October 10, 2025 • 48 mins
Missi Matthews calls in for a chat with the guys, as the ITL crew put a final bow on Steelers Browns with their keys to the game.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one P fifty is the official truck of
the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
direct from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at
shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Oh yeah, oh you know what it is, hey, optimist,
great job, keep going, power hour engagement. Most importantly, when
you hear the hip hop beasts, you know it can
only be one person, and that of course is aka
Team Mom, aka Steelers anchor for the Mike tomin press
(00:52):
conference and all of the Steelers content. But most importantly,
she is our sideline reporter, braving the weather, and she
is our She is the third most important in our
holy trinity of football broadcasting. Is the one, the only,
Missy Matthews. How we doing today, Missy?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Guys?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I'm great.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
I'm ready to play some Steelers football again. It felt
like a very long time since we've been in Dublin.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
So, by the way, uh, Missy is spelled my team
steam because we've taken out of you guys. There's no
I in Missy, There's just team but pronounced Missy kind
of like Gaelic, kind of like when you're over there
in Ireland, Missy and it's like, uh, you know, uh,
what's your name? My name is hot Clean and it's
(01:35):
spelled with letters that have nothing to do with the
pronunciation that Gaelic is the most I don't know how
people could possibly speak it anyway.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I want a jersey like the practice jerseys the players.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's all I want. That's all I want is a
practice jersey.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Yeah, it's like wat over there is spelled like g
lb X and you're like, yeah, what like what you know?
So not what what that's spelled differently. So Missy, first
of all, before we get into the game, you are uh,
you are right in the throws and the mix of
(02:11):
preparing for a star studded event, which I believe is
tonight correct the fashion show, Yes.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Yes, the Steelers' annual fashion show. It's no place like
Home theme kind of a nod to the Wizard of Oz.
Wicked is very popular right now, and we have two
really good co captains, guys, just Shaan Elliott and DK Metcalf.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Okay, okay, how about you like I feel like their
fashion forward sense wise, you know, DB's definitely more more
eurocut in their design aspects, and we just came back
from Europe, so that should be very interesting.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
By the way, is d K. I asked him yesterday.
I said, is there any circumstance in which you would
like to be referred to as de Kalen, which is
his name? And he said, well, I actually preferred to Kalen,
but everybody mispronounces it, so I go by DK. So
maybe maybe you can debut de Kalen metcalf tonight when
(03:15):
you introduce him missy, But.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We may have to get that in our broadcast on Sunday.
If that's what he prefers, that's what he prefers.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
But he did say that everyone says it incorrectly.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, he did exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
When he signed here, he goes no, DK is good,
but even Derek Carmon told us he prefers DJ, but
no one calls him DJ, not even Hiss.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Like teammates Derek Harmon.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Correct, but he goes by DJ usually.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well we might have to, uh, well, everybody pick a
name and try it.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Having said that, Max, does anybody ever call you Maximilian?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, they do, and there's usually people that that don't
know me as well, okay, because because they read Wikipedia
to get my background in yeah, Maximilian Stars, I'm like, huh.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Miss, miss you ever get Melissa? Does anybody in your
family call you Melissa?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
No, not unless like my parents are yelling at me.
Still okay, hopefully at this point in life. Doesn't happen often.
But my grandmother who lived the longest out of all
my grandparents, my my grandma Gean, she did call me
Melissa and I still respond. Coach Tomlin calls it my
government name, and Bert Latin from pr uses it a lot.
(04:36):
A bunch of people will say it, I think, just
to see if I respond or not, but I do.
It is my real name, yeah, I just never never
really went by it.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Right, And it is interesting with all the name business
so in uh, you know, as long as we're all
being honest, my family calls me Robbie.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
It's only professional.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
And by the way, if anybody's out there whose last
name is King, you know that everybody whose last name
is King, it's called Kinger by just about everybody. So
most people call me Kinger because because that's just that
comes with the name that comes with the last name.
There's no stark ser or Matthews. Err, but if you're king,
(05:21):
you're gonna be kinger.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
That's just well, I get I get starky, I get starky.
Yeah yeah, like they cut the s off. And you
know how most people just like to add a why
to everything.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
Right, like starks be okay, otherwise you got to be
teamed with somebody named hutch and we don't want to
go down that way.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
No, no, no, yeah no it's not a good But
my nickname in my family, which I guess I could say,
I mean because somebody's really gonna was four. Oh yeah,
that was that was my nickname because four, right, So
I used to get four. And then when it was
like me, my granddad, and my dad altogether, it literally
was junior. Three and four were our nicknames just because
(06:00):
if you said Max, all three of us were gonna respond,
right of course. So of course, so it was like,
so my great grandmother used to be like three, four
are all that come in here? Yeah? So so yeah,
I So for the longest time my nickname was just four,
Like I just I had a numerical name attached to
to to who I was in my family household. But
(06:22):
obviously now you know my dad, he's he's still three.
But obviously I'm not gonna call him that that that's
a familiar no oh no, yeah. Yeah. And so I
still get four every once in a while. So if
somebody calls me four, it's usually a family member from
when I from when I grew up.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Gotcha?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
So okay, So Missy, we did the uh the Steelers
Injury Report presented by UPMC, the official healthcare provider and
health plan at the Pittsburgh Steelers, a little earlier in
the program. But I did want to ask you because
you are in tune with the team like like nobody else.
Your sense first of all, Mike tom Win great record
coming out of the buy, Your sense of where the
(07:02):
team stands physically, you know, if you if you have
any updates in that regard emotionally ready to go. I'm
sure the team is aware of the fact that they
have a great opportunity here in the AFC North, not
only to open division play, but just I know it's
awfully early to look at the standings, but you look
around and other teams are faltering. So what's your sense
(07:24):
of this team as they come out of the buy
and get ready to play their first AFC North game
on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I mean, I love that we can look at
the standings and look at all the schedules and you know,
ge ahead. But even you know, Alex high Smith admitted
over the bye weekend that he watched all the games.
It was kind of like, wow, this is crazy. But
I think the team is rejuvenated, rested. Obviously, it sounds
like Alex high Smith and Joey Porter Junior will be
(07:51):
back this week, which is huge for the Steelers defense.
And I do think, you know, Broderick Jones was saying,
you know, coach Tonlin's like your dad would. He starts talking,
you stand up straight and stop and you listen, and
he doesn't have to say hey guys at AFC North football.
But he said there is a little extra pep in
his step, which is you know, saying something considering that
(08:12):
he is pretty much the same person whether it's an
AFC North game, a preseason game, after a win, after
a loss. But I you know, it is exciting when
the AFC North play does start. And we were saying
yesterday on our matchup show, we had a way till
Week eleven last year was insane, so he's this year,
it doesn't feel as insane as it did last year.
(08:37):
You played four games, you got in early by week six, okay, cool,
and you have two of them in a row as well.
So I think guys know that they need to keep
playing good football. There's things that everybody needs to improve on.
It's still early quote unquote in the season, and hopefully
that's something they can do, especially getting a chance to
be at home. Croke Park was home for but weird
(09:01):
that this is only the second game in Pittsburgh and
it's you know, mid October for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
No, it's indeed like it's kind of crazy to think
about that this is home game number three yet home
game number two and acroshure. So it's gonna be fun
to get back. And like you said, the last time
we were out in after sure it wasn't the best outing,
as we all remember, we'd rather have more Croke Park
like results when we have a home game, Missy. I'm
(09:30):
kind of I'm intrigued because when you look at the
Cleveland Browns, right the defense says we should be elite.
The offense is going through that transition, and obviously last
week Dylan Gabriel makes his first start for the team,
and in a corresponding move a couple of days later,
(09:51):
you trade away trade away Joe Flacco. So you literally
have two rookies and Bailey Zappi. That's what's your quarterback
looks like right now as your potential emergency third. You know,
as you kind of look at the scene, I mean,
what what are you gleaning from this? And obviously I
(10:12):
know the team's not overlooking this at all, but what
are you looking for to like, what are some of
the key things that you that you're looking for as
far as matchup wise or storyline wise carrying into this game?
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Well, I think you know, as you said, you look
at the Browns defense and it's what you typically expect.
They're they're really good at a lot of things, and
that's usually a problem for teams. We saw what happened
last year when the Steelers went to Cleveland on that
Thursday night snowy game. But I also think in terms
of the Browns, it's a really strong rookie draft class
for them. And you hate to say that because you
(10:48):
don't want anybody in your division to draft well, you
always want to draft better than them. You know, have
some up up and comer guy that no one really
knows about, and then he you know, kind of appears
on the seam. But they're asking a lot of their
rookie class because they have to. But their rookie class
is also delivering. I think just when you look at
Dylan Gabriel, I mean, first start was in London, careers
(11:12):
start in the NFL. You know, their run game with Judkins,
It's just it's kind of crazy when you look at
it like that. But I think, you know what I
am looking most forward to trying to see on Sunday
is what can the Steelers offense do against this defense?
Because this is a true test for them, especially when
you took until your fourth game to really get the
(11:34):
run game going, and it wasn't with Jalen Wore and
it was with Kenneth Gainwell, which you know, who cares
how it happened, But they finally were over one hundred
yards and it felt like, you know, offensive lineman, could
you know, get that mojo going that you guys always
talk about Max where it's like you can run the ball.
