1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: Welcome back. I am Dale Lallie. He is Matt Williamson. 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: This is the drive on Steelers Nation Radio, and the 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Steelers breaking up from their individual drills here to go 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: over and do a little seven shots here as they 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: always do to start the team portion of their practice. 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 2: About the midway point of practice, give or take point, 7 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 2: give or take? 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 3: As you is you just so astutely pointed, uh Pro 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 3: Football Focus Yeah, yeah, has the off season grades for 10 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 3: all thirty two NFL teams now that the draft and 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 3: everything pretty much done at this point. 12 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: I mean everything they've done in the off season. 13 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: Everything they've done in the off season. So let's go 14 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: ahead and roll through these. These are in alphabetical order, Okay, 15 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: so we'll see how how that everything comes breaks down. 16 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: The Arizona Cardinals get a B. I agree if it. 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: I think there's value in realizing who you are self 18 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: scouting time to start over? 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 2: Does that? I mean that means I think what they're 20 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: doing and I would grade it the same way is 21 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: is your strategy proper? 22 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: Not? 23 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 2: Did you make yourself better for Week one? Yas they aren't. 24 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: As they exploited Houston's desperation to trade back in the draft, 25 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: and still picked up the player they wanted in Paris Johnson, 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: while also acquiring a first round pick next year start 27 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: of the deal. 28 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they're building blocks in place. 29 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: Absolutely right. It's a plant. 30 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: It's going to be a rough year, but so be it. 31 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 2: First year head. 32 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: Coach the Atlanta Falcons get a B plus. 33 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: I also agree. I mean, I think that they're trending 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 2: the right direction after some duldrums. You know, we talked 35 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 2: about that regime at the end of the Matt Ryan 36 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: and I mean even like Holio contracts and stuff like 37 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: that that they inherited that were really rough that they 38 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: had to get out from under. And now they're going 39 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: the right direction and they're out from under. 40 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: I mean, getting Jeffrey Akuda for basically nothing. 41 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: There's a lot of those moves around the league, aren't there. 42 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: You know. Yeah, he's still twenty four years old. I 43 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: don't think the book is written on him at all. 44 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: I mean, if you have one good year out of him, 45 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,639 Speaker 2: it's worth it. I mean, and then get a compic 46 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: when he. 47 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: Leaves for the Ravens. The off season grade is a B. 48 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: The whole Lamar thing I think is a positive for that. 49 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: I mean, who cares how it went up until the point, 50 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 2: but the result is you kept your quarterback and he 51 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: didn't get a guaranteed contract, so that in itself is valuable. Yeah. 52 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: I don't think that they necessarily knocked the ball out 53 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: of the park in the draft, as they typically get 54 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: credit for. 55 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:25,839 Speaker 2: Now. 56 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: They overspent for Odell Beckham, the Becka move they needed 57 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: receiving help. We'll see how that works out for them, 58 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: whether they regret that or not. 59 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: But I would like to see more D line and 60 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: reinforcements for them too. 61 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean that was a little rough. Uh. The 62 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills off season great, a B. 63 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: Solid. I don't think it's a game changer. I don't 64 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: think they're more less of a contender than they were. 65 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: They're in it to win it. Yeah, it's fine. They 66 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 2: didn't do a ton. 67 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: The Carolina Panthers a B plus a lot of b's 68 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 1: and a's here something. 69 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we should be positive. I mean, if these 70 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 2: are all d's, i'd be just not as much fun 71 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,839 Speaker 2: to talk about. I guess it's all about Bryce Young. 72 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: I mean, he would not have been the guy that 73 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: I sold the keys of the franchise for just because 74 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: of his size, and maybe I'm old school for thinking that. 75 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: I just don't think that he can hold up. But 76 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 2: if they got their quarterback in the future and he's 77 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: a franchise guy, this offseasons in A or an A plus. 78 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, Chicago Bears get an A minus. 79 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: I think so too. That's a good one. I'm glad 80 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 2: they didn't move on from Fields, but gave him a lot. 81 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: They have a lot of resources if Fields flops, including 82 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: Carolina's first round pick next year. All that cap space 83 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: was mostly genergrated to offense. You know, so hey, justin 84 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 2: show us what you got this year, and we have 85 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: a lot of stuff to put around you. If if 86 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: he turns into Jalen Hurts, you got it. You know 87 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: you'll have could be building Eagles like Roster. 88 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: The Cincinnati Bengals get an A. 89 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: What do they do was so great? I mean Orlando Brown, 90 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: I know, Brown, Miles Murphy. In the draft, it's fine, 91 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: DJ Turner, Jordan Battle, Charlie Jones Brown. Their draft was 92 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 2: a B to me. Yeah, I mean they didn't picks 93 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: super high and Orlando Brown's fine, but he's expensive. Yeah, 94 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have either. 95 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: Cleveland Brown's get an A. You get an A and 96 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: you get an A and you get an A. 97 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: I like what the Browns did. I mean, I think 98 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 2: Tomlinson's a little rich. But I thought they would get 99 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 2: hit harder by losses as opposed to additions and not 100 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: having a first round pick. Considering the cards A in 101 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 2: their hand, I thought they played them well. 102 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, well see, I mean people were grading their draft well, 103 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: I mean. 104 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 2: You can make a pick until the fourth round, like, 105 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: but they didn't have early picks. I mean, now if 106 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:39,679 Speaker 2: they got any impact guys. 107 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: The Dallas Cowboys a B minus. 108 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: For where they're at. I like, going and trading for 109 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 2: Cooks and Gilmore. You don't have a lot invested there. 110 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: I didn't love their draft. 111 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: I didn't love Maze Smith. 112 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: No, no, yeah, I mean Schoonmaker in the second round 113 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 2: is a little early for me too. 114 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. The Denver Broncos get an A minus. 115 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: If you got to include Peyton in that, I assume, 116 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: you know. I mean, it's new sheriff in town and 117 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: the building it sounds like it needed it, you know. 118 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: I mean that was again, this is second year of ownership. 119 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 2: I don't think you can let Russell Wilson run the building, 120 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: you know what I mean? So I think that in 121 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 2: itself makes sense. And they're gonna run the football. 122 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, Detroit Lions and a h remade the secondary. 123 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: Yeah. 124 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: I mean people people killed the draft because of the 125 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: positions that they drafted. 126 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: That's what I was about to say. 127 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: Those guys are going to come in and play. 128 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: They are, and they will probably have instant impacts too. 129 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: I mean, I would think that their early picks. 130 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: Given the situation that we now know in Minnesota, given 131 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: the situation we know that we know already in Green Bay. 132 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: I don't have a problem with the Lions going for it. 133 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 2: Now I a problem going for it. And my problem 134 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: is they had so many premium picks. I wish one 135 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: of them was at a position that costs a lot 136 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 2: of money. You know, they take quarterback in the third round. 