1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on Home of the Black and 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: Goal Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome back to the Drive. I'm 3 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: Dale Lelly here with Matt Williamson. Were pleased to be 4 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: joined now by one of our favorite guests. That would 5 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: be Bob Labriola, the editor of Steelers Digest and Steelers 6 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: dot Com. Actually got to see Bob live and in 7 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: person over the weekend the Steelers rookie Minicamp. Bob was 8 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: down there checking out the action on Saturday as well. So, Bob, 9 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: how you doing pretty good? Um? It was nice to 10 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: actually uh be back at the facility, you know, for 11 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: me personally, it was the first time since March, not 12 00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: that you're keeping track or anything, you know. Um. And 13 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: as much as I always made fun of football and shorts, uh, 14 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: it was actually, I won't say compelling, that's overstating things. 15 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: But I wasn't as bored as I normally would have been. 16 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: Hear you on that one. I was interested to see 17 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: some of the rookies, as they say, on the hoof, 18 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: and uh, it was not hard to be impressed with 19 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: the Steeler's first round pick Naja Harris seeing what he 20 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: looked like in person. No, I mean, and you know 21 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: it was. It was somewhat I won't say, well, somewhat funny. 22 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: I'm a little lot of practice doing this deal. I'm 23 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: trying to pick my words here. A little bit funny 24 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: coming home after that practice, it was the day of 25 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: the Preakness, and the best way for me to describe, um, 26 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: what what it looks like when you see Nausea Harris 27 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: and then you know the other quote unquote running backs. 28 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: It's like you know when they do the post parade 29 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: and the Thoroughbred is walking next to you know, the 30 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: other horse. That kind of is just you know, like 31 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: walking with him because you know they're stablemates or whatever, 32 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: and it's easy, Like I knew he's three hands bigger 33 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: than the other horse. Next time I can pick out 34 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: the thoroughbread and in the breakness, and I could tell 35 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: the difference between Nagy Harris and the running backs that 36 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: the Steelers had last year. So um, yeah, this this 37 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: guy is the real deal. Uh he passes the eye test. 38 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: You know. One of the interesting things from Saturday was, um, 39 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: you know, there were no other running backs, so Eddie 40 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: Falton and the running backs coaches is doing one on 41 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: one work with Nausey and I guess they're working on 42 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: his the strength of his stiff farm. Because Nagy would 43 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: run towards Eddie Faulkner, who was holding a medicine ball 44 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: and uh, Edmond Nagy got closed. Um, Eddie would throw 45 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: the medicine ball toward him and as he would stick 46 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: out his arm and push it away. Um. Now you know, Eddie, 47 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: Eddie Faulkner is using both hands around that medicine ball 48 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: to throw it and nausea, Harris is batting it away 49 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: with one. So there's that like he was throwing a 50 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: balloon away like somebody hunts like four ft away from 51 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: his frame. Yeah. So, um, you know this this it 52 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: was time, I think for the Steelers to upgrade you 53 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: know that position. You know, we saw it earlier in 54 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: the Mike Tomlin are on the offensive line. You know, 55 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: after you go through Sean may Hand and Justin Hartwig, 56 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: it's time to draft Marquise Pouncing in the first round. 57 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: You know, after you know, seeing Chris Kimoya to it's 58 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: time to draft David Castro and you need you know 59 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: that there's coaching is some of it, and scheme is 60 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: some of it. But you know, in the NFL, it's 61 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: a talent league. It's a players league, and sometimes you 62 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: just have to upgrade the talent. And all due respect 63 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: to James Conner and those other guys, a couple of 64 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: whom will be a training camp with the Steelers this year. Uh, 65 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: they're not in this guy's league. They're just not. And 66 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: so if you really want to make a statement, um 67 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: about improving the running game, and you know, I think 68 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: you also, you know, making a statement oftentimes involves more 69 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: than just saying it, regardless of who says it, even 70 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 1: if he's the Steelers president. But when you spend of 71 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: the first round on a running back in these times, 72 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: which you know, according to mel Kuiper, you just never 73 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: pick a running back in the first round, which you know, 74 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: that makes it true because he said it. Um, you 75 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: know that that's a statement. And so, uh, you know, 76 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: mission accomplished. I think everyone's uh, everyone's attention has been 77 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: gotten and now it's just a matter of you know, 78 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: incorporating the pieces and going to work. Bob I wasn't 79 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: fortunate enough to be there for rookie Minicamp, but it's 80 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: pretty obvious that Nase you stole the show, that's exactly 81 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: what you want. But Friar Moves to me, is a 82 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: really intriguing second round pick, and it's an intriguing draft 83 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: class in general. What do you expect out of the 84 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: tight end in his rookie year? You think he's gonna 85 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: play a fair amount, be a not a featured part 86 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: of the offense, but you know, a substantial part of 87 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: the offense. Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, offensive coordinators 88 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: these days are infatuated with tight ends, you know, and personally, 89 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: I'm not someone who subscribes to that, but hey, I 90 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: you know, I'm willing to, you know, to defer to 91 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: the times. And so you know, fire Move I think 92 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: is going to play a lot, uh, not necessarily meaning 93 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: that he's going to be a starter. You know. Um 94 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: it's kind of like wide receivers. You know, you can 95 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: play a lot and never start a game, but that 96 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: doesn't necessarily, um lessen your impact or your potential to 97 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: have an impact on the offense. So you know, you 98 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: can't Eric he Brown, you know, he can't block me. 99 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I just and to me, that's that's not 100 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: going to change. There's no way to make him better 101 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: or competent at that And so he hast of blocking 102 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: people on Twitter okay, Um, but you know I wonder 103 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: if he would even hit the right button sometimes. Um. 104 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: But anyway, uh so you just have to again, this 105 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: is a this is an instance of you know, you 106 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: can't do it with scheme or coaching him ericy run 107 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: in particular, you have to adjust the personnel. And so 108 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: you know, that's what I think Friar Muth is going 109 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: to have to be able to do to add to 110 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: the offense initially right away if he wants to be 111 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: on the field a lot. So Um. You know, uh 112 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: I remember you know back in the Bill Coward days, 113 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: um Tom Caper's who was his first defensive coordinator, always 114 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: saying that if you cannot play the run, well you 115 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: cannot play linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And so now 116 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna flip that around. And if you cannot block 117 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: for the run, I don't know that you're gonna have 118 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: a big role on the offense for the Steelers. And 119 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: that even goes to the to the wide receivers. You know, 120 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: those guys are gonna have to get be engaged, They're 121 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: gonna have to make effort, and they're gonna have to 122 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: at least get in the way on the edge and 123 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: down the field because if not, um, you know, who 124 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: knows it could be it could flip from you know, 125 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: a guy like you know, maybe James Washington if he 126 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: does that or is willing or is good at it. 127 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: And I'm just picking a name out of the hat. 128 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: If he you know, maybe he moves up in the 129 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: pecking order of the wide receivers and sees more playing 130 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: time and then ends up catching more passes. And then 131 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: who knows, um, when money starts getting allocated from the 132 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: salary cap moving forward, you know, maybe they start to 133 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: look at those kind of contributions from receivers as opposed 134 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: to just you know, pass catching ability. So well, I 135 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: think this is a real thing. I'm not predicting the 136 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: wood he Hayes offense or anything, but I also am 137 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: feeling very confident that, um, you know, God forbid something 138 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: happens the nausey Harris. If nothing happens to him, the 139 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers will not be thirty second in the NFL 140 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: and rushing. Now, you're right about that. And Matt and 141 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: I've been talking about this pick a lot, uh, you know, 142 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: looking at where he falls or should fall in the 143 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: hierarchy of running backs around the league. Um, if he's sixteen, 144 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: are better in terms of overall talent that the running 145 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 1: back position or finishes in the top six let's say, 146 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: finishes in the top sixteen and rushers in the league. 