January 3, 2025 • 45 mins
The guys are fully focused on the upcoming clash with Cincinnati as they get ready for Saturday’s game.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
This is in the Locker Room, presented by Ford and
brought to you by Akroshure, the official insurance and cybersecurity
partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, by Bett MGM, Huntington Bank, PNC, PEPSI,
and by FedEx. Where now meets next? Now here's Craig
Wolfley and Max Stark's.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
It is the Power Hour.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
You know what happens in the Power Hour? Wolf WhatsApp
We don't slow down for anybody, just like optimists never
slows down for us. We're going into it full speed ahead,
just like we're gonna go into Akroshore and be the
Steelers that we know them to be. When they were
on that you know, ten win Trek before December hit,
(01:01):
before the scrum hit. This team was a team that,
you know, you had everybody talking, everybody buzzn't a team
that was in control for the most part of all
of its games. Defense was lights out, offense had its
explosive plays, and you know, special teams were special. Let's
(01:24):
make special teams you know special again. I would love
to see what that is. And yes, I know the
leg of Chris Boswell is a rare commodity in this league.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
This year the.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Model of consistency. But I'm talking about the splashy plays.
I'm talking about Calvin Austa returned. I'm talking about a
fumble recovery or a cause fumble on a kick return.
And you know, the one thing, even with all the
injuries wolf that the Steelers sustained kind of in that
month of December, the plays were there. The ball did
(02:01):
not bounce their way. That the ball had bounced their way.
How much different would these games have been.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Man, that'd be interesting, that would be Yeah, there's a
whole lot different.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So I would love a return to that, right us
capitalizing on when we do get turnovers, capitalizing on them.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And so.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
That's kind of what jacks me up for, you know,
for this game. I think this could be an opportunity
to get back on track.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Mm hm, you know and.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Go ahead.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Oh well, the thing I'm sitting there going the guy
that really the guy that really kind of makes me go,
it's not t Higgins. It's Jamar Chase. That dude is
a walking, talking, pass catching human hemorrhoid. I mean, he
is a pain in the butt for any secondary And
when you got somebody as hot as Joe Burrell, who
(02:59):
is right now.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
The guy is on. All he needs is he needs.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Like three hundred and sixty yards and three touchdowns to
move into a very exclusive group of guys that you
know he can become one of the second Let's see
all bro needs to do his past for three hundred
and sixty yards three tds versus Steel has become the
fifth quarterback in NFL history with five thousand past yards
(03:23):
and forty five TD passes to join a lot of
Hall of famers like Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Drew Brees,
and Pat Mahomes. I mean, think about that, that's a move,
and then you think about a Jamar Chase. This guy
is just as volatile as could be as far as
a pass catching monster.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Out there, well yeah, I mean it is the stuff
of nightmares when not handled properly. Right, Yeah, But I
think you know, like you said, getting Joey back and
you know, we'll see what the status of Dante is.
But that you got Trice, I mean, this is technically
(04:02):
the group you wanted out there last year. You wanted
to see Corey Trice opposite Joey Porter Junior. This is
why you this is why you drafted Joey, this is
why you went and got Corey, right, yeah, because you
knew you had Avatar wide receivers in Cincinnati. So I
(04:24):
would love to see that matchup and see what the
future holds, you know, for this type of matchup moving forward,
whenever you play Cincinnati, depending on obviously what they do
with wide receiver salaries. But you know, for now, this
is what we have, and we have an opportunity to
go match size for size at the wide receiver position,
(04:47):
which we haven't had the last couple of years.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Well that's true, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I mean, look, you go back to December first at
pay Corpse Stadium and Joey had issues with past interference.
Colise called for five, got them actually going against t
Higgins and to me, again, it's solving the problems of
being able to play man with these guys because they're
(05:12):
such a dangerous lot. I mean, think about it. Yoshova's
he does some pretty good work as a supporting wide
receiver three, but the two are so potentially damaging at
any point in time.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
One good thing I think, you know, it's.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Well it's going to be cold, you know, sorry for
you and Missy, but that might be something that maybe
helps a little bit in the passing game because you know,
cold hands, I mean, you know, not such such a
good ability to feel the ball when it hits your hands.
So I don't know that's a possibility, but certainly solving
(05:48):
the mystery or the problem of t Higgins and Jamar
Chase together is going to be a huge, huge thing
that they've got to be able to handle. And it's
going to start with me. As far as time of possession. Offensively,
you know, you got to control the ball because Joe,
Joe can control that ball pretty darn well when you
hand it over to him.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
And I think the biggest thing is is that it's consistency, right,
It's not overstretching yourself. It's like everybody must do their job.
And I think for that Steelers defensive line, like you've
got to be able to hit home with for four
or five man rush. You can't afford to blitz Deshaun
(06:33):
Elliott like you did last last game out.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
I wanted to say it last week and I'm.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Like, no, technically you carry the one and plus the
two and doesn't quite But you know what I mean, well,
I mean it it's it's tough because like you said,
you know, with Joe and how Joe likes to deploy
the personnels, He's looking for the ISO on either side,
(06:58):
and so he's looking for who is the one, you know,
defender guy? Is it t Is it Jamar? Because you
know everything flows towards Jamar and that's how T Higgins.
You know, T Higgins went off last week and had
a stellar, phenomenal game. So you know, the emphasis is
(07:20):
going to be can we stay as balanced as possible.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And as long as.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Nobody tries to reach stretch, overplay their skill set or
their technique or their zone. You want to make sure
that you know, in your head you're keeping your own
internal clock as you're as you're defending him.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
And please, please, oh god.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Please do not lose the tight end in this game.
Please don't. I'm just gonna ask nicely, yeah about him. Yeah,
because he's going to help move the chains, which which
you know, what's the positive consequently, I can't think of
(08:09):
it right now, but that word, that word is probably
that's probably one of the biggest things. He's going to
be a chain mover, right, He's going to get you
into those positions to where you can play you know,
more balance, more loose, more open, not as tight closed
(08:30):
off in one dimensional like remember, you need to let
the moth get on the loof. You got it, And
at that moment you gotta kind of say it a
little little lispie. Well yeah, yeah, yeah, you got a
colt the move under looth.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
But you know what he's had.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
He's averaging like five catches a game against Cincinnati, somewhere, five, six,
somewhere in that area. But you know, to me, it's
like I could see ten targets going his way, his
twelve targets, you know. I mean, he had a big
game against Cincinnati a year or two ago. I can't
remember which it was, But the fact of the matter
is that's exactly an area you need to explore. The
(09:12):
other one is it's got to have a run. We
got to have a running attack. There's no doubt about it.
It's gonna be cold Sunday night, or yeah, Saturday night. Sorry,
it's gonna be cold Saturday night. And let's face it,
the Bengals right now, when the Bengals hold the Steelers
to fewer than one hundred and three rushing yards, they're
four and two. When they don't, they're zher and three
when we rush for over one hundred and three yards.
(09:34):
We are three and zero against the Bengals and this
is in the Joe Burrow area. You know, the fact
of the matter is they want.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
To take the ball away and crush the rush yards,
but the Steelers can't.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
They've got to be able to run the ball. I think,
because again it's gonna be cold. I think a lot
of that short passing game could be something with the
mouth on the looth, as you would like to say.
And I think that's that's where you got to go.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah, I mean on equipment, right, I mean, it just
it makes too much sense.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Now. Do I want to see other guys involved, Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
Sure, but I've got it. But if there's a primary
you know.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
What I mean, yeah, exactly, But I'm saying, but yeah,
if all things equal, I want to see eighty eight
do what eighty eight does. Yeah, right, And yes, we
know fourteen is going to be fourteen. He's going to
get his he's going to have a highlight worthy play
that it's going to go on, you know, his his
football career, you know, memory, memory lane, scrapbook video. But
(10:34):
at the same time, consistency is key. And I even
think for Uss, right getting back into a rhythm of
the game is going to be huge for him, just
for the mental psyche. Right, I don't care how tough,
how old you are, you can still put pressure on yourself.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
You can still you know, desire more.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
And I think that's kind of one of the things
where I'm like, okay, as long as as long as
they're not getting complacent with this, I feel good with
it and that and that's what we're waiting to see.
We want to see the consistent because that's what it's
going to take in the playoffs. So if you the
sooner you can show it, the better. We're gonna be
off as a squad, well.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
No doubt about it, you know. And the fact of
the matter is they're not gonna have Sheldon Rankins. They're
gonna have some other guys. Bj Hill I think is
pretty good up front there. But you know, running that
influence trap, i'd love to see that. And again that
screen game, well, because here's the you know, you're gonna
have the basic wide zone, you're gonna run the wide zone,
you're gonna run some other basic stuff. But again part
(11:39):
and parcel of that, the toss crack. I still like
for you know, if you go back to Cincinnati, Uh,
Naji scored on a nice eight ten yard toss crack.
