December 31, 2025 • 29 mins
Mark takes your calls and is joined by Mike Decourcey to talk Steelers and Ravens
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Mark Maddon Show, Happy New Year. I guess.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Four one two eight three to three w xdx the
number to call. We got calls on the fifteens. We'll
do it at five fifteen today as well. So if
you love talking to me, you have more chance than
ever to do it now. That number is eight three
three four one two w xdx.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
My point is, and it has been for quite some time.
Nothing changes with the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Run it back.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Be conservative, be prehistoric rock fights, Never think big picture,
never look past the next game, and it's.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Bor ring, bor ring, bor ring.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I talked yesterday about how Cower is clearly a better
coach than Tomlin. Let me count the ways, and another
way is Bill Cower had great assistance, great assistance, great staff.
Tomlin is afraid to coward. Was a real good coach.
He had confidence. Tom went deep down, has little faith
(01:04):
in himself. Otherwise he'd have assistance coordinators who could occasionally
outsmart him, have a better idea than him, I should say,
and the.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Team would be better for it.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
So get your calls in now, four one two eight
three three wxdx. We got some great sound later from
Schreeger on ESPN, who talks about how if the Steelers
lose Sundy that tom On wouldn't get fired and he
wouldn't he would walk away to do TV or whatever.
(01:38):
And by the way, he'd be just awful of TV.
And I'll tell you why a little bit later. Actually,
I shouldn't have to tell you why. I just watch
one of his press conferences. Now, this is the last
show of twenty twenty five, and it is expected that
I would run down the biggest moments in Pittsburgh sports
in twenty twenty five. I heard that all day today
(01:59):
on B Team. Problem with that is.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
There really weren't any.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I mean, you tell me what were the biggest moments
of Pittsburgh sports in twenty twenty five? Dial now four
one two three three wxdx. That's the secret number, or
you can call eight three three four one two wxdx.
I mean, maybe it's Sid passing Mario in career points,
which happened just what a couple of weeks ago. Maybe
(02:25):
it's Skeens is excellence. But there wasn't one moment with
the Pirates, per se, not even one game that Skiens pitched.
He diluted our memory of his big moments by being
overwhelming just about every time.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
He threw the ball.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
And with the Steelers, the most memorable thing about the
team is we just got frustrated again. So you tell
me what were the biggest moments of twenty twenty five
in Pittsburgh sports. As far as predictions go for twenty
twenty six in Pittsburgh sports, unfortunately, the most accurate thing
I can predict is more of the same. I will say, though,
(03:05):
if the Pirates get Sada, who We're oh or whatever.
That third basement's name is O Kamoto Okamoto. I hope
they get O Kamoto son. I mean they need a
third basement that you know. It's a tough transition to
MLB from the Japanese league, but it's an educated gam Well,
just like overpaying for Ryan O'Hearn was just overpaid a
(03:26):
little bit, but you got a good bat. If they
can get one more good bat, the big store in
Pittsburgh sports in twenty twenty six could be them contending
for five hundred and contending for playoff berth in the September.
I don't believe they'll get it, but I do think
their team, if they get one more bat, will be
(03:48):
tangibly better, right, now, I still think they're like a
seventy five seventy seven win team at best.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
At best.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
If that's good enough for you, that'll kind of keep
them in the race for a while, won't it.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
But you know what, else, this'll be a big test
for the Pirts.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Like those of you think they've passed this test in
the off season by getting the two bats. Yeah, let's
see if, like for example, while is still here after
the trade deadline, Let's see how this plays out. Let's
see if they get another bat. Let's see if they
keep their pictures healthy. Let's see what they do with
the trade deadline in terms of incoming if they are
(04:21):
indeed in contention, you know, getting a couple of bats,
that didn't prove they're in it to win it. That
just proved that they're trying to adjust the what's a
good good term, like the financial culture, like the way
they run things in wake of the CBA coming up
for grabs, so MLB complaints to say.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
See they're spending no need for salary cap.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
So again, the Pirates story is a long way from
playing out, but it could be an interesting one in
twenty twenty six. Uh As for me, I have zero
New Year's Resolutions, maybe to be I don't know, more overbearing,
more obnoxious. It's a tough call, but I really do
think it's possible that number to call for calls on
(05:06):
the fifteens. Eight three three four one two wxdx. That's
eight three three four one two wxdx. What do you
think the best bet is for these Steelers to win
that game? You tell me eight three three four one
two wxdx. Like like I said at the show's open,
do the color thing with play action and throwing to
(05:28):
the tight ends. Minimize Mvs and Miller because they're just
not good enough to be a big part of an
effort where you beat Baltimore for.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
The division title.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I would run the ball sixty percent of the time
and maybe more until the score dictates otherwise. And defensively,
I put eight in the box and try to limit Henry,
make Snoop beat you. That's a lot easier said than done.
If I'm Baltimore and what plays I run Derrick Henry
right at TJ Watt until the.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Other one collapses.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Seriously, you think he's gonna come back from what happened
to not be really vulnerable. He's gonna want to be
in the middle of physicality all the time. Don't get
me wrong, he won't back down. I bet he dresses
for optics and plays very little. That's how I think
the story's gonna be on Sunday with DJ Watt. And
I'm not criticizing. I mean, if he can't go, he
can't go. Steelers win. Modern day Warrior is the big hero?
(06:21):
Why because he appeared on this show. Why is Joey
ported the best cornerback in football and on the Steelers
because he appeared on this show. It's easy to connect
the dots if you want to one oh five nine the.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
X you said the exit one O five nine.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I'm on Snapchat, but I never post, not even once ever.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
You know what I like watching.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Clips of cooking, like recipes being executed.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I mean a fat guy would like that, right, This
stuff looks so good.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I just saw brisket Jalipano poppers that were like the
size of my head. Uh, Penguins made of trade just
moments ago. It's a very mind. And they sent Philip
Thomasino to Philadelphia for a defenseman named igor.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Z a Muda.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
After getting Chinnakov from Columbus. It's like the pinball Wizard's
trying to assemble a branch of the KGB here in Pittsburgh.
But uh, hopefully it doesn't turn into a goolag. So
uh oh and Ryan Graves cleared Waivers. He's back on
(07:37):
the bus with his monster contract zamola, not za muda
igor zamula. Okay, it's calls on the fifteens. Let's go
to Joe. Joe.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
You're on with Mark.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Hey, Mark, Hey, doing great, Hey, quick question for you?
