Postgame Show - Panthers

Mike Prisuta and Matt Williamson break down the Steelers preseason finale against the Panthers in Carolina

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Pittsburgh Steelers postgame show, which presented by Doing It
Right Roofing, sighting and remodeling home of the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
The first possession was torpedoed by penalties, the third ended
on an interception, but by far the worst drive of
the night was the one that our shared first round
picked Derek Harmon off the Bank of America Stadium playing
surface on a cart knee injury, a sprain of some description.
The plot thickens. The tone was also set by defensive

(00:31):
back Jalen Ramsey, who turned a tackle for a loss
off the slot into a fifteen yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.
Ramsey and fellow DB's Joey Porter, junior Darius Slay and
Deshaun Elliott made their preseason debuts tonight in Charlotte. It
was a one possession in done cameo in Carolina. The
roster reduction to fifty three is looming, and if anyone

(00:53):
made a compelling case for inclusion, it was quarterback Skyler Thompson.
This Summer's Mister August, the mistaps and missed assignments suggested
the problem on defense might not be cutting, but stopping
Harmon's return to the bench in the second half was encouraging.
So there's that fade to black and get well soon
Number one.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
On to New York.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Good evening, and welcome to the Steelers postgame show on
the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you,
summing up the Steelers nineteen to ten victory at Carolina
tonight summing up the preseason four one two three, three,
three nine three eight three is our number, Matt. The
best thing I can say about this game in particular

(01:39):
in the preseason general is that it is over.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
Yeah, pretty uneventful one, to be honest with you. I mean,
the Harmon thing was the big news. As you mentioned,
it looks like they avoided disaster. We'll see if we
get any more news on that. A lot of quote
bottom of the roster guys got to kind of show
their wears for thirty two teams, but all on all,
not a very eventful, exciting action here, you know.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Time now for Max's takeaways. That's with the color analyst
Max Starks and brought to you by S and T Bank.
For every takeaway from the defense this season, S and
T Bank will donate three hundred dollars to PA Wounded
Warriors who have helped over eighteen thousand veterans and counting Max.
Let's cut right to it. What do you know in

(02:26):
general about the knee sprains of some description? You know,
knee sprains.

Speaker 4 (02:33):
I've had a number of them in my career. I mean,
you're talking without a guy who's had four knee surgeries,
and you know I had an LCL sprain before Super
Bowl forty three at a MCL sprain. I mean, everything
you can do to the knee ACL, I've pretty much
done it. Derek Harmon, I mean, you know, one of
the encouraging things. Obviously we don't know exactly what his
diagnosis is, but you know, looking at him walking, he

(02:56):
walked to the tent from the far side of the field,
he walked to the cart. He was back on the
sidelines with the teammates laughing. So I would assume this
is something in the spring variety. Nothing too seriously. If
it was, they would not have brought him back out
to the field because the one thing I've learned is
that when you are a guy who can't protect yourself,
they usually try and make sure that they limit that

(03:16):
by sitting you in the locker room until the game's over,
or if you're at a home game and hitch up
in the booth like I got to do a couple times.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
Max Scotti. Miller just keeps making plays and showing up
time and time again. And that's more than just this preseason.
This goes back to his pretty much entire scaler career,
even if they were an add a receiver. Do you
think he's gonna be on this team in some way,
shape or form.

Speaker 4 (03:37):
I think you have to figure out a way to
make room for him. I think, like you said, you know,
with not only just his plays on offense, he just
knows how to get in that slot position. That was
a beautiful scissor route that he ran earlier to get
the big first down play that was right there between
the numbers and the hash, and he just he has
that knack. And like you said, and then also you
talk about the tanasty on special teams as well, where

(03:59):
he's a guy that can play gunner, he can be
a returner for you. So he just has a lot
of multifacet capabilities that you just have to find a
way to get him on your roster.

Speaker 3 (04:08):
In the top fifty three.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Max, we spent a lot of time on the pregame
show talking about the D line, the down the line
D lineman. They kept seven last year. I had five
guys going into tonight that I thought were on the team,
and one of those was Logan Lee, in part because
of his emergency long snapping capabilities. The harmon things got

(04:30):
to change out equation, doesn't it. I mean that they
have to load up a little bit initially, just in
case you would think. I think you do.

Speaker 4 (04:38):
But I think you know, going into this, Mike, I
actually had six already penciled in. I think the guy
that you might not have that I might have is
Daniel mcqually. I got they brought over from New England.
I think he was already my sixth mentally in my
head going into the game tonight. But like you said,
Logan Lee y a Black. Both of them just played
amazingly together and both independently have done some great things
this entire preseason. That makes you feel really good. But

(05:00):
I wouldn't be surprised if you do keep a seventh.
I mean, Isaiah Laudermilk did a lot of good things tonight.
I thought Coyler Ball also had some great plays and
then as he Ota Maywell, I mean he had some
explosive displays like running down the line, athleticism and just chasing.
So I mean you still got some tough decisions down
the line, because I felt like a lot of guys

(05:20):
put their best foot forward in this last opportunity in
this preseason game.

Speaker 3 (05:24):
I know we've to see in the regular season. But
you mentioned why he black. I mean, I think he's
getting to the point where it's not boy, that's a
nice mid round pick that you might have hit on.
It might be this guy might be a high end
starter before long, or a good starter before on.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, no, I completely agree.

Speaker 4 (05:41):
You know, I put him in the baby Hwley category
where he doesn't quite know his strength, but he just
keeps falling into plays. Tonight, it looked polished. He had
some aggression, some explosiveness, the pass rush moves. I mean,
he pretty much took over the end of that series
before getting the fumble and getting the turnover. He was
a catalyst in those two plays, you know. So I
look at that and I say, man, that kid's got

(06:02):
that special. I don't know what X factor hit factor,
however you want to classify it, but he just knows
how to get after the football. He knows how to run,
defend and shed blockers. And then also I think on
the one third down, I think he actually tipped the
football or distorted the view for Jack Plumber that led
to another one which forced a punt by the Carolina Panthers.

(06:23):
So you're talking about when you're that sudden, you're that
you know, effective and disruptive. I mean, you've got to
find a way to get that guy on the field,
at least in some critical down situations.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
Max said, intangible. You were looking for a relative to
why Black is big ten heritage.

Speaker 3 (06:40):
Appreciate it. Appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
You guys got out of the booth injury free. I'm
assuming everybody's good to go for September the seventh.

Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeh, yeah, I got Charlie Horse. I'm working through it,
but I don't see that being a hindrus. I think
I can go ahead and put a brace on it.
I'll be fine.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
Max, appreciate it. We'll talk to you when they start
playing for real. All right, sounds good fellows. I'll have
a good evening. That was Max Starks and Max's takeaways
to kick things off. Tonight four one two three three
three nine three eight three is our number. The postgame
show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It
Right Roofing, Sighting and Remodeling, home of the lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show in the Steelers
Audio Network. Nineteen ten preseason concluding victory over the Carolina
Panthers tonight in Charlotte. Four one two three three three
nine three eight three is our number. Let's lead things
off tonight with Jeff in Ohio. Jeff, you're on with
Mike and Matt.

Speaker 5 (07:51):
All right, gentlemen. A couple of things about the game. Obviously,
it was very sloppy with the penalties, the mistackles and
blown assignments. I thought it was kind of were reflective
of a preseason opener than your last preseason game. But
thankfully it is the last preseason game, so we can
move on. I had a couple guys that was gonna
run by more for if you thought they were practice

(08:13):
squad guys, guys we could keep around. And then I
had a question for you. One of the guys that
I thought stood out for me was Lou Nichols and
I'm not in practice, but just in the games. Very explosive.
So I went back and was checking out some of
this college fille at Central Michigan. The guy had a
year I think was his junior year where he had
over twenty one hundred yards total offense. Explosive. I'd love

(08:36):
to be able to keep him around. And then I thought,
Brunner seven tackles tonight. Is he a guy that could
unsee Mark Robinson? I mean, is that a potential possibility
or is he just simply a practice squad guy and
the other guy I was kind of looking at is
with Trice and Howard with their injuries, do you guys

(08:57):
think that their ir capability at this point?

