1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 2: Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers 4 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: Audio Network. Wes Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here 5 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 2: for the next two hours on this Thursday, as we 6 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 2: get closer and closer to Steelers and Brown's on Sunday. 7 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: I'm gonna talk to Bob Labriola here in about twenty 8 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: minutes get his thoughts on everything that transpired over the 9 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 2: bye week in this upcoming clash with Cleveland. It's also 10 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: a Thursday, so we'll do a little ex Twitter Thursday. 11 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 2: You know where to get at us if you want 12 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: to get involved at Williamson NFL at Wesley Yuler and 13 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: Matt Speaking of the Browns, Yeah, little newsworthyeno or trade 14 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: for they've been doing a lot of that certainly. I 15 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 2: mean they've traded two quarterbacks already this season now a 16 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 2: defensive back as well to the Browns. 17 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 3: Weird corner swap. Yeah, yeah, I totally understand it, but 18 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 3: immediately is like, this is weird. 19 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: Okay, because that was my initial reaction yesterday, and I've 20 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 2: obviously been kind of waiting to pick your brain about. Yes, yeah, 21 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: uh these teams also, the Browns and the Jags had 22 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: that draft day trade as well too. Jacksonville go up 23 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 2: and get Travis Hunter. So another Jags and Browns trade 24 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 2: the Drags the Cleveland part of me sending Greg Newsom 25 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: and the Jets twenty twenty six sixth round pick that 26 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: the Cleveland had to the Jags. The Browns in return 27 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: getting Tyson Campbell in the Eagles twenty twenty sixth seventh 28 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: round pick that the Jags had. So some some third 29 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: round pick swapping in their Day three part of me. 30 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,559 Speaker 3: Tick swats so common in. 31 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: There, so common nowadays. But what really matters is the 32 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: Browns and Greg Newsom corner to the Jags and they 33 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,119 Speaker 2: get Tyson Campbell corner from Jacksonville in return. What's this mean? 34 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: What's your thoughts on these players in this move? For Cleveland, 35 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: the late. 36 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 3: Pick swap hardly matters. But I didn't realize Jets could 37 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 3: be the first pick in round six, Eagles could be 38 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 3: the last pick in round seven. So they're almost maybe 39 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 3: two rounds difference. 40 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 2: That's the first I knew that they could be sixty 41 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: some spot. 42 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, So it's a little more significant than 43 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 3: I thought. I just kind of kicked that to the side, 44 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: like I'll throw in a penny to make the deal work. Okay, 45 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 3: so both are good players. Let's start with the Jags. 46 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 3: It's weird to swap a corner for a corner, you know, like, 47 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 3: what are we doing here? So Tyson Campbell they kind 48 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 3: of looked at as he's going to be our number one. 49 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 3: He said. Both these guys were high picks. They're both talented, 50 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,559 Speaker 3: they're both good players. They gave Tyson Campbell a big contract, 51 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 3: you know, this offseason or last offseason, and he hasn't 52 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: quite lived up to that. You know, he hasn't been 53 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 3: a true number one corner. He's a good player, but 54 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 3: he's not quite worth that money. So Newsom's the better player, 55 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 3: not by leaps and bounds, but he's the better player, 56 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 3: and the Jags are going, well, we'll swap this corner 57 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: out for a better one. It's all about money. Newsom 58 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 3: is a free agent after this year, so the Jags 59 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 3: look at it like, okay, we get a better player, 60 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 3: but we don't know what the future is with this 61 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: guy after this season. We'll either talk to him and 62 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: extend him which will be expensive because if he hits 63 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 3: you up market, Newsom's make a lot of money, or 64 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 3: he walks and we get a third round compick. So 65 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 3: we're either renting them and getting a third run com 66 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 3: pick in two years, and we're trying to win. And 67 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: I don't think it has anything to do with Hunter. You know, 68 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 3: Hunter is also a corner, but I don't think it 69 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 3: matters at all. Newsom's had an interesting career in that 70 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 3: he was first round picking Northwestern, size, speed, has all 71 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 3: that stuff. You know. He looks like a prototypical first 72 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: round corner with length and all these things. But he 73 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 3: got drafted into a situation in Cleveland where they really 74 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 3: have had three good outside corners, but none of them 75 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: are a slot. So he's been forced to kind of 76 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 3: transform his game into a slot player. Now, the other 77 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 3: corner not ward. The other one got hurt and he's 78 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 3: out for the year, so they have this hardened dude 79 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 3: who's going to be the slot. So Newsom went back 80 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 3: outside this year where he really belongs, and that's exactly 81 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,559 Speaker 3: where Jacksonville is gonna use him Becausejacksonville has a great slot. 82 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 3: Jordan Lewis the Michigan kid and Newsom was fine in 83 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 3: the slot, but he's really excelling as an outside corner, 84 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 3: which is what he was drafted to do and everyone 85 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: the planet thought he would do. But to his credit, 86 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: he's like, we got three outside dudes. We like having 87 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 3: three Joey Porters. Like someone's gonna play the. 88 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 2: Slot, right, Joey Porter Junior. 89 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 3: They could see right, exactly right, Like, I mean, the 90 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 3: there are three best guys, will put them on the field. 91 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 3: But that's we're asking someone to be a square peg 92 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 3: in a round hole. Sure, so the Browns look at 93 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 3: it through this lens of we're not winning this year. 94 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 3: I mean, it's just like the flack coat trade. I mean, 95 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: it's we weren't playing rookies. 96 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 2: We're we're looking at twenty twenty six already massively. This 97 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: guy's probably not gonna be part of that, right a 98 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: walk in free agency. 99 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 3: He's gonna be too expensive for us to re sign. 100 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 3: So we can either have Newsome for the rest of 101 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 3: the year and maybe win one more game, or have 102 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 3: a slightly better defense or this other high quality corner 103 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 3: that is under contract. And Jacksonville's almost done all the pain. 104 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: You know, they gave him the big bonus. We don't 105 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 3: have a corner. 106 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: Need any pennies on the Dolls. 