October 8, 2025 • 42 mins
The Drive takes a look at the quarterbacks across college football, and gives updates on the Steelers most recent injury report.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good evening, Steeler Nation. How we doing well? That's good
us too. It is our number two of the drive
here on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
And Matt, what do you say since we're in the
car and we're driving around here? Are you ready to
go around campus?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yeah? This is you man, take it away. One thing
I'll add to the conversation is I was listening to
Dane Brugler's podcast. He's a new one this year called
Building the Beast, which is pretty fun. I love that
because every week, yeah, I build a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So we got in here. I'm excited to listen to
it on the way home, so.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I didn't get far into it, I you know, just
down into the red light. I started listening to that one.
And what they're doing is because it's kind of the
halfway point at college football. Yes, as he's given his
top three at every position.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
And I've only gotten through quarterbacks, but that's what we're
talking about anyway. So his number one is Dante more
Sellers is his two. Okay, and Mendoza's history, So.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
The same top three that we've kind of had the
whole year.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yes, and he didn't have more ranked last year because
not many people did, right, I mean, I guess he
was pretty bad for who's the team he was with Cal?
You the way that Dane explained it was, he really
wasn't very good at LA, which.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Is wild too, because I remember when you and I
started having the Fernando Mendoza conversation.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, a lot of the pig came for Cow.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
He came from CAL. A lot of the pit people
like our buddy Tom Opferman, were like, what are you
talking about? He's not that good. I wa washed him
play last year at CAL, And I'm like, wait, he
was playing at Cal with a bunch of nobodies. Now
was going to Signetti and an Indiana team that is
at the best they've been in program history, which albeit
isn't an incredibly hard high bar to clear. They won
(01:57):
ten games last year for the first time as a program.
But I think those three, no matter what order you
have him in, are the top three.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think. So if you bet this point.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I would. I'm not even saying it's a hot take,
but I think you would have to have some real
kind of mental gymnastics to have somebody else over those three.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Again, Club Nick and all Are and all the guys
that got a lot of hype preseason, haven't they have
they been stepped forward?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
They have not. Now I will say some of them
have started to rebound nicely in that regard, Like I think,
I think, I think Club Nick has started to show
some of the hype. He's in this packet that I
put together for Here's what I wrote for him, starting
to show some of the hype that he entered this
season with good decision making and accurate He carved up
(02:45):
North Carolina and Bell Belichick on Saturday, where he was
twenty two of twenty four for two hundred and fifty
four yards, four touchdowns and no turn up. Efficient day,
A very efficient day for kid Clubnick.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Okay, nothing, the one that doesn't blow me away physically though.
He like a big, strong guy, you.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Know, same and nuss Meyer's kind of in that state.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
The other one. Yeah, but here's what his son and
you know.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Here's the thing, and he's and he's in his fifth
year at LSU. You would really think that he would
have kind of grabbed that team by the horn. It's
been their defense that they've been leaning on early. He's
looked a little bit better as of late. Big opportunity
for him, of course, LSU has got some monster games
coming up where he's going to have a real opportunity
to shine.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Sellers is the one you're telling me off the air.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
That let's talk about Sellers.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I kind of want to start there too, because, like
even Dane said, there's not much to go off of yet.
So I'm just kind of keeping them at the top
of my list.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
And I'm laughing, you know, I I do read like
this is not all just my opinion in my eye test.
I'm reading stuff. I'm reading what ESPN is saying, what
CBS is saying, all these different you know, you can
go on Google and you can find college football quarterback
power rankings every single week.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, And so like a lot of people are kind
of Sellers is falling down their power rankings, which I
he didn't do anything wrong, but it's it's exactly right.
Like he had a concussion. They had a ton of
issues at the beginning of the season. I think they've
stabilized a little bit. They're coming off a bye week. Okay,
(04:11):
now it's really time to start. Because get this, South
Carolina's next five games are all against teams that are
currently currently ranked in the top eleven of the College
Football Poll. I mean he's got like he's got LSU
and A and M and Georgia and Old Miss and
five five straight games against teams that are currently ranked
(04:35):
in the top eleven. You want to show it, you
want to get back to being that kind of number
one overall pick. He's got some real opportunity here over
the next month or seven.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And I think it goes out saying they're dogs in
every one of those games.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Right, They will be dogs in every one of those games, absolutely,
But for him here you.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Go, yeah, you keep them, you know, not look bad.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Even if you're just able to keep South Carolina competitive
in all those games where you are gonna be a
big underdog and a lot of them, I think that
would go a long way for him. The other two
that you mentioned, Dante More and Fernando Mendoza, they both
are coming off of a bye week, so not much
to talk about. But but three at Ottson Stadium and Eugene, Oregon.
