November 20, 2025 • 30 mins
Mark is joined this hour by Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is a stealery Thursday here on the mark Man Show.
I can smell the hypo cycloids in the air. We're doing,
like I said, calls on the fifteens in the three
and four o'clock hours, So ringeting right now. Eight three
to three four one two w xdx. This is the
mark Mann Show. Anger is an energy, not least in
(00:21):
my case.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
This game in Chicago has clearcut talking points and a
lot of them. So if you want to chime in,
like I said that number eight three three four one
two wxdx, Chicago's running game and physicality could overwhelm the Steelers,
who I think have a soft defense. Both teams rely
on takeaways, probably too much, so you got the quarterback
(00:44):
situation with both teams. Caleb on the ascension for Chicago,
Rogers probably playing hurt, and I bet Rudolph has to
go in the game at some point, and once the
game's decided one way or the other in the second half,
Rogers should definitely come out. You got Slay taking Pierre's
spot now that Slay's healthy. Slay absolutely sucks by any
(01:08):
metric he can be judged by, to say nothing of
the eye test, but hey, veteran respect and all that.
You know, if Slay gets burned and the Steelers lose
because of it, that should be major heat on Mike Tomblin.
And you got the game's significance to both teams. Both
teams lead their division, but it ain't neither one of
them home free or close to it. The Steelers don't
(01:32):
run enough in the first place, and what if warrens
an't able to play? Maybe about Washington runs over the
whole Damn Bear's team like that viral catch and carry
against Cincinnati or maybe Chicago totally not physicals the Steelers,
which like I said before, could well happen because the
(01:53):
Steelers are kind of soft. You don't like to hear that,
but the Steelers aren't what they pretend to be. That's
a soft defensive core outside to Ramsey and Dugger, maybe
Cam Heyward. So that's a good place to start for
calls on the fifteens eight three, three, four one two WXDX.
Are the Steelers soft or at least lacking physicality because
(02:14):
except for Darnell Washington at tight end, Ramsey and Dugger
at safety, the Steelers do not bust people up.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
They don't Those three guys. That's it. That's the list.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
That number one more time eight three three four one
two WXDX can't believe I forgot the damn trifectum. I
got the sponsored though, Danny's Peach and Hogies. That's all
the matters. Like the college football Playoff, we just want
the sponsors, we just want the brand names.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
We just want the money.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Speaking of plugs, I got two viewing parties this weekend.
The River Hans On Saturday USL Final noon kickoff at
Shiloh Playton Pour. I'm out Washington. I will be doing
both extensive Playton and Poor. That's a hot spot, so
join me to watch soccer action at Shiloh Playton Poor
(03:07):
on Mount Washington. Like I said, noon kickoff, I'll be
there at ten am to watch Liverpool in Nottingham Forest.
If you get there and I'm watching that game and
the balls in play, shut the frig up, non negotiable.
And then Sunday I'm at Marino's American Eatery for the
Steeler game at one pm. That's a great spot too.
(03:27):
Dub Bears in that game, it's gonna tell a tale.
You're seven and four or six and five. You want
a second straight or you're treading molasses. You're in first
place by yourself, where you're tied with Baltimore, who are
surely gonna beat the New York Jets. Rogers said that
him playing Sunday is a safety thing, like he needs
(03:49):
a crossing guard or a condom. I'm looking forward to
the Browns in Vegas game that's right after Shador Sanders
makes his first start, an event of magnitude which hasn't
been seen since Kenny Pickett made his first start for
the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Gendor is a fifth.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Round pick who whines instead of competing, a rich kid
that's never had to prepare or work hard, and the
white man hates him and wants to keep him down.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
But mostly it's that not very good thing. Is this
show funny so far?
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Today?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I feel like it's funny.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Have the Pirates almost signed any free agent yet besides
the guy who.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Stayed in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
It's so exciting when they almost signed guys that guy
Nayler with Seattle that stayed in Seattle. The Pirates made
the highest offer in club history to him.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
He didn't take it, but what a monumental occasion.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
They can almost sign Schwarber and almost sign Suarez and
then almost win seventy five games. It is a funny
show so far. I know funny and this show is that.
Oh and Rogers said he doesn't want to be a
villain in Chicago anymore. Yeah, okay, I'm not sure you
get to pick that ar You're twenty four and five
(05:08):
against Chicago. You want shelled? I saw this on YouTube.
Somebody referred me you want shelled? I own you at
Bears fans after he scored a touchdown against him.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
What by guns be bygunes?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Rogers actually said that yesterday Aaron Rodgers is my favorite Steeler,
But he also said, by way of Humble Bragg, when
I got to Green Bay, the Bears had the all
time series lead. When I left, the Packers did unquote, Yeah,
let's let by guns be by guns. Uh A three
(05:46):
three four one two WXDX. Let's get Jeff in real
quick from Aliquippa. Jeff jumped the gun. What do you want?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Jeff? What man?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
What real quick?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You versus Mark Caboli in a hot all eating contest?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Who wins your mother because she has experienced at the
tube steak? Any other questions? Well give him all my regards.
Actually I'll see her before you do. Uh eight three
three four one two wxdx. And we got calls like that,
a whole bunch of them. I hope. I don't like
the term tube steak though. What I'm trying to say
(06:19):
those your mother's.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Easy.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I'm choosing my words carefully. Then again, if you have
to pay, is it really that easy? One O five nine,
The X tomorrow and trophy wife owes money that I
can't even quote the big o'bowski righte, goodbye the.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
X at one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Hell was just say Clipper? Is he going to interview
my cat on his podcast? Probably the best thing about
the Bummy podcast that iHeartMedia does, my god, except the
Jenna Jamis morn.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
It's funny.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
iHeart told me years ago I can't have porn girls
on my show. Now they have a porn girl hosting
a podcast on iHeartMedia.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Ah yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
This gimmick newly introduced of calls in the fifteens. It's
worked well most of the week, but not so much
right now. No calls, that's okay. H eight three three
four one two wxdx if you want to jump in.
Somebody told me when I was out the other night
that I don't talk enough Steelers well down to dial.
That's all they do, and if they benefit by it,
they're welcome to it. I'm doing the same show I've
(07:30):
always done, which is a lot of Steelers, been a
lot of Penguins too, because I'm a hockey guy and
like at four o'clock, I have one of the greatest
drummers ever, Carmen Apachee. And how could you not want
to talk to that guy? As I've always said, if
you don't want to listen, don't. In fact, there's never
been a better time to not listen, and in this
case not called uh. Here's a sound by Christopher mad
(07:54):
Dog Russo ripping Cam Scattabo for getting physically involved on WTV.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
What is schattabou with a broken chipola and an ankle?
