1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome 3 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: It is a Thursday, which means we've got day two 5 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: of our practice. Says here is the Steelers get ready 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: to host the Patriots on Sunday at Akershuer Stadium in 7 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: their home opener. Nausea Harris a full participant today, lead 8 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: by Wallace a full participant today. Robert Splaine a full 9 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: participant today. Mason Cole was limited, but he seems like 10 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: he's pretty intent on playing. And Cam Heyward was given 11 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: the day off as a kind of rest day. Yeah, okay, um, 12 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: I can't recall it was coal limited yesterday as well 13 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: as yes, okay, yeah, but we think you'll play. Yes, 14 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: I mean, Hawsin Howard is a good, good bat and 15 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: I assume it's not green. Yeah, I mean if it 16 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: was a start, um, But I think Cole's got a 17 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: challenge on his hands this week. I mean, they have 18 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: some beef in the middle of that defense. You know 19 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: it's funny you say that because I asked him about 20 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: that today. I said, uh, you know, you come off 21 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: a game against the Bengals, who have a good defensive interview, 22 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: I said, now you gotta face you know this, this 23 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: Patriots defensive line which has a lot of beef in 24 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: the middle. And he looked, because is there anybody in 25 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: the league that doesn't have a lot of beef in 26 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: the middle. I'm like, well, yeah, but there's different levels. 27 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: Because I get it, right, I said, you know, far 28 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: more is a lot different than Lawrence guy, right, you know, 29 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: I mean, but they have too big pluggers in there. 30 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: Not that since he didn't, but um cole worries me 31 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: a little bit, like just from a leverage standpoint, you know, 32 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: getting under those big, thick nose ish type guys and 33 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: moving them because they gotta get some moment, some movement 34 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: in the run game. I mean to me, if you 35 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: could fix anything with this team right now, it would 36 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: be I don't say run blocking, but moving people, you know, 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: and getting a little bit of space to run the football. 38 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: They've actually had some success in their last five meetings. 39 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: I went back and looked us up. The last five 40 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: meetings in a regular season, the Steelers have averaged d 41 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: and twelve point two rushing yards per game. In those 42 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: meetings against New England, who typically again has a bat 43 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: in the middle, a lot of beef in the middle. Um. 44 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: You know, I think if you look at what Miami 45 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: did last week against they didn't choose to run. They 46 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: were a little odd about it if you look at it. Uh, 47 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: they ran the ball. They had sixty five yards on 48 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: twenty three carries, and Chase Edmonds had twenty five yards 49 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: on twelve carries to lead them. But every one of 50 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: their starting receivers had to carry. Yeah, so He'll, He'll 51 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: had He'll had to rush, Wattle had to rush. Uh. Well, 52 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 1: the kid they got from Wilson, Cedrick Wilson, had a 53 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: carry as well. So we've seen. I mean the Steelers 54 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: are obviously they'll do that that. You know, what what 55 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: New England does is they they'll play a five man 56 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: defensive line. And if you get those five big bodies 57 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 1: out there, what are they not going to do? Well? 58 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: Check the edge? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hadn't thought of 59 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: that angle. That is interesting because they definitely still have 60 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: some parcels in them, you know, where they want to 61 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: come downhill, be the biggest bully and you're gonna have 62 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: a tough time running up up the gut exact. That's 63 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: why I brought up Mason Cole to begain with. You know, 64 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: was you'd love to see them getting three, four or 65 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: five yards a tote between the tackles, But this isn't 66 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: really the week to do This isn't the team to 67 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: do it against no UM, against the Browns. Different story. Yeah, 68 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: I actually wrote about that today on Steelers dot com. 69 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: You can check that story out. What they said about 70 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: the run game. The other thing I thought was interesting today. 71 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: We talked to Matt Canada today as well this morning, 72 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: and you know, if you look at the Steelers were 73 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: four of fifteen on third downs and they came on Sunday. Uh, 74 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: and in kids like, obviously, we we have to be 75 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: you know, we have to do a better job. But 76 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: he said, you know, if you look at the ones 77 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: we weren't making, uh, they were four fifteen on third downs. 