September 19, 2025 • 48 mins
Max and Rob discuss the keys to the game, important matchups, and more in the first hour.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And we thank you very much for being with us
on this Friday as we get you ready for the
Steelers and the Patriots alongside Max Starks. I'm Rob King, Max.
How are you today, my friend?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I'm doing all right, Rob, I can't complain. I am,
I am. I guess downhill up ish swing, but l
right at the beginning of the upswinger, right at the
beginning of the downhill of getting of getting better towards Sunday.
So we are we are cautiously optimistic that we're going
(00:57):
to be healthier.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Okay, So we're gonna have a little We're gonna have
a brief h web MD seminar here. When did you
first come down with the symptoms?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Tuesday? Tuesday?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Okay, So I assuming we have the same thing, which
is possible since we were, you.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Know, uh, spraying a lot of saliva in each.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Other's general vicinity on Sunday, which is when I started
to feel bad late Sunday morning before the broadcast. And uh,
I actually I was just talking about this with Justin Miller,
our esteem producer.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
I feel better than I think I sound right now.
I don't think I sound great, but.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
I feel better, So you will feel better on Sunday.
I actually felt better yesterday and Tuesday, So you're right
about there.
Speaker 5 (01:50):
You're there, is your fever broken?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Uh? Did you have to check what? I don't know?
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
It's been a it's been a acts tongue under the tongue.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I know, twenty seconds. Yeah, and then I didn't take
I don't run there, Yeah exactly. I'm like, I'm like,
I I can't say the least. I don't taking my temperature.
Doctor's taking it but not me.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
I mean it's one.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I mean it's like if you're like, if you're and
we don't want to discourage people from this, uh, but
if you are, you know, if if it's if it's
really high, you should take it. Obviously mine was just
I knew I had a fever, I just didn't So
what's you know? One on one one on one hundred
point eight. You know one on one point three doesn't matter, right, Yeah,
(02:38):
Now you start getting above you know, you get to
one oh three or something like that, you better be
taking that temperature.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, but this is how guys, I don't feel anything. Yeah,
I didn't feel I didn't feel temper. I didn't feel
feverish like like that. It was all like cold, nasal congestion,
sinus like throat, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I had mine a company with the fever, and once
the fever broke, you know, the rest of it you
can you can kind of deal with and and but
but by the way, uh have you been have you
been taking the taking everything and taking everything you need?
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Yeah, I mean as much as I can.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I've taken musinas, I've taken the day quill, I've taken
Uh Clareton did the little sinus stuff up the nostrils
a little spray. Yeah, so yeah, I've it's been a
combination of a bunch of stuff to try and uh,
(03:35):
just keep myself going because obviously this this would not
bother me as much if it was just Hey Max,
you're going to you know, flying flying across country to
Boston or Foxborough.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
And back home.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
It's like, no, no, no, it's going straight from Foxborough, you know,
to Boston, Logan to Dublin for an entire week.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
When is it the family coming with you on the
initial flight?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
No, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
They have school and my wife has work, so they'll
be a company later later, a little bit later in
the week.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
They'll get their ones there.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So oh in uh in Ireland? Yes, Oh, well, I
hope I get a chance to meet them in Ireland.
I should you should? You should that just with they'll
be around good and uh, they'll be at the game.
So so yeah, so you have an opportunity to meet them. Uh,
because I realized, I'm like.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
They have they've they've only met Wolf, they've met anybody.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Else, I don't think.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Well, no, they met they met Missy. They met Missy
of course on the field for the Christmas Day game.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
So yes, and and Missy will be joining us a
little bit later. And that's a lovely max Missy a
little bit. Uh, my family will be there, not my
not not uh. Contributing junior editor to this show, Shaffer King,
He's not going to be there, my son. He came
up with a really good statistic that I that I
had not known, and it was about the Steeler opponents
(05:04):
running against the Steelers. And I'm going to start here
with you, Max, because once again we're just segueing beautifully.
This is kind of a masterclass in segueing right now.
So when teams run at TJ. Watt two and a
half yards per carry elite run defense, when they run
(05:25):
the other way, it's well over six yards per carry
and the other way. This week are two young rookies,
including at left guard and left tackle, who they really like,
including Will Campbell at left tackle, who is a fourth
overall pick and at this stage of the game, probably
a better run blocker than pass blocker.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
That is going to be one of the keys to
the game to me.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Max, Yeah, no, I agree.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Once again, rookie, rookie, rookie, rookie, look at the rookie
and you're go, that's that's the key. That's the key.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I mean, you'd like to think that they were going
to try and.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Key grays Abel last week in Seattle, but guard is
a little bit tougher, especially when they're running the ball
so successfully, to really get him in those passing situations.
But tackle tackles a lot tougher because you are the edges.
Like you said, when you're running to that side, you
know you can set the edge shorter on on that guy.
(06:26):
If if you're running away, you know his his skills
set on turning back on the guys is going to
be tested.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
So I would I would agree.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I think, you know, when you look at at Will Campbell,
you have to wonder where one of those weak spots.
I know, he's the first round pick, and he was
he was highly tout. Trust me, I had him at LSU.
You know he was. He was Jade and Daniels and
then Garrett dust Meyer's blind side protector.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
So I like, well, Will is a good kid.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But when we're talking about trying to take advantage and
go after some areas of concern, I would say, yeah,
I would.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I would look to him very easily.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
So the Keys to the Game presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store. The F one fifty is the official truck
of the Pittsburgh Students and we will you know, drop
little keys to the game throughout. But you know, when
you bring that up, it makes me think of in
the adjustment level. It makes me think of something at
the winter meetings a couple of years ago, the GM meetings.
(07:25):
I guess they're called technically down in Florida. Mike Tomlin said,
you know, it used to be a draft at a corner
and if you didn't need to play him right away, great,
kind of like quarterback, don't play him, let him learn.
I mean there was a time back in the NFL
you need to learn for a couple of years before
they allowed you to start an NFL game or wanted
(07:46):
you to start an NFL game. That's that's evolved in changed.
And of course it wasn't a hard and fast rule.
There were there were plenty of young players that could play,
but a lot of times guys just had to bide
their time, wait their turn. That was all part of
the learning process. So Mike Tomlin said that corners one
of those developmental positions at the NFL level. These guys
(08:10):
are way more ready to play in the NFL, which
of course begged to follow up question why, and the
response was because of all of the seven on seven
drills and passing camps that these guys do. They are
constantly from a young age upward covering other top guys
and they're going around the country, and there's hey, we
(08:33):
got our seven on seventeam and we're going down to
Texas and we're competing. But then there's camps and all
these things. So these kids have seen a lot by
the time, not there that there isn't finishing school obviously,
has that? Is there anything commensurate with that that's happened
at the tackle position?
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Or is it still get in there and learn.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I mean, I mean, yeah, it is, get there and
there and learn. I mean, trial by fire is probably
still the best method. There's so many ways that you
can rehearse it in your mind. There's there's so many
things you can simulate practice wise.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
But there is another thing, because.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
It's it's a complicated choreography of physicality.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
If that makes that's very nice turn of the phrase Max.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah again again.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
A complicated choreography of physicality.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Okay, So that sounds like me four oh one class down.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The definitely, yeah, yeah, down the hall, only only taking
your senior year, second semester.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Right, there's only four students in the class.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
You better be awake, don't take specialty, don't take that
nine am version.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Yeah exactly, Yeah, take one o'clock class or the three
PM class. But but it's one of those that you know,
as I look at that's what really is because it's
how do you block on balance?
Speaker 4 (10:07):
How do you block off balance to get back to balance.
There's scheme speed.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
That's associated with it, right, There's the footwork that goes
with the handwork as well as the eyework and that
changing angles, the geometry of your targeting points. All of
those things play in concert with each other to where
you have to do it and feel it to understand
(10:36):
it better.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Like you could go in a board and you can
talk about it.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
You can write it down, you can write the rules
down for every guy what you need to do, and
then you could go watch film of other people doing it.
But it's another thing to physically do it yourself.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Right.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
You have to have those reinforcements and biomechanics, you know,
biofeedback is probably the number one of the that I
would say you continually work towards and you continually work
on in that process, and that's where I feel like
you still have to go through it. That's what kind
of makes for a lack of better terms, offensive line play,
(11:16):
offensive line skill acquisition still almost an antiquated ish type
of approach because the methodology hasn't changed that much. The
modalities that you use in practice haven't changed that much. Now,
my one good buddy, LA Charles Bentley has done a
really good job of trying to push that forward and
(11:39):
get us closer to where defensive backs are and where
defensive linemen and wide receivers and running backs, a quarterback
and all these other positions that have evolved. Offensive line
has kind of been the slowest too, just because it's
a hands on type of training that you have to
go with and so, you know, change some bags, some
(12:03):
of the point things, some of the tools that you
use to train individually have changed a little bit, but
I mean that's still the biggest learning tool for all
of these guys is still having to physically go through
the suck, so to speak.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
Right, So I think it's also.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
You know, I was thinking about this in terms of
what the expectations are for a Will Campbell, who's a
first round pick. But you know, not all first round
picks are created equal. Like a first round pick that
you take in the top four or five six selections
at offensive line in a given year. Obviously the quality
(12:48):
changes from year to year. There is a great deal
of expectations for those players. Now again you have to evaluate.
