October 24, 2023 • 26 mins
Labs and Tom talk about Kenny Pickett and his 4th quarter heroics. Then they get into this week’s batch of questions
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You know, Labs, the quarterback position is supposed to get
harder to play as the game reaches weightier moments, like
the fourth quarter. Someone might want to tell Kenny Pickett that,
though I don't think the young man subscribes to that
theory so far in his career.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
No, the guy, you know, there's a lot of things
that he needs to improve upon. I mean, the guy
is this was what his eighteenth career started, and so
he's still very you know, early on in his NFL career.
And you know, I think one of the things working
against Kenny Pickett at this moment is he follows Ben Roethlisberger.
(00:44):
Good point. People think people think that, you know, and
you remember too how much moaning and whining there was
about Ben. You know, he's not this, he's not that,
he can't do this, he doesn't do that, you know,
whatever it is. But you know, I've I've held this
belief for a long time. Steelers fans really had no
idea what they had with him, and so maybe you know,
(01:10):
and it's unfortunate that Kenny Pickett is bearing the brunt
of this. But now maybe people are starting to realize
a little bit what Ben was and what he accomplished
and how clutch he was in so many situations. Second half,
fourth quarter, last drive. You know, Terry Bradshaw on The
(01:32):
The Fox whatever their studio show is called, he referred
to Kenny Pickett as the perfect quarterback for the Steelers
and he listed some you know, pickets, qualities, personal and otherwise.
You know, he's he's not selfish. He doesn't mind just
handing the ball off or you know, distributing to his teammates.
(01:54):
And you know, I tend to agree with him in
a lot of ways. You know there, As I said
when we started this, there's a lot of things Kenny
Pickett is not at this point in his career. But
you can't and I think we talked about this in
a previous podcast. He's already got two fourth quarter wins
against the Ravens. Against the Ravens and so, you know,
(02:18):
think about that for a second. How difficult that is.
First of all, just to do that. Second of all,
you know one of those was in Baltimore. You know,
the Ravens are a tough team, physical team, they're the
Steelers number one rival in the AFC North. So you know,
I just think that people should maybe you know, dial
(02:43):
it back on what Kenny Pickett is not and be
thankful for what he is. And you know, speaking of
what he is, here's what he was in the second
half against the Rams. He was eleven of twelve, which
was ninety one point seven percent for those mathematically challenged
in our studio audience, there for fifty for one hundred
(03:08):
and fifty two yards. He had a one yard touchdown
running the third quarter, he converted a third and one
with a two yard quarterback sneak, and then he sent
the game into victory formation with that one yard quarterback
sneak just outside of the two minute warning. So you know,
as I said, I do think I do agree with
Terry Bradshaw that this is the guy for the Steelers
(03:30):
at this time. No, he's not Ben. He's never going
to be Ben. It's just like in college he was
not Dan Marino. You know, people need to get over
some of this stuff and just appreciate players for what
they actually are instead of what they might hope them
to be.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, it's hard not to appreciate what Kenny did in
that second half against the Rams and what he's been
able to do in the fourth quarter throughout his career.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You mentioned Terry Bradshaw.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It's very apropos because he's at the center of our
first question today from Nate Geisler from Boise, Idaho, who
wants to know on Sunday the Steelers traveled to Los.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Angeles to play the Rams.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
It made me think of Super Bowl fourteen, which the
Steelers won thirty one to nineteen. I know Terry Bradshaw
was the MVP of that Super Bowl, but he threw
three interceptions in the game. I always thought the MVP
should have been wide receiver John Stalworth for his big catches,
much like what happened in Super Bowl ten with Lynn Swan.
What are your thoughts about Super Bowl fourteen and Bradshaw
(04:28):
as the MVP, labs pat on the back.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I got the row of numerals right.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
This time at a boy knew I knew you were
studying in between all night. Yes, yep, okay, So let
me let me just start with some statistics from that game,
super Bowl fourteen. In that game, Bradshaw completed fourteen of
twenty one, which is sixty seven percent three hundred and
(04:51):
nine yards. He threw two touchdown passes and he had
three interceptions, and his rating was one oh one point nine,
which is a very high rating for a guy, a
quarterback who throws three interceptions in a game. But that
shows you one of the categories that they used to
compute passer rating in the NFL is yards per completion. Okay,
(05:15):
and again Bradshaw completed only fourteen passes, but those were
for three hundred and nine yards. There was no dink
and dunk in that game. He was going down the field. Okay.
So now by comparison, because Nate mentions John Stalworth, Stalworth
cut three passes for one hundred and twenty one yards.
One of those was the seventy three yard touchdown and
(05:37):
another one was for forty five yards that converted a
third and seven in the fourth quarter on the last
drive that ended up with Frank o'harris scoring that touchdown,
one yard touchdown that made the final score what it was,
thirty one to nineteen. Okay, Now, Nate mentions Lynn Swan.
You know, it's hard to argue against John Stalworth, but
(06:00):
in that game he only had three catches. You know,
Swan had more catches than three, and there really wasn't
well in the video of what Swan did in Super
Bowl ten was very compelling, and you know, there really
wasn't anyone else who is that outstanding. So I'm not again,
(06:25):
I don't want to minimize what Swan did, but you know,
Stalworths would have been a tough sell for me in
Super Bowl fourteen as the MVP. Now just to play
along with Nate here to identify a second candidate besides Bradshaw,
I would point to Jack Lambert to refresh everyone's memory.
