November 6, 2025 • 28 mins
Mark continues to talk about the decision to not play Murashov tonight against the Caps. Gerry Dulac joins the show to talk about the Steelers.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
I want your reaction to Morishov not starting tonight. I
get told I'm overreacting, I'm not.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm right now.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I'm gonna call his eight three three four one two
wxdx or follow me on Twitter at mark man X,
although really following me on Twitter.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
During the show, it's not really a big deal. Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Jacksonville's general managers were talking about how Jacobe Meyer never
drops the ball. Well, he would not fit in with
the Steelers. Then the Steelers will regret not making that deal,
and Shaheed too, the light out who went from New
Orleans to Seattle. At the end of the season, mark
my words, write this down. At the end of the season,
(00:43):
Myers and Shaheed will both have better stats than DK Metcalf.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Write it down you heard it here, or at least comparable.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
But like Mike the course he said yesterday, maybe that
Steelers offense doesn't really need a number two wide out
well with the game plan and all the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
But again, what if DK Metcalf gets hurt to reiterate.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I think it's hilarious that I am not really a
Steelers fan. I mean, I'm not a hater, I'm an analyst,
but them, I mean them winning losing. It don't make
or break my day like it does so many of you.
And by the way, the guys on the air who
say it makes a break to their day, they're just.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Stooging for you. They don't care. Some do, most don't.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I think that I want him to win worse than
the citizens do, worse than you do. It's kind of funny.
Uh number eight three, three, four one two WXDX. Now,
I was really excited about the Penguins game tonight, and
I'm trying to work myself into being that again with
Morishov not playing like Tom and I discussed. Ov did
(01:54):
score number nine hundred last night on his career, first
guy ever to do it. I liked when somebody tweeted
first I ever to score nine hundred, and I think
Bootsie tweeted back also the first guy to score.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Eight ninety nine and eight ninety eight.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
So Ovi scored it at home, which is good against
Saint Louis. What's the Caps fans see their guy do
it like the Penguins fans don't get to see more
shoft deview tonight. UH nine other goals though, let's be
crystal Mario would have done it if it stayed healthy.
(02:27):
No doubt Mario would have got a thousand goals if
it stayed healthy. So nine other goals for OVI that's
out of the mix for tonight. He did it last
night and the repeat good for OVI. One of a
kind player. I'm glad he won a cup. I got
mega respect, and like I just said to Tom, he
scored on kind of a spinning checks machine backhand. That's
(02:49):
a typical for OVI. But they all count and Ovie
was psyched and I'm psyched for him. Washington won big,
by the way, six to one over Saint Louis now
on top of the goaltender stuff, which still has my
blood pressure at four hundred over one thousand. We got
Kindle on Sid's line and Kendall's still on the top
(03:09):
power play, Ben Kendall this show's favorite player. I bet
Kendall is a very good fit on Sid's line and
reads Sid right away and scores a goal off of
Sid pass tonight. Maybe on the power play, but I
think they'll both get it with each other per quick.
(03:29):
I might not have said enough about Kindle on the powerplay,
how good he is and what it takes to be
good on the power play because it's a specific skill
set and involves patience and minutia and just knowing just
that instinct. Like Kendall on the left half wall, he
gets it, knows when to shoot, knows to change angles
(03:52):
in possession of the puck. Here's a big thing. He
knows when to come off the wall. We're talking about
how great Phil was. Phil might as well have been
staple to that wall, to that those boards. He was good.
But Kendall's better at that Kindle's better at the left
half wall than Phil.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Period.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I'll get to more of that in a second. He
knows when to shoot, scored that great goal at Toronto.
And people have compared Kendall to Kessel on the left
half wall because of the number eighty one. Kessel's jersey
that eighty one. It was a bit tighter on him
for some reason. But I like Kendall better than Phil
over there because Phil rarely shot, and other teams would
(04:32):
figure that out and defend accordingly. Kilt the p K
way to the other side. I yelled at in the
press box one time with Phil at the left half wall,
I said, every single penalty killer is inside the circle
on that side because they know Phil won't shoot.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Anyway.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I expect a big knight from Kendall and uh, it
looks like Graves and hind And are both going to play.
I'm looking to see what Graves does uses method of playing,
which is more systematic and requires the defenseman to do
less of the things that Graves just can't do, like
activate and well he wasn't terrible at pinching, although a
(05:12):
guy like that. One thing I always got kind of
frustrated with watching Graves is big guy, didn't use his
body enough. Wasn't necessarily purecellanimous, but wasn't necessarily not just
didn't use that big frame enough. If I'm Ryan Graves.
Here's the problem though, Danton Heinen too. You get called
(05:33):
up from the ahlum when you cleared waivers, so you
know the other teams.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Really don't want you. You clear waivers to go down
and you get called back up because of emergency. Right.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
You know it's going to be a short stay. You
want to do everything you can to prove you should stay,
but you can't overdo it. You can't try too much
because you're not good enough. You won't succeed at it.
You just have to play your game the best you
can and hope the Penguins or another team.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
No, but they won't notice. They just won't notice.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Those guys are probably nailed in the minors for good.
That said, like I said earlier, those buses, I mean,
nobody wants to ride the bus, but those are those
are relatively luxurious.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean as busses go.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Okay, eight three to three, four one two w xdx.
