November 17, 2025 • 31 mins
Mark talks about the Howard obsession with Steeler fans, takes calls, and is joined by Matt Williamson to break down the Steelers win over Cincy
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Mark Maddon show. You like it, you
love it, you want more of it? Eight three, three
four one two wxdx is the number to camp.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah, a lot of you.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
It's a vocal minority, but a lot do want Howard
to start, or at least be ready for quick insertion
the minute Rudolph throws an in completion. Now, I'm sure
many of you are familiar with quick, brief and futile insertion.
But Howard never even took a snap in the preseason.
He wasn't even practicing until three weeks ago. And his
(00:34):
ceiling is a me backup, not even as high as Rudolph,
who was a pretty good backup and should have got
better opportunity to be an above average starter. And now
maybe that's a reach, but we never found out. We
never will. But now, Rudolph, he should play until Rogers
comes back, and then Rogers should immediately be put back
(00:57):
in because it's his jobson.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Rdolph can play. He can.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Every time he's been called upon, he's been at least decent.
That was the case yesterday and will be the case
at Chicago if need be. The word is that Rogers
has a slight fracture in his left wrist and he's
fifty to fifty. That's what Rappaport said for the Chicago game.
(01:22):
But I would think you keep him out. I would
think better safe than sorry. I would think he's an
old guy. A week off might do him some good.
I think Rudolph is just as likely to win that
game in Chicago as Rogers would be. I believe in
Mason Rudolph. Say his name and he appears. Will Howard's
a scrub with a sponsor car because through no fault
(01:44):
of his own, he's got y'all fooled, including whoever gave
him the free car. And I'm jealous because I used
to have one and don't now. And those cost more
money than I had remembered. And by the way, how
about that game winning touchdown by Baltimore late fake push
push I've been waiting for that thirty five yard touchdown
(02:05):
run by Mark Andrews the tight end. Wow, I mean wow.
I'm already getting tweets right now. Howard can be a
great quarterback. You just whatever it is that I do,
I'm fat or I'm diabetic. That was one popular motif
when I started tweeting about this last night. Yeah, Howard
won and Natty in Ohio State, and I get it
(02:27):
that's a big deal. But if you read the scotting
reports on him, he gets antsy under pressure and he's
not very accurate. Now, the reason you didn't see that
at Ohio State was because he was surrounded by all
the best players.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
But they sure saw us flaws.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
At the Combine and at his pro day because as
we know, he wasn't drafted til the sixth roun. I
believe one hundred and eighty four players got selected before
he did.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I know you like him. I know he's white. Did
I say that out loud? Didn't mean to.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I know you like him, but charisma doesn't convert third downs.
Give me a call eight three to three four one
two w xdx, just go to text. Could you use
one hundred dollars?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (03:18):
But what do I have to do? Oh no, I
really don't want to do that. We talked earlier about
that disgrace that was Pitt against Notre Dame and the
disgrace that wasn't Rdoozi and him saying before the game
that it didn't matter and then with five seconds left
calling a timeout to get a garbage time touchdown. He
(03:39):
should be fired. I'll go into detail about that around
four o'clock, but he should be fired. He's an embarrassing
representative of that university. Pat Nardoozi should be fired. College
football's nuts, right, Texas A and m right number one
down by twenty seven and a halftime against South Carolina
and come back to win thirty one to thirty. I
(04:03):
mean college football, look at the whole year. The top
ranked teams at season start Texas and Penn State one
and two at that point, both disappointing. Although Penn State
beat Michigan State on Saturday. By the way, Penn State
would be Pitt for sure. Penn State would be Pitt definitely.
The ACC is gabbage. The ACC is like Whippial Class
(04:28):
two AA, whoever won WHIPIL Class two A. They might
be pretty good. They ain't beaten Central Catholic. But I
will say, as somebody pointed out on Twitter, then why
is Penn State scared to play Pitt?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And that's a real good question. But Pitt just screwed the.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Poot's so bad against Notre Dame in front of a sellout,
in front of Aaron Donald getting his number retired, in
front of the Great the greatest of all time at
pitt Tony Dorset. At one point Pitt had like ninth
in goal. They just kept getting a new set of
downs and still didn't score.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Speaking of the Whippial, Al Equippa won the Whippiill four
A Football Championship beat Mckethport. The Equips came from a
low seed, the seventh seed, but ran the table in
the playoffs in a way. I mean they've won twenty
one Whipil titles, but in a way battling from that
number seven seed and beating a bunch of good teams.
(05:28):
It's one of Al Equippa's greatest football accomplishments ever. And
I'm glad Al Equippa won. No matter how bad the
Pia Double A and Whipi'll try to screw Al Equippa.
Those kids just keep winning. So way to go Quips
in six A because they had the four A and
six A finals this past weekend. Everything else is this
(05:52):
coming weekend at hins Field, which should really be excuse me, aquasure,
which should really be good for the playing surface. By
the way, wasn't terror for yesterday's game after Pitt played
their Saturday, but there were.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Some bad spots.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And again, if they were willing to spend the money
to make that field immaculate, it would be even used
on consecutive days. But in Whipi'll six A Central Catholic
beat North Alleghany forty two to seven. And that's boring,
not just because of the score, but because six A
has like what six or seven teams, and those two
(06:26):
teams Central and NA play in the final every year,
and Central Catholic recruits better than Pitt does. Anyway, we
want your calls. I want to try to make three
fifteen a call segment. If not, that's okay because all
I need is me. But if you like to call
down eight three three four one two WXDX, and we
have our football guru, Matt Williamson. He joins us at
(06:48):
the bottom of the hour to talk about that Steelers
win one oh five ninety X.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
We D ten AM is trying to starting your work
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Speaker 2 (07:00):
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Speaker 2 (07:23):
This is just your moment of clarity. I don't, oh,
I know.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
So the X at one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Now I'm on the X our buddy John five tonight
at Jergles. I'm gonna go out there say hello if
you see me, but not while the music's playing. Uh,
let's go to Jordan Jordan Ard of Mark Madden Show.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Hello, Mark, I got.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Two, I got two questions in a statement for you.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Okay, who do you think is the alpha of the
locker room?
Speaker 7 (07:56):
Like?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Who do you think is leading this Steelers offense, defense
and special teams?
Speaker 1 (08:01):
I think their leadership's week. If it wasn't, if it
wasn't goodbye, goodbye, No. I think their leadership's week. I
think if the leadership was strong, you wouldn't have had
Jalen Ramsey get ejected from a game that was still
up for graps. I think on the team was strong
leaders and Ramsey's supposed to be one of those, given
his veteran status on a team with strong leaders, guys
(08:22):
who are accountable to their teammates. And what Ramsey did
was not let's go to doc, Doc. You're all with
double M.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
What up?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Man?
