1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: your twenty four to seven home of the Black and 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: Gold SNR Steelers Nation Radio. 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 2: Welcoming to the Drive behind Dale Lolly. He being Matt Williams, 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 2: and it is a beautiful, beautiful Tuesday here coming out 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: of the Memorial Day weekend. And well, Matt, once Memorial 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 2: Day hits, the NFL season is just it's right around 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:31,479 Speaker 2: the corner basically. 9 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you're right. I mean it. I feel like 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 3: the NFL almost takes Memorial Day weekend off, you know, 11 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 3: like there's there's very little that happens over that weekend 12 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 3: in most years, and then before you know it, it's like, okay, 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 3: now we got camp and then camp and then you know, 14 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 3: real stuff, you know. So it is very very close, 15 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 3: and I'm psyched ready. 16 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: For you, Oh, no doubt, no doubt. Did you see 17 00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: the piece? So apparently the uh, the NFLPA is pushing 18 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 2: to do away with some of the OTA sessions in 19 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 2: the spring and push that yeah yeah, and push everything 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: into uh basically push everything into July and then I 21 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: don't know, right into camp. 22 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think they said even camp would be 23 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 3: longer than and is that the details? Yeah, yeah, okay, 24 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 3: that's terrible for my vacation schedule. So but that's a 25 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: whole different world. I don't know why they want that. 26 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 3: I would think such an extended camp, making the season 27 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: longer would be more tedious, more of a grind for 28 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 3: the players. Then let's do a couple of OTAs here 29 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 3: and there. Or do they look at the OTAs like 30 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 3: they're paint in my butt? I want to be in 31 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 3: my hometown. I don't want to be flying in and 32 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: out just for three days. Or I don't know. I 33 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 3: don't understand the logicind it. 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: I think guess what they would be looking at. And 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: here's here's the thing that's happened with OTAs. First of all, 36 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: OTA sessions are voluntary, right, and yet everything we see 37 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: is so and so he's not at the OTA session. 38 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 2: So this guy's not there. That guy's not there, and 39 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: it turns into a bigger deal than it actually is, 40 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: and fans get upset about it. I'm reading stuff, you know, 41 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: over the weekend about we know Cam Hayward is not 42 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 2: going to sign a contract unless his brother also signed, 43 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 2: you know, the Steelers. Also, it's all bs. People make 44 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 2: stuff up, they put it out there as a quote 45 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 2: unquote report. They have no sources whatsoever. And then you know, 46 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: because nobody's talking to the players, because if the players 47 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: not at the OTA session, who's he talking to? 48 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 3: Who's he talking to? 49 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: You're talking to some random dude on social media and 50 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: he has seventeen. 51 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 3: Followers right that aren't at practice or not allowed to 52 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 3: go to practice, or any of that kind of stuff either. 53 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: So my kind of on that is the NFL is 54 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: so popular that they've done an amazing job of keeping 55 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 3: it almost a three hundred and sixty five day a 56 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 3: news cycle. I mean, yes, there's some downtimes here and there, 57 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: but for the most part, they get a whole week's 58 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 3: worth out of schedule, release and draft goes forever, and 59 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 3: free agency that I don't know that I think that 60 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 3: all of the consumers, all the people get so psyched 61 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 3: for OTAs, but they've never been to one and they 62 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 3: never will be. And that's not their fault. I'm talking 63 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 3: about the fans. Yeah, not much happens there, you know, 64 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 3: I mean, and really no news happens there. Yeah, there's 65 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 3: some stuff that happens in the whiteboard, in the running 66 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 3: back room or the tight end room to learn things, 67 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 3: but there's not things to report. But people need to 68 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 3: report things, and there's this thirst for you know, for more, 69 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 3: but there's nothing there. You know. 70 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was. I was tooling through some stuff today 71 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: and I'm not ripping on any reporters because we all 72 00:03:58,480 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: we all have jobs to do. 73 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 3: Uh. 74 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: But there was a report out of Bill's camp that well, 75 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: you know, uh, Cook wasn't there. So the rookie that 76 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: they drafted this year, he was just yeah, he took 77 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: a hand off from from from Josh Allen and went 78 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: up the middle for a really good game. Well, how 79 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: do you know nobody's tackling anybody. 80 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: They're not even taking each other on the line of 81 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 3: scrimmage fulls or I mean, like that's that's ludicrous to me. 82 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 3: Like I got a Twitter question, and you know, to 83 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 3: bring it back to the Steelers, I hear Austin and 84 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,679 Speaker 3: Wilson are tearing it up at ot As. I hope 85 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 3: they are. I hope they're doing more than it is expected. 86 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 3: But they're super fast little guys that no one's touching. 87 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 3: They should tear up OTAs and and there's no fast rush. 88 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 2: I learned a long, long, long time ago, you know, 89 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 2: watching the dree Archers of the world. Yeah, tear up 90 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 2: OTAs when nobody's they know nobody's gonna hit him. They're 91 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: super fast. It's basically it's basically flag football. 92 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. And they're really good flag football players. 93 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 2: Yes, that doesn't mean they're good NFL players. And I'm 94 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: not saying I'm not saying that Wilson and Austin aren't. 95 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 3: No, not even a little bit. 96 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: Yeah they should. 97 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 3: I mean it's almost a red flag otherwise. 98 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: If they didn't dominate, right. 