December 17, 2025 • 46 mins
Matt and Wes dive into the weekly power rankings across the NFL team by team. They give their thoughts and opinions on which teams might be ranked too high or too low. Chris Halicke joins the guys to discuss some headlines around the team and answer the questions the guys have.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You were tuns about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. While Shouler and Matt Williamson with you here
for the next two hours on a Wednesday. Is the
weather's a little bit warmer here today?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yeah, melting we hit it, suns out.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
That part's kind of nice.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, the melting parts nice.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Last night, I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Trying to take the trash cans out to the curb,
but I'm like, where do I put these?
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Kind of it's just two feet of snow.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
The same thing, Yeah, everywhere you look, but a little
bit sunnier here today.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It is a Wednesday. We have got plenty to get to.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Our schedules, still a little convoluted as it's only our
second show of the week, but it is a Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
So Matt, I figured we would lead.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Off here with an exercise that we typically do on Tuesdays,
but just to kind of get us started here on Wednesday,
how about we take a look at these power rankings
now that now the week fifteen is in the book. Yep,
And Matt, I know you're shocked by this but in
the basement once again as the Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Oh, they're just making a stronger and stronger case. I mean,
their numbers in that past game, like first downs didn't happen,
yardage didn't happen. I mean, ridiculously bad, and they ount
of talent. I mean, they're really in a bad spot.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
They are.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I guess maybe the only good news is they're on
track to get the first overall pick.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Right But if you live at one of those two
quarterbacks in that situation, well.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
That's exactly where I was going.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
I would almost be like, I'm trading down. Yeah, you know,
give me, give me a top ten offensive or defensive lineman,
give me another first round talent somewhere, the.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
First rounder for next year, and maybe go get the
guy that right now, because I just it's unsavable with
one quarterback, even.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
If it was for failure, even if it was a
Trevor Lawrence Andrew Luck Joe Burrow type prospect, I would
still be hesitant to PLoP them into that situation.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I know. And these guys aren't I Mendozy nine, but
they're not like that. They're not let no brain or
over pass up.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
On them, no doubt, And we'll get to that more
an hour. Number two. We'll do a little around campus
today as well.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
That's the thing like hockey and basketball, you just take
Lebron or Lemieux or Crosby or whatever. You know, we'll
figure it out. But here it's like you can ruin it.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
You can break these guys, you can dave the car
these guys, oh yick. And yet it's a tough situation
for the Raiders right now. And then at number thirty
one staying here, I think you and I agree, but
they're in a much better situation.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
It's the Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, I might even sure if they'd be thirty one.
I mean, they play hard, and they're playing better than
some of the junk teams. I might have the Jets
thirty one. Jets have been pretty terrible.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I might have the Giants thirty one. Yeah, it's a
lot of splitting hairs. Again, they're all bad between bad
hairs there. But the Giants, you know, remember way back
to that Thursday nighter against at home against the Eagles
and what was kind of the Jackson Darton cam scatterby party.
They've lost eight straight since that and at least if
(03:06):
you're the Titans, You're like, hey, we've got cam Ward,
We've got some guys on our defensive line.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, yeah, we're in a good spot.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Like that.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Would mind be the GM of Titans.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I think that's probably the best way to put it
to me. If you say, of all these bottom five
or six or seven teams, if you had to be
the GM of one starting tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Raiders is my last choice.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Raiders is my last choice.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Browns.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Browns is very low on the list.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
They have two first round picks.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
The Jets.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Like, I think number one for me is obviously Tennessee
number two. Number two is probably the Jets, just because
they've got a ton of assets.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, they at least have an offensive line.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You've got some young pieces on that offensive line that
you can build around.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
If you I just don't love dart. But if if
you were someone and I understand the people that do,
if you love darts, they don't need a ton that's fair.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
You know, the defense, the defense could easily be much better.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Neighbors comes back.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
They've got some pieces on the offensive line.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, it's not terrible. I just don't love dart.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Same if you if you like Dart. I don't think
you're crazy. If you love Dart, I think you might be.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, I get both sides. I mean,
I'm not setting stone that he's gonna stink for it. Sure,
but sure I leaned towards you would not be the
guy I built around.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I lean towards that best. He might be a I
don't know who's a good example. Jalen Hurts. Yeah, that's
as a Super Bowl champion and the VP.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
But but I mean his sporting cast was so good,
you know right.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, Number thirty is the Giants. Twenty nine is the Jets.
The MetLife portion there towards the bottom.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Of Llie just playing terrible football right now.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
They are they've done the can coon on three. To
quote Arthur Motes, they are booking their they're booking their
January plans.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And he crushed them two weeks ago. I mean rushed.
I mean they're playing Brady Cook.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It looked like the varsity team scrimmage and the jv
team and Jacksonville yank the running back out of here
in the second quarter.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Don't get him hit anymore.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yes, Jacksuvill did a number on two.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Twenty eight is the Cleveland Browns. I think that they're.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
They have a defense.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I think they're the.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Best of these teams because they at least have a defense.
But man, they look like another team that's started to
think about their their January vacation plans.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, and their pressure rate allowed is worse in the league,
you know, And the Chargers are gaining on them quick
because they don't have anybody. But they're the two worst
by far. So it's really hard to evaluate Sanders or
anyone for that matter, because they can't block anybody right now.
I mean, to me, those are the two teams, the
Chargers and Browns that just don't block anybody. I mean,
(05:33):
the Chargers are overcoming it somehow.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
As Harbert's and Genie, yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
And everything else around them is much better than what
the Browns have.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Number twenty seven stay and put as they have lost
eleven of their last twelve games. The Arizona Cardinals still.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Think they're better than these other teams.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
They've got some pieces. Ye, Bride is top five tight
end in the NFL, having a huge year, and they've
got you know, they've.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Got a lot of guys down yeah, right right.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
They're another one of those I think if they made
the right higher, if they hit the right buttons in
the offseason, Not that they're gonna, you know, win nine
or ten games and contend for a playoff spot, but
I think that they could be a non disaster and
non pushover in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So it's weird, and I'm not doing this to try
to get everybody psycked up. But they did a mail
bag podcast today and one of the questions was, who
are teams that are picking later, like in the second
half of the first round that could trade up to
like number one or number two, you know, like the
Eagles did for Wentz or that year was Goff. And
(06:38):
then they say, is there any other sleeper teams that
could trade to the very top for a quarterback?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
You're not talking like the Chiefs did to go to
what ten or eleven and get Mahomes in that vein,
but more like Les Wentz example is a good one.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, I mean that's they took him two trades to
do it, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Same with Buffalo to get Allen right, but he was
seventh overall, which is still a little bit finger back.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I mean, I'm trying to read the tea leaves of
this draft, because I think there's only gonna be two
quarterbacks and they're gonna both go top five. I mean,
you're on topas I agree.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I think ty Simpson could be the third, but there's
still some wait and see what that.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Where Allan and Mahomes were much better classes. You could
go to seven, ten, eleven. But anyway, the team and
only team I could come up with the Steelers, I
mean to be honest, like someone that's picking like a
playoff type team that would make the huge splash, go
all the way to two, three, one, whatever. But I
also see the Cardinals in there. Like the Cardinals end
(07:30):
up with the eighth or ninth pick. Sure they could
be the bryce young team that go from ten to one,
you know, and I would understand it for them the
same here and not the worst infrastructure to go into.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It would make sense for them in terms of Listen,
we don't think about this much in Pittsburgh, but some
teams like strike while the Iron's hot, sell some more tickets, jerseys,
get some more butts and seats.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
They need to think about that there.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Like I remember telling you when the Colts came here
and they were what seven and one at that point.
I think the Colts were or seven and two something
like that. And this was before the sauce trade. Like
talking with their broadcast guys and them being like, we're
we're trying to strike while the iron's hot this year,
like we're putting out more content than ever. Yeah, team's
being more aggressive than ever because we got it.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
It's a weird world to not be in the same world,
you know, to have to do that.
Speaker 6 (08:15):
But whatever, and there's he I mean, we we see that,
you know in their businesses.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
People forget these are businesses, right, there are thirty two
individual business.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
It's why the Pittsburgh Pirates have fifty bobblehead nights every year.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Because you've got to you gotta fireworks.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
You got there's.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Something to get the butts in the seats. Number twenty
six is the Washington Commander's.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Mass They're pretty terrible, right, They're pretty terrible. They are.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I think another team that is, if you have a
good offseason, you could turn this around pretty quick. Yeah yeah,
but that defense is old and they just they need
a lot of retooling.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
They need a lot of defense, you know. But they
have a quarterback too, they do. I don't know if
I'd have them over Arizona. They're both pretty terrible.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
This team at twenty five, I might have a spot
or two higher, although I'm looking at the teams above them,
and I think it might be fair. But how about
the New Orleans Saints.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I like that they're this high. I mean most of
us look at him like, oh, they're terrible. They're playing hard.
They're playing hard, all right.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
They're winning games.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
The games that they lose, it doesn't look like a
Jets loss, it doesn't look like a Raiders loss. Like
they're still competitive in their losses.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
I think Kellen Worres done a good job as head
coach there. Same here and I will be the starting
quarterback next year.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I think he will too, and that is good news
for the Pittsburg stillers. Number twenty four of the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
The shared little signs of life lately, but it's been
a bad year.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
They're they're a weird one, Like what do you do?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
What do you do with Kyle Pitt's You know, what
do you do with your quarterback situation? You don't have
a first round pick. Bijeon's right in his absolute prime,
one of the best handful of players in football right now?
Do you build around that? It's just there's no easy
answer for London being ow.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
It's really hurt them too because they don't have other,
you know, wide receivers. They do pass catchers and pits.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Bengals checking in at twenty three h after a some
feel good against the Ravens on Thanksgiving. It's kind of
gone backwards these past couple of weeks and all the
you know, Joe Burrow cryptic comments.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Did you have the Bengals or Dolphins higher? It wasn't
the best performance by the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
They just bench, but I was gonna say I'd probably
go with the team that didn't just bench them.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
I was thinking too, like the I mean, they're gonna
roll out yours. They're probably only going to go backwards
in this list.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
And I don't know if you saw some of the
numbers today, but it's basically like it costs the Dolphins
just as much to cut to a dead cat money
as it does to keep them next year like they are.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
It'd be worse than Russell Wilson with the Broncos, which
has been the worst dead hit in NFL history.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
They might be in they might be neck and neck
with the Cleveland Browns in terms of the worst quarterback
situation in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Right now.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Agree. So at this conversation, Tua was the topic of
the day in terms of other podcasts, and so that's
the biggest national news for the day. Matt, what would
you do as the Dolphins? And I rarely take this attempt,
but i'd strip it for parts. I mean I would
I would tank. I hate the word tank, the one
I used to hate the word tank, But I mean
I would trade Waddle, I would trade a Chan, I
(11:10):
would trade Minca.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
So you don't mean like these last three games.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
No, I'm talking about right, they already fired the GM.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
You would tear it down to build it back up.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I think you're getting a new head coach. I think
I would go and get every draft pick I possibly
can and try to be picking at the top of
next year's draft.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
When there's quarterbacks anyone who's not going to be around
in two, three, four years, get rid.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Of them, I mean the Mincas of the world. Yeah.
