1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: Your tunes about drive on Home of the Black and 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Goal Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome back. I'm Dale l. He 3 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: is Matt Waves and it's just a drive one see 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: which Nation Radio and Matt. I was thinking back to 5 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: a year ago right around this time. Um, at that point, 6 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: the Baltimore Ravens were eight and three, okay, leading the 7 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: division UM in the North. In fact, they had the 8 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: number one record in the a f C at that time. 9 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: I believe at eight and three sounds very possible. I mean, 10 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: Tennessee end up getting the one. But then the Chiefs 11 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: weren't you know, eleven and o or anything at that point. 12 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: And Lamar was in m VP talks and you all 13 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 1: that good, all that good stuff, and then he got 14 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: hurt and then and then he got hurt. Um. The 15 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: Ravens held a three and a half game eat over 16 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: the Steelers at that point. One uh, six weeks later, 17 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:06,919 Speaker 1: the Steelers are nine seven and one in the Ravens 18 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: rate and nine. I mean, this is what happens when 19 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,960 Speaker 1: you lose a great player. Is well, a couple of 20 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: things that unpeeled there is. This season is far from over, folks. 21 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: I mean you mentioned last segment exactly x amount of 22 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: years ago, one day difference, you know against the Saints, 23 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 1: all that stuff. I mean, it's hard to maintain greatness 24 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: for seventeen plus games. That's kind of my point. So 25 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: what what made me think of this was the situation 26 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: in Buffalo, Like, if the Bills don't have Josh Allen 27 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: right for even a month, even a month in the 28 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: a f C, in that division where the loss already 29 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: to Miami and the Jets like it's time to thanks 30 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: to go south real quick. They play the Vikes this week. 31 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: I think you're on top is better than I am, 32 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: but I think they were open. His nine and a 33 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: half point favorites that dropped immediately after after Sean McDermott 34 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: talked today and said he did, I'm not talking about 35 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: Josh's injury. He's gonna be limited all week. We'll see 36 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: about the game. So do you three and a half 37 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: it's in Buffalo, do you agree with me that if 38 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: it's case Keenum, the Bills are a dog. They're not 39 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: team obviously. I mean it's it becomes a I mean 40 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: much more of a yeah, right, I mean that's not 41 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: the one loss, was it. They'll be now the Vikings 42 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: will now be the team. Remember we talked about this 43 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: last week. Does any team play both Philadelphia and Buffalo 44 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: in their places, it would be the Vikings. But unfortunately, 45 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: without Josh completely changes the equation. If you don't think so, 46 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: look at the Ravens last year with him without Lamar, right, 47 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: I mean I don't I'm not predicting this or thinking 48 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: it's you know, probable, but the Bills could miss the playoffs. 49 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, if he doesn't play, they look the number 50 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: one in the power rank. So it saw what they did, 51 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: the Steelers ripping through the league. If he is six 52 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: weeks or you know, the school said and says this 53 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: needs surgery, it's not. I mean, he's yes already, you know, 54 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: he's there, leading passer. It's also the leading rusher, right, 55 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: he's there, He's there, not the number one rushing threat. 56 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: It's kind of like what Lamar was exactly exactly. And 57 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if we had this conversation yesterday or not, 58 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: but again I was calling it rich guy problems. Everyone 59 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: would change, you know, many people, all of our listeners 60 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: would change offensive production with the Bills, of course, but 61 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: as great teams go, they're so dependent on Alan of course, 62 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: and digs, But like, who else is a really good 63 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: player on that offense? You know, like Davis to me, 64 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: the offensive lines average, I mean, it's good. Then they 65 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: run the ball okay when they need to. Dawson Knox 66 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: is fine. But they have two stars, I mean, they 67 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,839 Speaker 1: have two great players, and then they have a bunch 68 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: of B minuses and stuff. You know that they could 69 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: come back to earth quickly on offense if either one 70 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: of those guys is does the Lamar routine, I mean, 71 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: and one of them looks like it might be doing 72 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: the Lainar. It just shows how quickly things can change 73 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: in the NFL. I mean, one part of the season 74 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: is not like the next. No, not at all at all. 75 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: Based in the quarters for a reason, for a reason, 76 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: and you don't. I mean, and even like some of 77 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: these stats, I do, the stuff that happened in week 78 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: two that influences them isn't all that important, you know, 79 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: I mean, and I think most people listening know this. 80 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: But as a rule of thumb, when you prepare for 81 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: a team, they're not watching week one of what the 82 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: Saints did? You know they watched the last four games, 83 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: give or take, you know, and really base it off 84 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: of that to your new tendencies. Are these coaches