Speaker 3 (09:01):
Let's start with Nichols. He's been growing on me in
a big way, and I think he's a capable receiver.
I think he's very difficult to tackle. I was gonna
run this by Max, but we ran out of time.
I don't know if I prefer Sermon or Nichols as
that fourth guy not on the roster, but for first
call up type of guy, you know what I mean.
I think both would be very suitable.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
You think three running backs on the roster.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
I think three on the roster, and unfortunately, you'll probably
have to dip into the practice squad just because that's
the nature of the position. I'm gonna double check on
Brunner for sure, But he was more active tonight than usual.
I think he's a very very good special teamer, and
kind of all along I thought he's going to be
a special teamer, like a Killer brew type, you know,

(09:46):
a special teamer that can help you out at linebacker.
But if he's better on teams than Mark Robinson, who
has played a lot of teams, I just don't know
if he's a high end teamer. Maybe who was the
third guy you mentioned?

Speaker 2 (10:00):
Howard?

Speaker 3 (10:00):
And uh yeah, what do you think about that?

Speaker 5 (10:02):
Trice? Howard and Trice with the IR or the capabilities
of IR possibilities, I.

Speaker 2 (10:07):
Mean, I think Trice is kind of out of options here.
And by the way, I got to correct something last week.
I saw number twenty seven playing three special teams. That
was Trey Sermon.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
Oh right.

Speaker 2 (10:19):
I thought Trice had snuck into the game kind of
the way Boswell did, But he has not played in
a long time.

Speaker 5 (10:25):
So Mike, you think Trice is done. You think he's
a cut then, I mean a.

Speaker 2 (10:29):
Couple of days ago, Tarrell Austin, the defensive coordinator, said
he's an NFL corner, and I agree with him, but
he's never available and particularly got You got some situations
here with the long snapper, Christian Koontzi, got Derek Harmon.
I don't know if he's going to be available for
the open. You can't stash all these guys. They can
keep two guys and put them on IR as they

(10:52):
cut to fifty three and those guys are eligible to return.
You can designate them eligible to return, but that would
be two of your eight for the c and so
you don't want to dip into that well too often either.
But I think, uh, Jeff, to answer your question about
the quarterbacks, I think about Howard. I think that will
be done with Howard because.

Speaker 5 (11:09):
The Skylar's played so well, yeah, and it's hard not
to keep him around.

Speaker 3 (11:14):
I like what Tomlin said about he's an NFL quarterback.
You know, he's he's played meaningful snaps, he started games.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
You know, if you get to number three right now,
who gives you a better chance to win? Skylar Thompson
or Will Howard. It's not it's not a discussion.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
It's not like Howard's being exposed to the rest of
the league either. Yeah, you know, so that makes sense
to me.

Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah. And then the Robinson Bruners thing, I think that's
you know, the coach is going to have to break
that down. But I think it's either.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
Or Yeah, And I think that's a lot to do
with Danny Smith.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (11:39):
And could I give you one more quickie question here?
Do you guys think that? And I've seen this on
the internet. Is Bolton Reisner is still an option as
a backup O line but they were talking about him
possibly coming in. Is he better than because they look
like we had some struggles with that second old line.
Tonight was a mess.

Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yeah. I think they need at least one more offensive line.
And I've got seven guys they're gonna keep comfortable. They're
going to keep at least eight. But I don't know
who the eighth guy is or if they want to
go nine. I don't know who the ninth guy is.
So I think anything.

Speaker 5 (12:10):
Because he's capable of bringing him in Thore Do you
think he's a quality guy.

Speaker 3 (12:12):
I mean, I don't know what he was at one point,
I'd have to do a little homework.

Speaker 2 (12:16):
I think.

Speaker 3 (12:16):
I know the injuries have been a factor for Riisner.
He's strictly an interior player. He's more of a guard.
Maybe come down to him versus sharping or somebody like that.
You know, it couldn't be that hard.

Speaker 5 (12:29):
Tone seem struggled there tonight with the penalties and it
was a rough Yeah, being a center, I mean you
kind of have to keep him. And then do you
guys think Pete for sure?

Speaker 2 (12:39):
Then for I think his possibility. I think they don't.
They don't have a lot of experience in the backups,
and uh, I think a guy like that. I talked
to him a couple of days ago. He said he's
starting to feel it again. You know, he was late
to the party. He wasn't in football shape. But uh,
I think they're kind of lucky to find him that
late in the problems. You know, if he if he
can still play, he only played fifty something snaps last year.

(13:00):
But it's not a bad guy to rely on. If
you have to appreciate the call, Jeff, uh people on
the line hanging there, We're going to run to a
break and we'll get to you. Uh, as soon as
we get back, So hang on the postgame show on
the Steelers Radio Network. Excuse me, the Steelers Audio Network
continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (13:26):
It'sburgh Steelers Postgame Show. Whi's presented by doing it right Roofing,
sighting and remodeling Home up the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
Welcome back nineteen to ten Steelers over the Panthers to
conclude the preseason Tonight four one two three, three three
nine three eight three is our number. Back to the phones,
we go hot in Ohio. You're up with Mike and Matt.

Speaker 6 (13:48):
Hey, what's up Mike? What's happening to Matt? I guess
a good long day, Mike. Yeah, tomorrow's But I said,
I know you have it a long day.

Speaker 5 (13:59):
But I think both sides looked like they improved. The
defense I thought looked a little.

Speaker 6 (14:06):
Better than the offensive points. Yeah, it was just a game,
but I thought I thought both sides were good. Can
I tell Storry Ugh?

Speaker 5 (14:18):
What night?

Speaker 2 (14:19):
Real quick?

Speaker 6 (14:19):
Hutting, real quick? Okay.

Speaker 7 (14:23):
On Monday, when O'Malley was in there, they were talking
about being caught, you know, reporting of work for a
bad reason. I was working on still Milt in two
thousand and nine when the Steers won the championship and
I reported off of work to take my son to
his first steamable football the parade, and I got caught

(14:50):
with Charlie Batch signing one of his banners on w
JD JAA and reported it. I walked into work the
next day. Hey, I got called me and said, where'd
you call it off?

Speaker 5 (15:03):
Yes?

Speaker 6 (15:03):
Say you zero set and hand.

Speaker 5 (15:06):
To my lord and saber.

Speaker 6 (15:08):
I had a button gold cold. I'm sorry I could not.

Speaker 5 (15:14):
Bombit.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
Hey, next time you call off the mill, just make
sure you don't get on television. Appreciate the.

Speaker 6 (15:23):
Call on television.

Speaker 2 (15:25):
It's good stuff, dude, appreciate the call. We're gonna keep
it moving.

Speaker 7 (15:28):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (15:28):
Let's welcome Brian from Lansing, Michigan.

Speaker 6 (15:33):
Dear, Hey, what's up, guys?

Speaker 8 (15:36):
Man Long Steeler fans said.

Speaker 4 (15:37):
I was a little kid, but Brian from God's Country.

Speaker 8 (15:41):
There you go. I was watching the Big Red Gul
on KDKA and he said something that was really interesting,
and I thought, you know, I'd love to get what
you guys take on it. He said to me, Well,
he said to everybody was watching. He said that skuyle
At Thompson has pretty much outplayed Mason Rudolph. He says, maybe,
he says, maybe Skilett Thompson should be the backup, And

(16:04):
you know we're all talking about Will Howard, but you know,
I'm thinking Skylett Thompson. This guy's been falling since he's
been in there. I mean, what do you guys think
on that. I'll listen to what you guys have to
say off here, and I appreciate the time.

Speaker 9 (16:14):
Tell us.

