1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: your twenty four seventh home of the Black and Gold 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: SR Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome to the Drive behind Dale Lolly. 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson and Matt. It is a Wednesday 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: here we're we're officially now one week into the free 6 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: agent signing period, and it's almost it's all, yeah, every 7 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: the panic has you know that there's been panic, there's 8 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: been then you get the wow, they signed somebody, and 9 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: you know, so it's only been a week, even though 10 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: it seems like so much longer. But the Steelers have 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: been active, and you know, Tuesday they resigned James Pierre. 12 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: I kind of had a feeling that was going to happen, 13 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: and people were wondering, you know why the Steelers, why 14 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,279 Speaker 1: didn't they pick up the restrictive free agent offer on 15 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: the option on those Well, you can get those guys 16 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: that that restrictive free agent option. It's just a little 17 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: under three million dollars, so you can get that guy back. Instead. 18 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: You you tell, you call the guy and you talk 19 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: to him and say, hey, we like you, we'd like 20 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: to have you back, but not at that price. Understandable 21 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: right right, And I'm sure there's you know, for the 22 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: player you're looking at. You're going, well, okay, you go out, 23 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: you test the market, you see what's out there. You 24 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: have your agent, you know, contact some teams, um, you know, 25 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: apples to apples. You look at it and say, okay, 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: this is this is what I've got out there. I'm 27 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: going to accept this offer to stay in Pittsburgh and 28 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, be a part of something where 29 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: I know what I'm doing. I'm comfortable in the scheme, 30 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: they know me, I know them. Let's get this done. Yeah, 31 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: one hundred percent. And I want to talk Pierre a 32 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: little bit in depth. To be honest with you, I 33 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: think they move, but just you kind of open the 34 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: show with yeah, you know. And we're one week after 35 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: free agency opened, and I think that the tidal wave 36 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: of the first wave is basically behind us now. And 37 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: it wasn't as big of signings or as much money 38 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: as I anticipated, to be very honest with you, I 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: mean a couple of positions defensive tackle comes to mind, 40 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: got paid pretty well, but corners, receivers, backup quarterbacks didn't 41 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: make what I thought. And off the ball linebackers some 42 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: did some didn't a safety you know one, but not others. 43 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: And where I'm going with this is now and I 44 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: think our listeners will like this. From a a fan 45 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: Steelers perspective, I think there are a bevy of opportunities 46 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: to get bargains. Now, maybe they're only one year deals, 47 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: but a lot of contracts that are going to get signed. 48 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: The Steelers third safety, maybe their third edge guy, whatever, 49 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: are going to be very nice deals. Is my guests 50 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: on things just reading the t leaves after a week. Yeah, 51 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: And I think Matt the draft plays a part in 52 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: that as well. You mentioned that defensive tackles getting paid. Well, 53 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: this isn't a deep defense of tackle draft, right. I 54 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: think I think teams looked at that and said, eh, 55 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: you know, we're not gonna be able to get much help, 56 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: you know, in the draft at this position, so let's, uh, 57 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: let's go out and sign somebody. On the converse side 58 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: of that, the cornerback draft is very deep, and so 59 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: if you're looking at it, you're saying, Okay, we can 60 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: we can invest in this guy at whatever amount of money, 61 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: or we can just draft a guy in the second round, 62 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: having the second round, then he'll be our slot exactly exactly, 63 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: and he's cheaper, and he's maybe even more talented, and 64 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: he doesn't have three injuries, and you know, yeah, we 65 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: have less tape on him. But we will roll the 66 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: dice there. I know one will be there there, same 67 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: with tight end, you know. I mean the receiver market wide, 68 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: receiver market is a little depressed just across the board, 69 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: just because there's not a ton of talent available, so 70 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: people aren't going to manufacture talent. But I love this 71 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: Pierre signing. I mean, I don't want to say he's 72 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: a critical piece of the off season because he's James Pierre, 73 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: he's not Rod Woodson, but he's just in terms of 74 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: his defensive contributions, I think you can win with him. 75 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: I mean, if he has to start for six weeks 76 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: due to injuries, I can live with that. If he's 77 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: my dime back because that's how things shape up, I 78 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: can live with that. I mean, he's good enough. I 79 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: think he's actually improving. And the thing that Pete nobody 80 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: thinks about but is obvious with him is he's one 81 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: of the core special teamers on this team. He's in 82 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: every fate. Yeah, Danny Smith was happy with that signing. 