WEBVTT - Week 15 vs. The Colts

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<v Speaker 1>This is the Steelers Preview show on WDVE Pittsburgh, presented

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<v Speaker 1>by Unibet. The only thing better than a Steelers win

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<v Speaker 1>is a Steelers win that pays double down on your team.

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<v Speaker 1>With Unibet, proud partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, here are

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<v Speaker 1>your hosts, Mike Persuda, Matt Williamson and Merril Hodge.

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<v Speaker 2>Good evening, Welcome to another Thursday United edition a Steelers

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<v Speaker 2>preview right here on your Steelers flagship one of two

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<v Speaker 2>point five DVE and SNR. Mike Persuda and Matt Williamson

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<v Speaker 2>with you. Merril Hodge will be along directly as we

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<v Speaker 2>get you ready for the Steelers at the Indianapolis Colts

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<v Speaker 2>a Saturday kickoff this week, but that doesn't affect our

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<v Speaker 2>Thursday night Nope, kickoff time and Matt, I guess as

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<v Speaker 2>appropriate a spot to begin tonight as any is the

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<v Speaker 2>old NFL constant that sometimes it's not who you play,

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<v Speaker 2>but when you play them. And for the Steelers seven

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<v Speaker 2>and six, getting ready to play the Colts.

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<v Speaker 3>Seven and six.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, the Steelers are coming off losses to the two

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<v Speaker 2>win Arizona Cardinals and the two win New England Patriots

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<v Speaker 2>in a span of.

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<v Speaker 3>Five days last week.

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<v Speaker 2>But the news all good coming out of the South

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<v Speaker 2>Side this week in terms of who is going to

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<v Speaker 2>be available lot. Yeah, last night the Steelers find out

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<v Speaker 2>that TJ. Watt had cleared the concussion protocol and this

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<v Speaker 2>afternoon it was announced that Alex Highsmith has done the same.

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<v Speaker 2>So can you Pikett is out, of course, recovering from

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<v Speaker 2>Michael surgery. Isaac Sayamalu questionable. He hasn't practiced all week,

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<v Speaker 2>but Matt. They've got their tag team edge rushers ready

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<v Speaker 2>to go after Gardner Minshew.

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<v Speaker 4>It doesn't matter who the opponent is or what week

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<v Speaker 4>it is. That's obviously huge. It's one of the great

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<v Speaker 4>strengths of the Steelers team. Everyone knows how good Watt

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<v Speaker 4>is and Heismith's having a great year as well. But

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<v Speaker 4>I think it's interesting who the opponent is. I'm two

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<v Speaker 4>young tackles are they're lining up against. It's the second

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<v Speaker 4>year guy, Bernard Raymond on the left side. There's been

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<v Speaker 4>okay this year, but really had a rough week last

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<v Speaker 4>week against the Bengals. Hendrickson a lot of times because

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<v Speaker 4>they were leaving him alone because they had to help

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<v Speaker 4>the right tackle. Rookie named Breake Friedland out of BYU,

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<v Speaker 4>who's a tall, leaner guy. That's a work in progress.

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<v Speaker 4>I don't think they counted on him playing this year.

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<v Speaker 4>So he's gonna need help, as all right tackles do,

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<v Speaker 4>but he's gonna especially need help with Watt. So those

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<v Speaker 4>are great matchups for the Steelers.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Branden Smith is the right tackle who's injured. He

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<v Speaker 2>didn't play against the Bengals last Sunday after being injured

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<v Speaker 2>the week before against Tennessee. And also no Jonathan Taylor

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<v Speaker 2>for the Colts. And yeah, I respect Zach Moss as

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<v Speaker 2>a runner, but Jonathan Taylor is an elite runner.

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<v Speaker 4>You know, he's a dynamic, big play you know he are.

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<v Speaker 3>He was ruled out by the Colts today.

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<v Speaker 2>So you know, if you were worried about a tag

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<v Speaker 2>team running attack, well now it's just Zach Moss and

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<v Speaker 2>whoever else the Colts care to give the ball to.

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<v Speaker 2>They did get a little bit of good news, the

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<v Speaker 2>Colts did. Their head coach Shane Steichen said that said

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<v Speaker 2>today he expects cornerback Jude jew Brents will be available.

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<v Speaker 2>He has not played since Week seven, and that's a

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<v Speaker 2>pretty significant piece to a cold secondary that's really young

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<v Speaker 2>on the corners and really experienced its safety position.

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<v Speaker 4>And Brent's is really young. I mean he's a second

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<v Speaker 4>round pick this year six to three. He was for

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<v Speaker 4>me to follow draft. He was Julius. Brent switched his

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<v Speaker 4>name to Juju Kansas Guy, Kansas Kansas State, Kansas, Kansas State, Yeah,

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<v Speaker 4>Kansas State. Okay, big Kansas state. Yeah, yeah, middle of

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<v Speaker 4>the country somewhere. But he's in experience. They're a big

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<v Speaker 4>Cover three team. They are a big Seahawks legion of

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<v Speaker 4>Boom type. So he'll play off the ball and play

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<v Speaker 4>that third. You can test him.

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<v Speaker 2>Jalen Jones seventh round rookie out of Texas A and

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<v Speaker 2>m Is the other corner.

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<v Speaker 4>So two rookie.

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<v Speaker 2>I got a pretty experienced nickel guy and Kenny Moore

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<v Speaker 2>the second.

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<v Speaker 4>But I like more.

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<v Speaker 2>I think, you know for the Steelers that it can't

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<v Speaker 2>be stated often enough, the TJ. Watt factor just in

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<v Speaker 2>terms of having a chance to win. When this guy's

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<v Speaker 2>in the lineup, they have a pretty good chance to win.

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<v Speaker 2>And when they don't, well, here's here's some numbers according

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<v Speaker 2>to our buddies at NFL Research.

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<v Speaker 4>And it's mind boggling. How strong these are?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, thirty six sixteen and one with what, and they

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<v Speaker 2>allow nineteen point six points a game, one.

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<v Speaker 3>And nine without what?

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<v Speaker 4>Nine and they allow.

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<v Speaker 2>Twenty six point six points a game. And if you

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<v Speaker 2>just want to throw a little more icing on top

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<v Speaker 2>of that cake, with what, Steelers averaging three point three

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<v Speaker 2>sacks a game without them one point four?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, all right, yards for play everything you look at.

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<v Speaker 2>It's obscratching my head to recall edge rusher that had

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<v Speaker 2>this kind of overall impact.

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<v Speaker 4>I bet there isn't one in Steeler history. I mean

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<v Speaker 4>even Miles Garrett, Michael Parsons, Bosa, all those guys. I

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<v Speaker 4>doubt their splits are that drastic with them on and

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<v Speaker 4>off the field. It's really something.

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<v Speaker 2>NFL research that that thirty six sixteen and one figure

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<v Speaker 2>that's with what in the lineup. Since twenty now, there

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<v Speaker 2>have been a handful of games where he started but

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<v Speaker 2>didn't finish the point where it didn't play a ton

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<v Speaker 2>of snaps like he usually does.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know if that's included, but probably is.

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<v Speaker 4>Like even last year when he came back from injury,

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<v Speaker 4>I wanted to say it was against Indy even I

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<v Speaker 4>didn't think he was himself.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it's right.

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<v Speaker 2>If you look at there's a line of demarcation seventy

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<v Speaker 2>five percent of the defensive snaps or eighty you know,

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<v Speaker 2>something approaching what he normally plays.

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<v Speaker 3>I bet the numbers are even more.

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<v Speaker 4>I bet they're even more drastic, one hundred percent because

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<v Speaker 4>there was a couple of games, or he wasn't a

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<v Speaker 4>dominant player yet, you know, coming back from injury, or

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<v Speaker 4>he left it halfway through the game, or he has

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<v Speaker 4>had sometimes a miss time. Of course, now that's gigantic,

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<v Speaker 4>and you know it's an under reported story. But last

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<v Speaker 4>week when they lost High Smith, it was the one

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<v Speaker 4>time they didn't have Golden healthy either or he was healthy,

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<v Speaker 4>he was scratched because they were shuffling so many linebackers.

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<v Speaker 3>In yeah, they.

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<v Speaker 2>Needed so many guys an inside linebacker and they needed

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<v Speaker 2>those guys to contribute on special teams and Marcus Golden

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't do that. But really, I think part of the

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<v Speaker 2>story last week too, since you went there, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>they started out a Landon Roberts wasn't playing every defensive snap,

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<v Speaker 2>and he wasn't playing in the dime. Michael Walker was

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<v Speaker 2>playing in the dime, and by the second half, that

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<v Speaker 2>stuff was kind of out the window. You didn't see

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of Blake Martinez, you didn't see Mark Robinson.

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<v Speaker 2>You saw Landon Roberts playing all three.

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<v Speaker 4>Where would you be without him at this point? I mean,

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<v Speaker 4>one of the best additions to the team, especially with

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<v Speaker 4>the way the dominance fell and what they need out

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<v Speaker 4>of the guy. Like when they signed him, I thought

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<v Speaker 4>he was gonna be a two down run and plugger,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, part time player, attitude guy, special teamer. But boy,

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, good thing he's around.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, he did not get a designation today. He went

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<v Speaker 2>from did not practice on Tuesday to limited Wednesday to

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<v Speaker 2>a full participant today. No question, will know nothing. He

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<v Speaker 2>appears good to go, and yeah, I'm with you. This

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<v Speaker 2>season would already be in the tank if they didn't

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<v Speaker 2>have him, because you think about losing Cole Holcombe and

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<v Speaker 2>then you think about losing Kwan Alexander and these are

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<v Speaker 2>your loan the inside linebacker in the six defensive backs

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<v Speaker 2>time guys.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, the guy they've.

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<v Speaker 2>Been looking for since Ryan Shazier got hurt and all

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<v Speaker 2>of a sudden, the Landon Roberts, the guy has filled

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<v Speaker 2>that role that they didn't expect so I guess with

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<v Speaker 2>Roberts and Watt, it's gonna be Indiana's basketball country.

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<v Speaker 3>It's gonna be a layup at Lucas Oil Stadium for.

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<v Speaker 4>Nothing to it, and it seems got all their problems solved.

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<v Speaker 4>I'm sure. I do like the matchup overall, though, and

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<v Speaker 4>I do think having nine days to prepare as opposed

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<v Speaker 4>to a short week for the Colts, it could pay off,

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<v Speaker 4>especially from an injury and staminas standpoint. So we'll see.

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, it's a crucial game obviously.

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<v Speaker 2>And of course the Steelers coming off of those consecutive

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<v Speaker 2>losses to two win teams. They're also a team that

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<v Speaker 2>has beaten Baltimore, so you know, go figure the Colts

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<v Speaker 2>have beaten Baltimore, that would be their signature win. They

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<v Speaker 2>also have a win over the Texans, who are seven

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<v Speaker 2>and six, but the rest of them in the Indianapolis

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<v Speaker 2>wins matt a couple over Tennessee.

