November 6, 2025 • 46 mins
Rob and Max talk about the Chargers o-line depth and the injuries that they are dealing with. Gerry Dulac also joins the guys to discuss the trade deadline and its various implications.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one P 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 (00:27):
And thanks very much for being with us today inside
the locker room alongside Max Starks. I'm Rob King, Justin
Miller at the controls in our iHeart studio at a
hon assignment issue for me yesterday. So back, happy to
be with Max and happy to get rolling toward another
big game for the Steelers on Sunday. Max getting excited
(00:49):
to get into that Thursday. Kind of get over the
hump on Wednesday and get into Thursday and you can
start getting into the matchups. And we're gonna start getting
into the matchups. But how are you doing today, my friend?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Doing all right? Rob?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
You know, it's it's one of those things where you
know you need to get through Wednesday kind of the
dust settling day, vet reth Day and Nick's bruises and
and bumps, h you know, clearing themselves up. You know,
you look at the uh the practice report. Technically it's
(01:23):
an injury report. I don't know why they call it
a practicepart, but I guess practice participation report. As you know,
it's chalk full of names, and you know, things start
to clear themselves up today. Uh, and then of course
on Friday as we barrel towards Los Angeles, the city
of Angels for the weekend for the Sunday Night bout.
So I'm looking forward to it. You know, this Chargers
(01:45):
team has a lot.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
To prove, and we're gonna be right there.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You know, we have a lot to prove still as
a team, so it's gonna be a really good matchup.
And we've kind of had some you know, some up
and down Sunday Night football.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Games thus far.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
And let's face it, we didn't put our best foot
forward and Sunday night football just a couple of weeks ago.
So I'm itching to get back and get us back
in winning ways hopefully come this Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Well, first of all, thanks to Wes Euler for filling
in yesterday inside the locker room. So that thank you
to Wes. And I know you guys touched on it briefly,
so you talked about the injury report. Now yesterday, we
know Joe Alt is out, We know they lost for
Shaun Slater at the beginning of the season. You know,
(02:32):
I can't imagine there's a better tackle pairing in the
NFL than those two. And you kind of built your
offensive approach around those guys and your quarterback and going
out and getting two running backs you want to pound
the ball at teams.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Both those running backs are hurt.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Naji Harris, who was of course so durable here for
the Pittsburgh Scithers suffering his first major injury as an
NFL player. Amario Hampton, first round pick. He won't be
available for this game. So you know they are mixing
and matching on the offensive line. Now, yesterday Bobby Hart
(03:08):
didn't practice. So Bobby Hart's the third tackle veteran guys
started his career with the Giants. You know, you figure
he's a pretty solid backup guy, he's your starter.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
He's hurt.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Now they went out and got Trevor Penning from New Orleans,
a former first round pick who I don't think is
quite lived up to those expectations. He's played both tackle spots,
he's played guard. My question for you, Max as it
regards Penning because when we look at the matchups, if
you're a Steelers fan, the first thing you're thinking is
(03:38):
coming off that big five sack performance against the Colts,
bring it on, man. You know, you got your struggle
to tackle and we've got tremendous edge pass rushers. Huge
advantage advantage for the Steelers. The Chargers obviously know that
they go out and get Penning in a trade with
the Saints. So what is the acclamation process like at
(03:59):
the offense of tackle position? And he played both sides
yesterday in practice, played left, played right. I'm assuming they're
going to try to get him out there and get
him out there and playing. You know, we talk about
the continuity on an offensive line as far as knowing
what that guy next to you is doing, that sort
of thing. You know, what are the biggest challenges for
a tackle making that transition to a new team and
(04:22):
is there something you kind of don't want to see
from the opponent, you know, because you know that the
defense will try to if Penning's out there, let's try
to scheme up and take advantage of any newness that
might be there. So could you break down that transition
and what it's like from a tackles perspective.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Well, I think the first thing that you know kind
of comes to mind, you know, when you're dealing with,
you know, switching from a new team midseason. I can't
even imagine that part of it because not only is
it getting to know your teammates and the guy next
to you, but then you know, you're cross training both sides, uh,
trying to pick up the lingo and trying to pick
(04:59):
up the offense as easy as possible, you know, and
then you throw in new language along with an active
defensive front, and you know, everything can go haywire. Now Trevor, Now,
Trevor is a veteran, but he's only he's only been
in one system really so and that's been the Sean
Payton system even you know, and and of course it
(05:22):
will be a little bit of Kellen Moore system right
this season. But still, you know, he has he's not
well versed with a lot of different coordinators, a lot
of different people, and so it's gonna be really interesting
to see how fast he can he can kind of
get on the quote unquote moving trained, as Mike Tomlin
will call it, of this system. So the biggest thing
(05:46):
is you have to keep the communication simple with him,
so you know you're looking at now and then Makai Beckton.
Makai Beckton was also limited, so I don't even know
he was even with the starting guard. You know that
he potentially would be playing with. So you're trying to
get used to the guy next to you. The guy
next to you is also new, so you know, I
think the biggest thing for him, and as he kind
(06:08):
of goes through this process and he's figuring it out,
you know, the real biggest thing is are you next
to Zion Johnson? Are you next to Mike Makai Beckton.
First of all, you got to figure out is he
going to be a right tackle? Is he going to
be a left tackle? So I mean you have Trey
Pipkins there, and Trey obviously has played there a long time.
I mean he started against US last year. So Trey
(06:32):
obviously is a is a seasoned VET and has been
there a while. I mean, you know, he's a seventh
year guy, so you know, I would probably slot Trey
at left, so put him, him and Zion next to
each other, and then you know, Bradley Boseman, of course,
is your sitter, So Bradley will be fine, but you
know whether it's going to be Makai Beckton or Jamari Sawyer.
(06:53):
Jamari Sawyer obviously a former you know, high round pick
for the well, not a high round pick. He was
a sixth rounder, a former draft pick for them that
played a lot.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Uh play has playoff experience. He was under Brendan Staley. Uh.
He was an old guard.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
So if Jamari slides in from Mackay, if Makay can't go,
then Trevor and mckaidy, I'm sorry, Trevor and Jamari need
to get on the same page. So it's it's just
it's honestly, it's like musical chairs. This this this is
this is this is a fire drill when you didn't
know there was a fire drill right now for the
office of Life at the tackle position. Because I'm sitting
(07:29):
here trying to figure it out, and I feel like
I'm a pretty rational and pretty you know, calculated dude
as far as you know about game planning and getting
everything ready. This this is this is very very awkward
to go with right now because, like I said, you know,
you're down, you're starting two tackles, you're down your third
(07:49):
tackle as of right now, so you're literally going with
your fourth and fifth tackle. Just think about that, rob
fourth and fifth tackle, and the fifth tackle just happened
to have gotten here yesterday, right.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
So right, so it's good.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And then, like you said, then the injury to Makai
Beck that don't know how serious that is or it's
just precautionary, that's going to also play into it. Because
if that's the case, now now you have two new
pieces on the right side and one on the left.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
So literally the only two healthy.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Starters you have is your left guard and Zion Johnson,
who's who's very good and you know, let me not,
let me try not try and gloss over this. He's
a he's a heck of a tackle, heck of a guard,
and Bradley Boseman and then question mark, question mark, question
mark at the other three positions. So sixty percent of
your offensive line is in flux right now. That's not
(08:40):
what you want to have going up because the Steelers
tea that just had five turnovers andd you know, had
had had five sacks and a bunch of quarterback hits
on the league's number one offense.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
So you know, so many different things come to mind.
One I will ask you is what about audibles? I mean,
you know, I'm sure you're I'm sure Rob, Rob, you
or that.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Now, now you're really starting to test the mental of
this crew.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Throw it at audibles. Come on, No, don't do that.
I mean, can you that that's what they're saying right now?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Can can you go to the line of scrimmage and
change a play and expect that a new tackle who's
been there for four or five days is going to
know exactly what you're changing out of and what his
responsibilities are going to be. You know what about that
aspect of it? Are you going to be stuck with
(09:42):
the player You're gonna be able to make changes?
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Rob?
Speaker 4 (09:47):
You know the answer to this, No, no, unless unless
you go right up to him and whisper in his ear,
uh and tell hey, you know you have you have
the end. I mean it's literally going to be, Hey, Trevor,
you have what we call em?
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Have you heard of em before? Do you know the E?
M O L.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
I don't think I have no man on the line, Okay,
And so that's what that is.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So make some obscure cultural reference, and I'm like, no, no, no, no, no,
talk about Okayne.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
No no, no, no, no.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
I mean I mean it's I mean outside of outside
of kiss your button, say goodbye, which I think will
probably be every play that he's out there. But yeah, exactly,
exactly exactly, or as say, uh, you know, every every
man for himself, you know, but no, it's gonna literally
(10:44):
be it's gonna be em or it's gonna be you know, slide.
It's gonna they're going to have to protect because also
they don't know him right as an offensive line is
off as a coordinator. I mean, you know, there's only
so much that you could figure out, you know. And
if you're Greg, you're like, I just need you to
get through this game, right, you know, And and you're
about to run through the fire. And I'm gonna give
(11:07):
you like a fire you know, a fireproof suit, but
I don't have gloves, so just hopefully you keep your
hands in you know what I'm saying Like that.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That's essentially what it is. You're you're gonna be running
through this fire.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
So it's going to be very simple for him, And
I think you could expect the attention to slide to
him because, like I said, you know, Jamari is a vet.
If Jamari goes in for Mackay or if Makay is
and that'll help at least ease and curb some of
that for him, because I expect him to be at
right tackle.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I would not put a brand new guy out at
left tackle. And Trevor Pinning didn't prove to be that
good of a left tackle in the Saints, so why
would I expect to do any difference. You've got Trey Pipkins.
