August 3, 2025 • 47 mins
King and Starks are joined by Michael McQuaid from NFL Ireland and preview the game and events overseas.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
And thank you very much for being with us in
the locker room with King and Starks, presented by your
neighborhood Ford Store alongside Max Starks. I'm Rob King here
on the Steelers Audio Network. Looking forward to a little
visit we have coming up with the founder of Pro
Football Ireland, Mick mcquaidh Getting ready for that big game
in Ireland, MA is gonna be very very exciting, a
(00:24):
lot of stuff to get to in and around that,
but it's gonna be fun to have Mick in town.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, I mean, it was very fun to see that.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Uh, you know, our welcoming committee. We had a great
entourage there. We got a little Mick at night with
Wesley Euler being the chaperone around the great city of
La Trob We had.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
To show the lads all the local hotspots here.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, exactly, lovely, lovely. The crack was great last night.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
So yeah, no, it'll be great to have Mick on.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
You know, a great practice yesterday, and of course you know,
getting Steeler fan as excited for that September twenty eighth
showdown at Croke Park over there in Dublin will be
a nice, nice time. So can't wait to hear from
Mick in that next segment. Good practice yesterday for the
young guys as well. Rob, it was nice.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I wanted to ask you about that because Mike Tomlin
made a point of saying, look, you have a Friday
night game, right, a lot of excitement, and the veterans
are gonna get a day off, and that's gonna happen
throughout the course of the season. This is an opportunity
for the young guys to not only get some reps,
but show on a shorter turnaround after a physical Friday
night lights practice that you're ready to go and ready
(01:35):
to prove that. You know, it's part of the conditioning
and it's part of the mental approach and all those things.
So I did want to get your sense of what
you thought of practice yesterday.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
No, So I was churning through the tape this morning
and you know, just kind of second look, right, you know,
they'll arbitrator to look at the film, and you know,
a lot of young guys got a lot of reps yesterday.
Spencer Anderson jumped in and took some tackle snaps yesterday.
You know, Stephen Jones elevated obviously, Calvin Anderson is out
(02:07):
as of right now, still waiting on his kind of diagnosis.
But you know, a lot of opportunities for young guys
to come in and take a lot of reps. Aaron
Rodgers first VET day of camp yesterday hadn't taken one yet,
you know.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Obviously, you know Cam Hayward, TJ. Watten Company.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
They they have more than earned their strikes. But Aaron
Rodgers held off to the very last minute. And and
this is his first VET day was yesterday. Obviously today
will be a full patted affair. But I thought it
looked really good. I mean, young guys, you know, still
making some mistakes, you know, guys jumping out of gaps
and everything, and a couple of issues, you know, with
some of the coverages. But for the most part, young
(02:48):
guys getting a lot of good opportunities just to go
through the reps of it all. I thought it was
a very clean practice for a helmet's practice, and you
saw some some good work in there.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
You know, they say you can't get some quality reps.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know when you don't have pads on the line
and the line positions online the line Derek Harmon, I
will say this, mark my words now will be a
problem will be a problem, rob Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
There was.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
There was a couple of moves in there that I'm like,
even in helmets, I don't know how how you stop it.
Because he had a nice he was getting double teamed
and kind of the flow was going off in one
direction and his redirect escape move landed right in the
lap of Mason Rudolph and it was you know, obviously
he didn't hit Mason, but Mason threw a nice pass.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
But it was like, now, that wouldn't have got off
in the game.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Sorry, there's just no way, you know, I will say this,
Jack Sawyer, his his pass rushers. They are affected. They
don't look pretty. It's not it's not it's not the
craftsmanship of you know, Highsmith or Watt, but it's effective.
Him and and Echolioda number fifty three. So fifty three
(04:01):
and thirty three are doing some really nice things in
the past game. That's really you know, gunking up the
tackles at the point of attack, and you know it
catches little things either you cross your across your feet
at the at the at the access point, or it's
ducking your shoulders and kind of coming with the overhand.
There's a little things that tackles need to still clean
(04:23):
up as we get ready for Jacksonville. But like I said,
it was a very quality day just look at.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
It in totality.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Thought some really nice things in the team run period
and the pass under pressure, both sides kind of back
and forth with each other. Some great combat catches, I
would say the Scotty Miller yesterday on they were running
a trips trips right formation and he was sitting on
the outside of the bunch, so you know, you have
(04:51):
like the one guy at the point, two guys behind
making them like a triangle. He was on that back
right side of the triangle and he did a clearout
and came and kne and came back around. He hit
almost twenty two miles an hour running down the sideline.
Fan who hit twenty two Miller? Scott Miller, Scotty Miller.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
That's that's that's interesting to hear.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
That is very very very quick. We'll just say that
is very quick, very quick.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
You know, he's one of those guys a little bit
like I mean, you know again, and we saw this
last year he stepped into was it the game in
Atlanta where suddenly he was the gunner?
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I believe it was down in Atlanta. Just a guy
that what's that? Yes he's an opener.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, he's a guy that kind of we talk about
this with Connor Hayward, a guy who can put his
hand in the pile and a guy who I think
you just say, okay, I I feel really good about
his reliability. You know, you know, you know, you imagine
a coach striding up and down, you know, the line
of scrimmage and trying to keep track of everything that's
(05:57):
going on and all this other stuff, and and now
all of a sudden you got to throw a rookie
in there somewhere, and now all of a sudden, the coach, boy,
I better watch, how you know, I don't know if
I have much faith here. I mean, watch and see
how this goes. I think you put a Scottie Miller
in o Connor Heyward into certain situations and you don't
even now you can you can go back to thinking
about the game. You don't have to worry about how
that guy's gonna do out there. You know he's gonna
(06:19):
do a good professional job well.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
And I think the other thing is right when you're
tried and tested like Scottie Miller's he's been in this
league and he's had to run a multitude of roles.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
You know, when he gets an opportunity, he does stand out.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I mean, he primarily gets a lot of stuff across
the middle. You know, he definitely takes like the crossing
routes and some of the delay routes. But when given
the opportunity to run some of those outside route patterns,
I mean, if you don't have the angle that he's
gonna chew up all that cushion. Because the safety, you know,
(06:55):
had had a good angle, had a good point. It
was like, hey, I'm gonna meet him here. And it
was in one Thornhill, one thorn Hill. Thought he was
gonna he was gonna meet him. And I want to
say it was like the twenty five yard line right
that cushion got eaten up real quickly and he was
two yards behind him.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
He still hit the twenty five, but.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
The problem was that Scotty Miller was already at the
twenty three by the point he got there. And I
think they were all kind of like, oh man, I
took I took a bad angle. It was a good angle,
It's just the receiver was that much faster. So I
mean that's what he provides. He just provides a change
up to whatever your norm is. I think that's where
you start trying to look at like, Okay, who would
(07:31):
have you know some life here? I mean Ben Scaronic
is another one, big physical hand catcher, strong hands. Brandon
Johnson's also had a really good camp. He had a
nice play in seven shots, just running a little shot,
a little shallow in and when he came to the point,
I mean caught with his hands at very tight coverage.
Randon Echols was right on top of him, but strong
(07:53):
hand catch. He's done that a number of times in camp.
So this wide receiver group, I mean people want to say, oh,
you know, we need a number to a valid number two,
But I will say that when you put the mix
of guys in there, there's a lot of good experience
football at the wide receiver position. And now they're starting
to kind of hum and get into rhythm with each other,
(08:13):
which is what you expect. Second week of camp, you
know you've gotten the newness out right. You can take
the name tag off the hello my name is and
you can start to say, Okay, I'm developing a rapport
with those guys and kind of saw that yesterday in practicing.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
It was good to have Joey puorarterback.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
He had two picks in the seven on seven drill yesterday,
so JP had a really good day coming back. Obviously
it was out Friday night lights with a little with
a with a head issue and came back just fine,
looked really good in.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
His limited action back back into practice.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
So much more about the practice, but we have a
very special guest with us. He's been host to the
Irish Steels podcast since twenty twenty three. He's over here
in the US with Sky Sports, touring around NFL training camp.
He's a regular NFL contributor in Ireland and in the UK.
As we mentioned earlier, he is the founder of Pro
(09:08):
Football Ireland. Had a chance to meet this gentleman at
the Combines in Indianapolis and welcome inside the locker room,
Mick McQuay.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Thank you very much for being with.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Us, guys.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
I didn't expect the clopin, but thank you so much.
It's great to be here, guys. I've been here for
one artist. This place is just special. That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah it is.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
And Mick, just give us a brief Rundown of I
sort of mentioned you're touring the training camps with sky Sports.
How's that been going and where you headed after? We
want to obviously talk about your Steelers experience, but where
you're headed and how many stops you planning on making.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Yes, it's a training con tour with nflu Can Ireland
with and Need Reynolds from the sky Sports son We've
had the chance. We were on the roads, flew into
Jacksonville and spent the day with the Jackie Wars up
to Minneapolis to go to the vikings. Obviously, with the
big week four opponents, drove the Modison, stopped over, drove
to Indianapolis and went to Cleveland yesterday. And now we're
(10:12):
really at the main stop, aren't we? S in Vincent
College for this theaters. So it's been as somebody from Ireland,
where it takes four hours to drive up and down
the whole country, it's been an experience. I look, it
probably sounds silly the people listening from the US, but
I really find it incredible. The vast amount of spasis
country as it's incredible, and someone that drives has just
been They've been magical and it's cool to see a
(10:34):
bit of Pennsylvania as well.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yeah, you know, it's it is interesting. And I've driven
around Ireland a couple of times. I will say this, So,
first of all, you know, people come over.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
We had we.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Had cousins from Germany and they came over and they
visited my uncle in New Jersey and they said, hey, listen,
we'd like to you know, we're gonna hear we're here.
We got a car, we'd like to go to the
first one of the first things. We'd like to just
go to the Grand Canyon. And my uncle was like,
that's a three day drive, like three days, like you know,
(11:05):
at twenty hours a clip, you're not just driving to
the Grand Canyon.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I will say this.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
The first time I was in Ireland and the last
time I was there, we landed in Dublin, drove across
to Galway. It's like two and a half hours. That's
a narrower part of the country. But if you get
off the beaten track. I remember, you know, seeing these
directions and they're they're like, hey, it's one hundred miles
from point A to point B and it's gonna take
(11:30):
you three and a half hours. And I'm like, that's
barely over an hour. It's an hour and a half
in America. I'm gonna beat that. No, you're on, you're stopping,
you're backing up, you're going to those little pullovers. The
weeds are hitting both sides of your car. It's a
wonderful country to drive around. But if you're off the
beaten track, Mick, your best to not be in a hurry.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
I'd say that to just two points.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Not so.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
A couple of years ago when missing McCormick was selected
on it on the draft pick from the Kingdom of Carrie,
I need to say off listening from there, it is
really off the beaten track. I mean it takes like
four and a half hours to drive to Dublin. But look,
I don't live off the beating track too much. I
live in the countryside. And it's funny when you're maybe
standing up late watching a Sunday if football Monday I
football staters game. You walk out the back of the
(12:14):
house at four o'clock in the morning, you think to yourself,
what am I doing? That's mental And then you actually
go to the shop, like a little shop beside a
church or a chapel, and honestly, over the last few months,
you're meeting Steelers fans, You're meeting guys that are trying
to get tickets for this game, different people, So it's
really really cool to see even in like rural parts
of the island there's fans and I'd recommend anybody heading
over and you know, if you haven't finalized your travel
(12:36):
plans yet for this game and make four try and
do you know, go see a little bit of the
island as well. You'll definitely enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
It's a beautiful island and the people are absolutely wonderful.