This is the Mark Madden Show. What else do we
got today? We got Jerry Dulac at the bottom of
the hour, we got Trey Essex talking Steelers at four o'clock,
and Josh Showey talking Penguins. He's pissed two he joins
me at four thirty one oh five nine. I'm gonna
talk more about the Penguins not starting morrishof tonight because,
(06:39):
to repeat, the Penguins are a franchise based on stars
and moments. That's their DNA, that's what the fans want,
and that was ignored by not starting morrishof tonight.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Now he's gonna start.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I would assume Saturday in New Jersey, Newark, I mean,
unless Tony Soprano gets whack. Nothing big ever happens in Newark,
and it's.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Gonna be on TV. There won't be the sense of community.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
I keep going back to Flurry that debut two thousand
and three, a game the Penguins lost, but Florrie made
forty six saves and stuffed the penalty shot, and you
knew who he was. Then Penn's ignored all that, all
the great moments. Think about the great moments this franchise
is produced. It's kind of like with Butcher Gross and
(07:31):
Steve Levy, and you know, I'm retweeting everything, and I
wish I could have more influence. They want Barry Melrose
to get in the Hockey Hall of Fame and Don
Cherry too, and I want Eddie Johnston because it's about
guys who created what the game is.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You know, if you just look at.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Ross stats and in the case of who is starting
goal only results tiptoeing.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
You're wanting to protect.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
More showup, protect them from what the pressure playing in
front of a home crowd, the pressure playing ov jumping
right in after one practice. If he can't handle that,
he don't belong here in the first place. If he
can't handle that, he's not going to be the guy
that we all hope he'll be. Actually I just did
my whole monologue regarding that before I did the sound
(08:14):
bite for this segment, so I'll figure out something. Uh,
here's an interesting sound bite from the newest Steeler, the
receiver Mark Kez Valdez Scantling, and apparently he's sitting right
next to Ben to up next to Aaron Rodgers when
he says, let's hear that.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, man, this guy next thing? He got me here? Okay?
Did that? Did that?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
That?
Speaker 1 (08:45):
It was that it cut off? Okay, well, our equipment's failing.
I've lost control of the radio station. But uh, Scantling said,
with Rogers sitting right there that Rogers has wanted him
to come to Pittsburgh ever since both of the left
Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
And Rogers didn't correct him.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
So if that's true, Well, first off, I thought, isn't
Valdez Scantling right now on the Steelers practice squad? What
is he gonna go quick up the depth chart now?
Because Rogers wants that? And if Rogers wanted him here,
why it takes so long? The Steelers never got Alan
Lazard from the Jets, who's better than Valdez Scaling and
a Rogers guy. It's just kind of a weird thing
(09:29):
for Valdez Scantling to say. It's kind of a weird
thing for a practice squad guy to get interviewed period.
So it makes me wonder, what are the Steelers gonna
do with this guy? What are the Steelers gonna do?
Sunday night at Los Angeles, don't forget you can come
watch the Steelers play the Chargers with me, the super
genius at sidelines, Beer Hasen Swickly great wings, I mean
(09:53):
world class wings. Beer great set up to watch the game,
a lot of football talk. Come watch the game with
me at sidelines and Sewickley. Me and the rich people
will albeit sidelines, Beer has and Sewickley on Sunday Night,
kickoff at eight twenty. If you're going to the Penguin
game tonight, what's your take on Morishov not playing? I
(10:15):
keep getting told I'm getting told out the wazoo. Now
that I'm overreacting, I don't think I am.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I think I get what this team is. I think
I get what an occasion this could have been.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I think I get what they're passing up by not
starting him, and.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
God forbid my god, my.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Heart will burst in anger if Shiloffs gets shelled tonight,
and my criticism of not starting Morishov is not to
be interpreted in the least as a criticism of Shiloff's
and goal. I think he's done fine, but I would
have started morrishof tonight. I want to see this team
move forward. I'm excited about Kendall. I'm excited about him
(10:55):
on Sid's line. I'm excited about Brunick, even though he
might go. I'm excited to see morrishow here. I'm excited
to see the team moving in a different direction that's
not as veterany. That really is rebuilding within the context
of having a bunch of old guys around two. And
I know they kept all the old guys because it's
(11:16):
what Sid wanted and they thought it's what the fans wanted.
But they have the second worst attendance in the league
right now, nineteen percent empty seats. Is it what the
fans wanted? No, the fans want new, the fans want hype.
The fans want the future. They want that to arrive,
but ar Tours Shilloffs is still in goal tonight. I'm
(11:36):
next gonna talk to Jerry Duak in the Post Cazette
Stealer discussion here on one O five to nine.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
It's The Woody Show weekend mornings at six. Of course
X Music on the X.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
If you can't get enough, if you're Pittsburgh'steelers, then check
out the late read so.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Be It Baby. The ex at one.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Is that the La Chargers Sunday night after that big
win against Indianapolis this past Sunday, joining me out of
talk about it. He covers the Steelers for the Post Gazette.
It's always terrific to talk to Jerry Dulac. Jerry, let's
start with the cliched questions. First, Should the Steelers have
done something at the trade deadline? And did other teams
(12:20):
race past the Steelers in the AFC?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Based on what those teams did do.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Well? I think it would be a stretch to say
the Jacksonville Jaguars did. I thought the Seattle Seahawks made
a big move picking up the receiver they did. And
I think the Indie Colts mark is a classic example
of a team that feels its one significant player away
from making a serious run. Now, whether do you think
(12:47):
those Colts are that or not? They are tied for
the best record in the league and they're bringing in
a significant player, you know, in Sauce Gardner, and they
gave up a lot to do so. So they firmly
believe that that one guy can put them over the
top and have them compete with the Bills and you know,
the Chiefs, and you know probably in Denver as well.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
So.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
But the Steelers were never going to make that kind
of move. Look, they tried to get a wide receiver mark.
I mean, sure they would like another wide receiver, but
at a price. And who's to say though that the
guys who did sign elsewhere, Jakobe Myers and Rashid Shaheed,
were guys they wanted or liked, and so, you know,
(13:34):
forget about the asking price. But they they you know,
they thought they might might get a deal done and
it didn't work out. But it wasn't. It wasn't as
though they didn't try.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Well you talk about the asking price. I mean, like
you said, I don't know if they're interested in Myers.
Some of the media out let's say the Steelers were.
But how can you not give up a fourth and
the sixth if that's what it took, that's really not
giving up that much. Look at the steelers last five
fourth round picks, I'd have traded any one of them
to get a better shot at winning a playoff game
(14:06):
this year.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, and I get that, Mark, and there's an argument
to be made for that, but I think I'm just
telling you the way that they think is that, you know,
they're trying to maintain their draft capital. But as I said,
it wasn't like they were saying, we're not going to
do this. They did try. They did try, and I
think in at least one instance it didn't have to
(14:29):
do with the asking price. So you know, you look
at you look at and so maybe one of the
guys they were looking at, maybe it was going to
be more than a fourth round pick. But you look
at their third and fourth round picks, Mark Calvin, Austin Roman, Wilson,
Mason McCormick, Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig, Peyton Wilson, Jack Sawyer.