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<v Speaker 4>They had four game winning streak before last week.

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<v Speaker 2>Beat Carolina, beat New England, beat Tampa Bay, and then

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<v Speaker 2>just got undressed in the second half by the Bengals.

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<v Speaker 2>They sure did last Sunday, so.

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<v Speaker 4>I kind of feel like this is a success story

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<v Speaker 4>for the Colts. I mean, if you think about it,

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<v Speaker 4>they had like the fourth pick in the draft, they

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<v Speaker 4>draft Richardson, the quarterback, rookie, head coach. You know, no

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<v Speaker 4>one expected them to be in the playoff hunt, especially

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<v Speaker 4>once the quarterback went down. No one, no one, no one.

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<v Speaker 4>I feel like they're playing with house money. They're understanding themselves,

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<v Speaker 4>they're gaining an identity, and then maybe you throw Richardson

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<v Speaker 4>back in the mix next year and at a piece

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<v Speaker 4>or two, and maybe you start really competing.

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<v Speaker 2>Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank reminds you to sack hunger,

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<v Speaker 2>get food, volunteer or donate at Pittsburgh Foodbank dot org.

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<v Speaker 2>The Steelers, conversely, so much optimism at the start of

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<v Speaker 2>the year and then they get whacked by San Francisco

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<v Speaker 2>to start things off, and it's been a rollercoaster ride

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<v Speaker 2>ever since. The Ravens win that mentioned was huge, beating Cleveland,

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<v Speaker 2>getting themselves to seven and four somehow despite a bunch

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<v Speaker 2>of injuries. Sure, and I think expectations were starting to

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<v Speaker 2>build again. What do you think the impact has been

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<v Speaker 2>to losing to two win Arizona and two win New England?

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<v Speaker 2>Is that just Hey, it's the nfl Rtually you lose,

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<v Speaker 2>you got to bounce back or is this something that

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<v Speaker 2>is going to take some getting over even inside that

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<v Speaker 2>locker room.

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, that's why I think this game is so crucial.

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, they're really fortunate to be where they are

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<v Speaker 4>in the standings in the playoff picture because it could

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<v Speaker 4>have been a lot worse. Or I think there's got

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<v Speaker 4>to be a lot of regret that if you could

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<v Speaker 4>have won one of those, you'd be sitting there with

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<v Speaker 4>Cleveland right now at eight and five. And it's a

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<v Speaker 4>totally different world. So we shall see. I mean, it's

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<v Speaker 4>really going to test their metal, you know. I mean,

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<v Speaker 4>is this a team that you can count on to

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<v Speaker 4>bounce back? Generally they have been under Tomlin standalone game

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<v Speaker 4>they've had the Colts number over the year, but I

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<v Speaker 4>feel like it's a playoff game.

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<v Speaker 3>Steelers Preview is brought to you by UNI bet.

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<v Speaker 2>The only thing better than the Steelers win is the

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<v Speaker 2>Steelers win that pace double down on your team with Unibutty,

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<v Speaker 2>proud partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. We're just getting warmed

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<v Speaker 2>up tonight, so keep it here. When we come back,

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<v Speaker 2>we will be joined by our Factor back, Merril Hodge

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<v Speaker 2>and Meryl will take a deep dive into the Steelers

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<v Speaker 2>and the Colts coming up on Saturday in Indianapolis with

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<v Speaker 2>Matt Williamson. I'm Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview right

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<v Speaker 2>here on your Steelers flagship one of two point five

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<v Speaker 2>DVE and sn R.

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<v Speaker 1>Back to the Steelers Preview show presented by Uni bet

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<v Speaker 1>On DVE.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome back to the preview Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson

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<v Speaker 2>getting ready for the Steelers in the Indianapolis Colts on

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<v Speaker 2>Saturday in Indy time. Now to welcome the star of

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<v Speaker 2>our show to the show. That would be our Factor back,

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<v Speaker 2>Merril Hodge. Merril, how's it going tonight?

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<v Speaker 5>Well, Mike delayed, so I'm not home, so it could

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<v Speaker 5>be better, but I'm on the show with you babys

0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:06.160
<v Speaker 5>that we're ready to go.

0:11:06.400 --> 0:11:06.600
<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

0:11:06.679 --> 0:11:08.199
<v Speaker 2>You know, if you're going to travel as much as

0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:10.280
<v Speaker 2>you do, you're gonna run into some of these delays

0:11:10.320 --> 0:11:11.240
<v Speaker 2>from time to time.

0:11:11.440 --> 0:11:14.440
<v Speaker 5>There is no doubt. I tell people all the time, listen,

0:11:15.200 --> 0:11:17.559
<v Speaker 5>go NonStop if you can. If you put a delay,

0:11:17.720 --> 0:11:20.240
<v Speaker 5>if you put a connection there, one or two, one

0:11:20.240 --> 0:11:22.079
<v Speaker 5>of them is going to be messed up and I'm

0:11:22.120 --> 0:11:22.920
<v Speaker 5>living it right now.

0:11:23.280 --> 0:11:26.520
<v Speaker 2>Well, uh, no offense, but better you than me. I

0:11:26.640 --> 0:11:30.600
<v Speaker 2>just spent last weekend up in Foxborough watching the Army

0:11:30.679 --> 0:11:34.079
<v Speaker 2>Navy game from Gillette Stadium, and I flew from Pittsburgh

0:11:34.320 --> 0:11:37.240
<v Speaker 2>connected in Philly to Boston on the way up, and

0:11:37.320 --> 0:11:40.440
<v Speaker 2>the same thing, same thing coming back, and everything fell

0:11:40.480 --> 0:11:43.640
<v Speaker 2>into place like it never does. I guess that's because

0:11:44.040 --> 0:11:46.280
<v Speaker 2>you know, my heart was in the right place going

0:11:46.320 --> 0:11:48.520
<v Speaker 2>to the Army Navy game, So the powers that be,

0:11:48.600 --> 0:11:50.920
<v Speaker 2>I guess made sure that I had smooth travels.

0:11:50.920 --> 0:11:52.280
<v Speaker 3>But man, that was a good time. Have you ever

0:11:52.320 --> 0:11:53.000
<v Speaker 3>been to one of those?

0:11:54.080 --> 0:11:55.960
<v Speaker 5>I had not, listen, I've turned it down. I can't

0:11:55.960 --> 0:11:58.000
<v Speaker 5>tell me. I just haven't been able to go. But

0:11:58.480 --> 0:12:00.600
<v Speaker 5>I've always wanted to go to that game. Is I'm

0:12:00.640 --> 0:12:01.760
<v Speaker 5>sure that was an experience.

0:12:01.800 --> 0:12:04.400
<v Speaker 2>Put it I was about my eighth or ninth career one.

0:12:04.440 --> 0:12:05.560
<v Speaker 2>Put it on your bucket list.

0:12:05.720 --> 0:12:07.160
<v Speaker 5>It's uh, it.

0:12:07.200 --> 0:12:10.160
<v Speaker 3>Is an unbelievable day. The game is the icing on

0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:12.920
<v Speaker 3>the cake, but the whole day is special. Uh.

0:12:13.040 --> 0:12:15.360
<v Speaker 2>Not that anybody who wants to find out about the

0:12:15.360 --> 0:12:18.400
<v Speaker 2>Colts and Steelers cares too much about that. So uh,

0:12:18.840 --> 0:12:23.120
<v Speaker 2>let's get to the heart of the matter, the sky

0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.240
<v Speaker 2>is falling here in Pittsburgh. They lost to the two

0:12:25.240 --> 0:12:29.120
<v Speaker 2>win Cardinals, they lost to the two win Patriots. Life

0:12:29.160 --> 0:12:32.120
<v Speaker 2>as we know it is over. How is the team

0:12:32.240 --> 0:12:35.120
<v Speaker 2>responding to this? I mean, we we've heard what players

0:12:35.120 --> 0:12:37.760
<v Speaker 2>and coaches have had to say. But in that locker

0:12:37.840 --> 0:12:41.880
<v Speaker 2>room and in each guy's heart of hearts, are they

0:12:42.480 --> 0:12:45.520
<v Speaker 2>focused on next game? You know, forget the last one,

0:12:45.520 --> 0:12:48.079
<v Speaker 2>win or lose on to the next one. Or do

0:12:48.120 --> 0:12:50.680
<v Speaker 2>you think there's a hangover that they're going to have

0:12:50.720 --> 0:12:52.840
<v Speaker 2>to cure before Saturday afternoon.

0:12:54.000 --> 0:12:56.160
<v Speaker 5>Well, you know, Mike, I talked a little bit about

0:12:56.160 --> 0:12:59.160
<v Speaker 5>it on the morning the DD Morning Show, and and

0:12:59.200 --> 0:13:03.200
<v Speaker 5>I think this game will be a telling tell of

0:13:03.400 --> 0:13:06.840
<v Speaker 5>what that locker room is about. Because I can't tell

0:13:06.880 --> 0:13:09.080
<v Speaker 5>you exactly what the locker room is, I can tell

0:13:09.080 --> 0:13:11.080
<v Speaker 5>you there's one of two things that are going on

0:13:11.120 --> 0:13:15.079
<v Speaker 5>in that locker room. There is a certain sense of

0:13:15.240 --> 0:13:19.240
<v Speaker 5>urgency and professionalism and commitment that you know, and you're

0:13:19.280 --> 0:13:22.400
<v Speaker 5>disturbed that you've lost your to games and you're still

0:13:22.400 --> 0:13:25.720
<v Speaker 5>in the thick of things and this game's vital or

0:13:27.559 --> 0:13:31.280
<v Speaker 5>you quit. You know, it's like you know, there's there's

0:13:31.280 --> 0:13:33.120
<v Speaker 5>no shot now, and you're gonna find out who those

0:13:33.120 --> 0:13:35.640
<v Speaker 5>players are. Let's hope you Let's hope there's none of

0:13:35.679 --> 0:13:39.840
<v Speaker 5>those guys that exist. But that can be the reality

0:13:40.120 --> 0:13:45.480
<v Speaker 5>of where a player sits right now. For and for

0:13:45.480 --> 0:13:47.959
<v Speaker 5>for me, this is from a coaching perspective, this is

0:13:48.480 --> 0:13:50.760
<v Speaker 5>this is one of those great games of evaluation to

0:13:50.760 --> 0:13:54.040
<v Speaker 5>find out really the character of your team and the

0:13:54.120 --> 0:13:59.120
<v Speaker 5>character of your players. I think they have good people

0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:01.120
<v Speaker 5>on that in that locker room for the most part,

0:14:02.400 --> 0:14:06.040
<v Speaker 5>you know, so I expect them to respond in a

0:14:06.080 --> 0:14:08.920
<v Speaker 5>positive manner. But you know, I'm not in that locker room,

0:14:08.920 --> 0:14:13.000
<v Speaker 5>and I can't I can't speak two certainty that that

0:14:13.120 --> 0:14:15.280
<v Speaker 5>is going to happen. I can just tell you those

0:14:15.400 --> 0:14:18.080
<v Speaker 5>two things could be happening.

