1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: and Gold cass In Steelers Nation Radio. 4 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: Man, Welcome to the Drive. I am Dale Lollly, and 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: it is a victory Monday here in Pittsburgh, the Steelers 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 2: beating the pants off the New York Jets on Sunhire Football, 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: Matt winning that one thirty to thirty seven, fifteen. And 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 2: I want to say, I told you so, but and 9 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: you as well, we told you so. 10 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 3: It's a quarterbacks matter. It's a big differcts matter. Yeah, 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 3: first off score still bothers me. I still think it 12 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 3: should be thirteen, not fifteen. That's his life. Yeah, at 13 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 3: the half I was upset about it. Then quickly that 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 3: got over it because the second half absolutely belonged to 15 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 3: the Steelers, both sides of the ball dominant. Wilson was 16 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 3: and I think will continue to be a difference maker 17 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 3: for this team in a lot of different ways. Not 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 3: everything that shows up, you know, to the naked eye, 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: you know. And I think the experience is a big, 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 3: big thing. Small example, you know, I mean, Steelers prepare 21 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 3: for Anthony Richardson and then Flacco who's not as good 22 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 3: as Russ comes in and has a lot of success 23 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 3: because he knows where to go with football and all 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 3: those things. 25 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: You know, Yeah, it makes a huge difference. And we 26 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 2: saw it open up the running game as the game 27 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 2: went on. Once you started hitting some of those passes 28 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: down the field, you know, all of a sudden, now 29 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: the Jets safeties can't come crashing at the snap of 30 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: the football, and just it raises the level of all 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: the water across the board. I promise there was six 32 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: to ten plays. They kept harping on the TV copy 33 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: about all the stuff he was doing at the line 34 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: of scrimmage, and not that other quarterbacks don't do things 35 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: at the line of scrimmage. 36 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 3: But I mean it was obvious. I mean there was 37 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 3: a play Warren all most scored. It was like a 38 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 3: twelve yard run. He comes down to the line of scrimmage, 39 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 3: checks out the play immediately. You get to see his 40 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 3: body language. It's real abrupt, and he kind of points 41 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 3: where there's a bubble where there's nobody over the right 42 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 3: guard hands at the warrant as they're adjusting on defense, 43 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 3: and right behind McCormick twelve yards you know, like, yeah, 44 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 3: that's out smarting the opponent, you know. I mean there's 45 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 3: a lot of those instances get out of bad plays. 46 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: It's some of the stuff that you know, we talked 47 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: about with Aaron Rodgers going into last week's game with 48 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: you know, oh, he's gonna get you know, he'll get 49 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: you with pace, he'll get you the job, and were 50 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: chuckling each other about it. Yeah, you know, just the 51 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: little things like that. I thought it was as the 52 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: Steelers are going down to score their last touchdown, I 53 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 2: think they get the ball back. That was after the 54 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: Jets turned the ball over on downs in the fourth 55 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: quarter and there was still seven fifty three left, okay, 56 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: and the Steelers go on on a thirteen play seventy 57 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 2: five yard touchdown drive. Then he took seven minutes and 58 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 2: twenty seven seconds because every play the ball was snapped 59 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: with like two seconds left exactly. Fill things, you know, 60 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: small things that turned into big things now with nine 61 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 2: seconds left, two seconds right right right right exactly and 62 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: again fields might get to that point someday, but it 63 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: doesn't happen quickly at all, you know. 64 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: So no, I think experience and all that time in 65 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 3: stadiums and by all accounts you'd know better than I do. 66 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 3: But I mean, just like player interviews after he was 67 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: obviously struggling in the first half, but yeah, second third 68 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: drive in particular, I mean, it's bouncing balls on short throws. 69 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 3: But apparently he never his confidence never waned. I mean, 70 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 3: I'll get this will be fine, you know, realize he 71 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 3: wasn't playing great, and they did, you know. 72 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: And then he did and you know, it wasn't even 73 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: to me. Some of the throws that he made, some 74 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: of them weren't great throws right. 75 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: Right, right, He didn't look like damn Marino out there. 76 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: Right the chance to allow his guys to make plays, 77 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: and those are the things that you don't know. Again, 78 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: when you're watching justin fields play the position, you don't 79 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: know how many throws he turned down in which he 80 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: had George Pickens one on one and didn't give him 81 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: a chance, or he had a Pat Freyermouth, you know, 82 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: behind a safety and didn't make the throw because well, 83 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: I don't know if I can make that throw. I 84 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: don't want to turn the ball over. Yep. 85 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 3: The fade the Pickens in the end zone so reminded 86 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 3: me of my days with Larry Fitzgerald because Wilson comes 87 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 3: the line, looks like he peeks out. 88 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: Of his right eye. 89 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 3: Oh, I got one over there with my guy, doesn't 90 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: look at him again, sits there, takes a snap, looks 91 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 3: left just for a second to take this safety out 92 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 3: of any possible thing, and knew exactly where. 93 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: He was going to football. Boom boom boom. 94 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 3: Just go let him make a play. Doesn't have to 95 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 3: be the best row in the world. 96 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: You know, We've said it all off season when they 97 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 2: acquired Russell. Wilson hit twenty eight touchdown passes last year, 98 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: twenty of them. We're in the red zone. To red 99 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 2: zone touchdown passes last year, you are allowed to throw 100 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 2: the ball into the end zone. It doesn't have to 101 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: be a run every time, and. 102 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 3: He rarely turns the ball over down there. I mean 103 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 3: that's a really condensed area. I mean, red zone passing 104 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 3: is one of the absolute hardest things of quarterbacking, no 105 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 3: matter how talented you are. So I was really impressed, 106 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: and I think it had a massive ripple effect, even 107 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 3: more so than his final numbers. 108 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought, you know, it was a strong showing. Again, 109 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: he warmed up as the game went on, and I 110 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: think he warmed up when he started throwing the ball 111 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: down the field. I think they were trying to get 112 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: him some easy throws early to kind of shake the 113 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: rust off a little bit. Yeah, and that wasn't getting 114 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: it done. No, I thought the one that really it 115 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 2: wasn't a long pass, but he had a guy in 116 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: his face. He rolled to his left with a guy 117 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: in his face, and he flicked the ball out to 118 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 2: Friarmouth and Fararmoth turned it into a thirty yard gain. 119 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 2: I'm like, okay, yea. 120 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, it was on time. I mean it was 121 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 3: you know right, it was crisp and you know, okay, 122 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 3: and take a take a hit. I made a play, 123 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 3: you know, good timing. I trust the guys around me. 124 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 3: And frankly, the old line was struggling in the first 125 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 3: half too. Oh yeah, they quite a bit. 126 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: I mean, back the Jets out of that attacking the 127 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: line of scrimmage stuff. That was what was going to happen, 128 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 2: because that's what's been happening to the Steelers over and 129 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: over again. Here. 130 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 3: I was even talk more of a pass rush perspective. Yeah, 131 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 3: I mean it got a lot better in the second half, 132 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 3: but I thought he was under a just slowed. 133 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: Them down a little bit to the point. Okay, now 134 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: he's starting to throw to the backs here and they 135 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 2: start to wear out that little pass out that they 136 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 2: did continually to Darnell Washington. That slows down the pass 137 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 2: rush some exactly. 138 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 3: I mean, give Arthur Smith some credit to I mean, 139 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 3: you run play action, half roll out, hit the tight 140 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 3: end for an easy throw. Well, that neutralizes a pass rush. 141 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, you're slowing those guys down. We see. We see 142 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: teams try to do with TJ. Watt all the time. 143 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 2: You try to suck him in and then throw the 144 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:00,799 Speaker 2: ball over his head. You know this. So the Steelers 145 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: were averaging just over one hundred and sixty passing yards 146 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: per game coming into this game in the first six weeks. 