And I rarely take that approach because I think that
does inreparable harm to a locker room, you know, and
just killing the winning culture is never a good idea.
Not they have a great winning culture. But whatever you built.
But man, they're really financially straft Tyreek gone. You know,
all those type of dudes. I think I would go
(11:52):
down to nothing and try to just eat your vegetables
in this upcoming Yeah, yeah, one one brutal year.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
At least they have so of these teams that are
in this situation don't have any assets, don't have any
parts that they can strip off and sell.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
That's why later is the worst job ever.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
The Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
I mean, you've got some rif if you were to
fire sale that thing, you'd have some really attract you
picked some stuff up right, you'd have a lot of
people stopping at your yard sale to bargain with you.
Be something that lazy boy sitting over there and that
beer fridge, and they're in really good condition.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Yeah, all of a sudden, like I got some Yeah,
I get some change in my pocket.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Minnesota Vikings at twenty one won a couple of games
here JJ McCarthy showing some life.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
They're not completely going in the tank.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
They'd be better than anyone mentioned, are They.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Another one of those teams that could trade from the
middle of the draft up to the top five to
get a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I think, well, that's another conversation.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
We had McCarthy looks on these these Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I mentioned him more than any other quarterback of that one.
Let's see the rest of the League of the Year playout,
because it's been better the last couple of weeks. He
has so little experience. Yeah, yeah, if he could play
like this, you'd run it back. I'd run it back
with him and Eddie Dalton, you know, you know some
mentor type you know.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Number twenty the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Wow, amazing the.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Lowest that they have been probably since I.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Mean, especially with factor that Mahome's not the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Then Yeah, and even some of these teams behind them,
they might be favored over the chief Like if the
Vikings and the Chiefs played this weekend, I bet you
the Vikings are favored slightly.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
That's almost how I started the response when you said
the Chiefs, I'm like, oh, but they'd be favored. Everybody
else might well not now.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Not now, they wouldn't be it last week they would
have been.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Yeah, big favorites.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Nineteen the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, they're kind of dwindling a little bit.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Dangerous but dwindling.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Yeah, and they can still knock off somebody and play
a big factor in this thing down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
But ain't looking good, bro.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, although they're another one right off season, and they could.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Be good next year.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I think Pickens will get franchise or extended draft defense
like crazy, they get some extra picks too. They could
be right in the trades.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Yeah, they're starting to starting to bear fruit for them.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, good young o line.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Number eighteen Matt unable to take advantage of the Buccaneers loss.
It's the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, it's Carolina or Tampa. I mean, who's worse right now?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Seventeen? I mean I think that's good.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Like I'd have them right next to each other.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
They play, they play two times here in the next
three weeks. It's gonna set up to be a lot
of fun in that regard parts school. Yeah, that part's great.
Same with the Packers and the Bears or you know,
got the second half of that. I'm going to give
the Bucks the edge because of the experience, because of
the quarterback too.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Is they could the Bucks could at least convince me
in the next three weeks that they could win a playoff.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
They find something.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, like I remember that team. They're just
in a bad place right now where Carolina they could
win out that. I'm not going to pick them the
win round one. Great's no way agreed.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Sixteen The Indianapolis Cults Matt.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Kind of a weird one.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Life comes at you fast in the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
The fact that they were competitive in Seattle, I give
them some credit for. I mean, he can't throw anymore.
What he did from the neck up was pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
It's a crazy I mean, the Colts in the Bucks
were top five in the Power rankings. It points that
long not that long ago. Yeah, and now they are
down closer to twenty fifteen. The Baltimore Ravens a much
needed response for them from them.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah, and hey, that's the neighborhood they're in right now.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Their next two weeks are really tough. They are New England,
a Patriots team that's going to now be pissed off
and looking to stick with the Broncos. And then they
have to go to Lambeau and what will be a
Packers team that is likely going to have plenty to
play for as well.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Well.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Of course, now lamar definitely looked his best of any
day since his injury. Yes, so that's encouraging, But I
still think both their lines are not good enough.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Fourteen. The Steelers upcoming opponent the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Out of the Lions ahead the Steelers, Yeah, that's only
the Lions are awfully good. They're just something. I mean,
they are like the number one offense in the league.
I mean, they have some defensive injuries. I know they're
on the outside looking in. But without Micah Parsons, are
they a better team than the Packers? Like just her power?
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Now?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
I don't care about the math. Yeah, how you get
in just like on a neutral field.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I don't know, like thirty thousand foot view. I would
say yes, because I think they're pretty darn good too, right,
But they've just lost so many close games this year.
I know, I know that it's almost become like the
Chiefs thing of like I know who you are, I
know what you are, but you got to.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Show it, you do. You know, they've won so many
games the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
I totally doubt totally, Like, I still.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Think they can win the Super Bowl. I mean, if
you paint a little bit of a rosy picture. I mean,
they may not get in I understand sure, but.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
They Yeah, they have the roster build and the makeup
to absolutely.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Go on a run. I agree with you on that.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
They're a little better the last couple of years than
this year, but I still think they're dangerous.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
They are definitely dangerous. I'm with you on that. And
the Steelers checking at thirteen just one spot.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Ahead of them, I've just probably flipped those two.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
But I don't.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I think that that's the right range for all these
teams Detroit, Baltimore, Pittsburgh last.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Two weeks, So it would definitely helped the Steelers obviously.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
The Eagles checking in at number twelve.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Defense is really good. I think the offense is sort
of broke. I mean, Hurts has really hurt them, and
they're very predictable. Lane Johnson being out this seems low.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
For Lane Johnson going to be back ors.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I don't know, you're sitting here and thinking the same thing.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I'm not sure they needed what they need to do
and beat up on a really bad Raiders team.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Yeah, last week it didn't show me anything.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
That just shows me that they can still hang around.
What their ultimate ceiling is? I have no idea, but
I think you're right. A lot of that uh circles
around depends upon the form the play of Jalen.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Hurts, Yeah, which worries me a little bit.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Number eleven the Chargers three straight wins.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
I may have a couple of these teams ahead of Charge.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
They're another one that are tough for me. But they're
despite every reason not to. They keep finding ways to
win games.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
And I think they're coaching quarterback are really good at
what they do. Agreed, Yeah, and that goes a long.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Way, very very much agreed.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Number ten, they might be Matt and Nice picking the
AFC right now, if we had to do it, Matt
might have some cheddar on these guys to win the AFC.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
So the Houston Texans, Yeah, I mean it just power ranks.
They would be number one for me in the AFC.
I think they're the best team in the AFC right now.
Now I understand why people don't rank them that way.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
You know they they certainly have the best defense in
the AFC right now, which is clearly we know that
that travels and we know that that's huge part of
the equation.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
This time of year. Number nine is those green Bay Packers.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
That might be for me, might be a little high
considering the losses they just sustained, you know, I mean they.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
They're already Downcraft Parsons is going to be out for
the rest of the year. Watson's hurt, Zach thom is hurt,
Kway Walker's hurt.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Evan Williams. Evan Williams is hurt.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Yeah, he's a really good safety. People know about it.
They're getting hit hard at the wrong.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
They are getting hit hard at the wrong time. Yeah,
very good way to put it. If they're completely healthy, they're.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
A top three or four team in the league.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
But they are them chiefly dropped at least a tier
this past week. If not to.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I'm with you on that the Niners stay at number eight.
I mean, Brock Party probably his best performance of the season.
Ricky Piersoll emerging, having a big nearly one hundred yard day.
George Kittle looks back to form. I don't think the
Niners can win the Super Bowl, but I think they're
a really dangerous team that they've got the culture of
been there, done that in the postseason a lot of times.
(19:30):
They just know how to win games. They're going to
be a very tough. They're that classic, that proverbial very
tough out.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Yeah, come to play.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
They could definitely. They're they're that uh lot of defensive
injuries all year.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
They're that feisty mid major that you don't want to
see in the second round. You know, you're you're Duke
or Kentucky and you're like, man, I really don't want
to see Mercer. Those guys can scrap. Those guys could
play defense. Those those guys will run with us for
forty minutes. I don't think they're gonna win a Natty,
but they're but they can knock somebody off who could.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Yeah, Oh, they definitely could. In the NFC, though, I
think i'd have San Fran ahead of Green Bay. Yes,
I might have Detroit over both. Oh, I know Detroice
on this weird thing. For ten games they've gone win lost,
win lost.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Yeah, I mean it's on paper. I certainly think they're
more talented right now.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
On their best day is better than either one of
those teams best days.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Number seven.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
See, I think you might sing a similar tune. It's
the Jacksonville Jaguars, fresh off of five straight wins.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
I'm sorry, become believer. I mean Lawrence's playing great. I
think the coach is doing a tremendous job. Jakobe Myers
was like the exact puzzle piece they needed to complete everything.
Defense is fine.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yeah, Yeah, they got the Broncos this weekend. That one,
I think will tell us a lot about both teams. Yes,
number sixth, highest we've seen them in a long time.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Du Bears, that's funny in here close to the top.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Put the Bears and Jags like right next week. Yeah, yeah,
And I think that.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
That's a similar situation.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Yeah, quarterback trying to find its way first time head coach.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Absolutely, it's not one a lot lately.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Exceeding expectations ahead of schedule. Just get to the playoffs
and everything else is money in the bank. Number five
into the top five, dropping just one spot after blowing
a big lead to their division.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Fow the Buffalo Bills. It's the New England Patriots.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I wouldn't crush them for that.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
They were due.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
They were due, like they started strong, they couldn't close.
That's about where they belong. I'd have them over the
last two teams imagined.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
And I almost if I was a Patriots fan, which
makes me want to throw up on myself saying that
out loud.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I almost think that might have been a good thing
for them.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yeah, maybe, like this doesn't come as easy as you
guys think, young pups, like, yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
This was not gonna be though, We're gonna win fourteen
games and waltz to the super Bowl from from being
where we were the last two years to that, Like,
there's gotta be some roadbumps, playoff type, there's got to
be some roadbumps along the way. You got to take
your medicine. You got to learn your lessons. Every young
ascending team and every sport has to do that before
they get up, before they can get you get your team.
(22:01):
They you know, they the last ten weeks they've been winning,
and they walk into the team meeting on two Mondays. Yeah,
and now it's like set up in your chair and
pay attention, all right, because now it's starting to get
more difficult.
Speaker 6 (22:14):
I think that Josh, hey, they would have loved to
have clinched the division and in the home playoff game
and all that, but.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
I think that that loss might go a long way
for them.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
I need to see who the Patriots play this week.
But as you talk through that, I'm like, I bet
they win big.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
If it's just an average of Baltimore Ravens at.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
That's a good time for That's good for the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
That's a good Baltimore momentah, because then Baltimore goes the lambo.