What is he doing at Monday night raw throwing a
basically being pushed around and him doing pushing you know
it's choreographed.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
What is he doing at this event? I mean, it's
just ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
The guy's gotta bea he got a broken leg, not
even sure if.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
He's gonna be ready to play next year. In training camp?
What are you doing with the mister tough guy. Oh
come on stop please, I mean you got a bad
like that? How about if you were freaking Gander.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Or time coaches watching that with a running back loose?
Very important. Now, scattaboy didn't take a bump, he got pushed.
There was risk, it was minimal. But mad Dog is
totally right about the optics. Scattabo said, Oh, I'm just
having fun, whiney friggin gym teacher. I'm just having fun.
(08:50):
Forget fun, you meet head. You're in the NFL. Be
a professional, behave like a professional. Don't be a mark.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
But he's a bro bro Bro that bro bro bro,
and today's athletes believe it's all about them as individuals
what they want twenty four to seven. Although I am
glad to get confirmation that Scatabo is indeed a gym teacher,
just like I thought, wouldn't have a job outside a
gym teacher if he couldn't play pro football. I wrote
(09:23):
a column about this for the Trib. I'm not sure
when it's gonna go up. I haven't even saent it yet,
but talking about the Scatabo situation, mad Dog's response and
of course what went on back in the day when
I was at World Championship Wrestling with Dennis Rodman missing practice,
Robin and Malone fighting during Game six of the ninety
eight NBA Final because we told him to to plug
(09:45):
the pay per view match that both were involved in.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
That just fascinating stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
And again, if you want to see the whole recap,
keep your eyes on trib live dot com. If Genny
Malkin did an inn and I'm not sure this is
breaking news, but he was very definitive and very specific
because we've always thought, given the chance, he'd go play
in Florida because he lives there, his wife has lived
there for years. She's never lived in Pittsburgh. But Markan
(10:14):
did an interview where he said, I'm not gonna play
in Florida. I'm not gonna play in Colorado. I'm only
gonna play in Pittsburgh. I'll retire. He loves the team,
loves the city, loves the fans, blah blah blah, and
he'd like to play one or two more years. Okay,
the Penguins can't keep him, let alone for two more years.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
They can't keep him at all.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I don't think they might, but that'd be bad at
some point you have to turn the friggin page, not
on Sid. Still Sid's still a top five player in
the National Hockey League, and Gino's off to a really
good start, but can he maintain it, let alone maintain
it next season and the season after that.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I mean, I respect every of the guy's done.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
MVP cons three cups, one of the best players in
the league during his time, But what are you gonna
make Ben Kindall be a third line center forever? You're
gonna block him from being the second center so Gino
can play in front of the fans he loves in
the time he loves, with the team he loves. Sports
gotta be more cutthroat than that. But with the Penguins
(11:20):
it's not, which is why Gino might get his way,
But that would absolutely one hundred percent be to the
detriment of the Penguins.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
I think, I know you.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Don't because you will have Gino jerseys, Gino Gino, Gino Gino,
and I make it sound like I don't like the guy.
I don't know the guy. I have no relationship with him,
not good or bad. But at some point, like I said,
turn the page, Like Bob Seeger, who I look like
I'm still mad. I kind of botched that tube steak
(11:52):
joke a while back. Okay, out, Next, we'll talk football
with Jerry Dulac. I'm Mark Madden one oh five to nine.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
It's storty know, weekday mornings at six on.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
HiT's Buddy Diver, and I just love good news. Okay,
so this is a great story I just heard about
on a ninety.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Degree d My solution is give me my cake and
eat me too.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
The X at We got the Steelers at Chicago on Sunday,
very interesting game. Joining me now to discuss. He covers
the black and gold for the Steelers. It's Jerry Dulac. Jerry,
Chicago is a very physical team. Well, the Bears not
physical to Steelers. And can the Steelers contain that Bears
running game?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, I think market afternoon. I think the biggest issue
is containing uh you know, their offense or formations because
we've seen the transformation of Caleb Williams with Ben Johnson
their new head coach. Uh, you know, he did all
that in Detroit with that offense. And look they're leading.
They're leading that division, which is a very strong division.
(12:59):
I will point up, Mark, this is the first time
this year the Bears have played a team with a
winning record. I'm not saying they beat up on a
bunch of Patsis, but they certainly haven't played the best
teams in the league. But there's no question they're much improved.
And it's their offense and that's going to be you know,
their defense has some leaks. Look to b look what
the Bengals did to them. Joe Flacco pass for four
(13:20):
hundred and seventy five yards. They put up forty two
points or forty seven, whatever the number was. So but
their offense as has been what has kind of fueled
their rise. And you know, Caleb Williams is all of
a sudden looking like the number one overall pick that
he was last year.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Well, I agree that Ben Johnson, the new head coach
coming over from Detroit, has a ton to do with
what not only Caleb, but everything good about that offense.
But getting back to my point about the Steelers' physicality,
I just don't see them as very physical outside of
the safeties in Darnell Washington.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Is that true or is it.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Just me now? Mark, I think their linebackers are physical.
I think, you know, obviously d J. Watt can be.
But I think Alex Highsmith is nick herbig, isn't the
biggest outside linebacker, but he plays, he plays physical, and
you know, Malik Harrison is a thumper in the middle.
(14:15):
So I think I look as good a move as
it has been. As they talk about solidifying not only
the back end but the defense with the move of
Ramsey and now having Kyle Dugger play as well as
he has, the strength of this football team is still
the linebacker unit. The depth that they have both on
the inside but especially on the outside, which to them
(14:37):
and probably a lot of teams, but especially to the Steelers,
outside linebacker is the most important position on the team.
And they have a lot of depth there. And if
they get Alex Heihsmith back, who's been their best pass rusher,
certainly their most productive in the games before he was injured,
then that only makes it, that only makes them better.
So you know, are they are they the you know
(15:00):
eighty five Bears? No, But there's no question Jalen Ramsey
not only brings it himself. He he kind of sets
he kind of sets an edgy attitude for that defense.
And and and I think I think we have we
have seen it this year.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
What's your take on the Rogers situation.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I mean, we know he's going to play, and I
think he should, but but how will that risk tinder him?