107 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you know, so we'll take that. Dude. It's 108 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 3: just two organizations being in totally opposite spots. Jacksonville sees, oh, 109 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 3: we might be able to win this year. No team, 110 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 3: and I give the Browns credit, is looking to twenty 111 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 3: twenty six more than the Browns. I mean, they made 112 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 3: the Gabriel move, They're leading the league in rookie snab 113 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 3: They're playing every young guy they possibly can. I'm not 114 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 3: predicting this, but it wouldn't shock me at all in 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 3: the next two weeks if the Joku, Judy somebody or both, 116 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 3: they could go, you know, play all the young dudes, 117 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 3: play fan in, play bond. All these guys are getting 118 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 3: a lot of snaps anyway, so it makes perfect sense. 119 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 3: What I have no clue about, though, is how does 120 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 3: it affect the Steelers on Sunday. Yes, there's a guy 121 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 3: to play. Yeah, I mean they're a heavy man coverage team. 122 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 3: I guess he could just line up and play man. 123 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 3: I mean, you don't have to be super dout in. 124 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 3: But that also leads itself to we could definitely make 125 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 3: some coverage bus and with the team, I would definitely 126 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 3: go his direction just because he's new. He's a good player, 127 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 3: but Ward's really good. I assume he's gonna play. I mean, 128 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 3: Flaco is playing for the Bengals. 129 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: I was just gonna say, if Joe for the Bengals, 130 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 2: I think Tyson Campbell could get on the field and 131 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: listen in some capacity for Cleveland. 132 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, so it makes a lot of sense just where 133 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 3: both teams are at. It's finances. 134 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, that when you've got to break it down that way, 135 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: it does make a ton of sense. Maybe not the 136 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 2: most needle moving move, but one that. 137 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 3: Works, two good corners getting swapped each other. 138 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: One that works for both teams and kind of the 139 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: current situation that they're in. 140 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't know what it means for 141 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 3: the Steelers, but it's probably good news because the better 142 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 3: guy left. 143 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: Better guy left, and there's gonna be a piece of 144 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 2: that secondary who's you know, trying to hop on the 145 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: proverbial moving train. 146 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: Yeah right, it might not. 147 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: Be completely up to speed yet. Yeah, that's an interesting wrinkle. Again, 148 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 2: not a seismic move or anything like that. Ahead a Sunday, but. 149 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 3: It definitely very often it's pretty interesting. 150 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: Yes, you know, definitely something to keep an eye on 151 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 2: on Sunday. 152 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 3: And these people are human beings, I mean, like you 153 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 3: just you've been losing a bunch of games. The people 154 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 3: in the locker room obviously notice you're moving to rookies. 155 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: I'm not saying they're gonna stop trying, but the Miles 156 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: Garrett's and the veterans of the world realize we're looking 157 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:03,559 Speaker 3: to next year. You know, if you're Jack Conklin, right exactly, Yeah, right, yeah. 158 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: So hey, some some new news as it relates to 159 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 2: the AFC North, the Browns, and of course the upcoming 160 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: opponent for the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday at Akrosure Stadium. 161 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: Just the Steelers second true home game. I know the 162 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: one in Dublin was technically a home game, but at 163 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: Akroschure Stadium on deck here we'll talk about all those 164 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: things with Bob Labriola in just a few minutes. Matt, 165 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 2: what do you say, as we typically do here in 166 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 2: the first hour on a Thursday, you're ready to jump 167 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 2: into some Matt's stats for this week. 168 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, pretty proud of the packet. This week is always 169 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: and a lot of good nuggets in there. 170 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 2: I love it. If you're watching on YouTube, I've got 171 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: the packet here in my hands. I've got some things 172 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 2: highlighted on this package as well too. 173 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 3: It's not yet on Steelers dot com. I just looked 174 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 3: while I was getting coffee, but it usually is about 175 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 3: this time, so if people want to find it. Yeah, yeah, the. 176 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 2: Cheat sheet will be up soon on Steelers dot com. 177 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: Until then, we will run through some of these numbers 178 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 2: for you. Uh, let's talk a little bit about this 179 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 2: Steelers offense here. Pittsburgh producing fourteen point eight points in 180 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 2: the first half of games. That's fifth most in the NFL. 181 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, how much time do we spend in the offseason? 182 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 4: Slow starts differential was the worst of the league, right right, 183 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 4: Cleveland producing just six points in the first half. 184 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 2: That's dead last in the NFL. Now though, kind of 185 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 2: tale of a different story in the second half and 186 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 2: the second half the Steelers producing just nine point three 187 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: points per second half. That's twenty fifth out of thirty 188 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 2: two teams in the league. The Steelers are the Browns, 189 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 2: part of me, right on their heels in twenty sixth 190 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 2: producing eight point six real. 191 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 3: Quick on the Browns, They're just bad all game They're 192 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 3: just bad, right. I don't think there's a trend with them. 193 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 3: They're just bad all game. 194 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 2: But here's the real kicker. The Browns giving up thirteen 195 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: point eight points in the second half. That's twenty fifth 196 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 2: in the NFL. Right, so a Brown's defense that is 197 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: certainly one of the best in the league, but maybe 198 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 2: not quite as stout in the second half of games 199 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 2: is they are in the first thirty minutes? 200 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, And as I'm sitting wondering, well why, I mean, 201 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 3: that's obviously what we want to talk about. Stats are great, 202 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 3: but let's figure out why. 203 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 2: Is it just because they're getting worn down and they 204 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 2: can only do so much and they can only hold 205 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: that damn off for so long before break? 206 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 3: Think so, but they're much better in time of possession 207 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 3: than the Steelers. They're at least over the average. There 208 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 3: are thirty one minutes and change, so they're above average. 209 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: Obviously average would be thirty across the league. That being said, 210 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 3: it has to wear on you in the offense. Is 211 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 3: that bad? 212 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:30,839 Speaker 5: You know? 213 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 3: I mean, like you can't be as good at the 214 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 3: end of the games as you are at the beginning. 