1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Your tunes about drive on Home of the Black and 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: Goals Steelers Nation Radio. Very appropriate song coming back would 3 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: be run like Hell, because the Steelers ran like hell 4 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: last week. As our Bob, I guess Bob Labriola of 5 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: Steelers Digestive Steelers dot Com can attest, Bob, was what 6 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: took them so long to get to the recipe that 7 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: we thought that they would have heading into this season. 8 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: Don't ask too much of of Ben Roethlisberger. Run the football, 9 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: play defense, and win football games. Well, I mean, I'm 10 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: gonna I'm gonna take a stab at this because I mean, 11 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: I don't know the specific answer because and I don't 12 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: know that there is one that was his clear cut 13 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: because I believe this all along. I mean, if it 14 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: was one answer and it was obvious, I think they 15 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: would have gotten to it a lot quicker, maybe even 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: before the season started and had an opportunity, you know, 17 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: to work through some of those things. Um. But you know, 18 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: I would imagine uh, pretty much an entirely new offensive 19 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: line when I had something to do with it. Um, 20 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: you know, I I do believe that Nausea Harris UH 21 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: certainly is an upgrade, was an upgrade over you know 22 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: what the Steelers have had at running back for the 23 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: past few years. But I do also think that there 24 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: is just a natural um time period needed for him 25 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: to adjust um. And so there was a little bit 26 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: of that. And I also think that, you know, there 27 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: there was also an adjustment between the players and the 28 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: new coordinator, so um it kind of it. I think 29 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger kind of gave us all a little bit 30 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: of a warning when he said, uh, this was before 31 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: the season started. You know, the offense was gonna struggle, 32 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: it was gonna take some time. I don't know that 33 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: we believed him to the degree that he meant um, 34 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: but um, you know, looking back on it, you know 35 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: he was right on the money. I don't think it'd 36 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: be understated too. And you kind of alluded to this, 37 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: just the the youth of the players being asked for 38 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: prominent roles and the newness of it all with the 39 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: exception of seven right, And you know, I was talking 40 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: to Max Starts about this and you know one of 41 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: the things, you know, talking about adjusting to the new coordinator. Um. 42 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: You know, I think a lot of us were enamored 43 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: with the some of the concepts that we perceived we're 44 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: going to be introduced by Matt Canada. One of them being, 45 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: you know, more motion. Um. You know, in motion we 46 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: all perceived to be something that was heavily advantageous to 47 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: the offense. You know, you get the defense moving a 48 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: little bit pre snap, maybe you get better looks for 49 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: the quarterback in terms of what the defense is gonna do. 50 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: But what Max explained to me was, you know, every 51 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: time somebody goes in motion and the defense adjust to that, 52 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: that changes the offensive line call, It might change the linebacker. 53 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: Is uh. And so you're talking now about a not 54 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 1: only a rookie in Kendrick Green, but a guy with 55 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: even less than normal rookie center experience because he only 56 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: played four games that center in his an entire college career. 57 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: And so you know, the motion is something you know, 58 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: we're thinking, boy, this is gonna be good um for 59 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: the offense. Well, yeah, except for you know, does Kendrick 60 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: Green um is heat fully up to speed in terms 61 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: of how that adjusts the defense? What how his calls 62 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: should change, and how does he communicate those on the road? Um. 63 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: So uh, you know, there were a lot of things 64 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: I think at play that maybe well I'll just speak 65 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: for myself, a lot of things that play that I 66 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: didn't really understand the depth and gravity of them, And 67 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: once they're explained to you, you can see how that 68 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: there are a lot of or a lot more moving 69 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: parts to this than uh, send a guy in motion, 70 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: put Ben under center, handleball to your number one pick 71 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: and it's you know, second and two. Mm. Yeah. I 72 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: also thought that Bob that and maybe if it was 73 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: in part because the running game was clicking so well 74 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: last week that Ben Roethlisberger um had his best game 75 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: of the season. I thought he looked sharp, made some 76 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: big time throws. Uh. You know that the touchdown to 77 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 1: Claypool was you know, vintage kind of bend splitting the safeties. 