1 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 2: Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers 4 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: Audio Networks. Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here for 5 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: the next two hours on a Friday. Matt as that 6 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 2: road is narrow, partner. It's December. Yeah, it's cold outside 7 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 2: Ravens You know what. I'm glad you said it that way. 8 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: That's really all that needs to be said. 9 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 3: It's all you've said. 10 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 2: It's Ravens Week. It's Friday of Ravens Week, which means 11 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: we've got plenty to get into, to discuss, to get 12 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: ready for what is Always it doesn't matter if these 13 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 2: teams were twelve and oh six and six oh and twelve, 14 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: Always one that you circle, always one that you highlight, 15 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 2: Always one that rightfully so in not only Pittsburgh and Baltimore, 16 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,559 Speaker 2: but across the NFL, demands a ton of attention. 17 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I mean given us some thought late in 18 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 3: the week here that maybe it's a good time for 19 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 3: Ravens Week, you know, like this is going to imply 20 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 3: that other games aren't as important or they don't try 21 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: as hard and that's not what I mean at all, 22 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 3: But it's a different feel in that building for Ravens Week. 23 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: I mean, the cam Haywards of the world that have 24 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: gone through many battles of these teams is going to 25 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 3: trickle down to the new guys and all that. And frankly, 26 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 3: I don't think any of us are thrilled with all 27 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 3: the Steelers have played lately, you know, And you could 28 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 3: even say that in probably Baltimore's building, you know that 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 3: they're not thrilled with certainly their last game totally, and 30 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 3: some things have not gone to schedule. So maybe you 31 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 3: get back to a barroom brawl and see where it 32 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 3: goes from there, you know, like maybe it's good for you. 33 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: I think that's a great way to put it. I 34 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: was talking to our buddy Chad Tyson, who does after 35 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: noons on DVE and similar kind of thing like this 36 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: feels like, I like the barroom ball moniker that you bought, 37 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: ball room brawl moniker that you just used there, but 38 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: like we like this seems like in kind of an 39 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 2: old school the proverbial like throw out the record books 40 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 2: that everybody likes to say. And I know that this 41 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: has been the case as long as football has been played, 42 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: as much as the game has changed and evolved and 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: offenses have changed and evolved, so often football comes down 44 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 2: to your big guys being better over the course of 45 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: sixty minutes than the other team's big guys. And again 46 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: we can all argue that in twenty twenty five, maybe 47 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: that means less than it did in nineteen ninety five. 48 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 2: Probably true, But I think for I think, for this one, 49 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 2: for both teams, dealing with some injuries, dealing with some struggles, 50 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 2: it is a let's get buttoned up, let's be let's 51 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: be on our fund like, on our fundamentals, almost to 52 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,959 Speaker 2: back to basics. We're going to out physical these guys 53 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 2: over the course of sixty minutes, you know, over three 54 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 2: hours on Sunday, and that's going to be the difference, 55 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 2: as it's so often is between these two teams. 56 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, maybe a lot less cuteness of we're 57 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 3: gonna do this, We're gonna do that. I mean, the 58 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 3: coaches know each other so. 59 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: Well, second most between any two coaches in NFL history. 60 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I can't stress that enough. I mean that 61 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 3: there's I think these both these coaches would probably even 62 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 3: admit after they retire. I coached it different against Harbaugh 63 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 3: than I did against most other games. I coached different 64 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 3: against Tomlin than I did other games. You did it 65 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 3: so many times totally, you know, right. 66 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: I think that makes a ton of sense. If you're 67 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 2: a legendary pitcher and a legendary batter and you, yeah, 68 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 2: right right, stepped into the batter's boxing on the mound 69 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: against each other one hundred times, that's different than someone 70 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: that you're seeing for the third or fourth time. 71 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 3: It just he's bringing that curveball. 72 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: Yeah right right' It's it's a lot less I feel 73 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 2: like smoking mirrors and a lot more we I know, you, 74 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: you know me. We're lining up, let's do this thing, 75 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: and let's see who blinks first. 76 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, And there'll be new wrinkles as every game 77 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: and then they're certainly not going to game plan differently. 78 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 3: But I think it might do the Steelers some good 79 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 3: to get back to your grassroots and okay, we just 80 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 3: need to be the most physical team out there. We 81 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 3: need to block better than them. We need to hit 82 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 3: on the rise. We got to get people on you 83 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 3: know a lot of bodies the football, you know, fundamental stuff. 84 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 2: I think that is is job number one for both 85 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 2: of these teams here on Sunday one o'clock in Baltimore 86 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 2: at M and T Banks Stadium. Matt We're going to 87 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: talk to Missy Matthews in a few minutes, but we've 88 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 2: got some news of the day to get to here. 89 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: As we get rolling, I think we will have Steelers 90 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 2: injury updates here shortly. But we do have some pertinent 91 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: ones for Baltimore. This happened after you and I were 92 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: off the air yesterday. But Lamar Jackson, after being a 93 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 2: full participant on Wednesday, was had a issue Thursday with 94 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: an ankle injury. 95 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 3: I saw that because I do a Thursday night show 96 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 3: with Pursuda and that came up then. But I'm like, 97 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 3: that must have just happened. 98 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: So but though according to Lamar Jackson, according to Lamar Jackson, 99 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 2: part of me. According to John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson returned 100 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: to practice today Friday after missing Thursday with that ankle 101 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: injury that popped up on Wednesday. Okay, so he's already 102 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: not just. 103 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 3: A hamstring, He's got like four different lower body injuries. 104 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: He's got the hockey thing, like, yeah, lower body, upper 105 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: body injury, lower body injury, those are the only two designations. 106 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 2: He's got a lot of lower body injury stuff going 107 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: on right now, does Lamar but return to practice today, 108 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: but he's dealing with some more potentially nagging bumps and 109 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: bruises associated with play Lamar. Lamar will start according like 110 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 2: it's good to play and you know and all that, 111 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: according to to Jim Harbaughs. So that's not the greatest 112 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: news from from the you know, from the Black and Purple, 113 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: No right point of your quarterback who's already clearly been 114 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 2: compromised with injury this year, having something new pop up, 115 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 2: you know, Steelers week. 116 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 3: So I have great respect for the betting world in 117 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 3: Vegas and their knowledge and all those things. 