November 18, 2025 • 43 mins
Mark talks to Mike DeFabo about the Steelers to start the hour. Ryan Shea of the Penguins calls in to talk about his start to the season. Ask Mark Anything!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Right now joining us to talk Steelers from the Athletic
it's Mike de Fabo. Mike, who's going to play quarterback
on Sunday? Rogers or Rudolph? What's your hunch and what
goes into the decision and who makes the decision?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah, my hunch is that Aaron Rodgers is going to
be the quarterback on Sunday. And a couple of things
lead me to that conclusion. First of all, today Tomlin
said that Rogers was pretty adamant that he wanted.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
To go back in the game last Sunday, and he
says he's got a high pain tolerance.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
And I feel like if you've got a quarterback of
that stature and you're going to consider his opinion, I
think that they're going to end up leaning that direction.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
And it's been done before.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
You know, Terry Bradshaw has played played like in the
late seventies. He played the end of the year with
a broken left wrist. And so for me, I think
that the main factors are can you take a snap,
because that's really where your left hand is going to
come into things, is taking a snap or a shotgun snap,
and all security making sure that you don't fumble when
(01:02):
you have it, But I feel like they're going to
find a way to work around it. You can brace
it up, it shouldn't make it worse. And given the
fact that they're about to play the Chicago Bears, a
team that Aaron Rodgers has owned in his career, I
think that they're probably gonna end up going with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I think you're probably correct. Although Matt Hasselbeck, who once
played with a broken wrist and talked about that on ESPN,
he pointed out that the biggest risk is bracing yourself
when you fall, and even though you'd like to think
that a brace, you know it would prevent further injury. Mike,
a fall on that risk could be damaging no matter
what how you're braced.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, and I believe that that's how Aaron Rodgers actually
got hurt in the first place. I think he took
a hit from a couple guys on that second down
play near the goal line, and as he fell, it
looked to me like he put his hand down to
brace himself, and that's where he ended up injuring that
risk in the first place. So yeah, I think that
the two biggest factors in terms of functionality, are can
(02:00):
you play? Can you take a snap? And then if
you get hit? Are you making it worse? If they
determine he can do both of those things, you know,
I think that you probably have to go with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Here's my worry, Mike, because, like you said, Aaron Rodgers
has a pretty loud voice in this decision and with
the Steelers in general. What if he gets in there
and he just can't do it like this taking snaps
is dysfunctional. You know, he does fall on the wrist
or whatever, but still wants to play. Would they remove him?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, that would be pretty tough to remove a guy
like that or bench a guy like that.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
And there is a little bit of history there.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So from what I understand, last year, Aaron Rodgers injured
his hamstring and they also injured his knee, and there
were reports that he refused to get an MRI because
he didn't want the team and he didn't want to
know the full extent of what he was going through,
and it certainly hurt his mobility. When like you go
back and you watch him last year, he wasn't nearly as.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
As he is right now.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
And I chalk that up to his age, but it
turns out some of that at least was due to
the injury. So I think that exactly the scenario that
you laid out unfolded last year with the Jets.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
What a week off, sirv Rogers better. He's looked weary
the last two weeks, played awful at LA. He's dumping
out of pressure real quick. My quitting on place what
would be best for the team and for Rogers in
the long run.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, I could see this both ways.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But you know, I know that there's people that really
like Mason Rudolph and feel like the drop off isn't
that significant.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I don't think that I'm one of those people.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I mean, I've seen Mason Rudolph play enough from twenty
nineteen when he came in for Ben Roethlisberger until the
most recent game to know that Aaron Rodgers is a
significantly better quarterback. And so really, I think that the
biggest factor would be the risk of further injury or
you know, something along those lines. And as long as
(03:57):
I feel like if the medical team tells you we
have this braced up, well, it's not going to set
him back if he takes a hit, I think that
I would probably go with Aaron Rodgers in this case.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
We're talking to Mike de Fables about just by Armstrong
the internet, you kind on the people you trust Armstrong
one wire dot Com. Again, I'm playing devil's advocate here
because I think we both know if he wants to,
Rogers will play. But it is Rudolph better in the
pocket than Rogers right now, at least in this point
of both their careers. I thought he looked really good
(04:28):
under pressure against Cincinnati, which Rogers didn't.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah, I think that Mason Rudolph to his credit.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
One thing I'll say about him is throughout his career
he's been willing to stand in the pocket and take
a hit to make a play downfield. And a couple
of years ago, when Mason led that improbable three game
winning streak to help the Steelers qualify for the playoffs,
I did a you know, more deep dive reported story
and I talked to Mike Gundy, his former coach, and
he said that was such a big point of emphasis
(04:57):
for him. Mike Gundy was a former quarter himself, and
he drilled it into his quarterbacks. If you play this position,
you have to be willing to take the hits necessary,
and it showed.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Up like even in twenty nineteen. I think we all.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Remember the picture of them unscrewing the face mask from
Mason Rudolph and standing him up after he got drilled
by Earl Thomas and got concussed. And Mason, to his credit,
I think that's maybe the best thing about him, is
he's willing to stand in the pocket. He's willing to
throw the ball downfield. And that's the other element of this.
You know, Aaron Rodgers, for all the things he's done
(05:33):
pretty well. You know, he's coordinated in offense, is based
on precision and quick game. But if they get in
a third and long situation, they're so poor because Rogers
has not been good throwing the ball downfield.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And it's a different story when it comes to Mason.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Mason, I think was the first guy to realize a
couple of years ago, if he bombed the ball deep
to George Pickens, good things were going to happen. Similarly
with DK Metcalf and other guys on this team, he
has taken advantage.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Down the field.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
So if it is Rudolph, I think you're going to
see a slightly different style, more aggressive approach down field
and a quarterback more willing to take the necessary hits
to tack downfield.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
It's a weird situation, Mike, one that we kind of
got reminded of with Rudolph playing pretty good against Cincinnati.
I think at this stage in both their careers, Rudolph
is better than Rogers in almost every way except for
gile the knowledge of the game, how to win, but
that means so much with Rogers.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And I think Rogers gives you a better chance fitting
the ball into tight windows over the middle of the field,
getting you into the right play as you're alluding to. Yes,
some of those intangible things, but I mean you look
at the way that the Steelers are coordinating this offense
and a lot of.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
His checkdowns quick throws to get it out of Rogers' hands.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I think Rudolph could do some of these things, but
I don't know that he could do it quite at
this level. And I just feel like, also like when
the Steelers made the decision to wait on Aaron Rodgers,
to sit around for him, to bring him and then
to finally bring him in, they were committing themselves to
Aaron Rodgers for the long run, of course, and so,
(07:14):
you know, unless Rogers determines, I think Rogers will have
the big, loudest voice in the room. And unless Rogers determines,
for whatever reason, he thinks he needs another week, I
feel like they you know, they're gonna listen to Rogers
and he's gonna tell them me he wants to go.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
And I think for that reason, I think he's going
to play.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Why on earth would Tomlin say Darius Slay's going to
go back in when he's healthy, when Pierre has been
so good lately and Slave's been so bad prior to
getting injured.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I completely agree with you on that one. Mark.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I think the Steelers overrated Darius Slay's abilities as a
thirty four year old guy when they signed him to
the one year, ten million dollar contract. I think of
their issues in the secondary, Darius Slay being forty one
or thirty four years old is near the top of
that list. And James Pierre played very well. And James
(08:05):
Pierre is this guy that continually impresses me because he's
not perfect by any means, but dating back to training
camp or even last year, he constantly is making plays.
I remember last year Pierre got into a game as
a starter, and Palmin said, like it didn't surprise him
that he had an interception because that week in practice,
I think he picked off three passes and the same
(08:27):
thing happens all the time in practice. And I guess
here's my to make a concise mark. My biggest argument
for why you should play Pierre is the Steelers defense
is all about producing turnovers. They give up a ton
of yards, they can't stop people on third downs, but
the one thing they're counting upon is splash, sack the quarterback,
(08:49):
harass the quarterback, turned the quarterback over. And which of
these two fits that style better. It's clearly James Pierre.
He's one of the most ball aware defensive backs that
this Dealers have on their roster.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
And so I'm completely with you.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
I am firmly in the camp that if it were
my decision, I would be starting James Pierre this week.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
On Sunday after the game, Mike tom Win said that
Ramsey needs to be smarter today. He implied it was
okay to retaliate, so to spit or not to spit.
What the heck does Mike tom On talking.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
About Yeah, he kind of changed his tune on that one.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Here's my personal opinion on it.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I think, knowing myself, if somebody spit on me, I
would throw punches. I don't think I would care what
the circumstances were. I don't think I would care if
I would get fired or reprimanded by my job.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
That's just me. I don't think I.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Would be able to control my emotions in that kind
of a situation.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So I don't really blame Ramsey for doing it.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
See I do. He's in a one score game you
want to win.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, I understand your point of view, Mark, And yeah,
you would like your guy to keep his composure and
stay in the football game.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I'm just saying nature comes.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Into it at some point, and I know how I
personally would have reacted. So I have a little bit
of a different point of view than you, Mark, but
I understand what you're saying there. Where Like, guys all
the time are going to try to instigate. They're going
to try to bait you into doing something stupid, and
I think that was part of what Jamar Chase was doing.
