October 3, 2023 • 20 mins
Labs and Tom react to the Steelers loss Sunday against Houston and then get into the questions for the week.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is Asked and Answered questions with Tom Up for
me and Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I gotta say, Labs, I'm pretty pleased to be here
this morning with you for ask and answered. Once I
heard Tomlin after the game on Sunday say there was
going to be a lot of changes, I was for
sure thinking I was at the top of that list.
Get me off of this podcast, maybe just kill this
podcast altogether.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
So thank god I wake the sweat off my brow now.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I heard the changes where we were going to do
two of these a week.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
No, I would think I'd rather be fired.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But what do you make of that comment from coach
t I mean, you hear obviously the civilians think it's
going to be like a blood offering is in the making.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Now fire everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Do you think it's that extreme or do you think
you know, obviously you need to make changes when you
just lost thirty to six to Houston.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. You know, Mike Tomlin
has never been a guy and I'm going to use
one of his own sayings, never been one to shoot hostage,
and you know, I just don't know, you know, the
kinds of things that fans I think want. I just
(01:11):
don't know how realistic they are, you know. I mean
there are fans out there calling for Ben to become
the offensive coordinator, and I mean, let me just say
this about that. Ben has no interest. People, Ben has
no interest. I mean you would have to probably get
a court order, you know, to get him to do that.
(01:32):
So you know, Ben is, Ben's not interested in coaching
anyone but maybe his son's son's little league team, little
league football team. You know, Ben could probably coach baseball
or whatever other sport you know, kids his son's age play.
But uh, you know the guy, uh, he's he's he's
(01:55):
living his best life. Not leave him alone. I mean,
he he earned retirement. He earned, you know, to retire
at the with the security, financial security and other stuff
that he has. He earned that. I'll leave him alone.
I mean, people think that there's some kind of mandatory
(02:15):
lifetime responsibility, you know, for for what it was. It
was a job. And yeah, you love the team, you
love the franchise, you love the fan, I mean all
of that good stuff. I get it. But you know
Ben's done leave them alone. So that's just ridiculous. So
(02:37):
but anyway, I don't know what kind of changes you
could make, you know, because let's the example I'm always using,
is this one Desmond King that was a Pro Bowl
all excuse me an all pro cornerback at one stage, right.
You don't get him until after the fifty three man
rosters are the original fifty three man rosters are formed.
(02:59):
And he hasn't played I don't know that if it's
any defensive snaps. But he has not played any kind
of meaningful defensive snaps so far this regular season. And
this is only defense he's learning, you know, and that
and the audibles and the checks and everything. So imagine
we're gonna, you know, and what offensive coordinator is on
(03:22):
the street right now, you know, I mean I you know, again,
I'm not discounting, you know, the fans frustration, but it's
just I just don't know. I don't know what what
they what they think can happen and it's going to
be successful, and they weren't successful immediately.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know now that they're banging the table for a
change at the OC, of course, but if you make
that change, and it probably doesn't yield to any different
results because, like you just said, your four games into
the season. What can you really change about your offense?
