November 25, 2025 • 36 mins
Mark is joined by Mike Defabo for more Steelers talk. Ask Mark Anything!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As I said, we've been rehashing the Steeler misery now
for a second straight day, and I still can't get
past the nocean that it can't be fixed. And I
heard Tom Win today's press conference talking about how kickoffs
and punting had a factor in the lost to Chicago.
He is so full of crap to lead off your
(00:22):
press conference with that after a loss, when your team
is fading and you're coming up to play Buffalo, that's
just silly. It's meant to distract. Every word Mike Tomlin
says his horseman, or he's a fraud. You heard the
word salad like always schematic endeavors, Gee, coach, what about
your schematic endeavors? Do you have synergy? YadA, YadA? To repeat,
(00:46):
Tom Win only knows how to coach one way, one method.
It's antiquated, it's prehistoric. Can adjust, doesn't want to adjust.
And right now he knows his team is screwed, blued
and tattooed and do not know what to do. That's
what I hear when he talks. Here's an update on
the injuries. Broder joneses out, I don't think it's it's
(01:10):
it's that big a deal, but I hear people wondering, Well,
it'll throw off their their jumbo package for sure. Uh,
Derek Carmon out on that defensive line. Not good. Why
can't the DBS get hurt? They got literally the worst
pass defense in the league. Why can't DB's get hurt?
(01:34):
I mean, my god, you know what James Pierre, like
we talked about in the pregame show with Tom, Pierre
was supposed to hit the bench, Slay was supposed to start.
Slay barely played. Pierre played every snap at one but
the bloom's off his rows because that that defensive backfield sucks.
I gave Ramsey credit for being the Swiss army knife.
(01:57):
Well it's a dull Swiss army knife. Maybe needs replacement.
Played and then all on him. But every one of
those DB's, every single one, if you put them all
on a burlep sack and beat it with an axe handle,
whoever got a broken bone would deserve it. That's how
bad that secondary is, how bad that pass defense is,
how bad that defense is, period and again, I'm gonna
(02:19):
keep saying it till you all agree with me. TJ.
Watt whining like a baby wanting to get paid a
little bit more than Miles Garrett. Well, he did get
paid a little bit more than Miles Garrett forty one
mil per garrettets forty million per big mistake by the
Steelers who told you that. Me, that's who the super genius,
(02:40):
who said they should have let him play out of
his contract and then franchise as necessary. Me, that's who
the super genius. And on all you people, Oh you
Mark's out there with TJ Watt Jerseys, Miles Garrett, Well,
TJ can taste the urine because Miles is pissing all
over him. TJ can keep it extra million per year.
(03:01):
Miles Garrett has eighteen sacks, TJ has seven. Miles Garrett
gonna get twenty three, Miles Garrett gonna own the single
season record. Miles Garrett gonna be remembered as an all
time defensive great. TJ walk going to be remembered as
the guy who didn't win a playoff game. Let's go
to know him and Newman. You're all with double.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
M Hey, we all know that the national perception of
Tomlin has been a lot roadier than he deserves.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Not right now, they're not criticizing, but they're not exactly
you know, doing the brag thing either.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Right, Yeah, the sentiment does seem like it's shifting. And
so my question for you is, so, do you think
that Rogers believed all that hype about Tomlin's greatness before
coming to the team, And do you think that that
perception may have changed now that he's seen how the
crap sausages?
Speaker 1 (03:52):
And I think he did believe that hype. Whether his
perception's changed, I can't imagine it hasn't, but I don't
know that. I think Rogers also believed there was more
or left in his tank than is.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, that's probably true.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Let me ask you we've been talking about. I mean,
what would you give Rogers as a great abcd F
for the season.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
I'd say C plus or maybe be minus. I mean
he hasn't made, like, you know, gratuitous errors stay for
one game, but I mean he also hasn't you compare
him to other quarterbacks around the league. I mean, he's
barely above average whenever he's at his best.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, he's an all time great quarterback who's coming here
to be a game manager, partly because that's all he
can do, partly because that's what they want him to.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Do, right, And I'm sure he doesn't like that. I'm
sure he'd like to be taking more risks unless.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Unless he knows what he is. Unless he knows what
he is, and this is all that he is, Newman.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, I kind of doubt he knows what he is,
to be totally honest, you know what.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I think he might just his demeanor. I'm reading too
much into that, probably for sure, but I think he
might just the hunts. Thank you for the calling him
and good stuff. Right now, it's time for calls on
the fifteens the talk show Craze at Sweeping the Nation
three fifteen and four fifteen. All your calls if we
get him down now eight three three four one two
(05:17):
w xd X. It is so fetch and I will
make fetch happen. One O five to.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Nine night, Welcome shot.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Well if I wont you over, Buddy benitating Dust to Road,
Tomican Dream, so be.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
It, baby DX At one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It's calls on the fifteens. I think I forgot to
do the read for Danny's PiZZ and Hogies a little
bit ago, but it's great. Route eighty eight Bethel Park.
Let's go to Jeff. Jeff, you're on with Mark.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Taking out orders so much, I can't hear you, the
confusion on your face, and you're like, I.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Can't hear you. I can't hear you. I can't hear you.
Just can't hear you. I mean, when you learn to
speak English or get a better phone call back, I
doubt you have anything constructive to say, but whatever, goodbye,
God damn people, just ugh. I mean, one would think
that you would learn by now. If you're stupid to
(06:23):
not call. What's good to John in Greensburg? John? Please
do better?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Heyblem I just wanted to ask how glorious would it
be for Miles Garrett to break the sack record right
in front of PJY.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I might run on the field and jump into Garrett's
arms like he won the Little League World Series.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Can you imagine the Pooh pooh face on TJ?
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Well, booboo face is what we call. But yeah, it
would be tremendous. And again it's nothing less than what
TJ deserves. He wanted more money than Garrett and now
Garrett's pissing all over him. Eighteen sacks to seven. It
makes TJA look ridiculous. If anybody in this town or
the national media would allow him to look ridiculous, which
(07:11):
they will not do. But he looks absurd. He looks absurd,
insistent on more money than Garrett and then being that
much worse than Garrett exactly. And that's that's the trap
you leave yourself open to fall into, BRUV. If you
want more money than somebody else, why do not just
go out there and get what you think you're worth
as opposed to basing it on what somebody else makes.
(07:34):
You leave yourself open to fail and for criticism.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
And that's why you're the super genius.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
No anybody could have figured that one out. Let's go
to Jackson. Jackson, you're on with double.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
M, double M.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Word up man, two quick ones for you, please go ahead.
What does Art Rooney the owner actually what is he
gaining by all of this? I don't understand because like
he's losing Steeler fans, he's losing popularity, He's not.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Losing He's not losing Steeler fans when when they're empty
seats at acres, Sure you can say that, but they're.
Speaker 6 (08:06):
Just aren't gods like me.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
I'm not buying tickets or merch or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I'm not Okay, when's the last time you bought it.
When's the last time you bought a ticket?
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Last time I bought a ticket?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Probably two thousand and four, okay, And how'd you buy it?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
I probably bought it on eBay or Craigslist if I
had to be honest.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Okay, So that ticket was already So that ticket was
already sold. And it's twenty two years ago. So believe
me when I tell you arn't runey. The second doesn't
care what you think.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Right?
Speaker 5 (08:34):
You're right now, second start does?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Does Tomlin? Last?
Speaker 5 (08:38):
If the owner of the Cowboys is there, mister what's
his name?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Jerry Jones? But he's not here, but he's not Mike.
Tomlin would have been fired by almost every NFL franchise
by now after not making the playoffs for seven years,
and it probably would not have taken seven years. But
the Steelers want to do things like Daddy and Granddaddy.
Did I mean? I mean Jackson? No offense? I have
to keep repeating myself stuff like this is obvious? How
(09:03):
can people not get it? By now? Tom Win will
never be fired, He will never be asked to leave.