I think that he thought he could get away with
it without the cameras or the referees catching it. The
(10:22):
referees did not catch it. So he did get away
with it to a degree, and he did bait Ramsey
into doing it. But you know, at the end of
the day, now he's going to pay for it because
the cameras were able to figure out that he certainly
did spit.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
How'm the stealers in the gate chase, you know, really
take them out of the game just three in consequential
catches when he had ripped them the shreds the prior meeting.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, I think that they had a very different approach
the first time. A lot of it was they were
playing a lot of single high man coverage and trusting
Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Joey Porter Junior to.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Do their job one on one in man coverage. They didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And the Steelers really have been forced to change because
of the Deshaun Elliott injury, Juan Thornhill's in effectiveness, etc.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Et cetera.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Where now they went from a predominantly single high team,
a lot of man coverage, a lot of Cover three,
to more too high coverages, a lot of Cover two
in this game, a lot of quarters coverage in this game.
And I think it was just so much more effective
because when you've got those two safeties over the top,
they're not going to be able to hit the deep
(11:29):
ball and you're going to force them to throw underneath.
And if your defensive backs like James Pierre, know that
they've got some help over the top, they can be
a bit more aggressive when it comes to some of
those underneath slants and other crossing patterns where Jamar Chase
was so effective. So I really think that moving Jalen
Ramsey to safety helped really add some stability to this situation.
(11:54):
And I think just acknowledging the fact that the Steelers
thought that they had the cover guys to match up
and coverage against Chase and t Higgins, realizing that they
clearly did not, in adapting and making significant alterations to
the schematics were effective in this situation.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
As you knowed, the Steelers defense is based on takeaways
and splash play sacks who really can't get stops? Given that,
who is the Steelers number one defensive catalyst right now?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I still I don't know why, but I feel like
I still lean towards Ramsey. It's not like he has
a bunch of interceptions and takeaways, but I feel like
just he embodies a lot of what the Steelers are about,
and I feel like over time he's going to produce
more and more turnovers and more and more splash. But
(12:51):
I guess, I guess that's what I'll say. I don't
have a great answer. I'm sorry, sorry, Mark, that's not
my best best performance here.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
No, no, no, no, I mean I agree. I think
it probably is, Ramsey, I know it's not what I
feel like. Herbig's out performing him in limited snaps. I
think Hayward has been actually okay, but hasn't you know,
made plays that'll get him his bonus. I just think
it's a weird defense and in some ways good, but
maybe for different reasons than we all expected.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, they really are.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I think that the most telling quote came from Mike
tom On a couple of weeks ago when he said
that turnovers are their lifeblood. And it really feels like
this defense goes the way that the turnovers or way
the ball bounces, and it seems like either they're forcing
a bunch of turnovers like they did in even his
most recent game, or they're giving up thirty points and
there's not a lot in between. And the reason that
(13:40):
concerns me in this next game coming up is the
Bears might protect the ball better than anybody else.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
They just don't turn the football over. They're good at
taking it away.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
They kind of have the same exact winning formula as
the Steelers, only they do it a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
So can the Steelers for on this turnover.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Dependent defense against an opponent like the Bears. I think
that it's going to be a really tough matchup in
that regard.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Do you think they'll beat the Bears? It seems like
you said almost even.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
I think it's a coin flip. I really do.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
I think they will if Rogers plays, just because he
has literally owned them in his career, like they can
never beat Aaron Rodgers, and even at forty one years old,
even with a broken wrist, I think that he would
he would find a way to get the win in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
So I think if Rogers plays, the Steelers will win.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Let me tell you why I think they need to win.
I think this game is probably bigger than people think,
because if they lose and go back to six and five,
it's just up down, up down. You can't keep going
back to square one.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Mike.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Eventually, you recede on a more permanent basis.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, I would agree with you. And then even if
you look at like.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
You know, some of the hypotheticals in the scenarios, they're
in a really good spot.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Can win this week.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
If they can win this week and they win one
of two against the Ravens, that basically ensures that they
make the playoffs. But if you lose this week, that's
where the door starts to open, and that's where the
division starts to slip away, and that's where you might
have to win in an upset against a team like
the Lions or the Bills, or really like a quality
(15:22):
opponent that still remains on this schedule. So this is
one of the more winnable games. I understand that the
Bears are seven to three, but they don't have a
good win on their resume. I don't even know that
they've beaten a winning team to this point. So this
should be a game that the Steelers could be competitive
in and should have a real chance to win. And
I agree with you, Mark, You've got to find some stability.
(15:43):
It can't be up down, up down all season long.
You have to be trending in the right direction, going
from November into December into January. If you're going to
do anything in the playoffs and so taking care of
business in Chicago, I think is a big part of that.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
In a big step one in that direction.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Mike, great stuff. Will do it again next week.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Enjoy the football, all right, sounds good, Mark, Thank you
so much.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
That's Mike de Fabe, but brought to us by Armstrong
the Internet. You kind of on the people you trust
Armstrong one wire dot com. We got Penguins defenseman Ryan
Shay at the bottom of the hour, right now, get
your calls in. We want to get calls on the fifteens.
Eight three three four one two w XDX eight three
three four one two w xdx.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Now the super genius Mark Madden, Superginias, Yeah, Park, welcome show, well.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
By one Yo, Buddy Betating, Dusty Road, Tomican Dream.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
So be it Baby the X at one oh five nine.
A lot of.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Crazy stuff going on. We have Ryan Shay the Penguins.
Pierre McGuire called him the NHL's most improved player when
Pierre was on the show earlier today, he joins me,
just around the corner, here's a number that shows what
adult Mike Tomlin is. Tomlin said, when Slay's okay, he
goes back in and Pierre. He didn't say Pierre would sip,
(16:59):
but he would all obviously dropped to a lesser role.
When Slay's targeted, the opposition passer rating this year is
one hundred and eight. When Pierre's targeted, the opposition passer
rating is fifty two point six. You see, Joe, the
numbers don't lie, and they spelled disaster for the Steelers
when big play slayh is in there because the other
(17:21):
team makes big plays. We're also debating whether the Steelers
should have traded George Pickens. He's in Dallas ripping it up,
but they're under five hundred. You don't win with guys
like George Pickens, and what we should be looking at
George Pickens was just another personality that the Steelers drafted
(17:43):
because they thought Tomlin could rain him in and Tomlin couldn't.
And I got to read this Jeff Poissan tweet well,
he didn't tweet it, but somebody tweeted out a summary
of what he said. Guarding the Pirates and their offseason activities,
(18:05):
Bassan reported a while back that the Pirates would be
expected to spend more in free agency. He also said
the Pirates might give Connor Griffin every chance to win
the to make the major league roster. My Twitter is
(18:25):
just fing me to death right now, Okay, here we go.
Said that Connor Griffin would have a chance to make
the opening day roster be given every opportunity. Also said
that the Pirates offered Josh Naylor seventy mil before Naylor
resigned in Seattle five years ninety two mil. That's conven
The Pirates always give just enough to not get the
(18:47):
deal done, in this case twenty two million less. And
they said that the Pirates are pursuing Kyle Schwarber, who
wants thirty million plus a year, and the Pirates are
interested in the top Happanese imports sluggers. That's according to
Jeff Passon. None of those things will happen, not one,
not one. I mean you can, you know, if you're
(19:08):
a Pirate fan, you can yank it and crank it,
but you won't wake up and thank it because none
of those things are happening. That's planet hype and stupid talk.
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(20:14):
talk to the Penguins, Ryan Shay. That's next a one
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Speaker 5 (20:17):
Nine from the one oh five nine the ex Weather Center.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
This report is sponsored by Macy's Backstage.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Clouds with Steady rained Tonight with patche Fogg overnight dropping
down to an overnight low of thirty six variable cloudiness
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Speaker 1 (20:36):
He is terrible.
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Speaker 1 (20:40):
The Penguins are back in Pittsburgh after a successful trip
for a couple games in Sweden. Joining US now is
defenseman Ryan Shay Ryan. Pierre McGuire was on earlier and
he called you the most improved player in the National
Hockey League this season. Do you agree?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
I don't know. I mean, this is a lot of
players that have had unbelievable seasons that I got off
the hot start last year. But uh no, that's that's
nice to hear from Pierre. Obviously, he was around Northeastern
when I was there quite a bit because of the
relationship with my head coach, So that's pretty cold to
hear coming from a guy like him.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Well, it was a pretty cool trip to Sweden and
three out of four points. On top of it, what's
the jet lag? Like, how's your recovery going? Because that
takes its tall.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
Yeah. I think obviously on the way back was a
little easier because you just had you kind of had
a power through the seven hour, seven and a half
eight hour flight home. But if you were able to
do that, and then it was pretty.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Easy to get back on this time zone.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
But the way the way there was a little tougher.