You can't overhaul it completely. At this point in the season,
they're gonna get Matt all over again. It's just going
(04:06):
to be take out one name and insert the other one.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, and you know you bring in someone again. Offensive
coordinators often come with, you know, their own systems, or
at least the own framework of their systems. Well, they
can't install a new system, now, I mean, that's it's
it's absurd. So anyway, let's let's hear what the fans
have to say.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
All right, Well, let's get right to the questions today.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Our first one comes from Stephen Schrader from Portland, Oregon,
and he wants to know when do you think the
Jets will contact the Steelers about Mason Rudolph?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
What are they waiting for labs.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
You know, Stephen, if you are the one who's waiting
for the Jets to contact the Steelers about acquiring Mason
Rudolph in the trade, because that's what it would have
to be, I believe it's going to be a long
wait and you're going to end up disappointed because you know,
I just gave the example of Desmond King. Okay, now
(05:05):
we're talking about a quarterback. You're adding a quarterback to
a roster who has absolutely no experience with your team,
with your players, with your offensive system. We're into the
regular season again. I don't think that the Jets are
going to add or make a trade for someone that
(05:29):
they want to start, because how long are you gonna
have to wait for that for the guy to become,
you know, well versed in the offense, and you know,
if there's audibles or learning the personnel I mean, or
any of that stuff. And if you're just going to
acquire a guy to be a backup to Zach Wilson, well,
(05:51):
I mean there are guys out there. You can do
that too. Sign them to the practice squad. You know,
it doesn't cost you anything. The guy can learn a
little bit, you know, and you hope that if I'm
the Jets, you hope that you know, you can get
by with your defense and Zach Wilson develops a little
bit and you know, gives you a chance to win
(06:11):
some games. I mean, let's let's face it, there are
no good options for the Jets. They went all in
on Aaron Rodgers in terms of, you know, the commitment
to him as a player, then the financial commitment to
him with their salary cap, and he lasts only four
plays and tears and achilles. I mean, you know, the
Jets have to be you know, I don't know, snake
(06:32):
bit or whatever whatever cliche you want to use for
really really bad luck. So I mean, you know it's
I don't want to tell the Jets to just pack
it in and you know it's over. But I don't
see there that there are any easy, simple solutions or
any that are going to bear significant fruit right away.
(06:56):
I mean, and Roberts. Roberts Delay, their head coach, said
recently about Zach Wilson, he's our unquestioned quarterback as long
as he continues to show his preparation the way he's
been practicing, and even in these games, he's not the
reason why we lost. It's always a team effort. As
long as he continues to show improvement. I know, from
(07:16):
a box score standpoint, it's not showing, but he's going
to be our quarterback again. I know fans don't want
to hear that stuff, but I think as the coach
of that team in this particular situation, he's doing the
right thing.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I agree completely, And you know he said there in
that quote, you just read from a box course box
score standpoint, it's not showing.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
It kind of did show in the box score.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
On Sunday Night against the Chiefs, he had a marvelous performance.
I know, I know, we dropped the snap and turned
back into the Zach Wilson we all know and love.
But he was playing a hell of a game going
toe to toe against Patrick Mahomes. I mean, loads, if
I'm the Jets, you just kind of grit your teeth,
get through the season and then hope Rogers is back
next year, right like you just kind of got to
bite the bullet.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yeah, and you know about that game specifically against the Chiefs,
the Jets got hosed.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Oh yeah, the Jets got host Oh boy.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
So but anyway, that's that's that's another subject totally.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Paul mclaney from Greytown, Ohio asks Presley Harvin the Third
was booming his punts during that Sunday night game against
the Raiders for the most part, great hang time and distance.
Is this what the Steelers saw on him when they
picked him?
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that it was, because you know,
it's not very often that the Steelers historically have used
any draft pick on a punter. You know, since Chuck
Noll was hired in nineteen sixty nine, the Steelers have
drafted a punter only five times. And you know, when
Noel first came on, were drafts were seventeen rounds, you know,
(08:45):
so and then there were it was shortened to twelve
and then to seven. So there was a good bit
of time since Mole was hired. When you know, if
you wanted a punter, you know, seventeen rounds offered you.
You know, a pretty number of you know, spins at
the wheel. So they've only done it five times. Craig
Colquitt was a number three pick in nineteen seventy eight,
(09:08):
John Goodson was a number eight pick in nineteen eighty two,
Harry Newsen was a number eight pick in nineteen eighty five,
Daniel Sepulvita was a number four pick in two thousand
and seven, and Presley Harvin was a number seven pick
in twenty twenty one. So when a team, an NFL team,
spends a draft pick on a kicker, punter or place kicker,
(09:30):
I'm pretty sure that the expectations are significant. And this
shows that, you know, the Steelers haven't done that very often.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Dale Geller from Cape Crall, Florida. I know that if
a player is signed off another team's practice squad, he
must be on the fifty three man roster for at
least three games.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
But does he have to be active for those three.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
No, he does not. He needs to be on the
game day ross. He does not have to be on
the game day roster for each those three games or
any of those three games. And as I mentioned in
a previous podcast, if you take a team excuse me,
if a team takes a player off on other team's
practice squad, he's got to be on the fifty three
(10:14):
man roster now, even for three games. And even if
they cut him, then they only have fifty two men
on their roster. So he's not only on the roster physically,
but he occupies that space whether he's on the roster
or not for the three games.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Memetstrat from New York.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
How is it determined when a timeout is a thirty
second timeout? I think that if the network doesn't have
any commercials to air, it can be a thirty second timeout.
