1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and 2 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: Matt Williamson on your home of the Black and Gold 3 00:00:43,760 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 1: SNR Steelers Nation Radio. H uh uh kiss. Maybe back 4 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: in the New York groove. We're back in the studio 5 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: group here. I'm Dale Lally here with Matt Williamson. This 6 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and Matt O 7 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: t A s for one are in the books. Steelers 8 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: will Go will report for mini camp next week. That 9 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: will be Tuesday through Thursday. That will be at hines 10 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: Field of course closed to the public, but open to us. 11 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: We'll be broadcasting. How about that? Big news for me 12 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: especially I haven't seen live football in a long time. 13 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: You know one thing I forgot to ask. We had 14 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: a little meeting about that today. So we're doing shows Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. 15 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: We do also doing our Monday show. Now I asked others, 16 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: no Monday and Friday next week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Um 17 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: from hines Field with football going on right around us. 18 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: Well there you go, breaking news on the Drive for 19 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: everybody who likes to listen. And I just found out 20 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: as well. So right, so I've been doing I've been 21 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: in studio every time anyone's listening to me. Basically, since 22 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: I've heard the work COVID and I haven't been to 23 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: practices and whatnot, you at least have, so I'm psyched 24 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: to at least see something live. Yeah, I've I've been 25 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: to the games, I've been to the practices, but this 26 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: will be a first for you. So yeah, I'm about 27 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: ready to get the trained eye down there and let 28 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: you watch some stuff, see some of these guys for 29 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: the first time. That's true too, so we'll be up 30 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: in the press box good stuff. I'm a good vantage 31 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: point because of that. I did want to talk about 32 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: some things that maybe we've gleaned just from listening to 33 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: what people have said about the the O T A S. 34 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: For example, yesterday we chooks a Core four on a 35 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 1: conference call or zoom call, whatever it is, call a call, 36 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: and he was asked what the differences between and all 37 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: the offensive linemen have been asked this, who have been 38 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: on the different calls, And I thought he summed it 39 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: up the best. He said, you know, last year we 40 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: were asked he said, this year, we're gonna get more 41 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: upfield this year, okay, and then he said, last year 42 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: we were asked a more. Um, hold the line, gotcha? 43 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: He said? This year it's more attack attack attack. I've 44 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: sure got that feeling, yea. Now explain what that could 45 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: mean for the lay person out there, who's who's looking 46 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: at this and going, what's the difference? I mean, see, 47 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: I think we talked about this a fair amount that 48 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: their style of runs last year. I had a kind 49 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: of passive passive his award I used a lot. And 50 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: that's not because motion or play action. We're out of 51 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: the out of the shotgun, right. It's not like I'm 52 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: asking them to have Bradshaw behind Webby with Blier and 53 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: Franco and split backs, you know, and run power all 54 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: day long or whatever they did. Um, it was too much. 55 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: A lot of their runs were draws, for example, like 56 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: and really I wish Wolf was sitting right here like 57 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: an old school guard. We'll tell you. I don't want 58 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: to be moving backwards. I do that enough and protecting 59 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: when to pass, set, when I'm blocked, run blocking. I'm 60 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 1: three pounds and I'm a nasty dude. I want to 61 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: get off the ball and put that guy on his 62 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: butt and do it. Oh and more importantly, I want 63 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: to do it over and over and over and if 64 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: I started getting the better at him and the end 65 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: of the second quarter, and then if he gets even 66 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: more in the third and the fourth. I mean that 67 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: was Steeler football, and quote Steeler football isn't NFL football anymore. 