September 11, 2025 • 49 mins
Max and Rob discuss what we have learned thus far and how the team is preparing for their second game of the season. Gerry Dulac joins the show to share his thoughts on the state of the team.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
This is in the Locker Room with Kingyon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
f one to fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
And it is a cool breeze Thursday. We have Jerry
Dulac coming on a little bit later on today alongside
Max Starks. I'm Rob King and lots and lots and
lots to get to a Thursday before the game coming
up against Seattle on Sunday, the home opener for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
A lot of excitement obviously with that.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Max.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You know, yesterday we kind of went through what happens
on a Monday, at a Tuesday and a Wednesday in
a work week for the Steelers. So I want to
ask you about what happens on a Thursday. Before I
do that, I want to ask you how are you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
I'm doing all right, Rob, I mean it's it's Thursday.
Practices are going on, guys are getting better, and we
got a home opener just around the corner. I am
excited for Steeler Nation to pack the Act so to speak,
for the game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I like it.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Listen, I am I'm full of I'm full of like
little coin phrases. I'm all about this right now, pack
the Act act at night, you know, when we have
a night game. I mean, I'm good with all of this.
So you know it's it's gonna be exciting and man
revenge to our twenty twenty five Pittsburgh Steelers edition is
(01:50):
ah is kicking off hot and heavy the first two
games of the season, right, I mean, you know, we
got we got the Aaron Rodgers mini revenge, we got
the bigger Aaron Rodgers revenge coming up. And then of
course now it's DK Metcalf's turn.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure that, you know.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And Aaron Rodgers when asked about the Jets, he said, look,
green Bay is going to be more special, right because
that's where I spent all my time and for for
for DK, unquestionably, this will be you know interesting, right,
I mean they traded him. It's the place that he got,
you know, made two Pro Bowls, and you know, I
(02:29):
don't know any other circumstances around the trade, whether he
was requesting one or anything like that. But you know,
so behind the scenes stuff that may or may not
have been going on. I just think that it's cool,
you know, I mean, it's you know it, like you said,
it's part of the part of the revenge tour thing
(02:52):
that's going on, right.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Oh absolutely, And listen, I am, I am here for
the petty because the petty seems to breed a certain
level of play that I am. I'm I'm I'm ready for,
I am excited for. And when guys get to show
off and show out, that's that's what it's all about.
(03:15):
And I'm looking at just how this team, you know,
persevered through not the best game out of a lot
of players and they still got the victory. That for
a professional can only fuel you. That can that can
only lead to bigger and better things if you're the
(03:37):
proper professional. And we will see that come Sunday. What
did I learn from last week that I can apply
to this week? Who am I going to take my
frustrations out on this Sunday that I did not get
to do last Sunday. That's what it's all about. And
and that is the kind of the thing that I
(03:58):
think of in my mind and that that that gets
me hyped up. That that's that's the natural coffee buzz
right there.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
So Max again, just to reset this. We'll do this
one time. But you know what happens?
Speaker 4 (04:11):
What?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
What? What goes on today? So you talked about yesterday.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yesterday is a big day for implementing the game plan
and a lot of film study and you know, getting
the kinks worked out and the muscles and that sort
of thing.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
What goes on today?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
What are the expectations between you leave practice yesterday? What
needs to be Is there work going on after practice,
mental work or what have you? And then leading into today?
What goes on in a Thursday, a typical Thursday before
a Sunday game.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Well, you you've already mentally watched I mean you've already
watched practice, So mentally you've already seen what you did
wrong on Wednesday. Thursday is refinement, and refinement means whatever
didn't work in practice versus these base fronts, throw it
out and today will install some more. It'll be the
red zone packages, short yards and goal line packages and
(05:06):
some of your specialty stuff. You'll have a longer passing,
full team passing period and you will kind of work
through some of some of your core run outside run stuff,
and then defensively, you'll start to work on some of
your situational packages as far as as far as your
(05:27):
short yard, as your red zone, your goal line stuff,
what are the adjustments some of the gimmicky stuff that
they may run or funky personnel groupings. You'll kind of
work through those things and the keys off of that.
And today, once again, if it ain't broke, still fix it.
You know, it means prehab is better than rehab. So
(05:51):
if there's something that you feel might be an issue
or something that is still lingering, gotta work on it.
Got to work on it today as well. The process
does not stop it, you know. It's just like it's
just like when you're building a house, right there's something
to do every day, and even after you own that
house and it's done, they call it the money pit
(06:11):
for a reason because there's always something to work on
and fix right in your own home for sure. So
the same processes goes with a player's body, like there's
always something to work on, there's always something to get
stronger at, there's some weakness to dispel or get rid of.
All of those things apply. So that's what Thursday Thursday
(06:32):
is all about. Refinement.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
So now let's get into some of the specifics. And
by the way, a little bit later on, we're going
to be breaking down the AFC preview for you and
some of the key games in the AFC. Jerry Dulac
is going to be coming up with us in a
little bit. But okay, so now let's get specific about
this game and max. For me, when I look at
(06:58):
this game, I mean, there's a no number of different things,
but I want to start when the Steelers have the ball,
and you know, Aaron Rodgers came out nicely, had some
had some nice things to say about Roger Jones yesterday
and confidence in him, believes in him, said he thought.
You know, Aaron Rodgers himself stepped into a sack or
two because his back was a little tight and he
(07:19):
wasn't moving that well. But these young tackles get another
test with Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence. Different kind of test, right.
You get McDaniel McDonald and Jermaine Johnson last week, and
you know, one guy ten and a half sacks. The
other guy in Johnson wasn't there last year. But was
(07:40):
it Pro Bowl the year before? Young energetic legs and
that kind of stuff. Well, I'm not saying that Leonard
Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence don't have young, energetic legs. But
now you got the grizzled old veterans, you know, the
grizzly bears with some with a few tricks up their
sleeves and probably a little anger on game day. You know,
this is a different challenge for these guys and going
against these veterans. And I know every player is unique
(08:03):
and different, but if you're a young tackle and I'm
talking about here Broderick Jones and Faltanu and you're going
against young, you know guys one week and and veteran
guys another is it Is it player by player or
can you make some generalities between a young pass rusher
and an experienced pass rusher when they're.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Both still effective?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean there are generalities, but I mean there
there's there's a resume versus no resume. That's really the
biggest thing. And so the tendencies are more locked in,
they're more prominent because you have a lot to draw
on from them. They have they have a lot of
(08:45):
they have a long laundry list of game tape that
they that that they can show what their tendencies are.
So when you break it, when you break them down,
you look. You could look at Leonard Williams from the
Giants and the jet You can look at DeMarcus Lawrence
from the Cowboys and why he was one of the
highest paid defensive tackles at one point in his career.
(09:08):
You have a lot to work with with them, but
once again, you are fighting that experience. They feel things
a lot quicker than a young pass rusher. So when
you're on the double team, they can feel what the
pressure looks like and know when you're going to leave
and escape too soon, or you're too quick on your
double team blocks, or the angle of the guard that's
(09:32):
blocking them. They know how to reverse pressure and swim
underneath and almost like slingshot themselves behind the play because
they realize they're not going to catch the play over
the top. All of those little things they know, and
with a young offensive line, they don't know what they
don't know, and so the challenge is going to be
in the interior. How does Isaac, Zach and Mason deal
(09:54):
with DeMarcus and Leonard that's where the big matchup's going
to be. That determines the depth of your pocket if
you're passing, but also on your inside run. That also
decides your cutback when, where and how and if so,
that's what you're fighting this week. That's where the strength
of this team is going to be. And so you
(10:14):
can't take it lightly, and you cannot take this for granted.
You've got to go out there and attack the one
thing you do have on your mind, which I'm sure
they're doing this week. They're practicing early this week. This
is earlier than one pm West Coast time for them.
They're used to that four to twenty five slot when
they're at home because they're on the West coast. So
you're getting a ten am version of the Seahawks versus
(10:37):
the one pm version of Seahawks. How they adjust with
that time, the travel trap that distance traveled, I said
travel distance, the distance traveled from Seattle to Pittsburgh. That's
going to play a role and their their game prep.
How can you get up in time? Sometimes the body
clock's a little off, and you know you're you're a
(11:00):
little tired, you got a little crust in your eyes
right in that little corner right on the nose. Yeah,
that's what you could take advantage of. But you got
to be on your p's and hues. You have to
be solid. The double teams must last until that guy
has to come off at the very last half second.
I'm not gonna say very last second because the seconds
too long in football. On any given play, you have
(11:21):
to come back down to the very last half second
before you disengage. Make sure that guard has that has
that sealed block, make sure that tackle has that hinge
or backside cut off. You have to sit a little
bit longer and boom, then you gotta go. So that's
what you're looking at. The defensively, you must disengage. You
(11:41):
have to disengage from the blockers. That's the key from this.
You know, guys were blocked way too long and when
they tried to disengage, they're on their heels. Guys are
falling over. I mean one play where Keanu took out
Yya in a play and Cam Hayward got taken out
in a play with louder Milk. So you've got to
(12:02):
work on your disengagement. That's gonna be key because guess
what Seattle watched that Jets film and say, guess what
we're gonna run Ken Walker, Sharbon Nay, it's on you
to be Braylen Allen and Breese Hall. We've got, we've got,
We've got to kick this at a high gear, Sam Darnold.
There is no justin field, so that threat's not gonna
be there. Maybe you see a little bit more press man,
but the front seven has to win. They have to
(12:24):
win however they line up. If it's gonna be in base,
you're run base three four cool. But if you're gonna
if they're gonna try and run out a sub, you
gotta run out of four to two nickel and look
for your support. Guys, that's what you gotta do. But
this is that refinement day. This is the day where
you figure all that stuff out. You work on stuff.
