1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lollly. He is Matt 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 1: Williamson and it is a Wednesday, which means, Matt, we 5 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: have a Steelers practice report here and um, well, uh, 6 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: Kenny Pickett limited today. Not that that's surprising. Um. He 7 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: at least got a limited tag, so there's a chance. 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: But in the meantime, Mason Rudolph said that he and 9 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: Mitch Rabinsky did in fact split first team snaps today, intriguing. 10 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: I don't quite get it, to be honest with you. 11 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: I mean, I think Trabisky is the better player, and 12 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: I understand you through three interceptions and it was more 13 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: aggressive than they probably wanted, is how I'm reading this. 14 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: But I would have Robisky start, But we'll see again. 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: I think it comes down to the keywords that Mike 16 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: Tomlin said. It is press conference on Tuesday. Both of 17 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: those guys, as we now run our offense, are capable 18 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: of putting together a winning formula. If they think Mason 19 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: Rudolph will take better care of the football, there's a 20 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: good argument to that. Less probably make that mistake. Um, 21 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: maybe they do go with Mason Rudolph. I understand. I 22 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: think he's the best deep ball thrower of the groove 23 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: of the three. Probably, I mean I'd like more shots. 24 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I wouldn't complain about that, especially down the 25 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: middle of the field. UM, I don't know. It just 26 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: seems too conservative to me. Like they may not agree 27 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: with me. But if if I think Trabinski is a 28 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: C plus and rutolphs a C minus, but the C 29 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: minus fits the system better, but the system is us 30 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: don't screw it up. I mean that this seems too 31 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: conservative to me, But I think just don't screw it 32 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: up would have won the game on Sunday. I mean 33 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: that being said, I guess do you think they win 34 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: with Rudolph? I don't think they move the ball as much. 35 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: Who that knows if they don't, right, he made through 36 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: ten picks. I mean, but I do know that if 37 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: they don't turn to football over three times, That's that's 38 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: what I do know. And I think no matter what happens, 39 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: that message is being sent this week, you know, like 40 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: we know why we lost, folks, and we can't do 41 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: that again. And this could just be Mike Tomlin sending 42 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: a message to Dr Bisky, going, Hey, we're not just 43 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: gonna hand you this second job. You've got to show 44 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: us that you can earn it by not throwing a 45 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: bunch of picks in practice this week too. And Rudolph 46 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: has more track record with this team, with this coach, 47 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, if he's more trust about anybody 48 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: has certainly more track record and history. I I'd be 49 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: shocked if it's Rudolph. But I mean, I I understand 50 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: the logic, but I would be shocked if I would 51 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: be surprised as well. Looking at the injury report for 52 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: the rest of it, Cameron Sutton with a nick slash 53 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: stinger was limited today. He played every snap in the game, 54 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 1: So yeah, uh, Naji Harris with a hip injury did 55 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: not practice hip issue. That's different, that's something new, Miles Jack. 56 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: I wonder if that's why his touches were a little 57 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: lower in the second maybe, but they didn't say it 58 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: again because he played, you know, I'm in the snap 59 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: counts or whatever. Warren played the snap where he usually 60 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: plays less than that, So I don't know. Yeah, And 61 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: they mean Harris touched the ball three times in the 62 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: second half. Miles Jack with a groin issue did not practice. Okay, 63 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: snaps keep going down to Yeah, I don't get that. 64 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: I wrote about that today. I don't quite understand, especially 65 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: if Splane is the benefactor. Yeah, Pat Farmouth with the 66 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: foot did not practice. And then Larry Ogan Job with 67 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: the toe, which is pretty common for a Wednesday. That's 68 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: been for him on Carolina side of things. Real quick 69 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: on Jack's why he's on pout my head, Like even 70 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: when the Steelers signed him and the reason he fell 71 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: in the draft was there was knee issues, you know, 72 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: I mean, could that be part of it? But I 73 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: mean like today, um so, yeah, I don't think that's 74 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: the issue at all. Looking at the Panthers, Brandon Smith, 75 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: a linebacker, did not practice with an ankle. He's a 76 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: depth guy. Yeah, Deante Foreman was given rest. He didn't practice. 