1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lollie. He is Matt Williamson, 5 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 2: and well Matt. The NFL season starts tonight. 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 3: How about that? It's opening Night? Yeah, happy opening night all. 7 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely, in just a few hours. The we'll see the 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 2: Lions kicking it off at Kansas City and that will 9 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 2: get the twenty twenty three season rolling. I expect a 10 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 2: good game tonight. 11 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 3: I do too. I mean, I don't think we'll see Kelsey. 12 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 3: We definitely want to see Chris Jones. But still I 13 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 3: never picked the road team in this game. I mean, 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 3: that's an awful place to play, let alone in Kansas 15 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: City with Mahomes. Of course, you know, can he take 16 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 3: the team on his shoulders without those guys? Of course 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 3: we can. And you read all that time to prepare. 18 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 3: But lines are hungry, and you know they are getting 19 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 3: some advantages in terms of who's not playing. 20 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, of course, the Steelers will kick things off on 21 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: Sunday against the San Francisco forty nine Ers at Akroshore Stadium, 22 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: and Matt got a chance to talk to both offensive 23 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 2: and defensive coordinators stay for the Steelers and Taro Austin 24 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: was asked about Trent Williams and he said, look, we 25 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: you know, we expect Alex high Obviously, we have a 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 2: lot of respect for Trent Williams. We expect him to 27 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: win his fair share of that matchup. But we expect 28 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: Alex high Smith. He's pretty good too, and we expect 29 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 2: him to win. 30 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, and as they should. I mean, I Smith's a 31 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 3: high end player. You just don't look at it like, well, 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: he won't do anything in this game. Why even show up? 33 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 3: You know, And that's not how it works. But I 34 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 3: do think that's one of the few advantages, well not 35 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 3: one of the few, but it's one of the obvious 36 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 3: advantages that favors San Francisco. But honestly, that favors San 37 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 3: Francis go seventeen out of seventeen weeks. Basically, I mean, 38 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 3: he's really that good. And he reminds me almost the 39 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 3: year I spent with the Browns, I was in charge 40 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 3: of the NFC West and that's when Orlando Pace and 41 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 3: Walter Jones were in their prime. And frankly, and I'm 42 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 3: not saying this is what's gonna happen in high Smith. 43 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 3: A lot of those games I would watch by the 44 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 3: third quarter or so, the opponent kind of just gave up. 45 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: In terms of pass rush. We're just going to hang 46 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 3: out here and if the if a swing pass goes 47 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 3: this direction, they were unbelievably hard to beat. And Williams 48 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 3: is very similar to that. I mean, these elite tackles. 49 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 3: The elite word is deserving. 50 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: I'll say this. So I just looked up his stats 51 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 2: from Pro Football Focus last year. He only gave up 52 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: one sack, hits seven penalties. Though, So if you can, 53 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 2: if you can, even if you don't make a tackle 54 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: or a sack, if you can force him into a 55 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 2: holding penalty, it'd be great or something like that, that's 56 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: a win. 57 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 3: And it's a win. And again it's kind of like, Okay, 58 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 3: those two are going to do their own things and 59 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,679 Speaker 3: high Smith will have a few tackles and maybe he 60 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 3: even gets a sack or force is a holding penalty. 61 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 3: But still those other four have to deal with the 62 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: rest of your pass rush or the run game, you know. 63 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 3: I mean, that's to me, it's the challenge not to 64 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: exclude that one on one match up because it's a 65 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: good one. And frankly, if high Smith gets totally shut 66 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 3: out and doesn't show up at all, that doesn't look 67 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 3: good for him. I mean, he should do something against 68 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 3: the guy. But it is a tremendous football player that 69 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 3: can lock down the blind side. 70 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 2: On the other side, however, m hm, Colton mckivitz, he'll 71 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: be making his sixth career start. 72 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 3: Good luck here you go, kid, Yeah, exactly. And he's 73 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 3: not a special player. He's not a great talent. He's 74 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 3: not anything close to a Trent Williams level, you know 75 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 3: player and then close. I mean, he may have a 76 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 3: fine career. I know they're happy with him. They had 77 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 3: opportunities to draft more offensive linemen. I know they didn't 78 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 3: have early picks, but I was shocked they didn't. It 79 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: went for a kicker with the first pick in the draft. 80 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 3: First pick, I mean second. 81 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: They took Tyr Brown first. 82 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 3: Okay, there's three picks right at the end of the 83 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: third round, but I was shocked they didn't do more. 84 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 3: Line so, they might like these guys more than I do, 85 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 3: and obviously they know a thousand times more than I do. 86 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 3: But but kiv, it's worth what I mean that just 87 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: screams lots of use check, lots of Kittle all to 88 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 3: that right side. 89 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 2: Well more importantly, lots of getting the ball quickly. And 90 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 2: that's what they want to do anyways, right you know. 91 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: So if the Steelers come out of this game and 92 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: they only have one or two sacks, it's because the ball, 93 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: the ball is getting out quickly, which brings. 94 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 3: Us if they can tackle the catch, that's the key. 95 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, And that's what Arrel Austin said today. He's like, look, 96 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: we got to tackle the catch. We've got to be physical, 97 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: and we can't when I say tackle to catch, we 98 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: can't be trying to just knock guys off their feet. 99 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: You got to wrap these guys up and get them 100 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 2: on the ground. 101 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 3: He bounce off a debo especially once. And one of 102 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 3: the great things about the scheme is they get him 103 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 3: the ball, not from a stop position or coming back 104 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 3: to the line. They get him in stride and he's 105 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 3: a bowling ball. I mean, he's really difficult to tackle. 106 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: McCaffrey is too, He's low to the ground. He's also 107 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 3: shiftier and you'll make you miss. Kittle has those long 108 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 3: strides too, that once he gets a little bit open field, 109 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: he starts running away from people and he looks for contact. 110 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 3: So these guys are great after the catch, all in 111 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 3: their respective ways. And that's a great point by coach. 112 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 3: I mean, you got to just not throw a shoulder 113 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 3: at him and hope they go down. Yeah they won't. 114 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 2: Now this has to be wrap up tackling and gang 115 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: tackling was the other thing he said, like we got 116 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 2: to get guys to the football and whether you know 117 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 2: however that you know, if it's if it's a defensive lineman, 118 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 2: if it's linebackers, secondary, he said, everybody's going to have 119 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: to tackle in this game. 120 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 3: I get the impression. And then the first one to 121 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 3: try this that I think you'll see a lot of 122 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 3: able bodies near the line of scrimmage defensively and in 123 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 3: the middle of the field. I mean, just really crowd 124 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 3: their areas and especially where Party is right now in 125 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 3: his career, I want him to do things that he's 126 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,239 Speaker 3: not top notchat, you know, which is hold the ball, 127 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 3: drive the ball outside the numbers, make it too good 128 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 3: to be true, you know, Like we're gonna give you 129 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 3: this great matchup. If you can outroute us down the field, 130 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 3: you earned it. 131 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, you know, so I think that matchup, I 132 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 2: mean TJ Watching. 133 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 3: Should dominate Feast all day. 134 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, which you know means do they do they have 135 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: to keep an extra guy in the help block If 136 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 2: that's the case, you know, do they play you Check 137 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 2: more than even they normally do. They played him over 138 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: five hundred snaps. 139 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,239 Speaker 3: So I say he's a regular contributor. He's not a spot. 140 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: It was fifty of their offensive snaps last year you 141 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: Check was on the field. 142 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think they were last in the league 143 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 3: and eleven personnel with a third receiver on the field 144 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 3: or right at the bottom of the league for sure. 145 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: Because they'll also go with the two backs out there 146 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: at the same time, and you know, they're all hell, 147 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: everybody's healthy right. 