118 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: As we always say, right, there's a reason they have 119 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 2: all those big beautiful buildings out Yeah, and it's not 120 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 2: because they're losing money. 121 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 3: One thousand percent. And as usual on a lot of 122 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 3: my outlets on Friday, we pick games and especially the 123 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 3: big ones, and this is one of the big ones, 124 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 3: of course, and I hadn't realized until my co host 125 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 3: kind of laid it out. He's like, the line on 126 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 3: this game has been changing. It's been rapidly all week, 127 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 3: which I assume most of our listeners know that just 128 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 3: means money's coming in on one side rather than the other. 129 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 2: Exactly. 130 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: Their whole goal isn't to get the line right. Their 131 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 3: whole goals get fifty percent betting on both teams. You know, 132 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 3: they don't care if their lines are right, but they 133 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 3: are remarkably accurate. And I just wonder, do they know 134 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 3: more about this injury? Well, I know they know more 135 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 3: about injury than I, but I know that much. But 136 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 3: that's the only thing I could see changing the lines 137 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 3: that much. Is is he playing? Is he not? What 138 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 3: version of Lamar are you're getting? I assume play, but 139 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 3: you know. 140 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think they've been pretty clear that he is playing. 141 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: But you're right, the big question is what version of 142 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 2: him are you getting? That's been an issue for them 143 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: all season, but I think particularly in the last few 144 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: weeks when again, if you if you watch the games, 145 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: he missed a lot of missing throws, not pulling it 146 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 2: down and taking off nearly as often as he does 147 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 2: not the design. 148 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 3: The design really telling me they're almost none one or two. 149 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 2: Game, and so that that's also though one of those 150 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: things that while you'll take it also gives me like 151 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: the scaries a little bit of oh a lot. It's 152 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: it's early fourth quarter, it's cold, it's been physical, you're 153 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 2: worn down. Lamar has it run it all game, and 154 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 2: then in a crucial situation a third and long or 155 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: a fourth and short, here comes a what Lamar designed 156 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 2: run rocketship that it takes fifty five sixty yards or just. 157 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 3: Breaks your back on third and eight on the biggest 158 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 3: play of the game. It comes down to this play, 159 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: you know, and then they kneel. 160 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: It out, you know, yes, no doubt and so again. 161 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: And I don't mean to be like, yeah, everyone gets 162 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: what I'm saying. 163 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 3: I'm not. 164 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, Lamar's hurt, great, right, but you will clearly how 165 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: that works. You'll clearly take one of the best. I mean, 166 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: they're saying the same thing about Aaron Rodgers. His left 167 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: wrist is messed up. Maybe he'll bumble a snap and 168 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: a key moment. The cost of the Steelers. That's just football. 169 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 3: Do whatever. I mean, they're they're happy Harmon's not playing 170 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 3: or Roger Jones, right right, I mean you could go 171 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: on on every game there or something like that. 172 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: Kyle Hamilton got ruled out with the flu today. You know, 173 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: we wouldn't be playing the sympathy card. 174 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: For no, no, no. 175 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: So as much as a compromised Lamar is a benefit 176 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: to the Steelers, I think you still have to be 177 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: You got to be cautious about that. 178 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 3: Still sleeping giant. 179 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 2: You got to be cautious about pressed. You know, you 180 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: gotta be. Yeah, that's a good point. Ten days rest. 181 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 3: Is harball playing games like may how about you don't 182 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 3: how about you don't play? Just take Thursday off, you 183 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: know what I mean? Like again the harball Tom and 184 00:08:56,120 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 3: I know that you know, and I coach Austin even 185 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 3: said yesterday we are preparing as if Lamar is one thousand, 186 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 3: and that's the only way you can I mean, you're 187 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: crazy If you don't, we're to pretend like you all 188 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 3: beat up. And you also have to say that to 189 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 3: the media too. But I wonder if there's any gamesmanship 190 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 3: going on. But he's not been the same. 191 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I know that that that I think we 192 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 2: can all agree on and so maybe you know you 193 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 2: won't be Hey. 194 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 3: The Browns record would even be playing. I don't know. 195 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 3: I'm just throw yea. 196 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: If he was the Joe Burrow type situation, he would 197 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 2: he even be playing. 198 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 3: I mean, whould be better if he was not on 199 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 3: the field. 200 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 2: Probably, it's a fair question, and maybe we'll get an 201 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 2: even better look at that on Sunday afternoon, Matt. Another 202 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 2: piece of news here, not as significant for Sunday's game, 203 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 2: but certainly worth mentioning and discussing and sharing. After returning 204 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 2: to practice December third, Steelers cornerback Dante Kent sustained a 205 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 2: new injury that will cause him to miss the remainder 206 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 2: of the twenty twenty five season. That's a real bummer. 207 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 3: That's a bummer. 208 00:09:58,520 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: I don't think he was gonna have a big role 209 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 2: for this team down the stretch, but I think just 210 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 2: returning to practice for three weeks and getting ingrained and 211 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 2: getting back to it to kind of have that to 212 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: leapfrog into the off season would have been a nice 213 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 2: benefit and nice timeline for him. 214 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 3: But it's also weird that him and Trice did the 215 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: exact same thing. The window opens and then they get 216 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 3: hurt in their first practice coming back, and I don't 217 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 3: and they don't have to tell you as much because 218 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 3: they're not on the active roster. It'll go on the 219 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 3: injury report or whatnot. But did they reaggravate the same 220 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 3: injury or was it. Did they know that there was 221 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,199 Speaker 3: a chance, you know, yeah, yeah, you know, like, go 222 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 3: give it a try. It might not. It's a fifty 223 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 3: to fifty proposition. I don't know, you know, doctor, stuff's 224 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 3: hard to comment on. 225 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 2: It sure is, and you and I have said many 226 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 2: many times over the years that we don't particularly enjoy comment, right, 227 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 2: I just know, I don't know exactly right, We just 228 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 2: know that we don't know. 229 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 3: I'd be shocked if they were like, well, Dante's coming back. 230 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,199 Speaker 3: That's why we can release Slay. No, there's no way 231 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 3: they were counting on him, not that quick of return around. Absolutely, 232 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 3: we'll be fine. We got he's coming back because they 233 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 3: how much they know about him. 234 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 2: And maybe that's what they were just hoping to do 235 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 2: mora is find out about him and more data points 236 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 2: and see this guy in three weeks of practice. 