Throw Trey over there. That's what Trey's played before, numerous things.
I mean, he has he has a ton of starts
over there, so you know, I would feel okay with
him being over there and just go go with it. Listen,
(12:00):
we got to run well, you know we we called
we called we called it blue and red slide. As
if you run blue slide of red slide. I mean,
that should be most of your protections, uh, just to
keep it easy and then maybe you can get into
some more man style stuff, you know, the sixties protection
as we called it.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
So it's six man pro, the five offensive lineman with
the running back.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
I'm sure he knows that type of stuff, but I
wouldn't get sophisticated with a lot of the play action play,
you know, passing. You know, he has to pick up
the run game. You know he's been in run games,
but the terminology is gonna be different for Greg Roman
versus what he's used to in New Orleans. So you
got to keep those those zone schemes simple and the
(12:38):
man schemes.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Simple for him.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
And you know, more often than not, if I could,
if I could just put him on the in man
of the line of scrimmage, that makes it easy, you know,
not don't give him dual reads and a lot of
combinations that he has to work with, because now you
have to over communicate. And obviously if you're over communicating,
guy like Cam Hayward's going to pick up on that,
a guy like TJ. Watt's gonna pick up on that.
Uh and and there they're gonna exploit him. I wouldn't
(13:02):
be surprised if you see some Cam you know, sliding
out wide over over him or some type of twist
that go and pin him. Trevor Penning has always been
one He's been more fight than skill. You know, he's
he's he you know, he's got he's got the workmen's mentalities,
very blue collar, and that's how he plays. He plays
like a blue collar player. So he wants to get physical.
(13:23):
He wants to make the game small, and you know,
you start stretching him, start mixing up the fronts on him.
He's gonna have some some issues with the community. Well,
I should say he's gonna have it.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Then.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Offensive lines have issues communicating to each other because of
the newness and because of the shuffling of players.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So let me ask you this the last thing before
we head to break. You know, are there things you
now we're assuming Penning's gonna play. Of course he might not.
They might just say, look, we got to buy coming up,
we have an extra body. We have other guys that
have played, and they do have other guys that have played.
You know, let's just save him. But if he's out.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
There, Austin Dekal has one start in his entirety. Yeah,
it might be.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Well, you could go you could go up Hopkins at
right tackle, right and uh and uh. Right now they
have Jamari Cell You're listed as the starting left tackle.
So I don't know whether they would, you know, just
because he knows the terminology, Because they can Listen, let's
just assume for the moment that Penning's out there. You know,
(14:26):
do you expect this Steers to do a lot of
different things, show some things knowing that they're limited, maybe
in the way they can, uh, the way they can
maybe audible at the line of scrimmage, or maybe their communication.
They're you know, Penning's out there trying to figure out, Okay,
how do I communicate with this guy next to me?
If it's back then next to me. I don't know
what he normally does. And do you do you think
(14:48):
this Yeers will try to so doubt in their mind.
You well, they just say, hey, let's play the way
we normally play. It's been working and let's have at it.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Yeah, I'm looking at the rest of these guys and listen.
I watched Jamar saw Your play left tackle for the
Chargers back in twenty twenty two in a playoff game
against Jacksonville where they looked overwhelmed and Jamoris Sawry was
having problems with that with that Jacksonville defense at left tackle.
(15:20):
There's a reason why he was. He's been slated at
guard for most of the season. It's because of the
fact that you know, he he he struggled at left
tackle when he went in for Rashaan and and his
injury just a few years ago. If anything, I would
probably slide Sawyer at guard. If Makai can't go, I
would put Trey at left, and then I would probably
(15:44):
rotate between Trevor Pinning and Austin Deckliss at the right
tackle position.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
If I put Decalas out there at left, you know,
you got it. You got him during training camp and
he's been there, but he has he is very, very
green behind the gills, and it's do you really want
to take that chance? You know, He's also been a
guy who was drafted a number of years ago and
(16:10):
he only has one start in his career. He was
there for depth and to get you out of games,
not to start and finish games for you. So you know,
if I'm you know, if I'm sitting there and I'm
the old line coach, which you know is not you
know a job that I would I would want at
this moment. And you know, and Josh Hammond, I'm sorry,
(16:31):
Mike Devlin, uh Devlin.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Devlin is a good dude.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
And my buddy Nick Hardwick, who was a longtime center
for the Chargers, one of my draft mates, and oh four,
you know, they they they've.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Got a tall task in front of them. I'll just
put it that way.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
They've got a tall task in front of them shuffling
these pieces. And I don't I don't envy the position
that they're in because, like you said, I mean, you're
going with a with a raw guy at left tackle
against Alex high Smith and company. Or you're putting a
raw guy against t. J.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Watt.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
I'm really it's it's poison either way. You know, Let's okay,
the red pillar, the blue pill, either one. And you
know the only thing that can possibly salve is that
and make it easy is if you run the heck
out of.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
The football, yep.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
And that is going to be something you would expect
him to try to do. It is something that is
a hallmark of Jim Harbor. What he wants to do offensively.
Gonna be interesting for sure, and will dive into some
of those things as well as the trade deadline that
came and went when we talked with Jerry Dulac. Up
next in the Locker Room, presented by our neighborhood Ford
Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on Steers Nation Radio,
(17:36):
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one 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 (18:03):
And that music gets you envisioning Jerry Dulac and a
nice you know, Tommy Bahama shirt, pair of shorts, maybe
some sandals on surveying the Caribbean. The cool breeze that
is Jerry Dolac breezing through. Want to remind you that
Jerry's brought to you by Bellae in the strip two
dollars and fifty cent but light sixteen out drafts ounce
(18:25):
drafts for all Steelers games.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Jerry, thank you very much for being with us, my friend.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Rob. I am fine, my friend. I will let you
know that a couple of weeks ago I put away
to Tommy Bahama shirts and shorts figure in a problems.
They're not going to need them around here anymore. Although
I do hear tale it's going to be eighty Saturday
and Sunday in Los Angeles if I ever get there,
if my flights are unaffected or affected, bring.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Him out of retirement, Jerry or storage.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Get to get the dust off the moth balls and
put those babies in your luggage, Hey, Jared. The trade
deadline came and went on Tuesday. You know, everyone made
a lot of Mike tom and who just I think
Mike Tomlin sometimes just likes to have fun, but he
kind of you know everyone, Oh he's teasing a big
trade at the trade deadline and all this other stuff. Well,
(19:17):
the trade deadline came and went. The Steelers didn't make
any moves. I'm guessing that they didn't you know that
that wasn't from a lack of trying.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
That's correct, Rob. They certainly tried to make a deal.
First off, they always do their due diligence. They talk
to a lot of people, but they did inquire. But
they in fact, they were even close to one deal.
But obviously apparently that fell through. But they just they
(19:48):
want to protect their draft capital and when teams want
even a fourth round pick, they're really not willing to
go that high. You know, they got Kyle. First of all,
they had to trade for Kyle Duger because of the
injury to de Shaun Ellott, which tells you they believe
he's going to be out for a while, and he's
on ir right now. So that's a minimum four games.
(20:08):
But they traded a fifth round pick, and they're willing
to trade fifth round picks, but anything much higher than that,
they're really not willing to go unless they absolutely it's desperate.
Now let's say, for example, DK Metcalf got hurt on
Sunday and was going to be out for a while. Now,
all of a sudden, you're going to pull that trigger,
you know, And if you have to give up a
(20:29):
third or whatever, that's fine. But when you look at
their third and fourth round draft picks, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson,
Darnell Washington, Mason McCormick, Nick Herbig, Peyton Wilson, Jack Sawyer,
those guys were all third and fourth round picks, and
they value those picks because they value those types of players,
(20:52):
and so they're just not willing to say, Okay, yeah,
we'll give you, We'll give you a fourth when they
don't feel it's absolutely necessary. And the final point I
would like to make here, Rob is that Arthur Smith's
reliance on so many different players, particularly tight ends. You
know Sunday perfect example, the tight ends caught ten passes,
(21:15):
the wide receivers caught eight. Go back to when Calvin
Austin will hurt two games, tight ends caught nineteen passes,
two hundred and forty four yards, five touchdowns. He likes
tight ends and so far that formula has worked pretty
well for the offense. And we're seeing Pat Friermuth be
more involved obviously these last couple of weeks. So if
(21:39):
you bring in another receiver, I'm not going to sit
here and say where do you play them? But fitting
in another receiver, with the way they use tight ends,
and as much as DK Metcalf plays, and as much
as they like Calvin Austin, you're going to give up
a third or fourth or let's just stick with the
fourth to bring in a guy who you don't know
(22:01):
how much he's going to play. And I say that
because last year when they brought in Mike Williams, what
is Mike Williams doing his very first game catches that
pass against Washington the core of the end zone. Does
Mike Williams stuff wins the game barely plays after that.
I mean, for the most part, average nineteen snaps a game.
And so I don't want to say where would the
guy fit because if you ask me, yeah, would I
(22:23):
like another receiver on this team?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Sure? Sure?
Speaker 6 (22:26):
But at what price? And that's the way they.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Looked at it, And I think I think I'm kind
of in that same mindset with you, Jerry. I mean,
and the way that they kind of look at it
and how they've approached it. You know, they really see
the tight ends as their number two. And I know
everybody's been crying about number two receiver, number two receiver,
but I feel like, like you said, you just listed
(22:49):
that production, and it's like, our number two is our
tight ends, and we can deploy them anyway. We got
to build a tight end group where we can we
can fit a body type and a style to anything
we need based off of those guys.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Right.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
I need a split out guy who runs rounds like
a receiver Jonas Smith. I need a true flex tight end.
I got Pat Fryarmouth. I need an on the line
tackle tight end, blocking and receiving type. I got Darnell Washington,
And I will say this, correct me if I'm wrong.
