July 15, 2025 • 18 mins
Labs and Tom return after a few weeks off to discuss the Minkah, Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith trade, not that training camp is next week and answer this weeks questions.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is asked and answered questions. But Tom Uperman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Labs I kind of like making this maybe a monthly
thing instead of a weekly thing. What do you think
new format?
Speaker 1 (00:16):
So you know, I don't know you're gonna do with
travelog on where the op Ferman family vacations were or
what they.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Weren't very exciting. I mean one was in Virginia Beach
and then one was in Bethany Beach, So Delaware and Virginia.
I'm not very you know, I'm not spanning the globe,
more like just six or seven hours away.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Okay. Yeah, and don't get eaten by any sharks. That
was good news. That didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Check that box for my thirty first straight year. So
that's great.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Had a boy, had a boy, but get go ahead, Yeah,
don't worry. I mean, I'm sure your wife would find
someone more handsome than you. Oh.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I saw the waters whenever the back was turned, so
I know I'm on howlert. Okay, but hey, stuff happened
when we were gone. Another big move by the Steelers
in this offseason that had plenty of them with free
agent signings and trades, this one coming via trade Mika
Fitzpatrick on the way out and Johnny Smith and Jalen
(01:15):
Ramsey on the way in. I mean that's a blockbuster trade, Labs.
Those are huge names, all pro Hall of Fame caliber
names in some cases going back and forth between these
two teams. You don't really see player for player trades
in the NFL, especially ones with those caliber of players.
As far as the Steelers side of things are concerned,
because that's what we care about most. You get another
(01:36):
pass catcher, a weapon in the passing game, and then
you get, like I said, a Hall of Fame pedigree
cornerback in Jalen Ramsey, who Labs I hear, but a
lot of people say is old. But he's still only
thirty years old, going to be thirty one during this season.
That's not you know, exactly knocking on the door of
the retirement home yet.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
No. And I'll tell you what, And you know, one
of the rules of this podcast is, well, what's what's
best for us and for us being the people who
are going to be watching practice, writing about it, and
talking about it. The addition of Jalen Ramsey and John Smith,
(02:14):
I think is going to make those practices interesting. I mean,
I have no idea yet how the Steelers plan on
fit these guys in. You know, whether John new Smith
is going to line up as a traditional tight end,
you know, or or whatever. But as you mentioned, he
(02:35):
is a weapon, and the Steelers need offensive weapons. They
need a more productive, high scoring offense, a more efficient offense.
So you know, any steps in that direction, I think,
you know, can only be good. Jalen Ramsey is a feisty, competitive,
uh cover cornerback and in the NFL these days, I mean,
(03:00):
that's never a bad thing to add somebody like that.
You know, we've heard a lot of different things about
how he might be used, and you know, is he
going to be maybe following the footsteps of Rod Woodson
and Ronnie Lott who went from being all Pro cornerbacks
(03:21):
to All Pro safeties Hall of famers. Ultimately, I don't
know what's going to happen. I don't think any of
us are going to know. But we will be able
to see some things about how it unfolds because those
camp practices are open. You know, they'll be in pads,
and as I said, I am looking forward to seeing
(03:42):
how some of this shakes out, so I'm sure we can.
We'll be talking about these things often once we bunk
down in Latrobe here a week from today.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Oh my god, I can believe that right on the
horizon already.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah no, I mean the draft was yesterday, right, I.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Mean, Laves, I'm looking at Twitter this morning and the
Chargers are already there full camp because they play in
the Hall of Fame game in a couple of weeks,
and I'm just sitting there we all in my I
was like, oh, dear god, I can't even imagine being
in training camp right now.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yes, yes, no, you are correct. So but you know,
the training camp reports suite, I'm sure is going to
be outfitted with all its amenities as always, and before
you know, we're going to be there staring at those
(04:38):
cement block walls. That's always. That's always the first, you know,
the first night I go to sleep there, and then
when I opened my eyes, and usually I'm a side sleeper,
so I'm facing one of the cement block walls, and
that's when the reality hits it where I am. Yeah,
(05:04):
there are happier things than that realization.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And you're not like, of course, scratching the wall like
you're gonna sell right like one day down, two day down,
three day down, or maybe there.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Are no I mean it's there. You know, training camp is.