68 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm not begging for the days of Jerome 69 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: and I don't want him to go trade for Derrick 70 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: Henry or you know that type of back. But I 71 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: do think lineman want to come forward. They want to 72 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: fire off the ball and hit somebody. It's much think 73 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: about it this way. You would much rather hit somebody 74 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: than be hit right all day in protection or draw. 75 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: You're you're catching for sixty five plays in a game. Uh, 76 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: you know when you need it in fourth and one 77 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: hasn't been there. Yeah, Like, I'll fire off the ball. 78 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: What was a second? I've just I just spent the 79 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: last forty eight plays. I've I've been moving backwards. Now 80 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: you want me to go forward? And the defensive line 81 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: also they start firing, has been firing off the ball 82 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: coming forward because they know that against us, well, you're 83 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: just gonna I'm just gonna get up field without questions. 84 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: So I think that's really promising. And I do think 85 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: the line play in the run game will reflect it. 86 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: I mean, they might not be the most talented groups 87 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: in the world or whatever, but I think it will 88 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: pay off and the run blocking as a whole will 89 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: get better because of it. Um. I also like the 90 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: players too. I'm not I'm not selling those guys short. 91 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: I think it's a pretty decent line all in all. 92 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: But as Zach Banner, if he wants to go forward 93 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 1: or backward, you know what I mean, it's pretty simple. 94 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: That was gonna be my next point, Like everybody is 95 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: caught up in well, they lost these guys on the 96 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: offensive line can't possibly be as good as it was 97 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 1: last year. Or first of all, everybody was planning about 98 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: it last year. So let's let's let's tap the brakes 99 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: on that. You're complaining that the line isn't what the 100 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: one was last year, when you're complaining about what the 101 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: line was last year, So changes could be good. Yeah, 102 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, you're not if they had come 103 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: back with the same exact guys again this year and said, Okay, 104 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna change up the scheme a little bit. All right, 105 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say, okay, that's that's at least a plan 106 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: to at least a plan, but I don't know if 107 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: it's a good plan. That doesn't mean pounces as explosive 108 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: as he was is villain the wave at thirty two 109 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 1: is he is explosive? You know? Can he do that? 110 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: These guys were the guys that were in place last year. 111 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: For the previous five years, had been one of the 112 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: best lines in the in the league blocking they were 113 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: first of all, they were they were tasked with protecting 114 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger and for the most part over those previous 115 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: five years run blocking for Levy on Bell. Who didn't 116 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: you do need to drive block for Levan Bell exactly. 117 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: I say that those two things complemented each other really 118 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: really well at the time because Bell was such a 119 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: unique runner and you know, I'm sure a big reason 120 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: that Bruce arians is no longer here and Hayley was 121 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: bay back one was Ben's getting hit too much. So 122 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: let's build a line that protects more. Let's save our 123 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: our biggest asset. And Ben might not still be playing 124 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: if they didn't take that approach back then. And you 125 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: happen to not luck into but you're back also worked 126 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: off of you know, did that well? It was it 127 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: was good planning. And I don't know that because Levian 128 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: Bell had never shown really shown that before. I don't 129 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: know if they lucked into it or not. Yeah, I 130 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: don't know if there's a chicken or the egg thing, right, 131 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: but it all complemented each other quite well, you know, 132 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: and then you both it's very obvious there's a plan 133 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: in place now. However, big time that Okay, you want 134 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: you want power blocking with the power back without question. 135 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: I also think athleticism is important to Yeah. I do 136 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: think they're gonna be blocking in space more. Um, you know, 137 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: maybe even to chooks this point. Firing off the ball 138 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: is great, but when you fire off the ball, you 139 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: gotta go hit a many times. There's only two pounders 140 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: on the field. On defense, you know, you gotta go 141 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: find a moving object that's moving very fast, that's fifty 142 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: seventy pounds lighter than you. You gotta be able to 143 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: move in space, you know. You guys that have good 144 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,239 Speaker 1: shuttle times and things like that that can change direction 145 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: at the second level. You know, that's to be part 146 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: of it too. Yeah. So I do think that while 147 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: the national narrative is that well, the Steelers offensive line 148 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: is really influx and we read the Barnwell piece earlier 149 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: this week, and Steelers could have four new starters on 150 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: on the offensive, not really for or see what he say. 151 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: He sait for below average starters, four out or five 152 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: below average starters on their offensive to be a really 153 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: good guard bearing. I do as well, for one, you know, um, 154 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: and I think that it's going to be. I think 155 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: different blocking style will play well with this group's talents. 