change 85 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: all the time? Who got injured? How do you adapt? Oh? It, 86 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: teams are blitzing you like crazy. How's that working? But 87 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: they did in the beginning of the year or whatever 88 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: it is, so yeah, it changes very quickly. Yeah, it's 89 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: just it's just very interesting. Um. The other thing I 90 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: wanted to talk about here, Matt, real quick, if you 91 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: were if you're Buffalo and you were in the FC 92 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: or NFC South, you'd feel a lot better. Josh it down. Yeah, 93 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: I mean, take a month and we'll still You're in 94 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: the East and you've you've only got a one game lead. 95 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: The Bills are the only team in the division who 96 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: don't have a division win right, right division? And both 97 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: those teams earned it. They were They wasn't flukey. I 98 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: mean the Miami one was odd, but it wasn't flukey. 99 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: You could easily be third in that division when it 100 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: said and done, and hoping the Chargers loose to get 101 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: in the war. Yeah, it's just it's just very precarious. 102 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: They looked vulnerable, and they looked it's kind of part 103 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: of the problem with having these quarterbacks who carries so 104 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: much of the weight on the team. I mean the 105 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: Lamar's that Josh Allen's even to a certain degree ma 106 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: Homes because they don't run the ball particularly well. What 107 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: you threw sixty eight passes or something. Take that out 108 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: of the equation and in a way, I mean they're 109 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: different styles. But the Bucks and Packers and were so 110 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: dependent on their eight quarterback. When he turns from an 111 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: aid to be like, well, the offense goes from an 112 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: A minus to see you know when you get your 113 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: thoughts on this. So I looked these up today. Earlier today, 114 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: in there were eight quarterbacks in the league who averaged 115 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: less than six point five yards per passe attempt and 116 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: thirteen who are under seven yards per passe attempt. This 117 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: year there are eleven quarterbacks, eleven quarterbacks who are under 118 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: six and a half yards perpassit attempt, and nineteen who 119 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: are under seven yards perpassit attempt. It absolutely adds up. 120 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: The defense is sweeping the league is the fangio. What 121 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: he kind of does is that they play with lighter boxes, 122 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: and they asked their front to play a gap and 123 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: a half. It used to be YOURR one gap team, 124 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: your two gap teams. Now they kind of cheat and 125 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: do both and you're not so great against the run, 126 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: so be it. We are not allowing big plays. We're 127 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: gonna play so much too high cover for cover to um, 128 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: you know, a deep shell. Explosives are killing, you know, 129 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: is what all the defensive coordinators are fear the most. 130 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: And as a result, though I think this hurts the 131 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: Steelers a little bit. There's some teams out there that 132 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: are benefiting Atlanta, Chicago, the Giant, the Browns, you know 133 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: that aren't super talented and don't really care about the 134 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: big play. Daniel Jones isn't hitting Wandell Robinson on eight 135 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: yard ers anyway. So these defenses have adapted, and some 136 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: of the lesser put that in quotes, but they're flat 137 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: out lesser. I mean, the Giants, Atlanta Bears, they are 138 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: very many good players, but they're running the crap out 139 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: of the ball and they're keeping their head more than 140 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: above water. Yeah exactly. So you know, I actually wrote 141 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: an article about that earlier in the year. If the 142 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: Steelers could get some kind of running game, they're not 143 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: really that way. I mean, do you want to feature 144 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: Deonte and Friar Muth and all these guys, But it's 145 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: not like they're gonna be hitting big plays, and they're not. 146 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: But if you had a serious ground game that was 147 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: two levels better than it's been, you would be causing 148 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: a lot more problems. The other the other part of 149 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: the equation with this, So scoring is down across the lee. 150 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: There's one team right now averaging more than thirty points 151 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,679 Speaker 1: per game in the league. It's the Chiefs. The Chiefs 152 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: are over thirty. There are ten teams scoring twenty or less. Yeah, 153 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: and the league hates that. Yeah. And again in you 154 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 1: had five teams that averaged more than thirty points per 155 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: game and you had just four under twenty was a 156 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: COVID year though that was a little that was higher 157 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: than ever. But people started, but people, the coaching staffs 158 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: adjusted and started playing more that that we're not going 159 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: to give this up. And you know, even last year 160 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: you'd see that kind of stuff. Again, it's the Bills 161 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 1: and the Chiefs, you know, and Mahomes and Allen and 162 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: those type of guys you know, had to learn to 163 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: brady their way down the field and think and dunk. 164 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: Now it's everybody. Everybody hasn't. Yeah, Yeah, Like the Bengals 165 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: got tons of single high last year and they just 166 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: throw bombs that chased down the sidel Now they never 167 