0:14:17.800 --> 0:14:19.120
<v Speaker 6>In a locker room with and in a lot of

0:14:19.200 --> 0:14:23.320
<v Speaker 6>locker rooms in situations like this, and those are one

0:14:23.320 --> 0:14:26.400
<v Speaker 6>of the two outcomes that can come from from an

0:14:26.480 --> 0:14:28.480
<v Speaker 6>overall mental and preparation aspect.

0:14:29.040 --> 0:14:33.560
<v Speaker 2>I would think that circumstances got to help in terms

0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:37.760
<v Speaker 2>of yeah, they had great chances at home to beat

0:14:37.840 --> 0:14:41.920
<v Speaker 2>teams that came acrosser stadium with two wins, but it's

0:14:41.960 --> 0:14:44.440
<v Speaker 2>not like there's one week left and now they need

0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:46.360
<v Speaker 2>five things to happen to make the playoffs.

0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.080
<v Speaker 3>There's still the sixth seed. They still have it right

0:14:49.120 --> 0:14:49.800
<v Speaker 3>in front of them.

0:14:50.480 --> 0:14:52.480
<v Speaker 2>You know, you go through the Colts on Saturday and

0:14:52.520 --> 0:14:55.440
<v Speaker 2>then Bengals a week from Saturday, and all of a sudden,

0:14:56.440 --> 0:14:59.240
<v Speaker 2>everything's back to where it was, you know, in terms

0:14:59.240 --> 0:15:02.080
<v Speaker 2>of a positive out look before the Cardinals and Patriots game.

0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:05.720
<v Speaker 5>Right completely a great Mike, And I do believe, like,

0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:08.040
<v Speaker 5>if you give me, like, which one would I favor?

0:15:08.440 --> 0:15:11.280
<v Speaker 5>I favor what you just said. I think that locker room,

0:15:11.520 --> 0:15:15.360
<v Speaker 5>there's resiliency being built here and listen, as bad as

0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:19.840
<v Speaker 5>has been and there's this is where you really require

0:15:19.880 --> 0:15:22.480
<v Speaker 5>your team to look at itself and do a little

0:15:22.480 --> 0:15:24.680
<v Speaker 5>bit of self reflection. What kind of changes need to

0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:28.640
<v Speaker 5>be made? If we do this collectively, then we're going

0:15:28.680 --> 0:15:31.080
<v Speaker 5>to be a much different team when we go into Indannapolis.

0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:33.000
<v Speaker 5>And to still be in a position where we control

0:15:33.040 --> 0:15:35.720
<v Speaker 5>our destiny, you know, is a thing that you may

0:15:35.760 --> 0:15:38.920
<v Speaker 5>not have envisioned you would have a after lose those

0:15:38.920 --> 0:15:41.360
<v Speaker 5>two games. So I think you're spot on. You know,

0:15:41.680 --> 0:15:44.840
<v Speaker 5>you lose those two games, and as probably as depression

0:15:44.920 --> 0:15:48.160
<v Speaker 5>demralizing as it is, you still have opportunity and you

0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:51.000
<v Speaker 5>still have games ahead of you and you still can

0:15:51.040 --> 0:15:53.600
<v Speaker 5>be where you you where you desire to be, and

0:15:53.640 --> 0:15:55.840
<v Speaker 5>that is in the playoff race. When it's all done.

0:15:56.480 --> 0:15:59.680
<v Speaker 2>Steeles is sticking with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. I'm kind

0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:02.760
<v Speaker 2>of glad they are. And Uh, I really took to

0:16:02.840 --> 0:16:04.760
<v Speaker 2>heart what you had to say. Since we're plugging the

0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:07.960
<v Speaker 2>DV morning show a second ago, let's do it again.

0:16:08.520 --> 0:16:12.000
<v Speaker 2>Uh boy, if nothing else, he really competed in that

0:16:12.120 --> 0:16:15.000
<v Speaker 2>Patriots game. And if they get that kind of want

0:16:15.080 --> 0:16:19.040
<v Speaker 2>to and that kind of get after it, Uh, they're

0:16:19.040 --> 0:16:21.720
<v Speaker 2>gonna be okay in Indy because, Uh, to the to

0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:24.560
<v Speaker 2>the bitter end, I like everybody else, I wish he

0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:27.440
<v Speaker 2>would have hit George Pickens on third and two, or

0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:29.880
<v Speaker 2>failing that, I wish he would have hit Deontae Johnson

0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:33.360
<v Speaker 2>on fourth and two. But uh, mister Whisky maybe one

0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:37.000
<v Speaker 2>completion away from having a real rags to riches night

0:16:37.120 --> 0:16:37.960
<v Speaker 2>against New England.

0:16:38.960 --> 0:16:42.880
<v Speaker 5>Yeah. Well, I've been studying mister Whisky since he came out.

0:16:43.200 --> 0:16:47.400
<v Speaker 5>I've been very very fair of what kind of quarterback

0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:51.080
<v Speaker 5>he really is. And you know the one thing that

0:16:51.280 --> 0:16:54.280
<v Speaker 5>I saw on that in that day when they were

0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:57.480
<v Speaker 5>you cheer information and Rudolf and trying to get him

0:16:57.520 --> 0:17:00.200
<v Speaker 5>on the field and chide you know already had I'm

0:17:00.280 --> 0:17:03.640
<v Speaker 5>interception and what was called back? And I believe this

0:17:03.760 --> 0:17:06.879
<v Speaker 5>was right after the second interception Pals, which was not

0:17:07.080 --> 0:17:11.399
<v Speaker 5>his fault. I was just like, you know what this

0:17:11.760 --> 0:17:14.800
<v Speaker 5>that is probably one of the hardest things to do

0:17:15.359 --> 0:17:18.840
<v Speaker 5>in sports, to walk out in front of sixty seventy

0:17:18.880 --> 0:17:21.679
<v Speaker 5>thousand people who don't want you on the field, are

0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:25.040
<v Speaker 5>cheering for somebody else and chanting for somebody else, and

0:17:25.160 --> 0:17:29.600
<v Speaker 5>to persevere through that and then play really actually pretty

0:17:29.600 --> 0:17:32.840
<v Speaker 5>good based on all of the things that were going on.

0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:35.040
<v Speaker 5>Just show me a lot about like who he is,

0:17:35.080 --> 0:17:39.000
<v Speaker 5>the character that the kid has, and you know that

0:17:39.000 --> 0:17:42.639
<v Speaker 5>that I mean, if there's ever somebody that you know,

0:17:43.280 --> 0:17:46.000
<v Speaker 5>I just look at players and teams. You know, I

0:17:46.040 --> 0:17:49.360
<v Speaker 5>don't get mostly attached to anything because especially if I'm

0:17:49.359 --> 0:17:51.240
<v Speaker 5>on valuation aspect, you start doing that, you make a

0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:54.159
<v Speaker 5>lot of better mistakes. But then I tell you what

0:17:54.200 --> 0:17:56.080
<v Speaker 5>I'm pulling for him. I'm pulling for him to play

0:17:56.119 --> 0:17:58.760
<v Speaker 5>well and give and be able to play his best.

0:17:58.840 --> 0:18:00.359
<v Speaker 5>You know how many of her games he got to

0:18:00.359 --> 0:18:04.160
<v Speaker 5>play before Kenny Pickett can come back, and I would

0:18:04.200 --> 0:18:07.600
<v Speaker 5>love to see the light shine on him based on

0:18:07.680 --> 0:18:10.520
<v Speaker 5>how he fought through that, the way he played and

0:18:10.560 --> 0:18:12.679
<v Speaker 5>the way he can't play there, there's still you know,

0:18:12.760 --> 0:18:15.440
<v Speaker 5>good football in Mitchisky, and I hope that they get

0:18:15.640 --> 0:18:18.240
<v Speaker 5>get it out of him starting this Sunday Saturday.

0:18:19.080 --> 0:18:22.760
<v Speaker 2>Goofy week with the Thursday night game against New England.

0:18:23.600 --> 0:18:28.800
<v Speaker 2>The theory from Mike Tomlin and others is that more

0:18:28.840 --> 0:18:32.680
<v Speaker 2>normal preparation will allow Trubisky to play better. Uh, Mike

0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:35.520
<v Speaker 2>Tomlin thought he warmed up to it against the Patriots.

0:18:35.560 --> 0:18:36.840
<v Speaker 2>He was playing better at the end of the game

0:18:36.880 --> 0:18:38.479
<v Speaker 2>than he was at the start of the game, and

0:18:38.560 --> 0:18:42.400
<v Speaker 2>Tomlin is expecting more improvement still in this Colts game.

0:18:42.400 --> 0:18:44.199
<v Speaker 2>I would have to agree with that as well. We

0:18:44.280 --> 0:18:46.639
<v Speaker 2>have seen this guy play some some good football for

0:18:46.680 --> 0:18:49.560
<v Speaker 2>the Steelers, not consistently, but we've seen it in him.

0:18:50.800 --> 0:18:53.200
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, and that this defense you know that he is

0:18:53.240 --> 0:18:55.760
<v Speaker 5>going up against, You know that they're they're they're a

0:18:55.800 --> 0:18:59.240
<v Speaker 5>mixed bag. They're they're they're an interesting They're an interesting

0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:02.840
<v Speaker 5>watch because there's moments where you know it's the defense

0:19:02.880 --> 0:19:04.760
<v Speaker 5>that you thought that they were going to have. You

0:19:04.760 --> 0:19:08.159
<v Speaker 5>know that they've had the last couple of years, and

0:19:08.240 --> 0:19:11.520
<v Speaker 5>they show flashes of that and then that then it disappears.

0:19:11.520 --> 0:19:15.440
<v Speaker 5>I mean the the Bengals exposed them in the quick

0:19:15.480 --> 0:19:18.360
<v Speaker 5>past game, in the screen game. I mean they they

0:19:18.720 --> 0:19:21.359
<v Speaker 5>they stung them a lot in that environment, and they

0:19:21.480 --> 0:19:23.439
<v Speaker 5>they're able to run the ball on them. They actually,

0:19:23.640 --> 0:19:26.800
<v Speaker 5>you know, end up controlling the entire environment of the

0:19:27.000 --> 0:19:31.320
<v Speaker 5>entire game based on how their offense played so well. Listen,

0:19:31.359 --> 0:19:34.560
<v Speaker 5>they are on the custom of things too. You know,

0:19:34.560 --> 0:19:37.880
<v Speaker 5>if they can't afford other loss, if they continue to win,

0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:41.520
<v Speaker 5>there's hope for them. And so you know, you would

0:19:41.560 --> 0:19:44.280
<v Speaker 5>could argue the playoffs have begun in a lot of scenarios.