137 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 2: I like, that's my favorite pick. They may, you know, 138 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: but even you know, after the Hooker pick, they took 139 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 2: a nose tackle Before that, they took a tight end, 140 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 2: a slot corner who we love, you know, I mean 141 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: from Bama off a ball linebacker, and a running back. 142 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: It just it could absolutely Here's my qualms with it 143 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 2: is it could absolutely pay off. They could have a 144 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: Jets like rookie season where they have the defensive rookie 145 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,799 Speaker 2: of the year and the offensive rookie of the year and wow, 146 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: what a great draft. But two years from now, when 147 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 2: you got to sign Penny soool or expensive positions, you 148 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 2: have no in house options. And it's like, boy, it 149 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 2: would have been nice if we drafted a right tackle 150 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,239 Speaker 2: in the second round that sit for a year or whatever, 151 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: you know what I mean, Like when Hutchinson's up and 152 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: those type of things, it doesn't hurt you now it 153 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: hurts you down the road. 154 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: The Green Bay Packers get a B minus. 155 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 2: I think it's just time to move on from Rogers. Yeah, 156 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 2: so that in itself is probably addition by subtraction. They 157 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 2: also they got a fair amount for him what they did. 158 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: Though as well, And this is a Packers type thing 159 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: that they've done. Three guys on the defensive front, three 160 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: wide receiver, two tight ends. Like they double down and 161 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: triple down a lot. 162 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a good point. They do do that a lot. 163 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: It's a good point. 164 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: You know. 165 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 2: It's like we see in the we see a weakness, 166 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: We're gonna go draft two of those guys, you know, 167 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: and really attack it. So it could pay off. I mean, 168 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: obviously a lot of teeters on love. 169 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, the whole world's all about love, right. 170 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: All we need is love, All we need is love. 171 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: Houston, Texas is gonna be. 172 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: Again. If you found your franchise quarterback, whatever you paid for, 173 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: it is worth it. I just think they paid a 174 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: lot for and. 175 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: I went to go get it Will Anderson, and they 176 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: cost you another first round draft pick. 177 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 2: I was just saying, if I was in charge of 178 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: that team, I would not have traded next year's first 179 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: round pick in any scenario. Yeah, I'm sorry. That's one 180 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 2: thing that this franchise cannot get rid of is our 181 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: first round pick, because it's gonna be. 182 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: They could do that though because of Cleveland. 183 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: But I'd rather if it had been the Browns first 184 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: round pick. I'd have gone, right, Yeah, this team is 185 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: not won games in a long time that that particular 186 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 2: pick would have been off the table for me. 187 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: The Indianapolis Colts get in a minus. 188 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: They did very little. First of all, they were like 189 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: the least least. You know, they signed a kicker is 190 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: all they did before the draft. But again, I mean, 191 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 2: if Richardson Stroud Young hit, it's a franchise changing offseason. 192 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 2: They had twelve draft picks, and I love their draft. 193 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: I mean again, it goes back to when you have 194 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: that many draft picks, you know, as opposed to a 195 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: team that has three. Yeah, you're gonna like the one 196 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: who had picked twelve times burs. 197 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: I mean that's just the reality of it. That being said, 198 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: their plan is obvious. Every every draft pick except for downs, 199 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 2: was huge. Like the Steelers, They're all huge, long limbs, physical, 200 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: drafted a lot of big athletes. I mean, they have 201 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 2: a plan in place. They're not just throwing darts. 202 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: The Jacksonville Jaguars a B minus. 203 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 2: Well, you can't count Ridley, right, what else did they do? 204 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: It's so great? 205 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: Well, they're including Ridley. They trade for him last year, right, 206 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: you know, Dearanis Johnson Denis Johnson. Yeah, that doesn't move 207 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: the needle for me. I mean, in the draft they 208 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: got Anton Harrison. 209 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 2: Fine, Parker washing but they lost a tackle. 210 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 1: I don't see that as a B minus. 211 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: No, that's a definite c acounting Ridley's cheating. They want 212 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: to trade deadline last year? Right? 213 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: Last year? 214 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 2: Right? 215 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: Right? This year? 216 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 2: I think they're they didn't do much. 217 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: Uh, Kansas City gets a bee. 218 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: Hmmm. I would have liked to have seen if new 219 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:31,719 Speaker 2: Hopkins ends there, I'll give him a bee, you know 220 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 2: what I mean. Like their receivers are rough, they ca 221 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 2: Darius Tony. 222 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: Online figures to be weaker. 223 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 2: Taylor's a good player though the right tackle. Yeah, but 224 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: it could be weaker. It could be. I mean he's 225 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 2: probably Smith. Oh that's just a shot in the dark. 226 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I I don't see that. 227 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 2: No, I don't think that works out for them. They 228 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 2: were fine, but they weren't super aggressive either way. I 229 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 2: mean they're Frank Clark's gone. I would have liked seen 230 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: a receiver of note. 231 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Raiders get a C plus. 232 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: I might even be harder on that. Yeah. 233 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: I just don't get the plane downgraded at quarterback. 234 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: Right, It's not like you went super cheap or move. 235 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: The chairs around on the deck as receiver receiving options. 236 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: Did you really get better there? 237 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: Myers is expensive. You know, Waller's gone. The O line 238 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 2: doesn't look any better. Does the defense look close to 239 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: being average? 240 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: No? 241 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: I don't think one of us were big on will Levis. 242 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 2: But even if you had like Levis in the building, Yeah, 243 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 2: you know, because Jimmy's gonna give you eight games and 244 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 2: then at least you'd have somebody the noted me, not 245 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 2: a O'Connell. 246 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: The Chargers get an anus. 247 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: Didn't do a lot, right. I like the Quentin Johnson, 248 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: Derek Kendricks. Kendricks could be a leader that they need. 249 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: Is drafted day on Henley. So they they've you know, 250 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: kind of revampty line. 251 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: They've been searching at linebacker ever since draft and Murray, 252 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: who's been a real bust for them. Added Quinton Johnston, Yeah, 253 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 2: which I think is a good plan. 254 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 1: Keep Allen, which was a big deal, right. I thought 255 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: they were gonna be dumping keenan Allen Alan. 256 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 2: And Williams though are really expense. They just kicked the 257 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: can down the road on both those guys. So that's 258 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 2: why Johnston was picked, more so because both those guys 259 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: won't be back next year. Maybe neither. It was fine. 260 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know that there was a 261 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 2: lot of game changing there. 262 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: The Rams getta B. 263 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 2: They realized who they are to dump, dumping everybody and 264 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 2: starting over. 265 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Dolphins a B plus A lot of people 266 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: would have given the Dolphins an A. 267 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 2: I mean they pushed their chips in they're all in. 268 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 2: They are all in, and I get it. I mean, 269 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 2: you get Ramsey that cheap. I mean, of course you 270 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 2: got to pay him, of course, but that's a quality roster. 271 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 2: At least they have some backup plan for Tua. I 272 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: know you'd like to see somebody better there, and I 273 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 2: don't disagree with you. I'm fine with it. I mean 274 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 2: they're aggressive. 