October 23, 2025 • 42 mins
The guys continue to preview the big game Sunday night against the Packers by breaking down some of the most important matchups on the field.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is in the locker room with Kingon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Whoo, rolling in an hour number two here inside the
locker room. We got the cool breeze. We are refreshed, revigorate, reinvigorated,
and we were ready to roll for power our time.
As we get back into the locker room, so much fun, Kinger,
catch it up with all of our guests. I mean
(00:50):
period of day. We had WEX, you know yesterday for
WEX Wednesday, and of course we had Labs and Alvaro
on Tuesday. So you know, it's just you're feeling the intensity,
You're feeling the nervous frenzy of this weekend right Sunday
night football primetime again, back to back primetime games for
(01:12):
the Steelers. I think one of the things that's really
awesome about all of this is that we do have
a team that is desired to be on the on
these marquee matchup games that we do have games that matter,
that have significance, and guess what, the rest of the
NFL knows it, and that's why they plan accordingly. And
you know we're going to get our Monday night game.
(01:33):
Well we'll see if we keep our Monday night game,
because that's sounded like a way better matchup in May
than it is right now, because we don't know what's
going to happen by the time we get to December.
But uh, you know, already doing you know what we
have already had in Thursdays and now adding adding the
Sunday night game into the mix. I mean, it's pretty
(01:56):
cool when you think about it. Even with all of
the change internal we had over the last three years,
still must see television for the viewing public, which I
think is pretty cool. Max.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Are you as a player, you know, Thursday night, we
talk about how it's a difficult turnaround and you're, you know,
difficult physically before we get into the matchups. Is there
a different mentality for a player on Thursday or Sunday night?
You know, we all say, hey, it doesn't matter, and frankly,
to me, it doesn't matter whether this dealers are playing
(02:30):
on a Thursday night, a Sunday night, a Monday night.
I just love I love calling the games. I don't
care if they're playing in a phone booth, I don't
care if they're playing in a high school field. I
just love the games. But I think for the players,
it's kind of cool, isn't.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
It to be.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
To be the the matchup on a Thursday night, a
Sunday night, or a Monday night. Where Now now, of
course there's Monday night competition on occasion, but pretty much
you're the only game. Is there an excitement level for that?
And is there a different excitement level for Thursday night football,
Sunday night football, Monday night football?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So you know, Thursday is a mind over matter game, right,
because of where we're at now with Thursday night football,
it is a necessity. It is not a luxury. And
when I played, it was a luxury. You were honored
to get the Thursday night game because also it didn't
happen till Thanksgiving, right, that's when the Thursday football really
(03:28):
kicked off, and so you were ecstatic about that because
it was like, man, there's only so many of these,
and especially the end of the year. Now we sneaking
in a second by type week in and you know
and really reassess where we're at versus kind of now mandatory,
(03:48):
and it could be anywhere for week one up until
what week fourteen I think it is fourteen or fifteen
is when you have to stop those So I mean,
from that perspective, it's a little bit different. But I
think for Sunday night, you know, it's you are waiting around,
you are watching everything else transpire before you, and then
(04:10):
it's your turn. But at the same time, you know
that everybody's watching all thirty other teams. At this point,
you're showering up and getting ready to leave leave a
stadium if you're an away team. If you're a home team,
you're almost guaranteed to be home in time for at
least the start of the second quarter. Now I don't
(04:30):
know how far people live from stadiums, but on average
so and the Monday night crew is watching your game
because they don't play until Monday, So there's a lot
of cool aspects to it. I think it does change
a little bit slightly. Like I said, Thursday is such
a short week, and if you're a traveling team, even shorter.
But if you're the home team, you know you have
(04:51):
a little bit advantage. You ain't got to travel, so
you can get that full you know, Tuesday, and you
can have a full regular or Wednesday whatever that looks like,
and and still get up for the game. I think
Monday night's its own thing, you know, because just because
(05:12):
now if you're playing like one of those double headers
where it's like a seven pm what Pacific kickoff and
nobody watches it, And I'm talking to Uchawks Houston Texans
for literally killing my night because I had to watch
the game. I had to report on the game. So
you know, outside of like that aberration, I don't I'm
(05:33):
not a fan of these double header Monday night games,
but you know, Sunday Night's one of those is sacred.
It will always be one game, just like a Thursday
Night er, and it's kind of always been that way.
In a modern era that you've had that opportunity. Thursday
is a newer phenomenon with teams, and I think you know,
you're still trying to figure out what does that look
(05:53):
like too, especially in how physical was a game before.
I mean, we went through it last year with the
three games in eleven days. I mean, I don't know
you felt but I felt like burnt tows by the
end of that just for calling those games, and I
had other games to call in between that, which is crazy. Ye.
So you know, I just I think the phenomena and
the balance is tough still to kind of figure out.
(06:14):
The NFL teams have not figured it out, and obviously
Mike Tomlin hasn't. You know, you look at the record
during these Thursday night away games. But you've got to
take solace in the fact that you know this game
is evolving, this game is changing, and you have to
be prepared for the unexpected. And that's where the Steelers
(06:34):
kind of are. And I think for me personally, I imagine
it would be tough. But you know, players played, coaches,
coach balls out there on the field, tickets are sold. Hey,
all you gotta do. I'm gonna show up. I got
to show out. You know, that's the mentality you have
to mind over matter in those type of situations on
a short week.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
How about the uniforms, because they're gonna go nineteen thirty
three throwback uniforms. Did that mean anything to you as
a player? Did you like it? Did you think was
kind of cool?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Uh? What's your feeling on that.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I mean, I was cool with it up until up
until the killer be you know what I'm saying. Like
the brownish type brownish, goldish whatever it looked brown, it
looked brown. Let's just be honest. Brown pants with with
the with with obviously the horizontal stripes and wolf knows.
I love this phrase. I said this phrase forever. No
(07:26):
self respecting fat guy wears horizontal stripes like that, you know.
And I think that and then the and then the
socks too were also like funky socks with the with
the double stripes. So you know. There that was. That
was a tough one. That was. That was a weird time.
But all the other throwbacks I look forward to. I
(07:46):
love the black jerseys with the gold numbers and the
white pants. I thought that was a slick look to
be able to pull off. And there was another throwback
I cannot remember which one it was, but that one
was specifically for the seventy fifth season with the black
with the gold jersey. I thought that was a really
cool neat one. I'm glad we never went with that
(08:08):
Steegels jersey. But I will say this, this nineteen thirty
three throwback with the crest and the emblop. It looks
a lot better than when they did it the last
time with Kevin Green and company. We're young whipper snappers
as Steelers running around the field and causing havoc. But
so I'm looking forward to this one because I think
(08:29):
this uniform cut design and creation is a lot different
and no hand stitched crest symbol right on the chest.
This is going to be the Nike dry fit material.
This is going to be Jersey like and I am
looking forward to that part of it.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
So mention that we wanted to get into matchups, and
I think Max, both the tight end units are are
gonna be a big part of this matchup. And I
know you've brought it up a couple of times. You know,
Jerry mentioned it as well, Jerry Dulac when he joined
his last hour. But the Steelers tight ends had the
(09:12):
highest percentage of receptions on a team for any team
in the NFL. So they're gonna be targeted. They've been targeted.
They're gonna be targeted. You have four of them on
the roster, so I understand there's a lot of different targets.
Pat Fryermouth is number one in the NFL. I believe
in reception yards per tight ends, I'm pretty sure Pat's
(09:34):
number one, and if the guy right behind him is
Tucker Craft. Now Pat had the huge play obviously against Cincinnati.
That's gonna inflate his numbers. So I think that. But
again we've seen Darnett Washington rumble for big gains. I
think it's very interesting how both teams use their tight ends.
(09:55):
And I think Tucker Craft is emerging as a top
flight receiving tight end in his own right here three
years into his career up in Green Bay. So I
think the tight ends I'm gonna be watching how both
and look that you know, you have a musk grade
BA bracking him up, backing him up, beating Fitzpatrick, gets
(10:16):
a ball thrown here or there, but he's the main guy.
They do run a lot of two tight end sets,
they do. They'll have both those two of those three
guys out there a lot. But you know, talk about
a little bit about the tight ends and how you
know what part you expect them to play on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Night, Well, I think you know, if I'm going off
of last games film, and that was the Cardinals, the
most recent team they played you know, you have to
be encouraged if you're Green Bay to use Tucker Craft.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I mean, they ran screens with him, They hit him
some deep balls down the sideline, He made some big
plays to get them into the red zone. And you
just saw the consistency there. And yes, you're gonna still
throw to the other guys on the field that line up.
But I'm sitting there and I'm saying, this is going
to be hopefully a tight end fest. Hopefully if you've
(11:12):
got if you've got your fantasy settings and everything else
in line, you're gonna want to see what these tight
ends do for the Steelers as well as for the
you know, for the Packers because you know, you haven't
had Christian Watkins. Dontavian Wicks just came back last week.
(11:35):
So a lot of that flows to Tucker Craft, a
lot of that flows to Josh Jacobs and you know,
and of course also you know Matthew Golden being your
number two in your first round pick in that Green
Bay draft. He's not been bad, but he's you know,
he hasn't been really utilized as a rookie. So I
(11:57):
think that's where you say, okay, we're going with to
try true steady hands versus the kind of relative unknown.
You know, Muskgrave is one that you thought it was
going to be a two tight end attack with Craft
and musk Grave, but obviously Sideline, with injuries a year ago,
hasn't really found a place in this offense this season.
(12:21):
So for Jordan Love, that's going to be what he's
what he's looking at. I need to go to the trusted,
tried and true guys, and those guys for me are
number eight in the backfield and number eighty five, and
then you throw in by a process of elimination that
eighty seven. Romeo Dobbs is your kind of your viable
(12:42):
true receiver in that combination. But I feel like he's
right there. He's third man on the totem pole and
the ball has to be fed to the other ones,
and both both Tucker and both Josh Jakins have answered
that bell for him.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
You know, one of the things that I think makes
craft In interesting And let's look at it from the
Green Bay's perspective, because we I think we assume that
most fans know who the students tight ends are and
hopefully they can exploit that a couple things. First of
all the students have allowed six touchdown receptions to tight ends.
That was quieted when Deshaun Elliott came back, but they
(13:17):
did have a touchdown reception against him by a tight
end last week when they played Cincinnati on Thursday night.
But Kraft is a guy, and we could talk about
the receiving corps at large, because might they get Christian
Watson back? Jayden Reed doesn't look like he's even practicing
or close to being back, And we could talk about
the receiving court and how they're utilized, which I think
(13:38):
is kind of interesting in its own right compared to
the studers wide receiver group. But Craft averaged, you know,
fourteen yards perception is pretty darn good, especially for a
tight end. Well, he averaged fourteen yards perception fourteen point
one last year and now fourteen point two this year.
(13:59):
So I think I think what we're seeing is there's
no like one guy on the on the Packers where
you're saying, you know, this is the this is the
number one deep threat. Maybe there is, but but you know,
to me, to have a tight end who is averaging
fourteen yards per reception tells me, first of all, he's
(14:21):
athletic in getting some yards after catch. But secondly, it's
not just a it's not just to run a curl
over the middle and you know, or a quick slant.
We'll try to get a first down. This is the
guy they expect to press the.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Ball down the field for him.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
He's he's being utilized in maybe a slightly different way
than other tight ends. Just by looking at his yards
per reception. I mean, that's up there, man, you know,
over fourteen yards perception. Now for a year and a half,
that's that's no longer a one year trend or a
one year aberration. This is becoming a trend for Chuck.
For Tucker Craft.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Yeah no, I mean I think I think that's where
you kind of work. And that's where my matchup worry
concern was was that you have a guy in Tucker Craft.
Like I said, watching that Cardinals film, I know it
was only five catches, but they were five big catches
and one of those was for a touchdown just a
week ago. And that's the one where I don't want
the Steelers getting lost in the sauce, right because if
(15:18):
you blitz, you know, the replacement area of the safety
relief release valve is the tight end of the running
back on those checkdown situations, or you're just trying to
get the ball out and find the best timing route,
so and he's taking your yak off of those to
really boost that number up. But there was an embarrassment
(15:40):
to a degree that they kind of keep forgetting where
he is and where you know he is going to
be on the field. So I just don't want the
Steelers to lose sight of that kind of like, you know,
I'm hoping that they forget about John new Smith or
you know, Darnel Washington or Pat fryar Mouth or even
Connor Hayward. I think Aaron's done a good job of
(16:01):
involving all of them, so you do have to study
all of them. There is no there is no blueprint
for how we run games every single time. Right, we
have the personnel that we can really screw you up.
You know, we could run thirteen and put it to eleven.
You know, we could run twelve a turn into twenty one.
You know, there's so many different ways that we can
(16:23):
deploy this team that's going to keep this Green Bay
team guessing defensively. But I will say this, for all
that said, you still got on defense to block Michael
Parsons and Rashaun Gary. So all of that does work.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Yes, part of the matchups we're going to be exploring.
But I do think for fans out there who are
getting ready for the game, and man, I'm starting to
get the excitement here. You know, you're coming off of
a loss and you're playing a team that is, you know,
obviously and widely regarded as a top team in the
NFL two division leaders.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Really exciting.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Who would be the King of the North?
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I like it, the Stars, the Stark family ruining.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Winter is coming, y'all.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I do think. I do think that I go.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
To flag Staff though flex staff.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
For me, we're excited about the matchup. But I'm I
do think that that's we led with that thoughtfully because
you heard Max talking about it and you've heard Max
referencing it. But the tight end battle, you know, uh,
people probably don't go into a game thinking, geez, I
wonder what their tight end and our tight ends are
going to do. You know, the sex your positions are quarterback,
running back. Of course, the quarterback has to get the
(17:41):
ball to those tight ends, to the wide receivers. The
wide receivers being the other sexy position. But tight ends
are sexy. This week, Max, they are sexy.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Listen the part timers, right, these guys, these guys moonlight.
They moonlight is offensive lineman, but yet when the lights
turned on, they want to be the wide receiver. You know,
they wanted, they wanted, they want to be the gla Amazons.
So you know, we appreciate those guys. We love those
guys because you know, especially as a tackle, right, the
chip element that they bring, the body presence element. They're
(18:13):
bigger than a wide receiver, taller than taller than a
running back, and you know they have a skill set
that's highly desirable because of the flexibility of position. And
in a league full of tweeners, you know, the tight
end was the original tweener, right, you know, so you
know you want to get back to that. And those
guys are very are very necessary, and like you said,
(18:36):
when you see them highlight and I think you know,
in the last ten years, you've really seen the rules
changed to where you can't jam those guys out of
the break when they're running on the seams. No linebackers
used to be able to redirect those guys. Now they
can't redirect them. You know, five yards, hands off, hands off,
don't touch them, let them go, let them go. You
can establish your your little boxy space, but don't touch
(18:59):
that guy whatever he's doing. And that's really really reinvigorated
that position. That's why I think we've seen such a
surgeon production of the tight end position is because of
that five yard cushion. Right after five yards, get your
hands off of him. Let let hey, let let that
Let that big guy rumble. And especially for Darnell Washington,
(19:21):
you know, he looks like a runaway freight terry when
he runs a seam route. Yeah, it's hilarious, but that
but that's what you get. And the Steelers went and
they literally got to build a tight end, right like
the build a Bear workshop that used to take your
kids to to build their little stuffy teddy bears. You
had you have different skill sets. John news Smith looks
(19:43):
acts runs like a receiver but still is in line.
Darnel Washington looks like an offensive tackle, but you know
he is a moving skyscraper. And then Pat Fryer move
is just your traditional type of dude. He's traditional, you know,
part blocker, part part recei ever type of dude. And
then Connor Hayward, h bac F, you know, f true
(20:05):
tight end, line them up wherever he's gonna make he's
gonna make it work. And I think that's what's really
cool is that, yes, green Bay has a Tucker Craft,
but for Pittsburgh, and Jerry said, the numbers about how
much production we've gotten from those tight ends. We have
the super tight end, we have the vultron of tight ends, right,
(20:26):
because you know, when you put them all together, it's
a problem for anybody.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
That you're going to see an impressive ensemble cast going
against Tucker Craft and and not quite as an ensemble
of a cast, but still a dangerous unit for that
Green Bay Packers. One of the fascinating matchups is we
get you ready for the game on Sunday night.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Can't wait.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Also, want to remind you can gear up with the
latest game day necessities at the official Steelers pro shops.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Remember they got those throwback jerseys.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
You can go to Steelers dot com and check out
those jerseys by the way they unveiled them yesterday. Get
the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys, Terrible's Authentic Memorabilia and custom
exclusives you can only find directly from the team. Visit
one of the official Studers Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium,
Grove City Premium Outlets or Tanger Outlets, or gear up
online at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct
(21:14):
from the team. It's a Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com. Back with more in the Locker
Room presented by your neighborhood Ford Store and the Steelers
Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio. Apart of the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
This is in the Locker Room with Kenyon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Whoo oh is that all about? Max has a nice I.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Know you know what I'm saying. Were You're just excited,
You're giddy?
Speaker 4 (22:04):
You got I'm getting fired.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I am too. I am too. It's a Thursday. I
gotta I got a temperate I gotta make it all
the way, waiting all day for Sunday night, right like
like like the show intro says, but I'm just you know,
you're you're excited about it. The more we talk about it,
the more I feel better about it. You kind of
put that since a nasty game, you know, in the
rear view mirror Thursday night. I mean, heck, that was
(22:30):
a week ago, you know, and we still got a
couple of days three, you know, at least three sleeps
away before we get to Sunday night football. And then
we'll delay the sleep on that fourth night because we'll
be we'll be watching, we'll be calling a game. We'll
be in the stadium at after sure, watching a heck
of a matchup. And like you said, the more I
(22:50):
talk about the better I feel about this matter, the
more evenly matched it is. Right, And like you said,
this is a chance to go play a team that
is of the ILK. They are number one in their division.
And there's a little bit of extra spice in this one.
(23:11):
It's not just your running the mill, good on, good iron,
sharpens iron, the standards. None of those cliches are there.
This is good old fashioned petty revenge. You know what
I'm saying, Like this is, this is if I'm gonna
bake a cake. I needed to be a petty crocker cake.
You know what I'm saying, Like this is how I
feel about it, and and none better than I need
(23:34):
to get at the group that said I wasn't good enough,
said this guy cannot lead us anymore, he can't win
any more games for us. We got a young guy
that's gonna replace him. And the old dog is doing
the himmy and the shake, and he reinvented himself. You know,
I don't want to talk your relationship terms, but you
know how that feels when you get dumped, and you
know you might You had to, you know you had to.
(23:56):
You had to figure out how to get back into
the scene to get your mojo back. And now you've
got your mojo back, you can't wait to show it
off to the exit that I thought you weren't good enough.
You know what I'm saying. That's that's where we're at
right now with this. I don't care. I might have
did it some extra push ups before I went out.
I might. I might have made sure the cuff on
the sleeves is a little bit tighter so you can
see a little bit more bicep. You know, all those
(24:16):
little visual things that you need. You know, when did
some when did some of Arthur Murray dance classes to
show off at the Disco Tech, You know, I mean,
that's what you're that's what we're dealing. That's the energy,
that's the vibe we're trying to project here, and that's
what I'm looking forward to on Sunday night. So yes,
so that look, you know, it's just a little boom.
(24:37):
I got a temper the emotions, but I am excited.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
I can't wait for those of us who wear long
sleeve shirts no matter what, because if you were a
short sleeve shirt, someone wondered, what hey, what's that string
hanging from your shirt? Oh that's your arm, So the
rest of us, but that was the old one. Now
with the new one, it's a little pop a pump.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
You're feeling good about it. Boom boom, boom, kissed the
bicep act. That's why you wear the short sleeve now.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
So I'm excited, Max, And you've got me additionally excited
with your own enthusiasm.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Uh, we we talked about the tight End group and
we're going around we're gonna talk about We're gonna talk
about the offensive line, defensive line.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Look, man, that's where it all starts.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
And we'll get into that tomorrow and we'll probably get
into the running game stuff tomorrow. But I think that
dk Metcalf is a decayale as he likes to be called.
We'll call him DeKay on the air for the most.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Mister Metcalf, mister enough.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
If he said I desire to be called mister, that
would be the next word out of my mouth.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Be okay, mister, Well I guess. But you know who's.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Gonna tell him? Not me? Yeah, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Going to want to tell him.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
So you know, there was there was talk about his
average target run and the ball being thrown down the field, and.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Here he is with right now the best yards per catch.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
In his career.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Now, the season hasn't hasn't been run yet, and when
you have an explosive like the eighty five yard or
he had in Dublin, that's going to pump up your numbers, right,
and as you go over the course of the season,
unless he has more explosive plays, that eighteen point five
could come down a little bit. I think there's a
couple of things about DK. First of all, he's being
(26:32):
utilized differently. It's not just about depth of target for DK.
That remains a trick in his toolbag. But he's also
being used on short crossing patterns and slants. And you know,
if you are running an out, let's say it's third
and six, If you're running an out to the sideline,
you've got to get to the sticks. I understand that,
(26:55):
but I see people say that a lot. You gotta
get to the sticks, and I don't believe that's true. Now,
I don't think that on a third and nine, if
you dump one over the middle to a guy who's
got his back to the defense, and now he catches
it at you know, one yard beyond the line of scrimmage,
and now is to turn and make fourteen people miss,
(27:16):
you know, because he has to make a couple of
people miss twice to get to.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
The first down. No, that's not going to get a
first down. But I think if you.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Run slants, if you run crossing patterns that are within
a couple of yards of the line of scrimmage or
the line to gain, you don't have to run those
patterns to that depth. I'm saying that because it's a
bit of a it's a bit of a sore spot
for me. I think that people use that, they say
that too often. I think you can throw short to
run long, and I think we're seeing that throw short
(27:46):
to run long as part of DK's repertoire. I think
he's got a widening repertoire. But we're also seeing that
if Aaron Rodgers gets to the line of scrimmage and
they're a single high safety and he can't get over
to Dk Metcalf, the ball is going to DK Metcalf.
And I think it's a great utilization both of those elements.
(28:07):
To hit him short, to let him run because he's
a big, fast, physical guy, and the Yeah, because of
those we could still throw him deep. I think the
utilization of DK Metcalf to this point, I'm all for it.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
I like the way he's being utilized.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Yeah. No, I'm right there with you. And I think
you know the big body nature that he plays. I
mean he plays like a power forward in basketball, right. No,
he's physical, he's gonna box you out, he's gonna go
up for the fifty to fifty jump balls, and he's
also going to run through you, like he did those
two poor unfortunate souls that were also you know, Minnesota Vikings. Yeah,
(28:46):
they were like, oh no, we're gonna get him here.
Look we're gonna stand. Oh my god, I'm on my
back right he's in the inside. Like that's that's where
they kind of got with that. And like you said,
he's a guy that you could depend on to be
in those big moments. And ordinarily, I mean, he's excellent,
especially with the backs shoulder phase. The communication that he
or this the chemistry that he has not the communication,
(29:07):
the chemistry that he has with Aaron is really good
and it's only going to get better when you can
sense and feel those things. And I think for DK
as well, because he doesn't have to be the only
guy out there, you know, because of the way that
Aaron deploys the ball and spreads it to the different receivers.
You know, you can't really just lock in on DK
(29:28):
and like take him out of the game. And I
think that's the other part of it is that you
want to roll the coverage, but you're scared to roll
the coverage to him. And when you do, John who
Smith gets a play, Darnell Washington gets a forty yard
you know what I'm saying, Like you get these other elements,
and then with the run game, so he's a perfect compliment.
He can stretch the field, but he also his run
(29:49):
after the catch, Like you said, you don't have to
get to the sticks, but get him a yack ball,
and by yackball is yards after the catch ball, meaning
catch him in and I promise you will not take
him down after he like right as he catches it.
You must, you know, kind of be in a position
(30:10):
where you have to dedicate more resources to him. It's
almost like with Darnell Washington. If you get him going,
good luck, right, you know what I'm saying, it's it's
not gonna be easy. It's not gonna be It's not
gonna be one guy just takes him down. Like you
have to either catch an perfect angle force him out
of bounds, or it's one guy than the next guy
(30:31):
is the guy that actually gets a tackle. It's a
dual job, or in the case of Darneld Washington, it
takes like three four guys as we've seen. But that's
what DK brings. He brings that element. Everybody looks at
his physical attributes and they forget about the speed. That's
what I love. Like, Oh, this is just a big
possession style receiver. Right, He's gonna catch the ball and
(30:55):
that's it. No, he catches the ball and he has
a step. He is going through your soul and your
chest is a byproduct of it, right, Like, that's just
how he plays football, such a physical nature and that's
why you don't need that. But you know, I can
throw the five yard or take or I take the
slant and I don't throw it at six. I throw
it at four. But DK's catching it in stride. Guess
(31:19):
what we're getting the first down. Like that's just how
it is because natural momentum force dynamics are going to
carry him and propel him forward, you know, just like
a Jamin Warner. That's why I was called always falling
forward because he generates so much power that it is
very tough to just hit him and stymy him, like
(31:40):
you have to dedicate a lot of guys to it.
Or you're hitting a specific body part that slows it up,
and that's the lower body. Right, You're hitting the legs
to take it out of it. Because if he can stand,
if he can get the was it fourteen to twenty
five requisite cleats. I'm not sure how many cleats are
in the bottom of him now. They used to be
seven studs, so that's why I said fourteen. But if
(32:02):
he if he gets those cleats in the ground, good luck,
good luck. Hey, strap your chin, strap up extra type,
put your mouthpiece in and just and and just bite down,
you know, because that's what that's what's gonna take to
stop him.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
So so Max, you know, and we're gonna talk about
the Packers receiver receiving corps. I hope next segment, because
I think there's there's some really interesting stuff for this
receiving cores for the Packers. And we don't know yet
now whether Christian Watson is going to be back, whether
he's trending in that direction, which leads me to think
maybe we should talk about this tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
But I have not seen.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
I am two games into my six game watching spree
for the Packers. Packers have played six games. I will
watch all six games because my job is a little
bit different. Yeah, my job is to make it. My
job is to have the numbers memorized and call the game.
And so I have a certain process that I like
(32:59):
to follow doing that, I like to have a couple
of games still to watch over the weekend to get
myself really you know, make sure I'm mentally sharp, have
everything memorized. That's my job, right. So so there it is.
So I haven't watched all six games. So I'm preface
this by saying what I've seen. I don't believe I've
seen Keyshawn Nixon their top cover guy moving from side
(33:20):
to side.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
I believe he has stayed.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
On the offensive right, I'm not positive about that, which
which would leave the other guys Hobbs and UH and
the other guys on other and Valentin on the other
side of the field. So h Keishawn Nixon is a
really good cover guy, you know, he's he's the best
they've got.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
I think he's a pro bowler.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
That would be an interesting matchup to see Keishawan and
UH and DK going at it head to head. But
I'll be interested to see if the Steelers maybe have
DK on that left side. We also saw him running
out of the slot for the most time in his career.
I think that was the Minnesota game. They were putting
DK slot, so they're trying to move him around. I
(34:03):
don't know if they're trying to move him around more
to get favorable matchups with a specific player, or whether
it is a specific scheme that they want to use
him out of, you know, running different patterns and different
things out of the slot versus the outside. But certainly
who is covering DK and how he's being deployed is
(34:26):
going to be another big thing. I'm gonna be looking
forward to watching on Sunday because Keyshaw Nixon is a
really good cover corner.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
No, key Shawn is really good, and you know, he's
one of those guys. He's old school. I mean, he's
a physical at the line of scrimmage. He's a hand puncher.
He wants to disrupt your timing. He wants to get
in your face and play. This Packers scene plays of
what we call a four to two Nickel, so it
means four down linemen. And obviously you could argue the
(34:55):
semantics about Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary being defensive lineman,
but as it's listed, that's what they're listed as. It's
a four to two structure, So I'm only reporting the
news two inside backers and Nickel and Javon Bullard that
kind of plays in and around the box area, takes
your initial slot guy, and so it's gonna be really
(35:16):
really crazy. And then you know, they have a really
good safety and Xavier McKinney as well. Yes, McKinney is
an X guy. You know, is an excellent guy. Now
he Now, the safeties do switch. Corners don't, but safeties
do switch. And I imagine that if you are going
to go Nate Hobbs quarrentting Valentine side with DK, you're
probably gonna have Xavier McKinney on that side, yeah, floating
(35:37):
and strafing somewhere, and you know, and then of course
you leave Evan Williams to kind of deal with the
aftermath of whatever else we deploy. But I mean, they
have a really good secondary and so those guys are
going to be and they're gonna have a big responsibility
because they're gonna be the ones responsible for the tight
ends and responsible for DK and the wide receiving corps.
(35:57):
And like I said, they haven't seen Calvin Austin lately.
So if we are going to deploy Calvin Austin out there,
you know, I think there's there's some favorable matchup stuff
that you can do with Calvin in the slot and
get getting getting a guy who I think I would
say he's faster than and get the mismatch there or
whoever goes into that slot, whether it be him, whether
(36:19):
it be JOHNU, whether it be Roman, You're going you're
going to have some some some some good matchup problems
that you can create from the offensive standpoint.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
So to recap where we are thus far.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
As we get ready for the matchups on Sunday night,
keep an eye on the tight ends. That is one
thing we're advising you to do. And watch where DK
metcalf is lined up. If he's lined up on the
right side, he's going against Keyshawn Nixon. What will they
then do with McKinney. There are you know, the two
Pro bowlers back there in the secondary, Nixon at the
(36:52):
corner spot, mckinnay at the free safety spot. What will
they do? How will they will they bracket DK with
those guys? Will presume we McKinney would travel to the
other side. If DK's lining up on the left, will
where will the Steelers deploy him? And what how will
the Packers counter that with McKinney's gonna be another fascinating
(37:13):
thing to watch in this game. As we are just
getting revved up, give me another whoop whoop. Getting ready
for Sunday Night football. A matchup of division leaders will
continue in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford
Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio
apart of Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
The F one fifty is the official.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
Truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop.
Get it direct from the team at the Steelers Pro
Shop at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
And we welcome you back inside the locker room. And
we've been talking a little bit about the receiving core
of the various teams and that the two teams. Uh
oh oh, I flew it again, ilew it.
Speaker 4 (38:09):
I can't believe it. I can't. I get all fired up, Max,
I get excited.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
You know what, I'm gonna give you a reason to
get excited, because it's the bell lap that's right, whoa
whoa dag it justin I threw it off. We're all
snaffooing right now. We're all snaff wooing right now. That's
like three times this week. I don't think I had
(38:37):
too many snaff foos prior to this. I'm just I'm
so fired up about this matchup. I apologize, Hey, can
we can? We can we do it again? Ringing the
bell force one more time, justin Max, take it away.
That's right as your early lunch warning system here inside
the locker room. That's right.
Speaker 4 (38:53):
Go for it.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Go go enjoy the delicacies that that mother Nature, the
Earth or some you know amazing chef has created, and
enjoy that during your lunch break hour. I mean, personally,
I'm feeling I'm feeling a little subby today. I'm feeling
a little subby. I feel like, you know, a sub
sandwiches might be the direction I go today. So in
(39:16):
my travels, I will I'll do some I'll do some
R and D and make sure I get back to
you guys. But I'm definitely filling. It's a sub day.
Like it's a little chilly, some a little hearty, little comforting.
Now we can't go full blown comfort lasagna like Wolf
and I used to do, because it's not cold enough yet,
it's not cold enough yet, and I don't want to
(39:38):
have comfort lasagna yet because also that means we were
usually looking for that on Mondays after a loss, So
I don't. So if I never have to eat another
lasagna this season, It'll be okay, guys, because I can suffice.
Other words, I just made a chicken palm pasta thing
in the instapot last night and it was awesome. Found
a recipe and I was like, let's try it out,
(39:59):
and it actually was really good. So so yeah, so
just enjoy as you go out there and forge out
in the universe. All right, back to you, back to football.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
Well, I got to say this now that we're talking
about that, I don't we only have two minutes left.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
I would just tell you.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
That the the folks at the Steelers facility, So I'm
heading right now down.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
To oh you're about to get slipping.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
The match up with with Matt Williamson and Missy Matthews.
And first of all, all the food down there that
they provide for the Steelers and for media members covering
the team is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
But my goodness, there's better than they are.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Super Forget forget the soup nazi in uh in uh
in Seinfeld.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
The soup is unbelievable, and I suspect that.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
I say, would you say they're genies? They are soup genies.
They are they are soup genies, and I would suspect.
But then the next oh forty five minutes to an hour,
I will hopefully be over a bowl of soup, chatting
with Matt Williamson and heading into do our taping.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
That that is my expected thing.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
So again to recap, really excited about the tight end matchup,
really excited about what DK Metcalf every week can do
and expect him max to be. We're gonna have to
leave the Packers wide receivers for tomorrow, but that's good
because I want to see whether Christian Watson plays because
he's a huge topic of conversation with the deep ball.
But you know, tight ends in this game DK Metcalf,
(41:25):
how is he gonna match I think every week we
talk about that, how is he going to match up?
Those are gonna be two important factors for both teams
in this game, not only how how Dk how this
Steeler is gonna utilize it, but how the Packer is
going to try to counter that defensively on their end.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Yeah, and I think also we'll get into the tackle
tackle versus defensive end matchups. The Michael Parson with Shawan Gear.
I think that's another key matchup for Brojick Jones and
Troy Fatanu, and also the rest of the offensive line
because Michael lines up everywhere. He's like TJ. Watt, so
it's gonna be interesting to really talk about them. And
then of course how does our defense attack Jordan Love
(42:02):
and the rest of that office. So I'm looking forward
to getting to the interior offensive and defensive lines tomorrow
in our breakdowns.
Speaker 4 (42:08):
YEP, can't wait.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
A matchup of division leaders coming up on Sunday night.
We want to thank Jerry Dulac for being with us
inside the locker room today for Justin Miller, our producer
for Max Starks on Rob King, we thank you for
being in the locker Room, presented by your neighborhood Ford
Store in the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio,
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
This is in the locker room with Kingon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Whoo, rolling in an hour number two here inside the
locker room. We got the cool breeze. We are refreshed, revigorate, reinvigorated,
and we were ready to roll for power our time.
As we get back into the locker room, so much fun, Kinger,
catch it up with all of our guests. I mean
(00:50):
period of day. We had WEX, you know yesterday for
WEX Wednesday, and of course we had Labs and Alvaro
on Tuesday. So you know, it's just you're feeling the intensity,
You're feeling the nervous frenzy of this weekend right Sunday
night football primetime again, back to back primetime games for
(01:12):
the Steelers. I think one of the things that's really
awesome about all of this is that we do have
a team that is desired to be on the on
these marquee matchup games that we do have games that matter,
that have significance, and guess what, the rest of the
NFL knows it, and that's why they plan accordingly. And
you know we're going to get our Monday night game.
(01:33):
Well we'll see if we keep our Monday night game,
because that's sounded like a way better matchup in May
than it is right now, because we don't know what's
going to happen by the time we get to December.
But uh, you know, already doing you know what we
have already had in Thursdays and now adding adding the
Sunday night game into the mix. I mean, it's pretty
(01:56):
cool when you think about it. Even with all of
the change internal we had over the last three years,
still must see television for the viewing public, which I
think is pretty cool. Max.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Are you as a player, you know, Thursday night, we
talk about how it's a difficult turnaround and you're, you know,
difficult physically before we get into the matchups. Is there
a different mentality for a player on Thursday or Sunday night?
You know, we all say, hey, it doesn't matter, and frankly,
to me, it doesn't matter whether this dealers are playing
(02:30):
on a Thursday night, a Sunday night, a Monday night.
I just love I love calling the games. I don't
care if they're playing in a phone booth, I don't
care if they're playing in a high school field. I
just love the games. But I think for the players,
it's kind of cool, isn't.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
It to be.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
To be the the matchup on a Thursday night, a
Sunday night, or a Monday night. Where Now now, of
course there's Monday night competition on occasion, but pretty much
you're the only game. Is there an excitement level for that?
And is there a different excitement level for Thursday night football,
Sunday night football, Monday night football?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So you know, Thursday is a mind over matter game, right,
because of where we're at now with Thursday night football,
it is a necessity. It is not a luxury. And
when I played, it was a luxury. You were honored
to get the Thursday night game because also it didn't
happen till Thanksgiving, right, that's when the Thursday football really
(03:28):
kicked off, and so you were ecstatic about that because
it was like, man, there's only so many of these,
and especially the end of the year. Now we sneaking
in a second by type week in and you know
and really reassess where we're at versus kind of now mandatory,
(03:48):
and it could be anywhere for week one up until
what week fourteen I think it is fourteen or fifteen
is when you have to stop those So I mean,
from that perspective, it's a little bit different. But I
think for Sunday night, you know, it's you are waiting around,
you are watching everything else transpire before you, and then
(04:10):
it's your turn. But at the same time, you know
that everybody's watching all thirty other teams. At this point,
you're showering up and getting ready to leave leave a
stadium if you're an away team. If you're a home team,
you're almost guaranteed to be home in time for at
least the start of the second quarter. Now I don't
(04:30):
know how far people live from stadiums, but on average
so and the Monday night crew is watching your game
because they don't play until Monday, So there's a lot
of cool aspects to it. I think it does change
a little bit slightly. Like I said, Thursday is such
a short week, and if you're a traveling team, even shorter.
But if you're the home team, you know you have
(04:51):
a little bit advantage. You ain't got to travel, so
you can get that full you know, Tuesday, and you
can have a full regular or Wednesday whatever that looks like,
and and still get up for the game. I think
Monday night's its own thing, you know, because just because
(05:12):
now if you're playing like one of those double headers
where it's like a seven pm what Pacific kickoff and
nobody watches it, And I'm talking to Uchawks Houston Texans
for literally killing my night because I had to watch
the game. I had to report on the game. So
you know, outside of like that aberration, I don't I'm
(05:33):
not a fan of these double header Monday night games,
but you know, Sunday Night's one of those is sacred.
It will always be one game, just like a Thursday
Night er, and it's kind of always been that way.
In a modern era that you've had that opportunity. Thursday
is a newer phenomenon with teams, and I think you know,
you're still trying to figure out what does that look
(05:53):
like too, especially in how physical was a game before.
I mean, we went through it last year with the
three games in eleven days. I mean, I don't know
you felt but I felt like burnt tows by the
end of that just for calling those games, and I
had other games to call in between that, which is crazy. Ye.
So you know, I just I think the phenomena and
the balance is tough still to kind of figure out.
(06:14):
The NFL teams have not figured it out, and obviously
Mike Tomlin hasn't. You know, you look at the record
during these Thursday night away games. But you've got to
take solace in the fact that you know this game
is evolving, this game is changing, and you have to
be prepared for the unexpected. And that's where the Steelers
(06:34):
kind of are. And I think for me personally, I imagine
it would be tough. But you know, players played, coaches,
coach balls out there on the field, tickets are sold. Hey,
all you gotta do. I'm gonna show up. I got
to show out. You know, that's the mentality you have
to mind over matter in those type of situations on
a short week.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
How about the uniforms, because they're gonna go nineteen thirty
three throwback uniforms. Did that mean anything to you as
a player? Did you like it? Did you think was
kind of cool?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Uh? What's your feeling on that.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I mean, I was cool with it up until up
until the killer be you know what I'm saying. Like
the brownish type brownish, goldish whatever it looked brown, it
looked brown. Let's just be honest. Brown pants with with
the with with obviously the horizontal stripes and wolf knows.
I love this phrase. I said this phrase forever. No
(07:26):
self respecting fat guy wears horizontal stripes like that, you know.
And I think that and then the and then the
socks too were also like funky socks with the with
the double stripes. So you know. There that was. That
was a tough one. That was. That was a weird time.
But all the other throwbacks I look forward to. I
(07:46):
love the black jerseys with the gold numbers and the
white pants. I thought that was a slick look to
be able to pull off. And there was another throwback
I cannot remember which one it was, but that one
was specifically for the seventy fifth season with the black
with the gold jersey. I thought that was a really
cool neat one. I'm glad we never went with that
(08:08):
Steegels jersey. But I will say this, this nineteen thirty
three throwback with the crest and the emblop. It looks
a lot better than when they did it the last
time with Kevin Green and company. We're young whipper snappers
as Steelers running around the field and causing havoc. But
so I'm looking forward to this one because I think
(08:29):
this uniform cut design and creation is a lot different
and no hand stitched crest symbol right on the chest.
This is going to be the Nike dry fit material.
This is going to be Jersey like and I am
looking forward to that part of it.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
So mention that we wanted to get into matchups, and
I think Max, both the tight end units are are
gonna be a big part of this matchup. And I
know you've brought it up a couple of times. You know,
Jerry mentioned it as well, Jerry Dulac when he joined
his last hour. But the Steelers tight ends had the
(09:12):
highest percentage of receptions on a team for any team
in the NFL. So they're gonna be targeted. They've been targeted.
They're gonna be targeted. You have four of them on
the roster, so I understand there's a lot of different targets.
Pat Fryermouth is number one in the NFL. I believe
in reception yards per tight ends, I'm pretty sure Pat's
(09:34):
number one, and if the guy right behind him is
Tucker Craft. Now Pat had the huge play obviously against Cincinnati.
That's gonna inflate his numbers. So I think that. But
again we've seen Darnett Washington rumble for big gains. I
think it's very interesting how both teams use their tight ends.
(09:55):
And I think Tucker Craft is emerging as a top
flight receiving tight end in his own right here three
years into his career up in Green Bay. So I
think the tight ends I'm gonna be watching how both
and look that you know, you have a musk grade
BA bracking him up, backing him up, beating Fitzpatrick, gets
(10:16):
a ball thrown here or there, but he's the main guy.
They do run a lot of two tight end sets,
they do. They'll have both those two of those three
guys out there a lot. But you know, talk about
a little bit about the tight ends and how you
know what part you expect them to play on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Night, Well, I think you know, if I'm going off
of last games film, and that was the Cardinals, the
most recent team they played you know, you have to
be encouraged if you're Green Bay to use Tucker Craft.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I mean, they ran screens with him, They hit him
some deep balls down the sideline, He made some big
plays to get them into the red zone. And you
just saw the consistency there. And yes, you're gonna still
throw to the other guys on the field that line up.
But I'm sitting there and I'm saying, this is going
to be hopefully a tight end fest. Hopefully if you've
(11:12):
got if you've got your fantasy settings and everything else
in line, you're gonna want to see what these tight
ends do for the Steelers as well as for the
you know, for the Packers because you know, you haven't
had Christian Watkins. Dontavian Wicks just came back last week.
(11:35):
So a lot of that flows to Tucker Craft, a
lot of that flows to Josh Jacobs and you know,
and of course also you know Matthew Golden being your
number two in your first round pick in that Green
Bay draft. He's not been bad, but he's you know,
he hasn't been really utilized as a rookie. So I
(11:57):
think that's where you say, okay, we're going with to
try true steady hands versus the kind of relative unknown.
You know, Muskgrave is one that you thought it was
going to be a two tight end attack with Craft
and musk Grave, but obviously Sideline, with injuries a year ago,
hasn't really found a place in this offense this season.
(12:21):
So for Jordan Love, that's going to be what he's
what he's looking at. I need to go to the trusted,
tried and true guys, and those guys for me are
number eight in the backfield and number eighty five, and
then you throw in by a process of elimination that
eighty seven. Romeo Dobbs is your kind of your viable
(12:42):
true receiver in that combination. But I feel like he's
right there. He's third man on the totem pole and
the ball has to be fed to the other ones,
and both both Tucker and both Josh Jakins have answered
that bell for him.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
You know, one of the things that I think makes
craft In interesting And let's look at it from the
Green Bay's perspective, because we I think we assume that
most fans know who the students tight ends are and
hopefully they can exploit that a couple things. First of
all the students have allowed six touchdown receptions to tight ends.
That was quieted when Deshaun Elliott came back, but they
(13:17):
did have a touchdown reception against him by a tight
end last week when they played Cincinnati on Thursday night.
But Kraft is a guy, and we could talk about
the receiving corps at large, because might they get Christian
Watson back? Jayden Reed doesn't look like he's even practicing
or close to being back, And we could talk about
the receiving court and how they're utilized, which I think
(13:38):
is kind of interesting in its own right compared to
the studers wide receiver group. But Craft averaged, you know,
fourteen yards perception is pretty darn good, especially for a
tight end. Well, he averaged fourteen yards perception fourteen point
one last year and now fourteen point two this year.
(13:59):
So I think I think what we're seeing is there's
no like one guy on the on the Packers where
you're saying, you know, this is the this is the
number one deep threat. Maybe there is, but but you know,
to me, to have a tight end who is averaging
fourteen yards per reception tells me, first of all, he's
(14:21):
athletic in getting some yards after catch. But secondly, it's
not just a it's not just to run a curl
over the middle and you know, or a quick slant.
We'll try to get a first down. This is the
guy they expect to press the.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Ball down the field for him.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
He's he's being utilized in maybe a slightly different way
than other tight ends. Just by looking at his yards
per reception. I mean, that's up there, man, you know,
over fourteen yards perception. Now for a year and a half,
that's that's no longer a one year trend or a
one year aberration. This is becoming a trend for Chuck.
For Tucker Craft.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Yeah no, I mean I think I think that's where
you kind of work. And that's where my matchup worry
concern was was that you have a guy in Tucker Craft.
Like I said, watching that Cardinals film, I know it
was only five catches, but they were five big catches
and one of those was for a touchdown just a
week ago. And that's the one where I don't want
the Steelers getting lost in the sauce, right because if
(15:18):
you blitz, you know, the replacement area of the safety
relief release valve is the tight end of the running
back on those checkdown situations, or you're just trying to
get the ball out and find the best timing route,
so and he's taking your yak off of those to
really boost that number up. But there was an embarrassment
(15:40):
to a degree that they kind of keep forgetting where
he is and where you know he is going to
be on the field. So I just don't want the
Steelers to lose sight of that kind of like, you know,
I'm hoping that they forget about John new Smith or
you know, Darnel Washington or Pat fryar Mouth or even
Connor Hayward. I think Aaron's done a good job of
(16:01):
involving all of them, so you do have to study
all of them. There is no there is no blueprint
for how we run games every single time. Right, we
have the personnel that we can really screw you up.
You know, we could run thirteen and put it to eleven.
You know, we could run twelve a turn into twenty one.
You know, there's so many different ways that we can
(16:23):
deploy this team that's going to keep this Green Bay
team guessing defensively. But I will say this, for all
that said, you still got on defense to block Michael
Parsons and Rashaun Gary. So all of that does work.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Yes, part of the matchups we're going to be exploring.
But I do think for fans out there who are
getting ready for the game, and man, I'm starting to
get the excitement here. You know, you're coming off of
a loss and you're playing a team that is, you know,
obviously and widely regarded as a top team in the
NFL two division leaders.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Really exciting.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Who would be the King of the North?
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I like it, the Stars, the Stark family ruining.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Winter is coming, y'all.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I do think. I do think that I go.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
To flag Staff though flex staff.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
For me, we're excited about the matchup. But I'm I
do think that that's we led with that thoughtfully because
you heard Max talking about it and you've heard Max
referencing it. But the tight end battle, you know, uh,
people probably don't go into a game thinking, geez, I
wonder what their tight end and our tight ends are
going to do. You know, the sex your positions are quarterback,
running back. Of course, the quarterback has to get the
(17:41):
ball to those tight ends, to the wide receivers. The
wide receivers being the other sexy position. But tight ends
are sexy. This week, Max, they are sexy.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Listen the part timers, right, these guys, these guys moonlight.
They moonlight is offensive lineman, but yet when the lights
turned on, they want to be the wide receiver. You know,
they wanted, they wanted, they want to be the gla Amazons.
So you know, we appreciate those guys. We love those
guys because you know, especially as a tackle, right, the
chip element that they bring, the body presence element. They're
(18:13):
bigger than a wide receiver, taller than taller than a
running back, and you know they have a skill set
that's highly desirable because of the flexibility of position. And
in a league full of tweeners, you know, the tight
end was the original tweener, right, you know, so you
know you want to get back to that. And those
guys are very are very necessary, and like you said,
(18:36):
when you see them highlight and I think you know,
in the last ten years, you've really seen the rules
changed to where you can't jam those guys out of
the break when they're running on the seams. No linebackers
used to be able to redirect those guys. Now they
can't redirect them. You know, five yards, hands off, hands off,
don't touch them, let them go, let them go. You
can establish your your little boxy space, but don't touch
(18:59):
that guy whatever he's doing. And that's really really reinvigorated
that position. That's why I think we've seen such a
surgeon production of the tight end position is because of
that five yard cushion. Right after five yards, get your
hands off of him. Let let hey, let let that
Let that big guy rumble. And especially for Darnell Washington,
(19:21):
you know, he looks like a runaway freight terry when
he runs a seam route. Yeah, it's hilarious, but that
but that's what you get. And the Steelers went and
they literally got to build a tight end, right like
the build a Bear workshop that used to take your
kids to to build their little stuffy teddy bears. You
had you have different skill sets. John news Smith looks
(19:43):
acts runs like a receiver but still is in line.
Darnel Washington looks like an offensive tackle, but you know
he is a moving skyscraper. And then Pat Fryer move
is just your traditional type of dude. He's traditional, you know,
part blocker, part part recei ever type of dude. And
then Connor Hayward, h bac F, you know, f true
(20:05):
tight end, line them up wherever he's gonna make he's
gonna make it work. And I think that's what's really
cool is that, yes, green Bay has a Tucker Craft,
but for Pittsburgh, and Jerry said, the numbers about how
much production we've gotten from those tight ends. We have
the super tight end, we have the vultron of tight ends, right,
(20:26):
because you know, when you put them all together, it's
a problem for anybody.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
That you're going to see an impressive ensemble cast going
against Tucker Craft and and not quite as an ensemble
of a cast, but still a dangerous unit for that
Green Bay Packers. One of the fascinating matchups is we
get you ready for the game on Sunday night.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Can't wait.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Also, want to remind you can gear up with the
latest game day necessities at the official Steelers pro shops.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Remember they got those throwback jerseys.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
You can go to Steelers dot com and check out
those jerseys by the way they unveiled them yesterday. Get
the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys, Terrible's Authentic Memorabilia and custom
exclusives you can only find directly from the team. Visit
one of the official Studers Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium,
Grove City Premium Outlets or Tanger Outlets, or gear up
online at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct
(21:14):
from the team. It's a Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com. Back with more in the Locker
Room presented by your neighborhood Ford Store and the Steelers
Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio. Apart of the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
This is in the Locker Room with Kenyon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Whoo oh is that all about? Max has a nice I.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Know you know what I'm saying. Were You're just excited,
You're giddy?
