1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamsons 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 2: Welcome to hour number two of the Drive here on 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 2: Steelers Nation Radio. I'm Dale Lolly. Sitting in with me 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: is Rob King for vacationing Matt Williamson, and we talked 7 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 2: about it in the previous hour just a little bit there, 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 2: and there's this theory out there and I saw it 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: again this week on the thirty third team, So it 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 2: made me want to dive into it and see if 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: I could do a little research on this, because there's 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: a theory out there that when the Ravens added Rokwan 13 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: Smith at the trade deadline, and actually it was after 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 2: eight weeks of the season two years ago, so he 15 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: had nine games with the Ravens eight with the Bears, 16 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: that somehow that's when the light turned on for Patrick 17 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: Queen and he became what they had hoped he would 18 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: be at linebacker. And so I started looking looking at 19 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: it and I went back to I looked on Pro 20 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 2: Football Focus. Now, longtime listeners to the show know that 21 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: the Pro Football Focus grades, I don't put a lot 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: of credence into them, but they are a tool that 23 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 2: you can use to kind of look that, you know, 24 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: look at things in terms because I assume that over 25 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: that seventeen game season, they had the same guy grading 26 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 2: Patrick Queen week to week to week to week to week, 27 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 2: so there is some stability there in terms of his 28 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 2: grading system. That's my biggest problem with the Pro Football 29 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: Focused grades is that you're grading the Lions. I'm grading 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: the Bears, and we don't see things the same way. 31 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: It's the same way when I'm you know, if you're 32 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 2: in college, you find out, well, this this algebra one teacher, 33 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: in this algebra one teacher, they're both teaching algebra one, 34 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: but this one's easier than that one, and so everybody 35 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: takes it. Wants to take the easy one, right, So 36 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: I don't know, you know, they can say their grading system, 37 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: they train all these people the same and they you know, everything, 38 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: but they're still the human factor involved with that. So 39 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: I take their grades overall with a grain of salt. 40 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: When people talk about this guy's rated the number feet 41 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: tubes off the tackle league according to Pro Football Focus 42 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,839 Speaker 2: as grades, it's all things aren't equal there. 43 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 3: I applaud, but pro football focused still does. I think they. 44 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 3: I think they do a great job of trying to 45 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 3: bring some of that to the average fan, and it's 46 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: a tool for us as well, right, But it's not 47 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 3: an infallible tool. 48 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: It is absolutely not. So I went and I looked 49 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: at those those eight games that Queen played without Roquan 50 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: Smith that year and then the final nine that he 51 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: played with them, and what I found was that Queen, 52 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: over the first half of the season, or over the 53 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 2: first three years of his career, had gotten better each 54 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 2: season he struggled as a rookie, understandably got a little 55 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 2: bit better in second year. His third year was when 56 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 2: the light started to come on, and he was better 57 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 2: that year than he had been previously. 58 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 3: So I've heard you and Matt talk about this, and 59 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 3: I think it's really fascinating and maybe something if somebody's uh, 60 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 3: you know, driving around right now listening to the drive 61 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 3: and they haven't heard this before, that that position has 62 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 3: become a much more difficult position. That it is very 63 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 3: difficult for young players to succeed in the middle of 64 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: the field that way, as the what they call the 65 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 3: off the ball linebacker, just middle guys. And so this 66 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 3: sort of learning curve would not be unexpected. 67 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: No, not at all. So then I went and I 68 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: looked at Roquan Smith's grading because you could get grades 69 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 2: on him with the Bears and then with the Ravens 70 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: that year. So the year before Roquan Smith joined the Ravens, 71 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: he had a career low in this quarter of your 72 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: Pro Football Focus forty seven point eight defensive grade gat 73 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: was wow, borderline bad. They were not happy with him 74 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: in Chicago. That's why they traded him. The eight games 75 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: that he played in Chicago before he got traded, his 76 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: grade over those eight games defensively the whole package was 77 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: fifty two point six. After he joined the Ravens, his 78 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 2: defensive grade went to eighty four point seven in those 79 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: games with the Ravens. So who made who right? 80 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: Right? 81 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 2: And is it the Ravens scheme? 82 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 3: Yes? And is it the other great players around them? 83 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 2: Right? 84 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 3: You know, you leave the football purgatory that's been the 85 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 3: Chicago Bears the last couple of years, and you go 86 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 3: to a team like the. 87 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: Rus Remember they were tanking at that point. This is 88 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 2: what Justin Fields was going through as well. 89 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 3: With the Bears. 90 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 2: They were trading away they're good players. Trying to acquire 91 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 2: picks and things of that nature. 92 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 3: Right, it's a great quest question, and I think that 93 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 3: it is. So I don't believe anybody in football scouts 94 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 3: close ups of the game looked at Rokwan Smith and thought, hmmm, 95 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 3: I got a bad pff grade. I don't know if 96 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 3: I want him, right, like a lot of people wanted him. 97 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 3: I mean, everybody saw how talented he was. So then 98 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 3: the question becomes and it becomes again, this is sort 99 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 3: of what I was bringing up and said, hang on 100 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 3: hold it for this segment. 