Speaker 6 (08:33):
Hey?
Speaker 8 (08:34):
How does it feel like you to be consistently wrong?
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Goodbye to be consider I should have kept them money
because this is not really wrong about coach Tomlin. Call
back callback, I'd like to talk to you. I should
have let you keep talking. I'm not wrong about him.
He hasn't won a playoff game in seven years. He
was never a good coach in the first place. What
if you want to celebrate because they beat Cincinnati at
home in a game that was in doubt in the
fourth quarter. You think that proves me wrong about coach
(09:01):
I think that probably does more to prove me right
about coach Tomlin. He's not a good coach, never has been,
and I'll be proven right even more so by the
time the season's over. Absolutely no doubt about that. I
would say I have DOT, but I don't want the
sound effect. Let's good to John, John. You're on with Mark?
Speaker 8 (09:23):
Hey, Hey, Mark, thanks for taking my call at TJ
Watt paying them all this money, and I didn't see
much of an impact by him. In fact, it was
Dougger who made the impact yesterday, again just kind of
being a no show and just wanted to get your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I don't think he was a no show. I think
there was some pressure.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I think that Dougger picked six was set up by
three edge rushers all being in the game and all
putting pressure on Flacco. It made him hurry to throw.
So I'm not going to criticize what that much for yesterday.
But if you want to tell me that he's not
making forty one million dollars worth of impact and didn't yesterday,
I don't see how anybody could help but agree with that.
Speaker 8 (10:00):
Do you think Herbig is a little more willing to
move around more watch just as glued to the left side.
Herbik was the one who came up the middle on
that pick and made the pressure.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I think TJ. Watt would rather be comfortable to be successful.
I think he would rather do what he's always done
than take a chance on failing via experimentation, but could
also lead to more success via experimentation. I think TJ.
Watt is a creature of habit, and it's become a
creature of habit that isn't hard for the other teams
(10:29):
to handle. He's no longer remotely a difficult player to
play against.
Speaker 8 (10:35):
Well said, thanks, Mark, of course it was.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Let's go to Joe in the truck.
Speaker 8 (10:38):
Joe, Hey, Mark, how you doing great?
Speaker 5 (10:45):
I want to make a prediction. Okay, I predict. I
predict Mason Rudolph will run.
Speaker 6 (10:54):
The table.
Speaker 8 (10:56):
And win the last seven games.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
He just won't do that. He won't play the last
seven games. As soon as Rogers is healthy, he goes
back in, which is as it should be.
Speaker 8 (11:06):
Well, and then I don't know if they'll win a
playoff game or not.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
But then next year.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Coach t will trade most Mason Rudolph to clem him
for Shador Sanders and give him twenty million a year. Now,
was your goal to just be really stupid? Because you've
accomplished that.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I I just because your if your goal was to be.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Funny, you weren't. No, that's just stupid. You're stupid. Never
call here again. That's what I get for soliciting calls.
But let's go to Patrick Patrick. You're on with double m.
Speaker 6 (11:38):
Dave us one six six.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
What up?
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Bro?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
What up?
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Man? Hey? Did you see that Garrett had another four
SAT game?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah? But they lost. I feel you.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I mean, Garrett's clearly the better player with Twatt, don't
you agree?
Speaker 6 (11:53):
I agree one hundred percent. I just wanted to get
that in there, that he is supreme. I think we
always should have traded what to get picks. But I
gotta little bulleted list here Mark as long as far
as what we never should have got Rogers, Ramsey, Sligh, Mettaff,
it's all waste of money and money and just projects
false hope teams going nowhere fast if only the middling
(12:13):
I do have faith.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I mean, it's an.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Odd day to say that after they won yesterday, but
but yeah, I still don't have much space, and I
still think they're not a very good team.
Speaker 6 (12:26):
Yeah, it's kind of smoking mirrors the two defensive scores.
But I think one of the biggest reasons about Metcalf
is that he's just not as much as he is
a number one receiver. He just can't survive without a
good number two because he's not in the lead route runner,
is my observation. And I also want to know where
the heck's the tight end production.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Well, I think that's I think that's the fault of
the coordinator and not the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Thank you for the call. Okay, let's go to Carson.
Is this the same Carson from Twitter in most depths?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Mark, Okay, you're blocked on Twitter. You're blocked here f
and now we got Doc medicch calling back. I said
I would talk to him.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Doc. You there, Yeah, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Yeah, we're out of time. Thanks for calling. Okay, up
next Matt Williamson, one O five nine, The X.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
It's the Woody Show weekend mornings at six, of course
X music on.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
One oh five nine The X hit Bunny Diver and
I just love good Smart Madden.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
Hey, Mark, great show.
Speaker 7 (13:25):
When you got a young trophy White, Oh's money to
I can't even quote the big o'boski right, goodbye with
the X at one double m one the X Steelers
with the It was impressive at the end.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
I guess I don't think it was convincing. Is the
score would indicate? But joining me not to talk football
is our football gur or the former pro and college
Scott Matt Williamson. Matt, let's get a funny topic out
of the way first, how many times has Orlando Brown
Junior allowed to move and get a head start in
assuming his pass blocking stance.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'm watching the.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Game like the third time of going what the heck
is going on this guy?
Speaker 5 (14:01):
It was almost every pass snap. I mean, it made
me crazy. I mean I don't tweet much usually during
the games, but I just had to like throw that
out there early on because he does it every game
and basically every pass drop and the rest just let
him get away with it, and he still got whipped
for much of the game by herbid.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
What was your take on Mason Rudolph's game and how
much can the steepers kind on him to at least
maintain solid play at quarterback moving forward.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
I think that's a perfect way to say it, maintain
solid play at quarterback, and I thought he did quite well.
Now we have to talk about how bad the Bengals
defense is, and this is going to be on all levels.
You know, when Rogers was in there, when Rudolph was
in there, et cetera, et cetera. I mean, it's the
easiest defense to play against in the league, and I
(14:50):
feel very strongly about that. But it's not easy coming
off the bench for these backups that don't have hardly
any reps in practice. I think he's a professional, really
solid number two that played quite well.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Let me tell you where I think he's better than
Rogers right now and only one air pet.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I think he's better in the pocket.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I think Rogers has been bailing out on a lot
of plays when he's under pressure. Rudolph stands tall, he
steps up in the pocket. I don't want to say
Rogers is afraid, but he doesn't like to get hit,
whereas I think Rudolph is more willing.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
I a thousand percent agree, and I'm not even sure
it is a fear or willingness to get hit aspect,
as you know, like offensive lineman will tell you, I
really like to know where my quarterback is at so
I don't run a defender into them. And I think
Rogers has been moving too quick and unnecessarily and sometimes
(15:45):
putting himselves in harm's way when he doesn't have to.