99 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 3: I think I told this story. I was at the 100 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: Senior Bowl watching sonorous Moss not even Santana, the good one, 101 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 3: and I'm like, man, this guy's lighting it up. And 102 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: you know, an older sky turns. He's like, no one's 103 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 3: touching him. He's one hundred and sixty five pounds, you know, 104 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 3: even the four to three he should you know, be 105 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 3: like that's the way it works. 106 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. So, I mean the big thing is, don't get 107 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: too caught up in the storylines or this time of 108 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: the year. 109 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. 110 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: A lot of it's made up stuff, a lot of it. 111 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: You know, people are searching for stories. You have editors, 112 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: and I get it, you know, I've been I've been 113 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 2: at places where, hey, you got to get this many 114 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: clicks this month, you know, this month, and you got 115 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: to get hit this number of clicks. I would rather 116 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: myself do good in depth stories as opposed to, oh, 117 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 2: I'm going to break some news here. You're not breaking 118 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 2: any news this time of year, right, right, right. 119 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 3: I mean maybe somebody tweaks something and they don't. 120 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: Signs a contract or whatever. That's the stuff, but you're 121 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: not getting all he looks great, he's gonna have an 122 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 2: awesome don't don't read it, don't don't. 123 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 3: Fall that's nuts, right man. Russell Wilson Fields are throwing 124 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 3: the ball tremendously well they should. Nobody's rushing them. I 125 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 3: mean they have all day. I mean that's you know, 126 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 3: it's not football. It is flag football out there, and 127 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: even less competitive than flag football. I mean, it's just shells, 128 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 3: you know, it's it's a walkthrough, it's you know, it's 129 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 3: just not that doesn't translate to what you're gonna see 130 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 3: on game day. You know, it's better to hear people 131 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 3: are looking good than boy they look terrible. But I'm 132 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 3: sure there's a ton a ton of mental errors made 133 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 3: by rookies in coverage that no one on the sideline 134 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 3: even can you know what I mean? 135 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 2: Right? Right? And I could, I mean, honestly, I could 136 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: tell you. And I'm not. Again, I'm not ripping on 137 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,239 Speaker 2: any of my you know, people who do my job. 138 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: No, right, we've all been there. 139 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: Most of them don't even pay attention to practice. They're 140 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: talking with each other. 141 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, right, I mean yeah, it's again. I mean, yeah, 142 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 3: there are things to report. Are we interested where the 143 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: tackles line up on the left or right side? 144 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: Right? 145 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 3: Okay, that's that's worth the tweet. You know, that's worth 146 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 3: of story. It's not set in stone. It doesn't mean 147 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: they're they're gonna be the starters for twenty games in 148 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: a row. You know. Those kind of things are noteworthy. 149 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 3: But noteworthy is about as big as I can give 150 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 3: anything that happens these couple of weeks. 151 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so, you know, for example, like last week 152 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 2: on Tuesday, Mike Tomlin actually talked after the first OTA session, 153 00:07:54,880 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: which in itself is different, which is don't really have 154 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: to speak it's this time of year. Yeah yeah, yeah, 155 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 2: I mean I can remember, and I think I've said 156 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 2: this before. Bill Kower wouldn't even go down to the fields. 157 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 2: He would stay up on the balcony above the and 158 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: just watch from up there. If if he was there 159 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:18,239 Speaker 2: at all. 160 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 3: That's it. He might be rapping with his buddies too, 161 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 3: or half paying attention, or you know, just getting a 162 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: glimpse of it all because there's not much to take away. 163 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,559 Speaker 3: And o by the way they film all this stuff. 164 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 3: If he wanted to watch practice, he could watch date. 165 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's it's more about your coaching staff learning your 166 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 2: new players, and if you have anything new and new 167 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: to implement, that's that's when you you know, you start 168 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 2: the implementation of that stuff here during these this time 169 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 2: of year. 170 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 3: The one thing, and I think we talked about this 171 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 3: last drive, you know, when we were talking out as 172 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 3: that I think is important is teaching new guys to 173 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 3: practice at the tempo we want, you know, like we're 174 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 3: not just around doing nothing, but we're also not blasting 175 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 3: the quarterback. I mean, there's a an art to learning 176 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 3: how to not only practice as an NFL player, but 177 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: the Steelers version or the Seahawks version or you know, 178 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 3: and and you get that in two days, you know, 179 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 3: I mean, that's not that hard. 180 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: No, No, I mean, these guys have been playing football 181 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 2: all their lives. Yeah, this is nothing new, you know. 182 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 2: It's either you want to. 183 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 3: Waste training camp doing that stuff. 184 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 2: Right right because you only have Yeah, you have two 185 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 2: weeks before your first game. You want to hit the 186 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 2: ground running at training camp. 187 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 3: Things are for me, is just like preschool for training camp. 188 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, in that regard, I wouldn't mind more training camp 189 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 2: practices would not bother me me either. 