101 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: I just happened to do that this week. 102 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 3: I think it's great. I think there's It is fascinating 103 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 3: to me to try to and this is the part 104 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 3: of player personnel. Omar Khan is scouting department, Andy wide, 105 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 3: whoever's looking at the at a player like Patrick Queen 106 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 3: to try to boil down to his essence. Okay, so 107 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: we've moved from algebra class to chemistry class. Right, So 108 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 3: how do you get down to the element, the pure 109 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 3: element that is Patrick Queen? And how do you ice 110 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 3: laid him from all the other factors around him to 111 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 3: make the best possible evaluation of that player? And then, 112 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 3: by the way, also figure out how's he going to 113 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,799 Speaker 3: fit in your scheme and with your coach and something 114 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 3: I think it's I think scouting. To me, you absolutely 115 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 3: have to have it and to be able to parse 116 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 3: those things out and not just look sometimes you just 117 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 3: you look at a stopwatch and like WHOA. But I'll 118 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 3: bring up like, there's Nate Maydor's who's a safety for 119 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 3: the Steelers right now they signed him. You had the 120 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 3: third fastest combine time of all time. That didn't vault 121 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 3: him to the first round of the draft. So there's 122 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 3: other elements just simply then a stop watch and hey, 123 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 3: what was his three cone shuttle drill? Right? You know 124 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 3: what are these other things? 125 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 2: The NFL scouting combine is a tool. 126 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 3: It's a tool that's exactly what. 127 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 2: It can't be the only reason you draft a guy, right, 128 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 2: It has to be just part of the equation and 129 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: maybe maybe it reinforces what you had seen of the 130 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: player on the field, but it can't trumpet. 131 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 3: So one of the I'm gonna use a baseball analogy here, so, uh, 132 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 3: the great book about written about the the Oakland A's. 133 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 3: They made the movie out of it with Brad Punnyball Moneyball. Uh, fascinating, great. 134 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 2: Like watching them. I'll watch movies. I'm not just a 135 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: little side here. I watch movies and I'll i'll if 136 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: they're if they're based in fact, I'll have my laptop 137 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: sitting there and I'll look up, you know, go to 138 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: wik pedi or whatever and look up different things about 139 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: Oh that's true, that's not true. I'm a longtime Oakland 140 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: A's fan, So I know that in the movie for 141 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 2: that that they just kind of glossed over the fact 142 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 2: that they had a great starting rotation, right. 143 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: So, so never mentioned in the book. And by the way, 144 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: Art Howe being played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, you know 145 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 3: you're talking about it, they kind of him a little bit. Yeah, 146 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 3: I mean, and they made Art Hal look like a 147 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: bad guy. 148 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: Art Howe, for everything I've heard, he's one of the 149 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 2: nicest men ever. 150 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: And has the body fat of a tabletop. I mean, 151 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 3: this guy, you know, and they Seymour Hoffman playing him. 152 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 3: But outside of the fact that Michael Lewis, the author 153 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: who does it, did a great job with it, you know, 154 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: he baseball's his Forte didn't mention Tahata, right, I think 155 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 3: I don't know if he won the MVP that year. 156 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 3: It was a great shortstop. Yeah, the other Giambi right, 157 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 3: and Hudson mulderin Zito in the rotation. So taking that 158 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 3: aside and just taking the book to get back to 159 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 3: the scouting part. At the end of the movie, if 160 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: you've seen the movie and haven't read the book, they 161 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 3: show a double a catcher, a guy performing at the 162 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 3: double A level, a catcher that they'd taken higher than 163 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 3: anybody thought in the draft, and he rounds first and 164 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 3: he stumbles and he gets up and he runs back 165 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 3: to first and they're like, everyone's laughing, Oh, he actually 166 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 3: hit a home run. As if now they'd taken the 167 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 3: application of Moneyball and use a straight data driven scouting 168 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: project to select all these players. Well, okay, so you 169 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 3: make the movie and you put that in there. It 170 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 3: was a total, colossal and complete failure. Yes, those drafts 171 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 3: that they did, they they went completely based on analytics. 172 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 3: They did not use their scouts, And it's laid out 173 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 3: of the movie. But at the end of the movie 174 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 3: they make it sound like, oh, this is kid Jeremy 175 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 3: Brown I think was a guy's name, the catcher something Brown. Hey, 176 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 3: this is a great No, it was a complete, total, 177 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 3: abject failure. 178 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 2: It's it's the problem that I have with analytics and football. 179 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 2: Is there a place for them? Absolutely yes, but not 180 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 2: everything is apples to apples. Am I playing in a dome? Well, 181 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 2: that's far different than playing, you know, a game in 182 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 2: December and Pittsburgh is my left tackle does he have 183 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: a little bit of a sore hamstring? And therefore I 184 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 2: know he can't block the guy consistently on the outside 185 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: there so we can't call some of the past plays 186 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: that I want to call. Well, the you know, the 187 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: the analytics say go for this on on third and 188 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: two or fourth and two. Okay, but my left guard 189 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 2: is getting beat up every single play. We can't block 190 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 2: that guy. We can't not we can't not block him. 191 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: Therefore we can't get that short yard decision. It doesn't 192 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 2: take any of that in all it is is the 193 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: computer spitting out what, well, the last five hundred times 194 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 2: this has happened, this is what happened. Here's the analytics 195 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: on it. This is how it works. If I'm scouting 196 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 2: baseball players, how the hell do you tell me that 197 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 2: a high school players stats? How do you measure that 198 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: against the college player stats? 199 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 3: You can't do it. When I was in college, I 200 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: and sorry to go if we're going further a field, 201 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 3: but we'll wrote it back in So I was taking 202 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 3: a computer programming class and I couldn't stand it. I'm 203 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 3: not a computer programming guy. And then they said, you 204 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 3: can do your project. You know that you're going to 205 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: be graded on on anything you want. Well, that was 206 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 3: the year of an It was an NBA expansion year, 207 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 3: and so they had a dispersal draft and so early analytics, 208 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 3: like before analytics came on, I came up. I devised 209 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 3: my own system where I took straight numbers of block 210 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 3: shots and assists and rebounds and points and put them 211 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 3: into a system to come up with and then you know, 212 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 3: figured out, okay, who's going to be available in the 213 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 3: expansion draft, put him into this program and they and 214 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 3: I was, you know, if this then this, you know 215 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 3: all that stuff you have to do. And so when 216 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 3: it spit out the numbers like the old you know, 217 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 3: the old carbon papers, you know, where you rip it 218 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 3: in half and it comes to the four copies, like 219 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 3: I was standing over the computer. I couldn't wait to 220 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 3: see what I couldn't wait to see what all my 221 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 3: study was going to do, and by the way, I 222 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 3: think I got an A on the project, even though 223 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 3: the results weren't great. So I'm standing over the computer 224 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 3: and it spits it out in the very first name 225 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 3: at the top of the list was minute Bowl, and 226 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 3: I thought, oh, he's definitely not the best player available. 