Speaker 2 (16:15):
I appreciate you being from Lansing, Michigan, Brian. I'm gonna
be there next weekend, by the way, all right, Yeah,
going back for the Spartans opener. But nobody cares. I
think Rudolph is the clear number two. I think Thompson
is playing against subpart competition. I think he's earned a spot,
particularly with Howard's injury situation and lack of practice, and
he's worth keeping around. But now, Rudolf was a bad

(16:37):
interception tonight, but I think he's practiced very well and
I'm very comfortable with him as number two.

Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah, I am too. I think his body of work,
even his last year or last year with Tennessee, certainly
how he ended his first stint with the Steelers. Speaks
more than two preseason games or I think Rudolph's been good.
But yeah, he's thrown two picks in two games, and yes,
he's had better people blocking for him and better people

(17:04):
around them than Skyler, but he's also playing against better defenses,
namely Tampa Bays, who had a lot of their ones
out there. I would have to see a lot more
to feel that way. But if by chance you had
to get to Thompson, I think you just said this
a couple ten to fifteen minutes ago or whatever. I
think he it's not all for not in a regular

(17:25):
season game, you know, yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
Mean he's played in games before in the league. Like
the play at the end of the half tonight, that's
not happening in a.

Speaker 3 (17:36):
Real time highly unlikely, right right right.

Speaker 2 (17:39):
You know it looks spectacular and good for Scotty Miller
and good for him.

Speaker 3 (17:42):
But I will say this is I can prevent that
situation and never going to happen.

Speaker 2 (17:45):
And you know, right right, I had zero expectation for
a guy that they signed to a reserve futures contract.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
Yeah right right, far exceeded it.

Speaker 2 (17:53):
Camp Barm and I was hoping he's being okay camp
arm and he far has has far exceeded that.

Speaker 3 (17:59):
It's a misnow that if you cut somebody boy, the
whole world's going to line up to sign him, you know,
especially a quarterback because you got to get him ready quick,
and you know, you got to prepare for week one.
He might get scooped up if you cut him.

Speaker 2 (18:11):
You know, he might.

Speaker 3 (18:12):
He's had enough good film in three games.

Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know. Yeah. I mean I think those those eight
callbacks from ir those are those are important.

Speaker 3 (18:21):
They are important.

Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah, but I think you probably want to use one
of those.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
On Howard considering you can't really count on him to
put him in a game if you're not yet right
and you never know and you don't want to lose them.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yeah, and you never know. I mean those four those
first four weeks count absolutely, and who knows where they
could be at quarterback.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
No, I think you're right about that. I'm leaning that
way too.

Speaker 2 (18:40):
But we'll see. I think you know, the the Harmon situation. Uh,
you know, one point I want to make about that
he did come back to the bench and you know,
people were speculating on social media and what, oh he's
joking with TJ. Watt. He doesn't look like he's distraught
or anything. I mean the way Mike Tomlin described that.
Mike Tomlin is a guy who chooses his words very carefully.

(19:04):
Rarely does he say something that he does not mean.
He mentioned Derek Harmon having a knee sprain of some
description and Brandon Johnson, the wide receiver, a foot sprain
of some description, and then he said, and I quote,
those are the two significant injuries.

Speaker 3 (19:21):
Significant is a big word there, I guess is what
you're going here.

Speaker 2 (19:23):
That's what I'm going for you, Okay.

Speaker 3 (19:25):
I mean there the ones with the bumps and bruises
of players.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
I mean, it's not he's out for the year and
now he's fine. Yeah, I mean, it's something in between. It,
particularly with a big man and a knee and what
they have invested in this kid. They're not going to
rush from back, certainly. I you know, I'm not a doctor.

Speaker 3 (19:43):
But you're not ready to say, oh, he'll be fine.

Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah. I don't know about the Jets game or the
Seattle game.

Speaker 3 (19:49):
Okay, I guess that's fair. Yeah, And maybe that's good
for a louder Milk or somebody like that, which yeah,
I think it's going to.

Speaker 2 (19:55):
Open up some at least one option on the D line.
But boy, why Black was good, really good, really good.

Speaker 3 (20:01):
Yeah, And I think Lee's a quality prospect slash player
two that you can get you through a couple of
games just with those guys.

Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah. Although I see Lee Moore as a you know,
kind of hold the line, do your job, and I
see Black as a disrupted after heart penetrator.

Speaker 6 (20:16):
Guy.

Speaker 2 (20:17):
Guy's gonna really I think good. Yeah, it's a great
story where they got him and how far he's come
since four one two, three, three, three nine three eight
three is our number. The postgame show continues right here
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (20:40):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing it
Right Roofing, Sighting and Remodeling Home of the lifetime Workmanship warranty.

Speaker 10 (20:48):
Perkins out and there's Black again, gets him to lose
the football.

Speaker 3 (20:53):
Now lost the football again as well.

Speaker 10 (20:55):
Show came to try to finish him off, and the
ball is back at the thirty nine yard line. Let's
see who's recovered disc So Perkins initially slipped away from Black,
loss of football, picked it up, hit by welsh offf
lost the ball again and Mark Robinson has the recovery
and the Steelers have the ball back inside Carolina Territory.

Speaker 2 (21:18):
Tonight to Electrified Play. The game is powered by the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union number five i
b e W. Letting up Pittsburgh since eighteen ninety seven.
Welcome back to the postgame show here on the Steelers
Audio Network and Ya Blacks Line tonight. Three tackles to assist,

(21:39):
five combined tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one
quarterback hit, and one forced fumble. That is a bad
night for an interior defensive player. Four one, two, three, three,
three nine three eight three is our number. Back to
the phones, we go, John in Ross Township. You're up
next with Mike and Matt.

Speaker 6 (21:59):
I got it here. What you guys want to say
about our linebackers.

Speaker 3 (22:06):
I think Peyton Wilson's really making strides of being a guy.
I mean not just in every down player, but being
a plus starter in his second season. We talked a
little bit about Brunner and Robinson. I'm intrigued with both
those guys. That's probably two dogs one bone when it's

(22:27):
all said, and I'm sure special teams will have a
lot to be said for that. Welcome to me. Is
as good a number three off the ball linebacker as
you're gonna find. And I bet there's more than a
handful of teams that would look at him as a starter.
I don't know what the thing I mean. I'm not
sure how much Queen played tonight. I don't know how
to even really comment on Queen. I mean, this would

(22:49):
have been his first time he dressed. I didn't notice
some positively or negatively.

Speaker 2 (22:54):
He was out there briefly. Yeah, it was a.

Speaker 3 (22:56):
Brief stint, but I didn't really I don't know anything
to add on him.

Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yeah, I'm with Matt. I think Cole Holcombe was brought
here initially is the answer and inside linebacker. Yeah yeah,
and then he got hurt along with everybody else. But
I know the coaching staff is very high on him.
They think that Queen is three down capable, Wilson is
three down capable, and Holcombe is three down capable. And
I was speaking with Hulcomb a couple of days ago

(23:21):
and he mentioned there's a lot of guys that would
be starters elsewhere that are backups here. I think he's
one of those guys.

Speaker 3 (23:28):
I think he's one hundred percent of those guys, and
I should have brought up Harrison too. Harrison's a big
body downhill, a Landon Roberts type player that also has
a pretty good special teams background, not super fleet a foot,
not going to be a car He's not three down capable.

Speaker 6 (23:45):
So you're saying that we look pretty good at Weinbergers.

Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, not necessarily tonight, but I would say yeah, I
would feel very good about that position going into the
real games. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (23:56):
And one thing I will say that I'm not sure
everybody realizes is there is a real off the ball
second level defender shortage in the league right now, like
they're growing up. It was Lambert and Singletary and Irlacker.
I mean, like.

Speaker 2 (24:10):
There's been someone I saw between Shazier and last year.

Speaker 3 (24:14):
I agree with right, And there's a lot of teams
in that boat. It's just a really hard position now,
and coverage and the way these teams manipulate you and
young guys like a Devin Bush really struggle coming into
the league. So I think the Steelers are now really
for the first time since Shazir in the upper half
of the league at that position, you know, which a

(24:34):
lot of teams are really struggling there.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
John, appreciate the phone call. We are going to move
on to Eric in Cleveland. You're up next with Mike
and Matt.

