1 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: It is continuing coverage of the twenty twenty six NFL 2 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: combine by from Indianapolis on the Steelers Audio Network, presented 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: by First National Bank. Can your bank do that? Welcome 4 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: to FNB. 5 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 2: Let's get started. 6 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: Member FDIC iron Workers Local Union number three. We don't 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: go to the office, We build it. Schneider Downs discover 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: the value of big thinking with a personal focus at 9 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: Schneiderdowns dot com, your neighborhood Ford store. The Ford F 10 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: and by usteal Mine Melted Made in the USA. 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 3: Bonus hour of the Drive here live on Radio Row, 13 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 3: our ongoing combine coverage on Steelers Nation Radio and joining 14 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 3: us to kick off our third bonus hour here on 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 3: this Wednesday. He's like the mayor of Radio Row here. 16 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, the voice of the Indianapolis Cults. Taylor, Matt, 17 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 3: what's up? 18 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 4: Man? Welcome? 19 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 5: Thanks for my people, Yeah, yes, thanks having to have 20 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 5: us right, good hostly. 21 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know we've had these conversations with you before. 22 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 3: We have these conversations. It feels like every year, you know, 23 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 3: when we're all driving out here together. We hope this 24 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 3: thing stays here forever. 25 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 5: I know. 26 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 3: Now they've been doing the two year contracts, so we 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: know at least the next two and twenty seven and 28 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 3: twenty eight are going to be here. 29 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 5: But Indy is just such a perfect town for this, 30 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 5: you know, as it relates to this, Yeah, I mean 31 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 5: any anywhere would be just because it's just so compact 32 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 5: and everything is so navigable, if you will, downtown Indianapolis. 33 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 5: But the bad analogy that I've used when it comes to, 34 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 5: you know, the NFL always kind of flirting with the 35 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 5: idea to take the combine somewhere else and. 36 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 4: Take it out of Indianapolis. 37 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 5: It's like that the younger brother that's always trying to 38 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 5: impress his older brother, right, always trying to hang out 39 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 5: the older brother's friends. 40 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 4: It's like, how we got to be finally to. 41 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 5: The point, Ray, if you're the NFL, as the older brother, 42 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 5: you finally got to be the point where it's like, yeah, 43 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 5: my younger brother's pretty cool and he does things the 44 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 5: right way, and he's cool enough to hang out with 45 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 5: the older kids and my friends. Like are we are 46 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 5: we to that point where the NFL has just flirted 47 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 5: with this idea so for so long, and the NFL 48 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 5: or I should say, the city of Indianapolis just continues 49 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 5: to deliver and give the NFL what it wants, and 50 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 5: you know, they continue to evolve this event. Where can 51 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 5: we just finally stop, you know, having all these other conversations. 52 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: Even bring up anymore? 53 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 5: Right, all these like you know, empty threats that we're 54 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 5: gonna you know, turn it into the draft and take 55 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 5: it to different cities. I mean, you still have to 56 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 5: perform things that the combine is all about, like the 57 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 5: medical test. 58 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: How does anybody else. 59 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 5: Do that except for downtown Indianapolis when you literally have 60 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 5: four hospitals within three miles. 61 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: That was curious about that? Is there a ton of 62 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: hospitals ton? I know they prepare for it every year. Absolutely, yeah. 63 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 5: And you've got Lucas Oil Stadium that's literally connected to 64 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 5: where we are right now, inside the Indiana Convention Center. 65 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: But I mean, like such a convention city, it absolutely is. 66 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 5: And when stuff like this is in town, it takes 67 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 5: over the town. Right, the Big Ten tournament and obviously 68 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 5: NCAA Final Fours that the final four is here, guys, 69 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 5: I don't know if you realize this, The Final four 70 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 5: in april's here for the ninth time. Wow. Really yeah, 71 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 5: I was here for in twenty ten. 72 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean there's a reason for that. 73 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 5: I mean every year we host the ND five hundred, 74 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 5: and that's the biggest sporting event, one day sporting event 75 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 5: in the world. We've had you know, National Championship Games 76 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 5: and the US Super Bowls and the US Swimming and 77 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 5: Diving Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium just two summers ago, 78 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 5: which was incredibly cool. 79 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 4: We've had All Star Games here. 80 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 5: So if it is a big event, literally it has 81 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 5: been to the city of Indianapolis, and I think we 82 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 5: do things pretty well because of how the city is well, 83 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 5: how the city comes together, the civic leaders come together, 84 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 5: and the sports you know, the Pacers and the Colts, 85 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 5: they come together. 