There's something he said for being within the structure of
the pocket, trusting your teammates, and I thought Rudolph did
that very well in this game.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
How many boneheads are gonna want Will Howard to go
in if Rudolph's rivals, or even what Will Howard to
start this week. I know you're hearing what's being said
by a minority, but it's certainly a vocal minority.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
It's Hey, I'm rooting for Will Howard. I hope he's
the next Dak Prescott party. I get people telling me
he's the next Tom Brady. I'm going for guy. You know,
quarterbacks have been successful that are drafted late. I hope
all those things are true. But man, it makes me
nuts that Steeler fans think that they snuck one over
(16:30):
on the rest of the league with this sixth round guy,
that he's going to be the answer. They don't have
to look in the draft next year. Mark, I mean,
they got their guy. We didn't even see him in preseason,
you know, so he's a total unknown. Hey, I'm all
in favor of drafting him in the sixth round. And
maybe he'll be a very useful player. Maybe he's the
next Mason Rudolph. That would be great. But to me,
(16:52):
it's nuts the way that Steeler fans are excited about
this guy.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Is it possible that Rogers benefits by not playing for
a game or two.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I thought he looked like he was running out of gas.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
And I said before the season, if Rudolph has to
start now, and again, I'm not sure it affects their
record that negatively, and I think it might be good
for Rogers.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
It's interesting you said that because I brought that up
like half an hour ago on the drive and that
no one's heard yet and that it's gonna go live
here soon. But that's not out there, and I just
kind of thought about it, like at his age, I
know he has a risk issue, but I bet his knees,
his ankles, his back, everything about him would love a
(17:36):
day off, you know, a week off. And maybe even mentally,
it's not a bad thing for him, Like it's not
the same thing as like putting Bryce Young on the
bench because he's overwhelmed, or you know JJ McCarthy year
one of these young guys. But I think it could
always do a quarterback good or anyone to take a
little vacation, just take a step back, and especially at
(17:58):
his age, to let his body heel a little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
And to be clear, I'm sure.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
The mark the other thing Mark real quick. It might
be good for the coaching staff to say, okay, we
have the game plan a little bit different. We got
to use our weapons a little bit different and maybe
they find something out like they did on defense, we
got to move Ramsey to Stacy. Oh that worked, you know.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more, but I do want to stress,
and I'm sure you agree.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
The minute Rogers is okay to start, he.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Should, yes, and he will.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Now, how did the Steelers shut down Jamar Chase after
he torched them the last time around? I thought they
so very evidently controlled him Ester, the Chase got rattled,
and of course we knew what happened with the spinning thing.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Yeah, and I'll be honest, Pierre has played very well.
You wouldn't even think it's the same player this year.
He's been a better player than Sleigh all year long.
He's better than him right now. He should remain the starter.
But I kind of thought, Okay, here comes Chase and Higgins,
Pierre echoes to a lesser degree. They're going to get
(19:04):
certainly exposed over and over, and I'm blown away that
they didn't. You know, and I'm not saying that Pierre
is going to be a lifetime starter, that the corner
situation is set, but I have to give those two
individuals a lot of credit for playing way better than
I thought they were possible to. And I also think
(19:24):
the coaching staff has figured out some things. You know
that less man coverage, less blitz, you're going to influence
the game plenty by only rushing, for I need a
lot more bodies near the line of scrimmage. Safety is
a real strength right now. I mean before Ramsey got booted,
but he influences the game for that free safety spot,
(19:46):
maybe even more than Mika ever did in terms of
coming downhill and taking away crossing routes and things of
that nature. And frankly, I think the entire defense is
playing fundamentally better. They're getting a lot more bodies to
the ball a thousand times better, and the defensive coaching
staffs putting them in far more advantageous situations than they
(20:07):
were to perform.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Aim and all that.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
One thing I did see, I thought they were playing
two safeties high more and maybe that let the corners
be more aggressive.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Is that correct?
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Yes, And they've been doing that more really the last
couple of weeks. I mean, they were at the very
top of the league frankly now for like five years
in single high and now they're starting to realize that
the that the too high shell is way more advantageous
for them, and they're playing more zone and they're playing
more cover four, which just to describe it super quick
(20:39):
as opposed to having minca or a free safety, just
being the last layer of the fence, being the goalie,
being the center fielder. Cover four allows those safeties to
play a little closer. And they're key in the run,
you know, they're they want those guys to come forward
and they're really good at it. I mean, Douglas are
fine too.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Why has Duger been such a great fit right away?
And a physical force? I mean the pick six tool,
you know, And I think what he's doing back there
physically and even coming up to the line might be
his biggest value.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
And when the daya trade went through, I did a
short podcast is telling Steeler fans what to expect. And
even then he is a physical force downhill, violent tackler,
big bodied, high pedigree, super athletic dude. But you don't
want them turning and running and coverage too much or
(21:33):
playing far off the line of scrimmage. He hasn't really
had to because one thing that people don't think about
with the Steeler pass rush is this defense gets attacked
deep less than any team in the league because teams
are not going to hold the ball to have long
developing plays. This has gone on for years too, that
(21:53):
the Steelers don't face many deep balls, so those safeties
can play downhill. And that's a perfect fit for him.
By no means, am I saying that, you know he's
better than Elliott, but I would keep dugger around. I'd
love to see them extend him and just see what
happens with the safety situation, you know, going forward, even
when Elliott's healthy.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
You know what does worry me though, like when guys
do get healthy, like you said, because you got Slagh
injured as well, how do they realign the defense that backfield,
because part of me thinks they should just leave well
enough alone until it proves it's fading.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
Yeah, especially at corner. Elliott's too good. Yeah a corner.
To me, Porter and Pierre are my outside guys and
echoes my slot all day long. And maybe I would
work Samuel in slowly, but Slay to me, would have
a hard time seeing the field. I really hope they don't.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
To me, you'd have a hard time getting a helmet.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Yes, because he doesn't do any special teams either, right.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Right, right.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I just I think Elliott, you know, coming back would
give them possibilities. Although him and Doug are really do
the same job, don't they. They do, they do.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
But I mean, maybe you could make Ramsey a little
bit more slot oriented. I don't that's a good problem
to have. He getting slig back in the mix is
not a good problem to have. You know.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
We're talking to our football guru, Matt Williamson.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Matt brought to us by the Steelers Pro Shop Shop
dot Steelers dot com. Matt, I think the way they've
used the tight ends has been horrific considering the promise
that room had. But I gotta tell you, Darnell Washington,
he just don't go backwards. That thirty one yard reception,
the stiff arms, the sheer bulk. That that delivers a
message mid game.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Doesn't it.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
Dude?