237 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 3: Could use another special team or you know. 238 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 2: And maybe, yeah, maybe he does end up down the fold, 239 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 2: you know, gets a helmet in one of the final 240 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: games of the season or something like that. But we 241 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 2: do know now, unfortunately that that will not be the 242 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 2: case for Dante Kent as he has been now ruled 243 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 2: out for the rest of the season. Let's take a 244 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 2: break here. We come back on the other side. We'll 245 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 2: continue to talk Steelers Ravens, will continue to set the 246 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: scene with our friend Missy Matthews, Steelers sideline reporter when 247 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 2: we return. All that and more as we roll along 248 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 2: West Shuuler, Matt Williamson, It's the Drive on a Friday 249 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 2: on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes. 250 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of 251 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 252 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 2: You know the drill, when you hear the bounce, it's 253 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 2: time to get the view from the sideline. It's time 254 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 2: to go down to the field level with the queen 255 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 2: of the sideline, Missy Matthews. Missy, thank you so much 256 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 2: for taking the time as always for us on a Friday. 257 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: And you know, it's I think I think Matt said 258 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: it well at the start of the show, It's Ravens 259 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 2: Week and those are really only, I think the two 260 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 2: words that all Steelers fans need to get the blood pumping, 261 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: to get the juices flowing. You've obviously been privileged to 262 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 2: be on the sidelines over the years for a lot 263 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 2: of huge Steelers games. Rivalry games, playoff games, primetime games, 264 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 2: all that stuff. How is this one different? How's that 265 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: intensity on the sidelines and out on the field different 266 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 2: from you know, just about every other game the Pittsburgh 267 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 2: Steelers play. 268 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 4: I think, as it always means something. Very rarely do 269 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 4: you find a Steelers Ravens game where you're like, it 270 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 4: doesn't matter who wins, doesn't do anything for either team. 271 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 4: That never happens, and I think there's this weird mutual 272 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 4: hatred but also mutual respect between the two teams. You know, 273 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 4: you don't have the good, good old days of you know, 274 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 4: trell Suggs and ray Lewis and hinz Ward and just 275 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 4: you know, the things that used to take place. You 276 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 4: don't have that animosity. But I do think that there's 277 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 4: still a Hey, if you're a Steeler, you don't like 278 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 4: the Ravens. If you're a raven you don't like the Steelers. 279 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,320 Speaker 4: And there they're always fun. There's always you know, it 280 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 4: always comes down to something crazy. It's one of those 281 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 4: weird things where the score can be you know, a 282 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 4: number of different ways. They're usually not high scoring. Sometimes 283 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 4: it's just field goals, as we have seen in the past. 284 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 4: So it never disappoints, I guess, is what I will 285 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 4: say in terms of Steelers Ravens. 286 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 3: So you go there every year and you have for 287 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 3: some time. Now, is it high or low? I would 288 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 3: best guess low on your favorite travel destinations during the 289 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 3: work here. 290 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 4: Well, okay, so they there's a very good restaurant there 291 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 4: that I do. Enjoying there tomorrow night, Matt, I already 292 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 4: have reservations. You know, dan Quinlan was working ahead for 293 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 4: us on that enjoy that. I do like staying in 294 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 4: the Inner Harbor. I've stayed at the airport before, and 295 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 4: let me tell you that's not very fun. But M 296 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 4: and T Bank is a cool stadium. I don't like 297 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 4: the Ravens, but I can appreciate because there are some 298 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 4: stadiums where you're like, this is a dump. This sideline 299 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 4: is so small, I'm going to get hit by a cart. 300 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 4: I just think the way they set up M and 301 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 4: T Bank makes sense. Their press box used to be 302 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 4: Chef's Kiss, but of course, you know, making money go 303 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 4: in the way of that, so they kind of moved 304 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 4: it so that they could sell those really good seats 305 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 4: that were just it was probably the lowest press box 306 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 4: that I've ever been to in the NFL. 307 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 2: It was the best in the league until until they 308 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 2: moved it last year. 309 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 4: Yeah yeah, yeah, I mean it was it was down low, 310 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 4: it was right on the fifty. But I also understand 311 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 4: that that can make you a lot of money because 312 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 4: those would be some. 313 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 3: Really good seats for some cor zero. I would imagine 314 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 3: the fans aren't super kind to you guys though. 315 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 4: No, And you know, when the press box used to 316 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 4: be super close originally, Like I just remember Hill, grow 317 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 4: Punch and Woolf telling stories about the crazy people because 318 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 4: you could literally hear them. You could talk to them. 319 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 4: That's how you know. You were like basically in the stands, 320 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 4: but just kind of boxed off a little bit. But 321 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 4: you know, if you want to open the windows, then 322 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 4: you kind of hear some things. 323 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 2: I don't imagine Race might have touch, might have gotten 324 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 2: into yeah, Tounch might have gotten into some back and 325 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 2: forth with some some people wearing purple a couple of times. 326 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. They got the best 327 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 4: of them, and he fought back. I'll give him that. 328 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 2: You know, Matt. Something that that never gets old is pulling, 329 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 2: you know, in and out of stadiums on the team 330 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 2: buses when you're on the road, and of course everybody 331 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 2: gives you their different greetings and salutes and those things. 332 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 2: A lot of one finger salutes in Baltimore at M 333 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: and T M and T Bank Stadium for the Steelers 334 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: when you're when you're arriving and departing on those buses. 