(12:44):
Like I said, that's a weakness, you make it a strength.
If it's broke, fix it. If it ain't broke, reinforce it.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Right.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Well, so when we look at Seattle in specific, nick
Emmon worry who is going into draft. You know he
was a guy that he so he wound up going
to the second round. But as we were watching the draft,
you know, unfold and we're talking about it at the combines,
and he was a guy that I thought was a
was really really interesting, big physical guy who can really move,
(13:18):
you know, kind of a big nickel type of guy.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
You bring him in, you put him in the slot.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
You think he can run with smaller slot receivers, but
he can come up and bang people in the running game.
He comes out last week as the very first tackle
I think it was even a tackle for loss for Seattle.
I think he had the first tackle for loss and
then that's it. He only played like five or six plays,
I think, just a handful, and he was out done.
He's hurt high ankle sprain. Does not look like he's
(13:45):
going to be available for this game. I've not seen
any anything that would contradict that yet this morning. But
it's still even without him, it is a unit that
I think a lot of people believe is capable of
taking a jump into a top ten type of unit.
We mentioned Williams, and we mentioned Lawrence, and you know
(14:08):
they got Byron Murphew. They spent a first round pack
pick on last year. Was on the nose. I don't
think he gave them quite what they were expecting. They're
hoping to see a leap from him and next year
this year along with Jarenried on the inside, so that
gives them you know, like you mentioned that front, that
middle three is going to be tested. You know, Leonard
Williams kind of swings in and out of that right.
Is he going to be picked up by Broderick? Is
(14:31):
he going to be blocked by you know, the guard
Ciamalu or McCormick. You have DeMarcus Lawrence. But behind those guys,
you also have boy A Mafe who two years ago
nearly had double digit sacks. You also have Derek Hall,
who last year I think had nine sacks a year ago.
(14:51):
So you have a number of guys that can get
to the passer. And I'm gonna hammer on this, and
I think fans are gonna hammer on this too, because
we saw too much pressure on Aaron Rodgers, and we
saw what Aaron Rodgers can do with some pressure, and
we saw what he can do with a relatively clean pocket,
and that's throw four touchdown passes and take care of
(15:14):
the football and make some beautiful throws downfield. But he
has to be kept upright, you know. It's the same thing.
I mean, look, Brady was that way through a lot
of his career. But the older the Brady's and the
Peyton Mannings and the Rogers get, the more you know
they need a cleaner pocket.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
It's just part of it.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
You know, this isn't Ben Roethlisberger with guys, you know,
draped over him making a miraculous throwdown field. These guys
have got to be kept clean. And if they if
Aaron Rodgers has kept clean, I think we saw what
he can do. So to me, that's we'll talk about
the you know, the ability to try to run the
ball in Seattle in a moment. But to me, this
continues to put pressure max on those young tackles and
(15:53):
you know whether at some point they need help chipping
or a or a tight end over on their side,
which you don't want to have to do because that
takes somebody out of a pattern or or makes it
easier for the corners to cover. So if you take
somebody out of a pattern, now you know a DK
Metcalf gets gets easier to deal with. So you know,
(16:13):
these tackles, this is this I think when I look
at this game, I think that's the number one test
for the Steelers' offense is being able to block this
pass rush which is going to come from a variety
of sources. It's going to come from Williams, It's going
to come from Lawrence, It's going to come from Derek Hall,
(16:34):
it's going to come from Bue mafe Well.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
And also, I mean you're looking at Ernest Jones and
Tyree Knight as well at the linebacking position, and they're
also very skilled, so their front seven is going to
present some challenges for you. I mean, Ernest Jones had
an interception last week, so you know, I think you
know the pressure that's that's created from that front and
(17:00):
it's tough. It's tough to call it a three four
because you have four big bodies.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Like to it's kind of a hybrid.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Is considered a rush end, so it it it lends
itself to a four to three concept with a stand
up guy essentially, so it has a bastardized three four
type of hybrid. Look, I mean this is almost like
kind of the original way that that when you think
about how Dick Lebo created the three four, this was
(17:29):
kind of like that entry level hybrid to transitioning from
a four to three or a double legal look, so
you're you're going you're going to have some unique issues.
And that's where you know, we talked about the issues
that Broderick had. Broderick kind of I mean, he talked
about it, but didn't really talk about it, which I
(17:49):
don't blame him. I don't want to dwell on this
crap like it happened in the past. I know I
need to fix it. You know, there's a lot of
things I need to fix. He kind of kind of
generalized that he's a young dude. He doesn't necessarily know
how to, you know, gracefully say that on on air
when being interviewed. I know a lot of people are making,
you know, this very apathetic type of viewpoint of a project,
(18:12):
which I don't agree with. That's lazy reporting. Ask better questions,
you get better answers in my mind. But you know
that that that's that's the tougher part about it, right,
is trying to discern that that you're trying to fight
what people put out there in social media, you know.
And and like I said, Aaron, Aaron talked about it
and and and support it and had his back, which
(18:32):
I think is also important. His quarterback has his back
and that's what people need to realize. You can make
your own generalities, but guess what, he has to go
out there and play with him and he has to
make it work. So you've got you've got to have
that belief. You've seen the skill set. You know the
guy better than our our quote unquote media eyes have it.
You know what's in the huddle, different versus us. You
(18:53):
know what the play call was and what the challenges
were with it, so you know, until otherwise noticed, I
could only I can only go off of what I see.
I mean, there's some very basic mechanical things that he
needs to change and that's a transition that he has
to get used to. Not he's not on the right side.
He is not on the right side, got it.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Listen hold that thought because I do want to ask
you about that adjustment from right to left, and I
want to talk more about this the pressure on these
young tackles because you snuff this out early, no one's
gonna be talking about it. If it continues to linger,
they're going to continue to get questions and you know,
so hopefully they can put a stop to that. But
(19:33):
we have Jerry Dulac coming up next. When we continue
inside the Locker Room with King and Starks, presented by
our neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steeler stand by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
You know, sometimes you just I mean, this is take
me back to summer, you know what I'm saying. Rob
this music right here? I mean, you usually have some
sand between your toes. Should be a nice little drink
in your hand, adult beverage if that's what you do.
If not, you know, just mix some little tropical punch.
I don't know, but uh, I'm thinking like a little
(20:31):
coconut rum and pineapple juice. Maybe my tie or rum runner.
When you hear this, because you know, it's five o'clock
somewhere in Margueritaville, But right now, you know what our
five o'clock is is Jerry Dulac time. And Jerry Doulac
is brought to you by bud Light Proud sponsor at
the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jerry Dulac and Jerry, nice to
(20:52):
have you on another Thursday week, two Thursday. How are
you doing today?
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Well, Max, as you well know, it's always a delight
to be with you, especially with that introduction. And also
I will remind you summer is still going on until
September twenty First.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Well, thank you for that update. It definitely is one
that I'm excited. But kids are in school and we're
back to work, so, you know, normal justifications summer.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
And I get to talk to Rob today too, thank you.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Last week?
Speaker 5 (21:27):
Do you know last week, you know Rob was with
me doing something else that's exactly right, you know, yeah,
But so now I get to talk to him right
here with you, Max, which is a double treat for me,
as you well know.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
Yes, no, it absolutely is due. And you know, I'm
just going to start out with kind of thoughts for
this week. I mean, what do we learn last week?
What do we hope to learn this week? Going into
it from from your perspective, from your viewpoint.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Well, Max, what we learned last week is that Mike
Tomlin Arthur Smith is not afraid to use his new
toys and I think if you would have chosen before
the game, first game on the road, with new players,
both offense and defense, I think you probably would have
(22:18):
bet that if you had to choose which attack they
would use, it would probably be the the old Mike
common let's not try to win the game, let's just
not lose it. Very conservative kind of feel out the
other team, see what we have, see what they got,
and win seventeen thirteen. That was not the game plan.
(22:41):
They came out and they wanted to use those new
toys and they wanted to attack. Aaron Rodgers through thirty times.
He dropped back thirty four right, with four sacks. That's
a lot of That's a lot of passing for the
Steelers for the first game. But that's the way they
wanted to play, and I think with the players they
(23:03):
brought in, that's the way they're going to continue to play.
Are they going to be a pass happy team?
Speaker 3 (23:07):
No?
Speaker 5 (23:09):
But I think what you saw is and Mike Tomlin
acknowledged this the other day actually, when I asked them,
he said, when you bring in players with talent, you
want to use that talent. And that was the thing
that stood out the most to me was just the
way they approached that game. Now, will they do the
same against Seattle? You know, I can't sit here and
(23:31):
tell you that's the case, but I don't think they're
going to go hand it off forty times unless they're
rushing for three hundred yards. So you know, we'll be
curious to see how it continues. But that, more than anything,
was a big positive and what jumped out the most
to me from that game. That's that's what I learned
more so than anything else.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You know, I think that's a great point, Jerry and
I will be fascinated to see what the approach looks like.
Last year with Aaron Rodgers, the Jets did not run
the ball a lot. This year, I would not. I
think they were fourth in the league in rushing attempts.
I would be very surprised if they weren't in the
top five in rushing attempts this year.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
New quarterback, new system in New York.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
I don't think the Steelers, though with Aaron Rodgers, are
going to be are gonna have the fourth fewest rushing attempts.
But I don't know that. None of us know that.
We won't know that we see it. I do think
that a team like the Jets with Sauce Gardner, who's
a great defensive back, great defensive back, but other deficiencies
in the back end, but a really good front six
(24:38):
and that can stop the run and pressure the passer.
