1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: your home of the Black and Gold, Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive by him Dale Lolly. He is 4 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: Imson and it is a rainy What is today Thursday? 5 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: I've been my days because like we don't talk about 6 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: practice reports, you know, like it's a it's a it's 7 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 1: a rainy Thursday in Pittsburgh. It's it's a chilly day 8 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: inside the studio. Here a quarter in the studio. Then 9 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: it is outside and it's supposed to snow soon. Yeah, 10 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: but it's a little chillion here. We'll not snow in 11 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: the studio this, I am sure, pretty sure, but my 12 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: nose might freeze. Is there a sprinkler? Is a sprinkler 13 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: in here? Could snow in here? I guess? Uh. This 14 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. If I didn't 15 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: imagine that, he is Matt Williams and I am Dale 16 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Lolly and Matt. I wanted to start off today's show. 17 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: We haven't done a ton of Steeler centric stuff this week, 18 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: but let's let's do something a little Steeler centric here. 19 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk the rookie class. Um. If you 20 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: look at the draft picks this year, can you pick 21 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: it in the first round, George Pickens in the second round, 22 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: the Marvin Lee Allen the third, Calvin Austin in the fourth, 23 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: Connor Heyward in the sixth, Mark Robinson in the seventh, 24 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 1: as was Chris a Lotta Kun the only one, yeah, 25 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: not with the team. Even Calvin Austin didn't play this year, 26 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: but he had the foot issue. Yeah. Um so if 27 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: you look at that draft class, I know people are 28 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: gonna well, you know, the New York Jets draft class, 29 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: they did this in this undis and three first round. 30 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: That was gonna be my point. You had three first 31 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: round picks, those guys should make an impact. I think 32 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: we've brought this up. But you know, mel And and 33 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: all these draft knicks give their grades the day after 34 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: the draft, and for some reason, the team of the 35 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: three first round picks always get today, you know, like 36 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: no kidding, you know, like and it is and I 37 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: mean I know those guys and they're all they don't 38 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: like doing that job because everyone always hold you to it, 39 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: and judging a draft shouldn't be the day after, you know, 40 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: it should be like this a year after where you've 41 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: actually seen them as NFL players. Um, so, I think 42 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: you judge the draft by what cards were you dealt 43 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: and what did you make out of it? You know, 44 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: here's the ingredients. Did you make me something that's edible 45 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: or what? Or here's the best ingredients in the world. 46 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,559 Speaker 1: I can't eat that at all, you know. So I'm 47 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 1: pretty happy with the steel class people. People are still 48 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: upset that the Steelers drafted a lot of cone in 49 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: the seventh realm, and I still hear about that too. 50 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: With the two first pick anchors like two what was 51 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: brock party? Like the what everywhere? Uh? Eight times thirty two? 52 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: Would they feel better about that? If jay Len Warren 53 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: was that oven's round pick. It's a steel that's good point, right, right, 54 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: it's a good way looking at it, right. I mean, 55 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: you've got you've got seven? Was that seven? It's you 56 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 1: got yeah? Seven? I think you got eight rookies actually 57 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 1: seven rookies, yeah, seven rookies this year who made an impact? 58 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: They of your your I guess Austin didn't make one, 59 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: but no, but he's expected to make it, right, right, 60 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: I mean, so, I mean, I don't think anyone's regretting 61 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: that pick, right, I mean, I think it was excited 62 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: about that pick. I don't know. I mean, rarely do 63 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: you see, obviously an NFL team draft two quarterbacks in 64 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: the same draft. So alarm bells went off, and you 65 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: might you don't like pick it. I mean you know 66 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: I've heard that, or why does waste this pick? I mean, 67 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: if we're criticized the seventh round picks, it was a 68 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: pretty good draft. Yeah, endless to say, you know, the 69 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: seventh round pick, seventh round pick, late pick. Now, if 70 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: you look at these guys individually, well, Kenny, pick it. 71 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: Started twelve games for you this year. Should be including 72 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: Warren in this class? Yeah, well I think why not? 73 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: Yeah started? Yeah, started twelve games for you this year, 74 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: appeared in thirteen, won seven of those starts, when seven 75 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: and five as a starter yards And I think you 76 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,839 Speaker 1: look at this and you say, okay, I think everybody 77 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: and the people who aren't on board with this are 78 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: are the ones who just he only threw seven touchdown passes. Um, 79 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: he's a quarterback. He's your quarterback movie quarterback. Yeah, I 80 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: mean period. I mean, it doesn't mean he's out of 81 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: the woods and it's gonna be a tremendous player. He 82 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: could flop on his on his face next year and 83 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: you might be in the quarterback market again. I don't 84 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: believe that's the way that his career is going. I 85 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: don't think that's his profile in this league. My worry 86 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: is more can he be a great quarterback as opposed 87 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: to could he be an NFL starting quarterback? I mean, 88 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: I'm with you. I I think he's shown me enough 89 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: that I feel pretty confident and saying he is an 90 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: NFL starting quarterback. I mean, he has strengths and weaknesses 91 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: like everyone else, but as rookies go, his weaknesses are 92 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: pretty predictable and they're often what rookies deal with. Um, 93 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: he has to get better at it. But I was 94 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: listening to Ross Tucker's podcast today. This is slightly off 95 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: the beaten path here, but any people to realize this too. 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: Like Ross was talking about he was with great cost 97 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: and he was talking about Seattle's offensive tackles. Everyone talking 98 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: about how great they are. Well, the last month or 99 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: two they've been really bad, to be honest with you, 100 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: And Ross is like, hey, I was an undrafted guy, 101 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: but I started as a rookie. I hit the rookie 102 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,799 Speaker 1: wall unbelievably hard, and I'm just paraphrasing what Ross said, 103 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: and he said, you know, I went to Harvard or Princeton. 104 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm sorry I was called him Harvard guy to piss 105 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: him off, but he went to Princeton, played ten games 106 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: a year in the IVY League, and he's like ten 107 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: games was week six, you know, Like, so you need 108 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: to realize what these rookies went through. Is my only 109 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: point that called a rookie wall or not. And sometimes 110 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: statistics don't back that up, but most of these guys 111 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: were pretty much spent by week six, seven eight compared 112 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: to what they're used to, and I think I think 113 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: that Mike Tomlin may have learned something in regards to 114 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: that a little bit, a little bit more so so 115 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: obviously Kenny pick it's not playing any special teams, of course, 116 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: a good point, right, But then I asked George Pickens 117 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: to play any special teams either, even early in the season. 118 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: Like if you think back to t J. Wats work 119 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: here Terrell Edmonds rookie year, those guys were asked to 120 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: play a lot of teams in addition, and Edmans played 121 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: every snap, you know what, played like snaps. Special teams 122 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: are harder than Joe average you're sprinting down like that, 123 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah. Um, so these guys weren't asked to 124 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: do those kind of things because a he knew that 125 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: they were going to be big parts of and be 126 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: you're not you're not going to do that with the quarterback. 127 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: But he wasn't running Pickens was not doing gun or 128 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: drills and stuff and camp either. They decided early on 129 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: that they were not going to do that with that guy. 130 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: And evenly out probably could have given you rationed his 131 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: snaps throughout the year. I know there was an injury 132 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: in there, but they didn't, you know, throw them to 133 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: the wolves and say hold up. Yeah earlier, he played 134 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: more early in the season than he did late because 135 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: he was playing that rush end when t J was 136 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: out what was out. But even when he came back 137 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: then it was it was, you know, fifteen twenty snaps 138 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: the game. Um, you know, you looked at the reason 139 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to do this day and somebody reminded me 140 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: of this, Connor Hayward, the pick of Connoryward, and people 141 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: the people out there who