December 22, 2025 • 32 mins
Mark takes your calls on the Steelers win, and talks to our football guru Matt Williamson
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
That Steelers game went.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm still marveling, especially at the finish. And check this out.
Mister Friday Afternoon went five and zero again. He's on
a twentieth oh run. It's dystopian. And speaking of dystopian,
we got to talk Bucco baseball. But you can call
for calls on the fifteens at eight three, three, four
(00:21):
one two.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
W xdx.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Since the Buck has got Brandon Lye in that trade.
The attitude from the Marx is very celebratory, overly so,
but I get it. It's the first truly big and
positive move the Pirates have made in years that didn't
involve sucking and then drafting high. But the attitude from
the Marx is the citizens. The Pirates are gonna show you.
(00:51):
They're gonna show everybody addressed to people like me, truthers
and daughters. And my response is no, they're not. They're
a seventy five win team at best right now. They
got one guy for one year, and maybe he's even
gone at the deadline. Like I said, it's a seventy
(01:12):
five win team at best now. If you really want
to show me, show me right now and sign Eugenio Suarez,
the third baseman thirty four years old, so he's a
little bit probably passed his private That's the kind of
guy the Pirates have a chance to get if they overpay.
Forty nine home runs last year only at two twenty
(01:32):
eight average. The slash line is two twenty eight, four
twenty eight, six eighty two. It cost about seventy five
mil over three years. You'd have to overpay, like I said,
to get him to Pittsburgh, but it'd be a big
get because you're weak at third base.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You need another big bat, big.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Bet Lao and Suarez like Lao at two, Suarez like four.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Do that and I'll take you serious.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Heck, the one Japanese guy went to the Chicago White
Sox two year thirty four mil, short and cheap? Were
the Pirates in on that. I don't think they were
even in contact with his people. And like I said earlier,
you can't keep Nakama open in Pittsburgh. How you gonna
sign a Japanese guy?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Actually, what I heard, see I'm jamming the jokes together
and getting mushmuff because of it. I heard that they
weren't in the discussion because they didn't want to pay
an interpreter because they're already paying O'Neil Cruise's guy.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Okay, the Nakama joke was much better.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
You know what the hardcore fans are like with the Pirates,
and I don't say this flippantly at all.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It's like a domestic abuse situation.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
The Pirates tell their fans, oh, I love you, and
it'll be different this time, just give me one more chance, baby,
and they might give a bouquet of flowers to the
Marks occasionally, like Brandon Law, but it never is different
this time, not for long anyway. I do laugh about
(03:20):
Pirate fans complaining about not getting the Japanese guy, even
beyond in the coma joke if you want to look
at it realistically. The White Sox, for one thing, they
have a pretty good crew with young hitters. They might
be better quicker than the Pirates. They don't have skins though,
don't have Bubbam. But Pittsburgh does not exactly have a
(03:44):
sprawling Japanese community. Have you noticed that, whereas Chicago, obviously
much bigger city does so eight three three four one
two wxdx for calls on the fifteens. I am excited
about the Steeler game and I don't want to rain
on your parade. Okay, actually I do. I wallow in
(04:05):
my ability to do just that on this program. But
they're nine and six now. They really should win out
now if they arrest everybody the last game because the
division's wrapped up, that I get. I bet Tomlin won't though,
I bet because he never looks past the next game,
and if he does, he hates doing that.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
You know, he hates doing that.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
But there's a slim chance they could get to the
three seed, but probably not. And even if you could
finagle your way up a seed, what if you get
to the three seed and Buffalo drops to the sixth seed?
So just go play, beat Cleveland, clinch it, and then
rest your guys against Baltimore. You get a home game.
(04:47):
Whoever you play, you play. They aren't gonna be Buffalo.
They're not gonna beat Superman. They ain't got enough kryptonite.
They could beat Jacksonville. They could beat LA Chargers in Houston. Houston,
within that defense. Okay, here's how I would rate the
potential opponents. Buffalo, no way, Houston, I don't think so,
(05:12):
Joel Jacksonville and LA and made no mistake. If you
made me bet on a game against Jacksonville or the
Chargers here in Pittsburgh. I wouldn't bet on the Steelers,
but those games are very winnable, especially if you get
all the calls like you did against Baltimore and then
again yesterday. I hope they don't make the mistake of
(05:32):
thinking Dylan cooks an every day first string guy and
not pick up Broderick Jones's option his fifth year, because
Dylan Cook can start, but they might and they might
want to not pick up that option for money wise,
and because when the Steelers make a mistake drafting somebody,
which they clearly have with Broderick Jones, not just drafting,
(05:52):
but trading up to do so, think about all the
crappy draft picks they've made. Kenny Pickett, that whole twenty
two clients, Caleb Johnson didn't get a helmet yesterday, Roma
Wilson did't get a helmet yesterday. But they tend to
get rid of their mistakes, which is okay.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Like Jim Roththerfferd did that all the time.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
He just got something in return for them, as opposed
to just letting Broderick Jones go. And I think they
probably ought to. But Dylan Cook can't start a left tackle.
If I'm Rowin Wilson, I went out. If I'm Calvan
Osten the third, I want out. You bring these old
bastards in because your old bastard of a quarterback wants
a bunch of old bastards in the huddle doing and
saying old bastard things. And I'm not sure where the
(06:38):
frig it gets you. Really, I mean, okay, you're gonna
beat Buffalo with Adam Thiinland is your number two wide out?
Then again, where you're gonna be Buffalo with Calvin Austen
the third is your number two wide on. You know
what the bottom line is, you're gonna hate me for this.
If you don't want to listen, don't listen. I don't
blame you. I barely listen to myself at this point.
But I still don't think they're very good. If that
makes me a bad person, I'm not a bad person.
(07:00):
I do all sorts of charity work. The community loves me.
I just don't think they're very good team. You know
where I'm suddenly really wanting to go the comma and
it just can't happen.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Ho ho ho.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
It's that Tommy Yurgan, isn't it it's bond.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Just big and it's soft and I use a bunch
of pillows.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And I swore the X at one O five nine.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Okay, here's the questions I have to ask you. I
guess a Steelers game. What do you think about the
DK thing and the Ya black thing? DK punched the
fan black, liquing off the Lions. What punishment should DK get?
Should Tom Win have benched him in the middle of
(07:47):
the game? And how badly does that behavior by both
guys reflect on tom Win and the Steelers A three
three four one two w xd X.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Do you trust the offense at this point?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
The offensive line digging deep despite being dinged up, coming
through the running game real good, Kenneth Gamewell with that
miracle catch and gets up in scars? Do you trust
the offense? Does the defense even need what? Don't get
me wrong. When he's ready, he's going to go back in.