Speaker 3 (24:43):
How are you Eric doing well?

Speaker 2 (24:46):
Guys?

Speaker 9 (24:46):
Thanks for taking my call.

Speaker 11 (24:47):
Absolutely didn't seem much a Beanie Bishop tonight. I think
Terrel Austin mentioned throughout the course of the week that
he was he was going to be battling for the
first spot on the roster. Think beatie Bishops stay there
numbered or what's going on there?

Speaker 2 (25:03):
I do?

Speaker 3 (25:04):
Uh?

Speaker 2 (25:04):
You know, they just they loaded up on nickel capable guys, right,
and they're all better than he is. And it's I
don't think he regressed, but no, they just got better
around him.

Speaker 3 (25:15):
Eccles is ahead of him as a nickel, and he
can also play outside. Nickles definitely make the team. Ramsey's
a superstar nickel that can do other things too.

Speaker 2 (25:24):
And we've even seen Chuck Clark play some nickel.

Speaker 3 (25:27):
That as well, right, I mean, so in a way
he needs two guys to go down to truly be
the true nickel because he can't do anything else on defense.
We did talk about Trice earlier a week or two ago,
I thought there was two spots for Trice, Pierre and Beanie.
Maybe not anymore.

Speaker 2 (25:48):
Now I think it's one.

Speaker 3 (25:49):
It might be one, and I think it's Pierre just
because of special team.

Speaker 11 (25:52):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, next question I had for you guys,
that's uh years past. I've always been good at keeping
up with the with the depth of the team, and
this year I just haven't. I feel like, after the
after the starting group, the interior offensive lineman, who are
some young guys that you think are going to be
quality depth pieces in that interior offensive line.

Speaker 2 (26:13):
To be determined? Eric, You yeah, Yeah, there's no obvious guys.
I mean there there are possibilities other than Spencer Anderson,
who has been filling in for Isaac Samala who didn't
play in the preseason. Uh, Anderson's pretty capable backup, I think.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
I mean, he's definitely their six guys.

Speaker 2 (26:30):
Yeah, and I think Ryan McCollum will be on the team.
He had a tough night tonight with penalties, but he's
the backup center.

Speaker 3 (26:37):
We've mentioned Pete. He's been playing left He started out
playing left tackle, and I think he's more of a
guard and that's how his career went too well.

Speaker 2 (26:45):
He's not a young guy.

Speaker 3 (26:45):
But that's a good point. I think there's some hope
still for Cook and he's done some good things. What
do we know about Calvin Anderson? Though he hasn't been
out there forever, they gave him a two year deal
this offseason and and I never hear updates about him.
And he's a tackle and I just don't know what
to think of that guy at the moment.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
Anything else on your mind there?

Speaker 11 (27:11):
Yeah, last one I had for you guys, and then
I'll tell I'll take answers off off the line again.
Thanks for taking my call. Am, I am I getting
a little over zealous getting I mean, I'm just getting
super excited about forty one. I think he's flying around
at a pace this preseason. Uh, he seems to be
in the light right line of work. And uh is
the hype warranted for Peyton Wilson? And what do you

(27:34):
think of his season is going to look like?

Speaker 2 (27:36):
The answer The answer is no, you should continue to
get zealous.

Speaker 3 (27:40):
Yeah, stays as zealous as possible. That guy's a player.

Speaker 1 (27:44):
Man.

Speaker 2 (27:46):
He jumped off my TV screen at the Senior Bowl
two years ago. And Uh, nothing I've seen since leads
me to believe he's gonna be what are you guys
in the scouting community called plus starters.

Speaker 3 (27:59):
Yeah, I mean I think he's going to be a
plus starter at a it's hard to find.

Speaker 2 (28:02):
Yeah, And uh, you know, he gave up the one
touchdown last week against Tampa and he was right there
running step for step with Bucky Irving and he tried
to pry the arms apart.

Speaker 3 (28:12):
Probably could have got his head around a little quicker, that's.

Speaker 2 (28:15):
What he said. But even if he did, even that's
exactly what he said. Uh, even if he had gotten
his head around, I don't know. That was such a
perfect pass by Teddy Bridgewater.

Speaker 3 (28:22):
Sometimes he's dropping a bucket. Yeah, Irving player and the
hip your hat to them too.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
Yeah. I think I think Peyton Wilson's a guy who
is really going to take off this year.

Speaker 3 (28:32):
That's a tough coverage job too, outside the numbers, like
you're Dean Sanders running with somebody. I mean, that's not
what he usually does.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
But that's what they're going to ask him to do.
And I think, yeah, I think he's going to be
able to do it more often than not. Four one two, three, three,
three nine three eight three is our number. The post
game show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
Scheme show which presented by Doing It Right Roofing, Sighting
and Remodeling, home of the lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (29:07):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network. Four one two three, three, three nine three
eight three is our number. Tonight Tenjer Report is brought
to you by Edgar Snyder and associates. They're always looking
out for you in this imperfect world. Before you talk
to the insurance company. Find Edgar Derek Harmon, number one
draft pick, injured and carted off the field. He eventually

(29:31):
made it back to the bench to watch the end
of the game with his teammates. Mike Tomlin described Harmon's
situation as a niche sprain of some description. They're continuing
to evaluate, and tom Will also mentioned wide receiver Brandon
Johnson having a foot sprain of some description and added quote,

(29:53):
those are the two significant injuries. So we'll see what
significant means in the upcoming days.

Speaker 3 (30:01):
Considering the timeline, I mean, they don't play for seventeen
days or whatever. When will we do, you know, like
when the injury reports start coming out for regular season.

Speaker 2 (30:11):
Yeah, it'll be the Wednesday before the Jets game.

Speaker 3 (30:13):
Okay, so we got a while until we actually get
a designation of any sort.

Speaker 2 (30:18):
You know. Well if the official one right right, right,
right right, not to say one can't be unearthed.

Speaker 3 (30:26):
I see what you're saying.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
We'll see. Yeah, we'll see how that.

Speaker 3 (30:29):
And obviously if he ends up on some list somewhere
that would be a different story too.

Speaker 2 (30:32):
That would tell us something. Let's go back to the
telephones and welcome JD from Frederick, Maryland. How are you tonight? JD?

Speaker 12 (30:41):
Hey, guys, I'm being good. I just want to start
off saying thank you guys for all the hard work
you put in. You know, feel very spoiled to the
Steelers fan to have just hours and hours of really
quality content to listen to every week, all year round.
And I know you guys are super super hard on that,
so it's much appreciated.

Speaker 2 (30:57):
Well, we much appreciate the phone calls. So right back,
got you cool?

Speaker 12 (31:01):
Well, question is, man, it's like the never ending story.
I feel like I'm not having missing a depth piece
of wide receiver ever since we traded Deontay Johnson, and
really what I want to ask about is if we
go into the season again kind of like we did
last year with just one true X outside receiver and
then a bunch of slot guys who are okay, I
guess you know, what does it look like if Metcalf

(31:23):
goes down like to the addition of John U in
the offseason and gain Well? Maybe mean we could run
like twenty three personnel or is that just too much
of a gimmick in the modern NFL, you know, without
having sort of a downfield threat. Was curious from a
schematic perspective, what you guys think that would look like?
Assuming we don't get another kind of outside.

Speaker 3 (31:42):
Guy added here, twenty three personnel is probably a bit extreme.
I like the outside the box thinking for people don't
know that would be two backs, three tight ends, but
I think where you're going with and they go five
tight ends? Yeah, put kward out there, right? Maybe a back,
But I kind of like where your head's at in
that John new and Gainwell if you've just watched practice

(32:07):
or really their whole careers, they're very capable of doing
way more than just typical running back and tight end things.
From a receiver standpoint, where they align the types of
routes they run. They run wide receiver routes, and I
knew that about Smith, and to some degree I knew
about Gamewell. But seeing Gamewell in person, split out in

(32:27):
the slot out wide, that Bucky Irving route that we
saw against Wilson, we just brought up. I think he's
capable of some of that kind of stuff.

