January 28, 2025 • 50 mins
Bob Labriola joins Max and Wolf to continue the conversation around the comments from Art Rooney II.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
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,
p n C, PEPSI, and by FedEx. Where now meets next?
Now here's Craig Wolfley and Max Stark's.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
All right, we are live in our number two, aka
the Power Hour.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Am.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
That's right, Mike Pursuda. You don't know this, but that
is Optimus Prime driving by. And he has not stopped
at all this season.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
He just keeps rolling by. We've thrown, we've thrown the
thumb out.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
There, We've we've we've baited him with Victory donuts, and
he won't stop.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
He just keeps going.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And that's how we're gonna do here inside the locker
room here in our number two. And of course the
locker room got a little hot under the collar before
the break.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
It it's still.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
It's that's frustration because I like to think, after doing
this for as long as I've done it, that eventually
I can figure out what happened and why, And in
this instance I cannot.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, no, it it is a constant, you know, I think,
And that's what the beauty of sports is, right, is
that you know, even when you think you have your
thumb on it, it proves that the thumb is not
necessarily in the right place, right, you know, And and
that's what and that's what we're trying to discuss here,
just trying to figure out kind of the mechanism of why,
(01:46):
you know, for another year, the Steelers have kind of
fallen flat on their face because you laid it out
early in the conversation. They were riding a three game
win streak and fell short in the wildcard round.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
This time, different parameters, same result.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
You come off of a four game losing streak and well,
you know, five and you just you're left with that
that that diet rcy cola, that's that's in the fridge
at Cleveland, you know, because you're like, man, I really
would like a diet coke, but they all they have
is diet arcy cola, you know, in the fridge, and
(02:25):
it has the worst aftertaste you could ever think about.
And we're left with that kind of same feeling at
the end of another season here for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
You clearly didn't get the memo about you guys new
sponsor diet Arci Cola.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
No, I did not know.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
There we go.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, oops, yeah, exactly. I can tell you that.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, you know, hey, this is for all guests, for
all guests. You know, all of our guests are brought
to us by diet Arcy Cola.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
As he said in that Caddy shack, you must have
been something before electricity.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Oh man, yes, indeed, So Mike, where do they go?
Speaker 6 (03:07):
Well, let's backtrack a little bit because the question of
the day. I'm sorry, Max, I didn't mean to hijack
your possession. His possession arrow was towards him. It's a
locker room tribu.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
You know, we're good.
Speaker 6 (03:17):
Yeah, and sometimes I forget and I bumped at possession
arrow the wrong way. So just get your take on
the quarterback situation, and what do you think you see
going forward?
Speaker 5 (03:27):
I don't know what they're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I'll just tell you how I've envisioned this whole thing
since last year.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
As soon as they acquired Russell Wilson and then Justin Fields,
I thought, perfect, take a shot with Wilson because he's
been there, done that guy. I didn't think from looking
at his play in Denver and talking to some people
I know out there, I didn't think he was washed.
I thought it was one of those situations that didn't
work for a number of reasons. But it wasn't a
reflection of him being dumb so done excuse me. So
(03:57):
I thought, great, he plays for one year. If he
tears it up, you shake his hand and say thanks Russ,
good luck getting a big contract somewhere else, and you
turn it over to Justin Fields. If he comes up short,
you say thanks Russ, and you turn it over to
Justin Fields.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
My hope would be that.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Justin Fields showed us a little bit in the six games,
some good, some bad, but looked like I don't know,
he was better than I thought he was in Chicago.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I don't know if that's good enough or not.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
But hopefully he continued to progress, you know, toward the end,
even when he wasn't playing. I want to see what
it looks like with him now and then make decisions accordingly.
I still think he is as good a runner as
there is in a national football league. And when I
watched the games last week and I saw quarterbacks running
all over the place, I know you got to be
(04:47):
able to throw it and read a defense into things
that aren't ruining. Emphasized yesterday, A you got to be
allowed to change the play if it's if your sense
it's bad. And b four quarterbacks into two conference championship
games combined for six rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns.
Quarterback legs are here to stay, and I think moving forward,
(05:09):
you tap into the guy whose quarterback legs are as
good as anybody in the leg including the guy in Baltimore,
and you see what you can do with him in
the passing game as well.
Speaker 6 (05:18):
You know, when you extrapolate Justin's yardage over you know
the six games that he played, his rushing would have
come just under a thousand yards. His touchdowns on the
ground would be around fifteen. He had fifteen throwing. He
would also have if you extra played the whole thing
over the whole season, just given the fact, all right,
we don't you say well in that O on five, Louck,
there's too many things you can play that way if
(05:40):
you just take and look what his six game total
was and then go, you know, through the playoff game,
it's it's not a it's a pretty darn good season
at least he looks like a AFC North type quarterback.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yes, yeah, no, I think I think that that's what.
You know, The big crux is on why you're having
these conversations is what are what what are the guys
willing to take? Because right because it is it is
a is an empty quarterback room again for the second
year in a row. At this time of the year,
(06:15):
you're now looking at a room that doesn't have, you know,
a leader or the head head of the room.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
And now you're you're.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
In negotiations to see who that leader is going to be,
but also who who is a potential QB one before
we get into free agency, before we get into the draft, right,
you need to have something in there. The cupboard is
bear right now, So I mean, what is it? Do
you think Justin will take another prove it contract type
(06:44):
of deal, you know, to come in here and try
and win this job. But if you bring Russ back,
are you conceding that? And are you are you saying
that this is not going to be a competition that
you know, we have who our leader is and are
you happy with that?
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Is that?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Is that waving the white flag on you know, potential
quarterback draft? I don't think so, because, like I said,
I don't think there's a lot of top tier guys
that will be available. And how happy are you with
that next tier, the next wave of quarterbacks that are
coming in from this year's draft. Like, there's a lot
of those questions that still have to be answered. But
(07:22):
the first thing is you have to have a clear
mind on what the objective is, what is the identity
of this team because there are holes to be filled offensively,
and how those holes get filled determine what that initial
identity looks like.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Yeah, I would I would agree.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I think Art was pretty clear yesterday he doesn't expect
them both back. I don't think according to what he
told us, he doesn't think they want to both come
back in the same So you got to pick one,
and absolutely don't you pick the younger guy with upside?
Speaker 6 (07:54):
Well, isn't that just that's that's the way to believe. Yeah,
I gotta believe you're leaning that way.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Not an obvious choice. Yeah, not only that.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
And it's like out said, I would prefer to do
more than a one year contract.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
But I guess Russ is going to be thirty seven
next year. You can sign him four years eighty million.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Yeah that that doesn't that doesn't ring true.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Or you or you could go the kirk Cousins are
out four years. That worked out great for them.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Oh man, five years ago, you'd have been onto something
with kirk Cousins. But uh yeah, I think that ship
has sailed. You know, maybe maybe they're gonna trade up
in draft cam Ward, I don't know, but I think
you look see what it looks like with Justin fields
for a year, try to get some help at the
receiver room, and hope that the offensive line matures and
(08:44):
improves the way we all think it can.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
And then see where you are.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
I think, you know, bring Jalen Warren back, get a
running back in the draft, sign a free agent wide receiver,
draft a wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
Well you know what it looks like, you know.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Yeah, and and look at look at the the people
that built that Philadelphia offensive line that was so devastating.
I mean, those guys they rocked the house. I mean
you just watch them. Andy Wedda was so ready. He's like,
you know, powerful physical offensive lines travel well yeah, you know,
and you can see that Sakwon Barkley, of course, is
(09:18):
a terrific talent and just an unbel who here can
can Can you remember where you were when you saw
him do that reverse split jump backwards over a guy?
I mean I remember sitting in my house watching it, going,
are you kidding me? Oh my gosh, that was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I remember where I was when I saw him get
to the edge on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Oh yeah, first carry, Yeah, sixty yards? Yeah, you know,
I mean, and it's go ahead, Max. I'm sorry, No, no,
I was just gonna say.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
I mean, and it's all built behind a.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Big, physical, dominating offensive line. We came and talked about
this on Monday, right right wolf where it was like,
my god, I mean when they pull on the pin
and pull or counter scheme as I call, I mean,
he didn't get touched till he got past the second level,
you know that. I mean, there's suddenly be said, well,
you have a big, physical offensive line that knows.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
What to do.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And they were down their starter. Yeah, their starting center
was out and their left guard, who was put together
with popsicle sticks and ABC gum was in there at
center and so and they.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Still got the job done.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
So the depth and experience and size of that group
and athleticism was on full display. And that's you know
what Andy Whdehlly I imagine wants to build here with
the offensive line. But the one thing he doesn't have
with all of those athletes is experience, and that's what
you have to garner. And it's a slow cooker approach
(10:48):
because Lane Johnson wasn't the guy. What wasn't the Lane
Johnson that we know now year one? Right Landon Dickerson
was not the guy that you were expecting year one.
And Makai Beckton, you know, he was a journeyman. He remember,
he was a bust in the Jets.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
Failed top ten pick.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah, exactly, failed top ten pick, he was fat, he
was injured, and this dude has completely remade his career.