(05:16):
Those two will meet on Saturday, for what is just
a fantastic Saturday slate of games. But that to me
is is the highlight. Is the is the cream of
the crop. Yeah, you will get South Carolina versus LSU
in the evening, which is Sellers versus Nuts Smyers. So
there's there's one to keep an eye on there as
well too.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
I know Indiana is good, but they're a dog in
Oregon by a substantial.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I don't know if it's substantial. I think it's seven
or I think it's about I think it's about a touchdown.
Let me let me find it here, because they're a
top ten team as well.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I know they're good.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Uh seven and a half points is organ is favored
in that one third rankreg to get seventh ranked Indiana.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Okay, so those two are seventh.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
They are seven? Yeah, those two three thirty. That's the
If I could watch one game this weekend, that's what
I'm watching.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I never devr college games. When I might devar that one.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Just to watch the course, I might be I might
be sending you some clips during that one.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Another one to keep an eye on. Oklahoma versus Texas,
one of the more fun rivalries in college football. Is
also at three point thirty. Mattier is a game time decision,
so he could be back. If not, they have some
big games coming up against Georgia, I think as well too,
so big matter. Red River is a huge one. Yeah, Hey,
(06:30):
opportunity for arch Manning as well.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
I say, Manning, we at least need to mention in that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Kind of them off a little bit rightfully. So, but
you have one big game in this type of game,
you could be right back to the middle.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Of these conversations.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I'm also keeping an eye on two more games, just
real quick for you that I'm keeping an eye on,
uh Indiana Oregon obviously, Oklahoma Texas obviously. Those are both
at three thirty. South Carolina at LSU that's seven forty five,
a night game.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Because we mentioned NASS in that game too.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Nas is in that game against Sellers. Two could be too.
First round quarterbacks there as well. Alabama at Missouri because
Ty Simpson, who I am.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Very intriguing wat I don't know much about him.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
He's the one who's really started to blow up on
these quarterback rankings and quarterback big boards. Missouri doesn't necessarily
have a quarterback to watch from NFL perspective, but they're
ranked fourteenth in the country.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
This is a top fourteen matchup.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
That's a good noon game. And then another one of
those guys along with Ty Simpson that I've really become
intrigued by, is Jaden Mavia from USC six four, two
hundred and thirty pounds. He's got the body type. They
are playing hosting Michigan Saturday night, second thirty as well
to Good Wink Martindale Michigan defense. Yeah, I want to see.
(07:45):
I want to see how Mavia can can play against
that Michigan team.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
He's a pretty good athlete too.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
He's a good athlete, leads the big ten passing yards.
But here comes Michigan on Saturday, and then they have
to go to Notre Dame the next week. Who kind
of big big games for him, Trinidad Chamberless. Another guy
that we've mentioned who carved up Division two last year
at Farris State won the national championship, is now at
(08:11):
Old Miss. He's going to carve up on High fourth
or fifth. They're going to carve up Washington State this weekend,
no problem. But then they go back to back. They
go back to back on the road to Georgia, and
then to Oklahoma. Wow, so big tests for Chamberless and
Old Miss coming up in a couple of weeks. Matt,
Hopefully Matear is all healthy and good to go and
(08:33):
we can see him against Chamberless and what would be
another one of those watch both of these quarterback type games.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Do people think Mateer might play?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
He's he is a game time decision for the Red
River against Texas, So whether he plays or not, hopefully
he's sooner rather than later. A couple more that I
want to mention here as well too. We've kind of
mentioned a lot of the same names and the big guns.
Drew Aller deserves some mention here.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, we've talked about him much.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Six five, two thirty five, and Matt I went back
and watched some some some cutups. And despite Penn State
struggles which have been well documented, right, they lost at
home and double overtime in Oregon, And then they went
and laid an egg against a UCLA team that had
just fired a bunch of coaches and was zero and
four and from a like a point spread perspective, maybe
(09:21):
the biggest upset loss in Penn State football history. I mean,
that's like a one doesn't have the same type of
ramifications because of the playoff now and the time of
the schedule. But that's like a thirteen to nine level
bad loss of Penn State.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I mean, you were talking about like a Penn State
and Texas have just benefit. They were like one and
two in the country.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
And they're unranked now, which tells you all you need
to know. But despite that, I actually think and a
lot of people are dumping on Drew Aller and I
get it, people.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Around the quarterback of a disappointing team.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
If you're if you live in western Pennsylvania and you're
not a Penn State fan, you like the rubbing in
when it doesn't go well for them. That's just the
nature of the beast. For pitt fans, and I think
even for Notre Dame and WU and Ohio State fans
that live in this air, it's not well two.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Best calling for producing quarterback talent. No, it's another yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
But the one grain assault that I'll give him mat
is if you go back and watch the last two
games he threw a terrible interception in double overtime against Oregon.