227 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 3: The eye test would tell you that. But what happened 228 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 3: was his block shots. Right, we're so far above what 229 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 3: everybody else is deal that it broke the scale and 230 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 3: completely screwed up. So now you have to take by 231 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 3: the way, now you're inputting numbers and you're putting so 232 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 3: some of these things you have to look at. When 233 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 3: you're looking at analyzes, they're coming up with we'll take 234 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 3: four and subtract to and then get the square root 235 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 3: of this. Well, where are you coming up with that? 236 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 3: Why are you devising the number? It's not straight numbers. 237 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 3: Sometimes somebody is putting a value on some of these things. 238 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 3: So all that having been said, I think analytics are 239 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 3: an extremely valuable tool that can definitely be used, but 240 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 3: they have their place aside beside scouting, and somebody some 241 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 3: team might say, hey, it's going to be sixty forty 242 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 3: analytics scouting it's going to be sixty forty scouting analytics, 243 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 3: it's going to be eighty twenty scouting analytics. But analytics 244 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 3: they can't be ignored. And I do think that when 245 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 3: you're looking at a guy like Patrick Queen and you're 246 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 3: looking at that third year, that can't be Maybe that's 247 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 3: not straight analytics, but that sort of data that hey, listen, 248 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 3: these guys struggle in their first couple of years. That 249 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 3: can't be discounted. And then why has he gotten better? 250 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 3: Is it the third year? Is it the addition of 251 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 3: Rokwan Smith? Is it players around him? Is it a 252 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 3: new defensive coordinator who's now gone on to bigger and 253 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 3: better what and so to get to the has to 254 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 3: be factored. I think it's I think it's absolutely fascinating. 255 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 3: And it's not just as simple as oh he's great, 256 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 3: let's sign that guy. He's terrific, that's straight for him. 257 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 3: There's a lot more in it than that, and a 258 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 3: lot of guys' jobs on the line when it comes 259 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 3: to evaluating this kind. 260 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: Of poll, no doubt, and I would I would just 261 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 2: finish the conversation off with this. The Steelers played against 262 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: him twice a year. Yes, his first four season league. 263 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 2: They saw lot to take the progression that he was making, 264 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: and they don't just look at well, just the games 265 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 2: that we've played against him. You're when you're studying your 266 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: opponent for the upcoming game, you typically take a look 267 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:49,239 Speaker 2: at the previous three games, and also for division opponents, 268 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 2: you typically end up breaking down all seventeen or sixteen 269 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 2: games of the season, so you have a really good 270 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 2: of who these players are on the other team. 271 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 3: Right, you should have much more than you do anybody else. 272 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 3: That's right, you should have a much better view of it. 273 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: Should be. You know, they say in the scouting world, 274 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 3: the most important thing you can do is self scout 275 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 3: your own place. Make sure you've evaluated them properly and 276 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 3: gotten the most you can out of them. And then 277 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 3: it's like concentric rings. Yes, you should know your own 278 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 3: division better and you certainly have their their outliers. Hey, 279 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 3: I got a coach that knew this guy for college 280 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 3: or whatever. 281 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 2: We played the Colts three years in a row, so 282 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: therefore we know them a little better than the Saints. 283 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 2: Sure we play once every four years. Right, and you're 284 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 2: again looking at those three games that the Saints have 285 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: played previously that's what you're looking at, right. But in 286 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 2: the situation with those division uponts, you've looked at everything 287 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 2: that's right. Everything. You know them better than you know 288 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 2: them as well as you know yourself, at least you should, right. 289 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 2: And the Steelers have shown over the last decade or 290 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 2: more they know their division opponents better than anybody. 291 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 3: Yep. 292 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 2: And the record, yeah, absolutely, But I just think it's interesting. 293 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 2: I'm not ready to say at all that Rokwan Smith 294 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 2: made Patch Queen. The argument could be made the other 295 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 2: way around. 296 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 3: I think it's a great point. And I listen, I 297 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 3: think I think that Patrick Queen signing for the Steelers, 298 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 3: so to see him out of the top one hundred 299 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 3: surprised me. I think to Patrick's Queen signing is just 300 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 3: a phenomenal move. Now we'll see, right, you got to 301 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 3: get on the field and you got to play. Yeah, 302 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 3: But I think when I think of Patrick Queen, I 303 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 3: think of a guy that is now. So you know, 304 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 3: if you look at positions and levels, you know you've 305 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 3: got Cam Hayward, You've got Benton up front. I think 306 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 3: Benton's a player and ascending player. You've got two phenomenal 307 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 3: outside pass rushers, on the back end, you've got Joey 308 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 3: Porter Jr. And Minka Fitzpatrick. You've got very good I 309 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 3: think Deshaun Elliotts a outstanding, complimentary type of player. You know, 310 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 3: you made the trade with Deontay Johnson to show up 311 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 3: the other corner. You have someton where was the one 312 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 3: position you didn't have that sort of bona fide difference maker. 