Postgame Show - Vikings in Ireland

Mike Prisuta and Charlie Batch break down the Steelers win over the Vikings in Ireland.

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:10):
There were moments in the first half when it appeared
to Steelers had finally stumbled upon what they've been after
and that the Vikings were about to get blasted. Splashed
on offense, sacks on defense, and a Steelers fans dominated
crowd producing decimal levels that threatened to raise the dead.
Still it was just a one score game after two quarters.
The Steelers did not care. Apparently, they picked up in

(00:32):
the second half where they'd left off in the first croke,
and they put the game away, or so it appeared
at the time, by running the ball down the Vikings' throats.
Kenneth Gainwell's performance in place that Jalen Warren was perception changing,
except for a Steelers coaching staff that has steadfastly believed
in Gainwell all along, and their pass rush was such
that Carson Wentz could be forgiven if he was contemplating

(00:55):
starting for a seventh different team next season while he
was in the process of getting crushed. They even got
Caleb Johnson some carries that may yet resonate a little
icing on a cake it took a trip across the
Atlantic to taste. Taking their foot off the gas made
the ending more exciting than it needed to be. Lesson learned, hopefully,
but also victory earned. So go ahead and sing along

(01:16):
if you want to, to the Cranberrys Blink one eighty two,
bon Jovi or Sweet Caroline. Irish eyes are smiling and
they're coming home three and one. Good afternoon, everyone, and
welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network. Eight three, three four one two nine three
eight three is our number today? Yes? Another week a number?

(01:39):
Another number? Hey where and I are Lindo Least I am.
You didn't expect this to be easy, did you? I
am here at Croke Park and my colleague on the
postgame show, Charlie Batch, back home in Bridgeville. Charlie, are
you breathing a sigh of relief, shaking a fist defiantly
or a little columne and a little column bee?

Speaker 3 (02:00):
And I think it's a little bit of both. I
think when you look.

Speaker 4 (02:02):
Back, obviously the game shouldn't have been as close at
the end as what it turned out to be. But
I know at this particular point, the Steelers are glad
to be able to get out of that stadium with
a victory and head into the Bowwee.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Time now for Maxis Takeaways. That's brought to you by
S and T Bank. For every takeaway from the defense
this season, S and T Bank will donate three hundred
dollars to PA Wounded Warriors, who have helped over eighteen
thousand veterans and counting. We welcome to the show. Color
analyst Max starts for Maxis Takeaways and Max My takeaway.

(02:35):
I wanted results here in Ireland, but I wanted to
see the Steelers look a lot more like the team
I thought they were gonna be this season than they
had in the first three weeks. And that's what I'm
focused on. I know they want to know got close
and all that, but boy, for long stretches, I started
to see what I've been waiting on. What's your hottest
takeoff off of this one?

Speaker 5 (02:55):
Why?

Speaker 6 (02:55):
I think we finally saw the offense look like a
dominating force.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
I think you said it in your opening.

Speaker 6 (03:01):
We saw them proceed to run the ball down their
throat in the weighty moments, they absolutely delivered Kenneth Gainwell
looked amazing in this game. Almost had one hundred yards
one yard shy, get that one play at the end
that knocks them backwards or else hit. We have one
hundred yard rusher which we hadn't seen in a while,
and I think without Jalen Warren, everybody questioned whether they

(03:23):
could even run the ball, and they answered that emphatically.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
We got to find.

Speaker 6 (03:28):
Yeah, and I think and I think a lot of
fans in the stadium probably thought the same thing. Well,
you didn't see thirty out there on the field, But
most importantly, we saw a dk metcalf explosive play that
we've been waiting on all season and he absolutely delivered.
He would not be denied from the end zone. Truck
two dues to get into the end zone at the
last two yards. So a lot of nice things and
the defense continued with the splash plays on their side

(03:51):
as well. This team has been a turnover machine the
last two weeks of the season.

Speaker 4 (03:55):
And we've been talking a lot about those offensive line,
I mean in linemen up front, both offense and defense.
Talk about that defensive line up front here today Keanu
Bitten had a big day, but it started with that
defensive front stopping the run game of the Vikings.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Oh, man, Charlie, hey, I can't wait to talk about it.
I'll tell you that much.

Speaker 6 (04:13):
I mean, I thought, Keanu Binten, we had been questioning
and had been looking bad early on in the season,
where you were like, man, Keanu Bitton regressing, and then
he really answered that question on us. He was in
on three different sacks and no, they only gave him
credit for one and a half on that game, but
I was like, all three go to him in my mind,
and that was what we were waiting for him to see.
Could he take over in that nose tackle position or

(04:35):
are we trying to fast track the growth of Yya Black?
And I thought he delivered awesomely. I thought, Derek Harmon,
now another week in the system in the defensive rotation,
he looked really stout as well, and of course herbig
played outstanding, so that front five on the line looked awesome.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
TJ.

Speaker 6 (04:54):
Watt got in on the action. Teams are now starting
to give him only two blockers now instead of the
three that he's been seeing the beginning of this season,
and he absolutely delivered a huge interception. There had a
Sack goes into number two all time on one hundred
and twenty fifth game, he passes DeMarcus where So it
was just awesome to see.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
Them making the plays and doing that.

Speaker 6 (05:15):
And we got two turnovers taken away from us in
this game, and they still had multiple.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
Max Mike Tomlin in the postgame mentioned adjustments to Minnesota's
max protection. Were you able to suss out any of
those watching here or do we need to go to
the tape to figure out exactly what was going on there?

Speaker 6 (05:32):
No, the max protections they were scared about Carson Wentz
when you go down two offensive line and YARDI were
down one, So three guys missing from your starting offensive line,
You lose Ryan Kelly to a concussion, Brian O'Neill leaves
in this game early, and you already were out without
Jonavan Jackson. They knew they were behind, so that's why
you didn't see the titands really involved in this game.
And that's why when they got behind, that's why you

(05:53):
saw TJ. Howkinson kind of get that force fed three
plays in a row down the field to get on
that score. And I think that that's what the defense said, Okay,
we can't play this soft cover. Two we got to
get into more man press and you saw that adjust accordingly.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
And the pressure the four.

Speaker 6 (06:09):
Man rushes, the five man rushes that were actually starting
to hit home really put pressure on them. But they
had to get out of that, Max protect because they
had they had to get down the field.

Speaker 4 (06:19):
Oliver got about a minute left. Anything else from here.
I just want to know, Max. I know you're getting
ready to go. We have talk about the atmosphere. You've
been out in Doublin all week. Talk about that a
little bit. Oh, it was absolutely electric.

Speaker 6 (06:29):
I mean I went to eight counties in four days,
and I saw the Steelers fans out and about this
entire country, and it showed itself up in this stadium.
You saw terrible towels everywhere. I feel like I probably
produced like half of them throwing out to fans because
I gave away about eight hundred, but with about twenty
thousand fans, I realized I fell paltry short.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
A lot of them brought their owns.

Speaker 6 (06:50):
But it was amazing to see Akrosure stadium atmosphere transposed
into this stadium over three thousand miles away.

Speaker 2 (06:58):
Max, great stuff, safe travels, But I think we all
need a buy week after this one.

Speaker 6 (07:02):
Yeah, we we do, we do. But there's never no
sleep for the weary. All right, We're gonna keep it going, guys.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
We are just getting started on the postgame show here
on the Steelers Audio Network. Eight three three four one
two nine three eight three is our number today? Eight
three three four one two nine three eight three. Mike
Pursuit and Charlie Batch celebrating. That's right. I don't care
if the lead almost got away it didn't. I'm celebrating.

Speaker 5 (07:27):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
Steelers twenty four Vikings twenty one. The postgame show continues
right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 7 (07:35):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
It's presented by Doing it Right Roofing, siding and Remodeling,
Home of the lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Steelers Postgame Show on the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Pursuda
in Ireland, Charlie Batch back home in Pennsylvania, summing up
Steelers twenty four Vikings twenty one. What a game, what
a day, what a week? What age? Rip? Lots on pack?
So let's get to it. Leading off on the phones tonight,
Anthony in Dallas, You're up first with Mike and Charlie.

(08:08):
How are you Anthony? And if our producer Tom Offram
is listening, Tom, I'm not hearing Anthony.

Speaker 8 (08:22):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (08:22):
Should we move on to Dave in Florida? Dave, you're
up with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 9 (08:28):
Hey, guys, how are you today?

Speaker 3 (08:30):
Doing well?

Speaker 2 (08:32):
Outstanding? Dave? How are you doing today?

Speaker 9 (08:34):
All riding this guys out in Ireland?