You had to sleep on the plane and kind of
we got off the plane and went right to practice,
so that that was a little That was a little
bit tougher. It probably took a day then. I have
to get used to that. But that's why you go
over there early and give yourself some time.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
That was a tail of two games for you guys.
What went wrong in the first game and what went
right in the second.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Yeah, I think we just came out flat in the
first game. I think that was probably overall one of
our honestly, one of our worst games of the year.
We just we turned over the pocket, both the lines,
we were playing careless, and I think in the second
game our coaching staff got on us after the first
game like they should have. In the second game, we
(22:32):
just played on top of them, got pucks in deep,
and honestly, we just played most of the game in
the ozone. And when you have good goal attending from
Arty and Serge, you got to reward those guys, and
unfortunately we weren't able to do that. For already in
the first game, but having s get that shutout was
pretty awesome.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
What are your initial impressions of s morrishopping goal, who,
like you said, got his first NHL shutout in that
win on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Yeah, I mean, I think he's gonna be I think
he's gonna be a stud. He's he's just he's refreshing.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
To have on the ice.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
He's very he's very competitive. Even in practice. You can
tell he's he's out there. He's out there, he wants
to get better every day, and he's he's one of
the first people on the ice and he's definitely one
of the last people off. He uh, he takes shots
from anywhere, he takes shots from anyone, and you can
just tell it's hunger to get better and it's hunger
to be in this league. So it's pretty refreshing to see.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Ryan. Your role was a bit peripheral last year. Now
you're a top four defenseman. What changed? What are you
doing better or different or is it about the role
you've you've been given a chance at.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
Yeah, I mean, I think my whole career has kind
of been just having having patience with it and always
trying to get better in practice. Or throughout the years,
whether it comes in the summer, during the season. But
obviously at the last year when I got to play
in the top four for a little bit, a little
stretch the offense, I built from there and play good hockey.
(24:03):
I it was kind of just a mindset going into
last summer that I know I can play in that role,
but I just got to earn it. And obviously I
got the chance this year after playing in most of
the preseason games and having a good preseason. So obviously
an opportunity like this can slip slip away pretty quick.
So I gotta be pretty consistent here to uh stay
(24:24):
in a role like that, because we got a lot
of young guys and veteran guys that that are hungry
to get in that role. So I just think it's
all confidence. And when I'm playing with confidence, I think
everyone sees the different side of my game.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Your partner with Chrys Latang, and that kind of comes
with a specific approach, doesn't it.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
Uh Yeah, I mean you're playing with a Hall of Famer.
He's he's probably one of the most conditioned guys I've
seen playing the game, and he he likes to jump
up in the play, but he also has your back
whenever you make a mistake, so at first it was
a little nerve wracking playing with a guy like that.
I think we're similar in the fact that we both
(25:08):
kind of want to be perfect, even though we know
that's not going to happen in our sport. But when
you try to be as close to perfect, I think
a lot of good games come out of that. But
he's helped me a ton in my career so far,
and he's given me tips probably a couple times a
week of what I can do better and what we
can do better. So it's right now, it's a good tandem,
(25:30):
and I hope it keeps going.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Eric Carlson recently spoke about how last year guys were
asked to do what they couldn't. Does that apply to you.
It seems like Dan Muse has a more systematic I
don't want to say more defensive because that implies conservative,
but you know what I mean, like like more by
the numbers type of system.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
Yeah, I mean, I think right now, it's just like
the positivity in the room from coach News and his staff. Obviously,
we're winning games, so it's it's easy to be positive.
But the way he just he gets his message across.
He allows guys to play their game and right now,
right now is working. He's he's given guys confidence and
(26:15):
he's letting them run with it. Obviously, all those opportunities
need to be earned, but he allows the guys to
play their straints. And I think that's what we're doing.
And obviously I don't think it's a big system I
guess system switch, but the DA very very involved this
year because we know we've built that trust for our
(26:38):
forwards that our fourds are always going to have our
back well and jumping up and covering for us. And
we got a big emphasis on getting to the front
of the net and I think our forwards is doing
a great job at that right now. So you see
us scoring a lot more goals.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
We're talking to Ryan say the Penguins. Peng was at
home Friday night against the Minnesota Wild. Ryan, where's the
team att right now? The Penguins had a really fast start,
kind of treaded sledge for a little bit, but Sunday
seemed like a sixty minute regroup, a reset, if you will.
Speaker 6 (27:07):
Yeah, for sure, I think that's what we needed that
Sunday game was huge for us, getting three out of
four points in Sweden, and obviously the couple games before we.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Hit a little bit of a rut.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
But there's I would say that New Jersey game, that
Toronto game, we we out we out played the opponent,
and we didn't get the result we wanted. So those
are the games that you kind of look at, you
learn from, but you can't hang your head on those
because those are games that we played our We played
really good hockey and didn't get the result. But that's
four nothing game in Nashville. You know you're you had
(27:41):
a trip like that team bonding trip. Sergei gets his
first win, seeing that guy smile was great, and you
come back here, you go the most time off we've
had this year in four days, and we just get
right back into it Friday Saturday where we're playing good teams,
teams that haven't like Minnesota who have been playing a
(28:01):
lot better and Seattle has had a great start. So
we got got it right back into it and having
that game on Sunday is a huge step forward.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
How much energy do the young players bring, kids like Kendall,
morrishaff Brunick and Conan of course, on il right now,
what's the impact of those guys.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Yeah, they've been great. I think it's I think it's important.
And you see around the league and the impact that
these younger players have, they just they're they like if
they're if they're ready to play. I think you got
to put him in because as you can see person
with Ben Kendall like he's been obviously I've set said
in an interview before, but is his points and all
(28:44):
that it's gonna come. He's eighteen years eighteen, nineteen years old.
He's a young kid, but the way he plays defensively,
it is pretty impressive. He's uh, he's got the grit
to go in the corners, but he's also he's always
he's always there to help the demon break the put
which is always appreciated. And then obviously Bruno, Bruno is
(29:04):
going to be a stud in this league as he progresses.
He's an unbelievable skater, unbelievable kid. And these guys are
just going to get better and better and they're I
think they know and hopefully the coaching staff and uh
management has kind of passed along the message. But those
guys are the future, so you want to get them
ready as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
The PK is right number four in the NHL, and
he's been really good lately. Ryan four for four on Sunday.
What's working there and who's been a catalyst in particular
with that units.
Speaker 6 (29:35):
Yeah, I think we just we especially the guys that
go out there, it's just we take proud in that.
That's like you gotta if there's there's something to take
pride in. It's definitely just like the guys in the
power play, they have that click and so good. And
for the PK guys, obviously you're it's like it's a
different type of momentum when you kill a penalty compared
to getting a point or scoring a goal on the
(29:57):
power play. So we got to be uh prepared at
all times, especially with some of the powerplays that we're
gonna face coming up. But yeah, I would say everyone's
done a great job. Obviously Carl killing penalties now when
he maybe he hasn't in the past, but just the
way he how smart he is, He's done a great job.
But I think the catalyst is probably with Noel chari
out was probably the best shopwalker I've played hockey with
(30:20):
is Blake wots been unbelievable. He wins, he wins, POxy
block shots h him and Connor do where have been
the tandem that we've needed to uh kind of uh
ride the front of the bus for our p K
there and uh they keep doing their job. Teams are
going to have a hard time even getting in the zone,
never mind setting up.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
I agree with all that, Ryan. One thing I want
to add, I'm seeing very effective clears on on on
the part of you guys. When you guys get a chance,
you don't waste the opportunity, and and really that can
kill a PK that's otherwise pretty good.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 6 (30:56):
I think we're just we're just not We're not for
we're not forcing things like we always have support. It's
kind of like we're breaking the puck up five on five.
Like if if the puck's on the stuck on the wall,
or I'm on my or demons on their backhand, we're
not going to go for the home run. Clear that's
probably has a low percentage of getting out. We might
(31:16):
have to eat it, or we might have to bump
it middle to a ford that can get around it easy,
or use your de partners. So we're not we're not
panicking when the easy clear is there. Obviously we're making them,
getting them down, getting them all the way down, but
we definitely want to help help share and use those
little bumps to get the get the puck up.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention your two goals.
I mean, you're not known for your offensive output. That's
pretty good for you so far.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
Yeah, obviously the goals. The goals have been great, the
points have and it's just it's just about playing confident
and being in the right spots. And I mean, the
forwards are doing most of the work, so it's always
nice to reward them with some offense, uh, in the
offense zone as well.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Finally, Ryan, what was the best thing about Swede? Maybe
the most surprising thing? What what did you know didn't
you know before you went? And uh, what stands out
as your back now in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
Yeah, I mean, I think the honestly, I'm I'm I'm
pretty I'm pretty picky eater. But the food out there
was incredible. It was a little obviously very different, but
uh like the breakfast, the breakfast and just like the
lunch air lunch spots that I went to where were great.