Can't happen. That's been a knock on him. Is that
in those big moments, he makes a bad decision. But
other than that, I thought he actually played pretty well
in those two games. He's been much more accurate this
season and for being a six five, two hundred and
(10:25):
thirty five to forty pound guy. Yeah, he can still
move like he's making some plays with his legs as
well too. I actually think Alers looked okay, okay, like
his stock to me is a lot of people have
him plummeting. I'm not saying he's rising, but I'm a neutral.
I'm a neutral on.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Pation take him too many arrows just because Penn State's
not living up to.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Extra exactly right, exactly right, And again I understand that
that's part of the nature of the beast, but I
did want to mention him certainly. Just three new names
as well too that deserve.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, there's one name on here. I don't know which one, Uh,
Georgia Tech, Haynes King, Haynes.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
King, Matt He's gonna be twenty five years old before
the NFL draft.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah, but that's big a knocks of a knock as
that used to be the Nicks and Daniels.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
And you know he's got the body type six three,
two fifteen. He did three years at Texas A and
M This is now his third year at Georgia Tech.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I'm sure he's a big recruit in his day.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yes, yeah, they might have won. They're five and oh
Georgia Tech having perhaps their best season in a long time,
and they've been on the on the rise for where
they were as a program these last couple of years.
But Matt, I mean they they might be one and
four without him. Okay, too, He's the whole I mean
he is. He is the whole show. Leads the team
in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. You know, despite being
(11:41):
the quarterback, he's leading the team in rushing yards and
rushing touchdowns as well too.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
I don't know, he's not just a runner a round, No,
he's not.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I I don't know if he is having the Kenny
Pickett type. I've been here for so long. I'm just
ahead of everybody else on the curve.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Right, I'm beating up on nineteen twenty year olds.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
But he's he should be in this conversation for now,
with the way he's with the way he's played.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Like thinking as a scout and how this works, like
when he goes to the combine.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Will he test well, Yes, I think so. I mean
his athleticism stuff, absolutely mean.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I mean he's gonna absolutely his stock might rise when
he starts running forties and jumping.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
And yes, yes, another guy who hey, hand up, this
is on me. I maybe didn't give as much credit
in this in the first few weeks that we've been
doing this is Carson beck because.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
It sounds like he's turned things around in a big way.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
He came to Georgia as a massive recruit right in
the middle when Georgia was winning back to back national
championships with a walk on at quarterback. Yeah, Stetson Bennett,
you know, sounds like a law firm, like a future
lawyer of America, and not a quarterback who's gonna win
twenty nine to thirty starts for Georgia.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
In first round picks everywhere else, first.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Round picks everywhere else, And it never happened for Carson
Beckett Georgia. He ends up transferring to Miami for his
last year of college eligibility and he's been very good.
That's the Miami team that's in the top five. I
think the ranks second right now behind Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Was talking about how he's matured and he's professional back there.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
He is the like he's not just a passenger. He
is the he's kind of the driving force on this
Miami team right now and deserves deserves some credit in
that regard, deserves to be on this list. Really good performance.
You know. They hosted Florida State this past weekend Top
twenty matchup, huge rivalry game there. He was outstanding twenty
(13:29):
for twenty seven. Well, Florida State ended up scoring twenty
eight to twenty two was the final score because Florida
State scored some garbage down touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Miami was clearly the better.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
They were in the driver's seat the whole game. Yeah,
and Carson Beck was a huge part of that twenty
of twenty seven two forty one, four touchdowns, no turnovers
in a Top twenty win against Florida State. He's looking
the part so far. Again, he's not if I'm if
I'm if I a super no, not super runner athlete.
He can screw it a little bit for six four
to two twenty. He's not the statue of liberty back there,
(13:58):
but he's not as mobile as some of these guys.
But he to me again, if I'm making my list.