And how long is his leash in terms of potentially
coming out Well.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Mark, first of all, I'm not so sure he's going
to play now. I don't know that, but but I
don't share that positivity. I think that, Uh. I think
there's a lot of variables in play here, and the
most important one, beyond his functionality is Mike Tomlin likes
to say, which means his efficiency and productivity is his safety.
(15:52):
And so you know, if he can't brace himself when
he falls, imagine he's going to fall. That's how he
got hurt in the first place. That then the issue,
the injury becomes worse. So I'm not certain he's going
to play. A lot. Some of that, not all of it,
but a good portion of that has to do with
(16:13):
the comfortability they have in Mason Rudolph. And let's not
forget Mark. During the entire off season, Mason Rudolph was
their number one quarterback. There was no Aaron Rodgers, so
those guys, you know, it's not just what he did
two years ago, but there you know, he's very comfortable
with them and vice versa because of that entire offseason,
OTA's spring practices, those you know, unofficial sessions that those
(16:38):
guys have, and I think that certainly factors into it,
especially after what we saw the other day, Mark, you know,
coming in and doing what Mason Rudolph does, and so
that's a factor in as well. I don't know who's
going to start. I don't, but I think if Aaron
Rodgers plays, unless he has some issue, I don't think
it's a question of what kind of leah you'll be on.
(16:59):
They'll go with him as long as they feel they could,
you know, should go with them. And I don't think
that'll change if he starts. And again I'm not so
certain that's going to be the case.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Will you make a real good point about Rudolph in
the offseason he had before Rogers signed.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
But I always wonder.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I think Rudolph's teammates probably trust him.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Does Tomlin trust him.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Well? Mark, you know, their offseason activities over the past
couple of years of kind of bypassing Mason despite what
they say about how comfortable they are with them, which
they are, would suggest that they're not fully committed in
him as their long term answer. I think that has
become apparent with the way he's kind of been treated
(17:43):
over the last three or four years. But I don't
think there's any doubt for a backup quarterback. If he
has to come in the game, you know that they
are more than comfortable with him Mark. I will tell
you last year, after the twenty twenty three season, when
he's saved their season with those last three games, they
wanted to bring him back, and they were in discussions
(18:04):
to bring him back, and he wanted to come back,
but then they signed Russell Wilson, and it was before
they traded Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph, who was in
discussions to sign to come back, saw the writing on
the wall and said, you know, he's going to be
number three again, and he left to go to Tennessee.
He didn't want to, but he had no other choice
(18:24):
because he was going to be pushed to the back
of the quarterback room again, you know, fairly or unfairly,
and it certainly looked unfairly. But they decided they want
to bet they wanted a quarterback like Russell Wilson, and
the same thing, of course, happened this year. You know,
they signed Mason think figure, and he's going to be
the backup, but he it was number one, but they
(18:45):
wanted Aaron Rodgers. And so that's kind of the way
Mason's been treated. He knows it, he obviously accepts it.
Doesn't mean he likes it, but yeah, he's never going
to be given that chance to be number one.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
With that question, especially with them very likely to take
a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft.
We're talking to Jerry Doulac, brought to us by Bud White.
Easy to drink in, easy to enjoy, Jerry. Both teams
rely really heavily on takeaways. So maybe the question in
this game is which team and quarterback can protect the
ball better because those takeaways they're a slippery slope.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
You can't count on them.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
That's right, Mark, you can't game plan. Let's go, We're
going to go out and take the ball away four times.
They just happened. They're kind of like sacks in a way,
but even more difficult. But yeah, five takeaways against New
England won that game last night. Of Patriots have lost
six takeaways against the Colts. They converted four of those
into twenty four points and then the two defensive touchdowns
(19:43):
last week. All those games that they won, and there
was a stretch of four out of five games where
they didn't have a takeaway and they lost several of
those games. So it's a defense that's reliant maybe too much. Look,
all defenses rely on takeaways. The good ones are able
to do it, coincidence or not. And the Steelers do
(20:04):
a good job of taking the ball away. But Mike,
you can't just rely on them. You have to be
able to line up without a takeaway and be able
to control a team or shut the team down or
whatever the case. Maybe, And so yeah, that's t J.
Watt said as much a couple of weeks ago, that
they're too reliant on takeaways and they have to go
(20:25):
out shut down the run. And they've done a pretty
good job against the past the last two games for
the most part.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Jerry, I don't often get outraged about lineup decisions because
they're usually borderline and mostly I don't care. But how
could Tomlin put Slay back in for Pierre?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
With Slay now healthy?
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Slay's been terrible by any metric imaginable and Pierre's played
pretty well.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, you're right about that. Mark. The last two games,
James Pierre's played very well. I think Mike Tomlin, you know, publicly,
isn't going wouldn't treat it any differently. Of course, he's
going to come out say his veteran who was the starter.
You know, he doesn't want to say he launched his
job because of injury. So yes, Darius Slay, he said
if he's cleared, he will play from Mark. That doesn't
(21:12):
mean he'll get the majority of the stats. It doesn't
mean he'll finish in that role. I think you'll see
James Pierre. If I'm a betting man, which I'm not,
I'd be willing to bet James Pierre will probably end
up playing more spot snaps than Darius Slay. I just
think Mike Tomlin had to say that. I don't think
that's I mean, he may start the game, but I
don't think that's in their plan, you know, to to
(21:34):
just keep it that way. I think you'll see forty
two out there more than you'll see twenty three.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
I certainly hope you're right about that. Who's the main
catalyst of that Steelers defense?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You kind of implied it was Ramsey when you spoke
a little bit ago.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Is that how you feel?
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Well, I think emotionally, Mark, And look, we know the
way he plays. I mean we can we can sock
soap it and say he plays with him aggress of attitude,
and we know it goes beyond that. You know, he's
a guy who's one play away from a fifteen yard penalty.
But I do think he sets that emotional edge, that
attitude in that defense. But I still think what they've
(22:14):
done with our linebacker crew, you know, using three inside
linebackers at a time or three outside linebackers at the
time has presented problems for the other team. It gives
them a different look that they're trying to figure out, Okay,
who's the Sam linebacker, who's the Will wenebacker, who's the
three technique, who's rushing who isn't? And so to me,
(22:39):
that has been the difference in the defense. Yes, Jalen
Ramsey at safety, I mean Mark, you could see even
I mean the physical plays he makes, whether separating the
guys from the ball or hitting them after the incompletion
as fairly as he can. You know, those receivers, they
know that he's there and he's going to hit him,
(22:59):
And yeah, I just think that's a big factor. But
I would not underestimate the contribution or what they're able
to do with this linebacker rotation.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Gerry, Uh, Why has DK Metcalf been so disappointing?