There's no better feeling for an alignment. But can they
(11:55):
do it against this Browns defense who is really good
at stopping the run. How fast is Aaron Rodgers going
to have to get the ball out against them? Or
can he maybe hold it for a half a second
or a second longer to try to get downfield, or
you know, maybe look for some of the tight ends
they haven't utilized a lot. So that's what I am
(12:16):
most forward most looking forward to seeing on Sunday, and hopefully,
as we keep saying, you know, this isn't the game
you overlook. It's a division game, you throw the records out,
but it would be good to be able to stay
on track. And even though the Browns did trade Joe Flacco,
we'll forget this seehim in like a week.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Exactly.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
But by the way, this is a game where I
think I would still like to see Aaron Rodgers, who
has the quickest release in football, continue that trend. And
by the way, Missy, this is the rookie class with
the most snaps in the NFL, so they are, to
your point, asking a ton of this group. And now
Dylan Gabriel is starting at quarterback, which gets me to
(12:57):
something that you were talking about yesterday in the matchup,
which is the show that we tape with Matt Williamson
is that you know, Mike Tomlin has great success against
rookie quarterbacks, and what he and Tarrell Austin can kind
of draw up to try to confuse Dylan Gabriel. I mean,
clearly he wanted to use the tight ends frequently. They
(13:21):
were they absorbed a high number of the targets. And Nadjoku,
who of course we know, and then Harold Fannon another
one of the rookies. That's that's playing a ton of
third round draft choice at tight end for the Browns.
And you know, Deshaun Elliott coming back. You know, we
saw the game the two games prior to that, three
touchdown receptions for tight ends and there looks like a
(13:43):
gaping hole in the middle. And then you have to
face you know, Hawkinson and Osbourne with Minnesota, and they
were non factors.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Deshaun played a part of that for sure.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
But but game planning, I think probably specifically to stop
the run, but then confuse Gabriel in those in those
passing situation and try to take away the tight end.
It's gonna be one of the fascinating things I think
to watch in this game.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, and I think because you are getting Joey porterback.
Now it doesn't look like as we sit here right now,
you know eleven fifteen on Friday, that Jalen Ramsey is
gonna make it, but you never know. So that kind
of adds a different you know, coog into the mix
of you're getting guys back, but then you're also losing, oh,
I don't know, like a key part of your defense potentially.
(14:29):
But I do think that the mind games that you
can play with a rookie quarterback. Okay, so you realize
he likes those tight ends, it's like, all right, if
we can stop the run and take those guys away,
that makes his life very difficult. And that's when you
can really force a young player into bad decisions. And
I just think the turnover rate that we have seen
(14:49):
in the last two games, which were obviously wins by
the Steelers, there's something there with that in terms of
the takeaways, the pressures, the sacks, they are just they
see stuff of that. They're like a hungry pack of
wolfs and you like open the door and they get
to go out. And I am hoping that that really continues,
(15:09):
especially being back at home. You know, for Dylan Gabriel,
it is going to be loud. Steelers fans are pumped
about this team. Not that they wouldn't be regardless, but
I just think because it has been a really long
time since you can see a game in Pittsburgh live,
there will be something to the crowd noise and that effect,
which obviously for the Steelers defense, it goes back to
(15:31):
an earlier issue of communication. It will be hard for
them too, but I think they're in a better place
and I think the Shawn Elliott really helps that in
terms of the hub of communication of you know, getting
the call from PQ and then helping, you know, spread
the word to some of the guys in the back.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah. No, I think that has to be the key
to the communication. I feel like when the communication is clean,
this team is just rock star status. When when they
when they're communicating, you see they're in a zone like
we kind of saw for three quarters of that game
against the Vikings. Wanted to bring your attention to this,
(16:14):
just wanted to ask because obviously you are tied into this.
On the injury front. We've gotten some good news, We've
gotten not as good news now. Granted, some of those
guys are kind of more expected, right, I mean, the
Jalen Ramsey and Calvin Austin the way it's trending. Obviously
today is a different day, but we haven't seen them
(16:36):
trending in the upward arrow. The guys who had the
upward arrow during the Mike Donland press conference being Joey
Porter Junior and Alice high Smith there have been listed
as full participants last couple of days and you've been
around practice. How is it, how is it looked out
there getting getting those two faces back into the fold.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Well, we can't tell you exactly what happens at practice.
That's against meeting.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Yes, sorry, sorry, not that part. We want to be
in compliance at all times, that's right.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yes, you know, we follow the rules here on the
Steelers Audio Network. I just think that you know, they
they both it's been too long of a chunk that
they've missed. You know, this wasn't like a one game thing,
and you could just tell by their body language what
they have said in the locker room openly to the
media that they've been chomping. It's a bit to get back,
and it was probably almost worse that there was a
(17:30):
bye week, because it was like another week where you
couldn't do anything but you weren't even able to like
cheer on your teammates. Alex Heissmith didn't even come to
Dublin with the team because they felt it was best
for his ankle to not deal with potential you know,
swelling and just all the issues that can go with
sitting on a plane for six seven hours. So he
was kind of bummed about that. I know his wife
(17:50):
still made the trip over. I'm sure she had plans
with her family and friends whoever she was over there with.
So you know, there's a lot that goes into the
rehab part match. You know, people just think, oh, they
they go and they you know, get some ice or
heat on it and do this or that. It's almost
harder when you're rehabbing and trying to get back to playing.
(18:13):
It not that playing is much easier, but it's more
of a mind game with yourself and also just what
you have to do to get there. And of course,
you know, even Jalen Warren really wanted to go in Dublin,
but coach Tumlins said they just they didn't feel like
it was worth it. They didn't think that it was
it was enough percentage wise. That made the medical staff
(18:35):
and coaching staff comfortable with letting him go. Luckily that
worked out and now you know he is a full
participant as well. I think we just kind of because
it was only one game, it wasn't really much of
an issue, and he's been full But as you said,
I think for Joey and Alex, it's a little bit different. Missy.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Thank you very much of the time. Always appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
What are you looking forward to tonight with the big
fashion show and where, by the way, if.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
It's Stage A e I pickets might still be available.
I'm not sure, but you get head the Steelers dot
com if you're interested. I have to say is it's
one of my favorite nights ever. Players just kind of
let loose, let their hair down. They're funny, they're entertaining.
There's somebody on the team that can play the piano,
who can play a Meek Mill song on the piano
(19:25):
that would be taking place, and then I'm not going
to tell you who it is what, but maybe I'll
let you wow, maybe I'll let you guys try to
figure that that hidden talent out. But yeah, lots of
fun surprises and yeah, you'll have to stay tuned, Missy.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Always appreciate it, and we look forward to talking to
you on Sunday and hearing all about it. Regaling us
with stories of rubbing elbows with the elite at the
fashion show tonight.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
This this sounds good. I can't wait, guys.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Thank you, Missy.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
That's Missy Matthews with us on the broadcast on Sunday.
We cannot wait to get started with the game. But
in the meantime there is still plenty to talk about.
We want to talk about Maxican to give you his
keys to the game, and we also really want to
get into the Browns offense with a rookie quarterback, and
(20:23):
the Steelers defense, which has shown signs not complete games,
but certainly, you know, some disruptive elements in the last
couple of games. We're going to get to that when
we continue in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio,
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
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 5 (21:12):
And thanks very much for being with us. Thanks to
Missy Matthews for joining us moments ago.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Max.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
We're gonna get to our keys in the game in
a moment. But we spent a lot of time talking
about the Steelers offense versus the Browns defense because I
think it's a really intriguing matchup, and I think for
most people that is probably in this game, the most
intriguing matchup. However, there's still the other side, and you know,
can you overwhelm a rookie quarterback and you know, bring
(21:45):
down a Browns offense that is tied for last in
a league in points per game fourteen point six points
per game. They've got a rookie quarterback going. You know,
you go through Matt's stats and you know which so
our buddy Matt Williamson sends us all these statistics, some
of which are great in depth talking points and which
(22:07):
we'll get to as a season wears on more and
more to dive into some of these stats, and Matt
brings us but you know, all the stats for the
Browns offense are pretty much bad.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
But the eye test, to me is a little bit different,
because you know, Judkins missed.
Speaker 5 (22:27):
Camp had an off the field issue had to be
worked back in. He looks. I mean, I'm no scout Max,
but he looks really good. I mean really good. Like
I think they've got their running back in the future.
Dylan Sampson gives him a change of pace. Jerome Ford.
You know, it's always been a hard runner. I get
(22:50):
the sense, you know, if I'm looking at the Steelers
and I look at say what the Jets did, I
don't know. Even though you don't, you know, Dylan Gabriel
isn't isn't gonna line up and run it like justin Fields.
I don't know why you wouldn't try to run, line
it up and run it at this Steelers defense. And
if they have success doing that, and that opens up
the tight ends in the passing game, and Gabriel is
(23:14):
cautious enough with the football, you could see this being
a low scoring game, you know, a death struggle type
of game that the Browns could come out on top
of him. Mean, I could see that being a scenario
and a blueprint in which they follow and Having said that,
Kevin Stefansk he doesn't like to seem to run the ball.
I mean, I think he wants to throw it. And
maybe they'll come out with a young quarterback and throw
(23:36):
it to try to loosen things up and then go
back to the run. But you know, this side's got
its own intrigue, maybe not the big names that the
other side has, but you know, I still think this
is gonna be an interesting matchup. A Steelers defense trying
to improve it. It hasn't been phenomenal yet, but now
all of a sudden the last two weeks, you know,
(23:57):
creating turnovers, sacking the core arterback, showing a lot of
the elements we expected to see kind of from the jump.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Yeah, no, I mean it would make perfect sense. But
you know, even in his debut right Kevistebanski aired the
ball out thirty seven times with Dylan Gabriel, like as
a rookie. And I think, like you said, the Browns
appetite to run the football, no matter how dynamic, the
running back is always conservative, always trying to be, you know, cautious.
(24:29):
I don't know if it's the Nick Chubb effect when
we played him, and you know, I wonder if that
PTSD sets in for two years.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
But I mean prior to the Chub injury.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
It was a couple of years before that, and the
Steelers had a really, really porous run defense. It's the
worst run defense I can remember in my entire time
in Pittsburgh. They were near the bottom of the league.