Which is funny that the Eagles always seem to take
like tackles and make them, you know, Pro Bowl level,
elite level guards, which is crazy because they did that
with Sean Andrews back in my draft class, left tackle
(11:28):
from Arkansas. They put him at guard and he won
a couple of Pro Bowls by being a guard. So
it's funny that that kind of repeats itself there as
a constant. But that's the key to it, and I
think we have those pieces. They're just the younger, not
ripened version of those ingredients.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Well, let me have you guys answer a question for me.
I will feel great about this offensive line if Broderick
Jones is a player at left tackle.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Is that gonna happen? Hmmm mm hm hm.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
You know, bro Joe, it's this, here's the thing. And
I really like the kid.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Oh I do too.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
And you know what, you can see greatness in him,
the the ability for greatness to be there.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I want to see it more.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
Well, this is yeah, and this is this is where
again conversations behind closed doors with you know, ear to
ear uh, you know, coach the player type of thing.
That's where you find out where a guy's headed, you
know what I mean. And that's where the judgment needs
to be made. I think the kid has the talent.
I think the kid has, you know, the physical attributes
(12:39):
to do it. But you got to do it, and
you got to do it on a consistent basis and
to be as up and down as it was. It's
it's not acceptable. He's capable of bettering that performance. There's
no doubt in my mind. You know again, I go
back to that whole thing in the preseason with Rousseau,
you know, and I know people are talking about his
(12:59):
elbow and this net, but you know, from the very
first pass rush who so got underneath him and and
I think it just put that alarm going off in
your head when you get out there, uh, such as
I used to get with uh you know, with any
uh the hot pass rushers back in my day, when
they stuck me out of tackle, It's like, I really
don't want to be out here.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Uh you know.
Speaker 6 (13:21):
But the fact is, uh, once he when he got mad,
he punched the daylights out of Russau and just dominated him.
And that's what that that that that yin and yang
where he's a little bit more passive, and then he
gets to that point where I've had all I can
stand and I can't stand no more than wham. Then
you're starting to kill people. And that's what we need
out of bro Jo.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I mean, I think, I think that's what it is.
But it comes down to consistency, it comes down to confidence.
And you know, listen, I love the passion, I love
the physicality, I love the attitude, but.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Like you said, I need it focalized. I need it.
I need it.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
I need it directed in a constructive way all the time. Focalized.
So yeah, I said focalized, focalized. So yeah, don't worry,
don't worry. It's it's in my dictionary.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
I mean, I think I know what you meant.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Yeah, yeah, okay, applying.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Focus would be the dictionary definition of focalize.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, apply applying a narrow pointed focus.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Well, or in other words, the focalization has occurred, you
see exactly.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Yeah, and I need some folks to be focalized on
the focal of the conversation.
Speaker 6 (14:33):
No, just jo If he's good, that's a good line, right,
there's no question.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
If he's what we saw last year, they got a problem.
Whoever's a quarterback?
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Well again, because that leads to more issues.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Yeah, no doubt about it.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
No, I just sit there, and so I hope for
the young man he gets that sense of urgency that
starts off in his off season training and he gets
himself going and gets to a point where he wants
so badly. You got to want it like it hurts, man.
I mean, you have to understand when you're you're competing
in the professional ranks, you're competing amongst highly trained and
(15:08):
highly combative and and alpha male type guys that are
over eager uh to accomplish great things in the NFL,
and you've got to be alongside of them. I mean,
you got to be like that. You you've got to
want to get after it and dominate and get after
the people. Why settle for being good when you can
be great? You just can't sit there and say, okay,
(15:29):
well I'm a start it now. It doesn't work that way.
Guys don't last anything else. Fellas, did you say I
gotta wrap it?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah, yeah, we gotta wrap it. We gotta wrap it here.
So I would say something else, but I think you know,
we will leave that for a future conversation and I'm
sure it'll make for great training camp commentary.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Uh oh, we won't wait that long.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
OTAs.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Okay, hey, Wolf, you got it all right. I will
take off O t as and that'll be Wolf's uh
wolf show. Anyways, Mike, we appreciate it as always. We
know you know, doing pulling a double duty here. You
just got off of the morning show on DVE, so
we appreciate the extra time and the two segments today.
Have a great off season. Until I see you again,
(16:15):
my friend.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Hey, anything for you guys. Man, you guys are tremendous
all year. On the pregame, Max, you jumped on with
us on the post game.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
I am in your debt, both of you. So anytime,
Oh good, I'll take lunch.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Don't threaten Wolf with a free meal. All right, that
was a great mic persuda. We will step aside. We'll
be back with more.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
And we got the.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Great Bob Labriola coming up next to the historian himself.
We come back inside the locker room here on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
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
Wilfley and Max Starks.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
And we'd like to welcome the Great Bob Larriola, one
of my favorite people's right in the locker room here
with Max and I and Lebs. I got to tell
you there's a lot of stuff coming out from Art
Rooney's press conference yesterday.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
What kind of grabbed your attention from the get go.
Speaker 7 (17:44):
Well, I mean, he really didn't waste a whole lot
of time identifying quarterback as a priority for this off season,
you know, figuring it out. And you know, as you
guys know very well, all of the all the guys
on the depth chart, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle
(18:08):
Allen are can become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday, March twelfth,
So there is very likely going to be changed. And
at this point, it's a possibility where, you know, the
Steelers could have three new quarterbacks on the depth chart,
(18:31):
just like they did you know, a year ago, kind
of going into the last offseason. And you know, I
don't know that that's ever an optimal way to go,
but you know, it's it's it's kind of where the
Steelers are at this point. Art Rudy the second also
said that he doesn't think that the team will be
(18:55):
able to re sign both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields
because he thinks that each of those players, or both
of those players see themselves as NFL starters. And you know,
if they both came back to the Steelers, obviously one
of them wouldn't be an NFL starter. And you know,
he did also say that getting assembling a depth charted
(19:20):
quarterback of similar style players he thinks would help offensive
coordinator Arthur Smith and the offense in terms of, you know,
being able to move forward. So you know, again, I
think I don't think that Art Reney believes that Russell
(19:41):
Wilson and Justin Fields represent you know, the same style
of quarterback. So again, that just kind of, you know,
strengthens the idea or the thought that the chances of
both of them coming back are are not very good.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
No, I mean, it's it's definitely one that you're going
to have to look at some different options labs and
we kind of talked about this, but how important is
it to get one? So you know who the head
of that room is going into free agency, going into
the draft and this offseason knowing that you have somebody
there to build it. I mean, what's what's the probability
(20:21):
that you come away with none of them, you know,
coming back and you kind of being left bare.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Well.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
I think that when it comes to the top two
guys on the you know, from the depth chart at
the end of or during the twenty twenty fourth season,
you know, Art did say that the preference is to
re sign one of those guys. So that goes right
into what you just said Max. You know, having someone
(20:49):
who is a holdover heading, I guess is a good
word heading the depth chart going into the meet, you know,
the off season, because Art also said, you know that
using the draft is not out of the question. It's
something that the team will consider at the position this year,
(21:12):
next year, you know, however it might work out. So yeah,
I think that resigning one of those two guys is
part of the priority. And you know, I don't think
you want to really tip your hand which one you
really want at this point because then the price goes up,
(21:32):
so you know, and and it was interesting to me
over the course of the session, Art kind of made
cases for h and reasons, cases for each of those
two guys, and reasons why it wouldn't be each of
(21:54):
those two guys. So that kind of just keeps it perfectly,
you know, under the under the radar to the rest
of the league and to those players respective agents. But
you know, Art did say that he still believes you know,
there was a question about mobility at the position, and
he said that, you know, he still believes that at
(22:15):
the NFL level, the position requires a quarterback to be
able to you know, read a defense, get a team
in the best, get the offense in the best play
based on that defense, be in the pocket, you know,
and make plays in the passing games from in the
(22:35):
passing game from there. So that would seem to be
an endorsement of Russell Wilson. But then he also said
that Russell Wilson's age and again in response to a question,
Russell will be thirty seven when next season gets underway.
(22:57):
You know, that's kind of a detriment if you're looking
for a more than a one year arrangement, you know,
with the guy, because you know, thirty seven year old
players in the NFL, you know, are not very plentiful.
And so you know, again there's it seems to me
(23:18):
that there are pros and cons of both guys, and
you know, but I do think that resigning one of
them is a priority.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
All right, So then the quarterback is a big question.
But there's also that that wide receiver and running back
situation too. How's that gonna flesh out? Did you get
a did he you know, talk about the running back
position at all?
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Yeah, he did, But again he's not tipping his hand.
You know, he said, maybe we bring nausey back. You know,
we'll have to see you know, all those kinds of things.
But he did acknowledge that again because you have a
guy that top of the depth chart who can't hit
unrestricted free agency. You know, it's an area that you're
(24:06):
gonna have to address.
Speaker 8 (24:09):
You know, there was some again, some questions about you know,
the current climate in the NFL is that maybe running
backs aren't worth high draft picks or second contracts.
Speaker 7 (24:29):
You know, you can be the notion that, hey, you
can find one on the third day of the draft
and you know, just change them like your socks every
couple of years. You know, why would you want to
invest a lot of money in a in a running
back for a second contract. But then, you know, there
was an acknowledgment that when you watch the conference championship games,
(24:54):
especially the first one, that that guy in Philadelphia tearing
up that way of thinking that you know, running backs
aren't worth high picks and running backs don't deserve second
contracts because he is being he's in the middle. I
think of a historic NFL wise, historic postseason run where
(25:19):
he's just I mean, I don't know, I've been watching
these playoff games. He's just amazing to me that the
home run hitting ability that he has, say Kwon Barkley,
I just I don't I can't really put it into words.