There are a lot of interesting things about training camp.
The dormitory living, though, is just not It's not right
for a man of my age anymore. It's just not.
So that's the toughest thing. That's the adjustment. Everything else is,
(05:38):
you know, there's a lot of camaraderie and you know
that kind of stuff, So you know, there's that, but
living in the dorm is tough on these old bones.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Well, training camp gets underway next week for your old
bones and the Pittsburgh Steelers. We'll have some more information
next episode. Next week, I asked and answered on when
our training camp report will be and kind of what
the training camp schedule will look like on the radio
side of things here on Steelers Audio Network. But let's
get into this week's batch of questions, and our first
one comes from Henry Lekeo from Miami, Florida. Last year,
(06:12):
I attended Steelers' training camp in Latrobe with my family
and we stayed to attend a preseason game at Akroscher Stadium.
Do you know if the Steelers will practice on the
Friday before the August sixteenth preseason game against the Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Okay, on the homepage at Steelers dot com, there's a
link to all things training camp, you know, the practice schedule,
you know, securing your free tickets, you know all that
kind of stuff, and that's for all fans reference. What
I can tell you is right now is the final
day of practice at Saint Ncent College that is open
(06:48):
to the public is on Tuesday, August to twelfth. Just
to put that in perspective for this question. The preseason
game against Tampa Bay is scheduled for seven on Saturday,
August the sixteenth at Akasher Stadium. Now, it has been
announced that there's going to be a joint practice scheduled
(07:09):
with the Buccaneers at the stadium, but that will not
be open to the public.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Steve Dover from Las Vegas, Nevada. The Steelers have had
many great receivers in their lineup. We could make valid
cases for who was our best receiver ever. But in
your opinion, which Steelers receiver had the best single season ever?
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Okay, this is this is a subjective thing, and so
I'm just going to give you my opinion you know,
best season ever would be determined through statistics and or
individual awards in comparison of those statistics and or individual
awards with others at the position. So here's a couple
(07:54):
of seasons. Twenty fourteen, Antonio Brown led the NFL in
catches with a hunt twenty nine, in receiving yards was
sixteen hundred and ninety eight. He was voted First team
All Pro and was third in the voting for the
Offensive Player of the Year award. Then in twenty seventeen,
Antonio Brown led the NFL in receiving yards with fifteen
(08:17):
hundred and thirty three. He led them in receiving yards,
led the NFL in receiving yards per game with one
hundred and nine point five, and in yards per touch
with fifteen point two. He was voted First Team All
Pro that year and was second in the voting for
ap Offensive Player of the Year. So one of those
(08:39):
two seasons to me, would represent the best single season
ever for a Steelers wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Fabian Cobald from Innsbruck, Austria. I've waited since twenty fourteen
to finally see my first Steelers game, and that will
happen this year in Dublin, Ireland that I got tickets.
Do you have any information if and when our Pittsburgh
Steelers have training in Dublin where fans can watch.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Okay, in Europe, practice is called training just for our
non European listeners, And what I can tell you is
in the NFL regular season, practices are not open to
the public. So I'm sure there's going to be something
(09:30):
the Steelers do in Dublin in terms of getting prepared
for the game against the Vikings, but it's not going
to be open to the public. I just hope, for
Fabian's sake and the other Steelers fans and attendance that
the game between the Steelers and the Vikings lives up
to their hopes.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah, and even though you can't watch practice, and again
there's nothing set in stone yet and don't want to
speak out of turn, but I'm sure there's going to
be a lot of fun Steelers esque things to do
around the stadium and around the game leading up to
the game. And I'm sure there's gonna be some Steelers
alumni crawling around Ireland that would be really fun to meet.
