December 19, 2025 • 31 mins
Mark is joined by Tim Benz this hour to break down the PIrates trade and the Steelers Game in Detroit
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
By the way, smart Manchow, I always try to do that.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
When the music ends, you can down now eight three
three four one two WXDX. Pit women's volleyball lost in
NCAA semifinal for the fifth straight year. They made the
final four for the fifth straight year and did not
get to the final, and the reaction generally around ton
is they represented the school in the city with pride.
Let's be proud of these girls. I saw that in
(00:24):
a tweet. Let's be proud of these girls. First off,
they're women, and I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Gonna ask.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
This.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
They did their best. They're Pittsburgh. Let's be proud.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Would we say the same thing if it was a
men's team the Austin five straight semifinals or where we
call them chokers and losers. Not hating, just saying I'm
not calling the pitt women's volleyball team chokers and losers.
I'm just saying if it was a men's team, what
would we call them? Dial now eight three three four
(00:58):
to one two WSDX. By the way, the USL champion
River Hans with the move today Rob Vinson, who came
in as interim coach at season's end and won the
playoffs he has been retained as the head coach. So
congratulations again to the River Hawns organization and to Rob
(01:18):
Vincent for being appointed head coach. Did we cover that
the goalie left already? Eric Dick? He ain't coming back.
I mean, I guess you can do without Dick. People
do it all the time. Wait what I mean, Aman
Flyers announcer, Hey, his name's Dick. All right, any hoodles
(01:39):
call to talk about any of that. Uh, here's the
one jumping way ahead. I'm so intrigued by the NFL
Draft in Pittsburgh and April.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I'll be anywhere but there. That's not true.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I think I'm doing something for Pittsburgh Brewing, but at
that facility in Creighton, which is driving in the exact
opposite direction of the draft itself. But I think it's
intriguing how the quarterback market dropped outs. And further evidence
of that is even even that guy Mendoza, Indiana Heisman winner,
last man standing at quarterback, and he's had a great
(02:14):
year and I think he's talented. I saw him play
for nearly six or seven minutes this year. That's the
conclusion I would draw from those six or seven minutes.
But people are like discussing this Mendoza guy. Em maybe
not at first overall, because it looks like the Giants
are gonna get the first pick and they already have
Jackson Dart And maybe you stick with him because the
(02:38):
quarterbacks we thought am maybe not because remember when it
was gonna be like seven quarterbacks in the first round,
but Aler got hurt. I guess Manning is staying at
Texas for his billion dollars of nil, and he was.
He got better as the year went on. I think, actually,
what's his name, Archman. I think that he's actually on
(03:03):
the trajectory that we should have reasonably expected for a
quarterback his age and experience in the first place. And
I do think he winds up being a first round pick,
and probably would be this year just based on his name.
But it didn't turn out like we thought it would
for drafting quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. And I just
want to chime in, maybe going three and fourteen doesn't
(03:24):
guarantee anything, but the Steelers still need to do it.
Last night, great Thursday night football game. I was out
of Dino's at Latrob. I watched the Penguin game, but
caught a lot of the football game afterwards.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Don't forget.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I'm at Marino's American Eatery in Greensburg for the Penguin
game tomorrow night, and then I'm at celebration as an
Imperial for the Steeler game and the Penguin game on Sunday.
But Seattle be dla Rams with a two point conversion
in overtime thirty eight thirty seven in a game that
features no hate crimes, despite the presence of Pukainakua who
(04:03):
had this gigantically big game, so that don't teach anybody
who's dying on hate crimes. Uh, he should have been
suspended a game for sure, should have been. Seahawks were
down sixteen in the fourth quarter and came back and
they got a two point conversion to tie the game
on a in completion by Darnold that was throne behind
(04:27):
the line and nobody reacted to what turned out to
be a fumble and it kind of just flipped and
he flopped into the end zone and the Seattle offensive lineman,
without know what was going on, picked it up, and
the referees had their hands in there for the two
point conversion, and that tied the game and Seattle went
on the winners. That was a pretty interesting finish. Uh,
(04:49):
I do gotta talk a lot of Penguins. This saint
good right now for the Penguins. Never mind the losing
and the standings. Last night was an Excreman show. She
lost was rotten. He's lost I think seven in a
row now. But they got shut out. When you get
shut out, it doesn't matter who's in goal. That said,
shilloffs let a goal in very early, and I'll be blunt.
(05:10):
I hate to say this about teams because there's no
way for us to watch on TV or even at
the rink and know if a team quits.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
It looked like the Penguins quit last night.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
MWS looked confused behind the bench, like he's Mike Johnston
and I'm told the dressing room is upset because Jari
got traded.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You know, I could have extrapolated that.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I mean, I've been told about the room, But the
Penguins staff was really almost in tears because Jari got traded.
The sumbitch never won a playoff series. Oh we jars
won a great f Jars f jars. He got hurt
last night for Edmonton and he won't win there either.
But I digress the dressing room gotta get over itself,
(05:50):
got to get over itself.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
That goes for the stars too.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
It ain't won a playoff series since twenty eighteen, it
ain't even made the playoffs in three years, and Jarry
never wont to play the eternal bond of unbreakable brotherhood
can go f itself, and it's not done the team
much good for quite a while. It's like when Jake
got traded in the dressing room basically went on strike
and blew the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
That you're because of it.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Get over yourselves, and like I said, that goes for everybody.
With Brunick jerked around and morishov back in, Wilkes and
Brose and Avery Hazen, Wilkes coven and scratched the dressing
room totally belongs to the veterans again. That vibe and
energy are gone. Got sucked out of the room, got
(06:35):
sucked out of the team.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And that is a horrific mistake.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
My kindle not on the first power play and Manta
is him and his one leg f off, f off
with that nonsense. Mus has lost track of what I
thought his job was supposed to be. It is to
develop if it was to scratch into the playoffs. There
were a lot better choices than him. Mike Sullivan would
have been a better bet to scratch into the playoffs,
(07:00):
even though he didn't do that in any of the
last three years. And with coven he's playing bad. Yeah,
I have no real big bitch about scratching him, but
he ain't played no worse than Heinen and Hayes. And
at least Coyvenan has an upside and can't get better.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You know, skated together today.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
You know he's on left wing with Kendall and McGroarty,
Kevin fing Hayes.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Hey, here's an idea.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Instead of putting Hayes on their left wing, why not
get Kindall and McGroarty together before the game tomorrow night
at Montreal and chain their ankles together? What can News
possibly be imagining there? You know, why is Heinen and Pittsburgh?
Why is bros and Wilkes? Let's ask the dads because
(07:46):
getting slaughtered on the dad's trip is not a good look.
I bet the dads are pissed. I can think of
one in particular. What's the number again? Eight three, three
four on two wh six? What a great show that
this has been and I didn't mention the Steelers and lines,
did I mentioned them at all that segment. No, But
just so I can say I talked about him. Detroit's
(08:09):
gone to kill you, Detroit's.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Gone I kill you.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And I say that with no small amount of humor
except what you could obviously notice by the way I
delivered it. But I mean, I just Detroit's better and
the Steelers are gonna come out and play the wrong way.
