January 6, 2026 • 39 mins
Mark Madden and Tommy Radio talk a ton of Steelers, some Penguins and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Mark Madden Show. Follow me on Twitter
at Mark Madden X.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'll be at Pittsburgh Brewing Company just off through twenty
eight in Creighton for Sunday's Penguin game at five pm
and for Monday Steeler game at eight pm. Biggest big
screen TV anywhere. So join me to watch the Penguins
on Sunday and the Steelers on Monday at Pittsburgh Brewing
Company in Crayton. Let's talk to Tommy Radio. Tom I
(00:27):
was just talking about the pressure that Houston figures to
put on Aaron Rodgers. Monday night, Houston plays a four
to three Anderson and Hunter on the ends. I guess
it's Fatano against Anderson and Dylan Cook against Tunner.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
I'm certainly not crazy about that last matchup.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Of course not I'm not crazy about the first matchup
that you said either. These are the two best edge
rushers as far as a tandem is concerned that anybody
can throw at you in the league. This is the
best duo that someone has to offer. Tomlin said that
today more or less, and because of that, not only
does Houston get an insane amount of pressure pressure, they
do it without blitzing you. Know that four to three
that they have, those four guys are the only ones
(01:06):
that are coming at Rogers, and they're gonna make his
life hell, which means that seven are going to be
dropped back into coverage. That is the most crucial matchup
in this game. If they can figure out a way
to keep Rogers cleaning that pocket for him to make
some plays downfield, they have a puncher's chance.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
But I'm not optimistic about that.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
By the way, did you find it curious that Brian
Batco at the post because that said yesterday, like very
matter of fact that in the Cleveland game, Rogers did
ditch the ball early to keep Garrett from getting the record.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
He stated it like he was sure about it. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
But see what I always was so torn with that,
you know narrative was that's what you do against the
Browns anyways, you get rid of the ball so quickly,
so Garrett doesn't, you know, break your back in half
and wreck your.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Game, right right?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But Brian said it like like it was because of
the sack record tick earlier, like like, but I still
and I hate to agree with JJ Watt over Brian Batko,
But but JJ Watt, you know, said what's the alternative
letting him sack Rogers. You know what I would have,
like we've seen Rogers, like give Garrett the sack early
and just get it out of the way and play football. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I could see that, But at the same time, I
don't think that that would have been the difference in
the game. Like I don't think if Rogers took a
dive and let Garrett get the sack record in the
first quarter of the offense would explode in the second
half and the Steelers would beatn the Browns.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
You know what Rogers could have done og longest jar
just drill Garrett right in the nuts from close range.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Just just put him on the sideline, tell Cook let
him in free.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Right and then it worked once it should work again
in the remake he hits the ref and the nuts.
I understand the need, you know, to change it up
a little bit from from OG to the remake, but
but I liked it better. And it was implied in
the original that Ray Nichke, one of the the Guard's
middle lineberger. He was dead, literally dead when they carted
(02:47):
him off the field, so.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
They didn't give him a wet willie like they did
in the original.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Okay, it's your assignment to see the original within a
n after week, it's going.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
To ruin the new one for me, though I love
the new one.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Just watch it and will review, otherwise you'll be fired again. Now,
how good is the Steelers O line as they get
ready to face Anderson and Hunter and really not just them.
They bring pressure from all over the place, albeit without
blitzing very much. It's a very standard four to three
setup that they rarely have variety within context. But but
(03:22):
it's down to the Steelers O line. I think mostly
it's a pretty good offensive line. But Cleveland was all
over Rogers, and like we're saying right now, Houston's a
tough not to crack.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think it's a good offensive line. I'm impressed with
what the offensive line has developed into this year. I
still think they're a smidge overrated though, and a lot
of people, Oh no, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
When it comes to pass protection, I think it's a
smidge overrated. I think that they can still be had
in that department and Mark they do a lot of
stuff to help that offensive line out in pass protection.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
You know what's weird. I think they're overrated as individuals.
I don't think Zach Fraser that he'll Billy. I don't
think he's anything special at center. I don't think Mason
McCormick's anything special at right guard.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Do they see Jimalo as a glue guy?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
But then again, they functioned fairly well when he was
out a couple games injured recently.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
He's good, but he's a vet. I mean, this is
maybe his last year in Pittsburgh, his one more year
after this. Tatanho is the one that they don't overrate, though.
Fatan who is a really solid right here with Tim
and Anderson, it's a great matchup for him. He did
a really good job against Hutchinson in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Now where would you put the tight end? Who would
you give help Fatano against Anderson, who's probably the slightly
better of the two rushers. Or would you give Cook
help against Hunter? I'd give Cook help against Hunter.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
I mean you drafted Ftano in the first round, right,
he's got to take on Anderson all the time? One, No,
not all the time. I mean you could.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Would you use would you use the jumbo package by
way of extra pass protection?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Well, what would the jumbo package look like?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Because it couldn't be the true one because you're not
gonna put John who Smith out there to be the
blocking tight end.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Just keep putting lineman out there. I think eight nine.
I think Anderson lined up as a tight end a
few times against Baltimore did too well. He'll be the
sixth you know, the tackle eligible. Maybe put another offensive
line there out there at some point. Don't get me wrong,
I think safe as and the Steelers just play it
way too safe when it comes to utilizing stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
One thing that they cannot do. A mistake they made
against Garrett and Cleveland is using Gainwell to chip against
Anderson into chip against Hunter. You got to use Warren
in that capacity because Warren's great at it, first of all,
and Gainwell just has to be involved in your passing game.
He has to be your leading receiver like he was
in Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I watched the.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Baltimore game again just to confirm what I thought Sunday night,
which is how bad a game it really was.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Albeit very exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
But Baltimore was like a free pass in terms of
pass rush, zero pressure.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Grandpa, game manager got to sit back there and take
this time.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
It's so easy. I mean Kyle van Noy is just
such a washed up shell of himself.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, there were a couple times.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
How do you mention that there were a couple of
times of being NOI you know, got in on Rogers,
and Rogers out ran him. He ran away from him
and made it look he was opening a gap on him.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
I mean then only came off his couch last year
for the Ravens, and I think he had, you know,
a nice spark of energy. But that's faded. He needs
to be retired. He's passed his prime, He's passed his
time on the NFL field. It's gonna be such a
different story against the Texans. You saw what Garrett as
an individual was able to do with that pass rush
for the Browns. This is a better pass rush than
the Browns have. This is the best defense in the
(06:10):
league that you're facing.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Well, the Steelers. One more against Houston.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Maybe why way of protecting Rogers just just pound the
ball and make him less vulnerable. Not that that'll be easy,
because Houston's defense is not just a pass rush. It
is the best defense in the league period, all eleven guys,
and as good as the individuals are, they make the
whole greater than the sum of the parts.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
It's an incredible defense.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
That's the answer for the Steelers in this game is
to commit to running the football. Of course, Houston's a
great run defense too, and they could stop it. But
that's your greatest strength as an offense. Matt Williamson has
pointed out their fifth in rushing EPA and their fifth
in rushing success rate. I mean that translates to being
the fifth best rushing offense you could claim in the NFL.
Commit to it. They won't do it, though, because of
(06:53):
the quarterback. Rogers just dumps out of it way too quickly.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Did you see the one guy from the Post Gazette
like pumping Tomlins tires on Twitter?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
I kind of took some shots at him.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
He's the guy who's supposed to be their big ex'es
and O's football analyst.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
He's not a freaking stain on Matt williamson sheets.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
He's He's just such a mark and that was kind
of creepy and I wish I had said that one
oh five ninety X rejoined music my first concert, I
was like thirteen or fourteen. Rod Stewart, Ronnie wood, Ian McLagan,
Kenny Jones. I think Tetsu was on base then, yet
Ronnie Lane had already quit by then.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
They had a bar on stage.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I remember that vividly Faces had a bar on stage
with the bartender, and I ran out and started drinking.
The next day, well not long after that, certainly, we
got some great sound bites later. We got Shady McCoy,
the former Pitt guy. He's with Fox, totally dismissing the Steelers'
chances against Houston. And then we got Willie Cologne, also
(07:54):
from Fox, former Steeler, acting like this offense has arrived,
the overary to beating a crap team in a fake
playoff game. Honestly, it's been exactly what I figured it
would be, not least locally. You know, the Steelers really
should win home game, and they got that Monday night
(08:15):
streak twenty three straight wins on Monday night football. Houston
is zero to six on the road in the playoffs.
You got the hot and cold factor, you got the
indoor and outdoor factor. It's all adding up. I'm a
doubter turning into a believer, but kind of by default,
(08:35):
just because it's due that one time they win an
efing playoff game and then, like I said in the
show's open, then you keep Tomlin for ten more years
and don't come close to a super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
And that might be exactly how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
A lot to talk about who's gonna win the AFC
playoff games. Who's gonna win the AFC period, ain't nobody.
It's very good. What if you beat Houston and Buffalo
beats Jacksonville at Jacksonville, which is how I'd bet. Maybe not,
I think we all underestimate Jacksonville. But let's say that happens,
Buffalo wins, and then the Steelers play New England in
(09:14):
the divisional round. Who they beat? Hey, let's all dream
big Pittsburgh. Like I said, Houston owen six on the
road in playoff games, the Steelers have won twenty three
in a row on Monday Night football. Steelers gonna win,
It's preordained. Although what's happened before that? Owen six on
the road for Houston. The twenty three straight wins on
(09:35):
Monday Night football has nothing at all to do with
what's going to happen this Monday, Uh, Tom, I want
to talk about the quarterbacks playing in the playoffs, in
particular the AFC side of the draw. Which of the
big time quarterbacks are never going to win a super
(09:55):
Bowl because Mahomes put a block on.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Some of them.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
He was in so much when he won so many
that some pretty good quarterbacks ain't even got the chancel.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Though Burrow did lose in the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah, because I've seen Burrow get to the super Bowl,
I'm still gonna hold out a little hope for him.