I view Seattle as a team that is, you know,
with a really really good secondary, very good pass rushers,
but I.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Think you can run on them.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
So I'll be interested to see if the Steelers feel
like they have the kind of offense that can attack
you in a number of ways. You know, we talk
about within a game, Jerry, Hey, you want to go
seven in the box, We're gonna run it. You want
to go out in the backs, We're gonna throw it.
I wonder also if game plans will change from week
to week because you feel like you've got the kind
(25:16):
of quarterback that can let it rip and open it
up if you need to.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Well, I think a couple things to your point, Bob.
You know, I think the Steelers were fourth or fifth
in the league last year, maybe even third in rushing attempts,
and I honestly don't expect that to change a whole
lot this year. They still will go win with the
idea they want to run the football, and they will
(25:41):
attempt to do so. The problem is can they run
the football. Are they able to kind of pick up
the slack that or the void left by Najie Harrison
his four one thousand yard seasons. Personally, I don't see
that happening. And so when you combine nine Harris's totals
(26:01):
with Jalen Warrens, you were looking at about what sixteen
hundred yards rushing a year for the last two years.
The way they rotated those guys, I'm not so sure
they can replicate that again this year. And so to me,
that's going to be the one of the issues. Yeah,
that's nice if you want to run the ball, but
then it becomes can you run the ball? Obviously they
(26:22):
drafted Caleb Johnson to help for that reason. I know
he only got two carries the other day. I don't
think that's going to continue, but I think that's going
to be that's the biggest question mark facing this offense.
And because of their desire to run the ball, doesn't
mean they will be able to do it effectively. And
(26:44):
yet it wasn't like it was a dominant running game
with Nausei Harris, but it was consistent it was fairly
productive and it was reliable, and I don't know that
you have that with this team, and that's what we're
going to find out. Look, was only one game, so
not going to pass any judgment, you know, good or
bad as to whether they can or can't do something.
(27:06):
But I thought all along heading into the season that
was probably the most understated concern facing this football team.
And we're going to find out if if it is
a concern. I mean, I like Kenneth Gainwell. Kenneth Gainwell
is not that type of running back who's going to
get you sixty seventy yards a game, but he is
a versatile running back.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
As you saw.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
They like this guy. He played thirty stamps the other day,
five more than Jalen Warren. So you know, we'll see
how this whole thing pans out. But I think the
running game should be an area that people I don't
want to say concerned, but they should be aware that
it might be it might be a struggle until they
(27:49):
figure something out. And can they replicate even come close
to getting some of the production they got last year.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Well.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Jerry Dulac is presented by your Neighborhood Ford Story The
f one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jerry,
you know, I think we're we're all tempted as fans,
and I'm glad you're taking a step back and saying,
let's see what happens. We're all tempted as fans to say, oh,
my goodness, gracious, my worst fewers are realized. Well you
(28:18):
have you have seventeen more weeks of the regular season,
and so we don't want to panic. But I do
think that this might represent an opportunity for the running
game to be a little bit better. And I also
think if they can't run the ball against Seattle, I mean,
this is a Seattle team, Like I said, I think
(28:38):
it's better equipped to stop the pass.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
You know, they weren't great. They're middle of the road
against the run. Last year.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
They were kind of middle of the road in Week
one against San Francisco against the run.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
I think I would be encouraged.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
You know, I'm not going to be like, hey, the
sky is falling if they don't run the ball or
what have you, but I think it would be an
encouraging sign of they did run the ball a little
more effectively this week than they did against a Jets
team that had Quinn Williams and and two really good
guys in the middle. At linebacker, Harrison Phillips is a
solid player. So I would be encouraged if they if
(29:14):
they got a little bit better running attack than they
did a week ago.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Well, Robert, if I know Arthur Smith, when there is
a deficiency, he tries to make it a proficiency. And
I think even as you know, even up to the
including the next game, and so I think you will
see them have a bit, a little bit of a
greater emphasis on trying to run the ball and being
(29:43):
more productive running the ball against Seattle. That's kind of, uh,
you know, his m O. Probably a lot of coaches,
but I noticed that to be his m O. If
they struggled, you know, in the past game and weren't
productive last game, I think you'd see him come on
and work on that that too, because they want balance.
They're not going to sit there and rely on Aaron
(30:03):
Rodgers throwing for thirty four times at age forty one
all season. They don't want to do that. But I
think they sent a nice message last week what they are,
you know, what they would like to do, and certainly
maybe what they are capable of doing, but I would
expect them to come out and try to run the
ball and get better offensive line play, including protection, but
(30:27):
just better offensive line play in terms of running the ball.
I would, I would, I would fully expect that this
week against the Seahawks.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
And Jerry you know, as we kind of look at
flipping flipping to the other side of the ball. Defensively,
this was not a standard that you know, we kind
of have hoped for. But I mean, you know, you
kind of look at since the latter part of last year,
you know, this defense has that has that performed up
to snuff. I know, we added a lot of new
(30:58):
pieces in situations was a lot better. But the rushing yards,
the run defense, I mean, this is this is shades
of what we saw in the playoff game, kind of
rear and suggly head here in week one. What do
you see week two with Zach Charbonnay and Kenneth Walker
being the you know, kind of the known rushing assailants
(31:19):
and also you know, just kind of the TJ. Watt factor,
the attention that he got last week that kind of
neutralized him from his overall effect and it still made
some plays because he's TJ Watt. But you know, how
do you see this defense kind of kind of rebounding
from a slump in Week one?
Speaker 5 (31:39):
Well, certainly it would be good if they did Max,
because what we saw in New York was what we
saw at the end of last year. And it wasn't
just a Baltimore playoff game. It was the Baltimore regular
season game, the Philadelphia regular season games in December. They
just got creased and gapped and run through over and around,
and there wasn't a whole lot different except it just
(32:03):
wasn't Derick Henry the way the Jets ran through them.
And I think it's a big cause for concern, and
it's to why I look, I know Derek Harmon didn't play,
but one guy isn't going to change all that. And
it was the first game of the year. It was
It was disturbing because it's what we watched at the
end of last year. But you you drafted two guys
(32:26):
for a reason, and so when you were starting the
game with a guy who's been around for five years
and has done really nothing other than you know, understand
where he knows where to line up, then you're not
doing yourself any favors, And so to me, if you
if you drafted Ya Black, then you know what, play
(32:48):
Ya Black because what you were putting out there just
isn't good enough. And so maybe getting Derek Harmon back
next week will help. I'm sure it will, That's why
they drafted him. But to me, you just can't line
up with the same people Logan Lee played one snap.
To me, you know, I just don't think if you
like these guys, then you play them. Okay, they're gonna
(33:10):
make some mistakes, but how many mistakes could they make
It would be any different from what we saw on
the field with the Jets running through them. So you
know they have to they have to I think change
up some of their approach in that regard. It's also
max Y I feel they don't. They shouldn't just stop
with Derek Harmon. It's why they need to go get
(33:32):
another guy next year. Pay attention to the defensive line
for two years like you did with the offensive line
for two years, and and you can just see that
and again one game certainly not going to push the
panic button. It's just that we didn't see anything different
than what we saw at the end of last year,
and I know it was a first game for Cam.
(33:53):
He didn't do didn't play any preseason games, although he
never does, but he didn't do a whole lot in
training camp. But he you know, hey, he's getting older,
he's thirty six, and to expect them to have another
all Pro season, and you know that might be a
big leap of faith. But you know, this defense, you know,
Mike Tomlin likes to use the word historic. They called
(34:14):
them great and dominant ones. They never will be as
long as they can't stop the run. And they just
haven't proven that they can do it. And I just steal.
I look at that Baltimore playoff game and I go
back max to the days of James Ferrier when he
told me one time, if we want to stop the run,
we'll stop the run. Well, I would have bet eight
(34:36):
hundred dollars last year that that second Baltimore game, Derick
Henry would not run wild and the Ravens wouldn't run
through the bowl. Lamar Jackson might pass for five hundred yards,
but they were going to say, there's no way we're
going to let the Ravens run on us. And they did,
which means they just couldn't stop them, which of course
is why they made the draft choices.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
That they did.
Speaker 5 (34:56):
They tried to get more physical. But unless they can
do it up front, and I know I'm going on
and on here because you know how I feel about this.
Unless they make do what they need to do upfront
and make the proper changes and keep paying attention to it,
the same thing is probably going to happen. And don't
stop with Derek Carmon and don't stop with y A Black.
(35:17):
Go get one more guy and then we'll see what
you got.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
So Jerry, I don't disagree with anything you said. Nothing
I do say this, and Max will back me up
on this. You know when I want walked into that
press box in met Life Stadium. I didn't love the
Week one matchup. I think that you get Derek Carmon
back and you get a few games under his belt,
and you know, this is basically as close to the
Ravens as we're going to get. This Jets team. They
(35:44):
want to run the football, and they're built up front
to run the football, and they've got a good stable
of running backs. And I'm not trying to excuse the
performance because, as I said, I never thought that the
Jets would run for that many yards.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
I'm not surprised they were effective.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
I think that, and again, we'll see whether a team
like Seattle alters their game plan a little bit. They
have a couple of fine running backs themselves, They're not
really what I would consider an elite running attack. I
think I'll be more concerned. I'd like to think that
this one, you get Harmon back, and you get you know,
you get Cam with some more games under his belt,
(36:20):
maybe you figure out a different rotation. You know, Black
is a rookie. Still that maybe they'll be better equipped
later in the season to stop this kind of attack.
I didn't think it was a great week one for
them to have this kind of an opponent. But but
I'll be interested to see if teams like Seattle and
other teams start to say, you know what, let's run
(36:40):
the football a ton against these guys, and so they
can they prove they can stop it. And I don't
want to make even after week two, you can't make generalizations, Jerry,
but I do think that I think you'd you'd feel
better about it if you you had more success, Let's
put it that way. I feel a lot better about
this d If you had better success against the run
this week, well.