313 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 3: I think it was it was that quote unquote off 314 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 3: the ball linebacker. And I think now with Patrick Queen 315 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 3: you have that and so that just when every layer 316 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 3: of a team's defense can cause you problems, you gotta trug. Yeah, yeah, 317 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 3: your double. 318 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,239 Speaker 2: Absolutely. He is Rob King sitting in for a vacationing 319 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson. I'm Dale Lollie. You're listening to the Drive 320 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 2: here on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be back with more. 321 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 3: Right after this. 322 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 323 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 324 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 325 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: And we are back. I'm Dale Lolly here with Rob 326 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 2: King sitting in for Matt Williamson this week and Rob 327 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 2: Eric Edholm on the NFL dot Com is put together. 328 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 2: He's ranked the eight divisions in the NFL by quarterback 329 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: one through four. 330 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 3: I saw this, I saw and I had no problem 331 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 3: with one, and I thought four should have been higher. 332 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 3: They're not going to say that. 333 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 2: Okay, all right, but let's go as we always as 334 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 2: store the show, we start at the bottom. Ah, okay, 335 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,719 Speaker 2: always start at the bottom and work your way out. 336 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 3: Then there's only one way to go. 337 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 2: The NFC South comes in eighth. Okay, you're looking at 338 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 2: Kirk Cousins, Bryce Young with the Panthers, Derek Carr with 339 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 2: the Saints, and Baker Mayfield with the Bucks. 340 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 3: No problem with that. 341 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 2: That's a yeah. We don't even know what Cousins how 342 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: much he's going to play that, we don't know yet, right, 343 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 2: So that's a yep. 344 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 3: And he's going to go to a where's he? I mean, 345 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 3: I don't think he's got the same situation that he 346 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 3: had in Minnesota. 347 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 2: No, I think he's a good quarterback. I don't think 348 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 2: he's a great quarterback. I think he's somewhere around twelve. 349 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 2: And if that's the guy you're hanging your hat on, 350 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 2: you can't be any higher than eight. 351 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 3: Right, Yep? 352 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 2: At seven the AFC South. So so both souths. Nobody 353 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 2: in the South has right quarterback. And this one you're 354 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: looking at c J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Trevor Lawrence and 355 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 2: Will Levis. 356 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 3: That is you got two complete on being dragged down 357 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 3: by Will Levis, right and and and it has played 358 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 3: four games the unknown of Anthony Richardson for sure. But 359 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 3: you were talking about we just did the top one 360 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 3: hundred quarter players in the NFL. Uh, Lawrence, we're on there. Yeah, 361 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 3: Lawrence and Stroud were way up there if I'm not mistaken. 362 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: Well, Lawrence was down far the way up there last year. 363 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 2: Yeah he was bumping. 364 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 3: He fell down, but that's right, he did fall He 365 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 3: fell down considerably. Those are two good players, But you're 366 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 3: right Richardson, and then Levis who. 367 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: Knows at six the NFC North, you're looking at Caleb Williams, 368 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: Jared Goff, Jordan Love and the duo of Sam Darnold 369 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 2: slash JJ McCarthy. 370 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 3: Is that better than the AFC South? Who do you 371 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 3: have again? Let's run this set. 372 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: Gothall lover two established. 373 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 3: So I'm I'm I'm now offering you a trade. I'll 374 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 3: trade you golf glove for Lawrence and Stroud. What are 375 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 3: you saying I'm going to say, no, okay, you'll take 376 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 3: Stroud and Lawrence. I'll take Stroud and Lawrence, and then 377 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 3: who are the other two guys? 378 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 2: The problem is you got Caleb Williams an unknown, and 379 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 2: then with the Vikings, it's Sam Donald or JJ McCarthy, 380 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 2: and I have a feeling it's going to be Sam 381 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 2: Donald for at least half the season. 382 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 3: So if Caleb Williams versus Anthony Richardson, right, that seems 383 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: to me to be you have to call that a wash, 384 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 3: don't you. I mean, yeah, I mean maybe give a 385 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 3: tight edge, maybe give a slight edge to Williams, right, maybe, 386 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 3: and uh, Donald McCarthy. You know what, I'm interested to 387 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 3: see if Sam Darnald can do something. When he came 388 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 3: out of college. 389 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 2: I believe I had him as my number one quarterback 390 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:54,719 Speaker 2: in that year. 391 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 3: He had an outrageous PFF grade. You talk about PFF 392 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 3: last segment, outrageous grade if I if I'm not mistaken, 393 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 3: I believe that was the case with Stam Darnold, and 394 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 3: so he was when uh, you know, Carolina was looking 395 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 3: to move on, you know, heading in the last offseason, 396 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 3: or maybe it was two off seasons. Ago. I thought, well, 397 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 3: that's not a guy. That's a guy I wouldn't mind 398 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 3: the tools, right, because we you know, and you know, 399 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 3: you think of a guy like like Ryan Tannehill, right, 400 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 3: So what is the system around him? And then he 401 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 3: goes somewhere else and he's able to find some success. 402 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,719 Speaker 3: Now that haven't been said. It is the most valuable 403 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 3: position on the field most times. Teams are not going 404 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 3: to let you know. There's more of a case of 405 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 3: misevaluation at the scouting level than probably at the NFL level. 406 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 2: But it does have a thing that you can't measure 407 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 2: with quarterbacks is up here, the mental part of it. 408 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 3: You just now Daleen Radio is pointing to his head 409 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 3: when he says. 410 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 2: But I said the mental part of it. You can't 411 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: measure the mental part of it. You can't measure the 412 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: intangible things like is this guy a winner? Is this 413 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 2: guy does he just refuse to lose? 414 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: Right? 415 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: And those kind of things, you know, So I don't 416 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 2: come with them being with that that group being ahead, 417 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 2: you have the number one overall pick right in this 418 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 2: year's draft, you got another one who was you and 419 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 2: the Vikings have two guys who were both top ten 420 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 2: picks in their respective drafts. 421 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 3: I guess you give them a slight edge of the 422 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 3: but it's close. 