If that is true, how does the network communicate that
to the officials so quickly?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Okay, if you're ever at a game on the sideline,
and it's always the home team's sideline out the twenty
yard line, so that these people are away from inside
the bench area. There are two guys standing there. One
guy has one of those like a fluorescent green baseball
(11:12):
caps on with the NFL logo, and there's another guy
who has They're they're kind of like those there would
be fluorescent orange sleeves just from.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Like elbow to ricks, like the shooting sleeve.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Okay, I don't know what that is, but it sounds like.
But anyway, they're wearing headsets. So those guys are in
communication with New York, which I mean I'm talking about
the NFL office in New York, and that whoever the
director of the broadcast is in the truck and everybody's
(11:52):
wired up. So whenever there is going to be a
stoppage or whatever, there's going to be a video review
or whatever, whatever there's going to be whatever there's gonna be, Uh,
it comes through those people to those people, and then
those people on the sideline get the information to the
on field referee, who is in charge of the pace
(12:14):
of the game. So, uh, just a couple of things
you'll see the guy with the orange sleeves, he will,
you know, with the uh uh referee's motion for illegal procedure,
false start if he does, excuse me, If the guy
with orange sleeves does that, that means keep it going,
(12:35):
We're not going to break. If the guy like either
crosses his arms over his chest or puts one arm
over his chest, that means we're going to break. And
then the'll the referee will keep an eye on that
guy and when he takes his hands away, that means
the break is over. So that's why a lot of
(12:56):
times you'll see during a replay review is an example,
the referee will be standing out. If you're at the game,
you see this a lot easier because he knows what
they're actually showing on television. But the referee will be
standing out on the field facing the home press box
because that's where the main TV camera is, and he'll
(13:19):
just stand there and wait. And a lot of times
you'll notice players on the teams. For example, if if
it's a if it's a review on a turnover, you know,
is it did the intercept, Did the guy who intercepted
the ball get both feet and downs in bounds or not? Okay,
So you're waiting to see waiting to see referee standing
(13:39):
out there, and you'll see sometimes the players on the
two teams will react because they already know what it's
going to be. So one team's offense will come out
or the defense will, you know what I mean, and
they'll start to get ready for what's going to be announced. Okay,
and that's when you know. Then the guy with the
orange leaves will take his hands away and do the
illegal procedure thing, and then you'll hear the referee click
(14:02):
on his mic and talk to the people. So that's
how that all works. Those are, you know, two guys
who you know, they may not have very much to
do at all with the final score or anything, but
they're pretty important to the product and the pace of
a football game every Sunday.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Some people in the league office might say they are
the most important to the products on Sundays and Monday nights.
Beth Maps from Eatonton, Georgia. During the most recent Steelers
game in primetime on a Sunday night in Vegas, when
players were announcing what college they attended, George Pickens said
Hoover High School and not University of Georgia.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
What gives?
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Okay, I got a question for you, Tom. Do you
think Beth either attended the University of Georgia or she's
a Bulldogs fan?
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Beth from Eatonton, Georgia.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Yeah, I'm gonna go out on a lim and say
she's a big Bulldogs man.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Okay, So you know, it's it's an assumption that the
players are to announce the college they attended. But I mean,
that's not a restriction and placed on the players by
the network. And I believe this is my personal opinion
that the network likes when the players go off script
a little bit. You know, it's interesting. Maybe it holds
(15:17):
the viewer's interest while that's going on, because if everybody
just mentions their college, it's kind of boring. You know,
hurry up, let's go, let's get to the game. It's
a lot of the things that I'm thinking when I'm
watching a game and that's happening. Now here's a little
you know, anecdote. Jack Lambert was very fond of making
(15:37):
fun of that, that whole procedure, and you know, I'm
sure you can imagine you know, Lambert enjoying that, you know,
making fun of it and there was a time where,
you know, a lot of times the player will give
his name and then say where he's from. So Lambert
got on one time and he said, Jack Lambert Buzzard's
(15:58):
breath Wyoming, like.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
He's a professional wrestler where he's built from?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
But uh that I think that was a Monday night
game because at the time that was those were the
only primetime games. And I think Howard Cosell, if I
remember the game correctly, Howard Cosell, I don't know if
he knew for sure it was a goof or he
just decided to play with it, you know, and he
kept referring to him a couple of times anyway as
(16:26):
being from Buzzard's breath Wyoming. You know, reality, Jack Lambert's
from Mantua is I believe that's how it's called pronounced Ohio.
