1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I am Dale Lollly, he is 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: Matt Williamson and Matt we have well five sixths of 5 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: the first week of the playoffs are in the books 6 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: and uh no real super surprises there kind of. I 7 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: was not excited about the weekend by playoffs standards, no 8 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: to no lamar. You know there's gonna be some blowouts. Well, 9 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: the blowouts didn't happen, right right. There was more entertaining 10 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: than I expected, closer than I expected. Overall, the playoff 11 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: games you can't expect that. But for the most part, 12 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, the Giants one in Minnesota, the 13 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: Jaguars beat the Chargers, but those are the toss up games. Yeah, 14 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: going into the weekends in right, I mean, it wasn't 15 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: like San Fran got beat or the Bills or you know, 16 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: right right right, you know, all those games, at one 17 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: point or another, we're close. I mean San Fran trailed 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: at the half and end up pulling away. But the 19 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: other ones, you know, the Bills, the JA game was crazy, Yeah, 20 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: that one was nuts, But you know, the Bills I 21 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: thought played sloppy. The Bengals didn't play their best game, 22 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: and they've they've got issues. It's funny you say that, 23 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: because one of my biggest takeaways, first of all, was 24 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: I would like to see the Steelers chances against any 25 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: of these teams. First, they just Steelers Nation Radio. And 26 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they would have went into Buffalo and 27 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: whip them or anything like that, but Bills, Buffalo had 28 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: played like they played Saturday, the Saturday Sunday. Yeah, Sunday. 29 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: If Buffalo plays like they did Sunday against the Steelers, 30 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 1: like Steelers chances to win that game. Yeah. I phrased 31 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: it differently early today, like if you play the Chiefs 32 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: like that, you're gonna lose, You're gonna killed. Since or 33 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you're gonna lose bad. You have to step 34 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: it up to me, I don't know, but since you said. 35 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: One of the things that really showed up to me 36 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: this weekend, and it's how hard it is to win 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: a playoff game, and that if you have any issues, weaknesses, 38 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: they almost always get expected. Magnified. Magnifies a great word. 39 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: You know, over the course of just a sixty minute game, 40 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: like for example, I mean, the Chargers couldn't run the 41 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: ball all year. Eckler gets thirteen carries in that game 42 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: when you have gifts given to the whole first half 43 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: for the Bills. Times in the second half there was 44 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: nine players in a row and they'd like the twenty 45 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: point lead they threw it in, you know, nine time 46 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: after time after time, or the Bills run game, or 47 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: you know some of these things. You know, the nine 48 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: are certainly the uh. I think that's where you're going 49 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 1: with this. The Bengals O line and outside corner spot 50 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: right now, Like who cares if you're on a bad 51 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: corners against the Ravens, well against the Bills and put 52 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: the homes and all these other teams show up. You 53 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: know there are line issues. I mean, so I kind 54 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: of felt like the biggest winners or Casey and Philly 55 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: just kind of being able to sit back and see 56 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: more weaknesses get exposed. And that's why you want the 57 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: bye weeks, say, you know why, it's kind of a 58 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: big deal. Yeah, you And you also don't see guys 59 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: get hurt in those games, which we saw really in 60 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: all those games where somebody, you know, somebody went out 61 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: to keep player for the Bengals, for example, they lose 62 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: Joe and Williamson. Now he's not great, he's not great, 63 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: but he's there starting left tackle. They put a guard 64 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: to tackle and you can't play, and he can't play. 65 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: And they already had they were like the Steelers. They 66 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: went like fifteen weeks without any O line injuries. They 67 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: got to run the same five back and it wasn't 68 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: as good as the Steelers. That they have not fixed 69 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: their O line issues to begin with, but then the 70 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: last couple of weeks they've been without the right tackle 71 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: and now the right guard, who I thought with the 72 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: two best lineman. And then they lose Williams during the game, 73 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: who's vastly overrated, but he's a starting left tackle and 74 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: Burrows getting the ball of his hands remarkably quick. They 75 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: have no run game. They can't lean on Mixing at all. 76 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: It's all Joe and the receivers. They had to keep 77 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: putting p Ryan in there to pass block because apparently 78 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: he's a much better pass blocker than the mixing, which 79 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: again is a problem, um, you know, and he has 80 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: to stay in and chip every time. He can't go 81 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: out for pass. So everything's focused, you know, running it was. 82 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: It was just a mess. It was a mess, right, 83 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: and getting the ball out of his hands super quick. 