423 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 2: The quarterback who's been to a Super Bowl went to 424 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 2: the NFC Championship last year, and then Jordan Love who is. 425 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:29,479 Speaker 3: I'm still calling it a coin flip. Ok okay, all right, 426 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 3: splitting hairs. Splitting here, we are splitting hairs. 427 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 2: At five you of the NFC East. You got Dak Prescott, 428 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 2: Daniel Jones slash Drew Locke, Jalen Hurts, Jade and Daniel 429 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 2: slash Marcus Mariota. It's gonna be Jaden Daniels. Marcus Mariota 430 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 2: can't play anymore. 431 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 3: See. I think you could take these last three divisions 432 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: and throw them in a hat. 433 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 2: Probably, But I will say Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts 434 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 2: carry a lot of weight here. 435 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 3: Carry a lot of weight they're carrying. 436 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: Would I would I trade those two for Stroud in Lawrence? 437 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 2: I would consider it strongly right now. Shroud and Lawrence 438 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 2: are younger, but these guys are. 439 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 3: I think a little bit like, if you're just competing 440 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 3: in fantasy this year, you gotta win your Fantasy football 441 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 3: league championship. That's yeah, you might you might I think 442 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 3: you'd go with Dak and Hurts. I think you would. 443 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 3: I think you would go to those two guys. Yeah, yep, 444 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 3: But I think I think these three divisions are all 445 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 3: close because they're if we're grading them by division, which 446 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 3: is what we're obviously doing, they're dragged down by that. 447 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 3: You know, what is Daniel Jones going to do? And uh, 448 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 3: you know what is Will Levis gonna do? 449 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 2: I like Jalen Daniels every bit, if not more. 450 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 3: You mentioned that. Yeah, that's really interesting, I thought. 451 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 2: I mean I almost put him as my number one 452 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 2: quarterback in this draft. I just the rushing factor that 453 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 2: he brings to the table. Plus he throws the football. Well, 454 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 2: I think he's going to be dynamic. 455 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 3: Okay, all right? At four this is where I think 456 00:22:57,680 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 3: I had a beef. 457 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: Go ahead the AFC with Josh Allen yep to a 458 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 2: tag of VLOA yep, Jacoby Brissette slash Drake May and. 459 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 3: My goodness, I mean you just have three running down 460 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 3: again Alan phenomenal tag of VLOA. Uh, top fifty right, 461 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 3: we just saw him top fifty high on I just 462 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 3: a product of the syste I think you know what 463 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 3: man for a guy who doesn't look like he's got 464 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 3: a cannon. The ball seems to somehow get there. 465 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I don't know how guys are open. I 466 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 2: don't know. I'm just not a huge. 467 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 3: And where was Rogers ranked in the list we just had? 468 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 2: Uh? He was like nineteen something that. 469 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, you have him, and you have Alan and you 470 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 3: have tag Woo. It's okay. So you have a you 471 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 3: have a question mark, A huge question mark, a huge 472 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 3: I like. 473 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 2: I like Jacoby Brissette. 474 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 3: I was my backup quarterback. I'm I'm happy. I love him. 475 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 3: You know, he's he always gets high marked for like 476 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 3: character and all these things, preparedness and being a pro 477 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 3: and a fan in this draft you weren't a big fan. 478 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 2: No, no, okay, he's gonna struggle. 479 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 3: I think that that is being you have elite, got 480 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 3: three elite being dragged down. 481 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 2: You got two elites and one guy who is a 482 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 2: is right there with cousins, I think in terms of 483 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: that range of you know, eight to thirteen somewhere no ca, yeah, 484 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 2: but two guys who If Aaron Rodgers is healthy, he's 485 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 2: top five. 486 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, but he's also forty right, So, and we're worried 487 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 3: about the Achilles as you should be at three. Okay, 488 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 3: so eyebrow arched. I think that's where I stand with 489 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 3: I would I would have Rogers. 490 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 2: I would have that group ahead of. 491 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,640 Speaker 3: The Okay, So to go back to Rogers with the Achilles, 492 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 3: I mean, he's he's such an incredible athlete, and he was, 493 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 3: you know, making mood noise about coming back last year. 494 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 3: I would I would say I'm not I wouldn't say 495 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 3: I'm concerned. I would say I have an eyebrow arched. 496 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 3: That's that's how I'm gonna That's how I think he's 497 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 3: gonna have. I think he's gonna have a big year. 498 00:24:59,280 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 3: So good, let's go. 499 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 2: I would have that group ahead of this group, the 500 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 2: AFC West. You're looking Denver with bow Knicks slash, Jared Stidham, 501 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: Patrick Mahomes who carries a lot away, Yes he does. 502 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 2: With the Raiders, it's Aidan O'Connell or Gardner Minshew. I 503 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 2: think it's going to be a Minshew and then Justin 504 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:17,640 Speaker 2: Herbert with the Charge. 505 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 3: How in the world is that group ahead of the 506 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 3: group we just I told you before we went into I. 507 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 2: Got a two situations that are complete unknown. 508 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 3: You have the best I mean, are we giving Mahomes that? 509 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 3: But I mean, look, we are. He's the best. 510 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 2: I mean, and as talented as Herbert is. As talented 511 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: as he is, he's got a losing career record on 512 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 2: a team that has star power all over the place. 513 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 3: I mean, as great as Mahomes is, some of that 514 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 3: was on. 515 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 2: The former head coach. That's why he's not there anymore. 516 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: Mahomes is the best, no doubt about it, the best 517 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 3: in the business. I don't think anybody could argue that. 518 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 3: But I'm sorry, he can't lift that entire division by 519 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 3: himself my opinion. 520 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:05,679 Speaker 2: I don't think so either. At two the NFC West, 521 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 2: that's Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, Brock Purty and Gino Smith 522 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 2: slash Sam Howise, it's Geno Smith. Come on. 523 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,879 Speaker 3: I mean again, I think it's probably the division that 524 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 3: we've come across. It as the highest floor. Gino Smith 525 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 3: gives you the highest floor. 526 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 2: I think Stafford might be the best quarterback in the NFC. Okay, 527 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 2: Purdy is you know, I don't think he's a star, 528 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 2: but I think he's very solid. I think he's, you know, 529 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: right there with the Jared Goffs of the world. Is 530 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 2: a guy that Okay, we can win with this guy. 531 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 2: Murray is a wild card. I mean, I think there 532 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,119 Speaker 2: are times when he's great, there are times when he's not, 533 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 2: and then Gino Smith is very solid. 