February 11, 2025 • 26 mins
Labs and Tom recap the Super Bowl then get into this week’s questions
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Super Bowl fifty nine is in the books, and Labs,
I know we didn't want to blow out, but if
there was gonna have to be a blowout, I'm glad
it happened that way, Philadelphia blowing Kansas City out of
the stadium the other way around. I don't know if
I could have mentally taken it, and I don't know
if I would have shown up to do this podcast
today me either.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, you know, fly Eagles, fly, as they say. And
let me just say this. I mean we've talked about this,
you and I on some of our previous podcasts, and
especially after you know, the Ravens playoff game when I
was talking about, you know, the the ramifications of getting
(00:52):
your butt kicked on the line of scrimmage, And I mean,
does anybody now need any more evidence of how important
that is, you know, either to be able to do
that to a team or not to have that done
to you as.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
The other team.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
You know, Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the
NFL right now. Andy Reid is a genius. But if
you're getting your butt kicked on the line of scrimmage.
It does not matter. It doesn't matter. There are no adjustments,
there are no creative play calls, there are no schemes
(01:38):
that work.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
If you can't block that guy in front of you
and they're only and they're not you know, creating pressure
with outnumbering the blockers and that kind of stuff. It's
my guy is kicking your guys. But there's nothing to
do about it. There just is nothing to do about it.
(02:00):
And fans, really, I believe, need to understand that. I
won't say accept it, because you know, getting your butt
kicked is not something that is acceptable. But again, look
at the Chiefs, you know, I mean, Andy Reid had
nothing for that, for that and there's nothing to have
(02:23):
for it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There right like he had nothing. He told do you
were stuck behind between a rock and a hard place.
And it's similar to how they lost their previous Super
Bowl with Mahomes against the Bucks.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I just couldn't block three or four guys.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And you know, another myth, the halftime adjustments.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Halftime adjustments.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So after the first half, let's let's just uh, you know,
deal with some facts here after the oh and another
thing that people don't want to accept when Mike Toleman
talks about being unable to who you know, convert on
third downs and possessed the ball. Okay, the Chiefs only
(03:07):
first down in the first half came on their first
play of you know, from scrimmage, a pass to Juju
Smith Schuster. After that they had no more. They had
no more first downs in the first half. They only
had twenty three total net yards. And by the way,
the Eagles scored twenty four points. So that's you talk
(03:28):
about what those weird kind of statistical things. The Eagles
scored more points than they gave up yards in the
first half twenty three total yards, zero for six on
third down. Couldn't run the ball, couldn't pass the ball.
I'm sounding like Jim Moore now in that famous song
clip of it couldn't run, it couldn't throw it. So
(03:52):
then the everybody was thinking or talking or hoping that
because Kansas City had deferred to the coin toss, they
got the ball to start the third quarter. Okay, so
they're gonna have something for the Eagles. And the first
drive of the third quarter, so Kansas City gets the ball.
(04:20):
They got a six yard run on first down, then
on second down or their second yeah, second and four,
Mahomes stares a short pass, okay, eight yards first down,
then the next first and ten at their forty four sack,
sack eight yards, scramble on you know, third and seventeen punt.
(04:44):
There's your adjustments if if you can, seriously, if you
can't block therefore with your five or six, it just
doesn't matter. There's there's really no magic bullets that you
can go to the conjure up play calls, even though
(05:08):
you have a great quarterback, arguably the best coach in
the league, certainly in terms of being creative offensively.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Again, like I said, does not matter.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
It doesn't.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
I think that was the story too, Labs of that
Super Bowl was the defensive line dominance of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
But you got to give credit to Jalen Hurts as well,
the MVP.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I mean, they really did a good job of shutting
Barkley down the Kansas City Chiefs. You could tell that
that was the focus of the defense, and Hurts really
stepped up. I mean, I'm not trying to make it
out like you threw four hundred yards in five touchdowns,
but I thought he was magnificent and he had some
big time throws in that game.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Yes, and again going back, you know, if people want
to try to remember, if those of those of them
who haven't like blocked it out of their memory because
it was such a bad memory. The Steelers game against
the Eagles. The Steelers did a pretty good job on
Saquon Barkley too, But you know, a J. Brown and
(06:08):
that other guy, Davonte Smith, they're pretty good players. And
as you mentioned, Jalen Hurts doesn't get the the pub
or the hype that you know, some other quarterbacks get.
But he was highly efficient even you know, he did
throw an interception, which you know you don't like. But
(06:32):
you know, talking about turnover ratio, the Eagles weren't did
not play a turnover free game, but their defense was
taking the ball away too, and so you know, their
turnover ratio more than made up for, you know, any
mistakes that were made by the offense. So you know, again, uh,
you know, this stuff happens to really good teams, and
(06:53):
when it does, you know it's it's not necessarily a
coaching a coaching deficiency or a lack of adjustments or
uncreative play calling. Again, it's their guy is kicking your guys.