275 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: This is another one. So the addition of Mike White 276 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,839 Speaker 1: at quarterback upgrades the insurance policy for two attacks on 277 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: what playing it? Does that upgrade? 278 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: I mean, Bridgewater's far from great, but I think it's 279 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 2: a lateral move at best. At best, right, right, right, Yeah. 280 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: He's at least won games in the NFL. 281 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: Say Andy Dalton would have been my choice or something 282 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 2: like that, you know, somebody that's been around the block. 283 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: The Vikings get a B plus. 284 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 2: They're worse though they're a worse team, but I think 285 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 2: that they've they're sort of rebuilding, even though people don't 286 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 2: want to admit it because they won thirteen games last year, 287 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 2: but look at the status of their defense and who 288 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 2: they've moved on from their rebuilding. 289 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I agree. The Patriots get a B plus. 290 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 2: It's fine. I'd like to see a better pass catcher. Yeah, 291 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: in the whole mix. 292 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: Juju does not do it. 293 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: No, I mean he might be there, he's playing, do 294 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 2: not do it? No, right right? You know. And I 295 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 2: know they drafted Thornton last year, but probably too early. 296 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: They've already cut James Robinson. 297 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: He must something that this guy. 298 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 2: Nobody likes him for some reason. It has to be medical. 299 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 2: I mean he's been on three teams in six months 300 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: or something. I think their defense is the chance to 301 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 2: be really good if your offense doesn't do anything right. 302 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess if you really want to give 303 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: him credit. The coordinator move was a positive. Yeah, I 304 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 2: guess it wasn't an earth shattering offseason, though. 305 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: The Saints get a C plus. 306 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 2: I like the car move. 307 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know we were I think that upgrades 308 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: the Cars fans. So they also got Isaiah Fosky, so 309 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, see it's okay. 310 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 2: They didn't I mean, they didn't do a lot. 311 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: The Giants get an a. 312 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 2: Good draft, better receivers traded for Waller. Yeah yeah. I 313 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 2: like the Banks pick up in the first round. I 314 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: really like the Michael Schmidt's pick up. And you know, 315 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: on Day two, a lot of that is how did 316 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 2: the contracts work out with Jones and Barkley. I mean 317 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 2: that was the storyline going. 318 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: Markley holds out this year, that this was not a 319 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: good offseason. 320 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,959 Speaker 2: The other thing, too, is I mean he was near 321 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 2: the top of the league and touches last year. If 322 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 2: he sits out sits out comes back in Week one, 323 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: I would be worried. I mean, I don't think I'm 324 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 2: drafting them in fantasy. You just worried about him staying 325 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 2: healthy or desire to stay on the field. 326 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,359 Speaker 1: The Jet's gonna be, which is kind of surprising. 327 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: I assumed they'd get like the best grade. 328 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. 329 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean they were maybe the worst quarterback team 330 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: in the league. They won't be this year. So that's 331 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: in itself pretty good. 332 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: The Will McDonald in the draft thing, I. 333 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: Would have liked Roder Jones if I were them, you 334 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: know what I mean? 335 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: And you know I don't, I don't know, I don't know. 336 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: I mean, it's fine. I would hold Cobb, Blizard all 337 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: those guys against them. I don't think that makes you better. 338 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: No, that's not getting rid of Elijah Moore, right for 339 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: those two of those guys, right right, right? 340 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, great, Corry Davis is still on that team. I'm 341 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 2: sure what's gonna happen. 342 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: Crazy the Eagles get an a I. 343 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 2: Thought they'd get hit harder. I mean, they had a 344 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 2: lot of free agents, and yes they lost Javon Hargrave, 345 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 2: but you ended up with Jalen Carter, you know. 346 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: I mean they are a lot older though they are old. 347 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: I mean they were old last year and they're getting 348 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: older and older continuing to run it. 349 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: Back as not Kelsey Lane and Cox Graham, et cetera, 350 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: et cetera. And I get it. You're a great team. 351 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: There's gonna be a day when should you bring Cam 352 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: Hayward back or not? He ain't quite what it used 353 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 2: to be. Yeah, you do, you know, And that's where 354 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: they're at. But that's a dicey road. 355 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: They're like right now, kind of in that nineteen eighty 356 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: eighty one area of the Steelers. Yeah, okay, we've we've 357 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: gone to a couple of Super Bowls with these guys. 358 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 2: Don't have four rings, right, There's not a bunch of 359 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: trophies in the building, right, there's one or two, I 360 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: guess in recent memory. And now you paid hurts, right, 361 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 2: I mean, that's the big off season. 362 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: Forty nine ers get a C. 363 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: I didn't like their offseason. Yeah, hard Grave is a 364 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 2: great addition, Yeah, but did very little on the O line. 365 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 2: They were my least favorite draft and some of us 366 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 2: beause they didn't have high picks. I'm not going to 367 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 2: hold the quarterback situation they did with those picks were weird, weird. 368 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 2: A lot of special teamers and depth guys and a 369 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: kicker and you know, right the. 370 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: Things that, yeah, again, you don't do. The Seahawks get 371 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: an A. The Buccaneers get a B plus. 372 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 2: Seattle with two first round picks, and you know, their 373 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 2: youth movement looks like it's going in the right direction, 374 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 2: and didn't invest in incredibly amount and Gino. The Titans 375 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 2: gonna be real quick on Seattle, though they may really 376 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 2: regret not getting a Levis or a Hooker or you know, 377 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 2: that was their chance to at least get a prospect there. 378 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 2: That guy's not in the building. Yeah. 379 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: B for the Titans. I don't see no uh B 380 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: for the Washington Commanders. 381 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 2: It's okay. I mean Forbes was a bit early. They 382 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: signed some offensive lineman, but we did the O line 383 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 2: ranks yesterday and they were like twelve. Yeah, I mean 384 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 2: they were low. 385 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: The Titans, by the way, were last, right, right right. 386 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 2: I mean I'm about to say I really like this 387 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 2: Scronsky pick, but that's one out of five holes filled, 388 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: you know. I mean it's still a disaster. O line. 389 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: I've been thinking about that O line rank too. They're 390 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 2: clearly last. Yeah, I mean it's not even close. It's bad, 391 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: really bad. 392 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: That's why Ryan. They can't hang with Ryan. Yeah, Like, 393 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: Hill's not what he wants is you know, move move 394 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: guy in the pocket? 395 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 2: And is Henry what he once was? I mean, even 396 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 2: if he is, he's gonna be hitting the backfield a 397 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: lot over Yeah, a lot. I mean it's gonna be 398 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 2: a long year. And their receivers are bad bad. 399 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: That leads us to the Steelers, and we're gonna take 400 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: a break before we get all right cool, so we 401 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: will do that now. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale, Lollie. 402 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 403 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: We are live from the Steelers Mini camp here at 404 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 1: the upmc roooney Sports Complex, and we will be back 405 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: with more right after the welcome back. I am Dale, Lallie. 406 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson and uh, well, this is the 407 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: drive on Steelers Nation Radio and ESPN nine to seventy, 408 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: and we were going through the off season grades. 