Speaker 4 (22:04):
You got I'm getting fired.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I am too. I am too. It's a Thursday. I
gotta I got a temperate I gotta make it all
the way, waiting all day for Sunday night, right like
like like the show intro says, but I'm just you know,
you're you're excited about it. The more we talk about it,
the more I feel better about it. You kind of
put that since a nasty game, you know, in the
rear view mirror Thursday night. I mean, heck, that was
(22:30):
a week ago, you know, and we still got a
couple of days three, you know, at least three sleeps
away before we get to Sunday night football. And then
we'll delay the sleep on that fourth night because we'll
be we'll be watching, we'll be calling a game. We'll
be in the stadium at after sure, watching a heck
of a matchup. And like you said, the more I
(22:50):
talk about the better I feel about this matter, the
more evenly matched it is. Right, And like you said,
this is a chance to go play a team that
is of the ILK. They are number one in their division.
And there's a little bit of extra spice in this one.
(23:11):
It's not just your running the mill, good on, good iron,
sharpens iron, the standards. None of those cliches are there.
This is good old fashioned petty revenge. You know what
I'm saying, Like this is, this is if I'm gonna
bake a cake. I needed to be a petty crocker cake.
You know what I'm saying, Like this is how I
feel about it, and and none better than I need
(23:34):
to get at the group that said I wasn't good enough,
said this guy cannot lead us anymore, he can't win
any more games for us. We got a young guy
that's gonna replace him. And the old dog is doing
the himmy and the shake, and he reinvented himself. You know,
I don't want to talk your relationship terms, but you
know how that feels when you get dumped, and you
know you might You had to, you know you had to.
(23:56):
You had to figure out how to get back into
the scene to get your mojo back. And now you've
got your mojo back, you can't wait to show it
off to the exit that I thought you weren't good enough.
You know what I'm saying. That's that's where we're at
right now with this. I don't care. I might have
did it some extra push ups before I went out.
I might. I might have made sure the cuff on
the sleeves is a little bit tighter so you can
see a little bit more bicep. You know, all those
(24:16):
little visual things that you need. You know, when did
some when did some of Arthur Murray dance classes to
show off at the Disco Tech, You know, I mean,
that's what you're that's what we're dealing. That's the energy,
that's the vibe we're trying to project here, and that's
what I'm looking forward to on Sunday night. So yes,
so that look, you know, it's just a little boom.
(24:37):
I got a temper the emotions, but I am excited.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
I can't wait for those of us who wear long
sleeve shirts no matter what, because if you were a
short sleeve shirt, someone wondered, what hey, what's that string
hanging from your shirt? Oh that's your arm, So the
rest of us, but that was the old one. Now
with the new one, it's a little pop a pump.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
You're feeling good about it. Boom boom, boom, kissed the
bicep act. That's why you wear the short sleeve now.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
So I'm excited, Max, And you've got me additionally excited
with your own enthusiasm.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Uh, we we talked about the tight End group and
we're going around we're gonna talk about We're gonna talk
about the offensive line, defensive line.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Look, man, that's where it all starts.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
And we'll get into that tomorrow and we'll probably get
into the running game stuff tomorrow. But I think that
dk Metcalf is a decayale as he likes to be called.
We'll call him DeKay on the air for the most.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Mister Metcalf, mister enough.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
If he said I desire to be called mister, that
would be the next word out of my mouth.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Be okay, mister, Well I guess. But you know who's.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Gonna tell him? Not me? Yeah, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Going to want to tell him.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
So you know, there was there was talk about his
average target run and the ball being thrown down the field, and.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Here he is with right now the best yards per catch.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
In his career.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Now, the season hasn't hasn't been run yet, and when
you have an explosive like the eighty five yard or
he had in Dublin, that's going to pump up your numbers, right,
and as you go over the course of the season,
unless he has more explosive plays, that eighteen point five
could come down a little bit. I think there's a
couple of things about DK. First of all, he's being
(26:32):
utilized differently. It's not just about depth of target for DK.
That remains a trick in his toolbag. But he's also
being used on short crossing patterns and slants. And you know,
if you are running an out, let's say it's third
and six, If you're running an out to the sideline,
you've got to get to the sticks. I understand that,
(26:55):
but I see people say that a lot. You gotta
get to the sticks, and I don't believe that's true. Now,
I don't think that on a third and nine, if
you dump one over the middle to a guy who's
got his back to the defense, and now he catches
it at you know, one yard beyond the line of scrimmage,
and now is to turn and make fourteen people miss,
(27:16):
you know, because he has to make a couple of
people miss twice to get to.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
The first down. No, that's not going to get a
first down. But I think if you.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Run slants, if you run crossing patterns that are within
a couple of yards of the line of scrimmage or
the line to gain, you don't have to run those
patterns to that depth. I'm saying that because it's a
bit of a it's a bit of a sore spot
for me. I think that people use that, they say
that too often. I think you can throw short to
run long, and I think we're seeing that throw short
(27:46):
to run long as part of DK's repertoire. I think
he's got a widening repertoire. But we're also seeing that
if Aaron Rodgers gets to the line of scrimmage and
they're a single high safety and he can't get over
to Dk Metcalf, the ball is going to DK Metcalf.
And I think it's a great utilization both of those elements.
(28:07):
To hit him short, to let him run because he's
a big, fast, physical guy, and the Yeah, because of
those we could still throw him deep. I think the
utilization of DK Metcalf to this point, I'm all for it.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
I like the way he's being utilized.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Yeah. No, I'm right there with you. And I think
you know the big body nature that he plays. I
mean he plays like a power forward in basketball, right. No,
he's physical, he's gonna box you out, he's gonna go
up for the fifty to fifty jump balls, and he's
also going to run through you, like he did those
two poor unfortunate souls that were also you know, Minnesota Vikings. Yeah,
(28:46):
they were like, oh no, we're gonna get him here.
Look we're gonna stand. Oh my god, I'm on my
back right he's in the inside. Like that's that's where
they kind of got with that. And like you said,
he's a guy that you could depend on to be
in those big moments. And ordinarily, I mean, he's excellent,
especially with the backs shoulder phase. The communication that he
or this the chemistry that he has not the communication,
(29:07):
the chemistry that he has with Aaron is really good
and it's only going to get better when you can
sense and feel those things. And I think for DK
as well, because he doesn't have to be the only
guy out there, you know, because of the way that
Aaron deploys the ball and spreads it to the different receivers.
You know, you can't really just lock in on DK
(29:28):
and like take him out of the game. And I
think that's the other part of it is that you
want to roll the coverage, but you're scared to roll
the coverage to him. And when you do, John who
Smith gets a play, Darnell Washington gets a forty yard
you know what I'm saying, Like you get these other elements,
and then with the run game, so he's a perfect compliment.
He can stretch the field, but he also his run
(29:49):
after the catch, Like you said, you don't have to
get to the sticks, but get him a yack ball,
and by yackball is yards after the catch ball, meaning
catch him in and I promise you will not take
him down after he like right as he catches it.
You must, you know, kind of be in a position
(30:10):
where you have to dedicate more resources to him. It's
almost like with Darnell Washington. If you get him going,
good luck, right, you know what I'm saying, it's it's
not gonna be easy. It's not gonna be It's not
gonna be one guy just takes him down. Like you
have to either catch an perfect angle force him out
of bounds, or it's one guy than the next guy
(30:31):
is the guy that actually gets a tackle. It's a
dual job, or in the case of Darneld Washington, it
takes like three four guys as we've seen. But that's
what DK brings. He brings that element. Everybody looks at
his physical attributes and they forget about the speed. That's
what I love. Like, Oh, this is just a big
possession style receiver. Right, He's gonna catch the ball and
(30:55):
that's it. No, he catches the ball and he has
a step. He is going through your soul and your
chest is a byproduct of it, right, Like, that's just
how he plays football, such a physical nature and that's
why you don't need that. But you know, I can
throw the five yard or take or I take the
slant and I don't throw it at six. I throw
it at four. But DK's catching it in stride. Guess
(31:19):
what we're getting the first down. Like that's just how
it is because natural momentum force dynamics are going to
carry him and propel him forward, you know, just like
a Jamin Warner. That's why I was called always falling
forward because he generates so much power that it is
very tough to just hit him and stymy him, like
(31:40):
you have to dedicate a lot of guys to it.