But every time the ball is snapped, and then what
(07:17):
all you can do.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Is get better guys.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
You got to get better guys because there's nothing else
you can do to help that.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
There's no magic.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, all thirty two teams now start to get to
work on getting better guys as the offseason hits full swing.
You got free agency starting in a month, and of
course we've got to build up to the draft. With
the combine being right around the corner and the draft
being at the end of April. We've got a bunch
of questions to be answered today, though, so let's get
to them. Our first one is from John Mitchell from
(07:48):
Gates Mills, Ohio. Is either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields
able to throw the pump fake pass?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Do you know if the pump fake is coachable? Or
is it a raw talent?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Ben Rotha Lsburger successfully used this approach on what seemed
to be a regular basis to both freeze defensive backs
as well as adds significant unpredictability to a run heavy offense.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Okay, in my opinion, what's most necessary to employ pump fakes?
You've got to have solid protection in the pocket because
it takes time for those kinds of routes to develop,
and the quarterback is going to need to be holding
onto the ball for longer than normal. You know, the
whole idea the pump fake is the receiver runs a
(08:34):
shorter route or at least gives the illusion to the
defender that it's going to be a shorter route, and
the quarterback then, you know, pretends to throw the ball
and then he does something else. So you know that's
going to take more than you know, two point one
seconds to pull off. And it just never seemed to
(08:56):
me that the Steelers were providing the quarterback with that
kind of protection on a consistent basis throughout the twenty
twenty four season. And let me just say something else. No,
I'm not criticizing John or his question, but we should
not forget how dynamic Ben Roethlisberger was in terms of
talent throughout his career. And just because Ben did it, well,
(09:22):
let's coach this other guy to do it. Doesn't you
know that's not necessarily true or possible. So you know
Ben was good at that because again, you know, he
had the arm talent to do some unbelievable things. He
got some decent pressure at times, and it was also
(09:43):
pretty difficult for the defense to get him on the ground.
So yeah, I understand that the value of pump fakes
and how they can be used as an offensive weapon,
but you know, I think it's more about who you
have doing it, or who you have protecting for the
(10:04):
person doing it.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Then just you know, let's let's incorporate this into our offense.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Do you think cameramen, you know, operating the camera for
networks around the league rejoiced when Ben Roethlisberger finally retired.
I mean, how many times did you used to see
that pump fake? Send that cameraman all the way down
the field and it's like, oh now I got to
go back and try to find the ball again.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
There's been scrambling for ten yards.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Well, it was such an iconic part of a Hall
of Famer's repertoire, was that pump fake.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Yes, and you know, so a lot of those, you know,
you needed to be on site at the stadium because
even if you're you know, usually from the press box area,
you have a wide angle, wider angle view of the
all the action and it's not as easy to fool
people up there, as it would be either someone looking
(10:56):
through a camera or people on the field.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Ivo Hernandez As from Mexico City, Mexico. Why do the
Steelers select after the NFC South Division champion Tampa Bay
Buccaneers in the twenty twenty five NFL Draft If the
teams have the same record of ten and.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Seven, uh okay.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
According to the NFL rules for this kind of tiebreaker,
if teams finish with the exact same record and they
both are eliminated or advanced to the same level of
the postseason, then the way you do the draft order
(11:40):
is the team with the more difficult schedule plays later,
picks later. Excuse me, picks later than the team with
the easier schedule, because the way it's viewed is, if
you're ten and seven against a week schedule, your team
(12:01):
is worse than a team that was ten and seven
against a tough schedule, And the whole idea of the
draft is to let the inferior teams pick earlier, So
that's how they figure that out. And the Buccaneers had
a less daunting schedule than the Steelers, who I believe
it was the most difficult schedule in the NFL based
(12:22):
on you know, team's records, So that's why the Steelers
are after the Buccaneers.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Darren Flippo from Jonesboro, Arkansas. With the NFL season extending
into the winter, what are your thoughts on shifting the
season to an earlier start date. It seems that playing
games in the extreme cold is just bad for all
parties involved, teams, staff and fans. What are your thoughts
on the impact weather has on teams who play in
outdoor stadiums, particularly those located in colder climates.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Okay, the whole idea of moving the entirety of an
NFL schedule, and it's not just the season, but you
would have to move training camp, preseason, you know, the
regular season, the playoffs, and the super Bowl, and trying
to do that so that there would be a reduced
possibility of exposure to winner. It's just not going to
(13:13):
happen because the TV networks that are paying billions of
dollars to televise these games don't want games in the
summer because people are outside. So that's why the first
game of the NFL regular season doesn't happen until after
(13:35):
Labor Day. Used to happen the Labor Day weekend sometimes
and the networks, you know, when the contract negotiation or
the extension for the next broadcasting deal came up, they
went to the NFL and said, we're getting crushed on these,
you know, Labor Day weekend ratings because people are out
of picnics. So that's why the schedule was moved there.