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Like I see people say.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
They should have kept George Pickens after the great game
he had for Dallas. I disagree with that, but Metcalf's
been so underwhelming it makes me wonder.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Yeah, Mark, you know, look the reason they brought in
DK Metcalf And yes, would have looked nice with George
Pickens and him together, of course it would have. But
they brought in DK Metcalf because they knew they weren't
going to keep George Pickens. They didn't want that headache anymore,
you know, eventually, if it hasn't already reared its head
in Dallas and look saying no, he's an uber talented guy.
(23:46):
They saw that, we're seeing it now, but that wasn't
They just didn't want him around in the locker room anymore.
And so you bring in metcalfs, you give him a
monster deal, which I'm still surprised that thirty million, you know,
average annually. I don't you know, he's not the game
breaking receiver that George Pickens is. He's not the big
(24:09):
play receiver George Pickens is. But I thought we've seen
flashes of it, but I thought we would see more
from him. But I will tell you, Mark, I think
it's a byproduct of the other teams not respecting what
they have in terms of the other wide receivers. And
so they figured, you know what, we know Aaron Rodgers
likes DK Metcalf. Well, we're gonna bracket him. We're gonna
(24:31):
double him. We're gonna do whatever we can to take
him away from Aaron Rodgers. And so you want to
throw it to the other guys, go ahead, but we're
not gonna let Dk Metcalf beat us. And I think
that's what you're seeing.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Well, Matt Williamson made a good point the other day
on the program Jerry, where he said DK Metcalf may
be the Steelers number one receiver, but he's not a
true number one receiver in the mold of like a
Jefferson or a Lamb.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Well you could say that, Mark, I would I don't
want to say I disagree, because I think he can
you know, you could sit there and compare him to
other guys. Yeah, he's not justin Jefferson. He's not your
Mark Chase, that's for sure. But he is still a
big time receiver. But I still don't think he's the
receiver that deserves five years, one hundred and fifty million.
(25:22):
I think he's really good, but I don't know that
he's the game changing guy that some of those other
guys are. But whether you want to affix the term
number one or not, okay, that's you know, that's debatable.
But I do think he's a quality receiver capable of
being that. But he's not the most dangerous receiver in
(25:42):
the league. There we have seen flashes where he could
be them.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Why has the tight end room been so disappointing besides
Washington and the other two, I mean, sometimes smooth, almost
never gone.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
In well Mark, It's not so disappointing by their performance.
It's disappointing us. Some more surprising than disappointing the lack
of involvement of Pat Fryarmouth especially and John new Smith,
the guy who got eighty six balls last year. They
brought him in. You know, they made a trade for
me as a pretty healthy contract, and he's played more
(26:16):
snaps of Pat Fryarmuth and almost as many as darn
Now Washington. And you talk about a guy who's had
little contribution for someone you thought would make more of
a contribution. Man, it's John new Smith. And I just
cannot get over the lack of targets and activity for
Pat Fryarmuth. You know, we know he's dependable. See he
(26:39):
can get open, he can catch the ball. He's had
productive years, three years of sixty plus catches, and not
involving him more in the offense is more surprising, almost
almost shocking to me, Mark, than anything else I see
on that offense.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Finally, Jerry, this feels like a big game, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
I mean it's non division, non but just to get
a second win in a row, build momentum and hold
off Baltimore. I've been saying that the minute Baltimore ties them,
I believe Baltimore is gonna pass them.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
So they play the Jets. So you do the math, Mark.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
You look the Steelers next three games, Bears, Bills, and Ravens.
You look at the Ravens next three games, they're you know,
pretty soft, and they got to play the Steelers, of course,
and and they're gonna They're gonna be sitting right there.
If the Steelers go through this three game stretch two
and one, they're pretty good. So if they lose this
game to me, if they win the next two, uh,
(27:35):
then you know that'll that'll make up for it. But
there are a lot of reasons why I thought that
Bengals game was really significant. Mark Because one, you don't
want to lose to a division opponent, opponent especially one
that could be the cellar dweller in the division. You
don't want to be swept by them. You don't want
to have four losses in your past five games. And
(27:56):
if they lose, they would have already been tied by
the Ravens, who have one four in a row. So
I really thought the Bengals victory was significant, significant on
many levels, maybe more so than this one, depending on
what happens the two games after that. But they don't
want to you know, they don't want to continue this. Yeah,
(28:17):
getting one back to back is nice, especially on the
road against a team with a really good record, but
I actually think last week was more important for them.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
At the moment, this game really seems up for grabs,
doesn't it. I mean, like a total cross up.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Yeah, Mark, I could see it either way, and I
kind of vacillated that way all week. You know, I
thought the Bears, you know, with their offense. Then I looked,
you know that the Bears have not played a team
with a winning record yet this year. You know, they
didn't beat up on a bunch of marshmallows, but they
certainly haven't taken on the best teams in the league.
(28:55):
And you know, I look at the way the defense
has played lately, and so you know, and then I
start leaning towards the Steelers. So yeah, I'm with you.
I could see it going either way.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Jerry, great stuff, enjoy the game. We'll talk next week.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
You got it, Mark, Always good being with you.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
That's Jerry Douli broughtless by bud Light. Easy to drink,
easy to enjoy. Up next, we got a bunch of
talk about the Steelers. We got Kurt Warner talking about
how that wrist injury could affect Aaron Rodgers in a
way that hasn't yet been brought up. And at four o'clock,
legendary gent drummer Carmen Apachi. I think that's how to pronounce.
(29:34):
We'll find out from him because I've heard two different pronunciations.
That might be the biggest question I asked him. Now
playing with Jeff Beck, that's cool. Rod Stewart too. And
then we have Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves at four thirty,
It's the Mark Madden Show one oh five ninety X.
Speaker 6 (29:50):
Listen to the X everywhere you go, now everywhere tell
your sport device Alexa playing one oh five point ninety
X on iHeartRadio Hour.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
The Mark Madden Shows brought to you by by Light.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Probably served a Blinks and Green Tree stopping Blinkies and
enjoy three fifty bud Light twenty euce drafts
It is a stealery Thursday here on the mark Man Show.
