1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio Down. 3 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: Matt um Lots to talk about today, lots to get 5 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: to a lot of different things. The NBA had his 6 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: draft lottery Tuesday. Now exactly sure how that goes, but um, 7 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: I think it's the top twelve teams or something like that, 8 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: or how non playoff teams all go into the lottery 9 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: and you get the number of ping pong balls depending 10 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: on where you finished at. Yeah. Yeah, if you were 11 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: the best non playoff team, you get one. Um, so 12 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: it really keeps you from tanking for a certain player. Yeah, 13 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: I mean if Lebron's coming out, everyone knows that two 14 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: years in advance, you can set yourself up the stink 15 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: so that I think that Detroit Pistons had the second 16 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: or third most ping pong balls in They weren't they 17 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: weren't the worst team, but they ended up winning the 18 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: draft lottery last night. I think the same thing happened 19 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: for Sidney Crosby. Actually got me to thinking, would you 20 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: like to see the NFL go to a lottery system 21 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 1: like that. Maybe. I mean, you wouldn't see the suck 22 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: for luck anymore, right, stuff, that's interesting. I mean you'd 23 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: still not guarantee, but if you're the worst team in 24 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: the league, you're probably gonna end up with an early pick. 25 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: The I know in the NBA, the worst you can 26 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: do if you have the worst record, I think it's 27 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: three or four. Yeah, you can't fall below that. Because 28 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: my son was actually explaining me what's going on in 29 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: Hawk this year because there's an expansion team coming up 30 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: and whether they Seattle or whatever, and he said they 31 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: could get the first overall pick, but they can't get 32 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 1: worse than three. Yeah, I think so that that's interesting. Um, 33 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: maybe you know there's a marketing campaign. The NFL is 34 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: so good at creating stories. I wouldn't do it the 35 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: night of a playoff game like they did, though, I 36 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: would make it something something in the year, Right, there's 37 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: some kind of boring time of the year. Not after 38 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: the Super you do it after the Super Bowl. Um, 39 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: you know, right after the like maybe the next weekend 40 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: after the super Bowl. There's nothing going on the combines upcoming. Okay, 41 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: here's what the draftwards is gonna be. Now you know 42 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: the combine. No, I'm fine with it, and I think 43 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: I would do it like that that if you're if 44 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: the Texans go oh and seventeen, they definitely get the 45 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: most ping pong balls, you know what I mean. I 46 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: mean you want the best team or the worst teams 47 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: to have the best shot to improve, and that's how 48 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: the whole thing is built. But yeah, I mean it 49 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: would be probably less tanking. I think the problem that 50 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: you would have any in the NFL doing it is 51 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: that there are more non playoff teams and there are 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: in those other leagues that do it that way, right, 53 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: Maybe it's just the top you have. Yeah, you have 54 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: fourteen non playoff teams, so eighteen of your teams would 55 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: then therefore get a ping pong ball. What happens if 56 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 1: you're eighteenth best? You're right, the best non playoff team 57 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: has one ball in there and it happens to get 58 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: picked and they get the top overall. You think about 59 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: the Steelers, what was it two or three years in 60 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: a row they were the next one up, you know, 61 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: they were just missed the playoffs by half a game 62 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: the one year and whatnot if they end up with 63 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: the first overall pick, you know, one of the last 64 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: couple of seasons and get Chase Young or a quarterback 65 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: or you know, I mean, and there's other examples of 66 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: vikings or just missed team the one year if they 67 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: were landed Trevor Lawrence. Wow, you know, it's a game changer. Yeah, 68 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: it's a game changer. Absolutely. So maybe just a top 69 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: ten teams maybe, yeah, that would be and be bad. 70 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: But then then people might tank to not be eleven. 