He will decide when he goes. Period. He could miss
the playoffs for the next ten years and he's not
getting fired.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Right.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
That makes Rooney look like a look like a soft
a soft guy.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
And as we've already said, no, he doesn't make him
look like a soft guy, aren't the second is a
soft guy softer than baby crap on a summer side. Well, no,
baby's when crap on a summer puppy crap puppy crap
on a hot summer sidewalk. But he doesn't care, and
tom Win doesn't care. And that's where a lot of
this failure comes from. That they don't care. They just
(09:44):
are always right, even when they couldn't be more wrong.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Right, What are they going to do a documentary like
when the talk to like James Ferriers and all those
old time real Steelers and let them tell their truth
over like some bourbon or something. Wouldn't that be a
great HBO series?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
No, thank you for the call. Let's go to James.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
Are you doing Mark good? I wanted to let you
know that I just saw a stat. Pittsburgh actually was
ranked number two on the week in offensive efficiency, only
to the LA Rams. So their offense in their running game, dude,
I don't give.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
A fly in fordication. What your stats says. Their offense sucks.
I hear you, it sucks. They don't use the middle
of the field, they don't go deep. They just suck.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
I gotta tell you this, and you're right, But I
want to tell you that Arthur Smith Mason missed a
number of openings and throws.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah, it was Mason's fault. Thank you for establishing that.
He's the only reason they lost. He's responsible for losing
the games. He didn't play it even it's all Mason
Rudolph's fault.
Speaker 7 (10:48):
The coach sucks, the coordinators suck, the scheme sucks, the
Steelers suck.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
The logos Dad, for f's sake, I mean.
Speaker 7 (10:58):
How many times did you take the blame to where
it doesn't belong? And you will forever because you're the
dumbest mf first that have ever watched football?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Like the FABO next one oh five? Oh wait, I
gotta do a read. God, that pisses me off. What
a stupid effing football time. This is what a bunch
of morons you are. And if you don't want to listen,
UF off, go down the dial. They'll tell you what
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Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler. Next Mike de
(12:16):
Fabo from the Athletic one oh five to nine.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
It's Travis Every week day at ten am, always a
solid time starting your workday. Commercial free on one O
five nine D.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I'm the Dollar Energy Fund Weather Center.
Speaker 8 (12:29):
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Speaker 1 (12:33):
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can't even quote the big o'bowski right.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
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Speaker 1 (12:41):
We are just wallowing in Steeler's misery. Joining me now
to talk about that. He covers the team for the Athletic.
Always great to talk to. Mike de Fabo. Mike, who
made the call for Rogers to not play at Chicago?
And you think the Steelers would have won that game
had Rogers played?
Speaker 9 (12:58):
Yeah, I'm glad you're asking me this question because it
really truly makes no sense what the Steelers did. I
don't know who made the call, but I don't understand
why Aaron Rodgers didn't play. So let's start with last Tuesday.
What happened. Mike Toman came out and he said, Aaron
Rodgers is such a veteran quarterback. He has so much
experienced that he doesn't need a lot of practice time,
(13:20):
and he said that Friday was going to be a
really important day. Well, Aaron Rodgers actually got out on
the practice field earlier than anticipated, did more than expected
because he was out there on Thursday, and then he
took the majority of the first team reps on Friday. Okay,
So then Sunday comes he's inactive. They start Mason Rudolph.
(13:41):
And after the game, we asked him what was the
biggest reason why Aaron Rodgers did not play? And he
said the amount of practice time he had. So the
same coach that on Tuesday said he doesn't need practice time.
He's a veteran. Why would he need to practice now,
The biggest reason why Aaron Rodgers didn't play is because
he didn't practice enough, But that was Mike Tomin's decision
(14:03):
to begin with, so it doesn't make any sense. Then
I asked him, I said, well, what's going to be
different in a week. Why is he Why right now
on Sunday are you able to say he's going to
be able to play in seven days. A broken bone
is a week's long injury weeks plural. So the bone
was broken against the Bengals, it was broken, still broken
(14:25):
against the Bears, It's still going to be broken in
a week. The bone is not getting any better. And
Tom's answer was because he can practice more during the week.
And then today during his press conference, he again said
that Aaron Rodgers doesn't need to practice a lot, So
to me, it makes no sense. I don't understand nothing
is changing other than the way the Steelers are looking
(14:47):
at the situation. But seven days doesn't dramatically heal a
broken bone.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Well, Mike, he's double talking. That's what con men do.
They double talk. It's why he opened the press conference
today talking of kickoffs and punts. How absurd was that.
Speaker 9 (15:04):
It's hilarious. It's hilarious that he just started with the
old position component instead of acknowledging the real problem, which
is last year the defense was overpaid and underperformed. And
instead of looking at it and saying, it's twenty twenty five,
you look around the NFL, everybody's spending money on offense.
They realize a good defense, good offense beats great defense,
(15:29):
or at least highly paid defense. And instead they basically
doubled and tripled down on the same approach that's been
getting them nowhere to begin with. They went out and
they spent more money on defense. They acquired Jalen Ramsey,
who cost more money than Maka Fitzpatrick. They signed TJ. Watton,
gave him more money to a guy who's not won
(15:49):
any playoff games. They gave more incentives to camp Hayward.
They trusted Terrell Austin, the defensive coordinator, even more, and
they're getting even less. And that's why they're broken franchise
right now. It's because they keep doing the same things
and expecting different results.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Aim in all that. And I hate the offense. I
hate the game plan, very limited deep shots, very few
throws to the middle. And I don't play Rudolph. I
don't think he was a box of chocolates, but I
thought he played okay. I don't think anybody could have
could succeed quarterbacking in that game plan, Mike, and I
think I've overrated personally how much Rogers has. I think
(16:24):
he's been a C plus quarterback, no better.
Speaker 9 (16:28):
Yeah, I agree with you. You know, the way I
look at the situation, like coming into this year, the
most optimistic viewpoint was Aaron Rodgers might not be at
his MVP best, but the Steelers wouldn't need him to be.
Some people said, if you're supported by this great defense
and a reliable running game, well, right now, the running
game is inconsistent. Even last game was their best running
(16:50):
game of the entire season, And if you take out
the seventy yard trick play on the fake push push.
They average like three point six yards per carry, which
is like league average this year. They they're below average
as a running team, and they're very poor as a
defense given what they've been paid, and so you the
Steelers need more than they ever would have anticipated from Rogers.
(17:12):
I just don't see him being able to do that.
I think that they've worked around his limitations. They've found
a way to to score some points using this quick,
you know, quick game passing offense and really kind of
a conservative approach. But you know, if you're asking Aaron
Rodgers to go out there and win a shootout, which
(17:33):
is basically what he's going to have to do with
the state of this defense, I just don't think he's
going to be able to get the job done anymore.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Well, and where Rogers won't have a chance is they
won't try to engage in the shootout. They just don't
want to do that. And I think that's their best
bet against Buffalo because Buffalo got nothing but Josh Allen,
so you know he's gonna get his try to make
sure you get more. But that's just not the approach
still take.
Speaker 9 (17:56):
No, I don't think so. And it's it's everything, you know,
I don't don't think that Aaron Rodgers really has for whatever.
It's weird because he has the arm strength to throw
the ball, you know, hard and into tight windows in situations,
but he's off target when he goes downfield, and so
that's part of the problem. Part of the problem attacking
(18:17):
downfield is also I don't think they have the receivers
to get open. Even DK Metcalf included does not get
open as much as you would expect a big body
guy who has so much speed to be able to do.
And then I think, don't think that Arthur Smith is
really drawing off a lot of plays that are you know,
creating situations for these guys to attack downfield. And it's
(18:37):
just too hard in the modern NFL to drive you know,
fourteen fifteen sixteen plays. Every time you have the ball,
you need some type of an explosive element in the offense,
and right now that's just terribly lacking.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
We're talking to Mike the Fable of the Athletic. This
segment brought to us by Armstrong the Internet. You come on, Mike,
I don't think any of this can be fixed. And furthermore,
I don't think Tomlin knows what to do. I've been
saying all day. He only knows one way to coach,
one method, and he can't adjust. He just doesn't know
what to do. Is that fair?