I can smell the hypo cycloids in the air. We're doing,
like I said, calls on the fifteens in the three
and four o'clock hours, So ringeting right now. Eight three
to three four one two w xdx. This is the
mark Mann Show. Anger is an energy, not least in
(00:21):
my case.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
This game in Chicago has clearcut talking points and a
lot of them. So if you want to chime in,
like I said that number eight three three four one
two wxdx, Chicago's running game and physicality could overwhelm the Steelers,
who I think have a soft defense. Both teams rely
on takeaways, probably too much, so you got the quarterback
(00:44):
situation with both teams. Caleb on the ascension for Chicago,
Rogers probably playing hurt, and I bet Rudolph has to
go in the game at some point, and once the
game's decided one way or the other in the second half,
Rogers should definitely come out. You got Slay taking Pierre's
spot now that Slay's healthy. Slay absolutely sucks by any
(01:08):
metric he can be judged by, to say nothing of
the eye test, but hey, veteran respect and all that.
You know, if Slay gets burned and the Steelers lose
because of it, that should be major heat on Mike Tomblin.
And you got the game's significance to both teams. Both
teams lead their division, but it ain't neither one of
them home free or close to it. The Steelers don't
(01:32):
run enough in the first place, and what if warrens
an't able to play? Maybe about Washington runs over the
whole Damn Bear's team like that viral catch and carry
against Cincinnati or maybe Chicago totally not physicals the Steelers,
which like I said before, could well happen because the
(01:53):
Steelers are kind of soft. You don't like to hear that,
but the Steelers aren't what they pretend to be. That's
a soft defensive core outside to Ramsey and Dugger, maybe
Cam Heyward. So that's a good place to start for
calls on the fifteens eight three, three, four one two WXDX.
Are the Steelers soft or at least lacking physicality because
(02:14):
except for Darnell Washington at tight end, Ramsey and Dugger
at safety, the Steelers do not bust people up.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
They don't Those three guys. That's it. That's the list.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
That number one more time eight three three four one
two WXDX can't believe I forgot the damn trifectum. I
got the sponsored though, Danny's Peach and Hogies. That's all
the matters. Like the college football Playoff, we just want
the sponsors, we just want the brand names.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
We just want the money.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Speaking of plugs, I got two viewing parties this weekend.
The River Hans On Saturday USL Final noon kickoff at
Shiloh Playton Pour. I'm out Washington. I will be doing
both extensive Playton and Poor. That's a hot spot, so
join me to watch soccer action at Shiloh Playton Poor
(03:07):
on Mount Washington. Like I said, noon kickoff, I'll be
there at ten am to watch Liverpool in Nottingham Forest.
If you get there and I'm watching that game and
the balls in play, shut the frig up, non negotiable.
And then Sunday I'm at Marino's American Eatery for the
Steeler game at one pm. That's a great spot too.
(03:27):
Dub Bears in that game, it's gonna tell a tale.
You're seven and four or six and five. You want
a second straight or you're treading molasses. You're in first
place by yourself, where you're tied with Baltimore, who are
surely gonna beat the New York Jets. Rogers said that
him playing Sunday is a safety thing, like he needs
(03:49):
a crossing guard or a condom. I'm looking forward to
the Browns in Vegas game that's right after Shador Sanders
makes his first start, an event of magnitude which hasn't
been seen since Kenny Pickett made his first start for
the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Gendor is a fifth.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Round pick who whines instead of competing, a rich kid
that's never had to prepare or work hard, and the
white man hates him and wants to keep him down.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
But mostly it's that not very good thing. Is this
show funny so far?
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Today?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I feel like it's funny.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Have the Pirates almost signed any free agent yet besides
the guy who.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Stayed in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
It's so exciting when they almost signed guys that guy
Nayler with Seattle that stayed in Seattle. The Pirates made
the highest offer in club history to him.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
He didn't take it, but what a monumental occasion.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
They can almost sign Schwarber and almost sign Suarez and
then almost win seventy five games. It is a funny
show so far. I know funny and this show is that.
Oh and Rogers said he doesn't want to be a
villain in Chicago anymore. Yeah, okay, I'm not sure you
get to pick that ar You're twenty four and five
(05:08):
against Chicago. You want shelled? I saw this on YouTube.
Somebody referred me you want shelled? I own you at
Bears fans after he scored a touchdown against him.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
What by guns be bygunes?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Rogers actually said that yesterday Aaron Rodgers is my favorite Steeler,
But he also said, by way of Humble Bragg, when
I got to Green Bay, the Bears had the all
time series lead. When I left, the Packers did unquote, Yeah,
let's let by guns be by guns. Uh A three
(05:46):
three four one two WXDX. Let's get Jeff in real
quick from Aliquippa. Jeff jumped the gun. What do you want?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Jeff? What man?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
What real quick?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You versus Mark Caboli in a hot all eating contest?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Who wins your mother because she has experienced at the
tube steak? Any other questions? Well give him all my regards.
Actually I'll see her before you do. Uh eight three
three four one two wxdx. And we got calls like that,
a whole bunch of them. I hope. I don't like
the term tube steak though. What I'm trying to say
(06:19):
those your mother's.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Easy.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I'm choosing my words carefully. Then again, if you have
to pay, is it really that easy? One O five nine,
The X tomorrow and trophy wife owes money that I
can't even quote the big o'bowski righte, goodbye the.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
X at one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Hell was just say Clipper? Is he going to interview
my cat on his podcast? Probably the best thing about
the Bummy podcast that iHeartMedia does, my god, except the
Jenna Jamis morn.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
It's funny.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
iHeart told me years ago I can't have porn girls
on my show. Now they have a porn girl hosting
a podcast on iHeartMedia.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Ah yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
This gimmick newly introduced of calls in the fifteens. It's
worked well most of the week, but not so much
right now. No calls, that's okay. H eight three three
four one two wxdx if you want to jump in.
Somebody told me when I was out the other night
that I don't talk enough Steelers well down to dial.
That's all they do, and if they benefit by it,
they're welcome to it. I'm doing the same show I've
(07:30):
always done, which is a lot of Steelers, been a
lot of Penguins too, because I'm a hockey guy and
like at four o'clock, I have one of the greatest
drummers ever, Carmen Apachee. And how could you not want
to talk to that guy? As I've always said, if
you don't want to listen, don't. In fact, there's never
been a better time to not listen, and in this
case not called uh. Here's a sound by Christopher mad
(07:54):
Dog Russo ripping Cam Scattabo for getting physically involved on WTV.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
What is schattabou with a broken chipola and an ankle?
