WEBVTT - Dolphins Steelers Week 7 Preview 0:00:01.600 --> 0:00:05.400 You're listening to the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network. This is 0:00:05.519 --> 0:00:08.559 Drive Time with Travis Wheatfield. Back to throw to a 0:00:08.720 --> 0:00:15.840 looking what's alta winde olfan touchdop cleric call, un believable, 0:00:16.160 --> 0:00:19.120 just blue fire for a second time. Don't know where 0:00:19.160 --> 0:00:21.800 he was going right away? The hit of that man. 0:00:22.280 --> 0:00:24.360 I want to help you soon up on his manway 0:00:24.760 --> 0:00:28.520 wattle waddle to a shotgun back to throw looking that 0:00:28.680 --> 0:00:33.880 was up fires too, It's waddle. It's six touchdown past 0:00:34.120 --> 0:00:39.680 of this day. Drive Time with Travis Winfield begins. Now 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:45.760 let me check your pulse. I what is up? Dolf 0:00:45.800 --> 0:00:49.280 fans and welcome to the Drivetime podcast, part of the 0:00:49.320 --> 0:00:54.639 Miami Dolphins podcast Network, covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. 0:00:54.680 --> 0:00:57.960 How's it going everybody? I am your host, Travis Wingfield. 0:00:58.240 --> 0:01:00.680 And on today's show, it's preview Day a Thursday, to 0:01:00.760 --> 0:01:03.600 take a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the matchups 0:01:03.600 --> 0:01:05.759 at each position. What we can learn from the tape, 0:01:05.800 --> 0:01:07.920 the key numbers, and a whole heck of a lot more, 0:01:08.000 --> 0:01:10.720 Plus what's at stake, the three keys and the week 0:01:10.959 --> 0:01:13.440 seven NFL picks. All of that and a heck of 0:01:13.520 --> 0:01:16.320 a lot more from the Baptist Health Studios inside the 0:01:16.360 --> 0:01:26.000 Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the Drivetime Podcasts. So 0:01:26.160 --> 0:01:28.360 the Steelers come back to hard Rock Stadium for the 0:01:28.400 --> 0:01:32.600 first time since a surprise Dolphins victory after a one 0:01:32.680 --> 0:01:35.000 and four start to that season that spawned a six 0:01:35.080 --> 0:01:37.040 game winning streak for the Dolphins, and it was the 0:01:37.120 --> 0:01:39.560 first game in a stretch for Miami one nine out 0:01:39.640 --> 0:01:43.399 of ten en route to their most recent playoff appearance. 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:45.960 But this part of the episode is to tell you 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:48.880 about the Steelers and how they arrived at their current 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:51.320 state two and four after a big win over the 0:01:51.360 --> 0:01:55.800 Buccaneers on Sunday in Pittsburgh. This franchise has been a 0:01:55.880 --> 0:01:59.280 picture of consistency, the model NFL franchise really over the 0:01:59.360 --> 0:02:01.200 last couple of day gids and really even going further 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:04.280 back than that, never a losing season under Mike Tomlin, 0:02:04.520 --> 0:02:06.720 one of the greatest coaches we've ever seen in this league, 0:02:06.880 --> 0:02:10.480 a super Bowl, accountless, countless deep playoff runs, and an 0:02:10.560 --> 0:02:14.200 organization that has drafted and developed star after star. I 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:18.400 mean the way this team has drafted receivers. Really going 0:02:18.480 --> 0:02:21.000 back to what Plexico buris or no he yeah, he 0:02:21.120 --> 0:02:23.880 was at the Steelers. First, they just they always do 0:02:23.960 --> 0:02:26.320 it hinz Ward like that far back. They've always had 0:02:26.680 --> 0:02:28.639 really good receiving corpse. I think it's the strength of 0:02:28.720 --> 0:02:31.519 the roster right now. But things have changed quite a 0:02:31.600 --> 0:02:34.960 lot at the spotlight position, right the quarterback Ben Roethlisberger 0:02:35.080 --> 0:02:38.400 enters an oh four, plays a billion games, wins a championship, 0:02:38.680 --> 0:02:41.720 and calls it a career after last year's kind of 0:02:42.080 --> 0:02:44.160 magical playoff run they made to get in and then 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:46.720 to get walloped by Kansas City. So you enter Kenny 0:02:46.760 --> 0:02:48.760 pick Att, the first round pick, the only quarterback this 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:51.720 