147 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: They hit five passes of twenty or more yards in 148 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: this game. The total one hundred and sixty eight yards 149 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: by themselves. Yeah, just those plays, just those chunk plays. 150 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 2: And then you add the chunk runs in that they had. 151 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 3: And they weren't fluky one play for eighty yards Kinvin 152 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 3: Austin run, mistackle or blown coverage. I mean they were 153 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 3: I think we can again one game, folks, I think 154 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 3: we can count on. 155 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: More of that kind of stuff is going to be there, 156 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: and I think it's going to open up the running 157 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: game because now you're not going to I mean, I 158 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 2: go back to the last week's game against the Raiders 159 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 2: in the first two series and even into the third series, 160 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: the Raiders strong safety Trevor Mowring at the snap of 161 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: the football and it looked like he was Usain Bolton. 162 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 2: He had one intention. Yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming. I'm 163 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: going to try to blow up this running play because 164 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: Steel is going to run the ball here. Well, now, 165 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 2: when Russell Wilson gets to the line of scrimmage, you 166 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 2: don't know, right if your strong safety is crashing like that, 167 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: the ball might be going over his head. No, I 168 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 2: think a lot of that's true. 169 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 3: And again, if you're gonna hit more deep balls and 170 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 3: more chunk plays, people might just start backing off and 171 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 3: cover to you to death and go from there. 172 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 2: Who knows. Yeah, And you know again I think with 173 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: you know, everybody talked about, well, you know how they 174 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 2: going to replace the rushing that justin Fields gets you, Well, 175 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 2: Jalen Warren's back, or you're gonna throw for more, You're 176 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: gonna throw for more yards and j Warren's back. So 177 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: you got you got one hundred and two yards in 178 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 2: this game out of Naji Harris. You're not short on 179 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: ball carriers. You've got another forty four out of Jalen Warren. Well, 180 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 2: it's one hundred and forty six rushing yards right there. 181 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: And oh, by the way, Russell Wilson added three more 182 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 2: and could have had more if he wanted to run, 183 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 2: you know, run more. 184 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 3: He's still capable. That made me crazy. 185 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: All right. If anybody who thinks that this guy's a 186 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: statue in the pocket, turn on the table last night's game, 187 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: right right. 188 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 3: He might as athletic as he was fifteen years ago 189 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 3: or whatever. 190 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, he's not the athlete to Justin Fields is. 191 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: But he's a better quarterback. 192 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 3: Yeah he is, he is. I mean, I think that's 193 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 3: one game to show it. But I think it's very obvious, 194 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 3: and especially if you go back to camp and as 195 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 3: much as we were able to see and its. 196 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 2: Career, you know, yeah, and the people who were talking 197 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: about him like he's washed up, he's this, he's that, 198 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 2: go back and look at Kurt Warner's career. 199 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, he. 200 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: Was great early, you know, with the Rams. Then he 201 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: went to the Giants. Giants. Giants was bad because the 202 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 2: team around him was not good. It was a brutal situation. 203 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 3: Right then he goes to the Cardinals with Larry and 204 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 3: Bolden all of a sudden, right he knows really good 205 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 3: above the neck. 206 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: You know, situations matter. And yes, the Steelers aren't you know, 207 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 2: oozing with with offensive skill player talent, but they have 208 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 2: more than what Broncos had last year. 209 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 3: And yeah yeah, and he was picked to fit the system, 210 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 3: not the system thrust around you too. 211 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 2: I have I've seen the final play action numbers yet, Matt, 212 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 2: but I'll be I'll be interested to see what those 213 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 2: look like when they get everything gets tallied up. Yeah, 214 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: because I saw a lot. 215 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I bet it's a lot, and I bet it's good. 216 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 2: So somebody mentioned, well, you know, he he he took 217 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: over three seconds in the pocket to throw the football. 218 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 2: Well yeah, when you're running that much play action, yeah, yeah, 219 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: you're gonna hold the ball a little bit longer. But 220 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: you're also freezing the linebackers. 221 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 3: I mean on the flip side, and I'm not hooking 222 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 3: anything at Ben. An unbelievable career, but at the end 223 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 3: it was kind of like Rogers last night. 224 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, and you knew the ball is coming 225 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 2: out two two or two three, and what the team's 226 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: always better to hit it out that quick, you know. 227 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 2: Defenders immediately talked to people, talked about Ben's getting all 228 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 2: these balls batted down to the line of scrimmer. He's 229 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 2: six foot five. Why would he get all these balls 230 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 2: battered down, right? Because they're quick. He never used to rushing. 231 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 2: You're just getting their hands up. 232 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 3: They know they can't get home, and they're attacking the catch. 233 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 3: And to me, the biggest turning point of the game, well, 234 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 3: not even turning point, it's just they tackled poorly in 235 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 3: the first half. They tackled great in the second half. 236 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 3: And I think part of its understanding that's the most 237 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: important thing. He's gonna get the ball all quick and 238 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: we're gonna have to tackle Breese Hall and Wilson and 239 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 3: these guys are really go with the ball in their hands. 240 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 3: We're gonna get our hands up and bad passes down. 241 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 3: They probably aren't going to sack them because he doesn't 242 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 3: like getting it anymore. 243 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 2: The first the first Beanie Bishop interception, which kind of 244 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 2: changed the game. Yeah, it's huge, was because if you 245 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 2: if you rewatch to play. Rogers was going to throw 246 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 2: to him earlier, but Cam Hayward got the hands up, 247 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 2: so you watch him and he kind of double clutched 248 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 2: it and then threw. Yeah. Yeah, Wilson was open when 249 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 2: he was a neatness. He throws it on time. It's 250 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: a yeah. That one extra half second, that millisecond that 251 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: he double clutched the ball allowed Beanie Bishop to get 252 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: the coverage back in and undercut the route and it's 253 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 2: an interception. 254 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 3: So I know we're gonna have Rob on next. But 255 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 3: I did a show with him earlier and we were 256 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 3: talking a lot of hidden yardage on special teams. 257 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: You know, Jeff, special teams was actually worse than what 258 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: I thought it was gonna do. It was a real problem, 259 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 2: that's for sure. In fact, I tweeted out during the 260 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 2: game that after the first two punts, they muffed the 261 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 2: first one and fumbled the second one out of bounds. 262 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 2: I'm like, I'm kicking the ball down the middle of 263 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 2: the field. Yeah yeah, Let's let's see what he can do. 264 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: Let's see what Let's see if this guy puts another 265 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 2: one on the ground somewhere where he can recover it, 266 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: Like getto right. Yeah, and they're every you know, even 267 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 2: the return guys on the kickoffs were bad. 268 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: We're bad, Like you should kneel, dude. But where I 269 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 3: was going with it was actually the swatted passes. It's 270 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 3: like another area of the team you could easily ignore, 271 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: but it is a lot of plays. I mean, only 272 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 3: the Chiefs swatted down more passes than the Steelers last year, 273 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 3: and they have to be near the top of the 274 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 3: league this year. 275 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 4: Yeah. 276 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 2: And one of them came by bent on a fourth down. Yeah, right, 277 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: you know, Watt had one and if if you know, 278 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 2: he didn't swat that down, he was going to kill 279 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers. 280 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's like the only player I remember them single 281 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 3: blocking him, and he has two hands swat where he 282 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 3: was about to come off the top rope on him, 283 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 3: right right, right right, And people think he's haid. He's 284 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 3: been kind of having a down couple of games. 285 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: And Rogers getting baught rid of the ball in two 286 00:12:59,000 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: point four seconds. 287 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 4: You're it. 288 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 2: He's getting doubled every Yeah, you're you're you're gonna doubled 289 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 2: and tripled. You're not going to get there. 