December 10, 2025 • 45 mins
Max and Rob are joined by Jim Wexell as the trio discuss the state of the team at the top of the hour and more on the Dolphins.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh, guess what day it is? Guess what day it is?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Eh?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Anybody, Julie, Hey, guess what day it is? Come on,
I know you can hear me. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
What day is it? Mike Leslie? Guess what today is?
It's hump day? Whoo whoo? Who is right?
Speaker 5 (00:47):
We are joined by a man who is a tempest
on the typewriter, confident on the keyboard, a legend on
the laptop.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
I have to do the introduction today, Jim Wexel.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
I know it's not I know it's not Max Starks,
but I'm trying to give you a nice, big build up.
Jim Wexel is the man Steelers digest. You know him,
you love him, author of the book that has just
been released on Craig Wolfley, and he joined us now
(01:19):
inside the locker room.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
How are you doing? Jim Wexel, I'm doing great.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
And you know, the Left.
Speaker 6 (01:26):
Give you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
You don't have to, you don't have to suit my
egos that this is just the guy Jim walk that
narrow path with you guys.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Come so justin, Justin Millers, this just me? Or is
this cutting out? Okay?
Speaker 5 (01:55):
So we're cutting out. We're gonna try to You're want
to retry that connection? Justin Okay, We're going to retry
that connection. And I'm gonna I'm gonna try to come
back with another another big build up for Jim Wexel.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Max. It wasn't up to your standards, but I gave
it my best shot.
Speaker 7 (02:10):
I thought, I thought it was good. I love some
of the word playing there, you know, and alliteration yeah,
alliteration yeah. So you know, just just a great job.
I mean, kudos, kudos for you leading chars there.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You know, we've talked about this too.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
So we talk about the weather from the Dolphins standpoint.
If you're a team like the Steelers, are you are
you already adding that it's fuel or you like, okay,
man eighteen degrees bring it on. Is there a party
that's like who like I remember as a kid growing up,
and you watch those games in the snow and it
seemed exciting. Jim Wexle, we're talking about h we're talking
(02:49):
about the weather, right like, you know, and the Dolphins
are no good when it's below forty degrees. And I
remember being a kid and then being like, I'll look
at this snow this is or the rain, this is
great foot whether I'm thinking, you know, hey, fifty five
and Sonny's great football weather too. I like playing football
in fifty five and sunny. I guess you have to
use it as your to your advantage.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
Remember was that playoff game in Cincinnati where it was
like minus forty? I forget what they called that. It
was back in the eighties. Do you remember that Ice Bowl?
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Well, the ice the original Ice Bowl was the was
the Packers in and Cowboys.
Speaker 7 (03:29):
Yeah, that was the original one Dallas.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
That didn't hurt Dallas too much. But the one in
Cincinnati was like minus forty and San Diego went there.
Speaker 7 (03:39):
Yeah and San Diego won and then yeah pass tea.
Yeah that was yeah. I think they called that the
Ice Bowl because my father played Freezer Bowl with the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
The Freezer Bowl.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Yeah, Freezer Bowl.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
AFC Championship gap minus nine min minus thirty seven win
chill yikes.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Yeah, yeah, it was really cold in Pittsburgh that day too.
I remember. I remember that game, and so everybody thought
Cincinnati would win. Everybody thought Max's dad would win, and
they did not. So I wouldn't I wouldn't rule the
Dolphins out of this one just yet.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
So just to let you know, just for clarification purposes,
I was born that day. Really yeah, that was January
to nineteen eighty two. In case anybody was wondering.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Yeah, that's cool, that is so cool. Wow, very it
really cold came into the world, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
It was, it was.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
But the Bengals actually won that game because they went
on to the Super Bowl the following week.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
I'm sorry, Okay, I got it.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
Well, Bingles won that one.
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Yeah, let's rule the Dolphins out then, yeah.
Speaker 7 (04:50):
Let's rule them out. There we go, Jim, Let's go ahead, Jim.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Do you do you get the sense that, you know,
football is changed a little bit, you know, and the
Steelers have had parts of the rule changes, you know,
defenseless receivers, crackback blocks, I mean in its heyday, and
you know, Max was involved in those games, with Jamal Lewis,
Jerome Bettis, hinz Ward, the great defenders on both teams,
(05:19):
just the violent nature of the game, and for years,
and I haven't seen any recent studies, for years, neither
team played well coming out of those games because of
I think the emotional and physical component of the games.
The Steelers had three guys knocked out of that game
with concussions. Is there any fear that that coming off
(05:40):
an emotional win and a game that was still more
physical than most, if maybe not quite as physical as
it was twenty years ago, still a physical football game,
do you think that there's a possibility that that could
have a hangover effect on the Steelers on Monday Night.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
It's possible, but I don't feel that a lot of time.
Most of the times I feel it, especially after a
Ravens game, and then I predict the Steelers will lose,
and and then everybody is surprised when they lose, and
they blame whatever, you know, the coach, But I don't.
I don't think so. I think there was some revitalization
that went on with the team, you know, and they
(06:19):
get the extra day too, and they're so good on
Monday night and they were so embarrassed the last time
they were at home. There's so many intangibles going for them,
and you're right, the one big and tangible is post
Ravens letdown, especially after they win, especially at Baltimore. But
(06:42):
I'm not feeling that. I think they learned how to
practice last week, and a lot of it due to
Aaron Rodgers criticizing a practice effort the week before and
then patting them on the back this week. It's it's
almost like Aaron Rodgers has taking over leadership and love
it go ahead. So did you want to say something?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
No, No, not at all?
Speaker 6 (07:05):
Okay, okay, but uh, I do think the extra day
will help, the cold will help. Playing at home and
wanting to rectify what happened last time. You know, they're
gonna want to hear renegade, and they're gonna want to
hear it proudly, and they're gonna want to watch it
from the field, probably with a lead or something very inspiring,
(07:30):
and and I think it's gonna happen. You know, Tomlin
was really emotionally tapped in his press conference. I thought,
and and the press conference after the game, and it
looked like, uh it looked like letdown scenario all over.
But I think that that helped him not get too
(07:55):
giddy about the win and which was needed and the
extra day is going to help a lot.
Speaker 7 (08:05):
No, And I'm right there with you, Wecuse, I think,
you know, this December looks a lot different than you know,
previous Decembers that were we were kind of accustomed to
the last couple of years. And you know, for this team,
you know, it's it's in a better position. I also
(08:25):
think health wise, because I think in years past also
we've had just so many injuries that we haven't been
able to overcome. And I felt like they're kind of
settling in to the roles of a lot of guys
understanding who they are and what their responsibility is to
the team. So you know, when I look at that,
you know, and we touted this depth of this team
(08:46):
being one of the best at the beginning of the
year and it got tested early often, and the Steelers
have adjusted accordingly and even still making some additions to
guys coming in and playing. But I just feel like,
you know, like you there, there is something different about
this squad, and I think when you know what's on
the line, and that you know, it's just like anything else,
(09:08):
you know, procrastination for a deadline, right, we all we
all kind of understand what those are for various reasons,
you know, whether it's a book deadline, whether whether it's
you know, a article deadline, whether it's something that has
to be turned in. I feel like they're those chronic procrastinators.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
And now it's like.
Speaker 7 (09:29):
Oh no, this is this is real. No, no, no, it
tests on money, Okay, I I gotta scramble and and
and get everything done. I like they respond to this
type of adversity really well. And obviously we're still gonna
see that's why you play the games. But you just
have to feel, like you said, like a sense of
retribution because I think it really did bother them last
(09:50):
time they were at home here and the reaction they
got towards the end of that Buffalo game.
Speaker 6 (09:55):
Absolutely absolutely. There's also you know, you talked about the
health Derek Carmon is probably coming back. It sounds like it,
no doctor, but have you looked at the stats of
the run defense when he plays and when he doesn't
one hundred yards per game difference? No, exactly, it's like
(10:18):
ninety five. But yeah, and you know, since they've put
their secondary together with Ramsey a free safety full time,
and I think the utilization of Pierre and and if
Pierre doesn't play, Sante Samuel is impressive too. They've improved
(10:41):
by about one hundred yards a game too. So I
think we're gonna see I think we're gonna see the
defense come together for the first time as a run
defense and as a coverage defense. You know, I'm really
like their secondary right now, especially if Dougger can play.
(11:03):
But you know, even with Deshaun Elliott, I don't think
they're going to have to spend any money on the
secondary next offseason. Yeah, they're gonna have to re sign
Samuel and Pierre. I do believe their upcoming free agents.
And they have pass rushers, so rushing coverage and now
they need that run bang run defense. And if Harmon,
if Harmon really does matter for a hundred yards of
(11:27):
run defense every game, Well, there you go. So that's
all exciting. I did want to hit on something when
Rob was talking about all the rule changes credited to
the Steelers. There's always one that's left out.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:42):
We have we have Hines Ward on the rivers and
the crack back and the melt blunt and which other
one did you mention?
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Camean oh, just talking about in general.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
I mean there's rules and you know the rules to
the crackback block, just the rules to make the game safer.