84 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: And I thought Burrow played tremendous, But if he didn't, 85 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: you might lose that game. Let alone. The Hubbard yard return, 86 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: of course, was huge. And you can play that way 87 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: as well because you're playing a team like the Ravens, 88 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: who you know that. I don't even know how to 89 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: explain the two minutes they get the ball back with 90 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: three minutes left, Oh my gosh. Yeah, and just took 91 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: their good sweet time going down the field with time 92 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: outs left and they're huddling and they're not using them. Yeah, 93 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: this herd. I think that carries over the week one 94 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: next year. I mean, like like, it was amazing. It 95 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: was amazing. Somebody said I tweeted something out about that 96 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: today and somebody I've seen Tomlin do that. No, I've 97 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: never seen Tomlin do that. I've had some issues with 98 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: Tom and clock management, don't get me wrong, But that 99 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: was just like malpractice, like that they eve five plays 100 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: on the least. I mean that's being conservative. I mean 101 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: they're huddling about it a little bit. I understand it's 102 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: your backup quarterback, but he started a bunch of games 103 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: for you and you win or go home. I mean, 104 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: you've still got to play with tempo and use time outs. 105 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: I mean, that was insane they have. I'm like, do 106 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: they have a two minute offense? Because I don't think 107 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: they don't. Yeah, how much do they practice two minutes? 108 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: It doesn't look like much. And well, we brought it 109 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: up catch the ball last week when we were talking 110 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: about Lamar and how few fourth quarter in game winning drives. 111 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: He has point, they just don't do it starts. They 112 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: never have to do it. I wonder if they don't 113 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: practice it half as much as other teams. But they 114 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: don't practice as much as Steelers do. I'm sure they don't. 115 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: I mean do they go shotgun, no huddle, three four 116 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: wide like most teams, clapping and you know, using your 117 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: leg and all that. I mean, And that was unbelievable. 118 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: Between that and watching Miami Miami Butcher the end of 119 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: that game, they could get plays on the on time. 120 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: They kept making a big deal at Josh McDaniels done 121 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: a hundred times, he's calling the plays today. He's not 122 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: good at it. Well, you better be quicker about it. 123 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: You have a third string quarterback which I'm sure that 124 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: was part of the problem as well. But of course 125 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: I was just killing Skylar he doesn't always do. And 126 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: they weren't getting the place stands in the air, like 127 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: get me the play There was one instance late in 128 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: that game where the clock actually they put like extra 129 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: time on the clock because there was some you know, 130 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: procedural things going on, and they still didn't get the 131 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: playoff in time right, and they had false starts left 132 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: and right and pre snap stuff, and like, man, I mean, 133 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: if that game could have been a little closer, I 134 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: don't know how it was close as a what I 135 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: know how it was close, it was, but Buffalo kept 136 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: turning the ball over and Allan has some words now 137 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: in Miami's did score you know, a non offensive touchdown, 138 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,799 Speaker 1: which is big, but a buddy mines like it's josh 139 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: Allen Brett Farve. I'm like, yes, and that's a top 140 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: ten the whole time. I mean, that's a great compliment, 141 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: but there's some bad with that too. I mean, this guy, 142 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: it just will drill it anywhere. I mean, his high 143 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: moments were unbelievably high, but he needs to be better 144 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: than that. He missed some layups and some layups and right. 145 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: I mean, so there were a lot of warts exposed. 146 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: It was good football, was playoff football, but man, bad 147 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: things show up in the playoffs. Yeah. Um, just it 148 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: was an interesting weekend, let's put it that way, no question. 