November 6, 2025 • 41 mins
The Drive digs deep into Matt's Stats as they begin to set the stage for Steelers-Chargers on Sunday night.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation, It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Wes Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here
for the next two hours on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and the Gold on a Thursday,
where we will fully turn the page and start to
look at these LA Chargers, the next team on tap
for your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Matthew, what's up? How we doing?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Fantastic? Good? How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Can't complain? Brother's holding out for us.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
A little bit? He's great.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I feel like for the last five six weeks, I've
been saying, all right, well, this is probably the last
sunny day.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Enjoy it, why we can, And then it just keeps rolling.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I always think about when I walk in, I mean
something down I us talk about all time. It's always
so by. Oh yeah, it'll hit you hard. You just
feel it a little earlier than when you're up on
top of the mountain.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Here.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
I woulda call it the mountain, big hill.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Big hill. Ye yeah, no, I'll take it.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It's been it's been a nice surprise, and it'll certainly
be cold soon enough, but it's gonna be like high
seventies eighty degrees this weekend in La so I will
pack some shorts and wear some shorts for probably the
last time in twenty twenty five. This weekend, we've got
plenty to get to before Steelers and Chargers kickoff on
Sunday night. Football Matt a little moving and shaken for
(01:30):
the Steelers this morning, as they have signed defensive tackle
Broderick martin Roads off of Kansas City's practice squad to
the Steelers fifty three man roster. Remember that's how that works.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, if you have to keep on your roster
four weeks, I think.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I believe that is the line of demarcation there. But yeah,
if you're gonna steal some from someone's practice squad, you
can't just put them on your practice squad. They have
to go right to the active roster. Which makes sense.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Well, guys will be flying around team, the team gonna
be on flights every five minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Exactly right, exactly right, and so he will move to
the fifty three man roster. Originally drafted by the Detroit
Lions third round in twenty twenty three, he was the
ninety sixth overall pick. Has appeared in five games, four
tackles in his career. Spent two seasons at Western Kentucky
before that Northern Alabama. Matt's still a relatively young guy.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, it was a Day two NFL draft pick of
the Lions, but hasn't really been able to, you know,
kind of find a role to stick on with Detroit
or Kansas City. What do you know about Broderick Martin Rhodes,
the newest Steeler?
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Less than just about any third round pick I can remember,
to be honest with you, I could sit here and
make stuff up and be like, oh yeah, I studied
his film in a Western Kentucky to no end in
all his preseason tape. I remember when he was taken
by the Lions of the third round, many of us went, wow,
that's a little early and not a lot of production
at a real small school. Was not a combine invite
(02:54):
from what I remember. But I think he tested well
with his pro day. He's got traits, he's got long arms,
he's big, he's gonna look the part. I would think
he's more nos but he's six five ish. I mean
there's not. He's not gonna be a traditional Casey Hampton
stump in there either.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, he's a big boy, so I'm not gonna.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Pretend to know a ton about him. But there is
ability there. There's some moldible clay at his age. I'm
sure that they like them coming out of the draft.
That's usually how that works. That's where that those you know,
our reports start to build. They must have had a
decent grade on him back then. But really makes me
wonder why now, because he didn't just become available yesterday.
(03:36):
He's been on a practice squad for sure the whole season.
Sure is Logan Lee in trouble? Is there an injury
we don't know about. They're not light at defensive line
as far as I know, And as you, like you said,
he's gonna be on the active roster for least I
think four weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, I'll be interested to see, and we should have
it here before too much longer. Yeah, sometime within this
hour the steel latest practice report. If there is something
on there that surprises.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Us, probably is gonna happen. Hopefully it's not something big.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Unfortunately I'm leaning that way because again, you put them
on your active roster.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
You have to commitment, you have to.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Release somebody Yesterday Wednesday's practice report which came out shortly
after we got off air, Scotty Miller still not practicing
with that finger, Jabril Peppers with the quad injury, Cole
Holcom's still dealing with an illness, Alex high Smith with
the ankle, Isaac Samalu with the peck, Darnell Washington with
a foot, and John new Smith getting a vet day.
(04:32):
They all did not practice. Chuck Clark did return to practice,
but that was yesterday's nobody really amongst that defensive line group,
right right, So.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
We'll did somebody get hurt in practice yesterday that we
don't know about. I mean, I'm just speculating. Sure, you speculating,
And I mean.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I think it's fair. It's only fair because a move
like this until we kind of know the corresponding move
for the Steelers on that fifty three man roster invite
some speculation. Like I said, I think within this certainly,
by the time we get out of here today we
should have an answer to that.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I would think. So Loganly's been inactive lately. Yeah, out
of way, No, I crushed his name. My apologies. I
thought he was a borderline roster guy and he made it,
and he's been here ever since, and he's been active
a little bit lately. Could they just not be happy
with him and be like, we're gonna swap one for
one with him. Maybe, I don't know, I'm guessing if
(05:24):
it's not an injury, yeah, I'm just guessing. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Hey, that's all we can do for now. But we
do know that the Steelers have made that move. It
is official. He will be on the active roster, and
we'll kind of wait to see anything corresponding moves from
the team and the organization.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Off of that that other we haven't responded much to
the injury report that you just read off see them
all lowing high Smith. I'm sure they're just like, get well,
you know, hopefully just you know, get the Sunday. I
don't love the peppers still on there though, I mean,
because he missed the game with quote an illness and
that was what a calf or something. I think, so, yes,
I don't know. I'm just still intrigued with him.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I am too.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'd like to see more of him, particularly now when
you need some bodies. Even with the performance of Jalen
Ramsey and Doug and Dougger. You still need bodies back there.
Hopefully that's maybe another Just give him an extra day
here then and then hit the ground running on Thursday.
We'll kind of wait and see there. But I'm with
you on that, n Cole holkm I don't man, I
don't like to see that either, because.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I know Linger too.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You know, I know Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson are
playing at a high level. We like what we saw
from Malik Harrison and his first action back from IR.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Three of those guys out there together fair amount.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
But I still want Cole Holkam in that mix.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Oh yeah, especially for depth. And I think maybe they
found something with this Harrison package. They play it more.
Everyone's calling it at four to three, and it really
is because there's three linebackers on the field, I mean
true off the ball linebackers, and it's a four man front.
But if you look how they play it, it's all
Alec noticed this. I mean, it's like it's more like
(06:58):
big Nickel with Wilson being the coverage safety guy, you
know what I mean, And which is really a compliment
to Wilson. I mean to ask that much from him.
You know, absolutely, they know he's a linebacker, but he
was employed more like a safety, like a big nickel.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
And we know he can run certainly.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You saw that when he was at NC State, saw
that in Dublin when he ran down Jordan Addison.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
It's kind of like a big, big nickel.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
It's like a like a silver dollar like.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
That, because I mean, you're afraid of the tailor threat.
And if you're gonna play a lot of too high
behind it, you're not gonna have a lot of You're
not gonna have a lot of bodies in the box,
but at least now you have bigger bodies in the box.
So just an interesting way of approaching it. Maybe that's
a Colts only thing, the Taylor only thing. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Jumbo nickel.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Yeah, big big big nickel.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Big square nickel. We'll workshop it there.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
No, but that's a great h So, yeah, that's kind
of your moving and shaking some of the news of
the day for the Steelers. Like I mentioned, we will
we should have a a Thursday practice report at some
time within this we're ish.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Yeah, so we we'll keep.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
An eye open for that and and follow up as
we may here as as that all rolls out and
we get some clarity on on these these moves here
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But until we do that, until
we catch up with our buddy Bob Labriola in a
little bit as well, to Matt, what do you say
we start deep diving. It's a Thursday here. That means
we turn the page. We really start to focus on
(08:22):
the Steelers upcoming game.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
It's an interesting matchup.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Monday Tuesday are big recap days. Wednesday's kind of a
weird middle of the weekday. Ye, some final look backs,
a little look ahead, you know, we go around campus,
all that stuff.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
I think I told you about my ESPN chat days.
Remember when chat rooms were a thing. I bet yeah,
pre Twitter, Like I wasn't even on Twitter at this point,
but I chat every noon on Wednesday. Yeah, and the
same people came and blah blah blah, and it was
a very good time. I mean, it was kind of
(08:57):
me and my best element just answer questions left and right,
making fun of people answered, you know, boom boom boom,
and it was cool and I'll tell two stories about it.
But that since doing that, that was always like my
line of demarcation of done talking chat time. We can
talk about last week, we can talk about next week,
but after the chat, it's all system forwork. Right. It
was noon on Wednesday, so it was like, yeah, that's
(09:20):
and my mind still works that way, so I can
tell the story. My wife works at PNC, doesn't matter
where she works, but she's been there many, many years.
And it was fifteen years. I was still at ESPN.
And she gets a tap on the shoulder and her
cubicle and she's like to help you. She's like, can
(09:40):
you please tell your husband that I'm not going to
be in the chat today? And she's like, what are
you talking about? She didn't even know if it was
like sports related. I mean, she didn't even know I
host the chat, Like, what the heck? What are you
talking about? He's like, my name is Mike from Boca Raton,
but I work I'm in Pittsburgh. I just use that
as so of my people have worked on internet. Listen.