409 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 2: I forgot where we were at, and we left one out, by. 410 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: The way, and we left one team out that will 411 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:50,719 Speaker 1: be the Pittsburgh Steelers. 412 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 2: I give him a very high grade. I don't know 413 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: what PFF decided, but I'm curious what they had to say. 414 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: Well, they get an A. Okay, there were no A 415 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: pluses handed out with that, right the grades, I mean 416 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: there were only a few c's, nobody got dzer f's. 417 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 2: There weren't a ton of a's either, Yeah. 418 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: Not as few, but sprinkled in there. Here's what they 419 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: had to say. Pittsburgh made several low key additions in 420 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: free agency that should help the team significantly from a 421 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: season ago. 422 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: I think that's well said. By the way. Yeah, you know, 423 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 2: like they're addressing a national audience. Adding her big isn't it, 424 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 2: as you know, but it's helpful. 425 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: Isaac sam Olos earned the PFF pass blocking grades of 426 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: at least seventy seven point four over the past three seasons. 427 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: That's his past blocking grade. 428 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 2: It's funny to me he's considered a big physical That's 429 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: what I was about to say, too, is I think 430 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: there's a misconception with him, partially because he's Polynesian and 431 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,479 Speaker 2: he's a big, thickly built dude and he was on 432 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 2: an offense that ran the ball extreme a lot. Well, yeah, 433 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 2: but he is not chubby or a white body. I mean, 434 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 2: he's a long armed mountain. He's not lean. I mean, 435 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 2: he's a big but he's built to be a pass 436 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 2: blocker and is maybe better at it than the run game. 437 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 2: And he's really really good. 438 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not you know when when we talk 439 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: about him having played offensive tackle on m that's not 440 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: a stretcher. 441 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 2: That's not a stretch. I think he could pull it off. 442 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: He's got long arms, he's got the lengthy and he's 443 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: an excellent move guy. 444 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: No, he is. I mean, so that's a big addition there. 445 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 2: I mean, and he's he is a very good run 446 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: blocker too. But yeah, their past blocking grades are very 447 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: favorable to him, and the tape shows it. 448 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: While cornerback Patrick Peterson and linebacker Cole Holcom should both 449 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: be upgrades, I think people are overlooking the Cole Holcomb 450 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: sign too. 451 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 2: I can't say this enough and I'm not killing the 452 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 2: guys that were here before. That was easily the worst 453 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 2: position on the field to me, and not only were 454 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 2: they picked on and coverage some, but the lack of 455 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 2: big plays on the second level is just flat out unacceptable. 456 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 2: I mean you're getting no interceptions, no fumble recoveries, not 457 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 2: causing fumbles, no sacks, you know, I mean, just no 458 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 2: splash at the position that should have the most splash 459 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 2: on the defense, you know. So, And I do think 460 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: Holcombe was a nice pickup in that he's ascending, you 461 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 2: know that. I don't think you get him for the 462 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,880 Speaker 2: same price if he plays seventeen games, you know. I mean, 463 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 2: I think is we talk about that the grid, you know, 464 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 2: the y axis and the x axis start to meet 465 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 2: when your head and body are both, you know, intersect. 466 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 2: And I think he's always had the body in the athleticism, 467 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 2: and now he's getting the head for the game and 468 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 2: the recognition. So you think you're getting him at the 469 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,199 Speaker 2: right stage of his career. Yeah. 470 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: Adding Alan Robinson for almost nothing is nothing in exchange 471 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: is a huge low risk, high reward proposition. 472 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 2: That's the thing. There's no risk, there's no risk, low 473 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 2: risk is one way of putting it. No risk is 474 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 2: the other. 475 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: There's a little bit of salary involved there. Even at 476 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: that you're going to pay somebody. 477 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 2: So what were the biggest weaknesses in the passing game 478 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 2: last year? Red zone, middle of the field or intermediate. Well, 479 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: that's where he thrives, you know, And you're looking for 480 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 2: a big slot and you're also looking for a veteran 481 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: leader in a young wide receiver room. I think he 482 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 2: checks all those boxes. Even if he's not the Pro 483 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 2: Bowl guy he was in Jacksonville, which he won't be, 484 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 2: but he still has value. 485 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. Right, Pittsburgh draft was arguably the best in the 486 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: entire league. 487 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 2: I tend to agree. I don't like to get too 488 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 2: optimistic about such things because it's not going to work 489 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 2: out as well as we hope. I mean, it just 490 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 2: never does. But every one of their picks almost seemed like, Man, 491 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 2: that went well. Porter lasted to thirty two and I 492 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 2: didn't see that coming. Oh, Washington lasted that long. Okay, 493 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 2: Benton perfect fit. He's still there, you know. Like, I'm 494 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 2: sure I'm wrong about this, but I almost felt like 495 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 2: there probably wasn't a lot of bickering in the room 496 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 2: when there was their turn to pick. Was the guy 497 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 2: who wanted there? You know, there's a lot of years 498 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 2: doesn't go that way, and it's like, well, now we 499 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 2: got a pivot. 500 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: But the funny thing is, so we had an opportunity 501 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: to talk to Grady Brown, they were secondary coach yesterday, 502 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: and he mentioned that the two cornerbacks that they picked, 503 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 1: Joey Porter Junior and Corey Trice, were the two guys 504 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 1: he was hoping the Steelers took. 505 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 2: And you don't think he was blowing smoke either, No, 506 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 2: I don't think he was. Well, they're very similar traits 507 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 2: and usage. 508 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: Like once you get Porter, I mean they're Yeah, they're 509 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: almost the. 510 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 2: Exact same guy, exact same guy, right. 511 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 1: Like, So I mean that was that's what he was 512 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: looking for at that position. 513 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 2: And I'm sure this is the case. No one's told 514 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 2: me this, but I'm sure once they got Porter, they 515 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 2: were done at the corner, you know, like we needed one. 516 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 2: It was it was a full room at that point. 517 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 2: You know, you still hadn't I think he still a malet, 518 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: You definitely still a Withers hspoon. Yeah, he almost he 519 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 2: knew that they had a lot of corners. But then 520 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: he's there at the end of the draft, like, this 521 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 2: is what we're looking for at the position. Maybe we 522 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 2: want to take a developmental quarterback at that point, but 523 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 2: this guy is exactly what. 524 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: We're looking We have, you know, a third or fourth 525 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 1: round grade on him. He's still available in the seventh. Yeah, 526 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: and that this position, if you get a third or 527 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: a fourth round grade on a guy, you think he 528 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: could potentially be a starter. 529 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 2: For you, right, And with all respect to other corners 530 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 2: out there, if he's five to ten and has really 531 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: good tape, I bet they don't go that direction they're 532 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 2: looking for that build, that style obviously, because they drafted 533 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 2: two of them and probably didn't plan on the second one. 534 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: And they selected him in the second round. This being 535 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: quarter having already secured tackle Broderick Jones. Keanu Benton should 536 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: make an impact along the defensive line immediately. 537 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 2: I agree. 538 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: And as much as Darnell Washington may have always been 539 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: overrated as a fringe first round prospect a tight end, 540 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: he is a steal. I picked ninety three in the 541 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: third round. 