335 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 2: That's for sure. 336 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 3: I've probably told you the least kind in my day. 337 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: West Virginia, I'm might have been. I might have been 338 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: one of those them, you know that was throwing throwing, throw, 339 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: throwing psi throwing pepsi cans at eleven years old at 340 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson trying to get off the bus. Uh, Missy, 341 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 2: I I think that that all. I completely back you 342 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: up on on all of that. This is a one 343 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 2: o'clock game, so it won't be the you know, quite 344 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 2: the un under the lights and the light show and 345 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: all that stuff that they can do there at M 346 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 2: and T Banks Stadium. But it's obviously still going to 347 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 2: be juiced up. And it feels like there's a lot 348 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 2: of key things to talk about matchups and X factors 349 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: in this game, but man, at the top of that 350 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 2: list feels like it's the health of both quarterbacks Aaron 351 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 2: Rodgers of course with that fractured left wrist, and Lamar Jackson, 352 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 2: who was already dealing with some hamstring and some knee 353 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 2: stuff and then popping up yesterday with an ankle injury 354 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: as well. It it feels like a, you know, an 355 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 2: attrition going on for both of these, you know, former 356 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 2: MVP signal callers, and maybe whoever's healthier and able to 357 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 2: play their game more on Sunday could again be a 358 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: massive X factor in this one. 359 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 4: Yeah. I was, you know, looking at tweets from people 360 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 4: in Baltimore because it's the same thing, you know, earlier 361 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 4: practice and coaches and players talk and trying to get 362 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 4: a vibe of what's happening since the practice reports aren't outed. 363 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 4: The one tweet just said Lamar Jackson said he's feeling 364 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 4: pretty good, and I'm like, oh, that's that's not like, 365 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 4: you know, you're not very confident in how you're feeling 366 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 4: if you just say pretty good. And they said it 367 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 4: was an ankle injury. He got stepped on in practice 368 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 4: on Wednesday, which everyone was excited. He was at practice 369 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 4: on Wednesday. He wasn't then able to practice yesterday. He 370 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 4: was out there today John Harbaugh said he will start, 371 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 4: but you know, kind of something new to monitor in 372 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 4: terms of Lamar Jackson and some of the injuries he's 373 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 4: dealt with this season. 374 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 3: So I don't mean to bring the mood down. And 375 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 3: now it's sort of ancient history, but give me the 376 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 3: sideline vibes of Steelers bills. 377 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 4: Yeah that one was not great, yep not. Didn't love it. 378 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 4: And I have to give credit to Chris Boswell because 379 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 4: it does not matter if they are winning by thirty 380 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 4: or losing by thirty or whatever. He is this same like, 381 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 4: has this same temperament the entire time, and I always 382 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 4: at least it has to happen at least once a game. 383 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 4: If it's really loud, I have both of my ear 384 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 4: I have fees, and I really cannot hear. Uh, it's 385 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 4: noise canceling. Like I don't really hear around me other 386 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 4: than the guys talking of the broadcast. And at least 387 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 4: once a game, Boss has to physically move me because 388 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 4: I'm in the way of either you know, Corliss and 389 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 4: Christian warming up or Haym warming up. And even when 390 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 4: things weren't going well the way Boss, hey, missy, no 391 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 4: big deal, Just moving you over, you know, like same, 392 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 4: was it like throwing me? Didn't yell at me? Same. 393 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 4: But you could just tell for the amount of time 394 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 4: that the defense spent on the field, uh, the little 395 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 4: time they spent on the bench, it was almost like 396 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 4: you know, putting the helmet back on to go out there. 397 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:50,959 Speaker 4: You were almost like, Okay, here we go again. And 398 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 4: it did just feel like the huge turnover that the 399 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 4: Bills scored that defensive touchdown on just dampered the mood 400 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 4: and they could not regroup after that in any phase 401 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 4: of the game. So, yeah, and I think I've told Wes, 402 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 4: but because he was there. Yeah, Wes was upstairs in 403 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 4: the radio booth after the game, like that locker room, 404 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 4: who it was, It was pretty empty and it was 405 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 4: very quiet. That was That was definitely not a good one. 406 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 2: No, it was not. And we are not looking for 407 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 2: a repeat of that on Sunday, certainly when it would 408 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 2: involve all of us getting on a plane and flying 409 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 2: home after the game. Missy Matt and I talked a 410 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 2: little bit in the first segment about how and you know, 411 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,199 Speaker 2: maybe there's some similar vibes to this of of what 412 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 2: we saw on Sunday against Buffalo we analyze all this, 413 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 2: you know, we all spend hours on radio and video 414 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 2: and some people, you know, writing columns and articles in 415 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 2: that thing, dissecting every angle and every matchup and all 416 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 2: the keys and all the schematics and and and this 417 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 2: and that stats together. But yeah, somebody, somebody puts together 418 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 2: like a fis worth of stats packet every every single 419 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 2: week here on this show. 420 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 4: Might rhyme with his name too, Yeah. 421 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 2: That's right, might flow very nicely there in that regard. 422 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: But this one feels with the current kind of injury 423 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 2: status of both teams, with both of them being six 424 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 2: and six and not on top of their game and 425 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 2: playing the best football that they want to be, playing 426 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 2: a back to basics football one oh one. Who's better 427 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 2: in the trenches, who's more physical, who's more buttoned up, 428 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 2: is going to have the much better chance to win 429 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 2: the game Sunday afternoon. 430 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, you know, this one does just feel like 431 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 4: it's a must win. And I know you can say 432 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 4: that at several points or like this is a must win, 433 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 4: this will help at the end, But we are in 434 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 4: the final five game stretch. You know, you're going to 435 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 4: see these guys in the final week, which I don't 436 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 4: even think what matter what happens this Sunday, the Week 437 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 4: eighteen game is going to mean something to somebody, if 438 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 4: not both. And it does just feel like to get 439 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 4: out of this skid, of this this losing skid, the 440 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 4: Steelers have to go down there and put a consistent 441 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 4: performance together both sides of the ball, because what is 442 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 4: happening is just it's just not working. And you can 443 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 4: tell that everybody wants it to change. But you know, 444 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 4: actions speak louder than words, and I don't think anybody 445 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 4: in that locker room thinks that just talking about it 446 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 4: is going to make them feel better. You know, the 447 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 4: Ravens were on a five game winning streak until Cincinnati 448 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 4: broke that on Thanksgiving. For the Steelers, they're in the 449 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 4: two game losing streak. You know, they had one of 450 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 4: those before and then they came out with a powerful 451 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 4: win against the Colts. So will that be the case again? 452 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 4: I hope so. But you don't want to stack a 453 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 4: loss here, and then I think you're gonna get to 454 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 4: the point where you're gonna have to worry about what 455 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 4: other people are doing. If they can just focus on 456 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 4: these last five games and what they are doing and 457 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,719 Speaker 4: doing them well. Hopefully that's the direction we're going in 458 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 4: and it's not like last year where you make it 459 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 4: into the playoffs, but you're kind of like, oh, we're 460 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 4: not playing good football. You want to go in with 461 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 4: some steam and what better time to start than the 462 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 4: first week of December. 