0:19:44.320 --> 0:19:47.200
<v Speaker 5>So it's an interesting match up from from just that

0:19:47.320 --> 0:19:49.560
<v Speaker 5>side of the ball, you know, Watson, mister Buski and

0:19:49.600 --> 0:19:52.920
<v Speaker 5>Han's ability to play and build off of that second half.

0:19:53.440 --> 0:19:55.560
<v Speaker 5>I do think you're right by that. I do think

0:19:55.600 --> 0:19:58.440
<v Speaker 5>that he continues to build in and has a good

0:19:58.480 --> 0:20:01.320
<v Speaker 5>game and plays the way that Mitch has a capability

0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:01.640
<v Speaker 5>of plan.

0:20:02.600 --> 0:20:05.160
<v Speaker 2>Before we get into the Colts with a little more detail,

0:20:05.920 --> 0:20:09.280
<v Speaker 2>you mentioned the past to Pat Fryarmuth that was intercepted,

0:20:09.680 --> 0:20:13.199
<v Speaker 2>not Trubisky's fault. Now, the first one there was a

0:20:13.200 --> 0:20:16.480
<v Speaker 2>past interference penalty, but it was committed by the corner

0:20:16.520 --> 0:20:19.840
<v Speaker 2>who ended up intercepting the ball on the intended target,

0:20:19.920 --> 0:20:22.639
<v Speaker 2>So I think the penalty resulted in the interception.

0:20:22.960 --> 0:20:24.720
<v Speaker 3>What did you see on the throat of Friarmuth?

0:20:26.520 --> 0:20:28.240
<v Speaker 5>Well, okay, this is where okay, but what is the

0:20:28.520 --> 0:20:30.520
<v Speaker 5>There's three things that you look for a quarterback. You know,

0:20:30.960 --> 0:20:35.320
<v Speaker 5>a good processor, he's accurate, and he has anticipation. Well,

0:20:35.800 --> 0:20:40.080
<v Speaker 5>that throw right there is about anticipation. You got to

0:20:40.080 --> 0:20:43.000
<v Speaker 5>trust your guy because you're throwing it to a void

0:20:43.320 --> 0:20:46.080
<v Speaker 5>and that boid oftentimes as a defender over the top

0:20:46.240 --> 0:20:49.600
<v Speaker 5>or underneath or both, and in that case it was both.

0:20:49.800 --> 0:20:52.919
<v Speaker 5>And when Friarmuth made the plant to come inside, he

0:20:53.000 --> 0:20:55.960
<v Speaker 5>has to commit to that. He can't backpedal because he

0:20:56.000 --> 0:20:59.240
<v Speaker 5>stopped in his backpedal, which I've ever seen a route

0:20:59.240 --> 0:21:01.360
<v Speaker 5>like that? Was the anter seen a route like that?

0:21:01.880 --> 0:21:03.760
<v Speaker 5>So you know he put it where it actually it

0:21:03.800 --> 0:21:05.959
<v Speaker 5>was supposed to be. If he doesn't catch it, if

0:21:06.480 --> 0:21:09.200
<v Speaker 5>doesn't catch it, it's not their except that's a fact.

0:21:09.800 --> 0:21:11.840
<v Speaker 5>And you're right. The guy who got the pass interference,

0:21:11.840 --> 0:21:15.359
<v Speaker 5>he actually grabbed the hips. I can't remember who the

0:21:15.359 --> 0:21:17.600
<v Speaker 5>wide receiver was and pulled himself in the front. So

0:21:18.119 --> 0:21:21.600
<v Speaker 5>you know, Mitch really from an overall decision making an

0:21:21.640 --> 0:21:24.520
<v Speaker 5>accuracy aspect, did not throw. I mean they were not

0:21:24.560 --> 0:21:28.119
<v Speaker 5>his fault, you know. Now, that was one that they dropped.

0:21:28.160 --> 0:21:30.639
<v Speaker 5>It was a bad throw, but he got away with it.

0:21:30.760 --> 0:21:32.600
<v Speaker 5>But the one that really killed them well though, was

0:21:32.640 --> 0:21:36.240
<v Speaker 5>that that one when fireman should have been where he

0:21:36.240 --> 0:21:37.960
<v Speaker 5>should have been and that therefore it wouldn't have been

0:21:38.000 --> 0:21:38.640
<v Speaker 5>an interception.

0:21:38.800 --> 0:21:40.639
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and then a long retired in a short field

0:21:40.640 --> 0:21:43.440
<v Speaker 2>touchdown and your two scores down, and that first half

0:21:43.440 --> 0:21:48.120
<v Speaker 2>continued to spiral. That screen game that you referenced, Cincinnati

0:21:48.240 --> 0:21:52.600
<v Speaker 2>hitting the Colts with a fifty four yard touchdown to

0:21:52.680 --> 0:21:55.879
<v Speaker 2>the rookiello out of Illinois, Chase Brown. He had another

0:21:55.920 --> 0:21:58.880
<v Speaker 2>screen that went for twenty yards. Joe Mixon had one

0:21:59.400 --> 0:22:03.200
<v Speaker 2>that was a huge play. What did the forty five yards?

0:22:03.440 --> 0:22:05.159
<v Speaker 2>A little dump down? What did you what did you

0:22:05.200 --> 0:22:08.000
<v Speaker 2>see working for the Bengals there or maybe not working

0:22:08.000 --> 0:22:08.560
<v Speaker 2>for the Colts?

0:22:10.800 --> 0:22:13.800
<v Speaker 5>Well, they actually called the screen. And you know this

0:22:13.840 --> 0:22:16.040
<v Speaker 5>is about tendency too, because I would think that the

0:22:16.119 --> 0:22:18.119
<v Speaker 5>Steelers would try to do some of this and that

0:22:18.200 --> 0:22:20.280
<v Speaker 5>haven't been a very good screen team that they just

0:22:20.760 --> 0:22:24.600
<v Speaker 5>if timing is off from a from an offensive line

0:22:24.640 --> 0:22:27.800
<v Speaker 5>perspective or back perspective, they just they haven't been a

0:22:27.800 --> 0:22:31.960
<v Speaker 5>real good sink. But even though that's case, I still

0:22:31.960 --> 0:22:33.320
<v Speaker 5>think he got to try to run it on him

0:22:33.359 --> 0:22:35.520
<v Speaker 5>because you can get him in a man situation. So

0:22:35.600 --> 0:22:38.439
<v Speaker 5>the touchdown one was a man situation and they were

0:22:38.440 --> 0:22:40.680
<v Speaker 5>able to get good position on the man, the guy

0:22:40.720 --> 0:22:42.840
<v Speaker 5>who was covering the back out of the backfield. They

0:22:42.880 --> 0:22:45.359
<v Speaker 5>got him blocked. Well, once they got him blocked, that

0:22:45.440 --> 0:22:47.280
<v Speaker 5>was it. You know. He had to do was hit

0:22:47.359 --> 0:22:50.560
<v Speaker 5>his head on the goal post. And then the other

0:22:50.600 --> 0:22:53.040
<v Speaker 5>one was just a better executed one, but it was

0:22:53.119 --> 0:22:56.920
<v Speaker 5>against zone. But they they so they did both things

0:22:56.960 --> 0:22:59.840
<v Speaker 5>against their defense and they didn't handle it very well.

0:22:59.840 --> 0:23:01.879
<v Speaker 5>And I just kind of believe that you got to

0:23:01.920 --> 0:23:05.240
<v Speaker 5>try those things when you see a team that struggled

0:23:05.320 --> 0:23:07.040
<v Speaker 5>with them. And I went to the other the thing

0:23:07.119 --> 0:23:10.040
<v Speaker 5>the Titans, even I'm watched them against the Titans, and

0:23:10.400 --> 0:23:12.240
<v Speaker 5>I'm trying to think, I think they've gotten a couple

0:23:12.280 --> 0:23:14.840
<v Speaker 5>of times like that too, and they start to the

0:23:14.920 --> 0:23:18.000
<v Speaker 5>problems in the back end at times. They didn't given

0:23:18.080 --> 0:23:21.320
<v Speaker 5>up big plays from it. So from a studying perspective.

0:23:21.359 --> 0:23:23.280
<v Speaker 5>I think you got to try to challenge those things.

0:23:23.320 --> 0:23:25.720
<v Speaker 5>See if they buttoned it up, and the said danny ju.

0:23:27.320 --> 0:23:29.520
<v Speaker 3>What also struck me while watching that game? Merrill?

0:23:30.240 --> 0:23:33.360
<v Speaker 2>Uh, this is more of a flow momentum kind of thing.

0:23:33.440 --> 0:23:36.240
<v Speaker 2>But it was fourteen to nothing Bengals early, and then

0:23:36.240 --> 0:23:39.320
<v Speaker 2>the Colts got back in it. They scored a touchdown,

0:23:39.400 --> 0:23:42.440
<v Speaker 2>and then I think the second play after that, there

0:23:42.480 --> 0:23:45.119
<v Speaker 2>was a bad pass that the tight end reached to

0:23:45.160 --> 0:23:49.040
<v Speaker 2>try to catch and he ended up basically handing it

0:23:49.080 --> 0:23:51.560
<v Speaker 2>to the Colts linebacker Ronnie Harrison, and he got to

0:23:51.600 --> 0:23:53.720
<v Speaker 2>pick six out of it, and then they went for

0:23:53.760 --> 0:23:56.240
<v Speaker 2>two and tied it because they had missed their point

0:23:56.280 --> 0:23:59.520
<v Speaker 2>after the first time. So in a matter of seconds,

0:23:59.520 --> 0:24:02.359
<v Speaker 2>the Colts came back from fourteen to nothing down to

0:24:02.480 --> 0:24:04.560
<v Speaker 2>fourteen fourteen going into the half.

0:24:04.920 --> 0:24:05.960
<v Speaker 3>And then in the.

0:24:05.800 --> 0:24:09.719
<v Speaker 2>Third quarter, Cincinnati gets the ball, drives for touchdown, Colts

0:24:09.760 --> 0:24:12.879
<v Speaker 2>go five and out. Uh, Cincinnati gets the ball, drives

0:24:12.920 --> 0:24:14.520
<v Speaker 2>for a touchdown, Colts.

0:24:14.280 --> 0:24:15.399
<v Speaker 3>Go three and out.

0:24:15.440 --> 0:24:18.439
<v Speaker 2>Cincinnati gets the ball and punts, but the Colts muffed

0:24:18.440 --> 0:24:21.119
<v Speaker 2>the return and the Bengals get another field goal. Now,

0:24:21.160 --> 0:24:23.680
<v Speaker 2>all of a sudden, we're early fourth quarter and it's

0:24:23.720 --> 0:24:27.400
<v Speaker 2>over again. There was that game was hanging in the

0:24:27.400 --> 0:24:29.960
<v Speaker 2>balance and since he went out and seized it, and

0:24:30.000 --> 0:24:32.320
<v Speaker 2>the Colts just never had any pushback after that.