Forgive me. I know this this is going to sound cynical,
and I know there's no place for that on this program.
On this I want to see what you think. I'll
damn this show you talk about. And I agree, how
the Rooneyes keep Tomlin because of the tradition. That's what
their dad did, grandfather did all that craft. That's right,
(08:09):
and I agree. Do you think that Art Runey of
the second does he think of this at all? If
he lets Tom and go Tom and goes and does well,
they look like schmucks for letting them go, or in
the more likely scenario, Tomin leaves does terrible somewhere else,
and then they look like schmucks for having kept him.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
So long.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Do you think that crossed their mind at all?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
No, I don't think getting rid of Tomlin has yet
crossed Art Rooney's mind at all, beyond the optics of
keeping him, which obviously aren't good. But it's something they've
lived with, you know, for eight non playoff years to date,
and just to touch.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I do believe that the.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Reason the Steelers keep Tom Win is because that's what
Daddy and Granddaddy did. They never fired the coach. I
don't think, you know, him being black has much to
do with it. I'm not saying it's not a small
sliver of the reasoning to keep him. And I say
that because if they fired tom Win after instituting a
(09:06):
Rooney rule, I can tell you for sure they hired
tom Win because they originally looked at Russ Grimm, but
then they thought about how bad it would look to
insist on the Rooney rule and then hire a white coach.
I know that was a factor in their thinking, and
I'm not saying it it shouldn't be, but it was
a factor. Thank you for the call.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Let's go to Patrick, save us one sixty six. Happy
belated birthday and happy New Year to you real thanks sir,
real quick on Rogers. Anybody that opines in sincerity that
the Steelers should run back this quarterback situation as an
absolute psychopath. That's just a continued death sentence.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Let me tell you, I can guarantee you the majority
of the Steelers media thinks it would be a good
idea to bring Rogers back. And I've talked to a
couple of them just in passing, and They've said exactly that.
In fact, they think I'm nuts for not wanting him back.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
No, they're the lunatics. Two keys for this game. Mark.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Everybody knows this is obvious. Gotta stop Henry because if
he gets in the open field and that head starts bucking,
you can rip up the Steelers' playoff hopes.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Here's my thing for the offense.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Use those bums Scottie Miller and mvs to clear out
the zone and you've got to attack some form in
the middle with Warren Gainwell, John Hue and friar Mouth.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
That's your no question.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Like Cower said, But I gotta tell you, I don't
think they're going to do that. I mean, I would
put Roman Wilson in there, but they're not going to
do that. We can come up with a million ways,
and I have at least a few, not a million,
but how they can beat the Ravens. And they have
no intention of doing anything I suggest or Bill Cower suggests,
They just are going to do it their way and
(10:48):
if it loses, that's fine because they know better. Believe me,
I've said this about the Steelers for years, and it
even applied to Coward to some extent.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
They would rather be right than win. Let's go to
Jeff Jeff Mark.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Hey, happy to hear mister Bedden and to you.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
So, the one way that I think the Steelers kid
beat the Ravens is by using more of Kenneth deanwell,
because he basically kind of disappeared last week and I
don't know why he didn't get as many touches, but
he can definitely help in the run pass game.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, you know there are those who think and really
the video of Itdence shows he was involved in chipping
Garrett more than he was getting out on rots like
he did in the win at Detroit. Then again, I
can't fault that. Like JJ Watts said, what's the alternative
letting you know Garrett get sacked? You don't want to
let him get to Rogers, so I understand why, but
I don't think that Baltimore has anything near the equivalent
(11:45):
to Garrett. So yeah, I would like to see gain
Well more involved, especially getting out on routes. I agree
with what Tom said earlier in the show about using
him in the slot more.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Right.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
And also I think that our secondary just seems to
play tider against their receivers and not let him get
like an extra five yards on every passing player.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I don't I don't think that the Steelers pass coverage
and Joey Porter, as we talked about, is doing a
great job. I don't think pass coverage is gonna be
a big factor in winning or losing this game. I
think it's gonna be Can they stop Henry. Can they
stop the game from getting into a situation where all
Baltimore has to do is one Henry, thank you for
the call.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Let's get a Rick Rick real quick.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Hey, Mark, I just think Darnell's injury, Washington's injury is
going to force the Steelers hand to go to Friar
Mooth and they're gonna win despite themselves.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
It'll force them to use fire Mooth. I don't think
it'll force them to throw to fire Mooth. I think
it's gonna be a lot of Scottie Miller, a lot
of mvs because Aaron Rodgers, he's a four time MVP,
and the coach has never had a losing season. They
know everything. Thank you for the call. The course up
next one oh five to nine, alter the go.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Are you right out?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
We've got you and your friends very last chance to
go to aldre egos one.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Even as a kid, I was a super genius alp
white guy on the radio. I think I'm the coolest
guy period. What's up?
Speaker 6 (13:08):
D X one oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
It's AFC North Championship week, as coach t said, joining
us how to talk about it from the Sporting News,
it's Pittsburgh's own Mike de Corsi, Uh, Mike, it seems
easy to count the Steelers out after that Debaco Cleveland.
It's probably more logical to call this game a toss up,
isn't it?
Speaker 6 (13:29):
Well? I think it really it reasonably is. I mean,
the Steelers have already won in Baltimore, albeit with a
certain wide receiver in the lineup and making a significant impact.
That that changes the dynamic of this game significantly. His
absence DK metcapin.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
The atrocious decision that he made in that critical situation
both within that game could have been penalized, ejected, whatever
in that game. Uh. And then what's common as a
result that his absence changes this if honestly, one can
say if he were present, if he hadn't gotten suspended,
(14:10):
that this game might not even matter. I mean, he
may have done well up in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Oh no, I think if he plays in Cleveland, Mike,
I think they win.
Speaker 6 (14:18):
Yeah, That's what I'm saying. So this game could have
meant nothing as it was, and he could have been
rested to getting and getting ready for a playoff game.