were saying Connor Hayward was 142 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: only taken because his last name is Hayward. How do 143 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: you feel about that now people just like I remember 144 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: one of us were joking with coach Tom and when 145 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: he walked past after drafting James Conner. Is that just 146 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: because he's a pick guy and he's got a crazy backstory, 147 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: like we think he's a really good running back. Teams 148 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: don't do that. I mean, the Steelers are funny because 149 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: they have a lot of brothers. They you know, I 150 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: was gonna, you know, talk about Porter's kids going to 151 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: be the first round pick, well the or you know, 152 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: going next door for Picket or Hayward. Scouting is all 153 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: about gathering information. If I know more information about Picket 154 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: or Hayward than in the other quarterback or tight end, 155 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: good or bad, it just gives me more to go 156 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: off of. You have more faith in your pick if 157 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: you have more information. If I'm in the building every 158 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: day and I'm dealing with Cam Hayward on a daily basis, 159 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: I have a pretty good idea that Connor Hayward is 160 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: not gonna He's not going to be a jerk. Yeah, yeah, 161 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: he's I know, he had a good upbringing. I know 162 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: he's got a level head. You know, he's got a 163 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: good head on his shoulders. And oh hey, I like 164 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: a skill set. No, by the way, he's pretty darn good. Yeah, 165 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I think he's a very useful piece. That's 166 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: much different than I think he's more like a use check. 167 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,439 Speaker 1: That's what I was gonna say. You can use him 168 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: more like you check. You can a lot of other 169 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: fullbacks in the league. The thing I liked about him, 170 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: and I was really harping. Actually wrote an article of 171 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: when Claypool got traded, who gets so snaps? And I 172 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: was hoping Hayward got a bumper so and he did 173 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,959 Speaker 1: it and which is hard for a third tight end. 174 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: But the thing about him is if it's if we 175 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: assume friar mouths on the field and your second tight end. 176 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: I'm putting that in quotes because Gentry and Hayward don't 177 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: look like they're on the same planet, let alone the 178 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: same sport or same position. If you're still gonna get 179 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,839 Speaker 1: twelve personnels, that if the defense doesn't change, if it's 180 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: Hayward or Gentry, you're gonna have an advantage one way 181 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: or the other, either with the blocker or a move guy, 182 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: you know. I mean, if they're gonna play the exact 183 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: same eleven. If it's Gentry, or Gentry Verse Hayward somewhere 184 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: they're going to be short, you know. And he's a 185 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: really good route runner. He's good after the catch, get 186 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: hand it to him. So I think he's very useful. 187 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: And he's also a core special teamer. He played like 188 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: the most special teams now and really, um, I mean 189 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: he had two of the biggest catches of the season, 190 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: the two of their longer catches. He had a forty 191 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: one yard or he hit the twenty seven yard or 192 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: And I know they didn't have a ton of explosive 193 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: place right right, but he showed he can be an 194 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: explosive play guy and tight ends. Rarely do they runs to. Yeah, 195 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,599 Speaker 1: but he does have explosive qualities. I mean, people to 196 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: get sick of hearing about them. And I think the 197 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 1: offense is number one job this offseason is get more explosive, 198 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: whether that scheme, players, whatever. But I think he's more 199 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: of the solution than the problem with that. Yeah, I 200 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: think you can find ways now to to use him 201 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: moving forward. He's got his feet wet, and you know, 202 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: it's much like the Jalen Warren conversation. Like the last 203 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: couple of games of the season, they started using Jaln 204 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: Warren and Nagy Harris together on the field at the 205 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: same time. There's a reason why you you know, you 206 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: start Connor Hayward out as a tight end and then 207 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: you start mixing in some other things with him, He's 208 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: gonna learn how to play that position first. Jaln Warren 209 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: had to learn how to be a running back first 210 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: in the NFL before you start doing all this other 