0:24:33.440 --> 0:24:35.720
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, and they got some pressure and the guy a

0:24:35.880 --> 0:24:40.199
<v Speaker 5>pick actually from a sad pick. There was there down

0:24:40.240 --> 0:24:42.480
<v Speaker 5>score the Colts for downa scoring territory, and that to

0:24:42.520 --> 0:24:46.000
<v Speaker 5>me was a devastating one for him because you get nothing.

0:24:46.080 --> 0:24:49.320
<v Speaker 5>The Bengals get the ball back well, and you look

0:24:49.359 --> 0:24:51.440
<v Speaker 5>at when you look at that game, you know, Mike,

0:24:51.480 --> 0:24:54.760
<v Speaker 5>something stood out as those tackles had some problems and

0:24:54.840 --> 0:24:57.080
<v Speaker 5>they really get some pressures and creak some of those

0:24:57.280 --> 0:25:00.959
<v Speaker 5>issues with their their outside guys. They have good outside

0:25:01.000 --> 0:25:03.640
<v Speaker 5>guys where the Steelers have good outside guys, which actually

0:25:04.200 --> 0:25:05.879
<v Speaker 5>is what I think the Patriots did is such a

0:25:05.920 --> 0:25:08.720
<v Speaker 5>good job of you know, they were well equipped at

0:25:08.760 --> 0:25:11.960
<v Speaker 5>those tackles. Overall. When they had to block Ty Smith

0:25:12.119 --> 0:25:14.600
<v Speaker 5>over walk, they actually played really well. They played good

0:25:14.640 --> 0:25:17.320
<v Speaker 5>I think they've played all year, and when they wanted

0:25:17.400 --> 0:25:18.960
<v Speaker 5>to try to take a shot down the field, they

0:25:19.000 --> 0:25:21.440
<v Speaker 5>made sure that they chipped them or helped out a

0:25:21.480 --> 0:25:24.080
<v Speaker 5>little bit. And it was tough. It was tough sledding

0:25:24.119 --> 0:25:27.119
<v Speaker 5>for both those guys. All night. I think that this

0:25:27.200 --> 0:25:29.000
<v Speaker 5>could be a game where those two guys may be

0:25:29.040 --> 0:25:33.159
<v Speaker 5>able to wreck some plays and may possibly be the

0:25:33.160 --> 0:25:36.959
<v Speaker 5>difference in creating a turnover, because if you can get

0:25:36.960 --> 0:25:38.440
<v Speaker 5>away with the turnover in a game and not give

0:25:38.480 --> 0:25:40.639
<v Speaker 5>it up, and the chances of you winning game are

0:25:40.680 --> 0:25:44.280
<v Speaker 5>just so significant in the NFL, and that would be

0:25:44.359 --> 0:25:47.159
<v Speaker 5>where I think an advantage going into this matchup the

0:25:47.160 --> 0:25:49.040
<v Speaker 5>Steelers would have as the stuff that they can do

0:25:49.080 --> 0:25:50.240
<v Speaker 5>from the edge perspective.

0:25:50.400 --> 0:25:55.160
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, particularly that right side looked like Brayden Smith, who

0:25:55.240 --> 0:25:58.480
<v Speaker 2>is out again for Indianapolis. He was replaced against the

0:25:58.520 --> 0:26:01.240
<v Speaker 2>Bengals by Blake Freeland, a rook he out a BYU

0:26:01.400 --> 0:26:05.119
<v Speaker 2>fourth rounder. He appeared to really struggle against Trey Hendrickson.

0:26:06.320 --> 0:26:08.360
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, and he was a guy that you actually studied

0:26:08.400 --> 0:26:11.399
<v Speaker 5>really well well coming out, you know. Just he's a

0:26:11.560 --> 0:26:15.080
<v Speaker 5>he's an athletic kid, you know, but he has massive

0:26:15.119 --> 0:26:18.159
<v Speaker 5>problems with people who who can do some type of

0:26:18.200 --> 0:26:21.720
<v Speaker 5>inside move, you know. I think so, and both Highmith

0:26:21.800 --> 0:26:24.560
<v Speaker 5>and wat have all kinds of moves, and they can

0:26:25.040 --> 0:26:28.560
<v Speaker 5>definitely from from how we evaluated him and his his

0:26:28.720 --> 0:26:32.840
<v Speaker 5>problem and his biggest weakness can expose that and get after.

0:26:32.720 --> 0:26:36.159
<v Speaker 2>That statistically the Colts don't stop the run. Well, you

0:26:36.200 --> 0:26:38.719
<v Speaker 2>mentioned Cincinnati had success and the Bengals have not been

0:26:38.800 --> 0:26:43.080
<v Speaker 2>running it well this year. What did you see not

0:26:43.240 --> 0:26:45.520
<v Speaker 2>happening for the Steelers in that Patriots game? Because they

0:26:45.560 --> 0:26:48.679
<v Speaker 2>had run together three four five games in a row

0:26:48.720 --> 0:26:51.080
<v Speaker 2>where the running game was really effective, and all of

0:26:51.119 --> 0:26:51.920
<v Speaker 2>a sudden.

0:26:51.720 --> 0:26:53.600
<v Speaker 3>Bill Belichick decided to take that away.

0:26:53.640 --> 0:26:57.479
<v Speaker 5>I guess well, you know, actually, Mike, if you remember,

0:26:57.600 --> 0:27:00.920
<v Speaker 5>you know, if you just watched their defense, that would

0:27:00.920 --> 0:27:02.960
<v Speaker 5>look like a Patriot team, you know, and then you

0:27:03.000 --> 0:27:04.560
<v Speaker 5>had to watch their offense and you're like, oh gosh,

0:27:04.600 --> 0:27:06.840
<v Speaker 5>this is any close to like, you know, Bill Belchi,

0:27:07.119 --> 0:27:10.119
<v Speaker 5>but the defensive side that then they've always been like

0:27:10.160 --> 0:27:13.000
<v Speaker 5>that the entire year. Unfortunately, their offense has just been

0:27:13.040 --> 0:27:16.480
<v Speaker 5>so out of whack. That's excuse everything. But I'm telling what.

0:27:16.560 --> 0:27:19.760
<v Speaker 5>In the trenches, they've been unbelievable. On the perimeter, they've

0:27:19.760 --> 0:27:22.439
<v Speaker 5>been below that box and their safety is play man.

0:27:22.520 --> 0:27:26.080
<v Speaker 5>That's yeah, it's tough sledding. I mean, everybody's played against

0:27:26.400 --> 0:27:30.359
<v Speaker 5>a struggle, so you know what they what the biggest

0:27:30.400 --> 0:27:32.080
<v Speaker 5>issue is, they just couldn't control the lines of careers.

0:27:32.080 --> 0:27:34.760
<v Speaker 5>They couldn't get any movement. But where they really eroded

0:27:34.920 --> 0:27:37.600
<v Speaker 5>is are tight ends just got whipped. I mean they

0:27:37.720 --> 0:27:40.760
<v Speaker 5>just got whipped. Individually, they got with collectively got they

0:27:40.760 --> 0:27:44.240
<v Speaker 5>got whipped. They couldn't handle thirty three. Thirty three abused

0:27:44.240 --> 0:27:47.280
<v Speaker 5>them so they couldn't get anything on the edge, couldn't

0:27:47.280 --> 0:27:51.159
<v Speaker 5>get anything started. And when you do that, it's just hard.

0:27:51.400 --> 0:27:54.159
<v Speaker 5>It's really like, unless you're really a dynamic confidence and

0:27:54.200 --> 0:27:56.120
<v Speaker 5>you have a bunch of phases you're really good at,

0:27:57.359 --> 0:28:00.000
<v Speaker 5>then it's going to really affect a team like the Steelers,

0:28:00.080 --> 0:28:02.320
<v Speaker 5>which needs the running game to go well. And once

0:28:02.400 --> 0:28:06.520
<v Speaker 5>that goes well, then the passive game does become a

0:28:06.600 --> 0:28:09.000
<v Speaker 5>more potent effect. But you have to rely on the

0:28:09.040 --> 0:28:12.639
<v Speaker 5>pass the game. They're just not as they're not as consistent,

0:28:13.000 --> 0:28:15.840
<v Speaker 5>they're not as dynamic when when they get that running

0:28:15.880 --> 0:28:18.280
<v Speaker 5>game taken away from them. So you'll show us a

0:28:18.320 --> 0:28:19.600
<v Speaker 5>game that they are going to try to get that

0:28:19.640 --> 0:28:23.119
<v Speaker 5>back on track, and they should have they should have

0:28:23.160 --> 0:28:25.320
<v Speaker 5>the ability to do that. Some of the challenges of

0:28:25.760 --> 0:28:28.960
<v Speaker 5>the Colts do deal with or have dealt with. The

0:28:29.000 --> 0:28:33.359
<v Speaker 5>Steelers do very well. So unless there's some the BACA

0:28:33.800 --> 0:28:35.840
<v Speaker 5>I can't keep coming, I think they'll be able to

0:28:35.920 --> 0:28:39.040
<v Speaker 5>run the ball. I run the ball effectively against them.

0:28:39.880 --> 0:28:43.000
<v Speaker 2>What are your impressions of Minshew? He's had some nice

0:28:43.160 --> 0:28:46.160
<v Speaker 2>runs of success in the league. Yeah, he's had some struggles.

0:28:46.920 --> 0:28:47.479
<v Speaker 3>I'll tell you what.

0:28:48.040 --> 0:28:51.200
<v Speaker 2>When I watch him play good or bad, he looks

0:28:51.200 --> 0:28:53.440
<v Speaker 2>to me like a guy who thinks I got this,

0:28:53.560 --> 0:28:54.600
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna let it rip.

0:28:56.040 --> 0:28:58.360
<v Speaker 5>Well, I will tell you this. He's a he's a

0:28:58.480 --> 0:29:00.920
<v Speaker 5>very good player. He's a very very good player. Now

0:29:01.120 --> 0:29:04.000
<v Speaker 5>what what what really probably keeps him from being what?

0:29:04.160 --> 0:29:06.800
<v Speaker 5>Like you had talked about elite? You know, like this

0:29:06.960 --> 0:29:08.360
<v Speaker 5>is that a game? I'll tell you what. They they

0:29:08.400 --> 0:29:11.040
<v Speaker 5>had a play design. They have the guy wide open

0:29:11.680 --> 0:29:14.680
<v Speaker 5>and he underthrows it and bounces off the defender's head.