78 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: Of those fifty fifteen third downs, nine of them were 79 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: on third and five or less, which is what you 80 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: want down at least make a third and manageable, which 81 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: I would call third and five or less. Yeah, he said, 82 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: we just have to execute it better. You know, we 83 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: had a couple that we ran short of the sticks. 84 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: Uh two, he said. Two of those we ran on 85 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 1: the short of the of the ared to gain. Two 86 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,559 Speaker 1: of those we took a shot and didn't quite get Okay, 87 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: you had uh two of two of those we had 88 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: communication issues. We've got to be better on third and 89 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: then those things keep your drives alive and then you're 90 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: able to perhaps run the ball more, which is what 91 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: everybody wants because they in the second half they had 92 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: start did to have some success running the ball, and 93 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: then Naz got hurt and then you're in, you know, 94 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: kind of in catchup mode the rest of you know, 95 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 1: or you're in a in a situation where it's a 96 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: two minute offense pretty much arrested away in my terms, 97 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: like established the run exists, you know, I mean the 98 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: stat nerds will tell you establishing the runs funny and dumb, 99 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: you know, but if you get away from it, it's 100 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,119 Speaker 1: hard to come back to it. And you know, there's 101 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: there is a balance there. And I don't envy play 102 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: callers in that regard of, you know, getting to third 103 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: and four, but you're not running the ball. But the 104 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 1: best way to run the ball is to keep running 105 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: the ball. And you know, I would guessing, of course, 106 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: but I think this game is Tomlin and Belichick probably 107 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: telling their respective quarterbacks more than anybody, do not lose 108 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: this game for us value. The football punts are fine, 109 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: We're not going to drift away from our run game. 110 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: We think this is a race to twenty. Whoever gets 111 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: their first wins this thing, and you know it might 112 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: not go that way, but I think that's give view 113 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: the game coming into it. Yeah, I mean, I think 114 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, both teams will be looking. I don't know 115 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: that either team is built necessarily or wants to get 116 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: into a shootout with anybody. I don't think either. I 117 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: think that's where the Steelers played it. Um, you know, 118 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: you don't certainly don't want to get into a shootout 119 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: with the Bengals. Now, if you do happen to get 120 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: into a shootout with New England, you probably like your chances, 121 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: especially at home, a little bit better. In a way, 122 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: these offense are kind of in the same place, you know. 123 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: I mean, they're I think the steel is a much 124 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: more talent. Certainly you have better weapons, but they're both 125 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: trying to figure things out and don't really have a 126 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: bread and butter at this minute. And in the meantime, 127 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: they're going to play things close to the vest and 128 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: win with coaching and special teams and defense. And you 129 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: know when the turnover battle and you know went on 130 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: special teams, I think is huge. And while you're you know, 131 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: creating an offense, you know, and um, you know, I'd 132 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: be shocked if either one of these teams gets near 133 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: thirty point. You know, I think it's gonna be a 134 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: real tight battle, really physical. You know, whoever puts the 135 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: ball in the ground most will lose. That type of thing. Yeah, yeah, 136 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: I think And and so you know, you don't want 137 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: to make that mistake. And that's I think everybody has 138 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: talked about that particular point of even Mike Tomlin talked 139 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: about it after the game. Don't take negative plays. Uh, 140 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: you know that was their second road game this year 141 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: in Cincinnati. Um, if you count the game in jackson 142 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: game in Jacksonville, the offensive line, you know, there are 143 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: false starts that were holding penalties, there were those kind 144 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: of mistakes. They look at those as you know, again, 145 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: you're putting yourself in third. You know, first and twenty 146 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: is a much different thing than you know, if you're 147 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: if you're in first and