1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. We're 3 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: back on Dale Lolly here with Matt Williamson, and we're 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: pleased to be joined at this time as we are 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: by well most Wednesdays, I'm not gonna say every Wednesday 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: by Bob Larbiola, editor of Steelers Digestion Steelers dot Com. 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: How you doing, Bob? Pretty good, boys? How you doing tremendous? 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: We're doing great. I don't know what this tremendous is. 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: We're doing great. What's the difference? I don't know. I 10 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: don't know, uh, Boba. Four games left in the season 11 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: for the Steelers, and it seems like a lot of 12 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: fans are just saying, well, they should just pack it 13 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: in and just you know, start thinking about the draft. 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,959 Speaker 1: How what's your feeling on this, Matt? And now we're 15 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: just talking about this off the air. There seems to 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: be a large portion of Steeler fans, well, they can't 17 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: in the super Bowl, so they should just not get 18 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter? Does it matter? Uh? It matters to 19 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: the Rooney's, I mean, and that's all that matters. They're 20 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: all of the matter. Um, the Steelers are not. As 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: long as they're owned by the Ruoney family, they're not 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: going to just pack it in. They're not gonna do it. Uh. 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: You know, Dan Ruoney used to say all the time that, um, 24 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, you want to play to win every week. 25 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: It's important, you know, regardless of what you know people 26 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: might think in terms of standings or playoff potential or 27 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: you know, contending more any of that stuff. Um. You know, 28 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: it's a it's a competitive sport, and the object is 29 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 1: to win games. It's a football business, and the business 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: of football is winning. And so um, you know that's 31 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: what they believe. And so it doesn't really matter what 32 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: anyone else thinks, me, you, Matt, whoever. Um, this is 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: the way they run the business. And so you know, 34 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: the Steelers are not going to tank. Um. And if 35 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: you remember, I'm sure you guys do. Um, but just 36 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: for the fans. Um, you know our Mooney said last January. 37 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: You know, we're not just gonna say, you know, we're 38 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: gonna have a rebuild. They're not going to do that. 39 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: Whether it's whether it actually turns out to be that, 40 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: you know, in hindsight or not. Um, you know, they're 41 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: not gonna They're not gonna say that. I remember Dan 42 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: Rooney once commenting on that was a certain professional baseball 43 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: team in town that a goal, their goal was to 44 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: finish five And he said, why why would you say that? 45 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: Because what if you're you can be more than that 46 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: as the season unfolds. But if you know, since it's baseball, 47 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: you get into early September and you're well on track, 48 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: you know, to be five hundred, well some people might 49 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: associated with that team or part of that team might 50 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: look at that and say, well, we can got the goal. 51 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: Time to put it in neutral, right, So that's why 52 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: you always say, you know, the goal is to win 53 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: the championship, UM, and then you know it doesn't. One 54 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: of the um mistakes I think fans make is that 55 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: just because the Steelers say that their goal is to 56 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: win a championship doesn't mean every year they don't win 57 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: a championship a failure. And they've been playing Super Bowls 58 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: for fifty five years, nobody's ever won more than six. 59 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: So you know, to say, um, you know they should 60 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: they should win more, or you know whatever. You know, 61 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: that's that's whatever. You can say, whatever you want to say, 62 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: but that doesn't make it realistic. So, um, that's that's 63 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: the way it's gonna be there. I'm gonna lay down, 64 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: They're not gonna just take a look at guys to 65 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: see what they can see. What that's for next summer. 66 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: You know that's for next summer. Do you think, you know, 67 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: four games remaining, dropping just one, winning three out of four? 68 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: Do you think that gets him in? I mean that's 69 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: nine seven and one, three out of four, Um, eyebreakers 70 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: won't matter because the tie, and you know you gotta tie. Um, 71 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: I would think that three out of four you better 72 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: win the two division games. That's what we're saying to um, 73 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: you know, the other tour or conference conference game, so 74 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: it doesn't really matter. But yeah, I think nine seven 75 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: and one can win the division. And I think you're 76 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: gonna have to win the division to get in because 77 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: the Chargers, Um, certainly, you know what I thought was 78 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,799 Speaker 1: gonna be a one team. Uh, the a f c's 79 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: the one team playoffs. You know participant looks like two now, um, right, maybe, 80 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: But I was just gonna say the Colts, now, um, 81 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: you know, we'll have to see what they do in 82 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: the West. Um, the the Chargers, the Chiefs, right. I mean, 83 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: I think the Raiders have pretty much fallen out of 84 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: the behind, and um, you know, yeah, but I think 85 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: that that's a very accurate way of hanging around. Um. 86 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: And I only think one team from the North is 87 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: gonna make it. I really do. And there's just there's, Um, 88 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: the Ravens defenses, it's awful. I mean, you know, they're 89 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: decent against the run, but they're past defense is a sieve. Um, 90 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: football players, that's a problem. Well, yes it is, doesn't 91 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: and it doesn't seem like the Bengals can handle prosperity. Um. 92 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: So but hey, you know things, you know, that's that's 93 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: right now. You know when we talk about this next 94 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: week be a totally different scenario. Is this league seems 95 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: to be on a week to week basis this whole season. 