Or you're hitting a specific body part that slows it up,
and that's the lower body. Right, You're hitting the legs
to take it out of it. Because if he can stand,
if he can get the was it fourteen to twenty
five requisite cleats. I'm not sure how many cleats are
in the bottom of him now. They used to be
seven studs, so that's why I said fourteen. But if
(32:02):
he if he gets those cleats in the ground, good luck,
good luck. Hey, strap your chin, strap up extra type,
put your mouthpiece in and just and and just bite down,
you know, because that's what that's what's gonna take to
stop him.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
So so Max, you know, and we're gonna talk about
the Packers receiver receiving corps. I hope next segment, because
I think there's there's some really interesting stuff for this
receiving cores for the Packers. And we don't know yet
now whether Christian Watson is going to be back, whether
he's trending in that direction, which leads me to think
maybe we should talk about this tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
But I have not seen.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
I am two games into my six game watching spree
for the Packers. Packers have played six games. I will
watch all six games because my job is a little
bit different. Yeah, my job is to make it. My
job is to have the numbers memorized and call the game.
And so I have a certain process that I like
(32:59):
to follow doing that, I like to have a couple
of games still to watch over the weekend to get
myself really you know, make sure I'm mentally sharp, have
everything memorized. That's my job, right. So so there it is.
So I haven't watched all six games. So I'm preface
this by saying what I've seen. I don't believe I've
seen Keyshawn Nixon their top cover guy moving from side
(33:20):
to side.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
I believe he has stayed.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
On the offensive right, I'm not positive about that, which
which would leave the other guys Hobbs and UH and
the other guys on other and Valentin on the other
side of the field. So h Keishawn Nixon is a
really good cover guy, you know, he's he's the best
they've got.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
I think he's a pro bowler.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
That would be an interesting matchup to see Keishawan and
UH and DK going at it head to head. But
I'll be interested to see if the Steelers maybe have
DK on that left side. We also saw him running
out of the slot for the most time in his career.
I think that was the Minnesota game. They were putting
DK slot, so they're trying to move him around. I
(34:03):
don't know if they're trying to move him around more
to get favorable matchups with a specific player, or whether
it is a specific scheme that they want to use
him out of, you know, running different patterns and different
things out of the slot versus the outside. But certainly
who is covering DK and how he's being deployed is
(34:26):
going to be another big thing. I'm gonna be looking
forward to watching on Sunday because Keyshaw Nixon is a
really good cover corner.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
No, key Shawn is really good, and you know, he's
one of those guys. He's old school. I mean, he's
a physical at the line of scrimmage. He's a hand puncher.
He wants to disrupt your timing. He wants to get
in your face and play. This Packers scene plays of
what we call a four to two Nickel, so it
means four down linemen. And obviously you could argue the
(34:55):
semantics about Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary being defensive lineman,
but as it's listed, that's what they're listed as. It's
a four to two structure, So I'm only reporting the
news two inside backers and Nickel and Javon Bullard that
kind of plays in and around the box area, takes
your initial slot guy, and so it's gonna be really
(35:16):
really crazy. And then you know, they have a really
good safety and Xavier McKinney as well. Yes, McKinney is
an X guy. You know, is an excellent guy. Now
he Now, the safeties do switch. Corners don't, but safeties
do switch. And I imagine that if you are going
to go Nate Hobbs quarrentting Valentine side with DK, you're
probably gonna have Xavier McKinney on that side, yeah, floating
(35:37):
and strafing somewhere, and you know, and then of course
you leave Evan Williams to kind of deal with the
aftermath of whatever else we deploy. But I mean, they
have a really good secondary and so those guys are
going to be and they're gonna have a big responsibility
because they're gonna be the ones responsible for the tight
ends and responsible for DK and the wide receiving corps.
(35:57):
And like I said, they haven't seen Calvin Austin lately.
So if we are going to deploy Calvin Austin out there,
you know, I think there's there's some favorable matchup stuff
that you can do with Calvin in the slot and
get getting getting a guy who I think I would
say he's faster than and get the mismatch there or
whoever goes into that slot, whether it be him, whether
(36:19):
it be JOHNU, whether it be Roman, You're going you're
going to have some some some some good matchup problems
that you can create from the offensive standpoint.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
So to recap where we are thus far.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
As we get ready for the matchups on Sunday night,
keep an eye on the tight ends. That is one
thing we're advising you to do. And watch where DK
metcalf is lined up. If he's lined up on the
right side, he's going against Keyshawn Nixon. What will they
then do with McKinney. There are you know, the two
Pro bowlers back there in the secondary, Nixon at the
(36:52):
corner spot, mckinnay at the free safety spot. What will
they do? How will they will they bracket DK with
those guys? Will presume we McKinney would travel to the
other side. If DK's lining up on the left, will
where will the Steelers deploy him? And what how will
the Packers counter that with McKinney's gonna be another fascinating
(37:13):
thing to watch in this game. As we are just
getting revved up, give me another whoop whoop. Getting ready
for Sunday Night football. A matchup of division leaders will
continue in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford
Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio
apart of Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
The F one fifty is the official.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
Truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop.
Get it direct from the team at the Steelers Pro
Shop at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
And we welcome you back inside the locker room. And
we've been talking a little bit about the receiving core
of the various teams and that the two teams. Uh
oh oh, I flew it again, ilew it.
Speaker 4 (38:09):
I can't believe it. I can't. I get all fired up, Max,
I get excited.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
You know what, I'm gonna give you a reason to
get excited, because it's the bell lap that's right, whoa
whoa dag it justin I threw it off. We're all
snaffooing right now. We're all snaff wooing right now. That's
like three times this week. I don't think I had
(38:37):
too many snaff foos prior to this. I'm just I'm
so fired up about this matchup. I apologize, Hey, can
we can? We can we do it again? Ringing the
bell force one more time, justin Max, take it away.
That's right as your early lunch warning system here inside
the locker room. That's right.
Speaker 4 (38:53):
Go for it.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Go go enjoy the delicacies that that mother Nature, the
Earth or some you know amazing chef has created, and
enjoy that during your lunch break hour. I mean, personally,
I'm feeling I'm feeling a little subby today. I'm feeling
a little subby. I feel like, you know, a sub
sandwiches might be the direction I go today. So in
(39:16):
my travels, I will I'll do some I'll do some
R and D and make sure I get back to
you guys. But I'm definitely filling. It's a sub day.
Like it's a little chilly, some a little hearty, little comforting.
Now we can't go full blown comfort lasagna like Wolf
and I used to do, because it's not cold enough yet,
it's not cold enough yet, and I don't want to
(39:38):
have comfort lasagna yet because also that means we were
usually looking for that on Mondays after a loss, So
I don't. So if I never have to eat another
lasagna this season, It'll be okay, guys, because I can suffice.
Other words, I just made a chicken palm pasta thing
in the instapot last night and it was awesome. Found
a recipe and I was like, let's try it out,
(39:59):
and it actually was really good. So so yeah, so
just enjoy as you go out there and forge out
in the universe. All right, back to you, back to football.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
Well, I got to say this now that we're talking
about that, I don't we only have two minutes left.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
I would just tell you.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
That the the folks at the Steelers facility, So I'm
heading right now down.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
To oh you're about to get slipping.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
The match up with with Matt Williamson and Missy Matthews.
And first of all, all the food down there that
they provide for the Steelers and for media members covering
the team is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
But my goodness, there's better than they are.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Super Forget forget the soup nazi in uh in uh
in Seinfeld.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
The soup is unbelievable, and I suspect that.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
I say, would you say they're genies? They are soup genies.
They are they are soup genies, and I would suspect.
But then the next oh forty five minutes to an hour,
I will hopefully be over a bowl of soup, chatting
with Matt Williamson and heading into do our taping.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
That that is my expected thing.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
So again to recap, really excited about the tight end matchup,
really excited about what DK Metcalf every week can do
and expect him max to be. We're gonna have to
leave the Packers wide receivers for tomorrow, but that's good
because I want to see whether Christian Watson plays because
he's a huge topic of conversation with the deep ball.
But you know, tight ends in this game DK Metcalf,
(41:25):
how is he gonna match I think every week we
talk about that, how is he going to match up?
Those are gonna be two important factors for both teams
in this game, not only how how Dk how this
Steeler is gonna utilize it, but how the Packer is
going to try to counter that defensively on their end.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Yeah, and I think also we'll get into the tackle
tackle versus defensive end matchups. The Michael Parson with Shawan Gear.
I think that's another key matchup for Brojick Jones and
Troy Fatanu, and also the rest of the offensive line
because Michael lines up everywhere. He's like TJ. Watt, so
it's gonna be interesting to really talk about them. And
then of course how does our defense attack Jordan Love
(42:02):
and the rest of that office. So I'm looking forward
to getting to the interior offensive and defensive lines tomorrow
in our breakdowns.
Speaker 4 (42:08):
YEP, can't wait.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
A matchup of division leaders coming up on Sunday night.
We want to thank Jerry Dulac for being with us
inside the locker room today for Justin Miller, our producer
for Max Starks on Rob King, we thank you for
being in the locker Room, presented by your neighborhood Ford
Store in the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio,
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
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