1 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome 3 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Is a another losing Monday here in Pittsburgh. Steelers fall 5 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: to one and three with a come from ahead loss 6 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: to the UH to the New York Jets twenty on Sunday. 7 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: They blow a ten point lead in the fourth quarter. 8 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: UH four turnovers in the game. UM couldn't get the 9 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: stops at the end that they needed. You know, it's 10 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: there's so many things that you can point at UM 11 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: for failure here UH that you know, it's hard to 12 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: single out just one thing. But the playmakers on offense 13 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: not making plays. The d defense, after giving up two 14 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: yards and ten first downs on New York's first nine possessions, 15 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: gives up a hundred forty six yards and two touchdowns 16 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: and nine first downs on the final two possessions. Again 17 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: not playing complimentary football. And it doesn't matter who you 18 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: have at quarterback. If they're not going to play complimentary 19 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: football with each other, it's not gonna work. No, it 20 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: absolutely isn't. I used two words about this game and 21 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: the biggest one is disappointing. I mean, the performance here 22 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: was disappointing. That's below the line. That's a team you 23 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: should beat. Um the season to date is disappointing. Where 24 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: they're at in their schedule is disappointing. Their record. What 25 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: looms ahead, you know? But I also think big picture, 26 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: I'm also excited. I mean, I also think that there's 27 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: this is not a lost cause of an organization. It 28 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: might be a rough year, but I don't look at 29 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: this like, oh this is the Bears or the Commanders 30 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: or any of those type of things. There's stuff to 31 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: build on here. And I'm not trying to be an 32 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: optimist about this right now because I said I was 33 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: gonna be hard on if they lost the Jets, and 34 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: they deserve to be criticized. But I do think some 35 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: things we talked about last week that I'll play here 36 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: and there. It isn't going their way every game, it 37 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: seems like every game, right and it can't quite get 38 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: a bounce, can't quite get the you know that that 39 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: little thing they need. Because I know the scoreboard doesn't 40 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: show it against the Browns, but these were three really 41 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,119 Speaker 1: close games, you know what I mean. It came down 42 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: to point wise except for that last goofy touchdown by Cleveland, 43 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: and they're not getting it done. Um, I'm rambling here, 44 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: but you know, and this is this is somewhat making excuse, 45 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: but I do believe fourth quarter defense in the league 46 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: is nearly extinct. But there were problems in this game 47 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: that are beyond that. Yeah, and you know he would 48 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: be okay at the fourth quarter defense. Not okay, But 49 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: to your point, it's really tough to play because everybody's 50 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: figured everything out and by that point, Um, if the 51 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: Steelers were following suit and also right, and then it's 52 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: back and forth shootout, you know, the Lions game, or 53 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: I mean some of these ones are just opened up 54 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter and all your fantasy points come then, 55 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: you know, like that's a trend in the league. But 56 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: it's not like the Steelers are lightening up the opponent 57 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 1: either whenever late in the games. Um, what was I 58 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: gonna say there? Whatever? Okay? Oh, I understood the Browns 59 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: and even to a lesser extent, the Patriots at the 60 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: end of the game, because I felt like fatigue was 61 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: an issue and they pushed not an excuse in this game, 62 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: not in this one. Yeah, right that they were fresh. 63 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: That's not okay, they were fresh, but there were some 64 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: injuries that also hurt them a little bit. Hayward. Hayward 65 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: was playing nowhere near a hundred percent. He had already 66 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: had his elbow x rated halftime before suffering the ankle 67 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: injury in the fourth quarter. Or uh, make a Fitzpatrick 68 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: was off the field. Um was already coming back off 69 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: of a concussion. You didn't have to row Edmonds out there. 70 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: You didn't have a Killow weatherspoon out there. Uh. You know, 71 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: so they were a little behind the eight ball in 72 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: terms of the injuries. Again not using that as an excuse. 