148 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 3: Now, everybody's healthy. Mitchell will play plenty, which means McCaffrey 149 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: becomes like a pseudo slot if he wants or he 150 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 3: can get the ball to. Now, they're hard to play 151 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 3: against that way, And I often describe you Check is 152 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 3: similar to Connor Hayward. You know, I mean, if if 153 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 3: Connor Hayward can patter his game after that guy, you 154 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 3: can see the value in that middle of the field. Routes, 155 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 3: blocking ball carrying motion, you know, split out wide at times. Frankly, 156 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 3: Hayward might even be a better athlete, but I mean 157 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 3: that's the kind of stuff that you see from him too, 158 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 3: and that's hard to play against. It says, how do 159 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 3: we count this offense? Is that are we in base? 160 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 3: So we and nickel and dime, you know so, because 161 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 3: they kind of an answer for all of them. 162 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's the that's the key that that's the 163 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: thing that they try to do to you. I mean, 164 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: if if they you look on the field and you 165 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: see you know, you check out there and you see 166 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: Kiddle out there, naturally your your first instinct is, well, 167 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: we're just gonna play bass. That's not necessarily what. 168 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 3: You're probably not the answer. I mean, a nose tackle 169 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 3: and two linebackers that means somebody's garden McCaffrey or Kiddle 170 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 3: or use check that is uncomfortable doing. So yeah, I 171 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 3: mean that's probably the wrong answer. 172 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 2: So you know, this could be more of a nickel game. 173 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: I would think the Steelers didn't play a lot of 174 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: nickel last year. 175 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 3: No, they didn't. And they're they're obviously structured much different 176 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 3: from a personnel perspective in the back seven, you know, 177 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 3: so might we see a lot more nickel this year 178 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 3: or big nickel with a safety because you're not going 179 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: to see three receivers out there very much, you know. 180 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: So I don't think it's a big yeah nickel corner 181 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 3: situation for them. I don't think they have those smaller 182 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 3: guys on the field. 183 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, And the Steelers have built their roster this year 184 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: to to kind of that stuff. Yeah, they can. They 185 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 2: can put different packages out there depending on who they're 186 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: playing that match up well against that team. It's almost 187 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: a they've almost built a New England defense from a 188 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: few years ago, like where you know, the Patriots have 189 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 2: twenty guys that play. Some guys might not play as 190 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 2: much this week, but the next week, but the next 191 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: week you're going to play a lot. 192 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: And they're really built like that right now, where New 193 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 3: England's got more good defenders than they know what to 194 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 3: do with. But it's a nice problem to Yeah, every 195 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 3: week is a little bit different role and a little 196 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 3: bit different higher percentage. I do think the Steelers have 197 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 3: some of that. And I'll be really interested to evaluate 198 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 3: snap counts and personnel groupings after this game because I 199 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 3: think that'll tell us as Steeler folks, Boy, they really 200 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 3: think Patrick Peterson can do this, this and this. They 201 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 3: really think Neil can do this, this and this. You know, 202 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 3: not just desperate people are hurt. You throw them in 203 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 3: because you have to. 204 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: You know, this is a game. And I know people 205 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: aren't gonna want to hear this, but I don't know 206 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: that I want to see the rookie defenders out there 207 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: a lot in this particular game. 208 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 3: Porter in particular order. 209 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 2: In particular because I think Shanahan will manipulate them. Yeah, 210 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: you go after the young guys. 211 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 3: And I also don't think Porter. The versatility you talked 212 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 3: about of the defensive players. I think it's gonna be 213 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 3: really important at this game, you know, more so than 214 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 3: others than if you're playing the playing the Bengals. Bengals 215 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 3: live in eleven personnel two, you know, but it's the 216 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 3: same guy. 217 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: But you know what you're gonna get. 218 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, you need those three receivers. And maybe that's a 219 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 3: big order game vers Higgins or whatever. 220 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: This isn't going to be a situation where Okay, they 221 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,239 Speaker 2: come out of the huddle, you check it and McCaffrey 222 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: on the field, but all of a sudden they split out. 223 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: You check is now the the personal protector McCaffrey split 224 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 2: out wide, and if you're the cornerback on that side, 225 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 2: it may change what your duties are on the play. 226 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 3: And it doesn't happen as much. But Debo can line 227 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 3: up in the backfield and just take the carry too, 228 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 3: or the jet motion stuff that they do, and they 229 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 3: lead the league in motion every year too. So even 230 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 3: if you think you have a nice bead of where 231 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 3: you at are with your defensive responsibilities, it's going to change, 232 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 3: you know, which. 233 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 2: Is why I want those veteran guys out. 234 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 3: There, and Shanahan more than most offensive coaches would love 235 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 3: to get four and even five guys into a route, 236 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 3: But because of that Watt mckivot situation, I think that's 237 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 3: going to be really difficult for them. You know, Like 238 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 3: if you're putting five out in a route, you better 239 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 3: get the ball out in one point five seconds, right, yeah, 240 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 3: because or he is going to get somebody out. 241 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. Cam against Aaron Bankster left guard two. 242 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 3: Is a huge match, huge advantage, you know. 243 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 2: So do they try to double him with the center. 244 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 3: I would think, But maybe that ends up with the 245 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 3: Robert splitz in the a gap or you know, so. 246 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: If you if you, if you try to do that, 247 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 2: that means you're probably only gonna have one guy helping 248 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 2: out mckivitz with with what because you can't double everybody. 249 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,839 Speaker 3: So we know where Watt lines up every snap, I 250 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 3: mean he's gonna be against the right tackle. Both on 251 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 3: the other hand, can be on the right or the left. 252 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 3: My hunch is ninety percent of the snaps that those 253 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 3: two players are on the field, you're either going to 254 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 3: see Washington Nausey or Warren to Bosa's side, and I 255 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 3: think you'll always see somebody a sidecar back. Maybe use 256 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 3: check Kittle to that side. Like I don't think you'll 257 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 3: see the tight end lined up on William's side hardly 258 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 3: at all. Yeah, And of course you've been game planning 259 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: all week with that in mind. Then maybe you can 260 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 3: bring a corner blitz to William's side when he's occupied 261 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 3: with high Smith because there isn't help you know, Like 262 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 3: I have a feeling you're gonna have a pretty good 263 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,839 Speaker 3: idea where the protection's coming from on both sides of 264 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 3: the ball. 265 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 2: I also wouldn't be opposed to seeing them stack watch 266 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: some in this game. Mm hm O the middle, Yeah, 267 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 2: come up to the middle, because I think back to 268 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,719 Speaker 2: the game, uh the last time that the only time 269 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 2: the Steelers have played against McCaffrey was the game here. 270 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 3: When Cam Newton game. 271 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and McCaffrey scored three touchdowns in that game, 272 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: Steelers won a fifty two to twenty one and there 273 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 2: was a play I think it was Vince Williams just 274 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 2: completely ram McCaffrey over in protection. He's not a big guy. 275 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 3: He's not a big guy. He's very willing, he's good 276 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 3: with his hands, but he doesn't have a lot of 277 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 3: sand in his pants. And in the passing game, you 278 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 3: want him on a route. Yeah, you know, that's not 279 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 3: what you want him. 280 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 2: To blocking or Land and Roberts coming out in the middle. 281 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 3: But the head of steam that makes some sense. And 282 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 3: as good and as deep as they are on the edge, 283 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 3: might we see three of them out there? You know 284 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 3: what kind of a Roman on the second level? Maybe 285 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 3: because that's a little harder to help with the protection. 286 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean there's a lot of different things the 287 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: Steelers can do, Yeah, to get somebody free to the quarterback. 