So hey, not gonna be able to see them train Fabian,
(10:11):
but you're gonna be able to really get a ton
of great Steelers experience over there, and then of course
the game, you know, puts the exclamation point on it all.
Jason Praster from San Antonio, Texas, do you think the
saying defense wins championships still applies in today's NFL? I
look at the Steelers defense, and there is Pro Bowl
(10:33):
and all Pro talent at each position group, if not
each position. Yet we lose games against high profile offenses.
The league certainly has favored the offensive side of the ball.
So in today's NFL, would you be more inclined to
say offense wins championships?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
You know, I kind of think that Jason is looking
for a specific answer to this question, and based on
the tone of his question, I think wants to meet
to say that offense wins championships now. But let's just
go back to the last Super Bowl, Super Bowl fifty nine,
(11:10):
Kansas City against the Eagles. Okay, in that game, the
Eagles limited the Chiefs to forty nine rushing yards two
hundred and seventy five total net yards of offense. They
sacked Patrick Mahomes six times, hit him eleven times. They
finished with three takeaways, two of which were interceptions and
one of those was returned for a touchdown, and the
(11:33):
other non interception was a fumble recovery that led directly
to a field goal. So if you're trying to tell
me that defense didn't win that championship game for the Eagles,
I would have to disagree.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Oh, no doubt. And of course the Eagles offense was
also great, with Sae Kwon Barkley being one of the
best offensive weapons we saw in the NFL this year.
But the defense was the best defense in football two.
And you know, I think back to when Mahomes lost
his others per Bowl Labs and what was the reason
for that. Of course, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback
ever and he had Antonio Brown and his twilight catch
(12:07):
you touchdown passing that game. But if you recall, that
defensive front from Tampa Bay was just suffocating Patrick Mahomes.
He couldn't do anything in that game. They got a
ton of pressure on him, and that defense really won
that game for them. Uh, you need to be able
to score points in today's NFL, but I don't see
many teams with average to below average defenses lifting that
(12:28):
Lombardi trophy lately to you.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
No, And you know that's the thing too. If if
you don't have if you have to use your your
use your words, an average to a below average defense,
you're not going to be able to outscore the Chiefs.
You're not going to be able to outscore the Bills.
You're not gonna be able to outscore the Eagles. Uh so, yeah,
(12:50):
you need to be able to score. And I get it,
but you know the you gotta be you got to
be able to slow the opponent down because it's not basketball.
I mean, you're not going to win one hundred and
ninety eight or whatever.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Dave Romero from Fort Worth, Texas. How do players stay
in shape until training camp? Do they use the Steelers facility?
And if so, are those mandatory for all?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
The Steelers facilities are available, you know, to any players
living in the area or to any players who have
chosen to stay in the area from the end of
Mini camp, which now seems such a distant memory and
the opening of training camp, which is as I said,
(13:41):
the players report one week from no eight days from today,
but under the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, there
is nothing mandatory for players from the end of many
mandatory mini camp until the opening of training camp. So
if there's any guys who are interested and in town,
the facilities are open. But a lot of guys have
(14:04):
their own regimen. They have their own personal trainers or whatever,
having them work on specific things off and relative to
their position and or relative to getting any problem body
parts that they might have, or you know, preparing their
(14:25):
body specifically for what awaits it up in Latrobe. So yeah,
I don't I don't think that there's the Steelers facility,
while open and available, I don't know that it's that
crowded during this dead time.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
I know the quarterbacks golfing and Tahoe, we saw that
over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
We also get you know, in fairness, I mean he
also brought everybody to Malibu.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I wish I could be golfing in Tahoe.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, you know, tell them who you are.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Keith Clark from Brooklyn, New York has our final question today.
Marquees Pouncy is eligible for enshrinement into the Hall of
Fame in twenty twenty six as a nine time Pro
Bowl selection. Do you think he'll be a first ballot
Hall of Famer or will he have to wait a
few years.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Okay. I like mar Keith Pouncy a lot. I do
respect him as a professional, what he contributed to the Steelers,
how he conducted himself as a player and as a teammate,
all that stuff. I believe he's worthy of being elected
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Okay, but people
(15:37):
should also understand that center is a tough way to
get in since Okay, there are only eight centers in
shrine in Canton whose careers began after World War Two.