78 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: We saw the throw, you know, coming out again, scored 79 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: a touchdown on the opening drive again and uh for 80 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: the second consecutive and I think that's the first time 81 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: I had that happened since I'm back to back games. Um, 82 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: maybe his demise was a little over exaggerated. Yeah, you know, 83 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: and that there's that, and there's also the you know, 84 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: there are there are those kinds of things that are 85 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 1: you know, critical to every offense. I mean, I'm sure 86 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: that you know, we were we in the media, we're 87 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: getting a little tired of Mike Tomlin talking about staying 88 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: on schedule, not getting behind the chains. And I'm sure 89 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: that you know, us relaying that to the fans, uh, 90 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,559 Speaker 1: kind of had a lot of them may be rolling 91 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: their eyes too. But then you see how significant that 92 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: in fact is. Um, the Steelers weren't behind the chains 93 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: a lot against the Broncos. And so you're looking at 94 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: you know, second and five, second and six a lot 95 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: of times at the worst. And you know, the Broncos, 96 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: even though they came pay time with a you know, 97 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: I think a decent defense certainly ranked in the top 98 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: third of the NFL and just about every defensive category. Uh. 99 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: You know, they're playing on their heels when it's second 100 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: and five or second and six consistently, and you know, 101 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: you can run or pass in that situation. Uh, And 102 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: it sometimes sets up a third and short and you 103 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: can even run in that situation. And I just don't 104 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: think that there's a defense in the NFL that can 105 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: that can you know, stand up to that kind of 106 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: situation over the course of a sixty minute game. It's 107 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: just too difficult, especially when you know you have a 108 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: veteran savvy quarterback who you know has enough weapons, and um, 109 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: you also had a situation and this, to me cannot 110 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: be overstated. And I don't know how much Chokes the 111 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: core four was responsible for it by himself, but I 112 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: didn't hear one Miller's name very much, if at all, 113 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: the whole afternoon, Um Bob. We saw a very high 114 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: percentage of first down runs against Denver and then followed 115 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: up often by a run again on second And before 116 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: the game, Dale and I talked a lot about I'm 117 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: fine with that approach for a game like that, or 118 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: run run, run, punt if you have to. I mean, 119 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: just pound of football, get back to basics. And that 120 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: might not fly against Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, but 121 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: it does against Teddy Bridgewater and Geno Smith. I mean, 122 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: I think this game is going to be more of 123 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: the same. Yeah, And you know, the and the whole thing. 124 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: The other thing that that does that approach math that 125 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: you just mentioned, Uh, it preserves a thirty nine year 126 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: old's body to um, to me, which is way way, 127 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: way more important than a lot of people may want 128 00:07:55,240 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: to admit. And so um, you know, I do think 129 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: we we talked about, you know, the reports of Ben 130 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger's the minds were a little premature. Yeah, as long 131 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: as you protect them. If you don't or can't, um, 132 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: you know, he's and there's more ways to protect them 133 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: than just pass bro. You know, you're talking about the 134 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: whole picture, you you know, keeping him, keeping him upright, 135 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: keeping him from getting hit. To me, that is that 136 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: should always be job one or the number one goal, uh, 137 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 1: for the Steeler's offense in every game they play, because 138 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: if you do that, you allow him to do the 139 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: kinds of things that we saw against Denver. Um. You know, 140 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 1: Mike Tyson, you know, everybody's got a plan until you 141 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: get punched in the face. Well you're try not to 142 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: get punched in the face. There's nothing wrong with avoiding 143 