So I do think that the fact that he's absent
really makes the Steelers offense complicated in terms of trying
to find success. There's no doubt that the Ravens will
challenge him again to throw, and this time they will
(14:40):
not have that weapon as an asset.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
What should their offensive game plan be?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Given that Kleer said the run play action a lot
and use muth and John Eumore, I say, run the
ball sixty percent of the time until the situation and
score dictate. Otherwise it's tough to fix things though, say
without without DK there.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Well with if you just run sixty percent of the
time and they stacked the box and the way they
did against again against the Seilers in the first time
down in Baltimore, then a lot. You're punning a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yeah, I make them prove that again rather than rely
on MVS and Scottie.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Miller Mike Yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
Well I'm not relying on them either. I like Coward's idea.
The fact that Muth didn't get a target until the
last possession of the game was atrocious, and.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Then not in the red zone after.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yeah, and that was ridiculous too, although you know there
there was a lot of conversation about them going after
ward on those three consecutive plays. And the reality is
that if Aaron Rodgers had thrown either of the first
two in a reasonable manner, I mean, they were not
difficult throws. If he'd thrown either of them where where
(15:52):
the defender wasn't both times he was playing inside and
the throws came relatively inside. If especially the second one
had been a good, solid, back shoulder throw, then it
would only been up to whether about this Canceling's hands
failed him on that occasion. I mean, and they have
been known to do it on more than once. But uh,
there there was an opportunity there to score. It's just
(16:15):
Rogers failed there. Uh. And as as for not using
mouth in the red zone, hey why not? And it's
been pointed out on film that they had uh, they
had gained they had gainwell opened uh in down the seam. Uh.
He might have been tackled, he might not have. But
at the very least his hands are better than the
player they threw to.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Well.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I think Rogers was simply awful at Cleveland. I think
he used the wrong receivers, he checked out or runs
too much. He just doesn't want to run the ball.
His arm was all over the place. And and like
I said, he's anointed mvs and Scottie Miller. I know
they're gonna be a big part of this game against
Baltimore because they're doing what he wants, not what's best.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
Yeah, I think I think I would have liked to
seen him check gotta one more one or two more
runs that that third down run to gain well with
six and change left was one of the worst plays
I've played, calls I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh No, that in the fourth and one going deep
to Miller a bit. But those are micro cosms, Mike.
They averaged five and a half yards per run and
passed the ball almost twice as much.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
Yeah, it was. It was. You're you're one hundred percent
right about the various adventures of Valdez Gantling. I when
when they had Metcalf, what he did was he forced
you to play more honest, the presence of Valdez scantling
because he can't run, and so you can't just let
him go and think, hey, he'll drop it this time.
Even though your odds aren't bad, it's still you still
(17:42):
can't bet on that. Uh, So you have to guard him.
And when that meant maybe a little bit less help
on DK than it was successful, Now it means a
little less help on who. Well, if you're not gonna
play Roman Wilson, it doesn't need it on him. Uh
they gave him nine snaps. It means a lot less
help on somebody who's not fast enough and not fast enough.
(18:03):
And I'm not saying they're not fast enough to be
NFL players, but not to be deep threats in this league.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
We're talking to Mike the Corsi of the Sporting News
He's brought to us by south Fields Kia. Southfields Kia
has the ride and a price you'll love. I like
the Steelers running game. I like both backs. I like
the O line. Why not just lean on that. I mean,
I'm kind of beating the drum here, like all this interview,
but I just think it's what makes the most sense.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Well, again, it comes down to how you're defended. And
if you're running into stack boxes, even good blocking can't
fix that because you're blocked. You've got five to six
to seven players blocking nine to ten plays.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Well, that's true, and Baltimore's gonna come out and do that.
You're right, the Cowerway is the way to go. I
just I just know they won't do the right thing.
That's why. But Mike, that's why they lost to Cleveland.
I thought they were gonna win until the very end,
send it to overtime, and they just refuse to do
what works.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
They just do what Rogers prefers. I not on Rogers.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I think when we look back at this, his tenure
here will be looked at as a disaster.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Well, I will say I will say that it really
all because of his play in Cleveland and a few
other games, but specifically Cleveland. It will come down to
Saturday and Sunday night. Excuse me. If he wins, then
it's a success, regardless of what happens next weekend, if
the you know, as I said, if there's a next weekend,
(19:28):
if he wins, it's a success. But if they if
they lose, then his his experimentation will have been a
failure because he was supposed to make them better and
last year they were ten and seven. They they didn't
win the division in large part because of Arthur Smith's
second worst game plan, only because it only meant divisional
(19:51):
excuse me, playoff seeding and not a divisional championship. That
game against Cincinnati was just unbelievable. But the game playing
against Cleveland was four at all and he came up
with a stinker. And I understand Cleveland's got a really
good defense, and when we talked a month and a
half ago, the last time they played, we talked about
that we're not overlooking that, but at the same time,
(20:15):
you have to be able to look look. Thirteen other
teams answered that challenge, and so even though the defense
is really good, it just keeps it closer. You still
have to win the game.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Now I feel dumb.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
For even broaching this, but here goes, is Baltimore better
off without Lamar?
Speaker 1 (20:33):
If he's dinged up?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Why would you rather have at there Snoop in one
hundred percent or Lamar like I don't know, sixty or
seventy with that back because with Snoop they're often simplifies.
With Lamar, they always going to make him look like
the MVP, and I get it, but right now he's
dinged up.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
You know, I think it's a more reasonable question than
people realize. They beat Chicago with him starting at quarterback,
They beat Green Bay on the with him starting, Oh
with Snoop. Yeah, Tyler Huntley has been successful in his
two starts, highly successful. That's their that's their two best
wins of the year by far. And he played well
(21:12):
in both games. He wasn't a passenger. He was a factor.
If he'd been a passenger, one could say, well, yeah,
but you get your threat back and all that, and look,
Lamar at full strength. This isn't even like this is
a it's like a ridiculous, like kindergarten style question. And
I know that that's not the case because he's not
been that and he's And it's not just the fact
(21:34):
that he's coming back off the back injury that happened
in New England. It's also like how healthy was he
from all the other things that had him dinged up
and had him really relatively ineffective when they played high
level competition prior to the back injury. They played pretty
well in it. Obviously in Cincinnati get to win twenty
four to nothing, and they played pretty well early before
(21:56):
he got hurt against New England. But for the most part,
he hadn't been really good. And I don't know how
compromised he is with the back at this stage, but
I do know that Tyler Huntley has been excellent when
he's been called upon.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
You know what I would do if I'm Baltimore Mike,
I would run Henry assuming what plays, which we don't know.
