October 7, 2025 • 43 mins
Matt and Wes recap all the latest news from Mike Tomlin's weekly press conference.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Wes Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here
on the four. I should say, the next two hours
on a Mike Tomlin Tuesday Matt our first, uh, Mike
Tomlin weekly press conference here in two weeks, since, of course,
there was not one last week with the Steelers bye week.
(00:45):
And I think a lot of pertinent information today, particularly
on the injury front, particularly when you consider that they
had a Monday practice in the books already.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Odd Tuesday press conference.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Odd Tuesday press conference. But I think you can deduce
a little bit more from the injury report when they've
had that practice in the books and in an extra
kind of week to evaluate. And so here's the latest
Joe tom reminder. Yesterday, Joey Porter Junior Alex high Smith
both talked about how they were getting ready for Sunday,
feeling good for Sunday. That's nothing official, obviously, but in
(01:18):
their minds kind of gearing up and hopeful that it
would be available on Sunday. Mike Tomlin said that the
arrow is pointed up for all of Joey Porter Junior,
Alex high Smith, and Jalen Warren.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Good, very good.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, I think especially for Porter and for Warren. We
knew that they were game time decisions in Dublin. You
have an extra bye week now, two weeks removed from that.
We won't know until we know, but both of those
guys practicing, both of those guys speaking positively, it sounds
like sounds real promising for those two and for Alex
high Smith as well.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Okay, great. I was asked on different show Mark maddenas
made you know or were you shocked that high Smith
was inserted right back with the ones. Not shocked. I
am curious how that plays out. But that's an abundance
of Richard's there. You know. We'll talk about that throughout
the week. I'm sure we have a not spoken about
Austin or Ramsey. I don't think this is the worst
(02:15):
week to be without Ramsey, especially if you get Porter back.
I mean, they don't throw to the receivers about the
least in the league, especially with Gabriel back there.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And when they do it's the tight ends that they're targeting.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They don't really go outside that much, so it'd be
more safety linebacker centric in terms of coverage, although Ramsey
does do some middle of the field stuff and a
lot of stuff was with Flacko, who's not even there anymore.
It's a couple of minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yeah, we'll talk about that too.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I think that's interesting as could be. And Warren you
love having back Like I don't think there's a sentiment
out there that boy Gainwell was awesome. Just give him
the job, you know, he's your number one now. I
hope people don't see it that way. It was a
really good performance spot duty, but I don't think that's
what you want out of Gainbow at all. I mean,
you want Warren to be getting those touches.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yes, completely agree, And then you hope you get Warren
going like we saw in bursts. Yeah, you continue to
get what you saw from Kenneth Gainwell Dublin and then
all of a sudden you're cooking with fire.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I mean you definitely have way more confidence in you know,
knowledge of Gainwell now than you did before. Dublin. Absolutely right,
absolutely is great. Okay, Now I feel a little bit better,
you know, and you get your your number one.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Back exactly right, and you get Jayalen Warren back, and
he does Jalen Warren things, and I think we'd be
feeling as confident as we've been in a while in
that in that room, in that position. Group doesn't sound
as great. No surprise here for Jalen Ramsey with the
hamstring and Calvin Austin with the shoulder. Mike Tomlin said
that they may be included in some practice preparation this week,
(03:51):
but that they will be limited early in the week,
so not the same kind of I'm encouraged. The arrow
is pointing up with those two, which again I don't
think is surprising.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
No, And again I don't think this is a game
you have to rush them back, particularly Ramsey with Porter
coming back, although Ramsey does a lot of different things.
My concern when we broke here yesterday was I wonder
if either one of these guys would be an IR guy.
Then Austin in particular, just the reports after the game
seemed a little great as a little more pessimistic than
(04:24):
the Ramsey ones. I would think that move would have
been made by now though, so probably not go either
one going to IR. So in a way you can
summack it. That's what everyone has injuries of time here,
you know.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
And I think if you remember, if you recall in
the you know, throughout the month of September, in these
Tuesday press conferences, Mike Tomlin was pretty quick to rule
out Deshaun Elliott and Alex Higsmith. Right. It was kind
of like when he would give his injury, he'd be like,
you could consider those two out. The fact that he
didn't do that with Ramsey and Calvin Austin at least
makes me a little more optimistic that it might not
(04:59):
be as long a terms we all feared.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It's just this game. Yeah, yeah, okay, and it's like
all right, and we'll see.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
What the holl the week goes, right, right, right?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, well, who knows. Interesting, I will say, just considering
the opponent when you hear hear these things, it's really
hard to run on the Browns, really really hard to
run brown So I would Austin being out doesn't make
me super happy. That doesn't make me super happy because
someone's gonna have to step up. I mean, you can't
just throw the tight ends in Metcalf only.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
No, absolutely, and that is something we'll we'll talk we
We got to talk plenty this week about what your
snap you know, kind of count division, how you're going
to divide those up between Watt, Herbig and high Smith
and even Sawyer in the conversation as well too. Uh
And then obviously we'll talk plenty about what to do
in the absence of Calvin Austin. Is it Scotty Miller
(05:51):
plugging in? Is it Roman Wilson? What's that look like?
We will get into all of that as we roll
along this week.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
And maybe much like Game Well, one of them really
takes a ball and runs with you know, which would
be great, Yeah, yeah, kind of makes an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
For you and surprises you. And could we see some
Roman Wilson, you know, sink or swim type usage. We'll
get into all that. That's something we'll ask our buddy
Chris Hallick about here in just uh in just a
few minutes before we do that, though, Matt, the kind
of uh. I guess news of the day that you
(06:23):
just referenced the Bengals traded for Joe Flacco. Yes, that
Joe Flacco on his way throughout the state of Ohio.
I guess from Northeast Ohio.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Through Division West he's got three of the four themes
checked off, trying to collect the start his career with me.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That's right, the VHS tape believer in Joe Flacco, U
Joe Flacco and a sixth round pick to Cincinnati for
a fifth round pick. So old Joe Flacco.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
He's reported to all four facilities. Check that.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Guess time pit that is that is hilarious.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
H So I want to get to that in a
different segment. I know we got to talk to Chris soon, Yes,
but we did a lot of stuff around the division,
around the league. You know, obviously the Steelers on a vibe,
and I probably it's probably worth a whole segment to
go back to that. Then there's some divisional stuff I
saw today which is kind of crazy too.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
We'll get into all of that as.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Ravens also made a signing too.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yes, they did so some moving and shaking in the division,
both in the in the in the trade department and
in the in the free agency department. We'll get into
all of that as we roll along. Our buddy Chris
Hallick from the South Side with all the latest on
the Mike Tomlin press conference and some more of these
injuries and the Steelers just getting back to things here
after the bye week and getting ready for the Cleveland Browns.
(07:43):
We'll talk to our buddy Chris when we return. On
the other side, West Shooler Matt Williamson. It is the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Your tunes about Drive. You're twenty four to seven home
of the black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Back on the Drive here on a Tuesday, Mike Tomlin's
weekly press conference in the books. Plenty to discuss from that,
and of course, as it relates to the Steelers getting
ready for their first AFC North clash this weekend at
home Sunday one pm at Acressure against the now Joe
Flaccoless Cleveland Browns joining us to discuss. It's our buddy
from dk Pittsburgh Sports, Chris Hallick. Chris, thank you for
(08:45):
taking the time as always, partner, and let's get right
into it here. Plenty of injury updates today from Mike Tomlin.
More optimistic as it relates to Joey Porter Junior, Jalen
Warren and Alex Smith. Let's start with those three. You
expect all of those three or any of those three?
(09:07):
What do you kind of I know it's still early
in the week here, but predict for their status for Sunday.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
I really think Porter and Warren are pretty good. I
mean Porter himself even said like I'm good to go.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
I would put.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
Porter in like ninety five percent, and then Warren maybe
like a little less. I mean, he was really close
to playing and they really kind of held him out
at a caution in the Dublin game. He's had another
week to rest, he was on the field for practice
yesterday during their bonus day. So I would think Warren
(09:46):
is a pretty near lot to play. High Smith is.
He's pretty optimistic, and I think there's plenty of reasons
for optimism for him to play. I'm I don't think
it's going to be will go, and I don't see
the reason why you would need to. With the way
Nick Herbig is playing, there's no real real need to rush.
(10:09):
When you're about to play thirteen games straight without a break,
probably a pretty good just time to let him kind
of ease his way back in, while Nick Krviig is
playing at such a high level. So I think all
three guys have to stand a really good chance of
playing on Sunday. Though to varying degrees of how much
each guy will participate.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Christ you mess mentioned the Monday bonus practice after the bye.
How do they usually handle that? Is it a pretty
intense or is it a walk through tempo?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Like?
Speaker 3 (10:40):
How do they handle that? In general?
Speaker 5 (10:43):
It's definitely not walked through. Even Mike Tomlin today said
they really focused on like conditioning and things like that.
But you know, they tend to do a number of things.
I don't think it's one thing every single time they
have a bonus day.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Sometimes they will kind of.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Get to work early on the schematics. Other times they
will do like like Tomlin said today, they'll do more
things to really put the focus on keeping conditioning up
and making sure that they're in football sheet getting ready
for a week, especially if it's a game like Sunday's
will be against Cleveland, it's the AFC, nor if it's
(11:22):
gonna be physical. I want to make sure guys are
are ready, like physically prepared for the game. So they
do a number of different things. Sometimes they do a
little bit of everything. I definitely think that schematics definitely
played a role into the practice, though they won't truly
dive into that until Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So I'm curious just along those lines, if sometimes they
do a mini install, coaches have a week off, their
their gears are turning, we're gonna throw this into the playbook.