Eight those include two Steelers, DERMONTI Dawson and Mike Webster,
(15:59):
and then the others are Dwight Stevenson, Frank Gatsky, Jim Langer,
Kevin Mawaie, Jim Otto, and Jim Ringo. That's it. So clearly,
centers are not afforded an easy path to Canton, and
especially now because you know, back in the old days
pre World War Two, guys played both ways, so you
(16:23):
had a chance on defense to build a resume as well.
Chuck Bednrik is someone who comes to mind in that category.
So I don't know that there are I don't think
Mike Webster was the first ballot Hall of Fame, So yeah,
that again. I believe Marquise Poonc is deserving. You know,
(16:46):
we just got to see when he gets elected.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
That'll do it for us. Today, On asked and answered,
enjoyed being back with you guys. I'm sure Labs did
as well. I'll put words in his mouth there. We'll
be back next week on Tuesday, and then it all
starts as the players move in. Next Wednesday and Thursday
is the first practice of Steelers training camp. Thursday of
next week. What are you gonna do with your last
weekend here, Labs? Anything exciting?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I don't know, sleep, I don't know. I you know it,
Once upon a time it was there was always a
you know, you felt like, you know, the the green
mile walk through the electric chair. You know, you want
to get everything in. But as I said, the old
bones don't don't react the way they used to. So
(17:34):
putting together some stuff, getting ready, just preparing. God, I'm
gonna be like the players. I'm gonna be working with
my personal trainer, getting my body parts ready for the
rigors of Saint Vincent College.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
And I'll be grinding film on Johnny Smith, Jalen Ramsey
and all the rookies.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
So I'm an expert on good perfect Right.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
That covered.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You're gonna have to be carrying the load.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
We'll be back next week. Thanks as always for giving
us a listen on asked a answered on Steelers Nation
Radio and the Steelers Audio Network
This is asked and answered questions. But Tom Uperman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Labs I kind of like making this maybe a monthly
thing instead of a weekly thing. What do you think
new format?
Speaker 1 (00:16):
So you know, I don't know you're gonna do with
travelog on where the op Ferman family vacations were or
what they.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Weren't very exciting. I mean one was in Virginia Beach
and then one was in Bethany Beach, So Delaware and Virginia.
I'm not very you know, I'm not spanning the globe,
more like just six or seven hours away.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Okay. Yeah, and don't get eaten by any sharks. That
was good news. That didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Check that box for my thirty first straight year. So
that's great.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Had a boy, had a boy, but get go ahead, Yeah,
don't worry. I mean, I'm sure your wife would find
someone more handsome than you. Oh.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I saw the waters whenever the back was turned, so
I know I'm on howlert. Okay, but hey, stuff happened
when we were gone. Another big move by the Steelers
in this offseason that had plenty of them with free
agent signings and trades, this one coming via trade Mika
Fitzpatrick on the way out and Johnny Smith and Jalen
(01:15):
Ramsey on the way in. I mean that's a blockbuster trade, Labs.
Those are huge names, all pro Hall of Fame caliber
names in some cases going back and forth between these
two teams. You don't really see player for player trades
in the NFL, especially ones with those caliber of players.
As far as the Steelers side of things are concerned,
because that's what we care about most. You get another
(01:36):
pass catcher, a weapon in the passing game, and then
you get, like I said, a Hall of Fame pedigree
cornerback in Jalen Ramsey, who Labs I hear, but a
lot of people say is old. But he's still only
thirty years old, going to be thirty one during this season.