542 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, And did they need a tight end, No, but 543 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 2: they obviously had a higher grade on him than where 544 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 2: he went, you know, And he's a bonus pick. He's 545 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: a cherry on top on an offense and a quarterback 546 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 2: that will take every little shortcut you can get. Much 547 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 2: like Robinson, He's going to help in the middle of 548 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 2: the field in the red zone, you know. I mean, 549 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 2: like that's where this passing in the right in the 550 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 2: run game as well, short. 551 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: Yardage and red zone end zone. 552 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I know Leal was last year's offseason, but 553 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 2: I love that Benton and Leal are very very different 554 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 2: styles and they're in an ideal spot right now behind 555 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 2: two very established starters. They can work in at their 556 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 2: own pace and they're gonna get snaps, but they don't 557 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 2: have to get snaps, yeah, you know, and they'll be situated. 558 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 2: They might not be in the field together mine, who knows. 559 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: You know, it depends on the opponent, right. 560 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. So you know, let's talk a little bit about 561 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: that tight end room. I just wrote about it for 562 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: Steelers dot Com. Here. We talked to Alfredo Roberts, there's 563 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: tight ends coach earlier today and he was talking about 564 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: how excited he is about what they can do. 565 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 2: Are you including Heyward or not? Yes? Okay, good? 566 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: He did so? 567 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 2: I good? Good, good? Yeah? 568 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 1: He said, hey, look, Heyward can do some things out 569 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: of the backfield. We can put them in line and 570 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 1: do things there. He and Pat Frarmuck can both get 571 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: down the field and create space. Yeah. 572 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 2: So he reports the tight end room every day. Yeah, yeah, 573 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 2: I mean he's Alfredo's guy. 574 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: And then you've got those two rooks that you can 575 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 1: put at the end of your line of scrimma. 576 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 2: He's rookies. He's tucking. 577 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, chess piece chess pieces in Gentry and Washington. Okay, 578 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: you want to get small against us? Yeah, you want 579 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: to get small and light with your Yeah, come deal 580 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 1: with these two monsters at tight end you want to 581 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: get you want to get big against us? Now, deal 582 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: with friar Mouth and Hayward. Is our tight ends and 583 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 1: do it all stars and they can do everything in between. 584 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 2: I also think friar Mouth and Hayward are not slouches 585 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 2: as blockers either, you know, they they are not bashful. 586 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 2: There's a lot of tight ends in the league that 587 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 2: are really wide receivers in terms of blocking, you know, 588 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 2: and those guys will get their you know, their their 589 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 2: face dirty and stick it in the fan. They're not 590 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 2: going to be killers. But I do think friar Moose 591 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 2: a developing guy that way. I was really impressed with 592 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 2: Hayward every step of the way, Like even in practices here, 593 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: how sharp he is coming out of his brakes, you know, 594 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 2: put him in motion, all the different stuff you can 595 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 2: do with them. His role kept growing last year. To 596 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,919 Speaker 2: his credit, he became a core special teamer from the start, 597 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 2: so he always had a helmet on game football player. Yeah, 598 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: I mean, he's a quality guy. You can give him 599 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 2: the ball in short yardage, you can block as a fullback. 600 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 2: So tight end room to me is one of my 601 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 2: favorites on the team to be honest with. Yeah. 602 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: You know, and if you look at that room in 603 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 1: terms of what you were talking about there, you know, 604 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: Gentry at twenty nineteen draft pick Friarmouth twenty twenty one, Yeah, yeah, 605 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 1: yeah last year was Hayward this year, so they've they've 606 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 1: used picks on that. 607 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 2: Room and very little money. I mean, like in terms 608 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 2: of cap space, they have to be at the bottom 609 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 2: of the league in tight end spending, but. 610 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: Yet one of the top tight end rooms in the league. 611 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 2: I agree, I agree, And I just talked about how 612 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 2: I liked the room and I'm not picking on Gentry. 613 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 2: But I bet his usage, his snapcounts go down, which 614 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: I think. 615 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: Is a good Washington is what they think he is. 616 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, because I also think Heyward's going to go up 617 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 2: a little bit more. I think you're going to see 618 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 2: Robinson out there a little more Austin. You know, only 619 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 2: five guys can be out there. So I think his numbers, 620 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 2: his usage, his percentage of snaps spiked dramatically post Cleypool trade, 621 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 2: kind of by default in a way, and it worked. 622 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 2: But I think it'll go back to I don't know 623 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,159 Speaker 2: if he was at fifty snaps a game. I think 624 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 2: he'll be at thirty eight. Yeah, I mean, I'm not 625 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 2: saying he's gonna be on a bench. 626 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: I think the interesting thing about it is if you 627 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 1: were defending the steel Like, Okay, teams spend the entire 628 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: offseason studying each other, So your game planning to go 629 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 1: into the season against the Steelers, are you saying, Okay, 630 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: we saw how well you ran the ball in the 631 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: second half of last season. We don't want to we 632 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: don't want you doing that anymore. We want to put 633 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: it all in the second year quarterback. Yeah, so do 634 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:39,159 Speaker 1: you do you do you put more heavy guys on 635 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 1: the field against the Steelers to try to shut down 636 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 1: that running game, in which case you're going to see 637 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: more Hayward or do you go the other way against 638 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:46,159 Speaker 1: him and say, okay, we're. 639 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 2: Gonna Well that's what I did, you know, because I 640 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 2: think now that the Steelers now have answers to the answers. 641 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 2: You know, like, no matter how you if you study 642 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 2: the Steelers in the second half and you're the Bengals, Ravens, 643 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: Browns defensive staff, which everyone's doing that right now in 644 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 2: their divisions, you would say, wow, they made a concerted 645 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 2: effort to go to twelve personnel run the football. 646 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 1: And then you look and then in turn look at 647 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: the offseason moves that they made, go well, they. 648 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: Really want to run the football. They really want run 649 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 2: the football. You know, they're drafting, they're bringing in big people. 650 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 2: They really want to run the football. But it's twelve 651 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 2: personnel with Gentry and Friar Moose a lot different than 652 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 2: twelve personnel with Friar Mooth and Hayward one percent, you know, 653 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 2: and it's way different. You know, you can go empty 654 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 2: out of that and you know those type of things too. 655 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 2: You know, it's my favorite game out there. But all 656 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 2: the different offensive packages they can throw out you now, 657 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 2: because I bet in the second half of the season 658 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 2: they were near the bottom of the league. That's not 659 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 2: a bad thing, but I mean, just in terms of 660 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 2: different packages they threw out there, it was usually the 661 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 2: same five guys. I think. 