86 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 4: But just the forethought of whoever in. 87 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 5: The city and then went like in the nineteen eighties, 88 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 5: before the Colts even came to town, whoever came up 89 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 5: with the idea, we're going to go all in on 90 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 5: sports and it's going to serve our city and our economy. Well, 91 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 5: I mean, tip of the cap to those politicians, because 92 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 5: it just continues to be one of the greatest sports 93 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 5: towns in America. 94 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: And I forget what the number is, but it's a 95 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 2: very high percentage of the league can actually drive here, 96 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 2: which was one of the reasons it was picked originally. Too. 97 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 5: I think it's a crossroads of America. 98 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: Like eighteen or twenty cities if you think about it, 99 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: that are six seven. 100 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 4: Hours or less, no question about it. 101 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: That super flat. It makes it easier get around. 102 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 5: It's kind of annoying though, because I think the Steelers 103 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 5: obviously are a great example of this, but I mean 104 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 5: the Colts when they play a home game, you do 105 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,679 Speaker 5: see a lot of representation from the Apostle. 106 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 2: I'm sure easy to get to. 107 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 5: The airport's easy to get to, and it's very navigable too, 108 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 5: and it's you know, held the Buffalo Bills. Two years 109 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 5: ago we played the Bills and I had a rare 110 00:04:58,160 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 5: night out with I mean, you can you guys can 111 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 5: underst in this. Had a rare night out with my wife, 112 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 5: had a babysitter with the kids. So we come downtown 113 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 5: the night before the Bills are in town. We can't 114 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 5: find a seat at any restaurant downtown. There's Bills fans 115 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 5: freaking everywhere. And they drove in, you know, seven and 116 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 5: a half eight hours because they could. It was just 117 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 5: a different environment to come watch their team. 118 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 3: Because once you're here, you park your car and you 119 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 3: don't have to drive. You can walk anywhere. Restaurants we 120 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 3: never it's it's it's incredible. 121 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 2: I would love you have to go outside half the 122 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 2: time to get to the restaurant. There's all these tunnels 123 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 2: and you know. 124 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 4: I would love to come stages. 125 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, and then there's seventeen different five star steakhouses on 126 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 3: every single corner. 127 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 2: Speaking of which, what kind of influence do you have 128 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: on the shrimp that comes around on the trays? And 129 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: when should we expect it? I got shut out last year, 130 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: and I'm still kind of bitter about it, right, the 131 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 2: kind that's usually a tomorrow tomorrow thing. 132 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 4: I think. 133 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, the CIB always has a little tricks up their sleeve. 134 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 2: Okay, the Colt's mascot would walk around, Yeah you had. 135 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: We were in the corner last year and I got 136 00:05:58,800 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: shut out. 137 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 5: The I you visit Indy, you have the Indiana Sports Corp. 138 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 4: That again, they all come together to make sure you guys. 139 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 5: Are at sample well taken care of, and you come 140 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 5: away with, you know, good perceptions about downtown. 141 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 3: You know, We love it and we sing the praises 142 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: every time we're here. It's our spiritual home for the 143 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 3: end of February is what we call it. Come my people, Matt. 144 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 3: Let's let's talk a little bit about the Colts. Obviously 145 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 3: great start last year and then things fell off, particularly 146 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 3: after the Daniel Jones injury. Do you think it is 147 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 3: a foregone conclusion that he will be a cult again 148 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 3: in twenty six Yeah. 149 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 5: You know, Chris Ballard and Shane Steikin spoke yesterday and 150 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 5: on Tuesday, and they all kind of talked in the 151 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 5: present tense as if Daniel Jones is gonna be we 152 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 5: want Daniel Jones to be our quarterback and the short 153 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 5: term and the long term after what he showed those 154 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 5: first ten games. And that's the thing I mean, for 155 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 5: anybody following the Colts, it was just such a tale 156 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,679 Speaker 5: of two different seasons last year. I mean, the first 157 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 5: ten weeks they're eight and two, leading the NFL in 158 00:06:58,960 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 5: points per game. 159 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 4: Right around on thirty. 160 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 2: Three, yeah, I remember they played the Steelers. The numbers 161 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: were insane, almost four hundred yards per game. And not 162 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 2: to get too like nerdy on you guys, but like 163 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 2: the points per possession. Oh great points per drive point. 164 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 5: You're not getting too nerdy on us. You're speaking language. 