Speaker 5 (37:00):
Rob, I don't think there's any question about that. And again,
good or bad, I never evaluate after one game. It's
a long season. They'll fix their ales. It's just it
was disturbing to see it again. But that doesn't mean
it's going to continue. And it's just like with the
four touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. I'm not going to predict
(37:20):
Super Bowl. I'm not good or bad. I don't evaluate
on one game. We'll see how this whole thing plays out.
I got to run. It's time for the locker room.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
The Great Jerry Doulac brought to you by your neighborhood
Ford Store of the f one fifty is the official
truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jerry, I see it a
little bit. My friend down to the south side. Jerry
Doulac is gone, and like the cool Breeze, he's blown
out of our lives, or at least blown out of
the show for today.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Max Starks.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
Yeah, and once again, Jerry Doulac has brought to us
by Bud Light, the proud sponsor of the Pittsburgh Steelers
and Jerry Doulac. So yeah, no, I mean, it's it's
one of those things. That's why Jerry is who Jerry is.
And you know he he has a very even keeled mine.
He's very level headed, and you know he's our insider.
(38:10):
So you know he's the one that's, like you said,
going to talk to the players right now, get their
perspectives and formulate, formulate the thoughts and opinions of the
players and presents that to us. So we appreciate all
of his tireless work. And he's always welcome to the
locker room. That Coolbry's is always allowed to blow through
gets hot every once in a while when you're in
the booth. So we appreciate when Jerry stops by.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
He's Max Starks, I'm Rob King. You're listening inside the
locker Room with King and Stark's presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store. Here on the Pittsburgh Shire, there's Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
This is in the locker room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by.
Speaker 6 (39:01):
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the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
And welcome back with King and Sarks inside the locker room.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
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official Steelers Pro Shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys,
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Speaker 3 (39:48):
Max It's a home opener, man, it is.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
Indeed, it is the first of you know, a slew
of home field stances, so to speak. So you know
it brings its own intensity, It brings its own set
of advantages. As I like to think, when you think
about coming to Akershuer Stadium, you're coming to Pittsburgh and
(40:16):
you're at the confluence of three rivers. As our good
buddies used to always say in the broadcast, exciting, exciting
opportunity for the Steelers to be in front of the
home fans once again we did get that one Tampa
Bay game in the preseason that was you know, that
(40:38):
was a scratch because it's preseason doesn't count on the record.
So now really the home record matters. The home record
is a hallowed thing that you want to protect. You
want to make sure that you maintain that home field advantage.
So we're going to get the first iteration. Steeler fans
are going to get their first taste of the twenty
(40:58):
twenty five Steelers at home and Acroshore.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
You know, I think it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (41:03):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
And the the Matt Williamson stat pack is out and
we love that. It's like a little like a little
like a Christmas present every week when we get the
Matt stats out. And you know, he pointed out some
things about Seattle. So Seattle, you know, a ten and
seven team a year ago, you know, they they were
(41:27):
on the outside looking in because the the NFC was
just so solid. It was the Rams who won the
division with the ten and seven records. So man ten
and seven and not make the playoffs. That's a bummer.
But under Mike McDonald, first year, very successful season for Seattle.
They were seven and one on the road, seven and one.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
Max I mean, that's incredible, that's that's an impressive number.
But here's the difference though kinger Gino Smith is not
their quarterback that these are the Las Vegas Raiders. It's
Sam Darnell who Sam also had a great record last year,
but that was with the Vikings. What can you do
now with the Seattle Seahawks to try and build upon
(42:11):
that from a year ago? If you're the Steahawks, how
do you maintain that edge on the road? And for
the Steelers, how do you how do you how do
you stop that quote unquote edge that they have. Now
there's new pieces there. There's no dk Metcalf on that
on that on that Seattle squad either, So you don't
have the number one receiver and number one quarterback from
(42:31):
a year ago that led to that seven and one record,
But you know you got a competent backup guy. And
you know the other question is going to be how
do they deploy Jalen Milroe? And this they they've talked
about they have packages for him, and after watching Justin Fields,
I have to believe you're gonna try and get.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
Jalen Milroe in there. I agree, I enforce your way. Yeah,
And we're gonna break down some of these key matchups.
We have the Second Hour come up today and all
of tomorrow's show as well. I did want to ask you, though, Max,
you know, they're you know, my tendency is the thing,
and they were seven and one in the road. That
that's the second best road record in the NFL, the Detroit,
(43:12):
which you would think would have an incredible an incredible
road record or an incredible home record. Of course, they
had an incredible record overall the Detroit last year, but
they had the best road record in the NFL. They
were eight No, now they're seven and two at home,
But you'd think with that dome and all that other stuff,
they'd be unbeatable at home.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Do you think that's something that changes.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
From year to year because Seattle, and again we're talking
specifically about Seattle because they're the opponent, they were three
and six at home last year, three and six, you know,
and so most teams it would be kind of the
other way around, you would be you know, the Steelers were,
by the way, they were pretty much split five and
(43:56):
three at home, five and four away. Is there anything
that would explain why a team would be seven and
one on the road you mentioned Gino Smith or just
one of those things. It's just going to fluctuate, you
think from year to year.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
I mean road records fluctuate, right because your venues changed.
I mean outside of your three divisional games that you
will have in their stadiums, everyone's a toss up after that,
because especially when you're dealing with NFC, that happens every
four years and it rotates. So you know, the previous
year just like just like we had we were in Seattle,
(44:33):
you know, a couple of years ago for New Year's Eve,
and then now Seattle comes to us and this is
more of the rotational seventeenth game is how we got
Seattle this year. We don't play the NFC West. They
are the only NFC West representative that fellow in the schedule.
Everything else is NFC North for our rotation this year
(44:57):
with non conference play, So you know there is a
certain tilt. I mean, you just look at the record.
All time series is tied ten to ten. We've only
seen each other twenty times in this modern era. So
and we'd rather remember the seatle Seahawks used to be
an AFC team.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
Yeah, they never played in the playoffs. The only time
they ever played in They never played in the playoffs
when they were an AFC team. The only time they
ever met in the playoffs is of course the Super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (45:22):
Yes, yes, which we will be celebrating this year, thank goodness,
twenty fifth years. AnyWho, our twentieth year, twentieth year, sorry
I said twenty five years. It wasn't even the league
twenty five years ago. Twentieth anniversary of that team specifically.
And so you know, Seattle's a team that is a
tough team. Like I said, we don't have an advantageous
record on them. It's split right down the middle ten
(45:45):
to ten. This is quote unquote the rubber match of
the tilt match that now tilts that record in one
direction or the other. And you know, when you're talking
about defending at home, it's a unique thing to have
the home crowd right, you know the field, you know
the conditions, you know the expectations that you know what
the crowd's going to be like. When you're thinking about
a home field advantage. What makes it so good for Seattle?
(46:07):
You think with their stadium and how that sound traps
in because I was there that New Year's Eve game
on the sidelines and it can get really loud based
on the acoustics and how they created that kind of
half domed structure to really kind of funnel sound back
into the middle of the field. And you know, for
(46:28):
them not to have that just goes to show you
that you know, they had pieces, but they needed to upgrade.
That's why you move on from Geno Smith. That's why
you make the trade for a DK to try and
get these new pieces to make your team special again,
to try and rebuild that legion of boom. And you
know you have Tarik Woolan. Obviously, nick Emunt Warri is
(46:49):
a that's a blow to their defense. He would have
gone a long way to be that new Cam Chancellor type.
You know, I had him in South Carolina. I watched
it three times last year and he is literally nick
e man of Wari, you know, and I say that
because man of war That's exactly what he was. And
he was a game wrecker for that team a year
(47:10):
ago in South Carolina. And the reason why he went
so high, I thought he was going to be a
first rounder. You know, with safeties, that's a very volatile
situation and sensitive situation. So he went in the second
but still is still in the second round. He's a
guy that had a first round draft grade yep. And
he is a physical, box style player that has range.
(47:33):
Like you said, you want him in and around the
line of scrimmage. That's what makes him so deadly. You
don't want to put him in the back half of
free safety and roaming and trying to cover you know,
sideline to sideline and thirty forty yards deep. You want
him near and dear to your defensive heart and that
means slot blitz, that means box play, and so to
(47:56):
kind of lose a player of his ilk is not
necessarily the best thing for that defense, but you know
they'll recover. You kind of went through who the known
guys were on that squad, but I think that's what
you got. You kind of look at him. Devin Witherspoon's
the first round pick from a couple of years ago.
So they've got some guys that can burn and then
(48:17):
we'll see what Josh Job does uh for them? Uh
at the corner didn't have it, didn't have a terrible day,
but wasn't necessarily a great day for him. So you
feel like if there is somebody you know Tarik Wooland
will probably be the guy that will that will travel
or trolley with DK Metcalf and the rest of the guys.
You're gonna have to throw them into zone coverage because
(48:38):
they're gonna want to They're gonna want to run the
basketball equivalent of a box and one mix, a man mix,
some man's zone concepts man manned the DK side and
then run some zone to the other side to try
and pick up and UH and try and cover yourself
that way. So it's going to be a good challenge. Well,
it's the challenge that you want.