149 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: And given how the Steelers are playing down the stretch, 150 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: I like their chances in any of those games. Yeah, yeah, 151 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: I mean they could have. They could have hung with 152 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: any of those teams and perhaps won some of those games. 153 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: Do you agree that San Francisco was the most impressive? 154 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: Yes and no. And there's a couple of alleys I 155 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: wanted to go down there. Yeah, first half was fine. 156 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: Common opponent Carol. I mean I don't know about Party. 157 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: I know his numbers. His numbers look great because everything's 158 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: running catch at run after the catch, because there's guys 159 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: running open all over the field. There was like two 160 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: throws I counted that were contested catches or should I 161 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: throw that or not? Like that's phenomenal. I mean that 162 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: Shanahan and McCaffrey and the horses they have are remarkable. 163 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: They could win the Super Bowl because they really don't 164 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: ask much of their quarterback. And at the end of 165 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: the day, is numbers are through the roof. It's hard. 166 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: There was a there was a somebody tweeted out of 167 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: it was a catch down the sideline, and I think 168 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: of to Ayuk and a us running down the sideline 169 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: and he has to dive inside to catch that awful 170 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: throw he threw behind open receivers. People like, yeah, it 171 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: was an awful throw. It was completed, but it wasn't 172 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: because it was such a great pass. If he throws 173 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: that to the outside where it was supposed to be, 174 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: it's a touchdown. Still running right exactly, I mean, and 175 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: I understand. I mean the first half I thought pretty 176 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: looked rusty, nervous, whatever, and he got better. But still, 177 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 1: I mean, Deebo's wide open on across throwing passes that 178 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: I could complete. That's what I mean. There's the degree 179 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: of difficulty is very low, which I get the Niners 180 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: all the credit in the world for constructing that, but 181 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: I can't give him all the credit in the world. 182 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: I think we talked about this last Here's the other 183 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: thing about that, Matt, Yeah, I see this a lot. Well, 184 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: you know, the Steelers, they should be paying attention to 185 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: how Kyle Shanahan does this. Okay, I think he's the best. 186 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: That's fine, that's fine. But he has Christian McCaffrey, it's 187 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 1: all come together, who might be the best offensive weapon 188 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: coming out of the backfield in the league. He has 189 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk who we both love and 190 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: loved them coming out of the draft. And he's got 191 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,719 Speaker 1: George Kittle, who's the top three tight end in the league. Yes, 192 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: I mean, offensive line ridiculous. And they were held in 193 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: check for a while, but I was it was like 194 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: a volcano. You know, it's going to erupt at some point, 195 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: because how do you cover all those dudes. If Patrick 196 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: Mahomes was with the forty Niners right now, they would 197 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: go on beaten. Oh yeah, they'd be one of the 198 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 1: best teams. Never nobody would beat them, nobody with nobody'd 199 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: be within twenty points of them. So I tweeted this 200 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: out because the Niners are averaging just under thirty five 201 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: offensive offensive points per game and er six and oh 202 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: with Purty, Well, I think McCaffrey go out there like 203 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: seven games ago or eight games ago, you know what 204 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: I mean, what was It's not like they didn't Yeah, 205 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 1: they didn't score when they you know, they got McCaffrey 206 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: opened the floodgates. And you know a lot more about 207 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: basketball than I do. But I've heard the analogies like 208 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: Pippen and Jordans could play the one, the two, the three, 209 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 1: the four. They don't have to substitute to change their roles. Well, 210 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: that's how they are. You know, McCaffrey can line up 211 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: in the backfield or Debot can or you know, they 212 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 1: all do everything, which is where you're splitting McCaffrey out 213 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: wide and then who who's covering him, you know, all 214 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: kinds of stuff that he adds the equation. You know. 215 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: The issue with him a weapon is that he just 216 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: hasn't been able to stay healthy for a complete, you 217 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: know season outside of what his rookie here, the last 218 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: two have been injury pro plagued. Yeah, um, but I 219 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 1: don't think they're gonna have them touch the ball twenty 220 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: eight times. But he's a tremendous weapon, tremendous weapons, so 221 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: I think they're very dangerous. But sometimes he's gonna have 222 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: to drop back on third and aid and do quarterback 223 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: stuff and he's done. He's gotten away with it this far. 224 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: I'm just not sold yet, No, nor am I and 225 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: I think we were talking about last week. I mean, 226 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: I gott ask bunchtimes, what if you swap picket part 227 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: that's on knock on the Steeler system. I'm like, it'd 228 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: be better. They'd be better than what the party's doing. 