(06:47):
In that game, Lambert was in on fourteen tackles, ton
of them solo, so he was around a little bit
making some plays. And then it was his interception that
came into Steelers fourteen year line with five twenty four
left in the fourth quarter and that preserved what was
at the time a Steelers twenty four to nineteen lead.
(07:08):
Then that started the offense, you know, on that final
game clinching touchdown drive I mentioned that ended with Franco
Harris's one yard run. So I'm not going to make
the case the Bradshaw is undeserving, But if you're asking
me for a second choice from that game, I would
I would have picked the.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Lambert Edward Bond trigger from McKee, Kentucky asks, do our
edge rushers participate primarily in the linebackers or defensive line room?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Actually, you know the Steelers on their coaching staff, they
have an inside linebackers coach that's Aaron Curry, and then
an outside linebackers coach and that's Denzel Martin. So when
they're doing position meetings, each of the groups go with
their respective coaches. So just you know, Landon Roberts, I'm
(08:00):
just giving you some examples here Landon Roberts, Cole Holcome, Kwan,
Alexander as examples there with Aaron Curry, T. J. Watt,
Alonzo high Smith, Nick Herbig, Marcus Golden there with Denzel Martin.
And then those are the you know, the smallest meetings
and their meetings with a defensive coordinator, et cetera, et cetera.
(08:22):
But I'm hoping that answers at Edward's question.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I think it's going to be a fun time in
the film room for Nick her Big when he sees
that first sack of the year. It was awesome to
see the entire outside linebacker corps, the whole defense gets
so excited for the kid, and his interview after the
game with Missy Labs on our radio network was unbelievable.
The kid felt like he just won the Super.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Bowl, well, you know, and he's working really hard at it.
And one of the things I liked about him was
and I don't know if it was Missy or I
read it or I don't, cause I don't remember a
lot of times after the game, it's a blur, but
my recollection is Nick Herbig said something to the effect
that he saw a long earth. He saw one of
(09:04):
the other outside linebackers, one of the starters. I don't
remember which one. It was, either TJ. Watt or Alex
Heismith use that move to beat the I think it
was Heismith used that move to beat the tackle. Yes, okay, yeah,
And so then Nick Kirbig went out and said, well,
you know, I saw Alex Heismith do this. I'm gonna
(09:24):
do it too. Now. That shows me two things that
I was really impressed me. Number one that he's paying
attention right, you know, and number two that it's so
quick he sees it he does it. There was no
practice in between, you know, when Alex Heismith sacked the
quarterback and when Nick Krbig then went into the game,
so you know, it was one of those they call
(09:46):
it a see do thing. You know, he saw it
and then he went out and did it. And he
did it in an NFL level good enough to beat
an NFL offensive offensive left tackle and make a sack
in a regular season game. So yeah, he deserves to
be excited and Steelers fans should be excited about him.
I think he's going to be a really good.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Player me too, in such a great personality.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
He also said in that postgame interview he wasn't really
supposed to rush on that play, so whoops, thank god
he got to the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Anyway, Well, you.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Know, let me let me let me just tell Nick this.
And James Harrison wasn't supposed to drop in the coverage
in Super Bowl forty three either, But sometimes you know,
if your instincts are right and you make the play,
you're a hero. Anyway.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Thomas White from Gardendale, Alabama, with all the excitement around
the Desmond King acquisition, why was he let go so soon?
Speaker 1 (10:37):
You know, as it turns out, And you know, and
I think I'm a little guilty of this as well.
The excitement around the des Desmond King acquisition was overrated,
and you know, looking back on it now, we can
see some of the signs that should have indicated to
us that that was the case. I mean, Desmond King
was a veteran player many years in the league. He
(11:00):
got to Pittsburgh in early September. It took him about
a month to learn defense sufficiently to even get onto
the field. Okay. Then his first and only defensive snap
in a regular season game for the Steelers was against
the Ravens on October eighth, and that was justin Hill's
fourteen yard touchdown run. Now I'm not saying that was
King's fault, but he had a chance to make a tackle,
(11:23):
but he could not keep Hill out of the end zone.
So you know, again, Justice Hill is a good player,
and you know all that other stuff, but you know,
Desmond King was not, you know, the second coming of
Rod Woodson. So you know, as the as the Steelers
(11:44):
entered their bye week, as I mentioned, King had only
played that one defensive snap and fifteen special team snaps.
So I think the Steelers thought they were getting a
little bit more in King that they actually got and
you know, the why was the movie because you know,
I'm sure that we saw what he did in the game,
(12:05):
which was a small sample size and it wasn't anything.
But he was in practice every day, and you know,
I think that what the coaches saw, they just didn't
think that the guy was gonna work out, you know.
And let me just point this out too. Before they
cut him, the Steelers made it known that he was
available in the trade. Right again, he's a veteran. I'm
(12:26):
sure that it would have been some sort of conditional
seventh round pick or you know, one of those you know,
we'll send him to you for this and that and
you send us back this, which is basically swapping of
picks in around or something. No nibbles. So yeah, it's
(12:47):
as I said, I just think it was overrated from
the beginning. You know, we'll see if Darius Rush turns
out to be more than that or just another that
kind of situation. But you know, the Steelers have out
added him to the roster. They claimed to him off
a practice squad, and one thing he's got for him
(13:07):
is size. So with Joey Porter Junior, Darius Rush and
Corey Trice Junior, you know, the Steelers, if hoping that
Trice comes back from his knee surgery, they're gonna have
like three corners in the six two sixty three range,
which you know, hopefully if they can all can play,
that that might be something not to look forward to.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Speaking of the practice squad, Well Macintosh from Bellevue, Florida
has a practice squad question. If the Steelers don't feel
anyone is worthy of the practice squad, are teams required
to carry the number the maximum number of players allowed
on that squad by the NFL? And what is the
total number that is allowed?