(13:57):
And then the other thing to consider is if you
do move all of that stuff up earlier to get
teams out of bad weather, well then it's going to
be lightning storms and heat stroke and you know all
that stuff that's associated with summer. You know, because football
in ninety degree weather is just as bad, if not
(14:22):
worse as football in zero degrees in terms of the
potential damage to the participants. And then you know, then
there's me and you and people like me and you.
We do not want these lightning delays.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
So I still think about that Sunday night game earlier
this year against the Cowboy.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yes, oh Boy ended close to two.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
In the morning, right, So you know, it's bad enough
of training camp when you're constantly trying to get practice
in daily around you know, elect lightning or thunderstorms or whatever.
I mean, just imagine if that was more of the
regular season, that would just be it would wreak havoc
(15:05):
on the networks. And as I said, they're paying a
lot of money for this. So and then here's the
other thing I've always bring this up. Mike Tomlin told
me one time that because of all of the things
that are available to players and coaches in terms of
(15:28):
the clothing they can wear, the heaters on the field,
on the sideline, the coils underneath the turf that make
the playing surface better, it's a lot worse for fans
in the stands in terms of cold than it is
for players and coaches on the sideline or on the
(15:50):
field in terms of weather.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Tom Hallowell from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, do you think the
Steelers should bring Deontay Johnson back?
Speaker 4 (16:00):
He could make a difference.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
That's not something I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I just think that Deontay Johnson's history since the Steelers
traded him, you know, I just I don't like I
don't like a lot of the things that we have
seen from him or heard about him.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
So no, I'm not doing that.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I mean, if the Ravens moving on from him so
quickly didn't say enough to you in regards to what
Deanta Johnson can bring to the table anymore in the NFL.
How about Houston cutting him like in a week after
he was added to their playoff roster. I think most
of the league is going to move on from Deontay.
You gotta wonder if he's going to get a job,
right am I am I out of line to say.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
That, you know, never say never because it only takes
one and that the Jets still have not seceded from
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
But let's not forget Carolina. I mean, Deonte wasn't exactly a.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Long term productive part of that franchise either.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
So yeah, I don't, I don't.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
I just there there are there are times I think
when teams understand that players are more problems than they're worth,
they're potentially worth.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I think he's right there.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
And at this point, John Sprout from Port Saint Lucia, E, Florida,
with respect to the kickoff rule change, have any kickoffs
been returned for touchdowns this past season?
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yes, seven as a matter of fact, And you know
this kind of that that that outcome indicates to me,
and I'm guessing a little bit here that there's not
going to be a whole lot of wholesale changes to
the kickoff rules. I think they may try and tweak
some things, but you know, you're gonna have to deal
(17:57):
with a lot of touchbacks earlier in in the season
because it's warmer, kickers, legs are fresher, and then you'll,
you know, you might see some opportunity for some you know,
kicks to be returned later in the season. But there
were seven return for touchdowns. Arizona had one, Cincinnati had one,
(18:20):
the Jets had one, Seattle had one, the Giants had one,
and Dallas had two.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Wayne Jones from Daytona Beach, Florida, can you tell me
when a team calls a timeout how the referee determines
if it is a full timeout or a thirty second timeout.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
It's TV.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
It's all about TV where the broadcast is in terms
of getting the required commercials on the air. You know,
if a game early in the in the broadcast, if
a game does not have a lot of stoppages either
changes of possession, that's an obvious break in the action
(19:00):
scores where you have you can have commercials, you know,
after the score, after a kickoff, those kinds of things.
I mean if you know, if two teams, let's pretend
two teams, they go through the first quarter and into
the second quarter. Maybe you know, each team has a
fourteen play, seven and a half eight minute drive. So okay, Now,
(19:29):
because the broadcast, the network has to get through its
commercial inventory. People are paying money for this, so they
will have longer commercial breaks. Then if the action is
very choppy, you know, teams are calling timeouts, there's reviews,
(19:49):
you know, that kind of stuff that you're more likely
to see thirty second commercials. And the way that's determined is,
you know, at every NFL stadium there's a broadcast truck.