How energizing I believe that is for an offense and
(25:41):
how deflating that is for a defense. When running backs
running sixty plus yards for you on you for a
touchdown early in a game especially, that's gotta again, that's
gotta light up the offensive line and the rest of
the offense. And I just think it kind of the
flights the opposing defense when that happens to you. So
(26:04):
you know, there is value in the position, I think
if you still get a good one or a great
one in the case of Barkley. And you know, second
contracts for guys are not necessarily off the board based
on you know, production of guys, Sayquon Barkley, Derrick Henry,
(26:25):
you know, those kind of people.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
And I think, you know, labs, you know, kind of
as we look at it, you know, there are a
lot of questions offensively, as we kind of you know,
kind of laid it out, you know, quarterback, the backfield
in general, right quarterback, running back, you know, offensive line
is another one of concern. You know, Dan Moore free agents.
(26:51):
So you assume Broderick Jones goes over there, you slide
in Troy Fatanu right tackle, and boom, all's right with
the universe, right. Mason McCormick stays at the right, Zach
Frazer stays the center. Is a Ciamala who's recently, you know,
been named a Pro Bowl games participant. It's crazy to
say it as such. You have to say participants the
player for a flag football game. Defensively, there's a lot
(27:18):
of questions where do you think the biggest issue is
defensively defensive line?
Speaker 7 (27:26):
I don't. I mean, to me, it's it's I think
it would be my opinion that I think that when
it comes to the draft, the Steelers need to start
prioritizing the defensive line the same way that over the
past couple of years they prioritized the offensive line. You know,
(27:47):
there was a long time there where when it came
to the offensive line, the Steelers seem to be, you know,
not committing a lot of premium draft choices to that unit.
And then it kind of flipped around. Omar took over
(28:07):
as GM and Andy Widel came as the assistant GM
and there was you know, they used traded up for
Broderick Jones as a number one pick. They used Troy
Filetanu another the number one pick at the position. Zach
Frasier was a second round pick at the position. And
(28:28):
you know that's the way I think you need to
restock an area like that. Well, I think it's time
to do it on a defensive line as well. You
have Cam Hayward, a former number one pick but on
the first team All Pro too, let me get that
make that point as well. But you know he is
on the back nine of his NFL career. And when
(28:51):
you look at the depth chart at defensive line, you know,
Keanu Benton was a third round pick a couple of
years ago. But I just don't think defensive line is
a position where you know, you can spend third day
picks on those kind of guys and expect them to,
you know, really ascend to the top of your depth
(29:12):
chart and have an impact in games. I mean, yeah,
Brett Keesl was a seventh round pick and he played
on Super Bowl winning teams and you know all that
good stuff. But you know, I just don't think spending
third day picks on defensive linemen is the way to
go if you're trying to reinforce or rebuild or however
(29:35):
whatever verb you want to use your defensive line. Those
are guys, I think you have to commit premium draft
picks to them. By premium draft picks, I mean, you know,
top three rounds, so it would be in a draft
Thursday or Friday, that's where you've got to start picking
defensive lineman. You got to and you have and like
offensive lineman, you know, if you're gonna play three or
(29:57):
four at a time, you can't just have three or
four because there are injuries. It's not pretty on the
line of scrimmage in the NFL over a seventeen game
regular season, as you guys know, and you have to
plan for the probability that they're going to be injuries,
(30:18):
and so you need depth. So yeah, I think that
for me anyway, defensive line is an area that this
team should start targeting. And I also think you've got
to get another cornerback opposite Joey Porter. Now maybe that's
gone to Jackson, but he's an unrestricted free agent too.
(30:42):
Do you bring him back? Do you want someone else?
And again is Corey Trice an answer. These are questions
that you know have to be figured out. He answers
to them have to be figured out because again, two
corners who can play the style that you want to
play isn't enough because you need two at a time.
So you got to have more than that because there
(31:04):
can be injuries. You know, what's the deal at Nickel
is being the answer? How do they feel about him?
You know, these are all kinds of things that I
think have to be worked out over the course of
you offseason. But if you ask me, if I had
to point to a position, I would say defensive line.
(31:27):
That's got to be the priority in my opinion, on
that side of the ball.
Speaker 6 (31:32):
Well, let me ask you, then, what do you think
about the linebacker position? After all the fiascos of you know,
a couple of years ago, when you know you had
injuries and you're out shopping for guys on the street
and so forth. I thought, Hey, Peyton Wilson had a
heck of a year. Peyton Wilson is a three down linebacker.
Same thing with pac Wen. A Landon Roberts isn't. But
a Landon Roberts is one of those run stuffers you
(31:55):
got to keep in your back pocket. I mean, he's
a two down linebacker. He's one of those guys that
can really I believe, reinforce on run heavy downs and
do a great job. So I wonder what the status
of the inside linebacker room might be.
Speaker 7 (32:09):
Yeah, you know in land And Roberts is another one
of those guys who will become unrestricted, become an unrestricted
free agent. I'm like you, Wolf, I'm a I've been
in a Landon Roberts fan. I like the way he plays,
I like I guess the word they use is demeanor.
I like the demeanor that he brings to the field
(32:29):
and to the unit. But you know, I don't know
what that's going to cost, and you know you have
to prioritize those kind of dollars two different things. So yeah,
that's something that I would uh look to look to
do with him. But again, I mean, how do you
(32:50):
what positions do you think you can help in the
draft and what positions do you think you need to
deal with in free agency? Because you know, there's only
so many draft picks, and we've talked about using priority
draft picks. You know, if you use one on a
(33:13):
defensive lineman and if you use one on a cornerback,
and if you're looking at a wide receiver, you know,
then you're out of picks. So you know, and then
what's going to be available in free agency? Corner as
an example, maybe corner is somewhat a position you might
(33:33):
look to to address during free agency. Well, there are
going to be any franchise tags put on some of
those guys or some of those guys that might becoming
free do they re sign with their teams before March twelfth.
You know, there's a lot of moving parts to this.
And you know, I think you got to look at
(33:56):
every avenue and trades too, you know, trades or some
thing that I think it's certainly not off the table
with Omar Kahan, and you know, this kind of this regime,
to use a word, So how it happens, I think
it's still very much up in the air. But I
(34:17):
think we all know or have our own opinions of
what areas that this team needs to reinforce or you know,
to some degrees, reconstruct on its depth chart during this
upcoming offseason.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Labs, did mister Rooney or have you heard any rumblings
about any of the coaching positions that might you know,
flesh themselves out as being something that could potentially be
altered going into this offseason, or do you think all
the coaches are kind of status quo right now with
(34:55):
the team.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
No, he didn't. He was asked about and he said
that there could be some changes still. You know, the
Steelers have never been whenever they have made changes to
their coaching staff, They've not never necessarily been you know,
first up to do those kinds of things. So you know,
(35:21):
we're not even into February yet, there could be some
changes to the staff. Art didn't rule that out. He
also didn't rule out the fact that there could be
some changes involving coaches who are under contract on the staff.
So there's that. But let me just throw this out too.
(35:41):
Let's not forget last year at this time, new offensive coordinator,
new quarterbacks coach, new wide receivers coach, other assistants, and
new strength and conditioning staff. You know, the Steelers just
did a lot of this stuff. And you know, I
don't know that you want to be changing you know
(36:02):
this every year, you know, I don't. I don't think
that that's any way to build continuity, either with your
planning or if it's position coaches. You just brought in
a quarterbacks coach and a wide receivers coach, So if
you change them, how does that help, for example, George
(36:24):
Pickens and Calvin Austin to have another new assistant coach
at their position. I don't think it does. And I
also don't know whether those guys you can point to
them and say they're the reason for whatever that happened
that you didn't like you so or go ahead.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Last I just want to say, it's a slippery slope.
If you change for the sake of change, I mean,
that's just wrong.
Speaker 7 (36:48):
Right, Yeah, So you know, I think that it's not
out of the question, but I wouldn't expect to see,
you know, a bunch of changes again, especially in areas
where there were changes a year ago, because, as you said,
you know, change for the sake of change isn't isn't
(37:10):
isn't good. And I don't know that, you know, I
think assistant coaches maybe need a little time to grow
into the job and the and the players that they're
working with, just like players need time to grow into
the NFL and playing at the NFL level. I mean
that would be as you know, jettison guys wholesale in
(37:35):
terms of assistant position coaches that you just hired last year.
I mean that's almost as stupid to me as as
cutting Broderick Jones. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Absolutely, we got to break, buddy.
Speaker 6 (37:46):
But I want to thank you because you know this
is this is your first appearance this year, isn't it
second first? You know what I think this calendar year. Yeah, yeah,
I am so grateful. We got graced in the locker
room by the great Bob Labriola, team Historian, team knowledge man,
the answer man, Bob Labriola, Thank you so very much
(38:08):
for joining us, my friend.
Speaker 5 (38:09):
It's good as always, seriously talking.
