1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: on you home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lilly here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: It is a rainy Monday here in Pittsburgh and the 5 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: Steelers are finally on their bye week. And Matt, I 6 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: don't know if the bye week could come to uh 7 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: in a much better point than this. Uh. The Steelers 8 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: stumbling too. The buy at two and six after a 9 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and um, well, 10 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: the the loss continues, the Steelers woes in Philadelphia, where 11 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: they have not one since. Um not surprising the outcome, obviously, 12 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: I'm a little surprised at the at the score, but 13 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: it wasn't too far off from from you know what. 14 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: Really both of us were saying, Yeah, I mean, happy 15 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,199 Speaker 1: Halloween to all. Eat a couple of extra milky ways, 16 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: you'll feel better. It'll be okay, don't worry. I mean 17 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: the tough stretches over the seasons in trouble and I 18 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 1: can understand the disappointment, but playing that team, they were 19 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: even more impressive in person in a way, you know 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: than scouting. Coming off the at home Hurd's played phenomenal, 21 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, they're an excellent football team. I 22 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: feel pretty strongly that two of their last four opponents 23 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: are probably going to meet in the super Bowl. And 24 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to candy coade things. And Steelers aren't 25 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: a good football team right now, but they're not on 26 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: that level. They're on that level. No, I mean, but 27 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: if you took the Bills and Eagles game out of 28 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: the equation, it would be a slightly disappointing season. It 29 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: wouldn't be a disaster, you know, I mean, and those 30 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: two teams are phenomenal. Well. Again, I think if you know, 31 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: to your point, um, if they had one one of 32 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: those other games, if they've beaten the Jets, or they've 33 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: beaten the Patriots, or beating both of those teams which 34 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: were both winnable games, and they've beaten the Browns, which 35 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: is a winnable game, if they're sitting here at three 36 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: and five or four and four at this point something 37 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 1: along those lines, you have a much better different. Yeah, 38 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: you don't like getting blown out in those games against 39 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: those two teams, but uh, it has a different feel 40 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: to it. To your point, Matt, I just looked here 41 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: in football outsiders after playing that game, the Steelers have 42 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: played the hardest schedule in the league. Makes perfect sense. 43 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it totally adds up. They played two of 44 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: the top three teams, and I think the two top 45 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: teams the schedule the rest of the way. I mean, 46 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: that's an extreme, extreme difference, and it might even get easier. 47 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: I mean there's a couple of teams on the schedule 48 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: coming up, like New Orleans that had a high point 49 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: yesterday or Atlanta right right, right exactly, that might not 50 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: be all that form teams that are being I mean, 51 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: the Tennessee Titans have won five games in a row, 52 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: right they beat you know, it's it's Houston, It's it's 53 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: Indianapolis twice. I mean they're not a good football team. 54 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: They're starting to leak Willis and they've been Houston eight times. 55 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: Yesterday and Henry run two and again it's like a 56 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,119 Speaker 1: high school game. So yeah, I mean, I think that's 57 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 1: the company the Steelers are in. UM. I think these 58 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: next couple of games will be telling. I think the 59 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: bye week comes at a good time. There was not 60 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: a lot of good that came out of yesterday. I 61 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: mean there just wasn't I mean, who had impressive performances. 62 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: Not a lot, you know, And yeah, I mean there's 63 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: a couple of names I can come up with it, 64 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: Like Claypole did some good things that I mean, I 65 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: thought some guys individually on offense and defense did some 66 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: good things. But there was just some great quarterback yeah, 67 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: the quarterback um. But there were just some things that 68 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: you know, again need to be cleaned up. The pre 69 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: snap penalties, the self inflicted wound. I mean, this team 70 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: can't overcome that. I mean, they're not gonna overcome that 71 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: against the Browns or the Raiders, let alone the Eagles. 