77 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: Taylor Moten Uh pretty good right tackle? Yeah, did not practice. 78 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,239 Speaker 1: Joel Iron when when you when you? When you linebacker? Again? 79 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: Another depth limited practice. Corey Littleton another linebacker limited with 80 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: an ankle. Xavier Woods with a knee. It just says 81 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,559 Speaker 1: Xavier Woods in parentheses knee and then there's a dash 82 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: where it should say whether he practiced or not, and 83 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: it says knee again, so I assume it was at 84 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: least limited woods. He's a starting safety. I think he 85 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: didn't play last week. Okay, so maybe here trying to 86 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: get back. Uh Laviska Chennault with the shoulder was limited, 87 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: and then DJ More with an ankle was a full participant. Okay. 88 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: Dj Moore is interesting in that zero catches three or 89 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: four targets. He had a carrier too, he had three 90 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: rushing yards, he played snaps, but he was also injured. 91 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: Their passing game is insane. It's pretty much junk. Yeah, 92 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: it's just you talk about not, you know, screwing it up. 93 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: Donald is two and oh as a starter. Okay, great, 94 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: This is why I don't like the whole starting stats. 95 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 1: It's the perfect example of that. I think he's thrown 96 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: forty six passes over that time, has not hit two 97 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: hundred yards either time. I'm almost certain in those two 98 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: games the Panthers have put up this is their their 99 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: net passing yards a D sixty five his ceiling. Yeah, 100 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: and they are they haven't, but they're putting up points. 101 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: They haven't had more than a hundred and sixty nine 102 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: passing yards in over a month. In fact, if you 103 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: go back to October, a long time ago, Fourie, they 104 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: have played one, two, three, four, five six, They played 105 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: eight games. They have been above a hundred sixty four 106 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: yards a hundred seventy yards once in those games won seventies. 107 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: Not hard to get to. I mean that's a that's 108 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: a half for pat you know. And yet if you 109 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: look at that period of time, I think that's the 110 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: whole Wilke's era. They are three and three, Okay, I 111 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: think there are four and four under Wilkes, and he's 112 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: I mean they're four. I'm sorry, you're right there there, 113 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: four and four, And I think that's the whole Wilke's era. 114 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: And I give him credit. I mean, hey, anyway you 115 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: can win this league great. I mean it's kind of 116 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: like the Arthur Smith conversation in Atlanta that we know 117 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: you don't have a lot of firepower or orderbacks. So 118 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: they figured out a way to stay competitive. And I 119 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,799 Speaker 1: think their defense is quite good. But the last Arnold 120 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: Stead I have to throw out there, though, is what 121 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: he's thrown, like forty six pass or something like that. 122 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: His average depth of target is three point seven yards passed. 123 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 1: The line of scrimmage. That's not much different than a handoff. 124 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: I mean, like so when he's not handed off, he's 125 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: kind of handed off. You would think as much running, 126 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: you'd at least throw a couple of fifty yard bombs. 127 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,119 Speaker 1: I mean, there must be ten guys in the box 128 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: all the time. Here's the other part of the equation. 129 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: So they are only three games this whole season where 130 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: they have passed for two hundred or more yards. For 131 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: two hundred or more, they had two oh seven in 132 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: the opener against Cleveland. They won. They lost that one. 133 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: I mean that's with the healthy DJ Moore McCaffrey. I mean, 134 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: you would think you just dump into him, but get 135 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: you the two hundred yard. The next week against the Giants, 136 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: they threw. Boy, that game had to be something. Then 137 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: against the Saints and they won this game, they threw. Yeah, 138 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: that's crazy. Through for one eighty against the Cardinals, who 139 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: give up passing cards to everybody, had two hundred forty 140 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: four against the forty against forty Niners, they couldn't run. 141 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: Was the most injured Niner defense in the history of 142 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: the world. They were like seven starters down. They followed 143 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: that up by throwing for a hundred and ten against 144 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: the Rams, a hundred seventy against the Bucks, three oh 145 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: nine against the Falcons, won sixty four against Cincinnati, one 146 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: oh one against the Falcons in the rematch they won 147 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: that one. I mean, the student's last two opponents Baltimore 148 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: in Atlanta are chuckling themselves at these numbers, hardagin output. 