(14:51):
Those are some pretty decent third and fourth round picks,
and that's why they value those mid round picks. But
they want to hold on as much as they can.
They already had to give up a fifth and I
know that's not going to kill him, but they had
to give up a fifth round pick to get Kyle
Dugger because of the injury to Deshaun Elliott. And trust me,
if there was an injury an IR move on a
(15:11):
wide receiver, they would have made some kind of deal,
especially if it would have been the DK Metcalf. So
if for no other reason, you would have liked to
have seen them get a quality receiver, you know, a
decent receiver, somebody that they would certainly put on the
fifty three man roster, unlike Marquez Valdez Scantling. But you
(15:32):
know it just didn't happen. And so and yet one
more thing too, Mark about that. Look at the way
they used the tight end Sunday, perfect example, the tight
ends had ten catches, though other wide receivers had eight catches.
Go back to when Calvin Austin was out. Those two
games he was out, the tight ends had nineteen catches,
two hundred and forty four yards and five touchdowns. Arthur
(15:54):
Smith loves that type of offensive plan and getting another
wide receiver. I'm not saying where do you play him?
But even when they brought in Mike Williams last year,
he averaged nineteen snaps Mark, and he made a big
time play in its first game. He won the game.
For him in Washington, and I don't want to say
he rarely played after that, but he certainly didn't play
a lot of snaps.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
We often hear that the Steelers are all in, but
they don't say that. I think it's assumed because of
all the moves they made and brought in, you know,
a forty one year old quarterback, a lot of old guys.
Are they all in?
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Well, Mark, They're never going to say that they are
or they're not. But to your point, it's it's very
you know, it's extremely reasonable to think, Okay, if all
your moves in the offseason suggested you were all in
to win a playoff game, which let's face it, Mark,
they were, then why aren't you all in to ensure
(16:48):
that and to maybe ensure taking another step in a
postseason by making a move at the one position where
you know, you keep your fingers crossed that nothing's going
to happen to your top receivers, including number four. So
you know it's reasonable to you know, make that correlation.
I get it, I get it, and that's why, you know,
(17:08):
it was surprising, you know, and disappointing, if not alarming,
to some people that nothing was done.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Would you keep Ramsey at safety period.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
I know he's going to play there against LA this week,
but what about when the safeties get healthy. I really
think he has the brains in the physicality, which is
underrated with him to maybe convert like Rod Woodson didn't.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Mark, that's one hundred percent right, and that's probably where
it's going to end up with him, if not this
year with the Steelers, but in his career going forward,
because you know, when he came out, we've heard the
Steelers say they had him rated as the number one
safety and the number one quarterback in the draft. Though
he's certainly a guy who can play that position, it's
(17:52):
certainly not a big jump for him transitionally, and so
I think eventually that's where he's going to play. But
by the time that becomes a permanent move, I'm not
so sure he'll still be with the Steelers at that
point or not. But yeah, they like the way they
lined up and the way they played with him full
(18:12):
time at ad free safety. And again it was a
move necessitated by the injury to Deshaun Elliott. But I
think for the short term, mark beyond this week, you know, again,
unless something happens an injury or just a complete breakdown.
I think you're going to see it last for more
than just this game.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
How did Duggar do against Indian? How do you think
he will do?
Speaker 3 (18:37):
You know what he didn't do, Mark, He didn't make
any glaring mistakes because you didn't even know he was
on the field, and so they didn't expect him to
come in and have a Minka Fitzpatrick debut with intercepting
a pass or scoop and scoring a fumble or something
like that. But he ended up playing all but one snap,
and that's certainly wasn't the plan. They thought, Okay, we're
going to play him and we'll see how it goes. Understand,
(18:58):
And he only had two days of practice with them,
and obviously what they saw no mistakes, looked very comfortable
with the pre snap Breeves, looked very comfortable getting the communication,
you know, the calls, and they had no problem leaving
him in the game. And you know the Colts that
he wasn't exposed, He wasn't picked on. Joey Porter was
picked on in that game in case anybody didn't notice.
(19:21):
But it wasn't like they tried to attack Kyle Duggert
and so that tells you right there, for two practices
he did pretty darn good and they were absolutely thrilled
that they could, you know, in such a short amount
of time get that out of him.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I like some of the tweaks on defense, Jerry, I've
been talking about it all week. I like that that
four to three look they had that they put three
edge guys out there, sometimes three inside backers out there.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Sometimes, Well, the Steelers keep doing it well.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Market was successful, so I would imagine now again, it'll
depend on the game plan. You know that we've seen
the three outside linebackers on several times, more than several
times a week in it before in past years, but
I can't remember the last time we saw three inside
linebackers in a game, and that was to be able
to bring Malik Harrison in, who's kind of their run thumper,
(20:13):
and so right there, absolutely, and they could give a
four to three look, but it's not really a four
to three mark, because of four to three is four
down lines, right, and not a not a two hundred
and fifty pounds linebacker. But nonetheless, to your point, it
gives them a different look that they have to be
a you know, the opponent has to account for, you know,
(20:34):
and who's who picks up this guy and who gets
that guy. So yeah, I think all those different looks
because we saw both. I don't think there's any question.
I think the other thing too, Mark, that was lost
in the five sacks and the six takeaways was a
thirteen passes defense. Mark. That's a staggering number for a
team to have in the game. And I checked with
(20:55):
the Lias today. It's the second most by any team
in the NFL this season. You look at this last weekend,
the most any other team had was seven, and that's
a lot. The Bears and the Bengals combined for what
eighty four pass attempts and seven hundred and seventy yards combined.
Those two teams had thirteen passes defense. That is a lot.
But what it says is that the Steelers challenged the receivers.