156 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: I think it'll help with Chew. I definitely think it'll 157 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 1: help with Banner, yeah, you know who we didn't play 158 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: last year but fits him, and absolutely with Green yeah, 159 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: and Finny you know whoever, like they've had some of 160 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: their best running days when b J. Finney has played 161 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: in the past. And I know Dots and held up 162 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: really well in protection, but his m O coming out 163 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 1: of school was a basher downward. Yeah, I mean, get 164 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: off the ball and nastiness to him, big body guy. 165 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: So yeah, I mean, I think any line would tell 166 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: you that, you know, they that's what they want to do, 167 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: and even even the previous line, those guys would tell you, hey, 168 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: we want to we want to fire forward, but that's 169 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: that's not what they were asked to do. And for 170 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: the most part, the offense was very successful, you know. Yeah, 171 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: and having a B helped, and you know all these 172 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: things too, but that's who you have, and you paint 173 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: the bar and red, you know what I mean. That 174 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: was gonna be my next subject. I'm glad you brought 175 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: that up because for so many years we saw a 176 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: Steelers offense that was predicated on and we just got 177 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: better guys than you do. They're Jimmy's and Joe's were 178 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: er than the guys Antonio Brown and Juju Smith, Schuster 179 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: and type as Bryant and Bell. These these skill players 180 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: were better than most of the guys that they were 181 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: lining up. Again, it was the top five offensive line 182 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: and Ben was humming. You know. Now, I think we're 183 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: gonna see a little more scheme driven type things. We've 184 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: heard that, you know when when somebody I can't remember 185 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: who it was now, it might have been, uh B J. 186 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: Finney or maybe it was B. J. Finney. I want 187 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 1: to say, who said that. You know, Matt Cannada is 188 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: gonna scheme this up so that we get good matchups 189 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: in terms of how we run the football. And we 190 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: heard some of the receivers talk about he's you know, 191 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna move guys around to get the matchups we 192 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: want on the football field. Um, that wasn't always the 193 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 1: case with the Steelers. Is like okay, here we are, 194 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: We're there again. It goes back to their very very 195 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: small play action mini school. They didn't worry about it 196 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: because their guys were better. Those guys are better, which 197 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: sounds like a negative today when you're sitting here talking 198 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: about it, like, well, what if they would have schemed 199 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,079 Speaker 1: it up? It worked, I mean moving the ball and 200 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: scoring points at a high level that you didn't need 201 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: to do things to free up Antonio Brown. He freed himself. 202 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: He double coverage a lot of times, like you were 203 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: explaining that, and I'm sitting here thinking. Peyton Manning is 204 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: considered the most cerebral and you know, smartest quarterback going. 205 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: And when he was in his prime with the Colts, 206 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: Marvin was on the right, Reggie was on the left. 207 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: They used first round picks like every year on receivers 208 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: and Dallas Clark and Joseph Die and Edge and James 209 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: and even the Gonzalez kid out of Ohio State. And 210 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: he had a good left tackle and he didn't have 211 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: any preestap motion, you know what I mean. Okay, here's 212 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: what we're gonna do. Read that defense and executed and rinse, repeat, 213 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: over and over and over. But if he didn't have 214 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: Marvin and Edge and Dallas Clark and you know, he 215 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: would have had to scheme things up a lot more. 216 00:11:58,600 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: And they did that a little bit more in Denver, 217 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: you know. I mean, so there's different ways to approach it. 218 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: And last year I think we kind of hit the cross. Yeah, 219 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: I mean, ab wasn't here. They have good receivers, but 220 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: not the best receiver in the