I'm starting to come around that Lamar is just never
gonna do it, that he's just never going to break
through and get to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Win. Can Burrow winned it Cincy? I don't know about that,
but I'm thinking he might not finish in since I
don't think he's gonna go.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
No, I think he'll finish in stinking Yeah, And I
think they can win. I just think I think if
they get even a couple decent players on defense.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
They're there. They're right there, and the offense is unbelore.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
We put it this way, if Hendrickson is still there, right, yes,
get a couple of DB's, they're better than the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
But you got to bring back to offseason because he's
going to be a free agent.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
This officer, he ain't coming back. I don't think so either,
and he got hurt this year, maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
They franchise him, and again they're spending so much money
on on the quarterback in the wideouts.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
If Allen doesn't do it this year, you almost have
to say he probably just won't do it, right, I mean,
it's just it kind of set up perfectly for me. No,
he's got to go on the road, but still there's
just there's no boogeyman there stopping him anymore.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
If you were Allen.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And or Burrow, would you want to leave and try
to win somewhere else when there's no guarantees offered, or
would you just want to be on the team that
drafted you your whole career?
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Would you say they're already they're franchise's best quarterbacks? Like,
if not, they're clinch they're on the trajectory to clinch
that for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Allen ain't better than Jim Kelly. Yet Jim Kelly did
play in four Super Bowls. Alans get at least one,
and Kelly's a Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Kelly, I'm not sure. I don't think he don't know
if he did or not.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
But he played for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL,
which is pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Whereas the Bengals have two quarterbacks Anderson and Boom who
have MVP awards, and Burrow does not have that yet.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So yeah, but I saw both them play.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Burrow, Yeah, Burrow's better, And to be honest, I think that.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
That Josh Allen play is better than Jim Kelly.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
But Jim Kelly, such a heroic figure with the cancer battle,
made four super.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Bowls, the super Bowl things, so spot off went to.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Buffalo, then State at Buffalo, such a great ambassador from
the game. East Brady High, right up the road right
north of Pittsburgh. So even though Allan may be better
than Kelly, I don't want to concede that just yet.
But Alan and Burrow never winning a super Bowl would
be really unbelievable, I mean unbelievable quarterbacks that good. But
then again, Mahomes blocked them. And that's where Ben was
(12:16):
a little bit lucky that he went well, No Ben
earned it.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Ben was great. But still to win two super Bowls.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
In the Brady and Peyton Manning era, that's pretty incredible.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Sometimes it's just a matter of when you're born right.
You have to be born in that right era to dominate.
You could be an all time great like Alan, like
Burrow and just get blocked because you were born around
the same time as Mahomes. This isn't the exact same example,
but like Phil Micholson would have won a ton more
majors I have to imagine, and other golfers as well
would have done a lot more as far as a
(12:46):
career is concerned, if Tiger wasn't just winning every single
major basically that they were competing in, like, you just
get blocked by greatness sometimes.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Philly Mick's still my favorite golfer. A lefty, a kind
of an ass. Yes, be try to make shots. He
was a shot maker. He was actually more fun to
watch than Tiger. Tiger was just so talented and clinical.
Philly Mick was like a golf hustler and out there
playing like a five hundred dollars nasau.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
And great nicknames. You got the lefty and fig jam.
You've heard a fake jam, right? If I'm good, just
ask me. Yeah, I like it perfect, I like it.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
A lot of good quarterbacks tom like look like they're
never gonna win a Super Bowl. I mean, we talked
about Burrow and Josh Allen you're right, I've resigned myself.
I think Lamar's gonna be dinged up for the rest
of his career because of the way he's played. And
I don't think Baltimore is anywhere close, much like the
Steelers are not. I don't think Prescott's gonna win one.
I don't think Herbert's gonna win one. I don't think
(13:42):
Jordan's Love is gonna win one. The guys I just
mentioned Burrow, Lamar, Alan, Prescott, Herbert, and Love, and let's
brow Trevor.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Lawrence in there too.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
I would bet that that six of those seven do
not win a Super Bowl on their careers. I think
that one will slip through, just because one will slip through.
Maybe it's Allen this year. But uh, and what if
Darnold wins instead of those guys who have kind of
waited their turn? What if he wins after being a
journeyman or a Drake May jumps up and we can't
(14:14):
count on Kenny.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Pikett, Of course not.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I was just gonna say that about Drake May, Like,
what if these newcomers just you know, take the throne
from Mahomes And the one that I would actually look
out for is Caleb in Chicago. I think the coach
and quarterback marriage there. Johnson and call the Potash is listening.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
I just go to text. He's Matt Couf. He said
Herbert ain't gonna win. I think they have a shot
of Patriots. Oh yes, dedicated charges fit. I give him credit.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Pe people are just, you know, kind of assuming the
Patriots are gonna roll. Drake May's first playoff game. I mean,
you enter that stage, it's a whole different thing.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I think the charges against the Patriots it's up for grabs.
And I think Herbert right this second, is a better
quarterback than Drake May.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Drake May's had a better season. It might Hill MV
think you will. I think so it's him or Stafford.
I would give it to May.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
I would give it to May too, because the Rams
were expected to be pretty good. Nobody saw the Patriots
doing this. Nobody saw the Patriots reclaiming the division from Buffalo.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Plus Stafford's got Davonte Adams, Pukinakua, Sean McVay, great offensive coach,
a defensive minded coach, and Vrabel little bit of a
meathead in New England and his best receiver of Stefan Diggs,
who's passed his prime. He's doing a lot more with
less than Stafford.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Is you consider Potash a local media legend, Yes, I
do too, But I hate the fact that he's listening
when we say that.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Potest don't text, don't you dare? I dump that real
quick so he doesn't hear it. It's too late. Uh
follow me on Twitter at Mark madden X.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
We got some Penguins talk coming up later on Tom
Eric Carlston the show tomorrow. Yeah, it's very exciting and
some potential big name celebrity guests to talk Steelers later
this week.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Where could you get better coverage for the Steelers game
for the Penguins anywhere than here right now? I mean,
we're gonna get you set for this game.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
This will be our tenth Penguins player on the show
this season.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Is awesome, which I mean, you know, I I'd rather
do that than talk about the same old fricking Steelers,
which I guess you gotta do right now.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
But if we make the playoffs, you have to take
a lot of credit for that, right because it's something
different this year. You're starting to come on the show
and look at the turnaround.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Oh, I'll say that, Yes, I think it's not even
remotely relevant. But it's good to have Carl on because
he's a great talker. He's having his best season of
the three with the Penguins, and I want to find
out why why it's taking him so long to get
this level. And of course I want to talk about
Sweden in the Olympics because they're They're not my favorite,
but they're my dark horse because I hate the American roster.
(16:34):
And if you made me pick right now, I'd say
the final will be Canada and Sweden. Sweden's the team
that could.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Slip through, just like didn't Sweden just win juniors?
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yeah, the year the Swede they be checky in the final,
Carl Memphis tires pumped about that. You know, Sweden win
in the World Juniors. But but yeah, it's uh it.
I mean, as I've cynically said, maybe Carl's playing so
good this year because he had a brief flog off
about two or three weeks where Frankly went back to
the same old you know shiz from last year and
(17:05):
they were in the losing streak last these five wins,
he has been an absolute key player. Here's something good
to ask him about two. He's the all time leading
point getter among defensemen in overtime, so he's clearly figured
out three on three. As I hesitate to say, Sid has,
but he also has the most like the most over
(17:25):
is the most overtime goals or second most to OVI
among active players.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I think it is clear though, that those are the
two guys you need out there to start overtime.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Mus don't start Sid no more in overtime.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Don't you think those two should be there to start it?
Just to right out of the cannon.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Does does News feel he's getting a better match up
with those two going on second?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I don't know, but I would put them out right away,
try to end it as fast as possible. You only
got five minutes before you get to that shootout and
you're screwed. Yeah, what if you lose before Sid gets
out there?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
But it worked out pretty good in the comeback at
Columbus one oh five nine The X.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Listen to the X everywhere you go, last everywhere, tell
your sport device Alexa playing one oh five point ninety
X on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Rob King here staying connected to your Steelers has never
been easier.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Tune into Steelers Nation Radio and.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Dax Tom We got a bunch of sound later that
is incredibly optimistic about the Steelers' chances. Willie Klowne talking
about how the offenses has reached a new level. Well,
if that's true, it's about time. It's it's it's weak
eighteen and Kay Adams talking about how the Steelers can
(18:34):
go on a run. Why does optimism? I guess it
pops up for every team, and we just noticed about
the Steelers more here in Pittsburgh. But why does optimism
seem to always pop up for the Steelers when they
do make the playoffs, even though their track record in
the Plass for a decade is cock cop and I
don't hear it to the same level that I do
(18:55):
with other teams, although Stephen A. Smith is kind of
hesitated jumping on the bandwagons, saying he doesn't believe what
he's seeing and for that matter, need to do what
Although to reiterate, I predict again, I think they will
be used despite.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
The fact that they haven't advanced in the playoffs in
almost an entire decade. They still just have that mystique
they see nationally that logo show up in the playoff
bracket and they just go, oh, they can make a
run of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is their time of year.