290 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, Laurence Taylor or Superman wouldn't have got there. I 291 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,319 Speaker 3: mean and like, and I still hear. Man, imagine when 292 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 3: Watt and Minka start playing, well, I'm like, they're playing great. 293 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 2: You can't you can't just look at the stats. You 294 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 2: just can't. You know, the impact somebody put out that, 295 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 2: you know, Watt only had one pressure in forty six 296 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,719 Speaker 2: pass drop backs or whatever it was forty two or 297 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 2: whatever it was in the game a bunch And I'm like, 298 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 2: first of all, the ball was coming out ridiculously fast. 299 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 2: Second of all, he was credited with credited with two 300 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,719 Speaker 2: quarterback hits. So how do you get a quarterback one pressure, right, 301 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: and only one pressure? 302 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 4: Yeah? 303 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 2: Pressure is a made up stat. I never quoted in 304 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 2: my stat pack. It's just too gray for me. Yeah, 305 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 2: you know, somebody, somebody tell me what it is. You 306 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: got to define it for me before I'm going to 307 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 2: start going, oh, yeah, that's a real stat. 308 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: I've heard some people say if you're within X amount 309 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 3: of feet of the ball when it's released, and I'm 310 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 3: I'm like, I still don't buy that. I'm I mean, 311 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 3: I look at pressure rate and things just to see 312 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 3: who was. 313 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: At the top and who's at the bottom. 314 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 3: But it's not like I quote it or like totally 315 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 3: by it, you know, or which quarterbacks are better under pressure? 316 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 3: Those things are real over a big sample. 317 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 2: Technically, you could say guys like TJ. Watt or Miles 318 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 2: Garrett or Nick Bosa, and they put pressure on the 319 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 2: quarterback on every single drop back because I guarantee you 320 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 2: the quarterback knows where they're at. 321 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I have to play nine on ten because that 322 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 3: guy's on the field. That's a lot of pressure. That's 323 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 3: a lot of pressure on my shoulders, right. 324 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: And you know, to to say that those guys don't 325 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 2: affect games even when they're not getting sacks. I know 326 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 2: I've joked about Miles Garrett not you know, having no 327 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: tackles and those but they affect a game massive. You 328 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 2: have to. You have to account for those guys massively, massively, massively, 329 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: usually with more than one player, it's usually two and 330 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 2: sometimes three, and that affects how you operate as an offense, 331 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 2: no doubt. 332 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 3: And side notes, I want to make sure I get 333 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 3: it out there is they allowed a lot of holding 334 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 3: in this They did, and I thought more so favoring 335 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 3: the Jets and the Steelers. But I am looking at 336 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 3: it through black and gold colored glasses a little. 337 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: But there are a couple of guys who got tackled 338 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 2: on the way to the quarterback, and Tyron Smith versus 339 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 2: high Smith could have been a lot uglier, is all 340 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 2: I'm saying. Yeah, you know, yeah, no, I thought the 341 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 2: defense other than you know, again the mistackles on Brisaw 342 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 2: in the first half was really good. Again, another shutout 343 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 2: in the second half of a game. They went into 344 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 2: that game allowing five point seven points per game in 345 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 2: the second half over the course of the season. That's 346 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 2: only going to go lower. And if you can do 347 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 2: that with this offense, you know, it's it's often like 348 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 2: I can't remember who the you know, the sprinter was, 349 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 2: But if it's even I'm leaving, that's just a receiver thing. 350 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 3: Turn two like Randy Moss almost that's a receiver term too. 351 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 3: They're plus sixty eight point differential in the second half. 352 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 2: I mean it's i know, over the course of seven years, yeah, 353 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 2: seven games now yeah, yeah, so basically ten points. You're 354 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: winning the second half of games by ten points every week, 355 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 2: every week. 356 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 3: And some of it's physicality, some of it's do we 357 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 3: everyone to give the coaches any credit that they're always 358 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 3: getting all coached in the first half. Why are they 359 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 3: always so flat? Maybe they make really good adjustments in 360 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: the second too, you know what I mean. There's a 361 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 3: couple of ways to look at that, but I think 362 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 3: a lot of it's how physical they are, and Tomlin 363 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 3: practices those guys hard. Colin's Worth kept talking about it 364 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 3: last night. He's like, you know, they do the pre 365 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 3: meetings with the coaches and he's like, coach t are 366 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 3: their players you don't get in free agency because you 367 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 3: guys work harder than other teams. Like absolutely, He's like, 368 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 3: that's no secret at all. And then we realize we 369 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 3: don't want them anyway, because the right. 370 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: Right football you want to play, you want to be 371 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: you want to There's a difference between being a football 372 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 2: player playing football and yeah, yeah you want to be 373 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: you want to be an NFL player because you like 374 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 2: the money, yeah, or do you like the game, which one. 375 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 3: Is catching touchdowns? But I don't really like on when 376 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 3: day being in the weight room, a little longer shootout 377 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 3: or you. 378 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: Know, we're tackling during training camp and things like that, right, 379 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 2: taking the iPad home, But I like walking and walking 380 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 2: around and going into a restaurant and everybody comes over 381 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 2: and yeah, maybe they give me a free dinner, right 382 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 2: and all that. Of course I love that. Yeah, yeah, but. 383 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 3: One goes hand in hand with the other sometimes. 384 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 2: And it's why sometimes you see guys who are uber 385 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 2: talented that don't work out because. 386 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 3: They don't love it. They don't love it. You get 387 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 3: a lot their fault. No, no, they love It's not 388 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 3: the piano or whatever they like doing, and they're not 389 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 3: good as good at it as a football player. 390 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just see what to do because. 391 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 4: They're good at it. 392 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, just that mentality. But let's get to a break. 393 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: We'll continue talking about last night's thirty seven fifteen win 394 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 2: over the Jets uh here with Rob King next, but 395 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 2: we'll also continue talking about it over the course of 396 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 2: the show. Here. He is the Matt Williamson. I am 397 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 2: Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here on the 398 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 2: Steelers Audio Network. Matt and I will be back with 399 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 2: more right after this. 400 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,400 Speaker 1: He's Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your 401 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: twenty four to seven home of the Black and Golds 402 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: in Steelers Nation Radio. 403 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: And welcome back. I am Dale Lolly. He is the 404 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson and we're joined on the phone line by 405 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 2: the Rob King. Although Kinger, I'm a little ticked off 406 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: at you because I banged my leg really hard against 407 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 2: the when I was walking down the steps into the 408 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 2: booth last night to do the show. I was trying 409 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 2: to step around you. I didn't right on the kneecap, 410 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 2: right on the kneecap. I looked at it today when 411 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 2: I woke up, because I was I didn't think about 412 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 2: it until I woke up this morning. I got like 413 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,360 Speaker 2: a nice knot there right on my kneecap, right where 414 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: I banged the knee. 415 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 3: It's all your fault here, It's all Ker's fault. 416 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 4: You know. 417 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 3: He was in the zone. 418 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 4: Though. 419 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 2: I didn't want to be like he's studying his paperwork, 420 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 2: you know, going over everything mature. Everything is right going 421 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: into the game. So I didn't want to like tap 422 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: him on the shoulder and say, hey, brob, I got 423 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 2: to get around you here. So I just kind of 424 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 2: slide around him and banged my knee on the on 425 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 2: the corner of the wall. But Ginger, how you going, 426 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: It's one of the only bad things that happened last night. Yeah, 427 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 2: it really was the only bad thing that happened, and 428 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 2: of course it happened to me. 429 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, we admire your we admire your body to play 430 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 4: through pain. 431 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 3: Well, he's toughing it out today, though. I think he's 432 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 3: going to survive. 