Speaker 9 (19:12):
Yeah? I think that that is fair. I think that
they're doing things that they've done for a long time
and they're not adapting. They're not innovating, they're not making changes.
Like I gave them some credit, they did start going
to more two high safeties once they moved Jalen Ramsey
back there full time, and then this game they went
(19:33):
back to primarily single high and they were getting beaten
on pretty basic things. A lot of people who play
Madden on their couch and their basement know that if
you're getting a lot of cover three, if you run
four verticals, four guys going deep is more than three
deep defenders. One of those four guys is going to
be open. And here's another wrinkle to this mark and
(19:55):
this probably answers your question better than I did. Patrick
Queen after the game said that they had schematic issues,
and I think that you're having guys in the locker
room who don't trust the scheme, which is another way
to say they don't trust the coaches. And if you've
got Patrick Queen after a game saying we had schematic problems.
One guy can't defend two routes at the same time,
(20:19):
you know, I think that then you have a very
serious problem. If if the guys in the locker room,
the guys that you're paying money to who are supposed
to be some of the leaders of your defense, don't
trust the plays that are coming in from the coaching staff,
that is a problem.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
That said Buffalo is a weird team. I don't see
this as a lock for the Steelers to lose Sunday.
Buffalo's got the best quarterback in football, Josh Allen. They
got Dalvin Cook at running back. I don't think they
have a lot else. I don't think their defense is
very good either. I think Buffalo probably wins, but the
window is open, however, crazily for the Steelers on Sunday.
Speaker 9 (20:54):
Yeah, we agree with you. I think the Steelers are
a very flawed team that needs to win a certain way.
But I also look at the Buffalo Bills and see
a flawed team, and I actually think that this is
a very like a pretty good matchup for the Steelers
in terms of what they do well compared to what
the Bills can't do. You know, the Bills had a
really hard time in their most recent game protecting Josh Allen.
(21:15):
Their offensive line was really poor in that situation. And
I think that the Steelers, you look at all their stats,
one of the only categories that they're actually like a
positive or near the top of the league is in SACS.
And so if they can get after Josh Allen, that's
going to be part of the formula. It also helps
the Steelers that the Bills really don't have any dynamic
receiving threat. You know, They've they deactivated Kean Coleman, who
(21:39):
was supposed to be one of their main guys. You know,
over the last two games he was a healthy scratch.
They just claimed that guy from the Saints, who's like
a scrub they got released for nothing. I don't expect
him to make a big difference. And so, you know,
as much as we're talking about these breakdowns in the secondary,
I don't feel like the Bills are really the kind
of team that's going to be testing you and exposing
(22:02):
those works like another team could. So you know, for
the Steelers, it's about can they stop the running game.
Can they stop that good runner that the Bills have?
Can they slow down that element of the offense? And
if they can, I think that they're going to be
in a classic Steelers football game that's kind of weird,
kind of wonking comes down to a field goal near
(22:23):
the end of the game.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
One thing I find symbolic where the Steelers are at
Mike because they have big egos. Those egos may be
being betrayed right now, but they're still there. TJ. Watt
insisted on being paid more than Miles Garrett's and now
he trails Garrett by eighteen sacks to seven. There's some
ality in symbolism, there isn't there?
Speaker 9 (22:46):
Yeah? There really is that the guy that I mean,
the way I look at it, Miles Garrett had to
basically try to force his way out of town and
only then did an incompetent franchise like the Browns give
him the money and overpay him. He's now at least
(23:07):
producing on that contract. You know, TJ. Watt for what
he's being paid, is showing more signs of regressing than
he's showing signs of living up to that paycheck. He
really is. This has been an underwhelming season. I know
that we're having this conversation after he had the biggest
defensive play on Sunday that could have changed the outcome.
(23:28):
But those types of plays have been few and far
between for TJ. Watt this season, especially for a guy
that's paid like you know, when you're paid forty plus
million dollars, you're basically saying every year you're making that
you should be in the MV in the Defensive Player
of the Year conversation, you.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Should be three over voting every year when you're getting
that money.
Speaker 9 (23:48):
Yes, TJ. Watt is not in that conversation right now.
No one is saying TJ. Watt's name within that conversation,
and and and so for that reason, I mean, he
is the perfect microcosm a team that believes too much
in its own players, and especially when it comes to defense,
has been committing way too much to that side of
(24:08):
the football for subpar results.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Well, the Steelers make the playoffs.
Speaker 9 (24:15):
I don't think that they will as it stands right now,
but it's tight, like nine to eight probably means they
miss the playoffs, ten and seven means they probably make it.
So to me, I think that they've got two wins
on their schedule that they should win the Browns and
the Dolphins. Those will these games they're favored in, and
then you're looking at after losing to the Bears, you know,
(24:38):
they probably need to split with the Ravens, and then
they probably need to steal a game this weekend. If
they can win this weekend against a flawed Bills team,
I think that they're right back in the conversation of
a playoff team. If they lose this weekend, you know,
then you're looking at they have to upset either the
Lions or they have to sweep the Ravens. To get
(24:58):
into the playoffs is like a really tall task. So
I feel like if they win this week, they're back
to life and they can make the playoffs. If they lose,
then you know, we might be throwing a shovel full
of dirt on them next week. When we had this conversation, I.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Read the article of The Athletic that had you know
where your power rankings, and they had one question, big
question each team is dealing with. For the Steelers is
what's the long term plan? Mike whoever wrote that, you're
to ask me, that's an easy answer. There is no
long term plan.
Speaker 9 (25:31):
And that's the correct answer.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (25:33):
You know, Omar Kahn. You go back to this offseason,
and I remember in training camp by asked him. I said,
like a lot of people looked at your off season
and said, this looks like a team that's all in.
How would you respond to that? And his answer was
that he wanted to do everything he could to win
now without sacrificing the future. And what I think that
they've done is they've tried to straddle two lines and
(25:56):
they've done it really poorly. Like if you were going
to say, if you're going to bring in a thirty
one year old Jalen Ramsey and extend TJ. Watt at
his age and Adam sent us to Cameron Heyward's contract,
then they should have gone out at the trade deadline
and got a legitimate number two wide receiver, no matter
the price. You know, you should have been giving up
a third and a fifth round pick to go get
(26:17):
a wide receiver and go for it this year. That
would have made sense, and that would have been choosing
a lane another approach, And this is what I would
have done. I would have traded Mink. I would have
traded George Pickens. But I would have tried to get
draft capital. I would have tried to get younger. There
were a number of talented cornerbacks that were available in
free agency that were like twenty five years old. I
(26:38):
would have gone over after those guys, and I would
have been preparing for the next window, in the next quarterback.
Because the problem that they're going to have right now is,
let's say that the Steelers hit the lottery, they end
up getting the franchise quarterback at the draft, and everybody's
excited because it was in Pittsburgh. Well, you could have
a Joe Burrow situation by the time that quarterback two
(26:59):
or three years from now feels confident in steadying this league.
TJ is not gonna be what he once was. Cam's
gonna be gone, you know, Jalen Ramsey's gonna be either
gone or not what he once was. And you're gonna
have a situation just like the bengalsab where you've got
a quarterback and basically nothing else around him. And I
feel like that's the biggest problem with this team right
now is they didn't choose them Lane and they didn't
(27:22):
pick and and because of that, they've kind of been
stuck in this in between, just as they have been
in the standings, just as they've been at the end
of season in the playoff picture.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Finally, the conversation involving the Steelers is skewed both with
the fans, in with a lot of the media and
ton like, what about the notion that they should have
kept pickings. He's having a knockdown drag got heck of
a breakout season in Dallas, but if he was here,
he would not be having that season, not with these quarterbacks,
(27:53):
not with this game plan.
