1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: on your home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly. He is Matt 4 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: Williamson and Matt the Steelers. Getting some very interesting news 5 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 1: today from my practice, very encouraging news. Make a Fitzpatrick 6 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: a full participant in practice today. So did he have 7 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,319 Speaker 1: the procedure done on Sunday or Saturday? Okay? I mean 8 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: that's pretty remarkable. I mean I'm not a doctor. I 9 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: don't know anything about modern medicine. But he's not sitting 10 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: in a chair podcasting right now. He's doing some pretty physical, 11 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: pretty extensive physical activity. I give him all the credit 12 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: in the world. Yeah. Now he still has to be 13 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: cleared by doctors to have to say it's okay to 14 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: go out. Well, I mean there's one thing. It's one 15 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: thing to go out and run around. It's another thing 16 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: to go through your body, run and hit people covered 17 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: teaggins and right exactly, things of that nature, right, right, 18 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: but also a couple of days more to heal. Yeah, 19 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: So looking up in that respect, and as you recall 20 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: the first game against the Bengals this season, well, making 21 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick was pretty impactful in that game, a little bit 22 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: of an influence on that one. So that's be the 23 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: first time we actually see the true three safety package too. 24 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: I would imagine, you know, yeah, there's potential for that, 25 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: potential for all stuff. Um, that's great news. You would 26 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: expect that the Steelers wouldn't have to blitz Joe Burrow 27 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: as much. I would assume blizz percentage is gonna drop 28 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: up drastically. Yeah, especially against that line they're playing too. 29 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: I mean they're gonna get home a lot. I think 30 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: in that Week one matchup, the Steelers pressured Joe Burrow 31 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: thirty six point seven percent on thirty six point seven 32 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: percent of his dropbacks. They blitzed on eleven point seven 33 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: percent of his drop backs. They were getting there with 34 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: four a lot. When this, when this defense is right 35 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: and healthy and rolling, I don't think they want to 36 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: blitz much, you know. And that's where it was in 37 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: Week one. I mean they came in healthy and you 38 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: know DJ, they didn't know t J is about to 39 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: get hurt and all these things. I don't think they 40 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 1: want to be a blitz heavy. They blitched even less 41 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: last week in the two games now, with t J. 42 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: Watt on the field this season, they have blitzed nine 43 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: point seven percent of the time and yet they have 44 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: a thirty two point three percent pressure. Yeah, I mean, 45 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: that's that says all you need to know in a 46 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: nine point seven percent sack percentage, uh in the passer 47 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: rating allowed against him allowed his forty five point five 48 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: with what off the field they blitzed twenty seven point 49 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: one percent of the time, so three times as much, 50 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: three times as much, right, but they only get their 51 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: nineteen point three percent or pressure nineteen point three percent 52 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: of the time and had a sack percentage of three 53 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,399 Speaker 1: point nine. This is really low. Yeah, it's night and day. 54 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: That's actually that's one of my off season spreadsheets. I 55 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: have callum for blitz for all thirty two teams, A 56 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: call him for pressure big time and sacks and you 57 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: can really tell, Like the Raiders last year were bottom 58 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: bottom bottom in the league and blitz, but they were 59 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: about the middle of the road in sacks and pressure. 60 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: It's like they could get there all right. Max Crosby 61 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: had a big year, you know, I mean I think 62 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: you can tell a lot by that over the course 63 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: of seventeen games, you know, sorting them different ways and 64 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: be like who stands out and where they're not getting 65 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: any pressure and they're blitzing like crazy like the Lions. 66 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: That's like crazy last year, got no pressure while you 67 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: draft ding Hutchinson's second. Overall, you know, you go not 68 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: much better, but still, Uh, the Steelers secondary versus the 69 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: blitz um or on blitzes this season, I should say, 70 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: by the way Burrow kills the blitz, he kills the 71 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: blitzer when they've run. When they blitz though this year, Uh, 72 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: the man coverage percentage eighty two point seven percent of 73 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: the time, so they're yeah, they're playing man pretty much 74 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: when they blitzed behind it the target separation number one 75 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: in the league just two point five. Yeah, I saw 76 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: that too. I thought that was really interesting and great. 