Here come the Browns into Pittsburgh. Baker Mayfield's got a
bum shoulder. Nick Chubb is eating it up for them.
(25:05):
You know, this is Nick Chubb and it's prime, just
a terrific back. And what do they do. They come
out and throw it all over the field with a
with a lame armed quarterback. Baker Mayfield was hurt and
completely ignore the run against a team that couldn't stop
the run. That's still to me one of those baffling
games I've ever seen. As you recall that game, you know,
(25:28):
several years ago in Pittsburgh in which the Steelers defeated
the Browns. But so I don't know what they're I mean,
that's why I say, like, I think that's one possible blueprint.
It's certainly from the outside looking in. And look, Kevin
Stefanski is a two time Coach of the Year you know,
he knows what he's doing. But it seems to me
like this is the kind of game where you say,
(25:48):
all right, let's see if they can stop our run.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Yeah. I mean that's where I think it's kind of
very interesting, right you know. Oh I hope that I
hope that nobody from Cleveland coaching staff or player wise
listens to this podcast or this show to get the
ideas of, hey, maybe we should do things differently, like
keep doing what you're doing. I don't want them to
(26:15):
remember that, right if they decide that, you know what,
they don't. They don't understand who quin Shawn Jenkins is.
After all, he's done good. I hope they don't. But
you're right, it's always befuddling and questionable about how they're
going to view this. I mean, I think about it,
(26:36):
and you know, if I'm the Browns, that's exactly what
I want to I want to run the football. I
want to dare you to stop us right once is
an accident, twice as a habit show me that you
can actually consistently stop the run game, because that's what
we're going to give it to you. And we got
a better offensive line than the Minnesota Vikings. We believe
we're more effective. Right, You're coming off of you know
(26:57):
Quinn Shawn Juckins who had one hundred and ten yards
rushing last week and you know and still at eighteen yards,
so I mean he had one hundred and twenty eight
total scrimmage yards last week in the game against the
Vikings where it looked like they were in control, then
they kind of lost control. So you know, you don't
want them feeling invigorated now by this youth movement in
(27:17):
the backfield offensively, and like I said, they felt good
enough to have to have Dylan Gabriel tossed the ball
thirty seven times, you know, Gan he completed twenty two
at two hundred and nine passing yards, but he had
three touchdown passes in that game. That's where you have
to worry about that. And the guy leading the way,
(27:40):
of course, is a familiar name, and David Njoku, Right,
a tight end's best you know, a quarterback's best friend
is his tight end security blanket. That's what he used
to always call, you know, Heath Miller, Like Heath Miller
was our tight ensecurity blanket when it went in doubt.
If guys couldn't get downfield. Heath was always there and
that's what they and that's what you see Dylan Gabriel
having with David and Joku. Cannot lose David and Joku
(28:05):
while trying to cover the back half. Right, You've got
to have that guy that intermediate game because that's where
the pressure relieve is. You know, tight end. They look
at it almost like a checkdown plus when you can
toss it to the tight end. So you've got to
kind of sew up those little short pops when they run,
because that's where the play action becomes effective. Right, guys
(28:26):
get up in the box, tight end gets right behind
the coverage linebackers played one or two steps up too much,
dump over the top, Hello, David and Joku. That's what
the defense is going to be up against is playing
from the line of scrimmage to eight yards deep. That's
the sweet spot for this Browns offense.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
Yes, agreed. And you know, by the way, I'm going
to take you back. The game was twenty twenty one.
It was January third in Pittsburgh and Nick Chubb, so
you know that year you had you know Rasha Penny,
he wasn't a starter really Tony Poller, he wasn't a starter.
(29:04):
Of the starting running backs in the NFL. Nick Chubb
at five point five yards per carry was the leader.
He was a leader of the pack. That'siere Jonathan Taylor
at eighteen hundred and eleven yards and led the league
in rushing. So you come in, Baker Mayfield's got a
bad arm. Nick Chubb runs the ball twelve times for
fifty eight yards. Remember the steers are averaging. They average
(29:25):
one hundred and forty six rushing yards against. They were
the last in the NFL at the end of that season,
and this was the penultimate game of the regular season,
and so they ran Nick Chubb twelve times fifty eight
yards four point eight yards per carry. He had a
thirty two yarder in there. Baker Mayfield threw the ball
(29:48):
thirty eight times through two picks. Remember this was a
bad armed, you know, Baker Mayfield. You know, this was
a guy who was who was you know, dealing with
it with an arm issue, and they just they just didn't.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Run the ball.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
And so I've always, I've always, you know, every time
I think about what Kevin Stefansi's gonna do it again
A two time Coach of the Year. I always think
back to that game and think, well, it seemed like
one in one would equal to you know, great running game. Okay,
one plus one plus one equals three great running game.
(30:24):
Quarterback with a bad arm, bad running defense. Right, we're
gonna run the ball, and they just didn't do it.
So I don't know what they're gonna do, but it
seems to me like, hey, man, Judkins has looked really,
really good, and they've got three guys, especially in the
interior of that offensive line, who are really good players,
(30:46):
you know who you could at least conceivably try to
run the football right at the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Yeah, I mean until otherwise proven. Right. I mean, you know,
we always talk about this phrase, and you've heard me
say this number of times on this show. Rob You
are what you put on tape, and it takes a
month to dispel whatever negativity, whatever weakness, whatever thing can
be exploited. Teams are going to try and exploit it
(31:14):
until you stomp it out four weeks in a row.
And so that's what you're dealing with. Right. It doesn't
matter if your home, doesn't matter, if you're away, doesn't matter,
if you're across the pond. You know, teams are looking at,
what's your body of work thus far? Have you done
more this way versus the other way. Well, we're gonna
keep testing it this way. And for the Steelers defense
(31:36):
is stopping the run. We only have to look back
to the Seattle game. It's recent history, right. You can
look at the Patriots game. You can look at the
Minnesota Vikings games and say, man, this defense is back.
But you go back three weeks, three games, it was
a problem. You go back to the beginning of the season. Right,
(31:57):
Steelers are three and one. They've only played four games.
Half the games they've been really good defensively and stopping
the run. The other half they've been pissed poor. So
they're going to lean on this team being pissed poor
because they haven't done it four times in a row
versus what they've done in most more recent history. So
there's no reason to not believe that they would come
(32:19):
in and want to run the football while doing this,
because it makes no sense not to at least try
it and then let it fail and then start airing
it out again like they're used to.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
And here's the thing too, And we've talked about this
with the Browns. So for those who are maybe not
well versed in the Cleveland Browns, you know you've got
a Posik at center. He's a really good player. He's
just a good, solid center you have. I know they're
getting older, but Potonio and Teller are multiple Pro Bowl guys.
(32:53):
Jack Conklin at right tackle always been regarded as a
better run blocker than a pass blocker. He's going to
be going against he J Watt. Your left tackle situation
is a mess. It's been a mess. They traded for
Cam Robinson, they put him right in the starting lineup,
a long time starter. He had troubles against Minnesota, some penalties,
they benched him. I don't know who's gonna be playing
(33:15):
left tackle, but that is a big, big problem in
pass protection, the left tackle position. It all adds up to,
you know, uh, Concord's a two time Pro Bowler right
tackle it all and again, as we mentioned, better run blocker.
Throughout his career, that's been the reputation that a pass blocker.
Not that he's a bad pass blocker, but you know,
(33:36):
a really good run blocker. That's what I would expect
to see. Quinn Shawn Judkins running a lot.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
But we'll see, we'll see what they're gonna do.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
And then if you and then if you get that going, Max,
like you said, now it's play action and you've got
the tight ends. You've got short throws uh that are
that are that are e you're to make for Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Although I will also say this, I look back to last.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Night's game and and what they did with Jackson Dart
the you know, the Giants and other rookie starting quarterback,
and they ran a lot of you know, shorter stuff,
but stuff moving, not just like let's throw it out
to the flat, uh and hope our running back breaks
four tackles. It was which which seemed to be a
(34:25):
lot of what we saw with Joe Flacco, like late
looks out to the flat and but but you know,
can you get guys on the move? Can you make short,
conservative passes, easier throws, uh, you know, more risk adverse throws,
but that allow your guys to get moving, get them
on the run, little slants, little out patterns with with
(34:47):
clearouts that allow you to kind of make that easy
pitch and catch. We'll see, because that seems to be
throwing the football seems to me more of the Browns
DNA now having said that they ran them ball plenty
with Nick Up, just not on January third of twenty
twenty two against the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Yeah, I mean they need to continually focus on this
for the fact that you have a young quarterback. And
here's the thing. They should have been doing this when
they had Joe Flecko as well, right, running the football more.
The easiest way to keep your your your offense balance
is make sure you have an effective run game, yep,
and that you exhaust the options because especially with a
young quarterback, I mean think about this, like we had
(35:29):
a ridiculously absurd record when been through the ball twenty
five times or less his rookie in the first couple
of years in the league. Like we almost had a
ninety percent win percentage when we were at that. When
been through over that, that's that's when the win percentage
went lower. And for rookie quarterbacks, I mean outside of C. J. Stroud,
maybe Jayden Daniels and even Joe Burrow early on his
(35:52):
rookie year didn't have as much. I think he saw
more success that second year when he came back healthy.
But when you could run the ball effectively and you
don't have to sling the ball thirty plus times. That
means you're in a good place as a team. And
I think that's the basic working knowledge football head coach
one oh one when dealing with a rookie quarterback. Establish
(36:12):
the run game and get that going before anything else.
And so that's what I'm going to be really interesting
to see if they hold to that, because, like you said,
the proof's in the pudding. The guy had one hundred
plus yards rushing. I'm sure they would love to have
a back to back one hundred yard rusher not named
Nick Chubb on their roster. This would be a great
opportunity for Quinn John Junkins to kind of prove that.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
And just quickly in the passing game. You know, Najoku
leads a team with twenty actually second on the team
with twenty receptions, behind the rookie tight end Harold Fannon
third round pick we mentioned earlier in our conversation with Missy.