It just I you know, everywhere you turn, there's just friendly,
helpful people in Ireland. I've enjoyed my experiences traveling over there.
Can't wait to travel back and and see lots about
Ireland and see lots more golf courses than I've seen,
(13:02):
but especially see this game in Croke Park. Talking to
you in February, you said people were really getting stoked
as we get now within two months of playing that game.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
What is the mood and excitement level for that game
in Croke Park?
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Well, there were you mentioned golf just a moment ago there.
Port Rush had the Open Championship three weeks ago. This weekend,
I want to say. And you sort of get the
height of expectation when you go up to a practice
day and maybe about fifteen people are stopping talking about
how excited they are for the game, or like just
looking tickets. It's really a favorite pitch. And it's funny
we're talking today and today really is the final or sorry,
(13:43):
the penultimate big sporting event in the stadium before it
takes place. It's the Ladies All Arden final days. So
I have to give them a shot out and wish
them good luck. It's going to be electric, you know,
just even sitting in Krook Park last sunder for the
All Arden Football Final, and you know, there was no
spar seats in the house. It was special. And even
think if we get you know, fifty percent of the atmosphere,
(14:03):
I'm sure we'll get one hundred and fifty percent, it'll
just be something else. Seventy six fisand people and the
hell's going to be seated, I believe, and it's going
to be something to remember, I think for a very
very long time to come.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
So go ahead, go ahead, Max, I just want to
real quick, I do want to ask this real quick, sorry, Max.
And then take over please. But you know the All
Ireland Football Finals. I had a chance to watch it.
I think I was telling you this make Leath and
Mouth we're playing and there was a little fisticuffs after
the game.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
But it's a wonderful game. It's an amateur game.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
And I do wonder if you know, a lot of
countries the closest they come to American football is rugby,
and a lot of countries in Europe rugby is not
even that big.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
It's not as big as it is.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I don't think in the UK does the does the
rugby Irish football background do you think help the people
to get excited and and to acclimate and to enjoy
American football maybe than other countries might.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
I would say it does obviously. First start, when it
comes to rugby, it's the one sport where the island
of Ireland has got the one team, so they're not divided,
for example, and I think that unites people.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Certainly.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
The physicality of the game is a big thing and
it certainly does help when you've got a good team.
There were number one in the world there for quite
a while, and even with the guys the British and
Irish Lions have been down to Australia.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
The majority of.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Those guys were Irish, so rugby is huge, I think, honestly,
and yes, that does play a part. And it's a
very sporting country, a sporting island. When you have games
at six o'clock on a Sunday and it's minus five
degrees outside and even fire on and there's football for
twelve hours, ten hours, I think that's played a part
over the last ten to fifteen years. People, you know,
it's such a good time to down on a Sunday
(15:46):
night and watch some football. And really, you know, you've
all so many people at home have family ties to
different states. They picked teams because of that, and that's
really the reason why there's you know, as well as
the really family's heritage, why there's so many Steelers fans
in Ireland because they've got family in Pennsylvania. The amount
of places in the state that are named after villages,
like there's a village where I live that is named
(16:06):
after one in Ohio, for example, So there's just so
much heritage there and I think that definitely odds to it,
but certainly, and there's a huge sporting influence as well.
And frankly for a lot of people. You know, let's
be clear, there'll be people going to the game in
September that are maybe on the fence. Maybe it's their
first time experience in the NFL. You know, that should
be celebrated as well, because they're going to see what
(16:27):
it's like, They're going to give it a go, and
I think that can only be good for the future
growth of as well.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
And that's what I want to kind of hit you with, Mick.
Was you know, obviously the late Dan Rooney being ambassador
to Ireland and we all know how integral he was
with trying to push this game obviously, and the exhibition
game had been played there back in what was that
ninety six?
Speaker 5 (16:48):
Ye last Sunday?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yeah, twenty twenty eight years. Yeah, there we go, and
you know.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Now getting a full on, actual regular season type of game.
There just influence of Ambassador Rooney and his time in Ireland,
you know, being back home in the mother country. You
know how big of a role was that And do
you think that's really what kind of drove this opportunity
for Ireland to host a regular season game.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
I think it's been dying to so many factors and
it's funny whenever we met at the Super Bowl and
we're talking about this and sort of just having the
crack about it. I think, first off, you know, pre
mister Rooney becoming the ambassador, the game going to London
for the first time, and it's something I spoke to
with Neid Reynolds about this. You know, he worked in
the NFL when a game internationally was a pipe drink
and we were standing, for example, the cold sideland the
(17:34):
overnight going this is crazy, we're here and there's now
six or seven games each season. I think that really
did change everything because for the look for the NFL,
for the London office. It's not that that was a
huge gamble at the time, but it was something where
it was like, well, we're not sure how this is
going to go, Dolphins, Giants, and it became a whole thing.
And look where we are now. Of course we're having
(17:54):
mister Rooney there and seeing his influence not just you
know on the sport on the island of Ireland, but
really the first ambassador to visit all thirty three counties
to really put that foothold. And you know, it's in
one way, it's very sad that he's not here to
see it, but in an other way, you know, he's
gonna be looking down and I'm sure he'll be remembered
on that day in some in some shape or form.
(18:15):
Certainly what he done definitely helps spell out the process.
The NFL's International Global Markets Program GMP program has certainly
helped with that. It originally started with teams going to
the UK Germany and to see the Steelers be the
first team awarded for Ireland was just awesome and it's
hard to believe a little under three years on that
we're now on the here you know the cost, but
(18:37):
seven weeks today, So yeah, it's it's definitely helped, and
I think the real question now is how does that
continue to grow after week four? You know, it's going
to be really cool to.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Think then get into that rotation, especially because I mean
you're looking at Spain being activated for the first time
as well the second year in Brazil they announced that,
and we were at Super Bowl when they announced Australia.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yes year and we're just like what it's like.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
It was like, we're waiting for the We're waiting for
the Ireland you know announcement. You know, as you kind
of look at that and like you said, you know
you're going to all the teams that are going to
be playing internationally this season. I mean we had NFL Europe.
You know, we did have that time. And do you
think that kind of gave them the barometer because you know,
(19:20):
obviously they pulled back from it, but did that also
kind of lessen the blow to be able to go
into these other European countries that are more attached, so
to speak.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
I think it's certainly an acid test. I would say
I'm a little bit younger in terms of I didn't
get the chance to experience that europ League properly. But
even from speaking to neilabout it, he said he used
to go out, used to have the Germany each weekend,
see different teams. I think it was an acid test
in the way they could see called. There's a lot
of football funds there Germany as a as a full
league outside of the European League football. They have huge
(19:49):
viewing figures in Germany for example, and obviously the UK
as well on the Ireland. But I think that sort
of helped speed up that process from maybe the fans
and the seventies and the of these guys watching like
the Marino or Terry Bradshaw on one week delays on
videotape to now certainly it helped. I think, really, you know,
I have to give props and it's a guy that
(20:10):
I've actually never had the chance to meet, but a
guy named Alistair Kirkwood who was ahead of nfl UK,
who really put his career in the line to make
that happen. And certainly from him doing that and getting
the game to London, I think it definitely helps to
feed that up. And to now see you know, tomb
of the ertation there, to see Dublin potentially be there,
it's it's pretty cool and it's great that. Look, it's
(20:30):
not really ralevant to this question, but it is great.
And I think Seelers fans would agree to see the
first game here have this team be a part of it.
It wouldn't be right if it wasn't, and I think
we should all obviously just embrace that over the next
few weeks and just just look forward to.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Nick.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
If fans you're going over, and by the way, fans
you're going over, there's no if about it. What would
you recommend that they do if they have a couple
of extra days just for a moment, and I want
to circle back to the football, but put on your
your tourism cap. What should folks do if they're gonna
be in Dublin for let's say, you know, you be
(21:07):
kind of decided I'm gonna fly in Wednesday night, get
their Thursday, leave Monday after the game. What would you
suggest they they kind of do if they have a
couple of days in the Dublin area.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Yeah, sure, I mean, first off, if you're coming to
and then an AS game for the first time, we
can't say wearing it, but there will be a team bar,
and I'm sure somebody these guys sitting beside me might
be there. The only few podcasts, which I'm very excited for.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Oh yeah, I'll I'll be over there.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I'll be over there Monday morning and touring the entire island.
I'm sure I'll probably get to all those counties as
well before the game.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
If you can do thirty few counties and free days,
you're a better mom than me. I here. I if
you want to meet me up, morph will definitely do that.
And I think in terms of Dublin first and foremost,
you gotta go to again in the storehouse. So you
gotta go like the Jenison Brewry and different places as well.
I got there, but certainly if you can, it depends
on you know, in terms of how the league does it.
Usually cook Park does tours. You might not be able
(21:59):
to go on the field. Do that there, Go and
see where the college football is in the Aviva and
Lansdowne Road and honestly go you know, stay around Temple
Bar of course, enjoy yourself, but go off the beaten track.
Go and go into like a little street and go
to a pub that might not be the most touristy one.
Sit down, grab a pant again it's get something lat
and enjoy it. But certainly if you're coming in on Waddensday,
lads get the train and I go to Cork, which
(22:22):
is two and a half hours down the way. Go
to Galway, as you mentioned a second ago. He you know,
go up to Belfast. Definitely. I'm I'm definitely gonna fly
the flag. I live about forty five minutes from Newry,
which is the ancestral homeland of the Ruineys. You know,
if you want to go up to Newry, go visit
park Esler which is the stadium up there, there will
be plenty to do and I'm sure come to Fursday
(22:43):
or Friday, it'll definitely be a busy time in Dublin.
