November 21, 2025 • 46 mins
Matt and Wes get into Steelers-Bears and welcome Missi Matthews to the show to get her view from the sideline.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Your tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Qush Ruler of Matt Williamson with you here
on a Friday as we get ready, all eyes on
Steelers Bears Sunday one o'clock at Soldier Field in Chicago
will actually be a noon time loco ing off, but
of course the one o'clock Eastern window, and Matt, we
(00:59):
have got plenty to get into today. We're gonna talk
to miss Yeah, I tell you what. I gotta obviously
go around the league, do five Star Friday, all that
good stuff. But I wanted to start with you today.
I mean, just kind of setting the scene as we
typically do on a Friday. And you sent me a
really good article by by Nate Tice, Yes, talking about
(01:20):
the leveling up of this Bears offense, Caleb Williams development,
first year under Ben Johnson, all these different things, and
you know, I do think that it is clear Caleb
Williams has improved. Yeah, but I think there's also a
lot more to it for Chicago's success and winning seven
(01:41):
of their last eight games.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
So this week has been my heart. I've said this
a couple of times around the course of the week.
Giving a grip on this game has been really hard
for me. This week I agree with and a lot
of it's just like these teams are so turnover dependent,
like who gets more turnovers? I'm five days about whoever
wins a turnover battles the winters game. But it does
(02:04):
feel that way in a big way, like who's gonna
protect the ball better? I trust the Steelers to protect
the ball really well, that's a Tomlin thing. It's a
Rogers thing. I don't know if he's playing, but I
kind of came into the week going, boy, this Bears
story is kind of cute. You know, they're they're doing
the right things. Everything they did in the off seasons
kind of working. I see they're playing. If I was
(02:24):
a Bears fan, I'd be so happy, you know, our
best thing since Dicka or whatever. They might have a
quarterback for the first time in the fifty three years
I've walked there, fifty two years, I've walked the earth,
you know, like this is cool. But they really haven't
beaten anybody, and they're in first place, and they might
not even make the playoffs. And you know this is
they're having a nice moment and as we get deeper
(02:47):
into it, and this article had a lot to do
with it, but not entirely. Really, over the last twenty
four hours or so, I think their offense is really
really good. I mean, like has turned the corner and
is a legit offense. I urge everyone to check this
article out. It's on Yahoo dot com Nate Tye And
Nate Tye is one of my favorite analysts out there.
(03:09):
Kind of burst on the scene four or five years ago,
I'd guess something like that. And just to talk him
up a little bit, I've spoken to him once or twice.
He's not a friend. I don't know him well, but
I have a lot of respect for him and he's
a good dude. He's Mike Tys's son, who was the
head coach of the Vikings Forever, big blocking tight end,
tough guy, you know, Randy Moss's team. I mean, like,
(03:31):
so he grew up in Minnesota watching Daddy's teams, you know,
and he actually did some coaching. He gaate Tod Pitt
actually for a year, so he has some local ties.
His college career he was Russell Wilson's backup quarterback at Wisconsin. Nice,
so he's been around, you know, like he knows some stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
He's been around.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, yeah, And now he's entirely media for Yahoo. He
does a podcast I listened to pretty regularly, and.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
This I thought centric or not at all.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
He's just total league wide. And he has picked the
Bears this week because I thought, I don't know why
I picked them, but it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Because they are one of the stories in the NFL
right now, right.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
But there's a lot of highlights from this article that
made me and I think our listeners will fear the
Bears and respect the Bears offense more so I thought
it was worth chatting about some of the highlights.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You know, most explosive plays in the NFL this season
with eighty seven currently ranked second in explosive play rate
does the Bears offense. They also lead the NFL this
year in yards before contact per run play.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
This just screams Lions. Yeah, and remember this team is
direct the descendant of the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yes, Dan Campbell coaching tree exactly.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And they run the ball really really well. And you
can give Caleb Williams a hard time because this completion
percentage is very low, and he still throws too many
rocket balls and you know, he's not a great touch
path or and accuracy is not his strength. But that's
low on their list of what they're trying to do here.
I mean, I forget who were talking about just a
(05:07):
couple of weeks ago, Jordan Love. I'm like, that's a
he's a big game hunter. Yeah, Kayleb Williams is a
big game hunter. And they get a lot of explosives
on the ground behind a good power run game, and
they don't really take They're kind of anti Steelers in
terms of explosiveness.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's like boom or bust.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, and it's not they don't take layup throws. I
mean they're taking.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Three pointers of half court right yeah, yeah, yeah, shooting
Steph Curry three right, and they make a lot of them.
They're not trying to hit singles and they're not trying
to hit gappers into left field.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
They bring up a lot of number four hitters with
bellies and you know, swinging hard, yeah right right right?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
But is that is that Lions esque from Ben Johnson
or is that more so that's kind of how they've
expanded in I.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Think the quarterbacks weapon did, yeh, because like the Lions
are at the bottom of the league in deep passing
percentage rate and they throw a ton of intermediate stuff.
You know, I'm on Ross, Saint Brown, Laporta, those type
of dudes, and that's what Goff's better at. Caleb Williams,
it used to be late in the he is the
(06:14):
highest time to throw in the league, you know, amongst
that anyone qualified. And that used to be a negative
because he took him. He loved taking sad and that
goes back, you know, to college, and last year he
was like on a historic pace for taking sacks. Now
he holds a ball and shrugs people off. I can't
(06:35):
I've done a lot of shows since we got together yesterday,
but Greg co Sell is one of my favorite and
I think we talked about this, but Greg compared him
to Ben Roethlisberger in terms of difficult early early early
Ben difficultness, that's not a word, but you get it.
Ability to put down in the pocket, like shrugs off defenders,
(06:56):
shower and he I think he's the hardest guy to
sack now in the league, including Lamar. I mean, like
in terms of buying time and the Houdini acts he does.
I think a year in the league he realized, Yeah,
I'm still one of the best athletes out here, but
(07:18):
I'm not the five star playing against a bunch of
high school kids anymore, or the first overall pick at
usc playing against some accountants and some seventh round picks.
Everyone here can run and get me. But he really
is a feel for his environment now, and he's got
great spatial awareness, and he stings you, man. I mean,
the thing that stood out to me most is unblocked pressures. Basically,
(07:41):
that's when a great defensive coordinator devises a free runner,
unblocked guy coming at you. He's the only quarterback in
the league that is not taken a sack from an
unblocked defender. Wow, I mean only one.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
He hasn't just improved, He's turned a weakness into a strength.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Exactly exactly and maybe turns in a pumpkin. Maybe Steeler
sack on fifteen times, you know what I mean. It's
possible that Josh Allen got sacked eight times last night.
He didn't think zachs last year either, But it's pretty
darn impressive it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I mean, at the start of the season, people were
talking about if Ben Johnson would move on from Caleb
Williams after the year. Now they're seven and three. You
know this, Like I've talked with you about this. I
think I've shared even a little bit on the show here,
Like my morning routine. I'll take the girls to daycare
and then I come home, make some coffee and I
flip you know, what's on NFL network? What are they
(08:36):
talking about? What's on ESPN? What are they talking about?
And like the topic on I can't remember if it
was First Take or Get Up or whatever was on
ESPN when I was flipping through the channels this morning
was who are the Chicago Bears going to steal a
playoff spot from? And it's like, man, they've come.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
A long way. It come a long way, And you're right.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
The pumpkin thing is it's still out there. As much
as we've said, Hey, it wouldn't shock us if the
Chiefs rattled off six wins in their next seven games.
Wouldn't shock us if the Bears went on a three
game losing streak or something to that effect. But I
think that they have. They are not just here's a
dangerous team. Who's got some explosives on offense, and you
(09:17):
really better be buttoned up. They are like their first
place in their division and we're we're less than a
week away from Thanksgiving. They've they've earned their record, their respect.
I know they've had the last play schedule, all those
different things which you can only play the teams in
front of you. But you're like, man that that offense
does feel like it has a lot of different ways
(09:38):
to get after you run game pass game. They don't
have it. We talked about We talked about this yesterday.
They don't have a Jamar Chase level superstar, but they
have got a lot of skill players who they can
spread the ball around.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Five five are scary, you have to some degree. They've
truly leveled up. Use that term a lot lately. They
when doesn't mean they're Super Bowl contenders, but they've leveled.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Up when the offense as explosive as they are, only
six turnovers on offense and ten games.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
That's the other thing, too, is there's not all the
negatives have gone away. I mentioned Josh Allen, and that's
an unfair name to throw out there, sure, but Alan
went from the wild stallion and last year when he
won the MVP. The interceptions, the turnovers, the sacks, all
like vanished.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
You know that low light tape thing that we talked exact.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yesterday and now Caleb Williams low light tape used to
be littered with because they used to.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
But it used to be a mini doc right, it
used to be a docu series, right. The popcorn for
this one, it's like a quick little TikTok high right, right.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
And there's still a lot of times you like, what
were you thinking on that one? I mean, he pushes
the envelope a lot, you know, but whoa you know,
because the ability has never been doubted at all.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Speaking of quarterbacks, before we go to break and get
to Missy Matthews because this is going to be something
we're gonna want to discuss with her. Mike tom has
said today earlier today that Aaron Rodgers will be listed
as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Bears. He was
a partial participant in practice on Friday. Mike Tomlin said,
and I quote, we'll see where the weekend leads us.
(11:15):
End quote. I'm leaning towards he's playing.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
That just tells me they might know the answer, But
they're not telling anyone, nor should they or should they.
You have that advantage in your pocket, right, But.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
You and I kind of mentioned he was limited in
practice on Thursday, which was good to see limited again today.