Speaker 5 (23:41):
He looks like Andre the Giant out there. I mean,
people just bounce off of him. I mean, he's a
remarkable player. And this is not documented, but it is
a fact. He is the largest eligible receiver in NFL history.
I mean, he's well over three hundred pounds. I don't
care what the media guy tells you, and.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
No, Madi way his whole life, he's definitely lying.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Oh yeah. I mean you walk next to him at
the facility and it is wow, who is that guy?
And I mean back the other thing he said, though,
I do think they've missman as a tight end position massively.
And here's a weird thing I dug up just in
the last twenty four hours. So when they had three
receivers on the field and one tight end, Washington was
(24:29):
out there for about eighty percent of those snaps. He
was the single tight end. But when they had two
tight ends on the field, they took him off the
field and he was only out there for about a
third of those snaps. Like, if he's good enough to
be the single one, is he not good enough to
be the double one with Friar, Mooth or Smith?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I couldn't agree more. I'm still disappointed in Dk. You
had a couple opis. I thought one was shaky, one
was a definite call, and he just I don't know
whatever it is DK's been lacking.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
He still hasn't got.
Speaker 5 (25:02):
Right, and he the one thing I'll defend him on
is the lack of a number two receiver really hurts
him on a per route basis because he gets as
much attention as Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase, and he's
not as good.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
As this maybe more, maybe more consistently too.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Maybe more because he gets it all the time. Because
they don't fear the other receivers at all. I mean,
these defensive coordinators basically slap the other receivers in the face.
And oh, by the way, Roman Wilson was acting as
the two yesterday, but they still didn't throw the ball
that much. So here's the thing. I've said this for
twenty years since I've been in the media, that the
(25:41):
term number one receiver gets misused massively. There's not thirty
two of them. Frankly, there's ten or twelve, you know,
ceedee Lamb, I mean Chase Pickens. They're not pickings. I'm
sorry guys like that. Justin Jefferson and metcalf isn't one
of those ten or twelve. He's the Steelers number one.
(26:02):
He's a very good player. He's an A minus though
he's not a number one receiver that can just abuse
no matter what. To me, a number one receiver is
abuses man zone doubles week after week, and there's few
people walking the plan that can do it, and he's
not well on them. He's also not great to catch points.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
No, no, like you talked about, he's not a combat
catch guy. What's your take on the running back situation? Now,
Warren got hurt, Gainwell came in. I thought Gainwell did okay,
But Warren was having a great day running the ball
and Gainwell I like him map, but he's more of
a pass catcher.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Right, yes, yeah, And I give him all the tread
in the world that there's been two games, this one
and the Vikings games in Dublin where he's been called
upon to be the bell cow, and in small samples
he's did done that really well. And so it's possible
now he wouldn't do that in seventeen games, But I'm
(27:02):
glad he's here, don't get me wrong.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Well, that's one thing that people underestimate, Matt. It applies
to Rudolph too. Backups who can step up and produce
when the situation calls, those are invaluable.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Yeah. We saw a lot of that across the board yesterday,
on both sides of the ball. Right, So that's great,
Like Sawyer's turning into that guy great, you know. I mean,
I don't leave them to be TJ. Watt, you know.
So there's a lot of those examples I think as
a bigger reason they won the game. Who are we
talking about, oh Warren? There's one thing that makes because
I still think they should run the ball a higher
(27:35):
percentage of the time. Yeah, especially like the Chargers. You know,
the run defense of the Chargers is bad. The past
defense is good. They still didn't run the ball much.
And back to the Charger game because it's still pretty recent.
The fact that Warren played zero third down snaps is
just so dumb to me, you know, because not including
(27:56):
the Bengals game, but the three games previous, the Steelers
were converting fifteen percent of their third down attempts. I mean,
that's horrific. That's like hard to do. So what do
they do on third downs? The most important down that
they're terrible at. They took their best player off the
field for the entire game against the Chargers, whether it's
(28:17):
third and one or third and twenty one. I don't
understand that at all.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
What's your take on the Chicago game coming up? I'm
really not sure what to think of the Bears. I
think Caleb Williams is going to be real good, but
he's still a work in progress.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
More good than bad, to be sure.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
But they're seven to three on top of a very
tough division, and I'm still not sure what I make
of them.
Speaker 5 (28:37):
I know me neither. I'm shocked at they're atop of
the division. I'm shocked at they're in the playoff hunt.
I looked at this season as boy, a successful year
for them would be, like, we know they have a coach,
and we know they have a quarterback, and those three
things are one hundred percent trough. I mean, Bears fans
think he's going to be the best quarterback they've ever had,
(28:59):
which is the lowest bar ever to jump over, and
they might be right. I mean, if they've had a
good quarterback my whole life. I they're a lot like
the Bengals in some ways, in some ways in very opposite,
but they're really really good on offense. I'm sure everything
they do this offseason will be to improve a bad defense,
(29:20):
but the defense at least takes the ball away a ton,
and for whatever reason, they've kind of had a horseshoe
up there butt late in games and have kind of
figured out or lucked into wins, but overall they're building
them well.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Finally, man, here's kind of an abstract question. What was
your take on the three calls for roughing the passer?
I hate the rule more than I hated those calls.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Yes, I would have to watch them again because I
didn't spend a ton of time.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Well, I thought they were good calls within the context
of the rule, but they still protecting the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
But the rule goes too far.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Their rule goes too far. I mean, it's just too
difficult on the defensive players. Yeah, I mean, I understand
the whole body weight thing, but I mean, to me,
that's a little too far too.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
It's like I said, I was in an a peer
just and I said to somebody citing my pro wrestling background,
it's not like a soup plex where you can control
if the other guy's not in on it. I mean,
how do you account for him, like shifting weight or whatever?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
You know.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
Yeah, that's a that's a good way of putting it.
Two wrestling references here under the giant and the super
lay right, Like, hey, Flacco doesn't have to obey what
Watt wants him to do. You know, right, that's a
good way to pin that.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Matt, great stuff as always, We'll do it again next week.
Enjoy the football Man, Take care.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
That's Matt Williamson with great analysis, brought to us by
Shop dot Steelers dot Com. In a moment, I'm gonna
tell you uh why they should fire paton Ardoozy. But
before that, a lot of talk about Mason Rudolph in
the national media.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
We'll get to that here. On one oh five ninety.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
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of
This is the Mark Maddon show. You like it, you
love it, you want more of it? Eight three, three
four one two wxdx is the number to camp.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah, a lot of you.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
It's a vocal minority, but a lot do want Howard
to start, or at least be ready for quick insertion
the minute Rudolph throws an in completion. Now, I'm sure
many of you are familiar with quick, brief and futile insertion.