Whichever network is doing the broadcast, Fox, CBS, NBC, whatever,
whatever streaming service however that's working, there's a truck. Okay,
(20:11):
So there's a person in the truck the director I
think it is, I don't know, maybe it's the executive producer,
but anyway, there's a person in the truck who is
in communication with an NFL individual who's standing on the sideline. Uh,
and that the guy in the truck will say to
(20:31):
the NFL person standing on the sideline, Yeah, we need
we need to get some commercials in or however that
communication is related and relay. And then that guy on
the sideline is in communication with the on field referee,
the guy with the white hat, and they communicate and
(20:52):
he will tell the referee next commercial, you know, we
gotta it's gonna be a full commercial, which I don't
know is two minutes, three minutes, whatever it might be,
or he might say thirty seconds, and that's communicated, and
that's how you know. That's how the referee knows when
he'll say time out, Jets, this will be a thirty
(21:17):
second timeout. That's how the referee on the field knows
want to go to thirty seconds or when it's a
regular timeout.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Leon Kolinski from oil City, Pennsylvania. I read where guard
James Daniels was very highly rated for his performances before
he got hurt. As he's a young veteran, I think
the Steelers would benefit from bringing him back, although everything
I read seems to be that he will sign elsewhere.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Would like your thoughts on this issue, Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
James Daniels is going to be twenty eight years old
in September twenty twenty five, okay, and he was playing
well by all, you know, my limited ability to evaluate
offensive lineman. But he torn achilles tendon on September thirtieth,
twenty twenty four, in a game against the Colts in Indianapolis.
(22:08):
That's a significant injury, a torn achilles, that's surgery that
can be up to twelve months rehab. So the free
agency opens March twelfth, Wednesday. So I can't imagine James
(22:32):
Daniels being far enough along on his rehab of an
achilles injury to be able to take a physical and
pass a physical for eighteen any team interested in signing him.
And so you know, and I don't know how long
(22:55):
it's going to be. Will James Daniels be able to
participate in the offsea in program? Will he be able
to practice when training camp opens? You know, what's his
physical condition going to be when the NFL starts, you know,
gearing up again for the twenty twenty five season. And
(23:16):
then also let's remember that before the twenty twenty four
season even began, the Steelers had used a fourth round
pick on Mason McCormick with the idea that he was
going to step in at guard once Daniels hit unrestricted
free agency. So you know, the way I see it unfolding,
the Steelers drafted Mason McCormick. He got some playing time
(23:39):
as a rookie. By all accounts, I won't say he's
you know, the next coming of you know, John Hanna
or Allen Fanica right now yet based on what we've
seen so far. But I think that the Steelers like
what they have seen in him and believe that he
(24:00):
is someone they can work with in order to become,
you know, a starting caliber guard in the NFL. So
the way I see that unfolding is James Daniels becomes
an unrestricted free agent on March twelfth, and the Steelers
enter into the next season with Mason McCormick as their
right guard.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
And our final question today comes from Kevin Neverlee from
Weirt in West Virginia. Do you think that the Steelers
will trade up in the twenty twenty five NFL Draft
and sign any available free agents from other teams?
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Okay, the Steelers are going to enter free agency, I
believe with enough salary cap space to add players, even
some starting caliber players, and they also have, you know,
some mechanisms available to them to create more salary cap space.
So that's the answer to that part of the question.
(24:55):
Trading up in the draft. It depends on what Kevin
means specifically. You know, do you mean, you know, moving
around in a round, you know, maybe moving up a
little bit or moving back a little bit whatever. Okay, maybe,
But if you're talking about the Steelers pick twenty first
(25:18):
overall in the first round, if the move trading up
in his mind means, you know, getting the top five,
I don't think that that's really going to likely at
this point. I mean, the draft capital required for something
like that, I believe would be you'd have to give
(25:40):
up your twenty first pick, and then you'd have to
give up multiple future number one picks. And I just
think the Steelers value their number one picks too much
to make that kind of a move. And I don't
know that there's anybody that high that they need to
go up and get either, because quarterbacks are not supposed
(26:00):
to be those kinds of players available in this draft,
and so, you know, I just don't think you're giving
up multiple future number ones for a receiver, certainly not
an edge rusher. You got those already under contract on
your own team. I just don't know what you know
(26:21):
would entice them to try and even think about something
like that.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Well, that's all for us for now.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
We'll be back again next week with another edition of
Asked and Answered. If you want a question answered, you
can get them into Labs.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Now.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Try to come down off of your football high for
the past couple of months as we now enter into
the offseason and there will be no football for about
seven months. We'll get through it together though, and this
podcast of course will help you out a lot. Just
put it on repeat if you ever feel low over
these next couple of months. Four Labs, I'm Tom. We'll
talk to you next week on Asden Answered.