Speaker 2 (49:00):
Afterwards, their their injury their injury report is extremely interesting
and we're gonna get to that, and we're gonna get
to an a f C preview UH for the weekends
games when we continue inside the locker Room with King
and Starks, presented by our neighborhood Ford Store here on
the Steelers Audio Network
This is in the Locker Room with Kingyon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
f one to fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
And it is a cool breeze Thursday. We have Jerry
Dulac coming on a little bit later on today alongside
Max Starks. I'm Rob King and lots and lots and
lots to get to a Thursday before the game coming
up against Seattle on Sunday, the home opener for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
A lot of excitement obviously with that.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Max.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You know, yesterday we kind of went through what happens
on a Monday, at a Tuesday and a Wednesday in
a work week for the Steelers. So I want to
ask you about what happens on a Thursday. Before I
do that, I want to ask you how are you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
I'm doing all right, Rob, I mean it's it's Thursday.
Practices are going on, guys are getting better, and we
got a home opener just around the corner. I am
excited for Steeler Nation to pack the Act so to speak,
for the game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I like it.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Listen, I am I'm full of I'm full of like
little coin phrases. I'm all about this right now, pack
the Act act at night, you know, when we have
a night game. I mean, I'm good with all of this.
So you know it's it's gonna be exciting and man
revenge to our twenty twenty five Pittsburgh Steelers edition is
(01:50):
ah is kicking off hot and heavy the first two
games of the season, right, I mean, you know, we
got we got the Aaron Rodgers mini revenge, we got
the bigger Aaron Rodgers revenge coming up. And then of
course now it's DK Metcalf's turn.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure that, you know.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And Aaron Rodgers when asked about the Jets, he said, look,
green Bay is going to be more special, right because
that's where I spent all my time and for for
for DK, unquestionably, this will be you know interesting, right,
I mean they traded him. It's the place that he got,
you know, made two Pro Bowls, and you know, I
(02:29):
don't know any other circumstances around the trade, whether he
was requesting one or anything like that. But you know,
so behind the scenes stuff that may or may not
have been going on. I just think that it's cool,
you know, I mean, it's you know it, like you said,
it's part of the part of the revenge tour thing
(02:52):
that's going on, right.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Oh absolutely, And listen, I am, I am here for
the petty because the petty seems to breed a certain
level of play that I am. I'm I'm I'm ready for,
I am excited for. And when guys get to show
off and show out, that's that's what it's all about.
(03:15):
And I'm looking at just how this team, you know,
persevered through not the best game out of a lot
of players and they still got the victory. That for
a professional can only fuel you. That can that can
only lead to bigger and better things if you're the
(03:37):
proper professional. And we will see that come Sunday. What
did I learn from last week that I can apply
to this week? Who am I going to take my
frustrations out on this Sunday that I did not get
to do last Sunday. That's what it's all about. And
and that is the kind of the thing that I
(03:58):
think of in my mind and that that that gets
me hyped up. That that's that's the natural coffee buzz
right there.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
So Max again, just to reset this. We'll do this
one time. But you know what happens?
Speaker 4 (04:11):
What?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
What? What goes on today? So you talked about yesterday.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yesterday is a big day for implementing the game plan
and a lot of film study and you know, getting
the kinks worked out and the muscles and that sort
of thing.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
What goes on today?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
What are the expectations between you leave practice yesterday? What
needs to be Is there work going on after practice,
mental work or what have you? And then leading into today?
What goes on in a Thursday, a typical Thursday before
a Sunday game.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Well, you you've already mentally watched I mean you've already
watched practice, So mentally you've already seen what you did
wrong on Wednesday. Thursday is refinement, and refinement means whatever
didn't work in practice versus these base fronts, throw it
out and today will install some more. It'll be the
red zone packages, short yards and goal line packages and
(05:06):
some of your specialty stuff. You'll have a longer passing,
full team passing period and you will kind of work
through some of some of your core run outside run stuff,
and then defensively, you'll start to work on some of
your situational packages as far as as far as your
(05:27):
short yard, as your red zone, your goal line stuff,
what are the adjustments some of the gimmicky stuff that
they may run or funky personnel groupings. You'll kind of
work through those things and the keys off of that.
And today, once again, if it ain't broke, still fix it.
You know, it means prehab is better than rehab. So
(05:51):
if there's something that you feel might be an issue
or something that is still lingering, gotta work on it.
Got to work on it today as well. The process
does not stop it, you know. It's just like it's
just like when you're building a house, right there's something
to do every day, and even after you own that
house and it's done, they call it the money pit
(06:11):
for a reason because there's always something to work on
and fix right in your own home for sure. So
the same processes goes with a player's body, like there's
always something to work on, there's always something to get
stronger at, there's some weakness to dispel or get rid of.
All of those things apply. So that's what Thursday Thursday
(06:32):
is all about. Refinement.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
So now let's get into some of the specifics. And
by the way, a little bit later on, we're going
to be breaking down the AFC preview for you and
some of the key games in the AFC. Jerry Dulac
is going to be coming up with us in a
little bit. But okay, so now let's get specific about
this game and max. For me, when I look at
(06:58):
this game, I mean, there's a no number of different things,
but I want to start when the Steelers have the ball,
and you know, Aaron Rodgers came out nicely, had some
had some nice things to say about Roger Jones yesterday
and confidence in him, believes in him, said he thought.
You know, Aaron Rodgers himself stepped into a sack or
two because his back was a little tight and he
(07:19):
wasn't moving that well. But these young tackles get another
test with Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence. Different kind of test, right.
You get McDaniel McDonald and Jermaine Johnson last week, and
you know, one guy ten and a half sacks. The
other guy in Johnson wasn't there last year. But was
(07:40):
it Pro Bowl the year before? Young energetic legs and
that kind of stuff. Well, I'm not saying that Leonard
Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence don't have young, energetic legs. But
now you got the grizzled old veterans, you know, the
grizzly bears with some with a few tricks up their
sleeves and probably a little anger on game day. You know,
this is a different challenge for these guys and going
against these veterans. And I know every player is unique
(08:03):
and different, but if you're a young tackle and I'm
talking about here Broderick Jones and Faltanu and you're going
against young, you know guys one week and and veteran
guys another is it Is it player by player or
can you make some generalities between a young pass rusher
and an experienced pass rusher when they're.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Both still effective?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean there are generalities, but I mean there
there's there's a resume versus no resume. That's really the
biggest thing. And so the tendencies are more locked in,
they're more prominent because you have a lot to draw
on from them. They have they have a lot of
(08:45):
they have a long laundry list of game tape that
they that that they can show what their tendencies are.
So when you break it, when you break them down,
you look. You could look at Leonard Williams from the
Giants and the jet You can look at DeMarcus Lawrence
from the Cowboys and why he was one of the
highest paid defensive tackles at one point in his career.
(09:08):
You have a lot to work with with them, but
once again, you are fighting that experience. They feel things
a lot quicker than a young pass rusher. So when
you're on the double team, they can feel what the
pressure looks like and know when you're going to leave
and escape too soon, or you're too quick on your
double team blocks, or the angle of the guard that's
(09:32):
blocking them. They know how to reverse pressure and swim
underneath and almost like slingshot themselves behind the play because
they realize they're not going to catch the play over
the top. All of those little things they know, and
with a young offensive line, they don't know what they
don't know, and so the challenge is going to be
in the interior. How does Isaac, Zach and Mason deal
(09:54):
with DeMarcus and Leonard that's where the big matchup's going
to be. That determines the depth of your pocket if
you're passing, but also on your inside run. That also
decides your cutback when, where and how and if so,
that's what you're fighting this week. That's where the strength
of this team is going to be. And so you
(10:14):
can't take it lightly, and you cannot take this for granted.
You've got to go out there and attack the one
thing you do have on your mind, which I'm sure
they're doing this week. They're practicing early this week. This
is earlier than one pm West Coast time for them.
They're used to that four to twenty five slot when
they're at home because they're on the West coast. So
you're getting a ten am version of the Seahawks versus
(10:37):
the one pm version of Seahawks. How they adjust with
that time, the travel trap that distance traveled, I said
travel distance, the distance traveled from Seattle to Pittsburgh. That's
going to play a role and their their game prep.
How can you get up in time? Sometimes the body
clock's a little off, and you know you're you're a
(11:00):
little tired, you got a little crust in your eyes
right in that little corner right on the nose. Yeah,
that's what you could take advantage of. But you got
to be on your p's and hues. You have to
be solid. The double teams must last until that guy
has to come off at the very last half second.
I'm not gonna say very last second because the seconds
too long in football. On any given play, you have
(11:21):
to come back down to the very last half second
before you disengage. Make sure that guard has that has
that sealed block, make sure that tackle has that hinge
or backside cut off. You have to sit a little
bit longer and boom, then you gotta go. So that's
what you're looking at. The defensively, you must disengage. You
(11:41):
have to disengage from the blockers. That's the key from this.
You know, guys were blocked way too long and when
they tried to disengage, they're on their heels. Guys are
falling over. I mean one play where Keanu took out
Yya in a play and Cam Hayward got taken out
in a play with louder Milk. So you've got to
(12:02):
work on your disengagement. That's gonna be key because guess
what Seattle watched that Jets film and say, guess what
we're gonna run Ken Walker, Sharbon Nay, it's on you
to be Braylen Allen and Breese Hall. We've got, we've got,
We've got to kick this at a high gear, Sam Darnold.
There is no justin field, so that threat's not gonna
be there. Maybe you see a little bit more press man,
but the front seven has to win. They have to
(12:24):
win however they line up. If it's gonna be in base,
you're run base three four cool. But if you're gonna
if they're gonna try and run out a sub, you
gotta run out of four to two nickel and look
for your support. Guys, that's what you gotta do. But
this is that refinement day. This is the day where
you figure all that stuff out. You work on stuff.
(12:44):
Like I said, that's a weakness, you make it a strength.