72 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: You know, I mean the in the the bunches them 73 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: and all the first half ones and you know, taking 74 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: the ball out of bounds and I mean little things 75 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: like that. I mean just they just don't have that 76 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: one kind of room for error without an explosive offense. Yeah, 77 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: and that that explosiveness once again, I think last week, uh, 78 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: in the game against the Dolphins, they had three drives 79 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: of I think twelve or more plays in this game. 80 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: Third team play eighty four or eighty four yard drive, 81 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: it leads to a touchdown. Okay, Uh, twelve play fifty 82 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: five yard drive field goal, but there was a ten 83 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: yard penalty there that made it a little bit longer 84 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: than than it had to be. A fift team play 85 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: seventy four yard drive ends in a field goal. The 86 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: red zone issues, They're not below fifty on the season 87 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: in the red zone, and I'd have to look back 88 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: and see what the numbers are with pickt but I 89 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 1: know they're not good. They're not getting they're not getting 90 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: the ball in the end zone. Uh, in those situations. 91 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: Part of that is because they they're not traditionally running 92 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: running the ball in a traditional fashion. That's true. I 93 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: mean even when they scored was a it was a 94 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: goofy play. Yeah you know, I mean that's not bread 95 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: and butter stuff. Um, there's that. Uh. And for whatever reason, 96 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: when they get in the red zone, Pickets hasn't been 97 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: on the same page with the receivers when they get 98 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: down close. And I don't know that he's comfortable making 99 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: those tight window throws down close just yet. And they're 100 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: getting no explosive player. They're the only team in the 101 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: league that doesn't have a touchdown from outside of right 102 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: and it says a lot. And now teams realize I mean, 103 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the season a big problem to me, 104 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: and this was more of the Trabsky era, But either way, 105 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: defense was on the field way too much. Bottom league 106 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: in time of possession. You know, all these long drives. 107 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: Cam Hayward's gonna wear out. You know, they already have 108 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: some injuries. Can't play defense for that many snaps. Well 109 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: they fixed that, but and they're getting back the league 110 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: average in terms of the time of possession after being 111 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: at the bottom league. But part of it's the other 112 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: way is the other teams saying, well, we know you're 113 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: not gonna chunk run us, you know, I mean, we're 114 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: able to stop the run without selling out to do so. 115 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: And a quarterback who started a few career games on 116 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: a very young offense, Yeah, you might have a ten 117 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: play drive at twelve play drive, but you're not wearing 118 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: us out and beating us into submission. And there's a 119 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: great chance you're gonna have a holding call or a 120 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: misread or you know, I mean, there's so many things 121 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: that can derail it. And it's just such a fine line, 122 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: it really is. And so that I think that the 123 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: Steelers are then they get in the red zone and 124 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: they implode because well, they're not good at it yet. Yeah. 125 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: I just think that it's it's it's the offense is 126 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: working too hard. It's making things more difficult than they 127 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: need to be. There's zero layups. Zero um you know, 128 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: either facet. You can blame the quarterback, you can blame 129 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: the offensive coordinator, you can blame the playmakers, you can 130 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: blame whatever in the running back, blame everyone. It's all 131 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: of the above. It's not if it was just one 132 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: guy or just one thing, you'd say, okay to fix that. 133 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: You'd love to have. Boy, everything's great except our left guard. 134 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: Stay okay, well we'll go final, yeah, or you know, 135 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: any of the above. But I don't think they have 136 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: bad players. I don't think so either. And it's not 137 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: working right now. But they don't have bad players. I 138 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: just see an offense again. There's three best offensive performances 139 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: in terms of yardage have come with Kenny Pickett at quarterback. 140 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: He completes more balls, he moves, he plays with tempo. 141 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: You know, he offers something with his legs. But the 142 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: red zone stuff, the red zone stuffs, like it's almost 143 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: like you you know, you almost was, Okay, Kenny, you're 144 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: the quarterback between the between the twenties and then bring 145 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: Robisky in and I get it. But that's how he's 146 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: gonna learn. I mean, very few rookie quarterbacks are good 147 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: in the red zone and the two areas I keep 148 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: bringing this up today is the red zone and between 149 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: ten and twenty yards. You know, the passing between ten 150 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: and twenty yards. If you look over the last thirty years, 151 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: who are the best passers between ten and twenty yards? 