(21:19):
They were on the receivers, and that's something we certainly
didn't see against the Bengals, and it's something we didn't
see a lot of against the Packers. Guys weren't running free,
you know, last week against the Packers the week prior,
Jordan Love threw for three hundred and sixty yards and
two hundred and forty five were yards after the catch,
which means the defenders aren't on them or they're not
(21:42):
tackling them. That was not the case against the Colts,
and that was a significant factor. Yeah, I know Daniel
Jones threw for three hundred and forty two yards, but
Mark one hundred and sixty four came in the fourth
quarter when they were down twenty four to seven. So,
you know, though, I think the way the secondary performed
on the receivers deflecting passes and I know three of
(22:03):
them came into line of scrimmage. Uh, you know what,
credit to them because we have not seen that this year.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Now that said, I'd still like to see them, you know,
improve that defensive backfield a bit, whether by guys recovering
from injury or however. Now there was a report the
Steelers are going to meet with or work out a
Sante Samuel Junior, the free agent cornerback who was an
IR last year. What have you heard about that and
are they still looking to do anything?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Mark, I'm not sure who said that was going to happen,
So I'm not going to say because I'm not aware
that it's happening. That doesn't mean that it won't.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So I think are they still looking is maybe the
bigger question.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Not not not actively. It's not like they're thinking, we
need to make a move, because if that was the case,
made that type of move, They would have made that
type of move maybe at the trade deadline. And I
will tell you they weren't really looking for a corner.
They were looking at wide receiver, and they were looking
at a veteran defensive lineman, someone to be a backup
once they lost Daniel Qualley. Those were what they were
(23:06):
looking at the most. But look, Mark, anything's possible. They
could bring him in and they could do like they
did with Marquez Valdez Scantling. They could put him on
the practice squad. But you know, they're always looking at guys,
they're always working guys out. They do it almost almost once,
if not twice a week. So it's certainly it certainly
(23:26):
wouldn't surprise me. But I don't think it's they're doing
so to bring him in to strengthen their secondary. I
think it's more like, hey, look here's a capable body,
and if we can add him and he's willing to
come in and be on a practice squad, then we'll
do it.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Jerry, what's your take on this game Sunday night. The
LA Chargers have some injury problems on the offensive line.
I mean, they're decimated, but it still strikes me as
maybe a difficult matchup they got justin Herbert, they won
the ball well and they played tough and hard.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Mark. I would agree with you. Herbert leaves the NFL
in passing yards and the Steelers have given up three
three hundred yard passers in a row, and so you
are able to throw on the Steelers, but you know
how they defended it last week. Look at a lot
of those yards. As I mentioned earlier, Daniel Jones had
one hundred and sixty four of his yards in the
(24:19):
fourth quarter. But you know, they're giving up a lot
of passing yards. And the surprising thing is how well
the Chargers have been able to run the ball. You know,
after losing Marion Hampton and Najie Harris and without two
guys the last two games, they're averaging one hundred and
seventy five yards rushing per game and so but but
(24:41):
there's no Joe Alt. They'd already lost for Sheid Slaters
at the start of the year, so that you know
they've been playing without him anyhow, but you lose Joe Walt,
who's your best tackle, and that is a you know,
that's a big uh. That's a big development and not
a good one for the Charges. So offensively, they certainly
are able to produce yards and a lot of what
(25:04):
the Steelers do is going to be predicated on how
they play up front. And I say that mark two
because you look at the last two games. They went
against Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor, certainly the leading rusher
in the league. And when you look at the two
of them, two of the best running backs in the league,
and they held both of them combined to under one
hundred yards. So you got to give props to their
(25:24):
rush defense the past two games because they shut down
those two guys. Jonathan's Taylor's longest run was nine yards,
and they can continue to do that, then they're going
to be Okay, Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Think so too.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
But I want to get a little talk in about
the offensive side of the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Jaarre and I have really very few complaints there.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
But one thing that I don't get is they abandoned
the one awful quick They've done that the last two games.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Who decides that.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah, well that's Arthur Smith when it starts the game,
and usually it starts the half, you know, because they
script what ten or twelve plays and they came out
and went throw, throw, throw, when they have been running
the ball very well the past two games. Now, give
the Colts credit. I mean, they just shut that down
right away, and so you know, you try and back
them off the line of scrimmage, but yeah, you throw
(26:12):
it the first three plays. And I was surprised by that,
and just as I was shocked last week when they
had the sixteen to seven lead against the Packers at
halftime and they get the ball after scoring at the
end of the half and they come out and go throw, throw, throw, Yeah,
I don't understand that. I kind of like the way
Arthur Smith's been calling the game. I like the flow
of what they've been doing for the most part, and
(26:34):
some of that was missing the other day, you know what,
two hundred and twenty five yards. But what they did
do to their credit mark was they capitalized. They were
opportunistic with those turnovers, scoring twenty four points on those
four consecutive turnovers by the Colts, and so you know
the week prior, Mark, they were bemoaning that they had
to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. Well, you
(26:58):
know that wasn't the case against the Colts. I will
also say, though the Steelers were given a lot of
short fields against the Colts. I think their average starting
field position was like a forty eighth. So when you
get short fields like that, obviously you don't have to
go as far, but you still have to convert into
their credit. They did.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Finally, Jared, here's what I think is a hidden secret
with the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Their offensive line is pretty good, now, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
With that question, Mark, I mean Aaron Rodgers. You know,
he hasn't turned the ball over just twice in the
last five games. For the last five he hasn't turned
the ball over. You know, he took a couple of
sacks the other day, but one of them he took deliberately,
which actually was a smart sack. But yeah, they didn't
(27:45):
run the ball as well as they have been. But
Troy Paltano just looked tremendous out there. Frederick Jones is
perfectly fine at left tackle, and you know they you
know they're gonna miss Isaac sayam Allo, I'm not sure
what he's going to do this week. He tried to
play a little bit against the Colts and then he
had to come out of the game with the same
injury that Peck but you know, so that disrupted their
(28:09):
heavy package a little bit. But all in all, the
offensive line has been very good. And the key there,
Mark is for the most part they've been healthy and
they've been able to start the same lineup, the same
five every game.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Jerry, great stuff, as always enjoyed the game Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
We'll do it again next week. Good stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Thanks Mark, always good talking with you, my friend.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
That's the great Jerry Doulac of the Post Gazette. Brought
to us by bud Light. Easy to drink, Easy to enjoy.