So you know, Ted McMillan was taken very high at
the receiver position. I saw most people thinking that he
was in you know, maybe the that ten to twenty
range instead of as high as he went where you
(13:08):
expect Jamar Chase type production. If you take an offensive
tackle fourth or fifth overall, you were, really your expectation
is perennial All Pro I think, or perennial Pro Bowler.
That's you know, John All. This is a guy that
you take high, you expect him to be a perennial
(13:29):
Pro Bowl type of caliber. When you take guys later
and the twoers have guys that were taken later in
the first round of both tackle position, is the expectation
more development is there?
Speaker 5 (13:40):
You know?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Again, maybe you know somebody doesn't have the requisite size
and speed and or whatever the case may be, like
a Campbell or an All with the long arms and
the big size and all that other stuff.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
But the hope is you can still develop.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Into a very very good player, much like it is
at any position.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
Do I have that right? Do you think? So? Are
we expecting to see?
Speaker 2 (14:06):
In other words, now to turn back around away from
the Steelers and back to Campbell. Are we expecting a
guy that's going to be much more Oh, I you know,
much more accomplished at a young age.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
And it accomplished means he's accomplished something.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
But you know what I'm saying, much more polished, much
more nfl ready because he's been taken so high that
you know, some of those expectations come with it.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, I mean, and the expectation will never change, right,
I mean, if you're drafting the top ten, you're drafted
in the top ten, and so you expect those guys
to be ready made and really polished. But we've also
seen that doesn't necessarily translate every single time because you know,
we have way too many teachers of history or examples
(14:55):
from history to say the to say to say the opposite. Right,
we have plenty of what we call first round bus.
A lot of those stacks, and guys aren't staying in
college as much or they're not playing as consistently at
these schools. These kids are transferring to you know, one
to two to three times in their collegiate career before
(15:17):
they get so they've changed all these different systems and
so there's no consistency with them, and one team might
be all spread gun, you know, play action style, zone run,
and then the next time you've got three point stances
man style offense, pro style offense, then you have run
(15:37):
and shoot. You know, there's so many different ways.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
There's air raid.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
You know, it just depends on the system that they're
getting exposed to versus what they come into the league at.
You know, will it actually play into their strength or
will they have to grow into it? And so to
say guys are ready made, we're already seeing the difference
between two guys on our own team when you look
at a Broderick because like Broderick was on a team,
(16:06):
but he didn't start that much, but he was excellent
in the moments that he was available. And then you
look at Troy Fatanu who played in college.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
For four years.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Same with the quarterbacks, right, you know, we looked at
quarterbacks and we said, okay, this guy had one great
year and all of a sudden, he's getting drafted, versus
a guy who's been in college five years, like a
like look like a prime example, Rock Purty, Rock Perty
was in college five years. Ms Trubisky had one good
year in college. Drake May had really two good years
(16:36):
in college, and you could even argue that they were
more like halfs per game.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
The guy we're.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Going against, Drake May, was so hot and cold at UNC.
You know, I had him. I had him his sophomore
year and his junior year, and I just remember he
had this fantastic first half against Uva and probably one
of the worst second halfs at Uva. Then we play
(17:03):
then I had his game against Miami both years, and
he had a good first quarter, bad second quarter, good
third quarter, terrible fourth quarter.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
I'm already have to bailed him out. So it's like that,
you know it.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Experience is one of those things that it's up and down.
So where you draft a guy doesn't necessarily dictate the
maturity or the skill set. I think it more so
exposes the need around the league and for that team.
And so if the team needs said position, you're taking
(17:42):
the best available. Might not be the best, but it's
the best of what you have in that crop that year.
You know, we also have those years where you see
there's like just certain renaissance classes right of certain position
groups drafted, and that's where if you're not in that
Renaissance group. Then it does doesn't matter where you draft
a guy, because that guy can can.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Fall significantly below the line. You know.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I remember my draft year, especially Robert Gallery was supposed
to be the next Tony Boselli, supposed to be this
next you know, Perennial All Pro left tackle. He was
the proto type former tight end, big upper body, ran
sub five flat.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
He lasted all of two quarters.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Actually, I has to take that back. He only lasted
two series at tackle and played guard the rest of
his career. Had a fine career, Yeah, seven eight years
in the league, but he was not at the position
you said he was going to be at it. He
was serviceable, he wasn't transformational. He was a number three
overall pick. So there are those type of examples, and
(18:46):
I think there's always going to be the expectation of
but whether they live up to those expectations is another thing.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah, and they certainly expect him to be a guy
who's going to anchor their line. They were trying to build.
It looks from the outside look it in they're trying
to build through the trenches. They think they've got their
franchise quarterback build around him through the trenches. You pick
a guy like Henderson in the second round, maybe he's
(19:12):
going to be your running back in the future. It's
an intriguing team building that's going on in New England
and we have much more to get to as far
as the Patriots are concerned. Of course, we want to
remind you to gear up with the latest game day
necessities at the official Steelers Pro shops. Get the latest
Sideline apparel, jerseys, terrible towels, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives
(19:35):
you can only find directly from the team. Visit one
of the official Steelers Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium,
Grove City Premium Outlets or Tanger Outlets, or gear up
online at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com Max.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
And I'll be back with more.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Inside the Locker Room with King and Starks, presented by
your neighborhood Ford Store. Here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one P fifty is the official truck of
the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
direct from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at
shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And welcome, excuse me, welcome back inside the locker room
with King at Starks, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store
here in the Steelers Audio Network. You know Max, you
know the discussion took us to talking about the left
side of the Patriots offensive line going against the right
side of the Steelers defensive line, which I think is
going to be a key to this game. And as
(20:48):
we discussed, the keys to the game are brought to
you by your neighborhood Ford store, the F one fifties,
the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before we get
too far down the line here, I did want to
ask you did you watch the game last night? Or
did you or did you get some chicken soup? And
you can go to bed.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I actually made my own chicken soup yesterday, funny enough,
very nice, because I do I do make a mean recipe.
That did help a little bit yesterday. So I did
do that.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
I did watch the game, or at least I should
say part of the game.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
It was it was a it was a good matchup.
I mean it was one of those where you know,
the Bills just didn't walk in and and just just
own them, of course until the end that last interception
by Bernard, but you know, they fought tooth and nail,
kind of like what we talked about, Like, you know,
this was a game that you know they needed something
(21:43):
to resurrect themselves because you know you're now at zero
to three and you have to think that realistically, your
playoff hopes are getting very bleak right now, especially after
you drop a game to New England and now you've
dropped a second division game to the Bills now and
you did him both at home.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
So that's never good in those type of environments.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
So I think it's gonna be it's gonna be a
lot tougher sledding for those Dolphins, and it's gonna be
really tough for Mike McDaniels I believe to keep his
job by the end of the season because of that.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
But I mean, it was it was a good affair.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
I mean, listen, Tyrek Hill, Dyalen will and Davon a
change we said it and actually, you know, you know
who was surprising, Ali Gordon, Ali Gordon there running back
for the Dolphins. He actually surprised me a whole lot
because Ollie was a kid. I don't know if anybody
remembers college football, you know, roughly about two years ago,
so not last season, the season before that, so I
(22:44):
guess it would be what it's two years ago, right,
that's still two years.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
What did he was drafted?
Speaker 4 (22:51):
He was drafted. I'm saying in college.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
I'm trying to go last season in college the year
before that, so I was trying to get to.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
You know, he was.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
He had just come off of a freshman season where
he broke all these freshman records in the Big Twelve,
and he was he was, he was the next thing.
He was next Adrian Peterson. He had all of this time,
then had then two years ago, had a down year.
They made it to the Big Twelve championship game and uh,
you know, he had an injury. He wasn't quite there.
And then last year, you know, Oklahoma State just wasn't good.
(23:26):
He was, he was a lot better, but the team
just wasn't good last year, and you know, gets drafted.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
He kind of fell off the radar.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
But I remember I remember this kid as a freshman
and he was just dominating. You know, I saw him
playing the Guaranteed Rate Bowl out here. I actually called
his game, you know, during his freshman year. I had
him numerous times throughout his career, and you know, he
was a kid that was a solid running back, great vision,
good body control. And then I saw him last night
really paying attention. I mean I watched him on film
(23:55):
for the Patriots game, but I wasn't really going for
Dolphins personnel, you know what I'm saying. I'm more so
I'm caring about the defense, and you kind of see him,
you know, secondarily in your analysis, but watching him because
I'm watching the game live, I'm watching football.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
As a fan.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
You can pay attention to the names a lot easier
when you're not doing breakdowns, and and he was what
I forgot.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Man.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Ali is a solid quarter. I mean he's a he's
a solid running back. To go to compliment what Davon
a Chain is, Davon a Chain is a fast, scat
sprint He'll beat you in a foot race type of back.
But Ali's that one that he's going to run between
the tackles. He's gonna get you tough yards. He likes
to run behind fullbacks. He has a very he's a
(24:40):
very traditional running back, and I thought he did a
really good job at It's a shame because you look
at the weapons that Miami has and you're like, this
team should be way better than Owen three. But you
also look at you know, how they've played, the mistakes
that they made and the moments that they've made them.