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Super Bowl fifty nine is in the books, and Labs,
I know we didn't want to blow out, but if
there was gonna have to be a blowout, I'm glad
it happened that way, Philadelphia blowing Kansas City out of
the stadium the other way around. I don't know if
I could have mentally taken it, and I don't know
if I would have shown up to do this podcast
today me either.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, you know, fly Eagles, fly, as they say. And
let me just say this. I mean we've talked about this,
you and I on some of our previous podcasts, and
especially after you know, the Ravens playoff game when I
was talking about, you know, the the ramifications of getting
(00:52):
your butt kicked on the line of scrimmage, And I mean,
does anybody now need any more evidence of how important
that is, you know, either to be able to do
that to a team or not to have that done
to you as.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
The other team.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
You know, Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the
NFL right now. Andy Reid is a genius. But if
you're getting your butt kicked on the line of scrimmage.
It does not matter. It doesn't matter. There are no adjustments,
there are no creative play calls, there are no schemes
(01:38):
that work.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
If you can't block that guy in front of you
and they're only and they're not you know, creating pressure
with outnumbering the blockers and that kind of stuff. It's
my guy is kicking your guys. But there's nothing to
do about it. There just is nothing to do about it.
(02:00):
And fans, really, I believe, need to understand that. I
won't say accept it, because you know, getting your butt
kicked is not something that is acceptable. But again, look
at the Chiefs, you know, I mean, Andy Reid had
nothing for that, for that and there's nothing to have
(02:23):
for it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There right like he had nothing. He told do you
were stuck behind between a rock and a hard place.
And it's similar to how they lost their previous Super
Bowl with Mahomes against the Bucks.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I just couldn't block three or four guys.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And you know, another myth, the halftime adjustments.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Halftime adjustments.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So after the first half, let's let's just uh, you know,
deal with some facts here after the oh and another
thing that people don't want to accept when Mike Toleman
talks about being unable to who you know, convert on
third downs and possessed the ball. Okay, the Chiefs only
(03:07):
first down in the first half came on their first
play of you know, from scrimmage, a pass to Juju
Smith Schuster. After that they had no more. They had
no more first downs in the first half. They only
had twenty three total net yards. And by the way,
the Eagles scored twenty four points. So that's you talk
(03:28):
about what those weird kind of statistical things. The Eagles
scored more points than they gave up yards in the
first half twenty three total yards, zero for six on
third down. Couldn't run the ball, couldn't pass the ball.
I'm sounding like Jim Moore now in that famous song
clip of it couldn't run, it couldn't throw it. So
(03:52):
then the everybody was thinking or talking or hoping that
because Kansas City had deferred to the coin toss, they
got the ball to start the third quarter. Okay, so
they're gonna have something for the Eagles. And the first
drive of the third quarter, so Kansas City gets the ball.
(04:20):
They got a six yard run on first down, then
on second down or their second yeah, second and four,
Mahomes stares a short pass, okay, eight yards first down,
then the next first and ten at their forty four sack,
sack eight yards, scramble on you know, third and seventeen punt.
(04:44):
There's your adjustments if if you can, seriously, if you
can't block therefore with your five or six, it just
doesn't matter. There's there's really no magic bullets that you
can go to the conjure up play calls, even though
(05:08):
you have a great quarterback, arguably the best coach in
the league, certainly in terms of being creative offensively.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Again, like I said, does not matter.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
It doesn't.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
I think that was the story too, Labs of that
Super Bowl was the defensive line dominance of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
But you got to give credit to Jalen Hurts as well,
the MVP.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I mean, they really did a good job of shutting
Barkley down the Kansas City Chiefs. You could tell that
that was the focus of the defense, and Hurts really
stepped up. I mean, I'm not trying to make it
out like you threw four hundred yards in five touchdowns,
but I thought he was magnificent and he had some
big time throws in that game.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Yes, and again going back, you know, if people want
to try to remember, if those of those of them
who haven't like blocked it out of their memory because
it was such a bad memory. The Steelers game against
the Eagles. The Steelers did a pretty good job on
Saquon Barkley too, But you know, a J. Brown and
(06:08):
that other guy, Davonte Smith, they're pretty good players. And
as you mentioned, Jalen Hurts doesn't get the the pub
or the hype that you know, some other quarterbacks get.
But he was highly efficient even you know, he did
throw an interception, which you know you don't like. But
(06:32):
you know, talking about turnover ratio, the Eagles weren't did
not play a turnover free game, but their defense was
taking the ball away too, and so you know, their
turnover ratio more than made up for, you know, any
mistakes that were made by the offense. So you know, again, uh,
you know, this stuff happens to really good teams, and
(06:53):
when it does, you know it's it's not necessarily a
coaching a coaching deficiency or a lack of adjustments or
uncreative play calling. Again, it's their guy is kicking your guys.