211 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: stuff with putting him out on the wing or put 212 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: it splitting him out wide and having him go in 213 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: motion and things of that nature. These are things that 214 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: he hadn't done before. So a lot of things to 215 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: touch on there is First of all, I always hate 216 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: these pony packages with two running backs on the field 217 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: because nine had at ten times one of those backs 218 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: doesn't block a lick. Well, both these guys block. You know, 219 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they're damn criter, tim, but they are 220 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: more than serviceable that It's not like you're shorting yourself 221 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: a blocker just for the use of getting two backs 222 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: on the field for novelty reasons. I like that, Um, 223 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: And like you said about Warren and Hayward, fans don't 224 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: think about this, and sometimes media don't even think about this. 225 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: Isaiah Simmons was the eighth pick in the draft, you know, 226 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: or ninth picking. What a phenomenal player. He could play deep, middle, 227 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: he can play he can play six different positions. But 228 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: you kind of go to a meeting room every day 229 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: and you got and the defensive coordinator has to say, 230 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 1: I need him to do the strong safety responsibilities or 231 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 1: the linebackers. This is his main job. That other stuff. 232 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: He's gonna get the main job down first, right, Exactly, 233 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: I can't play him. I can't play him. I mean, 234 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: whatever walk of life is. You know, if you pump gas, 235 00:11:57,720 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: but you're not good at the gas pumping part, that's 236 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: the album. You know, like you gotta all the other 237 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: stuff on top is wonderful, But you know those are 238 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: down the line that doesn't know. You can't there's a 239 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: practicality to it. Coaches just can't throw Connor Heyward in 240 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: there and say, dude, six different things. He Isaiah played 241 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: corner this time and then play linebacker next play, because 242 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: I haven't done any of it. That's one of the things. 243 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: Like I had I sit that interview with Cam Sutton 244 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: on the for Steelers Dot Commentar run here the next 245 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: month or so, and we were talking about that and 246 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: I asked him, I said, do you know exactly what 247 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: on every on any given play, what everybody's responsibilities are 248 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: on all eleven guys on the defense. I'm curious. I 249 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: don't know the answer to this. I'm one. I bet 250 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: he might, but I bet most players don't write. Most 251 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: players don't. He does. That's why the coaching staff loves him. 252 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: He's like, I have to know what everybody's responsibilities are 253 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: because that plays into my responsibilities. So he knows if 254 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: the nose is slanting to the writer. Yeah, and he 255 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: knows you know which linebackers dropping where? And you know 256 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: all that's because again he's asked to do some of 257 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: that stuff as well. He'll he'll play outside inside nicol 258 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: or dime linebacker at times. You know, there's there's a 259 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: lot of different he's back at he's back at safety. Um, 260 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: what are my keys? You know how we run this? 261 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: You know what am I? What am I? Where my 262 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: eyes supposed to be? That's interesting, But most players don't 263 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: do that. Yeah, I bet most corners in the league 264 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: have no clue with the d line responsibilities. If you 265 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: went if you went to Sauce Gardener. So I love 266 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: Sauce Gardener. You went to Sauce Gardener right now and said, okay, 267 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: you're lined up here. You guys are in X Y 268 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: Z defense. What's the linebacker on the other side of 269 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: the field doing. You have no idea, right, And he 270 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be he doesn't have to yeah, right 271 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,959 Speaker 1: right he you know, he has his eyes on the 272 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: belt buckle, the guy in front of him, or he's 273 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 1: playing cover three and he's doing it really well. Great. Um. 274 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: Obviously the ray Lewis and keek Lee's of the world, 275 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: do you know, I mean their quarterbacking out there to 276 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: some degree, but I bet most corners do not. Yeah. 277 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: That was one thing with Paula Malo as well. You know, 278 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: he wanted to know what everybody was doing around him 279 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: on the defense, and that