tent. Obviously this offense is 148 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: in capable right now, that's not what they want to do, 149 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: right right They so they want to take a take 150 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: care of the football and be keep themselves out of 151 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: those negative situations. And they feel like if they can 152 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: do that, the defense and special teams are good enough 153 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: that they'll get enough offensively, but they've got to hit 154 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: the layups. And I think our listeners need to remember that, 155 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: especially the first half of the game that Okay, maybe 156 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: Mitch doesn't drive one in there that he would have otherwise, 157 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: or maybe Tomin doesn't go for it on fourth and 158 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: two where he would have other times that I'm sure 159 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: the strategy will be Hunting's okay, let's you know, let's 160 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: win the physical battle, let's protect the football. And I 161 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: know that's not super exciting or you know, super analytically driven, 162 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: but that's one a lot of football games over the 163 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: year they played in two Yeah, yeah, you know what 164 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: I mean they played to the differences is they have 165 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: better quarterback player now than they have so you you know, 166 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: you have a little more capability, you can you can 167 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: roll the pocket, you know, and you're prepared to play 168 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: this way. Yeah, and they weren't prepared to play the 169 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: way that they played. Point. You know, they had gone 170 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: into that season thinking, Okay, Ben's gonna be a quarterback, 171 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 1: We're gonna we're gonna go put up the weapons and 172 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: we'll give it. Yeah. And then they had to change 173 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: things on the fly because now all of a sudden, 174 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: it's Mason Rudolph and then and then Duck Hodges. Now 175 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: you spent the entire offseason planning on playing a certain 176 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 1: way right right right, you know, right, and this is 177 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 1: the way that they want to play. And now we 178 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: either change on the fly. I mean call it you, 179 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: I mean you can call it ugly enough the game 180 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: or how whatever hover you want to determ it. That's 181 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: what they want to do. I mean, we have too 182 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: great head coaches going against each other here. And I'm 183 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: sure if you sat down with all the Hall of 184 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 1: Fame coaches of all time, they would tell you the 185 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: thing you have to have to get in this hall 186 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: is adapted. The ability to adapt. I couldn't say the word, 187 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: you know, like all what Mike Tomlin calls and he 188 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: stole us from Dick Lebo, who probably stole it from 189 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: somebody else. When you have red paint, you paint the 190 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: barn red. If you have green paint, you paint the 191 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: barn green. But the problem is you think you have 192 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: you're not sure what color paint there is until week 193 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: one or you know, I think that they had a 194 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: pretty good idea like they went into this season. That's 195 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: the difference between this. Yeah, now you get a paint 196 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: a little okay, well, maybe we gotta x the red 197 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: and the green together a little bit. We had the 198 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: Blitz that much, so we're to pull out the blue paint, 199 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: which is the Blitz paint, you know what I mean? 200 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: Like you got to adapt week the weeks. And I 201 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: really thought that was on display in the game against 202 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: the Bengals, where I didn't see Cincinnati necessarily adjusting. No, 203 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: that's a big problem for them big picture. I don't 204 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: know if you saw the tweet I sent out, but 205 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: I just retweeted from somebody else there's it was a 206 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,839 Speaker 1: nerdy coaches type person that that was out up there 207 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: checking it out, and the tweet basically says, this was 208 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,319 Speaker 1: a huge problem for the Bengals last year. But when 209 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 1: they go under center, not in the shotgun, they run 210 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 1: the ball like nine of the time, you know, like 211 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: everyone knows these things. You know, you've been for. This 212 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: is a Week one situation. The Steelers know all your tendencies, 213 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: and they did the exact same thing. And not only 214 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: did they the Cincinnati come out when they were under 215 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: center and run the football like nine out of ten times, 216 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: but they run the same run. They run outside zone. 217 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: Like everyone remembers the play where TJ basically decapitates Mixing. Yeah, 218 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: well you knew it was coming, right. I mean if 219 