152 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: It's the Hall of famers. Yeah, I mean that's the 153 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: hardest area. Uh, that's where most of the defensive players 154 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: are at. Yeah, and you have to have anticipation. May 155 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: sometimes you gotta lob it over us linebacker. They're not 156 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: just go balls, they're not just screens. I mean, that's 157 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: the hard area of the field to really be a 158 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: successful quarterback. And that's what we need to watch with Kenny. 159 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: I mean, is he getting better in that area of 160 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: the field. Tend to twenty yards on the field in 161 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: the red zone right now? He's bad in both? Yeah, 162 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: predictably right, it's not. This is why at the beginning 163 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: of the season, Mike Tomlin went with Mr Robinsky as 164 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: his quarterback because he wanted picket to have the time 165 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: to learn how to do these things and not have 166 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: to do it on the job. Can I fit that 167 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: in there or not? I don't know, you know, I 168 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: just just don't know the problem. The problem was they 169 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: weren't getting any offensive output out of Drabinsky or so 170 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: you make the change with dwindling away, right, and now 171 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: that you've made the change, you're not going back. No, 172 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: And I don't think the change was a bad move. 173 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: And you knew they were gonna be growing pains. If 174 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: you didn't, you're crazy. And the kid doesn't walk on water. 175 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: Just because he went to pit and was great in 176 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: the a sec it's going to be difficult and it 177 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: is difficult. But he does move the football. Um, I 178 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: thought he valued the football. I mean when turnovers have 179 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: been the big key. I mean he had two turnovers yesterday, 180 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: but they were late in the game and comeback mode. 181 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: And you know, I don't think he's willy nilly with 182 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: the football. No, I don't. I don't see that either. 183 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: And I think the the narrative that just because he 184 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: has the interceptions, the narrative that well he's he's he 185 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: throws too many interceptions. I think that's completely false, and 186 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: he's had some bad luck with those things. The numbers 187 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: are worse than the tape. And again when the game 188 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: was still in striking distance, I thought he valued the football. 189 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 1: They were valuing the football. That the interception and the fumble, 190 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: which I don't necessarily blame him for. Uh. And then 191 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 1: the interception came on the final their final possession. So 192 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: I mean, but the bottom line is their their first 193 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: uh in the first and loses game because in the 194 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: first but in the first half it was punt, touchdown, punt, 195 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: punt field goal, end of half, right, but the end 196 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: of score one touchdown. Again, the problem was when they 197 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: weren't scoring in the first half, they were going three 198 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: and out. Yes, yeah, exactly. Yeah, You've got to at 199 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 1: least move the football, change the field position a little bit, 200 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: and you know, defensive defense remains, you know, always having 201 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: to start with bad field position. Um, there's a very 202 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: little complimentary football again, penalties and pre snap stuff and 203 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: self inflicted wounds. Brutal, I mean just brutal in the 204 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: first half in particular, and then the game to kind 205 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 1: out of hand. Yeah. So but that's where they are. 206 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: And six again, I look at the back end of 207 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: that schedule again, twenty toughest schedule. Moving forward, let's see 208 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: who has played the twentieth schedule in the first part 209 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: of the season. Uh So, the Eagles have played the 210 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: twenty seventh hardest schedule to this point. It makes perfect 211 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: sends they have not have been challenging. Seattle, which is 212 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: in first place in the NFC West, has played the 213 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: twenty six toughest schedule. They're not a good football team. 214 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: San Francisco has played hardest schedule. Uh Denver has played 215 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: hardest schedule, which is on the reason they have a 216 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: couple of wins, right, I mean, their offense is putrid. 217 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: New England has played the twenty second hardest schedule their 218 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: schedule moving forward, now it turns into the fifth hardest schedule. 219 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 1: It's the exact opposite. And Mac Jones is playing every 220 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: bit as bad as Pikett. So is Zack Wilson. You know, 221 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: I mean a lot of these young guys are all struggling. 