But every time the ball is snapped, and then what
(07:17):
all you can do.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Is get better guys.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
You got to get better guys because there's nothing else
you can do to help that.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
There's no magic.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, all thirty two teams now start to get to
work on getting better guys as the offseason hits full swing.
You got free agency starting in a month, and of
course we've got to build up to the draft. With
the combine being right around the corner and the draft
being at the end of April. We've got a bunch
of questions to be answered today, though, so let's get
to them. Our first one is from John Mitchell from
(07:48):
Gates Mills, Ohio. Is either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields
able to throw the pump fake pass?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Do you know if the pump fake is coachable? Or
is it a raw talent?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Ben Rotha Lsburger successfully used this approach on what seemed
to be a regular basis to both freeze defensive backs
as well as adds significant unpredictability to a run heavy offense.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Okay, in my opinion, what's most necessary to employ pump fakes?
You've got to have solid protection in the pocket because
it takes time for those kinds of routes to develop,
and the quarterback is going to need to be holding
onto the ball for longer than normal. You know, the
whole idea the pump fake is the receiver runs a
(08:34):
shorter route or at least gives the illusion to the
defender that it's going to be a shorter route, and
the quarterback then, you know, pretends to throw the ball
and then he does something else. So you know that's
going to take more than you know, two point one
seconds to pull off. And it just never seemed to
(08:56):
me that the Steelers were providing the quarterback with that
kind of protection on a consistent basis throughout the twenty
twenty four season. And let me just say something else. No,
I'm not criticizing John or his question, but we should
not forget how dynamic Ben Roethlisberger was in terms of
talent throughout his career. And just because Ben did it, well,
(09:22):
let's coach this other guy to do it. Doesn't you
know that's not necessarily true or possible. So you know
Ben was good at that because again, you know, he
had the arm talent to do some unbelievable things. He
got some decent pressure at times, and it was also
(09:43):
pretty difficult for the defense to get him on the ground.
So yeah, I understand that the value of pump fakes
and how they can be used as an offensive weapon,
but you know, I think it's more about who you
have doing it, or who you have protecting for the
(10:04):
person doing it.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Then just you know, let's let's incorporate this into our offense.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Do you think cameramen, you know, operating the camera for
networks around the league rejoiced when Ben Roethlisberger finally retired.
I mean, how many times did you used to see
that pump fake? Send that cameraman all the way down
the field and it's like, oh now I got to
go back and try to find the ball again.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
There's been scrambling for ten yards.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Well, it was such an iconic part of a Hall
of Famer's repertoire, was that pump fake.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Yes, and you know, so a lot of those, you know,
you needed to be on site at the stadium because
even if you're you know, usually from the press box area,
you have a wide angle, wider angle view of the
all the action and it's not as easy to fool
people up there, as it would be either someone looking
(10:56):
through a camera or people on the field.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Ivo Hernandez As from Mexico City, Mexico. Why do the
Steelers select after the NFC South Division champion Tampa Bay
Buccaneers in the twenty twenty five NFL Draft If the
teams have the same record of ten and.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Seven, uh okay.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
According to the NFL rules for this kind of tiebreaker,
if teams finish with the exact same record and they
both are eliminated or advanced to the same level of
the postseason, then the way you do the draft order
(11:40):
is the team with the more difficult schedule plays later,
picks later. Excuse me, picks later than the team with
the easier schedule, because the way it's viewed is, if
you're ten and seven against a week schedule, your team
(12:01):
is worse than a team that was ten and seven
against a tough schedule, And the whole idea of the
draft is to let the inferior teams pick earlier, So
that's how they figure that out. And the Buccaneers had
a less daunting schedule than the Steelers, who I believe
it was the most difficult schedule in the NFL based
(12:22):
on you know, team's records, So that's why the Steelers
are after the Buccaneers.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Darren Flippo from Jonesboro, Arkansas. With the NFL season extending
into the winter, what are your thoughts on shifting the
season to an earlier start date. It seems that playing
games in the extreme cold is just bad for all
parties involved, teams, staff and fans. What are your thoughts
on the impact weather has on teams who play in
outdoor stadiums, particularly those located in colder climates.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Okay, the whole idea of moving the entirety of an
NFL schedule, and it's not just the season, but you
would have to move training camp, preseason, you know, the
regular season, the playoffs, and the super Bowl, and trying
to do that so that there would be a reduced
possibility of exposure to winner. It's just not going to
(13:13):
happen because the TV networks that are paying billions of
dollars to televise these games don't want games in the
summer because people are outside. So that's why the first
game of the NFL regular season doesn't happen until after
(13:35):
Labor Day. Used to happen the Labor Day weekend sometimes
and the networks, you know, when the contract negotiation or
the extension for the next broadcasting deal came up, they
went to the NFL and said, we're getting crushed on these,
you know, Labor Day weekend ratings because people are out
of picnics. So that's why the schedule was moved there.