147 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: And I think he'll be higher than that because he's 148 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: gonna get the football and he's got the ability and 149 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: he's got the ability. Uh, this is a better football 150 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: team than what than what we last saw because I 151 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: don't care what they lost on defense. I mean I do, 152 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: but I don't because if they have if they if 153 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: he's running the ball effectively and the Steelers are running 154 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: the ball effectively, the defense is going to play five 155 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: to ten fewer snaps per game. Well. And the other 156 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: thing is is that you force uh the opponent into 157 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: playing a kind of game that maybe, um, they prefer 158 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: not to play. You know, you shorten the game for them, 159 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: and then when they get the ball, they're not able 160 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: to you know, be as comfortable as they maybe were 161 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: last year. Knowing that you know, the Steelers, even if 162 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: they moved the ball down the field, they would do 163 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: it quickly, not eat up a lot of clock, and 164 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: then you would have a lot of possessions. If you 165 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: needed to catch up or to do whatever you wanted 166 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: to do as an opposing offense. Um. You know the 167 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: thing about Harris to me that is that is really 168 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: significant is he's an every down player. Um, he's lead 169 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: you on bell in that sense. You don't have to 170 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,199 Speaker 1: take him off the field. And so um you know, 171 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: and again, so what you're what you're presenting to the 172 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: opposing defense is you're making them defense everything, but you're 173 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: not tipping them off what it might be by changing personnel. 174 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: You know, with the play clock maybe only about thirty 175 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: seconds where they have time to adjust. And you know, 176 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: this guy can do a lot of different things. Um. 177 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: I don't know that he is a receiver in the 178 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: Marshall Falk category, but he's more than you know. Run 179 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: run out six yards beyond the line of scrimmage, turnaround, 180 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: face the quarterback and excuse me, catch the ball, you 181 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: know one it's thrown into your chest. I mean this 182 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: guy has some actual receiving skills. And you know the 183 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 1: other thing is, um, if he catches the ball. Uh, 184 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: and you know you're wearing a number in the twenties 185 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: of the thirties, you you better bring it because he 186 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: will run you over or jump over you to ask 187 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: that kid from Notre Dame. That has happened too. So, Um, 188 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: he is a he is a dynamic weapon. Um, I 189 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: believe you know. For me anyway, he was by far 190 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: the most complete back in the draft. I know there 191 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: was some um sentiment. I'm not speaking to you personally 192 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: or a Matt personally for Travis at the end, he 193 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: fumbles too much. For me, I'm not interested in somebody 194 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: who fumbles. Harris doesn't do that. He's a workhorse. He 195 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: can catch the ball, he can run routes, he will block, 196 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: so you know you can leave him in on third 197 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: times and not fear for Ben Roethlisberger's life. Um, you know, 198 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: I just to me this was it was not having 199 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,839 Speaker 1: to trade up for him or anything. Just use your pick. 200 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 1: Uh to me, Uh, it was it was a no brainer. Truly. 201 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: He is what you're doing for the offense at the 202 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: running back position by picking him is what you did 203 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: for the defense at the inside linebacker position when you 204 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: uh pick Devin Bush. But with Bush you had to 205 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: give up a significant amount of capital to go get him. Yeah, 206 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: it's really well said Bob, And I think even taking 207 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: a step further, big picture, these first two selections in 208 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: the draft should have immediate dividends in the running game, 209 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: a tight end that can actually block a very very 210 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: good ball carrier. But I think a bigger key in 211 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: the big picture here is they're very quarterback friendly picks. 212 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: You know, they're your quarterbacks in the twilight of his career. 213 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: He's gonna be able to, you know, move those guys around, 214 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: especially Harris, in a leave bell fashion and create mismatches. 