If it's broke, fix it. If it ain't broke, reinforce it.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Right.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Well, so when we look at Seattle in specific, nick
Emmon worry who is going into draft. You know he
was a guy that he so he wound up going
to the second round. But as we were watching the draft,
you know, unfold and we're talking about it at the combines,
and he was a guy that I thought was a
was really really interesting, big physical guy who can really move,
(13:18):
you know, kind of a big nickel type of guy.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
You bring him in, you put him in the slot.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
You think he can run with smaller slot receivers, but
he can come up and bang people in the running game.
He comes out last week as the very first tackle
I think it was even a tackle for loss for Seattle.
I think he had the first tackle for loss and
then that's it. He only played like five or six plays,
I think, just a handful, and he was out done.
He's hurt high ankle sprain. Does not look like he's
(13:45):
going to be available for this game. I've not seen
any anything that would contradict that yet this morning. But
it's still even without him, it is a unit that
I think a lot of people believe is capable of
taking a jump into a top ten type of unit.
We mentioned Williams, and we mentioned Lawrence, and you know
(14:08):
they got Byron Murphew. They spent a first round pack
pick on last year. Was on the nose. I don't
think he gave them quite what they were expecting. They're
hoping to see a leap from him and next year
this year along with Jarenried on the inside, so that
gives them you know, like you mentioned that front, that
middle three is going to be tested. You know, Leonard
Williams kind of swings in and out of that right.
Is he going to be picked up by Broderick? Is
(14:31):
he going to be blocked by you know, the guard
Ciamalu or McCormick. You have DeMarcus Lawrence. But behind those guys,
you also have boy A Mafe who two years ago
nearly had double digit sacks. You also have Derek Hall,
who last year I think had nine sacks a year ago.
(14:51):
So you have a number of guys that can get
to the passer. And I'm gonna hammer on this, and
I think fans are gonna hammer on this too, because
we saw too much pressure on Aaron Rodgers, and we
saw what Aaron Rodgers can do with some pressure, and
we saw what he can do with a relatively clean pocket,
and that's throw four touchdown passes and take care of
(15:14):
the football and make some beautiful throws downfield. But he
has to be kept upright, you know. It's the same thing.
I mean, look, Brady was that way through a lot
of his career. But the older the Brady's and the
Peyton Mannings and the Rogers get, the more you know
they need a cleaner pocket.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
It's just part of it.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
You know, this isn't Ben Roethlisberger with guys, you know,
draped over him making a miraculous throwdown field. These guys
have got to be kept clean. And if they if
Aaron Rodgers has kept clean, I think we saw what
he can do. So to me, that's we'll talk about
the you know, the ability to try to run the
ball in Seattle in a moment. But to me, this
continues to put pressure max on those young tackles and
(15:53):
you know whether at some point they need help chipping
or a or a tight end over on their side,
which you don't want to have to do because that
takes somebody out of a pattern or or makes it
easier for the corners to cover. So if you take
somebody out of a pattern, now you know a DK
Metcalf gets gets easier to deal with. So you know,
(16:13):
these tackles, this is this I think when I look
at this game, I think that's the number one test
for the Steelers' offense is being able to block this
pass rush which is going to come from a variety
of sources. It's going to come from Williams, It's going
to come from Lawrence, It's going to come from Derek Hall,
(16:34):
it's going to come from Bue mafe Well.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
And also, I mean you're looking at Ernest Jones and
Tyree Knight as well at the linebacking position, and they're
also very skilled, so their front seven is going to
present some challenges for you. I mean, Ernest Jones had
an interception last week, so you know, I think you
know the pressure that's that's created from that front and
(17:00):
it's tough. It's tough to call it a three four
because you have four big bodies.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Like to it's kind of a hybrid.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Is considered a rush end, so it it it lends
itself to a four to three concept with a stand
up guy essentially, so it has a bastardized three four
type of hybrid. Look, I mean this is almost like
kind of the original way that that when you think
about how Dick Lebo created the three four, this was
(17:29):
kind of like that entry level hybrid to transitioning from
a four to three or a double legal look, so
you're you're going you're going to have some unique issues.
And that's where you know, we talked about the issues
that Broderick had. Broderick kind of I mean, he talked
about it, but didn't really talk about it, which I
(17:49):
don't blame him. I don't want to dwell on this
crap like it happened in the past. I know I
need to fix it. You know, there's a lot of
things I need to fix. He kind of kind of
generalized that he's a young dude. He doesn't necessarily know
how to, you know, gracefully say that on on air
when being interviewed. I know a lot of people are making,
you know, this very apathetic type of viewpoint of a project,
(18:12):
which I don't agree with. That's lazy reporting. Ask better questions,
you get better answers in my mind. But you know
that that that's that's the tougher part about it, right,
is trying to discern that that you're trying to fight
what people put out there in social media, you know.
And and like I said, Aaron, Aaron talked about it
and and and support it and had his back, which
(18:32):
I think is also important. His quarterback has his back
and that's what people need to realize. You can make
your own generalities, but guess what, he has to go
out there and play with him and he has to
make it work. So you've got you've got to have
that belief. You've seen the skill set. You know the
guy better than our our quote unquote media eyes have it.
You know what's in the huddle, different versus us. You
(18:53):
know what the play call was and what the challenges
were with it, so you know, until otherwise noticed, I
could only I can only go off of what I see.
I mean, there's some very basic mechanical things that he
needs to change and that's a transition that he has
to get used to. Not he's not on the right side.
He is not on the right side, got it.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Listen hold that thought because I do want to ask
you about that adjustment from right to left, and I
want to talk more about this the pressure on these
young tackles because you snuff this out early, no one's
gonna be talking about it. If it continues to linger,
they're going to continue to get questions and you know,
so hopefully they can put a stop to that. But
(19:33):
we have Jerry Dulac coming up next. When we continue
inside the Locker Room with King and Starks, presented by
our neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steeler stand by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
You know, sometimes you just I mean, this is take
me back to summer, you know what I'm saying. Rob
this music right here? I mean, you usually have some
sand between your toes. Should be a nice little drink
in your hand, adult beverage if that's what you do.
If not, you know, just mix some little tropical punch.
I don't know, but uh, I'm thinking like a little
(20:31):
coconut rum and pineapple juice. Maybe my tie or rum runner.
When you hear this, because you know, it's five o'clock
somewhere in Margueritaville, But right now, you know what our
five o'clock is is Jerry Dulac time. And Jerry Doulac
is brought to you by bud Light Proud sponsor at
the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jerry Dulac and Jerry, nice to
(20:52):
have you on another Thursday week, two Thursday. How are
you doing today?
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Well, Max, as you well know, it's always a delight
to be with you, especially with that introduction. And also
I will remind you summer is still going on until
September twenty First.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Well, thank you for that update. It definitely is one
that I'm excited. But kids are in school and we're
back to work, so, you know, normal justifications summer.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
And I get to talk to Rob today too, thank you.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Last week?
Speaker 5 (21:27):
Do you know last week, you know Rob was with
me doing something else that's exactly right, you know, yeah,
But so now I get to talk to him right
here with you, Max, which is a double treat for me,
as you well know.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
Yes, no, it absolutely is due. And you know, I'm
just going to start out with kind of thoughts for
this week. I mean, what do we learn last week?
What do we hope to learn this week? Going into
it from from your perspective, from your viewpoint.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Well, Max, what we learned last week is that Mike
Tomlin Arthur Smith is not afraid to use his new
toys and I think if you would have chosen before
the game, first game on the road, with new players,
both offense and defense, I think you probably would have
(22:18):
bet that if you had to choose which attack they
would use, it would probably be the the old Mike
common let's not try to win the game, let's just
not lose it. Very conservative kind of feel out the
other team, see what we have, see what they got,
and win seventeen thirteen. That was not the game plan.
(22:41):
They came out and they wanted to use those new
toys and they wanted to attack. Aaron Rodgers through thirty times.
He dropped back thirty four right, with four sacks. That's
a lot of That's a lot of passing for the
Steelers for the first game. But that's the way they
wanted to play, and I think with the players they
(23:03):
brought in, that's the way they're going to continue to play.
Are they going to be a pass happy team?
Speaker 3 (23:07):
No?
Speaker 5 (23:09):
But I think what you saw is and Mike Tomlin
acknowledged this the other day actually, when I asked them,
he said, when you bring in players with talent, you
want to use that talent. And that was the thing
that stood out the most to me was just the
way they approached that game. Now, will they do the
same against Seattle? You know, I can't sit here and
(23:31):
tell you that's the case, but I don't think they're
going to go hand it off forty times unless they're
rushing for three hundred yards. So you know, we'll be
curious to see how it continues. But that, more than anything,
was a big positive and what jumped out the most
to me from that game. That's that's what I learned
more so than anything else.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You know, I think that's a great point, Jerry and
I will be fascinated to see what the approach looks like.
Last year with Aaron Rodgers, the Jets did not run
the ball a lot. This year, I would not. I
think they were fourth in the league in rushing attempts.
I would be very surprised if they weren't in the
top five in rushing attempts this year.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
New quarterback, new system in New York.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
I don't think the Steelers, though with Aaron Rodgers, are
going to be are gonna have the fourth fewest rushing attempts.
But I don't know that. None of us know that.
We won't know that we see it. I do think
that a team like the Jets with Sauce Gardner, who's
a great defensive back, great defensive back, but other deficiencies
in the back end, but a really good front six
(24:38):
and that can stop the run and pressure the passer.
I view Seattle as a team that is, you know,
with a really really good secondary, very good pass rushers,
but I.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Think you can run on them.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
So I'll be interested to see if the Steelers feel
like they have the kind of offense that can attack
you in a number of ways. You know, we talk
about within a game, Jerry, Hey, you want to go
seven in the box, We're gonna run it. You want
to go out in the backs, We're gonna throw it.