It's to me, it's it suits him. I don't know,
not always. I know it because you see sometimes he
runs into a wall of people. But the fact of
(12:00):
the matter is if he sees the cutback. And I
go way back to the beginning of the year when
Cordero was running the ball a little bit back down
in Atlanta and everything like that. You think about the
times that he hit the back door and the cutback
on that, and I always thought that Naji started to
look more towards it after.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Seeing a little bit of Cordero doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, No, I mean, and.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
CP is one of those that's the enigma, right, Yeah,
because he has has the wide receiver number and body
you know what I mean, and body type and lines
up in the backfield and can run really effectively. He
can weave, he can pick his way through traffic standing
completely upright. And you know, it's just it's such a
(12:50):
nice change. I wish we would explore that more with him.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Yeah, he's one of those guys that makes you go.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, and you know, what else.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I would just love to see him catch a pass
and do stuff in the open field, not just a
now screen or a funnel screen, but like a like
a deeper route. I would love to see his route
tree kind of expanded within this offensive construct, right. I
think that's that's kind of how you have to word it.
You want to see the expansion and the growth throughout
(13:24):
this throughout this season with Cordero, who is flashed really nice.
I mean I would stand to contend almost that's probably
one of the best halfs in Indianapolis for a running
back up to that point this season. So I would
love to see that version of him kind of come
(13:44):
out and you know, not to say, oh but goodness,
we're gonna throw the entire bag out because you know,
we're trying to win this game, but you know, to
a certain degree, I want to see them take it
seriously and and and utilize all options. And of course,
for offensive line, the edict is get the job done.
I thought you said at the end of the day,
(14:05):
get the job done.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
I thought you were saying eat it instead of eat it.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
Oh gosh, it's getting the job done.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Somebody's hungry. Yeah, I mean somebody's hungry. We are not
at the bell lap yet, Wolf. We still have some
time to go before we get to the bell lap.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
But don't worry.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
It's quickly charging. And as soon as we get off
the air, you can drive down.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
The hill and there's a lot of good eating down
at the bottom of the hill. There's no doubt about it.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
One of the things that I still am excited about is,
again we talked about it before, and maybe I may
be pounding the pot at home a little too much.
But the screen game, whether it's a regular screen, whether
it's a slip screen, you know, whether it's a you know,
delayed screen to a tight end something like that.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
We haven't seen hardly any of that.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
But the other screens, especially when you get a Jalen
Warren or you get nage out there in the flats,
It to me is that's a very productive long handoff
type of affair where you almost always get positive yardage
off that.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah you do. And I struggle with this, right well.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
I know, yeah, go ahead, tell me your struggles. You know.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
My struggles.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Is you know, when you run that toss crack, you
get strung out wide, right, I don't see a definitive
stick in the ground, cut back against the grain type
of alleyway.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
For well, the problem is every now and then he
pulls it off, you know what I mean. Like in
Peycore you had that one touchdown run that was off
the toss crack, you know, like you go, that's it.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
Can we see a little more, you know?
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Or yeah, just hit the hole faster. You know, we're
not too demanding, We're not too demanding. Just hit the
whole every single time, don't miss, and do it faster.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
That's it. That's it, that's all we gotta worry about.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
But it's just it looks so starkily different when he
runs it versus Jalen Warren.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
That's and that's the.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Other I gotcha.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, that makes it tough, right.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Is that you see you know, you know, struggle one
end and then just immense, immense joy.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Having his jubilation on the other end.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
And I just want consistency, and Jalen brings that consistency
when he's in the backfield.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I gotcha, no doubt I can. I can understand. Look again,
you know, going back to the having the productivity coming
off of time of possession, you know, is it's huge.
I guess a guy like Joe Burrow think about this.
I mean, Burrow is going for eight, He's gone eight
consecutive games with at least two hundred and fifty yards
(16:50):
passing and three t ds.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
You know, I mean, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
He's going for his ninth game in a row of
at least two hundred and fifty passing yards and three
That's just like unconscionable, you know. And I don't you
sit there and go, my gosh. You know, even when
they were losing, he was doing stuff like that. So
you know, the fact is getting him and getting him uncomfortable,
getting him into a position where he's not comfortable.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
I don't. I don't know how you get him uncomfortable
other than knocking him down. You know. That's the only
thing about it. How much can you actually blitz a
guy like Joe Burrow before he makes you bleed? You know?
Speaker 4 (17:29):
I mean, that's It's another area that's really difficult. Tarol
Austin's got a real quandary there, because between the fact
of Joe and t Higgins and Jim ar Chase, you've
got a trifecta of guys that can take into the house.
You add in a Chase Brown if he's good, and
a Yoshovats who's you know, pretty darn good for a
number three receiver.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
Ow. You know, I'm just sitting there.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, exactly, exactly, ow.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
But you're right.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I mean, but that's also why play the games, right, Well, yeah,
we play the games to figure out who is the victor.
Because if we're just going off of paper, that's one thing.
But when you actually get down to the nuts and
bolts to start playing the game, you know, how how
you want it to versus how it's presented to you.
That's another big moment that they're going to have to conquer.
(18:23):
They're gonna have to figure it out. And you know,
what's that?
Speaker 5 (18:30):
What do you think?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
No?
Speaker 2 (18:31):
It just no, I was I just had another thought
in my head, is that?
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Like?
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Yeah, yeah, I had a thought.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I had a thought. I'm gon putting the io used? Now,
I remember, you want to keep that one that was
pretty expensive Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Yeah, that's what I was.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
That's a good one. That's a good one to keep.
You know, I kind of lost my thought there.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
It's okay, because my thought happens. My thought is just
you know, real simple again. It so much boils down
to controlling that freaking ball at that time of possession,
because that's the only guaranteed way to keep Burrow at
at you know, at arm's length. And the fact is
it's gonna need a good thirty minutes. A good forty
(19:21):
minutes would almost guarantee.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
He can't say that, But.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
It's as close as you can come to making the
most positive inroad possible other than putting up fifty points
and hoping that Joe can't match you.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
You know what I mean, Mm hmm, Well Joe doesn't
have enough time to match. Yeah, good point, right, that's
the biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
And then and then and then if you're and then
say they are behind and he's trying to throw for
the big play, that's where the opportunities.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Happen, right right, right.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
But if we get advantage of him, but if we
get this slow, matriculate the football down the field approach
from the Bengals kind of trying to give us a
dose of our own medicine. That's why it's important to
also keep that middle integrity and shadow those tight ends, right,
just sicky and know all those guys. You've got to
make sure that you're on top of those guys.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
He's pretty you know.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
He is.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
He's really good. I mean, I mean, listen, he was.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
He was a very good receiver receiving tight end down
and down in Miami for a long time. And he's
he's a great safety relief valve for Joe because he
also has a large cast radio, so you don't.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Have to be as accurate with him.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
There is room and margin for error, so to speak.
So I'm just you know, for me, I'm just hoping
that they can they can keep it going and like
you said, keep him off the field so that you
can continually do what you do. But you've got to
make sure on your possessions that you're putting it away
(20:57):
with points.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
It can't be a punt fest.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
No.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Just as much as I enjoy watching chorus, waiting and
punt now, this is one where you want to see
physicality met, physicality brought, and physicality removed at the end
of the day.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Hey, but oh, I got to ask you one thing
before we go to break.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Yeah, I just it just stuck in my crawl just
because of the fact I know that you you you know,
cover so much college. What did you think about the
Georgia punter going out there and having to punt two
times a couple of times. In the first one, he
got hit two times in a row and they didn't
even give him a first down off of it. He
almost got creamed the first time up and the second
(21:40):
time the same guy came along and hit him again,
hit his leg. It wasn't as big as the first time.
But that was crazy, man, I mean, so.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
That was one that was that was like all over
my text bass man. But that that that that.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Should be a personal foul and an automatic down. And
the first one I thought was was a running into
the kicker, right, I thought, so, yeah, I thought the
second one I was like who.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I was like, what is wrong with this dude?
Speaker 5 (22:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I was like, did he not get the memo take
the heat off? Take just take a little bit of
heat off? And I'm like, God, you were literally gonna
give Georgia back the football.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Nickel and diming the running into the kicker.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
And then at some point they're gonna say this is
no longer running into this is this is a personal foul.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Now.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Luckily it didn't get to that point. But man, it
was close. That was that was crazy.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I thought I was sitting watching I almost picked up
my phone and called Jums and say, what do you
think about that?
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Who's talking to this kid? You know what I mean?
It's like, man, and what an athlete that kid is.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
I mean, you know, it's not like he didn't have,
you know, a great resume there, but you know, you're like,
where's your mind at right now?
Speaker 5 (22:53):
Bud?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Apparently the moment got a little too
big for him and he was he was actively leaking
down his leg at that moment. Yeah, there is no
way and how if I if I just got away
with it one time, There's no I would do the
same thing twice in a row.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
No, can't. It can't happen. But it did.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Nah, you're right, it did. And luckily, you know, and
d finally got the ball back. But that was super stressful.