And he played his foot college football ken Stake. But
you know, George George Pickens wasn't the first guy to
go off script a little bit, and at least he
didn't make fun of it, I would say, is a
(16:49):
kind way of saying you're from Buzzard's breath Wyoming as
Lambert did, or have fun with it. Let me put
it that way. But yeah, because Pickens is from Hoover, Alabama,
so and so he went to Ouver High School. So
it's a shout out to his hometown.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
So you're telling me when Ike Taylor used to say
he's from Swagen University, that's not a real school. Yes, no,
wonder They never got back to me when I kept applying, right.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Yeah, they don't have a broadcast journalism department.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Our final question today comes from Alonso Gomez from Puebla, Mexico.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
After watching the video game in Miami.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
A couple of weeks ago, when the Dolphins scored seventy
points in a win over Denver, I wonder how many times?
And who has the record for the most touchdowns in
a game for the Steelers. And how many is the
most points Pittsburgh scored in a game?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Okay, I'll deal with the last question first. The most
points scored in a game in franchise history was sixty
three to seven over the New York Giants in November thirtieth,
nineteen fifty two. And that's also the records Steelers record
for the most touchdowns in a game nine, you know,
(18:05):
nine times seven is sixty three for you know, those
of us without a calculator, thank you. So that's nine
touchdowns sixty three to seven would be the records for
most points in a game and most touchdowns in a game.
Just for a little historical perspective, Lynn Shad Noise a
half back, wing back, tailback. He's from Michigan State. Don't
(18:28):
tell pursuit of PURSUITA knows that. Don't think for a
second he doesn't. But he got things started. He returned
the opening kickoff ninety one yards for a touchdown, and
he also scored again. So the Steelers led fourteen nothing
in the first quarter. And this was total domination by
the Steelers over the Giants, who were, you know, a
good team the Giants in the in the fifties. They
(18:51):
were constantly competing for and often winning the Eastern Conference championship.
So you know, this was kind of a an amal
the fact that the Steelers beat them so badly. As
an example of the Steelers defense had seven interceptions, recovered
two fumbles, scored on a block punt, and beat the
Giants up badly physically. As for the team record for
(19:16):
most touchdowns scored in a game by an individual, okay,
that record is four, and it's shared by three players.
Ray Matthews had four and the Steelers first ever went
over the Cleveland Browns in October October seventeenth, nineteen fifty four.
Roy Jefferson November third, nineteen sixty eight. He was a
(19:38):
wide receiver. He scored four against the Atlanta Falcons. And
here's the name some people might remember, Chase Claypool mister.
October eleventh, twenty twenty, during his rookie season, he scored
four against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Things are going great for him in Chicago right now.
I don't know if you've seen any of those reports
out of Bears country not happy with Claypool.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Well, I don't think anything's going real well for the
Bears at this point, but yes, I I have seen
reports that he's on the trading block or whatever. I mean.
You never know what to believe, but yes, things are
not going well and in the Windy City for the
home teams football.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Team, Steelers scored sixty three points in that win over
the Giants in nineteen way back.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
When hopefully they can get even maybe a quarter.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Of those points against the Ravens on Sunday, I'm sure
that would go a long way to help a lot
of people feel confident in them getting the win. Ravens
come to town. It's Ravens Week. Akroscher Stadium at one
o'clock is the kickoff. Steelers try to get back on
track and get their second AFC North win under their
belt in the twenty twenty three season. That'll do it
for us today. For Bob Labriel, I'm Tom Oferman. As always,
(20:51):
thanks for sending in your questions to Labs. Get them
in now and hopefully you hear them on a future
episode and we'll be back again next week on Aston
Answered
This is Asked and Answered questions with Tom Up for
me and Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I gotta say, Labs, I'm pretty pleased to be here
this morning with you for ask and answered. Once I
heard Tomlin after the game on Sunday say there was
going to be a lot of changes, I was for
sure thinking I was at the top of that list.