149 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: It was one sixty nine against the Ravens, the only 150 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: rush for thirty six yards in that game, one sixty 151 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: four against Denver. They did run for a hundred and 152 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: eighty five in that game. And then this past week 153 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: against the Seattle Seahawks one oh five, the season low, 154 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 1: one oh five. Stop the run, Stop the run. Maybe 155 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: it's for three weeks now. I mean, these teams that 156 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 1: they're steals are facing and this is not the last 157 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: of them, because Baltimore still on the schedule, and they 158 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: just run the ball and run the ball and run 159 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: the ball. Here's the thing. Here's the thing about this team, though, Matt. 160 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: They had fifty four rushing yards against the Browns, then 161 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: Browns right right forty against the Cardinals, the Cardinals sixty 162 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: four against the forty Niners, who, as you mentioned, we're 163 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: all banging against the Rams, sixty four against the Bengals, 164 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: thirty six against the Ravens. I mean they've got some 165 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 1: big rushing games in there, but they got some Yeah, 166 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: you're right. And their ball carriers aren't special. Tremendously inconsistent, Yeah, 167 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: they really are. Um. I mean, I don't know what 168 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: to make of it. I think a lot of it 169 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: is just well, you've played four quarterbacks this year and 170 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: two head coaches. There's probably gonna be some inconsistency. Um. 171 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: I do think that this the arrow is pointing up 172 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: on this team as a whole, you know. I mean, 173 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: their old line is shaping up. They have an identity, 174 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: you know, for better or worse, and that keeps them 175 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: in games. And their defense I think has some dudes. 176 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: But their defense the last three weeks it's been really good. 177 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: But they've played Denver, Baltimore, they played some not so 178 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: great deep offenses either, you know. Um. The other thing 179 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: about this is I just looked at I just looked 180 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: at this. They've only they've only won one game if 181 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: they've turned if they turned the ball over. Yeah, there 182 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: is a stat about that. Yes, Yes, the only game 183 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: that they've won where they actually turned to football over 184 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: was against Denver. With one turner. They could have been 185 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: plus seven that day, but they turned it over once. 186 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: It's that simple. Yeah, it's pretty nuts. It's a pretty 187 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: thin razor thin yeah, way of winning games. A couple 188 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: other weird things about this team. I dug up I 189 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: just finished my stat back is they score right at 190 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: the ball in the league. In the first quarter. First 191 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: quarter there they're scoring is horrendous. It's like one point 192 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: three points per game. Fourth quarter it's really good. But 193 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: their defense is a total opposite. The defense is really 194 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: goodness And I might be getting that wrong. I I'd 195 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: have to look again, but they're there. Their first and 196 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: fourth quarter stats are bonkers. I'll look into it and 197 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: i'll bring it back tomorrow. But yeah, I know the 198 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: offense is like that though. They're the total opposite, which 199 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: brings us to the Steelers stat. They're five and oh 200 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: when they score first, eight when they don't score first. 