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: see single high and the other thing that that does 168 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: now because quarterbacks are again averaging less than seven yards 169 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,319 Speaker 1: per passe attempt, h you've gotta you've gotta matriculate the 170 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: ball down the field. And if you make a mistake 171 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: a holding penalty, a sack, a turnover, obviously, um, you're 172 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 1: not scoring right right. Yeah, And what's kind of interesting 173 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: to me is I mentioned Brady, the old dude should 174 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: be good at that because they've been around the block 175 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: and they'll take what you've given them. But the old 176 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: guys aren't playing very well. And I don't think it's 177 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: because of the way the defense are playing, and I 178 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: think they all got old, basically Rogers in particular. But 179 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: it's just it's just interesting. I mean, you know, the 180 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: league that would love I mean, we're gonna do a 181 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: fantasy segment next segment. Everyone that plays fantasy knows scoring 182 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: is down, and it's it's harder than ever. You don't 183 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: putting up big weeks. I think the league would like 184 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: more scoring, obviously. The one thing I think is they 185 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: should look at like now though, is all the illegal 186 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: men down fields. I keep tweeting that out like they 187 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: made it a point of emphasis this year, and that's great. 188 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: If if if scoring his school, you know, pete teams 189 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: are scoring like crazy and you get a five year penalty. 190 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: You don't care, but you're typically negating some kind of 191 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: positive plan because it's an easy completion. Yeah, right right, 192 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: it's catching run. That's what they're gonna give you. You're 193 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: gonna you know, and you're taking that off the board, 194 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: and you're you're you're taking a five yard penalty, and 195 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: you know again if you're not. Yeah, and if you're 196 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: averaging seven yards of a pass attempt and you only 197 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: complete two out of three, you're punning. I say, this 198 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: is probably too much, but I mean the root of 199 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: all the problem, in my opinion is the D lines 200 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: are so much better than the old lines in the NFL. 201 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: Roger Gal would never sit to Pody and be like, wow, 202 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: the old lines aren't there as good as D lines. 203 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: They massage things to make life easier, like the two 204 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: thousand twenty year when holding the right right, you know, 205 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: so to hurt the offense with this point of emphasis, 206 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: and these point of emphasis is are always highly emphasized 207 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: and they're not gently, but typically when they'll they'll emphasize 208 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: it for like the first month of the season and 209 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: then scale it back. I haven't seen that happen. I've 210 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: seen I've seen at least when a legal man downfield 211 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: call in every game that I've seen this year. Everyone yeah. 212 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: I mean sometimes they'll be like, we're gonna be tighter 213 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: on defensive holding or whatever it is, and the players adapt, 214 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: and the and the and the refs also over emphasized 215 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: it in the preseason and call everything close. But the 216 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: problem with this one is the old lineman don't know 217 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: it's r p os. They don't know that their eyes 218 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: are forward, they don't know if the ball got handed 219 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 1: off or thrown. I mean, they're blocking their guy downfield. 220 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:59,559 Speaker 1: Should I sit here and just let him go free? 221 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: You know? Right? They might need to let that slide. 222 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: And if I would like them, see I'd like to 223 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: see them adjuster rule. Right now, it's one yard downfield, 224 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: one yard downfield for guys who are six five, it's 225 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: one step. That's one step the last Yeah, how about 226 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: how about two or three yards? You know? Or just yeah, exactly, 227 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: And I think that's perfect. I don't want guys running downfield. No, 228 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: I don't want that, but I to you. I mean again, 229 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 1: two steps is and the other part that's that much 230 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: of an advantage. Yeah, that's the other thing. And it's 231 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: supposed to be as we saw in the game against 232 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: the Browns. With the Steelers, uh, if if the alignement 233 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: is engaged with a blot with a rusher, if you 234 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 1: take your guy and you shove him, if you do, 235 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: that shouldn't be a call. The situation for the Steelers 236 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: in that game was that the guy got hurt. He 237 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: went down. Um, you know, and what are you gonna do? 238 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: I mean, he got beat. You're there, you're there that 239 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: you're engaged, and all of a sudden he just crumples 240 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: and now you're standing there with nothing. You know, Oh 241 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: I got no. I mean, as mentioned the old lines, 242 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: jobs it enough as it is. And now I don't 243 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: know if it's a run or a pass and I'm 244 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: gonna get flagged. And I do have perfect ham position. 