Postgame Show - Patriots

Mike Prisuta and Charlie Batch break down the Steelers win over the New England Patriots.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 offense was unstoppable until it wasn't. Fortunately for the Steelers,
the defense kept forcing turnovers in bunches. Increased roles for
Cole Holcomb and Jabrill Preppers helped save the day on
a day when the Steelers were in danger of running
out of quarterbacks, and five turnovers generated helped win the
day against the Patriots. They won't ask how in January,

(00:31):
They'll ask how many. It might still be tough to
wrap our heads around this one. By then, Derek Harmon
played his first NFL game, TJ. Watt registered his first
two sacks of the season, and Cam Hayward played like
an All Pro for the first time in twenty twenty five.
And still it came down to a fourth quarter take
all proposition. I'll take another Badger sandwich to go please.

(00:52):
The offense was unstoppable until it wasn't until it was
time to win the game, until it was time for
a drive. That's his club, much as they come. The
d bent but it never broke, and as it had
against the Jets, it finished playing to the echos of
the whistle. If it's the luck of the Irish, they'll
take it on to Minnesota. In Dublin. Good afternoon, everyone,

(01:16):
and welcome to the Steelers postgame show on the Steelers
Audio Network on Mike Persuda along with Charlie Batch. Steelers
twenty one Patriots fourteen somehow in Foxboro Steelers two and
one through three games nine thirteen sixteen is our number
four one two nine nine thirteen sixteen, still going with
the alternate number as we are lighting on our feet

(01:39):
and working around what it is we have to work around,
and Charlie, I guess that's a good place to start.
The Steelers have to work around a lot of stuff,
particularly the offense disappearing from the time it became fourteen
to nothing until about seven minutes left to play.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
That was shocking that particular point. And defensively, you have
to give them all the credit at this point, and
everything was leaning towards them them being tired. Would they
be able to step up and make a play. They
were able to do that the entire game and set
the offense up until they found out that they were
ready to go to put the team in the end
zone and that ultimately determine the outcome of the game.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
As I mentioned, four, one, two, nine, nine, thirteen, sixteen
is our number. Let's go right to the phones because
we've got people lined up all ready to talk about
this one. Jeff in Ohio, you're bat lead off today.
How are you, Jeff?

Speaker 4 (02:29):
Gentlemen? Actually I feel great that we're two and one.
I always say, you know, don't apologize for a win,
but when you look out and we very easily could
be sitting at zero and three, the two and one
doesn't sound bad. I do think, though, that the success
sometimes masks some of the problems. I thought her big Heyward,
huge days. You know, Mike, you mentioned that with Cam.

(02:50):
I thought it really really important, big day and perfect
gunder Rati puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback
and forcing the five tos was huge on the positive side.
Two on the offensive side of bark Or in his
yack yard. It is just tremendous. I mean, the guy's
work I think is awesome. The two kind of areas
I wanted to have you guys address the old line

(03:11):
I think is a serious problem that you know, just
it just keeps drudging along here, and I think it
creates kind of like a paradox. We can't throw the
ball downfield because we don't have time. But you know,
if we don't throw the ball downfield, we can't run
the ball, and we're having a tough time getting off
the line. So I think the old line, whether it's

(03:34):
you know, Pat Meyer, the person that being young, whatever,
we've got to do a better job there. So that
was one issue. And then on the other side of
the ball, if you guys can address the middle of
a field has been a problem for years and we
just don't seem like we're ever getting any better at it.
It just you can pitch and catch anytime you want
for ten yards. It just looks like it's at will.

(03:55):
So those are two issues. I was wonder if you
kick the dress pretty.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Good issues, Jeffy, You know the old line. The guys
they have are the guys they have. I think Troy
five Ton has said it before the start of the season,
The coaches told them, nobody's coming to save you. Those
five are the guys who are going to have to
get it done. I was really encouraged with the way
they ran the ball early I thought that was the
best running game has looked, and thankfully they were able

(04:19):
to run. Particularly warned going into a heavy box on
that third and two on the last drive and getting
the first down. It's got to be better. I agree
with you. They cannot throw the ball with any time
unless they start running and backing people off and getting
people worried about the running game, Charlie.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
And that's the toughest part, because if you're not able
to run the ball, you're not able to take that
time at possession and control it. They were minus thirteen
in time of possession. That's why you saw that defense
out there tired. You saw a seventeen sixteen play drive
and those type of things you have to be able
to counter to give your defense a rest, and unfortunately
that's not happening. Is it something that we're going to
continue to talk about. Absolutely, because they are not doing

(05:02):
what they need to do up front. Did they knew
enough to win, Yes, absolutely, but again there is problems.
But to your second point, defensively, I'm sitting here me
and Mike is watching the game, and I'm like, well,
here's the pass in the middle of the field. Sure enough,
fourteen yard completion setting up a third or maybe fourth
and two situation. But again those are things that you, yeah,
used to have that bend not break mentality, but at

(05:23):
times you don't have to do that. Get to where
your zones are, and if you get to your zones,
you would be able to make the play. And unfortunately
they were out of place throughout the course of his game.

Speaker 4 (05:33):
Think real quick, Yeah, I did, thought Rogers, and this
is kind of set thing. I actually felt bad for
him because I think, you know, he's proved that when
we give him any time at all, I mean, he's
making plays. I mean, the guy could drop it in
the bucket still. But a real quick question for you,
was Ramsey just playing deep medal the whole night? He
was very quiet game for Jalen Ramsey. I mean, I

(05:54):
don't remember. I think maybe had one tackle or something
like that, but I didn't know what the TV broadcast.
It's hard to tell if he was just deep middle
and I just didn't see him. Saw him up in
the line on some late blitzes, but that's about it.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, I saw the same thing you saw. We're watching
it on TV here. He was in the slots some
but they were run It was a fluid situation with
it was available, with Slagy going in and out of
the game, and they had Echos and Pierrat corner at
one point, so it might have been he was just
deep middle because they felt like they might have needed
deep middle. The other thing I'll say about the and

(06:26):
I agree with everything Charlie said about the over the
middle stuff, but Drake May's pretty accurate passer. I'll give
him credit for that. He's not the splashiest of quarterbacks,
but he knows how to uses legs and he throws
a pretty nice ball. They got out of there somehow,
only allowing fourteen points. That's winning defense. Let's get one
more in before the break. Dave in Florida, you're up
with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 5 (06:48):
Hey, guys, how are you today?

Speaker 6 (06:50):
Good?

Speaker 2 (06:51):
It feels good to win in the National Football League's
and Mike tom Lets said it does.

Speaker 5 (06:56):
It does, but you're always gonna have the criticizes like
me and everybody body else, And you know, I don't
think we know better, but we don't know squat. Yeah,
it's good to be two to one. I mean, definitely,
definitely is. But I feel like Arthur Smith is deemed
predictable play Colner isn't that great last week. I told

(07:18):
you guys, and everybody's got to do better. I think
he's got to do better. You got to do better
because it's predictable. And I think we got to be
the highest team. We're thrown behind the line of scrimmage.
We're not utilizing the tight ends that we got. I
mean we got Smith, we got Frightened, we got to
beast Washington. How are we not using these guys over

(07:41):
the middle. I mean we got five tne oversaid we
should have moleen Patriots out. It's not winning football the
lucky we want. And again I said, we got to
do better.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
No, I agree with you on that, and and you know,
coming into this game, I just didn't feel good about it.
You know, on full transparency, I didn't think the Steelers
were pulled this one out well because I honestly thought
that Mike Rabel would have a leg up on this
Arthur Smith offense because of his familiarity in Tennessee playing
having him as his offensive coordinator for two years. And
sure enough, that played itself out, and it just seemed

(08:13):
like Mike Rabel was one step ahead of his offense,
and that's why they were dormant really for two and
a half quarters until they were really able to get
going and put that final drive together. But again, this
is going to be something that they have to correct.
But again, if we're seeing it and we're sitting here
talking about I guess what these defensive coordinators are looking
at the exact same thing.

Speaker 2 (08:32):
Oh, we'll add this, Dave. I think a lot of
the offense, no matter what's called through the helmet transmitter,
Aaron Rodgers has the freedom to change stuff at the line.
He's clearly doing that. If he doesn't like a certain call,
he's going to change it. The biggest problem to me
right now is they're giving up pressure with four, which
means everybody is back in coverage and there's no time

(08:53):
to dissect the coverage. So it looks the way it
did in the second quarter, in the third quarter, in
the first half of the fourth quarter. But that played
by Rogers at the end of the game. I'm sitting
here watching with Charlie and it looked like cover two
to me, and then Charlie's Charlie said no, they dropped
down right before the snap and he had one on
one outside with Calvin Austin. And when Aaron Rodgers sees

(09:13):
one on one to a receiver he trusts, with the
game on the line, he throws it out there and
let's give the guy a chance to make a play.
He threw a perfect pass to metcalf on that touchdown.
The best thing they got going for him right now
is Aaron Rodgers. And if they can get the rest
of it figured out a little better, they got a
chance to get some things done. Appreciate the call, Dave.
We're going to run to a break. The Steelers Postgame

(09:37):
Show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (09:40):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing it Right, Roofing,
Sighting and Remodeling, Pull him up the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
And Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show and the
Steelers Audio Network. Mike Pursuer and Charlie match with you
in the wake of Steelers twenty one Patriots fourteen four
one two thirteen sixteen is the number we are using
again today. Now it's time for Max's Takeaways that's brought
to you by S and T Bank. For every takeaway
from the defense this season, s and T Bank will

(10:10):
donate three hundred dollars to PA Wounded Warriors, who have
helped over eighteen thousand veterans in counting well. PA Wounded
Warriors did pretty well today, three hundred dollars for every
takeaway one, two, three, four, five of them. Max Stark's
color analyst joining us now in Max, I was so encouraged. Well,

(10:32):
let me back it up a little bit. I was
concerned about the running game, probably first and foremost coming
into this game. I was encouraged in that first quarter
plus when they ran well and got a fourteen point lead,
and then when it went away again, I was concerned again.
But some tough running there on that last drive that
helped lead to that game winning TD. What did you

(10:53):
see working when they were running well and why did
it stop?

Speaker 6 (10:59):
Is that that was just really really good for them.
Was the fact that they were.

Speaker 7 (11:04):
Inside man, a lot of inside zone, not out of.

Speaker 2 (11:10):
We're gonna try Max again. Connection was a little goofy.
He doesn't sound like.

Speaker 3 (11:13):
That, doesn't, Charlie, No, not at all, Like are they
back there playing with the vocals.

Speaker 2 (11:17):
So like an old record where you make it go fast?

Speaker 6 (11:19):
Right?

Speaker 2 (11:20):
What did you see from the run game.

Speaker 3 (11:21):
What worked with the Yeah, it was tough because they
weren't able to get things going consistently. But to your point,
they got it going early, but just wasn't able to
sustain it enough. And that that when you're behind the chains.
Guess what now that play action becomes mute because again
you just can't stay ahead of the defense in that
particular manner.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
By the way, Jaylen Warren today eighteen carries only had
forty seven yards, only average two point six, but he
had some clutch runs and eighteen carries a career high.
Max Let's try this again. What worked well when they
ran it well? And why wasn't that something they did
all day?

Speaker 7 (11:57):
Inside zone? Inside zone was the key on in the game.
And what turned that away once they started trying to
get into a rhythm in that second half, Because you
have to think they only had three possessions in the
first half. Two out of those three yielded touchdown drives
for them, and of course they had that one three
and out but a deep punt and it was just

(12:17):
a lot of time was chewed up by the New
England Patriots. But in the second half, I just felt
it was more so a lot more run blitz. Robert
Splaine was playing more downhill and they were shooting gaps
on that inside zone, and then when they tried to
go to the outside it wasn't as successful. Still, the
edge blocking needs a little bit of work with John
u and Pat Fryer moves on the edges. I love

(12:39):
what they did running opposite of the heavy personnel when
they brought Spencer Anderson in as the extra lineman and
put Darnel Washington over there. They got the defense kind
of creeping bad eye discipline looking at the strength of
the formation and a lot of those reverse boot pitchouts
were successful.