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Okay, the maximum number on a practice squad is sixteen
and there is no minimum, so you know, a team
can have whatever number on its practice squad between zero
and sixteen that it chooses. Let me just point this
out too, to will all those guys in the practice
squad count on the salary cap. So sometimes, and I'm
(14:07):
not saying this happens a lot, but I'm sure it
happens every now and then, the number of players on
the practice squad might reflect the team's cap number or
their situation in terms of being under the cap, because,
as I said, those guys have to count.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Stan Ramancuz from Whosick Falls, New York.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
I was at the game versus the Ravens, and Mason
Rudolph was in uniform and on the field during warmups
even though he was listed as an active for the game.
What is the rule on that for an active players?
Was he allowed to warm up due to being the
emergency quarterback?
Speaker 1 (14:41):
I'm just going to give you Stan, what the NFL
says about this. The quote is about the rule a
designated emergency third quarterback may participate with the club's active
players during the official team warm up period. So there
you go, very.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Simp from the NFL. There, Phil Abraham chang, very direct. Yes,
Phil Abraham.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
No lawyer, no lawyer, no lawyer ese this time.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
No, you're good.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Phil Abraham from Erie, Pennsylvania. In your opinion, Well, the
Steelers ever turned to Mitch Trubisky to hopefully get a
spark if the offense continues to struggle.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Come on, Phil, had.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
The fourth quarter comeback like the fifth one of his
career is four and two.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Well, let me, you know, let me just absolve phili
this this question was not sent in this morning.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Okay, good, but.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
You know, I I do think that the that the
situation that existed with Kenny Pickett from the Houston game
to the Ravens game should answer this question. I mean,
just to refresh everyone's memory. Can he pick an injureduce
knee against in Houston against the Texans? Okay? And then
he was he got himself ready to practice and practice
(16:00):
during the week, and then he played against the Ravens
and the Steelers won that game. I'm not saying he
was the second coming of Dan Marino or Ben Roethlisberger,
but it was a winning performance by a starting quarterback
against the Baltimore Ravens. Everyone. Let me keep refreshing everyone's
memory about that. And if anyone was had some free
(16:24):
time on Sunday and was watching Baltimore against Detroit, yeah,
how they do? Yeah, So there's that so anyway, but
that to me is proof that whenever Kenny Pickett is
healthy enough to play, he will be the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Pat Flynn from Oakdale, Pennsylvania. Does it matter to the
players if the offensive coordinator a defensive coordinator is sitting
in the press box or standing on the sidelines. Is
there an advantage to the coordinator of being in the
press box or sidelines for game management.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
I've never heard of a single player ever having an
opinion on one of the offensive coordinator or the defensive
coordinator was on the sideline or in the coach's box.
Just to use the offense as an example, because now
this is on TV all the time. Matt Canada is
in the in the coaches box, Pat Sullivan, the quarterbacks coach,
(17:19):
is on the field, and so that's why you see
a lot of times, you know, when there is an
offensive huddle or when they come off the field, the
person to go up to Kenny Pickett and talk to
him is Mike Sullivan. And you know, oftentimes obviously you
see them wearing headsets, so you know Matt Canada can
(17:41):
be talking to Mike Sullivan. So you know it's it's
and it's not like and if it's and if it's necessary.
You know, it's very easy for Kenny Pickett to be
wired in to the conversation as well. I mean, the
technology down there is is pretty good. So being in
the in the coach's box doesn't necessarily mean that the
(18:02):
guy is away from some duties that he needs to perform,
because again, as I said, you know, you're just a
click away on one of those little boxes that they
snap onto your waistband and you're wired right into the conversation.
So no, players don't care. I can't believe that they do.
And you know, the decision on the location, in my experience,
(18:25):
has always been a matter of personal preference for the coordinator,
and then of course, you know, the head coach has
to go along with it. And I don't know of
any instances either where a coordinator chose one or the
other and the head coach said, no, you're not doing
it that way, because obviously you want your coordinator to
(18:46):
be comfortable, you know, with what he's doing during when
he's supposed to be doing it. And so you know,
to me, that would be just a raging, ego maniac
move by the head coach. And I don't know any
who would really stoop that love for that particular issue.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Who do you think the cameras love more in game?