But Howard never even took a snap in the preseason.
He wasn't even practicing until three weeks ago. And his
(00:34):
ceiling is a me backup, not even as high as Rudolph,
who was a pretty good backup and should have got
better opportunity to be an above average starter. And now
maybe that's a reach, but we never found out. We
never will. But now, Rudolph, he should play until Rogers
comes back, and then Rogers should immediately be put back
(00:57):
in because it's his jobson.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Rdolph can play. He can.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Every time he's been called upon, he's been at least decent.
That was the case yesterday and will be the case
at Chicago if need be. The word is that Rogers
has a slight fracture in his left wrist and he's
fifty to fifty. That's what Rappaport said for the Chicago game.
(01:22):
But I would think you keep him out. I would
think better safe than sorry. I would think he's an
old guy. A week off might do him some good.
I think Rudolph is just as likely to win that
game in Chicago as Rogers would be. I believe in
Mason Rudolph. Say his name and he appears. Will Howard's
a scrub with a sponsor car because through no fault
(01:44):
of his own, he's got y'all fooled, including whoever gave
him the free car. And I'm jealous because I used
to have one and don't now. And those cost more
money than I had remembered. And by the way, how
about that game winning touchdown by Baltimore late fake push
push I've been waiting for that thirty five yard touchdown
(02:05):
run by Mark Andrews the tight end. Wow, I mean wow.
I'm already getting tweets right now. Howard can be a
great quarterback. You just whatever it is that I do,
I'm fat or I'm diabetic. That was one popular motif
when I started tweeting about this last night. Yeah, Howard
won and Natty in Ohio State, and I get it
(02:27):
that's a big deal. But if you read the scotting
reports on him, he gets antsy under pressure and he's
not very accurate. Now, the reason you didn't see that
at Ohio State was because he was surrounded by all
the best players.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
But they sure saw us flaws.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
At the Combine and at his pro day because as
we know, he wasn't drafted til the sixth roun. I
believe one hundred and eighty four players got selected before
he did.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I know you like him. I know he's white. Did
I say that out loud? Didn't mean to.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I know you like him, but charisma doesn't convert third downs.
Give me a call eight three to three four one
two w xdx, just go to text. Could you use
one hundred dollars?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (03:18):
But what do I have to do? Oh no, I
really don't want to do that. We talked earlier about
that disgrace that was Pitt against Notre Dame and the
disgrace that wasn't Rdoozi and him saying before the game
that it didn't matter and then with five seconds left
calling a timeout to get a garbage time touchdown. He
(03:39):
should be fired. I'll go into detail about that around
four o'clock, but he should be fired. He's an embarrassing
representative of that university. Pat Nardoozi should be fired. College
football's nuts, right, Texas A and m right number one
down by twenty seven and a halftime against South Carolina
and come back to win thirty one to thirty. I
(04:03):
mean college football, look at the whole year. The top
ranked teams at season start Texas and Penn State one
and two at that point, both disappointing. Although Penn State
beat Michigan State on Saturday. By the way, Penn State
would be Pitt for sure. Penn State would be Pitt definitely.
The ACC is gabbage. The ACC is like Whippial Class
(04:28):
two AA, whoever won WHIPIL Class two A. They might
be pretty good. They ain't beaten Central Catholic. But I
will say, as somebody pointed out on Twitter, then why
is Penn State scared to play Pitt?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And that's a real good question. But Pitt just screwed the.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Poot's so bad against Notre Dame in front of a sellout,
in front of Aaron Donald getting his number retired, in
front of the Great the greatest of all time at
pitt Tony Dorset. At one point Pitt had like ninth
in goal. They just kept getting a new set of
downs and still didn't score.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Speaking of the Whippial, Al Equippa won the Whippiill four
A Football Championship beat Mckethport. The Equips came from a
low seed, the seventh seed, but ran the table in
the playoffs in a way. I mean they've won twenty
one Whipil titles, but in a way battling from that
number seven seed and beating a bunch of good teams.
(05:28):
It's one of Al Equippa's greatest football accomplishments ever. And
I'm glad Al Equippa won. No matter how bad the
Pia Double A and Whipi'll try to screw Al Equippa.
Those kids just keep winning. So way to go Quips
in six A because they had the four A and
six A finals this past weekend. Everything else is this
(05:52):
coming weekend at hins Field, which should really be excuse me, aquasure,
which should really be good for the playing surface. By
the way, wasn't terror for yesterday's game after Pitt played
their Saturday, but there were.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Some bad spots.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And again, if they were willing to spend the money
to make that field immaculate, it would be even used
on consecutive days. But in Whipi'll six A Central Catholic
beat North Alleghany forty two to seven. And that's boring,
not just because of the score, but because six A
has like what six or seven teams, and those two
(06:26):
teams Central and NA play in the final every year,
and Central Catholic recruits better than Pitt does. Anyway, we
want your calls. I want to try to make three
fifteen a call segment. If not, that's okay because all
I need is me. But if you like to call
down eight three three four one two WXDX, and we
have our football guru, Matt Williamson. He joins us at
(06:48):
the bottom of the hour to talk about that Steelers
win one oh five ninety X.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
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Some stop and go volume on the Parkway East outbound
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Speaker 2 (07:23):
This is just your moment of clarity. I don't, oh,
I know.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
So the X at one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Now I'm on the X our buddy John five tonight
at Jergles. I'm gonna go out there say hello if
you see me, but not while the music's playing. Uh,
let's go to Jordan Jordan Ard of Mark Madden Show.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Hello, Mark, I got.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Two, I got two questions in a statement for you.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Okay, who do you think is the alpha of the
locker room?
Speaker 7 (07:56):
Like?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Who do you think is leading this Steelers offense, defense
and special teams?
Speaker 1 (08:01):
I think their leadership's week. If it wasn't, if it
wasn't goodbye, goodbye, No. I think their leadership's week. I
think if the leadership was strong, you wouldn't have had
Jalen Ramsey get ejected from a game that was still
up for graps. I think on the team was strong
leaders and Ramsey's supposed to be one of those, given
his veteran status on a team with strong leaders, guys
(08:22):
who are accountable to their teammates. And what Ramsey did
was not let's go to doc, Doc. You're all with
double M.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
What up?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Man?
Speaker 6 (08:33):
Hey?
Speaker 8 (08:34):
How does it feel like you to be consistently wrong?