229 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 1: I definitely believe that. Well, let's talk about that because 230 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: I wanted to dive into this here over the next 231 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: two segments here, So we'll start the conversation now, and 232 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna look at the Steelers offense position by position. Um, 233 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: let's talk about the quarterback play. Yeah, every time I 234 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 1: tweet something even remotely positive out about Kenny Pickett, well 235 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: he only had seven touchdown passes. And you know they 236 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 1: want to throw the stats out at you trust your 237 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: eyes on this is what I'm saying. I trust having 238 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: watched this game, covered this game for thirty years, and 239 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: watched it long before that. I know what a quarter 240 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: what good quarterback play looks like. I know what somebody 241 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: who looks like they belong that looks like the words 242 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: I was about use. Yeah, and he looks like he 243 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: belongs on the field. Now, does that mean he's going 244 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: to be a star. No, But he's a rookie quarterback. 245 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 1: Look at the jump that Trevor Lawrence made from year 246 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: one the year two right right, right, umgree, He's like 247 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: the most decisive Twitter pert. You can't ever say anything 248 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: about him where you hate him, where you love them, 249 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: you know, like you're a homer or you hate him, 250 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: you know, because I'll say things like kind of along 251 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: those lines, Like I think it was week seventeen or eighteen. 252 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: I'm sitting there taking notes and boy, my note was, Man, 253 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 1: I'm really happy with how pickets play. And it's early 254 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: in the third quarter. I pulled up the box score 255 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 1: and he's got sixty two fast yards. Like the numbers 256 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 1: and the tape are so far different, and I think 257 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: a lot of that, and you're gonna be tired of 258 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: me hearing this is there's just not a lot of 259 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 1: explosiveness in the in the passage. But that was my design, 260 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: right to generate the big numbers. So, I mean, I 261 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: think I even said this, or we said this for 262 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: sure pre season picket. What do you want to see 263 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: from preseason picket. I want to look like he belongs, 264 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: you know that it's not too big from him. That's 265 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: really the whole rookie year quarterback, first round pick conversation 266 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: for me. Does he look like he belongs? Does he 267 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: understand the speed of the game. Is he comfortable? Of 268 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: course he had moments where he wasn't. But as a whole, 269 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: that's a big Yet. I've seen rookie quarterbacks look like 270 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: they had no business being on the field. I've seen 271 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: veteran quarterbacks. It looks like he had no business being 272 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: on the field. How about this stat man really stands 273 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: out when So I'll have a series that that starts 274 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: tomorrow on Steelers dot com. Um looking at each position here, 275 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: will do one every every couple of days. So I 276 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: started with at the quarterback position. I dug up this 277 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: little nugget here. Pick At average forty four point seven 278 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: passes per game in the game his full games pre 279 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: uh pre By, it's a big number. Post By was 280 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: thirty one point nine passes. That was over his final 281 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: seven starts full starts. But in games that Pickett attempted 282 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: thirty eight or more passes and played in a complete, 283 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: complete game, they were one and four in games that 284 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: he was under that number six And oh and there's 285 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 1: a formula here. Right when they started running the ball better, 286 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: obviously he got better. But when they started asking him, Hey, 287 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: we don't want you to We don't need you to 288 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: go out there and be Josh Allen or be like 289 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: I think that's a weakness of the Bills right now. 290 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: Is there too that? Yeah? The Ravens are a perfect example. 291 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: They were too Lamar de dependent. And if you look 292 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: at any quarterback who's going out there and averaging forty 293 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: passes a game, it's probably not going to be good. 294 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: You're going to expose yourself to two more bad things 295 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: than you are. Happened Tom Brady this year. Yeah, I 296 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: mean talking about polar opposites of where their careers are at. 297 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: I've seen everything, done everything. They have no running game whatsoever. 