Get me off of this podcast, maybe just kill this
podcast altogether.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
So thank god I wake the sweat off my brow now.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I heard the changes where we were going to do
two of these a week.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
No, I would think I'd rather be fired.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But what do you make of that comment from coach
t I mean, you hear obviously the civilians think it's
going to be like a blood offering is in the making.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Now fire everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Do you think it's that extreme or do you think
you know, obviously you need to make changes when you
just lost thirty to six to Houston.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. You know, Mike Tomlin
has never been a guy and I'm going to use
one of his own sayings, never been one to shoot hostage,
and you know, I just don't know, you know, the
kinds of things that fans I think want. I just
(01:11):
don't know how realistic they are, you know. I mean
there are fans out there calling for Ben to become
the offensive coordinator, and I mean, let me just say
this about that. Ben has no interest. People, Ben has
no interest. I mean you would have to probably get
a court order, you know, to get him to do that.
(01:32):
So you know, Ben is, Ben's not interested in coaching
anyone but maybe his son's son's little league team, little
league football team. You know, Ben could probably coach baseball
or whatever other sport you know, kids his son's age play.
But uh, you know the guy, uh, he's he's he's
(01:55):
living his best life. Not leave him alone. I mean,
he he earned retirement. He earned, you know, to retire
at the with the security, financial security and other stuff
that he has. He earned that. I'll leave him alone.
I mean, people think that there's some kind of mandatory
(02:15):
lifetime responsibility, you know, for for what it was. It
was a job. And yeah, you love the team, you
love the franchise, you love the fan, I mean all
of that good stuff. I get it. But you know
Ben's done leave them alone. So that's just ridiculous. So
(02:37):
but anyway, I don't know what kind of changes you
could make, you know, because let's the example I'm always using,
is this one Desmond King that was a Pro Bowl
all excuse me an all pro cornerback at one stage, right.
You don't get him until after the fifty three man
rosters are the original fifty three man rosters are formed.
(02:59):
And he hasn't played I don't know that if it's
any defensive snaps. But he has not played any kind
of meaningful defensive snaps so far this regular season. And
this is only defense he's learning, you know, and that
and the audibles and the checks and everything. So imagine
we're gonna, you know, and what offensive coordinator is on
(03:22):
the street right now, you know, I mean I you know, again,
I'm not discounting, you know, the fans frustration, but it's
just I just don't know. I don't know what what
they what they think can happen and it's going to
be successful, and they weren't successful immediately.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know now that they're banging the table for a
change at the OC, of course, but if you make
that change, and it probably doesn't yield to any different
results because, like you just said, your four games into
the season. What can you really change about your offense?
You can't overhaul it completely. At this point in the season,
they're gonna get Matt all over again. It's just going
(04:06):
to be take out one name and insert the other one.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, and you know you bring in someone again. Offensive
coordinators often come with, you know, their own systems, or
at least the own framework of their systems. Well, they
can't install a new system, now, I mean, that's it's
it's absurd. So anyway, let's let's hear what the fans
have to say.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
All right, Well, let's get right to the questions today.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Our first one comes from Stephen Schrader from Portland, Oregon,
and he wants to know when do you think the
Jets will contact the Steelers about Mason Rudolph?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
What are they waiting for labs.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
You know, Stephen, if you are the one who's waiting
for the Jets to contact the Steelers about acquiring Mason
Rudolph in the trade, because that's what it would have
to be, I believe it's going to be a long
wait and you're going to end up disappointed because you know,
I just gave the example of Desmond King. Okay, now
(05:05):
we're talking about a quarterback. You're adding a quarterback to
a roster who has absolutely no experience with your team,
with your players, with your offensive system. We're into the
regular season again. I don't think that the Jets are
going to add or make a trade for someone that
(05:29):
they want to start, because how long are you gonna
have to wait for that for the guy to become,
you know, well versed in the offense, and you know,
if there's audibles or learning the personnel I mean, or
any of that stuff. And if you're just going to
acquire a guy to be a backup to Zach Wilson, well,
(05:51):
I mean there are guys out there. You can do
that too. Sign them to the practice squad. You know,
it doesn't cost you anything. The guy can learn a
little bit, you know, and you hope that if I'm
the Jets, you hope that you know, you can get
by with your defense and Zach Wilson develops a little
bit and you know, gives you a chance to win
(06:11):
some games. I mean, let's let's face it, there are
no good options for the Jets. They went all in
on Aaron Rodgers in terms of, you know, the commitment
to him as a player, then the financial commitment to
him with their salary cap, and he lasts only four
plays and tears and achilles. I mean, you know, the
Jets have to be you know, I don't know, snake
(06:32):
bit or whatever whatever cliche you want to use for
really really bad luck. So I mean, you know it's
I don't want to tell the Jets to just pack
it in and you know it's over. But I don't
see there that there are any easy, simple solutions or
any that are going to bear significant fruit right away.