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: that punch. Yeah, and uh right, it's Maths said, it's 144 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 1: not always the blocking that tex in. That's certainly part 145 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: of it. But you run the ball and you make 146 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 1: the opposing defense respect that. Um, you know it just 147 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: it uh, you know it opens things up. I mean 148 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: it was it was obvious Sunday the difference in Ben 149 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger yesterday or yesterday Sunday. Um, all going all the 150 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: way back to maybe the Buffalo game. In terms of that, Yeah, 151 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: I agree. Switching things up a little bit here, Bob, 152 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: is defense still allowed to be played in the NFLNA 153 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: I was gonna ask almost the same question, Bob, I 154 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: think fourth quarter defense is dead? Is extinct? Well, Um, 155 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 1: I certainly can outside a whole lot of examples from 156 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: last week's game. You're saying, I'll tell you that. Um. 157 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: You know, but I do think that the league is 158 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: kind of and the and the people I won't say 159 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: running the league, but running the teams have seen the 160 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: way it's trending, and they've all fallen in love with 161 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. Um. So, yeah, you have a 162 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: situation like the Chargers against the Browns, um or the 163 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: the Chiefs and the and the Bills weren't really that 164 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: bad in the fourth quarter the Ravens game. Uh, certainly 165 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: not a whole lot of defense played in the second 166 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: half of that game. Certainly not by the Indianapolis Colts. Um. 167 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: But you know, I also do believe that. Uh. And 168 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: this was the Dean Smith. I remember this. Dean Smith 169 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: once said, Uh, there comes a certain point in every 170 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: team sport where your opponent becomes the clock. Yeah, and 171 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: you know there's that too. I do believe that there 172 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: was some of that um in play. Steelers Broncos and aggressive. 173 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: There's no doubt. They had the first play of the 174 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: fourth quarters, fourth and from their own forty nine. They 175 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: don't go for that in the first half in a 176 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: in a tie game or even a close game. There. 177 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: The second fourth down that they converted was fourth and 178 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 1: two from the twenty. Steelers they kick a field goal 179 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,679 Speaker 1: in the first half of the game in the situation, 180 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: you know, fourth and fourth and goal from from the two. 181 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: They probably kick a field goal in that situation earlier 182 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: in the game. They had done that earlier in the game. 183 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: They punted in no situations so or or kicked the 184 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: field goal. So it's all relative, and those kind of 185 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: things end up balancing out the fourth down conversions. I'm 186 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: sure people are listening like, well, why not do that 187 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: every time? Well, they're not gonna go three for three 188 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 1: on fourth down conversions every time, and they were, I mean, 189 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: they were the nose of the football from not getting 190 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: that that first fourth downplay, and then this game's over. 191 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: In the game's over. None of that stuff that that 192 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: happened after that happens. And you know the Steelers situation 193 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,479 Speaker 1: on defense too, I think it's you know, worth remembering 194 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: in that you know, you have no Cam Sutton, you 195 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: lose Devin Bush clearly clearly, at least to me, Highsmith 196 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: and T. J. Watt are not um what they were 197 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: in Buffalo physically, and so you know, you're you don't 198 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: have um that off the edge fire coming at the 199 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: quarterback every every snap, every time he drops back. Uh, 200 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: you know you have no nose tackle. Now. I think 201 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: Ingraham had to play a little more snaps than someone 202 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: his age and was brought in to do is probably exactly. 