The number one guy in targets is Jerry Judy thirty
five targets, only fifteen catches. He's a guy that you know,
(36:54):
look he's big, you know, he's capable, big plays, but
he's he is plagued by drops, it just everything. And
Isaiah Boyd Isaiah Bond a bigger pardon Cedric Tillman's hurt,
so that doesn't help their wide receiver corps. So they're
leaning more now in Isaiah Bond, who was a you know,
a talented guy coming out of high school, talent, a
(37:14):
guy coming out of college. He's had some off the
field issues, so he went undrafted. You know, maybe he
would have been a mid round selection type of player,
you know, if there weren't other factors. Again, leaning on
my draft guru for that information. Not anything that I
would know in specifics, but that seems to be the
scouting report on him, so, you know, not not an
(37:37):
incapable number guy guy. You'd probably rather have Tilman in
there and have to be your three. So again we're
pointing toward what are your strengths. Well, you have four
solid offensive alignment, solid and better than solid offensive lineman,
a really promising rookie running back. Some questions at the
receiver position we'll see and coming up next, we are
(38:02):
going to get our Keys to the game from Max Starks.
The Steelers and our AFC North play against the Cleveland Browns. First,
we want to remind you get ready for the game man.
Gear up with the latest game day necessities at the
official Steelers Pro Shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys,
Terrible Tows, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only
find directly from the team.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Visit one of the official Steelers.
Speaker 5 (38:25):
Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium, Grove City Premium Outlets,
or Tang Route Let's or gear up online at Shop
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at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot Steelers dot com.
Back and more in the Locker Room presented by your
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Nation Radio apart of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio presented by your Neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifth 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 (39:12):
Oh, right back at the Locker Room. It is one
last segment, one last show before we get to the
game on Sunday. There's a day in between here it's
called Saturday, get your college football fix on. But right
now it's the bell lap, one last opportunity. Ten minutes,
(39:36):
that's right, less than ten minutes to get your forage
on or find your site of forging madness. Or maybe
you have a lunchbox. Maybe that's what you decided to
be a little healthy on Friday because you knew Saturday
is going to be a little more laced with fried,
happy goodness and comfort foods galore. I mean you were
talking about the nachos, the wings, all the good stuff
that makes a college football Saturday at Saturday, kinger h
(40:01):
if you you know what, what is your if you
had a comfort football viewing watching meal, what would that be? What?
What would be the item or accouterment that would say,
you know what, this is a great.
Speaker 6 (40:16):
Saturday to watch college football. Wow, that's what comes. That's
a great question. I love uh. I love buffalo chicken dip.
That's a big favorite of mine. I love a chicken wing.
I had some chicken wings last night, kind of regretting
(40:37):
it right now.
Speaker 5 (40:40):
Tasted off a good last night, though, Man, I would
say those are probably those are probably you know, one
and two on my list in in in neither order.
But I mean you give me get you know, salta
and chips, little guacam only that's always good. You know,
anytime a chunk of cheese is thrown down in front
(41:03):
of me, that's going to be attacked. So, you know,
I think that it's a it's a day of gnashing,
you know what I mean, It's not a day to
me to have, you know, a hamburger, which might be
my absolute go to meal, like hamburger might be my
favorite number one meal ahead of steak, had a pasta ahead,
and just give me a good hamburger and I'm a
(41:25):
pretty happy guy. But I think that for football viewing,
it's that steady sort of Okay, what's next. Okay, have
a little bit of chip and dip with some guacamole. Oh,
some buffalo dips coming out? Oh fantastic. Uh you know,
let's say, oh we got half a dozen chicken wings.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Uh, you know, get the blue cheese out here. Let's go.
How about for you?
Speaker 2 (41:50):
So I am a guy that when I am home
and I do have an opportunity to embrace the time
honored tradition and ritual that is involved with consuming copious
amounts of food while washing television in a sedentary position.
(42:14):
I make my own caso dip. Okay, I make it
with a spice, like a spicy crumbled sausage in there.
Oh that's quite cheriso.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
The mouth waters I love myself. Yeah, little spicy sauage.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
Yeah. So so I do a spicy sausage caso dip.
That is that is my ultimate comfort food. And I
I opt for the tostedo scoops because I need a
good well understood you know. The points are good and
you get the kind of the the the dredge off,
you know what I'm saying. You get a little bit there.
But when you want to get the sausage, like you
(42:49):
have to kind of dip leaned it in and then
you have to like do a balancing act. It's teetering
on the little morsel of sausage, right, So I need
to I need a tostito scoop.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
You know. And that's how it is thoughtful. Chip selection
can't be overlooked.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Like if you want to be overlooked, like I like
to get a little I like to so you know,
you can get the cheese and the packet pre ground.
But it's it's better if you get the grinder out yourself,
get that fresh cheddar, sharp cheddar, and go over to
the top that go over the top of the nachos,
popping in the microwave for a minute, and the way
you go throw some jilapenos on there by the way,
that's one of my my mouth's watering around, just say,
(43:26):
that's one of my all time favorites. But you're right,
those are inadequate for scooping something like caso. Yeah, thoughtful,
proper chip selection is extremely important.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Salsa is one thing. The you know, the grocery store
out here, they actually have a hatch chili caso dip
that's already made. You just kind of heat it up,
put it in a little thing. That's fine. That's fine
for a triangular chip, right when. Yeah, we all love
we all, we all love shapes, we all love geometry,
but we're talking about when you get that little just
(44:01):
wrapped morsel cut dipping scoop that or like a good
a big corn chip, you know what I'm saying, Like
that's the other one. You know, Fredo's has those scoops.
Trader Joe's has something corn dippers like you have those
and those are good too. And also it's about your
chip to dip ratio, you know, because it's a thicker chip,
(44:21):
so you want to get a dipper scoop with the
corn chips. But when you're talking about like a tortilla
style chip, the tisso scoops is the ultimate way to go.
And so so that's my number one.
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Okay, caso dip, that's that's number one, by the way,
By the way, in a rarity, because we have to
get to the keys of the game before we go
off the air, we will, I mean we will. Maybe
we'll explore, maybe explore more more food products. I think
that's a good idea. But I have to disagree with
you slightly on something and I rarely do this, Max,
But you say we all love geometry.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
I love math. I always love math.
Speaker 5 (44:55):
But boy, side angle side equal side angle side, man,
I I don't.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
Know if I love geometry or not.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
So when it comes to food, okay, all right, yeah, yeah,
right right, Only in the food sense.
Speaker 5 (45:08):
It is a pretty good triangle, you know, the hand
to the dip to the mouth. The mouth's the high
pot and noose right, Yeah, yeah, we got something there. Okay,
So Max, it is time for the Keys of the Game,
presented by your neighborhood Ford.
Speaker 3 (45:21):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (45:21):
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. You're coming out of the by the rest
of the division is crumbling around you. You know, hugely
important game here against the Browns team. That again, We've
talked about it all week, guys. I just don't think
this is a game fans should be overlooking. What are
(45:42):
the keys to the game?
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Max? All right, Keys of the game. Don't go hungry
while watching the game. Just sorry, sorry, Now, i'mna be
serious here.
Speaker 4 (45:53):
No.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
The keys of the game is understand where ninety five
is as an offensive line. Nowhere he's at ever lose
sight of where ninety five is because he lines up
in so many different places. They're gonna be looking for
the fish. And what I mean by the fishes, They're
looking for the weakest matchup on the offensive line. That's
where you're gonna see a lot of Miles Garrett focus
going in. And I believe it's gonna start outside with
(46:16):
Roderick Jones. Is a perceived thing with him, and I
think it moved. It probably moved somewhat to the other
side in that B gap between Troy Fatano and Mason McCormick.
I think those are the sweet spots they're looking to
kind of exploit with Miles Garrett, So watch for those.
That's the big Beefeeder matchup right there is o Line
versus nine to five. The other thing, Dylan Gabriel versus
(46:39):
our secondary you know, got Joey Porter junior back, still
got big play Sleigh, Deshaun Elliott, wan Thornhill, Janalen Ramsey
of course, is one that's gonna be a question marks.
So do you activate Beanie Bishop, do you move somebody
down that's already on in that group into that nickel
slot position? Do you bring in Brandon eccles to now
play that slot. That's gonna be a big question about
(47:01):
how do you deploy the secondary pieces against a rookie
quarterback As already showed he'd thrown the ball thirty seven times,
so they're gonna put the ball in the air. The
next step is going to be big nasty d Line.
Apparently we learned his nicknames DJ, so you know he
wants to call DJ, Im'll call him DJ. Dj Harmon
along with Cam Hayward, along with Keanu Benton along with
(47:22):
Ya Black and of course the Fierce Edges. Welcome back,
mister high Smith. Can't wait to see the watt Heismith
duo back in action. How does that front line handle
the offensive line and blocking and preventing quinn Sewn Jenkins
from getting a back to back one hundred yard game.
That's my next big matches. So those are my three
key matches right there. Two defensively, one offensively secondary versus
(47:45):
the young QB D line versus the running back, and
Miles Garrett versus the entire offensive line. Those are my
three keys to the game.
Speaker 5 (47:53):
Can't wait, my friend, looking forward to seeing you on
Sunday as we get the honor along with Missy Matthews
who joined us early. Thank you, Missy of calling this
game the first AFC North once again second straight year.