77 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: During blitz Yeah, when they're like, yeah, uh they've they've 78 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: done a good job, but you don't have to blitz now. 79 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: And that's kind of the beauty of it. Now you 80 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: can take that extra guy or two and put them 81 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: in coverage, right. I Mean we always think Amenka is 82 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: a deep middle guy, but he could lurk and he 83 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: does a lot of that too. I mean, you know, 84 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: you can creep up, a takeaway, crossing roundes, things like 85 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: that as well. In this case, you don't need a 86 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: spy necessarily for Burrow. If you remember Matt in that 87 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: first game when the Steelers picked Burrow off four times, 88 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: a lot of it was them jumping patterns as being 89 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: very aggressive in the ground, back in the ball the 90 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: air right, you know, as opposed to I'll let him 91 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: catch it and make sure I get him on the ground. 92 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: They were going after the football and more people, you know, 93 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: in coverage past the line of scrimmage makes that a 94 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: little easier, you know, if I miss a tackle here 95 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: or somebody's going to get this guy down right. And oh, 96 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: by the way, you take Jamar Chase out of the equation. 97 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: Who is their best run after the catch guy? Right, Man, 98 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: he's tremendous. It might be the best run after the 99 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: catch guy in the league. I mean he's five receiver 100 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: at a minimum, you know what I mean. So, yeah, 101 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: I hear you. I that that part all sets up 102 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: really well because you don't want a blitz Burro. I mean, 103 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: he does kill it. Um, you don't want to be 104 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: short on coverage, especially when they have Chase. But even so, 105 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: they're still dangerous receivers. So no, that's a it's one 106 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: of the many massive ripple effects of what coming back. Yeah, um, 107 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,679 Speaker 1: I just that's just as we were doing a video 108 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: earlier today, I'm wanting to make a Fitzpatrick pick early 109 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: in the game and like, oh, that's right, these are 110 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: This was the game where they were just acting the 111 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: football like crazy. It was a real different mentality, you know, 112 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 1: again it was just trying to undercut everything, you know, 113 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: really attacking the ball in the air. Um. I assumed 114 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: they played a lot of zone in that game. I'd 115 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: have to go back and look and his eyes on 116 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: the eyes on the quarterback, attack downhill and try to 117 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: pick some off. And they did and they did. Yeah. 118 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: Thus far this season against the a f C North, 119 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:27,119 Speaker 1: Joe burrowing this is this is unbelievable. Yeah, he's owing 120 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: three against the ANFC North. He's averaged six point four 121 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: yards per pass attempt. His touchdown to uh interception ratio 122 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: is five to six. Obviously, the game against the Steelers 123 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: a little bit passer rating of seventy seven point five, 124 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: and he's been sacked four point seven times a game. 125 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: In those games outside of division, they're five and one 126 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: against non division opponents, his yards per attempt is eight 127 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: point three, thirteen touchdowns, no one receptions is not insane. 128 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: So one seven team point three passer rating sacked two 129 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: point seven times in those games. So I'll take it 130 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: up even up in another level, because I think this 131 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: is really an interesting topic. They're averaging sixteen point seven 132 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: points scored against AFC North teams, which is three games. 133 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: It's not one. Well, they're just under thirty points against 134 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: everybody else. I mean it's almost double. I mean it's 135 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: fourteen points difference, maam. When I read that, I thought, well, 136 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: maybe it's a small sample side, it's only three, okay, 137 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: But then I started thinking about it, and the Taton 138 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: nerds out there will tell you, especially the first six 139 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: games or so, that this was a very predictable offense. 