203 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: And then speaking of you know, more snaps, I I 204 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: just I am petrified that, you know, Cam Heyward is 205 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: gonna wear down because to me, that is a loss 206 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: that cannot be m absorbed. So I just think that 207 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: you know, you look at all of these these realistic 208 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: things that the of the situation that you are in 209 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: at that time, plus what the scoreboard is telling you, 210 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: and the fact that you know your offense has not 211 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: has been way better than in the inept group it 212 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: was in some of the previous games, and so you're thinking, well, 213 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: even if they score, if we make them drag you know, 214 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: drag it out each time, uh go down the field 215 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: in pieces? Don't How does Mike Thomlins say it? Keep 216 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: the lid on it. Um, when you get the kickoff, 217 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: you know your offense might be able to burn four 218 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: or five minutes off the clock and maybe get you 219 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: a field goal back just to mitigate some of the 220 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: damage you know from the previous UM offensive series by 221 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: the opponent. And you know you're trying to win the 222 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: game and instead of you know, maximize the performance of 223 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: each individual unit, and um, you know they were able 224 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: to do that. Uh. And let me say this just 225 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: as it's somewhat of a confession for someone who was 226 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 1: thinking a lot of bad things about James Pierre when 227 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 1: he again got beat deep down the sideline in the game, 228 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: where I would say that was the first you know, 229 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: job one is not to allow that to happen. But 230 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: if he doesn't run down um Javonte Williams and save 231 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: four points there, that's a whole different game, right. You 232 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: have you have guys doing things like that too to 233 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: mitigate UM. You know when when James Feer got beat 234 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: deep by Jamaar Chase, he didn't run down UM like 235 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: mixing Joe mixing and save. Uh not that the not 236 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: the that the occasion was was there for him to 237 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: do that. What I'm saying is he didn't have an 238 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: opportunity to make the kind of play to take points 239 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: off the scoreboard as he did, you know against the 240 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: Broncos in the same game in which you know, you 241 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: commit a mortal sin and allow yourself to get beat 242 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: deep in the fourth quarter. So, um, you know, kudos 243 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: to him for uh mitigating some of mitigating a mistake, 244 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: and um, you know that's the kind of complimentary play 245 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: you need because the Steelers aren't that kind of team. 246 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: I don't think we're gonna just line up and a 247 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: bully an opponent or shut down an opponent or um 248 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: not not in this league, not this not in this year. Bobby. 249 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: You mentioned Bush, And after the first couple of weeks 250 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: of season, I got a lot of boy I thought 251 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: Schobert was gonna come in here and this was gonna 252 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: be Lavante, David in in White and Tampa Hammon, Lambert 253 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: or Willis and Bowman and I mean, chill a little. 254 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: I mean I got a lot of those. But I 255 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,359 Speaker 1: really thought this past game, or maybe you know, recently, 256 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: Bush and Shoberg are really starting to gel together and 257 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: understanding where the other is in zone coverage and a 258 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: lot more difficult to throw over the middle and in 259 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: the short zones. Now, yeah, and you know again that's uh. 260 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: There aren't a lot of those players who exist in 261 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: a league the bushes and the show. But you can 262 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: do that kind of stuff. And you know, I'm sure 263 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: it takes time to um to a running mate or 264 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: whatever you want to call him, what the other one, 265 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: what one is to the other one? The end of 266 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: the yang um and you know again it's it's it's 267 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: a lot like I would imagine how the cohesion has 268 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: to develope along the offensive line Showbert and Bush have 269 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: to um get into a rhythm with each other and um, 270 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: you know, because there's also run support. You know, you 271 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: can't if you're used to being the only guy in 272 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: the middle who makes any plays. You know, I would 273 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: imagine that some instincts that you would bring from that 274 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: experience are not the kind of instincts you need when 275 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: you have a guy next to you. It's more what's 276 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: your assignment? Be where you're supposed to be, because he 277 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: can be where he's supposed to be. And you know, 278 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: one of you doesn't have to be a hero. Um, 279 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: you need to be more of a duo. And you know, 280 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: again I agree with you, man, I think that we're 281 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: seeing a little bit more of them, you know, playing 282 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: as a coordinated pair. And you know, again, hopefully they 283 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: can continue that stay healthy because the to me, the 284 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: real key to this team turning it around. To use 285 