I got kind of a sidebar about morrishav not starting tonight. Interesting,
just to give a little tease. Is going to be
a lot of people there tonight.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
What if I not
I want your reaction to Morishov not starting tonight. I
get told I'm overreacting, I'm not.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm right now.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I'm gonna call his eight three three four one two
wxdx or follow me on Twitter at mark man X,
although really following me on Twitter.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
During the show, it's not really a big deal. Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Jacksonville's general managers were talking about how Jacobe Meyer never
drops the ball. Well, he would not fit in with
the Steelers. Then the Steelers will regret not making that deal,
and Shaheed too, the light out who went from New
Orleans to Seattle. At the end of the season, mark
my words, write this down. At the end of the season,
(00:43):
Myers and Shaheed will both have better stats than DK Metcalf.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Write it down you heard it here, or at least comparable.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
But like Mike the course he said yesterday, maybe that
Steelers offense doesn't really need a number two wide out
well with the game plan and all the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
But again, what if DK Metcalf gets hurt to reiterate.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I think it's hilarious that I am not really a
Steelers fan. I mean, I'm not a hater, I'm an analyst,
but them, I mean them winning losing. It don't make
or break my day like it does so many of you.
And by the way, the guys on the air who
say it makes a break to their day, they're just.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Stooging for you. They don't care. Some do, most don't.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I think that I want him to win worse than
the citizens do, worse than you do. It's kind of funny.
Uh number eight three, three, four one two WXDX. Now,
I was really excited about the Penguins game tonight, and
I'm trying to work myself into being that again with
Morishov not playing like Tom and I discussed. Ov did
(01:54):
score number nine hundred last night on his career, first
guy ever to do it. I liked when somebody tweeted
first I ever to score nine hundred, and I think
Bootsie tweeted back also the first guy to score.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Eight ninety nine and eight ninety eight.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
So Ovi scored it at home, which is good against
Saint Louis. What's the Caps fans see their guy do
it like the Penguins fans don't get to see more
shoft deview tonight. UH nine other goals though, let's be
crystal Mario would have done it if it stayed healthy.
(02:27):
No doubt Mario would have got a thousand goals if
it stayed healthy. So nine other goals for OVI that's
out of the mix for tonight. He did it last
night and the repeat good for OVI. One of a
kind player. I'm glad he won a cup. I got
mega respect, and like I just said to Tom, he
scored on kind of a spinning checks machine backhand. That's
(02:49):
a typical for OVI. But they all count and Ovie
was psyched and I'm psyched for him. Washington won big,
by the way, six to one over Saint Louis now
on top of the goaltender stuff, which still has my
blood pressure at four hundred over one thousand. We got
Kindle on Sid's line and Kendall's still on the top
(03:09):
power play, Ben Kendall this show's favorite player. I bet
Kendall is a very good fit on Sid's line and
reads Sid right away and scores a goal off of
Sid pass tonight. Maybe on the power play, but I
think they'll both get it with each other per quick.
(03:29):
I might not have said enough about Kindle on the powerplay,
how good he is and what it takes to be
good on the power play because it's a specific skill
set and involves patience and minutia and just knowing just
that instinct. Like Kendall on the left half wall, he
gets it, knows when to shoot, knows to change angles
(03:52):
in possession of the puck. Here's a big thing. He
knows when to come off the wall. We're talking about
how great Phil was. Phil might as well have been
staple to that wall, to that those boards. He was good.
But Kendall's better at that Kindle's better at the left
half wall than Phil.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Period.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I'll get to more of that in a second. He
knows when to shoot, scored that great goal at Toronto.
And people have compared Kendall to Kessel on the left
half wall because of the number eighty one. Kessel's jersey
that eighty one. It was a bit tighter on him
for some reason. But I like Kendall better than Phil
over there because Phil rarely shot, and other teams would
(04:32):
figure that out and defend accordingly. Kilt the p K
way to the other side. I yelled at in the
press box one time with Phil at the left half wall,
I said, every single penalty killer is inside the circle
on that side because they know Phil won't shoot.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Anyway.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I expect a big knight from Kendall and uh, it
looks like Graves and hind And are both going to play.
I'm looking to see what Graves does uses method of playing,
which is more systematic and requires the defenseman to do
less of the things that Graves just can't do, like
activate and well he wasn't terrible at pinching, although a
(05:12):
guy like that. One thing I always got kind of
frustrated with watching Graves is big guy, didn't use his
body enough. Wasn't necessarily purecellanimous, but wasn't necessarily not just
didn't use that big frame enough. If I'm Ryan Graves.
Here's the problem though, Danton Heinen too. You get called
(05:33):
up from the ahlum when you cleared waivers, so you
know the other teams.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Really don't want you. You clear waivers to go down
and you get called back up because of emergency. Right.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
You know it's going to be a short stay. You
want to do everything you can to prove you should stay,
but you can't overdo it. You can't try too much
because you're not good enough. You won't succeed at it.
You just have to play your game the best you
can and hope the Penguins or another team.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
No, but they won't notice. They just won't notice.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Those guys are probably nailed in the minors for good.
That said, like I said earlier, those buses, I mean,
nobody wants to ride the bus, but those are those
are relatively luxurious.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean as busses go.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Okay, eight three to three, four one two w xdx.
This is the Mark Madden Show. What else do we
got today? We got Jerry Dulac at the bottom of
the hour, we got Trey Essex talking Steelers at four o'clock,
and Josh Showey talking Penguins. He's pissed two he joins
me at four thirty one oh five nine. I'm gonna
talk more about the Penguins not starting morrishof tonight because,
(06:39):
to repeat, the Penguins are a franchise based on stars
and moments. That's their DNA, that's what the fans want,
and that was ignored by not starting morrishof tonight.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Now he's gonna start.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I would assume Saturday in New Jersey, Newark, I mean,
unless Tony Soprano gets whack. Nothing big ever happens in Newark,
and it's.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Gonna be on TV. There won't be the sense of community.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
I keep going back to Flurry that debut two thousand
and three, a game the Penguins lost, but Florrie made
forty six saves and stuffed the penalty shot, and you
knew who he was. Then Penn's ignored all that, all
the great moments. Think about the great moments this franchise
is produced. It's kind of like with Butcher Gross and
(07:31):
Steve Levy, and you know, I'm retweeting everything, and I
wish I could have more influence. They want Barry Melrose
to get in the Hockey Hall of Fame and Don
Cherry too, and I want Eddie Johnston because it's about
guys who created what the game is.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You know, if you just look at.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Ross stats and in the case of who is starting
goal only results tiptoeing.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
You're wanting to protect.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
More showup, protect them from what the pressure playing in
front of a home crowd, the pressure playing ov jumping
right in after one practice. If he can't handle that,
he don't belong here in the first place. If he
can't handle that, he's not going to be the guy
that we all hope he'll be. Actually I just did
my whole monologue regarding that before I did the sound
(08:14):
bite for this segment, so I'll figure out something. Uh,
here's an interesting sound bite from the newest Steeler, the
receiver Mark Kez Valdez Scantling, and apparently he's sitting right
next to Ben to up next to Aaron Rodgers when
he says, let's hear that.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, man, this guy next thing? He got me here? Okay?
Did that? Did that?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
That?
Speaker 1 (08:45):
It was that it cut off? Okay, well, our equipment's failing.
I've lost control of the radio station. But uh, Scantling said,
with Rogers sitting right there that Rogers has wanted him
to come to Pittsburgh ever since both of the left
Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
And Rogers didn't correct him.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
So if that's true, Well, first off, I thought, isn't
Valdez Scantling right now on the Steelers practice squad? What
is he gonna go quick up the depth chart now?
Because Rogers wants that? And if Rogers wanted him here,
why it takes so long? The Steelers never got Alan
Lazard from the Jets, who's better than Valdez Scaling and
a Rogers guy. It's just kind of a weird thing
(09:29):
for Valdez Scantling to say. It's kind of a weird
thing for a practice squad guy to get interviewed period.
So it makes me wonder, what are the Steelers gonna
do with this guy? What are the Steelers gonna do?
Sunday night at Los Angeles, don't forget you can come
watch the Steelers play the Chargers with me, the super
genius at sidelines, Beer Hasen Swickly great wings, I mean
(09:53):
world class wings. Beer great set up to watch the game,
a lot of football talk. Come watch the game with
me at sidelines and Sewickley. Me and the rich people
will albeit sidelines, Beer has and Sewickley on Sunday Night,
kickoff at eight twenty. If you're going to the Penguin
game tonight, what's your take on Morishov not playing? I
(10:15):
keep getting told I'm getting told out the wazoo. Now
that I'm overreacting, I don't think I am.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I think I get what this team is. I think
I get what an occasion this could have been.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I think I get what they're passing up by not
starting him, and.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
God forbid my god, my.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Heart will burst in anger if Shiloffs gets shelled tonight,
and my criticism of not starting Morishov is not to
be interpreted in the least as a criticism of Shiloff's
and goal. I think he's done fine, but I would
have started morrishof tonight. I want to see this team
move forward. I'm excited about Kendall. I'm excited about him
(10:55):
on Sid's line. I'm excited about Brunick, even though he
might go. I'm excited to see morrishow here. I'm excited
to see the team moving in a different direction that's
not as veterany. That really is rebuilding within the context
of having a bunch of old guys around two. And
I know they kept all the old guys because it's
(11:16):
what Sid wanted and they thought it's what the fans wanted.
But they have the second worst attendance in the league
right now, nineteen percent empty seats. Is it what the
fans wanted? No, the fans want new, the fans want hype.
The fans want the future. They want that to arrive,
but ar Tours Shilloffs is still in goal tonight. I'm
(11:36):
next gonna talk to Jerry Duak in the Post Cazette
Stealer discussion here on one O five to nine.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
It's The Woody Show weekend mornings at six. Of course
X Music on the X.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
If you can't get enough, if you're Pittsburgh'steelers, then check
out the late read so.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Be It Baby. The ex at one.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Is that the La Chargers Sunday night after that big
win against Indianapolis this past Sunday, joining me out of
talk about it. He covers the Steelers for the Post Gazette.
It's always terrific to talk to Jerry Dulac. Jerry, let's
start with the cliched questions. First, Should the Steelers have
done something at the trade deadline? And did other teams
(12:20):
race past the Steelers in the AFC?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Based on what those teams did do.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Well? I think it would be a stretch to say
the Jacksonville Jaguars did. I thought the Seattle Seahawks made
a big move picking up the receiver they did. And
I think the Indie Colts mark is a classic example
of a team that feels its one significant player away
from making a serious run. Now, whether do you think
(12:47):
those Colts are that or not? They are tied for
the best record in the league and they're bringing in
a significant player, you know, in Sauce Gardner, and they
gave up a lot to do so. So they firmly
believe that that one guy can put them over the
top and have them compete with the Bills and you know,
the Chiefs, and you know probably in Denver as well.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
So.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
But the Steelers were never going to make that kind
of move. Look, they tried to get a wide receiver mark.
I mean, sure they would like another wide receiver, but
at a price. And who's to say though that the
guys who did sign elsewhere, Jakobe Myers and Rashid Shaheed,
were guys they wanted or liked, and so, you know,
(13:34):
forget about the asking price. But they they you know,
they thought they might might get a deal done and
it didn't work out. But it wasn't. It wasn't as
though they didn't try.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Well you talk about the asking price. I mean, like
you said, I don't know if they're interested in Myers.
Some of the media out let's say the Steelers were.
But how can you not give up a fourth and
the sixth if that's what it took, that's really not
giving up that much. Look at the steelers last five
fourth round picks, I'd have traded any one of them
to get a better shot at winning a playoff game
(14:06):
this year.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, and I get that, Mark, and there's an argument
to be made for that, but I think I'm just
telling you the way that they think is that, you know,
they're trying to maintain their draft capital. But as I said,
it wasn't like they were saying, we're not going to
do this. They did try. They did try, and I
think in at least one instance it didn't have to
(14:29):
do with the asking price. So you know, you look
at you look at and so maybe one of the
guys they were looking at, maybe it was going to
be more than a fourth round pick. But you look
at their third and fourth round picks, Mark Calvin, Austin Roman, Wilson,
Mason McCormick, Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig, Peyton Wilson, Jack Sawyer.
(14:51):
Those are some pretty decent third and fourth round picks,
and that's why they value those mid round picks. But
they want to hold on as much as they can.
They already had to give up a fifth and I
know that's not going to kill him, but they had
to give up a fifth round pick to get Kyle
Dugger because of the injury to Deshaun Elliott. And trust me,
if there was an injury an IR move on a
(15:11):
wide receiver, they would have made some kind of deal,
especially if it would have been the DK Metcalf. So
if for no other reason, you would have liked to
have seen them get a quality receiver, you know, a
decent receiver, somebody that they would certainly put on the
fifty three man roster, unlike Marquez Valdez Scantling. But you
(15:32):
know it just didn't happen. And so and yet one
more thing too, Mark about that. Look at the way
they used the tight end Sunday, perfect example, the tight
ends had ten catches, though other wide receivers had eight catches.
Go back to when Calvin Austin was out. Those two
games he was out, the tight ends had nineteen catches,
two hundred and forty four yards and five touchdowns. Arthur
(15:54):
Smith loves that type of offensive plan and getting another
wide receiver. I'm not saying where do you play him?
But even when they brought in Mike Williams last year,
he averaged nineteen snaps Mark, and he made a big
time play in its first game. He won the game.
For him in Washington, and I don't want to say
he rarely played after that, but he certainly didn't play
a lot of snaps.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
We often hear that the Steelers are all in, but
they don't say that. I think it's assumed because of
all the moves they made and brought in, you know,
a forty one year old quarterback, a lot of old guys.
Are they all in?
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Well, Mark, They're never going to say that they are
or they're not. But to your point, it's it's very
you know, it's extremely reasonable to think, Okay, if all
your moves in the offseason suggested you were all in
to win a playoff game, which let's face it, Mark,
they were, then why aren't you all in to ensure
(16:48):
that and to maybe ensure taking another step in a
postseason by making a move at the one position where
you know, you keep your fingers crossed that nothing's going
to happen to your top receivers, including number four. So
you know it's reasonable to you know, make that correlation.
I get it, I get it, and that's why, you know,
(17:08):
it was surprising, you know, and disappointing, if not alarming,
to some people that nothing was done.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Would you keep Ramsey at safety period.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
I know he's going to play there against LA this week,
but what about when the safeties get healthy. I really
think he has the brains in the physicality, which is
underrated with him to maybe convert like Rod Woodson didn't.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Mark, that's one hundred percent right, and that's probably where
it's going to end up with him, if not this
year with the Steelers, but in his career going forward,
because you know, when he came out, we've heard the
Steelers say they had him rated as the number one
safety and the number one quarterback in the draft. Though
he's certainly a guy who can play that position, it's
(17:52):
certainly not a big jump for him transitionally, and so
I think eventually that's where he's going to play. But
by the time that becomes a permanent move, I'm not
so sure he'll still be with the Steelers at that
point or not. But yeah, they like the way they
lined up and the way they played with him full
(18:12):
time at ad free safety. And again it was a
move necessitated by the injury to Deshaun Elliott. But I
think for the short term, mark beyond this week, you know, again,
unless something happens an injury or just a complete breakdown.
I think you're going to see it last for more
than just this game.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
How did Duggar do against Indian? How do you think
he will do?
Speaker 3 (18:37):
You know what he didn't do, Mark, He didn't make
any glaring mistakes because you didn't even know he was
on the field, and so they didn't expect him to
come in and have a Minka Fitzpatrick debut with intercepting
a pass or scoop and scoring a fumble or something
like that. But he ended up playing all but one snap,
and that's certainly wasn't the plan. They thought, Okay, we're
going to play him and we'll see how it goes. Understand,
(18:58):
And he only had two days of practice with them,
and obviously what they saw no mistakes, looked very comfortable
with the pre snap Breeves, looked very comfortable getting the communication,
you know, the calls, and they had no problem leaving
him in the game. And you know the Colts that
he wasn't exposed, He wasn't picked on. Joey Porter was
picked on in that game in case anybody didn't notice.
(19:21):
But it wasn't like they tried to attack Kyle Duggert
and so that tells you right there, for two practices
he did pretty darn good and they were absolutely thrilled
that they could, you know, in such a short amount
of time get that out of him.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I like some of the tweaks on defense, Jerry, I've
been talking about it all week. I like that that
four to three look they had that they put three
edge guys out there, sometimes three inside backers out there.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Sometimes, Well, the Steelers keep doing it well.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Market was successful, so I would imagine now again, it'll
depend on the game plan. You know that we've seen
the three outside linebackers on several times, more than several
times a week in it before in past years, but
I can't remember the last time we saw three inside
linebackers in a game, and that was to be able
to bring Malik Harrison in, who's kind of their run thumper,
(20:13):
and so right there, absolutely, and they could give a
four to three look, but it's not really a four
to three mark, because of four to three is four
down lines, right, and not a not a two hundred
and fifty pounds linebacker. But nonetheless, to your point, it
gives them a different look that they have to be
a you know, the opponent has to account for, you know,
(20:34):
and who's who picks up this guy and who gets
that guy. So yeah, I think all those different looks
because we saw both. I don't think there's any question.
I think the other thing too, Mark, that was lost
in the five sacks and the six takeaways was a
thirteen passes defense. Mark. That's a staggering number for a
team to have in the game. And I checked with
(20:55):
the Lias today. It's the second most by any team
in the NFL this season. You look at this last weekend,
the most any other team had was seven, and that's
a lot. The Bears and the Bengals combined for what
eighty four pass attempts and seven hundred and seventy yards combined.
Those two teams had thirteen passes defense. That is a lot.
But what it says is that the Steelers challenged the receivers.