Speaker 2 (32:36):
I think he's going to be more impactful that way
than running the ball.

Speaker 3 (32:39):
Probably true, Probably true. Yeah, I still think much like
when Pickens got hurt. To your point, if you were
to lose Metcalf, that's disaster zone, you know.

Speaker 2 (32:49):
Yeah, j you said, what would it look like? I
believe you know, Yeah, go back to last December. There's
your answer.

Speaker 3 (32:55):
Maybe a little better than that. Like I have more
faith in Roman now than I did then, more faith
in Austin now than I did then. You do have Gain, well,
you do have John who but it'd be a problem.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
It'd be a problem, which is why they're kicking the
tires on Gabe Davis and another who knows who else, but.

Speaker 3 (33:11):
Receivers with size.

Speaker 2 (33:12):
Yeah, stay tuned on that. I don't think we're finished
looking under rocks yet.

Speaker 3 (33:18):
Like we said, like seventeen games until opening day and
a lot longer until the trade deadline. So I still
think that's not done yet.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
Well, thank you guys, appreciate JD. Let's move on to
b Man in Pittsburgh. You're up with Mike and Matt.

Speaker 9 (33:36):
Hey, Hi, how you doing, gentlemen?

Speaker 2 (33:38):
Great?

Speaker 13 (33:39):
Great? Hey, Letten have a couple of questions, so I
find it interesting ninety three seven the fans the last
couple of days, but was talking about Aaron Rodgers and
Aaron Rodgers not playing in preseason and how they, you know,
would really like to see asp as other fans talking
about how they would love to see him take at

(33:59):
least one or two reps during the preseason and would
love to hear your thoughts on that as well as
what would you think about it? The Steelers would have
made a trade to get someone like a receiver like
Tyreek Hill here in Pittsburgh to help out Aaron Rodgers
and DK metcalf.

Speaker 2 (34:20):
I'll start with the second thing. I'd love that to
get a Tyreek Hill er Terry McLaurin, but you're not
going I don't believe you're not gonna want to give
up your first round draft pick. Because you didn't need
that to maneuver if they want to try to get
up into the top ten and get a quarterback next year, assuming.

Speaker 3 (34:40):
That the first round has to not be on the table.

Speaker 2 (34:42):
Yeah, so any guy like that if it's gonna cost
the first round or it's not gonna happen. The Rodgers
not playing in the preseason, boy, I would not have
been upset if he played a couple three series, but
I get why they didn't do it. I honestly, I'm
torn on this subject. You know, you saw harm and
get hurt tonight. These games don't count, they don't matter,

(35:05):
but they are of some value. And I do think
we're going to see a little sluggishness, a little rustiness
in Week one and maybe beyond, because this is the
price you have to pay to make sure your guys
healthy to start the year.

Speaker 3 (35:18):
In the early pregame show with Tom, we went back
and forth on this quite a bit, and he played
a clip of Rogers' last five opening days haven't been
particularly good. One of them he played four snaps and
got hurt for the year, and when he was coming
back from Major that was bad. Yeah, that's particularly poor.
I don't think that's the move, But it kind of

(35:39):
came to the conclusion that I could go either way,
but I probably would have liked to see a series
where he hands the ball off a lot and throws
bubble screens and doesn't take hits.

Speaker 2 (35:50):
And Tom was talking about with the secondary, can I
just go through the process.

Speaker 3 (35:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, I wanted McCormick to be
in the snap with them and see how he handles things.

Speaker 2 (35:59):
Put the stuff on call something in the huddle, stand
there for the national anthem, exactly, do all the stuff
you good, coup the.

Speaker 3 (36:05):
Line of scrimmage, check out of a play into the
right play, just because his teammates could be in the
huddle with them, you know what I mean. But I'm
not gonna nitpick on that.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
All right, b man, they're gonna have a historic defense,
I've heard, so you can, uh, you can suffer some
growing pains early on with the offense, appreciate the call.
We're up against the break, so we're gonna get to it.

Speaker 4 (36:26):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (36:26):
The show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (36:37):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It Right, Roofing,
siding and remodeling home of the lifetime Workmanship warranty.

Speaker 2 (36:46):
Welcome back to the Steelers postgame show on the Steelers
Audio Network. Four one two three, three, three, nine, three
eight three is our number nineteen to ten. The Steelers
defeat the Carolina Panthers today, at least the team that
was purporting itself to be the Carolina Pats.

Speaker 3 (37:03):
Yeah, it's pretty noteworthy that they said that a lot
a lot of guys did not play for Carolina, And yeah,
you got forget if.

Speaker 2 (37:10):
You guys played briefly for the Steelers who had not
played in the preseason. But this was the backup Bowl,
and uh, we're on the other side of it. And
for this, I think we.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Were all grateful that it's behind us. Yes, yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 (37:24):
I agree. Let's go back to the telephone lines. Rick
in Pinehurst, North Carolina. You're up next with Mike and Matt.
How are you, Rick?

Speaker 5 (37:32):
K fine?

Speaker 14 (37:33):
Thanks for taking my calls. Was here to talk to
you guys.

Speaker 2 (37:36):
Matt.

Speaker 14 (37:37):
I gotta tell you I listened to every project podcast
you do or anywhere. I really enjoyed.

Speaker 1 (37:44):
Thanks.

Speaker 14 (37:45):
I don't have Twitter or X.

Speaker 6 (37:47):
I won't give that guy my money.

Speaker 14 (37:49):
No, I cannot follow you exactly, but all you do,
you'll enjoy it. I have two questions. On first, very
techn you have so many designations that you could say
I are designated to return. Suppose you take an example

(38:11):
Will Howard. We say, all right, we're putting him on,
I are designating him to return, and you decide for
whatever reason, we're not going to bring him back. We're
going to just leave him on.

Speaker 5 (38:23):
I are for the season.

Speaker 14 (38:25):
Do you lose that lot that designated the return so
I got out? You blew it? Or do you get
to apply that to somebody else?

Speaker 2 (38:35):
Rick? Do you stay up nights stinking any questions? Yeah,
I don't know. How's that for an answer? I assume
you lose the designation.

Speaker 3 (38:46):
I think so too, but I don't know that fat
is the fact.

Speaker 2 (38:52):
I will try to look that up and uh, you
know next time, Well, next time.

Speaker 3 (38:56):
We'll make that choice once and for all.

Speaker 2 (38:58):
Yeah, next time I'm on the ears tomorrow, we'll I'm
not going to know by then.

Speaker 3 (39:01):
But probably by the time we get off the area.

Speaker 2 (39:03):
We think, uh that you lose it, but we'll try
to clarify that at a later date. How's that? I think?

Speaker 3 (39:09):
Another question?

Speaker 6 (39:09):
All right?

Speaker 14 (39:10):
Thank you? I appreciate that and no second question, and
this is at least since it is not. I just
don't know why, but I got to ask this question
because I had What's happened to Dale Walley?

Speaker 5 (39:26):
Matt is on the drive?

Speaker 3 (39:29):
He has not been lately. He has been fighting ammonia
and we're hoping to get him back any minute.

Speaker 5 (39:36):
Now.

Speaker 3 (39:37):
You know who knows, but Wes and I haven't holding
down the forward of late.

Speaker 2 (39:41):
Keeping a seat warm. Form Rick appreciate the phone call.
I'm surprised that was a really good question about can
you take it back?

Speaker 3 (39:48):
Yeah, I'm like I should know.

Speaker 2 (39:50):
I've never thought like you know, you want to bring
him back. So if you designate him and then you
bring him back.

Speaker 3 (39:57):
I think it's like a totally different designation. If you
use it, you'll lose it.

