1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: your twenty four seventh home of the Black and Gold 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: SNR Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome to the Drive behind Dal Lolly. 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: He is Matt Williamson, and it is a Friday here 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh, a beautiful friday here in Pistols. And uh, 6 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: we're now two weeks, less than two weeks away from 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: the NFL Draft coming up. And well, Mat, the Steelers 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: have not stopped making moves here. Um, yeah, yesterday, earlier 9 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: earlier this week, I should say they released Drown Jones, 10 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: as we mentioned, Uh, Jamir Jones, I should say, the 11 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: outside linebacker who played so many special team snaps for 12 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: them miss year. Now we know why because they're signing 13 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: Tanner Muse from from Seattle and he is a special 14 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: team's ace and that seems to be what they we're 15 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: looking to do there with that position. Yeah, and a 16 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: couple of things here is there. Someone called them both linebackers, 17 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: but they're I mean Muses and off the ball guy. 18 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: He actually was somewhat of a safety linebacker at Clemson. 19 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: Jamir Jones isn't on the ball edge defender. And my 20 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,639 Speaker 1: take on it is as you said. I mean, Jamir 21 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: Jones was one of the five ish true core every 22 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: special team's phase guys for them last year, and that's 23 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: exactly what Mus is going to be. I mean, and 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: maybe an upgrade at that. I mean he's faster, you know, 25 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: he's a little leaner who changed his directions better. But 26 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: I also look at the outside linebacker position and think 27 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: it's a little bit of a gap there right now. 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: You know, Bud the pre signs with Atlanta today and 29 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: Jamir Jones is out of the picture. I think that 30 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: is a somewhat of an endorsement on Quincy Rochet that 31 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: he has a pretty decent chance to be that fourth guy. 32 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: Could you go find a veteran outside linebacker, Sure, you 33 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: could certainly draft one in a very deep draft for 34 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: that position, But I want to stick with Mus here 35 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: for a minute. I don't know how much people know 36 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: about him, but he's got an interesting story, yeah he does, 37 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: and was drafted initially by the Raiders and then winds 38 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: up in Seattle. Never played it down for the Raiders, 39 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: so strange. I mean, he was the hundredth of overall pick, 40 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: He's a third round pick, and they never once put 41 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: him on the field. He got hurt I think at 42 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: the end of his training camp it was in septemberish 43 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: or something along those lines. And then it was the 44 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: COVID year and he was on the COVID list, so 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:42,279 Speaker 1: basically spent what a whole season kind of red shirt, Yeah, 46 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: and a list of some sort you know, reserve list, 47 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's COVID list whatever. But then they never 48 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: brought him back or did anything with him, released him 49 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: from that point on. And we know there was some 50 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: weird things going on in that organization, the Raiders, that's 51 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: the group into the Grouden era and changing of you know, 52 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 1: the changing of coaches. But that's a third round pick 53 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: that you never once put on the field on special 54 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 1: teams or anything. I mean, that's bizarre behavior. And then 55 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: Seattle grabbed him. Then he's played like eighty snaps of 56 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: defense in his NFL career now, but he is a 57 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: special team's eight. Yeah. He is a younger, cheaper version 58 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: of Tyler matacavig for and faster version. And I say 59 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: in taller and faster, I mean he ran for one 60 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: at his combine. I mean he can move and I 61 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: kind of liked him at Clemson. He was part of 62 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: the really good Clemson national title defense and was one 63 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: of their leaders. I mean, he was around a lot 64 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: of great players, but he made a ton of players 65 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: there and you know, nobody really bad an eye when 66 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: he went in the third round. Yeah, so interesting signing. 67 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: There's still a need for outside linebacker of course. Interesting 68 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: today they brought in Felix and duque Uzoma at a 69 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: K State as one of their visitors, as well as 70 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: Drek Tilman. So that's a couple of days. Three days 71 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: this week they brought in some mid round wide receiver prospects. Yeah. 72 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: I don't know that Tilman gets out of the second 73 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: round at this point. I mean, it's lying season. You 74 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: never you can never overreact to what the media tells 75 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: you and all that. But Mingo, who they brought in, 76 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: and Tillman seem like day two big receivers that are 77 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: gaining a lot of steam and are going to go 78 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: pretty high. Well that's that's the one commonality that they've 79 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: had all three guys that they brought in this week. 80 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: They're all bigger bodied receivers, right, and which makes sense. 