We got Tim at the bottom of the hour batch
at four o'clock, mister Friday Afternoon went five and oh,
he went what was it ten and o the week
before because of that ridiculous whatever. I'm not even gonna
(08:35):
get the sound effect involved. Bit bit bit bit bit,
I mean ten and oh, then.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Five and oh. It's almost like he knows what he's
talking about.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
And then in the five o'clock car he's hosting a
thing this weekend at the hardcore Happy Hour at Helltown
Stripped District tap Room Saturday, six to late. It's the original,
the first Easy World Heavyweight Champion the franchise, Shane Douglas.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
This is just a great show. To quote the big
o'bowski right, goodbye. The exit one nine.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Time recalls on the fifteens. Tim Ben joins me at
the bottom of the hour. Colin Beasley, who covers the
Pirates for the Post Gazette, and he's one of the
fans I talk about. He's a Pirate fan, but he
points out that acquiring Brandon Lowe is a move designed
to win in twenty twenty six. Yeah, I would hope so,
(09:40):
because he's only on a one year deal one year
excuse me remaining on his contract. The race picked up
the club auction, and it is wise to try to
win while you got Skens. They should have made moves
like this the last two years too, But I think
this ends with Lobby being traded in July if the
(10:01):
Pirates aren't in a playoff spot at that point, and
I don't think they will be just based on this
one move. They're better, but probably not good enough. But
I'll tell you what this is for sure. This is
a move designed to make all of you think they're
trying to win in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Well determine that they're really trying are.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
The moves they make between now and then and whatever
the payroll for twenty twenty six is at season's beginning.
That's how you'll know. Again it's a great move. I mean,
just a great move. I don't know what the friggin'
astro see. And Mike Burrows, I mean, I would have
thought that he would be the guy they're forced to
pitch after they trade Mitch Keller. But this is a
(10:43):
move designed to make you think they're trying to win
in twenty twenty six, let's go to Scoot Scoots.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
What's up?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
What up mine?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
What up?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Mine?
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Do you think last night that awful performance in Ottawa
will kind of be the line of demarcation where Dubis thinks, Hey,
this team I need to sell. There's no shot I
can speak to the playoffs or do you think he'll
wait until Malkin kind of gets back.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
Into the lineup and just see if the team react.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well, it's worth it's worth noting they're row and seven
without malk and all of these losses have come with
him out of the lineup, which actually has people saying
they need to sign him to a contract for next year,
which they should do anything, but but they they do
miss Malkin the production on the second line. And the
reason I wouldn't bring him back is the is to
not block Kindle from being a top six center. But uh,
(11:32):
but but they're only like even now, three points out
of a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Scoot, So no, Dupas isn't gonna give up now.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
He probably ought to, and he needs to tell me
news how to deploy the young guys instead of the
old guys. They need to get back to that because
it served them well at the beginning of the season.
It was the whole purpose of this season in the
first place. Let's go to Dan, Dan, you're all with double.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
M what's up?
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (11:58):
I was gonna talk about the Penguins real quick. You
were talking about Plurbus in the pregame show, and that
show is really good. You should watch it.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
I will do. What about the Penguins now?
Speaker 7 (12:10):
I think the early season and stuff was kind of
them punching above their weight, which kind of mentioned. But
I feel like what we're seeing now is kind of
just what this team actually is. And I don't really
I don't see him making the playoffs this year. Miss.
I think it's gonna be another Stratchy.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I don't think they're as bad as a seven game
losing streak, but I don't think they were as good
as their start, and I think the start skewed the
way they think about the season and skewed the way
MWS is coaching. I think News has done just a
terrible job during the seven game losing streak, and last
night he looked like he didn't know what to do,
and I don't think those looks were deceiving.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
Yeah, I mean, you got to go back to what
was working. I don't know why they even tried to
fix what wasn't broken. I guess it's Mulkin going out,
but it's like that just doesn't make a lot of sense.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
The one that I think they've mangled brunic season that
pisses me off. Kindling out on the first power play
when he's their best power play guy. That pisses me
off and strikes me as very territorial as far as
the veterans are concern Danton Hinen in Pittsburgh and Avery
Hayes and Tristan bros Both in Wilkes. That pisses me off.
(13:24):
A lot of the way this team is assembled and
deployed right now pisses me the frig off. Tim Ben's
up next, one oh five to nine.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
This is Alfred Williams.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Here's what's trending on the iHeart Sports Network, presented by Lows.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
On the ice, the Penguins were shut out by the Senators.
They're seventh loss in a row. They look to snap
the skid tomorrow against Montreal. The Steelers continue their playoff
push Sunday against the Lions. They leave Baltimore by a
game in the AFC North with three remaining. The First
round of the college football Playoff kicks off tonight, Oklahoma
(13:58):
hosts Alabama.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
From normal, I'm stay home and stay big online. During
Low's December deal.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Drops Mark and Afternoon gallanted like the Mark.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
Madden, what do you want? What do you want?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Dammit?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
The exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Some Pirates news in a big Steeler game at Detroit.
Joining us on to talk about it is Tim Bench
from the Trip. Tim, I only want to talk briefly
about the Bucko deal. But they got Brandon Lywe the
power hitting second Bason from Tampa. Unless everybody has overestimated
Mike Burrows, I mean underestimate. Excuse me, he's better than
I think, like the Astros think he's, you know, the
(14:38):
next Nolan Ryan or whoever.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
It seems like the pirates made a real good deal.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
It does. I like the trade. I don't think it's
going to have the impact that you know, Schwarber or
Marte or Alonzo or Naylor or any of the names
that were casually thrown around would have had. But maybe
that was part of the strategy. Maybe it was, you know,
make it look like we're shooting high, but we're still
making an effort to at least make the team better,
(15:04):
which they did. I mean, the opportunity to get somebody
who had thirty one home runs through free agencies practically
non existent for this team, and sometimes even in trades.
So if you can get him, get him. And I
agree with your sentiment, which is, yeah, we all like
Mike Burrows as a prospect. Could have been a good
pitcher here, probably would have been okay, But you know,
(15:26):
was he ever going to top out at more than
number three or four? If the guys that we've been
propping up for so long live up to their potential.
One already has his schemes. The other is Chandler. You know,
if Jared Jones comes back and they keep him a starter,
he would be three. And maybe Houston just liked this
guy as a prospect more than Keller as a relatively
(15:48):
finished product who would be at least three, if not
four around Burrows.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
So I think they might keep Keller now, probably, and
I think that would probably be a good move, although
the size of his ticket doesn't preclude him getting trade.