(21:19):
They were on the receivers, and that's something we certainly
didn't see against the Bengals, and it's something we didn't
see a lot of against the Packers. Guys weren't running free,
you know, last week against the Packers the week prior,
Jordan Love threw for three hundred and sixty yards and
two hundred and forty five were yards after the catch,
which means the defenders aren't on them or they're not
(21:42):
tackling them. That was not the case against the Colts,
and that was a significant factor. Yeah, I know Daniel
Jones threw for three hundred and forty two yards, but
Mark one hundred and sixty four came in the fourth
quarter when they were down twenty four to seven. So,
you know, though, I think the way the secondary performed
on the receivers deflecting passes and I know three of
(22:03):
them came into line of scrimmage. Uh, you know what,
credit to them because we have not seen that this year.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Now that said, I'd still like to see them, you know,
improve that defensive backfield a bit, whether by guys recovering
from injury or however. Now there was a report the
Steelers are going to meet with or work out a
Sante Samuel Junior, the free agent cornerback who was an
IR last year. What have you heard about that and
are they still looking to do anything?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Mark, I'm not sure who said that was going to happen,
So I'm not going to say because I'm not aware
that it's happening. That doesn't mean that it won't.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So I think are they still looking is maybe the
bigger question.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Not not not actively. It's not like they're thinking, we
need to make a move, because if that was the case,
made that type of move, They would have made that
type of move maybe at the trade deadline. And I
will tell you they weren't really looking for a corner.
They were looking at wide receiver, and they were looking
at a veteran defensive lineman, someone to be a backup
once they lost Daniel Qualley. Those were what they were
(23:06):
looking at the most. But look, Mark, anything's possible. They
could bring him in and they could do like they
did with Marquez Valdez Scantling. They could put him on
the practice squad. But you know, they're always looking at guys,
they're always working guys out. They do it almost almost once,
if not twice a week. So it's certainly it certainly
(23:26):
wouldn't surprise me. But I don't think it's they're doing
so to bring him in to strengthen their secondary. I
think it's more like, hey, look here's a capable body,
and if we can add him and he's willing to
come in and be on a practice squad, then we'll
do it.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Jerry, what's your take on this game Sunday night. The
LA Chargers have some injury problems on the offensive line.
I mean, they're decimated, but it still strikes me as
maybe a difficult matchup they got justin Herbert, they won
the ball well and they played tough and hard.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Mark. I would agree with you. Herbert leaves the NFL
in passing yards and the Steelers have given up three
three hundred yard passers in a row, and so you
are able to throw on the Steelers, but you know
how they defended it last week. Look at a lot
of those yards. As I mentioned earlier, Daniel Jones had
one hundred and sixty four of his yards in the
(24:19):
fourth quarter. But you know, they're giving up a lot
of passing yards. And the surprising thing is how well
the Chargers have been able to run the ball. You know,
after losing Marion Hampton and Najie Harris and without two
guys the last two games, they're averaging one hundred and
seventy five yards rushing per game and so but but
(24:41):
there's no Joe Alt. They'd already lost for Sheid Slaters
at the start of the year, so that you know
they've been playing without him anyhow, but you lose Joe Walt,
who's your best tackle, and that is a you know,
that's a big uh. That's a big development and not
a good one for the Charges. So offensively, they certainly
are able to produce yards and a lot of what
(25:04):
the Steelers do is going to be predicated on how
they play up front. And I say that mark two
because you look at the last two games. They went
against Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor, certainly the leading rusher
in the league. And when you look at the two
of them, two of the best running backs in the league,
and they held both of them combined to under one
hundred yards. So you got to give props to their
(25:24):
rush defense the past two games because they shut down
those two guys. Jonathan's Taylor's longest run was nine yards,
and they can continue to do that, then they're going
to be Okay, Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Think so too.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
But I want to get a little talk in about
the offensive side of the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Jaarre and I have really very few complaints there.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
But one thing that I don't get is they abandoned
the one awful quick They've done that the last two games.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Who decides that.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah, well that's Arthur Smith when it starts the game,
and usually it starts the half, you know, because they
script what ten or twelve plays and they came out
and went throw, throw, throw, when they have been running
the ball very well the past two games. Now, give
the Colts credit. I mean, they just shut that down
right away, and so you know, you try and back
them off the line of scrimmage, but yeah, you throw
(26:12):
it the first three plays. And I was surprised by that,
and just as I was shocked last week when they
had the sixteen to seven lead against the Packers at
halftime and they get the ball after scoring at the
end of the half and they come out and go throw, throw, throw, Yeah,
I don't understand that. I kind of like the way
Arthur Smith's been calling the game. I like the flow
of what they've been doing for the most part, and
(26:34):
some of that was missing the other day, you know what,
two hundred and twenty five yards. But what they did
do to their credit mark was they capitalized. They were
opportunistic with those turnovers, scoring twenty four points on those
four consecutive turnovers by the Colts, and so you know
the week prior, Mark, they were bemoaning that they had
to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. Well, you
(26:58):
know that wasn't the case against the Colts. I will
also say, though the Steelers were given a lot of
short fields against the Colts. I think their average starting
field position was like a forty eighth. So when you
get short fields like that, obviously you don't have to
go as far, but you still have to convert into
their credit. They did.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Finally, Jared, here's what I think is a hidden secret
with the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Their offensive line is pretty good, now, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
With that question, Mark, I mean Aaron Rodgers. You know,
he hasn't turned the ball over just twice in the
last five games. For the last five he hasn't turned
the ball over. You know, he took a couple of
sacks the other day, but one of them he took deliberately,
which actually was a smart sack. But yeah, they didn't
(27:45):
run the ball as well as they have been. But
Troy Paltano just looked tremendous out there. Frederick Jones is
perfectly fine at left tackle, and you know they you
know they're gonna miss Isaac sayam Allo, I'm not sure
what he's going to do this week. He tried to
play a little bit against the Colts and then he
had to come out of the game with the same
injury that Peck but you know, so that disrupted their
(28:09):
heavy package a little bit. But all in all, the
offensive line has been very good. And the key there,
Mark is for the most part they've been healthy and
they've been able to start the same lineup, the same
five every game.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Jerry, great stuff, as always enjoyed the game Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
We'll do it again next week. Good stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Thanks Mark, always good talking with you, my friend.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
That's the great Jerry Doulac of the Post Gazette. Brought
to us by bud Light. Easy to drink, Easy to enjoy.
I got kind of a sidebar about morrishav not starting tonight. Interesting,
just to give a little tease. Is going to be
a lot of people there tonight.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
What if I not
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