I think that's the didn't have any clear setbacks where
he woke up today and was like, oh man, this
is worse than I thought. After they're taking some snaps
and doing a little bit on Thursday that.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I mean, all across the league on Fridays, you see
people ruled out, ruled out, rude out. I mean, we're
not down that road, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
And I think we would have probably been a little
surprised if Mike Tomlin would have come out today and said, hey,
Aaron Rodgers was playing. He's good to go. But he
was a limited participant again in practice today. Friday will
be officially listed as QUO questionable for Sunday's game. Okay,
I'm leaning I'm leaning towards the answer to that question,
you know, yeah, being playing.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Yeah, I've kind of leaned that way too.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
And however it plays out in hindsight, we will say, oh,
totally the right decision, or oh man, they should have
given him the weekend off. But I think that depends.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
That's all I want, exactly.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Right, exactly right. But we're starting to get a little
more clarity in that regard. Let's take a break here,
let's talk about that with Missy Matthews. Missy, you know,
she's been on some of these trips to Chicago in
the past. Maybe she can help paint a picture for
us as to why it's been a house of horrors.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I was going to stress with her, what's it look like?
What's it? What's the deal there?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Thirty? I you know, I do those those Friday quick
hitters with Chad Tyson on DV and he was like,
I knew that it had been since nineteen ninety five
that the Steelers had won there. We said that yesterday.
But when Chad, Chad was like, the Steelers haven't won
in Chicago in thirty years, and when you fraight like
nineteen ninety five in some ways still feel hard.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
He feels like agoe, twelve years ago years, Yeah, that's
what it was.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Well, thirty, Like, I'm thirty four, that was thirty years ago.
Was in college, Yeah, yeah, I was in well I
was probably out of diapers by that point, but not
you know, I was.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Like in year five of college, right, still would want
to go.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Double im Missy Matthews on the other side when we returned.
It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network, your tunes about.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Drive on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Back on the Drive here as a Friday, as we
are getting ready for Steelers Bears in the Windy City
Big one on Sunday. Joining us now to discuss you
hear the bounce? You know what that means. It's time
to talk to the queen of the sideline, the great
Missy Matthews, joining us as she's kind enough to do
every single Friday here on the Drive. Missy, thank you
for taking the time as always. All right, let's get
(14:17):
right into it. We've heard the latest on the Aaron
Rodgers status. Limited participant in practice today, questionable for Sunday's game.
Two days of limited practice this week. What's your confidence
scale that it will be Aaron Rodgers to start the
game under center or do you still think that this
is really kind of up in the air, a you know,
(14:38):
a coin flip type decision.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Guys, I really feel like this is a up in
the air situation. Now, I will say I feel like
when Coachana lifts somebody as questionable, there's usually a better
chance they play than they don't.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Good point.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
I also live through the Cleveland game where Ben Roethlisberger
was backing up Landry Jones and Landry got hurt and
Ben came in and broke every backup record. You know,
I've seen that happen. And I also think maybe it
is just like a figuring out if Aaron is comfortable
enough with said brace contraption, whatever you would like to
(15:17):
call it that he's wearing on his left wrist. So
I truly don't know. I mean, I feel like because
it's Chicago, and I know.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Aaron will say that.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
It's he's gonna want to play even more. But I
just I just don't know. I don't know. I don't
have a feeling one way or another.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
So messy. But in the first segment we kind of
ended it just talking about how the Steelers have not
won in Chicago in thirty years, I mean ninety five
long time, and they don't go their offense like once
every eight years or so. But still it's kind of
been a house of horrors for them. I mean, Philadelphia
is that way. I remember Wolf use to talk about
hating to go to Seattle and there's no good memories there.
(15:59):
I mean, all used to say going to Oakland was
a terrible thing. Yeah, right. Is there anything behind the
Bear saying it's not like they've been one of the
best teams in the league. You've been there, right, Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Well, I mean the last time I was there was
you know, the crazy game with everything with the national
anthem pre game. Oh yeah, Vance McDonald had a crazy
hustle play to end the first half. I don't know.
I don't get the house of horror feeling from Chicago
like I do some of those other places. I completely agree,
(16:32):
but it does feel like how is it possible that
you've won one game in that city? So I don't know.
Hopefully that's something that the Steelers can change, whether Aaron
Rodgers starts or not, since he's a partial owner of Chicago.
I just I don't know. Maybe he'll bring some good luck.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
It's one of those, you know how like you'll hear
from Vegas home field advantage is worth two and a
half points, you know, and all these different things like
Aaron Rodgers in Chicago has to be worth it least
little extra, like an extra five, six, seven points something
in that regard to move the line. Missy. Obviously a
crazy game against the Bengals last week, particularly a second
half in which the Steelers defense had two touchdowns to
(17:14):
really put the game on ice. One, of course, the
pick six by one of the newer Steelers, Kyle Dugger,
and then the scoop six by one of the I
think hottest Steelers in best form Steelers in James Pierre.
Matt and I talked about this a little bit this week,
and I'd like to see if you agree, you know,
over the last let's say three games, you know, twelve
(17:35):
quarters or so, maybe setting aside that fourth quarter against
the Chargers where the Steelers defense was gassed and worn
down and it just felt like the damn kind of
broke with some big plays for LA. Does it feel
like these last few weeks we've seen that Steeler defense
becoming the unit that we all kind of expected them
to be. Can you feel that momentum, in that confidence
(17:57):
and that belief on the sideline?
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Yeah, And I truly believe Jalen Ramsey's saying, you know,
back at safety has brought some of maybe that cohesion,
that stability that we've talked about the past few weeks.
I think Kyle Duggar has come in and just done
a commendable job of you know, jumping on a moving
tray and doing it well. And you know, for Jalen
(18:22):
Ramsey to be impressed by what he was able to
do that first game out with the Steelers coming from
New England. And I think it's the you know what
Carol Austin talked about this week, We're not seeing these
crazy explosive plays that they're giving up like we saw
a lah in Cincinnati just getting gassed for different things. Now,
of course, as you said in LA, things started getting
(18:45):
off the tracks a little bit in the second half,
but I mean that defense played a lot of minutes
and it just it felt like even they did everything,
excuse me, they could do to try to stop the bleeding,
but it just wasn't possible because the offense couldn't possess
the ball or move it then. So maybe it's a
little bit of that. And I think also, you know,
some of the younger guys, Derek Harmon starting to come
(19:07):
along feel more comfortable. Keanu Benton I think has done
a great job as well. So hopefully it's something where
they can continue building and building off of it and
can you know, put another step forward in Chicago on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, you seem to agree that a lot of things
have kind of come together favorably where I think the
coaching staff has a better feel for where to put
their players. We have some new players we're looking at now,
new players and new positions like Ramsey, and also some
guys that we didn't count on originally, you know, Jack, Sawyer, Pierre,
(19:44):
I mean, have all stepped up and done their job.
I mean we don't need them to be the next
Lambert and Ham, but they've been quality contributors when called upon. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Absolutely, And you know, to your point, I do think, Okay,
you had all these amazing pieces, some of them you knew,
some of them were new. You're excited about the shiny
new toys, and it did just feel like how they
were put together at first and how things were going
was not adding up. Clearly. Injuries played the major role
into moving pieces. Lack of communication or consistency there. I think,
(20:18):
you know, losing Deshaun Elliott twice was huge for this
defense not having him back there, But I do think
that they've kind of found a way to make it
work with what they have right now. And they still
you know, Alex Highsmith with hert Darius Slay got hurt,
they're still moving parts within the past few weeks. So
(20:38):
hopefully not gun Wood, they can stay healthy and get
some more guys back and you know, get some more
of the consistency of what they want this defense to
look like, and be able to stack consistent games too,
I think, and just performances because it feels like that's
what they kind of need at this point instead of
it being like a crazy game against the Colts and
(20:59):
then letdown. So hopefully we're taking a step in the
right direction that way.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
It's certainly a huge challenge awaits in that department with
a Bears offense that has leveled up, a quarterback that's
leveled up, a lot of different pieces across that Chicago
offense that can make plays and that you have to
account for for the Steelers, though, Missy, I tell you what,
Darnell Washington, if he was maybe one of the best,
if he was maybe one of the best kept secrets
(21:25):
in the NFL for a while that is no longer
the case. Certainly he stands out at bit. He stands
out a little bit, yeah, both in his and his
physical stature and with the plays that he makes with
the football in his hands, particularly the one that we
saw where I think he left three Bengals in tatters
on the field there at Akershuer Stadium on Sunday won
(21:47):
him angry Runs the weekly Award by Kyle Brandt on
the NFL Network. Missy, I feel like we always go
back to, like asking you about things on the sideline,
but you have such a unique perspective in that regard.
What was that moment like down there where you know,
Darnault Washington stiff armed a guy and then ran over
a guy ran somebody else over. I mean that just
(22:08):
that had to be one of those kind of time
capsule moments for the season on the sideline.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Yeah, Darnel is definitely not somebody who can hide, can't.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Keep He was really bad at hide and seek back
in the day.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Like, oh, I see his feet sticking out, Funny he
doesn't sit there. But no, I mean so.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
You would not want him. He's not the first round
pick and ghost in the graveyard. That's for sure.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
No, no big people hide and seek only for him.
But you know I can't. I can't see sometimes the
faces of the people that are like directly in the front.
It depends on where Coach Trundlin is if I'm at
an angle where I can kind of look down. But
let me tell you, watching it live in person happening
and like ooing and awing, oh my gosh, like everybody.
(23:00):
I did it myself, like camera people were doing it.
Even one of the EMS workers I was standing by
just like turned around and was like whoa, Like yeah,
it was crazy. And then you watch the video from
the replays and you see dave On, who's one of
the athletic trainers. His face I think is one of
(23:20):
the ones that Kyle Brandt pointed out d Y who
is player personnel guy, he player engagement. He was one
of those guys too, And it's just insane to see.
And it it let that sideline on fire. It didn't
matter you know what side of the ball you were on,
or you know, if you were playing or not an
active had a helmet. People were juiced after that and
(23:43):
it was just crazy. And I think Aaron Rodgers said
it best that like people are getting scared of him
now and they should be. Like I think he called
him a mammoth. If you don't know if he's going
to hurdle you stiff arm you just block, you push you,
but like something bad is usually going to happen. And
I love that. You know, Mason Rudolph when he talked
(24:05):
about that play and about just Darnell in general, he said, look,
he gets in sometimes Wednesdays and Thursdays earlier than me.