96 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: But you're asking me, now, I think nine steven one 97 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 1: gives you a chance to win the division. You better 98 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: not lose either the two division games, and it would 99 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: be helpful to win the one this week against the 100 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: Titans at home. Yeah, um yeah, because I think if 101 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: you look at the four, the way the Chiefs are playing, 102 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: that's going to be the most difficult assignment on the road. Um, 103 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: against the Chiefs team. The seams are figured out a 104 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: little bit. It seems to be, you know, on the 105 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: rise towards the playoffs. Yeah, beat the Titans before you know, 106 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: they're um back to full health certainly as far as that, 107 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: you know, untacklable running back, and um, you know, you've 108 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: got to take care of business in your own division. 109 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: You hope for the best, but um, I don't know, 110 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. Face what I saw last Thursday, I'm 111 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: not real confident about three in the next floor for 112 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: the Steelers. Yeah, I mean, you know, but this is 113 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: such a week to week league, um, more so this 114 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,239 Speaker 1: year than any year that I can remember, And whether 115 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: we like it or not, COVID has been a part 116 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: of that. And you know, look at the Browns right now. 117 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: They have a fourteen players on the COVID nineteen listen, 118 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: and they got to play Saturday. Uh, you know, it's 119 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: it's it's there's nothing that says you were around and 120 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: eighty nine when the Steelers made that playoff run after 121 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: a disastrous opening. Is there any correlation between these these 122 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: two season? I mean, that team did not look great 123 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: at times, and yet they snuck into the playoffs and 124 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: we're within a play off going to the SC Championship. 125 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: You have two things that I kind of remember about 126 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: that team that UM is different than this year. Uh. 127 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,239 Speaker 1: First of all, the schedule towards the end was easier. 128 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: And the other thing is maybe it had to do 129 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: with the competition in eighty nine, as I just said, 130 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: being easier, but it seemed that they were starting to 131 00:07:55,880 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: play better UM this team. Uh, you know, I at 132 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: this on in the locker room with Wolf and Max earlier. 133 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: You know, to me, it's getting to be like especially 134 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: when you're talking about you know the Steelers run defense. Uh, 135 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: it's that old Forest Gump line. You know, they're like 136 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna 137 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: get UM And I don't know, you know they're gonna 138 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: give up two yards rushing UM again this week? Or 139 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: you know, is it going to be the run defense 140 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: we saw against the Browns and the Ravens unfortunately, Labs, 141 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: I think the answer to the question is probably none 142 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: of the above. But do you have answer suggestion at 143 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: nose Tackle? I mean, since one trade Vius Adams went 144 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: on the COVID list, I mean that adds to the 145 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 1: mix and Davis is back healthy now, I mean bugs 146 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: healthy now. It looks like so there's options and none 147 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: of them are Casey Hampton, right. You know, I think that, um, 148 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: we don't have a whole lot of choice. You've gotta 149 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: go with Bugs. But I I don't believe that he 150 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: has in a future with this team. I just don't 151 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: think that he gave him He forfeited his opportunity those 152 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: several weeks that he started ind or played a lot um. 153 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: I just don't think that he gave much of an 154 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: indication of, you know, being the guy, or being a 155 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: guy on the rise to become the guy, you know, 156 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: any of that stuff. You know, patients has its limits. 157 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: I think he's exhausted his and um, you know, my 158 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: my impression would be that, uh, he again is not 159 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: someone that they believe they can count on or have 160 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: around long time, you know, beyond next season or whatever. 161 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 1: So I think you might have to start him or 162 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 1: play him a lot on Sunday and hope for the best. Well, 163 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: Bobby know is Ike Taylor once told me once in 164 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,719 Speaker 1: a lifetime, opportunity only comes around so many times, and 165 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: this is one for Bugs. Yeah, every so often, this 166 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 1: is this is one for bugs once that once in 167 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,319 Speaker 1: a lifetime opportunity probably came from him about five weeks 168 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: ago and he he yad on that. But he's getting 169 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: another shot. So here it is, you know, show a song. Yeah, 170 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: you know, desperate times and and uh so again, like 171 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: I said, I don't I don't see any other real 172 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: option for the Steelers to go to, especially on Sunday, 173 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: because I can't imagine any realistic scenario where Adams is available. 