And you're so right that that doesn't even apply that
much to other teams. Like have you heard that take
about the Packers this year? Like a definitive, like.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Hey, they could get hot and watch out for the
pack Well, part of that is tom that did with
Mike Hurt that he was supposed to be the guy
that got them over the.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Top, but still has that in Love.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
They have a much better quarterback than the Steelers due
Jordan Love kicked Aaron Rodgers' ass earlier this year.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I think almost everybody in the playoffs has a much
better quarterback than the Steelers Doings, not least because he's
forty two. I just like when I hear that they
can go on a run, you're telling me that a
forty two ye old quarterback is going to somehow wind
it up and be durable. And with Stan Houston maybe
killing him, I just don't see it. If it happens,
(20:05):
God bless, but I just don't see it.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Do you think he's better than Stroud? Right now? Rogers?
Right this second, going into this game.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
I'd rather have Rodgers, I think in this kind of
a game, I'm leaning that way. Stroud's won a playoff
game before, though, so it's not like.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
They don't they And.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
That's the other thing. People seem almost dismissive of Houston
and Stroud in particular. Yeah, but he's won a playoff
game each of the last two seasons. The Steelers ain't
won a playoff game in.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Eight years, and he knows exactly what the offense needs
to do. He plays his role so well in that
Houston team, like they've won nine straight.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I think he's held back.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
And simplified because again, this is to the Steelers advantage.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Damiko Ryans coaches like Tomlin.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
He believes in defense first and don't take too many chances,
and I think that's.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Held back Stroud.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, I think that there could definitely the more conservative
game plan that's not letting him reach his absolute height,
because he was undeniably trending to be maybe one of
the elite quarterbacks in the NFL after his rookie season.
I mean, he took the league by storm, and then
I think there is kind of a Ryan's kind of
not you know, maliciously, but thinks it's best for the
team if I can kind of put.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
The cuffs on him a little. He thinks like Tom
a little bit. His primary protection offensively is to protect.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Protect the football don't like and Stroud's good at that,
he really is. But here's something working in the Steelers favor.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
The hero of this shows as recently Christen the MVP
on defense besides Cam Hayward Joey Porter Junior.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
He can erase Nico Collins.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
I think remember when Collins killed them a couple of
years ago.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
That is just something that you have in your arsenal
now for years to come.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
At least.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
That's what I'm thinking, is you can take a team's
number one weapon in the passing game just completely out
of it. You can delete him, you can get creative.
You can take a secondary weapon out completely and then
double team, triple team a team's primary weapons. It's so
crucial to have a number one corner in today's day
and age. In the NFL, they finally appear to have
one with Joey. So yeah, he could just cut the
head off of a Nico Colin snake.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
And I see people dismissing Stroud's experience. You know, he's
won two playoffs, Yeah, in two years. You know he's
not you know, just just fell off the turnip truck
into a playoff game, Ohio state quarterback, big games his
whole life. Yeah, I see people saying like, if the
Steelers gonna lead, that kid'll fold. I'm not sure he's
a kid. I'm not sure he'll fold. And I just
(22:33):
I don't know. I mean again, it's part of the overreaction.
I said in my opening Monologu Tom. I have seen
the win over Baltimore refer to by journalists, by people
writing it like the Athletic in the Post Gazette as
a playoff win or as like the facto playoff win.
What it is is a fake playoff win that you
created by failing at Cleveland losing to what a feig
(22:54):
and thirteen team?
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Is that? No, they won the last game five and
twelve and twelve. Now, the thought that you know C. J.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Stroud's going to come in and just fold and the
stage is just going to be too big for him,
it's just completely asinin. Now the crowd might be insane
and that might cause a lot of problems for him.
In the Houston offense, but he is going to come
into the game with a lot of confidence. Would you
be surprise Mark if Houston first play play action? Let
Stroud just bomb one down the field. Try to set
a tone like that, kind of like how the Steelers
(23:21):
when they had been you know, in that run that
they went in two thousand and five.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
He was so quiet throughout the whole year.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Then that Colts game comes and bang they punch him
in the mouth with Ben Roethlisberger.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Did you see James Harrison and Joe Hayden on their podcast,
which really rivals the Kelsey's for two idiots bleeding just
yell at each other.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Yeah, Yo, what did do Deck?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
They think Burrow laid down to let Garrett break the
record about all the hate he has for the Steelers.
I just don't see that. No, I don't see the
hate that Burrow is alleged to have, and I don't
think he laid down. But let me tell you something,
James Harrison should be in the Hall of Fame, or
at least among the guys that on the cusp for
the Steelers. He merits it the most, and he when
(24:05):
he wants to be he can be a charming guy.
Like Noah Hales wrote that story where Harrison and the
guy he tackled on the field of Cleveland they sat
down for dinner. Yeah, and they went through that guy's backstorre.
He credits Harrison for getting him to wake up life
and change his life and not become an alcoholic, not
stay an alcoholic. And I'm not sure I believe all that.
(24:26):
I bet he still has a nip now and again.
But but but it was a good story, right, But
James Harrison's an ass. He's he's just just he's a bully.
He just like like, I just don't like the guy.
I respect me as a player. But every time he
opens his mind, unless he's going out of his way
to be charming, like in small sound bites, James Harris
can be a phony, like he did with the o'hiles thing,
(24:49):
But on that podcast where you Gotta Talk for a While,
he turns into the real James Harrison.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
He's a bully and a jerk.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
And he couldn't be more wrong when it comes to
this Joe Burrow and Miles Garrett thing. Miles Garrett beat
Orlando Brown off the snap there in like half a second.
It was one of the fastest to the quarterback I've
ever seen a player do. That time was running out.
You knew Garrett felt desperate to get that. There's nothing
Burrow could do. And furthermore, people pointed out Burrow was
getting rid of the ball like half a second earlier
than he usually does, like he's a hang in the
(25:16):
pocket kind of guy, and he wasn't doing that, so
he was trying to get away from the Garrett.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
See that's where Steeler fans are just such jerks, because
you know, we we we dismissed the notion that Rogers
was just getting rid of the ball to void Garrett
sacking him to break the rown definitely one which I
don't think is true, but we dismissed that, whereas Burrow,
you know, obviously wanted to screw tj. Why here's something
(25:40):
I want Deebo and Joe Hayden, who wasn't that impressive
during his career here, But then again, he's a bron Joe,
if you're listening, you're really a brom Uh. These guys
just don't get and the fans out there don't get.
And like I said, if you disagree with me, there's
never been a better time to not listen. But the
world doesn't revolve wround what the Steelers do. Yes, and
(26:02):
certainly not everyone in the league wakes up thinking about
trying to screw TJ.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Watt exactly. Okay, you know what they think about TJ.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Watt. You know what the league really thinks about him?
Not as good as Garrett never won a playoff game.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
That is TJ. Watt in a nutshell?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Do you think that ever crossed Burrow's mind even one
second during that game against the Browns?
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Though, I wonder what t J.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Watt would think about this if Garrett broke the sack
against me.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
But again that's Harrison and Hayden, Hayden Harrison being a jerk,
Hayden being a phony Steeler.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
He's really a Brown.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I mean, if I could ask James Harrison, one question
will be why are you doing a podcast with the brown?
Speaker 1 (26:36):
That's the only question that needs to be asked. Yeah,
the color of excrement. He is a Brown.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
But like they think that that's all that matters, is
that the whole world revolves around the.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Steelers, especially the whole football world.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
You know what's funny, I've seen a lot of people
and the priest with the Holy Water, Oh God. In
reference to Garrett breaking the sack record, I see a
lot of people just mentioning Strahan and like barely even
remembering that Wa.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Wa was a part of that as well.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
The real sack kings Mark Gastoneau at sixteen games. No,
the real sack kings Deacon Jones. I saw Deacon Jones
play I'm old.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
First off, if you put him in an octagon with
all the other sack pretenders Gastono, TJ. Watt, and now Garrett,
this is all guys in their physical prime, right.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Yes, Deacon Jones is the guy who walks out.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I will say that Reggie White, who had the twenty
one sacks aswell games, Reggie could have given Deacon a
run for his money. And even though he's not in
this conversation, I don't know what his numbers were sacked wise,
because again the stat wasn't official. Then me and Joe
Green kills everybody. Yeah, no question, and that includes you,
James Harrison, without question about that. Is the sack record
in general an overrated one. Like do people really care
(27:48):
about who's the sack? As I've said repeatedly, I think,
especially in today's day and age, but even then as well,
the sack is the most overrated playing football, especially now
that it's so easy to get you yards back with
the high tech offense. Is a sack on first and
second down means just about nothing? I will say, though,
given the ability to get yards, a sack on third
(28:11):
and fourth dot really does.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Mean a lot.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, without question, they should have like a super sack
stat or something like that where it's like, if this
sack got you off the field or forced to punch,
you get a little extra bone.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
We need less stats, Tom, because no, no, I'm being serious,
because there are too many stats that we use to
invent a guy being better or worse than he is.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
That's especially true in base baseball, no question, you can
make any player, you can find a stat that proves
that your guy don't suck. O'Neil Cruz is a perfect
example for that, and he sucks. One oh five to nine.
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six. Pretty cool.
It is a super cool DX at one nine.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
It's gonna be clouding today with rain developing a high
of fifty two.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
It's the Mark Maddon Free Game Show on DX.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
The pregame Show, brought to us by our good friends.
We still call it the pregame Show.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Yes, that's up to you. That's a strictly you decision.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
The first hour of the Mark Madden Show, brought to
us by our good friends at Shanderovic, Shendrovic and Fisherman Tom.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
What do we go for the trifecta? For today's trifecta?
Market looks like we have ourselves our job openings in
the NFL. I don't think there's gonna be another surprise
opening coming. As far as the head coach is concerned.