year taken in the top eighty five picks. Moleique Willis 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:54.040 was picked eighty six to the Titans in this past 0:02:54.120 --> 0:02:56.640 draft class, and Pickett took over as the starter two 0:02:56.639 --> 0:02:59.480 weeks ago in Buffalo after coming off the bench and 0:02:59.520 --> 0:03:02.160 injecting some life into an offense that had been struggling 0:03:02.200 --> 0:03:04.720 at that point in the loss to the Jets when 0:03:04.760 --> 0:03:08.040 he threw three interceptions. They lost to Buffalo by a lot, 0:03:08.440 --> 0:03:11.440 but beat Tampa behind a strong defensive performance and Mitch 0:03:11.560 --> 0:03:14.040 ter Biscuit coming off the bench for an injured Kenny Pickett. 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:16.800 Mike Tomlin has said that Pickets in the concussion protocol, 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:19.200 but he will practice and start if he's clear to 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:22.400 play on Sunday night. As for the Steelers roster, it's 0:03:22.440 --> 0:03:24.720 almost always been about the draft for this team. The 0:03:24.800 --> 0:03:27.919 quarterback like you mentioned Nag Harris at tailback, Deonte Johnson, 0:03:28.040 --> 0:03:30.840 Chase Claypool and George Pickens and Pat Friar Muth their 0:03:30.880 --> 0:03:34.239 top four passing options, all recent draft picks. On the 0:03:34.320 --> 0:03:37.520 offensive line, a position that has undergone some turnover the 0:03:37.640 --> 0:03:40.280 last few years, but that's been the position most infused 0:03:40.320 --> 0:03:43.720 by free agency, with Mason Cole, James Daniels, and Trent 0:03:43.840 --> 0:03:47.960 Scott On defense a little more turnover from the recent years. 0:03:48.240 --> 0:03:51.680 Chris Warmly, Tyson a Lulu Larry Ogan job joined the 0:03:51.720 --> 0:03:54.680 great Cameron Hayward. A bit of a mix at linebacker 0:03:54.760 --> 0:03:58.520 with Miles Jack signing, but also the drafting of Devin Bush, 0:03:58.520 --> 0:04:00.520 who hasn't played up to that first round status in 0:04:00.640 --> 0:04:03.240 his career so far, but he's showing some some growth 0:04:03.320 --> 0:04:07.320 this year. And the very very underrated Alex Highsmith. Minka Fitzpatrick, 0:04:07.360 --> 0:04:09.560 of course, trader from the Dolphins back in twenty nineteen 0:04:09.600 --> 0:04:12.240 to Pittsburgh, and then Levi Wallace signed as a free 0:04:12.280 --> 0:04:15.040 agent Cam Sutton and Tremaine Edmunds both were draft picks 0:04:15.080 --> 0:04:17.240 in the secondary. All of this is to say the 0:04:17.279 --> 0:04:20.880 Steelers utilize really all avenues of team building to construct 0:04:20.920 --> 0:04:23.840 their roster playoffs last year to and four start to 0:04:23.960 --> 0:04:27.719 this year, and frankly, I think, based upon their records 0:04:27.800 --> 0:04:30.480 over the last decade or so and runs into the postseason, 0:04:30.839 --> 0:04:34.080 probably a little bit shy on the postseason success you 0:04:34.120 --> 0:04:37.320 would expect from a team that has so consistently gotten there. 0:04:37.600 --> 0:04:39.719 And I you know, I go back to that season 0:04:39.760 --> 0:04:43.600 when they lost when the Dolphins beat the Steelers here 0:04:43.600 --> 0:04:45.760 in hard Rock Stadium, went to Hinesfield and lost up 0:04:45.760 --> 0:04:48.440 there in the playoffs, and then Pittsburgh. No, it was 0:04:48.480 --> 0:04:51.000 the following year, I should say, in seventeen when they 0:04:51.080 --> 0:04:53.800 lost that divisional round game at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 0:04:54.040 --> 0:04:56.280 one of their best teams they had with Antonio Brown, 0:04:56.360 --> 0:04:59.000 Levy on Bell and a obviously much more healthy Ben 0:04:59.080 --> 0:05:02.040 Roethlisberger back in and it didn't result in any deep 0:05:02.080 --> 0:05:04.520 post season runs. So it's been an interesting study for 0:05:04.560 --> 0:05:06.080 the Steelers team who has had a lot of success 0:05:06.200 --> 0:05:08.599 in the regular season, had some post season wins for sure, 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:10.240 but maybe not as many as they would hope under 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:12.640 Mike Tomlin. Either way, though, he finds a way to 