Jerry Darnell Washington is proving to be a productive guy
kind of what we thought he would be when we
(23:25):
drafted him. He's turning into that guy now. He's turning
into that that kind of lynchpin individual for Aaron Rodgers
and an integral part of the offense.
Speaker 6 (23:37):
You know, Max, I don't know if I thought he
would be, but I certainly thought he could be when
you watched his Georgia tape that this is a guy
who can catch the ball and they can run after
the catch. And when they didn't utilize that early, I
just thought and I think part of it though, too
was and you notice the difference now from his rookie year.
His knees were really bothering him. But all that being said,
(24:00):
I think that I would have liked to have seen
him being used more and he is now. And even
the other day, you know, Aaron Rodgers throws that quick
strike to him right there to go a line on
fourth down and he's just not ready for he's not
even looking. Hits him in the chest. That didn't stop
Aaron Rodgers, excuse me from coming back to him repeatedly
during the game. I think he ended up with six
(24:21):
targets and four catches. The only concern I have about
that deployment of tight ends or use of tight ends
is and the strategy behind it is I don't know
how far you can go with that. You know, you
have to be Look, there's all fascets. You have to
be able to run the ball, but you have to
be able to quick strike down the field if necessary,
(24:42):
and we have seen that. We have seen that from
Aaron Rodgers. But I don't know that you can just
rely on a deployment. Let's face it, it's basically three
tight ends. Kat Connor Heywood does come in and play,
but it's the way they use the other three. I
don't know how much that you can sustain doing that
and be successful heading into the postseason. But so far
(25:04):
it's been okay. They really like Calvin Austin in that offense.
Arthur Smith really likes him. We had five catches the
other day. So whether the tight end position is number
two or it's number three, the fact that the one
thing that Arthur Smith does very well, he uses a
lot of people and that's been a good thing. And
(25:26):
we'll see how far and how long they could sustain
that with success going into the postseason. Should they get there.
We think they'll get there, but we'll sink well.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I think another thing too is Roman Wilson, Jerry, Look,
you know that's right, that's right. Sometimes necessity is the
mother of invention, right, you had to get him out there,
and look, they I got the sense that they were
high on him. You know, a lot of good things
being said about him in training camp, even going back
to mini camp, about his work ethic and how he
showed up and look, he made the play that you'll
(26:00):
never make again. I think trying to do too much
at the end of that game when all you needed
to do was just find a piece of grass, get
the first down and get out of the stadium, and
instead he tries to make something happen.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
But that aside, I've gotten the sense.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
That they really like him and they didn't need him,
and then there was an injury for Calvin Austin, so
they utilized him. And ever since then, whether that would
have happened, regardless, he has been part of this offense
and I expect him to continue to be part of
the offense.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
You know, Robin, maybe more importantly, Aaron Rodgers really likes him.
Aaron Rodgers speaks so very highly of him. You go back,
I think even to the preseason that what he saw
from Roman Wilson. I'm trying to remember the exact words.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
That he used.
Speaker 6 (26:47):
He didn't say he could be an elite receiver in
the NFL, but I think he said a big time
receiver in the NFL. And you know, he talked last week.
I asked him. He was talking about how he had
a good practice and you know, and I said, what
constitutes a good practice opportunities? And he went on to
explain that, No, what constitutes a good practice is being
(27:08):
where you're supposed to be, running the proper routes, you know,
making sure your assignments are correct, and being where you're
supposed to be. And he says he does that very well.
That's how you build trust with your quarterback, knowing that
that guy is going to be where he's supposed to
be if I need to throw it to him. So
Aaron Rodgers is very high on Roman Wilson and I
like the guy too, and I do. I think he's
(27:31):
going to be a very good receiver in a National
Football League. And we have seen flashes of that so far,
and maybe we'll continue to see it as well. But
I'm with you, Rob, I think that's a part of
the equation. You start fitting him in there and again
it's just another option. It's another piece for Arti Smith.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
And Jerry, you know, kind of looking ahead to this
weekend with the with the Chargers about obviously a lot
of time has been made about the trade deadline and
their respect. The Charges went out and got Trevor pinning.
They have true attrition at the at the tackle spot,
both of them. You know, you lose Rashan Slater right
(28:14):
after he signed that extension. Joe Walt exits this game.
Bobby Hart just injures me in practiced yesterday and whoa
you're talking about really testing the metal of this group.
I mean, you know when you look at just where
the Charges are from that perspective and knowing what the
defense put up, I mean, you know, what are what
(28:35):
are your thoughts about this defense after turning in that
performance against Indianapolis going into LA.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
You know, Max, I can't remember if we talked about
this in a pregame show, or maybe it was when
Babies before you came into the booth, but you know,
we were talking about what the defense needs to do
to change what has been going on, and I said,
it starts upfront, and it starts with pressure. And we
saw that. We saw that the other day. And and
(29:03):
there's no question that the pressure bothered Daniel Jones and
five turnovers by him, two strip sacks of course, and
the three interceptions, and so they're going to have to
do that again. Justin Herbert leaves the league in passing
yards and so there's and and look, we know the
Steelers have giving up. It's three consecutive games now quarterbacks
(29:24):
have passed for over three hundred yards. No, I understand
why Daniel Jones did it the other day. He had
to try and come from behind from by a large margin,
and the bulk of that one hundred and sixty four
yards were in the fourth quarter alone. But to me,
they have to consistently show that they can do that.
Not that they're going to get five six takeaways every game,
(29:45):
because they're not. But it as long as you can
maintain the pressure, you know, they talked Aaron Rodgers again
went on glowingly after the game about this speech Saturday
night by Jalen Ramsey and had the room's attention boy,
and he talked about playing with an edge. Well, I
think what you saw the other day was guys playing
(30:07):
with the edge all the way through the secondary, cornerback, safeties, whomever, linebackers,
challenging receivers, breaking up passes. They had thirteen pass breakups
the other day. Now, I haven't gone around the league
because it's too tedious a task to look up every game.
That's a staggering number of passes defensed, and I can't
imagine there's too many instances where teams have more passes
(30:29):
defensed than that. And to me, that was a good
sign and a certainly a good indication of playing with
an edge, playing more aggressively. And they have to maintain that.
And that's what we see a run the National Football League.
We see teams surprise other teams. And let's face it,
nobody saw coming what happened on Sunday, not to that degree.
But you know, you can't have that be a one
(30:53):
time thing, and you're not going to win every game,
I know, but you have to try to follow that
up with another performance against a good offensive team. I mean,
they lose their top two running backs and they still
average one hundred and seventy five yards the last two
games running the football, so they're going to have their
hands full. And yeah, that Charger offensive line losing Joe
Walt is really big on top of losing Slater from
(31:15):
the start.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Of the season.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
So the Steelers they have to capitalize on it. But
they have to follow up what they did against the
Colt with the same type of aggressive edge performance from
their defense.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
You know, that defense saw some shifting personnel with all
the injuries and presumably with ineffectiveness. I'm not sure why
jan Thornhill wasn't out there more. Maybe they didn't. I
don't know whether he was nicked up or anything, Jerry,
but they moved. Look, they made they went out and
got Darius Slay and they went out and got Jalen
Ramsey so they could have a three cornerback attack to
(31:50):
put against the top receivers in the league. Well, Darius
Slay is you know, it feels like he's you know,
and by the way, kudos to him for coming back
into the game with whatever happened to Finger and showing
some veteran leadership out there. But you know, now you've
got Ramsey moving to free safety.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
And we also saw some four to three.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
I can't remember the last time I saw four to
three they had Harrison out there. Again, a lot of
it was because they were down bodies, I'm presuming. But
again when I mentioned, you know, Roman Wilson getting an
opportunity to play because of the need, is that here
to stay? Is Ramsey here to stay? And are we
going to see a little bit different defensive approach from
(32:30):
this year's with four to three and some other things perhaps?
Speaker 6 (32:34):
Well, I think they first of all, Rob, I think
they liked what they saw from the secondary last week
in terms of the alignment of players, and I think
that's going to continue for the short term. I mean,
Kyle Dugger comes in two practices and play seventy seven
of seventy eight snaps. I mean they didn't see that
coming either. They were gonna monitor, not monitor, to see
how he is as the game goes on, and they
(32:56):
saw nothing, no reason to take him out. So that's
not that's not going to change. And what happened is
the the alignment you're referring to is this is something
we haven't seen. We see them bring in and use
three outside linebackers. They bring in Nick herbig and playing
with Alex Heismith and t J.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Watt.
Speaker 6 (33:16):
Well, what we saw the other day was them bring
in Malik Harrison, who's their physical run stuffer, and and
put him on the field at the same time with
Peyton Wilson and Patrick Queen, so you don't see and
and then you and then you put him on the
front line and so you don't see them use three
inside backers like they have used three outside backers. So
(33:38):
that was just one of the other wrinkles they used
and asked for one Thornhill. You know, unless there's some injury,
I don't know that they're going to change or unless
it's not working against the Chargers. But I think they're
going to stick with what they have right now. And
you know, Brandon Echols will be one of the rotating
corners in there. And though keep their fingers ustin see
(34:00):
how it goes.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Cherry do lac Jerry.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Always appreciate it, my friend, Uh, not only brought to
you by Bellinotte in the strip where you can get
two dollars and fifty cent bud like sixteen out drafts
or all students games, but also brought to you by
your neighborhood for sure.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
The F one.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, putting
the do the two in the sponsorships for the great
Cherry do Lac? A man so big, so big he
has to have two sponsors, Jerry, thank you, my friend,
seing a little bit on the south side.
Speaker 6 (34:31):
You got it, Rob Max, I'll see it's a Ballyard.
God willing that the flights are unaffected.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Yeah, who you telling? Hey?