I would run Henry right at what I would I
would make what recover in a hurry or get worn out.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
Well, I think that's that's a reasonable thing. And and
partly because the way the Steelers have defended on the edge,
they've tended to crash down on the on the tackle
and try to get someone on the outside to clean
that up. And it hasn't generally worked. Uh So, if
you're gonna run at the outside linebacker, that's what you're
talking about. I mean, that's not really been a Henry's specialty.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (22:46):
He's he's he's more damaging between the tackles in outside.
Uh But but I I would understand at least taking
a shot at that to see what it does, because
you can wear him down a little bit if that
those are that crash down defensive technique is a very
physically demanding thing, and if he has to do it
(23:08):
a lot of times, it's even more punishing than say
a straight pass rush can be. So I do understand
what your point is there, and and I do think
that he's gonna have to Teacher's gonna have to show
what he's you know, what he's up to handling at
this stage? Is he is he one hundred percent? Is
he close to one hundred percent? Does he alternate with Herbig?
(23:30):
At least they know that now after two three weeks,
that alternating is not necessarily damaging to their defense. I mean, uh,
Sawyer played very well. Herbig before he got hurt was outstanding.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Let me let me say too.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
In the vein of Are the Ravens better off not
using Lamar in this game against Derrick Henry? Are the
Steelers better off if what can't play and you get
Sawyer in there, who might be their best edge guy
against a run?
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Well, high Smith won, but Sawyer probably two.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
Yeah, I think that's a fair question. And you know
that Sawyer on his edge is probably playing better than
TJ in that sense. But what TJ does really well
is when they run away from him, when they run
to the opposite edge and he shoots down the line,
he is standing there, And so that would be dependent
(24:20):
on how the whether the Ravens took your advice and
when at TJ, or whether they did what a lot
of teams do, and not necessarily because it's Heigsmith, but
because teams like to run to their left because that's
usually where you put your best offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
I don't think either coach is going to get fired,
But how much coach? How much pressure is each coach
under and what could that pressure lead to for the loser?
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Well, I don't think I think it might lead to
some changes in either coaching staff if they fail.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Isn't that just too I mean, how much does it
really change.
Speaker 6 (24:55):
Oh, I think Look, I think it changes significantly. I mean,
what you what you seen from Arthur Smith is better
than what you saw from Matt Canada. But what you
saw from Matt Canada certainly wasn't better than any of
his predecessors under Tomlin, or any of his predecessors in
the modern history of the team. So yeah, it matters
(25:16):
who's running the offense, and it matters who's running the
defense and what their schemes are and what their plans are.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
I have said this before.
Speaker 6 (25:24):
Mike Tomlin is elite in a lot of categories, but
the one category where he has not proven himself at
all is in hiring assistant coaches. It has not been
a strength. I shouldn't say it's not been a strength
because I'm being too kind. It's been a weakness. He
has not shown an ability to hire.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
High end.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Assistant coaches, not just the coordinators, but in a variety
of positions. Some of the guys that have been around
for a while have obviously done great work, but in
terms of his new hires, where is the star, Where
is the rising star? And I don't care about coaching tree.
I'm just talking about somebody you look at and you say, man,
that guy does a great job.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Well if they if they had kept Brian Flores.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Mike, Yeah, I mean that was a great move. That
was a tremendous move. It made them better when he
brought him in, and then he basically deferred to the
fact that the other guy had been there before and
not that Flores was probably a superior defensive coordinator with
a better track record. It would have been a pretty
tough move to make because there hadn't been a long
(26:35):
track record, but Flores has shown that he's an exceptional
defensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Mike, I think Baltimore's gonna win, but I'm not married
to it. I think it's like, you know, sixty forty
their way because of the momentum and because I think
they're a team that could put the game away early.
I don't think the Steelers can. I think if the
Steelers get past the first quarter and change with the
game within one score either way, I think they'll be fun.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
Who do you like? Well, I what I've been saying
on the Friday Football Show with Tim Benz is like
I'm constantly picking against the Steelers now, because most of
the time when I do that, I'm wrong. But one
thing I will say is you've talked about momentum. The
momentum didn't help the Steelers at all. They came off
that Detroit game that was a huge win. I mean,
(27:22):
they beat a really talented team on the road in
their building, so.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
They like physical, which ain't easy.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
And then and then they go to Cleveland with everything
on the line and all you have to do and
I guess it's an NFL team with a great defense.
I get that, but all you have to do is
be the three win team to automatically clinch the playoffs.
And they scored seven points. So I just don't think
the momentum thing is a factor. I think the biggest
factor is the Steelers absence of high end wideouts. I
(27:54):
think they had one, and he decided that there were
more important things than getting to the playoffs. And look,
I don't know what was said to him. I do
know this, there are other mechanisms to deal with that.
You go to Steelers security and say this guy said that,
and I'm not dealing with that, go take care of it.
And then the Steelers guy goes to the Lions guy,
(28:16):
and the Lions guy says, Okay, you know if it's
to a certain degree, you're out of here. And if
it's to another degree, we're just gonna move your seat.
But you're not talking over the bench anymore. We're not
having that here. That's what would have happened if he'd
handled it properly. Instead, he gets suspended for the final
two games of the regular season, and that's why I
just I have a hard time seeing the Steelers winning.
(28:38):
The one element of this that gives me some confidence
is that when he played, When Rogers plays against teams
that don't have great pass rushes, he plays better. The
teams that have rushed the pass are well and Cleveland
obviously with who they have, that's a factor. He's just
he's just not been good.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Mike is always great stuff. Great work on the Friday
Football Show with Tim Bens. We'll do it again next week.
Enjoy the game.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
Sounds great, Thanks Mark, that's.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Mike the Corsey.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I got some great sound next from Chris mad Dog Russo,
who just won't play Aaron Rodgers no matter what.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Also some Pitt football news and it's not good.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Some Lamar Jackson news and I'm not sure if I
believe Harbaugh. And I got a great idea for something
the Ravens could do for a guy who's really meant
a lot to their season five nine X.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six.