71 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: You know, like how the Eagles, you're you're still guessing, 72 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, you're still kind of trying to figure 73 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: out where you're gonna be at, and it'd be one 74 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: game at the end of the year, you know, like 75 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: the Eagles pulled Jalen Hurts there their last game basically 76 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: to lose. The only other problem with that is, okay, 77 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: let's let's go back to go back to the make 78 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: of Fitzpatrick trade. Steelers trade a first round pick from 79 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: make of Fitzpatrick the following year. Um, well, what you 80 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: see happen in the in the NBA in particular, is 81 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: that if that pick is a lottery pick, then you 82 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: get the following year's pick or something like that. There's 83 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,239 Speaker 1: always kind of some continuency. Yeah, that would make some sense, 84 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: you know, because you know, especially if I'm the team 85 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: receiving the pick, I want to look at the team 86 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: I'm dealing with and me like, they're pretty bad and 87 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: I'm sending them a player. They're gonna get better, you know, 88 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: maybe they'd be less movement of first round definitely. Yeah. 89 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: Trades I think are a minus. Yeah, you know what 90 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: I mean. Um, it's interesting, and plan on talking about hoops, 91 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: but I haven't read referenced Michael Lombardi a lot. And 92 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: you know he's read his book and he grew up 93 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: in this business with Al Davis and Belichick and all 94 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: the all the evil genius. Right, absolutely, but he knows 95 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 1: the thing or two. And I listened to his podcast 96 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: and he's a Philly Atlantic City guy, so he grew 97 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: up his whole life as a huge Sixers fan and 98 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: dr J and he was talking about the Sixers because 99 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: they just got eliminated to a team that probably was 100 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: lesser than them. Atlanta knocked him off shockingly, and he said, 101 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: a big problem with that team, and I wanted to 102 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: just talk about this from it a tanking perspective in 103 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: his opinion, And I don't watch much basketball he does. 104 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: With that team in particular, they were built off a 105 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: total tank. I mean, yeah, they just flat I told 106 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: you we're gonna stink. Trust the process. I think they 107 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 1: said a hundred times and now they've got all these dudes. 108 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: But his thoughts on the Sixers are there's no mental toughness. 109 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: Losing was okay and even accepted and even promoted during 110 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: a lot of these guys time with the organization. They 111 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: aren't particularly hard on the players. They're not in the 112 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: best shape, you know, like none of that foundation. In 113 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: his opinion, I'm just repeating it. You know, I don't 114 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: know basketball. I think I think him there I think 115 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: in basketball. And this is kind of the thing with 116 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: the Bronze a little bit. You have a very young raw, 117 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: you end up having a very young roster because you 118 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: don't have so what we saw Cleveland do. Okay, they 119 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: have a little bit of success a couple of years ago. 120 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: They're they're the hot team, and it didn't work out. 121 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: You know, they had too many young guys on that roster. 122 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: So and then they go out last year and they 123 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: had a bunch of veteran guys who were at more 124 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: established and more established so you're trying to you're trying 125 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 1: to establish that culture because you just don't have it 126 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: because you got rid of everybody, you know, you got 127 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: rid of the Joe Hayden's when you were when that rebuilding. 128 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: They didn't have to move on from Hayden and Mitchell 129 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: Schwartz and some guys. Some of those guys good career 130 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,799 Speaker 1: as a tough positions to fill. Never reminds me. Actually, 131 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: the Jags, I don't think that. I'm sure of it. 132 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: The Jags didn't stink on purpose, but they went many 133 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: years picking in the top five, the top ten, missed 134 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: on a lot of those picks, and we're really young, 135 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: put together one good year where they came here and 136 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: one of the office in the in the postseason. But 137 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: they didn't have a foundation either, you know. I mean 138 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: they were all young dudes from a losing organization. And 139 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: then there's guy over over praise guys. And then I 140 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: was thinking about Miami too, like I think Miami is 141 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: the latest true tank. You know, they were tanking four 142 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: to a. They didn't end up with the first overall 143 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: pick type of deal, but then they did bring a 144 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: lot of New England culture type guys in and then 145 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: they let them go and then but they were paid 146 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: for the van noise and those type of guys. So 147 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: that leaves me. You mentioned that that that Jaguars team, 148 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: they had the number six defense in the league. They 149 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: were top ten defense three, had a lot of those 150 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: guys that were in place in twenty seven teen when 151 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: they actually went from being third. They went from from 152 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: a team that went uh four or three and thirteen 153 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: to ten and six. The big ad for them that 154 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: year was Leonard four Nette that that was his rookie year. 155 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: They went from from twenty two in rushing in two 156 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: thousand sixteen to number one in rushing in twenty seventeen. 