allowed him. Then people call 280 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: it freelancing. He wasn't freelancing. He was a lot of 281 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: times it was just him swapping responsibilities with somebody else. 282 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: He could walk up to Joey Porter, hit him on 283 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: the on the you know, on the hip, and say, okay, 284 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: you dropped it here. I'm going there because that's where 285 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: he was supposed to drop. But he's gonna rush because 286 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: he saw something. Yeah, right right. It's a great way putting, 287 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: and he gets there so fast and he recognizes things 288 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: so well as well. And it's a surprise element, but 289 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: a lot of its pre snap or if I'm Troy 290 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: or Maka or whoever, you know someone playing from off 291 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: the ball a little bit and you know that there's 292 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: a certain slant call or stunt call, and well you 293 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: know the weakness of that too, Like that creates a 294 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: bubble here. If they hit us in that bubble, were 295 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: in trouble. It's like pitching. So if I'm playing defense 296 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: in baseball and I know we're pitching the we're pitching 297 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: this guy away away away. I'm not going to hug 298 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: the third base. He's not going to pull the ball, 299 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: yeah right, right right. So that's a huge advantage absolute 300 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: the minute. And why wouldn't you take it? Right? It 301 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: makes sense. So you know, for a guy like Heyward, 302 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: I think you're just going to continue to stack stuff 303 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: on him. A guy like Jalen Samuels that you get 304 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 1: as an undrafted player, really the whole offense you're gonna 305 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: stack and stack and stack because it's so young. But 306 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: Heywards a perfect example, let alone pick it who you'll 307 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: I mean that that happens at a much different rate. 308 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: Obviously for a quarterback. No, Samuel is a good one. 309 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you want Naja to be the one. But 310 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: I really always studies nap counts as people realize, and 311 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: they almost had a two to one ratio in terms 312 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: of usage when everyone was healthy and happy and doing well. 313 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: Warren got the bulk of true third downs and that's 314 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: where he made his biggest impact. But I also think 315 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: if Nasa were to miss a month, you can hand 316 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: him the ball twenty times. Yeah, I mean, I mean 317 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: he's not just al day more. I'm trying to think 318 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: you know Ams ear Away or you know some of 319 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: these one B guys that are have a certain role 320 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: as a scat back, big play guy. No, most certainly 321 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: not in a true handcuff. And I think if you 322 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: look at Harris's season as a whole this year, um, 323 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: you know we went into the into the season, Well 324 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: they can't keep Nagy Harris three hundred and fifty touches 325 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: like they did last year. Well they didn't. And if 326 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: you look at his his yards per carry was pretty 327 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: much the same basically basically what it was last year. 328 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: He just had fewer carries because Jaln Warren got some 329 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: of those carries. And so if you look at the 330 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: combination between the two of them, three hundred forty nine carries, 331 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: four hundred and eighty three yards fourteen it was actually 332 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: fourteen o four between the two between the two d Yeah, okay, okay, 333 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: let's say I bet the backfield as a whole was 334 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: more productive than last year. Yeah, and then you started 335 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: really slow. Look at the catches they combined for sixty 336 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: nine catches. I mean, so the numbers are pretty much 337 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: in line with what they did the year before. They 338 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: just redistributed how they did it. It was one and 339 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: a half backs as opposed to one yack doing it, 340 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, if you if you equate 341 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: the snapcout stuff interesting, Yeah, I mean, and that's better. 