0:05:12.720 --> 0:05:14.440 coach that team up and get the most out of 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:16.520 the roster that he has. What she is working to 0:05:16.560 --> 0:05:19.320 do right now, evident by the win last week against 0:05:19.360 --> 0:05:22.279 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We kick it off here Dolphins 0:05:22.360 --> 0:05:26.239 offense and Steelers defense. Quarterback versus safety to uh Tongue 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:28.360 go by Loa is back in the lineup. We heard 0:05:28.360 --> 0:05:30.800 from him on Wednesday his press conference. You can find 0:05:30.839 --> 0:05:32.920 that up on the team YouTube channel and catch the 0:05:33.000 --> 0:05:36.040 highlights of that press conference on the Wednesday episode of 0:05:36.360 --> 0:05:38.720 Drive Time. In his first game back, he draws a 0:05:38.800 --> 0:05:41.480 defense that has really struggled so far this season. They're 0:05:41.480 --> 0:05:43.760 allowing five point seven yards per play, that's twelfth most 0:05:43.800 --> 0:05:46.359 in the NFL, and there's just gaps throughout the course 0:05:47.040 --> 0:05:49.000 of this defense and the coverage standpoint. Before we get 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:51.800 into the positional matchups here, let's look at some defensive 0:05:51.839 --> 0:05:55.520 structure numbers. They use the three four front eighteen percent 0:05:55.600 --> 0:05:57.880 of the time, the fourth three front one percent of 0:05:57.920 --> 0:05:59.920 the time, so not really a hybrid. Look there. They're 0:06:00.000 --> 0:06:02.280 in their nickel package sixty six percent of the time, 0:06:02.600 --> 0:06:04.640 and then twelve percent in dime, which is of course 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:07.320 six defensive back, so it's lots of flexibility there. They 0:06:07.360 --> 0:06:09.880 play off coverage two thirds of the time and one 0:06:09.920 --> 0:06:11.840 third of the time up and press. These are all 0:06:11.960 --> 0:06:16.760 numbers through NFL True Media. It's a very weird defense 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:19.080 in the sense that it's lineback or heavy, which not 0:06:19.240 --> 0:06:22.520 many defenses are these days. They run that three four 0:06:22.600 --> 0:06:25.400 front more than anybody else in the NFL. I know 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:28.080 it doesn't sound like it, but base defenses are nickel 0:06:28.160 --> 0:06:30.120 these days. Your three or four or four three makes 0:06:30.200 --> 0:06:32.040 up you know, usually ten percent or less of your 0:06:32.080 --> 0:06:34.520 overall snaps. For the Steelers though, it's almost a fifth 0:06:34.560 --> 0:06:40.000 of their snaps. And even when they remove that front 0:06:40.040 --> 0:06:42.479 seven member kind of got stuck there for a second. 0:06:42.640 --> 0:06:45.440 When they remove that front seven employer for a another 0:06:45.520 --> 0:06:48.279 defensive back, it typically comes out of the defensive line, 0:06:48.320 --> 0:06:50.440 so it goes to a three three five look. And 0:06:50.560 --> 0:06:52.440 going back to the Keith Butler days, he was a 0:06:52.520 --> 0:06:54.640 DC there for a long time. He has since been 0:06:54.680 --> 0:06:58.400 replaced by Terrell Austin. They still love to put their 0:06:58.480 --> 0:07:02.000 linebackers in and worked into coverage roles, whether it's zone 0:07:02.160 --> 0:07:05.919 or man. You will so often find Devon Bush running 0:07:05.960 --> 0:07:08.200 in man coverage, for instance against the Buffalo Bills on 0:07:08.240 --> 0:07:11.520 a player like Khalil Shakur, a receiver from Boise State 0:07:11.560 --> 0:07:13.520 who tested really well, and frankly, it's a match, a 0:07:13.560 --> 0:07:16.840 mismatch from an athletic standpoint, and this creates avenues down 0:07:16.840 --> 0:07:19.720 the middle of the field both for your speed but 0:07:19.880 --> 0:07:23.320 also the size matchup. They invite these routes to get 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:26.080 on top of the linebacker where he's playing trail technique 0:07:26.360 --> 0:07:28.880 and can only defend the width of your shoulders when 0:07:28.920 --> 0:07:31.240 you're back to the quarterback right. I think between our 0:07:31.280 --> 0:07:33.520 play action game with those deep