1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: He's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome back. 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: I'm Dale Allly. He is Matt Williamson and this is 4 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and Matt Um. We're 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: down to the final four teams in the in the 6 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: NFL playoffs, and the questions being asked by a lot 7 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: of people, well, how far are the Steelers away from 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: being back in this position? Um? People might forget that. 9 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: You know, the Steelers were in the a f C Championship, 10 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: so it's not like it's been forever ago, all right, 11 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: but it's been a while, right. So we referenced Stevio 12 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: a lot, and I don't know if you've kept up 13 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: with it during the playoffs, but they updated still every 14 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: week and keep the teams that are out in the 15 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: limit needed in there as well. Right now, Steelers are 16 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: in d v O A the whole league, and I 17 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: think they were sixth on defense and eleventh on offense. 18 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: If I'm a number off, it's slightly off, like that's 19 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: not that's striking distance, folks. And I know the Steelers 20 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: don't make the playoffs, but they were the the last elimination. 21 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: I mean, they were one spot away. And I'm not 22 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: implying the Steelers are going to be a Final four 23 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: team next year or have a roster that's similar to 24 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: where the Eagles are at. But one year ago, slightly 25 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: more than one year ago wild Card round, the Eagles 26 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 1: looked like a young quarterback. They got trounced and they 27 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: got killed by Tampa, you know what I mean. And 28 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: now they're this powerhouse one year later with a quarterback 29 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: that took a big step forward in a year two 30 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: different style quarterback. But these stories aren't that far fetched, 31 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. That's strong organization, good coaching staff, 32 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: good front off, this good ownership, young quarterback, one big 33 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: off season, and the Steelers are gonna trade for a J. Brown. 34 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: But they're gonna pick somebody in the first round, and 35 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,119 Speaker 1: they're gonna actually kind of to somebody's in the first 36 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: round because that's that's the other pick is the thirty 37 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: second pick in the draft. So you're gonna get an 38 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: opportunity to get at least two blue chip guys right right, 39 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: and you'll add something in free agency that you don't 40 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: have already. If Pickett takes a step forward, and I'm 41 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: on applying he's gonna be running up for m v 42 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: P like Jalen Hurts. That to me is the big 43 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: is the big thing. Like people are acting like Kenny 44 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: Pickett's not going to get any better from year one 45 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: to year two, just like, oh, seven touchdown passes and 46 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: nine interceptions. Didn't ask him to do a whole lot. 47 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: I don't think that will be the number next year. 48 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: But when they did ask him to do stuff, he 49 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: did it. He did it. That's the key part of that. 50 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,839 Speaker 1: So when they needed him to go out and put 51 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: together a drive, a game winning drive, he showed he 52 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: was k people of doing that. Yes, you know, to 53 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: me means a lot. So now you know. I sat 54 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: down with him last week on on Steelers dot Com. 55 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: We talked about that and he talked about his I 56 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: asked him what he wanted to improve on heading into 57 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: year two, and he said, I want to take better 58 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: ownership or more ownership of the offense and have a 59 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: complete understanding of the offense. UM. I think that helps 60 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: him then take the next step. People said, well, they 61 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: need to push the ball down the field. That's where 62 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: that comes from. Standing of the offense. UM. I bet 63 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: there's some listeners going, what do you mean, why didn't 64 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: you understand the offense? Because no rookie does. No, no 65 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: rookie understands the league, the defenses, even the protections, the 66 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: coverages not as well as they will, you know. And 67 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: he knows he has, he knows, he doesn't know. That's good. 68 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: So I found a football focus. We can reference it 69 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: when we want good things that we can laugh at, 70 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: and we liked bad things. And I don't think this 71 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: exactly adds up, but this is what they said about 72 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: pick It because they did their breakout players on every team, 73 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: and they picked pick It as a Steelers breakout guy 74 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: this year, which is a logical selection. But from week 75 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: twelve to week eighteen, pick It's eighty eight point nine 76 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: passing grade. And we can fight about their passing grades, 77 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: but there But from that stretch that's seven games, ranked 78 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: second among the thirty quarterbacks that attempted at least a 79 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: hundred passes. Second, I mean that's Borrow Mahomes neighborhood. He 80 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: also ranked second over that stretch and big time throw 81 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: rate and first in turn it over worthy play rate. 82 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: That's what I was gonna say, Matt. He didn't I 83 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: can't think of very many passes over that stretch that 84 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: he threw. You like, oh he got away with one there. No, 85 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: I mean their turnover worthy play rates one of my 86 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: favorites of their stats because I'm not going to do 87 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: the work, and it is subjective. Maybe someone had a 88 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: bad day and like I, a should have been picked off. 89 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 1: But either way, it's more indicative to me what a 90 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: quarterback does than interception numbers. Or you know, you're throwing 91 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: Haill Mary's at the end of the games and you're 92 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: getting things picked off or balls get tipped or it 93 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: goes off the receiver's hands or whatever. So those that's 94 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: their big thing is high number of big time throw rate, 95 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: low number of turnover worthy plays as opposed to touchdowns. 