222 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: Jacksonville has played the thirtieth toughest schedule to this point, 223 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: which doesn't bode well for them. The most difficult schedule 224 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: to this point in the season has been that of 225 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: the six and one Minnesota Vikings that a completely They 226 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: got beat up pretty bad by the Eagles as well. Correct, 227 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: they've they've won some close ones. They probably are more 228 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: like a four and three team that is six and 229 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: one at the time. I don't think anybody looks at 230 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: them and thinks they're a powerhouse. But they're playing pretty well, 231 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: you know, you know, we'll see And to our point 232 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: about the point I said earlier about the Tennessee Titans, 233 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: they've played the thirty second easiest schedule to this point. 234 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: The schedule the rest of the way is number one. Interesting. Well, 235 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: they've they've played both games against the Colts. I believe 236 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: they played detections twice. I mean, so, yeah, it's gonna 237 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: get more difficult for stock right. They still may win 238 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: that bad division, but still they do not look like 239 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: a division winning team on paper or watching them the 240 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: uh you know, the team that had the second toughest 241 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: schedule to this point would be the Lions. Their schedules 242 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: twenty three moving forward, the Rams have played the fourth 243 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: hardest schedule. That have done good stuff. You know, they 244 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: don't have a lot of talent, but they end up 245 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: in the short end of the sticks. But that's where 246 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: the Steelers are at right now. Baltimore has actually played 247 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: the third toughest schedule thus far, there's just thirty moving forward. 248 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: Part of that they played the Steelers twice, but I 249 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: looked at it after getting that win on Thursday Night football. 250 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: They are set up extremely well. And then they just 251 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: made a trade for Roquan Smith. Yeah, they're really weak 252 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,319 Speaker 1: a linebacker too. Yeah, they're they're they're in a good spot. Cincinnati, 253 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: how about the Cincinnati's played the sixth most difficult schedule. 254 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: There's his fourth toughest moving forward. Nothing's easy. Ever, nothing's 255 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: gonna be easy for them. Where's Cleveland? And Cleveland has 256 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: played the fifteen hardest schedule to this point, there's his 257 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: tenth hardest moving forward, getting harder. Yeah, that's what we did. 258 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: That's what we talked talked about with them. But so 259 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: it does lighten up considerably. And I think you know, 260 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: if if you look at the only reason the Steeler 261 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: schedule is so difficult moving forward, because they've got two 262 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: against Baltimore and one against Cincinnati division opponents. To me 263 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 1: that difficulty, yeah, you've you've got such a such a 264 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,599 Speaker 1: familiarity with with those teams in their in their personnel, 265 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: like they've never played Jalen Hurts before. You don't know 266 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: what he can do out there, No right, And it's like, 267 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: I mean, I think Lamar is undefeated against the NFC's 268 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: that they don't play much. It's different, I'm sure as 269 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: people saying, I don't care what the rest of the 270 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: schedule is a season shot. This team stinks, I get it. 271 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm sure you're disheartened, especially after getting whipped 272 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: by Please remember an excellent, excellent football team. And I'm 273 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: not saying don't worry. They'll make the playoffs and they're 274 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: gonna go on a run and we're gonna get another 275 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: Lombardi here. But there's there's stuff to build on, you know, 276 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: And I think the by comes at a perfect time. 277 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: You saw this difficult stretch, and I still I'm going 278 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: to stand on. I think the second half the season 279 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: will be much different than the thing. Again, if if 280 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: they had one, just you know, one or two of 281 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: those games, they're being a much better position. You know. 282 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: If they let's say they go six and three in 283 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: the second half, well I get you to eight and nine. 284 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: People are gonna look at the world season was was 285 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: a wash if those games have been if the schedule 286 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: had been spread out a little bit differently, the winds 287 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: were spread out a little different. Yeah. I just think 288 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: it changes the perception of everything. Like the Titans right 289 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: now or what five and two or whatever they are? Yeah, 290 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: five and two one five in a row. Uh. We 291 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: just mentioned that schedule now becomes the most difficult schedule. 