I'm glad you brought that up. That was a pretty
funny moment. All right, we're gonna step aside. We'll be
back with more here inside the Locker Room on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
This is in the Locker Room, presented by Ford and
brought to you by acro Sure, the official insurance and
Cybersecurity Partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, by Bett MGM, Huntington Bank, PNC, PEPSI,
and by FedEx. Where now meets next? Now here's Craig
Wolfley and Max Stark's all.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Right, we are back and we got we got issues
coming up here. You know what, Max, I'm just sitting
there thinking about it. I look at the stats and
everything else. I'm thinking myself, Dad Zookes of Dante Jackson
is questionable and he had a little bit of setback
like that.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
That would be a bummer.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Now, I know Corey Trice, you want Corey in there,
but the ability to play with Corey, but also the
fact that you know Dante's he's experienced too, you know,
and he's also one of those guys that does a
great job in coverage. But this is not going to
be an easy game by any any amount that we've
been talking about. The fact of the matter is you've
(25:15):
got to go out and do some things that right.
Now here's what bothered make has said this out loud.
He said, you know what's killing us motion stacks and bunches,
and you know those are the things that are creating
issues for the Steelers secondary because in communication, when you've
got emotions, we all know what motions. You've got, zipper motion,
(25:35):
you got all kinds of stuff, right, you got jet motion,
that sort of thing. Communicating that isn't that difficult. But
when you get to a stack where you have a
couple stacked on each other, now you've got another source
of communication that you have to deal with.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
And then when you go.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Bunches, the bunches we saw a Kansas city what they
do with Kelsey and how they motion to the bunch
and create issues. And what make us say it is
every time we screw up one of those, we see
them again because teams are piling on with bringing what
we're not communicating two adjustments too, that's what they're bringing forward,
(26:13):
you know, and attacking us with the things that we
mess up. And you know, it's a tough time to
be messing up, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Is it a tough time messing up? Yeah? Because I
mean the margin era already wolf right when you look
about it is already next to nothing. And you you know,
we watched we watched a cushion kind of get erased
for the Steelers, and so you don't want the sins
of the past coming to haunt you in the President
(26:44):
of the Future, right, And you don't want a mindset creator.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Oh no, here we go again. This moment happened.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
We didn't get the turnover even though we forced the fumble,
and now we're just we're not we're not We're not
good enough to get to get this done. You don't
want that phrase creeping into their minds. So that's why
you want to come out, Chris. You want to come
out flying. You want to come out establish yourself offensively
in the run, in the pass game, then defensively, you
(27:12):
want to establish the pass rush. I mean, those are
the three key things that need to be accomplished cub a.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
PM true, you know, but here's the thing that bothers me.
You know, it's one thing with motion, it's another thing
with the stacks and the stack coverage and so forth.
Because when you get a Jamar Chase and Joshavas or
however they're going to pair the guys, or you get
in a bunch oh my gosh, just you know, the
(27:42):
way Kansas City ran their bunches was just it just
kind of blew me away because you had you had
crossers coming from that. They first they'd motion to the bunch.
Then they have crossers and one guy doing like a
stair step post after breaking off from the bunch on
the crossing route.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
I mean, it was just like mind boggling.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
How does any buddy able to follow anybody on these
these crossing routes that get ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Compensation? Right, how can you do that?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
You're compensated well enough to figure it out?
Speaker 5 (28:16):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
That's and that's what it has to be. But also
think health also affects that, right, health of your team.
Do you have frontline guys in do you have backup
guys that in the in the in those you know
what Mike Time will call weighty moments, you know? And
I think that's where it really comes down to. And
and knowing that we get a semblance of health back
(28:37):
and we already got some guys back the previous game.
I have to keep saying previous game. It bothers me
because I can't say last week because it was not
last week, right, ten less days ago seems.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
So, I know, right, So I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
But but those are the two things that really affect
that effect that that.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Type of play is having the bodies out there.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
And also, hey man, you are well compensated, figure it
out right.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
I would hate to be Terrell Austin. I mean, oh,
that's just that job. Yeah, you know, that job of
trying to cover those guys. And again we're not even
really talking about Chase Brown in the mix, because Chase
Brown right now has been a little dontyed up.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
But remember what he did.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
At Peikor, Man, I mean, he busted that one long
run that right away just set the Steelers back on
their heels early in the game. And I thought, my goodness,
that guy. I didn't realize how good he.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Was well, and you know, because I think he kind
of got overshadowed early right by Zach Moss right and
what Zach could do.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
So you didn't really get to see all that.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Was Chase because you had Zach and you had to
feed that beast, and he was the prize free agent
coming in to help this run game after the departure
of Joe Mixon, and you didn't really you know, you
didn't really know what Chase is gonna do because you're like, Okay, well,
I know what Zach moss Is. He's he is a
(30:10):
known commodity in this league. But Chase's really burst on
the scene and he's really been the difference maker in
the backfield for the run game and keeping every Like
I said, he's the guy that keeps everything on pace
for Joe Burrow to be spectacular.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah right, and when.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
You if you could take that element away, that just
makes it that much tougher for Joe.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
And I'm not sure if Joe.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Joe has moments where he can handle it, but there's
also moments where the offensive line fails him. Right, we
need to make sure the offensive line fails him. Come
come tomorrow. That has to be That's why I said
we have how we generate a pass rush will be
really indicative of how this game is.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Going to go. Well, that's very true.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
You know, I theren no doubt in my mind being
able to stop Terrey Andrickson, Sam Hubbard. Chris Jenkins is
an interesting guy. He's pretty good. He's you know, he's
not just the the substitute for Sheldon Rankins that I thought, maybe.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
Yeah, maybe it was.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
He's he's a load on the inside. And you got
bj Hill too well, I think I look at BJ
and I think he's pretty.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
He's a good, good player on the inside. Not great.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
He's about six three three pounds, three hundred eleven, but
he's one of those guys that can mix it up
and do a good job. One comfort stat that I'm
seeking comfort in this Max all right, So right the
ste Okay, that's excellent my lasagna stat.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
That should be a New Monday segment.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
But I like that lasagna stat.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
I like, yeah, okay, Garfield Monday's lasagna.
Speaker 5 (31:40):
I like it absolutely all right.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
So the Steelers are sponsors that they're eight and one
on home Saturday games.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
That's the steat I got. Okay, I like that.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
That's I could you know, that's a little extra sauce
on the lasagna there, But you.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Know that that's an extra layer of Rakota. You know
what I'm saying. That's that is that is a good
filler right there.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
Well, I like it, you know, I mean eight and
one on Saturday home games?
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, what do you got? He's looking
at me.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
I'm laughing. Just this is a total squirrel moment.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
So I'm sorry in advance, but I had a boy
I just saw a tweet like three minutes ago that
said Italians need our own version of Notre Dame, right
like like Irish Catholics have Notre Dame, Italians need. And
so the Lasagna is making me think of this, And isn't.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
That just Ruckers? I mean, isn't Rookers just Italian?
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (32:35):
My god?
Speaker 5 (32:37):
You know that was good? That was really good, you know,
because I'm sorry.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
That's totally out of left field, but it just does
all the lasagna and I just saw in the college
football playoff.
Speaker 6 (32:48):
I'm sorry, I had to. I had to share that.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
Joke that it worked. It worked that, you know what.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
That's a great way to close out this segment because
you know what I'm saying to how do you top that?
Speaker 2 (32:59):
You can't? No, you can't, you can't. All right, let's
send it to breakdown.
Speaker 4 (33:03):
Yeah, we're going to break because we're coming back from
Maxie will wind up the show. So stay tuned because
you are listening to in the Locker Room and the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
This is in the Locker Room, presented by Ford and
brought to you by acro Sure, the official insurance and
cybersecurity partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. By Bett MGM. Huntington Bank, PNC,
PEPSI and by FedEx. Where now meets next? Now here's
Craig Wolfley and Max Starks.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
All right, it is the bell early lunch warning system
in Gay for a Friday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
And wolf we are closing in. It's almost time for
you to get lunch. Bug.
Speaker 5 (34:05):
I know I'm pretty excited, you know.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Yeah, I don't blame you, you know I'm excited for you.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
Well, you know, I was thinking maybe the possibility of
little five guy action or maybe oh you.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
Know, I did that two nights ago, did that two
nights ago.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
I could say it was well worth it.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
What do you think about it? The shakes or their
burgers burgers? Hands down? But you know, ye, so good there.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
And I love how it's like if it's a little cheeseburger,
it's really a normal.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Cheeseburger, and a regular bacon cheeseburger is a ginormous bacon cheeseburger.
I love that part about it.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
It's the wordplay because it's like, oh, we could say
double pet Nope, this is what a baseline cheeseburger is
to patties and whatever topics you want. But I'm hearing
her saying that gom in my mouth, what are you doing?
(35:01):
Come on, have some class. I thought it was soft,
but I thought it was softer, way too soft. So
I had to take this out and throw it out
now because I think this gun is old, so trying
to be sly about it, but it was way too crunchy.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
I see, yeah, yep, but uh but yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
No, I mean, you know, one of the things I
think that's that's really right.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
You know what, I'm gonna change that for this game. Okay,
for this game, let's play. Let's play a little fill
in the blank.
Speaker 5 (35:30):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
A Steeler's victory looks like blank.
Speaker 4 (35:38):
Time of possession, Steelers somewhere between thirty five to forty minutes.
Pat Fryarmouth has at least five to seven targets. The
Steelers run the ball over one hundred and five yards
at least and win the battle of the turnovers.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
There you go, boom, I see, I love this. This
is great.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
We don't have to play the game. We got it, Yeah,
we got it. We're done. Done, game over, game over.
Let let's just go ahead and get ready for the playoffs. Guys,
nothing to see here. Let's just let's just mail it
until Monday. For me, it would be Steelers win the
(36:26):
line of scrimmage battle on both sides. And because like
I said, because that begets time of possession right sure,
like you have to control the line of scrimmage to
get to the time of You and.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
I both know, fat is where it's at. That's the guys,
that's how you get it done.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
I mean, fat is the fat is the new success.
Speaker 5 (36:49):
You know, yes, if.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
You if if you were, if you are not you
know doing your job.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
You got to be down with the girth, you know,
and that that's that that's what it's going to be.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
It's going to take the big beefy bodies.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
Up front, controlling the line of scrimmers, like you said,
getting on a BJ Hill, getting on a Sheldon Rankings,
getting on a Trey Hendrickson, getting on a Sam Hubbard
like and pushing them back to to three yards every
single play. And then when it comes down to put
the passing situations, make them run the hula hoop. But
(37:22):
you might want to change the target point to like
ten yards because nine yards isn't working. And I think
also defensively, turn nerves are king cough up the pill.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
We make you pay that's what. That's what. That's what
I can't wait for.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
You know, it's getting to that point where you could say,
you know what, Yes, we are doing what we're supposed to.
We are kicking, but and this is what it looks like.
And also I think you know, to add on to
your five to seven targets for Pat Fryer move, I
(38:00):
want to see at least seven targets to guys not
Friar move and not wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
M who would that?
Speaker 3 (38:06):
That could be screens from the running backs and there
you go, and they also be other tight end involvement,
however you want to do it. Wolf Yep, that needs
to be the other element too.
Speaker 4 (38:15):
Okay, I can live with that. I mean, I love
the trap pass screen. I think that is very very
capable of producing some yards for the Steelers. And of
course trap pass screens are also very nice for tight
ends over the middle. That's something. But you know, also
those slip screens to the outside, that's something else that
(38:35):
I think the Steelers can definitely. You know, one of
the things about it, They've got a very mobile offensive line.
You got people that can run up front. It's not
like they're a bunch of you know, just playing fat
guys that can't run, uh, they are hogs that able
to hook it pretty good. So hopefully that would be
something that I think, you know, when when you're the
winds are gusting at Akroture and they're gonna be it's
(38:57):
gonna be cold Saturday night, a short passing game and
using you know, screens as part of it would be
a big step in the right direction, I would think.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Anyhow, Yeah, no, I think it is a step in
the right direction, and also it gives you something to
work on or forces the other team to work on
as well. The teams I don't feel like have had
to really study our screen game mm hmm, because we
just haven't been effective at it and we don't run
it that often. But when screens like zone plays, you've
(39:30):
got to You've got to run them to get better.
Oh you got it, You've got to do it.
Speaker 5 (39:34):
Yeah, there's there's no doubt about it. Because you the
typical wide zone.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
You take a look, you get whether whatever duo you got,
then you've got the guys that are singled up. But
you still got to create in the back the ability
to start lateral and create that opportunity for guys to
get one dimensional on the defensive line. You want them
turn their shoulders and run hurt them towards the sidelines,
and then that back being able to cut off. And
(39:58):
that takes time, and that takes a running back who
understands the scheme and has pretty good vision.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
And at and a pretty good internal clock, right, Because well,
it's all about timing.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
That's that's very true.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
Also, yeah, so you want to have the time. But also,
I mean I feel like it's it's also I couldn't dance.
I couldn't dance. I just I just couldn't get the
timing right.
Speaker 5 (40:20):
You know.
Speaker 4 (40:21):
It was just it's one of those awkward moments when
you get out there and my kids they're all like, Dad, please,
you know that's.
Speaker 5 (40:28):
It out.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
Dad, Dad, we're here embarrass Yeah what do you mean
embarrass you?
Speaker 2 (40:36):
I could embarrasge you all I want?
Speaker 5 (40:38):
You know, no, I.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
Thought it was a yeah exactly, that's such a dad thing, right.
He was like, what what what I could do this?
I did it in my twenties. He's like, you're not
in your twenties, right.
Speaker 5 (40:50):
You know.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
That's what I get for my daughters, That's what I
get for my daughter's you're not in your twenties.
Speaker 5 (40:54):
We're not, Dad, You're not in your thirties or forties
or fifties. Yeah exactly, or.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
You are nowhere near any of these things.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
You lost cool a long time ago, Dad, Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
You lost cool and you never found it again.
Speaker 5 (41:14):
Is that the truth?
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Oh my goodness, what a long road this has been
from ten days ago, you know, or nine days ago,
whatever it is until tomorrow night. It's gonna be uh,
it's gonna be a good one.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
Well, it's gonna be a good season finale, right, and
the fact that we get to do it, whether this
is the last home game of the season or not.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
It has it has been.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
It has been a heck of a journey this season,
and I can't wait for them to finish it on
the right note and put a bow on the twenty
twenty four side of things leading into the twenty twenty
five side of things. Right, Oh, yeah, you know, regular
season I know ends now in January. It's not really
(41:58):
during the season, and you know playoffs happen in mid
January now as opposed to the beginning of January. But
you're right, I mean, let's put a bow on this.
Let's put let's make this a memorable end of.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
The season in the act at night.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
So I imagine we're probably gonna have some pretty cool
in stadium stuff because it's another night game for the
Steelers this season, and the night stuff has been really cool.
When they black out the stadium, it's just the LEDs
and then you know, lights and everything on phones or wristbands.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
So I'm just really looking forward to.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
The festivity aspect of it in the atmosphere because I
think it's gonna be a great atmosphere because this is
this is a vaunted rival that we're playing, and it's
also a good way to end the season and also
bring the brooms out for a Steelers sweep in the
(42:57):
AFC north of the Cincinnatiles.
Speaker 4 (43:00):
Again, the only question to be answered is do they
get the stench off them? You know what I mean,
that's some of the words, you know, exactly so, because
that's what oh and three does in a three game
streak when you don't win one and before a heading
out the playoffs, it's all about let's get the stench
off you.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
Yes, I am in concurrence. What losses in December, we're
in January. Why you focused on the past so much?
Speaker 5 (43:28):
Right? You know?
Speaker 3 (43:30):
That was that was yesterday? That was yesterday?
Speaker 2 (43:33):
What about today?
Speaker 3 (43:34):
What are you gonna do today to affect your tomorrow
When it becomes today.
Speaker 5 (43:39):
I'm gonna go, yeah, lunch, That's what I'm gonna I'm
about to do the same.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
But I am starving and we and with that, we
have made it to the end of the show. You know,
it's it's been a great week. And like I said,
it culminates tomorrow night in atri sure eight pm. Bengals
coming a ka the Bungles aka who Day we Day
(44:03):
as might as Bill Kauer so famously said in the
locker room after we beat them in the playoffs. With that,
you know, there brings a lot of that, and I'm
gonna be really excited.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
I'm pumped up.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
I'm jazzed up, you know, because this team has caused
a lot of ire and I just want to see Joe.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
Burrow become mortal again. He needs to become mortal.
Speaker 3 (44:28):
And they need to worry about next season making the playoffs,
not this year, because we're not going to help you
And obviously and obviously you know our rules. Wolf, what's
that we asked for no quarter, and we seek no Well,
we give no quarter, and we seek.
Speaker 5 (44:41):
No quarter exactly. Thick face, all right, and a black
heart and a black heart.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
Thank you there, it is all right, And for that
he's Craig Wolfley.
Speaker 3 (44:50):
I'm Max Starks Wes Euler on the ones and twos,
our engineer Extraordinaire aka Host aka Information Desk aka super
Sleuth aka the Guy, the one Man banned himself. And
then of course CJ the Sinsey Brian La Martina on
the back on the background. CJ did a great job today.
I want to just say he snuffed out a lot
of grimlins. He did not feed them after dark, and
(45:12):
he did not pour water on him. So great job, CJ.
And then of course Sin say thank you. Master Splinter
aka we're the surfing ninjas around him. We will be
back with more on Monday, but most importantly you can
hear us next live tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
Evening.
Speaker 3 (45:29):
Pregame show starts around six. Game time kick is at eight.
See you at the act or wherever you be at.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
That's the rhyme. Go make it a great day and
a great weekend.
This is in the Locker Room, presented by Ford and
brought to you by Akroshure, the official insurance and cybersecurity
partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, by Bett MGM, Huntington Bank, PNC, PEPSI,
and by FedEx. Where now meets next? Now here's Craig
Wolfley and Max Stark's.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
It is the Power Hour.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
You know what happens in the Power Hour? Wolf WhatsApp
We don't slow down for anybody, just like optimists never
slows down for us. We're going into it full speed ahead,
just like we're gonna go into Akroshore and be the
Steelers that we know them to be. When they were
on that you know, ten win Trek before December hit,
(01:01):
before the scrum hit. This team was a team that,
you know, you had everybody talking, everybody buzzn't a team
that was in control for the most part of all
of its games. Defense was lights out, offense had its
explosive plays, and you know, special teams were special. Let's
(01:24):
make special teams you know special again. I would love
to see what that is. And yes, I know the
leg of Chris Boswell is a rare commodity in this league.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
This year the.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Model of consistency. But I'm talking about the splashy plays.
I'm talking about Calvin Austa returned. I'm talking about a
fumble recovery or a cause fumble on a kick return.
And you know, the one thing, even with all the
injuries wolf that the Steelers sustained kind of in that
month of December, the plays were there. The ball did
(02:01):
not bounce their way. That the ball had bounced their way.
How much different would these games have been.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Man, that'd be interesting, that would be Yeah, there's a
whole lot different.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So I would love a return to that, right us
capitalizing on when we do get turnovers, capitalizing on them.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And so.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
That's kind of what jacks me up for, you know,
for this game. I think this could be an opportunity
to get back on track.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Mm hm, you know and.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Go ahead.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Oh well, the thing I'm sitting there going the guy
that really the guy that really kind of makes me go,
it's not t Higgins. It's Jamar Chase. That dude is
a walking, talking, pass catching human hemorrhoid. I mean, he
is a pain in the butt for any secondary And
when you got somebody as hot as Joe Burrell, who
(02:59):
is right now.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
The guy is on. All he needs is he needs.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Like three hundred and sixty yards and three touchdowns to
move into a very exclusive group of guys that you
know he can become one of the second Let's see
all bro needs to do his past for three hundred
and sixty yards three tds versus Steel has become the
fifth quarterback in NFL history with five thousand past yards
(03:23):
and forty five TD passes to join a lot of
Hall of famers like Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Drew Brees,
and Pat Mahomes. I mean, think about that, that's a move,
and then you think about a Jamar Chase. This guy
is just as volatile as could be as far as
a pass catching monster.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Out there, well yeah, I mean it is the stuff
of nightmares when not handled properly. Right, Yeah, But I
think you know, like you said, getting Joey back and
you know, we'll see what the status of Dante is.
But that you got Trice, I mean, this is technically
(04:02):
the group you wanted out there last year. You wanted
to see Corey Trice opposite Joey Porter Junior. This is
why you this is why you drafted Joey, this is
why you went and got Corey, right, yeah, because you
knew you had Avatar wide receivers in Cincinnati. So I
(04:24):
would love to see that matchup and see what the
future holds, you know, for this type of matchup moving forward,
whenever you play Cincinnati, depending on obviously what they do
with wide receiver salaries. But you know, for now, this
is what we have, and we have an opportunity to
go match size for size at the wide receiver position,
(04:47):
which we haven't had the last couple of years.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Well that's true, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I mean, look, you go back to December first at
pay Corpse Stadium and Joey had issues with past interference.
Colise called for five, got them actually going against t
Higgins and to me, again, it's solving the problems of
being able to play man with these guys because they're
(05:12):
such a dangerous lot. I mean, think about it. Yoshova's
he does some pretty good work as a supporting wide
receiver three, but the two are so potentially damaging at
any point in time.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
One good thing I think, you know, it's.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Well it's going to be cold, you know, sorry for
you and Missy, but that might be something that maybe
helps a little bit in the passing game because you know,
cold hands, I mean, you know, not such such a
good ability to feel the ball when it hits your hands.
So I don't know that's a possibility, but certainly solving
(05:48):
the mystery or the problem of t Higgins and Jamar
Chase together is going to be a huge, huge thing
that they've got to be able to handle. And it's
going to start with me. As far as time of possession. Offensively,
you know, you got to control the ball because Joe,
Joe can control that ball pretty darn well when you
hand it over to him.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
And I think the biggest thing is is that it's consistency, right,
It's not overstretching yourself. It's like everybody must do their job.
And I think for that Steelers defensive line, like you've
got to be able to hit home with for four
or five man rush. You can't afford to blitz Deshaun
(06:33):
Elliott like you did last last game out.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
I wanted to say it last week and I'm.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Like, no, technically you carry the one and plus the
two and doesn't quite But you know what I mean, well,
I mean it it's it's tough because like you said,
you know, with Joe and how Joe likes to deploy
the personnels, He's looking for the ISO on either side,
(06:58):
and so he's looking for who is the one, you know,
defender guy? Is it t Is it Jamar? Because you
know everything flows towards Jamar and that's how T Higgins.
You know, T Higgins went off last week and had
a stellar, phenomenal game. So you know, the emphasis is
(07:20):
going to be can we stay as balanced as possible.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And as long as.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Nobody tries to reach stretch, overplay their skill set or
their technique or their zone. You want to make sure
that you know, in your head you're keeping your own
internal clock as you're as you're defending him.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
And please, please, oh god.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Please do not lose the tight end in this game.
Please don't. I'm just gonna ask nicely, yeah about him. Yeah,
because he's going to help move the chains, which which
you know, what's the positive consequently, I can't think of
(08:09):
it right now, but that word, that word is probably
that's probably one of the biggest things. He's going to
be a chain mover, right, He's going to get you
into those positions to where you can play you know,
more balance, more loose, more open, not as tight closed
(08:30):
off in one dimensional like remember, you need to let
the moth get on the loof. You got it, And
at that moment you gotta kind of say it a
little little lispie. Well yeah, yeah, yeah, you got a
colt the move under looth.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
But you know what he's had.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
He's averaging like five catches a game against Cincinnati, somewhere, five, six,
somewhere in that area. But you know, to me, it's
like I could see ten targets going his way, his
twelve targets, you know. I mean, he had a big
game against Cincinnati a year or two ago. I can't
remember which it was, But the fact of the matter
is that's exactly an area you need to explore. The
(09:12):
other one is it's got to have a run. We
got to have a running attack. There's no doubt about it.
It's gonna be cold Sunday night, or yeah, Saturday night. Sorry,
it's gonna be cold Saturday night. And let's face it,
the Bengals right now, when the Bengals hold the Steelers
to fewer than one hundred and three rushing yards, they're
four and two. When they don't, they're zher and three
when we rush for over one hundred and three yards.
(09:34):
We are three and zero against the Bengals and this
is in the Joe Burrow area. You know, the fact
of the matter is they want.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
To take the ball away and crush the rush yards,
but the Steelers can't.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
They've got to be able to run the ball. I think,
because again it's gonna be cold. I think a lot
of that short passing game could be something with the
mouth on the looth, as you would like to say.
And I think that's that's where you got to go.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah, I mean on equipment, right, I mean, it just
it makes too much sense.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Now. Do I want to see other guys involved, Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
Sure, but I've got it. But if there's a primary
you know.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
What I mean, yeah, exactly, But I'm saying, but yeah,
if all things equal, I want to see eighty eight
do what eighty eight does. Yeah, right, And yes, we
know fourteen is going to be fourteen. He's going to
get his he's going to have a highlight worthy play
that it's going to go on, you know, his his
football career, you know, memory, memory lane, scrapbook video. But
(10:34):
at the same time, consistency is key. And I even
think for Uss, right getting back into a rhythm of
the game is going to be huge for him, just
for the mental psyche. Right, I don't care how tough,
how old you are, you can still put pressure on yourself.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
You can still you know, desire more.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
And I think that's kind of one of the things
where I'm like, okay, as long as as long as
they're not getting complacent with this, I feel good with
it and that and that's what we're waiting to see.
We want to see the consistent because that's what it's
going to take in the playoffs. So if you the
sooner you can show it, the better. We're gonna be
off as a squad, well.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
No doubt about it, you know. And the fact of
the matter is they're not gonna have Sheldon Rankins. They're
gonna have some other guys. Bj Hill I think is
pretty good up front there. But you know, running that
influence trap, i'd love to see that. And again that
screen game, well, because here's the you know, you're gonna
have the basic wide zone, you're gonna run the wide zone,
you're gonna run some other basic stuff. But again part
(11:39):
and parcel of that, the toss crack. I still like
for you know, if you go back to Cincinnati, Uh,
Naji scored on a nice eight ten yard toss crack.
