November 14, 2025 • 45 mins
Matt and Wes dive deep into all the matchups and keys ahead of Bengals-Steelers on Sunday.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. West Shuler and Matt Williamson with you here
on a Friday where we have got a big one
on deck, a big weekend on deck across the Pittsburgh
sports Pittsburgh sports landscape scene, I guess is what I'm
looking for. There, A couple of big games at Akroshur Stadium,
(00:57):
a backyard basketbawl that went my way quite comfortably last night.
All right, that's it real quick off the top, We'll
get it out of the way. I mean, Paul Skeens
won a cy Young this week College game day is
in town. Yeah yeah, but Matt here in Western Pennsyville,
I actually think they're like playing right now because it's
in Sweden. So yeah, with the time change, I actually
think that they're playing.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Lots of stuff literally right.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
At this second, all sorts of stuff. Pittsburgh maybe the
epicenter of the American sports world. This weekend, of course,
game Day in town and a big one at Atrisure
on Saturday. But in this town, in this country doing
my best, Jack Nicholson. Nothing is bigger than the Pittsburgh Steelers,
nothing is bigger than the National Football League, and Matt,
(01:40):
this is a big one for the Steelers on Sunday.
I know we've been saying that for the last three weeks.
Packers game felt huge, Colts game felt huge. Chargers game
felt huge. But in the scope of where you're at
right now, with kind of a fork in the road,
season can go one of two ways with what this
means for the divisional and the af SEE playoff Outlook,
(02:02):
this is a massive one. I mean not only for
the Steelers, but for the Bengals on Sundays.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, it could be a loser leave time match for
the for the Bengals, Yeah, I mean not for the Steelers.
So yes, some of it's just math, you know, it's
just standings. This is a huge game, it's the visual game.
We're getting deep into November. These teams aren't guaranteed playoff spots.
The AFC is kind of in flux right now. So yes,
(02:27):
I mean, just that is absolutely true. But I also
think more than anything that you know that isn't just
fact is Steeers offense has to get back on track.
This is the easiest defense in the league to do
that against. And I think next week we got the
Bears next week, they're also kind of at the bottom
the list offensively, So you.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Gonna can score some point, You're gonna have to score
some points.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Similarly, we're gonna say a lot of the same things
next week. You know, you gotta You're gonna need the
offense to come up big, not just control the football
and don't make mistakes. I mean, you're gonnaed to put
up points in these next two weeks and show a
lot more signs of life than he did against Chargers
and really of late.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
You and I talked about this a little bit yesterday,
and you know I do on Fridays, I do a
quick hitter segment with Chad Tyson on DVE. Yeah, just
like a quick three or four minute He'll rattle off
a bunch of questions for me three minutes, four minutes,
a little hit on DVE. And one of the things
he asked me was, what's your kind of temperature gauge?
What's your concern level on the offense and on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, yeah, And.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I said, right now, I'm concerned, but I'm not panicked,
I said, but ask me at four point thirty on
Sunday afternoon, and I think it's going to be okay. Hey,
they got back on track, they took advantage of a
bad defense. They could still be the offensive unit that
we thought they were maybe back in September and October,
or it's going to be this is you know. Now
(03:49):
you can count kind of the amount of straight underwhelming performances,
and it was against a bad defense, right, and here
comes at the toughest portion of the schedule, maybe not
necessarily Chicago, but you've got Buffalo and Baltimore twice and
and Detroit and some really tough matchups.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And hopefully playoff matchups after that, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Right, this is another one of those you know, Matt,
I can't remember what game it might have been the
first time that the Steelers played the Bengals that I
said this to you, But this is almost a game
where if you and I were sports reporters, if we
did what the Dales of the world did, and the
Jerry you know, the Jerry Doulax and ye actually wrote
Chris Halleck and Chris Damski actually wrote articles and covered
the game and you know things covered in a reporter standpoint. Yeah,
(04:31):
I could if that was my job. I could almost
today or tomorrow before I even get to the stadium
on Sunday. Right up, two different stories. The narrative, if
the Steelers win, the season's back on track, You're still
in first place, you got plenty to play for. Or
the narrative if the Steelers lose, it's coming unraveled again.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Here.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, now they got one foot in the grave. I mean,
this is a real names.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
We know how that'll go round.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
You already know what the message is going to be,
win or lose, positive or negative. What that narrative is
going to look like around four thirty on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, And if they only put up thirteen points against
this defense and struggle to get first downs again and
can't convert on third like whoa, yeah, this could be
yeah the beginning, Yeah, has.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
No turnovers, only one or two sacks like they had
last time against the Bengals. You lose the turnover margin
minus two again.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, Or Chase and Higgins blow up again and you
have no answers for Flacco's passing game and you don't
hit them at all. And I mean Chase Brown has
a decent day, it's like, oh boy, we got there.
There's big problems now. However, anyone reacts on Monday, we'll
probably be far too much. But that's what we do,
and that's what this league is all about, right.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
And you know what? This is another thing I talked
about with our buddy Chad Tyson on DVE. He kind
of asked me something of like, how do you stop
Jamar Chase from wrecking this game? And I said, you
stop Chase Brown. Yeah, like you stop the run game.
That's you make them one dimensional, you make them predictable,
You make them have to go to Chase and Higgins
and have no other options, no other run game to
(06:06):
lean on. This is another one of those we can
say the same thing every week, but the battle in
the trenches feels especially important Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, yeah, no question, And I'd love to see the
Steelers have a lot of success on the ground. I
often bring up my Thursday show on when we do
Fridays and Meryl Hodge had a great point, as he
often does. Everything's bad about this defense. I mean it
really is. I mean, but the snatty but their defense
(06:37):
of outside runs like off tackle runs is shockingly bad.
I mean like and it makes all sense of.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
World now they've traded a veteran linebackers.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, I said, these young linebackers that really don't read
things well. Safeties are really poor tacklers. The guys that
get to the edge that should be your free flowing
guys are particularly bad. But they're really there's no nothing
on defense you have to avoid when the Steelers have
the ball and where I'm saying this is. And also,
not only do I want to see the offense get
on track, but I want to see the running game
(07:07):
kind of rule the day and have thirty four minutes
of time in possession. Yeah, and you know you gotta
get back to churning out physical first downs.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
You know you're asking me, just on a box score,
on a recap sheet, what are going to be the
biggest indicators for a Steelers victory? H I mean turn
like turnover margins always towards course. Yeah, there's some audience everywhere,
but right now, I just love to know what the best.
I would love to be able to be a genie
(07:35):
and look into the future. There was a TV show
back in the day. I forget what it was called, Uh,
Tomorrow's edition or something like that. There's a popular TV
show back in the day where the main actor he
got Tomorrow's newspaper. He got the newspaper a day ahead
of time, Okay, so he would like go around and
save people's lives and stop tragedies from happening.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I forget what the name of it.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I think it's Tomorrow's Edition was the name of the show.
My mom loved it when I was a kid. If
I could get tomorrow, if I could get Monday's edition
of the newspaper, I would go right to what's the
yards per carry for the Bengals offense?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
What's the yards per carry for the Steelers? For the
Steelers offense?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Right?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And that time of possession? Yes, Like if you could,
if I could just look at the the game recap
on a sheet of paper on Monday.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Morning, and the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Have thirty three or thirty four minutes time of possession,
I really like their chances to win.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
If Chase Brown is think having a fun show on Monday.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Chase Brown's yards per carry is three point one, three
point two, three point three. I love the Steelers chance
to win. I agree, it's as quite often is the
case when you're playing a division foe, particularly the second
time around. There's not a lot of secrets. There's not
a lot of smoking mirrors in this one.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
No, I've been saying this all week. It's a weird
game to preview because you just played them. Yes, there
are some changes, especially to the Steelers side of things.
I mean, the Steelers secondary is all new, et cetera.
But you've got enough of Flacco to realize he's gonna
turned into a pumpkin, you know, like they would come
off the Green Bay game where he was new and
he started slow and then he got hot, and it's like, eh,
(09:03):
he's got hot for two quarters. He's done orry by
that guy. I mean, that's the Browns version. Blah blah blah.
Well that ain't true. But the other thing is, I'm
for many reasons, I'm glad we are not Bengals employees
and as opposed.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
To Steelers employed for many reasons, For.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Many many reasons, but one of which is every one
of their games is the same, no matter what. It's
a bazillion points score race, and they usually come up short.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
It comes down to the ball last. Yeah, and they
don't have the ball last.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And they usually don't and they lose right or they
find a way to give up the ball last, you know,
even when they think you have it won. Like their
game against the Bears was bonkers. That was the last
one they played. It's a hard one to lose. But yeah,
I mean, they're awful on defense, they're extremely dangerous on offense.
And that's how it goes every week.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Cut and dry.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Yeah, black and White game is not going to be
thirteen to ten.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
No, it is not. No, it is not. And hey,
I mean, I guess crazier things have happened. We could
come in here on Monday and wrong, but that would
shock me.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
It would be so out of character for the Bengals.
Impartase very much.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
So this feels like almost a race to thirty.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
At at minimum.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, yeah, let's take a break here. We will talk
to the queen of the sideline, Missy Matthews, get all
her thoughts on this important divisional clash. When we return
on the other side, West Sheeler Matt Williamson. Just getting
started here on a Friday. It's the Drive on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Back on the drive here on a Friday afternoon, getting
you ready for Steelers Bengals Sunday one o'clock at Akroscher Stadium,
another AFC North clash, the second this year, with Cincinnati
joining us now to preview. It is the Queen of
the sidelines, Missy Matthews, kind enough as always on a Friday,
to take some time here, Missy, thank you for doing so.