(10:01):
I hope he is. He was. He was in there
every week. I knew the name. He's like, I got
a meeting. I can't be in the chat. I haven't
missed one in like years, and I knew you were
a P and C employee. I searched you down just
to tell Matt that I'm missing his chat's like the
first one ever. She's like, all right, man, that's cool.
She's like, yeah, that was one of her first like
(10:22):
several stalker moments, you know, that slight stalker moments.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Yeah, yeah, that is fun, like like yeah, like he's like, yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Day though, yeah, he couldn't like tweet me, like he's like.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
A regular like a restaurant or a bar or something.
And he's like, I just don't want them to be worried.
I'm not showing up. I don't want to warmer Cliff
doesn't show up.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Yeah right, all right, yeah you better call coach.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
You know, the legend of Matt Williamson, The Wonderful World.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
She was a little taken aback of Matt.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Yeah, I would especially then well then right right right,
it's like a chat. What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
What are you talking about? It's a different time, and yeah,
she didn't know people and even kne who I was,
who I was. It's hilarious, but yeah, pretty good stuff.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I hope you're still contributor in the chat cop.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Ball as well down there and both of latone or
wherever you may be. Uh, okay, jumping into Matt's stats here.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Yeah, that'.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Think there was any any professional way for me to
transition out of that funny story.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
We'll just jump right into the end of the Matt's
stats packet.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Matt, the Steelers had just thirty eight rushing yards last week,
the fifth fewest of any team this season, and the
fewest yards for any team that has won a game
this year.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yeah, is that just is that? I don't either, because I.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Don't think all of a sudden they stink it run
the ball.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I certainly don't.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And I told you, well, it's it's it's very weird
to evaluate because when you go back and watch the film,
I thought the offensive line played pretty well.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
I did too, and even like, if we correlate it
back to the second half of the Packers game, only
three carries for Warren, Like, gotta stay a little more
dedicated to it. Like another stat in there that I
think is really telling is the Chargers are at the
absolute top of the league in time possession. Steelers are
the absolute bottle the league and time possession. And the
more I think about this, matchup. I think the Chargers
(12:09):
are going to try to run the ball a little
more than they have, just to make life easier on
their own line. Sure like they they use some guys
that are a lot like Ricard. I mean they have
two dudes Matt Locke and Fisk I think his name
is that are de tackles by trade that are out
there hammer head, blocking tight end type guys that are
like two ninety And I wonder if they're gonna use
(12:30):
some of that bigger personnel. Will Disley's a blocking tight end.
He missed last week, but I think he's supposed to
be back. I haven't seen a practice report, but I'm
wondering that where I'm going with this is time possession
yet again. I mean, you know I've been harping on this,
We've been talking about this all year, that time possession
needs to be better. Well, you are playing one of
the best teams in the league in time possession, you're
one of the worst. So twenty eight yards or whatever
(12:52):
on the ground from the Steeler ground game ain't gonna cut.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
It's not gonna cut. It's not gonna cut it, right, No,
it absolutely is not. And I'm confident that they're going
to get back to run in the football the way
that we had seen, but it has been two weeks
of not their best showing in that week and a half.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, yeah, first half was good.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Right, first half against the Packers was good.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah, and six quarters.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
And then only three carries in the second half, which
was the head scratcher, particularly when you had a two
possession lead and started with the football in the third quarter.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
And maybe I'm misremembering, but it feels like it wasn't
like the run games just getting blown up left and
right now the Colts either, you know, I just didn't
do a lot of it, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Yeah, sixteen carries for Jalen Warren. I think it was.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Now they're super quick passing game the Colts was like
the super quickest of all does act as an extension
to the run. You know, you're getting the ball in
people's hands, eating clock. But it's not the same as
bludging the middle of a defense with you know, O
lineman coming off the ball, tackling the running back over
and overpposed to pushing Calvin Austin out about.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Right right, absolutely, Matt. A bunch more of these stats
that I want to get into with you. Let's pick
up where we're leaving off here on the other side.
We are due for a break. Let's get that in.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
We will continue to.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Swim around the stats that Matt has provided when we
return on the other side. Wes Schueler, Matt Williamson, it
is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Rowing along on the drive here on a Thursday afternoon.
We're gonna talk to our buddy Bob Labriola in a
few minutes. But before we get to Labs, we will
continue to parse through to comb over some of these
Matt's stats here as it relates to Week ten in
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Already we're like over the halfway mark.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, officially are Maybe we should revisit some of those
like Coach of the Year, MVP.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Conversations, Tuesday conversation last week or something like that.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
You know, let's continue here, though, Matt. This one, I
I don't know if I found this. In some ways
I found this surprising. In some ways I did not.
But the stat that you haven't here of the Steelers
defense faces the lowest percentage of deep ball passes in
the Yeah, just seven point five percent of the time. Yes,
it was part of me that was like, twenty your
(16:05):
more yards, twenty your more yards. Yeah, it was part
of me that was like, man, that kind of surprises
me when you consider they started the season banged up
in the secondary.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Deshaun Elliott, Joey Porter Junior were out.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
So I wouldn't say it's a super fast secondary.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Slave's been banged up at points, right, like Deshaun Elliott's
bang up again now.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But then the other side of that is.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
And you know that they've allowed a lot of wide
receiver production corrects in there too, a lot.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
But then the other side of it, and I got
to think this is a huge part for these teams
is also everybody knows how good the Steelers pass rush is.
And when you play against the guy when you got
Watt and high Smith and Cam and her Big and
here comes Jalen Ramsey with a couple of sacks out
of the slot, you know they just Patrick Queen's had sacks.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
This year, Benton has a few.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
They just are like, hey, when we play these guys,
they know how to get after the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
We've got to get rid of that thing quickly.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
We don't have time to stand back there and throw
the ball thirty forty fifty yards downfield.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
I think that's one thousand, you know, because well, well
it's the majority of it. So I've been doing Matt's
stats now for many years, and they've basically for the
last handful of years, they've been at the top bottom
of the league. I mean in terms of there, they're
always an extreme. In terms of deep ball faced you know,
(17:19):
they're always at the lowest percentage, and it all comes
out of the pass rush. To me, we do not
want to protect for that to happen as long now.
I do think there was absolutely times early in the season,
well not even that early recently. You know, the Bengals
game comes to mind where you're just giving away short
completions like Candy two and I can get if I
can get it first down on one throw six yards
(17:43):
and then he runs four yards after the catch, or
if I know I can nickel and dime you on
off coverage and you give no answer for Jamar Chase,
why am I going to hold the ball to drive
it down the field. But overall, the production they've allowed
to wide receivers is far too great. I mean, it's
far too much. But it hasn't been bombs over the
top or just getting ripped deep downfield. Because everyone fears
(18:05):
this pass rush, folks, I know, some people forget man,
why they're paying all this money for Wat and Hayward
and the pass rush doesn't live up to it. They
should have traded what and high Smith wise, he's always hurt,
the league tells you. I mean, if you watch all
twenty two every week, no one's holding ball against these guys,
No men. They know that they.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Wear and when they do, it ends up looking like
it did on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
That's what you get, right, right, right, right, that's what
you get on Sundays most times. That's what you get.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Five offensive turnovers from Indianapolis and a bunch of sacks
for Daniel Jones and just an off.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Rattled quarterback that's thrilled about it, right.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Never found its rhythm, never found level footing there, yep.
I don't think I know that there's a direct correlation
in that. And we saw it play out just a few.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Days ago, so we mentioned this yesterday. The porter's the
only corner they've drafted outside of round seven in the
last six drafts.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
And it's a lot.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
It's a big deal because people do draft corners high.
They're hard to find, and the Steelers, for better or worse,
have basically filled their corner position from free agents or
trades from other teams older dudes. But I think part
of the reason they do that is corners on draft
day aren't as expensive as tackles, but they're really expensive,
you know, And if you're picking twentieth, you do not
(19:24):
get Stingley or you know, Sauce or those dudes. They
got the no brainers and they know, Okay, maybe our
corners are a little long in the tooth. And I'm
not even talking about this group, but this group applies
as well as really I'm talking for almost the last decade.
But they almosto don't have to run for two's because
(19:44):
no one's going to go over the top on us,
you know what I mean. Like it's all complementary. I mean,
like they know that, you know that, we know that
you know you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yes, and you are right.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Like when you just watch out other teams around the
NFL game plan, it tells you what everyone's thinking, yeah, yeah,
I don't hide that. They don't hide that stuff. And
what they're thinking is, when you're playing the Pittsburgh Steelers,
you better get rid of that ball in about two
two point three seconds or else here comes, here comes
some pressure, here comes the boom.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Now we complimented the Steelers a lot in the front
office for recognizing that and going and get Sleigh and
Ramsey and blah blah blah blah. Now I'm not saying
they misevaluate those guys, but they also haven't quite worked
out where they're the pressman dudes to make you hold,
make you tap that.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Bag much as an extra second, right right, right.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Doesn't mean they're bad players, but it's not quite what
they were shopping for in terms of completing the picture.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
You know, I think that's fair. Hopefully, you know what
we saw on on Sunday will be replicated a little
bit again against the Chargers. But you're right, I would.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Think Herbert's gonna want to have his hands extra quick.