Matt Canada during Steelers games or Taylor Swift during Chiefs games.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's close, right, I'll.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Tell you, I'll tell you who I love more, But
I mean, my opinion doesn't better.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Nate McSorley from Cameron, Montana. I constantly constantly see players
with mouthguards dangling from their face masks during play. Is
it required by the NFL for players to use mouthguards?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
No, No, it's not. I mean, they're pros, so take
care of your teeth, and yeah, you know, and sometimes
you write exactly. I mean, I'm sure that it's encouraged,
but I mean, you know, and let's not forget not
only are they pros, but they have a union. And
certainly the NFL is not going to take on the
(19:48):
union over something like mouthguards because there are bigger issues,
more financially lucrative issues at stake in collective bargaining. And
so the answer is no, and it's always going to
be no, because I just don't think that the union
cares enough about it and need it as a league.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
I do miss Benny Snell's mouth guard though, that had
the wheel on the front that spun whenever he would breathe.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
That was that was pretty That.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Was pretty cool. Nathan Casey from Roanoke, Virginia. Do the
Steelers hold open tryouts for the team in the off season?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
I guess this story.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Could you imagine that open tryouts? I mean, could you
imagine the collection of individuals who might show up for that.
I mean, I cannot imagine a realistic scenario where anyone
could be unearthed that way, you know, discovered a legitimate talent,
(20:49):
because you know, let's face it, the scouting that goes
on now. You know, the Steelers have scouts who are
dedicated to combing through the CFL, the USFL, the XFL,
all of those leagues. So if you're not playing for
anybody anywhere, I don't think you have a shot. And
(21:15):
here's the other thing, besides the fact that it would
be the gong show. Guy can get injured and then
there's liability there. So what the NFL's the NFL League
Council and the Individual Teams Council would say, no, we're
not doing this. Some guy blows out a knee or something,
(21:35):
and you know he could sue you, and you know, liability,
bad publicity. There's there's a thousand reasons why that's a
hard no.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Edward Charnie from forty Fort, Pennsylvania. I have noticed this
year in the NFL that an increasing number of penalty
flags are being waved off after consultation among multiple officials.
Have you noticed this trend, and if so, is this
directive from the NFL to eliminate penalties that can change
the scope and tenor of a game.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Oh, Edwar'd pushing one of my favorite buttons here, not
only NFL officiating, but this particular issue of NFL officiating.
This frustrates me to no end. This is so annoying.
A penalty flag is thrown, okay, and then they all
(22:25):
get together and talk and Chuck No will always derisively
refer to that as an administrative session. And then they
come out of this conversation and announce what it is. Now,
my complaint number one is whoever threw this flag. I'm
speaking to you right now. If you don't know what
(22:47):
you saw for sure, don't throw the flag, don't guess,
don't assume you know, leave it alone. If you don't
know for sure, leave it alone. And then, you know,
let them play. Let the game unfold via what the
players do on the field, you know. And I hate this,
(23:07):
and and I don't know this for a fact, but
you know there there are officials on the sideline. And
I do believe the referee too, is plugged in. He's
got something in his year. Okay, So who do you
think's talking to him? Have any any So now we're
(23:28):
involved in things where possibly there could be review of
things that are not reviewable according to the rules. So
I just hate all of that. If you don't know
for sure, then you shouldn't throw the flag. And if
you throw the flag and then there's an administrative session,
you should be the guy who says, no, I'm not
backing off this call. I saw this, it's had happened.
(23:52):
That's my call. But no, we don't. That's that's not
the way it works. So thank you Edward for getting
my blood pressure high. No, I'm just kidding, but it
is my number one pet bee about officiating.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Just one more question to go here, labs.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Then you can, you know, you can lay down, maybe
take a drink of some wine and relax a little bit.
Austin Hackett from Denver, Colorado wants to know do you
know when the decision on which day the Steelers Colts
game in Indianapolis will be announced? It's currently listed as
December sixteenth or December seventeenth.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
I'm hoping to travel to.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Indianapolis for the game and don't know what day to
put book a flight home.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Okay, what all I can tell you is this, that
decision on the day and the time will be made
no later than after week thirteen, which is two weeks
before the Colts game in Indianapolis, which is week fifteen.
That's the best I can do, you know, Just stay
(24:46):
stay loose, Austin, and you know, keep watching. And as
soon as the league comes up with some sort of
decision on that, it'll be on the website, It'll be
on all the Steelers many media platforms. You know. That's
information we want to get out to our fans as
quickly as possible.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Steelers return home this Sunday and are home for their
next three games, starting with the Jags at Akroshuer Stadium Labs.
The tables set up pretty nicely for the Steelers to
go on a nice little run here, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Is that when the trouble usually starts.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
When well, you know, I just I don't believe, you know,
and I'm not ripping this team or anything but this,
you know, like Mike Tomlins said after the game in
Los Angeles, every week, it's going to be a fight.
These Steelers are not that kind of team where you
can look at an opponent and say they should win this,
(25:43):
they will win this game, or they should win this game.
You know Jacksonville. What are they five and two? Ye
something like that. Yeah, okay, so you know the Jaguars
are no you know, speed bump here. You know, look
at what happened last week in the NFL. Boys and girls,
I mean everybody who had New England beaten Buffalo raise
your right hand seriously. So you know didn't Denver win
(26:09):
Denver one?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, that the Bears win.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
The Bears won with Tyson Bass.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Okay, so there you go. You know, any given Sunday,
as Pete Rosseaul always said, any given Sunday.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Well, hopefully the Steelers win a fight against the Jags.