534 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 3: I'm still not sure. I wouldn't have the AFC East. 535 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 2: Ahead of that division, Okay, I can understand. 536 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 3: I mean you're talking about Roger question Marks here. That's 537 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 3: I said, the highest floor. Yeah, of any group like 538 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 3: Gino Smith's. But it's Gino Smith more than a nine 539 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 3: win quarterback. If we're gonna give tracking quarterbacks, he's fifteen 540 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 3: or six. I don't want to argue against myself. I 541 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 3: was just about to argue against myself. I would have 542 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 3: the AFC East number. 543 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 2: Two, Okay, that leads us with number one, the AFC North. 544 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 3: I would have the AFC North number one. 545 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:23,719 Speaker 2: You got Lamar Jackson, you got Joe Burrow, you got 546 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 2: Deshaun Watson, you got Russell Wilson. 547 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 3: Yes, now that's your division with your highest floor, yeah, 548 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 3: without question. 549 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you could make a strong argument that Deshaun Watson's. 550 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 3: The worst quarterback, right yeah. I was just about to 551 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 3: say that's your floor. Yeah, right now, that's your floor. 552 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 2: A guy who's led the league in passing yards before? 553 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 2: Now I will. So when we talk about Deshaun Watson 554 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 2: leading the league in passing yards, he did that on 555 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 2: a four and twelve team. He had to lead the 556 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 2: league in passing yards because they were terrible. Right, So 557 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,239 Speaker 2: he's throwing the ball constantly. The Browns don't want him 558 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 2: to do that. They don't want it. They don't want it. 559 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 2: They don't want at the end of this season to say, hey, 560 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,239 Speaker 2: Deshaun Watson led the league in passing That means they 561 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 2: were losing a bunch of ball games. They want to 562 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 2: run the football, which is why it's so curious that 563 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 2: they made that move to spend that kind of money. 564 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 2: I understand you chase the quarterback position, but your team 565 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 2: in Cleveland that plays in the AFC North, did you 566 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 2: really want to pay Deshaun Watson more than Lamar Jackson 567 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: or Joe Burrow. To me, it was a bad move. 568 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 3: No, and they're still paying for it. 569 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,239 Speaker 2: They traded away all the draft. This is what when 570 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 2: people start talking about the Steelers trading for Brandon Ayuk 571 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 2: and just give up a number one draft pick, Let's fine, 572 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 2: you know, Okay, you're giving up a number one draft 573 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 2: pick to acquire the player. You then have to pay 574 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 2: the player as well, and that's far more than you 575 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 2: were going to pay that first round draft pick, far more. 576 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 2: In this case, they gave up multiple first round draft picks. 577 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 2: They still didn't have a first round draft pick because 578 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 2: of Deshaun Watson this year, and they haven't gotten the 579 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 2: return on it that they should have, and they're paying him. 580 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 2: They wrecked their salary cap by doing so. 581 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 3: Right, And look, if you want to applaud them for 582 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: going for it, go ahead that, yeah, but you have 583 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 3: to the move has to pay off too, you know, 584 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 3: applauding somebody. That's that's the sound of one hand clapping 585 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,959 Speaker 3: when you're applauding somebody for going for it. It has 586 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 3: to Hey man, it's uh. 587 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 2: You know. 588 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 3: One of one of my favorite Clint Hurdle quotes about 589 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 3: professional sports. This is a do good league. It's not 590 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 3: a try hard league. You know, Hey, we gave it 591 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 3: a shot. Well, exactly, that's great. Now, now show me 592 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 3: the results. 593 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 2: They don't. When you have that meeting at the end 594 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 2: of the year with the owner, he doesn't say, well, 595 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 2: you guys tried really hard this year. 596 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 3: Exactly. Great effort. 597 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 2: We were close a lot. We just didn't win them, 598 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 2: but we were close. 599 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 3: I that was I mean, for a variety of reasons. 600 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 3: I found that to be a mystifying move, a tremendous 601 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 3: move for Houston. 602 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, because he was not going to 603 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 2: play for them again. And and you know, Cleveland was 604 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 2: out of it. If you remember, Deshaun has said, now, 605 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 2: I've never done a two team. I think it was 606 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 2: Carolina and I can't remember the other team. And then 607 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 2: Cleveland says, well, what if we back up this this 608 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,239 Speaker 2: brinks truck of money? Does that change your mind at all? Right? 609 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 2: And then also, oh, sure, yeah, I'll come to Cleveland. 610 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: It sometimes does, right, He I question, I mean he doesn't. 611 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 2: He didn't necessarily want to be there. He hasn't played much. 612 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 2: It's been four seasons now since he's been a good 613 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 2: football player. So I just question. But again, he's the 614 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 2: he's the floor right now. I think he's in the division, 615 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 2: right And so they're a clear number one. You've got 616 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 2: to You've got the reigning MVP. You've got another quarterback 617 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 2: who could be an MVP candidate and has taking his 618 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 2: team to the Super Bowl. You've got a third quarterback 619 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 2: who has taken another team to the Super Bowl and 620 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 2: won a Super Bowl. I've been there twice and you 621 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 2: got Deshaun Watson. 622 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 3: I would go AFC North, AFC East. There's my ranking. 623 00:30:58,400 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 3: I can't argue it all right. 624 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 2: That was Eric at Holmes Rankings on NFL dot com. Eric, 625 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: thank you Eric for giving us a talking point there. 626 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 2: That's what we do here on the drive. He is 627 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 2: Rob King sitting in for Matt Williamson. I'm Dale Lollie. 628 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 629 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 2: We'll be back to finish up the show right after this. 630 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 631 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 632 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: and GOLDNR, Steelers Nation Radio. 633 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 2: Hi, Steeler Fans, you can get up with the latest 634 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 2: sideline apparel, hatser jerseys of your favorite players, authentic memorabilia, 635 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 2: custom items, and exclusives you can only find directly from 636 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 2: the team at one of the official Steelers pro shops. 