Speaker 2 (08:38):
I am in Ireland. Charlie is back home in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 9 (08:42):
Okay, Hey, I heard Tyler Scott Thompson had a little incident,
so my prayers to him. I already got some minor injuries,
so I hope he's okay. Hey, that was a great
game to watch the most part. You know, a couple
of things at the end there, as far as not
kicking the field goal. I thought it was a mistake

(09:05):
and then not going for it on the fourth and inches.
I would rather seen him go on the fourth and
inches to try to see other game than you know,
take the points there and go up six. That game
came down real close, and it didn't have to be
like that. But I liked what I seen last week.
I told you, guys, gotta do better. I gotta do better.

(09:25):
They did better today and it was good to see,
good to see. I liked what I saw.

Speaker 2 (09:30):
Today, Charlie, did you like what you saw today? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (09:35):
Absolutely, and I agree with you. You know, obviously the
game shouldn't have been as close as what it was.
But the play of the game for me was pat
was Peyton Wilson when that when that bust the covers
happened on the defensive side of the ball and for
him to be able to run down Jordan Addison and
now cause the Vikings to run more plays and obviously
bleed that clock out. If that play doesn't happen, we

(09:55):
don't know what's going to happen as the Viking drive
in their final possession here. So hats off to that defense.
I know, you know a couple of breakdowns that happened,
but they stood out when they needed this to make plays.

Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, that's a great point, Charlie and Dave. I would
just add to the decision making of Mike Tomlin. I
didn't have a problem with them trying to run it
in close to the goal line and then punting the
ball back. If you don't make the fourth down, I
know it's fourth and inches, but if you don't make it.
They're one completion away from kicking a field goal. The
way it worked out, they made the Vikings have to

(10:28):
gain a significant amount of yardage before they could get
a field goal attempt, and they never never got it done.
So I'll take the I'll take the decision making in
a w for sure.

Speaker 9 (10:39):
Uh, definitely take the w on to touch on what
Charlie said, Yeah, that was a heck of play by
Peyton to chase him down. I didn't think he was
that sass, but boy he showed.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah he can. He can really motor. That's one of
the things they love about him. Dave, appreciate the phone call.
We're gonna move on. Keep it in the state of Florida. Andy,
you're up next, Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 10 (11:03):
Hey there, thanks for taking the call. I'm really on
the same wavelength as the previous caller. You know, you
looks like Tomlin wanted to kick a field goal, but
the offense was adamant about staying on the field. Did
you see that that maybe they swayed his decision, and
you know, listen, taking the points and not having to

(11:25):
worry about the other team kicking a ultimately kicking a
field goal, again, I'm just I'm thinking. I always say
it's one or two plays and that could have been
a disaster anyway. Those those are my oversations. But they
played a fantastic.

Speaker 2 (11:39):
And they did. Aaron Rodgers was trying to wave the
field goal team off and then there was a time
out and they came on and they went off. They
were really running the ball well at that time, and
I didn't have a problem with them going forward as
long as they were going to run the ball Andy,
because I didn't want to see a pass in that
situation that gets picked off in the end zone. Now
they're at the twenty. Given the ball in Minnesota, the

(12:01):
one that really didn't bother me. Now the eighty one
yard play bothered me, but that's, you know, not anybody's planning.
You know, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I
think what you saw ultimately was Mike Tomlin trusting a
running game for the first time this year. Charlie, curious
to hear what you think on this first time all
year of the running game really had some teeth.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
It did, and if they score on that play, this
is not a conversation. But unfortunately they did. They didn't.

Speaker 3 (12:27):
I'm okay, with them.

Speaker 4 (12:28):
Going for for it on fourth down there, I would
just like a two play option and allow Aaron Rodgers
to make that decision, put him in the gun run
play pass option or maybe even underneath center or run
pass option versus just one particular run. And that was
something that I would have liked to see differently, and
maybe the results are differently, but ultimately, you know, I
like the call that they went for it there anything.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
Else andy and.

Speaker 10 (12:54):
What a fantastic rush I think we all got from
that metcalf key PD. We've been waiting for that, and
thank goodness had happened today in front of the world.
But listen, guys, thanks for keeping the Floridians connected to
the Burg. Appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
Hey, thanks for making the phone calls. We appreciate taking them.
I think we saw a lot of things today that
people have been waiting to see. There was a lot
of them were splashy, but there were some more subtle
things that I'm personally encouraged about. As the Steelers get
ready to fly back across the Pond, they are bringing
a three and one record with them home to Pittsburgh.

(13:31):
This is the Steelers postgame show. The show continues right
here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 7 (13:37):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show.

Speaker 1 (13:39):
It's presented by Doing it Right, Roofing, siding and remodeling,
home of the lifetime workmanship warranty.

Speaker 8 (13:45):
Play action pass looking throws over the middle of a
few of us that gap open head on the run
across the forty five midfield, across the forty good thirty good,
twenty yard nine to fifteen, picks.

Speaker 2 (13:56):
Up a clock and rub over at the end.

Speaker 8 (13:57):
Ze Calvin Austin said him went up locked that metcalf.

Speaker 3 (14:02):
He goes eighty yards for the score.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network. Eight three three four one two nine three
eight three is our number today Today's Electrified play. The
game is powered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Local Union Number five ibe W letting up Pittsburgh since
nineteen eighty seven. Charlie, I don't know if you caught

(14:28):
Mike Tomlin after the game, but he mentioned, you know,
they didn't bring DK Metciff here, not to throw them
the ball. But you know, sometimes it takes a while
to get that type of stuff going. But boy did
he show what he is capable of how combustible he
can be on that play.

Speaker 4 (14:45):
Absolutely, and if you talk to you know, just the
offensive players, they always felt that they were close in
the passing game. And this is you have to credit
Arthur Smith here because with all you're asking for, especially
when you line up, you line up in one UH
in one's formation in motion, and all you're looking for
is one defender on that defensive side of the ball
to bust coverage. And when they motion now it left

(15:07):
that who was in middle linebacker now would allow him
to now be the weak side linebacker. He hesitated, that
allowed DK to get behind him, Aaron was able to
find the void in the zone and the rest is
what you heard right there by Rob King as he
did a great job of commentating that. And I think
that's something that ultimately they feel that they can continue
to build on. And I think that is the reason

(15:29):
when that big play happened, that allowed the running game
going because it took the vikings out of what they
were looking to do game plan wise, and it forced
them to now defend the pass and that opened up
the run game.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
Interesting point pass setting up the run As long as
it works, you don't care where order it comes in.
Let's go back to the telephones. Jeff in Ohio. You're
up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 5 (15:50):
How are you, Jeff, Hi, gentlemen a couple.

Speaker 2 (16:01):
I think we dropped Jeff there, Jeffry, try back if
you would. We lost a connection there. Let's move on
to Connor in Holiday Sport. Connor, you're up with Mike
and Charlie.

Speaker 11 (16:12):
Hey, guys, first time calling in this season, but listen
every week, win or lose, Always appreciate your insight into things.
First of all, it was nice to hear coach t
give mister Ronny a tip of the cap in the
postgame press conference. That was pretty cool, especially to see
the Steelers get a win in the first ever regular
season game in Ireland. So nice day all around in

(16:35):
that regard. I'm not sure the last time I had
heart palpitations before noon on a Sunday. But I think
today's result was warranted. Steelers, I thought were the better team.
They were deserving to win, so I'm glad that they did.
My question is, did you guys think that the offensive
line took a step forward today? They're a much maligned group,

(16:56):
rightfully so, but I thought over all. They did a
decent enough job in past protection, got a great push
in the run game. Nice to see some old school
Steelers ground game clicking, especially against a pretty tough Vikings front.
Are those young pieces coming together? Appreciate you, guys. I'll
hang up and listen, as they say on the Emerald
Isle Slunch you thanks now.

Speaker 3 (17:18):
Absolutely.

Speaker 4 (17:18):
The offensive line, we have to give credit to them
because we've been harsh on them over the last couple
of weeks, and those guys have stepped up. I know
they allow two sacks here today, but one of them
will miscommunication at the very beginning of the game, where
when that happened, you're thinking to us, okay, here we
go again. But they were able to settle down. And
when you look at just what they've been able to do,
you had Aaron Rodgers. He completed his first ten passes

(17:40):
and then ultimately finishing the game with two hundred yards
one touchdown. But that allowed that rushing game to get going.
One hundred and thirty one yards of rushing today, something
that we have not uttered over the past few weeks.
But it gets exciting because now this is hopefully the
expectations that we're going to have moving forward.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
And you know, I'm not sure what was shown on
tele vision what was and I was here at Crook Park, Charlie.
But toward the end of that game, when they were
running the ball towards the conclusion of that series that
ended at the one yard line, unfortunately there's timeouts for
being taken. The crowd as chanting here we go Steelers.
It was as loud as I've ever heard it anywhere,

(18:17):
and Broderick Jones is clapping his hands and Mason McCormick's
making the first down signal after runs. I think those
guys started to feel it a little bit today, A
real shot of juice from this performance for that young group.