So there's definitely I've heard there's what twenty or thirty
five coming over, so it's gonna.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Be right now. That number will grow as we get
closer to the season.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, Pittsburgh, you know, but but you know, and I
think that the notion of you know, and look there's
there's tourists in the New Grange just north of Dublin. Yes,
it's fabulous if you like that, if you like ancient
sites and that sort of thing. But you know, I
think that the idea of just lingering, like you said,
(23:15):
just kind of lingering and having a point and taking
your time and taking a load off and understanding that
the pace, you know, you can pace yourself a little
bit differently and have a great time. I think that's
I think that's some of the a lot of the
charm as well. And just and then you know, if
you if you're not rushing around, and sometimes we americanize things.
I'm extremely guilty of this, but sometimes if you just
(23:38):
sit down and chat with some locals, you find that
that's a pretty wonderful experience as well.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
On the Telget experience is going to be different. Oh
that's that's not meant to be negative for people, but
just genuinely, if people are listening to this and they're
going over it's about twenty minute walks from downtown Dublin
to the stadium, get up there early because it's going
to be busy. It's not like we're sitting here looking
at the vast area in some men's college. It's quite,
you know, narrow, like I was there last Sunday. If
(24:04):
you have a seat for a certain stand, you have
to go a certain way. So please, if you're listening
to this, give yourself a bit of time, get in
the stadium, enjoy it because the first time you see it,
it's it's really special.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Oh it just sounds so wonderful.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
And I did want to ask you about Croke Park
and if you could just give people an idea of
what the experience is gonna be like. Is it similar
to an NFL stadium or is it is it a
little bit different feel.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
I guess when it's in Europe it's always a little
bit different. It's obviously set up for Gaelic football and
hurling and komogi. But the field is quite big. So
what you'll find is there's gonna be maybe a bit
of a gap between the sidelines on where you're sitting,
which also which also as well probably gives you a
better view because you're gonna you're gonna see more of
the action, honestly, you know, Bar, if you're standing behind
(24:50):
some of the staff, you might be a bit restricted,
but bar out there there's not a bob view in
the house like I was sitting in the top stand
last Sunday, and you can see out like if you're
opposite the hill, you can see the whole study of Dublin,
and that's pretty cool. And certainly for a football game
where you're there for a more maybe a more considerable
longer amount of time than a getic football game, you're
gonna be able to get a good view and to
(25:10):
you know, get out of your seat and get a
couple of drinks and uncle back and again and enjoy yourself.
So there's no bod seat there, and you'll find that,
you know, the people are very friendly as well, and
you should have a good experiencing game then hopefully getting
the dub in Dublin.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Oh the dub and Dublin. I will oh, Mick Uh.
We've been joined by Mick mccuady. He's a founder of
Pro Football Ireland the host of the Irish Students podcast.
In twenty twenty three, he's in America with Sky Sports
touring training camps. Of course, this is the ultimate training
camp place for Mick to be, as he just said,
(25:45):
regular NFL contributor in Ireland and UKU for the NFL.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
I just Mick can't wait.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Thank you so much for getting us, you know, I'm
sure Maxfields saying, I'm just excited. Man, I can't wait
to get over there. It's a momentous occasion. And thank
you for spending time with us. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
Count wait some time you guys. I see us in Onday.
All the best over the next few weeks. Els Finnic,
you got it.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
Appreciate it man, Mick mcquad.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
You're inside the locker room with King and Starks and
Mick mccuad presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. Here on
the Steelers Audio network.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Iheartradios.
Speaker 7 (26:26):
Live coverage of about twenty twenty five Steelers training camp
is presented by FedEx where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System, by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
Drafthouse by Tom's Appliances, South Hill's Auto, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Wemax,
(26:50):
Select Realty, the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop and by US Steel.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
And Welcome back to Inside in the Locker Room, king
In Starts presented by your neighborhood Fords Door on the
Steel's Audio network. We were just joined. I hope you
heard it by Mick McQuaid, the founder of Pro Football
Ireland Max really cool man. Cannot wait for this huge
momentous occasion in Ireland. I just think it's going to
(27:19):
be so much fun.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
It's gonna be an absolute blast to be over there.
I mean you can hear the fever pitch, the excitement.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Of it all.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Mick has been doing yeoman's work over the last couple
of years, like really trying to drive this game and
the opportunity, like you said, you know, seeing it from
the UK and then getting it over to the Isle, right,
I mean, to get it over there. It's been a
huge effort behind the scenes, and so for this to
come to wish, I know that, you know, Ireland's gonna
(27:52):
put their best foot forward for this opportunity to make
sure that they stay in that rotation, especially as you
get so many other countries activated that we kind of
talked about.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
But I'm gonna look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
I mean, Steelers dot Com and Steelers Social Media, we
will be out there and we will be doing a
lot of stuff so to build up for that week
of I mean I'm flying straight from the Patriots game
to get there Monday morning and then we're hitting around running.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Just want to go ahead and just rub it in
just a little bit more, Wesley, and I can't wait
to just go see all of Ireland.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I mean we'll be up to darry Galway.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I mean, we're gonna hit a lot of sights, you know,
just to just to allow the local fans to get
even more engaged. You know, we'll be passing on terrible
towels throughout throughout our travels through the island. Uh during
the week. I'm just I'm just I'm so stoked for it.
And you know, I promise Rob and Wes I will
(28:48):
take great care and mentally taking every single note of
every Guinness that I drink, in every Jamison shot that
I do, just to make sure that I keep everybody
else informed. This, this is the research and development I
will sacrifice myself.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
You. I volunteers tribute for you. Guys.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
We were worried, Max, we were, we were I know,
you know, somebody's liver has to.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Be put on the line for this, and who better
than me?
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Right, I'm gonna be there as your the entire way,
my friends.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Yes, yes, making sure that they split the g properly
on my pint.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
So by the way, you will find And this is
this is something that I heard many times before. The
first time I went over and they said, uh, the
guinness is better over there, and it's fresher.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
And it's true. It is, it's true.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I mean it's coming directly from the from I mean
the tap of the stills.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
You know, I don't want you to, Max.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
I don't want you You might go home or my word
for it, and I might go Homer Simpson, just like
put my mouth under the tap and not even worry about.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
You know, I've I've weighed in. But I think it's
up to you to make up your own mind.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I mean, you know, you know what I mean, because
obviously we'll still be doing our show that week. Of course,
it'll be a lot more in the evening for me
right by the time we do it. So I just,
you know, we just hope that I will have enough,
have my wits about me by the same.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
You will have you I know you will, man, I
know you will. Well, you're gonna You're gonna love it.
The people are for you know, anybody who's been over
there before, and I've been over there twice. I'm certainly
no expert on the island, but everywhere I've been, the
people have been absolutely wonderful. Like if you drew a
line from from Dublin to Galway, I've been a little
(30:35):
north of there, Incredible wild country. I haven't been to
northern Ireland. There's a lot of that northern Irish coast
and the interior that I'd like to see. I pretty
much if you drew a line from Dublin to Galway,
might say two two and a half weeks I've been
in Ireland have been mostly in that that southern area,
(30:56):
other than going to the Isle, the the Aarin Islands
and north like I said, it's incredible. They have a
fjord in Ireland. I didn't know until I was driving.
We were driving, we took a hike and we got soaked,
and we're just driving around to see stuff and see
some of the pretty rugged towns up there, and I'm like,
oh my goodness, and they're like, yeah, it's a fjord,
and I said, wow, I thought those were only in Norway.
(31:16):
You know, incredibly beautiful. The people are so friendly. The countryside,
the rolling green hills, you know, the West coast is
just incredible, you know, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean.
You know, next stop USA, You're going to just have
a wonderful time. And it's led by the people. The
people are just great. They're just so friendly. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
No, I'm looking forward to it, looking forward to spend
some time in Belfast and getting to go around and
really kind of innudating the culture before we get to
game day there in Dublin. I know, I know they
said that, yeah, every day, we'll start in Dublin because
obviously that's where the hotel is. But he's like, he's like,
we're gonna hit some full days while we're there, so
(32:00):
I just I can't wait. And then of course when
you guys get there, you know, join up with the crew,
and I think we'll do a couple of nightly shows
over there at a couple of the different pubs, you know,
I'm sure we would normally do when we have you know,
a couple of you know, specific games where we do
like the pregame shows and kind of the tailgate shows
the night before. Be a similar atmosphere there, except for
(32:22):
we'll be doing it a little bit earlier.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Which which I cannot wait for.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
But yeah, no, I mean the excitement having having maccare
it just it gets It's like, man, can.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Get can we get this up Thereber twenty eighth.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
But you know, we've still got a process here. Obviously,
we still got plenty of practices. Today is gonna be
a full padded practice, rob because today for the offense,
they're gonna be installing the goal line in short yordage
periods and starting to open up the playbook. So now
the seven shots actually look a little bit more I
would say, uh equal, because there's a couple of times
in seven shots where the defense comes up in a
(32:54):
six to two defensive structure, and you know, it's tough
to it's tough to get a realistic look when your
team's still in like sub personnel and you know, you know,
there's one less guy that you can account for offensively
because you're not in the right personnel group and they
didn't really match.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
So today's gonna be a really big day for that.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Let me stop you there, because for the seven shots
and people people keep scoring all that stuff, well, you
can't run the ball, right, You're not gonna run unless
you're in pads. So there's a little bit of an
advantage to the defense. And then you're working on certain
favorite plays in personnel groupings. I wonder if maybe the
defense early on can begin to cheat a little bit.
(33:40):
I don't know, maybe they can, maybe they can't, but
it does level the playing field when you got the
pads on and you open up the playbook a little bit, Yeah,
you do.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
And and for those at home keeping score, defense is
only up twenty two to twenty right now, we've had
forty two shots of it and defense is only leading
by a slight margin. So this is gonna hopefully sway
things back in the off offenses favor by having this opportunity.
And like you said, when you get the full padded
seven shots, you know, like Friday Night Lights we ran
(34:08):
we ran a concept out out of out of a
twenty one personnel those two tight ends, but one of
them was in a slot and they're lined up in
a six to two goal line defense.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I'm like, you know, we're running the football.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
It's like, that's not really and we still almost scored,
you know, even though we were out manned at the
point and they were blitzing in the period.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
But you know, the one.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Thing that you know, you start to realize is we
get deeper into camp, the defense likes to look at
the offense's call sheet, especially because all of the you know,
every period has scripted plays, and you know we're on
the same server. You know, you could click the offensive tab,
the defensive tab, and the special teams tab. Well, sometimes
when you're on the defense, you might click that little
(34:47):
offensive tab.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Just to take a little preview ahead of time.
Speaker 4 (34:51):
Skull doggery.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah, yeah, And the problem is offense can look at
the defenses call sheet, but they can always change it
when they get on the field. The offense we're usually
staying within the concept the entire time, so very advantageous
for the defense to kind of figure out what the
offense is doing, and you know, it swings it from
reactionary to being proactive because now they've changed it to
(35:14):
make sure they can get the best lot possible on tape,
and the offense just kind of has to deal with
whatever the defense is gonna throw at.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Them, you know, before we get into personnel and some
other things. And I don't know how the preseason practices work,
so obviously during the NFL season, you'd start to hit
the practice field. You know, maybe you're cleaning up your
mistakes and some walkthroughs and some other things, but at
some point you're starting the game plan for the other team.