I guess, would you say.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Baltimore is still up in the air a little bit.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
They'd handle that with a little bit more class than
just firing him right away. Harbaugh, I bet they keep him.
I think they're gonna keep him too, So I think
we're all stating it.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
It depends how much Lamar and Harbaugh aren't getting along
and how much Lamar.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Is willing to state that to management.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Here are my three best job openings right now for
the NFL, though in ascending order. Number three, I'm gonna
go with the New York Giants. I bet people would
have them higher than three on their list. I just
don't trust Jackson Dart. He's not gonna change his style.
There's a terrible job, like if I were Tom win
Er Harbaugh.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
The fans don't want any job at that one, and
I agree, I don't trust Jackson Dart.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
But that's why people are gonn talk that job up
is because of Jackson Dart being there. Number two for me,
I'm actually gonna go with the Vegas Raiders. That might
surprise people. But you have the number one overall pick.
That's a ton of good.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Black Bowers, and you got gent at running back. Max
Crosby on defense unless he wants up because they shut
him down to make sure they finished Dad last. But
him being pissy about that, well, it's typical Jim teacher meathead.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
As no question.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
If I'm a coach, I just ignore that and I
come in and say I'm the new coach. I'm gonna
convince Max Crosby that things are gonna be different. And
this Mendoza kid from.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Indian a new coach. I come in, Stay, Max Crosby,
you got a contract. Yes, shut up, Tom.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
This Mendoza kid in Indiana looks really good too. If
you're going to take him as the number one overall
pick to.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Be your quarterback.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Who's their quarterback now the Raiders, it's Gino Smith or
Kenny Pickett.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I'd go with Picket.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
The number one job though, I think has to be
the Atlanta Falcons. You were eight and nine last year,
a game four game winning streak, and they fire the coach.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Obviously the team didn't quit on him.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Now maybe if you wanted to say, oh, he didn't
play Kirk Cousins until later in the season and we
would have made the playoffs. A Kirk ba no an
ownership draft, Yeah, I mean you got a player that's
the owner ownership definitely in that moment, you know what
I mean. I mean Pennis got hurt, right he did,
and they probably they probably would have kept.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Playing Penix had he not been hurt, right right. You
know why, because they're trying to move forward. They're actually
looking beyond the next game. I don't hate it. It's
to their detriment that Cousins had to play clause Penix
got hurt. Whether they almost made the playoffs or not. Yeah,
I'd want to coach be John Robinson for sure.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
John Robinson Drake London's a top tier wide receiver. They
really just have to figure out the quarterback. Maybe Penix
is still the guy. But other than that, the Falcons
are ready to win. Uh what other job openings are there?
Is that you got the Browns. I just there's I
think some attracted defense at a high draft. That's what
I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
You don't think there's anybody that hired d On to
coach Schador? Do you?
Speaker 3 (31:47):
If this was last year? I think that we'd have
a lot more conversation there.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
But I think they will get and they think, Okay,
maybe he's okay, but no better than okay?
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Correct, And I just don't think going to go down
that pat the brown Like, You're right, great defense, best
defensive player in football, you're inheriting, and you've got great
draft picks moving forward to law draft capital.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
That ownership medaling would really bother me. Though, Who do.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
You think the best candidate is that's available right now
for a coaching gig?
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Yeah, head coaching.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
It It's obvious.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I got a bunch of heat on Twitter because I
said on Twitter and on this show Tom that I
would fire Tom Win and hire Stefanski.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Okay, here's the thing. I'm not saying that to get heat.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I'm saying that because I really would fire Tom Win
to get Stefanski. He's a modern day offensive mind who
was shackled by the mechinations of ownership at the quarterback position.
If he would have kept Baker, they might have won
the division this year with that defense, but ownership screwed
it up. And he's an offensive coach, Tom who still
(32:51):
had the best defense in the league. That that's the
kind of coach I want, And I'm serious. I would
fire Tom when to hire him, And if I'm Stefanski,
I don't say the only job of those available now.
I would wait it out if I'm him, unless Atlanta
called me.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
I think about Atlanta. He's been linked to the Giants.
He's been linked to the Raiders to.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Make Vegas overpay because there is some promise there. But
I'd still make them overpay. And I wouldn't even take
a call from the Giants.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
He is the one, though.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
I mean, he's linked to basically every team that that's
open right now, and the narrative already seems to be
getting started with The Browns were stupid to let him go.
They have a proven commodity. They barely ever get those,
especially at the head coaching position. Don't let that guy
walk out your door. Like the Browns today should be
feeling really nervous that they like see all the reports
are Kevin Stefanski link to the Raiders, link to the Cardinals,
(33:42):
link to the Titans.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Right, did they fire the guy everybody wants him right away? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (33:46):
I think that he's gonna benefit by having been fired
by them.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
I think so too, But he's got a land in
the right spot, Like which would you fire Tom Win?
To har Stefanski, I don't know. I don't know about
that one. I'm hesitating.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
How could you not? I don't know. I'm just hesitating.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
There.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
He's a two time coach of the Year. But what
does that really mean? Though to that's usually just an overat.
I means he's a better coach than Tomlin. Okay, fair enough.
I just don't know if I would make that movie.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
I am so mad still that Tom Win is tied
with Noel for career wins I mean playoffs, though, I'm
like livid about it. You heard the playoff winning percentage?
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Way different? Yes, let me let me find it here.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Tom Win at six sixty seven, excuse me, Noel at
six sixty seven, Tom Win at four twenty.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
One, and Noel built the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
It was easier to keep it together because there was
no free agence. But he had to build it. He
had to start it, no question. And you know, you
know what made Chuck such a great coach too, Among
so many things, he had great assistance. He wasn't scared
by guys who knew as much as him, and not
just the assistant coaches, but Bill Nunn and Art Rooney
(34:50):
Junior and Dan Rooney.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
I mean, like like.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
The coach now dating back to when Cower won his
power struggle with Tom Donahoe the GM back then. And
as much as I'm a fan of Bill, he should
not have won that power struggle. I would I would
have gone with Donahoe to make the decisions regarding personnel
in perpetuity.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
He's that good of a football man.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
But but Chuck Noll, everybody had input and sometimes he
would acquiesce to what somebody else thought. I mean, he's
the best coach of the three we've had since sixty nine. Yeah,
he was the one who took the most input because
he wasn't scared, He wasn't intimidated by other people who
knew football.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Isn't that the mark of a truly great coach too? Like,
don't all great coaches take input like that?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
I think so, And I think by the way, kyr
was better in that regard than Tomlin taking input. I
just think I just well, as indicated by the great
assistant coaches he had, yes, and Tomlin ran him out
of time and.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Ran BA out of areans. But Coward just the thing
with Donahoe.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
If I were Dan Rooneybeck that I would have sat
the two of them down in a room and just
made them hash it out and say, you're both staying,
you're both under contract, you got to figure it out.
But but Coward just won't budge on that. And that's
one of the few criticisms I have a Bill.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Is that he wanted that power struggle and he wouldn't
let it go, had to see it through where he
would make the decisions personnel.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Well, well, what made it.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
Even worse was the power carried over to the coach
from him leaving and tom Win coming in. It didn't
take tom Win long to just pretty much get final
say on on everything. By the way, Tom I was
talking earlier about the Hayden and Harrison podcast. We might
have a sound bite from that later, them accusing Joe
Burrow of laying down.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
To give Garrett the sack record.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
But I was speaking with one of our executives about
that segment. I probably shouldn't say his name, but it
was John Mashidah, and he said accurately, we were talking
about the Kelsey podcast.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
He's listened to the Kelsey podcast.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
And John said, whenever they have a big name guest on,
it sounds like McCartney being interviewed by Chris Farley on,
which is true. They just they just pretty much hung
the rectum, remember that, humidly NonStop And that was awesome.
That's that. Oh that's one of the funniest all time skits.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
When Paul's like, you're doing You're doing great, man, don't worry.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
It made me think Tom and not that I shy
away from giving myself credit, but don't you have to
agree that in terms of people doing this in this city,
certainly I'm the most well rounded like that. I can
talk about stuff way off the board and know what
I'm talking about be interesting and uh, you know, like
it got me thinking about McCartney's concert here and how
(37:28):
great that was and some things I could say about that.
And by the way, I just want to make clear
to everybody, if you gave me a choice between the
Steelers winning the Super Bowl this year or me interviewing
McCartney on this program for ninety seconds, then again, we
could have done that with Geezer Butler.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Oh my god, I never said who it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Oh my god, the guest we almost had who just
wanted to come on into a plug for for Stell
City Conn. I can't believe I said that. Garsh darn it,
but I would pick interview McCartney over anybody.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
You think five minutes no over the Steelers winning the
Super Bowl? Come on, Yeah, it's Paul freaking McCartney. Are
you kidding?
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Lift Forever? Yes, me will never fade away. And that
shows how long we're on Todam. I just started singing
Coming Up, which was a hit for him, but you know,
among his lesser like from solo, And when I saw
McCartney and Pittsburgh, you know what song I wanted to
play most coming Up? All those Beatles hits, you know,
But I said, okay, that song, you don't hear it
(38:26):
all the time and it really works good live again.
How well rounded am I?
Speaker 3 (38:30):
I would take the Steelers not making the super Bowl
just for me to answer the phone and say hello,
mister McCartney, thanks for calling in into doing this interview
with Mark Mattins.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Would let you do that? I'd answered the phone myself.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
By the way Back in two thousand and one, I
was given a rather unusual choice for those who remember.