433 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 2: Those knee contusions. They can, they can put you out 434 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 2: for a while. But King, Yeah, thirty seven to fifteen 435 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 2: win last night, the seventy four team honored at halftime. Uh, 436 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 2: the building was electric and the Steelers put on a 437 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 2: good show. 438 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 4: They did impressive. You know, so many little things leading 439 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 4: to the big victory. 440 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 5: Every had every know, defense, special teams, offense, you everyone 441 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 5: wants to talk about Russell Wilson, and rightly so a 442 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 5: lot to be enthusiastic about him. But you know, on 443 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 5: all guys, I just thought everything contributed to a really 444 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 5: really dominating Steelers win. 445 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, let's just stig into Wilson. I mean, how much 446 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 3: different did the offense look and feel to you live? 447 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 3: You know, how crisp the plays were coming in him 448 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 3: at the line of scrimmage, know when where to go 449 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 3: with football, put in touch on the ball, all those things. 450 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 3: And again this is no knock on justin fields. 451 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 5: You know, no, no, no for and no. And I'm 452 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 5: a big Justin Fields fan. I really like Justin Fields. 453 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 5: I think there's a lot of things that he can do, 454 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 5: and you know, and I love his approach and his attitude, 455 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 5: a lot of things that you know's some things that 456 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 5: he needs to do a little bit better, and I 457 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 5: think he understands that. But I mean there's I think 458 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 5: there's you know, I don't think his his story is 459 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 5: finished being. 460 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 4: Written by any means. 461 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 5: But you know, when you go out and acquire a 462 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 5: nine time Pro bowler, a Super Bowl champion, there is 463 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:43,959 Speaker 5: going to be a difference. 464 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 4: There aren't that many guys like that in the league. 465 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 5: Well, nine time Pro bowlers, but I mean guys who 466 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 5: are you know, number one type of quarterbacks at. 467 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 2: This point, rob There aren't that many quarterbacks who've actually 468 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 2: won a Super Bowl in the league, right, right, that's right, 469 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: Rady Mahomes, Yeah, and Brady and Mahomes had been open 470 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 2: on him. Roethlisberger, you know, Manning a flack o snuck 471 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: one in there. But it's you know, lately, it's it's 472 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 2: it's been Mahomes and some of the other guys, and 473 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 2: nobody else gets a chance to win these things, right, 474 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 2: And this. 475 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 5: Is a little bit of a reminder of what that 476 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 5: difference is between this and I'm not even just talking 477 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 5: about justin fields, who's the best we've seen in a 478 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 5: while for me at this year, this quarterback position. But 479 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 5: when you take that type of a player and there 480 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 5: aren't that many and you insert him in doing offense, 481 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 5: it makes a big difference. 482 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 4: It just does. You know. 483 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 5: That's why quarterbacks, top quarterbacks make you know, fifty million 484 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 5: dollars a year. And this was a reminder that, oh, yeah, 485 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 5: he is that guy because we needed a reminder, some 486 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 5: of us did, because of how things went for him 487 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 5: the last couple of years in Denver. You know, everybody thought, wow, 488 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,199 Speaker 5: what a what a tremendous you know, pick up for Denver, 489 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 5: and this is going to take them, you know, they 490 00:21:58,119 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 5: thought it was going to take him to the next 491 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 5: level and yet had to give up a lot to 492 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 5: get him. But this is the bright guy. And then 493 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,880 Speaker 5: it just didn't work. I mean it just you had 494 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 5: a coordinator, a coach in the first year who just 495 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 5: got demoted again as a coordinator, so that was a mess. 496 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 5: And then you bring in another coach who wants to 497 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 5: go in a different direction, and uh, you know, I 498 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 5: think I just said the direction as opposed to direction 499 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 5: moving a little different direction. So you know, all of 500 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 5: a sudden, now you're you're looking at a guy whose 501 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 5: legacy is a little bit tarnished, and then you know, 502 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 5: you see him in practice. 503 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 4: We saw him. 504 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 5: Guys, everything is always the word that always comes to 505 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 5: mind for me is just crisp. 506 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 4: Everything just looks crisp. The way the ball throws to the. 507 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 5: Air, the way he moves in and out of the huddle, 508 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 5: the way he seems to be in charge of everything. 509 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 5: It's just crisp, crisp, crisp, crisp with everything. And you 510 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 5: know we saw that last night. This is a crisply 511 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 5: run offense. Crisp throws to his receivers. Just a lot 512 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 5: to like about what he can bring. And you know, 513 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 5: I think about when I look back at you know, 514 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 5: what they were able to accomplish with quarterbacks who frankly 515 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 5: are now backups and lucky to be in the league 516 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,679 Speaker 5: and to be able to win games and get to 517 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 5: the playoffs. 518 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 4: With quarterbacks of that ilk. 519 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 5: And then you bring in Russell Wilson and you realize 520 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 5: it and that's not a knockout anybody that's been here 521 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 5: it's just a different level. It's a rare level that 522 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 5: he's been able to achieve. And on top of that, 523 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 5: I just think that and this is always was always 524 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 5: my concern, and it kind of manifested itself the last 525 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 5: couple of years. What happens when you're in a game 526 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 5: which Joe Burrow's on fire and the defense is that 527 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 5: got a hard time stopping them, and your running game 528 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 5: really isn't going. What's happened in the last couple of 529 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:46,120 Speaker 5: years is you've suffered some rare blowouts. You haven't been 530 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 5: able to match them punch for punch. Now, I think 531 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,880 Speaker 5: with a quarterback like Russell Wilson, when the inevitable game 532 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 5: comes along and the other team scores, you know, twenty 533 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 5: eight points, can you score thirty? And I think now 534 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 5: you feel like, yeah, we can. 535 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 2: No, I agree completely, And I mean you start looking 536 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 2: at things like point differential. You know, the Steelers are 537 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: now plus sixty and I understand, you know Baltimore hasn't 538 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 2: played yet, but that plus sixty is three points behind 539 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,719 Speaker 2: the Bills for second most in the AFC. The Ravens 540 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 2: right now would have to they'd have to win by 541 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 2: thirty two points. Tonight to get to that plus sixty. 542 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 2: They're plus twenty eight right now. You know, you look 543 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 2: over at the Detroit is plus sixty two. The commanders 544 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 2: of all teams are plus sixty six. Minnesota is at 545 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 2: plus sixty one. Those that's the that's the Those are 546 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 2: the teams that you're right there with right now, because 547 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 2: you do you've shown the ability now in back to 548 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 2: back weeks, and it's been a different ways that you've 549 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 2: done it, but you've blown out two teams in a row. 550 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 2: And that's just something we haven't seen a lot of 551 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 2: here in Pittsburgh probably since the twenty twenty season, when 552 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: when you know, Roethlisberger was coming back from the the 553 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 2: elbow injury. 554 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 5: Right and I think there were a number of things 555 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 5: to like, and one of them, you know, and I 556 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 5: don't want to gloss over any of them. 557 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 4: There's so many to talk about. 558 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 5: And one of the things that I haven't really talked 559 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 5: about yet was just that final drive. I mean, you know, 560 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 5: you're the Jets. You've got a couple of timeouts left 561 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 5: to thinking, Okay, if we can get it three and out, 562 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 5: we still got a chance. There's still a chance in 563 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:19,880 Speaker 5: that game with seven and a half minutes or thereabouts 564 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 5: left in the game to maybe pull a rabbit out 565 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 5: of the hat. You march down the field. You know, 566 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 5: Rogers gets you a score with a quick three minute offense. 567 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 5: You kick it back, and you kick it off, you 568 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,879 Speaker 5: use your timeouts, you have the two minute warning to 569 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 5: get the ball back. 570 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 4: You still have a chance. Yeah, you need a two. 571 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 5: Point conversion in there, but you still got a chance. 