He's a big time studier. This isn't a guy who's
just you know, using his god given physique and abilities.
He's putting in the work too, And I think you
are really starting to see that. I think Aaron being
(24:27):
inquisitive about this large mammoth as he called him in
training camp and like what can.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
We do with him?
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Was interesting and I just think it's really all starting
to come together with him, and it makes you realize
why the Feelers drafted him at that spot when maybe
there were you know, another position of me quote unquote
that they could go after. But he's a pretty special,
unique player who, Yeah, I would make a business decision
(24:54):
if I had if I had to go you know,
head to head with Darnell Washington.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Missy. Last thing I have for you is we do
that matchup show every Thursday, and it seems like every
week where one of us picks Steelers need to run
the ball better or need to run the ball more,
and we've seen glimpses, but it never quite comes around.
I think this week it's extra important in a game
that turnovers are so key. These teams are both so
(25:21):
great at it, and the Chicago run defense isn't very good.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Yeah, I think for the reasons you all stated, and
because the Steelers just need one of those games where
the offensive line is like signaling first down and getting
into it. It reminds me of like Dublin, you know,
when the quiet guys of the team, the Zach Frazier's
and Mason mccormicks, are all ready to go for it.
(25:49):
And I think to the time of possession. Again, we
talk about running the ball, but time of possession plays
into that because it is true what is going to
happen in terms of who wins the turnover margin. I
was just listening to one of the Bears podcasts that
their team produces, and they were even saying, like man
on special teams like their coordinator was taught and mentored
(26:13):
by Danny Smith, so he's thinking already like what is
he going to pull out a play from twenty years ago?
You know, like what's going to happen there? And I
think because both defenses like to play takeaway, you do
have to possess the ball to be able to run
some cluck as long as you're getting points. So I
do think running the ball will help all facets of
(26:35):
this game, and clearly time of possession. Like I just
wanted to be like a five minute plus win for
the Steelers in time of possession at some point down
the rest of this season, because it just feels like that.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Is one thing they cannot get certainly, certainly something that
we would like to see. They won that time of
possession by the slimmest of margins this past Sunday. Yeah,
let's add up a little bit Sunday in a city
that's known for their beef sandwiches. I'm sorry I had to, Uh, Missy,
thank you so much for your time as always, the
(27:08):
great Missy Matthews, Queen of the Sideline. Uh, thank you, Missy,
and I'll see on the plane tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
Sounds good. Thanks, guys.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
There she goes Missy Matthews double m with the view
from the sideline.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
I missed my opportunity. I was going to mention the
the article about you guys.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Oh you mean to call her back? Yeah, that was
pretty cool. That was I think the nicest. So so,
what matt is referencing is the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
That was on my list that mentioned to her and
call her back.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
The Noah Hailes of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette kind of
shadowed our broadcast team for a week. Uh, and just
everything that goes into the Steelers game day broadcasts was
down at the facility with you guys all for asence.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
He was down there just taking notes.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Went over to Rob King's house and you know, watched
how King or preps and dust film and then hung out,
you know, met myself and dan Quinlan early Sunday morning
before that Bengals game and saw how we set up
and everything that goes into it, and hung out with
us throughout the broadcast. Really cool story that published, Yeah,
as been published today and it was it was funny,
Like my family was texting me and they were like,
(28:17):
this is the nicest thing. Anybody has said about you
or anything. Well, we all got some nice love from
Noah in that article. But Noah said, hey, are you
ready for this? I mean, Matt, this is the nicest thing,
and I think anyone's ever said about me. At eight
forty five am Sunday, with fewer than two dozen people
total spread throughout the press box, Westeeler's presence was impossible
(28:38):
to ignore. Oh those far away could hear his playful,
seemingly always upbeat voice as he bounced around the halls.
Those close to him couldn't help but be impacted by
his consistent smile. The audio engineer for the Steelers' radio
broadcasts who also works as an on air talent, his
positive energy set the tone for the day ahead.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Wow, how many Benjamin's did that call?
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Just a few hundred? I mean thanks, no checks and
the mail. Tyler's over there shaking his head. Tyler, You're
gonna need to get a like a chainsaw and cut
open that door larger, because my head's not gonna be
able to fit in and out of this room with
the ego boost that that Noah hailes.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
But no, everybody should check the article.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Really cool stuff about how Rob prepares for a game,
just kind of him and Missy and Max and the
balance that they have and how they come up with
the topics that they want to make sure and hit
on throughout the show. Uh, it was it was. You
got a shout out in the article as well too
for the status. Yeah that you that you provide. So yeah,
I'm glad. I'm glad you brought that up. We should
(29:38):
have brought that up with Missy planning on it, you know,
next time, next next time they write out, next time
they write.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
A feature next week, you'll still hold up.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
That's true. Yeah, absolutely good stuff from Missy and uh
looking forward to another great broadcast with the team on
Sunday in Chicago. When we come back on the other side,
let's talk more about the Bear a little bit on
their road ahead and how important this is for them,
kind of like the Steelers and Matt. We still haven't
(30:07):
done this week. We got to do this before I forget.
We got to do our Chicago Bears pick a player exercise.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
This one's actually better than most.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
I was doing a Matt Williamson and laying there in
bed last night thinking about it. Yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
That's good. This guy's so young, and there's some options.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
There are some options. We'll get into all of that
as we wrap up the first hour of the program.
Wesh Uler, Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Back on the Drive here as we are continuing to
set the scene, set the stage for Steelers Bears and Matt,
some bad news for the Chicago Bears. Three linebackers three.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Glad we're going down there. Their linebacker situation is rough
ruled out according Edmonds.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
According to Adam Scheff, their Tremaine Edmonds, TJ. Edwards, and
Noah Seouele all out for Sundays.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Against the three guys.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Their top three linebackers all ruled out for Sunday's contest.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Now, it hasn't been a Steeler specialty, but I think
you have to throw in the middle of the field
and feature some of these tight ends a little bit
more to totally crossing routes, all that type of thing too,
because this defense makes a lot of mistakes. They have
some alignment errors and allow some big plays anyway, and
now you take all those communicators and athletes out of
the middle and schools kind of down these penny stools.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Brother, Yeah, he's.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Kind of a downhill banger. Edmonds is the every down
money guy. And you know that's their top three dudes.
That's a big deal.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
That's a huge, huge, huge deal for them.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
And I also got a question the run fits and
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Too, absolutely in the communication from a communication standpoint, like
you say, that's.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
They don't do a great job of protecting their linebackers either,
Like they played Grady Jarrett a lot who's well past
his prime and he's a gap shooter, smaller overage guy.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
And you had also mentioned Kyler Gordon a little bit yesterday.
He is in that twenty one day window to be
you know, designated from return from from reserve and IR.
He is listed as questionable for Sunday.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Okay, he's actually under consideration for who I'd snagged from
the Bears. I mean, he's that good.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Okay, we're gonna get there in just a second, just
a second. A couple others that we had discussed yesterday
who were on their injury report, Darnell Wright full participant
cleared for Sunday. Joe Thuney full participant cleared for Sunday.
Deandrew have full participant cleared for Sunday, Grady Jarrett full
participant cleared for Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Is Johnson on there the corner. I thought he was.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Jalen Johnson, right, Yes, he is also listed as questionable,
So and him and Gordon are both in that coming
off of IR twenty one day listed as questionable.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
That's their two best defensive players. And what's amazing is
they have all these takeaways with these two out hardly
playing all there.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
You're right, right, So they are at best going to
have two starting defensive back one or two starting defensive
backs potentially who are not one hundred percent healthy and
are just coming off of IR, and they're going to
be down three starting linebackers.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
I kind of get the impression Johnson's likely to play,
Gordon's unlikely to play, but they're probably both listed as questionable.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
They are both listed as questionable.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
This is the hunch I got, and this is stuff
I've read, you know.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
And so that's the latest with the Chicago Bears and
some of the status of some of their key contributors,
particularly again on the a lot of names there on
the defensive side of the football.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Right, which is their weakness to begin with. Right, Maybe
there's go'na be more points here, and we think maybe
it very well could be.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
May be. We will continue to monitor all of that
as we roll along here. But you know what, Matt,
let's get into that right in a minute.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
I opened the show saying, my tune has changed on
the Bears. Tell me, and I'm in a very positive manner.
You know, we talked about that Tye article, et cetera.
A tune changes something else too. Okay, when you have
thirty minutes and five seconds of time of possession, we're.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Going to continue to read this.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Yeah, I love it. You're ten seconds more, not five.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
So like what played out with the Steelers, right.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
They didn't have a five second of they have a ten.
I'm on the pursuit of trade.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
You're telling me, Matt Williamson that on a Friday, you're
gonna drop this bomb on.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
Me enough time.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
You're betraying me and you're joining the other side of
the aisle on this one. I am this is like
when Hulk Hogan joined nWo exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
And here's why. Somebody tweeted me and just convinced me.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
And I saw that tweet.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
Okay, if you have fifty cents and I have fifty
cents and I give you a penny, you have two
cents more than me.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
When you bring money. When you bring money, you see this, tyler,
You bring money into your equation to changes everything.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Right. It's like, I don't have a penny more than you,
you have two pennies more than me. I think it's
a tough one. It's a tough argument to fight.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
But if you look at in that context, you're absolutely right.
But what if we look at it in the context
of you and I go to the bank and we
take a dollar and we get one hundred pennies back,
and I have fifty one and you have forty nine, you.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Still have two more than me. Do I know you
could buy two more penny candies than I can?
Speaker 2 (35:38):
I don't know, because if I give you one of
those pennies, then we have the same. So do I
really have two more pennies than you?