I was never hungry over there with uh. I've been
overseas before for hockey and it's kind of went the
(32:36):
opposite way. So even though it gets it gets pretty
dark there around two pm, the food there was incredible
and I uh suggest anyone going to go visit Schalckholm
because it's a beautiful city.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
What about the coffee, as I recall, it's pretty energizing.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Yeah, guys, guys are guys were loving the coffee. That's uh,
that's that's one thing they were. They were talking about
the fiica the whole time. And I don't drink coffee personally,
so I can't I can't give you any insight there,
but uh, I know, I know everyone probably got three
or four cups of coffee a day, so it was
it really hit home for them.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Ryan, thank you so much for taking the time. Good
job so far and we'll see at.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
The rink sounds good.
Speaker 6 (33:19):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
That's Ryan Shaye project of Northeastern having a great season
for the Penguins so far, Like Shae and Waterspoon, never
thought they'd be top four, but they are and doing
a good job. And like Pierre said, Ryan Shay really
might be the most improved player in the league. Not
It's time to ask Mark Anything. Dial eight three to
three four one two w xdx eight three three four
(33:43):
one two w xdx, or you can leave a talk
back via the microphone icon of the iHeartMedia app mark
Man one oh five ninety x.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
It's time to submit your questions for ask Mark Anything.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Use your free iHeartRadio.
Speaker 5 (33:59):
App and SAP it's the microphone I go on to
send your questions to the super genius instantly.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Every weekday at ten am is Travis starting your birthday
commercial freight on one fi d X.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Bank of America is a nation's leading business lender, and
we're ready to help with your next goal here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
That's why we.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Had I can't even quote the big o'bowski right coodbye
d exit one. This summer, I'm gonna go see a
World Cup game somewhere with some team in North America
because I've never seen one. Always wanted to the US games.
They'll be over sold. Overpriced is a better way to
(34:43):
put it. So I'm gonna go see a Liverpool player
play for sure, and I think my uh my question
just got answered. Put in the focus. Scotland qualified today
first time in a long time, and their captain is.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
Oh Andy Andy Andy and and.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Andy Robertson, long serving and very successful Liverpool left back,
so that should be fun. Let's go to winger time
to ask Mark anything.
Speaker 8 (35:11):
Hey, double M, I had a question for you about
our third down efficiency. If the Steelers has been terrible
this year, what would you do different in obviously passing
third down situations to correct it.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
I don't know that.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
I don't know that they could do different, Brov. I've
been saying, and let's see if you agree. Do you
agree that maybe I and we and everybody have overestimated
how good Rogers has played. I think we've we've we've
said he's done better than he has, and I think
he's his failure on third downs a part of this.
I think Arthur Smith not utilizing the tight end room
(35:48):
anything like we thought he would is a big part
of the third down failure because I thought that would
make the offense unpredictable, whereas the offense is unerrandly predictable.
Just but that so uh. I think using Jalen Warren
on third Don Moore might help. I think making him
in every down back and having him sit the occasional
(36:08):
series might be the way to go. But in terms
of x's and os, I, I just don't think they
have the wherewithal Winger to be much better on third done.
I just think it's a crappy, Neanderthal offense.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
I tend to agree.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
It seems like they're you know, not staying in the
pocket and throwing behind the sticks always ends up in
the other team's favor and they turn around and they're
always doing it to us. But it seems like we
can't find a solution for that throw into the sticks.
And obviously, you know patterns that are ran all the time.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
You know what, you know what's funny? I bet you'll
agree with this winger. And by the way, you named
Winger after the band winger.
Speaker 8 (36:48):
I get Kip all the time all my life. So yeah,
it seems that way.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
But but but you know how the Steelers always grow
short of the sticks on third done, right, It's not
it's they do they throw short of the sticks on
third dome, like if it's third and eight, they throw
a six yard pass and Rogers does it just like
the prior quarterbacks did it. Even Ben down near the
end when the Steelers weren't as good would do it.
(37:13):
But then watching other games, you realize it's what bad
teams do. Like whether it's a bad play call, whether
it's the receiver running the rod short, it's just what
bad teams do. It's how bad teams fail. Let's go
to our good friend the Hebrew Hammer Hammer yak shamash.
Speaker 6 (37:32):
Hey, Mark yack shamash.
Speaker 7 (37:33):
Hey, I think it's been so long since we've seen
confident quarterback play. I don't you think it's a case
of we don't even know what we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
That's an interesting way of putting. In other words, let
me let me put a name to the conversation. Are
we estimating Aaron Rodgers because it's been so long since
we saw good quarterback play?
Speaker 7 (37:55):
Yeah, that's a more eloquent way to say it.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
I mean, I'm not sure it is that.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Like my point might be that Rogers ain't that great,
but he's so much better than what wou'd been seeing
with guys like Picket and Trubisky and Russ and Fields.
Speaker 7 (38:10):
Yeah, I mean I'd agree with all those, I guess,
but Picket, I mean, but hey, real quick, I stop
today to get some cigarettes and uh, they had the
Nike swosh on it.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
How could that be? The cigarette pack had the Nike
swoosh on it.
Speaker 7 (38:27):
Yeah, I got some Newport's cigarettes and they had the
Nike swosh on it.
Speaker 6 (38:31):
How could in a word of this retigious world.
Speaker 7 (38:34):
We live in, how could that exist?
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Did anybody spit in your face?
Speaker 9 (38:40):
No?
Speaker 7 (38:41):
That was this morning.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
That's your cue duction mus swammy, Oh Andy, Andy, Andy,
Andy and Andy Roberts And let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 6 (38:55):
What is your current vehicle that you're currently driving and
what would you consider your all time.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Favorite vehicle that you had driven through the years.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Thanks, Well, I'm driving a Nissan Morano that I'm very
happy with, although it saddens me that after twenty two
years of having a free car due to sponsorship that
stopped a number of years ago. I had twenty years
with Schultzport and Richard Bazi, who I like very much.
Bobby right at Nissan on Wexford, I like him and
them very much as well. But the promotion budgets have
(39:27):
dried up for a lot of things, not least cars.
But I do like my niece on Morano. But the
favorite cry I ever had wasn't a sponsored car. It
was a Cadillac Seville I drove for a number of years.
I loved that car. And after the lease runs out
on this Morano, I might get not the Cadillac Escalade
or Escalade however it's pronounced. I don't care. But there's
(39:47):
an SUV that's slightly below the escalade or laid in size,
and I might get one of those. But if somebody
out there wants to give me a free sponsor car,
I'd like that. Let's go to a top mark.
Speaker 9 (40:02):
Let's say the Steelers have to toggle back and forth
between Rogers and Rudolph for the rest of the year. Well,
the national media give coach T too much credit if
they make the playoffs. With the uncertainty at quarterback.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
You speak with way too much gravitas. It bothers me.
But I think for Coach T to get anything resembling
credit at all, he has to win a playoff game.
If he wins a playoff game, I think then, like
you said, he will again get too much credit like
he has for the best part of a decade. Too
(40:38):
much credit for mediocre results, too much credit in situations
where he should have gotten blame. That's happened almost yearly
over the past decade, and certainly in many individual instances
as well, like games and whatnot. But but yeah, I
think he has to win a playoff game. I think
(40:58):
the bloom is off his rows, but it could quickly
go right back on if he wins a playoff game.
Let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 10 (41:05):
Hey, Mark, you're getting better at reciting the one O
five to nine phone number, which I'm ironically not calling from.
Did you use any mental exercises to help yourself remember
or did that just get better with time?
Speaker 3 (41:18):
Thanks?
Speaker 1 (41:19):
Yeah, I have a mantra I cite to help me
in problems with concentration. If you'd like me to share it,
I will. It goes. Should have quit two years ago,
should have quit two years ago, should have quit two
years ago.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Um.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
Um um um, should have quit two years ago.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 11 (41:46):
Hey, super genius, this is shame money from Cleveland. I
was just wondering, when you die, are you getting cremated,
are you getting buried? And if you're getting cremated, are
you getting those cremations buried or are you gonna have
somebody take take care of your remains?
Speaker 1 (42:00):
All right.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
That's actually very personal to ask, but I'll answer it anyway.
I'm in favor of cremation, but I promised my mother
i'd be buried next to her, so I think they'll
just you know, throw me in a box and slam
me right beside her. Although, like you said, you could
get cremated and bury the remains, but I'm just gonna
(42:27):
get buried. I think that's one of those things I
try not to think about. I should be doing a
lot more preparation for when I pass, but that's depressing,
and I am by nature fairly depressed as is. Anyway,
get more calls in. We have the list. Next, I'm
(42:48):
gonna talk to my producer, Tommy Radio, and just a
little bit as well. So keep it. Do I sound like,
really like tired today? I am really tired, almost defeated.
I'm still losing weight with a wake in one eighty
weight loss. Though they give me the food for free,
they pay me to endorse it's effective. I'm losing weight.