288 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 3: It wouldn't shock me if a lot when we analyze 289 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 3: snap counts after the game, Steeler defensively, maybe there are 290 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 3: seventeen guys that played thirty or more, you know what 291 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 3: I mean. 292 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 2: Well, I think they're going to rotate regardless in the year. Yeah, 293 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 2: it's early in the year. And Tara Austin was asked 294 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 2: that today, says, you know, might you rotate your defensive 295 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 2: line more in this game because of that because it 296 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: is early in the year, And he said, well, it 297 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: depends on how we're doing. 298 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 299 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 2: You know, if you're getting a bunch of three and outs, 300 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 2: you're not going to rotate. Yeah, but if you aren't, 301 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 2: then you're going to rotate a little. 302 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 3: Bit more, especially if you're on the field for ten 303 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 3: play drives this early in the year, and you know, 304 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 3: people were gassed a little bit. But yeah, if it 305 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 3: goes well and you can get off the field quick, well, 306 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 3: but the same guys back on there and try it again. 307 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't read too much in I 308 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 2: mean game script plays such a factor in that. 309 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 3: I mean, that's what experience head coaches understand. Yes, we 310 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 3: practice all week and that's great. We think they're going 311 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 3: to do this. We think the game's going to do this, 312 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 3: but deep down we know it won't. Yeah, they're just 313 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 3: gonna throwing curve balls over and over in the course 314 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 3: of the game. He didn't see comming. 315 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's gonna be interesting. Of course, we do have 316 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 2: a injury report finally from the the San Francisco forty 317 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 2: nine ers, whom we find it here. You know, I 318 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: mentioned this thing and I should have actually had to 319 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 2: call it up already, but you know, that's how it goes. 320 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 3: That's how it goes. 321 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: So for San Francisco limited participants on Wednesday, linebacker Oren 322 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 2: Burks safety to Sean Gibson with a bat. 323 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 3: And that's a starters. You're starting free safety. 324 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 2: Safety tolanoa Huffnaga knee. 325 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 3: Both are starting safety George Kittle with. 326 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 2: The groin, running back Jordan Mason with the foot wide 327 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 2: receiver Ray Ray McCleod with a wrist, kicker Jake Moody 328 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 2: with the right quadriceps. That's one and stuff people weren't 329 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 2: talking about it now. 330 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's frightening stuff like they don't know 331 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 3: who their kicker is as of Thursday night, and that's important. 332 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 3: And frankly it's not like, boy, we hope boz plays. 333 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 3: I've seen him for eight. 334 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: Years or whatever. 335 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 3: It's like, this is a rookie. Yeah, I've never trusted 336 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 3: this guy yet, and we're hoping that. We think that's 337 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 3: our best option, but we don't know that that's a 338 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 3: great offen. 339 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 2: It's a quadriceps injury for a kicker. 340 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 3: And you really don't have too active on game day. 341 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 3: So what if he kicks off in the second quarter 342 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 3: or whatever and pulls it again. Yeah, yeah, I mean 343 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 3: it's a problem. 344 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: Now you're going for two of the rest of the 345 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: game and you can't kick any field goals. 346 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 3: I think that's a big deal. Back to Kittle, real 347 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 3: pick quick on the on the injury report because it's 348 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 3: a groin. I mean, I hate talking about medical stuff 349 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 3: or injuries because everyone's different and I'm not in the building. 350 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 3: But he's a real long strider in the open field, 351 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 3: and he puts a lot of stress on his lower 352 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 3: body because he runs hard. He blocks hard, and that's 353 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: what I love about him, but it's also the reason 354 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 3: why he gets hurt a lot. I want I don't 355 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 3: say the decoy, but it wouldn't shock me if he's 356 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 3: active that he blocks a high percentage of the time 357 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 3: that he lines up next to me, Kivtz and you 358 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 3: two are doing the watch stuff. 359 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: That's a win. 360 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 3: That's a win for Steelers. Yeah. I mean that still 361 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 3: maybe one of their best five guys. He's better than 362 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 3: the backup or But I don't know that he's running 363 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 3: post routes. Yeah, I mean deep down the middle of 364 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 3: the field and down the scene. 365 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, you'll take that if you're the Steelers. 366 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 3: If yeah, good he is. 367 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 2: They're using Kittle as a blocker that you'll take. Take 368 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: it all day long. 369 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. If he's blocking seven out of ten pass routes, great, fantastic. Yeah, 370 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 3: but somebody's gonna have to. 371 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, no doubt, no doubt. You're right that. I 372 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: think the key is getting the forty nine ers into 373 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 2: those third down situations by tackling the. 374 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 3: Catch, tackling the catch, playing the run. 375 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, as the ball is going to come out quickly. 376 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: And fifty seven percent of their yards last year three 377 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: in the passing game came after the catch. 378 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 3: It's a huge number. I'm sure it was number one. Yeah, 379 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 3: it had to be easily. I mean I know they 380 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 3: generated the most yards after the catch, and that's how 381 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: they're built. I mean, people can roll their eyes at 382 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 3: advanced stats and things like that, but their yards per 383 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 3: pass very very high. I mean every time they throw, 384 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 3: they generate like eight yards of pass. Whatever it was, 385 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 3: it was high time to throw, very low, average depth 386 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 3: of target very low. Well where are the yards coming 387 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 3: from after the catch? Right? 388 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 2: Like that's what you know when people talk about, well 389 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 2: brock perty did such a good job, and look at 390 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 2: his you know, he's eight point one yards per pass 391 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: attempt on him. 392 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's throwing the five yeards on the field. Yeah, 393 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 3: and then breaks off eight ten, twenty yarders you know. 394 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 2: Right, it's not like he's averaging. You know, his depth 395 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 2: of target is twelve yards down the field. 396 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 3: And his degree of difficulty to throw isn't particularly I 397 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 3: mean there's a lot of those guys a pick or 398 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 3: a rub route or a linebacker bites on play action 399 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 3: and it's not a particularly hard throw. Yuess, he puts 400 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 3: it on him and they allow yards have to catch. 401 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 3: Is also a quarterback stats, but it doesn't mean that 402 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 3: he made a Marino throw. 403 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 2: Some of these are throws that any quarterback in the 404 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 2: league makes because they're wide open. 405 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 3: Exactly exactly, So you got to force him to thread 406 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 3: it a little bit more. 407 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, force him to do things that he doesn't want 408 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 2: to do, agreed, or that we have at least we 409 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 2: haven't seen him do a whole lot of yet. 410 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 3: That's the that's the key, especially coming off the arm injury. Yeah, 411 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 3: I want he was never a big arm guy to 412 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 3: begin with. 413 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: Push the ball outside the numbers down to hold it 414 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 2: at pulse longer too. 415 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 3: Yeah. 416 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 2: Absolutely. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lollie. You're 417 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,360 Speaker 2: listening to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. We're 418 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: gonna take a break. We'll be back with more right 419 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: after this. 420 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 421 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: your twenty four to seven home of the Black and 422 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 1: Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 423 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 2: Welcome back. I am Dale Lollie. He is Matt Williamson, 424 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: and this is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. Matt. 425 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: Two things that are going to be mentioned quite prominently 426 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 2: on the broadcast for Sunday's game. Uh one will be 427 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 2: picket versus party in neither case, guy of these situations, 428 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 2: are these guys going to be on the field against 429 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 2: each other? 430 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 3: I never go to the other one. 431 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 2: But okay, what versus Bosa the Defensive Player of the years. 432 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 3: Position. 433 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 2: Since two thousand, there have been four occasions. This will 434 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 2: be the fifth where the reigning defensive player Defensive Player 435 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 2: of the Year played against the guy who won it 436 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 2: the year before that. 437 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 3: Oh really, you'd think it'd be more Yeah. 438 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 2: Wow, the guy who won it the year before that. 439 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 2: His team has won all four of those. I'm just sad. 440 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: I mean that it's better than the other way around. 