Between during as Mark editing, somebody asked me if I
would trade a Steelers playoff loss to New England for
a Liverpool win over Manchester United, which also occurred to
this same day, and the answer I gave cannot be repeated.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
One oh five nine y X
This is the Mark Madden Show. Follow me on Twitter
at Mark Madden X.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'll be at Pittsburgh Brewing Company just off through twenty
eight in Creighton for Sunday's Penguin game at five pm
and for Monday Steeler game at eight pm. Biggest big
screen TV anywhere. So join me to watch the Penguins
on Sunday and the Steelers on Monday at Pittsburgh Brewing
Company in Crayton. Let's talk to Tommy Radio. Tom I
(00:27):
was just talking about the pressure that Houston figures to
put on Aaron Rodgers. Monday night, Houston plays a four
to three Anderson and Hunter on the ends. I guess
it's Fatano against Anderson and Dylan Cook against Tunner.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
I'm certainly not crazy about that last matchup.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Of course not I'm not crazy about the first matchup
that you said either. These are the two best edge
rushers as far as a tandem is concerned that anybody
can throw at you in the league. This is the
best duo that someone has to offer. Tomlin said that
today more or less, and because of that, not only
does Houston get an insane amount of pressure pressure, they
do it without blitzing you. Know that four to three
that they have, those four guys are the only ones
(01:06):
that are coming at Rogers, and they're gonna make his
life hell, which means that seven are going to be
dropped back into coverage. That is the most crucial matchup
in this game. If they can figure out a way
to keep Rogers cleaning that pocket for him to make
some plays downfield, they have a puncher's chance.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
But I'm not optimistic about that.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
By the way, did you find it curious that Brian
Batco at the post because that said yesterday, like very
matter of fact that in the Cleveland game, Rogers did
ditch the ball early to keep Garrett from getting the record.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
He stated it like he was sure about it. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
But see what I always was so torn with that,
you know narrative was that's what you do against the
Browns anyways, you get rid of the ball so quickly,
so Garrett doesn't, you know, break your back in half
and wreck your.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Game, right right?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But Brian said it like like it was because of
the sack record tick earlier, like like, but I still
and I hate to agree with JJ Watt over Brian Batko,
But but JJ Watt, you know, said what's the alternative
letting him sack Rogers. You know what I would have,
like we've seen Rogers, like give Garrett the sack early
and just get it out of the way and play football. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I could see that, But at the same time, I
don't think that that would have been the difference in
the game. Like I don't think if Rogers took a
dive and let Garrett get the sack record in the
first quarter of the offense would explode in the second
half and the Steelers would beatn the Browns.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
You know what Rogers could have done og longest jar
just drill Garrett right in the nuts from close range.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Just just put him on the sideline, tell Cook let
him in free.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Right and then it worked once it should work again
in the remake he hits the ref and the nuts.
I understand the need, you know, to change it up
a little bit from from OG to the remake, but
but I liked it better. And it was implied in
the original that Ray Nichke, one of the the Guard's
middle lineberger. He was dead, literally dead when they carted
(02:47):
him off the field, so.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
They didn't give him a wet willie like they did
in the original.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Okay, it's your assignment to see the original within a
n after week, it's going.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
To ruin the new one for me, though I love
the new one.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Just watch it and will review, otherwise you'll be fired again. Now,
how good is the Steelers O line as they get
ready to face Anderson and Hunter and really not just them.
They bring pressure from all over the place, albeit without
blitzing very much. It's a very standard four to three
setup that they rarely have variety within context. But but
(03:22):
it's down to the Steelers O line. I think mostly
it's a pretty good offensive line. But Cleveland was all
over Rogers, and like we're saying right now, Houston's a
tough not to crack.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think it's a good offensive line. I'm impressed with
what the offensive line has developed into this year. I
still think they're a smidge overrated though, and a lot
of people, Oh no, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
When it comes to pass protection, I think it's a
smidge overrated. I think that they can still be had
in that department and Mark they do a lot of
stuff to help that offensive line out in pass protection.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
You know what's weird. I think they're overrated as individuals.
I don't think Zach Fraser that he'll Billy. I don't
think he's anything special at center. I don't think Mason
McCormick's anything special at right guard.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Do they see Jimalo as a glue guy?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
But then again, they functioned fairly well when he was
out a couple games injured recently.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
He's good, but he's a vet. I mean, this is
maybe his last year in Pittsburgh, his one more year
after this. Tatanho is the one that they don't overrate, though.
Fatan who is a really solid right here with Tim
and Anderson, it's a great matchup for him. He did
a really good job against Hutchinson in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Now where would you put the tight end? Who would
you give help Fatano against Anderson, who's probably the slightly
better of the two rushers. Or would you give Cook
help against Hunter? I'd give Cook help against Hunter.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
I mean you drafted Ftano in the first round, right,
he's got to take on Anderson all the time? One, No,
not all the time. I mean you could.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Would you use would you use the jumbo package by
way of extra pass protection?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Well, what would the jumbo package look like?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Because it couldn't be the true one because you're not
gonna put John who Smith out there to be the
blocking tight end.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Just keep putting lineman out there. I think eight nine.
I think Anderson lined up as a tight end a
few times against Baltimore did too well. He'll be the
sixth you know, the tackle eligible. Maybe put another offensive
line there out there at some point. Don't get me wrong,
I think safe as and the Steelers just play it
way too safe when it comes to utilizing stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
One thing that they cannot do. A mistake they made
against Garrett and Cleveland is using Gainwell to chip against
Anderson into chip against Hunter. You got to use Warren
in that capacity because Warren's great at it, first of all,
and Gainwell just has to be involved in your passing game.
He has to be your leading receiver like he was
in Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I watched the.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Baltimore game again just to confirm what I thought Sunday night,
which is how bad a game it really was.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Albeit very exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
But Baltimore was like a free pass in terms of
pass rush, zero pressure.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Grandpa, game manager got to sit back there and take
this time.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
It's so easy. I mean Kyle van Noy is just
such a washed up shell of himself.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, there were a couple times.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
How do you mention that there were a couple of
times of being NOI you know, got in on Rogers,
and Rogers out ran him. He ran away from him
and made it look he was opening a gap on him.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
I mean then only came off his couch last year
for the Ravens, and I think he had, you know,
a nice spark of energy. But that's faded. He needs
to be retired. He's passed his prime, He's passed his
time on the NFL field. It's gonna be such a
different story against the Texans. You saw what Garrett as
an individual was able to do with that pass rush
for the Browns. This is a better pass rush than
the Browns have. This is the best defense in the
(06:10):
league that you're facing.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Well, the Steelers. One more against Houston.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Maybe why way of protecting Rogers just just pound the
ball and make him less vulnerable. Not that that'll be easy,
because Houston's defense is not just a pass rush. It
is the best defense in the league period, all eleven guys,
and as good as the individuals are, they make the
whole greater than the sum of the parts.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
It's an incredible defense.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
That's the answer for the Steelers in this game is
to commit to running the football. Of course, Houston's a
great run defense too, and they could stop it. But
that's your greatest strength as an offense. Matt Williamson has
pointed out their fifth in rushing EPA and their fifth
in rushing success rate. I mean that translates to being
the fifth best rushing offense you could claim in the NFL.
Commit to it. They won't do it, though, because of
(06:53):
the quarterback. Rogers just dumps out of it way too quickly.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Did you see the one guy from the Post Gazette
like pumping Tomlins tires on Twitter?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
I kind of took some shots at him.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
He's the guy who's supposed to be their big ex'es
and O's football analyst.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
He's not a freaking stain on Matt williamson sheets.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
He's He's just such a mark and that was kind
of creepy and I wish I had said that one
oh five ninety X rejoined music my first concert, I
was like thirteen or fourteen. Rod Stewart, Ronnie wood, Ian McLagan,
Kenny Jones. I think Tetsu was on base then, yet
Ronnie Lane had already quit by then.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
They had a bar on stage.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I remember that vividly Faces had a bar on stage
with the bartender, and I ran out and started drinking.
The next day, well not long after that, certainly, we
got some great sound bites later. We got Shady McCoy,
the former Pitt guy. He's with Fox, totally dismissing the Steelers'
chances against Houston. And then we got Willie Cologne, also
(07:54):
from Fox, former Steeler, acting like this offense has arrived,
the overary to beating a crap team in a fake
playoff game. Honestly, it's been exactly what I figured it
would be, not least locally. You know, the Steelers really
should win home game, and they got that Monday night
(08:15):
streak twenty three straight wins on Monday night football. Houston
is zero to six on the road in the playoffs.
You got the hot and cold factor, you got the
indoor and outdoor factor. It's all adding up. I'm a
doubter turning into a believer, but kind of by default,
(08:35):
just because it's due that one time they win an
efing playoff game and then, like I said in the
show's open, then you keep Tomlin for ten more years
and don't come close to a super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
And that might be exactly how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
A lot to talk about who's gonna win the AFC
playoff games. Who's gonna win the AFC period, ain't nobody.
It's very good. What if you beat Houston and Buffalo
beats Jacksonville at Jacksonville, which is how I'd bet. Maybe not,
I think we all underestimate Jacksonville. But let's say that happens,
Buffalo wins, and then the Steelers play New England in
(09:14):
the divisional round. Who they beat? Hey, let's all dream
big Pittsburgh. Like I said, Houston owen six on the
road in playoff games, the Steelers have won twenty three
in a row on Monday Night football. Steelers gonna win,
It's preordained. Although what's happened before that? Owen six on
the road for Houston. The twenty three straight wins on
(09:35):
Monday Night football has nothing at all to do with
what's going to happen this Monday, Uh, Tom, I want
to talk about the quarterbacks playing in the playoffs, in
particular the AFC side of the draw. Which of the
big time quarterbacks are never going to win a super
(09:55):
Bowl because Mahomes put a block on.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Some of them.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
He was in so much when he won so many
that some pretty good quarterbacks ain't even got the chancel.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Though Burrow did lose in the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah, because I've seen Burrow get to the super Bowl,
I'm still gonna hold out a little hope for him.