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Goodbye to be consider I should have kept them money
because this is not really wrong about coach Tomlin. Call
back callback, I'd like to talk to you. I should
have let you keep talking. I'm not wrong about him.
He hasn't won a playoff game in seven years. He
was never a good coach in the first place. What
if you want to celebrate because they beat Cincinnati at
home in a game that was in doubt in the
fourth quarter. You think that proves me wrong about coach
(09:01):
I think that probably does more to prove me right
about coach Tomlin. He's not a good coach, never has been,
and I'll be proven right even more so by the
time the season's over. Absolutely no doubt about that. I
would say I have DOT, but I don't want the
sound effect. Let's good to John, John. You're on with Mark?
Speaker 8 (09:23):
Hey, Hey, Mark, thanks for taking my call at TJ
Watt paying them all this money, and I didn't see
much of an impact by him. In fact, it was
Dougger who made the impact yesterday, again just kind of
being a no show and just wanted to get your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I don't think he was a no show. I think
there was some pressure.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I think that Dougger picked six was set up by
three edge rushers all being in the game and all
putting pressure on Flacco. It made him hurry to throw.
So I'm not going to criticize what that much for yesterday.
But if you want to tell me that he's not
making forty one million dollars worth of impact and didn't yesterday,
I don't see how anybody could help but agree with that.
Speaker 8 (10:00):
Do you think Herbig is a little more willing to
move around more watch just as glued to the left side.
Herbik was the one who came up the middle on
that pick and made the pressure.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I think TJ. Watt would rather be comfortable to be successful.
I think he would rather do what he's always done
than take a chance on failing via experimentation, but could
also lead to more success via experimentation. I think TJ.
Watt is a creature of habit, and it's become a
creature of habit that isn't hard for the other teams
(10:29):
to handle. He's no longer remotely a difficult player to
play against.
Speaker 8 (10:35):
Well said, thanks, Mark, of course it was.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Let's go to Joe in the truck.
Speaker 8 (10:38):
Joe, Hey, Mark, how you doing great?
Speaker 5 (10:45):
I want to make a prediction. Okay, I predict. I
predict Mason Rudolph will run.
Speaker 6 (10:54):
The table.
Speaker 8 (10:56):
And win the last seven games.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
He just won't do that. He won't play the last
seven games. As soon as Rogers is healthy, he goes
back in, which is as it should be.
Speaker 8 (11:06):
Well, and then I don't know if they'll win a
playoff game or not.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
But then next year.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Coach t will trade most Mason Rudolph to clem him
for Shador Sanders and give him twenty million a year. Now,
was your goal to just be really stupid? Because you've
accomplished that.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I I just because your if your goal was to be.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Funny, you weren't. No, that's just stupid. You're stupid. Never
call here again. That's what I get for soliciting calls.
But let's go to Patrick Patrick. You're on with double m.
Speaker 6 (11:38):
Dave us one six six.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
What up?
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Bro?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
What up?
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Man? Hey? Did you see that Garrett had another four
SAT game?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah? But they lost. I feel you.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I mean, Garrett's clearly the better player with Twatt, don't
you agree?
Speaker 6 (11:53):
I agree one hundred percent. I just wanted to get
that in there, that he is supreme. I think we
always should have traded what to get picks. But I
gotta little bulleted list here Mark as long as far
as what we never should have got Rogers, Ramsey, Sligh, Mettaff,
it's all waste of money and money and just projects
false hope teams going nowhere fast if only the middling
(12:13):
I do have faith.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I mean, it's an.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Odd day to say that after they won yesterday, but
but yeah, I still don't have much space, and I
still think they're not a very good team.
Speaker 6 (12:26):
Yeah, it's kind of smoking mirrors the two defensive scores.
But I think one of the biggest reasons about Metcalf
is that he's just not as much as he is
a number one receiver. He just can't survive without a
good number two because he's not in the lead route runner,
is my observation. And I also want to know where
the heck's the tight end production.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Well, I think that's I think that's the fault of
the coordinator and not the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Thank you for the call. Okay, let's go to Carson.
Is this the same Carson from Twitter in most depths?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Mark, Okay, you're blocked on Twitter. You're blocked here f
and now we got Doc medicch calling back. I said
I would talk to him.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Doc. You there, Yeah, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Yeah, we're out of time. Thanks for calling. Okay, up
next Matt Williamson, one O five nine, The X.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
It's the Woody Show weekend mornings at six, of course
X music on.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
One oh five nine The X hit Bunny Diver and
I just love good Smart Madden.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
Hey, Mark, great show.
Speaker 7 (13:25):
When you got a young trophy White, Oh's money to
I can't even quote the big o'boski right, goodbye with
the X at one double m one the X Steelers
with the It was impressive at the end.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
I guess I don't think it was convincing. Is the
score would indicate? But joining me not to talk football
is our football gur or the former pro and college
Scott Matt Williamson. Matt, let's get a funny topic out
of the way first, how many times has Orlando Brown
Junior allowed to move and get a head start in
assuming his pass blocking stance.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'm watching the.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Game like the third time of going what the heck
is going on this guy?
Speaker 5 (14:01):
It was almost every pass snap. I mean, it made
me crazy. I mean I don't tweet much usually during
the games, but I just had to like throw that
out there early on because he does it every game
and basically every pass drop and the rest just let
him get away with it, and he still got whipped
for much of the game by herbid.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
What was your take on Mason Rudolph's game and how
much can the steepers kind on him to at least
maintain solid play at quarterback moving forward.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
I think that's a perfect way to say it, maintain
solid play at quarterback, and I thought he did quite well.
Now we have to talk about how bad the Bengals
defense is, and this is going to be on all levels.
You know, when Rogers was in there, when Rudolph was
in there, et cetera, et cetera. I mean, it's the
easiest defense to play against in the league, and I
(14:50):
feel very strongly about that. But it's not easy coming
off the bench for these backups that don't have hardly
any reps in practice. I think he's a professional, really
solid number two that played quite well.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Let me tell you where I think he's better than
Rogers right now and only one air pet.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I think he's better in the pocket.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I think Rogers has been bailing out on a lot
of plays when he's under pressure. Rudolph stands tall, he
steps up in the pocket. I don't want to say
Rogers is afraid, but he doesn't like to get hit,
whereas I think Rudolph is more willing.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
I a thousand percent agree, and I'm not even sure
it is a fear or willingness to get hit aspect,
as you know, like offensive lineman will tell you, I
really like to know where my quarterback is at so
I don't run a defender into them. And I think
Rogers has been moving too quick and unnecessarily and sometimes
(15:45):
putting himselves in harm's way when he doesn't have to.