digs and over routes 0:07:33.560 --> 0:07:36.360 and crossing routes, and then the opportunity to throw high 0:07:36.400 --> 0:07:38.640 point back shoulder shots to someone like Mike a Sicki 0:07:38.720 --> 0:07:41.840 or maybe Cedric Wilson gets involved. Finally, I'm excited to 0:07:41.880 --> 0:07:44.240 see to attack this defense because the throws that I 0:07:44.320 --> 0:07:46.840 think he excels the most with have given the Dealer's 0:07:46.880 --> 0:07:49.640 defense the most issues so far this year. Last week, 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:51.800 it was a lot of off coverage and zone, but 0:07:51.840 --> 0:07:53.080 I think that had as much to do with the 0:07:53.120 --> 0:07:56.160 fact that Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace were down as 0:07:56.200 --> 0:07:58.320 anything else. They should be back this week. Both those 0:07:58.360 --> 0:08:00.640 guys when they played against Buffalo together, there was a 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:03.760 lot more variety and plenty of disguise in that defensive tape. 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:07.720 There was one snap against the Bills with four guys down, 0:08:08.200 --> 0:08:10.800 one player up in the post, Minka Fitzpatrick, and then 0:08:10.840 --> 0:08:13.280 the other six defenders were all on second and ten 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:17.160 like a foosball table, just six guys straight across the 0:08:17.200 --> 0:08:19.920 first down marker that the sticks. So we need to 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:22.600 be sharp in the pre snap to get pertinent information 0:08:22.640 --> 0:08:24.400 to see how it will rotate and change and on 0:08:24.520 --> 0:08:26.560 play action looks with the quarterback turns his back to 0:08:26.600 --> 0:08:28.920 the defense, it's important for two to have that pre 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:31.920 snap acumen to be able to apply a postnat because 0:08:31.960 --> 0:08:34.240 they will change the look. I just can't help but 0:08:34.400 --> 0:08:37.520 notice that Flora is influence with how they disguise the 0:08:37.559 --> 0:08:40.040 looks and how they give the quarterback these false keys. 0:08:40.040 --> 0:08:42.360 It's always been a strength of Brian Flores and he's 0:08:42.360 --> 0:08:45.120 doing it again this year for that Pittsburgh defense. And 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:48.120 last week, despite being down all those guys, you know, 0:08:48.240 --> 0:08:53.959 Manka Fitzpatrick to the corners played really one of the 0:08:54.280 --> 0:08:56.000 the defensive Backfiel, I should say played one of the 0:08:56.120 --> 0:08:59.079 best games of the season, consistently getting the Bucks offense 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:01.680 off the field with four a man rushes off coverage 0:09:01.880 --> 0:09:04.880 and just challenging the short intermediate game. Now they use 0:09:04.920 --> 0:09:07.320 their backers in a variety of coverage and rush rolls 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:09.360 going forward and back. So that's where I think the 0:09:09.400 --> 0:09:12.679 play action game can maybe entice them into some false keys. 0:09:12.960 --> 0:09:15.240 With Ta we've been over what he does well. His 0:09:15.400 --> 0:09:17.680 key here to me is I Ding his former teammate 0:09:17.760 --> 0:09:20.679 at Bama Minca Fitzpatrick, who covers so much ground on 0:09:20.760 --> 0:09:23.400 the back end and can really erase some big plays 0:09:23.400 --> 0:09:25.760 and take away windows that you think are there because 0:09:25.800 --> 0:09:28.240 of his range and instincts to get to those positions. 