572 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 5: Well then they just marched the ball down the field 573 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 5: and punch it in the end zone with thirty seconds left. 574 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 5: I mean, that is beautiful. Remember that the Steelers weren't 575 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 5: winning now. Again, they had a one play touchdown drive 576 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,479 Speaker 5: after the beating Bishop interception, but they were not winning 577 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 5: the time of possession battle. That's a very encouraging sign 578 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 5: for me to be able to you know, it doesn't 579 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 5: always have to be your defense that finishes it off 580 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 5: and wins it for you. I think the hope now 581 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 5: is that the offense can do that. 582 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 4: The offense can go. 583 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 5: On this long, time consuming drive that just puts the 584 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 5: game away, which is what they did last night. 585 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 2: It's funny you mentioned that because I asked, you know, 586 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 2: Cam Heyward about that last night after the game and 587 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 2: I said, you know when the offense scores thirty one 588 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 2: unanswered points like that and dominates the time of possession 589 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 2: in the second half, you know, as a defense, you know, 590 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 2: how does that? 591 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 4: How does that? 592 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 2: You know, what's that do for you guys on defense? 593 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 2: Because it's funny me and TJ were talking about We're like, well, 594 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: I sure hope the offense gives them the ball back 595 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 2: here at some point or we score here or something, 596 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 2: because we want to go out there and try to 597 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 2: eat a little bit here. You know they're gonna be 598 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:42,919 Speaker 2: in desperation, you know, you want to try to go 599 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 2: do some stuff. With thirty seconds left, they weren't going 600 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 2: back in the game. 601 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,120 Speaker 3: And Robert along those lines before you answer something Dale 602 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 3: and I have talked about now for years on the 603 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 3: drive are how many opportunities in TJ. Watts's career have 604 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,199 Speaker 3: they had a ten point lead with three and a 605 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 3: half minutes on the clock. Towels fly in loud as 606 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 3: can be, and everyone on the planet knows you're rushing 607 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 3: the passer and you can't get the ball out in 608 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 3: two point two seconds. You know, like, imagine the production 609 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 3: this pass rusher would have with more of those situations. 610 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 4: I totally agree. 611 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 5: And you know, you think about the great pass rushers 612 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 5: and you know, you can think of that in terms 613 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 5: of clutch you know, Joey Porter, James Harrison. You know, 614 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 5: you're up seven and there's four and a half minutes 615 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 5: left or whatever. They've got to throw the ball, and 616 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 5: here you come and you come up with you know, 617 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 5: Lawrence Taylor, you come up with these well, you know, yes, 618 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 5: that it is the ability to rise to the occasion, 619 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 5: but it's also the ability to you know, at home 620 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 5: with a home crowd, making you maybe have to go 621 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 5: to a silent count and eliminating some of that advantage 622 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 5: the offensive line has and that great pass rusher knowing 623 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 5: that you've got to throw that helps too. Yes, it's 624 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 5: a clutch team, but it's also a you know, we've 625 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 5: got an advantage type of gene. 626 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 4: And I do agree. I think that that's it would be. 627 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 5: It would be wonderful to see Cam Hayward and to 628 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 5: see TJ. Watt not have to worry about the run, 629 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 5: not even have to think about the run. What would 630 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 5: that do to their production? Because both guys are such 631 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 5: great all a round players. Now what happens when they 632 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 5: have to throw the ball. 633 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 4: I agree. 634 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 5: I think their numbers could could certainly would certainly elevate 635 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 5: under those circumstances. 636 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 3: So Rob, you and I were talking on a different 637 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 3: show about hidden yardage, some of the stuff that isn't 638 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 3: on the box score to the naked eye or fantasy 639 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 3: points or the back of your football card, you know, 640 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 3: special teams, all these different areas they're winning, and I 641 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 3: think it just needs to be talked about more. I mean, 642 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 3: that's just comes from top down coaching. 643 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 2: You know. 644 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 5: Well, I think that you know, at some point here 645 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 5: and again, it's one game, right, we know that, and 646 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 5: you're going to play another game against team that's that's you. 647 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 4: Know, hopefully you'll be able to take care of. 648 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 5: Business on Monday Night football against the Giants team that's 649 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 5: that's struggling. But uh, you know, we'll see as the 650 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 5: season wears on and you get to play tougher and 651 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 5: tougher opponents. 652 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 4: But I agree with you. 653 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 5: I think that we're going to I think that this 654 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 5: offense is gonna, you know, hopefully be an improvement. I 655 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 5: still go back to, you know, what happened when Mason 656 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 5: Rudolph came in. We're not talking about Kenny Pickett. Uh, 657 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 5: you know with Kenny Pickett and and Mason Rudolph quarterback 658 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 5: and your team, I will was too bits you own 659 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 5: three or zero and four last year. If he's not 660 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 5: quarterback in your game, you've got a winning record. That 661 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 5: is a reflection to me on to to circle back 662 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 5: to your point on great coaching and understanding what your 663 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 5: assets are and how you can win a game. So, 664 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 5: I mean, and I've said this before, like, I don't 665 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 5: care if you imagine you're playing pick up in the 666 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 5: why you know, and you pick up teams, what is 667 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 5: the first thing you should be thinking? Well, how do 668 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 5: what assets do we have? How can our team win 669 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 5: this game? Well, that's what great head coaches are doing, 670 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 5: you know, not just saying this is what we do 671 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 5: and we're gonna do. 672 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 4: Put to the floor. Here we go. 673 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 5: We're playing you know, ninety miles an hour. Okay, great, 674 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 5: When that doesn't work, what are you doing then? 675 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 4: You know? And so Mike Tomlin, I think in. 676 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 5: His staff have had the capability to go in and 677 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 5: yes they've had a very good defense. Yes they've been 678 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 5: able to do some things on special teams, but they 679 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 5: also he's also managing with the assets he has to 680 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 5: win the game at hand, which is why when. 681 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 4: A team, you know, starts blowing you out, you just. 682 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 5: Don't have the assets to match that. That's what excites 683 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 5: me about getting a quarterback that can do this. But yeah, 684 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 5: I mean we talked about this back in camp that 685 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 5: you know, the addition of Cam Johnston would add twenty 686 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 5: five yards per game net punning to your total, which 687 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 5: is enough to improve you from twenty fourth to twenty 688 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 5: fifth whatever the number was. If the Silers were in 689 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 5: total yardage last year to the seventeen to eighteen almost 690 00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 5: averaged just by that hidden yardage and the block kicks 691 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 5: and even little things like you know, uh so that 692 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 5: the students had a punt safe on last night, they 693 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 5: had the defense out there worried that the Jets around midfield, 694 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 5: we're going to go for it. They kicked it Calvin 695 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 5: Austin and he picks up nine yards. Now is that 696 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 5: a Is that the a team you know a league 697 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 5: leading return yardage? No, it isn't, but is it almost? 698 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 5: It's practically a first down. It's nine yards that he 699 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 5: picked up on a punt return. When you were in 700 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 5: punt safe, it. 701 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 2: Was also nine yards been getting the ball. It was 702 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 2: also nine yards where you've been getting the ball inside 703 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 2: your own twenty, which affects how how you call plays 704 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 2: at that point one twelve. 