190 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:44,839 Speaker 3: I think they're a little light on them. 191 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean they used to do two A days 192 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 2: and all that stuff. You don't do that. You don't 193 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 2: do the two A days anymore because those aren't allowed 194 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: under the CBA, you know. So basically you get a 195 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 2: walk through in the morning and a practice in the afternoon, 196 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 2: and you're only allowed to have the players even though 197 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: like the Steelers are in Latrobe, Yeah, we're only allowed 198 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: to do football activities so many hours a day. 199 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 3: As I say, then there's that acclimation process to start camp, 200 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 3: which is a lot slower than the hot you know, 201 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 3: the hot days and the heat of camp. And one 202 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 3: big problem I have with the league and CBA is 203 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 3: player development is down. You know, there's just enough time 204 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 3: to develop players and you're not even like hitting sleds 205 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 3: at full speed at ota Well maybe you are, but 206 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 3: I mean you're not blocking defensive ends at full speed 207 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 3: at OTAs. If you could do more of that at camp, yeah, 208 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 3: you call develop some linement. 209 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 2: You're not in pads in OTAs. Yeah right right, you know, 210 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 2: so you're they're basically glorified walk throughs, you know. So 211 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 2: I think it would benefit the players as a whole. 212 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 2: And maybe this is why the NFLPA is pushing for this, 213 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 2: to kind of have that build up be consistent right 214 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: up into training camp and then roll into the season, 215 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 2: as opposed to doing these now having the month of 216 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 2: July off and then rolling into training camp. 217 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, it's just school starts today and we're 218 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 3: in as opposed to you know, we're gonna go to 219 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 3: class for a little and then school's gonna start in 220 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 3: September or whatever. 221 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 2: I mean. 222 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 3: I guess I understand that. And I also bet a 223 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 3: lot of these guys it's been it's so common now 224 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 3: for offensive linemen to work with an outside offensive line 225 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 3: coach or guru, and like every quarterback has one. Maybe 226 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 3: they don't want that stuff interrupted too, Like I've got 227 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 3: one in my hometown, I go every day, and even 228 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 3: a trainer. I mean maybe it's not even you know, 229 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 3: positions specific, but they all have personal trainers and all 230 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 3: those type of things, and they don't want to screw 231 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 3: up that routine either that they're paying for. 232 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, So to me, for the NFLPA to suggest more 233 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: practices or more training camp, Yeah, there's gotta be something 234 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: there that they're seeing or hearing from their membership. Yeah. Yeah, 235 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 2: that says, okay, this you know what we're doing now, 236 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: we're not practicing enough. 237 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, now, which I definitely mean, And. 238 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 2: Maybe that's why they feel like guys are getting hurt. 239 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 3: Maybe maybe Yeah, before we talked through this, I had 240 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 3: a hard time quite understanding their point of view of 241 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 3: why they had suggested because both days aren't hard. But 242 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 3: I'm also assuming that these guys don't want to work hard, 243 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 3: that they just want an easy day at the office. 244 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 3: Maybe they don't. Maybe they realize, hey, this isn't the 245 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 3: best way for me to prepare to stay healthy and 246 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 3: be the best player I can beat. 247 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's more like. I think that's more likely. 248 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 2: I think that's it. I think they want, you know, 249 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 2: they want to you know, you want to have an 250 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 2: extended career, you want to make as much money as possible, 251 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 2: and you know, I would welcome this concession. I think 252 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 2: it would, you know, be something that would be beneficial. 253 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 3: I also wonder if I'm like the undrafted free agent 254 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 3: that really catches coaching staff's eyes. I can do more 255 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 3: in the trobe than I can at the south side, 256 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. Like, the longer I can 257 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 3: be in front of those guys and get every rep 258 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 3: I possibly can, I might be able to prove myself better. 259 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 3: And along those lines, maybe the coaching staff say, we 260 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 3: feel better with our final cuts now because we've had 261 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 3: our hands on these guys much more than we did 262 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: with the OTA stuff. 263 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 2: Oh, there's no doubt about that. I mean we talked 264 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 2: about that when they when they cut down the practice times. 265 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 2: You know, a training camp. You know, if you're if 266 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 2: you are a guy who's a bubble roster type guy, 267 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: you don't have someone. 268 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 3: Undrafted and you're you know, you have a hard time 269 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 3: getting reps period and you. 270 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 2: Just don't have a lot of time to impress anybody. 271 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and there's there's less preseason. You can't shine on 272 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 3: special teams as much. 273 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 2: You know. 274 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 3: So, although the new kickoff role might help a little 275 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 3: for those guys, but yeah, it is. There's just not 276 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 3: enough time to show that I'm good, I'm better the 277 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 3: guy ahead of me. 278 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, Let's get to a break. That's going to 279 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 2: do a segment, our segment number one here. We'll be 280 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,439 Speaker 2: back with our next segment right after this. He is 281 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson and I am Dale Lolly. You're listening to 282 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 2: the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be back 283 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 2: with more right after this. 284 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 285 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: your twenty four to seven home of the Black and 286 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 287 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 288 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 2: I am Dale Lolly. He is being Matt Williamson and 289 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 2: Matt I did we didn't do a show last Friday, 290 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 2: and people may or may not hear a difference in 291 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 2: my voice right now. I don't know they can. I 292 00:14:56,320 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 2: did have some surgery on my mouth week to remove 293 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 2: a little there was a tumor in there, so that's 294 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 2: why we didn't do a show, and I'm in recovery here, 295 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: so everything should be okay. I appreciate the people who 296 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: reach out to me on social media and things of 297 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: that nature to uh, to wish me luck. Uh, it 298 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: brought all that. I don't know if you saw this today, 299 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 2: but NBA legend Bill Walton died. I did say cancer today, 300 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 2: you know. So it's it's a it's a very serious thing. 