215 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 3: Just watching the offense turn the ball over three and out, 216 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 3: you know, punt blah blah blah blah. I would think 217 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 3: that there's something to that now. As much as I 218 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 3: like the Browns defense too, it's not real diverse schematically, 219 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. Like, it's a lot of 220 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 3: single high there a lot of man. Yeah, they prefer 221 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,599 Speaker 3: to play with heavier personnel. They want to be in 222 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 3: their base four to three as much as possible, all 223 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 3: things up to them. They don't play with lighter boxes. 224 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 3: You know, They're going to dedicate themselves of playing the run, 225 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,479 Speaker 3: and they test their corners and trust their pass rush. 226 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: So maybe you start to get a little bit more 227 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 3: of a beat on it. You know, you see the 228 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 3: same thing over and over, you like, get a little 229 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 3: better at it against it as the game goes on. 230 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 3: Do you have any theories on the Steelers offense why 231 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 3: it goes backwards? I love that it's starting fast, you know. 232 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 3: That was the thing we complained about, was the slow start. 233 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 3: My thoughts are, you're not establishing the run. 234 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: That's exactly what. 235 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 6: Yeah. 236 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't want to say it's smoking mirrors in 237 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 2: the first half, no, but I think in the first 238 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: half teams are just more honest about defending you and 239 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 2: all the options are on the board, Whereas after thirty 240 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 2: minutes you're not running the ball, and Aaron Rodgers is 241 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: kind of having success dinking and dunking you and kind 242 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 2: of paper cutting you a little bit down to the field. 243 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: It's like, hey, we got to take that away and 244 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: make these guys run the football a little bit. I mean, 245 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 2: that feels like the only logical answer at this point. 246 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 3: Me too. I mean, like, because they have had some stalls. 247 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:01,319 Speaker 3: I mean there was a stretch there where there was 248 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 3: a three and out like three times in a row. 249 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 2: The Patriots game, six possessions that were either three and 250 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 2: out or the inn straight possessions that were either three 251 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: and out or the interception to Bobby Spilling. 252 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, So I mean, and of course, all these stats, 253 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 3: if you only play four games, if one's bad, it's 254 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 3: going to weigh you down a lot. 255 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 2: Of course, we're still the sample size is legit now, 256 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 2: but it's there's still some grain of salt elements there 257 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 2: for the next couple of weeks. 258 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 3: And if you go through this whole packet, I still 259 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 3: think you get a really good understanding of how teams 260 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 3: want to play, what they're doing well all those type 261 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 3: of things. You really get a feel for the teams 262 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 3: through the numbers. But I was a little shocked that 263 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 3: they were as good as they were in the first half, 264 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 3: and who was stressed to positive. It's like, I know 265 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: they've had good first drives, especially compared to other years, 266 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 3: but I didn't think they'd be near the top in 267 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 3: terms of scoring in the first half. And again the 268 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 3: Browns scorings. It's their batt all the time. 269 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's huge for the Sea defense too. Yes, 270 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 2: you have laid this out many times, like it's been 271 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: very rare in TJ. Watt's career to use him as 272 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 2: as an example that you know, it's the third and 273 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: fourth quarter and the Steelers are up seven or up 274 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: nine or up ten, and Renegades blaring and the terrible 275 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 2: Towels are and everyone knows I'm pinning my ears back 276 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 2: and I'm going to getting the quarterback. 277 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 5: Yeah. 278 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, he doesn't have much of his career at all. 279 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 4: It hasn't No, there's been more of that credit at all. 280 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 4: It has not happened a mist those benefits. Maybe that 281 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 4: one year that they had with Baker Mayfield. 282 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 2: I know when they went to the playoffs and beat 283 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 2: the Steelers in that weird kind of COVID wild Card 284 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 2: game with only like seven thousand people in the stands. 285 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 2: That's I think that's a big part of why we've 286 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 2: seen the Steelers defense. Hey, first couple of weeks weren't great, 287 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 2: but they stabilized very quickly, and I think that's been 288 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: a huge part of it. It's it's much easier for 289 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,679 Speaker 2: the Steelers defense to operate with that lead and the 290 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: way that they want to play and turning guys like 291 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 2: TJ and her big loose. 292 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 3: And we saw a little bit in Dublin. 293 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 2: We saw a little bit of that in Double a Lot. Yeah, 294 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 2: but hopefully that continues that. To me, this is hello, 295 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 2: Captain obvious, no kidding, but the start in this one 296 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 2: feels very important, not only not only for just knocking 297 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 2: Cleveland down in their morale and kind of oh no, 298 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 2: here we go again, but just for what it would 299 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 2: mean for their defense and for the Steelers defense if 300 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 2: the Steelers were to get an. 301 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 3: Early lead, because the Browns also want to run the ball, 302 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 3: and if you could get them out of their comfort zone, 303 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 3: and that the Judkins. 304 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 2: Over and over make Gabriel have to make some plays 305 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: and make some throws. 306 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 3: And have those tackles protect and you know, renegade and 307 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 3: you know we've talked to you know, we know who 308 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 3: we're going on with that. 309 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 2: There's a there's a clear script, I think without a doubt. Yeah, Matt, 310 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 2: let's get to a break here. We'll talk about all 311 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: these things. We'll talk about this Browns match up with 312 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 2: our buddy Bob Labriola when we return on the other side. 313 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 2: Wet Huler, Matt Williamson. It is the Drive here on 314 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: a Thursday on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. 315 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven 316 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 317 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 5: Back on the. 318 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 2: Back on the Drive here. It'd probably help if I 319 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,479 Speaker 2: turned my microphone on, wouldn't it on a on a Thursday? 