Oh but he doesn't have that Coltzo line protected.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
No, he does not, right, not even close.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
That Brandon Thorn thing I sent you yesterday. I'm sure
the culture and top two or three. I didn't.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
They were like three or four, I believe, and the
Chargers are last. And the Chargers were thirty seven, right,
right right. I'm not good at math, Matt, but that's a.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Glaring, dim pretty good discrepancy.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
The Steelers have twenty seven sacks in the NFL. That's
third most in the league. Sixty six quarterback hits second
most in the league. That's also what the Steelers also
having a bye week, which some of these top defenses.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
The ones above them, have not had.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
The Broncos haven't had a bye week. Yeah, and Matt,
that reminds me.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Also, I never put it in there because I don't
one thousand percent agree with it or believe it. But
they were like second in pressures too. Yes, you know,
I just don't usually put that in the stat pack
just because it's a little foggy to me. Sometimes.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
You and I had a show where we did some
Steelers predictions before the season started, and one of those
predict one of the ones that I made, and I think,
I don't know, we might have made it together. Whatever,
I just had it in my show notes from from
you know, the preseason stuff was so last year Steelers
finished second in the league in turnovers forced, only Buffalo
had more. Yeah, they finished sixteenth in sacks that average.
(22:02):
We spent a ton of time talking about that.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
That was one of our big bullet point offseason goals.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
And one of our I think what we did in
this one segment was like I rattled off four or
five predictions and you told me yes or no, And
then you rattled off a few and I told.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
You yes, Like we want to get like yards per
carry up, yes, red zone off like I remember, I remember.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
One of them was like Mason Rudolph plays in over
under one and a half meaningful games.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Yeah, you know, fortunately we haven't seen that yet.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah on the under on that show.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Let's keep it that way.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
One of them was Kenny Pickett ends up starting a
game against the Steelers. Well, that chip sailed whenever he
was traded from the Browns to the Raiders. But one
of them, one of mine, Matt, was Steelers finished top
three in the NFL in turnovers forced and in sacks.
So far, so good here, and I think.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
The backbone of their defense and maybe the organization.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Absolutely right, absolutely, Matt. Let's see here, Steelers now plus
nine into and over differential only the Chicago Bears are better.
Only the Chicago Bears have more takeaways, so the Steelers
third and sacks now second in takeaways. Steelers league the
league with eight fumble recoveries. The Chargers, for example, just
(23:14):
have one. The Steelers have only lost two fumbles. The
Chargers are at negative four turnover differential twenty first in
the league.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Yeah, does this feel like another week? Listen?
Speaker 2 (23:25):
I'm not saying the Steelers defense is going to force
five turnovers like they did against Indy or against the Patriots,
But is this another week where if you can win
that by plus two, you're in really good shape, really
good shape.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
Yeah. So there's three things in this game. I've really
been harping on that to me, vastly favor the Steelers.
Their defensive line against the obviously destroyed Chargers O line.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Yes, I mean it's like Alabama against the FCS skis.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Yeah, I mean it's one or two verse thirty two.
I mean it's yeah. Special teams as a whole, this
is not been a very good special teams year at
all for the Chargers. Dick or the kickers all right,
but otherwise they have not gotten a lot of value
on special teams and turnovers is the other one. I
think we talked about that chart that Pro Football Focus
Steelers were top bright Chargers were bottom left when you
(24:16):
combine the value of turnovers and special teams. So I
don't think Herbert all of a sudden has become turnover prone.
But he's under pressure so much that and he's had
some tip balls, he's had some bad luck, but he's
on pace to throw I think fifteen touch or interceptions
(24:38):
last year he threw three. And I was talking to
Rob King today, I didn't know this. Once in a
while he'll surprise me with a stat, but he said
Herbert's touchdown interception ratio in twenty twenty four last year
was the best in the NFL since like Rogers MVP
last MVP year. Interesting coincidentally, Yeah, I'm sure you'll hear
that on the air.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
He's urge to take the at some point.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
And I'm like, oh, yeah, Herbert only three picks last year.
I don't know how many touchdowns he threw, but a
bunch and we only threw three picks. So he is
not a turnover prone guy. But because he's getting hit
so much.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
And they're out their top two running back exactly.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
They have some dudes carrying the ball that they don't
trust as much as the other top guys, like I
think Viadell's put the ball on the on the floor,
are on the carpet a few times too. You know,
they're younger, unproven people touching the ball, you know, besides Herbert,
but he's under pressure all the time.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And this also paints a pretty picture for the Steelers.
Steelers have Steelers in terms of points off of turnover differential.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
Yes plus I know that gets a little convoluted, but.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Points off of turnover differential, yes, are plus fifty over
their opponents. So the Steelers have gotten fifty more points
off of turnovers than the teams that they have played. Yeah,
the Chargers Matt negative thirty six.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
That's next to last in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Last. Yeah, again, that's huge. Like you probably remember better
than I do. But Rogers after the game was talking
about how if we're the ball handed to us over
and over, we got to score more points. He wasn't
happy with the offense. But they still got twenty four
points off turnovers. Sure, you know, I mean it's still
twenty four points you put on the on the scoreboard.
That directly thank you from the defense, et cetera. And
(26:13):
the muff punt. You know, actually they don't count that
because the Caleb Johnson screw up, for whatever reason for NFL,
it is not counted. And I don't think the muff well,
the muff punt didn't end up directly in a sut Okay, yeah, sure, yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, because they didn't score any points off of that,
that muff pump.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Right right right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
I'm not sure if they count that or not, but
they did not count the Caleb Johnson screw up because one.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Of my Max's stats wasn't a turnover, right, which is weird.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Which is weird because one of my mat stats up
till like week six was the Steelers have not allowed
one point off of turnovers they allowed. And I got
a bunch of tweets. I'm like, what about Keler Johnson? Like,
I don't know why they don't count. I'm not an
official scorer. I just get this stuff from NFL dot com,
you know, So I'm gonna trust the league on that,
but I do want to throw that out there.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
No that it makes a ton of sense, and I mean,
you saw it. TJ.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Wat gets that stripsack, fumble recovery, Steelers go right down
the field and score. Yeah, Peyton Wilson, I mean back
to back. It happened within the span of two minutes.
Peyton Wilson gets that interception, takes it down close to
the shadow of the end zone.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
The Steelers are able to score.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
That's I mean, that's what they That's what they continue
doing that off a turnovers and have some longer ten eleven, twelve,
thirteen play touchdown drives and them were really cooking.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah, they get really cooking, right.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
And speaking of that, Matt, that would certainly help with
the time of possession. That would certainly help with getting
out snapped by your opponents. The Chargers held the ball
for over thirty four minutes last week. They average over
thirty three part of me, they average over thirty five
minutes over the last three weeks. That's the most in
the NFL. Nearly thirty six minutes a time of possession
(27:48):
in the last three weeks, most in the NFL compared
to the Steelers just a little over twenty seven and
a half minutes. The Chargers rank second in that category.
Pittsburgh ranks thirtieth. Yeah, so this is this feels to
me like if you're going to start getting that moving
in the right direction. I understand the Chargers do this
very well, but it feels like you can limit them here, like, yeah,
(28:10):
you can stymy that run game with what they have
with the offensive line, make Herbert have to throw the
ball forty sometimes, get them off the field in a
lot of three and out or a first down and
out type situations, and hopefully be able to run the
ball better than you did last week.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
Now, if this were CNR drives Chargers exactly, I would
say it would be nice. It would be I would
think that the folks on their end of things and
in they're building right now, are saying, we're really one
of what's our big advantage hold in the football. We
got to stay out a third and longs. You know,
(28:46):
we can't block anybody, you know, But if we can
hold the football and get big people in the game
and really eat clock and Steelers don't run the ball
very well, that's one of our past to victory for sure,
and the whole season backs it up.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
It's a credit to them that they're so good in
that department when they have a offensive line that's shattered
and down their top two running.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Backs one thousand percent. And I think a lot of
it's Herbert, Yeah, I mean just he runs smartly. He's
adding a lot with his legs. Just in terms of rushing.
I think we brought this up, but he's the leader
among all quarterbacks in rushing yard, yeah, which is shocking.
I mean, Lamar's hurt, but I mean, or was hurt,
but still you don't put him in that light. And
he has turned the ball more than you'd like, turn
(29:28):
the ball over more and you like, but he's making
so many throws and keeping drives alive too.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
And to kind of piggyback off of that and to
paint the picture even more clearly, these are some impressive
numbers for the Chargers, again, particularly when you consider how
banged up they've been. On offense, They've produced forty seven
more first downs than their opponents. Yeah, they average nearly
eighty eight more yards per game than their opponents. That's
the best in the league. The Steelers average nearly ninety
(29:55):
six yards less per game than their opponent. That's thirtieth
out of thirty two in the league. And Matt this
is impressive. The Chargers have converted thirteen and a half
basically percent more third downs than their opponent.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
That's also the league's highest differentially huge differential, right, dude.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
They know how to move the football, they know how
to get first downs and know how to convert third downs.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
They do, they do, and and now they're undefeated in
this this one just I saw this morning. They're undefeated
in games Joe Alt has finished.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Okay, you know, so that's a huge difference.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
That's a huge difference too. I mean there's some discrepancy
of when he's been on the field versus not, but still,
I mean, that's those are huge numbers that you just cited.
Verse their opponents and the stuff. The Steelers have not
been good at yardage differential things like that where they're
Harbon's a good coach. You know, folks might not like them.