league. The back situation 221 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: was obviously a problem. Um in their line wasn't dominant, 222 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: so they still moved the ball well. Contrary to popular belief, 223 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: it wasn't a bad offense when it was all said, 224 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: if you look at the overall numbers, right, you know, 225 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: if it was, it was decent for a team that 226 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: had no running game none. Um, I mean, it wasn't 227 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: one of the worst offenses in the league. Last memories 228 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: of it weren't wonderful, correct, you know, without doubt, And 229 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: it didn't adapt throughout the season particularly well, and defenses did. 230 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:48,439 Speaker 1: But you know, there's it's not that going my point 231 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: was going stronger scheme and less execution isn't necessarily right 232 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: verse going heavy execution and less scheme, depending what cards 233 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: you have in your hand. And now I do think 234 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: I don't say they're behind the times the last couple 235 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 1: of years, but they've been at the bottom league and 236 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: play action and low and motion and things like that too. 237 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: And I forget who says this, but the league does 238 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: give you these free gifts that you're allowed to do motion, 239 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: you're you know it, really there's no detriment to do it, 240 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, So take the gifts and 241 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: see what goes, see what happens. And that's why maccapades 242 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: and charge him. Yeah, and you know, if you look 243 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: at who the hot coaching hires have been the last 244 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: few years, well I gotta hire Sean McVeigh guy, because 245 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: he was you know, these guys that that do the 246 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: things that the Steelers are going to be doing them. Now, 247 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: maybe they didn't get a guy who comes from those 248 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: schemes to run their office, but they're going to do 249 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: similar things. They're gonna do similar things. I mean, it's 250 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: still um keeping bounce, putting the defense in conflict. You know, 251 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: I get this motion makes your linebacker take just this, 252 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 1: leans to the right a little bit more than he 253 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: would have, and then you get a better angle with 254 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: the blocking. And Baltimore is not a Shanahan based offense, 255 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: but they do things very well that way, with a 256 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: little bit of misdirection this way, and then they have 257 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: a two in eighty pound tight end coming at you 258 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: on a good angle and you can't get quite away 259 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: and that that gap opens. Just give you a gap 260 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: just to running back agap and explosive athletes hit it. 261 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: So I think that things needed to change. Apparently coach 262 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: Tomlin agreed. You know, he plays against these teams every year. 263 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a side note. I think fans don't understand, 264 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: like old Steelers are so old school, they don't realize 265 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: how the league's going. Well, they play against Shanahan schemes 266 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: every week, the defense, and you know, they see see it, 267 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: they see it. They know what the league's do and 268 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: you know it's not they're so setting their ways. Oh, 269 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: it's just it's making these changes isn't easy either, you know, 270 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: especially with the quarterback who's been successful. Right, you don't change, 271 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: you don't fix what's broken, right, right, And The last 272 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: time we saw Ben Roethlisberg on the field before last year, 273 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: it was in eighteen, and they had a lot of 274 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: success throwing in football, absolutely the best games. So why 275 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: would you change that? Right? This year? What they won 276 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: a lot of games in a row in week eight, 277 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: we're talking about this they went twelve and four. Were 278 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: talking about this team? Yeah, like it like it's the 279 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: bottom of the barrel, that's what you like? Some of 280 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: the narratives that I see out there nationally with the 281 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: Steelers are one of the least talented teams in the league. 