174 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: Um so yeah, I guess, I guess that's he's He's 175 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: the name you right down on the lineup card for 176 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: that position and keep your fingers crossed. Yeah, um, you know, 177 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: and and you know it's not like they've had some 178 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: games like he started that Brown's game that you mentioned 179 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: and played a lot and played snap you know, decent 180 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: amount of snaps in that game. Um, you know there 181 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: have been times where he's played Okay, there's been other 182 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: times where it's just not been in. That goes to 183 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: that you know up and down cycle that you're that 184 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: you're talking about. Can you trust him? Um? You could 185 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: make that case about a lot of guys on this roster. 186 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: You know that offensive line, Do you trust the offensive 187 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: line jumps off the page with Yeah, Kendrick Green all 188 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: of a sudden, looks like Steve Sacks out there shooting 189 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: balls back at the quarterback. Can't hit the quarterback in 190 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: the chest. Let's not forget the guy who preceded him, 191 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: uh blocked a lot of batters to the past few 192 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: years with his son, but you know he would also 193 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: block some people on occasion that was There's there's no 194 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: question about that. I'm just referring to specifically with Oh, 195 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: I get it, I get it. But you know it's 196 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: when you're not doing either real well, um, that that 197 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: becomes a problem, you know, and you just hope that 198 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: that a young player hasn't gotten the ips. Yeah, well, um, 199 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: and because to me, one of the things that I 200 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: think I would try is coming out using tempo on offense. Yeah, 201 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: I think you're trying to get some points earlier and 202 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: maybe dissuade your opponent, whoever it might be that particular day, 203 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: from thinking well, let's let's just run the ball here 204 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: through the whole first half. That's the thing. I mean, 205 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: they're they're they're not playing with any leads, Bob, and 206 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: so therefore teams, teams can just continue to run the 207 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: football and run the football. It is. It's it's the 208 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: Lions game all over again. The Lions. It was third 209 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: and eight. We're gonna run the ball end. It doesn't 210 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: matter what the down distances well, and that's that's the 211 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: thing that really is um disappointing is that you know, 212 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: it's not even any kind of you know, scheming or 213 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: anything with the running game. They just put in all 214 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: the plow horses and you know, move the pile. And 215 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: to me, that's a that's a direct indictment of being 216 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: physical enough on the lines of scrimmage. And I think 217 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: maybe that was one of Buzz's problems. And I think 218 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: that that's the maybe one of the most basic things 219 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: that you you know, basic requirements. And I don't think 220 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: guys who are who are showing either an inability or 221 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: an unwillingness to hit people and do the work you 222 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: know that that's required, the physical kind of work that's 223 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: required to be a physical team. I don't think those 224 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: guys are gonna be long for this team of this 225 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: at the end of the season. You know, you have 226 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: what you have, and you know you've got to go 227 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: with what you have. But I think that you know, 228 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: we've seen this in past years with previous coaches to um, 229 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: you know, you just get out the big room, you 230 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: know and start blacking guys or um. Whether you cut 231 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: them or not, but you just bring you replace them. Um. 232 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: And I think we might see a little bit of that, 233 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: more than a little bit of that, uh this offseason. Yeah, 234 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: I mean it kind of just a reiterary what you said. 235 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: I mean, when you're seeing lots of fullbacks in extra 236 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: tight ends, let alone sixth offensive lineman. Now, I mean 237 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: they're gonna get more and more of it. And my hunches, 238 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: it always seems like there's a theme to the off season. 239 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: I bet this theme is physicality. Kail. Where is Bill 240 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: Cowler said after the last season of the Tommy Maddox mistake, Um, 241 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: re establishing the mindset. Yeah, and then you go to 242 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: training camp and it's you know, your your seven shots 243 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: or your goal line draw, whatever you wanna call it 244 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: is all they were gonna pound the football into the 245 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: end zone, just to show that we can do it 246 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: all the people and you send that message, Bob. They 247 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: the NFL released at least a preliminary salary cap number. 248 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: It looks like as we sit here, the Steelers are 249 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: gonna have around forty five million dollars in cap space 250 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: according to some estimates out there. Um, do you see 251 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: them going into the off season this year and going, Okay, 252 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: we got we got more money than we've ever had before. 