I wonder also if game plans will change from week
to week because you feel like you've got the kind
(25:16):
of quarterback that can let it rip and open it
up if you need to.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Well, I think a couple things to your point, Bob.
You know, I think the Steelers were fourth or fifth
in the league last year, maybe even third in rushing attempts,
and I honestly don't expect that to change a whole
lot this year. They still will go win with the
idea they want to run the football, and they will
(25:41):
attempt to do so. The problem is can they run
the football. Are they able to kind of pick up
the slack that or the void left by Najie Harrison
his four one thousand yard seasons. Personally, I don't see
that happening. And so when you combine nine Harris's totals
(26:01):
with Jalen Warrens, you were looking at about what sixteen
hundred yards rushing a year for the last two years.
The way they rotated those guys, I'm not so sure
they can replicate that again this year. And so to me,
that's going to be the one of the issues. Yeah,
that's nice if you want to run the ball, but
then it becomes can you run the ball? Obviously they
(26:22):
drafted Caleb Johnson to help for that reason. I know
he only got two carries the other day. I don't
think that's going to continue, but I think that's going
to be that's the biggest question mark facing this offense.
And because of their desire to run the ball, doesn't
mean they will be able to do it effectively. And
(26:44):
yet it wasn't like it was a dominant running game
with Nausei Harris, but it was consistent it was fairly
productive and it was reliable, and I don't know that
you have that with this team, and that's what we're
going to find out. Look, was only one game, so
not going to pass any judgment, you know, good or
bad as to whether they can or can't do something.
(27:06):
But I thought all along heading into the season that
was probably the most understated concern facing this football team.
And we're going to find out if if it is
a concern. I mean, I like Kenneth Gainwell. Kenneth Gainwell
is not that type of running back who's going to
get you sixty seventy yards a game, but he is
a versatile running back.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
As you saw.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
They like this guy. He played thirty stamps the other day,
five more than Jalen Warren. So you know, we'll see
how this whole thing pans out. But I think the
running game should be an area that people I don't
want to say concerned, but they should be aware that
it might be it might be a struggle until they
(27:49):
figure something out. And can they replicate even come close
to getting some of the production they got last year.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Well.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Jerry Dulac is presented by your Neighborhood Ford Story The
f one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jerry,
you know, I think we're we're all tempted as fans,
and I'm glad you're taking a step back and saying,
let's see what happens. We're all tempted as fans to say, oh,
my goodness, gracious, my worst fewers are realized. Well you
(28:18):
have you have seventeen more weeks of the regular season,
and so we don't want to panic. But I do
think that this might represent an opportunity for the running
game to be a little bit better. And I also
think if they can't run the ball against Seattle, I mean,
this is a Seattle team, Like I said, I think
(28:38):
it's better equipped to stop the pass.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
You know, they weren't great. They're middle of the road
against the run. Last year.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
They were kind of middle of the road in Week
one against San Francisco against the run.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
I think I would be encouraged.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
You know, I'm not going to be like, hey, the
sky is falling if they don't run the ball or
what have you, but I think it would be an
encouraging sign of they did run the ball a little
more effectively this week than they did against a Jets
team that had Quinn Williams and and two really good
guys in the middle. At linebacker, Harrison Phillips is a
solid player. So I would be encouraged if they if
(29:14):
they got a little bit better running attack than they
did a week ago.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Well, Robert, if I know Arthur Smith, when there is
a deficiency, he tries to make it a proficiency. And
I think even as you know, even up to the
including the next game, and so I think you will
see them have a bit, a little bit of a
greater emphasis on trying to run the ball and being
(29:43):
more productive running the ball against Seattle. That's kind of, uh,
you know, his m O. Probably a lot of coaches,
but I noticed that to be his m O. If
they struggled, you know, in the past game and weren't
productive last game, I think you'd see him come on
and work on that that too, because they want balance.
They're not going to sit there and rely on Aaron
(30:03):
Rodgers throwing for thirty four times at age forty one
all season. They don't want to do that. But I
think they sent a nice message last week what they are,
you know, what they would like to do, and certainly
maybe what they are capable of doing, but I would
expect them to come out and try to run the
ball and get better offensive line play, including protection, but
(30:27):
just better offensive line play in terms of running the ball.
I would, I would, I would fully expect that this
week against the Seahawks.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
And Jerry you know, as we kind of look at
flipping flipping to the other side of the ball. Defensively,
this was not a standard that you know, we kind
of have hoped for. But I mean, you know, you
kind of look at since the latter part of last year,
you know, this defense has that has that performed up
to snuff. I know, we added a lot of new
(30:58):
pieces in situations was a lot better. But the rushing yards,
the run defense, I mean, this is this is shades
of what we saw in the playoff game, kind of
rear and suggly head here in week one. What do
you see week two with Zach Charbonnay and Kenneth Walker
being the you know, kind of the known rushing assailants
(31:19):
and also you know, just kind of the TJ. Watt factor,
the attention that he got last week that kind of
neutralized him from his overall effect and it still made
some plays because he's TJ Watt. But you know, how
do you see this defense kind of kind of rebounding
from a slump in Week one?
Speaker 5 (31:39):
Well, certainly it would be good if they did Max,
because what we saw in New York was what we
saw at the end of last year. And it wasn't
just a Baltimore playoff game. It was the Baltimore regular
season game, the Philadelphia regular season games in December. They
just got creased and gapped and run through over and around,
and there wasn't a whole lot different except it just
(32:03):
wasn't Derick Henry the way the Jets ran through them.
And I think it's a big cause for concern, and
it's to why I look, I know Derek Harmon didn't play,
but one guy isn't going to change all that. And
it was the first game of the year. It was
It was disturbing because it's what we watched at the
end of last year. But you you drafted two guys
(32:26):
for a reason, and so when you were starting the
game with a guy who's been around for five years
and has done really nothing other than you know, understand
where he knows where to line up, then you're not
doing yourself any favors, And so to me, if you
if you drafted Ya Black, then you know what, play
(32:48):
Ya Black because what you were putting out there just
isn't good enough. And so maybe getting Derek Harmon back
next week will help. I'm sure it will, That's why
they drafted him. But to me, you just can't line
up with the same people Logan Lee played one snap.
To me, you know, I just don't think if you
like these guys, then you play them. Okay, they're gonna
(33:10):
make some mistakes, but how many mistakes could they make
It would be any different from what we saw on
the field with the Jets running through them. So you
know they have to they have to I think change
up some of their approach in that regard. It's also
max Y I feel they don't. They shouldn't just stop
with Derek Harmon. It's why they need to go get
(33:32):
another guy next year. Pay attention to the defensive line
for two years like you did with the offensive line
for two years, and and you can just see that
and again one game certainly not going to push the
panic button. It's just that we didn't see anything different
than what we saw at the end of last year,
and I know it was a first game for Cam.
(33:53):
He didn't do didn't play any preseason games, although he
never does, but he didn't do a whole lot in
training camp. But he you know, hey, he's getting older,
he's thirty six, and to expect them to have another
all Pro season, and you know that might be a
big leap of faith. But you know, this defense, you know,
Mike Tomlin likes to use the word historic. They called
(34:14):
them great and dominant ones. They never will be as
long as they can't stop the run. And they just
haven't proven that they can do it. And I just steal.
I look at that Baltimore playoff game and I go
back max to the days of James Ferrier when he
told me one time, if we want to stop the run,
we'll stop the run. Well, I would have bet eight
(34:36):
hundred dollars last year that that second Baltimore game, Derick
Henry would not run wild and the Ravens wouldn't run
through the bowl. Lamar Jackson might pass for five hundred yards,
but they were going to say, there's no way we're
going to let the Ravens run on us. And they did,
which means they just couldn't stop them, which of course
is why they made the draft choices.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
That they did.
Speaker 5 (34:56):
They tried to get more physical. But unless they can
do it up front, and I know I'm going on
and on here because you know how I feel about this.
Unless they make do what they need to do upfront
and make the proper changes and keep paying attention to it,
the same thing is probably going to happen. And don't
stop with Derek Carmon and don't stop with y A Black.
(35:17):
Go get one more guy and then we'll see what
you got.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
So Jerry, I don't disagree with anything you said. Nothing
I do say this, and Max will back me up
on this. You know when I want walked into that
press box in met Life Stadium. I didn't love the
Week one matchup. I think that you get Derek Carmon
back and you get a few games under his belt,
and you know, this is basically as close to the
Ravens as we're going to get. This Jets team. They
(35:44):
want to run the football, and they're built up front
to run the football, and they've got a good stable
of running backs. And I'm not trying to excuse the
performance because, as I said, I never thought that the
Jets would run for that many yards.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
I'm not surprised they were effective.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
I think that, and again, we'll see whether a team
like Seattle alters their game plan a little bit. They
have a couple of fine running backs themselves, They're not
really what I would consider an elite running attack. I
think I'll be more concerned. I'd like to think that
this one, you get Harmon back, and you get you know,
you get Cam with some more games under his belt,
(36:20):
maybe you figure out a different rotation. You know, Black
is a rookie. Still that maybe they'll be better equipped
later in the season to stop this kind of attack.
I didn't think it was a great week one for
them to have this kind of an opponent. But but
I'll be interested to see if teams like Seattle and
other teams start to say, you know what, let's run
(36:40):
the football a ton against these guys, and so they
can they prove they can stop it. And I don't
want to make even after week two, you can't make generalizations, Jerry,
but I do think that I think you'd you'd feel
better about it if you you had more success, Let's
put it that way. I feel a lot better about
this d If you had better success against the run
this week, well.