So yes, it is, it is in Baltimore. Number four
of the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Yeah they're hot. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Again, they are not the most complete team. They are
not the most talented team. But they have two things
going for him. One they're built for.
Speaker 6 (22:48):
This time of year, yes, finally, And two they've got
If I if I was starting an NFL franchise right
now to head into January and head into the postseason,
that's my first pick is Josh might.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Be enough this year.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
No Mahomes right right, Burrow, you could have no Lamar
right right.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
That's pretty nice. And if he's a superstar.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I mean, if you get Bill's, if you get Bills Steelers,
round one one of those MVP quarterbacks is going home.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
I mean, you know like it. You're starting to look around.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
If you're Buffalo and it's been a weird season and
you're not nearly as confident in your team as you've
been at other points in but you might be looking
around at your neighbors and going, you know what, like
our front yard. It's not the nicestly landscape that's ever been,
but it's looking.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
It's looking better than Tom Dick and Harry down the tree.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Right, and I get to snap at the josh every time.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Now, I got the best grass cutter. I had the
best browns keeper in the entire neighborhood.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
Here.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Number three the Seattle Seahawks. They drop one spot. I
don't know if I agree with that, but they take
care of business. It was an Ail Bier over the Colts. Hey,
that's a good team. The Colts are not what we
thought they were a couple of months ago, but they're.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Still a good team. And they were desperate, desperate a
lot to play for.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
That's another one for Seattle that I think, the way
that played out, might that's probably better for them than
winning by twenty one points. Maybe, you know, find a
way to the other team takes a lead with a
minute left, we find a way to get that ball
down the field, kick a field goal and win.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Like I think that's a good.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Playoff type, low scoring, don't blink game for Seattle.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Yeah, and we'll find out a lot about them tomorrow night.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Yeah, I can't wait for Denver.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
I assume the Rams are one.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
I don't think one Broncos or two Broncos were.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Playing quite well with the like eleven game winning streak.
That's hard to argue.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
It's hard to argue.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
The one thing for Denver that really is starting to
make me think, okay, they could win the AFC and
go to the Super Bowl is Drake May is playing
better Knicks.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Yeah right, we're just talking the other guy.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
Sorry, bow Knicks is playing back.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
As the best game he's ever played, I think it,
and he's starting to get it.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
I think at times this season they were kind of
carrying him along. Oh not that he was weighing the
team down, but he wasn't. He wasn't a high tide
that was raising any ships either.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Definitely not. They were kind of not They were winning
in spite of him, but they weren't winning because of them.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Correct, I think. I mean, hey, three hundred yards and
four touchdowns. I think bo Nix is heating up and
turning a corner at the right time. And then number one,
I think you and I have been on this same
page for for a while now. I think the team
that we would both pick to win the Super Bowl
if we had to today, the eleven and three Los
Angeles Rams, who took care of the desperate Detroit Lions
(25:22):
this past weekend.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
We'll bring up tomorrow. But I was a little shocked
to hear today that they're a dog in Seattle. Yeah,
I mean it's Seattle short week. Wante Adams is probably
one play, but still I think I would take points
with them against anybody anywhere right now. What was it
one and a half, It's only one and a half.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
It's not surprising. Slight home field advantage for Seattle.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
But they're better on the road than at home.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
That's true. It's a very good point the Rams right now.
Are they got it all going on?
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:49):
I think they're complete.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
They got the quarterback, they got the trenches, they got
the playmakers, they got the coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
They're complete.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Davante Adams hamstring injury, but still relatively healthy. Like that
doesn't seem like it's something that it's gonna keep him.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
On a Sunday Monday he probably plays.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Or.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Or if the Rams are playing the Raiders on Thursday
night football, you're like, let them rest it's kind just
just get right for the stretch run here. But I
don't think either of us have any problem with the
Rams being number one.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
No, I think they're pretty easy number one at this point.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
That is our power rankings here week fifteen of the books.
Looking ahead two week sixteen. We will get back into
some Steelers specifics with our buddy Chris Halleck when we
return on the other side. Just getting started here on
a Wednesday, Well Shuler, Matt Williamson, it is the Drive
on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Your tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Rolling along here on a Wednesday, into the phone lines
we go to talk to our buddy, Chris Halleck, of course,
covers the Steelers for dk Pittsburgh Sports. Chris, thank you
for taking the time. As always, buddy, let's jump right
into would hear you? You're a reporter? I mean you
are you know, a beat writer, to use an old term.
You are around the team, the locker rooms, the practice
is all that. Obviously much more than Matt and I are,
(27:12):
so just kind of a thirty thousand foot vibe check
to get us started here, I got to imagine that
that the atmosphere that the energy around the locker room,
around practice is is much different this week and recently
than it had been, say maybe after that Buffalo Bills game.
Speaker 5 (27:31):
Oh yeah, of course. Yeah, the guys feel pretty good
about themselves. But I don't see, I've this has been
pretty consistent, not just this season, but over my time
and covering the team, which has been since the twenty
twenty two and they stay pretty even keeled. Mike Tomand
does a pretty good job of keeping keeping the team
(27:53):
from riding the emotional rollercoaster. And you know, I've seen
you know, two and six starts in twenty twenty two,
and I've seen you know this this type of a
season where it's just up and down, up and down,
up and down, and but they've they've remained pretty even
killed the entire way. It's not really been anything crazy
where you know, you're seeing you know, after like that
Bills game, you're seeing guys you know, walking around with
(28:15):
long faces and hanging their heads. And you're also not
seeing you know, parties in the locker room after winning
too straight either. But overall, yeah, the vibes are are
are good there. You know, there is energy and you
hope that it can carry on, especially into what's going
to be a really difficult match up on the road.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Yeah, I think it would be a really difficult matchup.
And having Derek Harmon back I think would go a
long way if you're feeling good about him being a
startery back again in Detroit. And how do you see
the defense with and without him? I mean, I know
everyone knows the rushing numbers are crazy skewed with them
without him, but how do you see the ripple effects
or his value?
Speaker 5 (28:55):
I mean, listen, I think one of the things about
Derek Harmon that that that they loved whenever he was
coming out of Oregon. This is like before they even
drafted him, was just how smart of a football player
he is. And it's not just you know, understanding his
role on the defensive line or just on the defensive
front in general, but it's also what he does when
(29:19):
he's like he understands his role in the one out
of eleven, he understands what he needs to do for
all eleven guys on the defensive side of the ball
to do their job, and not as you know, sometimes
it takes NFL players years to understand something like that,
and the fact that he can come in as a
rookie and understand that. I think that's one of the
reasons why the defense in general has been so much
(29:41):
better with him against the run, because he doesn't, you know,
abandon gaps. He holds his ground, he under he's a
smart football player. He understands where he needs to be
to make his to make the linebackers jobs easier. I feel,
you know, in terms of his availability, I feel a
lot better about him playing this week. The fact that
Mike Tomlin in his press conference yesterday said that he
(30:03):
was probably healthy enough to play against the Dolphins on
Monday night. That's usually a really good indication as long
as he has no setbacks in practice this week, that
he'll he'll be playing on Sunday. Now, we have yet
to see the practice report today. They pushed back everything
an hour today. That's usually pretty typical after a Monday
night game for them to push practice, every practice and
(30:24):
everything else back on Wednesday back an hour. So it'll
be a little bit later today when we see that.
But either way, I feel pretty good about him playing
and it'll be a big boost especially knowing that they
have to play a Detroit Lions team that has Jamior
Gibbson and David Montgomery. It's a really good deal that
they have a running back.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
Yeah, certainly, and kind of sticking with the trenches there
and as it relates to Detroit, but spinning the block, Chris,
I thought it was a outstanding performance from Dylan Cook
on Monday Night football against the Dolphins. We know Detroit's
very talented in the trenches both sides of the ball,
but certainly defense as well. On just Pete status still
(31:02):
up in the air, but I gotta think you're we're
all pretty confident if they have to run it back
with Dylan Cook and Detroit on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And Chris, if Pete were healthy, do you think he
would immediately become the starter again or is that for debate?
Speaker 5 (31:17):
I think it's at least up for debate at this point.
I don't think it's an automatic thing where where Pete
just you know, gets the nod. And no matter what
I think, if if Dylan Cook goes out there and
he gives up you know, seven or eight pressures and
you know, really really struggles, I think it's usually a
pretty good, pretty easy decision for Mike Tomlin to be like, Okay,
(31:38):
let's go with the with the veteran, but when when
he plays the way he plays, and listen, we've seen
it happen this season when when players step in and
take advantage of their opportunity to play, seeing it with
James Pierre, you know, with Nick Herbert. When guys play
really well, they they earn elevated roles. And if Dylan Cook,
you know, if Andres Pete is not going to be
(32:00):
able to go, or at least if he doesn't, you know,
get a chance to clear a protocol until later in
the week, then maybe that's a decision when Mike Thummins
got to scratch his head a little bit and then
see what should we go with Dylan again, you know,
or or the fact that he's making it even a
decision is just indicative of how well he played. And
(32:20):
so I don't think it's it's as easy as of
a decision as Okay, Pete, clear the protocol, Okay, let's
put it back in. No, I think you have to
seriously consider, like, all right, let's see him.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Do it again. How do you decipher the wide receiver
pecking order and usage at the moment.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Well, obviously d Kays off the top, and after that,
I I would call probably Adam Field probably w R
two right now based off of you know, snap count
and usage, even though the volume of targets isn't exactly there,
(32:57):
the usage, how much they trust him to run routes correctly,
how much they trust him uh in run blocking and
things like that, I think, And.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
He was out there quite a bit with two receiver sets.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
Yeah, so I think he's your your de facto w
R two right now. And then I think after that
it's kind of this mixture of it depends on what
we want to do. If we want to attack deep,
MVS is gonna go out there, then we can have
two deep threats. And it's just you know, pick your poison,
(33:29):
you know, I mean, it's you know, we're gonna go
out there at twelve personnel, Okay, Well, the two receivers
are going to be Metcalf and MVS. And if you're
gonna run too high and take that away, okay, well great,
now you're gonna hold up the middle of the field
for the tight ends, which we saw the Steelers do
against the Dolphins. The one the one play. I think
that's just really indicative of that. It was the r
p O that they that Rogers through to Friar ruth
(33:50):
uh for for twenty two yards. But then you know,
if it depends, you know, you might want something where
you want to utilize some speed underneath and that could
be Calvanov, you know. So I think after that, it's
kind of it depends on what they want to do.
I think it's more based off of schematics of what
they're expecting from the opposing defense. I don't think it's
as solidified, but I think you're gonna see you're gonna
(34:13):
see Mbs continue to get opportunities. You're going to see
Calvin Austin continue to get opportunities. So but I would
say that the clear number two right now is probably
Adam feeling so real.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Quick the piggyback off that just kind of dawned on me.
And I don't know how much you've looked at the Lions,
but I'm halfway into my prep is usual on Wednesday,
but they're they play with their bet base defense for
three three four, you know, for four defensive backs on
the field, more than any team in the league.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
Yeah, I was actually just looking that up.
Speaker 3 (34:41):
Yeah, so, I mean that's what they want to do.
Do you think the Steelers might try more three wide?
Speaker 5 (34:50):
Yeah, no, it's not what it's not what they do,
but that they could. I mean in theory, you know,
it's not like that. Yeah, the Steelers don't run a
lot of eleven personnel compare to the rest of the
but but the percentage is still it's still high. You know,
it's still what do they still do a lot of it? Anything?
Speaker 4 (35:11):
Right?
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:11):
What did they do more than anything else? They're an
eleven personnel more than anything else. But yeah, that that
doesn't mean that they, you know, use their teen personnel
more than any other team except for the Rams or
anything like that. But no, that they still run a
healthy dose of eleven personnel. It's just not as much
as the rest of the league is. But so that
(35:31):
they have it, they have the ability to do it.
And now, you know, when you have K K.
Speaker 7 (35:36):
Metcalf and that feeling and MVS and Calvin Austin and
you know, Scotty Miller, possibly you've got some receivers that
you could probably trust a little bit more.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
Listen, I keep bringing up Scotty Miller and I understand
he hasn't been talked about a lot, or he's really
gotten targets or anything, But I feel like if there's
ever a time where he just kind of becomes somebody
you know that could possibly be dependent on, it won't
be the most surprising thing. This is a guy who's
earned a lot of praise from you know, Tom Brady
and Aaron Rodgers like to the.
Speaker 8 (36:10):
Yeah, yeah, So I'm just saying like, when you talk
about you know somebody who you know, Hey, Calvin Austin's
out for a little bit, you know, you need Scotty
to step in.
Speaker 5 (36:23):
It's a game where you're gonna have to do a
lot more eleven personnel. Maybe Scotty can be that guy
to jump in and be dependable to be a professional.
But yeah, I think it's intriguing to see what the
what the solution will be. Are we gonna fight fire
with fire and just you know, run pretty much run
into the teeth of what the Lions do really well,
(36:44):
or are you going to force them to do something
a little bit different, get other their comfort zone or
try to beat you with their base defense while you
put you know, some smaller personnel packages on the field.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Mm hmm. Plenty to ponder ahead of this weekend. Chris.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
The last one I wanted to ask you about is
this Steelers secondary and Matt and I discussed this a
little bit yesterday, but just how different it's wound up
shaking out than we all expected. You know, back in
July and August at training camp. Back then, it was
you know, a Sleigh and Porter on the on the boundaries.
It was Ramsey in the slot, but kind of as
(37:17):
a jack of all trades as well, and then you
had Elliott and Thornhill playing at safety.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Not to mention how different it was even from what
they finished twenty twenty four, absolutely made a ton of
changes just to get to the point that you brought up.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
And then you know that has all changed now to
be Ramsey back at safety, with Kyle Dugger who was
acquired mid season, Joey Porter Junior kind of being the
one main stay there, but now with Eccles and to
Sante Samuel Junior playing every defensive snap, pierrelayed great, Pierre has.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Played outstanding, Chris.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
It hasn't, obviously, you know, shaken out the way that
any of us thought, But man, I think for how
much they've had to overturn that group. I think they've
found the right formula and found it at the right time.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, they might have figured it out finally after a
lot of the trage.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
Yeah. Yeah, well, I think I think when when the
results were were as bad as they were, and I
really think back to the to those those games against
the Bengals and Packers, when it got as bad as
it was and it got exposed that listen, this is
not going to work now. You know, Mike Tomlin could
have continued to you know, to ram his head into
a brick wall and be like, you know, no, this
(38:25):
is going to work. He could have been stubborn about it.
Or he could have just decided, you know what, we
got to change some things up. Well, they changed some
things up, and now they're they're not as predictable as
they were, you know, even last season playing a lot
of spot dropped cover three or or doing the things
that they're doing this year, where you know, sometimes they
go into games they run a lot of too high.
(38:45):
Other times they'll go into games and go back to
playing a lot of single high and man, you know,
it's it'll be interesting to see, you know, what they
do you know, you know each week, you know that
they're kind of keeping you guessing a little bit, and
that's what defense should be doing, you know, and you know,
credit to Tomlin, credit to to Tara Laustin for doing that,
and you know, to to have to overhaul the secondary
(39:09):
the way they have, not only because of injuries, but
because of performance, and and you know that requires players
to be willing to say, listen to the team is bigger
than me. Jale and Ramsey could have been like, you know,
screw this, I'm gonna play the position I want to play,
and nobody he was like, no, I you know, I'm
going to move to safety and I'm fine with that,
you know. So kudos to the players for buying into what,
(39:30):
you know, what needed to be done. To the coaches
for getting done when he needs to get done. It's
not been perfect. There have still been some weeks since
then where it's been pretty rough, but ultimately it's it's
getting better, and it's getting better at the right time,
and that's think probably the most important thing. If the
Steelers end up making the playoffs, win in their division
and go into the playoffs and win at least a
(39:52):
playoff game and show some improvement, you know, and the
defense is becoming better, you know, And that's one of
the reasons why, you know, I I don't think people
remember as much about like the low points of the season.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
Chris, we were about to let you go. But there's
one thing I've been mean to ask you for a
couple of weeks. And I don't know if anyone knows
his answer, But is Elliott season done? Or is there
a chance we see him in the playoffs or week
eighteen or well?
Speaker 5 (40:17):
I I reported this on our on our DK Pittsburgh
sports app a few weeks ago. I won't say, maybe
four four weeks ago or so. I reported at the
time that while he hasn't been officially ruled out for
the season, the overwhelming feeling on the inside was that
(40:38):
he's probably not coming back this year.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
Gotcha.
Speaker 5 (40:41):
That was again. It's it's an overwhelming feeling. If there's
any player that you don't want a doubt to come
back from an injury, it's Deshaun Elliott. You know, he's
motivated to play as always, But.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Yeah, you lean towards chances are it's probably done.
Speaker 5 (40:57):
I leaned toward no, And if there's any chance it's
probably going to be probably going to be in the
playoffs at the earliest. So no, I don't anticipate. I
would not expect to see twenty five again this season, gotcha.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
Oh, they're better equipped to handle it now than they were.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
They are, they are certain, but that is that is
definitely still a bummer. Great stuff as always with our
buddy Chris Allick. Chris, thank you for taking the time
here on a Wednesday, and we will talk to you soon.
Speaker 5 (41:22):
All right, Thanks for having me, guys. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
No, we appreciate you. There he goes in the same
breath as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, the great
Chris Hallick. Matt breaking news from Ravens Practice. Lamar Jackson
set home with the flu or sorry, kept home with
the flu.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
He seems to get sick a lot.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
You know why, I gotta.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Look at TV when I say this, because something's going around.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
You guys, hear about that something's going around.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
And actually said that about Lamar for a couple of
he gets the flu or stomach stuff. I mean a lot.
I don't know, he's.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
Trying to do the Michael Jordan flu game thing or something.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
I'm sure, it'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
We gotta wrap up the first hour of the show
when we return in West Shuler, Matt Williamson, It is
the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network,
Your tuns.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
We got a short segment here to close down the
first hour of the show, but I did want to
just we got two tweets. It's kind of piggybacking off
of a couple of things there that we just discussed
with Chris Hallick in the last couple of days here.
Speaker 4 (42:33):
We've gotten a couple tweets, one from Jeff, one.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
From Brad, and one from Doug talking about how impressed
they were with Dylan Cook saying that the only time
you know, Jeff says, the only time I heard his
name on the broadcast was when Troy Aikman mentioned him
one time to compliment him. Matt, I think that is
huge for this team moving forward, especially against a team
like Detroit, and you kind of accompany that with guys
(43:01):
like Assante, Samuel Junior, Joey Porter Junior, Kyle Duck, like
a lot of these guys, it just feels like elevating there,
but stepping into roles and keeping that train moving, you know,
hopping on that moving train, and for the more established
guys kind of elevating their roles here as that road
is narrowing.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Obviously, that's a testament to the players and cooking specifically
and all those things. But yet, folks that don't want
to give coaching staffs credit. You get these guys ready quick,
you know, and get them up to speed. And being
a practice squad player and a tackling dummy, he's a
lot different than blocking Bradley Chubb for sixty snaps or whatever,
you know what I mean, and all the scheme of
(43:40):
it all, and our past pro adjustments and the mental
stuff and playing next to a guy and see them
all who even left you know, the game. You have
that safety blanket. You're right, you know, I just kind
of dawned on me too. Now I don't have the
stats in front of me on cook and pressures and
some of those things. Pressure rate I don't think are
setting Stone. Sure, but he did a lot of work
one on one against.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Chubb against a veteran past Yeah, he's.
Speaker 3 (44:03):
A good player. He's not Miles Garrett. He's a good player,
but I think he allowed like one pressure alone against
him pretty good. Now this week he gets Touchinson a
lot side.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
This week he does get a guy who you know,
I was gonna say, Miles Garrett caliber.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
I don't know if anybody's playing at that level right now.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
But he's a Tier one guy.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
He's a tier one had a really good chance to
win Defensive Player of the Year last year if he
didn't have that gruesome leg injury.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
He's outstanding.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
He's outstanding, and that's that's gonna be a real challenge.
But I think they're hitting it with the right kind
of momentum.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
And just or Pete or Cook you're helping with Hodge totally,
I mean, no doubt, totally. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:43):
Last one here before we go to break.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
I like this from Annie, She said, I smile when
I listen to you guys talk about jpj's improved play.
I can hear Dale saying, you know, you're allowed to
get better.
Speaker 3 (44:53):
Yeah, we say it a lot. If he would just
write these guys off twenty four year old, I mean,
what are you like, twenty four year old? You don't
want to know right exactly?
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Had long hair, Yeah, and did a lot of the
goof did a lot of goofy things.
Speaker 4 (45:08):
Yes, yes, no doubt, as I think many of us did.
Speaker 3 (45:11):
Coverage stats are another one I don't take as gospel,
but I tweeted something yesterday that Pro Football Focus put
out of you know how they build those graphs. Well,
he's in the top right corner of all corners this
year in terms of just the very coverages. I mean,
go check out my time like that Williamson NFL. I'm
sure you figure that out.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
But he's playing really really well, very well, yes, like
at like it, at an all pro type level this
this last month and a half.
Speaker 3 (45:36):
People throw a wide receiver one around way too much,
Like I don't think Metcalf's will wide receiver one. I
think he's a really good player. But there's like twelve
of them in that I get what you're saying, you
know what I mean, true, BONI five, there's not thirty
two of them, is my point, you know, But Porter's
knocking a door being a corner one, you know, and
there's not thirty two of them in the world either.