If I'm ranking these guys, he's probably not even in
my top five at this point, but he absolutely deserves
to be in the conversation. Okay, as does last one
for you. We actually somebody I think it was maybe
Karl was his name, tweeted us about including Sawyer Robertson
in this conversation. I think because one of his kids
(14:20):
went to Baylor and he was like, I spent so
much tuition money there. I'd like to I'd like to hear.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
I've been heard a lot about him going back to
the to summer. Yes, there are some people that are
big fans.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
He started his career Mississippi State, transferred to Baylor. He's
another one of those. He's got the prototypical size you're
looking for. Six four two twenty. Leads the nation in
passing yards per game by a very wide margin. Wow,
nineteen passing touchdowns, the most in college football to this point.
He can make some plays with his legs too. He
is at a place Baylor matt where he's not surrounded
(14:52):
by five stars everywhere. They are off to a good
start this season four and one. He's a big driving
force behind that. He to me is one of tho.
You know, maybe like a Trinidad Chamberless, maybe like a
Jaden Mavia ty Simpson. You weren't really in on this
radar for me at the beginning of the year. The
way you've played through the first half of the season,
I want to I'm keeping an eye on you the
(15:13):
second half of the season. Certainly one to watch. He
has some traits. He's got the body type, he's got
the athleticism. He's another guy that you know, I think,
come come Combine season, could could really start to impress
and move up.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Something screams like the guy that goes as senior ball
and is the best one there, or you know, like.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
He screams to me like a like a Tyler shuck.
I mean you know what I mean, like a where Okay, Yeah,
this guy will be picked at some point, you know,
maybe Day three and then all of a sudden ends
up being a second round pick that.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Time of year. Yeah. Yeah, so people raved about him
at the Manning Academy. He was not the biggest name
career and he was phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Was outstanding. Yeah, so there's some names for you. We
did talk a little bit about Jayalen Daniels, the Kansas
quarterback yesterday, there is this is and you know, college
football is my favorite thing in the sporting world. I mean,
take my job and my career out of it. If
I could only watch one sport the rest of my life,
it would be college football.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Nothing to do.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Just from a pure entertainment and enjoyment perspective, I love
college football this year, Matt, I cannot remember having this
many intriguing quarterbacks to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Just the list is longer than ever.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
The list is crazy long and impressive and a lot
of fun for us, perfect timing wise for a Steelers
team that could be swimming in these waters now.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Unfortunately, Teaser, a lot of teams are gonna be after
these guys more than I.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Thought we're gonna We're gonna circle back to that at
some point, certainly. But there's some games and some names
for you to keep an eye on this weekend as
we roll along. I also love Julian say in the
Ohio State quarterback only part. He's a sophomore and he's
not going to be eligible to be drafted on the
north shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So the way too early mock draft for next year,
he's gonna be the top of list.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Correct, correct, And like if Aaron Rodgers ends up coming back,
you go a different direction in the first round, maybe
tackle something like that. Certainly possible, right ye, if we're
doing this same exercise next year, Matt, he's leading off
the list. He's our Leonora Sellers heading been arch might be.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Who knows where he's at at that point, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Ay, as much as I have never really been high
on Arch way too early to write him off at
the same At the same time as well too, We're
gonna talk to our buddy Chris Adanski, get into some
Steelers and some AFC North topics when we return. On
the other side, there's your around campus for this week,
heading into week seven of the college football season. West Ruler,
Matt Williamson, It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
To the phone lines we go. It's time to talk
to our buddy Chris Adamski. He of course the co
host of the Steelers Blitz with Tom Opperman. Right here
on the Steelers Audio Network Steelers Nation Radio. He covers
the Steelers for the trip. Make sure you're checking out
all of his work there. Buzz, thank you for taking
the time. Let's get right into it. Matt and I
(18:30):
kind of did some you know, some quarter pole conversation
today going across all the divisions and picking division winners
and wild cards here going forward, we both picked the
Steelers to win the AFC North is can you remember
a time for Pittsburgh that they were in such a
(18:50):
good position in October? And is there even like if
Baltimore loses this weekend and falls to one in five,
you might not even have the Boogeyman to look at
over or your shoulder. It just it seems like they
are in such a great position for this early in
the season.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
And they had the right in front of them here