I just have this theory though, that they got Law
and they'll have Griffin on the roster to start the
season in the lineup two to sell tickets to get
seasoned packages out there, and then it winds up with
them not really contending because they don't think they're a
(16:14):
five hundred team now, even with Law, They've got to
make some more moves, and then they trade Law with
the deadline.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
There's never going to be a deal that acquires salary
that the Pirates don't have a plan to get out
of it. So that aspect of the deal doesn't rub
me the wrong way, because I'd rather have the guy
here with the escape clause and have them use the
escape clause to not have him here in the first place,
and then if he works out and the team doesn't,
(16:43):
then at least maybe you get back a prospect that
could someday be your number four pitcher, Like you know, Burrows,
was probably going to be.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
I want to get some Steelers talking, Tim, because let's
face the Pirates got to make more moves and they
might not. What is the Steelers' best bet to win
this game at Detroit? How do they have to approach it?
Because I have my ideas, but what are yours?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
They got to be willing to score with these guys,
because I don't think that they all slow them down,
and I think this game has to be in the
high twenties to low thirties. They're gonna have to take
some chances in the pass rush too, if they don't
have what or her Big or at least her Big
at full strength, or whatever the case would be.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
And Tim, who knows they might stab high Smith in
the lung between now and then.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
If this is a strategy to get out of contracts Mark,
they might have tried that earlier before I started to
play well again. But like you know, you're potentially gonna
have Jack Sawyer over Penny Seool for a lot of
this game. And you know that strikes me strategically as
something that plays right into the hands of the Detroit Lions,
like they can leave him by himself and put as
(17:53):
much help as they need over on High Smith. Even
if they want to do that, and they can just
deploy more guys and routes, and I think that's gonna
be too much for the Steelers to keep up with.
But you know, we have long called for the Steelers
to get more creative in their pass rush.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
They're gonna have to hear. They're gonna have to.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Blitz Ramsey, They're gonna have to blitz Queen.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
The theory is that if you get golf panicky in
the pocket, you muddy the pocket, you make him throw
off platform. That's where you get to him. That's not
unique to Golf, but it seems to bother him more
than most. So if they can do that and create
a few turnovers, which the Lions normally don't do, that's
(18:32):
how they stay in. Again, that's high twenties to low thirties.
But I think they're gonna have to be ready to
do that. Take some chances on.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
It, but be tim, I bet they're not. I mean, Tomlin,
it's not his nature to do that. It's more in
his nature to force a rock fight. You look at
last year when they beat Cincinnati in a shootout and
then tried to force the rock fight in the rematch
and and lost that. That said, you're right, and that
Detroit defense, it's a bit vulnerable with three dbs out.
(19:00):
My big worry is Fatanu matched up. I'm not a worry,
but you mentioned the Sewell and Jack Sawyer match up,
and I bet Sawyer plays good. But you're right, that's
a tough nut to crack. What about Fatano against Aiden Hutchinson.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Well, unless Aiden Hutchinson's over Dylan Cook, and then it's worse.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Yeah, but Hutchinson usually Hudginson usually lines up on the
left side, correct, I thought.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
I mean he's usually listed as a He's at least
listed as a right defensive lineman. They've got him in
his snap counts over on them.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No ESPN lists of his left But maybe I should
actually watch tape, which I'm not gonna do, so we'll
just win.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Well, either way, he can't move, and if I'm the Lions,
I put him over Cook and I forced the Steelers
to throw as much help over there as humanly possible.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, but then that'll take away from the notion of
trying to force a shootout, because if you give help,
it's the fat kid and then it minimizes firemouth.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Uh yeah, but I think to your point, maybe what
they try to do is just leep clock and keep
the Detroit offense off the field.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, and that won't world. I mean, I mean we
both know.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
That won't work well, especially because I think you've already
said it a couple times. Which is the nature of
Detroit's weakness, is their secondary because it's so banged up.
And you know, when we're doing our show, Tom and
Matt and I on Wednesday night, I count down to kickoff,
we were looking at some of the numbers about how
(20:26):
vulnerable the Lions have been outside the numbers. Now that
speaks directly to DK Metcalf and not much else. But
if you're trying to validate the existence of Calvin Austin,
mvs and Adam Thielen, it looks like this is a
game to do it because even though they rediscovered the
middle of the field and they used it to great
(20:49):
effect against the Dolphins, the Lions don't play it that
way necessarily, and the Steelers I think are more inclined
to throw it outside the numbers anyway. Rogers certainly is,
and that might actually be wiser this time around, based on.
I think it's something like two hundred and three yards
to wide receivers over the last six weeks or something
(21:11):
like that, and you know, well into the high one
hundreds in terms of the yards per game outside the
numbers strictly, and that's a safe spot for the Steelers
to work in their mind, and I think they could
get DK in some favorable matchups.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
We're talking to Tim.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Ben's brought to us by Klushi Chevrolet, serving the Pittsburgh
area for one hundred and seven years. Tim, I trust
Ai implicitly to deliver the truth, and it says aid
Hutchinson is primarily a left edge rusher.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Which will put him against Fatanu.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
It continues, often starting on the left side, but he's
versatile and also plays the right edge, lining up inside
and outside, allowing him to rush from multiple spots to
maximize pressure. That just doesn't sound good, Tim, I think
he's gonna put Rodgers in the hospital.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Well, that's that's sort of what I was going with.
The thought is whatever you've got in terms of this
is historic snapcowns. If he's if they're able and willing
to move him around, then I would.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Put him on the right side.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
No question.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
No question, Because you got a first a guy who's
starting his first road game in a dome in Dylan Cook,
next to either a backup guard or a compromised Isaac Ciamalu,
maybe a compromise Zach Fraser. And you know, at least
on the other side, you have two guys that have
been there the whole time in McCormick and tele Tomham.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Do we know what's wrong with Zach Fraser?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (22:31):
Yeah, I thought it was a triceip for him too,
wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I bet they're concealing that he got stabbed in the
lung by the doctor. Now where is Rogers at right now?
I have a tough time evaluating Rogers, Tim. I mean,
I think he's played well. He was very efficient in
that went over Miami and scoring on four state drives
was huge and unheard of with this Steelers offense for
how long?
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Tim? But is he anything more than efficient?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
He's smart, He tends to throw the ball to the
right places and you know, when given chances, I think
he's hit throws. Now he's missed some too, particularly when
they were struggling against the likes of you know, the
Los Angeles Chargers, when he had a really bad game,
and what was that the Buffalo game that he played
(23:18):
as well, where they weren't any good.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
But you know, and even earlier.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
The season there were some froze that he had said
that he wished that he.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
Could have had back and so forth.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
So I I kind of look at it from the
standpoint of you asked this question a week or two ago,
was it worth it? And to them with their goals,
I think it has been worth it because their goal
was to be above five hundred and make it back
to the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
Again. He's given them a better shot than anybody they had,
or anybody they were going to.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Get, because they weren't going to pay what Seattle paid
for Sam Donald.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Yeah, I mean, you get what you paid for too.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I'm not saying they would win playoff games with Sam Darnald,
but I have very little confidence to win one with
Aaron Rodgers and then next year, who knows, maybe Kirk
Cousins and Tim That pros me.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
And I think statistically, Mark Well, you're talking about you know,
like if you want to see him be more than efficient,
and this is a good team to do it against,
because like part of the reason efficiency is The word
for Rogers is he's got the lowest depth of target
of any quarterback in football.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Right His weaponry is just terrible.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
But then again, he's the guy who wants stealing in
mbs out there. Then again, I'm not sure Wilson and
Austin offer any better it Tim. It's still just not
a very good team, let alone a very good offense.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
And that begs this question.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Are the Steelers trending upward or have they just won
a couple games in the row, because those two things
can be very different.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
I thought they played a very good game against a
sub mediocre opponent in the Dolphins. You know, the Dolphins
are probably nothing more than a high cut of bad
in the NFL, and the Steelers are a mediocre cut
in the NFL in a down division, which is why
they're probably going to win it. If you can take
the Steelers and PLoP them in the NFC West, how
(25:02):
do you think they're going to do?