What is he doing at Monday night raw throwing a
basically being pushed around and him doing pushing you know
it's choreographed.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
What is he doing at this event? I mean, it's
just ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
The guy's gotta bea he got a broken leg, not
even sure if.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
He's gonna be ready to play next year. In training camp?
What are you doing with the mister tough guy. Oh
come on stop please, I mean you got a bad
like that? How about if you were freaking Gander.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Or time coaches watching that with a running back loose?
Very important. Now, scattaboy didn't take a bump, he got pushed.
There was risk, it was minimal. But mad Dog is
totally right about the optics. Scattabo said, Oh, I'm just
having fun, whiney friggin gym teacher. I'm just having fun.
(08:50):
Forget fun, you meet head. You're in the NFL. Be
a professional, behave like a professional. Don't be a mark.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
But he's a bro bro Bro that bro bro bro,
and today's athletes believe it's all about them as individuals
what they want twenty four to seven. Although I am
glad to get confirmation that Scatabo is indeed a gym teacher,
just like I thought, wouldn't have a job outside a
gym teacher if he couldn't play pro football. I wrote
(09:23):
a column about this for the Trib. I'm not sure
when it's gonna go up. I haven't even saent it yet,
but talking about the Scatabo situation, mad Dog's response and
of course what went on back in the day when
I was at World Championship Wrestling with Dennis Rodman missing practice,
Robin and Malone fighting during Game six of the ninety
eight NBA Final because we told him to to plug
(09:45):
the pay per view match that both were involved in.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
That just fascinating stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
And again, if you want to see the whole recap,
keep your eyes on trib live dot com. If Genny
Malkin did an inn and I'm not sure this is
breaking news, but he was very definitive and very specific
because we've always thought, given the chance, he'd go play
in Florida because he lives there, his wife has lived
there for years. She's never lived in Pittsburgh. But Markan
(10:14):
did an interview where he said, I'm not gonna play
in Florida. I'm not gonna play in Colorado. I'm only
gonna play in Pittsburgh. I'll retire. He loves the team,
loves the city, loves the fans, blah blah blah, and
he'd like to play one or two more years. Okay,
the Penguins can't keep him, let alone for two more years.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
They can't keep him at all.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I don't think they might, but that'd be bad at
some point you have to turn the friggin page, not
on Sid. Still Sid's still a top five player in
the National Hockey League, and Gino's off to a really
good start, but can he maintain it, let alone maintain
it next season and the season after that.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I mean, I respect every of the guy's done.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
MVP cons three cups, one of the best players in
the league during his time, But what are you gonna
make Ben Kindall be a third line center forever? You're
gonna block him from being the second center so Gino
can play in front of the fans he loves in
the time he loves, with the team he loves. Sports
gotta be more cutthroat than that. But with the Penguins
(11:20):
it's not, which is why Gino might get his way,
But that would absolutely one hundred percent be to the
detriment of the Penguins.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
I think, I know you.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Don't because you will have Gino jerseys, Gino Gino, Gino Gino,
and I make it sound like I don't like the guy.
I don't know the guy. I have no relationship with him,
not good or bad. But at some point, like I said,
turn the page, Like Bob Seeger, who I look like
I'm still mad. I kind of botched that tube steak
(11:52):
joke a while back. Okay, out, Next, we'll talk football
with Jerry Dulac. I'm Mark Madden one oh five to nine.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
It's storty know, weekday mornings at six on.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
HiT's Buddy Diver, and I just love good news. Okay,
so this is a great story I just heard about
on a ninety.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Degree d My solution is give me my cake and
eat me too.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
The X at We got the Steelers at Chicago on Sunday,
very interesting game. Joining me now to discuss. He covers
the black and gold for the Steelers. It's Jerry Dulac. Jerry,
Chicago is a very physical team. Well, the Bears not
physical to Steelers. And can the Steelers contain that Bears
running game?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, I think market afternoon. I think the biggest issue
is containing uh you know, their offense or formations because
we've seen the transformation of Caleb Williams with Ben Johnson
their new head coach. Uh, you know, he did all
that in Detroit with that offense. And look they're leading.
They're leading that division, which is a very strong division.
(12:59):
I will point up, Mark, this is the first time
this year the Bears have played a team with a
winning record. I'm not saying they beat up on a
bunch of Patsis, but they certainly haven't played the best
teams in the league. But there's no question they're much improved.
And it's their offense and that's going to be you know,
their defense has some leaks. Look to b look what
the Bengals did to them. Joe Flacco pass for four
(13:20):
hundred and seventy five yards. They put up forty two
points or forty seven, whatever the number was. So but
their offense as has been what has kind of fueled
their rise. And you know, Caleb Williams is all of
a sudden looking like the number one overall pick that
he was last year.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Well, I agree that Ben Johnson, the new head coach
coming over from Detroit, has a ton to do with
what not only Caleb, but everything good about that offense.
But getting back to my point about the Steelers' physicality,
I just don't see them as very physical outside of
the safeties in Darnell Washington.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Is that true or is it.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Just me now? Mark, I think their linebackers are physical.
I think, you know, obviously d J. Watt can be.
But I think Alex Highsmith is nick herbig, isn't the
biggest outside linebacker, but he plays, he plays physical, and
you know, Malik Harrison is a thumper in the middle.
(14:15):
So I think I look as good a move as
it has been. As they talk about solidifying not only
the back end but the defense with the move of
Ramsey and now having Kyle Dugger play as well as
he has, the strength of this football team is still
the linebacker unit. The depth that they have both on
the inside but especially on the outside, which to them
(14:37):
and probably a lot of teams, but especially to the Steelers,
outside linebacker is the most important position on the team.
And they have a lot of depth there. And if
they get Alex Heihsmith back, who's been their best pass rusher,
certainly their most productive in the games before he was injured,
then that only makes it, that only makes them better.
So you know, are they are they the you know
(15:00):
eighty five Bears? No, But there's no question Jalen Ramsey
not only brings it himself. He he kind of sets
he kind of sets an edgy attitude for that defense.
And and and I think I think we have we
have seen it this year.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
What's your take on the Rogers situation.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I mean, we know he's going to play, and I
think he should, but but how will that risk tinder him?