463 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 3: Bessie, I'd really like to get your input on the 464 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 3: Harbaugh Tomlin dynamic relationship. I mean, do you think they 465 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 3: prepare differently for one another? Do you think they coached 466 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 3: during the game differently because of one another and the familiarity. 467 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 3: But really what I want to know is if you've 468 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 3: ever paid attention to them interacting pre or postgame. 469 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 4: Pre game for sure, and I think it was on 470 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 4: Hard Knocks last year was something with the NFL films 471 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 4: where coach Tomlin kind of joked like, man, we just 472 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 4: talked about what our kids like we're dressing up as 473 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 4: for Halloween. Yeah, right, Like when you this is the 474 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 4: thirty ninth meeting between them, including playoffs, that that's no 475 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 4: small number of coaches. Of course, you know they're some 476 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 4: of the longest tenured coaches current active coaches in the league. 477 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 4: But I think they have a respect for each other. 478 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 4: I think it is a you're not going to do 479 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 4: anything kind of the I don't want to say college level, 480 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 4: but almost like I hate him and I'm not shaking 481 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 4: his hand type deal. But I don't think it's you know, 482 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 4: I don't think there's no love loss put it that way. 483 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 4: But I do think that. 484 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 3: Each other. 485 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 4: No, not at all. No, And it's you know, it's 486 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 4: like every game, uh, you shake your opponent's hand, you 487 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 4: hug them whatever. I'm sure you know they're small talk 488 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 4: before the games have has significantly increased over the years. 489 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 4: How could it not, And you know, when you're you're 490 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 4: like each other, not saying necessarily the coaching styles. I 491 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 4: don't know that much about John Harbaugh. I've covered one 492 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 4: Ravens game, maybe two in my local TV days back 493 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 4: in the past. But I just think that you know, 494 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 4: they respect each other, and they know that they're both 495 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 4: trying to do the exact same thing. It's just who 496 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 4: can do it better on this day because they know 497 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 4: that if they played the next day it could be 498 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 4: the complete opposite result. 499 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 3: I wonder if, like five years after they're both retired 500 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 3: and have given up football for a living and moved 501 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 3: on and their grandparents if they'd actually be friends, or 502 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 3: I always joke that I hope there's a thirty for 503 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 3: thirty or a football life with Ozzie Knew some Kevin, 504 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 3: Colbert Harbaugh and Tomlin on a fishing boat together, just 505 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 3: being honest, you know what I mean, Like, man, you 506 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 3: used to make me I was about to draft that 507 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 3: guy and Ozzie you snagged them right in front of 508 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 3: me here. You know, I bet they'd be great. 509 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, I mean, Or imagine if they just like 510 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 4: running out an auditorium, like I'd pay to go watch that. Yeah, yeah, 511 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:56,359 Speaker 4: tell stories to be produced. Yeah, like just just riff 512 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 4: and let's let's let's hear. 513 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 2: What happened really, missy. Last one I've got for you is, 514 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 2: you know, we found out a few days ago that 515 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 2: it's the twenty fifth anniversary of that two thousands Baltimore 516 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 2: Ravens team that beat the New York Giants in the 517 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 2: Super Bowl to capture there, you know, first as Baltimore Ravens. 518 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 2: You know of that that post move era, you know, 519 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 2: that team with Ray Lewis and that great defense and 520 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 2: Trent Dilpher as a quarterback. Coach by Brian Billick is 521 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 2: going to be honored at halftime on Sunday. I'm sure 522 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 2: that that's not by coincidence that that's happening in this 523 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,919 Speaker 2: game against the Steelers. Are you happy that Max Starks 524 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 2: is no longer on the sideline and you're not gonna 525 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 2: have to hold him back against those guys? 526 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 4: Well, you know, you know, those guys are a going 527 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 4: to be out there during pregame and b I'm sure 528 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 4: one of them will get announced at some point, you know, 529 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 4: almost like when we do the Terrible Chals role. That 530 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 4: seems like the appropriate time that they would you know, 531 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 4: honor those guys, just you know, prematurely before the big 532 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 4: halftime ceremony. But I remember, I don't remember if it 533 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 4: was last year, whichever game it was in Baltimore, there's 534 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 4: been a bunch and some of their former players were 535 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 4: there and Max was just like, I hate him. I 536 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 4: hate him, you know, just standing there and it was like. 537 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 3: It would have been. 538 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, and it was just so funny. It wasn't like, Hey, 539 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 4: I'm going to go say hi to him, because Max, 540 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 4: clearly you knows so many people and it's you know, 541 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,199 Speaker 4: every game, Hey, I'm going to go say hi to 542 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 4: my buddy over here, I'm going to go this Baltimore 543 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 4: week Max isn't saying hi to anybody. 544 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 2: Ron Woodson in the Ravens booth. 545 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 4: That's yeah, because he yes, they're both in the same time. Yeah, 546 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:46,119 Speaker 4: rod is you know, he likes to play both sides. 547 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 4: Obviously he's working for the Ravens, but did some amazing 548 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 4: things with the Steelers as well. And yeah, that that's 549 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 4: probably the only Baltimore person that I can think of 550 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 4: that I've ever seen Max have like a chit chatty 551 00:27:58,080 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 4: conversation with. 552 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 2: Oh, Missy, It's gonna be fun and I'm looking forward 553 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 2: to it. Thank you for joining us and taking the time. 554 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 2: As always, we'll hear you on the call on Sunday 555 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 2: with Robin Max and I will see you on the 556 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 2: airplane tomorrow. 557 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 4: Sounds good. Thanks guys, have a great weekend you as well. 558 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 2: There she goes the queen of the Sideline, Melissa Matthews, 559 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: And uh, yeah, I listen. There's a lot of times, 560 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,919 Speaker 2: I'll be honest with you, a lot of times that 561 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,360 Speaker 2: I envy Missy forgetting to be down on the sideline. 562 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 3: You see some cool stuff, I'm sure. 563 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 2: No doubt in cool stadiums in the atmosphere and all that. 564 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 2: Not that my view is bad in the broadcast booth, obviously, 565 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 2: but there's plenty of times where I don't envy Missy 566 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 2: Matthews on the sideline because of weather conditions. Say weather, 567 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 2: maybe it's pouring down rain or it's freezing, and I 568 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 2: don't think it's gonna be freezing, but it will be 569 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 2: cold obviously Sunday, December and Baltimore. But even with the 570 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 2: weather I envy. It could be three degrees and pouring 571 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 2: down sleet and I would still want to be on 572 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 2: the sideline for Steelers Ravens, just kind of soak it 573 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 2: allway and get all the details. It's not often in December. 