Speaker 6 (29:35):
Of course, X Music on one the X
This is the Mark Maddon Show, Happy New Year. I guess.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Four one two eight three to three w xdx the
number to call. We got calls on the fifteens. We'll
do it at five fifteen today as well. So if
you love talking to me, you have more chance than
ever to do it now. That number is eight three
three four one two w xdx.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
My point is, and it has been for quite some time.
Nothing changes with the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Run it back.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Be conservative, be prehistoric rock fights, Never think big picture,
never look past the next game, and it's.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Bor ring, bor ring, bor ring.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I talked yesterday about how Cower is clearly a better
coach than Tomlin. Let me count the ways, and another
way is Bill Cower had great assistance, great assistance, great staff.
Tomlin is afraid to coward. Was a real good coach.
He had confidence. Tom went deep down, has little faith
(01:04):
in himself. Otherwise he'd have assistance coordinators who could occasionally
outsmart him, have a better idea than him, I should say,
and the.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Team would be better for it.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
So get your calls in now, four one two eight
three three wxdx. We got some great sound later from
Schreeger on ESPN, who talks about how if the Steelers
lose Sundy that tom On wouldn't get fired and he
wouldn't he would walk away to do TV or whatever.
(01:38):
And by the way, he'd be just awful of TV.
And I'll tell you why a little bit later. Actually,
I shouldn't have to tell you why. I just watch
one of his press conferences. Now, this is the last
show of twenty twenty five, and it is expected that
I would run down the biggest moments in Pittsburgh sports
in twenty twenty five. I heard that all day today
(01:59):
on B Team. Problem with that is.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
There really weren't any.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I mean, you tell me what were the biggest moments
of Pittsburgh sports in twenty twenty five? Dial now four
one two three three wxdx. That's the secret number, or
you can call eight three three four one two wxdx.
I mean, maybe it's Sid passing Mario in career points,
which happened just what a couple of weeks ago. Maybe
(02:25):
it's Skeens is excellence. But there wasn't one moment with
the Pirates, per se, not even one game that Skiens pitched.
He diluted our memory of his big moments by being
overwhelming just about every time.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
He threw the ball.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
And with the Steelers, the most memorable thing about the
team is we just got frustrated again. So you tell
me what were the biggest moments of twenty twenty five
in Pittsburgh sports. As far as predictions go for twenty
twenty six in Pittsburgh sports, unfortunately, the most accurate thing
I can predict is more of the same. I will say, though,
(03:05):
if the Pirates get Sada, who We're oh or whatever.
That third basement's name is O Kamoto Okamoto. I hope
they get O Kamoto son. I mean they need a
third basement that you know. It's a tough transition to
MLB from the Japanese league, but it's an educated gam Well,
just like overpaying for Ryan O'Hearn was just overpaid a
(03:26):
little bit, but you got a good bat. If they
can get one more good bat, the big store in
Pittsburgh sports in twenty twenty six could be them contending
for five hundred and contending for playoff berth in the September.
I don't believe they'll get it, but I do think
their team, if they get one more bat, will be
(03:48):
tangibly better, right, now, I still think they're like a
seventy five seventy seven win team at best.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
At best.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
If that's good enough for you, that'll kind of keep
them in the race for a while, won't it.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
But you know what, else, this'll be a big test
for the Pirts.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Like those of you think they've passed this test in
the off season by getting the two bats. Yeah, let's
see if, like for example, while is still here after
the trade deadline, Let's see how this plays out. Let's
see if they get another bat. Let's see if they
keep their pictures healthy. Let's see what they do with
the trade deadline in terms of incoming if they are
(04:21):
indeed in contention, you know, getting a couple of bats,
that didn't prove they're in it to win it. That
just proved that they're trying to adjust the what's a
good good term, like the financial culture, like the way
they run things in wake of the CBA coming up
for grabs, so MLB complaints to say.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
See they're spending no need for salary cap.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
So again, the Pirates story is a long way from
playing out, but it could be an interesting one in
twenty twenty six. Uh As for me, I have zero
New Year's Resolutions, maybe to be I don't know, more overbearing,
more obnoxious. It's a tough call, but I really do
think it's possible that number to call for calls on
(05:06):
the fifteens. Eight three three four one two wxdx. That's
eight three three four one two wxdx. What do you
think the best bet is for these Steelers to win
that game? You tell me eight three three four one
two wxdx. Like like I said at the show's open,
do the color thing with play action and throwing to
(05:28):
the tight ends. Minimize Mvs and Miller because they're just
not good enough to be a big part of an
effort where you beat Baltimore for.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
The division title.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I would run the ball sixty percent of the time
and maybe more until the score dictates otherwise. And defensively,
I put eight in the box and try to limit Henry,
make Snoop beat you. That's a lot easier said than done.
If I'm Baltimore and what plays I run Derrick Henry
right at TJ Watt until the.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Other one collapses.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Seriously, you think he's gonna come back from what happened
to not be really vulnerable. He's gonna want to be
in the middle of physicality all the time. Don't get
me wrong, he won't back down. I bet he dresses
for optics and plays very little. That's how I think
the story's gonna be on Sunday with DJ Watt. And
I'm not criticizing. I mean, if he can't go, he
can't go. Steelers win. Modern day Warrior is the big hero?
(06:21):
Why because he appeared on this show. Why is Joey
ported the best cornerback in football and on the Steelers
because he appeared on this show. It's easy to connect
the dots if you want to one oh five nine the.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
X you said the exit one O five nine.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I'm on Snapchat, but I never post, not even once ever.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
You know what I like watching.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Clips of cooking, like recipes being executed.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I mean a fat guy would like that, right, This
stuff looks so good.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I just saw brisket Jalipano poppers that were like the
size of my head. Uh, Penguins made of trade just
moments ago. It's a very mind. And they sent Philip
Thomasino to Philadelphia for a defenseman named igor.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Z a Muda.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
After getting Chinnakov from Columbus. It's like the pinball Wizard's
trying to assemble a branch of the KGB here in Pittsburgh.
But uh, hopefully it doesn't turn into a goolag. So
uh oh and Ryan Graves cleared Waivers. He's back on
(07:37):
the bus with his monster contract zamola, not za muda
igor zamula. Okay, it's calls on the fifteens. Let's go
to Joe. Joe.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
You're on with Mark.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Hey, Mark, Hey, doing great, Hey, quick question for you?