(35:42):
This is the last practice before to an off day
tomorrow and then it's a game week. Is there something
that that the team is looking for in particular, whether
it's the coaching staff or the players in this padded
practice before we're a day off and before you can
begin to think about, you know, getting ready for a game.
(36:06):
I'm not I'm sure there's not as much game planning
as normal. You're worried about yourself, but it's still a
game week. So what is just quickly before we get
back into the personnel and other people and other things
to talk about. What is sort of the aim on
this practice today, for this years before the day off tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
I think it's just cleaning things up, like getting getting physical,
getting another opportunity with the pads, just to get the
feel of real life, you know, football competitiveness and a
controlled environment because you know, you don't want it to
be you know, essentially a week before the next time
you really hit somebody, and then of course you hit somebody,
(36:44):
it's semi for real obviously it's preseason, but it's another
as somebody else, an opponent that you're not going to
be seeing, you know, in your locker room rooming with.
So you want to make sure that guys feel clean.
They have an opportunity to kind of clear up some
of the mistakes. I mean, the biggest thing when you
have padded practices, how do you progress.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
From one day to the next, Right with pads.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
You know, you went from the first day on Wednesday,
which was supposed to be Tuesday, but whether and mother
nature did not agree with that being the start date. Apparently,
I guess mother nature wanted to see padded practice when
Pat McAfee was here, so we got that, But then
you know, because of that delay, we only got one
padded practice for Friday Night Lights and then Friday Night Lights,
(37:29):
you know, is just a frenzied environment.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
I mean it's packed with people.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Like you said, we had over thirteen thousand, six hundred
and fifty people there at at a Memorial Stadium, So
that brings a little bit of just tenacity, but not
necessarily you know, focusing on what it would mean to
kind of clean things up because you're kind of running
off of adrenaline more so than knowledge. So you know,
(37:57):
there might have been some things that might have been
overlook because you're trying. You're trying to do things very violently,
you know, to appease to the to the mob, so
to speak to the crowd. But today will be a
big step in seeing how they clean up from Friday
Night Lights to today's practice, and like you said, and
also throwing in some install you know, some new concepts,
some new things that they might have ran in OTA's
(38:20):
or mini camp that they got like a small digestible amount,
but now getting a full kind of practice to work
it out, and you're doing it physically, so how you
run fit, how you fit up in there, you know,
and for for the safeties, you know, how do you communicate?
You know, the one thing I loved about practice yesterday
was because we had so many young dudes, you saw
(38:42):
a lot more talking and pointing, so which is great
for me when I'm watching film or I'm watching tape,
because you know, I'll see the concept like I'll see
I'll see what the play is called, I'll see what
the defensive structure is. But it's another thing to see
how things are id right, and that gives you a
cleaner concept on what are your responsibilities and did you
do your job or did you not do your job?
(39:03):
Like it makes it a lot easier. And because you
got young guys who haven't worked together, they are a
lot more verbal, they are a lot more animated and
making sure that everybody that you're working with knows what
their job is. And I thought that was another great
thing when you have young guys working together. If you
got a line that's been together three four years, you know,
a grunt tells you what you're gonna do, and so
(39:23):
you don't really it doesn't really show up on the
films and when you're watching it, if you if you're
not a part of that segment or that group, you
don't know what's going on, and you're just like, Okay,
I'm guessing this is what was supposed to happen, right,
you know, But with the young guys, they're pointing, they're
talking their community, they're passing the information along the line
to make sure everybody's got the right assignment, that nobody's
(39:44):
just blowing through a gap. That's the one thing that
I think will be really nice to see. And I think,
like you said, when you get another element here and
we'll see, you know, how many guys participate in pads today,
because obviously we have a pretty extensive list as you
kind of went over yesterday about the injury for Friday
night lights. So you're still going to see more opportunities
for young guys getting quote unquote varsity reps as we
(40:08):
progress through practice today. And I'm just really excited about
because I mean, this is that progression, right We're going
along the mile marker line and we're not quite at
a mile marker, but we're between markers right now. So
how you do it, how you maintain that pace, because
this is a journey. This is not a sprint. It's
(40:28):
more like a marathon. And you know, you just want
to get a little bit better, a little bit faster,
a little bit cleaner, every day you progress.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
He is Max Starks. I'm Robking.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Plenty more to talk about, including diving in a little
bit to the injuries. Are they becoming concerning yet? We'll
talk about that when we continue on the locker room
with King and Starks, presented by you neighborhood Ford Store.
Here on this stee there's audio.
Speaker 7 (40:51):
Network, Iheartradios, Live vy y'all about twenty twenty five Steelers
training Camp. He's presented by FedEx where now meets next
and also brought to you by First National Bank, by
Kalucy Chevrolet, iron Workers Union Number.
Speaker 6 (41:14):
Three, by Easy Home Exteriors, by SNT Bank, we Max
Select Realty, by Don's Appliances, now Pittsburgh Steelers Pro shot
by Always Saint Flagging and Traffic Controlling and by US Steel.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
And welcome back inside the locker room. Take it Starts
presented by our neighborhood Fords Tour here on this Steeler's
Audio Network. And you know, Max, some guys dinged up
a little bit. It doesn't look like there's been anything,
you know, really serious. Yet we saw saz odum Aweo
going down the other day and grasping his knee during
that first padded practice, and.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
That raised a little bit of concern.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
But you know Mike Tomlins saying, look, he and DJ
Thomas Jones, who we haven't seen it in a while,
a young fullback slash tight end who turned some heads
early on in camp and had a little bit of
buzz around Hi. I'm talking about back at OTAs and
and mini camp little buzz around him.
Speaker 4 (42:12):
These guys should be back.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
The update was that Corey Trice and Calvin Anderson might
take a little bit longer. Keanu Benton, Calvin Austin day
to day nothing yet, you know, Dean Lowry, nothing yet
that has seemed max to be of the of the
long term, you know, sort of see you next year
type of variety. So at least as deders have apparently
(42:37):
for now dodge that.
Speaker 3 (42:39):
Yeah, yeah, you got a couple of guys who are
gonna be on the shelf for a minute. You mentioned
a tale of two Calvin's on the offensive side, Anderson
and Austin, Like I said, a trio of defensive lineman
kind of in that that nicked up category which I
mean has has also given way too. I mean, you know,
(42:59):
because we look at these and we're like darn chucks.
But it's given opportunities to younger guys to get an opportunity,
like you think those d Lineman down you know, dominicqu
Davis who got cut you know, and released earlier into
camp like the first or second day, is now back here.
Now he's getting some actual good reps in practices watching
him yesterday, things that he would not have otherwise gotten. So,
(43:23):
I mean, you know, it's two sides to that coin, right,
you know, it creates an opportunity like Dylan Cook and
Stephen Jones getting more work because of Calvin Anderson kind
of being out because Calvin has been really good in
camp and he's been taking you know, the Broderick Jones
missing reps, right, So you know, it just it creates
other effects on the daisy chain. But I think that's
(43:44):
also why you bring ninety guys to camp, because you
never know when injuries are going to strike. And then
like you said, then you have a certain number of
vets who have the cachet to sit out in practice
on some of those days and give way to other guys.
But it just creates opportunities. These are more quality reps.
When you're a younger guy in this you know, you
got to look forward this as opportunity.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
It's like, you know, you don't want.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
To see guys injured in the room, but you know
that's what happens in this game, right, you know, those
injuries of setbacks give way to other opportunities and then
you get to see some more from guys. I mean,
we talked about our camp phenoms yesterday, but with younger
guys now being deployed more, maybe that phenomenal list changes
a little bit because you're getting more opportunities, getting to
(44:27):
see guys and more competitive, like you step up in
the wrongs. You might have been on third team, now
you're taking the second team reps, or your second team
guy now you're taking those tweet er ones reps in
the process. So it just it's the evaluation process. The
more data points I have and the more opportunities that
you get, you know, either the.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
Easier or tougher it is.
Speaker 3 (44:48):
You know to try and make a decision which as
a player on that field, that's what you want to do.
You want to create the confusion, you want to make
it a tough decision for you.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
You want to make it an easy one. Like you
look at a name, you're like, oh, that guy's out
of here.
Speaker 3 (44:59):
You know, you want to be like, ah, man, but
he does this so good and we've seen this where
we otherwise wouldn't have seen it.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
That's what you're going for.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
You're going for those opportunities where you can really turn
some heads and get some opportunities. Like I said, you know,
thinking about the fact that you know you have Calvin
out and you have Dean Lowry out, and like you said,
seeing that, I got to see also a little bit
more of Daniel Aqualey as well and his moves.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
And then Dereck Harmon.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
We already knew he was on on the ones, but
you know, going up against some different competition sew, he
stacks up against some different body types and you know,
it's definitely one of tho things where you're like, whoa
dude is doing some good work and he's done it
against multiple people. I mean he did. If you can
make a move against Isaac Camalo and Mason McCormick would
then turn around and get a Spencer Anderson. You know,
(45:49):
reps that helps accelerate the learning curve for when you
get into season time, when you get to this first
preseason game, it's gonna be a little bit more meaningful.
You're gonna have a little bit more knowledge stored in
there to go out there.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
To unleash havoc.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
I mean, at the end of the day, all of
these practices to go unleash havoc. When we get down
to Jacksonville this Saturday, it's gonna be funding to see
less than a week away before we get to see
the first preseason action of a lot of these guys
and get to get to watch these draft picks also
do battle as well. Caleb Johnson has been having a
solid He had great vision. There was an outside zone
to the right rob yesterday and his vision, you know,
(46:26):
he because he cut it up a little bit to
the inside because of the way the block was going,
But then he cut it all the way back against
the grain and nobody was able to hit him for
about probably about sixteen seventeen yards downfield. And when you
talk about that, if you can manufacture those chunk plays
in practice, guess what happens in the game, right, It
gets even better, especially when you're talking about you know,
(46:47):
competition is not as well versed and you're mixing and
matching two different you know, some different guys in groups.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
You can take advantage of those opportunities.
Speaker 4 (46:55):
Yeah, and opportunities.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
That's something I want to talk about you with Mac,
talk about with you, and also again a little more
about yesterday's practice and looking forward.
Speaker 4 (47:06):
We were delighted to be joined by Mick McQuaid.
Speaker 1 (47:10):
Of Football Ireland Pro Football Island in this first hour,
but we have tons more to talk about in this
last practice before the team gets day off tomorrow. That's
gonna come up next hour on the Locker Room with
King and Starks, presented by our neighborhood, Ford Stour.