One o'clock kickoff at Akroscher Stadium.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Don't call it, you know they hate comed being called Jagskay,
I'm sorry. Try to do it as much as try
and do it as much as possible.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I want to clock it up against those Jags coming
up from Jacksonville at Akroscher Stadium. Thanks so much for
listening to ask an answer today. Get your questions into
labs and maybe you'll hear them read on a future
edition for Bob Labrielle. I'm tom off from him and
we'll talk to you guys next week
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You know, Labs, the quarterback position is supposed to get
harder to play as the game reaches weightier moments, like
the fourth quarter. Someone might want to tell Kenny Pickett that,
though I don't think the young man subscribes to that
theory so far in his career.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
No, the guy, you know, there's a lot of things
that he needs to improve upon. I mean, the guy
is this was what his eighteenth career started, and so
he's still very you know, early on in his NFL career.
And you know, I think one of the things working
against Kenny Pickett at this moment is he follows Ben Roethlisberger.
(00:44):
Good point. People think people think that, you know, and
you remember too how much moaning and whining there was
about Ben. You know, he's not this, he's not that,
he can't do this, he doesn't do that, you know,
whatever it is. But you know, I've I've held this
belief for a long time. Steelers fans really had no
idea what they had with him, and so maybe you know,
(01:10):
and it's unfortunate that Kenny Pickett is bearing the brunt
of this. But now maybe people are starting to realize
a little bit what Ben was and what he accomplished
and how clutch he was in so many situations. Second half,
fourth quarter, last drive. You know, Terry Bradshaw on The
(01:32):
The Fox whatever their studio show is called, he referred
to Kenny Pickett as the perfect quarterback for the Steelers
and he listed some you know, pickets, qualities, personal and otherwise.
You know, he's he's not selfish. He doesn't mind just
handing the ball off or you know, distributing to his teammates.
(01:54):
And you know, I tend to agree with him in
a lot of ways. You know there, As I said
when we started this, there's a lot of things Kenny
Pickett is not at this point in his career. But
you can't and I think we talked about this in
a previous podcast. He's already got two fourth quarter wins
against the Ravens. Against the Ravens and so, you know,
(02:18):
think about that for a second. How difficult that is.
First of all, just to do that. Second of all,
you know one of those was in Baltimore. You know,
the Ravens are a tough team, physical team, they're the
Steelers number one rival in the AFC North. So you know,
I just think that people should maybe you know, dial
(02:43):
it back on what Kenny Pickett is not and be
thankful for what he is. And you know, speaking of
what he is, here's what he was in the second
half against the Rams. He was eleven of twelve, which
was ninety one point seven percent for those mathematically challenged
in our studio audience, there for fifty for one hundred
(03:08):
and fifty two yards. He had a one yard touchdown
running the third quarter, he converted a third and one
with a two yard quarterback sneak, and then he sent
the game into victory formation with that one yard quarterback
sneak just outside of the two minute warning. So you know,
as I said, I do think I do agree with
Terry Bradshaw that this is the guy for the Steelers
(03:30):
at this time. No, he's not Ben. He's never going
to be Ben. It's just like in college he was
not Dan Marino. You know, people need to get over
some of this stuff and just appreciate players for what
they actually are instead of what they might hope them
to be.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, it's hard not to appreciate what Kenny did in
that second half against the Rams and what he's been
able to do in the fourth quarter throughout his career.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You mentioned Terry Bradshaw.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It's very apropos because he's at the center of our
first question today from Nate Geisler from Boise, Idaho, who
wants to know on Sunday the Steelers traveled to Los.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Angeles to play the Rams.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
It made me think of Super Bowl fourteen, which the
Steelers won thirty one to nineteen. I know Terry Bradshaw
was the MVP of that Super Bowl, but he threw
three interceptions in the game. I always thought the MVP
should have been wide receiver John Stalworth for his big catches,
much like what happened in Super Bowl ten with Lynn Swan.
What are your thoughts about Super Bowl fourteen and Bradshaw
(04:28):
as the MVP, labs pat on the back.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I got the row of numerals right.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
This time at a boy knew I knew you were
studying in between all night. Yes, yep, okay, So let
me let me just start with some statistics from that game,
super Bowl fourteen. In that game, Bradshaw completed fourteen of
twenty one, which is sixty seven percent three hundred and
(04:51):
nine yards. He threw two touchdown passes and he had
three interceptions, and his rating was one oh one point nine,
which is a very high rating for a guy, a
quarterback who throws three interceptions in a game. But that
shows you one of the categories that they used to
compute passer rating in the NFL is yards per completion. Okay,
(05:15):
and again Bradshaw completed only fourteen passes, but those were
for three hundred and nine yards. There was no dink
and dunk in that game. He was going down the field. Okay.
So now by comparison, because Nate mentions John Stalworth, Stalworth
cut three passes for one hundred and twenty one yards.
One of those was the seventy three yard touchdown and
(05:37):
another one was for forty five yards that converted a
third and seven in the fourth quarter on the last
drive that ended up with Frank o'harris scoring that touchdown,
one yard touchdown that made the final score what it was,
thirty one to nineteen. Okay, Now, Nate mentions Lynn Swan.
You know, it's hard to argue against John Stalworth, but
(06:00):
in that game he only had three catches. You know,
Swan had more catches than three, and there really wasn't
well in the video of what Swan did in Super
Bowl ten was very compelling, and you know, there really
wasn't anyone else who is that outstanding. So I'm not again,
(06:25):
I don't want to minimize what Swan did, but you know,
Stalworths would have been a tough sell for me in
Super Bowl fourteen as the MVP. Now just to play
along with Nate here to identify a second candidate besides Bradshaw,
I would point to Jack Lambert to refresh everyone's memory.