(06:56):
I mean, and Roberts. Roberts Delay, their head coach, said
recently about Zach Wilson, he's our unquestioned quarterback as long
as he continues to show his preparation the way he's
been practicing, and even in these games, he's not the
reason why we lost. It's always a team effort. As
long as he continues to show improvement. I know, from
(07:16):
a box score standpoint, it's not showing, but he's going
to be our quarterback again. I know fans don't want
to hear that stuff, but I think as the coach
of that team in this particular situation, he's doing the
right thing.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I agree completely, And you know he said there in
that quote, you just read from a box course box
score standpoint, it's not showing.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
It kind of did show in the box score.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
On Sunday Night against the Chiefs, he had a marvelous performance.
I know, I know, we dropped the snap and turned
back into the Zach Wilson we all know and love.
But he was playing a hell of a game going
toe to toe against Patrick Mahomes. I mean, loads, if
I'm the Jets, you just kind of grit your teeth,
get through the season and then hope Rogers is back
next year, right like you just kind of got to
bite the bullet.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yeah, and you know about that game specifically against the Chiefs,
the Jets got hosed.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Oh yeah, the Jets got host Oh boy.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
So but anyway, that's that's that's another subject totally.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Paul mclaney from Greytown, Ohio asks Presley Harvin the Third
was booming his punts during that Sunday night game against
the Raiders for the most part, great hang time and distance.
Is this what the Steelers saw on him when they
picked him?
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that it was, because you know,
it's not very often that the Steelers historically have used
any draft pick on a punter. You know, since Chuck
Noll was hired in nineteen sixty nine, the Steelers have
drafted a punter only five times. And you know, when
Noel first came on, were drafts were seventeen rounds, you know,
(08:45):
so and then there were it was shortened to twelve
and then to seven. So there was a good bit
of time since Mole was hired. When you know, if
you wanted a punter, you know, seventeen rounds offered you.
You know, a pretty number of you know, spins at
the wheel. So they've only done it five times. Craig
Colquitt was a number three pick in nineteen seventy eight,
(09:08):
John Goodson was a number eight pick in nineteen eighty two,
Harry Newsen was a number eight pick in nineteen eighty five,
Daniel Sepulvita was a number four pick in two thousand
and seven, and Presley Harvin was a number seven pick
in twenty twenty one. So when a team, an NFL team,
spends a draft pick on a kicker, punter or place kicker,
(09:30):
I'm pretty sure that the expectations are significant. And this
shows that, you know, the Steelers haven't done that very often.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Dale Geller from Cape Crall, Florida. I know that if
a player is signed off another team's practice squad, he
must be on the fifty three man roster for at
least three games.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
But does he have to be active for those three.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
No, he does not. He needs to be on the
game day ross. He does not have to be on
the game day roster for each those three games or
any of those three games. And as I mentioned in
a previous podcast, if you take a team excuse me,
if a team takes a player off on other team's
practice squad, he's got to be on the fifty three
(10:14):
man roster now, even for three games. And even if
they cut him, then they only have fifty two men
on their roster. So he's not only on the roster physically,
but he occupies that space whether he's on the roster
or not for the three games.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Memetstrat from New York.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
How is it determined when a timeout is a thirty
second timeout? I think that if the network doesn't have
any commercials to air, it can be a thirty second timeout.