And you know, as much Tua could be credited, you know,
(25:02):
you have to give you have to give a lot
of credit to those opposing defenses because Tua just it's
like he gets one read plays like that Bernard play.
If he just would have looked for Tyreek Hill like
to Tyreek was wide open for the touchdown, but he
was settled in.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
He was really focused in on Waddle. He didn't really
he didn't really look him off and Rob you could
speak to this.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
You know quarterback mechanics, right, is that you're trying to
look off of safety and he was looking in the
direction of the safety. Linebacker had his eyes locked down
and so all that dinebacker do was to stay in
the area. And you know that's what really crucified him
was that he stared down that receiver essentially because he
stayed in the same area with his eyes and made
(25:44):
it easy at the end. But that's that those are
the tough breaks and that's what this game is. Just like, man,
you know, it could be this, It could have been
a tip for an interception, it could have been anything.
But in that moment, you know, Tua didn't do him
any favors in that clutch, critical moment, said there was
a head coach. It's like, there's only so much you
could do, right the coach is not out there playing
(26:04):
the game. We can only push a position to make
a play. But coaches are the ones that are going
to be sacrificed at this right. You know, they're they're
the commodity that they feel could be changed or there's
a guy who could fix a guy.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
In those moments, I get what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
By the way, a quick, very quick glimpse into how
a lot of my film sessions went, Hey King, didn't
you see that guy who intercepted your past? And my
answer to be same as last week, coach, No, if
I had seen them, I wouldn't have thrown it, so
(26:39):
you know, and by the way, that happened a lot
when I was when I was a quarterback, a lot
of interceptions.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
So but you learn from your mistakes. Max. So I
think that you know they're just they.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Even offensively, and I know they can be awesome at times,
even offensively, they don't seem the.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Equal to some of their parts.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
You've got a good quarterback in two you have you
have two receivers, and you know, and unless you know,
Cincinnati's making it work with Burrow and and and they're
just they're just of course now Burrow's hurt again, but
you know they're making it work with two elite receivers.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
But you have.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Wattle, you have Hill. I'm not sure I love Jail
and Wattle. Like in a couple of years ago, I
was like, I wouldn't mind seeing the Steelers trade for him.
You know, when they're talking about do you give him
a big contract? You already have Tyreek Hill with a
big contract. It's just it's not working. Like I thought
their running game was good last night. Run the ball more,
(27:45):
but they but they don't. That's that's not their style
of football, you know, so, and I I agree with you.
I think they're one two punch. You know, we saw
Breese Hall and Brayalen Allen in New York. You know
you got thunder and lightning. Go back to the old
days of army, mister inside, mister outside, Glenn Davis and
Doc Blantard. Although Doc Blantt is actually mister inside and
(28:07):
Glenn Davis was mister outside. But you know that one
two punch of different styles of running backs.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
Uh, you've got that.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
You've got a quarterback you took high, You've got incredibly
gifted wide receivers, and yet here you are your own three.
It just doesn't it doesn't, you know the some you
know they always talk about sometimes when a team comes together,
the sum is greater, the whole is greater than the
sum of the parts. It just feels sometimes when I'm
(28:38):
watching the Dolphins that that the whole is less than
the sum of its parts. And and I felt that
way watching the game again last night. Although obviously a
tall order. The Bills are great, but you're Miami man,
You're owing three right now?
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:54):
And right the should could woods don't count in this situation, right,
brass Tack.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
It is wins, it is losses, and that is what's
your weight.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
And measured on in your NFL career. Did you win
or did you lose? And it's not about circumstantial evidence
behind those things.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
And will you lose more than you win, you usually
get replaced. But if you win more than you lose,
you usually keep your job. And that's what it comes
down to.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, and I think too, Max, there's so many factors involved,
you know, you know, so I think some coaches and
I'm not saying this about I'm not putting lumping McDaniel
into any of these categories. Some coaches are better as
coordinators and they are as head coaches. Some coaches are
better as head coaches than they are as coordinators. Sometimes
(29:46):
your personnel department and your coach are working in concert
and getting things. They're on the same page and they
have the same vision and that seems to kind of
push things along in the right direction. And sometimes they
aren't and they don't. So there can be any number
of factors. I mean, I think that at the very least,
(30:09):
I don't want to put a ceiling on Mike McDaniel's
abilities as a head coach. At the very least, we
know he's a tremendous offensive mind. But you know, you're
rowing three right now, and it's a very very disappointing start.
And you know, we'll see where New England goes uh,
and we'll see what's up next. But you know, this
(30:30):
is this has been a very interesting division, this AFC East.
You know, when New England started the season back in
the Tom Brady days and I'm not again, I'm not
trying to take anything away from Tom Brady, right what
it's clearly one of the greatest of all time. But
you know, you're you basically were starting the season six
(30:52):
and oh you know, because those other teams in the
division had no chance of beating you none. So what
does that mean? Well, you win your fair share of
the rest of the games, you could have home field
advantage throughout the course of the playoffs. Whereas if you
go four and two in the AFC North Man, that
is some good work. You go four and two in
the NFC norths right now, you go four and two
(31:13):
in the NFC West, that's some good work. It is
highly competitive and and it's right now that just looks
to me. I don't know how you feel about it, Max,
but it just looks to me like it is like
it's the Bills Division. And you know, I have a
hard time believing. You know, we'll see with New England,
(31:37):
because I do think New England's a team that's improving,
and I do think the Jets are a team that's improving,
but I don't think they're ready for the Bills yet.
I think the Bills that might be the clearest best
team in their division in football.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Yeah, no, I think I think you're absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
I think this is one where you look at and
you can't really deny it. I mean, they have, they
have owned that the vision. This is like a dynastical
cyclical thing.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Right.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
It feels like for the AFC East, you know, whereas
once New England just dominated this division for so long,
now it's the Bills turn and the Bills have just
simply dominated and other teams have not responded in kind
to figuring out how to go about their business, you know,
and that mainly being the Jets and the Dolphins, I
(32:25):
mean New England. We know what happened with Tom Brady
leaving and then of course Bill Belichick, and now they're
on their second head coach post Belichick within three years,
you know, jirod Mayo had a short stint try and
figure things out.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
Now like Raybull now gets the nod for it.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
And you know, Miami has always been competitive, but they've
always been that second fiddle type of team. And now
you're starting to see a shift where you don't know
who the second best team is now in the AFC East,
you know, because it's definitely not the Jets right now.
They're still searching for their first win. And you know,
for for the Dolphins, the Dolphins are sitting here at
(33:05):
h and three, so you're like, okay, well, you know
who wants to take that mantle in the East and
and right now is like they're they're scratching and searching
for for some answers in that division. And I am
blanking right now on who the fourth AFC East team
(33:26):
is right now?
Speaker 4 (33:26):
In my head?
Speaker 5 (33:27):
Did I just Dolphins Patriots?
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Okay? I did? I did say it?
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Right, Bill's got okay, because I was said, I was like,
wait a second, just said that just Dolphins that we're
playing the Patriots? Oh god, okay, yeah, once again, maybe
that's the fever right there, but yes, so I had
named all four two okay, thank god.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
But you know, I kind of look at it.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
And and and and it's interesting, like there is no
clear like number two are real kind of push to
challenge them in that division, which is wild because for
the longside, we said that about the Patriots, right, I mean,
nobody could really challenge the Patriots, And so it's cyclical
and how these kind of dynasties kind of happened.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
And you know, now you.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Look at where we're at full circle moment now for
the AFC West. You know, that was one that was
dominating for years by the Chiefs and Charges were you know,
the Chargers were always a we're in the hunt, we're
kind of close maybe this that or the other, but
they haven't really been that competitive in a while in
that division, like just outright, and so it's really interesting
(34:35):
to see that kind of shift. Do the Chargers finally
take that mantle from the Kansas City Chiefs, We'll see,
I mean, the Kansasy Chiefs still searching for their first
victory of the season, and the Chargers are already sitting at
two and oh with two division wins on top of that,
about to go for a third one this weekend going
up against the Denver Broncos. So you know, it's crazy
how those things happen and how a weak division becomes
(34:57):
a strong division, and a strong divisi becomes a weaker division,
and it's heads and tails. I mean, we look at
the NFC North is another one. You look at that
division and how competitive it was a year ago, and
now you're about to have another you know, run here,
and another team's starting to make their noise and make
their case in the Green Bay Packers. You know who
(35:19):
is one in five in that division a year ago
and now they're looking like the NFC dor favorites.