96 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: Interception ratio is TV interception ratio stinks, but is big 97 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: time throw rate first, turnover worthy play rate. It's phenomenal, right, 98 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: And that to me. I mean, he consistently over the 99 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: second half of the season moved the football. They didn't 100 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: have a lot of three and ounce um. They were 101 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: consistently churning out yards um. Now that didn't always turn 102 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: into touchdowns, and in many cases they were churning the yards. 103 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: They were putting together ten play drives, you know, twelve 104 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: play drives, things of that nature. So when you add 105 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: in some of the bigger plays into that, it should 106 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: equal uh, you know, more production, sounds, more points, all 107 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: those things. Because I was sitting there thinking, I was like, 108 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: what shocked me. Wasn't the turnover worthy play number was low. 109 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: It shocked me that his big time throw number was hot, 110 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: because I'm like, well, you think there'd be more explosive, 111 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: more points. But as you were just talking there, I 112 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: was thinking about myself. A lot of those came on 113 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: third and twelve though, you know what I mean, And 114 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 1: maybe they didn't end up in it is a touchdown, 115 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: but they kept in third and ten. They kept the football. Yeah, 116 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: he converted in tough down distance situations. The other thing 117 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: stuff is coming. Yeah. The other thing that I don't 118 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: want to hear from people, well they you know, they 119 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: didn't beat you know, they didn't play anybody in the 120 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: second half of the season. They didn't beat anybody. M hm, 121 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: you play who you play. It's the NFL. It's we've 122 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: been doing this too long. Because when we were when 123 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: I was talking Eagles five minutes ago, I was about 124 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: to mention, and it helped that the Eagles didn't play 125 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: anybody this year. You know, brock Purty played down the stretch, right, 126 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: nobody cares now, you know, in the Steelers schedule next year, 127 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: it looks very favorable. You know. If the question is 128 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: can the Steelers get to the final four? Can they 129 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: be playing around this time of year and next year? 130 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: All those things are factors absolutely. Um. You know, they've 131 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: played the last two seasons. In fact, they've been one 132 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: or two in in most difficult schedule in each of 133 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: the last two years, right, right, And they made the 134 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: playoffs one year and they were one spot out the 135 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: other year. They won nine games both years, you know. 136 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: And quarterback and transition from yeah, right, you know, you 137 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: transition from at the quarterback position. There how many I'd 138 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: love to see a study on how many teams have 139 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: done that, but it's not very many, right, right, transition 140 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: from quarterback to the rookie, yeah, at one point. I 141 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: mean I'm not making I'm not making light of Ben's 142 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: late years, but my hunches the two thousand, twenty three 143 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: Steelers will have their best quarterback play in three years, 144 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: four years? Yeah, yeah, I mean I think that's a 145 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: reasonable expectation. Yeah, I think so as well. I think, 146 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: you know, we've we've kind of forgotten And again I'm 147 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: not I'm not going to trash Ben here either, but 148 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: I think we've kind of forgotten what he did. He 149 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: he did high level stuff the last you know, his 150 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: last two years, but it wasn't what Ben did six 151 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: years ago, five years ago, right of course. I mean 152 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: we all watched the games. I mean, he's a warrior, 153 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: he's an all time great. We all know those things. 154 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: But I think next year's Steeler quarterback play might be 155 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: the best quarterback play they've had in a four or 156 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: five year stretch. And that makes a difference, I think. 157 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: You know, um, you know, here's the difference to me. 158 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: You know, people say, well, you get it, what how 159 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: do the Bengals do it? Well, you look at the Bengals. 160 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: If Joe Burrow doesn't get hurt his rookie year, mm hm, 161 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: they don't get Jamar Chase. Sure, they probably hover around 162 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: five seven, you know, right, they have a they have 163 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: a season sort of like the one the Steelers just 164 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: had where they you know, they're right around they win 165 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: seven eight nine games and they don't get the fifth 166 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: overall pick, and then they don't get Jamar Chase and 167 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: then they're not in this in this position. Potentially, now 168 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: maybe they get somebody in that draft who's does stuff, 169 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: somebody Wante Smith or Wattle or somebody else from that class. 170 00:09:55,640 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: You know, yeah, the whole reason and that they're a 171 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: good football team. But it sure helps. It's sure, yeah, 172 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: it doesn't hurt when you hit on two top five 173 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: picks back to back. I mean it absolutely helps. Yeah, 174 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: And so uh you know, I think I look at that, 175 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,839 Speaker 1: but again, you're gonna have to pay those guys at 176 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: some point, and that's the that's the key. Or three 177 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 1: of the four teams playing in the conference championships are 178 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: starting quarterbacks on the rookie on the rookie contract. Now 179 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: have an asterix beside that because they're playing Jimmy, they 180 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: are paying Jimmy. But does anybody think if Jimmy were 181 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: playing for them they would have a better chance to 182 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: win on Sunday? I think so, yeah. I mean, they're 183 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: not built around the quarterback. They're not. They're not, But 184 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: I certainly I would, In fact I would, I would 185 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: feel much better about their