441 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 3: And then Party and Picket's funny too, because one was 442 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 3: the first quarterback drafted, one was the last. One team 443 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 3: went really far. The other one I think is the 444 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 3: better quarterback but finished the season really strong. And I'm 445 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 3: sure you've been asked this eight thousand times, rather a 446 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 3: pick it or Party, I particularly don't think it's close, 447 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 3: but I understand why Niner fans are excited about their guy. 448 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 2: If you took Kenny Pickett last year and put him 449 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 2: on that forty nine ers team way. 450 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 3: It was structured once. 451 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 2: I remember Party joined that team when they had after 452 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 2: they had added McCaffrey, and they knew exactly what they 453 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 2: wanted to do with it. 454 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 3: They were humming before he got there. 455 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's not even close. 456 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 3: It's not even close. And I'm giving frankly, if you 457 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 3: put Purty in picket shoes, especially early in the season 458 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 3: when the running game was wasn't intact and they were 459 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 3: still working through some things, I don't think it would 460 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 3: have gone any better either. And Frankly, their skill set, 461 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 3: to me, isn't close. And I think Purdy's a good story. 462 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 3: I mean I do. I just don't think that he's 463 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 3: a long time start, long term starter in this league. 464 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 2: All the forty nine ers do they do? 465 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 3: They sure do? 466 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 2: They have bought in And well, if you look at 467 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 2: Purdy's numbers last year, there's some interesting things here. 468 00:20:57,880 --> 00:20:59,239 Speaker 3: There was a lot of interesting stuff about him. 469 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, if if you look at his completion 470 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 2: percentage at home was seventy three percent. Wow, Okay, his 471 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 2: completion percentage on the road was sixty three percent. 472 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 3: Interesting. The again, his stuff is all going to be 473 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 3: smaller sample size, right, It's it's very small. 474 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 2: Five regular season starts last year, let's so you know, 475 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 2: it's a very small sample size. But you look at it. 476 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 2: They went five and zero, and his in the games he. 477 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 3: Started, including a couple of playoff games after that, Yeah. 478 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 2: They averaged thirty three point six y points per game 479 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: in the in his starts. Okay, Kansas City led the 480 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: league last year at twenty eight and change. 481 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 3: Points per game. Yeah, so they were well over the 482 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 3: number one. You know, his. 483 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 2: Overall completion percentage was sixty eight point five percent. H 484 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 2: He averaged eight point nine yards per pass attempt. 485 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 3: Huge number, huge number, huge number. 486 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: Again, here's the thing. So with Jimmy Garoppolo or Brock 487 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 2: Purdy as his starter, Kyle Shanahan is forty three and 488 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 2: seventeen is the forty nine ers coach? With anybody else 489 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 2: as the. 490 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 3: Starter, Brett Rippian and Trey. 491 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 2: Lance, Nick Mullins, Brian hoy or CJ. Beth Bether's what 492 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 2: I say, they're nine to twenty nine. 493 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 3: Yeah wow, So not just anyone can do it. I 494 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: mean I think that's a misnomer. Yeah, you can't just 495 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 3: plug in me. 496 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 2: I'm not saying it pretty stinks. 497 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 3: I'm not saying that at all. 498 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: But is he just a younger version of Jimmy Garoppolo. 499 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 2: That's my question. 500 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: I think there's a lot of similarities in that they 501 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 3: both fit the offense well. They're quick processors. They prefer 502 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 3: to throw in the middle of the field. They're not 503 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 3: going to drive the ball outside the numbers or deep 504 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 3: outs and things of that nature. I think he has 505 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 3: a little more playmaker, which I mean for better or 506 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:52,159 Speaker 3: worse than Jimmy. I mean Jimmy's very scripted. I do 507 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 3: what I'm told almost to a fault. Like I didn't 508 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 3: see that linebacker was there, but I was told to 509 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 3: throw it there. No matter what, I'm gonna do it. 510 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 3: And that's good and bad. And I think that's what 511 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 3: Shanahan wants is he wants an extension of him on 512 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 3: the field at the quarterback position. We're purty, especially going 513 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 3: back to college, will improvise a little more. And when 514 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 3: I say the improvising stuff like he'll run, he'll he'll 515 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 3: go off script. But I don't know that he's I 516 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 3: don't really should as much, you know, like it's not 517 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 3: Mahomes or you know, like oh good. You know he's 518 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 3: got that playmaker to him. He needs to play in 519 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 3: script a little bit. 520 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 2: See Duck Hodges would do some of that too. 521 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 3: And that's fine. If you're Brett Favre, it's. 522 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 2: Driving playing at it, you know. Yeah, if you're playing 523 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 2: in a smaller school where you're playing at the college level, 524 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 2: the NFL level, unless you're elite doing it. Yeah, I 525 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 2: mean unless you burned. 526 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 3: You're swimming upstream in terms of your talent versus the 527 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 3: other quarterbacks and other opponents. We don't need you doing 528 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 3: things on your own. 529 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 2: Go to the coaching in this offense. You need to 530 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 2: be the point guard. 531 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 3: Absolutely more discipline. 532 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, And so I think he I think he 533 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 2: does the point guard stuff. Well he has, but you 534 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 2: got to force him to again hold the football and okay, hey, 535 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 2: go try to make a outside the numbers. 536 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, give yourself a little confidence, give it a shot. 537 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 3: You know where Jimmy I think would just eat it 538 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 3: or grounded as opposed to I'm not going to take 539 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 3: that approach. You know. 540 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 2: How about this stat There have been twenty one instances 541 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 2: that an opposing quarterback has started in Pittsburgh within their 542 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 2: first ten career starts in the Mike Tomlin era. Oh, 543 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 2: I bet they haven't one one since two thousand and seven. 544 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 2: The Steelers are eighteen and three in those games. 545 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 3: I didn't think it'd be that strong, but I knew 546 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 3: it would be not a nice number for young quarterbacks here, 547 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 3: he said, yeah, and you mentioned his at least percentage 548 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 3: here versus the roads much different. Another number that's crazy 549 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 3: about him. I don't have it in front of me. Hit. 550 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 3: The percentage of throws that ended up as a touchdown 551 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 3: is unsustainable. Unsustainable. I mean, like way better than Mahomes, 552 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 3: who's number two. Yeah, I mean, like that ain't happening, 553 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 3: you know, Like it was something like eight point eight 554 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 3: percent or something like every time the ball came out 555 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 3: his hands it ended up being a touchdown. Like it'll 556 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 3: that'll fall in half if he's lucky. Unbelievably unsustainable to me. 557 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 2: In this game, any play that goes for three yards 558 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 2: or less is a huge win. 559 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 3: It's great. It's great, no matter what I. 560 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 2: Might even say four if it goes for four yards 561 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 2: or less. Yeah yeah. 562 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 3: I mean like if you're making them get get first 563 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 3: downs on third downs, okay, we'll see all goes. 564 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 2: Yeah right. Yeah. So there's just some some things that. 565 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 3: If you force them to third and ones, I'm fine 566 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 3: with that, you know. I mean, they're not going to 567 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 3: bully you off the ball like Jalen Hurts either, you know. 568 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Purty's uh. He only had two games on the 569 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 2: road last year. These were at Seattle and at Las Vegas, 570 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 2: so not exactly two great defenses. And again that that 571 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 2: he played Tampa Bay, Washington, and Arizona at home. So 572 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 2: the five wins that he had last year, we're not like, wow, 573 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 2: he's you know, he's out there beating Philadelphia. 574 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 3: And you know, I mean they did win playoff game 575 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 3: with him. 576 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 577 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. Their schedule in general last year was unbelievably easy, 578 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 3: and he faced some of the easiest ones. Yeah, and 579 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 3: some of those were at the end of the rope too, 580 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 3: Like what ad Tampa have left at that stage of 581 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 3: the game. 582 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, So that the home the home splits. There three 583 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 2: home games, seventy three percent completion percentage, nine point five 584 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:29,439 Speaker 2: yards per pass attempt not not sustainable right now, seven 585 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 2: touchdown passes, one interception, and one thirty two point eight 586 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 2: passer rating. Interesting, So away the two away games it 587 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 2: was sixty three point nine. The UH yards per temp 588 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 2: went down to eight point two, which is still really good, 589 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 2: really good. Four touchdown passes, one interception, and one oh 590 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 2: four point six passer rating. 591 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 3: So it's not a stat, it's more of a guideline. 592 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 3: I don't know what word you'd call it, but Pro 593 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 3: Football Focus does their turnover worthy plays, which I think 594 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 3: is a great way of judging things. Now, if somebody 595 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 3: has to sit there and with a clicker and go, 596 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 3: was that turnover worthy or not? Okay, assuming that person's 597 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 3: not a jabbroni or then not all evens out of 598 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 3: the course of the year, Like, for example, Pickett didn't 599 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 3: turn the ball over hardly at all in the second 600 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 3: half of the season, but he was like second or 601 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 3: third best in turnover worthy throws. 602 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 2: He didn't put the bond arm's way. 603 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, whoever decided to give him that also said it 604 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 3: wasn't like he got lucky in there or you know, 605 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 3: he was throwing picks that or bounced off people's hands. 606 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 3: I bet picked the parties was pretty high though, Like 607 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 3: I bet he was on the luckier side. He's a gambler, Yeah, 608 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 3: and I don't think he should. Yeah, you know, I 609 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 3: think he should. I'm sure he knows when to hold 610 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 3: him and the wind to fold him. 611 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 2: What more static can throw at you here? 612 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 3: All right? I like my stats. 613 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 2: The forty nine Ers played four games last season that 614 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 2: were two thousand miles plus away from San Francisco that 615 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 2: included the playoffs Week one in Chicago. They lost nineteen ten. 616 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 3: That was a trade lanceeh Monsoon game. 617 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 2: They won at Online at thirty seven to fifteen. Well, 618 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,719 Speaker 2: everybody beat up on the Anthers last year, lost at 619 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 2: Atlanta twenty eight to fourteen, and then lost to the 620 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 2: Eagles in the NFC Championship game thirty one to seven. 621 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:15,679 Speaker 3: I don't want to put any still, I can't buy much. 622 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 2: Say were fourteen and one in their other games, though. 623 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 3: Winning percentage is a little different than those. Interesting. I 624 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 3: mean it's only four games, and one of them all 625 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 3: their quarterbacks were out and one was them Onsoon but 626 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 3: they also lost to Atlanta. I mean teams that are 627 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 3: going to run the ball. 628 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh, I might add, is twenty five one hundred miles 629 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,200 Speaker 2: away from San Francisco. 630 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 3: So it qualifies. It is interesting, though, those four teams 631 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: you mentioned were four of the best running teams in 632 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 3: the league last year. Yeah, Ago, Eagles, Carolina with McCaffrey 633 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 3: that I'm almost certain because McCaffrey is one of the 634 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 3: Josh Jacobs and McCaffrey were like the only two backs 635 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 3: that had good games against the Niners, and then they 636 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,239 Speaker 3: go and trade for one of them, and Atlanta who 637 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 3: run the ball and everybody too. 638 00:28:58,000 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 2: Kenn of Steelers run the ball in this team, I 639 00:28:59,640 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 2: don't know. 640 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 3: I've been kind of kicking that around too. Can if 641 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 3: you're going to play a lot of twelve with Friarmuth 642 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 3: and Washington, presumably to Bosa's side. 643 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 2: I want to run Bosa. I want to see it. Yeah, 644 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 2: chest his stamina. 645 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I want him to take on double teams getting 646 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 3: pushed backwards early in this game. 647 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, here's just two hundred and eighty five pounds tight end. 648 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 3: Deal with this with the gnagy Yeah, yeah, right on 649 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 3: the ground. I don't have a problem with that. I mean, 650 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 3: I understand that there's this sentiment that, oh, you gotta 651 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 3: let unleash Kenny, you know, let him cook. Blah blah 652 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 3: blah blah blah. I don't know if this is the 653 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 3: game for they'll know that this is a game for that. 654 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 3: And I also think that's a big reason they went 655 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 3: out and got hard Grave. Like, I know, their run 656 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 3: defense stats are extremely, extremely good, But one of the 657 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 3: reasons they're extremely extremely good is they allowed no big 658 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 3: plays on the ground. I think zero runs of thirty 659 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 3: or more. Well, let's yeah, that's Warner, that's Afanga. You know, 660 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 3: that's those guys tracking things down to take a thirty 661 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 3: yard one and make it a ten. But frankly, the 662 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 3: Steelers don't run those. They don't make they get four yards, 663 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 3: they're happy with it. If it's nausey twenty times at 664 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 3: four point five per that's gonna pay off huge in 665 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 3: the fourth quarter. Yeah, I mean, I love Warner, I 666 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 3: love green Law, but they're not Buckus, you know what 667 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 3: I mean. I want physicality. 668 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 2: I want to smacking them in the face. I want 669 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 2: to I want to get some of those offensive linemen, 670 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: you know, pulling and hitting those guys. 671 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, as long as as long as you can so 672 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 3: I have no problem with that. I've been thinking about 673 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 3: that a lot too, because we even talked about steel 674 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 3: running game this week. But boy, it worked pretty darn 675 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 3: well at the end. 676 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 2: They ran the ball against everybody last year. 677 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 3: I mean, we consider and say second half of the season, 678 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 3: they have to create explosives. They got to throw to 679 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 3: the middle of field. Sure, big picture, you do. But 680 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 3: in this game, if I can keep their offense off 681 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 3: the field at home and start bludging them with a 682 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 3: two hundred and thirty pound running back that has some 683 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 3: nasty to them and Washington and those guys, Dude, as 684 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 3: long as you can. 685 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 2: That's one thing that the Steelers have done against the 686 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 2: Browns in Miles Garrett. Like Miles Garrett's been very quiet 687 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: over the course of his career against the Steelers because 688 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 2: they have just beaten him up in the run game. 689 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, people forget there's a physicality of this game sometimes. 690 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 3: You know that elite players don't like getting double teams constantly. 691 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 3: I mean it's almost like a picking on a hockey star, 692 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 3: you know, where you're a little extra slash in front 693 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 3: of the net or elbow to the chin or you 694 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 3: know what I mean. This gets old. 695 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and especially with a big physical like I think 696 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 2: of all of all the rookies the Steelers have this year, 697 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 2: I think this is this is a Washington I. 698 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 3: Think it's a Washington game. As soon as Bosa got signed, 699 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 3: I'm like, Washington snap counts just went up. Yeah, good 700 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 3: or bad, you know. I mean, I think he's gonna 701 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 3: block a lot, kind of like we talked about Kittle 702 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 3: on the on the flip side, I think he'll be 703 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 3: on Bosa's side a lot. And that's a lot of 704 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 3: human being. Whether it's a run game or pass game 705 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 3: to help either chooks or more. 706 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 2: And then I'm having him. You know, he chipped Chip 707 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 2: Bosa get out in the flat and then let's see, 708 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 2: let's see how there's linebackers like tackle on a two 709 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty pound guy with a full head of steam. 710 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 3: And I'm sure in the red zone too. I mean, 711 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 3: as good as Warner and those guys are, he's hard. 712 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 3: I mean he's a post up problem for anybody. 713 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh yeah, there's no doubt about that as well. 714 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 3: So I bet he plays a lot. Yeah, I want to, like, 715 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 3: I bet he plays more than Robinson or Austin. 716 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 2: That's the one area. I mean if you look at 717 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 2: this this defense for the forty nine ers, Yeah, it's fast. 718 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, but it's not real big. It's not real big. 719 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 3: I think that's another reason they got Hargred. Yeah, you know, 720 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 3: like Armstead's a really good player, but he looks like 721 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 3: a power forward. He doesn't looked like Hargrave. 722 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 2: Bosa is great, but he's a two hundred and sixty five, 723 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 2: two hundred and seventy pound defensive. 724 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 3: He's an end. Yeah, yeah, you know, other ends aren't giant. 725 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 2: Let's lean on him a little bit and so Yeah, 726 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 2: and as much as I like Javon Hargrave, he's better 727 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 2: as a pass rusher than he is against a run. 728 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 2: He's just he's more of a penetrator, right. 