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: you look at the way this steal, you know, Mixing 220 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: averaged less than two yards of carry if you take 221 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: that thirty one yard run. Yeah, right, he avers three 222 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,839 Speaker 1: yards of carry with the thirty yards. I mean they 223 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: were they were on the field the whole time. They 224 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: were Yeah, they were run game was getting nothing. And 225 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: you know I saw as well, Um, you know, Chase 226 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 1: had a great game. Um I think I saw he 227 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: wasn't targeted more than twenty yards down the field on 228 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: a single passing that game. It might have been from 229 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: your stats, yeah it was. Um, I think it's just 230 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: protection based. Yeah, they always throw bombs, you know, they 231 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: couldn't protect and it took him a while to figure 232 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: that out. They were trying early in the game. You know, 233 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna We're just gonna do it. We played these 234 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: guys last year and they only had two sacks against us, 235 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: and combined in two games they had, they had two 236 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: sacks in the first six plays. And again, I thought 237 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: the Bengals players got much better as the game went on. 238 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: Fourth quarter Borrow is a lot better than first quarter 239 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: Boro and thin, but they were getting the ball out 240 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: of his hands quickly. They weren't. You know, he wasn't 241 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 1: gonna stand backer and pat the ball and think he 242 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: was just gonna be able to to do what he 243 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: wanted to do. But I think the Steelers coaching staff 244 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: adapted much better than the Bengals coaching staff. And and 245 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: that to me is a big picture takeaway for the 246 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: whole division. You know, can can the Bengals be King 247 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: of the North? Yeah? Maybe it's different though when you're 248 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: when you're the hunted as opposed to the hunter. See 249 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: that's what That's what I think really gives the Patriots 250 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: a chance is you're not going to fool them with 251 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: you know, in game adjustments will be fine for the Patriots, 252 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: whether they have the horses to deal with it. I mean, 253 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: if you gave Belichick Burrow and Chase, We've got a 254 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: much different different right, But they'll make adjustments and they'll 255 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: make things hard on the Steelers. If the Steelers are 256 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: gashing them with a certain run play, well that won't 257 00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,599 Speaker 1: you know, that won't hold up in the third with 258 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:03,599 Speaker 1: you like you know I mentioned that, you know, the 259 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: the yards that they've averaged. You know, there are certain 260 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: times like when when the everybody brings up that Jalen 261 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: Samuel's game right, they were not. They were and they 262 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: were just content to like, Okay, you want to run 263 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 1: Jaylen Samuel's Antonio Brown where Juju Smith schust outside. That's 264 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: what we don't want you to do. Um. You know, 265 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: so we kind of scoffed yesterday about Belichick taking away 266 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: your thing you do best and everywhere every coach does that. 267 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: But that's a perfect example of we don't think you 268 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: can win this game with Jayalen Samuels touching the ball 269 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: time and time again. You know, if he ends, I 270 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 1: don't care what his stats are. At the end of 271 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: the day, we can't let a B and Juju and 272 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: Ben and these guys rip us up. But Jaylen Samuels, 273 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: if we have seen something that's fine. I would guess 274 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 1: if they would have a little different I don't think 275 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: they'll let Nay, They're not gonna let that. They're not 276 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: gonna let Nagy run like that. Um. But but Mitch 277 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: might have opportunities. I think he will. I mean, I 278 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: definitely think you will when you look at this, Uh, 279 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: this secondary for the Patriots. It's not what you typically 280 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: see from New England. Keep up with the Joneses, Yeah, 281 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: a lot of Jones. Yeah, And I really think they 282 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 1: can create a lot of mismatches. I don't think it's 283 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: a big Friarmouth game. And history shows that New England's 284 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: really good against tight ends and that's Dugger and mccordy 285 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: and those guys before that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, And so okay, 286 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: I mean Friarmouth I think is wonderful. He took he Yeah, 287 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: there was that. But I think you know this will 288 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: be on Mitch. But pre pre snap reads of Pickens 289 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: is one on one. You know, I don't even care 290 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: who which Jones it is. I'm going to Pickens or 291 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: they're gonna have a tough time covering all five and 292 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: I'm including Harris because they're but they've been bad against 293 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: back production too and out of the back. Yeah, I 294 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: would throw the Baltimore to Harris this week. Yeah, I 295 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: think you might see more of that, and I think 296 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: they'd like to get j Len Warren a little involved 297 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: there as well. Don't forget, you know, the Steelers do 298 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: it to then come back and play Thursday night. So 299 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: you know, we saw Jaln Warren early. I think it 300 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: was on the fourth series in the game against the Bengals. 