I'm starting to come around that Lamar is just never
gonna do it, that he's just never going to break
through and get to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Win. Can Burrow winned it Cincy? I don't know about that,
but I'm thinking he might not finish in since I
don't think he's gonna go.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
No, I think he'll finish in stinking Yeah, And I
think they can win. I just think I think if
they get even a couple decent players on defense.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
They're there. They're right there, and the offense is unbelore.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
We put it this way, if Hendrickson is still there, right, yes,
get a couple of DB's, they're better than the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
But you got to bring back to offseason because he's
going to be a free agent.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
This officer, he ain't coming back. I don't think so either,
and he got hurt this year, maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
They franchise him, and again they're spending so much money
on on the quarterback in the wideouts.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
If Allen doesn't do it this year, you almost have
to say he probably just won't do it, right, I mean,
it's just it kind of set up perfectly for me. No,
he's got to go on the road, but still there's
just there's no boogeyman there stopping him anymore.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
If you were Allen.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And or Burrow, would you want to leave and try
to win somewhere else when there's no guarantees offered, or
would you just want to be on the team that
drafted you your whole career?
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Would you say they're already they're franchise's best quarterbacks? Like,
if not, they're clinch they're on the trajectory to clinch
that for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Allen ain't better than Jim Kelly. Yet Jim Kelly did
play in four Super Bowls. Alans get at least one,
and Kelly's a Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Kelly, I'm not sure. I don't think he don't know
if he did or not.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
But he played for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL,
which is pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Whereas the Bengals have two quarterbacks Anderson and Boom who
have MVP awards, and Burrow does not have that yet.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So yeah, but I saw both them play.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Burrow, Yeah, Burrow's better, And to be honest, I think that.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
That Josh Allen play is better than Jim Kelly.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
But Jim Kelly, such a heroic figure with the cancer battle,
made four super.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Bowls, the super Bowl things, so spot off went to.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Buffalo, then State at Buffalo, such a great ambassador from
the game. East Brady High, right up the road right
north of Pittsburgh. So even though Allan may be better
than Kelly, I don't want to concede that just yet.
But Alan and Burrow never winning a super Bowl would
be really unbelievable, I mean unbelievable quarterbacks that good. But
then again, Mahomes blocked them. And that's where Ben was
(12:16):
a little bit lucky that he went well, No Ben
earned it.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Ben was great. But still to win two super Bowls.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
In the Brady and Peyton Manning era, that's pretty incredible.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Sometimes it's just a matter of when you're born right.
You have to be born in that right era to dominate.
You could be an all time great like Alan, like
Burrow and just get blocked because you were born around
the same time as Mahomes. This isn't the exact same example,
but like Phil Micholson would have won a ton more
majors I have to imagine, and other golfers as well
would have done a lot more as far as a
(12:46):
career is concerned, if Tiger wasn't just winning every single
major basically that they were competing in, like, you just
get blocked by greatness sometimes.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Philly Mick's still my favorite golfer. A lefty, a kind
of an ass. Yes, be try to make shots. He
was a shot maker. He was actually more fun to
watch than Tiger. Tiger was just so talented and clinical.
Philly Mick was like a golf hustler and out there
playing like a five hundred dollars nasau.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
And great nicknames. You got the lefty and fig jam.
You've heard a fake jam, right? If I'm good, just
ask me. Yeah, I like it perfect, I like it.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
A lot of good quarterbacks tom like look like they're
never gonna win a Super Bowl. I mean, we talked
about Burrow and Josh Allen you're right, I've resigned myself.
I think Lamar's gonna be dinged up for the rest
of his career because of the way he's played. And
I don't think Baltimore is anywhere close, much like the
Steelers are not. I don't think Prescott's gonna win one.
I don't think Herbert's gonna win one. I don't think
(13:42):
Jordan's Love is gonna win one. The guys I just
mentioned Burrow, Lamar, Alan, Prescott, Herbert, and Love, and let's
brow Trevor.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Lawrence in there too.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
I would bet that that six of those seven do
not win a Super Bowl on their careers. I think
that one will slip through, just because one will slip through.
Maybe it's Allen this year. But uh, and what if
Darnold wins instead of those guys who have kind of
waited their turn? What if he wins after being a
journeyman or a Drake May jumps up and we can't
(14:14):
count on Kenny.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Pikett, Of course not.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I was just gonna say that about Drake May, Like,
what if these newcomers just you know, take the throne
from Mahomes And the one that I would actually look
out for is Caleb in Chicago. I think the coach
and quarterback marriage there. Johnson and call the Potash is listening.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
I just go to text. He's Matt Couf. He said
Herbert ain't gonna win. I think they have a shot
of Patriots. Oh yes, dedicated charges fit. I give him credit.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Pe people are just, you know, kind of assuming the
Patriots are gonna roll. Drake May's first playoff game. I mean,
you enter that stage, it's a whole different thing.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I think the charges against the Patriots it's up for grabs.
And I think Herbert right this second, is a better
quarterback than Drake May.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Drake May's had a better season. It might Hill MV
think you will. I think so it's him or Stafford.
I would give it to May.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
I would give it to May too, because the Rams
were expected to be pretty good. Nobody saw the Patriots
doing this. Nobody saw the Patriots reclaiming the division from Buffalo.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Plus Stafford's got Davonte Adams, Pukinakua, Sean McVay, great offensive coach,
a defensive minded coach, and Vrabel little bit of a
meathead in New England and his best receiver of Stefan Diggs,
who's passed his prime. He's doing a lot more with
less than Stafford.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Is you consider Potash a local media legend, Yes, I
do too, But I hate the fact that he's listening
when we say that.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Potest don't text, don't you dare? I dump that real
quick so he doesn't hear it. It's too late. Uh
follow me on Twitter at Mark madden X.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
We got some Penguins talk coming up later on Tom
Eric Carlston the show tomorrow. Yeah, it's very exciting and
some potential big name celebrity guests to talk Steelers later
this week.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Where could you get better coverage for the Steelers game
for the Penguins anywhere than here right now? I mean,
we're gonna get you set for this game.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
This will be our tenth Penguins player on the show
this season.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Is awesome, which I mean, you know, I I'd rather
do that than talk about the same old fricking Steelers,
which I guess you gotta do right now.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
But if we make the playoffs, you have to take
a lot of credit for that, right because it's something
different this year. You're starting to come on the show
and look at the turnaround.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Oh, I'll say that, Yes, I think it's not even
remotely relevant. But it's good to have Carl on because
he's a great talker. He's having his best season of
the three with the Penguins, and I want to find
out why why it's taking him so long to get
this level. And of course I want to talk about
Sweden in the Olympics because they're They're not my favorite,
but they're my dark horse because I hate the American roster.
(16:34):
And if you made me pick right now, I'd say
the final will be Canada and Sweden. Sweden's the team
that could.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Slip through, just like didn't Sweden just win juniors?
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yeah, the year the Swede they be checky in the final,
Carl Memphis tires pumped about that. You know, Sweden win
in the World Juniors. But but yeah, it's uh it.
I mean, as I've cynically said, maybe Carl's playing so
good this year because he had a brief flog off
about two or three weeks where Frankly went back to
the same old you know shiz from last year and
(17:05):
they were in the losing streak last these five wins,
he has been an absolute key player. Here's something good
to ask him about two. He's the all time leading
point getter among defensemen in overtime, so he's clearly figured
out three on three. As I hesitate to say, Sid has,
but he also has the most like the most over
(17:25):
is the most overtime goals or second most to OVI
among active players.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I think it is clear though, that those are the
two guys you need out there to start overtime.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Mus don't start Sid no more in overtime.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Don't you think those two should be there to start it?
Just to right out of the cannon.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Does does News feel he's getting a better match up
with those two going on second?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I don't know, but I would put them out right away,
try to end it as fast as possible. You only
got five minutes before you get to that shootout and
you're screwed. Yeah, what if you lose before Sid gets
out there?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
But it worked out pretty good in the comeback at
Columbus one oh five nine The X.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Listen to the X everywhere you go, last everywhere, tell
your sport device Alexa playing one oh five point ninety
X on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Rob King here staying connected to your Steelers has never
been easier.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Tune into Steelers Nation Radio and.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Dax Tom We got a bunch of sound later that
is incredibly optimistic about the Steelers' chances. Willie Klowne talking
about how the offenses has reached a new level. Well,
if that's true, it's about time. It's it's it's weak
eighteen and Kay Adams talking about how the Steelers can
(18:34):
go on a run. Why does optimism? I guess it
pops up for every team, and we just noticed about
the Steelers more here in Pittsburgh. But why does optimism
seem to always pop up for the Steelers when they
do make the playoffs, even though their track record in
the Plass for a decade is cock cop and I
don't hear it to the same level that I do
(18:55):
with other teams, although Stephen A. Smith is kind of
hesitated jumping on the bandwagons, saying he doesn't believe what
he's seeing and for that matter, need to do what
Although to reiterate, I predict again, I think they will
be used despite.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
The fact that they haven't advanced in the playoffs in
almost an entire decade. They still just have that mystique
they see nationally that logo show up in the playoff
bracket and they just go, oh, they can make a
run of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is their time of year.