And a lot of that came down to, you know,
the violence I think of this game that you know,
one one rule change, but you know, the crackback block
I think leads the end of the defensives receiver and
so on.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
The violence of the Steelers, yes, but we always forget
about the violence of one Bill collar the day he
stuffed the photo in the referee shirt pocket. Yep, the
next week referees never wore shirt pockets again. The Bill
Cower rule, I did not know that. I thought I
(12:36):
had to throw that one.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
That's a good one. That's a good one.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
By the way, you know, we all love Matt Williamson
as a human being, and we love his stats as well.
So the since two thousand, the Dolphins are six and
thirteen when playing in temperatures under thirty two degrees, just
of course from max. In their past ten games in
below freezing temperatures, they are one and nine with the
(13:01):
loan win in Pittsburgh in December two thousand, so let's.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Not start talking about that weather. And by the way,
I agree with you.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
You know, it's interesting Wax and you talk about the
secondary that you bring in a guy like you have,
a guy like a Sante Samuel and you elevate him
to the practice, to the active roster. I don't think
they wanted anybody to proach him. But that wasn't really
the game, you know what I mean. You know, Sante
Samuel's not the biggest guys coming off a neck injury.
He said that he liked to play more physical. He
(13:33):
was critiqued for not being physical enough, but he was,
you know, nursing a neck injury. And you know that
maybe wasn't the game. He only had one snap on defense.
But I agree with you, like you know, it's hard
not to be bullish on Pierre and Eccles and you know,
Joey Porter Junior of course on the other side, and
if you can get Samuel in there and the safety situation,
(13:54):
you know, and again this isn't we're not talking about
next year yet.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
We'll have plenty of time to do that.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
But you know, in the world in which it's three
sixty five in the NFL, And I saw a mock
draft this morning on ESPN. You know that that you do.
Your mind does go to things like that and think, hey,
you know a corner, you know, a receiver, an offensive tackle,
(14:21):
these are these are things you normally have to spend
first round picks on. And so if you can be
feel pretty good about your corner situation, man, that means
you can you can take those first round picks and
address other needs.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
With them, absolutely, like a quarterback. But boy, that that
rich and plentiful crop a quarterback got di looted quickly. Yeah,
I see, I saw a well done mock draft that
had the Steelers taken a quarterback in the second round. Sellers, Uh,
you know, one of those one of those favored players
(14:58):
before the season who's has dropped. And that's that's that
makes sense to me, the Steelers being patient and not
not doing anything stupid in the first round and then
getting one of those guys like a new Smier in
the second round. And that's that's not the excitement everybody
(15:19):
was hoping for when you're talking about a quarterback, But
that's how it goes. But you're right about the corner
back situation, and they do have a you know, you
have to wonder about Broderick and hope he's going to
be healthy. Anyway, we shouldn't be talking about next year
because they just got back into this year and and uh,
(15:40):
I want to I want to credit Aaron Rodgers that
I heard a show they were they were saying, who's
who gets more credit for this win? Mike Tomlin or
the referees? And I thought, why is Mike Tomlin even
a candidate? Why is he in the multiple choice? This
is I thought this was Aaron Rodgers and you know,
(16:00):
helpful his friends, of course, but I thought he not
only took over leadership and practice, he took over leadership
of the game. And then he hit the big He
hit the big ball to start the game, and that
got everybody off and running.
Speaker 7 (16:15):
Yeah, he definitely did it. You know, this is a
game that coming into it only had four deep deep
passes of twenty yards or more than he had completed,
and in this game alone, he completed three of those,
all to DK and he almost doubled his numbers. It's
almost like he heard people saying something about him and
questioning whether he could or could not. Because we all know,
(16:39):
Aaron Rodgers is not Eddy at all. Jim Wexel right,
he doesn't take anything personal. He's just so stoic. But
but but I'm here for because, like you said, I mean,
it's yielded a great result. Now let's see if they
can if they can build on that, because they'll have
an opportunity to do that again and we'll will definitely
(17:00):
need it.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
You know.
Speaker 7 (17:02):
So whatever DeLorean he got in and time machine, you know,
whether it's a hot tub or DeLorean, I don't care.
But he definitely showed some mobility and like you said,
the touch and and some of and some of those
deep balls that that he's famous for over his long
story career.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
Well you know they were It wasn't just the media
and the fans daring him to do it. It was
defenses and he pretty much had to hit one. I mean,
there were you know, they were playing man coverage out
there on the wide receivers with really no respect for them.
He had to make them respect at least decay. And
so that's a start, and hopefully it'll open up the
(17:45):
middle a little bit, and that'll hopefully open up the
running game a little bit. Get this thing rolling.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Let's get Yeah, we need to Jim wax Well, that
sounds great to us.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Hump Day headlines with Wexhel presented by your neighborhood for show.
The f one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh's either Hey, wex before we let you go.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
How's how's the book going?
Speaker 5 (18:09):
It's it's out right, and it's available and it's going
to make a tremendous holiday gift for Steelers fans.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Yeah, it's going great. Faith and I are lining up
some signings. And you know, Faith is Craig's widow, and
she's she loves the book, and I'm I know we're
all pulling for Faith and the family because it's it's
a family project too. Don't get me wrong. There's all football,
but it it's enveloped in family and uh, you know
(18:41):
Ronnie wolf Lee and Faith and Megan his pictures in there,
and Kyle wolf Lee and CJ. We all know CJ.
So it's a great family project. But it's it's a
really good football book too, don't get me wrong. So
I'm excited. Did I'm excited for the Wolf's family and
(19:02):
I want to do all I can to help. Uh,
not not help financially, just help help them enjoy how
books roll out and help them enjoy this whole process.
I know, you know, Craig, he's looking down with that
big chuckle of his and he's, uh, he's enjoying it all.
(19:26):
You talk about procrastinator, smax Wolf did not progress to
ate on this one at all. The manuscript was due
the day he died. And you know, if it was
up to me, Ace procrastinator, the book never would have
come out if it was me, because I would have
been in the hospital bed trying to type out. But
(19:48):
Craig got it all in during the season, did a
lot of great work and the rest was up to us.
And I want to I want to think we pulled
it off.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
If these walls could talk stories in the Pittsburgh the
sideline locker room and press box. Uh, it's a it's
a great book and make a great gift for all
the Steelers fans out there during this holiday season. It's
a fun, fun read. It's it's good stuff and and
wex your good stuff to my friend.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
We thank you for being with us and look forward
to seeing you on the south side.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
All right, see you soon, boys, stake care all right, thanks,
we stake here all right.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
Much more to get to as we continue to break
down the Cities matchup against the Miami Dolphins. When we
continue in the locker room presented by our neighborhood of
Ford's joining the Steerers Pro Shop on Stears Nation Radio.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
What part of the Steelers Audio network.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
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 Dealers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
And we thank you for being with us in the
locker room as we get you ready for the Pittsburgh
Steelers taking on the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night football.
You know, we went through the all the playoffs scenarios yesterday, Max,
and all the power rankings for what they're worth and
what they could potentially mean and all this other stuff.
(21:25):
So yesterday with Wes when Westfield in for you, and
you know, the Steelers not that highly ranked by I
think it was ESPN had them seventeenth the Athletic had
them fourteenth, moving up a lot of spots after their win.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
And you know, we.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Hadn't checked in on on where the Dolphins are perceived
to be, and I just thought i'd go there. So
NFL dot Com has them ranked twenty first. Again, this
is not anything more than an academic exercise. This is
not the college football system. This isn't Notre Dame howling
about not selected right. These things don't really matter, but
(22:03):
it does give you an idea of how the team
is uh is perceived. And the Dolphins, you know, look,
their their playoff hopes are are pretty much finished.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
But I think, Mike McDaniel.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
So you're telling you there's a chance, we're telling you there's.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
A chance, and that their odds are extremely long. I
think that they have to. I think what they're going
to be thinking, as I mentioned yesterday, is keep your
head down, win the next couple of games, three games,
get yourself to nine and seven, and then kind of,
you know, poke your head back up and say where
are we? You know, ten and seven usually gets you
(22:42):
into the playoffs. Can we win this game, get to
ten and seven and be in the playoffs. I don't
think it's going to be enough, but you have to
at least be thinking in those terms. And I'm sure
they are looking at these next games, is you know,
very winnable. They can win in Pittsburgh. Hey, it's a
seven and six team. We're six and seven. We can
beat them on the road, and we have Cincinnati home. Well,
(23:02):
surely we can win a home game against Tampa Bay
at home. They've been staggering a little bit. They've won
four games in a row, have the Dolphins, So you know,
they're they've got to be feeling like they've at least
got a chance. And Mike McDaniel has probably eased the
temperature on that seat underneath his button, right and the
seat's probably not quite as hot as it had been.
(23:24):
And you know, as you mentioned, Max Tua has failed
to reach two hundred yards passing in four consecutive games.
And you know what, the Dolphins have won four consecutive games.