215 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: But maybe most importantly is whoever's next, whether it's Rudolph, 216 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: a rookie, Derek Carr, you know, on and on on. 217 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: Whoever the next quarterback here is should land in a 218 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: spot that's very friendly for him. You know, a lot 219 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: of easier throws to these two guys. Yeah. And you 220 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: know the other thing that Um really impressed me about 221 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: Harris as it did about Minka. You know, Nick Saban 222 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: has won some college football games. I mean, he was 223 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: a failure as an NFL coach find but um, you know, 224 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: he knows what he's doing in the arena in which 225 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 1: he's competing right now. And when he said that Minka 226 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick was the best leader he ever had at Alabama 227 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: and when he says that nausea Harris is one of 228 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: the hardest workers he's ever had at Alabama. To me, 229 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: that carries a significant amount of weight because Nick doesn't 230 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: just you know, he's not just throwing bouquets around because 231 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: he's a nice guy. So, um, you know, to me 232 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: that that means something. And when you're coming from that 233 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: kind of a program where uh, you're the bull's eyes 234 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: on your back every single week of every single season, 235 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: and um, you know, to excel at that to go 236 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: back for another season to work on some things that 237 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: he wasn't happy with. I mean, this guy is he's 238 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: he's the whole, He's the whole deal. He's the whole thing. Um. 239 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: And so you know, again, I believe that this is 240 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: a pick. Obviously that's gonna pay dividends on the field 241 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: right away, but it also I believe you know, you're 242 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: you're putting another piece into the puzzle of the kind 243 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:52,479 Speaker 1: of culture you want to have. Um, he's an example 244 00:14:52,680 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: for everyone who comes after him. Um. And again I uh, hey, 245 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: I'm I'm not somebody who I'm usually a cynic, you know, 246 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: show me, But this guy, he's a starter. He's a starter. 247 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: Rookie minicamp. He's a starter. Tomorrow, he's the starter the 248 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: first day of training camp. He's a starter. And he 249 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: is a um integral part of this offense and this 250 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: team today. Uh And I don't really need to see 251 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: anymore from him to believe what I just said. Now, 252 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: you know, I just hope for the best for him 253 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: in terms of, you know, all the other little things 254 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: that um, you know, go into a long career in 255 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: the NFL. Injuries number one, because um, you know he's 256 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: gonna he's gonna take some beatings. But as I said, 257 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: you look at him, and you know, I'm all of 258 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: a sudden not so afraid about that. That's for sure. 259 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: There won't be any uh hey naja once you get 260 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: down to two pounds like LEVI did. Well, I mean 261 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: he's already I mean he's he's cut up, oh I know, 262 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: and he's sick. You know, Um you know, he's let 263 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: me put it to you this way, he's already made 264 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: an impression on the I'm sure he has. I mean, 265 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: that's a that's an Eddie George slash Adrian Peterson type body. 266 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: Like you look at that, and that's the first thing 267 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: I love, Like Wow, that's a running back like that 268 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: dude is he does not look like everybody else in 269 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: playing I I've mentioned to somebody I was looking in 270 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: with the long arms and the body type and in 271 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: the in the hair, uh you know, the way he 272 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: has it. Um, he looked a lot like a shortened 273 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: version of Martavis Bryant. And we know what a physical 274 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: freak that Martavis Bryant was, Uh, you know with the again, 275 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: just the physical attributes alone stand out. And then you 276 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: you watch him run around in the field. I thought 277 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: the most impressive thing that he did, Bob, you made 278 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: mentioned that he was the only running back at the 279 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: rookie minicamp. He took every snap. I mean there was 280 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: no time off. Like he's out there running and he's 281 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: running pass patterns and he's doing all this stuff and 282 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: he's right back to the how don't and do it again? Yeah? 283 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: And you know, a lot of as you mentioned, you know, 284 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: with guys like alavy On, uh you know and some 285 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: other players. We've seen them, you know, come in as 286 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: rookies and then realized that they thought they were in shape, 287 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: but they weren't. Uh. And I'm gonna go back to 288 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: what Saban said it's one of the hardest workers we've 289 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: ever had here. And so he's in shape. He's you know, 290 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: he's already at that second season, uh, second NFL season shape. 291 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: You know when Mike Tomlins starts calling them highly conditioned. Um, 292 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: you know. And he's a guy who already knows some 293 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: people have to learn this, but he is a guy 294 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: who already knows that the game at the NFL level, 295 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: at his position, is not about size, It's about um, 296 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: you know, being conditioned. Uh. And so you know, I 297 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: you know, don't like I'm trying to think of a 298 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: comparison and it's escaping me right now. But the best 299 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: thing I can say, and I know a lot of 300 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 1: Steelers fans cringe every time you compare him to Levy 301 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: on Bell, but you know, just think of Levy on 302 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: Bell without the contract stuff. That's yeah, I think that's 303 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: absolutely the case. I see, I see a lot of 304 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,479 Speaker 1: just the way that he plays the game is very similar. 