Speaker 6 (25:03):
You know?
Speaker 3 (25:04):
And we've seen them lose a couple of times already
to NFC North teams, And here comes another one, like
I'm just looking like where they would stand in some
of the other divisional battles and it's not all that favorable.
Speaker 6 (25:16):
So you know, they are.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
In a advantageous spot in their division race. They're in
an advantageous spot because their division is down. But I
still would have to be convinced to pick them even
with the home playoff game against one of the other
teams that might come in as a wild card. They
played a good game against Miami, full credit to them
for doing that good game. Lesser team fifty to fifty
(25:39):
game against Baltimore on the road, got a few breaks
and that helped them win the game. But maybe they'll
be better on their home turf in week eighteen, if
it really comes down to that, it might not, because,
like I said, they're in a better position than they
are a good team, and the better position has largely
to do with who the Ravens have to play and
what the conference tiebreaker standings are at this point.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
No, you could not have possibly put it better.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
But that said to convince me they could win a
playoff game, let alone games. I keep calling for them
to win out and the schedule doesn't preclude that. I mean,
they're playing three games that are eminently winnable. You want
to trend upward, do that build real momentum. You want
to talk like this two thousand and five, I mean,
you know, show me that you're close to that, even
though we both know.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
They are not.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
You are saying is speaking exactly what Rogers said in
his postgame interview with Lisa Saulters, which you know, he
said he wants to see the belief pick up.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Now.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
I don't know if he was talking about the team
orfe he was talking about us and the fans or both,
but he could have meant both. But surely he was
talking about the players themselves, and they can believe. They
say they believe. I think they have believed in themselves
the last five years, but ever since the first quarter
of that Cleveland playoff game, no one in Pittsburgh should
(26:54):
feel obligated to believe again until they are proven otherwise,
until the Steelers themselves make us believe, and they haven't
ever since that COVID playoff game against the Browns kicked off.
So I think that's a little bit of an indication
that Rogers does if he doesn't have his finger on something,
it's where this team really is as opposed to the
(27:15):
one that I think he idealized when he thought about
and eventually did sign here, and who Tomlin is a coach,
who they are as a franchise. I mean, let's face it, Mark,
like Rodgers has never really been in this spot before.
You know, they hadn't had a playoff drought longer than
three years in Green Bay going back to the mid
eighties to early nineties by the time he had arrived.
(27:36):
When he went to the Jets, he was seen as
the guy who was going to change everything, and then
he got hurt right away. So he's never had to
play through and live what he's going through right now
in Pittsburgh, which is in really a state of jahndice
view of its football team and with every every reason
to be so.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Tim. Before we wrap up, I got to ask you
about the Penguins. They've lost seven straight. Did it look
like they quit last night?
Speaker 6 (28:01):
It looked like they didn't have anything.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah, I mean it looked like they were skating in
emotional mud. I heard you open and talk about it.
I've forgotten about the whole Dad's trip aspect.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
Boy, what a fun trip this must be.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
When I heard the locker room's mad because they traded Jari,
I mean, the locker room gotta get over itself, and
that goes for every single person in it. Jarry was
here ten years, didn't win a goddamn playoff series.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
I don't care if they're friends, I just don't.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
And if they think Jari was the guy to get
them to the playoffs, they're wrong.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Well, we've talked about the Steelers working so hard to
keep together a team that hasn't won anything over the
last eight years, ten years.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And you know, like they the veterans, the Big Three
one in particular, Yeah, they want to have their cake
and eat it too. That's what they want. They want
the team to be as assembled with all their buddies
and the unbreakable bround of eternal brotherhood. And if that
team's not good enough, they still want to win anyway.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
And you can't have it both ways.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
You can't, and especially like you can't comp Jari to Genseil.
Like where I's going with the thought was the Penguins
at least did win with a lot of those guys.
They can't anymore. But you know why they look at
each other and say, we can win with each other
because we have Well those days are gone. They're just
not willing to admit it. You can understand why they
were emotionally unplugged for a little bit when they lost Gensel.
(29:29):
It shouldn't have gone to the extent that it did.
But Jari's not that guy. I mean Mark, he's hurt
already again in Edmonton, Like it took three days for
them to get what we've seen at least a part
of Actually the way he's played has been Putrist and Jari,
they've just outscored his mistakes. So like, if you're a
Penguin player, how do you not look at what's happened
(29:50):
the three days that he's gone and played for the
entertainments about yeah, it does look the same over there, like.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Well yeah, no, no, no, Edmonton is just scoring so
many goals. I mean, Jari's not played well, but he's
three and oh.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Right he is.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
And then he got hurt again last night. I didn't
hear today what the extent of that injury is. But
you know he's he's had that before. As soon as
you start to think something's gonna work out and he
gets hurt and he comes back he's rusty or whatever.
You lose him for a long stretch of time and
he breaks his own personal momentum, like they should know
by now that they're not losing a key cog that
was going to get them back to the playoffs, is
(30:22):
my point. Denzil could have been a part of that.
This guy was never going to be that.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Excuse me, Tim, I'm stifling a sneeze.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
Okay, anything about actually got on the air.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
I couldn't len for the sneeze button cough butt whatever.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
But but yeah, I mean, I I think last thing, Tim,
the start for the Penguins turned out to be a
fool's gold and and and got them off the path
they should be traveling. I see Manta on the power play,
not Kindle, I see Heinen in Pittsburgh and bros in Wilkes.
I see Brunic having had his season. Man the organization,
(31:02):
it's just turned into a stink show.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
You know. There was always that vibe out there that
the winning streak to start the season, the good play
to start the season was going to have positive dividends
because you didn't spend eighty two games feeling like you.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
Were in a hole.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
But the negative trickle effect was especially with the rookie coach,
he and a lot of other people of that organization
probably talked themselves into thinking that that could have been
the real thing. And it's not so much you know,
the damage that was done in terms of draft position
for winning, it's the damage that was done to the
psyche that you have to chase more winning, which you're
never going to get to.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Tim, great stuff, as always, enjoy the game. We'll talk
again on your podcast Sunday night.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
You got it, Mark, Thanks, that's Tim Benz.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Tim brought to was by Calusy chevro Leg. We got
Charlie Batch at the top of the hour.