Forgive me. I know this this is going to sound cynical,
and I know there's no place for that on this program.
On this I want to see what you think. I'll
damn this show you talk about. And I agree, how
the Rooneyes keep Tomlin because of the tradition. That's what
their dad did, grandfather did all that craft. That's right,
(08:09):
and I agree. Do you think that Art Runey of
the second does he think of this at all? If
he lets Tom and go Tom and goes and does well,
they look like schmucks for letting them go, or in
the more likely scenario, Tomin leaves does terrible somewhere else,
and then they look like schmucks for having kept him.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
So long.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Do you think that crossed their mind at all?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
No, I don't think getting rid of Tomlin has yet
crossed Art Rooney's mind at all, beyond the optics of
keeping him, which obviously aren't good. But it's something they've
lived with, you know, for eight non playoff years to date,
and just to touch.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I do believe that the.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Reason the Steelers keep Tom Win is because that's what
Daddy and Granddaddy did. They never fired the coach. I
don't think, you know, him being black has much to
do with it. I'm not saying it's not a small
sliver of the reasoning to keep him. And I say
that because if they fired tom Win after instituting a
(09:06):
Rooney rule, I can tell you for sure they hired
tom Win because they originally looked at Russ Grimm, but
then they thought about how bad it would look to
insist on the Rooney rule and then hire a white coach.
I know that was a factor in their thinking, and
I'm not saying it it shouldn't be, but it was
a factor. Thank you for the call.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Let's go to Patrick, save us one sixty six. Happy
belated birthday and happy New Year to you real thanks sir,
real quick on Rogers. Anybody that opines in sincerity that
the Steelers should run back this quarterback situation as an
absolute psychopath. That's just a continued death sentence.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Let me tell you, I can guarantee you the majority
of the Steelers media thinks it would be a good
idea to bring Rogers back. And I've talked to a
couple of them just in passing, and They've said exactly that.
In fact, they think I'm nuts for not wanting him back.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
No, they're the lunatics. Two keys for this game. Mark.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Everybody knows this is obvious. Gotta stop Henry because if
he gets in the open field and that head starts bucking,
you can rip up the Steelers' playoff hopes.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Here's my thing for the offense.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Use those bums Scottie Miller and mvs to clear out
the zone and you've got to attack some form in
the middle with Warren Gainwell, John Hue and friar Mouth.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
That's your no question.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Like Cower said, But I gotta tell you, I don't
think they're going to do that. I mean, I would
put Roman Wilson in there, but they're not going to
do that. We can come up with a million ways,
and I have at least a few, not a million,
but how they can beat the Ravens. And they have
no intention of doing anything I suggest or Bill Cower suggests,
They just are going to do it their way and
(10:48):
if it loses, that's fine because they know better. Believe me,
I've said this about the Steelers for years, and it
even applied to Coward to some extent.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
They would rather be right than win. Let's go to
Jeff Jeff Mark.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Hey, happy to hear mister Bedden and to you.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
So, the one way that I think the Steelers kid
beat the Ravens is by using more of Kenneth deanwell,
because he basically kind of disappeared last week and I
don't know why he didn't get as many touches, but
he can definitely help in the run pass game.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, you know there are those who think and really
the video of Itdence shows he was involved in chipping
Garrett more than he was getting out on rots like
he did in the win at Detroit. Then again, I
can't fault that. Like JJ Watts said, what's the alternative
letting you know Garrett get sacked? You don't want to
let him get to Rogers, so I understand why, but
I don't think that Baltimore has anything near the equivalent
(11:45):
to Garrett. So yeah, I would like to see gain
Well more involved, especially getting out on routes. I agree
with what Tom said earlier in the show about using
him in the slot more.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Right.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
And also I think that our secondary just seems to
play tider against their receivers and not let him get
like an extra five yards on every passing player.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I don't I don't think that the Steelers pass coverage
and Joey Porter, as we talked about, is doing a
great job. I don't think pass coverage is gonna be
a big factor in winning or losing this game. I
think it's gonna be Can they stop Henry. Can they
stop the game from getting into a situation where all
Baltimore has to do is one Henry, thank you for
the call.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Let's get a Rick Rick real quick.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Hey, Mark, I just think Darnell's injury, Washington's injury is
going to force the Steelers hand to go to Friar
Mooth and they're gonna win despite themselves.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
It'll force them to use fire Mooth. I don't think
it'll force them to throw to fire Mooth. I think
it's gonna be a lot of Scottie Miller, a lot
of mvs because Aaron Rodgers, he's a four time MVP,
and the coach has never had a losing season. They
know everything. Thank you for the call. The course up
next one oh five to nine, alter the go.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Are you right out?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
We've got you and your friends very last chance to
go to aldre egos one.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Even as a kid, I was a super genius alp
white guy on the radio. I think I'm the coolest
guy period. What's up?
Speaker 6 (13:08):
D X one oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
It's AFC North Championship week, as coach t said, joining
us how to talk about it from the Sporting News,
it's Pittsburgh's own Mike de Corsi, Uh, Mike, it seems
easy to count the Steelers out after that Debaco Cleveland.
It's probably more logical to call this game a toss up,
isn't it?
Speaker 6 (13:29):
Well? I think it really it reasonably is. I mean,
the Steelers have already won in Baltimore, albeit with a
certain wide receiver in the lineup and making a significant impact.
That that changes the dynamic of this game significantly. His
absence DK metcapin.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
The atrocious decision that he made in that critical situation
both within that game could have been penalized, ejected, whatever
in that game. Uh. And then what's common as a
result that his absence changes this if honestly, one can
say if he were present, if he hadn't gotten suspended,
(14:10):
that this game might not even matter. I mean, he
may have done well up in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Oh no, I think if he plays in Cleveland, Mike,
I think they win.
Speaker 6 (14:18):
Yeah, That's what I'm saying. So this game could have
meant nothing as it was, and he could have been
rested to getting and getting ready for a playoff game.