Speaker 6 (12:57):
So I think they went back to that late in
the game.

Speaker 7 (12:59):
That's what one of the play that really set up
that last scoring drive for the Steelers.

Speaker 6 (13:03):
So it was just it's a.

Speaker 7 (13:04):
Work in progress and you've got to figure out ways
to just keep that consistency. But those four straight three
and outs just really disrupted a lot of what they
wanted to do in the games. And like you said,
and having those two two yard plays or less some
negative just doesn't help.

Speaker 6 (13:21):
When they have run through blitz by the linebackers.

Speaker 3 (13:23):
And staying with that offensive line there when you look
at the stats, the Patriots was not credited with any sacks.
What we saw on TV versus what you saw in person.
How stout was this the Steelers in their passing game,
pass retection game, I thought.

Speaker 7 (13:38):
They held on for some of the stuff they were doing.
To remember, there's two very talented guys off the edge.
Harold Landry and calebon Chase on are two very talented
pass rushers. I thought they did enough. Now, now Aaron
was flushed out of the pocket. He was throwing on
the move a little bit. But when you think about
just how bad it was a week ago with the
interior of that pocket collapsing very early, with Jaron Reid

(14:01):
and company in the middle. For the Seahawks, I thought
they did a better job of really throwing, you know,
pushing back Tonga, bar Moore, Milton Williams in those moments.
So I thought it was a better pass protecting game
for them. Still not as clean as you would like it, Charlie,
not as good as our offensive line used to do
for you and Ben, But I mean it's getting better.

Speaker 2 (14:23):
Max SU's two times in three games now, well all
three of them really have been decided in the fourth quarter.
But twice, the Steelers have come up with three phase
efforts to kind of steal it at the end. I
think you could only get kind of stole the Jets
game for openers, and definitely I thought this one today.
I mean, I can't remember watching the game that they
were ahead for so long where it felt like they

(14:43):
were losing or gonna lose. And tell me a little
bit about the clutch gene is there is there honest
value to that And the more times this happens, how
does that resonate with the players individually and collectively.

Speaker 6 (14:56):
Well, I'll tell you this.

Speaker 7 (14:57):
You know, in the sport of football, and I'm sure
Charlie Kaneko this, I'd rather be lucky than really good
all the time, because you're gonna need a certain level
of luck no matter how good you are, to get
to where you want to go.

Speaker 6 (15:11):
And I think for the Steelers, like you said.

Speaker 7 (15:13):
Having that luck and having that tenacity to not give up.
I think the biggest thing that I see from last
year to this year is the body language and the
posture of the team on the sidelines. You didn't see
anybody get too low, they didn't get too high. They
kept very even keeling I know there was a guy
that was on the team last year. It was his

(15:35):
number was after thirteen and was before fifteen, and he
had bad body posture, and that also can can can
permeate throughout a team. You don't see that this year,
and I think that's another thing where.

Speaker 6 (15:47):
You have that belief.

Speaker 7 (15:48):
You know, remember when Ben was there, Remember when you
were there, Charlie, Remember when you were coming to this
team in the early two thousands.

Speaker 6 (15:54):
We never believed we were out of it until we
were out of it, right. It had to hit zeros
on the clock.

Speaker 7 (15:59):
And I think the more you go through these moments,
the more you go through these grit and resiliency building factors,
the more that belief is and the harder you want
to fight in those tight clutch moments. And I think
that's what they're developing. They're developing that type of identity
that you're going to have to play sixty minutes with
this team.

Speaker 6 (16:18):
It's never going to be pretty, it's going to be ugly.

Speaker 7 (16:21):
But if we can win the knockdown, drag out type
of moments, that makes it tough for the other team
coming in because it's like, we can't make this team
quick they're not going to stop, and so we have
to put them into submission. And you've got to take
victories away from us. That's what the identity that you're
trying to build right now.

Speaker 3 (16:38):
And I know, defensively obviously they were they were They
stood up when they needed to stand up the most.
And one of my unsung heroes. Yes, we know what
expectations are with Cam Hayward. Could we've seen it year
after year. But Brandon Ecker Echles please talk about him
as it relates to him baiting Drake May at the
end of the first half of coming up clutch at
the end of the game.

Speaker 7 (16:58):
Oh, I mean Brandon Eckles, Man. You know this guy
who's been around it, He's been around ball. He's a
super Bowl champion. He's a guy that's been asked to
play in these type of roles before for the Eagles,
and now he's doing it for the Steelers. Right we
don't have Joey Porter Junior. It elevates his role in
what he has to do.

Speaker 6 (17:14):
On this team.

Speaker 7 (17:15):
We were gonna use him as kind of an extra
guy and mainly on special teams, but to come in
and take that starting role and really play at this level,
he has that veteran sixth sense right when you can
manipulate and make people think you're not there and you
become that ghost.

Speaker 6 (17:31):
That's that's what you're looking for as a defensive back.
And he did.

Speaker 7 (17:34):
Absolutely that in the end zone, now aided by that
nice Cam Hayward fingertip there. You know, his right middle
finger I think was the one that tipped it in
that moment. But to be in position where the receiver
wasn't and catch that ball masterful. And then like you
said at the end, you know, going for a play
because we've been playing a lot, a lot of lot

(17:54):
giving them a lot of underneath throws in that game,
trying to play deeper zones when we're dropping into some
of the seven stuff, some of the quarter stuff, and
they were just taking advantage. And for Brandon Echles to
kind of give that little kind of it looked like
it looked like the fake, like reverse shoulder and then
come right back at the ball, I thought that was
just masterful.

Speaker 6 (18:13):
And that's where experience comes in.

Speaker 7 (18:14):
You know, you talk about getting comfortable playing with the
guys around you, how to kin to have that non
verbal communication. The more comfortable you get the easier it
is to kind of play with the opponent, and I
thought the comfortability is now kicking in now that he's
had this expanded role for multiple weeks.

Speaker 2 (18:30):
Max got about a minute left. Derek Harmon, the first
time I noticed him was the second series. He drew
a double team and got pressure. He chased down a
screen from behind for just a five yard game. He
got half a sack. Then the next series, well, he
kind of got pushed off the ball. He let Drake
May get outside of him for what became a sixteen

(18:50):
yard run. Haven't seen any snap counts yet, but how
did he play and how much better should he be
for having played today.

Speaker 6 (18:59):
Well?

Speaker 7 (18:59):
And also just he did get the full sack credit.
They did take the half away from Cam and give
Derek the.

Speaker 2 (19:04):
Full sound good, He just reserved it.

Speaker 7 (19:06):
So Cam is still sitting at eighty nine and a half,
he's almost at ninety. That put him at ninety and
that backed him up a little bit. But I thought
I thought Derek Harmon played well because you talked about
the sack that he had, but right before that he
had a tackle for loss. So to have back to
back plays where he shows up still not in shape right,
He's not played in a couple of weeks.

Speaker 6 (19:24):
He's been trying to heal.

Speaker 7 (19:25):
That knee, and I thought I thought he played a
good majority of this game, more than I thought because
I was thinking he was gonna be on.

Speaker 6 (19:31):
A pitch count.

Speaker 7 (19:32):
But I also was reminded that Mike t if you're
going to be on a pitch count, he more unlikely
is not not gonna address you. So he felt comfortable that, however,
the flow of the game was going to allow him
to play. And I think as he got on the
conditioning was a little bit of a factor for him.
But I saw multiple times where he was in there
and like you said, creating the movement. Now, I don't

(19:54):
know if i'd pick a three hundred and fifteen pound
guy to chase a mobile quarterback like Drake May who
likes to run the football did it in college and
he is a mobile quarterback. I don't know if I would
picked him in a foot race in that moment. But
he also did that to TJ.

Speaker 6 (20:07):
Watt as well.

Speaker 7 (20:08):
So you say, hey, good try, guys, but how about
we not twist DJ TJ Watt to the inside and
forced a three hundred pounder to run outside contain on
a mobile quarterback.

Speaker 6 (20:16):
That's all I'm saying. But I thought he did really well.

Speaker 2 (20:19):
Sounds like a plan. Max Safe travels to Ireland. Save
me a barstool, would you please?

Speaker 8 (20:25):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (20:25):
Absolutely, and make sure I'm lacking. Hans is right there
on a coaster for you, Bud.

Speaker 2 (20:30):
That was Max Starks, who is bound for Ireland tonight.
No nice, Gonna get over there and get things ready
for the Steelers before they arrive later this week to
take on the Vikings a week from today in Dublin.
Mike Pursued and Charlie Batch with you Steelers twenty one
to fourteen winners in New England. Today. The Steelers postgame

(20:50):
Show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (20:54):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by doing it right, roofing,
sighting and remodeling them up a lifetime workmanship warranty.

Speaker 6 (21:03):
See it is creeping up the show pressure here they come.

Speaker 9 (21:05):
May throws out to the left to Pop Douglas, who
stepped backwards and his tackle and it's Echos who comes.

Speaker 6 (21:12):
Up with his stop.

Speaker 9 (21:13):
I don't know whether Pop Douglas would have had the
first down, but Echoes made sure he didn't.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
Welcome back to the Steels postgame show and the Steelers
Audio Network. Four P one two nine, nine, thirteen sixteen
is our number. Today's electrified Play of the game is
powered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union
Number five IBEW letting up Pittsburgh since nineteen eighty seven.
Charlie Brandon Eckles is a guy we've talked about. Is
a real subtle but solid acquisition UH transitioning from last

(21:45):
season to this season. He doesn't necessarily generate a headline
when a guy such as that is acquired, but boy,
he's a pretty solid football player, and he came up
with two huge plays.

Speaker 3 (21:55):
Today, absolutely six tackles on the day. That was the
biggest tackle of the game because it sealed the deal
for the Steelers. But when I look at it, that
play right at the end of the half, baiting Drake
may As, he's thinking that maybe he's going to play
the fat flat. He's trying to hit that corner route,
and it's almost like playing you know, street football. You're like,
he's open throat to him, and then you go in
there and go for the interception. That's exactly what he did.

(22:18):
And that really sealed the deal because that could have
easily been a tie ball game going into the half.
Unfortunately it did not work, and ultimately it paid off
dividends for the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (22:28):
We've got some people who have been patiently waiting to
get on, so let's get to it. Linda and Myrtle Beach.
You're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 3 (22:35):
How are you, Linda, I'm good, I'm good.

Speaker 10 (22:38):
Thank You's ugly win, but it's a win, so I'll
take it. I was happy with our.

Speaker 11 (22:46):
Kick coverage and like it's been, I thought that.

Speaker 10 (22:48):
Improved this week a lot and a little disappointed and
couldn't capitalize on any of the turnovers. I mean, not
even a field goal. And do you think we should
have tried a sixty one yarder instead of punting.

Speaker 3 (23:01):
That's what we were sitting here scratching our hands. I'm
thinking that he's going to go for that field goal
based off what what Boswell has shown over the fat
past two weeks.

Speaker 6 (23:08):
I agree.

Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, I would have kicked it, absolutely.

Speaker 12 (23:15):
Definitely.

Speaker 10 (23:16):
Well, I'm not sure I can call next week. I
will be in Ireland, so it might be a little
expensive to call.

Speaker 3 (23:23):
Well, maybe they hopefully they set something up that maybe
there's an eight hundred number that people could call in.
I don't know. I can't speak for or you could.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
You know, Lenda, your pretty regular call, and we appreciate it.
You've earned a day off. Just have a have a
beverage and enjoy the game. How's that illwe Okay? On
we go. Another guy who's been waiting patiently, Dan in Minneapolis,
Thanks for hanging in there with us.

Speaker 13 (23:46):
Dan, oh hey, thanks for taking my call. Lifetime Steeler
fan and I listened to you guys a lot, but
I decided to call in today. I think I'm gonna
date myself. I think my first game I ever watched
intently when the Steelers used to play Saturday night.

Speaker 8 (24:00):
It's at the.