By the way, smart Manchow, I always try to do that.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
When the music ends, you can down now eight three
three four one two WXDX. Pit women's volleyball lost in
NCAA semifinal for the fifth straight year. They made the
final four for the fifth straight year and did not
get to the final, and the reaction generally around ton
is they represented the school in the city with pride.
Let's be proud of these girls. I saw that in
(00:24):
a tweet. Let's be proud of these girls. First off,
they're women, and I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Gonna ask.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
This.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
They did their best. They're Pittsburgh. Let's be proud.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Would we say the same thing if it was a
men's team the Austin five straight semifinals or where we
call them chokers and losers. Not hating, just saying I'm
not calling the pitt women's volleyball team chokers and losers.
I'm just saying if it was a men's team, what
would we call them? Dial now eight three three four
(00:58):
to one two WSDX. By the way, the USL champion
River Hans with the move today Rob Vinson, who came
in as interim coach at season's end and won the
playoffs he has been retained as the head coach. So
congratulations again to the River Hawns organization and to Rob
(01:18):
Vincent for being appointed head coach. Did we cover that
the goalie left already? Eric Dick? He ain't coming back.
I mean, I guess you can do without Dick. People
do it all the time. Wait what I mean, Aman
Flyers announcer, Hey, his name's Dick. All right, any hoodles
(01:39):
call to talk about any of that. Uh, here's the
one jumping way ahead. I'm so intrigued by the NFL
Draft in Pittsburgh and April.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I'll be anywhere but there. That's not true.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I think I'm doing something for Pittsburgh Brewing, but at
that facility in Creighton, which is driving in the exact
opposite direction of the draft itself. But I think it's
intriguing how the quarterback market dropped outs. And further evidence
of that is even even that guy Mendoza, Indiana Heisman winner,
last man standing at quarterback, and he's had a great
(02:14):
year and I think he's talented. I saw him play
for nearly six or seven minutes this year. That's the
conclusion I would draw from those six or seven minutes.
But people are like discussing this Mendoza guy. Em maybe
not at first overall, because it looks like the Giants
are gonna get the first pick and they already have
Jackson Dart And maybe you stick with him because the
(02:38):
quarterbacks we thought am maybe not because remember when it
was gonna be like seven quarterbacks in the first round,
but Aler got hurt. I guess Manning is staying at
Texas for his billion dollars of nil, and he was.
He got better as the year went on. I think, actually,
what's his name, Archman. I think that he's actually on
(03:03):
the trajectory that we should have reasonably expected for a
quarterback his age and experience in the first place. And
I do think he winds up being a first round pick,
and probably would be this year just based on his name.
But it didn't turn out like we thought it would
for drafting quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. And I just
want to chime in, maybe going three and fourteen doesn't
(03:24):
guarantee anything, but the Steelers still need to do it.
Last night, great Thursday night football game. I was out
of Dino's at Latrob. I watched the Penguin game, but
caught a lot of the football game afterwards.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Don't forget.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I'm at Marino's American Eatery in Greensburg for the Penguin
game tomorrow night, and then I'm at celebration as an
Imperial for the Steeler game and the Penguin game on Sunday.
But Seattle be dla Rams with a two point conversion
in overtime thirty eight thirty seven in a game that
features no hate crimes, despite the presence of Pukainakua who
(04:03):
had this gigantically big game, so that don't teach anybody
who's dying on hate crimes. Uh, he should have been
suspended a game for sure, should have been. Seahawks were
down sixteen in the fourth quarter and came back and
they got a two point conversion to tie the game
on a in completion by Darnold that was throne behind
(04:27):
the line and nobody reacted to what turned out to
be a fumble and it kind of just flipped and
he flopped into the end zone and the Seattle offensive lineman,
without know what was going on, picked it up, and
the referees had their hands in there for the two
point conversion, and that tied the game and Seattle went
on the winners. That was a pretty interesting finish. Uh,
(04:49):
I do gotta talk a lot of Penguins. This saint
good right now for the Penguins. Never mind the losing
and the standings. Last night was an Excreman show. She
lost was rotten. He's lost I think seven in a
row now. But they got shut out. When you get
shut out, it doesn't matter who's in goal. That said,
shilloffs let a goal in very early, and I'll be blunt.
(05:10):
I hate to say this about teams because there's no
way for us to watch on TV or even at
the rink and know if a team quits.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
It looked like the Penguins quit last night.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
MWS looked confused behind the bench, like he's Mike Johnston
and I'm told the dressing room is upset because Jari
got traded.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You know, I could have extrapolated that.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I mean, I've been told about the room, But the
Penguins staff was really almost in tears because Jari got traded.
The sumbitch never won a playoff series. Oh we jars
won a great f Jars f jars. He got hurt
last night for Edmonton and he won't win there either.
But I digress the dressing room gotta get over itself,
(05:50):
got to get over itself.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
That goes for the stars too.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
It ain't won a playoff series since twenty eighteen, it
ain't even made the playoffs in three years, and Jarry
never wont to play the eternal bond of unbreakable brotherhood
can go f itself, and it's not done the team
much good for quite a while. It's like when Jake
got traded in the dressing room basically went on strike
and blew the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
That you're because of it.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Get over yourselves, and like I said, that goes for everybody.
With Brunick jerked around and morishov back in, Wilkes and
Brose and Avery Hazen, Wilkes coven and scratched the dressing
room totally belongs to the veterans again. That vibe and
energy are gone. Got sucked out of the room, got
(06:35):
sucked out of the team.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And that is a horrific mistake.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
My kindle not on the first power play and Manta
is him and his one leg f off, f off
with that nonsense. Mus has lost track of what I
thought his job was supposed to be. It is to
develop if it was to scratch into the playoffs. There
were a lot better choices than him. Mike Sullivan would
have been a better bet to scratch into the playoffs,
(07:00):
even though he didn't do that in any of the
last three years. And with coven he's playing bad. Yeah,
I have no real big bitch about scratching him, but
he ain't played no worse than Heinen and Hayes. And
at least Coyvenan has an upside and can't get better.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You know, skated together today.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
You know he's on left wing with Kendall and McGroarty,
Kevin fing Hayes.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Hey, here's an idea.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Instead of putting Hayes on their left wing, why not
get Kindall and McGroarty together before the game tomorrow night
at Montreal and chain their ankles together? What can News
possibly be imagining there? You know, why is Heinen and Pittsburgh?
Why is bros and Wilkes? Let's ask the dads because
(07:46):
getting slaughtered on the dad's trip is not a good look.
I bet the dads are pissed. I can think of
one in particular. What's the number again? Eight three, three
four on two wh six? What a great show that
this has been and I didn't mention the Steelers and lines,
did I mentioned them at all that segment. No, But
just so I can say I talked about him. Detroit's
(08:09):
gone to kill you, Detroit's.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Gone I kill you.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And I say that with no small amount of humor
except what you could obviously notice by the way I
delivered it. But I mean, I just Detroit's better and
the Steelers are gonna come out and play the wrong way.