(11:33):
And you know, kind of sticking with that, these divisional
AFC North games are always intense, they're always physical. There's
always a lot of emotions on both sidelines. But do
you even notice that ratcheted up when it's the second
time around that the teams meet throughout the season.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Yeah, and I think I think so.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
I guess the second part of that answer the when
you don't win the first time, you wanted even more
for a round two, right, And I think especially the
way that the Steelers performed in round one, everybody, Tindy
wants to write the ship, even the score, whatever you want.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
To call it. And AFC norths just always means more.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
It's why everyone says, you know, throw the records out
the window, the cliches, but it's really true. I don't
think many people going into that Thursday night matchup had
the Bengals winning, but such as late to the AfD Norths.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So Missy, we were kind of talking in the first
segment that I think you put up a red flag,
a warning signal if the Steelers offense struggles this week.
I mean, the status of the Bengals defense, as you know,
is terrible, and that would be starting to be a pattern.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree, And I think even
if it goes.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Really well, you still have to say, well, we played
against one of the statistically worst defenses. But I just
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
I feel good about the fact that it's a nice one.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
O'clock you're back at home.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
And they know what this means because they know what
it means not only for themselves, but also for the Bengals.
You know, the Bagels don't win this one, that kind
of really puts them in a predicament.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Where maybe Joe Burrow is not rushing back to join,
But for the Steelers, knowing that you still have two
more games with the Ravens, haven't seen them yet. One
more with Cleveland. This is a huge game for both
teams involved, but I think more importantly for the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
No, it certainly is. Missy. You know, lost three of
the last four. It's a listen, we all know these
AFC North games, these AFC Conference games when you get
down to you know, December, and all the different playoff
tie breakers and scenarios. These are very important in that regard.
It's also as well too, you've kind of got an
opportunity to Yeah, Cincinnati's probably out of it at three
(13:50):
and six, but they haven't fully accepted that yet. If
you can knock them down to three and seven, okay,
that's it. But if all of a sudden they're four
and six and oh yeah, just a little behind the
Steelers and the Ravens, they still feel like they're in it,
Like Missy. It is is to me, feels like one
of those classic games. You know, the weather's getting cold,
the holidays are right around the corner, and it is.
(14:12):
It's almost, in a way, kind of like a elimination
type game. If you're the Steelers and you fall to
five and five, you still have plenty to play for
without a doubt. But this one starts to feel like
where again that road is narrowing and kind of a
two dogs, one bone type game.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, and I mean I think too, you know, I
will say I do remember the Bengals coming to Pittsburgh
for Week eighteen needing to win that game. The Steelers
also needing to win it, maybe just for more psyche
than anything and needing help, and they did almost make
their way into the playoffs. The Bengals also are two
or zero in the division right now. So yeah, it's
(14:53):
hard to say, but I do think, whether I would
like to accept it or not, there will be football,
whether some sort on Sunday. But I'm cool with it
if it plays into the hands of the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So we all know Jamar Chase is a special, phenomenal player.
Would it shock you if he did similar things to
what he did in the first game.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
No, I mean, I just think he's that guy. He
reminds me of like Antonio Brown. You know, we were
so fortunate to watch it because we were on the
good side. But it did not matter what teams did
then always found him. He was always open somehow, some
way in various forms or fashions. And I think Chase
is kind of turning out to be one of those guys.
(15:38):
I do think the configuration of the defense with Jalen
Ramsey playing safety full time, you know, maybe that changes
things a little bit. But I don't think it's like,
you know, you're going to take Jamar out of the game.
I think it's you limit him as much as you
physically can.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I think that's a great comparison you made there too,
Like everyone remembers when ab was at the heat heat
peak of his powers. It's just like Chase. He was
the best receiver in the league basically, and we'd we'd
talk about on our end of oh yeah, he had
eight for one and two touchdowns. Again, you know, not
from the opponents were like, how could you ever let
Antonio Brown get loose because he does every week?
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Yeah and again like he told every type of defensive
coverage and scheme to try to take him out of
a game, and it just it didn't matter. I mean there,
I feel like it wasn't the one streak that was
like that everyone kind of got annoyed with. It was
like eighty five yards touch it like receiving per game.
It was something you know, obscure like that, but he
had it for such a long time that when he
(16:36):
finally broke it, I feel like, you know, the whole
media was like, finally it's over. But that was just
how he was and him and Ben had that connection
and it didn't matter if you know, someone was hurt,
tight ends, other wide receivers, running backs. Of course, when
he played with Lady on Bell, you know that that's
another special player. That was just you know, adding a
(16:57):
different dimension to that roster at the time. But yeah,
I mean you couldn't stop Aby. You just did your
best to not let him completely wreck the game.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Missy Matthews with us here on the drive, getting us ready,
helping set the scene for all things Stillars and Cincinnati
on Sunday. Missy, one of the things that we always
like to ask you about is Aaron Rodgers. What you see,
what you kind of feel on the sideline there. And
it's been a couple straight weeks of not his best,
not the offense's best. I think even with twenty seven
(17:31):
points scored against Indianapolis, you heard Aaron Rodgers tone and
what he said postgame about how they had to be better.
And then obviously what happened this past Sunday in La
Needs no revisiting. It's all fresh in all of our minds.
What's the kind of temperature, what's the gauge been like
on the sideline? Do you sense any frustration boiling up?
Or do you think that this is something They've got,
(17:53):
the leadership, they've got the veterans. It's just a little
bumping a road. We're gonna get back on track.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
I mean, I feel like if there wasn't frustration, we'd
all be like, what is wrong with them? Especially on
the offensive side of the ball. I mean, that was
like a bang your head against your tablet type of
game in LA because it was just like, man, I
agree with Aaron. I can't remember if he said it
exactly after the game or if it was when he
(18:19):
spoke in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. It was like, you just
needed one play, convert one third down, have a play
that's good, not to be called back for a penalty.
It just felt like nothing could go right in the
snowball effect. Clearly just kept going all games to not
be able to get out of that funk. So I
(18:40):
don't think it's like, you know, people aren't screaming and
carrying on, but I think it is more like a
how do we fix this type deal? And Aaron is
one of those really great leaders. He is up and
down the bench. He's not just sitting there talking to
Tom artha quarterbacks coach or Arthur Smith. The OC sucks
with all the obviously the up quarterbacks that are there
(19:01):
to try to help him too, but then it's talking
to the offensive lines. Pat Meyer. You know, it is
a collaborate effort, as you would expect it to be,
but I've also seen sidelines where that's not the case.
So I think it leads kudos to them for that,
and hopefully, you know, a hard week of work will
kind of kickstart them into the right direction, kind of
(19:23):
similar to you know, after the Green Bay game, then
you know, you play Indie, the Seattle game wasn't great,
then you went to the New England and one. So
maybe this will be what they need. But I think
at week eleven you need to start showing more consistency
on both sides of the walls.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
So at this point, everybody knows, and we've talked to
no end about opposing quarterbacks get the balls out of
their hands so quickly against this defense, and that's a
thousand percent true. They don't. They don't throw deep balls.
Herbert took took it to a new level this past week,
but I still would be blown away if the Steelers
front and pass rush doesn't influenced this game more than
(20:01):
the first meeting on.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
I mean, I just I feel like what we have
seen from Derek Harmon, Keanu Benton. Obviously you know what
Cam Hayward brings. You wanted to buy a pass, no problem.
But I really think it's the young guys allowing then
the edge guys allowing more time for whoever's blitzing to
get there, just the secondary to solidify since that's been
(20:24):
nothing but you know, changing parts. So I do agree
that those guys up front are not going to, let
I almost said Jamar Chase, but Chase Brown, excuse me,
you know, have the type of day that he did
in Cincinnati Week seven.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yeah, that is certainly certainly a big part of I think. Uh.
I think the underlying kind of storyline of this one
is we know that both of these teams they've got
the what is the icy hot quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Right yea, the.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Ben Gabowl whatever you want to call it, or with
the old man ointment ball here. But yeah, so much
of it, I think is going to come down to
the running backs, both of whom had really good nights
that Thursday. It kind of kind of got overshadowed. Which
one of these units can stop the run, which one
of these offenses can have more success on the ground,
control the time of possession, and then Missy, I know
(21:20):
this is you know, this is every single week, every
single game, but even more so for the Steelers. This
feels like a you know, one of the things that
Matt and I keep an eye on. We don't just
kind of chart turnover differential, but we like to keep
an eye on sacked differential and explosive play differential as
well too, And those things did not go Pittsburgh's way
(21:40):
that Thursday night, about a month ago at pay Corse Stadium,
they only sacked Flaco twice, once on the first drive
and once at the very end of the game, and
the explosive play differential was way till night close in
favor of the Bengals. You know, it's one thing for
Jamar Chase to, you know, to stack up the six
seven eight yard receptions, but they've got to limit the
(22:01):
explosives and they've got to do a better job of
making life tough on Joe Flacco than they did the
first time they got to hit him.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Yeah, Yeah, I agree, And I'm hoping that now that
you have what four games of film, a larger sample size,
maybe they're seeing things. Obviously he's smart, like Aaron Rodgerson
getting the ball out quick, but I still think that
there is something the defense can certainly do to make
him have to make either poor decisions or quicker decisions
(22:28):
that turn into poor decisions, because you can't have the
same thing that we sawt Thursday night. But you know,
I also go back to like the DJ Turner interception
that he kind of DK caught it, but DJ Turner
took it like there was just weird, fluky things. And
it's kind of at the point where you can't have
one of those happen because then it's like the snowball effect.
(22:49):
So you almost need like a clean game in a
way for everybody to kind of write the ship is
the only way I keep thinking about it. It just
feels like you have to get that taste out of
your mouth, noing what your schedule is moving forward. You
can go to Chicago next week, like it's not going
to get any easier. So I feel like you really
need this one to be one of those almost like
(23:10):
morale boosting wins, like, Okay, we got our mojo back,
We're ready to.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Go completely agree, Missy, as our as our dear brother
tunch Jokin would have said, this is a pistachio type game.