320 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 2: And you know what that means. It's time to go 321 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 2: to the phone lines and talk to Steelers historians Steelers 322 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 2: dot Com. He's part of the pregame show, Asked and 323 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: Answered here on the Steelers Audio Network. He does it all. 324 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 2: It's Bob Labriola Labs. Hope you enjoyed your your bye week. 325 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 2: Good to be back chatting with you here. In our 326 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 2: kind of usual time on a Thursday and partner, I 327 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 2: can't imagine a better bye week for the Steelers as 328 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 2: it related to their foes around the AFC North. 329 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, you know, it's always a good NFL 330 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 6: weekend when all coach is named Harball Lowse. I mean, 331 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 6: that's a good start for me. All the time the 332 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 6: Browns lost, the Bengals lost, So yeah, I mean, you know, 333 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 6: things went. You know, it's really nice when you don't 334 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 6: have to play and kind of gain ground in the standings. 335 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 3: So, Labs, I'm probably asking you a question that's unanswerable. 336 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 3: And I was the one that was a Browns employee 337 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 3: for three hundred and sixty five days and during that 338 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 3: year I saw three head coaches, two gms. Since they've 339 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 3: joined the league in nineteen ninety nine, they've started eleven 340 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 3: more quarterbacks than even the second most since Baker Mayfield 341 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 3: left this they're on their tenth starting quarterback. You're older 342 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 3: and wiser than me. How can this organization not understand 343 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 3: that stability is really important, especially when the team two 344 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 3: hours away is the model of it. 345 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 6: Well, I you know, I the thing with me is, 346 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 6: I think, really, when the Browns came into the league. 347 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 5: Back came back into the league in nineteen ninety nine. 348 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 6: I thought they had relatively solid ownership. You know, the 349 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 6: Learner family I think had a pretty good grasp on 350 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 6: it in terms of you know, I'm not saying that 351 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 6: you know, they were experts in football necessarily, but they 352 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 6: seemed to understand what you were just talking about. Yeah, yeah, 353 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 6: that you know, you can't. I remember Mike Tomlin used 354 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 6: this phrase blowing in the wind in terms of one 355 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 6: training camp, you know, a quarterback competition, and he said 356 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 6: he wasn't going to blow in the windy and meaning 357 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 6: he wasn't going to vacillate you know every day. Who 358 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 6: what the what the pecking order was, the quarterback depth chart? 359 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 6: You know, you you try and go with somebody and 360 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 6: you want to give them an opportunity to establish themselves 361 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 6: them personally, and you know the other people around them. 362 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 6: You know, I don't think that Jimmy Haslam has any 363 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 6: concept of that. 364 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 5: I mean, the one that. 365 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 6: I will never forget never was the draft when they 366 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 6: picked Johnny Manziel with the second pick in the first round. 367 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 6: And I remember him talking about coming out of a 368 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 6: restaurant the night before the draft and there was a 369 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 6: guy sitting on the sidewalk, and the way he. 370 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 5: Explained it sounded. 371 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 6: To me, you know, like the guy was homeless, and 372 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 6: he the homeless guy said something about you got to 373 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 6: pick Johnny Manziel. 374 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 5: Now, you know, I don't know. 375 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 6: That there's anything wrong with that kind of exchange or 376 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 6: but I don't know the way you know, he said 377 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 6: it to the media as if that had some sort 378 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 6: of impact on a decision. Uh. And I, you know, 379 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 6: just that that to me was just I it was 380 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 6: unfathomable that that that would be true, first of all, 381 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 6: and that the second thing is that he would admit it. 382 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 3: Into a live microphone, right. 383 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 6: So uh and that's you know, that's and I think 384 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 6: that it has continued under you know, his uh, his ownership, 385 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 6: that the Shaun Watson thing, the guaranteed contract just there 386 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 6: just doesn't seem to you know, this isn't and I 387 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 6: always tell people who send me weird questions and asked 388 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 6: an answered, this is. 389 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 5: Not a video game. 390 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 6: You know, there are real flesh and blood, people involved, 391 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 6: human emotions, They have lives. You know, you have to 392 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 6: consider all of these things in decisions. 393 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 5: It's not just ay. 394 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 6: You know, an avatar on a video screen and you 395 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 6: the joy stick boos him around and he does whatever 396 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 6: you want. 397 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 5: I mean, so, uh, you know, I just don't. 398 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 6: And hey, is that great philosopher Juju Smith Schuster said, 399 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 6: and not all that long ago? The Browns is the Browns, 400 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 6: And it just doesn't seem like they learn no. 401 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 3: And I can tell a super quick story that I 402 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 3: can verify as fact. It was I think two drafts 403 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: before the year I was there, and they of course 404 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 3: had an early pick. They were terrible, and they do 405 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 3: all their draft meetings and they leave for the day 406 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 3: the night before the draft, and everyone in the room's going, okay, 407 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,440 Speaker 3: we're taking Richard Seymour here, I think they had the 408 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 3: third pick or the fourth pick. Consensus. We know he's 409 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 3: gonna be there. We know who's gonna be off the board. 410 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 3: We're taking Richard Seymour. Three picks go. By the next day, 411 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 3: everyone's just kind of sitting near the feed up. Give 412 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 3: Richard a call. You know, good, everything went to plan. 413 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 3: Now we're gonna take Gerard Warren because we recruit him 414 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 3: from his floor to days when we were at the 415 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 3: U and we knew his family, so we're more comfortable 416 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 3: with that, Like it's just and one turned out to 417 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 3: be a Hall of Famer and one turned out to. 418 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 5: Be a not. 419 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 3: This is a kind way of putting it, so. 420 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 2: Having the tail on the donkeys. 421 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 3: But I bet there's a million of those stories in 422 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 3: that organization and labs. One thing I wanted to ask you, 423 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 3: because I know you're a historian of the league too. 424 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 3: Folks back then, and even if I wasn't involved with 425 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 3: the team, I'd be aware of it. But they had 426 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 3: a tougher road And this is an excuse anymore as 427 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 3: an expansion team than like the Jags or the Panthers 428 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 3: did right, Like the rules were harder on them because 429 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 3: I think the league was too kind to the Panthers 430 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 3: and Jags, so they were pretty harsh on the Browns 431 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 3: in terms of like expansion draft and things of that nature. 