I'm not sure when he's gonna be ready. I thought
Sawyer played really good. It was a different kind of
(08:23):
good and maybe a good kind of good. Are they
a legit playoff team that can win playoff games? If
so how many. I don't think it's a very good team. Still,
I'm not convinced, but I gotta tell you you look
at the AFC. No Kansas City, which means no Mahomes,
no Baltimore, which means no Lamar. I love Houston's defense,
(08:48):
Josh Allen, Superman, New England's going to be first time
back in the playoffs in a while Indianapolis faded out.
I'd love it if Indianapolis stumbled in the Steelers played them,
but I do not see that happening. Point is, the
AFC is real wide open. So I don't think the
(09:11):
Steelers are very good. I'm not sure how many very
good teams there are in the AFC aside from Buffalo.
Like I say, having Superman and that Houston defense, I
think everybody else pretty good at best. Let's go to Jimbo. Jimbo,
you're on with Mark.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
How good.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
You were talking about the Lions earlier and potentially get
rid of Dan Campbell Man.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I didn't say that. I've not mentioned that at all.
Are you sure you called the right show?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Yeah, I know you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
That's just wrong, you idiot. You clean your ears out.
They must be full of excremate. I haven't talked about
the Lions coaching at all. The first time Dan Campbell's
name got mentioned on this show was by you. Right now, goodbye,
don't call back. Let's go to Tim. You're on with
double M Afternoon Mark.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
How are you good, afternoon, Tim?
Speaker 6 (10:08):
A quick question for you. With Aaron Rodgers going into
the home stretch here and maybe a playoff game, how
frequently do you think Aaron Rodgers needs to take deep
shots down the field versus a more controlled, medium, medium
range game.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Well, I think they need to use the middle more.
I think they've done it a little more, but only
a little more. I think you always have to take
deep shots to keep the other teams defense honest. And
I think you've got to take deep shots to beat
good teams in playoff games.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Don't you.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Agreed?
Speaker 1 (10:43):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
I don't think you can win a playoff game right alone.
A series of playoff games by nickel diming, and not
to be fair, these last three wins, they've nickel dimes some,
but they've opened it up some and have succeeded when
they opened it up. Oh God, who did Rochester that
one ball to MBS. That was just off that one
(11:04):
deep ball. I thought MBS, well, MBS when he was
younger could have got it, but he's you know, not
twenty one anymore. Thank you for the call. Let's going
out of our good friend the Hebrew hammer hammer yuck schmash.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Hey, yuchemush marque. You look at it this way, the
Steelers are a pick play away from one of the
biggest meltdowns in the last twenty years. So opposite, the
game ends on a controversial play, So what you do
is take it in between. They're just still a above
average team that go into the playoffs and still probably
want and done. But as fans in Pittsburgh, everybody gets crazy.
(11:41):
If you recall that couple years.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Ago, that hammer, that's okay, that's part of being a fan.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Well, sure it is.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
But when you look at things with like a level head,
I mean, you see it when the smoke clears, it
is what it is. If you recall a couple of
years ago versus Buffalo, when that game was delayed because
of the snow, people were talking themselves into beaten Buffalo.
I mean, it's just that, you know, it's the nature,
it's the abs and flows of.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Fandom and that's okay.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And I will say the one argument on them maybe
achieving in these playoffs coming up is that the AFC
is wide open.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Like I said, no Mahomes, no Jackson.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
I just think sometimes because we won something doesn't mean
it's gonna come true, and that that's across the board
in life. So you can pay me five cents for
my thoughts.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
That's very philosophical. And that's your cue.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
That's so much whammy.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Let's go to Colin. Colin, you're on with the super genius,
super genior.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
How's it going great? So I was curious, what's your
opinion on how much luck has played it a factor
into the steelers last few wins. In my opinion, I
truly have never seen anything like some of the calls
that have been made.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Well, no, no, no, hold it, hold it. Luck and
calls are two different things.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Were they lucky to get all the big calls the
Baltimore game and all the big calls yesterday?
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
But I will say except for the roughing the snapper
call in the Baltimore game, every call made in both
those games in favor the Steelers was the correct call.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Okay, that's fair enough, But what about some of the
other miraculous plays, like, for example, the gain Well play.
I have never seen anything like that before, and that
won't happen again for another ten, fifteen, twenty years, that's.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
True, But they only needed it to happen yesterday, and
it was the difference in the game, turn the offense
around for the Steelers. And what I like most was
it opened the game up, It made the game entertaining. Yeah,
people talk about that being a great play. There's your luck.
That's a lucky play to make it. I mean, his
hand was on the ground and it landed on his hand.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
It just seems like it's kind of been one of
those seasons, Mark, And you know what, if that's what
it takes for us to win a playoff game, I'll
take it.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Team of destiny real quick. To Nick, Nick, you got
about fifteen.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Seconds, Hey, Mark, did Tom Brady Wasn't he a nickel
dime kind of quarterback? Or am I mistaken?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Like I know, he nickel and dime most.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Of the time, with a long ball here and there
to maybe Gronkowski, but for the most part his career
was nickol.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Well, not to maybe Goronkowski, but you know what Tom
Brady did that the Steelers don't do is he used
the middle of the field well and a lot. And
when you do that, when you do that, that's not nickel.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
Dime real quick playoffs.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
One thing I do like is that most of the
story and quarterbacks are gone.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Well I don't know.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
I mean, Allen's in it, Herbert's in it, Lawrence is
in it. I mean, maybe it's good that that Lamar
and Mahomes won't be there, but maybe they're just making
way for the next generation of standout quarterbacks who will
make their bones even further playing against the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
We do not know.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Thank you for the call up next to our football guru,
Matt Williamson here on one oh five nine notty four
point five trees, Mark Madden, Hey, Mark, when you got
a young Trophy White owes money to I can't even
quote the big o'boski right, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
With the exit.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
One fine Steelers with a very entertaining and dramatic win yesterday,
joining me now to talk about it. The former pro
and college scout. He is our football guru, Matt Williamson. Matt,
the Steelers ran the ball very well and stopped Detroit
running game that's usually gonna win, and it did, but barely.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Why was that game that close? It was a weird game.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Like I said, that was definitely a weird game. And well,
I think a huge reason it was close is Detroit
is a very talented and desperate team in their building
that started to figure things out, as is often the
case in the league. And the fourth quarter defense was
(15:44):
kind of holding on for dear life, you know. I mean,
you had a really good team under control for much
of the game, and then Golf and Saint Brown and
all these really talented players started to figure out what
you were doing on defense and you had to go
from there and kind of hold on, and you did
in a tough environment.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, and as long as you win, that's all good.