140 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: You know that that they had some tells of you know, 141 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: it was as bad as when when I almost called 142 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: Carson Palmer when Burrow was under center, he didn't do 143 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: very well either, high high percentage of run when he 144 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: was under center and then shotgun very very high percentage 145 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: of pass. Well, now he never goes under center. And 146 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: there was some even spotted mixing stands different when he's 147 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: gonna get the ball, you know. Like so I wondered, 148 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: because of those things I had heard before, did the 149 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: other teams the division to have a book on this 150 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: team more than others, you know, like you play against 151 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: him and not. And that's what happens, And it happens 152 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: in all divisions, in every sport. It happened. You know, 153 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: they're always tells. I mean, that's that's one thing. You 154 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: know when I'm when I'm coaching baseball, now I'm watching 155 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: the picture, what's he doing? Uh? You know when he 156 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: throws his curveball, does he you know, does he We're 157 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: playing a game I think it was last year, maybe 158 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: he's a year before where every time the kid would 159 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: throw his fastball as he was coming down, he would 160 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: double tap his glove. When he threw his curveball, he 161 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 1: didn't double tap the glove like little things. These things 162 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: you wouldn't think about, but it's obvious if you're looking 163 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: for them. And that's what quality control guys are doing 164 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,719 Speaker 1: all weeks, things like that sort and data. Like I 165 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: was being a nerd with the sack stuff, but way 166 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: deeper as well as watching the tape that these two 167 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: correlate you know, well, and to that point, who won 168 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: the division last year? The Bengals. The Bengals, right, so 169 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: you spend the off season studying the Bengals because that's 170 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: the team you gotta catch. I remember the first year 171 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,599 Speaker 1: I did anything in the world of football. I was 172 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: a volunteer for Duquesne, and I would just do whatever, 173 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: you know, like if if our defensive back coach who 174 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 1: drove a bread truck didn't show up, I was a 175 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: defensive back coach that day, or I'd get the bags 176 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: ready for the guys. But I watched all the recruiting tape, 177 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: of course, which I later did in life, and I 178 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 1: would always watch the opponent and just kind of get 179 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: any idea, and it was I was so proud of myself. 180 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: I ran over to Great Catuso like on a Wednesday. 181 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, they're left guard. When he puts his every run, 182 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 1: he leans heavy on his right on his down hand 183 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: and you can see the white of his knuckles and 184 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: otherwise he's like super light on it. And after the 185 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: game he's like, dude, you were so right. I told 186 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: all the guys that door in the gable. I'm like, 187 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: all right, I maybe I can do something in this world. 188 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: You know. That's those I mean, those are the things 189 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: that you look for. I mean, you know, it's like 190 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: I tell my my catchers, like if you see that 191 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: the the batter whose tip clay back in the batter's box, 192 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: or at least even with the plate, if he's up 193 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: a little bit in front of the plate, he's probably 194 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: bunning because you want to bunt the ball straight down 195 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 1: and have it being fair territory. That's that's one of 196 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: the tells on him, whether guy's bonding or not. Um, 197 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 1: I'm sure base runners have all kinds of oh yeah, 198 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: you know, and there's things that you can look you know, 199 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: you you you look at the picture, Okay, you start 200 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: to time up his delivery home those kind of things, 201 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: and you can just steal the basic catcher. You can't 202 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: do anything about it because you're your time ended up 203 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: off the picture. You're stealing off the picture, not the catcher. 