73 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: You can't be able to get off the field. What 74 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: guy is still not there? So you're down, You're down 75 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: a number of starters there, but you have to find 76 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,559 Speaker 1: a way to to to make a stop. I also 77 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: thought that a couple of the calls that went against 78 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: them were you know, first of all, uh, Corey Davis 79 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: dropped that's seventeen yard passed on second and nine. The 80 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: ball hit the ground as he was going. They showed 81 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: it into stadium and I'm like, and the Jets were 82 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: already running up to the line of scrimmage they knew 83 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: the ball hit the ground. Uh. And and that was 84 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: a big game in that in that quarter or in 85 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: that final drive. Uh. They came up, ran up and 86 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: ran to play before replay could look at it's in 87 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: the final two minutes. The Steelers can't even challenge him. Uh. 88 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 1: And then the holding penalty against Tyson and Lulu that 89 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: took the ball from the five down to the nine 90 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: or to the four. Defensive holds you don't see in 91 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: that situation, especially when a guy is I. I talked 92 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 1: to Tyson. Yeah, I talked to Tyson after the game, 93 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: Like you don't see that called often on a defensive 94 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: tackle who's being double teamed. You know, he's like, I'm 95 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: getting oh, I'm getting double team here. I think I'll 96 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: hold this guy so he can't get you know, it 97 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: doesn't usually happen. Um. No, yeah, those are good calls. 98 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: I missed the Davis thing. I'll have to go back 99 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: and watch that one. And um but I agreed on 100 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: the Lulu call, Like, really, you're gonna call that now? 101 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: I'm like, okay, I mean maybe by the letter of law, 102 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: I was, but I wouldn't have called it. It's a 103 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 1: very it's a call it's very rarely made to begin with, 104 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: you see it maybe two or three times a year, 105 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: and to call it in that situation, and I didn't. 106 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: I didn't necessarily think that he held the guy. Yeah, 107 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: I did not think it was egregious as for sure, 108 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: when he's fighting the double team. And there is value too, 109 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: if I could drag both these guys down and there's 110 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: some value in my one takes out your two. But 111 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: I mean, it would have to be pretty egregious for 112 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: me to call it. That's not why they lost the 113 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: game though, No, but it did open up I mean 114 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: to put him at the four. If there's the nine, 115 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: it's a little different play call than what you're what 116 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: you're doing at the four. I want to harp on 117 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: a little bit of the personnel stuff you mentioned, the 118 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: injuries and whatnot you mentioned to Lulu. I'm worried that 119 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: he might be cooked, you know. I mean, he got 120 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: the mode of this past week after what I thought 121 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: was too bad games. This one wasn't any better. Okay, 122 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: we could overcome that. They have other dudes. Hayward I 123 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: thought was better in this game, but he's not Cam, 124 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: and you need him to be Cam without TJ. Last 125 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: year he was CAM without TJ and that was a difference. 126 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: But he's obviously hindered. Um. But some other things though, 127 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: was you know Millette, My biggest problem with the defense 128 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: yesterday was the middle of the field past defense. Well, 129 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: they kept getting They recognized that Arthur Millette is not 130 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: great in coverage, and so every time I kept I 131 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: was sitting and I'm sitting next to Bob Everyold on 132 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: one side and Jerry Doola on the other. And late 133 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: in that game, I said, they're going to whoever Milette 134 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: is covering in this whoever has has milett On he 135 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: played for the Jets know they know that they know him. Um, 136 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: you know, if it's a run down. That's why the 137 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: Steelers ideally put Milette in situations. You know, they put 138 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: him in a nickel when it's second and five or 139 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: third and four, he's gonna help stop the stop the 140 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: stop similar to Hilt in a night and still isn't. 141 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: But when you get into when you get into those 142 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: situations where you have you're playing him and it's it's 143 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: it's second nine or or third, you know, third and 144 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: fourteen or whatever it may be, he's a liability in 145 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: those situations and that would be sutting. That should be something, 146 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: and they could have done that. They could have gone, 147 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: um to James Pierre on the outside and bump Sutton inside. 