301 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 2: And and uh, you know, you seeing some of the 302 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 2: other people on the floor that I was on when 303 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 2: I was I was hospitalized for basically six days, you know, 304 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 2: seeing some of those people on the on the floor 305 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 2: dealing with way worse things than what I am. You know, 306 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 2: you just feel lucky. And and I did want to 307 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 2: thank the people who did reach out. 308 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, but you I mean, you're expecting a full recovery 309 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 3: and you're doing well and all that good stuff, right 310 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 3: you know. 311 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, everything's everything's on, you know, but you know, 312 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 2: it's it does make you appreciate things. 313 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: A little different, imagine. 314 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, just just the little things that you 315 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: do on a daily basis. And I'll be honest with you, 316 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 2: doing this show today is kind of cathartic. You know. 317 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 2: It's it's getting back at it, you know, getting you know, 318 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 2: me getting back into some normalcy. You know, the next 319 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: step will be uh going down and watching some ot 320 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 2: as myself. We just went through the whole last segment 321 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 2: of saying that you know, those things don't matter. But 322 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 2: I pride myself on being somebody who has a pretty 323 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: good finger on the pulse of the team and it's there. 324 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 2: It's difficult to do that when you're not there. 325 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 3: Sure, sure, And it's a good time of year. Back 326 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 3: to our first segment for this this to happen, I mean, 327 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 3: if this would happened in week six, you'd have to 328 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 3: do it. Yeah, yeah, I mean just the nature of 329 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 3: the job or you know, health is most important. But no, 330 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 3: I'm a lot of people reach out to me, you know, 331 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 3: where's the drive? And then everyone that did catch you know, 332 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 3: it's sent a lot of good stuff and I'm sure 333 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 3: they will after this segment as well. And frankly, our 334 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 3: bosses and the people that put out the programming said 335 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 3: take as long as you want. It wasn't like get 336 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 3: back out there, you know. So we're doing this because 337 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 3: you want to you know. 338 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean this is this is what I do. Uh, 339 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 2: this is what we do. So you know, it's a job, 340 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 2: but it's also something that we enjoy to do. Yeah, 341 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 2: you know, and that's that's the thing. You know, if 342 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 2: if you can find a career path that you'll love 343 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 2: to do, it doesn't feel like work, I know. 344 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 3: I mean like I was in Turks and Caicos two 345 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 3: years ago, which is like the most wonderful place on earth, 346 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 3: and I'm like, I could do a drive right now, 347 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 3: you know, go sit, you could do a pool side 348 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 3: and I knock one out. That wouldn't disturb my day 349 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 3: that much. It's enjoy vacation just as much. 350 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 2: You know. 351 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 3: That's finding me. 352 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's and I'm not tooting our own 353 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 2: horn or anything, but I think, you know, I think 354 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 2: a big part of this is that a we you know, 355 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 2: we enjoy each other's company. And we were both two 356 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: guys that would sit down and talk football three hundred 357 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 2: and sixty five days out of the yere anyways. 358 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, and people are just lucky enough or we're fortunate 359 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 3: enough that they're able to listen, you know, because frankly, 360 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 3: when Dale and I sit at the bar, we pretty 361 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 3: much have these exact same conversations. You know, we're not 362 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: talking about Taylor Swift, and you know, we talk about 363 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 3: our families and we talk about music and other stuff. 364 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 3: But it's a lot of you know, what's sports on 365 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 3: TV or we're talking football because that's what we like, 366 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 3: you know. So it's cool that people want to hear it, 367 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 3: hear that conversation. I love it. 368 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean we we do appreciate our listeners so much, 369 00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 2: so much. As part of that, Matt, the Steelers have 370 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 2: re up their deal with iHeart Media, which helps us, 371 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 2: you know, do these shows and through I think it's 372 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight and we should have more programming coming forward. 373 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 3: That sounds like in the future. 374 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,880 Speaker 2: No, nobody's we're not at the level where we get 375 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 2: brought in on these kinds of meetings here and obviously 376 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 2: I was going through stuff so we'll know more about it. 377 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 2: But suffice to say we will be doing a Drive 378 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 2: for quite a while. 379 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, and so that's great news for everybody. 380 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 3: It's a lot it's stable. Now again that's not my department. 381 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 3: They don't ask us one bit in our opinion to 382 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 3: those type of deals. But this programming note, I think 383 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 3: you and I are to be doing Drive three days 384 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 3: a week as usual in the off season starting with 385 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 3: this one, and maybe there'll be a lot more stuff 386 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 3: to come out and again when we're back in the 387 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 3: office and when you're back at the South Side more, 388 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 3: we'll know more. But all good news. 389 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely, absolutely very pleased on that. Did you see over 390 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: the weekend as well, Matt? The NFL is considering a 391 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 2: couple of other international sites for games, one being Parish, 392 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 2: the other one being Dublin. I wonder who was playing Dublin. 393 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 3: They're rights and that makes all the sense in the world. 