81 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: That's a shortage. I think they would love experiment they 82 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: did more an experiment with Claypool as a big slot. Um, 83 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: Austin and Miller are not big slots. I think a 84 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: big slot a big physical guy, like a mingo, like 85 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: a Tilman. It's probably on the wish list and there's 86 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: not a ton of them to pick from. Yeah, it's 87 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: sure seems like it is. And the other one they 88 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: brought him was the kid from West Virginia. Is that 89 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: Bryce Ford? Uh yeah, Wheaton or whatever his name is. Uh, 90 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: so many names bouncing are out of my head this 91 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: time of year. It's kind of hard to keep track 92 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: of everybody. But uh yeah, interesting. Um, you know that 93 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: they tell you what you know. You can if you 94 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: can sift through what you think are the smoke screens 95 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: and you know, those kind of things, you can kind 96 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: of figure things out. I still don't see them necessarily 97 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: going early on an edge rusher. Like when I say earlier, 98 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: I mean like any of those first three picks were 99 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: even the first four. It's funny bringing that up because 100 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: I was about to ask you, boy, I mean bringing 101 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: in in Duque in New Zoma, which I better learned 102 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: his name sooner than later. I've avoided it like crazy 103 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: for the last couple of months. He's not going to 104 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,119 Speaker 1: be there in the high forties. I mean he's going 105 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: that's that's a pick for thirty two for me, right, Yeah, 106 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: you know the same thing. You know they you know, 107 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: they went to Will McDonald's pro day. Of course, I 108 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: always state has some other guys as well, but you 109 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: know it's almost like they're, Okay, maybe they're looking at 110 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 1: this like, hey, if this has gone at thirty two 111 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: and that's gone at thirty two, this is a guy 112 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: we like well enough, he's gonna be on your list 113 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: at thirty two. Yeah, in terms of just players, Like, 114 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: I'm not arguing with you, I think you know, the 115 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: third round is when you start thinking about edge. But 116 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: you know, I mean drafting an edge high is kind 117 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: of painting the bar in red. I mean, there's a 118 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: lot of really good edge prospects here. I assume they're 119 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: gonna give Highsmith money at some point. So maybe you 120 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: want a cheap rookie there as opposed to a Bud 121 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: the pre justin Houston whomever, you know, So maybe that's 122 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: a higher pick. I just want to think about this morning, 123 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: that maybe that's a higher pick than I've been guessing 124 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: all along. Yeah, I just wonder, you know, again, if 125 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: you use a you know, a pick in the first 126 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,799 Speaker 1: two days or the draft on a guy who, okay, 127 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: let's say he makes five starts for you next year 128 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: or five, you know, five starts every year for the 129 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: next three years. Is that worth a third? Is that 130 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: worth a top you know, three day pick. I don't know. 131 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: Or maybe they look at it like, hey, we got 132 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: that extra pick this year in the second round. It's 133 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: you know, that's a luxury pick that we can afford 134 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: to make. Yeah, And I mean look at the Eagles 135 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: who are in the super Bowl last year. I mean 136 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: they're bringing in defensive front guys of all shapes and 137 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: sizes last year, leading the league in sacks by a 138 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: wide margin, bringing guys in like it's a hockey line, 139 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: you know, even with their stars. I don't know, it's 140 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: ever a bad idea to have an extra front you know, 141 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: defensive front player. You know. Like to me, if I'm 142 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: team building, I'd love to get an extra one, even 143 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: if it's Miles Murphy. It doesn't look like the rest 144 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: or you know what I mean, Like, I just think 145 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: the value Matt is for those edge guys is down 146 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: the board a little bit as opposed to the defensive 147 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: line that the three hundred pound theres you better take 148 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: one early. I agree, I agree, you know, And some 149 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: some names I like in the mid rounds for the Steelers. 150 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: I like Byron Young a lot from Tennessee. I'm talking 151 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: about the edge dudes right right, Isaiah McGuire from Missouri, 152 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: I think is pretty interesting. I've I've talked about ya 153 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: Yaddi Abbia a lot from Louisville. Um, So there's a 154 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: handful of them. Who's the other one I was thinking 155 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: of here? There the Eastern Michigan kid Jose Ramires a 156 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 1: little thicker. Yeah, So they're a handful of those dudes. 