148 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: But Sutton was also dealing with you know, he had 149 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: a groin that had money injury list, and then he 150 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: had a hamstring late in the game. Um. You know, 151 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: so do you want to put him in the in 152 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: the inside where he's gonna get a lot of change 153 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: in direction? Probably not? Probably not. Um. I didn't know 154 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: all that about Sutton. But Millette had a tough game, 155 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: that's for sure. I thought the linebackers in general and 156 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: coverage had a tough game. And everyone will be like, 157 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: oh the bush stink again. No, he was okay, but 158 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: they were. They got sucked up a lot in play 159 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: action asking him that there were a couple of times 160 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: where he gets matched up, including the play that I 161 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: mentioned there to the Corey Davis where he was in 162 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: coverage on Davis. Davis dropped the ball. The ball, he 163 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: caught it clean up top and when he went to 164 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: the ground, the ball came out and hit the ground. 165 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: You could see the nose of the ball hitting the 166 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: ground on the replay that they showed him the jump right, 167 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: they ran to the line of scrimmage and got another playoff. Um. 168 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: But I didn't think it was the linebacker his best 169 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 1: day in coverage. Um. Again, I thought they were a 170 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: little too susceptible to play action and taking that step forward. 171 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: And I think people have been listening know that I'm 172 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: not a Spillane fan. I can't have him out there 173 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: on can't be on the field, can't be on the 174 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: field again, You're you're playing with with subpar people in 175 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 1: those situations, and they were using him as a an 176 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: outside rushi end. Um. You know, it just didn't make 177 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: I And then you know when he tact when he 178 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: did drop into coverage again a liability. Um, can't do it, 179 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: can't do it. I think he has to be a 180 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: special teamer only Yeah, I agree. Um. So here's the 181 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: other one that you mentioned too, when Edmund's left. Now, 182 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: I was just on the radio with mart Madden and 183 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: I said this exact same stuff, and he ended it 184 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: by saying, well, losing Edmonds killed your defense. Well that's problem, Like, yeah, 185 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: I get that. But whenever Durwin James signed, there's all 186 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: these graphics that there's two safeties in the league that 187 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: you use in a really wide variety of manners. It's Edmonds, 188 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: who I'm not saying Stirwin James, Folks and Derwin James. 189 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 1: But he's very versatile and they can do a lot 190 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: of stuff with him. He lines up in the slot 191 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: an awful lot that would help them a left problem. 192 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 1: You know, he's a matchup guy on tight ends. He's 193 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: a two deep guy. He can play in the box. 194 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: He's the middle of the field defender. That that skill 195 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: set and that versatility and the fact that he's not 196 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 1: bad at any of them. He does not he's not 197 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: great at any of them, but he's not bad at 198 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 1: any of them. They don't have another guy like that, 199 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: like CAZy would have been great for this game, right, 200 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? You know, so losing Edmond's 201 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: hurt more than I initially thought, and when I watched 202 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: it the second time, like they don't really have that guy. 203 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: Now you know they didn't have that guy, and that 204 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: it's a different body type and Normay can't replace that. 205 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: Um you know, Killer brew can't replace that. You know, 206 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: just don't have another guy get picked on to no end, right, 207 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: Edmonds wouldn't you know, so yeah, I mean it was 208 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: just a kind of and they got pressure, but they 209 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: didn't get sacks. He slipped away a future. He was 210 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: pretty I give him a little bit of credit, and 211 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: he got better as the game went on, too. That 212 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: was Wilson's best game, But we said that against against 213 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: I didn't think it was his best. I thought he 214 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: was garbage went on. I didn't think he was Some 215 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: of the throws he missed. He missed some layups that 216 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: were just oh my god. I'm sitting in the press 217 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: box and I could see the play developing. There was 218 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: a play to it to one of the backs and 219 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: uh late in the game, actually he threw the ball 220 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: so far out in front of the running back. I 221 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: thought he was he thrown into a receiver out in 222 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: the flat and there was he either got away from 223 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: him or he just showed awful accuracy. Awful accuracy, especially 