September 23, 2025 • 45 mins
Bob Labriola calls into the show to talk with Rob and Wes about the team's latest victory and the importance of the team's upcoming game across the pond.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Yes, 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
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(00:22):
dot Steelers dot.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Com and there it is time for the Power Hour.
It doesn't feel the same without Max giving us the
Optimist Prime. Uh, you know that when he comes back
(00:44):
in and next week, I'm gonna be calling him Maximus.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Prime, Maximus Prime.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Just so that Max can correct me that it's Optimist Prime.
It is. Oh, it's one of our favorite times of
the week.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It is time for Tuesday with Labs presented by UPMC,
the official healthcare provider and health plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Bob, how are you, my friend?
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Pretty good? And hey, just continuing with what you guys
opened with. I've been on social media a little bit
this morning, you know, pushing stories and just seeing what's
going on. Our boy Max Man. He is everywhere in
Dublin with terrible tiles, looking like he's having a fun time.
Every time I Steelers Ireland or one of those accounts
(01:32):
is has little videos of Max doing stuff and having fun.
So yeah, I think you guys owe him a little
bit of a hard time when you finally all get
back together.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
He really is though, I mean, he's just the best,
you know. I mean, you couldn't pick anybody, you could.
Speaker 5 (01:50):
Not, absolutely not. No, he's great for that. But that
doesn't mean we're not going to give him a hard
time about it.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
No doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So your thoughts labs on what we're looking at here
with this Minnesota Vikings team, because you know they they
didn't look great against Chicago. Kind of I view it
as kind of pulling a rabbit out of the hat
late in that game. You know, if you're watching that game,
(02:20):
you're thinking, oh, what everybody said about Chicago being one
of those teams like Jacksonville maybe ready to turn the
corner this year. And I was kind of buying in
that maybe they were that team and they look great,
and then all of a sudden, Minnesota pulled the I
had him pulling a rabbit out of the hat, and
I'm gonna have him pulling the rug out from underneath them.
Boom they go one, and oh then they look pretty bad.
In Week two, and then they just demolished Cincinnati in
(02:42):
Week three. A reminder, I think that they were a
fourteen win team a year ago. This is not you know,
and you know, we were kind of kicking around West
and I that maybe they're better right now, a more
formidable opponent with Carson Wentz, although in Week fourteen they
might be a more formidable opponent with JJ McCarthy. I
(03:06):
hard to say, but it's regardless. It's still a team
that I think has to be reckoned with.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Yeah. And you know, if just to put it succinctly
from my point of view, you asked me to try
and make some sense of this Vikings team. The Steelers
are going to be playing in Dublin. What I was
going to say was I wish JJ McCarthy didn't get injured. Yeah,
because I agree. I think Carson Wentz is a much
more potentially dangerous opposing quarterback to go against. Not necessarily,
(03:38):
when I say dangerous, I think he is. He's been
around a lot more, he's played a lot more. I
think he's much more apt to just use the players
around him. Because I do think the Vikings have a
pretty nice offensive personnel group and he'll just take advantage
(04:01):
of some of their good players and be less likely
to maybe try to win himself, which often can result
in injury or injuries, not injuries, mistakes by young players.
And you know, the Steelers are on a little bit
of a hot streak now with the takeaways. So yeah,
(04:22):
that would be my assessment. I wish JJ McCarthy was
not injured and he was starting on Sunday in Croke Park.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Labs. They are not the purple people eaters, but certainly
a formidable defense, a formidable defensive front for the Vikings.
They gave Cincinnati all kinds of trouble. I mean, Chase
Brown had ten carries for three yards. I think it
was against the Vikings on Sunday. We obviously know the
(04:49):
Steelers offensive line is a work in progress. How key
of a matchup is that for you? For this Steelers
offensive line to at least be able to find level footing,
you know, to at least be at you know, maybe
like a stalemate if you will, with this talented Vikings front.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Yeah, I mean, certainly this week everything you said I
agree with. I also, you know, looking at it a
little bit in a big picture way, I think that
the Steelers offensive line. It coming together, and to use
your phrase, you know, forcing a stalemate is is critical
(05:30):
because the number one thing for me is for the
Steelers moving forward in this season, you got to keep
your quarterback healthy. This quarterback is a difference maker on
the field in terms of with his arm, talent, and
and some of the things he does. I also really
like the way Aaron Rodgers is handling the locker room teammates,
(05:55):
you know what, at his offensive captaincy however you want
to phrase it, because you know, one week after he
in response to a question after the Seattle game, Aaron
Rodgers said that Calvin Austen shouldn't have done what he
did diving at that ball that was thrown to Friarmouth
(06:17):
in the end zone that he tipped and resulted in
an interception. I mean, Kyleston. He says, he's a great kid,
he's just trying to make a play and all that stuff.
But he shouldn't. That's not you know, and I'm paraphrasing,
that's not his play to make. He shouldn't have been
trying to do that and it cost us. Okay, So
now fast forward to the fourth quarter of the game
(06:38):
against the Patriots. Who does Aaron Rodgers go to How
does he does it? How does he do it? He
did it with a back shoulder throw, which was a
situation where the receiver, when he's running his route, he
has to know where the throw is coming based on
the coverage that he's getting from the defender. Okay, so
(07:00):
Calvin Austin did his job, He read the coverage, he
was expecting what he should have been expecting. The ball
was right on target, like it has been so far
through the first three weeks. He makes to catch, the
Steelers win the game. So you know, maybe, and I
(07:20):
think a lot of people miss misconstrued it. What Aaron
Rodgers did after the Seattle game is calling out in
a teammate, you know, throwing him under the bus. No,
he answered the question, Uh, the guy made a mistake.
He pointed it out. Uh the next time, the guy
did the right thing and it was a touchdown. I mean,
don't That's that's leadership to me from a quarterback. So okay,
(07:46):
now that's a that's a long winded way to get
to my point, which was, you can't let this guy
get injured. He is your hope, I think, And so
solidifying that offensive line, cutting down on the number hit
of hits he takes. You know, it has to be
more than a one week thing. You can't just say, well,
they didn't sack them last week. Yay, we've arrived. That's
(08:09):
you know, that's one. That's one in a row. Anybody
can do one in a row. They need to string
some games like that together. Then I think you'll be
You'll see the quarterback being able to attack downfield more.
You're that and I think that in turn will increase
your percentages on third downs because you know, when it's
(08:32):
third and eight or nine and you get no time,
you got to dump it off and then the defense
can just rally to the the guy the receiver makes
a tackle and you got to punt. So a lot
of things can be opened up and protected by this
offensive line doing a better job of pass protection. And
(08:52):
you're right, the Vikings are a formidable front and they
get after it, and that's a potential of them on
Sunday if it's not handled.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, I think they need to find a better balance
on offense. They need to find you know, they're they're
scoring points, which is good. They're a little like Minnesota.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
This way.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
And of course Minnesota just had two defensive touchdowns in
which they're not really putting up a ton of yards,
but they're pretty good at scoring points. Like Minnesota is
six in the league in points, and I think they're
twenty fourth in yardage. Steelers are twenty eighth I think
in yardage, and they're twelve in points. So give me
the points over the yardage anytime, you know, I'd rather
(09:34):
have points and than empty yardage. Now, some people might
point to the fact that you can't sustain seven out
of eight in the red zone for touchdowns.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Maybe that's true.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
I just want to I want them to sustain a
way to to victory. And I think Bob that you know,
trying to find this mix and you know another. It's all,
it's all intertwined.
Speaker 5 (09:55):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
People are saying, well, hey, we're not seeing more of
Caleb Johnson, Well, you know, or how come they're not
throw the more to the tight ends. Well, when you
go three and out three in an interception, three and out,
three and out, three and out, wait a minute, up
pass interference, first down, three and out, you're nobody's seeing
the ball enough. You know, nobody's getting enough touches, and
(10:16):
so just finding ways to keep drives alive longer, I
think will help the defense, which I think a lot
has been placed on their shoulders early on, probably too much.
And also we'll start to get more guys involved too.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Yeah, I mean, I agree with what you're saying. One
of the things I kind of thought I noticed and
then went back and did a lot of the arithmetic.
You know, you take away that the Steelers' first two
possessions and the last possession they ran the ball. I
don't have the numbers in front of me. They ran
(10:53):
the ball on first down fifteen times something like that,
and those fifteen runs only account for twenty three yards.
So you're wanting to run the ball. I get it.
And it was successful in the first couple of drives,
the first couple of possessions, And it's important to run
(11:14):
the ball, okay, and you've got to establish that and
a lot of the things. There are a lot of
good things that come from having an efficient running game.
I'm all on board with that. But I don't think
you need to try and hammer a square hole or
square peg in a round hole. And you can, you
don't always. You can still be committed to the running game,
(11:37):
but you don't always have to run it on first
and ten. Yeah, that's what that's kind of. You know,
let Rogers kind of figure it out when he gets
up there, if you want, give him a run and
a pass and let him go up to the line
of scrimmage. And because he's not one of those guys,
I don't think who's gonna just automatically audible to the
(11:57):
pass all the time because he wants the stats, he
wants to the blind light on him, that kind of stuff.
But I just think it got a little bit too predictable.
And then you're behind the chains or third and long,
and that your your offensive line isn't able to form
the kind of pocket that's gonna give him a clean
(12:18):
pocket with enough time to survey the field, read the coverage,
get guys, you know, some guys down in there, and
then pick out somebody to throw to. So, yeah, there
were some good things that I really liked from the Seahawks.
Keep saying Seahawks game from the Patriots game. And let
(12:40):
me just make this point too, since I'm in a
little bit of a cant tank or smooth this morning,
you know, before before this season last season the year before,
at least, one of the things that was gonna destroy
the Steelers franchise was the offenses in ability to come
(13:01):
out fast and score a touchdown on the first possession
of the game. It's first possession of the game. Okay,
that was it. That the whole the castle was gonna crumble. Okay,
they've done it twice now in the first three games,
and then the third game it kicked the field goal.
So now, all of a sudden, that's not something that
(13:23):
was bad, that has been fixed. That's just something we
don't talk about anymore because it's not something I can
complain about. Yes, so there's that, And as I said,
sorry for that, but you know, I'm just feeling a
little cantankerous. I think there's a little bit too much
whining and complaining among the fan base for a two
(13:47):
and one team.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
And anyway, yeah, so you know, listen, Bob, I thought
that was a great answer because it brings out a
lot of things. And so, for example, last night we
saw Detroit, you know, running the ball, running the ball,
staying committed to the run, and then in the second
half it just exploded and their running game dominated the Ravens,
(14:10):
and I understand that kind of thinking by the same token.
So you want to you know, it's a you know,
the whole chicken and the egg thing, right, You want
to be able to run the ball because late in
the game, that's what you envision. Here comes Jalen Warren
or Caleb Johnson or Kenneth Gainwall or whomever, and you
can't stop it. Phenomenal that that's great, that's fantastic. But
if you run the ball consistently on first down and
(14:33):
wind up in second and nine, now they're defending what
you want. They've defended what, you know, how they want
to defend you on first down. Now they get to
defend you how they want to defend you on second
down too. Okay, let's change the personnel. Now, let's put
our best matchups out there in the field. So I
agree with you that you know they And again, is
this is this completely out of line.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Two new tackles.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You know, a first time starter Breton BRODERC Jones at
left tackle a though these started at right tackle. Atana
is basically a first time started at right tackle. New quarterback,
three new running backs, a new guy in John new Smith.
It maybe isn't surprising, Bob that it's a little bit
out of sync. And as I look at the entirety
(15:17):
of the team, I think I'm guilty of saying, of
thinking to myself, hey, they were ten and seven. They've
improved basically across the board. I think they're a better
football team than they are a year ago. And therefore,
because I think that they're gonna be better in Week one, well,
you know, most times it takes a little time to
(15:39):
develop into that kind of team. When you add have
the number of new guys that the Steelers have on
this team.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Yeah, and you know the other thing, it's September. Football
is a real thing. I get it. The fans view
that as a cliche, and I'm sure they're you know,
tired of Mike Tomlin using that phrase and you know,
view as an excuse or whatever. But it's real. I mean,
it is very real. And uh, there are no style points.
(16:09):
I mean, this is not This is not college football
where there's some committee that you have to impress with
your performance. It is wins and losses, right, and tiebreakers
only count if my record and your record are the same.
So this is very much a meritocracy. Uh, in the
NFL in terms of postseason, you know, getting into the
(16:30):
into the dance, as they say, and then who knows
what can happen from there. Okay, so all you have
to do as an NFL team is be better than
the team that you're playing that day. And if they stink,
you just have to stink a little less. If they
could have turned the ball over five times, you know,
and just you know, that's it's it's it's amazing to
(16:54):
me that that Steelers fans could actually look at how
the Patriots played and find good in that because five
turnovers and really six because the last play of the
game was a turnover on downs. Five turnovers, five takeaways.
(17:14):
That's that's an unforgivable sin for a team. It just is.
And so whatever else you think you did, that's you know,
outside of that, Missus Lincoln, what did you think of
the play? You know, the ending is it supersedes everything else.
So where they are right now is two and one.
(17:35):
All you're doing right now, in my opinion, and this
is through almost two Thanksgiving, is you're just trying to
stack wins. You've got to keep your numbers in terms
of wins and losses in a spot within the context
of the whole league, within the well certainly within the
context of the whole AFC, where you remain relevant so
(17:56):
that when you get to those November games, mid November
and into December, you're now in position where you know,
some wins or playing wealth that results in some wins
can really have an impact. Not that these early games
don't matter, because that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying
You've got to stack the numbers now so that you
(18:17):
can make that happen for you later. And that's what
they're doing. So now we see, you know, against the
Vikings again. If the Steelers leave Dublin three and one
going into their buy, I don't care what happens in
Crook Park little except for, you know, a catastrophic injury
(18:39):
to someone I won't even name because I don't, you know,
want to jinx it. But that's to me, that's mission
accomplished in terms of where you are to that point.
You continue to try and hone some of the things,
file off some rough edges. I get it, and it
needs to be done. But you know, keep yourself relevant now,
(19:03):
win the games that you can win, and you put
yourself in a position I think for maybe some special
things down the road. If if you can then capitalize
on what you did in the early part of the season.
You can look at the season in terms of segments.
Maybe you know, in the early part, as I said,
you want to find ways to win games, stay relevant.
(19:25):
That's something you also have to do. Maybe in the
second segment, if you're looking at it in for four
game brackets, do you have to play a little bit better?
You have maybe you know, certain other things you're developing,
whatever that might be. But that's that's the way. That's
the way it works now. And uh so the game
(19:47):
in Ireland against the Vikings, I'm not going to downplay it.
Three and one is a whole lot better than two
and two as well. So this is another one of
those games like New England. You know, it's only one
game different in the standings when you put them up,
you know the difference between three and one and two
and two, But I think it's a lot, excuse me,
(20:09):
a lot more significant than that. So you know, onward
onward to Dublin and uh you know, let's try and
take care of business there. Wait, wait, wait, look at
this just happen to pop on the Steelers dot com.
There's a video Max on the Street.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Oh yeah, Max.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Starks puts University of Limerick students to the test during
the Terrible Pile tour across uh the island of Ireland.
So there you go. There's more ammunition for you guys
whenever you get around.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Than that guy.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
Yeah right, Just wanna just want to make your guys'
lives easier.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I can't wait to see the pictures because I'm sure
they'll look like wee Irish lads and lasses next next
to Max Stark.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Hey, Labs, I have to ask you then, and I
know we always are keeping you along here. Thank you
for the time, but I would be remiss if I
didn't ask you, like on the back of everything you
just said. There, Listen, this is one of seventeen. This
is another regular season game. This is not a vacation,
This is not a holiday, This is not a tourist
attraction for Mike Tomlin and his team. Right, but Labs,
(21:20):
we also know, like it's very hard to say with
a straight face at the same time, that this is
one out of seventeen. When you're going to play the
first regular season game in Dublin historic Croke Park. And
I don't need to tell you, but just the backdrop
of the magnitude of what this means for the Steelers
organization and the Rooney family to finally culminate in this
(21:40):
happening and being the first team to take part in
something like this. But how do you walk that line
when you are Mike Tomlin, the coaching staff, the team
of knowing that this is a big deal, but it's
also just another regular season game where we got to
go take care of business.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Well, you know, I don't know that I agree with
everything you said about the significance of it to the franchise,
to the Rooney family, you know, even to the NFL
in terms of you know, this is the first regular
season NFL game played in Ireland and you know, to
have it hosted quote unquote by the Steelers. I believe
(22:17):
the NFL sees as a milestone, as a you know,
a benchmark whatever, because they're trying to grow the game
globally in Ireland. You know, Dan Rooney was the ambassador.
He was the first US ambassador to Ireland to visit
all the counties in the country. So yes, there's a
(22:41):
lot of significance to that. But you know, for the players,
I don't think they get it, and I don't you know,
I'm sure they're not necessarily students of the history of
this franchise, certainly not going back to some of the
stuff that I was just talking about. So for the
coaching staff, for me is you try and keep it
(23:02):
as regular a week as possible. It's not about Ireland.
It's about the vikings for the players, and that's the
way I think you try to do it as a coach.
I mean, TJ Watt After the New England game, he
was he said to someone in an interview when they
asked him about Ireland. He said, Mike Tomlins kept the
(23:26):
schedule a secret from us so far, he said, we don't.
We won't get that until because he wants it to
be as normal as possible in terms of the you
know what the team has to do first of all
for New England and now for Minnesota while they're still
in Pittsburgh. Uh. And so that's the way. I think
that's the way you got to approach it. You hope
(23:48):
it works, but that's the approach. It's got to be
about beating the vikings for the players. For the rest
of the staff that is going for our buddy Max
and a lot of those people. And you know, I
don't mean that in an derogatory way by any means.
(24:09):
But for those people, you know, marketing people, social media,
it's about engaging the fans and you know, uh, spreading
the gospel of NFL football and the Steelers franchise and
all that kind of stuff. I mean, like I said,
I'm giving you ammunition to give Max a hard time,
but what he is doing is important in terms of
(24:33):
the big picture, the global picture of what this game means.
So but you know, we're don't ever play in this tape.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
I mean, it'll self destructing seven seconds, Bob, don't you there?
You go perfect?
Speaker 5 (24:48):
So, but yeah, that's the way. That's the way I'm
looking at it.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
We love Tuesdays with Labs presented by up MC, the
official health care provider and health plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bob,
thanks very much the time, as always, appreciate it, and
we will we will see you.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Soon, all right, thank you, fellas.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
All right, stick around you are in the locker room,
presented by your neighborhood Fords Tour and the Steelers Pro Shop,
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Welcome back inside the Locker Room with Jeans Stark presented
by neighbor Sports store West Steeler filling in for Max
Starks spreading the Gospelers Bob Labriola said.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Of Stevens football in the NFL the round.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
No, I'm ready to indoctrinate some people, Kinger, I'm ready.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
And it's going to be a revival over there.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
And being created and turned into some of the great
customs of the Irish culture.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Well, I'm willing, I am able, I am a I
volunteer his tribute to be a participant.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
Yes, well, thank you. That's always much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Kicker. If you you know, if you need help finishing
any of your pints, you just let me know, all right,
I'll be there for you.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Uh yeah, I may uh, I may get on the
outside of one we'll see over there's not a.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Bunch of golf and fancy stuff. But that's the the
duality of man that is perfectly laid out. As you
are planning on doing like tourism stuff and sight seeing,
I am planning on spending the majority of my time
indoors in a pub or a Guinness factory or doing
some shopping somewhere. It's that. It's a it's a beautiful
balance that we have amongst our crew.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
It is it's what makes the world go around, my friend,
a little variety in life. So you know, I think
you touched on this earlier and the Vikings aren't completely healthy.
Blake Cashman, for example, is out, but it's a team
that was it's been banged up, and you know, Ryan
Kelly is a really good player and it sounds like
(27:09):
he might be back for this game.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
Max. Is that that's.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
I'm sorry, sorry, a little slip there, No JJ McCarthy,
although we think that they might be better with that
Van Ginkel returned last week. You know Pro Bowler a
year ago. This is a team that is pretty healthy
and wasn't you know, was kind of dealing with a
couple of things going into the Cincinnati game, and you know,
(27:36):
the Steelers are by and large gonna get their best shot.
And and I think one of the most intriguing five
minutes of our week is going to be what Mike
Tomlin has to say coming up in a little bit
and the Mike Tomlin press conference about the injuries to
the Steelers defense.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Yes, certainly, it was a fantastic development, one of the
most encouraging developments of the seasons so far. Seeing Derek
Harmon out there, I guess he was obviously on a
little bit of a pitch count, but I don't think
that that was as extreme as any of us thought.
He played well over thirty snaps what you could now
see from him in game two. You know, Joey Porter
(28:14):
Junior has felt like he's close for a couple of weeks.
Could Deshaun Elliott be in the mix? I still think
we're probably a little bit further off, maybe post by
week for Alex high Smith. But it does feel like
you're starting to get some reinforcements, which is huge and
for the Vikings as well too. I mean, yeah, they
get Jordan Addison, dynamic, one of the best wide receiver
number twos in the national Football League. You know, we
(28:36):
spend so much time the two times that we see
Cincinnati every year talking about their talented wide receiving corps.
I think, same church, different pew, you know. For Minnesota
it is the same type of beast with Jefferson and
Addison now back from his suspension, and some of the
other depth pieces they have there as well too. You
(28:56):
mentioned Ryan Kelly. I think he is one of the
more underrated offensive lineman, underrated centers in the league. He
practiced on Friday for them last week, but ended up
not playing in the game. He missed, practiced all week
except for Friday, did practice on Friday, but then did
not play in their blowout win against Cincinnati. Obviously, we'll
be waiting to see what the Vikings practice report looks
(29:18):
like starting tomorrow, but you would have to think good
signs for Ryan Kelly unless he's, you know, faced some
kind of setback. He was able to get out there
for Friday, to practice extra week to get ready. That
will be huge for him for that offense, for Carson Wentz,
for everybody involved, Andrew Van Ginkel as well too. Because
I always laugh Kinger, he sounds like he belongs on
(29:38):
the Harvard crew team, all right, they don't row they
crew like. He seems like the kind of guy who
would you know, would correct you about that and and
explain to you all the intricacies of the things that
Harvard men do out on the waters when they when
they he said, Andrew Van Ginkle sounds like he should
be in that movie The Social Network is what his
name sounds like, there Kinger with the all the invention
(30:00):
of Facebook and everything that went on there at Harvard
at that time period. But they, you know, Christian Darisaw
has been banged up, but he's gotten back to full participation.
They are a, like you mentioned, kind of like the Steelers.
They are getting some reinforcements, it seems like, at the
right time. And so that's just kind of another interesting
(30:21):
layer of this game. I think a Vikings team that
is playing good football, that obviously is still weathering the
the injury to their to their young quarterback JJ McCarthy,
but other than that seemingly to be, you know, much
like the Steelers, moving in the right direction in the
health department as well.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
And much like we saw with the Lions last night,
and much like we're seeing with the Steelers. You know,
in recent years, the Vikings have put resources into their
offensive line. Darisow first round pick, Donovan Jackson rookie left guard,
(30:58):
first round pick this year, Brian Neil right tackle, second
round pick, Ryan Kelly. You know, you go out and
you get him in free agency. Same with Will Fryes
at right guard. They this is what they want. This
is what.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
Teams are are going towards.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
So as you watch these teams as a Steelers fan,
you watched the Lions last night, you watch the Vikings
coming up this week. You know, you watch the Philadelphia Eagles.
These are teams that are putting resources in the trenches
and this is what the Steelers are working toward. We
(31:36):
saw Derek Harmon last week, you know, just a couple
of days ago in New England. Look like oh okay, yeah,
I forgot. You know, it's been a while since the
Steelers have invested in a defensive lineman like that. That's
what a good young beastie, you know, big offensive lineman
or defensive lineman talent. It looks like these offensive lines,
(31:57):
this is what the Steelers are trying to get to.
When you draft to Zach Frasier in the second round, yes,
both of your tackles in the first round, McCormick, who
I think they identified as a bit of a steal
certainly a little bit later on in the draft. This
is what they're trying to be, and it takes a
little while sometimes for it to come together. But keep
in mind this we're hopefully getting a glimpse of the
(32:19):
not too distant future when we're seeing some of these
elite offensive lines around the NFL.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
That is the hope. That is absolutely the goal. I think,
you know, the investment has certainly been there on the
offensive line. They went they drafted five offensive linemen and
back to back drafts, two first rounders, Zach Frasier, Mason McCormick,
and then I'm drawing a blank on who the fifth
one is, Spencer Anderson. Thank you, king Er. Five guys
(32:46):
in the span of two years. They've now kind of
spun that block and started to do that on the
defensive side of the trenches as well too a little bit.
You know, with Derek Harmon and y A Black in
the same year. You need to start seeing that investment payoff.
I realized that for Broderick Jones, you know, it's only
been three games on the left side. Max would do
(33:07):
a much better job than me of explaining how you
need some time to adjust.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
Five to six games, Max said, five.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
To six games, Max said, and I think listen, even
for the people that have been the most critical of
Broderick Jones, I think you have to admit he looked
much more comfortable and much better these past two games
than he did Week one in New York. So that's
a good development. Troy Faltanu, I mean, he's made four
starts in his NFL career, played in four NFL games
in his NFL career. In the first one, he had
(33:34):
to exit early with energy, with energy, with an injury.
Pardon me. I think a lot of people will tell
you his technique is good. Like it's not that he's
he's getting overwhelmed or over his head or anything like that.
He's just got to clean some stuff up and he'll
be fine, you know. Zach Frasier, I think we all
know and believe that he can be one of the
(33:55):
best centers in the National Football League. They need that
to start paying off. I'm not saying king or I'll
use this phrase again. I used it yesterday. I'm not
saying they have to be a Mona Lisa on Sunday
in Dublin. They don't have to be a work of
art on that offensive line. They don't have to be
the finished product. Well, that would probably be a better
joke or reference if we were going to France and
(34:16):
Paris right instead of Ireland. But you get what I'm saying.
But they need to start showing week by week improvement
because you know, we all talk about this all the time.
You and Max talk about this, Me and Matt talk
about this. It's something that Arthur Motes used to scream
all the time, and we would talk about young players
and particularly young units that are trying to grow together.
(34:37):
Progression is not linear. We know that sometimes you're gonna
take five steps forward and then two steps back, and
then three steps forward and then one step back. It's
not always going to be a perfect upward trajectory. But
we need to start on a week to week basis
seeing that arrow pointed more upward, certainly than plateauing or
going downhill. It is time for them to start looking
(35:00):
better in week four than they did in week one,
and then look better in week seven than you did
in week four, and then look better at Thanksgiving than
you did at Halloween. The investment has been there. It's
time to start seeing some of the payoffs agreed.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
And I think this is going to be a very
stern test against a very good team that is getting healthy.
And you know, again, we'll talk a little bit more
about that in the last block, about the significance of
this game, where these teams are the notion of September football.
But I did mention earlier that I wanted to run
through the athletics power rankings quickly. Okay, so we have
(35:36):
a ton of time here. I don't think there's going
to be too much debate with the top teams. Eagles won,
Bills two, Chargers three. Interesting, they do have quality wins
forty nine, Ers four, and again both those teams with
narrow wins, Right, Like, what are we thinking about the
(35:56):
Chargers if they lose to the Broncos who've boiled of
the Broncos gut punches in a row San Francisco? What
happens if they don't squeak out a sixteen to fifteen
win over the Cardinals?
Speaker 4 (36:08):
Right?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Where's their power ranking? The Lions fifth, I think that's
understandable by the way they've been sixth, the week before,
so give them, give them credit for not just you know,
recency bias. Oh, they beat the Ravens, let's move them
way up. They move from six to five, Tampa Bay sixth.
They're three and oh. Green Bay had been their top
ranked team. They are now seventh at two and one.
(36:31):
The Colts are three and oh. They are eighth. We
have not reached an AFC North team yet. The Rams
are ninth. They were seventh, and they fell a couple
spots after the loss to the Eagles, and now we
have an AFC North team, The Ravens tenth. They go
from fifth to ten. Washington at eleven. I'm still not
(36:54):
I'm sure I'm quite there yet. We'll see on Washington,
I'm we'll see. Kansas City is twelfth at one and two,
Seattle is thirteenth at two and one, the Vikings fourteenth
at two and one, and the Steelers fifteenth at two
and one. I can't really say that I have a
(37:15):
whole lot of hang on a second, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yes, things agreed.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
You know.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
The Cardinals are nineteenth at two and one, coming off
a one point loss to San Francisco. Maybe they feel
like they should be ahead of the one and two
Chicago Bears or the one and two Broncos. But again,
for what this is all worth, you still got to
go out and play the games. I just think it's
interesting to see the way teams are perceived around the league. Frankly,
(37:41):
at this stage of the game, I think the Steelers
ranking is about right. I think they're gonna wind up
much higher, but I think their ranking is about right. Frankly,
I think the Vikings ranking is too low at this
stage of the game. But who do you put Are
you gonna put them ahead of the three and zero Colts?
I mean, you know what I mean. You have to
have those unbeaten teams ahead of them.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
So yeah, this at this point in the game. Listen,
you know, two weeks in for the Colts, okay, but
three weeks in right then it becomes a trend. I
think you're absolutely right. Yeah, I don't at this, you
know week. To me, it feels like like once we
start to get to October and you've got a much
bigger sample size, that's when power rankings really get fun.
Right at this time of year, you're splitting hairs between
(38:21):
two and one teams, one and two teams. You're still
trying to glean a little bit off of what they
did last season. But I'm with you, I don't have
many problems there. I would I think have the Vikings
certainly a few spots higher after that just explosion of
performance of offense and defense and special teams that they
had on Sunday. But hopefully we'll prove that they're just
(38:41):
where they belong in Dublin here in a few days.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Yep, and we're gonna We're gonna again just a little
bit of a breakdown on that game with the time
that we have left and our thoughts, because this is it.
This is the last time we're going to be in
the locker room until next week. I want to remind
you to gear up with the latest game dame necessities
at the official steelersh pro shops. Get the latest sideline apparel, jerseys,
terrible towels, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only
(39:09):
find from the team store. Visit one of the official
Steelers pro shops located at Akrosher Stadium, Grove City, Premium,
Mount Let's or hang Out Let's, or gear up online
at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
Plenty of Ireland.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
Stuff available if you want to show your pride, you
want to get out there. Maybe you're heading over to Ireland,
swing by, grab some stuff on your way. Get it
direct from the team of the Steelers Pro Shop.
Speaker 3 (39:32):
I've already got my cart, fool Kinger.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
I've got I've got some apparel.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
I can't decide, like, what should I buy now because
I need it right first? What can I get there?
What will maybe be given to us there? I'm trying
to walk Stevie ray Vaughan. I'm trying to walk the
tightrope right now.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
Oh, one of my all time favorite sum a bunch
of times, best best guitar player I've ever seen a concert.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
May me and you agree on a few things, and
that is one of them. Stevie is the goat.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
He is awfully good.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Get it direct from the team at the Steelers Pro
Shop shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
He's West Year the Round, Rob King.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
You're inside the Locker Room with King and Stars, presented
by you neighborhood Ford Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford store.
The F one P fifty is the official truck of
the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
direct from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at
shop dot Steelers dot.
Speaker 4 (40:30):
Com and Justin Miller at the Controls faintly suggesting since
Stevie Rayvaughon with that intro that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
A little bit of that, a little bit of that
Stevie rayvaugh feel with that music coming out of break.
So Wes, as we look at the big matchups of
this game, I have to say I am really focused
because of my interest on the Vikings offense versus the
Steelers defense more than the other way around, because I
(41:02):
think there is just a lot of good on good
As Mike Tomlin likes to say, good on good matchups.
Speaker 4 (41:09):
You know, you talk about you.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Know, Harmon and Hayward and the improved play of the
defensive line. Man, you got three guys in the middle
that are gonna be that's a that's gonna be a great,
great matchup. Now you talk about Watt and her big
you know, dominating against the Patriots. Well, now you got
O'Neil and Darisaw you know, steps up at those tackle positions.
(41:34):
You know you brought in you made that trade to
get Jalen Ramsey. You went cornerback heavy in a league
that demands good cornerback play against quality receivers. And what
do you get Jordan Addison back in the fold to
be paired with Justin Jefferson. You know, feeling still has
some mileage left as the as the next receiver even
(41:56):
down to you know, TJ. Hockinson a tight end, very
good tight end, Gonna stress your safeties and your your
inside linebackers and coverage, and then that whole unit can
also just pin their ears back and flatten you in
the running game. And you know, Jordan Mason is a
is a capable rock toter. I know you don't have
Aaron Jones out there. He's not maybe as as multi
(42:19):
dimensional as Jones, but they can go sledgehammer on you too.
I just think that for me, that's that's the part
the fan in me is looking forward to. In particular,
Vikings offense versus Teelers defense.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
I think it's well said by you, and I do
think there's obviously certainly some very intriguing, very juicy matchups
if you spin the block for those units for both teams.
But you're right, Kinger. I mean for me, it begins
and ends with you know, listen, you and I not
to dime you out here or call you old or anything,
but you and I have both been You and I
(42:56):
have both been doing this for a while. You a
little bit longer than me.
Speaker 5 (42:59):
Right.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
I worked in I worked. I worked in minor league
minor league hockey for two years and then for the
Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies for three years. Now eight years
with the Steelers. For me, you know, you have done
NHL and MLB and and football coverage. Both of us
pretty versed in the college sports world as well too.
Where I'm going with this is we've been very fortunate
(43:21):
to see a lot of Hall of Fame types, all
pro types, all time greats across many different sports. I
still don't It still gets me excited. I still get
that feeling of you know, like goose bumps and and
and butterflies in your stomach when you get a matchup
like Justin Jefferson, one of the two or three best
(43:42):
wide receivers of his generation, against Jalen Ramsey, one of
the two or three best cornerbacks of his generation. That
is about his five star of a five star matchup
that you can get, and I know it won't be
directly those two against each other on every snap, but
in general, a ton of stars and big names and
future Hall of famers and all pros on that Steelers defense,
(44:04):
a ton of the best at what they do, or
pretty darn close to it in the NFL right now,
on the Vikings offense, there are This is a great matchup.
You know, styles make fights, right, That's something that you
hear all the time. This is a great stylistic matchup
for a lot of different stars at similar positions on
both sides of the ball.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
And since you're in a block spinning mood, just quickly,
you know, listen, Gernard and Van Ginkel, Aaron Rodgers and
not Sack last week. Those guys will stress those tackles.
You know, if Hargrave is able to go, that will
stress the middle of your defense. There are some awfully
good matchups on the other side of the football, too, although,
(44:45):
as gen Kyer likes to point out, of football has
more than two sides.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
We're talking about line of scrimmage. You just haid of
the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
Let's put it that way, so I don't want to
get caught on Jean's trade trophy war one of the
great columns of the year at the Post Casette. So
that'll do it. Our buddy Max Starks over in Ireland.
The next time we chat with you, we will hopefully
what I will be sitting side by side with Max
Starks Wes.
Speaker 4 (45:09):
I know you still have the drive coming up later
with Matt. Thank you so much for filling in over
the last couple of days for Max. Always a great
pleasure to talk to you, my friend.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
I see you on the pain in about a little
over twenty four hours.
Speaker 4 (45:22):
Kinger, you got it, Laddie. Thank you also, of course
for listening in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Yes, 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
(00:22):
dot Steelers dot.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Com and there it is time for the Power Hour.
It doesn't feel the same without Max giving us the
Optimist Prime. Uh, you know that when he comes back
(00:44):
in and next week, I'm gonna be calling him Maximus.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Prime, Maximus Prime.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Just so that Max can correct me that it's Optimist Prime.
It is. Oh, it's one of our favorite times of
the week.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It is time for Tuesday with Labs presented by UPMC,
the official healthcare provider and health plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Bob, how are you, my friend?
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Pretty good? And hey, just continuing with what you guys
opened with. I've been on social media a little bit
this morning, you know, pushing stories and just seeing what's
going on. Our boy Max Man. He is everywhere in
Dublin with terrible tiles, looking like he's having a fun time.
Every time I Steelers Ireland or one of those accounts
(01:32):
is has little videos of Max doing stuff and having fun.
So yeah, I think you guys owe him a little
bit of a hard time when you finally all get
back together.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
He really is though, I mean, he's just the best,
you know. I mean, you couldn't pick anybody, you could.
Speaker 5 (01:50):
Not, absolutely not. No, he's great for that. But that
doesn't mean we're not going to give him a hard
time about it.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
No doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So your thoughts labs on what we're looking at here
with this Minnesota Vikings team, because you know they they
didn't look great against Chicago. Kind of I view it
as kind of pulling a rabbit out of the hat
late in that game. You know, if you're watching that game,
(02:20):
you're thinking, oh, what everybody said about Chicago being one
of those teams like Jacksonville maybe ready to turn the
corner this year. And I was kind of buying in
that maybe they were that team and they look great,
and then all of a sudden, Minnesota pulled the I
had him pulling a rabbit out of the hat, and
I'm gonna have him pulling the rug out from underneath them.
Boom they go one, and oh then they look pretty bad.
In Week two, and then they just demolished Cincinnati in
(02:42):
Week three. A reminder, I think that they were a
fourteen win team a year ago. This is not you know,
and you know, we were kind of kicking around West
and I that maybe they're better right now, a more
formidable opponent with Carson Wentz, although in Week fourteen they
might be a more formidable opponent with JJ McCarthy. I
(03:06):
hard to say, but it's regardless. It's still a team
that I think has to be reckoned with.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Yeah. And you know, if just to put it succinctly
from my point of view, you asked me to try
and make some sense of this Vikings team. The Steelers
are going to be playing in Dublin. What I was
going to say was I wish JJ McCarthy didn't get injured. Yeah,
because I agree. I think Carson Wentz is a much
more potentially dangerous opposing quarterback to go against. Not necessarily,
(03:38):
when I say dangerous, I think he is. He's been
around a lot more, he's played a lot more. I
think he's much more apt to just use the players
around him. Because I do think the Vikings have a
pretty nice offensive personnel group and he'll just take advantage
(04:01):
of some of their good players and be less likely
to maybe try to win himself, which often can result
in injury or injuries, not injuries, mistakes by young players.
And you know, the Steelers are on a little bit
of a hot streak now with the takeaways. So yeah,
(04:22):
that would be my assessment. I wish JJ McCarthy was
not injured and he was starting on Sunday in Croke Park.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Labs. They are not the purple people eaters, but certainly
a formidable defense, a formidable defensive front for the Vikings.
They gave Cincinnati all kinds of trouble. I mean, Chase
Brown had ten carries for three yards. I think it
was against the Vikings on Sunday. We obviously know the
(04:49):
Steelers offensive line is a work in progress. How key
of a matchup is that for you? For this Steelers
offensive line to at least be able to find level footing,
you know, to at least be at you know, maybe
like a stalemate if you will, with this talented Vikings front.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Yeah, I mean, certainly this week everything you said I
agree with. I also, you know, looking at it a
little bit in a big picture way, I think that
the Steelers offensive line. It coming together, and to use
your phrase, you know, forcing a stalemate is is critical
(05:30):
because the number one thing for me is for the
Steelers moving forward in this season, you got to keep
your quarterback healthy. This quarterback is a difference maker on
the field in terms of with his arm, talent, and
and some of the things he does. I also really
like the way Aaron Rodgers is handling the locker room teammates,
(05:55):
you know what, at his offensive captaincy however you want
to phrase it, because you know, one week after he
in response to a question after the Seattle game, Aaron
Rodgers said that Calvin Austen shouldn't have done what he
did diving at that ball that was thrown to Friarmouth
(06:17):
in the end zone that he tipped and resulted in
an interception. I mean, Kyleston. He says, he's a great kid,
he's just trying to make a play and all that stuff.
But he shouldn't. That's not you know, and I'm paraphrasing,
that's not his play to make. He shouldn't have been
trying to do that and it cost us. Okay, So
now fast forward to the fourth quarter of the game
(06:38):
against the Patriots. Who does Aaron Rodgers go to How
does he does it? How does he do it? He
did it with a back shoulder throw, which was a
situation where the receiver, when he's running his route, he
has to know where the throw is coming based on
the coverage that he's getting from the defender. Okay, so
(07:00):
Calvin Austin did his job, He read the coverage, he
was expecting what he should have been expecting. The ball
was right on target, like it has been so far
through the first three weeks. He makes to catch, the
Steelers win the game. So you know, maybe, and I
(07:20):
think a lot of people miss misconstrued it. What Aaron
Rodgers did after the Seattle game is calling out in
a teammate, you know, throwing him under the bus. No,
he answered the question, Uh, the guy made a mistake.
He pointed it out. Uh the next time, the guy
did the right thing and it was a touchdown. I mean,
don't That's that's leadership to me from a quarterback. So okay,
(07:46):
now that's a that's a long winded way to get
to my point, which was, you can't let this guy
get injured. He is your hope, I think, And so
solidifying that offensive line, cutting down on the number hit
of hits he takes. You know, it has to be
more than a one week thing. You can't just say, well,
they didn't sack them last week. Yay, we've arrived. That's
(08:09):
you know, that's one. That's one in a row. Anybody
can do one in a row. They need to string
some games like that together. Then I think you'll be
You'll see the quarterback being able to attack downfield more.
You're that and I think that in turn will increase
your percentages on third downs because you know, when it's
(08:32):
third and eight or nine and you get no time,
you got to dump it off and then the defense
can just rally to the the guy the receiver makes
a tackle and you got to punt. So a lot
of things can be opened up and protected by this
offensive line doing a better job of pass protection. And
(08:52):
you're right, the Vikings are a formidable front and they
get after it, and that's a potential of them on
Sunday if it's not handled.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, I think they need to find a better balance
on offense. They need to find you know, they're they're
scoring points, which is good. They're a little like Minnesota.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
This way.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
And of course Minnesota just had two defensive touchdowns in
which they're not really putting up a ton of yards,
but they're pretty good at scoring points. Like Minnesota is
six in the league in points, and I think they're
twenty fourth in yardage. Steelers are twenty eighth I think
in yardage, and they're twelve in points. So give me
the points over the yardage anytime, you know, I'd rather
(09:34):
have points and than empty yardage. Now, some people might
point to the fact that you can't sustain seven out
of eight in the red zone for touchdowns.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Maybe that's true.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
I just want to I want them to sustain a
way to to victory. And I think Bob that you know,
trying to find this mix and you know another. It's all,
it's all intertwined.
Speaker 5 (09:55):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
People are saying, well, hey, we're not seeing more of
Caleb Johnson, Well, you know, or how come they're not
throw the more to the tight ends. Well, when you
go three and out three in an interception, three and out,
three and out, three and out, wait a minute, up
pass interference, first down, three and out, you're nobody's seeing
the ball enough. You know, nobody's getting enough touches, and
(10:16):
so just finding ways to keep drives alive longer, I
think will help the defense, which I think a lot
has been placed on their shoulders early on, probably too much.
And also we'll start to get more guys involved too.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Yeah, I mean, I agree with what you're saying. One
of the things I kind of thought I noticed and
then went back and did a lot of the arithmetic.
You know, you take away that the Steelers' first two
possessions and the last possession they ran the ball. I
don't have the numbers in front of me. They ran
(10:53):
the ball on first down fifteen times something like that,
and those fifteen runs only account for twenty three yards.
So you're wanting to run the ball. I get it.
And it was successful in the first couple of drives,
the first couple of possessions, And it's important to run
(11:14):
the ball, okay, and you've got to establish that and
a lot of the things. There are a lot of
good things that come from having an efficient running game.
I'm all on board with that. But I don't think
you need to try and hammer a square hole or
square peg in a round hole. And you can, you
don't always. You can still be committed to the running game,
(11:37):
but you don't always have to run it on first
and ten. Yeah, that's what that's kind of. You know,
let Rogers kind of figure it out when he gets
up there, if you want, give him a run and
a pass and let him go up to the line
of scrimmage. And because he's not one of those guys,
I don't think who's gonna just automatically audible to the
(11:57):
pass all the time because he wants the stats, he
wants to the blind light on him, that kind of stuff.
But I just think it got a little bit too predictable.
And then you're behind the chains or third and long,
and that your your offensive line isn't able to form
the kind of pocket that's gonna give him a clean
(12:18):
pocket with enough time to survey the field, read the coverage,
get guys, you know, some guys down in there, and
then pick out somebody to throw to. So, yeah, there
were some good things that I really liked from the Seahawks.
Keep saying Seahawks game from the Patriots game. And let
(12:40):
me just make this point too, since I'm in a
little bit of a cant tank or smooth this morning,
you know, before before this season last season the year before,
at least, one of the things that was gonna destroy
the Steelers franchise was the offenses in ability to come
(13:01):
out fast and score a touchdown on the first possession
of the game. It's first possession of the game. Okay,
that was it. That the whole the castle was gonna crumble. Okay,
they've done it twice now in the first three games,
and then the third game it kicked the field goal.
So now, all of a sudden, that's not something that
(13:23):
was bad, that has been fixed. That's just something we
don't talk about anymore because it's not something I can
complain about. Yes, so there's that, And as I said,
sorry for that, but you know, I'm just feeling a
little cantankerous. I think there's a little bit too much
whining and complaining among the fan base for a two
(13:47):
and one team.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
And anyway, yeah, so you know, listen, Bob, I thought
that was a great answer because it brings out a
lot of things. And so, for example, last night we
saw Detroit, you know, running the ball, running the ball,
staying committed to the run, and then in the second
half it just exploded and their running game dominated the Ravens,
(14:10):
and I understand that kind of thinking by the same token.
So you want to you know, it's a you know,
the whole chicken and the egg thing, right, You want
to be able to run the ball because late in
the game, that's what you envision. Here comes Jalen Warren
or Caleb Johnson or Kenneth Gainwall or whomever, and you
can't stop it. Phenomenal that that's great, that's fantastic. But
if you run the ball consistently on first down and
(14:33):
wind up in second and nine, now they're defending what
you want. They've defended what, you know, how they want
to defend you on first down. Now they get to
defend you how they want to defend you on second
down too. Okay, let's change the personnel. Now, let's put
our best matchups out there in the field. So I
agree with you that you know they And again, is
this is this completely out of line.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Two new tackles.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You know, a first time starter Breton BRODERC Jones at
left tackle a though these started at right tackle. Atana
is basically a first time started at right tackle. New quarterback,
three new running backs, a new guy in John new Smith.
It maybe isn't surprising, Bob that it's a little bit
out of sync. And as I look at the entirety
(15:17):
of the team, I think I'm guilty of saying, of
thinking to myself, hey, they were ten and seven. They've
improved basically across the board. I think they're a better
football team than they are a year ago. And therefore,
because I think that they're gonna be better in Week one, well,
you know, most times it takes a little time to
(15:39):
develop into that kind of team. When you add have
the number of new guys that the Steelers have on
this team.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Yeah, and you know the other thing, it's September. Football
is a real thing. I get it. The fans view
that as a cliche, and I'm sure they're you know,
tired of Mike Tomlin using that phrase and you know,
view as an excuse or whatever. But it's real. I mean,
it is very real. And uh, there are no style points.
(16:09):
I mean, this is not This is not college football
where there's some committee that you have to impress with
your performance. It is wins and losses, right, and tiebreakers
only count if my record and your record are the same.
So this is very much a meritocracy. Uh, in the
NFL in terms of postseason, you know, getting into the
(16:30):
into the dance, as they say, and then who knows
what can happen from there. Okay, so all you have
to do as an NFL team is be better than
the team that you're playing that day. And if they stink,
you just have to stink a little less. If they
could have turned the ball over five times, you know,
and just you know, that's it's it's it's amazing to
(16:54):
me that that Steelers fans could actually look at how
the Patriots played and find good in that because five
turnovers and really six because the last play of the
game was a turnover on downs. Five turnovers, five takeaways.
(17:14):
That's that's an unforgivable sin for a team. It just is.
And so whatever else you think you did, that's you know,
outside of that, Missus Lincoln, what did you think of
the play? You know, the ending is it supersedes everything else.
So where they are right now is two and one.
(17:35):
All you're doing right now, in my opinion, and this
is through almost two Thanksgiving, is you're just trying to
stack wins. You've got to keep your numbers in terms
of wins and losses in a spot within the context
of the whole league, within the well certainly within the
context of the whole AFC, where you remain relevant so
(17:56):
that when you get to those November games, mid November
and into December, you're now in position where you know,
some wins or playing wealth that results in some wins
can really have an impact. Not that these early games
don't matter, because that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying
You've got to stack the numbers now so that you
(18:17):
can make that happen for you later. And that's what
they're doing. So now we see, you know, against the
Vikings again. If the Steelers leave Dublin three and one
going into their buy, I don't care what happens in
Crook Park little except for, you know, a catastrophic injury
(18:39):
to someone I won't even name because I don't, you know,
want to jinx it. But that's to me, that's mission
accomplished in terms of where you are to that point.
You continue to try and hone some of the things,
file off some rough edges. I get it, and it
needs to be done. But you know, keep yourself relevant now,
(19:03):
win the games that you can win, and you put
yourself in a position I think for maybe some special
things down the road. If if you can then capitalize
on what you did in the early part of the season.
You can look at the season in terms of segments.
Maybe you know, in the early part, as I said,
you want to find ways to win games, stay relevant.
(19:25):
That's something you also have to do. Maybe in the
second segment, if you're looking at it in for four
game brackets, do you have to play a little bit better?
You have maybe you know, certain other things you're developing,
whatever that might be. But that's that's the way. That's
the way it works now. And uh so the game
(19:47):
in Ireland against the Vikings, I'm not going to downplay it.
Three and one is a whole lot better than two
and two as well. So this is another one of
those games like New England. You know, it's only one
game different in the standings when you put them up,
you know the difference between three and one and two
and two, But I think it's a lot, excuse me,
(20:09):
a lot more significant than that. So you know, onward
onward to Dublin and uh you know, let's try and
take care of business there. Wait, wait, wait, look at
this just happen to pop on the Steelers dot com.
There's a video Max on the Street.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Oh yeah, Max.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Starks puts University of Limerick students to the test during
the Terrible Pile tour across uh the island of Ireland.
So there you go. There's more ammunition for you guys
whenever you get around.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Than that guy.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
Yeah right, Just wanna just want to make your guys'
lives easier.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I can't wait to see the pictures because I'm sure
they'll look like wee Irish lads and lasses next next
to Max Stark.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Hey, Labs, I have to ask you then, and I
know we always are keeping you along here. Thank you
for the time, but I would be remiss if I
didn't ask you, like on the back of everything you
just said. There, Listen, this is one of seventeen. This
is another regular season game. This is not a vacation,
This is not a holiday, This is not a tourist
attraction for Mike Tomlin and his team. Right, but Labs,
(21:20):
we also know, like it's very hard to say with
a straight face at the same time, that this is
one out of seventeen. When you're going to play the
first regular season game in Dublin historic Croke Park. And
I don't need to tell you, but just the backdrop
of the magnitude of what this means for the Steelers
organization and the Rooney family to finally culminate in this
(21:40):
happening and being the first team to take part in
something like this. But how do you walk that line
when you are Mike Tomlin, the coaching staff, the team
of knowing that this is a big deal, but it's
also just another regular season game where we got to
go take care of business.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Well, you know, I don't know that I agree with
everything you said about the significance of it to the franchise,
to the Rooney family, you know, even to the NFL
in terms of you know, this is the first regular
season NFL game played in Ireland and you know, to
have it hosted quote unquote by the Steelers. I believe
(22:17):
the NFL sees as a milestone, as a you know,
a benchmark whatever, because they're trying to grow the game
globally in Ireland. You know, Dan Rooney was the ambassador.
He was the first US ambassador to Ireland to visit
all the counties in the country. So yes, there's a
(22:41):
lot of significance to that. But you know, for the players,
I don't think they get it, and I don't you know,
I'm sure they're not necessarily students of the history of
this franchise, certainly not going back to some of the
stuff that I was just talking about. So for the
coaching staff, for me is you try and keep it
(23:02):
as regular a week as possible. It's not about Ireland.
It's about the vikings for the players, and that's the
way I think you try to do it as a coach.
I mean, TJ Watt After the New England game, he
was he said to someone in an interview when they
asked him about Ireland. He said, Mike Tomlins kept the
(23:26):
schedule a secret from us so far, he said, we don't.
We won't get that until because he wants it to
be as normal as possible in terms of the you
know what the team has to do first of all
for New England and now for Minnesota while they're still
in Pittsburgh. Uh. And so that's the way. I think
that's the way you got to approach it. You hope
(23:48):
it works, but that's the approach. It's got to be
about beating the vikings for the players. For the rest
of the staff that is going for our buddy Max
and a lot of those people. And you know, I
don't mean that in an derogatory way by any means.
(24:09):
But for those people, you know, marketing people, social media,
it's about engaging the fans and you know, uh, spreading
the gospel of NFL football and the Steelers franchise and
all that kind of stuff. I mean, like I said,
I'm giving you ammunition to give Max a hard time,
but what he is doing is important in terms of
(24:33):
the big picture, the global picture of what this game means.
So but you know, we're don't ever play in this tape.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
I mean, it'll self destructing seven seconds, Bob, don't you there?
You go perfect?
Speaker 5 (24:48):
So, but yeah, that's the way. That's the way I'm
looking at it.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
We love Tuesdays with Labs presented by up MC, the
official health care provider and health plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bob,
thanks very much the time, as always, appreciate it, and
we will we will see you.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Soon, all right, thank you, fellas.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
All right, stick around you are in the locker room,
presented by your neighborhood Fords Tour and the Steelers Pro Shop,
a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Welcome back inside the Locker Room with Jeans Stark presented
by neighbor Sports store West Steeler filling in for Max
Starks spreading the Gospelers Bob Labriola said.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Of Stevens football in the NFL the round.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
No, I'm ready to indoctrinate some people, Kinger, I'm ready.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
And it's going to be a revival over there.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
And being created and turned into some of the great
customs of the Irish culture.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Well, I'm willing, I am able, I am a I
volunteer his tribute to be a participant.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
Yes, well, thank you. That's always much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Kicker. If you you know, if you need help finishing
any of your pints, you just let me know, all right,
I'll be there for you.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Uh yeah, I may uh, I may get on the
outside of one we'll see over there's not a.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Bunch of golf and fancy stuff. But that's the the
duality of man that is perfectly laid out. As you
are planning on doing like tourism stuff and sight seeing,
I am planning on spending the majority of my time
indoors in a pub or a Guinness factory or doing
some shopping somewhere. It's that. It's a it's a beautiful
balance that we have amongst our crew.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
It is it's what makes the world go around, my friend,
a little variety in life. So you know, I think
you touched on this earlier and the Vikings aren't completely healthy.
Blake Cashman, for example, is out, but it's a team
that was it's been banged up, and you know, Ryan
Kelly is a really good player and it sounds like
(27:09):
he might be back for this game.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
Max. Is that that's.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
I'm sorry, sorry, a little slip there, No JJ McCarthy,
although we think that they might be better with that
Van Ginkel returned last week. You know Pro Bowler a
year ago. This is a team that is pretty healthy
and wasn't you know, was kind of dealing with a
couple of things going into the Cincinnati game, and you know,
(27:36):
the Steelers are by and large gonna get their best shot.
And and I think one of the most intriguing five
minutes of our week is going to be what Mike
Tomlin has to say coming up in a little bit
and the Mike Tomlin press conference about the injuries to
the Steelers defense.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Yes, certainly, it was a fantastic development, one of the
most encouraging developments of the seasons so far. Seeing Derek
Harmon out there, I guess he was obviously on a
little bit of a pitch count, but I don't think
that that was as extreme as any of us thought.
He played well over thirty snaps what you could now
see from him in game two. You know, Joey Porter
(28:14):
Junior has felt like he's close for a couple of weeks.
Could Deshaun Elliott be in the mix? I still think
we're probably a little bit further off, maybe post by
week for Alex high Smith. But it does feel like
you're starting to get some reinforcements, which is huge and
for the Vikings as well too. I mean, yeah, they
get Jordan Addison, dynamic, one of the best wide receiver
number twos in the national Football League. You know, we
(28:36):
spend so much time the two times that we see
Cincinnati every year talking about their talented wide receiving corps.
I think, same church, different pew, you know. For Minnesota
it is the same type of beast with Jefferson and
Addison now back from his suspension, and some of the
other depth pieces they have there as well too. You
(28:56):
mentioned Ryan Kelly. I think he is one of the
more underrated offensive lineman, underrated centers in the league. He
practiced on Friday for them last week, but ended up
not playing in the game. He missed, practiced all week
except for Friday, did practice on Friday, but then did
not play in their blowout win against Cincinnati. Obviously, we'll
be waiting to see what the Vikings practice report looks
(29:18):
like starting tomorrow, but you would have to think good
signs for Ryan Kelly unless he's, you know, faced some
kind of setback. He was able to get out there
for Friday, to practice extra week to get ready. That
will be huge for him for that offense, for Carson Wentz,
for everybody involved, Andrew Van Ginkel as well too. Because
I always laugh Kinger, he sounds like he belongs on
(29:38):
the Harvard crew team, all right, they don't row they
crew like. He seems like the kind of guy who
would you know, would correct you about that and and
explain to you all the intricacies of the things that
Harvard men do out on the waters when they when
they he said, Andrew Van Ginkle sounds like he should
be in that movie The Social Network is what his
name sounds like, there Kinger with the all the invention
(30:00):
of Facebook and everything that went on there at Harvard
at that time period. But they, you know, Christian Darisaw
has been banged up, but he's gotten back to full participation.
They are a, like you mentioned, kind of like the Steelers.
They are getting some reinforcements, it seems like, at the
right time. And so that's just kind of another interesting
(30:21):
layer of this game. I think a Vikings team that
is playing good football, that obviously is still weathering the
the injury to their to their young quarterback JJ McCarthy,
but other than that seemingly to be, you know, much
like the Steelers, moving in the right direction in the
health department as well.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
And much like we saw with the Lions last night,
and much like we're seeing with the Steelers. You know,
in recent years, the Vikings have put resources into their
offensive line. Darisow first round pick, Donovan Jackson rookie left guard,
(30:58):
first round pick this year, Brian Neil right tackle, second
round pick, Ryan Kelly. You know, you go out and
you get him in free agency. Same with Will Fryes
at right guard. They this is what they want. This
is what.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
Teams are are going towards.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
So as you watch these teams as a Steelers fan,
you watched the Lions last night, you watch the Vikings
coming up this week. You know, you watch the Philadelphia Eagles.
These are teams that are putting resources in the trenches
and this is what the Steelers are working toward. We
(31:36):
saw Derek Harmon last week, you know, just a couple
of days ago in New England. Look like oh okay, yeah,
I forgot. You know, it's been a while since the
Steelers have invested in a defensive lineman like that. That's
what a good young beastie, you know, big offensive lineman
or defensive lineman talent. It looks like these offensive lines,
(31:57):
this is what the Steelers are trying to get to.
When you draft to Zach Frasier in the second round, yes,
both of your tackles in the first round, McCormick, who
I think they identified as a bit of a steal
certainly a little bit later on in the draft. This
is what they're trying to be, and it takes a
little while sometimes for it to come together. But keep
in mind this we're hopefully getting a glimpse of the
(32:19):
not too distant future when we're seeing some of these
elite offensive lines around the NFL.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
That is the hope. That is absolutely the goal. I think,
you know, the investment has certainly been there on the
offensive line. They went they drafted five offensive linemen and
back to back drafts, two first rounders, Zach Frasier, Mason McCormick,
and then I'm drawing a blank on who the fifth
one is, Spencer Anderson. Thank you, king Er. Five guys
(32:46):
in the span of two years. They've now kind of
spun that block and started to do that on the
defensive side of the trenches as well too a little bit.
You know, with Derek Harmon and y A Black in
the same year. You need to start seeing that investment payoff.
I realized that for Broderick Jones, you know, it's only
been three games on the left side. Max would do
(33:07):
a much better job than me of explaining how you
need some time to adjust.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
Five to six games, Max said, five.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
To six games, Max said, and I think listen, even
for the people that have been the most critical of
Broderick Jones, I think you have to admit he looked
much more comfortable and much better these past two games
than he did Week one in New York. So that's
a good development. Troy Faltanu, I mean, he's made four
starts in his NFL career, played in four NFL games
in his NFL career. In the first one, he had
(33:34):
to exit early with energy, with energy, with an injury.
Pardon me. I think a lot of people will tell
you his technique is good. Like it's not that he's
he's getting overwhelmed or over his head or anything like that.
He's just got to clean some stuff up and he'll
be fine, you know. Zach Frasier, I think we all
know and believe that he can be one of the
(33:55):
best centers in the National Football League. They need that
to start paying off. I'm not saying king or I'll
use this phrase again. I used it yesterday. I'm not
saying they have to be a Mona Lisa on Sunday
in Dublin. They don't have to be a work of
art on that offensive line. They don't have to be
the finished product. Well, that would probably be a better
joke or reference if we were going to France and
(34:16):
Paris right instead of Ireland. But you get what I'm saying.
But they need to start showing week by week improvement
because you know, we all talk about this all the time.
You and Max talk about this, Me and Matt talk
about this. It's something that Arthur Motes used to scream
all the time, and we would talk about young players
and particularly young units that are trying to grow together.
(34:37):
Progression is not linear. We know that sometimes you're gonna
take five steps forward and then two steps back, and
then three steps forward and then one step back. It's
not always going to be a perfect upward trajectory. But
we need to start on a week to week basis
seeing that arrow pointed more upward, certainly than plateauing or
going downhill. It is time for them to start looking
(35:00):
better in week four than they did in week one,
and then look better in week seven than you did
in week four, and then look better at Thanksgiving than
you did at Halloween. The investment has been there. It's
time to start seeing some of the payoffs agreed.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
And I think this is going to be a very
stern test against a very good team that is getting healthy.
And you know, again, we'll talk a little bit more
about that in the last block, about the significance of
this game, where these teams are the notion of September football.
But I did mention earlier that I wanted to run
through the athletics power rankings quickly. Okay, so we have
(35:36):
a ton of time here. I don't think there's going
to be too much debate with the top teams. Eagles won,
Bills two, Chargers three. Interesting, they do have quality wins
forty nine, Ers four, and again both those teams with
narrow wins, Right, Like, what are we thinking about the
(35:56):
Chargers if they lose to the Broncos who've boiled of
the Broncos gut punches in a row San Francisco? What
happens if they don't squeak out a sixteen to fifteen
win over the Cardinals?
Speaker 4 (36:08):
Right?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Where's their power ranking? The Lions fifth, I think that's
understandable by the way they've been sixth, the week before,
so give them, give them credit for not just you know,
recency bias. Oh, they beat the Ravens, let's move them
way up. They move from six to five, Tampa Bay sixth.
They're three and oh. Green Bay had been their top
ranked team. They are now seventh at two and one.
(36:31):
The Colts are three and oh. They are eighth. We
have not reached an AFC North team yet. The Rams
are ninth. They were seventh, and they fell a couple
spots after the loss to the Eagles, and now we
have an AFC North team, The Ravens tenth. They go
from fifth to ten. Washington at eleven. I'm still not
(36:54):
I'm sure I'm quite there yet. We'll see on Washington,
I'm we'll see. Kansas City is twelfth at one and two,
Seattle is thirteenth at two and one, the Vikings fourteenth
at two and one, and the Steelers fifteenth at two
and one. I can't really say that I have a
(37:15):
whole lot of hang on a second, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yes, things agreed.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
You know.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
The Cardinals are nineteenth at two and one, coming off
a one point loss to San Francisco. Maybe they feel
like they should be ahead of the one and two
Chicago Bears or the one and two Broncos. But again,
for what this is all worth, you still got to
go out and play the games. I just think it's
interesting to see the way teams are perceived around the league. Frankly,
(37:41):
at this stage of the game, I think the Steelers
ranking is about right. I think they're gonna wind up
much higher, but I think their ranking is about right. Frankly,
I think the Vikings ranking is too low at this
stage of the game. But who do you put Are
you gonna put them ahead of the three and zero Colts?
I mean, you know what I mean. You have to
have those unbeaten teams ahead of them.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
So yeah, this at this point in the game. Listen,
you know, two weeks in for the Colts, okay, but
three weeks in right then it becomes a trend. I
think you're absolutely right. Yeah, I don't at this, you
know week. To me, it feels like like once we
start to get to October and you've got a much
bigger sample size, that's when power rankings really get fun.
Right at this time of year, you're splitting hairs between
(38:21):
two and one teams, one and two teams. You're still
trying to glean a little bit off of what they
did last season. But I'm with you, I don't have
many problems there. I would I think have the Vikings
certainly a few spots higher after that just explosion of
performance of offense and defense and special teams that they
had on Sunday. But hopefully we'll prove that they're just
(38:41):
where they belong in Dublin here in a few days.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Yep, and we're gonna We're gonna again just a little
bit of a breakdown on that game with the time
that we have left and our thoughts, because this is it.
This is the last time we're going to be in
the locker room until next week. I want to remind
you to gear up with the latest game dame necessities
at the official steelersh pro shops. Get the latest sideline apparel, jerseys,
terrible towels, authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only
(39:09):
find from the team store. Visit one of the official
Steelers pro shops located at Akrosher Stadium, Grove City, Premium,
Mount Let's or hang Out Let's, or gear up online
at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
Plenty of Ireland.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
Stuff available if you want to show your pride, you
want to get out there. Maybe you're heading over to Ireland,
swing by, grab some stuff on your way. Get it
direct from the team of the Steelers Pro Shop.
Speaker 3 (39:32):
I've already got my cart, fool Kinger.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
I've got I've got some apparel.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
I can't decide, like, what should I buy now because
I need it right first? What can I get there?
What will maybe be given to us there? I'm trying
to walk Stevie ray Vaughan. I'm trying to walk the
tightrope right now.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
Oh, one of my all time favorite sum a bunch
of times, best best guitar player I've ever seen a concert.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
May me and you agree on a few things, and
that is one of them. Stevie is the goat.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
He is awfully good.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Get it direct from the team at the Steelers Pro
Shop shop dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
He's West Year the Round, Rob King.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
You're inside the Locker Room with King and Stars, presented
by you neighborhood Ford Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford store.
The F one P fifty is the official truck of
the Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
direct from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at
shop dot Steelers dot.
Speaker 4 (40:30):
Com and Justin Miller at the Controls faintly suggesting since
Stevie Rayvaughon with that intro that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
A little bit of that, a little bit of that
Stevie rayvaugh feel with that music coming out of break.
So Wes, as we look at the big matchups of
this game, I have to say I am really focused
because of my interest on the Vikings offense versus the
Steelers defense more than the other way around, because I
(41:02):
think there is just a lot of good on good
As Mike Tomlin likes to say, good on good matchups.
Speaker 4 (41:09):
You know, you talk about you.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Know, Harmon and Hayward and the improved play of the
defensive line. Man, you got three guys in the middle
that are gonna be that's a that's gonna be a great,
great matchup. Now you talk about Watt and her big
you know, dominating against the Patriots. Well, now you got
O'Neil and Darisaw you know, steps up at those tackle positions.
(41:34):
You know you brought in you made that trade to
get Jalen Ramsey. You went cornerback heavy in a league
that demands good cornerback play against quality receivers. And what
do you get Jordan Addison back in the fold to
be paired with Justin Jefferson. You know, feeling still has
some mileage left as the as the next receiver even
(41:56):
down to you know, TJ. Hockinson a tight end, very
good tight end, Gonna stress your safeties and your your
inside linebackers and coverage, and then that whole unit can
also just pin their ears back and flatten you in
the running game. And you know, Jordan Mason is a
is a capable rock toter. I know you don't have
Aaron Jones out there. He's not maybe as as multi
(42:19):
dimensional as Jones, but they can go sledgehammer on you too.
I just think that for me, that's that's the part
the fan in me is looking forward to. In particular,
Vikings offense versus Teelers defense.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
I think it's well said by you, and I do
think there's obviously certainly some very intriguing, very juicy matchups
if you spin the block for those units for both teams.
But you're right, Kinger. I mean for me, it begins
and ends with you know, listen, you and I not
to dime you out here or call you old or anything,
but you and I have both been You and I
(42:56):
have both been doing this for a while. You a
little bit longer than me.
Speaker 5 (42:59):
Right.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
I worked in I worked. I worked in minor league
minor league hockey for two years and then for the
Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies for three years. Now eight years
with the Steelers. For me, you know, you have done
NHL and MLB and and football coverage. Both of us
pretty versed in the college sports world as well too.
Where I'm going with this is we've been very fortunate
(43:21):
to see a lot of Hall of Fame types, all
pro types, all time greats across many different sports. I
still don't It still gets me excited. I still get
that feeling of you know, like goose bumps and and
and butterflies in your stomach when you get a matchup
like Justin Jefferson, one of the two or three best
(43:42):
wide receivers of his generation, against Jalen Ramsey, one of
the two or three best cornerbacks of his generation. That
is about his five star of a five star matchup
that you can get, and I know it won't be
directly those two against each other on every snap, but
in general, a ton of stars and big names and
future Hall of famers and all pros on that Steelers defense,
(44:04):
a ton of the best at what they do, or
pretty darn close to it in the NFL right now,
on the Vikings offense, there are This is a great matchup.
You know, styles make fights, right, That's something that you
hear all the time. This is a great stylistic matchup
for a lot of different stars at similar positions on
both sides of the ball.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
And since you're in a block spinning mood, just quickly,
you know, listen, Gernard and Van Ginkel, Aaron Rodgers and
not Sack last week. Those guys will stress those tackles.
You know, if Hargrave is able to go, that will
stress the middle of your defense. There are some awfully
good matchups on the other side of the football, too, although,
(44:45):
as gen Kyer likes to point out, of football has
more than two sides.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
We're talking about line of scrimmage. You just haid of
the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
Let's put it that way, so I don't want to
get caught on Jean's trade trophy war one of the
great columns of the year at the Post Casette. So
that'll do it. Our buddy Max Starks over in Ireland.
The next time we chat with you, we will hopefully
what I will be sitting side by side with Max
Starks Wes.
Speaker 4 (45:09):
I know you still have the drive coming up later
with Matt. Thank you so much for filling in over
the last couple of days for Max. Always a great
pleasure to talk to you, my friend.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
I see you on the pain in about a little
over twenty four hours.
Speaker 4 (45:22):
Kinger, you got it, Laddie. Thank you also, of course
for listening in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store and the Steelers Pro Shop on the Steelers
Audio Network.
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