We got Tim at the bottom of the hour batch
at four o'clock, mister Friday Afternoon went five and oh,
he went what was it ten and o the week
before because of that ridiculous whatever. I'm not even gonna
(08:35):
get the sound effect involved. Bit bit bit bit bit,
I mean ten and oh, then.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Five and oh. It's almost like he knows what he's
talking about.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
And then in the five o'clock car he's hosting a
thing this weekend at the hardcore Happy Hour at Helltown
Stripped District tap Room Saturday, six to late. It's the original,
the first Easy World Heavyweight Champion the franchise, Shane Douglas.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
This is just a great show. To quote the big
o'bowski right, goodbye. The exit one nine.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Time recalls on the fifteens. Tim Ben joins me at
the bottom of the hour. Colin Beasley, who covers the
Pirates for the Post Gazette, and he's one of the
fans I talk about. He's a Pirate fan, but he
points out that acquiring Brandon Lowe is a move designed
to win in twenty twenty six. Yeah, I would hope so,
(09:40):
because he's only on a one year deal one year
excuse me remaining on his contract. The race picked up
the club auction, and it is wise to try to
win while you got Skens. They should have made moves
like this the last two years too, But I think
this ends with Lobby being traded in July if the
(10:01):
Pirates aren't in a playoff spot at that point, and
I don't think they will be just based on this
one move. They're better, but probably not good enough. But
I'll tell you what this is for sure. This is
a move designed to make all of you think they're
trying to win in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Well determine that they're really trying are.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
The moves they make between now and then and whatever
the payroll for twenty twenty six is at season's beginning.
That's how you'll know. Again it's a great move. I mean,
just a great move. I don't know what the friggin'
astro see. And Mike Burrows, I mean, I would have
thought that he would be the guy they're forced to
pitch after they trade Mitch Keller. But this is a
(10:43):
move designed to make you think they're trying to win
in twenty twenty six, let's go to Scoot Scoots.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
What's up?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
What up mine?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
What up?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Mine?
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Do you think last night that awful performance in Ottawa
will kind of be the line of demarcation where Dubis thinks, Hey,
this team I need to sell. There's no shot I
can speak to the playoffs or do you think he'll
wait until Malkin kind of gets back.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
Into the lineup and just see if the team react.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well, it's worth it's worth noting they're row and seven
without malk and all of these losses have come with
him out of the lineup, which actually has people saying
they need to sign him to a contract for next year,
which they should do anything, but but they they do
miss Malkin the production on the second line. And the
reason I wouldn't bring him back is the is to
not block Kindle from being a top six center. But uh,
(11:32):
but but they're only like even now, three points out
of a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Scoot, So no, Dupas isn't gonna give up now.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
He probably ought to, and he needs to tell me
news how to deploy the young guys instead of the
old guys. They need to get back to that because
it served them well at the beginning of the season.
It was the whole purpose of this season in the
first place. Let's go to Dan, Dan, you're all with double.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
M what's up?
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (11:58):
I was gonna talk about the Penguins real quick. You
were talking about Plurbus in the pregame show, and that
show is really good. You should watch it.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
I will do. What about the Penguins now?
Speaker 7 (12:10):
I think the early season and stuff was kind of
them punching above their weight, which kind of mentioned. But
I feel like what we're seeing now is kind of
just what this team actually is. And I don't really
I don't see him making the playoffs this year. Miss.
I think it's gonna be another Stratchy.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I don't think they're as bad as a seven game
losing streak, but I don't think they were as good
as their start, and I think the start skewed the
way they think about the season and skewed the way
MWS is coaching. I think News has done just a
terrible job during the seven game losing streak, and last
night he looked like he didn't know what to do,
and I don't think those looks were deceiving.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
Yeah, I mean, you got to go back to what
was working. I don't know why they even tried to
fix what wasn't broken. I guess it's Mulkin going out,
but it's like that just doesn't make a lot of sense.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
The one that I think they've mangled brunic season that
pisses me off. Kindling out on the first power play
when he's their best power play guy. That pisses me
off and strikes me as very territorial as far as
the veterans are concern Danton Hinen in Pittsburgh and Avery
Hayes and Tristan bros Both in Wilkes. That pisses me off.
(13:24):
A lot of the way this team is assembled and
deployed right now pisses me the frig off. Tim Ben's
up next, one oh five to nine.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
This is Alfred Williams.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Here's what's trending on the iHeart Sports Network, presented by Lows.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
On the ice, the Penguins were shut out by the Senators.
They're seventh loss in a row. They look to snap
the skid tomorrow against Montreal. The Steelers continue their playoff
push Sunday against the Lions. They leave Baltimore by a
game in the AFC North with three remaining. The First
round of the college football Playoff kicks off tonight, Oklahoma
(13:58):
hosts Alabama.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
From normal, I'm stay home and stay big online. During
Low's December deal.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Drops Mark and Afternoon gallanted like the Mark.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
Madden, what do you want? What do you want?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Dammit?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
The exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Some Pirates news in a big Steeler game at Detroit.
Joining us on to talk about it is Tim Bench
from the Trip. Tim, I only want to talk briefly
about the Bucko deal. But they got Brandon Lywe the
power hitting second Bason from Tampa. Unless everybody has overestimated
Mike Burrows, I mean underestimate. Excuse me, he's better than
I think, like the Astros think he's, you know, the
(14:38):
next Nolan Ryan or whoever.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
It seems like the pirates made a real good deal.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
It does. I like the trade. I don't think it's
going to have the impact that you know, Schwarber or
Marte or Alonzo or Naylor or any of the names
that were casually thrown around would have had. But maybe
that was part of the strategy. Maybe it was, you know,
make it look like we're shooting high, but we're still
making an effort to at least make the team better,
(15:04):
which they did. I mean, the opportunity to get somebody
who had thirty one home runs through free agencies practically
non existent for this team, and sometimes even in trades.
So if you can get him, get him. And I
agree with your sentiment, which is, yeah, we all like
Mike Burrows as a prospect. Could have been a good
pitcher here, probably would have been okay, But you know,
(15:26):
was he ever going to top out at more than
number three or four? If the guys that we've been
propping up for so long live up to their potential.
One already has his schemes. The other is Chandler. You know,
if Jared Jones comes back and they keep him a starter,
he would be three. And maybe Houston just liked this
guy as a prospect more than Keller as a relatively
(15:48):
finished product who would be at least three, if not
four around Burrows.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
So I think they might keep Keller now, probably, and
I think that would probably be a good move, although
the size of his ticket doesn't preclude him getting trade.