394 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 3: I did hear this fact when the schedule release stuff 395 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 3: was coming out, that expect there were that there will 396 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 3: be a day that all thirty two teams play an 397 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 3: international game every year. Yeah, well you're gonna need more spots, 398 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 3: you know. So that makes all the sense in the 399 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 3: world too. And I don't one hundred percent understand it, 400 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 3: but you might know. I know, you know better than 401 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 3: I do. But it's still a little foggy to me 402 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 3: that some you know, like the Steelers were awarded countries, 403 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 3: you know, like I know they have obviously an Ireland affiliation, 404 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 3: they have a Mexico affiliation, but there's contractual stuff where 405 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 3: some countries don't belong to each NFL team, but they're 406 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 3: like represented or they can market themselves there. So I 407 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 3: think they're trying to establish not just an NFL presence 408 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 3: in Europe, but maybe a Steeler presidence in Ireland or 409 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,959 Speaker 3: you know, Jacksonville presidence in London. You know, like almost 410 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 3: make your hometowns to some degree. 411 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's that's what those those international you know, uh, 412 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 2: marketing agreements are. It gives it gives the team and 413 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: the options because what they I think the NFL was 414 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 2: smart about this. They didn't want a free for all. Okay, okay, 415 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 2: these five popular, super popular teams, well they just dominate 416 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 2: the the NFL is always and this is why you 417 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 2: still have teams in Green Bay, yeah, places like that, 418 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 2: because they're always thinking about, hey, let's make this good 419 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: for everybody, not just a few teams. This isn't Major 420 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 2: League Baseball, where the Yankees and the Dodgers and the 421 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 2: you know, the those teams dominate everything. They spend, they 422 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 2: sign all the players, and you know, ten franchises are 423 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:11,479 Speaker 2: farm teams. 424 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 3: Basically, that's why I don't watch baseball for the last 425 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 3: twenty years. 426 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 427 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 3: In factly, if Major League Baseball would have treated it 428 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 3: like the NFL does, I bet I would still be 429 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 3: a pirate fan like I was when I was a kid, 430 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:27,400 Speaker 3: and now I just don't see much faith in it all, 431 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 3: you know, because the same teams win all the time, 432 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 3: you know. 433 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I think that's what the you know, with 434 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 2: the international marketing agreements allowing different teams and not allowing 435 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 2: you know, for you know, you've got your access to 436 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 2: those particular countries. It doesn't mean you don't have fans 437 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 2: in those in other countries if you're a certain team, 438 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 2: but it allows those teams to build up their fan base, 439 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 2: you know, and offer things to those to the fans 440 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 2: in those countries. That again, I think it keeps it 441 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 2: keeps places like Green Bay, Wisconsin viable. I mean I've 442 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 2: been to green green Bay, Wisconsin several times. It is 443 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 2: not a major city, no offense for green Bay. 444 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 3: It's a phenomenal football spot. 445 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 2: It's a town, yeah, it is a town. 446 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,120 Speaker 3: I think this European stuff will be a home away 447 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 3: from home type of situation. And I know Dallas is 448 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 3: the most valued franchise, But the way they're doing it, 449 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 3: what would have if they didn't do it that way? 450 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: What would have stopped Jerry Jones or the Craft family 451 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 3: or whatever to just like put all their resources into 452 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 3: owning Europe for the Cowboys and Patriots, and that's not 453 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:45,719 Speaker 3: what they want, you know. They want the Packers and 454 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 3: Cardinals and you know everyone else that. 455 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 2: Right or you know the Chiefs right now, the Chiefs 456 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 2: are the hot team. You know, the Chiefs could they 457 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 2: could sell Patrick Mahomes jerseys all over the world, but 458 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 2: you know, the NFL, and they still can. 459 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 3: And they still can. It's not like some young fan 460 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 3: in China or Finland or whatever, I can't get to 461 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 3: my home jersey. I mean, but it is cool that 462 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 3: they do these regions. 463 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I like it, and so we'll see where 464 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 2: that goes. But yeah, I do expect the Steelers to 465 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 2: play internationally somewhere next year. 466 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 3: They're due anyway, yeah yeah, yeah, So you know, we'll 467 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 3: see what happens with that. 468 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 2: And those are fun. I mean, you know, I've been 469 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 2: to basically every Steelers international game since nineteen ninety three. 470 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 2: You know, I've been to Barcelona and Dublin myself, and 471 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 2: trying to think of Mexico City I was in in 472 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety eight or ninety nine, whatever year that was. 473 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 2: So I've seen the Steelers play in a lot of 474 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 2: different places. And it's always fun and interesting to see 475 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 2: the kind of f reaction you get from that. 476 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, My only concerns are, we're not shorting these 477 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 3: players on rest, and I hope field conditions and locker 478 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 3: rooms and X ray machines and all that stuff are 479 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 3: up the NFL standards too. 480 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, what's the NFL. Well, I guess the Raiders 481 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 2: aren't Oakland anymore. 482 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 3: So, I mean it's beens complaints about New York and 483 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 3: I mean it's even there was a Super Bowl not 484 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 3: long ago where the footing was bad. I mean, like 485 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 3: that stuff makes me crazy. 486 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, it happens. And so they do work on that. 487 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 2: They do have teams that go and look at those things. 488 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 2: And that's part of the process of choosing these international sites, 489 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 2: is field conditions, stadium conditions and things of that nature. 