204 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: Same thing here that that Obviously the a f C 205 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,839 Speaker 1: North teams might know a little more something about Burrow 206 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: and maybe beyond that his offensive line and maybe the 207 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: Bengals hots. And that's why and that's why, that's why 208 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: the sacks are up a little bit they Okay, we 209 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: know if we're if we're coming on him or if 210 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: he wants to get rid of the ball quickly, he's 211 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: going to Tyler Boyd in the slot on this slap 212 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: every time. So we cover that up. He has nowhere 213 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: to go. He holds the ball an extra second, we 214 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: get to we get the sack to blitz them this way. 215 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: But now we're gonna blitz them with bush bailing as 216 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: hard as possible to this land, you know, and maybe 217 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: just off the ball or double clutches it, sack or whatever. Absolutely, 218 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: I mean that's that's coaching. I mean, that's what they 219 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: do all week. Is that kind of stuff, you know, 220 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: And those numbers and just what people have said about 221 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: this team make me think that the division might know 222 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: the Bengals better than the Bengals. No. Division, Yeah, I 223 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: went through. I mean they've you know, the game's really 224 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: I know the Steelers game ended up and overtime. It 225 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: wasn't that close. No, No, they put a whipping on him. 226 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: I mean it was. It was a pretty thorough beating 227 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 1: of that offense. I mean Burrow, Burrow got hit and hit. Yeah, 228 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: I mean it's not the same, but there's definitely. I'm 229 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 1: a big believer that when you play Lamar Jackson the 230 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: first time, you're a massive decision, without a doubt. If 231 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: you look at his record in his first start a 232 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: team the first time he's played him, because they just 233 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: don't I mean again, you can watch you watch it 234 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: on tape, and but you don't realize how fast he 235 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 1: is until you get on and then he's running by you. 236 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: And nobody plays that style of offense like them, and 237 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: you don't have anybody on your scout team that can 238 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: simulate that. So no, I think there's a lot of 239 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: that type of stuff. I mean, if you're familiar with Jackson, 240 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: I bet the Eagles are sort of like that too, 241 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: because they played differently than everybody else. Or maybe Atlanta 242 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: this year, you know that kind of play a different brand, 243 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: or Chicago if you've never played it, it's like, I'm 244 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: not used to this, or a team that plays a 245 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: lot of full back, you know, a lot of two 246 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: back you know. Yeah, Um, it's just it's just interesting. 247 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: Burrow when sacked four plus times in a game since 248 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: and there's plenty of those instances, by the way, two 249 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: and seven, two and seven, nine times he's been tast 250 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 1: taking four more sacks. We were asked on a steel 251 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: alive today over under when we say three and a half. 252 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: I think was a line either we all went over 253 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: and and it wasn't like we were being Homer's I 254 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: went under on Nazi's rushing yard. So did you you 255 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 1: know like I could easily envision four sacks? Yeah? Uh? 256 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: When under four sacks thirteen and three in that same time, 257 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: spin again are Yeah, you get to him, you can 258 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: get him flustered a little bit. Uh. You know they're 259 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: points per game. Again, when he's not sacked, they're thirteen 260 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: and three, they average thirty point two points per game, 261 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: touchdown to interception ratio thirty six to eight, get a 262 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: one four teen point seven pass rating. When he is 263 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: sacked four plus times two and seven, they average twenty 264 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: one points per game, sixteen touchdowns, twelve interceptions, passer rating 265 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: in ninety two point six. Yeah, the quarterback must go down. 266 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: But I don't want to blitz them. But you don't 267 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 1: want we're talking about, which is why it's such a 268 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 1: big deal that you got t J. Watt back. I 269 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: would not want to if I'm the Steelers, I don't 270 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: want to play the Bengals without t J. This was 271 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 1: the game three weeks ago. It's massively different. Yes, more 272 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: so than the Saints game or next week's game or whatever. 273 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: I mean. In this bigas game, it's imperative to have him, yeah, 274 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,199 Speaker 1: you know, especially if Star around. But either way, you know, 275 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: do you remember that game too? What had an interception? 