Have you not heard this one?
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Now?
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So Tounch used to have this thing. He called it
the pistachio theory. He said, sometimes when you're cracking pistachios,
you get a bad one the end funky taste in
your mouth. The only way to get that taste out
of your mouth is by cracking a good pistachio. Yep,
And so the only we all do. Let's crack it.
(23:46):
Let's crack some Bengal skulls and crack some pistachios and
uh and get that bad taste out of our mouths.
Heading into like you said, Missy, what's going to be
a a heck of a home stretch of the season
here as we get closer and closer to the holidays.
The Great Missy Matthews make sure you're listening to her
on the broadcast on Sunday, of course, with Rob King
and Max Starks. She'll be set in the scene and
(24:07):
in painting the view from the sidelines as she does.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
So.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Well, Missy, thank you for the time, take care and
we'll talk to you on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
All right, sound good? Thanks guys, there.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
She goes Missy Matthews. Yep, you never heard Tounch talk
about the pistachio.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
No, I don't know the past good one.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
That was one of his times. You get a dud,
that was one of his go tos. Sometimes you get
a dud and it's not it's not a swig of
beer that's gonna change that taste. It's not, you know,
a bite of a different food.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
It's yeah, you got the only way to get.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
The only way to get the bad pistachio taste out
of your mouth is with another good pistachio.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
And I think there's NFL week.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I think there's some of that to be said.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
You're gonna play seventeen games, whether you like it or not.
You're eating seventeen pistashios, whether you like it or not.
The chance to getting seventeen in a row, that are
all good, very low, yeah, right right.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
In fact impossible. So yeah, I always loved that one
from Tounch. I mean, those those guys, you know, they
had such a way of words with words, but that
was that was one of the ones that always that
always stuck with me. The tounch Elkin pistachio theory on
on full display, hopefully in full effect for the Steelers
Sunday afternoon at home. Gotta take a break. When we
(25:13):
come back on the other side, we'll start getting into
a little five Star Friday. We'll start getting in to
that time some of these matchups between the Steelers and
the Cincinnati Bengals. And of course, in our final segment
of the day today, we are going to have Steelers
safety Kyle Duggar join us right here on the Drive cousin,
so we'll talk to him about this high flying Cincinnati
(25:33):
offense in the task of slowing down those talented eligibles
that will be wearing stripes on Sunday, not the officials,
the Cincinnati Bengals at akershur Stadium. So plenty to get
to as we roll along here. Wes Schuler, Matt Williamson,
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty fourth having
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Back on the drive here on a Friday, as we
close down the first hour of the show. We are
going to get into a little five star Friday in
just a minute here, Matt. But before we do that,
we did have a roster move that we kind of speculated.
What happened that is now official. You know, nothing crazy here,
nothing that's going to grab the headlines. But I did
just want to, you know, make sure we're doing our
(26:57):
due diligence in our in our housekeeping. So the Steelers
did bring back Tray Sermon to the practice squad. I would
have been shocked if he made official today. They had
a spot on the practice squad after Isaiah Hodgens was
signed by the Giants off the Steelers practice squad earlier
this week. You and I kind of speculated that this
(27:18):
could be a situation where Sermon comes back into the
fold and into the practice squad, and that's all. That's
the case. He's He's back.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
Involved deal, right, which probably better for him than even
joining another practice squad. It was a familiarity. They know everything,
and I just got called up. I could get called
up again. He's clearly one injury away from being the
next running back up and running back all the time.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Like they've got some level of trust and belief, you know.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Yeah, yeah, I mean he could end up on the
active roster again this year.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Yeah, one hundred percent wouldn't surprise us. But he is
back in the fold back on the Steelers practice squad
that was announced earlier late morning, early afternoon today officially
by the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Not shocking on any other No.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Not shocking at all. And uh so, yeah, a decent
amount of moving and shaking on that practice squad this week. Yeah,
and certainly something uh for.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
People that don't pay enough attention. I mean these teams,
the bottom of.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
That roster moves a lot like crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Yeah, I mean we made the jokes like on cutdown day,
like you're fifty three, brother, chance you better play pretty
well right off the back, because you might not even
make it the Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
By the time by the time we get on air
the next day that yea three might change.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
You might be gone. We need a guard.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
You're out totally totally. I mean, look out, look how
fast it happened for my boy Beanie Bishop right led
the team in interceptions is a rookie year didn't make
the initial fifty three. Now off the practice squad, still
looking for a job around the national NFL. Not for
long man' that's the that's the way it goes around here.
And yeah, you're there's a lot of moving and shaking
(28:52):
on the weekly on the bottom, a.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Lot of five nine slot corners pick from you.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Know, yes, And that's why too, Even just having one
of those practice squad jobs is nothing to sneeze at.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Man. Now, at least you go in the office every
day and you can impress their position.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Coach, and you get a pay check, and.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Then you got a good chance to like we always
talk about, you get a good chance to come back
to camp next year and then who knows, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
More on tape, more opportunity. That's that's all a lot
of these guys are looking for. But there is a
big opportunity for the Steelers to get right, to get
back in the win column Sunday afternoon at home against
the Bengals. What are the biggest matchups to keep an
eye on that are going to determine the outcome of
Sunday's clash. It's time to talk a little bit of
(29:33):
that with Matt Williamson here on the drive a little
segment we call five Star Friday. It's a five.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
Star matchup because we're in it.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
All right, Matt. We have done this once already for
the Bengals. We have talked matchups. We're familiar with a
lot of these names. It's a divisional foe that we're
seeing for the second time around. Here's where I want
to start with you though, before we do get into
some specifics. It's a Steelers secondary that is a little
different when since the last time.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
These series different. It's different week to week anymore.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
That's the truth. And while the names aren't crazy different,
the roles are different.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
I mean, when we're recording this Friday, we don't know
what's going on with Samuel yet, right correct.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
I mean I think we'd both be surprised if he played.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
I've gotten mixed people that seem to know. Half of
them think, oh, he's gonna play. We'll keep an eye
on that, seem to think a week or you know.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Maybe we'll ask Kyle Dugger when he when he joins.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Us here, I was actually going to I was going
to bring it up.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Samuel Junior going to play Buddy Peel the curtainback for us.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I wasn't gonna ask it that way, but I am
going to ask him, Hey, how would you recommend getting
on the moving train with a new team as fast
as you had to? You know? You know, I get three,
d had a couple of days with the team before.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Right, Yeah, we'll save that one for Douger here in
our number two. But how can a Steelers secondary doesn't
sound like you're gonna have sleigh?
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Now assume they don't, now right, I'm gonna act like
Pierre and Porter or your outside corn.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
With Eckles on the slot.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Well maybe, Well, this team plays so much eleven. We
haven't broke down a lot of the personal tendencies and
stuff because we really did two weeks. That hasn't changed
that much. But this team leads the league I think
in eleven personnel or they're right the top. So you're
gonna see a lot of nickel. Steelers don't like to
go dime. I mean, dime's becoming less and less prevalent
(31:32):
in the league. But side note, so you're gonna see
a lot of nickel. I would think your corners are
Pierre and Porter on the outside and.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Echoles like the slot that would be my guest.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Ramsey and Dougger is your safety?
Speaker 2 (31:43):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Right right?
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So again some of the same names, but in different roles. Obviously,
the biggest change being Jalen Ramsey moving back.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
And Dougger wasn't around the first time around, and.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
It wasn't around the first time around. So it is
a difty different safety tandem, different safety hand them for
the Pittsburgh Steelers than the one that they took to
Cincinnati last month.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
How and his safeties go Ramsey's elite? I mean just
as a coverage player, yes, I mean just purely guard.
You know, so manyse coordinators. If I can get Jamar
Chase through the first level and on a safety deep downfield,
I got them right where I want him. Well, Ramsey's
a little bit different, you know.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
So let's dig into that a little bit here. What
does this reworked Steelers secondary look like against this Bengals
pass game? Are they in a better position? Are they
in a worse position? Is it maybe just a different position,
It's definite different. What's that look like with a different
safety tandem than the Steelers had the first time these
teams met?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
So, just speaking safeties, I've read this this morning, and
it didn't shock me at all. But the we know
the Steelers prefer to be a single high team. Now
the Steelers have been drifting more and more to too
high the last couple of weeks with these safety changes, yes,
which I think is smart. But what I didn't understan,
(33:07):
I didn't realize was when they played the first time,
it was the highest percentage of single high safety that
the Bengals saw all year. Nobody does that to the Bengals.
I mean, you're daring them to attack sure downfield outside
the numbers, you know, or you know, so most teams
(33:27):
just put a lid on it, tackle the catch, et cetera.
And that wasn't to me. I mean, all the problems
the Steelers had against Chase especially but Higgins and everybody,
it wasn't getting beat over the top. I mean, it
wasn't like the too high safety thing was you know,
where you got exploited, because I mean, you're gonna exploit
a single high safety, usually it's outside the numbers deep,
you know, because they can't get over you know. But
(33:49):
that's not where Chase it is damage or Higgins for
that matter, And this one it was across the middle.
It was short stuff, run after catch, et cetera. But
I still think you'll probably see a much higher percentage
of too high than you did. I hope you see
a much less percentage of blitz. I mean, because we
realize we.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Talked about that a little bit yesterday, how it's just not.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Been Flaco's shows. He beats the blitz now, you know.
And I know you'd love to hit the old guy,
but I think you can get there. I just want
him to pack the ball. That's the same thing we
said about Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
You know, just one extra half second.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Yeah, one pulse longer would go a long way. And
I want a lot of people in those short intermedia
zones to help as opposed to hate Pierre, you got Chase.
I mean Pierre's playing well, yes, and frankly, I might
be more confident with Pierre than Sleigh at this point.
I mean from I think Pierre's played better than Sleigh
this year, smaller amount. The other thing, the Steelers have
(34:48):
a history, it's not exclusive. Is a porter or porter.
You have Higgins, and then we'll do a lot of
stuff with Chase. I don't know what to think, but
I'm gonna be keep a lot of eyes on. Is
that how they'll attack this week too? And basically Joey
you have him alone, which doesn't mean that Higgins won't
get ballster in his way, but that's an often approach
(35:09):
they've taken against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Yes, yes, they have, and it's gonna be interesting. You know.
Jamar Chase was I don't know if you heard. I
think it was yesterday he was asked about Joey Porter
Junior and he said, that guy's handsy, you know it is.
But it's one of those things where I think eventually
something has to give for the Steelers secondary against these guys,
(35:33):
Like we know how good they are.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Yeah, yeah, But at the.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Same time, the Steelers secondary, it's not like every talented
wide receiver tandem comes in and lights these guys up. No,
you know, just for some reason, these two particularly win
there on the field at the same time have been
a real bugaboo for the Steelers. Like Alan Saunders, who
you know, we know he works for for Pittsburgh Sports Now,
(35:57):
he did like a breakdown that I saw him post
on Twitter few days ago this week where the Bengals
offense against the Steelers when Chase and Higgins have both
been on the field and the Bengals offense against the Steelers,
when just one of those guys has been missing, okay,
and it's like a drastic it's a drastic difference, And
that makes some sense.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
You take a good player off field, you're gonna be worse.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Absolutely, But it was it was a very drastic like.
It was a it was like without one of those guys,
they struggle to score twenty points against the Steelers. Both
of those guys they're scoring in the thirties. Yeah, pretty
much every single time. At some point this secondary not
completely put the clamps on these guys and shut them down,
but I think they're almost due for a good showing
(36:41):
against You know them so well, there's no secrets. You
know how they're gonna play, you know how they're going
to attack. You go respond to it, punch back a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Yeah, no, I understand all that, and I don't disagree
with you. The other thing is in the first meeting,
when you left Yoshavas in good coverages, Flacco is hitting them.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
It's true, it was no right.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
I mean so, but I'll be honest. I mean, if
Yoshavas and fant each have a touchdown and combined for
one hundred yards. We might be fine with that on Monday,
you know what I mean, Like, I'm not going to
be overly concerned with those guys. Not that they're bad,
it's just, you know, I just I'm gonna roll coverage
(37:26):
is much more to those outside studs. Yes, but I
don't have great answers. I mean, blitz less more zone
pretty clear you couldn't man up with them.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
No, absolutely not.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
And if you can, but I mean, don't even.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Try correct correct And I think the one part of
you know, to bring it back to some of the
Sante Samuel Junior stuff. With more Zone, I think you
would like to have. I would think so that Sunday,
if possible, if possible, if possible.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Now zone takes a little more communication. When do I
pass them off to the next guy or what ever? Yes,
but I mean I think by signing him you kind
of said, yeah, we're probably not gonna play a ton
of man go forward, you know, I mean, we realize
what we're at here. Better in zone now, Echo seems
better in zone. You know, everyone but Porter.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Matt some news from Cincinnati here as they have officially
ruled out Trey Hendrickson, Shamar Stewart, and Samaj p Ryan
for Sunday's game. So two not p Ryan. Is you
know they're clear cutting number two running back. Yes, that's
a bit of a loss. I mean Chase is also
(38:35):
like real solid and protection.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
He is a he's a pro.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
He's a good situational running back. Yeah, he's an he's
an ideal. You were talking about this a little bit
with Labs, like how the Steelers backfield feels like it's
missing a hammer. Like, he's a nice hammer to have
any He's.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
A hammer that protects and you can catch them all a little.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Bit, situations, all that stuff. But no Hendrickson, no Stuart.
Kind of the two big name pass rusher bookends for
the Bengals not surprising, but now just a few minutes
ago have officially been ruled out by Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
And partially because this partially just because it's a bad defense.
But I don't think there's any excuse to have a
really low average depth of target. And I know that's
how Rogers wants to play. And I think a lot
of people overreact to saying Steelers can't protect. That's the
only reason ball's coming out. So fast. There's ways around that.
(39:24):
I mean, the Chargers couldn't protect. I mean, the Chargers
didn't have players. I mean, I know Roder Jonesy's help
will help them. I mean I'd like to see them
push the ball down the field a little bit more,
attack from ten to twenty neighborhood a little bit more.
Not just bombs away necessarily, but let's drive the ball
down the field, especially on some third downs that seems
like they throw. I know you can find the numbers,
(39:46):
and I didn't look them up, but they sure seem
to throw short of sticks on third downs a lot,
a lot, Yeah, a lot.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
That's one thing that I'm sure the numbers back up,
and I'm sure the tests certainly does.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
And that's been the case for just more than this year.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
It's not just a Rogers or it's not just an
Arthur Smith, but I mean they're always at the bottom
of the league with that stuff, right.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Matt spinning the block here. I wanted to ask you
from a Steelers offense versus Bengals defense perspective, is the
matchup to keep an eye on, really, DK Metcalf against
DJ Turner.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
I guess I don't know that they'll follow, but Turner
is definitely the guy if you're gonna avoid anyone. Fine,
sort of like we have talked about with Higgins, I
would imagine if Turner's on Austin, he'll be alone. Now
that doesn't mean he can't go his way, but I
mean sure, he's one of the few guys that can
run with Austin. He was like a four to two
(40:42):
guy at his combine. I mean, speed is he's a
little leaner, but he's really really fast. Every team's double
in Metcalf. I mean it's not even a hidden or
a secret. I mean, I know you can also look
up double team rates. Maybe I haven't been doing my
job in my status this week, but his has to
be through the roof too.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
It gotta be, especially it feels like the last couple
weeks in particular.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
And we all know he's a good player, but he's
not the best receiver in the league. He should not
be the most doubled receiver in the league, and I
bet he's near the top, which to me is an
argument for why you need a second receiver. Not just
what if Metcal gets hurt, It's like, well, you're not
getting the most out of the metcal you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
I understand the argument of you know, wide receiver twos
have never been a big fixture of Arthur Smith offenses, right,
I get that side of the logic. But the other
side is it's it's almost like the distraction. It's a
distraction element, like you just some even if they're not
going to be a big focal part of your offense.
It's someone to take attention off DK Meth.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
The number one, you know, Like a good example would
be like Atlanta, Like everyone knows London is the one,
and I'm going back to I picked them because Arthur
Smith was there. Sure, and they went and got Mooney
after Arthur Smith. But yes, everyone knows that you want
to get the ball to London. But if Mooney's over there,
he's not the best receiver in the world either. But
(42:03):
it makes London's life a little easier. It's just a fewer,
little bit less attention.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
Even for Chase Higgins being the Chase Higgins, for Chase
being the destroyer of worlds that he is the best
receiver in football. Think how much easier his life is
made by t.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Higgins, right, or Jefferson and Addison Jefferson now where there's
a clear gap between the two. But you got to
have somebody that is going to rip up single coverage
if you're gonna leave him there all the time.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
And the Steers don't have so many of the times
when ab was having his best year, it was when
Martavis Bryant was playing well, Juju was playing.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Well, right when lighting my load, a.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Little someone else that they got to respect, someone else
that they got to keep an eye on. But yeah,
I feel like this is a this is another big
one for Metcalf. I you know, it's been it's been
a few weeks since we've seen him have some of
those DK Metcalf you know, jump off the screen type
highlight plays. Yeah, I feel like he'll have the opportunity
to do so again.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
Oh he should, I mean, you should still do well.
Even if he's getting a lot of extra attention. I
was still not. The other thing is we've definitely talked
about this throughout the week, is because of where the
offense is, I want the ball in my best player's
hands and my most reliable and to me, that's three guys.
That's Warren yep, Metcalf yep, and Mouth yep.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
Especially against the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Especially against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
But right Mouth's walking into Canton if he plays every
game against Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Yeah, and they're terrible against the tight ends. Their safety
linebacker plays really, really bad. That's part of the reason
people are like, why friar Mouth kill the Bengals because
they're terrible and tight ends are really ripping them up.
But he does have quite the history. But I would
simplify things a little bit and be like, I'm gonna
do designer plays to get the ball in those three
guys hands. I love Washington, I mean game well, John
(43:51):
who Austin Roman. I mean them are bad. Doesn't mean
they don't get any targets. But I would make the
game plan more constant and traded.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
If you got a shooter, Matt, you draw up screens
and picks and plays to get your shooter looks. Yeah, yeah,
let's let's let's get those those offensive shooters looks.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
The one thing I did see too is they're near
the bottom of the league or at the bottom of league,
not necessarily in motion. So a new a new thing
that the analytic dorcs are taken to a new level
lately is people are familiar with motion rate. How often
do you use motion? But there's a lot of different
versions of motion. Like I'm not a coach, but like
a lot of the Matt Canada motion didn't accomplish much.
(44:34):
It was just one guy drying windows. Yeah, like okay,
maybe I'm getting a man. Look, maybe i'm zone. Look
where you watch Like the Dolphins, Tyreek Hill is in
motion at the snap. That's a big thing people are
charting too, is how much motion when the ball is
actually snapped. Yep, And the Steelers are real low in
that too. Let's do some of that to manufacture you
(44:57):
can scheme things up for Metcalf, get opening. We have
to line up the same place and.
Speaker 2 (45:00):
Get doubled absolutely right, absolutely had.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
A pick like you said, you know, I mean they
can make a basketball reference right, one hundred percent. Scheme
them up.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Scheme them up, baby, Let's get it done. Hour in
the books, another hour to go. We'll continue to give
some some more thoughts, some more scouting on Steelers Bengals.