0:29:15.000 --> 0:29:19.920
<v Speaker 5>And I'm like, now that he in every game I watched, uh,

0:29:20.240 --> 0:29:22.920
<v Speaker 5>Gardner don't play in that game, He's made some type

0:29:23.000 --> 0:29:26.680
<v Speaker 5>of strokes like that, where man, he just hasn't been

0:29:26.720 --> 0:29:30.600
<v Speaker 5>consistent enough and made the big throws that matter. Now

0:29:30.640 --> 0:29:33.760
<v Speaker 5>that doesn't that doesn't mean he can't because in an

0:29:33.760 --> 0:29:38.280
<v Speaker 5>overtime game against the Titans, he did. He's he made

0:29:38.280 --> 0:29:40.440
<v Speaker 5>the throw to win the game for him. So he

0:29:40.560 --> 0:29:43.720
<v Speaker 5>does enough to scare it. He processes things well he could.

0:29:43.880 --> 0:29:47.200
<v Speaker 5>He functions well. I mean he's a really really good player.

0:29:47.920 --> 0:29:51.160
<v Speaker 5>He's just got a really elite player. From the perspective,

0:29:51.280 --> 0:29:54.720
<v Speaker 5>he's gonna I like to pla those role, those critical

0:29:54.760 --> 0:29:58.120
<v Speaker 5>plays that like the Joe Burrows maker of Patrick Mahomes

0:29:58.160 --> 0:30:02.360
<v Speaker 5>has made. He just he misses just enough of those

0:30:02.800 --> 0:30:06.520
<v Speaker 5>that he misses going over the edge. But he'll do enough. Danny,

0:30:07.120 --> 0:30:09.000
<v Speaker 5>did you sleep on him or don't think you've got

0:30:09.000 --> 0:30:10.760
<v Speaker 5>a problem. You got a problem on his hands because

0:30:11.880 --> 0:30:13.840
<v Speaker 5>he knows how to function in this league, knows how

0:30:13.840 --> 0:30:16.640
<v Speaker 5>to play in this league. And hew York straight that

0:30:16.720 --> 0:30:19.120
<v Speaker 5>offense very well too, So that's the other thing that

0:30:19.560 --> 0:30:20.800
<v Speaker 5>you have to really be concerned with.

0:30:21.480 --> 0:30:23.840
<v Speaker 2>They do a ton of RPO stuff, Merrill, but he

0:30:23.880 --> 0:30:25.960
<v Speaker 2>doesn't end up carrying the ball very much.

0:30:26.040 --> 0:30:27.520
<v Speaker 3>Is that just window dressing?

0:30:28.640 --> 0:30:31.400
<v Speaker 5>Well, I think that's far of his window dressing because

0:30:31.400 --> 0:30:33.920
<v Speaker 5>you could tell that he he don't use his legs

0:30:33.920 --> 0:30:36.800
<v Speaker 5>and get out of stuff. And you can't sleep on

0:30:36.840 --> 0:30:38.840
<v Speaker 5>him because he can make some place doing that. But

0:30:38.960 --> 0:30:41.400
<v Speaker 5>you can tell that as Nisporte, you know, with the

0:30:41.520 --> 0:30:45.600
<v Speaker 5>RPO action, I think the the the p in r

0:30:45.640 --> 0:30:49.400
<v Speaker 5>P O is a high, bigger highlight than the R. Yeah,

0:30:49.520 --> 0:30:52.400
<v Speaker 5>he'd rather, he'd rather do the P versus.

0:30:51.840 --> 0:30:53.920
<v Speaker 2>Or somebody else is doing the RD. He's gonna fake

0:30:53.920 --> 0:30:55.840
<v Speaker 2>the handoff and then give the guy the ball. He's

0:30:55.880 --> 0:30:59.280
<v Speaker 2>not He's not necessarily gonna keep it and uh run

0:30:59.360 --> 0:31:04.400
<v Speaker 2>quarterback or anything like that. Merril Uh, I got nothing

0:31:04.400 --> 0:31:06.560
<v Speaker 2>else for you. I'm not sure what to make of

0:31:06.560 --> 0:31:07.840
<v Speaker 2>this game. What do you think happens?

0:31:09.400 --> 0:31:11.640
<v Speaker 5>I'll tell you this. My has actually been a tough

0:31:11.680 --> 0:31:14.320
<v Speaker 5>one for me too, just based on because I've seen

0:31:14.320 --> 0:31:15.440
<v Speaker 5>the Colts be so good.

0:31:16.960 --> 0:31:19.440
<v Speaker 2>They are very much like the Steelers seven and six,

0:31:19.600 --> 0:31:22.040
<v Speaker 2>and and they could they could probably beat a really

0:31:22.080 --> 0:31:23.840
<v Speaker 2>good team, and they could probably lose to a not

0:31:23.960 --> 0:31:24.600
<v Speaker 2>so good team.

0:31:25.560 --> 0:31:28.000
<v Speaker 5>I'm still with you. And so let's just say it's

0:31:28.000 --> 0:31:29.479
<v Speaker 5>a clean game. And I would say a clean game

0:31:29.520 --> 0:31:33.480
<v Speaker 5>there's no turnovers. I think the difference really could come

0:31:33.560 --> 0:31:36.040
<v Speaker 5>with the Sewers ability to run the football, and then

0:31:36.080 --> 0:31:38.640
<v Speaker 5>there are our edge guys against their their issues on

0:31:38.680 --> 0:31:41.280
<v Speaker 5>the tackle. I think that's where it works come out

0:31:41.480 --> 0:31:43.320
<v Speaker 5>to favor the Steels now. I think it's something that

0:31:44.560 --> 0:31:49.520
<v Speaker 5>to mitigate our pressure, like like the Patriots did, and

0:31:49.600 --> 0:31:52.720
<v Speaker 5>they neutralize the running game in some fashion, you know,

0:31:53.720 --> 0:31:56.440
<v Speaker 5>then then the Colts have a better chance to win

0:31:56.480 --> 0:31:56.760
<v Speaker 5>the game.

0:31:57.680 --> 0:31:59.200
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I don't see that happening.

0:31:59.280 --> 0:32:01.480
<v Speaker 2>So I'm gonna I'm gonna go with your first theory

0:32:01.520 --> 0:32:05.280
<v Speaker 2>and hope the Steelers find a way to uh. If

0:32:05.280 --> 0:32:08.120
<v Speaker 2>it's a hockey game and they pick three stars afterward,

0:32:08.400 --> 0:32:09.640
<v Speaker 2>it's Najie Harris, TJ.

0:32:09.720 --> 0:32:11.840
<v Speaker 3>Watt, and Alex Highsmith in some order.

0:32:13.680 --> 0:32:14.360
<v Speaker 5>I like it. I like.

0:32:16.840 --> 0:32:17.880
<v Speaker 3>Meryl. Great stuff.

0:32:17.920 --> 0:32:20.840
<v Speaker 2>We will look forward to talking to you again. Uh

0:32:20.920 --> 0:32:23.240
<v Speaker 2>next week before the Steelers take on the Bengals.

0:32:23.920 --> 0:32:24.760
<v Speaker 5>You've got a big dog.

0:32:24.880 --> 0:32:29.160
<v Speaker 2>Take care, brother, Meryl Hodge our factor back here on

0:32:29.240 --> 0:32:29.800
<v Speaker 2>the preview.

0:32:29.840 --> 0:32:30.560
<v Speaker 3>Hey, don't forget.

0:32:30.600 --> 0:32:33.560
<v Speaker 2>You can gear up with the latest Sideline apparel, hats

0:32:33.640 --> 0:32:37.400
<v Speaker 2>or jerseys of your favorite players, authentic memorabilia, custom items,

0:32:37.440 --> 0:32:40.560
<v Speaker 2>and exclusives you can only find directly from the team

0:32:40.800 --> 0:32:43.120
<v Speaker 2>at one of the official Steelers pro shops. Those are

0:32:43.120 --> 0:32:46.440
<v Speaker 2>located at Akrosser Stadium, Grove City Premium.

0:32:46.120 --> 0:32:48.880
<v Speaker 3>Outlets, or the Tanger Outlets. You can also visit.

0:32:48.720 --> 0:32:53.640
<v Speaker 2>Us online at shop dot Steelers dot com. One more

0:32:53.760 --> 0:32:56.400
<v Speaker 2>segment to go as we continue getting you ready for

0:32:56.720 --> 0:33:00.000
<v Speaker 2>the Steelers and the Colts on Saturday in Indianapolis.

0:33:00.240 --> 0:33:03.200
<v Speaker 3>Keep it here with Matt Williamson. I'm Mike Pursuda.

0:33:03.520 --> 0:33:06.400
<v Speaker 2>This is Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers flagship,

0:33:06.600 --> 0:33:09.400
<v Speaker 2>one of two point five DVE and SNR.

0:33:09.840 --> 0:33:13.440
<v Speaker 1>Back to the Steelers Preview Show presented by Unibet on DVE.

0:33:15.640 --> 0:33:19.040
<v Speaker 2>Welcome back, Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you here

0:33:19.080 --> 0:33:22.200
<v Speaker 2>for one more segment as we put the finishing touches

0:33:22.480 --> 0:33:25.320
<v Speaker 2>on our preview of the Steelers at the Colts on

0:33:25.520 --> 0:33:27.560
<v Speaker 2>Saturday in Indianapolis.

0:33:27.560 --> 0:33:30.360
<v Speaker 3>Matt, Traditionally, this is the point of the program where.

0:33:30.160 --> 0:33:33.240
<v Speaker 2>We get to our what to expect segment, and what

0:33:33.280 --> 0:33:35.960
<v Speaker 2>to expect is brought to you by Brian Patton and associates.

0:33:36.160 --> 0:33:37.840
<v Speaker 3>It's all about the benefits.

0:33:38.560 --> 0:33:41.200
<v Speaker 2>I'm fast approaching the point, if I'm not there already,

0:33:41.200 --> 0:33:46.360
<v Speaker 2>where I can't really identify anything to expect from the

0:33:46.400 --> 0:33:50.719
<v Speaker 2>football team with a Steelers game, and the Steelers in particular.

0:33:50.800 --> 0:33:53.000
<v Speaker 3>So I'll let you lead off. What do you expect

0:33:53.240 --> 0:33:54.880
<v Speaker 3>Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

0:33:56.080 --> 0:33:59.240
<v Speaker 4>I mean, these last two losses were brutal and they

0:33:59.280 --> 0:34:01.360
<v Speaker 4>deserve to both. I mean I thought they were the

0:34:01.400 --> 0:34:06.360
<v Speaker 4>inferior team, but I think this sets up well for them.

0:34:06.800 --> 0:34:10.799
<v Speaker 4>I mean teams are running on the Colts. I think

0:34:10.840 --> 0:34:13.440
<v Speaker 4>that they're more of a finesse defense that if you

0:34:13.440 --> 0:34:16.920
<v Speaker 4>can bring out big personnel and really feature your running backs,

0:34:16.960 --> 0:34:19.680
<v Speaker 4>I think you can push them around. I think we

0:34:19.719 --> 0:34:22.600
<v Speaker 4>talked about in the first segment. The edge matchup is

0:34:22.680 --> 0:34:26.840
<v Speaker 4>huge in this game. Both these quarterbacks are mistake prone

0:34:27.080 --> 0:34:30.360
<v Speaker 4>or a little loose with the football, which is a

0:34:30.400 --> 0:34:34.440
<v Speaker 4>big determining factor here. But I also think those corners

0:34:34.480 --> 0:34:37.560
<v Speaker 4>on the outside are somewhat of a liability for the Colts.