in the in a five days fan coming up to
really just put their you know, heel in the throat
of the entire division if you beat both the Ohio
teams here was in less than a week, which obviously
isn't a shirt or anything like that. And you know
it's your quest. I wonder if one of those years,
you know, maybe in the early aughts or whatever, whenever,
the Bengals were still still a dumpster fire in the
(19:29):
in the Browns. With the Browns, you know, if the
right have been a year or two where the Steelers
were at their peak there, maybe I guess that'd be
before Ben So maybe not, you know, one of those
years where you think that they just happened to have
a lead. But it just seems like even if you
believe in the in the Bengals and Ravens for differing reasons,
as you know, if you believe in them as being
but the contenders before, it seems like there's a balaise
(19:52):
around both of them for different reasons. I know that
Jake Browning era is mercifully over for not only for
a the fans, but anybody who watched the game at
some point at that Money Night game, and every time
the Bengals are on, it's just like pain for to
watch right now, all right, And they went from arguably
one of the most fun teams, they're probably with the
funnest team to watch, if that's something you could say,
(20:13):
or even the word funnest. Last season when they were
you know, scored a lot of points to get up
a lot of points to being the most excruciating offense
to watch. I feel like they're pulling Pizzo. They can't
get any worse under their new quarterback. But yeah, it's
wild how you're sitting here, especially for a team that
I'm guessing that Betty Markets had the Steelers third to
start the season, the third pick in the division. And
(20:36):
to me this, you know, appearance of such a good
spot here before you they even play a game in.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
October, no, no doubt. So let's switch into just the Steelers.
You know, we got some injury news, some good, some bad.
It looks like Warren's likely to be back. Do you
think he goes back to being almost the entire workload
and game Well is a spot player or does that
load become more fifty to fifty with as well as
(21:01):
Gainwell played or Mike Caleb Johnson ever see the field?
You know, what do you how do you think the
labored division of labor at running backs can go?
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Fuckep getting asked that, and I always say, like, remember
week one, Gainwell out snapped for it. I mean he
didn't get more touches, and that was before Gainwell's you know, breakout,
and he could show it and that was presumably everybody's elsey,
and they could say they were they were behind a
lot of that game. And maybe that's more you know,
Gamewell snapped friendly or whatever. But you know, I don't
(21:35):
know fifty fifty is the right way I put it.
But it seems clear that these coaches like Gainwell, they
went out and signed game Well as an organization, and
we're up in camp. They the game a lot of
looks in a lot of different ways, and like I said,
we want he play a lot. They made him clearly
way over Caleb Johnson during the game of the War
(21:56):
and wasn't available. So Gainwell is part of his offense.
He's a snip be a part of the offense no
matter who's healthy. And you know, if if the game
is a quote unquote normal game where it's with always
within a you know, a score or whatever it is
that I don't know how exactly it places, I would
imagine War will still get more carries, probably just more
touches by that alone. But yeah, we're talking probably a
(22:18):
sixty forty type you know, snap share and then things
is what I envisioned here going forward.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Chris, what's your thoughts on the offensive line? Here coming
out of the bye week. I I think that there
has certainly been progress, but that there's certainly still more
to be desired there a little bit better in the
run game. Still feels like they're a little hesitant to,
you know, put Aaron Rodgers back there and let him
stand in the pocket and throw downfield. Maybe some pass
(22:46):
protection concerns are they are they trending in the right
direction or is the progress still been a little slower
than you'd like.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Well, a couple of things. That one thing I thought
at the end of that Vikings game that was as
demonstrative or as emotional at the offensive line, a long
time Seelers offensive line. I tried to ask because that,
you know, did the Vikings were they talking a lot
and they were talking a little more than usual, let's say,
and and today Roderick was asked a little bit about that.
(23:18):
He essentially said it was just that, uh maybe it
Mason mcormackall run together right now at the moment. But
somebody said, well, it was just essentially that we had
a it was a run game in the second half there,
so we were really feeling our you know, so our outs,
you know, we're able to be the aggressor and everything,
and that was part of it to win a game.
You know, it's probably just the motion winning a game
across the continent. But but I do think by any
(23:39):
reasonable objective or subjective measure, that had that was our
best game of the season at elevens of line. And
they maybe they are kind of feeling themselves come together
and the way I characterize I guess if you asked
me or the offensive line, if we were talking in
you know, June or March or August or even what
September sixth and you and you know you showed me
(24:02):
film a week four, I'd be like, Okay, well that's
that's all right, that's that's good. I guess I'd be satisfied.
But it just you feel so much better than that
because it would happened in week one or two, right,
And I feel like the earrow is definitely pointing up.