301 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: I think you'll see some Jalen Warren in there and 302 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: this this game as well, maybe he plays a third 303 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: of the STAPs or if it was a normal situation 304 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: where Naugy was not that his injuries, you know, a 305 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: massive one, you know. You know it's funny is everybody 306 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: complains about Mike Tomlin's running back usage, but then the 307 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: first time that the backup running back is in there, 308 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: where's where's Nagi? Yeah? You know where these guys at? 309 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: Aren't they on the field? And because they don't watch 310 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: other teams, you know, like Austin Ekeler was the third 311 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 1: pick in your guy's fantasy draft. He played the STAPs 312 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: and that's not unusual for him. You know. There you 313 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: get more quality out of them that way, and some 314 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: backs are built to do it and some aren't. But 315 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: I think you're a good point about Warren is I 316 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: think he's warranting more snap. He catches the ball. He 317 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: catches the ball. Well. He had a couple of reps 318 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: in protection. I didn't love in the game, but in 319 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: watching practice in preseason he was good and protect. He 320 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: had some rep Did you see the Brian Balder thing 321 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: that he put out of Warren's blocks in the game. 322 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: Were they good? Yeah? Yeah, he just he was just 323 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: raving about them. It's oude on Twitter if you you 324 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: want to go find it. Uh. I I did see 325 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: on the one play where Trabisky they blist the safety 326 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: off the edge and Warren kind of ran past him, um, 327 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: you know, getting out into his route. And I think 328 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: that's what turned into the one sack that uh that 329 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: Cincinnati did. Haven't even should have been a could have 330 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: been a throwaway on that No sacks in the game. 331 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: But um, but he's not bashful. It's not like him. 332 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: He was throwing some blocks out there in that overtime, 333 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: you know that. Uh they were big boy blocks. I 334 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: thought this is a huge problem last year, and I 335 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: think that they've they I haven't heard anyone's come out 336 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: and say it. I've probably missed it. But I think 337 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: that was a big reason boy Can played as much 338 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: as he did. I think Claypool win the slot. I'm 339 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: just talking about peripheral blockers that aren't O lineman. Gentry 340 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: is one of the better ones in the league. You're 341 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: you know you mentioned Warren laying out some big blocks. 342 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: Boy boy Can thought was blocking really well last week. 343 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: Playpool in the slot has to give you more than 344 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: McLeod as a blocker, you know what I mean, and 345 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: love it. I'm not even on the field and they 346 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: can give you more exactly, you know, so they're five, 347 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: you know, the skill guys. I think they'll get more 348 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: from those guys as blockers, which they need because the 349 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 1: a lineman's not gonna the lines just not gonna dominate 350 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: the game, you know. Yeah, well, I mean everybody always 351 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 1: puts the blocking on the offensive line, right, and it's 352 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: not just the offensive line, it's the periphery guys. That's 353 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: how you break the bigger was a perfect example of that. 354 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: You know, we know Delonte is not gonna offer much, 355 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: but that's fine. You know, he contributes, but then you're 356 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: you know, one of your other receivers who's always on 357 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: the field was Raybrad McLeod, and he's not going to 358 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: block anybody, including a quarterback and a ball carrier. That's 359 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: four of your eleven that really aren't blocking a yeah, 360 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: and they you know, you p J. Math can figure 361 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: that they have eleven defenders coming after the ball carrier 362 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: and you've got four dudes that aren't blocking those eleven, 363 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, that's not that hard to figure out. 364 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: But I do think it's better this year not to mention. 