Speaker 2 (40:01):
And if I'm if I'm correct on this part of it,
you have to do that at the cut to fifty three,
like like they couldn't deal it with Howard today. They
would have to wait until the cut to fifty three
and then say he's designated to come back, and then
that's one of your eight and then you can bring
him back after four weeks minimum.

Speaker 3 (40:23):
And the rules have changed over the last couple of years.
So I should not this off the top of my head,
and I'm a little fried. I should I should be
on top of this more than I am. I blame myself,
but I think that if.

Speaker 2 (40:34):
You do what if Ghostbusters less?

Speaker 3 (40:37):
Absolutely? I think though, if you do put him on
that list and you don't return them, you just lose
that deserty.

Speaker 2 (40:44):
Yeah, or if like Lowry went on before the cut
to fifty three, so he's done for the years, he's
done for the year. Tampa Bay is going to wait
on the receiver Jaylens mcmillll and do it because they
think he can come back halfway through.

Speaker 3 (40:57):
And like they just said, Godwin and Worfs, they're knocking
to put on a list because they think they might
be able to play in those first four weeks. You know,
but this is this is the problem that.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
And you know, you go into an opener and you
have X number of guys who can't really play, but
they're still on the roster. Like the Steelers last year
when they started the season, they had Roma Wilson active.
They had he wasn't gonna play. They had Troy five
Otano active. He wasn't gonna play like you start running
out of guy sometimes all of a sudden.

Speaker 3 (41:27):
Yeah, and then yeah, the first week or two can
get a little hairy. Yeah, that's definitely true.

Speaker 2 (41:33):
So it's gonna be interesting to see what happens, in
particular with Derek Harmon.

Speaker 3 (41:38):
If they avoided major injury with him. I don't know
that any other starters or definite roster guys other than
Lowry who's already spoken for, would be a massive Week
one situation.

Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yeah. The only other possible complication I think would be
Christian Kootz, the long snapper McQuaid was snapping to. But
my understanding is that, well, the expect expectation is the
wrong word. The anticipation from the Steelers is that Christian
Koontz will be ready for Week one.

Speaker 3 (42:12):
I got the impression there was better news than originally thought,
et cetera.

Speaker 2 (42:16):
You know, I would say expectation, but you never know.
With recoveries, it's not an exact thing. If he can't go,
I think Logan Lee will do the snapping.

Speaker 3 (42:24):
Oh really yeah, Wow, that surprises me. I mean I
don't know special teams nearly and he did it.

Speaker 2 (42:31):
In high school. I mean, how hard could it be?

Speaker 11 (42:33):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (42:33):
I think it's that hard. I mean, those guys sit
through the stopwatch down the one hundred for a second,
and if it just hovers a little, that's when Danny
Smith downs up blocks that end up turning into block
punts for touchdowns.

Speaker 2 (42:45):
Yeah, it's funny. Mike Tomlin was talking about that after
the Tampa game and he said, oh, Logan, he's repped
it since he's been here. You know, I got here
last year. Two snaps in training camp, right, which he
hasn't a big he has left since he It kind
of made it sound like, oh, you know, after practice
is over he goes and snaps thirty times or what.

Speaker 3 (43:06):
This is like a regular yeah, every day now.

Speaker 2 (43:08):
But he did he was good at it in high school
and uh.

Speaker 3 (43:11):
Okay, he did it. I have no idea of how
good he is compared to a real long snapper.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
And again, the defense is potentially historic. You've heard this, right,
I've heard that. Yeah, problem, you know, problems on kicks
or problems with the offense. I'm not too concerned. Defense
win every game five too, you know, Uh, four one, two, three, three,
three nine three eight three is our number. Mike Pursuda

(43:38):
and Matt Williamson with you wrapping up Steelers nineteen the
Carolina Panthers ten. The postgame show continues here on the
Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (43:52):
The Pittsburgh Steelers postgame Show was presented by Caldiente Pizza
and Draft House, the Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
Welcome Back. Four one, two, three, three, three, nine eight
three is our number. Mike pursueda and Matt Williamson summon
up Steelers nineteen Panthers ten. And you know an appropriate time,
Matt to take a look at the preseason in its entirety. Yeah,
your thoughts now, you know, not a ton of bad

(44:21):
injuries we're waiting and seeing on Derek Harmon, but someone
encouraged by him getting back out on the field and
getting back to the bench, even though Mike Tomlins said
it's a significant injury. Beyond the results of the games,
I think there's a lot to like. And I think
the stuff that people maybe were concerned about at the

(44:43):
start of the process, they're probably still concerned about.

Speaker 3 (44:46):
Yeah, And unlike previous years, and this team structured a
lot different than previous years, particularly the quarterback position and
some of the older new acquisitions. I mean, they've become
a little bit of an older starting group. Mike Tomlin
has chose to air on the side of caution in

(45:07):
terms of who he plays in the preseason, and before
the preseason's opened, I didn't think the Elliotts and Warrens
of the world would get passes, you know, for two
thirds of the game and a very high percentage of
the third one. But I also don't have a problem
with it, and it does make evaluating the team more difficult,

(45:29):
particularly like the first team run offense, you know. I mean,
that's something that you have to see together for thirty
forty to fifty runs to have some kind of an
opinion on it, not four or five, you know what
I mean.

Speaker 2 (45:43):
You also have to see them try to do stuff
in regular season mode, not preseason, but.

Speaker 3 (45:48):
Exactly exactly, you know, Like I made note of it
going into this game that a ridiculous high percentage of
the run calls they've made have been zone runs. And
we know this is own running team, sure, but it
would never be to the highest percentage that they've done
here there. I mean, they're basically saying we're throwing fastballs

(46:09):
and if you hit him, you hit them. But we're
just gonna work on our fastball, you know what I mean,
they're gonna work on with their best pitch.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
Wide receivers spin a topic, well, yeah, tonight. Last year
Gabe Davis had the knee injury last year. This second
round of visits that he's making with teams, uh is
presumably to make sure the knee is I presume able
to function and that that he's the guy. But he

(46:37):
went to Buffalo after here and they, Yeah, now, is
that maybe the knees failing? I'm just is he just
checking out his options and letting everybody know he's fine.
I don't know, but let's let's assume it's good.

Speaker 3 (46:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (46:49):
Is he a fit in your in your mind?

Speaker 3 (46:52):
I think so. The world would keep spinning if he
wasn't a Steeler, don't get me wrong. And there are
other options that I might like better, But I think
what he brings to the table is he's bigger than
you think. He's like two hundred and twenty pounds. He's
thickly built, strong guy.

Speaker 2 (47:09):
He's younger than I thought too, He's on twenty six.

Speaker 6 (47:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (47:12):
I thought he's been.

Speaker 3 (47:13):
Around for a long time out as a junior, and
you know, I mean, he coming he signed a second contract,
but didn't last long in Jacksonville because of the injury,
and frankly, they overpaid him. He is a known blocker.
He's a physical guy, but he's not a diverse route
runner type. He's big and fast and he'll run down
the sidelines and make plays, which I think is something

(47:34):
they need. And the deep ball was not just a
Russell Wilson Wilson thing. I think it's also an Arthur
Smith thing. And Rogers still throws a very good deep ball.
He's not gonna Nickel and Dimy to death. But I
think we mentioned this earlier. You know, I like Miller.
I think he's probably gonna make the team. I like
Austin and Wilson. They're definitely gonna make the team. And

(47:57):
Rogers mentioned this in a postgame interview. I think it
was with Missy. He's saying, boy, those guys are great speed.
You know, we got together in California, and their speed
just jumps off the field. But they're also really small,
you know, collectively, if that's your two through four number receiver,
and obviously Metcalf isn't. But where I'm going with this

(48:18):
is if and when they added someone, it can't be
a little guy, you know. I mean it has to
be somebody with size and physicality. Yeah, in that room.

Speaker 2 (48:27):
And in terms of the you know, the one trick
pony aspect of Gabe Davis game almost a good trick.
It's a good trick. And they don't have anybody else
doing that one, right, I mean right right with the
with the size and physicality. Metcalf can get down the field. Sure,
Roman Wilson can get down the field.