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: a phrase that I don't even know what that means, 286 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: but it seems to be a popular phrase. H You've 287 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,120 Speaker 1: got to go back to the Buffalo recipe. And so 288 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: the defense has to be playing better than it is 289 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: right now, and I think the key to that is 290 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: the defense being healthier than it is right now. Yeah, 291 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 1: in that regard, you know the bye week coming up here, 292 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: everybody says it just is the bye week coming at 293 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: the right moment. Well, we'll find out after Sunday's game 294 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: whether the bye week is coming into How much I've 295 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: ever seen a season when the byeby comes up, everyone 296 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: doesn't think it's the right moment that way, I guess 297 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 1: because you didn't, the bye week is gonna be Um, 298 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: But Bob, you're feeling a little differently. I know you're 299 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 1: a you're kind of a glass half full kind of 300 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: guy or glass half empty kind of guy. Do do 301 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: you feel differently about this team than you did a 302 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: week ago and we talked to you, yes, Um, And 303 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: you know one of the reasons, like I'm looking as 304 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: we're talking, got the email of the Steelers practice report, 305 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: Devin Bush linebacker growing injury full practice. You know that's uh, 306 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 1: Cam Sutton cornerback, growing injury full practice. I mean, these 307 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: are the kinds of things that have to happen for 308 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: this team. UM. And the other thing I think that 309 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: is fairly significant is it seems to me anyway and 310 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,439 Speaker 1: I'm not in the meetings or or or speaking to 311 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: either one of them, um individually and having them, you know, 312 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 1: pour out, pour out their souls. But I think that 313 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: there is an understanding developing between the quarterback and the 314 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator. I mean it just early on, it just 315 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: seems to be too much friction butting heads. UM. I 316 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: just run what he calls, you know, those kinds of 317 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:17,479 Speaker 1: passive aggressive UM statements in their media availability. UM. And 318 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: it just seems to me now that I don't know 319 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,239 Speaker 1: if the realization has come that nobody gets their way 320 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,160 Speaker 1: A percent of the time, and you know there has 321 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 1: to be some give and take, um, you know, or 322 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: whatever it is. Uh, but it just seems to me 323 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,679 Speaker 1: to be loosening up a little bit. And um, you know, 324 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: I think that the relationship is moving in a better direction, 325 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,479 Speaker 1: maybe not as fast as some people would like, but um, 326 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: and I mean fans, but there doesn't seem to be 327 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to say friction because that's overstating it, 328 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: but uh, it just it didn't seem like they were 329 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: on the same page. Um. But I mean it's kind 330 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: of to be expected when you, you know, you get 331 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: a new boss and he doesn't want to do things 332 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: the way. Well, we've always done it this way. We're 333 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: not going to do it that way anymore. We're gonna 334 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: do it this way instead. But I've had lots of 335 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 1: tests doing it that way, right, I mean, that's that's 336 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 1: the natural reaction for anybody, really. Yeah, and I don't 337 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 1: disagree with that. And the other thing I think that 338 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 1: had to happen, you know, from Mike Matt Canada's standpoint 339 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: was you're not coaching in college anymore. You know, your 340 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 1: scheme and your play calls. That could have a bigger 341 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: impact that call in college, and yes, that is that 342 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: is often the wave then to operate. But in the NFL, 343 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: it's the players league. I mean all of that stuff, 344 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: you know, the um you know, uh whatever motion, it's 345 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: about the Jimmy's and it's more about the Jimmy's and 346 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 1: Joe's right, and so UM, I think that that's that's 347 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: also UM thinking in a little bit. You know, Ben 348 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: is coming to the realization that it's not going to 349 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,719 Speaker 1: be the way it always was. Um, maybe he's not 350 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: going to get everything he wants in terms of the 351 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 1: no huddle or the hurry up or whatever you wanna 352 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: call it, the ability to audible and the weighty moments, 353 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: as Mike Tomlin refers to them, um, you know, and 354 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: Matt Canada is coming to the understanding that, you know, 355 