224 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: on the short stuff. He made a few throws in 225 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: the game. I'm not a fan. Um, if that's the best. 226 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 1: To your point, if that's the best he's going to play, 227 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: it was better than we played last year. He's done, 228 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: he I mean, and that was not His passer rating 229 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: was still fifty ninety bad he had he had, I 230 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: mean to just two interceptions that were killers. They were 231 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: bad too, Um. But he was hard to get on 232 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: the ground in the pocket. That was the one thing 233 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 1: he did. And he made a couple of throws. Um. 234 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 1: But he's not a big quarterback. No, I don't think 235 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: he's a good quarterback. I mean, don't get me wrong. 236 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 1: I thought he got better as a game went on. UM, 237 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: But I also think they found a weakness in the 238 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: middle field. Yeah, he completed fifty of his passes. That's 239 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: why to me, some of those you know, some of 240 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: the stuff that happened there is particularly the Alu Alu penalty. 241 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 1: If it's if they're throwing the football trying to get 242 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: into the end zone from the nine and they've got 243 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: a throw, that's a that's a win for the defense 244 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: right right, right tight quarters. You know, congested area in 245 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: the red zone. It's always tough for anything. There's a 246 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: reason why they ran that that trick played from the two. 247 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: They don't trust him throwing the football. He screwed up 248 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: the end of the first half throwing. That's that interception 249 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: to Sutton. I mean, you're you're going in for points there. 250 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: You've got at least three here, and all of a sudden, 251 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: you're up thirteen to three at the half and you 252 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: get the ball coming out in the second half. You 253 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: can't make that throw. And he made that throw. I 254 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: don't think he's good, but he did make a couple 255 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: of plays up. Yeah he did, and he was hard 256 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: to get on the ground. Um. But the old line 257 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: they put out there too, not good. And then they're 258 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: making changes in the middle of the game. I mean, 259 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: besides Via Tucker, I didn't think any of their alignment 260 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: played particularly well. Jets, you know, I mean they have 261 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: playmakers and Breece Hall looks like a guy. But um, 262 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: you gotta win that game. You gotta gotta win the game. 263 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: You can't and you can't come let them come back 264 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: and score. You know, with a ten point lead in 265 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: the fourth quarters should be over. You can't turn the football. 266 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: I know, everybody's Kenny Pickett, Kenny Pickett, Kenny Pickett, right, 267 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: he's trying turnovers. When it was all said and done. 268 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 1: The throw that you that he made the friar muth um, yeah, 269 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: that was that was intercepted. He can't do that. No, 270 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 1: that's a no brainer. The pitch. The pitch before that, 271 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: the jalm Warren and his feet very easily could have 272 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: been a turnover. I mean that's you know, you can't 273 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: do those things in those situations. Um. You know those 274 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: two were bad. I mean, like I just said they 275 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: had five turnovers, which they did. The Hail Mary's I 276 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: don't care. In factly they don't even count. But the 277 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: war in one absolutely could have been an and the 278 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: friar Mouth throw was just terrible. Yeah, like he needs 279 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: that's not okay. Um, you know, so learning situations. UM. 280 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: I like the fact that he gave his receivers chances 281 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: to make plays, and we saw George Pickens make some 282 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: plays down the field. Chase Claypool has to come down 283 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: with that football and he can't let them come down, 284 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: and you can't let them come down. Um. I don't 285 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: dislike Claypool, and I think he's had a better year 286 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: than last. Um, but I think it might be time 287 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: to say, just because he's really big and jumps high 288 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis, that he may not be a good contested 289 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: catch receiver or go up and get a guy Plexigo 290 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: Burris wasn't that guy when he when he was with 291 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: the Steelers. I kept hearing, well, he was a basketball player, 292 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: he should really be able to go up and get it. 293 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: And I never saw it ever until later in his career. 