662 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: I think they're better capable now because of that, those 663 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: tight ends of being able to dictate to the opposing 664 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: team what they want them in. 665 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 2: Exactly, you know. So we talk about this all the 666 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 2: time too. Most teams don't have the Fred Warner. Most 667 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 2: teams don't have the linebacker that does it all. So, Okay, 668 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 2: we want your heavy linebacker out there because he's a 669 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 2: real liability, or we want your light safeties type guy 670 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 2: out there because he gets pushed all over in the 671 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 2: run game. We can dictate who you put on the 672 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 2: field because with our offensive personnel groupings. And that's different 673 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 2: than Week two than it is Week three, you know 674 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,960 Speaker 2: what I mean. So that I really really like let alone, 675 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 2: you can withstand injuries a lot more. I mean, their 676 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 2: four receiver packages is frightening to me. It's a lot 677 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 2: better than it was post Claypool trade. And I keep 678 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 2: saying this but I don't care who the players are 679 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 2: in the preseason, but I'm really going to pay attention. 680 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 2: And if I was an opposing defensive coordinator, I would 681 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 2: really chart the number of snaps that have a sixth 682 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 2: offensive lineman on the field, a third tight end, or 683 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 2: a four receiver because you saw basically none of that 684 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 2: last year. You know, you saw eleven and you saw twelve. 685 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 2: I would really hope you see expanded packages. You know, 686 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: get that sixth offensive lineman out there, get a fourth 687 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 2: receiver out there. I'm not talking about for the whole game. 688 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 2: I'm just talking here and there. Yeah, you know, three 689 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 2: tight end package. You didn't see that very much except 690 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 2: for goal line, you know. So that's one of my 691 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 2: real keys to the preseason. 692 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: And the and the you know, the interesting thing about 693 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: is what we just talked about. We're gonna put a 694 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: third tight end out there. But is it Hayward, is 695 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: it Washington? Is it Gentry? 696 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 2: Right? 697 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: You know, you know, let's say it's a what if, 698 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: it's what if? 699 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 2: It's what if it's you know, what if Friarmuth and 700 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 2: Gentry remained the starters, if they were basically starters last year? Yeah, 701 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 2: but my third guys Washington or my third guys Heyward. 702 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: Again that's Garrett dictator, totally defense. 703 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 2: What they do totally different. Right, we have to go 704 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 2: in a four to four and at. 705 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: The same time three, where's Hayward lining up at? 706 00:30:58,240 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 2: Right? 707 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 1: Is he in a backfield? In which case I want 708 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: to stay big? Is heid? 709 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean does he make a heavy you know, 710 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 2: two hundred and forty pound linebacker walk out in the 711 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 2: slot with him and take him out of the box. 712 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: And which running backs in the game? Yeah, not too 713 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: you know, is it going to be Anthony mcfarlande for example, Well, 714 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: I don't know that. I want to get you know, 715 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: be big against. 716 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 2: That, right right right? No, I hear you. I mean, 717 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 2: wouldn't blow me away. If they do two running backs 718 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 2: on the field here and there, that might be a 719 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 2: fourth one that I want to keep an eye on. 720 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 2: It is a combination of Harris McFarland Warren or two 721 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 2: of those three on the field together. Ever, you know, 722 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 2: like you didn't see a lot of that either, you know, 723 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 2: So the possibilities they can put together with those five 724 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 2: skill guys are way different than a year ago, like 725 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 2: night and day. 726 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, And even if it's Jalen Warren in the backfield 727 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: instead of Nagie Harris. 728 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 2: That that doesn't affect anything. People don't realize. I mean, 729 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 2: Warren's underlying receiving metrics were like behind Austin Ecklin or 730 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 2: Christian McCaffrey. Like that's it, you know, Like, I know 731 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 2: he's not as big as sample size, but like yours 732 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 2: per route run things like that, I don't think people 733 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 2: around here and I didn't either until the offseason. I 734 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 2: mean just watching it week after week like, oh, he's 735 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,680 Speaker 2: a good receiver, but and then you start breaking it 736 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:11,840 Speaker 2: down and you use some analytics stuff to your advantage, 737 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 2: just like he's a great receiver. 738 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: The funny thing is I remember talking to him about 739 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: that last year at training camp when he was just 740 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: starting to you know, we were on him before everybody else. 741 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:23,440 Speaker 1: Let's just be honest about that. 742 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: He stood out like the first practice, Yeah yeah, we 743 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 2: were banging a drum for Jalen Warren from day one 744 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 2: of training camp practice when they put the pads on. 745 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, oh I think they found one. 746 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, that guy's pretty good. 747 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 2: And no one talks about their draft class last year 748 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 2: and include him. He's as valuable for what they paid 749 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 2: as Yeah, any when they got in the draft, it's 750 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 2: not your starting quarterback. 751 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 1: But I can remember talking to him about his pass 752 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: catching ability and he said he said that was one 753 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 1: of the reasons why he went undrafted because they never 754 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: threw him the ball at Oklahoma State. 755 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, I mean even just like going back and 756 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 2: reading his scouting reports from Zerline and you know, all 757 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 2: the beasts and all that stuff, nobody raved about his 758 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 2: receiving skills. They probably don't exist. They hadn't seen it. 759 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 2: That adds up. 760 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: But he said, he said, look, I'm a I am 761 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 1: a good receiver. I played a lot of basketball as 762 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 1: a kid, and that helps my ball skills. 763 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:14,240 Speaker 2: I can see that. Yeah, and he has that. I 764 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 2: bet he was a point guard, you know what I mean, 765 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 2: no change of direction, you know, you know, shift the left, right, 766 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 2: acceleration guy, and I'm up picking on the departed. But boy, 767 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:25,640 Speaker 2: there was a lot of times, especially as camp went on, 768 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 2: and it was pretty clear that the whole world knew 769 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 2: he was making the team. It's split out wide against 770 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 2: Splain and I mean, come on, it wasn't even it 771 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 2: wasn't even close. Really good, right, I mean really massive separation, 772 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 2: but we're. 773 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,280 Speaker 1: Gonna take another break. He is Matt Williamson. I am 774 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:41,720 Speaker 1: Dale Lallie. Who are listening to our live coverage here 775 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 1: from the Steelers Mini camp session. Uh practice is uh, well, they. 776 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 2: Got another probably a little bit, yeah. 777 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: Thirty minutes or so left here and there and then 778 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: and uh Mini Camp practice number two that will just 779 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: leave tomorrow tomorrow will be on from noon to two 780 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: a little earlier tomorrow, R Yeah, a little bit, a 781 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: little bit earlier as Mike Tomlin will wrap this thing 782 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: up and let these guys get out of town. But 783 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 1: he is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolli. We'll be 784 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 1: back with more right after this on ESPN nine to 785 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: seventy and Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome back. I am Dale Lolli. 786 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson, and we are live from the Steelers' 787 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:27,480 Speaker 1: Mini camp session here at the upmc rooney Sports Complex 788 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: and beautiful day here to get this practice session in. 789 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:32,479 Speaker 1: There was some question about that with all this little 790 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 1: worried Yeah, all the rain. Yeah, we didn't know whether 791 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: we'd be indoors or outdoors here to start the day, 792 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: and we don't, thank goodness, our outdoors. 793 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:40,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's supposed to be nice tomorrow beautiful. 