157 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 1: Uh they're leading rusher in twenty six team was t. J. 158 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: Yeldon with four sixty five yards. Four. Yeah. Four Nett 159 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: went over a thousand that next season. Uh So they 160 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: went from three and thirteen to to uh, I'm sorry, 161 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: went from twenty second and rushing to first. That helped 162 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: the defense as well, because they went they were a 163 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: good defense, they went to being a great defense. They 164 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: were six. They had a thousand and thirty plays against 165 00:08:55,880 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 1: run against him in sixteen run again them the following series. Yeah, 166 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: they were in the field as much so they jumped up. 167 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: They were the team playing with the lead at the 168 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: end of the game, as opposed to run on and 169 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: run on. I sent you those numbers of the day 170 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: because I wrote about this on the d K Pittsburgh 171 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: Sports um. The improvement for teams over the last the 172 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: teams that have taken a running back in the first 173 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: round the last the less ten times have improved by 174 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 1: an average of two point three wins per season. That's 175 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: a huge jump. They go from six point nine to 176 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: nine point two and a sixteen game schedule. Yeah, and 177 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: that includes some teams that like Melvin Gordon, and I 178 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: went all the way back to the fifteen draft that 179 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: was ten. That was ten first round. So you know, 180 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: the Chargers went from nine and seven to four and 181 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: twelve when they drafted Melvin Gordon even though uh you know, 182 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: Brandon Oliver had been their leading rusher. Gordon came in 183 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: and rushed for sixty one yards and next seaed I 184 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: think he got hurt that he was a lot better 185 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,599 Speaker 1: a second year. Yeah, he got he got hurt that 186 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: rookie year. But they went from nine and seven to 187 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: four and twelve. All the other teams on the list 188 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: essentially got a little at least a little bit better, 189 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: and even the ones that didn't, for example, you look 190 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: at you mentioned Seattle even drafting a Shard Penny, the 191 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: one because he did didn't really work out, but they 192 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: discovered Chris Carson. They the reason Penny didn't work out. 193 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: Somebody else did. Yeah, somebody else did. One of the 194 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: One of the other teams that saw a step back 195 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: was the two thousand eighteen Patriots, who when they took 196 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: to Sony Michelle, they had been thirteen and three. They 197 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: were pretty good to start. They went to the Super Bowl. 198 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: That's the year they lost to the Eagles in a shootout. 199 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: Um They were tenth and rushing that season at thirteen 200 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: and three, with Dion Lewis leading the way with eighty 201 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: six yards. But defensively, they were twenty nine in the 202 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: league that year. They had a thousand and twenty two 203 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: plays run against them, uh a lot. The next year 204 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: they were They jumped to twenty first because they went 205 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: from tenth and rushing to fifth and rushing. And Michelle 206 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: was even great. He was an upgrade, and he was 207 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: an upgrade. He had nine thirty one yards as a 208 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: rookie but in the Super Bowl he had eighteen carries 209 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: for ninety four yards and scored the game's only touchdown. Yeah, 210 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: and he's a lot different than Dealon Lewis. Dean Lewis 211 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: was not the closed people all type of absolutely. Yeah. 212 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: But they went from they had been a thirteen and 213 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: three they went to eleven and five the next season, 214 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: but they won the Super Bowl. They won the Super Bowl, right, 215 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: and a thirteen win teams probably not gonna go up, 216 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: certainly not right interesting, but even like the Edwards Hilaire 217 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: pick last year, you know, the Chiefs go from twelve 218 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: and four to fourteen and two. Uh, They're leading rusher 219 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: in nineteen was Damian Williams a four yards. Edwards Hilaire 220 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: had eight oh three. Last year. They improved from twenty 221 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: third to sixteenth overall rushing. It's a big deal. It's 222 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: a big deal that the jump in the defense wasn't great. 