The Steelers is the last team to play division matchup
last year Week eleven this year Week six, as they
(48:13):
take on the Cleveland Browns for Max Starks for Justin
Miller producing in our iHeart Studio, I'm Rob King. We
thank you as always for being in the locker Room
presented by your neighborhood Ford Store, and the Steelers Pro
Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part of 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 P fifty is the official truck of
the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
direct from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at
shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Oh yeah, oh you know what it is, hey, optimist,
great job, keep going, power hour engagement. Most importantly, when
you hear the hip hop beasts, you know it can
only be one person, and that of course is aka
Team Mom, aka Steelers anchor for the Mike tomin press
(00:52):
conference and all of the Steelers content. But most importantly,
she is our sideline reporter, braving the weather, and she
is our She is the third most important in our
holy trinity of football broadcasting. Is the one, the only,
Missy Matthews. How we doing today, Missy?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Guys?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I'm great.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
I'm ready to play some Steelers football again. It felt
like a very long time since we've been in Dublin.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
So, by the way, uh, Missy is spelled my team
steam because we've taken out of you guys. There's no
I in Missy, There's just team but pronounced Missy kind
of like Gaelic, kind of like when you're over there
in Ireland, Missy and it's like, uh, you know, uh,
what's your name? My name is hot Clean and it's
(01:35):
spelled with letters that have nothing to do with the
pronunciation that Gaelic is the most I don't know how
people could possibly speak it anyway.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I want a jersey like the practice jerseys the players.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's all I want. That's all I want is a
practice jersey.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Yeah, it's like wat over there is spelled like g
lb X and you're like, yeah, what like what you know?
So not what what that's spelled differently. So Missy, first
of all, before we get into the game, you are uh,
you are right in the throws and the mix of
(02:11):
preparing for a star studded event, which I believe is
tonight correct the fashion show, Yes.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Yes, the Steelers' annual fashion show. It's no place like
Home theme kind of a nod to the Wizard of Oz.
Wicked is very popular right now, and we have two
really good co captains, guys, just Shaan Elliott and DK Metcalf.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Okay, okay, how about you like I feel like their
fashion forward sense wise, you know, DB's definitely more more
eurocut in their design aspects, and we just came back
from Europe, so that should be very interesting.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
By the way, is d K. I asked him yesterday.
I said, is there any circumstance in which you would
like to be referred to as de Kalen, which is
his name? And he said, well, I actually preferred to Kalen,
but everybody mispronounces it, so I go by DK. So
maybe maybe you can debut de Kalen metcalf tonight when
(03:15):
you introduce him missy, But.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We may have to get that in our broadcast on Sunday.
If that's what he prefers, that's what he prefers.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
But he did say that everyone says it incorrectly.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, he did exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
When he signed here, he goes no, DK is good,
but even Derek Carmon told us he prefers DJ, but
no one calls him DJ, not even Hiss.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Like teammates Derek Harmon.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Correct, but he goes by DJ usually.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well we might have to, uh, well, everybody pick a
name and try it.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Having said that, Max, does anybody ever call you Maximilian?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, they do, and there's usually people that that don't
know me as well, okay, because because they read Wikipedia
to get my background in yeah, Maximilian Stars, I'm like, huh.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Miss, miss you ever get Melissa? Does anybody in your
family call you Melissa?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
No, not unless like my parents are yelling at me.
Still okay, hopefully at this point in life. Doesn't happen often.
But my grandmother who lived the longest out of all
my grandparents, my my grandma Gean, she did call me
Melissa and I still respond. Coach Tomlin calls it my
government name, and Bert Latin from pr uses it a lot.
(04:36):
A bunch of people will say it, I think, just
to see if I respond or not, but I do.
It is my real name, yeah, I just never never
really went by it.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Right, And it is interesting with all the name business
so in uh, you know, as long as we're all
being honest, my family calls me Robbie.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
It's only professional.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
And by the way, if anybody's out there whose last
name is King, you know that everybody whose last name
is King, it's called Kinger by just about everybody. So
most people call me Kinger because because that's just that
comes with the name that comes with the last name.
There's no stark ser or Matthews. Err, but if you're king,
(05:21):
you're gonna be kinger.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
That's just well, I get I get starky, I get starky.
Yeah yeah, like they cut the s off. And you
know how most people just like to add a why
to everything.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
Right, like starks be okay, otherwise you got to be
teamed with somebody named hutch and we don't want to
go down that way.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
No, no, no, yeah no it's not a good But
my nickname in my family, which I guess I could say,
I mean because somebody's really gonna was four. Oh yeah,
that was that was my nickname because four, right, So
I used to get four. And then when it was
like me, my granddad, and my dad altogether, it literally
was junior. Three and four were our nicknames just because
(06:00):
if you said Max, all three of us were gonna respond,
right of course. So of course, so it was like,
so my great grandmother used to be like three, four
are all that come in here? Yeah? So so yeah,
I So for the longest time my nickname was just four,
Like I just I had a numerical name attached to
to to who I was in my family household. But
(06:22):
obviously now you know my dad, he's he's still three.
But obviously I'm not gonna call him that that that's
a familiar no oh no, yeah. Yeah. And so I
still get four every once in a while. So if
somebody calls me four, it's usually a family member from
when I from when I grew up.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Gotcha?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
So okay, So Missy, we did the uh the Steelers
Injury Report presented by UPMC, the official healthcare provider and
health plan at the Pittsburgh Steelers, a little earlier in
the program. But I did want to ask you because
you are in tune with the team like like nobody else.
Your sense first of all, Mike tom Win great record
coming out of the buy, Your sense of where the
(07:02):
team stands physically, you know, if you if you have
any updates in that regard emotionally ready to go. I'm
sure the team is aware of the fact that they
have a great opportunity here in the AFC North, not
only to open division play, but just I know it's
awfully early to look at the standings, but you look
around and other teams are faltering. So what's your sense
(07:24):
of this team as they come out of the buy
and get ready to play their first AFC North game
on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I mean, I love that we can look at
the standings and look at all the schedules and you know,
ge ahead. But even you know, Alex high Smith admitted
over the bye weekend that he watched all the games.
It was kind of like, wow, this is crazy. But
I think the team is rejuvenated, rested. Obviously, it sounds
like Alex high Smith and Joey Porter Junior will be
(07:51):
back this week, which is huge for the Steelers defense.
And I do think, you know, Broderick Jones was saying,
you know, coach Tonlin's like your dad would. He starts talking,
you stand up straight and stop and you listen, and
he doesn't have to say hey guys at AFC North football.
But he said there is a little extra pep in
his step, which is you know, saying something considering that
(08:12):
he is pretty much the same person whether it's an
AFC North game, a preseason game, after a win, after
a loss. But I you know, it is exciting when
the AFC North play does start. And we were saying
yesterday on our matchup show, we had a way till
Week eleven last year was insane, so he's this year,
it doesn't feel as insane as it did last year.
(08:37):
You played four games, you got in early by week six, okay, cool,
and you have two of them in a row as well.
So I think guys know that they need to keep
playing good football. There's things that everybody needs to improve on.
It's still early quote unquote in the season, and hopefully
that's something they can do, especially getting a chance to
be at home. Croke Park was home for but weird
(09:01):
that this is only the second game in Pittsburgh and
it's you know, mid October for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
No, it's indeed like it's kind of crazy to think
about that this is home game number three yet home
game number two and acroshure. So it's gonna be fun
to get back. And like you said, the last time
we were out in after sure it wasn't the best outing,
as we all remember, we'd rather have more Croke Park
like results when we have a home game, Missy. I'm
(09:30):
kind of I'm intrigued because when you look at the
Cleveland Browns, right the defense says we should be elite.
The offense is going through that transition, and obviously last
week Dylan Gabriel makes his first start for the team,
and in a corresponding move a couple of days later,
(09:51):
you trade away trade away Joe Flacco. So you literally
have two rookies and Bailey Zappi. That's what's your quarterback
looks like right now as your potential emergency third. You know,
as you kind of look at the scene, I mean,
what what are you gleaning from this? And obviously I
(10:12):
know the team's not overlooking this at all, but what
are you looking for to like, what are some of
the key things that you that you're looking for as
far as matchup wise or storyline wise carrying into this game?
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Well, I think you know, as you said, you look
at the Browns defense and it's what you typically expect.
They're they're really good at a lot of things, and
that's usually a problem for teams. We saw what happened
last year when the Steelers went to Cleveland on that
Thursday night snowy game. But I also think in terms
of the Browns, it's a really strong rookie draft class
for them. And you hate to say that because you
(10:48):
don't want anybody in your division to draft well, you
always want to draft better than them. You know, have
some up up and comer guy that no one really
knows about, and then he you know, kind of appears
on the seam. But they're asking a lot of their
rookie class because they have to. But their rookie class
is also delivering. I think just when you look at
Dylan Gabriel, I mean, first start was in London, careers
(11:12):
start in the NFL. You know, their run game with Judkins,
It's just it's kind of crazy when you look at
it like that. But I think, you know what I
am looking most forward to trying to see on Sunday
is what can the Steelers offense do against this defense?
Because this is a true test for them, especially when
you took until your fourth game to really get the
(11:34):
run game going, and it wasn't with Jalen Wore and
it was with Kenneth Gainwell, which you know, who cares
how it happened, But they finally were over one hundred
yards and it felt like, you know, offensive lineman, could
you know, get that mojo going that you guys always
talk about Max where it's like you can run the ball.