Speaker 4 (47:24):
Here on this tee there's Audio Network
And thank you very much for being with us in
the locker room with King and Starks, presented by your
neighborhood Ford Store alongside Max Starks. I'm Rob King here
on the Steelers Audio Network. Looking forward to a little
visit we have coming up with the founder of Pro
Football Ireland, Mick mcquaidh Getting ready for that big game
in Ireland, MA is gonna be very very exciting, a
(00:24):
lot of stuff to get to in and around that,
but it's gonna be fun to have Mick in town.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, I mean, it was very fun to see that.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Uh, you know, our welcoming committee. We had a great
entourage there. We got a little Mick at night with
Wesley Euler being the chaperone around the great city of
La Trob We had.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
To show the lads all the local hotspots here.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, exactly, lovely, lovely. The crack was great last night.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
So yeah, no, it'll be great to have Mick on.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
You know, a great practice yesterday, and of course you know,
getting Steeler fan as excited for that September twenty eighth
showdown at Croke Park over there in Dublin will be
a nice, nice time. So can't wait to hear from
Mick in that next segment. Good practice yesterday for the
young guys as well. Rob, it was nice.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I wanted to ask you about that because Mike Tomlin
made a point of saying, look, you have a Friday
night game, right, a lot of excitement, and the veterans
are gonna get a day off, and that's gonna happen
throughout the course of the season. This is an opportunity
for the young guys to not only get some reps,
but show on a shorter turnaround after a physical Friday
night lights practice that you're ready to go and ready
(01:35):
to prove that. You know, it's part of the conditioning
and it's part of the mental approach and all those things.
So I did want to get your sense of what
you thought of practice yesterday.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
No, So I was churning through the tape this morning
and you know, just kind of second look, right, you know,
they'll arbitrator to look at the film, and you know,
a lot of young guys got a lot of reps yesterday.
Spencer Anderson jumped in and took some tackle snaps yesterday.
You know, Stephen Jones elevated obviously, Calvin Anderson is out
(02:07):
as of right now, still waiting on his kind of diagnosis.
But you know, a lot of opportunities for young guys
to come in and take a lot of reps. Aaron
Rodgers first VET day of camp yesterday hadn't taken one yet,
you know.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Obviously, you know Cam Hayward, TJ. Watten Company.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
They they have more than earned their strikes. But Aaron
Rodgers held off to the very last minute. And and
this is his first VET day was yesterday. Obviously today
will be a full patted affair. But I thought it
looked really good. I mean, young guys, you know, still
making some mistakes, you know, guys jumping out of gaps
and everything, and a couple of issues, you know, with
some of the coverages. But for the most part, young
(02:48):
guys getting a lot of good opportunities just to go
through the reps of it all. I thought it was
a very clean practice for a helmet's practice, and you
saw some some good work in there.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
You know, they say you can't get some quality reps.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know when you don't have pads on the line
and the line positions online the line Derek Harmon, I
will say this, mark my words now will be a
problem will be a problem, rob Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
There was.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
There was a couple of moves in there that I'm like,
even in helmets, I don't know how how you stop it.
Because he had a nice he was getting double teamed
and kind of the flow was going off in one
direction and his redirect escape move landed right in the
lap of Mason Rudolph and it was you know, obviously
he didn't hit Mason, but Mason threw a nice pass.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
But it was like, now, that wouldn't have got off
in the game.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Sorry, there's just no way, you know, I will say this,
Jack Sawyer, his his pass rushers. They are affected. They
don't look pretty. It's not it's not it's not the
craftsmanship of you know, Highsmith or Watt, but it's effective.
Him and and Echolioda number fifty three. So fifty three
(04:01):
and thirty three are doing some really nice things in
the past game. That's really you know, gunking up the
tackles at the point of attack, and you know it
catches little things either you cross your across your feet
at the at the at the access point, or it's
ducking your shoulders and kind of coming with the overhand.
There's a little things that tackles need to still clean
(04:23):
up as we get ready for Jacksonville. But like I said,
it was a very quality day just look at.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
It in totality.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Thought some really nice things in the team run period
and the pass under pressure, both sides kind of back
and forth with each other. Some great combat catches, I
would say the Scotty Miller yesterday on they were running
a trips trips right formation and he was sitting on
the outside of the bunch, so you know, you have
(04:51):
like the one guy at the point, two guys behind
making them like a triangle. He was on that back
right side of the triangle and he did a clearout
and came and kne and came back around. He hit
almost twenty two miles an hour running down the sideline.
Fan who hit twenty two Miller? Scott Miller, Scotty Miller.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
That's that's that's interesting to hear.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
That is very very very quick. We'll just say that
is very quick, very quick.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
You know, he's one of those guys a little bit
like I mean, you know again, and we saw this
last year he stepped into was it the game in
Atlanta where suddenly he was the gunner?
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I believe it was down in Atlanta. Just a guy
that what's that? Yes he's an opener.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, he's a guy that kind of we talk about
this with Connor Hayward, a guy who can put his
hand in the pile and a guy who I think
you just say, okay, I I feel really good about
his reliability. You know, you know, you know, you imagine
a coach striding up and down, you know, the line
of scrimmage and trying to keep track of everything that's
(05:57):
going on and all this other stuff, and and now
all of a sudden you got to throw a rookie
in there somewhere, and now all of a sudden, the coach, boy,
I better watch, how you know, I don't know if
I have much faith here. I mean, watch and see
how this goes. I think you put a Scottie Miller
in o Connor Heyward into certain situations and you don't
even now you can you can go back to thinking
about the game. You don't have to worry about how
that guy's gonna do out there. You know he's gonna
(06:19):
do a good professional job well.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
And I think the other thing is right when you're
tried and tested like Scottie Miller's he's been in this
league and he's had to run a multitude of roles.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
You know, when he gets an opportunity, he does stand out.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I mean, he primarily gets a lot of stuff across
the middle. You know, he definitely takes like the crossing
routes and some of the delay routes. But when given
the opportunity to run some of those outside route patterns,
I mean, if you don't have the angle that he's
gonna chew up all that cushion. Because the safety, you know,
(06:55):
had had a good angle, had a good point. It
was like, hey, I'm gonna meet him here. And it
was in one Thornhill, one thorn Hill. Thought he was
gonna he was gonna meet him. And I want to
say it was like the twenty five yard line right
that cushion got eaten up real quickly and he was
two yards behind him.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
He still hit the twenty five, but.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
The problem was that Scotty Miller was already at the
twenty three by the point he got there. And I
think they were all kind of like, oh man, I
took I took a bad angle. It was a good angle,
It's just the receiver was that much faster. So I
mean that's what he provides. He just provides a change
up to whatever your norm is. I think that's where
you start trying to look at like, Okay, who would
(07:31):
have you know some life here? I mean Ben Scaronic
is another one, big physical hand catcher, strong hands. Brandon
Johnson's also had a really good camp. He had a
nice play in seven shots, just running a little shot,
a little shallow in and when he came to the point,
I mean caught with his hands at very tight coverage.
Randon Echols was right on top of him, but strong
(07:53):
hand catch. He's done that a number of times in camp.
So this wide receiver group, I mean people want to say, oh,
you know, we need a number to a valid number two,
But I will say that when you put the mix
of guys in there, there's a lot of good experience
football at the wide receiver position. And now they're starting
to kind of hum and get into rhythm with each other,
(08:13):
which is what you expect. Second week of camp, you
know you've gotten the newness out right. You can take
the name tag off the hello my name is and
you can start to say, Okay, I'm developing a rapport
with those guys and kind of saw that yesterday in practicing.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
It was good to have Joey puorarterback.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
He had two picks in the seven on seven drill yesterday,
so JP had a really good day coming back. Obviously
it was out Friday night lights with a little with
a with a head issue and came back just fine,
looked really good in.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
His limited action back back into practice.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
So much more about the practice, but we have a
very special guest with us. He's been host to the
Irish Steels podcast since twenty twenty three. He's over here
in the US with Sky Sports, touring around NFL training camp.
He's a regular NFL contributor in Ireland and in the UK.
As we mentioned earlier, he is the founder of Pro
(09:08):
Football Ireland. Had a chance to meet this gentleman at
the Combines in Indianapolis and welcome inside the locker room,
Mick McQuay.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Thank you very much for being with.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Us, guys.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
I didn't expect the clopin, but thank you so much.
It's great to be here, guys. I've been here for
one artist. This place is just special. That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah it is.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
And Mick, just give us a brief Rundown of I
sort of mentioned you're touring the training camps with sky Sports.
How's that been going and where you headed after? We
want to obviously talk about your Steelers experience, but where
you're headed and how many stops you planning on making.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Yes, it's a training con tour with nflu Can Ireland
with and Need Reynolds from the sky Sports son We've
had the chance. We were on the roads, flew into
Jacksonville and spent the day with the Jackie Wars up
to Minneapolis to go to the vikings. Obviously, with the
big week four opponents, drove the Modison, stopped over, drove
to Indianapolis and went to Cleveland yesterday. And now we're
(10:12):
really at the main stop, aren't we? S in Vincent
College for this theaters. So it's been as somebody from Ireland,
where it takes four hours to drive up and down
the whole country, it's been an experience. I look, it
probably sounds silly the people listening from the US, but
I really find it incredible. The vast amount of spasis
country as it's incredible, and someone that drives has just
been They've been magical and it's cool to see a
(10:34):
bit of Pennsylvania as well.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yeah, you know, it's it is interesting. And I've driven
around Ireland a couple of times. I will say this, So,
first of all, you know, people come over.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
We had we.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Had cousins from Germany and they came over and they
visited my uncle in New Jersey and they said, hey, listen,
we'd like to you know, we're gonna hear we're here.
We got a car, we'd like to go to the
first one of the first things. We'd like to just
go to the Grand Canyon. And my uncle was like,
that's a three day drive, like three days, like you know,
(11:05):
at twenty hours a clip, you're not just driving to
the Grand Canyon.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I will say this.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
The first time I was in Ireland and the last
time I was there, we landed in Dublin, drove across
to Galway. It's like two and a half hours. That's
a narrower part of the country. But if you get
off the beaten track. I remember, you know, seeing these
directions and they're they're like, hey, it's one hundred miles
from point A to point B and it's gonna take
(11:30):
you three and a half hours. And I'm like, that's
barely over an hour. It's an hour and a half
in America. I'm gonna beat that. No, you're on, you're stopping,
you're backing up, you're going to those little pullovers. The
weeds are hitting both sides of your car. It's a
wonderful country to drive around. But if you're off the
beaten track, Mick, your best to not be in a hurry.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
I'd say that to just two points.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Not so.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
A couple of years ago when missing McCormick was selected
on it on the draft pick from the Kingdom of Carrie,
I need to say off listening from there, it is
really off the beaten track. I mean it takes like
four and a half hours to drive to Dublin. But look,
I don't live off the beating track too much. I
live in the countryside. And it's funny when you're maybe
standing up late watching a Sunday if football Monday I
football staters game. You walk out the back of the
(12:14):
house at four o'clock in the morning, you think to yourself,
what am I doing? That's mental And then you actually
go to the shop, like a little shop beside a
church or a chapel, and honestly, over the last few months,
you're meeting Steelers fans, You're meeting guys that are trying
to get tickets for this game, different people, So it's
really really cool to see even in like rural parts
of the island there's fans and I'd recommend anybody heading
over and you know, if you haven't finalized your travel
(12:36):
plans yet for this game and make four try and
do you know, go see a little bit of the
island as well. You'll definitely enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
It's a beautiful island and the people are absolutely wonderful.