I just have this theory though, that they got Law
and they'll have Griffin on the roster to start the
season in the lineup two to sell tickets to get
seasoned packages out there, and then it winds up with
them not really contending because they don't think they're a
(16:14):
five hundred team now, even with Law, They've got to
make some more moves, and then they trade Law with
the deadline.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
There's never going to be a deal that acquires salary
that the Pirates don't have a plan to get out
of it. So that aspect of the deal doesn't rub
me the wrong way, because I'd rather have the guy
here with the escape clause and have them use the
escape clause to not have him here in the first place,
and then if he works out and the team doesn't,
(16:43):
then at least maybe you get back a prospect that
could someday be your number four pitcher, Like you know, Burrows,
was probably going to be.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
I want to get some Steelers talking, Tim, because let's
face the Pirates got to make more moves and they
might not. What is the Steelers' best bet to win
this game at Detroit? How do they have to approach it?
Because I have my ideas, but what are yours?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
They got to be willing to score with these guys,
because I don't think that they all slow them down,
and I think this game has to be in the
high twenties to low thirties. They're gonna have to take
some chances in the pass rush too, if they don't
have what or her Big or at least her Big
at full strength, or whatever the case would be.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
And Tim, who knows they might stab high Smith in
the lung between now and then.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
If this is a strategy to get out of contracts Mark,
they might have tried that earlier before I started to
play well again. But like you know, you're potentially gonna
have Jack Sawyer over Penny Seool for a lot of
this game. And you know that strikes me strategically as
something that plays right into the hands of the Detroit Lions,
like they can leave him by himself and put as
(17:53):
much help as they need over on High Smith. Even
if they want to do that, and they can just
deploy more guys and routes, and I think that's gonna
be too much for the Steelers to keep up with.
But you know, we have long called for the Steelers
to get more creative in their pass rush.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
They're gonna have to hear. They're gonna have to.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Blitz Ramsey, They're gonna have to blitz Queen.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
The theory is that if you get golf panicky in
the pocket, you muddy the pocket, you make him throw
off platform. That's where you get to him. That's not
unique to Golf, but it seems to bother him more
than most. So if they can do that and create
a few turnovers, which the Lions normally don't do, that's
(18:32):
how they stay in. Again, that's high twenties to low thirties.
But I think they're gonna have to be ready to
do that. Take some chances on.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
It, but be tim, I bet they're not. I mean, Tomlin,
it's not his nature to do that. It's more in
his nature to force a rock fight. You look at
last year when they beat Cincinnati in a shootout and
then tried to force the rock fight in the rematch
and and lost that. That said, you're right, and that
Detroit defense, it's a bit vulnerable with three dbs out.
(19:00):
My big worry is Fatanu matched up. I'm not a worry,
but you mentioned the Sewell and Jack Sawyer match up,
and I bet Sawyer plays good. But you're right, that's
a tough nut to crack. What about Fatano against Aiden Hutchinson.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Well, unless Aiden Hutchinson's over Dylan Cook, and then it's worse.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Yeah, but Hutchinson usually Hudginson usually lines up on the
left side, correct, I thought.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
I mean he's usually listed as a He's at least
listed as a right defensive lineman. They've got him in
his snap counts over on them.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No ESPN lists of his left But maybe I should
actually watch tape, which I'm not gonna do, so we'll
just win.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Well, either way, he can't move, and if I'm the Lions,
I put him over Cook and I forced the Steelers
to throw as much help over there as humanly possible.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, but then that'll take away from the notion of
trying to force a shootout, because if you give help,
it's the fat kid and then it minimizes firemouth.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Uh yeah, but I think to your point, maybe what
they try to do is just leep clock and keep
the Detroit offense off the field.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, and that won't world. I mean, I mean we
both know.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
That won't work well, especially because I think you've already
said it a couple times. Which is the nature of
Detroit's weakness, is their secondary because it's so banged up.
And you know, when we're doing our show, Tom and
Matt and I on Wednesday night, I count down to kickoff,
we were looking at some of the numbers about how
(20:26):
vulnerable the Lions have been outside the numbers. Now that
speaks directly to DK Metcalf and not much else. But
if you're trying to validate the existence of Calvin Austin,
mvs and Adam Thielen, it looks like this is a
game to do it because even though they rediscovered the
middle of the field and they used it to great
(20:49):
effect against the Dolphins, the Lions don't play it that
way necessarily, and the Steelers I think are more inclined
to throw it outside the numbers anyway. Rogers certainly is,
and that might actually be wiser this time around, based on.
I think it's something like two hundred and three yards
to wide receivers over the last six weeks or something
(21:11):
like that, and you know, well into the high one
hundreds in terms of the yards per game outside the
numbers strictly, and that's a safe spot for the Steelers
to work in their mind, and I think they could
get DK in some favorable matchups.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
We're talking to Tim.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Ben's brought to us by Klushi Chevrolet, serving the Pittsburgh
area for one hundred and seven years. Tim, I trust
Ai implicitly to deliver the truth, and it says aid
Hutchinson is primarily a left edge rusher.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Which will put him against Fatanu.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
It continues, often starting on the left side, but he's
versatile and also plays the right edge, lining up inside
and outside, allowing him to rush from multiple spots to
maximize pressure. That just doesn't sound good, Tim, I think
he's gonna put Rodgers in the hospital.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Well, that's that's sort of what I was going with.
The thought is whatever you've got in terms of this
is historic snapcowns. If he's if they're able and willing
to move him around, then I would.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Put him on the right side.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
No question.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
No question, Because you got a first a guy who's
starting his first road game in a dome in Dylan Cook,
next to either a backup guard or a compromised Isaac Ciamalu,
maybe a compromise Zach Fraser. And you know, at least
on the other side, you have two guys that have
been there the whole time in McCormick and tele Tomham.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Do we know what's wrong with Zach Fraser?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (22:31):
Yeah, I thought it was a triceip for him too,
wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I bet they're concealing that he got stabbed in the
lung by the doctor. Now where is Rogers at right now?
I have a tough time evaluating Rogers, Tim. I mean,
I think he's played well. He was very efficient in
that went over Miami and scoring on four state drives
was huge and unheard of with this Steelers offense for
how long?
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Tim? But is he anything more than efficient?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
He's smart, He tends to throw the ball to the
right places and you know, when given chances, I think
he's hit throws. Now he's missed some too, particularly when
they were struggling against the likes of you know, the
Los Angeles Chargers, when he had a really bad game,
and what was that the Buffalo game that he played
(23:18):
as well, where they weren't any good.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
But you know, and even earlier.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
The season there were some froze that he had said
that he wished that he.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
Could have had back and so forth.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
So I I kind of look at it from the
standpoint of you asked this question a week or two ago,
was it worth it? And to them with their goals,
I think it has been worth it because their goal
was to be above five hundred and make it back
to the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
Again. He's given them a better shot than anybody they had,
or anybody they were going to.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Get, because they weren't going to pay what Seattle paid
for Sam Donald.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Yeah, I mean, you get what you paid for too.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I'm not saying they would win playoff games with Sam Darnald,
but I have very little confidence to win one with
Aaron Rodgers and then next year, who knows, maybe Kirk
Cousins and Tim That pros me.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
And I think statistically, Mark Well, you're talking about you know,
like if you want to see him be more than efficient,
and this is a good team to do it against,
because like part of the reason efficiency is The word
for Rogers is he's got the lowest depth of target
of any quarterback in football.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Right His weaponry is just terrible.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
But then again, he's the guy who wants stealing in
mbs out there. Then again, I'm not sure Wilson and
Austin offer any better it Tim. It's still just not
a very good team, let alone a very good offense.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
And that begs this question.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Are the Steelers trending upward or have they just won
a couple games in the row, because those two things
can be very different.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
I thought they played a very good game against a
sub mediocre opponent in the Dolphins. You know, the Dolphins
are probably nothing more than a high cut of bad
in the NFL, and the Steelers are a mediocre cut
in the NFL in a down division, which is why
they're probably going to win it. If you can take
the Steelers and PLoP them in the NFC West, how
(25:02):
do you think they're going to do?
