up right right. 502 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 3: Right, I mean their run defenses last or stuff for 503 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 3: short passing last, you know. But yes, I mean you 504 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 3: should be able to play your game, though, I think 505 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 3: it's the bottom, you know, going and looking at it 506 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 3: for this particular matchup. 507 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 2: Feels like your strengths. I was gonna say, match the 508 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 2: Bengals weaknesses on defense, but again, they're kind of everything. 509 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a remarkably bad group. 510 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 2: Here's one that I want to talk with you about 511 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 2: that is not going to paint the greatest picture, sure, 512 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 2: but is is what it is. Over the last five games, 513 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers passer rating and completion percentage has declined each 514 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 2: of the last five games and each. 515 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 3: Of the last four games. His yards per attempt, not 516 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 3: how far he's necessarily going the ball, but what you're 517 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 3: getting per attempt, yes, has gone down. 518 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 2: So let me ask you this. I think I did 519 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 2: this with you a couple of weeks ago. I forget 520 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 2: what the topic was, maybe the Steelers offensive line after 521 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 2: the first couple weeks of the season, but remember motes 522 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 2: and I would do this thing c CWP calm, concerned, worried, panicked. Okay, 523 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 2: when you hear that stat about Aaron Rodgers worried, are 524 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 2: you call him concerned, worried or panicked? 525 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 3: Worried? Okay, not panicked. But I think he because of 526 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 3: his age. 527 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 2: That's the I mean. And the weather's getting colder, and 528 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 2: it's yeah, I mean any of those. 529 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 3: I'm sure Ben would sit here and tell you or 530 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 3: maybe even did it while he was still a Steeler 531 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 3: at the end. It's not that he is recover slower. 532 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 3: Wednesdays are as much fun as they used to be. 533 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 3: You know what I mean like at this start of 534 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 3: the season, the first month or two, when the weather's 535 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 3: nice and you didn't do anything all off season and 536 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 3: you trained how you wanted and you weren't fighting three 537 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 3: different injuries. But when these older quarterbacks, it's this time 538 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 3: of year when things I mean, I could just give 539 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: you a nine. I mean, breeze on, you know, Matt 540 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 3: Ryan on on on all in recent memory bruises associated 541 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 3: with play man last year exactly. You know, so if 542 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 3: he was thirty two and he's playing exactly like this, 543 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 3: I'm like, yeah, that's fine. Yeah, I mean it was 544 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 3: a bad game, and really there was one bad game. 545 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 3: You know, it's not like, boy, all these games are terrible, 546 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 3: but the Colts game wasn't as good as you think. 547 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 3: They just happened they win, you know, and they. 548 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 2: Got a lot of help from the defense. 549 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 550 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred and eighty million dollars well spent exactly. 551 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 3: You go, right. I Mean, I think even Rogers after 552 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 3: the Colts game, and he's very self aware and smart, 553 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 3: said something like, we need to score more points when 554 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 3: they give us the ball that much, and they did 555 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 3: score points, but they need to score more, you know, 556 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 3: like realized we could been better on that game too. 557 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 3: The offense did not win that game, and then the 558 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 3: offense basically lost the last game. But just rigors of 559 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 3: the season for an old quarterback, not an aging quarter 560 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 3: he's an old quarterback over forty that were That's what 561 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 3: That's why the worry. 562 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. And this kind of putting 563 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 2: a full circle on a couple of the things we 564 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 2: just discussed there. On pass attempts of ten or more 565 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 2: yards downfield, Aaron Rodgers has completed just about forty percent 566 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 2: of those attempts, slightly over forty point three percent. 567 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 3: That's the season. That's for the season, right, And there's 568 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 3: fewer than just about anybody because such a high percentage. 569 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:22,120 Speaker 2: Of short throws. 