574 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 2: This is probably how I should have said it. It's 575 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 2: not often in December that I'm jealous of Missy being 576 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 2: down on the sideline because of the weather. But I 577 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 2: will be Sunday. I will be Sunday at one o'clock. 578 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 3: That's cool. 579 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 2: Thanks to her for joining us and taking the time. 580 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 2: When we come back on the other side, we still 581 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 2: got to get into five Star Friday. We've got some 582 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 2: more kind of you know, ahead of the weekend news 583 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 2: across the NFL that we need to get into all 584 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 2: things Steelers, Ravens and more as we roll along. Euler Williamson. 585 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 2: It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio. 586 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: Network, your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to 587 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: seven home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio. 588 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 2: It's a Friday, A lot happening here across the National 589 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 2: Football League as we get ready for a massive Week fourteen. 590 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 2: And I guess, technically, Matt, it did start last night 591 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 2: with Thursday Night Football between the Cowboys and the Lions 592 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 2: and an impressive and assertive performance by Detroit at home. 593 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 2: Is they get to win they deeply desperately needed forty 594 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 2: four to thirty over Dallas, and Matt, that might be 595 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 2: all she rode for the Cowboys. 596 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 3: I think it is all, she wrote. I mean, they're 597 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 3: not mathematically eliminated, but they're down to like six percent 598 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 3: or something. They need everything in the world to line 599 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 3: up perfectly. 600 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 2: Basically went out, yeah and get some help in the 601 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 2: process as well. 602 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 3: One hundred percent. So quite a few things stood out 603 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 3: to me. First off, I think the Lions asserted themselves. 604 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 3: I picked Dallas to win that game. I don't regret 605 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 3: my choice, but I mean I didn't also didn't know 606 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 3: Saint Brown was playing. I mean, had that heinz Ward 607 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 3: feel about the toughness he brings, watchability and all that stuff. 608 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 3: Gibbs was the best player on the field and was 609 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 3: unbelievably you know, dangerous, especially in the receiving game. But 610 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 3: a couple other things. I mean, the Lions did lose 611 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 3: Brian Branch for the season at the end of that game. 612 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 3: That's a big, big deal. The turnovers were massive. It 613 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 3: means three to zero turnover differential. Cowboys lose Ceedee Lamb. 614 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:25,959 Speaker 3: I think in the second quarter after he was lighting 615 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 3: them up. Their protection was a big problem. I had 616 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 3: never heard of the left tackle, the backup left tackle. 617 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 3: But I don't feel like I need to do a 618 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 3: whole lot of work on him because I don't think 619 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 3: he's going to be doing this for a living much longer. 620 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 3: But they kept leving him, leave him alone against Hutchinson 621 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 3: and then the other guy on the right side of 622 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 3: three sacks. I mean, Dak was under. 623 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 2: Man He was like dodging bullets the whole time. 624 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I know it's the topic of the day, 625 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 3: and I'm not trying to pick on the guy, but 626 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 3: it's not good look for Pickens, you know, basically the 627 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 3: day you get eliminated, you're trotting through routes and doing 628 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 3: a lot of stuff you saw here, you. 629 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 2: Know, and at a time when CD was out of 630 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 2: the game injured, right when you when it's like okay, hey, 631 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 2: your time, like yeah, you know, our other big gun 632 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 2: on offenses out here, we're on the road, We're in 633 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 2: a desperate situation. Yeah, that's when you need the cream 634 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 2: to rise at the top instead of kind of shrinking 635 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 2: in the moment. 636 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 3: And I haven't watched every Cowboy snap like I do 637 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 3: the Steelers, but I have not seen that until this 638 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 3: point with them. And it wasn't at the very end 639 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 3: the last you know, like it's the game's over, like 640 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 3: we need you man, you know, where are you going? 641 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,959 Speaker 2: And some more some war of words between him and 642 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 2: Richard Sherman in the last twenty four hours and and 643 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 2: all that stuff, and yes, that is listen. You know 644 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 2: we've said many times this year the NFL feels like 645 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:50,520 Speaker 2: such a week to week. 646 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:50,960 Speaker 3: League this year. 647 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 2: Or George Pickens might be the most week to week 648 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 2: league player in the National Force. Yeah, right, the best 649 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 2: free agent to be He might be the best receiver 650 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 2: in the warld world on on certain on certain Sundays 651 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 2: and Thursdays, and but he he also gives you next 652 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 2: to nothing on certain Sundays and Mondays and Thursdays. And 653 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 2: that is the ceiling in the floor in the wowed 654 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 2: inconsistency that comes with him. And I think a lot 655 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 2: of people that have spent the last month doing the 656 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 2: you know, what the hell are the Steelers things thing 657 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 2: night were kind of like, well, okay, you heard that 658 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 2: a lot last night. Suddenly all these people were like, yeah, 659 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 2: I don't know if i'd pay that guy thirty thirty 660 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 2: five forty million dollars. 661 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 3: You know, boy, there was the worst trade, which is 662 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 3: people say is the worst trade in NFL, worst. 663 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 2: Trade in NFL history. I mean it's not even the 664 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:40,720 Speaker 2: worst trade in the AFC North history. All right, as 665 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 2: the quarterback whose practice window was activated in Cleveland has 666 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 2: that award locked up? Yeah, but yeah, it was. It 667 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 2: kind of made me last good, George, No, it was not. 668 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 2: But in another kind of timely example, it's like the 669 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 2: same people that would always crush James Franklin and Penn State. 670 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,240 Speaker 2: You can't win a big game, and you got to 671 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 2: get rid of that guy then going well was Penn 672 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 2: State thinking getting rid of James Franklin. Come on, you 673 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 2: can't you can't do you can't tell me how bad 674 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 2: of a trade it was for the Steelers and then 675 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 2: be like, oh, well, you know that's why you don't 676 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 2: want to pay that guy big money. I mean, this 677 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 2: is there's always a middle ground there that you know. 678 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 2: I think realistically, you you you knew if you were 679 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 2: a Steeler fan or somebody who was you know, just 680 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,839 Speaker 2: in tune with these type of things. A couple other 681 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:26,839 Speaker 2: significant Detroit though. 