And I think all four weeks, I feel like the
offensive line has gotten incrementally better. And I mean that
(24:24):
sustainable for seventeen games. I don't notice you get incremently
better or have there your best performances, but you're obviously
rather ever this one the other way, right, So especially
considering four and the five or so young and relatively
I'm three of the five for sure, or you know,
at fewer than twenty games in NFL experience. So to
have that and to be able to the point to
(24:45):
that and say that, I think there's reason to be
hopeful and optimistic about the offensive line going forward based
off where they was the last game and and where
the kind of the trend's been for the season so far.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
How much of the six ozer line pack as you
think you'll see going forward. I mean, Mike.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Thomlins certainly didn't. I don't know, it's almost like it,
but he playing his hand too hard where he's like
sewing his bluff too much, where he's like, oh, you know,
they told me playing a three four team, A sorry
full three team, we're gonna be into stumble because we
couldn't possibly have a you know, a regular tight end
block a four to three in you know. Is the
way he kind of put it out there. So it
(25:27):
was part of me making you oversold it where it's
like maybe I don't know about that he started acting, But
I mean, you can't argue with the results from the
from Dublin, right, I mean they went with it, and
I don't know how much they were planning them doing
with it exactly. But and then when you factor in
the fact that Darnell's makes it essentially seven offensive linemen
(25:49):
on every play, I mean, it was faced and he
was able to all these to go on the routes
and things, not the exact thing an offensive line, but
he certainly is the size of an offensive lineman. And
the fact that had their best running game effort of
the season and everything, And I mean, obviously, I think
you have to find a way to keep defenses honest,
whether that is some routes from Darnell or whether it's
(26:09):
you know, take some shots or something, because I mean,
you keep obviously, defensive coordinator's gonna punch back if you
keep showing the same thing in the same big package,
they're gonna They're not not dummies right there. They're gonna
find ways to the counter kind of act that with
their personnel and their scheme and everything. So but I mean,
it worked that well, and in Week four, and that
was the most recent game, and it's pretty obvious in
(26:31):
terms of where the run game went from where it
was earlier in the season that you'd be kind of
dumb not to keep least rolling out their thumb right.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Yeah, I completely agree, and especially against the defense that
is as stout against the run and as good of
defensive front as the Cleveland Browns are. Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I think you might use it this year or this
week to pass protect just put them on Garrett side.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Absolutely, Yeah, maybe hit, maybe hit DK Metcalf or target
DK Metcalf downfield. We've kind of one of those other
elements of this offense that we've all been waiting to see.
It is kris A. Danski with us here on the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Uh buzz. You'd mentioned Warren a little bit, but sounds
like good news for Joey Porter Junior and Alex high
(27:15):
Smith as well. I think obviously the Steelers secondary can
use reinforcements. We know Jalen Ramsey dealing with an injury.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Now.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
I think we all saw how important it was getting
to Sean Elliott back in that win against the Vikings
in Dublin, and then for Alex high Smith. I mean
the way you have TJ Watt and her big playing
right now, you put a high Smith back into that mix.
It feels like the right time here, when you're heading
into a stretch where you can really separate in the
(27:44):
division to be getting healthier on the defensive side of
the ball.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I think it's good with the Mertins or sort of
more murins. I guess you put it in a perfect
that you're able to have got coming off a high
end cool to kind of limit his pitch count here
staff counts in the first game, you get two games
in five days, coming right off of an injury of
missing a month. I think in that sense you can
(28:09):
definitely ease him back in in that sense. And yeah,
I get you know, fairly confident for sure, even more
confident that Joey Porter is gonna play. And that sounds
like that all seal with all with the little caveat
that ain't have a soft tissue. I guess something that
could play up before Sunday one way or another. But
I wonder if into a sense they would never say
it or admit to it if they did it. But
(28:31):
having a Thursday night game after, I wonder if you
approach a Ramsey and and an Austin a little bit
different the way you practice them this week than you
would if you had consecutive Sunday games where it's almost
as if you're you're maybe you know, get them out
there in the practice field a little bit this week
because you only got one time to do that between
this game and your next game, and it gives you
an idea maybe losing a ramp up a little bit
(28:53):
kind of see where they're at before you have to
make a decision based off of just, you know, a
couple of hours of data practice. Whenever a short week,
guy's going to be a real light practice anyway on
Tuesday leading to the next game. I think that might
be part of seeing Austin and Rams the other Maybe
they'll surprise me. I don't know, man, maybe I'm talking
to you know who knows they'll be out there Sunday.