570 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, and some of them we've all watched the tape. 571 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 3: Some of them are watched the games live. I mean, 572 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 3: some of them are when the play breaks down, he's 573 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 3: rolling to his right and fire people are chasing them. Sure, 574 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 3: but he's not the only one doing that in the 575 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 3: league either, right, right, right. But his deep ball accuracy 576 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 3: or mid to deep ball accuracy hasn't been average. I mean, 577 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 3: it's below average. 578 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 2: Nearly sixty nine percent of the Steelers passing yards have 579 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 2: come after the catch highest percentage in the league. Only 580 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 2: team in the league over sixty percent. 581 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 3: And that's a lot more than Number two, a lot more. 582 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 2: And that again gets back to their throwing short often 583 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 2: and at times guys like DK Metcalf and Pat Fryer, 584 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,239 Speaker 2: Mooth and Darnel Washington, they've been able to take a 585 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 2: six or seven yarder and turn it into a twenty 586 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 2: or thirty yarder. But unfortunately we haven't seen as much 587 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 2: of that the last couple of weeks. 588 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,360 Speaker 3: No we haven't. And I don't even know if that's 589 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 3: a bad stat that's just a style of play. And frankly, 590 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 3: yards after the catch is a feather in the quarterbacks cap. 591 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 3: I mean, if you're not super accurate with football, they 592 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 3: don't stop their feet, you know, like. 593 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 2: It's those things work in concert together. 594 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, you need to be good with the ball in 595 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 3: your hands, whoever is getting the ball, and the guy 596 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 3: has to get it to you on time, six inches 597 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 3: in front of the numbers as walls, she used to say, 598 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 3: and then you can do it. I can't be catching 599 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 3: it behind me, stop my feet, or I'm not to 600 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 3: get any right exactly. So Roger's been great in that respect, 601 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 3: and most of it has come from Warren in Metcalf. 602 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,880 Speaker 3: You know, the big plays have been Metcalf, but Warren, 603 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,239 Speaker 3: you give them the ball, you know, those ones at 604 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 3: the line of scrimmage or yards downfield and he picks 605 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 3: up another eight yards. Well that's you know, you could 606 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 3: do the percentages of how much of it came after 607 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 3: the catch, you know. 608 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 2: Right, right, So some interesting, interesting numbers there that kind 609 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 2: of stood out to me when I started to comb 610 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 2: through this picture, though, they do, and that's that's all 611 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 2: we're trying to do. Yeah, yeah, yeah, some good, some 612 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 2: concerning as we continue to I. 613 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 3: Don't have a crystal ball. I'm not predicting the future. 614 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 3: I'm just telling you these are the picture of these 615 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 3: teams and how what we know about them today. 616 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 2: And all it takes, Matt is sixty minutes on a 617 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 2: Sunday for trends to start to change as well to 618 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 2: exactly so. Nothing is written in stone, nothing is chiseled 619 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 2: in concrete until the end of the year. Let's take 620 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 2: our last break of the first hour. Here some more 621 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 2: Matt stats, more numbers. I want to kick around with 622 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 2: you before we get to our buddy Bob Laberry. 623 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 3: You all looks like Matt's stats are now available on 624 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 3: Steelers dot com. 625 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 2: Ooh, so if you want to fall along home kids, 626 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 2: this will be on the test Eu'ler Williamson The Drive 627 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 2: Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. 628 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 629 00:29:10,680 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 630 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 2: Final segment here of the first hour. We will get 631 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 2: to our buddy Bob Labriola about fifteen minutes from now 632 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 2: to kick off hour number two. Matt, I wanted to 633 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 2: look back into another It's not technically your stats packet, 634 00:29:58,160 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 2: but it's another thing that you're. 635 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 3: Charge after every game. Just throw them in the spreadsheet, 636 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 3: at them up again. 637 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 2: We are you know, we're not hard. I was just 638 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 2: talking about Colorado football with you during the U During 639 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 2: the break there, Dion Sanders likes to say, I'm not 640 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 2: hard to. 641 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 3: Find, right, Okay. 642 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 2: The topics that you and I talk about on the 643 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 2: show here are not hard to find. The themes are 644 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 2: not hard to find. And one of those, ever. 645 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 3: Country and probably belief. I'm not a mathematician or no 646 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 3: a great research person. These things are are all out there. 