305 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: I can see. You know, you just when you watched 306 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: him on filming, like, yeah, that Steelers could be very 307 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: interested in that. And as you mentioned, they didn't have 308 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: to do anything to get him. They just made their pick. 309 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: And as much as people want to rip that, well, 310 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: you never take a running back in the first round. 311 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: There's a huge difference between taking for example, Leonard four 312 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: Nett third overall and Nausea Harris at you didn't pass 313 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: a penny soul for him? No, you know what I mean. Yeah, 314 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: if if not Naja Harris, then tell me who And 315 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: well I knew better be the number one player at 316 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: his position, because that's what Naji Harris is. Well, and 317 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: by the time you pick the best three running backs 318 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: were gone, long gone, long gone. You know, it doesn't um, 319 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: you know, and I will for for the mel Kuipers 320 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: and those kind of people who were looking at this draft, 321 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: Um with that analytics bent. You know, you don't do this, 322 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: you don't do that value and all that other garbage. 323 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna tell you what Dan Rooney told me. Um, 324 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: you know one time, he said, you know the problem 325 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: with those kind of people is they're trying to win 326 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: the draft. The idea is to win the Super Bowl. 327 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: And maybe Naja Harris doesn't win you the draft. But 328 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 1: you know, if I'm ever playing that game, um, you 329 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: know where they have the trophy presentation at the end, 330 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: I'd rather have him or whoever else your mel wanted 331 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 1: you to pick. The big thing I say a lot 332 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: about that whole argument is ask any coach in the 333 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: league when it's Week twelve, early in the fourth quarter, 334 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: there's a little bit of a rain, you're on the 335 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: road in Baltimore, tell me if running backs matter or not, 336 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: if you've got to trot out Edmonds or Snell or 337 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: that guy. You know. I mean, all the analytics get 338 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: thrown out the door when it's you know, real time, 339 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 1: it's third and two in Baltimore at the end of 340 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: the sea. You know the game matters and your jobs 341 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: on the line, and you know it doesn't matter what 342 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: team you are. Here's another one. Remember the um, the Steelers, 343 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: the coaches, everybody getting ripped for that fourth and short 344 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: deep passed down the sideline to Anthony McFarland. I've been 345 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: talking about short yardage with this guy, like, but you 346 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: throw that to nausey that you've got a real chance. Yeah, 347 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: I would have hit him, and it would hit him 348 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: in stride. What I mean, though, is he has the 349 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: athletic ability and the and the skills as a receiver 350 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: to know how to adjust to the ball to get 351 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: his body in the proper position to try and make 352 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: a play on it. And you know, I'm not ripping 353 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: you know, McFarland. Uh, that's just not his game, that's 354 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: not his skill set. That's you know, like asking Eric Ebron, 355 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: you know, to dig a defensive end out, you know, 356 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: on fourth and goal at the one, it's not going 357 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: to happen. So, UM, if that's the kind of thing 358 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: you want to do in your offense, then you better 359 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,119 Speaker 1: get somebody who can make it happen. And this is 360 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: a guy who I believe has the skill set um 361 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: and certainly the work ethic too that if he cannot 362 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: do it right off the bat, um he can. He 363 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: has the skill set and want to where he can 364 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 1: be a representative um and just about any kind of 365 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: play you want to run. And that's a great point, Bob. 366 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: And and you know what I was kind of alluding 367 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 1: to is I don't think on third and ones, fourth 368 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 1: and ones, you're gonna see as many throws or gadgets. 