But yeah, we don't get the impression that's the case.
(29:14):
And I wonder if having those two games back, because
let's cool of thought was, well, they missed the first
game after the bye, they're gonna miss two games because
that's the next game. Is coming to the question, maybe
they're already kind of stick it ahead in that way,
and why that those guys will be practicing here later.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
In the week.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
If Austin's a no go. Do you think there's a
direct replacement for him for wide receiver too? Is it
Scottie Miller just assumes it or is it a group project?
Do we see more scronic? Would Wilson potentially be out
there in two receiver sets more than he has been?
What do you think?
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I wonder, I mean, does it play into I guess
that kind of goes back to the a little bit,
to the to the big personnel and ascronic. Would it
be a guy that's out there a lot in that
scenario if that's either working or part of your game plan.
He's obviously a guy that leaned on and knowing for
his blocking and everything in the run game.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
And if that's.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Part of your game. I mean, the Browns are good
against the run. The Brown Stevens is good in a
lot of ways. So I don't know how exactly you
want to try to attack them, but I would think
if I would laser right now, I think Scuddy Miller
would probably get the most snaps, and especially maybe if
they're behind or something, or if they.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Need to throw.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
I think he's probably at this point they're most comfortable
with him as a past game option. Man, It's like again,
I'm sure they would never do this, and they have
a game to win and that's going to be the focus.
But at some point you got to find out what
we got Rowland Wilson, right, I mean, Austin's a free
agency coming up, and I know you don't look forward
to twenty twenty six and there's a lot more pressing
(30:50):
needs in the moment, but this is a perfect opportunity
at least get them on the field and try something.
At least you have some on field data points during
regular season games to say, okay, there's some promise here. Okay,
you know what, we're gonna move on. You know, we
gonna you know, he's never gonna be a you know,
top two run over top of receiver for us, because
at some point you just need to know, right, I mean,
(31:11):
it's probably like it's the mini version of the Browns
need to see what their quarterbacks are and the quarterbacks are.
You know, it's something like that, where and you have
an opportunity and off Austin doesn't play, to at least
get them out. There are some reps, but like I said,
if the game plan is gonna be heavy, then it'll
be chronic, and I think that at this point they
believe that Miller's their best uh, you know, receiving option
or you know, in terms of receiving production at that position.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Buzz last one We've got for you. In the first
hour of the show, we uh debated the Steelers MVP
Team MVP so far to this, uh, you know, early
on here in this season. Uh, if you had to
give the give the award today for Steelers Team MVP,
who would.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
It go to.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
It's crazy because you obviously always default to the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Sure, yeah, we kind of did.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
I mean, it's when I kind of it's but it's
weird because the Steelers, the official team MVP has voted
by their players, has trended away from the quarterback for
a decade. And whether that's intentional with I don't know
how to read that. I don't I don't never knew
what was Ben.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Ben didn't win it nearly as many times as you
would think.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty certain by now TG has more
than Ben ever got in his career, I think. And
it's just, uh, you know, but at the same time,
it's like, you know, I mean, Rogers, there's between the
clutch moments and just sort of just with this offense.
And we've talked about limitations and especially in the first
couple of games of offensive line in the running game,
(32:39):
and and even your wide receiver depth and the production
are getting other tight ends for the quarterback to you know,
be up there in the league leading touchdown passes, and
it's kind of hard to go away from a quarterback.
And I mean defensively, it's like there's't a lot of
guys that have been up there. I don't know, Like
Ramsey kind of sticks out to me. You know, he's
made it up with splash plays. See your best defensive player,
(33:03):
Like I wouldn't have a problem if you said that.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
But Cam Haber's coming on strong. TJ's coming on strong,
you know, right.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Yeah, yeah, that's a couple of weeks. Like I don't
want to say, I guess this is looking at a
negative point, like who's at the best you know, four games,
who stood out for four games in a row, and
you know, to be that the defense, especially in terms
of the splash plays and stuff. I mean, I mean
I wouldn't I'm not saying he's MVP, but to Shaun Elliott,
you know, they missed. You saw how much you missed
him when he was out. He came back and started
(33:30):
making plays again, and uh so there's uh I feel
like I'm I want to look as a positive that
there's been a lot of guys on defense that made
plays and everything, and no one's really stood out. So
I guess you got to fall back to the quarterback then.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
And with Eric it's uh maybe a low hanging fruit answer,
but certainly one that has plenty of merit. Chris Damski,
make sure you're listening to him and Tom Mott from
in on the Blitz every single day checking out all
his work in the trib Buzz. Thanks for the time
as always, man, and we will see you on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
All right, joy talking to you guys.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
See that there he goes Chris Adamski, Great stuff from him,
Boots on the ground down there on the south side.