647 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 2: No but let's spend seven years in college, six twelve terms. 648 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 2: They're called doctors, Richard one of the sorry to throw 649 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 2: you under the bus like that. 650 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 3: Hey, yeah, that two to one in creative writing was 651 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 3: not easy to come by, Pitt Johnstown of the Fine Institution. 652 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 2: My my two point eight in uh in broadcast media 653 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 2: and sports communications wasn't too much better, uh, Matt. One 654 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 2: of the things that we have been talking about since July. 655 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean before the season started, right. 656 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 2: Three key indicators turnover differential, sack differential, explosive play differential. Yeah, 657 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 2: and everyone. Not every single week, but maybe like bi weekly. Here, 658 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 2: you and I can revisit that and see where we're at. 659 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 2: Turnover differential. Even taking a pretty substantial hit in LA 660 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 2: minus three on Sunday, you're still plus six on the season. 661 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, it's still amongst the best in the league. 662 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 2: Although I will say sometimes the playing just comes together. 663 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 2: Steelers have lost three of their last four games. The 664 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 2: three they lost, they lost the turnover differential. The one 665 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 2: they won, they won the turnover differential. 666 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's that simple. 667 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 2: Sometimes it's it's just that cutting. 668 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 3: These teams aren't that far out matching each other, you. 669 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 2: Know, sacked differential. This one doesn't shock anybody. Steelers are 670 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 2: plus fourteen in that department. It's been a strength, which 671 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 2: is really good. They lost sack differential the first two 672 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 2: weeks of the season hm in the opener against the 673 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 2: Jets and then in the home opener against Seattle, but 674 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 2: since then they have only lost it against Green Bay. 675 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 2: They've won it every other game plus plus sixteen on 676 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 2: the year. That's a real strength, real strength, explosive play differential. 677 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 3: And I expect the sack one to keep up. 678 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, I mean, no matter what, the blitz just 679 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 2: bring four. I expect that to continue. 680 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 3: Even with the ball coming out of quarterbacks hands quick 681 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 3: and all that stuff. 682 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 2: Expect that to get Maybe there'll be some games, you know, 683 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 2: against certain teams where it's it's not quite the same 684 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 2: advantage because they are playing some teams like the Lions 685 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 2: that can get after the quarterback as well too, But 686 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 2: that I expect to maintain a a in the team's 687 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 2: type advantage Steelers as the season rolls along. 688 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 3: They may. I think they'll build on that even as 689 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:49,320 Speaker 3: the season goes on. 690 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 2: Agreed. Agreed. This other one though, What really hurts you, though, 691 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 2: is your explosive play differential Matt really poor. The Steelers 692 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 2: have only won it once this season, and it was 693 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 2: that Browns game at home. Negative four in that department 694 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 2: against the Chargers, negative eight in that department against Indianapolis, 695 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 2: negative five in that department against Green Bay. And man, it's. 696 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 3: It's particularly bad in the run game right. 697 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 2: Particularly well, it's kind of gone back and forth. Like 698 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 2: against the Chargers, you were even in past explosive play differential, 699 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 2: but minus four in the run game differential. Against the 700 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 2: Colts you were even in run game explosive plays. And man, 701 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 2: you would have signed for that in blood minus eight 702 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 2: in the past game. Imagine here if you didn't get 703 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 2: you know, all those turnovers. So to me, that's a man, 704 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,080 Speaker 2: that's a real struggle. We we know it's. 705 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 3: A Steeler thing. It's not an opponent thing. We've watched 706 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 3: enough now when if you just look, it's in the 707 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 3: stat pack, it's not in that spreadsheet. Steelers offensive explosive 708 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 3: play rate is at the bottom of the league. 709 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: The bottom of league. It doesn't matter. 710 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 3: Flosive plays. I think they're thirty two or right right 711 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 3: around there. They're twenty seven or later. I can't remember. 