490 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: So it's all part of it. 491 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, of course they do the research. But 492 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 3: those are just my slight concerns, you know. But I 493 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 3: think it's making it a global product to be great. 494 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 3: I mean, I don't think it'll ever get to the 495 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,040 Speaker 3: point where it's like hockey, baseball or basketball. And in 496 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 3: terms of drafting young men from all over the world, 497 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 3: but it'd be pretty cool if there was a Chinese 498 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 3: quarterback in the first round next year. 499 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're working in that direction. We are seeing some guys, uh, 500 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 2: you know, we've seen international players. They just don't have 501 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 2: the long term exposure to right right American football. That 502 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 2: but if you're an athlete, you're an athlete. 503 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 3: You can't take generations from now. Maybe there will be 504 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,719 Speaker 3: boy Ireland's pumping out a ton of linemen or you know, 505 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 3: japan stuff jumping out a ton of receivers or whatever. 506 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 3: I mean, like that could happen. 507 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you see it. You know, there are 508 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,199 Speaker 2: some countries that now a lot of these people, you know, 509 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: immigrate to the United States beforehand. But you see a 510 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:50,920 Speaker 2: lot of you see a lot of Nigerians in the 511 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 2: NFL who people who were born in Nigeria. You see 512 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 2: a lot of uh, you know, Pacific Islanders from whatever 513 00:26:58,119 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 2: Fiji or wherever it might be. 514 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 3: That's certainly a lot more than when we were kids, 515 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 3: you know, But. 516 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,160 Speaker 2: Without a doubt, I mean, and so I think that's 517 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 2: a good thing. I think that's that's another way to 518 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: grow the game. 519 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 3: That's what I'm saying is if we can even have 520 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 3: more just and make the pool bigger in terms of 521 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 3: talent coming into the league. 522 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 2: I think that's great for everybody. Absolutely, we're going to 523 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 2: get to another break. He is the Matt Williamson. I 524 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 2: am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here on 525 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: Steelers Nation Radio, and I promise you we will talk 526 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: more Steelers specific things here in the upcoming segments here 527 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 2: of the show. But I had some things I wanted 528 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 2: to hed on my mind that we want to get 529 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 2: off my off my chest there. We'll do that when 530 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 2: we return right after this on the Drive on Steelers 531 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 2: Nation Radios. 532 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: He is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 533 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: on your twenty four to seven home of the Black 534 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 1: and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 535 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the Drive. I am Dale Lali. He 536 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 2: is beating Matt Williamson and Welt Matt. Our friend Markoboli 537 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 2: did a piece with Joey Porter Jr. Where A he 538 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 2: saunded very confident, but b and he was correct about this. 539 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 2: The reason he has the confidence that he has, as 540 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 2: he said, I was doing things last year that really 541 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: nobody else in the league was doing a lot of. 542 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 3: Okay, I didn't read the story, but he's undercenter. 543 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 2: Right following number one receivers. Was Joey Porter Junior a 544 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 2: little disrespected last year? 545 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 3: Yes, I think so. I thought he should have gotten 546 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 3: at least more buzz for defensive Rookie of the Year 547 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 3: finish fifty. 548 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 2: He should have finished no worse than third. 549 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, and there's a case for one. I mean, there 550 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 3: wasn't Lawrence Taylor last year, right, you know what I mean. 551 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 3: It wasn't a great group. And I think people kind 552 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 3: of the preconceived notion that he didn't start the season 553 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 3: playing every snap and held that against them. He still 554 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 3: played and he was out there. Yeah, and it wasn't 555 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 3: November when he finally saw the field, and he's one 556 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 3: hundred percent right when I'm I mean, I assume where 557 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 3: you're going with this is he did things the most 558 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 3: corners don't the days of Dion and reevs. Island and 559 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 3: true following shadow guys around is really rare, and even 560 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 3: the best guys don't do it every week, you know 561 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 3: what I mean? So, yeah, he did a high high percentage. 562 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 2: Of that, and and did it against some really good dudes, 563 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 2: Like he's out there playing against Jamar Chase. He's out 564 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 2: there playing against the DeAndre Hopkins he's out there, you know, Yeah, 565 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 2: these were these are studs. He are some of the 566 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 2: best wide receivers in the league. He wasn't doing it 567 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 2: against uh, you know, Joe blow here. And if you 568 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 2: look at the numbers that he allowed, it was it 569 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 2: was some of the best in the league. Yeah. 570 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 3: Not only is he not his coverage numbers, which I 571 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 3: mostly believe, you know, it could be a little off, 572 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 3: but either way, coverage stats were at the best in 573 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 3: the league and his assignment was the hardest in the league. 574 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 2: You know, So. 575 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 3: What more do you have to say? And the tape 576 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 3: back set up and the length and the physicality showed up. 577 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 3: And I mean people got on him early in his 578 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 3: career about tackling. I don't think he's a bad tackler. 579 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 3: I think he could get better at it. But all 580 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 3: in all, if that's your biggest negative, and that's not 581 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 3: that big a negative to me, this guy is a 582 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 3: phenomenal player. I mean, especially if he could even take 583 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 3: another step, I think he's in that Pro Bowl consideration 584 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 3: or you know, all pro consideration. 