245 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: I came off the ball great, but I can't dry 246 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: this guy at the two bared off field or flag 247 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: is gonna hit me in the back. You know, if 248 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: it's a running play right exactly, you know it's an 249 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: r p O and they could be running behind you 250 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: and you want to create the hole. Yeah, and I 251 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,839 Speaker 1: don't because I'm worried about the flag, like it's a 252 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: little sticky. I'm not sure how the NFL should fix it, 253 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: but to your suggestion, at least to say two yards. Yeah, 254 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: I mean maybe that cuts out. It's an imaginary line 255 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: to begin with. Like you know, the officials are going 256 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,719 Speaker 1: to call, you know, they're calling that. Um they're looking 257 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: at it? Is that a yard? Is that a yard 258 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: and a half? Is that? You know? It's such an 259 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: arbitrary rule. It is, and clearly not that anyone cares anymore. 260 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: But like go watch Nighties tape of or nineties when 261 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 1: Jim Kelly's in the shotgun, those tackles aren't like three 262 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: yards off the ball either, you know what I mean, 263 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: Like it looks like a line, you know, now, it's 264 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: like a flying v exactly. So they are helping these 265 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: guys because they're not on the ballot. Who were even 266 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: kidding the tackles in some of those situations. Yeah, their 267 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: their head is supposed to be the rule is now 268 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: that their head has to be at the guy next 269 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: to them belly button, his waist. I didn't know that 270 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: it has to be even with his waist. So they're 271 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: they're they're giving you the flying you can look like 272 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: geese flying south from the winner. Um. Some of the 273 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: teams though, it's like wow, Yeah, I mean the Steelers 274 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: they get called a couple of times for that in 275 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: the game. A couple of weeks ago was that in Miami. 276 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: I think they get called for it twice. I think 277 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: the core four got hit with it once and more 278 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: got hit with it once. Um. Interesting, but some of 279 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: the arbitrary you know, one one crew calls it, the 280 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: next crew doesn't. That kind of stuff that happens. Um, 281 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: you know's it's just it drives me crazy. But but 282 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: it's such a great game. It's a hard one to officiate. 283 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: It's a hard one to write rules for compared to 284 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: hockey and baseball and things like that. But scoring being down, 285 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: I promise changes next year, so they'll adjust that. Yeah, 286 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: it's gonna go. You know what, we gotta get rid 287 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: of that rule. We gotta get you now you get 288 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: play with twelve. Yeah, go back to emphasizing defensive holding 289 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: and things of that nature to you know, pump up 290 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: the offensive numbers. But I bet deep down, I mean, 291 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: the guys that know that are really in charge of 292 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: the league are like, man, this is a potential problem. 293 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: We get in front of it. Yeah, I mean, do 294 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: you talk about all those Thursday night games have been 295 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: blocked offensively? Well, okay, let's let's get some scoring, you know, 296 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: even if it's two bad teams. But they play in 297 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: the thirties and seeing big plays, and you know, I 298 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: think Sports Center highlights aren't as good as it used 299 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: to be. It's not Tyreek Hill split in the safeties 300 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: and you know, big plays left and right. You know. 301 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: So everyone's justin how they play, and that's not unique 302 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: in this league. I mean when you have guys like 303 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert averaging less of seven yeards for past attempt 304 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: that's not good for the game of the game. I 305 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: mean he's a true star. Yeah, I mean, that's like 306 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: a young bad you know, young Dominique Wilkins. And some 307 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: of that's because their offensive line stinks as well, and 308 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: they've had some injury to it. Still, it's not what 309 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: they want problem looking like stars. And this year's down 310 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: a third of the league averaging less than twenty points 311 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: a game. Yeah, a third of the league is basically 312 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: considered low scoring. Yeah, I mean that's that's not a 313 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: barn burner at all. The only people that liked these 314 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: kind of games is Vegas because nobody bets, then everybody 315 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: likes us. They all bet the overs because they want points. 316 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: I mean, we're close to the same age we were born. 317 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: Understand the seventies and great defense A nine six games 318 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: fine for me as a viewer if it's great defense. 319 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: But like watching Colts Broncos Onday, that was not great defense. Offense, 320 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: just bad, bad, bad. That kind of stuff needs to go. 321 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: And I mean I can stay on a soapbox all 322 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: day that I think thurs Day football is just a 323 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: lesser product, period. But it's not going anywhere. It's not 324 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: going anywhere, no, of course not. I mean, it makes 325 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: big money. We all watch, you know, I get it, 326 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: it's a lesser. Same thing with the with the games overseas. 327 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: I mean those are typically kind, man, because one team, 328 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: you know, one or both teams are dragging because they've 329 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: they've flown all night to get there. Seattle plays at 330 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: six am their time. This week against Tampa. It's still 331 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: nine am for Tampa. It's still nine am for Tampa. 