And one of the reasons is they've they've run the
ball so effectively and they've defended well.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
And.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
It's you know, it's it feels to me like it's
kind of a team effort. Like as I look at
that team, Bradley Chubb isn't the two time All Pro
that he's been in the past. Matt Judon is not
having an explosive season. Oh sure, Chop Robinson, who was
a first round pick, he's starting to come along. You know,
They've got a couple of fine young inside linebackers. Minka
(24:08):
is on the back end. But it's not like it's
a defense Leyden with household names.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
You know.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Now, maybe they're on their way to Maybe Jordan Brooks
is on his way to becoming a household name. He
leads the league in tackles. He's got two and a
half sacks. His running mate Dodson has got four sacks.
That's going to be an issue with those guys blitzing
from all over the place. But I don't know if
you could put a hand on it other than running
the ball well, controlling the clock. But this defense has
(24:37):
done has done its part. It's been a huge portion
of why the Dolphins have won four consecutive.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
Games well, and I think it's also because you know,
things have just lined up for that team as well.
So you've had, like you said that that modicum of
success running the football, and that has shortened the game
for endously for the opponent because they're controlling time of
(25:04):
possession and Davon ah Chan has been a central figure
in that, and even for Tula in his accuracy in
the yards production you're getting in these thirdn short certain mediums,
and he's making the throw at that time. So I
think that's the other thing is that the timeliness of
when he does complete the football is in those critical
moments to keep drives alive and to keep chewing up
(25:27):
clock and really shortening the game on possessions. So it's
been a good mix. And like you said, defensively, they've
come together and they've rallied around each other because of
that because teams are usually having to press, and so
when you press, you could defend a little bit more.
But you know, the run defense hasn't been necessarily strong
(25:47):
as this. They've gotten out to a lead and then
forced teams to pass, and so I think that'll be
slowed a little bit because you got to come to
this implement weather. You know, the body isn't as loose
as warm as it's been that home for a lot
of these games, and they haven't gotten that benefit timeline.
It's gonna be a late old night game and Dolphins
(26:11):
are gonna have to deal with that. You know, they're
used to night games and still being kind of temperate weather.
This is gonna be downright frigid. So some things playing
against them and their momentum and their consistency that we're
gonna want to see. But also the biggest thing is
if the Steels come out and play the ball they're
supposed to, we don't have to worry too much. Right,
(26:32):
if the defense comes out and plays the way that
we've seen them throughout various parts of the season for
better than half of the season, it should be good.
And the Dolphins do put the ball in harm's way.
You know, over that span you're looking at to a
tongue of Vailoa, three touchdowns and three interceptions, right, you know,
(26:54):
there's no big advantage in these win games. Like you said,
the passing yards are the passing yards. So when you
when you can dedicate resources to that run game, and
like you said, and you know, and let's starting about
this potentially getting Dereck Carmon back and how what that
does for run game production on the opposing teams. You
(27:15):
could have a good scenario here, but it comes down
to the Steelers offense not being the traditional Steelers offense
that has been this season. And we know what quarter
that is robbed? I think, do I need to say.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
It out loud? Please don't?
Speaker 7 (27:30):
Okay, Well, the game the quarter that starts.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Right after half the third better?
Speaker 7 (27:34):
Yes, yes, that one, that one. So but we but
but like you said, we had, we had a renaissance
last week, putting up ten when we'd averaged what two
point eight I believe before that, so less than a.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Fight, which was I believe twenty seventh in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
Yes, not not good, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
The one thing I will say about the Dolphins too,
and the way they're constructed and the way they've been
winning games. So they've been taking the ball away. Two
has got those three picks, but they haven't fumbled the ball.
They've been taking it away. You know, you get some
leads and now you again, it's the same old story, right,
you run the ball. You know, you get into third
(28:17):
and manageable. That cuts down on your turnovers, and then
you start to manage the clock and maybe you pull
away a little bit. Now the other team gets one dimensional.
Now they turn the ball over because you know they've
got to throw the ball, they've got to try to
make plays that makes them vulnerable to turnovers. So look,
we know the formula, and they've been following that formula.
(28:41):
You know, I've always thought they're sort of an interesting
I think the most interesting move, one of the most
interesting moves that they made is when they went out
and got Tybreek Hill in twenty twenty one. Now, of course,
Tyreek Hill is hurt, and you know, I don't want
to get into off field things with Tyreek Hill. I
just want to talk about him as a player, because
(29:01):
you know, I want to keep it within the scope
of what we're talking about as far as this game
coming up. You know, they had selected Jayalen Waddle with
the six overall pick in the draft the year before
they signed Tyreek Hill, and Waddle had an outstanding rookie season.
(29:21):
He had over one hundred catches, and it's not like
he's disappeared when you know, with the acquisition of Tyreek Hill.
You know, the following year, his second year, he led
the league in yards per reception. But it's kind of
a curious move to put a big down payment on
(29:41):
another guy to give you that one two punch and
then you know, you had Tua, and I'm sure that
the thought was, hey, listen, let's surround him with playmakers.
But you know, they had other issues to address, offensive line,
other things that they never quite really addressed, and they
never quite really got over the hump, you know. And
now Waddle's the guy again and they're not throwing the
(30:06):
ball to him a ton. It's not like he is
going to lead the league in receptions or anything like that.
He's having a fine season. He has fifty seven receptions.
He's gonna, you know, at this pace, he's going to
wind up with you know what is close to eighty
and which would be the most you would have had
since that rookie year we had one hundred and four catches.
(30:28):
The reason I think Wattle is interesting and the way
you're using him this way and not, you know, not
not going to him a ton and not having all
the targets funnel through him, is we know what he's
capable of. We know that this guy once led the
league in yards perception. He has six touchdown catches this year.
We know that he can make explosive plays. He took
(30:51):
up a short pass against Atlanta, zipped up the right sideline.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
And ran it in for a long score.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
You know that suddenness that not every receiver is capable of.
Another receiver might have been dragged down at the seventeen
yard line. Wattle's got that breakaway speed. It's why he
was taking six overall in the draft back in twenty
twenty one, because he was viewed as a number one receiver.
All this Cook goes to saying, they've they've changed their approach.
(31:17):
They've changed from this hat pass heavy approach to a
more running team. It's gotten better results for him. But
I don't think we can overlook the fact that Wattle
is still very, very capable of being a game breaker.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
No, he is.
Speaker 7 (31:36):
He is very capable. It's still in the DNA, and
you can't take it for granted. You can't sit there
and say, hey, we're gonna load the box with nine
men and we're gonna leave, and we're gonna leave Jalen
lone cover one manned up press and call it a day.
Nor that it would be the worst thing ever. But
(31:57):
I think you do have to make sure that you're
in a position where you are staying conscious about him.
You still keep two in single high stuff, but you know,
realize that He's not going to be a focal point
unless unless you forget about him and you make it
all about Dave on a chain, or you make it
all about trying to put pressure on Tua and trying
(32:18):
to sack him, and you forget about Jalen on the
backside and he does break one on you know, on
your on your secondary. So you know it's they're they're
like you said, they're a good team. You can't do
not knock the process of four in a row and
five out of six. That means that other people have
taken them for granted. Don't fall into that lull that
(32:39):
everybody else has. I mean, just look at Buffalo, right,
you know, and we would argue that Buffalo is a
good team, and they absolutely destroyed Buffalo. So just keep
that in the back of your mind when when you're
preparing for this Dolphin squad. They have a lot of
good players. They've had some hard luck, but they still
got some good core guys in that group that know
what it is. And you have to believe they're going
(32:59):
to be playing extra hard because Minka Fitzpatrick is there,
right and they're going up against Jalen Ramsey and the
issues that Jalen and John kind of gave them a
year ago. So the guys who are on that team
are not going to forget that. And this is this
is there is some bad blood here that we're gonna
be dealing with. Just like when you know DK played Seattle, right,
(33:21):
it was an emphasis try and lock him out of
that game. Aaron playing against the Jets and then of
course against the Packers. So you know, these quote unquote
rivalry get back games are real. And this is the
last one of this season, and this is the one
that was the trade right before training camp started.
Speaker 5 (33:39):
You know, uh, we're looking at this, I think more
from Minca's perspective because he was a long time Steeler
and he was acquired, you know, by a trade and
from the Dolphins, and now he's going back to Miami
and you bring in Jalen Ramsey and and Jalen's been
around a little, but it's not like he's a you know,
(33:59):
it's like it's I don't know, I don't know if
it I don't know if it would mean the same
to him. Do you think he would mean the same
to Jalen Ramsey going against the Dolphins as it would
Mica Fitzpatrick coming back to play this students. Because the
game is in Pittsburgh and Jalen only spent two years
with the Dolphins before the trade, it wasn't like he'd
(34:21):
been there. And I did when he did go to
a Pro Bowl with the Dolphins, but it's not like
he was he had the sort of tenure that Minca had,
And of course minck is coming to Pittsburgh maybe would
be different if Jalen was going to Miami. Do those
things matter for a player length of time and where
the game is played.