83 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 1: You know, and you might lose Snell, you might lose Watt. 84 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: I mean, there's some of those core dudes whose future 85 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: is uncertain right now. And I always look at it, 86 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: and I think the Steelers do the same way that 87 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: you want four or five, even six. Boykin's another one, 88 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: you know whose future is uncertain at this point. That 89 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 1: play every core special team punt, punt return, kickoff, kick return. 90 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: I'm not talking about field goal block or field goal. Yeah, 91 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: you can find big guys. It's a block on field goal, 92 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: but those four are core special teams. Pierre's one of them, 93 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 1: and you really need to give your special teams coach 94 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: five of them. Six is great, but they're gonna have 95 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: every week, and you know who those guys are gonna be. 96 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: The other guys can change in and out, but those 97 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: guys remain the same exactly like kill abrus one, he's 98 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: gonna be back. Pierre's now two. But you got to 99 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,799 Speaker 1: get to five or six and right now Snell, Boykin, 100 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: Watt or would be but they're uncertain. Yeah, and that's 101 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: you know. I made note last week I think it 102 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 1: was or over the weekend. I can't remember the player's name, 103 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: but he's a special teamer for the Patriots, and he 104 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: got resigned to like a two year, seven million dollars deal, 105 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: And I tweeted out, I'm like, wait, what you're You're 106 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: allowed to pay a special teams guy three plus million 107 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: dollars a year. That's that's that's not you know, that's okay. 108 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: Tyler Madekevitch got resigned by the Bills. He's never gonna 109 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: play any defense for them, but they're paying him three 110 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: plus million dollars a year to play special teams. They 111 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: didn't let Edmonds because they can't wait for Matta Caves 112 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: to get on the Yeah, they look like Schwarzenegger and 113 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: the Veto. Yeah, believe it or not, the smart teams 114 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: actually pay guys to play special teams. Absolutely, and that's 115 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: what Watt's been here for. I mean, what you played, 116 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: at most five snaps a game is a fullback. I mean, 117 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: if you're a great special team or you're worth four 118 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: or five million, yeah, I mean it's all well and 119 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: good until you lose a game because you got a 120 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: kick blocked right where you gave up a Yeah. Look 121 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: at the look at the Super Bowl. Yeah, prime example. 122 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: I mean there was there's a long return in there 123 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: that you know, if that doesn't happen to the Chiefs win, maybe, 124 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: but certainly made it easier for them when when they 125 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: get a return inside to five. Yeah. I mean there's 126 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: a million instances in history in the postseason where a 127 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: team gets eliminated because of special teams. Yeah, it's never 128 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: a problem until until stuff starts happening, right, Like I 129 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: live through that that two thousand and nine season when 130 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: when the Steelers kept giving up kick return touchdowns. People 131 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: forget those things, you know, right, that's why you want 132 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: to be good on special teams at least. You may 133 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: not be great on special teams, but you can't be awful. 134 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: You can't be awful. And this was a down year 135 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: for Steeler special teams, but really, over the Danny Smith era, 136 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: they've been middle of the road or better, you know. 137 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: So I always look at it this way too, is 138 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: let's pretend you gave your defensive or offensive coordinator only 139 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: five or six starters and told them you're just gonna 140 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: it's gonna change every week, right, and this year and 141 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: this week week Week thirteen, and our backup running back 142 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: got hurt. Jalen Warren hypothetically, sorry, Danny now you're down 143 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: to four because we had to cut Marcus Allen or whoever, 144 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: or put them on the practice squad because we need 145 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: a running back that can't play special teams. So not 146 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: only do you not have you only we started you 147 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: with five or six core starters. You had to fill 148 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: in the blanks, but we just stole one off you 149 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: in the middle of the season because a tackle got 150 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: hurt or something. Yeah, I mean, it's it's important. It matters, um, 151 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: you know, it's what It does. Drive me a little 152 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: crazy when people complain about Danny Smith. Well, I need 153 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: to fire Danny Smith. Why why? Why? What's your what's 154 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: your issue with Danny Smith? Because Chris Boswell missed a 155 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: punt or a field goal right right right? Like okay? 156 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: Or you know, because Pressley Harvin shank to punt. He's 157 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: not out there in the field with these guys. Right. 