682 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 3: I mean, they're not out of the woods. There's a 683 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 3: lot of battling to do. 684 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 2: There's still going to be in that NFC picture. I mean, 685 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 2: there's going to be a good team that gets left out. Yeah, 686 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 2: and maybe in the a f C, you know, similar 687 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:44,120 Speaker 2: similar type deal. But they're like. 688 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,359 Speaker 3: They're like someone in the in the North is going 689 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 3: to be left out. 690 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:51,520 Speaker 2: Someone in the North is in likelihood left out yea 691 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,759 Speaker 2: and yeah, and that could be like a ten and 692 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:58,439 Speaker 2: seven team that gets left out that's really strong, that's 693 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:02,759 Speaker 2: really strong. Detroit helping themselves, helping their cause big time 694 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:06,400 Speaker 2: last night. Now they've got the extra few days of rest, 695 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 2: but they are. Yeah, I think that's a good way 696 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: to put it. Certainly not out of the. 697 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 3: Weeds just yet, not at all. 698 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 2: Matt from that last night, A couple more pieces of 699 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 2: news that I want to hit on. One off the 700 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 2: back of that game last night, and it sounds like 701 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 2: Brian Branch a torn achilles and that's a bummer from 702 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,280 Speaker 2: one of the better young defensive backs in the National 703 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:27,879 Speaker 2: Football League. 704 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,680 Speaker 3: So it brought me to I didn't know this until 705 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 3: the broadcasters said it last night. I knew the last 706 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 3: thing was true that when you look at like games 707 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,959 Speaker 3: lost due to injury, the Lions were like the most 708 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 3: injured team in the league last year in four years, 709 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:47,479 Speaker 3: twenty twenty four, and the announcer said this that they're 710 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 3: one of there at the top of the league in 711 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 3: injuries again this year before the branch injury going into 712 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 3: the game and just wonder, like, Dan Campbell's a really 713 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 3: good coach. I understand why people love them. 714 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:01,360 Speaker 2: I think I know where you're going with this, and 715 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:02,040 Speaker 2: I think it's fair. 716 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 3: But it's all gas, no break, you know, like everything 717 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,440 Speaker 3: is all whoe no sick them all the time. You know, 718 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 3: we're just gonna keep going for. 719 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:11,720 Speaker 2: Play harder woe. Yeah, I said that background. 720 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 3: I wonder if he is going to lead towards injuries 721 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:19,719 Speaker 3: late in the season, fatigue late in the season. I'm 722 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 3: not saying he can never win the big one, but 723 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:24,120 Speaker 3: that would be a concern with me with him. And 724 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:27,720 Speaker 3: it's not his fault that Brian Branch, you know, to Achilles, 725 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:30,399 Speaker 3: But I get what you're saying. Yeah, I just think 726 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,720 Speaker 3: that's something to be considered with Campbell. All these coaches 727 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:35,799 Speaker 3: have strengths and weaknesses, and you know, he might be 728 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:36,799 Speaker 3: too much all the time. 729 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:41,640 Speaker 2: I think that that is it's a fair question to ask. 730 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's just a propos. I don't know. 731 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:47,880 Speaker 2: The man like we are all about physicality, hard practices, 732 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:50,680 Speaker 2: hard training camps like you mentioned. Even games that they've 733 00:36:50,719 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 2: got teams put away, it's still like they're a super Bowl. 734 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:57,840 Speaker 3: We're going for it every fourth down, you know, right, Yeah. 735 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 2: And and and hey, over the course of seven team games, 736 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:03,359 Speaker 2: that can certainly catch up with you. I don't think 737 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:05,120 Speaker 2: there's I don't think there's any denying that. 738 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I just need to be examined. You know, if 739 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 3: I was ownership, I'd be like, Okay, is this a trend? 740 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:13,640 Speaker 2: Or back off a little bit in August to something 741 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 2: help our chances in December, or maybe. 742 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 3: We don't play anyone in the preseason, or I don't know. 743 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:21,840 Speaker 3: The Branch loss is big, though huge, more and more 744 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 3: true do it all? Slot defensive backs I don't even 745 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:30,200 Speaker 3: want to call them corners are becoming extremely valuable. I 746 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 3: always say they're the lampatize the room together, you know 747 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:34,840 Speaker 3: what I mean? They and I think that's. 748 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:36,279 Speaker 2: A few of them picked in the first round over 749 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 2: the last couple of years. 750 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:39,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, And frankly, I think that's what Ramsey was 751 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:41,759 Speaker 3: brought here to do. You know, you can do so 752 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 3: Kyle Hamilton does a lot of this. They come in 753 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:48,520 Speaker 3: all shapes inside a perfect one. Yeah, I mean, they 754 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:50,799 Speaker 3: don't all look like Mike Hilton and a few of 755 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 3: them do. 756 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:54,880 Speaker 2: Now I was gonna look, Yeah, they look like safeties. 757 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 3: Right because they have to tackle Derek Henry, you know. 758 00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:59,719 Speaker 3: And Branch is that guy for them, you know what 759 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:01,759 Speaker 3: I mean, he super important, more important than the box 760 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 3: score show. That's It's like, I can't play this. 761 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 2: Coverage it certainly way that they want to play. 762 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:08,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, A lot of stuff I can't call 763 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:10,279 Speaker 3: as a play caller without. 764 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:14,880 Speaker 2: Him, absolutely, and that's a big, substantial loss for Detroit. 765 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 3: Just a total side note. But like I think I 766 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 3: think we both agree, and I've said this before. I 767 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 3: thought you did too, that the Texans are probably the 768 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:23,600 Speaker 3: best defense in the league. You have to pick one. 769 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,400 Speaker 2: Yes, if I had to pick one to wear the 770 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:29,360 Speaker 2: Black and Gold this weekend, it might be that Houston defense. 771 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:34,760 Speaker 3: And a tape analyst that I really respect said, Jalen 772 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:37,800 Speaker 3: Petrie is our most important guy. You know, you wouldn't 773 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 3: think of Jalen Petrie. I mean, like Anderson would be 774 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,080 Speaker 3: probably defensive player of the Year if it wasn't for 775 00:38:43,160 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 3: Miles Garrett, you know, and Hunter. But I think those 776 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:47,840 Speaker 3: two are still more important. 777 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 2: He's but I guess he's like the insurance policy on 778 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:52,640 Speaker 2: the Porsche. 779 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, right, right right, Porsche is wonderful. 780 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:57,720 Speaker 2: Will Anderson is, you know, is poor. She's the insurance policy. 781 00:38:57,840 --> 00:38:57,960 Speaker 3: Man. 782 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:01,239 Speaker 2: There's so much I can't do that you keep the 783 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 2: you keep the fancy car in. There's just so much 784 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:06,520 Speaker 2: that you can you can't The fancy car isn't gonna 785 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:07,480 Speaker 2: hum like it's supposed to. 786 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:13,360 Speaker 3: He's the case for my phone. That's exactly right. Like 787 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 3: you need to have. 788 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:15,360 Speaker 2: Maybe he's the gasoline and the. 789 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:17,400 Speaker 3: Anhere. 