There's no better feeling for an alignment. But can they
(11:55):
do it against this Browns defense who is really good
at stopping the run. How fast is Aaron Rodgers going
to have to get the ball out against them? Or
can he maybe hold it for a half a second
or a second longer to try to get downfield, or
you know, maybe look for some of the tight ends
they haven't utilized a lot. So that's what I am
(12:16):
most forward most looking forward to seeing on Sunday, and hopefully,
as we keep saying, you know, this isn't the game
you overlook. It's a division game, you throw the records out,
but it would be good to be able to stay
on track. And even though the Browns did trade Joe Flacco,
we'll forget this seehim in like a week.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Exactly.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
But by the way, this is a game where I
think I would still like to see Aaron Rodgers, who
has the quickest release in football, continue that trend. And
by the way, Missy, this is the rookie class with
the most snaps in the NFL, so they are, to
your point, asking a ton of this group. And now
Dylan Gabriel is starting at quarterback, which gets me to
(12:57):
something that you were talking about yesterday in the matchup,
which is the show that we tape with Matt Williamson
is that you know, Mike Tomlin has great success against
rookie quarterbacks, and what he and Tarrell Austin can kind
of draw up to try to confuse Dylan Gabriel. I mean,
clearly he wanted to use the tight ends frequently. They
(13:21):
were they absorbed a high number of the targets. And Nadjoku,
who of course we know, and then Harold Fannon another
one of the rookies. That's that's playing a ton of
third round draft choice at tight end for the Browns.
And you know, Deshaun Elliott coming back. You know, we
saw the game the two games prior to that, three
touchdown receptions for tight ends and there looks like a
(13:43):
gaping hole in the middle. And then you have to
face you know, Hawkinson and Osbourne with Minnesota, and they
were non factors.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Deshaun played a part of that for sure.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
But but game planning, I think probably specifically to stop
the run, but then confuse Gabriel in those in those
passing situation and try to take away the tight end.
It's gonna be one of the fascinating things I think
to watch in this game.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, and I think because you are getting Joey porterback.
Now it doesn't look like as we sit here right now,
you know eleven fifteen on Friday, that Jalen Ramsey is
gonna make it, but you never know. So that kind
of adds a different you know, coog into the mix
of you're getting guys back, but then you're also losing, oh,
I don't know, like a key part of your defense potentially.
(14:29):
But I do think that the mind games that you
can play with a rookie quarterback. Okay, so you realize
he likes those tight ends, it's like, all right, if
we can stop the run and take those guys away,
that makes his life very difficult. And that's when you
can really force a young player into bad decisions. And
I just think the turnover rate that we have seen
(14:49):
in the last two games, which were obviously wins by
the Steelers, there's something there with that in terms of
the takeaways, the pressures, the sacks, they are just they
see stuff of that. They're like a hungry pack of
wolfs and you like open the door and they get
to go out. And I am hoping that that really continues,
(15:09):
especially being back at home. You know, for Dylan Gabriel,
it is going to be loud. Steelers fans are pumped
about this team. Not that they wouldn't be regardless, but
I just think because it has been a really long
time since you can see a game in Pittsburgh live,
there will be something to the crowd noise and that effect,
which obviously for the Steelers defense, it goes back to
(15:31):
an earlier issue of communication. It will be hard for
them too, but I think they're in a better place
and I think the Shawn Elliott really helps that in
terms of the hub of communication of you know, getting
the call from PQ and then helping, you know, spread
the word to some of the guys in the back.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah. No, I think that has to be the key
to the communication. I feel like when the communication is clean,
this team is just rock star status. When when they
when they're communicating, you see they're in a zone like
we kind of saw for three quarters of that game
against the Vikings. Wanted to bring your attention to this,
(16:14):
just wanted to ask because obviously you are tied into this.
On the injury front. We've gotten some good news, We've
gotten not as good news now. Granted, some of those
guys are kind of more expected, right, I mean, the
Jalen Ramsey and Calvin Austin the way it's trending. Obviously
today is a different day, but we haven't seen them
(16:36):
trending in the upward arrow. The guys who had the
upward arrow during the Mike Donland press conference being Joey
Porter Junior and Alice high Smith there have been listed
as full participants last couple of days and you've been
around practice. How is it, how is it looked out
there getting getting those two faces back into the fold.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Well, we can't tell you exactly what happens at practice.
That's against meeting.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Yes, sorry, sorry, not that part. We want to be
in compliance at all times, that's right.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yes, you know, we follow the rules here on the
Steelers Audio Network. I just think that you know, they
they both it's been too long of a chunk that
they've missed. You know, this wasn't like a one game thing,
and you could just tell by their body language what
they have said in the locker room openly to the
media that they've been chomping. It's a bit to get back,
and it was probably almost worse that there was a
(17:30):
bye week, because it was like another week where you
couldn't do anything but you weren't even able to like
cheer on your teammates. Alex Heissmith didn't even come to
Dublin with the team because they felt it was best
for his ankle to not deal with potential you know,
swelling and just all the issues that can go with
sitting on a plane for six seven hours. So he
was kind of bummed about that. I know his wife
(17:50):
still made the trip over. I'm sure she had plans
with her family and friends whoever she was over there with.
So you know, there's a lot that goes into the
rehab part match. You know, people just think, oh, they
they go and they you know, get some ice or
heat on it and do this or that. It's almost
harder when you're rehabbing and trying to get back to playing.
(18:13):
It not that playing is much easier, but it's more
of a mind game with yourself and also just what
you have to do to get there. And of course,
you know, even Jalen Warren really wanted to go in Dublin,
but coach Tumlins said they just they didn't feel like
it was worth it. They didn't think that it was
it was enough percentage wise. That made the medical staff
(18:35):
and coaching staff comfortable with letting him go. Luckily that
worked out and now you know he is a full
participant as well. I think we just kind of because
it was only one game, it wasn't really much of
an issue, and he's been full But as you said,
I think for Joey and Alex, it's a little bit different. Missy.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Thank you very much of the time. Always appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
What are you looking forward to tonight with the big
fashion show and where, by the way, if.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
It's Stage A e I pickets might still be available.
I'm not sure, but you get head the Steelers dot
com if you're interested. I have to say is it's
one of my favorite nights ever. Players just kind of
let loose, let their hair down. They're funny, they're entertaining.
There's somebody on the team that can play the piano,
who can play a Meek Mill song on the piano
(19:25):
that would be taking place, and then I'm not going
to tell you who it is what, but maybe I'll
let you wow, maybe I'll let you guys try to
figure that that hidden talent out. But yeah, lots of
fun surprises and yeah, you'll have to stay tuned, Missy.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Always appreciate it, and we look forward to talking to
you on Sunday and hearing all about it. Regaling us
with stories of rubbing elbows with the elite at the
fashion show tonight.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
This this sounds good. I can't wait, guys.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Thank you, Missy.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
That's Missy Matthews with us on the broadcast on Sunday.
We cannot wait to get started with the game. But
in the meantime there is still plenty to talk about.
We want to talk about Maxican to give you his
keys to the game, and we also really want to
get into the Browns offense with a rookie quarterback, and
(20:23):
the Steelers defense, which has shown signs not complete games,
but certainly, you know, some disruptive elements in the last
couple of games. We're going to get to that when
we continue in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio,
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
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 5 (21:12):
And thanks very much for being with us. Thanks to
Missy Matthews for joining us moments ago.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Max.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
We're gonna get to our keys in the game in
a moment. But we spent a lot of time talking
about the Steelers offense versus the Browns defense because I
think it's a really intriguing matchup, and I think for
most people that is probably in this game, the most
intriguing matchup. However, there's still the other side, and you know,
can you overwhelm a rookie quarterback and you know, bring
(21:45):
down a Browns offense that is tied for last in
a league in points per game fourteen point six points
per game. They've got a rookie quarterback going. You know,
you go through Matt's stats and you know which so
our buddy Matt Williamson sends us all these statistics, some
of which are great in depth talking points and which
(22:07):
we'll get to as a season wears on more and
more to dive into some of these stats, and Matt
brings us but you know, all the stats for the
Browns offense are pretty much bad.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
But the eye test, to me is a little bit different,
because you know, Judkins missed.
Speaker 5 (22:27):
Camp had an off the field issue had to be
worked back in. He looks. I mean, I'm no scout Max,
but he looks really good. I mean really good. Like
I think they've got their running back in the future.
Dylan Sampson gives him a change of pace. Jerome Ford.
You know, it's always been a hard runner. I get
(22:50):
the sense, you know, if I'm looking at the Steelers
and I look at say what the Jets did, I
don't know. Even though you don't, you know, Dylan Gabriel
isn't isn't gonna line up and run it like justin Fields.
I don't know why you wouldn't try to run, line
it up and run it at this Steelers defense. And
if they have success doing that, and that opens up
the tight ends in the passing game, and Gabriel is
(23:14):
cautious enough with the football, you could see this being
a low scoring game, you know, a death struggle type
of game that the Browns could come out on top
of him. Mean, I could see that being a scenario
and a blueprint in which they follow and Having said that,
Kevin Stefansk he doesn't like to seem to run the ball.
I mean, I think he wants to throw it. And
maybe they'll come out with a young quarterback and throw
(23:36):
it to try to loosen things up and then go
back to the run. But you know, this side's got
its own intrigue, maybe not the big names that the
other side has, but you know, I still think this
is gonna be an interesting matchup. A Steelers defense trying
to improve it. It hasn't been phenomenal yet, but now
all of a sudden the last two weeks, you know,
(23:57):
creating turnovers, sacking the core arterback, showing a lot of
the elements we expected to see kind of from the jump.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Yeah, no, I mean it would make perfect sense. But
you know, even in his debut right Kevistebanski aired the
ball out thirty seven times with Dylan Gabriel, like as
a rookie. And I think, like you said, the Browns
appetite to run the football, no matter how dynamic, the
running back is always conservative, always trying to be, you know, cautious.
(24:29):
I don't know if it's the Nick Chubb effect when
we played him, and you know, I wonder if that
PTSD sets in for two years.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
But I mean prior to the Chub injury.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
It was a couple of years before that, and the
Steelers had a really, really porous run defense. It's the
worst run defense I can remember in my entire time
in Pittsburgh. They were near the bottom of the league.
Here come the Browns into Pittsburgh. Baker Mayfield's got a
bum shoulder. Nick Chubb is eating it up for them.