Speaker 2 (45:52):
That's a good place to be. Yes, certainly, one hour
in the book's another hour to go. We will go
around campus and hour number two. We've got some clarity
around some of these quarterbacks and some other certainly certainly could,
and some quick thoughts on the opening round of the
college football playoff as well. We'll get into some conversation,
(46:13):
more conversation about the Lions and hour number two as
we roll along. Euler Williamson, It's the Drive on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
You were tuns about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. While Shouler and Matt Williamson with you here
for the next two hours on a Wednesday. Is the
weather's a little bit warmer here today?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yeah, melting we hit it, suns out.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
That part's kind of nice.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, the melting parts nice.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Last night, I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Trying to take the trash cans out to the curb,
but I'm like, where do I put these?
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Kind of it's just two feet of snow.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
The same thing, Yeah, everywhere you look, but a little
bit sunnier here today.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It is a Wednesday. We have got plenty to get to.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Our schedules, still a little convoluted as it's only our
second show of the week, but it is a Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
So Matt, I figured we would lead.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Off here with an exercise that we typically do on Tuesdays,
but just to kind of get us started here on Wednesday,
how about we take a look at these power rankings
now that now the week fifteen is in the book. Yep,
And Matt, I know you're shocked by this but in
the basement once again as the Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Oh, they're just making a stronger and stronger case. I mean,
their numbers in that past game, like first downs didn't happen,
yardage didn't happen. I mean, ridiculously bad, and they ount
of talent. I mean, they're really in a bad spot.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
They are.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I guess maybe the only good news is they're on
track to get the first overall pick.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Right But if you live at one of those two
quarterbacks in that situation, well.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
That's exactly where I was going.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
I would almost be like, I'm trading down. Yeah, you know,
give me, give me a top ten offensive or defensive lineman,
give me another first round talent somewhere, the.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
First rounder for next year, and maybe go get the
guy that right now, because I just it's unsavable with
one quarterback, even.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
If it was for failure, even if it was a
Trevor Lawrence Andrew Luck Joe Burrow type prospect, I would
still be hesitant to PLoP them into that situation.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I know. And these guys aren't I Mendozy nine, but
they're not like that. They're not let no brain or
over pass up.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
On them, no doubt, And we'll get to that more
an hour. Number two. We'll do a little around campus
today as well.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
That's the thing like hockey and basketball, you just take
Lebron or Lemieux or Crosby or whatever. You know, we'll
figure it out. But here it's like you can ruin it.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
You can break these guys, you can dave the car
these guys, oh yick. And yet it's a tough situation
for the Raiders right now. And then at number thirty
one staying here, I think you and I agree, but
they're in a much better situation.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
It's the Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, I might even sure if they'd be thirty one.
I mean, they play hard, and they're playing better than
some of the junk teams. I might have the Jets
thirty one. Jets have been pretty terrible.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I might have the Giants thirty one. Yeah, it's a
lot of splitting hairs. Again, they're all bad between bad
hairs there. But the Giants, you know, remember way back
to that Thursday nighter against at home against the Eagles
and what was kind of the Jackson Darton cam scatterby party.
They've lost eight straight since that and at least if
(03:06):
you're the Titans, You're like, hey, we've got cam Ward,
We've got some guys on our defensive line.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, yeah, we're in a good spot.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Like that.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Would mind be the GM of Titans.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I think that's probably the best way to put it
to me. If you say, of all these bottom five
or six or seven teams, if you had to be
the GM of one starting tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Raiders is my last choice.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Raiders is my last choice.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Browns.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Browns is very low on the list.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
They have two first round picks.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
The Jets.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Like, I think number one for me is obviously Tennessee
number two. Number two is probably the Jets, just because
they've got a ton of assets.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, they at least have an offensive line.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You've got some young pieces on that offensive line that
you can build around.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
If you I just don't love dart. But if if
you were someone and I understand the people that do,
if you love darts, they don't need a ton that's fair.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
You know, the defense, the defense could easily be much better.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Neighbors comes back.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
They've got some pieces on the offensive line.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, it's not terrible. I just don't love dart.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Same if you if you like Dart. I don't think
you're crazy. If you love Dart, I think you might be.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, I get both sides. I mean,
I'm not setting stone that he's gonna stink for it. Sure,
but sure I leaned towards you would not be the
guy I built around.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I lean towards that best. He might be a I
don't know who's a good example. Jalen Hurts. Yeah, that's
as a Super Bowl champion and the VP.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
But but I mean his sporting cast was so good,
you know right.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, Number thirty is the Giants. Twenty nine is the Jets.
The MetLife portion there towards the bottom.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Of Llie just playing terrible football right now.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
They are they've done the can coon on three. To
quote Arthur Motes, they are booking their they're booking their
January plans.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And he crushed them two weeks ago. I mean rushed.
I mean they're playing Brady Cook.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It looked like the varsity team scrimmage and the jv
team and Jacksonville yank the running back out of here
in the second quarter.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Don't get him hit anymore.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yes, Jacksuvill did a number on two.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Twenty eight is the Cleveland Browns. I think that they're.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
They have a defense.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I think they're the.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Best of these teams because they at least have a defense.
But man, they look like another team that's started to
think about their their January vacation plans.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, and their pressure rate allowed is worse in the league,
you know, And the Chargers are gaining on them quick
because they don't have anybody. But they're the two worst
by far. So it's really hard to evaluate Sanders or
anyone for that matter, because they can't block anybody right now.
I mean, to me, those are the two teams, the
Chargers and Browns that just don't block anybody. I mean,
(05:33):
the Chargers are overcoming it somehow.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
As Harbert's and Genie, yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
And everything else around them is much better than what
the Browns have.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Number twenty seven stay and put as they have lost
eleven of their last twelve games. The Arizona Cardinals still.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Think they're better than these other teams.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
They've got some pieces. Ye, Bride is top five tight
end in the NFL, having a huge year, and they've
got you know, they've.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Got a lot of guys down yeah, right right.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
They're another one of those I think if they made
the right higher, if they hit the right buttons in
the offseason, Not that they're gonna, you know, win nine
or ten games and contend for a playoff spot, but
I think that they could be a non disaster and
non pushover in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So it's weird, and I'm not doing this to try
to get everybody psycked up. But they did a mail
bag podcast today and one of the questions was, who
are teams that are picking later, like in the second
half of the first round that could trade up to
like number one or number two, you know, like the
Eagles did for Wentz or that year was Goff. And
(06:38):
then they say, is there any other sleeper teams that
could trade to the very top for a quarterback?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
You're not talking like the Chiefs did to go to
what ten or eleven and get Mahomes in that vein,
but more like Les Wentz example is a good one.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, I mean that's they took him two trades to
do it, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Same with Buffalo to get Allen right, but he was
seventh overall, which is still a little bit finger back.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I mean, I'm trying to read the tea leaves of
this draft, because I think there's only gonna be two
quarterbacks and they're gonna both go top five. I mean,
you're on topas I agree.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I think ty Simpson could be the third, but there's
still some wait and see what that.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Where Allan and Mahomes were much better classes. You could
go to seven, ten, eleven. But anyway, the team and
only team I could come up with the Steelers, I
mean to be honest, like someone that's picking like a
playoff type team that would make the huge splash, go
all the way to two, three, one, whatever. But I
also see the Cardinals in there. Like the Cardinals end
(07:30):
up with the eighth or ninth pick. Sure they could
be the bryce young team that go from ten to one,
you know, and I would understand it for them the
same here and not the worst infrastructure to go into.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It would make sense for them in terms of Listen,
we don't think about this much in Pittsburgh, but some
teams like strike while the Iron's hot, sell some more tickets, jerseys,
get some more butts and seats.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
They need to think about that there.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Like I remember telling you when the Colts came here
and they were what seven and one at that point.
I think the Colts were or seven and two something
like that. And this was before the sauce trade. Like
talking with their broadcast guys and them being like, we're
we're trying to strike while the iron's hot this year,
like we're putting out more content than ever. Yeah, team's
being more aggressive than ever because we got it.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
It's a weird world to not be in the same world,
you know, to have to do that.
Speaker 6 (08:15):
But whatever, and there's he I mean, we we see that,
you know in their businesses.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
People forget these are businesses, right, there are thirty two
individual business.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
It's why the Pittsburgh Pirates have fifty bobblehead nights every year.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Because you've got to you gotta fireworks.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
You got there's.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Something to get the butts in the seats. Number twenty
six is the Washington Commander's.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Mass They're pretty terrible, right, They're pretty terrible. They are.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I think another team that is, if you have a
good offseason, you could turn this around pretty quick. Yeah yeah,
but that defense is old and they just they need
a lot of retooling.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
They need a lot of defense, you know. But they
have a quarterback too, they do. I don't know if
I'd have them over Arizona. They're both pretty terrible.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
This team at twenty five, I might have a spot
or two higher, although I'm looking at the teams above them,
and I think it might be fair. But how about
the New Orleans Saints.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I like that they're this high. I mean most of
us look at him like, oh, they're terrible. They're playing hard.
They're playing hard, all right.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
They're winning games.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
The games that they lose, it doesn't look like a
Jets loss, it doesn't look like a Raiders loss. Like
they're still competitive in their losses.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
I think Kellen Worres done a good job as head
coach there. Same here and I will be the starting
quarterback next year.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I think he will too, and that is good news
for the Pittsburg stillers. Number twenty four of the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
The shared little signs of life lately, but it's been
a bad year.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
They're they're a weird one, Like what do you do?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
What do you do with Kyle Pitt's You know, what
do you do with your quarterback situation? You don't have
a first round pick. Bijeon's right in his absolute prime,
one of the best handful of players in football right now?
Do you build around that? It's just there's no easy
answer for London being ow.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
It's really hurt them too because they don't have other,
you know, wide receivers. They do pass catchers and pits.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Bengals checking in at twenty three h after a some
feel good against the Ravens on Thanksgiving. It's kind of
gone backwards these past couple of weeks and all the
you know, Joe Burrow cryptic comments.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Did you have the Bengals or Dolphins higher? It wasn't
the best performance by the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
They just bench, but I was gonna say I'd probably
go with the team that didn't just bench them.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
I was thinking too, like the I mean, they're gonna
roll out yours. They're probably only going to go backwards
in this list.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
And I don't know if you saw some of the
numbers today, but it's basically like it costs the Dolphins
just as much to cut to a dead cat money
as it does to keep them next year like they are.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
It'd be worse than Russell Wilson with the Broncos, which
has been the worst dead hit in NFL history.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
They might be in they might be neck and neck
with the Cleveland Browns in terms of the worst quarterback
situation in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Right now.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Agree. So at this conversation, Tua was the topic of
the day in terms of other podcasts, and so that's
the biggest national news for the day. Matt, what would
you do as the Dolphins? And I rarely take this attempt,
but i'd strip it for parts. I mean I would
I would tank. I hate the word tank, the one
I used to hate the word tank, But I mean
I would trade Waddle, I would trade a Chan, I
(11:10):
would trade Minca.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
So you don't mean like these last three games.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
No, I'm talking about right, they already fired the GM.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
You would tear it down to build it back up.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I think you're getting a new head coach. I think
I would go and get every draft pick I possibly
can and try to be picking at the top of
next year's draft.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
When there's quarterbacks anyone who's not going to be around
in two, three, four years, get rid.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Of them, I mean the Mincas of the world. Yeah.