276 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: I think he had he had I think he had 277 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,839 Speaker 1: got his hands on two different passes. He was doing 278 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: a nice job of reading Burrow, and Burrow talked about 279 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: it when he was talking about the Steelers. He said, 280 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 1: he did a nice job of reading my feet and 281 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: just and and getting up into the passing lane, and 282 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: he ended up picking one of those passes off. It 283 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: was a ridiculous play. Was the two plays in a 284 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: row where he almost took took the hand off and 285 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: said took Mixing's head off. Was it a pick after that? 286 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: Or did he's pick the hands on the ball in 287 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: the pass? But it was obvious back to our he's 288 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: reading something. He knows what they're doing. Yeah, you know, 289 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean when he almost took the hand off for 290 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: Mixing and he knew that was a run, and then 291 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 1: the next play he knew that was a pass go 292 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: in his direction too, and maybe it was a footwork thing. 293 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: Maybe that's the twell, you know, maybe it's you know, 294 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: Burrow sets his feet a certain way when he's going 295 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: to do a three step drop or five step drop 296 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: or a catch and throw or hand off. I mean, 297 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: if you study these guys, you these things. Yeah, the 298 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: fact that Burrow said he was must have been watching 299 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: my feet tells me that maybe they figured out that 300 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: there was something with the feet it could be and 301 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: then you try to play with that a little bit. 302 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: I wonder, I mean, if if the run was under center, 303 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: does he have one fotback real heavy or something like that, 304 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: He's not balanced or whatever it is. But there's something 305 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: going on there. And it's hard to correct those things 306 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: because really is because you do them because they're a habit. 307 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure you practice all week and once you find out, boy, 308 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: I'm showing my pitch or whatever. But okay, maybe the 309 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: first quarter you're fine, but the muscle memory tired. You know, 310 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: you're into the game and now they know and I 311 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: gotta fix it. Yeah, there was something to look for. 312 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: Definitely interesting here. Um if you look at uh the 313 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: Bengals um even more so so Mixing had a big 314 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: game last time out, Yes, against the Carolina Panthers. His 315 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: second best running running game year. It was in Week 316 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: one against the Steelers when he had eighty two yards 317 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: one carry there was three yards. It was just a 318 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: volume thing. Yeah, in a way, they kind of remind 319 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: me of the Steelers in that their last, their most 320 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: recent game was clearly their best running game randall crazy 321 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: against the Panthers. So we might look back, you know, 322 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: ten games from our or did the season ends and say, boy, 323 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: that was the turning point they started to really run 324 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: the ball in the second half of the season, or 325 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: will be like, remember the one time the Bengals ran 326 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: it pretty well against the Panthers. Well, that didn't last. 327 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: Steelers ran it all over the same that didn't last, 328 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, so kind of a have they figured it 329 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: out or was it a fluke. The Steelers run defense 330 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: is now at the sixth in the sixth best in 331 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: the league. Eight yards per game, four point one yards 332 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: per carry. I know, old time Steeler fans are a 333 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: hundred eight yards that's too many in today's NFL. That's 334 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: called stopping the run, right, right, And you you laid 335 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: this out well, yesterday. I mean yards for carries up 336 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: dramatically across the league. Rushing yards are up, passing yards down. 337 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: You old a team to a hundred dish, you're thrilled. Yeah, 338 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: I mean there are only five teams in the league 339 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: this year holding their opponents under a hundred yards rushing five. Yeah. 340 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: I mean if you remember, like the two thousand eight Steelers, 341 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: they were number one across the board except in rush defense, 342 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: and they gave up like seventy rushing yards per game 343 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: in Minnesota beat him by like two yards. Yea, they 344 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 1: have like sixty eight or something like that. I remember 345 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: that team because I think Brady and New England played 346 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: there on Monday night and they ran the ball twice. Yeah, 347 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: don't even that was all part of it. Now the 348 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: script has flipped a little bit. Teams were teams are 349 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: willing to, Okay, we're gonna get three yards here, but 350 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: we're gonna get three yards. That's what people are doing. Now. Yeah, 351 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: that's not so bad. We're not you know, we're gonna 352 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: trust that over and you know we'd run the ball 353 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: over and over again. At some point we're gonna break 354 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 1: one and order. That's five yards as long as we're not, 355 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: you know, getting behind the sticks. Daniel Jeremiah in fact 356 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: tweeted out today and I retweeted this earlier. Uh, he 357 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: kind of went into what we were talking about yesterday. 