432 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I don't really. 433 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 6: I do remember that there was a little bit of 434 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 6: pushback from the other owners, you know, the other Well, 435 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 6: it wasn't thirty two teams at the time in ninety 436 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 6: five when the Jaguars and the Panthers came in, but maybe. 437 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 5: It was thirty teams whatever. 438 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 6: The other twenty plus teams because you know, the Panthers, 439 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 6: I think they were in the conference championship game in 440 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 6: ninety six. 441 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 3: And both were successful right away. Brunell the playoff, Yeah yeah, 442 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 3: Besell yeah yeah, yeah. 443 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 6: Yes, so yeah, I mean I don't think that, you know, 444 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 6: the owners feel that it's in their best interest to 445 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 6: allow the new people too much of an opportunity, you know. 446 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 5: To be good quick, even though it may be good 447 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 5: for the league. I mean, I don't know, and I don't. 448 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 6: And the franchise fee might have been more too for 449 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 6: the Browns. 450 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: I knew there were sour grapes in the building, like Bow. 451 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 3: We had a lot harder than the Jags and Panthers did. 452 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 6: Yeah. 453 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 5: Well, I mean. 454 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 6: You know they can thank art Model for that, for 455 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 6: even being in this situation, right, they were right, So 456 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 6: I mean, you know, again, it's not a situation that 457 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 6: wasn't somewhat I won't say their responsibility because none of 458 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 6: the people who were there in nineteen ninety nine had 459 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 6: anything to do with nineteen ninety five, I don't think. 460 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 6: But you know, it wasn't something that well, the name 461 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 6: of the franchise was totally blameless in anyway. 462 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 2: Labs I wanted to ask you. You know, you sent 463 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 2: us all a pretty eye popping packet kind of dossier 464 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 2: on the AFC North and you know, the kind of 465 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: historic point differential and win percentage in a bad way 466 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 2: for the division so far this season. But the Steelers 467 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 2: sitting pretty at three and one. I know it's a 468 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 2: large sample size. I mean, the AFC North when the 469 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:02,400 Speaker 2: lead leagues had their realignment since two thousand and two, 470 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 2: so it's been over twenty years. But off the top 471 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 2: of your head, can you remember a time in these 472 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 2: twenty or so years that the Steelers were sitting in 473 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 2: such a pretty position in the division so early in 474 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 2: the calendar. 475 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 6: No, But you know, I this is what I know. 476 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 6: The NFL is a week to week league, okay, And 477 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,919 Speaker 6: I believe you know, Tanchilkin was always a major proponent 478 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 6: of this, and I have come to believe that as well. 479 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 6: The league kind of resets every every four weeks. And 480 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 6: you really used to be convenient when there were sixteen games, 481 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 6: because you know, four weeks was was a quarter of 482 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 6: the season, and you know, football is playing in quarters 483 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 6: and you know, all of that stuff just seemed to 484 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 6: come together so nicely. But I mean, the you know, 485 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,880 Speaker 6: when you look at the teams that you thought were 486 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 6: eight in September, I mean that's not necessarily the case. 487 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,880 Speaker 6: I mean, look at the Chargers. I mean the Chargers 488 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,679 Speaker 6: were they were they were a hot a hot ticket early. 489 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 5: Look at the Chargers. 490 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 6: Boy Harbaugh is doing a great, great job, and Justin 491 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 6: Herbert is a great player and great this and great that. 492 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 6: I don't think anybody's saying about them anymore. That anymore 493 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 6: and it today, I would maintain that that was a 494 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:31,879 Speaker 6: heck of a win the Steelers had up at Gillette 495 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 6: Stadium against the New England Patriots. Uh when at the 496 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 6: time the Patriots were thought to stink. Yeah, you know, 497 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 6: so you know the Seahawks losing to the Seahawks. 498 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 5: How could they lose to the Seahawks. 499 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 6: Well, you know, that's a That's another team that I 500 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 6: think is a little bit better than people, you know, 501 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 6: when they looked at them on paper or the way 502 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 6: their their uh start of the regular season buzz was, 503 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 6: you know. And the Ravens, you want it the other way. 504 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 6: The Ravens, I mean, I get it that they're injured, 505 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 6: and there's there's a lot when they're they're. 506 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 5: In active list. 507 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 6: Last week I mean, wow, yes, but their defense stunk 508 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 6: when all those players were playing, So I mean, yeah, 509 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 6: you know. 510 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:26,360 Speaker 5: So it's it's not. 511 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 6: It's I don't know, it's not what it seems to 512 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 6: be a lot of times, and I think this is 513 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 6: one of those years. Now. You know, everybody's looking at 514 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 6: these next two games. Oh, the Browns think the Bengals 515 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 6: think you can't lose to these two teams. You know, 516 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 6: Thursday night road games are brutal. 517 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 5: They're just brutal. 518 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 6: Because you play on Sunday, you're real, what are you 519 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 6: gonna do Monday? I mean, in terms of with your players, 520 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,679 Speaker 6: you almost have to you can't practice. I mean, guys 521 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 6: are just you know, trying to get themselves out of 522 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 6: bed and work the kinks out a little bit on Monday, 523 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 6: and you don't. You have to introduce the game plan 524 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 6: pretty much. So you have Tuesday. Wednesday you got to travel, 525 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 6: that's the rule. And then Thursday you spend the day 526 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 6: in the hotel. Maybe you have a walk through in 527 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 6: a ballroom or something. But you know that that's, to 528 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 6: me is a recipe for disaster. I don't care who 529 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 6: you're playing. And because NFL teams, you know, it's easy 530 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 6: to say they stink. 531 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 3: But the Jamar Chase and Trey Hendrickson. 