365 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: Something you bring up a lot too, is maybe there 366 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: are five carries where you have ten blockers and Trabisky 367 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: runs the ball. You Yeah, that's one thing, you know, 368 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: Keith Butler would always talk about and have heard Tarall 369 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: Austin references as well, when when you play a running 370 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: quarterback like that, it creates an additional oh man gap. 371 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: I think of the Eagles or the Ravens or you know, 372 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: if Ravens have Ricard as their only guy in the backfield, 373 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: or even if it's Dobbins or whatever, he can he 374 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: can block a safety and Lamar's running the football, and 375 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: the Eagles are a great example too. I mean they 376 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: have a really good old line, but you get an 377 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: extra blocker for hurts. I mean that's humongous. Yeah. So 378 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: do you think Trabisky gets more carries this game or 379 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: design ones? Yeah? I mean he you know, I mentioned 380 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: the reference that one other game where he played against 381 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: the uh, the Patriots, you know, like eighty rushing yards 382 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: and the head including a big long one that Belichick 383 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: reference that when he was talking about, you know, playing 384 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: Steelers and playing Drabinskys, like he heard us the long 385 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: run in that game. So, and they're a man team primarily, 386 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: but it's always been a man and they don't really 387 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: have a linebacker that erases all those things, you know, 388 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: Devin White that just flies around the field. And you 389 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: know their linebackers are average athletes at best, their second 390 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: level guys. So you know, I think you can have 391 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 1: I think you'll let tell Mitch hey, you can get 392 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: out there and run a little bit more this week. 393 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: And that's the one thing I think the difference between 394 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 1: this year and they were specifically telling the guys those 395 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: guys in don't run the ball. Yeah, you know, and 396 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: now they want Drabinsky running the football and not just 397 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: when I think when things break down. I mean, I 398 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: think there's gonna be some If you're moving in the 399 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: pocket and doing things like that, you don't have to 400 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: throw the ball. If you see it, you see you 401 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: can get eight yards. Get eight yards. Yeah, and um 402 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: you know slider you know, go out of bounds or 403 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: whatever you need to do. But no, I think there'll 404 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: be more of that. One thing about this offense, which 405 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: is a good problem, is I do feel like every 406 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: Monday we're going to have people saying, well, why wasn't 407 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:01,719 Speaker 1: pick it is more involved? Or why didn't I get 408 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: more passes? You know, those are the two things from 409 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: last week. But how do you keep all those mouths full? 410 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's that's that's hard, and that's a 411 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: good problem to have. It is, and it's something you know. 412 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: I talked to Mitch about it in the in the 413 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: training camp and he's like, you know, you try to 414 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,959 Speaker 1: get everybody a ball or maybe he's after a preseason game. 415 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: You try to get everybody a ball early to keep 416 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: them involved in the game a little bit. That's us real. Yeah, 417 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 1: oh yeah, right. You know, if you're out there running, 418 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: you run twenty seven straight routes and you never see 419 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: the ball. Yeah, you know, this isn't quite as interesting 420 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: as it should be. I'm beating this guy and I'm 421 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: not getting the football right. I don't know if Pickens 422 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:37,959 Speaker 1: was frustrated or not, but he seemed like he was 423 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: wanting the ball and he's, you know, watching coaches film. 424 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: He was open a fair amount. Subscribe now to The Drive. 425 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 1: You can do that. Uh. Of course, everywhere that you 426 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: get your Steelers Mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, 427 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: and wherever you find your podcast, every episode that we 428 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 1: do is available for you to download. You should do 429 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 1: that now. If you missed a part of this show, 430 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: you can do that as well. Uh. He is Matt Williamson. 431 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: I am l Ally. You're listening to The Drive here 432 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,479 Speaker 1: on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be back with Moore right 433 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 1: after this