729 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 3: Even despite his build. I mean, he's got a crazy 730 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 3: lower half in the thickness, but he's a modern day 731 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 3: nose like Lebow. Wouldn't loved him. I mean, I'm sure 732 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 3: they would have minded him, but they wouldn't have loved him. 733 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 3: He's not Hampton. 734 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 2: He's more Chris Hope than he is Hampton, which you 735 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 2: can again, you win with those guys, and they and 736 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 2: they you know they can win by being quick off 737 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,720 Speaker 2: the line of scrimmage and knifing into the backfield. But 738 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 2: you know, if you you trust your interior alignement against 739 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 2: these guys, you I think you can have some success 740 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 2: running the football night too. 741 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,239 Speaker 3: And I know their run defense numbers are crazy, but 742 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:28,280 Speaker 3: Steelers are pretty strong in the second half too. Yeah, 743 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 3: and just because of the physicality of the run game too. 744 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 3: It's not a finesse run. 745 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 2: I'm just looking at this again. There's there's just the 746 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 2: five starts to Perty made three of those the three 747 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 2: at home Tampa Bay, Washington, Arizona weren't really very good 748 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 2: running games. 749 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 3: No, And we brought this up one hundred times with 750 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 3: the Eagles too. They always had a halftime lead, you know. 751 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 3: I mean they're beating up on bad teams early and 752 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 3: then the sacks come and teams abandoned the run. And heck, 753 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 3: that could happen on Sunday too, I mean because right, 754 00:33:57,520 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 3: I mean it absolutely could. It could. It could happen 755 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 3: against any when the Niners play. They're that good. But 756 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 3: it might not, and I'm kind of betting it doesn't. 757 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 3: I mean, even if the Steelers are down ten at 758 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 3: the half, I don't know they're gonna throw eighty percent 759 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 3: of snaps in the second half either. Yeah, right, just 760 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 3: not what they do. 761 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 2: I'm just looking here that those run totals, with what 762 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 2: they gave up last year. 763 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 3: I bet there's very few. At the end of the year. 764 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 2: Ninety nine to the Bears, thirty six to the Seahawks. 765 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 3: All the Bears do was run. Yeah, they were the 766 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,400 Speaker 3: run heaviest team like in the last ten years. 767 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:29,759 Speaker 2: But that was before they really unleashed fields too. And 768 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:31,399 Speaker 2: that was that was that sloppy game. 769 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 3: Oh that was Week one. Yeah, and they had not 770 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 3: figured themselves out yet, So that was a strange. 771 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 2: But thirty six against Seattle. 772 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,880 Speaker 3: Thirty six rushing yards against Seattle, Yeah. 773 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,719 Speaker 2: One hundred and one against Denver. The Rams ran for 774 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,120 Speaker 2: fifty seven against them. The Panthers had sixty four. 775 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:47,440 Speaker 3: Those are like the worst offenses in the league. I mean, 776 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 3: Denver was unwatchable. 777 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 2: At the Falcons got him for one hundred and sixty eight. 778 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 3: So I bet Atlanta did well and they won that game, 779 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:54,240 Speaker 3: right Atlanta. 780 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:55,919 Speaker 2: The Chiefs rushed for one hundred and twelve on them. 781 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 3: I'm sure they backed off and played a lot of 782 00:34:58,640 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 3: too high and the Chiefs just took. 783 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. The Rams in the second meeting ran for fifty six, 784 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 2: So they need the Rams in two games against them 785 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 2: barely top one hundred yards. 786 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:09,879 Speaker 3: The Rams offense wasn't watching it last year. I mean, 787 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:11,520 Speaker 3: then Denver's was that bad too. 788 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 2: Then it was fifty one against the Chargers, sixty seven 789 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:19,239 Speaker 2: against the Cardinals, sixty three against the Saints, thirty three 790 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:23,760 Speaker 2: against the Dolphins. The Buccaneers had sixty nine. The Seahawks 791 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 2: in the second meeting at seventy Washington ran for seventy nine. 792 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,080 Speaker 2: The Raiders got him for one thirty five. 793 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 3: I said, Jacob's had a big day. 794 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, and the Cardinals had sixty one. 795 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 3: So I don't know two against the Cardinals, two against 796 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 3: the Rams. 797 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 2: That really pumps up your run numbers. It does, like 798 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 2: those two teams combined didn't rush for two hundred yards 799 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:42,840 Speaker 2: in those four games. 800 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 3: I would love to know what is there. We'm sure 801 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 3: we could find it. I'm not going to do this 802 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:52,799 Speaker 3: much digging. What is the run pass splits in the 803 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 3: fourth quarter of games against the Niners? I bet it's 804 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 3: like eighty percent pass yea. Everyone of those games. Losh, 805 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:01,959 Speaker 3: you're right, you're down big yeah, because they're bad. 806 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 2: So if you don't let that happen. 807 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:07,319 Speaker 3: And we know they didn't allow big runs, but big 808 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 3: runs come whenever you've had twenty Yeah, medium runs, you 809 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 3: know what I mean? Small runs and that. 810 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 2: That one that you know went for six yards all 811 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 2: of a sudden, now it pops for fifteen because somebody 812 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 2: missed a tackle, right, it was just a little late 813 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 2: getting there. 814 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 3: Instead of getting a chest on him, you get a 815 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:26,480 Speaker 3: forearm and nausey runs right through it. So no, I 816 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:28,840 Speaker 3: think I'm not saying the only path of successes on 817 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 3: the ground, but I think it is a path. 818 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:32,319 Speaker 2: That I do think. I think you have to be 819 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 2: able to run the ball at least a little bit here, 820 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,319 Speaker 2: because again, even the Eagles and when they beat them 821 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 2: in the playoffs, ran for one hundred and forty eight. 822 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 3: Okay, makes sense if. 823 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 2: You look at their wins versus their losses. 824 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 3: The Atlanta is a perfect example. Oh yeah, yeah right. 825 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 3: And frankly, they knew that was coming when you went 826 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 3: to Atlanta. The whole game plan had to be stopped 827 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:56,360 Speaker 3: to run. I mean that's all Atlanta does. 828 00:36:56,719 --> 00:37:00,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, so interesting. Yeah, I would not give up on 829 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:02,240 Speaker 2: the run game. I think Seelers did it too well 830 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 2: down the stretch last season and again sets up some 831 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:08,359 Speaker 2: play action stuff and you know that's when you're gonna 832 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 2: get those linebackers maybe taking a false step and boom. 833 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 3: And you mentioned Bosa and he's a tremendous player, but 834 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:16,279 Speaker 3: he doesn't play football in a while either. I mean, 835 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 3: so the physicality thing. He might be fine running and 836 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 3: getting off the ball. 837 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 2: But that's one area where I think that the Steelers have. 838 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,759 Speaker 2: They played their guys in the preseason a lot. 839 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:29,520 Speaker 3: That helps early in the season. 840 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,960 Speaker 2: Tackling is going to be everybody talks about it early 841 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 2: in the season. Tackling's really sloppy. 842 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 3: But what if your team isn't. 843 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 2: Yeah right, what if you're you're the team that played 844 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:41,320 Speaker 2: a lot of guys in the preseason. Now you're not sloppy. 845 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:42,279 Speaker 2: You're up to you. 846 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 3: Know, you're It's one other thing I want to bring 847 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 3: up too, because boy, we talked about Niners after the catch, 848 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 3: Niners after the catch. Steeters defense was one of the 849 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:51,160 Speaker 3: best in the league after the catch. I mean like 850 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 3: they had some issues in the passing game, don't get 851 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 3: me wrong, but there was a lot of bombs down 852 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:58,360 Speaker 3: the sideline to game Davis and you know, a stuff 853 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:00,440 Speaker 3: like that. But in terms of after the catch, Steelers 854 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:00,920 Speaker 3: are really good. 855 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 2: They tackled the ketch. 856 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 3: You They were a very good tackling team last year, 857 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:04,480 Speaker 3: like seventh or eighth best. 858 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:07,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're gonna take another break. He is Matt Williams 859 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:09,839 Speaker 2: and I am Dale Lowlly. You're listening to the Driver 860 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,759 Speaker 2: on Steelers Nation Radio. We will be back with more 861 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:17,799 Speaker 2: right after this. 862 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:21,120 Speaker 1: This is The Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 863 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 864 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 1: and Gold SNR Steelers Nation Radio. 