Speaker 4 (34:40):
Same here, Jered, I mean worst case scenario if you
make it to Phoenix, wee could carpool.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Uh well, I look forward to seeing you so far, Bud.
Do you got him? Man, Jerry do Lac?
Speaker 2 (34:53):
I want to remind you before we had to break
year up with the latest game the necessities at the
official Students Pro shops. Get the latest sideline, a pair
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Speaker 5 (35:06):
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Speaker 2 (35:07):
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Speaker 1 (35:49):
Give the Locker Room with King and Starks on Steelers
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Speaker 5 (36:09):
And we're very glad you're here with us in the
locker Room.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
And Max, I wanted to I wanted to react to
a couple of things that we were talking about there
with Jerry and mostly as it regards defensive alignment with
Jail and Ramsey at free safety.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
And first of all, what a luxury.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
He's a Pro Bowl caliber slot guy, I would say,
for sure, and obviously he can play outside corner, but
a Pro Bowl slot corner, and you know, probably a
Pro Bowl worthy guy at free safety. I think you'd
like to have him in the slot, but it seems
like they need him at free safety. So your reaction
(36:49):
on that, and do you think that's here to stay
that it's going to be Ramsey and Duggar and you know,
Thornhill and Clark fill in at the safety position Mike
tom Wins at their deeper.
Speaker 5 (36:59):
Corner right now. Now, do you think that's the way
it's going to be for a while?
Speaker 3 (37:04):
I think until otherwise.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
Note right, Deshaun Elliott is out, you know, and definitely
we'll see how that plays out if he's able to
return or not.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
But you know, I don't know why you wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
And technically for the Steelers this has really been He's
actually played more true free safety this season than any
other position, even for Deshaun Elliott, like Sean Elliet is
still a strong safety by trade that has the flexibility
and knowledge to play free. But as far as a
natural skill set and fluidity, I would say that Jalen
(37:40):
Ramsey is probably the only free safety we have on
this roster. So yeah, you know, you want to play
with the free and a strong and I think that's
where you have to kind of say, Okay, we tried
to and no, this looks a lot different.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
You're having a true free.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
You know that minca type, body type and knowledge base
is something that's that's rare to find, and you have
that in a Jalen Ramsey. And he's a guy, like
you said, can be deployed at a multitude of positions.
But man, he looked good at free safety and you
know at corner, we have we have options, you know,
(38:15):
to cover up for that, because not only you're talking
about Pro Bowl slot corner, but he was playing a
lot of outside corner too this season for us, so
it wasn't just a slot. And especially in some of
the man situations. You know, when you're traveling and he's
a slot one way because they have twins on the left,
and then all of a sudden, the guy motions to
the right and now you're one to one on the
outside he turns into the outside corner. So that's where
(38:38):
you kind of have to make sure that you're that
you're keeping him in a place where he's not really
transitioning much. And at free safety he gets free range
to be able to make decisions.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
When to double, when to come down.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
He's he's playing a lot of a lot of different hats,
and like you said, he's a guy that if you
do need him to blitz from that position and guess
what he can do it with the best of them.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
So, and he's a hell of a tackler on a perimeter.
I don't know if you noticed.
Speaker 4 (39:06):
The perimeter tackling was looked a lot different on the
edges with Jalen Ramsey roaming on the on the on
the outside of the numbers than it did in previous weeks.
So that's another bonus that you do get. You do
get a very sure, willing, able, and skilled tackler on
those edges to really cover up even for your corners
and your slots if they do have have a mystery
(39:28):
to try and jump arount.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
And look, I think we're gonna see, we're gonna call
for this week, we're gonna call him a safety and
and we'll get into it, hopefully next hour, but certainly
next stay or two. Because Derwin James on the other side,
I mean, you could have been describing Derwin James the
way you described Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
He is just a great one play the same college.
Speaker 5 (39:54):
Yeah, how about that?
Speaker 4 (39:55):
Realize that yeah, so yeah, exactly, So just imagine that.
That's that's a ridiculous thing to think about.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
Yeah, he is so good, Derwin James, And I can't
wait to get into a discussion about him. Mike Tomlin
described him as sort of the straw that serves a drink,
and I mean, there's no doubt that that's the case.
But I did want to circle back to what Jerry
was talking about. And we have seen the three outside
(40:23):
linebacker alignment, and you are trying to get you know,
some of the guys out there. You want to get
her big out there as much as you can. You know,
people have grumbled about some fans have grumbled about the
lack of snapcounts when he was so effective filling in
for Alex high Smith. But then Alex has been productive
coming back, and you're trying to juggle that. There was
one alignment in which I don't know if I saw
(40:45):
it more than once. Perhaps I did, But only one
comes to mind, in which I think with Cam Hayward
was the only defensive lineman. You know, so you're running
a bunch of linebackers out there in a passing situation.
But Malik Harrison, who was at least a part of
the turnaround last year for the Ravens defensively when they
(41:05):
put him in at starting linebacker, and he's a thumper
against the run, and clearly the Chargers want to run
the football even without Hampton, even without Naji Harris Bydell
has had two hundred yard rushing games in his four
appearances for the Chargers in which he's taken on an
increased working load, workload, They've still been effective running the
(41:26):
ball without those top guys. They've still been effective running
the ball with injuries on the offensive line.
Speaker 5 (41:31):
I don't know whether we're going to see.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
More Malie Harrison or more of that three inside linebacker
to look, because I can't remember seeing that for the Steelers.
You know, they've probably thrown it out there. Maybe they
had Ferrier and foot in somebody else. But I mean,
I'm going I'm trying to go way back in my
mind in November.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
No, they have not. I can know that as a guy. No,
because we were such a three to four team with
Dick Lebou and Keith Butler. We were I mean it
was three.
Speaker 4 (41:59):
Four at the core, and like said, the only change
of that would have been a nickel four to two.
But seeing an actual four to three like front from them,
you have to go into you know, the the the
the year old nineteen hundreds, as my kids would say, God,
it's always crazy when they say that to me. But
(42:19):
any who, Yeah, you have to go back into the
nineteen hundreds, a century ago, quarter century ago at least
to find really true four to three. I mean this,
this is a team that's been staunched in the three
four for a long time, and so seeing that kind
that true four to three or you know, if you
(42:40):
want to call it a two five. You know, because
your two outside backers are playing defensive end positions with
two down interior linemen.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Now everyone look at it. It's a four to three.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
It's a four to three over four to three under
eagle that that they're running, And yeah, it is. It's
ridiculous to see that because you're like, wow, this is
the versatility of the guys. And like you said, you
can get more of those skill guys on the edges
for teams that like to like to throw, especially when
you're utilizing a tight end. How much more effective it
(43:12):
is communication wise getting.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Getting a guy, especially.
Speaker 4 (43:17):
An off the ball backer that can kind of spot
that tight end and not lose him. There's just so
many different utilizations and unlessen I'm not here to.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Say three four or four to three, which one's better.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
I just think having the ability to do both makes
you a dangerous team because now a team has to
study double because now they have the set of four
to three fronts as well as three four fronts, and
for an office of coordinator, throws everything into haywire in
your game planning because you have rules for both, and
usually from week to week you carry the rules you
(43:49):
know that you're going to do because of the primary
front of the team. So normally when you plan for
the Steelers, it's okay, here's here's what a base three
four and our blocking assignments on every every single run
play changes in a three four alignment versus a four
to three alignment. So then you're carrying double rules. And
when we talk about the Trevor Penning trying to catch
(44:09):
up to speed, this is where, you know, you get
what we call the uh the mind meld here where
you're trying to marry four to three concepts as well
as three four concepts, and the communication between both then
becomes double taxing on them because you know, whereas we
would run a ride thirty four Jackie versus a three
(44:29):
four now becomes a ride thirty four Willie because of
the back, because of the linebacker declarations. Right, you know
you have a will backer and four to three and
then you have a jackbacker in three four.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
That plays, so you know you do.
Speaker 4 (44:43):
And the will is in a different position in a
three four versus a four to three. So therefore the
rules is gonna change. You're not gonna you're not gonna
double team back to a guy on the line of
scrimmage on the back because that just turns into two
backblocks versus when you're running a zone and the will
sitting in the pocket in a four to three, that
backside open area between the d tackle and the defensive end,
you work a double team block up to that will.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
So you see that.
Speaker 4 (45:05):
So it just it changes a lot of stuff. And
so it's it's what it's going to be, confusing and rough.
And I loved it because I love adding more to
the palette of a coordinator trying to scheme. Because when
you add more, guess what, you don't get nuanced, you
don't get detailed, you don't get depth of knowledge because
now you're worried about do I have enough time to
(45:27):
cover everything for all these guys? At least once you
know it is a Bruce Lee rule, right, would I
rather practice ten thousand different kicks once or one kick
ten thousand times? You know, That's what it comes down to.
It's like, you want to master what you're good at,
So having one set of rules for one type of
particular front is what you want to operate out of.
(45:49):
But now a team runs two completely different solid base fronts.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
That is where it becomes very.
Speaker 5 (45:56):
Tricky, interesting and interesting.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
The option and again, you know, Jalen Ramsey playing a
lot of free because you've had some injuries and you
put them back there. Maybe some ineffectiveness, maybe some of
this is just straight coaching decision and not injury related.
But Cole Holcombe wasn't available last week, and all of
a sudden, you've got some different things and some different looks.