292 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: So if the Titans finished with six or seven wins 293 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: or seven or eight wins, right, they finished with the 294 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: same eight wins with the Steelers. At are people gonna 295 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: talk about the five and two starters. They're gonna talk 296 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: about the way they finished the season. I mean, right 297 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: now Titans are probably eight in the power ranks Steelers, 298 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: But when it's all setting down, they both be might 299 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: be win teams, right, I mean that's just the reality. 300 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: And I've seen this before. Um, you know, they started 301 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: two and six, they finished eight and eight. I saw it. 302 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: You know. The other one that came to mind for 303 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: me was the two thousand season when they started poorly 304 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: coming off of back to back losing years and then 305 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: rally to get to nine and seven and just missed 306 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: the playoffs. And then the next year they go thirteen 307 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: and three. It was a building block for the next 308 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: season because you had so many. It was it was 309 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: a year of transition from some of the you know, 310 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: the the older guard that had helped them get the 311 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: Super bowls or the Super Bowl in in in uh 312 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: go to an ANFC championship in and then you know, 313 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: you start losing some of those guys, and the Joey 314 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: Porters and the Aaron Smith's and some of those guys 315 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: start to start to become something. Then you add Casey 316 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: Hampton and Ken drill Bell to the equation in two 317 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: thousand one, and all of a sudden, Wow, this is 318 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: this defense. Great is great again. I'm not trying to 319 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: sell people false hope. I mean, but I do think 320 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: this whole season is is rightfully about big picture thinking, 321 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: and I think your big picture thoughts will change in 322 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: a positive way going forward, especially when you think about, well, 323 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: they have the resources to add to Hampton, I mean, 324 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: the equivalent, you know, real difference makers. And the other 325 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: thing that they have that they didn't have then is 326 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: cap space, well exactly, you know, capp phase and draft picks. 327 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: You know, yeah, but I mean you did you know 328 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: they did make some you know, that you out and 329 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: you sign at Jeff Hardings. Yeah, you go out and 330 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: you know, the next year you go out of James 331 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 1: Ferrier and those guys become fundam you know, foundational players. 332 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: And I'm sure they'll add a couple in that vein 333 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: what positions, will figure all that stuff out and who 334 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: those names are. But the key is getting Picket. You know, 335 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: he acclimated to playing in the NFL. He needs to 336 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: be better in the red zone in a month from 337 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: now than he is now, you know. Okay, Yeah, I 338 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: get that. I mean, and he should be. I don't 339 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: think he will. It won't be. Um. He's having a 340 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: tough go of it. I mean you're asking him to 341 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: sustain long drives with very little running game. I mean 342 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: that makes it awful hard on any rookie. And yeah, 343 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: well here's the other part of this bat. I'm again 344 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: I'm still sticking here with Football Outsiders. So defensive d 345 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: v o A. The Eagles are number two, that doesn't uh, 346 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: Buffalo number four and they've all hovered around one all year. Yeah, 347 00:17:55,359 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: Cincinnati is number five, okay, Uh, Tampa Bay number six. 348 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 1: New England's number seven. The Jets are number nine. Jets 349 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: have a good d. People don't want to ever really 350 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: like this is who they've played against. You know, you 351 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: get into the second half of this season, Atlanta is 352 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: thirty one, Las Vegas, Cleveland. Who else they play? Here 353 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: to play number fifteen right now? Yeah? I mean they 354 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: played Miami. They didn't move the ball against Miami. Miami. Um, 355 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: you know you've got you've got some teams in there 356 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: that on the schedule. You know that Carolina is eighteen. 