158 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: First of all, from from experience, I know very few 159 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: people in the world can evaluate hunters and especially kickers. 160 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: Many scouts myself included, many scouts been doing a long time, 161 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: Like I don't even try. I just know I could 162 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: go in. What's the hang time? You know? Does he 163 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: make the kick? Yeah? Give me numbers, but I don't know. 164 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: It's like evaluating a golf swing. I mean, it's a 165 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: different beast altogether. We let our special teams coach figure 166 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: out who he likes who he doesn't, and some special 167 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: teams coaches aren't great at evaluating the actual specialist, you know, 168 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: the kickers. It's such it's such a mental position. But 169 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, the thing about, boy, you got to 170 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: fire your special teams coach. I would only listen to 171 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: that from one of the fifty people in the world 172 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: who's done it, because it's different than hey, you get 173 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: a fire offensive coordinator defense cord in your head. Coach. 174 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: I'll at least listen to opinions of people like me 175 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 1: and you that have done this a long time. But 176 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: special teams coach, I don't even pretend to know, let alone. 177 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: I mean all these people that if you break down 178 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 1: at every snap of special teams and you can tell 179 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: me what the calls are and all the you know, 180 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: the wedge busting and all the stuff that I do 181 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: not know a thing about. I'll listen to your argument 182 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: about whether you should hire or fire a special teams coach. 183 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: But nine point nine percent of the people listening don't 184 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: have a clue, including me. Well that's you know, so 185 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: that thing makes me think of Pressley Harvin. There there 186 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: are people out there who think that Pressley Harvin had 187 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: a bad year last season because he wasn't among the 188 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,199 Speaker 1: leaders and in yards per pint average, they asked him 189 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 1: to kick directionally a lot. Oh, by the way, if 190 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: you can look these numbers up, folks, the Steelers, Pressley 191 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: Harvn was number two in the league last year, number 192 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: two in yards per yards per return allowed. Okay, they 193 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: allowed like it was like four points yeah, four point 194 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: eight yards per return. Now that's partly on him, but 195 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: that's partly on their coverage as well, and the scheme 196 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: and the scheme and and and the directional kicking. So 197 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: they'll give up. We saw Pressley Harvn has a big leg. Yes, 198 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: if he's just kicking the ball just to kick it 199 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: as far as he can, I guarantee you he can 200 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: kick with anybody in the league, right like a preseason 201 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: game in Denver, in that air, and all you want 202 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: to do is see how far he can kick the ball. Well, 203 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: his numbers would change. Yeah, yeah, But you know they're 204 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: doing this so that they don't give up a long return. 205 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: That's their you know, they just want to flip the field, 206 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: get your forty plus your you know, your forty forty 207 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: one forty two yard net and get out of there 208 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: without giving up, you know, without the possibility of a 209 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: long return. So they kick directionally, and so therefore you 210 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: bring back Pierre, right, because your gunners are important and 211 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: you trust them. Right. Yeah, he's young, and he's a 212 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: contributor on defense, and a better contributor I think than 213 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: people realize. I think he's a decent corner Yeah, I think. 