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: I need to do what these these players can do 356 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: as opposed to you know, what I may want to 357 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: do or um strive to do. Uh. You know, I 358 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: thought it was kind of telling. I don't know if 359 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: you guys saw it. I didn't see it until afterwards, 360 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: but on the CBS pregame show Sunday, um Bill Kawer 361 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: had some pretty strong words um for Matt Canada and 362 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: for Ben Um and you know, uh, the guy he 363 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:57,919 Speaker 1: wasn't wearing it at the time, but he's got a 364 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: gold jacket, so you know he's worth us into anyway. Um, 365 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: and um has a little insight into the organization, is right, right, 366 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: It's not like so you know again if it's coming around, 367 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 1: and I keep going back to, you know what Ben 368 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: said before the season started, there's gonna be growing pains, 369 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: it's gonna take a while. The offense is gonna struggle. 370 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,119 Speaker 1: However he he phrased it, and I thought at the 371 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: time he's just you know, blown smoke a little bit. 372 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: He wants to tamp on expectations. I didn't really think 373 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:31,719 Speaker 1: it was gonna be the to the degree that we 374 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: ended up seeing, you know, but uh, you know, maybe 375 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 1: the savvy veteran was right, and it's certainly it certainly 376 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: did struggle. And but now I don't know, it does 377 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: seem like there's a little bit of light at the 378 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: end of the tunnel. And Um, if there was such 379 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: a thing as a a doctor a football off an 380 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: offensive football doctor, Um, that would be the Seattle defense. 381 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: And they're gonna get what the doctor ordered. This is 382 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: not the legion of boom that's coming in here for 383 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: this game over the weekend. And I do believe that, Um, 384 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: you know, we already money. You guys already mentioned the 385 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: doing it a second time an opening drive uh touchdown uh, 386 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: and and doing it again Ben hitting a deep pass 387 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: for the touchdown in that opening drive. I mean, those 388 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: are the kinds of things you know, you do them once, 389 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: as has happened against the Packers. You know, you can 390 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: feel good a little bit about it. I feel a 391 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: little good about it, and then you do it again 392 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: that it becomes habit or you know, part of your 393 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: d n A. And you know, the young guys, the 394 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: offensive lineman, the receivers, all these fairly inexperienced guys, you know, 395 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: can start to feel, hey, we can do this on 396 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: a on a weekly basis. And you know that then 397 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: you create the muscle memory that you need. And um, 398 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: you know, I won't say that the right I won't 399 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: say that the corner has been turned, and um, but 400 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: I don't think you're going downhill anymore. That seems to 401 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: have stopped. Yeah, I agree. Our guest has been Bob Labriola, 402 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: editor of Steelers Digest and Steelers dot Com. As he 403 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: is every Wednesday. We appreciate you stopping by, Bob and 404 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: I will talk to you. I think we might see 405 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: you over at the stadium again on Sunday. Yeah about 406 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: that stretch too. You know, when the schedule came out, 407 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: I don't know that I realized that they played four 408 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 1: out of five at home and even the one road 409 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: game was was in Cleveland. And there's also a by 410 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: tucked in there. You don't have to get on there. 411 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: I don't have to get on the airplane for six 412 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: straight weeks. That's amazing. Yeah, but I mean you'll you'll 413 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: realize that you were weren't on an airplane for six 414 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:48,640 Speaker 1: straight weeks when you're on an airplane for so Yeah, 415 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: there is that as well. So but this is this, 416 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 1: this is the the area of the schedule where they 417 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 1: had to make some hay. Well they made their first 418 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: they they cut the grass last weekend. Now they're gonna 419 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: start bailing a little bit more this weekend, right right, Yeah, 420 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: And you've had some nice sunny weather to to dry 421 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: it up, so it's ready to be bundled. Absolutely, we're 422 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: gonna take a break. He is Matt Williams, and I'm 423 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: Dale Lolly. We appreciate Bob Labriella stopping by as he 424 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: always does. We'll be back with more here on the 425 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:18,199 Speaker 1: Drive right after this