201 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: So if they could score first in this game and 202 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: Steelers win right or and or turn the Panthers over, 203 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: that's if you do both, you're really gonna win, really 204 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: rolling right, which since they don't throw the ball, you 205 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: might actually have to fall on a fumble for the 206 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: fourth time this season, which is mind boggling to me. 207 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: I can't remember the last time Sees recovered a fumble, 208 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: but their last in the league. And fumble recoveries, you know, 209 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: Like I've had people ask me like, why don't they 210 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: have more turnovers, and like they're near the top of 211 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 1: the league. Get picking the ball off, which is a 212 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: lot harder to do and falling on a fumble. They 213 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: have three fumble recoveries. I mean, they're bound to get more, 214 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: especially against running teams. This is a team. They do 215 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: have eighteen fumbles this season. I say that, but Baker 216 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: had six of them. Notorious, he is the notorious fumbler. Yeah, 217 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 1: and I'm sure it's a point of emphasis with Sam 218 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: two hands on the ball in the pocket. You know, 219 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: by the way, you're only throwing at three point seven 220 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: yards on field anyway. Yeah, I don't think that they're 221 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: holding it all that long. No, it's it's it's a strange, 222 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: strange team. Yeah. I thought Atlanta was a really strange team. 223 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: But they have an offense. They're basically the same, you know, 224 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: I mean, different schemes, I mean, you know, but all 225 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: in all, it's just run, run, run, run, run, third 226 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: down conversions, Oh, they're horrible. Twenty eight point seven. They 227 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: can't stay on the field. They can't stay on the field, right, 228 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: You would think as much as they run, their time 229 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: of possessions would be great. They run very few plays 230 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: because they can't convert on third downs, you know what 231 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: I mean. And then a lot of that comes out 232 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: of quarterback into you know, inevitably it's gonna be third 233 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:03,959 Speaker 1: and six and your guys gonna have to drop back 234 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 1: and throw an out, you know, and it's not happening 235 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: for them. No, I don't know, this is this is 236 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: just a weird I mean, even look at so you 237 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: talk about Donald's depth of target and yet he's still 238 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: only completing fifty of his passing, still not particularly good 239 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: at it. Like, I don't think he's like turned the 240 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: corner in his career or anything. They're they're they're looking 241 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,719 Speaker 1: at it, and he's still completing more passes than Baker did. 242 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: Baker was probably the worst Quarterbaker, Like, wow, yeah, I 243 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: mean there was a case for him to be the 244 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: worst starting quarterback in the league as a Panther. It 245 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: was really that bad. And I mean, some of it 246 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: has to be not quarterback related to I mean, it 247 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: has to be somewhat scheme. And when there's the thing 248 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: like you changed, you changed the the head coach, Steve 249 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: Wilkes takes over as the interim. But you're not changing 250 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: the offense dramatically. You're still running the same place. You 251 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: can't burn the playbook and write another one. They've emphasized 252 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: the running game obviously, obviously, but they're not They're still 253 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: running Matt rules stuff. Yeah. Absolutely, I mean, and you 254 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: know that was the big get rid of MC Canada 255 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: at the break. Well, you're not going to write a 256 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: new offense. I mean you may call different plays from 257 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: the same book, and you may emphasize things differently. Like 258 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: I think he's happy with Donald considering his options. I mean, 259 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: I would say Donald's been their best quarterback thus far, 260 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: which is saying very very little. I mean he's again, 261 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: he's two games and he throws twenty three passes a 262 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: game or whatever for no yards. But I do think 263 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: the line has gotten better. You know, guys like the 264 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: first round pick, the left tackle is starting to really 265 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: round into shape. Yeah, kanu um. And they invested in 266 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: the old line, Like, I think this is a good 267 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: job going forward, like looking at the South, like they 268 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: could win the South next year if they had a 269 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: Jimmy g almost if they you know, it is like 270 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: d J. Moore, who we think they are. I just 271 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: I just look at that running game. For a Foreman 272 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: is averaging four point three yards of carry. He has 273 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: five catches this year too, five catches, he has a 274 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: he has a sixty yard run and he's averaging four 275 