294 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: He did. He did okay with it later in his 295 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: career with with the Giants, and maybe that was something 296 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: he learned, but he was not good at high pointing 297 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: the football. It's a totally different skill old and being 298 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: you know, uh, a tall person who can jump high 299 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: on a vertical on a vert machine. I mean a 300 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: lot of little guys Steve Smith. There's there's yeah, there's 301 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: more than just jumping high, right, there's also coming down 302 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: with the football and timing it and high pointing it. 303 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: Trust me. I mean I was with Larry every day 304 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: and he's one of the best that's ever done it. 305 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: And if he would have been five seven, who'd have 306 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: been good at The One guy who is good at 307 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: that and was a big part of the offense yesterday, 308 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: including addition to Pickens, was Pat Fiarmouth. I think he's 309 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: a star now, Yes, I really do. I I agree. 310 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: I I to me, I would start making him the 311 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: focal point of the passing offense. I think he's quickly 312 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: becoming one of the best tight ends in the league. 313 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I really do. And I look at this 314 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: passing attack and think it might not be long before 315 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: Pickens is ahead of Deonte. It's possible, and I think 316 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: Deante is a constant. He didn't have his best game 317 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: and you know that was the guy drops everything first 318 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: of all, right, he gets open. Yeah, he's a really 319 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: good player. But if Pickens can be as good or 320 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: better than him, and Friar moves on this trajectory, look out, 321 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: you know. I mean, the claypool's fine, but you can 322 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: always get the third round receiver. I'm talking big picture here. 323 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: Their pass catchers are pretty darn good and only getting 324 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: much much better. And fire Moves shows at every week. Yeah, 325 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: Farm's got nine targets in this game. Came down with 326 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: seven catches for eighty five yards. I'm of the mind, 327 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: yeah he is. I'm of the mind that he should 328 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: get nine targets every game. Yeah, and it's I'm not 329 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: sure what his targetcount is for the year, but I 330 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: think he's number one on the team or second. Now, 331 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: Deante would have been one coming in, but that's not unusual. 332 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: I think they do recognize that he's, you know, a 333 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: difference maker. At that pen and the other well, the 334 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: other part of the equation is, you know, if you're 335 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: going to go to Kenny Pickett and we'll find out 336 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: about that, I would expect that Mike Tomlin will go 337 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: with Kenny. I'm not shocked, but I would it would 338 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: be the move to make it. But I can understand 339 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: if he didn't make that, because you're going to play 340 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: Buffalo In Buffalo, it's a team that Mr Biski is 341 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: very familiar with, the personnel on the you know, having 342 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: practiced against them all last year. Uh, maybe you look 343 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: and say, if he can't have success against this team, 344 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 1: he can't have success. Um, And it's a road game 345 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: in a very hostile environment. Is that where you know? 346 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: Is that where you want your your your first round 347 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 1: quarterback making his first career start. But I do think mentally, emotionally, 348 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: way he holds himself would handle them better than most rookies. 349 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: I agree. I agree. The argument I've been making about 350 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: that is there's no perfect time to insert a rookie. 351 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's they're all hard, Yeah, that's no doubt. 352 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: But I mean to you to what I was back 353 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: to there with friar Mouth, the acquarding a young quarterback's 354 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: best friend is often the tight end because they're kind 355 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: of always open in the middle of the field. It's 356 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: a nice easy throw. And oh, by the way, this 357 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: guy just goes up and plucks the football from everybody else. 358 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: And he's better against me and coverage. He's a better blocker, 359 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: he's understanding zones. I think since you and I have 360 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: done the show, we've talked about tight ends take a 361 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: while to develop. Well, he's way ahead of the curve, 362 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: way ahead of the curve. Yeah, he's a star, um, 363 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: So I would I would incorporate him more. The other 364 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 1: problem that I had with the game yesterday, Nagie Harris 365 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: got two carries for seven yards in the fourth quarter. 