585 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and here's the thing. I mean, the interception stuff 586 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 2: is always going to matter at cornerback unfortunately. And I mean, 587 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:03,040 Speaker 2: you know we've had that conversation many times, you know, 588 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: talking about you know, digs in Dallas. If teams aren't 589 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 2: afraid to throw at you, you're going to get interceptions, right, right, 590 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 2: if your guys covered, they're not going to throw it 591 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 2: your way, right, And so you know, I look at 592 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 2: what Porter did last year. He played in seventeen games, 593 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,480 Speaker 2: he started eleven, so again, he started more than half 594 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 2: the season, was targeted sixty three times. He gave up 595 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 2: thirty complete thirty completions. 596 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, right, that's crazy. So I mentioned you know 597 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 3: they're not going to throw at you when you're covered, Well, 598 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 3: that's that's mostly true. But if you're five nine guarding 599 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 3: a six to three dude, they might well they're not 600 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 3: going to do that with him. And where I was 601 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 3: going with this is I was, uh, egg co Sell 602 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 3: was on Ross Tucker's podcast last week and they were 603 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 3: talking corners, and this isn't new, but Greg said a 604 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 3: thousand times now more than ever, height and length at 605 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 3: corner is just so important because there's so much quick 606 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 3: game that you could just disrupt with your arm, your 607 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 3: long arms and those type of things, and there's a 608 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 3: lot of zone today more than back in the day 609 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:27,720 Speaker 3: when it was Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes. You know, 610 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 3: play man all day long, and that length goes such 611 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 3: a long way. He does other things well, but that 612 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 3: rare height and arm length is such an advantage. 613 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 2: It really is. And I thought it was interesting last week. 614 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 2: You know that the first day of OTAs the Steelers 615 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 2: had Joey Porter Jr. In Dante Jackson flip flopping sides. 616 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 3: Ah, oh god, that's new. I mean I didn't see 617 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 3: that this time last year. 618 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,400 Speaker 2: The year before, right, which tells me they're going to 619 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 2: continue to have Joey Porter Jr. Cover number ones. 620 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, that makes all the sense in the world. Like 621 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 3: you don't want Jackson to get super used to one 622 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 3: side where he's uncomfortable on the other because you're gonna 623 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 3: be moving. 624 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. So you know, I just think that that Porter. 625 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 2: I don't know that the national media appreciated what he 626 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 2: did in his rookie season quite as much as they 627 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 2: probably should have. 628 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 3: I think you're und percent right, And I know he 629 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 3: was an early pick. But the fact that corners and 630 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,719 Speaker 3: o Linman safeties that they get kind of the benefit 631 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 3: of doubt. If they're a top ten pick, you know, 632 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 3: they often go to a Pro Bowl a year earlier 633 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 3: than they would have. You know, like the fact that 634 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 3: he wasn't the first corner taken. He wasn't Sauce Gardener 635 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 3: Stingley coming out maybe hurt him a little bit too, 636 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 3: but he was on a good defense, doing really hard stuff. 637 00:33:55,160 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, so I saw recently there was a uh, 638 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 2: you know, top twenty five players under twenty five and yeah, 639 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 2: you know, Devin Witherspoon was on there, and Stingley, who 640 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 2: he just mentioned, was on there. Choey Porters Junior wasn't mentioned. 641 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 3: I think he's right there with those guys of the 642 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:21,359 Speaker 3: top first or second your corners, you know, I put 643 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:26,359 Speaker 3: Sauce probably ahead of both, but orders should probably be 644 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 3: on that list. I mean, I think he's probably I 645 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 3: probably would. I remember seeing the list, and I probably 646 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 3: would have a hard time coming up with twenty five 647 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 3: names over him. Yeah. 648 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 2: No, I think the future is right there, and he's 649 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 2: only going to continue to get better. That's just that's 650 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:45,319 Speaker 2: the amazing thing. 651 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, you should, there's no question, and you would hope 652 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,839 Speaker 3: his counterparts are a little better too, And you know, 653 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 3: the situation improves, you know, linebacker coverage in the middle 654 00:34:57,040 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 3: of the field I think will be a lot better. 655 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,440 Speaker 3: The speed in the middle of field will be better. 656 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,400 Speaker 3: And I'd like to see him out a slot corner, 657 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 3: you know. But maybe one of these young guys steps 658 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 3: up to and you're really a long way and just 659 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 3: have him, you know, like Belichick is known for. Like 660 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna speak for Bill Belichick, but if Bill 661 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 3: Belichick had Porter last year, he probably would have put 662 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 3: him on the number two receiver and then had two 663 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:26,040 Speaker 3: guys kind of leaning towards the number one, like Belichick's 664 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 3: kind of known for that. But if you can get 665 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,400 Speaker 3: away with doing it the other way and going an 666 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:33,399 Speaker 3: old school I'm gonna do battle with your number one 667 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 3: receiver and I'm not gonna shut you out. You're not 668 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,439 Speaker 3: gonna have zero catches against Devonte Adams or Tyreek Hill. 669 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,399 Speaker 3: But if I can hold my own, there's just such 670 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:43,160 Speaker 3: a ripple effect with what you do with the other 671 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 3: ten players. 