332 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: But Seattle's not go into a Wednesday. They're they're probably 333 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: on a flight right now. I would love to see 334 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: them that game in any other some neutral spot in America, 335 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:28,959 Speaker 1: because I think Seattle is better than Tampa. I mean, 336 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: I think it should be like the To me, I 337 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: think the Union needs to step in on that one 338 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: and say no, you both teams have to go over 339 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: for the entire week. Because I can tell you this. 340 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: You know, when the Steelers played in London, they flew 341 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: over after practice on Thursday, so they practiced, they had 342 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: their regular practice on Thursday, their regular workday on Thursday, 343 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 1: flew overnight, got to got to London Friday morning their time, 344 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: London London time, and then had a normal work day 345 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: that day. I mean, I was, I was out of it. 346 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: You said by kickoff you did not Sunday. I still 347 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: didn't feel right. You know, Saturday, let alone, Friday and 348 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: Saturday were wasted. What's definitely gonna happen to Seattle this 349 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: week and without probably Tampa as well. But you're playing 350 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: at six am and your time. Nobody plays football at 351 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: that time, right, even if you're in college football. You 352 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: know they're not putting you on this the Thursday game 353 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:28,679 Speaker 1: of the week on on of course weird stuff and 354 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: it's a lot of travel. It's a lot of travel. Yeah, 355 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: I think I think the the the Union um needs 356 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: to step in and say something about that. Just I 357 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: think it's it becomes a safety issue. It absolutely does 358 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: tired players. The other thing, I've been harper on this 359 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: for years and I'm not smart enough to figure out 360 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: the schedule, but I could. I'm sure even if it 361 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: means eliminating a preseason game. You could have a seventeen 362 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: game schedule in nineteen weeks and give everyone two buys 363 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 1: and no one plays on one practice going into Thursday. 364 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: I remember the year when they had they had a 365 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: couple of years there where they had the double buys 366 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: and it just was too much. It stretched. This was 367 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: a weird week for us. Yeah, as as fans to 368 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: have a team. I mean, I see what you're saying, 369 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: But a true player safety like you would never go 370 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: overseas what they do now those they give you that 371 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: built in week after the preseason, so you get the 372 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: week off, but you still got the extra week to 373 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: to kind of heal up and get ready after the preseason. 374 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: I would by if you're playing Thursday night, you had 375 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: a buy already. Now you're pushing the super Bowl back 376 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: in the mid February, Well, don't give him that week 377 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: that they that off week. You almost have to do 378 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: that because they don't want to They don't want to 379 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: play games on Labor Day weekend. Right, I guess that 380 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: is one of the issues too. Again, I must more 381 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: enough to figure out schedule. But I mean I think 382 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,239 Speaker 1: two buys could get could be done. I don't know, 383 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: Oh it could be done. But again, you'll be playing 384 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: the super Bowl in the middle of February. Yeah, I 385 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: guess so, I mean you push it back, and you 386 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: know that's that's stretching the season out then too long 387 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: a little bit. I mean, it's already a bit of 388 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: a problem with me. Is NFC Championship game in Green 389 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: Bay is like you know what I mean, like it's 390 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: two wintry Yeah, you know, especially if you're you're not 391 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: even sitting out plan on it. But right, and that 392 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 1: to me, that's at you are one of those watchers 393 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: that like you do virtual reality watching, so you leave 394 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: the doors and windows open on your house and it's 395 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: like that get a brought that gets gold in two 396 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: seconds freezes up. But there are some league wide issues underneath. Yeah, 397 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: I mean we're halfway into this now that it's you know, 398 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: early in the season, it's like, well, scoring is down 399 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: a little bit behind defense. Now it's obvious. Now it's 400 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: just obvious. Yeah, And there's it's not as high flying 401 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: of a of a sport right now. Yeah, when you're 402 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,360 Speaker 1: halfway through the season and one third of your teams 403 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: aren't averaging twenty points of game and there's only one 404 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: averaging thirty one one, right, and that's uncommon. Yeah, And 405 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: we know like Buffalo and Philadelphia have good offenses, teams 406 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,719 Speaker 1: like that that they can score, and folks, the Steelers 407 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: aren't a good offense. Right This hasn't helped either, not 408 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: at all. Uh. Subscribe to the Mike Tomlin Game Day podcast. 409 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola talks with head coach Mike 410 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: Tomlin about the upcoming game. New episodes drop every game day. 411 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: They're available on the Steelers mobile app, the I Heart 412 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: Radio app, and wherever you get your podcast. He is 413 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: Matt Williams and I am Dale Ali. You're listening to 414 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be back 415 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 1: with more right after this