We will obviously go around the league, run the gambit
of all these games Big Week eleven across the National
Football League, and we will talk to Kyle Dugger as
well too. Before we get up out of here. All
that and more an hour number two u'ler Williamson. It's
(45:30):
the Drive on a Friday on the Steelers Audio Network
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. West Shuler and Matt Williamson with you here
on a Friday where we have got a big one
on deck, a big weekend on deck across the Pittsburgh
sports Pittsburgh sports landscape scene, I guess is what I'm
looking for. There, A couple of big games at Akroshur Stadium,
(00:57):
a backyard basketbawl that went my way quite comfortably last night.
All right, that's it real quick off the top, We'll
get it out of the way. I mean, Paul Skeens
won a cy Young this week College game day is
in town. Yeah yeah, but Matt here in Western Pennsyville,
I actually think they're like playing right now because it's
in Sweden. So yeah, with the time change, I actually
think that they're playing.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Lots of stuff literally right.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
At this second, all sorts of stuff. Pittsburgh maybe the
epicenter of the American sports world. This weekend, of course,
game Day in town and a big one at Atrisure
on Saturday. But in this town, in this country doing
my best, Jack Nicholson. Nothing is bigger than the Pittsburgh Steelers,
nothing is bigger than the National Football League, and Matt,
(01:40):
this is a big one for the Steelers on Sunday.
I know we've been saying that for the last three weeks.
Packers game felt huge, Colts game felt huge. Chargers game
felt huge. But in the scope of where you're at
right now, with kind of a fork in the road,
season can go one of two ways with what this
means for the divisional and the af SEE playoff Outlook,
(02:02):
this is a massive one. I mean not only for
the Steelers, but for the Bengals on Sundays.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, it could be a loser leave time match for
the for the Bengals, Yeah, I mean not for the Steelers.
So yes, some of it's just math, you know, it's
just standings. This is a huge game, it's the visual game.
We're getting deep into November. These teams aren't guaranteed playoff spots.
The AFC is kind of in flux right now. So yes,
(02:27):
I mean, just that is absolutely true. But I also
think more than anything that you know that isn't just
fact is Steeers offense has to get back on track.
This is the easiest defense in the league to do
that against. And I think next week we got the
Bears next week, they're also kind of at the bottom
the list offensively, So you.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Gonna can score some point, You're gonna have to score
some points.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Similarly, we're gonna say a lot of the same things
next week. You know, you gotta You're gonna need the
offense to come up big, not just control the football
and don't make mistakes. I mean, you're gonnaed to put
up points in these next two weeks and show a
lot more signs of life than he did against Chargers
and really of late.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
You and I talked about this a little bit yesterday,
and you know I do on Fridays, I do a
quick hitter segment with Chad Tyson on DVE. Yeah, just
like a quick three or four minute He'll rattle off
a bunch of questions for me three minutes, four minutes,
a little hit on DVE. And one of the things
he asked me was, what's your kind of temperature gauge?
What's your concern level on the offense and on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, yeah, And.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I said, right now, I'm concerned, but I'm not panicked,
I said, but ask me at four point thirty on
Sunday afternoon, and I think it's going to be okay. Hey,
they got back on track, they took advantage of a
bad defense. They could still be the offensive unit that
we thought they were maybe back in September and October,
or it's going to be this is you know. Now
(03:49):
you can count kind of the amount of straight underwhelming performances,
and it was against a bad defense, right, and here
comes at the toughest portion of the schedule, maybe not
necessarily Chicago, but you've got Buffalo and Baltimore twice and
and Detroit and some really tough matchups.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And hopefully playoff matchups after that, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Right, this is another one of those you know, Matt,
I can't remember what game it might have been the
first time that the Steelers played the Bengals that I
said this to you, But this is almost a game
where if you and I were sports reporters, if we
did what the Dales of the world did, and the
Jerry you know, the Jerry Doulax and ye actually wrote
Chris Halleck and Chris Damski actually wrote articles and covered
the game and you know things covered in a reporter standpoint. Yeah,
(04:31):
I could if that was my job. I could almost
today or tomorrow before I even get to the stadium
on Sunday. Right up, two different stories. The narrative, if
the Steelers win, the season's back on track, You're still
in first place, you got plenty to play for. Or
the narrative if the Steelers lose, it's coming unraveled again.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Here.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, now they got one foot in the grave. I mean,
this is a real names.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
We know how that'll go round.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
You already know what the message is going to be,
win or lose, positive or negative. What that narrative is
going to look like around four thirty on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, And if they only put up thirteen points against
this defense and struggle to get first downs again and
can't convert on third like whoa, yeah, this could be
yeah the beginning, Yeah, has.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
No turnovers, only one or two sacks like they had
last time against the Bengals. You lose the turnover margin
minus two again.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, Or Chase and Higgins blow up again and you
have no answers for Flacco's passing game and you don't
hit them at all. And I mean Chase Brown has
a decent day, it's like, oh boy, we got there.
There's big problems now. However, anyone reacts on Monday, we'll
probably be far too much. But that's what we do,
and that's what this league is all about, right.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
And you know what? This is another thing I talked
about with our buddy Chad Tyson on DVE. He kind
of asked me something of like, how do you stop
Jamar Chase from wrecking this game? And I said, you
stop Chase Brown. Yeah, like you stop the run game.
That's you make them one dimensional, you make them predictable,
You make them have to go to Chase and Higgins
and have no other options, no other run game to
(06:06):
lean on. This is another one of those we can
say the same thing every week, but the battle in
the trenches feels especially important Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, yeah, no question, And I'd love to see the
Steelers have a lot of success on the ground. I
often bring up my Thursday show on when we do
Fridays and Meryl Hodge had a great point, as he
often does. Everything's bad about this defense. I mean it
really is. I mean, but the snatty but their defense
(06:37):
of outside runs like off tackle runs is shockingly bad.
I mean like and it makes all sense of.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
World now they've traded a veteran linebackers.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, I said, these young linebackers that really don't read
things well. Safeties are really poor tacklers. The guys that
get to the edge that should be your free flowing
guys are particularly bad. But they're really there's no nothing
on defense you have to avoid when the Steelers have
the ball and where I'm saying this is. And also,
not only do I want to see the offense get
on track, but I want to see the running game
(07:07):
kind of rule the day and have thirty four minutes
of time in possession. Yeah, and you know you gotta
get back to churning out physical first downs.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
You know you're asking me, just on a box score,
on a recap sheet, what are going to be the
biggest indicators for a Steelers victory? H I mean turn
like turnover margins always towards course. Yeah, there's some audience everywhere,
but right now, I just love to know what the best.
I would love to be able to be a genie
(07:35):
and look into the future. There was a TV show
back in the day. I forget what it was called, Uh,
Tomorrow's edition or something like that. There's a popular TV
show back in the day where the main actor he
got Tomorrow's newspaper. He got the newspaper a day ahead
of time, Okay, so he would like go around and
save people's lives and stop tragedies from happening.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I forget what the name of it.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I think it's Tomorrow's Edition was the name of the show.
My mom loved it when I was a kid. If
I could get tomorrow, if I could get Monday's edition
of the newspaper, I would go right to what's the
yards per carry for the Bengals offense?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
What's the yards per carry for the Steelers? For the
Steelers offense?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Right?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And that time of possession? Yes, Like if you could,
if I could just look at the the game recap
on a sheet of paper on Monday.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Morning, and the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Have thirty three or thirty four minutes time of possession,
I really like their chances to win.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
If Chase Brown is think having a fun show on Monday.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Chase Brown's yards per carry is three point one, three
point two, three point three. I love the Steelers chance
to win. I agree, it's as quite often is the
case when you're playing a division foe, particularly the second
time around. There's not a lot of secrets. There's not
a lot of smoking mirrors in this one.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
No, I've been saying this all week. It's a weird
game to preview because you just played them. Yes, there
are some changes, especially to the Steelers side of things.
I mean, the Steelers secondary is all new, et cetera.
But you've got enough of Flacco to realize he's gonna
turned into a pumpkin, you know, like they would come
off the Green Bay game where he was new and
he started slow and then he got hot, and it's like, eh,
(09:03):
he's got hot for two quarters. He's done orry by
that guy. I mean, that's the Browns version. Blah blah blah.
Well that ain't true. But the other thing is, I'm
for many reasons, I'm glad we are not Bengals employees
and as opposed.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
To Steelers employed for many reasons, For.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Many many reasons, but one of which is every one
of their games is the same, no matter what. It's
a bazillion points score race, and they usually come up short.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
It comes down to the ball last. Yeah, and they
don't have the ball last.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And they usually don't and they lose right or they
find a way to give up the ball last, you know,
even when they think you have it won. Like their
game against the Bears was bonkers. That was the last
one they played. It's a hard one to lose. But yeah,
I mean, they're awful on defense, they're extremely dangerous on offense.
And that's how it goes every week.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Cut and dry.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Yeah, black and White game is not going to be
thirteen to ten.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
No, it is not. No, it is not. And hey,
I mean, I guess crazier things have happened. We could
come in here on Monday and wrong, but that would
shock me.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
It would be so out of character for the Bengals.
Impartase very much.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
So this feels like almost a race to thirty.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
At at minimum.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, yeah, let's take a break here. We will talk
to the queen of the sideline, Missy Matthews, get all
her thoughts on this important divisional clash. When we return
on the other side, West Sheeler Matt Williamson. Just getting
started here on a Friday. It's the Drive on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Back on the drive here on a Friday afternoon, getting
you ready for Steelers Bengals Sunday one o'clock at Akroscher Stadium,
another AFC North clash, the second this year, with Cincinnati
joining us now to preview. It is the Queen of
the sidelines, Missy Matthews, kind enough as always on a Friday,
to take some time here, Missy, thank you for doing so.
(11:33):
And you know, kind of sticking with that, these divisional
AFC North games are always intense, they're always physical. There's
always a lot of emotions on both sidelines. But do
you even notice that ratcheted up when it's the second
time around that the teams meet throughout the season.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Yeah, and I think I think so.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
I guess the second part of that answer the when
you don't win the first time, you wanted even more
for a round two, right, And I think especially the
way that the Steelers performed in round one, everybody, Tindy
wants to write the ship, even the score, whatever you want.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
To call it. And AFC norths just always means more.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
It's why everyone says, you know, throw the records out
the window, the cliches, but it's really true. I don't
think many people going into that Thursday night matchup had
the Bengals winning, but such as late to the AfD Norths.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So Missy, we were kind of talking in the first
segment that I think you put up a red flag,
a warning signal if the Steelers offense struggles this week.
I mean, the status of the Bengals defense, as you know,
is terrible, and that would be starting to be a pattern.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree, And I think even
if it goes.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Really well, you still have to say, well, we played
against one of the statistically worst defenses. But I just
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
I feel good about the fact that it's a nice one.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
O'clock you're back at home.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
And they know what this means because they know what
it means not only for themselves, but also for the Bengals.
You know, the Bagels don't win this one, that kind
of really puts them in a predicament.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Where maybe Joe Burrow is not rushing back to join,
But for the Steelers, knowing that you still have two
more games with the Ravens, haven't seen them yet. One
more with Cleveland. This is a huge game for both
teams involved, but I think more importantly for the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
No, it certainly is. Missy. You know, lost three of
the last four. It's a listen, we all know these
AFC North games, these AFC Conference games when you get
down to you know, December, and all the different playoff
tie breakers and scenarios. These are very important in that regard.
It's also as well too, you've kind of got an
opportunity to Yeah, Cincinnati's probably out of it at three
(13:50):
and six, but they haven't fully accepted that yet. If
you can knock them down to three and seven, okay,
that's it. But if all of a sudden they're four
and six and oh yeah, just a little behind the
Steelers and the Ravens, they still feel like they're in it,
Like Missy. It is is to me, feels like one
of those classic games. You know, the weather's getting cold,
the holidays are right around the corner, and it is.
(14:12):
It's almost, in a way, kind of like a elimination
type game. If you're the Steelers and you fall to
five and five, you still have plenty to play for
without a doubt. But this one starts to feel like
where again that road is narrowing and kind of a
two dogs, one bone type game.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, and I mean I think too, you know, I
will say I do remember the Bengals coming to Pittsburgh
for Week eighteen needing to win that game. The Steelers
also needing to win it, maybe just for more psyche
than anything and needing help, and they did almost make
their way into the playoffs. The Bengals also are two
or zero in the division right now. So yeah, it's
(14:53):
hard to say, but I do think, whether I would
like to accept it or not, there will be football,
whether some sort on Sunday. But I'm cool with it
if it plays into the hands of the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So we all know Jamar Chase is a special, phenomenal player.
Would it shock you if he did similar things to
what he did in the first game.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
No, I mean, I just think he's that guy. He
reminds me of like Antonio Brown. You know, we were
so fortunate to watch it because we were on the
good side. But it did not matter what teams did
then always found him. He was always open somehow, some
way in various forms or fashions. And I think Chase
is kind of turning out to be one of those guys.
(15:38):
I do think the configuration of the defense with Jalen
Ramsey playing safety full time, you know, maybe that changes
things a little bit. But I don't think it's like,
you know, you're going to take Jamar out of the game.
I think it's you limit him as much as you
physically can.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I think that's a great comparison you made there too,
Like everyone remembers when ab was at the heat heat
peak of his powers. It's just like Chase. He was
the best receiver in the league basically, and we'd we'd
talk about on our end of oh yeah, he had
eight for one and two touchdowns. Again, you know, not
from the opponents were like, how could you ever let
Antonio Brown get loose because he does every week?
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Yeah and again like he told every type of defensive
coverage and scheme to try to take him out of
a game, and it just it didn't matter. I mean there,
I feel like it wasn't the one streak that was
like that everyone kind of got annoyed with. It was
like eighty five yards touch it like receiving per game.
It was something you know, obscure like that, but he
had it for such a long time that when he
(16:36):
finally broke it, I feel like, you know, the whole
media was like, finally it's over. But that was just
how he was and him and Ben had that connection
and it didn't matter if you know, someone was hurt,
tight ends, other wide receivers, running backs. Of course, when
he played with Lady on Bell, you know that that's
another special player. That was just you know, adding a
(16:57):
different dimension to that roster at the time. But yeah,
I mean you couldn't stop Aby. You just did your
best to not let him completely wreck the game.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Missy Matthews with us here on the drive, getting us ready,
helping set the scene for all things Stillars and Cincinnati
on Sunday. Missy, one of the things that we always
like to ask you about is Aaron Rodgers. What you see,
what you kind of feel on the sideline there. And
it's been a couple straight weeks of not his best,
not the offense's best. I think even with twenty seven
(17:31):
points scored against Indianapolis, you heard Aaron Rodgers tone and
what he said postgame about how they had to be better.
And then obviously what happened this past Sunday in La
Needs no revisiting. It's all fresh in all of our minds.
What's the kind of temperature, what's the gauge been like
on the sideline? Do you sense any frustration boiling up?
Or do you think that this is something They've got,
(17:53):
the leadership, they've got the veterans. It's just a little
bumping a road. We're gonna get back on track.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
I mean, I feel like if there wasn't frustration, we'd
all be like, what is wrong with them? Especially on
the offensive side of the ball. I mean, that was
like a bang your head against your tablet type of
game in LA because it was just like, man, I
agree with Aaron. I can't remember if he said it
exactly after the game or if it was when he
(18:19):
spoke in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. It was like, you just
needed one play, convert one third down, have a play
that's good, not to be called back for a penalty.
It just felt like nothing could go right in the
snowball effect. Clearly just kept going all games to not
be able to get out of that funk. So I
(18:40):
don't think it's like, you know, people aren't screaming and
carrying on, but I think it is more like a
how do we fix this type deal? And Aaron is
one of those really great leaders. He is up and
down the bench. He's not just sitting there talking to
Tom artha quarterbacks coach or Arthur Smith. The OC sucks
with all the obviously the up quarterbacks that are there
(19:01):
to try to help him too, but then it's talking
to the offensive lines. Pat Meyer. You know, it is
a collaborate effort, as you would expect it to be,
but I've also seen sidelines where that's not the case.
So I think it leads kudos to them for that,
and hopefully, you know, a hard week of work will
kind of kickstart them into the right direction, kind of
(19:23):
similar to you know, after the Green Bay game, then
you know, you play Indie, the Seattle game wasn't great,
then you went to the New England and one. So
maybe this will be what they need. But I think
at week eleven you need to start showing more consistency
on both sides of the walls.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
So at this point, everybody knows, and we've talked to
no end about opposing quarterbacks get the balls out of
their hands so quickly against this defense, and that's a
thousand percent true. They don't. They don't throw deep balls.
Herbert took took it to a new level this past week,
but I still would be blown away if the Steelers
front and pass rush doesn't influenced this game more than
(20:01):
the first meeting on.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
I mean, I just I feel like what we have
seen from Derek Harmon, Keanu Benton. Obviously you know what
Cam Hayward brings. You wanted to buy a pass, no problem.
But I really think it's the young guys allowing then
the edge guys allowing more time for whoever's blitzing to
get there, just the secondary to solidify since that's been
(20:24):
nothing but you know, changing parts. So I do agree
that those guys up front are not going to, let
I almost said Jamar Chase, but Chase Brown, excuse me,
you know, have the type of day that he did
in Cincinnati Week seven.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yeah, that is certainly certainly a big part of I think. Uh.
I think the underlying kind of storyline of this one
is we know that both of these teams they've got
the what is the icy hot quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Right yea, the.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Ben Gabowl whatever you want to call it, or with
the old man ointment ball here. But yeah, so much
of it, I think is going to come down to
the running backs, both of whom had really good nights
that Thursday. It kind of kind of got overshadowed. Which
one of these units can stop the run, which one
of these offenses can have more success on the ground,
control the time of possession, and then Missy, I know
(21:20):
this is you know, this is every single week, every
single game, but even more so for the Steelers. This
feels like a you know, one of the things that
Matt and I keep an eye on. We don't just
kind of chart turnover differential, but we like to keep
an eye on sacked differential and explosive play differential as
well too, And those things did not go Pittsburgh's way
(21:40):
that Thursday night, about a month ago at pay Corse Stadium,
they only sacked Flaco twice, once on the first drive
and once at the very end of the game, and
the explosive play differential was way till night close in
favor of the Bengals. You know, it's one thing for
Jamar Chase to, you know, to stack up the six
seven eight yard receptions, but they've got to limit the
(22:01):
explosives and they've got to do a better job of
making life tough on Joe Flacco than they did the
first time they got to hit him.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Yeah, Yeah, I agree, And I'm hoping that now that
you have what four games of film, a larger sample size,
maybe they're seeing things. Obviously he's smart, like Aaron Rodgerson
getting the ball out quick, but I still think that
there is something the defense can certainly do to make
him have to make either poor decisions or quicker decisions
(22:28):
that turn into poor decisions, because you can't have the
same thing that we sawt Thursday night. But you know,
I also go back to like the DJ Turner interception
that he kind of DK caught it, but DJ Turner
took it like there was just weird, fluky things. And
it's kind of at the point where you can't have
one of those happen because then it's like the snowball effect.
(22:49):
So you almost need like a clean game in a
way for everybody to kind of write the ship is
the only way I keep thinking about it. It just
feels like you have to get that taste out of
your mouth, noing what your schedule is moving forward. You
can go to Chicago next week, like it's not going
to get any easier. So I feel like you really
need this one to be one of those almost like
(23:10):
morale boosting wins, like, Okay, we got our mojo back,
We're ready to.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Go completely agree, Missy, as our as our dear brother
tunch Jokin would have said, this is a pistachio type game.
Have you not heard this one?
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Now?
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So Tounch used to have this thing. He called it
the pistachio theory. He said, sometimes when you're cracking pistachios,
you get a bad one the end funky taste in
your mouth. The only way to get that taste out
of your mouth is by cracking a good pistachio. Yep,
And so the only we all do. Let's crack it.
(23:46):
Let's crack some Bengal skulls and crack some pistachios and
uh and get that bad taste out of our mouths.
Heading into like you said, Missy, what's going to be
a a heck of a home stretch of the season
here as we get closer and closer to the holidays.
The Great Missy Matthews make sure you're listening to her
on the broadcast on Sunday, of course, with Rob King
and Max Starks. She'll be set in the scene and
(24:07):
in painting the view from the sidelines as she does.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
So.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Well, Missy, thank you for the time, take care and
we'll talk to you on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
All right, sound good? Thanks guys, there.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
She goes Missy Matthews. Yep, you never heard Tounch talk
about the pistachio.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
No, I don't know the past good one.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
That was one of his times. You get a dud,
that was one of his go tos. Sometimes you get
a dud and it's not it's not a swig of
beer that's gonna change that taste. It's not, you know,
a bite of a different food.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
It's yeah, you got the only way to get.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
The only way to get the bad pistachio taste out
of your mouth is with another good pistachio.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
And I think there's NFL week.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I think there's some of that to be said.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
You're gonna play seventeen games, whether you like it or not.
You're eating seventeen pistashios, whether you like it or not.
The chance to getting seventeen in a row, that are
all good, very low, yeah, right right.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
In fact impossible. So yeah, I always loved that one
from Tounch. I mean, those those guys, you know, they
had such a way of words with words, but that
was that was one of the ones that always that
always stuck with me. The tounch Elkin pistachio theory on
on full display, hopefully in full effect for the Steelers
Sunday afternoon at home. Gotta take a break. When we
(25:13):
come back on the other side, we'll start getting into
a little five Star Friday. We'll start getting in to
that time some of these matchups between the Steelers and
the Cincinnati Bengals. And of course, in our final segment
of the day today, we are going to have Steelers
safety Kyle Duggar join us right here on the Drive cousin,
so we'll talk to him about this high flying Cincinnati
(25:33):
offense in the task of slowing down those talented eligibles
that will be wearing stripes on Sunday, not the officials,
the Cincinnati Bengals at akershur Stadium. So plenty to get
to as we roll along here. Wes Schuler, Matt Williamson,
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty fourth having
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Back on the drive here on a Friday, as we
close down the first hour of the show. We are
going to get into a little five star Friday in
just a minute here, Matt. But before we do that,
we did have a roster move that we kind of speculated.
What happened that is now official. You know, nothing crazy here,
nothing that's going to grab the headlines. But I did
just want to, you know, make sure we're doing our
(26:57):
due diligence in our in our housekeeping. So the Steelers
did bring back Tray Sermon to the practice squad. I would
have been shocked if he made official today. They had
a spot on the practice squad after Isaiah Hodgens was
signed by the Giants off the Steelers practice squad earlier
this week. You and I kind of speculated that this
(27:18):
could be a situation where Sermon comes back into the
fold and into the practice squad, and that's all. That's
the case. He's He's back.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
Involved deal, right, which probably better for him than even
joining another practice squad. It was a familiarity. They know everything,
and I just got called up. I could get called
up again. He's clearly one injury away from being the
next running back up and running back all the time.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Like they've got some level of trust and belief, you know.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Yeah, yeah, I mean he could end up on the
active roster again this year.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Yeah, one hundred percent wouldn't surprise us. But he is
back in the fold back on the Steelers practice squad
that was announced earlier late morning, early afternoon today officially
by the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Not shocking on any other No.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Not shocking at all. And uh so, yeah, a decent
amount of moving and shaking on that practice squad this week. Yeah,
and certainly something uh for.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
People that don't pay enough attention. I mean these teams,
the bottom of.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
That roster moves a lot like crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Yeah, I mean we made the jokes like on cutdown day,
like you're fifty three, brother, chance you better play pretty
well right off the back, because you might not even
make it the Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
By the time by the time we get on air
the next day that yea three might change.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
You might be gone. We need a guard.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
You're out totally totally. I mean, look out, look how
fast it happened for my boy Beanie Bishop right led
the team in interceptions is a rookie year didn't make
the initial fifty three. Now off the practice squad, still
looking for a job around the national NFL. Not for
long man' that's the that's the way it goes around here.
And yeah, you're there's a lot of moving and shaking
(28:52):
on the weekly on the bottom, a.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Lot of five nine slot corners pick from you.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Know, yes, And that's why too, Even just having one
of those practice squad jobs is nothing to sneeze at.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Man. Now, at least you go in the office every
day and you can impress their position.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Coach, and you get a pay check, and.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Then you got a good chance to like we always
talk about, you get a good chance to come back
to camp next year and then who knows, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
More on tape, more opportunity. That's that's all a lot
of these guys are looking for. But there is a
big opportunity for the Steelers to get right, to get
back in the win column Sunday afternoon at home against
the Bengals. What are the biggest matchups to keep an
eye on that are going to determine the outcome of
Sunday's clash. It's time to talk a little bit of
(29:33):
that with Matt Williamson here on the drive a little
segment we call five Star Friday. It's a five.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
Star matchup because we're in it.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
All right, Matt. We have done this once already for
the Bengals. We have talked matchups. We're familiar with a
lot of these names. It's a divisional foe that we're
seeing for the second time around. Here's where I want
to start with you though, before we do get into
some specifics. It's a Steelers secondary that is a little
different when since the last time.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
These series different. It's different week to week anymore.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
That's the truth. And while the names aren't crazy different,
the roles are different.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
I mean, when we're recording this Friday, we don't know
what's going on with Samuel yet, right correct.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
I mean I think we'd both be surprised if he played.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
I've gotten mixed people that seem to know. Half of
them think, oh, he's gonna play. We'll keep an eye
on that, seem to think a week or you know.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Maybe we'll ask Kyle Dugger when he when he joins.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Us here, I was actually going to I was going
to bring it up.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Samuel Junior going to play Buddy Peel the curtainback for us.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I wasn't gonna ask it that way, but I am
going to ask him, Hey, how would you recommend getting
on the moving train with a new team as fast
as you had to? You know? You know, I get three,
d had a couple of days with the team before.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Right, Yeah, we'll save that one for Douger here in
our number two. But how can a Steelers secondary doesn't
sound like you're gonna have sleigh?
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Now assume they don't, now right, I'm gonna act like
Pierre and Porter or your outside corn.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
With Eckles on the slot.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Well maybe, Well, this team plays so much eleven. We
haven't broke down a lot of the personal tendencies and
stuff because we really did two weeks. That hasn't changed
that much. But this team leads the league I think
in eleven personnel or they're right the top. So you're
gonna see a lot of nickel. Steelers don't like to
go dime. I mean, dime's becoming less and less prevalent
(31:32):
in the league. But side note, so you're gonna see
a lot of nickel. I would think your corners are
Pierre and Porter on the outside and.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Echoles like the slot that would be my guest.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Ramsey and Dougger is your safety?
Speaker 2 (31:43):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Right right?
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So again some of the same names, but in different roles. Obviously,
the biggest change being Jalen Ramsey moving back.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
And Dougger wasn't around the first time around, and.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
It wasn't around the first time around. So it is
a difty different safety tandem, different safety hand them for
the Pittsburgh Steelers than the one that they took to
Cincinnati last month.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
How and his safeties go Ramsey's elite? I mean just
as a coverage player, yes, I mean just purely guard.
You know, so manyse coordinators. If I can get Jamar
Chase through the first level and on a safety deep downfield,
I got them right where I want him. Well, Ramsey's
a little bit different, you know.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
So let's dig into that a little bit here. What
does this reworked Steelers secondary look like against this Bengals
pass game? Are they in a better position? Are they
in a worse position? Is it maybe just a different position,
It's definite different. What's that look like with a different
safety tandem than the Steelers had the first time these
teams met?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
So, just speaking safeties, I've read this this morning, and
it didn't shock me at all. But the we know
the Steelers prefer to be a single high team. Now
the Steelers have been drifting more and more to too
high the last couple of weeks with these safety changes, yes,
which I think is smart. But what I didn't understan,
(33:07):
I didn't realize was when they played the first time,
it was the highest percentage of single high safety that
the Bengals saw all year. Nobody does that to the Bengals.
I mean, you're daring them to attack sure downfield outside
the numbers, you know, or you know, so most teams
(33:27):
just put a lid on it, tackle the catch, et cetera.
And that wasn't to me. I mean, all the problems
the Steelers had against Chase especially but Higgins and everybody,
it wasn't getting beat over the top. I mean, it
wasn't like the too high safety thing was you know,
where you got exploited, because I mean, you're gonna exploit
a single high safety, usually it's outside the numbers deep,
you know, because they can't get over you know. But
(33:49):
that's not where Chase it is damage or Higgins for
that matter, And this one it was across the middle.
It was short stuff, run after catch, et cetera. But
I still think you'll probably see a much higher percentage
of too high than you did. I hope you see
a much less percentage of blitz. I mean, because we
realize we.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Talked about that a little bit yesterday, how it's just not.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Been Flaco's shows. He beats the blitz now, you know.
And I know you'd love to hit the old guy,
but I think you can get there. I just want
him to pack the ball. That's the same thing we
said about Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
You know, just one extra half second.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Yeah, one pulse longer would go a long way. And
I want a lot of people in those short intermedia
zones to help as opposed to hate Pierre, you got Chase.
I mean Pierre's playing well, yes, and frankly, I might
be more confident with Pierre than Sleigh at this point.
I mean from I think Pierre's played better than Sleigh
this year, smaller amount. The other thing, the Steelers have
(34:48):
a history, it's not exclusive. Is a porter or porter.
You have Higgins, and then we'll do a lot of
stuff with Chase. I don't know what to think, but
I'm gonna be keep a lot of eyes on. Is
that how they'll attack this week too? And basically Joey
you have him alone, which doesn't mean that Higgins won't
get ballster in his way, but that's an often approach
(35:09):
they've taken against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Yes, yes, they have, and it's gonna be interesting. You know.
Jamar Chase was I don't know if you heard. I
think it was yesterday he was asked about Joey Porter
Junior and he said, that guy's handsy, you know it is.
But it's one of those things where I think eventually
something has to give for the Steelers secondary against these guys,
(35:33):
Like we know how good they are.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Yeah, yeah, But at the.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Same time, the Steelers secondary, it's not like every talented
wide receiver tandem comes in and lights these guys up. No,
you know, just for some reason, these two particularly win
there on the field at the same time have been
a real bugaboo for the Steelers. Like Alan Saunders, who
you know, we know he works for for Pittsburgh Sports Now,
(35:57):
he did like a breakdown that I saw him post
on Twitter few days ago this week where the Bengals
offense against the Steelers when Chase and Higgins have both
been on the field and the Bengals offense against the Steelers,
when just one of those guys has been missing, okay,
and it's like a drastic it's a drastic difference, And
that makes some sense.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
You take a good player off field, you're gonna be worse.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Absolutely, But it was it was a very drastic like.
It was a it was like without one of those guys,
they struggle to score twenty points against the Steelers. Both
of those guys they're scoring in the thirties. Yeah, pretty
much every single time. At some point this secondary not
completely put the clamps on these guys and shut them down,
but I think they're almost due for a good showing
(36:41):
against You know them so well, there's no secrets. You
know how they're gonna play, you know how they're going
to attack. You go respond to it, punch back a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Yeah, no, I understand all that, and I don't disagree
with you. The other thing is in the first meeting,
when you left Yoshavas in good coverages, Flacco is hitting them.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
It's true, it was no right.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
I mean so, but I'll be honest. I mean, if
Yoshavas and fant each have a touchdown and combined for
one hundred yards. We might be fine with that on Monday,
you know what I mean, Like, I'm not going to
be overly concerned with those guys. Not that they're bad,
it's just, you know, I just I'm gonna roll coverage
(37:26):
is much more to those outside studs. Yes, but I
don't have great answers. I mean, blitz less more zone
pretty clear you couldn't man up with them.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
No, absolutely not.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
And if you can, but I mean, don't even.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Try correct correct And I think the one part of
you know, to bring it back to some of the
Sante Samuel Junior stuff. With more Zone, I think you
would like to have. I would think so that Sunday,
if possible, if possible, if possible.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Now zone takes a little more communication. When do I
pass them off to the next guy or what ever? Yes,
but I mean I think by signing him you kind
of said, yeah, we're probably not gonna play a ton
of man go forward, you know, I mean, we realize
what we're at here. Better in zone now, Echo seems
better in zone. You know, everyone but Porter.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Matt some news from Cincinnati here as they have officially
ruled out Trey Hendrickson, Shamar Stewart, and Samaj p Ryan
for Sunday's game. So two not p Ryan. Is you
know they're clear cutting number two running back. Yes, that's
a bit of a loss. I mean Chase is also
(38:35):
like real solid and protection.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
He is a he's a pro.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
He's a good situational running back. Yeah, he's an he's
an ideal. You were talking about this a little bit
with Labs, like how the Steelers backfield feels like it's
missing a hammer. Like, he's a nice hammer to have
any He's.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
A hammer that protects and you can catch them all a little.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Bit, situations, all that stuff. But no Hendrickson, no Stuart.
Kind of the two big name pass rusher bookends for
the Bengals not surprising, but now just a few minutes
ago have officially been ruled out by Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
And partially because this partially just because it's a bad defense.
But I don't think there's any excuse to have a
really low average depth of target. And I know that's
how Rogers wants to play. And I think a lot
of people overreact to saying Steelers can't protect. That's the
only reason ball's coming out. So fast. There's ways around that.
(39:24):
I mean, the Chargers couldn't protect. I mean, the Chargers
didn't have players. I mean, I know Roder Jonesy's help
will help them. I mean I'd like to see them
push the ball down the field a little bit more,
attack from ten to twenty neighborhood a little bit more.
Not just bombs away necessarily, but let's drive the ball
down the field, especially on some third downs that seems
like they throw. I know you can find the numbers,
(39:46):
and I didn't look them up, but they sure seem
to throw short of sticks on third downs a lot,
a lot, Yeah, a lot.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
That's one thing that I'm sure the numbers back up,
and I'm sure the tests certainly does.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
And that's been the case for just more than this year.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
It's not just a Rogers or it's not just an
Arthur Smith, but I mean they're always at the bottom
of the league with that stuff, right.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Matt spinning the block here. I wanted to ask you
from a Steelers offense versus Bengals defense perspective, is the
matchup to keep an eye on, really, DK Metcalf against
DJ Turner.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
I guess I don't know that they'll follow, but Turner
is definitely the guy if you're gonna avoid anyone. Fine,
sort of like we have talked about with Higgins, I
would imagine if Turner's on Austin, he'll be alone. Now
that doesn't mean he can't go his way, but I
mean sure, he's one of the few guys that can
run with Austin. He was like a four to two
(40:42):
guy at his combine. I mean, speed is he's a
little leaner, but he's really really fast. Every team's double
in Metcalf. I mean it's not even a hidden or
a secret. I mean, I know you can also look
up double team rates. Maybe I haven't been doing my
job in my status this week, but his has to
be through the roof too.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
It gotta be, especially it feels like the last couple
weeks in particular.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
And we all know he's a good player, but he's
not the best receiver in the league. He should not
be the most doubled receiver in the league, and I
bet he's near the top, which to me is an
argument for why you need a second receiver. Not just
what if Metcal gets hurt, It's like, well, you're not
getting the most out of the metcal you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
I understand the argument of you know, wide receiver twos
have never been a big fixture of Arthur Smith offenses, right,
I get that side of the logic. But the other
side is it's it's almost like the distraction. It's a
distraction element, like you just some even if they're not
going to be a big focal part of your offense.
It's someone to take attention off DK Meth.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
The number one, you know, Like a good example would
be like Atlanta, Like everyone knows London is the one,
and I'm going back to I picked them because Arthur
Smith was there. Sure, and they went and got Mooney
after Arthur Smith. But yes, everyone knows that you want
to get the ball to London. But if Mooney's over there,
he's not the best receiver in the world either. But
(42:03):
it makes London's life a little easier. It's just a fewer,
little bit less attention.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
Even for Chase Higgins being the Chase Higgins, for Chase
being the destroyer of worlds that he is the best
receiver in football. Think how much easier his life is
made by t.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Higgins, right, or Jefferson and Addison Jefferson now where there's
a clear gap between the two. But you got to
have somebody that is going to rip up single coverage
if you're gonna leave him there all the time.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
And the Steers don't have so many of the times
when ab was having his best year, it was when
Martavis Bryant was playing well, Juju was playing.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Well, right when lighting my load, a.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Little someone else that they got to respect, someone else
that they got to keep an eye on. But yeah,
I feel like this is a this is another big
one for Metcalf. I you know, it's been it's been
a few weeks since we've seen him have some of
those DK Metcalf you know, jump off the screen type
highlight plays. Yeah, I feel like he'll have the opportunity
to do so again.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
Oh he should, I mean, you should still do well.
Even if he's getting a lot of extra attention. I
was still not. The other thing is we've definitely talked
about this throughout the week, is because of where the
offense is, I want the ball in my best player's
hands and my most reliable and to me, that's three guys.
That's Warren yep, Metcalf yep, and Mouth yep.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
Especially against the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Especially against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
But right Mouth's walking into Canton if he plays every
game against Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Yeah, and they're terrible against the tight ends. Their safety
linebacker plays really, really bad. That's part of the reason
people are like, why friar Mouth kill the Bengals because
they're terrible and tight ends are really ripping them up.
But he does have quite the history. But I would
simplify things a little bit and be like, I'm gonna
do designer plays to get the ball in those three
guys hands. I love Washington, I mean game well, John
(43:51):
who Austin Roman. I mean them are bad. Doesn't mean
they don't get any targets. But I would make the
game plan more constant and traded.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
If you got a shooter, Matt, you draw up screens
and picks and plays to get your shooter looks. Yeah, yeah,
let's let's let's get those those offensive shooters looks.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
The one thing I did see too is they're near
the bottom of the league or at the bottom of league,
not necessarily in motion. So a new a new thing
that the analytic dorcs are taken to a new level
lately is people are familiar with motion rate. How often
do you use motion? But there's a lot of different
versions of motion. Like I'm not a coach, but like
a lot of the Matt Canada motion didn't accomplish much.
(44:34):
It was just one guy drying windows. Yeah, like okay,
maybe I'm getting a man. Look, maybe i'm zone. Look
where you watch Like the Dolphins, Tyreek Hill is in
motion at the snap. That's a big thing people are
charting too, is how much motion when the ball is
actually snapped. Yep, And the Steelers are real low in
that too. Let's do some of that to manufacture you
(44:57):
can scheme things up for Metcalf, get opening. We have
to line up the same place and.
Speaker 2 (45:00):
Get doubled absolutely right, absolutely had.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
A pick like you said, you know, I mean they
can make a basketball reference right, one hundred percent. Scheme
them up.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Scheme them up, baby, Let's get it done. Hour in
the books, another hour to go. We'll continue to give
some some more thoughts, some more scouting on Steelers Bengals.
We will obviously go around the league, run the gambit
of all these games Big Week eleven across the National
Football League, and we will talk to Kyle Dugger as
well too. Before we get up out of here. All
that and more an hour number two u'ler Williamson. It's
(45:30):
the Drive on a Friday on the Steelers Audio Network
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