Speaker 3 (35:44):
If you're fifty one and I have forty nine, but
more than me.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
But if I give you one, then we're on level footing.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
I think money just shows that it's we're wrong because
I just admit it.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
I mean, I would like to be a humble and
contrite radio host and admit that we were wrong. And
the point the point that that listener I wish I
could wish it take a lot. Well, it would take
a lot of scrolling back to find. But I do
remember seeing that tweet a few days ago.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
But I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
I might just stick my head in the sand and
be prideful here. You know that changed my ways.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Okay, you'll get wiser with it.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
He's not gonna let you I'm not gonna let you
all gas light me. Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
What were we about though? Were we plucking up plucking
a bear?
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah, let's pluck a Chicago bear here before we go
way down this rabbit hole.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
I know we don't have a ton of time today,
so we'll be quick we do.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Okay, we've got nothing but time, cool, nothing but time.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
These are my candidates.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Okay, give me your candidates.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Both those defensive back. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
I think Jalen Johnson has to be in the conversation.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
Yes, the only negative with Johnson is big contract. He's
not super old, but he just signed a big contract.
He's coming off his first contract, so he's twenty six ish,
but he's that outside man corner off as a porter
old baby, you know what I mean. Like now that
problem you're not talking about Pierre and Slay and drafting one.
I mean, you're just done. Gordon to me, is that
(37:07):
super underrated position in today's NFL. That's a nickel slash.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
The Brian Branch position. Yeah, the Cooper dejen position.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
And the way I've been describing that lately is it's
just the rug that brings the room together, you know,
like it's just whatever you want to do. On defense,
you have that guy. And Frankly, Ramsey's that guy as
a slot, but I think he's a safety now. If
I had Gordon, he's definitely a safety the rest of
his career.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
It's Ramsey a couple of years ago. He's perfect for that.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
Yeah, and he's still really good at y. You know,
he could do all that. He can blitz, he can
play the run. He's you know, take the slot receiver,
he can take the tight end. Andy's cheap. He's injured now,
but I'm not going to hold that against him. He
doesn't have like this massive injury. Yeah, those are only two.
On defense, I would consider the two defensive backs, yes,
although I do like two of their defensive linemen. Sweat.
(37:58):
He's also expensive, but he's an edge player. I just
don't think the edge is a huge need. And Girvin
Dexter is one of my favorite young He tackles. I
bet he does something in this game. You're like, oh,
that one, he's necessary.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
I like Brisker in their secondary too, but it's not.
He's a strong and it's like we've talked about. You've
got a lot of those.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
I'm glad you mentioned him though, because he'd be You've got.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
A lot of those left shoes. Yeah, where he was
a right shoe. Maybe it's a different conversation, but you've
got a lot of those left shoes already.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Everything you said that's that's definitely a good way of
looking at that one, because he's a good young player
too and cheap. Your boy, Darnell Wright is really really attractive.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Imagine being the head coach that didn't recruit that of
his own backyard. I'm sorry. After today, I'll be done
bringing it up.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
But the negative on him is now I'm going to
move Troy back the left, sure, and I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
And you're about to have to pay Darnell as well
like this this offseason.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Yeah, but I mean in a vacuum if I didn't,
you know, have But if Jones was more valuable than
fouton which he isn't, I would take Darnell right, you know, or.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
If right was extrectly strictly a left.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Right left is right right now w R I g
H T tackle anyway, so I would love him. But
now Faltanu, who is a left tackle at Washington, so
comfortable right.
Speaker 2 (39:21):
The same thing, the same thing we've just talked about
with Roger Jones over the last year and around, and.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
He'd probably do fine. But do I want him to
take any kind of step back in this process? Not really.
Quarterbacks aren't allowed, and that leads to doonsay.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
I think it's right or a doonsay, That to me
is the conversation.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
A doomsay would really be a perfect compliment today.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I think for the current Steelers right now today, November
twenty first, twenty twenty five, the second year guy, I
think he's the answer because he's cheap for a few
more years. He compliments DK well, oh, yeah, whatever happens
post Aaron Rodgers, You're like, hey, look at this nest
We've got built on the offensive line and some real
weapons for you.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Your next quarterback or whoever, would be thrilled.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Like, if I'm a different team and I've got my
money spent on the offensive side of the football, I'm
taking one of those two corners. But if I'm the
Steelers right now, I'm like, man, I would love to
add a play making peace like that. That. That's as
much as I'd love to go with my my West
Virginia native son Darnell Wright. I think I'm taking a
dunes again specifically too, because that's what this exercise is.
(40:28):
The Steelers right now, you got to add one.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
That's why the Bears are one of the best teams
to talk about it, because there are some really good candidates.
I'm taking Johnson. Yeah, I don't love spending the money,
but the team is cap space. I don't usually even
go down that road, but I mean they do have
cap space. And if I can have two man corners,
the rest of the defense would level up in a
massive way. In a massive way.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
I mean that's a real nice luxury.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
Yeah, And I just think I can find it. I'll
draft a receiver in a second round, but I don't
want to always be looking.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
For that, you know, agreed, If you know, if he
was a couple of years younger, I think Joe Thuney
would be in this conversation. But yeah, thirty three, thirty
four now and expensive and expensive if he was thirty inexpensive.
That's one thing.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
I don't think. Cimal is likely to be back next year,
and you're upgrade at left guard.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
She's one of the best, one of the best year.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Yeah, so they're a good team to talk about.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
They were I think one of the more loaded, one
of the more enjoyable ones.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
I could see the different avenues.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
There's a lot of a lot of fair arguments you
could make.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Yeah, I don't see any wrong answers for any of those.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
And that's you know, again, that's without us.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
I mean, right, turn your back on offensive tackle and
not yet twenty five?
Speaker 4 (41:41):
Right? Uh?
Speaker 2 (41:42):
And obviously we did all that fun discussion and leaving
Caleb Williams out of it. Oh, he'd be the pack
if quarterbacks are allowed. He's the obvious answer, right, Yeah,
I think that's.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Another fun game. We'll do probably this offseason is let's
whatever the Steelers end up picking in the draft, it's
twenty or twenty five or whatever. Would you give up
that pick in next year's first for Tyler Murray? No, no,
but I would forget. But Caleb Williams is a yes, yeah,
like I want to go through.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
The whole league, Drake, May I give up more right right, right,
right right.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
But we're gonna play that game sometimes because maybe you
are actually going to use those picks to trade up
the five. And if that person turns into Trevor Lawrence,
you knew it. But if he turns into Caleb Williams, yes.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
I was, You'll laugh. I was talking to one of
my cousins on the phone last night, and he's a
big football dork as well too. He's the one who
after he's a the athletic director at the school school
in Virginia. He was the defensive coordinator at his old
high school forever and then became athletic director. And we
were kind of playing the We were talking about the
quarterbacks and that he because he always loves the around
(42:50):
campus segment and I always email him that that around
as well, and he's like, he's like I'm not I'm
not really feeling these guys. He's like, I gotta be
honest with you, I'm not feeling And so we were
playing the like, Okay, Fernando Mendoza or cam Ward you know,
Fernando Mendoza or Jackson Dart or Dante Moore. Care game.
(43:10):
We were playing that that game last night, having some
fun doing that. Matt, just real quickly too, before we
go to break man, this is an important one for
the Bears when you look at their schedule ahead.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
So real quick, if you check my Twitter, I just
retweeted it before I came here, as was. This is
one of the biggest playoff implication games of the weekend,
even though well, actually last night's game was huge.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
Last night's game was massive, massive.
Speaker 3 (43:35):
And boy Houston survived. But considering these teams aren't the
same division, aren't the same conference, it's pretty crazy how
big a discrepancy the winner and loser changed in this game.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
Bears with a win sixty six percent chance to make
the playoffs, with a loss thirty five percent chance.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
That's a huge difference for one game against a non conference.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
Steeler surprises me a lot too. With a win still
just fifty percent chance to make the playoffs with a win, Yeah,
with a loss, twenty two percent.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Thing about that, because part of it is the Ravens
are fourteen and a half point favorites against the Jets.
Speaker 2 (44:11):
Absolutely, the Ravens with a winner now seventy four percent
all of a sudden. I don't know if I agree
with that, But who am I to argue that the
analytics and the numbers.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
I mean, I could see it if Steelers lose, Ravens win,
maybe not go up to seventy four, but that would
be huge for Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Absolutely, But I still think I dropped the Steelers down
to twenty two percent. Now that seems really low.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
It really low just with a loss, I mean still
with a winning record.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
That whole, like the Bears haven't played anybody, which I think.
I never liked that argument in the NFL because it's
not Ohio State versus Akron.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
But this Colts conversation too, just a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
The if Chicago makes the playoffs, nobody will be able
to say that it was unearned because I know Steelers
this weekend, then at Philly, then at green Bay. It's
a tough three game stretch. Okay, Then they get the
Browns at home. Should win that one, yes, Then they
get Green Bay at home against I got to see
in the span of three weeks, man, the schedule makers
were in their bag with that one. Then they have
(45:05):
to go to San Francisco. Then they host the Lions. Okay,
so right now.
Speaker 3 (45:10):
Matts and Lions games are looming.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Proverbial if the season was over today, six of the
last seven teams that the Bears play are all in
the playoffs right now.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
Just not the Browns.
Speaker 2 (45:21):
Just not the Browns. So don't get me wrong. Their
schedule has been fortunate to this point. But if they
earn it, if they do end up winning that division
or getting a wild card, no one could say that
it was just because they had an easy schedule. This
back half is tough.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
I mean, if they go five hundred the rest of
the way, they could be in the hut.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
They're seven and three now ten or eleven wins ten
I think probably gets you in eleven. I would feel deaf.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
Ten doesn't win that division though, not with the Lions
Packers in it.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
But if they win the right one, yeah, yeah, good point.
Who baby A lot on the line Sunday is Chicago.
Speaker 3 (45:57):
The road is narrowing? Is you? And Coach Salmlins say the.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
Road isn't it? You know, I've been told that myself
and Mike Tom will have a real way with words.
Let's get into some of these specific matchups to start
our number two little five star Friday. To kick us off.