They gave me a car that'd be my favorite sponsor
(43:10):
ever one oh five ninety x
Right now joining us to talk Steelers from the Athletic
it's Mike de Fabo. Mike, who's going to play quarterback
on Sunday? Rogers or Rudolph? What's your hunch and what
goes into the decision and who makes the decision?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah, my hunch is that Aaron Rodgers is going to
be the quarterback on Sunday. And a couple of things
lead me to that conclusion. First of all, today Tomlin
said that Rogers was pretty adamant that he wanted.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
To go back in the game last Sunday, and he
says he's got a high pain tolerance.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
And I feel like if you've got a quarterback of
that stature and you're going to consider his opinion, I
think that they're going to end up leaning that direction.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
And it's been done before.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
You know, Terry Bradshaw has played played like in the
late seventies. He played the end of the year with
a broken left wrist. And so for me, I think
that the main factors are can you take a snap,
because that's really where your left hand is going to
come into things, is taking a snap or a shotgun snap,
and all security making sure that you don't fumble when
(01:02):
you have it, But I feel like they're going to
find a way to work around it. You can brace
it up, it shouldn't make it worse. And given the
fact that they're about to play the Chicago Bears, a
team that Aaron Rodgers has owned in his career, I
think that they're probably gonna end up going with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I think you're probably correct. Although Matt Hasselbeck, who once
played with a broken wrist and talked about that on ESPN,
he pointed out that the biggest risk is bracing yourself
when you fall, and even though you'd like to think
that a brace, you know it would prevent further injury. Mike,
a fall on that risk could be damaging no matter
what how you're braced.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, and I believe that that's how Aaron Rodgers actually
got hurt in the first place. I think he took
a hit from a couple guys on that second down
play near the goal line, and as he fell, it
looked to me like he put his hand down to
brace himself, and that's where he ended up injuring that
risk in the first place. So yeah, I think that
the two biggest factors in terms of functionality, are can
(02:00):
you play? Can you take a snap? And then if
you get hit? Are you making it worse? If they
determine he can do both of those things, you know,
I think that you probably have to go with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Here's my worry, Mike, because, like you said, Aaron Rodgers
has a pretty loud voice in this decision and with
the Steelers in general. What if he gets in there
and he just can't do it like this taking snaps
is dysfunctional. You know, he does fall on the wrist
or whatever, but still wants to play. Would they remove him?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, that would be pretty tough to remove a guy
like that or bench a guy like that.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
And there is a little bit of history there.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So from what I understand, last year, Aaron Rodgers injured
his hamstring and they also injured his knee, and there
were reports that he refused to get an MRI because
he didn't want the team and he didn't want to
know the full extent of what he was going through,
and it certainly hurt his mobility. When like you go
back and you watch him last year, he wasn't nearly as.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
As he is right now.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
And I chalk that up to his age, but it
turns out some of that at least was due to
the injury. So I think that exactly the scenario that
you laid out unfolded last year with the Jets.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
What a week off, sirv Rogers better. He's looked weary
the last two weeks, played awful at LA. He's dumping
out of pressure real quick. My quitting on place what
would be best for the team and for Rogers in
the long run.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, I could see this both ways.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But you know, I know that there's people that really
like Mason Rudolph and feel like the drop off isn't
that significant.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I don't think that I'm one of those people.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I mean, I've seen Mason Rudolph play enough from twenty
nineteen when he came in for Ben Roethlisberger until the
most recent game to know that Aaron Rodgers is a
significantly better quarterback. And so really, I think that the
biggest factor would be the risk of further injury or
you know, something along those lines. And as long as
(03:57):
I feel like if the medical team tells you we
have this braced up, well, it's not going to set
him back if he takes a hit, I think that
I would probably go with Aaron Rodgers in this case.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
We're talking to Mike de Fables about just by Armstrong
the internet, you kind on the people you trust Armstrong
one wire dot Com. Again, I'm playing devil's advocate here
because I think we both know if he wants to,
Rogers will play. But it is Rudolph better in the
pocket than Rogers right now, at least in this point
of both their careers. I thought he looked really good
(04:28):
under pressure against Cincinnati, which Rogers didn't.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah, I think that Mason Rudolph to his credit.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
One thing I'll say about him is throughout his career
he's been willing to stand in the pocket and take
a hit to make a play downfield. And a couple
of years ago, when Mason led that improbable three game
winning streak to help the Steelers qualify for the playoffs,
I did a you know, more deep dive reported story
and I talked to Mike Gundy, his former coach, and
he said that was such a big point of emphasis
(04:57):
for him. Mike Gundy was a former quarter himself, and
he drilled it into his quarterbacks. If you play this position,
you have to be willing to take the hits necessary,
and it showed.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Up like even in twenty nineteen. I think we all.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Remember the picture of them unscrewing the face mask from
Mason Rudolph and standing him up after he got drilled
by Earl Thomas and got concussed. And Mason, to his credit,
I think that's maybe the best thing about him, is
he's willing to stand in the pocket. He's willing to
throw the ball downfield. And that's the other element of this.
You know, Aaron Rodgers, for all the things he's done
(05:33):
pretty well. You know, he's coordinated in offense, is based
on precision and quick game. But if they get in
a third and long situation, they're so poor because Rogers
has not been good throwing the ball downfield.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And it's a different story when it comes to Mason.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Mason, I think was the first guy to realize a
couple of years ago, if he bombed the ball deep
to George Pickens, good things were going to happen. Similarly
with DK Metcalf and other guys on this team, he
has taken advantage.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Down the field.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
So if it is Rudolph, I think you're going to
see a slightly different style, more aggressive approach down field
and a quarterback more willing to take the necessary hits
to tack downfield.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
It's a weird situation, Mike, one that we kind of
got reminded of with Rudolph playing pretty good against Cincinnati.
I think at this stage in both their careers, Rudolph
is better than Rogers in almost every way except for
gile the knowledge of the game, how to win, but
that means so much with Rogers.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And I think Rogers gives you a better chance fitting
the ball into tight windows over the middle of the field,
getting you into the right play as you're alluding to. Yes,
some of those intangible things, but I mean you look
at the way that the Steelers are coordinating this offense
and a lot of.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
His checkdowns quick throws to get it out of Rogers' hands.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I think Rudolph could do some of these things, but
I don't know that he could do it quite at
this level. And I just feel like, also like when
the Steelers made the decision to wait on Aaron Rodgers,
to sit around for him, to bring him and then
to finally bring him in, they were committing themselves to
Aaron Rodgers for the long run, of course, and so,
(07:14):
you know, unless Rogers determines, I think Rogers will have
the big, loudest voice in the room. And unless Rogers determines,
for whatever reason, he thinks he needs another week, I
feel like they you know, they're gonna listen to Rogers
and he's gonna tell them me he wants to go.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
And I think for that reason, I think he's going
to play.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Why on earth would Tomlin say Darius Slay's going to
go back in when he's healthy, when Pierre has been
so good lately and Slave's been so bad prior to
getting injured.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I completely agree with you on that one. Mark.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I think the Steelers overrated Darius Slay's abilities as a
thirty four year old guy when they signed him to
the one year, ten million dollar contract. I think of
their issues in the secondary, Darius Slay being forty one
or thirty four years old is near the top of
that list. And James Pierre played very well. And James
(08:05):
Pierre is this guy that continually impresses me because he's
not perfect by any means, but dating back to training
camp or even last year, he constantly is making plays.
I remember last year Pierre got into a game as
a starter, and Palmin said, like it didn't surprise him
that he had an interception because that week in practice,
I think he picked off three passes and the same
(08:27):
thing happens all the time in practice. And I guess
here's my to make a concise mark. My biggest argument
for why you should play Pierre is the Steelers defense
is all about producing turnovers. They give up a ton
of yards, they can't stop people on third downs, but
the one thing they're counting upon is splash, sack the quarterback,
(08:49):
harass the quarterback, turned the quarterback over. And which of
these two fits that style better. It's clearly James Pierre.
He's one of the most ball aware defensive backs that
this Dealers have on their roster.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
And so I'm completely with you.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
I am firmly in the camp that if it were
my decision, I would be starting James Pierre this week.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
On Sunday after the game, Mike tom Win said that
Ramsey needs to be smarter today. He implied it was
okay to retaliate, so to spit or not to spit.
What the heck does Mike tom On talking.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
About Yeah, he kind of changed his tune on that one.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Here's my personal opinion on it.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I think, knowing myself, if somebody spit on me, I
would throw punches. I don't think I would care what
the circumstances were. I don't think I would care if
I would get fired or reprimanded by my job.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
That's just me. I don't think I.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Would be able to control my emotions in that kind
of a situation.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So I don't really blame Ramsey for doing it.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
See I do. He's in a one score game you
want to win.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, I understand your point of view, Mark, And yeah,
you would like your guy to keep his composure and
stay in the football game.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I'm just saying nature comes.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Into it at some point, and I know how I
personally would have reacted. So I have a little bit
of a different point of view than you, Mark, but
I understand what you're saying there. Where Like, guys all
the time are going to try to instigate. They're going
to try to bait you into doing something stupid, and
I think that was part of what Jamar Chase was doing.