(13:57):
And then the other thing to consider is if you
do move all of that stuff up earlier to get
teams out of bad weather, well then it's going to
be lightning storms and heat stroke and you know all
that stuff that's associated with summer. You know, because football
in ninety degree weather is just as bad, if not
(14:22):
worse as football in zero degrees in terms of the
potential damage to the participants. And then you know, then
there's me and you and people like me and you.
We do not want these lightning delays.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
So I still think about that Sunday night game earlier
this year against the Cowboy.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yes, oh Boy ended close to two.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
In the morning, right, So you know, it's bad enough
of training camp when you're constantly trying to get practice
in daily around you know, elect lightning or thunderstorms or whatever.
I mean, just imagine if that was more of the
regular season, that would just be it would wreak havoc
(15:05):
on the networks. And as I said, they're paying a
lot of money for this. So and then here's the
other thing I've always bring this up. Mike Tomlin told
me one time that because of all of the things
that are available to players and coaches in terms of
(15:28):
the clothing they can wear, the heaters on the field,
on the sideline, the coils underneath the turf that make
the playing surface better, it's a lot worse for fans
in the stands in terms of cold than it is
for players and coaches on the sideline or on the
(15:50):
field in terms of weather.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Tom Hallowell from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, do you think the
Steelers should bring Deontay Johnson back?
Speaker 4 (16:00):
He could make a difference.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
That's not something I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I just think that Deontay Johnson's history since the Steelers
traded him, you know, I just I don't like I
don't like a lot of the things that we have
seen from him or heard about him.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
So no, I'm not doing that.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I mean, if the Ravens moving on from him so
quickly didn't say enough to you in regards to what
Deanta Johnson can bring to the table anymore in the NFL.
How about Houston cutting him like in a week after
he was added to their playoff roster. I think most
of the league is going to move on from Deontay.
You gotta wonder if he's going to get a job,
right am I am I out of line to say.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
That, you know, never say never because it only takes
one and that the Jets still have not seceded from
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
But let's not forget Carolina. I mean, Deonte wasn't exactly a.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Long term productive part of that franchise either.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
So yeah, I don't, I don't.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
I just there there are there are times I think
when teams understand that players are more problems than they're worth,
they're potentially worth.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I think he's right there.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
And at this point, John Sprout from Port Saint Lucia, E, Florida,
with respect to the kickoff rule change, have any kickoffs
been returned for touchdowns this past season?
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yes, seven as a matter of fact, And you know
this kind of that that that outcome indicates to me,
and I'm guessing a little bit here that there's not
going to be a whole lot of wholesale changes to
the kickoff rules. I think they may try and tweak
some things, but you know, you're gonna have to deal
(17:57):
with a lot of touchbacks earlier in in the season
because it's warmer, kickers, legs are fresher, and then you'll,
you know, you might see some opportunity for some you know,
kicks to be returned later in the season. But there
were seven return for touchdowns. Arizona had one, Cincinnati had one,
(18:20):
the Jets had one, Seattle had one, the Giants had one,
and Dallas had two.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Wayne Jones from Daytona Beach, Florida, can you tell me
when a team calls a timeout how the referee determines
if it is a full timeout or a thirty second timeout.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
It's TV.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
It's all about TV where the broadcast is in terms
of getting the required commercials on the air. You know,
if a game early in the in the broadcast, if
a game does not have a lot of stoppages either
changes of possession, that's an obvious break in the action
(19:00):
scores where you have you can have commercials, you know,
after the score, after a kickoff, those kinds of things.
I mean if you know, if two teams, let's pretend
two teams, they go through the first quarter and into
the second quarter. Maybe you know, each team has a
fourteen play, seven and a half eight minute drive. So okay, Now,
(19:29):
because the broadcast, the network has to get through its
commercial inventory. People are paying money for this, so they
will have longer commercial breaks. Then if the action is
very choppy, you know, teams are calling timeouts, there's reviews,
(19:49):
you know, that kind of stuff that you're more likely
to see thirty second commercials. And the way that's determined is,
you know, at every NFL stadium there's a broadcast truck.