Speaker 7 (38:11):
You're welcome, and I send the invoice to Max.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
Right, Yeah, you got it exactly.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Yeah, make sure you spell it c R A I
G a new way of spelling Max.
Speaker 7 (38:27):
Okay, thanks, thanks for.
Speaker 5 (38:30):
Thank you, brother, appreciate you.
Speaker 6 (38:32):
Yes, indeed, all right we're gonna come back with the
bell lap coming up here as possession Arrow.
Speaker 5 (38:37):
Arrow goes to Max.
Speaker 6 (38:38):
All this and more in the Steelers Locker Room and
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
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.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
All right, we are inside the bell up.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
Early wednes Morning system engaged for you. Pittsburgh's out there,
either physically in Pittsburgh or there in spirit listening to
us across the Great us of A. It's a great
guest today, wolf Yeah.
Speaker 5 (39:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
You know, anytime you get additional insights and additional voices,
it'll breed fresh opinions and fresh thought processes.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
Speak.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
So, I mean, you know, have having Mic Pursuit on
for two segments was really good.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
And then of course what else do you.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Say about Bob Labriola Labs is the Goat crew is yeah,
hashtag Billy Goat anyways, But I think, but I think
it is important to kind of, you know, as we
kind of laid out throughout the show, like where the
attention needs to go and how each thoughtful detail needs
(40:29):
to be considered before you make a decision, right, I mean,
you have to know a who's who's gonna be, Who's
gonna be the head of the head of the class, right,
you know who's going to be that quarterback one, at
least on paper for when we start the you know
this this o t A slash mini camp slash pre
(40:54):
agency slash insert anything here that results in team construction, gotcha,
you know? And I think that's where, you know, we
get caught up on some of the bigger things like
who's going to be quarterback, But it's really what offensive
(41:16):
lines are going to be protecting the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (41:18):
Right or what receiver.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
It's which quarterback is going to deliver the ball to
receivers more effectively and also more intently with scheme with I,
discipline is with you know, how you set your feet,
where you look off? All these things have to be considered.
(41:42):
And then of course what is you know, the plan
by Arthur Smith? What does he truly envision this offense
being that? So those are some of the main keys
that I look at Wolf and I take away is
we've got to answer some other questions before I can
get to the answer of the regular The regular one,
I got to know what the variables are so that
(42:03):
I can create a coefficient to get a desired result.
Speaker 6 (42:06):
Okay, you just lost me because that's very mathematical sounding.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
Yeah, coefficient is okay, so a variable. Let's just make
it simple one. But I think we have to discuss it.
So let me just break it down. Two x plus
four x equals what you know what I'm saying, So
(42:31):
X is the variable because you don't know the number, right,
coefficient is the number in front of it. So it's
how many times are you times to get by? So
that's when I say coefficient. That's what I mean. So
you know it just it has to be like, there
has to be a full pronged approach for whatever you're
going to do decision wise, right.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
It cannot be isolated.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
You can't just do one thing and expect it to
be a fix all, is what I'm trying to say.
Speaker 6 (42:58):
Yes, I would agree with that. You just say that
instead of going to the coefficient, variables, factors, those sorts
of things that Because my.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Daughter had math homework last night and it's on my
brain just downloaded, wolf, I have to download.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
It from the clouds. It sounds like I don't want
it in the cloud.
Speaker 5 (43:14):
It sounds like a deleted scene from Goodwill Hunting.
Speaker 6 (43:16):
It's like discombobulating that's all I know. It was my
brain started hurting somewhere in the middle of that.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
Hey hey, and now I'll live on in podcast lore.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
A few years from now when my daughters need help
with their homework, I'm and be like, just go listen
to Max on that podcast in January.
Speaker 4 (43:34):
He's got it down, you know, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 5 (43:38):
My kids are homeschooled. Anybody need any help with homework?
And my girls no.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
Dead, yeah, exactly, all right, did my job? I asked?
Speaker 5 (43:49):
We had gym class and lunch already, dad.
Speaker 7 (43:51):
But.
Speaker 4 (43:55):
We'll call you a nap time is scheduled, no doubt
about it.
Speaker 6 (43:59):
And you know, the fact is, look, there are so
many decisions to be made that this is going to
be interesting to see and where they go, where these
you know, whether or not Nagy is resigned, whether they
go with Justin, you know, with George. I mean, it's
all going to be part and parcel of what you
can do offensively, and it's going to take an offensive
(44:19):
coordinator the ability to coordinate all those pieces and get
the job done. And I know one thing I really
really really wish coming out of this, if they need
more tight end action as far as in the past
receiving with briarn With they're wasting They're not wasting him,
but they could be so much more productive, especially during
(44:41):
the last five weeks when they were zero and five.
He is a guy that can be very, very productive
given the right set of circumstances and coverages.
Speaker 5 (44:50):
And I just think that's.
Speaker 6 (44:51):
Something that was unexplored, and that was just one of
those things that was kind of left out there and
not really for anybody. You know, nobody really picked up
and talked about it. But I really think he was underutilized. Yeah,
I mean, I think there's an underutilization.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
I think there's you know, a lack of variety on
how to even get your pass catchers open. You know,
that middle of the field was there for the picking,
you know, and you just all you have to do
is just look back at the Cincinnati game, right right, Absolutely.
I mean that's utilizing the middle of the field and
(45:28):
to check down and just taking what the defense gives you.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
And being okay with that, right Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
And it's not about last second dump off guys falling
out of bounds trying to get you three yards. You
need to be able to create yak. Yak is created
in the middle of the field, between the numbers and
even going even more so between the hashes. And that's
where a tight end lurks. That's where a tight end makes.
Speaker 5 (45:57):
His hay right, Yeah, we have a lurking tight end.
Speaker 4 (46:02):
Well, I mean Darnel Watched is definitely a lurking tight end.
I mean, let's just let's just be honest.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
I mean, even when he's in seven feet of water,
he's still sticking out the top right.
Speaker 4 (46:09):
You know, I'm saying, you still see eyeballs.
Speaker 2 (46:12):
That's that's that's what you want to And I also
thought that, you know, a lot of the titands were underutilized.
Where was Connor Hayward this year? Yeah, you know, Darnell Washington.
I love hide routes, but he can't hide that well,
like he's the first guy found in Hide and Seek.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (46:30):
You can't hide that man.
Speaker 2 (46:32):
Yeah, exactly. It's like, hey, we're going to a couch store.
You know we got you know, playing hide and Seek.
You gotta you gotta hide behind the couch. He can't
hide behind the couch.
Speaker 4 (46:40):
He is a couch. Yeah, he's a vertical couch. You
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
So I just I would have loved to have seen
more utilization and creativity in general, and not just even
at you know, using Pat Fryarmouth as your number two
right to go opposite George, but utilizing all the guys
Like I still want to know, where was the consistency
with that thirteen personnel and the variety that you created
(47:07):
out of it. It could be twenty one, it could
actually be traditional thirteen.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
It could you know, it could be twelve.
Speaker 2 (47:14):
It could you know, it can be eleven personnel grouping
with that thirteen. Right, There's so many different ways to
deploy it, and I just didn't see what I thought
was the creativity we saw from training camp.
Speaker 6 (47:27):
It'll be interesting to see how all this comes together
in the future. Yes, absolutely, So you know with that
that's been a show.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
That is a show, and I'm actually going to end
on time here, surprise, surprise, no fireworks necessary, Wes. And
if Wolf's trying to goat you into it, don't do it,
don't you do it? Don't you press that button? Yeah,
there it is, there it is. I mean, that's one
position we don't have to worry about, is Danny Smith.
(47:59):
And I think also, you know, as we look around
the league, there's a lot of teams that are making
those hires at the assistant's position. We'll kind of break
those down tomorrow. Just who's going where because you said
it during the break, Doug Moron, right, you know, fellow
Orange man, Orange person, Yeah, Sirrah Cuser, Yeah, that you know,
(48:22):
he's going to be with Mike Rabel.
Speaker 4 (48:25):
You know he's gonna come in.
Speaker 2 (48:26):
His role has not quite been defined yet, but he's
gonna be joining that offensive staff. Obviously, we know him
as head coach Jacksonville Buffalo at AFC regular or a FC.
Speaker 4 (48:39):
No known uh known mind.
Speaker 2 (48:43):
So it'll be interesting to see, you know what that
team up there in Boston is doing to create their
new squad with Mike Rabel at the helm. You know,
Aaron Glenn has has some positions that he's trying to fill.
Ben Johnson uh closing in on some as well. Of course,
Dan Campbell he lost both his coordinators. He's got he's
got a restock and retool as well, and he lost
(49:06):
one of his key offensive coaches in Antoine Randalll who's
the assistant head.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
Coach over there for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (49:13):
So you know a lot more NFL news to break down,
and we'll break down a little bit more of Steeler's
news as well from the Art Rooney press conference that
was happened yesterday. We'll bring you that and more here
inside the locker room as we continue through next week.
But for Craig Wolfley, I'm Max Starks, Wesley Euler, Ones
(49:36):
and twos as always CJ and the Sinsey, they are
the Ninja Hunters. They do a great job for us.
So for everybody out there working on the show, we
appreciate you, and of course all of you Steeler Nation,
we most certainly appreciate you guys for tuning in. Make
sure you continue to do so. We'll be back here
saying bat channel, saying bat time. Now go make it
(49:59):
a great day.