What made the running game go for Pittsburgh? And is
Dylan Cook a folk hero at this point?
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:13):
I mean crazy that both the long touchdown runs were
on the left side with seamlu out and your third
string left tackle. He's a good player. I mean, I
don't think what Dylan Cook is doing is fluky or
he's gonna turn into a pumpkin. Now, I'm not saying
he's the answer at left tackle or the next Anthony
Munoz or anything like that. But I think you found
(16:36):
something there, and I think that's been a theme with
a lot of guys on this team, that they've turned
the bottom of the roster quite a bit and they've
developed some talent, more so than in other years. I
do think the running game is partially a Lion's problem.
I mean, their safeties did a really bad job of
(16:57):
filling their their roles at defending run. But I also
think that the running games become much less predictable. I
mean a lot less outside zone, a wider variety of scheme,
and I think Rogers is dictating a lot of that too,
and they're sticking with it a little bit more, which
is promising. And game Well is just a really good player.
(17:18):
I mean he keeps flowing me away. I think he's
gonna keep turning into a pumpkin, but he never does.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah, no, no, I agree.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I just the mistake I hope they don't make, and
this is looking way ahead, that they don't overeate guys
who have been good for short stretches, like I wouldn't
make Dylan Cook my starting left tackle next year under
any circumstances. And I'd be careful with what I gave
to retain gain Well because he has a career backup.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
No, I see what you're saying too, and there's guys
like Pierre that you're going to have to make that
conversation about where this was nice, But that doesn't mean
that you found this answer, you know, five diamonds in
the rough. I mean, I think that it will be
an interesting conversation. I'm to we'll chat about in the
off season. But I definitely would say, well, Cook, is
you know, in the mix for next year and not
(18:04):
just a camp body or a practice squad guy that
if he's your third tackle, you're a lot more comfortable
than they have been.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I got him off the board for one second.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Man Baltimore loss, the Steelers have the division just about
wrapped up.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
What happened to the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I had them pegged as the best roster in football
before the season started.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I had then they were my Super Bowl pick to
win it all, and I think there's a lot of
things to play. The low hanging fruit, of course, is
while Lamar's hurt and they're super Lamar reliant. Yes, all
that stuffs true, fine, but even before he was hurt.
Both lines of scrimmage to me, were well below average.
(18:45):
Their guards are poor, Their tackles are a little overpaid
or a little you know, not quite what you think
they are. The pass rush is very lacking unless they
have to bring blitz, which works to some degree. What
are the most important players? Matta Bouquet was injured early
and there was no replacement for that. I think a
(19:06):
handful of their guys that are good players, like a
Mark Andrews, just looked a smidge older, a smidge slower,
and I wonder, I mean, we've had these conversations a
million times around here is Harbaugh's message starting to get
lost a little bit too? I think it's just a
fair thing to discuss, Matt.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
The Steelers receiver deployment.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
It might have worked yesterday, but it makes no sense
to be like Feelan being a primary target at thirty
five and he's barely been here. What do you think
of the way their wide receiver depth chart has shaken
down in how to do yesterday?
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Well, the opponent, I think had something to do with it.
And I'm not minimizing the way the Steelers played offense,
But the Lion's secondary was very much there for the taking,
and also in the as I mentioned, their safeties were
quite poor. So I definitely think there is something to
all this talk about professional route runners, proper spacing, all
(20:11):
those type of things and feeling and MBS definitely provide
that your boy Tom and I did the pregame show
and that he had a great point about this is
nice about feeling and mvs being out there and being
bigger bodies and blockers and being in the right place
at the right time, and that definitely has value. But
(20:31):
all of it kind of gets flushed if they don't
catch footballs, you know, I mean, you're wide receivers, and
they're starting to at least show that they can move
the chains or take some attention off Metcalf on the
deep ball for MBS. Now I wonder, you know, how
far can this group take you at the wide receiver position.
Then heck, their first round pick next year might be
(20:53):
a wide out. What do I know? I mean, I
think that's a possibility, but it's the best it's been.
You're not counting on Roman Wilson and then Austin who's undersized,
and I think you have some professionalism there.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
We're talking about Williamson our football gur were This segment
brought d west by shop dot Steelers dot Com. Matt up,
How did the defense get by without Watt and herbig
who picked up the slack?
Speaker 1 (21:17):
And how?
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Yeah that was huge. I didn't see that coming. I
thought high Smith, as he really has anytime he's been healthy,
he played a whale of a game despite getting some
more attention his direction. But I think another huge key.
And again I keep talking about the bad things about
the Lions, and that's not really my intentions this conversation,
But when they're going through a center left and right,
(21:39):
it's really hard to win in this league. And I
know for a fact that they have gained plan to
attack up the middle with blitzes, and I thought they
did a real good job with that, but inexperience at
center two guards that haven't played a lot of football.
I didn't think that you tried to battle Penny Soool
over and over and over. You know, Instead, you switched
(22:02):
your your strategy in terms of getting pressures for coming
up up the middle, which Goff doesn't move particularly well.
And frankly Sawyer played better than I thought too.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Yeah, I thought sorry had had a real good game.
Why did the defense, though, stumble at the end. It
got real passive, didn't It played way off the ball?
Speaker 4 (22:23):
It did, and maybe they underestimated, you know, the degree
of how quickly the Lions can strike you. But most
of it, to me was kind of like we talked
about before, is it's really hard to hold one of
the best offenses in the league down, let alone in
a situation where they've just flat out abandoned to run
(22:45):
and they're just going to attack with a lot of
really really good weapons when there are seasons on the
line in their building, no weather concerns.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Now.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
The one excuse I won't make, and that's for sure
that I often have talked about on Mondays with View
was I don't want to hear that the defense is
tired because they didn't play it in a third quarter.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Oh no, no question. I think it was more tactical
than anything.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
And like you said, Detroit being desperate and you know,
having to get points, and as it turned out, they
didn't quite get enough.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Aaron Rodgers is very good.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
It's hard to believe a forty two year old is
able to step on the accelerator near the end of
the season, let alone carry the team with him.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
But that's as best I can describe it.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
One hundred percent. I think that he really, he and
the whole team has a much better grasp for strengths
and weaknesses around him. He has a better trust factor,
certainly in the protection. I mean, the ball's not coming
out so obscenely quick, the thrown over the middle more.
But his command and his knowledge to me blows me away.
(23:50):
I mean, I feel like whenever there's controversy, was Rogers
right on this or not, He's like always right. I mean,
he just really understands the game, the pace, how to
throw people off. And I think that, you know, everyone
responds to them in a big way. I mean, not
that they didn't buy in before, but they now they
buy in one thousand percent that this guy really gives
(24:12):
us a chance. I was excited about him, but I'm
shocked how good he's been, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, yeah, it's even been above and beyond, just like
the last three weeks, because that Buffalo game was in
ay dear for him and for the Steelers, and they've
bounced back strong since then. Is this a team that
in your mind, Matt is getting legitimately better and in
what ways is that most evident.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
I absolutely think they're getting better. I think that they've stopped,
you know, pounding a square peg into a round hole
on both sides of the ball tactically for a lot
of reasons, you know, less man coverage, less blitz. We
just realized we're not as good at that, so we're gonna,
you know, pivot from there. They're playing better football players
(24:57):
through the wide receivers are a good example. You know,
Ramsey at safety has been a huge boost to them
as well. I think that they're much more well rounded. Now. Okay,
if we're not running the ball, great well, we can
throw on you and keep up and vice versa. With
we're not stopping the run, great well, our past defense
can pick us up. And I just think that there's
(25:18):
less clear holes for the opponent to attack. But I
would say the biggest thing is what we just talked
about is the quarterback. I just think whenever he's playing
super strong in a quarterback Driggon league, you're gonna be
in it.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Can the Steelers win playoff games?
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Who's the one opponent they don't want to play Among
the possibilities in the first round, I.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Think they could probably win a game maybe two. Wow,
that's maybe a stretch. I just don't think the AFC
is daunting. I mean there's definitely not the Bills in
their prime, or the Ravens last year, or the Chiefs teams.
We become a cust know that there's.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
No Lamar, there's no Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
I mean, that's a good place to start if you
want opportunity to knock.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Absolutely. Now, Allen's really scary, but they're a flawed team.
I think every one of the teams in the conference
can be beatable. I mean, I bet there's gonna be
several upsets in the AFC playoff races. I would not
want to see Buffalo. I still, I know they weren't
great yesterday, but I think Houston has a chance to
go to the super Bowl as well. But I think
(26:25):
they're right there with the Chargers and Jacksonville's hot, but
I'm not exactly sold on them. No one blows me away,
I guess is the bottom lenel.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Ears Among the teams they could play, I think they
could be either Jacksonville or the LA Chargers in Pittsburgh.
It wouldn't be a guarantee, but those are winnable games.
I'd be worried a lot about Houston's defense if it
comes to that. And I don't think they beat Josh
Allen in the first round. I don't think Superman's won
and done.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Agreed, I couldn't agree more. I mean, to me, my
least favorite options are definitely Buffalo and Houston. My favorite
is the Chargers Jacksonville. I'd be, yeah, let's see what can.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Happen Matt up.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
They still do a lot of stupid stuff though, never
mind DK punching the fan. That's like off the field.
But there were opis, you know, a bad fumble by Darnell,
and I still I don't think Darnell watching is the answer.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Maybe that's the discussion we got have.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
I would so much rather see friar Mouth than John
who get his snaps.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
I don't know about John who. I am a Darnell fan.
I think I'm higher on him than you are, just
because I think teams hate playing against him, you know,
I mean, this is such a unique player that he's
hard to prepare for, really hard to prepare for. But
I can't agree more on friar Mouth. I don't understand
why he's so down the pecking order.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Is there any way they lose to Cleveland.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
No, there are really, I mean, unless the weather gets
nasty or something like that, or I mean, you watch
the Browns offense and it's really well schemed. Early in
the game, you know, they do a lot of smoke
and mirrors and motion and stuff that they script and
(28:15):
then every defense figures it out and turns into a
typical type game and they can't execute because the quarterback's bad,
the O line's horrible. Their top three running backs might
be out of this game. I mean, they're really short
on talent right now.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I gotta be honest, Matt, I'm almost disappointed that the
Week eighteen game against Baltimore is very likely to be meaningless.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
It's kind of a bummer.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I thought that might be for all the marbles, and
I know it's better if they clinched, but that would
have been pretty exciting.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
I absolutely would have, and it still can be. I mean,
I guess there's a chance, but I would rather I'm
sure Rogers and cam and then Ramsey would much rather
be resting as opposed to dealing with that mess.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Where do you stay on teams resting their starters in
meaningless games? Does it help the arrest or does it
take away from the team's rhythm.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
I wish i'd a better answer, because it's funny. I
was just had this conversation right before I left the
station in our last segment, because I don't feel strong
one way or another. I definitely think that the Rogers
and Cams of the world are very easy to sit.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
A lot more than they need repetition, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
I mean they don't need practice, they don't need that
extra game. Their bodies need to heal now. I think
what is interesting is if the Ravens get eliminated Saturday night,
do you rest people two weeks? Because if it comes
down to the Steelers beating the Browns and they come
through and they do it, I'm resting everyone for one week.
(29:50):
I mean I'm resting Zach Frasier, even though he's young.
I mean important people one week. That's just like a
bye week. But when you start to get two, I
think that's when it gets tricky. And I don't really
know that answer.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
I think the trickiest decision to make is the team
that gets the buy and the wild card round, you know,
resting guys in week eighteen, because then it's two full
weeks off and that has come back and been some
teams like that. One year, I forget what year, but
Indy had like one loss, rested guys and went on early. Yeah,
you know, here's let me play Devil's advocate, Matt. I
(30:24):
agree with resting Rodgers. I mean, my god, it's obvious
forty two year old quarterback. But that basically takes the
whole offense out of rhythm.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Oh yeah, I mean everything becomes a disaster at that point.
And then you start one dun. You probably then rest
see Amalu and then you probably rest Metcalf and as
a ripple effect, and you throw Rudolph out there and
you really treat it like a preseason game then or
you know. The other thing we discussed was would you
play Rogers for two series against the Browns? I mean,
(30:53):
week eighteen, I'm not playing them unless they have to win.
You play them two to three series, But I don't
even know that accomplishes. You know, to me, there's not
really a right answer. It's just if you lose, the
coach gets killed for making the wrong answer.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Well, you know why, it's tough to decipher, Matt. Neither
of us ever figured that the Steelers might clinch the
AFC North by week seventeen exactly.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
I mean, I'm pretty blown away that that's even in
the cards.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Matt has always great stuff, fantastic insight. We'll do it
again next week, all right, but take care, we'll see it.
That's the great Matt Williamson, our football Goo.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
We're brought list by shop dot Steelers dot Com. Get
your calls in now eight three, three four one two WSDX.
We got some great sound just around the corner from
Sidney Crosby talking about breaking Mario Lemuse career record all
time points as a Penguin on Fi ninety X.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
This hour, The Mark Madden Show is brought to you
by Bud Light, proudly served to Braddockson and Farmington.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Stopping Braddickson and enjoy three dollars Nicolobaltras sixteen dolls of
aluminum fine Story Penguins Games Bud Like Geese, the Dream Easy,
don't join
That Steelers game went.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm still marveling, especially at the finish. And check this out.
Mister Friday Afternoon went five and zero again. He's on
a twentieth oh run. It's dystopian. And speaking of dystopian,
we got to talk Bucco baseball. But you can call
for calls on the fifteens at eight three, three, four
(00:21):
one two.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
W xdx.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Since the Buck has got Brandon Lye in that trade.
The attitude from the Marx is very celebratory, overly so,
but I get it. It's the first truly big and
positive move the Pirates have made in years that didn't
involve sucking and then drafting high. But the attitude from
the Marx is the citizens. The Pirates are gonna show you.
(00:51):
They're gonna show everybody addressed to people like me, truthers
and daughters. And my response is no, they're not. They're
a seventy five win team at best right now. They
got one guy for one year, and maybe he's even
gone at the deadline. Like I said, it's a seventy
(01:12):
five win team at best now. If you really want
to show me, show me right now and sign Eugenio Suarez,
the third baseman thirty four years old, so he's a
little bit probably passed his private That's the kind of
guy the Pirates have a chance to get if they overpay.
Forty nine home runs last year only at two twenty
(01:32):
eight average. The slash line is two twenty eight, four
twenty eight, six eighty two. It cost about seventy five
mil over three years. You'd have to overpay, like I said,
to get him to Pittsburgh, but it'd be a big
get because you're weak at third base.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You need another big bat, big.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Bet Lao and Suarez like Lao at two, Suarez like four.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Do that and I'll take you serious.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Heck, the one Japanese guy went to the Chicago White
Sox two year thirty four mil, short and cheap? Were
the Pirates in on that. I don't think they were
even in contact with his people. And like I said earlier,
you can't keep Nakama open in Pittsburgh. How you gonna
sign a Japanese guy?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Actually, what I heard, see I'm jamming the jokes together
and getting mushmuff because of it. I heard that they
weren't in the discussion because they didn't want to pay
an interpreter because they're already paying O'Neil Cruise's guy.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Okay, the Nakama joke was much better.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
You know what the hardcore fans are like with the Pirates,
and I don't say this flippantly at all.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It's like a domestic abuse situation.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
The Pirates tell their fans, oh, I love you, and
it'll be different this time, just give me one more chance, baby,
and they might give a bouquet of flowers to the
Marks occasionally, like Brandon Law, but it never is different
this time, not for long anyway. I do laugh about
(03:20):
Pirate fans complaining about not getting the Japanese guy, even
beyond in the coma joke if you want to look
at it realistically. The White Sox, for one thing, they
have a pretty good crew with young hitters. They might
be better quicker than the Pirates. They don't have skins though,
don't have Bubbam. But Pittsburgh does not exactly have a
(03:44):
sprawling Japanese community. Have you noticed that, whereas Chicago, obviously
much bigger city does so eight three three four one
two wxdx for calls on the fifteens. I am excited
about the Steeler game and I don't want to rain
on your parade. Okay, actually I do. I wallow in
(04:05):
my ability to do just that on this program. But
they're nine and six now. They really should win out
now if they arrest everybody the last game because the
division's wrapped up, that I get. I bet Tomlin won't though,
I bet because he never looks past the next game,
and if he does, he hates doing that.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
You know, he hates doing that.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
But there's a slim chance they could get to the
three seed, but probably not. And even if you could
finagle your way up a seed, what if you get
to the three seed and Buffalo drops to the sixth seed?
So just go play, beat Cleveland, clinch it, and then
rest your guys against Baltimore. You get a home game.
(04:47):
Whoever you play, you play. They aren't gonna be Buffalo.
They're not gonna beat Superman. They ain't got enough kryptonite.
They could beat Jacksonville. They could beat LA Chargers in Houston. Houston,
within that defense. Okay, here's how I would rate the
potential opponents. Buffalo, no way, Houston, I don't think so,
(05:12):
Joel Jacksonville and LA and made no mistake. If you
made me bet on a game against Jacksonville or the
Chargers here in Pittsburgh. I wouldn't bet on the Steelers,
but those games are very winnable, especially if you get
all the calls like you did against Baltimore and then
again yesterday. I hope they don't make the mistake of
(05:32):
thinking Dylan cooks an every day first string guy and
not pick up Broderick Jones's option his fifth year, because
Dylan Cook can start, but they might and they might
want to not pick up that option for money wise,
and because when the Steelers make a mistake drafting somebody,
which they clearly have with Broderick Jones, not just drafting,
(05:52):
but trading up to do so, think about all the
crappy draft picks they've made. Kenny Pickett, that whole twenty
two clients, Caleb Johnson didn't get a helmet yesterday, Roma
Wilson did't get a helmet yesterday. But they tend to
get rid of their mistakes, which is okay.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Like Jim Roththerfferd did that all the time.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
He just got something in return for them, as opposed
to just letting Broderick Jones go. And I think they
probably ought to. But Dylan Cook can't start a left tackle.
If I'm Rowin Wilson, I went out. If I'm Calvan
Osten the third, I want out. You bring these old
bastards in because your old bastard of a quarterback wants
a bunch of old bastards in the huddle doing and
saying old bastard things. And I'm not sure where the
(06:38):
frig it gets you. Really, I mean, okay, you're gonna
beat Buffalo with Adam Thiinland is your number two wide out?
Then again, where you're gonna be Buffalo with Calvin Austen
the third is your number two wide on. You know
what the bottom line is, you're gonna hate me for this.
If you don't want to listen, don't listen. I don't
blame you. I barely listen to myself at this point.
But I still don't think they're very good. If that
makes me a bad person, I'm not a bad person.
(07:00):
I do all sorts of charity work. The community loves me.
I just don't think they're very good team. You know
where I'm suddenly really wanting to go the comma and
it just can't happen.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Ho ho ho.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
It's that Tommy Yurgan, isn't it it's bond.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Just big and it's soft and I use a bunch
of pillows.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And I swore the X at one O five nine.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Okay, here's the questions I have to ask you. I
guess a Steelers game. What do you think about the
DK thing and the Ya black thing? DK punched the
fan black, liquing off the Lions. What punishment should DK get?
Should Tom Win have benched him in the middle of
(07:47):
the game? And how badly does that behavior by both
guys reflect on tom Win and the Steelers A three
three four one two w xd X.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Do you trust the offense at this point?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
The offensive line digging deep despite being dinged up, coming
through the running game real good, Kenneth Gamewell with that
miracle catch and gets up in scars? Do you trust
the offense? Does the defense even need what? Don't get
me wrong. When he's ready, he's going to go back in.
I'm not sure when he's gonna be ready. I thought
Sawyer played really good. It was a different kind of
(08:23):
good and maybe a good kind of good. Are they
a legit playoff team that can win playoff games? If
so how many. I don't think it's a very good team. Still,
I'm not convinced, but I gotta tell you you look
at the AFC. No Kansas City, which means no Mahomes,
no Baltimore, which means no Lamar. I love Houston's defense,
(08:48):
Josh Allen, Superman, New England's going to be first time
back in the playoffs in a while Indianapolis faded out.
I'd love it if Indianapolis stumbled in the Steelers played them,
but I do not see that happening. Point is, the
AFC is real wide open. So I don't think the
(09:11):
Steelers are very good. I'm not sure how many very
good teams there are in the AFC aside from Buffalo.
Like I say, having Superman and that Houston defense, I
think everybody else pretty good at best. Let's go to Jimbo. Jimbo,
you're on with Mark.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
How good.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
You were talking about the Lions earlier and potentially get
rid of Dan Campbell Man.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I didn't say that. I've not mentioned that at all.
Are you sure you called the right show?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Yeah, I know you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
That's just wrong, you idiot. You clean your ears out.
They must be full of excremate. I haven't talked about
the Lions coaching at all. The first time Dan Campbell's
name got mentioned on this show was by you. Right now, goodbye,
don't call back. Let's go to Tim. You're on with
double M Afternoon Mark.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
How are you good, afternoon, Tim?
Speaker 6 (10:08):
A quick question for you. With Aaron Rodgers going into
the home stretch here and maybe a playoff game, how
frequently do you think Aaron Rodgers needs to take deep
shots down the field versus a more controlled, medium, medium
range game.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Well, I think they need to use the middle more.
I think they've done it a little more, but only
a little more. I think you always have to take
deep shots to keep the other teams defense honest. And
I think you've got to take deep shots to beat
good teams in playoff games.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Don't you.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Agreed?
Speaker 1 (10:43):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
I don't think you can win a playoff game right alone.
A series of playoff games by nickel diming, and not
to be fair, these last three wins, they've nickel dimes some,
but they've opened it up some and have succeeded when
they opened it up. Oh God, who did Rochester that
one ball to MBS. That was just off that one
(11:04):
deep ball. I thought MBS, well, MBS when he was
younger could have got it, but he's you know, not
twenty one anymore. Thank you for the call. Let's going
out of our good friend the Hebrew hammer hammer yuck schmash.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Hey, yuchemush marque. You look at it this way, the
Steelers are a pick play away from one of the
biggest meltdowns in the last twenty years. So opposite, the
game ends on a controversial play, So what you do
is take it in between. They're just still a above
average team that go into the playoffs and still probably
want and done. But as fans in Pittsburgh, everybody gets crazy.
(11:41):
If you recall that couple years.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Ago, that hammer, that's okay, that's part of being a fan.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Well, sure it is.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
But when you look at things with like a level head,
I mean, you see it when the smoke clears, it
is what it is. If you recall a couple of
years ago versus Buffalo, when that game was delayed because
of the snow, people were talking themselves into beaten Buffalo.
I mean, it's just that, you know, it's the nature,
it's the abs and flows of.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Fandom and that's okay.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And I will say the one argument on them maybe
achieving in these playoffs coming up is that the AFC
is wide open.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Like I said, no Mahomes, no Jackson.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
I just think sometimes because we won something doesn't mean
it's gonna come true, and that that's across the board
in life. So you can pay me five cents for
my thoughts.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
That's very philosophical. And that's your cue.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
That's so much whammy.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Let's go to Colin. Colin, you're on with the super genius,
super genior.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
How's it going great? So I was curious, what's your
opinion on how much luck has played it a factor
into the steelers last few wins. In my opinion, I
truly have never seen anything like some of the calls
that have been made.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Well, no, no, no, hold it, hold it. Luck and
calls are two different things.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Were they lucky to get all the big calls the
Baltimore game and all the big calls yesterday?
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
But I will say except for the roughing the snapper
call in the Baltimore game, every call made in both
those games in favor the Steelers was the correct call.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Okay, that's fair enough, But what about some of the
other miraculous plays, like, for example, the gain Well play.
I have never seen anything like that before, and that
won't happen again for another ten, fifteen, twenty years, that's.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
True, But they only needed it to happen yesterday, and
it was the difference in the game, turn the offense
around for the Steelers. And what I like most was
it opened the game up, It made the game entertaining. Yeah,
people talk about that being a great play. There's your luck.
That's a lucky play to make it. I mean, his
hand was on the ground and it landed on his hand.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
It just seems like it's kind of been one of
those seasons, Mark, And you know what, if that's what
it takes for us to win a playoff game, I'll
take it.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Team of destiny real quick. To Nick, Nick, you got
about fifteen.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Seconds, Hey, Mark, did Tom Brady Wasn't he a nickel
dime kind of quarterback? Or am I mistaken?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Like I know, he nickel and dime most.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Of the time, with a long ball here and there
to maybe Gronkowski, but for the most part his career
was nickol.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Well, not to maybe Goronkowski, but you know what Tom
Brady did that the Steelers don't do is he used
the middle of the field well and a lot. And
when you do that, when you do that, that's not nickel.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
Dime real quick playoffs.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
One thing I do like is that most of the
story and quarterbacks are gone.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Well I don't know.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
I mean, Allen's in it, Herbert's in it, Lawrence is
in it. I mean, maybe it's good that that Lamar
and Mahomes won't be there, but maybe they're just making
way for the next generation of standout quarterbacks who will
make their bones even further playing against the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
We do not know.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Thank you for the call up next to our football guru,
Matt Williamson here on one oh five nine notty four
point five trees, Mark Madden, Hey, Mark, when you got
a young Trophy White owes money to I can't even
quote the big o'boski right, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
With the exit.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
One fine Steelers with a very entertaining and dramatic win yesterday,
joining me now to talk about it. The former pro
and college scout. He is our football guru, Matt Williamson. Matt,
the Steelers ran the ball very well and stopped Detroit
running game that's usually gonna win, and it did, but barely.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Why was that game that close? It was a weird game.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Like I said, that was definitely a weird game. And well,
I think a huge reason it was close is Detroit
is a very talented and desperate team in their building
that started to figure things out, as is often the
case in the league. And the fourth quarter defense was
(15:44):
kind of holding on for dear life, you know. I mean,
you had a really good team under control for much
of the game, and then Golf and Saint Brown and
all these really talented players started to figure out what
you were doing on defense and you had to go
from there and kind of hold on, and you did
in a tough environment.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, and as long as you win, that's all good.
What made the running game go for Pittsburgh? And is
Dylan Cook a folk hero at this point?