You know, maybe they come back and at a wrinkle.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
You know, Oh, I definitely. I think it's it's always
a time to take advantage of the extra work, and
it doesn't necessarily have to be for just the preparation
for that opponent. But yeah, it could be something, Hey,
you know, we like what we're doing out of this personnel,
Let's add another wrinkle to that. Let's add another little
(12:11):
element to that. How can we best utilized you know,
for example, sewers or a third in the league and
twelve personnelities, Maybe there's another way they want to use
tight ends, which is another way they want to run
the ball out of that personal whatever it is, that's
another time in which they can try to work on
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Chris, Obviously, heading into this weekend, it seems rather unlikely,
not officially ruled out, but I think rather unlikely that
we're going to see Calvin Austin at home against the Browns.
What's that game plan? Kind of like this week How
do you go about trying to fill his role? Is
it as simple as turning to the veterans Scottie Miller?
(12:49):
Is it time to do some sink or swim type
stuff with Roman Wilson and finally, you know, give him
a larger portion on his plate. How do you think
they go about replacing Calvin Austin this week?
Speaker 5 (13:01):
Well, the first the first thing is Mike Comlin didn't
completely rule out. I did not yet, So there is
a chance, albeit it's probably very unlikely, but there is
a chance that he could play for me. I wouldn't
rush him back again. You're about to play thirteen straight games.
You don't want to lose receiver. Yeah, you have the
trade deadline coming up.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
In a few weeks, uh, in which you.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Could possibly, you know, find a team that's gonna be selling,
you know, to grab a receiver. But you'd still rather
have Calvin Austin than not have them, whether you add
another receiver down the road or not. But in terms
of this week, if Calvin can't go, if they're gonna
lean on Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson, it's not just
(13:45):
gonna be one guy, uh and the main and there
are a number of ways. You cancel that. Yes, you
can't utilize the tight ends a little bit more. You
can run a little bit more twelve personnel, But there
are also things that Calvin Austin does the tight ends
can't do, and me that's speed. And the good thing
is both Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson are very good runners,
and they can utilize their speed quite a bit to
(14:08):
help either stretch the defense. The Browns were on a
lot of single high so maybe they can try to
take some more shots downfield, and having speed is a
good part of that. You know, that could also clear
some space for TK Metcalf or even some of the
other guys underneath. Whether it be a running back or
a tight end, they're gonna have to utilize both Scotty Miller.
And the good thing is Scotty Miller's a trusted veteran receiver.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
You know.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Aaron Rodgers has a good.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Things to say about him.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
Tom Brady had good things to say about him when
Scotty was in Tampa Bay, and.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Then Roman Wilson.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
I mean, yeah, I think at some point you got
to rip the band aid off and kind of cut
him loose and let him go see what happens, and
you'd like for that to work out because this is
a pretty pivotal game. I understand the Browns are one
and four, but this is an AFC North matchup. Stuarts
have a grand opportunity to get an early stranglehold on
the division.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
And you know you want to win the game.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
No matter what, but you really love to be able
to win the game and also to get Roman and
Wilson involved so you could really start to see what
you have there.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah, I'm gonna stick with this this topic here because
I do think Austin is a significant loss if he
can't go. Because you said a lot of single high
they're really really hard to run on. I would think
this could be a matchup where you do take shots,
you know, if you can max protect. But my question
for you is in two receiver sets, do you think
(15:32):
they trust Roman Wilson to be an outside player? I mean,
he's maybe trust isn't the right word yet, you.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Know, yeah, maybe maybe not trust, But I you know,
whenever you know Tomlin was asked about it today, you
know it's not like this because when you look at
the snap counts between like DK Metcalta, and Calvin Austin.
They both like significantly outsnap Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller.
But the reason for that is necessarily because they don't
(16:02):
trust Scott or Roman. It's because they're using twelve personnel
the third highest rate in the league, and they're using
thirteen personnel the third highest rate in the league. You know,
they're using eleven personnel at the lowest rate in the league,
which means they have only two receivers on the field
the majority of the time, like two thirds of the time.
So you're not going naturally, you're not going to have
(16:23):
a lot of statcounts for more than your top receivers. Now,
when it comes to Roman Wilson, he's equipped to do
a lot of things even in twelve personnel. He's a
good blocking receiver, not as good as spend Scronis, but
he's probably a better blocking receiver than Calvin Austin. But
this is also a good chance for them to see
(16:44):
what they have in him as a route runner, what
kind of separation he can get, how he can be
utilized in I think the play action. The one thing
that he did really well in Michigan was being able
to run these high crossers and you know those who
pay attention to you know, Arthur Smith's background on an offense,
he likes to run those Shanahan play action concepts, you know,
(17:05):
and that involves the good amount of high crossers. You know,
maybe Roman Wilson can be utilized that way.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
I don't know, but.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
They've got, like I said, I think they got to
rip the band aid off at some point, and this
is an opportunity for them to do it without forcing
it because you know Boston's down. They need to step up.
And you know, this is a guy who's a third
round pick. You know, he looks pretty good in the preseason.
They kind of see what they have. You know that
this almost does have to be as Mut's kind of
put it, kind of think Chris swim with him.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
A couple more minutes here with Chris Hallick on the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. Chris, I guess, kind of
similar conversation as it relates to offensive game plan for
this Sunday against the Browns. I don't know if any
of us had Darnell Washington pacing the Steelers' skill position
players in terms of snaps on our Bengo cards heading
(17:54):
into Dublin. But that's the way it played out, and
I think to pretty good success as well. Do you
expect we'll see a heavy heavy dose of Mount Washington
and with that that that corn beef package with Anderson
as well too against this Browns defense.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Chris's that was something I was going to ask too,
So I just wanted to add one piece to it.
But maybe they use it on what your thoughts on
if they will use it or not? But I don't
want to speak for you, but if they do, do
you think it's more protection related against Garrett as opposed
to masterface run the ball against you know, one of
the best run defenses in the league.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
Well, the way Mike Tomlin put it today was you
don't use two hundred and fifty pounds tight ends to
block four three defensive ends. That's the way he put it,
and it makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
I think. Another way he put it was there are
weight classes.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
And combat sports for a reason, you know, and and
Darnell Washington is built big enough to be able to
block some of those larger defensive ends that play in
a fourth three front, and so you know, Tomlin hasn't
been the way he put it it's been bashful about
using those type of things against the four to three,
(19:04):
So it would not surprise me if going up against
the Browns, especially when you consider the fact they do
have Miles Garrett and a really strong defensive front, that, yeah,
you could see more of that, and you could see
more of it against the Bengals, who also use a
four to three front. So I don't think it's every
single time they face a team that runs out of
the four to three that you're gonna see nineteen snaps
(19:26):
from Spencer Anderson as a eligible receiver, while Pat Fryer
mud and John hus Smith played less than that. But
I think when it's a game in which you're trying
to number one run the football and you're also trying
to protect your quarterback, I think it's absolutely a way
to be able to do that. I don't think that's
(19:47):
going to be their entire offense, but I don't think
that the game against Minnesota was some sort of one
off or some sort of misnumber. I really do think
that it's going to be something that they use as
one way to attack these defensive fronts, especially a front
like Cleveland who not only is filled with a lot
of talent, but also they just load the box. They
(20:09):
like to load the box. They want to stop the run.
They're very good at stopping the run. So sometimes you
got to put your bigger horses out there and you know,
try to be the bully there, and you kind of
need the bodies in order to do that.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Chris, I got one more thing for you. You kind
of mentioned maybe they ease high Smith back into things,
and that might be an easy way to make the
decision for us, you know, in terms of her Big
versu high Smith, Highsmith versus Herbig. But you see any
way that maybe all three of the outside linebackers are
on the field together or I just can't get over
(20:46):
having her Big on the bench. I mean, it's no
knock on anybody else, but he just blows me away
every time he's out there, and I think he needs
to play a lot.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Oh, I think they want him to play a lot too.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
And yes, I do think there are going to be
times in which Shoe you do see all three on
the field.
Speaker 6 (21:03):
Good, But I think I think the biggest thing now,
I don't think that that's going to be like ninety
percent of the time that's going to be what they do,
because that means you're leaving Peyton Wilson on the sideline sometimes,
and Peyton Wilson does some really got me shoot that
that they don't stop Jordan Addison on that blown coverage
about Peyton Wilson running a ridiculous speed and chasing him down.
(21:23):
You know, Peyton Wilson brings value. You're not going to
take Patrick Queen up the field because he's the green
dot guy and when he's healthy, HEA's on the field
every single snap.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
The three outside linebacker things easier said than done, by
the way.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Absolutely, yeah, it's not as simple as it sounds. Now
that being said, I think there's more value in having
these guys rotate with each other than trying to just
stuck this like stuff them all in the field at
the same time all the time. Because what you really
have to think about here is Number one, these are
three really good football players.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
I mean TJ.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Watson Defensive Player of the Year should have been won
moreultiple the Best Player of the Year awards. Nick Herbig
is blossoming into a phenomenal edge rusher, and Alex Heismith
is a very very very good edge rusher, and any
team would love to have him as like their compliment
to a star edge rusher.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Any team would have that.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
He would even be the best edge rusher on several
teams in the league. So one way that you can
utilize that is to keep them all fresh a little
bit more and have one of those guys on the sideline.
There will be times TJ. Watt is the guy who's
on the sideline because you don't want him going to
ninety five percent of the snaps every single week. You
(22:40):
need this guy fresh and healthy in December and January.
You know, think about last year whenever he was playing
banged up and he was not as effective. He just
wasn't you know.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And some people are like, you know, what, where did TJ.
Watt go?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Well, he's playing in lesson one hundred percent, and maybe
he sends a much better chance of being closer to
under if you have a Nick Kirbig who can step
onto the field and instead and you don't have that
big of a drop off in production, or when Alex
Highsmith can step onto the field and you can you know,
keep Nick herbig frush because her Big hasn't been the
most healthy guy over the court over his three NFL.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Seasons, either.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
So, keeping these guys healthy is paramount above everything else.
But rotation is a good way to do that.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
But I do think you will see.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Every now and then, maybe it's five or six times
a game in which you see all three guys on
the field on the third down situation or any kind
of a bullet situation in which they just send the
house becau.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
They're gonna put all their big guns.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
Out there and they're gonna be like, Okay, we're gonna
go get the quarterback right now.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Certainly a good problem to have how to fit all
those three into the defensive puzzle. Chris Hallick, great stuff
from him, as always, make sure you're checking out all
his work DK Pittsburgh Sports. Chris, thank you for the time, buddy,
and we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
All right, Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
There he goes Chris Halleck, great stuff. Yeah, Yeah, that's
that's just what I would like to see Matt a
couple times a game make defenses. It's kind of one
of the.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Five or six snaps. Was exactly what I was going
to say to.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
One of those out Like we talk about outliers a lot,
make de or make offense as part of me prepare
for something that's a little bit of an outlier that
you're going to throw at them a couple times a
game situation.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Yeap, And we can really talk about how you really
would divvy out their snaps. But I do think he
mentioned maybe high Smith you got to ease him in,
you know, coming off the injury, So this week it
might be easier to build that puzzle than when they're
all one hundred percent, you know, fighting for time. Yeah, Alex,
we only wanted you to play twenty snaps no matter what,
you know, right, even if herbig didn't exist, Yeah, you
know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (24:37):
You know, so could all fall into place on one
Sunday and hopefully you have those three healthy and rested
and good to go for the rest of the season
as well too. Certainly, Matt, no Tuesday rewind today since
we're coming off of the bye week. So I figured
in lieu of that, a lot of moving and shaking
across the AFC North, a trade between the Browns and
the Bengals. The Ravens have added a pretty signific get
(25:00):
name and free agency as well too. Let's get into
all that when we return on the other side. To
close down the first hour of the show. It is
the Drive West Yuler Matt Williamson, Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
A busy Tuesday today across the AFC North, the Browns
and the Bengals making a deal, the Ravens adding a
prominent free agent. Matt, let's start with the trade between Yeah,
it is a weird one again. Flacco and a sixth
round pick heading to to to Sense the part of
(26:02):
me to the Bengals and a fifth round pick going
back to Cleveland in return. I think from the Browns standpoint,
it makes plenty of sense, you know. Yeah, you got
your two young quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Except I'd like an adult in the room.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
It's a weird I can't remember a time when the
quarterback room was only two rookies.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Yeah, that is.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Right, and Joe's well, we'll talk about later. But I mean,
those are the two guys you want to play. And
so I get that. You get one obstruction out of
the way, Shador becomes the number two. Like I got
a lot of people asking me when they announced Gabriel
is the one. Oh, is it a slap in the
face that Sanders isn't a two? And I'm like no,
(26:48):
because especially preparing for that London game Gabriel, if you
haven't been in an NFL practice during the season, you
wouldn't think about it. But Gabriel needs every snap to
prepare for every rep. So your two has to be
a guy that's at least done it. I mean to
ask Sanders to be the two is really unfair to him.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
You're giving him no work.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yeah, We're i gonna give you any practice because we
have the other rookie ready, and if he gets hurt,
we're gonna throw you in against Flora, So who you've
never practiced against or prepared for except for the film room.
That's not fair to him at all.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
It's a great point.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
So now you get the reps going to the right people.
Gabriel first, he's still your rookies, only played one game.
But I would like an adult in the room. From
Cleveland standpoint.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
And on the sideline all that stuff. Just when Gabriel
comes back after you know, a drive, what'd you see?
What were you looking at? What were the safeties doing.
What are they trying to disguise there? I think every
quarterback likes to have a veteran that they can lean
on on the sideline. Batch Grave about Batch all the time,
and that's future Hall of Famer. Pretty soon. Here Baelisberger
(27:50):
in two times Super Bowl champion, not.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
A rookie, A rookie in the second start, in.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
A second start, trying to figure it out on an
offense in an organization that doesn't have a lot going
in their direction. Yeah, that is that is interesting.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
I also find it funny from a Brown's perspective that
it wasn't long ago, just a little over a month.
What's this team doing? They have four guys pick it Flacco,
the two rookies, you know, like it's hard to get
reps for these guys. Now you're down to two a three, right,
I mean you got yeah, right, all of a sudden,
it's like we got none. Yeah, I don't know, it's
(28:28):
I understand what they're doing. And they did pick up
a fifth round pick, which is not nothing, you know,
so fine, they need all the drafted cap, but they
can get Let's talk about Flacco the player and the
Sincy side of it.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yeah, absolutely, that's the more intriguing side, and he's the
one that they kind of pinpoint to go out and get.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
I think, but he hasn't played well. I mean I
really dug into it because Matt stats, I'm into. You know,
it's Brown's week, so it's fitting for.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Now Thursday baby.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
I mean, he's only thrown two touchdowns for the first
four games. His numbers are like the worst in the
league this year. Now, he doesn't have a great supporting
shift and everyone knows, so that's kind of intriguing. Then,
I think everyone knows I root for Joe. I've said
million times. I helped recruit him a million million years ago.
I mean he's like the last survivor of anyone I
(29:17):
watched in high school, but just a big time, big
time AUTUBN high school. But he had that comeback player
of the Year season with the Browns. Then he went
to the Colts and wasn't very good and it went
to the Browns this year wasn't very good, and even
that comeback of the year season, I really thought Joe
(29:39):
came off the couch for that year. I mean he
wasn't even like in a training camp. He'd get traded
to the Browns. He was just not a football player
till like week ten or whatever. And I thought he
just came in and said, I got nothing to lose.
I'm gonna pretend like I'm Jameis Winston and just wing
this thing all over town. Ten touchdowns, ten yeah, right,
whatever happens, right, And it really came back to bite
(29:59):
him in the playoff game that they lost, but before
that he kind of got away with it. He kept
flipping the coin and getting heads. You know, I'm like,
stick with it. I'm just gonna keep slinging it, you know.
But it was a tough way to live because he's
not that guy anymore, and he's not a play extender
and all those things. And I think like the chickens
have come home to roost a little bit on his style,
you know. But is he better than Browning? Maybe? I mean,
(30:24):
he can still throw the football really, really well. He's
got a monster arm, he's six six. Those things will
never disappear. And you could just see Chasing Higgins as
being really upset with ball placement timing. Browning was so
bad against a rush, which I don't think Black will
be any better better, No, but at least a clean
(30:45):
pocket open chaser Higgins. I think you get more completions
out of Joe than you have since Burrow went down.
But it's probably just shuffling chairs on the Titanic. I
mean we kind of talked about yesterday. Shouldn't you have
done this? Or Russell Wilson two weeks ago?
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Weeks ago?
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Yeah, I mean this week.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
A different story, right, Yeah, to play this week and
then you got a short week at home again.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
It was again, right, yeah, yeah, I know who they
have this week, but I mean they can't be favored
by the way they've played.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
No.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
I at least they're not going down with the Titanic.
It's a good still are at least trying to make
it seem like they're doing something, trying to find some
extra life rafts for everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Because we even touched on this like a week or
so ago, like should they be buyers for Wilson? I
didn't think Flacco would ever move into division. But it's
not like you're trading Burrow. I mean, the world's gonna
move on to the AFC North, sure, but the reality is
they could do both. They could buy a Flacco or
a Wilson. They bought Flacco. It's a mess. And then
(31:47):
you trade Henderson the trade deadline. It's not like you
have to do both, right, trade Henderson for a good
pick and you give up a bad pick for Flacco. Okay,
I mean at least it's a message to the organization
that we're not happy with how it's going.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Yeah, and we're we're not thrown in the towel on
this season in early October.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
You're not that far out of first place. I mean
in the standing, which.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Is crazy to say, but yeah, you win two games
in a row and you're right back in it.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Right, So at least there's hope there. And if they
get a win this week or keep their head above
water until Joe returns, or maybe they think Joe's coming
back earlier than we think Borrow not Flaco. Yeah, yeah,
but I don't think it changes the balance power. No,
not really.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Let me ask you this. If you're Zach Taylor and
they come to you and they say, we've got offers
that are going to be accepted for Flacco or for
Russell Wilson, which one do you want?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Probably Wilson, I think so too. Wilson really hinders how
you have called plays outside the numbers, the inability to see.