369 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: You're just gonna of it to that dude and he's 370 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: gonna pick it up. Yeah, nothing wrong with that either, 371 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: that works. You're still allowed to do that in the NFL. 372 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: I do believe I did. I checked just before Jacob called, 373 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 1: I looked up. I looked through the rule book again 374 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: again by illegal igal uh Bob. Because of that that pick, 375 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: I don't think. I think a lot of people are 376 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,479 Speaker 1: looking at the Steelers this offseason and saying, well, they 377 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: really didn't do much to get better. I think that 378 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: one player makes everybody around him better. It's almost like drafting, 379 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: like they drafted a quarterback. Well, and you know, there's 380 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: also some things I think that um, you know, and 381 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 1: uh as Mike Tomlins said, I believe it was maybe 382 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: the pre draft presser or you know, one of those 383 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: or he made the point that, you know, yes, changing personnel, 384 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: um is a factor in improving the running game, but 385 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: it's also you know, a approach scheme, you know, those 386 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: kind of things. You know. I think that some of 387 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: the things that um, you know, Matt Canada is introducing, 388 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: you know, in terms of the zone blocking schemes up 389 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: front and those kind of things are going to be 390 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: you know, friendly, friendlier to offensive lineman because I remember, 391 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 1: you know, back in the early two thousand's that when 392 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: Dick le Beau came back for a second stint starting 393 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: in two thousand and four, and the Steelers were a 394 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: bit to run against. They always had trouble without outside 395 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: zone blocking. Casey Hampton, as good as he was, maybe 396 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: one of the you know better run stopping Uh, those 397 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: tackles of his era couldn't handle that kind of stuff. 398 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: That defense was constantly getting gashed. And if you have 399 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 1: you know, Edgar and James and some of those stretch 400 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: plays and stuff that Indianapolis would run, Denver would run. UM. 401 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: And I think that you know, the Steelers offense is 402 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: going to incorporate some of that. And so the impression 403 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: of you know, the offensive lines um inabilities. UM, I 404 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: think you can camouflage some of that too with you know, 405 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:18,239 Speaker 1: doing things that way and UM, so it you know 406 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: a lot of times fans or uh experts or whatever, 407 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: you know, the only thing that they take into account 408 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 1: when they're determining whether a team has gotten better or 409 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 1: not is who did they sign in free agency and 410 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: who did they draft? Um. You know, the Steelers situation 411 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: and free agency was ugly, ugly ugly because of the 412 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: salary cap. But I think all things considered, they held 413 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: their own. You know, um, you kept Sutton, you got 414 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 1: all the all of the back Um, Uh, Juju stayed 415 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: and Vince came back. Um. And so I think that, 416 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: you know, you mitigated the disaster in that area. I 417 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,199 Speaker 1: think the draft was good one. I think that, you know, 418 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,640 Speaker 1: the the change to Canada is going to be something that, 419 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 1: uh is going to be helpful. And I like Adrian 420 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: Clement too. I think that he has a little bit 421 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: of an edge. UM. You know, he can be a UM. 422 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: You know, we talked so much about the players, the 423 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: offensive lineman. Are they nasty? Are they nasty? I think 424 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: they're their offensive line coach has a little bit of 425 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: that in him too, and so, uh, you know, I'm 426 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: not predicting they're going to turn into the seven blocks 427 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: of granted or anything, but I think that they can 428 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: be representative and you can help um your quarterback in 429 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: the passing game as we as one of you guys 430 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, by running the football, because now you're forcing 431 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: the defense to play that honestly. Uh. And so you know, 432 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: we'll see. There's a long way to go yet. UM. 433 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: But I just think that, you know, some of the 434 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: reports of the demise of the Pittsburgh Steelers are a 435 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,640 Speaker 1: little bit premature. I think that the team will show 436 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: up for all seventeen games and not have to forfeit 437 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: any That's probably a good place to start, but that's 438 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 1: gonna finish it for us. Bob, we appreciate you stopping 439 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:16,440 Speaker 1: by as always. Uh. He is Bob Labriola, editor of 440 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: Steelers Digested, Steelers dot Com, always bringing the good, uh 441 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 1: good knowledge to us here on the Drive. I'm dale 442 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: Ally here with Matt Williamson. We want to thank Jacob 443 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: Brickford getting us on the air and keeping us on 444 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: the air and getting Bob on the phone most importantly, 445 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: and we want to thank you for listening to this 446 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,399 Speaker 1: edition of The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio.