August 6, 2025 • 41 mins
The guys are joined by Jaguars' play by play man Frank Frangie to discuss the game Saturday.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
By Heart Radios.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Live Coverage not twenty twenty five Steelers Training Camp is
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By Pennsylvania One Call System, by.
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Speaker 3 (00:38):
And thank you very much for being with us inside
the locker room with King and Stark, presenter Bury Neighborhood
for Word Store here on the Steelers Audio Network, and
we are getting ready.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
The Steelers are getting ready for a game week, which is.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
You know, a little bit something different, right, something to
look forward to for the players and something for us
to look forward to as uh as we watch, you know,
the Steelers play somebody else. So we are joined now
by guys got some University of Florida ties, by the way,
Max Starks, Yeah, we'd be happy to know that. And
that is Frank Franzie, the play by play guy of
(01:14):
the Jacksonville Jaguars. Frank, thanks very much for being with
us inside the locker room with King and Starks.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Rob, it's great to be on with you and Max. Yeah,
Max and I are both Florida grads. Max was certainly
a way more prominent than I was. He was a
very good football player there and I was just a guy, Rob,
So but we Gators kind of stick together. But and
welcome to you to our little play by play fraternity.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Oh it's a great job, so thank you, Thanks Frank.
It was.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It was an absolute joy and I loved it. And
hopefully I can be fortunate to hang out of the
job for many more years.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
That's my hope. Max, Starks and.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
Frank that's that's that's how it goes, and you'll be fine.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
So, Frank, I have to ask you.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
You know, when you think about this Jacksonville team, sounds
like a brand.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
New beginning, right.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
You bring in a general manager James Gladstone, and then
a new coach and Liam Cohen, a lot of youth
in both of those positions, some exuberance. Does it feel
like a young, energetic training camp to you?
Speaker 5 (02:15):
It does. I think that's probably the best way to
describe it.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Rob.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
They're all pulling in the same direction. We've needed that.
You know, so many times, the GM is fighting for
his job and the coach is fighting for his job,
and you guys in Pittsburgh haven't had that because Mike's
been there for so long and Omar has been part
of it for so long. Well, here there's been a lot,
there's been a lot of congestion, if you will, at
(02:38):
the top, and they're not there anymore. Tony Bocelli, who's
the EVP now and the most legendary player that ever
played here, is a very good leader. He brought in
James Gladstone. I think he's a rockstar. Rob. I think
he's going to be a really good GM here. Liam
Cohen's a young coach. But they're all pulling in the
same direction. They're very close. They think similarly. When they disagree,
they disagree respectfully. Hardly maybe, but respectfully. It has a
(03:02):
good vibe to it. Now. Look, there's a lot of
work to do. Everybody's in a good move when you're undefeated,
right and then there's no games yet. But I do
think they're pulling in the same direction. The vibe around
the team, and I've done this for a while now,
Rob is as good as it's been in a long time,
and that's very healthy for these Jaguars for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Frank Frangie is our guest, and before we get into
the team in general, I do want to ask you about,
you know, James Gladstone's first big splash move. I mean,
you know, you look, you're signing free agents and you're
doing other things. But I think from the outside looking in,
the first big splash move was he trades up to
get Travis Hunter. And it felt like part of the
explanation was not only we getting a great football player,
(03:42):
We're getting two great football players. We're getting a guy
who's going to play wide receiver and corner for us.
It was a bold statement move by new general manager
James Gladstone.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
Well that's the word, Rob. It was bold, and I
think these guys will be bold. I think that. Listen,
when you're young and free and easy and you have
no negative marks on your resume, you can be bold. Right,
You're not afraid of what people will say. But it
was a bold move. And look, the big question around
here has been how much is he going to play
on both sides. I gotta tell you, when they drafted
(04:14):
Travis Hunter and talked about it, I thought he'd be
one of the three receivers on a regular basis, and
then would play defense on get off the field downs, right,
third down, fourth down, red zone downs late in the game,
late and a half. I don't think that's the case,
and nobody knows, you. I don't think they know yet.
That's kind of work their way through it because this
is a unicorn. It's a new situation. But Rob, I
(04:36):
think he's going to be a starter on both sides
of the ball. I think that's the plan. I think
he's going to be a starting receiver and a starting cornerback.
It was explained to me like, look and Max, you
know this. I mean in short yard is situation. He's
not going to be in there right on third in
the yard, He's not on either side of the ball,
He's not going to be in there. So there's sixty
two plays, an average of sixty two plays in an
(04:58):
NFL game per team. He plays forty five or fifty
on offense, he plays forty five or forty on defense.
That's ninety plays. Hey, he was playing one hundred and
fifty at Colorado.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Now it's a different league, But I will see. I
don't think they know for sure, but I think this
guy's gonna play. I'm both going to start on both
sides of the ball.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
I really do, yeah, And I think, you know, as
a guy, I actually got to call the Travis Hunter
I guess a Colorado game. I should say that a
Travis Hunter game, but I got to call a Colorado
game and it was impressive to watch because everybody was like, Hey,
you want to see this guy.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Watch what he does.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
He did not leave the field, and you were like,
oh my god, oh my god, what is this guy doing.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And he played at a high level.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
So obviously ensuing you get a Heisman Trophy for your efforts.
But like you said, the NFL is totally different. But
I am very intrigued by that because you know, when
you think about the prospect of really being a true
two way player and having an impact on both, it's
going to be impressive. But I kind of look at it,
you know, as we get into this first preseason game.
(06:00):
I mean, you know, we're in the era now where
a lot of starters, a lot of guys don't really
get to play. I mean, do you really see Travis
getting like a significant amount of reps in this preseason game?
Because obviously you're still trying to get him to the season.
Do you kind of get him warmed up a couple
series here, a couple series on the other.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Side of the ball, and then call it a day.
I mean, how do you do?
Speaker 6 (06:20):
Is there a sense for how much we can expect
to see him in the preseason?
Speaker 5 (06:25):
That's I don't think Liam even knows that yet, not
just with him, but even the other starters. Now, he's
going to play more than the other starters because he
needs to play some NFL games, right The other starters,
the veteran starters, aren't going to But but my guess
is you're not going to see him a lot, but
you're going to see all the rookies. So I think
you're going to see him some. And I think you're
going to see him some on both sides of the ball.
(06:45):
It might be one series on each, it might be
two series on each. Here's the other thing about the guy,
And if you did a Colorado game, you know this.
This is the thing that I'm probably most surprised slash
impressed with. Dude never gets tired. I think he could
run a marathon, you know, he just he's never tired.
I was told yesterday that he went into the coaches
and said he wants to do more and they said, bro,
(07:05):
you're already doing your offensive defense, sit out special teams.
It's okay, okay, we don't need you as a core
four special teamer. He just he's never out of energy.
That's what stands out about the guy. So, Max, to
your question, I think he'll probably play at least a
series or two on both sides of the ball against
the Steelers on Saturday night. That'd be my guest.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Yeah, one hundred and fifty games, by the way, at
altitude in Colorado.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
So yeah, that's that's a different animal there.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So our guest is Frank Franzi. He's the play by
play guy at the Jacksonville Jaguars. We're delighted to have
him on. Frank, I wanted to ask you about to me,
you know, Travis Hunter is the buzz for sure. He's
the new guy and he's trying to do something that's
very new. But it seems like this team is going
to rise and fall with Trevor Lawrence. It's a guy
(07:50):
that they you know, starred and was predicted for him.
It hasn't been an easy ride film when I look
at at this Jaguars team and I look at the weapons,
particularly wide receiver. I mean, Brian Thomas phenomenal rookie season,
and you know Travis Hunter. Then he go out and
get Diami Brown, who had a very good year with Washington.
(08:11):
I mean, I think on potential that top three receivers
set could be as good as any in the NFL.
Brenton Strange is a fine tight end. I don't know
for sure what they're going to do at the running
back position. They drafted a couple of rookies to go
behind Bigsby and etn. But it seems like, you know,
(08:32):
there are some pieces in place here, and if you
can get Trevor Lawrence's game to elevate to this to
the place where everybody thinks he can get to, this
might be a Jaguar team that surprises a lot of
people this year.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Rather thank you've done your homework, because you just outlined
is where they are. First of all, Trevor, he's going
to going into his fifth year. I've seen. It's been
my opinion that most quarterbacks not all the light went
on really quick for Patrick Mahomes and some guys Joe Burrow,
but for the most part. You've got to be in
the league four or five years. You've got to understand
how it's different. When you're at Clemson, your wide receiver
(09:07):
is generally going to outrun the wake Forest defensive back.
That's just kind of how it is, right and well,
here they're all fast. Everybody's fast, and I think you
have to learn that. The other thing is that I
don't know if it's good or bad. Trevis had to
learn a lot of different offenses. Man, he had an
offensive Clemson, then he got here with the Urban Meyer
thing and that didn't go so well. So then Doug
Peterson came in, and that's a different offense. Now here
(09:28):
comes leading with a different offense.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
The bad is you have.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
To learn a lot of offenses as a young guy.
The good of that is you've kind of learned how
to learn new offenses because you've had to do it
so often.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
You know.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
You know, Rob, I'm great at punching out of the
woods in my golf game. You know why because I've
got a lot of practice that I mean, okay, trust
trust me. Nobody get more practice out of the woods
than I do. So he's had to learn new systems
so many times that he's kind of learned, how do
I do it? How much film study does that require?
How much time enough to spend in meetings with my receivers?
(10:00):
Trevor's going to be okay. Trevor's a great kid, rob
He's a really good dude. He is if there's a fault,
in my opinion is there's a fault. He's such a
nice guy that sometimes you got to go get in
your wide receivers face and say you broke that route
off wrong or whatever. And I think he's growing into that.
I'm a big Trevor fan. He's a good person. He's
a tireless worker, and you're right, the light hadn't gone
(10:22):
on completely for him yet. He's got to eliminate the turnovers.
That's his big thing. Got to take better care of
the ball. But I think he's going to be a
good player. And back to the three receiver set, and
Deandrey Brown is really good and that's the one people
don't talk about as much. This could be the best
three receiver set we've ever had here.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Now.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
We had Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell back in the day.
Is a pair, but they never found the third guy
and the three receiver set that could be. You know,
that wide receiver room is really good. Here's there's some
question marks. I'm not sure where the offensive line is,
I'm not sure where the defensive interior is yet. But
that wide receiver room is really good. That's something people
are excited about around here. I can tell you that
(10:58):
and this.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
I just want to fall up with one more question
on the offensive I can can you talk about the
running back position, because you know Etn coming out or
starting predicted for him. I think Tank Biggsby, if I'm
not mistaken, had the better year a year ago.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You draft a couple of running backs.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
If I'm in that running back room, I'm like, uh okay,
I don't know how many running backs you're going to keep.
Can you talk a little bit about their what they
think about the running back room and about the two
rookies who are coming in to try to challenge presumably
challenge Bigsby and Etn.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
Well, that's the thing. There's four draft there's four running
backs on this roster that they drafted. Now there's a
different regime drafted two of them, but the team has
four has drafted for these running backs, which is a
high number. They're all different. To your point, biggs B's
the best downhill. Bigsby's a better downhill runner than Travis Etn.
Travis Etn is a good third down back. He's gotten
better in pass protection, which is such a big part
(11:50):
of third down. He's more of an outside runner. Big
SPIE's between the tackles runner. So they're different. Now you
bring in Baseiel Touton, who's really good. He might he
might be the star that no one's talking about, the
former Virginia Tech player. He's going to be on three.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
I was shocked you at that late with the speed.
He had a great year last.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
Year and he's he was the fastest running back of
the combine. Yep, he's physical. He's got a chance. And
I and I think le Quinn Allen's going to be
on the team. Rob. I think he caught more passes
than any running back in college last year. I think
they're going to keep all four. Now how long that
lasts you keep who's active and who's not. Is Leaquinn
(12:28):
Allen down? Maybe the first first game or two so
they see how many they need. But I think all
four are going to make the fifty three, and I
think they're all different. Laquinn Allen's a really good task
receiver out of the backfield. It looks like Biggsby. The
big question is Biggs B and ETN the two which
guy if you assume that Tuton is going to be
in the mix. And I do assume that Biggs B
(12:49):
and ETN which guy stays a little bit and they
both had a good camp. Traves Etn, by the ways,
had the best camp he's ever had here. He is
super fast. But the great running backs and Max you
know this, it's the great running backs. You know how
to avoid the big hits, right, No one hits them hard,
whether they change directions that they somehow they duck and
slide and turned and the well, Travis takes too many
(13:10):
big hits. He's so fast, he gets to the hole
so fast and people blow him up. He looks like
a more seasoned runner this year, at least to me
to my eyes. So that's a big question is how
they mix in those guys. The downhill runner, bigs By,
the third down back ETN and two new backs one
of these so it's but I think all four are
gonna be on the team.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Rob I really do.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (13:31):
Yeah, And I mean it's a good problem to have
when you got too many good guys. You know, we
talked about the depth here with the Steelers and how
you're going to have that. I think for you guys,
you know, looking at what has already been done, I
think Tony's done a tremendous job. Who are trying to
shape and craft. There's a lot of a lot of
free agents that have come in on the office. But
(13:51):
I do want to turn my attention to the defensive
side of the ball because I think that's also another
noted area.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
You know, a lot of resources over the years.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Have been dedicated to that defensive front. You know, when
you think about the Trayvon Walker draft pick in twenty two,
and then you also have a Davon Hamilton, Eric Armstead
who I interviewed Eric back.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
In back during the during the draft.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
You know, but as I look at kind of the
young guys behind, you know, guys, I'm intrigued by you
bring in Emmanuel Lagba, you bring in Massan Smith?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Are you draft? Uh? Is it Mason or Massan? Always so?
And he's on the pup Is he going to be
How long? Is there any word on how long he
might be out for.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
Yeah, we don't know. It's the lower em body. But
Max to your question, you're right at your points are good.
They've brought in a lot of guys. Here's where I
think the defense is. The two ends are pretty good.
Cravon Walker, he's had back to back double digit sack seasons.
He's going to be a good player, and he is.
You know, he gets compared to Aiden Hutchinson all the time.
He's never going to be the elite pass rusher that
Aiden is. He's just not. And he went one pick
(14:54):
ahead of him. So that's what people want to talk about.
But he's great against the rud He's going to be
a double digit sack guy. He's tough, he holds the edge.
Josh heinz Allen, who had seventeen and a half sacks
two years ago, and Trey Von Walker are really good players.
Foyer Luik in the middle linebacker is a really good player.
Tyson Cannibell, one of the corners, is a really good player.
The questions the other guys I worry about their defensive tackles.
(15:16):
You talked about Devon Hamilton, Mason Smith, erk Armstead. I
don't know. They've had great camps, Max, I don't know
that Mason hadn't played yet because the lower Boughty Andrew robbed.
To your point, he's been on pup. Eric Armstead has
not been able to practice with the lower back. Devon
Hamilton's coming back from a bad illness two years ago
when he's trying to regain his form. If there's a
glaring hole, to my eyes, if there's a glaring hole
(15:39):
on this team overall, in the defense specifically, so it's
the defensive tackles. Man, if you don't have defensive tackle player,
you're in trouble in this league. And that's the biggest
concern I think they have. They've got to find the
linebacker opposite Foyer. They've got to find one of the safe.
They brought in Eric Murray from the Texans, who's a
good safety. They've got to find another safety. So there's
competition there. But I think defensive tackle is the position
(16:03):
they would tell you they're most concerned about. They just
brought in Austin Johnson two days ago from the Bills.
I mean literally signed him two days ago, and I
think he's going to be in the mix. I think
when you sign a guy a week and a half
into campany's in the mix, it tells you you're a
little lean at that spot. And I think they're a
little bit lean at defensive tackling.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
And I think just by the way they drafted tells
us that, Like, you know, a Lua Khan, by the way,
in the time we've been on this air, he's made
seven more tackles exactly.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Guy's just tackling machine.
Speaker 6 (16:33):
He's just you know, every year it's like, oh, who
has most likely to have one hundred and twenty tackles
in the season. You don't go, yeah, you don't go
too far from a luacn Well in that category.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And then you know you have Devin Lloyd, who's a
former first round pick. But then you know, I think
what a team does speaks volumes about how they think.
You know, you go out in your draft Muma and Miller,
and then this year you draft Kaiser and McLeod. You know,
you're looking for guys to fill in, and you mentioned
the safety position. You know, you draft Caleb Bransaw in
the third round and you drafted Raywan Lane in the sixth.
(17:07):
So so clearly, look, no team when when a team
brings in a new coach and a new general manager,
there's usually a reason for it, right, it's because the
roster isn't up to snuff. Maybe you're not getting the
performances you want, but you can't fix it all in
one year. But I think where they drafted probably tells
us a little bit about where they think the issues are.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
On the team.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
Yeah, that's no question. And they were terrible defensively last year.
The scheme didn't work. They weren't very good. To your
point about the acquisitions, Rob they Foyer's the middle linebacker
and to your point, he's a tackling machine. In addition
to that, Devin Lloyd was the first round draft pick.
Right now, he's probably with the starter at the will
that benchro Miller will push him. And they love this guy,
(17:50):
Jack Kaiser from Notre Dame. They think he might be
a really good player. So so he's got he's got
a chance to factor in there as well. Uh, the
safety spot, they love Caleb Ransaw, but he's down. They
don't know how long he's going to be down. I
think he had a chance to win that other safety
spot even as a rookie, but he's out.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
For a while.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
But you're right, they need they need more good defensive players.
That's that's the that's the thesis statement here. This is
a team that does not have enough good defensive players,
and they couldn't fix it all in one offseason. They've
got to keep working towards that.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Uh So we last question for you. You know, teams
are trying to set a tone. I talked about this
with Maxa. Their teams are trying to set a tone.
But it is still preseason. You're not trying to give
things away. I would expect this to be a team
that plays with enthusiasm. They're not going to try to
go Are they going to try to go over the
(18:39):
top to win this game? They got to treat it
like a like a preseason game like everybody else, and
and let's get ready for the regular season.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
You know, nobody knows because Liam's never done this before,
Rob Liam. This is Liam Cones's first game as a
head coach, and and I don't think they know how
they're gonna play it. But I wouldn't think you're going
to see the starters very much.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
I think I would.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
I think I think either the starters are going to
play one series or not at all. I'm gonna guess
not at all, because you don't really know that. But
I think once you get down the you get into
the fourth quarter, I don't care if your Mike Commlin
or Liam Cohen, you got your third or fourth guy
in there, you're gonna finally win the game at that point.
So I think you try and win, but you don't
necessarily do it with your big guys. I think that's
(19:20):
probably how it'll play. It'll be a fun game, I
think is but what are the Steelers gonna do? Will
Howard's not going to play now, right?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
And Aaron, Well, we don't That's what it sounds like.
You know, we're cautioning people because the Steelers haven't released anything.
I mean, justin Fields was you know he was going
to be back in you know, twenty thirty.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Six, and that was back the next day. So you know,
we don't really know.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I mean, but yes, that would be a that would
be that would be too bad for him because it
would be a lost opportunity. But it's also an opportunity
for Skyler Thompson presumably to get more snaps and Mason
Rudolph to get more snaps. So Uh, you know, I
think this will be business as usual for the Steelers.
I would you know, we were talking about this earlier, Frank,
I would expect that Aaron Rodgers will.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Have a hat on.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
And you know, I don't know as Jalen Warren's gonna
play or Kenneth Gainwell. I would expect we'll see a
lot of the rookie draft choice, Caleb Johnson, who they
obviously believe as a as a bright future. I think
it's business as usual, Max.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 6 (20:18):
I think, you know, you'll see a lot of Caleb Johnson,
Trey Sermon, and a lot of the younger guys that
we have on this roster. And even for the offensive line,
you know, I don't expect to see frontline starters that
much either. I think, you know, the second union and
third units are gonna get a lot of a lot
of work in this game. And you know, we're gonna
see a lot of the rookie d tackles. I think that,
(20:38):
you know, because that's where we went in our draft rank.
So you can see a lot of Derek Harmon, a
lot of Ya Black in the tears. You try and
get some experience for them and get them kind of
up to snuff to get ready for the season. And
then you know, we have a lot of rookie defenders.
I mean, Jack Sawyer is gonna be on one edge.
Imagine we'll see Nick Herbig and probably Julius West show.
So we're gonna see a lot of like you said,
(20:59):
that second line, and you might see a feature here.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Of some other guys. But like you said, the big
guns will be held out.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
I mean, I'm not expecting to see anything outside of
some flower seed spinning and him talking to quarterbacks and
Aaron Rodgers and then of course you know Cam Hayward
and TJ.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Watt. I mean, you know, you just get them to September.
Uh so, similar situation.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
But but I like you said, I do expect to
see a lot of fun stuff because there's a lot
of young guys in this league. You guys have a
lot of young draft picks. We have young draft picks,
and you got to get them some type of seasoning
before you throw them in the oven, right, I mean,
you got you gotta get a marinated.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yeah, And I think our to our eyes, it's a
very deep Steelers roster, which means highly competitive at the end,
you know who's going to be the the fifty one,
fifty two, fifty three. A lot of times teams will
be scraping, uh to see who those guys are gonna be.
We think it's fifty six fifty seven guys and some
good guys are going to be left out when, you know,
(21:59):
barring injury, when when the Steelers break camp so and
get ready for the regular season. So hey, can't wait.
Frank really really appreciate your time. Thank you for coming
on with us, and look forward to seeing you on
Saturday up in the broadcast booth.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
I look forward to it as well. Rob, Welcome again,
and do me a favor. Say hello to my boys
Brownie and Joe Block and do something with the r
I'm gonna put you in charge of this something please, I.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Will do it. Frank's a huge Pirrus fan. Okay, yeah,
we'll talk about guard well.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I'm gonna leave it extra half an hour to talk
buckles with you on Saturday. I'll slip into your broadcast
booth and we'll chat about that. Frank Frangie, the outstanding
voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining us inside the locker
room with King and Starks Back with more presented by
your neighborhood.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Fords Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
And welcome back inside the Locker Room with King and Starks,
presented by our neighborhood Ford Store on the Steelers Audio Network.
Good to talk to Frank Frangie and catch up and
get kind of a feel for Jacksonville a little bit
more about their regular season feel than their preseason feel.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Although there are a couple of key injuries on.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
The team, as everybody has even at this time of camp,
everyone's going to be a little bit dinged up. But
it's it's an interesting Jacksonville team because they've got a
puncher's chance with Trevor Lawrence and their skilled positions and
if Lawrence can take that step forward and be the
guy they all think, you know he can be, and
you know, some people had him ranked as the highest
quarterback they ever had rank coming out of college, you know,
(23:29):
the draft knicks and that sort of thing. So at
least a puncher's chance of being one of the surprise
teams in the NFL this year.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
Yeah, I think, you know, the biggest thing is going
to be offensive improvements, because the defense is what it
is I mean, you heard Frank talk about it. The
biggest knee is going to be the interior figuring out
who their defensive tackle combination.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Is going to be.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
But it's going to all eyes are going to be
on the offense for this team, especially with the addition
of knowing that Travis Hunter is one of your feature
top three receivers. And you know, we talked about how
you know, you heard everybody else talk abut how great
of a.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Defensive back he is. But you have to remember this
was a.
Speaker 6 (24:04):
Guy that played over one hundred and fifty plays you know,
per game on both sides of the ball. Just ridiculous numbers.
I mean those are even I would even say ridiculous
for video game numbers, right for him to be able
to do both of those things. So how much they'll
deploy him, how varied they're going to be with his usage,
(24:25):
It's gonna be really interesting. That's why I think, you know,
asking that question to see where he's gonna lie, because
so much of the future of that team, you know,
a lot of draft capital was given up to get.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Him there, and for a new head coach to lose
future picks, this dude has.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
To hit because you don't have a first round pick
next year because of him, So he has to be
your first round cornerback at one year and wide receiver
at the other. So it's gonna be really fun to
watch this game. And then there's a lot of names
on this list. They brought in a lot of free
agents in the offseason to kind of overhaul this roster,
and Tony BISSELLI had his thumb all over. The one
thing I am mad at did not ask Frank was
(25:01):
who's this color guy? Since he lost Tony? That's what
I did not Oh, that's right, Yeah, Tony was he
moved up. Yeah, yeah, he moved up. So there's obviously
a new ope doubt he's gonna do both. Yeah, I
don't think he'll be doing both.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Uh, So, yes it is.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
And I think when you when you look at this
Jacksonville team, you know you're hoping, and when you're a
team like this and you've expended that draft capital, as
we said on Travis Hunter, you need other guys to
hit Baseial Tooton is a guy I'm really interested in
seeing a fourth round pick guy. You know, when when
the Steelers talked about wanting to get more speed, I
(25:35):
wondered if he was the fastest guy at the combine,
would he be a guy they might be interested in.
They got him in the fourth round, what if he
winds up beating out you know, a former first rounder
and a former third rounder in Etn and Bigsby, So
we'll see. I mean, you know, you have to hit
on You can't just hit it. First of all, you
have to hit Kevin Kolber used to say this, You
have to hit in the first rounders. And then of
course you better hit on some other guys. You know,
(25:56):
you can't just add one guy to your team every year. Yeah,
you got to add multiple p to it.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
And you know, Jack Kaiser another guy I'm really interested, Yeah,
to see how he can come along in this as
well for Jacksonville. But I think when you you kind
of peel back the layers, I mean, the biggest thing
is this is a new team with you know, like
Frank laid out, this is first ever game as a
head coach. So yeah, there's so many other things outside
of the actual game function that's played between the white
(26:23):
lines that he's going to be worried about timeouts. How
do I use my challenges? We're guys lined up on
the field, so I have access to them. Like, there's
so many procedural things that go on behind behind the scenes,
and we always see it.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
It all. It never fails the first time head coach.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
Mismanages his timeouts, right, you know, there is always the
thing that happens or how are they use all their
challenges up too soon because they want to go after everything. Yeah,
because you know, let's face it, he's a former offensive coordinator,
so he's gonna be he's gonna be adamant about watching
the offense and then the urge not to go sit
with the offense when the defenses out there to be
(27:02):
the head coach because Cliff Kingsbury famously used to do that.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah, Cliff Kingsbury.
Speaker 6 (27:06):
Would go sit with the offense, like, dude, you got
a defense out there, and if you got to throw
a flag there or call a time out or there's
something going on schematically, you have.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
To be involved.
Speaker 6 (27:14):
So there's so many other things that go into the
game as a as a new head coach, So that's
where he's gonna have to kind of manage the emotions
of it as well. But of course, and then you
look across the way Mike right, nineteen years no issue, Bud,
Like he's watching him run around it almost like having
an ant farm, not the first rodeo. Yeah, driving, and
he's seen a lot of those first time head coaches. So,
(27:36):
like I said, sitting watching the ant farm and see
how they build their their their little lanes.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Is gonna be fun for us. You know. The other
thing is too.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Just to get back to the drafting, you mentioned Jack Kaiger,
He's a fourth round pick. Tooton was a fourth round pick.
You know we just sort of blithely, Oh yeah, Peyton Wilson,
Mason McCormick. You know, sure they're gonna start. That is
not the norm, right, It's it's more than norm if
you're a good team, because it's how you become a
good team, right. You know, there's a lot of teams
(28:04):
out there that miss a little on the first but
then you know with completely in the later rounds and
don't have those depth pieces. So you know, we here
in Steeler Land and Steelers Nation expect those guys to
come in and be contributors. You know, we expect Roman Wilson,
as a third round pick of mister year ago, to
come in and be a contributor. Well, it doesn't happen
(28:26):
all the time, and uh it you know, it happens
more frequently with the top teams. So they are going
to be trying. You know, James Gladstone, the new GM,
you know, is he going to get value? As Frank
Frejie pointed out, Jack Kaiser and Basehill Tooton, a couple
of fourth rounders is potential starters on this Jaguar team.
So we went over the offensive depth chart yesterday. We're
(28:47):
going over the defensive depth chart today. Do we have
time to do this?
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Max, Let's launch it. Depart of it? Should we launch it?
Speaker 4 (28:54):
A part of it?
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Let's give a little preview. But I figure if we
cut early here, we can do the entire set like
we normally do. Uh do it?
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Oh, go to break now, Yeah, go to break now
and come back and then talk about the defensive depth chart. Yes, Okay,
that'd be easier. Okay, that's the veteran. Max Stark's in
the locker room, a veteran of the locker room. Right,
I was a guest visitor in the locker room. I'm
like that guy that I'm like to the guy in
the practice squader.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Got cut and came back in remember our team, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Right, now, okay, you are a member of it, so
we're gonna get to the defensive depth chart at the Steelers. Woman,
continue inside the locker room with King and Starks, presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Here on the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Network, Iheartradios, live coverage of twenty five Steelers training Camp
is presented by Vedex where now meets next and also
brought to you by First National Bank, by Kulucy Chevrolet,
iron Workers Union Number three, by Easy Home Exteriors, by
(29:54):
SMT Bank, we Max Select Realty, by Tom's Appliances, the
Pittsburgh ste de Ler's Pro Shot, by Always Safe Flagging
and Traffic Control, and by us Team.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
And welcome back inside the locker room with King and Starks,
presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
I wanted to let you know that training camp.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Uh report is coming up next with Bob Labriel and Tomman.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
So, uh, that's a good German name, good German sound.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
The name right goes goes with Venussel.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
And uh we have the Bob Labriola that is not
a German name. Was very Italian, very Italian, and uh
they will be bringing the training camp report. Bob is
my one 'm but I can stay up here for practice,
which is, you know, a fair amount of time. He's
the guy sit next to the I like. I like
hanging out with labs. Getting the labs point of view.
(30:57):
You know, Labs is awesome. I mean you talk about
the wealth of knowledge. Oh and just the the ability
to bird eye think bird dog things.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
I mean, no doubt about it. Pretty pretty awesome. Yeah,
no doubt about it.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
And he's already he gets here an hour early. He's
ready and already fully ready to go.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
For for training camp report. So I can't wait to
hear him up next.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
So as I'm running my tongue over my teeth, I'm
gonna I'm gonna say that we're gonna blame the missing
chips and dip on him always.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
Nobody can prove it, Nobody can prove how can we
get out there? It's it's nobody.
Speaker 6 (31:31):
Our access is limited. I mean I feel like that's
what it is. But yet he has unabated access to
the chips and for an onion dip.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Yeah, it's uh, that's one of those soons that they say, uh,
one is too many in the hundreds, not enough.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Don't have that first one man, don't have that first yes,
just one. That's that's exactly. It's so true. Okay.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
So we went over the offensive depth chart. We kind
of recapped it for you. We had Frank Frangion of
the Jacksonville Jaguars. What we have not done yet is
go over the defense insive depth chart. So, in a
move that surprises absolutely nobody, Cam Heyward's listed as a starter.
What yes, I know, Hayward, Benton and Derek Harmon, the
(32:11):
rookie up front, second team louder Milk a Quality and
Lee uh and then the third team is Otomewo Black
and Kyler Baw and then Fojoko just recently signed Brandon
Fojoco and Dominique Davis the rest of your depth chart there.
Keep in mind Dean Lowry is injured. So that's one
(32:34):
guy that you would suspect would be h you know,
expecting to make the team or certainly compete for a spot.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
He is out right now, So that is right. So
that is so there's no way he can come back
before week eight, right, So he is.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
But I'm saying is when we're talking about this depth chart,
he's out right, he's not going to be part of it.
He's a guy that I think, I mean, I certainly
would have had him penciled in a part of the
fifty three.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
Yeah, he definitely was right there fringe six seven because
I think they'll keep about six. I think they'll keep
six this year from what we were kind of talking
about with Carl Dunbar. Just because of what's later in
this draft or of this initial Jeff chart, we'll get
into of why the defense will probably be at six men.
(33:22):
In years past, he's usually been around seven. Even at
one point, I think we got up to eight. I
don't know how you can't keep seven. I don't know
how you can't.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
I mean, so think about this, I mean, you know,
so you have your top six, right, Hayward, louder Milk,
Benton with a quality, and then Harmon with Lee even
with the injury to Dean Lowry.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
You have why a Black is on the third team,
he would be number seven and that and that's where I.
Speaker 6 (33:50):
Think you know it's gonna come down between louder Milk,
Logan Lee, and Ya Black. Two out of three two
dogs three sorry, two bone three dogs right, two bones.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
We have not listed Leal as a defensive alignment, we
don't haven't listened as such.
Speaker 6 (34:05):
So he's that tweener that if you're talking about a
seventh potentially maybe that's where the seventh swing guy is.
But right now, I feel like that second unit is
not written in stone. Okay, and so that's where I'm like,
we're gonna have to make some decisions.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
H Logan in the mix.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
Yeah, Logan, le Loudermilk and Black are the three I
feel like are in the mix for those two spots.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Okay, uh interesting, and that's going to be a battle.
That is going to be a battle.
Speaker 6 (34:33):
Because also I will say this, Kyler Ball, who he
wrote in later, Kyler he's got some snap to him too,
He's got some wiggle and he's got some aggression issues
that is perfect in the defensive disposition.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
I would say this, and I think I'm gonna underscore
it for fans, is that if you got a helmet
and pads on and you get an opportunity to play,
you have an opportunity, especially with this organization in their
history of taking undrafted guys, unknown guys and not only
(35:07):
making the team but eventually playing prominent roles. I mean
you know, it doesn't exist with every organization the same
way it does here. So uh, left, outside linebacker TJ.
Watt is going to start. He's going to be listed
as a starter, Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson on the inside,
and Alex Highsmith on the outside. I don't think that
(35:28):
Peyton Wilslim was much of a surprise. Let's run down
the rest of them behind TJ. Watt listed as code
number two's Jack Sawyer, and there's de Marvin Leol not
listed as a defensive end but listed or a defensive
tackle but listed as an outside linebacker. Then it's Malik
Harrison and Cole Holcomb giving you very enviable depth in
(35:49):
the middle at the middle linebacker spot. And Nick Herbig
of course listed as a backup as well.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
Yep, I mean still there.
Speaker 6 (35:57):
So right there, we just listed in two deep, five
outside linebackers and four inside back This is where I
get back to how do you get to seven? You know,
I don't know, right, you know, I don't know the
seven defensive lineman when that's the depth just an outside backer,
and then we haven't even you know, when you look
at the interior position, right we said Malik Harrison Cole Holkom,
(36:21):
behind Peyton Wilson and Patrick Queen. But Mark Robinson, a
key core for special teams, guy who's had a fantastic
camp out here.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
He's been noticeable. So so now we've got five inside linebackers, right, guy,
you wouldn't mind playing against the Ravens.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
Right?
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Absolutely, you need a hammer that that guy will go
find nails.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
And then how about one of this year's draft choices,
Carson Brunner, who's listed on the fourth team, behind him,
even gotten to.
Speaker 6 (36:47):
Him yet, right, So when you're talking about and this
is and this is where it becomes tricky, right, because
it's honestly the old the you know, in a perfect world,
let's put in a perfect world scenario, you get twenty
five defensive players, you get twenty five offensive players, and
your three special teamers right right, Punter, snapper, kicker. Right,
(37:10):
that's fifty three. Yep, how you get to that twenty
five is tough. And we just listed eleven on the interior.
We haven't even talked about the secondary yet.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
Yep. That requires at least four positions. We're not even
finishing the linebackers. Yeah, we haven't even gone through all
of that. So so Julia is where it becomes tough. Diagree.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
So you have Julius welsh Off and then a guy
you've really liked in camp Atchu Lioda on the outside
as well.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Yeah, can he open some eyes?
Speaker 1 (37:35):
That's gonna be the question.
Speaker 6 (37:36):
I mean, I think when when you get this deep
in the depth chart, it's really gonna matter how that
guy performs in teams.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
You know, he's gonna have to be on.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
The interior of your punt coverage and your punt and
your and your punt return team. He's gonna be in
the interior of your kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams.
How does he turn heads there? Because obviously he's not
cracking the top four of this, but can he make
a bid for five?
Speaker 1 (38:02):
That's the jump? Can I get to that fifth option?
That it makes it tough for you to think about.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
You want to be the Wes Euler of football players?
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Yes, right, exactly, just all conditions you can produce, you
can do play by play, you can do it all,
and he can engineer the crap out of a game
they brought yep.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Absolutely yep.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
So uh cornerbacks Darius Slay, Joey Porter Junior Jalen Ramsey,
safety's Won Thornhill to Shaun Elliott.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
I mean no, right, that that's obvious.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Okay, So in the backups Corey Trice and you're still
still dealing with the soft tissue injury. Yeah, Miles Killebrew
and special teams Chuck Clark in the middle.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
Right yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Uh, and then Brandon eccles, who you signed, another very
good special teamer, and Beanie Bishop who led you in
interceptions last year. That's your second team at wide receiver.
All right, defensive back, the defensive back. I'm sorry, that's
your against wide receiver. Thank you, Thank you for clarifying.
Much appreciated. So now just when you think, okay, are
(39:09):
we running out of interesting names, No, we're not. Cameron McCutcheon,
Quindel Johnson, who is among seventeen players wearing number thirty
five for the Hooters. Yeah, but I think they've called
it down to two now, Quindel Johnson, Sebastian Castro. Yeah,
a lot of buzzing Mini camp, a lot of talk
of this guy could be this year's Beanie Bishop making
(39:31):
the team. We're at the third team now, by the way,
run the thirteen. James Pierre still kick it, still kick
it and another special team a.
Speaker 6 (39:41):
Gunner, you know, a guy that's asked to go down
and make some action on the punt game at once
again still it has a lot of time played and
time served at the cornerback position.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
And then you have Dante Kent, rookie draft choice on
the men you're hoping and again he's hoping he can
show something in the punt return game. We'll see when
he mends and when he has an opportunity to show
what he can do. And then recently signed Darryl Porter,
Kyler McMichael, and Deshaun Johnson rounding out the defensive backs.
And you know, we stopped and paused on enough names again, Max,
(40:13):
where man, how are you gonna get down to twenty five?
And we're not talking about Hey, this guy kind of
interests me and he's uh, you know, he's uh, he's
come in from you know, Mars, and we think he's
got a chance. Now these are guys that a lot
of these guys have resumes Pedigrat. It's gonna be interesting,
(40:34):
also interesting. Tomorrow Ramone Foster is gonna be joining us
inside the locker room as Ramone will be joining us
during the preseason and some broadcasts.
Speaker 6 (40:43):
That's correct, Ramone will be as as released by the
Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
He will be joining us as a sideline reporter yep
for the preseason games.
Speaker 6 (40:51):
Obviously the voice of the volunteers, but so gracious to
give his time because Missy Matthews will be on television
duty for those three preseason games.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
So once again and going no better reliever to call
in going to that superior Uh Tennessee, my wife's albumn.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Modern superior conference, not superior. Oh I see, okay, okay, yes,
I got to stick up for my wife Tennessee. I
get that in all right, listen, It's it's all cool.
Speaker 6 (41:17):
But listen, I've never seen more grown men wearing creamsickle thatolunteers.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
He's Max Starks. I'm Rob King Oar.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Thanks to Frank Frazie, the voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars,
for joining us. The Training Camp Report is coming up
next with Bob Labriolle and Tom Offerman. Thank you for
being with us and spending some time inside the locker room.
King and Starks presented by your neighborhood Ford Store here
on the Steelers Audio Network
By Heart Radios.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Live Coverage not twenty twenty five Steelers Training Camp is
presented by Padex where Now meets Next and also brought
to you by bud Light, Independence Health System.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
By Pennsylvania One Call System, by.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Live Casino, Contiente Pizza and Draft House by Tom's Appliances,
South Hills Auto, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Wemax, Select Realty,
the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by us steel.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
And thank you very much for being with us inside
the locker room with King and Stark, presenter Bury Neighborhood
for Word Store here on the Steelers Audio Network, and
we are getting ready.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
The Steelers are getting ready for a game week, which is.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
You know, a little bit something different, right, something to
look forward to for the players and something for us
to look forward to as uh as we watch, you know,
the Steelers play somebody else. So we are joined now
by guys got some University of Florida ties, by the way,
Max Starks, Yeah, we'd be happy to know that. And
that is Frank Franzie, the play by play guy of
(01:14):
the Jacksonville Jaguars. Frank, thanks very much for being with
us inside the locker room with King and Starks.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Rob, it's great to be on with you and Max. Yeah,
Max and I are both Florida grads. Max was certainly
a way more prominent than I was. He was a
very good football player there and I was just a guy, Rob,
So but we Gators kind of stick together. But and
welcome to you to our little play by play fraternity.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Oh it's a great job, so thank you, Thanks Frank.
It was.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It was an absolute joy and I loved it. And
hopefully I can be fortunate to hang out of the
job for many more years.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
That's my hope. Max, Starks and.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
Frank that's that's that's how it goes, and you'll be fine.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
So, Frank, I have to ask you.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
You know, when you think about this Jacksonville team, sounds
like a brand.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
New beginning, right.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
You bring in a general manager James Gladstone, and then
a new coach and Liam Cohen, a lot of youth
in both of those positions, some exuberance. Does it feel
like a young, energetic training camp to you?
Speaker 5 (02:15):
It does. I think that's probably the best way to
describe it.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Rob.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
They're all pulling in the same direction. We've needed that.
You know, so many times, the GM is fighting for
his job and the coach is fighting for his job,
and you guys in Pittsburgh haven't had that because Mike's
been there for so long and Omar has been part
of it for so long. Well, here there's been a lot,
there's been a lot of congestion, if you will, at
(02:38):
the top, and they're not there anymore. Tony Bocelli, who's
the EVP now and the most legendary player that ever
played here, is a very good leader. He brought in
James Gladstone. I think he's a rockstar. Rob. I think
he's going to be a really good GM here. Liam
Cohen's a young coach. But they're all pulling in the
same direction. They're very close. They think similarly. When they disagree,
they disagree respectfully. Hardly maybe, but respectfully. It has a
(03:02):
good vibe to it. Now. Look, there's a lot of
work to do. Everybody's in a good move when you're undefeated,
right and then there's no games yet. But I do
think they're pulling in the same direction. The vibe around
the team, and I've done this for a while now,
Rob is as good as it's been in a long time,
and that's very healthy for these Jaguars for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Frank Frangie is our guest, and before we get into
the team in general, I do want to ask you about,
you know, James Gladstone's first big splash move. I mean,
you know, you look, you're signing free agents and you're
doing other things. But I think from the outside looking in,
the first big splash move was he trades up to
get Travis Hunter. And it felt like part of the
explanation was not only we getting a great football player,
(03:42):
We're getting two great football players. We're getting a guy
who's going to play wide receiver and corner for us.
It was a bold statement move by new general manager
James Gladstone.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
Well that's the word, Rob. It was bold, and I
think these guys will be bold. I think that. Listen,
when you're young and free and easy and you have
no negative marks on your resume, you can be bold. Right,
You're not afraid of what people will say. But it
was a bold move. And look, the big question around
here has been how much is he going to play
on both sides. I gotta tell you, when they drafted
(04:14):
Travis Hunter and talked about it, I thought he'd be
one of the three receivers on a regular basis, and
then would play defense on get off the field downs, right,
third down, fourth down, red zone downs late in the game,
late and a half. I don't think that's the case,
and nobody knows, you. I don't think they know yet.
That's kind of work their way through it because this
is a unicorn. It's a new situation. But Rob, I
(04:36):
think he's going to be a starter on both sides
of the ball. I think that's the plan. I think
he's going to be a starting receiver and a starting cornerback.
It was explained to me like, look and Max, you
know this. I mean in short yard is situation. He's
not going to be in there right on third in
the yard, He's not on either side of the ball,
He's not going to be in there. So there's sixty
two plays, an average of sixty two plays in an
(04:58):
NFL game per team. He plays forty five or fifty
on offense, he plays forty five or forty on defense.
That's ninety plays. Hey, he was playing one hundred and
fifty at Colorado.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Now it's a different league, But I will see. I
don't think they know for sure, but I think this
guy's gonna play. I'm both going to start on both
sides of the ball.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
I really do, yeah, And I think, you know, as
a guy, I actually got to call the Travis Hunter
I guess a Colorado game. I should say that a
Travis Hunter game, but I got to call a Colorado
game and it was impressive to watch because everybody was like, Hey,
you want to see this guy.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Watch what he does.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
He did not leave the field, and you were like,
oh my god, oh my god, what is this guy doing.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And he played at a high level.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
So obviously ensuing you get a Heisman Trophy for your efforts.
But like you said, the NFL is totally different. But
I am very intrigued by that because you know, when
you think about the prospect of really being a true
two way player and having an impact on both, it's
going to be impressive. But I kind of look at it,
you know, as we get into this first preseason game.
(06:00):
I mean, you know, we're in the era now where
a lot of starters, a lot of guys don't really
get to play. I mean, do you really see Travis
getting like a significant amount of reps in this preseason game?
Because obviously you're still trying to get him to the season.
Do you kind of get him warmed up a couple
series here, a couple series on the other.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Side of the ball, and then call it a day.
I mean, how do you do?
Speaker 6 (06:20):
Is there a sense for how much we can expect
to see him in the preseason?
Speaker 5 (06:25):
That's I don't think Liam even knows that yet, not
just with him, but even the other starters. Now, he's
going to play more than the other starters because he
needs to play some NFL games, right The other starters,
the veteran starters, aren't going to But but my guess
is you're not going to see him a lot, but
you're going to see all the rookies. So I think
you're going to see him some. And I think you're
going to see him some on both sides of the ball.
(06:45):
It might be one series on each, it might be
two series on each. Here's the other thing about the guy,
And if you did a Colorado game, you know this.
This is the thing that I'm probably most surprised slash
impressed with. Dude never gets tired. I think he could
run a marathon, you know, he just he's never tired.
I was told yesterday that he went into the coaches
and said he wants to do more and they said, bro,
(07:05):
you're already doing your offensive defense, sit out special teams.
It's okay, okay, we don't need you as a core
four special teamer. He just he's never out of energy.
That's what stands out about the guy. So, Max, to
your question, I think he'll probably play at least a
series or two on both sides of the ball against
the Steelers on Saturday night. That'd be my guest.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Yeah, one hundred and fifty games, by the way, at
altitude in Colorado.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
So yeah, that's that's a different animal there.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So our guest is Frank Franzi. He's the play by
play guy at the Jacksonville Jaguars. We're delighted to have
him on. Frank, I wanted to ask you about to me,
you know, Travis Hunter is the buzz for sure. He's
the new guy and he's trying to do something that's
very new. But it seems like this team is going
to rise and fall with Trevor Lawrence. It's a guy
(07:50):
that they you know, starred and was predicted for him.
It hasn't been an easy ride film when I look
at at this Jaguars team and I look at the weapons,
particularly wide receiver. I mean, Brian Thomas phenomenal rookie season,
and you know Travis Hunter. Then he go out and
get Diami Brown, who had a very good year with Washington.
(08:11):
I mean, I think on potential that top three receivers
set could be as good as any in the NFL.
Brenton Strange is a fine tight end. I don't know
for sure what they're going to do at the running
back position. They drafted a couple of rookies to go
behind Bigsby and etn. But it seems like, you know,
(08:32):
there are some pieces in place here, and if you
can get Trevor Lawrence's game to elevate to this to
the place where everybody thinks he can get to, this
might be a Jaguar team that surprises a lot of
people this year.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Rather thank you've done your homework, because you just outlined
is where they are. First of all, Trevor, he's going
to going into his fifth year. I've seen. It's been
my opinion that most quarterbacks not all the light went
on really quick for Patrick Mahomes and some guys Joe Burrow,
but for the most part. You've got to be in
the league four or five years. You've got to understand
how it's different. When you're at Clemson, your wide receiver
(09:07):
is generally going to outrun the wake Forest defensive back.
That's just kind of how it is, right and well,
here they're all fast. Everybody's fast, and I think you
have to learn that. The other thing is that I
don't know if it's good or bad. Trevis had to
learn a lot of different offenses. Man, he had an
offensive Clemson, then he got here with the Urban Meyer
thing and that didn't go so well. So then Doug
Peterson came in, and that's a different offense. Now here
(09:28):
comes leading with a different offense.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
The bad is you have.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
To learn a lot of offenses as a young guy.
The good of that is you've kind of learned how
to learn new offenses because you've had to do it
so often.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
You know.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
You know, Rob, I'm great at punching out of the
woods in my golf game. You know why because I've
got a lot of practice that I mean, okay, trust
trust me. Nobody get more practice out of the woods
than I do. So he's had to learn new systems
so many times that he's kind of learned, how do
I do it? How much film study does that require?
How much time enough to spend in meetings with my receivers?
(10:00):
Trevor's going to be okay. Trevor's a great kid, rob
He's a really good dude. He is if there's a fault,
in my opinion is there's a fault. He's such a
nice guy that sometimes you got to go get in
your wide receivers face and say you broke that route
off wrong or whatever. And I think he's growing into that.
I'm a big Trevor fan. He's a good person. He's
a tireless worker, and you're right, the light hadn't gone
(10:22):
on completely for him yet. He's got to eliminate the turnovers.
That's his big thing. Got to take better care of
the ball. But I think he's going to be a
good player. And back to the three receiver set, and
Deandrey Brown is really good and that's the one people
don't talk about as much. This could be the best
three receiver set we've ever had here.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Now.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
We had Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell back in the day.
Is a pair, but they never found the third guy
and the three receiver set that could be. You know,
that wide receiver room is really good. Here's there's some
question marks. I'm not sure where the offensive line is,
I'm not sure where the defensive interior is yet. But
that wide receiver room is really good. That's something people
are excited about around here. I can tell you that
(10:58):
and this.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
I just want to fall up with one more question
on the offensive I can can you talk about the
running back position, because you know Etn coming out or
starting predicted for him. I think Tank Biggsby, if I'm
not mistaken, had the better year a year ago.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You draft a couple of running backs.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
If I'm in that running back room, I'm like, uh okay,
I don't know how many running backs you're going to keep.
Can you talk a little bit about their what they
think about the running back room and about the two
rookies who are coming in to try to challenge presumably
challenge Bigsby and Etn.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
Well, that's the thing. There's four draft there's four running
backs on this roster that they drafted. Now there's a
different regime drafted two of them, but the team has
four has drafted for these running backs, which is a
high number. They're all different. To your point, biggs B's
the best downhill. Bigsby's a better downhill runner than Travis Etn.
Travis Etn is a good third down back. He's gotten
better in pass protection, which is such a big part
(11:50):
of third down. He's more of an outside runner. Big
SPIE's between the tackles runner. So they're different. Now you
bring in Baseiel Touton, who's really good. He might he
might be the star that no one's talking about, the
former Virginia Tech player. He's going to be on three.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
I was shocked you at that late with the speed.
He had a great year last.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
Year and he's he was the fastest running back of
the combine. Yep, he's physical. He's got a chance. And
I and I think le Quinn Allen's going to be
on the team. Rob. I think he caught more passes
than any running back in college last year. I think
they're going to keep all four. Now how long that
lasts you keep who's active and who's not. Is Leaquinn
(12:28):
Allen down? Maybe the first first game or two so
they see how many they need. But I think all
four are going to make the fifty three, and I
think they're all different. Laquinn Allen's a really good task
receiver out of the backfield. It looks like Biggsby. The
big question is Biggs B and ETN the two which
guy if you assume that Tuton is going to be
in the mix. And I do assume that Biggs B
(12:49):
and ETN which guy stays a little bit and they
both had a good camp. Traves Etn, by the ways,
had the best camp he's ever had here. He is
super fast. But the great running backs and Max you
know this, it's the great running backs. You know how
to avoid the big hits, right, No one hits them hard,
whether they change directions that they somehow they duck and
slide and turned and the well, Travis takes too many
(13:10):
big hits. He's so fast, he gets to the hole
so fast and people blow him up. He looks like
a more seasoned runner this year, at least to me
to my eyes. So that's a big question is how
they mix in those guys. The downhill runner, bigs By,
the third down back ETN and two new backs one
of these so it's but I think all four are
gonna be on the team.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Rob I really do.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (13:31):
Yeah, And I mean it's a good problem to have
when you got too many good guys. You know, we
talked about the depth here with the Steelers and how
you're going to have that. I think for you guys,
you know, looking at what has already been done, I
think Tony's done a tremendous job. Who are trying to
shape and craft. There's a lot of a lot of
free agents that have come in on the office. But
(13:51):
I do want to turn my attention to the defensive
side of the ball because I think that's also another
noted area.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
You know, a lot of resources over the years.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Have been dedicated to that defensive front. You know, when
you think about the Trayvon Walker draft pick in twenty two,
and then you also have a Davon Hamilton, Eric Armstead
who I interviewed Eric back.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
In back during the during the draft.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
You know, but as I look at kind of the
young guys behind, you know, guys, I'm intrigued by you
bring in Emmanuel Lagba, you bring in Massan Smith?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Are you draft? Uh? Is it Mason or Massan? Always so?
And he's on the pup Is he going to be
How long? Is there any word on how long he
might be out for.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
Yeah, we don't know. It's the lower em body. But
Max to your question, you're right at your points are good.
They've brought in a lot of guys. Here's where I
think the defense is. The two ends are pretty good.
Cravon Walker, he's had back to back double digit sack seasons.
He's going to be a good player, and he is.
You know, he gets compared to Aiden Hutchinson all the time.
He's never going to be the elite pass rusher that
Aiden is. He's just not. And he went one pick
(14:54):
ahead of him. So that's what people want to talk about.
But he's great against the rud He's going to be
a double digit sack guy. He's tough, he holds the edge.
Josh heinz Allen, who had seventeen and a half sacks
two years ago, and Trey Von Walker are really good players.
Foyer Luik in the middle linebacker is a really good player.
Tyson Cannibell, one of the corners, is a really good player.
The questions the other guys I worry about their defensive tackles.
(15:16):
You talked about Devon Hamilton, Mason Smith, erk Armstead. I
don't know. They've had great camps, Max, I don't know
that Mason hadn't played yet because the lower Boughty Andrew robbed.
To your point, he's been on pup. Eric Armstead has
not been able to practice with the lower back. Devon
Hamilton's coming back from a bad illness two years ago
when he's trying to regain his form. If there's a
glaring hole, to my eyes, if there's a glaring hole
(15:39):
on this team overall, in the defense specifically, so it's
the defensive tackles. Man, if you don't have defensive tackle player,
you're in trouble in this league. And that's the biggest
concern I think they have. They've got to find the
linebacker opposite Foyer. They've got to find one of the safe.
They brought in Eric Murray from the Texans, who's a
good safety. They've got to find another safety. So there's
competition there. But I think defensive tackle is the position
(16:03):
they would tell you they're most concerned about. They just
brought in Austin Johnson two days ago from the Bills.
I mean literally signed him two days ago, and I
think he's going to be in the mix. I think
when you sign a guy a week and a half
into campany's in the mix, it tells you you're a
little lean at that spot. And I think they're a
little bit lean at defensive tackling.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
And I think just by the way they drafted tells
us that, Like, you know, a Lua Khan, by the way,
in the time we've been on this air, he's made
seven more tackles exactly.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Guy's just tackling machine.
Speaker 6 (16:33):
He's just you know, every year it's like, oh, who
has most likely to have one hundred and twenty tackles
in the season. You don't go, yeah, you don't go
too far from a luacn Well in that category.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And then you know you have Devin Lloyd, who's a
former first round pick. But then you know, I think
what a team does speaks volumes about how they think.
You know, you go out in your draft Muma and Miller,
and then this year you draft Kaiser and McLeod. You know,
you're looking for guys to fill in, and you mentioned
the safety position. You know, you draft Caleb Bransaw in
the third round and you drafted Raywan Lane in the sixth.
(17:07):
So so clearly, look, no team when when a team
brings in a new coach and a new general manager,
there's usually a reason for it, right, it's because the
roster isn't up to snuff. Maybe you're not getting the
performances you want, but you can't fix it all in
one year. But I think where they drafted probably tells
us a little bit about where they think the issues are.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
On the team.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
Yeah, that's no question. And they were terrible defensively last year.
The scheme didn't work. They weren't very good. To your
point about the acquisitions, Rob they Foyer's the middle linebacker
and to your point, he's a tackling machine. In addition
to that, Devin Lloyd was the first round draft pick.
Right now, he's probably with the starter at the will
that benchro Miller will push him. And they love this guy,
(17:50):
Jack Kaiser from Notre Dame. They think he might be
a really good player. So so he's got he's got
a chance to factor in there as well. Uh, the
safety spot, they love Caleb Ransaw, but he's down. They
don't know how long he's going to be down. I
think he had a chance to win that other safety
spot even as a rookie, but he's out.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
For a while.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
But you're right, they need they need more good defensive players.
That's that's the that's the thesis statement here. This is
a team that does not have enough good defensive players,
and they couldn't fix it all in one offseason. They've
got to keep working towards that.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Uh So we last question for you. You know, teams
are trying to set a tone. I talked about this
with Maxa. Their teams are trying to set a tone.
But it is still preseason. You're not trying to give
things away. I would expect this to be a team
that plays with enthusiasm. They're not going to try to
go Are they going to try to go over the
(18:39):
top to win this game? They got to treat it
like a like a preseason game like everybody else, and
and let's get ready for the regular season.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
You know, nobody knows because Liam's never done this before,
Rob Liam. This is Liam Cones's first game as a
head coach, and and I don't think they know how
they're gonna play it. But I wouldn't think you're going
to see the starters very much.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
I think I would.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
I think I think either the starters are going to
play one series or not at all. I'm gonna guess
not at all, because you don't really know that. But
I think once you get down the you get into
the fourth quarter, I don't care if your Mike Commlin
or Liam Cohen, you got your third or fourth guy
in there, you're gonna finally win the game at that point.
So I think you try and win, but you don't
necessarily do it with your big guys. I think that's
(19:20):
probably how it'll play. It'll be a fun game, I
think is but what are the Steelers gonna do? Will
Howard's not going to play now, right?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
And Aaron, Well, we don't That's what it sounds like.
You know, we're cautioning people because the Steelers haven't released anything.
I mean, justin Fields was you know he was going
to be back in you know, twenty thirty.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Six, and that was back the next day. So you know,
we don't really know.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I mean, but yes, that would be a that would
be that would be too bad for him because it
would be a lost opportunity. But it's also an opportunity
for Skyler Thompson presumably to get more snaps and Mason
Rudolph to get more snaps. So Uh, you know, I
think this will be business as usual for the Steelers.
I would you know, we were talking about this earlier, Frank,
I would expect that Aaron Rodgers will.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Have a hat on.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
And you know, I don't know as Jalen Warren's gonna
play or Kenneth Gainwell. I would expect we'll see a
lot of the rookie draft choice, Caleb Johnson, who they
obviously believe as a as a bright future. I think
it's business as usual, Max.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 6 (20:18):
I think, you know, you'll see a lot of Caleb Johnson,
Trey Sermon, and a lot of the younger guys that
we have on this roster. And even for the offensive line,
you know, I don't expect to see frontline starters that
much either. I think, you know, the second union and
third units are gonna get a lot of a lot
of work in this game. And you know, we're gonna
see a lot of the rookie d tackles. I think that,
(20:38):
you know, because that's where we went in our draft rank.
So you can see a lot of Derek Harmon, a
lot of Ya Black in the tears. You try and
get some experience for them and get them kind of
up to snuff to get ready for the season. And
then you know, we have a lot of rookie defenders.
I mean, Jack Sawyer is gonna be on one edge.
Imagine we'll see Nick Herbig and probably Julius West show.
So we're gonna see a lot of like you said,
(20:59):
that second line, and you might see a feature here.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Of some other guys. But like you said, the big
guns will be held out.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
I mean, I'm not expecting to see anything outside of
some flower seed spinning and him talking to quarterbacks and
Aaron Rodgers and then of course you know Cam Hayward
and TJ.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Watt. I mean, you know, you just get them to September.
Uh so, similar situation.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
But but I like you said, I do expect to
see a lot of fun stuff because there's a lot
of young guys in this league. You guys have a
lot of young draft picks. We have young draft picks,
and you got to get them some type of seasoning
before you throw them in the oven, right, I mean,
you got you gotta get a marinated.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yeah, And I think our to our eyes, it's a
very deep Steelers roster, which means highly competitive at the end,
you know who's going to be the the fifty one,
fifty two, fifty three. A lot of times teams will
be scraping, uh to see who those guys are gonna be.
We think it's fifty six fifty seven guys and some
good guys are going to be left out when, you know,
(21:59):
barring injury, when when the Steelers break camp so and
get ready for the regular season. So hey, can't wait.
Frank really really appreciate your time. Thank you for coming
on with us, and look forward to seeing you on
Saturday up in the broadcast booth.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
I look forward to it as well. Rob, Welcome again,
and do me a favor. Say hello to my boys
Brownie and Joe Block and do something with the r
I'm gonna put you in charge of this something please, I.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Will do it. Frank's a huge Pirrus fan. Okay, yeah,
we'll talk about guard well.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I'm gonna leave it extra half an hour to talk
buckles with you on Saturday. I'll slip into your broadcast
booth and we'll chat about that. Frank Frangie, the outstanding
voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining us inside the locker
room with King and Starks Back with more presented by
your neighborhood.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Fords Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
And welcome back inside the Locker Room with King and Starks,
presented by our neighborhood Ford Store on the Steelers Audio Network.
Good to talk to Frank Frangie and catch up and
get kind of a feel for Jacksonville a little bit
more about their regular season feel than their preseason feel.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Although there are a couple of key injuries on.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
The team, as everybody has even at this time of camp,
everyone's going to be a little bit dinged up. But
it's it's an interesting Jacksonville team because they've got a
puncher's chance with Trevor Lawrence and their skilled positions and
if Lawrence can take that step forward and be the
guy they all think, you know he can be, and
you know, some people had him ranked as the highest
quarterback they ever had rank coming out of college, you know,
(23:29):
the draft knicks and that sort of thing. So at
least a puncher's chance of being one of the surprise
teams in the NFL this year.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
Yeah, I think, you know, the biggest thing is going
to be offensive improvements, because the defense is what it
is I mean, you heard Frank talk about it. The
biggest knee is going to be the interior figuring out
who their defensive tackle combination.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Is going to be.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
But it's going to all eyes are going to be
on the offense for this team, especially with the addition
of knowing that Travis Hunter is one of your feature
top three receivers. And you know, we talked about how
you know, you heard everybody else talk abut how great
of a.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Defensive back he is. But you have to remember this
was a.
Speaker 6 (24:04):
Guy that played over one hundred and fifty plays you know,
per game on both sides of the ball. Just ridiculous numbers.
I mean those are even I would even say ridiculous
for video game numbers, right for him to be able
to do both of those things. So how much they'll
deploy him, how varied they're going to be with his usage,
(24:25):
It's gonna be really interesting. That's why I think, you know,
asking that question to see where he's gonna lie, because
so much of the future of that team, you know,
a lot of draft capital was given up to get.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Him there, and for a new head coach to lose
future picks, this dude has.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
To hit because you don't have a first round pick
next year because of him, So he has to be
your first round cornerback at one year and wide receiver
at the other. So it's gonna be really fun to
watch this game. And then there's a lot of names
on this list. They brought in a lot of free
agents in the offseason to kind of overhaul this roster,
and Tony BISSELLI had his thumb all over. The one
thing I am mad at did not ask Frank was
(25:01):
who's this color guy? Since he lost Tony? That's what
I did not Oh, that's right, Yeah, Tony was he
moved up. Yeah, yeah, he moved up. So there's obviously
a new ope doubt he's gonna do both. Yeah, I
don't think he'll be doing both.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Uh, So, yes it is.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
And I think when you when you look at this
Jacksonville team, you know you're hoping, and when you're a
team like this and you've expended that draft capital, as
we said on Travis Hunter, you need other guys to
hit Baseial Tooton is a guy I'm really interested in
seeing a fourth round pick guy. You know, when when
the Steelers talked about wanting to get more speed, I
(25:35):
wondered if he was the fastest guy at the combine,
would he be a guy they might be interested in.
They got him in the fourth round, what if he
winds up beating out you know, a former first rounder
and a former third rounder in Etn and Bigsby, So
we'll see. I mean, you know, you have to hit
on You can't just hit it. First of all, you
have to hit Kevin Kolber used to say this, You
have to hit in the first rounders. And then of
course you better hit on some other guys. You know,
(25:56):
you can't just add one guy to your team every year. Yeah,
you got to add multiple p to it.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
And you know, Jack Kaiser another guy I'm really interested, Yeah,
to see how he can come along in this as
well for Jacksonville. But I think when you you kind
of peel back the layers, I mean, the biggest thing
is this is a new team with you know, like
Frank laid out, this is first ever game as a
head coach. So yeah, there's so many other things outside
of the actual game function that's played between the white
(26:23):
lines that he's going to be worried about timeouts. How
do I use my challenges? We're guys lined up on
the field, so I have access to them. Like, there's
so many procedural things that go on behind behind the scenes,
and we always see it.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
It all. It never fails the first time head coach.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
Mismanages his timeouts, right, you know, there is always the
thing that happens or how are they use all their
challenges up too soon because they want to go after everything. Yeah,
because you know, let's face it, he's a former offensive coordinator,
so he's gonna be he's gonna be adamant about watching
the offense and then the urge not to go sit
with the offense when the defenses out there to be
(27:02):
the head coach because Cliff Kingsbury famously used to do that.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah, Cliff Kingsbury.
Speaker 6 (27:06):
Would go sit with the offense, like, dude, you got
a defense out there, and if you got to throw
a flag there or call a time out or there's
something going on schematically, you have.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
To be involved.
Speaker 6 (27:14):
So there's so many other things that go into the
game as a as a new head coach, So that's
where he's gonna have to kind of manage the emotions
of it as well. But of course, and then you
look across the way Mike right, nineteen years no issue, Bud,
Like he's watching him run around it almost like having
an ant farm, not the first rodeo. Yeah, driving, and
he's seen a lot of those first time head coaches. So,
(27:36):
like I said, sitting watching the ant farm and see
how they build their their their little lanes.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Is gonna be fun for us. You know. The other
thing is too.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Just to get back to the drafting, you mentioned Jack Kaiger,
He's a fourth round pick. Tooton was a fourth round pick.
You know we just sort of blithely, Oh yeah, Peyton Wilson,
Mason McCormick. You know, sure they're gonna start. That is
not the norm, right, It's it's more than norm if
you're a good team, because it's how you become a
good team, right. You know, there's a lot of teams
(28:04):
out there that miss a little on the first but
then you know with completely in the later rounds and
don't have those depth pieces. So you know, we here
in Steeler Land and Steelers Nation expect those guys to
come in and be contributors. You know, we expect Roman Wilson,
as a third round pick of mister year ago, to
come in and be a contributor. Well, it doesn't happen
(28:26):
all the time, and uh it you know, it happens
more frequently with the top teams. So they are going
to be trying. You know, James Gladstone, the new GM,
you know, is he going to get value? As Frank
Frejie pointed out, Jack Kaiser and Basehill Tooton, a couple
of fourth rounders is potential starters on this Jaguar team.
So we went over the offensive depth chart yesterday. We're
(28:47):
going over the defensive depth chart today. Do we have
time to do this?
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Max, Let's launch it. Depart of it? Should we launch it?
Speaker 4 (28:54):
A part of it?
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Let's give a little preview. But I figure if we
cut early here, we can do the entire set like
we normally do. Uh do it?
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Oh, go to break now, Yeah, go to break now
and come back and then talk about the defensive depth chart. Yes, Okay,
that'd be easier. Okay, that's the veteran. Max Stark's in
the locker room, a veteran of the locker room. Right,
I was a guest visitor in the locker room. I'm
like that guy that I'm like to the guy in
the practice squader.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Got cut and came back in remember our team, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Right, now, okay, you are a member of it, so
we're gonna get to the defensive depth chart at the Steelers. Woman,
continue inside the locker room with King and Starks, presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Here on the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Network, Iheartradios, live coverage of twenty five Steelers training Camp
is presented by Vedex where now meets next and also
brought to you by First National Bank, by Kulucy Chevrolet,
iron Workers Union Number three, by Easy Home Exteriors, by
(29:54):
SMT Bank, we Max Select Realty, by Tom's Appliances, the
Pittsburgh ste de Ler's Pro Shot, by Always Safe Flagging
and Traffic Control, and by us Team.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
And welcome back inside the locker room with King and Starks,
presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
I wanted to let you know that training camp.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Uh report is coming up next with Bob Labriel and Tomman.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
So, uh, that's a good German name, good German sound.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
The name right goes goes with Venussel.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
And uh we have the Bob Labriola that is not
a German name. Was very Italian, very Italian, and uh
they will be bringing the training camp report. Bob is
my one 'm but I can stay up here for practice,
which is, you know, a fair amount of time. He's
the guy sit next to the I like. I like
hanging out with labs. Getting the labs point of view.
(30:57):
You know, Labs is awesome. I mean you talk about
the wealth of knowledge. Oh and just the the ability
to bird eye think bird dog things.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
I mean, no doubt about it. Pretty pretty awesome. Yeah,
no doubt about it.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
And he's already he gets here an hour early. He's
ready and already fully ready to go.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
For for training camp report. So I can't wait to
hear him up next.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
So as I'm running my tongue over my teeth, I'm
gonna I'm gonna say that we're gonna blame the missing
chips and dip on him always.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
Nobody can prove it, Nobody can prove how can we
get out there? It's it's nobody.
Speaker 6 (31:31):
Our access is limited. I mean I feel like that's
what it is. But yet he has unabated access to
the chips and for an onion dip.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Yeah, it's uh, that's one of those soons that they say, uh,
one is too many in the hundreds, not enough.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Don't have that first one man, don't have that first yes,
just one. That's that's exactly. It's so true. Okay.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
So we went over the offensive depth chart. We kind
of recapped it for you. We had Frank Frangion of
the Jacksonville Jaguars. What we have not done yet is
go over the defense insive depth chart. So, in a
move that surprises absolutely nobody, Cam Heyward's listed as a starter.
What yes, I know, Hayward, Benton and Derek Harmon, the
(32:11):
rookie up front, second team louder Milk a Quality and
Lee uh and then the third team is Otomewo Black
and Kyler Baw and then Fojoko just recently signed Brandon
Fojoco and Dominique Davis the rest of your depth chart there.
Keep in mind Dean Lowry is injured. So that's one
(32:34):
guy that you would suspect would be h you know,
expecting to make the team or certainly compete for a spot.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
He is out right now, So that is right. So
that is so there's no way he can come back
before week eight, right, So he is.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
But I'm saying is when we're talking about this depth chart,
he's out right, he's not going to be part of it.
He's a guy that I think, I mean, I certainly
would have had him penciled in a part of the
fifty three.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
Yeah, he definitely was right there fringe six seven because
I think they'll keep about six. I think they'll keep
six this year from what we were kind of talking
about with Carl Dunbar. Just because of what's later in
this draft or of this initial Jeff chart, we'll get
into of why the defense will probably be at six men.
(33:22):
In years past, he's usually been around seven. Even at
one point, I think we got up to eight. I
don't know how you can't keep seven. I don't know
how you can't.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
I mean, so think about this, I mean, you know,
so you have your top six, right, Hayward, louder Milk,
Benton with a quality, and then Harmon with Lee even
with the injury to Dean Lowry.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
You have why a Black is on the third team,
he would be number seven and that and that's where I.
Speaker 6 (33:50):
Think you know it's gonna come down between louder Milk,
Logan Lee, and Ya Black. Two out of three two
dogs three sorry, two bone three dogs right, two bones.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
We have not listed Leal as a defensive alignment, we
don't haven't listened as such.
Speaker 6 (34:05):
So he's that tweener that if you're talking about a
seventh potentially maybe that's where the seventh swing guy is.
But right now, I feel like that second unit is
not written in stone. Okay, and so that's where I'm like,
we're gonna have to make some decisions.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
H Logan in the mix.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
Yeah, Logan, le Loudermilk and Black are the three I
feel like are in the mix for those two spots.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Okay, uh interesting, and that's going to be a battle.
That is going to be a battle.
Speaker 6 (34:33):
Because also I will say this, Kyler Ball, who he
wrote in later, Kyler he's got some snap to him too,
He's got some wiggle and he's got some aggression issues
that is perfect in the defensive disposition.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
I would say this, and I think I'm gonna underscore
it for fans, is that if you got a helmet
and pads on and you get an opportunity to play,
you have an opportunity, especially with this organization in their
history of taking undrafted guys, unknown guys and not only
(35:07):
making the team but eventually playing prominent roles. I mean
you know, it doesn't exist with every organization the same
way it does here. So uh, left, outside linebacker TJ.
Watt is going to start. He's going to be listed
as a starter, Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson on the inside,
and Alex Highsmith on the outside. I don't think that
(35:28):
Peyton Wilslim was much of a surprise. Let's run down
the rest of them behind TJ. Watt listed as code
number two's Jack Sawyer, and there's de Marvin Leol not
listed as a defensive end but listed or a defensive
tackle but listed as an outside linebacker. Then it's Malik
Harrison and Cole Holcomb giving you very enviable depth in
(35:49):
the middle at the middle linebacker spot. And Nick Herbig
of course listed as a backup as well.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
Yep, I mean still there.
Speaker 6 (35:57):
So right there, we just listed in two deep, five
outside linebackers and four inside back This is where I
get back to how do you get to seven? You know,
I don't know, right, you know, I don't know the
seven defensive lineman when that's the depth just an outside backer,
and then we haven't even you know, when you look
at the interior position, right we said Malik Harrison Cole Holkom,
(36:21):
behind Peyton Wilson and Patrick Queen. But Mark Robinson, a
key core for special teams, guy who's had a fantastic
camp out here.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
He's been noticeable. So so now we've got five inside linebackers, right, guy,
you wouldn't mind playing against the Ravens.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
Right?
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Absolutely, you need a hammer that that guy will go
find nails.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
And then how about one of this year's draft choices,
Carson Brunner, who's listed on the fourth team, behind him,
even gotten to.
Speaker 6 (36:47):
Him yet, right, So when you're talking about and this
is and this is where it becomes tricky, right, because
it's honestly the old the you know, in a perfect world,
let's put in a perfect world scenario, you get twenty
five defensive players, you get twenty five offensive players, and
your three special teamers right right, Punter, snapper, kicker. Right,
(37:10):
that's fifty three. Yep, how you get to that twenty
five is tough. And we just listed eleven on the interior.
We haven't even talked about the secondary yet.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
Yep. That requires at least four positions. We're not even
finishing the linebackers. Yeah, we haven't even gone through all
of that. So so Julia is where it becomes tough. Diagree.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
So you have Julius welsh Off and then a guy
you've really liked in camp Atchu Lioda on the outside
as well.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Yeah, can he open some eyes?
Speaker 1 (37:35):
That's gonna be the question.
Speaker 6 (37:36):
I mean, I think when when you get this deep
in the depth chart, it's really gonna matter how that
guy performs in teams.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
You know, he's gonna have to be on.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
The interior of your punt coverage and your punt and
your and your punt return team. He's gonna be in
the interior of your kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams.
How does he turn heads there? Because obviously he's not
cracking the top four of this, but can he make
a bid for five?
Speaker 1 (38:02):
That's the jump? Can I get to that fifth option?
That it makes it tough for you to think about.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
You want to be the Wes Euler of football players?
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Yes, right, exactly, just all conditions you can produce, you
can do play by play, you can do it all,
and he can engineer the crap out of a game
they brought yep.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Absolutely yep.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
So uh cornerbacks Darius Slay, Joey Porter Junior Jalen Ramsey,
safety's Won Thornhill to Shaun Elliott.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
I mean no, right, that that's obvious.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Okay, So in the backups Corey Trice and you're still
still dealing with the soft tissue injury. Yeah, Miles Killebrew
and special teams Chuck Clark in the middle.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
Right yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Uh, and then Brandon eccles, who you signed, another very
good special teamer, and Beanie Bishop who led you in
interceptions last year. That's your second team at wide receiver.
All right, defensive back, the defensive back. I'm sorry, that's
your against wide receiver. Thank you, Thank you for clarifying.
Much appreciated. So now just when you think, okay, are
(39:09):
we running out of interesting names, No, we're not. Cameron McCutcheon,
Quindel Johnson, who is among seventeen players wearing number thirty
five for the Hooters. Yeah, but I think they've called
it down to two now, Quindel Johnson, Sebastian Castro. Yeah,
a lot of buzzing Mini camp, a lot of talk
of this guy could be this year's Beanie Bishop making
(39:31):
the team. We're at the third team now, by the way,
run the thirteen. James Pierre still kick it, still kick
it and another special team a.
Speaker 6 (39:41):
Gunner, you know, a guy that's asked to go down
and make some action on the punt game at once
again still it has a lot of time played and
time served at the cornerback position.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
And then you have Dante Kent, rookie draft choice on
the men you're hoping and again he's hoping he can
show something in the punt return game. We'll see when
he mends and when he has an opportunity to show
what he can do. And then recently signed Darryl Porter,
Kyler McMichael, and Deshaun Johnson rounding out the defensive backs.
And you know, we stopped and paused on enough names again, Max,
(40:13):
where man, how are you gonna get down to twenty five?
And we're not talking about Hey, this guy kind of
interests me and he's uh, you know, he's uh, he's
come in from you know, Mars, and we think he's
got a chance. Now these are guys that a lot
of these guys have resumes Pedigrat. It's gonna be interesting,
(40:34):
also interesting. Tomorrow Ramone Foster is gonna be joining us
inside the locker room as Ramone will be joining us
during the preseason and some broadcasts.
Speaker 6 (40:43):
That's correct, Ramone will be as as released by the
Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
He will be joining us as a sideline reporter yep
for the preseason games.
Speaker 6 (40:51):
Obviously the voice of the volunteers, but so gracious to
give his time because Missy Matthews will be on television
duty for those three preseason games.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
So once again and going no better reliever to call
in going to that superior Uh Tennessee, my wife's albumn.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Modern superior conference, not superior. Oh I see, okay, okay, yes,
I got to stick up for my wife Tennessee. I
get that in all right, listen, It's it's all cool.
Speaker 6 (41:17):
But listen, I've never seen more grown men wearing creamsickle thatolunteers.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
He's Max Starks. I'm Rob King Oar.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Thanks to Frank Frazie, the voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars,
for joining us. The Training Camp Report is coming up
next with Bob Labriolle and Tom Offerman. Thank you for
being with us and spending some time inside the locker room.
King and Starks presented by your neighborhood Ford Store here
on the Steelers Audio Network
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