157 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: You know, you brought up Pihoko a few times as well. 158 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: They'll know a ton about him. So that's more like 159 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: third fourth neighborhood. But who knows, I mean, you get Yeah, 160 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: that's where I would be more comfortable doing that because 161 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: that guy is that that third or fourth round. You know, 162 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: a linebacker edge guy is going to play some and 163 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: he's going to be a special team's demon for you. 164 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: No better be anyways, and maybe there is packages with 165 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: Watt Highsmith and Rookie on the field together. If they're 166 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: three of your best eleven players, you know. I just 167 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: think that's why you take a guy like a like 168 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: a Nick Herbig, or you take you know, if you 169 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: take a Drew Sanders, you can kill two birds with 170 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: one stone there. Yeah. I like that approach as well. 171 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: And there are more and more of those Timmins Michael 172 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: Parsons as an extreme example, but you know, can do 173 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: one or the other for you in this class. It 174 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: seems to be something that's a little more prevalent than 175 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 1: it used to be. I also think, you know, the 176 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: Kansas State dude duque Uzoma. Maybe he's not on your 177 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: radar if you are picking seventeen thirty two forty nine, 178 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: you know, but if you're picking twenty two, thirty two, 179 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: forty nine and sixty, or you trade down a little 180 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 1: bit from thirty two, and all of a sudden you 181 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: have this extra pick, Well, we can afford somewhat of 182 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: a luxury pick and just give me, you know, paint 183 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: the Barn red with a great edge defender. Yeah, just 184 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: take the be players available. And that's really what they've 185 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: set themselves up to do right right throughout this draft, 186 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: with all the signings that they've made again, they filled 187 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: out the they filled out the roster with NFL players. 188 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: They're not going to be counting on it. And there's 189 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: a value to that. You know, if in Week fourteen, 190 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: when you roll in the Baltimore and somebody's hurt, let's 191 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: let's say it's pick somebody. You're not throwing a rookie 192 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: in there, or somebody that you know that you've had 193 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: around who's been on the you know, the back end 194 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: of your roster for a couple of years. You're throwing 195 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: a guy in there who was who started you know, 196 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: forty games in his NFL career. Yeah yeah, Or in 197 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: that exact scenario you laid out, maybe you have a 198 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: rookie that's playing really well at this point, starting to 199 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: really understand what the NFL's about, and you have a 200 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: surplus that you know, I mean because but you're not 201 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: counting on it. It's not like, well we have to 202 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: that third. We got to develop this guy now, right 203 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 1: right right right exactly, Like if you bring these guys 204 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: a little along, a little slower, work on their special 205 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: team stuff, work on their craft. So no, I like 206 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: where they're at heading into the draft, the way they've 207 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: prepared themselves entering the draft, it looks very favorable. In fact, man, 208 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: if you look at the Steelers depth right now, it's 209 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: pretty good across the board. It's easily the best in 210 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: the division. Oh I bet I would to say it's 211 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: better than most teams, but I didn't think of it 212 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: as a division concept. But yeah, it's definitely the best 213 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: in the division, even at quarterback with mister Biscuit back, 214 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, who else in the division has 215 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 1: something like that? That's a good point. I mean, I 216 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: can't even think who the Brown's backup is at this point. Stop. 217 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: He has one of the Alans, but not the good one, 218 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: not the good, not a good Allen. And well Baltimore 219 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: has has the pro bowler but right, right, right right. 220 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,199 Speaker 1: But they've been linked to like Bridgewater. You know, maybe 221 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 1: they'll do something like that. Who knows. But still, no, 222 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: you're right, and a lot of positions. I think you 223 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: can reflect that that the Steelers have guys they can 224 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: play with today and it's you know, so often in 225 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: the NFL because it is, as Bill Cowery used to say, 226 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: it's a marathon, not a sprint. The best team with 227 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: the team with the best frontline guys doesn't always win 228 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: a lot of times, it's a team A that gets 229 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: hot at the right time and B has the best depth. 230 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,719 Speaker 1: Right right, You're gonna have injuries. Oh yeah, I mean 231 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 1: you see on both end for I mean for all teams, 232 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: but all successful teams have been in the playoffs. You 233 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: can cite history. Boy, I would have loved to see, 234 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: you know, the Steelers chance against the Patriots if they 235 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: had Lebbell and Antonio Brown or you know what I mean, Like, yeah, 236 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: and those guys aren't replaceable. I mean, if you lose Watt, 237 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a drop and there's many guys that way. 238 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: But you also lessen the chances of losing a Watt 239 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: if you're rotating him and the snaps and said ninety 240 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: or Cam Hayward or you know what I mean. I mean, 241 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: that's exactly in my five for Friday Today, I wrote 242 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: about that, like Hayward's played at least seventy five percent 243 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: of the defensive snaps every year since two thy twelve. Yeah, 244 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: it's asking a lot. You know, if you if if 245 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 1: the signing that they made of the defensive lineman from 246 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: French Chicago, yeah Watts, if he cuts that down to 247 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: seventy percent exactly and doesn't hurt you, not like everyone's 248 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,839 Speaker 1: running pushing him on his back. You know, just if 249 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: he never starts a game this year, but he takes 250 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: he takes six or seven snaps a game off Cam 251 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: Hayward's plate, it's worth it. It's worth it, right, right, right, 252 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: That's a good way of looking at it. Like, just 253 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: make Cam more effective perse snap and you can be 254 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: more judicious of the snaps you use of him. Layton 255 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 1: games when it's you know, down to the wire. He's 256 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: out there a lot. In the playoffs, he's out there 257 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: a lot, you know, as opposed to boy, I got 258 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: nothing left in the tank, coach. Yeah, changing things up here. 259 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: We're quickly met before we finished up this segment. Um, 260 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 1: I don't know if you saw this one, but Jeff 261 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: Lega Wald, who course used to work in Pittsburgh at 262 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: the at the Valley News Dispatch, UM did a piece 263 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 1: on ESPN on NFL scouts name the greatest all time 264 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: draft prospects. So he went and he pulled some different, uh, 265 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: some different you know former scouts guys who are still 266 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: scouting on who's the best prospect you ever saw coming 267 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: out of college coming out of college. Yeah, okay, so 268 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: here's here's some of the names that he got bo Jackson. 269 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: And he wasn't even drafted out high you know, because 270 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: he wentn't play baseball. Yeah, he was playing in baseball. Uh. 271 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: Anthony Munos in nineteen eighty Okay, I was about people 272 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: forget this about Anthony Munios. He was a pitcher in 273 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: college at USC. I heard that. Can you imagine he pitched? 274 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: He pitched to the College World Series in seventy eight 275 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: that won the College World Series six six, two hundred 276 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: seventy eight pounds. Seeing that guy on the mound and 277 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: he was their ace. It sounds like he wasn't like 278 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: a middle reliever that he goes out there for three 279 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: pitches or even a Rob Dibble coming out throwing heat 280 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: and nobody's nobody's charging the mound. That's awesome. But anyone 281 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: that saw him, I mean, he was a little before 282 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: my time. But if you'd even like talk to Wolf 283 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: for those guys, they're like, oh, there was nobody like 284 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, just the watch kind of gives you an 285 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: idea what kind of athlete he was. Right, he might 286 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: be the best left tackle I've ever lived. Um I 287 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: don't know if you knew this too about so I 288 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: read this about Emmanuel Forbes, the cornerback out of Mississippi State. 289 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: He was a big time pitching prospect in high school. 290 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: Toy he blew his arm out. Wow, he was throwing 291 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: ninety plus mile an hour. He is as real long limbs. 292 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: I mean like old canned boyd out there or something. 293 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: You know, you can see it. You can see that 294 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: an aggressive flame throw or long limb guy. I kind 295 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: of like that, though. I mean, you gotta have you know, 296 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: it's better than I do. I mean, you've to have 297 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: a certain mental makeup to be a stud pitcher. You know, 298 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: your best stuff or you're not as quick as or 299 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: as fast as your or your ankle's hurt and you 300 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: still need to run with Jamar Chase, Like, man, I 301 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: don't have my curveball, but I gotta figure out a 302 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: way to get through this. And you know, I'm on 303 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: the road and everyone's given me a hard time and 304 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: I got bases loaded, like you better be mentally tough. 305 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: But it also tells me he has a has good 306 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: body control, because you have to. You know, pitching is 307 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: so much repeating the mechanics over and over again. Uh 308 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: and be explosion. Okay, that makes sense because you have 309 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: to be able to because you so much of your 310 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: throwing power comes from your your core and legs. Okay, 311 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: that makes sense. Even though his legs are really lean. Yeah, 312 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: he must be able to generate quite a bit of 313 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: power there. That makes sense. Interesting. John Elway in the 314 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty three comes at us. That's interesting that they 315 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: pick Elway out of that ridiculously quarterback class. But as 316 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: a prospect, I mean, again, I was ten. I remember 317 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: him being you know, it was unheard of that he 318 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: could tell the Colts that I'm up playing for you, 319 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: you know, things like that. Yeah, he was you know, 320 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: he was a second round pick in the eighty one 321 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: Major League draft, right, and he was a great baseball 322 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: player as well. And yeah, I mean I just just 323 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: listened to Kiper over the years Elway, I think it 324 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: is his highest graded quarterback he's ever graded coming out 325 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: of school. This next guy in the list would be 326 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: the one that I would probably point out, Barry Sanders 327 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: in Oklahoma State in eighty nine. People forget how good 328 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: that draft was, Like, why wasn't Barry Sanders the first 329 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: pick in the draft. Yea, he was third overall behind 330 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: It's like, right, how about this, For the first five 331 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: picks of the draft, you had Barry Troy Aikman one, 332 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: Derek Thomas two Sanders, and Dion Sanders. I think Sanders, 333 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: Sanders and I think Manderich was in that draft too. 334 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: Mandridge was the second overall pick. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all right, 335 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: and everyone he was never seen an offensive lineman on 336 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: the cover of Sports Illustrated like he was. People talked 337 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,959 Speaker 1: about him like he was a super prospect, but he 338 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: didn't make it. The other guys were all Hall of famers. Yeah, 339 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: that's I mean. Barry Sanders in college was just it 340 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: was sick. It was sick. I mean he couldn't tackle. 341 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: He couldn't tackle in the NFL in college. Yeah, that's 342 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: not a real hard scouting job watching him, No, you 343 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: could pretty much figure out that he was going to 344 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: be a star. Some of the guys who made it 345 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: in the honorable mentions Jim Brown. I don't remember his 346 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: college tape, but I'm sure it was fine. He got 347 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: the most I didn't see him play votes, but they 348 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: all said he was, you know, I mean, the guy was. 349 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 1: He was an All American in lacrosse, right, like the 350 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: best in the country from what I understand. Yeah, probably 351 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: he wanted. Yeah, Champ Bailey. I was actually thinking Dion 352 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: if in that same class as Corners Orlando pace first 353 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: overall tackles, pretty impressive. Yeah, Rod Woodson, Wow, but he 354 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,880 Speaker 1: didn't go real high No, he didn't. Adrian Peterson, that's 355 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: a guy that you talked about having seen tape of 356 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 1: when you were you were scouting in college. I honestly 357 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: did think his high school highlights. He didn't need to 358 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: go to Oklahoma to go to the league, and I don't. 359 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: And he's one of the only ones I would have 360 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 1: ever said that about the high school tape I watched, like, yeah, 361 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: what's going on there? You know? Wow, Andrew Luck makes sense. Yeah. 362 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: So I don't look at Luck though, is being in 363 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: the same tier as Elway. I don't think he's as gifted. 364 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 1: I mean, his dad was a quarterback. He went to Stanfords. 365 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: All the mental stuff was through the charts, but like 366 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 1: he didn't make my homes Elway like throws. Yeah, and 367 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: then the final one was Sean Taylor. Oh yeah, that 368 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: makes all the sense in the world too. I mean 369 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: that that was we had just drafted Winslow when I 370 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: was with the Rounds that same year, and they basically, 371 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: you know, Butch said, we'll take either one of those guys. 372 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: They're both phenomenal, and I think Taylor went to pick 373 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: before Winslow or whatever. And think about how that would 374 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: have changed things if that had been flip flopped. Yeah, yeah, 375 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: John Taylor's probably still alive. Yeah, I mean, who knows this, 376 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: who Winslow? You know, maybe maybe Winslow goes to Washington 377 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: and becomes a you know, doesn't doesn't wreck ass motorcycle, 378 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: doesn't do those kind of things. It just changes a 379 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: trajectory of both of those guys. I mean, you hate 380 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: to say it because they both have had very rough 381 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: lives or lack thereof, unfortunately, but they were phenomenal, phenomenal prospects. 382 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I remember we played against someone I was 383 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: a pit in the Big East. It was like, what 384 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: is going on with these two? You know, and neither 385 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: one or the football players they could have been or 386 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 1: the careers they could have been. Yeah, but a lot 387 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: of people still talk about Sean Taylor's you know, maybe 388 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: one of the greatest safeties of would have been one 389 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: of the greatest safeties of all time. But we just 390 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: didn't get to see it because of you know, the 391 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: tragedy that it's struck with him. But yeah, that totally 392 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: adds up. I mean just thinking them as college players, 393 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: not as NFL players. He was a better prospect than 394 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: Ed Reid or Troy or Oh. He was so big 395 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: and fast and yeah, you're any safety I can think 396 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: of the one high you know, right, I mean he 397 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: was really Ronnie Lot sized. He didn't have any weaknesses, right, yeah, 398 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: so he can return punts right right, whatever wanted him. Yeah, 399 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: we're gonna take a break. He is Matt Williamson. I 400 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the drive here on 401 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: Steelers Nation Radio. And Matt, did you know you can 402 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: listen to Steelers Nation Radio anytime anywhere. All you have 403 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: to do is turn on your smart speaker and say 404 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: Alexa alas Steelers Nation Radio from my heart for me 405 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: and Alexa, we'll take care of the rest. Again. He 406 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,199 Speaker 1: is Matt Williamson. I'm Dale Ally, you're listening to the 407 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: Drive on Steelers National Radio. We'll be back with more 408 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: right after this.