253 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: It's some of them, almost more money than most of 254 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: the teams out there, gonna go crazy in free agency. 255 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: It's a unique situation for them. I mean, we're not 256 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: used to this. Well, I mean, no, I don't see 257 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: him doing that because that's not part of the business 258 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: model either. I don't I'm not saying that they won't 259 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: use free agencies to try and you know better than roster. 260 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: But you know your term was go crazy maybe and 261 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: maybe that was but you saw that. You saw the 262 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: Patriots this year with a bunch of cash and they 263 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: went out and got they went crazy pieces like they 264 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: spent money on guys, and it's it's kind of paid 265 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: off for them. Yeah, I mean, I think it's more 266 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: than whom who are you going to get? Because you know, 267 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: let's also not forget you know, some of the signings 268 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: that they've made lately, I have not exactly brought in 269 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: the kind of guys that you want. Ingram E braun 270 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: Um so I think, you know, you can't look at 271 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: a guy's resume or a statute or whatever and think, wow, 272 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: you know he can help us, um deepth it outside linebacker, 273 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: he can help us, you know, as a weapon down 274 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: the field is a tight end for our Hall of 275 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: same quarterback. UM. But you know, you don't You've never 276 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: as Chuck now would say, you know, you don't know 277 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: until you live with them for a while. You haven't 278 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: lived with them yet, and need you find out that 279 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: maybe they're not exactly the kind of guys that you 280 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: want or need, or their their game is not as 281 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: well rounded or has some serious efficiencies in areas where 282 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: you almost can't play the guy, except for like in 283 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: Hebron's case, anytime you know there was even a remote 284 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: chance that he had to block somebody, you couldn't have 285 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: him on the field. But I think the difference. I 286 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: think the difference here, though, Bob, is that they've always 287 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: kind of sat out the dance early that first way, 288 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: like when they went out if you remember when they 289 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: signed Jeff Hardings, that was an early signing, Like they 290 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: identified to Jeff Hardings and said this is a guy 291 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: we got to have, and when out and got it 292 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: and he went on and had a great career, as 293 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: opposed to waiting for the everything to settle and then going, okay, 294 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: what's left. I could see them doing that, maybe for 295 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: one player at a key position, but probably of some 296 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: sort the right guy good his position. Hardings was the 297 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:30,239 Speaker 1: right guy. Yeah, Ferrier was was the right guy. Fer 298 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: It wasn't a real quick No, it wasn't quick, but 299 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 1: it was the right guy. Yeah. Right, I get what 300 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: you're saying. But you also said they usually sit. Okay, Um, 301 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: because Ferrier, Um, he was an afterthought. Uh, Farrier became 302 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: something of a target when um being Leoney got tired 303 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: of listening to the Earl Holmes and his agent told 304 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: great Earl Holmes, you know, until he said, the coward 305 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: go find someone out because I'm done with Earl Holmes. Um, 306 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: and you know, thank God for Rural Holmes. This agent 307 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: um overvaluing his client. But I mean that's how that happened. 308 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: So um, yeah, if it's if it's the right you know, 309 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 1: the Hardings Fairier, I mean, is there going to be 310 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 1: any of those? I don't know, and I'm not disputing, 311 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: but that to me is what that's the key. It's 312 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: who who Who are we talking about, not necessarily what 313 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: kind of player he is, but it also has to be, 314 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: you know, a kind of person too. It's going to 315 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: fit in, tough leader, all those things. And as you 316 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: were saying that, I'm sure Steeler Nation will hate hearing this, 317 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: but it wouldn't shock me if instead of giving fifteen 318 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: million to one guy, they give three million to five guys, 319 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: and then when we hit the middle of December next year, 320 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: you're not saying, wisla glue and bugs on the field, 321 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: you know what? Right? Exactly? Obviously that's that's I think 322 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: there's something to that. And I've noted that over the 323 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: last five weeks, Bob, they've played Matt Feiler, They've played 324 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: against Mike Hilton, They've played against who am I missing? 