And how long is his leash in terms of potentially
coming out Well.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Mark, first of all, I'm not so sure he's going
to play now. I don't know that, but but I
don't share that positivity. I think that, Uh. I think
there's a lot of variables in play here, and the
most important one, beyond his functionality is Mike Tomlin likes
to say, which means his efficiency and productivity is his safety.
(15:52):
And so you know, if he can't brace himself when
he falls, imagine he's going to fall. That's how he
got hurt in the first place. That then the issue,
the injury becomes worse. So I'm not certain he's going
to play. A lot. Some of that, not all of it,
but a good portion of that has to do with
(16:13):
the comfortability they have in Mason Rudolph. And let's not
forget Mark. During the entire off season, Mason Rudolph was
their number one quarterback. There was no Aaron Rodgers, so
those guys, you know, it's not just what he did
two years ago, but there you know, he's very comfortable
with them and vice versa because of that entire offseason,
OTA's spring practices, those you know, unofficial sessions that those
(16:38):
guys have, and I think that certainly factors into it,
especially after what we saw the other day, Mark, you know,
coming in and doing what Mason Rudolph does, and so
that's a factor in as well. I don't know who's
going to start. I don't, but I think if Aaron
Rodgers plays, unless he has some issue, I don't think
it's a question of what kind of leah you'll be on.
(16:59):
They'll go with him as long as they feel they could,
you know, should go with them. And I don't think
that'll change if he starts. And again I'm not so
certain that's going to be the case.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Will you make a real good point about Rudolph in
the offseason he had before Rogers signed.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
But I always wonder.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I think Rudolph's teammates probably trust him.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Does Tomlin trust him.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Well? Mark, you know, their offseason activities over the past
couple of years of kind of bypassing Mason despite what
they say about how comfortable they are with them, which
they are, would suggest that they're not fully committed in
him as their long term answer. I think that has
become apparent with the way he's kind of been treated
(17:43):
over the last three or four years. But I don't
think there's any doubt for a backup quarterback. If he
has to come in the game, you know that they
are more than comfortable with him Mark. I will tell
you last year, after the twenty twenty three season, when
he's saved their season with those last three games, they
wanted to bring him back, and they were in discussions
(18:04):
to bring him back, and he wanted to come back,
but then they signed Russell Wilson, and it was before
they traded Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph, who was in
discussions to sign to come back, saw the writing on
the wall and said, you know, he's going to be
number three again, and he left to go to Tennessee.
He didn't want to, but he had no other choice
(18:24):
because he was going to be pushed to the back
of the quarterback room again, you know, fairly or unfairly,
and it certainly looked unfairly. But they decided they want
to bet they wanted a quarterback like Russell Wilson, and
the same thing, of course, happened this year. You know,
they signed Mason think figure, and he's going to be
the backup, but he it was number one, but they
(18:45):
wanted Aaron Rodgers. And so that's kind of the way
Mason's been treated. He knows it, he obviously accepts it.
Doesn't mean he likes it, but yeah, he's never going
to be given that chance to be number one.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
With that question, especially with them very likely to take
a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft.
We're talking to Jerry Doulac, brought to us by Bud White.
Easy to drink in, easy to enjoy, Jerry. Both teams
rely really heavily on takeaways. So maybe the question in
this game is which team and quarterback can protect the
ball better because those takeaways they're a slippery slope.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
You can't count on them.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
That's right, Mark, you can't game plan. Let's go, We're
going to go out and take the ball away four times.
They just happened. They're kind of like sacks in a way,
but even more difficult. But yeah, five takeaways against New
England won that game last night. Of Patriots have lost
six takeaways against the Colts. They converted four of those
into twenty four points and then the two defensive touchdowns
(19:43):
last week. All those games that they won, and there
was a stretch of four out of five games where
they didn't have a takeaway and they lost several of
those games. So it's a defense that's reliant maybe too much. Look,
all defenses rely on takeaways. The good ones are able
to do it, coincidence or not. And the Steelers do
(20:04):
a good job of taking the ball away. But Mike,
you can't just rely on them. You have to be
able to line up without a takeaway and be able
to control a team or shut the team down or
whatever the case. Maybe, And so yeah, that's t J.
Watt said as much a couple of weeks ago, that
they're too reliant on takeaways and they have to go
(20:25):
out shut down the run. And they've done a pretty
good job against the past the last two games for
the most part.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Jerry, I don't often get outraged about lineup decisions because
they're usually borderline and mostly I don't care. But how
could Tomlin put Slay back in for Pierre?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
With Slay now healthy?
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Slay's been terrible by any metric imaginable and Pierre's played
pretty well.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, you're right about that. Mark. The last two games,
James Pierre's played very well. I think Mike Tomlin, you know, publicly,
isn't going wouldn't treat it any differently. Of course, he's
going to come out say his veteran who was the starter.
You know, he doesn't want to say he launched his
job because of injury. So yes, Darius Slay, he said
if he's cleared, he will play from Mark. That doesn't
(21:12):
mean he'll get the majority of the stats. It doesn't
mean he'll finish in that role. I think you'll see
James Pierre. If I'm a betting man, which I'm not,
I'd be willing to bet James Pierre will probably end
up playing more spot snaps than Darius Slay. I just
think Mike Tomlin had to say that. I don't think
that's I mean, he may start the game, but I
don't think that's in their plan, you know, to to
(21:34):
just keep it that way. I think you'll see forty
two out there more than you'll see twenty three.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
I certainly hope you're right about that. Who's the main
catalyst of that Steelers defense?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You kind of implied it was Ramsey when you spoke
a little bit ago.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Is that how you feel?
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Well, I think emotionally, Mark, And look, we know the
way he plays. I mean we can we can sock
soap it and say he plays with him aggress of attitude,
and we know it goes beyond that. You know, he's
a guy who's one play away from a fifteen yard penalty.
But I do think he sets that emotional edge, that
attitude in that defense. But I still think what they've
(22:14):
done with our linebacker crew, you know, using three inside
linebackers at a time or three outside linebackers at the
time has presented problems for the other team. It gives
them a different look that they're trying to figure out, Okay,
who's the Sam linebacker, who's the Will wenebacker, who's the
three technique, who's rushing who isn't? And so to me,
(22:39):
that has been the difference in the defense. Yes, Jalen
Ramsey at safety, I mean Mark, you could see even
I mean the physical plays he makes, whether separating the
guys from the ball or hitting them after the incompletion
as fairly as he can. You know, those receivers, they
know that he's there and he's going to hit him,
(22:59):
And yeah, I just think that's a big factor. But
I would not underestimate the contribution or what they're able
to do with this linebacker rotation.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Gerry, Uh, Why has DK Metcalf been so disappointing?