I think that he thought he could get away with
it without the cameras or the referees catching it. The
(10:22):
referees did not catch it. So he did get away
with it to a degree, and he did bait Ramsey
into doing it. But you know, at the end of
the day, now he's going to pay for it because
the cameras were able to figure out that he certainly
did spit.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
How'm the stealers in the gate chase, you know, really
take them out of the game just three in consequential
catches when he had ripped them the shreds the prior meeting.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, I think that they had a very different approach
the first time. A lot of it was they were
playing a lot of single high man coverage and trusting
Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Joey Porter Junior to.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Do their job one on one in man coverage. They didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And the Steelers really have been forced to change because
of the Deshaun Elliott injury, Juan Thornhill's in effectiveness, etc.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Et cetera.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Where now they went from a predominantly single high team,
a lot of man coverage, a lot of Cover three,
to more too high coverages, a lot of Cover two
in this game, a lot of quarters coverage in this game.
And I think it was just so much more effective
because when you've got those two safeties over the top,
they're not going to be able to hit the deep
(11:29):
ball and you're going to force them to throw underneath.
And if your defensive backs like James Pierre, know that
they've got some help over the top, they can be
a bit more aggressive when it comes to some of
those underneath slants and other crossing patterns where Jamar Chase
was so effective. So I really think that moving Jalen
Ramsey to safety helped really add some stability to this situation.
(11:54):
And I think just acknowledging the fact that the Steelers
thought that they had the cover guys to match up
and coverage against Chase and t Higgins, realizing that they
clearly did not, in adapting and making significant alterations to
the schematics were effective in this situation.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
As you knowed, the Steelers defense is based on takeaways
and splash play sacks who really can't get stops? Given that,
who is the Steelers number one defensive catalyst right now?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I still I don't know why, but I feel like
I still lean towards Ramsey. It's not like he has
a bunch of interceptions and takeaways, but I feel like
just he embodies a lot of what the Steelers are about,
and I feel like over time he's going to produce
more and more turnovers and more and more splash. But
(12:51):
I guess, I guess that's what I'll say. I don't
have a great answer. I'm sorry, sorry, Mark, that's not
my best best performance here.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
No, no, no, no, I mean I agree. I think
it probably is, Ramsey, I know it's not what I
feel like. Herbig's out performing him in limited snaps. I
think Hayward has been actually okay, but hasn't you know,
made plays that'll get him his bonus. I just think
it's a weird defense and in some ways good, but
maybe for different reasons than we all expected.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, they really are.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I think that the most telling quote came from Mike
tom On a couple of weeks ago when he said
that turnovers are their lifeblood. And it really feels like
this defense goes the way that the turnovers or way
the ball bounces, and it seems like either they're forcing
a bunch of turnovers like they did in even his
most recent game, or they're giving up thirty points and
there's not a lot in between. And the reason that
(13:40):
concerns me in this next game coming up is the
Bears might protect the ball better than anybody else.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
They just don't turn the football over. They're good at
taking it away.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
They kind of have the same exact winning formula as
the Steelers, only they do it a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
So can the Steelers for on this turnover.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Dependent defense against an opponent like the Bears. I think
that it's going to be a really tough matchup in
that regard.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Do you think they'll beat the Bears? It seems like
you said almost even.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
I think it's a coin flip. I really do.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
I think they will if Rogers plays, just because he
has literally owned them in his career, like they can
never beat Aaron Rodgers, and even at forty one years old,
even with a broken wrist, I think that he would
he would find a way to get the win in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
So I think if Rogers plays, the Steelers will win.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Let me tell you why I think they need to win.
I think this game is probably bigger than people think,
because if they lose and go back to six and five,
it's just up down, up down. You can't keep going
back to square one.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Mike.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Eventually, you recede on a more permanent basis.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, I would agree with you. And then even if
you look at like.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
You know, some of the hypotheticals in the scenarios, they're
in a really good spot.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Can win this week.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
If they can win this week and they win one
of two against the Ravens, that basically ensures that they
make the playoffs. But if you lose this week, that's
where the door starts to open, and that's where the
division starts to slip away, and that's where you might
have to win in an upset against a team like
the Lions or the Bills, or really like a quality
(15:22):
opponent that still remains on this schedule. So this is
one of the more winnable games. I understand that the
Bears are seven to three, but they don't have a
good win on their resume. I don't even know that
they've beaten a winning team to this point. So this
should be a game that the Steelers could be competitive
in and should have a real chance to win. And
I agree with you, Mark, You've got to find some stability.
(15:43):
It can't be up down, up down all season long.
You have to be trending in the right direction, going
from November into December into January. If you're going to
do anything in the playoffs and so taking care of
business in Chicago, I think is a big part of that.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
In a big step one in that direction.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Mike, great stuff. Will do it again next week.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Enjoy the football, all right, sounds good, Mark, Thank you
so much.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
That's Mike de Fabe, but brought to us by Armstrong
the Internet. You kind of on the people you trust
Armstrong one wire dot com. We got Penguins defenseman Ryan
Shay at the bottom of the hour, right now, get
your calls in. We want to get calls on the fifteens.
Eight three three four one two w XDX eight three
three four one two w xdx.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Now the super genius Mark Madden, Superginias, Yeah, Park, welcome show, well.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
By one Yo, Buddy Betating, Dusty Road, Tomican Dream.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
So be it Baby the X at one oh five nine.
A lot of.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Crazy stuff going on. We have Ryan Shay the Penguins.
Pierre McGuire called him the NHL's most improved player when
Pierre was on the show earlier today, he joins me,
just around the corner, here's a number that shows what
adult Mike Tomlin is. Tomlin said, when Slay's okay, he
goes back in and Pierre. He didn't say Pierre would sip,
(16:59):
but he would all obviously dropped to a lesser role.
When Slay's targeted, the opposition passer rating this year is
one hundred and eight. When Pierre's targeted, the opposition passer
rating is fifty two point six. You see, Joe, the
numbers don't lie, and they spelled disaster for the Steelers
when big play slayh is in there because the other
(17:21):
team makes big plays. We're also debating whether the Steelers
should have traded George Pickens. He's in Dallas ripping it up,
but they're under five hundred. You don't win with guys
like George Pickens, and what we should be looking at
George Pickens was just another personality that the Steelers drafted
(17:43):
because they thought Tomlin could rain him in and Tomlin couldn't.
And I got to read this Jeff Poissan tweet well,
he didn't tweet it, but somebody tweeted out a summary
of what he said. Guarding the Pirates and their offseason activities,
(18:05):
Bassan reported a while back that the Pirates would be
expected to spend more in free agency. He also said
the Pirates might give Connor Griffin every chance to win
the to make the major league roster. My Twitter is
(18:25):
just fing me to death right now, Okay, here we go.
Said that Connor Griffin would have a chance to make
the opening day roster be given every opportunity. Also said
that the Pirates offered Josh Naylor seventy mil before Naylor
resigned in Seattle five years ninety two mil. That's conven
The Pirates always give just enough to not get the
(18:47):
deal done, in this case twenty two million less. And
they said that the Pirates are pursuing Kyle Schwarber, who
wants thirty million plus a year, and the Pirates are
interested in the top Happanese imports sluggers. That's according to
Jeff Passon. None of those things will happen, not one,
not one. I mean you can, you know, if you're
(19:08):
a Pirate fan, you can yank it and crank it,
but you won't wake up and thank it because none
of those things are happening. That's planet hype and stupid talk.
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Gambling problem called one eight hundred Gambler. We're scheduled to
(20:14):
talk to the Penguins, Ryan Shay. That's next a one
o five to.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Nine from the one oh five nine the ex Weather Center.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
This report is sponsored by Macy's Backstage.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Clouds with Steady rained Tonight with patche Fogg overnight dropping
down to an overnight low of thirty six variable cloudiness
tomorrow with a high forty eight Win'm just horrible.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
He is terrible.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
The ex At one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
The Penguins are back in Pittsburgh after a successful trip
for a couple games in Sweden. Joining US now is
defenseman Ryan Shay Ryan. Pierre McGuire was on earlier and
he called you the most improved player in the National
Hockey League this season. Do you agree?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
I don't know. I mean, this is a lot of
players that have had unbelievable seasons that I got off
the hot start last year. But uh no, that's that's
nice to hear from Pierre. Obviously, he was around Northeastern
when I was there quite a bit because of the
relationship with my head coach, So that's pretty cold to
hear coming from a guy like him.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Well, it was a pretty cool trip to Sweden and
three out of four points. On top of it, what's
the jet lag? Like, how's your recovery going? Because that
takes its tall.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
Yeah. I think obviously on the way back was a
little easier because you just had you kind of had
a power through the seven hour, seven and a half
eight hour flight home. But if you were able to
do that, and then it was pretty.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Easy to get back on this time zone.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
But the way the way there was a little tougher.