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:13):
I mean crazy that both the long touchdown runs were
on the left side with seamlu out and your third
string left tackle. He's a good player. I mean, I
don't think what Dylan Cook is doing is fluky or
he's gonna turn into a pumpkin. Now, I'm not saying
he's the answer at left tackle or the next Anthony
Munoz or anything like that. But I think you found
(16:36):
something there, and I think that's been a theme with
a lot of guys on this team, that they've turned
the bottom of the roster quite a bit and they've
developed some talent, more so than in other years. I
do think the running game is partially a Lion's problem.
I mean, their safeties did a really bad job of
(16:57):
filling their their roles at defending run. But I also
think that the running games become much less predictable. I
mean a lot less outside zone, a wider variety of scheme,
and I think Rogers is dictating a lot of that too,
and they're sticking with it a little bit more, which
is promising. And game Well is just a really good player.
(17:18):
I mean he keeps flowing me away. I think he's
gonna keep turning into a pumpkin, but he never does.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah, no, no, I agree.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I just the mistake I hope they don't make, and
this is looking way ahead, that they don't overeate guys
who have been good for short stretches, like I wouldn't
make Dylan Cook my starting left tackle next year under
any circumstances. And I'd be careful with what I gave
to retain gain Well because he has a career backup.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
No, I see what you're saying too, and there's guys
like Pierre that you're going to have to make that
conversation about where this was nice, But that doesn't mean
that you found this answer, you know, five diamonds in
the rough. I mean, I think that it will be
an interesting conversation. I'm to we'll chat about in the
off season. But I definitely would say, well, Cook, is
you know, in the mix for next year and not
(18:04):
just a camp body or a practice squad guy that
if he's your third tackle, you're a lot more comfortable
than they have been.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I got him off the board for one second.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Man Baltimore loss, the Steelers have the division just about
wrapped up.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
What happened to the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I had them pegged as the best roster in football
before the season started.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I had then they were my Super Bowl pick to
win it all, and I think there's a lot of
things to play. The low hanging fruit, of course, is
while Lamar's hurt and they're super Lamar reliant. Yes, all
that stuffs true, fine, but even before he was hurt.
Both lines of scrimmage to me, were well below average.
(18:45):
Their guards are poor, Their tackles are a little overpaid
or a little you know, not quite what you think
they are. The pass rush is very lacking unless they
have to bring blitz, which works to some degree. What
are the most important players? Matta Bouquet was injured early
and there was no replacement for that. I think a
(19:06):
handful of their guys that are good players, like a
Mark Andrews, just looked a smidge older, a smidge slower,
and I wonder, I mean, we've had these conversations a
million times around here is Harbaugh's message starting to get
lost a little bit too? I think it's just a
fair thing to discuss, Matt.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
The Steelers receiver deployment.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
It might have worked yesterday, but it makes no sense
to be like Feelan being a primary target at thirty
five and he's barely been here. What do you think
of the way their wide receiver depth chart has shaken
down in how to do yesterday?
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Well, the opponent, I think had something to do with it.
And I'm not minimizing the way the Steelers played offense,
But the Lion's secondary was very much there for the taking,
and also in the as I mentioned, their safeties were
quite poor. So I definitely think there is something to
all this talk about professional route runners, proper spacing, all
(20:11):
those type of things and feeling and MBS definitely provide
that your boy Tom and I did the pregame show
and that he had a great point about this is
nice about feeling and mvs being out there and being
bigger bodies and blockers and being in the right place
at the right time, and that definitely has value. But
(20:31):
all of it kind of gets flushed if they don't
catch footballs, you know, I mean, you're wide receivers, and
they're starting to at least show that they can move
the chains or take some attention off Metcalf on the
deep ball for MBS. Now I wonder, you know, how
far can this group take you at the wide receiver position.
Then heck, their first round pick next year might be
(20:53):
a wide out. What do I know? I mean, I
think that's a possibility, but it's the best it's been.
You're not counting on Roman Wilson and then Austin who's undersized,
and I think you have some professionalism there.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
We're talking about Williamson our football gur were This segment
brought d west by shop dot Steelers dot Com. Matt up,
How did the defense get by without Watt and herbig
who picked up the slack?
Speaker 1 (21:17):
And how?
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Yeah that was huge. I didn't see that coming. I
thought high Smith, as he really has anytime he's been healthy,
he played a whale of a game despite getting some
more attention his direction. But I think another huge key.
And again I keep talking about the bad things about
the Lions, and that's not really my intentions this conversation,
But when they're going through a center left and right,
(21:39):
it's really hard to win in this league. And I
know for a fact that they have gained plan to
attack up the middle with blitzes, and I thought they
did a real good job with that, but inexperience at
center two guards that haven't played a lot of football.
I didn't think that you tried to battle Penny Soool
over and over and over. You know, Instead, you switched
(22:02):
your your strategy in terms of getting pressures for coming
up up the middle, which Goff doesn't move particularly well.
And frankly Sawyer played better than I thought too.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Yeah, I thought sorry had had a real good game.
Why did the defense, though, stumble at the end. It
got real passive, didn't It played way off the ball?
Speaker 4 (22:23):
It did, and maybe they underestimated, you know, the degree
of how quickly the Lions can strike you. But most
of it, to me was kind of like we talked
about before, is it's really hard to hold one of
the best offenses in the league down, let alone in
a situation where they've just flat out abandoned to run
(22:45):
and they're just going to attack with a lot of
really really good weapons when there are seasons on the
line in their building, no weather concerns.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Now.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
The one excuse I won't make, and that's for sure
that I often have talked about on Mondays with View
was I don't want to hear that the defense is
tired because they didn't play it in a third quarter.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Oh no, no question. I think it was more tactical
than anything.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
And like you said, Detroit being desperate and you know,
having to get points, and as it turned out, they
didn't quite get enough.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Aaron Rodgers is very good.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
It's hard to believe a forty two year old is
able to step on the accelerator near the end of
the season, let alone carry the team with him.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
But that's as best I can describe it.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
One hundred percent. I think that he really, he and
the whole team has a much better grasp for strengths
and weaknesses around him. He has a better trust factor,
certainly in the protection. I mean, the ball's not coming
out so obscenely quick, the thrown over the middle more.
But his command and his knowledge to me blows me away.