325 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: Villain Auava, they played against Jordan Burry. This week they'll 326 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: see Bud Dupree and Ola Denny. I mean, these were 327 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: guys that were there, not all of them, but these 328 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 1: were guys who were that middle class that they really 329 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: don't have much of on this current roster. The veterans 330 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 1: on their second contract that or I would see more 331 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: than most teams though too, with the salary cap Knoll 332 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: without a doubt. I mean, if you look at the 333 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 1: teams the Eagles, the Saints, the Steelers that were well 334 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: above the cap going going into the last offseason, well, 335 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: they're all kind of foundering right now. And they're those 336 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 1: are franchises that have been pretty good over the last 337 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: few years. Yeah, I mean, it takes a long time 338 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,199 Speaker 1: to build their depths, um, you know. And and the 339 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: Steeler has had some decent, great decent depths with the 340 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 1: guys that you just mentioned Filer and Hilton Um Steven Ola. 341 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: Denny is a special teams guy, UM. But someone you know, 342 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: you could put out there for a few snaps at 343 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 1: outside linebacker if your two starters were out which has 344 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,400 Speaker 1: been the case for this team this year on more 345 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: than one occasion. Um. But you know, the cap dropped, um, 346 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: And so you know, you you couldn't. I liked Matt 347 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 1: Filer a lot, could pay him seven million dollars a year. 348 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: Though about in this situation last March, you just couldn't 349 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: the Stephen Nelson, Joe Hayden sing. You know, that was 350 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: another unfortunate situation because you had you could only keep one. 351 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: You had to get, you know, let one go. Uh, 352 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 1: you know, the Mike Hilton sing there's no way in 353 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: the world this team could pay Mike Hilton under its 354 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: salary cap situation that it faced back in March six 355 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: million dollars a year. No way. Um so um, you 356 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: know again, that's it was a confluence of events that 357 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: UM kind of created to set up the situation that 358 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: the skillers now find themselves in. And then injuries took 359 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: care of the rest this conversation with you, Bob, But 360 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: the one that I always sticks in my head is 361 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: hard Grave, like home grown, small school guy that you 362 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: just got better and better. I always think if they 363 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: would have had a little extra around for him, that 364 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: would have been one that they would have invested in. Yeah, 365 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: but at the time you had all good and you felt, well, 366 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: I can only have one of those, um, And it 367 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: was I mean it was third team million that hard 368 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: Grave signed the Eagles. You just couldn't pay that and 369 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: they couldn't pay. No, you couldn't. And then you know, 370 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: you also had Cam into it. They were a little younger, 371 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: and you know, right, and then all of a sudden, 372 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: you've got fifty million dollars invested in three guys on 373 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: your fensive line. And you only play two sometimes, um, right, 374 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: so you know, and then the only other thing with 375 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: the Sellery cap space, Uh, they've got to think about 376 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: number thirty nine. You gotta keep him Manka, right, but 377 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: he's already under contract with that in mind. So you know, 378 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 1: have a quarterback making some kind of money quarterbacks quarterback, Yeah, 379 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: I mean there's money there, but it's not mad money. 380 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: That's why I'm not in favor of, uh, you know, 381 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers or you know any of 382 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: these other um, what seems to me to be ridiculous 383 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: fantasies are going to get a quarterback who brings in 384 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: a cap number that's higher than the cat number under 385 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,439 Speaker 1: quarterback you've got right now, because I don't believe that 386 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:56,400 Speaker 1: this team, you know, is a quarterback away. I mean, 387 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: you gotta you gotta do more. I believe what this 388 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: we're so than just put a good of paint on it, 389 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: and you gotta do some work on the foundation because otherwise, 390 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: because you're gonna have injuries now these seventeen game regular seasons, 391 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: you don't have this kind of thing. And uh, COVID's 392 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: not going away anytime soon either. Covid is not going 393 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: away anytime soon either, right, And so you know, I 394 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: think you gotta This is a whether the Rooneys want 395 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 1: to acknowledge it or not. I do believe this team 396 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: is in a rebuild situation, and rebuilds don't in the NFL, 397 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: don't happen, and they just don't. They took too many 398 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: players on the salary cap and a you know, a 399 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: seven round draft preclude you from you know, turning things 400 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: over at so many positions in one off season. And 401 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: so I'm not saying it's a long term thing, but 402 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: I also don't think it's a one you, one off 403 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: season thing either. And so your point, you're not gonna 404 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 1: get Lebron or Lemieux or Crosby or some superstar prospect 405 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: that just changes the whole thing, you know, like that 406 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: that's not happening, Okay, unless you go bankrupt and win 407 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: the lottery. I don't know if that's mode in the NFL, 408 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: but I'm sh and with that one, We'll let you go, Bob. 409 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: We appreciate just dropping by. As always, I'll see you 410 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: Sunday at the game. Our guest has been Bob Labriola, 411 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: editor of Steelers Digest and Steelers dot com. He is 412 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: Matt Williams, and I'm Dale Lally. You're listening to the 413 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 1: Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. When we come back, 414 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: it's time for the Fantasy Football Focus. We'll do that 415 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: right after this