The Steelers defense can throw out opponents, and it will
(46:21):
be very interesting to see what they do against the Chargers,
who look want to run the ball, but they have
some weapons, a lot of stuff to talk about with
the Chargers, we have plenty to get to. Very excited
to start, really, you know, digging into the preview matchups,
which we will continue to do in the locker room
presented by our neighborhood Ford Start and the Steelers Pro
(46:42):
Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers
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This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
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Speaker 2 (00:27):
And thanks very much for being with us today inside
the locker room alongside Max Starks. I'm Rob King, Justin
Miller at the controls in our iHeart studio at a
hon assignment issue for me yesterday. So back, happy to
be with Max and happy to get rolling toward another
big game for the Steelers on Sunday. Max getting excited
(00:49):
to get into that Thursday. Kind of get over the
hump on Wednesday and get into Thursday and you can
start getting into the matchups. And we're gonna start getting
into the matchups. But how are you doing today, my friend?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Doing all right? Rob?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
You know, it's it's one of those things where you
know you need to get through Wednesday kind of the
dust settling day, vet reth Day and Nick's bruises and
and bumps, h you know, clearing themselves up. You know,
you look at the uh the practice report. Technically it's
(01:23):
an injury report. I don't know why they call it
a practicepart, but I guess practice participation report. As you know,
it's chalk full of names, and you know, things start
to clear themselves up today. Uh, and then of course
on Friday as we barrel towards Los Angeles, the city
of Angels for the weekend for the Sunday Night bout.
So I'm looking forward to it. You know, this Chargers
(01:45):
team has a lot.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
To prove, and we're gonna be right there.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You know, we have a lot to prove still as
a team, so it's gonna be a really good matchup.
And we've kind of had some you know, some up
and down Sunday Night football.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Games thus far.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
And let's face it, we didn't put our best foot
forward and Sunday night football just a couple of weeks ago.
So I'm itching to get back and get us back
in winning ways hopefully come this Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Well, first of all, thanks to Wes Euler for filling
in yesterday inside the locker room. So that thank you
to Wes. And I know you guys touched on it briefly,
so you talked about the injury report. Now yesterday, we
know Joe Alt is out, We know they lost for
Shaun Slater at the beginning of the season. You know,
(02:32):
I can't imagine there's a better tackle pairing in the
NFL than those two. And you kind of built your
offensive approach around those guys and your quarterback and going
out and getting two running backs you want to pound
the ball at teams.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Both those running backs are hurt.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Naji Harris, who was of course so durable here for
the Pittsburgh Scithers suffering his first major injury as an
NFL player. Amario Hampton, first round pick. He won't be
available for this game. So you know they are mixing
and matching on the offensive line. Now, yesterday Bobby Hart
(03:08):
didn't practice. So Bobby Hart's the third tackle veteran guys
started his career with the Giants. You know, you figure
he's a pretty solid backup guy, he's your starter.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
He's hurt.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Now they went out and got Trevor Penning from New Orleans,
a former first round pick who I don't think is
quite lived up to those expectations. He's played both tackle spots,
he's played guard. My question for you, Max as it
regards Penning because when we look at the matchups, if
you're a Steelers fan, the first thing you're thinking is
(03:38):
coming off that big five sack performance against the Colts,
bring it on, man. You know, you got your struggle
to tackle and we've got tremendous edge pass rushers. Huge
advantage advantage for the Steelers. The Chargers obviously know that
they go out and get Penning in a trade with
the Saints. So what is the acclamation process like at
(03:59):
the offense of tackle position? And he played both sides
yesterday in practice, played left, played right. I'm assuming they're
going to try to get him out there and get
him out there and playing. You know, we talk about
the continuity on an offensive line as far as knowing
what that guy next to you is doing, that sort
of thing. You know, what are the biggest challenges for
a tackle making that transition to a new team and
(04:22):
is there something you kind of don't want to see
from the opponent, you know, because you know that the
defense will try to if Penning's out there, let's try
to scheme up and take advantage of any newness that
might be there. So could you break down that transition
and what it's like from a tackles perspective.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Well, I think the first thing that you know kind
of comes to mind, you know, when you're dealing with,
you know, switching from a new team midseason. I can't
even imagine that part of it because not only is
it getting to know your teammates and the guy next
to you, but then you know, you're cross training both sides, uh,
trying to pick up the lingo and trying to pick
(04:59):
up the offense as easy as possible, you know, and
then you throw in new language along with an active
defensive front, and you know, everything can go haywire. Now Trevor, Now,
Trevor is a veteran, but he's only he's only been
in one system really so and that's been the Sean
Payton system even you know, and and of course it
(05:22):
will be a little bit of Kellen Moore system right
this season. But still, you know, he has he's not
well versed with a lot of different coordinators, a lot
of different people, and so it's gonna be really interesting
to see how fast he can he can kind of
get on the quote unquote moving trained, as Mike Tomlin
will call it, of this system. So the biggest thing
(05:46):
is you have to keep the communication simple with him,
so you know you're looking at now and then Makai Beckton.
Makai Beckton was also limited, so I don't even know
he was even with the starting guard. You know that
he potentially would be playing with. So you're trying to
get used to the guy next to you. The guy
next to you is also new, so you know, I
think the biggest thing for him, and as he kind
(06:08):
of goes through this process and he's figuring it out,
you know, the real biggest thing is are you next
to Zion Johnson? Are you next to Mike Makai Beckton.
First of all, you got to figure out is he
going to be a right tackle? Is he going to
be a left tackle? So I mean you have Trey
Pipkins there, and Trey obviously has played there a long time.
I mean he started against US last year. So Trey
(06:32):
obviously is a is a seasoned VET and has been
there a while. I mean, you know, he's a seventh
year guy, so you know, I would probably slot Trey
at left, so put him, him and Zion next to
each other, and then you know, Bradley Boseman, of course,
is your sitter, So Bradley will be fine, but you
know whether it's going to be Makai Beckton or Jamari Sawyer.
(06:53):
Jamari Sawyer obviously a former you know, high round pick
for the well, not a high round pick. He was
a sixth rounder, a former draft pick for them that
played a lot.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Uh play has playoff experience. He was under Brendan Staley. Uh.
He was an old guard.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
So if Jamari slides in from Mackay, if Makay can't go,
then Trevor and mckaidy, I'm sorry, Trevor and Jamari need
to get on the same page. So it's it's just
it's honestly, it's like musical chairs. This this this is
this is this is a fire drill when you didn't
know there was a fire drill right now for the
office of Life at the tackle position. Because I'm sitting
(07:29):
here trying to figure it out, and I feel like
I'm a pretty rational and pretty you know, calculated dude
as far as you know about game planning and getting
everything ready. This this is this is very very awkward
to go with right now because, like I said, you know,
you're down, you're starting two tackles, you're down your third
(07:49):
tackle as of right now, so you're literally going with
your fourth and fifth tackle. Just think about that, rob
fourth and fifth tackle, and the fifth tackle just happened
to have gotten here yesterday, right.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
So right, so it's good.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And then, like you said, then the injury to Makai
Beck that don't know how serious that is or it's
just precautionary, that's going to also play into it. Because
if that's the case, now now you have two new
pieces on the right side and one on the left.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
So literally the only two healthy.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Starters you have is your left guard and Zion Johnson,
who's who's very good and you know, let me not,
let me try not try and gloss over this. He's
a he's a heck of a tackle, heck of a guard,
and Bradley Boseman and then question mark, question mark, question
mark at the other three positions. So sixty percent of
your offensive line is in flux right now. That's not
(08:40):
what you want to have going up because the Steelers
tea that just had five turnovers andd you know, had
had had five sacks and a bunch of quarterback hits
on the league's number one offense.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
So you know, so many different things come to mind.
One I will ask you is what about audibles? I mean,
you know, I'm sure you're I'm sure Rob, Rob, you
or that.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Now, now you're really starting to test the mental of
this crew.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Throw it at audibles. Come on, No, don't do that.
I mean, can you that that's what they're saying right now?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Can can you go to the line of scrimmage and
change a play and expect that a new tackle who's
been there for four or five days is going to
know exactly what you're changing out of and what his
responsibilities are going to be. You know what about that
aspect of it? Are you going to be stuck with
(09:42):
the player You're gonna be able to make changes?
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Rob?
Speaker 4 (09:47):
You know the answer to this, No, no, unless unless
you go right up to him and whisper in his ear,
uh and tell hey, you know you have you have
the end. I mean it's literally going to be, Hey, Trevor,
you have what we call em?
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Have you heard of em before? Do you know the E?
M O L.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
I don't think I have no man on the line, Okay,
And so that's what that is.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So make some obscure cultural reference, and I'm like, no, no, no, no, no,
talk about Okayne.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
No no, no, no, no.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
I mean I mean it's I mean outside of outside
of kiss your button, say goodbye, which I think will
probably be every play that he's out there. But yeah, exactly,
exactly exactly, or as say, uh, you know, every every
man for himself, you know, but no, it's gonna literally
(10:44):
be it's gonna be em or it's gonna be you know, slide.
It's gonna they're going to have to protect because also
they don't know him right as an offensive line is
off as a coordinator. I mean, you know, there's only
so much that you could figure out, you know. And
if you're Greg, you're like, I just need you to
get through this game, right, you know, And and you're
about to run through the fire. And I'm gonna give
(11:07):
you like a fire you know, a fireproof suit, but
I don't have gloves, so just hopefully you keep your
hands in you know what I'm saying Like that.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That's essentially what it is. You're you're gonna be running
through this fire.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
So it's going to be very simple for him, And
I think you could expect the attention to slide to
him because, like I said, you know, Jamari is a vet.
If Jamari goes in for Mackay or if Makay is
and that'll help at least ease and curb some of
that for him, because I expect him to be at
right tackle.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I would not put a brand new guy out at
left tackle. And Trevor Pinning didn't prove to be that
good of a left tackle in the Saints, so why
would I expect to do any difference. You've got Trey Pipkins.
Throw Trey over there. That's what Trey's played before, numerous things.