Speaker 9 (27:55):
Completely agree with both of those points, and I'm so
glad you asked me this question, Mark. Okay, So there's
that both of those parts, which are completely true and
accurate that you're saying. Here's another element of it. How
do we know he was ever going to report to
training camp?
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (28:12):
He was good friends with Deontay Johnson. Deontay Johnson gave
him the playbook. After your third year, when you're entering
your fourth year, that's when the Steelers negotiate contract extensions.
How do you know he wasn't going to hold in
and force the Steelers hands, Okay, which I think he
very much would have and could have. Then here's the
other part of it, Like the he was part of
(28:34):
one of the most inflammatory off field stories of this
season with the whole CD lamb and going into casino
and being up all night partying and gambling. Well, you're
not even allowed by NFL roles to be in a
casino and okay, And so he was breaking the NFL roles,
he was breaking team roles. He got himself benched. And
(28:56):
this is during his season of pr Spin where his
agent and everybody involved has tooled George like, keep your
head on straight for one year, and you're going to
get a bag thrown out you because you're that talented.
So even in the year when he's trying to prove
to thirty two teams in the NFL that this was
a fake media narrative and he was actually a great
(29:18):
guy and a model citizen in Pittsburgh. Even in the
one year where if he could just keep his head
on straight for seventeen.
Speaker 10 (29:25):
Games, he can make himself a boatload of money, he
still goes and does something so stupid like that that
you're not even allowed to be in a casino, let
alone at seven o'clock in the morning, Okay, And if
you want to think that that's the only thing that's
going on in Dallas, you're lying to yourself.
Speaker 9 (29:41):
And if you want to think that the only things
that George did wrong in Pittsburgh were the things that
were reported, you're lying to yourself. And if you think
that Omar Khan listens to quote unquote media narratives and
media narratives or the reason why George Pickens was traded,
you are lying to yourself. Because as much as I
would love to have the power to make roster decisions
(30:03):
and to influence decisions by the front office, I am
a nobody. And this team does not care what is
reported about as players. They know what actually went on,
and what actually went on for the Steelers was much different.
And so this had reached a crossroads, whether the Steelers
have wanted it to or not, and they felt like
(30:25):
they were not going to pay the player and they
needed to get something for him. So I can criticize
Omar Khan for not getting more for George Pickens, but
they were never going to pay him and they were
going to have to trade him inevitably at some point.
And in that time finally came to see this offseason.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Mike excellent stuff. Good work at the Athletic. We'll talk
again next week.
Speaker 9 (30:49):
All right, sounds great. Mark, really appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
That's Mike. The favor brought this by Armstrong the Internet.
You can on the people you trust Armstrong one wired
dot Com Up Next time to ask Mark anything, dial
now eight three three four one two w XDX eight
three three four one two w xdx, or leave a
talkback via the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app one
oh five nine.
Speaker 11 (31:13):
Time now to send in your questions for ask Mark Anything.
Use the talkback Mike on your free iHeartRadio app and
record your question for the super Genius.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six one o
five nine x eighty four.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Lumber is proud to part now the super Genius Mark Madden.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
I would tell mister Madden there.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Monk might say no right now, but in their hearts
they're saying yes, yes, oh yes.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
The X at one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
I got some Steelers personnel news. Well, in an abstract way,
somebody they didn't get. You may remember a couple of
days ago Brandon Cooks got cup By New Orleans, the
veteran receiver who isn't very good now and is washed up.
But guess who we signed with today, Buffalo. He'll be
playing against the Steelers on Sunday. Is that a shortcoming
(32:10):
on the Steelers part? Not really, I don't think so.
I don't think Brandon Cooks would come in and be
any more of a threat at why not two than
say Roman Wilson. And by the way, Trey Essex said
that Roman Wilson was open on a lot of his
routes on Sunday, didn't get the ball, and that he
should be the number two receiver. And I think I
might agree with that. But it ain't bad that Buffalo
(32:32):
got Cooks and the Steelers didn't, unless, of course, Cooks
catches a bunch of balls on Sunday at Akershure. But
let's say the Steelers did want Brandon Cooks, which I
did not hear. Who would Brandon Cooks sign with the
Bills to catch balls from Josh Allen and they're a
better team, or the Steelers to catch balls for Rogers
(32:54):
or Rudolph and they go to one way ticket to Polukaville.
Come on, let's use our heads here, uh time to
as mark anything brought to us by People's Natural Gas
Peoples Hyphengas dot Com. Let's go to Ken Ken you're
all with the super genius.
Speaker 5 (33:10):
Well, mister Madden, that was a real good bit with
Pierre McQuire, and it made me think of Eddie Johnston.
Speaker 9 (33:15):
He was the last goaltender to play all seventy games
in the sixties, the.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Last goaltender to play every minute of every game in
the season. Correct. Yeah, And by the way, EJ got
a mask as a gift last night. There's a photo somewhere.
He got a mask as a gift with all his
team's logos on it, and he put it on. EJ
was ready to play. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
He was ready to suit up.
Speaker 9 (33:37):
Do you remember what season that was for the Boston Bruins.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
I don't. I want to say it was sixty three,
sixty four, but I'm not sure. I'll look it up momentarily.
Thank you for the call.
Speaker 8 (33:46):
Let's go to a talkback, double m Why can't Steve
Fans connect the dots and see that after several offensive
coordinators later, we're still throwing two and five yard passes
and that the common nominator as Tomlin. Are we talking
Latarski level GPAs here?
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Or what.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Zero point zero. I think a lot of people have
figured it out. I mean, not that the coordinators aren't
doing something different. I think Smith is Smith is just
as dumb as Matt Canada, just is not innovated as
Matt Canada, but with more tight ends, which he barely
uses and certainly not properly. But yeah, Tomlin wants conservative
(34:31):
on both sides of the ball. Tom Win wants rock fights.
He's outdated, he's antiquated, he's prehistoric, and he ain't going nowhere.
Let's go to another.
Speaker 12 (34:41):
Talkback, Mark, do you think JJ Watt's presence in the
national sports media played any role in pressuring the Steelers
to extend TJ?
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Do?
Speaker 1 (34:55):
I think it played a role in them extending TJ.
Speaker 9 (35:01):
No.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
I think Art Soften doesn't want any of his players
to ever be unhappy. But I repeat again, the logical
thing would have been to tell TJ to play out
the last year of his deal, then franchise him is necessary,
which I'm not even sure you do given the kind
of average season he's having, But that's what they should
have done. But Art soft and his dad wasn't well,
not until after he got feeble at the end near
(35:24):
the end. But yeah, I mean maybe I don't know.
I mean I think it's ridiculous. By the way that
every Steelers game seems to have JJ Watt on commentary.
Seems like there would be a conflict of interest and
they would try to avoid that. By the way, EJ
it was sixty three to sixty four, seventy games played.
(35:48):
Where's the minutes at forty one hundred and ninety nine
minutes and thirty seven seconds. I'm assuming the goalie was
pulled to have that odd number there, But yeah, the
last goalie to play every minute of every game in
an NHL season.
Speaker 12 (36:02):
Let's go to a talkback, Mark, what are your plans
for Thanksgiving and what will you be eating this year?
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Well, I'll be trying to control my eating because I'm
on Awaken one eighty. I'm gonna have stuffing because even
though that's against the Awaken one eighty protocol. I'm gonna
have turkey, stuffing, a little dessert probably about it, cranberry sauce,
maybe not potatoes. That'll be my sacrifice for the one
day off to diet. I won't eat potatoes. And I'm
(36:30):
going to my friend Rich and Kelly's their restaurant Severina.
They hate when I mentioned it. But it's great in Westview,
but not Thanksgiving. That's a private thing and I don't
know if it's there or not. I don't know. I'm
going somewhere. Shut up, uh as mark anything brought to
us by People's Natural Gas peopleshypeogas dot com ninety ho
(36:53):
ho ho.