Speaker 4 (35:24):
So it's just it's always funny.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
And that's why I love this game of football because
it goes in spurts, it goes in trends, and it's
very cyclical and what's down is up and what's up
is down. And that's what makes this game fun every
single year because the journey is unique to itself each
and every individual season.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Well, the Steelers are going to be taking on one
of those AFC East opponents. Of course, in that AFC
East opponent is the New England Patriots, and we will
get serious about getting way into the weeds here about
what the Steelers need to do. We have our Matt
stats packet. You got it, Max uh.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
I will have two seconds.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
I got it, I got it. We'll go over some
of Matt's Okay, yeah, man, this was. This was I mean,
it's always interesting. This is like, man, there's a lot
of really cool stuff here, and we're gonna get to
that really cool stuff when we continue inside the Locker
Room with King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood Ford
Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
And we thank you for being with us as we
get you ready for the Steelers and the Patriots. Max
Stark's I'm Rob King, are are we're limping in with
with the larynxes that that are not maybe operating at
full capacity, but will be by Sunday.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
Max Starks will be.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
By absolutely absolutely, so we'll be better that we'll be
ready to go.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
We will be ready to go. Cough drops galore.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
So you know, we started talking a little bit about
some of the matchups in this game. By the way,
Missy Matthews going to be joining us to the top
of the hour, and the keys to the game were
presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 5 (37:34):
The F one fifty is.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
The official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and uh, you know, Max.
One of the things that that has been an issue
is all of the big plays that the Steelers defense
has given up.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
A lot of these have come on the ground.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
And I have to believe that New England's going to
come in as any team would see what's going on here.
We talked to about, you know, their young offensive linemen
and those are the guys. You know, they have Morgan
Moses on the other side of the veteran at the
right tackle position. But clearly, like anybody else, you'd like
to mitigate the Steelers pass rush. Run the football if
(38:13):
you can set up third and manageable so you don't
have to, you know, hold the ball for your quarterback
and wait and throw the ball downfield. You have a
quarterback who can escape the pocket. There's a lot of
elements here that we've seen give the Steelers trouble and
early on in the season as well, and the explosive
plays that the Steelers have given up thirteen plays of
(38:37):
twenty or more yards, that is the most in the
NFL MAX. They've got to be able to tighten up
the run and in doing that, and some of those
runs are some of those plays are you know, explosives
are in the running game. And that's by the way,
that's you know, explosives in the running game are generally
considered ten or more and the Steelers have given up
(38:57):
a lot of those. They've got to find a way,
I think one of the keys to the game. Tightened
up that run defense and forced the Patriots into third
and long, hopefully reducing the amount of big plays all
the whole. Again, Seattle made big plays on third and
long against the Steelers last.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
Week, Yeah they did.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
And you know, for as good as versus second down
was for a couple of series right still backbreakers with
the third down completions, and that sustaining of drives is
what really shifted things.
Speaker 4 (39:36):
In you know, Seattle's favors.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
That's what kept on an exceptionally hot day in September
and Western Pa. It kept the Steelers on the field
and as they continued to wear on them, and wear
on them and wear on them. That's how they eventually
took advantage because they outlasted us, which was the way
(39:59):
that I saw kind of doing to them, which I
was hoping that we would do to them, and they
ended up flipping it on us. And like you said,
the third down completions just kept drives alive, which allowed
them to run the ball on the first and second
down more effectively. And they were just smashing the entire time,
and that's what's tough. And then of course running away
(40:20):
from TJ.
Speaker 4 (40:20):
Watt.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
So everything was essentially left side strong for a lot
of their run game, and then once they got tired,
that's when they started hitting more of the interior run game.
They started hitting it up between the centers and the guards,
so what we call the A gaps, and so that
was that was the recipe. And I have to feel
like New England is going to look at what Seattle did,
(40:45):
who looked at what the Jets did, and they're just
going to keep with the same formula until.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
They give them a reason to stop it. That's the
one thing about this NFL.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
Once you put it on tape, you are who that
person is until you've put it away for the next
month or four games, we always say, and we haven't
done it for two weeks, so why would we expect
anything different in the third week. And I think that's
where they have a lot of their attention and focus
are going to have to be how do we attack
this run game. They're gonna use two tights, They're gonna
(41:15):
use a lot of tight split formations, and they're gonna
try and get you know, traveon Henderson going. And then
once they establish that, and that's where they're gonna start
looking for the man opportunities, right, the single high opportunities
and trying to take advantage of Expect to see the
two man route with deep crossers versus man. Just expect
(41:39):
it at this point.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Okay, because because you haven't stopped it, you.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Haven't stopped and it's scored two touchdowns. So in the
red zone you see two tight end sets, right, you
see tight you see tight splits by the wide receivers.
Expect that they're going to run the deep overs and
that is going to be up to the safety to
make that decision not to bite on the underneath crosser
(42:06):
and hopefully there's a communication where they can pass that
off and Cover three, you can pass that off instead
of running with him in man, or change how it is.
Maybe you drop it to a cover too, keep it
too high, just because but I know you're if you
can't stop the run, you're gonna commit that eighth guy
into the box because you're trying to stop the run
game because it's two tight ends in there. It's twelve personnel,
(42:27):
and then you're gonna be stuck with Cover three, single
high safety with two corners that are gonna be running
with a two man route concept and they're crossing each other.
It's worked, and even more effectively, it's worked to the
right because the safety is always bit to the left.
So yep, please, for the love of God, pass it off.
(42:49):
Do not put Jalen Ramsey or Darius Slay in a
position where they're in trail man positions and the safety
is going to the more hotter receiver and you let
the unknown receiver start to get hot.
Speaker 4 (43:04):
It is that that's the prayer.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Frankly, you know we're talking about quarterback reads.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
It really if you have time to throw and they're
in that coverage, it really doesn't get any easier whichever
way the safety goes you throw it the other way
and trust your receiver can beat the guy, and and
you're it's a good concept because you're creating traffic. So
what Max is referring to is, you know outside contain
(43:35):
on inside receivers who are going to go down the
field and cross, so you're already in trail a little
bit right, and then they cross to create some traffic
and hopefully you know a little bit of issues of
staying with that man. And then there's one safety on
the top. No, they're the only two guys out downfield
in the pattern, and once they cross the the safe
(44:00):
has to pick which side to go to. So if
you're the quarterback and assuming you have time to throw,
you drop back, you look at the safety. If the
safety goes to your left, you throw to your right.
If the safety goes to your right, you throw to
your left, and assume that your guy's going to be
able to get open. And again, tough, tough cover there
(44:21):
for defensive back because you got traffic in the middle
of the field. You know, think about those rub routes
around the goal line right where they try to create
just a little bit of room by by causing some
traffic where guys cross and now if you're in man,
you got to get over the cross and one of
the two guys is going to be open. Well, this
is creating an opportunity where as a defense, as an offense,
(44:44):
you're hoping one of the two you're trusting that, you know, uh,
the one guys. Actually, both guys are gonna get open.
It doesn't really matter which way the safety goes. So
that's that's hit for a touchdown. A couple of times
a lot to tighten up here Max on this defense
and hopefully this is the week that they can get
it done. But you know, Drake may is as an
(45:06):
up and coming quarterback, they've got too hard running uh
you know running backs. She talked about you know what
you saw last night with a chain and Mattson. I
think we're gonna see something similar here with uh, you know,
with Stevenson getting the bulk with the carries. Perhaps, but
he's the bigger, more physical guy, and Henderson's can really fly.
(45:29):
I was really kind of hoping the Steelers would would
find a way to get him because I I love
that speed element he brings, but he also runs really hard.
It's uh, you know, there are this is I don't
know if New England's there yet, but I think they're
getting their max as an offense.
Speaker 5 (45:44):
I think they're getting there as a team.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
Well, they're they're definitely stockpiled enough picks that they're they're
in a better place than they were.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
You know, Yeah, they've won four games the last two years.
Let's let's not get two over them.
Speaker 3 (45:59):
Yeah, yeah, so, I mean, so let's just say that.
But when you think about just think about this draft alone. Right,
you had it will came Campbell at left at left tackle,
first round pick, Trayvon Henderson, second round pick at running back,
third round pick. You had a pair of them. You
went guard and you went wide receiver and Kyle Williams
(46:20):
of Jared Wilson. Then you came back in the seventh
round and you went with an additional offensive line into
Marcus Bryant. So we talked about, remember you say a
stockpile and try to rebuild this offensive line.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
You did. You did it with three three three.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Picks in this draft were dedicated to offensive line. And
then of course you know you, you know, I would
say five out of your seven picks were all offense.
And then from there you went with two defensive line,
but you went with Craig woods I'm sorry, a strong
safety in the defensive line and Craig Woodson in the
fourth as well as Joshua Farmer. And Joshua Farmer was
(46:54):
one of those guys I had on.
Speaker 4 (46:55):
My list as well.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
As a as as a guy that we could actually
look at, of course, but New England got him and
he'll probably be playing an elevated role.
Speaker 5 (47:04):
You know.
Speaker 3 (47:05):
We'll see how Christian Barmore is doing. He got injured
in the Miami game last week but came out the field.
He'll be a little hamper, but so expect Joshua Farmer
to kind of get a rotation in there. But you know,
keeping our focus on the offense. You know, five, five
out of five out of your seven picks went to
offensive guys and three of these and three of those
(47:26):
five were offensive linemen. Hey, Max, a clear indicator of
what it is.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
I put you in a bad spot. Uh hold that talk.
Oh gosh, it's great. Got wet miss we got coming.
I know I messed up my back, but we'll talk
about that after the break because I think it's a
good conversation and parallels what what the studers have been
trying to do along those lines as well. Anyway, stick around,
(47:53):
much more to come inside the locker Room, King and Starks,
presented by our neighborhood Ford store here on the Steelers
Audio Network
This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And we thank you very much for being with us
on this Friday as we get you ready for the
Steelers and the Patriots alongside Max Starks. I'm Rob King, Max.