532 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 6: Uh So you know, again, like I said, the numbers 533 00:27:55,840 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 6: look good right now, but I still believe that the 534 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 6: Steelers are all teams really are in should be in 535 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 6: a phase right now of stacking wins to try and 536 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 6: remain relevant in terms of their one loss record when 537 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 6: they get start approaching Thanksgiving, because then it starts to 538 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 6: maybe crystallize a little bit. You have a better idea 539 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:27,479 Speaker 6: of which teams are either consistent or where flashes in 540 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 6: the pan one way or the other. Maybe you know, 541 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 6: good for a little bit and now they're found their level, or. 542 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,400 Speaker 5: They started out slowly a. 543 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 6: Little bit and then they found their level. You have 544 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 6: a better sense of you know, who's where, and I 545 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 6: think that's when the things start to get, you know, 546 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 6: more real. But you know, as I said, you need 547 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 6: to have a good some good numbers once you get 548 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 6: to Thanksgiving so that you're relevant enough so that you 549 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 6: if you haven't, can try to continue to improve over the. 550 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 5: Course of the season. 551 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 6: Your your one loss record is good enough so that 552 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 6: if you have improved, you can take advantage of. 553 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 5: It your improvement. 554 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 6: You know, you're not too far away, you know, you're 555 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 6: not one to nine or something, and then the hill 556 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 6: is just too high to climb. So, you know, everybody 557 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 6: seems to want everything immediately. Everybody seems to want everything 558 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 6: cut and dried today. Who's going to make the playoffs today? 559 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 5: Are they going to be any good? 560 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 6: I want to know today. You know, I'm even getting stuff. 561 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 6: Who you're going to draft next April? I want to 562 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 6: know today. 563 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 5: Which are the quarterbacks? 564 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 6: You know, who's the best who's the best quarterback fit 565 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 6: for the Steelers? Tell me today? You know, none of that. 566 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 6: That's just not it's just not real. You hear all 567 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 6: the time people who work in the NFL, people been 568 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 6: around the NFL, all of that stuff they always say 569 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 6: about a season. You know, it's a marathon, not a sprint. 570 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 6: Nobody's listening, nobody's paying attention. Then they don't want to 571 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 6: hear it. I want I want to know what I 572 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 6: want to know, and I want to know it now, 573 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 6: and I want it to be a definitive yes, no 574 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 6: great stink whatever. So but it's just not that way. 575 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 6: That's why so many of these games come down to 576 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 6: the last couple of minutes. So many of these games 577 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 6: are one score games so often teams have made the 578 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 6: playoffs last year don't make the playoffs this year, and 579 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 6: vice versa. The NFL has created a business model where 580 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 6: everything they want to do promotes this. You know, they 581 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 6: used to call it when I was a kid, On 582 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 6: any given Sunday, that was Pete Roselle's phrase. You know, 583 00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 6: on any given Sunday, one team can beat another team 584 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 6: and you. 585 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 5: Know the parody. 586 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 6: Uh, it's it's it's amazing, and this is what they want. 587 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 6: The league and the TV ratings, the networks love it, 588 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 6: the broadcast partners love it. A particular team's fans might 589 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 6: hate it because they want what they want when they 590 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 6: want it. But it's and it's gonna be a It's 591 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 6: gonna be a ride. You hope it's not too much 592 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 6: of a roller coaster ride in terms of the lows 593 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 6: being too low, but really hold on and enjoy it. 594 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 6: But I don't know that a lot of people want 595 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 6: to do that. 596 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 3: I couldn't agree more loud. You said a ton of 597 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 3: great stuff there, and I mean all fan bases are 598 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 3: guilty of this. But Steeler Nations flying high right now, 599 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 3: Division's falling apart just one in Dublin. Everyone's getting healthy, 600 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 3: but they happen to lose on Sunday. Fire everyone burn 601 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 3: down the building. I mean, and you know that's how 602 00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 3: it's gonna happen on Monday. If it doesn't. 603 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, and it's you know, the the outside noise 604 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 6: is and it really I won't say it doesn't have 605 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 6: any impact because as I mentioned, it's not a video game. 606 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 6: Those are real human beings. They have to live. 607 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 3: Their lives with kids and family and. 608 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 6: Whatever it is, you know, and in the in the 609 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 6: scourge of this planet. 610 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 5: The scourge of the human race, social media. 611 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 6: I mean, it's just it's just relentless and unforgiving, and 612 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 6: you'd like to tell people to, you know, try and 613 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 6: get the message across, you know, stay off social media, 614 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 6: you know, don't listen to it, don't pay attention to 615 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 6: the trolls, blah blah blah. But I mean, the age 616 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:59,240 Speaker 6: group of the people who play in the NFL, that's 617 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 6: what they know. Social media is what they know. So 618 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 6: I mean, I don't know what the answer is, but 619 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 6: I'm just the Steelers can definitely lose Sunday. If they 620 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:20,600 Speaker 6: don't lose Sunday, they can lose Thursday. It's the way 621 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 6: the league is. I mean, who thought the Browns beat 622 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 6: the Packers? Right, there's another team. Yah, unstoppable Micah Parsons. 623 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 6: Oh my god, the greatest defense ever. You know, forget 624 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 6: the eighty five Bears, forget the seventies Steelers. This Packers defense. 625 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 5: Is the greatest thing ever. 626 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 6: I mean, I don't know anybody's even talking about them anymore. 627 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 5: And I'm not saying they stink. I'm using them as an. 628 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:52,200 Speaker 6: Example that this is the kind of stuff. And just 629 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 6: one more, one more mini rant about Steeler fans last 630 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 6: year the year before. But the thing that was going 631 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 6: to cause the franchise to implode was can't score touchdowns 632 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:13,279 Speaker 6: on the first possession your first possession. 633 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:13,280 Speaker 5: Of the game. 634 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,359 Speaker 6: Oh my god, when was the last time that happened? Well, 635 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:20,360 Speaker 6: that's six you know, blah blah. I actually did the research, 636 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 6: and from the time Ben Roethlisberger retired until the start 637 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 6: of the twenty twenty five season, in fifty one regular 638 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 6: season games, the Steelers scored a touchdown on their first 639 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 6: possession of a game five times. Five times of fifty 640 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 6: one games. 