165 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: It's like ridiculous number, three thousand words on it. Yeah, 166 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: he puts. 167 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 5: Together a three thousand words stat pack for every I've 168 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 5: read that stuff. You better believe I had that dialed in. 169 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 5: Was that week nine or week ten? 170 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: Somewhere near what's so crazy? I was just in the 171 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: bathroom with Aaron Negler from the Packers. He's like, I 172 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: found your stat pack before the Packer week, and I 173 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: was like the smartest analyst in Green Bay. 174 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 5: For Williamson's you're definitely doing it right there. But I mean, yeah, 175 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 5: so you get the idea. The first ten weeks, now 176 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 5: they weren't playing great teams, but they were beating the 177 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 5: crap out of bad teams, and that's what you're supposed 178 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 5: to do with bad teams. They had a bunch of 179 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 5: wins by like twenty plus points, and then Daniel Jones 180 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 5: I think the first line of demarcation was that Steelers 181 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 5: game where Watt and high Smith kind of took things over, 182 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 5: got a bunch of sacks, a couple of strip sacks 183 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 5: and turnovers and takeaways that really turned that game. On 184 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 5: its head for the Colts. But then things really changed 185 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 5: in Berlin in Germany. The Colts won that game in 186 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 5: overtime against the Falcons, but we all think that's the 187 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 5: game where Jones came up with the fractured fibula, and 188 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 5: then he wasn't the same, the offense wasn't the same. 189 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 5: Things took on different dynamics. Players weren't utilized the same 190 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 5: way because of Jones' lack of mobility, so they lost 191 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 5: their last seven games. Jones tears his achilles in week fourteen. 192 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 5: The running game falls off a cliff. Jonathan Taylor went 193 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 5: from average in like six yards per carry in the 194 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 5: first ten to like three point three the last seven. 195 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 5: So he was like the forefront of offensive player of 196 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 5: the year conversation for the first half. 197 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 4: Of the season, no question about it. 198 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 5: And you know, Tyler Warren's numbers went down the last 199 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 5: seven games of the season. But then on top of that, 200 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 5: their schedule really heated up. Right, They lost their last 201 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 5: seven games, but they played to end the year. They 202 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 5: played six straight teams that won at least eleven games, 203 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 5: so the schedule heated up. Defensively, they experienced a lot 204 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 5: of injuries, so it was just bad timing. 205 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 4: Right. 206 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 5: They are the unfortunately the first team in the history 207 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 5: of the NFL to start a year eight and two 208 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 5: or better and finished the season with a losing record and. 209 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 4: Missed the playoffs. 210 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 5: So you talk about just a gut punch. 211 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 2: Or on trade that doesn't, you know, provide immediate dividends 212 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: because of his lack of availability. 213 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 5: So yeah, it's just I mean, the sense of urgency 214 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 5: going into last year, when they had missed the playoffs 215 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 5: four straight years, was high. Now, I don't know what 216 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 5: you call it now, right. 217 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: Hard to blame anyone now, it's just just. 218 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 5: Boiling over because you're talking about five straight years and 219 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 5: guys like Jonathan Taylor. I mean, he's got three seasons 220 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 5: of over at least fourteen hundred yards and he hasn't 221 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 5: made the playoffs in any of those years. So it's 222 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 5: just they're still trying to figure out quarterback. I think 223 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 5: that they will in terms of this contract with Daniel Jones. 224 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 5: But their nucleus of players has been together now for 225 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 5: quite some time, and the best definition of where they've 226 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 5: been as a franchise, I just call it purgatory, right, because. 227 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: They've kind of been about the most average team in 228 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: the way. Yeah, it's just since Luck left. 229 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 5: Their team is I think for the most part, built 230 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 5: together or put together pretty well. But you know, they 231 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 5: missed the playoffs five years in a row, but in 232 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 5: four of those five years they've won at least eight games. 233 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 5: It's like exactly where you don't want to be right 234 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 5: because they're they're too good to bought them out, but 235 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 5: because of lack of personnel and difference makers at a 236 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 5: couple of key spots, they just haven't been good enough 237 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 5: to break through. And what's another gut punch, if you will, 238 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 5: from last year is that they miss the playoffs in 239 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,479 Speaker 5: a year where the Chiefs don't make it, the Bagels 240 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 5: don't make it, the Ravens don't make it, and those 241 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 5: teams have quarterback stability and franchise stability, and I don't 242 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 5: think they're going anywhere. 