705 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 5: That's right, you're not in the twelve, You're now in 706 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 5: the twenty one, and that opens things up considerably. So, Yeah, 707 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,719 Speaker 5: a lot of those factors, you know, understandably, can go 708 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 5: unheralded and go you know, sort of unnoticed by fans, 709 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 5: which is why it's our job to help bring them 710 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 5: up and say, hey, listen, you know, consider this aspect 711 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 5: of the game. Of course, a lot of fans have 712 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 5: considered it already, but some fans, newer fans may not have. Oh, 713 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,720 Speaker 5: I didn't really quite consider it that way. There's a 714 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 5: lot of things that the Steelers have done over the 715 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 5: last couple of years. The block kicks more than anybody 716 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 5: in the NFL since the beginning of the twenty twenty 717 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 5: two seasons. Those those are real things. Those are factors 718 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 5: that help you win, you know. I know, Matt, you've 719 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 5: used the expression winning the margins. Well, I think great 720 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 5: teams can do both. They can win in the margins 721 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 5: and then they can they can also you know, beat 722 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 5: you by outscoring you. Or out defending you. You know, 723 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 5: I know I number in Uh. 724 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 4: You know. 725 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 5: Jay Coffield, my my friend and former co host with 726 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 5: on the Penguins, used to talk about, you know, when 727 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 5: the when the Penguin seems are great here with Crosby 728 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 5: and Malcolm and when they were great back in uh, 729 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 5: you know, the early Marrio days. They can beat you 730 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 5: any way you want it. Do you want to play 731 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 5: low scoring? Won't beat you low scoring? You want to 732 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:53,239 Speaker 5: open it up? 733 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 4: Well? Great, but good line, you know. 734 00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 5: And I and I think that there's you know, hopefully 735 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,480 Speaker 5: if you can get war going with this year's offense, 736 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 5: I think that's something. 737 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 4: They'll be able to do. They've already proven with. 738 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 5: Their incredible what is it eleven and four and one 739 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 5: score game since the beginning of last year something like that, 740 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 5: that they can win that way, right, And that means 741 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,240 Speaker 5: that the little things you're talking about, Matt, Now, isn't 742 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:19,840 Speaker 5: it kind of fun to be able to win thirty 743 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 5: seven to fifteen on Sunday Night football? 744 00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 4: Yeah? 745 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 2: It's it's you know, and that goes to coaching. And 746 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 2: you talked about Russell Wilson being in Denver under two 747 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 2: different offensive systems. The first one didn't fit. The first 748 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,720 Speaker 2: one was designed. It was it was, you know, Hackett's 749 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 2: system for Aaron Rodgers. Oh yeah, you know they were 750 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 2: they were bringing the Green Bay offense there because they 751 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 2: thought they were getting Aaron Rodgers. 752 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 3: While he got higher. 753 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 2: That's why he got high, the only reason he got hired, right, 754 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 2: And he's now since been fired from two different jobs 755 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 2: in the last two years. And then the second year 756 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 2: you got Sean Payton coming in and saying, no, we 757 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 2: got to run my offense. It's got to be my offense, 758 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 2: not what best suits my team. And that's you're absolutely right. 759 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 2: That is coaching. That's the difference between you know, you know, 760 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 2: you see so many times, especially in football, we got 761 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 2: to run my system. But you see it in other 762 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 2: sports too bad, particularly football, basketball, hockey, baseball. That's not 763 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:16,439 Speaker 2: really such a system. But if I've got a bunch 764 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 2: of home run hitters as a baseball manager, we're not 765 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:21,800 Speaker 2: going to try to steal a bunch of bases. 766 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:25,120 Speaker 3: Right, there's ex ingredients in the fridge. You got to 767 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 3: make something out of it to feed the fam. You know, 768 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 3: whether it's delicacy or if it's slopped. 769 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna I'm not gonna make this spam no 770 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 2: offense to spam and try to tell you that it's 771 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,480 Speaker 2: you know, it's filame mignon. No, that's not how this works. 772 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 2: You got to you know, work with what you got. 773 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 5: Well, you know, I totally one hundred percent agree with that. 774 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:45,920 Speaker 5: And then the other thing is too let's not forget 775 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 5: you know, Russell Wilson, and I think some of that 776 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:51,440 Speaker 5: was was financially based that a move last year. I 777 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 5: don't remember exactly. 778 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 2: He didn't fit Peyton's system and Peyton wanted to move on, 779 00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 2: and so they didn't play in the last two games, 780 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 2: so we didn't get and then he would have had 781 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:02,720 Speaker 2: to pay him right. 782 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:07,319 Speaker 5: Right, And then you also missed the playoffs when you 783 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 5: had an opportunity to make the playoffs too, because I 784 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 5: think they lost those last two games. Rust didn't play 785 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 5: if I'm not mistaken. But regardless, you know, he was 786 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:15,840 Speaker 5: eighth in the league in passer rating last year. I 787 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:17,320 Speaker 5: know passer rating is not everything, but you got to 788 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 5: pick a statistic. I like passer rating. It emphasizes you know, 789 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:25,479 Speaker 5: touchdowns touchdown interception ratio. But he was eighth in the league. 790 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 5: You're not it isn't like he was a failure. He 791 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 5: was eighth in the league, had a winning record, I believe. 792 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:33,560 Speaker 5: I think he was eight and seven as the starting 793 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 5: quarterback last year and and had that the good quarterback rating. 794 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 5: And so it's not like you're taking, you know, someone 795 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 5: broken and trying to rebuild them. I mean, this isn't 796 00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 5: humpty dumpty. Here We're talking about how a guy who 797 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,600 Speaker 5: had a great year and is a nine time pro bowler. 798 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,839 Speaker 5: And the other thing that I've been thinking about a 799 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 5: lot lately is that, you know, when Mike Tomman is 800 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,680 Speaker 5: talking about turnover margins with Bob Labriola on that outstanding 801 00:35:58,680 --> 00:35:59,359 Speaker 5: pregame show. 802 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:02,320 Speaker 4: Lab such a phenomenal job of that interview. 803 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 5: You know, he brought up turnover ratio and and Mike 804 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:07,319 Speaker 5: Common was talking about that, and I just looked up, 805 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 5: you know, turnover ratio and there's Russell Wilson. 806 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 4: Third in NFL history. 807 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 5: Yeh at a touchdown to interception ratio. Well, doesn't that 808 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:20,200 Speaker 5: fit like a glove what the studers are trying to do? So, 809 00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:23,759 Speaker 5: you know, and again, but it fits in with what 810 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 5: the students have been trying to do. What Justin Fields 811 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,480 Speaker 5: did so well, what other quarterbacks have. 812 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 4: Been trying to do for this team. 813 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:32,399 Speaker 5: You know, don't turn the ball over, okay, But it's 814 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 5: like a boxer who can also punch. That's what I 815 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 5: think you have. It's not just a boxer. It's not 816 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:41,719 Speaker 5: just a slugger. Now, hopefully with Russell Wilson you have somebody. Yeah, 817 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 5: he can box, but guess what, here comes the right 818 00:36:43,719 --> 00:36:45,799 Speaker 5: hand too. He can hit you with that. So I 819 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,719 Speaker 5: just you know, it's one game. You know, it is 820 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:52,240 Speaker 5: only one game. But when you think about how different 821 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 5: of a feel that was last night, it's hard not 822 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 5: to get excited. 823 00:36:56,719 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 2: Well, the boxer, the right overhead, right hand right now 824 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,640 Speaker 2: now has been nausey Harris, And I think that this, 825 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 2: you know, this opens everything up for him and makes 826 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,160 Speaker 2: the Steelers a much more dangerous team because you know 827 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 2: they want to run the football. But you also now 828 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 2: know that they have a quarterback capable of beating your 829 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 2: defense over the top. So how do you defend this team? 830 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:20,560 Speaker 4: Right? It's a great question. 831 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:22,880 Speaker 5: And you know, Matt was were you talking about the 832 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 5: second half point differential on that show? 833 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 4: We were doing plus sixty eight? 