298 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: He throws it a million times. I bet he throws 299 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: it a million times tonight. It's not ideal. I mean 300 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: it's certain games. Sure, against Casey Hampton's defense, put Brady 301 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: back to and throw it every snap, you know, But 302 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: as a whole, especially a rookie quarterback, forty four passes 303 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: a game. I bet if I bet if we had 304 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: the conversation in Latrobe, Hey, for ten games this year, 305 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: pick it's gonna average forty four pass attaps the game. 306 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: Where do you think the record will be one and nine. 307 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: If they had Ben Roethlisberger dropped back and throw forty 308 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: five times per game, I'd say four and six. Yeah, 309 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: it's just it's not a good formula for for good 310 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: quarterback play. The key stat to me out of all 311 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: that is the third down conversions, because you're not running 312 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: for all those third down conversions. Yeah, he's he's he's 313 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: converting third and longs. He's he's just keeping the you know, 314 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: we talked about all the twelve fourteen six team play drives. 315 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: That's because the quarterback is actually playing well. Now you'd 316 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: like to see some splashing ball there, but he's not 317 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: putting he's not putting the ball in harm's way as 318 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 1: a rookie, which that's a big component. There one interception 319 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: post by post by one and played lot. I don't 320 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: care who the quarterback is. Yeah, I mean that's that's 321 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: Aaron Roger. That's Aaron Rodgers type stuff. But he's not 322 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: necessarily taking the shots that Rogers talk, right, But we're 323 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: not talking about Rogers rookie year either. I mean, Rogers 324 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: the foundation. This is good bricks and mortar. You know 325 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: what I mean is if you can take this and 326 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: now we're gonna get more aggressive, scheme, decision making, all 327 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: the above, as opposed to, dude, you're killing us and 328 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: we have no foundation to rely on even though you 329 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: make five really nice players a game. How do you 330 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: feel Kenny Pickett feels? How do you think Kenny Pickett 331 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: feels coming out of this rookie season? I could do this. 332 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: I think he knows he can do this, As opposed to, 333 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: if you go out there and Trevor Lawrence last year 334 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: twelve touchdown passes, seventeen interceptions, first pick of the draft, 335 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: a game, first abused, and he's like, Okay, I know 336 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: I'm pretty good, but this was tough. But I don't 337 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: know yet. I mean, like, yeah, you almost said exactly 338 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 1: these words three or four minutes ago. Is I think 339 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: I don't know if he's a Hall of Famer. I 340 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: don't know if he's gonna be Joe Burrow, but I 341 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: think he's a starting quarterback. I mean I almost think 342 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: that he's over that hump at this point, Like that 343 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: guy is going to be an NFL starting quarterback. I mean, 344 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: unless injuries or something crazy to rail him as it 345 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: good to anybody. But he's a good player. Yeah, I 346 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: feel very strongly about them. And I do think his weaknesses, 347 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: which we can talk about all off season, are the 348 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: weaknesses that most rookie quarterbacks have. They're not these rare 349 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: things where boy, he just doesn't see the field or 350 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: he can't make a throw or you know, like you 351 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: know that our death nails to you that he can't overcome. Yeah, 352 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 1: I feel very confident that he knows where to go 353 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: with the football, that he sees the field, that he's accurate, Um, 354 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: he learns quickly. It's a good athlete. He can deliver 355 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: the football right. He's not bashful, he's not too much 356 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: of a risk taker, and so the inherent things are 357 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: all there. So I, you know, I do think that 358 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: you know, as this as we head into next season. Um, 359 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: you know, let's let's say Lamar is not back in 360 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: Baltimore towns. I don't say likely, but it's headed that direction. Um, 361 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 1: from what we saw the Shawn Watson this year as 362 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 1: a Cleveland Brown. You know, when when the Steelers selected 363 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: we're talking or thinking about selecting a quarterback in last 364 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: year's well, unless you get one of these guys, you're 365 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 1: gonna have the fourth best quarterback room in in the 366 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: a f C. North. I don't know if that's the 367 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: case now. I don't know if that's the case now. 368 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know what to think of Watson. 