712 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 3: Off the top of my head. Yes, And the defense, 713 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 3: I think the defense has gotten better in this regard. Well, 714 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 3: I'm not even sure, but the defense has allowed way 715 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:15,280 Speaker 3: too many big plays too. 716 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 2: And a big part of it. You know what, Matt, 717 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 2: You've almost up until this loss at the Chargers, you 718 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:24,760 Speaker 2: were doing much better in the run excess play department. 719 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:26,359 Speaker 3: A lot of that was early in the season, I think, 720 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 3: like the Jets had big runs and yeah. 721 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 2: Correct, since Dublin. You won the explosive run play differential 722 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 2: against Minnesota, against Cleveland, against Cincinnati, tied stalemate with Green 723 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:40,280 Speaker 2: Bay in Indianapolis. But then but then minus four against 724 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 2: the Chargers, and like you mentioned, a lot of those 725 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:46,080 Speaker 2: second half backbreaking not forty fifty yard runs. 726 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:48,960 Speaker 3: I would say that by by Dell, but it wasn't 727 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 3: Taylor taking twelve. 728 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 2: Thirteen yard run right right, moving the chains, keeping your 729 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 2: defense on the field, keeping your offense on the sideline. 730 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 3: And I'm sure some real advanced stats people could tell 731 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 3: you all explosives are the same. It's different if you 732 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 3: score an eighty yarder on the first play of the drive. 733 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 2: A ten yard run is an explosive run. Yeah, sixty 734 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 2: yard run is an explosive run. 735 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 3: There's a big difference. But over the course of the year, 736 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 3: do you think you get an idea? 737 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, water finds its level a little bit. 738 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 3: Now. I love Jalen Warren, but I don't think all 739 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 3: of a sudden he's gonna start ripping off thirty forty fifties. 740 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:22,920 Speaker 3: He never really has nause never. 741 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 2: What he does well is he turns a four yarder 742 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 2: into nine yards. 743 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly, exactly. Yeah. I mean he's just not a 744 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 3: long speed guy. 745 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 2: Neither was nausey, ye know, right, He's not a home 746 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 2: run hitter in that No. 747 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 3: I mean there's been stretches over the last couple of 748 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,360 Speaker 3: years where the Steelers have a lot of ten plus 749 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:42,399 Speaker 3: yard runs but hardly any twenties. Yes, you know. I mean, 750 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:46,279 Speaker 3: so that's one thing that's not going to probably change 751 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 3: is the real long run. 752 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 2: They've got to get back to. See, like explosive run differential. 753 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,440 Speaker 2: You're minus eight on the year. That's not great. 754 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 3: I can live with it. 755 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 2: That's one per game. Yeah, yeah, it's not terrible. Minus 756 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,520 Speaker 2: twenty five in the past game is is bad. 757 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 3: It's great. 758 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 2: Is real bad? You've only won that that differential battle 759 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:03,759 Speaker 2: twice this year. 760 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 3: I mean some of the real alarming stats in the 761 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:09,360 Speaker 3: staff packet are like the number of yards they allow 762 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 3: to wide receiver position. Yes, I mean it's like one 763 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:14,799 Speaker 3: hundred and ninety four yards a game just to the 764 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 3: wide outs and guys outside the numbers if you just 765 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 3: or just slough. 766 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:21,280 Speaker 2: And the only time all year that you can excuse 767 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:23,359 Speaker 2: that is it was garbage time. Was the Colts game, 768 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:24,920 Speaker 2: right right, right right? 769 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:30,279 Speaker 3: That's I mean then was the most glaring example. 770 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:32,879 Speaker 2: To yeah, yeah, yeah, it goes back to back games. Yeah, 771 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 2: so it doesn't. 772 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:38,320 Speaker 3: And to their credit, they've made a lot of defensive 773 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 3: back changes knowing these things, I assume. 774 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,280 Speaker 2: I mean, it's not real hard to figure out, no doubt, 775 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 2: no doubt. And one thing that kind of strikes me 776 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 2: too is the Steelers missed field goal differential this season 777 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 2: is only plus one. And I'm not saying that to 778 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 2: say like, wow, Boss is missing. No, but it's opposition 779 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:59,000 Speaker 2: or not missing as many as the steel field goal luck. Yes, 780 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 2: I l year it went very I bet you if 781 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 2: we would have been doing this exercise, I don't even 782 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:05,360 Speaker 2: know if you and Dale did last year, but I 783 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,560 Speaker 2: bet you the Steelers missed field goal differential last year 784 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 2: was pretty substantial. I'm sure in the red in a 785 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 2: good way. 786 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:13,640 Speaker 3: It definitely was positive or in the black. 