That's not you know, exactly knocking on the door of
the retirement home yet.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
No. And I'll tell you what, And you know, one
of the rules of this podcast is, well, what's what's
best for us and for us being the people who
are going to be watching practice, writing about it, and
talking about it. The addition of Jalen Ramsey and John Smith,
(02:14):
I think is going to make those practices interesting. I mean,
I have no idea yet how the Steelers plan on
fit these guys in. You know, whether John new Smith
is going to line up as a traditional tight end,
you know, or or whatever. But as you mentioned, he
(02:35):
is a weapon, and the Steelers need offensive weapons. They
need a more productive, high scoring offense, a more efficient offense.
So you know, any steps in that direction, I think,
you know, can only be good. Jalen Ramsey is a feisty, competitive,
uh cover cornerback and in the NFL these days, I mean,
(03:00):
that's never a bad thing to add somebody like that.
You know, we've heard a lot of different things about
how he might be used, and you know, is he
going to be maybe following the footsteps of Rod Woodson
and Ronnie Lott who went from being all Pro cornerbacks
(03:21):
to All Pro safeties Hall of famers. Ultimately, I don't
know what's going to happen. I don't think any of
us are going to know. But we will be able
to see some things about how it unfolds because those
camp practices are open. You know, they'll be in pads,
and as I said, I am looking forward to seeing
(03:42):
how some of this shakes out, so I'm sure we can.
We'll be talking about these things often once we bunk
down in Latrobe here a week from today.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Oh my god, I can believe that right on the
horizon already.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah no, I mean the draft was yesterday, right, I.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Mean, Laves, I'm looking at Twitter this morning and the
Chargers are already there full camp because they play in
the Hall of Fame game in a couple of weeks,
and I'm just sitting there we all in my I
was like, oh, dear god, I can't even imagine being
in training camp right now.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yes, yes, no, you are correct. So but you know,
the training camp reports suite, I'm sure is going to
be outfitted with all its amenities as always, and before
you know, we're going to be there staring at those
(04:38):
cement block walls. That's always. That's always the first, you know,
the first night I go to sleep there, and then
when I opened my eyes, and usually I'm a side sleeper,
so I'm facing one of the cement block walls, and
that's when the reality hits it where I am. Yeah,
(05:04):
there are happier things than that realization.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And you're not like, of course, scratching the wall like
you're gonna sell right like one day down, two day down,
three day down, or maybe there.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Are no I mean it's there. You know, training camp is.
There are a lot of interesting things about training camp.
The dormitory living, though, is just not It's not right
for a man of my age anymore. It's just not.
So that's the toughest thing. That's the adjustment. Everything else is,
(05:38):
you know, there's a lot of camaraderie and you know
that kind of stuff, So you know, there's that, but
living in the dorm is tough on these old bones.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Well, training camp gets underway next week for your old
bones and the Pittsburgh Steelers. We'll have some more information
next episode. Next week, I asked and answered on when
our training camp report will be and kind of what
the training camp schedule will look like on the radio
side of things here on Steelers Audio Network. But let's
get into this week's batch of questions, and our first
one comes from Henry Lekeo from Miami, Florida. Last year,
(06:12):
I attended Steelers' training camp in Latrobe with my family
and we stayed to attend a preseason game at Akroscher Stadium.
Do you know if the Steelers will practice on the
Friday before the August sixteenth preseason game against the Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Okay, on the homepage at Steelers dot com, there's a
link to all things training camp, you know, the practice schedule,
you know, securing your free tickets, you know all that
kind of stuff, and that's for all fans reference. What
I can tell you is right now is the final
day of practice at Saint Ncent College that is open
(06:48):
to the public is on Tuesday, August to twelfth. Just
to put that in perspective for this question. The preseason
game against Tampa Bay is scheduled for seven on Saturday,
August the sixteenth at Akasher Stadium. Now, it has been
announced that there's going to be a joint practice scheduled
(07:09):
with the Buccaneers at the stadium, but that will not
be open to the public.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Steve Dover from Las Vegas, Nevada. The Steelers have had
many great receivers in their lineup. We could make valid
cases for who was our best receiver ever. But in
your opinion, which Steelers receiver had the best single season ever?