At least he's a better act.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
You can move a little bit better Flacco certainly.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
And.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Higgins will go. But get it for you. Yeah, you're
not a big tight end middle of the field team
not the Chase won't go to the middle field, but
you're not. I think I'd prefer of Wilson.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
I think so too. Not easy decision process, but yeah,
I think if I'm if I'm kind of split hairs,
that's the direction I would go as well, too, Matt.
Not just the Bengals in the Ravens with some noteworthy
roster movement here today. Also the Baltimore Ravens have added
(33:26):
Chauncey Gardner Johnson to their practice squad. Of course recently,
most recently with the Texans, had a lot of success
with the Eagles over the last few years. He's a
little bit of those He's a little bit of one
of those kind of Enigma lightning rods in the NFL.
He can definitely, I think, add some value, but he's
(33:47):
jumped around from team to team and hasn't always been
reported as the easiest guy to work with. Yeah, greatest
teammate in the world, I be in kind a little bit.
But Baltimore I think can obviously use some help and
certainly of a shake up right now, Yeah, what do
you think for this decision for the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
I mean, I guess in some ways, it's kind of
like Pepper's being out there, like this is a guy
that's had a good career. I haven't studied him. I
don't know if he's shot or not. I tend to
think he's probably not in the league because he doesn't
play well with others, you know. I mean it's the
biggest thing, not that he can't play anymore. And for them,
they have so many defensive back injuries. Okay, I mean
(34:24):
they have nothing invested in the guy. Houston still paying
them pick him up for nothing. If he's a paint
in the butter, can't play, cut him in two weeks,
you know that. So it's a minimal investment with a
decent payoff. Maybe his it's not that he doesn't play hard.
I mean, so maybe he does.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
He plays like his heads on fire.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, I say, maybe his aggression, his edge, if you're
gonna be used nice words, lights a spark under this group,
and maybe you bring in a spark plug to the
locker room to just make any kind of change, you know.
But I don't think he changes the bounce power either.
You know. But I mean he's an NFL player who's
had a good career, and he's a little ahead of
(35:05):
his time. You know, a lot of these safeties turned
slot has just happened the last three four years. He
kind of did it for yeah, yeah, you know, put
a big safety a big slot that was a former
safety that has the de Gene types. You know, he's
done this for a long time.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
I was gonna say the Eagles team that lost in
the Super Bowl three years ago to the Chiefs, he
was a massive part of that secondary yeah right r
right before they went out and got the Gene and
quinnyon Mitchell. You know, it was it was like him
and and Darius Slay and right right right and a
big I mean they went all the way to the
Super Bowl and overtime that they lost to the Chiefs
in that Super Bowl. If I'm remembering correctly, that one
(35:42):
goes I think you're right, Yeah, I think so so.
I mean again, he is a guy that.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Is Brandy Graham and yeah, Fletcher Cox, I mean like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
I believe that was Kelsey's last year or maybe yeah, maybe.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
I think so, or maybe it was timeline better, but.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
I know everything all runs together. But yeah, I he
is certainly a guy that has had success in this league.
But that's an interesting move. Maybe maybe a little desperation
there from the Ravens for.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Both of them.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
They're a little bit at that point, I think, in
both parties.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
And this brings me my last topic about the division
that Labs send on an email today that came directly
from the league.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I saw that.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Yeah, okay, and it was pretty shocking, to be honest
with you.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
So AFC North struggles.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
Yes, maybe you're looking at it, but the crux of
it is, all four AFC North teams have a negative
point differential. I think the Steelers are only minus.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Two, just minus two, and they're the best.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
Of the group. But that's still rare for an entire
division to be negative. Now, there hasn't been a lot
of AFC North games yet, you know, AFC North VERSU
AFC North games as usual, they hold them till later
in the year. But you may have the numbers in
front of you, I mean, good.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Good, So yeah, since the AFC North has existed, since
the two thousand and two since the two thousand and
two divisional alignment. Yes, all teams have a negative point differential.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
And if you add them up, and if you add.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Them up, it's the worst it's ever been in the
division history by thirteen points.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Two thousand and two was the was the worst year early.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
To get into negative point differentials too. They're really terrible
teams usually by like we losing and losing and losing, right,
you know.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
It's also the worst combined winning percentage in AFC North
history by a pretty significant margin point three six eight.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
The lowest in the past was twenty sixteen when it
was point four one four.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
I mean the Ravens and Steelers during that time are
almost never under five hundred.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
The AFC Norths combined one negative one hundred and fifty
nine point differential is the worst of any division through
the first five weeks of the season since two thousand
and two since that realignment. Wow, that paints an ugly picture.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Yeah, I mean, we've it's been kind of the topic
of the week with Steelers being on by is what
is going on with this division? And it's more than
just a Burrow and Lamar injury it is. I mean,
there's no question.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
And you know what, regardless of that, regardless of how
bad the division could be or has been to this
point early, someone's still got to win it, right, and
the Steelers are in great position. You know, it's not
gonna like I still don't think this division is not
going to have a seven or eight or nine win
(38:29):
winner like we've seen at times in the past. I
would think someone's got to at least get to ten
I think to win this division. And hey, the Steelers
will take it good position to be in as of now, certainly.
Uh And you know what, I don't think. So we
talked about could there be three coming into this year?
Would a lot of people? Certainly if the Bengals could
(38:51):
just stabilize that defense, I think we could have all
easily seen three playoff teams coming into the this year.
But that certainly does not appear to be the case
at this point. Matt. Before we close down the first
hour of the show here, we do have a couple
minutes left. Wanted to get your thoughts on that crazy,
wild Monday night football game last night.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
Fun game.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Chiefs jump out to a fourteen to nothing lead early
on Jags claw back and kind of win it at
the death with a last minute Trevor Lawrence scrambling touchdown
thirty one to twenty eight, and hey, don't look now,
but the Jags are four and one, the Colts are
four and one. The Texans are showing signs of life.
Maybe that AFC South ends up being the three playoff division.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
And we were joking, you know, did the AFC South
and North have a freaky Friday incident there, you know,
like all of a sudden, Yeah, those they have three
good teams. Yeah, and didn't see that coming, especially the Colts.
I think the game was really interesting. It kind of
reminded me of like May versus Allen the night before,
you know, like big time quarterback that lost to a
(39:55):
team that's trending the right direction in their fan base.
It should be happy after the last few years not
going well for either one.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Absolutely now I.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
Feel better about May being, you know, an upper tier
guy than Lawrence. But I thought it was a really
good performance by Lawrence and the whole crew overall. And
they certainly didn't die easily. I mean they battled and
battled and you love seeing that. And then that environment
that was really good for that team. But then I
want to bring this up to too, because one score games.
(40:26):
You know, Chiefs had that unbelievable run. They would think
it was seventeen games in a row or something bonkers
where they.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Want to game seventeen zero one score game or seventeen straight.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
This year their own three. Now, now, I still believe
that they're better at it than most teams, and the
Steelers are better at it than most teams. But the
biggest thing that happened in this game wasn't like Mahomes
drilling Marqus Brown with a ball late in the game.
That wasn't great either, but there was some attention to
detail stuff that you need to win one score games.
(40:57):
And to me, the difference like even if you look
get time of possession, yards for play, and even just
watching the game, I thought KC was a better team.
They had thirteen penalties for like one hundred and ten yards.
That's how you lose one score games, you know.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
That's exactly right. Yeah, and both teams kind of had
a goal line tight, backbreaking turnover brutal, but for Jacksonville
you take it nine to nine yards to the house. Yes,
that's again those kind.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Of massive play.
Speaker 2 (41:28):
Obviously, those are the inches that normally go Kansas City's
way that certainly have not through their first handful of
games this season.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Yeah, right, So, I don't know if I feel worse
about the Chiefs. I mean I kind of look at
them and think their skill guys are starting to come around.
Race You, Rice isn't that far off of coming back in.
They could be in really good shape. But you have
to feel better about the Jags like the Patriots, you know,
you gotta be pretty happy where those teams are.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Rat tell you what, Travis Hunter is starting to look
the part. He was making some plays last night.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
Yeah, I'm a big fan.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
He's shifty, man.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
I would just play him.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
I think so too.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
I don't understand what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
I think he can be a top five receivers in
the league type guy. And uh, and maybe we'll get
to that point eventually. But yeah, he he certainly popped
and had some highlights last night as the Jags moved
to four and one with an impressive Monday night victory
over the Chiefs. I uh did not see that coming.
I thought they would be improved this year. I liked
him Cohen, but I didn't think they'd be four and
(42:22):
one out of the shoot.
Speaker 3 (42:24):
I tell you they were like a nine win team,
you know, something like that.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
I think we all thought AFC North is gonna be
a great race, AFC West is going to be a
great race, and they certainly still could be, but the
South might be the one to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
The rest of those top three teams are as even
or bunched up as any division. I would say that
the NFC West, Seattle Niners, rams An, they're gonna be
AFC North or a FC South with those three are
the tightest.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Yes, you could see it go in multiple different ways.
Speaker 3 (42:52):
Yeah, there's three real contenders.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Yeah, gonna be gonna be a lot of fun to
uh to follow those ones throughout the course of the year,
which we will of course do here on the Drive.
That's an hour in the books, another hour to go,
hour number two, Fantasy Football Focus coming at you, a
weekly power rankings coming at you. Play Yeah, Power Ranking Tuesday.
As we roll along here we Shuler Matt Williamson halfway home.
(43:14):
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Wes Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here
on the four. I should say, the next two hours
on a Mike Tomlin Tuesday Matt our first, uh, Mike
Tomlin weekly press conference here in two weeks, since, of course,
there was not one last week with the Steelers bye week.
(00:45):
And I think a lot of pertinent information today, particularly
on the injury front, particularly when you consider that they
had a Monday practice in the books already.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Odd Tuesday press conference.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Odd Tuesday press conference. But I think you can deduce
a little bit more from the injury report when they've
had that practice in the books and in an extra
kind of week to evaluate. And so here's the latest
Joe tom reminder. Yesterday, Joey Porter Junior Alex high Smith
both talked about how they were getting ready for Sunday,
feeling good for Sunday. That's nothing official, obviously, but in
(01:18):
their minds kind of gearing up and hopeful that it
would be available on Sunday. Mike Tomlin said that the
arrow is pointed up for all of Joey Porter Junior,
Alex high Smith, and Jalen Warren.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Good, very good.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, I think especially for Porter and for Warren. We
knew that they were game time decisions in Dublin. You
have an extra bye week now, two weeks removed from that.
We won't know until we know, but both of those
guys practicing, both of those guys speaking positively, it sounds
like sounds real promising for those two and for Alex
high Smith as well.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Okay, great. I was asked on different show Mark maddenas
made you know or were you shocked that high Smith
was inserted right back with the ones. Not shocked. I
am curious how that plays out. But that's an abundance
of Richard's there. You know. We'll talk about that throughout
the week. I'm sure we have a not spoken about
Austin or Ramsey. I don't think this is the worst
(02:15):
week to be without Ramsey, especially if you get Porter back.
I mean, they don't throw to the receivers about the
least in the league, especially with Gabriel back there.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And when they do it's the tight ends that they're targeting.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They don't really go outside that much, so it'd be
more safety linebacker centric in terms of coverage, although Ramsey
does do some middle of the field stuff and a
lot of stuff was with Flacko, who's not even there anymore.
It's a couple of minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yeah, we'll talk about that too.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I think that's interesting as could be. And Warren you
love having back Like I don't think there's a sentiment
out there that boy Gainwell was awesome. Just give him
the job, you know, he's your number one now. I
hope people don't see it that way. It was a
really good performance spot duty, but I don't think that's
what you want out of Gainbow at all. I mean,
you want Warren to be getting those touches.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yes, completely agree, And then you hope you get Warren
going like we saw in bursts. Yeah, you continue to
get what you saw from Kenneth Gainwell Dublin and then
all of a sudden you're cooking with fire.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I mean you definitely have way more confidence in you know,
knowledge of Gainwell now than you did before. Dublin. Absolutely right,
absolutely is great. Okay, Now I feel a little bit better,
you know, and you get your your number one.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Back exactly right, and you get Jayalen Warren back, and
he does Jalen Warren things, and I think we'd be
feeling as confident as we've been in a while in
that in that room, in that position. Group doesn't sound
as great. No surprise here for Jalen Ramsey with the
hamstring and Calvin Austin with the shoulder. Mike Tomlin said
that they may be included in some practice preparation this week,
(03:51):
but that they will be limited early in the week,
so not the same kind of I'm encouraged. The arrow
is pointing up with those two, which again I don't
think is surprising.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
No, And again I don't think this is a game
you have to rush them back, particularly Ramsey with Porter
coming back, although Ramsey does a lot of different things.
My concern when we broke here yesterday was I wonder
if either one of these guys would be an IR guy.
Then Austin in particular, just the reports after the game
seemed a little great as a little more pessimistic than
(04:24):
the Ramsey ones. I would think that move would have
been made by now though, so probably not go either
one going to IR. So in a way you can
summack it. That's what everyone has injuries of time here,
you know.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
And I think if you remember, if you recall in
the you know, throughout the month of September, in these
Tuesday press conferences, Mike Tomlin was pretty quick to rule
out Deshaun Elliott and Alex Higsmith. Right. It was kind
of like when he would give his injury, he'd be like,
you could consider those two out. The fact that he
didn't do that with Ramsey and Calvin Austin at least
makes me a little more optimistic that it might not
(04:59):
be as long a terms we all feared.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It's just this game. Yeah, yeah, okay, and it's like
all right, and we'll see.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
What the holl the week goes, right, right, right?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, well, who knows. Interesting, I will say, just considering
the opponent when you hear hear these things, it's really
hard to run on the Browns, really really hard to
run brown So I would Austin being out doesn't make
me super happy. That doesn't make me super happy because
someone's gonna have to step up. I mean, you can't
just throw the tight ends in Metcalf only.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
No, absolutely, and that is something we'll we'll talk we
We got to talk plenty this week about what your
snap you know, kind of count division, how you're going
to divide those up between Watt, Herbig and high Smith
and even Sawyer in the conversation as well too. Uh
And then obviously we'll talk plenty about what to do
in the absence of Calvin Austin. Is it Scotty Miller
(05:51):
plugging in? Is it Roman Wilson? What's that look like?
We will get into all of that as we roll
along this week.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
And maybe much like Game Well, one of them really
takes a ball and runs with you know, which would
be great, Yeah, yeah, kind of makes an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
For you and surprises you. And could we see some
Roman Wilson, you know, sink or swim type usage. We'll
get into all that. That's something we'll ask our buddy
Chris Hallick about here in just uh in just a
few minutes before we do that, though, Matt, the kind
of uh. I guess news of the day that you
(06:23):
just referenced the Bengals traded for Joe Flacco. Yes, that
Joe Flacco on his way throughout the state of Ohio.
I guess from Northeast Ohio.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Through Division West he's got three of the four themes
checked off, trying to collect the start his career with me.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That's right, the VHS tape believer in Joe Flacco, U
Joe Flacco and a sixth round pick to Cincinnati for
a fifth round pick. So old Joe Flacco.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
He's reported to all four facilities. Check that.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Guess time pit that is that is hilarious.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
H So I want to get to that in a
different segment. I know we got to talk to Chris soon, Yes,
but we did a lot of stuff around the division,
around the league. You know, obviously the Steelers on a vibe,
and I probably it's probably worth a whole segment to
go back to that. Then there's some divisional stuff I
saw today which is kind of crazy too.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
We'll get into all of that as.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Ravens also made a signing too.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yes, they did so some moving and shaking in the division,
both in the in the in the trade department and
in the in the free agency department. We'll get into
all of that as we roll along. Our buddy Chris
Hallick from the South Side with all the latest on
the Mike Tomlin press conference and some more of these
injuries and the Steelers just getting back to things here
after the bye week and getting ready for the Cleveland Browns.
(07:43):
We'll talk to our buddy Chris when we return. On
the other side, West Shooler Matt Williamson. It is the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Your tunes about Drive. You're twenty four to seven home
of the black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Back on the Drive here on a Tuesday, Mike Tomlin's
weekly press conference in the books. Plenty to discuss from that,
and of course, as it relates to the Steelers getting
ready for their first AFC North clash this weekend at
home Sunday one pm at Acressure against the now Joe
Flaccoless Cleveland Browns joining us to discuss. It's our buddy
from dk Pittsburgh Sports, Chris Hallick. Chris, thank you for
(08:45):
taking the time as always, partner, and let's get right
into it here. Plenty of injury updates today from Mike Tomlin.
More optimistic as it relates to Joey Porter Junior, Jalen
Warren and Alex Smith. Let's start with those three. You
expect all of those three or any of those three?
(09:07):
What do you kind of I know it's still early
in the week here, but predict for their status for Sunday.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
I really think Porter and Warren are pretty good. I
mean Porter himself even said like I'm good to go.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
I would put.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
Porter in like ninety five percent, and then Warren maybe
like a little less. I mean, he was really close
to playing and they really kind of held him out
at a caution in the Dublin game. He's had another
week to rest, he was on the field for practice
yesterday during their bonus day. So I would think Warren
(09:46):
is a pretty near lot to play. High Smith is.
He's pretty optimistic, and I think there's plenty of reasons
for optimism for him to play. I'm I don't think
it's going to be will go, and I don't see
the reason why you would need to. With the way
Nick Herbig is playing, there's no real real need to rush.
(10:09):
When you're about to play thirteen games straight without a break,
probably a pretty good just time to let him kind
of ease his way back in, while Nick Krviig is
playing at such a high level. So I think all
three guys have to stand a really good chance of
playing on Sunday. Though to varying degrees of how much
each guy will participate.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Christ you mess mentioned the Monday bonus practice after the bye.
How do they usually handle that? Is it a pretty
intense or is it a walk through tempo?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Like?
Speaker 3 (10:40):
How do they handle that? In general?
Speaker 5 (10:43):
It's definitely not walked through. Even Mike Tomlin today said
they really focused on like conditioning and things like that.
But you know, they tend to do a number of things.
I don't think it's one thing every single time they
have a bonus day.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Sometimes they will kind of.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Get to work early on the schematics. Other times they
will do like like Tomlin said today, they'll do more
things to really put the focus on keeping conditioning up
and making sure that they're in football sheet getting ready
for a week, especially if it's a game like Sunday's
will be against Cleveland, it's the AFC, nor if it's
(11:22):
gonna be physical. I want to make sure guys are
are ready, like physically prepared for the game. So they
do a number of different things. Sometimes they do a
little bit of everything. I definitely think that schematics definitely
played a role into the practice, though they won't truly
dive into that until Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So I'm curious just along those lines, if sometimes they
do a mini install, coaches have a week off, their
their gears are turning, we're gonna throw this into the playbook.