223 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: They went from seventeen to sixteen, but they went from 224 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: playing a thousand and forty three plays to a thousand 225 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: and twenty two. I mean, I think it's pretty clear 226 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: and this shouldn't shock anybody. I mean, last year's side, 227 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: because of we talked about this a lot. I mean, 228 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: the rookie running backs took a while. Running backs should 229 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: give your team a shot in the arm, absolutely, mean 230 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: a shot of adrenaline, a new guy there with you know, 231 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: first round talent, so you're probably getting because you know, 232 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: we'll can see running backs will fall a little bit. 233 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: And if you're taking a running back the end of 234 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: the first round, he's probably the fifteenth best player in 235 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: the draft or so, especially now, especially nowadays, right these 236 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: last few years. Um, you know, Michelle doesn't really fit 237 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: that mold, but that they thought so. Um, and he's 238 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: young and he's got fresh legs as opposed to something 239 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: that's been beat up for a while. Goes into a 240 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 1: good team, presumably because not many of them are going 241 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: in the top ten. You know, usually you're gonna go 242 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: to a better team like the Chiefs or Seattle or 243 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: you know, and it gives you a shot in the 244 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: arm to win now, and that that's up. Yeah, I 245 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: I think when you when you look at it, um, no, 246 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean the Steelers are gonna go seventeen and 247 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: oh no, no, no, no, they'll probably lose more than 248 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: they do. But the average improvement in rushing ranking with 249 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: those first roundbacks, and the first roundbacks were Edwards Hilair, 250 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: Josh Jacobs, Sae Kwon Barkley, Rashad Penny, who obviously you 251 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: know hasn't worked out, Sony Michelle, Leonard Fournett, Christian McCaffrey, 252 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: is Zekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon. Because there's some 253 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: hits and there's sometimes they're all superstars, but there's some 254 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,079 Speaker 1: great ones. So the average ranking rushing ranking went from 255 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: eighteen point eight on average to nine point nine. That's 256 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: that's massive, that's a that's a huge improvement they averaged 257 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: over Steelers could get the twenty Yeah. Again, that's a 258 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: massive improvement. Yeah, and that's not asking that much. The 259 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,599 Speaker 1: average plays run against them for each each one of 260 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: those defenses, with those rookie running backs on board, the 261 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: average about twenty four fewer plays over the course of 262 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: the season. It's a lot. That's almost half a game's 263 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: worth of place. And that's an awful right. So you know, 264 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: I think you kind of you look at the rookie 265 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: running backs and you say, well, how can how can 266 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: this help the Steelers win? Now, Well, that's you know, 267 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: it's gonna make your defense better. Because they're gonna play 268 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: fewer snaps all of a sudden. Now, maybe you know, 269 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: t J Wat instead of tapping out for for a 270 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: couple of you know plays here and there in the 271 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: third quarter to save himself for the fourth quarter, says, Oh, 272 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: we only played twenty snaps in the first half because 273 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: because we dominated at the time of possession, so I 274 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: don't need to tap out as much. Yeah, I like 275 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: that a lot. I mean, I sent you some snaps 276 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: per game stuff. Actually recently. It's one of my my, 277 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: my dorky spreadsheet stuff and it doesn't sound like much, 278 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: but the discrepancy of a couple of snaps per game 279 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: over the course of a year is big, especially now 280 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: that you're playing seventeen games. You're playing seventeen games, right, 281 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: And it's not like hockey players skating up in back 282 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: the ice one one extra time, or a basketball player, 283 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: you know, having to go to length of the court 284 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: and turn around to it again. I mean, one football play. 285 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: It's hard on everyone out there. Maybe the free safety 286 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: gets a couple of plays off, or running back or 287 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: whide receiver half as is a route on a run play. 288 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: The majority of the human beings on the field for 289 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: one snap. Especially the guys in the trenches are right. 