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Okay, this is this is a subjective thing, and so
I'm just going to give you my opinion you know,
best season ever would be determined through statistics and or
individual awards in comparison of those statistics and or individual
awards with others at the position. So here's a couple
(07:54):
of seasons. Twenty fourteen, Antonio Brown led the NFL in
catches with a hunt twenty nine, in receiving yards was
sixteen hundred and ninety eight. He was voted First team
All Pro and was third in the voting for the
Offensive Player of the Year award. Then in twenty seventeen,
Antonio Brown led the NFL in receiving yards with fifteen
(08:17):
hundred and thirty three. He led them in receiving yards,
led the NFL in receiving yards per game with one
hundred and nine point five, and in yards per touch
with fifteen point two. He was voted First Team All
Pro that year and was second in the voting for
ap Offensive Player of the Year. So one of those
(08:39):
two seasons to me, would represent the best single season
ever for a Steelers wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Fabian Cobald from Innsbruck, Austria. I've waited since twenty fourteen
to finally see my first Steelers game, and that will
happen this year in Dublin, Ireland that I got tickets.
Do you have any information if and when our Pittsburgh
Steelers have training in Dublin where fans can watch.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Okay, in Europe, practice is called training just for our
non European listeners, And what I can tell you is
in the NFL regular season, practices are not open to
the public. So I'm sure there's going to be something
(09:30):
the Steelers do in Dublin in terms of getting prepared
for the game against the Vikings, but it's not going
to be open to the public. I just hope, for
Fabian's sake and the other Steelers fans and attendance that
the game between the Steelers and the Vikings lives up
to their hopes.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah, and even though you can't watch practice, and again
there's nothing set in stone yet and don't want to
speak out of turn, but I'm sure there's going to
be a lot of fun Steelers esque things to do
around the stadium and around the game leading up to
the game. And I'm sure there's gonna be some Steelers
alumni crawling around Ireland that would be really fun to meet.
So hey, not gonna be able to see them train Fabian,
(10:11):
but you're gonna be able to really get a ton
of great Steelers experience over there, and then of course
the game, you know, puts the exclamation point on it all.
Jason Praster from San Antonio, Texas, do you think the
saying defense wins championships still applies in today's NFL? I
look at the Steelers defense, and there is Pro Bowl
(10:33):
and all Pro talent at each position group, if not
each position. Yet we lose games against high profile offenses.
The league certainly has favored the offensive side of the ball.
So in today's NFL, would you be more inclined to
say offense wins championships?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
You know, I kind of think that Jason is looking
for a specific answer to this question, and based on
the tone of his question, I think wants to meet
to say that offense wins championships now. But let's just
go back to the last Super Bowl, Super Bowl fifty nine,
(11:10):
Kansas City against the Eagles. Okay, in that game, the
Eagles limited the Chiefs to forty nine rushing yards two
hundred and seventy five total net yards of offense. They
sacked Patrick Mahomes six times, hit him eleven times. They
finished with three takeaways, two of which were interceptions and
one of those was returned for a touchdown, and the
(11:33):
other non interception was a fumble recovery that led directly
to a field goal. So if you're trying to tell
me that defense didn't win that championship game for the Eagles,
I would have to disagree.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Oh, no doubt. And of course the Eagles offense was
also great, with Sae Kwon Barkley being one of the
best offensive weapons we saw in the NFL this year.
But the defense was the best defense in football two.
And you know, I think back to when Mahomes lost
his others per Bowl Labs and what was the reason
for that. Of course, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback
ever and he had Antonio Brown and his twilight catch
(12:07):
you touchdown passing that game. But if you recall, that
defensive front from Tampa Bay was just suffocating Patrick Mahomes.
He couldn't do anything in that game. They got a
ton of pressure on him, and that defense really won
that game for them. Uh, you need to be able
to score points in today's NFL, but I don't see
many teams with average to below average defenses lifting that
(12:28):
Lombardi trophy lately to you.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
No, And you know that's the thing too. If if
you don't have if you have to use your your
use your words, an average to a below average defense,
you're not going to be able to outscore the Chiefs.
