August 6, 2026 • 41 mins
Max and Ed focus on the defense and their camp standouts thus far.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is live coverage of the twenty twenty six Steelers
Training Camp or the Steelers Audio Network, presented by bud Light,
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(00:44):
Number three. We don't go to the office, We build it.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Saint Vincent College, Latroe, Pennsylvania, Day eight of Pittsburgh Stewler's
training Camp. At least the practice portion of the morning
full padded session is behind us. Pittsburgh Steelers getting their
work in here today on campus at Saint Vincent. I'm
at troop alongside Max Starks. We are in the locker room.
I'm subbing in for Rob King, so do not worry.
(01:10):
Mister King will be back with you and back with
Max here later throughout the week. He had his Pittsburgh
Pirate duties here this afternoon as the Buckos wrap up
a four game set in Milwaukee and the Steelers we'll
be wrapping up their eighth day Max. It's been a
full week now here at St. Vincent College. Players reported
last Tuesday, the first day of the heat acclamation period
(01:33):
began last Wednesday for the team. Two padded practices Monday Tuesday,
this week a mock game yesterday, as you informed us
on Wednesday, and here on Thursday. There I guess you
would call it the third padded practice, full padded practice
that took place here earlier today we were talking offense
in our number one so let's talk some defense and
(01:54):
spread the love around on both sides of the ball,
and we'll start up front with the defensive line. And
I mentioned it to you during the break. A player
that stood out to me today was the Steelers free
agent acquisition from the Tennessee Titans in Sebastian Joseph Day.
He is the backup defensive tackle to now Yya Black,
who is your starting defensive tackle. But Sebastian Joseph Day
(02:14):
two pass deflections at the line of scrimmage today that
stood out to me a big target rate in the
middle on that football field for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When
you look at Sebastian Day, six four three and ten
pounds clogging up that middle, and you said at Durm break,
you said, ed, they need these types of veteran, you know,
(02:35):
role type players on your roster to help you, especially upfront.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, and Sebastian Joseph Day is a guy who's been
around this league. He's a journeyman, played in a lot
of different systems, and he's he's a work hard guy.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
You put him in at the defensive end position, you
put him into the detackle position, and he's just going
to get the job done right. He's going to do
his assignment. He's going to do it at a high level,
like we've seen out here in practice so far. Getting
in on place. He's gonna he's gonna jump off the
screen at certain points.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
But he's not the all star you're depending on, right.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You know, this isn't Miles Garrett coming into camp by
any stretch of the imagination. But you need those guys
right when your frontline guys need a blow. If Derek
Harmon needs a blow, if Cam Hayward, Keanu Benton needs
a blow. This is a guy that you put him
in and there's no significant drop off. He knows what
to do, he knows how to get there, and he's
going to just do his job to the best of
(03:25):
his abilities.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
You need some of those guys.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
You don't need the wow guy, the splash guy every
single play and Sebasti Josephday one of the guys we
talked about getting in the conversation period of a pre
dust up area. But he's been solid and he's been
a contributor. He's a guy that's been around the leege.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
So he's not gonna get pushed around right by stretch.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
He's gonna have a voice, But he also knows what
his role is here and so he's not to be
He's not going to be Cam Hayward. He's not here
to be Cam Hayward by any stretch of the imagination.
But he's here to support him and make sure that
there's no there's no big difference than when Cam's in there,
and he's in there, there will be a different it's
just not a significant one.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
There was a lot of talk Max Store in the
Steelers offseason about Keanu Benton moving from that defensive tackle
position to the outside. With the first depth chart that
came out late last night, that move officially made, at
least on paper. We've seen it up here at camp
as well, with Benton moving outside and Ya Black now
moving to the defensive tackle spot. Derek Carmon also in
(04:22):
that defensive line with Cam Heyward. Cam Hayward a veteran
day off. We're presuming he was in straight clothes today, Yeah,
soul I would assume, and you say never assume, right,
but Cam Hayward would have that much needed veteran day
off today. Derek Carmon had a nice practice as well,
and he continues to have a strong camp. Now in
your number two.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, I think that.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
And that's where you see kind of the anticipation because
once again this is an anticipatory depth chart. He's going
to take the jump in hear two, hy A Black
is going to take the jump. That's why he got
the starting nod to be defensive tackle. I know it
looks like that on the on the actual depth chart,
but he's a nose right, Okay, let's face he is
not moving out of the side of the guards.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, just call it a nose.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I know, everybody's got a different thing. And the impact
Guy Rover backer, starbacker.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Blah blah blah. He's a nose tackle. My mama made
him a nose. He gonna be a nose that's it.
That's it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
And so you know, you look at you look at
his backside, he's two ax handles across the backside. That's
a nose tackle, right, And so that's what you want.
And finally we get the move that we've been talking.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
About for Keanu Bins since he's been drafted.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Hey man, man can't wait to see him when he
get bumps outside to be a three four. You know,
three or four technique is three four defense, but a
three technique is off the outside edge of the guard.
Four techniques head up on the tackle and then you
have a gap.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
He's right there.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
He's now on the outer edges of that triumvirent in
the middle, and that's where he was so effective in
college at that's when he did get the opportunities and
sub packages he thrived at that. Now he'll actually formally
be classified into that position.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Which we've been waiting on.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
And so now he gets that really because we have
a bona fide nose who can play the middle and
y a black right. And that's one of the key
things on why you wanted to make that move is
because you know some guy's skill set wise are better
positioned for that success. And yes, it shows that he
is behind Cam Hayward. But as we know, we saw
a lot of a lot of the past years. They
(06:19):
love to rotate guys and Demantopeco is no different. He's
a veteran defensive lineman has done that and he's been
that guy that has played the nose and three techniques
and more of a four down Look, trust me, I've
played more than my fair share against fat Palamalu over
there at Cincinnati and uh and he loves that now,
he loves.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Have you nicknamed him that here?
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Oh? He was nicknamed that back when we played. No. No,
I played against demodofy hair. He has the hair. Yeah,
and he's a lot bigger than Troy. I mean Troy.
We always said.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Was was a fat kid masquerading as a skinny guy,
and no, he is a fat guy that is masquerading
as a skinny kid.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
In Demonopeco.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
See, only lineman can refer to each other whether it's
offense or defensive lineman as yes, and not be offended.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Exactly. It's a term of endearment. I mean, heck, you
got a name. It's like, yes, we called you fab,
but then we named you after a Hall of Famer.
I mean, come on, hey, it's a backhanded compliment, but
compliment nonetheless.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
That's right, that's a good thing. One rookie on the
death chart two that has worked his way in as
Gabriel Rubio from Notre Dame. Yes, now behind Derek Harmon
on that defensive end spot. Rubio getting some looks up here.
As we said during our first hour, Max Mike McCarthy,
displaying the entire draft class. They're getting a lot of
reps up here at camp and on the defensive side.
(07:33):
You only have a couple to talk to, Robert Spears
Jennings and Dalen Everett in the secondary, which we'll talk
about a bit later with the Steelers secondary, but up front,
there's only one other rookie on that side of the
ball and it's Gabriel Rubio.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yeah, gave Rubio injured a lot during Notre Dame, so
you didn't really get to see a full compliment of him.
Because I had a couple of Notre Dame games over
the last couple of years, had their playoff game, most
notably two years ago when they played Indiana before Indiana
became the Indiana And so you know, Gabe, I saw
him two years ago and I was like solid, I mean,
the guy has the ability then kind of hampered a
(08:06):
little bit his last year, so kind of a steal
and an unknown that that was more of a deep
cut into the into the draft files of the scouting department,
but a very quality one. And a guy shows that
he's healthy number one, and then he has some moves,
he has some wiggle, he knows how to play the
two gapping scheme and knows knows how to work that
outside edge. So I think a good compliment behind Derek Harmer,
(08:28):
like you said, working on the secondary depth.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Of this team. You feel good putting those things out.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Now, gab Rubio obviously has to go out and prove
that he deserves to be behind Derek. Harmon has not
a Dean Lowry, it's not a Logan Lee insert names
here right of a lot of guys. But he's on
that path and he's another guy that's gonna get an
equal opportunity in this preseason to really show that he
belongs in that in that top six to seven man
rotation of the defensive line, and he.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Will stand out. Gave Rubio at six five three and
twenty one pounds.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yes, still not quite as big as Ya Black, but
still very large or Derek Harmon, but he's close.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And why Yeah Black is another good example. You know,
we're talking about camp phenoms and rookies making a big
impression up here at camp in their first year. You
know Ya Black a year ago, we're talking all about
Maxionichur in the offensive line standing out the first week
of camp. Last year, it was Ya Black that we
were talking about this time standing out here on these
(09:24):
practice fields at Saint Vincent.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, and you know, and he was, and he was
going head to head with him and Derek Harmon. You know,
those are the two big bodies that came in as
the young baby boys on the defensive line.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
And then you look at early on having to go
to Ya Black as Dereck Harmon was injured.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
So that just goes to show you that opportunity, opportunities
are there, it's just you taking advantage of him. I thought,
why a Black did a great job. Now he still
needs to work on some of his leverage things. He
still got to get lower. But he's a guy that
I've always pegged as he's going to make a play,
whether he thought he was going to or not. Like
he's going to fall into it and he's there to
create chaos, which is what you need at that interior
(10:02):
defensive lineman position where you want to see if they
can pass rush. But it's not really my number one prerequisite.
I need you to cause havoc. I need you to
put the center four or five yards in the backfield
and just be a redwood right around around a quarterback.
I need you to force and divert throws and not
let a quarterback stay on his spot that he wants
to put him in an uncomfortable position, and funnel flow
(10:24):
to the outside.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
That's your pass rushers are your bread winners, right those
get here guys and everybody else is a get near guy.
Cam Hayward is a get here guy because he has
a special skill set has been doing it for a
long time. I feel like I'm I'm talking about you know,
the Liam Neeson movies, right, I have a special set
of acquired skills set.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You get that.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I have a massed over a long career now, you know, Yeah,
I'm scared now, Yeah, exactly so.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
But but ya, Black's a guy that can really cause
chaos if he's pissed off angry, because he is a
humongous human being.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, for those keeping score at home with these sizes,
he's a member of the three hundred club as well.
Six five, three and thirty pounds.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, paper, sorry, it.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Might be a bit more than that. You're trying to free.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
The gut has definitely been free flowing since we've been
out here. I'm like, ah, there's a couple of cheeseburgers. Actually,
you didn't count on the scale that boy. That boy's
easily three point fifty.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
I'm with it. Maybe that weight was taken in preschool,
but uh, you know, the linemen are always taught from
a defensive standpoint to your point max, to drive the
offensive lineman back and get to wherever the ball is right. Yeah,
and if you're lucky enough, maybe you're throwing them into
the ball carrier or a quarterback, or at least getting
around them to free up your edge rushers and your
(11:39):
linebackers to make the play.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Absolutely three four defense.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
To understand the schematics of a three to four defense,
right your down linemen are there to clog, so they're
there to storb two blocks so that you're freeing up
your inside backers to where they're not fighting with the
offensive lineman. That's the mark of a good one. And
then you're funneling flow to get the one on ones
on the outside for your edge Russia. So all of
your linebackers are the playmakers. The defensive line are the
(12:04):
goal you know are they're They're the post in the
ground right there. They're those guys that are there to
pull and just.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Distract and take up space.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
And we think of a Ya Black if he's engaging
the center and throwing that big hamhowk backside into the guard,
preventing it almost running like a barricade. That's what you
want and that's what he's there for to allow Patrick, Queen, Peyton, Wilson, T. J. Watt,
Alex high Smith, Nick Herby all these other guys on
the house to make the said play.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
And then if you make.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
The play by default or by accident, it's just a bonus.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
It's like when you look at it like man I
just pay for this buffet. But wait, there's more.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
You know, there's a there's a fond there's chocolate fondue,
and there's a fondue fountain, and I can.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Dip all this stuff into it and get chocolate cover strawberries.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
There's ice cream, soft serve or the scoopable kind, right,
I mean all these little things.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
So that's what the D line is meant to do.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
They're meant to absorb and create ate an obstacle so
that the rest of the guys can be successful.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Hence why they have that size up front that we're
talking about and height.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
Yeah, and the height is also key to.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
More importantly, are you a soft serve or hard ice cream?
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Guyilms and cream and cream is my number one, has
been my favorite ice cream since I've been a little
little kid. And then yeah, then soft served with the
accouterments I need. I need the toppings you need like
the sprinkles, Jimmy don't need Jimmy's. I need cookies and cream,
I need caramels. You're going, yeah, I'm going, I'm going
(13:31):
all in.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
I'm good stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yeah, I want to go even and listen if you're
if you're if you're on the high level side.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
The crumpled butter finger and some of the heath bar,
the little toffee bits.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
How about an old fashioned hard cap with either the chocolate, oh,
the magic.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Shell, Yeah, gotta have magic shell.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Magic shell is amazingredous.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Yeah, if you get a butterscotch magic shell, Oh, butterscotch.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
In heaven heaven. Yeah, I know. Once again, this is
one thing your former office. Lie, it's in there. You
look good now, but every every skinny guy was formerly fat.
It's always hiding the fat guy. That's it.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
And listen you, at least for us, you know, Thursday
night before a game day on Friday, looking back to
the high school days, you went to the old Country
Buffet or the Buffett.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Yeah see, and we had a place called We had
a place which I'm not sure petting people know. This
is in the South, Quincy's. Quincy's was the buffet spot.
And then if you got fancy, you went to the
Sizzler because you got the never ending salad bar.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
So yeah, language big home of the big fat East
Roll was Quincy's. So yeah, I loved it.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You got to get that fuel in you for the
for the coming game.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And then on game day back in Orlando, Florida.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
So those of you listening that might be a Florida
native or survivor as I like to call it. There
was a place in Orlando off Orange Blossom Trail Chico Subs.
Every Friday, you win, you went. You ain't got the
loose we called a loose meat cheese steak because it
was ground beef. Wasn't the sirloin and everything else is
fancy up here and the place that's east of here
that made it popular.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
But you hat loose movie. Think about that, Yeah, that
place over there.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
But uh yeah, you ain't got to lose me's cheese
steak before the games?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Now did you load that up with the onions and
the peppers all the cheese.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
And onion peppers, cheese, and then I need it banana
peppers grilled on grilled on there as well.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Gotta have banana have some heat, man.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Yeah, you gotta get some spice, just a little tang,
a little little spice.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
You need the tongue that need the tongue to get
stung a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Max Starks and I we're just gonna start doing a
cooking show here. I know. Listen, I'm like a little
steer football.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
We'll talk food. I've been pitching me. I was like,
y'all just need to unleash me on a tailgate. Let's
go whatever city we go to, and I will get
the goods.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
I love it. I'm getting hungry. That's the Steelers defensive
line and food talk. We'll do dor food talk when
we come back, but let's get into the linebackers. You
mentioned the edge rushers a bit too, as well as
the secondary. Here in our number two, he's Max Starks.
We're in the locker room. I'm ed troop in for
Rob King right here. It's day eight, continuing coverage of
Pittsburgh Steelers training Camp twenty twenty six. Here on Steelers
(15:56):
Nation Radio and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Is live coverage of the twenty twenty six Steelers training
Camp or the Steelers Audio Network, presented by bod like
easy to Drink, Easy.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
To Enjoy, and brought to you in part by.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
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Gold score in twenty twenty six, Clearview will donate five
hundred dollars to the Light of Life Mission. Visit CLEARVIEWFCU
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(16:35):
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Speaker 2 (16:50):
Back here at latrope st Vincent College, Max Starks, I'm
at Troop and for Rob King. It's day eight, continuing
coverage of Pittsburgh Steelers Train you can't right here on
Steelers Nation Radio and the Steelers Audio Network. And Max
and I are talking food during the show. During the
break man, we're getting hungry.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yeah we are, we are, and listen, truth be told,
all the guys are over there enjoying lunch right now.
We're just simply postulating about lunch and what it could
be over there.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I will say this one of the UH one of
the ads to the lunch room menu, which I was
happy was off the menu for about two years and
I'd had to pay one of the nuns off to
go sneap into the UH into like the staff dining area.
Soup love soup one of my one of my favorite things.
And I don't under people are like, oh, it's a
winter time.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
No it's not.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
It is a year round thing. I grew up as
a kid in Florida. I'm with you, man, and I
ate soup all the time. There's a reason why my
mom was a Campbells Chunky soup mom because I love soup.
So they added soup back in yesterday was a chicken tortilla.
They had chicken and rice. They've had a chicken lemon orzo.
They've got all these great soups over there. So that's
one of the things that I do still indulge. I
(17:59):
still love a good soup, and I make some good
soups and chili's so I can appreciate that. So that's
back on the menu. So some guys are over there
indulging and enjoying soup.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
My wife always looks at me like I'm crazy when
it's July and I want to make chili for dinner. Absolutely,
and then taking a step further and do some hot dogs.
And you have your chili dogs with it right, you
can both put the cheese on their of the onion,
get it ready to go.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
But you score your hot dogs when you cook.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Them, meaning on like a grill.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
No, no, do you like cut the little precut slices
and then you're grilling it and then it kind of
opens up, so now you got like little pockets when
you put the cheese on it.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I'm just saying, I need to do score it, you know,
I do.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I do a little like diamond cuts on the hot dog,
just to give a little extra burst there.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Listen, the regular grill outside hot dogs great, but when
you're inside and you do like the hibachi grill, right,
you put the flat top action. Yeah, for those Pittsburgh's
out there from Oakland, the O in Oakland and pitt
Campus right, all the guys.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Once again, it was one of my greatest sadnesses was
when the O was gone.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I was trying to do the quick math in my head. Max,
And yeah, you would have been around because that was
only that's only been four or five years at that.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Oh yeah, no, I listen as a rookie, and that
you have realized I was a year out of college,
so college people were still on my radar as fun
hangout spots like I was. I was, I was a
college alumnus, but I definitely you know, listen, I could
have fit in there as a fifth sixth year guy,
you know. Yeah, so I spent a lot of time
on Pitt's campus, and the O was one of my spots.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
They used to hit.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
It.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Used to also hit that little bar right across the way,
a little bit up on the left.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I can't think of the name of it right now.
I popped in there, Listen, I was.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
I was their shady side back in the day, you know,
be at the saloons and the taverns over there.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Yeah, I know, I was twenty three years old.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
There were some good spots.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Yeah, there was great spots back in there.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
And yes, the O and Primantes, you know, were the
two where if it was a good it was a
good night and you and you had a couple of
adult orange juices, you know, in your in your system,
you gotta go get something to soak it up.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Well, let me ask you two quick questions on the
food subject, and then we will get back to promise.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
We'll get back to the backers, I promise.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Listen, this is what happens when you put a couple
of lime in together. Uh, favorite soup and favorite permany
brother sandwich.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Okay, favorite soup.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
That's a big one because there's.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
So many different So my go to win in doubt,
I love chicken soup, of course, So I like chicken
soup because it's flexibility. I can throw rice in there,
and I can also throw noodles in there, so I
can have a chicken noodle or chicken rice soup. So
I make a good chicken right, I make a good
chicken soup base. Then I can then add whatever I want.
(20:35):
I'll take day leftover rice, throw it in there, or
I'll take I'll take some spaghetti leftovers. My Darter's a
little spaghetti. Throw it in there, chop up the noodles,
and it's healthy. So I think it's the most flexible.
It a healthy option.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I use a little you know, I do a little
extra in there.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
I like mine a little spicy, so you're gonna have
some cayenne pepper, a little bit of hot sauce in there, give.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
It a little kick.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
But if I'm picking a soup like going to a wrestler,
clam chowder, lam chowder is my number one going out
or having someone else do it for me. Soup just
because I don't have the cream right, because I wanted
a little lot of it's a lot of work to
get that cream just right. So I haven't perfected that yet,
but but yeah, those are probably the two. And then
when I was with the Steelers at our facility, we
(21:16):
did soup. We had two soups every day. Mullicatani soup
was my favorite, the Indian dish soup mo rest in Peace,
Rest in Heaven. Moe was one of our was one
of our head chefs over there. He made an awesome
Mullagatani soup that was my favorite. Yeah, it's anos lentil
based and it's it's a really good soup. So yeah,
so those are those are my suits now Perrandy Sandwiches,
(21:36):
ah Man, I mean, I can't really go past the
corn beef.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Yes, that's that's just that's a good one.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I mean the Postromi was good, but but you throw
a corn beef with some Swiss on there and and
then the fries and slaw.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
That was that was hangover medicine.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Not my My grandmother used to always make a really
good beef vegetable soup growing up, like very hardy with
big chunks of beef and vegetable.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Little potatoes, potato.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Thick, homemade chopped up potatoes. So I was always a
fan of that. Of course, you can't go wrong with
old fashioned checking noodle, he said. But I'm a strummi
and cheese type guy. Yeah, so yeah, good stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
So you know, and my thing is like Swiss.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I'm always on the fence about Swiss because the flavor
of Swiss is not as decadent as a cheddar or guda.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Or a monster.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
It's acquired and it's not as great a melting cheese. Right,
it takes a wild melt, it takes a wild amount.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
You got to get its form.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, you gotta do it just right.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
So that's why I've always been an extra sharp cheddar,
smoke gooda guy when it comes to that. So yeah,
so once again, this is this is why you get
when you get two limon together.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
You're going to get this me a wolf.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
For years, as our listeners know, we have had endless
conversations about every amalgamation of food there is.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I don't even want to talk about Steelers now. I
just want to spend the next half hours. Yeah, but
let's do get back to the Black and Gold. And
we talked to Lineman before break first hour. We were
talking offense. So let's look at the linebackers now. So
far through camp we're a full weekend, so we're trying
to get Max's evaluation. So far, there's been a little
bit of movement on the death chart. Take it for
what you will. It's really a formality. They have to
(23:10):
issue these death charts at this point. Does the NFL
require the Steelers to do But looking, you know, no
changes up front. You got TJ and Alex Highsmith on
the outside. Of course Nick Herbig Jack Sawyer right behind them.
Her Big is going to be a big part of
that rotation. But it's the middle linebackers. I want to
get your thoughts with Patrick Queen Peyton Wilson. From my
vantage point, Max have had good camps so far, especially
(23:33):
this week. Patrick Queen had to pick six the other
day today. Peyton Wilson did some good things coming down
and getting to the ball carries. I think him and
him and Jalen Warren had a good, good exchange on
one of Yeah, good thought there's the word.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
To the ground. Yes, thought it was a good thud.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
On the flip side of that though, too, Nick Herbig
got picked up on a blitz by Jalen Warren and
Warren picked him up.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
I mean he hit I mean, listen he's a ballard buster.
That's that's that's what me and well Wolf designated him
the ballard buster, and we talked about that backs on
backer type of drill that we haven't seen yet. But
I can't wait if it gets instituted or not into
the into the screen. But that's where Jalen Woreon made
his name. I mean, he's been the ballard buster and
he did that against Nick Herbig.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
So good to see that. The skill sets still there,
not too rusty.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
That's right. Oh, it's it's there. We've seen it. We've
seen it this week. The skill set is definitely there
for him. But on the inside linebacker spots behind Queen
and Wilson is Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruner now makes
his way on the deaf chart and Malik Harrison, the
free agent acquisition from a year ago from you know,
coming over from the Colts. I believe Baltimore was a
Baltimore where I.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
Mean he technically was the Colts at one point, but
now it's Ravens.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, we don't like to talk of that team, right,
we don't have birds.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
We don't have birds.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
We don't mention that name. But Malik Harrison who was
with Cole Holcomb most of last year and again he
started the season out on the i R last year
come on till about mid season is now third team
at least right now as we speaking. Again, this is
going to change as we go throughout, but I thought
it was big that Carson Bruner, who has made his
name with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie last year
and onto this team as a special teamers, is now
(25:14):
maybe making some movement as an inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
I think new staff, new opportunity. And so you know,
Mike McCarthy didn't bring Malie Harrison in no, and he
didn't draft Carson Bruner, but they're on this roster and
he is looking at them for what are they going
to fill the role that I need them to do. So,
once again, Malie Harrison's a veteran, so I don't think
(25:38):
it really matters that he's on third or second team
for all intents and purposes. But for Carson Bruner, it's
an opportunity to step up and see if you can
make that jump from year one to year two. Can
you be more than just a valuable special teams piece.
Can you go contribute in every down situations. Can you
be the guy that Peyton Wilson is out? Can you
jump in and fill that void next to Patrick Queen?
(25:58):
Right and Cole Holcome we know can do it, he
just hasn't been healthy. And Cole's a guy. I mean,
if we're looking at that five guys, I mean Cole
Hulkam is a thumper in that group, right, you know
Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson great sideline to sideline ranging can take,
can take a back out of the backfield, can cover
and then they are going to hit you if you
try and run outside zone, right, they can. They get
(26:19):
chew up a lot of ground really fast. But talking
about that a gap filler, that a land In Roberts
thumper shazier tight. Yeah, that that he's he's a gap,
a plugger as I like to call it.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
He's gonna fill the a.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Gap and he's gonna bring a little bit of thud
with him. So Emily Carris in same way, I think
with Malik, you kind of know who he is, a
little bit more of a liability in the past covers
outside of zone. He's not gonna be your man cover
guy like the other guys had the capability of so now,
Kurston Brune, can you go and can you be a
little bit more than that? Can you be an a
gap filler? Can you also take a guy off the ball?
(26:53):
Can you take a tight end up the seam and
not get lost in the sauce. Those are the things
that they're gonna be evaluating, and it's good to have
this opportunity for young guy.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Hey, listen, run with the two. Show me what you got.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Yeah, see if you can be see if you can
be a hand in the pole guy, not just on
fourth downs and dead ball situations, but can you can
you kick in for a second and third down as well?
Speaker 4 (27:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Because you know, in Carson Berner, and credit to him
throughout last season and even this past offseason going into
this camp, he wasn't in my you know, when I
looked at eight linebackers in that room, TJ. Wat Patrick,
Queen Peyton Wilson, Alex high Smith, Nick her Big Jack
Sawyer for sure, Cole Holcombe, and Malike Harrison. I looked
at more as Carson Berner is the special teams guy.
(27:33):
Yes he's a linebacker, but he's more special teams Max. Well, now,
maybe this conversation switches and he is part of that
eight as potentially being with the linebackers. Oh, guys, by
the way, I'm a linebacker. I'm an inside guy. I
can play this position too. At least for the coaches,
the initial death chart puts him there at that inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
I think this is important because you have a lot
more talent in camp this year, so you do so
whether I keep a ninth linebacker, a fourth running back,
a sixth wide receiver, eighth defensive back, this is where
that matters.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
The numbers game.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Yeah, it's a numbers game.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
So if you can insert yourself into the too deep
of a core position, that saves you and you're not
the last four guys on the roster. Right, we always
talk about this. Forty nine through fifty three is the
one where you're like, okay, this is where what's the
intangible value, what's the flexibility?
Speaker 4 (28:30):
You can move yourself up that list.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
And be the forty seventh, forty eighth, forty fifth guy
on the list because you've solidified yourself as a guy
who can play a core position but has core four upside.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
That's what you want. I think that's what we're gonna
see here. A lot of decisions.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Gonna be made about not necessarily can you just be
a core four guy for me, Caden Wegen, but can
you be the fifth wide receiver as well? I need
a guy who can play the regular stuff as well
as give me a little bit in the specials game.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
At the Steelers secondary, Jamel Dean comes over from Tampa
Bay opposite side Joey Porter Junior.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
We know JPJ on.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
The pup puplist, though today I was watching JPJ and Ramsey.
They were out there getting some movement starting with the
Wills a bit on the practice practice fields here at
Saint Vincent College. Deshaun Elliott's back today. Elliott got more
work today Max than he has so far this camp.
That's also another good sign for the Steeler secondary.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
No, absolutely, I mean and listen, it's it's gonna be
Jakwan Brisker and Deshaun Elliott back there. And I think
you know, when you're talking about JPJ, who's the guy
opposite him. But I think Jamel Dean, as advertised, Sante
Samuel rounding back into form a guy that was a
late pick at the end of November, and he's had
(29:44):
a heck of a camp, a lot of opportunity because
Joey's been out. So now I'm like, dang, we got
we got three top flight number one corners on this roster.
And then, like you said, you throw in a Dayalen Evert,
you're throwing a Ray Shawn Jenkins.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
You throw in all these other guys.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
And we know Jalen Ramsey is going to be the
nickel slash whatever you need him to be defensive back guy. Right,
He's going to start wherever he wants to start, So
we're not worried about that.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
So you're right.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
You look at what Deshaun Elliott brings to this and
like you said, you know, going into last year until injury,
he was he was. He was headbuster, no doubt about it.
He was going to clean your clock. And that's what
you need that enforce her on the back end. So
now you bring in Jakwan Brisker from Chicago and he
has that same tangentle We saw how many plays did
we see him covering over the top ready to make
a play. If receiver would have came down with the football,
(30:31):
that might have been one of those one of those
hospital balls if he catches it. Because Jaquan Brisker was
right in position, and that's what you want in your safeties.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
He had a couple past the flexus day, more than
one the one that we saw together. There was one
earlier in practice too, right in front of us down here.
It was a double coverage situation. I don't know it
was Roman Wilson or DK might have been DK well.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
And the one across the deep middle where he reached
up and.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Almost had it out.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
He's had a good camp too, Jaquan Brisker and we
expected that Deshaun Elliott more reps today than he has. Again,
they're slowly working him back from that injury from last year.
He's with the walkthroughs. He's always out there.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
When it came to the physicality, you saw him on
the speed drill, Yeah, he was, he was. You know,
they're trying to work him more into that. Jalen Ramsey
on the deaf chart. Also with the nickelback, the nickel
cornerback position for Jalen Ramsey being worked in. Yeah, let's
take a quick break. When we come back, we will
start to wind things down here in the locker room.
We'll talk more Pittsburgh Steelers defense and the secondary we'll
(31:28):
get into some of the conversations of the second teamers.
You mentioned Dalen Everett. I want to get your thoughts
on him so far in this camp in Robert Spears
Jennings another rookie that's been in with Brendan Eccles as well,
getting a lot of reps out here at Saint Vincent.
He's Max Starks. I'm at troop in for Rob King
here this afternoon. It's day eight, continuing coverage of Pittsburgh Steelers'
training camp twenty twenty six right here on Steelers Nation
(31:51):
Radio and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Please please live Covery Jump Steelers Training Camp or the
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Speaker 2 (32:49):
Wrapping up in the locker room here this afternoon, on
day number eight of continuing coverage of Steelers training Camp
twenty twenty six right here on Steelers Nation Radio in
the Steelers Audio Network. I'm at troop in for Rob
King here this afternoon in the locker room with his
partner Max Starks. And Max we have talked offense, we've
talked defense as far as where we are a weekend.
(33:12):
This is day number eight of practices. The team reported
here at the Saint Fencent College last Tuesday, So if
you look at it from that standpoint, we're wrapping up
week number two. Man, you could spin us however you want,
day number eight of eight practices, but day number ten
since they've been here in Westmoreland County, who knows. But
we are over a week now, and I wanted to
(33:34):
ask you who's some of your camp standouts that have
kind of caught your eyes so far? And I think
we've probably talked about most of them up to this
point being on the air for two hours, But yeah,
who maybe on both sides of the ball, give me
an offensive guy and a defensive guy.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
All right, just one right?
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Sure, I know there's a bunch.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Yeah, there's a bunch. Okay, so or give me a bunch.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I don't we still have some time?
Speaker 4 (33:55):
I mean we still got time. Okay.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Offensively, Maxianachure right has been a camp stand out so far, easily,
And I'm gonna also throw in yep, he's supposed to be.
He got compensated as such. But I also like Rico
Daddle right now. I think he's jumped out and been
(34:19):
kind of as advertised in that moment.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Well, it's interesting too because we've talked about it during
our midday show here on SNR. But the first tots,
the first carries of each practice so far has been
Rico Dawdle, not Jalen Lorn. It's been Rico Daddle that's
gotten the first couple carries. Now, granted, but I think
if you were doing a snap count or a carry count,
I'm sure it's more fifty to fifty by the end.
But hey, Rico's getting a lot of those totes up front.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, they're trying to get him up to speed and
make sure he's ready to rock and roll in this
offense because like I said, I mean, I think you
look at them as one A, one B and mix
and match whatever. I think they'll get series that they'll
get to go and kind of get stretches to get
themselves into game mode and then whoever's a hot and
I think it's kind of how you have to view
it with that, with that running back room.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
But yeah, like you said, I've loved what I've seen.
I mean, Jalen Warren I think has been my camp
stand out for like three years in a row.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
But rightfully so yeah, but I mean, but I've now
come to I now have an expectation and come to
expect it from him. So that's why I can't really
give him Camp stand out because this is who he
is and he's going to stand out regardless.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
So no knock on Jalen. But I don't know Rico.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
And Rico jumps off the page to me when I
watch film, he jumps off the screen at you.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Has certain moments, and.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Like you said, the fact that he's getting opportunities and
there's trust building there with the offense, not only with
Mike McCarthy but with Aaron Rodgers and some of the
play calling. You know, and Angelico has a lot of
faith in him, So I think that's why I kind
of have to put him in that category because he's
newer to me, and he's newer to.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
The Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Faithful that's out here watching the practices, you're like, who
thirteen once again? Wide receiver number in the backfield, just
like we see Levi Wentz running back number on the outside.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
We're old school guys, man.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Yes, if your additional numbering system.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Please twenty twenty, not even past forty. I don't want
to see a running back four back. We can go
in the four, yeah, we can go in the forties,
but not running back.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
No.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
Thirties is the top. Thirty nine is the top of that.
Willie Parker is as high as you're allowed to go.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
And we can give you a twenty Caleb Johnson, that's what.
Speaker 4 (36:23):
That doesn't bother.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
But you know what, that's the range. That's it, Caleb
Johnson and Willie Parker, that's your range.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
Get in there.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
And of course can't touch number thirty two, so don't
even think about it.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
That has touched down.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Jesus So Franco Harris is the only thirty two that
will ever down the thirty two here for the.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Steelers, and Roman Wilson has been a popular target from
Aaron Rodgers on the first few reps too, so we
talked about Rico getting the first totes out of the
backfield from a receiving standpoint. Roman has been found early
and often from Aaron Rodgers, and I think there's something
to be said there too.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
He's gotten the bulk of it. So I love the
views that we've gotten of Roman Wilson.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Obviously there's some still schematic things got to work out.
But if we're talking about standing out, who surprised me
at Perry?
Speaker 4 (37:05):
Oh yeah, we're running.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
With the second and third units and a lot of
a lot of the two minute drills at Perry's been
at this, so there's a lot of faith that's building
with the young quarterbacks with him. So he's a guy
that stood out to me. Like you said, he's gonna
be one of those fringe guys. I'm not saying this
is frontline start. He's not knocking DK metcalf or Michael
Pittman out of a job. But we're talking about guys
who yeah, exactly, but a guy who's shown opportunity, has
(37:28):
shown promise at Perry's probably another guy along with Roman Wilson,
just because we're getting extended looks at Roman in a
lot of multitude of situations to see if he can
handle that caseload as a slot receiver. But at Perry
deeper down in the in the deep cuts of the vinyls.
I think I like him at that wide receiver position
when he's shown me.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
And to go along with that.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
Max.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Not so much today, but in previous practices. Another guy's
been Brandon Smith. Ye.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
Smith has gotten a lot of looks as well.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
And he's a good big body guy, like he stands
out when he's staying there, talk about it, get off
the bus team type of guy.
Speaker 4 (38:02):
He looks that part and he's gotten he's gotten some
burn as well.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Yeah, Brandon Smith at six two two fifteen, Yeah good.
Speaker 4 (38:10):
Not a real good tight end, but a very big receiver.
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, I'm on the defensive side.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Defensive side of the ball, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
I mean, all right, ya has been standing out. Sebastian
Joseph Day. I think we've talked about him a lot.
I think he's been one that's brought some energy, brings
a little zest, little Jonah to the to the defensive
side of the ball, a little little extra, you know,
Cajun seasoning there, little Tony saturi Ye to the defensive.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
I like what he's done on there.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
I would also say another guy that's that's jumped out
in that, Carson Brunner has been a guy like you said,
there's no reason why, there's no surprise why he got
second on the chart. I think a couple of times,
especially in these drills, like he's butting up in the
in the actual a gap, he's having good chase pursuit.
He carried off on a on a pass to to
Travis Homer, so he took him out of the backfield
(39:03):
and had a good pass defense against him in that
two minute drill. So Carsion Brunner starting to stick out
in that group of Jawan Brisker Man.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
God he experience as advertised out listen.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
I had him last year twice because we had the
Steelers against the Bears, and he stood out in that
game against US and defended a lot of Mason's passes
in that game and he was all over the place.
Speaker 4 (39:26):
But also I had the Cleveland Chicago game.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
A couple of weeks after that, and it was literally
the coldest game I think I've ever called to experience
the environment, because it was negative five outside and Chicago.
If you've never been there, open air booth like a
garage door, great, this is what we're talking about. And
no functioning heater really except for in one focalized spot
(39:52):
out of the ceiling was I literally was wearing my
producer's mittens and I had to put on an extra
pair of socks, and then I had to borrow an
extra jacket. I literally just had a beanie and a
and an electric vest and that was not enough because
that wind was cutting through my soul. But Jakawhan Brisker
couldn't have told he was called out there. He was
all our place, just giving Shador Sanders fits. So he's
(40:14):
a guy that I had thoughts about, Hey, how's.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
He going to institute?
Speaker 3 (40:17):
He has fit in perfectly with the Steelers identity for
a secondary guy and a guy who's explosive, but it
could also.
Speaker 4 (40:25):
Is rangy as well in a San Samuel junior.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Yeah, Santa, I mean he might be at the top
of everything.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Yeah, I think he's probably my number one camp standout
period just overall. Yeah, he's been playing excellent since Joey's
been indisposed as well as Jalen. He's got a lot
of those opposite Jamel Dean first team reps and he's
answered the call you had, like you he hear DK's
name called.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
But you don't really hear dksed like it could be.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yep, correct, Max, I enjoyed it with you. Thanks for
letting me summon for Rob today. We'll hopefully get a chance.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
To do it again. Yeah, absolutely listen, Rob.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
As long as I'm Bucko's duty, you know, there's always
a possibility. Good luck to him tonight and the Pirates
and everybody else.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
But yeah, this was fun man.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
Hopefully we'll do it again. Max Stark's Rob King. You
can hear them each and every day right here on
SNR in the locker Room special thanks to our producer
keeping things in line for us with Justin Miller back
at the iHeart Studios and Max and Robb will be
back at it tomorrow afternoon right here as we continue
coverage of Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp twenty twenty six. For
(41:24):
Max Stark's I'm at Troop in next West, Yuler and
Matt Williamson right here on Steelers Nation Radio and the
Steelers Audio Network
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Number three. We don't go to the office, We build it.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Saint Vincent College, Latroe, Pennsylvania, Day eight of Pittsburgh Stewler's
training Camp. At least the practice portion of the morning
full padded session is behind us. Pittsburgh Steelers getting their
work in here today on campus at Saint Vincent. I'm
at troop alongside Max Starks. We are in the locker room.
I'm subbing in for Rob King, so do not worry.
(01:10):
Mister King will be back with you and back with
Max here later throughout the week. He had his Pittsburgh
Pirate duties here this afternoon as the Buckos wrap up
a four game set in Milwaukee and the Steelers we'll
be wrapping up their eighth day Max. It's been a
full week now here at St. Vincent College. Players reported
last Tuesday, the first day of the heat acclamation period
(01:33):
began last Wednesday for the team. Two padded practices Monday Tuesday,
this week a mock game yesterday, as you informed us
on Wednesday, and here on Thursday. There I guess you
would call it the third padded practice, full padded practice
that took place here earlier today we were talking offense
in our number one so let's talk some defense and
(01:54):
spread the love around on both sides of the ball,
and we'll start up front with the defensive line. And
I mentioned it to you during the break. A player
that stood out to me today was the Steelers free
agent acquisition from the Tennessee Titans in Sebastian Joseph Day.
He is the backup defensive tackle to now Yya Black,
who is your starting defensive tackle. But Sebastian Joseph Day
(02:14):
two pass deflections at the line of scrimmage today that
stood out to me a big target rate in the
middle on that football field for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When
you look at Sebastian Day, six four three and ten
pounds clogging up that middle, and you said at Durm break,
you said, ed, they need these types of veteran, you know,
(02:35):
role type players on your roster to help you, especially upfront.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, and Sebastian Joseph Day is a guy who's been
around this league. He's a journeyman, played in a lot
of different systems, and he's he's a work hard guy.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
You put him in at the defensive end position, you
put him into the detackle position, and he's just going
to get the job done right. He's going to do
his assignment. He's going to do it at a high level,
like we've seen out here in practice so far. Getting
in on place. He's gonna he's gonna jump off the
screen at certain points.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
But he's not the all star you're depending on, right.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You know, this isn't Miles Garrett coming into camp by
any stretch of the imagination. But you need those guys
right when your frontline guys need a blow. If Derek
Harmon needs a blow, if Cam Hayward, Keanu Benton needs
a blow. This is a guy that you put him
in and there's no significant drop off. He knows what
to do, he knows how to get there, and he's
going to just do his job to the best of
(03:25):
his abilities.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
You need some of those guys.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
You don't need the wow guy, the splash guy every
single play and Sebasti Josephday one of the guys we
talked about getting in the conversation period of a pre
dust up area. But he's been solid and he's been
a contributor. He's a guy that's been around the leege.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
So he's not gonna get pushed around right by stretch.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
He's gonna have a voice, But he also knows what
his role is here and so he's not to be
He's not going to be Cam Hayward. He's not here
to be Cam Hayward by any stretch of the imagination.
But he's here to support him and make sure that
there's no there's no big difference than when Cam's in there,
and he's in there, there will be a different it's
just not a significant one.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
There was a lot of talk Max Store in the
Steelers offseason about Keanu Benton moving from that defensive tackle
position to the outside. With the first depth chart that
came out late last night, that move officially made, at
least on paper. We've seen it up here at camp
as well, with Benton moving outside and Ya Black now
moving to the defensive tackle spot. Derek Carmon also in
(04:22):
that defensive line with Cam Heyward. Cam Hayward a veteran
day off. We're presuming he was in straight clothes today, Yeah,
soul I would assume, and you say never assume, right,
but Cam Hayward would have that much needed veteran day
off today. Derek Carmon had a nice practice as well,
and he continues to have a strong camp. Now in
your number two.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, I think that.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
And that's where you see kind of the anticipation because
once again this is an anticipatory depth chart. He's going
to take the jump in hear two, hy A Black
is going to take the jump. That's why he got
the starting nod to be defensive tackle. I know it
looks like that on the on the actual depth chart,
but he's a nose right, Okay, let's face he is
not moving out of the side of the guards.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, just call it a nose.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I know, everybody's got a different thing. And the impact
Guy Rover backer, starbacker.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Blah blah blah. He's a nose tackle. My mama made
him a nose. He gonna be a nose that's it.
That's it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
And so you know, you look at you look at
his backside, he's two ax handles across the backside. That's
a nose tackle, right, And so that's what you want.
And finally we get the move that we've been talking.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
About for Keanu Bins since he's been drafted.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Hey man, man can't wait to see him when he
get bumps outside to be a three four. You know,
three or four technique is three four defense, but a
three technique is off the outside edge of the guard.
Four techniques head up on the tackle and then you
have a gap.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
He's right there.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
He's now on the outer edges of that triumvirent in
the middle, and that's where he was so effective in
college at that's when he did get the opportunities and
sub packages he thrived at that. Now he'll actually formally
be classified into that position.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Which we've been waiting on.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
And so now he gets that really because we have
a bona fide nose who can play the middle and
y a black right. And that's one of the key
things on why you wanted to make that move is
because you know some guy's skill set wise are better
positioned for that success. And yes, it shows that he
is behind Cam Hayward. But as we know, we saw
a lot of a lot of the past years. They
(06:19):
love to rotate guys and Demantopeco is no different. He's
a veteran defensive lineman has done that and he's been
that guy that has played the nose and three techniques
and more of a four down Look, trust me, I've
played more than my fair share against fat Palamalu over
there at Cincinnati and uh and he loves that now,
he loves.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Have you nicknamed him that here?
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Oh? He was nicknamed that back when we played. No. No,
I played against demodofy hair. He has the hair. Yeah,
and he's a lot bigger than Troy. I mean Troy.
We always said.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Was was a fat kid masquerading as a skinny guy,
and no, he is a fat guy that is masquerading
as a skinny kid.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
In Demonopeco.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
See, only lineman can refer to each other whether it's
offense or defensive lineman as yes, and not be offended.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Exactly. It's a term of endearment. I mean, heck, you
got a name. It's like, yes, we called you fab,
but then we named you after a Hall of Famer.
I mean, come on, hey, it's a backhanded compliment, but
compliment nonetheless.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
That's right, that's a good thing. One rookie on the
death chart two that has worked his way in as
Gabriel Rubio from Notre Dame. Yes, now behind Derek Harmon
on that defensive end spot. Rubio getting some looks up here.
As we said during our first hour, Max Mike McCarthy,
displaying the entire draft class. They're getting a lot of
reps up here at camp and on the defensive side.
(07:33):
You only have a couple to talk to, Robert Spears
Jennings and Dalen Everett in the secondary, which we'll talk
about a bit later with the Steelers secondary, but up front,
there's only one other rookie on that side of the
ball and it's Gabriel Rubio.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yeah, gave Rubio injured a lot during Notre Dame, so
you didn't really get to see a full compliment of him.
Because I had a couple of Notre Dame games over
the last couple of years, had their playoff game, most
notably two years ago when they played Indiana before Indiana
became the Indiana And so you know, Gabe, I saw
him two years ago and I was like solid, I mean,
the guy has the ability then kind of hampered a
(08:06):
little bit his last year, so kind of a steal
and an unknown that that was more of a deep
cut into the into the draft files of the scouting department,
but a very quality one. And a guy shows that
he's healthy number one, and then he has some moves,
he has some wiggle, he knows how to play the
two gapping scheme and knows knows how to work that
outside edge. So I think a good compliment behind Derek Harmer,
(08:28):
like you said, working on the secondary depth.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Of this team. You feel good putting those things out.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Now, gab Rubio obviously has to go out and prove
that he deserves to be behind Derek. Harmon has not
a Dean Lowry, it's not a Logan Lee insert names
here right of a lot of guys. But he's on
that path and he's another guy that's gonna get an
equal opportunity in this preseason to really show that he
belongs in that in that top six to seven man
rotation of the defensive line, and he.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Will stand out. Gave Rubio at six five three and
twenty one pounds.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yes, still not quite as big as Ya Black, but
still very large or Derek Harmon, but he's close.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And why Yeah Black is another good example. You know,
we're talking about camp phenoms and rookies making a big
impression up here at camp in their first year. You
know Ya Black a year ago, we're talking all about
Maxionichur in the offensive line standing out the first week
of camp. Last year, it was Ya Black that we
were talking about this time standing out here on these
(09:24):
practice fields at Saint Vincent.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, and you know, and he was, and he was
going head to head with him and Derek Harmon. You know,
those are the two big bodies that came in as
the young baby boys on the defensive line.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
And then you look at early on having to go
to Ya Black as Dereck Harmon was injured.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
So that just goes to show you that opportunity, opportunities
are there, it's just you taking advantage of him. I thought,
why a Black did a great job. Now he still
needs to work on some of his leverage things. He
still got to get lower. But he's a guy that
I've always pegged as he's going to make a play,
whether he thought he was going to or not. Like
he's going to fall into it and he's there to
create chaos, which is what you need at that interior
(10:02):
defensive lineman position where you want to see if they
can pass rush. But it's not really my number one prerequisite.
I need you to cause havoc. I need you to
put the center four or five yards in the backfield
and just be a redwood right around around a quarterback.
I need you to force and divert throws and not
let a quarterback stay on his spot that he wants
to put him in an uncomfortable position, and funnel flow
(10:24):
to the outside.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
That's your pass rushers are your bread winners, right those
get here guys and everybody else is a get near guy.
Cam Hayward is a get here guy because he has
a special skill set has been doing it for a
long time. I feel like I'm I'm talking about you know,
the Liam Neeson movies, right, I have a special set
of acquired skills set.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You get that.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I have a massed over a long career now, you know, Yeah,
I'm scared now, Yeah, exactly so.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
But but ya, Black's a guy that can really cause
chaos if he's pissed off angry, because he is a
humongous human being.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, for those keeping score at home with these sizes,
he's a member of the three hundred club as well.
Six five, three and thirty pounds.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, paper, sorry, it.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Might be a bit more than that. You're trying to free.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
The gut has definitely been free flowing since we've been
out here. I'm like, ah, there's a couple of cheeseburgers. Actually,
you didn't count on the scale that boy. That boy's
easily three point fifty.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
I'm with it. Maybe that weight was taken in preschool,
but uh, you know, the linemen are always taught from
a defensive standpoint to your point max, to drive the
offensive lineman back and get to wherever the ball is right. Yeah,
and if you're lucky enough, maybe you're throwing them into
the ball carrier or a quarterback, or at least getting
around them to free up your edge rushers and your
(11:39):
linebackers to make the play.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Absolutely three four defense.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
To understand the schematics of a three to four defense,
right your down linemen are there to clog, so they're
there to storb two blocks so that you're freeing up
your inside backers to where they're not fighting with the
offensive lineman. That's the mark of a good one. And
then you're funneling flow to get the one on ones
on the outside for your edge Russia. So all of
your linebackers are the playmakers. The defensive line are the
(12:04):
goal you know are they're They're the post in the
ground right there. They're those guys that are there to
pull and just.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Distract and take up space.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
And we think of a Ya Black if he's engaging
the center and throwing that big hamhowk backside into the guard,
preventing it almost running like a barricade. That's what you
want and that's what he's there for to allow Patrick, Queen, Peyton, Wilson, T. J. Watt,
Alex high Smith, Nick Herby all these other guys on
the house to make the said play.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
And then if you make.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
The play by default or by accident, it's just a bonus.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
It's like when you look at it like man I
just pay for this buffet. But wait, there's more.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
You know, there's a there's a fond there's chocolate fondue,
and there's a fondue fountain, and I can.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Dip all this stuff into it and get chocolate cover strawberries.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
There's ice cream, soft serve or the scoopable kind, right,
I mean all these little things.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
So that's what the D line is meant to do.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
They're meant to absorb and create ate an obstacle so
that the rest of the guys can be successful.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Hence why they have that size up front that we're
talking about and height.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
Yeah, and the height is also key to.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
More importantly, are you a soft serve or hard ice cream?
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Guyilms and cream and cream is my number one, has
been my favorite ice cream since I've been a little
little kid. And then yeah, then soft served with the
accouterments I need. I need the toppings you need like
the sprinkles, Jimmy don't need Jimmy's. I need cookies and cream,
I need caramels. You're going, yeah, I'm going, I'm going
(13:31):
all in.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
I'm good stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yeah, I want to go even and listen if you're
if you're if you're on the high level side.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
The crumpled butter finger and some of the heath bar,
the little toffee bits.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
How about an old fashioned hard cap with either the chocolate, oh,
the magic.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Shell, Yeah, gotta have magic shell.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Magic shell is amazingredous.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Yeah, if you get a butterscotch magic shell, Oh, butterscotch.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
In heaven heaven. Yeah, I know. Once again, this is
one thing your former office. Lie, it's in there. You
look good now, but every every skinny guy was formerly fat.
It's always hiding the fat guy. That's it.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
And listen you, at least for us, you know, Thursday
night before a game day on Friday, looking back to
the high school days, you went to the old Country
Buffet or the Buffett.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Yeah see, and we had a place called We had
a place which I'm not sure petting people know. This
is in the South, Quincy's. Quincy's was the buffet spot.
And then if you got fancy, you went to the
Sizzler because you got the never ending salad bar.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
So yeah, language big home of the big fat East
Roll was Quincy's. So yeah, I loved it.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You got to get that fuel in you for the
for the coming game.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And then on game day back in Orlando, Florida.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
So those of you listening that might be a Florida
native or survivor as I like to call it. There
was a place in Orlando off Orange Blossom Trail Chico Subs.
Every Friday, you win, you went. You ain't got the
loose we called a loose meat cheese steak because it
was ground beef. Wasn't the sirloin and everything else is
fancy up here and the place that's east of here
that made it popular.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
But you hat loose movie. Think about that, Yeah, that
place over there.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
But uh yeah, you ain't got to lose me's cheese
steak before the games?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Now did you load that up with the onions and
the peppers all the cheese.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
And onion peppers, cheese, and then I need it banana
peppers grilled on grilled on there as well.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Gotta have banana have some heat, man.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Yeah, you gotta get some spice, just a little tang,
a little little spice.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
You need the tongue that need the tongue to get
stung a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Max Starks and I we're just gonna start doing a
cooking show here. I know. Listen, I'm like a little
steer football.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
We'll talk food. I've been pitching me. I was like,
y'all just need to unleash me on a tailgate. Let's
go whatever city we go to, and I will get
the goods.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
I love it. I'm getting hungry. That's the Steelers defensive
line and food talk. We'll do dor food talk when
we come back, but let's get into the linebackers. You
mentioned the edge rushers a bit too, as well as
the secondary. Here in our number two, he's Max Starks.
We're in the locker room. I'm ed troop in for
Rob King right here. It's day eight, continuing coverage of
Pittsburgh Steelers training Camp twenty twenty six. Here on Steelers
(15:56):
Nation Radio and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Is live coverage of the twenty twenty six Steelers training
Camp or the Steelers Audio Network, presented by bod like
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Speaker 4 (16:10):
To Enjoy, and brought to you in part by.
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Speaker 2 (16:50):
Back here at latrope st Vincent College, Max Starks, I'm
at Troop and for Rob King. It's day eight, continuing
coverage of Pittsburgh Steelers Train you can't right here on
Steelers Nation Radio and the Steelers Audio Network. And Max
and I are talking food during the show. During the
break man, we're getting hungry.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yeah we are, we are, and listen, truth be told,
all the guys are over there enjoying lunch right now.
We're just simply postulating about lunch and what it could
be over there.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I will say this one of the UH one of
the ads to the lunch room menu, which I was
happy was off the menu for about two years and
I'd had to pay one of the nuns off to
go sneap into the UH into like the staff dining area.
Soup love soup one of my one of my favorite things.
And I don't under people are like, oh, it's a
winter time.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
No it's not.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
It is a year round thing. I grew up as
a kid in Florida. I'm with you, man, and I
ate soup all the time. There's a reason why my
mom was a Campbells Chunky soup mom because I love soup.
So they added soup back in yesterday was a chicken tortilla.
They had chicken and rice. They've had a chicken lemon orzo.
They've got all these great soups over there. So that's
one of the things that I do still indulge. I
(17:59):
still love a good soup, and I make some good
soups and chili's so I can appreciate that. So that's
back on the menu. So some guys are over there
indulging and enjoying soup.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
My wife always looks at me like I'm crazy when
it's July and I want to make chili for dinner. Absolutely,
and then taking a step further and do some hot dogs.
And you have your chili dogs with it right, you
can both put the cheese on their of the onion,
get it ready to go.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
But you score your hot dogs when you cook.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Them, meaning on like a grill.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
No, no, do you like cut the little precut slices
and then you're grilling it and then it kind of
opens up, so now you got like little pockets when
you put the cheese on it.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I'm just saying, I need to do score it, you know,
I do.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I do a little like diamond cuts on the hot dog,
just to give a little extra burst there.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Listen, the regular grill outside hot dogs great, but when
you're inside and you do like the hibachi grill, right,
you put the flat top action. Yeah, for those Pittsburgh's
out there from Oakland, the O in Oakland and pitt
Campus right, all the guys.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Once again, it was one of my greatest sadnesses was
when the O was gone.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I was trying to do the quick math in my head. Max,
And yeah, you would have been around because that was
only that's only been four or five years at that.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Oh yeah, no, I listen as a rookie, and that
you have realized I was a year out of college,
so college people were still on my radar as fun
hangout spots like I was. I was, I was a
college alumnus, but I definitely you know, listen, I could
have fit in there as a fifth sixth year guy,
you know. Yeah, so I spent a lot of time
on Pitt's campus, and the O was one of my spots.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
They used to hit.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
It.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Used to also hit that little bar right across the way,
a little bit up on the left.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I can't think of the name of it right now.
I popped in there, Listen, I was.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
I was their shady side back in the day, you know,
be at the saloons and the taverns over there.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Yeah, I know, I was twenty three years old.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
There were some good spots.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Yeah, there was great spots back in there.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
And yes, the O and Primantes, you know, were the
two where if it was a good it was a
good night and you and you had a couple of
adult orange juices, you know, in your in your system,
you gotta go get something to soak it up.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Well, let me ask you two quick questions on the
food subject, and then we will get back to promise.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
We'll get back to the backers, I promise.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Listen, this is what happens when you put a couple
of lime in together. Uh, favorite soup and favorite permany
brother sandwich.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Okay, favorite soup.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
That's a big one because there's.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
So many different So my go to win in doubt,
I love chicken soup, of course, So I like chicken
soup because it's flexibility. I can throw rice in there,
and I can also throw noodles in there, so I
can have a chicken noodle or chicken rice soup. So
I make a good chicken right, I make a good
chicken soup base. Then I can then add whatever I want.
(20:35):
I'll take day leftover rice, throw it in there, or
I'll take I'll take some spaghetti leftovers. My Darter's a
little spaghetti. Throw it in there, chop up the noodles,
and it's healthy. So I think it's the most flexible.
It a healthy option.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I use a little you know, I do a little
extra in there.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
I like mine a little spicy, so you're gonna have
some cayenne pepper, a little bit of hot sauce in there, give.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
It a little kick.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
But if I'm picking a soup like going to a wrestler,
clam chowder, lam chowder is my number one going out
or having someone else do it for me. Soup just
because I don't have the cream right, because I wanted
a little lot of it's a lot of work to
get that cream just right. So I haven't perfected that yet,
but but yeah, those are probably the two. And then
when I was with the Steelers at our facility, we
(21:16):
did soup. We had two soups every day. Mullicatani soup
was my favorite, the Indian dish soup mo rest in Peace,
Rest in Heaven. Moe was one of our was one
of our head chefs over there. He made an awesome
Mullagatani soup that was my favorite. Yeah, it's anos lentil
based and it's it's a really good soup. So yeah,
so those are those are my suits now Perrandy Sandwiches,
(21:36):
ah Man, I mean, I can't really go past the
corn beef.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Yes, that's that's just that's a good one.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I mean the Postromi was good, but but you throw
a corn beef with some Swiss on there and and
then the fries and slaw.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
That was that was hangover medicine.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Not my My grandmother used to always make a really
good beef vegetable soup growing up, like very hardy with
big chunks of beef and vegetable.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Little potatoes, potato.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Thick, homemade chopped up potatoes. So I was always a
fan of that. Of course, you can't go wrong with
old fashioned checking noodle, he said. But I'm a strummi
and cheese type guy. Yeah, so yeah, good stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
So you know, and my thing is like Swiss.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I'm always on the fence about Swiss because the flavor
of Swiss is not as decadent as a cheddar or guda.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Or a monster.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
It's acquired and it's not as great a melting cheese. Right,
it takes a wild melt, it takes a wild amount.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
You got to get its form.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, you gotta do it just right.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
So that's why I've always been an extra sharp cheddar,
smoke gooda guy when it comes to that. So yeah,
so once again, this is this is why you get
when you get two limon together.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
You're going to get this me a wolf.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
For years, as our listeners know, we have had endless
conversations about every amalgamation of food there is.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I don't even want to talk about Steelers now. I
just want to spend the next half hours. Yeah, but
let's do get back to the Black and Gold. And
we talked to Lineman before break first hour. We were
talking offense. So let's look at the linebackers now. So
far through camp we're a full weekend, so we're trying
to get Max's evaluation. So far, there's been a little
bit of movement on the death chart. Take it for
what you will. It's really a formality. They have to
(23:10):
issue these death charts at this point. Does the NFL
require the Steelers to do But looking, you know, no
changes up front. You got TJ and Alex Highsmith on
the outside. Of course Nick Herbig Jack Sawyer right behind them.
Her Big is going to be a big part of
that rotation. But it's the middle linebackers. I want to
get your thoughts with Patrick Queen Peyton Wilson. From my
vantage point, Max have had good camps so far, especially
(23:33):
this week. Patrick Queen had to pick six the other
day today. Peyton Wilson did some good things coming down
and getting to the ball carries. I think him and
him and Jalen Warren had a good, good exchange on
one of Yeah, good thought there's the word.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
To the ground. Yes, thought it was a good thud.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
On the flip side of that though, too, Nick Herbig
got picked up on a blitz by Jalen Warren and
Warren picked him up.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
I mean he hit I mean, listen he's a ballard buster.
That's that's that's what me and well Wolf designated him
the ballard buster, and we talked about that backs on
backer type of drill that we haven't seen yet. But
I can't wait if it gets instituted or not into
the into the screen. But that's where Jalen Woreon made
his name. I mean, he's been the ballard buster and
he did that against Nick Herbig.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
So good to see that. The skill sets still there,
not too rusty.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
That's right. Oh, it's it's there. We've seen it. We've
seen it this week. The skill set is definitely there
for him. But on the inside linebacker spots behind Queen
and Wilson is Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruner now makes
his way on the deaf chart and Malik Harrison, the
free agent acquisition from a year ago from you know,
coming over from the Colts. I believe Baltimore was a
Baltimore where I.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
Mean he technically was the Colts at one point, but
now it's Ravens.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, we don't like to talk of that team, right,
we don't have birds.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
We don't have birds.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
We don't mention that name. But Malik Harrison who was
with Cole Holcomb most of last year and again he
started the season out on the i R last year
come on till about mid season is now third team
at least right now as we speaking. Again, this is
going to change as we go throughout, but I thought
it was big that Carson Bruner, who has made his
name with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie last year
and onto this team as a special teamers, is now
(25:14):
maybe making some movement as an inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
I think new staff, new opportunity. And so you know,
Mike McCarthy didn't bring Malie Harrison in no, and he
didn't draft Carson Bruner, but they're on this roster and
he is looking at them for what are they going
to fill the role that I need them to do. So,
once again, Malie Harrison's a veteran, so I don't think
(25:38):
it really matters that he's on third or second team
for all intents and purposes. But for Carson Bruner, it's
an opportunity to step up and see if you can
make that jump from year one to year two. Can
you be more than just a valuable special teams piece.
Can you go contribute in every down situations. Can you
be the guy that Peyton Wilson is out? Can you
jump in and fill that void next to Patrick Queen?
(25:58):
Right and Cole Holcome we know can do it, he
just hasn't been healthy. And Cole's a guy. I mean,
if we're looking at that five guys, I mean Cole
Hulkam is a thumper in that group, right, you know
Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson great sideline to sideline ranging can take,
can take a back out of the backfield, can cover
and then they are going to hit you if you
try and run outside zone, right, they can. They get
(26:19):
chew up a lot of ground really fast. But talking
about that a gap filler, that a land In Roberts
thumper shazier tight. Yeah, that that he's he's a gap,
a plugger as I like to call it.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
He's gonna fill the a.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Gap and he's gonna bring a little bit of thud
with him. So Emily Carris in same way, I think
with Malik, you kind of know who he is, a
little bit more of a liability in the past covers
outside of zone. He's not gonna be your man cover
guy like the other guys had the capability of so now,
Kurston Brune, can you go and can you be a
little bit more than that? Can you be an a
gap filler? Can you also take a guy off the ball?
(26:53):
Can you take a tight end up the seam and
not get lost in the sauce. Those are the things
that they're gonna be evaluating, and it's good to have
this opportunity for young guy.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Hey, listen, run with the two. Show me what you got.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Yeah, see if you can be see if you can
be a hand in the pole guy, not just on
fourth downs and dead ball situations, but can you can
you kick in for a second and third down as well?
Speaker 4 (27:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Because you know, in Carson Berner, and credit to him
throughout last season and even this past offseason going into
this camp, he wasn't in my you know, when I
looked at eight linebackers in that room, TJ. Wat Patrick,
Queen Peyton Wilson, Alex high Smith, Nick her Big Jack
Sawyer for sure, Cole Holcombe, and Malike Harrison. I looked
at more as Carson Berner is the special teams guy.
(27:33):
Yes he's a linebacker, but he's more special teams Max. Well, now,
maybe this conversation switches and he is part of that
eight as potentially being with the linebackers. Oh, guys, by
the way, I'm a linebacker. I'm an inside guy. I
can play this position too. At least for the coaches,
the initial death chart puts him there at that inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
I think this is important because you have a lot
more talent in camp this year, so you do so
whether I keep a ninth linebacker, a fourth running back,
a sixth wide receiver, eighth defensive back, this is where
that matters.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
The numbers game.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Yeah, it's a numbers game.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
So if you can insert yourself into the too deep
of a core position, that saves you and you're not
the last four guys on the roster. Right, we always
talk about this. Forty nine through fifty three is the
one where you're like, okay, this is where what's the
intangible value, what's the flexibility?
Speaker 4 (28:30):
You can move yourself up that list.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
And be the forty seventh, forty eighth, forty fifth guy
on the list because you've solidified yourself as a guy
who can play a core position but has core four upside.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
That's what you want. I think that's what we're gonna
see here. A lot of decisions.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Gonna be made about not necessarily can you just be
a core four guy for me, Caden Wegen, but can
you be the fifth wide receiver as well? I need
a guy who can play the regular stuff as well
as give me a little bit in the specials game.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
At the Steelers secondary, Jamel Dean comes over from Tampa
Bay opposite side Joey Porter Junior.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
We know JPJ on.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
The pup puplist, though today I was watching JPJ and Ramsey.
They were out there getting some movement starting with the
Wills a bit on the practice practice fields here at
Saint Vincent College. Deshaun Elliott's back today. Elliott got more
work today Max than he has so far this camp.
That's also another good sign for the Steeler secondary.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
No, absolutely, I mean and listen, it's it's gonna be
Jakwan Brisker and Deshaun Elliott back there. And I think
you know, when you're talking about JPJ, who's the guy
opposite him. But I think Jamel Dean, as advertised, Sante
Samuel rounding back into form a guy that was a
late pick at the end of November, and he's had
(29:44):
a heck of a camp, a lot of opportunity because
Joey's been out. So now I'm like, dang, we got
we got three top flight number one corners on this roster.
And then, like you said, you throw in a Dayalen Evert,
you're throwing a Ray Shawn Jenkins.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
You throw in all these other guys.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
And we know Jalen Ramsey is going to be the
nickel slash whatever you need him to be defensive back guy. Right,
He's going to start wherever he wants to start, So
we're not worried about that.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
So you're right.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
You look at what Deshaun Elliott brings to this and
like you said, you know, going into last year until injury,
he was he was. He was headbuster, no doubt about it.
He was going to clean your clock. And that's what
you need that enforce her on the back end. So
now you bring in Jakwan Brisker from Chicago and he
has that same tangentle We saw how many plays did
we see him covering over the top ready to make
a play. If receiver would have came down with the football,
(30:31):
that might have been one of those one of those
hospital balls if he catches it. Because Jaquan Brisker was
right in position, and that's what you want in your safeties.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
He had a couple past the flexus day, more than
one the one that we saw together. There was one
earlier in practice too, right in front of us down here.
It was a double coverage situation. I don't know it
was Roman Wilson or DK might have been DK well.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
And the one across the deep middle where he reached
up and.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Almost had it out.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
He's had a good camp too, Jaquan Brisker and we
expected that Deshaun Elliott more reps today than he has. Again,
they're slowly working him back from that injury from last year.
He's with the walkthroughs. He's always out there.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
When it came to the physicality, you saw him on
the speed drill, Yeah, he was, he was. You know,
they're trying to work him more into that. Jalen Ramsey
on the deaf chart. Also with the nickelback, the nickel
cornerback position for Jalen Ramsey being worked in. Yeah, let's
take a quick break. When we come back, we will
start to wind things down here in the locker room.
We'll talk more Pittsburgh Steelers defense and the secondary we'll
(31:28):
get into some of the conversations of the second teamers.
You mentioned Dalen Everett. I want to get your thoughts
on him so far in this camp in Robert Spears
Jennings another rookie that's been in with Brendan Eccles as well,
getting a lot of reps out here at Saint Vincent.
He's Max Starks. I'm at troop in for Rob King
here this afternoon. It's day eight, continuing coverage of Pittsburgh Steelers'
training camp twenty twenty six right here on Steelers Nation
(31:51):
Radio and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Please please live Covery Jump Steelers Training Camp or the
Steelers Audio Network, presented by pod Light, Easy to drink,
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Always Safe Flagging and Traffic Control making traffic safe again
called four one two three oh one twenty three hundred
(32:17):
or visit us online at alsafe dot net for a
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Laurel Highlands dot com. The Steelers pro Shop, visitshop dot
(32:40):
Steelers dot com and buy Condiente Pizza and Drafthouse.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Wrapping up in the locker room here this afternoon, on
day number eight of continuing coverage of Steelers training Camp
twenty twenty six right here on Steelers Nation Radio in
the Steelers Audio Network. I'm at troop in for Rob
King here this afternoon in the locker room with his
partner Max Starks. And Max we have talked offense, we've
talked defense as far as where we are a weekend.
(33:12):
This is day number eight of practices. The team reported
here at the Saint Fencent College last Tuesday, So if
you look at it from that standpoint, we're wrapping up
week number two. Man, you could spin us however you want,
day number eight of eight practices, but day number ten
since they've been here in Westmoreland County, who knows. But
we are over a week now, and I wanted to
(33:34):
ask you who's some of your camp standouts that have
kind of caught your eyes so far? And I think
we've probably talked about most of them up to this
point being on the air for two hours, But yeah,
who maybe on both sides of the ball, give me
an offensive guy and a defensive guy.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
All right, just one right?
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Sure, I know there's a bunch.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Yeah, there's a bunch. Okay, so or give me a bunch.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I don't we still have some time?
Speaker 4 (33:55):
I mean we still got time. Okay.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Offensively, Maxianachure right has been a camp stand out so far, easily,
And I'm gonna also throw in yep, he's supposed to be.
He got compensated as such. But I also like Rico
Daddle right now. I think he's jumped out and been
(34:19):
kind of as advertised in that moment.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Well, it's interesting too because we've talked about it during
our midday show here on SNR. But the first tots,
the first carries of each practice so far has been
Rico Dawdle, not Jalen Lorn. It's been Rico Daddle that's
gotten the first couple carries. Now, granted, but I think
if you were doing a snap count or a carry count,
I'm sure it's more fifty to fifty by the end.
But hey, Rico's getting a lot of those totes up front.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, they're trying to get him up to speed and
make sure he's ready to rock and roll in this
offense because like I said, I mean, I think you
look at them as one A, one B and mix
and match whatever. I think they'll get series that they'll
get to go and kind of get stretches to get
themselves into game mode and then whoever's a hot and
I think it's kind of how you have to view
it with that, with that running back room.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
But yeah, like you said, I've loved what I've seen.
I mean, Jalen Warren I think has been my camp
stand out for like three years in a row.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
But rightfully so yeah, but I mean, but I've now
come to I now have an expectation and come to
expect it from him. So that's why I can't really
give him Camp stand out because this is who he
is and he's going to stand out regardless.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
So no knock on Jalen. But I don't know Rico.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
And Rico jumps off the page to me when I
watch film, he jumps off the screen at you.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Has certain moments, and.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Like you said, the fact that he's getting opportunities and
there's trust building there with the offense, not only with
Mike McCarthy but with Aaron Rodgers and some of the
play calling. You know, and Angelico has a lot of
faith in him, So I think that's why I kind
of have to put him in that category because he's
newer to me, and he's newer to.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
The Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Faithful that's out here watching the practices, you're like, who
thirteen once again? Wide receiver number in the backfield, just
like we see Levi Wentz running back number on the outside.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
We're old school guys, man.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Yes, if your additional numbering system.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Please twenty twenty, not even past forty. I don't want
to see a running back four back. We can go
in the four, yeah, we can go in the forties,
but not running back.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
No.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
Thirties is the top. Thirty nine is the top of that.
Willie Parker is as high as you're allowed to go.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
And we can give you a twenty Caleb Johnson, that's what.
Speaker 4 (36:23):
That doesn't bother.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
But you know what, that's the range. That's it, Caleb
Johnson and Willie Parker, that's your range.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
Get in there.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
And of course can't touch number thirty two, so don't
even think about it.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
That has touched down.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Jesus So Franco Harris is the only thirty two that
will ever down the thirty two here for the.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Steelers, and Roman Wilson has been a popular target from
Aaron Rodgers on the first few reps too, so we
talked about Rico getting the first totes out of the
backfield from a receiving standpoint. Roman has been found early
and often from Aaron Rodgers, and I think there's something
to be said there too.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
He's gotten the bulk of it. So I love the
views that we've gotten of Roman Wilson.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Obviously there's some still schematic things got to work out.
But if we're talking about standing out, who surprised me
at Perry?
Speaker 4 (37:05):
Oh yeah, we're running.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
With the second and third units and a lot of
a lot of the two minute drills at Perry's been
at this, so there's a lot of faith that's building
with the young quarterbacks with him. So he's a guy
that stood out to me. Like you said, he's gonna
be one of those fringe guys. I'm not saying this
is frontline start. He's not knocking DK metcalf or Michael
Pittman out of a job. But we're talking about guys
who yeah, exactly, but a guy who's shown opportunity, has
(37:28):
shown promise at Perry's probably another guy along with Roman Wilson,
just because we're getting extended looks at Roman in a
lot of multitude of situations to see if he can
handle that caseload as a slot receiver. But at Perry
deeper down in the in the deep cuts of the vinyls.
I think I like him at that wide receiver position
when he's shown me.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
And to go along with that.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
Max.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Not so much today, but in previous practices. Another guy's
been Brandon Smith. Ye.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
Smith has gotten a lot of looks as well.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
And he's a good big body guy, like he stands
out when he's staying there, talk about it, get off
the bus team type of guy.
Speaker 4 (38:02):
He looks that part and he's gotten he's gotten some
burn as well.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Yeah, Brandon Smith at six two two fifteen, Yeah good.
Speaker 4 (38:10):
Not a real good tight end, but a very big receiver.
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, I'm on the defensive side.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Defensive side of the ball, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
I mean, all right, ya has been standing out. Sebastian
Joseph Day. I think we've talked about him a lot.
I think he's been one that's brought some energy, brings
a little zest, little Jonah to the to the defensive
side of the ball, a little little extra, you know,
Cajun seasoning there, little Tony saturi Ye to the defensive.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
I like what he's done on there.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
I would also say another guy that's that's jumped out
in that, Carson Brunner has been a guy like you said,
there's no reason why, there's no surprise why he got
second on the chart. I think a couple of times,
especially in these drills, like he's butting up in the
in the actual a gap, he's having good chase pursuit.
He carried off on a on a pass to to
Travis Homer, so he took him out of the backfield
(39:03):
and had a good pass defense against him in that
two minute drill. So Carsion Brunner starting to stick out
in that group of Jawan Brisker Man.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
God he experience as advertised out listen.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
I had him last year twice because we had the
Steelers against the Bears, and he stood out in that
game against US and defended a lot of Mason's passes
in that game and he was all over the place.
Speaker 4 (39:26):
But also I had the Cleveland Chicago game.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
A couple of weeks after that, and it was literally
the coldest game I think I've ever called to experience
the environment, because it was negative five outside and Chicago.
If you've never been there, open air booth like a
garage door, great, this is what we're talking about. And
no functioning heater really except for in one focalized spot
(39:52):
out of the ceiling was I literally was wearing my
producer's mittens and I had to put on an extra
pair of socks, and then I had to borrow an
extra jacket. I literally just had a beanie and a
and an electric vest and that was not enough because
that wind was cutting through my soul. But Jakawhan Brisker
couldn't have told he was called out there. He was
all our place, just giving Shador Sanders fits. So he's
(40:14):
a guy that I had thoughts about, Hey, how's.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
He going to institute?
Speaker 3 (40:17):
He has fit in perfectly with the Steelers identity for
a secondary guy and a guy who's explosive, but it
could also.
Speaker 4 (40:25):
Is rangy as well in a San Samuel junior.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Yeah, Santa, I mean he might be at the top
of everything.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Yeah, I think he's probably my number one camp standout
period just overall. Yeah, he's been playing excellent since Joey's
been indisposed as well as Jalen. He's got a lot
of those opposite Jamel Dean first team reps and he's
answered the call you had, like you he hear DK's
name called.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
But you don't really hear dksed like it could be.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yep, correct, Max, I enjoyed it with you. Thanks for
letting me summon for Rob today. We'll hopefully get a chance.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
To do it again. Yeah, absolutely listen, Rob.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
As long as I'm Bucko's duty, you know, there's always
a possibility. Good luck to him tonight and the Pirates
and everybody else.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
But yeah, this was fun man.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
Hopefully we'll do it again. Max Stark's Rob King. You
can hear them each and every day right here on
SNR in the locker Room special thanks to our producer
keeping things in line for us with Justin Miller back
at the iHeart Studios and Max and Robb will be
back at it tomorrow afternoon right here as we continue
coverage of Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp twenty twenty six. For
(41:24):
Max Stark's I'm at Troop in next West, Yuler and
Matt Williamson right here on Steelers Nation Radio and the
Steelers Audio Network
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