214 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: You know, people he struggled two years ago when he 215 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: had a chance, well they asked him to be a starter, 216 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: which was that was a confidence issue. Yea, And that 217 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: happens to a lot of cornerbacks in the league. You know. 218 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: Patrick Peterson talked about it, you know when he had 219 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: his press conference. Uh, you know, the one of the 220 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: biggest things that that you work on in the off 221 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: season is not just your body, but he said, your mind. 222 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: You have to you have to be confident in what 223 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: you're doing. And if you're not confident, more so maybe 224 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: than any other position. It's not quarterback, Yeah, it's like 225 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: a hockey goal you Yeah, yeah, it's to happen, But 226 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: how do you bounce back from it? That that position, 227 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: you know, the cornerback position is such an above the 228 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 1: neck position. I think that's what happened with Cortez Allen. 229 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: Cortez Allen had had the skill set to be a 230 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: good cornerback in the NFL, but he lost his confidence 231 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: and he didn't get it back. Well. I think James 232 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: Pierre showed last year that he got his confidence back 233 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: because he came out and he played well for them, 234 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: and to no fault of his own, maybe he was 235 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: asked to do more than his talent levels suggests. He 236 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: was competing for a starting job two years ago. Right, Yeah, 237 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: And if you think about it, the two big touchdowns 238 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: that he gave up that that, you know, really kind 239 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 1: of shook him a little bit and got people down 240 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: on him. He gave up a couple of long touchdowns 241 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: to Jamar Chase. He's not the only guy that's given 242 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: up long touchdowns that Jamar Chase, right, right, right, Yeah, 243 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: maybe that's right. So you know there's there's some of 244 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: that as well, And so how do you bounce back 245 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: from those things? I thought he did that well last year, 246 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: you know, They weren't necessarily counting on him to do 247 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 1: that last year, you know, they brought in other guys, 248 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: but he earned his spot on the roster and prediction 249 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: in the next five to ten years, Pierre won't be 250 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: the only Steeler corner that gives up a long touchdown 251 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 1: to Jamar. Jay's pretty I think that's one hundred percent true. Yeah, 252 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: even if they draft Joey Porter or Gonzalez or Weatherspoon 253 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: in the first round, it happens. I think it's still 254 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: going to happen. Well, that's that position. You know, there's 255 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: so much variance from year to year at the cornerback position. 256 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: There is you know, a guy who's numbers and stuff 257 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: are not very sticky year to year. You know, Xavian 258 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: Howard has looked at as a great cornerback. He didn't 259 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: have a very good year last year. No, Jayla Ramsey's 260 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: looked at as a great quarterback. He didn't have a 261 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: very good year last year. Right right now. That doesn't 262 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: mean that they both can't have good years in twenty 263 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: twenty three because they've done it in the past. But 264 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: that position, more so than any I think any other 265 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: position in the league, including quarterback, changes from year to year. 266 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: The top guys changed from year to year. Oh yeah, 267 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: because a lot of times what happens is you get 268 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: that reputation, well, he's a shot that we're not going 269 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: to throw the ball at him anymore. And then and 270 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden, somebody says, well, we're going 271 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: to try him this game. Yeah, and you do it 272 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: and it works and like okay, So then the next 273 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: team sees what you did to that guy and they 274 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: do the same thing. So if that guy is struggling 275 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: to stop something, you know, a stop and go route 276 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: or whatever it may be, you know, double moves and 277 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: things of that nature, you're going to see that constantly. Yeah, 278 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: no doubt. And you use the Howard and Ramsey examples, 279 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: which are really good examples, and both those guys are 280 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: up in age. But you can look at the opposite 281 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: with Peterson, Well, people think he's kind of done, but 282 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: he had a really good year last year, right, you 283 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: know what I mean. He struggled at the end in 284 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: Arizona because they were still asking him to be Patrick Peterson, right, 285 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: because that's who he had been for that team for 286 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: so long. Hey you got you got the other team's 287 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: number one receiver. You know, by the way, you're playing 288 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: for the for the Cardinals, who you know, we're four 289 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: and twelve right now. Are you real motivated to go 290 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: out there and throw your body around? And Ramsey wasn't 291 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: with the Rams as year either, by the way. I mean, yeah, 292 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: it's not very motiv And that's part of it though 293 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: as well. I mean, you know, if you're not playing, 294 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: you know, you get into the late November and your 295 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: team's out of it, right and you're a guy with 296 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: a reputation like that, are you gonna throw your body 297 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: around like he did, you know when you were twenty 298 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: three trying to establish that reputation. Probably not. You know, 299 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: free agencies coming up, you don't want to get hurt 300 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: and kind of like you mentioned with scheme, let's say, 301 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: cornerback X is really good against the Mike Evans of 302 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: the world, but not the Antonio Browns. Yeah, and this 303 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: particular year in seventeen game schedule, you had eleven Evans types, 304 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: where the year before you had eleven Brown types. You know, like, 305 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: you know, it's got a tough draw. Well, that's a 306 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: big part of it as well, and people don't look 307 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: at that. I can remember doing that two years ago 308 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: when the Steelers ran the gauntlet of top quarterbacks in 309 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: the league. I mean if you were if you were 310 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: going to rank to like the top twelve quarterbacks in 311 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: the league, the Steelers played like nine of them. I 312 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: think we did that and they yeah played them. Yeah, 313 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: I mean that's going to affect your quarterbacks numbers as well. Yeah, 314 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: or if you lose T. J. Watt for the year 315 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: or what you know. So there's there's a lot that 316 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: goes into it. That position again, more than any other position, 317 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: um is so based. It's it's matchups, it's you know, 318 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: who's attacking you when you know, are you playing half 319 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: the year on you know, with a sore hamstring, things 320 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: of that nature. Again, there's there's so much that goes 321 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: into that position. That and the other thing about it 322 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: is how many times do you see a wide receiver 323 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: run a go route and then head straight to the 324 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: straight to the sideline and they run the next receiver 325 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: in there, the cornerbacks jogging back to the line of scrimmage. 326 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: He's gonna do it again, right right. It's like there's 327 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: the opposite of true the line of scrimmage. You know, 328 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: where pass rushers like I had a couple three three 329 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: really rough pass rushes. I'm gonna go to get a 330 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: breather left tackles like that'd be nice to get the 331 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: trot off, you know, right and back to the corner thing. 332 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: And confidence is super important. Namdie Awesome was the best 333 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: example ever. I mean, yeah, that guy was a cover 334 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: three Seattle three high you know, zone corner for the 335 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: Raiders and was first team Pro Pro Bowl, first team, 336 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: you know, all Pro time and time again. Goes and 337 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 1: breaks the bank with the Eagles and they say, we 338 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: want you to be don and press it the line 339 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 1: of scrimmage. We stunk what he does. What he does, 340 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 1: like you know, you're not signing You're not signing Richard Sherman. 341 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: And then ask him to play man defense at the 342 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: time the picture that throws one hundred and five, we 343 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: want you to throw curveballs like no, you know, use them, 344 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Yeah, that's that's such a 345 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: big part of that position. You know. That's that's why 346 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: you know, when when people were even this year, people 347 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: wanted the Steelers to sign Garrett Bradberry or James Bradberry. 348 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Yeah, he's his own corner folks. He's his 349 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 1: own corner he is, that's all he does, and he's 350 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: expensive one. Yeah, so you know it doesn't fit. It's 351 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: the same thing when people we are we're banging the 352 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: drum for the Steelers to sign Richard Sherman. M No, 353 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't fit. People recognize it in the front seven 354 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: or used to back. You know, he's a three four guy. 355 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: He's a four three guy. They don't want that type, 356 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 1: but they don't think about it at corner or nearly enough. Yeah. 357 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: I mean, so, you know, I think the Steelers, you know, 358 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: people wonder, you know, why have the Steelers missed on 359 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: some cornerbacks. And you've talked about this a lot. When 360 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: you're when you're looking at guys in the you know, 361 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: when you're evaluating cornerbacks, Um, they don't play a lot 362 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: of press man coverage. Watch every saf you possibly can 363 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,679 Speaker 1: of corners and wide receivers in press man and you 364 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: get sometimes you might get ten, yeah, yeah, twenty. It's 365 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: just you know, but if that's what you're gonna ask 366 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: your cornerbacks to do at the NFL level, then you're 367 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: gonna be You're it's it's gonna be a projection. Yeah, 368 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: and we've talked about this too. I mean, our our 369 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: team's heavy zone, heavy man, yes, but it's like sixty 370 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: forty fifty five forty five. Yeah, if you're still playing. Yeah, 371 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: nobody plays straight man coverage one of the time in 372 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: the NFL. Oh right, right, right, because quarterbacks will pick 373 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: that apart, right, Or it's situational like if we're playing 374 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: soft zone within the ten yard line, we're gonna get 375 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 1: eaten live, So that zone corner has to play a man. 376 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: Well guess where the balls go. Yeah, that's you know, 377 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: when when the people were talking about the Steelers needing 378 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: after the twenty sixteen AFC Championship game against the Patriots, 379 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: they need to play more man, they need to play man. 380 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: They did. They they've started playing more man after that. 381 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: But you have to you have to rebuild your cornerback 382 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: room to do that. First of all, you can't just 383 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: you can't just suddenly start playing man with William Gay. 384 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: That's not what he does. The corner they Art Burns 385 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: didn't work out. Yeah, good cornerback, but not that kind 386 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: of cornerback, you know. So it does take some time 387 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: to adjust. But if you go out there and just 388 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 1: play straight man, against Tom Brady. Tom Brady's gonna pick 389 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: that apart two yes, yes, And to bring a full circle, 390 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 1: it doesn't sound like much, but the familiarity with Pierre 391 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 1: and the scheme and you know what he does well, 392 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: and you know what he you know, he knows the system. 393 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: It's very valuable. And I wish Cam Sutton in the world. 394 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: I hope Patrick Peterson does really well. But a lot 395 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: of corners that change teams aren't as good when they 396 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: changed teams. Yeah, because again that it goes back to 397 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: the confidence. They knew what they were doing with the 398 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: with the old in the old system, yea. And they 399 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: know exactly they knew what everybody on the defense was going. 400 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: That was one of the things about Cam Sutton. He 401 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: knew he knows what everybody on the defense is doing 402 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 1: on a give him play. Well, he's not going to 403 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: know that as much in Detroit. And it's absolutely an 404 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: ego position and you have to have a huge ego 405 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: to do it. But just think of it from a 406 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 1: perspective of I walk on this new team after signing 407 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: a new contract as a corner, I'm gonna show him 408 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: the man and I'm in practice every day against Antonio 409 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: Brown or whoever the guy's best receiver is with no 410 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: pass rush, no help, and I'm looking bad, you know, 411 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: like I got to egg on my face and people 412 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: are looking at me, going, why do we give this dude? 413 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: Dolls struggling? Yeah, yeah, and maybe you were the most 414 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: confident guy in the league, but you lost ten percent 415 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: of that with these new teammates that you don't know 416 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: have your back or not, or does this coach even 417 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: like me? You know, I barely don't. Yeah, hey, we're 418 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: gonna take a break. He is Matt Williamson. I am 419 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: Dale Lelly, and just a reminder for everybody. All next 420 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: week or not all next week, but Monday, Tuesday and 421 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: Wednesday of next week you can hear Matt and I 422 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: live from nine to twelve here on Steelers Nation Radio. 423 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: From the NFL Spring meetings down in Phoenix, Arizona will 424 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 1: also be doing. You can watch the videos of the 425 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: show on Monday and Tuesday on the Steeler's YouTube channel. 426 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 1: Go check that out. Go to YouTube and do a 427 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: search for Steelers. You'll see the official Steelers broadcast channel 428 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: on there, and you can probably easily find us at 429 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: those videos on there. But we're gonna have some great 430 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 1: guests lined up. We'll see who we get down there, 431 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: but it should be a great time. Should get a 432 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: lot of stuff happening down there, and certainly a lot 433 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: of NFL talk. Is everybody from the NFL. After converging 434 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: on Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago, now converged on Phoenix, 435 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: and we'll be live at the built Moore built more 436 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 1: complex down there in Phoenix. So looking forward to that. 437 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: But we're gonna take a break. We'll be back with 438 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: more here on the Drive right after this