(06:47):
In that game, Lambert was in on fourteen tackles, ton
of them solo, so he was around a little bit
making some plays. And then it was his interception that
came into Steelers fourteen year line with five twenty four
left in the fourth quarter and that preserved what was
at the time a Steelers twenty four to nineteen lead.
(07:08):
Then that started the offense, you know, on that final
game clinching touchdown drive I mentioned that ended with Franco
Harris's one yard run. So I'm not going to make
the case the Bradshaw is undeserving, But if you're asking
me for a second choice from that game, I would
I would have picked the.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Lambert Edward Bond trigger from McKee, Kentucky asks, do our
edge rushers participate primarily in the linebackers or defensive line room?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Actually, you know the Steelers on their coaching staff, they
have an inside linebackers coach that's Aaron Curry, and then
an outside linebackers coach and that's Denzel Martin. So when
they're doing position meetings, each of the groups go with
their respective coaches. So just you know, Landon Roberts, I'm
(08:00):
just giving you some examples here Landon Roberts, Cole Holcome, Kwan,
Alexander as examples there with Aaron Curry, T. J. Watt,
Alonzo high Smith, Nick Herbig, Marcus Golden there with Denzel Martin.
And then those are the you know, the smallest meetings
and their meetings with a defensive coordinator, et cetera, et cetera.
(08:22):
But I'm hoping that answers at Edward's question.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I think it's going to be a fun time in
the film room for Nick her Big when he sees
that first sack of the year. It was awesome to
see the entire outside linebacker corps, the whole defense gets
so excited for the kid, and his interview after the
game with Missy Labs on our radio network was unbelievable.
The kid felt like he just won the Super.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Bowl, well, you know, and he's working really hard at it.
And one of the things I liked about him was
and I don't know if it was Missy or I
read it or I don't, cause I don't remember a
lot of times after the game, it's a blur, but
my recollection is Nick Herbig said something to the effect
that he saw a long earth. He saw one of
(09:04):
the other outside linebackers, one of the starters. I don't
remember which one. It was, either TJ. Watt or Alex
Heismith use that move to beat the I think it
was Heismith used that move to beat the tackle. Yes, okay, yeah,
And so then Nick Kirbig went out and said, well,
you know, I saw Alex Heismith do this. I'm gonna
(09:24):
do it too. Now. That shows me two things that
I was really impressed me. Number one that he's paying
attention right, you know, and number two that it's so
quick he sees it he does it. There was no
practice in between, you know, when Alex Heismith sacked the
quarterback and when Nick Krbig then went into the game,
so you know, it was one of those they call
(09:46):
it a see do thing. You know, he saw it
and then he went out and did it. And he
did it in an NFL level good enough to beat
an NFL offensive offensive left tackle and make a sack
in a regular season game. So yeah, he deserves to
be excited and Steelers fans should be excited about him.
I think he's going to be a really good.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Player me too, in such a great personality.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
He also said in that postgame interview he wasn't really
supposed to rush on that play, so whoops, thank god
he got to the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Anyway, Well, you.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Know, let me let me let me just tell Nick this.
And James Harrison wasn't supposed to drop in the coverage
in Super Bowl forty three either, But sometimes you know,
if your instincts are right and you make the play,
you're a hero. Anyway.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Thomas White from Gardendale, Alabama, with all the excitement around
the Desmond King acquisition, why was he let go so soon?
Speaker 1 (10:37):
You know, as it turns out, And you know, and
I think I'm a little guilty of this as well.
The excitement around the des Desmond King acquisition was overrated,
and you know, looking back on it now, we can
see some of the signs that should have indicated to
us that that was the case. I mean, Desmond King
was a veteran player many years in the league. He
(11:00):
got to Pittsburgh in early September. It took him about
a month to learn defense sufficiently to even get onto
the field. Okay. Then his first and only defensive snap
in a regular season game for the Steelers was against
the Ravens on October eighth, and that was justin Hill's
fourteen yard touchdown run. Now I'm not saying that was
King's fault, but he had a chance to make a tackle,
(11:23):
but he could not keep Hill out of the end zone.
So you know, again, Justice Hill is a good player,
and you know all that other stuff, but you know,
Desmond King was not, you know, the second coming of
Rod Woodson. So you know, as the as the Steelers
(11:44):
entered their bye week, as I mentioned, King had only
played that one defensive snap and fifteen special team snaps.
So I think the Steelers thought they were getting a
little bit more in King that they actually got and
you know, the why was the movie because you know,
I'm sure that we saw what he did in the game,
(12:05):
which was a small sample size and it wasn't anything.
But he was in practice every day, and you know,
I think that what the coaches saw, they just didn't
think that the guy was gonna work out, you know.
And let me just point this out too. Before they
cut him, the Steelers made it known that he was
available in the trade. Right again, he's a veteran. I'm
(12:26):
sure that it would have been some sort of conditional
seventh round pick or you know, one of those you know,
we'll send him to you for this and that and
you send us back this, which is basically swapping of
picks in around or something. No nibbles. So yeah, it's
(12:47):
as I said, I just think it was overrated from
the beginning. You know, we'll see if Darius Rush turns
out to be more than that or just another that
kind of situation. But you know, the Steelers have out
added him to the roster. They claimed to him off
a practice squad, and one thing he's got for him
(13:07):
is size. So with Joey Porter Junior, Darius Rush and
Corey Trice Junior, you know, the Steelers, if hoping that
Trice comes back from his knee surgery, they're gonna have
like three corners in the six two sixty three range,
which you know, hopefully if they can all can play,
that that might be something not to look forward to.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Speaking of the practice squad, Well Macintosh from Bellevue, Florida
has a practice squad question. If the Steelers don't feel
anyone is worthy of the practice squad, are teams required
to carry the number the maximum number of players allowed
on that squad by the NFL? And what is the
total number that is allowed?