0:34:37.920 --> 0:34:40.920
<v Speaker 4>I think Porter matches up on Pittman very well. I'm

0:34:40.920 --> 0:34:43.000
<v Speaker 4>sure he'll catch his balls, but I think in style

0:34:43.040 --> 0:34:46.160
<v Speaker 4>of play he should hang with him in contested catches

0:34:46.200 --> 0:34:50.040
<v Speaker 4>and physicality quite well. I think the Steelers are in

0:34:50.080 --> 0:34:52.440
<v Speaker 4>pretty good shape here just from the style of fight,

0:34:52.640 --> 0:34:54.279
<v Speaker 4>and I think that was lost a little bit with

0:34:54.280 --> 0:34:57.520
<v Speaker 4>the Patriots. I mean, the Patriots are everyone knew that

0:34:57.520 --> 0:35:00.120
<v Speaker 4>game was going to be very, very low scoring. He

0:35:00.160 --> 0:35:02.920
<v Speaker 4>overreacted to that. A thirty point over under or whatever

0:35:02.960 --> 0:35:05.560
<v Speaker 4>it was. But boy they're stay and a half. But

0:35:05.680 --> 0:35:08.560
<v Speaker 4>that's was it. At times it dipped below that. But

0:35:08.600 --> 0:35:12.479
<v Speaker 4>there's the Patriots style of play I think is much

0:35:12.520 --> 0:35:15.240
<v Speaker 4>get more difficult on the Steelers than the cult style

0:35:15.280 --> 0:35:19.920
<v Speaker 4>of play and culture more talented, but sometimes styles make fights.

0:35:20.320 --> 0:35:22.239
<v Speaker 2>I'll go for some low hanging fruits. Since I got

0:35:22.239 --> 0:35:25.160
<v Speaker 2>to pick something, I think TJ. Watt is going to

0:35:25.360 --> 0:35:26.799
<v Speaker 2>drastically impact this game.

0:35:27.960 --> 0:35:28.560
<v Speaker 3>This just in.

0:35:29.560 --> 0:35:33.440
<v Speaker 2>It's not a bold prediction, but given what he had

0:35:33.440 --> 0:35:36.000
<v Speaker 2>to say recently about the leagues got something against me,

0:35:36.560 --> 0:35:38.440
<v Speaker 2>you know, the lack of penalties that are called on

0:35:38.480 --> 0:35:41.080
<v Speaker 2>these edge rushers, and boy, it wasn't an interesting to hear.

0:35:41.000 --> 0:35:42.560
<v Speaker 3>Miles Garrett kind of.

0:35:43.560 --> 0:35:47.200
<v Speaker 2>I didn't second the notion he was complaining after a

0:35:47.239 --> 0:35:50.040
<v Speaker 2>Brown's victory over the Jaguars.

0:35:49.560 --> 0:35:52.000
<v Speaker 4>Oh, it's gone, you know, and they're trying to protect

0:35:52.000 --> 0:35:52.520
<v Speaker 4>the quarterback.

0:35:52.560 --> 0:35:58.320
<v Speaker 3>He called it a travesty. Yeah, you know what had the.

0:35:57.360 --> 0:36:01.160
<v Speaker 2>The concussion concerns and the injury issue the last game.

0:36:01.200 --> 0:36:03.040
<v Speaker 2>I think he is gonna and I think with the

0:36:03.080 --> 0:36:05.120
<v Speaker 2>team backed into a corner of the way it is,

0:36:06.400 --> 0:36:08.640
<v Speaker 2>if I got to pick one guy to come out swinging,

0:36:09.480 --> 0:36:10.400
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna pick TJ.

0:36:10.560 --> 0:36:10.880
<v Speaker 3>Watt.

0:36:11.680 --> 0:36:14.520
<v Speaker 4>I think he mass tracking the dome, gets a rookie

0:36:14.680 --> 0:36:16.480
<v Speaker 4>right tackle, and it sets up really well.

0:36:16.680 --> 0:36:18.440
<v Speaker 2>I think he impacts this game. But I wanted to

0:36:18.440 --> 0:36:20.440
<v Speaker 2>go back to that New England game because Merrill uh

0:36:20.680 --> 0:36:21.520
<v Speaker 2>talked about.

0:36:21.239 --> 0:36:21.759
<v Speaker 3>This a lot.

0:36:22.440 --> 0:36:24.719
<v Speaker 2>Uh you know, the underrating, if you will, of the

0:36:24.760 --> 0:36:28.080
<v Speaker 2>New England defense and people just looking at the record

0:36:28.640 --> 0:36:31.520
<v Speaker 2>and thinking, Okay, this is a terrible football team. Well

0:36:31.520 --> 0:36:34.200
<v Speaker 2>it was probably coming to Pittsburgh. New England had been

0:36:34.200 --> 0:36:35.680
<v Speaker 2>a terrible offensive.

0:36:35.200 --> 0:36:36.960
<v Speaker 4>Team, but then they were a terrible passing attack.

0:36:37.080 --> 0:36:40.320
<v Speaker 2>That defense was really really good, and the Steelers struggled

0:36:40.360 --> 0:36:43.560
<v Speaker 2>with it, and I was curious your take. I've been

0:36:43.719 --> 0:36:46.920
<v Speaker 2>kind of on an island based on who I work

0:36:46.960 --> 0:36:49.200
<v Speaker 2>with in the mornings here at DDE and from what

0:36:49.239 --> 0:36:50.840
<v Speaker 2>people have let me know on Twitter.

0:36:50.960 --> 0:36:53.480
<v Speaker 3>I always appreciate that. By the way, I'm sure it

0:36:53.520 --> 0:36:54.200
<v Speaker 3>was all positive.

0:36:54.280 --> 0:36:56.400
<v Speaker 2>I had no problem with the plays they called on

0:36:56.480 --> 0:36:58.440
<v Speaker 2>third and two and fourth and two at the end

0:36:58.440 --> 0:37:01.120
<v Speaker 2>of that Patriots game. I wish they would have executed

0:37:01.160 --> 0:37:03.400
<v Speaker 2>them better. I wish they would have completed one of

0:37:03.440 --> 0:37:08.000
<v Speaker 2>those passes. Pickens was open, Trubisky missed them. Deontay Johnson

0:37:08.239 --> 0:37:11.520
<v Speaker 2>wasn't wide open, but he was open. Matt I've been

0:37:11.520 --> 0:37:14.200
<v Speaker 2>watching this team play all year, and it has frustrated

0:37:14.239 --> 0:37:17.560
<v Speaker 2>me way more often than not. Their conservative approach to

0:37:17.600 --> 0:37:18.600
<v Speaker 2>getting the ball over.

0:37:18.440 --> 0:37:19.200
<v Speaker 3>The goal line.

0:37:19.440 --> 0:37:22.440
<v Speaker 2>To me, if you can find single coverage outside and

0:37:22.520 --> 0:37:24.359
<v Speaker 2>take a shot to a guy who should be one

0:37:24.360 --> 0:37:26.880
<v Speaker 2>of your best players on offense, go for it.

0:37:26.920 --> 0:37:30.080
<v Speaker 3>Man, throw the ball, win the game right there.

0:37:30.560 --> 0:37:33.239
<v Speaker 2>They if they try to get the first down, maybe

0:37:33.239 --> 0:37:34.960
<v Speaker 2>they get it. Then you got to try to get

0:37:34.960 --> 0:37:37.239
<v Speaker 2>another one. Then you got to make the field goal.

0:37:37.440 --> 0:37:39.560
<v Speaker 2>Then a bunch of stuff has to happen in overtime

0:37:39.600 --> 0:37:41.279
<v Speaker 2>for you to win the game. I am not going

0:37:41.360 --> 0:37:44.799
<v Speaker 2>to criticize them for going for the victory as they did.

0:37:44.840 --> 0:37:48.279
<v Speaker 4>How'd you see the end of the game differently? To'd

0:37:48.280 --> 0:37:51.200
<v Speaker 4>be very honest with you. So I'm sitting there watching

0:37:51.200 --> 0:37:52.920
<v Speaker 4>this thing and there's like two oh six on the

0:37:52.920 --> 0:37:55.480
<v Speaker 4>clock or something like that. Third down and two, as

0:37:55.520 --> 0:37:57.880
<v Speaker 4>you mentioned, I said, Wow, that's a gift. You can

0:37:57.960 --> 0:38:00.399
<v Speaker 4>run the football here because the clock's gonna stop. You're

0:38:00.400 --> 0:38:02.440
<v Speaker 4>gonna get a lighter box. They're afraid to allow the

0:38:02.440 --> 0:38:05.560
<v Speaker 4>big play. I'll bet every dollar I owned that Belichick

0:38:05.560 --> 0:38:07.279
<v Speaker 4>would have ran the ball there. You know that that's

0:38:07.280 --> 0:38:09.759
<v Speaker 4>a gift. I think he's the best game manager in

0:38:09.760 --> 0:38:13.080
<v Speaker 4>the league. And that's a concern and worry I have

0:38:13.160 --> 0:38:15.640
<v Speaker 4>about the Tomlin led teams in terms of game management,

0:38:15.680 --> 0:38:19.520
<v Speaker 4>clock management. Now, I would have absolutely ran the ball

0:38:19.520 --> 0:38:20.960
<v Speaker 4>on third and two, and I think you get it

0:38:21.040 --> 0:38:23.960
<v Speaker 4>and move the chains and everything's fine. On fourth and two.

0:38:24.080 --> 0:38:26.160
<v Speaker 3>They did have a bunch of negative plays running the ball.

0:38:26.280 --> 0:38:28.680
<v Speaker 4>They did, they weren't. I mean, it's the toughest run

0:38:28.719 --> 0:38:30.080
<v Speaker 4>defense in the league. I mean, I think that has

0:38:30.080 --> 0:38:30.279
<v Speaker 4>to be.

0:38:30.520 --> 0:38:33.719
<v Speaker 2>That's just you an agreement. It's no gimme that you

0:38:33.800 --> 0:38:35.960
<v Speaker 2>convertim running.

0:38:36.040 --> 0:38:37.880
<v Speaker 4>No, But I think to take it off the table

0:38:38.040 --> 0:38:40.839
<v Speaker 4>was crazy considering the clock aspect of it.

0:38:40.800 --> 0:38:42.240
<v Speaker 3>All because he had the free stoppage.