You had to sleep on the plane and kind of
we got off the plane and went right to practice,
so that that was a little That was a little
bit tougher. It probably took a day then. I have
to get used to that. But that's why you go
over there early and give yourself some time.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
That was a tail of two games for you guys.
What went wrong in the first game and what went
right in the second.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Yeah, I think we just came out flat in the
first game. I think that was probably overall one of
our honestly, one of our worst games of the year.
We just we turned over the pocket, both the lines,
we were playing careless, and I think in the second
game our coaching staff got on us after the first
game like they should have. In the second game, we
(22:32):
just played on top of them, got pucks in deep,
and honestly, we just played most of the game in
the ozone. And when you have good goal attending from
Arty and Serge, you got to reward those guys, and
unfortunately we weren't able to do that. For already in
the first game, but having s get that shutout was
pretty awesome.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
What are your initial impressions of s morrishopping goal, who,
like you said, got his first NHL shutout in that
win on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Yeah, I mean, I think he's gonna be I think
he's gonna be a stud. He's he's just he's refreshing.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
To have on the ice.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
He's very he's very competitive. Even in practice. You can
tell he's he's out there. He's out there, he wants
to get better every day, and he's he's one of
the first people on the ice and he's definitely one
of the last people off. He uh, he takes shots
from anywhere, he takes shots from anyone, and you can
just tell it's hunger to get better and it's hunger
to be in this league. So it's pretty refreshing to see.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Ryan. Your role was a bit peripheral last year. Now
you're a top four defenseman. What changed? What are you
doing better or different or is it about the role
you've you've been given a chance at.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
Yeah, I mean, I think my whole career has kind
of been just having having patience with it and always
trying to get better in practice. Or throughout the years,
whether it comes in the summer, during the season. But
obviously at the last year when I got to play
in the top four for a little bit, a little
stretch the offense, I built from there and play good hockey.
(24:03):
I it was kind of just a mindset going into
last summer that I know I can play in that role,
but I just got to earn it. And obviously I
got the chance this year after playing in most of
the preseason games and having a good preseason. So obviously
an opportunity like this can slip slip away pretty quick.
So I gotta be pretty consistent here to uh stay
(24:24):
in a role like that, because we got a lot
of young guys and veteran guys that that are hungry
to get in that role. So I just think it's
all confidence. And when I'm playing with confidence, I think
everyone sees the different side of my game.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Your partner with Chrys Latang, and that kind of comes
with a specific approach, doesn't it.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
Uh Yeah, I mean you're playing with a Hall of Famer.
He's he's probably one of the most conditioned guys I've
seen playing the game, and he he likes to jump
up in the play, but he also has your back
whenever you make a mistake, so at first it was
a little nerve wracking playing with a guy like that.
I think we're similar in the fact that we both
(25:08):
kind of want to be perfect, even though we know
that's not going to happen in our sport. But when
you try to be as close to perfect, I think
a lot of good games come out of that. But
he's helped me a ton in my career so far,
and he's given me tips probably a couple times a
week of what I can do better and what we
can do better. So it's right now, it's a good tandem,
(25:30):
and I hope it keeps going.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Eric Carlson recently spoke about how last year guys were
asked to do what they couldn't. Does that apply to you.
It seems like Dan Muse has a more systematic I
don't want to say more defensive because that implies conservative,
but you know what I mean, like like more by
the numbers type of system.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
Yeah, I mean, I think right now, it's just like
the positivity in the room from coach News and his staff. Obviously,
we're winning games, so it's it's easy to be positive.
But the way he just he gets his message across.
He allows guys to play their game and right now,
right now is working. He's he's given guys confidence and
(26:15):
he's letting them run with it. Obviously, all those opportunities
need to be earned, but he allows the guys to
play their straints. And I think that's what we're doing.
And obviously I don't think it's a big system I
guess system switch, but the DA very very involved this
year because we know we've built that trust for our
(26:38):
forwards that our fourds are always going to have our
back well and jumping up and covering for us. And
we got a big emphasis on getting to the front
of the net and I think our forwards is doing
a great job at that right now. So you see
us scoring a lot more goals.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
We're talking to Ryan say the Penguins. Peng was at
home Friday night against the Minnesota Wild. Ryan, where's the
team att right now? The Penguins had a really fast start,
kind of treaded sledge for a little bit, but Sunday
seemed like a sixty minute regroup, a reset, if you will.
Speaker 6 (27:07):
Yeah, for sure, I think that's what we needed that
Sunday game was huge for us, getting three out of
four points in Sweden, and obviously the couple games before we.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Hit a little bit of a rut.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
But there's I would say that New Jersey game, that
Toronto game, we we out we out played the opponent,
and we didn't get the result we wanted. So those
are the games that you kind of look at, you
learn from, but you can't hang your head on those
because those are games that we played our We played
really good hockey and didn't get the result. But that's
four nothing game in Nashville. You know you're you had
(27:41):
a trip like that team bonding trip. Sergei gets his
first win, seeing that guy smile was great, and you
come back here, you go the most time off we've
had this year in four days, and we just get
right back into it Friday Saturday where we're playing good teams,
teams that haven't like Minnesota who have been playing a
(28:01):
lot better and Seattle has had a great start. So
we got got it right back into it and having
that game on Sunday is a huge step forward.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
How much energy do the young players bring, kids like Kendall,
morrishaff Brunick and Conan of course, on il right now,
what's the impact of those guys.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Yeah, they've been great. I think it's I think it's important.
And you see around the league and the impact that
these younger players have, they just they're they like if
they're if they're ready to play. I think you got
to put him in because as you can see person
with Ben Kendall like he's been obviously I've set said
in an interview before, but is his points and all
(28:44):
that it's gonna come. He's eighteen years eighteen, nineteen years old.
He's a young kid, but the way he plays defensively,
it is pretty impressive. He's uh, he's got the grit
to go in the corners, but he's also he's always
he's always there to help the demon break the put
which is always appreciated. And then obviously Bruno, Bruno is
(29:04):
going to be a stud in this league as he progresses.
He's an unbelievable skater, unbelievable kid. And these guys are
just going to get better and better and they're I
think they know and hopefully the coaching staff and uh
management has kind of passed along the message. But those
guys are the future, so you want to get them
ready as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
The PK is right number four in the NHL, and
he's been really good lately. Ryan four for four on Sunday.
What's working there and who's been a catalyst in particular
with that units.
Speaker 6 (29:35):
Yeah, I think we just we especially the guys that
go out there, it's just we take proud in that.
That's like you gotta if there's there's something to take
pride in. It's definitely just like the guys in the
power play, they have that click and so good. And
for the PK guys, obviously you're it's like it's a
different type of momentum when you kill a penalty compared
to getting a point or scoring a goal on the
(29:57):
power play. So we got to be uh prepared at
all times, especially with some of the powerplays that we're
gonna face coming up. But yeah, I would say everyone's
done a great job. Obviously Carl killing penalties now when
he maybe he hasn't in the past, but just the
way he how smart he is, He's done a great job.
But I think the catalyst is probably with Noel chari
out was probably the best shopwalker I've played hockey with
(30:20):
is Blake wots been unbelievable. He wins, he wins, POxy
block shots h him and Connor do where have been
the tandem that we've needed to uh kind of uh
ride the front of the bus for our p K
there and uh they keep doing their job. Teams are
going to have a hard time even getting in the zone,
never mind setting up.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
I agree with all that, Ryan. One thing I want
to add, I'm seeing very effective clears on on on
the part of you guys. When you guys get a chance,
you don't waste the opportunity, and and really that can
kill a PK that's otherwise pretty good.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 6 (30:56):
I think we're just we're just not We're not for
we're not forcing things like we always have support. It's
kind of like we're breaking the puck up five on five.
Like if if the puck's on the stuck on the wall,
or I'm on my or demons on their backhand, we're
not going to go for the home run. Clear that's
probably has a low percentage of getting out. We might
(31:16):
have to eat it, or we might have to bump
it middle to a ford that can get around it easy,
or use your de partners. So we're not we're not
panicking when the easy clear is there. Obviously we're making them,
getting them down, getting them all the way down, but
we definitely want to help help share and use those
little bumps to get the get the puck up.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention your two goals.
I mean, you're not known for your offensive output. That's
pretty good for you so far.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
Yeah, obviously the goals. The goals have been great, the
points have and it's just it's just about playing confident
and being in the right spots. And I mean, the
forwards are doing most of the work, so it's always
nice to reward them with some offense, uh, in the
offense zone as well.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Finally, Ryan, what was the best thing about Swede? Maybe
the most surprising thing? What what did you know didn't
you know before you went? And uh, what stands out
as your back now in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
Yeah, I mean, I think the honestly, I'm I'm I'm
pretty I'm pretty picky eater. But the food out there
was incredible. It was a little obviously very different, but
uh like the breakfast, the breakfast and just like the
lunch air lunch spots that I went to where were great.