Speaker 7 (34:41):
No, but you know there's a certain pettiness factor that's
involved in that. And that was the previous team, you know,
because it would just be like saying, oh, it didn't
matter as much for Aaron, you know, because only he
only spent really one healthy season in New York. No,
it absolutely does matter, you know. And for Dk, Yes,
(35:02):
DK was a long time Seattle Seahawk, but the game
was in Pittsburgh. So yeah, So if there is a
connection and there is time, especially the last team that
you played for, it is going to matter. And I'm
sure he probably pushed for that trade as much as
as as as a Dolphins organization because there was some
(35:23):
friction there towards the end of that last season, and
that's why he was available and even mentioned as a
potential trade trade guy. So yeah, so no, there are
feelings when an organization relinquishes you or you want away
from it. You want to prove them right and also
prove them wrong in the process. And you know, it's
(35:43):
it's like the Spider Man meme. Everybody's pulling in each other,
which one is a real Spider Man. Well, that's what
it goes with, with the pettiness and the chip. Everybody
wants that chip, but everybody's going to use that chip.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Yep. And you have to write.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
I mean, it's a long season and whatever little motivation
you need to get you going can.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
Get you going. Exact a mundo, exact a mundo.
Speaker 5 (36:09):
Max Stark's my friend. How's how's your flight? How's your
flight info going? You all right there?
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (36:17):
No, I'm good, I'm good. I think we're about to board,
so I'm in the right area.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Okay, Well, I think I'll let you get aboard that plane. Uh.
Speaker 5 (36:26):
And I'm gonna assume that this is going to be
the final little bit with Max Starks on this day.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
My friend Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
We're gonna we're gonna dive into some you know, more
and more information keeps coming out about not only the
Dolphins running the ball, but how they're running the ball,
how the Teathers can combat that, you know, Derek Harmon
coming back and what does that mean, so on and
so forth. Up lots of interesting stuff to break down
over the next couple of days when we continue in
the locker room.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
Thanks my friend safe travels.
Speaker 7 (36:55):
Hey, thanks Bud, and I will definitely be talking to
the same bad Time, same bat channel tomorrow here on Steelers.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Yeah, we'll do it.
Speaker 7 (37:03):
Man, all right, take care.
Speaker 4 (37:04):
Can't wait see man. Thank you very much. We want
to remind you again it's.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
Gonna be cold if you're going to the game, A
perfect time to gear up with the latest game day
necessities at the official Students Pro shops. Get the latest
Sideline apparel, jerseys, terrible towels, authentic memorabilia, and custom exclusives
you can only find directly from the team. Visit one
of the official Students Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium,
(37:28):
Grove City Premium Outlets, or Tanger Outlets, or gear up
online at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct
from a team at the Students Pro Shop at Shop
dot Steelers dot com. We'll be back more in the
Locker Room presented by your Neighborhood Forards Store and the
Studis Pro Shop on Students Nation Radio, a part of
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your Neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
And continuing our breakdown of the Miami Dolphins, the opponent
for the Steelers on Monday.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
Night Football here in the locker room.
Speaker 5 (38:19):
And you know, there are a lot of really interesting
trends and different things that the Dolphins have been doing
as they have ripped off four consecutive wins. Maybe again
ease the temperature on the you know, sort of perceived
Mike McDaniel hot seed, although he survived while they made
other moves. And the team is six and seven right now,
(38:41):
they've won four consecutive games. There are only four teams
in the AFC who are eliminated from the playoffs, the
Jets at three and ten, the Browns at three and ten,
and then the two and eleven teams at Titans and
the Raiders, you know, the teams that are really really
in big trouble. The Bengals still have not been eliminated
(39:01):
because they have a chance to win the division. They're
four and nine and you know, so you know, every
game for them is must win, and obviously they're gonna
need significant help to try to get into the playoffs. However,
that you know, the fact that they're desperate could be
something that's good for this steers because they're going to
be hosting the Ravens on Sunday afternoon, so we'll have
(39:25):
an idea of how that well, we'll know how that
game is going to play out prior to that happening,
so you know. There, then you have the six and
seven teams, which are the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas
City Chiefs, who are not yet eliminated but are really
really facing long, long odds to try to make the playoffs.
But again, as long as you still have a chance,
(39:47):
you keep.
Speaker 4 (39:48):
Going and you keep playing.
Speaker 5 (39:50):
So mention that the Dolphins have have gone from a
team that seemed to want to throw the ball a
lot under with two a tongue of Iiloa. You know,
you draft him extremely high in the draft. You make
him your guy. You have Jalen Wattle, they were teammates
in college. You know, you go out and you get
(40:11):
Tyreek Hill. You're trying to press the ball down the field, right,
You're trying to make big plays in the passing game. Well,
Tyreek Hill, you know, not with the team right now,
as we know, and you know, so they have had
to change things, right, So he's Tyreek Hill, got hurt
(40:31):
and probably looks like this might be.
Speaker 4 (40:33):
His last go round with the Dolphins.
Speaker 5 (40:36):
So they've transformed into a running team, and they've they've
transformed into a specific kind of running team.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
Now.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
They throw a lot of different looks, a lot of
pre stap motion. You know, they'll have two lined up
in the shotgun and they'll have three running backs to
his left and a tight bunch and then they'll move
guys in motion just before the snap, and they're trying
to give a lot of different look but a lot
of what is happening as they've run the ball mentioned
four consecutive games in which had a one hundred yard rusher.
(41:07):
Eight Chan had the first three and then got hurt
early on, and then jail and Wright came in and
he ran for over one hundred yards. Listed as their
third string running back on the depth chart, but they've
been running a lot of outside zones. So a member
of the Steelers broadcast personnel group giving me this information,
part of the Steelers studio crew, and my thanks to
(41:31):
him for this info that they are fourth tied for
fourth in the amount of zone runs to the outside
that they've run during this winning streak. Now that's not
to say they won't go up the middle, because they will,
but eight Chan, you know, you run up the middle,
and then if you can get eight Chan on the
outside and you can get him some space, he is
(41:55):
extremely dangerous. He and James Cook are probably the two
fastest running back in the league. You know, Derreck Henry's
right there with him. But those guys get up to
speed quicker, and and think about you know, the zone concept,
and think about the runs that the Bills did against
the Steelers. Right, you start left, you cut back to
the right, you get to the edge, and it's trouble
(42:16):
well eight Chan has that kind of capability. Now, probably
a little bit different concepts in the running games and
the Bills use, but keep that in mind. And then
one other statistic, and Jim Wexel brought this up, and
I think it's it's really interesting, and again it's hard
to say if it's a definitive statistic because you have
(42:37):
to look at opponents when you played them, you have
to look at you know, the game circumstances. Like you know,
we had the statistic we mentioned Matt Williams and said
last year that when, uh, when Cam Hayward was on
the field, the Steelers were second best in the NFL
in yards per carry and when he wasn't on the field,
they were thirty thirty first or thirty second. So that
(43:00):
that over the course of a season, and you know,
that seems like a very real statistic. This one, I think,
I think there's reality to it. I don't know if
it's quite as stark as it maybe seems, because you know,
the games that we have seen Harmon miss have been
against heavy running teams. Three of the four games that
(43:20):
he's missed, he missed the game against the Jets. Well,
the Jets want to run the football, right, the Jets
are a heavy running football team. Then he missed the
game against the Baltimore Ravens, and he missed the game
against the Kansas City Chiefs. So again, these are Kansas Chiefs,
the Buffalo Bills. So these are heavy, heavy running teams.
(43:42):
These are teams that want to run the ball a lot, right,
So when you you know, so how much of that
is Derek Harmon wasn't in there, and how much of
that is you're going against teams that really really want
to run the football. So that's all a preamble for
this statistic. And we're hoping that Derek Carmon, you know
(44:03):
who's supposed to be limited in practice in the early
part of the week and they're hoping he's available on Monday.
Nine games with Derek Carmon, the Steelers defense is allowing
ninety six yards per game rushing.
Speaker 4 (44:17):
That's really really good.
Speaker 5 (44:19):
Like if you are if that's the kind of defense
that you are, ninety six yards a game rushing, that
would rank you in the top six in the NFL
in yards per game. The four games without Derek Harmon
one hundred and ninety one and a quarter yards rushing
(44:41):
per game that would be by far the worst in
the NFL, not even close, thirty five yard plus difference
between you and the next closest team. So this will
be an interesting test for that statistic because Miami has
run the ball extremely only effectively lately. They're still, you know,
(45:03):
on the season, they're a very good running team, but
lately they become an elite running team during this four
game winning streak. So again something will delve into more,
but definitely a statistic as we break down these matchups
and kind of introduce you to who the Dolphins are.
That is something to keep an eye on. Want to
remind you tomorrow we have Jerry Dulac coming up. Want
(45:23):
to thank Jim Wexel today. We also have a special
guest coming up on Friday. We'll tell you more about
that over the next couple of days. But that's it
for today and we will look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
For Max Starks, for Jim Wexel, for Justin Miller, a
producer in the iHeart Studio, I'm Rob King. We thank
you for being in the Locker Room, presented by your
neighborhood Ford Store and the Steerers Pro Shop. On Steers
(45:44):
Nation Radio a part of this year, there's audio network
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one 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 (00:23):
Oh, guess what day it is? Guess what day it is?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Eh?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Anybody, Julie, Hey, guess what day it is? Come on,
I know you can hear me. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
What day is it? Mike Leslie? Guess what today is?
It's hump day? Whoo whoo? Who is right?
Speaker 5 (00:47):
We are joined by a man who is a tempest
on the typewriter, confident on the keyboard, a legend on
the laptop.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
I have to do the introduction today, Jim Wexel.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
I know it's not I know it's not Max Starks,
but I'm trying to give you a nice, big build up.
Jim Wexel is the man Steelers digest. You know him,
you love him, author of the book that has just
been released on Craig Wolfley, and he joined us now
(01:19):
inside the locker room.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
How are you doing? Jim Wexel, I'm doing great.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
And you know, the Left.
Speaker 6 (01:26):
Give you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
You don't have to, you don't have to suit my
egos that this is just the guy Jim walk that
narrow path with you guys.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Come so justin, Justin Millers, this just me? Or is
this cutting out? Okay?
Speaker 5 (01:55):
So we're cutting out. We're gonna try to You're want
to retry that connection? Justin Okay, We're going to retry
that connection. And I'm gonna I'm gonna try to come
back with another another big build up for Jim Wexel.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Max. It wasn't up to your standards, but I gave
it my best shot.
Speaker 7 (02:10):
I thought, I thought it was good. I love some
of the word playing there, you know, and alliteration yeah,
alliteration yeah. So you know, just just a great job.
I mean, kudos, kudos for you leading chars there.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You know, we've talked about this too.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
So we talk about the weather from the Dolphins standpoint.
If you're a team like the Steelers, are you are
you already adding that it's fuel or you like, okay,
man eighteen degrees bring it on. Is there a party
that's like who like I remember as a kid growing up,
and you watch those games in the snow and it
seemed exciting. Jim Wexle, we're talking about h we're talking
(02:49):
about the weather, right like, you know, and the Dolphins
are no good when it's below forty degrees. And I
remember being a kid and then being like, I'll look
at this snow this is or the rain, this is
great foot whether I'm thinking, you know, hey, fifty five
and Sonny's great football weather too. I like playing football
in fifty five and sunny. I guess you have to
use it as your to your advantage.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
Remember was that playoff game in Cincinnati where it was
like minus forty? I forget what they called that. It
was back in the eighties. Do you remember that Ice Bowl?
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Well, the ice the original Ice Bowl was the was
the Packers in and Cowboys.
Speaker 7 (03:29):
Yeah, that was the original one Dallas.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
That didn't hurt Dallas too much. But the one in
Cincinnati was like minus forty and San Diego went there.
Speaker 7 (03:39):
Yeah and San Diego won and then yeah pass tea.
Yeah that was yeah. I think they called that the
Ice Bowl because my father played Freezer Bowl with the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
The Freezer Bowl.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Yeah, Freezer Bowl.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
AFC Championship gap minus nine min minus thirty seven win
chill yikes.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Yeah, yeah, it was really cold in Pittsburgh that day too.
I remember. I remember that game, and so everybody thought
Cincinnati would win. Everybody thought Max's dad would win, and
they did not. So I wouldn't I wouldn't rule the
Dolphins out of this one just yet.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
So just to let you know, just for clarification purposes,
I was born that day. Really yeah, that was January
to nineteen eighty two. In case anybody was wondering.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Yeah, that's cool, that is so cool. Wow, very it
really cold came into the world, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
It was, it was.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
But the Bengals actually won that game because they went
on to the Super Bowl the following week.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
I'm sorry, Okay, I got it.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
Well, Bingles won that one.
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Yeah, let's rule the Dolphins out then, yeah.
Speaker 7 (04:50):
Let's rule them out. There we go, Jim, Let's go ahead, Jim.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Do you do you get the sense that, you know,
football is changed a little bit, you know, and the
Steelers have had parts of the rule changes, you know,
defenseless receivers, crackback blocks, I mean in its heyday, and
you know, Max was involved in those games, with Jamal Lewis,
Jerome Bettis, hinz Ward, the great defenders on both teams,
(05:19):
just the violent nature of the game, and for years,
and I haven't seen any recent studies, for years, neither
team played well coming out of those games because of
I think the emotional and physical component of the games.
The Steelers had three guys knocked out of that game
with concussions. Is there any fear that that coming off
(05:40):
an emotional win and a game that was still more
physical than most, if maybe not quite as physical as
it was twenty years ago, still a physical football game,
do you think that there's a possibility that that could
have a hangover effect on the Steelers on Monday Night.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
It's possible, but I don't feel that a lot of time.
Most of the times I feel it, especially after a
Ravens game, and then I predict the Steelers will lose,
and and then everybody is surprised when they lose, and
they blame whatever, you know, the coach, But I don't.
I don't think so. I think there was some revitalization
that went on with the team, you know, and they
(06:19):
get the extra day too, and they're so good on
Monday night and they were so embarrassed the last time
they were at home. There's so many intangibles going for them,
and you're right, the one big and tangible is post
Ravens letdown, especially after they win, especially at Baltimore. But
(06:42):
I'm not feeling that. I think they learned how to
practice last week, and a lot of it due to
Aaron Rodgers criticizing a practice effort the week before and
then patting them on the back this week. It's it's
almost like Aaron Rodgers has taking over leadership and love
it go ahead. So did you want to say something?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
No, No, not at all?
Speaker 6 (07:05):
Okay, okay, but uh, I do think the extra day
will help, the cold will help. Playing at home and
wanting to rectify what happened last time. You know, they're
gonna want to hear renegade, and they're gonna want to
hear it proudly, and they're gonna want to watch it
from the field, probably with a lead or something very inspiring,
(07:30):
and and I think it's gonna happen. You know, Tomlin
was really emotionally tapped in his press conference. I thought,
and and the press conference after the game, and it
looked like, uh it looked like letdown scenario all over.
But I think that that helped him not get too
(07:55):
giddy about the win and which was needed and the
extra day is going to help a lot.
Speaker 7 (08:05):
No, And I'm right there with you, Wecuse, I think,
you know, this December looks a lot different than you know,
previous Decembers that were we were kind of accustomed to
the last couple of years. And you know, for this team,
you know, it's it's in a better position. I also
(08:25):
think health wise, because I think in years past also
we've had just so many injuries that we haven't been
able to overcome. And I felt like they're kind of
settling in to the roles of a lot of guys
understanding who they are and what their responsibility is to
the team. So you know, when I look at that,
you know, and we touted this depth of this team
(08:46):
being one of the best at the beginning of the
year and it got tested early often, and the Steelers
have adjusted accordingly and even still making some additions to
guys coming in and playing. But I just feel like,
you know, like you there, there is something different about
this squad, and I think when you know what's on
the line, and that you know, it's just like anything else,
(09:08):
you know, procrastination for a deadline, right, we all we
all kind of understand what those are for various reasons,
you know, whether it's a book deadline, whether whether it's
you know, a article deadline, whether it's something that has
to be turned in. I feel like they're those chronic procrastinators.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
And now it's like.
Speaker 7 (09:29):
Oh no, this is this is real. No, no, no, it
tests on money, Okay, I I gotta scramble and and
and get everything done. I like they respond to this
type of adversity really well. And obviously we're still gonna
see that's why you play the games. But you just
have to feel, like you said, like a sense of
retribution because I think it really did bother them last
(09:50):
time they were at home here and the reaction they
got towards the end of that Buffalo game.
Speaker 6 (09:55):
Absolutely absolutely. There's also you know, you talked about the
health Derek Carmon is probably coming back. It sounds like it,
no doctor, but have you looked at the stats of
the run defense when he plays and when he doesn't
one hundred yards per game difference? No, exactly, it's like
(10:18):
ninety five. But yeah, and you know, since they've put
their secondary together with Ramsey a free safety full time,
and I think the utilization of Pierre and and if
Pierre doesn't play, Sante Samuel is impressive too. They've improved
(10:41):
by about one hundred yards a game too. So I
think we're gonna see I think we're gonna see the
defense come together for the first time as a run
defense and as a coverage defense. You know, I'm really
like their secondary right now, especially if Dougger can play.
(11:03):
But you know, even with Deshaun Elliott, I don't think
they're going to have to spend any money on the
secondary next offseason. Yeah, they're gonna have to re sign
Samuel and Pierre. I do believe their upcoming free agents.
And they have pass rushers, so rushing coverage and now
they need that run bang run defense. And if Harmon,
if Harmon really does matter for a hundred yards of
(11:27):
run defense every game, Well, there you go. So that's
all exciting. I did want to hit on something when
Rob was talking about all the rule changes credited to
the Steelers. There's always one that's left out.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:42):
We have we have Hines Ward on the rivers and
the crack back and the melt blunt and which other
one did you mention?
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Camean oh, just talking about in general.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
I mean there's rules and you know the rules to
the crackback block, just the rules to make the game safer.
And a lot of that came down to, you know,
the violence I think of this game that you know,
one one rule change, but you know, the crackback block
I think leads the end of the defensives receiver and
so on.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
The violence of the Steelers, yes, but we always forget
about the violence of one Bill collar the day he
stuffed the photo in the referee shirt pocket. Yep, the
next week referees never wore shirt pockets again. The Bill
Cower rule, I did not know that. I thought I
(12:36):
had to throw that one.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
That's a good one. That's a good one.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
By the way, you know, we all love Matt Williamson
as a human being, and we love his stats as well.
So the since two thousand, the Dolphins are six and
thirteen when playing in temperatures under thirty two degrees, just
of course from max. In their past ten games in
below freezing temperatures, they are one and nine with the
(13:01):
loan win in Pittsburgh in December two thousand, so let's.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Not start talking about that weather. And by the way,
I agree with you.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
You know, it's interesting Wax and you talk about the
secondary that you bring in a guy like you have,
a guy like a Sante Samuel and you elevate him
to the practice, to the active roster. I don't think
they wanted anybody to proach him. But that wasn't really
the game, you know what I mean. You know, Sante
Samuel's not the biggest guys coming off a neck injury.
He said that he liked to play more physical. He
(13:33):
was critiqued for not being physical enough, but he was,
you know, nursing a neck injury. And you know that
maybe wasn't the game. He only had one snap on defense.
But I agree with you, like you know, it's hard
not to be bullish on Pierre and Eccles and you know,
Joey Porter Junior of course on the other side, and
if you can get Samuel in there and the safety situation,
(13:54):
you know, and again this isn't we're not talking about
next year yet.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
We'll have plenty of time to do that.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
But you know, in the world in which it's three
sixty five in the NFL, And I saw a mock
draft this morning on ESPN. You know that that you do.
Your mind does go to things like that and think, hey,
you know a corner, you know, a receiver, an offensive tackle,
(14:21):
these are these are things you normally have to spend
first round picks on. And so if you can be
feel pretty good about your corner situation, man, that means
you can you can take those first round picks and
address other needs.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
With them, absolutely, like a quarterback. But boy, that that
rich and plentiful crop a quarterback got di looted quickly. Yeah,
I see, I saw a well done mock draft that
had the Steelers taken a quarterback in the second round. Sellers, Uh,
you know, one of those one of those favored players
(14:58):
before the season who's has dropped. And that's that's that
makes sense to me, the Steelers being patient and not
not doing anything stupid in the first round and then
getting one of those guys like a new Smier in
the second round. And that's that's not the excitement everybody
(15:19):
was hoping for when you're talking about a quarterback, But
that's how it goes. But you're right about the corner
back situation, and they do have a you know, you
have to wonder about Broderick and hope he's going to
be healthy. Anyway, we shouldn't be talking about next year
because they just got back into this year and and uh,
(15:40):
I want to I want to credit Aaron Rodgers that
I heard a show they were they were saying, who's
who gets more credit for this win? Mike Tomlin or
the referees? And I thought, why is Mike Tomlin even
a candidate? Why is he in the multiple choice? This
is I thought this was Aaron Rodgers and you know,
(16:00):
helpful his friends, of course, but I thought he not
only took over leadership and practice, he took over leadership
of the game. And then he hit the big He
hit the big ball to start the game, and that
got everybody off and running.
Speaker 7 (16:15):
Yeah, he definitely did it. You know, this is a
game that coming into it only had four deep deep
passes of twenty yards or more than he had completed,
and in this game alone, he completed three of those,
all to DK and he almost doubled his numbers. It's
almost like he heard people saying something about him and
questioning whether he could or could not. Because we all know,
(16:39):
Aaron Rodgers is not Eddy at all. Jim Wexel right,
he doesn't take anything personal. He's just so stoic. But
but but I'm here for because, like you said, I mean,
it's yielded a great result. Now let's see if they
can if they can build on that, because they'll have
an opportunity to do that again and we'll will definitely
(17:00):
need it.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
You know.
Speaker 7 (17:02):
So whatever DeLorean he got in and time machine, you know,
whether it's a hot tub or DeLorean, I don't care.
But he definitely showed some mobility and like you said,
the touch and and some of and some of those
deep balls that that he's famous for over his long
story career.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
Well you know they were It wasn't just the media
and the fans daring him to do it. It was
defenses and he pretty much had to hit one. I mean,
there were you know, they were playing man coverage out
there on the wide receivers with really no respect for them.
He had to make them respect at least decay. And
so that's a start, and hopefully it'll open up the
(17:45):
middle a little bit, and that'll hopefully open up the
running game a little bit. Get this thing rolling.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Let's get Yeah, we need to Jim wax Well, that
sounds great to us.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Hump Day headlines with Wexhel presented by your neighborhood for show.
The f one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh's either Hey, wex before we let you go.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
How's how's the book going?
Speaker 5 (18:09):
It's it's out right, and it's available and it's going
to make a tremendous holiday gift for Steelers fans.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Yeah, it's going great. Faith and I are lining up
some signings. And you know, Faith is Craig's widow, and
she's she loves the book, and I'm I know we're
all pulling for Faith and the family because it's it's
a family project too. Don't get me wrong. There's all football,
but it it's enveloped in family and uh, you know
(18:41):
Ronnie wolf Lee and Faith and Megan his pictures in there,
and Kyle wolf Lee and CJ. We all know CJ.
So it's a great family project. But it's it's a
really good football book too, don't get me wrong. So
I'm excited. Did I'm excited for the Wolf's family and
(19:02):
I want to do all I can to help. Uh,
not not help financially, just help help them enjoy how
books roll out and help them enjoy this whole process.
I know, you know, Craig, he's looking down with that
big chuckle of his and he's, uh, he's enjoying it all.
(19:26):
You talk about procrastinator, smax Wolf did not progress to
ate on this one at all. The manuscript was due
the day he died. And you know, if it was
up to me, Ace procrastinator, the book never would have
come out if it was me, because I would have
been in the hospital bed trying to type out. But
(19:48):
Craig got it all in during the season, did a
lot of great work and the rest was up to us.
And I want to I want to think we pulled
it off.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
If these walls could talk stories in the Pittsburgh the
sideline locker room and press box. Uh, it's a it's
a great book and make a great gift for all
the Steelers fans out there during this holiday season. It's
a fun, fun read. It's it's good stuff and and
wex your good stuff to my friend.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
We thank you for being with us and look forward
to seeing you on the south side.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
All right, see you soon, boys, stake care all right, thanks,
we stake here all right.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
Much more to get to as we continue to break
down the Cities matchup against the Miami Dolphins. When we
continue in the locker room presented by our neighborhood of
Ford's joining the Steerers Pro Shop on Stears Nation Radio.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
What part of the Steelers Audio network.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
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 Dealers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
And we thank you for being with us in the
locker room as we get you ready for the Pittsburgh
Steelers taking on the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night football.
You know, we went through the all the playoffs scenarios yesterday, Max,
and all the power rankings for what they're worth and
what they could potentially mean and all this other stuff.
(21:25):
So yesterday with Wes when Westfield in for you, and
you know, the Steelers not that highly ranked by I
think it was ESPN had them seventeenth the Athletic had
them fourteenth, moving up a lot of spots after their win.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
And you know, we.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Hadn't checked in on on where the Dolphins are perceived
to be, and I just thought i'd go there. So
NFL dot Com has them ranked twenty first. Again, this
is not anything more than an academic exercise. This is
not the college football system. This isn't Notre Dame howling
about not selected right. These things don't really matter, but
(22:03):
it does give you an idea of how the team
is uh is perceived. And the Dolphins, you know, look,
their their playoff hopes are are pretty much finished.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
But I think, Mike McDaniel.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
So you're telling you there's a chance, we're telling you there's.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
A chance, and that their odds are extremely long. I
think that they have to. I think what they're going
to be thinking, as I mentioned yesterday, is keep your
head down, win the next couple of games, three games,
get yourself to nine and seven, and then kind of,
you know, poke your head back up and say where
are we? You know, ten and seven usually gets you
(22:42):
into the playoffs. Can we win this game, get to
ten and seven and be in the playoffs. I don't
think it's going to be enough, but you have to
at least be thinking in those terms. And I'm sure
they are looking at these next games, is you know,
very winnable. They can win in Pittsburgh. Hey, it's a
seven and six team. We're six and seven. We can
beat them on the road, and we have Cincinnati home. Well,
(23:02):
surely we can win a home game against Tampa Bay
at home. They've been staggering a little bit. They've won
four games in a row, have the Dolphins, So you know,
they're they've got to be feeling like they've at least
got a chance. And Mike McDaniel has probably eased the
temperature on that seat underneath his button, right and the
seat's probably not quite as hot as it had been.
(23:24):
And you know, as you mentioned, Max Tua has failed
to reach two hundred yards passing in four consecutive games.
And you know what, the Dolphins have won four consecutive games.