It's to me, it's it suits him. I don't know,
not always. I know it because you see sometimes he
runs into a wall of people. But the fact of
(12:00):
the matter is if he sees the cutback. And I
go way back to the beginning of the year when
Cordero was running the ball a little bit back down
in Atlanta and everything like that. You think about the
times that he hit the back door and the cutback
on that, and I always thought that Naji started to
look more towards it after.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Seeing a little bit of Cordero doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, No, I mean, and.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
CP is one of those that's the enigma, right, Yeah,
because he has has the wide receiver number and body
you know what I mean, and body type and lines
up in the backfield and can run really effectively. He
can weave, he can pick his way through traffic standing
completely upright. And you know, it's just it's such a
(12:50):
nice change. I wish we would explore that more with him.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Yeah, he's one of those guys that makes you go.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, and you know, what else.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I would just love to see him catch a pass
and do stuff in the open field, not just a
now screen or a funnel screen, but like a like
a deeper route. I would love to see his route
tree kind of expanded within this offensive construct, right. I
think that's that's kind of how you have to word it.
You want to see the expansion and the growth throughout
(13:24):
this throughout this season with Cordero, who is flashed really nice.
I mean I would stand to contend almost that's probably
one of the best halfs in Indianapolis for a running
back up to that point this season. So I would
love to see that version of him kind of come
(13:44):
out and you know, not to say, oh but goodness,
we're gonna throw the entire bag out because you know,
we're trying to win this game, but you know, to
a certain degree, I want to see them take it
seriously and and and utilize all options. And of course,
for offensive line, the edict is get the job done.
I thought you said at the end of the day,
(14:05):
get the job done.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
I thought you were saying eat it instead of eat it.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
Oh gosh, it's getting the job done.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Somebody's hungry. Yeah, I mean somebody's hungry. We are not
at the bell lap yet, Wolf. We still have some
time to go before we get to the bell lap.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
But don't worry.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
It's quickly charging. And as soon as we get off
the air, you can drive down.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
The hill and there's a lot of good eating down
at the bottom of the hill. There's no doubt about it.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
One of the things that I still am excited about is,
again we talked about it before, and maybe I may
be pounding the pot at home a little too much.
But the screen game, whether it's a regular screen, whether
it's a slip screen, you know, whether it's a you know,
delayed screen to a tight end something like that.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
We haven't seen hardly any of that.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
But the other screens, especially when you get a Jalen
Warren or you get nage out there in the flats,
It to me is that's a very productive long handoff
type of affair where you almost always get positive yardage
off that.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah you do. And I struggle with this, right well.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
I know, yeah, go ahead, tell me your struggles. You know.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
My struggles.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Is you know, when you run that toss crack, you
get strung out wide, right, I don't see a definitive
stick in the ground, cut back against the grain type
of alleyway.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
For well, the problem is every now and then he
pulls it off, you know what I mean. Like in
Peycore you had that one touchdown run that was off
the toss crack, you know, like you go, that's it.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
Can we see a little more, you know?
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Or yeah, just hit the hole faster. You know, we're
not too demanding, We're not too demanding. Just hit the
whole every single time, don't miss, and do it faster.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
That's it. That's it, that's all we gotta worry about.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
But it's just it looks so starkily different when he
runs it versus Jalen Warren.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
That's and that's the.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Other I gotcha.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, that makes it tough, right.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Is that you see you know, you know, struggle one
end and then just immense, immense joy.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Having his jubilation on the other end.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
And I just want consistency, and Jalen brings that consistency
when he's in the backfield.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I gotcha, no doubt I can. I can understand. Look again,
you know, going back to the having the productivity coming
off of time of possession, you know, is it's huge.
I guess a guy like Joe Burrow think about this.
I mean, Burrow is going for eight, He's gone eight
consecutive games with at least two hundred and fifty yards
(16:50):
passing and three t ds.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
You know, I mean, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
He's going for his ninth game in a row of
at least two hundred and fifty passing yards and three
That's just like unconscionable, you know. And I don't you
sit there and go, my gosh. You know, even when
they were losing, he was doing stuff like that. So
you know, the fact is getting him and getting him uncomfortable,
getting him into a position where he's not comfortable.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
I don't. I don't know how you get him uncomfortable
other than knocking him down. You know. That's the only
thing about it. How much can you actually blitz a
guy like Joe Burrow before he makes you bleed? You know?
Speaker 4 (17:29):
I mean, that's It's another area that's really difficult. Tarol
Austin's got a real quandary there, because between the fact
of Joe and t Higgins and Jim ar Chase, you've
got a trifecta of guys that can take into the house.
You add in a Chase Brown if he's good, and
a Yoshovats who's you know, pretty darn good for a
number three receiver.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
Ow. You know, I'm just sitting there.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, exactly, exactly, ow.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
But you're right.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I mean, but that's also why play the games, right, Well, yeah,
we play the games to figure out who is the victor.
Because if we're just going off of paper, that's one thing.
But when you actually get down to the nuts and
bolts to start playing the game, you know, how how
you want it to versus how it's presented to you.
That's another big moment that they're going to have to conquer.
(18:23):
They're gonna have to figure it out. And you know,
what's that?
Speaker 5 (18:30):
What do you think?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
No?
Speaker 2 (18:31):
It just no, I was I just had another thought
in my head, is that?
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Like?
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Yeah, yeah, I had a thought.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I had a thought. I'm gon putting the io used? Now,
I remember, you want to keep that one that was
pretty expensive Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Yeah, that's what I was.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
That's a good one. That's a good one to keep.
You know, I kind of lost my thought there.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
It's okay, because my thought happens. My thought is just
you know, real simple again. It so much boils down
to controlling that freaking ball at that time of possession,
because that's the only guaranteed way to keep Burrow at
at you know, at arm's length. And the fact is
it's gonna need a good thirty minutes. A good forty
(19:21):
minutes would almost guarantee.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
He can't say that, But.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
It's as close as you can come to making the
most positive inroad possible other than putting up fifty points
and hoping that Joe can't match you.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
You know what I mean, Mm hmm, Well Joe doesn't
have enough time to match. Yeah, good point, right, that's
the biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
And then and then and then if you're and then
say they are behind and he's trying to throw for
the big play, that's where the opportunities.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Happen, right right, right.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
But if we get advantage of him, but if we
get this slow, matriculate the football down the field approach
from the Bengals kind of trying to give us a
dose of our own medicine. That's why it's important to
also keep that middle integrity and shadow those tight ends, right,
just sicky and know all those guys. You've got to
make sure that you're on top of those guys.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
He's pretty you know.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
He is.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
He's really good. I mean, I mean, listen, he was.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
He was a very good receiver receiving tight end down
and down in Miami for a long time. And he's
he's a great safety relief valve for Joe because he
also has a large cast radio, so you don't.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Have to be as accurate with him.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
There is room and margin for error, so to speak.
So I'm just you know, for me, I'm just hoping
that they can they can keep it going and like
you said, keep him off the field so that you
can continually do what you do. But you've got to
make sure on your possessions that you're putting it away
(20:57):
with points.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
It can't be a punt fest.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
No.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Just as much as I enjoy watching chorus, waiting and
punt now, this is one where you want to see
physicality met, physicality brought, and physicality removed at the end
of the day.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Hey, but oh, I got to ask you one thing
before we go to break.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Yeah, I just it just stuck in my crawl just
because of the fact I know that you you you know,
cover so much college. What did you think about the
Georgia punter going out there and having to punt two
times a couple of times. In the first one, he
got hit two times in a row and they didn't
even give him a first down off of it. He
almost got creamed the first time up and the second
(21:40):
time the same guy came along and hit him again,
hit his leg. It wasn't as big as the first time.
But that was crazy, man, I mean, so.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
That was one that was that was like all over
my text bass man. But that that that that.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Should be a personal foul and an automatic down. And
the first one I thought was was a running into
the kicker, right, I thought, so, yeah, I thought the
second one I was like who.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I was like, what is wrong with this dude?
Speaker 5 (22:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I was like, did he not get the memo take
the heat off? Take just take a little bit of
heat off? And I'm like, God, you were literally gonna
give Georgia back the football.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Nickel and diming the running into the kicker.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
And then at some point they're gonna say this is
no longer running into this is this is a personal foul.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Now.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Luckily it didn't get to that point. But man, it
was close. That was that was crazy.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I thought I was sitting watching I almost picked up
my phone and called Jums and say, what do you
think about that?
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Who's talking to this kid? You know what I mean?
It's like, man, and what an athlete that kid is.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
I mean, you know, it's not like he didn't have,
you know, a great resume there, but you know, you're like,
where's your mind at right now?
Speaker 5 (22:53):
Bud?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Apparently the moment got a little too
big for him and he was he was actively leaking
down his leg at that moment. Yeah, there is no
way and how if I if I just got away
with it one time, There's no I would do the
same thing twice in a row.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
No, can't. It can't happen. But it did.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Nah, you're right, it did. And luckily, you know, and
d finally got the ball back. But that was super stressful.
I'm glad you brought that up. That was a pretty
funny moment. All right, we're gonna step aside. We'll be
back with more here inside the Locker Room on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
This is in the Locker Room, presented by Ford and
brought to you by acro Sure, the official insurance and
Cybersecurity Partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, by Bett MGM, Huntington Bank, PNC, PEPSI,
and by FedEx. Where now meets next? Now here's Craig
Wolfley and Max Stark's all.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Right, we are back and we got we got issues
coming up here. You know what, Max, I'm just sitting
there thinking about it. I look at the stats and
everything else. I'm thinking myself, Dad Zookes of Dante Jackson
is questionable and he had a little bit of setback
like that.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
That would be a bummer.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Now, I know Corey Trice, you want Corey in there,
but the ability to play with Corey, but also the
fact that you know Dante's he's experienced too, you know,
and he's also one of those guys that does a
great job in coverage. But this is not going to
be an easy game by any any amount that we've
been talking about. The fact of the matter is you've
(25:15):
got to go out and do some things that right.
Now here's what bothered make has said this out loud.
He said, you know what's killing us motion stacks and bunches,
and you know those are the things that are creating
issues for the Steelers secondary because in communication, when you've
got emotions, we all know what motions. You've got, zipper motion,
(25:35):
you got all kinds of stuff, right, you got jet motion,
that sort of thing. Communicating that isn't that difficult. But
when you get to a stack where you have a
couple stacked on each other, now you've got another source
of communication that you have to deal with.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
And then when you go.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Bunches, the bunches we saw a Kansas city what they
do with Kelsey and how they motion to the bunch
and create issues. And what make us say it is
every time we screw up one of those, we see
them again because teams are piling on with bringing what
we're not communicating two adjustments too, that's what they're bringing forward,
(26:13):
you know, and attacking us with the things that we
mess up. And you know, it's a tough time to
be messing up, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Is it a tough time messing up? Yeah? Because I
mean the margin era already wolf right when you look
about it is already next to nothing. And you you know,
we watched we watched a cushion kind of get erased
for the Steelers, and so you don't want the sins
of the past coming to haunt you in the President
(26:44):
of the Future, right, And you don't want a mindset creator.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Oh no, here we go again. This moment happened.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
We didn't get the turnover even though we forced the fumble,
and now we're just we're not we're not We're not
good enough to get to get this done. You don't
want that phrase creeping into their minds. So that's why
you want to come out, Chris. You want to come
out flying. You want to come out establish yourself offensively
in the run, in the pass game, then defensively, you
(27:12):
want to establish the pass rush. I mean, those are
the three key things that need to be accomplished cub a.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
PM true, you know, but here's the thing that bothers me.
You know, it's one thing with motion, it's another thing
with the stacks and the stack coverage and so forth.
Because when you get a Jamar Chase and Joshavas or
however they're going to pair the guys, or you get
in a bunch oh my gosh, just you know, the
(27:42):
way Kansas City ran their bunches was just it just
kind of blew me away because you had you had
crossers coming from that. They first they'd motion to the bunch.
Then they have crossers and one guy doing like a
stair step post after breaking off from the bunch on
the crossing route.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
I mean, it was just like mind boggling.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
How does any buddy able to follow anybody on these
these crossing routes that get ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Compensation? Right, how can you do that?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
You're compensated well enough to figure it out?
Speaker 5 (28:16):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
That's and that's what it has to be. But also
think health also affects that, right, health of your team.
Do you have frontline guys in do you have backup
guys that in the in the in those you know
what Mike Time will call weighty moments, you know? And
I think that's where it really comes down to. And
and knowing that we get a semblance of health back
(28:37):
and we already got some guys back the previous game.
I have to keep saying previous game. It bothers me
because I can't say last week because it was not
last week, right, ten less days ago seems.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
So, I know, right, So I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
But but those are the two things that really affect
that effect that that.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Type of play is having the bodies out there.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
And also, hey man, you are well compensated, figure it
out right.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
I would hate to be Terrell Austin. I mean, oh,
that's just that job. Yeah, you know, that job of
trying to cover those guys. And again we're not even
really talking about Chase Brown in the mix, because Chase
Brown right now has been a little dontyed up.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
But remember what he did.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
At Peikor, Man, I mean, he busted that one long
run that right away just set the Steelers back on
their heels early in the game. And I thought, my goodness,
that guy. I didn't realize how good he.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Was well, and you know, because I think he kind
of got overshadowed early right by Zach Moss right and
what Zach could do.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
So you didn't really get to see all that.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Was Chase because you had Zach and you had to
feed that beast, and he was the prize free agent
coming in to help this run game after the departure
of Joe Mixon, and you didn't really you know, you
didn't really know what Chase is gonna do because you're like, Okay, well,
I know what Zach moss Is. He's he is a
(30:10):
known commodity in this league. But Chase's really burst on
the scene and he's really been the difference maker in
the backfield for the run game and keeping every Like
I said, he's the guy that keeps everything on pace
for Joe Burrow to be spectacular.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah right, and when.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
You if you could take that element away, that just
makes it that much tougher for Joe.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
And I'm not sure if Joe.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Joe has moments where he can handle it, but there's
also moments where the offensive line fails him. Right, we
need to make sure the offensive line fails him. Come
come tomorrow. That has to be That's why I said
we have how we generate a pass rush will be
really indicative of how this game is.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Going to go. Well, that's very true.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
You know, I theren no doubt in my mind being
able to stop Terrey Andrickson, Sam Hubbard. Chris Jenkins is
an interesting guy. He's pretty good. He's you know, he's
not just the the substitute for Sheldon Rankins that I thought, maybe.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
Yeah, maybe it was.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
He's he's a load on the inside. And you got
bj Hill too well, I think I look at BJ
and I think he's pretty.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
He's a good, good player on the inside. Not great.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
He's about six three three pounds, three hundred eleven, but
he's one of those guys that can mix it up
and do a good job. One comfort stat that I'm
seeking comfort in this Max all right, So right the
ste Okay, that's excellent my lasagna stat.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
That should be a New Monday segment.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
But I like that lasagna stat.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
I like, yeah, okay, Garfield Monday's lasagna.
Speaker 5 (31:40):
I like it absolutely all right.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
So the Steelers are sponsors that they're eight and one
on home Saturday games.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
That's the steat I got. Okay, I like that.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
That's I could you know, that's a little extra sauce
on the lasagna there, But you.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Know that that's an extra layer of Rakota. You know
what I'm saying. That's that is that is a good
filler right there.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
Well, I like it, you know, I mean eight and
one on Saturday home games?
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, what do you got? He's looking
at me.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
I'm laughing. Just this is a total squirrel moment.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
So I'm sorry in advance, but I had a boy
I just saw a tweet like three minutes ago that
said Italians need our own version of Notre Dame, right
like like Irish Catholics have Notre Dame, Italians need. And
so the Lasagna is making me think of this, And isn't.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
That just Ruckers? I mean, isn't Rookers just Italian?
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (32:35):
My god?
Speaker 5 (32:37):
You know that was good? That was really good, you know,
because I'm sorry.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
That's totally out of left field, but it just does
all the lasagna and I just saw in the college
football playoff.
Speaker 6 (32:48):
I'm sorry, I had to. I had to share that.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
Joke that it worked. It worked that, you know what.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
That's a great way to close out this segment because
you know what I'm saying to how do you top that?
Speaker 2 (32:59):
You can't? No, you can't, you can't. All right, let's
send it to breakdown.
Speaker 4 (33:03):
Yeah, we're going to break because we're coming back from
Maxie will wind up the show. So stay tuned because
you are listening to in the Locker Room and the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
This is in the Locker Room, presented by Ford and
brought to you by acro Sure, the official insurance and
cybersecurity partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. By Bett MGM. Huntington Bank, PNC,
PEPSI and by FedEx. Where now meets next? Now here's
Craig Wolfley and Max Starks.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
All right, it is the bell early lunch warning system
in Gay for a Friday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
And wolf we are closing in. It's almost time for
you to get lunch. Bug.
Speaker 5 (34:05):
I know I'm pretty excited, you know.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Yeah, I don't blame you, you know I'm excited for you.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
Well, you know, I was thinking maybe the possibility of
little five guy action or maybe oh you.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
Know, I did that two nights ago, did that two
nights ago.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
I could say it was well worth it.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
What do you think about it? The shakes or their
burgers burgers? Hands down? But you know, ye, so good there.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
And I love how it's like if it's a little cheeseburger,
it's really a normal.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Cheeseburger, and a regular bacon cheeseburger is a ginormous bacon cheeseburger.
I love that part about it.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
It's the wordplay because it's like, oh, we could say
double pet Nope, this is what a baseline cheeseburger is
to patties and whatever topics you want. But I'm hearing
her saying that gom in my mouth, what are you doing?
(35:01):
Come on, have some class. I thought it was soft,
but I thought it was softer, way too soft. So
I had to take this out and throw it out
now because I think this gun is old, so trying
to be sly about it, but it was way too crunchy.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
I see, yeah, yep, but uh but yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
No, I mean, you know, one of the things I
think that's that's really right.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
You know what, I'm gonna change that for this game. Okay,
for this game, let's play. Let's play a little fill
in the blank.
Speaker 5 (35:30):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
A Steeler's victory looks like blank.
Speaker 4 (35:38):
Time of possession, Steelers somewhere between thirty five to forty minutes.
Pat Fryarmouth has at least five to seven targets. The
Steelers run the ball over one hundred and five yards
at least and win the battle of the turnovers.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
There you go, boom, I see, I love this. This
is great.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
We don't have to play the game. We got it, Yeah,
we got it. We're done. Done, game over, game over.
Let let's just go ahead and get ready for the playoffs. Guys,
nothing to see here. Let's just let's just mail it
until Monday. For me, it would be Steelers win the
(36:26):
line of scrimmage battle on both sides. And because like
I said, because that begets time of possession right sure,
like you have to control the line of scrimmage to
get to the time of You and.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
I both know, fat is where it's at. That's the guys,
that's how you get it done.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
I mean, fat is the fat is the new success.
Speaker 5 (36:49):
You know, yes, if.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
You if if you were, if you are not you
know doing your job.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
You got to be down with the girth, you know,
and that that's that that's what it's going to be.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
It's going to take the big beefy bodies.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
Up front, controlling the line of scrimmers, like you said,
getting on a BJ Hill, getting on a Sheldon Rankings,
getting on a Trey Hendrickson, getting on a Sam Hubbard
like and pushing them back to to three yards every
single play. And then when it comes down to put
the passing situations, make them run the hula hoop. But
(37:22):
you might want to change the target point to like
ten yards because nine yards isn't working. And I think
also defensively, turn nerves are king cough up the pill.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
We make you pay that's what. That's what. That's what
I can't wait for.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
You know, it's getting to that point where you could say,
you know what, Yes, we are doing what we're supposed to.
We are kicking, but and this is what it looks like.
And also I think you know, to add on to
your five to seven targets for Pat Fryer move, I
(38:00):
want to see at least seven targets to guys not
Friar move and not wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
M who would that?
Speaker 3 (38:06):
That could be screens from the running backs and there
you go, and they also be other tight end involvement,
however you want to do it. Wolf Yep, that needs
to be the other element too.
Speaker 4 (38:15):
Okay, I can live with that. I mean, I love
the trap pass screen. I think that is very very
capable of producing some yards for the Steelers. And of
course trap pass screens are also very nice for tight
ends over the middle. That's something. But you know, also
those slip screens to the outside, that's something else that
(38:35):
I think the Steelers can definitely. You know, one of
the things about it, They've got a very mobile offensive line.
You got people that can run up front. It's not
like they're a bunch of you know, just playing fat
guys that can't run, uh, they are hogs that able
to hook it pretty good. So hopefully that would be
something that I think, you know, when when you're the
winds are gusting at Akroture and they're gonna be it's
(38:57):
gonna be cold Saturday night, a short passing game and
using you know, screens as part of it would be
a big step in the right direction, I would think.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Anyhow, Yeah, no, I think it is a step in
the right direction, and also it gives you something to
work on or forces the other team to work on
as well. The teams I don't feel like have had
to really study our screen game mm hmm, because we
just haven't been effective at it and we don't run
it that often. But when screens like zone plays, you've
(39:30):
got to You've got to run them to get better.
Oh you got it, You've got to do it.
Speaker 5 (39:34):
Yeah, there's there's no doubt about it. Because you the
typical wide zone.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
You take a look, you get whether whatever duo you got,
then you've got the guys that are singled up. But
you still got to create in the back the ability
to start lateral and create that opportunity for guys to
get one dimensional on the defensive line. You want them
turn their shoulders and run hurt them towards the sidelines,
and then that back being able to cut off. And
(39:58):
that takes time, and that takes a running back who
understands the scheme and has pretty good vision.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
And at and a pretty good internal clock, right, Because well,
it's all about timing.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
That's that's very true.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
Also, yeah, so you want to have the time. But also,
I mean I feel like it's it's also I couldn't dance.
I couldn't dance. I just I just couldn't get the
timing right.
Speaker 5 (40:20):
You know.
Speaker 4 (40:21):
It was just it's one of those awkward moments when
you get out there and my kids they're all like, Dad, please,
you know that's.
Speaker 5 (40:28):
It out.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
Dad, Dad, we're here embarrass Yeah what do you mean
embarrass you?
Speaker 2 (40:36):
I could embarrasge you all I want?
Speaker 5 (40:38):
You know, no, I.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
Thought it was a yeah exactly, that's such a dad thing, right.
He was like, what what what I could do this?
I did it in my twenties. He's like, you're not
in your twenties, right.
Speaker 5 (40:50):
You know.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
That's what I get for my daughters, That's what I
get for my daughter's you're not in your twenties.
Speaker 5 (40:54):
We're not, Dad, You're not in your thirties or forties
or fifties. Yeah exactly, or.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
You are nowhere near any of these things.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
You lost cool a long time ago, Dad, Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
You lost cool and you never found it again.
Speaker 5 (41:14):
Is that the truth?
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Oh my goodness, what a long road this has been
from ten days ago, you know, or nine days ago,
whatever it is until tomorrow night. It's gonna be uh,
it's gonna be a good one.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
Well, it's gonna be a good season finale, right, and
the fact that we get to do it, whether this
is the last home game of the season or not.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
It has it has been.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
It has been a heck of a journey this season,
and I can't wait for them to finish it on
the right note and put a bow on the twenty
twenty four side of things leading into the twenty twenty
five side of things. Right, Oh, yeah, you know, regular
season I know ends now in January. It's not really
(41:58):
during the season, and you know playoffs happen in mid
January now as opposed to the beginning of January. But
you're right, I mean, let's put a bow on this.
Let's put let's make this a memorable end of.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
The season in the act at night.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
So I imagine we're probably gonna have some pretty cool
in stadium stuff because it's another night game for the
Steelers this season, and the night stuff has been really cool.
When they black out the stadium, it's just the LEDs
and then you know, lights and everything on phones or wristbands.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
So I'm just really looking forward to.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
The festivity aspect of it in the atmosphere because I
think it's gonna be a great atmosphere because this is
this is a vaunted rival that we're playing, and it's
also a good way to end the season and also
bring the brooms out for a Steelers sweep in the
(42:57):
AFC north of the Cincinnatiles.
Speaker 4 (43:00):
Again, the only question to be answered is do they
get the stench off them? You know what I mean,
that's some of the words, you know, exactly so, because
that's what oh and three does in a three game
streak when you don't win one and before a heading
out the playoffs, it's all about let's get the stench
off you.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
Yes, I am in concurrence. What losses in December, we're
in January. Why you focused on the past so much?
Speaker 5 (43:28):
Right? You know?
Speaker 3 (43:30):
That was that was yesterday? That was yesterday?
Speaker 2 (43:33):
What about today?
Speaker 3 (43:34):
What are you gonna do today to affect your tomorrow
When it becomes today.
Speaker 5 (43:39):
I'm gonna go, yeah, lunch, That's what I'm gonna I'm
about to do the same.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
But I am starving and we and with that, we
have made it to the end of the show. You know,
it's it's been a great week. And like I said,
it culminates tomorrow night in atri sure eight pm. Bengals
coming a ka the Bungles aka who Day we Day
(44:03):
as might as Bill Kauer so famously said in the
locker room after we beat them in the playoffs. With that,
you know, there brings a lot of that, and I'm
gonna be really excited.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
I'm pumped up.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
I'm jazzed up, you know, because this team has caused
a lot of ire and I just want to see Joe.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
Burrow become mortal again. He needs to become mortal.
Speaker 3 (44:28):
And they need to worry about next season making the playoffs,
not this year, because we're not going to help you
And obviously and obviously you know our rules. Wolf, what's
that we asked for no quarter, and we seek no Well,
we give no quarter, and we seek.
Speaker 5 (44:41):
No quarter exactly. Thick face, all right, and a black
heart and a black heart.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
Thank you there, it is all right, And for that
he's Craig Wolfley.
Speaker 3 (44:50):
I'm Max Starks Wes Euler on the ones and twos,
our engineer Extraordinaire aka Host aka Information Desk aka super
Sleuth aka the Guy, the one Man banned himself. And
then of course CJ the Sinsey Brian La Martina on
the back on the background. CJ did a great job today.
I want to just say he snuffed out a lot
of grimlins. He did not feed them after dark, and
(45:12):
he did not pour water on him. So great job, CJ.
And then of course Sin say thank you. Master Splinter
aka we're the surfing ninjas around him. We will be
back with more on Monday, but most importantly you can
hear us next live tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
Evening.
Speaker 3 (45:29):
Pregame show starts around six. Game time kick is at eight.
See you at the act or wherever you be at.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
That's the rhyme. Go make it a great day and
a great weekend.
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