How are you today, my friend?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I'm doing all right, Rob, I can't complain. I am,
I am. I guess downhill up ish swing, but l
right at the beginning of the upswinger, right at the
beginning of the downhill of getting of getting better towards Sunday.
So we are we are cautiously optimistic that we're going
(00:57):
to be healthier.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Okay, So we're gonna have a little We're gonna have
a brief h web MD seminar here. When did you
first come down with the symptoms?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Tuesday? Tuesday?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Okay, So I assuming we have the same thing, which
is possible since we were, you.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Know, uh, spraying a lot of saliva in each.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Other's general vicinity on Sunday, which is when I started
to feel bad late Sunday morning before the broadcast. And uh,
I actually I was just talking about this with Justin Miller,
our esteem producer.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
I feel better than I think I sound right now.
I don't think I sound great, but.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
I feel better, So you will feel better on Sunday.
I actually felt better yesterday and Tuesday, So you're right
about there.
Speaker 5 (01:50):
You're there, is your fever broken?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Uh? Did you have to check what? I don't know?
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
It's been a it's been a acts tongue under the tongue.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I know, twenty seconds. Yeah, and then I didn't take
I don't run there, Yeah exactly. I'm like, I'm like,
I I can't say the least. I don't taking my temperature.
Doctor's taking it but not me.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
I mean it's one.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I mean it's like if you're like, if you're and
we don't want to discourage people from this, uh, but
if you are, you know, if if it's if it's
really high, you should take it. Obviously mine was just
I knew I had a fever, I just didn't So
what's you know? One on one one on one hundred
point eight. You know one on one point three doesn't matter, right, Yeah,
(02:38):
Now you start getting above you know, you get to
one oh three or something like that, you better be
taking that temperature.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, but this is how guys, I don't feel anything. Yeah,
I didn't feel I didn't feel temper. I didn't feel
feverish like like that. It was all like cold, nasal congestion,
sinus like throat, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I had mine a company with the fever, and once
the fever broke, you know, the rest of it you
can you can kind of deal with and and but
but by the way, uh have you been have you
been taking the taking everything and taking everything you need?
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Yeah, I mean as much as I can.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I've taken musinas, I've taken the day quill, I've taken
Uh Clareton did the little sinus stuff up the nostrils
a little spray. Yeah, so yeah, I've it's been a
combination of a bunch of stuff to try and uh,
(03:35):
just keep myself going because obviously this this would not
bother me as much if it was just Hey Max,
you're going to you know, flying flying across country to
Boston or Foxborough.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
And back home.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
It's like, no, no, no, it's going straight from Foxborough, you know,
to Boston, Logan to Dublin for an entire week.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
When is it the family coming with you on the
initial flight?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
No, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
They have school and my wife has work, so they'll
be a company later later, a little bit later in
the week.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
They'll get their ones there.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So oh in uh in Ireland? Yes, Oh, well, I
hope I get a chance to meet them in Ireland.
I should you should? You should that just with they'll
be around good and uh, they'll be at the game.
So so yeah, so you have an opportunity to meet them. Uh,
because I realized, I'm like.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
They have they've they've only met Wolf, they've met anybody.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Else, I don't think.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Well, no, they met they met Missy. They met Missy
of course on the field for the Christmas Day game.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
So yes, and and Missy will be joining us a
little bit later. And that's a lovely max Missy a
little bit. Uh, my family will be there, not my
not not uh. Contributing junior editor to this show, Shaffer King,
He's not going to be there, my son. He came
up with a really good statistic that I that I
had not known, and it was about the Steeler opponents
(05:04):
running against the Steelers. And I'm going to start here
with you, Max, because once again we're just segueing beautifully.
This is kind of a masterclass in segueing right now.
So when teams run at TJ. Watt two and a
half yards per carry elite run defense, when they run
(05:25):
the other way, it's well over six yards per carry
and the other way. This week are two young rookies,
including at left guard and left tackle, who they really like,
including Will Campbell at left tackle, who is a fourth
overall pick and at this stage of the game, probably
a better run blocker than pass blocker.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
That is going to be one of the keys to
the game to me.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Max, Yeah, no, I agree.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Once again, rookie, rookie, rookie, rookie, look at the rookie
and you're go, that's that's the key. That's the key.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I mean, you'd like to think that they were going
to try and.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Key grays Abel last week in Seattle, but guard is
a little bit tougher, especially when they're running the ball
so successfully, to really get him in those passing situations.
But tackle tackles a lot tougher because you are the edges.
Like you said, when you're running to that side, you
know you can set the edge shorter on on that guy.
(06:26):
If if you're running away, you know his his skills
set on turning back on the guys is going to
be tested.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
So I would I would agree.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I think, you know, when you look at at Will Campbell,
you have to wonder where one of those weak spots.
I know, he's the first round pick, and he was
he was highly tout. Trust me, I had him at LSU.
You know he was. He was Jade and Daniels and
then Garrett dust Meyer's blind side protector.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
So I like, well, Will is a good kid.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But when we're talking about trying to take advantage and
go after some areas of concern, I would say, yeah,
I would.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I would look to him very easily.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
So the Keys to the Game presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store. The F one fifty is the official truck
of the Pittsburgh Students and we will you know, drop
little keys to the game throughout. But you know, when
you bring that up, it makes me think of in
the adjustment level. It makes me think of something at
the winter meetings a couple of years ago, the GM meetings.
(07:25):
I guess they're called technically down in Florida. Mike Tomlin said,
you know, it used to be a draft at a corner
and if you didn't need to play him right away, great,
kind of like quarterback, don't play him, let him learn.
I mean there was a time back in the NFL
you need to learn for a couple of years before
they allowed you to start an NFL game or wanted
(07:46):
you to start an NFL game. That's that's evolved in changed.
And of course it wasn't a hard and fast rule.
There were there were plenty of young players that could play,
but a lot of times guys just had to bide
their time, wait their turn. That was all part of
the learning process. So Mike Tomlin said that corners one
of those developmental positions at the NFL level. These guys
(08:10):
are way more ready to play in the NFL, which
of course begged to follow up question why, and the
response was because of all of the seven on seven
drills and passing camps that these guys do. They are
constantly from a young age upward covering other top guys
and they're going around the country, and there's hey, we
(08:33):
got our seven on seventeam and we're going down to
Texas and we're competing. But then there's camps and all
these things. So these kids have seen a lot by
the time, not there that there isn't finishing school obviously,
has that? Is there anything commensurate with that that's happened
at the tackle position?
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Or is it still get in there and learn.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I mean, I mean, yeah, it is, get there and
there and learn. I mean, trial by fire is probably
still the best method. There's so many ways that you
can rehearse it in your mind. There's there's so many
things you can simulate practice wise.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
But there is another thing, because.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
It's it's a complicated choreography of physicality.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
If that makes that's very nice turn of the phrase Max.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah again again.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
A complicated choreography of physicality.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Okay, So that sounds like me four oh one class down.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The definitely, yeah, yeah, down the hall, only only taking
your senior year, second semester.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Right, there's only four students in the class.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
You better be awake, don't take specialty, don't take that
nine am version.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Yeah exactly, Yeah, take one o'clock class or the three
PM class. But but it's one of those that you know,
as I look at that's what really is because it's
how do you block on balance?
Speaker 4 (10:07):
How do you block off balance to get back to balance.
There's scheme speed.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
That's associated with it, right, There's the footwork that goes
with the handwork as well as the eyework and that
changing angles, the geometry of your targeting points. All of
those things play in concert with each other to where
you have to do it and feel it to understand
(10:36):
it better.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Like you could go in a board and you can
talk about it.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
You can write it down, you can write the rules
down for every guy what you need to do, and
then you could go watch film of other people doing it.
But it's another thing to physically do it yourself.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Right.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
You have to have those reinforcements and biomechanics, you know,
biofeedback is probably the number one of the that I
would say you continually work towards and you continually work
on in that process, and that's where I feel like
you still have to go through it. That's what kind
of makes for a lack of better terms, offensive line play,
(11:16):
offensive line skill acquisition still almost an antiquated ish type
of approach because the methodology hasn't changed that much. The
modalities that you use in practice haven't changed that much. Now,
my one good buddy, LA Charles Bentley has done a
really good job of trying to push that forward and
(11:39):
get us closer to where defensive backs are and where
defensive linemen and wide receivers and running backs, a quarterback
and all these other positions that have evolved. Offensive line
has kind of been the slowest too, just because it's
a hands on type of training that you have to
go with and so, you know, change some bags, some
(12:03):
of the point things, some of the tools that you
use to train individually have changed a little bit, but
I mean that's still the biggest learning tool for all
of these guys is still having to physically go through
the suck, so to speak.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
Right, So I think it's also.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
You know, I was thinking about this in terms of
what the expectations are for a Will Campbell, who's a
first round pick. But you know, not all first round
picks are created equal. Like a first round pick that
you take in the top four or five six selections
at offensive line in a given year. Obviously the quality
(12:48):
changes from year to year. There is a great deal
of expectations for those players. Now again you have to evaluate.