chances on Sunday if Jimmy 186 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: were playing as opposed to Brook Purty. But the fact 187 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: remains they're starting a quarterback on his first contract, as 188 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: are the Bengals, as are the that well, the Chiefs, 189 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, the Eagles. The Eagles, right, and they got 190 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 1: to pay Hurts here real soon too, because there's not 191 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: a fifth year option for him, right, Yeah, you're that's 192 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: a problem with drafting one beyond the first round. On 193 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: the first round. And I know the Bills are a 194 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: great team and they won a lot of games, but 195 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:19,959 Speaker 1: we were breaking down the teams that just got eliminated 196 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: on my podcast today. They're gonna be worse next year. 197 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: You know. They pushed all their chips in. This was 198 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: the von Miller, get me over the edge, give me 199 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: a gadgety cook type dude, and they didn't hit you know, 200 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: I mean, they laid all their cards on the table. 201 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: They had a really good year. But this is a 202 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: disappointment for the Bills. You know, being the two seed 203 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: or whatever and losing their second game of the playoffs 204 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: is a disappointing year for them. This was essentially for 205 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: the Bills. This was the Steelers in twenty seventh team 206 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: when they lost the Jaguars. Yeah, yeah, well said because 207 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: that year, you know, under the current format, the Steelers 208 00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: would have had a playoff game because they were the 209 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: two seed. Mhm, they would have had a player, you know, 210 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: they would under these formats, they would have played a 211 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: first round game and then play Jacksonville in the second round. 212 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: As it was, they played Jacksonville coming off the by 213 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: and Jacksonville beat them. Same thing, the two See, the 214 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: two seed got upset before the conference championship and you 215 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: expected because you had taken you had gone to the 216 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: you know, the conference championship game the year before. You 217 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: did everything you could to beat the Chiefs, but you 218 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: didn't prepare yourself to beat the upstart Bengals, Right, that's 219 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: what you're saying. Yeah, you're cutting that. Say both they 220 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: did everything they could to beat New England that year. 221 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 1: Built a team where we're gonna go out, we're gonna 222 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: get faster in the secondary, faster linebacker. And then here 223 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: comes a team that's gonna run the ball down your throat. Yeah, 224 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: and you're and you're banged up, and two it's not healthy, 225 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: you know those things. And then you lose. I mean 226 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: it's a one game thing. You don't get seven games 227 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: to adjust to your opponent. And if you have a 228 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: weakness in the NFL playoffs, it will show up at 229 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: some point and we'll often eliminate you. And I'm sure 230 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: the Steelers that year, I mean, I'm just educated. Guests 231 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: were top five in d v O a start to finish, 232 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: you know, like the Bills. I mean everyone looked at 233 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: them as one of the best teams in the league preseason, 234 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: mid season, after the season. And it's tough, you know, 235 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 1: and the Bills have some flaws and they're gonna lose 236 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: more than they gain, and they have this tremendous quarterback 237 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: and everyone would like to be in their shoes, but 238 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: it might only get worse here. Yeah, I mean, things change, 239 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: every team changes from year to year. Taking us back 240 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: to our original point there why the Steelers can be 241 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: a contender next season. They'll they'll make improvements upon this team, 242 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: and it's a young team. Is I constantly say, you 243 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: are allowed to get better, and the guys on that 244 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: offense are going to get better. Now. Conversely, anybody from 245 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: the offense right Conversely, some of those guys on defense 246 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: could take a step back. What we could start to 247 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: see Cam Hayward start to slip at some point, but 248 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: I don't. I mean, he hasn't shown any signs of 249 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: it yet, right. And I also think there will be 250 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: more reinforcements on defense than offense. And I'm including Sutton, Edmunds, 251 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: kzy Ogan, Jovia because right now, to me, they're not Steelers, 252 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: you know, they're they're not under contract, they're not too 253 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: talent and twenty three Steelers. But I think the off 254 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: season will add more defensively than it will offensively. The 255 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: offense is built to grow up together and we'll just 256 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: keep adding, we'll keep adding, you know, but nothing's leaving 257 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: from that group, right, which is absolutely Matt. That's gonna 258 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: do it for our show today. Unfortunate. We'll be back 259 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: on Friday and we'll talk about well, Art Rooney, uh 260 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: the second is going to have his season ending press 261 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: conference on Thursday, so we'll we'll give a little wrap 262 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: up to that on Friday. I'll be I'll be there 263 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: in attendance, so we'll see where that, where that goes, 264 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: what his theme of the of the press conferences and uh, well, 265 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: we'll see we'll talk about all that stuff and we'll 266 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: break down the conference Championship Games a little bit more. 267 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: If you miss any of our show today, you can 268 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: download full episodes of all of our SNR podcast shows, 269 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: such as A Drive in the Locker Room with Wolf 270 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: and Starks, The Steelers Blitz with West and Mota, Steelers 271 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: Standard with Tom and Jacob, as well as many more. 272 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: They're all available on the Steeler's mobile app, the I 273 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, and wherever you get your podcasts. For 274 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: my partner Matt Williamson, I am Dale LOLLI. We thank 275 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: you for listening to this edition of the Drive on 276 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio.