December 29, 2025 • 33 mins
Mark continues to talk Steelers, takes your calls for Steelers angst and is joined by Matt Williamson to break down the awful Steelers loss to the Browns
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):
This is the Mark Man Show. You like it, you
love it, you want more of it? The number to
call to get your angst out there, and keep in mind,
I'm not laughing with you, I'm laughing at you. It's
a three three four one two wxdx eight three three
four one two w xdx. Or you can follow me
(00:21):
on Twitter at Mark Madden X. I've said repeatedly that
the Steelers will never fire Mike Tomlin, but if it's
ever gonna happen, it'd be after they lost to Baltimore
on Sunday and blow the division and blow the playoffs.
If they're ever gonna ditch tom Win, it'd be after that.
(00:43):
And keep in mind, this wouldn't be the first play
season collapse under Tomlin. There's been a whole litany of them.
This would just be well, a short collapse. But you
never thought it would happen because you never thought they
would lose to Clevelands. It wouldn't happen right after the
game like it should. If the Steelers lose to Baltimore,
(01:05):
Tomlin should be fired before he even gets off the field.
But what would happen? And it won't happen, But if
it did, Tomlin would resign or take a job on
TV something to say face for both him and the franchise.
So if it's ever gonna happen, it's after they lose
to Baltimore on Sunday, and probably not even then, almost
(01:26):
certainly not even then. But Mike Tomlin is just not
a good coach. He's not a good coach. I'm gonna
say it a third time because that's a hat trick
of truth. Baby, he is not a good coach. The
evidence is overwhelming, but yet still ignored. We talked a
little bit in the show's opening hour about the notion
(01:51):
put forth by Tony Romo on CBS and then by
Miles Garrett after the game. I mean, a bunch of
funky stuff went don yesterday Cleveland. Garrett didn't get a sack,
didn't break watch record, and like Romo said, like Garrett said,
it seemed like the Steelers ran away from Garrett's and
(02:13):
like Rogers was extra aware of where Garrett was at
all times. And we know gainwell Chip Garrett to the
point where he was not involved in the passing game
barely at all, and certainly not like he was when
he was the biggest factor in winning the game at
Detroit the week prior, so the narrative is they were
(02:35):
keeping Garrett from breaking watch sack record at the expense
of winning. Garrett point blank said that I don't think
that's the case. I think you just try to block
Garrett because he's the best defensive player in football and
he might kill your quarterback or get a stripsacker whatever.
(02:56):
But even though I don't think that's the case, it
wouldn't surprise me either. It wouldn't shot me if they
were that petty, Tom Petty, because they went in that
game clearly thinking that victory was assured. That's a big reason.
I would guess they started out so flat. And maybe
(03:20):
maybe Wat gave the O line of pep talk before
the game. Hey, help me keep my record. It means
so much. I don't know that. I don't even think that,
but I want to believe that. What and Tomlin and
Rogers and the Steelers are certainly that level of petty.
(03:40):
And I say it again, Tom Petty. So TJ still
has the record. Congratulations to TJ. The entire Watt family.
Cleveland plays at Cincinnati next week. When Michael Strahan of
the New York Football Giants broke Mark Gasteno's record for
sacks in two thousand and two. He got the last
(04:01):
sack to get the record in the waiting moments of
the final game of the season, and he got it
because Brett Farr, playing quarterback for Green Bay, laid down
like was laughing and just laid down and let straighthand
get the sack that broke the record, which Gastona was
pissed about. And years later, like you know, memorabilia shows,
(04:22):
cons and stuff like that took a lot of money
out of Gastono's pocket. You're the sack leader that upsher
andy a little bit. And Gastona confronted far with a
show like that and should have I mean, that was
just I mean they I thought the NFL should have
disallowed the sack. I thought they should have suspended Farv
for going in the tank. That said, what if Joe
(04:46):
Burrow for Cincinnati laid down for Miles Garrett on Sunday
in the season finale for both teams a meaningless game,
or Joe Flacco or Jake Browning or whoever winds up
playing quarterback for the Bengals. What Farv did was unsportsable
like and shameful. If Burrow or Flacco or Broni did it,
(05:09):
it would be hilarious because the entire Watt family would
wet their pants as one. Can you imagine if that
happened on CBS? What what networks? JJ Watt on, Yeah,
he's on CBS, He's on like their b team. I
don't think they're gonna be televising the Bengals of Bronze nationally.
But could you imagine if Burrow laid down for Garrett
(05:30):
while JJ Watt was on commentary? Oh God, not many
of my dreams come true, but please let that be
one of them. Then I'm gonna call for Steeler angst
for calls on the fifteens is a three three four
one two wxdx. That's a three three four one two
(05:51):
w xdx. We got all Steeler talk today, maybe a
little bit of pit talk. Oh and later on I
am going to talk about uh. We had the anniversary
twenty fifth anniversary a significant number, twenty fifth anniversary of
the LEMU comeback game at Melon Arena, and that is
(06:12):
one of the biggest moments in Pittsburgh sports, and it's
the moment I most remember for having been there. All
the stuff I've witnessed in person in sports. I still
get goosebumps thinking about Mario's comeback. So get your calls
in now eight three three four one two WSDX. It's
the Mark Madden Show on one o five to nine.
Rock to the Rules.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I make.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
How you liking Nappy GX at one five nine. On
the bright side, if the Steelers don't make the playoffs,
I'm gonna go to New York on wild Card weekend
to see a Rangers game, Jerry Seinfeld and a Broadway show.
(06:58):
I got plans for Draft weekend here too in Pittsburgh,
except they're not in Pittsburgh. They don't involve the draft.
But I'll tell you about those at a later dates.
But now it's time for calls on the fifteens. Now
it's time for Steelers angst. Get your calls in im
media mont that means immediately in French at A three
(07:19):
three four one two w X d X. Let's go
to Scooch and Hope, Well Scoot, you're on with double
M What up mine?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Hey, I got a question for you about this Sunday
night's game.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
It's gonna sound stupid because on its face it is
kind of ridiculous. But would you rather face Huntley or
Lamar if you were a Steelers fam No.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I was talking about that with Tom earlier. I heard
Pompiani talk about on his program. I mean, I don't
know who I'd want to face, but I do know
that the Ravens simplify their offense greatly when Snoops in there.
It becomes the Derrick Henry Show. And I think they're
best bet in a game like this in December at
Akrashore against a Steelers team that's kind of reeling from
(08:04):
losing at Cleveland. Try to tackle Derrick Henry is a
morale buster. Green Bay clearly got tired of doing it
long about the second quarter of that game. Now, that
game was meaningless for green Bay, which is a major difference.
I think the best way to answer that is if
Lamar's at one hundred percent, I obviously want him in there,
(08:25):
I from the Ravens. If Lamar's fifty percent, you hear
right now that because of that wonky back, he's fifty
to fifty to play. I think the Ravens have a
better chance in this game with snoopid quarterback, because they're
gonna want to make Lamar look like the MVP, whether
it's fifty one hundred percent whatever. So unless Lamar is
really good to go, I think their chances are better
(08:47):
with Snoop. Let's go to Maddie. Maddie, you're on with
Marty rather you're on with Mark. I said, good day.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Hey, Mark, I'm just wondering, what do you think the
chances of the Steelers actually having a home.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Game this week?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I think the fans are gonna sell all the tickets
because they know what's coming.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
No, I don't think so. I think, Well, now that
you said it out loud and I'm pondering, I don't
think they're gonna sell all the tickets, but it wouldn't
shot me if a big contingent of Ravens fans is there.
I think a lot of Steeler fans have had enough
of Tomlin. I think they've had enough of the way
every season feels like the prior.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
However, many I think the Rooney's gonna make a statement
right now, fire him tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
You can't do that right now, but if they lost
on Sunday, I'd fired Tom before he got off the field.
Thank you for the call. Oh wait, Art, the second
this just came out, he didn't make a statement. I
can handle stuff. I'm smart too, not dumb, like people say,
let's go to Jude. Hey Jude, you're on with double.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
M Mark loved The Godfather to reference. But anyways, I
find the national media members that continue to send Tom
an extremely annoying. For example, I saw a clip of
First Take earlier and Cam Newton, you know, he was
saying the usual garl.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I saw that we have that we have that as
a SoundBite. I don't think I'm gonna use it because
it's so dumb. But he says that Tom was a
victim of his own success, that he set the bar
so high that when he can't achieve in similar fashion,
it's not his fault, it is his fault. And like
I keep harping on, and I heard Paul Alexander nearly
(10:28):
bust the gut talking about on the radio yesterday, Mike
tom would has won a playoff game in four of
his nineteen seasons. That's rotten. That just is rotten. He
never has been a good coach. He won with somebody
else's team culture and leaders. That that's what happened when
he got his ring.
Speaker 6 (10:46):
Right.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
And this might make me a bad fan, but at
this point, I basically root for whatever further exposes and
embarrasses coach Tomlin. I just I'm kind of at that
point with them in this team, nothing will change unless,
you know, unless he steps down, which he won't.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It comes to every team but the Penguins in Liverpool.
I root for whatever will make me the most money.
But and so I need the Steelers to win and
get me another viewing party. But if they lose, yeah,
you're right. The embarrassment to Tom went in the franchise
and all the yocals out there getting it shoved up
their backside, that will be no small constellation. Let's go
to Zach. Zach, you're all with.
Speaker 6 (11:20):
Mark, Mark, we're gonna miss Darnell Washington. And quite frankly,
I thought I was a bit uncouth you saying you
would break his arm more with an X ray machine.
That's you're classier than that.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
Mark.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
No, No, first off, I'm not classier than that. And
he's not in great pain, and they're better off without him,
They're they're better off with the real tight ends playing.
Speaker 6 (11:42):
He is a real tight end.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
No, he's not. He's a He's a fat bastard who
had one viral moment. Other than that, he does nothing.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
I'm aware around defenders he's blocker and you know what coach,
he's good Mark coach, he's good. Cam Newton say, you.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Know, see, I think you're beat well. Cam Newton dresses
better than me. I can't do the pimp thing. But
but I can't believe you're saying Tomin's a good coach
after yesterday. I can't believe. I mean, clearly, you're not
very bright. I can tell by the way you talk.
But but I mean, I don't know how you can
conclude that after yesterday.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
My god, Yeah, you say angst, But I was real
Steeler fed. We knowne that coach.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
He's gonna ride in. I can't wait till they lose.
I can't wait till they lose. I can't wait till
they lose because of people like you. I can't wait
till they lose. But thank you for the call. Actually,
I want him to win. Like I said viewing party,
All right, that was angst. I like it, and I
(12:40):
went really dropped the X ray machine on Darnell Washington's
arm just to figure speech. For one thing, I don't
even know how those things work. Next, Matt Williamson Our
Football Gurute one oh five to nine. This is Doug Gottlieb.
Here's what's trending from the Iheartsports Network presented by Levin
Furniture and Mattress.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
Week seventeen of the NFL season wraps up with a
Falcons look to play spoiler. They'll host the Rams on
Monday Night Football. The Steelers will play in primetime in
Week eighteen, and they'll host Baltimore with the AFC North
Crown and a playoff berth on the line on Sunday
Night Football. Steelers tight end Darnell Washington he'll miss that
game and a potential playoff opener.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
He broke his arm yesterday in Cleveland. I'm Scott, David.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Said Delvin new Year's sales starts now bring in twenty
twenty six with twenty six percent off their lowest prices,
plus five year special financing bedrooms and sofas from Tea Bagging,
Quy Tea Baging.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
Great story from Helling and rich TXIT one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
There's certainly a lot to dissect after the Steelers lost
to Cleveland yesterday, joining us now to do just that.
He is our football guru, former pro and college Scott
Matt Williamson. Matt, let me start with a very basic question,
how on earth did the Steelers screw that up?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Yeah, it's it's I've said this a thousand times.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Matt, he said it a thousand times, but couldn't say it. Then, Okay,
we'll get Matt uh back on in a second. I'm sure.
By the way, some breaking news, No pun intended about
Darnell Washington's broken arm. He broke his left arm, which
makes it even a bigger deal because that's the arm
he uses to lift the fork. So we wish Darnell
(14:25):
Washington well in his recovery. Hopefully it's speedy and he'll
be back on the field for another team next year.
Oh no, they signed him. He's stilling his rookie deal again.
I don't mean to be ignorant by saying I'm glad
he's hurt. Maybe a better way to put it would
be I am glad the real tight ends like Muth
(14:47):
and John who are gonna have to play now. And
I bet it's a better team. I bet it's a
better offense because of it. I just wonder if Rogers
will throw them the ball anyway, because the most logical
thing to do games in yesterday would have been to
get the ball to Friar moveth but instead they just
kept throwing and throwing and throwing to mvs. Okay, in
(15:13):
case we don't get Matt Beck, get your calls in
now for angst, we'll continue calls on the fifteens. I
don't know what happened to his foam. Maybe he just
died a three three four one two wxdx. That's a
three three four one two w xdx. I do want
to talk for a moment about Saturday night being the
(15:36):
twenty fifty anniversary of Mario's comeback in two thousand. I
really should have talked about it Friday instead of all
the DK Metcalf nonsense and Steller Stiller stillers. Because Mario's
comeback game against Toronto on December twenty seventh, two thousand,
(15:56):
at Melon Arena, it is one of the most significant
moments it's in Pittsburgh sports history. The Old Igloo was
absolutely lit, the loudest it it ever was. The lottest
of Pittsburgh hockey crowd at any rink ever was. It's
worth noting that the Penguins have never won a Stanley
cupp at home. All five have been clinched on the road.
(16:18):
But still that Lemieux night, the comeback. It's hard to
imagine a hockey night in Pittsburgh. Ever, being Lodder, it's
the lottest it it ever was, sound, had feel, and
when the Big Boys scored, it went to another level. Still, Okay,
we think we got Matt back. Matt uh, Let's get
(16:39):
back to square one. How the Steeler screw that up?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And again, this is the crux of the whole conversation
is I'll say it a million times, it's a game
you can't lose. You have to win that game. You
have to win that game. I'll say it over and
over and over. But let's just break down some aspects
of it. First off, your early defense. It's early game,
first two drives, first quarter defense was well below the line.
(17:06):
And when I previewed the Browns, I knew this was
a danger. Stefanski's a really good offensive mind. They do
their work, their best work early in games when they
catch teams off guard. Did the same thing that the Bills.
All their scripted stuff, things that haven't been on tape before,
can be a challenge, and they made things easier on
Sanders and a subpar group, but still, you can't let
(17:30):
up end points right off the bat and keep this
thing even close to competitive. And that was huge in
a game you knew it was going to be low scoring,
so you immediately put yourself behind the eight ball, which
is totally unacceptable. Now there's other aspects. You look at
it and say, okay, you want to turnover battle two
to nothing. That's great, And frankly Sawyer could have scored
(17:52):
on his interception, her big dropped the potential pick six. Yep,
So that's all great, but you missed the field. That's
the exact same thing as a turnover. You are zero
for three on fourth downs, all of which are the
exact same thing as a turnover, and you're horrendous on
third bounds. So all the pivotaal moments, you basically turned
(18:14):
the ball over or destroyed yourself. In hindsight, I also
think they got away. They should have run the ball
a higher percentage of the time, checked the passes too
many times when the running game was just fine. I
would have featured Friarmuth Moore. But the hugest thing, and hey,
the Browns lost fan and their number one receiver early
(18:37):
didn't have Judkins, so nobody wants to hear about it.
But they had no wide receivers that could beat man coverage.
So you get single high safety with man coverage, and
you know the Ravens are going to do the exact
same thing, and nobody on the team can beat man
coverage wide receiver.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah. I agree with all that. I think if the
Steelers have DK, they win. But you're very right to
note that the Ravens. Excuse me, the Browns were missing
some significant weapons on offense too. And I want to
get back to what you said about the Steelers pretty
much dumping out of the running game, even though they
averaged five point five yards per carry and never trailed
by more than a score after early in the second quarter.
(19:15):
That's got to be a Rogers thing because it makes
no sense. I think that offense has trickled down to
what he wants to do and who he wants to
do it with, and yesterday not to great effect.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Agreed, And I think you nailed it, And to be honest,
I think that has worked in the Steelers favor a
lot this season. You know, I would I look at
Rogers and say rarely does he make a bad decision
or rarely do I disagree with him. I think he
knows the game as well as a lot of coaching staffs,
and maybe as well as anyone on the Steeler coaching staff.
(19:48):
I mean, that's the testament that who he is. But
I mean I also think, like people don't think about this,
but last year with the Jets, the Jets had the
the fewest number of carries in the entire league. Now,
they were losing a lot, but he also would check
the passes way high percent of the time. I'm sure
(20:09):
he had a lot of freedom there too, as he deserves.
But I think all throughout his career he has checked
the throws more than probably he should. At this stage
of his career, He's still not an MVP throwing to
Nelson and Devonte Adams with the best passing game in
the league. So when you got that group, I'm also
(20:32):
certain it's not Arthur Smith saying we should throw the
ball at the tenth highest rate in the league. That's
where they're at right now. You know, Arthur Smith wants
to run the ball. Gildarmin wants to run the ball.
Doesn't leave a lot for why they don't run it
as much as some of us would like.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Yeah, yesterday kind of convinced me that I would not
bring him back. I don't think he's going to be
any better or any less stubborn at forty three. That's
probably a conversation for later. But the most upsetting thing
was his arm was all over the place. That's as
bad as I seen him throw since coming the Steelers,
and he was a bit disheveled mentally it looked like too.
But I'm wondering which cause which.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Yes, I mean, he frankly admitted it after he didn't
play his best game. I think that's apparent. I think
it's a little disturbing when your forty two year old
quarterback has to play his best game for you to win,
no matter who the opponent is.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Well, and especially at.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Exactly now, I will say that defense is exactly the
type of defense they didn't want to face without Metcalf,
And there's no question about that. And there weren't great answers.
It's easy for us to say on Monday, why not
more friar moves? Why not more running? And I said
those things during the game. I'm sure you did too,
But there weren't obvious answers when you're getting nothing from
(21:46):
the wide receiver position. But I'm with you. I didn't
think he threw the ball very well.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
If DJ plays, did they win?
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Yeah? That simple, Yeah, I do. I mean, I just
think you make create a lot less heavy boxes. They're
going to be a lot less apt to press skis
at the line of scrimmage. I don't think he makes
the play. You know, the jump balls that Valdez scantling
(22:13):
they throw to him at the end because he's bad
at those things. Just because he's big. People have that misconception.
But I just think his presence is enough to score you.
I mean, Mark, if they score a touchdown yesterday, whether
it's on defense or offense, I think they win. And
I think him being on the field, you score a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree. And I also, you know,
noting that he wasn't there, I would have gone to
Friarmouth more, especially you know the last three throws all
to MVS. I would have tried to put Friarmouth in
that mix in the red zone. And I don't mean
this to sound as cruel as it does, but I'm
not bothered that Washington's hurt because now I think they
(22:52):
have to use the real tight ends, and I think
it'll diversify their offense if Rogers lefts it.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
I the one thing I couldn't agree more with is
I don't understand challenging the Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward
with a guy that's been on like five teams and
four years, Valdez scantling three times in a row, and
you need it most and we get I mean that
one's hard for me to defend any which way you
cut it. I definitely have said a couple of times
(23:20):
this conversation, I think you have to use Friarmuth more.
And I've thought that almost every week this year. I
don't understand. I just don't get it. I mean, I
get a lot of people say, oh, they should trade
Friarmuth this offseason because you know he's only good. Now,
I you got to use them more. I mean, I
think he's a good football player. I love Washington, but
(23:41):
I think in a game like this even more a
little more John Neu. You know, like get anyone on
a linebacker or a safety and those are going to
be your tight ends because you know your outside receivers
aren't winning at all.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
We're talking about football guru, Matt Williamson. He's brought to
us by the Steelers Pro Shop get it direct from
the team even shop dot Steelers dot com. Matt, you
talked about the defensive end of this, but I thought
the Steelers came out flat on both sides of the ball.
That happens a lot, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Yeah, now a little less than it used to. I mean,
they used to be so bad on opening drives, and
if you look at like points per quarter, it's not
as bad in the first quarter as it has been.
I'm not big on the word flat. I just start.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
I mean, I don't think it was a lack of
effort or a lack of prep. Who knows, maybe it
is a lack of prep. That's a hard thing to comment.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Well, I don't think it's lack of effort. I just think,
like like you said, when you give away the first
quarter to one of the worst teams in the league,
there's something wrong.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Yeah, I mean, so I should have brought this. I
got cut off. I thought I was talking to you
actually before the Patriots Jet game. I mean, the Jets
are a horrendous organization. They're gonna take the top five,
just like the Browns. The Patriots ended that thing in
forty five seconds into the game, you know, like just
to assert your dominance, you're the better team. Don't let
(25:06):
him hang around. End it in the first round. Rarely
do we see this team do that.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Now, how do you view this Baltimore game. Baltimore certainly
comes in with a lot of adrenaline and momentum. I
thought they battered green Bay physically.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Yes, I thought it was a rather embarrassing performance by
green Bay's defense. But Henry does this every year when
the weather chain is, when it gets late, he gets
better and better and better. I have no idea what
Lamar's situation is, but I almost don't. It definitely matters
a mind. Well we're fifty okay, okay, so I bet
(25:42):
that's probably forty sixty. I mean I doubt, I mean
they lean towards him not playing. Who knows, I would assume.
I know, I know exactly what you're gonna get from Baltimore.
They're gonna hand it to Henry a thousand times, and
it's gonna get really old tackling him. And you know,
the Steelers aren't going to be winning by twenty to
make that an impossibility. And the other side of the ball,
(26:03):
they're gonna play single high safety and they're gonna do
exactly what Cleveland did in terms of man coverage. But
the difference is they don't generate a pass rush. They
have to get pass rush through blitz. They don't have
Miles Garrett and the other guys, So I don't think
they'll be as good at it as Cleveland was. And
(26:24):
it's gonna be a big thing with the Steiler coaching staff.
I mean, I did a show with Mike Pursuider earlier
did a really good point. He said, you at least
have the Browns game to have a test run as
a coaching staff to figure out what worked what didn't. Now,
how do they adjust you mean with that, DK? Yes, right,
I mean now you have a one game sample size. No, DK,
(26:46):
you know what you're gonna get on defense. You're very
familiar with Harbaugh and his staff. What are you gonna do?
Speaker 5 (26:52):
You know?
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Yeah, I think the I mean I would never say
they're better off with Lamar out, but maybe they're better
off with Snoop in there instead of Lamar. If Lamar
is only forty percent or whatever. I think Lamar in
there dinged up. I mean, there's always the need to
keep him involved and make him look like an MVP.
I think with Snoop they just handed to Derrick Henry,
(27:13):
and I think that serves them well in this game.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Yeah, and Huntley played well. I mean if you just
isolate on him in green Bay, he played a good
game too. It wasn't just Henry and I'm with you.
I mean I've heard some narrative that, oh man, Lamar's overrated.
You know that they don't need them. That's insane. I mean,
but a very, very compromised version of Lamar. This might
be the better version with Huntley. Yes, I can get
(27:39):
behind that, but if he's practicing in full and looks good,
that makes life way harder. I'm the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Well, like you said, Matt, Snoop don't suck. He played
really good against Green Bay. And the thing with him
is he's like Lamar light in the I mean, if
he has to play, you can use pretty much the
same game plan exactly.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Talking on the drive just now about I never understood
how they got away from Huntley, I mean why he
should have been their lifetime backup forever. He ended up
in Miami, it was at Cleveland. He's perfect for what
they do is the number two is a you know,
a Miller Lte version of Lamar?
Speaker 1 (28:16):
What happened to Baltimore this year? Because I loved their
roster before the season, still do. I thought it was
among the best in the league. Why have they just
gone south like they have?
Speaker 3 (28:26):
Yeah, it's super easy to say it's Lamar's injury, and
yes that has a lot to do with it, But
they have bigger problems than that, much bigger problems. And
I picked them to win the Super Bowl. I thought
this was the year they were going to explode. But
they're both Their lines of scrimmage leave a lot to
be desired. Their guard positions are very poor. Other than Linderbaum,
they're below average basically across the board. On the offensive line,
(28:50):
I expect her big high Smith, maybe Watt definitely Cam
to win those battles. And then their defensive line is
a real problem too. They lost Madam Bouquet early. He
was kind of straw that starved to drink. And they
don't have any real one verse one pass rush winners
right now either. So those are the main problems, and
(29:13):
those are problems before Lamar got hurt. I mean, those
are problems the first month of the season.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Yeah. The thing about that lost to Cleveland and it
sucked on so many levels. I know you agree, yeah,
but they could have really used week eighteen in this
Ravens game to rest Rogers and Ramsey and Cam and
you know, all the names, maybe even Watt for an
extra week, assuming he's ready to play, which I think
is a big assumption. I don't think we really know.
But now you're not only making them play Week eighteen.
(29:40):
A Ravens game was so much on the line. That's
the equivalent of a five car pile up, isn't it,
you know exactly?
Speaker 3 (29:45):
That's the opportunity lost. I mean, you can still win
the division. It should be a fun atmosphere, you can
go into the playoffs. But what could have been, what
you sacrificed is rest, you know. I mean I would
have rested everybody. I would have played Caleb Johnson and
Will Howard and Roman Wilson and got beat by a million.
(30:07):
I don't care. Because they're an older team. They had
the earliest bye week you possibly can have, and now
physically you can't be where you could have been if
even if you do win next week, mind close?
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Who do you like? I like Baltimore, but I don't
want to assume they're gonna beat him because they have
the momentum because the Steelers lost at Cleveland. I think
it's gonna be like a low scoring game and probably
up for grabs at the end.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
What say you, Yeah, it's a little early in the
week for me to dig in. But we did see
this recently, and I would like no more about all injuries,
especially Lamar. But I do think the world's overreacting to
Baltimore played well this week, Steelers played bad, so they're
going to destroy the Steelers. I don't see it that way.
I'm with you that I do expect a low twenty
(30:55):
to twenty one type of game.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Now, let's say the Steelers lose and don't make the playoffs.
Does the team need to shake up? I mean, where's
the team go from there?
Speaker 3 (31:06):
So I wonder I know this isn't what you ask,
but does the loser of this head coach and organization
feel a lot of heat?
Speaker 6 (31:14):
You know?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
I think that's.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Feeling heat and getting fired or two different things. But
I would say, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
I mean I tend to think so too, because expectations
in Baltimore were super bow or bust, and he only
make the playoffs. Expectations here are win a playoff game,
and you only make the playoffs. You know, like in
both the coaches, the staffs, et cetera have been there
a really long time. I don't think anything would happen
in either organization though, no matter what happens, though, I.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Tend to agree with that, and I think that might
be a mistake in Matt, Like, even if you don't
want to call either coach a bad coach or even
say he's doing a bad job, doesn't the message get
lost after such a long.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Term history shows, especially in this league, that it does.
You know that a lot of the best coaches, the Walshes,
some of those guys ten to twelve years is kind
of your sweet spot, and there is a lot of evidence,
and you know, you look at New England, you look
at Jacksonville, you look at Chicago, and there's others where
(32:12):
you hire a bright, young coach and all of a sudden,
a bad team turns into a good team.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Matt, I'm not even sure where to go talking about
the Steelers, like yesterday, dumbfounded me one last thing, and
I'm sure you felt the same way. I was convinced
they were gonna win on that last possession that dead
tit and go to overtime and win it. I just
couldn't fathom they're losing that game. And like you said,
it was a game you couldn't lose.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I thought so too. I mean, I thought the longer
the game goes on, the better the chance they have
to win. If they get the overtime, I love their chances.
Rogers will figure things out. And then you look at
it and like, who's my playmakers, you know? And there
just wasn't any. And I was shocked in the end
that they left that place of the loss.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Yeah, Matt has always great stuff, great analysis. Will do
it again next week.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
Enjoyed football, all right, man, take care of yourself.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
That's the great Matt Williamson. Brought to us by Shop
dot Steelers dot com. We got more great football talk
next hore with Trey Essex, the two time Super Bowl champion,
on the O line for the Steelers. One oh five
nine x
This is the Mark Man Show. You like it, you
love it, you want more of it? The number to
call to get your angst out there, and keep in mind,
I'm not laughing with you, I'm laughing at you. It's
a three three four one two wxdx eight three three
four one two w xdx. Or you can follow me
(00:21):
on Twitter at Mark Madden X. I've said repeatedly that
the Steelers will never fire Mike Tomlin, but if it's
ever gonna happen, it'd be after they lost to Baltimore
on Sunday and blow the division and blow the playoffs.
If they're ever gonna ditch tom Win, it'd be after that.
(00:43):
And keep in mind, this wouldn't be the first play
season collapse under Tomlin. There's been a whole litany of them.
This would just be well, a short collapse. But you
never thought it would happen because you never thought they
would lose to Clevelands. It wouldn't happen right after the
game like it should. If the Steelers lose to Baltimore,
(01:05):
Tomlin should be fired before he even gets off the field.
But what would happen? And it won't happen, But if
it did, Tomlin would resign or take a job on
TV something to say face for both him and the franchise.
So if it's ever gonna happen, it's after they lose
to Baltimore on Sunday, and probably not even then, almost
(01:26):
certainly not even then. But Mike Tomlin is just not
a good coach. He's not a good coach. I'm gonna
say it a third time because that's a hat trick
of truth. Baby, he is not a good coach. The
evidence is overwhelming, but yet still ignored. We talked a
little bit in the show's opening hour about the notion
(01:51):
put forth by Tony Romo on CBS and then by
Miles Garrett after the game. I mean, a bunch of
funky stuff went don yesterday Cleveland. Garrett didn't get a sack,
didn't break watch record, and like Romo said, like Garrett said,
it seemed like the Steelers ran away from Garrett's and
(02:13):
like Rogers was extra aware of where Garrett was at
all times. And we know gainwell Chip Garrett to the
point where he was not involved in the passing game
barely at all, and certainly not like he was when
he was the biggest factor in winning the game at
Detroit the week prior, so the narrative is they were
(02:35):
keeping Garrett from breaking watch sack record at the expense
of winning. Garrett point blank said that I don't think
that's the case. I think you just try to block
Garrett because he's the best defensive player in football and
he might kill your quarterback or get a stripsacker whatever.
(02:56):
But even though I don't think that's the case, it
wouldn't surprise me either. It wouldn't shot me if they
were that petty, Tom Petty, because they went in that
game clearly thinking that victory was assured. That's a big reason.
I would guess they started out so flat. And maybe
(03:20):
maybe Wat gave the O line of pep talk before
the game. Hey, help me keep my record. It means
so much. I don't know that. I don't even think that,
but I want to believe that. What and Tomlin and
Rogers and the Steelers are certainly that level of petty.
(03:40):
And I say it again, Tom Petty. So TJ still
has the record. Congratulations to TJ. The entire Watt family.
Cleveland plays at Cincinnati next week. When Michael Strahan of
the New York Football Giants broke Mark Gasteno's record for
sacks in two thousand and two. He got the last
(04:01):
sack to get the record in the waiting moments of
the final game of the season, and he got it
because Brett Farr, playing quarterback for Green Bay, laid down
like was laughing and just laid down and let straighthand
get the sack that broke the record, which Gastona was
pissed about. And years later, like you know, memorabilia shows,
(04:22):
cons and stuff like that took a lot of money
out of Gastono's pocket. You're the sack leader that upsher
andy a little bit. And Gastona confronted far with a
show like that and should have I mean, that was
just I mean they I thought the NFL should have
disallowed the sack. I thought they should have suspended Farv
for going in the tank. That said, what if Joe
(04:46):
Burrow for Cincinnati laid down for Miles Garrett on Sunday
in the season finale for both teams a meaningless game,
or Joe Flacco or Jake Browning or whoever winds up
playing quarterback for the Bengals. What Farv did was unsportsable
like and shameful. If Burrow or Flacco or Broni did it,
(05:09):
it would be hilarious because the entire Watt family would
wet their pants as one. Can you imagine if that
happened on CBS? What what networks? JJ Watt on, Yeah,
he's on CBS, He's on like their b team. I
don't think they're gonna be televising the Bengals of Bronze nationally.
But could you imagine if Burrow laid down for Garrett
(05:30):
while JJ Watt was on commentary? Oh God, not many
of my dreams come true, but please let that be
one of them. Then I'm gonna call for Steeler angst
for calls on the fifteens is a three three four
one two wxdx. That's a three three four one two
(05:51):
w xdx. We got all Steeler talk today, maybe a
little bit of pit talk. Oh and later on I
am going to talk about uh. We had the anniversary
twenty fifth anniversary a significant number, twenty fifth anniversary of
the LEMU comeback game at Melon Arena, and that is
(06:12):
one of the biggest moments in Pittsburgh sports, and it's
the moment I most remember for having been there. All
the stuff I've witnessed in person in sports. I still
get goosebumps thinking about Mario's comeback. So get your calls
in now eight three three four one two WSDX. It's
the Mark Madden Show on one o five to nine.
Rock to the Rules.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I make.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
How you liking Nappy GX at one five nine. On
the bright side, if the Steelers don't make the playoffs,
I'm gonna go to New York on wild Card weekend
to see a Rangers game, Jerry Seinfeld and a Broadway show.
(06:58):
I got plans for Draft weekend here too in Pittsburgh,
except they're not in Pittsburgh. They don't involve the draft.
But I'll tell you about those at a later dates.
But now it's time for calls on the fifteens. Now
it's time for Steelers angst. Get your calls in im
media mont that means immediately in French at A three
(07:19):
three four one two w X d X. Let's go
to Scooch and Hope, Well Scoot, you're on with double
M What up mine?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Hey, I got a question for you about this Sunday
night's game.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
It's gonna sound stupid because on its face it is
kind of ridiculous. But would you rather face Huntley or
Lamar if you were a Steelers fam No.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I was talking about that with Tom earlier. I heard
Pompiani talk about on his program. I mean, I don't
know who I'd want to face, but I do know
that the Ravens simplify their offense greatly when Snoops in there.
It becomes the Derrick Henry Show. And I think they're
best bet in a game like this in December at
Akrashore against a Steelers team that's kind of reeling from
(08:04):
losing at Cleveland. Try to tackle Derrick Henry is a
morale buster. Green Bay clearly got tired of doing it
long about the second quarter of that game. Now, that
game was meaningless for green Bay, which is a major difference.
I think the best way to answer that is if
Lamar's at one hundred percent, I obviously want him in there,
(08:25):
I from the Ravens. If Lamar's fifty percent, you hear
right now that because of that wonky back, he's fifty
to fifty to play. I think the Ravens have a
better chance in this game with snoopid quarterback, because they're
gonna want to make Lamar look like the MVP, whether
it's fifty one hundred percent whatever. So unless Lamar is
really good to go, I think their chances are better
(08:47):
with Snoop. Let's go to Maddie. Maddie, you're on with
Marty rather you're on with Mark. I said, good day.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Hey, Mark, I'm just wondering, what do you think the
chances of the Steelers actually having a home.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Game this week?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I think the fans are gonna sell all the tickets
because they know what's coming.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
No, I don't think so. I think, Well, now that
you said it out loud and I'm pondering, I don't
think they're gonna sell all the tickets, but it wouldn't
shot me if a big contingent of Ravens fans is there.
I think a lot of Steeler fans have had enough
of Tomlin. I think they've had enough of the way
every season feels like the prior.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
However, many I think the Rooney's gonna make a statement
right now, fire him tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
You can't do that right now, but if they lost
on Sunday, I'd fired Tom before he got off the field.
Thank you for the call. Oh wait, Art, the second
this just came out, he didn't make a statement. I
can handle stuff. I'm smart too, not dumb, like people say,
let's go to Jude. Hey Jude, you're on with double.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
M Mark loved The Godfather to reference. But anyways, I
find the national media members that continue to send Tom
an extremely annoying. For example, I saw a clip of
First Take earlier and Cam Newton, you know, he was
saying the usual garl.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I saw that we have that we have that as
a SoundBite. I don't think I'm gonna use it because
it's so dumb. But he says that Tom was a
victim of his own success, that he set the bar
so high that when he can't achieve in similar fashion,
it's not his fault, it is his fault. And like
I keep harping on, and I heard Paul Alexander nearly
(10:28):
bust the gut talking about on the radio yesterday, Mike
tom would has won a playoff game in four of
his nineteen seasons. That's rotten. That just is rotten. He
never has been a good coach. He won with somebody
else's team culture and leaders. That that's what happened when
he got his ring.
Speaker 6 (10:46):
Right.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
And this might make me a bad fan, but at
this point, I basically root for whatever further exposes and
embarrasses coach Tomlin. I just I'm kind of at that
point with them in this team, nothing will change unless,
you know, unless he steps down, which he won't.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It comes to every team but the Penguins in Liverpool.
I root for whatever will make me the most money.
But and so I need the Steelers to win and
get me another viewing party. But if they lose, yeah,
you're right. The embarrassment to Tom went in the franchise
and all the yocals out there getting it shoved up
their backside, that will be no small constellation. Let's go
to Zach. Zach, you're all with.
Speaker 6 (11:20):
Mark, Mark, we're gonna miss Darnell Washington. And quite frankly,
I thought I was a bit uncouth you saying you
would break his arm more with an X ray machine.
That's you're classier than that.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
Mark.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
No, No, first off, I'm not classier than that. And
he's not in great pain, and they're better off without him,
They're they're better off with the real tight ends playing.
Speaker 6 (11:42):
He is a real tight end.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
No, he's not. He's a He's a fat bastard who
had one viral moment. Other than that, he does nothing.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
I'm aware around defenders he's blocker and you know what coach,
he's good Mark coach, he's good. Cam Newton say, you.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Know, see, I think you're beat well. Cam Newton dresses
better than me. I can't do the pimp thing. But
but I can't believe you're saying Tomin's a good coach
after yesterday. I can't believe. I mean, clearly, you're not
very bright. I can tell by the way you talk.
But but I mean, I don't know how you can
conclude that after yesterday.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
My god, Yeah, you say angst, But I was real
Steeler fed. We knowne that coach.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
He's gonna ride in. I can't wait till they lose.
I can't wait till they lose. I can't wait till
they lose because of people like you. I can't wait
till they lose. But thank you for the call. Actually,
I want him to win. Like I said viewing party,
All right, that was angst. I like it, and I
(12:40):
went really dropped the X ray machine on Darnell Washington's
arm just to figure speech. For one thing, I don't
even know how those things work. Next, Matt Williamson Our
Football Gurute one oh five to nine. This is Doug Gottlieb.
Here's what's trending from the Iheartsports Network presented by Levin
Furniture and Mattress.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
Week seventeen of the NFL season wraps up with a
Falcons look to play spoiler. They'll host the Rams on
Monday Night Football. The Steelers will play in primetime in
Week eighteen, and they'll host Baltimore with the AFC North
Crown and a playoff berth on the line on Sunday
Night Football. Steelers tight end Darnell Washington he'll miss that
game and a potential playoff opener.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
He broke his arm yesterday in Cleveland. I'm Scott, David.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Said Delvin new Year's sales starts now bring in twenty
twenty six with twenty six percent off their lowest prices,
plus five year special financing bedrooms and sofas from Tea Bagging,
Quy Tea Baging.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
Great story from Helling and rich TXIT one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
There's certainly a lot to dissect after the Steelers lost
to Cleveland yesterday, joining us now to do just that.
He is our football guru, former pro and college Scott
Matt Williamson. Matt, let me start with a very basic question,
how on earth did the Steelers screw that up?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Yeah, it's it's I've said this a thousand times.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Matt, he said it a thousand times, but couldn't say it. Then, Okay,
we'll get Matt uh back on in a second. I'm sure.
By the way, some breaking news, No pun intended about
Darnell Washington's broken arm. He broke his left arm, which
makes it even a bigger deal because that's the arm
he uses to lift the fork. So we wish Darnell
(14:25):
Washington well in his recovery. Hopefully it's speedy and he'll
be back on the field for another team next year.
Oh no, they signed him. He's stilling his rookie deal again.
I don't mean to be ignorant by saying I'm glad
he's hurt. Maybe a better way to put it would
be I am glad the real tight ends like Muth
(14:47):
and John who are gonna have to play now. And
I bet it's a better team. I bet it's a
better offense because of it. I just wonder if Rogers
will throw them the ball anyway, because the most logical
thing to do games in yesterday would have been to
get the ball to Friar moveth but instead they just
kept throwing and throwing and throwing to mvs. Okay, in
(15:13):
case we don't get Matt Beck, get your calls in
now for angst, we'll continue calls on the fifteens. I
don't know what happened to his foam. Maybe he just
died a three three four one two wxdx. That's a
three three four one two w xdx. I do want
to talk for a moment about Saturday night being the
(15:36):
twenty fifty anniversary of Mario's comeback in two thousand. I
really should have talked about it Friday instead of all
the DK Metcalf nonsense and Steller Stiller stillers. Because Mario's
comeback game against Toronto on December twenty seventh, two thousand,
(15:56):
at Melon Arena, it is one of the most significant
moments it's in Pittsburgh sports history. The Old Igloo was
absolutely lit, the loudest it it ever was. The lottest
of Pittsburgh hockey crowd at any rink ever was. It's
worth noting that the Penguins have never won a Stanley
cupp at home. All five have been clinched on the road.
(16:18):
But still that Lemieux night, the comeback. It's hard to
imagine a hockey night in Pittsburgh. Ever, being Lodder, it's
the lottest it it ever was, sound, had feel, and
when the Big Boys scored, it went to another level. Still, Okay,
we think we got Matt back. Matt uh, Let's get
(16:39):
back to square one. How the Steeler screw that up?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And again, this is the crux of the whole conversation
is I'll say it a million times, it's a game
you can't lose. You have to win that game. You
have to win that game. I'll say it over and
over and over. But let's just break down some aspects
of it. First off, your early defense. It's early game,
first two drives, first quarter defense was well below the line.
(17:06):
And when I previewed the Browns, I knew this was
a danger. Stefanski's a really good offensive mind. They do
their work, their best work early in games when they
catch teams off guard. Did the same thing that the Bills.
All their scripted stuff, things that haven't been on tape before,
can be a challenge, and they made things easier on
Sanders and a subpar group, but still, you can't let
(17:30):
up end points right off the bat and keep this
thing even close to competitive. And that was huge in
a game you knew it was going to be low scoring,
so you immediately put yourself behind the eight ball, which
is totally unacceptable. Now there's other aspects. You look at
it and say, okay, you want to turnover battle two
to nothing. That's great, And frankly Sawyer could have scored
(17:52):
on his interception, her big dropped the potential pick six. Yep,
So that's all great, but you missed the field. That's
the exact same thing as a turnover. You are zero
for three on fourth downs, all of which are the
exact same thing as a turnover, and you're horrendous on
third bounds. So all the pivotaal moments, you basically turned
(18:14):
the ball over or destroyed yourself. In hindsight, I also
think they got away. They should have run the ball
a higher percentage of the time, checked the passes too
many times when the running game was just fine. I
would have featured Friarmuth Moore. But the hugest thing, and hey,
the Browns lost fan and their number one receiver early
(18:37):
didn't have Judkins, so nobody wants to hear about it.
But they had no wide receivers that could beat man coverage.
So you get single high safety with man coverage, and
you know the Ravens are going to do the exact
same thing, and nobody on the team can beat man
coverage wide receiver.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah. I agree with all that. I think if the
Steelers have DK, they win. But you're very right to
note that the Ravens. Excuse me, the Browns were missing
some significant weapons on offense too. And I want to
get back to what you said about the Steelers pretty
much dumping out of the running game, even though they
averaged five point five yards per carry and never trailed
by more than a score after early in the second quarter.
(19:15):
That's got to be a Rogers thing because it makes
no sense. I think that offense has trickled down to
what he wants to do and who he wants to
do it with, and yesterday not to great effect.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Agreed, And I think you nailed it, And to be honest,
I think that has worked in the Steelers favor a
lot this season. You know, I would I look at
Rogers and say rarely does he make a bad decision
or rarely do I disagree with him. I think he
knows the game as well as a lot of coaching staffs,
and maybe as well as anyone on the Steeler coaching staff.
(19:48):
I mean, that's the testament that who he is. But
I mean I also think, like people don't think about this,
but last year with the Jets, the Jets had the
the fewest number of carries in the entire league. Now,
they were losing a lot, but he also would check
the passes way high percent of the time. I'm sure
(20:09):
he had a lot of freedom there too, as he deserves.
But I think all throughout his career he has checked
the throws more than probably he should. At this stage
of his career, He's still not an MVP throwing to
Nelson and Devonte Adams with the best passing game in
the league. So when you got that group, I'm also
(20:32):
certain it's not Arthur Smith saying we should throw the
ball at the tenth highest rate in the league. That's
where they're at right now. You know, Arthur Smith wants
to run the ball. Gildarmin wants to run the ball.
Doesn't leave a lot for why they don't run it
as much as some of us would like.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Yeah, yesterday kind of convinced me that I would not
bring him back. I don't think he's going to be
any better or any less stubborn at forty three. That's
probably a conversation for later. But the most upsetting thing
was his arm was all over the place. That's as
bad as I seen him throw since coming the Steelers,
and he was a bit disheveled mentally it looked like too.
But I'm wondering which cause which.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Yes, I mean, he frankly admitted it after he didn't
play his best game. I think that's apparent. I think
it's a little disturbing when your forty two year old
quarterback has to play his best game for you to win,
no matter who the opponent is.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Well, and especially at.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Exactly now, I will say that defense is exactly the
type of defense they didn't want to face without Metcalf,
And there's no question about that. And there weren't great answers.
It's easy for us to say on Monday, why not
more friar moves? Why not more running? And I said
those things during the game. I'm sure you did too,
But there weren't obvious answers when you're getting nothing from
(21:46):
the wide receiver position. But I'm with you. I didn't
think he threw the ball very well.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
If DJ plays, did they win?
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Yeah? That simple, Yeah, I do. I mean, I just
think you make create a lot less heavy boxes. They're
going to be a lot less apt to press skis
at the line of scrimmage. I don't think he makes
the play. You know, the jump balls that Valdez scantling
(22:13):
they throw to him at the end because he's bad
at those things. Just because he's big. People have that misconception.
But I just think his presence is enough to score you.
I mean, Mark, if they score a touchdown yesterday, whether
it's on defense or offense, I think they win. And
I think him being on the field, you score a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree. And I also, you know,
noting that he wasn't there, I would have gone to
Friarmouth more, especially you know the last three throws all
to MVS. I would have tried to put Friarmouth in
that mix in the red zone. And I don't mean
this to sound as cruel as it does, but I'm
not bothered that Washington's hurt because now I think they
(22:52):
have to use the real tight ends, and I think
it'll diversify their offense if Rogers lefts it.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
I the one thing I couldn't agree more with is
I don't understand challenging the Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward
with a guy that's been on like five teams and
four years, Valdez scantling three times in a row, and
you need it most and we get I mean that
one's hard for me to defend any which way you
cut it. I definitely have said a couple of times
(23:20):
this conversation, I think you have to use Friarmuth more.
And I've thought that almost every week this year. I
don't understand. I just don't get it. I mean, I
get a lot of people say, oh, they should trade
Friarmuth this offseason because you know he's only good. Now,
I you got to use them more. I mean, I
think he's a good football player. I love Washington, but
(23:41):
I think in a game like this even more a
little more John Neu. You know, like get anyone on
a linebacker or a safety and those are going to
be your tight ends because you know your outside receivers
aren't winning at all.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
We're talking about football guru, Matt Williamson. He's brought to
us by the Steelers Pro Shop get it direct from
the team even shop dot Steelers dot com. Matt, you
talked about the defensive end of this, but I thought
the Steelers came out flat on both sides of the ball.
That happens a lot, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Yeah, now a little less than it used to. I mean,
they used to be so bad on opening drives, and
if you look at like points per quarter, it's not
as bad in the first quarter as it has been.
I'm not big on the word flat. I just start.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
I mean, I don't think it was a lack of
effort or a lack of prep. Who knows, maybe it
is a lack of prep. That's a hard thing to comment.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Well, I don't think it's lack of effort. I just think,
like like you said, when you give away the first
quarter to one of the worst teams in the league,
there's something wrong.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Yeah, I mean, so I should have brought this. I
got cut off. I thought I was talking to you
actually before the Patriots Jet game. I mean, the Jets
are a horrendous organization. They're gonna take the top five,
just like the Browns. The Patriots ended that thing in
forty five seconds into the game, you know, like just
to assert your dominance, you're the better team. Don't let
(25:06):
him hang around. End it in the first round. Rarely
do we see this team do that.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Now, how do you view this Baltimore game. Baltimore certainly
comes in with a lot of adrenaline and momentum. I
thought they battered green Bay physically.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Yes, I thought it was a rather embarrassing performance by
green Bay's defense. But Henry does this every year when
the weather chain is, when it gets late, he gets
better and better and better. I have no idea what
Lamar's situation is, but I almost don't. It definitely matters
a mind. Well we're fifty okay, okay, so I bet
(25:42):
that's probably forty sixty. I mean I doubt, I mean
they lean towards him not playing. Who knows, I would assume.