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Okay, the maximum number on a practice squad is sixteen
and there is no minimum, so you know, a team
can have whatever number on its practice squad between zero
and sixteen that it chooses. Let me just point this
out too, to will all those guys in the practice
squad count on the salary cap. So sometimes, and I'm
(14:07):
not saying this happens a lot, but I'm sure it
happens every now and then, the number of players on
the practice squad might reflect the team's cap number or
their situation in terms of being under the cap, because,
as I said, those guys have to count.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Stan Ramancuz from Whosick Falls, New York.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
I was at the game versus the Ravens, and Mason
Rudolph was in uniform and on the field during warmups
even though he was listed as an active for the game.
What is the rule on that for an active players?
Was he allowed to warm up due to being the
emergency quarterback?
Speaker 1 (14:41):
I'm just going to give you Stan, what the NFL
says about this. The quote is about the rule a
designated emergency third quarterback may participate with the club's active
players during the official team warm up period. So there
you go, very.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Simp from the NFL. There, Phil Abraham chang, very direct. Yes,
Phil Abraham.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
No lawyer, no lawyer, no lawyer ese this time.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
No, you're good.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Phil Abraham from Erie, Pennsylvania. In your opinion, Well, the
Steelers ever turned to Mitch Trubisky to hopefully get a
spark if the offense continues to struggle.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Come on, Phil, had.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
The fourth quarter comeback like the fifth one of his
career is four and two.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Well, let me, you know, let me just absolve phili
this this question was not sent in this morning.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Okay, good, but.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
You know, I I do think that the that the
situation that existed with Kenny Pickett from the Houston game
to the Ravens game should answer this question. I mean,
just to refresh everyone's memory. Can he pick an injureduce
knee against in Houston against the Texans? Okay? And then
he was he got himself ready to practice and practice
(16:00):
during the week, and then he played against the Ravens
and the Steelers won that game. I'm not saying he
was the second coming of Dan Marino or Ben Roethlisberger,
but it was a winning performance by a starting quarterback
against the Baltimore Ravens. Everyone. Let me keep refreshing everyone's
memory about that. And if anyone was had some free
(16:24):
time on Sunday and was watching Baltimore against Detroit, yeah,
how they do? Yeah, So there's that so anyway, but
that to me is proof that whenever Kenny Pickett is
healthy enough to play, he will be the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Pat Flynn from Oakdale, Pennsylvania. Does it matter to the
players if the offensive coordinator a defensive coordinator is sitting
in the press box or standing on the sidelines. Is
there an advantage to the coordinator of being in the
press box or sidelines for game management.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
I've never heard of a single player ever having an
opinion on one of the offensive coordinator or the defensive
coordinator was on the sideline or in the coach's box.
Just to use the offense as an example, because now
this is on TV all the time. Matt Canada is
in the in the coaches box, Pat Sullivan, the quarterbacks coach,
(17:19):
is on the field, and so that's why you see
a lot of times, you know, when there is an
offensive huddle or when they come off the field, the
person to go up to Kenny Pickett and talk to
him is Mike Sullivan. And you know, oftentimes obviously you
see them wearing headsets, so you know Matt Canada can
(17:41):
be talking to Mike Sullivan. So you know it's it's
and it's not like and if it's and if it's necessary.
You know, it's very easy for Kenny Pickett to be
wired in to the conversation as well. I mean, the
technology down there is is pretty good. So being in
the in the coach's box doesn't necessarily mean that the
(18:02):
guy is away from some duties that he needs to perform,
because again, as I said, you know, you're just a
click away on one of those little boxes that they
snap onto your waistband and you're wired right into the conversation.
So no, players don't care. I can't believe that they do.
And you know, the decision on the location, in my experience,
(18:25):
has always been a matter of personal preference for the coordinator,
and then of course, you know, the head coach has
to go along with it. And I don't know of
any instances either where a coordinator chose one or the
other and the head coach said, no, you're not doing
it that way, because obviously you want your coordinator to
(18:46):
be comfortable, you know, with what he's doing during when
he's supposed to be doing it. And so you know,
to me, that would be just a raging, ego maniac
move by the head coach. And I don't know any
who would really stoop that love for that particular issue.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Who do you think the cameras love more in game?
Matt Canada during Steelers games or Taylor Swift during Chiefs games.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's close, right, I'll.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Tell you, I'll tell you who I love more, But
I mean, my opinion doesn't better.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Nate McSorley from Cameron, Montana. I constantly constantly see players
with mouthguards dangling from their face masks during play. Is
it required by the NFL for players to use mouthguards?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
No, No, it's not. I mean, they're pros, so take
care of your teeth, and yeah, you know, and sometimes
you write exactly. I mean, I'm sure that it's encouraged,
but I mean, you know, and let's not forget not
only are they pros, but they have a union. And
certainly the NFL is not going to take on the
(19:48):
union over something like mouthguards because there are bigger issues,
more financially lucrative issues at stake in collective bargaining. And
so the answer is no, and it's always going to
be no, because I just don't think that the union
cares enough about it and need it as a league.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
I do miss Benny Snell's mouth guard though, that had
the wheel on the front that spun whenever he would breathe.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
That was that was pretty That.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Was pretty cool. Nathan Casey from Roanoke, Virginia. Do the
Steelers hold open tryouts for the team in the off season?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
I guess this story.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Could you imagine that open tryouts? I mean, could you
imagine the collection of individuals who might show up for that.