And you're so right that that doesn't even apply that
much to other teams. Like have you heard that take
about the Packers this year? Like a definitive, like.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Hey, they could get hot and watch out for the
pack Well, part of that is tom that did with
Mike Hurt that he was supposed to be the guy
that got them over the.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Top, but still has that in Love.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
They have a much better quarterback than the Steelers due
Jordan Love kicked Aaron Rodgers' ass earlier this year.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I think almost everybody in the playoffs has a much
better quarterback than the Steelers Doings, not least because he's
forty two. I just like when I hear that they
can go on a run, you're telling me that a
forty two ye old quarterback is going to somehow wind
it up and be durable. And with Stan Houston maybe
killing him, I just don't see it. If it happens,
(20:05):
God bless, but I just don't see it.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Do you think he's better than Stroud? Right now? Rogers?
Right this second, going into this game.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
I'd rather have Rodgers, I think in this kind of
a game, I'm leaning that way. Stroud's won a playoff
game before, though, so it's not like.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
They don't they And.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
That's the other thing. People seem almost dismissive of Houston
and Stroud in particular. Yeah, but he's won a playoff
game each of the last two seasons. The Steelers ain't
won a playoff game in.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Eight years, and he knows exactly what the offense needs
to do. He plays his role so well in that
Houston team, like they've won nine straight.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I think he's held back.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
And simplified because again, this is to the Steelers advantage.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Damiko Ryans coaches like Tomlin.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
He believes in defense first and don't take too many chances,
and I think that's.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Held back Stroud.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, I think that there could definitely the more conservative
game plan that's not letting him reach his absolute height,
because he was undeniably trending to be maybe one of
the elite quarterbacks in the NFL after his rookie season.
I mean, he took the league by storm, and then
I think there is kind of a Ryan's kind of
not you know, maliciously, but thinks it's best for the
team if I can kind of put.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
The cuffs on him a little. He thinks like Tom
a little bit. His primary protection offensively is to protect.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Protect the football don't like and Stroud's good at that,
he really is. But here's something working in the Steelers favor.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
The hero of this shows as recently Christen the MVP
on defense besides Cam Hayward Joey Porter Junior.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
He can erase Nico Collins.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
I think remember when Collins killed them a couple of
years ago.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
That is just something that you have in your arsenal
now for years to come.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
At least.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
That's what I'm thinking, is you can take a team's
number one weapon in the passing game just completely out
of it. You can delete him, you can get creative.
You can take a secondary weapon out completely and then
double team, triple team a team's primary weapons. It's so
crucial to have a number one corner in today's day
and age. In the NFL, they finally appear to have
one with Joey. So yeah, he could just cut the
head off of a Nico Colin snake.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
And I see people dismissing Stroud's experience. You know, he's
won two playoffs, Yeah, in two years. You know he's
not you know, just just fell off the turnip truck
into a playoff game, Ohio state quarterback, big games his
whole life. Yeah, I see people saying like, if the
Steelers gonna lead, that kid'll fold. I'm not sure he's
a kid. I'm not sure he'll fold. And I just
(22:33):
I don't know. I mean again, it's part of the overreaction.
I said in my opening Monologu Tom. I have seen
the win over Baltimore refer to by journalists, by people
writing it like the Athletic in the Post Gazette as
a playoff win or as like the facto playoff win.
What it is is a fake playoff win that you
created by failing at Cleveland losing to what a feig
(22:54):
and thirteen team?
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Is that? No, they won the last game five and
twelve and twelve. Now, the thought that you know C. J.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Stroud's going to come in and just fold and the
stage is just going to be too big for him,
it's just completely asinin. Now the crowd might be insane
and that might cause a lot of problems for him.
In the Houston offense, but he is going to come
into the game with a lot of confidence. Would you
be surprise Mark if Houston first play play action? Let
Stroud just bomb one down the field. Try to set
a tone like that, kind of like how the Steelers
(23:21):
when they had been you know, in that run that
they went in two thousand and five.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
He was so quiet throughout the whole year.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Then that Colts game comes and bang they punch him
in the mouth with Ben Roethlisberger.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Did you see James Harrison and Joe Hayden on their podcast,
which really rivals the Kelsey's for two idiots bleeding just
yell at each other.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Yeah, Yo, what did do Deck?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
They think Burrow laid down to let Garrett break the
record about all the hate he has for the Steelers.
I just don't see that. No, I don't see the
hate that Burrow is alleged to have, and I don't
think he laid down. But let me tell you something,
James Harrison should be in the Hall of Fame, or
at least among the guys that on the cusp for
the Steelers. He merits it the most, and he when
(24:05):
he wants to be he can be a charming guy.
Like Noah Hales wrote that story where Harrison and the
guy he tackled on the field of Cleveland they sat
down for dinner. Yeah, and they went through that guy's backstorre.
He credits Harrison for getting him to wake up life
and change his life and not become an alcoholic, not
stay an alcoholic. And I'm not sure I believe all that.
(24:26):
I bet he still has a nip now and again.
But but but it was a good story, right, But
James Harrison's an ass. He's he's just just he's a bully.
He just like like, I just don't like the guy.
I respect me as a player. But every time he
opens his mind, unless he's going out of his way
to be charming, like in small sound bites, James Harris
can be a phony, like he did with the o'hiles thing,
(24:49):
But on that podcast where you Gotta Talk for a While,
he turns into the real James Harrison.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
He's a bully and a jerk.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
And he couldn't be more wrong when it comes to
this Joe Burrow and Miles Garrett thing. Miles Garrett beat
Orlando Brown off the snap there in like half a second.
It was one of the fastest to the quarterback I've
ever seen a player do. That time was running out.
You knew Garrett felt desperate to get that. There's nothing
Burrow could do. And furthermore, people pointed out Burrow was
getting rid of the ball like half a second earlier
than he usually does, like he's a hang in the
(25:16):
pocket kind of guy, and he wasn't doing that, so
he was trying to get away from the Garrett.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
See that's where Steeler fans are just such jerks, because
you know, we we we dismissed the notion that Rogers
was just getting rid of the ball to void Garrett
sacking him to break the rown definitely one which I
don't think is true, but we dismissed that, whereas Burrow,
you know, obviously wanted to screw tj. Why here's something
(25:40):
I want Deebo and Joe Hayden, who wasn't that impressive
during his career here, But then again, he's a bron Joe,
if you're listening, you're really a brom Uh. These guys
just don't get and the fans out there don't get.
And like I said, if you disagree with me, there's
never been a better time to not listen. But the
world doesn't revolve wround what the Steelers do. Yes, and
(26:02):
certainly not everyone in the league wakes up thinking about
trying to screw TJ.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Watt exactly. Okay, you know what they think about TJ.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Watt. You know what the league really thinks about him?
Not as good as Garrett never won a playoff game.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
That is TJ. Watt in a nutshell?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Do you think that ever crossed Burrow's mind even one
second during that game against the Browns?
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Though, I wonder what t J.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Watt would think about this if Garrett broke the sack
against me.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
But again that's Harrison and Hayden, Hayden Harrison being a jerk,
Hayden being a phony Steeler.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
He's really a Brown.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I mean, if I could ask James Harrison, one question
will be why are you doing a podcast with the brown?
Speaker 1 (26:36):
That's the only question that needs to be asked. Yeah,
the color of excrement. He is a Brown.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
But like they think that that's all that matters, is
that the whole world revolves around the.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Steelers, especially the whole football world.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
You know what's funny, I've seen a lot of people
and the priest with the Holy Water, Oh God. In
reference to Garrett breaking the sack record, I see a
lot of people just mentioning Strahan and like barely even
remembering that Wa.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Wa was a part of that as well.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
The real sack kings Mark Gastoneau at sixteen games. No,
the real sack kings Deacon Jones. I saw Deacon Jones
play I'm old.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
First off, if you put him in an octagon with
all the other sack pretenders Gastono, TJ. Watt, and now Garrett,
this is all guys in their physical prime, right.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Yes, Deacon Jones is the guy who walks out.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I will say that Reggie White, who had the twenty
one sacks aswell games, Reggie could have given Deacon a
run for his money. And even though he's not in
this conversation, I don't know what his numbers were sacked wise,
because again the stat wasn't official. Then me and Joe
Green kills everybody. Yeah, no question, and that includes you,
James Harrison, without question about that. Is the sack record
in general an overrated one. Like do people really care
(27:48):
about who's the sack? As I've said repeatedly, I think,
especially in today's day and age, but even then as well,
the sack is the most overrated playing football, especially now
that it's so easy to get you yards back with
the high tech offense. Is a sack on first and
second down means just about nothing? I will say, though,
given the ability to get yards, a sack on third
(28:11):
and fourth dot really does.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Mean a lot.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, without question, they should have like a super sack
stat or something like that where it's like, if this
sack got you off the field or forced to punch,
you get a little extra bone.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
We need less stats, Tom, because no, no, I'm being serious,
because there are too many stats that we use to
invent a guy being better or worse than he is.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
That's especially true in base baseball, no question, you can
make any player, you can find a stat that proves
that your guy don't suck. O'Neil Cruz is a perfect
example for that, and he sucks. One oh five to nine.
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six. Pretty cool.
It is a super cool DX at one nine.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
It's gonna be clouding today with rain developing a high
of fifty two.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
It's the Mark Maddon Free Game Show on DX.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
The pregame Show, brought to us by our good friends.
We still call it the pregame Show.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Yes, that's up to you. That's a strictly you decision.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
The first hour of the Mark Madden Show, brought to
us by our good friends at Shanderovic, Shendrovic and Fisherman Tom.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
What do we go for the trifecta? For today's trifecta?
Market looks like we have ourselves our job openings in
the NFL. I don't think there's gonna be another surprise
opening coming. As far as the head coach is concerned.
