Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to it, Broncos Country Tonight, Benjamin Albright, Gret smith Man,
the Myth, the Mustache, gonna run right out to the
KWA Common Spirit Health hotline, and bring on ray Fit
Apollo at ray Fit one on Twitter covers the Steelers
for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Ray How you doing this? Sevenon?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'm good. How you guys doing tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Do it pretty well? It's gonna be an interesting game.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I think when Broncos fans had first envisioned this game,
obviously this was intended to be the Russell Wilson returns
slash revenge game, but that appears to be a thing
that's trending towards not happening. Mike Tomlin coming out today
and saying we're preparing as Justin Fields is the starter.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Is that in the direction that it is trending that
Justin Fields will be the starter? Or is there a
chance that Russell Wilson even plays in this game?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah? I mean Russell Wilson was limited today. He was
limited Thursday and Friday last week, and the Steelers decided
against playing him in the opener. So I would imagine Benjamin,
you know, if he is limited again on Thursday. It
would be trending in the direction where it would be
(01:11):
Justin Fields. And you know, it's not that Mike Tomlin
doesn't trust his veteran I think he he always will
play veterans, you know, if they take a practice on Friday.
You know, with with Rusty and new to the team,
new offensive coordinator, knew everything. I just felt like he
wanted to go with the guy who was healthy and
(01:33):
the guy who had been practicing. And I think we're
gonna see the same approach this week.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
On Sunday in Denver, Steelers did beat the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Kirk Cousins a little hobbled in that one.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Kind of an ugly win, but that's that's kind of
I don't say that's the Steelers identity, but to me,
Steelers football is scrappy. We're gonna find a way to
win no matter what. And it felt sort of, uh,
it felt sort of reminiscent of that watching that game.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, it was not a good start for Justin Fields
and that game he had one fumble, he bobbled another snap,
and he was missing receivers on the first couple of drives. Now,
they never reached the end zone, but he drove them
down the field on multiple occasions. And I think the
most important thing is he didn't turn the ball over.
(02:18):
Anyone who watched him in Chicago kind of knew that
was his bugaboo, you know. I think he had thirty
career interceptions, thirty eight career fumbles, and it was a
big issue in Chicago. But for one game at least,
he was careful with the football. And you know, everyone
knows that if you get the Steelers defense a chance
(02:38):
to get after someone in a low scoring game, they're
going to do it, you know. So they kind of
feel like if they can get to seventeen points twenty
points on offense, they're going to have a chance to
win most games. And that's exactly what happened against the Talpons.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Ray Fopaldo from the Pittsburgh Post is thattte When we
look at the matchups here, it feels like both these
offensive lines have some problems. You guys know, a few
injuries over there. Obviously, Garret Bowles hurt with the with
the Broncos. Luke Wattenberg did not play up to that
let a little hurt as well. You guys have some
center and tackle issues as well. How does that Steelers
offensive line look?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Now?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Yeah, actually rookie Zach Frasier went in at center and
now she played really well against the Falcons. But if
you're right, they do have issues at some other spots.
Probably the best offensive lineman Isaac Samalu left guard. He'll
be replaced once again by Spencer Anderson, a second year
guy who made his first career start against the Falcons.
(03:36):
So you know you have that, and you know it
looks like this week rookie Troy follow Tanu, number twenty
overall pick, could get a chance to make his first
NFL start. Van Moore, their starting left tackle, has an
anchor issue and if he can't play, father Tanu would
go into the lineup. So it's a young line and
(03:58):
on top of that, they've got some injuries to deal with.
But you know, other than maybe a couple of stacks
against the Falcons, I thought they did pretty well. You know,
they were able to get up near one hundred fifty
yards rushing, and like I said, if you can, you know,
possess the ball for thirty five minutes and you know,
give your defense a chance to win a low scring game.
That's all the Steelers are really looking for and you know,
(04:20):
they feel like if they can do that again against
the Broncos, they'll will at least be in the game
and maybe have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I tend to agree with that as we look at
what these teams did in Week one. Arthur Smith the
new offensive coordinator replacing that Canada there for the Steelers,
How has he been received relative to I think the
disappointment that the fan base there had in the previous
offensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, so it was I think first and foremost the
players believe in Arthur Smith. Well, that wasn't the case
for Matt Canada. That Canada came from the college game,
and you know, there were just some some things that
were lost in translation as he tried to make the
transition to the NFL, and the players just lost confidence
(05:10):
in him. Arthur Smith has been around a long time,
thirty two years old. He's been in oc in the league,
he's been a head coach in the league, and they
have beliefs in his system. So it wasn't perfect against
the Falcons, but it was a winning formula and I
think if time goes on, you know, there's some issues
at receiver after George Pickins, They're not very deep there.
(05:33):
There might be some issues with their debt to tight
end after pat for Ironmures, but you know, once they
get the quarterback situation squared away, I think they got
one of the best running back duos in the NFL
with Rogie Harrison Jalen Warren. Once we're able to get
to and to play their identity, I think they're going
to be a tough offense to deal with. But you know,
(05:53):
until the line comes along and until some of the
younger receivers step up, you know, it would be a while.
So Lebronc was actually might be catching them at a
decent time.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Tello ray Fa Apollo, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette at ray
fit f I T t one on Twitter. I want
to stick with the offense a little bit. You just
mentioned the receiving corps. There are some names in there
that have had flashes of success around the league. Scottie
Miller over over there in Tampa. Van Jefferson, I thought
with with La showed some things at times.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Romand Wilson is hurt.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Pickens obviously, I think everybody knows, but Dan Moore and
Calvin Austin as well.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I mean that more scupy Calvin Austin as well.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
You look at this and you guys were in the
thick of it for Brandon Ayuk. How disappointing is it
that that did not go through?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, I mean they were definitely targeting him. They wanted him,
and you know, it kind of got down to just
the Steelers at the end there, and you know the
story is out of San Francisco. Brandon Ayuk just made
the decision that he wanted to stick with a team
that drafted him. And you know, I can't blame him.
You know, Brock Berdy, it's the great quarterback. You've got
SMC in the backfield. He's probably got a better chance
(07:03):
to win a Super Bowl there. So you know, it
does present an issue for the Steelers because they kind
of had all their chips in on Brandon Ayuk. And
now you know, Van Jefferson is your number two receiver, Listen,
Van Jefferson is probably a good number three receiver, but
when you put him into that different role, I think
that just has a domino effect on the uh, you know,
(07:27):
entire room.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
So you know he's got.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
To step up. You mentioned he had a good year
with the Rams back when they when they won the
Super Bowl. But he's been injured lately, so he's got
to get back on track. But to me, they just
have a bunch of three fours and fives. They don't
really have a number two receiver, and you know that's
why they were in on Brandon Nyuka as much as
they were.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
That makes sense, right, So Paulo from the Pittsburgh is
that I the wholemark of this Steelers team is obviously
the defense. You've You've got the the edge rushers and
Watton Heismith, You've got the the secondary. It's very fears
some joy Porter junior make if it's Patrick Dontec Jackson.
What are the what would you say is the weakest
area of this Pittsburgh defense.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I would say slack corner. You know they're playing an
undrafted rookie free agent and Bedie Bishop and Kavin got
lost a little bit on the Falcons only touchdown, so
you know, other than that, he played well, but you know,
he is a rookie and I think he's going to
be targeted by opposing ocs until he could prove he
could do the job. And then after that, you know,
(08:29):
there's probably some issues with depth behind Joey Porter and
Dante Jackson. You know, they got a bunch of young
guys who are backups in the defensive backfield. But as
long as they stay healthy, I think that's secondary he's
going to be pretty good. The strength of this team
undoubtedly is the front seven. T J. Watt, Alex high Smith, M.
(08:50):
Hayward had a really good game coming off an injury
riddled season. So you know, if that front seven can
stay healthy, and I didn't even mention Patrick Queen, the
big really an addition from the Ravens. But if the
front seven can stay healthy and they could take the
pressure off the secondary, don't make them cover for very long.
I think this defense has a chance to be a
(09:12):
top five tough then defense all season.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Certainly looked like as they got after against Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Denver.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
This will be their home opener, the second game for
rookie quarterback Bone Nicks. As you look at the Denver
Broncos and what they well frankly weren't able to do
against the Seattle Seahawks, is there any is there any
measure that from the Pittsburgh fan or for from you know,
people that are looking at this from an outside perspective
that the Denver Broncos are better than that game, or
(09:39):
is it kind of hey, this is the rookie quarterback.
They are who we kind of thought they were.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Well, I got a chance the Cats. Like the second
half of that Bronco Seattle game. It seemed like Broncos
defense played very well in the first half and you know,
even into the third quarter. So you know, I think
Pittsburgh fans know that, you know, like the Steelers, that
the defense is probably the strength of that team. And
you know, the Steers only had two hundred and seventy
(10:04):
yards of offense and here the Broncos only two hundred
and thirty one. So for me, I'm expecting like a
thirteen to ten, sixteen to thirteen type of game because
you know, if I know the way the Stewers want
to play, they're gonna want to play a conservative vote
on offense, let the defense win it. And I would
imagine Sean Payton, even though he let bow Knicks throw
(10:26):
it forty two times, he's probably thinking he could probably win,
you know, with a similar game plan. So you know,
we'll see how it goes. You know, you try to
predict how teams are going to play, and sometimes it
doesn't work out that way. But I would not be
surprised at all if birth these teams were held under
twenty points Sunday afternoon, November with Ray for.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Apollo for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette at ray fit f
tt ie on Twitter.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
What is the sentiment surrounding Mike Tomlin?
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Because I think there is a reverence for him nationally
in the in the sense that you know, there's a
lot of continuity there. He's a guy who has not
had sub five hundred seasons and all that. But I
also know that when you get to a certain point,
if you've been there a long time, there are certain
standards that if you just keep kind of sort of
hitting the well, we're above five hundred mark, the fan
base locally does tend to get a little fed up
(11:16):
with that.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
As the fan base turned on Tomlin at all? Or
is is it sort of the same as it is.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Naturally where there's sort of a reverence for how well
that he's done.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
No, I wouldn't say there was a reverence, but I
wouldn't say they've turned on him either. I think they're
wanting another playoff run and they really haven't had that
for about seven years now. You know, Mike Tomlin is
currently in the longest playoff victory draw for the Steelers
since the merger in nineteen seventy. They haven't won a
(11:46):
playoff game since they went to the AFC Championship Game
in two thousand and sixteen. They lost in twenty seventeen.
When they made the playoffs, they lost in twenty and
in twenty one and again last here in twenty three.
So they're owned for their past four in the playoffs
with one and done. So, you know, lots of criticism
(12:08):
for him locally, but it doesn't matter. You know, Rooney
signed him to an extension over the offseason. Mike Tolman
is going to be the head coach of this team
is as long as Mike Tolman wants to be the
head coach of this team, And it really doesn't matter
what the fan base think. So, you know, I'm sure
Mike feels the pressure. He wants to get it out,
you know, get over the hump in the playoffs. That's
(12:31):
why Russell Wilson is here. They think, you know, maybe
a better quarterback will will help them get over that hump.
But Yeah. I mean he's he's a guy who knows
what the standard is here in Pittsburgh, and you know
they haven't lived up to that standard here for about
seven eight years now.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yeah, the Steelers phenomenally long with with continuity with their
coaching stats. One of the envs I think of the
league when it when it comes to those kinds of
things as we look at as we look at this
game coming up this weekend, obviously.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
I think we all expect a lower scoring affair.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Who are some players that are going to jump out
in this game that Broncos fans may not be familiar with?
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Well, Jalen Warren. I think the NFL kind of found
out about him last year. He's split Terris, you know
with Nagie Harris last year a little bit banged up.
Now he's got a hamstring issue, but it seems like
he's coming along. And I think, you know, people probably
know Najie Harris because he was a first round pick.
He's the bruiser, he's the between the tackles guy. Jalen
(13:33):
Warren from the back of it was a big play threat.
So if that hamstring is better, I think you know,
you'll you'll probably see a little bit more of him,
and also Pat Hayremove. He was the second round pick
back in twenty twenty one, after Nagie Harris was drafted
in Round one. He just signed a big contract, you know,
for about twelve million a year to be really a
(13:55):
second receiving option. We talked about the lack of depth
in that receiver a remote. In essence, Pat Fire is
the number two receiving target and I think will be
that all season. So maybe a couple of lesser known guys,
but those are two guys who could factor into that
game plan in a big way.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
On Sunday, before I get out of here, Ray, how
surprised were you that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the only
team to win out of the AFC North in Week
one and did it without scoring a touchdown?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Yeah? Well, I you know, I thought the Ravens had
a tough matchup, so I'm not surprised the Ravens. Also,
the mom kind of missed that is the Bengals losing
to the Patriots, and I get it. See Haggens goes
out and you know, Jamar Chase didn't practice a lot,
but you know, you figure you still got Joe Burrow
and you should be able to beat the Patriots at home.
So that one surprised me. But I still think it's
(14:49):
going to be probably one of the better divisions in
the NFL. Once the Bengals get healthy, they'll be back
in there. So I still think, uh, you know, I
picked three teams from the AFC North to get it
in the playoffs again this year. It happened last year.
I think eventually everything will even out, and you know,
they should, you know, be able to get three teams
in the postseason once again here in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Well, Ra, I appreciate your time this evening.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Ray Flopaldo covers with Steelers to the Pittsburgh Post. Gaze
at Ray fit f I t t one on Twitter.
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend and having a
good football match up here in Denver.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Absolutely, Take care love having ray on.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Ray's got great insight on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I
you know, the way he talks about the team, it's
exactly correct.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
I mean, they are a defensive minded team who hopes to.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Wear you down with the run. You look at what
they bring to the table. They're hoping that Russell Wilson
will get healthy and be that veteran leader that will
take them to a playoff win. Right now, Justin Fields
is there as sort of the surrogate. Russ did get
throws in today. Ray noted that Russ did get some
throws in today, so he may. I'm not one hundred
(15:56):
percent that you know, if Justin Fields stinks it up early,
I'm not one hundred percent they don't make a switch
in the middle of that game. Will we come back?
Lance Sanderson joins us. You listen to Broncos Country and
I on.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Kiawa, then I need you to do three things here.
Three things, okay, three things okay. First things. First, I
need you to get your picture taken next to Gwyneth
Paltrow at a cold Play concert wearing a gold suit
made of rich Corinthian leather and top gun v neck
t shirt.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Then I need you to link up with Chris Baron
of Spin Doctors write a song about Broncos Country tonight
called state Sponsored. Okay, you need to pair up with
Stetson Cologne, create your own ve blend. If you get
(16:48):
all three of those things done, you have a seventy
chance of getting back on the taking It for granted podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Wow, you got like every reference for the last five years,
and that.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Is well done, Sir Wells a boss Latt Sanderson from
a mile high huddle on that home run call that
belongs in the Broncos Country Tonight Hall of Fame at
Lance s underscore, m h h go right.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Off the ka Common Sparrel hotline and bring Lance on. Lance.
How you doing this?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Emen?
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Doing good? Dad? It's it's good to be a back
on with you. Unfortunately couldn't talk to Nick and I,
but it's good to be here in talking Broncos hootmo
on man. How you doing?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I'm uh, I'm doing well man, and uh yeah, I
will tell you I completed one of those three. Which
of the three I did? I'm not going to tell
you right now. I'll leave it to your imagination. I
have completed one of those three things.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Well, I hope that you're You're single with Chris Baron
is better than Shador Sanders perfect timing song.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
We originally we were looking at state sponsors as the
title track. We co wrote something called We'll see and uh,
We'll see how it goes, Uh Lance, As we uh.
As we recap week one here and look at it.
Look at the broadcas against the Seahawks. Prior to the week,
I was I was worried because we were coming to
do this thing with hype at a deafening crescendo, and
I'm sitting here like Gus, let's pump the brakes a
(18:04):
little bit. Let's not put this kind of pressure on
this kid just because we were running starters against backups
in the preseason and we've set an impossible expectation for him.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, that
week went out of the way.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
It was frankly a disappointment when we look at this thing.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
How can we build though Nicks up going forward rather
than setting impossible expectations when the fervor of fandom takes hold, Oh, I.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Think, oh, I got a big thunderstorm coming in here.
So I do apologize to that, But I think the
big thing here is looking directly at the face of
Sean Payton, and honestly, the coaching job that he did
against the Seattle Seahawks this last week was one that
really left my eyes wide open, in my mouth pretty
much jaw on the floor because while I understand your
(18:50):
quarterback has a be in his name. The four letters
that follow it are not ore e e S, It's
O NIX and you need to figure that out quickly.
Go into the Seattle Seahawks at at Lumenfield, the second
loudest stadium, the loudest stadium, whatever it may be in
the NFL, and you throw the you call fifty passing
plays essentially twenty running plays. Givantay Williams ran the ball
(19:15):
eight times. That's unacceptable. This team is built to run
the football. You have a rookie quarterback in a hostile
environment making his first NFL start, and you go out
there and you get out coached and outclassed by a
rookie head coach and an offensive coordinator that has not
coached at the NFL level a single day in his
life prior to this season. That is an unacceptable, unacceptable
(19:39):
showing from Sean Payton.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
In my opinion, I tend to agree with you.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
I was wondering what the game plan really was with
this thing. I couldn't see, you know, for me, I
couldn't decipher what it was that exactly they were trying
to do, because it looked like whatever it was that
they were setting up.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Even the setup plays weren't working. They didn't stick to
the run game.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Now, well, as far as the run game go, I
sort of understand the turf up there was new. They
were slipping and they had the wrong spikes in there,
but that should have been remedied at the half.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
The run game certainly did get remedied by.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Seattle at the half when they came out and started
running Bumby Trapp with two pulling guards and had success
running it down the Broncos throat after the defense carried
the team in the first half. I look at this
and I wonder, you know, it just does not make
sense to me what it was they were trying to
put together.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Are we putting too much faith in Sean Payton?
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Could be something that we need to talk about moving forward. Obviously,
it's only one week, and as everyone likes to say,
week one is generally the week of overreactions, the jumping
to conclusions, you know, like you got to take it
with a grain of salt. I just I feel like
this this coaching staff, and Sean Payton in particular, needs
to understand what the situation is here. You know, you're
(20:50):
paying Garrett Bowles, what seventeen million dollars this season? Ben
Powers twelve million. You got Quinn Miners on that brand
new contract he just signed into the off season for
fourteen million. You got Mike mcglinchy and a half. Those
guys up front have to be the lynch pin of
this offense. And what all do those four guys do
at the highest level. They're run blockers. Those guys like
to get downhill. And despite what Deion Sanders wants to
(21:12):
say about, we don't know that the offensive lineman like
to run block more than passway. That's a fact, man.
These guys like to go forward. These guys are boy
ball mentality players that like to get nasty in the
running game. And quite honestly, I want to see more
creativity with this running game. Why are we running fifteen
inside zone? Why are we running due all the time?
Let's get these guys out on the move, move inside
(21:33):
to side, because every time you turn around you watch
this team. In the preseason against the Green Bay Packers,
Javonte Williams off the right side on a stretch zone
play runs for like twelve yards. Every time Julia McLoughlin
touches the ball going to the outside, he makes an
exposive play run in the football. You've got to accentuate
the skill set of this offensive line and get these
guys playing with what they do best, which is getting
(21:56):
mean and gritty upfront.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I'm with you all hundred percent there. I wanted to
see this team go downhill.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I wanted to see the early identity be We're gonna
punch you in the mouth with a run game, and
then we're gonna have a rookie quarterback pick you apart
and take advantage of you when you suck up and
go go single high.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
We didn't see that obviously, and it felt.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Like to me that Sean Payton, who is known for
having a bit of an ego, it felt like that
that's what the problem was. It felt like that Sean
Payton decided that I'm going to showcase my guy I
drafted him.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
I'm smarter than anybody. This is our guy.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
We're smarter than anybody, and we're gonna have him slinging
it all over the yard and got away from what
makes Sean Payton successful in the first place, which is
a strong ground game, and then playing a schedule based
passing offense. Off of that and taking your deep shots
when they do go single high. So to me, that's
what it felt like. And I go back and a
Texter earlier was asking me about this because he was like,
name a single time Sean Payton has put together a
(22:45):
game plan that looked good, and right away I'm like, Okay,
the Browns game from last year they ate up Schwartz's defense.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
With the traffpron game.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
But beyond that, then I started to struggle. I'm like, well,
I don't really know one that jumps out at me.
That was like, yeah, they had their number in that one.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
The one that I think that you could probably maybe
throw into there is the Washington game Week two last
season where you actually utilize Marvin Mims and the verticality
that he brings to the offense with that straight line
speed where you know you've got the what it was
a sixty three yard touchdown. I believe in the first
half you come right back going down the east sideline
(23:22):
to Marvin Mims again. Like that to me where you
finally dialed up some of those deeper shots and kind
of played within the strengths of not only Marvin Mims
but Russell Wilson getting the ball vertical down the field
using using that move shot. That's that's all fine and groovy.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Right now.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
I think that this this Bronson's team needs to have
more of the Kyle Shanahan approach, that West Coast outside
zone bootleg off the backside, get Bonnicks out single field reads,
utilized the quick passing game, because against the Seattle Seahawks,
man like Mike McDonald runs a very confusing front where
he's dropping defensive winding back into coverage. He's he's bringing
(23:57):
different sorts of pressure packages. He did a really good
job getting three rushers on two blockers and just forcing
the issue and making bo Nicks make clear and concise
reason deliver the football on time, which he wasn't capable
of doing. And we all saw that very very clearly.
To me, you have to get away from that Gulf
Coast offense that he ran with Drew Brees.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Get more to the.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Quick passing game, the things that bow Nicks does very well,
getting the ball out of his hands quickly, getting into
his playmakers, allowing them to go and make the plays
for him, to settle him down, get him in a rhythm,
and just take the pressure off of him. Man yeah,
I tend.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
To agree with you. Talk with Lance Anderson from Mile
High Hut.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Lance, as we look forward to this game, it looks
a little bit like Justin Fields maybe the starter for
the Steelers in this game. Rusty gets some limited action
in and practice today and throws and he's trending in
the right direction, but maybe not for this game. Is
there any sense of disappointment that the Broncos may.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Not be playing against Russell Wilson this week?
Speaker 4 (24:56):
No, because I think you're going to get vindication, Ben,
I think that you're going to see pass tam pick
off justin Field at least once, and there you go.
You f you finally got it right, You finally got
one right there, young man. But no, like, quite honestly,
I don't care. I really don't what happened with Russell
Wilson in the contract that everything that happened over the
last two seasons as ancient history right now. This Broncos
(25:17):
team needs to be looking at moving forward. I understand
that Russell Wilson is a part of this team's history
right now, but you cannot focus on that. And well,
I understand you know that the fans are gonna have
their grudge match with that they're gonna they're gonna wanna
boo Russell Wilson and YadA, YadA, YadA. I don't care.
I really don't. It's to me, that's that's that's headlines
(25:40):
and click bait and just a nonsense storyline that doesn't
mean anything for this twenty twenty four Broncos team.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I tend to agree with you.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
I mean, given my my brothers, I would rather this
defense play against Justin Fields even though he had statistically
an accomplished game the last time they played last year
with the Bears, the Broncos beat him. Uh, I'm confident
invests Joseph's ability to handle mobile quarterbacks. I've seen it before.
He's done pretty well against mobile quarterbacks. And honestly, look
at Justin Field's Week one in this offense. I'm looking
(26:10):
at my chops thinking the Broncos have a shot.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Well, they do, because one big part of Justin Field
is the fact that he hold on to the football
the longest of any other quarterback not named Russell Wilson,
literally the longest end of the NFL last season. It's
well over three seconds. So you're getting an opportunity, and well,
I understand that he's utilizing that his legs, play making
ability and stuff like that, he's still holding onto the
(26:33):
football because he doesn't process the game at a.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
High enough level.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Robert Jones at right tackle against the Atlanta Falcons was
an absolute liability in pass protection. He allowed two sacks
multiple different pressures. He's still struggling as a I think
it was a second year coming out of Georgia. So like,
you have the opportunity, especially with these speed rushers and
Baron Browning, Nick Bonto, Jonathan Cooper, you can actually attack
dustin fields if you can play tight man defense, which
(26:59):
is what Van Siozap flights to do. Play tight end
defense and get after the quarterback, make him hold onto
the football. You can actually get him down before he
can utilize those legs and really gash you in the
running game. And that to me, I know, it sounds
like a backwards approach to a player with his dynamic
running skill set. I mean, he's probably the second most
dynamic quarterback running the football in the NFL outside of
(27:21):
Lamar Jackson. If you can get him to hold onto
the football, get after him in the pocket, try to
contain him with the mush rush as Alfred Williams likes
to call it, but utilize those speed rushers as well
to get after him, make his process speed up.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
A little bit.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
You can force him into some untimely errors. In the
Broncos defense can actually succeed.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yeah, And I think that's that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I mean, nobody has more interception, sacks and fumbles combined
over the last four years than justin Fields does, and
so I think the Broncos will have the opportunities to
take advantage of that. I thought the defense was pretty
good in the first half when they got worn down. Obviously,
you have the two safeties.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
You had the.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Interception by Singleton that the offense wasn't able to even
get a first down off of. Then you had you know,
the punt was was it a punt or yeah, the
punt where they got the ball back and then the
offense couldn't get anything going off of it either. That
was ten of your twenty points right there. The other
you know, you had seven come in off off that
drive late.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
That was a prevent.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
I did think both had the one good drive, the
field goal drive. I thought that was a pretty good drive,
you know, with no caveats attached, but they're going to
have to find ways to settle him down because he
was throwing the ball behind people. The clock was off,
he was he had two point eight seconds to throw
twenty four that was tenth most in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
It wasn't like that.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
The offensive lot wasn't protected for him. I've seen stuff about,
you know, separation from receivers. They were in zultant, like
what what do you want to talk about separation? At
the end of the day, he's got to slow down,
slow a smooth smooth as fast and get back to
what made him successful.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I think the Broncos have a pretty decent shot this
weekend if they can do that.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
I do too, And I think a big defensive philosophy
switch here, going from the Mike McDonald defense to the
Pittsburgh Steelers defense, where they they're not quite as the
Skies heavy and what they want to do. They're pretty
straight up. They run that three four deep. They got
obviously TJ. Watt coming off the edge and Mike McGlinchey
is going to have his hands pull They've got to
figure out a way to either get a tight end
or a running back to offer some ship protection to
(29:10):
help out with that matchup. But if you can get
the ball out of Bonnickx's hands quickly and just try
to get these big body receivers. Obviously, I know you've
got Courtland Sutton who does really well on slant routes.
You've got Josh Reel dealing without achilles injury, which is unfortunate.
Davon Maley kind of deemed up with some ribs. But
those guys are big body catch receivers that they can
go out there and they can win these one on
one matchups if you can get Bonnicks to just settle down,
(29:33):
get into that quick early passing game, get these pass
rushers off, like Ben, what's the best way to nullify
a pass rush? Get the ball out quickly or run
directly at it. And it's built exactly what the Broncos
offense is right now. They want to run the football,
they want to get the ball out of Bonex's hands quickly,
and it's going to nullify.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
That pass rush.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
There's still definitely one on one sceereos where this Steelers
team can beat you. Obviously, Joey Porter Junior against that
is going to be a great matchup to watch. Ard.
You mentioned TJ. Watt We'll see what happens with Luke Wattenberg,
who's dealing with an injury as well, if he's going
to start. If not, it's awesome. Alex Forsyth's going up
against Cameron Hayward along the interior and that's a that's
a mismatch waiting to happen as well. So this dichotomy
(30:16):
of what the Broncos do well compared to what the
Steelers do well, and how they they contrast starkly, it
leads me to believe that the Broncos offense can actually
have some success if they just buy into what they
do well.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, I tend to agree. Also, I think the screen
game be a big factor. Sean Payton loves to do that.
They can always I think that can null a five
pass rushes. We'll talk to Lance Sanderson at last as underscore. Mhh, Lance,
you guys get the bi up coming up here? Tell
us a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Yeah, we got the Mile High huddle meet and Green.
I believe it's in a lot D on the east,
the east parking lot coming into the east entrance of
the UH Mile High Stadium. Everyone's going to be there,
myself included I'll bring my wife down, Nick Kendall, Carl Dundler,
Er Trickle is gonna be there, Chad Jens and Zack
Kilbert and the whole crew is going to be there
for the mile High Hudle meet and greet. We do
(31:04):
this every single year.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
This year, we obviously wanted to do the Russell Wilson
game coming back, so we could have some fun with that.
But we're not gonna get that storyline. But come out
and check us out, Come and meet everybody to have it,
have a pop drive.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Something to eat.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
We would do a big tailgate party if it's always
a lot of fun and Ben, if you're around, come
on over man.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Okay, well, I have two questions. First of all, will
there be lasagna? This was texted in by a totally
anonymous listener.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
A totally anonymous listener, I would like to think that
he likes to wear Churchley clothes when he goes to
the football games. Either that or he happened to be
on the other side of this.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Profit now yah huh of sorts?
Speaker 4 (31:44):
Yeah, a prophet of sorts, so we'll call him now.
You might be a player too, I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
No.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Unfortunately, so funny story, dude. So the other day we
were out attendant of the garden, got a whole bunch
of tomatoes, and my wife says, you should make lasagna.
I want Ladannia for dinner. So I tagged you and
and it in a post on Twitter. Made a bad
ass lasagna. If I can get some down to Denver,
i'd bring it to you to at least try. But
it's hard to bring fresh lawsagna down unless you freeze it,
(32:11):
and I'm not going to do that to you. Man,
I'm sorry, Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
I will accept that as a reason. And then a
question too. I got about thirty second left here.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Mama Albright's coming into town this weekend, so I'm gonna
be bringing her around. It'll be all right if I
bring her over there to the meet and greet.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Yeah, absolutely, man, more than welcome. It'd be a pleasure
to meet you. Like I said multiple times on these airways,
for everything that you've done for me in my career
and advance and that you know, getting me this platform
to be able to talk broncos with you and promoting
my articles and everything, I owe you a beer at least,
so if nothing else, get my phone number from Grant
after we're off the show here, give me a call
Saturday night. We'll be downtown at the Hotel. So I'd
(32:49):
like to buy you beer if nothing else.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Man, I appreciate it. Man, I'll take you up on that.
We'll get it all figured out.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Last Samson from my Ohio huddle, we got to hit
a break here on Broncos Country Tonight. I appreciate you
guys sticking around ready for Apoldo as well.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
If you guys go to go to Broncos Country Tonight
dot com slash podcast, you can always get all that
stuff there.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
I'm Benjamin ol Brian Gratsmith back there behind the glass.
This the Broacos Country Tonight right here on KAA Says
for the AM ninety four one FM News Talk Sports
Welcome to it, Broncos Country Tonight, Benjamin Albright, Gret smith Man,
the Myth, the Mustache, gonna run right out to the
KWA Common Spirit Health hotline, and bring on ray Fit
Apollo at ray Fit one on Twitter covers the Steelers
for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Ray How you doing this? Sevenon?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'm good. How you guys doing tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Do it pretty well? It's gonna be an interesting game.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I think when Broncos fans had first envisioned this game,
obviously this was intended to be the Russell Wilson returns
slash revenge game, but that appears to be a thing
that's trending towards not happening. Mike Tomlin coming out today
and saying we're preparing as Justin Fields is the starter.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Is that in the direction that it is trending that
Justin Fields will be the starter? Or is there a
chance that Russell Wilson even plays in this game?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah? I mean Russell Wilson was limited today. He was
limited Thursday and Friday last week, and the Steelers decided
against playing him in the opener. So I would imagine Benjamin,
you know, if he is limited again on Thursday. It
would be trending in the direction where it would be
(01:11):
Justin Fields. And you know, it's not that Mike Tomlin
doesn't trust his veteran I think he he always will
play veterans, you know, if they take a practice on Friday.
You know, with with Rusty and new to the team,
new offensive coordinator, knew everything. I just felt like he
wanted to go with the guy who was healthy and
(01:33):
the guy who had been practicing. And I think we're
gonna see the same approach this week.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
On Sunday in Denver, Steelers did beat the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Kirk Cousins a little hobbled in that one.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Kind of an ugly win, but that's that's kind of
I don't say that's the Steelers identity, but to me,
Steelers football is scrappy. We're gonna find a way to
win no matter what. And it felt sort of, uh,
it felt sort of reminiscent of that watching that game.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, it was not a good start for Justin Fields
and that game he had one fumble, he bobbled another snap,
and he was missing receivers on the first couple of drives. Now,
they never reached the end zone, but he drove them
down the field on multiple occasions. And I think the
most important thing is he didn't turn the ball over.
(02:18):
Anyone who watched him in Chicago kind of knew that
was his bugaboo, you know. I think he had thirty
career interceptions, thirty eight career fumbles, and it was a
big issue in Chicago. But for one game at least,
he was careful with the football. And you know, everyone
knows that if you get the Steelers defense a chance
(02:38):
to get after someone in a low scoring game, they're
going to do it, you know. So they kind of
feel like if they can get to seventeen points twenty
points on offense, they're going to have a chance to
win most games. And that's exactly what happened against the Talpons.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Ray Fopaldo from the Pittsburgh Post is thattte When we
look at the matchups here, it feels like both these
offensive lines have some problems. You guys know, a few
injuries over there. Obviously, Garret Bowles hurt with the with
the Broncos. Luke Wattenberg did not play up to that
let a little hurt as well. You guys have some
center and tackle issues as well. How does that Steelers
offensive line look?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Now?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Yeah, actually rookie Zach Frasier went in at center and
now she played really well against the Falcons. But if
you're right, they do have issues at some other spots.
Probably the best offensive lineman Isaac Samalu left guard. He'll
be replaced once again by Spencer Anderson, a second year
guy who made his first career start against the Falcons.
(03:36):
So you know you have that, and you know it
looks like this week rookie Troy follow Tanu, number twenty
overall pick, could get a chance to make his first
NFL start. Van Moore, their starting left tackle, has an
anchor issue and if he can't play, father Tanu would
go into the lineup. So it's a young line and
(03:58):
on top of that, they've got some injuries to deal with.
But you know, other than maybe a couple of stacks
against the Falcons, I thought they did pretty well. You know,
they were able to get up near one hundred fifty
yards rushing, and like I said, if you can, you know,
possess the ball for thirty five minutes and you know,
give your defense a chance to win a low scring game.
That's all the Steelers are really looking for and you know,
(04:20):
they feel like if they can do that again against
the Broncos, they'll will at least be in the game
and maybe have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I tend to agree with that as we look at
what these teams did in Week one. Arthur Smith the
new offensive coordinator replacing that Canada there for the Steelers,
How has he been received relative to I think the
disappointment that the fan base there had in the previous
offensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, so it was I think first and foremost the
players believe in Arthur Smith. Well, that wasn't the case
for Matt Canada. That Canada came from the college game,
and you know, there were just some some things that
were lost in translation as he tried to make the
transition to the NFL, and the players just lost confidence
(05:10):
in him. Arthur Smith has been around a long time,
thirty two years old. He's been in oc in the league,
he's been a head coach in the league, and they
have beliefs in his system. So it wasn't perfect against
the Falcons, but it was a winning formula and I
think if time goes on, you know, there's some issues
at receiver after George Pickins, They're not very deep there.
(05:33):
There might be some issues with their debt to tight
end after pat for Ironmures, but you know, once they
get the quarterback situation squared away, I think they got
one of the best running back duos in the NFL
with Rogie Harrison Jalen Warren. Once we're able to get
to and to play their identity, I think they're going
to be a tough offense to deal with. But you know,
(05:53):
until the line comes along and until some of the
younger receivers step up, you know, it would be a while.
So Lebronc was actually might be catching them at a
decent time.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Tello ray Fa Apollo, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette at ray
fit f I T t one on Twitter. I want
to stick with the offense a little bit. You just
mentioned the receiving corps. There are some names in there
that have had flashes of success around the league. Scottie
Miller over over there in Tampa. Van Jefferson, I thought
with with La showed some things at times.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Romand Wilson is hurt.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Pickens obviously, I think everybody knows, but Dan Moore and
Calvin Austin as well.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I mean that more scupy Calvin Austin as well.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
You look at this and you guys were in the
thick of it for Brandon Ayuk. How disappointing is it
that that did not go through?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, I mean they were definitely targeting him. They wanted him,
and you know, it kind of got down to just
the Steelers at the end there, and you know the
story is out of San Francisco. Brandon Ayuk just made
the decision that he wanted to stick with a team
that drafted him. And you know, I can't blame him.
You know, Brock Berdy, it's the great quarterback. You've got
SMC in the backfield. He's probably got a better chance
(07:03):
to win a Super Bowl there. So you know, it
does present an issue for the Steelers because they kind
of had all their chips in on Brandon Ayuk. And
now you know, Van Jefferson is your number two receiver, Listen,
Van Jefferson is probably a good number three receiver, but
when you put him into that different role, I think
that just has a domino effect on the uh, you know,
(07:27):
entire room.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
So you know he's got.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
To step up. You mentioned he had a good year
with the Rams back when they when they won the
Super Bowl. But he's been injured lately, so he's got
to get back on track. But to me, they just
have a bunch of three fours and fives. They don't
really have a number two receiver, and you know that's
why they were in on Brandon Nyuka as much as
they were.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
That makes sense, right, So Paulo from the Pittsburgh is
that I the wholemark of this Steelers team is obviously
the defense. You've You've got the the edge rushers and
Watton Heismith, You've got the the secondary. It's very fears
some joy Porter junior make if it's Patrick Dontec Jackson.
What are the what would you say is the weakest
area of this Pittsburgh defense.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I would say slack corner. You know they're playing an
undrafted rookie free agent and Bedie Bishop and Kavin got
lost a little bit on the Falcons only touchdown, so
you know, other than that, he played well, but you know,
he is a rookie and I think he's going to
be targeted by opposing ocs until he could prove he
could do the job. And then after that, you know,
(08:29):
there's probably some issues with depth behind Joey Porter and
Dante Jackson. You know, they got a bunch of young
guys who are backups in the defensive backfield. But as
long as they stay healthy, I think that's secondary he's
going to be pretty good. The strength of this team
undoubtedly is the front seven. T J. Watt, Alex high Smith, M.
(08:50):
Hayward had a really good game coming off an injury
riddled season. So you know, if that front seven can
stay healthy, and I didn't even mention Patrick Queen, the
big really an addition from the Ravens. But if the
front seven can stay healthy and they could take the
pressure off the secondary, don't make them cover for very long.
I think this defense has a chance to be a
(09:12):
top five tough then defense all season.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Certainly looked like as they got after against Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Denver.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
This will be their home opener, the second game for
rookie quarterback Bone Nicks. As you look at the Denver
Broncos and what they well frankly weren't able to do
against the Seattle Seahawks, is there any is there any
measure that from the Pittsburgh fan or for from you know,
people that are looking at this from an outside perspective
that the Denver Broncos are better than that game, or
(09:39):
is it kind of hey, this is the rookie quarterback.
They are who we kind of thought they were.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Well, I got a chance the Cats. Like the second
half of that Bronco Seattle game. It seemed like Broncos
defense played very well in the first half and you know,
even into the third quarter. So you know, I think
Pittsburgh fans know that, you know, like the Steelers, that
the defense is probably the strength of that team. And
you know, the Steers only had two hundred and seventy
(10:04):
yards of offense and here the Broncos only two hundred
and thirty one. So for me, I'm expecting like a
thirteen to ten, sixteen to thirteen type of game because
you know, if I know the way the Stewers want
to play, they're gonna want to play a conservative vote
on offense, let the defense win it. And I would
imagine Sean Payton, even though he let bow Knicks throw
(10:26):
it forty two times, he's probably thinking he could probably win,
you know, with a similar game plan. So you know,
we'll see how it goes. You know, you try to
predict how teams are going to play, and sometimes it
doesn't work out that way. But I would not be
surprised at all if birth these teams were held under
twenty points Sunday afternoon, November with Ray for.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Apollo for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette at ray fit f
tt ie on Twitter.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
What is the sentiment surrounding Mike Tomlin?
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Because I think there is a reverence for him nationally
in the in the sense that you know, there's a
lot of continuity there. He's a guy who has not
had sub five hundred seasons and all that. But I
also know that when you get to a certain point,
if you've been there a long time, there are certain
standards that if you just keep kind of sort of
hitting the well, we're above five hundred mark, the fan
base locally does tend to get a little fed up
(11:16):
with that.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
As the fan base turned on Tomlin at all? Or
is is it sort of the same as it is.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Naturally where there's sort of a reverence for how well
that he's done.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
No, I wouldn't say there was a reverence, but I
wouldn't say they've turned on him either. I think they're
wanting another playoff run and they really haven't had that
for about seven years now. You know, Mike Tomlin is
currently in the longest playoff victory draw for the Steelers
since the merger in nineteen seventy. They haven't won a
(11:46):
playoff game since they went to the AFC Championship Game
in two thousand and sixteen. They lost in twenty seventeen.
When they made the playoffs, they lost in twenty and
in twenty one and again last here in twenty three.
So they're owned for their past four in the playoffs
with one and done. So, you know, lots of criticism
(12:08):
for him locally, but it doesn't matter. You know, Rooney
signed him to an extension over the offseason. Mike Tolman
is going to be the head coach of this team
is as long as Mike Tolman wants to be the
head coach of this team, And it really doesn't matter
what the fan base think. So, you know, I'm sure
Mike feels the pressure. He wants to get it out,
you know, get over the hump in the playoffs. That's
(12:31):
why Russell Wilson is here. They think, you know, maybe
a better quarterback will will help them get over that hump.
But Yeah. I mean he's he's a guy who knows
what the standard is here in Pittsburgh, and you know
they haven't lived up to that standard here for about
seven eight years now.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yeah, the Steelers phenomenally long with with continuity with their
coaching stats. One of the envs I think of the
league when it when it comes to those kinds of
things as we look at as we look at this
game coming up this weekend, obviously.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
I think we all expect a lower scoring affair.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Who are some players that are going to jump out
in this game that Broncos fans may not be familiar with?
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Well, Jalen Warren. I think the NFL kind of found
out about him last year. He's split Terris, you know
with Nagie Harris last year a little bit banged up.
Now he's got a hamstring issue, but it seems like
he's coming along. And I think, you know, people probably
know Najie Harris because he was a first round pick.
He's the bruiser, he's the between the tackles guy. Jalen
(13:33):
Warren from the back of it was a big play threat.
So if that hamstring is better, I think you know,
you'll you'll probably see a little bit more of him,
and also Pat Hayremove. He was the second round pick
back in twenty twenty one, after Nagie Harris was drafted
in Round one. He just signed a big contract, you know,
for about twelve million a year to be really a
(13:55):
second receiving option. We talked about the lack of depth
in that receiver a remote. In essence, Pat Fire is
the number two receiving target and I think will be
that all season. So maybe a couple of lesser known guys,
but those are two guys who could factor into that
game plan in a big way.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
On Sunday, before I get out of here, Ray, how
surprised were you that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the only
team to win out of the AFC North in Week
one and did it without scoring a touchdown?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Yeah? Well, I you know, I thought the Ravens had
a tough matchup, so I'm not surprised the Ravens. Also,
the mom kind of missed that is the Bengals losing
to the Patriots, and I get it. See Haggens goes
out and you know, Jamar Chase didn't practice a lot,
but you know, you figure you still got Joe Burrow
and you should be able to beat the Patriots at home.
So that one surprised me. But I still think it's
(14:49):
going to be probably one of the better divisions in
the NFL. Once the Bengals get healthy, they'll be back
in there. So I still think, uh, you know, I
picked three teams from the AFC North to get it
in the playoffs again this year. It happened last year.
I think eventually everything will even out, and you know,
they should, you know, be able to get three teams
in the postseason once again here in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Well, Ra, I appreciate your time this evening.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Ray Flopaldo covers with Steelers to the Pittsburgh Post. Gaze
at Ray fit f I t t one on Twitter.
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend and having a
good football match up here in Denver.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Absolutely, Take care love having ray on.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Ray's got great insight on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I
you know, the way he talks about the team, it's
exactly correct.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
I mean, they are a defensive minded team who hopes to.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Wear you down with the run. You look at what
they bring to the table. They're hoping that Russell Wilson
will get healthy and be that veteran leader that will
take them to a playoff win. Right now, Justin Fields
is there as sort of the surrogate. Russ did get
throws in today. Ray noted that Russ did get some
throws in today, so he may. I'm not one hundred
(15:56):
percent that you know, if Justin Fields stinks it up early,
I'm not one hundred percent they don't make a switch
in the middle of that game. Will we come back?
Lance Sanderson joins us. You listen to Broncos Country and
I on.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Kiawa, then I need you to do three things here.
Three things, okay, three things okay. First things. First, I
need you to get your picture taken next to Gwyneth
Paltrow at a cold Play concert wearing a gold suit
made of rich Corinthian leather and top gun v neck
t shirt.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Then I need you to link up with Chris Baron
of Spin Doctors write a song about Broncos Country tonight
called state Sponsored. Okay, you need to pair up with
Stetson Cologne, create your own ve blend. If you get
(16:48):
all three of those things done, you have a seventy
chance of getting back on the taking It for granted podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Wow, you got like every reference for the last five years,
and that.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Is well done, Sir Wells a boss Latt Sanderson from
a mile high huddle on that home run call that
belongs in the Broncos Country Tonight Hall of Fame at
Lance s underscore, m h h go right.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Off the ka Common Sparrel hotline and bring Lance on. Lance.
How you doing this?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Emen?
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Doing good? Dad? It's it's good to be a back
on with you. Unfortunately couldn't talk to Nick and I,
but it's good to be here in talking Broncos hootmo
on man. How you doing?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I'm uh, I'm doing well man, and uh yeah, I
will tell you I completed one of those three. Which
of the three I did? I'm not going to tell
you right now. I'll leave it to your imagination. I
have completed one of those three things.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Well, I hope that you're You're single with Chris Baron
is better than Shador Sanders perfect timing song.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
We originally we were looking at state sponsors as the
title track. We co wrote something called We'll see and uh,
We'll see how it goes, Uh Lance, As we uh.
As we recap week one here and look at it.
Look at the broadcas against the Seahawks. Prior to the week,
I was I was worried because we were coming to
do this thing with hype at a deafening crescendo, and
I'm sitting here like Gus, let's pump the brakes a
(18:04):
little bit. Let's not put this kind of pressure on
this kid just because we were running starters against backups
in the preseason and we've set an impossible expectation for him.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, that
week went out of the way.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
It was frankly a disappointment when we look at this thing.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
How can we build though Nicks up going forward rather
than setting impossible expectations when the fervor of fandom takes hold, Oh, I.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Think, oh, I got a big thunderstorm coming in here.
So I do apologize to that, But I think the
big thing here is looking directly at the face of
Sean Payton, and honestly, the coaching job that he did
against the Seattle Seahawks this last week was one that
really left my eyes wide open, in my mouth pretty
much jaw on the floor because while I understand your
(18:50):
quarterback has a be in his name. The four letters
that follow it are not ore e e S, It's
O NIX and you need to figure that out quickly.
Go into the Seattle Seahawks at at Lumenfield, the second
loudest stadium, the loudest stadium, whatever it may be in
the NFL, and you throw the you call fifty passing
plays essentially twenty running plays. Givantay Williams ran the ball
(19:15):
eight times. That's unacceptable. This team is built to run
the football. You have a rookie quarterback in a hostile
environment making his first NFL start, and you go out
there and you get out coached and outclassed by a
rookie head coach and an offensive coordinator that has not
coached at the NFL level a single day in his
life prior to this season. That is an unacceptable, unacceptable
(19:39):
showing from Sean Payton.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
In my opinion, I tend to agree with you.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
I was wondering what the game plan really was with
this thing. I couldn't see, you know, for me, I
couldn't decipher what it was that exactly they were trying
to do, because it looked like whatever it was that
they were setting up.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Even the setup plays weren't working. They didn't stick to
the run game.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Now, well, as far as the run game go, I
sort of understand the turf up there was new. They
were slipping and they had the wrong spikes in there,
but that should have been remedied at the half.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
The run game certainly did get remedied by.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Seattle at the half when they came out and started
running Bumby Trapp with two pulling guards and had success
running it down the Broncos throat after the defense carried
the team in the first half. I look at this
and I wonder, you know, it just does not make
sense to me what it was they were trying to
put together.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Are we putting too much faith in Sean Payton?
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Could be something that we need to talk about moving forward. Obviously,
it's only one week, and as everyone likes to say,
week one is generally the week of overreactions, the jumping
to conclusions, you know, like you got to take it
with a grain of salt. I just I feel like
this this coaching staff, and Sean Payton in particular, needs
to understand what the situation is here. You know, you're
(20:50):
paying Garrett Bowles, what seventeen million dollars this season? Ben
Powers twelve million. You got Quinn Miners on that brand
new contract he just signed into the off season for
fourteen million. You got Mike mcglinchy and a half. Those
guys up front have to be the lynch pin of
this offense. And what all do those four guys do
at the highest level. They're run blockers. Those guys like
to get downhill. And despite what Deion Sanders wants to
(21:12):
say about, we don't know that the offensive lineman like
to run block more than passway. That's a fact, man.
These guys like to go forward. These guys are boy
ball mentality players that like to get nasty in the
running game. And quite honestly, I want to see more
creativity with this running game. Why are we running fifteen
inside zone? Why are we running due all the time?
Let's get these guys out on the move, move inside
(21:33):
to side, because every time you turn around you watch
this team. In the preseason against the Green Bay Packers,
Javonte Williams off the right side on a stretch zone
play runs for like twelve yards. Every time Julia McLoughlin
touches the ball going to the outside, he makes an
exposive play run in the football. You've got to accentuate
the skill set of this offensive line and get these
guys playing with what they do best, which is getting
(21:56):
mean and gritty upfront.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I'm with you all hundred percent there. I wanted to
see this team go downhill.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I wanted to see the early identity be We're gonna
punch you in the mouth with a run game, and
then we're gonna have a rookie quarterback pick you apart
and take advantage of you when you suck up and
go go single high.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
We didn't see that obviously, and it felt.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Like to me that Sean Payton, who is known for
having a bit of an ego, it felt like that
that's what the problem was. It felt like that Sean
Payton decided that I'm going to showcase my guy I
drafted him.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
I'm smarter than anybody. This is our guy.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
We're smarter than anybody, and we're gonna have him slinging
it all over the yard and got away from what
makes Sean Payton successful in the first place, which is
a strong ground game, and then playing a schedule based
passing offense. Off of that and taking your deep shots
when they do go single high. So to me, that's
what it felt like. And I go back and a
Texter earlier was asking me about this because he was like,
name a single time Sean Payton has put together a
(22:45):
game plan that looked good, and right away I'm like, Okay,
the Browns game from last year they ate up Schwartz's defense.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
With the traffpron game.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
But beyond that, then I started to struggle. I'm like, well,
I don't really know one that jumps out at me.
That was like, yeah, they had their number in that one.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
The one that I think that you could probably maybe
throw into there is the Washington game Week two last
season where you actually utilize Marvin Mims and the verticality
that he brings to the offense with that straight line
speed where you know you've got the what it was
a sixty three yard touchdown. I believe in the first
half you come right back going down the east sideline
(23:22):
to Marvin Mims again. Like that to me where you
finally dialed up some of those deeper shots and kind
of played within the strengths of not only Marvin Mims
but Russell Wilson getting the ball vertical down the field
using using that move shot. That's that's all fine and groovy.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Right now.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
I think that this this Bronson's team needs to have
more of the Kyle Shanahan approach, that West Coast outside
zone bootleg off the backside, get Bonnicks out single field reads,
utilized the quick passing game, because against the Seattle Seahawks,
man like Mike McDonald runs a very confusing front where
he's dropping defensive winding back into coverage. He's he's bringing
(23:57):
different sorts of pressure packages. He did a really good
job getting three rushers on two blockers and just forcing
the issue and making bo Nicks make clear and concise
reason deliver the football on time, which he wasn't capable
of doing. And we all saw that very very clearly.
To me, you have to get away from that Gulf
Coast offense that he ran with Drew Brees.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Get more to the.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Quick passing game, the things that bow Nicks does very well,
getting the ball out of his hands quickly, getting into
his playmakers, allowing them to go and make the plays
for him, to settle him down, get him in a rhythm,
and just take the pressure off of him. Man yeah,
I tend.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
To agree with you. Talk with Lance Anderson from Mile
High Hut.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Lance, as we look forward to this game, it looks
a little bit like Justin Fields maybe the starter for
the Steelers in this game. Rusty gets some limited action
in and practice today and throws and he's trending in
the right direction, but maybe not for this game. Is
there any sense of disappointment that the Broncos may.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Not be playing against Russell Wilson this week?
Speaker 4 (24:56):
No, because I think you're going to get vindication, Ben,
I think that you're going to see pass tam pick
off justin Field at least once, and there you go.
You f you finally got it right, You finally got
one right there, young man. But no, like, quite honestly,
I don't care. I really don't what happened with Russell
Wilson in the contract that everything that happened over the
last two seasons as ancient history right now. This Broncos
(25:17):
team needs to be looking at moving forward. I understand
that Russell Wilson is a part of this team's history
right now, but you cannot focus on that. And well,
I understand you know that the fans are gonna have
their grudge match with that they're gonna they're gonna wanna
boo Russell Wilson and YadA, YadA, YadA. I don't care.
I really don't. It's to me, that's that's that's headlines
(25:40):
and click bait and just a nonsense storyline that doesn't
mean anything for this twenty twenty four Broncos team.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I tend to agree with you.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
I mean, given my my brothers, I would rather this
defense play against Justin Fields even though he had statistically
an accomplished game the last time they played last year
with the Bears, the Broncos beat him. Uh, I'm confident
invests Joseph's ability to handle mobile quarterbacks. I've seen it before.
He's done pretty well against mobile quarterbacks. And honestly, look
at Justin Field's Week one in this offense. I'm looking
(26:10):
at my chops thinking the Broncos have a shot.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Well, they do, because one big part of Justin Field
is the fact that he hold on to the football
the longest of any other quarterback not named Russell Wilson,
literally the longest end of the NFL last season. It's
well over three seconds. So you're getting an opportunity, and well,
I understand that he's utilizing that his legs, play making
ability and stuff like that, he's still holding onto the
(26:33):
football because he doesn't process the game at a.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
High enough level.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Robert Jones at right tackle against the Atlanta Falcons was
an absolute liability in pass protection. He allowed two sacks
multiple different pressures. He's still struggling as a I think
it was a second year coming out of Georgia. So like,
you have the opportunity, especially with these speed rushers and
Baron Browning, Nick Bonto, Jonathan Cooper, you can actually attack
dustin fields if you can play tight man defense, which
(26:59):
is what Van Siozap flights to do. Play tight end
defense and get after the quarterback, make him hold onto
the football. You can actually get him down before he
can utilize those legs and really gash you in the
running game. And that to me, I know, it sounds
like a backwards approach to a player with his dynamic
running skill set. I mean, he's probably the second most
dynamic quarterback running the football in the NFL outside of
(27:21):
Lamar Jackson. If you can get him to hold onto
the football, get after him in the pocket, try to
contain him with the mush rush as Alfred Williams likes
to call it, but utilize those speed rushers as well
to get after him, make his process speed up.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
A little bit.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
You can force him into some untimely errors. In the
Broncos defense can actually succeed.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yeah, And I think that's that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I mean, nobody has more interception, sacks and fumbles combined
over the last four years than justin Fields does, and
so I think the Broncos will have the opportunities to
take advantage of that. I thought the defense was pretty
good in the first half when they got worn down. Obviously,
you have the two safeties.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
You had the.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Interception by Singleton that the offense wasn't able to even
get a first down off of. Then you had you know,
the punt was was it a punt or yeah, the
punt where they got the ball back and then the
offense couldn't get anything going off of it either. That
was ten of your twenty points right there. The other
you know, you had seven come in off off that
drive late.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
That was a prevent.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
I did think both had the one good drive, the
field goal drive. I thought that was a pretty good drive,
you know, with no caveats attached, but they're going to
have to find ways to settle him down because he
was throwing the ball behind people. The clock was off,
he was he had two point eight seconds to throw
twenty four that was tenth most in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
It wasn't like that.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
The offensive lot wasn't protected for him. I've seen stuff about,
you know, separation from receivers. They were in zultant, like
what what do you want to talk about separation? At
the end of the day, he's got to slow down,
slow a smooth smooth as fast and get back to
what made him successful.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I think the Broncos have a pretty decent shot this
weekend if they can do that.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
I do too, And I think a big defensive philosophy
switch here, going from the Mike McDonald defense to the
Pittsburgh Steelers defense, where they they're not quite as the
Skies heavy and what they want to do. They're pretty
straight up. They run that three four deep. They got
obviously TJ. Watt coming off the edge and Mike McGlinchey
is going to have his hands pull They've got to
figure out a way to either get a tight end
or a running back to offer some ship protection to
(29:10):
help out with that matchup. But if you can get
the ball out of Bonnickx's hands quickly and just try
to get these big body receivers. Obviously, I know you've
got Courtland Sutton who does really well on slant routes.
You've got Josh Reel dealing without achilles injury, which is unfortunate.
Davon Maley kind of deemed up with some ribs. But
those guys are big body catch receivers that they can
go out there and they can win these one on
one matchups if you can get Bonnicks to just settle down,
(29:33):
get into that quick early passing game, get these pass
rushers off, like Ben, what's the best way to nullify
a pass rush? Get the ball out quickly or run
directly at it. And it's built exactly what the Broncos
offense is right now. They want to run the football,
they want to get the ball out of Bonex's hands quickly,
and it's going to nullify.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
That pass rush.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
There's still definitely one on one sceereos where this Steelers
team can beat you. Obviously, Joey Porter Junior against that
is going to be a great matchup to watch. Ard.
You mentioned TJ. Watt We'll see what happens with Luke Wattenberg,
who's dealing with an injury as well, if he's going
to start. If not, it's awesome. Alex Forsyth's going up
against Cameron Hayward along the interior and that's a that's
a mismatch waiting to happen as well. So this dichotomy
(30:16):
of what the Broncos do well compared to what the
Steelers do well, and how they they contrast starkly, it
leads me to believe that the Broncos offense can actually
have some success if they just buy into what they
do well.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, I tend to agree. Also, I think the screen
game be a big factor. Sean Payton loves to do that.
They can always I think that can null a five
pass rushes. We'll talk to Lance Sanderson at last as underscore. Mhh, Lance,
you guys get the bi up coming up here? Tell
us a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Yeah, we got the Mile High huddle meet and Green.
I believe it's in a lot D on the east,
the east parking lot coming into the east entrance of
the UH Mile High Stadium. Everyone's going to be there,
myself included I'll bring my wife down, Nick Kendall, Carl Dundler,
Er Trickle is gonna be there, Chad Jens and Zack
Kilbert and the whole crew is going to be there
for the mile High Hudle meet and greet. We do
(31:04):
this every single year.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
This year, we obviously wanted to do the Russell Wilson
game coming back, so we could have some fun with that.
But we're not gonna get that storyline. But come out
and check us out, Come and meet everybody to have it,
have a pop drive.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Something to eat.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
We would do a big tailgate party if it's always
a lot of fun and Ben, if you're around, come
on over man.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Okay, well, I have two questions. First of all, will
there be lasagna? This was texted in by a totally
anonymous listener.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
A totally anonymous listener, I would like to think that
he likes to wear Churchley clothes when he goes to
the football games. Either that or he happened to be
on the other side of this.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Profit now yah huh of sorts?
Speaker 4 (31:44):
Yeah, a prophet of sorts, so we'll call him now.
You might be a player too, I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
No.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Unfortunately, so funny story, dude. So the other day we
were out attendant of the garden, got a whole bunch
of tomatoes, and my wife says, you should make lasagna.
I want Ladannia for dinner. So I tagged you and
and it in a post on Twitter. Made a bad
ass lasagna. If I can get some down to Denver,
i'd bring it to you to at least try. But
it's hard to bring fresh lawsagna down unless you freeze it,
(32:11):
and I'm not going to do that to you. Man,
I'm sorry, Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
I will accept that as a reason. And then a
question too. I got about thirty second left here.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Mama Albright's coming into town this weekend, so I'm gonna
be bringing her around. It'll be all right if I
bring her over there to the meet and greet.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Yeah, absolutely, man, more than welcome. It'd be a pleasure
to meet you. Like I said multiple times on these airways,
for everything that you've done for me in my career
and advance and that you know, getting me this platform
to be able to talk broncos with you and promoting
my articles and everything, I owe you a beer at least,
so if nothing else, get my phone number from Grant
after we're off the show here, give me a call
Saturday night. We'll be downtown at the Hotel. So I'd
(32:49):
like to buy you beer if nothing else.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Man, I appreciate it. Man, I'll take you up on that.
We'll get it all figured out.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Last Samson from my Ohio huddle, we got to hit
a break here on Broncos Country Tonight. I appreciate you
guys sticking around ready for Apoldo as well.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
If you guys go to go to Broncos Country Tonight
dot com slash podcast, you can always get all that
stuff there.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
I'm Benjamin ol Brian Gratsmith back there behind the glass.
This the Broacos Country Tonight right here on KAA Says
for the AM ninety four one FM News Talk Sports
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