0:38:42.360 --> 0:38:45.480
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, right, don't worry about the Clock's your friend at

0:38:45.480 --> 0:38:48.160
<v Speaker 4>that point. Now, my take on the fourth down play

0:38:48.880 --> 0:38:52.000
<v Speaker 4>was Belichick. Because he's Belichick. I'm gonna give him the

0:38:52.040 --> 0:38:54.040
<v Speaker 4>benefit of the doubt. And we've talked about this for

0:38:54.080 --> 0:38:57.640
<v Speaker 4>weeks on here, often with Merrill. Steelers need better answers

0:38:57.640 --> 0:39:02.280
<v Speaker 4>for blitz, and I think Belichick left his best blitz

0:39:03.840 --> 0:39:05.960
<v Speaker 4>on the table going when I need it most, I

0:39:06.000 --> 0:39:08.440
<v Speaker 4>have my best blitz, and the Steelers didn't have a

0:39:08.440 --> 0:39:10.520
<v Speaker 4>hot route I answer, and just kind of had to

0:39:10.560 --> 0:39:13.040
<v Speaker 4>chuck it up and hope for the best. And I

0:39:13.040 --> 0:39:15.200
<v Speaker 4>think that was a schematic advantage that he knew he

0:39:15.239 --> 0:39:17.279
<v Speaker 4>had all along. When I need it most, I'm gonna

0:39:17.280 --> 0:39:18.280
<v Speaker 4>pull out my best blitz.

0:39:18.480 --> 0:39:20.320
<v Speaker 3>Still, I won all one with Deontae Johnson.

0:39:20.360 --> 0:39:21.920
<v Speaker 4>Yeah right, and that's that's fine.

0:39:22.000 --> 0:39:24.399
<v Speaker 3>You know, the closer to him, you might get a catch,

0:39:24.400 --> 0:39:25.360
<v Speaker 3>you might get a flag.

0:39:25.719 --> 0:39:30.080
<v Speaker 4>It's still not a high percentage play, no, but you know,

0:39:30.280 --> 0:39:32.040
<v Speaker 4>but it could have paid off huge And we'll be

0:39:32.239 --> 0:39:33.799
<v Speaker 4>singing a totally different story right now.

0:39:33.840 --> 0:39:36.600
<v Speaker 2>And it's for a team that has struggled to score touchdowns.

0:39:36.640 --> 0:39:39.479
<v Speaker 2>I just can't in good conscience rip them for trying

0:39:39.480 --> 0:39:41.279
<v Speaker 2>to score a touchdown or at least get the ball.

0:39:41.960 --> 0:39:42.160
<v Speaker 5>You know.

0:39:42.280 --> 0:39:43.960
<v Speaker 3>I like the way you phrased it with then sniffing

0:39:44.000 --> 0:39:45.120
<v Speaker 3>distance of the goal line.

0:39:45.360 --> 0:39:46.160
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, we've been.

0:39:47.560 --> 0:39:49.840
<v Speaker 3>Sideways and not score and not win exactly.

0:39:49.880 --> 0:39:52.080
<v Speaker 4>At least I do like your approach to it. That's

0:39:52.120 --> 0:39:54.120
<v Speaker 4>we've been critical of this team. You're not aggressive enough,

0:39:54.120 --> 0:39:55.920
<v Speaker 4>you're not trying to hit the big play, and when

0:39:55.960 --> 0:39:58.000
<v Speaker 4>they do, then we're mad at them also, you know,

0:39:58.200 --> 0:39:59.080
<v Speaker 4>just because it didn't happen.

0:39:59.120 --> 0:40:01.040
<v Speaker 3>So now fast forward to US Saturday.

0:40:02.320 --> 0:40:05.520
<v Speaker 2>Will it be a more traditional Steeler looking type game

0:40:05.560 --> 0:40:09.080
<v Speaker 2>where because Indianapolis is tied for twenty six.

0:40:08.960 --> 0:40:09.840
<v Speaker 3>In run defense.

0:40:10.000 --> 0:40:12.279
<v Speaker 2>I think so do you just kind of shove it

0:40:12.320 --> 0:40:16.120
<v Speaker 2>down their throats on the road and gradually grind this

0:40:16.239 --> 0:40:19.640
<v Speaker 2>game to dust, or do you think well, Mike Thomains

0:40:19.640 --> 0:40:22.560
<v Speaker 2>said he expects Mitch Trubisky to be better better preparation

0:40:22.680 --> 0:40:24.680
<v Speaker 2>this week. He's got a little more time in the saddle,

0:40:24.920 --> 0:40:27.880
<v Speaker 2>you know, back as the starter. Do you throw it

0:40:27.920 --> 0:40:30.520
<v Speaker 2>a little more and and keep the pedal down or

0:40:31.640 --> 0:40:34.160
<v Speaker 2>do you revert back to some of the ways we

0:40:34.200 --> 0:40:36.240
<v Speaker 2>saw them win prior to the last couple.

0:40:36.320 --> 0:40:38.680
<v Speaker 4>I'd say more control passing. I know this isn't gonna

0:40:38.719 --> 0:40:41.960
<v Speaker 4>light people, you know, a fire with optimism, but I

0:40:41.960 --> 0:40:45.359
<v Speaker 4>think it's more like end of Roethlisberger passing. Just quick

0:40:45.440 --> 0:40:50.359
<v Speaker 4>hitters against cover three zone stuff, move the chains, bring

0:40:50.400 --> 0:40:52.680
<v Speaker 4>out a lot of heavy personnel and push around. But

0:40:53.239 --> 0:40:55.920
<v Speaker 4>is a fast athletic defense. But it's not a real

0:40:55.920 --> 0:40:58.200
<v Speaker 4>physical one like the like the Patriots. I mean, I

0:40:58.200 --> 0:41:00.719
<v Speaker 4>think you have a trench advantage actually in terms of

0:41:00.719 --> 0:41:01.879
<v Speaker 4>size and physicality.

0:41:03.000 --> 0:41:06.520
<v Speaker 2>Merrill seems very impressiles what the Bengals did getting the

0:41:06.520 --> 0:41:07.479
<v Speaker 2>ball to the running backs.

0:41:07.520 --> 0:41:09.560
<v Speaker 3>The screen game in particularly see the.

0:41:09.719 --> 0:41:12.880
<v Speaker 2>Big Day or a Big Player too from Najie Harris

0:41:13.120 --> 0:41:14.280
<v Speaker 2>and or Jalen Warren.

0:41:14.440 --> 0:41:15.879
<v Speaker 3>Yes, in the passing game.

0:41:16.040 --> 0:41:17.560
<v Speaker 4>Lawley and I the Drive have been talking about that

0:41:17.600 --> 0:41:20.520
<v Speaker 4>all week, that it should be a very running back

0:41:20.640 --> 0:41:24.800
<v Speaker 4>centric offensive game plan, run and pass.

0:41:25.719 --> 0:41:26.200
<v Speaker 3>Minshew.

0:41:26.719 --> 0:41:30.759
<v Speaker 2>Last thing, I can't remember if we were talking off

0:41:30.800 --> 0:41:33.680
<v Speaker 2>the air, you mentioned this already, but I like his swagger.

0:41:34.040 --> 0:41:37.319
<v Speaker 2>Oh yeah, you think he's kind of a Ryan Fitzpatrick

0:41:37.360 --> 0:41:37.719
<v Speaker 2>type of.

0:41:37.640 --> 0:41:39.440
<v Speaker 4>Guess, I absolutely do. I think he'll last in this

0:41:39.520 --> 0:41:42.239
<v Speaker 4>league a long time. He'll be a spot starter. You

0:41:42.280 --> 0:41:45.239
<v Speaker 4>can win with them. Never is going to light the

0:41:45.239 --> 0:41:47.759
<v Speaker 4>world on fire, but he'll put the ball in harm's way.

0:41:47.880 --> 0:41:49.359
<v Speaker 4>I mean good and bad.

0:41:49.400 --> 0:41:50.759
<v Speaker 3>You know, you use the word.

0:41:51.040 --> 0:41:53.160
<v Speaker 2>I forget who we were talking about on one of

0:41:53.160 --> 0:41:56.640
<v Speaker 2>our prior shows, but you said not bashful.

0:41:56.680 --> 0:41:57.879
<v Speaker 3>That was Jake browning Jake Brown.

0:41:57.920 --> 0:42:01.680
<v Speaker 4>He's not bashful either, But Gardner Minshew is definitely not play.

0:42:01.480 --> 0:42:04.360
<v Speaker 3>Quarterback and be bashful. Can you and for me and

0:42:04.400 --> 0:42:05.479
<v Speaker 3>get anywhere? Yeah?

0:42:05.560 --> 0:42:07.280
<v Speaker 4>I think that's you hit your head on the ceiling

0:42:07.400 --> 0:42:07.680
<v Speaker 4>doing that.

0:42:08.080 --> 0:42:10.319
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, at some point you gotta let it rip and

0:42:10.640 --> 0:42:12.160
<v Speaker 2>trust you guys, trust yourself.

0:42:13.280 --> 0:42:15.320
<v Speaker 4>Appreciate it too, you know, like I don't want a

0:42:15.360 --> 0:42:16.200
<v Speaker 4>bashful quarterback.

0:42:16.320 --> 0:42:20.880
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, so we we shall see that is going

0:42:20.960 --> 0:42:22.280
<v Speaker 2>to do it for us tonight.

0:42:22.360 --> 0:42:23.680
<v Speaker 3>I want to remind.

0:42:23.320 --> 0:42:26.160
<v Speaker 2>Everybody that Steelers Preview on DV is brought to you

0:42:26.239 --> 0:42:29.000
<v Speaker 2>by uni Bet. The only thing better than a Steelers

0:42:29.040 --> 0:42:30.920
<v Speaker 2>win is a Steelers win to pay double down on

0:42:30.960 --> 0:42:34.640
<v Speaker 2>your team with Unibet, proud partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

0:42:35.360 --> 0:42:38.319
<v Speaker 2>For Matt Williamson, Mike Pursuda, and again, if you have

0:42:38.400 --> 0:42:42.080
<v Speaker 2>a problem differentiating between the two of us, I'm the

0:42:42.120 --> 0:42:43.759
<v Speaker 2>guy that's willing to go along.

0:42:44.000 --> 0:42:45.000
<v Speaker 3>On fourth and too.

0:42:45.760 --> 0:42:48.960
<v Speaker 2>Thanks to Brian A La Martina for keeping everything running

0:42:48.960 --> 0:42:52.440
<v Speaker 2>smoothly behind the console tonight, and thank you for finding

0:42:52.520 --> 0:42:55.200
<v Speaker 2>us however and wherever you found us. We'll do it

0:42:55.239 --> 0:42:57.799
<v Speaker 2>again next week before the Steelers get ready to host

0:42:57.800 --> 0:43:02.440
<v Speaker 2>the Cincinnati Bengals. Until then, for Matt Williamson on Mike Persuda,

0:43:03.040 --> 0:43:06.080
<v Speaker 2>this has been Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers

0:43:06.080 --> 0:43:09.280
<v Speaker 2>flagship one of two point five d ve E and SNR.

0:43:09.320 --> 0:43:10.240
<v Speaker 3>Good night, everybody,