290 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: You know, people ask why why is t J. Watt 291 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: tap out so much? He's two hundred and fifty pounds 292 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: playing against the guys who were three hundred pounds, often 293 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: two of them. He's often getting double team there, and 294 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: there's times he gives up a hundred pounds of the 295 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: guy blocking him. Yeah, you know, right, yeah, and then 296 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: you get and then you gotta get you know, cut 297 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: the full speed once you get around that guy and 298 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: you want to play your best, you don't want to 299 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: be dragon and you know, depending on the situation. So 300 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: here's my question to you, Matt. Let's go through that 301 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: group again. Clyde Edwards, Hilaire, Josh Jacobs, Sae Kwon Barkley, 302 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: Rashad Penny, Sony, Michelle Leonard, four Nette, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel, Elliott, 303 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon. If you're ranking Naja Harris, yeah, 304 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: as a rookie, where do you where do you put 305 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: Because somebody said, somebody said I was cheating on this 306 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: because I used four Nett and Elliott because they were 307 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: top ten picks. I'm like, well, four Net shouldn't have 308 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: been a top ten pick, and it probably wouldn't be 309 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: if he came out, and if he came out now, 310 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: if one team was considered him a top tip pick. 311 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: If I'm picking between four Net and Harris, I'm taking 312 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: Harris because I get the same power back, but I 313 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: get one that catches the football. Yeah. Four nets faster, Yeah, 314 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: and four that was a pretty good prospect't want to 315 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: just catch the he was, He's not going to be 316 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: much a receiver. Yeah, he was a dump off guy. 317 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: Even there was one year he caught. Like So for me, 318 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: of that group, I'm taking Barkley now or when they 319 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: came out of when they came out of school. Barkley's 320 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: number one. Barkley's number one. I think Elliott's number two. Yeah, 321 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: and then McCay say McCaffrey, but I like him better 322 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: now and I did then, you know what I mean. 323 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: He was a smaller guy. It wasn't a great between 324 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: the maybe and maybe I think I think I would 325 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: go Barkley, Elliott, Girley, McCaffrey, and then Harris. Yeah, girl's high. Yeah. 326 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: Girley was with absolute study, was a stud. He was 327 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: a thoroughbred. Had it all, actually had any problem still 328 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: in Georgia. UM, the other ends easy. Like we were 329 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: doing this long enough that when Penny came out, we 330 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: didn't think Penny was the first round pick. Period. Nobody 331 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: thought he was, and that's proven to be true. He's last. 332 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: I didn't think Michelle was the first round pick, but 333 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: I liked him a lot more then than now because 334 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: he caught the ball and looked like a receiving back 335 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: at Georgia a little bit because Chubb was the hammer. 336 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: He doesn't catch anything. I mean, he's a zero and 337 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: he's the worst one of the whole group. And I 338 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,159 Speaker 1: think he's about shot too, so he would be second 339 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: to last. Um who were I would take Harris over 340 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: Edwards Hilaire at the time, and we like Dobbins better 341 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: than Edwards hilt would I would take Harris over Jacobs. Yeah, yes, 342 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: I would take although Jacob is another one that was 343 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: a good receiver in Bama. They never throw the ball. 344 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: He has one to but he was always a part 345 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: time player at Bama because because the Harris was there, 346 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: Harris was stealing carries from him as a as a freshman, 347 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: and obvious see they have five five star backs probably, 348 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: so it's not. But even as we saw it last year, 349 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: though they gave the ball to Harris, right, they didn't 350 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: do that with Jacobs. They know Jacobs has been a 351 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: part time player for numerous different coaches, you know, and 352 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: maybe that's just what he is. How about this, though 353 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: he was a good receiver Bama, he has one target 354 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: in the NFL on third downs. That's unbelievable. He's never 355 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 1: out there and they don't use him money do they 356 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: use all these other you know, Washington and yeah, right right, yeah, 357 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: So I would take Harris over him, but I liked 358 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: him better than than I do now because I just 359 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: don't think he's been used great. Harris Melvin Gordon is 360 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: wistonsin version of it was the one that year. Gordon 361 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: was the two. But Gordon had a really good career 362 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: in college too. Like nobody was shocked when he was 363 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: a first round pick from I think they traded up 364 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 1: for him to a couple of spots from what I remember. 