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: point three yard carry. Yeah, I mean it's rough. I 276 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: mean he is just a pure grinder and they're happy 277 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: to get three three Hubbard hubbards at four point five. 278 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: He has a long run of seventeen yards. I mean, 279 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: I think they're long running back run. It's a it's 280 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: a sixty yard or by Foreman. And I was gonna 281 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: say last week what they run four? Last week it 282 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: was like or something like that. Darnald happened to get 283 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: free on like a twenty some yard or But other 284 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: than that, they ran for two six with the longest 285 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: running back run of sixteen yards, and it was it's 286 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: just three four. They're not particularly explosive. This black Shear 287 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: kid is a rookie who's kind of a brings a 288 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: little juice, you know, he averaged eight yards to carry 289 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: in that game. He didn't get a ton of carries, 290 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: but he uh, he has a little bit of wiggle 291 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: and a little bit of juice to him fresh legs. Yeah, 292 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: he had the sixteen yard run. Yeah, uh for you know, 293 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: Hubbard had a twelve yard run. Foreman had an eleven 294 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: yard run. The Steelers defense is built to get run stops, 295 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: not necessarily stop the run. There's a difference there. Yeah, 296 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: they're built to somebody shoot, somebody knifes into the backfield 297 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: and gets it, drops him for a loss and not 298 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: second and twelve, ye as opposed to well you and 299 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: that's what they you know, they didn't do that enough 300 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: last week against Baltimore. Um, but that's what they that's 301 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: what they do best. So if you can get this 302 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: team behind the sticks, yeah, I mean they're awful on 303 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: third downs. They don't throw the ball well you know, right, 304 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: and they get blitzed a lot as well. You know, 305 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: it's it's always a new quarterback. Why wouldn't you blitz him? 306 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: You know it's strange. But this is a very losable 307 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: game for the Steelers. Yeah, if you if you play 308 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: like you did last week, you'll lose if you absolutely, 309 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: I mean, if your minds three or in the turnover differential, 310 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: you lose. But you're right, I mean, if you can 311 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: cause one let alone to this team just isn't equipped 312 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: to play that way at all. And if you if 313 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: you can, again, the Steelers could overcome turnovers easier and 314 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: this team can. Yeah yeah, but if you can also 315 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: uh you know, get them into if you can, at 316 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: least they're gonna run the football. Oh yeah, they're gonna 317 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: have They're gonna top a hundred rushing yards. We can 318 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: put that right, yeah, like because they're gonna be adamant 319 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: about doing it. If people are tweeting us on Monday, 320 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: there's another a hundred yard games. Steelers gave up like 321 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: they're gonna let up a hundred yards. But somebody runs 322 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: the ball times against you, You're going to give up 323 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: a hundred rushing yards. That's just the reality of the situation. 324 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: You're gonna give up a hundred yards in this game. 325 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: But if they run the ball again for as much 326 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: and as well as Baltimore ran the ball on Sunday, 327 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: they still want to scored sixteen points, right right, It's 328 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: still a hard way to put up a lot of 329 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: points and have three turnovers. With a block kick, they 330 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: scored sixteen points exactly, And Panthers might average three yards 331 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 1: to carry and they're still going to keep That's what 332 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to do. That's what they do. Yeah, I 333 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: hate to say it because it's been a little redundant 334 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: in the last three weeks, but we've had the same 335 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: conversations like every Wednesday for three weeks in a row 336 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: because these teams, especially minus Lamar, are really one dimensional. Yeah, 337 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: and they just really are, I mean a rarity. I mean, 338 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: the Bears are maybe the only their team you could 339 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: throw in that back to our point to do that. 340 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: In the NFL, you can win doing that, but you 341 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: have to play mistake. You can't have holding penalties. Those 342 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,959 Speaker 1: are killers. Anything backwards, anything that you know, ineligible downfield, 343 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: anything