So you know, Ted McMillan was taken very high at
the receiver position. I saw most people thinking that he
was in you know, maybe the that ten to twenty
range instead of as high as he went where you
(13:08):
expect Jamar Chase type production. If you take an offensive
tackle fourth or fifth overall, you were, really your expectation
is perennial All Pro I think, or perennial Pro Bowler.
That's you know, John All. This is a guy that
you take high, you expect him to be a perennial
(13:29):
Pro Bowl type of caliber. When you take guys later
and the twoers have guys that were taken later in
the first round of both tackle position, is the expectation
more development is there?
Speaker 5 (13:40):
You know?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Again, maybe you know somebody doesn't have the requisite size
and speed and or whatever the case may be, like
a Campbell or an All with the long arms and
the big size and all that other stuff.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
But the hope is you can still develop.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Into a very very good player, much like it is
at any position.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
Do I have that right? Do you think? So? Are
we expecting to see?
Speaker 2 (14:06):
In other words, now to turn back around away from
the Steelers and back to Campbell. Are we expecting a
guy that's going to be much more Oh, I you know,
much more accomplished at a young age.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
And it accomplished means he's accomplished something.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
But you know what I'm saying, much more polished, much
more nfl ready because he's been taken so high that
you know, some of those expectations come with it.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, I mean, and the expectation will never change, right,
I mean, if you're drafting the top ten, you're drafted
in the top ten, and so you expect those guys
to be ready made and really polished. But we've also
seen that doesn't necessarily translate every single time because you know,
we have way too many teachers of history or examples
(14:55):
from history to say the to say to say the opposite. Right,
we have plenty of what we call first round bus.
A lot of those stacks, and guys aren't staying in
college as much or they're not playing as consistently at
these schools. These kids are transferring to you know, one
to two to three times in their collegiate career before
(15:17):
they get so they've changed all these different systems and
so there's no consistency with them, and one team might
be all spread gun, you know, play action style, zone run,
and then the next time you've got three point stances
man style offense, pro style offense, then you have run
(15:37):
and shoot. You know, there's so many different ways.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
There's air raid.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
You know, it just depends on the system that they're
getting exposed to versus what they come into the league at.
You know, will it actually play into their strength or
will they have to grow into it? And so to
say guys are ready made, we're already seeing the difference
between two guys on our own team when you look
at a Broderick because like Broderick was on a team,
(16:06):
but he didn't start that much, but he was excellent
in the moments that he was available. And then you
look at Troy Fatanu who played in college.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
For four years.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Same with the quarterbacks, right, you know, we looked at
quarterbacks and we said, okay, this guy had one great
year and all of a sudden, he's getting drafted, versus
a guy who's been in college five years, like a
like look like a prime example, Rock Purty, Rock Perty
was in college five years. Ms Trubisky had one good
year in college. Drake May had really two good years
(16:36):
in college, and you could even argue that they were
more like halfs per game.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
The guy we're.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Going against, Drake May, was so hot and cold at UNC.
You know, I had him. I had him his sophomore
year and his junior year, and I just remember he
had this fantastic first half against Uva and probably one
of the worst second halfs at Uva. Then we play
(17:03):
then I had his game against Miami both years, and
he had a good first quarter, bad second quarter, good
third quarter, terrible fourth quarter.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
I'm already have to bailed him out. So it's like that,
you know it.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Experience is one of those things that it's up and down.
So where you draft a guy doesn't necessarily dictate the
maturity or the skill set. I think it more so
exposes the need around the league and for that team.
And so if the team needs said position, you're taking
(17:42):
the best available. Might not be the best, but it's
the best of what you have in that crop that year.
You know, we also have those years where you see
there's like just certain renaissance classes right of certain position
groups drafted, and that's where if you're not in that
Renaissance group. Then it does doesn't matter where you draft
a guy, because that guy can can.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Fall significantly below the line. You know.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I remember my draft year, especially Robert Gallery was supposed
to be the next Tony Boselli, supposed to be this
next you know, Perennial All Pro left tackle. He was
the proto type former tight end, big upper body, ran
sub five flat.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
He lasted all of two quarters.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Actually, I has to take that back. He only lasted
two series at tackle and played guard the rest of
his career. Had a fine career, Yeah, seven eight years
in the league, but he was not at the position
you said he was going to be at it. He
was serviceable, he wasn't transformational. He was a number three
overall pick. So there are those type of examples, and
(18:46):
I think there's always going to be the expectation of
but whether they live up to those expectations is another thing.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah, and they certainly expect him to be a guy
who's going to anchor their line. They were trying to build.
It looks from the outside look it in they're trying
to build through the trenches. They think they've got their
franchise quarterback build around him through the trenches. You pick
a guy like Henderson in the second round, maybe he's
(19:12):
going to be your running back in the future. It's
an intriguing team building that's going on in New England
and we have much more to get to as far
as the Patriots are concerned. Of course, we want to
remind you to gear up with the latest game day
necessities at the official Steelers Pro shops. Get the latest
Sideline apparel, jerseys, terrible towels, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives
(19:35):
you can only find directly from the team. Visit one
of the official Steelers Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium,
Grove City Premium Outlets or Tanger Outlets, or gear up
online at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com Max.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
And I'll be back with more.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Inside the Locker Room with King and Starks, presented by
your neighborhood Ford Store. Here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one P fifty is the official truck of
the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
direct from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at
shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And welcome, excuse me, welcome back inside the locker room
with King at Starks, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store
here in the Steelers Audio Network. You know Max, you
know the discussion took us to talking about the left
side of the Patriots offensive line going against the right
side of the Steelers defensive line, which I think is
going to be a key to this game. And as
(20:48):
we discussed, the keys to the game are brought to
you by your neighborhood Ford store, the F one fifties,
the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before we get
too far down the line here, I did want to
ask you did you watch the game last night? Or
did you or did you get some chicken soup? And
you can go to bed.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I actually made my own chicken soup yesterday, funny enough,
very nice, because I do I do make a mean recipe.
That did help a little bit yesterday. So I did
do that.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
I did watch the game, or at least I should
say part of the game.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
It was it was a it was a good matchup.
I mean it was one of those where you know,
the Bills just didn't walk in and and just just
own them, of course until the end that last interception
by Bernard, but you know, they fought tooth and nail,
kind of like what we talked about, Like, you know,
this was a game that you know they needed something
(21:43):
to resurrect themselves because you know you're now at zero
to three and you have to think that realistically, your
playoff hopes are getting very bleak right now, especially after
you drop a game to New England and now you've
dropped a second division game to the Bills now and
you did him both at home.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
So that's never good in those type of environments.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
So I think it's gonna be it's gonna be a
lot tougher sledding for those Dolphins, and it's gonna be
really tough for Mike McDaniels I believe to keep his
job by the end of the season because of that.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
But I mean, it was it was a good affair.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
I mean, listen, Tyrek Hill, Dyalen will and Davon a
change we said it and actually, you know, you know
who was surprising, Ali Gordon, Ali Gordon there running back
for the Dolphins. He actually surprised me a whole lot
because Ollie was a kid. I don't know if anybody
remembers college football, you know, roughly about two years ago,
so not last season, the season before that, so I
(22:44):
guess it would be what it's two years ago, right,
that's still two years.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
What did he was drafted?
Speaker 4 (22:51):
He was drafted. I'm saying in college.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
I'm trying to go last season in college the year
before that, so I was trying to get to.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
You know, he was.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
He had just come off of a freshman season where
he broke all these freshman records in the Big Twelve,
and he was he was, he was the next thing.
He was next Adrian Peterson. He had all of this time,
then had then two years ago, had a down year.
They made it to the Big Twelve championship game and uh,
you know, he had an injury. He wasn't quite there.
And then last year, you know, Oklahoma State just wasn't good.
(23:26):
He was, he was a lot better, but the team
just wasn't good last year, and you know, gets drafted.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
He kind of fell off the radar.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
But I remember I remember this kid as a freshman
and he was just dominating. You know, I saw him
playing the Guaranteed Rate Bowl out here. I actually called
his game, you know, during his freshman year. I had
him numerous times throughout his career, and you know, he
was a kid that was a solid running back, great vision,
good body control. And then I saw him last night
really paying attention. I mean I watched him on film
(23:55):
for the Patriots game, but I wasn't really going for
Dolphins personnel, you know what I'm saying. I'm more so
I'm caring about the defense, and you kind of see him,
you know, secondarily in your analysis, but watching him because
I'm watching the game live, I'm watching football.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
As a fan.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
You can pay attention to the names a lot easier
when you're not doing breakdowns, and and he was what
I forgot.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Man.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Ali is a solid quarter. I mean he's a he's
a solid running back. To go to compliment what Davon
a Chain is, Davon a Chain is a fast, scat
sprint He'll beat you in a foot race type of back.
But Ali's that one that he's going to run between
the tackles. He's gonna get you tough yards. He likes
to run behind fullbacks. He has a very he's a
(24:40):
very traditional running back, and I thought he did a
really good job at It's a shame because you look
at the weapons that Miami has and you're like, this
team should be way better than Owen three. But you
also look at you know, how they've played, the mistakes
that they made and the moments that they've made them.