282 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: Are you? Are you out of your mind? Right? I 283 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: mean said there was one one clown actually wrote that 284 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 1: if if not from Mike Tomlin, the Steelers will be 285 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: one of the one of the five worst teams in 286 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: the league. Like, what are you talking about? What are 287 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: you talking about? I don't that's just to get a 288 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: reaction at a Steeler fans, I would imagine. I mean 289 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: that sounds like clickbake to me. Um. I don't usually 290 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,119 Speaker 1: go down this road either, And I'm not making excuses 291 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: for some of the things Ben did last year, but 292 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: he was also coming off a major surgery and didn't 293 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: play the year before too, you know, and it was 294 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: a COVID year you know that everybody dealt with, but 295 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: it was you know, no preseason. I mean, it was 296 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: an odd year for every team. So I just think 297 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: that Tomlin in particular and this organization might startle some 298 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: folks with how well they played this year on that 299 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: side of the ball. You know, four first first four 300 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: picks are all on that side of the ball. Like, 301 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: they got some different dudes in there and some talented 302 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: young ones. That leads me, I'm glad you brought that 303 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: up because it leads me to my next point. It's 304 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: almost like we rehearsed us as almost, but it's like Roethlisberger. 305 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: Everybody forgets that Roethlisberger was coming back from a major 306 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: major or an advanced stage. He's rehabbing that. The entire 307 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: office's we heard. We heard from him two weeks ago 308 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: last week, I should say, and he's talking about how 309 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: you know, last year he was throwing the ball every day, Uh, 310 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: you know, up to a thousand passes a day to 311 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: see where the arm is at. You know, I'm I'm 312 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: out there throwing, throwing, throwing, throwing, throwing because he had 313 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: to rehab his arm okay, and he admits that he 314 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: wore down towards the end of the season. Is it 315 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: does this shock anybody? Right? Right? I mean we talked 316 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: about this a lot too, like I think, you know, 317 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: like I heard something like Ed Busche put something out 318 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: there that boy Ben throwing the ball much better than 319 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: he did last year. I haven't been down there, you 320 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: know whatever. I hope that's that's neither here nor that. 321 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: And I think the videos, okay, yeah, I mean I 322 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: got and I hope that's true. And I bet that's 323 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: wonderful news. And and next week if I'm watching Ben 324 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: throw and it's coming out fast and looks great and 325 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: a lot of velocity on it, wonderful. But I'm not 326 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: gonna overreact to it because I think, especially with old quarterbacks, 327 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: this is a marathon. This isn't a sprint, you know. 328 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 1: I expect him to throw the ball well in September, 329 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,479 Speaker 1: you know, and certainly in camp. Can he still in 330 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: December when the winds are howling and he's got you know, 331 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: twelve games under his belt and he's been hit, and 332 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: is that arm holding up the Contrary to popular belief, 333 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,479 Speaker 1: I didn't think he had poor arm strength. The strength 334 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: wasn't like, I don't get this. One just assumes that 335 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: the arm, you know, his his AI dot was only 336 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: uh this, So therefore he couldn't throw the football down 337 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: the field. I don't think that was the issue. I 338 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 1: don't think the struggle there. He struggled with some accuracy 339 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: issues down the field a lot. I don't think he 340 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,719 Speaker 1: controlled the football as well. And we saw that, you know, 341 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin referenced that a couple of times last year 342 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: in training camp when they were at Heinz Field. Somebody asked, 343 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: you know, what, how does how does the ball look 344 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: coming out of Ben's hands? And he said, you know, 345 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: I'm seeing a little I would like to see a 346 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: little tighter spiral. Well that's where that kind of stuff 347 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: shows up at. Yeah, and I think a lot of 348 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: people kind of brush that off to like, oh, that's 349 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: kind of funny. He's just you know, but no, you 350 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: want to see a better spiral. You know, you can 351 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: control the ball a lot better when it's not fluttering, 352 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 1: it's get caught up in the wind, it's it's it's 353 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 1: also much easier to catch. It's a much more catchable ball. 354 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: It just shows better control from the tips of your 355 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: toes to your fingertips and every step of the way 356 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 1: and how that comes out of your hand, you know. 357 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: And he traditionally is not a fluttering guy, you know, 358 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: fluttering passer Peyton Manning kind of was the times and 359 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: especially you know, Um, but I didn't think the balls 360 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 1: lost a lot of velocity, you know. And I still 361 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: think he can load up and not to throw the 362 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: deep ball down the sideline, but throw the comeback in 363 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: the middle of the field and those type of things. 