I know, I know exactly what you're gonna get from Baltimore.
They're gonna hand it to Henry a thousand times, and
it's gonna get really old tackling him. And you know,
the Steelers aren't going to be winning by twenty to
make that an impossibility. And the other side of the ball,
(26:03):
they're gonna play single high safety and they're gonna do
exactly what Cleveland did in terms of man coverage. But
the difference is they don't generate a pass rush. They
have to get pass rush through blitz. They don't have
Miles Garrett and the other guys, So I don't think
they'll be as good at it as Cleveland was. And
(26:24):
it's gonna be a big thing with the Steiler coaching staff.
I mean, I did a show with Mike Pursuider earlier
did a really good point. He said, you at least
have the Browns game to have a test run as
a coaching staff to figure out what worked what didn't. Now,
how do they adjust you mean with that, DK? Yes, right,
I mean now you have a one game sample size. No, DK,
(26:46):
you know what you're gonna get on defense. You're very
familiar with Harbaugh and his staff. What are you gonna do?
Speaker 5 (26:52):
You know?
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Yeah, I think the I mean I would never say
they're better off with Lamar out, but maybe they're better
off with Snoop in there instead of Lamar. If Lamar
is only forty percent or whatever. I think Lamar in
there dinged up. I mean, there's always the need to
keep him involved and make him look like an MVP.
I think with Snoop they just handed to Derrick Henry,
(27:13):
and I think that serves them well in this game.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Yeah, and Huntley played well. I mean if you just
isolate on him in green Bay, he played a good
game too. It wasn't just Henry and I'm with you.
I mean I've heard some narrative that, oh man, Lamar's overrated.
You know that they don't need them. That's insane. I mean,
but a very, very compromised version of Lamar. This might
be the better version with Huntley. Yes, I can get
(27:39):
behind that, but if he's practicing in full and looks good,
that makes life way harder. I'm the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Well, like you said, Matt, Snoop don't suck. He played
really good against Green Bay. And the thing with him
is he's like Lamar light in the I mean, if
he has to play, you can use pretty much the
same game plan exactly.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Talking on the drive just now about I never understood
how they got away from Huntley, I mean why he
should have been their lifetime backup forever. He ended up
in Miami, it was at Cleveland. He's perfect for what
they do is the number two is a you know,
a Miller Lte version of Lamar?
Speaker 1 (28:16):
What happened to Baltimore this year? Because I loved their
roster before the season, still do. I thought it was
among the best in the league. Why have they just
gone south like they have?
Speaker 3 (28:26):
Yeah, it's super easy to say it's Lamar's injury, and
yes that has a lot to do with it, But
they have bigger problems than that, much bigger problems. And
I picked them to win the Super Bowl. I thought
this was the year they were going to explode. But
they're both Their lines of scrimmage leave a lot to
be desired. Their guard positions are very poor. Other than Linderbaum,
they're below average basically across the board. On the offensive line,
(28:50):
I expect her big high Smith, maybe Watt definitely Cam
to win those battles. And then their defensive line is
a real problem too. They lost Madam Bouquet early. He
was kind of straw that starved to drink. And they
don't have any real one verse one pass rush winners
right now either. So those are the main problems, and
(29:13):
those are problems before Lamar got hurt. I mean, those
are problems the first month of the season.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Yeah. The thing about that lost to Cleveland and it
sucked on so many levels. I know you agree, yeah,
but they could have really used week eighteen in this
Ravens game to rest Rogers and Ramsey and Cam and
you know, all the names, maybe even Watt for an
extra week, assuming he's ready to play, which I think
is a big assumption. I don't think we really know.
But now you're not only making them play Week eighteen.
(29:40):
A Ravens game was so much on the line. That's
the equivalent of a five car pile up, isn't it,
you know exactly?
Speaker 3 (29:45):
That's the opportunity lost. I mean, you can still win
the division. It should be a fun atmosphere, you can
go into the playoffs. But what could have been, what
you sacrificed is rest, you know. I mean I would
have rested everybody. I would have played Caleb Johnson and
Will Howard and Roman Wilson and got beat by a million.
(30:07):
I don't care. Because they're an older team. They had
the earliest bye week you possibly can have, and now
physically you can't be where you could have been if
even if you do win next week, mind close?
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Who do you like? I like Baltimore, but I don't
want to assume they're gonna beat him because they have
the momentum because the Steelers lost at Cleveland. I think
it's gonna be like a low scoring game and probably
up for grabs at the end.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
What say you, Yeah, it's a little early in the
week for me to dig in. But we did see
this recently, and I would like no more about all injuries,
especially Lamar. But I do think the world's overreacting to
Baltimore played well this week, Steelers played bad, so they're
going to destroy the Steelers. I don't see it that way.
I'm with you that I do expect a low twenty
(30:55):
to twenty one type of game.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Now, let's say the Steelers lose and don't make the playoffs.
Does the team need to shake up? I mean, where's
the team go from there?
Speaker 3 (31:06):
So I wonder I know this isn't what you ask,
but does the loser of this head coach and organization
feel a lot of heat?
Speaker 6 (31:14):
You know?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
I think that's.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Feeling heat and getting fired or two different things. But
I would say, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
I mean I tend to think so too, because expectations
in Baltimore were super bow or bust, and he only
make the playoffs. Expectations here are win a playoff game,
and you only make the playoffs. You know, like in
both the coaches, the staffs, et cetera have been there
a really long time. I don't think anything would happen
in either organization though, no matter what happens, though, I.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Tend to agree with that, and I think that might
be a mistake in Matt, Like, even if you don't
want to call either coach a bad coach or even
say he's doing a bad job, doesn't the message get
lost after such a long.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Term history shows, especially in this league, that it does.
You know that a lot of the best coaches, the Walshes,
some of those guys ten to twelve years is kind
of your sweet spot, and there is a lot of evidence,
and you know, you look at New England, you look
at Jacksonville, you look at Chicago, and there's others where
(32:12):
you hire a bright, young coach and all of a sudden,
a bad team turns into a good team.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Matt, I'm not even sure where to go talking about
the Steelers, like yesterday, dumbfounded me one last thing, and
I'm sure you felt the same way. I was convinced
they were gonna win on that last possession that dead
tit and go to overtime and win it. I just
couldn't fathom they're losing that game. And like you said,
it was a game you couldn't lose.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I thought so too. I mean, I thought the longer
the game goes on, the better the chance they have
to win. If they get the overtime, I love their chances.
Rogers will figure things out. And then you look at
it and like, who's my playmakers, you know? And there
just wasn't any. And I was shocked in the end
that they left that place of the loss.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Yeah, Matt has always great stuff, great analysis. Will do
it again next week.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
Enjoyed football, all right, man, take care of yourself.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
That's the great Matt Williamson. Brought to us by Shop
dot Steelers dot com. We got more great football talk
next hore with Trey Essex, the two time Super Bowl champion,
on the O line for the Steelers. One oh five
nine x
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 Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.