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:31.480 Now where you can get him if he inserts into 0:09:31.520 --> 0:09:33.679 the box or if you get him in space on 0:09:33.720 --> 0:09:36.319 a catch and run. He's missed some tackles, some of 0:09:36.360 --> 0:09:38.800 those digs and slants and curls. Maybe we can really 0:09:38.840 --> 0:09:41.600 expand that yak yardage this week. He has just two 0:09:41.679 --> 0:09:44.400 misses this year, but he has seventeen last year, fourteen 0:09:44.440 --> 0:09:47.800 and averages right around fifteen per year, so it's been 0:09:48.400 --> 0:09:50.199 pretty much one miss tackle per game. You do that 0:09:50.240 --> 0:09:52.440 against this team at safety, it could be a touchdown 0:09:52.440 --> 0:09:54.600 on the other end, like we saw in the Patriots 0:09:54.640 --> 0:09:58.320 game to Waddle his usage sent in the post, fifteen 0:09:58.360 --> 0:10:00.719 percent in the box, ten in the slot and with 0:10:00.880 --> 0:10:04.000 Terrell Edmonds is funny. Used to be able to just say, well, 0:10:04.160 --> 0:10:07.319 you know, Minca sevent in the post, that means the 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:11.320 Terrell Edmonds is in the post and in the box. 0:10:11.360 --> 0:10:13.400 But it's not like that anymore because there's all these 0:10:13.440 --> 0:10:15.920 two high coverage looks. We've seen the use of Cover 0:10:16.120 --> 0:10:19.040 three expanded back into more of the fold this year, 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:21.040 like teams got away from it, but now you're seeing 0:10:21.080 --> 0:10:22.520 more of it and the way it drives to cover 0:10:22.679 --> 0:10:25.720 six as well and even quarters. We just aren't seeing 0:10:26.240 --> 0:10:29.160 the true like the safety does this and this safety 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:32.439 does that. It's you know, it's really interchangeable with a 0:10:32.480 --> 0:10:34.559 lot of these teams now. And Edmonds is in the 0:10:34.600 --> 0:10:37.360 deep portion of the field of the time with an 0:10:37.400 --> 0:10:40.520 even thirty percent split between slot and box, so he 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:44.080 is the more box enforcer. But they built they both 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:46.000 will play in the post or you know, in too 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:49.120 high structures a lot, and neither of them comes as 0:10:49.160 --> 0:10:52.360 a blitzer almost ever. Eleven can bind pass rush snaps 0:10:52.360 --> 0:10:54.600 for both those guys. They do blitz at a team 0:10:54.800 --> 0:10:57.040 clip of twenty four point five percent, which is the 0:10:57.160 --> 0:10:59.800 twentie highest rate, so twelfth lowest rate in the NFL, 0:11:00.120 --> 0:11:02.640 and they have a pressure rate of sixteen percent that's 0:11:02.679 --> 0:11:04.920 the fourth lowest in the NFL. Like this is why 0:11:04.920 --> 0:11:06.319 I think the Dolphins have a chance to kind of 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:08.959 get going here offensively this week. With those safeties and 0:11:09.000 --> 0:11:11.480 their flexibility, they are really good to get into those 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:13.640 three deep looks with a third, a third, a third 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:15.959 of coverage and then that robber and those two high 0:11:16.000 --> 0:11:18.959 structures coming down and picking off those crossing routes, which 0:11:19.000 --> 0:11:21.200 we know is a premier man beater, and that can 0:11:21.240 --> 0:11:24.040 be the way the defenses counter those very difficult routes 0:11:24.040 --> 0:11:26.839 to defend. So I don't know if we'll see man 0:11:26.960 --> 0:11:30.520 coverages such a ballsy move against the Dolphins receiving corps. 0:11:30.960 --> 0:11:33.320 If they do that, though, and potentially have those safeties robbing, 0:11:33.360 --> 0:11:35.440 that could be one way to entice some turnover worthy throws, 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:37.679 but hopefully to can avoid those this week and just 0:11:37.720 --> 0:11:40.240 continue to go after the matchups that favor him. I 0:11:40.280 --> 0:11:41.920 think it's a fun match up here for two because 0:11:41.960 --> 0:11:44.319 he's he's obviously a smart player than Minca and Edmonds 0:11:44.320 --> 0:11:47.600 are both smart players. Uh their numbers two four coverage 0:11:47.600 --> 0:11:49.880 snaps from Minca this year, just eleven targets and seven 0:11:49.920 --> 0:11:52.800 catches a buck thirty eight, one touchdown and three picks. 