And you know, as much Tua could be credited, you know,
(25:02):
you have to give you have to give a lot
of credit to those opposing defenses because Tua just it's
like he gets one read plays like that Bernard play.
If he just would have looked for Tyreek Hill like
to Tyreek was wide open for the touchdown, but he
was settled in.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
He was really focused in on Waddle. He didn't really
he didn't really look him off and Rob you could
speak to this.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
You know quarterback mechanics, right, is that you're trying to
look off of safety and he was looking in the
direction of the safety. Linebacker had his eyes locked down
and so all that dinebacker do was to stay in
the area. And you know that's what really crucified him
was that he stared down that receiver essentially because he
stayed in the same area with his eyes and made
(25:44):
it easy at the end. But that's that those are
the tough breaks and that's what this game is. Just like, man,
you know, it could be this, It could have been
a tip for an interception, it could have been anything.
But in that moment, you know, Tua didn't do him
any favors in that clutch, critical moment, said there was
a head coach. It's like, there's only so much you
could do, right the coach is not out there playing
(26:04):
the game. We can only push a position to make
a play. But coaches are the ones that are going
to be sacrificed at this right. You know, they're they're
the commodity that they feel could be changed or there's
a guy who could fix a guy.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
In those moments, I get what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
By the way, a quick, very quick glimpse into how
a lot of my film sessions went, Hey King, didn't
you see that guy who intercepted your past? And my
answer to be same as last week, coach, No, if
I had seen them, I wouldn't have thrown it, so
(26:39):
you know, and by the way, that happened a lot
when I was when I was a quarterback, a lot
of interceptions.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
So but you learn from your mistakes. Max. So I
think that you know they're just they.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Even offensively, and I know they can be awesome at times,
even offensively, they don't seem the.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Equal to some of their parts.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
You've got a good quarterback in two you have you
have two receivers, and you know, and unless you know,
Cincinnati's making it work with Burrow and and and they're
just they're just of course now Burrow's hurt again, but
you know they're making it work with two elite receivers.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
But you have.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Wattle, you have Hill. I'm not sure I love Jail
and Wattle. Like in a couple of years ago, I
was like, I wouldn't mind seeing the Steelers trade for him.
You know, when they're talking about do you give him
a big contract? You already have Tyreek Hill with a
big contract. It's just it's not working. Like I thought
their running game was good last night. Run the ball more,
(27:45):
but they but they don't. That's that's not their style
of football, you know, so, and I I agree with you.
I think they're one two punch. You know, we saw
Breese Hall and Brayalen Allen in New York. You know
you got thunder and lightning. Go back to the old
days of army, mister inside, mister outside, Glenn Davis and
Doc Blantard. Although Doc Blantt is actually mister inside and
(28:07):
Glenn Davis was mister outside. But you know that one
two punch of different styles of running backs.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
Uh, you've got that.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
You've got a quarterback you took high, You've got incredibly
gifted wide receivers, and yet here you are your own three.
It just doesn't it doesn't, you know the some you
know they always talk about sometimes when a team comes together,
the sum is greater, the whole is greater than the
sum of the parts. It just feels sometimes when I'm
(28:38):
watching the Dolphins that that the whole is less than
the sum of its parts. And and I felt that
way watching the game again last night. Although obviously a
tall order. The Bills are great, but you're Miami man,
You're owing three right now?
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:54):
And right the should could woods don't count in this situation, right,
brass Tack.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
It is wins, it is losses, and that is what's
your weight.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
And measured on in your NFL career. Did you win
or did you lose? And it's not about circumstantial evidence
behind those things.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
And will you lose more than you win, you usually
get replaced. But if you win more than you lose,
you usually keep your job. And that's what it comes
down to.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, and I think too, Max, there's so many factors involved,
you know, you know, so I think some coaches and
I'm not saying this about I'm not putting lumping McDaniel
into any of these categories. Some coaches are better as
coordinators and they are as head coaches. Some coaches are
better as head coaches than they are as coordinators. Sometimes
(29:46):
your personnel department and your coach are working in concert
and getting things. They're on the same page and they
have the same vision and that seems to kind of
push things along in the right direction. And sometimes they
aren't and they don't. So there can be any number
of factors. I mean, I think that at the very least,
(30:09):
I don't want to put a ceiling on Mike McDaniel's
abilities as a head coach. At the very least, we
know he's a tremendous offensive mind. But you know, you're
rowing three right now, and it's a very very disappointing start.
And you know, we'll see where New England goes uh,
and we'll see what's up next. But you know, this
(30:30):
is this has been a very interesting division, this AFC East.
You know, when New England started the season back in
the Tom Brady days and I'm not again, I'm not
trying to take anything away from Tom Brady, right what
it's clearly one of the greatest of all time. But
you know, you're you basically were starting the season six
(30:52):
and oh you know, because those other teams in the
division had no chance of beating you none. So what
does that mean? Well, you win your fair share of
the rest of the games, you could have home field
advantage throughout the course of the playoffs. Whereas if you
go four and two in the AFC North Man, that
is some good work. You go four and two in
the NFC norths right now, you go four and two
(31:13):
in the NFC West, that's some good work. It is
highly competitive and and it's right now that just looks
to me. I don't know how you feel about it, Max,
but it just looks to me like it is like
it's the Bills Division. And you know, I have a
hard time believing. You know, we'll see with New England,
(31:37):
because I do think New England's a team that's improving,
and I do think the Jets are a team that's improving,
but I don't think they're ready for the Bills yet.
I think the Bills that might be the clearest best
team in their division in football.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Yeah, no, I think I think you're absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
I think this is one where you look at and
you can't really deny it. I mean, they have, they
have owned that the vision. This is like a dynastical
cyclical thing.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Right.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
It feels like for the AFC East, you know, whereas
once New England just dominated this division for so long,
now it's the Bills turn and the Bills have just
simply dominated and other teams have not responded in kind
to figuring out how to go about their business, you know,
and that mainly being the Jets and the Dolphins, I
(32:25):
mean New England. We know what happened with Tom Brady
leaving and then of course Bill Belichick, and now they're
on their second head coach post Belichick within three years,
you know, jirod Mayo had a short stint try and
figure things out.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
Now like Raybull now gets the nod for it.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
And you know, Miami has always been competitive, but they've
always been that second fiddle type of team. And now
you're starting to see a shift where you don't know
who the second best team is now in the AFC East,
you know, because it's definitely not the Jets right now.
They're still searching for their first win. And you know,
for for the Dolphins, the Dolphins are sitting here at
(33:05):
h and three, so you're like, okay, well, you know
who wants to take that mantle in the East and
and right now is like they're they're scratching and searching
for for some answers in that division. And I am
blanking right now on who the fourth AFC East team
(33:26):
is right now?
Speaker 4 (33:26):
In my head?
Speaker 5 (33:27):
Did I just Dolphins Patriots?
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Okay? I did? I did say it?
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Right, Bill's got okay, because I was said, I was like,
wait a second, just said that just Dolphins that we're
playing the Patriots? Oh god, okay, yeah, once again, maybe
that's the fever right there, but yes, so I had
named all four two okay, thank god.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
But you know, I kind of look at it.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
And and and and it's interesting, like there is no
clear like number two are real kind of push to
challenge them in that division, which is wild because for
the longside, we said that about the Patriots, right, I mean,
nobody could really challenge the Patriots, And so it's cyclical
and how these kind of dynasties kind of happened.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
And you know, now you.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Look at where we're at full circle moment now for
the AFC West. You know, that was one that was
dominating for years by the Chiefs and Charges were you know,
the Chargers were always a we're in the hunt, we're
kind of close maybe this that or the other, but
they haven't really been that competitive in a while in
that division, like just outright, and so it's really interesting
(34:35):
to see that kind of shift. Do the Chargers finally
take that mantle from the Kansas City Chiefs, We'll see,
I mean, the Kansasy Chiefs still searching for their first
victory of the season, and the Chargers are already sitting at
two and oh with two division wins on top of that,
about to go for a third one this weekend going
up against the Denver Broncos. So you know, it's crazy
how those things happen and how a weak division becomes
(34:57):
a strong division, and a strong divisi becomes a weaker division,
and it's heads and tails. I mean, we look at
the NFC North is another one. You look at that
division and how competitive it was a year ago, and
now you're about to have another you know, run here,
and another team's starting to make their noise and make
their case in the Green Bay Packers. You know who
(35:19):
is one in five in that division a year ago
and now they're looking like the NFC dor favorites.