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,
p n C, PEPSI, and by FedEx. Where now meets next?
Now here's Craig Wolfley and Max Stark's.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
All right, we are live in our number two, aka
the Power Hour.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Am.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
That's right, Mike Pursuda. You don't know this, but that
is Optimus Prime driving by. And he has not stopped
at all this season.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
He just keeps rolling by. We've thrown, we've thrown the
thumb out.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
There, We've we've we've baited him with Victory donuts, and
he won't stop.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
He just keeps going.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And that's how we're gonna do here inside the locker
room here in our number two. And of course the
locker room got a little hot under the collar before
the break.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
It it's still.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
It's that's frustration because I like to think, after doing
this for as long as I've done it, that eventually
I can figure out what happened and why, And in
this instance I cannot.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, no, it it is a constant, you know, I think,
And that's what the beauty of sports is, right, is
that you know, even when you think you have your
thumb on it, it proves that the thumb is not
necessarily in the right place, right, you know, And and
that's what and that's what we're trying to discuss here,
just trying to figure out kind of the mechanism of why,
(01:46):
you know, for another year, the Steelers have kind of
fallen flat on their face because you laid it out
early in the conversation. They were riding a three game
win streak and fell short in the wildcard round.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
This time, different parameters, same result.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
You come off of a four game losing streak and well,
you know, five and you just you're left with that
that that diet rcy cola, that's that's in the fridge
at Cleveland, you know, because you're like, man, I really
would like a diet coke, but they all they have
is diet arcy cola, you know, in the fridge, and
(02:25):
it has the worst aftertaste you could ever think about.
And we're left with that kind of same feeling at
the end of another season here for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
You clearly didn't get the memo about you guys new
sponsor diet Arci Cola.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
No, I did not know.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
There we go.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, oops, yeah, exactly. I can tell you that.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, you know, hey, this is for all guests, for
all guests. You know, all of our guests are brought
to us by diet Arcy Cola.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
As he said in that Caddy shack, you must have
been something before electricity.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Oh man, yes, indeed, So Mike, where do they go?
Speaker 6 (03:07):
Well, let's backtrack a little bit because the question of
the day. I'm sorry, Max, I didn't mean to hijack
your possession. His possession arrow was towards him. It's a
locker room tribu.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
You know, we're good.
Speaker 6 (03:17):
Yeah, and sometimes I forget and I bumped at possession
arrow the wrong way. So just get your take on
the quarterback situation, and what do you think you see
going forward?
Speaker 5 (03:27):
I don't know what they're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I'll just tell you how I've envisioned this whole thing
since last year.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
As soon as they acquired Russell Wilson and then Justin Fields,
I thought, perfect, take a shot with Wilson because he's
been there, done that guy. I didn't think from looking
at his play in Denver and talking to some people
I know out there, I didn't think he was washed.
I thought it was one of those situations that didn't
work for a number of reasons. But it wasn't a
reflection of him being dumb so done excuse me. So
(03:57):
I thought, great, he plays for one year. If he
tears it up, you shake his hand and say thanks Russ,
good luck getting a big contract somewhere else, and you
turn it over to Justin Fields. If he comes up short,
you say thanks Russ, and you turn it over to
Justin Fields.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
My hope would be that.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Justin Fields showed us a little bit in the six games,
some good, some bad, but looked like I don't know,
he was better than I thought he was in Chicago.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I don't know if that's good enough or not.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
But hopefully he continued to progress, you know, toward the end,
even when he wasn't playing. I want to see what
it looks like with him now and then make decisions accordingly.
I still think he is as good a runner as
there is in a national football league. And when I
watched the games last week and I saw quarterbacks running
all over the place, I know you got to be
(04:47):
able to throw it and read a defense into things
that aren't ruining. Emphasized yesterday, A you got to be
allowed to change the play if it's if your sense
it's bad. And b four quarterbacks into two conference championship
games combined for six rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns.
Quarterback legs are here to stay, and I think moving forward,
(05:09):
you tap into the guy whose quarterback legs are as
good as anybody in the leg including the guy in Baltimore,
and you see what you can do with him in
the passing game as well.
Speaker 6 (05:18):
You know, when you extrapolate Justin's yardage over you know
the six games that he played, his rushing would have
come just under a thousand yards. His touchdowns on the
ground would be around fifteen. He had fifteen throwing. He
would also have if you extra played the whole thing
over the whole season, just given the fact, all right,
we don't you say well in that O on five, Louck,
there's too many things you can play that way if
(05:40):
you just take and look what his six game total
was and then go, you know, through the playoff game,
it's it's not a it's a pretty darn good season
at least he looks like a AFC North type quarterback.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yes, yeah, no, I think I think that that's what.
You know, The big crux is on why you're having
these conversations is what are what what are the guys
willing to take? Because right because it is it is
a is an empty quarterback room again for the second
year in a row. At this time of the year,
(06:15):
you're now looking at a room that doesn't have, you know,
a leader or the head head of the room.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
And now you're you're.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
In negotiations to see who that leader is going to be,
but also who who is a potential QB one before
we get into free agency, before we get into the draft, right,
you need to have something in there. The cupboard is
bear right now, So I mean, what is it? Do
you think Justin will take another prove it contract type
(06:44):
of deal, you know, to come in here and try
and win this job. But if you bring Russ back,
are you conceding that? And are you are you saying
that this is not going to be a competition that
you know, we have who our leader is and are
you happy with that?
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Is that?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Is that waving the white flag on you know, potential
quarterback draft? I don't think so, because, like I said,
I don't think there's a lot of top tier guys
that will be available. And how happy are you with
that next tier, the next wave of quarterbacks that are
coming in from this year's draft. Like, there's a lot
of those questions that still have to be answered. But
(07:22):
the first thing is you have to have a clear
mind on what the objective is, what is the identity
of this team because there are holes to be filled offensively,
and how those holes get filled determine what that initial
identity looks like.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Yeah, I would I would agree.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I think Art was pretty clear yesterday he doesn't expect
them both back. I don't think according to what he
told us, he doesn't think they want to both come
back in the same So you got to pick one,
and absolutely don't you pick the younger guy with upside?
Speaker 6 (07:54):
Well, isn't that just that's that's the way to believe. Yeah,
I gotta believe you're leaning that way.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Not an obvious choice. Yeah, not only that.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
And it's like out said, I would prefer to do
more than a one year contract.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
But I guess Russ is going to be thirty seven
next year. You can sign him four years eighty million.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Yeah that that doesn't that doesn't ring true.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Or you or you could go the kirk Cousins are
out four years. That worked out great for them.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Oh man, five years ago, you'd have been onto something
with kirk Cousins. But uh yeah, I think that ship
has sailed. You know, maybe maybe they're gonna trade up
in draft cam Ward, I don't know, but I think
you look see what it looks like with Justin fields
for a year, try to get some help at the
receiver room, and hope that the offensive line matures and
(08:44):
improves the way we all think it can.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
And then see where you are.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
I think, you know, bring Jalen Warren back, get a
running back in the draft, sign a free agent wide receiver,
draft a wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
Well you know what it looks like, you know.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Yeah, and and look at look at the the people
that built that Philadelphia offensive line that was so devastating.
I mean, those guys they rocked the house. I mean
you just watch them. Andy Wedda was so ready. He's like,
you know, powerful physical offensive lines travel well yeah, you know,
and you can see that Sakwon Barkley, of course, is
(09:18):
a terrific talent and just an unbel who here can
can Can you remember where you were when you saw
him do that reverse split jump backwards over a guy?
I mean I remember sitting in my house watching it, going,
are you kidding me? Oh my gosh, that was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I remember where I was when I saw him get
to the edge on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Oh yeah, first carry, Yeah, sixty yards? Yeah, you know,
I mean, and it's go ahead, Max. I'm sorry, No, no,
I was just gonna say.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
I mean, and it's all built behind a.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Big, physical, dominating offensive line. We came and talked about
this on Monday, right right wolf where it was like,
my god, I mean when they pull on the pin
and pull or counter scheme as I call, I mean,
he didn't get touched till he got past the second level,
you know that. I mean, there's suddenly be said, well,
you have a big, physical offensive line that knows.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
What to do.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And they were down their starter. Yeah, their starting center
was out and their left guard, who was put together
with popsicle sticks and ABC gum was in there at
center and so and they.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Still got the job done.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
So the depth and experience and size of that group
and athleticism was on full display. And that's you know
what Andy Whdehlly I imagine wants to build here with
the offensive line. But the one thing he doesn't have
with all of those athletes is experience, and that's what
you have to garner. And it's a slow cooker approach
(10:48):
because Lane Johnson wasn't the guy. What wasn't the Lane
Johnson that we know now year one? Right Landon Dickerson
was not the guy that you were expecting year one.
And Makai Beckton, you know, he was a journeyman. He remember,
he was a bust in the Jets.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
Failed top ten pick.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah, exactly, failed top ten pick, he was fat, he
was injured, and this dude has completely remade his career.