Speaker 4 (18:30):
Now I agree with you there, and this is the
classic example of whenever you hear Mike Tomlin talk about, hey,
they're not new to the league, but they're new to us,
so a lot of concerns. Whenever you saw the inactive
list come out and Jalen war was on it, what
was the expectation of game will This is why the
Steelers went out signed him because they believed in the talent,
and he proved to hear today ninety nine yards on

(18:52):
the ground here today, I know he's gonna be kicking
himself on the flight back home for not having a
one hundred yard rush because of that final play of
the game.

Speaker 3 (18:57):
But either way, he did his job today.

Speaker 2 (19:00):
Back to the phones, we go, Neil in Ohio. You're
up next with Mike and Charlie. How are you, Neil?

Speaker 12 (19:06):
Hey, guys, looks like you've been having fun out there
in Dublin all week. Been watching you drink some guinness
Mike and yeah, I've seen it all right. Well, I
just want to talk about how DK kind of took
over there and how everybody was talking about how we're
going to get Dka the ball. I was just laughing
when he just went what was at sixty plus yards

(19:28):
for a touchdown? How was this laughing at all the haters?
And how he was jawn there at the end when
you were talking about me some McCormick feeling it. I
was like, throw it at the end zone with DK
because a Rod wanted it. We ran it at the end.
I thought we should have passed there, like Charlie said,
maybe run a rape, you know, on pass option, but
we ran it. But we ended up getting to win,

(19:49):
and like the last guy said, had some heart palpitations,
but you know we got it.

Speaker 4 (19:55):
Yeah they did, and I think when you look back,
it was good to see dk we didn't. You wouldn't
use it as much in the second half, obviously because
that running game was going. But when you have that
healthy balance, because we've been told coming into it, they
want to they look to run and then set up
that play action game in a past game. But the
day was completely different, and that lets you know that
this offense is starting to be a little bit more balanced.

Speaker 2 (20:16):
Anything else, Neil.

Speaker 12 (20:19):
Now, that's all good.

Speaker 2 (20:20):
Thanks for having me, guys, appreciate you, appreciate, appreciate the
phone call. We have a different number today. Eight three
three four one two nine three eight three is our number.
So if you want to get in line, feel free
to do so. This is the postgame Show and it
continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (20:39):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by doing it Right, Roofing,
sighting and remodeling home up the lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 8 (20:48):
We're back to past looking throws underneath did it pick
off TJ. Watt under deflection and the interception driven down
Guy Scott, But he hasn't at the thirty five yard
line of the fighting gas.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
What a play by TJ.

Speaker 8 (21:02):
Watt who runs down the field and boots and rugby
style into the stands.

Speaker 2 (21:09):
Welcome back to the Steelers postgame show on the Steelers
Audio Network. Eight three, three, four one two nine to
three eight three is our number. Mike Pursuda and Charlie
Batch kicking around Steelers twenty four Vikings twenty one, the
Steelers improving to three and one on the season. What

(21:29):
a day in Ireland for the Steelers, What an experience
in Ireland for the Steelers. Let's go back to the
telephones now, Tim in excuse me, Anthony in Dallas. Anthony
and Dallas calling back. You're up next with Michael hey Man,
Hei Man.

Speaker 13 (21:43):
My apologies by phone with the mute by accident, you guys.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
Okay, Yeah, we're good.

Speaker 13 (21:50):
Okay. Got a question the press conferences that Mike has
are they scripted? Because no one asked why did he
go pu a point pourp and goal yet fourp and
itches he takes a delay at punch the ball. Help
me understand sir? Please?

Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah, well, I can tell you they're not scripted. When
it's right after a game, there's a lot to get to,
particularly games such as this, I imagine, well, he's not
gonna do a press conferences coming Tuesday because it's the
bye week. But I imagine we'll get some explanations either
from Mike Tomalin or for some of his players eventually

(22:33):
as we get a little further removed. But Charlie, sometimes
the questions do get asked and they are not answered.

Speaker 4 (22:40):
Yeah, you're right, and I was going to say the
same thing. The press conference is not scripted at all.
And I think ultimately whenever you have a lot of
set of time because they have to now Mike has
to finish up, then get to the bus, and then
they fly out. So as a matter of really, do
are you asking a question about some of the positive
things that happen because you won the game, versus that
particular question. So I think maybe that will the reason

(23:00):
why that question didn't get asked in detailed. Maybe that
question gets asked in the press conference. But again, we're
not going to have that press conference this week.

Speaker 2 (23:09):
Anything else.

Speaker 13 (23:11):
Well, yeah, because he says you don't live in his fears,
and this has been the jargon for years, yet seemed
like to me he was living in the Spears.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
Yeah, no, I get I get the case.

Speaker 4 (23:23):
Here's the one thing I was going to say, Mike,
but if you go back and listen to Aaron Rodgers
press conference at the end of it, which we didn't
hear on radio, but he ultimately said, I want to
be able to close the game out offensively. That's why
he talked Mike into going for it on that fourth
and one call there. So maybe that's, you know, that
part of it. That discussion we won't hear on the
air today, but I think that's going to be something

(23:45):
that we hear coming out for the next couple of days.

Speaker 2 (23:48):
All Right, guys, well, I appreciate you go steal his baby,
Appreciate the call, Anthony. Let's keep it in the state
of Texas, and welcome Tim to the show. Tim, you're
up with Michael Charlie.

Speaker 14 (24:00):
Hey, Mike Charlie, great job, thank you for all that
you do. You're you're the experts. And a quick question,
I guess maybe more an opinion or what your thoughts are.
You know, when you win the game, you you hardly
talk about, like the previous call, the things that maybe
didn't go just right. And my question is in general,

(24:21):
in nature and you know, it's about officiating. The two
calls that you know went against Pittsburgh today on the
turnovers and just officiating in general. Is that Uh, you know,
fans had changed the way they looked at some of
the bad calls, and it's it's bigger. I mean, in
the last week, I saw the Women's Basketball League, you know,

(24:45):
the coach explode, uh, you know in a game. And
earlier in the week there was a baseball game played
in Canada and a fair ball file ball and it
was a real big play and the umpire called the
ball foul and it was a big moment. And I
don't know any officiating in general. That doesn't matter what sport.
You turn the channel and there's a bloone call or
you know, there's some anxiety about officiating. And I just

(25:08):
wanted to know what you guys, what do you think
about that?

Speaker 4 (25:12):
Yeah, I think when you look at it, ultimately, all
calls by referees, they're subjective, right, and they can go
either way, especially when you talk about holding in that manner.
But one thing that all leagues are going to do,
in including the NFL, they're not going to put the
referees out there in the press conference type of setting
having to now defend the calls that were made on it.
So when those things happen throughout course of the game,

(25:33):
that's why you see the organization, the coaches, the players,
they don't speak on it because the moment you speak
on it, you are now subjective defines and it becomes
out of hand if you continue.

Speaker 3 (25:43):
To criticize the referees.

Speaker 4 (25:44):
So that's why you see a lot of the people
that are going to be mute on these calls and
won't speak about it publicly.

Speaker 2 (25:50):
Tim The only thing I would add is, yeah, there's
a lot of calls that become head scratching and all
the sports I know, they get more technology and trying
to get them right that way. I'm actually a guy
who is in favor of lesson replaying, not more. But
I will say this about calls, unless it's the absolute
last call of the game, there's always something you can

(26:13):
do about it. So I think calls impact games. They
don't decide them. Anything else on your mind. That's it.

Speaker 14 (26:21):
You guys did a great job, and I do a
great job all the time. I certainly appreciate it, and
thank you for your time today.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (26:29):
No no problem. Thanks for making the calls. Get one
more in before the next break. Emmanuel in Ohio. You're
up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 15 (26:36):
Oh you making it real quick? Okay, well I'll try
to make this quick. First of all, Charlie, I want
to thank you for back in the day, me winning
a couple of fantasy football championships, and its me and
my kids, and my youngest is a freshman at Ohio State.
Now about thank you, Now for about today. I am
so happy, I am so proud. So look them forward

(27:02):
to the rest of this season, because I think this
guy's the limit. You, as a quarterback knows right, there's
a difference between a gun slinger and a sheriff. It
has been so long since the Pittsburgh Steelers actually had
a sheriff. I watch our quarterback take what the defense
gives them. You were great as that. You could do

(27:23):
an eight or nine play drive all the time.

Speaker 5 (27:25):
Charlie.

Speaker 15 (27:26):
We don't need a gun slinger. Whatever Aaron can see,
he can get, he's gonna take it. He'll take that
seven eight nine yards wheel route, He'll take that little
quick curl, you know, whatever the defense give him. He's
like he's like you, Charlie. He sees the scene of
the safeties, whether they're too deep and the defense cannot

(27:46):
cover the whole field, they're gonna give you something and
that makes the offensive line look better, keeps the defense
resting more. Charlie. I'm happy, man, I'm happy. Thank you, Charlie.
You guys have a good day.

Speaker 3 (27:58):
Yeah, I appreciate it. That and this is why Aaron
is here.

Speaker 9 (28:00):
You know.

Speaker 4 (28:00):
Obviously Aaron is a Hall of Famer and that's something
that to his credit, all the accolades are well deserving.
But when Mike Tomlin knows when he is on the field,
he is not going to lose the game for you.
And that's why they're really good this year in the
red zone because of the decision making that's he has made.

Speaker 2 (28:16):
Amen to that. 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 we talk to the
insurance company, Fine Edgar Steelers suffered a lot of bumps
and bruises associated with the playing of football today. But
Jaylen Warren did not play with his knee injury. He
was questionable. It was a Today's decision not to play him,

(28:37):
and boy did Kenneth gainwell, Rise up, and, as Bill
Cower used to like to say, seize the moment. The
Steels postgame show continues right here on the Steelers Audio.

Speaker 1 (28:48):
Network, the Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by doing
it Right, Roofing, sighting and remodeling hohm up the lifetime
workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 8 (28:57):
Wentz gets the snap back to pass, Steelers bring pressure
and down he goes again another sack, and Kihanu Benton
did it again in there with TJ.

Speaker 2 (29:08):
Watt for another sack. Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame
Show on the Steelers Audio Network. Eight three, three, four, one,
two nine, three eight three is our number. Mike Persuda
and Charlie Batch with you, wrapping up Steelers twenty four
vikings twenty one six times. The Steelers sack Carson Wentz
today they intercepted him twice. No, you don't get five

(29:30):
turnovers every game, as the Steelers did a week ago
in New England. But this is a defense that can
produce splash and be impactful while doing so. Let's go
back to the telephones. Now, Big John in Texas, you're
up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 16 (29:47):
Hey, good afternoon, fellas. Appreciate you all's insight on the
Pittsburgh Steelers. I just wanted to say, you know, game
well almost had one hundred yards, but you know, uh
on that one play towards the end of the game
of you know, and I was just looking at the
video and Aaron made a block. But you know, speaking
of blocking, it's like Starks has said years past, just

(30:11):
following the Steelers, that maybe the old line is starting
to mesh and get get together and making it easy
for gain Well and you know when Warren comes back.
But I just wanted you to, you know, give us
follow up with that because I know Charlie knows about
how it takes time to for everybody get on the
same page, especially since you know, Steelers have been investing

(30:33):
left and right, and Proderick Jones looked like he had
a better game today. But just wanted to see what
y'all thought.

Speaker 4 (30:40):
No, I agree with you on that. And you know,
with the offensive line, you know, they took them a
while to get there, but it looked like they were
coming off their double team blocks getting up to the
next level on those linebackers, and when you do that,
that's the easy four yards. But the ones that are
happening are the receivers that are blocking that safety in
the middle of the field in that box. And if
they were able to get their blocks, and now you're

(31:00):
starting to see those eight nine ten yard gains in
the manner that.

Speaker 3 (31:03):
Gain, well, we're able to do together.

Speaker 4 (31:05):
So they all were on the same accord and it
was beautiful to see that.

Speaker 2 (31:10):
It was John and I'll tell you Max Starks here
in Pittsburgh has said it takes about five weeks at
the start of the season for the old line to
really coalesce and kind of figure it out collectively. As
you mentioned, they have invested in these guys, so there
are high hopes for that offensive line throughout the organization.
I thought today was a big step run blocking wise.

(31:31):
I think there's still a little challenge protecting Aaron Rodgers,
and that's why you're seeing so many quick passes, the
balls coming out of his hand or he's bootlegging. He's
not taking five and seven step drops and trying to
throw the deep ball to DK Metcalf. But if you
throw them a slant, he runs for eighty yards. Doesn't matter,
not at all.

Speaker 16 (31:51):
Yeah, well, Joppy, we get a victory Monday, and we
got we go into the bye week with, you know,
feeling up beat about the rest of the season. So
thanks again, guys, appreciate you'all. Ghosteelers and here we go, Steelers,
Here we go.

Speaker 2 (32:09):
Charlie, Charlie. They were chatting out here at Croke Field today,
Croke Park, excuse me. And it was as loud as
I've ever heard it.

Speaker 3 (32:17):
It was coming through the screen. You can hear.

Speaker 4 (32:18):
You can even hear Larry Richard when he was making
his call third down.

Speaker 3 (32:23):
So it's pretty cool to hear he did that one
time and it was fourth time.

Speaker 2 (32:27):
They got it right a bit. Let's go back to
the phones and welcome Adam in Georgia to the show.
How are you, Adam?

Speaker 17 (32:36):
Hey good, how y'all doing this this evening?

Speaker 3 (32:39):
Doing well?

Speaker 5 (32:41):
Hey? Man?

Speaker 18 (32:43):
What a game?

Speaker 2 (32:44):
Great win.

Speaker 17 (32:46):
Mike Tomlin does what he does, he finds a way to.

Speaker 5 (32:49):
Get to win.

Speaker 17 (32:50):
I know, we look good there. It was some difficult
calls there here and there, but overall, man, just get
one point more than the other team and then that's
what we keep kind of preaching here in my house.

Speaker 12 (33:03):
And my daughter is he's got something to say for
you guys.

Speaker 19 (33:09):
My man, uh kJ what he got that first time
for us? And I'm an interception and that was a
game changer for us, And I'm glad what you do
for us Steelers.

Speaker 3 (33:23):
Yes, groom, I'm young.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
That's some great stuff out if you are raising your
family in the correct.

Speaker 15 (33:31):
Way, it's oh, thank you guys.

Speaker 17 (33:34):
And then hey, that's the Pittsburgh.

Speaker 2 (33:36):
Way, right.

Speaker 17 (33:37):
All you got to do is get one more point
than the other team. So we appreciate you, guys, and.

Speaker 10 (33:42):
Have a great week.

Speaker 3 (33:44):
I appreciate it.

Speaker 4 (33:44):
But you know, to our point, Mike tj Man, he
came on the last couple of weeks and he's getting
after him with the hits sacks and then came up
with a big interception here today.

Speaker 2 (33:54):
Yeah, and you know it's a matter of time with
that guy, right, I mean, yeah, he had the start
of the year, he didn't get sacks at the end
of last year, he didn't get any the first couple
of weeks this year. But all of a sudden, you know,
a couple weeks more take place, and he's right on
pace to be the guy that everybody expects him. To be.
You know, Dk Metcalf, we've talked about him maybe not
getting the ball as much as they hoped he would

(34:16):
or want him to. He's got three touchdown catches in
four games now, Charles, that's pretty good pace.

Speaker 4 (34:21):
Absolutely, and this is going to be something that they
continue to work on. The bow week couldn't come out
a better time because and now that those guys are
going to be able to heal up and they're going
to be ready for the Browns coming in Akashor in
two weeks.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
They could use it a little bit of a war
of attrition. Today. Postgame show continues right here on the
Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (34:40):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It Right, Roofing,
Sighting and Remodeling, ho him of the lifetime Workmanship.

Speaker 8 (34:48):
Warranty, snapping to give to Gainwell and game Bot find
a hole off the right side, weaves his way forward
off right guard inside the ten yard line.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
It'll be first in goal for the Steelers.

Speaker 20 (35:00):
I also got a great deal of confidence in Kenny
gangwell Man and he and he showed you why Top
now's competitor and professional. He's been a great asset to us.
Man in the running game out of the backfield. He's
just a football player first, and I appreciate his efforts today.

Speaker 2 (35:17):
Welcome back to the Steelers Post game Show on the
Steelers Audio Network, brought to you by Calliente Pizza and Drafthouse,
The Pizza of Champions. Mike Pursuda and Charlie Batch with you.
Eight three, three, four one two nine eight three is
our number. Let's go back to the phones. I believe
we have Jeff and Ohio trying again. Jeff, do we
have you this time? All right?

Speaker 5 (35:37):
Can you guys hear me?

Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yes? Getting clear coming through?

Speaker 5 (35:41):
Oh sorry, sorry about that, guys. A couple of things.
I actually kind of agreed with Charlie on the goal
lines play. I would have liked to see him going
under center and did a little RPO. But I actually
get the argument for kicking the field will It makes sense.
I personally, though, I would have tried to close out
the game. We were running the ball well and would have
liked to take a chance. But that's up. Twenty twenty.
Great day, We're three and one at the going into

(36:03):
to buy a lot of positives. Line playing on both
sides of the ball much much better thought the tackles
held up well. A couple of mistakes on the interior
there with communication with say them all a lot. I
don't know what was going on there, but overall, good
job on both sides. Mike, you hit this last couple
of weeks. Running game key, got to get the running game.
Got to get the running game line, blew some holes.

(36:25):
Game well looked really solid today, so I thought that
was a positive. On the defensive side, the pressure on
the QB a lot of hits, a lot of pressures
her Big Benton. Nice to see them get off and
have nice games. Question I had for you guys with
the Austin injury, it sounds like it could be significant.
I didn't hear the injury report, but it sounds like
he was going to hospital last I heard. Did the

(36:47):
fact that we didn't get the WR two, you know,
is that something that we need to be concerned with
because I look at it as this is just an observation.
They kind of tell you this. Roman Wilson's not playing.
I mean, it's Scotty Miller out there. And I love Schronic.
I thought Schronick did a great job. Scarnick's a rule player,
but man, he's I love him as a football player,
but for that WR two, did we kind of drop

(37:10):
the ball by not going after a WR two? Now,
this is the risk you run with Austin maybe with
a significant injury.

Speaker 4 (37:16):
Yeah, this is something that we're all going to pay
attention to for sure, especially whenever you know, I always say,
if you don't finish the game, chances are playing the
following week is not going to happen. Now, I know
we're going into a bye week. But when you see
the reports that's happening that said he left the stadium
and went by ambulance and went to the hospital to
get evaluated, that right there is concerning The team will
wait on him. Hopefully it's not too serious and he's

(37:36):
able to get back here to Pittsburgh to get reevaluated
to make sure it's not too serious. But to your point,
if that is a shoulder injury, you probably can expect
a few weeks that he's going to have to be out.
So they're going to have to now have somebody else
step up. Who is that going to be? To your point,
we didn't see Roman a lot throughout that this game.
Is he in the doghouse? We don't know, But Ultimately,
something is going on right now because we saw Scotty Miller,

(37:59):
to your point and ironic on the field before Roman Wilson.

Speaker 2 (38:02):
Well, I'll tell you where we did see Roman Wilson, guys,
and that was on the hands team at the end
of the game when they needed to recover that on
side kick. So they trust his hands. I don't know
about his route running, but he actually recovered too in
a row because the Steelers called time out right before
the Vikings kicked the first time. In terms of dropping
the ball on wide receiver too. My biggest concern about

(38:24):
that was what would they be if Metcalf came up
unavailable right then. I was concerned that they wouldn't have enough.
Calvin Austin has surpassed what I think he was cape
what I thought he was capable of. The coaches have
been banging the drums since the springtime in OTAs that
he's a legit number two. I don't have any information

(38:45):
on his injury. It is a good time for the
bye week. If he's out a while, hopefully it's a
shorter time rather than a longer time. But Charlie, I
think Calvin Austin and Jalen Warner are two guys that
are just raising the bar for me at least. I'm
continually impressed with these guys. Well, not warned today because
he didn't play, but they are rising to the occasion.

Speaker 4 (39:06):
They really are, and those are the guys you need
to step up, especially whenever there's question marks that happened,
you know, running back, they allowed my Anagy to walk
out the door. Jalen needs to step up, but obviously
he was not able to go today, but we know
what he's capable of when he is healthy in the lineup.
But Calvin, as he continued to press on. We didn't
see him his first year because of injury. He had
a solid year and then started to come on and

(39:28):
we just hope that it's not too serious because I
feel like he really is a good compliment to DK.
But right now, all question marks are in the air
at this point and we're all crossing our fingers.

Speaker 2 (39:39):
Anything else, Jeff, yeah, quick, real quick.

Speaker 5 (39:42):
On the other side of the ball, the second area
obviously was depleted, and I think the communication breakdown on
that eighty arder was due to the fact that we
had a lot of guys out of position back there.
With that being said, it's you know, it just can't happen.
I mean, that's pe wee football. Can't get a guy
behind you at that point in the game. But here's
my question, and Trice, I think they're getting close to
coming off the ir if the secondary is that banged up,

(40:06):
do you see possibly one of those guys maybe being
activated and slipping into the lineup and look like we
have a lot of guys, you know, kind of nicked
up in the secondary.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
Yeah, I know, Trice is a guy they really like
when he's healthy. He just has not been healthy very often.
I thought I was encouraging. Pierre made a couple of
plays today, real good play on a pass break up Charlie.
You mentioned it took him a while to score there
at the end, and valuable time came off the clock,
not just because of Peyton Wilson's tackle chasing the receiver

(40:36):
Addison all the way down the field, but you know,
holding for a couple of downs there to maximize how
much time the Vikings had to use. We shall see.
I wish I had some concrete information for you, but
unfortunately I don't.

Speaker 4 (40:50):
And I think that you know to your point, Trice,
and can't Dante Kent. They're working hard to get back
on the field. What does that timeline look for them?
You know, we'll wait and see when it comes to that.
But again, bye, we couldn't come out a better time
because we saw Ramsey he left the game in a
third quarter. Yeah, he did well, he was able to
come back in. But ultimately now he's you know, battling
a hamstringer JPJ hamstring injury. Elliott, you know, he's coming

(41:12):
out that injury. So they're going to monitor him this
bye week. And of course Darius Slay he's coming in and.

Speaker 3 (41:16):
Out as well.

Speaker 4 (41:17):
So a lot of those guys in the secondary, they
are going to need this bye week to get healthy
and hopefully this all changes as these guys are a
little younger, to make sure that they were able to
come back and contribute here in two weeks.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
Jeff, we're up against the break. Thanks for the call,
and thanks to Kellyenta, Pizza and Draft House for bringing
us this hour. The Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Post Game Show, Kellyenta,
Pizza and Draft House. The Pizza of Champions Show continues
right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (41:46):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show its presented by Caliente Pizza
and Drafthouse.

Speaker 7 (41:51):
The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 8 (41:53):
Play action pass looking throws over the middle of a
few of us back gap, open head on the run.
Beckcraft Cross is the forty five midfield across the forty
good thirty the twenty.

Speaker 2 (42:02):
Yard line to fifteen, picks up a block and rubbles
into the end.

Speaker 8 (42:06):
Calvin Austin set him up with a block and Metcalf
goes eighty yards for the score.

Speaker 21 (42:13):
We moved him around pretty good, had some good motions
to get him off some doubles and it was just coverage,
you know, he had single on the back shoulder of
fade and he had cover two. But we had nice
play action and as a DK that's best. I mean,
he can really run and it was nice to get
him going early.

Speaker 2 (42:35):
Yeah, it was Welcome back to the Steelers postgame show
on the Steelers Audio Network, brought to you by Kelly Ante,
Pizza and Drafthouse. To Pizza of Champions eight three, three,
four one two nine three eight three is our number.
Mike Pursuda and Charlie Basch with you after the Steelers
victory over the Vikings today in Dublin, Ireland. Twenty four
to twenty one. Today's Keys to the Game are brought

(42:56):
to you by South Tills Kia. South Till's Keia has
the ride and a price you'll love, Charlie Mike. Key
to the game third down defense, and maybe the key
to that was first and second down defense, because after
a pretty shoddy performance on defensive third downs in New England,
the Steelers were able to get the Vikings consistently in

(43:17):
third and longs and good stuff happened when that happened.
Third to nine sacked by Patrick Queen, third and twelve
sacked by Nick Herbig, third and eight interception, deflection from
Derek Harmon for the isnt by Deshaun Elliott. Third and
twelve just a throwaway by Carson Wentz and the Vikings
settle for a field goal. And third and eleven a

(43:39):
sack by Herbig again, third and sixteen deflection by Hayward.
Interception by Watt Minnesota four of fourteen on third down today,
that's twenty nine percent, and that is losing football.

Speaker 3 (43:53):
I'm with you on the same way.

Speaker 4 (43:54):
I'm looking immediately on that third down four to fourteen,
able to get off the field. That was key and
ultimately allowing them to get pressure on Carson Wentz. I
know they were banged up on the offensive line, but
it doesn't matter. If those guys are out there, they
have to play and protect. They weren't able to do that,
allowing for six sacks bat of Steelers here today.

Speaker 2 (44:14):
Let's go back to the telephones now and keep the
calls rolling in. Uh. We always enjoy taking them, and
I hope people enjoy making them. Next up, Sam on
the freeway you're on with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 22 (44:30):
Hey, guys, I'm on the New York State tula. I
wish I could tell you I was on a good,
real mission to get a Craig Bothy.

Speaker 23 (44:36):
Statue at the Syracuse University campus. But I was only
up there to see the football game with my son
playing as a marching fan.

Speaker 22 (44:43):
But the reason for my call is this, This game was.

Speaker 23 (44:46):
An absolute celebration. You know, we're we always complained, and
we should complain's that's our right as fans, probably Chuck
Bull rolling over in his grave on the WinBoard on
fourth down with the second a last possession. But nonetheless,
the facts of these number one, they're coming back to
Pittsburgh with their passports getting stamped with a three to

(45:07):
one record. Number two, the defense has come to life.
At number three, the running game is back. They showed
a wonderful, wonderful showing for the city of Pittsburgh and
for the team. The paraphrase the great Jack Lambert, if I.

Speaker 22 (45:22):
Could do it all over again, I'd be a professional
American football fan. You damn well better believe I'd be
a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. And also side note, importantly, you
guys at a wonderful job.

Speaker 23 (45:33):
The broadcast has never sounded better, and I know.

Speaker 22 (45:36):
Especially today with all the extra logistics, that's no small feat.
So thank you for what you do.

Speaker 3 (45:43):
I appreciate that.

Speaker 2 (45:43):
I appreciate it. Yeah, I got to tell you you
left one thing out, and that is the juice that
the Steelers are going to get if they didn't know
how popular they are. It's not Steeler Nation, it's Steeler World.
I'm sure the players have interactions with people, maybe not
as many as I had because I was probably out
more than the players, but I met people from Sweden,

(46:07):
from Brazil, from Austria. We know there was a ton
of Pittsburgh people here and this stadium today. I know
the game got close at the end, but early in
that second half, things were looking very very good and
the party just ratcheted up, you know, through the roof.
I mean, people were singing and dancing and chanting, and
the players are reacting to it on the field. I

(46:29):
thought Missy Matthews Charlie did a great job. At the
end of the game broadcast before we came on the air,
she described that scene where Mike Tomlin and Cam Hayward
were waiting for Aaron Rodgers to get done doing a
TV interview and then they walked off the field together,
Steelers fans going nuts. All those guys had their arms up,
arms raised in a v for victory. It was really

(46:51):
quite a day here in Ireland.

Speaker 3 (46:53):
It really was.

Speaker 4 (46:54):
And I think when you know, you'll be going back
in the spring. On Aaron's comments when he got here,
you know, two historical, historic franchises and he mentioned hits
in Green Bay, and to see the interaction and the
fans and the smile that he has coming off of
the field, that is truly exciting to see. But Mike,
I know you were involved in your pregame coverage early
before the game. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was on TV

(47:18):
during an interview and they asked him about this game,
and he said, because of the popularity of the Steeler fans,
this is the most demanded game tickets that they're ever
going to have for an international game. And you better
believe it showed up at least coming across the TV.
But everything that you've seen coming out of Ireland, that
just lets you know how exciting and how popular that

(47:39):
these fans. The Steelers are two fans not just in
the city of Pittsburgh in the States, but around the world.

Speaker 3 (47:45):
To your point, it was just fascinating to see.

Speaker 2 (47:48):
Yeah. Missy also interviewed Roger Goodell on our program and
he said that usually these games are mostly locals or Europeans.
It's not locals. I know people from England that came
over for this one, but Roger Goodell estimated that about
thirty percent of the tickets were American NFL fans who

(48:08):
came over, and I think a lot of those were
from Pittsburgh. The streets of Dublin were invaded by Steeler Nation,
the stadium was invaded by Steeler Nation, and the team's abiliting.
As Mike Tomill explained in the post game to appreciate
the opportunity and the moment and the chance to do

(48:29):
something very meaningful in Dan Rooney's memory, and still do
your job and you know, take care of business, get
the thing done, bring home a w this. You know
they all count, won Charlie, this one might count a
little more than one.

Speaker 3 (48:41):
It definitely does.

Speaker 4 (48:42):
And we know how important it is, you know, not
to this Steeler's nation, but obviously to the Rooney family
and how Ambassador Rooney and what this meant to him,
and like everybody talked about, we know he's smiling down
on how exciting not only to bring the game to Ireland,
but walk out of there with a victory. And this
is something that really was just going to see more
things to come because people have showed up and showed

(49:03):
out in Ireland and when you have the fan base
traveling out to another country to take on and to
be part of this particular experience, to let you know
there's more coming down the pipeline.

Speaker 2 (49:14):
Thanks to Calliente Pizza and Draft House for bringing us
this hour the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Postgame Show, Callienta
Pizza and Draft House, the Pizza of Champions. The Postgame
Show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (49:27):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Calliente Pizza
and Draft House The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 24 (49:34):
Like we talked about each other week, it's fun to
get teams one dimensional. Obviously, that's us doing our job,
that's the offense doing the job. Special teams has in
great place too, and it's a whole lot of fun.
Man steel Nation came out today and really showed out,
really happy about that and happ you about the win.

Speaker 2 (49:51):
Welcome back to the Steelers Postgame Show on the Steelers
Audio Network, brought to you by Calliente Pizza and Draft
House The Pizza of Champions. Eight three, three, four to
one two nine eight three is our number. That was TJ.
Watt talking about the fun the Steels head and sprinting
ahead and then hanging on at the end and besting
the Minnesota Vikings twenty four to twenty one. Today here

(50:14):
in Ireland, let's go back to the telephones now and
welcome Jonah in Reading Pa to the program. Jonah, you're
on with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 25 (50:25):
Hello, fellas, can you hear me?

Speaker 2 (50:26):
Okay, we can hear you. We got you a loud
and clear Jonah.

Speaker 25 (50:30):
All right, terrific. Thank you guys. You do a great
job on the show. First time calling this season. Great
to sign to see. You know, the O line looks
to be headed in the right direction. I think we'll need,
you know, then, to continue to improve to have really
any shot of this year being a success. But I
wanted to ask you guys about two players in particular.

(50:52):
Roman Wilson was actually brought up by an earlier caller.
I'm just confused why he is not being the seal
you know much all really really at all. It seemed
like the storyline in camp was that, you know, they
had faith in him and his abilities and uh second
players Pat frar Mooth, I mean, I don't know, since

(51:13):
we do have a number of tight end options, is
it just kind of a reality that not one of
them is going to be a dominant force. But I'm
just you know, it seems like he's been pretty, uh
pretty absent from the passing game. So I wanted to
just kind of get your perspectives on those two particular
players and you know, what their situations might mean with
their stance on the team.

Speaker 3 (51:35):
Mike, I didn't hear the second part, who was the
second player that you mentioned.

Speaker 2 (51:40):
He has he disappeared in if so?

Speaker 4 (51:42):
Wid Yeah, I donna answer the first one first. When
you say Roman Wilson, I mean all indications do out
training camp that he was going to get the opportunity,
but that didn't happen, especially when Calvin Austin missed time.
So he played a lot in the preseason, had good,
good preseason. I thought that was going to be really
the next step for him in the regular season, but
unfortunately that didn't happen and we're seeing less and less

(52:02):
of him. As it relates to friar Mouth, I'm baffled
because I really thought that he was going to be
part of this offense, and unfortunately it didn't happen. I
don't know if today's field goal block, you know, with
him missing that block on the on the left side
there that caused the field goal to be blocked. Did
he get into Mike Tollin's doghouse and we didn't see
him again. I don't have the answer for you, but

(52:24):
I'm looking at exactly what you're seeing on TV, and
I'm questioning why Friarmuth is not involved in his offense more.

Speaker 2 (52:31):
I would just a couple of things, Jonah, the wide
receiver position, and one thing they're doing differently this year
which I'm really in favor of. They're playing Metcalf in
Austin almost all the time. You know, it used to
be there were various combinations of two wide receiver sets,
various combinations of three wide receiver sets, and so on.
When the two guys Austin and Metcalf are out there,

(52:53):
they are both threats. If they get single coverage, Rogers
is going to exploit that. So I think you're dictating
to the defense even if they're not necessarily a primary
on the play. And the other thing is they're very
week to week in the way they set these game
plans up. Connor Hayward played a ton today. I think
he got two offensive snaps in New England. So sometimes

(53:15):
you know you're on the back burner one week, he
might be on the front burner the next week. But
I'm with you, Charlie. I thought Friarmuth was culpable on
that block field goal, and that ended up being a
big deal because you know, instead of seventeen to three,
it ends up going a halftime fourteen to six. And
now it's only a one score game, but friar Mouth
was also featured a couple times. At least they tried
to feature him. In the New England game. There was

(53:37):
one third down where he and Aaron Rodgers weren't on
the same page and an incompletion resulted. Rodgers missed him
another time. He dropped that deep pass in the Seattle
game early in the game. I think it'll come back
around for Pat Fryarmuth, and I think he's a pretty
good player. I think I think he'll be heard from
yet this season.

Speaker 3 (53:53):
Yeah, and one day.

Speaker 4 (53:54):
And I know he've harped on that fourth down call
at the end of the game, but I'm wondering if
the field goal block earlier in the game caused Mike
to not want to go for it later in the game.

Speaker 2 (54:06):
Interesting anything else on your mind?

Speaker 25 (54:08):
Shoah, No, thank you, guys. I appreciate your thoughts. But yeah,
I mean, just as you were mentioning, I mean, Pat
got it, you know, a pretty good contract recently, and
you know he's not known for his blocking abilities, so
not seeing him in the passing game, it's it's confusing
as to you know what his role is and what
it might be going forward. But I appreciate you guys thoughts.

Speaker 2 (54:29):
Thank you appreciate it. Let's move on to Kelly and Pittsburgh.
You're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 26 (54:37):
Hello. I appreciate all of the positive comments, all of
the positive things that the team did today, But I'd
like to get your thoughts on who do we have
signed the blame to for letting the Vikings get back
into the game? Coaches or players.

Speaker 4 (54:55):
Well, I just think at some point you knew they
were going to, you know, get into that hurry up
and really get back into this game. Outside of that
blown coverage, I don't think you know that. I don't
think they really gave up a lot defensively from that,
but that bit blown coverage really changed the whole dynamic
of the game because that gave them an easy touchdown
with minimal time on the you know, you have them
to be used off the clock. So again, I just

(55:17):
think it was I think it was a combination of
the injuries that we had in the secondary playing personnel
that aren't necessarily on the field. And if you heard
Mike Tomley said, we were in big nickel. I don't
even know what big nickel is, but we haven't seen
it much this season, so that's gonna be something that
we just don't know. So again, we're learning this as
you're finding out as well.

Speaker 2 (55:37):
Yeah, amen to that. I mean, uh, well, you know,
they you get down to the one yard line and
or the three yard line, and you go for it.
You end up on the one yard line. If they
score there, it's a different game. If they if they
make the first down on the last possession instead of
coming up with yard short, it's a different game. If
they don't give up to eighty one yard touch eighty

(55:59):
one yard pass that led to a touchdown. Different game.
But Kelly, one other group of people, you might want
to blame the Vikings. They're pretty good. Yeah, these teams
don't just roll over. I think you should see throughout
this season. This is going to be a quality win.
I don't really care if they had to hang a
lot of yet or not.

Speaker 14 (56:16):
To be honest with you, very true, and we got to.

Speaker 2 (56:20):
W anything else.

Speaker 27 (56:23):
Kelly, thank you very much, thank.

Speaker 2 (56:27):
You, thank you for your phone call, and thanks to
Kelly Anta pizzin draft House for bringing us this hour
the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network post game show. Kelly Anta
Pizza and Draft House, The Pizza of Champions. The Steelers
Postgame Show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (56:43):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show is presented by Calliente Pizza
and Drafthouse, The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 8 (56:50):
Our crowd loud towels twirling as Wentz gets a snap
back throws over the middle of the field, knocked away
by this Sean Elliott. Welcome back to Sean. A phenomenal
game as he comes back from injury and the Steelers
are going to hang on and win an historic game.

Speaker 3 (57:10):
It croked part to be able to get.

Speaker 24 (57:12):
A team on a silent count on the road, even
though it was a home game, technally for us was massive.
I was so impressed with the fans knowing when the year,
especially when we were on defense. That was huge for
us and it definitely gave us an edge today.

Speaker 2 (57:27):
Welcome back to the Steelers post game showing the Steelers
Audio Network, brought to you by Kellyente, Pizza and Drafthouse
The Pizza Champions. Charlie. I appreciate TJ. Watt's sentiment, and
I didn't notice the Vikings working the silent count, but
I noticed the Steelers doing it too. And one of
the reasons why was there were times when the crowd
was still singing while Aaron Rodgers was trying to call

(57:48):
his kate.

Speaker 3 (57:50):
But that lets to day. They're still learning the game
as well, you know, so we still have a.

Speaker 2 (57:54):
Lot of those one of these steels Blue thirty two,
Sweet Carol. It was nuts out here, I mean just
crazy in a really entertaining way.

Speaker 4 (58:07):
Absolutely, I agree, and is this funny? You'd be really
interesting and whether we'll find out or not. But what
was truly the mix of you know, Steealer fans versus
the international fans. You know, you do have the locals
that go to some of those games that don't necessarily
know when to cheer or whatnot. But TJ's point many
they sound, at least on the TV, it sounded like
they knew exactly when the cheer.

Speaker 2 (58:27):
Vikings were definitely on the solid count more than the Steelers.
Uh four excuse me, eight three three four one two
nine three eight three is our number. Let's go back
to the phones. Doug in Georgia, you're up next with
Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 28 (58:41):
I love your show and your expertise, I asked her
screen caller if the guy from Las Vegas called yet,
because Uh, I appreciated you, Mike when you said, hey,
let's see if you call back when we're three and one,
And yeah, I wanted to call last week so bad
because you know, it's just so much negative stuff after

(59:04):
a win. And I usually don't judge the team until,
you know, maybe after the fourth fourth game, because you know,
the veterans aren't playing in preseason and they're just you know,
they don't have their game shape in yet. And today
it was it was impressive. I mean, I saw a

(59:25):
lot of difference in the offensive line and the defensive line,
and I just liked how the secondary, you know, we'd
get in front of the receivers to tip the ball
and I haven't seen that in a while.

Speaker 2 (59:41):
And that coverage was tighter today. And if you heard,
uh yeah, if you heard Max starts at the beginning
of our show, one of the reasons the rush was
able to get there despite Max protection on the Vikings
part was the dbs were up closer and playing more
aggressive and that gave the Steels a little more time
to do what they do up front.

Speaker 28 (59:58):
Doug absolutely, and then uh, you know, Mike Tomlin, you
know the guy was you know, I get tired of
people complaining about Mike Tomlin. You know, fire him, fire him,
and Mike, who are you going to get?

Speaker 9 (01:00:12):
If you fight?

Speaker 28 (01:00:13):
You know, fire Mike Tomlin? Who are you going to get?
I mean, look at these other teams and get a
new coach every other year. You got to learn a
whole new system. And it's not always a coach's fault.

Speaker 16 (01:00:24):
You know.

Speaker 28 (01:00:25):
There's you got the referees, you got injuries. You know,
sometimes we fumble, you got the weather. There is so
many different objects for a loss, you know. So I
love Mike Tomlin and I hope he's around, you know,
until he retires.

Speaker 2 (01:00:44):
Appreciate that sentiment, Doug. Anything else on your mind?

Speaker 5 (01:00:48):
Uh?

Speaker 28 (01:00:49):
I just want to do a shout out to my girlfriend, Becky,
who was a great woman and a great stealer fan.

Speaker 2 (01:00:56):
Thanks appreciate that. Thanks for the call. Let's keep it
moving and welcome Goose in Pittsburgh to the show. How
are you Goose?

Speaker 15 (01:01:05):
I'm doing good?

Speaker 29 (01:01:06):
Man there, come back.

Speaker 3 (01:01:10):
Yep, we have you.

Speaker 2 (01:01:10):
What's the word? What do you got?

Speaker 5 (01:01:13):
Yeah?

Speaker 18 (01:01:13):
First time call her?

Speaker 29 (01:01:14):
First of all, I use Charlie's number. My combination of
my lock I use water Payton, Charlie Batch, rod Woodson.
That's my combination at the convention center, at my locker.

Speaker 2 (01:01:31):
Seriously, so we could probably we could probably not get
in your locker with the minimal effort.

Speaker 15 (01:01:36):
If you want to chef, go get it.

Speaker 13 (01:01:38):
You want to Sharpy, go get it.

Speaker 16 (01:01:42):
Yeah, your morning while ago get it.

Speaker 3 (01:01:45):
Hey, just tell the world, Just tell the whole world
what the combination is.

Speaker 2 (01:01:48):
That's okay, Charlie Batch sixteen. I don't want to mention
the other guy's numbers with the pretty famous guys you picked.

Speaker 3 (01:01:56):
Just don't blame us as somebody brace to your locker.

Speaker 29 (01:02:01):
Second, that kid, Charlie, I work at the second Halvening
food sheler. That's this is my primary job, the second
halfn your food shelder.

Speaker 5 (01:02:08):
Yes, this is my primary job.

Speaker 29 (01:02:11):
I cooked for all the all the homeless people.

Speaker 3 (01:02:13):
Yes, yes, oh okay, thank you for that.

Speaker 29 (01:02:17):
Yeah, you'd like to come down here, come down one
come down one day for one hour. Someday it happens
out anyway, that's beside the point. I mean, no, we
do a good job here and uh I know you
have a lot of charities and we like it. You know,
and uh, it'll be a nice one hour. This one
hour we served from five thirty six thirty.

Speaker 5 (01:02:35):
That's it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:40):
Appreciate that thought, gooseid anything about the game you'd like
to talk about? Nope, I guess not. Okay, On to Carl,
Uh is it Darlington that you're calling from?

Speaker 14 (01:02:52):
Carl, Yes, sir, I.

Speaker 2 (01:02:57):
Thought it might be what's on your mind?

Speaker 18 (01:03:00):
Hey, Charlie?

Speaker 3 (01:03:01):
Hey, how you doing?

Speaker 5 (01:03:02):
Hey?

Speaker 18 (01:03:03):
Good job guys, Megan's proud.

Speaker 2 (01:03:08):
Doing our best. What's on your mind, Mike, Mike, Yes, sir.

Speaker 18 (01:03:13):
Yes, like you say on the like you say on
the DV morning show. We are three and one. What
are you complaining about? But why do we not put
the opponent away before we back off? I know we
don't emeliate, you know, humiliate our opponents, but I'm getting

(01:03:33):
cold for this.

Speaker 11 (01:03:37):
You know what.

Speaker 2 (01:03:37):
Here's the why I look at it, Carl. I think
they were real close to putting the vikings away today. Now.
I know it got exciting at the end, but I
heard a lot of people say last week, well, you're
not going to get five turnovers every week, so you
can't count on that. If that's the case, I'm not
going to count on giving up an eighty one yard
pass every week, because that rarely, if ever happens. So

(01:03:59):
let's just take the w was more good than bad.
And more importantly, Charlie, I thought the Steelers looked much
more like the team they aspire to be in this game.
And frankly, I would have said that had they found
a way to lose it. This just looked like a
much more balanced, complete and competent effort out of these guys.
I think they're getting better now.

Speaker 4 (01:04:20):
I agree with you on that, and like you said
last week, Ed, they're not gonna get five turnovers every week,
but they're getting turnovers and they had two today, and
again that was the difference of the ball game, taking
those possessions away from the vikings there and right now
when they are on the plus side of the turnover battle,
they are three to zero. So that ultimately is going
to be this formula for success as they look like

(01:04:42):
look moving forward, because they now are creating those turnovers
and resulting in points. They didn't necessarily happen today, but
again you're seeing that happening. And when you have those turnovers,
this allowed them to bleed the clock a little bit too.

Speaker 2 (01:04:55):
Col Thanks for the phone call and thanks to Kelly
Andnta Peach and Draft House for bringing us this hour.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network postgame Show Calliente Pizza in
draft House, The Pizza of Champions. The postgame show continues
right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (01:05:10):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show was presented by Caliente Pizza
and Drafthouse The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 20 (01:05:17):
You know, we talked a lot about the late great
Ambassador Rooney last night. I know he smiling at us today. Man,
It's just it's just an honor man to fulfill his
vision to bring NFL football to Dublin. Man and been
thinking about him a lot on a personal level, and
so I'd be remiss if I didn't say that, Man,

(01:05:40):
Steelers have.

Speaker 2 (01:05:40):
Been thinking about Dan Rooney since this game was announced
and Mike Tomlin speaking after the twenty four to twenty
one victory over the Vikings today, Art Rooney the second
the current Steelers president, addressing the team back on Wednesday,
and I'm sure some of the same sentiments expressed Charlie.

(01:06:00):
The Steelers knew this was a big game. It was
much more from an emotional standpoint than just one game
in the standings.

Speaker 4 (01:06:08):
It really is, and that's something that you know behind
the scenes that you know, as coach Tomlin talked about,
he always does that with his teams on things that
are important. And when you talk about just a historical
perspective of this organization, you talk about what he meant
to this organization and a lot of these players they
weren't here during that time, so you now have to
catch them up on speed. Yes, it's one thing to

(01:06:29):
see his pitchers all around the building, but again talking
about the things that he has done to really allow
this moment to happen, for these guys to be in Ireland,
because there was a lot of work that entailed to
make this happen. So it's really great that they got
that learning curve that relates to a historical perspective of
whose ambassador Rooney was. But not only that, but how

(01:06:52):
important the Rooney family is to the National Football League.

Speaker 2 (01:06:57):
The post game show is brought to you by kel
Anti Peachant Draft House. The Pizza of Champions eight three three,
four one two nine three eight three is our number. Uh,
let's go back to the phone lines. Max in Houston,
You're up next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 27 (01:07:14):
Hey, can you hear me?

Speaker 2 (01:07:16):
Yes, we can loud and clear box.

Speaker 13 (01:07:18):
Okay, okay.

Speaker 27 (01:07:19):
I have two things about the offensive line. First, I'm
worried about Isaac Salamalu. Both sacks are on him and
he looked lost, and even in the first half he
was withfing on a lot of blocks. And then I
want to maybe respectfully slightly disagree with Charlie on the
running game. What got it done, in my opinion, was

(01:07:41):
when they brought in Spencer Anderson as the second tight end.
Mount Washington went heavy and even brought Speroni and as
the number two wide receiver because he's a really good
blocker too, And I think that's probably what's got the
power running game going more than anything today.

Speaker 4 (01:07:57):
Yeah, And when I when I made that, when I
made that comment, it was because you hit the eighty
yard touchdown pass. And when you hit that pass, it
takes defensive coordinators out to say, hey, I can't run
that defense anymore, I can't run the double a look
and didn't fall out of it anymore because you hit
him and made them pay for it with a big play.
Once that happens, it changes the coordinator's perspective, and now

(01:08:18):
Arthur Smith is able to go into his game plan
and use that heavy personnel on what you're talking about.

Speaker 27 (01:08:23):
Now, well, I'll agree, having DK White out, you gotta
probably you have to have at least a safety deep
and either linebacker or a fifty defensive back watching the
crossing routes. So now you have seven on eight, so
we have a chance with the heavy package to run.

Speaker 3 (01:08:42):
No, I'm with you.

Speaker 4 (01:08:43):
We're saying the same thing I'm with you on and
it just typically typically what you run, the setup the
pass with the play action today was just a little
slightly different.

Speaker 3 (01:08:52):
That's all.

Speaker 27 (01:08:53):
Okay. What happened with Isaac in the first half though,
is something I know he was hurt during preseason and that,
but he just for he's a veteran of the Lion.
I'm concerned.

Speaker 2 (01:09:05):
Might well, I you know, I feel your concerns. Max.
I thought today was a step forward for the line.
As I mentioned earlier, Uh, still working on the pass
protection part of that equation, but I think a big
step forward today. And it's not always going to be perfect.
And Minnesota is a really good defense and a really

(01:09:26):
complex defense. I think the vikings are as diverse and
complex defense as they're going to face this year. For
for them to be able to figure it out as
well as they did as often as they did, I
can live with the hiccups. But yeah, they got to
protect Aaron Rodgers. That is a point well taken.

Speaker 27 (01:09:46):
Okay, Yeah, Flores is a really good defensive coordinator.

Speaker 2 (01:09:49):
So anything else, Max, now.

Speaker 27 (01:09:53):
If that's it, thanks a lot, guys.

Speaker 2 (01:09:56):
Appreciate the call.

Speaker 24 (01:09:58):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:09:59):
You know, Charlie, you'd like to have the perfect game.
You'd like to have no mistakes. You'd like to blow
teams out. But it's not gonna happen very often, is it.
I mean, these games are invariably going to come down
to the fourth quarter, and three of the four have
and the Steelers have been able to find answers when

(01:10:19):
it has. I think that's maybe a nice little piece
of DNA they're starting to cultivate.

Speaker 4 (01:10:24):
Yeah, and for the first three weeks you heard Mike
Tollin talk about you know, it's like popcorn, right, one
mistake here, one mistake there, and they have to play
all on the same court. I thought today that this
was the best complete game that I saw. Now, you know,
you can't get the first play out of your mind
when the sac happened from the miscommunications point of view,
But as the game went on, I thought they cleaned

(01:10:46):
that up and that's why you saw the consistency throughout
the first three quarters that allow.

Speaker 3 (01:10:52):
Them to get the lead and then hold on to
it at the end.

Speaker 2 (01:10:56):
You're listening to the Steelers Audio Network, Mike Pursua, thanks
for joining us. Our next broadcast is at eleven am
on Sunday, October the twelfth, that's before the Steelers take
on the Cleveland Browns. The postgame show continues locally on
your home in the Steelers one to two point five
DVE and Steelers Nation Radio with Charlie BATCHAM Mike Pursuit

(01:11:16):
of This is the Steelers Postgame Show on the Pittsburgh
Steelers Audio Network