Speaker 5 (37:00):
Rob, I don't think there's any question about that. And again,
good or bad, I never evaluate after one game. It's
a long season. They'll fix their ales. It's just it
was disturbing to see it again. But that doesn't mean
it's going to continue. And it's just like with the
four touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. I'm not going to predict
(37:20):
Super Bowl. I'm not good or bad. I don't evaluate
on one game. We'll see how this whole thing plays out.
I got to run. It's time for the locker room.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
The Great Jerry Doulac brought to you by your neighborhood
Ford Store of the f one fifty is the official
truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jerry, I see it a
little bit. My friend down to the south side. Jerry
Doulac is gone, and like the cool Breeze, he's blown
out of our lives, or at least blown out of
the show for today.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Max Starks.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
Yeah, and once again, Jerry Doulac has brought to us
by Bud Light, the proud sponsor of the Pittsburgh Steelers
and Jerry Doulac. So yeah, no, I mean, it's it's
one of those things. That's why Jerry is who Jerry is.
And you know he he has a very even keeled mine.
He's very level headed, and you know he's our insider.
(38:10):
So you know he's the one that's, like you said,
going to talk to the players right now, get their
perspectives and formulate, formulate the thoughts and opinions of the
players and presents that to us. So we appreciate all
of his tireless work. And he's always welcome to the
locker room. That Coolbry's is always allowed to blow through
gets hot every once in a while when you're in
the booth. So we appreciate when Jerry stops by.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
He's Max Starks, I'm Rob King. You're listening inside the
locker Room with King and Stark's presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store. Here on the Pittsburgh Shire, there's Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
This is in the locker room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by.
Speaker 6 (39:01):
Steelers Pro Shop. Get a direct from the team at
the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
And welcome back with King and Sarks inside the locker room.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Gear up with the latest game day necessities at the
official Steelers Pro Shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys,
Terrible towels, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only
find directly from the team. Visit one of the official
Steelers Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium, Grove City Premium,
ount Let's or Tanger out Let's, or gear up online
(39:37):
at Shop dot Steelers dot com. Get a direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Max It's a home opener, man, it is.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
Indeed, it is the first of you know, a slew
of home field stances, so to speak. So you know
it brings its own intensity, It brings its own set
of advantages. As I like to think, when you think
about coming to Akershuer Stadium, you're coming to Pittsburgh and
(40:16):
you're at the confluence of three rivers. As our good
buddies used to always say in the broadcast, exciting, exciting
opportunity for the Steelers to be in front of the
home fans once again we did get that one Tampa
Bay game in the preseason that was you know, that
(40:38):
was a scratch because it's preseason doesn't count on the record.
So now really the home record matters. The home record
is a hallowed thing that you want to protect. You
want to make sure that you maintain that home field advantage.
So we're going to get the first iteration. Steeler fans
are going to get their first taste of the twenty
(40:58):
twenty five Steelers at home and Acroshore.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
You know, I think it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (41:03):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
And the the Matt Williamson stat pack is out and
we love that. It's like a little like a little
like a Christmas present every week when we get the
Matt stats out. And you know, he pointed out some
things about Seattle. So Seattle, you know, a ten and
seven team a year ago, you know, they they were
(41:27):
on the outside looking in because the the NFC was
just so solid. It was the Rams who won the
division with the ten and seven records. So man ten
and seven and not make the playoffs. That's a bummer.
But under Mike McDonald, first year, very successful season for Seattle.
They were seven and one on the road, seven and one.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
Max I mean, that's incredible, that's that's an impressive number.
But here's the difference though kinger Gino Smith is not
their quarterback that these are the Las Vegas Raiders. It's
Sam Darnell who Sam also had a great record last year,
but that was with the Vikings. What can you do
now with the Seattle Seahawks to try and build upon
(42:11):
that from a year ago? If you're the Steahawks, how
do you maintain that edge on the road? And for
the Steelers, how do you how do you how do
you stop that quote unquote edge that they have. Now
there's new pieces there. There's no dk Metcalf on that
on that on that Seattle squad either, So you don't
have the number one receiver and number one quarterback from
(42:31):
a year ago that led to that seven and one record,
But you know you got a competent backup guy. And
you know the other question is going to be how
do they deploy Jalen Milroe? And this they they've talked
about they have packages for him, and after watching Justin Fields,
I have to believe you're gonna try and get.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
Jalen Milroe in there. I agree, I enforce your way. Yeah,
And we're gonna break down some of these key matchups.
We have the Second Hour come up today and all
of tomorrow's show as well. I did want to ask you, though, Max,
you know, they're you know, my tendency is the thing,
and they were seven and one in the road. That
that's the second best road record in the NFL, the Detroit,
(43:12):
which you would think would have an incredible an incredible
road record or an incredible home record. Of course, they
had an incredible record overall the Detroit last year, but
they had the best road record in the NFL. They
were eight No, now they're seven and two at home,
But you'd think with that dome and all that other stuff,
they'd be unbeatable at home.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Do you think that's something that changes.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
From year to year because Seattle, and again we're talking
specifically about Seattle because they're the opponent, they were three
and six at home last year, three and six, you know,
and so most teams it would be kind of the
other way around, you would be you know, the Steelers were,
by the way, they were pretty much split five and
(43:56):
three at home, five and four away. Is there anything
that would explain why a team would be seven and
one on the road you mentioned Gino Smith or just
one of those things. It's just going to fluctuate, you
think from year to year.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
I mean road records fluctuate, right because your venues changed.
I mean outside of your three divisional games that you
will have in their stadiums, everyone's a toss up after that,
because especially when you're dealing with NFC, that happens every
four years and it rotates. So you know, the previous
year just like just like we had we were in Seattle,
(44:33):
you know, a couple of years ago for New Year's Eve,
and then now Seattle comes to us and this is
more of the rotational seventeenth game is how we got
Seattle this year. We don't play the NFC West. They
are the only NFC West representative that fellow in the schedule.
Everything else is NFC North for our rotation this year
(44:57):
with non conference play, So you know there is a
certain tilt. I mean, you just look at the record.
All time series is tied ten to ten. We've only
seen each other twenty times in this modern era. So
and we'd rather remember the seatle Seahawks used to be
an AFC team.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
Yeah, they never played in the playoffs. The only time
they ever played in They never played in the playoffs
when they were an AFC team. The only time they
ever met in the playoffs is of course the Super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (45:22):
Yes, yes, which we will be celebrating this year, thank goodness,
twenty fifth years. AnyWho, our twentieth year, twentieth year, sorry
I said twenty five years. It wasn't even the league
twenty five years ago. Twentieth anniversary of that team specifically.
And so you know, Seattle's a team that is a
tough team. Like I said, we don't have an advantageous
record on them. It's split right down the middle ten
(45:45):
to ten. This is quote unquote the rubber match of
the tilt match that now tilts that record in one
direction or the other. And you know, when you're talking
about defending at home, it's a unique thing to have
the home crowd right, you know the field, you know
the conditions, you know the expectations that you know what
the crowd's going to be like. When you're thinking about
a home field advantage. What makes it so good for Seattle?
(46:07):
You think with their stadium and how that sound traps
in because I was there that New Year's Eve game
on the sidelines and it can get really loud based
on the acoustics and how they created that kind of
half domed structure to really kind of funnel sound back
into the middle of the field. And you know, for
(46:28):
them not to have that just goes to show you
that you know, they had pieces, but they needed to upgrade.
That's why you move on from Geno Smith. That's why
you make the trade for a DK to try and
get these new pieces to make your team special again,
to try and rebuild that legion of boom. And you
know you have Tarik Woolan. Obviously, nick Emunt Warri is
(46:49):
a that's a blow to their defense. He would have
gone a long way to be that new Cam Chancellor type.
You know, I had him in South Carolina. I watched
it three times last year and he is literally nick
e man of Wari, you know, and I say that
because man of war That's exactly what he was. And
he was a game wrecker for that team a year
(47:10):
ago in South Carolina. And the reason why he went
so high, I thought he was going to be a
first rounder. You know, with safeties, that's a very volatile
situation and sensitive situation. So he went in the second
but still is still in the second round. He's a
guy that had a first round draft grade yep. And
he is a physical, box style player that has range.
(47:33):
Like you said, you want him in and around the
line of scrimmage. That's what makes him so deadly. You
don't want to put him in the back half of
free safety and roaming and trying to cover you know,
sideline to sideline and thirty forty yards deep. You want
him near and dear to your defensive heart and that
means slot blitz, that means box play, and so to
(47:56):
kind of lose a player of his ilk is not
necessarily the best thing for that defense, but you know
they'll recover. You kind of went through who the known
guys were on that squad, but I think that's what
you got. You kind of look at him. Devin Witherspoon's
the first round pick from a couple of years ago.
So they've got some guys that can burn and then
(48:17):
we'll see what Josh Job does uh for them? Uh
at the corner didn't have it, didn't have a terrible day,
but wasn't necessarily a great day for him. So you
feel like if there is somebody you know Tarik Wooland
will probably be the guy that will that will travel
or trolley with DK Metcalf and the rest of the guys.
You're gonna have to throw them into zone coverage because
(48:38):
they're gonna want to They're gonna want to run the
basketball equivalent of a box and one mix, a man mix,
some man's zone concepts man manned the DK side and
then run some zone to the other side to try
and pick up and UH and try and cover yourself
that way. So it's going to be a good challenge. Well,
it's the challenge that you want.
Speaker 2 (49:00):
Afterwards, their their injury their injury report is extremely interesting
and we're gonna get to that, and we're gonna get
to an a f C preview UH for the weekends
games when we continue inside the locker Room with King
and Starks, presented by our neighborhood Ford Store here on
the Steelers Audio Network
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