You're not going to be able to outscore the Bills.
You're not gonna be able to outscore the Eagles. Uh so, yeah,
(12:50):
you need to be able to score. And I get it,
but you know the you gotta be you got to
be able to slow the opponent down because it's not basketball.
I mean, you're not going to win one hundred and
ninety eight or whatever.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Dave Romero from Fort Worth, Texas. How do players stay
in shape until training camp? Do they use the Steelers facility?
And if so, are those mandatory for all?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
The Steelers facilities are available, you know, to any players
living in the area or to any players who have
chosen to stay in the area from the end of
Mini camp, which now seems such a distant memory and
the opening of training camp, which is as I said,
(13:41):
the players report one week from no eight days from today,
but under the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, there
is nothing mandatory for players from the end of many
mandatory mini camp until the opening of training camp. So
if there's any guys who are interested and in town,
the facilities are open. But a lot of guys have
(14:04):
their own regimen. They have their own personal trainers or whatever,
having them work on specific things off and relative to
their position and or relative to getting any problem body
parts that they might have, or you know, preparing their
(14:25):
body specifically for what awaits it up in Latrobe. So yeah,
I don't I don't think that there's the Steelers facility,
while open and available, I don't know that it's that
crowded during this dead time.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
I know the quarterbacks golfing and Tahoe, we saw that
over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
We also get you know, in fairness, I mean he
also brought everybody to Malibu.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I wish I could be golfing in Tahoe.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, you know, tell them who you are.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Keith Clark from Brooklyn, New York has our final question today.
Marquees Pouncy is eligible for enshrinement into the Hall of
Fame in twenty twenty six as a nine time Pro
Bowl selection. Do you think he'll be a first ballot
Hall of Famer or will he have to wait a
few years.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Okay. I like mar Keith Pouncy a lot. I do
respect him as a professional, what he contributed to the Steelers,
how he conducted himself as a player and as a teammate,
all that stuff. I believe he's worthy of being elected
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Okay, but people
(15:37):
should also understand that center is a tough way to
get in since Okay, there are only eight centers in
shrine in Canton whose careers began after World War Two.
Eight those include two Steelers, DERMONTI Dawson and Mike Webster,
(15:59):
and then the others are Dwight Stevenson, Frank Gatsky, Jim Langer,
Kevin Mawaie, Jim Otto, and Jim Ringo. That's it. So clearly,
centers are not afforded an easy path to Canton, and
especially now because you know, back in the old days
pre World War Two, guys played both ways, so you
(16:23):
had a chance on defense to build a resume as well.
Chuck Bednrik is someone who comes to mind in that category.
So I don't know that there are I don't think
Mike Webster was the first ballot Hall of Fame, So yeah,
that again. I believe Marquise Poonc is deserving. You know,
(16:46):
we just got to see when he gets elected.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
That'll do it for us. Today, On asked and answered,
enjoyed being back with you guys. I'm sure Labs did
as well. I'll put words in his mouth there. We'll
be back next week on Tuesday, and then it all
starts as the players move in. Next Wednesday and Thursday
is the first practice of Steelers training camp. Thursday of
next week. What are you gonna do with your last
weekend here, Labs? Anything exciting?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I don't know, sleep, I don't know. I you know it,
Once upon a time it was there was always a
you know, you felt like, you know, the the green
mile walk through the electric chair. You know, you want
to get everything in. But as I said, the old
bones don't don't react the way they used to. So
(17:34):
putting together some stuff, getting ready, just preparing. God, I'm
gonna be like the players. I'm gonna be working with
my personal trainer, getting my body parts ready for the
rigors of Saint Vincent College.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
And I'll be grinding film on Johnny Smith, Jalen Ramsey
and all the rookies.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
So I'm an expert on good perfect Right.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
That covered.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You're gonna have to be carrying the load.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
We'll be back next week. Thanks as always for giving
us a listen on asked a answered on Steelers Nation
Radio and the Steelers Audio Network
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