358 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: He said that seeing what's happening around the NFL, he 359 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: thinks that more the big two gapping defensive tackles will 360 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: be much more highly coveted in this year's draft than 361 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: they have been in recent years. And since we talked, 362 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: the Eagles signed Lynn Bell, Joseph and Nomakom Suite. You 363 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: know what I mean, the most proactive one of maybe 364 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: the best team in the league. Maybe when you know, 365 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: Noma Kong's phone started, you know, ringing a little bit. Yeah, 366 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: it makes perfect sense. I mean, especially maybe if it's 367 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: only one of them on the field, I might not 368 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,919 Speaker 1: be a Williams Wall situation or those Sarah Goosa and 369 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: Adams you know, you know, but you put one in 370 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: the middle of the field that can't really run but 371 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: demands a double team on inside runs, which the Bengals have. Yeah, 372 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: I mean, and that worries me a little bit on 373 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: interior run with reader, but I think that will be 374 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: more in vogue. Yeah, I'm of the belief and I 375 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: write wrote about this for tomorrow. Um, you know, throwing 376 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: going back to those numbers that I you know, the 377 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 1: power running numbers and things that I brought up earlier 378 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: in the week. If I'm the Steelers, I'm at least 379 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 1: trying it. I'm coming out in my big pack and 380 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: just saying, hey, I don't care if Kenny Pickt yells 381 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: across the line of Scrimagey, We're gonna run floor. We're 382 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 1: gonna run the ball here. Um, You're gonna try it. 383 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that's very much the plan post 384 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 1: play pool. I mean a lot less alone. You're gonna 385 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: move people right, right right. And again that doesn't mean 386 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: what it's gonna be out there for fifty snaps, pullback 387 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: what not. Tj um or Gentry is gonna play the 388 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: whole game, or you're gonna come out with eight offensive linemen. 389 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: But I think you'll see a lot of different ways 390 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: of putting bigger people, even though boy, can you know, Heyward, 391 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: which by the way, you still can't throw the football 392 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: absolutely because the other team is getting a bigger, too bigger. 393 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: And if I'm a I would kind of take that 394 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: approach for both sides to be honest with you, I 395 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: want Boyd Higgins, Johnson and picking against any of the 396 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: corners you can throw at me, you know. And if 397 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: I can make that happen by getting one more guy 398 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: in the box, that's where my big players might come. Yeah. 399 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: Like I think Haigen's gonna have a big game in 400 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 1: this game. Yeah, yeah, but I think Pickens and Johnson 401 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 1: could absolutely have big games in this game. Yeah, it's 402 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: all even if you don't run the ball, but you 403 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,719 Speaker 1: just keep sticking with it. Relative, Yeah, it's all relative. 404 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: Who makes the big play, who makes the big mistake. 405 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: That's the other side of that coin. Steelers are unbeaten 406 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: this year three and oh. When they don't turn the 407 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: football over, that's on coincidence either nor one bit. No not. 408 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: But we're gonna take a break. He is Matt Williamson. 409 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: I am Dale Lally. You're listening to the drive here 410 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: on Steelers Nation Radio. Um, when we come back, we're 411 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: gonna have Jim Wexeler. Jim's got a new book out. 412 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: I've read it. It's really good stuff. So we'll talk 413 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: to Jim when we come back. You can also check 414 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: out the Steelers Weekend Review. It's hosted by Wesley Uhler. 415 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: It's a recap of the previous game as well as 416 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: a look at the steelers next opponent. New episodes drop 417 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: every Tuesday. It's available on the Steeler's mobile app, the 418 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app, and wherever you get your podcasts. 419 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: We'll be back with more right after this