I guess, would you say.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Baltimore is still up in the air a little bit.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
They'd handle that with a little bit more class than
just firing him right away. Harbaugh, I bet they keep him.
I think they're gonna keep him too, So I think
we're all stating it.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
It depends how much Lamar and Harbaugh aren't getting along
and how much Lamar.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Is willing to state that to management.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Here are my three best job openings right now for
the NFL, though in ascending order. Number three, I'm gonna
go with the New York Giants. I bet people would
have them higher than three on their list. I just
don't trust Jackson Dart. He's not gonna change his style.
There's a terrible job, like if I were Tom win
Er Harbaugh.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
The fans don't want any job at that one, and
I agree, I don't trust Jackson Dart.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
But that's why people are gonn talk that job up
is because of Jackson Dart being there. Number two for me,
I'm actually gonna go with the Vegas Raiders. That might
surprise people. But you have the number one overall pick.
That's a ton of good.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Black Bowers, and you got gent at running back. Max
Crosby on defense unless he wants up because they shut
him down to make sure they finished Dad last. But
him being pissy about that, well, it's typical Jim teacher meathead.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
As no question.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
If I'm a coach, I just ignore that and I
come in and say I'm the new coach. I'm gonna
convince Max Crosby that things are gonna be different. And
this Mendoza kid from.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Indian a new coach. I come in, Stay, Max Crosby,
you got a contract. Yes, shut up, Tom.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
This Mendoza kid in Indiana looks really good too. If
you're going to take him as the number one overall
pick to.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Be your quarterback.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Who's their quarterback now the Raiders, it's Gino Smith or
Kenny Pickett.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I'd go with Picket.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
The number one job though, I think has to be
the Atlanta Falcons. You were eight and nine last year,
a game four game winning streak, and they fire the coach.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Obviously the team didn't quit on him.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Now maybe if you wanted to say, oh, he didn't
play Kirk Cousins until later in the season and we
would have made the playoffs. A Kirk ba no an
ownership draft, Yeah, I mean you got a player that's
the owner ownership definitely in that moment, you know what
I mean. I mean Pennis got hurt, right he did,
and they probably they probably would have kept.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Playing Penix had he not been hurt, right right. You
know why, because they're trying to move forward. They're actually
looking beyond the next game. I don't hate it. It's
to their detriment that Cousins had to play clause Penix
got hurt. Whether they almost made the playoffs or not. Yeah,
I'd want to coach be John Robinson for sure.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
John Robinson Drake London's a top tier wide receiver. They
really just have to figure out the quarterback. Maybe Penix
is still the guy. But other than that, the Falcons
are ready to win. Uh what other job openings are there?
Is that you got the Browns. I just there's I
think some attracted defense at a high draft. That's what
I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
You don't think there's anybody that hired d On to
coach Schador? Do you?
Speaker 3 (31:47):
If this was last year? I think that we'd have
a lot more conversation there.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
But I think they will get and they think, Okay,
maybe he's okay, but no better than okay?
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Correct, And I just don't think going to go down
that pat the brown Like, You're right, great defense, best
defensive player in football, you're inheriting, and you've got great
draft picks moving forward to law draft capital.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
That ownership medaling would really bother me. Though, Who do.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
You think the best candidate is that's available right now
for a coaching gig?
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Yeah, head coaching.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
It It's obvious.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I got a bunch of heat on Twitter because I
said on Twitter and on this show Tom that I
would fire Tom Win and hire Stefanski.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Okay, here's the thing. I'm not saying that to get heat.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I'm saying that because I really would fire Tom Win
to get Stefanski. He's a modern day offensive mind who
was shackled by the mechinations of ownership at the quarterback position.
If he would have kept Baker, they might have won
the division this year with that defense, but ownership screwed
it up. And he's an offensive coach, Tom who still
(32:51):
had the best defense in the league. That that's the
kind of coach I want, And I'm serious. I would
fire Tom when to hire him, And if I'm Stefanski,
I don't say the only job of those available now.
I would wait it out if I'm him, unless Atlanta
called me.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
I think about Atlanta. He's been linked to the Giants.
He's been linked to the Raiders to.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Make Vegas overpay because there is some promise there. But
I'd still make them overpay. And I wouldn't even take
a call from the Giants.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
He is the one, though.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
I mean, he's linked to basically every team that that's
open right now, and the narrative already seems to be
getting started with The Browns were stupid to let him go.
They have a proven commodity. They barely ever get those,
especially at the head coaching position. Don't let that guy
walk out your door. Like the Browns today should be
feeling really nervous that they like see all the reports
are Kevin Stefanski link to the Raiders, link to the Cardinals,
(33:42):
link to the Titans.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Right, did they fire the guy everybody wants him right away? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (33:46):
I think that he's gonna benefit by having been fired
by them.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
I think so too, But he's got a land in
the right spot, Like which would you fire Tom Win?
To har Stefanski, I don't know. I don't know about
that one. I'm hesitating.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
How could you not? I don't know. I'm just hesitating.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
There.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
He's a two time coach of the Year. But what
does that really mean? Though to that's usually just an overat.
I means he's a better coach than Tomlin. Okay, fair enough.
I just don't know if I would make that movie.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
I am so mad still that Tom Win is tied
with Noel for career wins I mean playoffs, though, I'm
like livid about it. You heard the playoff winning percentage?
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Way different? Yes, let me let me find it here.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Tom Win at six sixty seven, excuse me, Noel at
six sixty seven, Tom Win at four twenty.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
One, and Noel built the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
It was easier to keep it together because there was
no free agence. But he had to build it. He
had to start it, no question. And you know, you
know what made Chuck such a great coach too, Among
so many things, he had great assistance. He wasn't scared
by guys who knew as much as him, and not
just the assistant coaches, but Bill Nunn and Art Rooney
(34:50):
Junior and Dan Rooney.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
I mean, like like.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
The coach now dating back to when Cower won his
power struggle with Tom Donahoe the GM back then. And
as much as I'm a fan of Bill, he should
not have won that power struggle. I would I would
have gone with Donahoe to make the decisions regarding personnel
in perpetuity.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
He's that good of a football man.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
But but Chuck Noll, everybody had input and sometimes he
would acquiesce to what somebody else thought. I mean, he's
the best coach of the three we've had since sixty nine. Yeah,
he was the one who took the most input because
he wasn't scared, He wasn't intimidated by other people who
knew football.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Isn't that the mark of a truly great coach too? Like,
don't all great coaches take input like that?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
I think so, And I think by the way, kyr
was better in that regard than Tomlin taking input. I
just think I just well, as indicated by the great
assistant coaches he had, yes, and Tomlin ran him out
of time and.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Ran BA out of areans. But Coward just the thing
with Donahoe.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
If I were Dan Rooneybeck that I would have sat
the two of them down in a room and just
made them hash it out and say, you're both staying,
you're both under contract, you got to figure it out.
But but Coward just won't budge on that. And that's
one of the few criticisms I have a Bill.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Is that he wanted that power struggle and he wouldn't
let it go, had to see it through where he
would make the decisions personnel.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Well, well, what made it.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
Even worse was the power carried over to the coach
from him leaving and tom Win coming in. It didn't
take tom Win long to just pretty much get final
say on on everything. By the way, Tom I was
talking earlier about the Hayden and Harrison podcast. We might
have a sound bite from that later, them accusing Joe
Burrow of laying down.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
To give Garrett the sack record.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
But I was speaking with one of our executives about
that segment. I probably shouldn't say his name, but it
was John Mashidah, and he said accurately, we were talking
about the Kelsey podcast.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
He's listened to the Kelsey podcast.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
And John said, whenever they have a big name guest on,
it sounds like McCartney being interviewed by Chris Farley on,
which is true. They just they just pretty much hung
the rectum, remember that, humidly NonStop And that was awesome.
That's that. Oh that's one of the funniest all time skits.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
When Paul's like, you're doing You're doing great, man, don't worry.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
It made me think Tom and not that I shy
away from giving myself credit, but don't you have to
agree that in terms of people doing this in this city,
certainly I'm the most well rounded like that. I can
talk about stuff way off the board and know what
I'm talking about be interesting and uh, you know, like
it got me thinking about McCartney's concert here and how
(37:28):
great that was and some things I could say about that.
And by the way, I just want to make clear
to everybody, if you gave me a choice between the
Steelers winning the Super Bowl this year or me interviewing
McCartney on this program for ninety seconds, then again, we
could have done that with Geezer Butler.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Oh my god, I never said who it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Oh my god, the guest we almost had who just
wanted to come on into a plug for for Stell
City Conn. I can't believe I said that. Garsh darn it,
but I would pick interview McCartney over anybody.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
You think five minutes no over the Steelers winning the
Super Bowl? Come on, Yeah, it's Paul freaking McCartney. Are
you kidding?
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Lift Forever? Yes, me will never fade away. And that
shows how long we're on Todam. I just started singing
Coming Up, which was a hit for him, but you know,
among his lesser like from solo, And when I saw
McCartney and Pittsburgh, you know what song I wanted to
play most coming Up? All those Beatles hits, you know,
But I said, okay, that song, you don't hear it
(38:26):
all the time and it really works good live again.
How well rounded am I?
Speaker 3 (38:30):
I would take the Steelers not making the super Bowl
just for me to answer the phone and say hello,
mister McCartney, thanks for calling in into doing this interview
with Mark Mattins.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Would let you do that? I'd answered the phone myself.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
By the way Back in two thousand and one, I
was given a rather unusual choice for those who remember.
Between during as Mark editing, somebody asked me if I
would trade a Steelers playoff loss to New England for
a Liverpool win over Manchester United, which also occurred to
this same day, and the answer I gave cannot be repeated.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
One oh five nine y X
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