834 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 5: Yeah, plus sixty eight, and you know it is something 835 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:35,239 Speaker 5: and I and I don't know. You know, proponents of 836 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:37,799 Speaker 5: the run will tell you it's absolutely this way. There's 837 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:40,239 Speaker 5: a reason the running game is better in the second 838 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 5: half of the season because you're stuck with it. There's 839 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 5: a reason that's better later in the game because you're 840 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 5: stuck with it. To go to the boxing analogy, those 841 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 5: were body blows you landed earlier. You know, Now later 842 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,720 Speaker 5: in the match, you know, the the body gets tired, 843 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:55,040 Speaker 5: the hands come down a little bit to protect the body, 844 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:57,560 Speaker 5: and now and now you could you can finish them off. Okay, 845 00:37:57,920 --> 00:37:59,920 Speaker 5: well that might be true. Maybe that is part of 846 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:02,880 Speaker 5: the reason, you know, for everyone saying, oh. 847 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:05,799 Speaker 4: And then they're sticking with a run too long? Yeah, 848 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 4: are you? 849 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:09,560 Speaker 5: Or is that part of the manifestation to the point 850 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:13,000 Speaker 5: of the second half. I don't think there's a clear 851 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:15,520 Speaker 5: concrete answer to that. I don't think there's a scientific 852 00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:18,920 Speaker 5: formula where you say, oh, yes, that's absolutely the run. 853 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 5: But I don't think it can be dismissed either that 854 00:38:21,719 --> 00:38:24,279 Speaker 5: you know, you land some blows early if you get 855 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 5: the running game going, you know, play action pass is 856 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:29,479 Speaker 5: part of this offense and part of something that Russell 857 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,719 Speaker 5: Wilson does well. So I agree, But even in its 858 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:37,000 Speaker 5: own right, perhaps this this running game, which took a 859 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:40,319 Speaker 5: couple of weeks longer last year to get going, is 860 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:44,279 Speaker 5: going now. And think about two guys, five different offensive 861 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:49,200 Speaker 5: line combinations that the Steelers have used and to still 862 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,839 Speaker 5: be able to get over one hundred yards in back 863 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:54,280 Speaker 5: to back weeks for Naji and to get the running 864 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:58,080 Speaker 5: game going really well in back to back weeks, when 865 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:00,520 Speaker 5: teams knew you wanted to run the ball, I think 866 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:03,960 Speaker 5: that says something about everything. It says something about the 867 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,319 Speaker 5: offensive line, It says something about Arthur Smith, and it 868 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:08,800 Speaker 5: certainly says something about Najie Harris. 869 00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:12,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I wanted to expand on the O line conversation 870 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 3: a little bit. Like I thought the first half was rough, 871 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,840 Speaker 3: you know, I mean that they were getting the short 872 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:21,560 Speaker 3: you know, they weren't winning that battle for the majority 873 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:23,360 Speaker 3: of the first half. But they stuck with it and 874 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 3: I thought it improved. I didn't think it was ever 875 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:27,560 Speaker 3: going to be the best line in the league is 876 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:30,560 Speaker 3: currently constructed, and that's a good group quinnin Williams as 877 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 3: a force and McDonald off the edge. But I did 878 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 3: think it got better as the night went on. 879 00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 5: I agree with that and I think it's yes, I'm right, 880 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 5: And you have to ask about that too. Now this 881 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:45,720 Speaker 5: is the unit. And again there's no scientific way to answer. 882 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:46,720 Speaker 5: This is the unit. 883 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,040 Speaker 4: You know it. Did it take a half of football 884 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:50,839 Speaker 4: to gel? I don't know. 885 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 5: I don't know the answer to that. I don't think 886 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:54,839 Speaker 5: any of us can possibly know the answer to that. 887 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:58,320 Speaker 5: It's probably like everything else, a little bit of everything, 888 00:39:58,360 --> 00:39:59,560 Speaker 5: a little bit of this, a little bit of that, 889 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:02,160 Speaker 5: a little bit of uh Russ getting more comfortable, being 890 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:05,480 Speaker 5: more effective. You know, Quinn Williams is a force, and 891 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:07,759 Speaker 5: and and you know that Steve's old line in the 892 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 5: middle they're gonna have to deal with. I mean, Dexter 893 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:14,440 Speaker 5: Lawrence has nine has a nose tackle. 894 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:15,480 Speaker 4: I'm thinking about that's it. 895 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:17,800 Speaker 3: That might be the best pass rushing team in the league. 896 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:19,200 Speaker 3: On the on the agenda coming up. 897 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:22,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, yes, that's right. And I think Dan Moore has 898 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:24,680 Speaker 5: been really good. But they got guys on both sides, 899 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:25,840 Speaker 5: They got a guy up the middle. 900 00:40:25,880 --> 00:40:27,359 Speaker 4: This is gonna be a big test for him. 901 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:29,960 Speaker 5: But yeah, I think that the offensive line got better 902 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:33,920 Speaker 5: as the game war on. I think Dan Moore, you know, 903 00:40:34,239 --> 00:40:36,360 Speaker 5: people have been you know, paying a little more attention 904 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:39,480 Speaker 5: to his game. I think he's he's really had himself 905 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:43,640 Speaker 5: a very very solid season. You know, these young guys 906 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:46,320 Speaker 5: are getting some time, they're getting some exposure. This is 907 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:48,400 Speaker 5: the kind of game. You know, you'd love to have 908 00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:50,480 Speaker 5: Zach Frazier back. This is the kind of game he's 909 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:53,359 Speaker 5: built for, you know, as was the Jets game going 910 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:58,799 Speaker 5: against these these troublesome characters in the middle. And uh, 911 00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 5: and but I don't I'm not sure he's going to 912 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,000 Speaker 5: be back. I don't think he you know, we. 913 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:03,719 Speaker 4: Don't know for sure. 914 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:06,959 Speaker 5: Maybe after the bye they did call him week to week, 915 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:09,840 Speaker 5: but you know, they'll continue to be doll or they'll continue. 916 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:12,520 Speaker 4: No, that is good, that, no doubt about it. 917 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,440 Speaker 5: He could be back, But you know, these are the 918 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:18,200 Speaker 5: these are the challenges this group has risen to him. 919 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:19,880 Speaker 5: How many times did we sit up in the trope 920 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,279 Speaker 5: and watch a group and think, man, what an incredible, 921 00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:25,320 Speaker 5: deep group of offensive line. And now you're like, man, 922 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:28,560 Speaker 5: I hope nobody else gets hurt because you can only 923 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:30,960 Speaker 5: have so many of those guys. But yeah, I thought 924 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:34,439 Speaker 5: they settled in And again, why you know, again, maybe 925 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 5: it is continuity, maybe it is success, Maybe it is 926 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:40,440 Speaker 5: a little bit of some of those things. 927 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:44,319 Speaker 2: Our guest has been Rob King, Steelers play by play announcer. 928 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:47,399 Speaker 2: Steelers off to a five and two start, coming off 929 00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:51,040 Speaker 2: of last night's thirty seven fifteen win over the New 930 00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:53,759 Speaker 2: York Football Justs, a game in which they were underdogs 931 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:56,479 Speaker 2: by three points by the time the game kicked off, 932 00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:00,879 Speaker 2: and well that didn't quite turn out that way. But Rob, 933 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:02,399 Speaker 2: we got to get going here. We'll let you go. 934 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:05,480 Speaker 2: We'll see you down at the facility there sometime this 935 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:08,720 Speaker 2: upcoming week, I'm sure. If not, we'll definitely see On Thursday, 936 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:11,360 Speaker 2: we do our show for Steelers dot Com. If you 937 00:42:11,360 --> 00:42:13,560 Speaker 2: haven't checked out the matchup on Steelers dot com, you 938 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:16,480 Speaker 2: need to do that. But he is Matt Williamson. I 939 00:42:16,520 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 2: am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here on 940 00:42:18,560 --> 00:42:21,239 Speaker 2: the Steelers Audio Network. We'll be back with more right 941 00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:21,799 Speaker 2: after this. 942 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 943 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:32,080 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 944 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:34,960 Speaker 1: and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 945 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:40,600 Speaker 2: And we are back. I'm Dale LOLLI he is the 946 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,040 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson and this is the Drive on the Steelers 947 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:44,960 Speaker 2: Audio Network. And of course you can listen to the 948 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:49,719 Speaker 2: Drive every Monday through Friday from four to six pm 949 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,120 Speaker 2: right here on Steelers Nation Radio and also download the 950 00:42:54,239 --> 00:42:57,560 Speaker 2: Steelers Mobile app and the show will be available to 951 00:42:57,640 --> 00:42:59,480 Speaker 2: be right on there, and you can watch it on 952 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:04,160 Speaker 2: YouTube well, and please leave your comments. I will answer 953 00:43:04,239 --> 00:43:06,440 Speaker 2: any questions on there. If you just want to call 954 00:43:06,520 --> 00:43:09,680 Speaker 2: us idiots or whatever, feel free have at it. I 955 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:14,239 Speaker 2: might reply to those two, but you know whatever, it's 956 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:19,600 Speaker 2: all good. But Matt, looking here at FTN Fantasy uh 957 00:43:19,760 --> 00:43:23,520 Speaker 2: in their d v o A stats at five and two, 958 00:43:24,719 --> 00:43:27,399 Speaker 2: the Steelers mean wins for the season is now nine 959 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:28,000 Speaker 2: point eight. 960 00:43:29,160 --> 00:43:29,719 Speaker 3: Seems low. 961 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:32,160 Speaker 2: It seems low. The Ravens right now are four and 962 00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:35,000 Speaker 2: two going into tonight's game. Their their mean wins is 963 00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:36,040 Speaker 2: eleven point nine. 964 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:41,040 Speaker 3: Okay, I do know Steelers remaining schedules considered by any 965 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:45,759 Speaker 3: metric one of the five most difficult. Not anymore, not 966 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:48,560 Speaker 3: like it was. I was looking at because the Browns 967 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:49,879 Speaker 3: now stink Browns are bad. 968 00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:54,400 Speaker 2: Right, that's changed. Steel Underwater Eagles are not, are not 969 00:43:54,719 --> 00:43:56,680 Speaker 2: very good. You get the Giants coming up, but aren't 970 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:57,560 Speaker 2: very good. Yeah. 971 00:43:58,040 --> 00:43:59,840 Speaker 3: I was looking at Pro football focuses today. They had 972 00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:02,080 Speaker 3: them third hardest remaining schedule. 973 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:07,560 Speaker 2: I mean, when I looked at the DVOA stuff last week, 974 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:09,799 Speaker 2: it was like fourteenth. Okay, now that and also makes 975 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:12,000 Speaker 2: more sense. That also included the game against the Jets 976 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:12,680 Speaker 2: this past week. 977 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:15,640 Speaker 3: Okay, but I mean they was a two win team too. 978 00:44:15,880 --> 00:44:17,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's what I'm saying, right, that pulled 979 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:20,160 Speaker 2: your you know in their d v O A wasn't great, right. 