342 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't think anybody wants the Harris just 343 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: smashing the line time and time again too. I mean, 344 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: you're not gonna hold up. Yeah, So you know, I 345 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 1: think this is something that's much more developing because you've 346 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: got a guy like jay Len Warren um, you know, 347 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: for nothing really Yeah, no, that's great. I mean undrafted 348 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 1: free agents are gold. I mean it's absolutely gold. Um, 349 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: so back to the rookie class quickly. I think the 350 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:33,719 Speaker 1: obvious short answer is yes. But Robinson, m Austin Leal, 351 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: how big a role do you think they have next year? 352 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: They're all they're all gonna get bigger roles. You know, 353 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: they have nowhere to go but up in some ways, 354 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: I think Leale's potentially a starter. That's where my next 355 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: question was one question. I don't know if he's the 356 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 1: next Cam Heyward, but do you think he's a snap guy? 357 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: It's funny. I was just looking at all that stuff today, 358 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: So Heyward, was it like I think I want to 359 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: say the snap um job was? Then the next highest 360 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: guy was warmly. It makes sense even though we missed 361 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: all the time and like thirty somewhere in that range. 362 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: If the Marvin Leel becomes warmly, that's kind of I 363 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 1: was thinking too, Like I'm not saying he could be 364 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: Ogan joby, right, but if he just becomes warmly, yeah, 365 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 1: that's fine. If he's warmly next year in usage, but 366 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: a better player. I think everybody should take that because 367 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 1: that gives you great depth, you know, assuming that an 368 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: Ogan job your heart grave of her first round pick 369 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: or whatever also in the mix as well. I mean, 370 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: I don't I'm not implying I want Lee out to 371 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 1: be the two. Cam's the one. I would lovely out 372 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: to be the four, you know, with a early second 373 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: round knows and Ogan Job in the mix, you know, 374 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 1: something like that, but he probably is three amongst the 375 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: quote the end the first round. You can get back 376 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: into that argument again, first round knows. So they're starting 377 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: nose tackle this year, snap, and that's not going to change. 378 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 1: It's not going to change. Nose is almost a bad 379 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: word though, you know, Like I'm talking about a bigger 380 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: bodied guy like Breezy, you know, Fim Clemson. I mean 381 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 1: someone that if you draft, if you draft a guy 382 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: like Breezy, you don't, then you don't need Ogan Job back, right, 383 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: because you want that guy to play. You want that 384 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: guy to play and play a lot, right. I mean, 385 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: ideally I would love to see Camogan Job, Leao and 386 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: one more you know who's not on the team that 387 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: we speak as a pedigree or you know, has a 388 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: high ceiling. Yeah. So it's an interesting class, um. You know, 389 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: when you look at the guys who guaranteed starters going 390 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 1: into next year are picking and pickings, right right, Everything 391 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,199 Speaker 1: after that's gravy. Another quick question, if you were to 392 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:58,880 Speaker 1: bet today who leads the team and receiving yards Pickens 393 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: that year yards, I'd say Pickens. Yeah, yeah, okay, I 394 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: mean I think there's a three way split there. Friar 395 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: move is not gonna lead the them in yards. I 396 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: think Pickens would be my vote. It's most likely to 397 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: yeah yeah, um, maybe not receptions themselves, but certainly in yards. 398 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: Uh you know, I just I look at that class 399 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: and remember Pickett was picked twenty, Pickens was picked fifty two. 400 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: They were playoff team. You'll have three picks in the 401 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: books this year before you took Pickens last year, right, right, right? 402 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: Pretty nice, Right, it's nice. We're looking at it absolutely. So. 403 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: If you can get three George Pickens like players in 404 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: next year's draft, I think it'll be a nice little foundation. Yeah, 405 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: that's also bad at any position. Yeah, if they make 406 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: that kind of impact, you're you're pretty happy with um. 407 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, just imagine if we're in Latroblex, you're going 408 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: boy or talking as fondly of their first three picks 409 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: as we did Pickings. Two weeks in the meeting, um 410 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: or whatever. Yeah, you can subscribe now to snr's newest podcast, 411 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: to godfather of Pittsburgh sports is talking nothing but Steelers. 412 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:09,360 Speaker 1: It's Savereign on Steelers. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday. 413 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: Subscribe today. They're available on the Steeler's mobile app, the 414 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app, and wherever you get your podcast. 415 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lally. You're listening 416 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be 417 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: back with more right after this