641 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 5: Oh my god. 642 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 6: Now they're doing it pretty regularly, and it just seems 643 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 6: to have gone away. What was so important is now 644 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 6: not even something that you hear about anymore. So it 645 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 6: was it important or was it not? You know, were 646 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 6: you overreacting then or you know if somebody once said, 647 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,280 Speaker 6: are you lying to me now? Or were you lying 648 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:05,240 Speaker 6: to me then? So again, as I said, it's it's 649 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 6: it's part of what fans are, uh And I get it. 650 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 6: But in an era now where being a fan allows 651 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:24,240 Speaker 6: people a microphone via social media or a podcast or whatever, 652 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 6: I mean, it's it's everybody is an expert, everybody's an insider. 653 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and your Chargers example was a perfect one. I 654 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 2: mean they were three and oh and Kings of the 655 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 2: World and Herbert was gonna win m VP and they 656 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,040 Speaker 2: were going to win that division. And now a lot 657 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:42,440 Speaker 2: of people are saying they're not even going to make 658 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:43,959 Speaker 2: the playoffs, you know, the. 659 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:45,919 Speaker 6: Right Houston and Herbert isn't that good? 660 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:48,279 Speaker 2: And Herbert exactly right, and Houston. Everyone was ready to 661 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,319 Speaker 2: put a fork in Houston. And now they've won two 662 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:52,320 Speaker 2: in a row and starting to show some life again 663 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:55,200 Speaker 2: and they're back on everyone's kind of hype train. 664 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 6: It is. 665 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 2: It is certainly such a week to week league in 666 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 2: that regard. That's part of why we love it, but 667 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:05,240 Speaker 2: it also drives us insane u sometimes at the same time, Labs, 668 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 2: thank you so much, Voice of reason, Voice of sanity 669 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,800 Speaker 2: so often here on the Steelers Audio Network. We appreciate 670 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:13,200 Speaker 2: the time, and we'll see you on Sunday. 671 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:15,759 Speaker 5: All right, take care of follos. 672 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 2: Bob Labriola. There he goes. Great stuff from him. I 673 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 2: like the I almost made a joke when he was like, 674 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:25,440 Speaker 2: everyone wants to know who the Steeler quarterback is going 675 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 2: to be right now, like Frandom Mendoza Indiana University. 676 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 3: Sign up. 677 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 2: Great stuff from LABS there as always and yeah, hey, 678 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 2: even at three and one, he can find something sticking 679 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:41,239 Speaker 2: in his craw. That's what we love about Labs. Yeah right, 680 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:42,360 Speaker 2: I mean, he's right. 681 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 3: It's not like the Steelers are playing so much better 682 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 3: all of a sudden because other the three teams lost. 683 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 2: You know what I mean, exactly right, and you love 684 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 2: your spot right now, But in the next seven days 685 00:36:55,719 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 2: that could completely get flipped upside down, I mean, and 686 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 2: go to three and three, the sky would be fall. 687 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:05,480 Speaker 3: Oh, the sky would fall. They lost to what Arizona, 688 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,840 Speaker 3: New England and back to back games or whatever. That 689 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:09,839 Speaker 3: were They were big favorite two years ago. 690 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 2: I think that was right. 691 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 3: Fire everyone burned the stadium to the ground, you know, 692 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:14,640 Speaker 3: I mean, this organ is Come on. 693 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:17,279 Speaker 2: Man, it is such a week to week, such a 694 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:20,000 Speaker 2: day to day league. That's why we love it. It's 695 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,280 Speaker 2: not baseball. There's not one hundred and sixty two. 696 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 3: Games, you know, the Red two tomorrow. 697 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:29,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, it is. It is fantastic. That's why we 698 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 2: love it so much. That's why we're so hyperbolic about 699 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:34,919 Speaker 2: all this. But always great to have Labs on as 700 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:37,560 Speaker 2: a as a voice of sanity once a week. Here 701 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:40,040 Speaker 2: on the Drive, we have got to close down the 702 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 2: first hour of this show. Matt Steeler's latest practiced reports 703 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,440 Speaker 2: were just coming across the timeline here and there's some 704 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,840 Speaker 2: good news in there that we will share and we 705 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 2: will discuss when we return on the other side. Also 706 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:55,239 Speaker 2: a few tweets rolling in already as well. I've got 707 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:57,439 Speaker 2: some of those bookmarked and save for the second hour 708 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:00,880 Speaker 2: the show. We will do a little x Twitter Thursday 709 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,560 Speaker 2: here if you want to get at us at Williamson 710 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:06,800 Speaker 2: NFL at Wesley Yuler is where you can get involved 711 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:09,360 Speaker 2: with the show today. Play more as we roll along 712 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:12,200 Speaker 2: latest injury report practice report for the Steelers. On the 713 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,759 Speaker 2: other side, it's The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on 714 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 2: the Steelers Audio Network, your tuned. 715 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:33,319 Speaker 1: About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of 716 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio. 717 00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:03,480 Speaker 2: Back on the Drive here on a Thursday, closing down 718 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,800 Speaker 2: the first hour of the show. Keep those tweets rolling 719 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:07,600 Speaker 2: in if you want to get involved. We will get 720 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:10,720 Speaker 2: to those as well as plenty more of Matt's stats 721 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:13,719 Speaker 2: in our number two. But Matt's some more pertinent kind 722 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:16,680 Speaker 2: of news of the day, if you will. The Steelers 723 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:20,359 Speaker 2: Thursday practice report is just coming across the timeline here, 724 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:23,480 Speaker 2: and I would say mostly good news, good a lot 725 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 2: of encouraging things here. Now let's get to the kind 726 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,440 Speaker 2: of the downside. I don't think this is surprising or 727 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:32,280 Speaker 2: anything new bad news. First, Jalen Ramsey and Calvin Austin 728 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:37,000 Speaker 2: still know did not practice yesterday, Wednesday or today Thursday. 729 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 2: Not surprising, not surprising, but any telling, any kind of 730 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 2: hope that maybe they'd be limited one of these days 731 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 2: and is out the window. And I think you can 732 00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:50,320 Speaker 2: probably assume, you know what they say happens when you assume, 733 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 2: but you could probably assume that neither one is going 734 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:53,920 Speaker 2: to go on Sunday against the Browns. 735 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:56,800 Speaker 3: Now, nobody of consequence told me this, but I was 736 00:39:56,840 --> 00:39:59,279 Speaker 3: at the facility today and just kind of at lunch 737 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:02,160 Speaker 3: scuttle by talking. It's pretty tasty. 738 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:03,680 Speaker 2: It was on the menu what we do today. 739 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:07,200 Speaker 3: We did h Cajun pasta with lobster. 740 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:09,480 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that was nice. 741 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:12,880 Speaker 3: Whisper that again, that was nice, and then a chicken 742 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,759 Speaker 3: chili that was quite yummy on the side, and then 743 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:17,239 Speaker 3: I had some delicious strawberries. 