865 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:33,000 Speaker 2: Welcome back. I'm Dale Lollie. He is Matt Williamson, and 866 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:35,479 Speaker 2: this is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. And Matt 867 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:40,240 Speaker 2: Our talking yesterday about Minka Fitzpatrick potentially being in a decent 868 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:43,279 Speaker 2: bet to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year 869 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,120 Speaker 2: award got me thinking a little bit here. 870 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:46,880 Speaker 3: I don't think it's bonkers. 871 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 2: I don't think it is either. But what I wanted 872 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:53,080 Speaker 2: to do here is, let's make some bold predictions about 873 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:56,879 Speaker 2: the end of the season here regarding the Steelers, either 874 00:38:56,920 --> 00:39:01,120 Speaker 2: good or bad? Good or bad? Bold prediction about the Steelers. 875 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:04,879 Speaker 2: I'm gonna start and I'm gonna come with this one. 876 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:12,800 Speaker 2: Both George Pickens and Deontay Johnson have over one thousand 877 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:14,040 Speaker 2: receiving yards this season. 878 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:18,680 Speaker 3: Wow, it's bold, But I don't think it's crazy either, 879 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,360 Speaker 3: like some of my thoughts on that, because as you 880 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:26,200 Speaker 3: were saying that, I'm thinking too, I was about to 881 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:29,440 Speaker 3: bring him up too, like I also like his over 882 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 3: and yardage whatever it is. Can all three things happen? 883 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 2: Yeah? 884 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:38,239 Speaker 3: Probably? You know. I mean then obviously Pickett would far 885 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:42,920 Speaker 3: surpass his over under you know, passing yards, which I 886 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,000 Speaker 3: think is way too low. I forget what the number is. Yeah. 887 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 3: Like I even saw something today about you know you 888 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 3: can picket get over. 889 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:54,439 Speaker 2: He's one eighty five point five this week, and guess 890 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:58,600 Speaker 2: again in this game. The forty nine Ers last season 891 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:01,800 Speaker 2: to opposing wide receivers gave up almost one hundred and 892 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:06,160 Speaker 2: seventy receiving yards per game just to posing wide receivers. Yeah, 893 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:07,920 Speaker 2: you can get over one hundred and eighty five against 894 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 2: these guys. They were not a good They were like 895 00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:11,680 Speaker 2: twentieth in pass defense last year. 896 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:13,880 Speaker 3: It was a problem for them, especially on the outside. 897 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 3: Especially what the Steelers have had success. Pickens and Deontay 898 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:19,719 Speaker 3: have done a lot of that. I think that's a 899 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 3: good one. 900 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:23,560 Speaker 2: I put you on the spot of that night. 901 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:24,960 Speaker 3: Now he just threw this out. 902 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:26,560 Speaker 2: I'll be honest with you. I didn't have a bold 903 00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:28,480 Speaker 2: prediction when I started. I just came up with them. 904 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 3: Okay, this is what we do for a good one. 905 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,439 Speaker 2: We do a little free form jazz radio here. 906 00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:35,160 Speaker 3: I'm going to take the low hanging fruito on Mika 907 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:40,680 Speaker 3: that not only is he a first team All Pro Yeah, 908 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:44,640 Speaker 3: I mean, like, I bet he's gets votes for Defensive 909 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:46,640 Speaker 3: Player of the Year. I mean that's a big bold. 910 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:48,080 Speaker 3: That's pretty bold. For a safety. 911 00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:49,120 Speaker 2: Can he get in the top three? 912 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:55,320 Speaker 3: No, but how about top five? Okay, no offense to 913 00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 3: Watt or any of those guys, but maybe he has 914 00:40:57,719 --> 00:41:01,080 Speaker 3: the Steelers' best case for it. I did think there's 915 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:03,760 Speaker 3: gonna be a lot of deflected balls, better pass rush, 916 00:41:04,239 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 3: more sacks, which ends up with more Minca splash and 917 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:09,680 Speaker 3: also him closer to the. 918 00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:12,360 Speaker 2: Line of could they have two guys in the top five. 919 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:15,160 Speaker 3: I think they have too the top eight. I mean, 920 00:41:15,160 --> 00:41:17,600 Speaker 3: toot top five bonkers, But like I think Harrison and 921 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 3: Paul Mula did at one point, didn't you know? And 922 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:25,520 Speaker 3: that's not that's not great respect to Garrett Bosa, Michael Parsons, 923 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:26,239 Speaker 3: et cetera, et cetera. 924 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:28,240 Speaker 2: I mean, if that happens, you probably had a really 925 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:30,520 Speaker 2: good season and the defense was a big part of it. 926 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:35,000 Speaker 3: How about this, No defensive back gets more votes than Menca. 927 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:37,840 Speaker 3: There you go, that's okay. What instead of saying he 928 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:39,719 Speaker 3: has to be fifth or whatever, I'm gonna say he 929 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:43,240 Speaker 3: gets more votes than any defensive back in the league. 930 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:52,080 Speaker 2: Okay, Okay, I'm gonna say the Steelers, after not leading 931 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 2: the league in sacks last year, once again lead the 932 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:56,280 Speaker 2: league in sacks. 933 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:02,879 Speaker 3: That's bold rushing. Piladelphia had seventy last seventy. I bet 934 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:04,439 Speaker 3: no team gets to seventy this year. 935 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 2: I don't think so. 936 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,680 Speaker 3: I mean, that's a agreed It's just an insane number. 937 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:09,839 Speaker 3: And they also had such an easy schedule of them 938 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:13,040 Speaker 3: and the planets aligned perfectly for them. That's a crazy number. 939 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:14,560 Speaker 3: Do you think they get sixty? 940 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,200 Speaker 2: I think they can get sixty, Okay, I think that 941 00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:20,279 Speaker 2: would set this team record for sacks. I think this 942 00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:23,960 Speaker 2: team can do that because not only are their front 943 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,800 Speaker 2: line pass rushers great, now they have backup guys that 944 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:31,359 Speaker 2: you're addy again, if her big goes out between her 945 00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:33,280 Speaker 2: Big and Golden, if you get five or six sacks 946 00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:36,520 Speaker 2: out of those two, which I think is certainly possible, yes, 947 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,320 Speaker 2: now you start stacking those like you're gonna get thirty 948 00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:42,200 Speaker 2: sacks or thirty plus sacks out of your outside linebackers. 949 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:44,239 Speaker 3: See. I was even thinking from a different angle, but 950 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:48,600 Speaker 3: similar conversation. They have not had the Hilton Vince william 951 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:52,360 Speaker 3: sacks lately. Yeah, we got that with I think Roberts 952 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:53,600 Speaker 3: gets three to six. 953 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:54,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm with you. 954 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:56,480 Speaker 3: I mean I don't know the other off the ball 955 00:42:56,520 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 3: linebackers get a lot, but I bet he gets more 956 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:00,680 Speaker 3: than you say, you get. 957 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:02,920 Speaker 2: Eight to ten out of your inside linebackers, oh, then 958 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:05,000 Speaker 2: you're gonna get it. Yeah, and now all of a sudden, okay, 959 00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:07,520 Speaker 2: and then you're in your interior pass rushers you get, 960 00:43:07,920 --> 00:43:09,359 Speaker 2: you get ten to fifteen out of. 961 00:43:09,280 --> 00:43:11,879 Speaker 3: Them, not to say Ogen Jobi's at more than two, yeah, 962 00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:15,440 Speaker 3: or Ogin Joby Bent and Leal is going to have 963 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:15,799 Speaker 3: more than. 964 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:17,839 Speaker 2: Even if Cam takes a step back and doesn't get 965 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:20,839 Speaker 2: ten and a half but gets seven eight yeah, yeah, 966 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:22,080 Speaker 2: which is certainly possible. 967 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:24,080 Speaker 3: It's not bad. I mean, that's a long while you're 968 00:43:24,120 --> 00:43:28,319 Speaker 3: talking about. Yeah, yeah, And I'm also thinking and Sullivan. Ye, 969 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:31,719 Speaker 3: he ends up with four between them, you know what 970 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:33,799 Speaker 3: I mean? Like Hilton was really good at it that 971 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:35,440 Speaker 3: I don't know that any d back will get to 972 00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:39,120 Speaker 3: where he was, but I bet some corner blitzes get home. 973 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:41,520 Speaker 2: Well that's what you know. The new guy that they 974 00:43:41,640 --> 00:43:44,640 Speaker 2: just added, he's good at it too. Desmond King is Yeah, 975 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:46,520 Speaker 2: he's got like eight and a half career sacks. 976 00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:48,440 Speaker 3: Do you think he just takes over as a slot 977 00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:50,479 Speaker 3: when it's all said and done, after he settles in. 978 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:51,080 Speaker 2: I think so. 979 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:53,719 Speaker 3: I kind of do. I mean, he's good, he's physical, 980 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:55,719 Speaker 3: he's wide body guy. 981 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:58,080 Speaker 2: I was surprised when I met him. 982 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:00,800 Speaker 3: Is he good looking? On the hoof, it looks like he's. 983 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:01,840 Speaker 2: Got a running backs build. 984 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:04,160 Speaker 3: See I described them on a different podcast as a 985 00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:07,920 Speaker 3: Sydney Crosby build, like a SpongeBob build. Like, yeah, he's wide. 986 00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:10,359 Speaker 2: I mean his shoulders are wider than I mean, I've 987 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:13,880 Speaker 2: got reasonably watched. His shoulders are wide from such for 988 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:16,200 Speaker 2: a corner. For a corner that yeah, for a guy 989 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:18,880 Speaker 2: that's five to nine and change, like he is wide 990 00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:19,560 Speaker 2: and thick. 991 00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:21,880 Speaker 3: I think that's what they want at that position. I 992 00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:23,879 Speaker 3: don't think I'm not picking on Hilton. I don't think 993 00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:26,000 Speaker 3: they want that body type there anymore. I think they 994 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:28,880 Speaker 3: want somebody that can bang. And he can bang. So 995 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:30,960 Speaker 3: he's an interesting one. What if he ends up with 996 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:34,600 Speaker 3: three picks, if he takes over as a pseudo starter, Yeah, 997 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:38,520 Speaker 3: you know so I've been really buying time here trying 998 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:45,680 Speaker 3: to come up with another. The Steelers will have a 999 00:44:45,880 --> 00:44:52,120 Speaker 3: Pro Bowl, not an all Pro offensive lineman. Okay, probably 1000 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:52,760 Speaker 3: a guard. 