You know, maybe they come back and at a wrinkle.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
You know, Oh, I definitely. I think it's it's always
a time to take advantage of the extra work, and
it doesn't necessarily have to be for just the preparation
for that opponent. But yeah, it could be something, Hey,
you know, we like what we're doing out of this personnel,
Let's add another wrinkle to that. Let's add another little
(12:11):
element to that. How can we best utilized you know,
for example, sewers or a third in the league and
twelve personnelities, Maybe there's another way they want to use
tight ends, which is another way they want to run
the ball out of that personal whatever it is, that's
another time in which they can try to work on
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Chris, Obviously, heading into this weekend, it seems rather unlikely,
not officially ruled out, but I think rather unlikely that
we're going to see Calvin Austin at home against the Browns.
What's that game plan? Kind of like this week How
do you go about trying to fill his role? Is
it as simple as turning to the veterans Scottie Miller?
(12:49):
Is it time to do some sink or swim type
stuff with Roman Wilson and finally, you know, give him
a larger portion on his plate. How do you think
they go about replacing Calvin Austin this week?
Speaker 5 (13:01):
Well, the first the first thing is Mike Comlin didn't
completely rule out. I did not yet, So there is
a chance, albeit it's probably very unlikely, but there is
a chance that he could play for me. I wouldn't
rush him back again. You're about to play thirteen straight games.
You don't want to lose receiver. Yeah, you have the
trade deadline coming up.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
In a few weeks, uh, in which you.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Could possibly, you know, find a team that's gonna be selling,
you know, to grab a receiver. But you'd still rather
have Calvin Austin than not have them, whether you add
another receiver down the road or not. But in terms
of this week, if Calvin can't go, if they're gonna
lean on Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson, it's not just
(13:45):
gonna be one guy, uh and the main and there
are a number of ways. You cancel that. Yes, you
can't utilize the tight ends a little bit more. You
can run a little bit more twelve personnel, But there
are also things that Calvin Austin does the tight ends
can't do, and me that's speed. And the good thing
is both Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson are very good runners,
and they can utilize their speed quite a bit to
(14:08):
help either stretch the defense. The Browns were on a
lot of single high so maybe they can try to
take some more shots downfield, and having speed is a
good part of that. You know, that could also clear
some space for TK Metcalf or even some of the
other guys underneath. Whether it be a running back or
a tight end, they're gonna have to utilize both Scotty Miller.
And the good thing is Scotty Miller's a trusted veteran receiver.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
You know.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Aaron Rodgers has a good.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Things to say about him.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
Tom Brady had good things to say about him when
Scotty was in Tampa Bay, and.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Then Roman Wilson.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
I mean, yeah, I think at some point you got
to rip the band aid off and kind of cut
him loose and let him go see what happens, and
you'd like for that to work out because this is
a pretty pivotal game. I understand the Browns are one
and four, but this is an AFC North matchup. Stuarts
have a grand opportunity to get an early stranglehold on
the division.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
And you know you want to win the game.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
No matter what, but you really love to be able
to win the game and also to get Roman and
Wilson involved so you could really start to see what
you have there.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah, I'm gonna stick with this this topic here because
I do think Austin is a significant loss if he
can't go. Because you said a lot of single high
they're really really hard to run on. I would think
this could be a matchup where you do take shots,
you know, if you can max protect. But my question
for you is in two receiver sets, do you think
(15:32):
they trust Roman Wilson to be an outside player? I mean,
he's maybe trust isn't the right word yet, you.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Know, yeah, maybe maybe not trust, But I you know,
whenever you know Tomlin was asked about it today, you
know it's not like this because when you look at
the snap counts between like DK Metcalta, and Calvin Austin.
They both like significantly outsnap Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller.
But the reason for that is necessarily because they don't
(16:02):
trust Scott or Roman. It's because they're using twelve personnel
the third highest rate in the league, and they're using
thirteen personnel the third highest rate in the league. You know,
they're using eleven personnel at the lowest rate in the league,
which means they have only two receivers on the field
the majority of the time, like two thirds of the time.
So you're not going naturally, you're not going to have
(16:23):
a lot of statcounts for more than your top receivers. Now,
when it comes to Roman Wilson, he's equipped to do
a lot of things even in twelve personnel. He's a
good blocking receiver, not as good as spend Scronis, but
he's probably a better blocking receiver than Calvin Austin. But
this is also a good chance for them to see
(16:44):
what they have in him as a route runner, what
kind of separation he can get, how he can be
utilized in I think the play action. The one thing
that he did really well in Michigan was being able
to run these high crossers and you know those who
pay attention to you know, Arthur Smith's background on an offense,
he likes to run those Shanahan play action concepts, you know,
(17:05):
and that involves the good amount of high crossers. You know,
maybe Roman Wilson can be utilized that way.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
I don't know, but.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
They've got, like I said, I think they got to
rip the band aid off at some point, and this
is an opportunity for them to do it without forcing
it because you know Boston's down. They need to step up.
And you know, this is a guy who's a third
round pick. You know, he looks pretty good in the preseason.
They kind of see what they have. You know that
this almost does have to be as Mut's kind of
put it, kind of think Chris swim with him.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
A couple more minutes here with Chris Hallick on the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio. Chris, I guess, kind of
similar conversation as it relates to offensive game plan for
this Sunday against the Browns. I don't know if any
of us had Darnell Washington pacing the Steelers' skill position
players in terms of snaps on our Bengo cards heading
(17:54):
into Dublin. But that's the way it played out, and
I think to pretty good success as well. Do you
expect we'll see a heavy heavy dose of Mount Washington
and with that that that corn beef package with Anderson
as well too against this Browns defense.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Chris's that was something I was going to ask too,
So I just wanted to add one piece to it.
But maybe they use it on what your thoughts on
if they will use it or not? But I don't
want to speak for you, but if they do, do
you think it's more protection related against Garrett as opposed
to masterface run the ball against you know, one of
the best run defenses in the league.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
Well, the way Mike Tomlin put it today was you
don't use two hundred and fifty pounds tight ends to
block four three defensive ends. That's the way he put it,
and it makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
I think. Another way he put it was there are
weight classes.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
And combat sports for a reason, you know, and and
Darnell Washington is built big enough to be able to
block some of those larger defensive ends that play in
a fourth three front, and so you know, Tomlin hasn't
been the way he put it it's been bashful about
using those type of things against the four to three,
(19:04):
So it would not surprise me if going up against
the Browns, especially when you consider the fact they do
have Miles Garrett and a really strong defensive front, that, yeah,
you could see more of that, and you could see
more of it against the Bengals, who also use a
four to three front. So I don't think it's every
single time they face a team that runs out of
the four to three that you're gonna see nineteen snaps
(19:26):
from Spencer Anderson as a eligible receiver, while Pat Fryer
mud and John hus Smith played less than that. But
I think when it's a game in which you're trying
to number one run the football and you're also trying
to protect your quarterback, I think it's absolutely a way
to be able to do that. I don't think that's
(19:47):
going to be their entire offense, but I don't think
that the game against Minnesota was some sort of one
off or some sort of misnumber. I really do think
that it's going to be something that they use as
one way to attack these defensive fronts, especially a front
like Cleveland who not only is filled with a lot
of talent, but also they just load the box. They
(20:09):
like to load the box. They want to stop the run.
They're very good at stopping the run. So sometimes you
got to put your bigger horses out there and you know,
try to be the bully there, and you kind of
need the bodies in order to do that.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Chris, I got one more thing for you. You kind
of mentioned maybe they ease high Smith back into things,
and that might be an easy way to make the
decision for us, you know, in terms of her Big
versu high Smith, Highsmith versus Herbig. But you see any
way that maybe all three of the outside linebackers are
on the field together or I just can't get over
(20:46):
having her Big on the bench. I mean, it's no
knock on anybody else, but he just blows me away
every time he's out there, and I think he needs
to play a lot.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Oh, I think they want him to play a lot too.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
And yes, I do think there are going to be
times in which Shoe you do see all three on
the field.
Speaker 6 (21:03):
Good, But I think I think the biggest thing now,
I don't think that that's going to be like ninety
percent of the time that's going to be what they do,
because that means you're leaving Peyton Wilson on the sideline sometimes,
and Peyton Wilson does some really got me shoot that
that they don't stop Jordan Addison on that blown coverage
about Peyton Wilson running a ridiculous speed and chasing him down.
(21:23):
You know, Peyton Wilson brings value. You're not going to
take Patrick Queen up the field because he's the green
dot guy and when he's healthy, HEA's on the field
every single snap.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
The three outside linebacker things easier said than done, by
the way.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Absolutely, yeah, it's not as simple as it sounds. Now
that being said, I think there's more value in having
these guys rotate with each other than trying to just
stuck this like stuff them all in the field at
the same time all the time. Because what you really
have to think about here is Number one, these are
three really good football players.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
I mean TJ.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Watson Defensive Player of the Year should have been won
moreultiple the Best Player of the Year awards. Nick Herbig
is blossoming into a phenomenal edge rusher, and Alex Heismith
is a very very very good edge rusher, and any
team would love to have him as like their compliment
to a star edge rusher.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Any team would have that.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
He would even be the best edge rusher on several
teams in the league. So one way that you can
utilize that is to keep them all fresh a little
bit more and have one of those guys on the sideline.