I was never hungry over there with uh. I've been
overseas before for hockey and it's kind of went the
(32:36):
opposite way. So even though it gets it gets pretty
dark there around two pm, the food there was incredible
and I uh suggest anyone going to go visit Schalckholm
because it's a beautiful city.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
What about the coffee, as I recall, it's pretty energizing.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Yeah, guys, guys are guys were loving the coffee. That's uh,
that's that's one thing they were. They were talking about
the fiica the whole time. And I don't drink coffee personally,
so I can't I can't give you any insight there,
but uh, I know, I know everyone probably got three
or four cups of coffee a day, so it was
it really hit home for them.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Ryan, thank you so much for taking the time. Good
job so far and we'll see at.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
The rink sounds good.
Speaker 6 (33:19):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
That's Ryan Shaye project of Northeastern having a great season
for the Penguins so far, Like Shae and Waterspoon, never
thought they'd be top four, but they are and doing
a good job. And like Pierre said, Ryan Shay really
might be the most improved player in the league. Not
It's time to ask Mark Anything. Dial eight three to
three four one two w xdx eight three three four
(33:43):
one two w xdx, or you can leave a talk
back via the microphone icon of the iHeartMedia app mark
Man one oh five ninety x.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
It's time to submit your questions for ask Mark Anything.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Use your free iHeartRadio.
Speaker 5 (33:59):
App and SAP it's the microphone I go on to
send your questions to the super genius instantly.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Every weekday at ten am is Travis starting your birthday
commercial freight on one fi d X.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Bank of America is a nation's leading business lender, and
we're ready to help with your next goal here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
That's why we.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Had I can't even quote the big o'bowski right coodbye
d exit one. This summer, I'm gonna go see a
World Cup game somewhere with some team in North America
because I've never seen one. Always wanted to the US games.
They'll be over sold. Overpriced is a better way to
(34:43):
put it. So I'm gonna go see a Liverpool player
play for sure, and I think my uh my question
just got answered. Put in the focus. Scotland qualified today
first time in a long time, and their captain is.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
Oh Andy Andy Andy and and.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Andy Robertson, long serving and very successful Liverpool left back,
so that should be fun. Let's go to winger time
to ask Mark anything.
Speaker 8 (35:11):
Hey, double M, I had a question for you about
our third down efficiency. If the Steelers has been terrible
this year, what would you do different in obviously passing
third down situations to correct it.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
I don't know that.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
I don't know that they could do different, Brov. I've
been saying, and let's see if you agree. Do you
agree that maybe I and we and everybody have overestimated
how good Rogers has played. I think we've we've we've
said he's done better than he has, and I think
he's his failure on third downs a part of this.
I think Arthur Smith not utilizing the tight end room
(35:48):
anything like we thought he would is a big part
of the third down failure because I thought that would
make the offense unpredictable, whereas the offense is unerrandly predictable.
Just but that so uh. I think using Jalen Warren
on third Don Moore might help. I think making him
in every down back and having him sit the occasional
(36:08):
series might be the way to go. But in terms
of x's and os, I, I just don't think they
have the wherewithal Winger to be much better on third done.
I just think it's a crappy, Neanderthal offense.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
I tend to agree.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
It seems like they're you know, not staying in the
pocket and throwing behind the sticks always ends up in
the other team's favor and they turn around and they're
always doing it to us. But it seems like we
can't find a solution for that throw into the sticks.
And obviously, you know patterns that are ran all the time.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
You know what, you know what's funny? I bet you'll
agree with this winger. And by the way, you named
Winger after the band winger.
Speaker 8 (36:48):
I get Kip all the time all my life. So yeah,
it seems that way.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
But but but you know how the Steelers always grow
short of the sticks on third done, right, It's not
it's they do they throw short of the sticks on
third dome, like if it's third and eight, they throw
a six yard pass and Rogers does it just like
the prior quarterbacks did it. Even Ben down near the
end when the Steelers weren't as good would do it.
(37:13):
But then watching other games, you realize it's what bad
teams do. Like whether it's a bad play call, whether
it's the receiver running the rod short, it's just what
bad teams do. It's how bad teams fail. Let's go
to our good friend the Hebrew Hammer Hammer yak shamash.
Speaker 6 (37:32):
Hey, Mark yack shamash.
Speaker 7 (37:33):
Hey, I think it's been so long since we've seen
confident quarterback play. I don't you think it's a case
of we don't even know what we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
That's an interesting way of putting. In other words, let
me let me put a name to the conversation. Are
we estimating Aaron Rodgers because it's been so long since
we saw good quarterback play?
Speaker 7 (37:55):
Yeah, that's a more eloquent way to say it.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
I mean, I'm not sure it is that.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Like my point might be that Rogers ain't that great,
but he's so much better than what wou'd been seeing
with guys like Picket and Trubisky and Russ and Fields.
Speaker 7 (38:10):
Yeah, I mean I'd agree with all those, I guess,
but Picket, I mean, but hey, real quick, I stop
today to get some cigarettes and uh, they had the
Nike swosh on it.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
How could that be? The cigarette pack had the Nike
swoosh on it.
Speaker 7 (38:27):
Yeah, I got some Newport's cigarettes and they had the
Nike swosh on it.
Speaker 6 (38:31):
How could in a word of this retigious world.
Speaker 7 (38:34):
We live in, how could that exist?
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Did anybody spit in your face?
Speaker 9 (38:40):
No?
Speaker 7 (38:41):
That was this morning.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
That's your cue duction mus swammy, Oh Andy, Andy, Andy,
Andy and Andy Roberts And let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 6 (38:55):
What is your current vehicle that you're currently driving and
what would you consider your all time.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Favorite vehicle that you had driven through the years.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Thanks, Well, I'm driving a Nissan Morano that I'm very
happy with, although it saddens me that after twenty two
years of having a free car due to sponsorship that
stopped a number of years ago. I had twenty years
with Schultzport and Richard Bazi, who I like very much.
Bobby right at Nissan on Wexford, I like him and
them very much as well. But the promotion budgets have
(39:27):
dried up for a lot of things, not least cars.
But I do like my niece on Morano. But the
favorite cry I ever had wasn't a sponsored car. It
was a Cadillac Seville I drove for a number of years.
I loved that car. And after the lease runs out
on this Morano, I might get not the Cadillac Escalade
or Escalade however it's pronounced. I don't care. But there's
(39:47):
an SUV that's slightly below the escalade or laid in size,
and I might get one of those. But if somebody
out there wants to give me a free sponsor car,
I'd like that. Let's go to a top mark.
Speaker 9 (40:02):
Let's say the Steelers have to toggle back and forth
between Rogers and Rudolph for the rest of the year. Well,
the national media give coach T too much credit if
they make the playoffs. With the uncertainty at quarterback.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
You speak with way too much gravitas. It bothers me.
But I think for Coach T to get anything resembling
credit at all, he has to win a playoff game.
If he wins a playoff game, I think then, like
you said, he will again get too much credit like
he has for the best part of a decade. Too
(40:38):
much credit for mediocre results, too much credit in situations
where he should have gotten blame. That's happened almost yearly
over the past decade, and certainly in many individual instances
as well, like games and whatnot. But but yeah, I
think he has to win a playoff game. I think
(40:58):
the bloom is off his rows, but it could quickly
go right back on if he wins a playoff game.
Let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 10 (41:05):
Hey, Mark, you're getting better at reciting the one O
five to nine phone number, which I'm ironically not calling from.
Did you use any mental exercises to help yourself remember
or did that just get better with time?
Speaker 3 (41:18):
Thanks?
Speaker 1 (41:19):
Yeah, I have a mantra I cite to help me
in problems with concentration. If you'd like me to share it,
I will. It goes. Should have quit two years ago,
should have quit two years ago, should have quit two
years ago.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Um.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
Um um um, should have quit two years ago.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 11 (41:46):
Hey, super genius, this is shame money from Cleveland. I
was just wondering, when you die, are you getting cremated,
are you getting buried? And if you're getting cremated, are
you getting those cremations buried or are you gonna have
somebody take take care of your remains?
Speaker 1 (42:00):
All right.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
That's actually very personal to ask, but I'll answer it anyway.
I'm in favor of cremation, but I promised my mother
i'd be buried next to her, so I think they'll
just you know, throw me in a box and slam
me right beside her. Although, like you said, you could
get cremated and bury the remains, but I'm just gonna
(42:27):
get buried. I think that's one of those things I
try not to think about. I should be doing a
lot more preparation for when I pass, but that's depressing,
and I am by nature fairly depressed as is. Anyway,
get more calls in. We have the list. Next, I'm
(42:48):
gonna talk to my producer, Tommy Radio, and just a
little bit as well. So keep it. Do I sound like,
really like tired today? I am really tired, almost defeated.
I'm still losing weight with a wake in one eighty
weight loss. Though they give me the food for free,
they pay me to endorse it's effective. I'm losing weight.
They gave me a car that'd be my favorite sponsor
(43:10):
ever one oh five ninety x
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