It just I you know, everywhere you turn, there's just friendly,
helpful people in Ireland. I've enjoyed my experiences traveling over there.
Can't wait to travel back and and see lots about
Ireland and see lots more golf courses than I've seen,
(13:02):
but especially see this game in Croke Park. Talking to
you in February, you said people were really getting stoked
as we get now within two months of playing that game.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
What is the mood and excitement level for that game
in Croke Park?
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Well, there were you mentioned golf just a moment ago there.
Port Rush had the Open Championship three weeks ago. This weekend,
I want to say. And you sort of get the
height of expectation when you go up to a practice
day and maybe about fifteen people are stopping talking about
how excited they are for the game, or like just
looking tickets. It's really a favorite pitch. And it's funny
we're talking today and today really is the final or sorry,
(13:43):
the penultimate big sporting event in the stadium before it
takes place. It's the Ladies All Arden final days. So
I have to give them a shot out and wish
them good luck. It's going to be electric, you know,
just even sitting in Krook Park last sunder for the
All Arden Football Final, and you know, there was no
spar seats in the house. It was special. And even
think if we get you know, fifty percent of the atmosphere,
(14:03):
I'm sure we'll get one hundred and fifty percent, it'll
just be something else. Seventy six fisand people and the
hell's going to be seated, I believe, and it's going
to be something to remember, I think for a very
very long time to come.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
So go ahead, go ahead, Max, I just want to
real quick, I do want to ask this real quick, sorry, Max.
And then take over please. But you know the All
Ireland Football Finals. I had a chance to watch it.
I think I was telling you this make Leath and
Mouth we're playing and there was a little fisticuffs after
the game.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
But it's a wonderful game. It's an amateur game.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
And I do wonder if you know, a lot of
countries the closest they come to American football is rugby,
and a lot of countries in Europe rugby is not
even that big.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
It's not as big as it is.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I don't think in the UK does the does the
rugby Irish football background do you think help the people
to get excited and and to acclimate and to enjoy
American football maybe than other countries might.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
I would say it does obviously. First start, when it
comes to rugby, it's the one sport where the island
of Ireland has got the one team, so they're not divided,
for example, and I think that unites people.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Certainly.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
The physicality of the game is a big thing and
it certainly does help when you've got a good team.
There were number one in the world there for quite
a while, and even with the guys the British and
Irish Lions have been down to Australia.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
The majority of.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Those guys were Irish, so rugby is huge, I think, honestly,
and yes, that does play a part. And it's a
very sporting country, a sporting island. When you have games
at six o'clock on a Sunday and it's minus five
degrees outside and even fire on and there's football for
twelve hours, ten hours, I think that's played a part
over the last ten to fifteen years. People, you know,
it's such a good time to down on a Sunday
(15:46):
night and watch some football. And really, you know, you've
all so many people at home have family ties to
different states. They picked teams because of that, and that's
really the reason why there's you know, as well as
the really family's heritage, why there's so many Steelers fans
in Ireland because they've got family in Pennsylvania. The amount
of places in the state that are named after villages,
like there's a village where I live that is named
(16:06):
after one in Ohio, for example, So there's just so
much heritage there and I think that definitely odds to it,
but certainly, and there's a huge sporting influence as well.
And frankly for a lot of people. You know, let's
be clear, there'll be people going to the game in
September that are maybe on the fence. Maybe it's their
first time experience in the NFL. You know, that should
be celebrated as well, because they're going to see what
(16:27):
it's like, They're going to give it a go, and
I think that can only be good for the future
growth of as well.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
And that's what I want to kind of hit you with, Mick.
Was you know, obviously the late Dan Rooney being ambassador
to Ireland and we all know how integral he was
with trying to push this game obviously, and the exhibition
game had been played there back in what was that
ninety six?
Speaker 5 (16:48):
Ye last Sunday?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yeah, twenty twenty eight years. Yeah, there we go, and
you know.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Now getting a full on, actual regular season type of game.
There just influence of Ambassador Rooney and his time in Ireland,
you know, being back home in the mother country. You
know how big of a role was that And do
you think that's really what kind of drove this opportunity
for Ireland to host a regular season game.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
I think it's been dying to so many factors and
it's funny whenever we met at the Super Bowl and
we're talking about this and sort of just having the
crack about it. I think, first off, you know, pre
mister Rooney becoming the ambassador, the game going to London
for the first time, and it's something I spoke to
with Neid Reynolds about this. You know, he worked in
the NFL when a game internationally was a pipe drink
and we were standing, for example, the cold sideland the
(17:34):
overnight going this is crazy, we're here and there's now
six or seven games each season. I think that really
did change everything because for the look for the NFL,
for the London office. It's not that that was a
huge gamble at the time, but it was something where
it was like, well, we're not sure how this is
going to go, Dolphins, Giants, and it became a whole thing.
And look where we are now. Of course we're having
(17:54):
mister Rooney there and seeing his influence not just you
know on the sport on the island of Ireland, but
really the first ambassador to visit all thirty three counties
to really put that foothold. And you know, it's in
one way, it's very sad that he's not here to
see it, but in an other way, you know, he's
gonna be looking down and I'm sure he'll be remembered
on that day in some in some shape or form.
(18:15):
Certainly what he done definitely helps spell out the process.
The NFL's International Global Markets Program GMP program has certainly
helped with that. It originally started with teams going to
the UK Germany and to see the Steelers be the
first team awarded for Ireland was just awesome and it's
hard to believe a little under three years on that
we're now on the here you know the cost, but
(18:37):
seven weeks today, So yeah, it's it's definitely helped, and
I think the real question now is how does that
continue to grow after week four? You know, it's going
to be really cool to.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Think then get into that rotation, especially because I mean
you're looking at Spain being activated for the first time
as well the second year in Brazil they announced that,
and we were at Super Bowl when they announced Australia.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yes year and we're just like what it's like.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
It was like, we're waiting for the We're waiting for
the Ireland you know announcement. You know, as you kind
of look at that and like you said, you know
you're going to all the teams that are going to
be playing internationally this season. I mean we had NFL Europe.
You know, we did have that time. And do you
think that kind of gave them the barometer because you know,
(19:20):
obviously they pulled back from it, but did that also
kind of lessen the blow to be able to go
into these other European countries that are more attached, so
to speak.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
I think it's certainly an acid test. I would say
I'm a little bit younger in terms of I didn't
get the chance to experience that europ League properly. But
even from speaking to neilabout it, he said he used
to go out, used to have the Germany each weekend,
see different teams. I think it was an acid test
in the way they could see called. There's a lot
of football funds there Germany as a as a full
league outside of the European League football. They have huge
(19:49):
viewing figures in Germany for example, and obviously the UK
as well on the Ireland. But I think that sort
of helped speed up that process from maybe the fans
and the seventies and the of these guys watching like
the Marino or Terry Bradshaw on one week delays on
videotape to now certainly it helped. I think, really, you know,
I have to give props and it's a guy that
(20:10):
I've actually never had the chance to meet, but a
guy named Alistair Kirkwood who was ahead of nfl UK,
who really put his career in the line to make
that happen. And certainly from him doing that and getting
the game to London, I think it definitely helps to
feed that up. And to now see you know, tomb
of the ertation there, to see Dublin potentially be there,
it's it's pretty cool and it's great that. Look, it's
(20:30):
not really ralevant to this question, but it is great.
And I think Seelers fans would agree to see the
first game here have this team be a part of it.
It wouldn't be right if it wasn't, and I think
we should all obviously just embrace that over the next
few weeks and just just look forward to.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Nick.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
If fans you're going over, and by the way, fans
you're going over, there's no if about it. What would
you recommend that they do if they have a couple
of extra days just for a moment, and I want
to circle back to the football, but put on your
your tourism cap. What should folks do if they're gonna
be in Dublin for let's say, you know, you be
(21:07):
kind of decided I'm gonna fly in Wednesday night, get
their Thursday, leave Monday after the game. What would you
suggest they they kind of do if they have a
couple of days in the Dublin area.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Yeah, sure, I mean, first off, if you're coming to
and then an AS game for the first time, we
can't say wearing it, but there will be a team bar,
and I'm sure somebody these guys sitting beside me might
be there. The only few podcasts, which I'm very excited for.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Oh yeah, I'll I'll be over there.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I'll be over there Monday morning and touring the entire island.
I'm sure I'll probably get to all those counties as
well before the game.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
If you can do thirty few counties and free days,
you're a better mom than me. I here. I if
you want to meet me up, morph will definitely do that.
And I think in terms of Dublin first and foremost,
you gotta go to again in the storehouse. So you
gotta go like the Jenison Brewry and different places as well.
I got there, but certainly if you can, it depends
on you know, in terms of how the league does it.
Usually cook Park does tours. You might not be able
(21:59):
to go on the field. Do that there, Go and
see where the college football is in the Aviva and
Lansdowne Road and honestly go you know, stay around Temple
Bar of course, enjoy yourself, but go off the beaten track.
Go and go into like a little street and go
to a pub that might not be the most touristy one.
Sit down, grab a pant again it's get something lat
and enjoy it. But certainly if you're coming in on Waddensday,
lads get the train and I go to Cork, which
(22:22):
is two and a half hours down the way. Go
to Galway, as you mentioned a second ago. He you know,
go up to Belfast. Definitely. I'm I'm definitely gonna fly
the flag. I live about forty five minutes from Newry,
which is the ancestral homeland of the Ruineys. You know,
if you want to go up to Newry, go visit
park Esler which is the stadium up there, there will
be plenty to do and I'm sure come to Fursday
(22:43):
or Friday, it'll definitely be a busy time in Dublin.