637 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 2: They're located at Akroser Stadium, Grove City, Premium, Mount Let's 638 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 2: or Tanger Outlets, or you can visit online at shop 639 00:31:55,440 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 2: dot Steelers dot com. I'm here with Rob King, of course, 640 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 2: am Dale Lalli, Rob King sitting in for the vacationing 641 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson and yesterday Rob the new England Patriots sign 642 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 2: running back Fromandre Stevenson to a four year, thirty six 643 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 2: million dollar contract extension that included seventeen million or seventeen 644 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: million fully guaranteed. And I really I got to question 645 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 2: that move for a team that isn't close to competing 646 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 2: for a playoff spot right now, let alone a Super Bowl. 647 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 3: I wonder if they are You never know what a 648 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 3: team's plan is, right, what are they What are they 649 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 3: looking at here? What are they realistically looking at? Are 650 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 3: they looking at three years? 651 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 2: My guess is, since it's they're seventeen million dollars fully 652 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 2: guaranteed and we haven't seen any of the details of 653 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 2: the contract yet, my guess is that this is there's 654 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 2: a two there's an out after the second season. 655 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I'm my question is, I'm sorry, and I 656 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 3: phrased that poorly. What is the Patriots window for saying 657 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,880 Speaker 3: this is when we're gonna be good? So are they 658 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 3: are they telling Remandre, Remandre, You're gonna get paid a 659 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,800 Speaker 3: lot of money and you're gonna be clubbed a lot 660 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 3: because because we're going to give you the ball a 661 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 3: ton and you're gonna you're gonna you know this, this 662 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 3: is what's gonna happen. We're gonna run, run you, run you, 663 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 3: run you while we're trying to get better around you. Yeah, 664 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 3: I mean somebody's Now. You could also say, well, if 665 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 3: that's your goal, why pay somebody seventeen million to do that. 666 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 3: You can find any any number of willing candidates to 667 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 3: take on that role for a fraction of that money. Yeah, 668 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 3: I agree with you. I don't think they're a team 669 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 3: that's ready now. I don't know enough about Remandre Stevenson 670 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 3: to say, hey, this is the kind of character guy 671 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 3: that we want in the locker room. This is going 672 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 3: to be your true north right here. Ramandre Stevenson, that's 673 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 3: our guy. He's the pro. He's the guy that does 674 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 3: the things the way we want him done. He's the 675 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 3: guy you need to follow. I don't know that about it. 676 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know that either. That makes him the 677 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 2: fnth highest paid annual annual salary running back in the league, 678 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 2: putting him between Joe Mixon, who's making nine point eight 679 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 2: seven to five million, and then Derrick Henry and DeAndre 680 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 2: Swift at eight million. My question now, is is that 681 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 2: going to be the jumping off point for nause Harris? 682 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 3: Right, you're not. I mean we're all the same way, right, 683 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 3: You're not even finished reading the first sentence and you're 684 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 3: like Kama Naji Harris, Comma, you know. I mean, it's 685 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:48,800 Speaker 3: just the way it is. I mean, we want to 686 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 3: see things through the lens of our team and our players. 687 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 3: It's been quiet on that front, as it not that 688 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,399 Speaker 3: we would expect it to not be quiet. I don't 689 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 3: know what they're going to do with Naji. I like Naji. 690 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 3: I've been a najy. Look, there have been a lot 691 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:06,320 Speaker 3: of people that have, uh that have been down on Naji, 692 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 3: and I understand sometimes when when it's not going well, 693 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 3: it doesn't look good. You know, you talk about statistics 694 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 3: that I think are relevant. A couple of years ago, 695 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:16,319 Speaker 3: he was hit behind the line of scrimmage more than 696 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 3: any back in football. I think it was. Look, this 697 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 3: is a guy. To me, he's a tone setter for 698 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:28,759 Speaker 3: you too. And what you don't know is if you 699 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 3: take away one of your two punches in a one 700 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,319 Speaker 3: to two punch, What is that second punch just as 701 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,280 Speaker 3: effective as it was? And I'll give you an example 702 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:42,319 Speaker 3: of that. Go down to Dallas when Tony Pollard, who 703 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 3: I love as a player, became you know, every time 704 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 3: he was out there, My goodness, look at this guy. 705 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:50,880 Speaker 3: Go he's averaged six yards of carry and he's flying 706 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 3: up and down the field. And yes, I know he 707 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 3: got hurt, but hey, you take away ask him to 708 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 3: be the guy. It's not the same, That's right. And 709 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 3: now I think Jayal and Warren could take that. But 710 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 3: I also think in this in this really hard hitting, 711 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:10,759 Speaker 3: physical NFL, which is not getting any less physical, right, 712 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 3: you know, we talk about less hitting in practice. A year, 713 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 3: the guys get bigger, stronger, and faster. So if you 714 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 3: take away one of your elements there in that one 715 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:24,520 Speaker 3: two punch, how effective is it going to be? But yes, 716 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 3: you're right, I read that and immediately my thoughts immediately 717 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:28,399 Speaker 3: went to Naji Hears. 718 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:31,759 Speaker 2: I guarantee every Steeler fan went there as well. And 719 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,240 Speaker 2: you know, I think it was six point eight million 720 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 2: dollars if the Steelers have picked up the fifty year option. 721 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 2: You know, I I I understand the mentality of not 722 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 2: doing it, and they're still you know, the option of 723 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,359 Speaker 2: signing him to a long term deal, and maybe it's 724 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:52,160 Speaker 2: you know, you know, just adding another couple of years 725 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:54,800 Speaker 2: under the end of that contract. We'll see. I don't know, 726 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:57,600 Speaker 2: but if I'm Nausee Harris, I'm going, well, I want 727 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:00,799 Speaker 2: at least nine I know. That's that's what this guy got. 728 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:03,719 Speaker 3: That's right, it's maybe it changes the price tag. 729 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's what happened. That's that's the chance that 730 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 2: you take when you don't sign a player because it 731 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 2: doesn't get cheaper based on everything else that's happening outside 732 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,800 Speaker 2: of your control. Right, you can't control what others do. 733 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:16,719 Speaker 3: You know. 734 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 2: The Dallas Cowboys right now a perfect example this. Had 735 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,600 Speaker 2: they signed Dak Prescott two years ago to a new deal, 736 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:25,560 Speaker 2: you're looking at fifty million dollars a year. Well, now 737 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:28,640 Speaker 2: that the going rate is sixty, you know, so that 738 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 2: price tag just continues. The same thing with Ceedee Lamb. 739 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 2: They're sitting there looking at Ceedee Lamb, going okay, now 740 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 2: the price tag is justin Jefferson type money, thirty five 741 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,440 Speaker 2: million a year because those those contracts have gone up. 742 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 2: Maybe we should have done this before, so you know, 743 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:46,239 Speaker 2: and I think the thing with Najee Harris that you 744 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 2: that people tend to overlook is his availability. He has 745 00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 2: not missed a game in his NFL career. Well, that 746 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:57,759 Speaker 2: happened at some point. Sure it's going to happen at 747 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:02,080 Speaker 2: some point, but it hasn't happened yet. And that availability, 748 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 2: as you called it, being able to set the tone, 749 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:06,640 Speaker 2: I think is something that people sometimes overlook. 