If that is true, how does the network communicate that
to the officials so quickly?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Okay, if you're ever at a game on the sideline,
and it's always the home team's sideline out the twenty
yard line, so that these people are away from inside
the bench area. There are two guys standing there. One
guy has one of those like a fluorescent green baseball
(11:12):
caps on with the NFL logo, and there's another guy
who has They're they're kind of like those there would
be fluorescent orange sleeves just from.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Like elbow to ricks, like the shooting sleeve.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Okay, I don't know what that is, but it sounds like.
But anyway, they're wearing headsets. So those guys are in
communication with New York, which I mean I'm talking about
the NFL office in New York, and that whoever the
director of the broadcast is in the truck and everybody's
(11:52):
wired up. So whenever there is going to be a
stoppage or whatever, there's going to be a video review
or whatever, whatever there's going to be whatever there's gonna be, Uh,
it comes through those people to those people, and then
those people on the sideline get the information to the
on field referee, who is in charge of the pace
(12:14):
of the game. So, uh, just a couple of things
you'll see the guy with the orange sleeves, he will,
you know, with the uh uh referee's motion for illegal procedure,
false start if he does, excuse me, If the guy
with orange sleeves does that, that means keep it going,
(12:35):
We're not going to break. If the guy like either
crosses his arms over his chest or puts one arm
over his chest, that means we're going to break. And
then the'll the referee will keep an eye on that
guy and when he takes his hands away, that means
the break is over. So that's why a lot of
(12:56):
times you'll see during a replay review is an example,
the referee will be standing out. If you're at the game,
you see this a lot easier because he knows what
they're actually showing on television. But the referee will be
standing out on the field facing the home press box
because that's where the main TV camera is, and he'll
(13:19):
just stand there and wait. And a lot of times
you'll notice players on the teams. For example, if if
it's a if it's a review on a turnover, you know,
is it did the intercept, Did the guy who intercepted
the ball get both feet and downs in bounds or not? Okay,
So you're waiting to see waiting to see referee standing
(13:39):
out there, and you'll see sometimes the players on the
two teams will react because they already know what it's
going to be. So one team's offense will come out
or the defense will, you know what I mean, and
they'll start to get ready for what's going to be announced. Okay,
and that's when you know. Then the guy with the
orange leaves will take his hands away and do the
illegal procedure thing, and then you'll hear the referee click
(14:02):
on his mic and talk to the people. So that's
how that all works. Those are, you know, two guys
who you know, they may not have very much to
do at all with the final score or anything, but
they're pretty important to the product and the pace of
a football game every Sunday.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Some people in the league office might say they are
the most important to the products on Sundays and Monday nights.
Beth Maps from Eatonton, Georgia. During the most recent Steelers
game in primetime on a Sunday night in Vegas, when
players were announcing what college they attended, George Pickens said
Hoover High School and not University of Georgia.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
What gives?
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Okay, I got a question for you, Tom. Do you
think Beth either attended the University of Georgia or she's
a Bulldogs fan?
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Beth from Eatonton, Georgia.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Yeah, I'm gonna go out on a lim and say
she's a big Bulldogs man.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Okay, So you know, it's it's an assumption that the
players are to announce the college they attended. But I mean,
that's not a restriction and placed on the players by
the network. And I believe this is my personal opinion
that the network likes when the players go off script
a little bit. You know, it's interesting. Maybe it holds
(15:17):
the viewer's interest while that's going on, because if everybody
just mentions their college, it's kind of boring. You know,
hurry up, let's go, let's get to the game. It's
a lot of the things that I'm thinking when I'm
watching a game and that's happening. Now here's a little
you know, anecdote. Jack Lambert was very fond of making
(15:37):
fun of that, that whole procedure, and you know, I'm
sure you can imagine you know, Lambert enjoying that, you know,
making fun of it and there was a time where,
you know, a lot of times the player will give
his name and then say where he's from. So Lambert
got on one time and he said, Jack Lambert Buzzard's
(15:58):
breath Wyoming, like.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
He's a professional wrestler where he's built from?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
But uh that I think that was a Monday night
game because at the time that was those were the
only primetime games. And I think Howard Cosell, if I
remember the game correctly, Howard Cosell, I don't know if
he knew for sure it was a goof or he
just decided to play with it, you know, and he
kept referring to him a couple of times anyway as
(16:26):
being from Buzzard's breath Wyoming. You know, reality, Jack Lambert's
from Mantua is I believe that's how it's called pronounced Ohio.