980 00:44:21,160 --> 00:44:23,279 Speaker 3: Even the Bengals win doesn't make me think they're better 981 00:44:23,320 --> 00:44:25,120 Speaker 3: than I thought they were. By the way, that's a 982 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:25,640 Speaker 3: side note. 983 00:44:25,840 --> 00:44:28,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean there's they still got some issues. Oh 984 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:28,880 Speaker 2: they got issues. 985 00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:33,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, No, but that seems low and mean, it seems low. 986 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:37,000 Speaker 2: But there are chances to make the playoffs seventy two 987 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:38,160 Speaker 2: point eight percent. 988 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:40,839 Speaker 3: Okay, is that five and two or is that there 989 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:41,399 Speaker 3: that's at. 990 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:44,160 Speaker 2: Five and two? Okay? Yeah. The Ravens right now are 991 00:44:44,160 --> 00:44:47,359 Speaker 2: at ninety five point three percent. You got Buffalo at 992 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:51,960 Speaker 2: ninety six point eight, uh, Houston at ninety five point one, 993 00:44:52,120 --> 00:44:55,120 Speaker 2: and Kansas City at ninety nine point four. So right now, 994 00:44:55,719 --> 00:44:59,399 Speaker 2: as things stand, the Steelers have the fifth best if 995 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:03,160 Speaker 2: chance to make the playoffs according to their metrics. I 996 00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:03,680 Speaker 2: think the. 997 00:45:03,560 --> 00:45:07,719 Speaker 3: North, aside the division winners are pretty clear in the 998 00:45:07,760 --> 00:45:11,080 Speaker 3: other three divisions. I mean, something crazy could change. 999 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:13,399 Speaker 2: Something, something would have to happen, right, you know. Right now, 1000 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:15,520 Speaker 2: Buffalo's got essentially a three game lead. 1001 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:17,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't think you make much money if you're 1002 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:20,640 Speaker 3: betting on Buffalo, Houston or Kansas City Winter Division. 1003 00:45:20,680 --> 00:45:23,640 Speaker 2: Houston's only up one game though, after the loss yesterday. 1004 00:45:23,760 --> 00:45:26,440 Speaker 3: I just say, if I think they play Indie next week, 1005 00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:29,879 Speaker 3: if they lose that one, they're trying to fight through 1006 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:32,400 Speaker 3: some things too. Yeah, that they kind of need to 1007 00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:33,720 Speaker 3: win that one to keep that. 1008 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:37,440 Speaker 2: Give themselves a cushion to They did beat Indy earlier 1009 00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:42,560 Speaker 2: this year already, but you can't split that. No, no, No. 1010 00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:46,160 Speaker 3: Their offense hasn't played great, yeah, I mean, and some 1011 00:45:46,239 --> 00:45:48,239 Speaker 3: of it's Niko being out for a while there. They 1012 00:45:48,239 --> 00:45:50,040 Speaker 3: couldn't run the ball, but then they could run the ball. 1013 00:45:51,040 --> 00:45:53,080 Speaker 3: Offensive line has been real hit or miss, to be 1014 00:45:53,120 --> 00:45:55,400 Speaker 3: honest with you. I mean Diggs caught like five or 1015 00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:57,959 Speaker 3: six balls for like twenty seven or yesterday. 1016 00:45:57,680 --> 00:45:59,960 Speaker 2: I think they threw for like ninety eight yards really low. 1017 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:04,280 Speaker 2: I mean it was ridiculous. You know, so that division? 1018 00:46:05,320 --> 00:46:08,680 Speaker 2: Do I think Indianapolis? I don't think so. Yeah, I 1019 00:46:08,719 --> 00:46:11,759 Speaker 2: don't think so. But right now, Houston's mean wins is 1020 00:46:11,800 --> 00:46:14,920 Speaker 2: eleven point three, which seems like it might be a 1021 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:15,680 Speaker 2: little high. 1022 00:46:15,880 --> 00:46:17,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, it seems a little high. I think they got 1023 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:20,160 Speaker 3: more issues than that. Like, I don't think that'd be shocked. 1024 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:21,120 Speaker 3: There a twelve win team. 1025 00:46:21,360 --> 00:46:23,759 Speaker 2: Kansas City's at thirteen point eight, that's the best in 1026 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:28,240 Speaker 2: the AFC, undefeated. Yeah, then you got Baltimore at eleven 1027 00:46:28,239 --> 00:46:31,120 Speaker 2: point nine, Buffalo at eleven point six, and the Steelers 1028 00:46:31,160 --> 00:46:34,520 Speaker 2: at nine point eight. Nine point eight might even seem 1029 00:46:34,560 --> 00:46:36,560 Speaker 2: low to me. Do we think this get the double 1030 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:38,239 Speaker 2: digit Yeah? Do we think the Steelers are only going 1031 00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:40,719 Speaker 2: to win five more games? Or they're going to they 1032 00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:43,279 Speaker 2: might struggle to get to five more wins. I don't 1033 00:46:43,320 --> 00:46:44,959 Speaker 2: feel that way. I don't feel that way either. 1034 00:46:45,040 --> 00:46:48,279 Speaker 3: I strongly think that they're a double digit win team. Yeah, 1035 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:51,800 Speaker 3: you know, maybe eleven, maybe twelve. I mean I mentioned 1036 00:46:51,840 --> 00:46:55,640 Speaker 3: the point differential. They're right behind Buffalo in point differential 1037 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:58,160 Speaker 3: in terms of for second in the AFC, and that's 1038 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:02,239 Speaker 3: not going to change tonight. Right and they have six 1039 00:47:02,320 --> 00:47:04,440 Speaker 3: division games left. Do we really think they're gonna go 1040 00:47:04,440 --> 00:47:04,919 Speaker 3: own six? 1041 00:47:05,120 --> 00:47:05,200 Speaker 5: No? 1042 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:07,560 Speaker 3: I mean, series could be winless right now. I'd say 1043 00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:08,960 Speaker 3: they won't go own six, you know what. I mean, 1044 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:11,120 Speaker 3: they're five and one in the division last year, right, 1045 00:47:11,120 --> 00:47:13,520 Speaker 3: they do well against those teams, I mean they do. 1046 00:47:13,719 --> 00:47:16,520 Speaker 3: They played Baltimore better than anyone. Frankly, I would have 1047 00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:20,319 Speaker 3: rather had two games against the Browns early by now. 1048 00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:22,440 Speaker 3: Then they might get harder to play against them. 1049 00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:23,319 Speaker 2: I don't change. 1050 00:47:23,360 --> 00:47:25,600 Speaker 3: They don't have Mary Cooper. Yeah, but I mean they 1051 00:47:25,600 --> 00:47:28,839 Speaker 3: still have their issues too. They're terrible, but least kind 1052 00:47:28,840 --> 00:47:30,480 Speaker 3: of ding dong. The Witch is dead at least in 1053 00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:33,040 Speaker 3: there a little bit. They're they're least different. I mean, 1054 00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:36,719 Speaker 3: there's nowhere to go but up. Yeah, Cincinnati is dangerous, 1055 00:47:36,760 --> 00:47:39,239 Speaker 3: but and they could end up in the playoffs. But 1056 00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:40,120 Speaker 3: I don't think they're great. 1057 00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:40,719 Speaker 4: No. 1058 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:44,759 Speaker 2: I mean, given week, Burrow could could go off. But 1059 00:47:44,840 --> 00:47:46,680 Speaker 2: their defense is a problem. It is. 1060 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:50,320 Speaker 3: And I think the line is okay, running games okay, 1061 00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:52,600 Speaker 3: you know, And I don't think Burrow is one hundred percent. 1062 00:47:52,719 --> 00:47:55,160 Speaker 2: I don't think he is either. So I mean this 1063 00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:58,439 Speaker 2: is why when when Mike Tomlin talked about we want 1064 00:47:58,440 --> 00:48:02,319 Speaker 2: to be we want to be great, not good. You 1065 00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:04,279 Speaker 2: look at it, the Steelers are right there with some 1066 00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:06,640 Speaker 2: of the best teams in the AFC in terms of 1067 00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:10,080 Speaker 2: the record for sure. Yeah, but are they Are they 1068 00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:13,080 Speaker 2: that different from Buffalo? Are they that different from Houston? 1069 00:48:13,120 --> 00:48:15,399 Speaker 2: Are they that different from Baltimore? Are they beaten seven 1070 00:48:15,400 --> 00:48:18,160 Speaker 2: of the last eight times they played? I know, Kansas City's, 1071 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:21,440 Speaker 2: you know, a different animal, but if you look at it, 1072 00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:25,320 Speaker 2: the Steelers have scored more points this season than the 1073 00:48:25,400 --> 00:48:29,800 Speaker 2: Chiefs after seven weeks, and they've given up fewer points. 1074 00:48:29,880 --> 00:48:33,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. It will do power ranks tomorrow, 1075 00:48:33,880 --> 00:48:36,439 Speaker 3: but I would bet that have them in my top ten. 1076 00:48:37,239 --> 00:48:39,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think they I think they have 1077 00:48:39,160 --> 00:48:41,719 Speaker 2: a puncher's chance of beating anybody on a given day 1078 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:45,279 Speaker 2: as currently constructed. And once they get some of the 1079 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:47,680 Speaker 2: offensive lineman back, That's a great thing about this is 1080 00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:50,000 Speaker 2: you're gonna get Cam Sutton back coming out of the 1081 00:48:50,239 --> 00:48:52,879 Speaker 2: bye week. You're probably gonna get Zach Fraser beck coming 1082 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:54,320 Speaker 2: out of the bye week. We'll see about some of 1083 00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:56,840 Speaker 2: the other you know, Dylan Cook might not sound like 1084 00:48:56,880 --> 00:48:58,839 Speaker 2: a big thing, but you're gonna get him back coming 1085 00:48:58,880 --> 00:48:59,080 Speaker 2: out of. 1086 00:48:59,080 --> 00:49:06,239 Speaker 3: The you know, did they lose anyone yesterday? 1087 00:49:06,719 --> 00:49:08,600 Speaker 2: Not? Nothing? Long nothing long term. 1088 00:49:08,800 --> 00:49:13,520 Speaker 3: Because the coverage was pretty rough on injury information. I 1089 00:49:13,600 --> 00:49:16,160 Speaker 3: knew Jackson was in out of the lineup. Adams got 1090 00:49:16,200 --> 00:49:18,640 Speaker 3: injured early, and then I didn't know that till today. 1091 00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:20,840 Speaker 3: I mean I noticed he wasn't out there, but no 1092 00:49:20,840 --> 00:49:23,000 Speaker 3: one ever told me who was injured. But so nothing 1093 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:25,440 Speaker 3: that's taking him a big step backwards at that now, 1094 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:26,640 Speaker 3: or I didn't think so. 1095 00:49:26,800 --> 00:49:28,200 Speaker 2: And when you look around the league at some of 1096 00:49:28,239 --> 00:49:32,280 Speaker 2: the injuries that did happen this weekend, and like a time, Yeah, yeah, 1097 00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:35,400 Speaker 2: you know, so you've avoided that another week, you know, 1098 00:49:35,560 --> 00:49:37,920 Speaker 2: knock on for Mico, but sure, you know, you just 1099 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:41,279 Speaker 2: keep just keep winning games, stacking wins and see where 1100 00:49:41,280 --> 00:49:41,560 Speaker 2: it goes. 1101 00:49:41,840 --> 00:49:45,080 Speaker 3: You get one more and going into the bye bye, 1102 00:49:45,080 --> 00:49:47,359 Speaker 3: you're in great shape, really good shape. And the other 1103 00:49:47,400 --> 00:49:49,600 Speaker 3: thing is they only have one conference loss. They even 1104 00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:51,200 Speaker 3: played in division games. Yeah, but they're four and one 1105 00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:51,760 Speaker 3: in the conference. 1106 00:49:51,760 --> 00:49:53,719 Speaker 2: And I can't harp on this one enough, Matt too, 1107 00:49:54,040 --> 00:49:56,520 Speaker 2: is that they're three and one on the road. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 1108 00:49:56,520 --> 00:49:59,480 Speaker 2: you basically played half your road schedule already. Now you 1109 00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:02,080 Speaker 2: play nine this year. Yeah, but still you've shown the 1110 00:50:02,120 --> 00:50:05,279 Speaker 2: ability to go win on the road, and you know 1111 00:50:05,360 --> 00:50:07,280 Speaker 2: that's not easy to do in the NFL. 1112 00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:10,120 Speaker 3: No, and they'll be well equipped to win their road 1113 00:50:10,120 --> 00:50:12,320 Speaker 3: Division games, which is three of the remaining five. You 1114 00:50:12,360 --> 00:50:14,000 Speaker 3: know they've done that every year. 1115 00:50:14,040 --> 00:50:16,600 Speaker 2: Absolutely so, but let's get to a break that's going 1116 00:50:16,640 --> 00:50:18,239 Speaker 2: to do it for our number one of the drive 1117 00:50:18,239 --> 00:50:20,520 Speaker 2: here on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and I will 1118 00:50:20,520 --> 00:50:22,799 Speaker 2: be back with our number two right after this