Whichever network is doing the broadcast, Fox, CBS, NBC, whatever,
whatever streaming service however that's working, there's a truck. Okay,
(20:11):
So there's a person in the truck the director I
think it is, I don't know, maybe it's the executive producer,
but anyway, there's a person in the truck who is
in communication with an NFL individual who's standing on the sideline. Uh,
and that the guy in the truck will say to
(20:31):
the NFL person standing on the sideline, Yeah, we need
we need to get some commercials in or however that
communication is related and relay. And then that guy on
the sideline is in communication with the on field referee,
the guy with the white hat, and they communicate and
(20:52):
he will tell the referee next commercial, you know, we
gotta it's gonna be a full commercial, which I don't
know is two minutes, three minutes, whatever it might be,
or he might say thirty seconds, and that's communicated, and
that's how you know. That's how the referee knows when
he'll say time out, Jets, this will be a thirty
(21:17):
second timeout. That's how the referee on the field knows
want to go to thirty seconds or when it's a
regular timeout.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Leon Kolinski from oil City, Pennsylvania. I read where guard
James Daniels was very highly rated for his performances before
he got hurt. As he's a young veteran, I think
the Steelers would benefit from bringing him back, although everything
I read seems to be that he will sign elsewhere.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Would like your thoughts on this issue, Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
James Daniels is going to be twenty eight years old
in September twenty twenty five, okay, and he was playing
well by all, you know, my limited ability to evaluate
offensive lineman. But he torn achilles tendon on September thirtieth,
twenty twenty four, in a game against the Colts in Indianapolis.
(22:08):
That's a significant injury, a torn achilles, that's surgery that
can be up to twelve months rehab. So the free
agency opens March twelfth, Wednesday. So I can't imagine James
(22:32):
Daniels being far enough along on his rehab of an
achilles injury to be able to take a physical and
pass a physical for eighteen any team interested in signing him.
And so you know, and I don't know how long
(22:55):
it's going to be. Will James Daniels be able to
participate in the offsea in program? Will he be able
to practice when training camp opens? You know, what's his
physical condition going to be when the NFL starts, you know,
gearing up again for the twenty twenty five season. And
(23:16):
then also let's remember that before the twenty twenty four
season even began, the Steelers had used a fourth round
pick on Mason McCormick with the idea that he was
going to step in at guard once Daniels hit unrestricted
free agency. So you know, the way I see it unfolding,
the Steelers drafted Mason McCormick. He got some playing time
(23:39):
as a rookie. By all accounts, I won't say he's
you know, the next coming of you know, John Hanna
or Allen Fanica right now yet based on what we've
seen so far. But I think that the Steelers like
what they have seen in him and believe that he
(24:00):
is someone they can work with in order to become,
you know, a starting caliber guard in the NFL. So
the way I see that unfolding is James Daniels becomes
an unrestricted free agent on March twelfth, and the Steelers
enter into the next season with Mason McCormick as their
right guard.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
And our final question today comes from Kevin Neverlee from
Weirt in West Virginia. Do you think that the Steelers
will trade up in the twenty twenty five NFL Draft
and sign any available free agents from other teams?
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Okay, the Steelers are going to enter free agency, I
believe with enough salary cap space to add players, even
some starting caliber players, and they also have, you know,
some mechanisms available to them to create more salary cap space.
So that's the answer to that part of the question.
(24:55):
Trading up in the draft. It depends on what Kevin
means specifically. You know, do you mean, you know, moving
around in a round, you know, maybe moving up a
little bit or moving back a little bit whatever. Okay, maybe,
But if you're talking about the Steelers pick twenty first
(25:18):
overall in the first round, if the move trading up
in his mind means, you know, getting the top five,
I don't think that that's really going to likely at
this point. I mean, the draft capital required for something
like that, I believe would be you'd have to give
(25:40):
up your twenty first pick, and then you'd have to
give up multiple future number one picks. And I just
think the Steelers value their number one picks too much
to make that kind of a move. And I don't
know that there's anybody that high that they need to
go up and get either, because quarterbacks are not supposed
(26:00):
to be those kinds of players available in this draft,
and so, you know, I just don't think you're giving
up multiple future number ones for a receiver, certainly not
an edge rusher. You got those already under contract on
your own team. I just don't know what you know
(26:21):
would entice them to try and even think about something
like that.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Well, that's all for us for now.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
We'll be back again next week with another edition of
Asked and Answered. If you want a question answered, you
can get them into Labs.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Now.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Try to come down off of your football high for
the past couple of months as we now enter into
the offseason and there will be no football for about
seven months. We'll get through it together though, and this
podcast of course will help you out a lot. Just
put it on repeat if you ever feel low over
these next couple of months. Four Labs, I'm Tom. We'll
talk to you next week on Asden Answered.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com