Speaker 6 (25:03):
You know?
Speaker 3 (25:04):
And we've seen them lose a couple of times already
to NFC North teams, And here comes another one, like
I'm just looking like where they would stand in some
of the other divisional battles and it's not all that favorable.
Speaker 6 (25:16):
So you know, they are.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
In a advantageous spot in their division race. They're in
an advantageous spot because their division is down. But I
still would have to be convinced to pick them even
with the home playoff game against one of the other
teams that might come in as a wild card. They
played a good game against Miami, full credit to them
for doing that good game. Lesser team fifty to fifty
(25:39):
game against Baltimore on the road, got a few breaks
and that helped them win the game. But maybe they'll
be better on their home turf in week eighteen, if
it really comes down to that, it might not, because,
like I said, they're in a better position than they
are a good team, and the better position has largely
to do with who the Ravens have to play and
what the conference tiebreaker standings are at this point.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
No, you could not have possibly put it better.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
But that said to convince me they could win a
playoff game, let alone games. I keep calling for them
to win out and the schedule doesn't preclude that. I mean,
they're playing three games that are eminently winnable. You want
to trend upward, do that build real momentum. You want
to talk like this two thousand and five, I mean,
you know, show me that you're close to that, even
though we both know.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
They are not.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
You are saying is speaking exactly what Rogers said in
his postgame interview with Lisa Saulters, which you know, he
said he wants to see the belief pick up.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Now.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
I don't know if he was talking about the team
orfe he was talking about us and the fans or both,
but he could have meant both. But surely he was
talking about the players themselves, and they can believe. They
say they believe. I think they have believed in themselves
the last five years, but ever since the first quarter
of that Cleveland playoff game, no one in Pittsburgh should
(26:54):
feel obligated to believe again until they are proven otherwise,
until the Steelers themselves make us believe, and they haven't
ever since that COVID playoff game against the Browns kicked off.
So I think that's a little bit of an indication
that Rogers does if he doesn't have his finger on something,
it's where this team really is as opposed to the
(27:15):
one that I think he idealized when he thought about
and eventually did sign here, and who Tomlin is a coach,
who they are as a franchise. I mean, let's face it, Mark,
like Rodgers has never really been in this spot before.
You know, they hadn't had a playoff drought longer than
three years in Green Bay going back to the mid
eighties to early nineties by the time he had arrived.
(27:36):
When he went to the Jets, he was seen as
the guy who was going to change everything, and then
he got hurt right away. So he's never had to
play through and live what he's going through right now
in Pittsburgh, which is in really a state of jahndice
view of its football team and with every every reason
to be so.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Tim. Before we wrap up, I got to ask you
about the Penguins. They've lost seven straight. Did it look
like they quit last night?
Speaker 6 (28:01):
It looked like they didn't have anything.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah, I mean it looked like they were skating in
emotional mud. I heard you open and talk about it.
I've forgotten about the whole Dad's trip aspect.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
Boy, what a fun trip this must be.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
When I heard the locker room's mad because they traded Jari,
I mean, the locker room gotta get over itself, and
that goes for every single person in it. Jarry was
here ten years, didn't win a goddamn playoff series.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
I don't care if they're friends, I just don't.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
And if they think Jari was the guy to get
them to the playoffs, they're wrong.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Well, we've talked about the Steelers working so hard to
keep together a team that hasn't won anything over the
last eight years, ten years.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And you know, like they the veterans, the Big Three
one in particular, Yeah, they want to have their cake
and eat it too. That's what they want. They want
the team to be as assembled with all their buddies
and the unbreakable bround of eternal brotherhood. And if that
team's not good enough, they still want to win anyway.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
And you can't have it both ways.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
You can't, and especially like you can't comp Jari to Genseil.
Like where I's going with the thought was the Penguins
at least did win with a lot of those guys.
They can't anymore. But you know why they look at
each other and say, we can win with each other
because we have Well those days are gone. They're just
not willing to admit it. You can understand why they
were emotionally unplugged for a little bit when they lost Gensel.
(29:29):
It shouldn't have gone to the extent that it did.
But Jari's not that guy. I mean Mark, he's hurt
already again in Edmonton, Like it took three days for
them to get what we've seen at least a part
of Actually the way he's played has been Putrist and Jari,
they've just outscored his mistakes. So like, if you're a
Penguin player, how do you not look at what's happened
(29:50):
the three days that he's gone and played for the
entertainments about yeah, it does look the same over there, like.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Well yeah, no, no, no, Edmonton is just scoring so
many goals. I mean, Jari's not played well, but he's
three and oh.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Right he is.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
And then he got hurt again last night. I didn't
hear today what the extent of that injury is. But
you know he's he's had that before. As soon as
you start to think something's gonna work out and he
gets hurt and he comes back he's rusty or whatever.
You lose him for a long stretch of time and
he breaks his own personal momentum, like they should know
by now that they're not losing a key cog that
was going to get them back to the playoffs, is
(30:22):
my point. Denzil could have been a part of that.
This guy was never going to be that.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Excuse me, Tim, I'm stifling a sneeze.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
Okay, anything about actually got on the air.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
I couldn't len for the sneeze button cough butt whatever.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
But but yeah, I mean, I I think last thing, Tim,
the start for the Penguins turned out to be a
fool's gold and and and got them off the path
they should be traveling. I see Manta on the power play,
not Kindle, I see Heinen in Pittsburgh and bros in Wilkes.
I see Brunic having had his season. Man the organization,
(31:02):
it's just turned into a stink show.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
You know. There was always that vibe out there that
the winning streak to start the season, the good play
to start the season was going to have positive dividends
because you didn't spend eighty two games feeling like you.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
Were in a hole.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
But the negative trickle effect was especially with the rookie coach,
he and a lot of other people of that organization
probably talked themselves into thinking that that could have been
the real thing. And it's not so much you know,
the damage that was done in terms of draft position
for winning, it's the damage that was done to the
psyche that you have to chase more winning, which you're
never going to get to.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Tim, great stuff, as always, enjoy the game. We'll talk
again on your podcast Sunday night.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
You got it, Mark, Thanks, that's Tim Benz.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Tim brought to was by Calusy chevro Leg. We got
Charlie Batch at the top of the hour.
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