0:11:52.840 --> 0:11:56.040 So he's playing fantastic again. Tremaine and or Trail Edmonds, 0:11:56.040 --> 0:11:59.560 I should say sorry, d ninety six coverage snaps, He's 0:11:59.640 --> 0:12:02.520 eight eleven ninety yards and two touchdowns. And then Trey 0:12:02.600 --> 0:12:04.480 Norwood plays a lot of their big nickel looks. They 0:12:04.520 --> 0:12:06.200 do go that three three, five with a big nickel 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:10.200 over the slot cornerback. Forty seven snaps in coverage four 0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:12.280 of eleven for fifty eight yards. Those guys are really 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:14.480 doing a good job in coverage this year, also defending 0:12:14.520 --> 0:12:16.520 the deep ball because they just don't give it up 0:12:16.640 --> 0:12:19.320 all about often the receivers and tight ends versus corners. 0:12:19.400 --> 0:12:22.200 Of course, this position group jives with the first group, 0:12:22.240 --> 0:12:24.719 and Pittsburgh should be getting healthier here this week, just 0:12:24.880 --> 0:12:28.000 like getting Minca back to practice this week, Sutton and 0:12:28.240 --> 0:12:31.760 Levi Wallace are both getting back and then Arthur Mallett 0:12:32.280 --> 0:12:35.480 has they're getting better every single week because they're getting 0:12:35.520 --> 0:12:37.719 more experienced together, and like I mentioned, they seem to 0:12:37.800 --> 0:12:40.679 incorporate new stuff and more disguises each week. They really 0:12:40.760 --> 0:12:43.160 put the clamps on Tampa last week with James Pierre 0:12:43.200 --> 0:12:46.079 and Josh Jackson filling in on the perimeter. Uh The 0:12:46.160 --> 0:12:49.559 week prior was a tough matchup with the Bills and 0:12:49.679 --> 0:12:51.920 things didn't quite go as well there. And there's this 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:55.280 common theme with their cornerbacks that is the part of 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:58.160 the reason, along with the structure of the defense, for 0:12:58.240 --> 0:13:00.600 why I think the Dolphins can really up some numbers 0:13:00.640 --> 0:13:03.839 this week. I hope is that their physicality takes a 0:13:03.920 --> 0:13:07.439 precedent over speed, and we've seen some really athletic receivers 0:13:07.880 --> 0:13:09.920 make haste against them this season. It's a lot of 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:12.240 free access to where you want to go, which if 0:13:12.320 --> 0:13:14.520 the Dolphins can get that with Tyreek and Waddle, it's 0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:17.280 a dangerous, you know, proposition for the defense, and a 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:19.960 precision passing attack like we have seen with TWA can 0:13:20.040 --> 0:13:23.440 really chew up some yards and chunks like fifteen eighty 0:13:23.480 --> 0:13:27.320 five yard gains court uh Not Courtland Sutton, Cam Sutton 0:13:27.400 --> 0:13:29.400 ran a four or five to leave by Wallace ran 0:13:29.440 --> 0:13:31.719 of four six three and Arthur Mallett ran of four 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:33.360 six too, like there's not a lot of speed in 0:13:33.440 --> 0:13:36.160 that secondary. Sutton had an elite three cone time at 0:13:36.200 --> 0:13:38.800 six eight one. Wallace didn't test, but on tape. I 0:13:38.880 --> 0:13:40.520 know a seven plus three cone when I see it, 0:13:40.720 --> 0:13:43.520 and then same Dill fer Malla. It's similar as Wallace. 0:13:43.720 --> 0:13:45.839 Probably more than seven seconds on the three cone. This 0:13:46.000 --> 0:13:48.240 is a really big opportunity again for our passing game 0:13:48.280 --> 0:13:50.360 to get going with volume. I really hope we can 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:53.480 avoid the penalties that stall drives, the drop passes, pass 0:13:53.520 --> 0:13:56.560 protection breakdowns, misfires from the quarterback like. You're never going 0:13:56.600 --> 0:13:58.319 to completely avoid all those, but if we can to 0:13:58.400 --> 0:14:00.600 a certain extent, this could be a where you push 0:14:00.640 --> 0:14:04.120 for upboards of four passing yards if you're sharp and precise. 0:14:04.880 --> 0:14:07.560 Of course, it starts for the Dolphins with ten and seventeen. 