794 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I believe tomorrow's thought back up into the high seventies, 795 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 1: so should be in good shape. Speaking of good shape, Matt, 796 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:51,320 Speaker 1: one of the things that has been a topic around 797 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: here this offseason has been Kenny Pickett putting on about 798 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 1: fifteen pounds. He's up around twenty five to twenty eight, 799 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 1: somewhere in that range. And again, when we talked to 800 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: Mike Sullivan earlier today, you know, he said, one of 801 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:07,720 Speaker 1: the things that they're working on here as a group 802 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: in this training camp is understanding the mobility factor that 803 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 1: Kenny Pickett has in the scramble drill. Okay, he said, 804 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 1: it's it's really two plays within a play. He said, 805 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 1: you know, we're trying to teach him, you know, how 806 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 1: to stay in the pocket and step up and you know, 807 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:26,359 Speaker 1: still continue to see the field. But we also want 808 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: to get our receivers on the same page with him 809 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: that when he's when he gets out of the pocket 810 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:33,440 Speaker 1: and starts moving around, it's a whole new play. 811 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 2: Now, Okay, Yeah, I mean the scramble drill is not 812 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 2: how we drew it up, and there's an art to it. 813 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 2: It's not just run around, you know, I hope you 814 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:42,439 Speaker 2: get lucky, right, And there is should I take it deep? 815 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 2: Should I come back? You know what type of things where? 816 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: See which side of the field is he going to? 817 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: You know? 818 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 2: And you realize at that point too, the coverage people 819 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 2: have distinct rules too, like I'm not passing this guy off. 820 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 2: I got a plaster. I'm this guy that I'm on 821 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 2: is the guy that's going to be with me the 822 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 2: rest of the way. 823 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 1: And really with a young you know, a young quarterback 824 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 1: and he a youngish receiver group who quite frankly, in 825 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: no offense to Ben Roethlisberger, the last few years of 826 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 1: his career, they didn't. 827 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:11,440 Speaker 2: Necessarily about an issue, right, It was. 828 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: Not something they had to worry about. This was not 829 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,919 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger circa two thousand and eight. 830 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,719 Speaker 2: But a feather in Ben's cap, though, is how good 831 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 2: in Antonio Brown were together. And you know when things 832 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 2: broke down, Tyreek and Mahomes, I mean Adams and Rogers, 833 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,360 Speaker 2: you know, I mean Ab and Ben had that no doubt. 834 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:32,280 Speaker 2: And it's not just as we just said, play breaks 835 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 2: down makes something happen. There are rules, there's guidelines, like okay, 836 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:37,960 Speaker 2: I think AB's gonna probably take it deep, you know, 837 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 2: and I'm sure Kenny's learning that with his guys as well, 838 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,840 Speaker 2: and he does extend the plays extremely well. I was 839 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 2: just saying off the air, and I've said it on 840 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,359 Speaker 2: the air too, that I was one of the most 841 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 2: impressive things to me that took me by storm with 842 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,799 Speaker 2: Picket was ability to elude free rushers. I mean, if 843 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 2: a guy blew a block in front of him, dead 844 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 2: the rights, detackle or looping ends. 845 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 1: Whatever, he's rolling out of it. 846 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:06,160 Speaker 2: He's such an abrupt mover, even more so than I 847 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 2: remembered at Pitt in terms of he has good speed 848 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 2: and he's going to be a good runner in the 849 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:14,680 Speaker 2: open field. He's not going to be Michael Vick. He's 850 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:15,239 Speaker 2: not going to run a. 851 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: Four to four. 852 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 2: But he has good speed, but he has better quickness 853 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:22,759 Speaker 2: and acceleration and lateral agility. And you see that with 854 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:23,719 Speaker 2: his really good fear. 855 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:26,840 Speaker 1: We'll do that to you, yeah, right right, But is 856 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 1: he going to be as near you know, does he 857 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:31,880 Speaker 1: need to be nearly as fearful as he was? I mean, 858 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 1: he was a legit two hundred and thirteen pounds last year, 859 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:39,680 Speaker 1: and he looked thinner I mean, you know, he's a 860 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:40,640 Speaker 1: legit six three. 861 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:43,280 Speaker 2: I hope he doesn't lose any quickness or agility. 862 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 1: From what I've seen out here, it doesn't look like 863 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: he had. 864 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 2: I don't either. I mean, he's not eluding Cam Hayward 865 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:50,560 Speaker 2: trying to kill him, you know. And we'll see when just. 866 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:53,160 Speaker 1: Having that extra armor on your I think it was 867 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:54,080 Speaker 1: a worried last year. 868 00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean its impressed as I was with his 869 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:59,400 Speaker 2: feet and quickness and agility. There are a handful of 870 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 2: plays where big, strong defensive lineman threw him around, you know, 871 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,239 Speaker 2: tossed him around like he was a little you know, 872 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:06,800 Speaker 2: a little fratting, not a little kid or a fragile 873 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:08,920 Speaker 2: that's the wrong word, but ragged alled him a little bit, 874 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:10,960 Speaker 2: like you never saw that with Ben ever. You know. 875 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: Now the question, because a man game, my question becomes 876 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:18,000 Speaker 1: now at six three, twenty eight ish. 877 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 2: I like the sound of that. 878 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, with that, especially the way he looks, would that 879 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:23,399 Speaker 3: have affected his draft stock last year? 880 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 2: Would have only helped. 881 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 1: That's what I'm saying. He have gone up, you know, 882 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:30,640 Speaker 1: or if he were if you knew that going into 883 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: this draft, and Kenny was available in this draft and 884 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:34,360 Speaker 1: you're looking at his you know, you mentioned when we 885 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,040 Speaker 1: were talking about Bryce Young, well he's small. 886 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:36,879 Speaker 2: He's really small. 887 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:40,160 Speaker 1: C J. Stroud is six two ten. 888 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:42,440 Speaker 2: You wish he is. I wish he was. You know, 889 00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:44,520 Speaker 2: you hope after his rookie year he gets to two 890 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:46,799 Speaker 2: twenty two, twenty five, you know, something like that, after 891 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:50,759 Speaker 2: the riggers of an NFL season two maybe. I mean, 892 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 2: you know how Scotty reports often work. I mean, there's 893 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:56,120 Speaker 2: a pros and con section. I bet his body type 894 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:57,960 Speaker 2: was more of a con than a pro. I mean, 895 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 2: coming out you like the height, the six three, sure, sure, 896 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:04,279 Speaker 2: but the definition I mean, you know you'd rather look 897 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 2: like Will Levis or somebody like that. You know, there's not. 898 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:09,400 Speaker 1: Because that was one of the positives for Levis as 899 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:10,919 Speaker 1: of in an NFL ready frame. 900 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:16,360 Speaker 2: However, I think Levis is kind of muscle bound and tight, 901 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 2: you know what I mean, Like maybe he should lose 902 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 2: a little bit of that and get more agility. But 903 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:23,719 Speaker 2: I mean comparing picking Levis isn't what we're here to do. 904 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:28,120 Speaker 2: I mean, I like the fact that he's added really 905 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:31,439 Speaker 2: good weight since becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler because he's gonna 906 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 2: need it. I mean it's just little guys get hurt. 907 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. So, I mean everything that we've talked about with him, 908 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 1: you know, the camera, how that's going. 909 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 2: To help him. 910 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:46,000 Speaker 1: The Steelers have the little film office for him upstairs. 911 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,800 Speaker 1: That yeah, last year, that's going to help him. They said, hey, Kenny, 912 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:52,080 Speaker 1: go go at some weight here, good weight. He's done that. 913 00:39:52,239 --> 00:39:55,080 Speaker 2: Sure looks like he's done it well too. 914 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,359 Speaker 1: It's not just a you know, one of these things. 915 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:02,120 Speaker 1: I can remember. I talked to the former defensive line 916 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:04,719 Speaker 1: coach at Wisconsin. He was before that, he was their 917 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 1: strength and conditioning coach, and he talked about, you know, 918 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:11,720 Speaker 1: a guy like Keanu Benton, who is a natural because 919 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:13,680 Speaker 1: of the wrestling background, was a natural two hundred and 920 00:40:13,719 --> 00:40:14,840 Speaker 1: seventy pounder or whatever. 