So I do think that the fact that he's absent
really makes the Steelers offense complicated in terms of trying
to find success. There's no doubt that the Ravens will
challenge him again to throw, and this time they will
(14:40):
not have that weapon as an asset.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
What should their offensive game plan be?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Given that Kleer said the run play action a lot
and use muth and John Eumore, I say, run the
ball sixty percent of the time until the situation and
score dictate. Otherwise it's tough to fix things though, say
without without DK there.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Well with if you just run sixty percent of the
time and they stacked the box and the way they
did against again against the Seilers in the first time
down in Baltimore, then a lot. You're punning a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yeah, I make them prove that again rather than rely
on MVS and Scottie.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Miller Mike Yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
Well I'm not relying on them either. I like Coward's idea.
The fact that Muth didn't get a target until the
last possession of the game was atrocious, and.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Then not in the red zone after.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yeah, and that was ridiculous too, although you know there
there was a lot of conversation about them going after
ward on those three consecutive plays. And the reality is
that if Aaron Rodgers had thrown either of the first
two in a reasonable manner, I mean, they were not
difficult throws. If he'd thrown either of them where where
(15:52):
the defender wasn't both times he was playing inside and
the throws came relatively inside. If especially the second one
had been a good, solid, back shoulder throw, then it
would only been up to whether about this Canceling's hands
failed him on that occasion. I mean, and they have
been known to do it on more than once. But uh,
there there was an opportunity there to score. It's just
(16:15):
Rogers failed there. Uh. And as as for not using
mouth in the red zone, hey why not? And it's
been pointed out on film that they had uh, they
had gained they had gainwell opened uh in down the seam. Uh.
He might have been tackled, he might not have. But
at the very least his hands are better than the
player they threw to.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Well.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I think Rogers was simply awful at Cleveland. I think
he used the wrong receivers, he checked out or runs
too much. He just doesn't want to run the ball.
His arm was all over the place. And and like
I said, he's anointed mvs and Scottie Miller. I know
they're gonna be a big part of this game against
Baltimore because they're doing what he wants, not what's best.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
Yeah, I think I think I would have liked to
seen him check gotta one more one or two more
runs that that third down run to gain well with
six and change left was one of the worst plays
I've played, calls I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh No, that in the fourth and one going deep
to Miller a bit. But those are micro cosms, Mike.
They averaged five and a half yards per run and
passed the ball almost twice as much.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
Yeah, it was. It was. You're you're one hundred percent
right about the various adventures of Valdez Gantling. I when
when they had Metcalf, what he did was he forced
you to play more honest, the presence of Valdez scantling
because he can't run, and so you can't just let
him go and think, hey, he'll drop it this time.
Even though your odds aren't bad, it's still you still
(17:42):
can't bet on that. Uh, So you have to guard him.
And when that meant maybe a little bit less help
on DK than it was successful, Now it means a
little less help on who. Well, if you're not gonna
play Roman Wilson, it doesn't need it on him. Uh
they gave him nine snaps. It means a lot less
help on somebody who's not fast enough and not fast enough.
(18:03):
And I'm not saying they're not fast enough to be
NFL players, but not to be deep threats in this league.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
We're talking to Mike the Corsi of the Sporting News
He's brought to us by south Fields Kia. Southfields Kia
has the ride and a price you'll love. I like
the Steelers running game. I like both backs. I like
the O line. Why not just lean on that. I mean,
I'm kind of beating the drum here, like all this interview,
but I just think it's what makes the most sense.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Well, again, it comes down to how you're defended. And
if you're running into stack boxes, even good blocking can't
fix that because you're blocked. You've got five to six
to seven players blocking nine to ten plays.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Well, that's true, and Baltimore's gonna come out and do that.
You're right, the Cowerway is the way to go. I
just I just know they won't do the right thing.
That's why. But Mike, that's why they lost to Cleveland.
I thought they were gonna win until the very end,
send it to overtime, and they just refuse to do
what works.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
They just do what Rogers prefers. I not on Rogers.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I think when we look back at this, his tenure
here will be looked at as a disaster.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Well, I will say I will say that it really
all because of his play in Cleveland and a few
other games, but specifically Cleveland. It will come down to
Saturday and Sunday night. Excuse me. If he wins, then
it's a success, regardless of what happens next weekend, if
the you know, as I said, if there's a next weekend,
(19:28):
if he wins, it's a success. But if they if
they lose, then his his experimentation will have been a
failure because he was supposed to make them better and
last year they were ten and seven. They they didn't
win the division in large part because of Arthur Smith's
second worst game plan, only because it only meant divisional
(19:51):
excuse me, playoff seeding and not a divisional championship. That
game against Cincinnati was just unbelievable. But the game playing
against Cleveland was four at all and he came up
with a stinker. And I understand Cleveland's got a really
good defense, and when we talked a month and a
half ago, the last time they played, we talked about
that we're not overlooking that, but at the same time,
(20:15):
you have to be able to look look. Thirteen other
teams answered that challenge, and so even though the defense
is really good, it just keeps it closer. You still
have to win the game.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Now I feel dumb.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
For even broaching this, but here goes, is Baltimore better
off without Lamar?
Speaker 1 (20:33):
If he's dinged up?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Why would you rather have at there Snoop in one
hundred percent or Lamar like I don't know, sixty or
seventy with that back because with Snoop they're often simplifies.
With Lamar, they always going to make him look like
the MVP, and I get it, but right now he's
dinged up.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
You know, I think it's a more reasonable question than
people realize. They beat Chicago with him starting at quarterback,
They beat Green Bay on the with him starting, Oh
with Snoop. Yeah, Tyler Huntley has been successful in his
two starts, highly successful. That's their that's their two best
wins of the year by far. And he played well
(21:12):
in both games. He wasn't a passenger. He was a factor.
If he'd been a passenger, one could say, well, yeah,
but you get your threat back and all that, and look,
Lamar at full strength. This isn't even like this is
a it's like a ridiculous, like kindergarten style question. And
I know that that's not the case because he's not
been that and he's And it's not just the fact
(21:34):
that he's coming back off the back injury that happened
in New England. It's also like how healthy was he
from all the other things that had him dinged up
and had him really relatively ineffective when they played high
level competition prior to the back injury. They played pretty
well in it. Obviously in Cincinnati get to win twenty
four to nothing, and they played pretty well early before
(21:56):
he got hurt against New England. But for the most part,
he hadn't been really good. And I don't know how
compromised he is with the back at this stage, but
I do know that Tyler Huntley has been excellent when
he's been called upon.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
You know what I would do if I'm Baltimore Mike,
I would run Henry assuming what plays, which we don't know.