0:14:07.600 --> 0:14:09.960 There's lots of outside leverage where they take away the perimeter, 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:12.080 cap the top of the defense and try to funnel 0:14:12.160 --> 0:14:14.920 things into that linebacker heavy defense. Like we mentioned, they 0:14:14.960 --> 0:14:17.720 are super athletic a linebacker and rely on those guys 0:14:17.800 --> 0:14:19.400 take away a lot of space in those hook and 0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:21.800 curl zones. So the relationship between the cornerbacks and the 0:14:21.880 --> 0:14:25.200 linebackers has to be really symbiotic for this defense to 0:14:25.280 --> 0:14:27.880 really hum at the level it wants to and for us, 0:14:27.920 --> 0:14:29.360 I mean, it's not different than most weeks. You know, 0:14:29.440 --> 0:14:31.960 create matchup opportunities for those guys. If the Steelers take 0:14:32.000 --> 0:14:33.960 away Wattle and Tyreek, then just go to the rest 0:14:34.000 --> 0:14:36.640 of your very capable eligibles with the other receivers, tight 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:39.120 ends and backs that we have here. And one other 0:14:39.200 --> 0:14:41.680 thing I've noticed on their tape with those backers, they 0:14:41.720 --> 0:14:43.360 play both forward and back a lot, and a lot 0:14:43.440 --> 0:14:45.440 of that results in that trail technique when they're playing 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:48.400 underneath to funnel to those deep zones, which opens up 0:14:48.440 --> 0:14:50.800 some those quick pops into the seam, either before the 0:14:50.840 --> 0:14:54.280 window closes or on that back shoulder look. So I'm 0:14:54.320 --> 0:14:55.720 curious to see it, but I just I think a 0:14:55.760 --> 0:14:58.480 lot of these matchups favor the home team. Some coverage 0:14:58.520 --> 0:15:01.240 numbers Sutton two D and nine snaps, Wallace and Mallett 0:15:01.240 --> 0:15:03.760 have played a hundred and forty each. On Sutton sixteen 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:05.840 of twenty five for a buck ninety four. He has 0:15:05.880 --> 0:15:08.680 three touchdowns allowed and two picks. Wallace is fifteen for 0:15:08.760 --> 0:15:12.120 twenty six yards a touchdown in a pick and then 0:15:12.200 --> 0:15:14.440 mala Is twelve of sixteen for a buck ninety seven. 0:15:14.440 --> 0:15:17.280 So let's slot position has been vulnerable for the Steelers 0:15:17.320 --> 0:15:18.880 this year. Let's go ahead and take our first break 0:15:19.000 --> 0:15:20.600 right here and come back on the other side and 0:15:20.720 --> 0:15:23.680 get to the rest of the Dolphins offense for Steelers matchup, 0:15:23.960 --> 0:15:25.440 and then we'll also do the other side of the 0:15:25.480 --> 0:15:28.080 ball pick the games in week six, Week seven as well. 0:15:28.280 --> 0:15:31.360 Plenty more to come here Drivetime Podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, 0:15:31.480 --> 0:15:40.000 brought to you by Auto Nation. Back here on a 0:15:40.120 --> 0:15:42.920 Thursday as week number seven kicks off tonight on Thursday 0:15:43.040 --> 0:15:46.640 Night Football with the foulcon Nope, the Cardinals and the Saints, 0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:48.280 and we pick it up here with the Dolphins and 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:50.720 Steelers matchup and then the trenches, and this is where 0:15:50.720 --> 0:15:52.600 the Steelers defense really gets a lot of their wins. 0:15:52.680 --> 0:15:55.000 It's a tough, tough group up front, and it all 0:15:55.080 --> 0:15:57.720 starts with Cameron Hayward. He's listened as a defensive end, 0:15:57.760 --> 0:16:00.560 but he plays everywhere. He's a load on the nose, 0:16:00.760 --> 0:16:03.520 the nose tackle position in their nickel rush packages where 0:16:03.560 --> 0:16:06.440 he can dent the interior and then create more opportunities 0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:09.200 for those backers to blitz or ends to twist off 0:16:09.240 --> 0:16:11.640 of his action inside. It's a big matchup for Connor 0:16:11.680 --> 0:16:13.840 Williams this week, which, by the way, his snapping is fine. 0:16:13.880 --> 0:16:17.160 He's a great center. Um that argument was really exhausting 0:16:17.200 --> 0:16:21.040 on Wednesday morning. Uh yeah, he's fine. Who He's been very, 0:16:21.160 --> 0:16:23.040 very good this year. One way you can take away 0:16:23.080 --> 0:16:25.680 some of those sheer power in Haywards game is with 0:16:25.800 --> 0:16:27.760 those stretch runs and then action off of that like 0:16:27.800 --> 0:16:30.080 boot in misdirection and some end a rounds. So I'm 0:16:30.120 --> 0:16:32.280 curious to see what the answers