And he played his foot college football ken Stake. But
you know, George George Pickens wasn't the first guy to
go off script a little bit, and at least he
didn't make fun of it, I would say, is a
(16:49):
kind way of saying you're from Buzzard's breath Wyoming as
Lambert did, or have fun with it. Let me put
it that way. But yeah, because Pickens is from Hoover, Alabama,
so and so he went to Ouver High School. So
it's a shout out to his hometown.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
So you're telling me when Ike Taylor used to say
he's from Swagen University, that's not a real school. Yes, no,
wonder They never got back to me when I kept applying, right.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Yeah, they don't have a broadcast journalism department.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Our final question today comes from Alonso Gomez from Puebla, Mexico.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
After watching the video game in Miami.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
A couple of weeks ago, when the Dolphins scored seventy
points in a win over Denver, I wonder how many times?
And who has the record for the most touchdowns in
a game for the Steelers. And how many is the
most points Pittsburgh scored in a game?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Okay, I'll deal with the last question first. The most
points scored in a game in franchise history was sixty
three to seven over the New York Giants in November thirtieth,
nineteen fifty two. And that's also the records Steelers record
for the most touchdowns in a game nine, you know,
(18:05):
nine times seven is sixty three for you know, those
of us without a calculator, thank you. So that's nine
touchdowns sixty three to seven would be the records for
most points in a game and most touchdowns in a game.
Just for a little historical perspective, Lynn Shad Noise a
half back, wing back, tailback. He's from Michigan State. Don't
(18:28):
tell pursuit of PURSUITA knows that. Don't think for a
second he doesn't. But he got things started. He returned
the opening kickoff ninety one yards for a touchdown, and
he also scored again. So the Steelers led fourteen nothing
in the first quarter. And this was total domination by
the Steelers over the Giants, who were, you know, a
good team the Giants in the in the fifties. They
(18:51):
were constantly competing for and often winning the Eastern Conference championship.
So you know, this was kind of a an amal
the fact that the Steelers beat them so badly. As
an example of the Steelers defense had seven interceptions, recovered
two fumbles, scored on a block punt, and beat the
Giants up badly physically. As for the team record for
(19:16):
most touchdowns scored in a game by an individual, okay,
that record is four, and it's shared by three players.
Ray Matthews had four and the Steelers first ever went
over the Cleveland Browns in October October seventeenth, nineteen fifty four.
Roy Jefferson November third, nineteen sixty eight. He was a
(19:38):
wide receiver. He scored four against the Atlanta Falcons. And
here's the name some people might remember, Chase Claypool mister.
October eleventh, twenty twenty, during his rookie season, he scored
four against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Things are going great for him in Chicago right now.
I don't know if you've seen any of those reports
out of Bears country not happy with Claypool.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Well, I don't think anything's going real well for the
Bears at this point, but yes, I I have seen
reports that he's on the trading block or whatever. I mean.
You never know what to believe, but yes, things are
not going well and in the Windy City for the
home teams football.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Team, Steelers scored sixty three points in that win over
the Giants in nineteen way back.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
When hopefully they can get even maybe a quarter.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Of those points against the Ravens on Sunday, I'm sure
that would go a long way to help a lot
of people feel confident in them getting the win. Ravens
come to town. It's Ravens Week. Akroscher Stadium at one
o'clock is the kickoff. Steelers try to get back on
track and get their second AFC North win under their
belt in the twenty twenty three season. That'll do it
for us today. For Bob Labriel, I'm Tom Oferman. As always,
(20:51):
thanks for sending in your questions to Labs. Get them
in now and hopefully you hear them on a future
episode and we'll be back again next week on Aston
Answered
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