Speaker 8 (36:54):
It's that Tommy yeur Agan, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
It's Bonnie Diver
As I said, we've been rehashing the Steeler misery now
for a second straight day, and I still can't get
past the nocean that it can't be fixed. And I
heard Tom Win today's press conference talking about how kickoffs
and punting had a factor in the lost to Chicago.
He is so full of crap to lead off your
(00:22):
press conference with that after a loss, when your team
is fading and you're coming up to play Buffalo, that's
just silly. It's meant to distract. Every word Mike Tomlin
says his horseman, or he's a fraud. You heard the
word salad like always schematic endeavors, Gee, coach, what about
your schematic endeavors? Do you have synergy? YadA, YadA? To repeat,
(00:46):
Tom Win only knows how to coach one way, one method.
It's antiquated, it's prehistoric. Can adjust, doesn't want to adjust.
And right now he knows his team is screwed, blued
and tattooed and do not know what to do. That's
what I hear when he talks. Here's an update on
the injuries. Broder joneses out, I don't think it's it's
(01:10):
it's that big a deal, but I hear people wondering, Well,
it'll throw off their their jumbo package for sure. Uh,
Derek Carmon out on that defensive line. Not good. Why
can't the DBS get hurt? They got literally the worst
pass defense in the league. Why can't DB's get hurt?
(01:34):
I mean, my god, you know what James Pierre, like
we talked about in the pregame show with Tom, Pierre
was supposed to hit the bench, Slay was supposed to start.
Slay barely played. Pierre played every snap at one but
the bloom's off his rows because that that defensive backfield sucks.
I gave Ramsey credit for being the Swiss army knife.
(01:57):
Well it's a dull Swiss army knife. Maybe needs replacement.
Played and then all on him. But every one of
those DB's, every single one, if you put them all
on a burlep sack and beat it with an axe handle,
whoever got a broken bone would deserve it. That's how
bad that secondary is, how bad that pass defense is,
how bad that defense is, period and again, I'm gonna
(02:19):
keep saying it till you all agree with me. TJ.
Watt whining like a baby wanting to get paid a
little bit more than Miles Garrett. Well, he did get
paid a little bit more than Miles Garrett forty one
mil per garrettets forty million per big mistake by the
Steelers who told you that. Me, that's who the super genius,
(02:40):
who said they should have let him play out of
his contract and then franchise as necessary. Me, that's who
the super genius. And on all you people, Oh you
Mark's out there with TJ Watt Jerseys, Miles Garrett, Well,
TJ can taste the urine because Miles is pissing all
over him. TJ can keep it extra million per year.
(03:01):
Miles Garrett has eighteen sacks, TJ has seven. Miles Garrett
gonna get twenty three, Miles Garrett gonna own the single
season record. Miles Garrett gonna be remembered as an all
time defensive great. TJ walk going to be remembered as
the guy who didn't win a playoff game. Let's go
to know him and Newman. You're all with double.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
M Hey, we all know that the national perception of
Tomlin has been a lot roadier than he deserves.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Not right now, they're not criticizing, but they're not exactly
you know, doing the brag thing either.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Right, Yeah, the sentiment does seem like it's shifting. And
so my question for you is, so, do you think
that Rogers believed all that hype about Tomlin's greatness before
coming to the team, And do you think that that
perception may have changed now that he's seen how the
crap sausages?
Speaker 1 (03:52):
And I think he did believe that hype. Whether his
perception's changed, I can't imagine it hasn't, but I don't
know that. I think Rogers also believed there was more
or left in his tank than is.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, that's probably true.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Let me ask you we've been talking about. I mean,
what would you give Rogers as a great abcd F
for the season.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
I'd say C plus or maybe be minus. I mean
he hasn't made, like, you know, gratuitous errors stay for
one game, but I mean he also hasn't you compare
him to other quarterbacks around the league. I mean, he's
barely above average whenever he's at his best.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, he's an all time great quarterback who's coming here
to be a game manager, partly because that's all he
can do, partly because that's what they want him to.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Do, right, And I'm sure he doesn't like that. I'm
sure he'd like to be taking more risks unless.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Unless he knows what he is. Unless he knows what
he is, and this is all that he is, Newman.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, I kind of doubt he knows what he is,
to be totally honest, you know what.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I think he might just his demeanor. I'm reading too
much into that, probably for sure, but I think he
might just the hunts. Thank you for the calling him
and good stuff. Right now, it's time for calls on
the fifteens the talk show Craze at Sweeping the Nation
three fifteen and four fifteen. All your calls if we
get him down now eight three three four one two
(05:17):
w xd X. It is so fetch and I will
make fetch happen. One O five to.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Nine night, Welcome shot.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Well if I wont you over, Buddy benitating Dust to Road,
Tomican Dream, so be.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
It, baby DX At one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It's calls on the fifteens. I think I forgot to
do the read for Danny's PiZZ and Hogies a little
bit ago, but it's great. Route eighty eight Bethel Park.
Let's go to Jeff. Jeff, you're on with Mark.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Taking out orders so much, I can't hear you, the
confusion on your face, and you're like, I.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Can't hear you. I can't hear you. I can't hear you.
Just can't hear you. I mean, when you learn to
speak English or get a better phone call back, I
doubt you have anything constructive to say, but whatever, goodbye,
God damn people, just ugh. I mean, one would think
that you would learn by now. If you're stupid to
(06:23):
not call. What's good to John in Greensburg? John? Please
do better?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Heyblem I just wanted to ask how glorious would it
be for Miles Garrett to break the sack record right
in front of PJY.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I might run on the field and jump into Garrett's
arms like he won the Little League World Series.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Can you imagine the Pooh pooh face on TJ?
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Well, booboo face is what we call. But yeah, it
would be tremendous. And again it's nothing less than what
TJ deserves. He wanted more money than Garrett and now
Garrett's pissing all over him. Eighteen sacks to seven. It
makes TJA look ridiculous. If anybody in this town or
the national media would allow him to look ridiculous, which
(07:11):
they will not do. But he looks absurd. He looks absurd,
insistent on more money than Garrett and then being that
much worse than Garrett exactly. And that's that's the trap
you leave yourself open to fall into, BRUV. If you
want more money than somebody else, why do not just
go out there and get what you think you're worth
as opposed to basing it on what somebody else makes.
(07:34):
You leave yourself open to fail and for criticism.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
And that's why you're the super genius.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
No anybody could have figured that one out. Let's go
to Jackson. Jackson, you're on with double.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
M, double M.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Word up man, two quick ones for you, please go ahead.
What does Art Rooney the owner actually what is he
gaining by all of this? I don't understand because like
he's losing Steeler fans, he's losing popularity, He's not.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Losing He's not losing Steeler fans when when they're empty
seats at acres, Sure you can say that, but they're.
Speaker 6 (08:06):
Just aren't gods like me.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
I'm not buying tickets or merch or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I'm not Okay, when's the last time you bought it.
When's the last time you bought a ticket?
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Last time I bought a ticket?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Probably two thousand and four, okay, And how'd you buy it?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
I probably bought it on eBay or Craigslist if I
had to be honest.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Okay, So that ticket was already So that ticket was
already sold. And it's twenty two years ago. So believe
me when I tell you arn't runey. The second doesn't
care what you think.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Right?
Speaker 5 (08:34):
You're right now, second start does?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Does Tomlin? Last?
Speaker 5 (08:38):
If the owner of the Cowboys is there, mister what's
his name?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Jerry Jones? But he's not here, but he's not Mike.
Tomlin would have been fired by almost every NFL franchise
by now after not making the playoffs for seven years,
and it probably would not have taken seven years. But
the Steelers want to do things like Daddy and Granddaddy.
Did I mean? I mean Jackson? No offense? I have
to keep repeating myself stuff like this is obvious? How
(09:03):
can people not get it? By now? Tom Win will
never be fired, He will never be asked to leave.