Speaker 13 (24:01):
Old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, and John Henry Johnson ran
wild and the Steelers beat him like twenty three seven.
And then the next year my dad had season tickets
and nineteen sixty five, I went to my first Steeler game.
But you know, I just want to say this, Mike Tomlin.
I think he's a great, great individual, and I think
if the world had more Mike Tomlins, the world would

(24:22):
be a better place. Can't say enough great things about him.
But you know, well, I heard ed bo Shit last
year on a PG podcast talking about when Dan Rooney
arn't Rooney's dad went in and told Noel losing season,
we're gonna have to make some changes. And I believe

(24:43):
Tony Dungee, who was phenomenal, and I think he has
the defense in the right position. I think it was
a talent issue. No reluctantly made the change and then
had a winning season, made the playoffs, and then you know,
we go two bad seasons back to back, and as
Bouchett said it, as I recall then, when Dan Rooney
said to Noel we're gonna have to make some more

(25:05):
changes on the staff, that's when Noel retired. And so
I don't know, I don't know that Bouchett would make
that up, but it makes me wonder after last year
when we got decimated down the stretch, I thought, Okay,
when's Rooney going to mandate some changes? And would I
would have thought Pat Meyer on the old line in
Austin on d would be gone. And when you look

(25:28):
at our coaching schemes, I guess I want to understand
from your perspective, you know, you look at a guy
like Dots that couldn't thrive here and he thrives in LA.
And then it takes me to looking at fourth and
one on our own fifteen in the first half, and
I told my son in law they're going to go
for it. He goes no way, and they did, and
they get ten yards and then fourth and two in

(25:49):
the red zone, Boom uncovered down the middle, touchdown, and
Wilson and Queen are looking at each other, and it
begs the question of you know, I know, are we gonna
be a team that's doing that to.

Speaker 14 (26:02):
The other people.

Speaker 13 (26:04):
I like what Max said about Hey, the knockdown, drag
out moments, but when it comes to Philly, KC, Baltimore, Buffalo,
we can't do it against those teams. So what do
you guys think about our schemes and our coaching? And
I think if our on line doesn't step up for
Aaron Rodgers is the poor guy is going to get
crushed and he deserves better. So thanks for listening.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Yeah, I think when you look at everything to go on,
no by no means as being Mike sitting here saying
this is a you know, finished product. We know they
have a lot of work to do. We're here to
analyze that, and offensively, it's just not going to be
able to get it done when you sit back and
only have two hundred and two total yards in sixty
four yards rushing. And that's not the stable of Arthur
Smith offense. He wants to run the football right now,

(26:51):
he cannot run it consistently enough, and that's going to
continue to be something that we talk about. I know,
we have one more week before the bye week and
then you self evaluate, but they have to get better
because you know you're going to play against the dominant
Vikings defense next week that is a lot more aggressive
than what you've seen here today.

Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, I think somewhere in that long story and I
appreciate the passion and the historical perspective. You mentioned Rooney
went to Noel after a losing season. Okay, we haven't
had one of those yet under Mike Tomlin. I'm just
reminding you of that, and I will remind you also
that they are two and one after three games, and

(27:27):
there's a lot of football yet to be played, and
you can choose to view the rest of the season
as an oncoming train that's going to run them over eventually,
or you can ponder the possibilities. It's up to you.
They're two and one.

Speaker 3 (27:41):
And the one thing that I get excited about is
that young Derek Harmon. You drafted him for a reason
in the first round and ultimately what we've seen over
the last couple of games with one hundred yards rushing.
When you look at what New England did today, they
had one hundred and nineteen total, but the leading rusher
today was their quarterback Drake May. Seven carries forty five yards.
Maybe that is something that you could at least take

(28:02):
away from to say we got better today.

Speaker 2 (28:04):
Appreciate the phone call. Let's move on to Adam in Georgia. Adam,
you've been hanging in a while. Appreciate that.

Speaker 15 (28:10):
Welcome to the show, Yes, sir, good affin in.

Speaker 16 (28:15):
How are you.

Speaker 6 (28:15):
Guys doing well?

Speaker 2 (28:16):
How are you doing doing well?

Speaker 14 (28:19):
Thank you.

Speaker 15 (28:20):
Don't have much to say, but I hear a lot
of wish we would do that on offense and wish
we would do that on defense. And at the end
of the day, a win is a win, like my
son said, and that's what we preacher at our house.
And next week's gonna have some very unique challenges and
I think we'll see the same type of thing that

(28:41):
Mike Tomlin has done his whole career, find a way
to get a win going into Dublin. So, hey, I
appreciate what you guys do and Ghos Steelers, No.

Speaker 3 (28:51):
I appreciate that, and I think I think you know.
Another piece that people are you know, are adding go
on to is the fact that when you see just
the number swaying on the offensive side from the passing perspective,
and you're like, Okay, New England's giving up over three
hundred and fifteen yards passing through the air, they're minus
the number one corner, but yet you're only able to
generate one hundred and thirty nine yards in the passing game.

(29:11):
So that's something again they're going to continue to need
work on. But you have to stay on the field
with a new set of downs and convert on third downs.
You cannot consistently have three and outs.

Speaker 2 (29:20):
And they we're also New England's also second in sacks.
I believe with nine you've got to be able to
protect before you can throw. It doesn't matter how soft
they are on the back end. If your quarterback doesn't
have time to get back there and deliver the ball.
So yeah, I want to repeat something Charlie said just
a second ago. By no means are we sitting here
saying this is a finished product. They're a great team
here we go see at the super Bowl. But three

(29:42):
weeks in they are dealing with bringing in new players,
They're dealing with some injuries, They're dealing with stuff that
everybody deals with in September because there is a transition
period from the preseason to the regular season. The key
to this first month is finding ways to win game.
And if they can find a way to get out
of Dublin with a win, Hey, is this sustainable all year?

(30:05):
Absolutely not. But if it's sustainable one more week, now
you're three and one and you gotta buy to kind
of reorganize. So could be worse, is uh? Is my point?

Speaker 3 (30:14):
Absolutely anything else?

Speaker 2 (30:19):
Nope, Okay, we're gonna we're gonna take a quick break.
If you're on the phone's hang in there, we'll get
to you directly. The Steelers postgame Show continues right here
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (30:30):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It Right, Roofing, Sighting,
and remodeling home up the lifetime workmanship warranty.

Speaker 17 (30:39):
May and the shotgun back to pass pump fake has
some time, rolls to the left, now back to the right,
steps up and down.

Speaker 9 (30:44):
He goes head the balls loose head it to recover
by DJ want Huss stripsack a lot recovery. Has Herbie
got home and knocked it away? A fit fit turnover
created by this Steelers defense.

Speaker 2 (31:01):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show and the Steelers
Audio Network four one two nine thirteen sixteen our number.
Back to the phones we go, and uh, let's bring
on MJ in Florida. You're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 6 (31:13):
MJ.

Speaker 18 (31:15):
Hey, guys, nice to talk to you. I have to
get some things off my chest, and then I have
a question for you. First of all, thank God for defense.
I mean, seriously, with five takeaways that we should have
won that game big, especially with Bossie. He's incredible, as
you can probably tell after my clements. I'm not a

(31:36):
big Rogers fan. The quarterback camp back up five to
seven yards and throw three yard pass. I'm tired of
seeing it. It's been going on for years, and he
was supposed to be an All Star and I don't
see it. So I want to know who's calling the place.
Is it Smith or is it Tomlin, Because we've been

(31:56):
doing the same thing before Smith ever showed up. So
what's with the short This guy's supposed to be a superstar,
and what's with these short little passes that aren't getting
us anywhere?

Speaker 3 (32:07):
Yeah, I mean we're watching the same thing that you are.
And it becomes frustrating because does Aaron have the arm
strength to push the ball down the field? Absolutely he does,
but again, you got to get in in the rhythm,
and when you go that long, it don't necessarily get
the rhythm going. You're three and out, you try to
take you know, lesser chances, and that's what's happening with
them throwing the ball before the sticks, and it just

(32:30):
gets frustrating. I wish I had a better answer for you,
but I just don't. And just looking at the status,
I'm going to go stitch just for your stats to
your point is one hundred and thirty nine yards passing,
but yet your top receiver three catches for thirty four
yards with Calvinatsen, So yes, that is a problem. But
go ahead and continue.

Speaker 18 (32:47):
I'm sorry, do you think do you think he needs
to snap the ball quicker because he waits till the
count clocks down to five or lower and they know that,
I mean, their defense know when we're on a snap.

Speaker 4 (33:00):
But basically it's within these next five seconds.

Speaker 18 (33:03):
Maybe if he gets the ball off quicker, we can
get you know, he doesn't have to go back us
deep and toss these little I mean, I could throw
three yards for God's sake, and.

Speaker 3 (33:11):
I wouldn't doubt that. But I think ultimately, when you
look at where you are, you know with this, the
original question you had was who's calling the plays? Arthur
Smith calls the place and underneath Mike Tomlin is from
my experience to what I'm seeing now, he allows his
coordinators to call the plays offensively. So that is part.
So I didn't answer your original question there, but I
think ultimately, when you're seeing everything that's that's transpiring on

(33:34):
the offense, yeah, it's becomes predictable because it seems like
it's run, run, pass and you're not keeping the defense
off balance. And again it's showing up in every statistical
category because the Patriots dominated every category with the exception
of turnovers.

Speaker 2 (33:49):
An just to add my two sons worth. Maybe I
can ease your frustration a little bit. You said, with
five takeaways we should have blown them out. Well, how
about looking at it like look at it like this.
Without five takeaways, they'd have lost. Okay, maybe with four
takeaways they would have lost. So thank God for five takeaways.

(34:11):
Aaron Rodgers is not here necessarily to be a star.
He's here to win games. And the point I'm trying
to make with that is they're not expecting him, at
forty one years old, to be an All Pro. They're
not expecting him to throw for four hundred yards a game,
but they want him to come through in the situations
that dictate the game. And two out of three weeks
he's done that. The passes he was under siege today

(34:33):
again he got the ball out quick. They got the
running game going early, which they're going to have to
do at some point, and then you know, they started
getting stuffed, but they were staying with it. The score
dictated that they could keep trying it. They weren't in
catchup mode. And again at the end of the game,
he was just marvelous. I mean, when there's one on
one coverage, he sees it and he tries to exploit it,
and multiple times now they've hit big plays, scores or

(34:56):
gotten penalties, which came up again today. They didn't get
that call the Jets game when he threw deep to
Calvin Austin down the sideline, but they got the pass
interference on Metcalf deep down the sideline.

Speaker 3 (35:06):
And two big plays that he had. It's easy to
complete a fifty to fifty ball on the end zone
to somebody like DK Mescalf's stature, But when you look
on the other side of Calvin Austin, you're sitting near
a five to ten receiver versus a corner, and he's
able to deliver that football in the manner that he
did to close out ball games. To Mike's point, that's
why Aaron is here to not make those some stakes

(35:27):
at the end to be able to close the game
out and put the team in the end zone. At
least he did that with the final drivet that he had.

Speaker 18 (35:34):
He did it with the final drug. But I just
should step up a little earlier.

Speaker 2 (35:38):
Well, we all do something.

Speaker 18 (35:42):
Occasionally.

Speaker 3 (35:43):
We're with you, we are one with you, so we
get you. We get your point.

Speaker 2 (35:47):
If they ever get in a position where he thinks
he's going to have two and a half seconds or
three seconds to throw. I bet you're going to see that.
But right now, do you think they're going to protect
I don't know.

Speaker 18 (35:59):
It doesn't look like it.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
No, it doesn't. So he's got to get rid of it.

Speaker 18 (36:04):
But yeah, so get rid of it quicker for God's sakes.
And the other thing. I just want to say, I,
unlike Glinda, didn't win the lottery, so I'll be watching
stateside instead of in Ireland.

Speaker 2 (36:16):
Well, I'm sorry you didn't win the lottery.

Speaker 3 (36:19):
Well, I feel your pain. I'll be on stay side
with you. Unlike my colleague. I leave my colleague over here.
He might be over here in Ireland.

Speaker 2 (36:27):
I will, I will, I will tipic guinnis in both
of your honors. That Jam appreciate the phone call. Thank
you very much. I am going to enjoy that. Tyler
in the basement, you're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 19 (36:44):
Mike, Charlie, what's up, guys?

Speaker 2 (36:46):
Not much? How you doing?