So there's definitely I've heard there's what twenty or thirty
five coming over, so it's gonna.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Be right now. That number will grow as we get
closer to the season.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, Pittsburgh, you know, but but you know, and I
think that the notion of you know, and look there's
there's tourists in the New Grange just north of Dublin. Yes,
it's fabulous if you like that, if you like ancient
sites and that sort of thing. But you know, I
think that the idea of just lingering, like you said,
(23:15):
just kind of lingering and having a point and taking
your time and taking a load off and understanding that
the pace, you know, you can pace yourself a little
bit differently and have a great time. I think that's
I think that's some of the a lot of the
charm as well. And just and then you know, if
you if you're not rushing around, and sometimes we americanize things.
I'm extremely guilty of this, but sometimes if you just
(23:38):
sit down and chat with some locals, you find that
that's a pretty wonderful experience as well.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
On the Telget experience is going to be different. Oh
that's that's not meant to be negative for people, but
just genuinely, if people are listening to this and they're
going over it's about twenty minute walks from downtown Dublin
to the stadium, get up there early because it's going
to be busy. It's not like we're sitting here looking
at the vast area in some men's college. It's quite,
you know, narrow, like I was there last Sunday. If
(24:04):
you have a seat for a certain stand, you have
to go a certain way. So please, if you're listening
to this, give yourself a bit of time, get in
the stadium, enjoy it because the first time you see it,
it's it's really special.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Oh it just sounds so wonderful.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
And I did want to ask you about Croke Park
and if you could just give people an idea of
what the experience is gonna be like. Is it similar
to an NFL stadium or is it is it a
little bit different feel.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
I guess when it's in Europe it's always a little
bit different. It's obviously set up for Gaelic football and
hurling and komogi. But the field is quite big. So
what you'll find is there's gonna be maybe a bit
of a gap between the sidelines on where you're sitting,
which also which also as well probably gives you a
better view because you're gonna you're gonna see more of
the action, honestly, you know, Bar, if you're standing behind
(24:50):
some of the staff, you might be a bit restricted,
but bar out there there's not a bob view in
the house like I was sitting in the top stand
last Sunday, and you can see out like if you're
opposite the hill, you can see the whole study of Dublin,
and that's pretty cool. And certainly for a football game
where you're there for a more maybe a more considerable
longer amount of time than a getic football game, you're
gonna be able to get a good view and to
(25:10):
you know, get out of your seat and get a
couple of drinks and uncle back and again and enjoy yourself.
So there's no bod seat there, and you'll find that,
you know, the people are very friendly as well, and
you should have a good experiencing game then hopefully getting
the dub in Dublin.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Oh the dub and Dublin. I will oh, Mick Uh.
We've been joined by Mick mccuady. He's a founder of
Pro Football Ireland the host of the Irish Students podcast.
In twenty twenty three, he's in America with Sky Sports
touring training camps. Of course, this is the ultimate training
camp place for Mick to be, as he just said,
(25:45):
regular NFL contributor in Ireland and UKU for the NFL.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
I just Mick can't wait.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Thank you so much for getting us, you know, I'm
sure Maxfields saying, I'm just excited. Man, I can't wait
to get over there. It's a momentous occasion. And thank
you for spending time with us. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
Count wait some time you guys. I see us in Onday.
All the best over the next few weeks. Els Finnic,
you got it.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
Appreciate it man, Mick mcquad.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
You're inside the locker room with King and Starks and
Mick mccuad presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. Here on
the Steelers Audio network.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Iheartradios.
Speaker 7 (26:26):
Live coverage of about twenty twenty five Steelers training camp
is presented by FedEx where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System, by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
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(26:50):
Select Realty, the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop and by US Steel.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
And Welcome back to Inside in the Locker Room, king
In Starts presented by your neighborhood Fords Door on the
Steel's Audio network. We were just joined. I hope you
heard it by Mick McQuaid, the founder of Pro Football
Ireland Max really cool man. Cannot wait for this huge
momentous occasion in Ireland. I just think it's going to
(27:19):
be so much fun.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
It's gonna be an absolute blast to be over there.
I mean you can hear the fever pitch, the excitement.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Of it all.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Mick has been doing yeoman's work over the last couple
of years, like really trying to drive this game and
the opportunity, like you said, you know, seeing it from
the UK and then getting it over to the Isle, right,
I mean, to get it over there. It's been a
huge effort behind the scenes, and so for this to
come to wish, I know that, you know, Ireland's gonna
(27:52):
put their best foot forward for this opportunity to make
sure that they stay in that rotation, especially as you
get so many other countries activated that we kind of
talked about.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
But I'm gonna look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
I mean, Steelers dot Com and Steelers Social Media, we
will be out there and we will be doing a
lot of stuff so to build up for that week
of I mean I'm flying straight from the Patriots game
to get there Monday morning and then we're hitting around running.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Just want to go ahead and just rub it in
just a little bit more, Wesley, and I can't wait
to just go see all of Ireland.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I mean we'll be up to darry Galway.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I mean, we're gonna hit a lot of sights, you know,
just to just to allow the local fans to get
even more engaged. You know, we'll be passing on terrible
towels throughout throughout our travels through the island. Uh during
the week. I'm just I'm just I'm so stoked for it.
And you know, I promise Rob and Wes I will
(28:48):
take great care and mentally taking every single note of
every Guinness that I drink, in every Jamison shot that
I do, just to make sure that I keep everybody
else informed. This, this is the research and development I
will sacrifice myself.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
You. I volunteers tribute for you. Guys.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
We were worried, Max, we were, we were I know,
you know, somebody's liver has to.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Be put on the line for this, and who better
than me?
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Right, I'm gonna be there as your the entire way,
my friends.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Yes, yes, making sure that they split the g properly
on my pint.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
So by the way, you will find And this is
this is something that I heard many times before. The
first time I went over and they said, uh, the
guinness is better over there, and it's fresher.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
And it's true. It is, it's true.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I mean it's coming directly from the from I mean
the tap of the stills.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
You know, I don't want you to, Max.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
I don't want you You might go home or my word
for it, and I might go Homer Simpson, just like
put my mouth under the tap and not even worry about.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
You know, I've I've weighed in. But I think it's
up to you to make up your own mind.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I mean, you know, you know what I mean, because
obviously we'll still be doing our show that week. Of course,
it'll be a lot more in the evening for me
right by the time we do it. So I just,
you know, we just hope that I will have enough,
have my wits about me by the same.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
You will have you I know you will, man, I
know you will. Well, you're gonna You're gonna love it.
The people are for you know, anybody who's been over
there before, and I've been over there twice. I'm certainly
no expert on the island, but everywhere I've been, the
people have been absolutely wonderful. Like if you drew a
line from from Dublin to Galway, I've been a little
(30:35):
north of there, Incredible wild country. I haven't been to
northern Ireland. There's a lot of that northern Irish coast
and the interior that I'd like to see. I pretty
much if you drew a line from Dublin to Galway,
might say two two and a half weeks I've been
in Ireland have been mostly in that that southern area,
(30:56):
other than going to the Isle, the the Aarin Islands
and north like I said, it's incredible. They have a
fjord in Ireland. I didn't know until I was driving.
We were driving, we took a hike and we got soaked,
and we're just driving around to see stuff and see
some of the pretty rugged towns up there, and I'm like,
oh my goodness, and they're like, yeah, it's a fjord,
and I said, wow, I thought those were only in Norway.
(31:16):
You know, incredibly beautiful. The people are so friendly. The countryside,
the rolling green hills, you know, the West coast is
just incredible, you know, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean.
You know, next stop USA, You're going to just have
a wonderful time. And it's led by the people. The
people are just great. They're just so friendly. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
No, I'm looking forward to it, looking forward to spend
some time in Belfast and getting to go around and
really kind of innudating the culture before we get to
game day there in Dublin. I know, I know they
said that, yeah, every day, we'll start in Dublin because
obviously that's where the hotel is. But he's like, he's like,
we're gonna hit some full days while we're there, so
(32:00):
I just I can't wait. And then of course when
you guys get there, you know, join up with the crew,
and I think we'll do a couple of nightly shows
over there at a couple of the different pubs, you know,
I'm sure we would normally do when we have you know,
a couple of you know, specific games where we do
like the pregame shows and kind of the tailgate shows
the night before. Be a similar atmosphere there, except for
(32:22):
we'll be doing it a little bit earlier.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Which which I cannot wait for.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
But yeah, no, I mean the excitement having having maccare
it just it gets It's like, man, can.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Get can we get this up Thereber twenty eighth.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
But you know, we've still got a process here. Obviously,
we still got plenty of practices. Today is gonna be
a full padded practice, rob because today for the offense,
they're gonna be installing the goal line in short yordage
periods and starting to open up the playbook. So now
the seven shots actually look a little bit more I
would say, uh equal, because there's a couple of times
in seven shots where the defense comes up in a
(32:54):
six to two defensive structure, and you know, it's tough
to it's tough to get a realistic look when your
team's still in like sub personnel and you know, you know,
there's one less guy that you can account for offensively
because you're not in the right personnel group and they
didn't really match.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
So today's gonna be a really big day for that.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Let me stop you there, because for the seven shots
and people people keep scoring all that stuff, well, you
can't run the ball, right, You're not gonna run unless
you're in pads. So there's a little bit of an
advantage to the defense. And then you're working on certain
favorite plays in personnel groupings. I wonder if maybe the
defense early on can begin to cheat a little bit.
(33:40):
I don't know, maybe they can, maybe they can't, but
it does level the playing field when you got the
pads on and you open up the playbook a little bit, Yeah,
you do.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
And and for those at home keeping score, defense is
only up twenty two to twenty right now, we've had
forty two shots of it and defense is only leading
by a slight margin. So this is gonna hopefully sway
things back in the off offenses favor by having this opportunity.
And like you said, when you get the full padded
seven shots, you know, like Friday Night Lights we ran
(34:08):
we ran a concept out out of out of a
twenty one personnel those two tight ends, but one of
them was in a slot and they're lined up in
a six to two goal line defense.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I'm like, you know, we're running the football.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
It's like, that's not really and we still almost scored,
you know, even though we were out manned at the
point and they were blitzing in the period.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
But you know, the one.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Thing that you know, you start to realize is we
get deeper into camp, the defense likes to look at
the offense's call sheet, especially because all of the you know,
every period has scripted plays, and you know we're on
the same server. You know, you could click the offensive tab,
the defensive tab, and the special teams tab. Well, sometimes
when you're on the defense, you might click that little
(34:47):
offensive tab.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Just to take a little preview ahead of time.
Speaker 4 (34:51):
Skull doggery.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah, yeah, And the problem is offense can look at
the defenses call sheet, but they can always change it
when they get on the field. The offense we're usually
staying within the concept the entire time, so very advantageous
for the defense to kind of figure out what the
offense is doing, and you know, it swings it from
reactionary to being proactive because now they've changed it to
(35:14):
make sure they can get the best lot possible on tape,
and the offense just kind of has to deal with
whatever the defense is gonna throw at.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Them, you know, before we get into personnel and some
other things. And I don't know how the preseason practices work,
so obviously during the NFL season, you'd start to hit
the practice field. You know, maybe you're cleaning up your
mistakes and some walkthroughs and some other things, but at
some point you're starting the game plan for the other team.