790 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 2: Yes, it's not going anywhere without that guy. Yeah, that 791 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 2: iPhone is going to get real cracked and damage. 792 00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:24,399 Speaker 3: About the version they give you in the box isn't 793 00:39:24,440 --> 00:39:25,640 Speaker 3: gonna last very long, all right. 794 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,840 Speaker 2: He's like the nice wine glass. It's about the wine 795 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:32,760 Speaker 2: wine somewhere to hold it exactly. That's a really good example. 796 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:34,839 Speaker 2: I like that, and I think you're right. I think 797 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 2: a lot of defenses that's a real calling card for 798 00:39:38,680 --> 00:39:39,120 Speaker 2: them now. 799 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 3: And I realize that and people are paying them and 800 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:43,080 Speaker 3: paying up for them in the draft. 801 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:45,080 Speaker 2: And yeah, if you and I had Mike Tomlin on 802 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,160 Speaker 2: back in July at the start of training camp and 803 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,439 Speaker 2: gave them truth serum, I think you're right. I think 804 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:50,799 Speaker 2: that would have been the type of role that they 805 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:54,520 Speaker 2: were envisioning for Jalen Ramsey before things got never failed. 806 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:58,840 Speaker 3: No, Yeah, I think he's semi failed as he's not 807 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:02,480 Speaker 3: an outside guard Jamar Chase all day, the roll revis guy. 808 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:05,160 Speaker 2: But I think if you were still if the Shawn 809 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:08,040 Speaker 2: Elliott's still healthy, if you would hit on one thornhill, 810 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:10,359 Speaker 2: I think we'd still see Ramsey doing. 811 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 3: A lot of that stuff and I know this is 812 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:13,719 Speaker 3: totally made up, but I mean, if you didn't have 813 00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 3: to trade Menca for Ramsey, Ramsey being the slot perfect, Yeah, 814 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:20,600 Speaker 3: if you give the up a draft pick instead of Menca. 815 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 2: Matt looks like Jade and Daniels will play for the 816 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:30,560 Speaker 2: Commanders against the Vikings this weekend since that dislocated left 817 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 2: elbow nasty, ugly injury about a month ago on November ninth. 818 00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:37,120 Speaker 2: The Commanders are three and nine and have nothing to 819 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,880 Speaker 2: play for. I understand though, that he's still just a 820 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 2: sophomore in this league. He's a second year guy. Every 821 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:48,000 Speaker 2: rep is important, Matt. What's our favorite TV show on Hulu? 822 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:49,799 Speaker 3: The Bear? 823 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:52,399 Speaker 2: The Bear and what's the Big Line? And the Bear? 824 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:56,279 Speaker 2: Every second counts, every every rep, every game counts for 825 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,399 Speaker 2: Jaden Daniels at this stage of his career. But man, 826 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 2: I just really hope they're not rushing him back early 827 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:05,120 Speaker 2: in a season that's already gone. And uh, I don't 828 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:06,879 Speaker 2: think guy that's been banged up all year. 829 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 3: I think it's similar to Burrow coming back, but they're 830 00:41:12,239 --> 00:41:15,719 Speaker 3: further down, They're they're further gone. You know, they're three 831 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:20,760 Speaker 3: and nine, and he's not the wealthiest guy on the team. 832 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:22,839 Speaker 3: I mean, he's the face of the franchise, don't get 833 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 3: me wrong. But Burrow's playing and you can't stop him, 834 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:27,200 Speaker 3: you know, And and. 835 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:29,840 Speaker 2: He's been there for a long time. He is the 836 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:30,839 Speaker 2: alpha in the room. 837 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:33,680 Speaker 3: And they just beat the Ravens and they may even 838 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:35,680 Speaker 3: beat the Bills this week. I mean, like when we 839 00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 3: start picking games the way, I know, since he looks good, 840 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 3: but I don't know if they can come back or not. 841 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 3: But Washington has no chance. And I think I would 842 00:41:45,640 --> 00:41:46,600 Speaker 3: have shut Daniels down. 843 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,880 Speaker 2: I get it. And you know dan Quinn saying like 844 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,160 Speaker 2: at his point in his career, every rep counts, every 845 00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:55,600 Speaker 2: game matters. And I do think that there's truth to that. 846 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:58,280 Speaker 3: Sure, Sure, he needs has work to do, he needs. 847 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:00,880 Speaker 2: To developed like Wolf. We'll I used to lament this 848 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:02,840 Speaker 2: all the time. He'd be like, the only way to 849 00:42:02,840 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 2: get better at playing football is by playing football. Yeah, 850 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:07,800 Speaker 2: and we play less football now than we've ever did before. 851 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 3: Yeah. 852 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:12,920 Speaker 2: So I he's right, He is absolutely right, But there 853 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:15,319 Speaker 2: is also the big picture, the longer term. He is 854 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:17,000 Speaker 2: only in his second year, and you hope he's your 855 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:20,200 Speaker 2: quarterback for another fifteen years and twelve years. 856 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:24,040 Speaker 3: An injury filed year he had some injury concerns at 857 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 3: LSU as well. You know, he's not the biggest, earliest 858 00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:30,400 Speaker 3: Josh Allen looking dude either. I get both sides. I 859 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 3: mean I loved the Burrow said, well, I get paid 860 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:37,680 Speaker 3: to play football, so I play football. Yeah, I love football, 861 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:39,799 Speaker 3: And I mean that's what I want my quarterback to say. 862 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:41,400 Speaker 3: You know, I don't want to be like, well they 863 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,120 Speaker 3: shut me down, and that's okay. I was just gonna 864 00:42:43,120 --> 00:42:46,920 Speaker 3: sit on sidelines the clipboard, you know, like, yeah. 865 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:47,640 Speaker 2: I think you are right. Though it's a little different 866 00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:49,600 Speaker 2: when you're like the what's Burrow now in his six 867 00:42:49,719 --> 00:42:53,520 Speaker 2: or seventh season, right year veteran as opposed to a 868 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:55,840 Speaker 2: second year guy who is, yeah, the face of that 869 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,400 Speaker 2: team but still trying to earn your stripes, still trying 870 00:42:58,440 --> 00:42:59,840 Speaker 2: to come along in your career. 871 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:02,480 Speaker 3: I mean, everyone knows how important he is to the commander. No, 872 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:04,359 Speaker 3: but you know obviously, but still. 873 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:08,240 Speaker 2: They're hoping he's Joe Burrow type value for them going forward. 874 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,880 Speaker 2: And so yeah, I either side, whatever happens, I'm not 875 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:14,839 Speaker 2: going to act like it's if they play him. I'm 876 00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:17,040 Speaker 2: not going to act like it's the worst colossal mistake 877 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:18,239 Speaker 2: we've ever seen, or if. 878 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:20,120 Speaker 3: He gets hurt again, It's not like fire Quinn because 879 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:21,719 Speaker 3: anyone can get hurt. 880 00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:24,239 Speaker 2: Anyone can get hurt, especially on that turf there, like 881 00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:26,720 Speaker 2: we talked about. Oh yeah, yeah, we talked about yesterday. 882 00:43:26,719 --> 00:43:28,239 Speaker 2: Although I don't know if it's a home gamer. If 883 00:43:28,239 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 2: it's in it is in Minnesota, So never never mind 884 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:33,200 Speaker 2: on that one, at least for this Sunday, Matt first 885 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,200 Speaker 2: hour of the program in the books, another hour to go. 886 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 2: When we return for hour number two, it's gonna be 887 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,680 Speaker 2: jam packed. As a Gene Wilder would have said in 888 00:43:42,719 --> 00:43:45,439 Speaker 2: the Chocolate Factory, So much to do in so little time. 889 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:49,440 Speaker 2: Five Star Friday, around the NFL Week fourteen, and of 890 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:52,640 Speaker 2: course all of our final thoughts and predictions for Steelers 891 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 2: Ravens Sunday, one pm at M and T. Banks Stadium 892 00:43:57,200 --> 00:43:59,600 Speaker 2: in Baltimore. All of that and more as we get 893 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:01,960 Speaker 2: into our number two on your twenty four seven home 894 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:04,560 Speaker 2: of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio on the 895 00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:05,800 Speaker 2: Steelers Audio Network