369 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: I have no idea. I know what to think of Borrow, 370 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: and he's gonna be a phenomenal player and already is um. 371 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: I think Baltimore is gonna look different whether it's with 372 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: or without Lamar. And they're just so different anyway. They're 373 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: like playing Army or Navy or you know what I mean. 374 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: Is there but even if even if Pickett is still 375 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 1: number four on that list, he's there might be tenth 376 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 1: in the league, right, It's not that the gap. The 377 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: gap is not as great as what you know, you 378 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: would think with you know, with most rookie quarterbacks, right, 379 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: And a lot of people think, well, if you don't 380 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: take a guy in the top five, you can never hit. 381 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: Like most of the best quarterbacks in the league are 382 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 1: not top five picks. Mahomes, Alan Watson, Lamar, all these 383 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: guys we just talked about, you know, they're not all 384 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: of them are high picks, you know. Yeah, so in 385 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: terms of first rounders, I mean, they could have very 386 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: well have knocked that out of the park here. I mean, 387 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: obviously you'd love to get the next Patrick Mahomes, but 388 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: there's kind of one of those you can win without that, 389 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: as we just talked about with the forty niners, as 390 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: we just saw with you know, the I mean the 391 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: Ravens and and Dolphins played Alan and Burrow really really 392 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: tough yesterday and could have won those games. Could have 393 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: won those games, I mean Lawrence through four interceptions. Yeah, absolutely, Yeah, 394 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: people would say, people would say Justin Herbert is a 395 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: you know, is a better quarterback than than Kenny Pickett, 396 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: and and he is. He is. Yeah, didn't didn't to win. 397 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 1: They still didn't run the ball well and manage the 398 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: clock well. And that's a team game, you know, That's 399 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: that's the thing. And you have to surround the quarterback 400 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: with good talent, and you also have to play to 401 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: the strengths of the quarterback. That's one thing that this 402 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: San Francisco is doing right now with right I mean, 403 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 1: they're kind of writing up the rule book on that, 404 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: I mean incredibly well. And it's easy to say, well, 405 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: you need the next my Homes. There's only six of them, 406 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,959 Speaker 1: so you have to have a plan B. I mean, 407 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: you're gonna play seventeen games next year and teams are 408 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: not gonna have somebody on my homes level talent wise. Absolutely, 409 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: And if you you know, having that guy and I 410 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: get a Steeler fans are are spoiled in that regard 411 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: because they had they had they kind of had that 412 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: guy for eighteen years, you know, and for fifteen of 413 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: those years he was on that level. Yeah, he could, 414 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: he could raise the level play for everybody else. You 415 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 1: don't have to win in that way. You don't have 416 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: to win that way. And they've shown that they can 417 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: win meaningful games with the guy that's not even an 418 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: average starting quarterback in my opinion. I mean, I pickt Is. 419 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: We just talked praisingly about him. You know, he's going 420 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 1: to be a good player, but he's not. He's not 421 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 1: there yet. He's not the best quarterback in the league. 422 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: But he might be next year. So if he moves 423 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: from twenty two to twelve, I don't think that's crazy talk. 424 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: Over the course of the next three or sixty five days, Well, 425 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: was that four more wins a year? You know what 426 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: I mean? If he gets a fifteen exactly right, right, right? 427 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: So if an he keeps getting better and better. You 428 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: mean so, I think it's really encouraging. I I do 429 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: as well. Um, we'll dive into some of these other 430 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: positions here as we got through this before we head 431 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: to the Fantasy Football Focus to close off close out 432 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: the show. Uh but um, yeah, I think it's it's 433 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: definitely headed in the right direction. You can subscribe to 434 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: snr's newest podcast, The Godfather of Pittsburgh Sports is Talking 435 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: Nothing but Steelers. It's severn On Steelers. New episodes drop 436 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe today. They're available on the 437 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: Steelers mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, and wherever 438 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. He is Matt Williamson, I am 439 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 1: Dale Lolly. When we come back, we'll get to the 440 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: rest of the offense right after this. You're listening to 441 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: the official voice of Black and Golden Nations are