And I rarely take that approach because I think that
does inreparable harm to a locker room, you know, and
just killing the winning culture is never a good idea.
Not they have a great winning culture. But whatever you built.
But man, they're really financially straft Tyreek gone. You know,
all those type of dudes. I think I would go
(11:52):
down to nothing and try to just eat your vegetables
in this upcoming Yeah, yeah, one one brutal year.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
At least they have so of these teams that are
in this situation don't have any assets, don't have any
parts that they can strip off and sell.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
That's why later is the worst job ever.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
The Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
I mean, you've got some rif if you were to
fire sale that thing, you'd have some really attract you
picked some stuff up right, you'd have a lot of
people stopping at your yard sale to bargain with you.
Be something that lazy boy sitting over there and that
beer fridge, and they're in really good condition.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Yeah, all of a sudden, like I got some Yeah,
I get some change in my pocket.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Minnesota Vikings at twenty one won a couple of games
here JJ McCarthy showing some life.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
They're not completely going in the tank.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
They'd be better than anyone mentioned, are They.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Another one of those teams that could trade from the
middle of the draft up to the top five to
get a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I think, well, that's another conversation.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
We had McCarthy looks on these these Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I mentioned him more than any other quarterback of that one.
Let's see the rest of the League of the Year playout,
because it's been better the last couple of weeks. He
has so little experience. Yeah, yeah, if he could play
like this, you'd run it back. I'd run it back
with him and Eddie Dalton, you know, you know some
mentor type you know.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Number twenty the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Wow, amazing the.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Lowest that they have been probably since I.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Mean, especially with factor that Mahome's not the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Then Yeah, and even some of these teams behind them,
they might be favored over the chief Like if the
Vikings and the Chiefs played this weekend, I bet you
the Vikings are favored slightly.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
That's almost how I started the response when you said
the Chiefs, I'm like, oh, but they'd be favored. Everybody
else might well not now.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Not now, they wouldn't be it last week they would
have been.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Yeah, big favorites.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Nineteen the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, they're kind of dwindling a little bit.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Dangerous but dwindling.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Yeah, and they can still knock off somebody and play
a big factor in this thing down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
But ain't looking good, bro.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, although they're another one right off season, and they could.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Be good next year.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I think Pickens will get franchise or extended draft defense
like crazy, they get some extra picks too. They could
be right in the trades.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Yeah, they're starting to starting to bear fruit for them.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, good young o line.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Number eighteen Matt unable to take advantage of the Buccaneers loss.
It's the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, it's Carolina or Tampa. I mean, who's worse right now?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Seventeen? I mean I think that's good.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Like I'd have them right next to each other.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
They play, they play two times here in the next
three weeks. It's gonna set up to be a lot
of fun in that regard parts school. Yeah, that part's great.
Same with the Packers and the Bears or you know,
got the second half of that. I'm going to give
the Bucks the edge because of the experience, because of
the quarterback too.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Is they could the Bucks could at least convince me
in the next three weeks that they could win a playoff.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
They find something.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, like I remember that team. They're just
in a bad place right now where Carolina they could
win out that. I'm not going to pick them the
win round one. Great's no way agreed.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Sixteen The Indianapolis Cults Matt.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Kind of a weird one.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Life comes at you fast in the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
The fact that they were competitive in Seattle, I give
them some credit for. I mean, he can't throw anymore.
What he did from the neck up was pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
It's a crazy I mean, the Colts in the Bucks
were top five in the Power rankings. It points that
long not that long ago. Yeah, and now they are
down closer to twenty fifteen. The Baltimore Ravens a much
needed response for them from them.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah, and hey, that's the neighborhood they're in right now.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Their next two weeks are really tough. They are New England,
a Patriots team that's going to now be pissed off
and looking to stick with the Broncos. And then they
have to go to Lambeau and what will be a
Packers team that is likely going to have plenty to
play for as well.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Well.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Of course, now lamar definitely looked his best of any
day since his injury. Yes, so that's encouraging, But I
still think both their lines are not good enough.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Fourteen. The Steelers upcoming opponent the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Out of the Lions ahead the Steelers, Yeah, that's only
the Lions are awfully good. They're just something. I mean,
they are like the number one offense in the league.
I mean, they have some defensive injuries. I know they're
on the outside looking in. But without Micah Parsons, are
they a better team than the Packers? Like just her power?
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Now?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
I don't care about the math. Yeah, how you get
in just like on a neutral field.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I don't know, like thirty thousand foot view. I would
say yes, because I think they're pretty darn good too, right,
But they've just lost so many close games this year.
I know, I know that it's almost become like the
Chiefs thing of like I know who you are, I
know what you are, but you got to.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Show it, you do. You know, they've won so many
games the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
I totally doubt totally, Like, I still.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Think they can win the Super Bowl. I mean, if
you paint a little bit of a rosy picture. I mean,
they may not get in I understand sure, but.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
They Yeah, they have the roster build and the makeup
to absolutely.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Go on a run. I agree with you on that.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
They're a little better the last couple of years than
this year, but I still think they're dangerous.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
They are definitely dangerous. I'm with you on that. And
the Steelers checking at thirteen just one spot.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Ahead of them, I've just probably flipped those two.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
But I don't.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I think that that's the right range for all these
teams Detroit, Baltimore, Pittsburgh last.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Two weeks, So it would definitely helped the Steelers obviously.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
The Eagles checking in at number twelve.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Defense is really good. I think the offense is sort
of broke. I mean, Hurts has really hurt them, and
they're very predictable. Lane Johnson being out this seems low.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
For Lane Johnson going to be back ors.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I don't know, you're sitting here and thinking the same thing.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I'm not sure they needed what they need to do
and beat up on a really bad Raiders team.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Yeah, last week it didn't show me anything.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
That just shows me that they can still hang around.
What their ultimate ceiling is? I have no idea, but
I think you're right. A lot of that uh circles
around depends upon the form the play of Jalen.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Hurts, Yeah, which worries me a little bit.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Number eleven the Chargers three straight wins.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
I may have a couple of these teams ahead of Charge.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
They're another one that are tough for me. But they're
despite every reason not to. They keep finding ways to
win games.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
And I think they're coaching quarterback are really good at
what they do. Agreed, Yeah, and that goes a long.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Way, very very much agreed.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Number ten, they might be Matt and Nice picking the
AFC right now, if we had to do it, Matt
might have some cheddar on these guys to win the AFC.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
So the Houston Texans, Yeah, I mean it just power ranks.
They would be number one for me in the AFC.
I think they're the best team in the AFC right now.
Now I understand why people don't rank them that way.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
You know they they certainly have the best defense in
the AFC right now, which is clearly we know that
that travels and we know that that's huge part of
the equation.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
This time of year. Number nine is those green Bay Packers.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
That might be for me, might be a little high
considering the losses they just sustained, you know, I mean they.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
They're already Downcraft Parsons is going to be out for
the rest of the year. Watson's hurt, Zach thom is hurt,
Kway Walker's hurt.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Evan Williams. Evan Williams is hurt.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Yeah, he's a really good safety. People know about it.
They're getting hit hard at the wrong.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
They are getting hit hard at the wrong time. Yeah,
very good way to put it. If they're completely healthy, they're.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
A top three or four team in the league.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
But they are them chiefly dropped at least a tier
this past week. If not to.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I'm with you on that the Niners stay at number eight.
I mean, Brock Party probably his best performance of the season.
Ricky Piersoll emerging, having a big nearly one hundred yard day.
George Kittle looks back to form. I don't think the
Niners can win the Super Bowl, but I think they're
a really dangerous team that they've got the culture of
been there, done that in the postseason a lot of times.
(19:30):
They just know how to win games. They're going to
be a very tough. They're that classic, that proverbial very
tough out.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Yeah, come to play.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
They could definitely. They're they're that uh lot of defensive
injuries all year.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
They're that feisty mid major that you don't want to
see in the second round. You know, you're you're Duke
or Kentucky and you're like, man, I really don't want
to see Mercer. Those guys can scrap. Those guys could
play defense. Those those guys will run with us for
forty minutes. I don't think they're gonna win a Natty,
but they're but they can knock somebody off who could.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Yeah, Oh, they definitely could. In the NFC, though, I
think i'd have San Fran ahead of Green Bay. Yes,
I might have Detroit over both. Oh, I know Detroice
on this weird thing. For ten games they've gone win lost,
win lost.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Yeah, I mean it's on paper. I certainly think they're
more talented right now.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
On their best day is better than either one of
those teams best days.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Number seven.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
See, I think you might sing a similar tune. It's
the Jacksonville Jaguars, fresh off of five straight wins.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
I'm sorry, become believer. I mean Lawrence's playing great. I
think the coach is doing a tremendous job. Jakobe Myers
was like the exact puzzle piece they needed to complete everything.
Defense is fine.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yeah, Yeah, they got the Broncos this weekend. That one,
I think will tell us a lot about both teams. Yes,
number sixth, highest we've seen them in a long time.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Du Bears, that's funny in here close to the top.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Put the Bears and Jags like right next week. Yeah, yeah,
And I think that.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
That's a similar situation.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Yeah, quarterback trying to find its way first time head coach.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Absolutely, it's not one a lot lately.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Exceeding expectations ahead of schedule. Just get to the playoffs
and everything else is money in the bank. Number five
into the top five, dropping just one spot after blowing
a big lead to their division.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Fow the Buffalo Bills. It's the New England Patriots.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I wouldn't crush them for that.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
They were due.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
They were due, like they started strong, they couldn't close.
That's about where they belong. I'd have them over the
last two teams imagined.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
And I almost if I was a Patriots fan, which
makes me want to throw up on myself saying that
out loud.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I almost think that might have been a good thing
for them.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yeah, maybe, like this doesn't come as easy as you
guys think, young pups, like, yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
This was not gonna be though, We're gonna win fourteen
games and waltz to the super Bowl from from being
where we were the last two years to that, Like,
there's gotta be some roadbumps, playoff type, there's got to
be some roadbumps along the way. You got to take
your medicine. You got to learn your lessons. Every young
ascending team and every sport has to do that before
they get up, before they can get you get your team.
(22:01):
They you know, they the last ten weeks they've been winning,
and they walk into the team meeting on two Mondays. Yeah,
and now it's like set up in your chair and
pay attention, all right, because now it's starting to get
more difficult.
Speaker 6 (22:14):
I think that Josh, hey, they would have loved to
have clinched the division and in the home playoff game
and all that, but.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
I think that that loss might go a long way
for them.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
I need to see who the Patriots play this week.
But as you talk through that, I'm like, I bet
they win big.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
If it's just an average of Baltimore Ravens at.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
That's a good time for That's good for the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
That's a good Baltimore momentah, because then Baltimore goes the lambo.
So yes, it is, it is in Baltimore. Number four
of the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Yeah they're hot. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Again, they are not the most complete team. They are
not the most talented team. But they have two things
going for him. One they're built for.