(25:05):
You know, this is Nick Chubb and it's prime, just
a terrific back. And what do they do. They come
out and throw it all over the field with a
with a lame armed quarterback. Baker Mayfield was hurt and
completely ignore the run against a team that couldn't stop
the run. That's still to me one of those baffling
games I've ever seen. As you recall that game, you know,
(25:28):
several years ago in Pittsburgh in which the Steelers defeated
the Browns. But so I don't know what they're I mean,
that's why I say, like, I think that's one possible blueprint.
It's certainly from the outside looking in. And look, Kevin
Stefanski is a two time Coach of the Year you know,
he knows what he's doing. But it seems to me
like this is the kind of game where you say,
(25:48):
all right, let's see if they can stop our run.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Yeah. I mean that's where I think it's kind of
very interesting, right you know. Oh I hope that I
hope that nobody from Cleveland coaching staff or player wise
listens to this podcast or this show to get the
ideas of, hey, maybe we should do things differently, like
keep doing what you're doing. I don't want them to
(26:15):
remember that, right if they decide that, you know what,
they don't. They don't understand who quin Shawn Jenkins is.
After all, he's done good. I hope they don't. But
you're right, it's always befuddling and questionable about how they're
going to view this. I mean, I think about it,
(26:36):
and you know, if I'm the Browns, that's exactly what
I want to I want to run the football. I
want to dare you to stop us right once is
an accident, twice as a habit show me that you
can actually consistently stop the run game, because that's what
we're going to give it to you. And we got
a better offensive line than the Minnesota Vikings. We believe
we're more effective. Right, You're coming off of you know
(26:57):
Quinn Shawn Juckins who had one hundred and ten yards
rushing last week and you know and still at eighteen yards,
so I mean he had one hundred and twenty eight
total scrimmage yards last week in the game against the
Vikings where it looked like they were in control, then
they kind of lost control. So you know, you don't
want them feeling invigorated now by this youth movement in
(27:17):
the backfield offensively, and like I said, they felt good
enough to have to have Dylan Gabriel tossed the ball
thirty seven times, you know, Gan he completed twenty two
at two hundred and nine passing yards, but he had
three touchdown passes in that game. That's where you have
to worry about that. And the guy leading the way,
(27:40):
of course, is a familiar name, and David Njoku, Right,
a tight end's best you know, a quarterback's best friend
is his tight end security blanket. That's what he used
to always call, you know, Heath Miller, Like Heath Miller
was our tight ensecurity blanket when it went in doubt.
If guys couldn't get downfield. Heath was always there and
that's what they and that's what you see Dylan Gabriel
having with David and Joku. Cannot lose David and Joku
(28:05):
while trying to cover the back half. Right, You've got
to have that guy that intermediate game because that's where
the pressure relieve is. You know, tight end. They look
at it almost like a checkdown plus when you can
toss it to the tight end. So you've got to
kind of sew up those little short pops when they run,
because that's where the play action becomes effective. Right, guys
(28:26):
get up in the box, tight end gets right behind
the coverage linebackers played one or two steps up too much,
dump over the top, Hello, David and Joku. That's what
the defense is going to be up against is playing
from the line of scrimmage to eight yards deep. That's
the sweet spot for this Browns offense.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
Yes, agreed. And you know, by the way, I'm going
to take you back. The game was twenty twenty one.
It was January third in Pittsburgh and Nick Chubb, so
you know that year you had you know Rasha Penny,
he wasn't a starter really Tony Poller, he wasn't a starter.
(29:04):
Of the starting running backs in the NFL. Nick Chubb
at five point five yards per carry was the leader.
He was a leader of the pack. That'siere Jonathan Taylor
at eighteen hundred and eleven yards and led the league
in rushing. So you come in, Baker Mayfield's got a
bad arm. Nick Chubb runs the ball twelve times for
fifty eight yards. Remember the steers are averaging. They average
(29:25):
one hundred and forty six rushing yards against. They were
the last in the NFL at the end of that season,
and this was the penultimate game of the regular season,
and so they ran Nick Chubb twelve times fifty eight
yards four point eight yards per carry. He had a
thirty two yarder in there. Baker Mayfield threw the ball
(29:48):
thirty eight times through two picks. Remember this was a
bad armed, you know, Baker Mayfield. You know, this was
a guy who was who was you know, dealing with
it with an arm issue, and they just they just didn't.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Run the ball.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
And so I've always, I've always, you know, every time
I think about what Kevin Stefansi's gonna do it again
A two time Coach of the Year. I always think
back to that game and think, well, it seemed like
one in one would equal to you know, great running game. Okay,
one plus one plus one equals three great running game.
(30:24):
Quarterback with a bad arm, bad running defense. Right, we're
gonna run the ball, and they just didn't do it.
So I don't know what they're gonna do, but it
seems to me like, hey, man, Judkins has looked really,
really good, and they've got three guys, especially in the
interior of that offensive line, who are really good players,
(30:46):
you know who you could at least conceivably try to
run the football right at the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Yeah, I mean until otherwise proven. Right. I mean, you know,
we always talk about this phrase, and you've heard me
say this number of times on this show. Rob You
are what you put on tape, and it takes a
month to dispel whatever negativity, whatever weakness, whatever thing can
be exploited. Teams are going to try and exploit it
(31:14):
until you stomp it out four weeks in a row.
And so that's what you're dealing with. Right. It doesn't
matter if your home, doesn't matter, if you're away, doesn't matter,
if you're across the pond. You know, teams are looking at,
what's your body of work thus far? Have you done
more this way versus the other way. Well, we're gonna
keep testing it this way. And for the Steelers defense
(31:36):
is stopping the run. We only have to look back
to the Seattle game. It's recent history, right. You can
look at the Patriots game. You can look at the
Minnesota Vikings games and say, man, this defense is back.
But you go back three weeks, three games, it was
a problem. You go back to the beginning of the season. Right,
(31:57):
Steelers are three and one. They've only played four games.
Half the games they've been really good defensively and stopping
the run. The other half they've been pissed poor. So
they're going to lean on this team being pissed poor
because they haven't done it four times in a row
versus what they've done in most more recent history. So
there's no reason to not believe that they would come
(32:19):
in and want to run the football while doing this,
because it makes no sense not to at least try
it and then let it fail and then start airing
it out again like they're used to.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
And here's the thing too, And we've talked about this
with the Browns. So for those who are maybe not
well versed in the Cleveland Browns, you know you've got
a Posik at center. He's a really good player. He's
just a good, solid center you have. I know they're
getting older, but Potonio and Teller are multiple Pro Bowl guys.
(32:53):
Jack Conklin at right tackle always been regarded as a
better run blocker than a pass blocker. He's going to
be going against he J Watt. Your left tackle situation
is a mess. It's been a mess. They traded for
Cam Robinson, they put him right in the starting lineup,
a long time starter. He had troubles against Minnesota, some penalties,
they benched him. I don't know who's gonna be playing
(33:15):
left tackle, but that is a big, big problem in
pass protection, the left tackle position. It all adds up to,
you know, uh, Concord's a two time Pro Bowler right
tackle it all and again, as we mentioned, better run blocker.
Throughout his career, that's been the reputation that a pass blocker.
Not that he's a bad pass blocker, but you know,
(33:36):
a really good run blocker. That's what I would expect
to see. Quinn Shawn Judkins running a lot.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
But we'll see, we'll see what they're gonna do.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
And then if you and then if you get that going, Max,
like you said, now it's play action and you've got
the tight ends. You've got short throws uh that are
that are that are e you're to make for Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Although I will also say this, I look back to last.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Night's game and and what they did with Jackson Dart
the you know, the Giants and other rookie starting quarterback,
and they ran a lot of you know, shorter stuff,
but stuff moving, not just like let's throw it out
to the flat, uh and hope our running back breaks
four tackles. It was which which seemed to be a
(34:25):
lot of what we saw with Joe Flacco, like late
looks out to the flat and but but you know,
can you get guys on the move? Can you make short,
conservative passes, easier throws, uh, you know, more risk adverse throws,
but that allow your guys to get moving, get them
on the run, little slants, little out patterns with with
(34:47):
clearouts that allow you to kind of make that easy
pitch and catch. We'll see, because that seems to be
throwing the football seems to me more of the Browns
DNA now having said that they ran them ball plenty
with Nick Up, just not on January third of twenty
twenty two against the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Yeah, I mean they need to continually focus on this
for the fact that you have a young quarterback. And
here's the thing. They should have been doing this when
they had Joe Flecko as well, right, running the football more.
The easiest way to keep your your your offense balance
is make sure you have an effective run game, yep,
and that you exhaust the options because especially with a
young quarterback, I mean think about this, like we had
(35:29):
a ridiculously absurd record when been through the ball twenty
five times or less his rookie in the first couple
of years in the league. Like we almost had a
ninety percent win percentage when we were at that. When
been through over that, that's that's when the win percentage
went lower. And for rookie quarterbacks, I mean outside of C. J. Stroud,
maybe Jayden Daniels and even Joe Burrow early on his
(35:52):
rookie year didn't have as much. I think he saw
more success that second year when he came back healthy.
But when you could run the ball effectively and you
don't have to sling the ball thirty plus times. That
means you're in a good place as a team. And
I think that's the basic working knowledge football head coach
one oh one when dealing with a rookie quarterback. Establish
(36:12):
the run game and get that going before anything else.
And so that's what I'm going to be really interesting
to see if they hold to that, because, like you said,
the proof's in the pudding. The guy had one hundred
plus yards rushing. I'm sure they would love to have
a back to back one hundred yard rusher not named
Nick Chubb on their roster. This would be a great
opportunity for Quinn John Junkins to kind of prove that.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
And just quickly in the passing game. You know, Najoku
leads a team with twenty actually second on the team
with twenty receptions, behind the rookie tight end Harold Fannon
third round pick we mentioned earlier in our conversation with Missy.
The number one guy in targets is Jerry Judy thirty
five targets, only fifteen catches. He's a guy that you know,
(36:54):
look he's big, you know, he's capable, big plays, but
he's he is plagued by drops, it just everything. And
Isaiah Boyd Isaiah Bond a bigger pardon Cedric Tillman's hurt,
so that doesn't help their wide receiver corps. So they're
leaning more now in Isaiah Bond, who was a you know,
a talented guy coming out of high school, talent, a
(37:14):
guy coming out of college. He's had some off the
field issues, so he went undrafted. You know, maybe he
would have been a mid round selection type of player,
you know, if there weren't other factors. Again, leaning on
my draft guru for that information. Not anything that I
would know in specifics, but that seems to be the
scouting report on him, so, you know, not not an
(37:37):
incapable number guy guy. You'd probably rather have Tilman in
there and have to be your three. So again we're
pointing toward what are your strengths. Well, you have four
solid offensive alignment, solid and better than solid offensive lineman,
a really promising rookie running back. Some questions at the
receiver position we'll see and coming up next, we are
(38:02):
going to get our Keys to the game from Max Starks.
The Steelers and our AFC North play against the Cleveland Browns. First,
we want to remind you get ready for the game man.
Gear up with the latest game day necessities at the
official Steelers Pro Shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys,
Terrible Tows, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only
find directly from the team.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Visit one of the official Steelers.
Speaker 5 (38:25):
Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium, Grove City Premium Outlets,
or Tang Route Let's 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.
Back and more in the Locker Room presented by your
neighborhood Ford Store and the Steers Pro Shop on Steelers
Nation Radio apart of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio presented by your Neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifth 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 (39:12):
Oh, right back at the Locker Room. It is one
last segment, one last show before we get to the
game on Sunday. There's a day in between here it's
called Saturday, get your college football fix on. But right
now it's the bell lap, one last opportunity. Ten minutes,
(39:36):
that's right, less than ten minutes to get your forage
on or find your site of forging madness. Or maybe
you have a lunchbox. Maybe that's what you decided to
be a little healthy on Friday because you knew Saturday
is going to be a little more laced with fried,
happy goodness and comfort foods galore. I mean you were
talking about the nachos, the wings, all the good stuff
that makes a college football Saturday at Saturday, kinger h
(40:01):
if you you know what, what is your if you
had a comfort football viewing watching meal, what would that be? What?
What would be the item or accouterment that would say,
you know what, this is a great.
Speaker 6 (40:16):
Saturday to watch college football. Wow, that's what comes. That's
a great question. I love uh. I love buffalo chicken dip.
That's a big favorite of mine. I love a chicken wing.
I had some chicken wings last night, kind of regretting
(40:37):
it right now.
Speaker 5 (40:40):
Tasted off a good last night, though, Man, I would
say those are probably those are probably you know, one
and two on my list in in in neither order.
But I mean you give me get you know, salta
and chips, little guacam only that's always good. You know,
anytime a chunk of cheese is thrown down in front
(41:03):
of me, that's going to be attacked. So, you know,
I think that it's a it's a day of gnashing,
you know what I mean, It's not a day to
me to have, you know, a hamburger, which might be
my absolute go to meal, like hamburger might be my
favorite number one meal ahead of steak, had a pasta ahead,
and just give me a good hamburger and I'm a
(41:25):
pretty happy guy. But I think that for football viewing,
it's that steady sort of Okay, what's next. Okay, have
a little bit of chip and dip with some guacamole. Oh,
some buffalo dips coming out? Oh fantastic. Uh you know,
let's say, oh we got half a dozen chicken wings.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Uh, you know, get the blue cheese out here. Let's go.
How about for you?
Speaker 2 (41:50):
So I am a guy that when I am home
and I do have an opportunity to embrace the time
honored tradition and ritual that is involved with consuming copious
amounts of food while washing television in a sedentary position.
(42:14):
I make my own caso dip. Okay, I make it
with a spice, like a spicy crumbled sausage in there.
Oh that's quite cheriso.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
The mouth waters I love myself. Yeah, little spicy sauage.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
Yeah. So so I do a spicy sausage caso dip.
That is that is my ultimate comfort food. And I
I opt for the tostedo scoops because I need a
good well understood you know. The points are good and
you get the kind of the the the dredge off,
you know what I'm saying. You get a little bit there.
But when you want to get the sausage, like you
(42:49):
have to kind of dip leaned it in and then
you have to like do a balancing act. It's teetering
on the little morsel of sausage, right, So I need
to I need a tostito scoop.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
You know. And that's how it is thoughtful. Chip selection
can't be overlooked.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Like if you want to be overlooked, like I like
to get a little I like to so you know,
you can get the cheese and the packet pre ground.
But it's it's better if you get the grinder out yourself,
get that fresh cheddar, sharp cheddar, and go over to
the top that go over the top of the nachos,
popping in the microwave for a minute, and the way
you go throw some jilapenos on there by the way,
that's one of my my mouth's watering around, just say,
(43:26):
that's one of my all time favorites. But you're right,
those are inadequate for scooping something like caso. Yeah, thoughtful,
proper chip selection is extremely important.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Salsa is one thing. The you know, the grocery store
out here, they actually have a hatch chili caso dip
that's already made. You just kind of heat it up,
put it in a little thing. That's fine. That's fine
for a triangular chip, right when. Yeah, we all love
we all, we all love shapes, we all love geometry,
but we're talking about when you get that little just
(44:01):
wrapped morsel cut dipping scoop that or like a good
a big corn chip, you know what I'm saying, Like
that's the other one. You know, Fredo's has those scoops.
Trader Joe's has something corn dippers like you have those
and those are good too. And also it's about your
chip to dip ratio, you know, because it's a thicker chip,
(44:21):
so you want to get a dipper scoop with the
corn chips. But when you're talking about like a tortilla
style chip, the tisso scoops is the ultimate way to go.
And so so that's my number one.
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Okay, caso dip, that's that's number one, by the way,
By the way, in a rarity, because we have to
get to the keys of the game before we go
off the air, we will, I mean we will. Maybe
we'll explore, maybe explore more more food products. I think
that's a good idea. But I have to disagree with
you slightly on something and I rarely do this, Max,
But you say we all love geometry.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
I love math. I always love math.
Speaker 5 (44:55):
But boy, side angle side equal side angle side, man,
I I don't.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
Know if I love geometry or not.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
So when it comes to food, okay, all right, yeah, yeah,
right right, Only in the food sense.
Speaker 5 (45:08):
It is a pretty good triangle, you know, the hand
to the dip to the mouth. The mouth's the high
pot and noose right, Yeah, yeah, we got something there. Okay,
So Max, it is time for the Keys of the Game,
presented by your neighborhood Ford.
Speaker 3 (45:21):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (45:21):
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. You're coming out of the by the rest
of the division is crumbling around you. You know, hugely
important game here against the Browns team. That again, We've
talked about it all week, guys. I just don't think
this is a game fans should be overlooking. What are
(45:42):
the keys to the game?
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Max? All right, Keys of the game. Don't go hungry
while watching the game. Just sorry, sorry, Now, i'mna be
serious here.
Speaker 4 (45:53):
No.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
The keys of the game is understand where ninety five
is as an offensive line. Nowhere he's at ever lose
sight of where ninety five is because he lines up
in so many different places. They're gonna be looking for
the fish. And what I mean by the fishes, They're
looking for the weakest matchup on the offensive line. That's
where you're gonna see a lot of Miles Garrett focus
going in. And I believe it's gonna start outside with
(46:16):
Roderick Jones. Is a perceived thing with him, and I
think it moved. It probably moved somewhat to the other
side in that B gap between Troy Fatano and Mason McCormick.
I think those are the sweet spots they're looking to
kind of exploit with Miles Garrett, So watch for those.
That's the big Beefeeder matchup right there is o Line
versus nine to five. The other thing, Dylan Gabriel versus
(46:39):
our secondary you know, got Joey Porter junior back, still
got big play Sleigh, Deshaun Elliott, wan Thornhill, Janalen Ramsey
of course, is one that's gonna be a question marks.
So do you activate Beanie Bishop, do you move somebody
down that's already on in that group into that nickel
slot position? Do you bring in Brandon eccles to now
play that slot. That's gonna be a big question about
(47:01):
how do you deploy the secondary pieces against a rookie
quarterback As already showed he'd thrown the ball thirty seven times,
so they're gonna put the ball in the air. The
next step is going to be big nasty d Line.
Apparently we learned his nicknames DJ, so you know he
wants to call DJ, Im'll call him DJ. Dj Harmon
along with Cam Hayward, along with Keanu Benton along with
(47:22):
Ya Black and of course the Fierce Edges. Welcome back,
mister high Smith. Can't wait to see the watt Heismith
duo back in action. How does that front line handle
the offensive line and blocking and preventing quinn Sewn Jenkins
from getting a back to back one hundred yard game.
That's my next big matches. So those are my three
key matches right there. Two defensively, one offensively secondary versus
(47:45):
the young QB D line versus the running back, and
Miles Garrett versus the entire offensive line. Those are my
three keys to the game.
Speaker 5 (47:53):
Can't wait, my friend, looking forward to seeing you on
Sunday as we get the honor along with Missy Matthews
who joined us early. Thank you, Missy of calling this
game the first AFC North once again second straight year.
The Steelers is the last team to play division matchup
last year Week eleven this year Week six, as they
(48:13):
take on the Cleveland Browns for Max Starks for Justin
Miller producing in our iHeart Studio, I'm Rob King. We
thank you as always for being in the locker Room
presented by your neighborhood Ford Store, and the Steelers Pro
Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers
Audio Network.
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