I mean, he has he has a ton of starts
over there, so you know, I would feel okay with
him being over there and just go go with it. Listen,
(12:00):
we got to run well, you know we we called
we called we called it blue and red slide. As
if you run blue slide of red slide. I mean,
that should be most of your protections, uh, just to
keep it easy and then maybe you can get into
some more man style stuff, you know, the sixties protection
as we called it.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
So it's six man pro, the five offensive lineman with
the running back.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
I'm sure he knows that type of stuff, but I
wouldn't get sophisticated with a lot of the play action play,
you know, passing. You know, he has to pick up
the run game. You know he's been in run games,
but the terminology is gonna be different for Greg Roman
versus what he's used to in New Orleans. So you
got to keep those those zone schemes simple and the
(12:38):
man schemes.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Simple for him.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
And you know, more often than not, if I could,
if I could just put him on the in man
of the line of scrimmage, that makes it easy, you know,
not don't give him dual reads and a lot of
combinations that he has to work with, because now you
have to over communicate. And obviously if you're over communicating,
guy like Cam Hayward's going to pick up on that,
a guy like TJ. Watt's gonna pick up on that.
Uh and and there they're gonna exploit him. I wouldn't
(13:02):
be surprised if you see some Cam you know, sliding
out wide over over him or some type of twist
that go and pin him. Trevor Penning has always been
one He's been more fight than skill. You know, he's
he's he you know, he's got he's got the workmen's mentalities,
very blue collar, and that's how he plays. He plays
like a blue collar player. So he wants to get physical.
(13:23):
He wants to make the game small, and you know,
you start stretching him, start mixing up the fronts on him.
He's gonna have some some issues with the community. Well,
I should say he's gonna have it.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Then.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Offensive lines have issues communicating to each other because of
the newness and because of the shuffling of players.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So let me ask you this the last thing before
we head to break. You know, are there things you
now we're assuming Penning's gonna play. Of course he might not.
They might just say, look, we got to buy coming up,
we have an extra body. We have other guys that
have played, and they do have other guys that have played.
You know, let's just save him. But if he's out.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
There, Austin Dekal has one start in his entirety. Yeah,
it might be.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Well, you could go you could go up Hopkins at
right tackle, right and uh and uh. Right now they
have Jamari Cell You're listed as the starting left tackle.
So I don't know whether they would, you know, just
because he knows the terminology, Because they can Listen, let's
just assume for the moment that Penning's out there. You know,
(14:26):
do you expect this Steers to do a lot of
different things, show some things knowing that they're limited, maybe
in the way they can, uh, the way they can
maybe audible at the line of scrimmage, or maybe their communication.
They're you know, Penning's out there trying to figure out, Okay,
how do I communicate with this guy next to me?
If it's back then next to me. I don't know
what he normally does. And do you do you think
(14:48):
this Yeers will try to so doubt in their mind.
You well, they just say, hey, let's play the way
we normally play. It's been working and let's have at it.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Yeah, I'm looking at the rest of these guys and listen.
I watched Jamar saw Your play left tackle for the
Chargers back in twenty twenty two in a playoff game
against Jacksonville where they looked overwhelmed and Jamoris Sawry was
having problems with that with that Jacksonville defense at left tackle.
(15:20):
There's a reason why he was. He's been slated at
guard for most of the season. It's because of the
fact that you know, he he he struggled at left
tackle when he went in for Rashaan and and his
injury just a few years ago. If anything, I would
probably slide Sawyer at guard. If Makai can't go, I
would put Trey at left, and then I would probably
(15:44):
rotate between Trevor Pinning and Austin Deckliss at the right
tackle position.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
If I put Decalas out there at left, you know,
you got it. You got him during training camp and
he's been there, but he has he is very, very
green behind the gills, and it's do you really want
to take that chance? You know, He's also been a
guy who was drafted a number of years ago and
(16:10):
he only has one start in his career. He was
there for depth and to get you out of games,
not to start and finish games for you. So you know,
if I'm you know, if I'm sitting there and I'm
the old line coach, which you know is not you
know a job that I would I would want at
this moment. And you know, and Josh Hammond, I'm sorry,
(16:31):
Mike Devlin, uh Devlin.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Devlin is a good dude.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
And my buddy Nick Hardwick, who was a longtime center
for the Chargers, one of my draft mates, and oh four,
you know, they they they've.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Got a tall task in front of them. I'll just
put it that way.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
They've got a tall task in front of them shuffling
these pieces. And I don't I don't envy the position
that they're in because, like you said, I mean, you're
going with a with a raw guy at left tackle
against Alex high Smith and company. Or you're putting a
raw guy against t. J.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Watt.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
I'm really it's it's poison either way. You know, Let's okay,
the red pillar, the blue pill, either one. And you
know the only thing that can possibly salve is that
and make it easy is if you run the heck
out of.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
The football, yep.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
And that is going to be something you would expect
him to try to do. It is something that is
a hallmark of Jim Harbor. What he wants to do offensively.
Gonna be interesting for sure, and will dive into some
of those things as well as the trade deadline that
came and went when we talked with Jerry Dulac. Up
next in the Locker Room, presented by our neighborhood Ford
Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on Steers Nation Radio,
(17:36):
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one 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 (18:03):
And that music gets you envisioning Jerry Dulac and a
nice you know, Tommy Bahama shirt, pair of shorts, maybe
some sandals on surveying the Caribbean. The cool breeze that
is Jerry Dolac breezing through. Want to remind you that
Jerry's brought to you by Bellae in the strip two
dollars and fifty cent but light sixteen out drafts ounce
(18:25):
drafts for all Steelers games.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Jerry, thank you very much for being with us, my friend.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Rob. I am fine, my friend. I will let you
know that a couple of weeks ago I put away
to Tommy Bahama shirts and shorts figure in a problems.
They're not going to need them around here anymore. Although
I do hear tale it's going to be eighty Saturday
and Sunday in Los Angeles if I ever get there,
if my flights are unaffected or affected, bring.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Him out of retirement, Jerry or storage.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Get to get the dust off the moth balls and
put those babies in your luggage, Hey, Jared. The trade
deadline came and went on Tuesday. You know, everyone made
a lot of Mike tom and who just I think
Mike Tomlin sometimes just likes to have fun, but he
kind of you know everyone, Oh he's teasing a big
trade at the trade deadline and all this other stuff. Well,
(19:17):
the trade deadline came and went. The Steelers didn't make
any moves. I'm guessing that they didn't you know that
that wasn't from a lack of trying.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
That's correct, Rob. They certainly tried to make a deal.
First off, they always do their due diligence. They talk
to a lot of people, but they did inquire. But
they in fact, they were even close to one deal.
But obviously apparently that fell through. But they just they
(19:48):
want to protect their draft capital and when teams want
even a fourth round pick, they're really not willing to
go that high. You know, they got Kyle. First of all,
they had to trade for Kyle Duger because of the
injury to de Shaun Ellott, which tells you they believe
he's going to be out for a while, and he's
on ir right now. So that's a minimum four games.
(20:08):
But they traded a fifth round pick, and they're willing
to trade fifth round picks, but anything much higher than that,
they're really not willing to go unless they absolutely it's desperate.
Now let's say, for example, DK Metcalf got hurt on
Sunday and was going to be out for a while. Now,
all of a sudden, you're going to pull that trigger,
you know, And if you have to give up a
(20:29):
third or whatever, that's fine. But when you look at
their third and fourth round draft picks, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson,
Darnell Washington, Mason McCormick, Nick Herbig, Peyton Wilson, Jack Sawyer,
those guys were all third and fourth round picks, and
they value those picks because they value those types of players,
(20:52):
and so they're just not willing to say, Okay, yeah,
we'll give you, We'll give you a fourth when they
don't feel it's absolutely necessary. And the final point I
would like to make here, Rob is that Arthur Smith's
reliance on so many different players, particularly tight ends. You
know Sunday perfect example, the tight ends caught ten passes,
(21:15):
the wide receivers caught eight. Go back to when Calvin
Austin will hurt two games, tight ends caught nineteen passes,
two hundred and forty four yards, five touchdowns. He likes
tight ends and so far that formula has worked pretty
well for the offense. And we're seeing Pat Friermuth be
more involved obviously these last couple of weeks. So if
(21:39):
you bring in another receiver, I'm not going to sit
here and say where do you play them? But fitting
in another receiver, with the way they use tight ends,
and as much as DK Metcalf plays, and as much
as they like Calvin Austin, you're going to give up
a third or fourth or let's just stick with the
fourth to bring in a guy who you don't know
(22:01):
how much he's going to play. And I say that
because last year when they brought in Mike Williams, what
is Mike Williams doing his very first game catches that
pass against Washington the core of the end zone. Does
Mike Williams stuff wins the game barely plays after that.
I mean, for the most part, average nineteen snaps a game.
And so I don't want to say where would the
guy fit because if you ask me, yeah, would I
(22:23):
like another receiver on this team?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Sure? Sure?
Speaker 6 (22:26):
But at what price? And that's the way they.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Looked at it, And I think I think I'm kind
of in that same mindset with you, Jerry. I mean,
and the way that they kind of look at it
and how they've approached it. You know, they really see
the tight ends as their number two. And I know
everybody's been crying about number two receiver, number two receiver,
but I feel like, like you said, you just listed
(22:49):
that production, and it's like, our number two is our
tight ends, and we can deploy them anyway. We got
to build a tight end group where we can we
can fit a body type and a style to anything
we need based off of those guys.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Right.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
I need a split out guy who runs rounds like
a receiver Jonas Smith. I need a true flex tight end.
I got Pat Fryarmouth. I need an on the line
tackle tight end, blocking and receiving type. I got Darnell Washington,
And I will say this, correct me if I'm wrong.
Jerry Darnell Washington is proving to be a productive guy
kind of what we thought he would be when we
(23:25):
drafted him. He's turning into that guy now. He's turning
into that that kind of lynchpin individual for Aaron Rodgers
and an integral part of the offense.