(30:47):
You know, when I do a show might pursuit later.
I am not going to say that talk about that,
but there will definitely be the word cheater thrown up
on that show, I can promise you. With Merrill, but
he understands, much like Tomlin and his brother and these
guys have done in such a long time, possess the
football be the more physical team understands past the victory.
(31:10):
In this league when you don't have all your cards.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
Yeah. Yeah, I bet the turnovers are making them crazy.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Running the ball and playing physical is a path to
victory in every era of football, no matter what.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
And yeah, you're right, and again.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Piggybacking off of that, that leads to Aaron Rodgers zero
to four against Jim Harbaugh two regular season games, two
playoff games. Harbaugh is one of just two coaches Bruce
Arians being the other that Rogers has yet to defeat
that he has faced a minimum of three times.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Yeah, And I don't know if I look too much
into that, does Harbaugh have his number? I mean, I'm
sure they were a.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Lot of those were like really good Packers against the
really good Niners NFC championship.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Certainly in the playoffs, right, yeah, right. I don't think
that I put it in there because it's interesting. I
didn't put it in there because I think there's.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
A real rhy mari right right, and it is. It's
not nothing. It's not a massive sample size.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
Yeah, he's not ten and zer against them, correct, correct?
Speaker 3 (32:07):
But I did I did find that one interesting.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Soir, Yeah, yeah, I did think it was interesting.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
We'll get into some more Matt stats in hour number two.
But on the other side, to close down this first
hour of the Drive, we'll catch up with our buddy
Bob Labriola, get his thoughts on the win over the
Colts and of course what he thinks is going to
transpire out in Southern California against the Chargers on Sunday
Night football. We'll talk to Bob Labriola on the other side,
West Shouoler, Matt Williamson. It is the Drive on Steelers
(32:33):
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Back on the Drive, and I'm afraid I've got some
bad news.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
The Lord of living in his fears is not answering
his phone. Yeah, the Dean of Doom is leaving us
on leaving us on red here.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
You give him an airpool when you see him.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
We'll have to give Labs some grief when we when
we see him this weekend, because listen, I tried calling
him three times, Matt, but no answer for her.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Maybe we'll get in touch on a second hour.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Our from our good friend Bob Labriola. Yeah, I'll see
if he shoots me a text back. Hopefully everything's all
right with him and he just had a little scheduling
conflict or something going on.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
But very unlabs like he is. He's rock steady dude,
He's mister reliable.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
But you know, hey, such is life in the National
Football League, and Matt, we can find something else to
talk about. Yeah, and with that, maybe you want to
do some of this around the league, like mid season awards.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
Yeah, we were talking about maybe you next week. Let's
do it now.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Might as well since we have, you know, fifteen minutes
to kill here in absence of the Dean of Doom,
Let's get right into it. Rookies of the Year, Defensive
Rookie of the Year, uh Carson Abdul Carter.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Yeah, so I think we need to look at this
either we have set a little bit of parameters. If
if it's year to date, I don't want to do predictions,
you know, like who's gonna end up winning it correct,
who deserves it most till now? But the thing is
Schwesterners out for the rest of the year, you know
what I mean? Like, I know, he has no chance
(34:27):
to win it, but I think he would be the year.
I think so he's Alfred. He's out too long to
win the award at least that that's sure. Another question
about that.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
That's a bummer for him.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
It stinks because he's a really promising young linebacker and
he probably would got my vote as best defensive rookie
to date, but he has no chance of winning it.
Abdol Carter has been really good too, And that's the
boring one. That's the one that's the uh lowest odds
in Vegas since the draft. He doesn't have a ton
(34:58):
of sacks and I don't insight pressures, but he's near
the top of the league in pressures, so he's impacting
games a lot. Yeah, I that there's not it's not
a good class.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
I was just gonna say there's not someone who's really
standing out in that regard. But I think that's about
where we are now currently. Offensive Rookie of the Year
is it Tyler Warren's award to lose?
Speaker 4 (35:20):
I presume Buka was off last week and was a
little banged up before that, but I think they're having
very similar years. I don't know who i'd vote on
to go forward. I think i'd give it the war
in right now. Now, it's unfortunate o' lineman have no
chance at this, but probably the rookie who's played the
(35:41):
best is Able the Seattle Guard.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
I mean he's been fantastic on one of the best offens.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Win that award as an offensive line.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
But the guard, he ain't winning the guys, yeah, right, a.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Mecca Buka could make.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
He's very much in the yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Yeah, yeah, No, there's some there's some more.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
There's definitely more competition.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
There's more fits on the offensive side of the ball there.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Like Genty was the leader in the clubhouse before we've
played a snap. But I don't know if any of
these running backs have a shot. I don't think Dart
really has a shot right now. Ward doesn't really have
a shot.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Coach of the Year, Matt, This one's very interesting. There's
a lot of viable candidates here. Shane Stichen of course.
I think Mike Rabel is in this conversation, Yeah, Sean McVay, shanahan.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
If they do, I think I'd go with Stiching. Then
I don't want to overreact to one week, you know,
I mean because a week ago when we previewed the Colts,
I said, I think he should be coach of the year. Okay,
you lose one game to the Steelers, who are a
good team. I don't think he just throw everything else
away that you've done to this point. He would still
(36:46):
get my vote. But Rabel's coming on really strong. They
even lost in a long time.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
They haven't and we've talked about their schedule, how favorable
it is going forward.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
Yeah, they're gonna go the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
They could win eleven games. Yeah, yeah, they're definitely going
to the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
But much side rail. I'm not trying to take this
off the tracks, but we did a Wednesday show with
Tom and Tim last night, and going into that show,
I've been kind of under the assumption that the North
AFC North would only put one team in the playoffs.
I'm not so sure anymore. Yeah, I mean, because I
could see the Chargers falling away. I could see Jacksonville
(37:20):
falling away. Houston is starting Mills this week. I think.
You know, when you look at the playoff picture, I
think the Bills and Patriots are going. I gotta think
the Broncos and probably the Chiefs are going the Colts,
whoever wins the North, and then there's one more spot.
Could it be Baltimore and Pittsburgh. I didn't think that
(37:42):
was impossible, but now I'm leaning that way. If the
Chargers OH line situation just the Rails their season.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
It's a fair point. Yeah, it certainly is.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Will continue to continue to monitor those Baltimore Ravens and
what they do in a tough one in Minnesota this
weekend Defensive Player of the Year Matt nick Bonito, Will Anderson,
Like I think Will Anderson and Miles Garrett are certainly
in this conversation, but their teams have losing records. Now
you've got to at least be viable in some regard.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
I would give it to Garrett. I know people hate
when I talk anything good about this guy, and their
defense has been good, their team is terrible. I just
think he's clearly the best defensive player in the league
right now, and I think he's clearly having his best season.
What I hate about this and I love about this
is anytime I talk about Miles Garrett, he seems to
(38:33):
do his worst work against the Steelers, which again that's
what I love about it. But it makes my cause
so much worse, you know, like, well I just watched
them with the Steelers, he already did anything like but
then the next gave me five sacks. He's playing the
run better than ever. I mean, he's a monster.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
I'm just waiting for the angry tweets a society.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
I know they're coming now.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
And what might be.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
The along with Coach of the Year, most intriguing one
of these races Offensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
Yeah, Taylor, his case.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Got worse though, Jackson Smith and jig Smith and Jacob
I mean, there's some real candidates here.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
I know it's just one week and I kind of
talking on both sides of my mouth where I'm not
gonna hurt stiking for it. But I think Smith, the
JIGBA gets the nod over Taylor because he just Taylor
just had a bad game, you know.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
As we stand here on Thursday, November.
Speaker 4 (39:26):
Six, right exactly. Yes, but that's that's still a pretty
good race.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
Yes it is. And then Matt MVP, Sam Donald, Matthew Stafford,
Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (39:37):
I don't think people look at Donald Stafford strong enough.
Donald and Stafford like Stafford's going to the Hall of Fame.
You know he's he's got a lot of accolades. First
overall pick blah, bah blah, but Donald tsaving as good
a season as any quarterback in the league. There's some
recency here too, because the Bills just beat the Chiefs
(39:57):
and Mahomes would have been my vote before that game.
But it's only one game. Yeah, you know, so Mahomes
is kind of losing some steam. Allan's gaining some steam
with that win. I'd give it to Stafford, though, I
mean his touchdown interception ratios unbelievably good. There's been like
no bad games for the Rams. I know they're not perfect,
but I would give it to Stafford.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
I think he's got a really good shot. Yeah, there's
this is this one's still wide open. It can go
a lot of different ways down.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
The stretch here.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
You know, like Lamar is gonna be out of it.
He said play enough, But I mean some of the usual.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Baker Mayfield's faded a little bit.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
But yeah, he could rebound.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
If he has a couple of huge weeks, he could rebound.