And one of the reasons is they've they've run the
ball so effectively and they've defended well.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
And.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
It's you know, it's it feels to me like it's
kind of a team effort. Like as I look at
that team, Bradley Chubb isn't the two time All Pro
that he's been in the past. Matt Judon is not
having an explosive season. Oh sure, Chop Robinson, who was
a first round pick, he's starting to come along. You know,
They've got a couple of fine young inside linebackers. Minka
(24:08):
is on the back end. But it's not like it's
a defense Leyden with household names.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
You know.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Now, maybe they're on their way to Maybe Jordan Brooks
is on his way to becoming a household name. He
leads the league in tackles. He's got two and a
half sacks. His running mate Dodson has got four sacks.
That's going to be an issue with those guys blitzing
from all over the place. But I don't know if
you could put a hand on it other than running
the ball well, controlling the clock. But this defense has
(24:37):
done has done its part. It's been a huge portion
of why the Dolphins have won four consecutive.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
Games well, and I think it's also because you know,
things have just lined up for that team as well.
So you've had, like you said that that modicum of
success running the football, and that has shortened the game
for endously for the opponent because they're controlling time of
(25:04):
possession and Davon ah Chan has been a central figure
in that, and even for Tula in his accuracy in
the yards production you're getting in these thirdn short certain mediums,
and he's making the throw at that time. So I
think that's the other thing is that the timeliness of
when he does complete the football is in those critical
moments to keep drives alive and to keep chewing up
(25:27):
clock and really shortening the game on possessions. So it's
been a good mix. And like you said, defensively, they've
come together and they've rallied around each other because of
that because teams are usually having to press, and so
when you press, you could defend a little bit more.
But you know, the run defense hasn't been necessarily strong
(25:47):
as this. They've gotten out to a lead and then
forced teams to pass, and so I think that'll be
slowed a little bit because you got to come to
this implement weather. You know, the body isn't as loose
as warm as it's been that home for a lot
of these games, and they haven't gotten that benefit timeline.
It's gonna be a late old night game and Dolphins
(26:11):
are gonna have to deal with that. You know, they're
used to night games and still being kind of temperate weather.
This is gonna be downright frigid. So some things playing
against them and their momentum and their consistency that we're
gonna want to see. But also the biggest thing is
if the Steels come out and play the ball they're
supposed to, we don't have to worry too much. Right,
(26:32):
if the defense comes out and plays the way that
we've seen them throughout various parts of the season for
better than half of the season, it should be good.
And the Dolphins do put the ball in harm's way.
You know, over that span you're looking at to a
tongue of Vailoa, three touchdowns and three interceptions, right, you know,
(26:54):
there's no big advantage in these win games. Like you said,
the passing yards are the passing yards. So when you
when you can dedicate resources to that run game, and
like you said, and you know, and let's starting about
this potentially getting Dereck Carmon back and how what that
does for run game production on the opposing teams. You
(27:15):
could have a good scenario here, but it comes down
to the Steelers offense not being the traditional Steelers offense
that has been this season. And we know what quarter
that is robbed? I think, do I need to say.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
It out loud? Please don't?
Speaker 7 (27:30):
Okay, Well, the game the quarter that starts.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Right after half the third better?
Speaker 7 (27:34):
Yes, yes, that one, that one. So but we but
but like you said, we had, we had a renaissance
last week, putting up ten when we'd averaged what two
point eight I believe before that, so less than a.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Fight, which was I believe twenty seventh in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
Yes, not not good, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
The one thing I will say about the Dolphins too,
and the way they're constructed and the way they've been
winning games. So they've been taking the ball away. Two
has got those three picks, but they haven't fumbled the ball.
They've been taking it away. You know, you get some
leads and now you again, it's the same old story, right,
you run the ball. You know, you get into third
(28:17):
and manageable. That cuts down on your turnovers, and then
you start to manage the clock and maybe you pull
away a little bit. Now the other team gets one dimensional.
Now they turn the ball over because you know they've
got to throw the ball, they've got to try to
make plays that makes them vulnerable to turnovers. So look,
we know the formula, and they've been following that formula.
(28:41):
You know, I've always thought they're sort of an interesting
I think the most interesting move, one of the most
interesting moves that they made is when they went out
and got Tybreek Hill in twenty twenty one. Now, of course,
Tyreek Hill is hurt, and you know, I don't want
to get into off field things with Tyreek Hill. I
just want to talk about him as a player, because
(29:01):
you know, I want to keep it within the scope
of what we're talking about as far as this game
coming up. You know, they had selected Jayalen Waddle with
the six overall pick in the draft the year before
they signed Tyreek Hill, and Waddle had an outstanding rookie season.
(29:21):
He had over one hundred catches, and it's not like
he's disappeared when you know, with the acquisition of Tyreek Hill.
You know, the following year, his second year, he led
the league in yards per reception. But it's kind of
a curious move to put a big down payment on
(29:41):
another guy to give you that one two punch and
then you know, you had Tua, and I'm sure that
the thought was, hey, listen, let's surround him with playmakers.
But you know, they had other issues to address, offensive line,
other things that they never quite really addressed, and they
never quite really got over the hump, you know. And
now Waddle's the guy again and they're not throwing the
(30:06):
ball to him a ton. It's not like he is
going to lead the league in receptions or anything like that.
He's having a fine season. He has fifty seven receptions.
He's gonna, you know, at this pace, he's going to
wind up with you know what is close to eighty
and which would be the most you would have had
since that rookie year we had one hundred and four catches.
(30:28):
The reason I think Wattle is interesting and the way
you're using him this way and not, you know, not
not going to him a ton and not having all
the targets funnel through him, is we know what he's
capable of. We know that this guy once led the
league in yards perception. He has six touchdown catches this year.
We know that he can make explosive plays. He took
(30:51):
up a short pass against Atlanta, zipped up the right sideline.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
And ran it in for a long score.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
You know that suddenness that not every receiver is capable of.
Another receiver might have been dragged down at the seventeen
yard line. Wattle's got that breakaway speed. It's why he
was taking six overall in the draft back in twenty
twenty one, because he was viewed as a number one receiver.
All this Cook goes to saying, they've they've changed their approach.
(31:17):
They've changed from this hat pass heavy approach to a
more running team. It's gotten better results for him. But
I don't think we can overlook the fact that Wattle
is still very, very capable of being a game breaker.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
No, he is.
Speaker 7 (31:36):
He is very capable. It's still in the DNA, and
you can't take it for granted. You can't sit there
and say, hey, we're gonna load the box with nine
men and we're gonna leave, and we're gonna leave Jalen
lone cover one manned up press and call it a day.
Nor that it would be the worst thing ever. But
(31:57):
I think you do have to make sure that you're
in a position where you are staying conscious about him.
You still keep two in single high stuff, but you know,
realize that He's not going to be a focal point
unless unless you forget about him and you make it
all about Dave on a chain, or you make it
all about trying to put pressure on Tua and trying
(32:18):
to sack him, and you forget about Jalen on the
backside and he does break one on you know, on
your on your secondary. So you know it's they're they're
like you said, they're a good team. You can't do
not knock the process of four in a row and
five out of six. That means that other people have
taken them for granted. Don't fall into that lull that
(32:39):
everybody else has. I mean, just look at Buffalo, right,
you know, and we would argue that Buffalo is a
good team, and they absolutely destroyed Buffalo. So just keep
that in the back of your mind when when you're
preparing for this Dolphin squad. They have a lot of
good players. They've had some hard luck, but they still
got some good core guys in that group that know
what it is. And you have to believe they're going
(32:59):
to be playing extra hard because Minka Fitzpatrick is there,
right and they're going up against Jalen Ramsey and the
issues that Jalen and John kind of gave them a
year ago. So the guys who are on that team
are not going to forget that. And this is this
is there is some bad blood here that we're gonna
be dealing with. Just like when you know DK played Seattle, right,
(33:21):
it was an emphasis try and lock him out of
that game. Aaron playing against the Jets and then of
course against the Packers. So you know, these quote unquote
rivalry get back games are real. And this is the
last one of this season, and this is the one
that was the trade right before training camp started.
Speaker 5 (33:39):
You know, uh, we're looking at this, I think more
from Minca's perspective because he was a long time Steeler
and he was acquired, you know, by a trade and
from the Dolphins, and now he's going back to Miami
and you bring in Jalen Ramsey and and Jalen's been
around a little, but it's not like he's a you know,
(33:59):
it's like it's I don't know, I don't know if
it I don't know if it would mean the same
to him. Do you think he would mean the same
to Jalen Ramsey going against the Dolphins as it would
Mica Fitzpatrick coming back to play this students. Because the
game is in Pittsburgh and Jalen only spent two years
with the Dolphins before the trade, it wasn't like he'd
(34:21):
been there. And I did when he did go to
a Pro Bowl with the Dolphins, but it's not like
he was he had the sort of tenure that Minca had,
And of course minck is coming to Pittsburgh maybe would
be different if Jalen was going to Miami. Do those
things matter for a player length of time and where
the game is played.