On the other side, Yuler Williamson halfway home. It's the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Your tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Qush Ruler of Matt Williamson with you here
on a Friday as we get ready, all eyes on
Steelers Bears Sunday one o'clock at Soldier Field in Chicago
will actually be a noon time loco ing off, but
of course the one o'clock Eastern window, and Matt, we
(00:59):
have got plenty to get into today. We're gonna talk
to miss Yeah, I tell you what. I gotta obviously
go around the league, do five Star Friday, all that
good stuff. But I wanted to start with you today.
I mean, just kind of setting the scene as we
typically do on a Friday. And you sent me a
really good article by by Nate Tice, Yes, talking about
(01:20):
the leveling up of this Bears offense, Caleb Williams development,
first year under Ben Johnson, all these different things, and
you know, I do think that it is clear Caleb
Williams has improved. Yeah, but I think there's also a
lot more to it for Chicago's success and winning seven
(01:41):
of their last eight games.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
So this week has been my heart. I've said this
a couple of times around the course of the week.
Giving a grip on this game has been really hard
for me. This week I agree with and a lot
of it's just like these teams are so turnover dependent,
like who gets more turnovers? I'm five days about whoever
wins a turnover battles the winters game. But it does
(02:04):
feel that way in a big way, like who's gonna
protect the ball better? I trust the Steelers to protect
the ball really well, that's a Tomlin thing. It's a
Rogers thing. I don't know if he's playing, but I
kind of came into the week going, boy, this Bears
story is kind of cute. You know, they're they're doing
the right things. Everything they did in the off seasons
kind of working. I see they're playing. If I was
(02:24):
a Bears fan, I'd be so happy, you know, our
best thing since Dicka or whatever. They might have a
quarterback for the first time in the fifty three years
I've walked there, fifty two years, I've walked the earth,
you know, like this is cool. But they really haven't
beaten anybody, and they're in first place, and they might
not even make the playoffs. And you know this is
they're having a nice moment and as we get deeper
(02:47):
into it, and this article had a lot to do
with it, but not entirely. Really, over the last twenty
four hours or so, I think their offense is really
really good. I mean, like has turned the corner and
is a legit offense. I urge everyone to check this
article out. It's on Yahoo dot com Nate Tye And
Nate Tye is one of my favorite analysts out there.
(03:09):
Kind of burst on the scene four or five years ago,
I'd guess something like that. And just to talk him
up a little bit, I've spoken to him once or twice.
He's not a friend. I don't know him well, but
I have a lot of respect for him and he's
a good dude. He's Mike Tys's son, who was the
head coach of the Vikings Forever, big blocking tight end,
tough guy, you know, Randy Moss's team. I mean, like,
(03:31):
so he grew up in Minnesota watching Daddy's teams, you know,
and he actually did some coaching. He gaate Tod Pitt
actually for a year, so he has some local ties.
His college career he was Russell Wilson's backup quarterback at Wisconsin. Nice,
so he's been around, you know, like he knows some stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
He's been around.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, yeah, And now he's entirely media for Yahoo. He
does a podcast I listened to pretty regularly, and.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
This I thought centric or not at all.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
He's just total league wide. And he has picked the
Bears this week because I thought, I don't know why
I picked them, but it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Because they are one of the stories in the NFL
right now, right.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
But there's a lot of highlights from this article that
made me and I think our listeners will fear the
Bears and respect the Bears offense more so I thought
it was worth chatting about some of the highlights.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You know, most explosive plays in the NFL this season
with eighty seven currently ranked second in explosive play rate
does the Bears offense. They also lead the NFL this
year in yards before contact per run play.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
This just screams Lions. Yeah, and remember this team is
direct the descendant of the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yes, Dan Campbell coaching tree exactly.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And they run the ball really really well. And you
can give Caleb Williams a hard time because this completion
percentage is very low, and he still throws too many
rocket balls and you know, he's not a great touch
path or and accuracy is not his strength. But that's
low on their list of what they're trying to do here.
I mean, I forget who were talking about just a
(05:07):
couple of weeks ago, Jordan Love. I'm like, that's a
he's a big game hunter. Yeah, Kayleb Williams is a
big game hunter. And they get a lot of explosives
on the ground behind a good power run game, and
they don't really take They're kind of anti Steelers in
terms of explosiveness.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's like boom or bust.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, and it's not they don't take layup throws. I
mean they're taking.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Three pointers of half court right yeah, yeah, yeah, shooting
Steph Curry three right, and they make a lot of them.
They're not trying to hit singles and they're not trying
to hit gappers into left field.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
They bring up a lot of number four hitters with
bellies and you know, swinging hard, yeah right right right?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
But is that is that Lions esque from Ben Johnson
or is that more so that's kind of how they've
expanded in I.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Think the quarterbacks weapon did, yeh, because like the Lions
are at the bottom of the league in deep passing
percentage rate and they throw a ton of intermediate stuff.
You know, I'm on Ross, Saint Brown, Laporta, those type
of dudes, and that's what Goff's better at. Caleb Williams,
it used to be late in the he is the
(06:14):
highest time to throw in the league, you know, amongst
that anyone qualified. And that used to be a negative
because he took him. He loved taking sad and that
goes back, you know, to college, and last year he
was like on a historic pace for taking sacks. Now
he holds a ball and shrugs people off. I can't
(06:35):
I've done a lot of shows since we got together yesterday,
but Greg co Sell is one of my favorite and
I think we talked about this, but Greg compared him
to Ben Roethlisberger in terms of difficult early early early
Ben difficultness, that's not a word, but you get it.
Ability to put down in the pocket, like shrugs off defenders,
(06:56):
shower and he I think he's the hardest guy to
sack now in the league, including Lamar. I mean, like
in terms of buying time and the Houdini acts he does.
I think a year in the league he realized, Yeah,
I'm still one of the best athletes out here, but
(07:18):
I'm not the five star playing against a bunch of
high school kids anymore, or the first overall pick at
usc playing against some accountants and some seventh round picks.
Everyone here can run and get me. But he really
is a feel for his environment now, and he's got
great spatial awareness, and he stings you, man. I mean,
the thing that stood out to me most is unblocked pressures. Basically,
(07:41):
that's when a great defensive coordinator devises a free runner,
unblocked guy coming at you. He's the only quarterback in
the league that is not taken a sack from an
unblocked defender. Wow, I mean only one.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
He hasn't just improved, He's turned a weakness into a strength.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Exactly exactly and maybe turns in a pumpkin. Maybe Steeler
sack on fifteen times, you know what I mean. It's
possible that Josh Allen got sacked eight times last night.
He didn't think zachs last year either, But it's pretty
darn impressive it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I mean, at the start of the season, people were
talking about if Ben Johnson would move on from Caleb
Williams after the year. Now they're seven and three. You
know this, Like I've talked with you about this. I
think I've shared even a little bit on the show here,
Like my morning routine. I'll take the girls to daycare
and then I come home, make some coffee and I
flip you know, what's on NFL network? What are they
(08:36):
talking about? What's on ESPN? What are they talking about?
And like the topic on I can't remember if it
was First Take or Get Up or whatever was on
ESPN when I was flipping through the channels this morning
was who are the Chicago Bears going to steal a
playoff spot from? And it's like, man, they've come.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
A long way. It come a long way, And you're right.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
The pumpkin thing is it's still out there. As much
as we've said, Hey, it wouldn't shock us if the
Chiefs rattled off six wins in their next seven games.
Wouldn't shock us if the Bears went on a three
game losing streak or something to that effect. But I
think that they have. They are not just here's a
dangerous team. Who's got some explosives on offense, and you
(09:17):
really better be buttoned up. They are like their first
place in their division and we're we're less than a
week away from Thanksgiving. They've they've earned their record, their respect.
I know they've had the last play schedule, all those
different things which you can only play the teams in
front of you. But you're like, man that that offense
does feel like it has a lot of different ways
(09:38):
to get after you run game pass game. They don't
have it. We talked about We talked about this yesterday.
They don't have a Jamar Chase level superstar, but they
have got a lot of skill players who they can
spread the ball around.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Five five are scary, you have to some degree. They've
truly leveled up. Use that term a lot lately. They
when doesn't mean they're Super Bowl contenders, but they've leveled.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Up when the offense as explosive as they are, only
six turnovers on offense and ten games.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
That's the other thing, too, is there's not all the
negatives have gone away. I mentioned Josh Allen, and that's
an unfair name to throw out there, sure, but Alan
went from the wild stallion and last year when he
won the MVP. The interceptions, the turnovers, the sacks, all
like vanished.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
You know that low light tape thing that we talked exact.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yesterday and now Caleb Williams low light tape used to
be littered with because they used to.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
But it used to be a mini doc right, it
used to be a docu series, right. The popcorn for
this one, it's like a quick little TikTok high right, right.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
And there's still a lot of times you like, what
were you thinking on that one? I mean, he pushes
the envelope a lot, you know, but whoa you know,
because the ability has never been doubted at all.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Speaking of quarterbacks, before we go to break and get
to Missy Matthews because this is going to be something
we're gonna want to discuss with her. Mike tom has
said today earlier today that Aaron Rodgers will be listed
as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Bears. He was
a partial participant in practice on Friday. Mike Tomlin said,
and I quote, we'll see where the weekend leads us.
(11:15):
End quote. I'm leaning towards he's playing.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
That just tells me they might know the answer, But
they're not telling anyone, nor should they or should they.
You have that advantage in your pocket, right, But.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
You and I kind of mentioned he was limited in
practice on Thursday, which was good to see limited again today.