There's something he said for being within the structure of
the pocket, trusting your teammates, and I thought Rudolph did
that very well in this game.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
How many boneheads are gonna want Will Howard to go
in if Rudolph's rivals, or even what Will Howard to
start this week. I know you're hearing what's being said
by a minority, but it's certainly a vocal minority.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
It's Hey, I'm rooting for Will Howard. I hope he's
the next Dak Prescott party. I get people telling me
he's the next Tom Brady. I'm going for guy. You know,
quarterbacks have been successful that are drafted late. I hope
all those things are true. But man, it makes me
nuts that Steeler fans think that they snuck one over
(16:30):
on the rest of the league with this sixth round guy,
that he's going to be the answer. They don't have
to look in the draft next year. Mark, I mean,
they got their guy. We didn't even see him in preseason,
you know, so he's a total unknown. Hey, I'm all
in favor of drafting him in the sixth round. And
maybe he'll be a very useful player. Maybe he's the
next Mason Rudolph. That would be great. But to me,
(16:52):
it's nuts the way that Steeler fans are excited about
this guy.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Is it possible that Rogers benefits by not playing for
a game or two.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I thought he looked like he was running out of gas.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
And I said before the season, if Rudolph has to
start now, and again, I'm not sure it affects their
record that negatively, and I think it might be good
for Rogers.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
It's interesting you said that because I brought that up
like half an hour ago on the drive and that
no one's heard yet and that it's gonna go live
here soon. But that's not out there, and I just
kind of thought about it, like at his age, I
know he has a risk issue, but I bet his knees,
his ankles, his back, everything about him would love a
(17:36):
day off, you know, a week off. And maybe even mentally,
it's not a bad thing for him, Like it's not
the same thing as like putting Bryce Young on the
bench because he's overwhelmed, or you know JJ McCarthy year
one of these young guys. But I think it could
always do a quarterback good or anyone to take a
little vacation, just take a step back, and especially at
(17:58):
his age, to let his body heel a little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
And to be clear, I'm sure.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
The mark the other thing Mark real quick. It might
be good for the coaching staff to say, okay, we
have the game plan a little bit different. We got
to use our weapons a little bit different and maybe
they find something out like they did on defense, we
got to move Ramsey to Stacy. Oh that worked, you know.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more, but I do want to stress,
and I'm sure you agree.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
The minute Rogers is okay to start, he.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Should, yes, and he will.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Now, how did the Steelers shut down Jamar Chase after
he torched them the last time around? I thought they
so very evidently controlled him Ester, the Chase got rattled,
and of course we knew what happened with the spinning thing.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Yeah, and I'll be honest, Pierre has played very well.
You wouldn't even think it's the same player this year.
He's been a better player than Sleigh all year long.
He's better than him right now. He should remain the starter.
But I kind of thought, Okay, here comes Chase and Higgins,
Pierre echoes to a lesser degree. They're going to get
(19:04):
certainly exposed over and over, and I'm blown away that
they didn't. You know, and I'm not saying that Pierre
is going to be a lifetime starter, that the corner
situation is set, but I have to give those two
individuals a lot of credit for playing way better than
I thought they were possible to. And I also think
(19:24):
the coaching staff has figured out some things. You know
that less man coverage, less blitz, you're going to influence
the game plenty by only rushing, for I need a
lot more bodies near the line of scrimmage. Safety is
a real strength right now. I mean before Ramsey got booted,
but he influences the game for that free safety spot,
(19:46):
maybe even more than Mika ever did in terms of
coming downhill and taking away crossing routes and things of
that nature. And frankly, I think the entire defense is
playing fundamentally better. They're getting a lot more bodies to
the ball a thousand times better, and the defensive coaching
staffs putting them in far more advantageous situations than they
(20:07):
were to perform.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Aim and all that.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
One thing I did see, I thought they were playing
two safeties high more and maybe that let the corners
be more aggressive.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Is that correct?
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Yes, And they've been doing that more really the last
couple of weeks. I mean, they were at the very
top of the league frankly now for like five years
in single high and now they're starting to realize that
the that the too high shell is way more advantageous
for them, and they're playing more zone and they're playing
more cover four, which just to describe it super quick
(20:39):
as opposed to having minca or a free safety, just
being the last layer of the fence, being the goalie,
being the center fielder. Cover four allows those safeties to
play a little closer. And they're key in the run,
you know, they're they want those guys to come forward
and they're really good at it. I mean, Douglas are
fine too.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Why has Duger been such a great fit right away?
And a physical force? I mean the pick six tool,
you know, And I think what he's doing back there
physically and even coming up to the line might be
his biggest value.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
And when the daya trade went through, I did a
short podcast is telling Steeler fans what to expect. And
even then he is a physical force downhill, violent tackler,
big bodied, high pedigree, super athletic dude. But you don't
want them turning and running and coverage too much or
(21:33):
playing far off the line of scrimmage. He hasn't really
had to because one thing that people don't think about
with the Steeler pass rush is this defense gets attacked
deep less than any team in the league because teams
are not going to hold the ball to have long
developing plays. This has gone on for years too, that
(21:53):
the Steelers don't face many deep balls, so those safeties
can play downhill. And that's a perfect fit for him.
By no means, am I saying that, you know he's
better than Elliott, but I would keep dugger around. I'd
love to see them extend him and just see what
happens with the safety situation, you know, going forward, even
when Elliott's healthy.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
You know what does worry me though, like when guys
do get healthy, like you said, because you got Slagh
injured as well, how do they realign the defense that backfield,
because part of me thinks they should just leave well
enough alone until it proves it's fading.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
Yeah, especially at corner. Elliott's too good. Yeah a corner.
To me, Porter and Pierre are my outside guys and
echoes my slot all day long. And maybe I would
work Samuel in slowly, but Slay to me, would have
a hard time seeing the field. I really hope they don't.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
To me, you'd have a hard time getting a helmet.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Yes, because he doesn't do any special teams either, right.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Right, right.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I just I think Elliott, you know, coming back would
give them possibilities. Although him and Doug are really do
the same job, don't they. They do, they do.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
But I mean, maybe you could make Ramsey a little
bit more slot oriented. I don't that's a good problem
to have. He getting slig back in the mix is
not a good problem to have. You know.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
We're talking to our football guru, Matt Williamson.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Matt brought to us by the Steelers Pro Shop Shop
dot Steelers dot com. Matt, I think the way they've
used the tight ends has been horrific considering the promise
that room had. But I gotta tell you, Darnell Washington,
he just don't go backwards. That thirty one yard reception,
the stiff arms, the sheer bulk. That that delivers a
message mid game.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Doesn't it.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
Dude?