787 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,920 Speaker 2: Sorry, Red's negative, Black's positive. I didn't go to accounting, 788 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:20,239 Speaker 2: right created black? Yeah, you want to be in the black, 789 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 2: not in the red. Are right? 790 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 3: Yes, I think you're right. Did you take any I 791 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 3: think you're right about that. 792 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 2: Plus one is not there and they always are. 793 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 3: Boz is going to make a higher percentage than his 794 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 3: Steelers opponent. 795 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 2: But you haven't had the luck of the mist maybe 796 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 2: the misses from your opponents as much as you have 797 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:38,880 Speaker 2: in the past, And people. 798 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 3: Might be like, what are you talking about. I'm like, 799 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:43,760 Speaker 3: I've explained this before, but I thoroughly believe in field 800 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:48,160 Speaker 3: goal luck. Maybe the Steelers are slightly better than most 801 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:50,719 Speaker 3: teams are blocking a field goal over the course of 802 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 3: the year because Danny Smith's good and they block a 803 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:53,400 Speaker 3: lot of punts too. 804 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:53,760 Speaker 2: Sure. 805 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:56,439 Speaker 3: Maybe, sure, But for the most part, if it goes 806 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,520 Speaker 3: between the uprights or not, has nothing to do with 807 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:01,399 Speaker 3: the defense the path, you. 808 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 2: Know, think about it. I mean, like, well missed the 809 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:06,600 Speaker 2: field goal this year because he slipped on the turf, 810 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 2: got nothing the defense like that. 811 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,640 Speaker 3: The opponent was so good at blocking kicks, right, I 812 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:17,520 Speaker 3: mean sometimes you just they hand you three points, you know, 813 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:19,840 Speaker 3: and they don't take three points away from me, and 814 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 3: they give you the ball midfield because they missed, you know, 815 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 3: and that's not really in your hands. 816 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 2: No, no it is not. No, it is not. And 817 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:30,799 Speaker 2: so certainly something that we keep an eye on, something 818 00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 2: that we track around here, but wanted to. 819 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:35,640 Speaker 3: Uh, every couple of weeks. We need this. 820 00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:38,040 Speaker 2: Every every couple of weeks, stop in on that, keep 821 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 2: an eye on that. 822 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:41,640 Speaker 3: The explosive play differential is terrible. The other stuff's good. 823 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:45,040 Speaker 2: And this feels like a Sunday. You got to get 824 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:47,080 Speaker 2: that move in the right direction because we know you're 825 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:49,800 Speaker 2: going to be able to hit explosives against that defense. Yeah, 826 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:51,839 Speaker 2: we saw it. We saw it a few weeks ago. 827 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:54,839 Speaker 3: But I bet the Bengals explosive play rates pretty darn high. 828 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:57,600 Speaker 2: But they're sitting in their offensive meetings right now and saying, 829 00:38:57,760 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 2: we can really get some chunk plays on these guys. Now. 830 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 3: One thing about the Bengals in particular, I know their 831 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 3: explosive run rate is way down. I mean like a 832 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 3: distant last and the only game that they had any 833 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:13,879 Speaker 3: explosive runs was against the Steelers. Okay, I mean Chase 834 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 3: Brown's doesn't I mean their run games done nothing and 835 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:20,960 Speaker 3: breaking off long runs or any kind of consistency. So yeah, 836 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 3: I like that their receivers are very explosed. 837 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:26,280 Speaker 2: I like that A lot hour in the books, another 838 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:28,320 Speaker 2: hour to go when we return. On the other side, 839 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:31,720 Speaker 2: the Dean of Doom, the lord of living in his fears. 840 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,320 Speaker 2: What will he have to say after a lackluster effort 841 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:39,600 Speaker 2: out in LA and a dangerous Cincinnati team rolling into 842 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:43,440 Speaker 2: town to the north Shore this weekend? All of that 843 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 2: and more with Bob Blabriola on the other side, as 844 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,239 Speaker 2: we kick off our number two Weser Matt Williamson, You 845 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:52,319 Speaker 2: are tuned into the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on 846 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:53,560 Speaker 2: the Steelers Audio Network,