366 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: But that can't happen with the lead. Can't happen with 367 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 1: the rookie quarterback in the game. You should be It 368 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: wasn't like they were killing the Steelers, right, you were 369 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: having six He had eighteen carries for seventy four yards, 370 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: And I didn't think you look great. But you gotta 371 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,880 Speaker 1: stick with it. You gotta stick with it, especially back 372 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: like him. He's a volume back. He gets it gets 373 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: real old tackling him in the fourth quarters. He averaged 374 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: four point one yards a carry. There's absolutely nothing wrong 375 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: with that. The run game was fine. I mean it 376 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: wasn't elite, it was fine. It's getting better. I didn't 377 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: realize it was only two. I didn't go look at 378 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: the numbers, but I kept saying, aren't they run the ball? 379 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 1: You know, we're trying to show off Kenny. I mean, like, 380 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: what the plan here? You had a big power back 381 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 1: that should excel and putting teams away, that's what he's 382 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: here for. Yeah, so I thought that. I thought that 383 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 1: was a mistake. I would have incorporated them more and 384 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: you continue to run the clock. Now, they did take 385 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: some time off the clock, but the more you throw 386 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: the football, the more you open yourself up for bad 387 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: things to happen. You know, stop at the clock keeping 388 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 1: them around. And especially it's not Austin Ekeler. I mean, 389 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: it's not a little scat back, dynamic back. I mean, 390 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: that guy is a big load that is built for 391 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter. Yeah. So I thought that was a 392 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: mistake and they should have continued to run the football. 393 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 1: There grind some clock out and they thought they run 394 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: blocked pretty well. Yeah, I think the run blocking was 395 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: pretty good. The pass blocking was suspect, but you know 396 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: you're gonna have that in today's NFL um. But you 397 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: know the bottom line is the Steelers now one in 398 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 1: three heading to Buffalo this week. Um. I know people 399 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: look at that said, well, you know, the seasons over. 400 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: I get that that feeling about it. I've seen this 401 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: team start owing four in two thousand thirteen, then go 402 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: to get the two and six and finish eight and 403 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: eight that year, and had they had the same playoff 404 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: format that they do now, they would have been the 405 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: seventh seed. So you can say the season's over, you could. 406 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: It's not. All these teams are in flux. I mean 407 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: even the good ones. And you look at the f UM. 408 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: You know, everybody else in the a f C North 409 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: lost yesterday except for the Bengals, so everybody the other 410 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: teams are only two and two, right, I mean, you're 411 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,159 Speaker 1: not in a bad spot. And you know a lot 412 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: of the teams we thought of as playoff teams Colds Tennessee. 413 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: There a lot of bad teams. In fact, the culture 414 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 1: now dead last in d v O. A could see that, 415 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: I mean last, but wow, that's really terrible. I mean 416 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: they've got killed by side note on the cold, So 417 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: I didn't realize this. Everyone knows how they stink against 418 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 1: the Jags. I think they're like they can't beat the 419 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: Titans either, right, I think they're like one in seven 420 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 1: against the Titans the last four years. Like, man, everyone 421 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 1: loves playing you. Yeah, you beat Houston, that's what you 422 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: do in the divisions. There's a lot of problems out there. 423 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: This stretch is very daunting. But I will predict right now, 424 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,479 Speaker 1: Steelers post by it is going to be a pleasure 425 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: to watch. I think they'll be much better. I also 426 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: don't think that they lose all four of these games. 427 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: I don't either. Tennis, Tampa's got some issues. Tomlin wins 428 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: one of these every year, you know. I mean, it's 429 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: just there's a lot of hitts. We don't know how 430 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: Miami is gonna look like. You know, there there's some 431 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: there's some stuff there that you can do. Um, you 432 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: know it. Just don't just assume they're gonna be one 433 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: in seven. No, I don't expect that. I don't expect that. Um. 434 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: You can check out the Steelers we can review. It's 435 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: hosted by Wesley Auler. It's a recap of the previous 436 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 1: games as well as a look at the Steelers next opponent. 437 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: The new episodes drop every Tuesday. They're available on the 438 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: Steelers Mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, m wherever 439 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:10,439 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. I'm Dale Ali. He is Matt Williamson. Uh. 440 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: This is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be 441 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 1: back with segment to right after this