He will decide when he goes. Period. He could miss
the playoffs for the next ten years and he's not
getting fired.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Right.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
That makes Rooney look like a look like a soft
a soft guy.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
And as we've already said, no, he doesn't make him
look like a soft guy, aren't the second is a
soft guy softer than baby crap on a summer side. Well, no,
baby's when crap on a summer puppy crap puppy crap
on a hot summer sidewalk. But he doesn't care, and
tom Win doesn't care. And that's where a lot of
this failure comes from. That they don't care. They just
(09:44):
are always right, even when they couldn't be more wrong.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Right, What are they going to do a documentary like
when the talk to like James Ferriers and all those
old time real Steelers and let them tell their truth
over like some bourbon or something. Wouldn't that be a
great HBO series?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
No, thank you for the call. Let's go to James.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
Are you doing Mark good? I wanted to let you
know that I just saw a stat. Pittsburgh actually was
ranked number two on the week in offensive efficiency, only
to the LA Rams. So their offense in their running game, dude,
I don't give.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
A fly in fordication. What your stats says. Their offense sucks.
I hear you, it sucks. They don't use the middle
of the field, they don't go deep. They just suck.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
I gotta tell you this, and you're right, But I
want to tell you that Arthur Smith Mason missed a
number of openings and throws.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah, it was Mason's fault. Thank you for establishing that.
He's the only reason they lost. He's responsible for losing
the games. He didn't play it even it's all Mason
Rudolph's fault.
Speaker 7 (10:48):
The coach sucks, the coordinators suck, the scheme sucks, the
Steelers suck.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
The logos Dad, for f's sake, I mean.
Speaker 7 (10:58):
How many times did you take the blame to where
it doesn't belong? And you will forever because you're the
dumbest mf first that have ever watched football?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Like the FABO next one oh five? Oh wait, I
gotta do a read. God, that pisses me off. What
a stupid effing football time. This is what a bunch
of morons you are. And if you don't want to listen,
UF off, go down the dial. They'll tell you what
you want to hear. But right now, I like to
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Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler. Next Mike de
(12:16):
Fabo from the Athletic one oh five to nine.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
It's Travis Every week day at ten am, always a
solid time starting your workday. Commercial free on one O
five nine D.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I'm the Dollar Energy Fund Weather Center.
Speaker 8 (12:29):
This report is sponsored by Loew's it's gotta be cloudy when.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
You got a young trophy White Oh's money to I
can't even quote the big o'bowski right.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Goodbye, d Exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We are just wallowing in Steeler's misery. Joining me now
to talk about that. He covers the team for the Athletic.
Always great to talk to. Mike de Fabo. Mike, who
made the call for Rogers to not play at Chicago?
And you think the Steelers would have won that game
had Rogers played?
Speaker 9 (12:58):
Yeah, I'm glad you're asking me this question because it
really truly makes no sense what the Steelers did. I
don't know who made the call, but I don't understand
why Aaron Rodgers didn't play. So let's start with last Tuesday.
What happened. Mike Toman came out and he said, Aaron
Rodgers is such a veteran quarterback. He has so much
experienced that he doesn't need a lot of practice time,
(13:20):
and he said that Friday was going to be a
really important day. Well, Aaron Rodgers actually got out on
the practice field earlier than anticipated, did more than expected
because he was out there on Thursday, and then he
took the majority of the first team reps on Friday. Okay,
So then Sunday comes he's inactive. They start Mason Rudolph.
(13:41):
And after the game, we asked him what was the
biggest reason why Aaron Rodgers did not play? And he
said the amount of practice time he had. So the
same coach that on Tuesday said he doesn't need practice time.
He's a veteran. Why would he need to practice now,
The biggest reason why Aaron Rodgers didn't play is because
he didn't practice enough, But that was Mike Tomin's decision
(14:03):
to begin with, so it doesn't make any sense. Then
I asked him, I said, well, what's going to be
different in a week. Why is he Why right now
on Sunday are you able to say he's going to
be able to play in seven days. A broken bone
is a week's long injury weeks plural. So the bone
was broken against the Bengals, it was broken, still broken
(14:25):
against the Bears, It's still going to be broken in
a week. The bone is not getting any better. And
Tom's answer was because he can practice more during the week.
And then today during his press conference, he again said
that Aaron Rodgers doesn't need to practice a lot, So
to me, it makes no sense. I don't understand nothing
is changing other than the way the Steelers are looking
(14:47):
at the situation. But seven days doesn't dramatically heal a
broken bone.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Well, Mike, he's double talking. That's what con men do.
They double talk. It's why he opened the press conference
today talking of kickoffs and punts. How absurd was that.
Speaker 9 (15:04):
It's hilarious. It's hilarious that he just started with the
old position component instead of acknowledging the real problem, which
is last year the defense was overpaid and underperformed. And
instead of looking at it and saying, it's twenty twenty five,
you look around the NFL, everybody's spending money on offense.
They realize a good defense, good offense beats great defense,
(15:29):
or at least highly paid defense. And instead they basically
doubled and tripled down on the same approach that's been
getting them nowhere to begin with. They went out and
they spent more money on defense. They acquired Jalen Ramsey,
who cost more money than Maka Fitzpatrick. They signed TJ. Watton,
gave him more money to a guy who's not won
(15:49):
any playoff games. They gave more incentives to camp Hayward.
They trusted Terrell Austin, the defensive coordinator, even more, and
they're getting even less. And that's why they're broken franchise
right now. It's because they keep doing the same things
and expecting different results.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Aim in all that. And I hate the offense. I
hate the game plan, very limited deep shots, very few
throws to the middle. And I don't play Rudolph. I
don't think he was a box of chocolates, but I
thought he played okay. I don't think anybody could have
could succeed quarterbacking in that game plan, Mike, and I
think I've overrated personally how much Rogers has. I think
(16:24):
he's been a C plus quarterback, no better.
Speaker 9 (16:28):
Yeah, I agree with you. You know, the way I
look at the situation, like coming into this year, the
most optimistic viewpoint was Aaron Rodgers might not be at
his MVP best, but the Steelers wouldn't need him to be.
Some people said, if you're supported by this great defense
and a reliable running game, well, right now, the running
game is inconsistent. Even last game was their best running
(16:50):
game of the entire season, And if you take out
the seventy yard trick play on the fake push push.
They average like three point six yards per carry, which
is like league average this year. They they're below average
as a running team, and they're very poor as a
defense given what they've been paid, and so you the
Steelers need more than they ever would have anticipated from Rogers.
(17:12):
I just don't see him being able to do that.
I think that they've worked around his limitations. They've found
a way to to score some points using this quick,
you know, quick game passing offense and really kind of
a conservative approach. But you know, if you're asking Aaron
Rodgers to go out there and win a shootout, which
(17:33):
is basically what he's going to have to do with
the state of this defense, I just don't think he's
going to be able to get the job done anymore.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Well, and where Rogers won't have a chance is they
won't try to engage in the shootout. They just don't
want to do that. And I think that's their best
bet against Buffalo because Buffalo got nothing but Josh Allen,
so you know he's gonna get his try to make
sure you get more. But that's just not the approach
still take.
Speaker 9 (17:56):
No, I don't think so. And it's it's everything, you know,
I don't don't think that Aaron Rodgers really has for whatever.
It's weird because he has the arm strength to throw
the ball, you know, hard and into tight windows in situations,
but he's off target when he goes downfield, and so
that's part of the problem. Part of the problem attacking
(18:17):
downfield is also I don't think they have the receivers
to get open. Even DK Metcalf included does not get
open as much as you would expect a big body
guy who has so much speed to be able to do.
And then I think, don't think that Arthur Smith is
really drawing off a lot of plays that are you know,
creating situations for these guys to attack downfield. And it's
(18:37):
just too hard in the modern NFL to drive you know,
fourteen fifteen sixteen plays. Every time you have the ball,
you need some type of an explosive element in the offense,
and right now that's just terribly lacking.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
We're talking to Mike the Fable of the Athletic. This
segment brought to us by Armstrong the Internet. You come on, Mike,
I don't think any of this can be fixed. And furthermore,
I don't think Tomlin knows what to do. I've been
saying all day. He only knows one way to coach,
one method, and he can't adjust. He just doesn't know
what to do. Is that fair?