243 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: So one time when they did have the high pick 244 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 2: was the Anthony Richardson selection. And assuming Jones is back, 245 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 2: do we think Richardson's a foregone conclusion to be elsewhere 246 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 2: at some point? And I know he hasn't been great, 247 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 2: but boy's been hard a hard time stay on the field. 248 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 2: He has had a lot of luck. He didn't have 249 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: any you know, I didn't have a lot of starts 250 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: in college. Could you foresee a year or two from 251 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 2: now that the Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold early 252 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: pick he resurrects his career with the forty nine ers 253 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 2: or something. 254 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 5: You know, Yeah, my gut says, because they talk about 255 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 5: you know, just as I said, you know, they they're 256 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 5: speaking when they talk about Daniel Jones and Alec Pearce 257 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 5: in the present tents, they're also talking about Anthony richardson 258 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 5: the present tints too. So I still think he's going 259 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 5: to be on this team next year. I still think 260 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 5: he's got a spot and a place. Now he's got 261 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 5: to continue to first rehab and come off of this 262 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 5: weird eye injury that he suffered pregame before a Week 263 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 5: six game against the Cardinals at home. Just the yeah, well, 264 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 5: it was the apparatus that the workout band was on, 265 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,599 Speaker 5: like a hard object, a hard structure, metal objects. 266 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: Hit him in the eye and just hit him in 267 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: the eye. 268 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 5: I think when the dust settled on the whole ordeal, 269 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 5: he was lucky to have an eye right based on 270 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 5: where it hit him and how hard it hit him 271 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 5: and things like that. So first, get totally clear of that, 272 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 5: which I think he's on the right path for that. 273 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 5: And then secondly, just my view is you drafted him 274 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 5: top five for a reason. Right he's oozing with potential, 275 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 5: and he's still under contract. He's got one more year, 276 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 5: and then you've got a decision to make on him 277 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 5: May first for that fifth year option. So my thought is, 278 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 5: as long as he's on your team, pour in every 279 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 5: resource you have into him to see how good he 280 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 5: can be and what he can do, because I think 281 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 5: the worst case scenario for the Colts when it comes 282 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 5: to where they're at right now with Jones and Richardson 283 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 5: and the hierarchy of their quarterback depth chart is not 284 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 5: that he It's not that he wouldn't work out. 285 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 4: For the Colts. 286 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 5: He's just you don't want to see him work out 287 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 5: somewhere absolutely. So my thing is keep him on your team, 288 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 5: pour in every resource you have into him, help him 289 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 5: as best you can, and then when you have to 290 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 5: make a hard decision on him after his contract is up, 291 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 5: either this year or after the twenty twenty seven season, 292 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 5: then make a decision on where you're at and how 293 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 5: much you want to continue to invest further into Richardson. 294 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 2: I go one more for you, and this is very 295 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 2: Steeler related. What would take for the Steelers get Michael Pivin. 296 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 3: I was gonna say, you got some wide receivers that 297 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 3: we think we look good in the black and gold. 298 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, but Pierce gets franchised, does Pittman go or is 299 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 2: it a seventh round pick or is it a mid 300 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 2: round pick? Or does he get cut or the same thing. 301 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 4: They can to talk about Michael Pittman Junior and the 302 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 4: present tense. 303 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 5: They like who he is and what his value is. 304 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 5: And you know, a couple of years ago when he 305 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 5: got his contract, he was paid in the ballpark of 306 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 5: a number one wide receiver. You know my analyst, Rick 307 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 5: Venturrey on radio, you know, former former ball coach and 308 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 5: has been around the game for forty plus years. He 309 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 5: likes to call Michael Pittman Junior a tight end and 310 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 5: a wide receiver's body. Right, he's kind of middle of 311 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 5: the field between the numbers. Guys, really physical, really kind 312 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 5: of bought into the culture of the Colts identity on offense, 313 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 5: really bought into the running game. Willing blocker, really physical guy, 314 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 5: likes to talk some junk on the outside, but he's 315 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 5: not a huge like he's not a burner, he's not 316 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 5: a huge yards per catch guy. He's going to catch 317 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 5: those twelve to fifteen yard passes that you know, keep 318 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 5: the Colts on schedule and get first downs. But it's 319 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 5: mainly middle of the field. So my thing again, like 320 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 5: if you get rid of Michael Pittman and you say 321 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 5: Alec Pierce is our true number one, and we're