I think that's the didn't have any clear setbacks where
he woke up today and was like, oh man, this
is worse than I thought. After they're taking some snaps
and doing a little bit on Thursday that.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I mean, all across the league on Fridays, you see
people ruled out, ruled out, rude out. I mean, we're
not down that road, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
And I think we would have probably been a little
surprised if Mike Tomlin would have come out today and said, hey,
Aaron Rodgers was playing. He's good to go. But he
was a limited participant again in practice today. Friday will
be officially listed as QUO questionable for Sunday's game. Okay,
I'm leaning I'm leaning towards the answer to that question,
you know, yeah, being playing.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Yeah, I've kind of leaned that way too.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
And however it plays out in hindsight, we will say, oh,
totally the right decision, or oh man, they should have
given him the weekend off. But I think that depends.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
That's all I want, exactly.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Right, exactly right. But we're starting to get a little
more clarity in that regard. Let's take a break here,
let's talk about that with Missy Matthews. Missy, you know,
she's been on some of these trips to Chicago in
the past. Maybe she can help paint a picture for
us as to why it's been a house of horrors.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I was going to stress with her, what's it look like?
What's it? What's the deal there?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Thirty? I you know, I do those those Friday quick
hitters with Chad Tyson on DV and he was like,
I knew that it had been since nineteen ninety five
that the Steelers had won there. We said that yesterday.
But when Chad, Chad was like, the Steelers haven't won
in Chicago in thirty years, and when you fraight like
nineteen ninety five in some ways still feel hard.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
He feels like agoe, twelve years ago years, Yeah, that's
what it was.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Well, thirty, Like, I'm thirty four, that was thirty years ago.
Was in college, Yeah, yeah, I was in well I
was probably out of diapers by that point, but not
you know, I was.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Like in year five of college, right, still would want
to go.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Double im Missy Matthews on the other side when we returned.
It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network, your tunes about.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Drive on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Back on the Drive here as a Friday, as we
are getting ready for Steelers Bears in the Windy City
Big one on Sunday. Joining us now to discuss you
hear the bounce? You know what that means. It's time
to talk to the queen of the sideline, the great
Missy Matthews, joining us as she's kind enough to do
every single Friday here on the Drive. Missy, thank you
for taking the time as always. All right, let's get
(14:17):
right into it. We've heard the latest on the Aaron
Rodgers status. Limited participant in practice today, questionable for Sunday's game.
Two days of limited practice this week. What's your confidence
scale that it will be Aaron Rodgers to start the
game under center or do you still think that this
is really kind of up in the air, a you know,
(14:38):
a coin flip type decision.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Guys, I really feel like this is a up in
the air situation. Now, I will say I feel like
when Coachana lifts somebody as questionable, there's usually a better
chance they play than they don't.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Good point.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
I also live through the Cleveland game where Ben Roethlisberger
was backing up Landry Jones and Landry got hurt and
Ben came in and broke every backup record. You know,
I've seen that happen. And I also think maybe it
is just like a figuring out if Aaron is comfortable
enough with said brace contraption, whatever you would like to
(15:17):
call it that he's wearing on his left wrist. So
I truly don't know. I mean, I feel like because
it's Chicago, and I know.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Aaron will say that.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
It's he's gonna want to play even more. But I
just I just don't know. I don't know. I don't
have a feeling one way or another.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
So messy. But in the first segment we kind of
ended it just talking about how the Steelers have not
won in Chicago in thirty years, I mean ninety five
long time, and they don't go their offense like once
every eight years or so. But still it's kind of
been a house of horrors for them. I mean, Philadelphia
is that way. I remember Wolf use to talk about
hating to go to Seattle and there's no good memories there.
(15:59):
I mean, all used to say going to Oakland was
a terrible thing. Yeah, right. Is there anything behind the
Bear saying it's not like they've been one of the
best teams in the league. You've been there, right, Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Well, I mean the last time I was there was
you know, the crazy game with everything with the national
anthem pre game. Oh yeah, Vance McDonald had a crazy
hustle play to end the first half. I don't know.
I don't get the house of horror feeling from Chicago
like I do some of those other places. I completely agree,
(16:32):
but it does feel like how is it possible that
you've won one game in that city? So I don't know.
Hopefully that's something that the Steelers can change, whether Aaron
Rodgers starts or not, since he's a partial owner of Chicago.
I just I don't know. Maybe he'll bring some good luck.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
It's one of those, you know how like you'll hear
from Vegas home field advantage is worth two and a
half points, you know, and all these different things like
Aaron Rodgers in Chicago has to be worth it least
little extra, like an extra five, six, seven points something
in that regard to move the line. Missy. Obviously a
crazy game against the Bengals last week, particularly a second
half in which the Steelers defense had two touchdowns to
(17:14):
really put the game on ice. One, of course, the
pick six by one of the newer Steelers, Kyle Dugger,
and then the scoop six by one of the I
think hottest Steelers in best form Steelers in James Pierre.
Matt and I talked about this a little bit this week,
and I'd like to see if you agree, you know,
over the last let's say three games, you know, twelve
(17:35):
quarters or so, maybe setting aside that fourth quarter against
the Chargers where the Steelers defense was gassed and worn
down and it just felt like the damn kind of
broke with some big plays for LA. Does it feel
like these last few weeks we've seen that Steeler defense
becoming the unit that we all kind of expected them
to be. Can you feel that momentum, in that confidence
(17:57):
and that belief on the sideline?
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Yeah, And I truly believe Jalen Ramsey's saying, you know,
back at safety has brought some of maybe that cohesion,
that stability that we've talked about the past few weeks.
I think Kyle Duggar has come in and just done
a commendable job of you know, jumping on a moving
tray and doing it well. And you know, for Jalen
(18:22):
Ramsey to be impressed by what he was able to
do that first game out with the Steelers coming from
New England. And I think it's the you know what
Carol Austin talked about this week, We're not seeing these
crazy explosive plays that they're giving up like we saw
a lah in Cincinnati just getting gassed for different things. Now,
of course, as you said in LA, things started getting
(18:45):
off the tracks a little bit in the second half,
but I mean that defense played a lot of minutes
and it just it felt like even they did everything,
excuse me, they could do to try to stop the bleeding,
but it just wasn't possible because the offense couldn't possess
the ball or move it then. So maybe it's a
little bit of that. And I think also, you know,
some of the younger guys, Derek Harmon starting to come
(19:07):
along feel more comfortable. Keanu Benton I think has done
a great job as well. So hopefully it's something where
they can continue building and building off of it and
can you know, put another step forward in Chicago on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, you seem to agree that a lot of things
have kind of come together favorably where I think the
coaching staff has a better feel for where to put
their players. We have some new players we're looking at now,
new players and new positions like Ramsey, and also some
guys that we didn't count on originally, you know, Jack, Sawyer, Pierre,
(19:44):
I mean, have all stepped up and done their job.
I mean we don't need them to be the next
Lambert and Ham, but they've been quality contributors when called upon. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Absolutely, And you know, to your point, I do think, Okay,
you had all these amazing pieces, some of them you knew,
some of them were new. You're excited about the shiny
new toys, and it did just feel like how they
were put together at first and how things were going
was not adding up. Clearly. Injuries played the major role
into moving pieces. Lack of communication or consistency there. I think,
(20:18):
you know, losing Deshaun Elliott twice was huge for this
defense not having him back there, But I do think
that they've kind of found a way to make it
work with what they have right now. And they still
you know, Alex Highsmith with hert Darius Slay got hurt,
they're still moving parts within the past few weeks. So
(20:38):
hopefully not gun Wood, they can stay healthy and get
some more guys back and you know, get some more
of the consistency of what they want this defense to
look like, and be able to stack consistent games too,
I think, and just performances because it feels like that's
what they kind of need at this point instead of
it being like a crazy game against the Colts and
(20:59):
then letdown. So hopefully we're taking a step in the
right direction that way.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
It's certainly a huge challenge awaits in that department with
a Bears offense that has leveled up, a quarterback that's
leveled up, a lot of different pieces across that Chicago
offense that can make plays and that you have to
account for for the Steelers, though, Missy, I tell you what,
Darnell Washington, if he was maybe one of the best,
if he was maybe one of the best kept secrets
(21:25):
in the NFL for a while that is no longer
the case. Certainly he stands out at bit. He stands
out a little bit, yeah, both in his and his
physical stature and with the plays that he makes with
the football in his hands, particularly the one that we
saw where I think he left three Bengals in tatters
on the field there at Akershuer Stadium on Sunday won
(21:47):
him angry Runs the weekly Award by Kyle Brandt on
the NFL Network. Missy, I feel like we always go
back to, like asking you about things on the sideline,
but you have such a unique perspective in that regard.
What was that moment like down there where you know,
Darnault Washington stiff armed a guy and then ran over
a guy ran somebody else over. I mean that just
(22:08):
that had to be one of those kind of time
capsule moments for the season on the sideline.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Yeah, Darnel is definitely not somebody who can hide, can't.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Keep He was really bad at hide and seek back
in the day.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Like, oh, I see his feet sticking out, Funny he
doesn't sit there. But no, I mean so.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
You would not want him. He's not the first round
pick and ghost in the graveyard. That's for sure.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
No, no big people hide and seek only for him.
But you know I can't. I can't see sometimes the
faces of the people that are like directly in the front.
It depends on where Coach Trundlin is if I'm at
an angle where I can kind of look down. But
let me tell you, watching it live in person happening
and like ooing and awing, oh my gosh, like everybody.
(23:00):
I did it myself, like camera people were doing it.
Even one of the EMS workers I was standing by
just like turned around and was like whoa, Like yeah,
it was crazy. And then you watch the video from
the replays and you see dave On, who's one of
the athletic trainers. His face I think is one of
(23:20):
the ones that Kyle Brandt pointed out d Y who
is player personnel guy, he player engagement. He was one
of those guys too, And it's just insane to see.
And it it let that sideline on fire. It didn't
matter you know what side of the ball you were on,
or you know, if you were playing or not an
active had a helmet. People were juiced after that and
(23:43):
it was just crazy. And I think Aaron Rodgers said
it best that like people are getting scared of him
now and they should be. Like I think he called
him a mammoth. If you don't know if he's going
to hurdle you stiff arm you just block, you push you,
but like something bad is usually going to happen. And
I love that. You know, Mason Rudolph when he talked
(24:05):
about that play and about just Darnell in general, he said, look,
he gets in sometimes Wednesdays and Thursdays earlier than me.