Speaker 9 (19:12):
Yeah? I think that that is fair. I think that
they're doing things that they've done for a long time
and they're not adapting. They're not innovating, they're not making changes.
Like I gave them some credit, they did start going
to more two high safeties once they moved Jalen Ramsey
back there full time, and then this game they went
(19:33):
back to primarily single high and they were getting beaten
on pretty basic things. A lot of people who play
Madden on their couch and their basement know that if
you're getting a lot of cover three, if you run
four verticals, four guys going deep is more than three
deep defenders. One of those four guys is going to
be open. And here's another wrinkle to this mark and
(19:55):
this probably answers your question better than I did. Patrick
Queen after the game said that they had schematic issues,
and I think that you're having guys in the locker
room who don't trust the scheme, which is another way
to say they don't trust the coaches. And if you've
got Patrick Queen after a game saying we had schematic problems.
One guy can't defend two routes at the same time,
(20:19):
you know, I think that then you have a very
serious problem. If if the guys in the locker room,
the guys that you're paying money to who are supposed
to be some of the leaders of your defense, don't
trust the plays that are coming in from the coaching staff,
that is a problem.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
That said Buffalo is a weird team. I don't see
this as a lock for the Steelers to lose Sunday.
Buffalo's got the best quarterback in football, Josh Allen. They
got Dalvin Cook at running back. I don't think they
have a lot else. I don't think their defense is
very good either. I think Buffalo probably wins, but the
window is open, however, crazily for the Steelers on Sunday.
Speaker 9 (20:54):
Yeah, we agree with you. I think the Steelers are
a very flawed team that needs to win a certain way.
But I also look at the Buffalo Bills and see
a flawed team, and I actually think that this is
a very like a pretty good matchup for the Steelers
in terms of what they do well compared to what
the Bills can't do. You know, the Bills had a
really hard time in their most recent game protecting Josh Allen.
(21:15):
Their offensive line was really poor in that situation. And
I think that the Steelers, you look at all their stats,
one of the only categories that they're actually like a
positive or near the top of the league is in SACS.
And so if they can get after Josh Allen, that's
going to be part of the formula. It also helps
the Steelers that the Bills really don't have any dynamic
receiving threat. You know, They've they deactivated Kean Coleman, who
(21:39):
was supposed to be one of their main guys. You know,
over the last two games he was a healthy scratch.
They just claimed that guy from the Saints, who's like
a scrub they got released for nothing. I don't expect
him to make a big difference. And so, you know,
as much as we're talking about these breakdowns in the secondary,
I don't feel like the Bills are really the kind
of team that's going to be testing you and exposing
(22:02):
those works like another team could. So you know, for
the Steelers, it's about can they stop the running game.
Can they stop that good runner that the Bills have?
Can they slow down that element of the offense? And
if they can, I think that they're going to be
in a classic Steelers football game that's kind of weird,
kind of wonking comes down to a field goal near
(22:23):
the end of the game.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
One thing I find symbolic where the Steelers are at
Mike because they have big egos. Those egos may be
being betrayed right now, but they're still there. TJ. Watt
insisted on being paid more than Miles Garrett's and now
he trails Garrett by eighteen sacks to seven. There's some
ality in symbolism, there isn't there?
Speaker 9 (22:46):
Yeah? There really is that the guy that I mean,
the way I look at it, Miles Garrett had to
basically try to force his way out of town and
only then did an incompetent franchise like the Browns give
him the money and overpay him. He's now at least
(23:07):
producing on that contract. You know, TJ. Watt for what
he's being paid, is showing more signs of regressing than
he's showing signs of living up to that paycheck. He
really is. This has been an underwhelming season. I know
that we're having this conversation after he had the biggest
defensive play on Sunday that could have changed the outcome.
(23:28):
But those types of plays have been few and far
between for TJ. Watt this season, especially for a guy
that's paid like you know, when you're paid forty plus
million dollars, you're basically saying every year you're making that
you should be in the MV in the Defensive Player
of the Year conversation, you.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Should be three over voting every year when you're getting
that money.
Speaker 9 (23:48):
Yes, TJ. Watt is not in that conversation right now.
No one is saying TJ. Watt's name within that conversation,
and and and so for that reason, I mean, he
is the perfect microcosm a team that believes too much
in its own players, and especially when it comes to defense,
has been committing way too much to that side of
(24:08):
the football for subpar results.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Well, the Steelers make the playoffs.
Speaker 9 (24:15):
I don't think that they will as it stands right now,
but it's tight, like nine to eight probably means they
miss the playoffs, ten and seven means they probably make it.
So to me, I think that they've got two wins
on their schedule that they should win the Browns and
the Dolphins. Those will these games they're favored in, and
then you're looking at after losing to the Bears, you know,
(24:38):
they probably need to split with the Ravens, and then
they probably need to steal a game this weekend. If
they can win this weekend against a flawed Bills team,
I think that they're right back in the conversation of
a playoff team. If they lose this weekend, you know,
then you're looking at they have to upset either the
Lions or they have to sweep the Ravens. To get
(24:58):
into the playoffs is like a really tall task. So
I feel like if they win this week, they're back
to life and they can make the playoffs. If they lose,
then you know, we might be throwing a shovel full
of dirt on them next week. When we had this conversation, I.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Read the article of The Athletic that had you know
where your power rankings, and they had one question, big
question each team is dealing with. For the Steelers is
what's the long term plan? Mike whoever wrote that, you're
to ask me, that's an easy answer. There is no
long term plan.
Speaker 9 (25:31):
And that's the correct answer.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (25:33):
You know, Omar Kahn. You go back to this offseason,
and I remember in training camp by asked him. I said,
like a lot of people looked at your off season
and said, this looks like a team that's all in.
How would you respond to that? And his answer was
that he wanted to do everything he could to win
now without sacrificing the future. And what I think that
they've done is they've tried to straddle two lines and
(25:56):
they've done it really poorly. Like if you were going
to say, if you're going to bring in a thirty
one year old Jalen Ramsey and extend TJ. Watt at
his age and Adam sent us to Cameron Heyward's contract,
then they should have gone out at the trade deadline
and got a legitimate number two wide receiver, no matter
the price. You know, you should have been giving up
a third and a fifth round pick to go get
(26:17):
a wide receiver and go for it this year. That
would have made sense, and that would have been choosing
a lane another approach, And this is what I would
have done. I would have traded Mink. I would have
traded George Pickens. But I would have tried to get
draft capital. I would have tried to get younger. There
were a number of talented cornerbacks that were available in
free agency that were like twenty five years old. I
(26:38):
would have gone over after those guys, and I would
have been preparing for the next window, in the next quarterback.
Because the problem that they're going to have right now is,
let's say that the Steelers hit the lottery, they end
up getting the franchise quarterback at the draft, and everybody's
excited because it was in Pittsburgh. Well, you could have
a Joe Burrow situation by the time that quarterback two
(26:59):
or three years from now feels confident in steadying this league.
TJ is not gonna be what he once was. Cam's
gonna be gone, you know, Jalen Ramsey's gonna be either
gone or not what he once was. And you're gonna
have a situation just like the bengalsab where you've got
a quarterback and basically nothing else around him. And I
feel like that's the biggest problem with this team right
now is they didn't choose them Lane and they didn't
(27:22):
pick and and because of that, they've kind of been
stuck in this in between, just as they have been
in the standings, just as they've been at the end
of season in the playoff picture.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Finally, the conversation involving the Steelers is skewed both with
the fans, in with a lot of the media and
ton like, what about the notion that they should have
kept pickings. He's having a knockdown drag got heck of
a breakout season in Dallas, but if he was here,
he would not be having that season, not with these quarterbacks,
(27:53):
not with this game plan.