364 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: You know, we saw that in the playoff game, right 365 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: like the last time we saw him on the field. 366 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: In the playoff game, he was throwing for like plus 367 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: whatever it was like, and they were they were deep 368 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,479 Speaker 1: throws down the field. They weren't thump offs that whoever 369 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: the no they was. He was throwing the ball down 370 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: the field absolutely, you know, and short stuff to the 371 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: running backs. They weren't getting a lot of yardage after 372 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: the catching those type of thing. I mean, they weren't 373 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: cheapyards necessarily. So um, I do think he'll be a 374 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: better pastor this year. I don't care what the reports 375 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: are or what I see next week. I expect him 376 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: because he was such a talented passer in his prime. 377 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: He's so gifted as a passer that I mean, he 378 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: hasn't been a d He hasn't been at that level 379 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: for a while, neither is he right right right, He's 380 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: been dealing he'd been dealing with at the time. I 381 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: just wonder, you know, when guys have surgery, a surgery 382 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: like that, did it take some time that you know, 383 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: did the was the onner nerve? That's what I think 384 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: is he just didn't have the same feeling you have, 385 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: some numbness in his in his you know, fingers that 386 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: affected him. Is that now back? Because I watched to 387 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: throw the football throughout the course of these these O 388 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: T A s. And I can tell you for a 389 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: fact that he's throwing the football better than he did 390 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: last year, and which is very, very encouraging. I don't 391 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: think we should overreact to that because I want to 392 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,159 Speaker 1: see it in the Yeah, and when he after some 393 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: hits and all those things, I'm sure that he will 394 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: not throw the ball off platform as well as he 395 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: did when he was twenty five, you know what I mean. 396 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 1: But but he now is so much better above the 397 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: neck that you make up for those things. I mean, 398 00:20:55,600 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: I've watched him and he's even on like just goofing around. Um, 399 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: you know, throw a quick out and he'll drop down 400 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: to side arm to throw it and things of that nature. 401 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,479 Speaker 1: When he's up top. Most of the time, those are 402 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 1: arm strength throws. That's all armed and he's he's he's 403 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: making those throws on the money. Yeah, his baseline is 404 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: just so gifted, and it's you know, Drew Brees was 405 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: a really accurate thrower, but he was not a great 406 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 1: armed talent. Bends on a remarkable arm talent that of 407 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: that is still more than enough, you know, where breezes 408 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: all off a cliff. You know, Peyton was not a 409 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: great arm talent, and when you start to drop his 410 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: his his starting point was way worse. Yeah, you know, 411 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: so you know I think that, Um, you know, last year, 412 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: all the reports on Ben, he were just happy that 413 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: he was throwing the football three and sixty five days ago. Yeah, 414 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: at this time, throwing sixty five days ago, we're reacting 415 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: to video of him throwing the football two guys on 416 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: his own at whatever high school. They were throwing right 417 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: right right, Okay, was like a long time ago. But 418 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: that's exactly what was true, because we hadn't seen him yet. 419 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: We didn't see him actually in person throw a football 420 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: until training camp last year. So you're just like, hey, 421 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: he looks good. He's throwing the football, you know, but 422 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 1: now you're looking for the nuances with it, and I've 423 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: seen the nuances. Yeah, it makes a lot of sense. 424 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: You forget how the world the world was just one 425 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: year ago. And reminds me like when Andrew Lux coming back. 426 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: I think he's throwing a tennis ball now, and now 427 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: he's throwing you remember how shocked we were. It was 428 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: December and I'm sorry, it was February of twenty when 429 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: he went for his his re check out in California, 430 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, they had video of him 431 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: tossing a football, like oh, because he was supposed to 432 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: do that at that point. So we're surprised that a 433 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: year after that, not even a year after that, he 434 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,199 Speaker 1: hadn't even been throwing a football for a year. At 435 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: that point, for their playoff game, he was eleven months 436 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: out from tossing a football for the first time, and 437 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: we're surprised that his arm wasn't all the way back yet. 438 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: I know we're talking Steelers, and I get right back 439 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: to this point. But it's like people that killed twa 440 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: for his rookie year. This time last year, he couldn't walk. 441 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: He couldn't walk. He had a bow jackson hip injury 442 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: that you only see in car accidents. And we weren't sure, 443 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: you know, is he gonna be ready for camp? But 444 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: we can't see anything from this guy. And he struggles 445 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: a little as a rookie, and oh, they should drafted 446 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 1: a quarterback. He stakes. This guy's terrible, you know, like 447 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: move on for him, trading him for someone one of 448 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 1: these new guys. And we didn't, you know, there were 449 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people think he would not play a 450 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 1: snap as a rookie. Like you gotta remember, you know, 451 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray for example. You know, at this stage of 452 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: his rookie year, he had been drafted two months just 453 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: like everyone else or whatever, and he's minicamping and whatnot, 454 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 1: but a couple of months before that, he was in 455 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: Oakland a you know what I mean? You know, right, 456 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: you gotta remember put all these things in context. One 457 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 1: year at times not that much. And I know the 458 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: NFL is not for long and things go fast and 459 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: you can get washed away quick, but just remember where 460 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: Ben was one year ago. Yeah, I think that's the 461 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: key point to this whole subject. Um, you know he 462 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: still has the talented to get this done. Um, you've 463 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: been around him, and I'm not gonna speak for you, 464 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: but I know he's an unbelievably proud and competitive human being. 465 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: And I don't think he comes back if he thinks 466 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: he's gonna embarrass himself on the field and he's got 467 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: enough money to I mean, I'm sure people are like, well, 468 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 1: there's twenty million reasons or forty million reasons he's got 469 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: enough money. I mean, I don't think he wanted to 470 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: come back, right right, right exactly, Like I don't think 471 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: he comes back if he doesn't think he has it. 472 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: You know, I agree. The final thing I wanted to 473 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 1: talk about real quickly here is the idea that somehow 474 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: the Steelers secondary is now going to fall apart because uh, 475 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: you know, Steven Nelson Mike Hilton are no longer here. 476 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 1: And the Steelers would not have cut Steven Nelson. They 477 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: could have cut somebody else, They could have gone a 478 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:02,719 Speaker 1: different direction with that they chose. Kind of think they 479 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: regret that move Steven Nelson, Like I think that was 480 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: in the cards and because they still have cap space. 481 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: I mean they weren't such, they weren't cap hell. Yeah, 482 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:13,880 Speaker 1: they didn't necessarily have to make that move. Um. Now, 483 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: it certainly freed up some some of you know, gave 484 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,640 Speaker 1: them some additional cap space. But they could have made 485 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: some different moves. They could have extended Joe Hayden or 486 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: done some things you know that that would have freed 487 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: up that cap space in a different way. And I 488 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 1: don't think either of us are implying that Nelson was 489 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: a bad player, not a right had to go or 490 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: you know, but it goes back to the A. They 491 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 1: want Cam Sutton to have every opportunity to start on 492 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: the outside. B. I don't think that they felt Steven 493 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: Nelson would handle that real well, okay, I mean there's 494 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: a locker room component. There's a locker room component there 495 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: that and Steven Nelson is a very proud guy. And 496 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 1: I think they want to make sure Joe Hayden was here. 497 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: They want to make a decision between the two locker 498 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 1: room pad something to do with it, and and see, 499 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: I think they'd like what they have in uh, Justin 500 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: Pierre and James Pierre and Justin Lane. I feel like 501 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 1: they I think they feel like they've got something there 502 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: that they're gonna let those two guys compete, and they 503 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: don't feel that that's gonna be a huge drop off. 504 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: Uh you know from what they've had with those guys. No, 505 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: by the way, um the kid that they got out 506 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: of Michigan State, Yeah, they gave him a twenty five 507 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: thousand dollar signing bonus. That's I looked it up. That's 508 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: the most they've been up at least in the last 509 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 1: ten years. Then that's supposed ever because nobody because nobody 510 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: got more than that back then. The most before that 511 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:38,199 Speaker 1: they gave OLDA. Denny in twenty seventeen. I believe it 512 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: was grand. I mean, I mean, you signed those guys. 513 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: You did that? Say I had ten grand to sign 514 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: three receivers for the Browns, and I gave nine of 515 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,239 Speaker 1: it to Josh Cribs and I forget who the other 516 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: two dudes work. But anyway, I told that word before. 