Speaker 6 (23:37):
You know, Max, I don't know if I thought he
would be, but I certainly thought he could be when
you watched his Georgia tape that this is a guy
who can catch the ball and they can run after
the catch. And when they didn't utilize that early, I
just thought and I think part of it though, too
was and you notice the difference now from his rookie year.
His knees were really bothering him. But all that being said,
(24:00):
I think that I would have liked to have seen
him being used more and he is now. And even
the other day, you know, Aaron Rodgers throws that quick
strike to him right there to go a line on
fourth down and he's just not ready for he's not
even looking. Hits him in the chest. That didn't stop
Aaron Rodgers, excuse me from coming back to him repeatedly
during the game. I think he ended up with six
(24:21):
targets and four catches. The only concern I have about
that deployment of tight ends or use of tight ends
is and the strategy behind it is I don't know
how far you can go with that. You know, you
have to be Look, there's all fascets. You have to
be able to run the ball, but you have to
be able to quick strike down the field if necessary,
(24:42):
and we have seen that. We have seen that from
Aaron Rodgers. But I don't know that you can just
rely on a deployment. Let's face it, it's basically three
tight ends. Kat Connor Heywood does come in and play,
but it's the way they use the other three. I
don't know how much that you can sustain doing that
and be successful heading into the postseason. But so far
(25:04):
it's been okay. They really like Calvin Austin in that offense.
Arthur Smith really likes him. We had five catches the
other day. So whether the tight end position is number
two or it's number three, the fact that the one
thing that Arthur Smith does very well, he uses a
lot of people and that's been a good thing. And
(25:26):
we'll see how far and how long they could sustain
that with success going into the postseason. Should they get there.
We think they'll get there, but we'll sink well.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I think another thing too is Roman Wilson, Jerry, Look,
you know that's right, that's right. Sometimes necessity is the
mother of invention, right, you had to get him out there,
and look, they I got the sense that they were
high on him. You know, a lot of good things
being said about him in training camp, even going back
to mini camp, about his work ethic and how he
showed up and look, he made the play that you'll
(26:00):
never make again. I think trying to do too much
at the end of that game when all you needed
to do was just find a piece of grass, get
the first down and get out of the stadium, and
instead he tries to make something happen.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
But that aside, I've gotten the sense.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
That they really like him and they didn't need him,
and then there was an injury for Calvin Austin, so
they utilized him. And ever since then, whether that would
have happened, regardless, he has been part of this offense
and I expect him to continue to be part of
the offense.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
You know, Robin, maybe more importantly, Aaron Rodgers really likes him.
Aaron Rodgers speaks so very highly of him. You go back,
I think even to the preseason that what he saw
from Roman Wilson. I'm trying to remember the exact words.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
That he used.
Speaker 6 (26:47):
He didn't say he could be an elite receiver in
the NFL, but I think he said a big time
receiver in the NFL. And you know, he talked last week.
I asked him. He was talking about how he had
a good practice and you know, and I said, what
constitutes a good practice opportunities? And he went on to
explain that, No, what constitutes a good practice is being
(27:08):
where you're supposed to be, running the proper routes, you know,
making sure your assignments are correct, and being where you're
supposed to be. And he says he does that very well.
That's how you build trust with your quarterback, knowing that
that guy is going to be where he's supposed to
be if I need to throw it to him. So
Aaron Rodgers is very high on Roman Wilson and I
like the guy too, and I do. I think he's
(27:31):
going to be a very good receiver in a National
Football League. And we have seen flashes of that so far,
and maybe we'll continue to see it as well. But
I'm with you, Rob, I think that's a part of
the equation. You start fitting him in there and again
it's just another option. It's another piece for Arti Smith.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
And Jerry, you know, kind of looking ahead to this
weekend with the with the Chargers about obviously a lot
of time has been made about the trade deadline and
their respect. The Charges went out and got Trevor pinning.
They have true attrition at the at the tackle spot,
both of them. You know, you lose Rashan Slater right
(28:14):
after he signed that extension. Joe Walt exits this game.
Bobby Hart just injures me in practiced yesterday and whoa
you're talking about really testing the metal of this group.
I mean, you know when you look at just where
the Charges are from that perspective and knowing what the
defense put up, I mean, you know, what are what
(28:35):
are your thoughts about this defense after turning in that
performance against Indianapolis going into LA.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
You know, Max, I can't remember if we talked about
this in a pregame show, or maybe it was when
Babies before you came into the booth, but you know,
we were talking about what the defense needs to do
to change what has been going on, and I said,
it starts upfront, and it starts with pressure. And we
saw that. We saw that the other day. And and
(29:03):
there's no question that the pressure bothered Daniel Jones and
five turnovers by him, two strip sacks of course, and
the three interceptions, and so they're going to have to
do that again. Justin Herbert leaves the league in passing
yards and so there's and and look, we know the
Steelers have giving up. It's three consecutive games now quarterbacks
(29:24):
have passed for over three hundred yards. No, I understand
why Daniel Jones did it the other day. He had
to try and come from behind from by a large margin,
and the bulk of that one hundred and sixty four
yards were in the fourth quarter alone. But to me,
they have to consistently show that they can do that.
Not that they're going to get five six takeaways every game,
(29:45):
because they're not. But it as long as you can
maintain the pressure, you know, they talked Aaron Rodgers again
went on glowingly after the game about this speech Saturday
night by Jalen Ramsey and had the room's attention boy,
and he talked about playing with an edge. Well, I
think what you saw the other day was guys playing
(30:07):
with the edge all the way through the secondary, cornerback, safeties, whomever, linebackers,
challenging receivers, breaking up passes. They had thirteen pass breakups
the other day. Now, I haven't gone around the league
because it's too tedious a task to look up every game.
That's a staggering number of passes defensed, and I can't
imagine there's too many instances where teams have more passes
(30:29):
defensed than that. And to me, that was a good
sign and a certainly a good indication of playing with
an edge, playing more aggressively. And they have to maintain that.
And that's what we see a run the National Football League.
We see teams surprise other teams. And let's face it,
nobody saw coming what happened on Sunday, not to that degree.
But you know, you can't have that be a one
(30:53):
time thing, and you're not going to win every game,
I know, but you have to try to follow that
up with another performance against a good offensive team. I mean,
they lose their top two running backs and they still
average one hundred and seventy five yards the last two
games running the football, so they're going to have their
hands full. And yeah, that Charger offensive line losing Joe
Walt is really big on top of losing Slater from
(31:15):
the start.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Of the season.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
So the Steelers they have to capitalize on it. But
they have to follow up what they did against the
Colt with the same type of aggressive edge performance from
their defense.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
You know, that defense saw some shifting personnel with all
the injuries and presumably with ineffectiveness. I'm not sure why
jan Thornhill wasn't out there more. Maybe they didn't. I
don't know whether he was nicked up or anything, Jerry,
but they moved. Look, they made they went out and
got Darius Slay and they went out and got Jalen
Ramsey so they could have a three cornerback attack to
(31:50):
put against the top receivers in the league. Well, Darius
Slay is you know, it feels like he's you know,
and by the way, kudos to him for coming back
into the game with whatever happened to Finger and showing
some veteran leadership out there. But you know, now you've
got Ramsey moving to free safety.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
And we also saw some four to three.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
I can't remember the last time I saw four to
three they had Harrison out there. Again, a lot of
it was because they were down bodies, I'm presuming. But
again when I mentioned, you know, Roman Wilson getting an
opportunity to play because of the need, is that here
to stay? Is Ramsey here to stay? And are we
going to see a little bit different defensive approach from
(32:30):
this year's with four to three and some other things perhaps?
Speaker 6 (32:34):
Well, I think they first of all, Rob, I think
they liked what they saw from the secondary last week
in terms of the alignment of players, and I think
that's going to continue for the short term. I mean,
Kyle Dugger comes in two practices and play seventy seven
of seventy eight snaps. I mean they didn't see that
coming either. They were gonna monitor, not monitor, to see
how he is as the game goes on, and they
(32:56):
saw nothing, no reason to take him out. So that's
not that's not going to change. And what happened is
the the alignment you're referring to is this is something
we haven't seen. We see them bring in and use
three outside linebackers. They bring in Nick herbig and playing
with Alex Heismith and t J.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Watt.
Speaker 6 (33:16):
Well, what we saw the other day was them bring
in Malik Harrison, who's their physical run stuffer, and and
put him on the field at the same time with
Peyton Wilson and Patrick Queen, so you don't see and
and then you and then you put him on the
front line and so you don't see them use three
inside backers like they have used three outside backers. So
(33:38):
that was just one of the other wrinkles they used
and asked for one Thornhill. You know, unless there's some injury,
I don't know that they're going to change or unless
it's not working against the Chargers. But I think they're
going to stick with what they have right now. And
you know, Brandon Echols will be one of the rotating
corners in there. And though keep their fingers ustin see
(34:00):
how it goes.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Cherry do lac Jerry.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Always appreciate it, my friend, Uh, not only brought to
you by Bellinotte in the strip where you can get
two dollars and fifty cent bud like sixteen out drafts
or all students games, but also brought to you by
your neighborhood for sure.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
The F one.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, putting
the do the two in the sponsorships for the great
Cherry do Lac? A man so big, so big he
has to have two sponsors, Jerry, thank you, my friend,
seing a little bit on the south side.
Speaker 6 (34:31):
You got it, Rob Max, I'll see it's a Ballyard.
God willing that the flights are unaffected.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Yeah, who you telling? Hey?
Speaker 4 (34:40):
Same here, Jered, I mean worst case scenario if you
make it to Phoenix, wee could carpool.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Uh well, I look forward to seeing you so far, Bud.
Do you got him? Man, Jerry do Lac?