Speaker 6 (22:48):
This time of year, yes, finally, And two they've got
If I if I was starting an NFL franchise right
now to head into January and head into the postseason,
that's my first pick is Josh might.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Be enough this year.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
No Mahomes right right, Burrow, you could have no Lamar
right right.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
That's pretty nice. And if he's a superstar.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I mean, if you get Bill's, if you get Bills Steelers,
round one one of those MVP quarterbacks is going home.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
I mean, you know like it. You're starting to look around.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
If you're Buffalo and it's been a weird season and
you're not nearly as confident in your team as you've
been at other points in but you might be looking
around at your neighbors and going, you know what, like
our front yard. It's not the nicestly landscape that's ever been,
but it's looking.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
It's looking better than Tom Dick and Harry down the tree.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Right, and I get to snap at the josh every time.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Now, I got the best grass cutter. I had the
best browns keeper in the entire neighborhood.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
Here.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Number three the Seattle Seahawks. They drop one spot. I
don't know if I agree with that, but they take
care of business. It was an Ail Bier over the Colts. Hey,
that's a good team. The Colts are not what we
thought they were a couple of months ago, but they're.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Still a good team. And they were desperate, desperate a
lot to play for.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
That's another one for Seattle that I think, the way
that played out, might that's probably better for them than
winning by twenty one points. Maybe, you know, find a
way to the other team takes a lead with a
minute left, we find a way to get that ball
down the field, kick a field goal and win.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Like I think that's a good.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Playoff type, low scoring, don't blink game for Seattle.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Yeah, and we'll find out a lot about them tomorrow night.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Yeah, I can't wait for Denver.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
I assume the Rams are one.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
I don't think one Broncos or two Broncos were.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Playing quite well with the like eleven game winning streak.
That's hard to argue.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
It's hard to argue.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
The one thing for Denver that really is starting to
make me think, okay, they could win the AFC and
go to the Super Bowl is Drake May is playing
better Knicks.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Yeah right, we're just talking the other guy.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
Sorry, bow Knicks is playing back.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
As the best game he's ever played, I think it,
and he's starting to get it.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
I think at times this season they were kind of
carrying him along. Oh not that he was weighing the
team down, but he wasn't. He wasn't a high tide
that was raising any ships either.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Definitely not. They were kind of not They were winning
in spite of him, but they weren't winning because of them.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Correct, I think. I mean, hey, three hundred yards and
four touchdowns. I think bo Nix is heating up and
turning a corner at the right time. And then number one,
I think you and I have been on this same
page for for a while now. I think the team
that we would both pick to win the Super Bowl
if we had to today, the eleven and three Los
Angeles Rams, who took care of the desperate Detroit Lions
(25:22):
this past weekend.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
We'll bring up tomorrow. But I was a little shocked
to hear today that they're a dog in Seattle. Yeah,
I mean it's Seattle short week. Wante Adams is probably
one play, but still I think I would take points
with them against anybody anywhere right now. What was it
one and a half, It's only one and a half.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
It's not surprising. Slight home field advantage for Seattle.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
But they're better on the road than at home.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
That's true. It's a very good point the Rams right now.
Are they got it all going on?
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:49):
I think they're complete.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
They got the quarterback, they got the trenches, they got
the playmakers, they got the coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
They're complete.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Davante Adams hamstring injury, but still relatively healthy. Like that
doesn't seem like it's something that it's gonna keep him.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
On a Sunday Monday he probably plays.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Or.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Or if the Rams are playing the Raiders on Thursday
night football, you're like, let them rest it's kind just
just get right for the stretch run here. But I
don't think either of us have any problem with the
Rams being number one.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
No, I think they're pretty easy number one at this point.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
That is our power rankings here week fifteen of the books.
Looking ahead two week sixteen. We will get back into
some Steelers specifics with our buddy Chris Halleck when we
return on the other side. Just getting started here on
a Wednesday, Well Shuler, Matt Williamson, it is the Drive
on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Your tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Rolling along here on a Wednesday, into the phone lines
we go to talk to our buddy, Chris Halleck, of course,
covers the Steelers for dk Pittsburgh Sports. Chris, thank you
for taking the time. As always, buddy, let's jump right
into would hear you? You're a reporter? I mean you
are you know, a beat writer, to use an old term.
You are around the team, the locker rooms, the practice
is all that. Obviously much more than Matt and I are,
(27:12):
so just kind of a thirty thousand foot vibe check
to get us started here, I got to imagine that
that the atmosphere that the energy around the locker room,
around practice is is much different this week and recently
than it had been, say maybe after that Buffalo Bills game.
Speaker 5 (27:31):
Oh yeah, of course. Yeah, the guys feel pretty good
about themselves. But I don't see, I've this has been
pretty consistent, not just this season, but over my time
and covering the team, which has been since the twenty
twenty two and they stay pretty even keeled. Mike Tomand
does a pretty good job of keeping keeping the team
(27:53):
from riding the emotional rollercoaster. And you know, I've seen
you know, two and six starts in twenty twenty two,
and I've seen you know this this type of a
season where it's just up and down, up and down,
up and down, and but they've they've remained pretty even
killed the entire way. It's not really been anything crazy
where you know, you're seeing you know, after like that
Bills game, you're seeing guys you know, walking around with
(28:15):
long faces and hanging their heads. And you're also not
seeing you know, parties in the locker room after winning
too straight either. But overall, yeah, the vibes are are
are good there. You know, there is energy and you
hope that it can carry on, especially into what's going
to be a really difficult match up on the road.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Yeah, I think it would be a really difficult matchup.
And having Derek Harmon back I think would go a
long way if you're feeling good about him being a
startery back again in Detroit. And how do you see
the defense with and without him? I mean, I know
everyone knows the rushing numbers are crazy skewed with them
without him, but how do you see the ripple effects
or his value?
Speaker 5 (28:55):
I mean, listen, I think one of the things about
Derek Harmon that that that they loved whenever he was
coming out of Oregon. This is like before they even
drafted him, was just how smart of a football player
he is. And it's not just you know, understanding his
role on the defensive line or just on the defensive
front in general, but it's also what he does when
(29:19):
he's like he understands his role in the one out
of eleven, he understands what he needs to do for
all eleven guys on the defensive side of the ball
to do their job, and not as you know, sometimes
it takes NFL players years to understand something like that,
and the fact that he can come in as a
rookie and understand that. I think that's one of the
reasons why the defense in general has been so much
(29:41):
better with him against the run, because he doesn't, you know,
abandon gaps. He holds his ground, he under he's a
smart football player. He understands where he needs to be
to make his to make the linebackers jobs easier. I feel,
you know, in terms of his availability, I feel a
lot better about him playing this week. The fact that
Mike Tomlin in his press conference yesterday said that he
(30:03):
was probably healthy enough to play against the Dolphins on
Monday night. That's usually a really good indication as long
as he has no setbacks in practice this week, that
he'll he'll be playing on Sunday. Now, we have yet
to see the practice report today. They pushed back everything
an hour today. That's usually pretty typical after a Monday
night game for them to push practice, every practice and
(30:24):
everything else back on Wednesday back an hour. So it'll
be a little bit later today when we see that.
But either way, I feel pretty good about him playing
and it'll be a big boost especially knowing that they
have to play a Detroit Lions team that has Jamior
Gibbson and David Montgomery. It's a really good deal that
they have a running back.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
Yeah, certainly, and kind of sticking with the trenches there
and as it relates to Detroit, but spinning the block, Chris,
I thought it was a outstanding performance from Dylan Cook
on Monday Night football against the Dolphins. We know Detroit's
very talented in the trenches both sides of the ball,
but certainly defense as well. On just Pete status still
(31:02):
up in the air, but I gotta think you're we're
all pretty confident if they have to run it back
with Dylan Cook and Detroit on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And Chris, if Pete were healthy, do you think he
would immediately become the starter again or is that for debate?
Speaker 5 (31:17):
I think it's at least up for debate at this point.
I don't think it's an automatic thing where where Pete
just you know, gets the nod. And no matter what
I think, if if Dylan Cook goes out there and
he gives up you know, seven or eight pressures and
you know, really really struggles, I think it's usually a
pretty good, pretty easy decision for Mike Tomlin to be like, Okay,
(31:38):
let's go with the with the veteran, but when when
he plays the way he plays, and listen, we've seen
it happen this season when when players step in and
take advantage of their opportunity to play, seeing it with
James Pierre, you know, with Nick Herbert. When guys play
really well, they they earn elevated roles. And if Dylan Cook,
you know, if Andres Pete is not going to be
(32:00):
able to go, or at least if he doesn't, you know,
get a chance to clear a protocol until later in
the week, then maybe that's a decision when Mike Thummins
got to scratch his head a little bit and then
see what should we go with Dylan again, you know,
or or the fact that he's making it even a
decision is just indicative of how well he played. And
(32:20):
so I don't think it's it's as easy as of
a decision as Okay, Pete, clear the protocol, Okay, let's
put it back in. No, I think you have to
seriously consider, like, all right, let's see him.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Do it again. How do you decipher the wide receiver
pecking order and usage at the moment.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Well, obviously d Kays off the top, and after that,
I I would call probably Adam Field probably w R
two right now based off of you know, snap count
and usage, even though the volume of targets isn't exactly there,
(32:57):
the usage, how much they trust him to run routes correctly,
how much they trust him uh in run blocking and
things like that, I think, And.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
He was out there quite a bit with two receiver sets.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
Yeah, so I think he's your your de facto w
R two right now. And then I think after that
it's kind of this mixture of it depends on what
we want to do. If we want to attack deep,
MVS is gonna go out there, then we can have
two deep threats. And it's just you know, pick your poison,
(33:29):
you know, I mean, it's you know, we're gonna go
out there at twelve personnel, Okay, Well, the two receivers
are going to be Metcalf and MVS. And if you're
gonna run too high and take that away, okay, well great,
now you're gonna hold up the middle of the field
for the tight ends, which we saw the Steelers do
against the Dolphins. The one the one play. I think
that's just really indicative of that. It was the r
p O that they that Rogers through to Friar ruth
(33:50):
uh for for twenty two yards. But then you know,
if it depends, you know, you might want something where
you want to utilize some speed underneath and that could
be Calvanov, you know. So I think after that, it's
kind of it depends on what they want to do.
I think it's more based off of schematics of what
they're expecting from the opposing defense. I don't think it's
as solidified, but I think you're gonna see you're gonna
(34:13):
see Mbs continue to get opportunities. You're going to see
Calvin Austin continue to get opportunities. So but I would
say that the clear number two right now is probably
Adam feeling so real.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Quick the piggyback off that just kind of dawned on me.
And I don't know how much you've looked at the Lions,
but I'm halfway into my prep is usual on Wednesday,
but they're they play with their bet base defense for
three three four, you know, for four defensive backs on
the field, more than any team in the league.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
Yeah, I was actually just looking that up.
Speaker 3 (34:41):
Yeah, so, I mean that's what they want to do.
Do you think the Steelers might try more three wide?
Speaker 5 (34:50):
Yeah, no, it's not what it's not what they do,
but that they could. I mean in theory, you know,
it's not like that. Yeah, the Steelers don't run a
lot of eleven personnel compare to the rest of the
but but the percentage is still it's still high. You know,
it's still what do they still do a lot of it? Anything?
Speaker 4 (35:11):
Right?
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:11):
What did they do more than anything else? They're an
eleven personnel more than anything else. But yeah, that that
doesn't mean that they, you know, use their teen personnel
more than any other team except for the Rams or
anything like that. But no, that they still run a
healthy dose of eleven personnel. It's just not as much
as the rest of the league is. But so that
(35:31):
they have it, they have the ability to do it.
And now, you know, when you have K K.
Speaker 7 (35:36):
Metcalf and that feeling and MVS and Calvin Austin and
you know, Scotty Miller, possibly you've got some receivers that
you could probably trust a little bit more.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
Listen, I keep bringing up Scotty Miller and I understand
he hasn't been talked about a lot, or he's really
gotten targets or anything, But I feel like if there's
ever a time where he just kind of becomes somebody
you know that could possibly be dependent on, it won't
be the most surprising thing. This is a guy who's
earned a lot of praise from you know, Tom Brady
and Aaron Rodgers like to the.
Speaker 8 (36:10):
Yeah, yeah, So I'm just saying like, when you talk
about you know somebody who you know, Hey, Calvin Austin's
out for a little bit, you know, you need Scotty
to step in.
Speaker 5 (36:23):
It's a game where you're gonna have to do a
lot more eleven personnel. Maybe Scotty can be that guy
to jump in and be dependable to be a professional.
But yeah, I think it's intriguing to see what the
what the solution will be. Are we gonna fight fire
with fire and just you know, run pretty much run
into the teeth of what the Lions do really well,
(36:44):
or are you going to force them to do something
a little bit different, get other their comfort zone or
try to beat you with their base defense while you
put you know, some smaller personnel packages on the field.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Mm hmm. Plenty to ponder ahead of this weekend. Chris.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
The last one I wanted to ask you about is
this Steelers secondary and Matt and I discussed this a
little bit yesterday, but just how different it's wound up
shaking out than we all expected. You know, back in
July and August at training camp. Back then, it was
you know, a Sleigh and Porter on the on the boundaries.
It was Ramsey in the slot, but kind of as
(37:17):
a jack of all trades as well, and then you
had Elliott and Thornhill playing at safety.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Not to mention how different it was even from what
they finished twenty twenty four, absolutely made a ton of
changes just to get to the point that you brought up.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
And then you know that has all changed now to
be Ramsey back at safety, with Kyle Dugger who was
acquired mid season, Joey Porter Junior kind of being the
one main stay there, but now with Eccles and to
Sante Samuel Junior playing every defensive snap, pierrelayed great, Pierre has.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Played outstanding, Chris.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
It hasn't, obviously, you know, shaken out the way that
any of us thought, But man, I think for how
much they've had to overturn that group. I think they've
found the right formula and found it at the right time.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, they might have figured it out finally after a
lot of the trage.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
Yeah. Yeah, well, I think I think when when the
results were were as bad as they were, and I
really think back to the to those those games against
the Bengals and Packers, when it got as bad as
it was and it got exposed that listen, this is
not going to work now. You know, Mike Tomlin could
have continued to you know, to ram his head into
a brick wall and be like, you know, no, this
(38:25):
is going to work. He could have been stubborn about it.
Or he could have just decided, you know what, we
got to change some things up. Well, they changed some
things up, and now they're they're not as predictable as
they were, you know, even last season playing a lot
of spot dropped cover three or or doing the things
that they're doing this year, where you know, sometimes they
go into games they run a lot of too high.
(38:45):
Other times they'll go into games and go back to
playing a lot of single high and man, you know,
it's it'll be interesting to see, you know, what they
do you know, you know each week, you know that
they're kind of keeping you guessing a little bit, and
that's what defense should be doing, you know, and you know,
credit to Tomlin, credit to to Tara Laustin for doing that,
and you know, to to have to overhaul the secondary
(39:09):
the way they have, not only because of injuries, but
because of performance, and and you know that requires players
to be willing to say, listen to the team is bigger
than me. Jale and Ramsey could have been like, you know,
screw this, I'm gonna play the position I want to play,
and nobody he was like, no, I you know, I'm
going to move to safety and I'm fine with that,
you know. So kudos to the players for buying into what,
(39:30):
you know, what needed to be done. To the coaches
for getting done when he needs to get done. It's
not been perfect. There have still been some weeks since
then where it's been pretty rough, but ultimately it's it's
getting better, and it's getting better at the right time,
and that's think probably the most important thing. If the
Steelers end up making the playoffs, win in their division
and go into the playoffs and win at least a
(39:52):
playoff game and show some improvement, you know, and the
defense is becoming better, you know, And that's one of
the reasons why, you know, I I don't think people
remember as much about like the low points of the season.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
Chris, we were about to let you go. But there's
one thing I've been mean to ask you for a
couple of weeks. And I don't know if anyone knows
his answer, But is Elliott season done? Or is there
a chance we see him in the playoffs or week
eighteen or well?
Speaker 5 (40:17):
I I reported this on our on our DK Pittsburgh
sports app a few weeks ago. I won't say, maybe
four four weeks ago or so. I reported at the
time that while he hasn't been officially ruled out for
the season, the overwhelming feeling on the inside was that
(40:38):
he's probably not coming back this year.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
Gotcha.
Speaker 5 (40:41):
That was again. It's it's an overwhelming feeling. If there's
any player that you don't want a doubt to come
back from an injury, it's Deshaun Elliott. You know, he's
motivated to play as always, But.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Yeah, you lean towards chances are it's probably done.
Speaker 5 (40:57):
I leaned toward no, And if there's any chance it's
probably going to be probably going to be in the
playoffs at the earliest. So no, I don't anticipate. I
would not expect to see twenty five again this season, gotcha.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
Oh, they're better equipped to handle it now than they were.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
They are, they are certain, but that is that is
definitely still a bummer. Great stuff as always with our
buddy Chris Allick. Chris, thank you for taking the time
here on a Wednesday, and we will talk to you soon.
Speaker 5 (41:22):
All right, Thanks for having me, guys. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
No, we appreciate you. There he goes in the same
breath as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, the great
Chris Hallick. Matt breaking news from Ravens Practice. Lamar Jackson
set home with the flu or sorry, kept home with
the flu.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
He seems to get sick a lot.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
You know why, I gotta.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Look at TV when I say this, because something's going around.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
You guys, hear about that something's going around.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
And actually said that about Lamar for a couple of
he gets the flu or stomach stuff. I mean a lot.
I don't know, he's.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
Trying to do the Michael Jordan flu game thing or something.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
I'm sure, it'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
We gotta wrap up the first hour of the show
when we return in West Shuler, Matt Williamson, It is
the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network,
Your tuns.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
We got a short segment here to close down the
first hour of the show, but I did want to
just we got two tweets. It's kind of piggybacking off
of a couple of things there that we just discussed
with Chris Hallick in the last couple of days here.
Speaker 4 (42:33):
We've gotten a couple tweets, one from Jeff, one.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
From Brad, and one from Doug talking about how impressed
they were with Dylan Cook saying that the only time
you know, Jeff says, the only time I heard his
name on the broadcast was when Troy Aikman mentioned him
one time to compliment him. Matt, I think that is
huge for this team moving forward, especially against a team
like Detroit, and you kind of accompany that with guys
(43:01):
like Assante, Samuel Junior, Joey Porter Junior, Kyle Duck, like
a lot of these guys, it just feels like elevating there,
but stepping into roles and keeping that train moving, you know,
hopping on that moving train, and for the more established
guys kind of elevating their roles here as that road
is narrowing.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Obviously, that's a testament to the players and cooking specifically
and all those things. But yet, folks that don't want
to give coaching staffs credit. You get these guys ready quick,
you know, and get them up to speed. And being
a practice squad player and a tackling dummy, he's a
lot different than blocking Bradley Chubb for sixty snaps or whatever,
you know what I mean, and all the scheme of
(43:40):
it all, and our past pro adjustments and the mental
stuff and playing next to a guy and see them
all who even left you know, the game. You have
that safety blanket. You're right, you know, I just kind
of dawned on me too. Now I don't have the
stats in front of me on cook and pressures and
some of those things. Pressure rate I don't think are
setting Stone. Sure, but he did a lot of work
one on one against.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Chubb against a veteran past Yeah, he's.
Speaker 3 (44:03):
A good player. He's not Miles Garrett. He's a good player,
but I think he allowed like one pressure alone against
him pretty good. Now this week he gets Touchinson a
lot side.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
This week he does get a guy who you know,
I was gonna say, Miles Garrett caliber.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
I don't know if anybody's playing at that level right now.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
But he's a Tier one guy.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
He's a tier one had a really good chance to
win Defensive Player of the Year last year if he
didn't have that gruesome leg injury.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
He's outstanding.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
He's outstanding, and that's that's gonna be a real challenge.
But I think they're hitting it with the right kind
of momentum.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
And just or Pete or Cook you're helping with Hodge totally,
I mean, no doubt, totally. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:43):
Last one here before we go to break.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
I like this from Annie, She said, I smile when
I listen to you guys talk about jpj's improved play.
I can hear Dale saying, you know, you're allowed to
get better.
Speaker 3 (44:53):
Yeah, we say it a lot. If he would just
write these guys off twenty four year old, I mean,
what are you like, twenty four year old? You don't
want to know right exactly?
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Had long hair, Yeah, and did a lot of the
goof did a lot of goofy things.
Speaker 4 (45:08):
Yes, yes, no doubt, as I think many of us did.
Speaker 3 (45:11):
Coverage stats are another one I don't take as gospel,
but I tweeted something yesterday that Pro Football Focus put
out of you know how they build those graphs. Well,
he's in the top right corner of all corners this
year in terms of just the very coverages. I mean,
go check out my time like that Williamson NFL. I'm
sure you figure that out.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
But he's playing really really well, very well, yes, like
at like it, at an all pro type level this
this last month and a half.
Speaker 3 (45:36):
People throw a wide receiver one around way too much,
Like I don't think Metcalf's will wide receiver one. I
think he's a really good player. But there's like twelve
of them in that I get what you're saying, you
know what I mean, true, BONI five, there's not thirty
two of them, is my point, you know, But Porter's
knocking a door being a corner one, you know, and
there's not thirty two of them in the world either.
Speaker 2 (45:52):
That's a good place to be. Yes, certainly, one hour
in the book's another hour to go. We will go
around campus and hour number two. We've got some clarity
around some of these quarterbacks and some other certainly certainly could,
and some quick thoughts on the opening round of the
college football playoff as well. We'll get into some conversation,
(46:13):
more conversation about the Lions and hour number two as
we roll along. Euler Williamson, It's the Drive on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.