Speaker 19 (36:48):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Pretty good?

Speaker 19 (36:49):
Another wonderful day in the basement. Even though it was
like a little you know, I got the heart racing again.
Typical Steeler game. I just want to go on a
defense man.

Speaker 4 (37:00):
I don't know.

Speaker 19 (37:01):
We we played Baltimore twice. How how are we going
to stop Derrick Henry? Like I understand, but what what
are we doing? We should have we should have blew
out the Patriots.

Speaker 2 (37:17):
Why should they have blown out the Patriots?

Speaker 19 (37:19):
Well, I mean we were off fourteen nothing and I
was feeling pretty good and just I mean we had
five turnovers?

Speaker 2 (37:26):
Who generated those? Maybe that's how you beat Baltimore. I
don't know answer answer your question. No, let me finish
here at the second title. Baltimore is a down the
road problem, the today problems New England. They found a
way to get out of the stadium with a win.
Take what you can get when you can get it,
particularly early in the season.

Speaker 11 (37:45):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (37:45):
If you if you're asking me or they play off
ready or big game ready? The answer is no, and
we all know that. But they're two and one. While
they work toward that, there's some value in that.

Speaker 3 (37:54):
And and also when you say down the road, that's
about ten to eleven weeks down the road that you
don't have to fay. They Baltimore for the first time,
so you're hoping that they do ultimately fix this defense
because they're giving up way too many yards. They know
that and they're trying to correct it.

Speaker 4 (38:10):
I agree.

Speaker 19 (38:10):
Hey, Mikey, you're gonna be down Dublin this weekend.

Speaker 2 (38:13):
I'm gonna be down Dublin.

Speaker 6 (38:15):
You're gonna you're gonna be you gonna be at the
d V telgate.

Speaker 2 (38:19):
Well, if it's TV, I'm good chance I'm gonna be there.
I haven't checked. I haven't checked the itinerary yet, but
I would say it's probable. How's that my.

Speaker 19 (38:28):
Buddy in the basement right now, he's gonna be down
there at the DV telgate.

Speaker 6 (38:33):
He's gonna he's gonna.

Speaker 5 (38:34):
Tell you hello.

Speaker 2 (38:35):
Well, I'll tell him hello back. Appreciate the call, Tyler.
Let's uh go now to Todd in Grove City. You're
up next week, Mike and Charlie. How are you Todd?

Speaker 6 (38:46):
Good?

Speaker 20 (38:47):
They want to ask you about the game started out
good and then no offense. They looked like New England
made adjustments and they Steelers didn't make any adjustments.

Speaker 3 (39:05):
Yeah, it was tough, and I think you know, when
you look back, and this is the point that you know,
many people will overlook. When you look at the drive
from the New England game, second quarter drive. They went
probably seven eight minutes on that drive before the Echos interception,
and then the Steelers came out. They kneeled it, went
to the half, got the ball back. Yes, it was
about eight or nine minutes of game time, but they

(39:28):
probably sat for close to twenty minutes and not do
anything if you're including halftime. So they have to do
a better job of getting it turned around and saying
we need to come out in the second half with
that momentum, with the offense and set of tone. They
didn't do it. They went three and out punted the ball.
That's just something that's unacceptable. I'm trying to give them
a reason as a race of what the slow start was,

(39:49):
particularly in the second half, But that's something Mike Tomlin
will address because if that ever happens again, they have
to be ready to get ready to put the drive
together to give that defense a break.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
We did see some things todd that we hadn't seen
yet from the offense this year. We saw that Kenneth
Gainwell run a wildcat play read option with war Network
pretty well. We saw Spencer Anderson coming in seventy four
his eligible as an extra tight end. They tried to
tweak it here and there. To Charlie's point, they did
not have the ball a long time today. There wasn't

(40:21):
a lot of time to do much of anything.

Speaker 6 (40:22):
They did not.

Speaker 2 (40:23):
Thankfully, they got it done at the end when they
had to, and they got off to the strong start,
which gave them the leeway to have the two and
a half quarter disappearing act that they pulled.

Speaker 3 (40:32):
Off, and they finished the game minus thirteen in a
time of possession. If they did not put that drive together,
those numbers are going to be a little bit more
worse than what they are now.

Speaker 8 (40:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 20 (40:42):
I just think they didn't go to metcalf or Austin
enough after the first after the first two scores.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
Yeah, I would agree with you. But you know, the
one time he tried to go to Austin, he threw
it right to Roberts plane. And he did that because
he was on his back foot, because he was under pressure. Again.
I just the one thing that's been really constant in
these three games, to my point of view anyway, is
that Rogers has been under an incredible amount of pressure.
And you're seeing him throw quick sideline stuff, You're seeing

(41:11):
him get rid of the ball quickly a lot. You're
seeing him check it down to the backs a lot.
He doesn't have a lot of time to survey the
coverage and use his experience and figure out what's happened.
And they got to do a better job protecting. And
I think the key to doing a better job protecting
is to do a better job running, so you get
the defense a little more worried about running and a
little less obsessed with rushing the passer.

Speaker 3 (41:31):
And I think one person, and you mentioned the name
Robert Spilane. We know he had here, had a really
good career here, known for that hit against the Titans
and Derek Henry on the goal line. That guy played
lights out the day fifteen tackles and interception so he
can play. Congratulations to Robert. I'm glad we were able
to get to win on this side. But as a
former Steeler and an alumni here man, it was good

(41:53):
to see him out there making plays.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
Anything else appreciate it. Four one, two, nine to one, nine,
thirteen sixteen is our number. The show continues right here
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (42:11):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It
Right roofing, sighting and remodeling Home of the lifetime workmanship
warranty raises.

Speaker 17 (42:20):
The foot gets a snap back to pass, looking throwing
left towards the.

Speaker 9 (42:23):
End zone, back shoulder touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers.

Speaker 6 (42:27):
It's Calvin Austin and the end zone.

Speaker 9 (42:29):
Rogers to Austin, second touchdown pass of the game for Rogers,
and the Steelers have retaken the lead at the two
sixteen mark of the fourth quarter.

Speaker 21 (42:38):
I mean, here's what we're supposed to do, and we
got to make those plays. Uh so we're not in
those positions, you know, fourteen nothing. We're film pretty damn
good about ourselves. You know, we haven't been in the
head by two scores yet and two drives, two touchdowns
starting fast fit or straight week. But you know, I
just didn't didn't play great and we kind of lost
our rhythm. Had too many penalties and they're gonna be

(43:00):
his plays, and didn't make him pay when we had opportunities.

Speaker 2 (43:04):
It was Aaron Rodgers talking about the game winning touchdown
pass to Calvin Austin. Today's injury 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 and Charlie. Mike Tomlin mentioning
a couple of leg contusions after the game. Darius Slay
and Broderick Jones both guys. I didn't even notice Jones

(43:26):
went out of the game. To be honest with you,
I don't know if he missed any time or not.
Slay was in and out, but man, there were times there.
Your secondary was Brandon Echols and James Pierre and Jabrill
Peppers who's been here ten minutes, and Chuck Clark, who
just got here this year. They found a way to

(43:48):
work their way around it. That's what you have to
do in the NFL.

Speaker 3 (43:51):
They did, and that Darius Slay won. Was wondering what
happened friendly It wasn't necessary friendly fire. Somebody was flipping
over the pow and as they were flipping, his leg
ended up catching right on the side of the knee.
Looked more calf area. But I'm glad to see him
able to to get out there and get back into
the game. But he's going to be sore, and I'm
sure he'll be day to day, just like we all are.

Speaker 2 (44:12):
It's gonna particularly be the case when I'm in Ireland.
Absolutely four one two nine one nine thirteen sixty is
our number. Back to the phones, hut in Ohio. You're
up next with Mike and Charlie. How are you, hut
Ah guys doing today?

Speaker 3 (44:27):
Doing well? How about you say?

Speaker 18 (44:29):
Yeah day to day?

Speaker 22 (44:30):
I love that, Charlie, But yeah, I didn't know you
were a aaron awesome sweep.

Speaker 23 (44:36):
I enjoyed that.

Speaker 22 (44:37):
But I tried to get a hold of you guys
last week with the nine one night number. It was
a little tough, but yeah, they never got through. But
I want to say thank you both for the radio
time that was phenrmal one point one point two whatever
it was.

Speaker 2 (44:55):
One point two, appreciate, uh, appreciate the sentiment it was. Indeed,
thanks the people that contribute to make that happen. We're
just a vehicle for it. But uh, hats off to
everybody involved in that for sure.

Speaker 6 (45:08):
But you gentlemen are the big was four. That's what
I appreciate.

Speaker 22 (45:13):
And Okay, back to the Steelers Derick Harmon, I thought
he had a.

Speaker 6 (45:16):
Pretty good shilling. I mean, as for just stepping it.
I appreciated it. Well do you think about him? He's
pretty out.

Speaker 2 (45:25):
There were some splash you noticed them at times, which
is you know, if you're d lineman and you're getting noticed,
you're doing something.

Speaker 3 (45:31):
Absolutely, he definitely this is why you brought him in here.
It was just a matter of what that pitch count
looked like for him, because you know, he was got
out to a great start in training camp before the
injury that happened. But now as you're working him back
into game shape, it's gonna take some time, so he's
gonna have to work on his conditioning.

Speaker 14 (45:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 22 (45:48):
Yeah, but you didn't catch him on a negative side though.
That was my point of it, you know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (45:55):
Yeah, I agree with you. Absolutely.

Speaker 4 (45:58):
Oh no, he was.

Speaker 6 (45:58):
Dead on it.

Speaker 22 (46:00):
And hey, I want to ask you about this, Mike,
we talked about well, we.

Speaker 20 (46:05):
Talked about it.

Speaker 22 (46:05):
I'm sorry, let's do the TV morning show bunch the
kickers that that teams can condition their own balls now
for their kickers, right or Am I wrong with this?

Speaker 16 (46:18):
Uh?

Speaker 2 (46:18):
There's been a change in the kicking ball. It used
to be you didn't get it till game day or
right before the game, and now it's different. I'll be honest, thought,
I haven't gone real deep into that. I figured they
kicked the one that's out there and you know kick it.

Speaker 3 (46:33):
Well, yeah, there has been some rule changes with that,
allowing kickers to kind of work those in during the
course of the week, so it's not as new when
they get to actual game day. And I think that's
part of what you're seeing right now because fifty two
yard field goals used to be the norm. Now they're
being pushed back and again, is the breaking into the
ball something that is causing that? Who knows? The kickers

(46:54):
have a better answer than what we do.

Speaker 22 (46:57):
Well, I appreciate that. I appreciated their door that. Now,
oh yeah, you're a checker, well you're a quarterback. But okay,
one more thing real quick, you don't mind fire away?
Well for third time outs? Tomally call a time out
at the first half, which was I thought was dumb,
and then called the one to get what I just

(47:17):
didn't understand the time nothing or is that Tomlin?

Speaker 16 (47:20):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (47:22):
I think if I had to guess, that probably was
trying to give his defense an extra couple seconds of rest,
if not a minute of rest, to make sure that
they all understood the call and hopefully that they're recovered
enough to go out there and make a play to
end the game. At least it worked in the second
half ultimately to where you are because that allowed Brandon
Echols to make that tackle.

Speaker 22 (47:43):
Yeah, I appreciate that. Yeah, give time out for them
to get their breath.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
Yeah, we talked about that. I questioned that with Charlie
as it was unfolding, and he said, well, if they
get to stop, it's a great call, and if they don't,
he's going to be questioned. And he couldn't have been
all right about that. So they got to stop. So
it was great usage of timeouts by that timeout magician
Mike Tomlin their YouTube Diamond. Okay, appreciate the call.

Speaker 5 (48:12):
Hut.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
I'm gonna swing it over to Chris at Gillette Stadium. Chris,
thanks for hanging in there, Welcome to the show.

Speaker 24 (48:19):
Good afternoon, Aday evening, Mike and Charlie. First time in caller.
Well to thank you guys for the opportunity and for
the platform.

Speaker 2 (48:28):
What was the crowd like today? Before you ask your question,
I'm curious with a lot of Pittsburgh fans, not too
many would uh what was the vibe in Gillette Stadium?

Speaker 24 (48:37):
I was actually really surprised. I want to say maybe
it was like steal it fans. There was there was
more than I thought it was.

Speaker 23 (48:47):
Going to be.

Speaker 2 (48:47):
That's a lot for up there.

Speaker 24 (48:50):
Yeah, and the vibe was pretty good. I mean obviously
after the first two drives, you know, we were kind
of all wolfing out chests and you know, thought, okay,
this is gonna be a cake walk, you know, and
then they kind of took you know, the next almost
three quarters or two quarters off. But yeah, it was,

(49:11):
it was good. It was. It was a good time,
good good crowd. I'm just wondering what's going on. How
come for the most part we can't couple cover tight ends?
And also I was kind of impressed, Yeah, it kind
of impressed with the with the run green. You know,

(49:32):
we saw flashes of it, but you know, I think
it's you know, obviously you still need to get a
long way to go.

Speaker 6 (49:40):
Now.

Speaker 3 (49:40):
And I agree with you on that. And I think
to your first point, those tight ends in middle of
the field, when they get into the third and dow
third and long situations, that's where the quarterback is going
when you show them a two high situation, So it
starts with pressure and if you're not able to do that. Ultimately,
a quarterback is gonna sit there kind of waiting for
his tight end to kind of work hash to hash
because typically that's where where his landmarks are and is

(50:02):
creating easy completions. And it's not something that we're just
seeing today. This is something that we've been seeing over
the last three weeks.

Speaker 24 (50:08):
Yeah, well you could even go back to, you know,
back when you played if we had a problem with
tight ends, but we you know, that's that's for another time. Yeah,
that's pretty much all I got, Like you said this
one to thank you guys to the opportunity and you
guys do a great job, I will say, honest said, No,
I am very sorry for the loss of mister Dale Lawley.

(50:31):
My condolences go to you in the whole steel organization
and anyone that got to know him. And yeah, prayers
for you for you all.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
Absolutely, Chrich, I appreciate your sentiment. Dale was a good
friend and uh hell of hell of a hard worker
and a guy who really gave everything he had to
whatever he was doing, whether he was broadcasting or writing,
whatever he was doing covering the Steelers. He was heart
and soul into it.

Speaker 3 (51:00):
Absolutely everything that I've been a part of around him,
and he's been nothing but top notch. And there was
a tribute that was there. I don't know exactly who
tweeted it out, but they had a memorial up there
of Dale Lolly space up there in Jillette Stadium. So
thank you, uh people, anyone, everyone who's involved in the
New England organization for creating that memory because the Lolly
was one of the best.

Speaker 2 (51:21):
Appreciate the call, Chris. The Steels Postgame Show continues right
here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (51:33):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by doing it
Right roofing, sighting and remodeling home up the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (51:45):
Welcome back to the Steels Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network, brought to you by kellyente Pizzen Draft House,
the Pizziff Champions four one, two, nine, thirteen, sixteen is
our number. Mike Pursuda and Charlie Batch. We are still
trying to figure out basically how the Steelers won this game. Yeah,
twenty one to fourteen over New England. They were great

(52:06):
early and then there was agonizing for two quarters, and
then they were as clutch as they needed to be
on offense, defense, and special teams. At the very end
when it was time to win, they won a lot
like that Jets game for openers. You'll take two and
one through three and just try to keep getting better. Charlie, right,
That is it.

Speaker 3 (52:25):
It's a lot easier to teach when you are sitting
there at two on one coming off of victory than
it is a loss.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
Let's go back to the phones now and welcome Kevin
from Vegas. How are you, Kevin? Hey?

Speaker 14 (52:36):
Pretty good guys. By the way, the most awkward thing
you guys have said all day is what Charlie said
as far as being day to day, because I mean,
how and I've been a fan well before Charlie played,
and I've gone through Noel Bill and now Mike, and
I guess my question is how long do we keep

(52:58):
having this conversation and trying to find positives and justifications
for what's become a very mediocre team in organization. We
are a horrible team that is horribly coached. That's two
and one because two teams decided to hand us a game.
We didn't go out and win it, and I got it.
There was a play execute at the end other than Boz,

(53:19):
who is the best in the game. It has been
for the last five ten years, exception to maybe Justin.
We do not do anything well Aaron and I don't
like Aaron. But Aaron is going to get killed this year,
and it's probably going to be on that beautiful play,
fake play that he had two weeks ago, because he's

(53:40):
going to try to do that against the Eagles or
someone else and they're going to be waiting for it
on the weak side and they're going to bury him
in the ground and he's not going to get up.
And then I got a couple other comments that I'll
just start it that way.

Speaker 2 (53:52):
Oh no, please continue. I got nothing for it. They're
two and one. I got nothing for you on all
the gloom and doom. But the show is for you
to have a forum.

Speaker 14 (54:03):
I'll give you, I'll give you now, I'll give you another,
I'll give you another thing. So we started eleven oh
a couple of years ago. The same exact issues we're
experiencing now are the same issues we're experiencing then. And
I started having the same conversation with ninety three point
seven fair and you guys when it and I say
in general, not you specifically. When we were five and
oh and and we I said before the season, we'd

(54:26):
start five and one or four and two in this
first section because it's such a ridiculously easy schedule. We
would get overhyped, like we always do every year with
Mike T, and then we'd start running into real competition
and all of our weaknesses and nothing that we've done
to fix it. The only consistent is Mike T. We

(54:46):
changed all the coordinators, we've changed all the players, we've
even changed the owner in the GM, and it's the
exact same issues from a lack of game planning, a
lack of execution, a lack of end game plan I
mean adjustments, two many thrillles, the use of time outs,
et cetera. It continues to happen, and yet we're still here,

(55:06):
and we're going to get back to nine and eight
again this year because we got another break from an
injury standpoint, like we have the last three or four
years with and I feel bad for the kid Joe
Burrow getting hurt. And so now we'll probably get one
out of two from Browning in the in the Bengals,
especially after the way they played today, and we'll stumble
into nine and eight again and we'll be here having

(55:26):
the same conversation again about never had a losing season,
when has that mattered in sports? Where the Pittsburgh Steelers
we're about championships and we haven't been about that for
the last ten or twelve years. And I got it.
It's a lot of doom and gloom. I'm just ridiculously
tired of it.

Speaker 3 (55:45):
I can understand your frustrations when it comes with it,
but we're talking about at this particular point. I'm not
going to talk about what the past may or may
have not has been right now or two on one,
and that's what we're talking about at this particular point.
But ultimately, when you see after next week's game, this
team is either going to be two and two, three
and one, or maybe two to one in one. Who
knows what is going to happen, but either way, factor

(56:07):
the possibility and you're going to be five hundred going
into the bye week. So these are things that ultimately
are going to happen. So as you get to that
bye week, self evaluation happens. Maybe you get some people
who are injured, you return, and then ultimately they have
their full arsenal that we're able to judge from right now. Defensively,
we don't have that. They have a lot of holes.

(56:28):
What I get excited about is Derek Harmon coming back.
That solidified in the game in the time that he
played today, So as you now work him back into this,
we're going to see why the Steelers felt that he
was the number one pick and why they're putting him
in there, and how he can change the defense. That's
all I can give you at this particular point.

Speaker 2 (56:44):
The other thing I would add, Kevin, is maybe Rogers
will get buried one of these weeks, like you say
he will, but maybe he won't. And I think i've
seen through three games they have a different level of
play quarterback right now than they've had in a long
long time. And I want to see how this. I
want to see how it ends.

Speaker 14 (57:04):
Yeah, to your point, I don't disagree that ar is
playing better than anybody we've had in four or five years,
you know, going back to been playing a rough last season.
I just I think there's zero chance. And again I
don't like Aaron, but I don't want to see anybody
get hurt. I don't see any way that Erin gets
through the season with playing sixty full sixty I mean,

(57:25):
seventeen games schedule and not getting buried. He's gotten hit
probably more than anybody in the game to this point,
and harder than most guys in the game over three weeks,
and I don't see the offensive line coming around that
to the point where they can start protecting him and
run the ball efficiently. To your point, I think we'll
probably play a little bit better run defense as we

(57:45):
move forward now that Harmon's coming around and being healthy,
as long as we can stay healthy, but our back
end is going to continue to get decimated from a
passing perspective when we run into real offenses because we
still haven't gotten close to playing one. This is going
to turn ugly. It's going to turn ugly fast. And
I hope I'm one hundred and fifty percent wrong, but
history for the last ten years tells us that I'm not.

Speaker 2 (58:08):
Well. We'll see, We'll see. You're gonna keep watching the going.

Speaker 14 (58:12):
Oh yeah, hey, Paul Alexander was making fun of me
earlier because last weekend I'm a Steeler fan, I mean
a Pirates Excuse.

Speaker 16 (58:21):
Me, stip.

Speaker 14 (58:22):
This is how irritated I am Pittsburgh fans through and
through last weekend. I was on work in DC. I
specifically changed my return flight so I could go Friday
night and watch the Pirates blow a game against the Nationals,
stay Saturday and watch Pat and Arduzi act like Mike
Tomlin and blow a game in West Virginia, board a

(58:44):
late flight back to Vegas so I could get up
in the morning and watch the Steelers blow a game
against the Seahawks. So I'm gonna keep watching. You're right,
I'm a Pittsburgh fan. That's what we do. It's just
it's gotten very, very painful, especially growing up in the
seventies when that's what we thought reality was. And now
we've seen the last ten years in Pittsburgh outside the Penguins,

(59:05):
and I let it there.

Speaker 2 (59:06):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (59:06):
And the one thing I will say, keV, is the
fact that, yes, I agree with you as it relates
to keV of Aaron Rodgers getting hit coming into this game.
He had fifteen hits, seven sacks, no sacks today, but
he did get hit three times. So right now we're
averaging six hits a game, and that's not something that
any quarterback wants to have in this particular manner. When
you hear Aaron SoundBite, the one thing he did say, Hey,

(59:27):
I need to play better myself because he turned the
football over it. Quarterbacks, we realize right away what your
flaws are and ultimately you address him, take ownership, and
then ultimately you move forward running this offense. Aaron is
doing that. He's saying the right things. And when you
have someone that's saying, you want know what, I didn't
play my best game, but yet we came out to win.
That lets you know he feels he has a pretty

(59:49):
good team because if you don't do much offensively, yet
defensively they were able to stand up and you walk
out of stadium with the victory. Hopefully they're on to something.
We just have to see it.

Speaker 2 (59:58):
Kevin, appreciate the call. We'll look. It's Forard to talk
to you. Maybe next week after they beat Minnesota in
they're three and one, and then we can really get depressed. Uh,
let's go to alex in Elwood. You're up next with
Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 25 (01:00:10):
Yeah, hey guys, Uh sorry, you guys are having to
play psychologists for all the devastated folks. I don't know
it's gonna be that depressed. It could be two and one.
But I mean, obviously I.

Speaker 2 (01:00:20):
Thought there might be a little bit of happiness today.
But yeah, little little I know.

Speaker 25 (01:00:25):
I was gonna I was gonna ask about, you know,
DK Metcalf and getting separation. But if that's a boring question,
so I want to hear like story time from Uncle
Charlie and Uncle Mike on uh all right, so Jalen
Ramsey and Stefan Digg is supposed to have this big
Obviously enough materialized today from that, but I wanted your
guys perspective and Charlie take us back to Steele Valley,

(01:00:47):
w P I L football, Mike, give me something from
like the eighties or nineties. But what were the best
beats on field, off field that you guys saw in
your time around this game?

Speaker 16 (01:00:58):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:00:59):
I think, I mean, at the end of it is
a game, so you know what you see out there
there genuinely hate, genuine hate that players have with one another. Maybe,
but there's a strong chance that it's not. I think
for me, the only one that I really see was
whenever I think was two thousand and four and Joey
Porter didn't play after he got shot in Denver and
he's sitting there beefing with ray Lewis on the field,
and it carried over because Joey was ultimately going to

(01:01:21):
go on the bus and they were literally going to
fight right outside of the bus. So that probably may
be the only thing that I really think that two
people just genuinely didn't like each other. Are they cool now,
absolutely they are, but back then that was just a
fierce rivalry during that time.

Speaker 2 (01:01:34):
I would I would honestly say that Steelers Ravens, back
in that time period when they were both the two
biggest kids, not just in the division but on the
AFC block, I think Charlie's point is very well taken
that when the game's over, most of the time that
goes away, right, But the hatred and the viciousness and

(01:01:55):
the violence, I mean, Steelers Ravens games changed the rules. Yes, uh,
that was another level, specifically that two thousand and eight game.

Speaker 3 (01:02:05):
Yeah, that changed the rules big time off of it,
but ultimately to your you know again, you know, Hines
and ed Reed, they hated each other on the field,
but yet there was a respect off the field. And
you'll see those two laughing it up at autograph signings.
You know so again. You know, Tom heals everything but out. Ultimately,
when you have a respect for each other on the field,

(01:02:25):
people ultimately maybe they put their differences to the side.

Speaker 2 (01:02:28):
Alex, thanks for the phone call, and thanks to Kellyente
Pizza and Draft House for bringing us this hour of
the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Post Game Show Kelly Anti
Pizza and Draft House The Pizza of Champions. The show
continues right here on the Steelers Audio.

Speaker 1 (01:02:40):
Network, the Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Caliente
Pizza and Drafthouse The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 9 (01:02:50):
TJ Watt with the sack first in six games for GJ.
Watt as he comes up with a sack and out
come the Terrible Towels.

Speaker 2 (01:03:02):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network, brought to you by Caliente Pizza in Draft House,
The Pizza of Champions. Four one, two, nine, one, nine, thirteen,
sixteen is our number. Mike pursued it and Charlie Batch
with you, uh, summing up steel twenty one to fourteen.
They won the game, right, Yes they did? Okay, I
thought they did when the show started. Now I'm having

(01:03:22):
my doubts, but I just wanted to confirm they did
win the game.

Speaker 3 (01:03:26):
They did win, and people are passionate and they need
to air out their differences.

Speaker 2 (01:03:29):
They are two and one, Yes, two in one, and
they won today. Okay, let's go back to the phones.
I wonder sometimes Mary and Columbus, you're up next with
Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 11 (01:03:41):
Hi, Hi, Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 26 (01:03:43):
Hello, Hey, I love.

Speaker 11 (01:03:47):
The Herbeck Wat dynamic duo. I have a question, though,
I guess partway through the fourth quarter they switch sides.
Did I hear that right? I can't watch the game
because I can't see that well. And it seemed to
me that right after that little switch, a little bit
after Herbeck got the fumble, TJ jumped on it. So

(01:04:12):
they worked well together, but they switched sides. Is there
why did? Is there a reason for that? I am
I just not understanding that.

Speaker 2 (01:04:22):
I don't remember if they did on that specific play.
They have very infrequently this season switched sides. Watt has
traditionally rushed from the left side of the defensive formation,
the quarterbacks front side, as opposed to his blind side.
There's a lot of talk, or there was a lot
of talk leading into this season about whether they should
move him around, and Charlie, that hasn't happened very much.

(01:04:44):
I have to believe that Alex Highsmith having played very
little as a factor in that.

Speaker 3 (01:04:48):
Yeah, I would think so too. And I think ultimately
they did move TJ around. And I heard what you
heard because I was walking in as I was listening
to Max and Rob going through the game. But ultimately
I did see a couple times he moved around. He
was over the middle of the ball on the snap,
and then he actually dropped in coverage at times too.
So this was a little different that they used him
this week the versus of the past two weeks.

Speaker 11 (01:05:11):
And were you surprised with that the interference call towards
the end there over the back kind of interference call,
as we thought we are doomed, and next thing you know,
the flag comes out and it's like, oh my gosh, interference.
It brought us almost, you know, pretty close to the
end zone that way.

Speaker 2 (01:05:31):
Well, you know, it's one of the reasons you take
those one on one shots. Mary, three things could happen.
Your guy can make a nice catch. Well, I guess
four things could happen. The guy could make a nice catch,
it could be incomplete or you could get a penalty.
And you see a lot of those penalties on those balls,
particularly when it's a guy as big as dk Metcalf.

Speaker 3 (01:05:50):
And I thought that. I thought initially when they threw
the flag that maybe the refs will get together and
say the ball was uncatchable. But the interference happened as
the ball was in the air. That's why the call
was made. In The Steelers fortunate on that call.

Speaker 11 (01:06:04):
Right, because that was the commentary that made oh, that
was untouchable, and next thing you know, there is the flag.
So I just wondered if you thought that was kind
of interesting.

Speaker 2 (01:06:14):
But yeah, I've always saw it when a guy gets
infered with that, when a guy gets interfered with, that
helps make the ball uncatchable. Yeah, but also you got
to decide, if you're a referee, whether the guy can
catch it or not, Like maybe he makes a great
catch if he doesn't get interfered with.

Speaker 3 (01:06:28):
But just for me, it just depends on what side
of the balls on the field. If offensive great offensive call,
if his defense is a terrible call. So it's just
a matter of those circumstances on what side of the balls.

Speaker 11 (01:06:40):
On the field, and I guess Cam had a really
good game too. And that you'll notice on the other
side of the field, Mike Rabel, that's a Buckeye. Just
pointing that out.

Speaker 2 (01:06:53):
I knew you would. I knew you would.

Speaker 11 (01:06:58):
All right, Well, thanks a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:07:00):
Thanks for the call, Mary, appreciate it. I like I
think it was JJ Watt, who is a badger, came
up with the badger Sam, which was TJ Watt and
Nick Herbig doing their dirty work in the pocket.

Speaker 3 (01:07:13):
Yeah, they were doing that. But I always look at
JJ because he started his career Central Michigan, so I
always look at him as a Matt guy. Actually, however
you finish it, he is a Matt guy.

Speaker 2 (01:07:22):
Today's Key to the Game is brought to you by
South Hills Kia. South Hills Keia has the Ride at
a price you'll love. Charlie the Keny game to Keny
of the game to me was finished. Yes, they finished
when they absolutely had to. And again in all three phases.
Score kick off sets you up to help get a.

Speaker 3 (01:07:40):
Stop, and then you get to stop and they finish.

Speaker 2 (01:07:42):
Both have.

Speaker 3 (01:07:43):
Brandon Echls closed it out. Big interception first half, big
tackle at the end of it, and then the Steelers
put the team in the end zone. So I'm like
you finishing.

Speaker 2 (01:07:51):
Back to the phones we go. Let's go to DJ
at PNC Park. You're up next with Mike and Charlie.
Thanks for waiting, DJ.

Speaker 26 (01:08:00):
Oh no, no problem, guys.

Speaker 2 (01:08:01):
How a going, It's going well? How you doing?

Speaker 26 (01:08:05):
Oh, let's see, man, Actually I just got down watching
the last game of the Pirate season, which is it
was amazing. And then let's listen to this the other
game on the radio while I was there, and we're
all killing Max.

Speaker 14 (01:08:17):
He's such a great job.

Speaker 5 (01:08:18):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:08:19):
Thanks, we agree.

Speaker 26 (01:08:22):
Yeah, No, it's just it's just awesome. Love hearing you
guys talk about the game, love hear and everything.

Speaker 8 (01:08:28):
And I'm just see Precis go win.

Speaker 16 (01:08:29):
Yeah kick him blaye.

Speaker 14 (01:08:32):
So that's all.

Speaker 2 (01:08:34):
Have a good day, guys, appreciate the call. Uh four
one two nine, one thirteen sixteen is our number. Back
to the telephones we go.

Speaker 8 (01:08:43):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:08:43):
Let's welcome Daniel from New York to the show you're
on with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 8 (01:08:47):
Daniel, Hey, Michael, Charlie, I'm actually from Pittsburgh. I'm just
driving over the road in uh New York. Currently, but
I just wanted to call in and well, first of all, say,
I appreciate you guys how you handle yourselves just in general.
I listen to you guys a lot. You handled yourselves

(01:09:09):
with a class, and especially some of these calls you
guys get. This is actually my first time calling in,
and I had to because, well, one of the guys
earlier said it was painful for him to go through
the Steelers being mediocre, and it's just it's painful for

(01:09:29):
me hearing how many people call in complaining about the Steelers.
It's just asinine, especially after a win. And then you've
got people who want to jump in the clown car
calling for coach Tomlin's job, and they don't get how
good we have it in Pittsburgh, and they're not looking

(01:09:49):
at the facts. And so many times, you guys have
to try to steer it back to the positive and
really the reality of things and just pointing out the
defense by example. Everybody knows the injuries that the Steelers
have had to deal with, but when you look at
it a little closer, like Elliott was the Steelers number

(01:10:11):
one tackler last season, he hasn't been playing. That's a
huge factor there obviously what's his name, por Porter? Yes,
Porter not playing as well, thank you for that. And
also for the first two games of the season, the

(01:10:33):
Steelers had the worst tackling in the entire league. Okay,
so and then you got people calling in and complaining
about the defensive scheme and it's like, pay attention. That
has nothing to do with the scheme, And really you
should be encouraged by that, because the Steelers have incredible talent.
Of course, when you talk about the injuries too, you
got your starters out, so that's only.

Speaker 6 (01:10:56):
Going to get better.

Speaker 8 (01:10:57):
These are fundamental things the players have to go out
there and play. They're gonna get better. So early in
the season, going on the offensive side, time of possession,
this game, for as little as the Steelers had the ball,
and they still scored twenty one points, Like you got
to be encouraged by that, Like stop complaining about stupid

(01:11:17):
stuff a whole Well, it wasn't a pretty game, or
they're not scoring forty points every game. Well they're at
twenty three point three points per game. It's doing a
lot a lot better than it's been, certainly at the
beginning of the year. In the last several.

Speaker 2 (01:11:36):
Years, DJ great points all. Appreciate your call and your perspective.
We got to run to a break, but thanks for
chiming in, and thanks to Callyanta pizzin Draft House for
bringing us this hour. The Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Post
Game Show call Anti Pizza and draft House, The Pizza
of Champions. The postgame Show continues right here in the
Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (01:11:57):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show sent by Caliente Pizza and Drafthouse,
The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 17 (01:12:04):
Pre receivers Who's right as he gets a snap back
to pass looking right under duress and downy goes and
another sack and it's Cam Heyward in there along with
Derek Carmon.

Speaker 6 (01:12:15):
Back to back big plays out of the rookie.

Speaker 27 (01:12:18):
Man I was appreciative of his efforts, excited for him.
He's a competitor. He wanted to be out there with
his teammates. Man I thought he represented himself with all
today and so it's just upward and on with from here.

Speaker 2 (01:12:31):
Welcome back to the Steels Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network, brought to you by Calliente Pizza, Drafthouse, The
Pizza of Champions four one, two, nine, one, nine, thirteen,
sixteen is our number. You can also reach us via
Twitter at Charlie Batch sixteen, at Charlie Batch sixteen and
at dv E Mike. Some people have already taken advantage

(01:12:52):
of that, including Bubba Ray, who tweeted both of us.
I don't remember a win in a game that we
deserved less, but we're drinking victory. I see lights in Scranton, PA. Wait,
another receiver is wide open in the middle of the
field and they included a picture. Fourteen points allowed. Game one.

(01:13:14):
On to Dublin. Let's go back to the telephones. Ronnie
and Johnstown you're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 16 (01:13:22):
Greetings, gentlemen. It's nice to talk to you.

Speaker 2 (01:13:25):
Nice to talk to you, ron.

Speaker 16 (01:13:26):
And go green, Mike. I used to live in Lansing
for a while.

Speaker 2 (01:13:29):
There you go out. We had a tough one, tough
one Saturday night, but you know you can't win them all.

Speaker 16 (01:13:33):
Yeah, it is what it is. Anyway, for the first
three quarters, I felt like they were running the late
stage ben offense. No deep shots, two of them. Maybe
there was one to join these twenty like no tight
end over in the middle of now and I thought

(01:13:55):
it was like the late stage Ben offense until Aaron's decided, Yeah,
we're gonna win. Here we go, here's the shot. That's
why I wanted to add this show. So I felt
like they're running the old school Ben offense until Aaron
had enough.

Speaker 2 (01:14:13):
Thank you appreciate the call. Uh, you know, I think
it was a little chuck and duckish. But the pressure's
been a problem this just then, and it was a
problem today. And hey, I want to take deep shots too.
If you can't throw it, you can't take them right.
And you know, it's funny Ronnie brought up Michigan State
because he knows I'm a Michigan State guy. We had

(01:14:35):
the same problem Saturday night at USC. We were getting
our arse handed to us because we could not throw
the ball because of their pressure. So in the third
quarter we started running it and got serious running it
and actually got back in the game. Still lost, But
sometimes you got to walk before you can run. Sometimes
you got to run before you can throw. And they're
not there yet, Like the running's not as consistent as

(01:14:56):
it needs to be, and the protection's not near what
it needs to be, and that's why you're seeing it
look like it looks.

Speaker 3 (01:15:02):
But that's a tough part because as you everything that
you explain it, they have no identity. They cannot turn
around and just hand the ball off the Jalen Warren
getting yards or dropping back throwing. And then now you
have to figure out and become more gadgety to say, okay,
quick throws or maybe a screen pass just to get
your first down going and stay ahead of the change.

Speaker 2 (01:15:20):
Yeah, run game extensions, throw it sideways and get what
you can get. I did. I saw some glimpses in
the running game this time. The run defense got better
against the Isle. It got better again today. See if
they can keep making progress and keep winning games while
they make it. Let's go to aj and Colorado Springs.
You're up with Mike and Charlie aj Ellis.

Speaker 14 (01:15:41):
Is the sun shining in Pittsburgh right now?

Speaker 6 (01:15:44):
I want you to confirm that, Mary, please.

Speaker 2 (01:15:47):
Uh No, it looks like the rapture. I think the
world is ending, But glad you got your call in
here before it does.

Speaker 28 (01:15:54):
Well, maybe I mean it's coming out west. I don't
know shining out here, but days of sun to shine
out here. Anyway, Hey, I appreciate you guys, appreciate all
you do. I did just want to say before I
make my point here. You know Dale Alli, man, it
was shocking to see. He was the best, best to
keep up with his entire career, always seemed to have

(01:16:14):
a great attitude. And I don't know if you guys
are familiar with Dave Sheripan sportsbook contigue Air was always
a big Pittsburgh guy, you know, big social media guy.
He also passed here today, but shout out to him,
Shout out his family. Dude, he did like so much.
Was always just a big Pittsburgh guy and and you
know represented us well. Also lost my grandpa this week.

(01:16:36):
But you know, I think kind of time that all together. Man,
they so grateful for the game that that brings us
all together. Man, like even the Steelers want to lose,
you hear, you know, the passion of the fan base
and just everything, like, you know, we're so grateful, or
we should be so grateful to have stuff like this
to bring us together and you know, take our mind

(01:16:58):
off off things. But you know, sorry start off of
that note, but no, it's really well said.

Speaker 2 (01:17:04):
It's really well said. I appreciate I appreciate where you're
coming from with that for sure.

Speaker 14 (01:17:10):
But no, like you said, any when in the NFL
is a good one.

Speaker 28 (01:17:15):
You know, you kind of you see what happened in
Philly them, you know, kind of getting getting beat by
the the.

Speaker 6 (01:17:23):
Rams pretty good.

Speaker 16 (01:17:24):
But they came back.

Speaker 6 (01:17:26):
But you know, no.

Speaker 28 (01:17:26):
One's an easy one Green Bay, you know, losing the
way they did, even if you're drinking the Houston pool, aid,
I married into a Viking's house, so of course I
watched every minute that Bengals beat down and you know,
you just even seattle what they're doing right now to
New Orleans, like you just never know, especially early in
the season. I think you made that point earlier today,

(01:17:47):
so you know, maybe take that with a grain of salt.
But my question is kind of atso on the development
of the team. You know, maybe I'm kind of pro
predicting myself a little bit here with saying, you know,
it's early, you don't know, but I was thought, you know,
what were your kind of overall thoughts on things that
there was improvement with And you know, you have to

(01:18:08):
look at the offensive line, you know, what are some
things we can watch for going for where it's like, oh,
they're getting it together, probably similar to the third quarter
or a fourth quarter there when they were getting pushed.
But I was just curious of your observations.

Speaker 2 (01:18:20):
I'll just give you a couple off the top of
my head. I thought the run defense continues to get better,
and I thought it got better against Seattle. Nobody really
recognized that because they had that meltdown at the end
of the game, that ridiculous nineteen yard touchdown run on
third and goal from the nineteen You can't have that stuff.

(01:18:40):
But they got better in that game, and then I
thought they were better today with the exception of letting
the quarterback run, and that was something they should have
been aware of going into the game. They did not
defend Derek Maywell enough. But as the run defense gets better,
the defense will get better offensive. What's developing is Rogers

(01:19:02):
is pretty good, and he gives them a chance even
when they're having tough days like they're having today or
like they were having against the Jets for most of
that game. The line's got to play better. We saw
some real infrequent sparks from the run game today, particularly
Jalen Warren career hide carries today. I think they're going
to start testing him more. Maybe he can handle more

(01:19:23):
than they thought he could when he was the complimentary
back to Najie Harris. But Charlie, those five guys up front,
they have to play better. There's a lot of investment
made there. They are players of pedigree. They got to
start playing like it.

Speaker 3 (01:19:35):
They absolutely do. And when you go there and you
only have seventeen first downs on the day and you're
four of now and on third down, I'll let you know, hey,
there's a lot more room for improvement in that particular manner.
So the offensive line has to get those things gone.
But I agree with you to your point of the
run defense. I thought they got better just from last
week to this week. When last week it was one
hundred and seventeen yards total, one hundred and five of

(01:19:57):
those went to Kenneth Walker. But now you fast forward
one week later, one hundred and nineteen total yards rushing,
but forty five of those came by the quarterback. And
when that happens, okay, you are doing something right to
take away the top dog at the running back position.
I thought they did that because Gibson twenty eight, Henderson
twenty eight, and Stevenson's eighteen yards, those are the top

(01:20:19):
three backs for the Patriots. I thought the Steelers did
a good job of containing them.

Speaker 2 (01:20:23):
Yeah, twenty two for seventy four for the running backs.
That's three point four and for the first time all season,
they did not allow a rushing touchdown.

Speaker 3 (01:20:30):
There you go, anything else the thousand yard roster.

Speaker 6 (01:20:33):
No, I was just gonna say gifts.

Speaker 28 (01:20:34):
I mean, their backs are solid backs, and you know,
we we were optimistic, but we did get on the fumbles,
you know.

Speaker 2 (01:20:41):
TJ.

Speaker 28 (01:20:42):
I think, you know, maybe something sparked and he's, you know,
kind of fun in his way. I gotta say, I'm
West Virginia grad. So it was the rough one last night.
But I think we're in good hands, maybe quite literally.
With Zach Frazier in the center, I think I think
they'll come together. I don't know, you know, what are
seeing is, but I think my kind of party file
Man is we need to enjoy watching Aaron Rodgers and

(01:21:05):
Steelers black and gold, because.

Speaker 16 (01:21:06):
He's a special guy.

Speaker 28 (01:21:07):
And you know, I think we have a hard time
getting over that he's get going to be forty two
or whatnot. But I don't think in Tampa Bay it
I'm not suggesting we're a Super Bowl team. I think
in Tampa Bay they enjoyed seeing Tom play. I just
had Tom Berry and my childish right now, you know,
maybe let's maybe let's just enjoy kind of seeing what's
going on and let kind of the cards fall where

(01:21:28):
they may so or.

Speaker 2 (01:21:29):
No question, Aaron Rodgers is the guy who is the
potential difference maker if if the on line doesn't play better,
it's not gonna matter. They could bring Terry Bradshaw on
his prime back and it's not gonna matter.

Speaker 3 (01:21:41):
They can. And also we failed to mention congratulations to
Aaron Rodgers fourth all time in the history of the
NFL five hundred and nine touchdown passes.

Speaker 2 (01:21:50):
Man.

Speaker 3 (01:21:50):
That is we're watching history. Obviously we know he's going
to be the Hall of Famer, but we want to
hopefully see this trend going. And Hea, you could take
us and get us to that point where we're hoisting
that Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.

Speaker 2 (01:22:00):
Thanks to cally 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
show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (01:22:11):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show is presented by Caliente Pizza
and Drafthouse, The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 2 (01:22:19):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show and the Steelers
Audio Network, brought to you by Calliente Pizza and Draft House,
The Pizza of Champions. Mike Pursuer and Charlie Batch with
you in the wake of Steelers twenty one Patriots fourteen
four one two nine one nine thirteen sixteen is our number.
Back to the phones. Uh, let's welcome John in Foxborough

(01:22:39):
to the show. How are you, John? H?

Speaker 12 (01:22:42):
Hello, Mike, Hello, Charlie, Hey, how you doing.

Speaker 29 (01:22:45):
We're just good, Yeah, from aug In, Utah. My sister's
with me. She'srom Portland, Oregon. And we're up in Foxboro
today and we're battling through the traffic to get out
of here. But it was a fun, fun day, great day,
and I just want to tell you how to.

Speaker 3 (01:22:59):
Be how a possible a moment there the Patriots fan
allow you to merge new traffic? Would they see you
with the Steelers gear on?

Speaker 29 (01:23:05):
Some of them do? But today going to Jollette Stadium,
I've now been to every NFL team, every NFL team stadium.
So this was my last one. Check it off. Just
want to let you guys know I've been to all

(01:23:26):
the all the NFL teams now most of most of
them have been Steeler games, not quite all the most
of them.

Speaker 3 (01:23:33):
Nice congratulations, Yeah, a milestone, check it off.

Speaker 29 (01:23:37):
It was a fun day and I think the only
way that we ever won today was we were gifted. Well,
the Steelers made it. It's the five turn turnovers. Had
enough and for the five turnovers might have been different today,
but got her done.

Speaker 2 (01:23:52):
Yeah, sometimes you win the way you have to win,
and that's what they're doing so far, at least what
they're trying to do so far. You know, hopefully it
doesn't look like this three four weeks from now. If
it does, they're gonna have a problem. But they have
some time to deal with that.

Speaker 3 (01:24:06):
And if you look at just at the two victories
that they had this season, they were plus four today,
walked out of stadium with the victory plus one against
the Jets, walked out with the victory. So that's a
hidden stat that people typically don't pay attention to. But
ultimately this is turning to be true. If the Steelers
aren't winning that time or to turnover battle. They're coming
out victorious.

Speaker 29 (01:24:24):
Yeah, work today and I enjoy your guys show. I'll
let you go and good job on the show and
go Steelers.

Speaker 2 (01:24:30):
Thanks for the call, John, and congratulations on your stadium
tour parks in Wexford. You're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 6 (01:24:38):
Hey, guys, how you doing doing well?

Speaker 3 (01:24:41):
How about you?

Speaker 8 (01:24:41):
So I'm doing good man.

Speaker 23 (01:24:44):
Best of Beast Foundations is keep things rolling. Another week
of a little bit of airing of grievances. A win
is a win, but it was tough to watch the
defense kind of let a subpar offense run on them
and them I'd love to see Harmon get playing though
he got after it. Really love to see him in

(01:25:04):
the lineup I want to see. I want to hear
you guys opinions on is it again I kind of
talked about this last week, probably a non playoff team
in the Patriots. Is it a schematic or a lack
of execution issue on the defense. I want to hear
your guys' thoughts on that.

Speaker 3 (01:25:23):
But I wouldn't necessarily say lack of execution because right
now they the day's approach was almost like that been
that break mentality, and it's always tough for an offense
to have to go ten or plus more plays and
actually go down to the length of the field and
score because the chances of making a mistake, you know,
are going to happen at some particular point. The Patriots
did that today on those long drives, and the Steelers

(01:25:44):
were able to capitalize on the turnover.

Speaker 2 (01:25:46):
Yeah, don't unders make the turnovers. It's just you know,
pure luck. I mean they made some of those happen, Yeah,
and giving up yards, but enough points to get They
got out of the stadium today allowing fourteen points. They
closed off the last drive of the game when they
had to finish it. But I do agree with you.
I don't think the Patriots are playoff team. I don't

(01:26:06):
think you're gonna win a lot of games outside of
their division, which I don't think is very good. I
don't think the Jets are very good. I don't think
Miami's very good. Now, take take what you can get
when you can get it, and keep trying to get better.
That's uh, that's the only advice I have at this point.

Speaker 23 (01:26:23):
So my one thing, I think it was your cold
with Ronnie you said, you know, we're not there yet.

Speaker 20 (01:26:30):
We do have a lot of.

Speaker 23 (01:26:31):
Invested in the line, and I like a lot of alignemen,
what do we have to do to get there? Because
I mean, I love Aaron Rodgers play, Deket Matcalfs is
showing up. Jalen Warren's doing what he can. He looks
I think he looks great. If he had, you know,
executionly in elite blocking, I think that guy would be
an absolute stud. I wanted to hear your guys thoughts

(01:26:55):
on what do the line, what does the line have
to do to be you know, quote unquote to create
a great run game, to open up that pass game.
And I just wanted to give a shout out to
Joe and Joe at Palmadoro's and Kelly Reddick get on
that assault bike. But yeah, again that to that point,
I want to hear what you guys have to say
on you know, what's the line had to do to

(01:27:16):
get there? You know, thank you guys very much. I
appreciate you guys.

Speaker 3 (01:27:19):
Now, I appreciate you, And I mean this is interesting
because coming into this season, you know, I said, I
thought that the offensive line were going to start off slow,
only because they were getting Isaac sam Alo back and
they were practicing with all of those five guys at
the same time. And just this week, I don't know
if you heard or not, but we have me and
Trey Aescid we have a podcast cause the Snapcount. We
had Alan Fanica on and he asked him that same

(01:27:40):
question and I said, Alan, what do you think that
this offensive line is going to do? And he said,
those guys have to practice together. They have to anticipate
when the play is called where they think the where
the running back is going to cut back to. And
I said, well, how did you get that? And he said,
I always knew where Jerome Bettis was going to cut
back based off the alignment of the defense those guys. Ultimately,

(01:28:00):
ultimately we're talking and talking about a Hall of Famer
in Alafanica, but he wasn't at that particular time. It's
just a matter of getting those five guys to jail
together in that non verbal communication and making sure, hey,
now it's time to come off with a double team
to work up to the next level. Hopefully with four
weeks of those five guys practicing that hopefully this gets
better as they head into this Vikings week.

Speaker 2 (01:28:20):
Yeah, I did think, at least I think I saw
some things to get excited about today. Running game was
not a ton of them, but a few, and there
were some good runs and there were some critical runs.
That third down that Warren converted. Yeah, on that last drive,
I didn't know if they were gonna get that or not.
They got it. I mean, you gotta be able to
do that stuff to win football games.

Speaker 3 (01:28:40):
And if you go back to that play and then
when you'll be you know, it'll come out as we
see the video. But man, Darnelle Washington on that right side.
They went away from him initially, but he drove his
guy all the way back, creating that natural cut length
for Jalen to get through.

Speaker 2 (01:28:54):
Appreciate the call. We're gonna sneak one more in before
the break. Let's go to Jimmy and Richmond, Virginia. You're
up with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 14 (01:29:02):
Gentlemen.

Speaker 30 (01:29:03):
Is definitely on my honor. Thank you so very much
for taking my call. Big shout out to the Steel
City Yeah, man, shout out to the Steel City connection
here in Richmond, Virginia, over three hundred Pittsburgh's and all
of our ginsers and our wonderful Pittsburgh accidents all come
out every week whenever we go watch the game, and
it's I'm sure mister Batch could speak to this, but
the whole idea of Pittsburgh being in that community. We'll

(01:29:24):
see lots of Eagle fans down here now shockingly after
they went to Super Bowl, but Pittsburgh fans are everywhere
all the time. And I was sparked to give a
call because of all the negativity that was there at first.
And I tell you what, what Drake made did that
little naked bootleg in the end of the third quarter,
and we're calling it. We're like, he's gonna do the
Justin s Fields play from the first game, and sure enough,
that is exactly what he did. And I guess those

(01:29:45):
are those are points that are maddening. But at the
same time, that Glass and sat full piece tell you what.
Living down here, Rick Smith in Virginia, we know what
it's like with the Redskins that are up here. Just
the Commanders now, just so our North. But you know,
data Seyner just like to cleve them around, just to
win every every April and every March. With their free agency,
and everybody talked about how they were going to come

(01:30:07):
win Super Bowls and we did the same thing. We
spent the money, we got some free agents, we got
our Jamal ramsays, We've got you know, our ge grill peppers.

Speaker 5 (01:30:14):
And these guys don't.

Speaker 4 (01:30:16):
These guys just.

Speaker 30 (01:30:17):
Don't win automatically. I mean they take some time for
them to gel. Offensive lines take one of the three years,
you know, for them the truly gel. And you know, we, uh,
we don't have our superstar quarterback. You know, the Patriots
are supposed to have their gas and they commit five
turn ups. You know, so when we look at the
other side and you look at who we're playing against,
you know, you got the gets are supposed to solve

(01:30:37):
the problem. They're going free.

Speaker 14 (01:30:39):
You know.

Speaker 30 (01:30:39):
The Patriots are one and two, and they supposedly have
their their franchise quarterback. You're you know, your Carolina Panthers
and the and the dumpster fire that is their ownership
down there. And it's for some of my family now lives.
And I think sometimes it's really hard for us to
really look that's force through the trees and to see
that we should be happy with two in one THI

(01:31:01):
I think anybody that's listening to us, would really be
lying with themselves that they didn't take the as the
real possibility of going three and one, even though the
Bengals themselves crush today. And just go back to what
you guys are talking about.

Speaker 2 (01:31:14):
Earlier, Jim, appreciate the call. I gotta cut you off
because we're up to a break. But I do appreciate
your perspective. Hey, I appreciate everybody's perspective. He's right, it's
either glass half full of glass half empty. You can
choose to look at it however you care to look
at it right now. What we don't know is at
the end of the season, will the glass be full
or empty. That's why they play the games. Thanks to

(01:31:34):
Kelly Anti Pizzin Draft House for bringing us this hour
of the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network postgame Show Kelly Anti
Pizzin Draft House, the Pizza Champions. The show continues right
here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (01:31:45):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show. It is presented by Calliente
Pizza and Draft House, The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 2 (01:31:53):
Welcome back to the Steelers Post Game Show on the
Steelers Audio Network, brought to you by a Calliente pizzin
Draft House. The pizza of Champions four on thirteen sixteen
is our number. Back to the phones we go. Let's
welcome Bill in Loretto to the show. Bill, you're on
with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 12 (01:32:11):
Hey, Mike and Charlie, how you guys.

Speaker 2 (01:32:13):
Doing doing well? How are you doing good?

Speaker 5 (01:32:17):
Good?

Speaker 12 (01:32:17):
Hey, Mike, don't tell anybody, but we actually won today.
It's a big secret.

Speaker 2 (01:32:25):
Appreciate that. Thank you.

Speaker 12 (01:32:26):
Hey starting Yeah, it's just our between us. But hey,
did you guys hear that stat on the show? The
Steelers are the fourth oldest roster in the league. Is
that correct?

Speaker 2 (01:32:42):
At the second second oldest At the start of the season,
it was second oldest thing, they were behind Washington.

Speaker 12 (01:32:48):
Oh goodness, okay, uh okay, I'm alright with that. Did
Kim Hayward did he cause that fumble on the goal line?

Speaker 8 (01:32:58):
Do you guys know.

Speaker 2 (01:33:00):
Believe he did the one at the third quarter? One
of trying to sort him out here?

Speaker 16 (01:33:08):
There were a couple.

Speaker 3 (01:33:10):
Yeah, I was listening to it on the way and
Max and Rob said it was Cam.

Speaker 12 (01:33:16):
Yeah he got credit for it, okay, and recovery awesome, awesome.
I know he had at least one tipball also.

Speaker 2 (01:33:25):
On the interception at the end of the first half.

Speaker 12 (01:33:29):
Yeah, a good game, thanks Cam. Hey, what do you
guys think about Jalen Warren? And I remember last year
I correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he
had more yards per carry than Nause And here in
my household, we were always yelling for Jalen to get

(01:33:51):
in the game, and this year started we really thought
we would see you know, he would the workhorse. And
what do you guys think, would you guys like to
see more of him also and less of these other
other guys?

Speaker 14 (01:34:10):
What do you think?

Speaker 2 (01:34:11):
Well, we saw today he got eighteen carries today, that's
a career high. Gainwell had four carries. My opinion is
starting to change on Jalen Warren. I always thought Naji
was well positioned as the lead guy and Warren was
a great compliment, and I think the team clearly felt
kind of the same way because that's the way they

(01:34:32):
that's how the division of labor worked out. But I
think with the struggles on offense getting some consistency, and
with how hard he's playing and the flashes that Warren
is coming up with, I want to see him get
eighteen twenty carries a game moving forward, I think let's
see if he was maybe underappreciated or under scouted or undervalued,

(01:34:53):
maybe he can handle more of a load.

Speaker 3 (01:34:55):
No, and I'm like you, you had the five catches that
he had to day, ask twenty three touches that he
had throughout the court. But I think they're trying to
manage him as the season goes on because is he
capable of being a three down back? Absolutely? Is he
the best back that you have on this roster? For sure.
It's because of the explosiveness that he brings to the equation.
He has a seventy four yard run on his resume

(01:35:16):
if you include a preseason he's seventy yards one time
against Buffalo and then last week sixty five yards that
he took it down and flipped the field in that
And when you have those on your resume, they're preparing
for you to be that explosive back. So if he
is put him on the field and when you take
him off the field, yes, much respect to Canneck gain will,
but he's not going to get the respect that Jalen
Warren has at this particular point because gainswell, his resume

(01:35:40):
is not what Jalen Warrens is at this particular point.

Speaker 2 (01:35:43):
I do think Bill, at some point this season they're
gonna need Caleb Johnson to be the guy they drafted,
and he has not been that guy yet. I don't
know why that's the case, but they can't. I mean,
he needs a little time out right now after that
kickoff fiasco last week, but they need to continue working
with him, and it's a long season. At some point
he's gonna have to absorb significant carries and he's going

(01:36:03):
to have to make significant plays with them.

Speaker 3 (01:36:05):
But to your point, Mike, as Jalen was in Nogy
last year is a great compliment. That's what they were
expecting with Johnson, and right now you don't have that
with Johnson being on his hiatus.

Speaker 2 (01:36:17):
Anything else.

Speaker 12 (01:36:17):
Bill, I just really like Jalen and that that last
scoring drive when it was I think third down and
he hurt all that guy. I come all in on Jalen.
But it sounds like you guys are right there with me.
Thank you for the show.

Speaker 2 (01:36:35):
Fellows. Appreciate the call. Bill. Yeah, you know, we heard
Arthur Smith talking about, you know, a couple of third
and twos in that Seattle game that they didn't convert,
could have changed the outcome. Right, that was a critical,
critical play on that last drive. I mean they needed
a touchdown there, not a field goal. And you got
I've said this before today, but I can't hammer this

(01:36:56):
home enough. You've got to be able to run the
ball when they know you're going to run it, if
you're going to be a serious team.

Speaker 3 (01:37:02):
Absolutely, and this organization feel really good about Jalen Warren.
And if they didn't, they would not have offered him
any contract extension before this. His first contract expired.

Speaker 2 (01:37:10):
Yeah, you are allowed to get better. And maybe he's
a guy who's getting better. Yeah, and maybe he needs
maybe he needs more on his plate. That's going to
do it. For the network portion of our show today,
you are listening to the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Pursuda,
thanks for joining us. Our next broadcast is at seven
thirty am this coming Sunday, the twenty eighth of December.

(01:37:31):
That'll be in advance of the Steelers taking on the
Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. The postgame show continues locally
on your home of the Steelers one or two point
five DVE and Steelers Nation Radio. This is the Steelers
postgame show on the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network.