are for him that 0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:35.760 double teams, sticking running backs up into those A gaps, 0:16:36.160 --> 0:16:39.680 you know, fullbacks up, alec ingold, those ends that work 0:16:39.720 --> 0:16:41.800 off of him, Larry Oak and Job. He's a monster 0:16:41.840 --> 0:16:44.400 of a pass rusher. He was a more complete player 0:16:44.400 --> 0:16:46.120 the last like a few years ago, but the last 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:48.280 couple of years he's been more of a past rush 0:16:48.320 --> 0:16:51.560 specialist for the Bengals. Now the Steelers, Chris Warmly similar 0:16:51.600 --> 0:16:54.320 build that. He's heavy, heavy end that can occupy and 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:57.360 create space for that second level montrevious Adams plays on 0:16:57.400 --> 0:16:59.520 the nose and eats up blocks like an absolute fiend 0:17:00.240 --> 0:17:03.000 they have. Then you have the backers who insert into 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:05.720 the line of scrimmage equation as much as any team, 0:17:05.960 --> 0:17:08.280 and that starts with Alex high Smith. He's a total beast. 0:17:08.560 --> 0:17:11.240 He has a variety of rush moves, excellent burst, he 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:14.560 can redirect and play through contact. So impressed by his tape. 0:17:14.560 --> 0:17:17.200 He's a fantastic player. It's gonna be a good challenge 0:17:17.200 --> 0:17:19.040 for the Dolphins offensive line with the power and strength 0:17:19.080 --> 0:17:22.080 they play with. They want to too gap occupy gaps, 0:17:22.160 --> 0:17:24.800 create chances for those linebackers, and that's evident by the 0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:27.600 production that high Smith and Miles Jack have more on 0:17:27.720 --> 0:17:29.800 that here in just a moment, but we can, you know, 0:17:31.000 --> 0:17:34.600 move a if we can move the line and get 0:17:34.680 --> 0:17:36.560 pushed that wants to play that way. We did a 0:17:36.560 --> 0:17:38.280 pretty job with that against the Jets. Have had some 0:17:38.359 --> 0:17:40.159 moments this year where it wasn't quite as successful. But 0:17:40.200 --> 0:17:42.240 if they can get to push against this team again, 0:17:42.320 --> 0:17:44.240 I think that that will open up a lot of 0:17:44.280 --> 0:17:47.040 things for this offense. Tehron if he can play versus 0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:49.200 Highsmith is a great matchup and one of those instances 0:17:49.240 --> 0:17:51.400 where we are so fortunate to have to run Armstead 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:54.440 against these you know, top of the line rushers. We 0:17:54.480 --> 0:17:56.440 saw the impact last week, so hopefully he can go 0:17:56.560 --> 0:17:58.680 and give us a full game with him, you know, 0:17:58.920 --> 0:18:01.359 totally comfortable with out him, the game plan has to 0:18:01.440 --> 0:18:04.399 change a little bit. I think their quarterback pressure numbers 0:18:04.480 --> 0:18:07.240 high Smith has nineteen, Hayward has eighteen, Oak and Joe 0:18:07.240 --> 0:18:10.240 b eleven and the Malik reads seven. So high Smith 0:18:10.280 --> 0:18:11.960 and Hayward, man, those are the guys you have to 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:14.760 really focus on and run stops. High Smith has twenty 0:18:14.840 --> 0:18:17.080 and Hayward has thirteen. And then the other guys that 0:18:17.160 --> 0:18:19.359 have the most miles Jack has twenty two and Devin 0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:21.360 Bush has nine. So that's the running back in linebacker 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:24.080 position group here, and it's Jack and Bush. What a 0:18:24.200 --> 0:18:26.160 what a great combo that it sounds like a bad 0:18:26.200 --> 0:18:29.160 sitcom as the primary guys. Then Robert Spillane who gets 0:18:29.200 --> 0:18:31.600 plenty of run to a bad punt here. But Jack 0:18:31.760 --> 0:18:33.680 is a jack of all trades. What a great player 0:18:33.760 --> 0:18:35.880 he is. But running routes behind him is the best 0:18:35.880 --> 0:18:37.960 way to neutralize him since he wants to fit the 0:18:38.040 --> 0:18:40.480 run but also has so many coverage responsibilities that you 0:18:40.520 --> 0:18:42.920