(23:50):
I mean, I feel like whenever there's controversy, was Rogers
right on this or not, He's like always right. I mean,
he just really understands the game, the pace, how to
throw people off. And I think that, you know, everyone
responds to them in a big way. I mean, not
that they didn't buy in before, but they now they
buy in one thousand percent that this guy really gives
(24:12):
us a chance. I was excited about him, but I'm
shocked how good he's been, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, yeah, it's even been above and beyond, just like
the last three weeks, because that Buffalo game was in
ay dear for him and for the Steelers, and they've
bounced back strong since then. Is this a team that
in your mind, Matt is getting legitimately better and in
what ways is that most evident.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
I absolutely think they're getting better. I think that they've stopped,
you know, pounding a square peg into a round hole
on both sides of the ball tactically for a lot
of reasons, you know, less man coverage, less blitz. We
just realized we're not as good at that, so we're gonna,
you know, pivot from there. They're playing better football players
(24:57):
through the wide receivers are a good example. You know,
Ramsey at safety has been a huge boost to them
as well. I think that they're much more well rounded. Now. Okay,
if we're not running the ball, great well, we can
throw on you and keep up and vice versa. With
we're not stopping the run, great well, our past defense
can pick us up. And I just think that there's
(25:18):
less clear holes for the opponent to attack. But I
would say the biggest thing is what we just talked
about is the quarterback. I just think whenever he's playing
super strong in a quarterback Driggon league, you're gonna be
in it.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Can the Steelers win playoff games?
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Who's the one opponent they don't want to play Among
the possibilities in the first round, I.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Think they could probably win a game maybe two. Wow,
that's maybe a stretch. I just don't think the AFC
is daunting. I mean there's definitely not the Bills in
their prime, or the Ravens last year, or the Chiefs teams.
We become a cust know that there's.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
No Lamar, there's no Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
I mean, that's a good place to start if you
want opportunity to knock.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Absolutely. Now, Allen's really scary, but they're a flawed team.
I think every one of the teams in the conference
can be beatable. I mean, I bet there's gonna be
several upsets in the AFC playoff races. I would not
want to see Buffalo. I still, I know they weren't
great yesterday, but I think Houston has a chance to
go to the super Bowl as well. But I think
(26:25):
they're right there with the Chargers and Jacksonville's hot, but
I'm not exactly sold on them. No one blows me away,
I guess is the bottom lenel.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Ears Among the teams they could play, I think they
could be either Jacksonville or the LA Chargers in Pittsburgh.
It wouldn't be a guarantee, but those are winnable games.
I'd be worried a lot about Houston's defense if it
comes to that. And I don't think they beat Josh
Allen in the first round. I don't think Superman's won
and done.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Agreed, I couldn't agree more. I mean, to me, my
least favorite options are definitely Buffalo and Houston. My favorite
is the Chargers Jacksonville. I'd be, yeah, let's see what can.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Happen Matt up.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
They still do a lot of stupid stuff though, never
mind DK punching the fan. That's like off the field.
But there were opis, you know, a bad fumble by Darnell,
and I still I don't think Darnell watching is the answer.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Maybe that's the discussion we got have.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
I would so much rather see friar Mouth than John
who get his snaps.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
I don't know about John who. I am a Darnell fan.
I think I'm higher on him than you are, just
because I think teams hate playing against him, you know,
I mean, this is such a unique player that he's
hard to prepare for, really hard to prepare for. But
I can't agree more on friar Mouth. I don't understand
why he's so down the pecking order.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Is there any way they lose to Cleveland.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
No, there are really, I mean, unless the weather gets
nasty or something like that, or I mean, you watch
the Browns offense and it's really well schemed. Early in
the game, you know, they do a lot of smoke
and mirrors and motion and stuff that they script and
(28:15):
then every defense figures it out and turns into a
typical type game and they can't execute because the quarterback's bad,
the O line's horrible. Their top three running backs might
be out of this game. I mean, they're really short
on talent right now.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I gotta be honest, Matt, I'm almost disappointed that the
Week eighteen game against Baltimore is very likely to be meaningless.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
It's kind of a bummer.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I thought that might be for all the marbles, and
I know it's better if they clinched, but that would
have been pretty exciting.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
I absolutely would have, and it still can be. I mean,
I guess there's a chance, but I would rather I'm
sure Rogers and cam and then Ramsey would much rather
be resting as opposed to dealing with that mess.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Where do you stay on teams resting their starters in
meaningless games? Does it help the arrest or does it
take away from the team's rhythm.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
I wish i'd a better answer, because it's funny. I
was just had this conversation right before I left the
station in our last segment, because I don't feel strong
one way or another. I definitely think that the Rogers
and Cams of the world are very easy to sit.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
A lot more than they need repetition, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
I mean they don't need practice, they don't need that
extra game. Their bodies need to heal now. I think
what is interesting is if the Ravens get eliminated Saturday night,
do you rest people two weeks? Because if it comes
down to the Steelers beating the Browns and they come
through and they do it, I'm resting everyone for one week.
(29:50):
I mean I'm resting Zach Frasier, even though he's young.
I mean important people one week. That's just like a
bye week. But when you start to get two, I
think that's when it gets tricky. And I don't really
know that answer.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
I think the trickiest decision to make is the team
that gets the buy and the wild card round, you know,
resting guys in week eighteen, because then it's two full
weeks off and that has come back and been some
teams like that. One year, I forget what year, but
Indy had like one loss, rested guys and went on early. Yeah,
you know, here's let me play Devil's advocate, Matt. I
(30:24):
agree with resting Rodgers. I mean, my god, it's obvious
forty two year old quarterback. But that basically takes the
whole offense out of rhythm.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Oh yeah, I mean everything becomes a disaster at that point.
And then you start one dun. You probably then rest
see Amalu and then you probably rest Metcalf and as
a ripple effect, and you throw Rudolph out there and
you really treat it like a preseason game then or
you know. The other thing we discussed was would you
play Rogers for two series against the Browns? I mean,
(30:53):
week eighteen, I'm not playing them unless they have to win.
You play them two to three series, But I don't
even know that accomplishes. You know, to me, there's not
really a right answer. It's just if you lose, the
coach gets killed for making the wrong answer.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Well, you know why, it's tough to decipher, Matt. Neither
of us ever figured that the Steelers might clinch the
AFC North by week seventeen exactly.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
I mean, I'm pretty blown away that that's even in
the cards.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Matt has always great stuff, fantastic insight. We'll do it
again next week, all right, but take care, we'll see it.
That's the great Matt Williamson, our football Goo.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
We're brought list by shop dot Steelers dot Com. Get
your calls in now eight three, three four one two WSDX.
We got some great sound just around the corner from
Sidney Crosby talking about breaking Mario Lemuse career record all
time points as a Penguin on Fi ninety X.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
This hour, The Mark Madden Show is brought to you
by Bud Light, proudly served to Braddockson and Farmington.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Stopping Braddickson and enjoy three dollars Nicolobaltras sixteen dolls of
aluminum fine Story Penguins Games Bud Like Geese, the Dream Easy,
don't join
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.