There will be times TJ. Watt is the guy who's
on the sideline because you don't want him going to
ninety five percent of the snaps every single week. You
(22:40):
need this guy fresh and healthy in December and January.
You know, think about last year whenever he was playing
banged up and he was not as effective. He just
wasn't you know.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And some people are like, you know, what, where did TJ.
Watt go?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Well, he's playing in lesson one hundred percent, and maybe
he sends a much better chance of being closer to
under if you have a Nick Kirbig who can step
onto the field and instead and you don't have that
big of a drop off in production, or when Alex
Highsmith can step onto the field and you can you know,
keep Nick herbig frush because her Big hasn't been the
most healthy guy over the court over his three NFL.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Seasons, either.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
So, keeping these guys healthy is paramount above everything else.
But rotation is a good way to do that.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
But I do think you will see.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Every now and then, maybe it's five or six times
a game in which you see all three guys on
the field on the third down situation or any kind
of a bullet situation in which they just send the
house becau.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
They're gonna put all their big guns.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
Out there and they're gonna be like, Okay, we're gonna
go get the quarterback right now.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Certainly a good problem to have how to fit all
those three into the defensive puzzle. Chris Hallick, great stuff
from him, as always, make sure you're checking out all
his work DK Pittsburgh Sports. Chris, thank you for the time, buddy,
and we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
All right, Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
There he goes Chris Halleck, great stuff. Yeah, Yeah, that's
that's just what I would like to see Matt a
couple times a game make defenses. It's kind of one
of the.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Five or six snaps. Was exactly what I was going
to say to.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
One of those out Like we talk about outliers a lot,
make de or make offense as part of me prepare
for something that's a little bit of an outlier that
you're going to throw at them a couple times a
game situation.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Yeap, And we can really talk about how you really
would divvy out their snaps. But I do think he
mentioned maybe high Smith you got to ease him in,
you know, coming off the injury, So this week it
might be easier to build that puzzle than when they're
all one hundred percent, you know, fighting for time. Yeah, Alex,
we only wanted you to play twenty snaps no matter what,
you know, right, even if herbig didn't exist, Yeah, you
know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (24:37):
You know, so could all fall into place on one
Sunday and hopefully you have those three healthy and rested
and good to go for the rest of the season
as well too. Certainly, Matt, no Tuesday rewind today since
we're coming off of the bye week. So I figured
in lieu of that, a lot of moving and shaking
across the AFC North, a trade between the Browns and
the Bengals. The Ravens have added a pretty signific get
(25:00):
name and free agency as well too. Let's get into
all that when we return on the other side. To
close down the first hour of the show. It is
the Drive West Yuler Matt Williamson, Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
A busy Tuesday today across the AFC North, the Browns
and the Bengals making a deal, the Ravens adding a
prominent free agent. Matt, let's start with the trade between Yeah,
it is a weird one again. Flacco and a sixth
round pick heading to to to Sense the part of
(26:02):
me to the Bengals and a fifth round pick going
back to Cleveland in return. I think from the Browns standpoint,
it makes plenty of sense, you know. Yeah, you got
your two young quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Except I'd like an adult in the room.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
It's a weird I can't remember a time when the
quarterback room was only two rookies.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Yeah, that is.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Right, and Joe's well, we'll talk about later. But I mean,
those are the two guys you want to play. And
so I get that. You get one obstruction out of
the way, Shador becomes the number two. Like I got
a lot of people asking me when they announced Gabriel
is the one. Oh, is it a slap in the
face that Sanders isn't a two? And I'm like no,
(26:48):
because especially preparing for that London game Gabriel, if you
haven't been in an NFL practice during the season, you
wouldn't think about it. But Gabriel needs every snap to
prepare for every rep. So your two has to be
a guy that's at least done it. I mean to
ask Sanders to be the two is really unfair to him.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
You're giving him no work.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yeah, We're i gonna give you any practice because we
have the other rookie ready, and if he gets hurt,
we're gonna throw you in against Flora, So who you've
never practiced against or prepared for except for the film room.
That's not fair to him at all.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
It's a great point.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
So now you get the reps going to the right people.
Gabriel first, he's still your rookies, only played one game.
But I would like an adult in the room. From
Cleveland standpoint.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
And on the sideline all that stuff. Just when Gabriel
comes back after you know, a drive, what'd you see?
What were you looking at? What were the safeties doing.
What are they trying to disguise there? I think every
quarterback likes to have a veteran that they can lean
on on the sideline. Batch Grave about Batch all the time,
and that's future Hall of Famer. Pretty soon. Here Baelisberger
(27:50):
in two times Super Bowl champion, not.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
A rookie, A rookie in the second start, in.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
A second start, trying to figure it out on an
offense in an organization that doesn't have a lot going
in their direction. Yeah, that is that is interesting.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
I also find it funny from a Brown's perspective that
it wasn't long ago, just a little over a month.
What's this team doing? They have four guys pick it Flacco,
the two rookies, you know, like it's hard to get
reps for these guys. Now you're down to two a three, right,
I mean you got yeah, right, all of a sudden,
it's like we got none. Yeah, I don't know, it's
(28:28):
I understand what they're doing. And they did pick up
a fifth round pick, which is not nothing, you know,
so fine, they need all the drafted cap, but they
can get Let's talk about Flacco the player and the
Sincy side of it.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yeah, absolutely, that's the more intriguing side, and he's the
one that they kind of pinpoint to go out and get.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
I think, but he hasn't played well. I mean I
really dug into it because Matt stats, I'm into. You know,
it's Brown's week, so it's fitting for.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Now Thursday baby.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
I mean, he's only thrown two touchdowns for the first
four games. His numbers are like the worst in the
league this year. Now, he doesn't have a great supporting
shift and everyone knows, so that's kind of intriguing. Then,
I think everyone knows I root for Joe. I've said
million times. I helped recruit him a million million years ago.
I mean he's like the last survivor of anyone I
(29:17):
watched in high school, but just a big time, big
time AUTUBN high school. But he had that comeback player
of the Year season with the Browns. Then he went
to the Colts and wasn't very good and it went
to the Browns this year wasn't very good, and even
that comeback of the year season, I really thought Joe
(29:39):
came off the couch for that year. I mean he
wasn't even like in a training camp. He'd get traded
to the Browns. He was just not a football player
till like week ten or whatever. And I thought he
just came in and said, I got nothing to lose.
I'm gonna pretend like I'm Jameis Winston and just wing
this thing all over town. Ten touchdowns, ten yeah, right,
whatever happens, right, And it really came back to bite
(29:59):
him in the playoff game that they lost, but before
that he kind of got away with it. He kept
flipping the coin and getting heads. You know, I'm like,
stick with it. I'm just gonna keep slinging it, you know.
But it was a tough way to live because he's
not that guy anymore, and he's not a play extender
and all those things. And I think like the chickens
have come home to roost a little bit on his style,
you know. But is he better than Browning? Maybe? I mean,
(30:24):
he can still throw the football really, really well. He's
got a monster arm, he's six six. Those things will
never disappear. And you could just see Chasing Higgins as
being really upset with ball placement timing. Browning was so
bad against a rush, which I don't think Black will
be any better better, No, but at least a clean
(30:45):
pocket open chaser Higgins. I think you get more completions
out of Joe than you have since Burrow went down.
But it's probably just shuffling chairs on the Titanic. I
mean we kind of talked about yesterday. Shouldn't you have
done this? Or Russell Wilson two weeks ago?
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Weeks ago?
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Yeah, I mean this week.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
A different story, right, Yeah, to play this week and
then you got a short week at home again.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
It was again, right, yeah, yeah, I know who they
have this week, but I mean they can't be favored
by the way they've played.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
No.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
I at least they're not going down with the Titanic.
It's a good still are at least trying to make
it seem like they're doing something, trying to find some
extra life rafts for everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Because we even touched on this like a week or
so ago, like should they be buyers for Wilson? I
didn't think Flacco would ever move into division. But it's
not like you're trading Burrow. I mean, the world's gonna
move on to the AFC North, sure, but the reality is
they could do both. They could buy a Flacco or
a Wilson. They bought Flacco. It's a mess. And then
(31:47):
you trade Henderson the trade deadline. It's not like you
have to do both, right, trade Henderson for a good
pick and you give up a bad pick for Flacco. Okay,
I mean at least it's a message to the organization
that we're not happy with how it's going.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Yeah, and we're we're not thrown in the towel on
this season in early October.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
You're not that far out of first place. I mean
in the standing, which.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Is crazy to say, but yeah, you win two games
in a row and you're right back in it.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Right, So at least there's hope there. And if they
get a win this week or keep their head above
water until Joe returns, or maybe they think Joe's coming
back earlier than we think Borrow not Flaco. Yeah, yeah,
but I don't think it changes the balance power. No,
not really.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Let me ask you this. If you're Zach Taylor and
they come to you and they say, we've got offers
that are going to be accepted for Flacco or for
Russell Wilson, which one do you want?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Probably Wilson, I think so too. Wilson really hinders how
you have called plays outside the numbers, the inability to see.