750 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:10,839 Speaker 3: I think I would extend availability to include reliability. Yeah, 751 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:15,839 Speaker 3: I mean, because availability, I think he's he's available, he's 752 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:19,960 Speaker 3: going to reliably run hard and he's not going to fumble. Yeah, 753 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 3: he's a guy you can you know, you can rely 754 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:26,239 Speaker 3: on him in a number of different ways. Availability is 755 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:28,960 Speaker 3: one way. Running hard is one way. Not turning it 756 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:31,120 Speaker 3: over is one way. There's a lot to like about 757 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:31,799 Speaker 3: Naji Heirs. 758 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, and we'll see, you know, if the 759 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:38,120 Speaker 2: game breaking. You know, that hasn't been there. And I 760 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:41,120 Speaker 2: say that, and yet last year he was among the 761 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,360 Speaker 2: league leaders in twenty yard runs. Now, is he going 762 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,040 Speaker 2: to break off a forty or sixty yard run? Probably not, 763 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:50,400 Speaker 2: but those chunk runs for him. Again, getting back to 764 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,919 Speaker 2: what you said with setting the tone, his twenty yard 765 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:58,120 Speaker 2: run typically ends with him hammering into a defensive. 766 00:38:57,719 --> 00:39:01,000 Speaker 3: Bed, right right, Yeah, it doesn't usually go well for 767 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 3: the defensive back. And again we talked earlier about you know, 768 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 3: analytics and scouting, and there are other things like emotion 769 00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:13,560 Speaker 3: in a football team, and emotion doesn't past forever. But 770 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:18,279 Speaker 3: when you pick up your team by having a run 771 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:21,080 Speaker 3: like that, it does pick play last year. Guys are 772 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 3: hooping and hollering in the sideline played. 773 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:26,759 Speaker 2: Last year in Seattle, where he takes the defensive back 774 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:30,160 Speaker 2: and basically spikes him to the ground set the tone 775 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,160 Speaker 2: for the rest of that game. They were not going 776 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:35,320 Speaker 2: to lose that football game because and largely because of 777 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:37,880 Speaker 2: that run. Like, no, you guys going to We're not 778 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:39,640 Speaker 2: going to be tackled in this game. You guys aren't 779 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:41,719 Speaker 2: going to be You're not going to outphysical us, right, 780 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 2: And I think that carries a lot of weight. 781 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:46,920 Speaker 3: I've gotten into discussions with people that and people that 782 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 3: I really respect in the media about the notion of momentum, 783 00:39:51,239 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 3: and I think it's different in different sports, but I 784 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 3: do think I mean, just look at how in the 785 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 3: past we have seen Super Bowls just get away from 786 00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:02,399 Speaker 3: team right once it starts. I think once a team 787 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:04,839 Speaker 3: gets into the end of the third quarter and they're 788 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 3: down by ten points or fourteen points or whatever, and 789 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:11,040 Speaker 3: they realize, oh my gosh, all this work, my whole life, 790 00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,880 Speaker 3: this dream right here, it's not going to come to fruition. 791 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,920 Speaker 3: And the other team's like, oh my gosh, man, we're 792 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:19,560 Speaker 3: fifteen minutes away from doing this. I mean, look back 793 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:22,200 Speaker 3: at the Penguin's first Stanley Cup championship and you know 794 00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:24,480 Speaker 3: you win in the gear winning game seven eight? Nothing? 795 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:27,080 Speaker 3: Were you eight goals better than the North Stars or 796 00:40:27,160 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 3: did momentum start going your way and that bad feeling 797 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 3: creep into another team. I think Naji Harris is one 798 00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:37,600 Speaker 3: of those guys that can give you that momentum. You 799 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,880 Speaker 3: can't quantify it. It's elusive to try to define, but 800 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:42,440 Speaker 3: I think he can give that to you. 801 00:40:43,719 --> 00:40:45,080 Speaker 2: Rob has been a lot of fun this week. 802 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 3: Thanks my friend. 803 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:47,280 Speaker 2: We should do this more often. 804 00:40:49,120 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 3: All you gotta do is call no. I love as 805 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:55,600 Speaker 3: much fun as I'm having. I love listening to you 806 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:58,320 Speaker 3: and Matt Williamson. So anytime you guys want me on, 807 00:40:58,719 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 3: happy to do it with the dynamic duo is hard 808 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 3: to beat. 809 00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 2: I hope that's the case. I hope people feel that way. 810 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:06,279 Speaker 2: I mean, and we we definitely do try to h 811 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,160 Speaker 2: to please everybody. You can't do it, but no, it's 812 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,919 Speaker 2: been fun. Again. As I said when we first ones, 813 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:13,440 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm cheating on that a little bit. 814 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 2: But he knew about it, so it's not like I'm 815 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:18,040 Speaker 2: you know, I you know, Hey you okay, I say 816 00:41:18,080 --> 00:41:19,719 Speaker 2: you okay if I do the show with Rob, Yeah, 817 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:21,879 Speaker 2: I do the show with Rob. So we're good. 818 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:22,319 Speaker 3: Uh. 819 00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 2: He'll be back next week. No show on Monday. Matt 820 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:26,839 Speaker 2: and I will be back Wednesday and Friday next week 821 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:29,839 Speaker 2: as we uh we take some our some of our 822 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:33,239 Speaker 2: time off and hopefully uh get back into the swing 823 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:35,440 Speaker 2: of things here training camp just around the corner. But 824 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,239 Speaker 2: I do appreciate Rob King coming in and sitting down 825 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:40,400 Speaker 2: with us here that hopefully it brings a little different 826 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,200 Speaker 2: perspective to some things you guys get tired of here 827 00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:45,279 Speaker 2: and just from Matt and I all the time. But 828 00:41:45,480 --> 00:41:48,480 Speaker 2: for for Rob King, for Justin Miller here on site 829 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:50,960 Speaker 2: keeping us on the air as he always so capably does. 830 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:54,359 Speaker 2: I'm Dale, Lollie. We appreciate you listening to this edition 831 00:41:54,480 --> 00:41:56,840 Speaker 2: of the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio.