Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Let's Talk Stealers. It's kickoff time. Put the Cigar Internationals
Let's Talk Stealers show sponsored by Cigar's International. Stuff by
your Bridgeville store today, Pucking Chair Vodka, Respect the Chair.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's a Pittsburgh thing.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Forest Lodge and Camp Drownder Cooks Forest Pa. Your adventures
starts here. Visit Canton, Ohio, Red Fox Winery and Lounge.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Huddle Up Steelers Station, It's tank for Let's Talk Steelers. Well, everybody,
is your hangover cured? Do you feel better? I mean
half the city of Pittsburgh caught on a plane and
went to Dublin, Ireland, or Dublin as they say over
there in Ireland. The other half started drinking at five
(01:06):
am here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And some people are just
landing back into the city of Pittsburgh this Saturday morning.
Is the show, Let's Talk Steelers gets kicked off. What
a tremendous experience for anybody that got to experience Ireland.
(01:27):
I did not go wish I had what an incredible experience,
not even talking about the win, the victory over the Vikings,
but just the entire experience of seeing your Steelers in
Dublin there's a lot to unpack from what happened in Ireland,
(01:51):
and I guess in this segment, I want to talk
about the big plays. I want to talk about the
big plays that happen throughout the game. And some players
that after four weeks of play are impact players. Impact players.
I have no clue how the rest of this season's
(02:12):
gonna go. I just don't. Neither do you. Nobody does.
But there is a positive feeling heading into the next
stretch of four games. Now, don't kid yourself. When we
played the Jets. We barely won that game. What do
(02:36):
they say you have pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
Things didn't look too good even though we pulled that
victory off. Let's start with Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers now
half a Steelers nation did not want Aaron coming to Pittsburgh.
(02:58):
I saw him up and close in person in camp
and I was just impressed by two things at that
time in camp, and you can see them come to
fruition in these four games. Won his release, it's still there.
(03:18):
He has a rattlesnake release, meaning he'll bite you quick.
Dan Marino probably have the greatest release of all in
the NFL at forty one years of age forty two,
whatever Rogers is, there's rookies that wish they had that
(03:40):
kind of snap inaccuracy. The second thing that is amazing
is his calmness, his chi as it were. I mean,
you gotta think it this way. This guy's seen that,
done there, been there, done that, won super Bowls. Is
(04:03):
heading the Hall of Fame. He's one cool cat at
all times. The thing that really stuck out to me
in the Dublin game at the age of forty one
forty two, did you see the block Aaron Rodgers threw
(04:23):
to spring his running back and he didn't throw it
on no cornerback either. He threw it on alignment. It
was a general you know it was a block. Weren't
no general, just like I'll get your way. He blocked him. Man,
(04:43):
you gotta love that from Aaron Rodgers at his age.
Guy came here to play football. If you can keep
him healthy, things just may continue to happen. Talking about
impact players through four games, DK Medcalf, Wow, Wow, Wow
(05:12):
is all you can say. This guy is all that
in a bag of chips. George, who George, I'm a child.
Pickens hit the road jack, don't look back. My goodness,
Oh it's like you need a You look at Medcalf right,
(05:35):
and you compare him to some of the morons that's
come through Pittsburgh in the last couple of years, mostly
George Pickens ab got hit in a coconut and we
all think he might have some mental issues because of it.
George Pickens is just a jackass. Right, he's gone. Thank God,
(05:58):
he's gone. Could you imagine if Tom have kept him
for another year? And now that Medcalf is here, you
see what the prototypical wide receiver is supposed to do.
Work hard, make the catches, get back to the huddle,
and have a little swagger. And that's dk Metcalf at
(06:21):
this point. I like his stats so far. And Arthur Smith,
who needs fired and doesn't know what he's doing. In
a long list of Mike Tomlin oc coordinators as a
weapon in Medcalf at six four two thirty, who runs
(06:44):
like a gazelle. This guy catches anything you throw at him.
For the most part, Arthur Smith isn't using him correctly.
Five catches against the Vikings, three against the Patriots, three
(07:07):
against the Sea Chickens, four against Jets, but amazingly he's
averaging seventeen yards per catch, and he's already at two
hundred and sixty one yards with fifteen receptions. Again, Arthur Smith,
(07:30):
dud loser, but trying to keep on the positive side
of some of the great things that are going on
right now. I want to move on to Ramsey, a
new edition. This guy in Latrobe. Everybody could see it.
(07:51):
He's an impact player, impact player, and he likes to hit,
like Terrell Edmonds who came through here playing safety, who
somehow decided he didn't need to hit people playing safety
in the NFL. As we you know, pickings to Medcalf,
(08:14):
Terrell Edmonds, Minka's fall off the last several seasons. Jalen
Ramsey's a baller. He's come here to play some football.
I love the strip fumble for TD to start things
defensive players. There's an old saying he has a nose
(08:34):
for the football. He has a nose for the football.
He can find it. Jerry Olsalski was like that for
your Steelers years ago. Jerry could find the ball. Don't
know I did it. He had a great motor, but
he could find the ball. Jalen Ramsey is one of
(08:57):
these guys. Hey, you're listening to let's talk buck Steelers.
I'm your host, Randy the Tank Tantlinger here every week
talking Steele's football. Just talking about some of the impact
players through week four. So far later on the show,
you're gonna hear from coaches and players. Impact player you
(09:23):
knew last year this guy had something. He's got cheetah
like speed, Cheetah like speed, and he too has a
nose for the ball. Peyton Wilson. Peyton Wilson, I mean,
(09:47):
this guy's almost Jack Lambert isk in his stature. He
ain't mean like Jack is. Nobody was as mean as
Jack was. When you look at his stature, his wheels,
his nose for the football, that incredible run to track
(10:12):
down the blazing Vikings runner. How can you not love
yourself some Peyton Wilson At this point talking about impact
players through week four? Have you seen a guy named Gainwell?
(10:33):
Mister gain Well, It's almost like you wouldn't you know?
It's something out of an Adam Sandler football movie. Gain Well,
he gains yardage? Well, doesn't he gain Well? This cat
has got a future with your Pittsburgh Steelers. And remember
what he's doing is between an offensive line. We're going
(10:59):
to get into that. That is playing about C plus
football right now. Other than Zach Fraser, Zach Fraser, Gainwell
has the ability to hit the hole fast, hit it hard,
(11:19):
and pick you up yardage quickly. That big bruiser we
lost in naugy Well. I think it's an even trade
at this point, Gainwell for Naugy. I didn't like to
see Naugy go, but he's gone. In so far, Gainwell
(11:40):
is having a heck of a season. Nick Herbig, as
the defense felt the loss of Alex Heisman at this point.
With Nick Herbig, I mean, I don't know what they're
(12:01):
giving these Wisconsin Badgers up there. TJ watt Herbig, But
I tell you what, this guy's a player. He's a player.
You're almost in a situation where you're going when high
Smith comes back. We got to limited as snaps. Who
(12:22):
do we want off the field. TJ's getting older. You
got to arrest him. What a great position to be in.
Nick Herbig is a ballplayer. You combine Herbig with Peyton Wilson,
You've got speed, you have youth, you have Steelers linebackers.
(12:46):
Our long history of linebackers from Kevin Green. Oh, I
loved meet from Kevin Green and Greg Lloyd. Well, I'll
never be another Levon Kirkland. God broke the mold when
he created that animal at inside linebacker. But you get
(13:08):
the point. Herbig and Wilson are fitting in nicely to
this defense. So far, as you continue to look at
the impact players that have helped the Steelers get to
this record, so far, you're kind of wandering. You're kind
of wandering. When will the big first rounders show up?
(13:31):
When will the big first rounder start being an impact player.
It'll be interesting to see it when he does get here.
I wonder if dk Metcalf has any interest to playing
an inside linebacker. He's big enough six two thirty two
(13:52):
forty and he runs like the wind. It's an amazing
thing to watch DK Metcalf catch a football and take
off off and run. Like I said earlier in the show, George,
Who George what? George the child down there in Dallas,
things went well for your Pittsburgh Steelers. A lot of
(14:15):
no name defensive backs helped secure this victory. You know,
Elliott came back, had a big play, just really really
really was impactful. You know, with the fumble recovery. There,
(14:37):
we'll see how this secondary holds up through the remainder
of the season. I want to go now to Terrell
at Austin, your Steelers defensive coordinator, and get his insight
on how the Steelers defense performed over there in Dublin, Ireland,
and we'll go to commercial break. Then we'll be right
(14:59):
back to Steelers. Let's stop stealers the.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
End of the game. Just Tom will come down to
you and say, you got this.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
I'll make it.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
No, that's my decision. It'll just let me know if
they're going for it. It'll be like, hey, we're going
for that's all.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Did you take that as a show faith that you
guys have the ability?
Speaker 5 (15:16):
I think that's just just a decision. I don't think
it's the show of faith that we're gonna finish it.
I think it's more of a show of faith that
the offense is going to get the first down in
the game.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
Yeah, you have you heard have any word on how
long Ramsy might be out or if you'll be back.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Uprom Now everything went down there, you know, But if
he does miss it any kind of game time, what
are the challenges not just in terms of personnel.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Usage, but also the level of communication that he ranted
it back in the defense.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Oh, I think it's like anytime you lose a starter,
you're you're gonna have to work through those things up.
But right now, it's just it's it's it's typical what
happens because you have to deal with it every year.
Most of the time, the guys don't. It's not the
same starting union out there every all seventeen games. So
we'll work our way through it if it shows up
that way, and we'll figured.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Out tha six sacks through those first three quarters.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
Two takeaways.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
Do you feel like this was maybe the most complete
performance the Stemens has shown so for the season.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Yeah, we're getting there. Uh, you know, I've said it.
I know we hadn't played well early, but I know
uh that we were. We've got enough good players and
then things will will start trending in the right direction.
I think we're taking We took a step forward last week, absolutely,
but we also know we left a lot out there
and there's a lot of room to improve. So I
really love the way our guys call me to perform
(16:30):
last week, and and we know we can be better.
Speaker 8 (16:32):
You look at him like you have three starting outside
linebackers and it's Nick almost forced her down. Where once
Alex does come back, you have to find ways to
get him at the game.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
Absolutely, we are not gonna uh limit Nick her big
he is. He is showing.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Up every week. Uh.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
He is disruptive, and so we're gonna find uh he
he's a really good player for us, and we're gonna
come continue to find ways to get him on the field.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
What are you gonna do?
Speaker 9 (16:54):
Uh, Well, the last couple of weeks to stop the
run to.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Do his first couple of weeks, the the.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Metrics weren't great, but then they've come before.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
You guys are leading the league to rush about you
Andy or last years?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
What do you guys done before?
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Yeah, we're just we're just playing better, I think, Uh,
you know, we talked about it sometimes you get in there.
We had some things where we were where where we're
supposed to be, but just weren't able to finish it
for whatever reason.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
And our guys are starting to make those plays, which
I kind of figure they would, cause I think we
have enough good players that, uh, if you help help
them get the right spots, they're gonna make the plays
and and they're doing it, and so we just continue
to do that. We know it's a long season and
we just gotta you know, you're only judged. You're judging,
you know, Hobesus League is you get judged every week.
You know, in one week you could be great and
one week you can stink. So our goal is to
not stink every week, be pretty good.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Are you come on for your young linement?
Speaker 5 (17:40):
I think so? H. I think those guys are growing.
And again, you know, Derek was was hurt to start
the season and and he's working his way back, but
he just you can see him growing, and ya and
and and uh just getting better and Jack Sawyer showing up.
I mean, those guys are growing. Uh, that's a nice thing.
They played at programs where they've had some success, and
they played in big games, so things like that aren't
(18:00):
too big for him.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Are you guys? A couple of miscommunications away from being great?
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Yeah, that's you know, the one in the game. I'm
gonna take that one. We you know, we were struggling
with who was in the game and and I probably
made a call that probably wasn't simple enough for everybody.
And so that that's on me and absolutely uh, and
so that that that that's on me, and I'll make
sure if that ever happens again, if we have some
attrition the way we did it, the way it happened,
(18:26):
and I gotta I got to give our guys something
that's way more simple and that they can line up
and play and it may not be the best defense,
but it'll be something where we won't have a chance
to blow it. So uh, I mean, our guys played
great and and and again that that last one is
on me and and I'll make sure that that happened again.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Did you have one on the last touchdown too? It
looked like the Queen and Wilson were.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Trying to make something up. They made they had a
good play, They got us, they beat us.
Speaker 8 (18:50):
Having said that about that player, how impressive was it
what Peyton did to track him down?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
And I think there was more than a minute that believable.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
It's probably the difference in the game.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
In that right.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Let's talk Steelers. It's kickoff time for the Cigar Internationals.
Let's Talk Stealers show sponsored by Cigars International. Stuff by
your Bridgeville store today, Parking Chair Vodka. Respect the chair.
It's a Pittsburgh Thing Forest Lodge and Camp Dround Cooks Forest, Pa.
(19:31):
Your adventures starts here. Visit Canton, Ohio, Red Fox Winery
and Lounge.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Huddle up, Steelers Nation. It's Tank, my quarterback Mike McMahon.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
He's missing in action, JT. Did you ever play football
a little bit? All right, you'll do whoever you are. Hey,
we're here at our locker room at Cigars International in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 9 (19:59):
I'm Tank Tan.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
He is the legend.
Speaker 9 (20:01):
J T.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Thomas.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
How many Super Bowls you playing?
Speaker 9 (20:04):
I played in.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Three, but I was I was sick from the fourth one,
so I didn't play in that one.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
But I don't accept excuses. But I'll give you the
credit for the three of them.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Well I was.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Let me remember four of that inspiration.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Yes, you are a true inspiration man, JT. We're here's
Cigars International.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
It's going to be our locker room for let's talk
Stealers twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Couldn't think of anybody.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Better place, better cigars beverages. You ever heard of that
Papa Falar rum? Oh?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Yes, I know you have.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Yeah, Pop's Bala rum. I'm the ambassador of Pennsylvania. Pumps
far rum, and it's the room that God drinks when
he's watching his stillness. Matter of fact, he drinks the
dark hey, when you're smoking his still gat.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Ok, yeah right, similar to what mister Woo needs to smoke.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Oh God, yeah, the Chief, the Chief.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Tell me about your thoughts about the Chief, because I
love to play that Jean did.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I'm sure you saw it. Who doesn't love art rooning?
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Now?
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Well, when I was my afought for a Super Bowl
that she thought I was Catholic. I went to a
Catholic school and I stoke in the Catholic diocese, you know,
after I for Super Bowl back in Georgia.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, I would think you were a Catholic too.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
So he said, that's j T. So I need someone
to go around to the capitol dioces on Tuesday and speak. Well,
he give out money him in a commissioner Forrester. So
two years and I picked up the stadium. We ride around,
He's smoke in the cigar and my leathing time across
smoking it all up. I can't tell him to put
it on your car, and I'm hearing stories about life
(21:39):
that I probably can't repeat. But nevertheless, it was just
a great experience that now I got to know him.
He thought it was I'm Baptist by religion, but he thought,
who cares me?
Speaker 9 (21:51):
Well?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
One story was this, uh, my first year, he called
me TJ. So I'm not gonna question, you know, call
me TJ. My second him. Look comfortable, I said, mister looney,
I said, I said, you've been calling me TJ for
every year, and I say my name is JT. He
pulled a cigar out Paul's. So I'm riding driving. He said, well,
(22:14):
I know your name. Okay. He said, I have a
friend for about thirty years. Oh, his name is TJ.
I said, okay. He said, I didn't feel like switching
the initials.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
I didn't feel what.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
I said okay. He said, well, by the way, on
your game check, how's your name? I said j T.
He said, well, you don't have any problem in do you?
I said no, sorry, no, sir, he never called me T.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
That's that Irish witch.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Oh yeah, great, great guy, great leader. He is the
heart and soul to stay leading today.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, you know there's two games that for me.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Golf is a lineage right from Saint Andrews Scotland to today.
At Oakland on Sure or whatever it may be. We
can trace that lineage. We full well know that football
birthed in my hometown of Latroe, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
I don't care what they say in the North Side.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
They paid Doc Bryer, the local dentis, five dollars a
game to play in the YMC. We know all these
things in that lineage of the game. In our lineage
with the Pittsburgh Steelers, we ain't no new franchise. We
ain't the Seattle Sea Chickens that come around in what's
seventy eight to seventy eight.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
It goes to the heart of the matter. In nineteen
thirty three with.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
The Chief, well you think about it, he was part
of the foundation of this one.
Speaker 9 (23:37):
George Hallis guys booked.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
The foundation and you know Dan fum Low, and they
built the infrastructure.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
You know.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
So when you look at the NFL, you have to
look at I'm gonna call the founding fathers. And the
Chief was key, I mean in the way the game
was structured, but also in relationship tied up with people.
I mean he was as if he was four four
ahead of most teams until how he dealt his players
and with him. Well, he definite comments his human and
(24:08):
the biggest thing that became here. You you knew you
were a man and you know, me and a black
guy at that time, we come in like you could
understand most of the guys in the seventies and white guys,
we're come to South.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
You talked about segregation, Yeah, exaid.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
We c we had come out of second our first
super Bowl. We less than ten years off the back
of the bus.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
MM.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
So you think about the people forge say that again, Yeah,
we're less than ten years off the back of the bus.
But we had experienced separate water fountain before the first,
uh first super Bowl here, so we come out of
that environment. So when you come here to Pittsburg, UH
from the south of North here, it was totally different
environment than the South for most of us. So for
(24:46):
some guy it was the culture shop and you coming
in and a system or visit at the highest level
of UH. And so how do you deal with this, uh,
this whole dynamics of coming into the world or out
of segregation, UH into a very sophisticated world of finance
at that time as a twenty one twenty kid. And
(25:11):
he he when I said he missed mister Rooney for
what's after the murders. It's about our man who are
being recognized.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Him, yes, sir, Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Even man for the sil what about super Bowl? It's
about our man who in the longing. And when you
come in and someone recognized your manhood, that is so
let him say, in power to be recognized at this
level as a man, aymen and respected. Amen, uh cause
(25:43):
a lot of us hadn't seen that. Come by yourself.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
You saw some bad things growing updated.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
Yeah, Like I said, we grew up in Jim Crow.
We grew up in segregation. We grew up in the rise,
the water holes, the fuck the dogs, all that, the
KKK and and I don't mean the cool colored cats either.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Yeah, you know, we come out of there and a
lot of guys see historical black colleges, think about that.
This is the first time ever at twenty two dealing
with white America. Yes, sir, they go from kindergarten to
elementary school, high school. College is in a black environment.
Now me and I'm lucky I integrated schools at fourteen,
So I'm in white America at fourteen. Well, Mail blund
(26:26):
isn't the first time Mayl Bluney getting to white in
America twenty two. Yeah, but he had a lot of
guys to play in their woods to Sam Davis or
all those guys, John stallboth, they had not been introduced
to white America. So me, I've been through College of
Florida State. I was first African American football player at
(26:46):
Florida State.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I didn't know that I'm first African.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
American football player to play there and graduate from FA shoot.
So when b n C means you know, he even.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Buy down, yeah right, yeah, right right, But think about coming.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Into that environment as a young black African American and
coming to Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh a very diverse community, but
it was new and to be welcome in an organization
where your manhood was recognized and people don't know that
was a factor that on the girded that team and
(27:23):
the fact that Chuck knows even more so brought us
together and saw us as as a team but kind
of ready to communicate with one voice of all of us,
which was his greatest talent it is to communicate. It
was amazing Chuck Mows could actually be talking to sixty
guys and only talking to you that's how movie was. Yeah, sure, right, yeah,
(27:47):
but that's a communicator communicated. But the Runing family and
the way they embraced humanity was so unique and we
never talked about that. We had great talents, but so
the Houston Buffalo Hedwick talent. It would have division Headwick talny,
but it was that humanity thing that was on the
(28:08):
good and that people could miss of my comms them up.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Well, you always hear through the years that anybody that's
passed through the organization says it's the best organization. It's
a great organization that arcs to the philosophy that mister
Rooney preached.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
During the two.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Thousand and eight season, I made it a point from
Latrobe all the way to the super Bowl, had no
idea it was going to end in the super Bowl
and went to Dan, went to Dick Lebow and others
in the organization.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
I said, I have to ask you one question. Why
do the Stealers.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Continually be a winning franchise?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Why do they continue to be a great organization? And
it was amazing JT.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
And I'm curious what you will respond to this to
a letter of a person. At different times throughout the season,
every single person respect wond surround yourself with good people
and good things happen.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
It must have.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Been the mantra throughout the organization.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Yeah, and you know, but they only draft a certain
personality lows, I have this certain kind of people.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
We've gotten away from that a little bit, and I
don't want to go down that vein.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
No, it was about character more so. Mean, yes, sir,
because character overrides talent. Sometimes there's some guys wasn't a
talented but the character gave them a heart that will
overcome any amount.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Let me talk about my friend Rocky Blive.
Speaker 4 (29:38):
No, you took the worst out of my mouth right
by Rock. Yeah, Rock is kind of guy that you said.
Well what Rock wasn't the fastest guy, wasn't the biggest. No,
we had we had defensive back six two two thirty five,
running four.
Speaker 9 (29:50):
Four four.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Hurts when that hits you.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Where is Rock in the game?
Speaker 9 (29:57):
Get way?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
We got this this got two thirty two twenty four four. Uh,
I mean and cut on the dime and Rock in
the game, Well, it's about the heart, the character, the
character of Rocky hard and determination. But I found out
I ran he's the technician uh s talking him not
to long ago. He was telling me about rock knew
(30:19):
what hand should go down on the ground. I ain't
thought about this to negate take an extra step yep.
And he was telling me about this. And when some
guys talent a lot of him to take those stutter
steps for Rocks, I ain't got that. So he was
so proficient with what hand, what foot in front? And
I never thought about what Franko made. So M take
(30:42):
a stutter step to start a step to get there
for Rocks. I can't do that, that's right now. So
if I switch hands, I don't take any step.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I just go.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
And so he had come down to a point where
he studied the game and had so much hard and
characters that didn't think about Rocky you know, uh experience
in the.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
War he had up got his foot blong.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Yeah, so this got apposed to walk.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Man, got his foot blocked enough and come back from it. Yeah,
you know that's character.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah. I thought they're spposed to walk they can make
money and so and so when you see the rock Man,
you know when they say right he was he is
a walk legend. Yeah, because I gotta tell you a secret.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
So Rocky and I work out at Saint Jim a
couple of years ago. He come in in the morning. Hey,
rock every leaving alone. By the time he was done,
he was soaking wet. He put everything into the workout.
He wasn't there to impress h anybody. There was hardly
anybody in the gym at five in the morning. That's
Rocky Block. Well.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
See, it's like working out, like like who knows you
to say? You know, you say, if you're not sweating,
that's right. And if you ask a moving, that's right.
You're not working out.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That's right, that's right. Don't get me started. I see
these people with this, they got up working out.
Speaker 4 (31:58):
Chuck say, I say, moving, wedding. You know, you know
that's not work out, you're exercising.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Yeah. Maybe maybe.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Let's Talk Stealers. It's kickoff time for the Cigar Internationals.
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Speaker 3 (33:00):
Football team.
Speaker 10 (33:02):
Richard than Girls, First Steelers, Chuck Now and no Key's
friends are all on their beam.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Go on against them Steelers.
Speaker 10 (33:13):
Bradshaw and Rockie and Franco and Lee.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
We love your feels.
Speaker 9 (33:19):
First Steeler, He's been many years.
Speaker 10 (33:23):
Sin Pai Jaski La Steeler Machinery, Army Man, Tan Scramble, Leadership,
the ball, the Fast ste Fast kicks the Steelers.
Speaker 9 (33:47):
Off with best of all the Joe.
Speaker 10 (33:52):
Joe to your team against the other team. He starts
from here the year We're so Black, play not join
wi me last.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Day, Let's talk Stealers. It's kickoff time. Put the Cigar Internationals.
Let's Talk Stealers Show sponsored by Cigars International. Stop by
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(34:28):
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Speaker 3 (34:46):
All right, welcome back to Let's Talk Steelers. I'm Tank Tallinger.
That last segment we talked to the legend own our
four Super Bowl rings with you Pittsburgh Steelers. JT. Thomas
all right, very rarely do all the coaches talk to
the media, all of them, everybody. I'm gonna let these
(35:11):
interviews play out. Okay, you're gonna hear from Arthur Smith,
You're gonna hear from Danny Smith. Everybody loves the Special
Teams coach. He's awesome. You're gonna hear from Pat Meyer,
and it's pretty friggin wishy washy. And you know, very
(35:37):
rarely do the Steelers let the all the assistant coaches
just step up to a microphone. I guess it's bye week,
want to give the players some time off. But you
hear some really interesting insights and it's up for you
to decide. But look, here's my take. Okay, Arthur Smith
(35:58):
stinks and needs fired. Now let Aaron Rodgers call the offense.
Mike Tomlin went and just hired another idiot. Yeah, Arthur Smith,
you know you got fired with the Falcons. Yeah, you know,
his offense was like twenty six, twenty seventh in the league. Yeah,
(36:20):
but he'll be great Aaron Pittsburgh, said Mike Tomlin of
Arthur Smith and his mustache Again. Danny Smith, it's just great.
But Pat Meyers seems to be floundering at times for answers.
So let's go down to the south side Steelersville as
I call it Steelersville and get some rare insights from
(36:44):
the coaches after four game stretch that has your Pittsburgh
Steelers poised and ready. I don't know to take a
week off.
Speaker 6 (36:55):
How obviously you're using Spencer Amersy so much as an
ex rofensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (36:59):
How long as that then in the works.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
And is it something you could anticipate to see a
little bit more often or is it just a a
game specific time. No, we we did a little bit
of knowingland early in that game, w ull. We end
up throwing the uh smoke out the DK for about
fifteen You know, it's something that we've worked with 'em.
You know, Spencer's a unique you know, you gotta use it.
It's gotta give you an advantage uh In in years past.
You know, sometimes people use that jump bot, tight end
(37:24):
or extra lineman uh, and it can limit you depending
on what.
Speaker 9 (37:28):
But Spencer is such a good half wet uh.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
And then you know, we just things we've had in
and you know, looking at it and the way we
wanted to attack them and some of the things we
wanted to to go after. You know, you put him
and Darnell together and then you put 'em next to
one of the tackles. There's about a thousand pounds over there,
give or take, regardless of what Darnell's waits listed at Earth.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Are your offensive line as a whole?
Speaker 5 (37:47):
I mean, you guys went up against one of the.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Strongest d lines in the league. Just how would you
assess as a group and how they.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Could they just getting better every week?
Speaker 9 (37:52):
I mean there's things.
Speaker 6 (37:53):
That's that's what some Sometimes the numbers don't tell you everything.
I mean, there's context to it, and like I talked
about it a little bit a week ago or two
weeks ago. Things you see then we just that's why
you work. You know, there's things that you have. The
end result it may not have been you know, positive
on the maybe a one yard run. There's a lot
l little things that go on to make a play successful. Uh,
but you could see things building and obviously that uh
(38:15):
paid off Sunday for sure.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
They at the touch push tail we won't working out.
Speaker 9 (38:19):
For a while.
Speaker 6 (38:20):
You know, we've got in the situation to to use
it and a lot of it's just you know, lot
goes into it, about it, who's doing it, the confidence
in it, where you're you're putting them, you know, if
they haven't done it before. And at some point you
gotta rip the manet off. And so we've got it
up all year. We've been pretty good on short yardagh.
I mean, obviously didn't get it on a third and
one and uh so it's naturally the kind of look
(38:43):
at things that I wish it would've done this or that.
But overall this year in shortyards when we run and
we've been pretty successful.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Always been on your mind of how to use that
play to your advantage, especially with the forty of year
old quarterback.
Speaker 6 (38:55):
Oh sure, I mean there's there's other things that go
on and the other short yard players that have options
on it, and hardly be the first time. He doesn't
mind sneaking it. But there's things he made package and
certain looks and then that one was just a call
and run it and Connor did a good job. I mean,
Connor's got to get any skill set. You know, He'll
be the first tell you that he was a kick
returner before Ford. He ran the ball that little good
(39:16):
for us it before they got Kenneth Walker in Michigan State.
Connor is a guy that you have a lot of
trust in and we've been working there for a while
and it was good for us.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
We've seen on these kickoffs some teams are kind of
using these knuckleballs or the kickers kicking it and then
you gotta kick it up. How do you kind of
coach that to your returners and.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
How is that a weapon for you guys as a
kick coverage team.
Speaker 11 (39:35):
It's it's it's prove it in four weeks, you know,
and we're starting to get a study of it.
Speaker 9 (39:40):
You know, one week, two weeks isn't a study.
Speaker 11 (39:42):
But as you start getting in four weeks, you know,
you get into a pattern and they're tough balls to handle.
The knuckleball is a tough ball to handle. The squib
has been a kick that's been very successful so far.
Speaker 9 (39:51):
In this league.
Speaker 11 (39:52):
And you know, you couldn't work on squibs all day.
We worked at started last OTA's with the new rules
and stuff like that, but no are the same, you
know kind of thing, and that that's that's the issue,
that's the problem.
Speaker 9 (40:04):
You work them.
Speaker 11 (40:05):
But as we've said all along, this ball bounces in
funky ways and funny ways at times. And that's true
on the squib kick, But it has been an effective weapon.
Speaker 9 (40:14):
Uh, it really has. And you've got a popping turner
yet say it again yet?
Speaker 3 (40:20):
Uh?
Speaker 11 (40:20):
No, we haven't talked about it yet, to be honest
with you. Uh, We're meeting with the team this afternoon.
Speaker 9 (40:25):
And I'm sure we'll talk personnel, tom All, we have not.
We have not discussed Yeah, what'd you see on that
few go Uh?
Speaker 11 (40:35):
It was just a lack of technique by a player.
It was a good jump by an opposing player. You know,
he had great speed coming off the edge and he
did a good job. More power to him, But it
was a lack of technique on our partner.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Has it been in the last few weeks, It's been
a fair amount of blocks throughout the end, gol. Is
there a pattern you're noticing a theme that's constant? Throat? Uh?
Speaker 11 (40:54):
You know what, just if you look at some of
the reasons why, there's some technique involved in the protection
of it, and sometimes players lack technique.
Speaker 9 (41:02):
And I've looked at all of them.
Speaker 11 (41:03):
I've seen every one of them numerous times, and most
of the ones are a lack of technique. To be
honest with you, not to take any thing away from
the defense in the rush team, but you know you
got some big, strong athletes over there, and you've got
players taking on two and three players at a time there. Uh.
You know, you guys have been covering this a long time.
(41:23):
Back in the day, was all that push stuff inside.
Now it's going outside. And there's some great speed in
this league, you know when guys coming off the edge,
and you got to.
Speaker 9 (41:32):
Be perfect on your technique. I mean perfect on your technique.
You can't get away with a lack of technique.
Speaker 11 (41:37):
And most of the issues that I've seen in an
our particular issue, which is the only one I'm concerned about,
was a lack of technique that you know has been
very successful for us. And in that instance, we didn't
use the technique and and you know, when you get
that result, so we'll get it corrected and we'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
And he was a tight competition at camp.
Speaker 11 (41:55):
How do you think of orlis Is having the first
I'm sorry said it again, tight competition at camp?
Speaker 8 (42:01):
Him?
Speaker 9 (42:01):
My Cordus is good. Courtis is a damn good football player.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (42:04):
And he's a good punter, and I'm proud of him
and he'll have a good year.
Speaker 10 (42:07):
Why did you have a kick into the ends on another.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Game like fifteen yards?
Speaker 9 (42:11):
I'm not worried about his net putting at that time.
I'm worried about winning the game. I mean you talk
about the last punt of the game. Yeah, I'm worried
about winning the football game.
Speaker 11 (42:18):
Why are you gonna put the ball in play with
twelve seconds left of the game, Yeah, make no send.
Speaker 9 (42:23):
They got a returner back there. Uh uh, We're gonna
win the game.
Speaker 11 (42:27):
Like at one time I started the twenty win the game.
I ain't worried about his net putting at that time.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
And how much time do you dedicate to on side kicking?
Cover where you considering that.
Speaker 9 (42:37):
We worked at every Friday. We've been working it ever
since I got here. We worked at every Friday.
Speaker 11 (42:42):
Everybody has to go, everybody has to get uh too
on side case clean where they can't leave the field.
We work at every Friday since I've been here.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
We're pretty smooth.
Speaker 9 (42:52):
We look smooth Sunday.
Speaker 11 (42:54):
And again that ballta is it's amazing really and again,
you guys have covered this for a long time.
Speaker 9 (43:00):
We played a game fifty nine minutes and thirty seconds
or whatever it is.
Speaker 11 (43:02):
There's a minute left in the game, thirty seconds left
in the game, and really we're working on the bounce
of the ball. You know, there's some people that don't
get that recovery and it's simply the bounce of the ball.
I mean, it really is the bounce of the ball.
And it's sad they come back. It's my business. But
really it comes down to the bounce of the ball.
Because if we didn't get that, you all be ripped,
(43:24):
okay about it, and that just comes with the territory.
Speaker 9 (43:27):
I get it. But it's really the bounce of the ball,
and we made the play and we're expected to do something.
You did to do that twice, right, we took a
time out, We had a time to do it twice
like that or you no, you don't be honest with you.
Speaker 11 (43:42):
And again, you guys don't think we think. Okay, but
here's the deal. This kid had no on side kicks
in his career.
Speaker 9 (43:49):
None.
Speaker 11 (43:50):
You played four games in the National Football League, three
games in the National Football League. It's fourth. This kid
was a kicker at Alabama. How many times they on
side kick? Okay, I watch all the tape everybody everything.
I'll tell you every number of onside kicks everybody has
that we play. What is sentayss are, where he's going
with the ball, what his movement is.
Speaker 9 (44:07):
Everything.
Speaker 11 (44:08):
We had nothing, okay on this kid, So it's very smart.
Mike Thomas says, yes, we take a time out. It
was a great move on the head coach's part. We
took a time I took a look. We got the
exact same kick after it because the kid is inexperience
and we were able to recover.
Speaker 9 (44:23):
So there's so much science and so much thinking that
goes into these things that people don't have no clue
about it, and that's our job. But that's an understand
What did you say to Kevin Johnson what happened in
his situation?
Speaker 11 (44:36):
You know, before I even got the Caleb, the players
were at Caleb, you know, So I didn't say much,
to be honest with you.
Speaker 9 (44:43):
A couple that come to mind, you know, Connor Heywood
was that.
Speaker 5 (44:47):
We go all the time at the time, and so.
Speaker 11 (44:51):
That was even before I got there, Okay, So I
really didn't say much on the field to him.
Speaker 9 (44:57):
We replaced him at that time. He wasn't ready to
go back on the field.
Speaker 2 (45:00):
Uh, and Uh.
Speaker 9 (45:02):
I dealt with it the next day in a tape session.
Speaker 4 (45:04):
A team, the offensive line had its best game, especially
moving the moving the other team off the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 6 (45:11):
Would you agree?
Speaker 3 (45:12):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (45:13):
Yeah, I mean yes, yes we did. It's a dots,
it's a collective group.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
It's everything.
Speaker 7 (45:19):
That's the line, it's the backs, it's it's the tight ends,
it's the wide outs. You know, we were just you
know a little, we're gelling more as an offense and
turns of that process?
Speaker 4 (45:30):
Is that to get in a season started like that?
Speaker 3 (45:32):
When approve.
Speaker 7 (45:35):
It starts, I mean starts when when we get him
here the first time we get him here, when we uh,
when we signed him, when we draft him, and then
he through the spring during OTAs and camp and mini
camp and then a training camp, all that foundationals things
are happening then, Uh, in terms of like who we're
gonna be, How were we approaching things? How were you
(45:56):
approaching certain blocks, whether it be run game or protects.
That stuff happened months ago, and then and then it's
just you know, then the then scheme comes into like
what style defense we plan? What Schemeberard, We're gonna run
who are we? Uh but to me, that happens back
in April, May and June and j through camp.
Speaker 9 (46:18):
So you're not allowed for development in season.
Speaker 7 (46:21):
Yeah, we always I always do that, and I didn
I didn't say that. Uh, I'm just saying the foundation
started months ago, started years ago.
Speaker 3 (46:29):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (46:30):
Well, but yeah, during the season, we're gonna talk about
here's the here's the runs that we're good with that
we have in. Here's how we're gonna approach it. Uh,
here's their style of defense, here's you know, what they
play technique wise, here's how we're gonna countered, or here's
how we're gonna attack it. That's what we do in
season now on a weekly basis. So I cause that
(46:50):
when we say that, you know, the run game looks
so much better in this past. We can know the
guys they're again, we're working it every week. We're d
you know, we're working to get better each each and
every week, and that's what we expect. But at the
same point, there's a lot more to it when you're
talking run, you than just the offensive line. It's the backs,
it's the tight ends, it's the white house, it's the quarterback.
(47:12):
Interesting you know, the right tracks and doing that stuff
and let's you know, we'll just continue to work it.
And it's been it's been good. It's been good for us,
especially this past week. The big person almost affected against
the Vikings. Is that something you think you found something
there or do you think teams will catch on because.
Speaker 4 (47:31):
You know, I mean we used it.
Speaker 7 (47:32):
Uh, you know we saw something with with you know,
with that team that we're like, you know, we can
go heavier and do that and you know, build build
off of that. You know, we have a heavy tight
end as it is, you know on entertainment right now anyway,
So he's bigger in the most of the alignment. But uh,
that is something that we just you know, will continue
to do it. I don't you know, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (47:52):
I won't talk about that as we go down. You know,
we won't do it.
Speaker 4 (47:55):
I can't say we won't do it every week.
Speaker 7 (47:57):
We will, uh, but it and you just have to
look at it, you know, like you know, Cleveland was
the next game and then Cincinnati and then you know
you move on. But no, it's it worked out well
for us since Spencer's did a nice job. He did
a nice job last year. When he was in there
as a starter for the you know, four or five
games he started, So you know, it's a big, twitchy
(48:20):
athletic physical alignment. When he was three hundred and twenty four,
you know, kid that's got twitched him. So it was
just a way to get him on the field and
and do that and then obviously you trust him and
and doing things for the protection wise too when he's
he had to stay in and attackt off the edge.
So puts something we're looking to each and every week.
Let's Talk Stealers. It's kickoff time. Put the Cigar Internationals
Let's Talk Stealers show sponsored by Cigar's International. Stuff by
your Bridgeville store today, Pucking Chair Vodka, Respect the Chair.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's a Pittsburgh thing.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Forest Lodge and Camp Drownder Cooks Forest Pa. Your adventures
starts here. Visit Canton, Ohio, Red Fox Winery and Lounge.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Huddle Up Steelers Station, It's tank for Let's Talk Steelers. Well, everybody,
is your hangover cured? Do you feel better? I mean
half the city of Pittsburgh caught on a plane and
went to Dublin, Ireland, or Dublin as they say over
there in Ireland. The other half started drinking at five
(01:06):
am here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And some people are just
landing back into the city of Pittsburgh this Saturday morning.
Is the show, Let's Talk Steelers gets kicked off. What
a tremendous experience for anybody that got to experience Ireland.
(01:27):
I did not go wish I had what an incredible experience,
not even talking about the win, the victory over the Vikings,
but just the entire experience of seeing your Steelers in
Dublin there's a lot to unpack from what happened in Ireland,
(01:51):
and I guess in this segment, I want to talk
about the big plays. I want to talk about the
big plays that happen throughout the game. And some players
that after four weeks of play are impact players. Impact players.
I have no clue how the rest of this season's
(02:12):
gonna go. I just don't. Neither do you. Nobody does.
But there is a positive feeling heading into the next
stretch of four games. Now, don't kid yourself. When we
played the Jets. We barely won that game. What do
(02:36):
they say you have pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
Things didn't look too good even though we pulled that
victory off. Let's start with Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers now
half a Steelers nation did not want Aaron coming to Pittsburgh.
(02:58):
I saw him up and close in person in camp
and I was just impressed by two things at that
time in camp, and you can see them come to
fruition in these four games. Won his release, it's still there.
(03:18):
He has a rattlesnake release, meaning he'll bite you quick.
Dan Marino probably have the greatest release of all in
the NFL at forty one years of age forty two,
whatever Rogers is, there's rookies that wish they had that
(03:40):
kind of snap inaccuracy. The second thing that is amazing
is his calmness, his chi as it were. I mean,
you gotta think it this way. This guy's seen that,
done there, been there, done that, won super Bowls. Is
(04:03):
heading the Hall of Fame. He's one cool cat at
all times. The thing that really stuck out to me
in the Dublin game at the age of forty one
forty two, did you see the block Aaron Rodgers threw
(04:23):
to spring his running back and he didn't throw it
on no cornerback either. He threw it on alignment. It
was a general you know it was a block. Weren't
no general, just like I'll get your way. He blocked him. Man,
(04:43):
you gotta love that from Aaron Rodgers at his age.
Guy came here to play football. If you can keep
him healthy, things just may continue to happen. Talking about
impact players through four games, DK Medcalf, Wow, Wow, Wow
(05:12):
is all you can say. This guy is all that
in a bag of chips. George, who George, I'm a child.
Pickens hit the road jack, don't look back. My goodness,
Oh it's like you need a You look at Medcalf right,
(05:35):
and you compare him to some of the morons that's
come through Pittsburgh in the last couple of years, mostly
George Pickens ab got hit in a coconut and we
all think he might have some mental issues because of it.
George Pickens is just a jackass. Right, he's gone. Thank God,
(05:58):
he's gone. Could you imagine if Tom have kept him
for another year? And now that Medcalf is here, you
see what the prototypical wide receiver is supposed to do.
Work hard, make the catches, get back to the huddle,
and have a little swagger. And that's dk Metcalf at
(06:21):
this point. I like his stats so far. And Arthur Smith,
who needs fired and doesn't know what he's doing. In
a long list of Mike Tomlin oc coordinators as a
weapon in Medcalf at six four two thirty, who runs
(06:44):
like a gazelle. This guy catches anything you throw at him.
For the most part, Arthur Smith isn't using him correctly.
Five catches against the Vikings, three against the Patriots, three
(07:07):
against the Sea Chickens, four against Jets, but amazingly he's
averaging seventeen yards per catch, and he's already at two
hundred and sixty one yards with fifteen receptions. Again, Arthur Smith,
(07:30):
dud loser, but trying to keep on the positive side
of some of the great things that are going on
right now. I want to move on to Ramsey, a
new edition. This guy in Latrobe. Everybody could see it.
(07:51):
He's an impact player, impact player, and he likes to hit,
like Terrell Edmonds who came through here playing safety, who
somehow decided he didn't need to hit people playing safety
in the NFL. As we you know, pickings to Medcalf,
(08:14):
Terrell Edmonds, Minka's fall off the last several seasons. Jalen
Ramsey's a baller. He's come here to play some football.
I love the strip fumble for TD to start things
defensive players. There's an old saying he has a nose
(08:34):
for the football. He has a nose for the football.
He can find it. Jerry Olsalski was like that for
your Steelers years ago. Jerry could find the ball. Don't
know I did it. He had a great motor, but
he could find the ball. Jalen Ramsey is one of
(08:57):
these guys. Hey, you're listening to let's talk buck Steelers.
I'm your host, Randy the Tank Tantlinger here every week
talking Steele's football. Just talking about some of the impact
players through week four. So far later on the show,
you're gonna hear from coaches and players. Impact player you
(09:23):
knew last year this guy had something. He's got cheetah
like speed, Cheetah like speed, and he too has a
nose for the ball. Peyton Wilson. Peyton Wilson, I mean,
(09:47):
this guy's almost Jack Lambert isk in his stature. He
ain't mean like Jack is. Nobody was as mean as
Jack was. When you look at his stature, his wheels,
his nose for the football, that incredible run to track
(10:12):
down the blazing Vikings runner. How can you not love
yourself some Peyton Wilson At this point talking about impact
players through week four? Have you seen a guy named Gainwell?
(10:33):
Mister gain Well, It's almost like you wouldn't you know?
It's something out of an Adam Sandler football movie. Gain Well,
he gains yardage? Well, doesn't he gain Well? This cat
has got a future with your Pittsburgh Steelers. And remember
what he's doing is between an offensive line. We're going
(10:59):
to get into that. That is playing about C plus
football right now. Other than Zach Fraser, Zach Fraser, Gainwell
has the ability to hit the hole fast, hit it hard,
(11:19):
and pick you up yardage quickly. That big bruiser we
lost in naugy Well. I think it's an even trade
at this point, Gainwell for Naugy. I didn't like to
see Naugy go, but he's gone. In so far, Gainwell
(11:40):
is having a heck of a season. Nick Herbig, as
the defense felt the loss of Alex Heisman at this point.
With Nick Herbig, I mean, I don't know what they're
(12:01):
giving these Wisconsin Badgers up there. TJ watt Herbig, But
I tell you what, this guy's a player. He's a player.
You're almost in a situation where you're going when high
Smith comes back. We got to limited as snaps. Who
(12:22):
do we want off the field. TJ's getting older. You
got to arrest him. What a great position to be in.
Nick Herbig is a ballplayer. You combine Herbig with Peyton Wilson,
You've got speed, you have youth, you have Steelers linebackers.
(12:46):
Our long history of linebackers from Kevin Green. Oh, I
loved meet from Kevin Green and Greg Lloyd. Well, I'll
never be another Levon Kirkland. God broke the mold when
he created that animal at inside linebacker. But you get
(13:08):
the point. Herbig and Wilson are fitting in nicely to
this defense. So far, as you continue to look at
the impact players that have helped the Steelers get to
this record, so far, you're kind of wandering. You're kind
of wandering. When will the big first rounders show up?
(13:31):
When will the big first rounder start being an impact player.
It'll be interesting to see it when he does get here.
I wonder if dk Metcalf has any interest to playing
an inside linebacker. He's big enough six two thirty two
(13:52):
forty and he runs like the wind. It's an amazing
thing to watch DK Metcalf catch a football and take
off off and run. Like I said earlier in the show, George,
Who George what? George the child down there in Dallas,
things went well for your Pittsburgh Steelers. A lot of
(14:15):
no name defensive backs helped secure this victory. You know,
Elliott came back, had a big play, just really really
really was impactful. You know, with the fumble recovery. There,
(14:37):
we'll see how this secondary holds up through the remainder
of the season. I want to go now to Terrell
at Austin, your Steelers defensive coordinator, and get his insight
on how the Steelers defense performed over there in Dublin, Ireland,
and we'll go to commercial break. Then we'll be right
(14:59):
back to Steelers. Let's stop stealers the.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
End of the game. Just Tom will come down to
you and say, you got this.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
I'll make it.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
No, that's my decision. It'll just let me know if
they're going for it. It'll be like, hey, we're going
for that's all.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Did you take that as a show faith that you
guys have the ability?
Speaker 5 (15:16):
I think that's just just a decision. I don't think
it's the show of faith that we're gonna finish it.
I think it's more of a show of faith that
the offense is going to get the first down in
the game.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
Yeah, you have you heard have any word on how
long Ramsy might be out or if you'll be back.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Uprom Now everything went down there, you know, But if
he does miss it any kind of game time, what
are the challenges not just in terms of personnel.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Usage, but also the level of communication that he ranted
it back in the defense.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Oh, I think it's like anytime you lose a starter,
you're you're gonna have to work through those things up.
But right now, it's just it's it's it's typical what
happens because you have to deal with it every year.
Most of the time, the guys don't. It's not the
same starting union out there every all seventeen games. So
we'll work our way through it if it shows up
that way, and we'll figured.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Out tha six sacks through those first three quarters.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
Two takeaways.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
Do you feel like this was maybe the most complete
performance the Stemens has shown so for the season.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Yeah, we're getting there. Uh, you know, I've said it.
I know we hadn't played well early, but I know
uh that we were. We've got enough good players and
then things will will start trending in the right direction.
I think we're taking We took a step forward last week, absolutely,
but we also know we left a lot out there
and there's a lot of room to improve. So I
really love the way our guys call me to perform
(16:30):
last week, and and we know we can be better.
Speaker 8 (16:32):
You look at him like you have three starting outside
linebackers and it's Nick almost forced her down. Where once
Alex does come back, you have to find ways to
get him at the game.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
Absolutely, we are not gonna uh limit Nick her big
he is. He is showing.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Up every week. Uh.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
He is disruptive, and so we're gonna find uh he
he's a really good player for us, and we're gonna
come continue to find ways to get him on the field.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
What are you gonna do?
Speaker 9 (16:54):
Uh, Well, the last couple of weeks to stop the
run to.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Do his first couple of weeks, the the.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Metrics weren't great, but then they've come before.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
You guys are leading the league to rush about you
Andy or last years?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
What do you guys done before?
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Yeah, we're just we're just playing better, I think, Uh,
you know, we talked about it sometimes you get in there.
We had some things where we were where where we're
supposed to be, but just weren't able to finish it
for whatever reason.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
And our guys are starting to make those plays, which
I kind of figure they would, cause I think we
have enough good players that, uh, if you help help
them get the right spots, they're gonna make the plays
and and they're doing it, and so we just continue
to do that. We know it's a long season and
we just gotta you know, you're only judged. You're judging,
you know, Hobesus League is you get judged every week.
You know, in one week you could be great and
one week you can stink. So our goal is to
not stink every week, be pretty good.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Are you come on for your young linement?
Speaker 5 (17:40):
I think so? H. I think those guys are growing.
And again, you know, Derek was was hurt to start
the season and and he's working his way back, but
he just you can see him growing, and ya and
and and uh just getting better and Jack Sawyer showing up.
I mean, those guys are growing. Uh, that's a nice thing.
They played at programs where they've had some success, and
they played in big games, so things like that aren't
(18:00):
too big for him.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Are you guys? A couple of miscommunications away from being great?
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Yeah, that's you know, the one in the game. I'm
gonna take that one. We you know, we were struggling
with who was in the game and and I probably
made a call that probably wasn't simple enough for everybody.
And so that that's on me and absolutely uh, and
so that that that that's on me, and I'll make
sure if that ever happens again, if we have some
attrition the way we did it, the way it happened,
(18:26):
and I gotta I got to give our guys something
that's way more simple and that they can line up
and play and it may not be the best defense,
but it'll be something where we won't have a chance
to blow it. So uh, I mean, our guys played
great and and and again that that last one is
on me and and I'll make sure that that happened again.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Did you have one on the last touchdown too? It
looked like the Queen and Wilson were.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Trying to make something up. They made they had a
good play, They got us, they beat us.
Speaker 8 (18:50):
Having said that about that player, how impressive was it
what Peyton did to track him down?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
And I think there was more than a minute that believable.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
It's probably the difference in the game.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
In that right.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Let's talk Steelers. It's kickoff time for the Cigar Internationals.
Let's Talk Stealers show sponsored by Cigars International. Stuff by
your Bridgeville store today, Parking Chair Vodka. Respect the chair.
It's a Pittsburgh Thing Forest Lodge and Camp Dround Cooks Forest, Pa.
(19:31):
Your adventures starts here. Visit Canton, Ohio, Red Fox Winery
and Lounge.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Huddle up, Steelers Nation. It's Tank, my quarterback Mike McMahon.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
He's missing in action, JT. Did you ever play football
a little bit? All right, you'll do whoever you are. Hey,
we're here at our locker room at Cigars International in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 9 (19:59):
I'm Tank Tan.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
He is the legend.
Speaker 9 (20:01):
J T.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Thomas.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
How many Super Bowls you playing?
Speaker 9 (20:04):
I played in.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Three, but I was I was sick from the fourth one,
so I didn't play in that one.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
But I don't accept excuses. But I'll give you the
credit for the three of them.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Well I was.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Let me remember four of that inspiration.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Yes, you are a true inspiration man, JT. We're here's
Cigars International.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
It's going to be our locker room for let's talk
Stealers twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Couldn't think of anybody.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Better place, better cigars beverages. You ever heard of that
Papa Falar rum? Oh?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Yes, I know you have.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Yeah, Pop's Bala rum. I'm the ambassador of Pennsylvania. Pumps
far rum, and it's the room that God drinks when
he's watching his stillness. Matter of fact, he drinks the
dark hey, when you're smoking his still gat.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Ok, yeah right, similar to what mister Woo needs to smoke.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Oh God, yeah, the Chief, the Chief.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Tell me about your thoughts about the Chief, because I
love to play that Jean did.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I'm sure you saw it. Who doesn't love art rooning?
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Now?
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Well, when I was my afought for a Super Bowl
that she thought I was Catholic. I went to a
Catholic school and I stoke in the Catholic diocese, you know,
after I for Super Bowl back in Georgia.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, I would think you were a Catholic too.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
So he said, that's j T. So I need someone
to go around to the capitol dioces on Tuesday and speak. Well,
he give out money him in a commissioner Forrester. So
two years and I picked up the stadium. We ride around,
He's smoke in the cigar and my leathing time across
smoking it all up. I can't tell him to put
it on your car, and I'm hearing stories about life
(21:39):
that I probably can't repeat. But nevertheless, it was just
a great experience that now I got to know him.
He thought it was I'm Baptist by religion, but he thought,
who cares me?
Speaker 9 (21:51):
Well?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
One story was this, uh, my first year, he called
me TJ. So I'm not gonna question, you know, call
me TJ. My second him. Look comfortable, I said, mister looney,
I said, I said, you've been calling me TJ for
every year, and I say my name is JT. He
pulled a cigar out Paul's. So I'm riding driving. He said, well,
(22:14):
I know your name. Okay. He said, I have a
friend for about thirty years. Oh, his name is TJ.
I said, okay. He said, I didn't feel like switching
the initials.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
I didn't feel what.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
I said okay. He said, well, by the way, on
your game check, how's your name? I said j T.
He said, well, you don't have any problem in do you?
I said no, sorry, no, sir, he never called me T.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
That's that Irish witch.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Oh yeah, great, great guy, great leader. He is the
heart and soul to stay leading today.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, you know there's two games that for me.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Golf is a lineage right from Saint Andrews Scotland to today.
At Oakland on Sure or whatever it may be. We
can trace that lineage. We full well know that football
birthed in my hometown of Latroe, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
I don't care what they say in the North Side.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
They paid Doc Bryer, the local dentis, five dollars a
game to play in the YMC. We know all these
things in that lineage of the game. In our lineage
with the Pittsburgh Steelers, we ain't no new franchise. We
ain't the Seattle Sea Chickens that come around in what's
seventy eight to seventy eight.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
It goes to the heart of the matter. In nineteen
thirty three with.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
The Chief, well you think about it, he was part
of the foundation of this one.
Speaker 9 (23:37):
George Hallis guys booked.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
The foundation and you know Dan fum Low, and they
built the infrastructure.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
You know.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
So when you look at the NFL, you have to
look at I'm gonna call the founding fathers. And the
Chief was key, I mean in the way the game
was structured, but also in relationship tied up with people.
I mean he was as if he was four four
ahead of most teams until how he dealt his players
and with him. Well, he definite comments his human and
(24:08):
the biggest thing that became here. You you knew you
were a man and you know, me and a black
guy at that time, we come in like you could
understand most of the guys in the seventies and white guys,
we're come to South.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
You talked about segregation, Yeah, exaid.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
We c we had come out of second our first
super Bowl. We less than ten years off the back
of the bus.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
MM.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
So you think about the people forge say that again, Yeah,
we're less than ten years off the back of the bus.
But we had experienced separate water fountain before the first,
uh first super Bowl here, so we come out of
that environment. So when you come here to Pittsburg, UH
from the south of North here, it was totally different
environment than the South for most of us. So for
(24:46):
some guy it was the culture shop and you coming
in and a system or visit at the highest level
of UH. And so how do you deal with this, uh,
this whole dynamics of coming into the world or out
of segregation, UH into a very sophisticated world of finance
at that time as a twenty one twenty kid. And
(25:11):
he he when I said he missed mister Rooney for
what's after the murders. It's about our man who are
being recognized.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Him, yes, sir, Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Even man for the sil what about super Bowl? It's
about our man who in the longing. And when you
come in and someone recognized your manhood, that is so
let him say, in power to be recognized at this
level as a man, aymen and respected. Amen, uh cause
(25:43):
a lot of us hadn't seen that. Come by yourself.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
You saw some bad things growing updated.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
Yeah, Like I said, we grew up in Jim Crow.
We grew up in segregation. We grew up in the rise,
the water holes, the fuck the dogs, all that, the
KKK and and I don't mean the cool colored cats either.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Yeah, you know, we come out of there and a
lot of guys see historical black colleges, think about that.
This is the first time ever at twenty two dealing
with white America. Yes, sir, they go from kindergarten to
elementary school, high school. College is in a black environment.
Now me and I'm lucky I integrated schools at fourteen,
So I'm in white America at fourteen. Well, Mail blund
(26:26):
isn't the first time Mayl Bluney getting to white in
America twenty two. Yeah, but he had a lot of
guys to play in their woods to Sam Davis or
all those guys, John stallboth, they had not been introduced
to white America. So me, I've been through College of
Florida State. I was first African American football player at
(26:46):
Florida State.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I didn't know that I'm first African.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
American football player to play there and graduate from FA shoot.
So when b n C means you know, he even.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Buy down, yeah right, yeah, right right, But think about coming.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Into that environment as a young black African American and
coming to Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh a very diverse community, but
it was new and to be welcome in an organization
where your manhood was recognized and people don't know that
was a factor that on the girded that team and
(27:23):
the fact that Chuck knows even more so brought us
together and saw us as as a team but kind
of ready to communicate with one voice of all of us,
which was his greatest talent it is to communicate. It
was amazing Chuck Mows could actually be talking to sixty
guys and only talking to you that's how movie was. Yeah, sure, right, yeah,
(27:47):
but that's a communicator communicated. But the Runing family and
the way they embraced humanity was so unique and we
never talked about that. We had great talents, but so
the Houston Buffalo Hedwick talent. It would have division Headwick talny,
but it was that humanity thing that was on the
(28:08):
good and that people could miss of my comms them up.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Well, you always hear through the years that anybody that's
passed through the organization says it's the best organization. It's
a great organization that arcs to the philosophy that mister
Rooney preached.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
During the two.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Thousand and eight season, I made it a point from
Latrobe all the way to the super Bowl, had no
idea it was going to end in the super Bowl
and went to Dan, went to Dick Lebow and others
in the organization.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
I said, I have to ask you one question. Why
do the Stealers.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Continually be a winning franchise?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Why do they continue to be a great organization? And
it was amazing JT.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
And I'm curious what you will respond to this to
a letter of a person. At different times throughout the season,
every single person respect wond surround yourself with good people
and good things happen.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
It must have.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Been the mantra throughout the organization.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Yeah, and you know, but they only draft a certain
personality lows, I have this certain kind of people.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
We've gotten away from that a little bit, and I
don't want to go down that vein.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
No, it was about character more so. Mean, yes, sir,
because character overrides talent. Sometimes there's some guys wasn't a
talented but the character gave them a heart that will
overcome any amount.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Let me talk about my friend Rocky Blive.
Speaker 4 (29:38):
No, you took the worst out of my mouth right
by Rock. Yeah, Rock is kind of guy that you said.
Well what Rock wasn't the fastest guy, wasn't the biggest. No,
we had we had defensive back six two two thirty five,
running four.
Speaker 9 (29:50):
Four four.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Hurts when that hits you.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Where is Rock in the game?
Speaker 9 (29:57):
Get way?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
We got this this got two thirty two twenty four four. Uh,
I mean and cut on the dime and Rock in
the game, Well, it's about the heart, the character, the
character of Rocky hard and determination. But I found out
I ran he's the technician uh s talking him not
to long ago. He was telling me about rock knew
(30:19):
what hand should go down on the ground. I ain't
thought about this to negate take an extra step yep.
And he was telling me about this. And when some
guys talent a lot of him to take those stutter
steps for Rocks, I ain't got that. So he was
so proficient with what hand, what foot in front? And
I never thought about what Franko made. So M take
(30:42):
a stutter step to start a step to get there
for Rocks. I can't do that, that's right now. So
if I switch hands, I don't take any step.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I just go.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
And so he had come down to a point where
he studied the game and had so much hard and
characters that didn't think about Rocky you know, uh experience
in the.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
War he had up got his foot blong.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Yeah, so this got apposed to walk.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Man, got his foot blocked enough and come back from it. Yeah,
you know that's character.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah. I thought they're spposed to walk they can make
money and so and so when you see the rock Man,
you know when they say right he was he is
a walk legend. Yeah, because I gotta tell you a secret.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
So Rocky and I work out at Saint Jim a
couple of years ago. He come in in the morning. Hey,
rock every leaving alone. By the time he was done,
he was soaking wet. He put everything into the workout.
He wasn't there to impress h anybody. There was hardly
anybody in the gym at five in the morning. That's
Rocky Block. Well.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
See, it's like working out, like like who knows you
to say? You know, you say, if you're not sweating,
that's right. And if you ask a moving, that's right.
You're not working out.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That's right, that's right. Don't get me started. I see
these people with this, they got up working out.
Speaker 4 (31:58):
Chuck say, I say, moving, wedding. You know, you know
that's not work out, you're exercising.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Yeah. Maybe maybe.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Let's Talk Stealers. It's kickoff time for the Cigar Internationals.
Let's Talk Stealers show were sponsored by Cigars International. Stop
by your Bridgeville store today. Parking Chair Vodka Respect the Chair.
It's a Pittsburgh thing Forest Lodge and Campground, Cooks Forest Pa.
(32:36):
Your adventures starts here. Visit Canton, Ohio Red Fox Winery
and Lounge. Let's Talk Stealers.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Football team.
Speaker 10 (33:02):
Richard than Girls, First Steelers, Chuck Now and no Key's
friends are all on their beam.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Go on against them Steelers.
Speaker 10 (33:13):
Bradshaw and Rockie and Franco and Lee.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
We love your feels.
Speaker 9 (33:19):
First Steeler, He's been many years.
Speaker 10 (33:23):
Sin Pai Jaski La Steeler Machinery, Army Man, Tan Scramble, Leadership,
the ball, the Fast ste Fast kicks the Steelers.
Speaker 9 (33:47):
Off with best of all the Joe.
Speaker 10 (33:52):
Joe to your team against the other team. He starts
from here the year We're so Black, play not join
wi me last.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Day, Let's talk Stealers. It's kickoff time. Put the Cigar Internationals.
Let's Talk Stealers Show sponsored by Cigars International. Stop by
your Bridgeville store today. Parking chair Vodka. Respect the chair.
(34:28):
It's a Pittsburgh thing, Forest Lodge and Camp Drownder Cooks
Forest Pa. Your adventures starts here. Visit Canton, Ohio, Red
Fox Winery and Lounge.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
All right, welcome back to Let's Talk Steelers. I'm Tank Tallinger.
That last segment we talked to the legend own our
four Super Bowl rings with you Pittsburgh Steelers. JT. Thomas
all right, very rarely do all the coaches talk to
the media, all of them, everybody. I'm gonna let these
(35:11):
interviews play out. Okay, you're gonna hear from Arthur Smith,
You're gonna hear from Danny Smith. Everybody loves the Special
Teams coach. He's awesome. You're gonna hear from Pat Meyer,
and it's pretty friggin wishy washy. And you know, very
(35:37):
rarely do the Steelers let the all the assistant coaches
just step up to a microphone. I guess it's bye week,
want to give the players some time off. But you
hear some really interesting insights and it's up for you
to decide. But look, here's my take. Okay, Arthur Smith
(35:58):
stinks and needs fired. Now let Aaron Rodgers call the offense.
Mike Tomlin went and just hired another idiot. Yeah, Arthur Smith,
you know you got fired with the Falcons. Yeah, you know,
his offense was like twenty six, twenty seventh in the league. Yeah,
(36:20):
but he'll be great Aaron Pittsburgh, said Mike Tomlin of
Arthur Smith and his mustache Again. Danny Smith, it's just great.
But Pat Meyers seems to be floundering at times for answers.
So let's go down to the south side Steelersville as
I call it Steelersville and get some rare insights from
(36:44):
the coaches after four game stretch that has your Pittsburgh
Steelers poised and ready. I don't know to take a
week off.
Speaker 6 (36:55):
How obviously you're using Spencer Amersy so much as an
ex rofensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (36:59):
How long as that then in the works.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
And is it something you could anticipate to see a
little bit more often or is it just a a
game specific time. No, we we did a little bit
of knowingland early in that game, w ull. We end
up throwing the uh smoke out the DK for about
fifteen You know, it's something that we've worked with 'em.
You know, Spencer's a unique you know, you gotta use it.
It's gotta give you an advantage uh In in years past.
You know, sometimes people use that jump bot, tight end
(37:24):
or extra lineman uh, and it can limit you depending
on what.
Speaker 9 (37:28):
But Spencer is such a good half wet uh.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
And then you know, we just things we've had in
and you know, looking at it and the way we
wanted to attack them and some of the things we
wanted to to go after. You know, you put him
and Darnell together and then you put 'em next to
one of the tackles. There's about a thousand pounds over there,
give or take, regardless of what Darnell's waits listed at Earth.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Are your offensive line as a whole?
Speaker 5 (37:47):
I mean, you guys went up against one of the.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Strongest d lines in the league. Just how would you
assess as a group and how they.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Could they just getting better every week?
Speaker 9 (37:52):
I mean there's things.
Speaker 6 (37:53):
That's that's what some Sometimes the numbers don't tell you everything.
I mean, there's context to it, and like I talked
about it a little bit a week ago or two
weeks ago. Things you see then we just that's why
you work. You know, there's things that you have. The
end result it may not have been you know, positive
on the maybe a one yard run. There's a lot
l little things that go on to make a play successful. Uh,
but you could see things building and obviously that uh
(38:15):
paid off Sunday for sure.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
They at the touch push tail we won't working out.
Speaker 9 (38:19):
For a while.
Speaker 6 (38:20):
You know, we've got in the situation to to use
it and a lot of it's just you know, lot
goes into it, about it, who's doing it, the confidence
in it, where you're you're putting them, you know, if
they haven't done it before. And at some point you
gotta rip the manet off. And so we've got it
up all year. We've been pretty good on short yardagh.
I mean, obviously didn't get it on a third and
one and uh so it's naturally the kind of look
(38:43):
at things that I wish it would've done this or that.
But overall this year in shortyards when we run and
we've been pretty successful.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Always been on your mind of how to use that
play to your advantage, especially with the forty of year
old quarterback.
Speaker 6 (38:55):
Oh sure, I mean there's there's other things that go
on and the other short yard players that have options
on it, and hardly be the first time. He doesn't
mind sneaking it. But there's things he made package and
certain looks and then that one was just a call
and run it and Connor did a good job. I mean,
Connor's got to get any skill set. You know, He'll
be the first tell you that he was a kick
returner before Ford. He ran the ball that little good
(39:16):
for us it before they got Kenneth Walker in Michigan State.
Connor is a guy that you have a lot of
trust in and we've been working there for a while
and it was good for us.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
We've seen on these kickoffs some teams are kind of
using these knuckleballs or the kickers kicking it and then
you gotta kick it up. How do you kind of
coach that to your returners and.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
How is that a weapon for you guys as a
kick coverage team.
Speaker 11 (39:35):
It's it's it's prove it in four weeks, you know,
and we're starting to get a study of it.
Speaker 9 (39:40):
You know, one week, two weeks isn't a study.
Speaker 11 (39:42):
But as you start getting in four weeks, you know,
you get into a pattern and they're tough balls to handle.
The knuckleball is a tough ball to handle. The squib
has been a kick that's been very successful so far.
Speaker 9 (39:51):
In this league.
Speaker 11 (39:52):
And you know, you couldn't work on squibs all day.
We worked at started last OTA's with the new rules
and stuff like that, but no are the same, you
know kind of thing, and that that's that's the issue,
that's the problem.
Speaker 9 (40:04):
You work them.
Speaker 11 (40:05):
But as we've said all along, this ball bounces in
funky ways and funny ways at times. And that's true
on the squib kick, But it has been an effective weapon.
Speaker 9 (40:14):
Uh, it really has. And you've got a popping turner
yet say it again yet?
Speaker 3 (40:20):
Uh?
Speaker 11 (40:20):
No, we haven't talked about it yet, to be honest
with you. Uh, We're meeting with the team this afternoon.
Speaker 9 (40:25):
And I'm sure we'll talk personnel, tom All, we have not.
We have not discussed Yeah, what'd you see on that
few go Uh?
Speaker 11 (40:35):
It was just a lack of technique by a player.
It was a good jump by an opposing player. You know,
he had great speed coming off the edge and he
did a good job. More power to him, But it
was a lack of technique on our partner.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Has it been in the last few weeks, It's been
a fair amount of blocks throughout the end, gol. Is
there a pattern you're noticing a theme that's constant? Throat? Uh?
Speaker 11 (40:54):
You know what, just if you look at some of
the reasons why, there's some technique involved in the protection
of it, and sometimes players lack technique.
Speaker 9 (41:02):
And I've looked at all of them.
Speaker 11 (41:03):
I've seen every one of them numerous times, and most
of the ones are a lack of technique. To be
honest with you, not to take any thing away from
the defense in the rush team, but you know you
got some big, strong athletes over there, and you've got
players taking on two and three players at a time there. Uh.
You know, you guys have been covering this a long time.
(41:23):
Back in the day, was all that push stuff inside.
Now it's going outside. And there's some great speed in
this league, you know when guys coming off the edge,
and you got to.
Speaker 9 (41:32):
Be perfect on your technique. I mean perfect on your technique.
You can't get away with a lack of technique.
Speaker 11 (41:37):
And most of the issues that I've seen in an
our particular issue, which is the only one I'm concerned about,
was a lack of technique that you know has been
very successful for us. And in that instance, we didn't
use the technique and and you know, when you get
that result, so we'll get it corrected and we'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
And he was a tight competition at camp.
Speaker 11 (41:55):
How do you think of orlis Is having the first
I'm sorry said it again, tight competition at camp?
Speaker 8 (42:01):
Him?
Speaker 9 (42:01):
My Cordus is good. Courtis is a damn good football player.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (42:04):
And he's a good punter, and I'm proud of him
and he'll have a good year.
Speaker 10 (42:07):
Why did you have a kick into the ends on another.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Game like fifteen yards?
Speaker 9 (42:11):
I'm not worried about his net putting at that time.
I'm worried about winning the game. I mean you talk
about the last punt of the game. Yeah, I'm worried
about winning the football game.
Speaker 11 (42:18):
Why are you gonna put the ball in play with
twelve seconds left of the game, Yeah, make no send.
Speaker 9 (42:23):
They got a returner back there. Uh uh, We're gonna
win the game.
Speaker 11 (42:27):
Like at one time I started the twenty win the game.
I ain't worried about his net putting at that time.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
And how much time do you dedicate to on side kicking?
Cover where you considering that.
Speaker 9 (42:37):
We worked at every Friday. We've been working it ever
since I got here. We worked at every Friday.
Speaker 11 (42:42):
Everybody has to go, everybody has to get uh too
on side case clean where they can't leave the field.
We work at every Friday since I've been here.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
We're pretty smooth.
Speaker 9 (42:52):
We look smooth Sunday.
Speaker 11 (42:54):
And again that ballta is it's amazing really and again,
you guys have covered this for a long time.
Speaker 9 (43:00):
We played a game fifty nine minutes and thirty seconds
or whatever it is.
Speaker 11 (43:02):
There's a minute left in the game, thirty seconds left
in the game, and really we're working on the bounce
of the ball. You know, there's some people that don't
get that recovery and it's simply the bounce of the ball.
I mean, it really is the bounce of the ball.
And it's sad they come back. It's my business. But
really it comes down to the bounce of the ball.
Because if we didn't get that, you all be ripped,
(43:24):
okay about it, and that just comes with the territory.
Speaker 9 (43:27):
I get it. But it's really the bounce of the ball,
and we made the play and we're expected to do something.
You did to do that twice, right, we took a
time out, We had a time to do it twice
like that or you no, you don't be honest with you.
Speaker 11 (43:42):
And again, you guys don't think we think. Okay, but
here's the deal. This kid had no on side kicks
in his career.
Speaker 9 (43:49):
None.
Speaker 11 (43:50):
You played four games in the National Football League, three
games in the National Football League. It's fourth. This kid
was a kicker at Alabama. How many times they on
side kick? Okay, I watch all the tape everybody everything.
I'll tell you every number of onside kicks everybody has
that we play. What is sentayss are, where he's going
with the ball, what his movement is.
Speaker 9 (44:07):
Everything.
Speaker 11 (44:08):
We had nothing, okay on this kid, So it's very smart.
Mike Thomas says, yes, we take a time out. It
was a great move on the head coach's part. We
took a time I took a look. We got the
exact same kick after it because the kid is inexperience
and we were able to recover.
Speaker 9 (44:23):
So there's so much science and so much thinking that
goes into these things that people don't have no clue
about it, and that's our job. But that's an understand
What did you say to Kevin Johnson what happened in
his situation?
Speaker 11 (44:36):
You know, before I even got the Caleb, the players
were at Caleb, you know, So I didn't say much,
to be honest with you.
Speaker 9 (44:43):
A couple that come to mind, you know, Connor Heywood
was that.
Speaker 5 (44:47):
We go all the time at the time, and so.
Speaker 11 (44:51):
That was even before I got there, Okay, So I
really didn't say much on the field to him.
Speaker 9 (44:57):
We replaced him at that time. He wasn't ready to
go back on the field.
Speaker 2 (45:00):
Uh, and Uh.
Speaker 9 (45:02):
I dealt with it the next day in a tape session.
Speaker 4 (45:04):
A team, the offensive line had its best game, especially
moving the moving the other team off the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 6 (45:11):
Would you agree?
Speaker 3 (45:12):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (45:13):
Yeah, I mean yes, yes we did. It's a dots,
it's a collective group.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
It's everything.
Speaker 7 (45:19):
That's the line, it's the backs, it's it's the tight ends,
it's the wide outs. You know, we were just you
know a little, we're gelling more as an offense and
turns of that process?
Speaker 4 (45:30):
Is that to get in a season started like that?
Speaker 3 (45:32):
When approve.
Speaker 7 (45:35):
It starts, I mean starts when when we get him
here the first time we get him here, when we uh,
when we signed him, when we draft him, and then
he through the spring during OTAs and camp and mini
camp and then a training camp, all that foundationals things
are happening then, Uh, in terms of like who we're
gonna be, How were we approaching things? How were you
(45:56):
approaching certain blocks, whether it be run game or protects.
That stuff happened months ago, and then and then it's
just you know, then the then scheme comes into like
what style defense we plan? What Schemeberard, We're gonna run
who are we? Uh but to me, that happens back
in April, May and June and j through camp.
Speaker 9 (46:18):
So you're not allowed for development in season.
Speaker 7 (46:21):
Yeah, we always I always do that, and I didn
I didn't say that. Uh, I'm just saying the foundation
started months ago, started years ago.
Speaker 3 (46:29):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (46:30):
Well, but yeah, during the season, we're gonna talk about
here's the here's the runs that we're good with that
we have in. Here's how we're gonna approach it. Uh,
here's their style of defense, here's you know, what they
play technique wise, here's how we're gonna countered, or here's
how we're gonna attack it. That's what we do in
season now on a weekly basis. So I cause that
(46:50):
when we say that, you know, the run game looks
so much better in this past. We can know the
guys they're again, we're working it every week. We're d
you know, we're working to get better each each and
every week, and that's what we expect. But at the
same point, there's a lot more to it when you're
talking run, you than just the offensive line. It's the backs,
it's the tight ends, it's the white house, it's the quarterback.
(47:12):
Interesting you know, the right tracks and doing that stuff
and let's you know, we'll just continue to work it.
And it's been it's been good. It's been good for us,
especially this past week. The big person almost affected against
the Vikings. Is that something you think you found something
there or do you think teams will catch on because.
Speaker 4 (47:31):
You know, I mean we used it.
Speaker 7 (47:32):
Uh, you know we saw something with with you know,
with that team that we're like, you know, we can
go heavier and do that and you know, build build
off of that. You know, we have a heavy tight
end as it is, you know on entertainment right now anyway,
So he's bigger in the most of the alignment. But uh,
that is something that we just you know, will continue
to do it. I don't you know, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (47:52):
I won't talk about that as we go down. You know,
we won't do it.
Speaker 4 (47:55):
I can't say we won't do it every week.
Speaker 7 (47:57):
We will, uh, but it and you just have to
look at it, you know, like you know, Cleveland was
the next game and then Cincinnati and then you know
you move on. But no, it's it worked out well
for us since Spencer's did a nice job. He did
a nice job last year. When he was in there
as a starter for the you know, four or five
games he started, So you know, it's a big, twitchy
(48:20):
athletic physical alignment. When he was three hundred and twenty four,
you know, kid that's got twitched him. So it was
just a way to get him on the field and
and do that and then obviously you trust him and
and doing things for the protection wise too when he's
he had to stay in and attackt off the edge.
So puts something we're looking to each and every week.
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