Which is funny that the Eagles always seem to take
like tackles and make them, you know, Pro Bowl level,
elite level guards, which is crazy because they did that
with Sean Andrews back in my draft class, left tackle
(11:28):
from Arkansas. They put him at guard and he won
a couple of Pro Bowls by being a guard. So
it's funny that that kind of repeats itself there as
a constant. But that's the key to it, and I
think we have those pieces. They're just the younger, not
ripened version of those ingredients.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Well, let me have you guys answer a question for me.
I will feel great about this offensive line if Broderick
Jones is a player at left tackle.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Is that gonna happen? Hmmm mm hm hm.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
You know, bro Joe, it's this, here's the thing. And
I really like the kid.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Oh I do too.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
And you know what, you can see greatness in him,
the the ability for greatness to be there.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I want to see it more.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
Well, this is yeah, and this is this is where
again conversations behind closed doors with you know, ear to
ear uh, you know, coach the player type of thing.
That's where you find out where a guy's headed, you
know what I mean. And that's where the judgment needs
to be made. I think the kid has the talent.
I think the kid has, you know, the physical attributes
(12:39):
to do it. But you got to do it, and
you got to do it on a consistent basis and
to be as up and down as it was. It's
it's not acceptable. He's capable of bettering that performance. There's
no doubt in my mind. You know again, I go
back to that whole thing in the preseason with Rousseau,
you know, and I know people are talking about his
(12:59):
elbow and this net, but you know, from the very
first pass rush who so got underneath him and and
I think it just put that alarm going off in
your head when you get out there, uh, such as
I used to get with uh you know, with any
uh the hot pass rushers back in my day, when
they stuck me out of tackle, It's like, I really
don't want to be out here.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Uh you know.
Speaker 6 (13:21):
But the fact is, uh, once he when he got mad,
he punched the daylights out of Russau and just dominated him.
And that's what that that that that yin and yang
where he's a little bit more passive, and then he
gets to that point where I've had all I can
stand and I can't stand no more than wham. Then
you're starting to kill people. And that's what we need
out of bro Jo.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I mean, I think, I think that's what it is.
But it comes down to consistency, it comes down to confidence.
And you know, listen, I love the passion, I love
the physicality, I love the attitude, but.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Like you said, I need it focalized. I need it.
I need it.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
I need it directed in a constructive way all the time. Focalized.
So yeah, I said focalized, focalized. So yeah, don't worry,
don't worry. It's it's in my dictionary.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
I mean, I think I know what you meant.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Yeah, yeah, okay, applying.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Focus would be the dictionary definition of focalize.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, apply applying a narrow pointed focus.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Well, or in other words, the focalization has occurred, you
see exactly.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Yeah, and I need some folks to be focalized on
the focal of the conversation.
Speaker 6 (14:33):
No, just jo If he's good, that's a good line, right,
there's no question.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
If he's what we saw last year, they got a problem.
Whoever's a quarterback?
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Well again, because that leads to more issues.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Yeah, no doubt about it.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
No, I just sit there, and so I hope for
the young man he gets that sense of urgency that
starts off in his off season training and he gets
himself going and gets to a point where he wants
so badly. You got to want it like it hurts, man.
I mean, you have to understand when you're you're competing
in the professional ranks, you're competing amongst highly trained and
(15:08):
highly combative and and alpha male type guys that are
over eager uh to accomplish great things in the NFL,
and you've got to be alongside of them. I mean,
you got to be like that. You you've got to
want to get after it and dominate and get after
the people. Why settle for being good when you can
be great? You just can't sit there and say, okay,
(15:29):
well I'm a start it now. It doesn't work that way.
Guys don't last anything else. Fellas, did you say I
gotta wrap it?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah, yeah, we gotta wrap it. We gotta wrap it here.
So I would say something else, but I think you know,
we will leave that for a future conversation and I'm
sure it'll make for great training camp commentary.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Uh oh, we won't wait that long.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
OTAs.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Okay, hey, Wolf, you got it all right. I will
take off O t as and that'll be Wolf's uh
wolf show. Anyways, Mike, we appreciate it as always. We
know you know, doing pulling a double duty here. You
just got off of the morning show on DVE, so
we appreciate the extra time and the two segments today.
Have a great off season. Until I see you again,
(16:15):
my friend.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Hey, anything for you guys. Man, you guys are tremendous
all year. On the pregame, Max, you jumped on with
us on the post game.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
I am in your debt, both of you. So anytime,
Oh good, I'll take lunch.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Don't threaten Wolf with a free meal. All right, that
was a great mic persuda. We will step aside. We'll
be back with more.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
And we got the.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Great Bob Labriola coming up next to the historian himself.
We come back inside the locker room here on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
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
Wilfley and Max Starks.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
And we'd like to welcome the Great Bob Larriola, one
of my favorite people's right in the locker room here
with Max and I and Lebs. I got to tell
you there's a lot of stuff coming out from Art
Rooney's press conference yesterday.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
What kind of grabbed your attention from the get go.
Speaker 7 (17:44):
Well, I mean, he really didn't waste a whole lot
of time identifying quarterback as a priority for this off season,
you know, figuring it out. And you know, as you
guys know very well, all of the all the guys
on the depth chart, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle
(18:08):
Allen are can become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday, March twelfth,
So there is very likely going to be changed. And
at this point, it's a possibility where, you know, the
Steelers could have three new quarterbacks on the depth chart,
(18:31):
just like they did you know, a year ago, kind
of going into the last offseason. And you know, I
don't know that that's ever an optimal way to go,
but you know, it's it's it's kind of where the
Steelers are at this point. Art Rudy the second also
said that he doesn't think that the team will be
(18:55):
able to re sign both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields
because he thinks that each of those players, or both
of those players see themselves as NFL starters. And you know,
if they both came back to the Steelers, obviously one
of them wouldn't be an NFL starter. And you know,
he did also say that getting assembling a depth charted
(19:20):
quarterback of similar style players he thinks would help offensive
coordinator Arthur Smith and the offense in terms of, you know,
being able to move forward. So you know, again, I
think I don't think that Art Reney believes that Russell
(19:41):
Wilson and Justin Fields represent you know, the same style
of quarterback. So again, that just kind of, you know,
strengthens the idea or the thought that the chances of
both of them coming back are are not very good.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
No, I mean, it's it's definitely one that you're going
to have to look at some different options labs and
we kind of talked about this, but how important is
it to get one? So you know who the head
of that room is going into free agency, going into
the draft and this offseason knowing that you have somebody
there to build it. I mean, what's what's the probability
(20:21):
that you come away with none of them, you know,
coming back and you kind of being left bare.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Well.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
I think that when it comes to the top two
guys on the you know, from the depth chart at
the end of or during the twenty twenty fourth season,
you know, Art did say that the preference is to
re sign one of those guys. So that goes right
into what you just said Max. You know, having someone
(20:49):
who is a holdover heading, I guess is a good
word heading the depth chart going into the meet, you know,
the off season, because Art also said, you know that
using the draft is not out of the question. It's
something that the team will consider at the position this year,
(21:12):
next year, you know, however it might work out. So yeah,
I think that resigning one of those two guys is
part of the priority. And you know, I don't think
you want to really tip your hand which one you
really want at this point because then the price goes up,
(21:32):
so you know, and and it was interesting to me
over the course of the session, Art kind of made
cases for h and reasons, cases for each of those
two guys, and reasons why it wouldn't be each of
(21:54):
those two guys. So that kind of just keeps it perfectly,
you know, under the under the radar to the rest
of the league and to those players respective agents. But
you know, Art did say that he still believes you know,
there was a question about mobility at the position, and
he said that, you know, he still believes that at
(22:15):
the NFL level, the position requires a quarterback to be
able to you know, read a defense, get a team
in the best, get the offense in the best play
based on that defense, be in the pocket, you know,
and make plays in the passing games from in the
(22:35):
passing game from there. So that would seem to be
an endorsement of Russell Wilson. But then he also said
that Russell Wilson's age and again in response to a question,
Russell will be thirty seven when next season gets underway.
(22:57):
You know, that's kind of a detriment if you're looking
for a more than a one year arrangement, you know,
with the guy, because you know, thirty seven year old
players in the NFL, you know, are not very plentiful.
And so you know, again there's it seems to me
(23:18):
that there are pros and cons of both guys, and
you know, but I do think that resigning one of
them is a priority.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
All right, So then the quarterback is a big question.
But there's also that that wide receiver and running back
situation too. How's that gonna flesh out? Did you get
a did he you know, talk about the running back
position at all?
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Yeah, he did, But again he's not tipping his hand.
You know, he said, maybe we bring nausey back. You know,
we'll have to see you know, all those kinds of things.
But he did acknowledge that again because you have a
guy that top of the depth chart who can't hit
unrestricted free agency. You know, it's an area that you're
(24:06):
gonna have to address.
Speaker 8 (24:09):
You know, there was some again, some questions about you know,
the current climate in the NFL is that maybe running
backs aren't worth high draft picks or second contracts.
Speaker 7 (24:29):
You know, you can be the notion that, hey, you
can find one on the third day of the draft
and you know, just change them like your socks every
couple of years. You know, why would you want to
invest a lot of money in a in a running
back for a second contract. But then, you know, there
was an acknowledgment that when you watch the conference championship games,
(24:54):
especially the first one, that that guy in Philadelphia tearing
up that way of thinking that you know, running backs
aren't worth high picks and running backs don't deserve second
contracts because he is being he's in the middle. I
think of a historic NFL wise, historic postseason run where
(25:19):
he's just I mean, I don't know, I've been watching
these playoff games. He's just amazing to me that the
home run hitting ability that he has, say Kwon Barkley,
I just I don't I can't really put it into words.
How energizing I believe that is for an offense and
(25:41):
how deflating that is for a defense. When running backs
running sixty plus yards for you on you for a
touchdown early in a game especially, that's gotta again, that's
gotta light up the offensive line and the rest of
the offense. And I just think it kind of the
flights the opposing defense when that happens to you. So
(26:04):
you know, there is value in the position, I think
if you still get a good one or a great
one in the case of Barkley. And you know, second
contracts for guys are not necessarily off the board based
on you know, production of guys, Sayquon Barkley, Derrick Henry,
(26:25):
you know, those kind of people.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
And I think, you know, labs, you know, kind of
as we look at it, you know, there are a
lot of questions offensively, as we kind of you know,
kind of laid it out, you know, quarterback, the backfield
in general, right quarterback, running back, you know, offensive line
is another one of concern. You know, Dan Moore free agents.
(26:51):
So you assume Broderick Jones goes over there, you slide
in Troy Fatanu right tackle, and boom, all's right with
the universe, right. Mason McCormick stays at the right, Zach
Frazer stays the center. Is a Ciamala who's recently, you know,
been named a Pro Bowl games participant. It's crazy to
say it as such. You have to say participants the
player for a flag football game. Defensively, there's a lot
(27:18):
of questions where do you think the biggest issue is
defensively defensive line?
Speaker 7 (27:26):
I don't. I mean, to me, it's it's I think
it would be my opinion that I think that when
it comes to the draft, the Steelers need to start
prioritizing the defensive line the same way that over the
past couple of years they prioritized the offensive line. You know,
(27:47):
there was a long time there where when it came
to the offensive line, the Steelers seem to be, you know,
not committing a lot of premium draft choices to that unit.
And then it kind of flipped around. Omar took over
(28:07):
as GM and Andy Widel came as the assistant GM
and there was you know, they used traded up for
Broderick Jones as a number one pick. They used Troy
Filetanu another the number one pick at the position. Zach
Frasier was a second round pick at the position. And
(28:28):
you know that's the way I think you need to
restock an area like that. Well, I think it's time
to do it on a defensive line as well. You
have Cam Hayward, a former number one pick but on
the first team All Pro too, let me get that
make that point as well. But you know he is
on the back nine of his NFL career. And when
(28:51):
you look at the depth chart at defensive line, you know,
Keanu Benton was a third round pick a couple of
years ago. But I just don't think defensive line is
a position where you know, you can spend third day
picks on those kind of guys and expect them to,
you know, really ascend to the top of your depth
(29:12):
chart and have an impact in games. I mean, yeah,
Brett Keesl was a seventh round pick and he played
on Super Bowl winning teams and you know all that
good stuff. But you know, I just don't think spending
third day picks on defensive linemen is the way to
go if you're trying to reinforce or rebuild or however
(29:35):
whatever verb you want to use your defensive line. Those
are guys, I think you have to commit premium draft
picks to them. By premium draft picks, I mean, you know,
top three rounds, so it would be in a draft
Thursday or Friday, that's where you've got to start picking
defensive lineman. You got to and you have and like
offensive lineman, you know, if you're gonna play three or
(29:57):
four at a time, you can't just have three or
four because there are injuries. It's not pretty on the
line of scrimmage in the NFL over a seventeen game
regular season, as you guys know, and you have to
plan for the probability that they're going to be injuries,
(30:18):
and so you need depth. So yeah, I think that
for me anyway, defensive line is an area that this
team should start targeting. And I also think you've got
to get another cornerback opposite Joey Porter. Now maybe that's
gone to Jackson, but he's an unrestricted free agent too.
(30:42):
Do you bring him back? Do you want someone else?
And again is Corey Trice an answer. These are questions
that you know have to be figured out. He answers
to them have to be figured out because again, two
corners who can play the style that you want to
play isn't enough because you need two at a time.
So you got to have more than that because there
(31:04):
can be injuries. You know, what's the deal at Nickel
is being the answer? How do they feel about him?
You know, these are all kinds of things that I
think have to be worked out over the course of
you offseason. But if you ask me, if I had
to point to a position, I would say defensive line.
(31:27):
That's got to be the priority in my opinion, on
that side of the ball.
Speaker 6 (31:32):
Well, let me ask you, then, what do you think
about the linebacker position? After all the fiascos of you know,
a couple of years ago, when you know you had
injuries and you're out shopping for guys on the street
and so forth. I thought, Hey, Peyton Wilson had a
heck of a year. Peyton Wilson is a three down linebacker.
Same thing with pac Wen. A Landon Roberts isn't. But
a Landon Roberts is one of those run stuffers you
(31:55):
got to keep in your back pocket. I mean, he's
a two down linebacker. He's one of those guys that
can really I believe, reinforce on run heavy downs and
do a great job. So I wonder what the status
of the inside linebacker room might be.
Speaker 7 (32:09):
Yeah, you know in land And Roberts is another one
of those guys who will become unrestricted, become an unrestricted
free agent. I'm like you, Wolf, I'm a I've been
in a Landon Roberts fan. I like the way he plays,
I like I guess the word they use is demeanor.
I like the demeanor that he brings to the field
(32:29):
and to the unit. But you know, I don't know
what that's going to cost, and you know you have
to prioritize those kind of dollars two different things. So yeah,
that's something that I would uh look to look to
do with him. But again, I mean, how do you
(32:50):
what positions do you think you can help in the
draft and what positions do you think you need to
deal with in free agency? Because you know, there's only
so many draft picks, and we've talked about using priority
draft picks. You know, if you use one on a
(33:13):
defensive lineman and if you use one on a cornerback,
and if you're looking at a wide receiver, you know,
then you're out of picks. So you know, and then
what's going to be available in free agency? Corner as
an example, maybe corner is somewhat a position you might
(33:33):
look to to address during free agency. Well, there are
going to be any franchise tags put on some of
those guys or some of those guys that might becoming
free do they re sign with their teams before March twelfth.
You know, there's a lot of moving parts to this.
And you know, I think you got to look at
(33:56):
every avenue and trades too, you know, trades or some
thing that I think it's certainly not off the table
with Omar Kahan, and you know, this kind of this regime,
to use a word, So how it happens, I think
it's still very much up in the air. But I
(34:17):
think we all know or have our own opinions of
what areas that this team needs to reinforce or you know,
to some degrees, reconstruct on its depth chart during this
upcoming offseason.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Labs, did mister Rooney or have you heard any rumblings
about any of the coaching positions that might you know,
flesh themselves out as being something that could potentially be
altered going into this offseason, or do you think all
the coaches are kind of status quo right now with
(34:55):
the team.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
No, he didn't. He was asked about and he said
that there could be some changes still. You know, the
Steelers have never been whenever they have made changes to
their coaching staff, They've not never necessarily been you know,
first up to do those kinds of things. So you know,
(35:21):
we're not even into February yet, there could be some
changes to the staff. Art didn't rule that out. He
also didn't rule out the fact that there could be
some changes involving coaches who are under contract on the staff.
So there's that. But let me just throw this out too.
(35:41):
Let's not forget last year at this time, new offensive coordinator,
new quarterbacks coach, new wide receivers coach, other assistants, and
new strength and conditioning staff. You know, the Steelers just
did a lot of this stuff. And you know, I
don't know that you want to be changing you know
(36:02):
this every year, you know, I don't. I don't think
that that's any way to build continuity, either with your
planning or if it's position coaches. You just brought in
a quarterbacks coach and a wide receivers coach, So if
you change them, how does that help, for example, George
(36:24):
Pickens and Calvin Austin to have another new assistant coach
at their position. I don't think it does. And I
also don't know whether those guys you can point to
them and say they're the reason for whatever that happened
that you didn't like you so or go ahead.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Last I just want to say, it's a slippery slope.
If you change for the sake of change, I mean,
that's just wrong.
Speaker 7 (36:48):
Right, Yeah, So you know, I think that it's not
out of the question, but I wouldn't expect to see,
you know, a bunch of changes again, especially in areas
where there were changes a year ago, because, as you said,
you know, change for the sake of change isn't isn't
(37:10):
isn't good. And I don't know that, you know, I
think assistant coaches maybe need a little time to grow
into the job and the and the players that they're
working with, just like players need time to grow into
the NFL and playing at the NFL level. I mean
that would be as you know, jettison guys wholesale in
(37:35):
terms of assistant position coaches that you just hired last year.
I mean that's almost as stupid to me as as
cutting Broderick Jones. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Absolutely, we got to break, buddy.
Speaker 6 (37:46):
But I want to thank you because you know this
is this is your first appearance this year, isn't it
second first? You know what I think this calendar year. Yeah, yeah,
I am so grateful. We got graced in the locker
room by the great Bob Labriola, team Historian, team knowledge man,
the answer man, Bob Labriola, Thank you so very much
(38:08):
for joining us, my friend.
Speaker 5 (38:09):
It's good as always, seriously talking.
Speaker 7 (38:11):
You're welcome, and I send the invoice to Max.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
Right, Yeah, you got it exactly.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Yeah, make sure you spell it c R A I
G a new way of spelling Max.
Speaker 7 (38:27):
Okay, thanks, thanks for.
Speaker 5 (38:30):
Thank you, brother, appreciate you.
Speaker 6 (38:32):
Yes, indeed, all right we're gonna come back with the
bell lap coming up here as possession Arrow.
Speaker 5 (38:37):
Arrow goes to Max.
Speaker 6 (38:38):
All this and more in the Steelers Locker Room and
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
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.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
All right, we are inside the bell up.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
Early wednes Morning system engaged for you. Pittsburgh's out there,
either physically in Pittsburgh or there in spirit listening to
us across the Great us of A. It's a great
guest today, wolf Yeah.
Speaker 5 (39:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
You know, anytime you get additional insights and additional voices,
it'll breed fresh opinions and fresh thought processes.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
Speak.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
So, I mean, you know, have having Mic Pursuit on
for two segments was really good.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
And then of course what else do you.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Say about Bob Labriola Labs is the Goat crew is yeah,
hashtag Billy Goat anyways, But I think, but I think
it is important to kind of, you know, as we
kind of laid out throughout the show, like where the
attention needs to go and how each thoughtful detail needs
(40:29):
to be considered before you make a decision, right, I mean,
you have to know a who's who's gonna be, Who's
gonna be the head of the head of the class, right,
you know who's going to be that quarterback one, at
least on paper for when we start the you know
this this o t A slash mini camp slash pre
(40:54):
agency slash insert anything here that results in team construction, gotcha,
you know? And I think that's where, you know, we
get caught up on some of the bigger things like
who's going to be quarterback, But it's really what offensive
(41:16):
lines are going to be protecting the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (41:18):
Right or what receiver.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
It's which quarterback is going to deliver the ball to
receivers more effectively and also more intently with scheme with I,
discipline is with you know, how you set your feet,
where you look off? All these things have to be considered.
(41:42):
And then of course what is you know, the plan
by Arthur Smith? What does he truly envision this offense
being that? So those are some of the main keys
that I look at Wolf and I take away is
we've got to answer some other questions before I can
get to the answer of the regular The regular one,
I got to know what the variables are so that
(42:03):
I can create a coefficient to get a desired result.
Speaker 6 (42:06):
Okay, you just lost me because that's very mathematical sounding.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
Yeah, coefficient is okay, so a variable. Let's just make
it simple one. But I think we have to discuss it.
So let me just break it down. Two x plus
four x equals what you know what I'm saying, So
(42:31):
X is the variable because you don't know the number, right,
coefficient is the number in front of it. So it's
how many times are you times to get by? So
that's when I say coefficient. That's what I mean. So
you know it just it has to be like, there
has to be a full pronged approach for whatever you're
going to do decision wise, right.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
It cannot be isolated.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
You can't just do one thing and expect it to
be a fix all, is what I'm trying to say.
Speaker 6 (42:58):
Yes, I would agree with that. You just say that
instead of going to the coefficient, variables, factors, those sorts
of things that Because my.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Daughter had math homework last night and it's on my
brain just downloaded, wolf, I have to download.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
It from the clouds. It sounds like I don't want
it in the cloud.
Speaker 5 (43:14):
It sounds like a deleted scene from Goodwill Hunting.
Speaker 6 (43:16):
It's like discombobulating that's all I know. It was my
brain started hurting somewhere in the middle of that.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
Hey hey, and now I'll live on in podcast lore.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
A few years from now when my daughters need help
with their homework, I'm and be like, just go listen
to Max on that podcast in January.
Speaker 4 (43:34):
He's got it down, you know, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 5 (43:38):
My kids are homeschooled. Anybody need any help with homework?
And my girls no.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
Dead, yeah, exactly, all right, did my job? I asked?
Speaker 5 (43:49):
We had gym class and lunch already, dad.
Speaker 7 (43:51):
But.
Speaker 4 (43:55):
We'll call you a nap time is scheduled, no doubt
about it.
Speaker 6 (43:59):
And you know, the fact is, look, there are so
many decisions to be made that this is going to
be interesting to see and where they go, where these
you know, whether or not Nagy is resigned, whether they
go with Justin, you know, with George. I mean, it's
all going to be part and parcel of what you
can do offensively, and it's going to take an offensive
(44:19):
coordinator the ability to coordinate all those pieces and get
the job done. And I know one thing I really
really really wish coming out of this, if they need
more tight end action as far as in the past
receiving with briarn With they're wasting They're not wasting him,
but they could be so much more productive, especially during
(44:41):
the last five weeks when they were zero and five.
He is a guy that can be very, very productive
given the right set of circumstances and coverages.
Speaker 5 (44:50):
And I just think that's.
Speaker 6 (44:51):
Something that was unexplored, and that was just one of
those things that was kind of left out there and
not really for anybody. You know, nobody really picked up
and talked about it. But I really think he was underutilized. Yeah,
I mean, I think there's an underutilization.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
I think there's you know, a lack of variety on
how to even get your pass catchers open. You know,
that middle of the field was there for the picking,
you know, and you just all you have to do
is just look back at the Cincinnati game, right right, Absolutely.
I mean that's utilizing the middle of the field and
(45:28):
to check down and just taking what the defense gives you.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
And being okay with that, right Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
And it's not about last second dump off guys falling
out of bounds trying to get you three yards. You
need to be able to create yak. Yak is created
in the middle of the field, between the numbers and
even going even more so between the hashes. And that's
where a tight end lurks. That's where a tight end makes.
Speaker 5 (45:57):
His hay right, Yeah, we have a lurking tight end.
Speaker 4 (46:02):
Well, I mean Darnel Watched is definitely a lurking tight end.
I mean, let's just let's just be honest.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
I mean, even when he's in seven feet of water,
he's still sticking out the top right.
Speaker 4 (46:09):
You know, I'm saying, you still see eyeballs.
Speaker 2 (46:12):
That's that's that's what you want to And I also
thought that, you know, a lot of the titands were underutilized.
Where was Connor Hayward this year? Yeah, you know, Darnell Washington.
I love hide routes, but he can't hide that well,
like he's the first guy found in Hide and Seek.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (46:30):
You can't hide that man.
Speaker 2 (46:32):
Yeah, exactly. It's like, hey, we're going to a couch store.
You know we got you know, playing hide and Seek.
You gotta you gotta hide behind the couch. He can't
hide behind the couch.
Speaker 4 (46:40):
He is a couch. Yeah, he's a vertical couch. You
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
So I just I would have loved to have seen
more utilization and creativity in general, and not just even
at you know, using Pat Fryarmouth as your number two
right to go opposite George, but utilizing all the guys
Like I still want to know, where was the consistency
with that thirteen personnel and the variety that you created
(47:07):
out of it. It could be twenty one, it could
actually be traditional thirteen.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
It could you know, it could be twelve.
Speaker 2 (47:14):
It could you know, it can be eleven personnel grouping
with that thirteen. Right, There's so many different ways to
deploy it, and I just didn't see what I thought
was the creativity we saw from training camp.
Speaker 6 (47:27):
It'll be interesting to see how all this comes together
in the future. Yes, absolutely, So you know with that
that's been a show.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
That is a show, and I'm actually going to end
on time here, surprise, surprise, no fireworks necessary, Wes. And
if Wolf's trying to goat you into it, don't do it,
don't you do it? Don't you press that button? Yeah,
there it is, there it is. I mean, that's one
position we don't have to worry about, is Danny Smith.
(47:59):
And I think also, you know, as we look around
the league, there's a lot of teams that are making
those hires at the assistant's position. We'll kind of break
those down tomorrow. Just who's going where because you said
it during the break, Doug Moron, right, you know, fellow
Orange man, Orange person, Yeah, Sirrah Cuser, Yeah, that you know,
(48:22):
he's going to be with Mike Rabel.
Speaker 4 (48:25):
You know he's gonna come in.
Speaker 2 (48:26):
His role has not quite been defined yet, but he's
gonna be joining that offensive staff. Obviously, we know him
as head coach Jacksonville Buffalo at AFC regular or a FC.
Speaker 4 (48:39):
No known uh known mind.
Speaker 2 (48:43):
So it'll be interesting to see, you know what that
team up there in Boston is doing to create their
new squad with Mike Rabel at the helm. You know,
Aaron Glenn has has some positions that he's trying to fill.
Ben Johnson uh closing in on some as well. Of course,
Dan Campbell he lost both his coordinators. He's got he's
got a restock and retool as well, and he lost
(49:06):
one of his key offensive coaches in Antoine Randalll who's
the assistant head.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
Coach over there for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (49:13):
So you know a lot more NFL news to break down,
and we'll break down a little bit more of Steeler's
news as well from the Art Rooney press conference that
was happened yesterday. We'll bring you that and more here
inside the locker room as we continue through next week.
But for Craig Wolfley, I'm Max Starks, Wesley Euler, Ones
(49:36):
and twos as always CJ and the Sinsey, they are
the Ninja Hunters. They do a great job for us.
So for everybody out there working on the show, we
appreciate you, and of course all of you Steeler Nation,
we most certainly appreciate you guys for tuning in. Make
sure you continue to do so. We'll be back here
saying bat channel, saying bat time. Now go make it
(49:59):
a great day.
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