Speaker 2 (34:53):
I want to remind you before we had to break
year up with the latest game the necessities at the
official Students Pro shops. Get the latest sideline, a pair
of jerseys, terrible tows, authentic memorabilia, and custom exclusives you
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Speaker 5 (35:06):
Visit one of the official Students.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium, Grove City, Premium Matlets,
or Tanger Outlets, or gear up online at shop dot
Steelers dot com. Get it direct from the team at
the Students Pro Shop at Shop dot Steelers dot com.
Back and more in the Locker Room presented by our
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This Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Give 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 Pittsburgh Steelers and
by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from the team
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Speaker 5 (36:09):
And we're very glad you're here with us in the
locker Room.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
And Max, I wanted to I wanted to react to
a couple of things that we were talking about there
with Jerry and mostly as it regards defensive alignment with
Jail and Ramsey at free safety.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
And first of all, what a luxury.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
He's a Pro Bowl caliber slot guy, I would say,
for sure, and obviously he can play outside corner, but
a Pro Bowl slot corner, and you know, probably a
Pro Bowl worthy guy at free safety. I think you'd
like to have him in the slot, but it seems
like they need him at free safety. So your reaction
(36:49):
on that, and do you think that's here to stay
that it's going to be Ramsey and Duggar and you know,
Thornhill and Clark fill in at the safety position Mike
tom Wins at their deeper.
Speaker 5 (36:59):
Corner right now. Now, do you think that's the way
it's going to be for a while?
Speaker 3 (37:04):
I think until otherwise.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
Note right, Deshaun Elliott is out, you know, and definitely
we'll see how that plays out if he's able to
return or not.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
But you know, I don't know why you wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
And technically for the Steelers this has really been He's
actually played more true free safety this season than any
other position, even for Deshaun Elliott, like Sean Elliet is
still a strong safety by trade that has the flexibility
and knowledge to play free. But as far as a
natural skill set and fluidity, I would say that Jalen
(37:40):
Ramsey is probably the only free safety we have on
this roster. So yeah, you know, you want to play
with the free and a strong and I think that's
where you have to kind of say, Okay, we tried
to and no, this looks a lot different.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
You're having a true free.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
You know that minca type, body type and knowledge base
is something that's that's rare to find, and you have
that in a Jalen Ramsey. And he's a guy, like
you said, can be deployed at a multitude of positions.
But man, he looked good at free safety and you
know at corner, we have we have options, you know,
(38:15):
to cover up for that, because not only you're talking
about Pro Bowl slot corner, but he was playing a
lot of outside corner too this season for us, so
it wasn't just a slot. And especially in some of
the man situations. You know, when you're traveling and he's
a slot one way because they have twins on the left,
and then all of a sudden, the guy motions to
the right and now you're one to one on the
outside he turns into the outside corner. So that's where
(38:38):
you kind of have to make sure that you're that
you're keeping him in a place where he's not really
transitioning much. And at free safety he gets free range
to be able to make decisions.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
When to double, when to come down.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
He's he's playing a lot of a lot of different hats,
and like you said, he's a guy that if you
do need him to blitz from that position and guess
what he can do it with the best of them.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
So, and he's a hell of a tackler on a perimeter.
I don't know if you noticed.
Speaker 4 (39:06):
The perimeter tackling was looked a lot different on the
edges with Jalen Ramsey roaming on the on the on
the outside of the numbers than it did in previous weeks.
So that's another bonus that you do get. You do
get a very sure, willing, able, and skilled tackler on
those edges to really cover up even for your corners
and your slots if they do have have a mystery
(39:28):
to try and jump arount.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
And look, I think we're gonna see, we're gonna call
for this week, we're gonna call him a safety and
and we'll get into it, hopefully next hour, but certainly
next stay or two. Because Derwin James on the other side,
I mean, you could have been describing Derwin James the
way you described Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
He is just a great one play the same college.
Speaker 5 (39:54):
Yeah, how about that?
Speaker 4 (39:55):
Realize that yeah, so yeah, exactly, So just imagine that.
That's that's a ridiculous thing to think about.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
Yeah, he is so good, Derwin James, And I can't
wait to get into a discussion about him. Mike Tomlin
described him as sort of the straw that serves a drink,
and I mean, there's no doubt that that's the case.
But I did want to circle back to what Jerry
was talking about. And we have seen the three outside
(40:23):
linebacker alignment, and you are trying to get you know,
some of the guys out there. You want to get
her big out there as much as you can. You know,
people have grumbled about some fans have grumbled about the
lack of snapcounts when he was so effective filling in
for Alex high Smith. But then Alex has been productive
coming back, and you're trying to juggle that. There was
one alignment in which I don't know if I saw
(40:45):
it more than once. Perhaps I did, But only one
comes to mind, in which I think with Cam Hayward
was the only defensive lineman. You know, so you're running
a bunch of linebackers out there in a passing situation.
But Malik Harrison, who was at least a part of
the turnaround last year for the Ravens defensively when they
(41:05):
put him in at starting linebacker, and he's a thumper
against the run, and clearly the Chargers want to run
the football even without Hampton, even without Naji Harris Bydell
has had two hundred yard rushing games in his four
appearances for the Chargers in which he's taken on an
increased working load, workload, They've still been effective running the
(41:26):
ball without those top guys. They've still been effective running
the ball with injuries on the offensive line.
Speaker 5 (41:31):
I don't know whether we're going to see.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
More Malie Harrison or more of that three inside linebacker
to look, because I can't remember seeing that for the Steelers.
You know, they've probably thrown it out there. Maybe they
had Ferrier and foot in somebody else. But I mean,
I'm going I'm trying to go way back in my
mind in November.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
No, they have not. I can know that as a guy. No,
because we were such a three to four team with
Dick Lebou and Keith Butler. We were I mean it
was three.
Speaker 4 (41:59):
Four at the core, and like said, the only change
of that would have been a nickel four to two.
But seeing an actual four to three like front from them,
you have to go into you know, the the the
the year old nineteen hundreds, as my kids would say, God,
it's always crazy when they say that to me. But
(42:19):
any who, Yeah, you have to go back into the
nineteen hundreds, a century ago, quarter century ago at least
to find really true four to three. I mean this,
this is a team that's been staunched in the three
four for a long time, and so seeing that kind
that true four to three or you know, if you
(42:40):
want to call it a two five. You know, because
your two outside backers are playing defensive end positions with
two down interior linemen.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Now everyone look at it. It's a four to three.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
It's a four to three over four to three under
eagle that that they're running, And yeah, it is. It's
ridiculous to see that because you're like, wow, this is
the versatility of the guys. And like you said, you
can get more of those skill guys on the edges
for teams that like to like to throw, especially when
you're utilizing a tight end. How much more effective it
(43:12):
is communication wise getting.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Getting a guy, especially.
Speaker 4 (43:17):
An off the ball backer that can kind of spot
that tight end and not lose him. There's just so
many different utilizations and unlessen I'm not here to.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Say three four or four to three, which one's better.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
I just think having the ability to do both makes
you a dangerous team because now a team has to
study double because now they have the set of four
to three fronts as well as three four fronts, and
for an office of coordinator, throws everything into haywire in
your game planning because you have rules for both, and
usually from week to week you carry the rules you
(43:49):
know that you're going to do because of the primary
front of the team. So normally when you plan for
the Steelers, it's okay, here's here's what a base three
four and our blocking assignments on every every single run
play changes in a three four alignment versus a four
to three alignment. So then you're carrying double rules. And
when we talk about the Trevor Penning trying to catch
(44:09):
up to speed, this is where, you know, you get
what we call the uh the mind meld here where
you're trying to marry four to three concepts as well
as three four concepts, and the communication between both then
becomes double taxing on them because you know, whereas we
would run a ride thirty four Jackie versus a three
(44:29):
four now becomes a ride thirty four Willie because of
the back, because of the linebacker declarations. Right, you know
you have a will backer and four to three and
then you have a jackbacker in three four.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
That plays, so you know you do.
Speaker 4 (44:43):
And the will is in a different position in a
three four versus a four to three. So therefore the
rules is gonna change. You're not gonna you're not gonna
double team back to a guy on the line of
scrimmage on the back because that just turns into two
backblocks versus when you're running a zone and the will
sitting in the pocket in a four to three, that
backside open area between the d tackle and the defensive end,
you work a double team block up to that will.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
So you see that.
Speaker 4 (45:05):
So it just it changes a lot of stuff. And
so it's it's what it's going to be, confusing and rough.
And I loved it because I love adding more to
the palette of a coordinator trying to scheme. Because when
you add more, guess what, you don't get nuanced, you
don't get detailed, you don't get depth of knowledge because
now you're worried about do I have enough time to
(45:27):
cover everything for all these guys? At least once you
know it is a Bruce Lee rule, right, would I
rather practice ten thousand different kicks once or one kick
ten thousand times? You know, That's what it comes down to.
It's like, you want to master what you're good at,
So having one set of rules for one type of
particular front is what you want to operate out of.
(45:49):
But now a team runs two completely different solid base fronts.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
That is where it becomes very.
Speaker 5 (45:56):
Tricky, interesting and interesting.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
The option and again, you know, Jalen Ramsey playing a
lot of free because you've had some injuries and you
put them back there. Maybe some ineffectiveness, maybe some of
this is just straight coaching decision and not injury related.
But Cole Holcombe wasn't available last week, and all of
a sudden, you've got some different things and some different looks.
The Steelers defense can throw out opponents, and it will
(46:21):
be very interesting to see what they do against the Chargers,
who look want to run the ball, but they have
some weapons, a lot of stuff to talk about with
the Chargers, we have plenty to get to. Very excited
to start, really, you know, digging into the preview matchups,
which we will continue to do in the locker room
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(46:42):
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