like that that pushes your offense back is bad, bad, bad, right, 344 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 1: And you can't overcome negatives at all. That's why they're 345 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: happy getting two yards. I mean first, first and fifteen 346 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 1: and first and twenty. You're done, You're done, right. They 347 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: do not want Donald dropping back, patting the ball, throwing 348 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: deep balls or you know, trying to get to the 349 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: sticks and they don't want punting. I mean again, they 350 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: they're off one third down in that game last week, 351 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: they had six different people carry the football and they 352 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: they had like ten get targets. Yeah, and their best 353 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: guy didn't catch anything. I mean, you gotta thing too. 354 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 1: I mean they've already replaced their head coach. So I'm 355 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: sure a mandate from ownership too is find out what 356 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: we have in all these guys to you know, use 357 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: a bunch of bodies. And all these guys are auditioning 358 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: for jobs, but at least they're building some toughness in 359 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: a little bit of a foundation under Wilkes. Yeah, they're 360 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: two starting outside receivers in that game had one catch 361 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: for eighteen yards. That Marshall and Marshall and Moore combined 362 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: for one catch for eighteen yards. I don't think anyone 363 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: had over four targets. Uh. Chanal had four catches for 364 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,159 Speaker 1: thirty one yards. But we watched them a couple of 365 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: weeks ago. His stuff is all I'm gonna go in 366 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: motion behind the quarterback and they throw us. Yeah yeah right, 367 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 1: he's not. He's like quarterrel pattern. Yeah, they wanted and 368 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: catching the ball and you know it. And he's hard 369 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 1: to get on the ground. But he's not a route runner. No, 370 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: he's not running out out routes to you know, over 371 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: and over. Their long pass playing that game was eighteen yards. 372 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: That was one of the Marshal. He's a pretty good player, 373 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: he's at a decent year, but the passing game is 374 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: just tight. Ends are pretty much non existent. Um, did 375 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: you see in this game they had a seven offensive 376 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 1: line set that they used more than once. Too. They 377 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: had a really funny name for it. Tom told me 378 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: it's and it's it's like the happy Meal. I mean, 379 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: it's something about beef and I will find I'll look 380 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: it up in the That was a good knock on 381 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 1: Tom's door between segments, but it's pretty funny stuff. Yeah, 382 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: it's the RB package. We got the meat. Yeah, we 383 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: got the beef. The week before that, Moore did have 384 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 1: four catches for a hundred and three yards. So you 385 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 1: can't just completely forget about He's a really good player, 386 00:20:56,280 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: right catch on that in that game. If you his 387 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 1: game log though, I mean, he's had like two good games, 388 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: but to no fault of his own. They just don't throw. 389 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 1: I mean in that game Marshall had one catch for 390 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: eight years so and the tight ends do nothing, And 391 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: now that McCaffrey's gone, the backs do nothing in the 392 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 1: passing game. I mean Hubbard's but he's not a route 393 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:25,479 Speaker 1: runner like McCaffrey knows. He's a swinging swingers right right, 394 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: but they use him as a McCaffrey replacement. No, Hubbard 395 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: is their third down back though he plays right. So 396 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: it's uh, it's definitely an interesting matchup, to be sure, 397 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: challenge considering what the Steelers just did, what they just did, 398 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 1: what they just did. But I'll go back to what 399 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: Merroll Hodge says. You know, when you embarrass in a 400 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: professional Yeah, I do think that the team was embarrassed. 401 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: I think they did get embarrassing. Okaym Heyward was embarrassed 402 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: for sure, which means the old team will be You 403 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: can now listen to Steelers Nation Radio anytime anywhere through 404 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: your smart speaker. Just say Alexa, play Steelers Nation Radio 405 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: for my heart, and Alexa will take care of the rest. 406 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale, LOLLI you're listening 407 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 1: to the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. We'll be 408 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: back with Moore right after this football leaves here. Twenty 409 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: four seven you're listening to s n R Steelers Nation 410 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: Radio