At least he's a better act.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
You can move a little bit better Flacco certainly.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
And.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Higgins will go. But get it for you. Yeah, you're
not a big tight end middle of the field team
not the Chase won't go to the middle field, but
you're not. I think I'd prefer of Wilson.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
I think so too. Not easy decision process, but yeah,
I think if I'm if I'm kind of split hairs,
that's the direction I would go as well, too, Matt.
Not just the Bengals in the Ravens with some noteworthy
roster movement here today. Also the Baltimore Ravens have added
(33:26):
Chauncey Gardner Johnson to their practice squad. Of course recently,
most recently with the Texans, had a lot of success
with the Eagles over the last few years. He's a
little bit of those He's a little bit of one
of those kind of Enigma lightning rods in the NFL.
He can definitely, I think, add some value, but he's
(33:47):
jumped around from team to team and hasn't always been
reported as the easiest guy to work with. Yeah, greatest
teammate in the world, I be in kind a little bit.
But Baltimore I think can obviously use some help and
certainly of a shake up right now, Yeah, what do
you think for this decision for the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
I mean, I guess in some ways, it's kind of
like Pepper's being out there, like this is a guy
that's had a good career. I haven't studied him. I
don't know if he's shot or not. I tend to
think he's probably not in the league because he doesn't
play well with others, you know. I mean it's the
biggest thing, not that he can't play anymore. And for them,
they have so many defensive back injuries. Okay, I mean
(34:24):
they have nothing invested in the guy. Houston still paying
them pick him up for nothing. If he's a paint
in the butter, can't play, cut him in two weeks,
you know that. So it's a minimal investment with a
decent payoff. Maybe his it's not that he doesn't play hard.
I mean, so maybe he does.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
He plays like his heads on fire.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, I say, maybe his aggression, his edge, if you're
gonna be used nice words, lights a spark under this group,
and maybe you bring in a spark plug to the
locker room to just make any kind of change, you know.
But I don't think he changes the bounce power either.
You know. But I mean he's an NFL player who's
had a good career, and he's a little ahead of
(35:05):
his time. You know, a lot of these safeties turned
slot has just happened the last three four years. He
kind of did it for yeah, yeah, you know, put
a big safety a big slot that was a former
safety that has the de Gene types. You know, he's
done this for a long time.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
I was gonna say the Eagles team that lost in
the Super Bowl three years ago to the Chiefs, he
was a massive part of that secondary yeah right r
right before they went out and got the Gene and
quinnyon Mitchell. You know, it was it was like him
and and Darius Slay and right right right and a
big I mean they went all the way to the
Super Bowl and overtime that they lost to the Chiefs
in that Super Bowl. If I'm remembering correctly, that one
(35:42):
goes I think you're right, Yeah, I think so so.
I mean again, he is a guy that.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Is Brandy Graham and yeah, Fletcher Cox, I mean like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
I believe that was Kelsey's last year or maybe yeah, maybe.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
I think so, or maybe it was timeline better, but.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
I know everything all runs together. But yeah, I he
is certainly a guy that has had success in this league.
But that's an interesting move. Maybe maybe a little desperation
there from the Ravens for.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Both of them.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
They're a little bit at that point, I think, in
both parties.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
And this brings me my last topic about the division
that Labs send on an email today that came directly
from the league.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I saw that.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Yeah, okay, and it was pretty shocking, to be honest
with you.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
So AFC North struggles.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
Yes, maybe you're looking at it, but the crux of
it is, all four AFC North teams have a negative
point differential. I think the Steelers are only minus.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Two, just minus two, and they're the best.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
Of the group. But that's still rare for an entire
division to be negative. Now, there hasn't been a lot
of AFC North games yet, you know, AFC North VERSU
AFC North games as usual, they hold them till later
in the year. But you may have the numbers in
front of you, I mean, good.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Good, So yeah, since the AFC North has existed, since
the two thousand and two since the two thousand and
two divisional alignment. Yes, all teams have a negative point differential.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
And if you add them up, and if you add.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Them up, it's the worst it's ever been in the
division history by thirteen points.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Two thousand and two was the was the worst year early.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
To get into negative point differentials too. They're really terrible
teams usually by like we losing and losing and losing, right,
you know.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
It's also the worst combined winning percentage in AFC North
history by a pretty significant margin point three six eight.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
The lowest in the past was twenty sixteen when it
was point four one four.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
I mean the Ravens and Steelers during that time are
almost never under five hundred.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
The AFC Norths combined one negative one hundred and fifty
nine point differential is the worst of any division through
the first five weeks of the season since two thousand
and two since that realignment. Wow, that paints an ugly picture.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Yeah, I mean, we've it's been kind of the topic
of the week with Steelers being on by is what
is going on with this division? And it's more than
just a Burrow and Lamar injury it is. I mean,
there's no question.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
And you know what, regardless of that, regardless of how
bad the division could be or has been to this
point early, someone's still got to win it, right, and
the Steelers are in great position. You know, it's not
gonna like I still don't think this division is not
going to have a seven or eight or nine win
(38:29):
winner like we've seen at times in the past. I
would think someone's got to at least get to ten
I think to win this division. And hey, the Steelers
will take it good position to be in as of now, certainly.
Uh And you know what, I don't think. So we
talked about could there be three coming into this year?
Would a lot of people? Certainly if the Bengals could
(38:51):
just stabilize that defense, I think we could have all
easily seen three playoff teams coming into the this year.
But that certainly does not appear to be the case
at this point. Matt. Before we close down the first
hour of the show here, we do have a couple
minutes left. Wanted to get your thoughts on that crazy,
wild Monday night football game last night.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
Fun game.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Chiefs jump out to a fourteen to nothing lead early
on Jags claw back and kind of win it at
the death with a last minute Trevor Lawrence scrambling touchdown
thirty one to twenty eight, and hey, don't look now,
but the Jags are four and one, the Colts are
four and one. The Texans are showing signs of life.
Maybe that AFC South ends up being the three playoff division.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
And we were joking, you know, did the AFC South
and North have a freaky Friday incident there, you know,
like all of a sudden, Yeah, those they have three
good teams. Yeah, and didn't see that coming, especially the Colts.
I think the game was really interesting. It kind of
reminded me of like May versus Allen the night before,
you know, like big time quarterback that lost to a
(39:55):
team that's trending the right direction in their fan base.
It should be happy after the last few years not
going well for either one.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Absolutely now I.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
Feel better about May being, you know, an upper tier
guy than Lawrence. But I thought it was a really
good performance by Lawrence and the whole crew overall. And
they certainly didn't die easily. I mean they battled and
battled and you love seeing that. And then that environment
that was really good for that team. But then I
want to bring this up to too, because one score games.
(40:26):
You know, Chiefs had that unbelievable run. They would think
it was seventeen games in a row or something bonkers
where they.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Want to game seventeen zero one score game or seventeen straight.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
This year their own three. Now, now, I still believe
that they're better at it than most teams, and the
Steelers are better at it than most teams. But the
biggest thing that happened in this game wasn't like Mahomes
drilling Marqus Brown with a ball late in the game.
That wasn't great either, but there was some attention to
detail stuff that you need to win one score games.
(40:57):
And to me, the difference like even if you look
get time of possession, yards for play, and even just
watching the game, I thought KC was a better team.
They had thirteen penalties for like one hundred and ten yards.
That's how you lose one score games, you know.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
That's exactly right. Yeah, and both teams kind of had
a goal line tight, backbreaking turnover brutal, but for Jacksonville
you take it nine to nine yards to the house. Yes,
that's again those kind.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Of massive play.
Speaker 2 (41:28):
Obviously, those are the inches that normally go Kansas City's
way that certainly have not through their first handful of
games this season.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Yeah, right, So, I don't know if I feel worse
about the Chiefs. I mean I kind of look at
them and think their skill guys are starting to come around.
Race You, Rice isn't that far off of coming back in.
They could be in really good shape. But you have
to feel better about the Jags like the Patriots, you know,
you gotta be pretty happy where those teams are.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Rat tell you what, Travis Hunter is starting to look
the part. He was making some plays last night.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
Yeah, I'm a big fan.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
He's shifty, man.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
I would just play him.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
I think so too.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
I don't understand what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
I think he can be a top five receivers in
the league type guy. And uh, and maybe we'll get
to that point eventually. But yeah, he he certainly popped
and had some highlights last night as the Jags moved
to four and one with an impressive Monday night victory
over the Chiefs. I uh did not see that coming.
I thought they would be improved this year. I liked
him Cohen, but I didn't think they'd be four and
(42:22):
one out of the shoot.
Speaker 3 (42:24):
I tell you they were like a nine win team,
you know, something like that.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
I think we all thought AFC North is gonna be
a great race, AFC West is going to be a
great race, and they certainly still could be, but the
South might be the one to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
The rest of those top three teams are as even
or bunched up as any division. I would say that
the NFC West, Seattle Niners, rams An, they're gonna be
AFC North or a FC South with those three are
the tightest.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Yes, you could see it go in multiple different ways.
Speaker 3 (42:52):
Yeah, there's three real contenders.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Yeah, gonna be gonna be a lot of fun to
uh to follow those ones throughout the course of the year,
which we will of course do here on the Drive.
That's an hour in the books, another hour to go,
hour number two, Fantasy Football Focus coming at you, a
weekly power rankings coming at you. Play Yeah, Power Ranking Tuesday.
As we roll along here we Shuler Matt Williamson halfway home.
(43:14):
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
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