Speaker 5 (23:41):
He looks like Andre the Giant out there. I mean,
people just bounce off of him. I mean, he's a
remarkable player. And this is not documented, but it is
a fact. He is the largest eligible receiver in NFL history.
I mean, he's well over three hundred pounds. I don't
care what the media guy tells you, and.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
No, Madi way his whole life, he's definitely lying.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Oh yeah. I mean you walk next to him at
the facility and it is wow, who is that guy?
And I mean back the other thing he said, though,
I do think they've missman as a tight end position massively.
And here's a weird thing I dug up just in
the last twenty four hours. So when they had three
receivers on the field and one tight end, Washington was
(24:29):
out there for about eighty percent of those snaps. He
was the single tight end. But when they had two
tight ends on the field, they took him off the
field and he was only out there for about a
third of those snaps. Like, if he's good enough to
be the single one, is he not good enough to
be the double one with Friar, Mooth or Smith?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I couldn't agree more. I'm still disappointed in Dk. You
had a couple opis. I thought one was shaky, one
was a definite call, and he just I don't know
whatever it is DK's been lacking.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
He still hasn't got.
Speaker 5 (25:02):
Right, and he the one thing I'll defend him on
is the lack of a number two receiver really hurts
him on a per route basis because he gets as
much attention as Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase, and he's
not as good.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
As this maybe more, maybe more consistently too.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Maybe more because he gets it all the time. Because
they don't fear the other receivers at all. I mean,
these defensive coordinators basically slap the other receivers in the face.
And oh, by the way, Roman Wilson was acting as
the two yesterday, but they still didn't throw the ball
that much. So here's the thing. I've said this for
twenty years since I've been in the media, that the
(25:41):
term number one receiver gets misused massively. There's not thirty
two of them. Frankly, there's ten or twelve, you know,
ceedee Lamb, I mean Chase Pickens. They're not pickings. I'm
sorry guys like that. Justin Jefferson and metcalf isn't one
of those ten or twelve. He's the Steelers number one.
(26:02):
He's a very good player. He's an A minus though
he's not a number one receiver that can just abuse
no matter what. To me, a number one receiver is
abuses man zone doubles week after week, and there's few
people walking the plan that can do it, and he's
not well on them. He's also not great to catch points.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
No, no, like you talked about, he's not a combat
catch guy. What's your take on the running back situation? Now,
Warren got hurt, Gainwell came in. I thought Gainwell did okay,
But Warren was having a great day running the ball
and Gainwell I like him map, but he's more of
a pass catcher.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Right, yes, yeah, And I give him all the tread
in the world that there's been two games, this one
and the Vikings games in Dublin where he's been called
upon to be the bell cow, and in small samples
he's did done that really well. And so it's possible
now he wouldn't do that in seventeen games, But I'm
(27:02):
glad he's here, don't get me wrong.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Well, that's one thing that people underestimate, Matt. It applies
to Rudolph too. Backups who can step up and produce
when the situation calls, those are invaluable.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Yeah. We saw a lot of that across the board yesterday,
on both sides of the ball. Right, So that's great,
Like Sawyer's turning into that guy great, you know. I mean,
I don't leave them to be TJ. Watt, you know.
So there's a lot of those examples I think as
a bigger reason they won the game. Who are we
talking about, oh Warren? There's one thing that makes because
I still think they should run the ball a higher
(27:35):
percentage of the time. Yeah, especially like the Chargers. You know,
the run defense of the Chargers is bad. The past
defense is good. They still didn't run the ball much.
And back to the Charger game because it's still pretty recent.
The fact that Warren played zero third down snaps is
just so dumb to me, you know, because not including
(27:56):
the Bengals game, but the three games previous, the Steelers
were converting fifteen percent of their third down attempts. I mean,
that's horrific. That's like hard to do. So what do
they do on third downs? The most important down that
they're terrible at. They took their best player off the
field for the entire game against the Chargers, whether it's
(28:17):
third and one or third and twenty one. I don't
understand that at all.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
What's your take on the Chicago game coming up? I'm
really not sure what to think of the Bears. I
think Caleb Williams is going to be real good, but
he's still a work in progress.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
More good than bad, to be sure.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
But they're seven to three on top of a very
tough division, and I'm still not sure what I make
of them.
Speaker 5 (28:37):
I know me neither. I'm shocked at they're atop of
the division. I'm shocked at they're in the playoff hunt.
I looked at this season as boy, a successful year
for them would be, like, we know they have a coach,
and we know they have a quarterback, and those three
things are one hundred percent trough. I mean, Bears fans
think he's going to be the best quarterback they've ever had,
(28:59):
which is the lowest bar ever to jump over, and
they might be right. I mean, if they've had a
good quarterback my whole life. I they're a lot like
the Bengals in some ways, in some ways in very opposite,
but they're really really good on offense. I'm sure everything
they do this offseason will be to improve a bad defense,
(29:20):
but the defense at least takes the ball away a ton,
and for whatever reason, they've kind of had a horseshoe
up there butt late in games and have kind of
figured out or lucked into wins, but overall they're building
them well.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Finally, man, here's kind of an abstract question. What was
your take on the three calls for roughing the passer?
I hate the rule more than I hated those calls.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Yes, I would have to watch them again because I
didn't spend a ton of time.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Well, I thought they were good calls within the context
of the rule, but they still protecting the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
But the rule goes too far.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Their rule goes too far. I mean, it's just too
difficult on the defensive players. Yeah, I mean, I understand
the whole body weight thing, but I mean, to me,
that's a little too far too.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
It's like I said, I was in an a peer
just and I said to somebody citing my pro wrestling background,
it's not like a soup plex where you can control
if the other guy's not in on it. I mean,
how do you account for him, like shifting weight or whatever?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
You know.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
Yeah, that's a that's a good way of putting it.
Two wrestling references here under the giant and the super
lay right, Like, hey, Flacco doesn't have to obey what
Watt wants him to do. You know, right, that's a
good way to pin that.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Matt, great stuff as always, We'll do it again next week.
Enjoy the football Man, Take care.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
That's Matt Williamson with great analysis, brought to us by
Shop dot Steelers dot Com. In a moment, I'm gonna
tell you uh why they should fire paton Ardoozy. But
before that, a lot of talk about Mason Rudolph in
the national media.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
We'll get to that here. On one oh five ninety.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
X, Listen to the X everywhere you go, anywhere, everywhere.
Tell your smart device Alexa play one oh five point
ninety X on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
Dan went again from wolfsman Ford and Washington Ford, reminding
you of our Black Friday sales event.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
It's Blackbriday Deals all month long. Shop our grace selection
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