gonna 322 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 5: invest you know, twenty five plus million dollars into him 323 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 5: and pay Daniel Jones between thirty five and forty million, Like, 324 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 5: you still have guys on the roster, but somebody's got 325 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 5: to be number two, right, Like if you're gonna get 326 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 5: rid of Pittman, or who you gonna get, right, you 327 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 5: know what I mean? Like it's it's like we're all 328 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 5: so conditioned to just like pun on guys, But how 329 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 5: are you gonna fill their spot in the roster? How 330 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 5: are you gonna get their best? You don't have a 331 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 5: first round pick hundred percent. So I think Michael Pittman 332 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 5: Junior has a lot of value, maybe more so value 333 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 5: to the Colts. He does other teams, and I think 334 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 5: the Colts really recognize that. Plus he's just he's a 335 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 5: great team guy. He's really kind of put down a 336 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 5: lot of roots in Indianapolis, likes being here. So I again, 337 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 5: my my gut feeling is that Pittman is gonna be 338 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 5: on this roster next season. 339 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: Last one for you. No first round pick from the 340 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 3: Sauce trade. What's the what's the draft approach? What are 341 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 3: the needs that you still got to come away with? 342 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 5: Well, big picture offseason need for the Colts, they got 343 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 5: to address their pass rush last season in the off 344 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 5: season was it's all about Hey, our pass defense last 345 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 5: year and you know, speaking of twenty twenty four really 346 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 5: fell off a cliff. So they addressed that big time 347 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 5: in the off season, cam buying them, Charvariusward. You know, 348 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 5: they had a bunch of guys get hurt. So here 349 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 5: comes like justin Wally in the third round out of Minnesota. 350 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 4: They didn't stop there. 351 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 5: As you said earlier, it comes to the same right now. 352 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 5: Wally was really playing well in training camp and I 353 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 5: thought it was gonna, you know, find a home within 354 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 5: that defense somewhere. But now they got to address the 355 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 5: pass rush. They got three defensive ends who are free agents, 356 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 5: Taekwon Lewis, Samson, Ebacom and Quitty Pay. Unfortunately, those three 357 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 5: guys last year combined for just nine sacks and not 358 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 5: a whole lot of disruption. So it's really never a 359 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 5: good thing. As you guys know, when your best pass 360 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 5: rusher is a defensive tackle, and that's the forest us, 361 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 5: it's Aaron Donald, right, Yeah, something crazy like that. And 362 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 5: last year, unfortunately for Buckner, he missed nine games with 363 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 5: a neck injury, and he's gonna have to you know, 364 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 5: rehab most of of the offseason with that and ideally 365 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 5: you get him back sometime in training camp. So we'll 366 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 5: see as far as that goes. But yeah, I mean, 367 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 5: without a first round pick, I think the only viable 368 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 5: option for the Colts is to kind of go heavy 369 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 5: in that regard in free agency and bring in a 370 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 5: veteran pass rusher. But it's gonna be tricky because you 371 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 5: got to make the money work because if you signed 372 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 5: Jones and Pierce, not a whole lot of pizza left 373 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 5: in that pot, you know what I'm saying, no doubt, 374 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 5: So that's gonna be interesting. I think big picture, they're 375 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 5: gonna have to go a blend of free agency and 376 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 5: the draft to get more consistency inside that lou Anrumo 377 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 5: defense in year number two. 378 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 3: Great stuff with the mayor of Radio Row and the 379 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 3: voice of the Indianapolis Colts, Matt Taylor. 380 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 4: Matt Baker Whosier. 381 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 3: That's exactly right. Yeah, yeah, I told him I might 382 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 3: be going to the Perdue basketball games. Maroney rolled his 383 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 3: eyes at me and wasn't wasn't too thrill. 384 00:17:55,040 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 5: But don't worry the Michigan State guys, I'll be operaly 385 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 5: in doctrinated. 386 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: Start. 387 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 5: If you just wear your Steelers colors, they're gonna blend 388 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 5: right in, so you're gonna have to go out. That's true. 389 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 5: I didn't even think about it. See, that's why. 390 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 3: That's why I like talking to me, Matt, you know, 391 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 3: keeping me on the straight and narrow. Thanks for the time, dude, 392 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 3: and thanks for having us as always a pleasure. 393 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 4: Guys. 394 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 3: We love this voice of the Colts Matt Taylor kind 395 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 3: enough to lend us some time here when we come 396 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 3: back on the other other side appointment viewing prospects. When 397 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 3: when we get the field action going tomorrow, we'll rattle 398 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 3: off some of those names here in our number three 399 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 3: West ruler Matt Williamson. It's the Drive Steelers Nation Radio 400 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 3: on the Steelers Audio Network.