(35:42):
This is the last practice before to an off day
tomorrow and then it's a game week. Is there something
that that the team is looking for in particular, whether
it's the coaching staff or the players in this padded
practice before we're a day off and before you can
begin to think about, you know, getting ready for a game.
(36:06):
I'm not I'm sure there's not as much game planning
as normal. You're worried about yourself, but it's still a
game week. So what is just quickly before we get
back into the personnel and other people and other things
to talk about. What is sort of the aim on
this practice today, for this years before the day off tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
I think it's just cleaning things up, like getting getting physical,
getting another opportunity with the pads, just to get the
feel of real life, you know, football competitiveness and a
controlled environment because you know, you don't want it to
be you know, essentially a week before the next time
you really hit somebody, and then of course you hit somebody,
(36:44):
it's semi for real obviously it's preseason, but it's another
as somebody else, an opponent that you're not going to
be seeing, you know, in your locker room rooming with.
So you want to make sure that guys feel clean.
They have an opportunity to kind of clear up some
of the mistakes. I mean, the biggest thing when you
have padded practices, how do you progress.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
From one day to the next, Right with pads.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
You know, you went from the first day on Wednesday,
which was supposed to be Tuesday, but whether and mother
nature did not agree with that being the start date. Apparently,
I guess mother nature wanted to see padded practice when
Pat McAfee was here, so we got that, But then
you know, because of that delay, we only got one
padded practice for Friday Night Lights and then Friday Night Lights,
(37:29):
you know, is just a frenzied environment.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
I mean it's packed with people.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Like you said, we had over thirteen thousand, six hundred
and fifty people there at at a Memorial Stadium, So
that brings a little bit of just tenacity, but not
necessarily you know, focusing on what it would mean to
kind of clean things up because you're kind of running
off of adrenaline more so than knowledge. So you know,
(37:57):
there might have been some things that might have been
overlook because you're trying. You're trying to do things very violently,
you know, to appease to the to the mob, so
to speak to the crowd. But today will be a
big step in seeing how they clean up from Friday
Night Lights to today's practice, and like you said, and
also throwing in some install you know, some new concepts,
some new things that they might have ran in OTA's
(38:20):
or mini camp that they got like a small digestible amount,
but now getting a full kind of practice to work
it out, and you're doing it physically, so how you
run fit, how you fit up in there, you know,
and for for the safeties, you know, how do you communicate?
You know, the one thing I loved about practice yesterday
was because we had so many young dudes, you saw
(38:42):
a lot more talking and pointing, so which is great
for me when I'm watching film or I'm watching tape,
because you know, I'll see the concept like I'll see
I'll see what the play is called, I'll see what
the defensive structure is. But it's another thing to see
how things are id right, and that gives you a
cleaner concept on what are your responsibilities and did you
do your job or did you not do your job?
(39:03):
Like it makes it a lot easier. And because you
got young guys who haven't worked together, they are a
lot more verbal, they are a lot more animated and
making sure that everybody that you're working with knows what
their job is. And I thought that was another great
thing when you have young guys working together. If you
got a line that's been together three four years, you know,
a grunt tells you what you're gonna do, and so
(39:23):
you don't really it doesn't really show up on the
films and when you're watching it, if you if you're
not a part of that segment or that group, you
don't know what's going on, and you're just like, Okay,
I'm guessing this is what was supposed to happen, right,
you know, But with the young guys, they're pointing, they're
talking their community, they're passing the information along the line
to make sure everybody's got the right assignment, that nobody's
(39:44):
just blowing through a gap. That's the one thing that
I think will be really nice to see. And I think,
like you said, when you get another element here and
we'll see, you know, how many guys participate in pads today,
because obviously we have a pretty extensive list as you
kind of went over yesterday about the injury for Friday
night lights. So you're still going to see more opportunities
for young guys getting quote unquote varsity reps as we
(40:08):
progress through practice today. And I'm just really excited about
because I mean, this is that progression, right We're going
along the mile marker line and we're not quite at
a mile marker, but we're between markers right now. So
how you do it, how you maintain that pace, because
this is a journey. This is not a sprint. It's
(40:28):
more like a marathon. And you know, you just want
to get a little bit better, a little bit faster,
a little bit cleaner, every day you progress.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
He is Max Starks. I'm Robking.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Plenty more to talk about, including diving in a little
bit to the injuries. Are they becoming concerning yet? We'll
talk about that when we continue on the locker room
with King and Starks, presented by you neighborhood Ford Store.
Here on this stee there's audio.
Speaker 7 (40:51):
Network, Iheartradios, Live vy y'all about twenty twenty five Steelers
training Camp. He's presented by FedEx where now meets next
and also brought to you by First National Bank, by
Kalucy Chevrolet, iron Workers Union Number.
Speaker 6 (41:14):
Three, by Easy Home Exteriors, by SNT Bank, we Max
Select Realty, by Don's Appliances, now Pittsburgh Steelers Pro shot
by Always Saint Flagging and Traffic Controlling and by US Steel.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
And welcome back inside the locker room. Take it Starts
presented by our neighborhood Fords Tour here on this Steeler's
Audio Network. And you know, Max, some guys dinged up
a little bit. It doesn't look like there's been anything,
you know, really serious. Yet we saw saz odum Aweo
going down the other day and grasping his knee during
that first padded practice, and.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
That raised a little bit of concern.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
But you know Mike Tomlins saying, look, he and DJ
Thomas Jones, who we haven't seen it in a while,
a young fullback slash tight end who turned some heads
early on in camp and had a little bit of
buzz around Hi. I'm talking about back at OTAs and
and mini camp little buzz around him.
Speaker 4 (42:12):
These guys should be back.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
The update was that Corey Trice and Calvin Anderson might
take a little bit longer. Keanu Benton, Calvin Austin day
to day nothing yet, you know, Dean Lowry, nothing yet
that has seemed max to be of the of the
long term, you know, sort of see you next year
type of variety. So at least as deders have apparently
(42:37):
for now dodge that.
Speaker 3 (42:39):
Yeah, yeah, you got a couple of guys who are
gonna be on the shelf for a minute. You mentioned
a tale of two Calvin's on the offensive side, Anderson
and Austin, Like I said, a trio of defensive lineman
kind of in that that nicked up category which I
mean has has also given way too. I mean, you know,
(42:59):
because we look at these and we're like darn chucks.
But it's given opportunities to younger guys to get an opportunity,
like you think those d Lineman down you know, dominicqu
Davis who got cut you know, and released earlier into
camp like the first or second day, is now back here.
Now he's getting some actual good reps in practices watching
him yesterday, things that he would not have otherwise gotten. So,
(43:23):
I mean, you know, it's two sides to that coin, right,
you know, it creates an opportunity like Dylan Cook and
Stephen Jones getting more work because of Calvin Anderson kind
of being out because Calvin has been really good in
camp and he's been taking you know, the Broderick Jones
missing reps, right, So you know, it just it creates
other effects on the daisy chain. But I think that's
(43:44):
also why you bring ninety guys to camp, because you
never know when injuries are going to strike. And then
like you said, then you have a certain number of
vets who have the cachet to sit out in practice
on some of those days and give way to other guys.
But it just creates opportunities. These are more quality reps.
When you're a younger guy in this you know, you
got to look forward this as opportunity.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
It's like, you know, you don't want.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
To see guys injured in the room, but you know
that's what happens in this game, right, you know, those
injuries of setbacks give way to other opportunities and then
you get to see some more from guys. I mean,
we talked about our camp phenoms yesterday, but with younger
guys now being deployed more, maybe that phenomenal list changes
a little bit because you're getting more opportunities, getting to
(44:27):
see guys and more competitive, like you step up in
the wrongs. You might have been on third team, now
you're taking the second team reps, or your second team
guy now you're taking those tweet er ones reps in
the process. So it just it's the evaluation process. The
more data points I have and the more opportunities that
you get, you know, either the.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
Easier or tougher it is.
Speaker 3 (44:48):
You know to try and make a decision which as
a player on that field, that's what you want to do.
You want to create the confusion, you want to make
it a tough decision for you.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
You want to make it an easy one. Like you
look at a name, you're like, oh, that guy's out
of here.
Speaker 3 (44:59):
You know, you want to be like, ah, man, but
he does this so good and we've seen this where
we otherwise wouldn't have seen it.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
That's what you're going for.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
You're going for those opportunities where you can really turn
some heads and get some opportunities. Like I said, you know,
thinking about the fact that you know you have Calvin
out and you have Dean Lowry out, and like you said,
seeing that, I got to see also a little bit
more of Daniel Aqualey as well and his moves.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
And then Dereck Harmon.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
We already knew he was on on the ones, but
you know, going up against some different competition sew, he
stacks up against some different body types and you know,
it's definitely one of tho things where you're like, whoa
dude is doing some good work and he's done it
against multiple people. I mean he did. If you can
make a move against Isaac Camalo and Mason McCormick would
then turn around and get a Spencer Anderson. You know,
(45:49):
reps that helps accelerate the learning curve for when you
get into season time, when you get to this first
preseason game, it's gonna be a little bit more meaningful.
You're gonna have a little bit more knowledge stored in
there to go out there.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
To unleash havoc.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
I mean, at the end of the day, all of
these practices to go unleash havoc. When we get down
to Jacksonville this Saturday, it's gonna be funding to see
less than a week away before we get to see
the first preseason action of a lot of these guys
and get to get to watch these draft picks also
do battle as well. Caleb Johnson has been having a
solid He had great vision. There was an outside zone
to the right rob yesterday and his vision, you know,
(46:26):
he because he cut it up a little bit to
the inside because of the way the block was going,
But then he cut it all the way back against
the grain and nobody was able to hit him for
about probably about sixteen seventeen yards downfield. And when you
talk about that, if you can manufacture those chunk plays
in practice, guess what happens in the game, right, It
gets even better, especially when you're talking about you know,
(46:47):
competition is not as well versed and you're mixing and
matching two different you know, some different guys in groups.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
You can take advantage of those opportunities.
Speaker 4 (46:55):
Yeah, and opportunities.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
That's something I want to talk about you with Mac,
talk about with you, and also again a little more
about yesterday's practice and looking forward.
Speaker 4 (47:06):
We were delighted to be joined by Mick McQuaid.
Speaker 1 (47:10):
Of Football Ireland Pro Football Island in this first hour,
but we have tons more to talk about in this
last practice before the team gets day off tomorrow. That's
gonna come up next hour on the Locker Room with
King and Starks, presented by our neighborhood, Ford Stour.
Speaker 4 (47:24):
Here on this tee there's Audio Network
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