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Like I see people say.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
They should have kept George Pickens after the great game
he had for Dallas. I disagree with that, but Metcalf's
been so underwhelming it makes me wonder.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Yeah, Mark, you know, look the reason they brought in
DK Metcalf And yes, would have looked nice with George
Pickens and him together, of course it would have. But
they brought in DK Metcalf because they knew they weren't
going to keep George Pickens. They didn't want that headache anymore,
you know, eventually, if it hasn't already reared its head
in Dallas and look saying no, he's an uber talented guy.
(23:46):
They saw that, we're seeing it now, but that wasn't
They just didn't want him around in the locker room anymore.
And so you bring in metcalfs, you give him a
monster deal, which I'm still surprised that thirty million, you know,
average annually. I don't you know, he's not the game
breaking receiver that George Pickens is. He's not the big
(24:09):
play receiver George Pickens is. But I thought we've seen
flashes of it, but I thought we would see more
from him. But I will tell you, Mark, I think
it's a byproduct of the other teams not respecting what
they have in terms of the other wide receivers. And
so they figured, you know what, we know Aaron Rodgers
likes DK Metcalf. Well, we're gonna bracket him. We're gonna
(24:31):
double him. We're gonna do whatever we can to take
him away from Aaron Rodgers. And so you want to
throw it to the other guys, go ahead, but we're
not gonna let Dk Metcalf beat us. And I think
that's what you're seeing.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Well, Matt Williamson made a good point the other day
on the program Jerry, where he said DK Metcalf may
be the Steelers number one receiver, but he's not a
true number one receiver in the mold of like a
Jefferson or a Lamb.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Well you could say that, Mark, I would I don't
want to say I disagree, because I think he can
you know, you could sit there and compare him to
other guys. Yeah, he's not justin Jefferson. He's not your
Mark Chase, that's for sure. But he is still a
big time receiver. But I still don't think he's the
receiver that deserves five years, one hundred and fifty million.
(25:22):
I think he's really good, but I don't know that
he's the game changing guy that some of those other
guys are. But whether you want to affix the term
number one or not, okay, that's you know, that's debatable.
But I do think he's a quality receiver capable of
being that. But he's not the most dangerous receiver in
(25:42):
the league. There we have seen flashes where he could
be them.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Why has the tight end room been so disappointing besides
Washington and the other two, I mean, sometimes smooth, almost
never gone.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
In well Mark, It's not so disappointing by their performance.
It's disappointing us. Some more surprising than disappointing the lack
of involvement of Pat Fryarmouth especially and John new Smith,
the guy who got eighty six balls last year. They
brought him in. You know, they made a trade for
me as a pretty healthy contract, and he's played more
(26:16):
snaps of Pat Fryarmuth and almost as many as darn
Now Washington. And you talk about a guy who's had
little contribution for someone you thought would make more of
a contribution. Man, it's John new Smith. And I just
cannot get over the lack of targets and activity for
Pat Fryarmuth. You know, we know he's dependable. See he
(26:39):
can get open, he can catch the ball. He's had
productive years, three years of sixty plus catches, and not
involving him more in the offense is more surprising, almost
almost shocking to me, Mark, than anything else I see
on that offense.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Finally, Jerry, this feels like a big game, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
I mean it's non division, non but just to get
a second win in a row, build momentum and hold
off Baltimore. I've been saying that the minute Baltimore ties them,
I believe Baltimore is gonna pass them.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
So they play the Jets. So you do the math, Mark.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
You look the Steelers next three games, Bears, Bills, and Ravens.
You look at the Ravens next three games, they're you know,
pretty soft, and they got to play the Steelers, of course,
and and they're gonna They're gonna be sitting right there.
If the Steelers go through this three game stretch two
and one, they're pretty good. So if they lose this
game to me, if they win the next two, uh,
(27:35):
then you know that'll that'll make up for it. But
there are a lot of reasons why I thought that
Bengals game was really significant. Mark Because one, you don't
want to lose to a division opponent, opponent especially one
that could be the cellar dweller in the division. You
don't want to be swept by them. You don't want
to have four losses in your past five games. And
(27:56):
if they lose, they would have already been tied by
the Ravens, who have one four in a row. So
I really thought the Bengals victory was significant, significant on
many levels, maybe more so than this one, depending on
what happens the two games after that. But they don't
want to you know, they don't want to continue this. Yeah,
(28:17):
getting one back to back is nice, especially on the
road against a team with a really good record, but
I actually think last week was more important for them.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
At the moment, this game really seems up for grabs,
doesn't it. I mean, like a total cross up.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Yeah, Mark, I could see it either way, and I
kind of vacillated that way all week. You know, I
thought the Bears, you know, with their offense. Then I looked,
you know that the Bears have not played a team
with a winning record yet this year. You know, they
didn't beat up on a bunch of marshmallows, but they
certainly haven't taken on the best teams in the league.
(28:55):
And you know, I look at the way the defense
has played lately, and so you know, and then I
start leaning towards the Steelers. So yeah, I'm with you.
I could see it going either way.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Jerry, great stuff, enjoy the game. We'll talk next week.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
You got it, Mark, Always good being with you.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
That's Jerry Douli broughtless by bud Light. Easy to drink,
easy to enjoy. Up next, we got a bunch of
talk about the Steelers. We got Kurt Warner talking about
how that wrist injury could affect Aaron Rodgers in a
way that hasn't yet been brought up. And at four o'clock,
legendary gent drummer Carmen Apachi. I think that's how to pronounce.
(29:34):
We'll find out from him because I've heard two different pronunciations.
That might be the biggest question I asked him. Now
playing with Jeff Beck, that's cool. Rod Stewart too. And
then we have Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves at four thirty,
It's the Mark Madden Show one oh five ninety X.
Speaker 6 (29:50):
Listen to the X everywhere you go, now everywhere tell
your sport device Alexa playing one oh five point ninety
X on iHeartRadio Hour.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
The Mark Madden Shows brought to you by by Light.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Probably served a Blinks and Green Tree stopping Blinkies and
enjoy three fifty bud Light twenty euce drafts
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