921 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:15,560 Speaker 2: He said. 922 00:40:15,719 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 1: You know a lot of times those guys would come 923 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 1: in and they feel like they have to add weight 924 00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:20,880 Speaker 1: for college, and it was always bad weight. 925 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 2: Very right. 926 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: They just I'm gonna eat a bunch of sandwiches, you know, 927 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you're carrying an extra weight 928 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:27,480 Speaker 1: and you're bunch of water weight or that's not what 929 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:28,200 Speaker 1: Pickett has here. 930 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:29,840 Speaker 2: No, no, no, it looks like it was put on 931 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 2: the right way. And to pull back the curtain, you know. 932 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 2: I mean we were having a conversation off the air 933 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:37,400 Speaker 2: with a friend from next door that knew Kenny his 934 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:40,480 Speaker 2: whole career at pitt and he basically just flat out said, Wow, 935 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:42,920 Speaker 2: does he look better? And not that he looked bad before, 936 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 2: but like he has put on proportional good man weight, 937 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:49,600 Speaker 2: you know, strength and body armor as you mentioned, and 938 00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:51,920 Speaker 2: I think that's a very positive sign. I hope he 939 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:55,040 Speaker 2: doesn't lose quickness. Doesn't look like it just watching him 940 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 2: do rollouts and things they have on, you know, a 941 00:40:57,120 --> 00:40:59,440 Speaker 2: lot of on the move stuff here. I'm sure he's 942 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:01,759 Speaker 2: still gonna be very effective runner and that gets you 943 00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:03,359 Speaker 2: out of trouble, but that's not going to be the 944 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:06,320 Speaker 2: foundation of who he is. And back to the quickness 945 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:10,279 Speaker 2: verse speed thing. I would rather he had quickness and 946 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:13,720 Speaker 2: he drew breeze like manner. Yeah, short little abrupt steps 947 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:16,400 Speaker 2: like damn Reno wouldn't beat you and I in a forty. 948 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:18,080 Speaker 2: But he had those feet in the pocket, you know 949 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:20,760 Speaker 2: that Just that quick allude to guy, you know, cock. 950 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: By Brady was never a great scrambler, right, but he 951 00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:25,800 Speaker 1: alluded to contact. 952 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:28,200 Speaker 2: The way Greg Cosel always talks about it is it's 953 00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:30,319 Speaker 2: like boxers in a ring, you know, like if you 954 00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:31,719 Speaker 2: don't need to get out of the ring, you can 955 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:34,279 Speaker 2: see together with the punches, you know, and stay in 956 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:36,360 Speaker 2: the ring. If you're Danny Marino, we don't want you running, 957 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:38,160 Speaker 2: you know, we just want you there's a bee times 958 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:40,680 Speaker 2: you have to elude that first rusher, and Kenny has that. 959 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:43,160 Speaker 1: And I think the thing that I'd like to see 960 00:41:44,719 --> 00:41:47,720 Speaker 1: is him be more selective, Like I want him throwing 961 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:49,440 Speaker 1: the ball from the pocket. I want him throwing the 962 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:52,080 Speaker 1: ball more often than I want him running it. Oh yeah, 963 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:54,400 Speaker 1: they've built the fact that he has the ability to 964 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:58,080 Speaker 1: run with the football is a plus, there's no doubt 965 00:41:58,080 --> 00:41:59,560 Speaker 1: about it. But I want him to pick and choose 966 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,000 Speaker 1: those spots. Agree, Like if it's third and six and 967 00:42:02,040 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 1: you run for seven, that's that's one thing. If it's 968 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 1: second and ten and maybe you're going to gain three yards, 969 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:09,760 Speaker 1: but you're going to take a big. 970 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:12,279 Speaker 2: Hit when to hold them throw the ball away. 971 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:14,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, don't take those big hits. 972 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:17,319 Speaker 2: I'm glad you mentioned third down two because their third 973 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:21,680 Speaker 2: down percentage was just Skyrocks number one the league. Yeah, right, right? 974 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:23,399 Speaker 1: Had they what they did in the second half would 975 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 1: have been number one in the league all season long. 976 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:28,439 Speaker 2: And I do I'm curious, and I'm sure we could 977 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:30,520 Speaker 2: figure it out with a lot of work. But how 978 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 2: many times did his running convert a third down? And 979 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:37,440 Speaker 2: I'm sure it's a high percentage, which is great for 980 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:40,200 Speaker 2: their QB sneaks and things of course there of course, 981 00:42:40,719 --> 00:42:43,040 Speaker 2: and he did it selectively and it was effective. But 982 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:44,719 Speaker 2: I don't want to lean on that, you know, like 983 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:48,759 Speaker 2: I don't want thirty percent. I don't know what the 984 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,840 Speaker 2: number would even be, but a high percentage of Steeler 985 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:55,359 Speaker 2: first downs to come from picket scrambles. You don't want 986 00:42:55,360 --> 00:42:57,760 Speaker 2: that number to be high. You know it's in your bag, 987 00:42:57,880 --> 00:42:59,279 Speaker 2: But I don't need to pull that club out all 988 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:01,320 Speaker 2: the time. Yeah, it's a rookie, great, I want to 989 00:43:01,320 --> 00:43:02,200 Speaker 2: save it when I survive. 990 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:04,480 Speaker 1: I need a three hundred yards shot here, I'm going 991 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:06,520 Speaker 1: to hit the three hundred yard shot, like if it's 992 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,040 Speaker 1: the whole three hundred and ten yards. I don't want 993 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:09,719 Speaker 1: to overdrive the green. 994 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:12,120 Speaker 2: I'm not going to crush it right right right place. 995 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:14,400 Speaker 1: This thing. Yeah, so yeah, so it's all about the 996 00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:17,640 Speaker 1: selective use of that thing. I mean, he sees so 997 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:21,160 Speaker 1: many young quarterbacks just rely on that running ability. But 998 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:22,479 Speaker 1: justin fields is perfect exam. 999 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:25,600 Speaker 2: It's a has at this point. But like Rogers was 1000 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:28,239 Speaker 2: such an effective runner. Yeah, and Ken he's a better 1001 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:30,600 Speaker 2: athlete than Rodgers. But in Rogers hey day, he could 1002 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:32,160 Speaker 2: hurt you. He could hurt your bad you know, if 1003 00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:34,399 Speaker 2: you turn your back to him and man coverage third 1004 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:36,560 Speaker 2: and six, he gets seven slides. 1005 00:43:36,680 --> 00:43:38,400 Speaker 1: Last, Holmes is a perfect exam. My home is a 1006 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:41,000 Speaker 1: perfect Nobody wants you know. You say, well, we want 1007 00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:43,920 Speaker 1: Mahomes running the football. But when Mahomes runs with the ball. 1008 00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:46,160 Speaker 2: He's incredibly smart about it. Oh yeah, and Rogers was 1009 00:43:46,239 --> 00:43:49,040 Speaker 2: so smart about it, and he was an a hole 1010 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 2: about it really because he hold the ball out, it 1011 00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:54,879 Speaker 2: pop right up. Laugh in your face. First down. Okay, 1012 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:57,600 Speaker 2: now I gave you know, Rogers three more downs. Great, 1013 00:43:57,600 --> 00:43:59,719 Speaker 2: that's going to just breaks your back. But I think 1014 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:02,160 Speaker 2: Pick can do more than that. Yeah, I think so 1015 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:05,200 Speaker 2: as well. So I think that's a winning from the pocket. 1016 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:05,800 Speaker 2: Number one. 1017 00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:07,560 Speaker 1: That is the thing that you do have to be 1018 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:09,759 Speaker 1: able to do and to a stand that to be 1019 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:12,640 Speaker 1: able to make it through a seventeen game schedule, or 1020 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:15,520 Speaker 1: at least attempt to do, so that body armor, the 1021 00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:17,040 Speaker 1: additional body armor should help. 1022 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:19,680 Speaker 2: The more I think about it, just things that we 1023 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:23,320 Speaker 2: now know from OTA's in mini camp, of seeing human 1024 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:26,080 Speaker 2: beings live and as opposed to just talking and speculating and 1025 00:44:26,080 --> 00:44:29,040 Speaker 2: stuff like that. That's one of the most positive aspects 1026 00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:31,959 Speaker 2: to me. I mean, there's guys out there that look 1027 00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:34,319 Speaker 2: really good. I think Dan Moore looks great, but yeah, 1028 00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:37,080 Speaker 2: he's not blocking TJ. Water, Miles Garrett, you know. But 1029 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 2: the fact that Pickett has added that weight, I know 1030 00:44:40,719 --> 00:44:43,440 Speaker 2: that's true, you know, like that's going to hold up. 1031 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:46,640 Speaker 2: I think that's a really positive development absolutely well. 1032 00:44:46,840 --> 00:44:49,160 Speaker 1: Another development that has happened here, Matt, is that we 1033 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:52,279 Speaker 1: get to take another break. We're end of our two, 1034 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:54,600 Speaker 1: so we'll be back to bring you the first half 1035 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:57,160 Speaker 1: or so of hour three here on the drive. Right 1036 00:44:57,200 --> 00:44:59,680 Speaker 1: after this, we are live from the upmc rooney Sports 1037 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:03,480 Speaker 1: comple here on Steelers Nation Radio and ESPN nine seventy. 1038 00:45:03,719 --> 00:45:06,080 Speaker 1: He's Matt Williamson, I'm Dale Lallie. We'll be back with 1039 00:45:06,120 --> 00:45:07,080 Speaker 1: more right after this.