744 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:20,279 Speaker 2: Motes used to always say, there's only there's only two 745 00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 2: things in this world that are undefeated, father time and 746 00:40:23,800 --> 00:40:25,919 Speaker 2: the chefs down the Steelers strong. 747 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 3: It's pretty strong. Yeah, Where was I going with some 748 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:30,879 Speaker 3: of the scuttle butt? 749 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:31,839 Speaker 2: Was scuttle butt? 750 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 3: Not that Ramseys You'd love to have him against the Browns, 751 00:40:35,120 --> 00:40:37,960 Speaker 3: don't get me wrong, but you really want to have 752 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:39,719 Speaker 3: them for the Bengals, no doubt. You know what I mean. 753 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:42,399 Speaker 3: I think that's the goal, not like, oh, we're taking 754 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:45,480 Speaker 3: the Browns lightly, but Chase and Higgins are on the 755 00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:48,200 Speaker 3: Bengals and there on the Browns. Crown tight ends, you. 756 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:51,160 Speaker 2: Know, correct, YEA makes a lot of sense. So that's 757 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:56,479 Speaker 2: the not surprising but just kind of not encouraging news either. 758 00:40:57,320 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 3: Kind we were keeping our fingers crossed, but that's probably 759 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:00,600 Speaker 3: time done cross. 760 00:41:00,719 --> 00:41:03,200 Speaker 2: Exactly right neutral to where we've been. Good news for 761 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 2: Ben's kronick. He was limited Wednesday with an illness, full 762 00:41:06,239 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 2: practice participant today. 763 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:12,360 Speaker 3: It's amazing how quickly they heal from like serious flus 764 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:13,279 Speaker 3: and things like that. 765 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:15,040 Speaker 2: Some of the medicine and stuff that they have to 766 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:16,880 Speaker 2: give those guys is not the same stuff that we 767 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:17,880 Speaker 2: can get over the counter. 768 00:41:18,520 --> 00:41:20,319 Speaker 3: I referenced it, you know, I did the year with 769 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,919 Speaker 3: the Browns, but like I'd be all sniffly and I'd 770 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:25,160 Speaker 3: go in my boss and movie. He's like, go downstairs 771 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:26,799 Speaker 3: and tell them, you know, like I thought that was 772 00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:28,399 Speaker 3: player's own. He's like, they'll just give you a pill 773 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:30,560 Speaker 3: and you'll find him. Mark. It was, and I'm not 774 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:33,840 Speaker 3: close to an elite athlete or even an adequate athlete. 775 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 2: It was one time on the road two years ago. 776 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 2: In fact, I think it was in Cleveland actually, if 777 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:40,040 Speaker 2: my memory is serving me correctly, that I was hurt 778 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:43,640 Speaker 2: and I was struggling, and Missy Matthews was like, don't worry, 779 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,600 Speaker 2: I got you. Like when went into well, I mean, 780 00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:48,520 Speaker 2: I don't think like she had to think, asked somebody 781 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:49,360 Speaker 2: and yeah, yeah. 782 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:52,600 Speaker 3: And she'd like pull the drawer and you know, get. 783 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:54,920 Speaker 2: Felt like I was gonna lose my lunch, like I'm 784 00:41:54,920 --> 00:41:57,080 Speaker 2: in trouble. Yeah, and she was like here, I got 785 00:41:57,080 --> 00:41:59,080 Speaker 2: this for you. And twenty minutes later I was like, 786 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:01,080 Speaker 2: I'm ready to conquer the world. I'm fine. 787 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:02,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, they get you better. 788 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:06,240 Speaker 2: So good news for Ben Skronick in that regard. Also, 789 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:11,239 Speaker 2: Matt continues to be awesome, encouraging progress or status of 790 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 2: Joey Porter Junior. He was a full participant again today after. 791 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:17,160 Speaker 3: Being yesterday Like he's out of the. 792 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:20,239 Speaker 2: Jalen Warren same as well. Two straight days of full participation, 793 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:22,799 Speaker 2: so I think we expected that. But it's still good 794 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:25,320 Speaker 2: to see no setbacks or anything like that. 795 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:27,400 Speaker 3: During the week. But I think we're like in the clear, 796 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:27,759 Speaker 3: you know. 797 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:30,160 Speaker 2: I think so too. Knock on what we'll get. We'll 798 00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:32,120 Speaker 2: get labs to Yeah, he camera down on the desk 799 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:36,280 Speaker 2: one more time. And then the very good news after 800 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:41,040 Speaker 2: being limited in yesterday's practice, Alex high Smith full participant today. 801 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:41,440 Speaker 5: Nice. 802 00:42:41,719 --> 00:42:43,600 Speaker 3: Seems like the plan on a buy was give him 803 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:44,920 Speaker 3: a little more give him a little more, give him 804 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:46,960 Speaker 3: a little more, and maybe they'll do the same on 805 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:50,279 Speaker 3: game day. Okay, we're planning on having a pitch count 806 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:52,400 Speaker 3: on you. We'll see how you handle things. Maybe just 807 00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:54,680 Speaker 3: start out on third downs. Herbig's playing really well. Who 808 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:56,319 Speaker 3: knows that wone. What they're planning is. I'm just making 809 00:42:56,360 --> 00:42:58,400 Speaker 3: making solf as I go. But it might be like 810 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:00,040 Speaker 3: he's fine, just blaming as much as. 811 00:43:00,239 --> 00:43:04,600 Speaker 2: Yeah right, I think we It could be like same church, 812 00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:06,840 Speaker 2: different pew of what we saw from Derek Harmon and Foxborough. 813 00:43:07,239 --> 00:43:08,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, great example. 814 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,719 Speaker 2: Everyone was thinking he'll play ten fifteen snaps, get his 815 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:14,879 Speaker 2: toe in the water, he plays really well and looks 816 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:16,799 Speaker 2: healthy and ends up playing thirty four or thirty five. 817 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:17,560 Speaker 2: I think it was. 818 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:21,920 Speaker 3: Now one thing that complicates things a little. As Labs mentioned, 819 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:26,560 Speaker 3: you do play really really soon again, so things always 820 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:28,160 Speaker 3: are going to hurt. But if I have something that 821 00:43:28,239 --> 00:43:31,120 Speaker 3: hurts more than most, or I'm rehabbing from good point, 822 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,400 Speaker 3: what does Monday and Tuesday look like for port or 823 00:43:33,520 --> 00:43:36,600 Speaker 3: Warren high Smith, et cetera. You know, good points not alone. 824 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:37,799 Speaker 3: Whoever gets stinged on. 825 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:39,800 Speaker 2: Sunday, absolutely absolutely, but that's. 826 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:41,680 Speaker 3: A typical Thursday thing and when your coach has done 827 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:42,920 Speaker 3: a million times, that's helpful, you. 828 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:46,280 Speaker 2: Know exactly right, Yeah, that that's a very very astute 829 00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:50,320 Speaker 2: observation by you there as well. We also just moments 830 00:43:50,360 --> 00:43:52,520 Speaker 2: ago got the Browns practice report. 831 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:54,080 Speaker 3: Oh, we haven't touched on that much. I don't know 832 00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:55,239 Speaker 3: what's going on with them as much. 833 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:56,480 Speaker 2: And we got like third they're not. 834 00:43:56,440 --> 00:43:57,000 Speaker 3: Coming off a buye. 835 00:43:57,040 --> 00:43:58,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, because they are not coming off of bye and 836 00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:03,239 Speaker 2: they've got some more issues than the Steelers. Certainly, We've 837 00:44:03,239 --> 00:44:04,880 Speaker 2: got like twenty seconds here though, until we got to 838 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:07,200 Speaker 2: get to a break. Let's start with the Browns. Let's 839 00:44:07,239 --> 00:44:09,480 Speaker 2: just start the second hour and then we'll jump back 840 00:44:09,520 --> 00:44:12,319 Speaker 2: into some Matt's stats as well too. Plenty to get 841 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:14,880 Speaker 2: to an hour number two, including your tweets. You know 842 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:16,520 Speaker 2: where to get at us if you want to get involved. 843 00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:19,640 Speaker 2: Wes Wheeler, Matt Williamson, halfway Home. It's the Drive on 844 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:22,480 Speaker 2: Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network