672 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it affects. It affects everything on the field 673 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 2: that you do, you know, defensively, it just does because 674 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 2: if I can you know, if I can take Devonte 675 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 2: Adams out of a situation on third to six where 676 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:02,120 Speaker 2: they can't get him the football. Now I'm making lumpin two. Yeah, 677 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:04,640 Speaker 2: right now, I'm making a lesser player beat me. 678 00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. Or even if you just make the guy in 679 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 3: the booth, maybe I don't call my bread and butter 680 00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 3: route combination on third and six because Porter's on Adams, 681 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. So if Myers and Mayor 682 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 3: and Bowers beat you, so be it. But it's like 683 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 3: if I could keep Michael Jordan a twenty points a 684 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 3: night and see you with the chips, let you know, 685 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,760 Speaker 3: fall with the other four bulls, I'll take my chances 686 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 3: on that. 687 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, there's no doubt. And I so you know, 688 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:37,880 Speaker 2: I think, really, when you look at this Steelers defense, 689 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 2: you've got TJ. Wats a bona fide star, make a 690 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 2: Fitzpatrick's a bona fide star. You know, Cam Hayward, while 691 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 2: being on the downward trajectory of his career, has been 692 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 2: a bona fide star. 693 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:56,320 Speaker 3: I mean's so be a plus starter no matter. 694 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:57,360 Speaker 2: What you know. 695 00:36:57,800 --> 00:36:59,919 Speaker 3: Patrick Queens starter. 696 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, Heighsmith's in that same But you know, if order 697 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 2: can be a plus starter like those guys, your defense 698 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 2: is pretty damn good. If he can be a star, 699 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 2: your defense is outstanding. 700 00:37:16,719 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, I mean everyone knows the effect the guy 701 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:23,600 Speaker 3: like Watt has. I mean like he force protections your 702 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:27,080 Speaker 3: way and therefore everybody else feasts a little bit more. 703 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:29,319 Speaker 3: But the same is true for a secondary player. You know, 704 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:31,960 Speaker 3: if I can have a strong safety that's just an 705 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 3: average athlete, then but I can help them with a linebacker, 706 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 3: Well makes his life a thousand times easier. And you know, 707 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,879 Speaker 3: everyone knows you put eleven people out there, if four 708 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,960 Speaker 3: of them are stars and seven of them are plus 709 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 3: athletes or plus starters are better, you're gonna get mismatches. 710 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:53,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, your defense is gonna be pretty dominant. 711 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And and I must say, like Ogan 712 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 3: Joby's never going to be that guy, but if he's 713 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:02,719 Speaker 3: one on one against the guard for every snap he's 714 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:05,359 Speaker 3: out there, he's gonna look a lot more like that guy. 715 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:07,080 Speaker 3: I'm not picking on him. I mean there's a thousand 716 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:10,920 Speaker 3: examples of starters, not plus starters or stars, you know. 717 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:14,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I just thought that was interesting, and uh, 718 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:19,600 Speaker 2: you know, he Porter is Uh, he's a guy that 719 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:21,360 Speaker 2: I have my eye on this year to take a 720 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:25,160 Speaker 2: big jump, a big step forward along with Keanu Benton. Uh, 721 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:27,720 Speaker 2: you know another guy that that could be a plus starter, 722 00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:31,359 Speaker 2: if not more. You know, so they got some young 723 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 2: guys on that defense. 724 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:37,879 Speaker 3: Then what if they have two plus starters at linebacker? Wow? Yeah, 725 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:40,319 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, that's not crazy talk. I 726 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:42,239 Speaker 3: mean even one, and I think Queen could be a 727 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:43,719 Speaker 3: plus starter, but they could have two. 728 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:46,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean Queen was was a second team All 729 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:47,440 Speaker 2: Pro last year. 730 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:49,920 Speaker 3: Mm hmm, yeah, he was a plus starter last year. 731 00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:53,440 Speaker 2: So you know, if he can make, if he can 732 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 2: make continue to make those kind of plays, and you know, 733 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:02,200 Speaker 2: let's face said. You know, in recent years, the bar 734 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:06,520 Speaker 2: has been set pretty low off all linebacker, off all 735 00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:08,880 Speaker 2: linebacker for the Steelers. They haven't you know, you just 736 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 2: make the plays that are there for you. Well, now 737 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:13,160 Speaker 2: they've got some guys there who are capable of doing 738 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:17,120 Speaker 2: more than that. And now they've got a court race. 739 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,399 Speaker 3: Now raise the level of those around them. 740 00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 2: You know. Yeah, you got a cornerback who's capable of 741 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,320 Speaker 2: doing more than that just being a guy out there. 742 00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:27,400 Speaker 2: You know, So I think his defense could be pretty special. 743 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:30,800 Speaker 3: I do too. I do too. I mean, I I 744 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 3: growth isn't linear, but I'd be shocked if Benton and 745 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:38,720 Speaker 3: Porter aren't plus starters, you know, basically for their career. 746 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 3: I mean, that would shock me if two years from 747 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:45,319 Speaker 3: now we're like, man, Bettan's really disappointed or Porters aren't 748 00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:48,920 Speaker 3: any good anymore, like that would surprise me, you know, yeah. 749 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:50,840 Speaker 2: Not being said. And the cornerback play does go up 750 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:55,640 Speaker 2: and down. Mm hmm. You know, you get a fingertip 751 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,680 Speaker 2: on a on this deep ball and break it up 752 00:39:59,719 --> 00:40:02,720 Speaker 2: at the it's a great play. Next time it misses 753 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 2: your fingertip by you know, a millimeter and it's a completion, 754 00:40:06,239 --> 00:40:09,879 Speaker 2: and everybody's, oh, he got burned on that play, you know, sure, sure, 755 00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:12,040 Speaker 2: So that's all part of it. It's the cornerback position. 756 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:14,680 Speaker 2: But yeah, I think I think they got something special there. 757 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:17,919 Speaker 3: No, I do too. I mean last year's draft could 758 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:20,600 Speaker 3: go a really long way period. And if they can 759 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 3: put two drafts back to back that are equal value 760 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 3: and I'm talking about both sides of the ball here, 761 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 3: I think you'll look back and be like, man, that 762 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 3: was They really poured a lot of foundation there with 763 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 3: Benton and both the tackles and Porter and you know, 764 00:40:33,239 --> 00:40:35,640 Speaker 3: maybe another find in the mid rounds. 765 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, sure, you know right absolutely, but Matt, that's going 766 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:42,239 Speaker 2: to do for our number one of the Drive here 767 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:45,240 Speaker 2: on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be back with our number 768 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 2: two right after this on the Drive on Steeler's Nation Radio.