He's a big time studier. This isn't a guy who's
just you know, using his god given physique and abilities.
He's putting in the work too, And I think you
are really starting to see that. I think Aaron being
(24:27):
inquisitive about this large mammoth as he called him in
training camp and like what can.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
We do with him?
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Was interesting and I just think it's really all starting
to come together with him, and it makes you realize
why the Feelers drafted him at that spot when maybe
there were you know, another position of me quote unquote
that they could go after. But he's a pretty special,
unique player who, Yeah, I would make a business decision
(24:54):
if I had if I had to go you know,
head to head with Darnell Washington.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Missy. Last thing I have for you is we do
that matchup show every Thursday, and it seems like every
week where one of us picks Steelers need to run
the ball better or need to run the ball more,
and we've seen glimpses, but it never quite comes around.
I think this week it's extra important in a game
that turnovers are so key. These teams are both so
(25:21):
great at it, and the Chicago run defense isn't very good.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Yeah, I think for the reasons you all stated, and
because the Steelers just need one of those games where
the offensive line is like signaling first down and getting
into it. It reminds me of like Dublin, you know,
when the quiet guys of the team, the Zach Frazier's
and Mason mccormicks, are all ready to go for it.
(25:49):
And I think to the time of possession. Again, we
talk about running the ball, but time of possession plays
into that because it is true what is going to
happen in terms of who wins the turnover margin. I
was just listening to one of the Bears podcasts that
their team produces, and they were even saying, like man
on special teams like their coordinator was taught and mentored
(26:13):
by Danny Smith, so he's thinking already like what is
he going to pull out a play from twenty years ago?
You know, like what's going to happen there? And I
think because both defenses like to play takeaway, you do
have to possess the ball to be able to run
some cluck as long as you're getting points. So I
do think running the ball will help all facets of
(26:35):
this game, and clearly time of possession. Like I just
wanted to be like a five minute plus win for
the Steelers in time of possession at some point down
the rest of this season, because it just feels like that.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Is one thing they cannot get certainly, certainly something that
we would like to see. They won that time of
possession by the slimmest of margins this past Sunday. Yeah,
let's add up a little bit Sunday in a city
that's known for their beef sandwiches. I'm sorry I had to, Uh, Missy,
thank you so much for your time as always, the
(27:08):
great Missy Matthews, Queen of the Sideline. Uh, thank you, Missy,
and I'll see on the plane tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
Sounds good. Thanks, guys.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
There she goes Missy Matthews double m with the view
from the sideline.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
I missed my opportunity. I was going to mention the
the article about you guys.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Oh you mean to call her back? Yeah, that was
pretty cool. That was I think the nicest. So so,
what matt is referencing is the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
That was on my list that mentioned to her and
call her back.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
The Noah Hailes of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette kind of
shadowed our broadcast team for a week. Uh, and just
everything that goes into the Steelers game day broadcasts was
down at the facility with you guys all for asence.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
He was down there just taking notes.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Went over to Rob King's house and you know, watched
how King or preps and dust film and then hung out,
you know, met myself and dan Quinlan early Sunday morning
before that Bengals game and saw how we set up
and everything that goes into it, and hung out with
us throughout the broadcast. Really cool story that published, Yeah,
as been published today and it was it was funny,
Like my family was texting me and they were like,
(28:17):
this is the nicest thing. Anybody has said about you
or anything. Well, we all got some nice love from
Noah in that article. But Noah said, hey, are you
ready for this? I mean, Matt, this is the nicest thing,
and I think anyone's ever said about me. At eight
forty five am Sunday, with fewer than two dozen people
total spread throughout the press box, Westeeler's presence was impossible
(28:38):
to ignore. Oh those far away could hear his playful,
seemingly always upbeat voice as he bounced around the halls.
Those close to him couldn't help but be impacted by
his consistent smile. The audio engineer for the Steelers' radio
broadcasts who also works as an on air talent, his
positive energy set the tone for the day ahead.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Wow, how many Benjamin's did that call?
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Just a few hundred? I mean thanks, no checks and
the mail. Tyler's over there shaking his head. Tyler, You're
gonna need to get a like a chainsaw and cut
open that door larger, because my head's not gonna be
able to fit in and out of this room with
the ego boost that that Noah hailes.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
But no, everybody should check the article.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Really cool stuff about how Rob prepares for a game,
just kind of him and Missy and Max and the
balance that they have and how they come up with
the topics that they want to make sure and hit
on throughout the show. Uh, it was it was. You
got a shout out in the article as well too
for the status. Yeah that you that you provide. So yeah,
I'm glad. I'm glad you brought that up. We should
(29:38):
have brought that up with Missy planning on it, you know,
next time, next next time they write out, next time
they write.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
A feature next week, you'll still hold up.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
That's true. Yeah, absolutely good stuff from Missy and uh
looking forward to another great broadcast with the team on
Sunday in Chicago. When we come back on the other side,
let's talk more about the Bear a little bit on
their road ahead and how important this is for them,
kind of like the Steelers and Matt. We still haven't
(30:07):
done this week. We got to do this before I forget.
We got to do our Chicago Bears pick a player exercise.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
This one's actually better than most.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
I was doing a Matt Williamson and laying there in
bed last night thinking about it. Yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
That's good. This guy's so young, and there's some options.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
There are some options. We'll get into all of that
as we wrap up the first hour of the program.
Wesh Uler, Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Back on the Drive here as we are continuing to
set the scene, set the stage for Steelers Bears and Matt,
some bad news for the Chicago Bears. Three linebackers three.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Glad we're going down there. Their linebacker situation is rough
ruled out according Edmonds.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
According to Adam Scheff, their Tremaine Edmonds, TJ. Edwards, and
Noah Seouele all out for Sundays.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Against the three guys.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Their top three linebackers all ruled out for Sunday's contest.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Now, it hasn't been a Steeler specialty, but I think
you have to throw in the middle of the field
and feature some of these tight ends a little bit
more to totally crossing routes, all that type of thing too,
because this defense makes a lot of mistakes. They have
some alignment errors and allow some big plays anyway, and
now you take all those communicators and athletes out of
the middle and schools kind of down these penny stools.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Brother, Yeah, he's.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Kind of a downhill banger. Edmonds is the every down
money guy. And you know that's their top three dudes.
That's a big deal.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
That's a huge, huge, huge deal for them.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
And I also got a question the run fits and
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Too, absolutely in the communication from a communication standpoint, like
you say, that's.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
They don't do a great job of protecting their linebackers either,
Like they played Grady Jarrett a lot who's well past
his prime and he's a gap shooter, smaller overage guy.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
And you had also mentioned Kyler Gordon a little bit yesterday.
He is in that twenty one day window to be
you know, designated from return from from reserve and IR.
He is listed as questionable for Sunday.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Okay, he's actually under consideration for who I'd snagged from
the Bears. I mean, he's that good.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Okay, we're gonna get there in just a second, just
a second. A couple others that we had discussed yesterday
who were on their injury report, Darnell Wright full participant
cleared for Sunday. Joe Thuney full participant cleared for Sunday.
Deandrew have full participant cleared for Sunday, Grady Jarrett full
participant cleared for Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Is Johnson on there the corner. I thought he was.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Jalen Johnson, right, Yes, he is also listed as questionable,
So and him and Gordon are both in that coming
off of IR twenty one day listed as questionable.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
That's their two best defensive players. And what's amazing is
they have all these takeaways with these two out hardly
playing all there.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
You're right, right, So they are at best going to
have two starting defensive back one or two starting defensive
backs potentially who are not one hundred percent healthy and
are just coming off of IR, and they're going to
be down three starting linebackers.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
I kind of get the impression Johnson's likely to play,
Gordon's unlikely to play, but they're probably both listed as questionable.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
They are both listed as questionable.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
This is the hunch I got, and this is stuff
I've read, you know.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
And so that's the latest with the Chicago Bears and
some of the status of some of their key contributors,
particularly again on the a lot of names there on
the defensive side of the football.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Right, which is their weakness to begin with. Right, Maybe
there's go'na be more points here, and we think maybe
it very well could be.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
May be. We will continue to monitor all of that
as we roll along here. But you know what, Matt,
let's get into that right in a minute.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
I opened the show saying, my tune has changed on
the Bears. Tell me, and I'm in a very positive manner.
You know, we talked about that Tye article, et cetera.
A tune changes something else too. Okay, when you have
thirty minutes and five seconds of time of possession, we're.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Going to continue to read this.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Yeah, I love it. You're ten seconds more, not five.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
So like what played out with the Steelers, right.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
They didn't have a five second of they have a ten.
I'm on the pursuit of trade.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
You're telling me, Matt Williamson that on a Friday, you're
gonna drop this bomb on.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
Me enough time.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
You're betraying me and you're joining the other side of
the aisle on this one. I am this is like
when Hulk Hogan joined nWo exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
And here's why. Somebody tweeted me and just convinced me.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
And I saw that tweet.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
Okay, if you have fifty cents and I have fifty
cents and I give you a penny, you have two
cents more than me.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
When you bring money. When you bring money, you see this, tyler,
You bring money into your equation to changes everything.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Right. It's like, I don't have a penny more than you,
you have two pennies more than me. I think it's
a tough one. It's a tough argument to fight.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
But if you look at in that context, you're absolutely right.
But what if we look at it in the context
of you and I go to the bank and we
take a dollar and we get one hundred pennies back,
and I have fifty one and you have forty nine, you.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Still have two more than me. Do I know you
could buy two more penny candies than I can?
Speaker 2 (35:38):
I don't know, because if I give you one of
those pennies, then we have the same. So do I
really have two more pennies than you?