But yeah, I think you know what, Stafford.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
Getting some buzz in the first month, or getting some buzz,
But he's gonna have a lot.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Yeah, no doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
So there's some thoughts on some individual awards, kind of
at the mid season point here. I just got a
text from Bob Labriola. Oh good, he's good to go.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
So let's let's take a little bit shorter here. We'll
come back start hour number two with a beefier segment
with Labs on the other side. We'll do all that
and more in our number two West Yeuler Matt Williamson
Halfway Home on the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network,
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation, It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Wes Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here
for the next two hours on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and the Gold on a Thursday,
where we will fully turn the page and start to
look at these LA Chargers, the next team on tap
for your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Matthew, what's up? How we doing?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Fantastic? Good? How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Can't complain? Brother's holding out for us.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
A little bit? He's great.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I feel like for the last five six weeks, I've
been saying, all right, well, this is probably the last
sunny day.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Enjoy it, why we can, And then it just keeps rolling.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I always think about when I walk in, I mean
something down I us talk about all time. It's always
so by. Oh yeah, it'll hit you hard. You just
feel it a little earlier than when you're up on
top of the mountain.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Here.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
I woulda call it the mountain, big hill.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Big hill. Ye yeah, no, I'll take it.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It's been it's been a nice surprise, and it'll certainly
be cold soon enough, but it's gonna be like high
seventies eighty degrees this weekend in La so I will
pack some shorts and wear some shorts for probably the
last time in twenty twenty five. This weekend, we've got
plenty to get to before Steelers and Chargers kickoff on
Sunday night. Football Matt a little moving and shaken for
(01:30):
the Steelers this morning, as they have signed defensive tackle
Broderick martin Roads off of Kansas City's practice squad to
the Steelers fifty three man roster. Remember that's how that works.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, if you have to keep on your roster
four weeks, I think.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I believe that is the line of demarcation there. But yeah,
if you're gonna steal some from someone's practice squad, you
can't just put them on your practice squad. They have
to go right to the active roster. Which makes sense.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Well, guys will be flying around team, the team gonna
be on flights every five minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Exactly right, exactly right, and so he will move to
the fifty three man roster. Originally drafted by the Detroit
Lions third round in twenty twenty three, he was the
ninety sixth overall pick. Has appeared in five games, four
tackles in his career. Spent two seasons at Western Kentucky
before that Northern Alabama. Matt's still a relatively young guy.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, it was a Day two NFL draft pick of
the Lions, but hasn't really been able to, you know,
kind of find a role to stick on with Detroit
or Kansas City. What do you know about Broderick Martin Rhodes,
the newest Steeler?
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Less than just about any third round pick I can remember,
to be honest with you, I could sit here and
make stuff up and be like, oh yeah, I studied
his film in a Western Kentucky to no end in
all his preseason tape. I remember when he was taken
by the Lions of the third round, many of us went, wow,
that's a little early and not a lot of production
at a real small school. Was not a combine invite
(02:54):
from what I remember. But I think he tested well
with his pro day. He's got traits, he's got long arms,
he's big, he's gonna look the part. I would think
he's more nos but he's six five ish. I mean
there's not. He's not gonna be a traditional Casey Hampton
stump in there either.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, he's a big boy, so I'm not gonna.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Pretend to know a ton about him. But there is
ability there. There's some moldible clay at his age. I'm
sure that they like them coming out of the draft.
That's usually how that works. That's where that those you know,
our reports start to build. They must have had a
decent grade on him back then. But really makes me
wonder why now, because he didn't just become available yesterday.
(03:36):
He's been on a practice squad for sure the whole season.
Sure is Logan Lee in trouble? Is there an injury
we don't know about. They're not light at defensive line
as far as I know, And as you, like you said,
he's gonna be on the active roster for least I
think four weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, I'll be interested to see, and we should have
it here before too much longer. Yeah, sometime within this
hour the steel latest practice report. If there is something
on there that surprises.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Us, probably is gonna happen. Hopefully it's not something big.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Unfortunately I'm leaning that way because again, you put them
on your active roster.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
You have to commitment, you have to.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Release somebody Yesterday Wednesday's practice report which came out shortly
after we got off air, Scotty Miller still not practicing
with that finger, Jabril Peppers with the quad injury, Cole
Holcom's still dealing with an illness, Alex high Smith with
the ankle, Isaac Samalu with the peck, Darnell Washington with
a foot, and John new Smith getting a vet day.
(04:32):
They all did not practice. Chuck Clark did return to practice,
but that was yesterday's nobody really amongst that defensive line group,
right right, So.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
We'll did somebody get hurt in practice yesterday that we
don't know about. I mean, I'm just speculating. Sure, you speculating,
And I mean.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I think it's fair. It's only fair because a move
like this until we kind of know the corresponding move
for the Steelers on that fifty three man roster invite
some speculation. Like I said, I think within this certainly,
by the time we get out of here today we
should have an answer to that.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I would think. So Loganly's been inactive lately. Yeah, out
of way, No, I crushed his name. My apologies. I
thought he was a borderline roster guy and he made it,
and he's been here ever since, and he's been active
a little bit lately. Could they just not be happy
with him and be like, we're gonna swap one for
one with him. Maybe, I don't know, I'm guessing if
(05:24):
it's not an injury, yeah, I'm just guessing. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Hey, that's all we can do for now. But we
do know that the Steelers have made that move. It
is official. He will be on the active roster, and
we'll kind of wait to see anything corresponding moves from
the team and the organization.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Off of that that other we haven't responded much to
the injury report that you just read off see them
all lowing high Smith. I'm sure they're just like, get well,
you know, hopefully just you know, get the Sunday. I
don't love the peppers still on there though, I mean,
because he missed the game with quote an illness and
that was what a calf or something. I think, so, yes,
I don't know. I'm just still intrigued with him.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I am too.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'd like to see more of him, particularly now when
you need some bodies. Even with the performance of Jalen
Ramsey and Doug and Dougger. You still need bodies back there.
Hopefully that's maybe another Just give him an extra day
here then and then hit the ground running on Thursday.
We'll kind of wait and see there. But I'm with
you on that, n Cole holkm I don't man, I
don't like to see that either, because.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I know Linger too.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You know, I know Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson are
playing at a high level. We like what we saw
from Malik Harrison and his first action back from IR.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Three of those guys out there together fair amount.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
But I still want Cole Holkam in that mix.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Oh yeah, especially for depth. And I think maybe they
found something with this Harrison package. They play it more.
Everyone's calling it at four to three, and it really
is because there's three linebackers on the field, I mean
true off the ball linebackers, and it's a four man front.
But if you look how they play it, it's all
Alec noticed this. I mean, it's like it's more like
(06:58):
big Nickel with Wilson being the coverage safety guy, you
know what I mean, And which is really a compliment
to Wilson. I mean to ask that much from him.
You know, absolutely, they know he's a linebacker, but he
was employed more like a safety, like a big nickel.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
And we know he can run certainly.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You saw that when he was at NC State, saw
that in Dublin when he ran down Jordan Addison.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
It's kind of like a big, big nickel.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
It's like a like a silver dollar like.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
That, because I mean, you're afraid of the tailor threat.
And if you're gonna play a lot of too high
behind it, you're not gonna have a lot of You're
not gonna have a lot of bodies in the box,
but at least now you have bigger bodies in the box.
So just an interesting way of approaching it. Maybe that's
a Colts only thing, the Taylor only thing. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Jumbo nickel.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Yeah, big big big nickel.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Big square nickel. We'll workshop it there.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
No, but that's a great h So, yeah, that's kind
of your moving and shaking some of the news of
the day for the Steelers. Like I mentioned, we will
we should have a a Thursday practice report at some
time within this we're ish.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Yeah, so we we'll keep.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
An eye open for that and and follow up as
we may here as as that all rolls out and
we get some clarity on on these these moves here
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But until we do that, until
we catch up with our buddy Bob Labriola in a
little bit as well, to Matt, what do you say
we start deep diving. It's a Thursday here. That means
we turn the page. We really start to focus on
(08:22):
the Steelers upcoming game.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
It's an interesting matchup.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Monday Tuesday are big recap days. Wednesday's kind of a
weird middle of the weekday. Ye, some final look backs,
a little look ahead, you know, we go around campus,
all that stuff.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
I think I told you about my ESPN chat days.
Remember when chat rooms were a thing. I bet yeah,
pre Twitter, Like I wasn't even on Twitter at this point,
but I chat every noon on Wednesday. Yeah, and the
same people came and blah blah blah, and it was
a very good time. I mean, it was kind of
(08:57):
me and my best element just answer questions left and right,
making fun of people answered, you know, boom boom boom,
and it was cool and I'll tell two stories about it.
But that since doing that, that was always like my
line of demarcation of done talking chat time. We can
talk about last week, we can talk about next week,
but after the chat, it's all system forwork. Right. It
was noon on Wednesday, so it was like, yeah, that's
(09:20):
and my mind still works that way, so I can
tell the story. My wife works at PNC, doesn't matter
where she works, but she's been there many, many years.
And it was fifteen years. I was still at ESPN.
And she gets a tap on the shoulder and her
cubicle and she's like to help you. She's like, can
(09:40):
you please tell your husband that I'm not going to
be in the chat today? And she's like, what are
you talking about? She didn't even know if it was
like sports related. I mean, she didn't even know I
host the chat, Like, what the heck? What are you
talking about? He's like, my name is Mike from Boca Raton,
but I work I'm in Pittsburgh. I just use that
as so of my people have worked on internet. Listen.
(10:01):
I hope he is. He was. He was in there
every week. I knew the name. He's like, I got
a meeting. I can't be in the chat. I haven't
missed one in like years, and I knew you were
a P and C employee. I searched you down just
to tell Matt that I'm missing his chat's like the
first one ever. She's like, all right, man, that's cool.