365 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: That's just off the top of my head. So Harris 366 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: is fifth on that list something like that. He's ahead 367 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: of for Net. Yeah, I think so four Net was overdrafted. 368 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: I might, I mean, I probably would put him over McCaffrey. Yeah, 369 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: I wasn't at the time, I wasn't huge. I thought 370 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: I was looking at things through through a Steelers lens. Yeah. Yeah, 371 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: he wouldn't be in a two hundred pound running back, 372 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: just didn't. I remember watching the combineman McCaffrey was there, 373 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: and some of the announcers said they thought McCaffrey would 374 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 1: have been the best slot receiver in that draft if 375 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: he just lined up in the slot only his rookie year. 376 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: I mean he rushed for on the only rush for 377 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:36,479 Speaker 1: four thirty five yards, but he had eighty catches for right, 378 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: so he's a little different. I mean, his value as 379 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: a receiver more like a Camara. And but even at 380 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: the time, I thought Harris was a better prospect, just 381 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: because I thought McCaffrey was more of a part time 382 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 1: player than end up being. Yeah, you know what I mean, 383 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: he's a superstar now. So I mean that that's what 384 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: you're getting here if you look at just those players. Barkley. 385 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: The Barkley helped the Uh the Giants go from three 386 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 1: and thirteen to five and eleven. Not a huge thing. Uh, 387 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:12,959 Speaker 1: they went from the rushing seven yards as it compared 388 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: to the seven fifty one Orleans darkwa had the previous 389 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: year to lead them. But more importantly, if you look 390 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: at what he did for their defense, they went from 391 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 1: thirty first in total yards allowed. They played thirty eight 392 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: fewer snaps game. But that's a couple per game. Um, 393 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: I'll find it at some point, but just even that 394 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: snaps for game stuff that I sent you, if you 395 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: look at the league average verse the worst. I mean, 396 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: there's some of them that are like eight snaps a 397 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: game more than they than they than they play. That's 398 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: that's they lead the league, you know. So. But my 399 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: point is if the best team in the league is 400 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: eight snaps per game on offense more than defense, and 401 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,679 Speaker 1: the worst is minus eight two huge, those are the outliers. 402 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 1: Those are the Jags and the Jets that are on 403 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 1: the field forever. I mean it was like the Packers 404 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 1: this year was really good. Um. So if you can 405 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: average too fewer defensive plays a game, or three fewer 406 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: defensive players a game, that is a massive ripple effect. 407 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: And I think Harris can set you up to do that. Yeah, 408 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: I think you can as well. Um, and the Steelers, 409 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: I mean, frankly, the Steelers defensive depth is more worrisome 410 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: to me than their starters to you know, and and 411 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: again that that helps your defensive depths. You know, you're 412 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: not you're not being forced to play those guys, you know, 413 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: if injuries or injuries. But you know, if you don't 414 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,479 Speaker 1: have to play those depth guys quite as much because 415 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 1: you know, if again, if it's a difference between playing 416 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: an average of let's say fifty five snaps per game 417 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: as opposed to fifty two, it's big. It was the 418 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 1: last couple of ones matter a lot. Yeah, snap three 419 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: verse four might not matter. Snapt verse forty nines a lot. 420 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: There's not much left in the tank, you know what 421 00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: I mean? Um, when was Love's Bell's best year height 422 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: of his powers, like like sixteen seventeen somewhere I would 423 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: say six team was probably this. I mean, I'd be 424 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 1: curious just to see where the Steelers defense was in 425 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: snaps per game during his three best years. I don't know, 426 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: we can't probably find that off of our heads, but 427 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: you know, if they were near the bottom, you could 428 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: probably expect similar usage and results in that. You know. 429 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: With Harris, I would say his his best year is 430 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: probably seventeen. He had he led the league with three 431 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: carries he had twelve nine one yards. He had better 432 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: years like two thousand fourteen at thirteen sixty one on 433 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: the ground, but that was on two carries. He had 434 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 1: also had eighty five catches in seventeen, although the at 435 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: eighty three and two thousand fourteen. I mean, so, I wonder, 436 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: like fourteen fifteen, sixteen seventeen, did the Steelers defense end 437 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: up in the bottom third in snaps per game? I would, 438 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: I would almost probably the case, bet my bottom dollar 439 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: it is. Here's the other thing about it, Matt. The 440 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: Steelers were I think tenth last year in time of 441 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:12,239 Speaker 1: possession with no running game, with no running game unning nine'clock, right, 442 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: all those inmpletions and right, absolutely, And for much of 443 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: the year they were top two or three. Yeah, I 444 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: mean very when when things were going well. And obviously 445 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 1: the offense got figured out and struggled at the end, 446 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: but the finished tenth with the worst running game in 447 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,680 Speaker 1: the league. Pretty good, that's actually very I mean, it's 448 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 1: probably the only time it's ever happened. Probably, is you 449 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 1: camp again, Tenth is pretty good. Tenth is good, Yeah, 450 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 1: tenth is really good. Again. Your defense is not playing 451 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: a lot of snaps and your defense helps that. There 452 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: is a lot of three and in sacks and you know, 453 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: I mean they're obviously helping that cause as much as 454 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: the offense is. But but if their tenth this year, 455 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: I think I would take that and and and you know, 456 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: but no running game. Yeah, that's a huge point. Um. Yeah, 457 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: I mean put it this way, at age twenty three, 458 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:00,160 Speaker 1: Levi on Bell, that was that he was twenty three 459 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: in two thousand fifteen. That's the same age that Naja 460 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: Harris is. Now. That's why I look at him and 461 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 1: I say, okay, I think he's going to be more 462 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: of a finished product Harris. Yeah, then Bell was a rookie. 463 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 1: Bell was a rookie twenty one years old. As a rookie, 464 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: I think he's more of a finished product than a 465 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: lot of those first round picks you mentioned. I mean, 466 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: certainly Edwards a Laire. I mean, he can't protect and 467 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: we don't know if he's gotten any better. Penny can 468 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: see the field four Net was very one dimensional, and 469 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: I think he was really young when he came out. 470 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,679 Speaker 1: That was one of the beauties of Zeke Actually was 471 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 1: very well rounded as a receiver. Although I think Harris 472 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: is a better receiver at the same point in their career. 473 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 1: Um exceptional and protection at Ohio State. Can run between 474 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,719 Speaker 1: the tackles, can run outside the tackles. I mean, like 475 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 1: he may not have been the best of those ten 476 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: in any one single category, he was. Yeah, he's in 477 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 1: the top three and all right, and you look at 478 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: what he did his rookie one yards with the rookie quarterback, 479 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: with the rookie quarterback, and they went they went from 480 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 1: four and twelve to thirteen and three. Wo wow. I 481 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: didn't realize that. Yeah, they went from being ninth and 482 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: rushing to number two and they were coming. If Darren 483 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: McFadden the year before Ezekielli got there rushed for a 484 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:15,440 Speaker 1: thousand and eighty nine yards, he wasn't and that line then, yeah, right, 485 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: Frederick and Martin and they invested. Obviously the Steelers don't 486 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: have that kind of line. No, they don't. But they 487 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 1: don't have a rookie quarterback either. They don't have a 488 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:27,919 Speaker 1: rookie quarterback. Um, that's a lot of yards. Sure, I mean, 489 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: of course anyone would take Zeke's rookie season for Harris, 490 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: of course, yeah, but I mean of it would be 491 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: it would be pretty would be pretty good. I mean, 492 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: that's actually the that's the leading rushing yard is total 493 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 1: for those rookies in that in that spin they looked 494 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: at the second was Barkley with seven. If Harris gets seven, 495 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: oh yeah, that's a really good year. You'll definitely take that. 496 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 1: One of the arguments against taking Zeke Elliott there, like 497 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:56,359 Speaker 1: they could have taken Boss Ramsey. I from what I remember, 498 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: one of them went to one over him and one 499 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: went right behind him. Is a really good draft class? 