Speaker 3 (35:44):
If you're fifty one and I have forty nine, but
more than me.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
But if I give you one, then we're on level footing.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
I think money just shows that it's we're wrong because
I just admit it.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
I mean, I would like to be a humble and
contrite radio host and admit that we were wrong. And
the point the point that that listener I wish I
could wish it take a lot. Well, it would take
a lot of scrolling back to find. But I do
remember seeing that tweet a few days ago.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
But I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
I might just stick my head in the sand and
be prideful here. You know that changed my ways.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Okay, you'll get wiser with it.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
He's not gonna let you I'm not gonna let you
all gas light me. Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
What were we about though? Were we plucking up plucking
a bear?
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah, let's pluck a Chicago bear here before we go
way down this rabbit hole.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
I know we don't have a ton of time today,
so we'll be quick we do.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Okay, we've got nothing but time, cool, nothing but time.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
These are my candidates.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Okay, give me your candidates.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Both those defensive back. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
I think Jalen Johnson has to be in the conversation.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
Yes, the only negative with Johnson is big contract. He's
not super old, but he just signed a big contract.
He's coming off his first contract, so he's twenty six ish,
but he's that outside man corner off as a porter
old baby, you know what I mean. Like now that
problem you're not talking about Pierre and Slay and drafting one.
I mean, you're just done. Gordon to me, is that
(37:07):
super underrated position in today's NFL. That's a nickel slash.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
The Brian Branch position. Yeah, the Cooper dejen position.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
And the way I've been describing that lately is it's
just the rug that brings the room together, you know,
like it's just whatever you want to do. On defense,
you have that guy. And Frankly, Ramsey's that guy as
a slot, but I think he's a safety now. If
I had Gordon, he's definitely a safety the rest of
his career.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
It's Ramsey a couple of years ago. He's perfect for that.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
Yeah, and he's still really good at y. You know,
he could do all that. He can blitz, he can
play the run. He's you know, take the slot receiver,
he can take the tight end. Andy's cheap. He's injured now,
but I'm not going to hold that against him. He
doesn't have like this massive injury. Yeah, those are only two.
On defense, I would consider the two defensive backs, yes,
although I do like two of their defensive linemen. Sweat.
(37:58):
He's also expensive, but he's an edge player. I just
don't think the edge is a huge need. And Girvin
Dexter is one of my favorite young He tackles. I
bet he does something in this game. You're like, oh,
that one, he's necessary.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
I like Brisker in their secondary too, but it's not.
He's a strong and it's like we've talked about. You've
got a lot of those.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
I'm glad you mentioned him though, because he'd be You've got.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
A lot of those left shoes. Yeah, where he was
a right shoe. Maybe it's a different conversation, but you've
got a lot of those left shoes already.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Everything you said that's that's definitely a good way of
looking at that one, because he's a good young player
too and cheap. Your boy, Darnell Wright is really really attractive.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Imagine being the head coach that didn't recruit that of
his own backyard. I'm sorry. After today, I'll be done
bringing it up.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
But the negative on him is now I'm going to
move Troy back the left, sure, and I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
And you're about to have to pay Darnell as well
like this this offseason.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Yeah, but I mean in a vacuum if I didn't,
you know, have But if Jones was more valuable than
fouton which he isn't, I would take Darnell right, you know, or.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
If right was extrectly strictly a left.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Right left is right right now w R I g
H T tackle anyway, so I would love him. But
now Faltanu, who is a left tackle at Washington, so
comfortable right.
Speaker 2 (39:21):
The same thing, the same thing we've just talked about
with Roger Jones over the last year and around, and.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
He'd probably do fine. But do I want him to
take any kind of step back in this process? Not really.
Quarterbacks aren't allowed, and that leads to doonsay.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
I think it's right or a doonsay, That to me
is the conversation.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
A doomsay would really be a perfect compliment today.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I think for the current Steelers right now today, November
twenty first, twenty twenty five, the second year guy, I
think he's the answer because he's cheap for a few
more years. He compliments DK well, oh, yeah, whatever happens
post Aaron Rodgers, You're like, hey, look at this nest
We've got built on the offensive line and some real
weapons for you.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Your next quarterback or whoever, would be thrilled.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Like, if I'm a different team and I've got my
money spent on the offensive side of the football, I'm
taking one of those two corners. But if I'm the
Steelers right now, I'm like, man, I would love to
add a play making peace like that. That. That's as
much as I'd love to go with my my West
Virginia native son Darnell Wright. I think I'm taking a
dunes again specifically too, because that's what this exercise is.
(40:28):
The Steelers right now, you got to add one.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
That's why the Bears are one of the best teams
to talk about it, because there are some really good candidates.
I'm taking Johnson. Yeah, I don't love spending the money,
but the team is cap space. I don't usually even
go down that road, but I mean they do have
cap space. And if I can have two man corners,
the rest of the defense would level up in a
massive way. In a massive way.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
I mean that's a real nice luxury.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
Yeah, And I just think I can find it. I'll
draft a receiver in a second round, but I don't
want to always be looking.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
For that, you know, agreed, If you know, if he
was a couple of years younger, I think Joe Thuney
would be in this conversation. But yeah, thirty three, thirty
four now and expensive and expensive if he was thirty inexpensive.
That's one thing.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
I don't think. Cimal is likely to be back next year,
and you're upgrade at left guard.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
She's one of the best, one of the best year.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Yeah, so they're a good team to talk about.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
They were I think one of the more loaded, one
of the more enjoyable ones.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
I could see the different avenues.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
There's a lot of a lot of fair arguments you
could make.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Yeah, I don't see any wrong answers for any of those.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
And that's you know, again, that's without us.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
I mean, right, turn your back on offensive tackle and
not yet twenty five?
Speaker 4 (41:41):
Right? Uh?
Speaker 2 (41:42):
And obviously we did all that fun discussion and leaving
Caleb Williams out of it. Oh, he'd be the pack
if quarterbacks are allowed. He's the obvious answer, right, Yeah,
I think that's.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Another fun game. We'll do probably this offseason is let's
whatever the Steelers end up picking in the draft, it's
twenty or twenty five or whatever. Would you give up
that pick in next year's first for Tyler Murray? No, no,
but I would forget. But Caleb Williams is a yes, yeah,
like I want to go through.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
The whole league, Drake, May I give up more right right, right,
right right.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
But we're gonna play that game sometimes because maybe you
are actually going to use those picks to trade up
the five. And if that person turns into Trevor Lawrence,
you knew it. But if he turns into Caleb Williams, yes.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
I was, You'll laugh. I was talking to one of
my cousins on the phone last night, and he's a
big football dork as well too. He's the one who
after he's a the athletic director at the school school
in Virginia. He was the defensive coordinator at his old
high school forever and then became athletic director. And we
were kind of playing the We were talking about the
quarterbacks and that he because he always loves the around
(42:50):
campus segment and I always email him that that around
as well, and he's like, he's like I'm not I'm
not really feeling these guys. He's like, I gotta be
honest with you, I'm not feeling And so we were
playing the like, Okay, Fernando Mendoza or cam Ward you know,
Fernando Mendoza or Jackson Dart or Dante Moore. Care game.
(43:10):
We were playing that that game last night, having some
fun doing that. Matt, just real quickly too, before we
go to break man, this is an important one for
the Bears when you look at their schedule ahead.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
So real quick, if you check my Twitter, I just
retweeted it before I came here, as was. This is
one of the biggest playoff implication games of the weekend,
even though well, actually last night's game was huge.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
Last night's game was massive, massive.
Speaker 3 (43:35):
And boy Houston survived. But considering these teams aren't the
same division, aren't the same conference, it's pretty crazy how
big a discrepancy the winner and loser changed in this game.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
Bears with a win sixty six percent chance to make
the playoffs, with a loss thirty five percent chance.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
That's a huge difference for one game against a non conference.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
Steeler surprises me a lot too. With a win still
just fifty percent chance to make the playoffs with a win, Yeah,
with a loss, twenty two percent.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Thing about that, because part of it is the Ravens
are fourteen and a half point favorites against the Jets.
Speaker 2 (44:11):
Absolutely, the Ravens with a winner now seventy four percent
all of a sudden. I don't know if I agree
with that, But who am I to argue that the
analytics and the numbers.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
I mean, I could see it if Steelers lose, Ravens win,
maybe not go up to seventy four, but that would
be huge for Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Absolutely, But I still think I dropped the Steelers down
to twenty two percent. Now that seems really low.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
It really low just with a loss, I mean still
with a winning record.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
That whole, like the Bears haven't played anybody, which I think.
I never liked that argument in the NFL because it's
not Ohio State versus Akron.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
But this Colts conversation too, just a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
The if Chicago makes the playoffs, nobody will be able
to say that it was unearned because I know Steelers
this weekend, then at Philly, then at green Bay. It's
a tough three game stretch. Okay, Then they get the
Browns at home. Should win that one, yes, Then they
get Green Bay at home against I got to see
in the span of three weeks, man, the schedule makers
were in their bag with that one. Then they have
(45:05):
to go to San Francisco. Then they host the Lions. Okay,
so right now.
Speaker 3 (45:10):
Matts and Lions games are looming.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Proverbial if the season was over today, six of the
last seven teams that the Bears play are all in
the playoffs right now.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
Just not the Browns.
Speaker 2 (45:21):
Just not the Browns. So don't get me wrong. Their
schedule has been fortunate to this point. But if they
earn it, if they do end up winning that division
or getting a wild card, no one could say that
it was just because they had an easy schedule. This
back half is tough.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
I mean, if they go five hundred the rest of
the way, they could be in the hut.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
They're seven and three now ten or eleven wins ten
I think probably gets you in eleven. I would feel deaf.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
Ten doesn't win that division though, not with the Lions
Packers in it.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
But if they win the right one, yeah, yeah, good point.
Who baby A lot on the line Sunday is Chicago.
Speaker 3 (45:57):
The road is narrowing? Is you? And Coach Salmlins say the.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
Road isn't it? You know, I've been told that myself
and Mike Tom will have a real way with words.
Let's get into some of these specific matchups to start
our number two little five star Friday. To kick us off.
On the other side, Yuler Williamson halfway home. It's the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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