357 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: I remember exactly the numbers where you put them all. 358 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 1: But there's basically six of the top eight or so 359 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: they've played against, yes, or five or six you mean, 360 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: but basically they've played a murders row of defenses, right 361 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: And so is that is it a chicken or the 362 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: egg thing for the Steelers offensively right now? Are they 363 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: not scoring because they've played those great defenses? Are very 364 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: good defenses? Or there are are those very good defenses 365 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: building their numbers a little bit on playing the Steelers 366 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: and both is always true in these scenarios. Do I 367 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: think right now offensively they're they're in a great place. No, No, 368 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: But I do think who they've played has played a 369 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: factor in that and where they've played the Bills and 370 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: Eagles are in a great place defensively. Yeah, I mean, 371 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: it just happened to play the Eagles and the Bills 372 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: at their place, at their building. I mean you're walking 373 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: into a buzz saw. And I really think in the 374 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: league would have shown put the same way against those team. 375 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers just got embarrassed there last night. Yeah, I mean, 376 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: it's just those two teams are exceptionally I think they're 377 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: going to play that Titans team that we talked about 378 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: went to went went to Buffalo and week two and 379 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: got destroyed. They get destroyed and phil worse than the 380 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: Steelers did. It would have been just as bad if 381 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: Tennessee went into Philly yesterday in the same situation the 382 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: Eagles coming off of bye Malik Willis as your quarterback, 383 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: they have been worse worse, right, I mean, they wouldn't 384 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: have moved to football. So not excusing it away. They're 385 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 1: not in a good place. We're not making excuses. We're 386 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: just trying to tell you some facts, you know. Yeah, 387 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: I mean that's just the reality of the situation. Uh. 388 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: You know, I also got I did. If I don't 389 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: see progress in a second half, I'm gonna be right then, 390 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: now you are now there. Now there's a reason to 391 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: be more critical. I did it a hit earlier today 392 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: with Stan Severn, and he asked me about some of 393 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: the comments coming out of the locker room yesterday, you know, 394 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: guys talking about being more prepared and and things of 395 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: that nature. I'm like, that's what you hear out of 396 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: a losing locker room like that. When a team struggling 397 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: like this, you're always looking for the answer, Well, what 398 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: could it be? Why? I know I'm doing my job here, 399 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: but maybe I need to do more. And so you 400 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: say things like we need to study more as a team, 401 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: we need to do this, we needed that. That's just 402 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 1: what you hear. That's not always the answer, Like, no, 403 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: everyone's slacking and I mean nobody. No players are gonna 404 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: say well we don't have the players, we're not talented enough. 405 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 1: I mean, I've been around football teams, You've been around 406 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: so many locker rooms like that. I mean, the easy 407 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: answer is we'll just work harder, you know, you know, 408 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: and that doesn't that doesn't mean if you haven't been 409 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: working hard. I mean because again the athletic arrogance takes 410 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 1: over and you're like, well we can't. You know, I 411 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: see these guys around me. We have the talent. I 412 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: know this pickings guys, pretty athletic and pretty good player, 413 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: you know exactly. I do give Kenny credit though. I 414 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: liked what he said at the podium. I mean, they're 415 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: looking for offensive leaders, the offensive you know, guys to 416 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: count on. Did he played great? Of course not, But 417 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: I like that he came to the podium and took 418 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 1: responsibility but also called out his teammates. I mean a 419 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: lot of we have to do this stuff, you know. 420 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: I thought that was good. I thought that was good too. Um. 421 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 1: You know, that's the biggest difference, UM, to me between um, 422 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: the situation he's stepping into, in the situation Ben Roethlisberger 423 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: stepped into in two thousand four, Night and Day. Roethlisberger 424 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: was stepping into an established offense that had the Allen 425 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: Fanicas and the Marvel Smith's and you know, guys of 426 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: that nature. Jerome Bettis and seeing his prime and the 427 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: Castro like things would be a little different. Yeah, he's 428 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: expected to be the guy, and I know they're kind 429 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 1: of nausey to be a leader. But he's a second year, 430 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: you go, and he's a second year. Guy. It's just 431 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: hard last you know, right, So they are looking for 432 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: for leaders. Yeah. You can check out the Steelers Weekend Review. 433 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: It's hosted by Wesley Jeweler. It's a recap of the 434 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: previous game as well as a look at the Steelers 435 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: next opponent. New episodes drop every Tuesday. They're available on 436 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: the Steeler's mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, and 437 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast. I am Dale, Lolly he 438 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: is Matt Williamson. We'll be back with more on the 439 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: Drive right after this