1001 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:53,960 Speaker 2: It's a tough not to crack. 1002 00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:57,040 Speaker 3: It's a tough not to crack. But I'm gonna say 1003 00:44:57,520 --> 00:45:00,000 Speaker 3: someone from that group ends up in the Pro Bowl. 1004 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:03,200 Speaker 3: Maybe some people have to chime out or whatever. 1005 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:05,759 Speaker 2: You know, is I as I told the Sean Daniels, 1006 00:45:05,920 --> 00:45:08,160 Speaker 2: who James Daniel's father, when I spoke to him in 1007 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:11,879 Speaker 2: the spring, I said, look, you go out in average 1008 00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:13,799 Speaker 2: one hundred and forty six yards rushing per game. That's 1009 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:15,759 Speaker 2: what they did last year. You were going to get 1010 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:18,000 Speaker 2: Pro Bowl votes on that for those linemen. 1011 00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:20,520 Speaker 3: Okay, I got another one too, so I feel okay, 1012 00:45:21,440 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 3: feeling good about it. I was struck on there for 1013 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:23,319 Speaker 3: a bit. 1014 00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:28,399 Speaker 2: I'm going to say, Mike Tomlin finishes in the top 1015 00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:30,240 Speaker 2: three for Coach of the Year. 1016 00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:32,200 Speaker 3: That's like as good as it can get for him. Yeah. 1017 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 3: I mean, if you're a great established coach, you like 1018 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:35,200 Speaker 3: almost can't win that award. 1019 00:45:35,239 --> 00:45:38,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's somebody like Arthur you know, Arthur Smith Smith 1020 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:41,759 Speaker 2: is going to win it. Yeah, because they play an 1021 00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:43,960 Speaker 2: easy schedule, they win their division, they get into play Hey, 1022 00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:46,080 Speaker 2: nobody expected the Falcons to get into the playoffs. 1023 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:48,000 Speaker 3: Or you take over from Urban Meyer and you turn 1024 00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:50,080 Speaker 3: a train wreck into right back on the tracks. 1025 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:52,680 Speaker 2: You know, it looks like an NFL team right exactly. 1026 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:54,799 Speaker 3: That those are the people who win it or you know, 1027 00:45:54,840 --> 00:45:56,840 Speaker 3: the Giants were like the least winningest team in the 1028 00:45:56,880 --> 00:45:58,400 Speaker 3: league and then they get in the playoffs. 1029 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:00,880 Speaker 2: Steelers head coaches one that award once and it was 1030 00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:02,120 Speaker 2: Bill Cowers first. 1031 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:04,600 Speaker 3: Year because they go down and it turned it back 1032 00:46:04,600 --> 00:46:07,000 Speaker 3: around a little bit, not like, oh, you maintain greatness 1033 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:10,080 Speaker 3: even though Douck Hodges is your quarterback. Oh that's what 1034 00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:10,719 Speaker 3: you're supposed to do. 1035 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:13,960 Speaker 2: Quite frankly, that should have been the year. That should 1036 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:16,000 Speaker 2: be the year, right Mike Tomlin should have been Coach 1037 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:16,799 Speaker 2: of the Year that year. 1038 00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:19,080 Speaker 3: My good, that's a five win team. 1039 00:46:19,800 --> 00:46:21,480 Speaker 2: That's what everybody was saying when they made the trade 1040 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:22,960 Speaker 2: for Mick. I can't believe they're making a trade for 1041 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:24,920 Speaker 2: Mike and fitz pratcheck. They're gonna they're gonna finish in the. 1042 00:46:24,880 --> 00:46:26,360 Speaker 3: Top there may pick first overall. 1043 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:29,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're gonna finish top ten. And if they're trading 1044 00:46:29,360 --> 00:46:31,200 Speaker 2: away a top ten pick, well, they weren't. 1045 00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:34,960 Speaker 3: They weren't, they weren't. Here's mine. We talk about Mike 1046 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:36,799 Speaker 3: Sando a lot. If you're not familiar with them, he 1047 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:40,480 Speaker 3: puts out quarterback tiers every year. Kenny Pickett's going to 1048 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:43,399 Speaker 3: be a tier two quarterback. When that article comes out 1049 00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:47,520 Speaker 3: ten months from that, Tier two's two is legit per two? 1050 00:46:47,640 --> 00:46:50,080 Speaker 3: Is you are a starter, you're a plus. 1051 00:46:50,560 --> 00:46:52,920 Speaker 2: Do you have the list of Tier two guys available, 1052 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:54,320 Speaker 2: it would take it's. 1053 00:46:54,239 --> 00:46:55,600 Speaker 3: I know them off the top of my head. I 1054 00:46:55,640 --> 00:46:59,400 Speaker 3: mean it's guys like the best ones that were almost 1055 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:06,360 Speaker 3: Tier one were like Herbert. The tier ones were definitely Burrow, Rogers. Still, 1056 00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:10,000 Speaker 3: I've got it right here. Okay, so his tier two 1057 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:11,600 Speaker 3: be the top of the tier two. 1058 00:47:13,040 --> 00:47:15,560 Speaker 2: That's taking a second coat here, but. 1059 00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:16,880 Speaker 3: I'm thinking he'll be like Dax level. 1060 00:47:17,360 --> 00:47:22,600 Speaker 2: So Tier one was Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen. 1061 00:47:22,520 --> 00:47:23,960 Speaker 3: And I think Rogers was still in there. 1062 00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:25,319 Speaker 2: Rogers was still in there. Yeah. 1063 00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:29,520 Speaker 3: And then I think Herbert Herbert was a Tier one guy. Yeah, Okay. 1064 00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:31,360 Speaker 2: Tier two was Jalen Hurts. 1065 00:47:32,200 --> 00:47:35,840 Speaker 3: Jalen Hurts was I mean one year ago was a 1066 00:47:35,880 --> 00:47:36,520 Speaker 3: Tier four guy. 1067 00:47:36,840 --> 00:47:44,040 Speaker 2: Tier two was Lamar Jackson, Okay, Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, 1068 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:49,040 Speaker 2: Matthew Stafford, Deshaun Watson. 1069 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:52,440 Speaker 3: I don't think those bottom three are Kirk Cousins or 1070 00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:55,879 Speaker 3: the bottom four are all that much to get a past. 1071 00:47:56,040 --> 00:48:01,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, because your tier three guys are Kyler Murray, Derek Carr, 1072 00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:04,959 Speaker 2: Jared Goff. Yeah, I mean yeah, if certainly that's that's 1073 00:48:05,120 --> 00:48:05,720 Speaker 2: that's bold. 1074 00:48:05,840 --> 00:48:08,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. I don't think he'll be knocking on the door 1075 00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:10,800 Speaker 3: of a Tier one guy, but I think he'll be 1076 00:48:10,840 --> 00:48:13,760 Speaker 3: ahead of like where Stafford is on that list. Okay, 1077 00:48:13,880 --> 00:48:15,040 Speaker 3: or Cousins for that matter. 1078 00:48:18,040 --> 00:48:28,560 Speaker 2: Old prediction, bold prediction. I'm gonna be bold. Steelers win 1079 00:48:28,719 --> 00:48:29,920 Speaker 2: a playoff game. 1080 00:48:30,280 --> 00:48:34,640 Speaker 3: This year, Okay, brutal conference getting in his hard. 1081 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:37,040 Speaker 2: Getting in is hard, just getting in as it would 1082 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:39,800 Speaker 2: be an accomplishment, but winning a playoff game, and I 1083 00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:41,919 Speaker 2: think they're gonna have to do it on the road. 1084 00:48:43,640 --> 00:48:45,239 Speaker 2: But I think this is a team that they could 1085 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:48,400 Speaker 2: go into, say jackson or Yeah, go into Jacksonville, go 1086 00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:53,759 Speaker 2: into Cincinnati, go into let's say the Jets win the 1087 00:48:53,760 --> 00:48:56,000 Speaker 2: the AFCAS. I think they can go in and beat 1088 00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:56,680 Speaker 2: one of those teams. 1089 00:48:57,080 --> 00:48:57,640 Speaker 3: Buffalo. 1090 00:48:58,000 --> 00:48:59,080 Speaker 2: I think he may Buffalo. 1091 00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:02,080 Speaker 3: We've seen him, it happened Cincinnati. They've won in Cincinnati 1092 00:49:02,080 --> 00:49:02,319 Speaker 3: a lot. 1093 00:49:02,320 --> 00:49:04,279 Speaker 2: They won in Cincinnati. They've won in Buffalo the last 1094 00:49:04,280 --> 00:49:05,000 Speaker 2: two seasons. 1095 00:49:05,360 --> 00:49:10,440 Speaker 3: Not crazy. This one might come off one in Kansas City. 1096 00:49:11,600 --> 00:49:14,520 Speaker 3: This one might come across as negative and it's slightly 1097 00:49:14,600 --> 00:49:18,239 Speaker 3: meant to be their first round pick next year is 1098 00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:21,120 Speaker 3: going to be a corner. I would say safety, but 1099 00:49:21,239 --> 00:49:22,080 Speaker 3: that's okay. 1100 00:49:22,600 --> 00:49:24,799 Speaker 2: I was actually woke up in the middle. 1101 00:49:24,960 --> 00:49:26,520 Speaker 3: It's funny you say that's crazy. 1102 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:29,000 Speaker 2: I think it was Monday night. I woke up in 1103 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:30,600 Speaker 2: the middle of night. I couldn't get back to sleep, 1104 00:49:30,680 --> 00:49:34,160 Speaker 2: and for some reason, the it popped into my mind. 1105 00:49:34,320 --> 00:49:36,160 Speaker 2: You know, Steeler's first round pick next year is probably 1106 00:49:36,160 --> 00:49:37,200 Speaker 2: a safety. 1107 00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:39,439 Speaker 3: That's crossed my mind as well. I mean, they don't 1108 00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:40,080 Speaker 3: miss a lot. 1109 00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:42,720 Speaker 2: What are you missing on this team because I corner 1110 00:49:42,840 --> 00:49:45,560 Speaker 2: to me, because you have Trice coming back now you 1111 00:49:45,600 --> 00:49:48,560 Speaker 2: don't you don't know what he but they saw enough 1112 00:49:48,560 --> 00:49:50,880 Speaker 2: of him. I think this offseason and say, okay, we 1113 00:49:50,920 --> 00:49:54,279 Speaker 2: think we have something here. Yeah you got Porter. Do 1114 00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:55,759 Speaker 2: you need to have another. 1115 00:49:55,520 --> 00:49:56,960 Speaker 3: Another first or second year guy? 1116 00:49:57,080 --> 00:50:01,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? To me, safety though, like because matches up nicely 1117 00:50:01,200 --> 00:50:03,960 Speaker 2: then with Minca on his see you know he's he's 1118 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:06,239 Speaker 2: now twenty six and you get's then and. 1119 00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:07,759 Speaker 3: All that stuff too. And it might be a safety that 1120 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:10,120 Speaker 3: plays the slot and has corner capabilities. 1121 00:50:10,239 --> 00:50:12,520 Speaker 2: Again, that's will You know we've been I've been, We've 1122 00:50:12,520 --> 00:50:14,760 Speaker 2: been banging the drum for safety the last two years. 1123 00:50:14,560 --> 00:50:17,919 Speaker 3: Actually, but so it's funny that crossed my mind too. 1124 00:50:18,640 --> 00:50:22,520 Speaker 3: But I think this front office considering, I think they're 1125 00:50:22,520 --> 00:50:26,560 Speaker 3: gonna draft expensive positions, you know what I mean. It's 1126 00:50:26,600 --> 00:50:29,080 Speaker 3: not even necessarily an analytical thing. It's just you have 1127 00:50:29,120 --> 00:50:32,319 Speaker 3: a heavy salary cap background. I went corners and left 1128 00:50:32,320 --> 00:50:34,800 Speaker 3: tackles on first year deals, you know, almost like quarterbacks. 1129 00:50:34,840 --> 00:50:36,280 Speaker 3: That's why I went with corner, not safety. 1130 00:50:36,280 --> 00:50:39,120 Speaker 2: Oh, I get it, I get it. Interesting. 1131 00:50:39,160 --> 00:50:41,640 Speaker 3: That was fun. That was off off the cuff, Dikes. 1132 00:50:42,080 --> 00:50:44,640 Speaker 2: Free form radio. This is what we do. Wow, you 1133 00:50:44,640 --> 00:50:48,000 Speaker 2: know you get the absolute natural reaction to these things 1134 00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:48,759 Speaker 2: when we do it like that. 1135 00:50:48,920 --> 00:50:50,520 Speaker 3: Send us some tweets. It something you can think and 1136 00:50:50,560 --> 00:50:52,360 Speaker 3: we'll shoot you down or we'll agree with you. 1137 00:50:52,719 --> 00:50:55,280 Speaker 2: Anyways, we're gonna take another break. He is Matt Williamson. 1138 00:50:55,640 --> 00:50:57,640 Speaker 2: I am Dale Ellet. You're listening to the drive here 1139 00:50:57,640 --> 00:51:00,560 Speaker 2: on Steelers Nation Radio. When we come back, it's time 1140 00:51:00,560 --> 00:51:03,480 Speaker 2: for the Fantasy Football Focus. We will do that right 1141 00:51:03,520 --> 00:51:03,920 Speaker 2: after this