500 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 1: Is okay? That was what the two thousand thirteen draft fourteen? Okay, 501 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: The logic is, well, wouldn't you rather have Ramsey r 502 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: Bosa now than Zeke? I don't know, because probably Zeke 503 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: Elliots is still only years old. I'd say he's still 504 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: a poppy. If he looked he didn't have a great year, 505 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 1: have a great year, but they were playing with bad quarterbacks. 506 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 1: The line is not what it once was, and you're 507 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 1: not you're not married to the idea that you had 508 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: to give it the extended Zeke. I mean, if any 509 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,639 Speaker 1: mistake was made by the Cowboys, it was maybe they 510 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: extended him a year too early and for too much money, 511 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: and because they could use the first round pick this 512 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: year and next year on in his replacement, you know 513 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: what I mean, they jumped from four and twelve thirteen 514 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 1: and three. I don't know that you can argue that 515 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: that was a bad pick exactly. And I really like 516 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott and I think he's one of the most 517 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 1: underrated quarterbacks in the league right now, and really has 518 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,719 Speaker 1: been underrated since his second season in the league, by 519 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 1: the way, but his rookie year, I thought he was 520 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 1: very overrated. I mean, everyone thought he was the phenom. 521 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: He really benefited from rushing. And where I'm going with 522 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: this is maybe the Steelers have a Dak Prescott next year, 523 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: you know. Or I know, Daniel Jones hasn't been wonderful, 524 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: but Barkley being in place the year before he got 525 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 1: there sure is nice. You know what build that build 526 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: that nest. I mean, even like when lev Bell was 527 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 1: leaving here, I thought, man, that's bad business for anyone 528 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: to get him, unless it's you know, I mentioned the 529 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: Bills because Josh Allen was young or Sam Donald was young. 530 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: You know, like a team like that go over spend 531 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: a little bit on the back so your your young quarterback. 532 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 1: Like if I were Miami, I probably would have got somebody, 533 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: you know, for two of this year, you know that, 534 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: and maybe and they supposedly really light Haterroris and that 535 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 1: would have been something that would have made sense for them. 536 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: Whether you know. My point is, if you're on either 537 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: side of the back argument, a really young, talented franchise, 538 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: his quarterback is sure happy he's there, absolutely undenied. It 539 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: just loosens everything up, especially if they could catch the 540 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,199 Speaker 1: ball too. And and you know, if you look at it, 541 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: what helped Drew Brees at the end of his career, 542 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: Kamara was more important in that offense than Breeze. The 543 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: last two years or so, Kamarrow was more important in 544 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,959 Speaker 1: that offense than Michael Thomas. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure if 545 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: you asked Peyton who would you not want to lose 546 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: on game day, I think he'd say Camarrow. Well, they 547 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: showed us that they paid him, they gave him big 548 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: money to stay um and they won games without Breeze 549 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: because they had himself last year even four net. I 550 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:45,479 Speaker 1: mean he made Bortles okay, right, yeah, he made him 551 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 1: in the NFL caliber quarterback, right, I mean, Bortles wasn't 552 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: terrible that year. When four Nett was at his best. 553 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 1: I mean he hit he hit him. I'm not gonna 554 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: say he made him. Okay, he hit him, you know, 555 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: and I wouldn't show because you had you had to 556 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: respect the running game. You had that team. You had 557 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: to because if you didn't, he's gonna rip you apart. 558 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: He's gonna get you know, six carries or six yards 559 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: at a time, and he's gonna bleed you to death. 560 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: And I mean, look what the giants are doing, Like 561 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: this is Daniel Jones last crack probably or close to it. 562 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: But we just got your first round receiver that can 563 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:18,479 Speaker 1: you know, run reverses and stuff. Barkley's coming back. You know, 564 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: you make those life easier for these young guys so 565 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: they can actually improve. Yeah, I agree, but that is 566 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: going to do it. It's gonna do it for this show. 567 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: So for my partner Matt Williamson, for Jacob ric here 568 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: on site keeping us on the air, I'm Dale Lolly. 569 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: We thank you for listening to this edition of the 570 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: Drive on Steelers Nation Radio.