Speaker 3 (48:44):
Austin certainly can.

Speaker 2 (48:45):
He can take the top off the defense every once
in a while.

Speaker 3 (48:48):
But the feeds on a problem for the wide receiver room.
But that's not their forte those guys.

Speaker 2 (48:53):
And you know, Ben Skronick is mostly a special teams
guy and a block. I think he's on the team too,
by the way, Oh, I do too. Yeah, if they
get another receiver, I think there will be six. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (49:04):
I think Miller's done enough now and.

Speaker 2 (49:06):
They will figure out, you know, how to make that fit.

Speaker 3 (49:09):
But do you agree if there don't get another receiver,
they'll be five, Yes, Because I can't imagine Woods making
the team at this point. He doesn't do anything against backups.

Speaker 2 (49:17):
I think in the game, and you know, I think
it's Metcalf, Austin Wilson, and I think there's your five.
And if you can find another guy, you know, the
how how critical it is that they get that guy.
I think they're in a better spot this year than

(49:39):
they were last year at the position. Yes, but my
concern would be if something would happen to Dk Metcalf.

Speaker 3 (49:45):
Yeah, and he's not super young. He plays a physical brand.
He missed some time last year, but anybody can get hurt.
I mean, I'm not saying he's got a higher percentage
than anybody else. And I think it's pretty telling that
tonight or even several days ago, when they ruled out
four players, it was Hayward, Watt, Rogers, all of who

(50:06):
might go to the Hall of Fame and are later
in their career, and then Metcalf, not that he's not
like the others, but that one just screamed, we can't
lose as a top receiver. You know, I'm not sure
he's their fourth best player.

Speaker 2 (50:20):
Yeah, And I think particularly in the practices, Aaron Rodgers
has gotten his throws into Dk Metcalf a lot. It's
been at the top of the agenda every day.

Speaker 3 (50:30):
I would assume they hooked up at the joint practice too.
Who I wasn't there.

Speaker 2 (50:34):
You know, almost every period began with Rogers to Betcalf
when they were throwing the ball.

Speaker 3 (50:40):
You can account for this. I don't remember too many
Metcalf reps where he wasn't catching it from Rogers. If
he's running round, it was almost always Rogers.

Speaker 2 (50:48):
So one area I think they're ahead of the game. Now.
Obviously there's a lot of factors involved, but I always
wondered if they're throwing the ball to George Pickens enough.
George Picktt's probably had a lot to do with why
that wasn't happening. But yeah, I don't think that's gonna
be talked about with DK Metcalf.

Speaker 3 (51:04):
No, I don't either. And one thing I have been
saying though, is I think there's only one chance to
add this guy. You know, it's not like free agency,
like Okay, we're gonna add one and then we might
take one the third round. We don't know, you know,
like it better get it right, let's be patient. And
there's a lot of trades just the last day or
two involving some lesser named receivers, like none of those

(51:25):
guys would have moved the needle for me, like Skymore
or vele Or and of those guys like you got
to get somebody that's a difference maker or potential starter.

Speaker 2 (51:33):
Thanks to call Anti Pizza and draft House for bringing
us this hour the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network postgame Show,
Calliente Pizza and draft House the Pizza of Champions. The
postgame show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (51:54):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show was presented by Caliente Pizza
and Drafthouse the Pizza.

Speaker 2 (52:02):
Welcome back, Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you, celebrating
these Steelers nineteen ten victory over Carolina in general and
the end of the preseason in particular. Four one two three, three,
three nine three eight three is our number, man. I
think what we saw in Charlotte tonight pretty representative example

(52:23):
of what preseason football can become. The Steelers were four
of nine on third down, pretty good forty four point
four percent. But they only had three hundred and twenty
five total net yards. Yeah, they only had the ball
for twenty five minutes and two seconds. Uh, and they
had thirteen penalties for one hundred and four yards and
they won the football game by nine points pretty handily.

Speaker 3 (52:47):
Actually yeah, and you know I had a couple of
those notes as well. I mean, Carolina had the ball
for lake ten minutes longer than the Steelers, you know,
almost thirty four minutes to twenty five minutes rushing yards
one by Carolina compared to ninety nine by the Steelers. However,
the Steelers averaged more yards per carry. They also averaged

(53:09):
yards per play seven to two verse four to ozho.
So they didn't run that many plays. They only ran
forty five plays tonight. I mean that's a really low number.
Usually you're sixty ish during the regular season, and that
was eighteen plays fewer than the Panthers. But they still
had seventy five or seventy five or seventy yards more
than the Panthers. And one of them was that big

(53:30):
play to Miller at the end of the half, of course,
and that skews things, and numbers, especially in the preseason,
canli to you.

Speaker 2 (53:38):
But they did move the football, you know, they moved
it for what turned out to be the game winning
field goal in the third quarter, a ten play, eight
yard drive.

Speaker 3 (53:50):
And that's hard.

Speaker 2 (53:51):
Five minutes and nineteen seconds. That one had to be
pretty penalty, right, Yeah, pretty crazy stuff. But Ben Saals
had self a night that's when he kicked.

Speaker 3 (54:02):
I wonder if the two specialists that don't make the
team are gonna end up somewhere else.

Speaker 2 (54:07):
Boy Saul's you know, he had a great reputation in college. Yeah,
and it seems like everybody has a really good kicker now,
But you know, sometimes these guys have to bounce around
a little bit.

Speaker 3 (54:17):
And Steelers might have two good long snappers, two good punters,
and two good kickers.

Speaker 2 (54:22):
Kick a little bit here, kick a little bit there,
and then.

Speaker 3 (54:24):
Being a lefty doesn't help him.

Speaker 2 (54:26):
Though, Yeah, you think that's a that's a big deal.

Speaker 3 (54:28):
Yeah, I think it does help weightman.

Speaker 2 (54:30):
Though.

Speaker 3 (54:31):
Being a lefty punter is like a big Belichick thing.
The ball spins different. Yeah, you know, it's just a
little bit harder. I think it's kind of like a
lefty pitcher type of thing. But I think a lefty
kicker has an uphill climb because no holder is ever
held that way.

Speaker 2 (54:45):
Let's go back to the phones now and welcome Tim
from Ohio to the show. Tim, You're on with Mike
and Matt and Turn that radio down if you please.

Speaker 9 (54:55):
All right, sorry sir, all good, All right, Yeah, I
just want to chime in on the wide receiver situation. Uh,
what's ma I'm mark Cooper up to nowadays? I'd like
to see him brought in maybe a second for the
second wide receiver spot, uh, just to open up something

(55:16):
for the small guys underneath. You know, you have John
and Smith and pat Ry and tight End. So I
think that would help us out greatly. Joined the show, guys.
I'd just like to hear what you have to say
about that.

Speaker 6 (55:29):
Thank you.

Speaker 3 (55:29):
Yeah. And I got a lot of insight on Amari Cooper,
but some the recent stuff I don't have a lot
of insight. So I considering he's been an option now
and we've talked about him for two three months, the
best version of Amari Cooper is exactly what they need,
you know, an outside, accomplished route runner, physical former early pick,

(55:51):
even if he ain't what he used to be, Polish pro,
Polish pro absolutely you know, can beat man coverage at
the line of scrimmage outside the numbers, I mean there.
He has a pretty good history and what's weird about
his twenty twenty four season is if you just watched
the Browns tape before he got traded to Buffalo, you'd
be like, man, he's open all the time, he looks great,

(56:16):
and no one gets him the football. So then he
gets traded to the Bills and gets hurt like in
his first or second practice there, And then you watch
his Bills tape and it took him a little while
to get on the field after they traded a third
round pick for him, which is a lot for a
trade deadline guy who's you know, contract's going to be
up at the end of the end of the year.

(56:38):
And it was also like a kind of a Roman
Wilson couldn't get on a moving train situation. But then
you watch him in Buffalo, and I don't know if
he was hurt the whole time or recovering from an
injury or not knowing the offense, but he never got
open and the quarterback could get him the ball. So
it was like the total reciprocal, the total opposite of
the brown situation. And I don't know if he's just

(57:00):
not contemplating playing football anymore or didn't want to go
through training camp, or there's still an injury that he
suffered with Buffalo. Because he should be on the team,
you know, and people are starting to fall Keenan Allen
just signed. I mean, these guys aren't hanging around much longer.
I wonder if he just isn't interested the last month
or two. I don't know how to answer the story.

Speaker 2 (57:20):
But I think he's still interested. I think I would
imagine being patient.

Speaker 3 (57:26):
I mean, maybe that's an option.

Speaker 2 (57:28):
You know, I've always liked this game, and I remember
when he went to Buffalo left year. I thought that
was a great ad and it just didn't work out.

Speaker 3 (57:37):
Now and some of those he got hurt the wrong time,
and you know, but he has recent good tape.

Speaker 2 (57:43):
I mean it was recently his twenty twenty three he
was a twelve hundred yard receiver.

Speaker 3 (57:47):
Yeah, just a year removed, right, and again he looked
really good with the Browns, but the quarterback play was
so futrid.

Speaker 2 (57:55):
Four one two, three, three, three, nine three eight three
is our number. Mike pursued and Matt Williamson with you.
Wrapping up Steelers nineteen Carolina Panthers ten tonight in Charlotte.
The show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (58:10):
The Pittsburgh Steelers postgame Show is presented by Caldiente Pizza
and Drafthouse the Pizza U Champions Welcome.

Speaker 2 (58:18):
Back nineteen ten Steelers over the Carolina Panthers tonight in Charlotte.
The preseason is history, and the countdown has begun to
September the seventh and the regular season opener against the
New York Football Jets in Ernest. Four one two three, three,
three nine three eight three is our number. Mike Pursuda
and Matt Williamson with you and Matt. One of the

(58:40):
things that is gnawing at me a little bit regarding
the Steelers, and he just concluded preseason. Calem Johnson, Now.

Speaker 3 (58:49):
I'm not sure what to make of him yet, got
to run.

Speaker 2 (58:51):
A little behind the ones tonight. He had an eight
yard run and a seven yard run. Five carries twenty
four yards four point eight averages. Looks good on pay paper.
I thought he would be more established by this point
of the process than he is.

Speaker 3 (59:06):
Doesn't mean I'm worried, but I just don't know what
to think.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
I don't know if worried, uh is the right word
from my perspective, but I'm not encouraged.

Speaker 3 (59:15):
Yeah, I thought i'd be a little more. I'd be like, oh,
this could play. You know, those three runs stuck his
foot in the ground and exploded, and boy, they've saw
something special. I have not seen special.

Speaker 2 (59:28):
Now.

Speaker 3 (59:28):
I do think he is a the more he gets
the ball, the better he gets type of guy. And
he is, you know, but if you're third on the
depth chart, you're not going to get the ball twenty times.

Speaker 2 (59:38):
And you know, I'm seeing him, uh get knocked down
by first contact a lot both.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
I thought he's been a little too easy to tackle
running the ball and returning kickoffs, right, Like, I'm not
saying Nichols is better than him, but Nichols been harder
to get on the ground than Caleb Johnson. Yeah, he's limited.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
I just thought there'd be a little more splash, a
little more uh wow, did you see that?

Speaker 3 (01:00:01):
And the other criticism I have is like in the
second half of the Tampa game, while he was putting
up yards, a lot of his tricks would not have
worked Week eight against the Bravens defense. You like getting
to the edge and cutting back and making it you know, Like,
I don't know, I think he's far from out of

(01:00:21):
the woods.

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
Four one, two, three, three, nine eight three is our
number let's go to Jeremy in Newcastle. Welcome to the show, Jeremy.

Speaker 15 (01:00:30):
Thanks for having me. So a lot of fans upset
tonight because Derek Harmon had that scary moment and they're
asking why are you playing these starters in the preseason,
And I understand the emotions around that, but watching the game,
there's a lot of sloppiness, a lot of mistackles by
the starters, and in my mind, I'm like, that's why
you play these guys. So if you just want to

(01:00:52):
kind of riff off of that.

Speaker 3 (01:00:54):
It's a fine line.

Speaker 2 (01:00:55):
It's a great point. There were a lot of mistackles.

Speaker 3 (01:00:59):
The tackling was very poor, and the penalties weren't just
the backup non football player future accountants and ditch diggers
of the world. I mean, it was some rust for sure.
And if that was Week one, you're going to lose
to any opponent you.

Speaker 2 (01:01:13):
Play, you know, it's a tough call. When they did
the practice with Tampa a week ago, the joint practice,
there was an obvious attempt by both coaching staffs and
the word was put out, Hey, we want to get
some work in, but don't kill each other, don't Okay,
don't let it boil to the point where there's going

(01:01:35):
to be fights breaking out and things of that nature.
I remember talking to Deshaun Elliott about that, and he
said it was live until the ball was in the air,
and then you didn't compete for it.

Speaker 3 (01:01:45):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:01:47):
I think at some point you got to compete for
you little bit, right, And that's what It's a great point,
Jeremy and boy, nobody wants to see anybody get hurt,
but not everybody's a forty one year old, twenty year vet,
four time MVP who doesn't need this stuff.

Speaker 3 (01:02:02):
Yeah, there's definitely I hate the word like rust and
that kind of stuff, but I think you got to
practice hard to play hard, you know. And with the
seventeen game schedule and all those things, the league as
a whole is viewing the preseason a lot different. And
it used to be such an obvious formula Week one, two, three,

(01:02:22):
four in the preseason, every coach handled the same way,
and now there's just no real formula. I do get
the hunch that this Week three across the league. I mean, frankly,
if Carolina is sitting twenty five guys or something and
they were one of the worst teams in the league
and one of the worst defenses I ever saw last year.
It's probably what most teams are doing. And if you're

(01:02:45):
rusty in Week one, so be it, and the qualities
it's not gonna be as good in Week one across
the league. I think that's probably what the trends we're
starting to lean towards anything else.

Speaker 15 (01:02:56):
Jeremy No, I think I appreciate you being up for
us weirdos who just can't stop thinking about Steelers no
matter what.

Speaker 5 (01:03:03):
Time it is.

Speaker 3 (01:03:04):
Hey, we have the weirdos.

Speaker 2 (01:03:05):
We appreciate you.

Speaker 15 (01:03:07):
You content, Matt, You're you do a great job on that.

Speaker 3 (01:03:10):
I appreciate it.

Speaker 15 (01:03:10):
Thanks, all right, you guys have a good night.

Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
Yeah. I don't think we'll ever come up with a
definitive answer on that as well. I know, as long
as they're playing preseason football.

Speaker 3 (01:03:19):
And I think it's team the team and player by player,
and you can.

Speaker 2 (01:03:23):
You can rage against the machine when somebody gets hurt
or or you can wait till week one and the
team's not very good.

Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
And he said, well, why weren't they playing? And it's
just that's why I said, with Tom, it's like every
head coach is always going to be the bad guy.
If Harmon gets hurt, well it's Tomlin's fault. If they're
rusty in week one, it's Tomlin's fault. You know, like
there's it's something bad's going to happen.

Speaker 2 (01:03:42):
So ever gonna go our conclusion, it's Tomas.

Speaker 3 (01:03:46):
Right, or mcveigh's follow or Belichick's fauld or whatever.

Speaker 2 (01:03:48):
You're right. Yeah, you're listening to the Steelers Audio Network.
I'm Mike Pursuda. Thanks for joining us. Our next broadcast
is at eleven am on Sunday, September the seventh, before
the Steelers and the New York Jets. The postgame show
continues locally on your Home of the Steelers, one of
two point five DVE and Steelers Nation Radio. This is
the Steelers postgame Show on the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network