Speaker 7 (34:41):
No, but you know there's a certain pettiness factor that's
involved in that. And that was the previous team, you know,
because it would just be like saying, oh, it didn't
matter as much for Aaron, you know, because only he
only spent really one healthy season in New York. No,
it absolutely does matter, you know. And for Dk, Yes,
(35:02):
DK was a long time Seattle Seahawk, but the game
was in Pittsburgh. So yeah, So if there is a
connection and there is time, especially the last team that
you played for, it is going to matter. And I'm
sure he probably pushed for that trade as much as
as as as a Dolphins organization because there was some
(35:23):
friction there towards the end of that last season, and
that's why he was available and even mentioned as a
potential trade trade guy. So yeah, so no, there are
feelings when an organization relinquishes you or you want away
from it. You want to prove them right and also
prove them wrong in the process. And you know, it's
(35:43):
it's like the Spider Man meme. Everybody's pulling in each other,
which one is a real Spider Man. Well, that's what
it goes with, with the pettiness and the chip. Everybody
wants that chip, but everybody's going to use that chip.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Yep. And you have to write.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
I mean, it's a long season and whatever little motivation
you need to get you going can.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
Get you going. Exact a mundo, exact a mundo.
Speaker 5 (36:09):
Max Stark's my friend. How's how's your flight? How's your
flight info going? You all right there?
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (36:17):
No, I'm good, I'm good. I think we're about to board,
so I'm in the right area.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Okay, Well, I think I'll let you get aboard that plane. Uh.
Speaker 5 (36:26):
And I'm gonna assume that this is going to be
the final little bit with Max Starks on this day.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
My friend Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
We're gonna we're gonna dive into some you know, more
and more information keeps coming out about not only the
Dolphins running the ball, but how they're running the ball,
how the Teathers can combat that, you know, Derek Harmon
coming back and what does that mean, so on and
so forth. Up lots of interesting stuff to break down
over the next couple of days when we continue in
the locker room.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
Thanks my friend safe travels.
Speaker 7 (36:55):
Hey, thanks Bud, and I will definitely be talking to
the same bad Time, same bat channel tomorrow here on Steelers.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Yeah, we'll do it.
Speaker 7 (37:03):
Man, all right, take care.
Speaker 4 (37:04):
Can't wait see man. Thank you very much. We want
to remind you again it's.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
Gonna be cold if you're going to the game, A
perfect time to gear up with the latest game day
necessities at the official Students Pro shops. Get the latest
Sideline apparel, jerseys, terrible towels, authentic memorabilia, and custom exclusives
you can only find directly from the team. Visit one
of the official Students Pro shops located at Akroscher Stadium,
(37:28):
Grove City Premium Outlets, or Tanger Outlets, or gear up
online at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct
from a team at the Students Pro Shop at Shop
dot Steelers dot com. We'll be back more in the
Locker Room presented by your Neighborhood Forards Store and the
Studis Pro Shop on Students Nation Radio, a part of
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your Neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
And continuing our breakdown of the Miami Dolphins, the opponent
for the Steelers on Monday.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
Night Football here in the locker room.
Speaker 5 (38:19):
And you know, there are a lot of really interesting
trends and different things that the Dolphins have been doing
as they have ripped off four consecutive wins. Maybe again
ease the temperature on the you know, sort of perceived
Mike McDaniel hot seed, although he survived while they made
other moves. And the team is six and seven right now,
(38:41):
they've won four consecutive games. There are only four teams
in the AFC who are eliminated from the playoffs, the
Jets at three and ten, the Browns at three and ten,
and then the two and eleven teams at Titans and
the Raiders, you know, the teams that are really really
in big trouble. The Bengals still have not been eliminated
(39:01):
because they have a chance to win the division. They're
four and nine and you know, so you know, every
game for them is must win, and obviously they're gonna
need significant help to try to get into the playoffs. However,
that you know, the fact that they're desperate could be
something that's good for this steers because they're going to
be hosting the Ravens on Sunday afternoon, so we'll have
(39:25):
an idea of how that well, we'll know how that
game is going to play out prior to that happening,
so you know. There, then you have the six and
seven teams, which are the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas
City Chiefs, who are not yet eliminated but are really
really facing long, long odds to try to make the playoffs.
But again, as long as you still have a chance,
(39:47):
you keep.
Speaker 4 (39:48):
Going and you keep playing.
Speaker 5 (39:50):
So mention that the Dolphins have have gone from a
team that seemed to want to throw the ball a
lot under with two a tongue of Iiloa. You know,
you draft him extremely high in the draft. You make
him your guy. You have Jalen Wattle, they were teammates
in college. You know, you go out and you get
(40:11):
Tyreek Hill. You're trying to press the ball down the field, right,
You're trying to make big plays in the passing game. Well,
Tyreek Hill, you know, not with the team right now,
as we know, and you know, so they have had
to change things, right, So he's Tyreek Hill, got hurt
(40:31):
and probably looks like this might be.
Speaker 4 (40:33):
His last go round with the Dolphins.
Speaker 5 (40:36):
So they've transformed into a running team, and they've they've
transformed into a specific kind of running team.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
Now.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
They throw a lot of different looks, a lot of
pre stap motion. You know, they'll have two lined up
in the shotgun and they'll have three running backs to
his left and a tight bunch and then they'll move
guys in motion just before the snap, and they're trying
to give a lot of different look but a lot
of what is happening as they've run the ball mentioned
four consecutive games in which had a one hundred yard rusher.
(41:07):
Eight Chan had the first three and then got hurt
early on, and then jail and Wright came in and
he ran for over one hundred yards. Listed as their
third string running back on the depth chart, but they've
been running a lot of outside zones. So a member
of the Steelers broadcast personnel group giving me this information,
part of the Steelers studio crew, and my thanks to
(41:31):
him for this info that they are fourth tied for
fourth in the amount of zone runs to the outside
that they've run during this winning streak. Now that's not
to say they won't go up the middle, because they will,
but eight Chan, you know, you run up the middle,
and then if you can get eight Chan on the
outside and you can get him some space, he is
(41:55):
extremely dangerous. He and James Cook are probably the two
fastest running back in the league. You know, Derreck Henry's
right there with him. But those guys get up to
speed quicker, and and think about you know, the zone concept,
and think about the runs that the Bills did against
the Steelers. Right, you start left, you cut back to
the right, you get to the edge, and it's trouble
(42:16):
well eight Chan has that kind of capability. Now, probably
a little bit different concepts in the running games and
the Bills use, but keep that in mind. And then
one other statistic, and Jim Wexel brought this up, and
I think it's it's really interesting, and again it's hard
to say if it's a definitive statistic because you have
(42:37):
to look at opponents when you played them, you have
to look at you know, the game circumstances. Like you know,
we had the statistic we mentioned Matt Williams and said
last year that when, uh, when Cam Hayward was on
the field, the Steelers were second best in the NFL
in yards per carry and when he wasn't on the field,
they were thirty thirty first or thirty second. So that
(43:00):
that over the course of a season, and you know,
that seems like a very real statistic. This one, I think,
I think there's reality to it. I don't know if
it's quite as stark as it maybe seems, because you know,
the games that we have seen Harmon miss have been
against heavy running teams. Three of the four games that
(43:20):
he's missed, he missed the game against the Jets. Well,
the Jets want to run the football, right, the Jets
are a heavy running football team. Then he missed the
game against the Baltimore Ravens, and he missed the game
against the Kansas City Chiefs. So again, these are Kansas Chiefs,
the Buffalo Bills. So these are heavy, heavy running teams.
(43:42):
These are teams that want to run the ball a lot, right,
So when you you know, so how much of that
is Derek Harmon wasn't in there, and how much of
that is you're going against teams that really really want
to run the football. So that's all a preamble for
this statistic. And we're hoping that Derek Carmon, you know
(44:03):
who's supposed to be limited in practice in the early
part of the week and they're hoping he's available on Monday.
Nine games with Derek Carmon, the Steelers defense is allowing
ninety six yards per game rushing.
Speaker 4 (44:17):
That's really really good.
Speaker 5 (44:19):
Like if you are if that's the kind of defense
that you are, ninety six yards a game rushing, that
would rank you in the top six in the NFL
in yards per game. The four games without Derek Harmon
one hundred and ninety one and a quarter yards rushing
(44:41):
per game that would be by far the worst in
the NFL, not even close, thirty five yard plus difference
between you and the next closest team. So this will
be an interesting test for that statistic because Miami has
run the ball extremely only effectively lately. They're still, you know,
(45:03):
on the season, they're a very good running team, but
lately they become an elite running team during this four
game winning streak. So again something will delve into more,
but definitely a statistic as we break down these matchups
and kind of introduce you to who the Dolphins are.
That is something to keep an eye on. Want to
remind you tomorrow we have Jerry Dulac coming up. Want
(45:23):
to thank Jim Wexel today. We also have a special
guest coming up on Friday. We'll tell you more about
that over the next couple of days. But that's it
for today and we will look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
For Max Starks, for Jim Wexel, for Justin Miller, a
producer in the iHeart Studio, I'm Rob King. We thank
you for being in the Locker Room, presented by your
neighborhood Ford Store and the Steerers Pro Shop. On Steers
(45:44):
Nation Radio a part of this year, there's audio network
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.