I mean, I cannot imagine a realistic scenario where anyone
could be unearthed that way, you know, discovered a legitimate talent,
(20:49):
because you know, let's face it, the scouting that goes
on now. You know, the Steelers have scouts who are
dedicated to combing through the CFL, the USFL, the XFL,
all of those leagues. So if you're not playing for
anybody anywhere, I don't think you have a shot. And
(21:15):
here's the other thing, besides the fact that it would
be the gong show. Guy can get injured and then
there's liability there. So what the NFL's the NFL League
Council and the Individual Teams Council would say, no, we're
not doing this. Some guy blows out a knee or something,
(21:35):
and you know he could sue you, and you know, liability,
bad publicity. There's there's a thousand reasons why that's a
hard no.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Edward Charnie from forty Fort, Pennsylvania. I have noticed this
year in the NFL that an increasing number of penalty
flags are being waved off after consultation among multiple officials.
Have you noticed this trend, and if so, is this
directive from the NFL to eliminate penalties that can change
the scope and tenor of a game.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Oh, Edwar'd pushing one of my favorite buttons here, not
only NFL officiating, but this particular issue of NFL officiating.
This frustrates me to no end. This is so annoying.
A penalty flag is thrown, okay, and then they all
(22:25):
get together and talk and Chuck No will always derisively
refer to that as an administrative session. And then they
come out of this conversation and announce what it is. Now,
my complaint number one is whoever threw this flag. I'm
speaking to you right now. If you don't know what
(22:47):
you saw for sure, don't throw the flag, don't guess,
don't assume you know, leave it alone. If you don't
know for sure, leave it alone. And then, you know,
let them play. Let the game unfold via what the
players do on the field, you know. And I hate this,
(23:07):
and and I don't know this for a fact, but
you know there there are officials on the sideline. And
I do believe the referee too, is plugged in. He's
got something in his year. Okay, So who do you
think's talking to him? Have any any So now we're
(23:28):
involved in things where possibly there could be review of
things that are not reviewable according to the rules. So
I just hate all of that. If you don't know
for sure, then you shouldn't throw the flag. And if
you throw the flag and then there's an administrative session,
you should be the guy who says, no, I'm not
backing off this call. I saw this, it's had happened.
(23:52):
That's my call. But no, we don't. That's that's not
the way it works. So thank you Edward for getting
my blood pressure high. No, I'm just kidding, but it
is my number one pet bee about officiating.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Just one more question to go here, labs.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Then you can, you know, you can lay down, maybe
take a drink of some wine and relax a little bit.
Austin Hackett from Denver, Colorado wants to know do you
know when the decision on which day the Steelers Colts
game in Indianapolis will be announced? It's currently listed as
December sixteenth or December seventeenth.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
I'm hoping to travel to.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Indianapolis for the game and don't know what day to
put book a flight home.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Okay, what all I can tell you is this, that
decision on the day and the time will be made
no later than after week thirteen, which is two weeks
before the Colts game in Indianapolis, which is week fifteen.
That's the best I can do, you know, Just stay
(24:46):
stay loose, Austin, and you know, keep watching. And as
soon as the league comes up with some sort of
decision on that, it'll be on the website, It'll be
on all the Steelers many media platforms. You know. That's
information we want to get out to our fans as
quickly as possible.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Steelers return home this Sunday and are home for their
next three games, starting with the Jags at Akroshuer Stadium Labs.
The tables set up pretty nicely for the Steelers to
go on a nice little run here, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Is that when the trouble usually starts.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
When well, you know, I just I don't believe, you know,
and I'm not ripping this team or anything but this,
you know, like Mike Tomlins said after the game in
Los Angeles, every week, it's going to be a fight.
These Steelers are not that kind of team where you
can look at an opponent and say they should win this,
(25:43):
they will win this game, or they should win this game.
You know Jacksonville. What are they five and two? Ye
something like that. Yeah, okay, so you know the Jaguars
are no you know, speed bump here. You know, look
at what happened last week in the NFL. Boys and girls,
I mean everybody who had New England beaten Buffalo raise
your right hand seriously. So you know didn't Denver win
(26:09):
Denver one?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, that the Bears win.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
The Bears won with Tyson Bass.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Okay, so there you go. You know, any given Sunday,
as Pete Rosseaul always said, any given Sunday.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Well, hopefully the Steelers win a fight against the Jags.
One o'clock kickoff at Akroscher Stadium.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Don't call it, you know they hate comed being called Jagskay,
I'm sorry. Try to do it as much as try
and do it as much as possible.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I want to clock it up against those Jags coming
up from Jacksonville at Akroscher Stadium. Thanks so much for
listening to ask an answer today. Get your questions into
labs and maybe you'll hear them read on a future
edition for Bob Labrielle. I'm tom off from him and
we'll talk to you guys next week
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