517 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: That's what that's how you prioritize it. Obviously they prioritize 518 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 1: Brown exactly, and they gave him more than anybody. And 519 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 1: I've seen a couple of those this year around the league, 520 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:04,719 Speaker 1: Like there's been a couple of these undrafted free agents 521 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: that got more than that, even around the league that 522 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 1: we're brand named guys that forever reason you didn't draft, 523 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 1: maybe because you took somebody else deposition, or there's an injury, 524 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: or you just weren't sure or whatever. But I do 525 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: think he's gonna be I mean, not that he's guaranteed 526 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: a roster spot, but they have plans for that guy. 527 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: You don't. You don't spend that kind of money. I mean, 528 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: it's almost like another draft pick, right exactly, like you're 529 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 1: buying it an eighth round pick. Um. I do think, 530 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: and he's certainly part of this situation. They're they're searching 531 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: for another slot guy. Yes, I mean I think that's 532 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: if we have a normal camp and we're all let's 533 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: pretend we're all gonna be in the latrobe and talking 534 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: around the water cooler and over burgers and pizzas and 535 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 1: beverages and all that stuff, and you guys are writing stories. 536 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: I bet a lot of it will center around which 537 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 1: of these under six feet corners play a better week 538 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: day to day. You know, oh, he's running with the ones. Now, 539 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: he's running with the ones. Not necessarily a corner. Um, 540 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: you know they signed Arthur Millette. Um, he's you know, 541 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,439 Speaker 1: he's gonna play some safety as well. They they they 542 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: made a couple of these signings that frankly I don't 543 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: know much about, and I'm excited to watch. But if 544 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 1: played in the league, they're not just nobody's right. Another 545 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: guy to keep an eye on there is Antoine Brooks. Yeah, 546 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: that's interesting. Um, maybe he lines up on Andrews or 547 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:37,679 Speaker 1: Ingram the bigger nickel kind of package with you know, 548 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: with more of a safety type who's got a little 549 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 1: more size to him in that slot package. I don't 550 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: expect this to be the case, but I was asked 551 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: a bunch when Malik or when what's the first name? 552 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: Hooker the safety Hooker right, Um was here, like well, 553 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: how would they use him? I'm like, well, he would 554 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: be Minco's back up as a free safety. But maybe 555 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: you might see some snaps or Minka comes down and 556 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: plays a slot and you have three or three safeties 557 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: on the field. Right Hooker. Hooker is not going to 558 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: do that. But if by chance they sign a free 559 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: safety like him, maybe Manka I would hate to take 560 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 1: him out of the center field. But ten snaps comes 561 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 1: down against Kelsey, you know, I mean, and he played 562 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: like that last year he played I think it was 563 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: right a round a hundred snaps in the snap sister. 564 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: But you're just walking that's you're just walking down the 565 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: you know, you're playing man. So you're yeah, yeah, Okay, 566 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: we're gonna walk him down and cover this guy. Um, 567 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: if there's a star tight end coming to town or 568 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: a big receiver, you know, you might want that guy 569 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: on him. Yeah, So there's some options. It's all about 570 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: the options. And they've got a bunch. Um it's not 571 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 1: the it's not the train wreck that I think a 572 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: lot of again nationally think that. Well, it's Joe Hayden 573 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: and a bunch of no names. And our listener won't 574 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: know these names, and I don't know these names very 575 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: well yet, but they're not nobody's you know what I mean. Yeah, 576 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 1: for sure. But that's gonna do it for this segment. 577 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 1: So for my partner Matt Williamson, for Jacob Breck here 578 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: on site keeping us on the air, I'm deal, Lolly. 579 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: We thank you for listening to this edition of the 580 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: Drive on Steelers Nation Radio.