Speaker 4 (35:24):
So it's just it's always funny.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
And that's why I love this game of football because
it goes in spurts, it goes in trends, and it's
very cyclical and what's down is up and what's up
is down. And that's what makes this game fun every
single year because the journey is unique to itself each
and every individual season.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Well, the Steelers are going to be taking on one
of those AFC East opponents. Of course, in that AFC
East opponent is the New England Patriots, and we will
get serious about getting way into the weeds here about
what the Steelers need to do. We have our Matt
stats packet. You got it, Max uh.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
I will have two seconds.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
I got it, I got it. We'll go over some
of Matt's Okay, yeah, man, this was. This was I mean,
it's always interesting. This is like, man, there's a lot
of really cool stuff here, and we're gonna get to
that really cool stuff when we continue inside the Locker
Room with King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood Ford
Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
And we thank you for being with us as we
get you ready for the Steelers and the Patriots. Max
Stark's I'm Rob King, are are we're limping in with
with the larynxes that that are not maybe operating at
full capacity, but will be by Sunday.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
Max Starks will be.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
By absolutely absolutely, so we'll be better that we'll be
ready to go.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
We will be ready to go. Cough drops galore.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
So you know, we started talking a little bit about
some of the matchups in this game. By the way,
Missy Matthews going to be joining us to the top
of the hour, and the keys to the game were
presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 5 (37:34):
The F one fifty is.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
The official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and uh, you know, Max.
One of the things that that has been an issue
is all of the big plays that the Steelers defense
has given up.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
A lot of these have come on the ground.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
And I have to believe that New England's going to
come in as any team would see what's going on here.
We talked to about, you know, their young offensive linemen
and those are the guys. You know, they have Morgan
Moses on the other side of the veteran at the
right tackle position. But clearly, like anybody else, you'd like
to mitigate the Steelers pass rush. Run the football if
(38:13):
you can set up third and manageable so you don't
have to, you know, hold the ball for your quarterback
and wait and throw the ball downfield. You have a
quarterback who can escape the pocket. There's a lot of
elements here that we've seen give the Steelers trouble and
early on in the season as well, and the explosive
plays that the Steelers have given up thirteen plays of
(38:37):
twenty or more yards, that is the most in the
NFL MAX. They've got to be able to tighten up
the run and in doing that, and some of those
runs are some of those plays are you know, explosives
are in the running game. And that's by the way,
that's you know, explosives in the running game are generally
considered ten or more and the Steelers have given up
(38:57):
a lot of those. They've got to find a way,
I think one of the keys to the game. Tightened
up that run defense and forced the Patriots into third
and long, hopefully reducing the amount of big plays all
the whole. Again, Seattle made big plays on third and
long against the Steelers last.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
Week, Yeah they did.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
And you know, for as good as versus second down
was for a couple of series right still backbreakers with
the third down completions, and that sustaining of drives is
what really shifted things.
Speaker 4 (39:36):
In you know, Seattle's favors.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
That's what kept on an exceptionally hot day in September
and Western Pa. It kept the Steelers on the field
and as they continued to wear on them, and wear
on them and wear on them. That's how they eventually
took advantage because they outlasted us, which was the way
(39:59):
that I saw kind of doing to them, which I
was hoping that we would do to them, and they
ended up flipping it on us. And like you said,
the third down completions just kept drives alive, which allowed
them to run the ball on the first and second
down more effectively. And they were just smashing the entire time,
and that's what's tough. And then of course running away
(40:20):
from TJ.
Speaker 4 (40:20):
Watt.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
So everything was essentially left side strong for a lot
of their run game, and then once they got tired,
that's when they started hitting more of the interior run game.
They started hitting it up between the centers and the guards,
so what we call the A gaps, and so that
was that was the recipe. And I have to feel
like New England is going to look at what Seattle did,
(40:45):
who looked at what the Jets did, and they're just
going to keep with the same formula until.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
They give them a reason to stop it. That's the
one thing about this NFL.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
Once you put it on tape, you are who that
person is until you've put it away for the next
month or four games, we always say, and we haven't
done it for two weeks, so why would we expect
anything different in the third week. And I think that's
where they have a lot of their attention and focus
are going to have to be how do we attack
this run game. They're gonna use two tights, They're gonna
(41:15):
use a lot of tight split formations, and they're gonna
try and get you know, traveon Henderson going. And then
once they establish that, and that's where they're gonna start
looking for the man opportunities, right, the single high opportunities
and trying to take advantage of Expect to see the
two man route with deep crossers versus man. Just expect
(41:39):
it at this point.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Okay, because because you haven't stopped it, you.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Haven't stopped and it's scored two touchdowns. So in the
red zone you see two tight end sets, right, you
see tight you see tight splits by the wide receivers.
Expect that they're going to run the deep overs and
that is going to be up to the safety to
make that decision not to bite on the underneath crosser
(42:06):
and hopefully there's a communication where they can pass that
off and Cover three, you can pass that off instead
of running with him in man, or change how it is.
Maybe you drop it to a cover too, keep it
too high, just because but I know you're if you
can't stop the run, you're gonna commit that eighth guy
into the box because you're trying to stop the run
game because it's two tight ends in there. It's twelve personnel,
(42:27):
and then you're gonna be stuck with Cover three, single
high safety with two corners that are gonna be running
with a two man route concept and they're crossing each other.
It's worked, and even more effectively, it's worked to the
right because the safety is always bit to the left.
So yep, please, for the love of God, pass it off.
(42:49):
Do not put Jalen Ramsey or Darius Slay in a
position where they're in trail man positions and the safety
is going to the more hotter receiver and you let
the unknown receiver start to get hot.
Speaker 4 (43:04):
It is that that's the prayer.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Frankly, you know we're talking about quarterback reads.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
It really if you have time to throw and they're
in that coverage, it really doesn't get any easier whichever
way the safety goes you throw it the other way
and trust your receiver can beat the guy, and and
you're it's a good concept because you're creating traffic. So
what Max is referring to is, you know outside contain
(43:35):
on inside receivers who are going to go down the
field and cross, so you're already in trail a little
bit right, and then they cross to create some traffic
and hopefully you know a little bit of issues of
staying with that man. And then there's one safety on
the top. No, they're the only two guys out downfield
in the pattern, and once they cross the the safe
(44:00):
has to pick which side to go to. So if
you're the quarterback and assuming you have time to throw,
you drop back, you look at the safety. If the
safety goes to your left, you throw to your right.
If the safety goes to your right, you throw to
your left, and assume that your guy's going to be
able to get open. And again, tough, tough cover there
(44:21):
for defensive back because you got traffic in the middle
of the field. You know, think about those rub routes
around the goal line right where they try to create
just a little bit of room by by causing some
traffic where guys cross and now if you're in man,
you got to get over the cross and one of
the two guys is going to be open. Well, this
is creating an opportunity where as a defense, as an offense,
(44:44):
you're hoping one of the two you're trusting that, you know, uh,
the one guys. Actually, both guys are gonna get open.
It doesn't really matter which way the safety goes. So
that's that's hit for a touchdown. A couple of times
a lot to tighten up here Max on this defense
and hopefully this is the week that they can get
it done. But you know, Drake may is as an
(45:06):
up and coming quarterback, they've got too hard running uh
you know running backs. She talked about you know what
you saw last night with a chain and Mattson. I
think we're gonna see something similar here with uh, you know,
with Stevenson getting the bulk with the carries. Perhaps, but
he's the bigger, more physical guy, and Henderson's can really fly.
(45:29):
I was really kind of hoping the Steelers would would
find a way to get him because I I love
that speed element he brings, but he also runs really hard.
It's uh, you know, there are this is I don't
know if New England's there yet, but I think they're
getting their max as an offense.
Speaker 5 (45:44):
I think they're getting there as a team.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
Well, they're they're definitely stockpiled enough picks that they're they're
in a better place than they were.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
You know, Yeah, they've won four games the last two years.
Let's let's not get two over them.
Speaker 3 (45:59):
Yeah, yeah, so, I mean, so let's just say that.
But when you think about just think about this draft alone. Right,
you had it will came Campbell at left at left tackle,
first round pick, Trayvon Henderson, second round pick at running back,
third round pick. You had a pair of them. You
went guard and you went wide receiver and Kyle Williams
(46:20):
of Jared Wilson. Then you came back in the seventh
round and you went with an additional offensive line into
Marcus Bryant. So we talked about, remember you say a
stockpile and try to rebuild this offensive line.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
You did. You did it with three three three.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Picks in this draft were dedicated to offensive line. And
then of course you know you, you know, I would
say five out of your seven picks were all offense.
And then from there you went with two defensive line,
but you went with Craig woods I'm sorry, a strong
safety in the defensive line and Craig Woodson in the
fourth as well as Joshua Farmer. And Joshua Farmer was
(46:54):
one of those guys I had on.
Speaker 4 (46:55):
My list as well.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
As a as as a guy that we could actually
look at, of course, but New England got him and
he'll probably be playing an elevated role.
Speaker 5 (47:04):
You know.
Speaker 3 (47:05):
We'll see how Christian Barmore is doing. He got injured
in the Miami game last week but came out the field.
He'll be a little hamper, but so expect Joshua Farmer
to kind of get a rotation in there. But you know,
keeping our focus on the offense. You know, five, five
out of five out of your seven picks went to
offensive guys and three of these and three of those
(47:26):
five were offensive linemen. Hey, Max, a clear indicator of
what it is.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
I put you in a bad spot. Uh hold that talk.
Oh gosh, it's great. Got wet miss we got coming.
I know I messed up my back, but we'll talk
about that after the break because I think it's a
good conversation and parallels what what the studers have been
trying to do along those lines as well. Anyway, stick around,
(47:53):
much more to come inside the locker Room, King and Starks,
presented by our neighborhood Ford store here on the Steelers
Audio Network
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