She's like, yeah, that was one of her first like
(10:22):
several stalker moments, you know, that slight stalker moments.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Yeah, yeah, that is fun, like like yeah, like he's like, yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Day though, yeah, he couldn't like tweet me, like he's like.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
A regular like a restaurant or a bar or something.
And he's like, I just don't want them to be worried.
I'm not showing up. I don't want to warmer Cliff
doesn't show up.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Yeah right, all right, yeah you better call coach.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
You know, the legend of Matt Williamson, The Wonderful World.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
She was a little taken aback of Matt.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Yeah, I would especially then well then right right right,
it's like a chat. What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
What are you talking about? It's a different time, and yeah,
she didn't know people and even kne who I was,
who I was. It's hilarious, but yeah, pretty good stuff.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I hope you're still contributor in the chat cop.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Ball as well down there and both of latone or
wherever you may be. Uh, okay, jumping into Matt's stats here.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Yeah, that'.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Think there was any any professional way for me to
transition out of that funny story.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
We'll just jump right into the end of the Matt's
stats packet.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Matt, the Steelers had just thirty eight rushing yards last week,
the fifth fewest of any team this season, and the
fewest yards for any team that has won a game
this year.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yeah, is that just is that? I don't either, because I.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Don't think all of a sudden they stink it run
the ball.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I certainly don't.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And I told you, well, it's it's it's very weird
to evaluate because when you go back and watch the film,
I thought the offensive line played pretty well.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
I did too, and even like, if we correlate it
back to the second half of the Packers game, only
three carries for Warren, Like, gotta stay a little more
dedicated to it. Like another stat in there that I
think is really telling is the Chargers are at the
absolute top of the league in time possession. Steelers are
the absolute bottle the league and time possession. And the
more I think about this, matchup. I think the Chargers
(12:09):
are going to try to run the ball a little
more than they have, just to make life easier on
their own line. Sure like they they use some guys
that are a lot like Ricard. I mean they have
two dudes Matt Locke and Fisk I think his name
is that are de tackles by trade that are out
there hammer head, blocking tight end type guys that are
like two ninety And I wonder if they're gonna use
(12:30):
some of that bigger personnel. Will Disley's a blocking tight end.
He missed last week, but I think he's supposed to
be back. I haven't seen a practice report, but I'm
wondering that where I'm going with this is time possession
yet again. I mean, you know I've been harping on this,
We've been talking about this all year, that time possession
needs to be better. Well, you are playing one of
the best teams in the league in time possession, you're
one of the worst. So twenty eight yards or whatever
(12:52):
on the ground from the Steeler ground game ain't gonna cut.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
It's not gonna cut. It's not gonna cut it, right, No,
it absolutely is not. And I'm confident that they're going
to get back to run in the football the way
that we had seen, but it has been two weeks
of not their best showing in that week and a half.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, yeah, first half was good.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Right, first half against the Packers was good.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah, and six quarters.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
And then only three carries in the second half, which
was the head scratcher, particularly when you had a two
possession lead and started with the football in the third quarter.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
And maybe I'm misremembering, but it feels like it wasn't
like the run games just getting blown up left and
right now the Colts either, you know, I just didn't
do a lot of it, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Yeah, sixteen carries for Jalen Warren. I think it was.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Now they're super quick passing game the Colts was like
the super quickest of all does act as an extension
to the run. You know, you're getting the ball in
people's hands, eating clock. But it's not the same as
bludging the middle of a defense with you know, O
lineman coming off the ball, tackling the running back over
and overpposed to pushing Calvin Austin out about.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Right right, absolutely, Matt. A bunch more of these stats
that I want to get into with you. Let's pick
up where we're leaving off here on the other side.
We are due for a break. Let's get that in.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
We will continue to.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Swim around the stats that Matt has provided when we
return on the other side. Wes Schueler, Matt Williamson, it
is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Rowing along on the drive here on a Thursday afternoon.
We're gonna talk to our buddy Bob Labriola in a
few minutes. But before we get to Labs, we will
continue to parse through to comb over some of these
Matt's stats here as it relates to Week ten in
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Already we're like over the halfway mark.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, officially are Maybe we should revisit some of those
like Coach of the Year, MVP.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Conversations, Tuesday conversation last week or something like that.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
You know, let's continue here, though, Matt. This one, I
I don't know if I found this. In some ways
I found this surprising. In some ways I did not.
But the stat that you haven't here of the Steelers
defense faces the lowest percentage of deep ball passes in
the Yeah, just seven point five percent of the time. Yes,
it was part of me that was like, twenty your
(16:05):
more yards, twenty your more yards. Yeah, it was part
of me that was like, man, that kind of surprises
me when you consider they started the season banged up
in the secondary.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Deshaun Elliott, Joey Porter Junior were out.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
So I wouldn't say it's a super fast secondary.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Slave's been banged up at points, right, like Deshaun Elliott's
bang up again now.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But then the other side of that is.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
And you know that they've allowed a lot of wide
receiver production corrects in there too, a lot.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
But then the other side of it, and I got
to think this is a huge part for these teams
is also everybody knows how good the Steelers pass rush is.
And when you play against the guy when you got
Watt and high Smith and Cam and her Big and
here comes Jalen Ramsey with a couple of sacks out
of the slot, you know they just Patrick Queen's had sacks.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
This year, Benton has a few.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
They just are like, hey, when we play these guys,
they know how to get after the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
We've got to get rid of that thing quickly.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
We don't have time to stand back there and throw
the ball thirty forty fifty yards downfield.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
I think that's one thousand, you know, because well, well
it's the majority of it. So I've been doing Matt's
stats now for many years, and they've basically for the
last handful of years, they've been at the top bottom
of the league. I mean in terms of there, they're
always an extreme. In terms of deep ball faced you know,
(17:19):
they're always at the lowest percentage, and it all comes
out of the pass rush. To me, we do not
want to protect for that to happen as long now.
I do think there was absolutely times early in the season,
well not even that early recently. You know, the Bengals
game comes to mind where you're just giving away short
completions like Candy two and I can get if I
can get it first down on one throw six yards
(17:43):
and then he runs four yards after the catch, or
if I know I can nickel and dime you on
off coverage and you give no answer for Jamar Chase,
why am I going to hold the ball to drive
it down the field. But overall, the production they've allowed
to wide receivers is far too great. I mean, it's
far too much. But it hasn't been bombs over the
top or just getting ripped deep downfield. Because everyone fears
(18:05):
this pass rush, folks, I know, some people forget man,
why they're paying all this money for Wat and Hayward
and the pass rush doesn't live up to it. They
should have traded what and high Smith wise, he's always hurt,
the league tells you. I mean, if you watch all
twenty two every week, no one's holding ball against these guys,
No men. They know that they.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Wear and when they do, it ends up looking like
it did on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
That's what you get, right, right, right, right, that's what
you get on Sundays most times. That's what you get.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Five offensive turnovers from Indianapolis and a bunch of sacks
for Daniel Jones and just an off.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Rattled quarterback that's thrilled about it, right.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Never found its rhythm, never found level footing there, yep.
I don't think I know that there's a direct correlation
in that. And we saw it play out just a few.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Days ago, so we mentioned this yesterday. The porter's the
only corner they've drafted outside of round seven in the
last six drafts.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
And it's a lot.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
It's a big deal because people do draft corners high.
They're hard to find, and the Steelers, for better or worse,
have basically filled their corner position from free agents or
trades from other teams older dudes. But I think part
of the reason they do that is corners on draft
day aren't as expensive as tackles, but they're really expensive,
you know, And if you're picking twentieth, you do not
(19:24):
get Stingley or you know, Sauce or those dudes. They
got the no brainers and they know, Okay, maybe our
corners are a little long in the tooth. And I'm
not even talking about this group, but this group applies
as well as really I'm talking for almost the last decade.
But they almosto don't have to run for two's because
(19:44):
no one's going to go over the top on us,
you know what I mean. Like it's all complementary. I mean,
like they know that, you know that, we know that
you know you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yes, and you are right.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Like when you just watch out other teams around the
NFL game plan, it tells you what everyone's thinking, yeah, yeah,
I don't hide that. They don't hide that stuff. And
what they're thinking is, when you're playing the Pittsburgh Steelers,
you better get rid of that ball in about two
two point three seconds or else here comes, here comes
some pressure, here comes the boom.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Now we complimented the Steelers a lot in the front
office for recognizing that and going and get Sleigh and
Ramsey and blah blah blah blah. Now I'm not saying
they misevaluate those guys, but they also haven't quite worked
out where they're the pressman dudes to make you hold,
make you tap that.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Bag much as an extra second, right right, right.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Doesn't mean they're bad players, but it's not quite what
they were shopping for in terms of completing the picture.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
You know, I think that's fair. Hopefully, you know what
we saw on on Sunday will be replicated a little
bit again against the Chargers. But you're right, I would.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Think Herbert's gonna want to have his hands extra quick.
Oh but he doesn't have that Coltzo line protected.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
No, he does not, right, not even close.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
That Brandon Thorn thing I sent you yesterday. I'm sure
the culture and top two or three. I didn't.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
They were like three or four, I believe, and the
Chargers are last. And the Chargers were thirty seven, right,
right right. I'm not good at math, Matt, but that's a.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Glaring, dim pretty good discrepancy.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
The Steelers have twenty seven sacks in the NFL. That's
third most in the league. Sixty six quarterback hits second
most in the league. That's also what the Steelers also
having a bye week, which some of these top defenses.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
The ones above them, have not had.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
The Broncos haven't had a bye week. Yeah, and Matt,
that reminds me.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Also, I never put it in there because I don't
one thousand percent agree with it or believe it. But
they were like second in pressures too. Yes, you know,
I just don't usually put that in the stat pack
just because it's a little foggy to me. Sometimes.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
You and I had a show where we did some
Steelers predictions before the season started, and one of those
predict one of the ones that I made, and I think,
I don't know, we might have made it together. Whatever,
I just had it in my show notes from from
you know, the preseason stuff was so last year Steelers
finished second in the league in turnovers forced, only Buffalo
had more. Yeah, they finished sixteenth in sacks that average.
(22:02):
We spent a ton of time talking about that.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
That was one of our big bullet point offseason goals.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
And one of our I think what we did in
this one segment was like I rattled off four or
five predictions and you told me yes or no, And
then you rattled off a few and I told.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
You yes, Like we want to get like yards per
carry up, yes, red zone off like I remember, I remember.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
One of them was like Mason Rudolph plays in over
under one and a half meaningful games.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Yeah, you know, fortunately we haven't seen that yet.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah on the under on that show.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Let's keep it that way.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
One of them was Kenny Pickett ends up starting a
game against the Steelers. Well, that chip sailed whenever he
was traded from the Browns to the Raiders. But one
of them, one of mine, Matt, was Steelers finished top
three in the NFL in turnovers forced and in sacks.
So far, so good here, and I think.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
The backbone of their defense and maybe the organization.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Absolutely right, absolutely, Matt. Let's see here, Steelers now plus
nine into and over differential only the Chicago Bears are better.
Only the Chicago Bears have more takeaways, so the Steelers
third and sacks now second in takeaways. Steelers league the
league with eight fumble recoveries. The Chargers, for example, just
(23:14):
have one. The Steelers have only lost two fumbles. The
Chargers are at negative four turnover differential twenty first in
the league.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Yeah, does this feel like another week? Listen?
Speaker 2 (23:25):
I'm not saying the Steelers defense is going to force
five turnovers like they did against Indy or against the Patriots,
But is this another week where if you can win
that by plus two, you're in really good shape, really
good shape.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
Yeah. So there's three things in this game. I've really
been harping on that to me, vastly favor the Steelers.
Their defensive line against the obviously destroyed Chargers O line.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Yes, I mean it's like Alabama against the FCS skis.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Yeah, I mean it's one or two verse thirty two.
I mean it's yeah. Special teams as a whole, this
is not been a very good special teams year at
all for the Chargers. Dick or the kickers all right,
but otherwise they have not gotten a lot of value
on special teams and turnovers is the other one. I
think we talked about that chart that Pro Football Focus
Steelers were top bright Chargers were bottom left when you
(24:16):
combine the value of turnovers and special teams. So I
don't think Herbert all of a sudden has become turnover prone.
But he's under pressure so much that and he's had
some tip balls, he's had some bad luck, but he's
on pace to throw I think fifteen touch or interceptions
(24:38):
last year he threw three. And I was talking to
Rob King today, I didn't know this. Once in a
while he'll surprise me with a stat, but he said
Herbert's touchdown interception ratio in twenty twenty four last year
was the best in the NFL since like Rogers MVP
last MVP year. Interesting coincidentally, Yeah, I'm sure you'll hear
that on the air.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
He's urge to take the at some point.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
And I'm like, oh, yeah, Herbert only three picks last year.
I don't know how many touchdowns he threw, but a
bunch and we only threw three picks. So he is
not a turnover prone guy. But because he's getting hit
so much.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
And they're out their top two running back exactly.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
They have some dudes carrying the ball that they don't
trust as much as the other top guys, like I
think Viadell's put the ball on the on the floor,
are on the carpet a few times too. You know,
they're younger, unproven people touching the ball, you know, besides Herbert,
but he's under pressure all the time.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And this also paints a pretty picture for the Steelers.
Steelers have Steelers in terms of points off of turnover differential.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
Yes plus I know that gets a little convoluted, but.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Points off of turnover differential, yes, are plus fifty over
their opponents. So the Steelers have gotten fifty more points
off of turnovers than the teams that they have played. Yeah,
the Chargers Matt negative thirty six.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
That's next to last in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Last. Yeah, again, that's huge. Like you probably remember better
than I do. But Rogers after the game was talking
about how if we're the ball handed to us over
and over, we got to score more points. He wasn't
happy with the offense. But they still got twenty four
points off turnovers. Sure, you know, I mean it's still
twenty four points you put on the on the scoreboard.
That directly thank you from the defense, et cetera. And
(26:13):
the muff punt. You know, actually they don't count that
because the Caleb Johnson screw up, for whatever reason for NFL,
it is not counted. And I don't think the muff well,
the muff punt didn't end up directly in a sut Okay, yeah, sure, yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, because they didn't score any points off of that,
that muff pump.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Right right right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
I'm not sure if they count that or not, but
they did not count the Caleb Johnson screw up because one.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Of my Max's stats wasn't a turnover, right, which is weird.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Which is weird because one of my mat stats up
till like week six was the Steelers have not allowed
one point off of turnovers they allowed. And I got
a bunch of tweets. I'm like, what about Keler Johnson? Like,
I don't know why they don't count. I'm not an
official scorer. I just get this stuff from NFL dot com,
you know, So I'm gonna trust the league on that,
but I do want to throw that out there.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
No that it makes a ton of sense, and I mean,
you saw it. TJ.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Wat gets that stripsack, fumble recovery, Steelers go right down
the field and score. Yeah, Peyton Wilson, I mean back
to back. It happened within the span of two minutes.
Peyton Wilson gets that interception, takes it down close to
the shadow of the end zone.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
The Steelers are able to score.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
That's I mean, that's what they That's what they continue
doing that off a turnovers and have some longer ten eleven, twelve,
thirteen play touchdown drives and them were really cooking.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah, they get really cooking, right.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
And speaking of that, Matt, that would certainly help with
the time of possession. That would certainly help with getting
out snapped by your opponents. The Chargers held the ball
for over thirty four minutes last week. They average over
thirty three part of me, they average over thirty five
minutes over the last three weeks. That's the most in
the NFL. Nearly thirty six minutes a time of possession
(27:48):
in the last three weeks, most in the NFL compared
to the Steelers just a little over twenty seven and
a half minutes. The Chargers rank second in that category.
Pittsburgh ranks thirtieth. Yeah, so this is this feels to
me like if you're going to start getting that moving
in the right direction. I understand the Chargers do this
very well, but it feels like you can limit them here, like, yeah,
(28:10):
you can stymy that run game with what they have
with the offensive line, make Herbert have to throw the
ball forty sometimes, get them off the field in a
lot of three and out or a first down and
out type situations, and hopefully be able to run the
ball better than you did last week.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
Now, if this were CNR drives Chargers exactly, I would
say it would be nice. It would be I would
think that the folks on their end of things and
in they're building right now, are saying, we're really one
of what's our big advantage hold in the football. We
got to stay out a third and longs. You know,
(28:46):
we can't block anybody, you know, But if we can
hold the football and get big people in the game
and really eat clock and Steelers don't run the ball
very well, that's one of our past to victory for sure,
and the whole season backs it up.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
It's a credit to them that they're so good in
that department when they have a offensive line that's shattered
and down their top two running.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Backs one thousand percent. And I think a lot of
it's Herbert, Yeah, I mean just he runs smartly. He's
adding a lot with his legs. Just in terms of rushing.
I think we brought this up, but he's the leader
among all quarterbacks in rushing yard, yeah, which is shocking.
I mean, Lamar's hurt, but I mean, or was hurt,
but still you don't put him in that light. And
he has turned the ball more than you'd like, turn
(29:28):
the ball over more and you like, but he's making
so many throws and keeping drives alive too.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
And to kind of piggyback off of that and to
paint the picture even more clearly, these are some impressive
numbers for the Chargers, again, particularly when you consider how
banged up they've been. On offense, They've produced forty seven
more first downs than their opponents. Yeah, they average nearly
eighty eight more yards per game than their opponents. That's
the best in the league. The Steelers average nearly ninety
(29:55):
six yards less per game than their opponent. That's thirtieth
out of thirty two in the league. And Matt this
is impressive. The Chargers have converted thirteen and a half
basically percent more third downs than their opponent.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
That's also the league's highest differentially huge differential, right, dude.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
They know how to move the football, they know how
to get first downs and know how to convert third downs.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
They do, they do, and and now they're undefeated in
this this one just I saw this morning. They're undefeated
in games Joe Alt has finished.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Okay, you know, so that's a huge difference.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
That's a huge difference too. I mean there's some discrepancy
of when he's been on the field versus not, but still,
I mean, that's those are huge numbers that you just cited.
Verse their opponents and the stuff. The Steelers have not
been good at yardage differential things like that where they're
Harbon's a good coach. You know, folks might not like them.
(30:47):
You know, when I do a show might pursuit later.
I am not going to say that talk about that,
but there will definitely be the word cheater thrown up
on that show, I can promise you. With Merrill, but
he understands, much like Tomlin and his brother and these
guys have done in such a long time, possess the
football be the more physical team understands past the victory.
(31:10):
In this league when you don't have all your cards.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
Yeah. Yeah, I bet the turnovers are making them crazy.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Running the ball and playing physical is a path to
victory in every era of football, no matter what.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
And yeah, you're right, and again.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Piggybacking off of that, that leads to Aaron Rodgers zero
to four against Jim Harbaugh two regular season games, two
playoff games. Harbaugh is one of just two coaches Bruce
Arians being the other that Rogers has yet to defeat
that he has faced a minimum of three times.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Yeah, And I don't know if I look too much
into that, does Harbaugh have his number? I mean, I'm
sure they were a.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Lot of those were like really good Packers against the
really good Niners NFC championship.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Certainly in the playoffs, right, yeah, right. I don't think
that I put it in there because it's interesting. I
didn't put it in there because I think there's.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
A real rhy mari right right, and it is. It's
not nothing. It's not a massive sample size.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
Yeah, he's not ten and zer against them, correct, correct?
Speaker 3 (32:07):
But I did I did find that one interesting.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Soir, Yeah, yeah, I did think it was interesting.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
We'll get into some more Matt stats in hour number two.
But on the other side, to close down this first
hour of the Drive, we'll catch up with our buddy
Bob Labriola, get his thoughts on the win over the
Colts and of course what he thinks is going to
transpire out in Southern California against the Chargers on Sunday
Night football. We'll talk to Bob Labriola on the other side,
West Shouoler, Matt Williamson. It is the Drive on Steelers
(32:33):
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Back on the Drive, and I'm afraid I've got some
bad news.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
The Lord of living in his fears is not answering
his phone. Yeah, the Dean of Doom is leaving us
on leaving us on red here.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
You give him an airpool when you see him.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
We'll have to give Labs some grief when we when
we see him this weekend, because listen, I tried calling
him three times, Matt, but no answer for her.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Maybe we'll get in touch on a second hour.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Our from our good friend Bob Labriola. Yeah, I'll see
if he shoots me a text back. Hopefully everything's all
right with him and he just had a little scheduling
conflict or something going on.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
But very unlabs like he is. He's rock steady dude,
He's mister reliable.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
But you know, hey, such is life in the National
Football League, and Matt, we can find something else to
talk about. Yeah, and with that, maybe you want to
do some of this around the league, like mid season awards.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
Yeah, we were talking about maybe you next week. Let's
do it now.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Might as well since we have, you know, fifteen minutes
to kill here in absence of the Dean of Doom,
Let's get right into it. Rookies of the Year, Defensive
Rookie of the Year, uh Carson Abdul Carter.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Yeah, so I think we need to look at this
either we have set a little bit of parameters. If
if it's year to date, I don't want to do predictions,
you know, like who's gonna end up winning it correct,
who deserves it most till now? But the thing is
Schwesterners out for the rest of the year, you know
what I mean? Like, I know, he has no chance
(34:27):
to win it, but I think he would be the year.
I think so he's Alfred. He's out too long to
win the award at least that that's sure. Another question
about that.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
That's a bummer for him.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
It stinks because he's a really promising young linebacker and
he probably would got my vote as best defensive rookie
to date, but he has no chance of winning it.
Abdol Carter has been really good too, And that's the
boring one. That's the one that's the uh lowest odds
in Vegas since the draft. He doesn't have a ton
(34:58):
of sacks and I don't insight pressures, but he's near
the top of the league in pressures, so he's impacting
games a lot. Yeah, I that there's not it's not
a good class.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
I was just gonna say there's not someone who's really
standing out in that regard. But I think that's about
where we are now currently. Offensive Rookie of the Year
is it Tyler Warren's award to lose?
Speaker 4 (35:20):
I presume Buka was off last week and was a
little banged up before that, but I think they're having
very similar years. I don't know who i'd vote on
to go forward. I think i'd give it the war
in right now. Now, it's unfortunate o' lineman have no
chance at this, but probably the rookie who's played the
(35:41):
best is Able the Seattle Guard.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
I mean he's been fantastic on one of the best offens.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Win that award as an offensive line.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
But the guard, he ain't winning the guys, yeah, right, a.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Mecca Buka could make.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
He's very much in the yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Yeah, yeah, No, there's some there's some more.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
There's definitely more competition.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
There's more fits on the offensive side of the ball there.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Like Genty was the leader in the clubhouse before we've
played a snap. But I don't know if any of
these running backs have a shot. I don't think Dart
really has a shot right now. Ward doesn't really have
a shot.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Coach of the Year, Matt, This one's very interesting. There's
a lot of viable candidates here. Shane Stichen of course.
I think Mike Rabel is in this conversation, Yeah, Sean McVay, shanahan.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
If they do, I think I'd go with Stiching. Then
I don't want to overreact to one week, you know,
I mean because a week ago when we previewed the Colts,
I said, I think he should be coach of the year. Okay,
you lose one game to the Steelers, who are a
good team. I don't think he just throw everything else
away that you've done to this point. He would still
(36:46):
get my vote. But Rabel's coming on really strong. They
even lost in a long time.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
They haven't and we've talked about their schedule, how favorable
it is going forward.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
Yeah, they're gonna go the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
They could win eleven games. Yeah, yeah, they're definitely going
to the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
But much side rail. I'm not trying to take this
off the tracks, but we did a Wednesday show with
Tom and Tim last night, and going into that show,
I've been kind of under the assumption that the North
AFC North would only put one team in the playoffs.
I'm not so sure anymore. Yeah, I mean, because I
could see the Chargers falling away. I could see Jacksonville
(37:20):
falling away. Houston is starting Mills this week. I think.
You know, when you look at the playoff picture, I
think the Bills and Patriots are going. I gotta think
the Broncos and probably the Chiefs are going the Colts,
whoever wins the North, and then there's one more spot.
Could it be Baltimore and Pittsburgh. I didn't think that
(37:42):
was impossible, but now I'm leaning that way. If the
Chargers OH line situation just the Rails their season.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
It's a fair point. Yeah, it certainly is.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Will continue to continue to monitor those Baltimore Ravens and
what they do in a tough one in Minnesota this
weekend Defensive Player of the Year Matt nick Bonito, Will Anderson,
Like I think Will Anderson and Miles Garrett are certainly
in this conversation, but their teams have losing records. Now
you've got to at least be viable in some regard.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
I would give it to Garrett. I know people hate
when I talk anything good about this guy, and their
defense has been good, their team is terrible. I just
think he's clearly the best defensive player in the league
right now, and I think he's clearly having his best season.
What I hate about this and I love about this
is anytime I talk about Miles Garrett, he seems to
(38:33):
do his worst work against the Steelers, which again that's
what I love about it. But it makes my cause
so much worse, you know, like, well I just watched
them with the Steelers, he already did anything like but
then the next gave me five sacks. He's playing the
run better than ever. I mean, he's a monster.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
I'm just waiting for the angry tweets a society.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
I know they're coming now.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
And what might be.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
The along with Coach of the Year, most intriguing one
of these races Offensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
Yeah, Taylor, his case.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Got worse though, Jackson Smith and jig Smith and Jacob
I mean, there's some real candidates here.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
I know it's just one week and I kind of
talking on both sides of my mouth where I'm not
gonna hurt stiking for it. But I think Smith, the
JIGBA gets the nod over Taylor because he just Taylor
just had a bad game, you know.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
As we stand here on Thursday, November.
Speaker 4 (39:26):
Six, right exactly. Yes, but that's that's still a pretty
good race.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
Yes it is. And then Matt MVP, Sam Donald, Matthew Stafford,
Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (39:37):
I don't think people look at Donald Stafford strong enough.
Donald and Stafford like Stafford's going to the Hall of Fame.
You know he's he's got a lot of accolades. First
overall pick blah, bah blah, but Donald tsaving as good
a season as any quarterback in the league. There's some
recency here too, because the Bills just beat the Chiefs
(39:57):
and Mahomes would have been my vote before that game.
But it's only one game. Yeah, you know, so Mahomes
is kind of losing some steam. Allan's gaining some steam
with that win. I'd give it to Stafford, though, I
mean his touchdown interception ratios unbelievably good. There's been like
no bad games for the Rams. I know they're not perfect,
but I would give it to Stafford.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
I think he's got a really good shot. Yeah, there's
this is this one's still wide open. It can go
a lot of different ways down.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
The stretch here.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
You know, like Lamar is gonna be out of it.
He said play enough, But I mean some of the usual.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Baker Mayfield's faded a little bit.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
But yeah, he could rebound.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
If he has a couple of huge weeks, he could rebound.
But yeah, I think you know what, Stafford.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
Getting some buzz in the first month, or getting some buzz,
But he's gonna have a lot.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Yeah, no doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
So there's some thoughts on some individual awards, kind of
at the mid season point here. I just got a
text from Bob Labriola. Oh good, he's good to go.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
So let's let's take a little bit shorter here. We'll
come back start hour number two with a beefier segment
with Labs on the other side. We'll do all that
and more in our number two West Yeuler Matt Williamson
Halfway Home on the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network,
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