Speaker 9 (27:55):
Completely agree with both of those points, and I'm so
glad you asked me this question, Mark. Okay, So there's
that both of those parts, which are completely true and
accurate that you're saying. Here's another element of it. How
do we know he was ever going to report to
training camp?
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (28:12):
He was good friends with Deontay Johnson. Deontay Johnson gave
him the playbook. After your third year, when you're entering
your fourth year, that's when the Steelers negotiate contract extensions.
How do you know he wasn't going to hold in
and force the Steelers hands, Okay, which I think he
very much would have and could have. Then here's the
other part of it, Like the he was part of
(28:34):
one of the most inflammatory off field stories of this
season with the whole CD lamb and going into casino
and being up all night partying and gambling. Well, you're
not even allowed by NFL roles to be in a
casino and okay, And so he was breaking the NFL roles,
he was breaking team roles. He got himself benched. And
(28:56):
this is during his season of pr Spin where his
agent and everybody involved has tooled George like, keep your
head on straight for one year, and you're going to
get a bag thrown out you because you're that talented.
So even in the year when he's trying to prove
to thirty two teams in the NFL that this was
a fake media narrative and he was actually a great
(29:18):
guy and a model citizen in Pittsburgh. Even in the
one year where if he could just keep his head
on straight for seventeen.
Speaker 10 (29:25):
Games, he can make himself a boatload of money, he
still goes and does something so stupid like that that
you're not even allowed to be in a casino, let
alone at seven o'clock in the morning, Okay, And if
you want to think that that's the only thing that's
going on in Dallas, you're lying to yourself.
Speaker 9 (29:41):
And if you want to think that the only things
that George did wrong in Pittsburgh were the things that
were reported, you're lying to yourself. And if you think
that Omar Khan listens to quote unquote media narratives and
media narratives or the reason why George Pickens was traded,
you are lying to yourself. Because as much as I
would love to have the power to make roster decisions
(30:03):
and to influence decisions by the front office, I am
a nobody. And this team does not care what is
reported about as players. They know what actually went on,
and what actually went on for the Steelers was much different.
And so this had reached a crossroads, whether the Steelers
have wanted it to or not, and they felt like
(30:25):
they were not going to pay the player and they
needed to get something for him. So I can criticize
Omar Khan for not getting more for George Pickens, but
they were never going to pay him and they were
going to have to trade him inevitably at some point.
And in that time finally came to see this offseason.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Mike excellent stuff. Good work at the Athletic. We'll talk
again next week.
Speaker 9 (30:49):
All right, sounds great. Mark, really appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
That's Mike. The favor brought this by Armstrong the Internet.
You can on the people you trust Armstrong one wired
dot Com Up Next time to ask Mark anything, dial
now eight three three four one two w XDX eight
three three four one two w xdx, or leave a
talkback via the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app one
oh five nine.
Speaker 11 (31:13):
Time now to send in your questions for ask Mark Anything.
Use the talkback Mike on your free iHeartRadio app and
record your question for the super Genius.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six one o
five nine x eighty four.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Lumber is proud to part now the super Genius Mark Madden.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
I would tell mister Madden there.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Monk might say no right now, but in their hearts
they're saying yes, yes, oh yes.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
The X at one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
I got some Steelers personnel news. Well, in an abstract way,
somebody they didn't get. You may remember a couple of
days ago Brandon Cooks got cup By New Orleans, the
veteran receiver who isn't very good now and is washed up.
But guess who we signed with today, Buffalo. He'll be
playing against the Steelers on Sunday. Is that a shortcoming
(32:10):
on the Steelers part? Not really, I don't think so.
I don't think Brandon Cooks would come in and be
any more of a threat at why not two than
say Roman Wilson. And by the way, Trey Essex said
that Roman Wilson was open on a lot of his
routes on Sunday, didn't get the ball, and that he
should be the number two receiver. And I think I
might agree with that. But it ain't bad that Buffalo
(32:32):
got Cooks and the Steelers didn't, unless, of course, Cooks
catches a bunch of balls on Sunday at Akershure. But
let's say the Steelers did want Brandon Cooks, which I
did not hear. Who would Brandon Cooks sign with the
Bills to catch balls from Josh Allen and they're a
better team, or the Steelers to catch balls for Rogers
(32:54):
or Rudolph and they go to one way ticket to Polukaville.
Come on, let's use our heads here, uh time to
as mark anything brought to us by People's Natural Gas
Peoples Hyphengas dot Com. Let's go to Ken Ken you're
all with the super genius.
Speaker 5 (33:10):
Well, mister Madden, that was a real good bit with
Pierre McQuire, and it made me think of Eddie Johnston.
Speaker 9 (33:15):
He was the last goaltender to play all seventy games
in the sixties, the.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Last goaltender to play every minute of every game in
the season. Correct. Yeah, And by the way, EJ got
a mask as a gift last night. There's a photo somewhere.
He got a mask as a gift with all his
team's logos on it, and he put it on. EJ
was ready to play. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
He was ready to suit up.
Speaker 9 (33:37):
Do you remember what season that was for the Boston Bruins.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
I don't. I want to say it was sixty three,
sixty four, but I'm not sure. I'll look it up momentarily.
Thank you for the call.
Speaker 8 (33:46):
Let's go to a talkback, double m Why can't Steve
Fans connect the dots and see that after several offensive
coordinators later, we're still throwing two and five yard passes
and that the common nominator as Tomlin. Are we talking
Latarski level GPAs here?
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Or what.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Zero point zero. I think a lot of people have
figured it out. I mean, not that the coordinators aren't
doing something different. I think Smith is Smith is just
as dumb as Matt Canada, just is not innovated as
Matt Canada, but with more tight ends, which he barely
uses and certainly not properly. But yeah, Tomlin wants conservative
(34:31):
on both sides of the ball. Tom Win wants rock fights.
He's outdated, he's antiquated, he's prehistoric, and he ain't going nowhere.
Let's go to another.
Speaker 12 (34:41):
Talkback, Mark, do you think JJ Watt's presence in the
national sports media played any role in pressuring the Steelers
to extend TJ?
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Do?
Speaker 1 (34:55):
I think it played a role in them extending TJ.
Speaker 9 (35:01):
No.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
I think Art Soften doesn't want any of his players
to ever be unhappy. But I repeat again, the logical
thing would have been to tell TJ to play out
the last year of his deal, then franchise him is necessary,
which I'm not even sure you do given the kind
of average season he's having, But that's what they should
have done. But Art soft and his dad wasn't well,
not until after he got feeble at the end near
(35:24):
the end. But yeah, I mean maybe I don't know.
I mean I think it's ridiculous. By the way that
every Steelers game seems to have JJ Watt on commentary.
Seems like there would be a conflict of interest and
they would try to avoid that. By the way, EJ
it was sixty three to sixty four, seventy games played.
(35:48):
Where's the minutes at forty one hundred and ninety nine
minutes and thirty seven seconds. I'm assuming the goalie was
pulled to have that odd number there, But yeah, the
last goalie to play every minute of every game in
an NHL season.
Speaker 12 (36:02):
Let's go to a talkback, Mark, what are your plans
for Thanksgiving and what will you be eating this year?
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Well, I'll be trying to control my eating because I'm
on Awaken one eighty. I'm gonna have stuffing because even
though that's against the Awaken one eighty protocol. I'm gonna
have turkey, stuffing, a little dessert probably about it, cranberry sauce,
maybe not potatoes. That'll be my sacrifice for the one
day off to diet. I won't eat potatoes. And I'm
(36:30):
going to my friend Rich and Kelly's their restaurant Severina.
They hate when I mentioned it. But it's great in Westview,
but not Thanksgiving. That's a private thing and I don't
know if it's there or not. I don't know. I'm
going somewhere. Shut up, uh as mark anything brought to
us by People's Natural Gas peopleshypeogas dot com ninety ho
(36:53):
ho ho.
Speaker 8 (36:54):
It's that Tommy yeur Agan, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
It's Bonnie Diver
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