I would run Henry right at what I would I
would make what recover in a hurry or get worn out.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
Well, I think that's that's a reasonable thing. And and
partly because the way the Steelers have defended on the edge,
they've tended to crash down on the on the tackle
and try to get someone on the outside to clean
that up. And it hasn't generally worked. Uh So, if
you're gonna run at the outside linebacker, that's what you're
talking about. I mean, that's not really been a Henry's specialty.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (22:46):
He's he's he's more damaging between the tackles in outside.
Uh But but I I would understand at least taking
a shot at that to see what it does, because
you can wear him down a little bit if that
those are that crash down defensive technique is a very
physically demanding thing, and if he has to do it
(23:08):
a lot of times, it's even more punishing than say
a straight pass rush can be. So I do understand
what your point is there, and and I do think
that he's gonna have to Teacher's gonna have to show
what he's you know, what he's up to handling at
this stage? Is he is he one hundred percent? Is
he close to one hundred percent? Does he alternate with Herbig?
(23:30):
At least they know that now after two three weeks,
that alternating is not necessarily damaging to their defense. I mean, uh,
Sawyer played very well. Herbig before he got hurt was outstanding.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Let me let me say too.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
In the vein of Are the Ravens better off not
using Lamar in this game against Derrick Henry? Are the
Steelers better off if what can't play and you get
Sawyer in there, who might be their best edge guy
against a run?
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Well, high Smith won, but Sawyer probably two.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
Yeah, I think that's a fair question. And you know
that Sawyer on his edge is probably playing better than
TJ in that sense. But what TJ does really well
is when they run away from him, when they run
to the opposite edge and he shoots down the line,
he is standing there, And so that would be dependent
(24:20):
on how the whether the Ravens took your advice and
when at TJ, or whether they did what a lot
of teams do, and not necessarily because it's Heigsmith, but
because teams like to run to their left because that's
usually where you put your best offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
I don't think either coach is going to get fired,
But how much coach? How much pressure is each coach
under and what could that pressure lead to for the loser?
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Well, I don't think I think it might lead to
some changes in either coaching staff if they fail.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Isn't that just too I mean, how much does it
really change.
Speaker 6 (24:55):
Oh, I think Look, I think it changes significantly. I mean,
what you what you seen from Arthur Smith is better
than what you saw from Matt Canada. But what you
saw from Matt Canada certainly wasn't better than any of
his predecessors under Tomlin, or any of his predecessors in
the modern history of the team. So yeah, it matters
(25:16):
who's running the offense, and it matters who's running the
defense and what their schemes are and what their plans are.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
I have said this before.
Speaker 6 (25:24):
Mike Tomlin is elite in a lot of categories, but
the one category where he has not proven himself at
all is in hiring assistant coaches. It has not been
a strength. I shouldn't say it's not been a strength
because I'm being too kind. It's been a weakness. He
has not shown an ability to hire.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
High end.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Assistant coaches, not just the coordinators, but in a variety
of positions. Some of the guys that have been around
for a while have obviously done great work, but in
terms of his new hires, where is the star, Where
is the rising star? And I don't care about coaching tree.
I'm just talking about somebody you look at and you say, man,
that guy does a great job.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Well if they if they had kept Brian Flores.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Mike, Yeah, I mean that was a great move. That
was a tremendous move. It made them better when he
brought him in, and then he basically deferred to the
fact that the other guy had been there before and
not that Flores was probably a superior defensive coordinator with
a better track record. It would have been a pretty
tough move to make because there hadn't been a long
(26:35):
track record, but Flores has shown that he's an exceptional
defensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Mike, I think Baltimore's gonna win, but I'm not married
to it. I think it's like, you know, sixty forty
their way because of the momentum and because I think
they're a team that could put the game away early.
I don't think the Steelers can. I think if the
Steelers get past the first quarter and change with the
game within one score either way, I think they'll be fun.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
Who do you like? Well, I what I've been saying
on the Friday Football Show with Tim Benz is like
I'm constantly picking against the Steelers now, because most of
the time when I do that, I'm wrong. But one
thing I will say is you've talked about momentum. The
momentum didn't help the Steelers at all. They came off
that Detroit game that was a huge win. I mean,
(27:22):
they beat a really talented team on the road in
their building, so.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
They like physical, which ain't easy.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
And then and then they go to Cleveland with everything
on the line and all you have to do and
I guess it's an NFL team with a great defense.
I get that, but all you have to do is
be the three win team to automatically clinch the playoffs.
And they scored seven points. So I just don't think
the momentum thing is a factor. I think the biggest
factor is the Steelers absence of high end wideouts. I
(27:54):
think they had one, and he decided that there were
more important things than getting to the playoffs. And look,
I don't know what was said to him. I do
know this, there are other mechanisms to deal with that.
You go to Steelers security and say this guy said that,
and I'm not dealing with that, go take care of it.
And then the Steelers guy goes to the Lions guy,
(28:16):
and the Lions guy says, Okay, you know if it's
to a certain degree, you're out of here. And if
it's to another degree, we're just gonna move your seat.
But you're not talking over the bench anymore. We're not
having that here. That's what would have happened if he'd
handled it properly. Instead, he gets suspended for the final
two games of the regular season, and that's why I
just I have a hard time seeing the Steelers winning.
(28:38):
The one element of this that gives me some confidence
is that when he played, When Rogers plays against teams
that don't have great pass rushes, he plays better. The
teams that have rushed the pass are well and Cleveland
obviously with who they have, that's a factor. He's just
he's just not been good.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Mike is always great stuff. Great work on the Friday
Football Show with Tim Bens. We'll do it again next week.
Enjoy the game.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
Sounds great, Thanks Mark, that's.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Mike the Corsey.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I got some great sound next from Chris mad Dog Russo,
who just won't play Aaron Rodgers no matter what.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Also some Pitt football news and it's not good.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Some Lamar Jackson news and I'm not sure if I
believe Harbaugh. And I got a great idea for something
the Ravens could do for a guy who's really meant
a lot to their season five nine X.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six.
Speaker 6 (29:35):
Of course, X Music on one the X
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