And Matt, as we take our final break here and
come back for our last segment, We've got the Steeler's
latest injury report. Cool some good news on there.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
One last thing on the Steeler MVP conversation. I'm I
love him, but I'm glad it's not Boz. Yes, well
said you know, well nice and his name doesn't even
come up.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
It's like you said a couple of weeks ago with
Jalen Warren. It's a testament to him that he's leading
the team in receiving, but I don't want him leaving.
It's a testament to Chris Boswell that he has legitimately
been the Steelers MVP. Because he's awesome, Because he's awesome,
but I don't want him to be the VP. I
think todowns, yes, I think everybody is picking up what
we're putting down there last break to get to Steeler's
(34:52):
latest practice report. We'll paint the picture for you when
we return on the other side to close this thing down. Well, Sheeler,
Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Deeler's Audio network.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Radio down the home stretch here on the Drive on
a Wednesday, and now it is time. We've got the
latest Steelers practice report. And I would say, for the
(35:33):
most part, pretty good news. What we expected, yeah, didn't
make that.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
It looks like about what you expought.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Did not practice Jalen Ramsey and Calvin Austin. I don't
think that's shocking. I think we were all kind of
hoping that we might see something in there.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
But it is only Wednesday, and only practice of course twice.
Sometimes you get ahead of yourself. Thursday is a key one, and.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
I gotta feel both of those guys if they were
going to be placed on the IR, that would have
happened already. So I still overall think that that's better
news than we expected leaving Dublin.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
Yeah, and a Damski and Hallick both kind of said
they could still play Thursday too. I mean, I know
it seems so short. You assume if you don't play
Sunday or not play Thursday, well maybe they need a
couple extra days.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Maybe maybe they're looking at it in the bigger picture sense, uh,
which would make a lot of sense.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
I think makes you think they're sort of close.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yes, yes, but no practice today for Ramsey or Calvin Austin.
Limited today in practice. Ben Skronik dealing with an illness.
Hopefully that's nothing, nothing too serious.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Yeah that spreads throughout the team or anything.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That time of year, I got some some things are
starting to go round. That's one of my favorite yinerisms.
You get into like winter time and someone's like, I
got a cough and I got a cold. Yeah, it's
going around.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
The place. But okay, I didn't even know if like
going a Pittsburgh thing.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
I think it is.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
And when you said that, I'm like, I bet they
don't say that in like like New Mexico.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Like last winter of my kid's daycare got hit with
like a a bout of hand foot in mouth and
I remember the teacher like, we got handfot mouth going around.
Speaker 3 (37:20):
The flu.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Yeah, the flu's going around. It's that time of year. Uh,
schronic limited with an illness. Alex high Smith a participant,
but a limited participant with that ankle.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Okay, fine, you know they're working Russian back right top.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
He's full tomorrow. But you're absolutely right, no need to
rush him back. They're not going to, but at least
nice to see him out there in some capacity. And
then the very good news full practice participants Joey Porter
Junior and Jalen Warren.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Boom, great news. I think they're playing.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I would be very surprised if they both aren't. You
rightfully so pointed this out that like especially with Jalen Warren.
It felt like if that Dublin game was a wild
card game or a divisional round game in the playoffs,
they would be truly a game time decision. Like they
didn't even take Alex high Smith to Ireland.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
No, we knew that when.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
You know, but you know, Jalen Warren was a true
game time decision. I think Joey Porter Junior was as
well too.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
The Warren seems so close, very close.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I mean he was even there were a couple of
times I was watching him on the sideline because their
sideline was kind of right in front of us from
that nice vantage point that we had at Croke Park,
and there was a couple of times he was like
bouncing up and down and I mean looked chomping at
the bit, like okay, this guy there. Yeah, it wasn't
sitting on the bench like hobbling around or anything or
limping whatsoever. In fact, he loves to wear like that
(38:45):
jumbo towel that we've laughed about out of his backside.
He was wearing that towel on the sideline with like
the guy standing in the batter's box like evaluating every pitch.
So great news for ps Junior and for Jalen Warren.
Hopefully no setbacks. Hopefully there are full participants again tomorrow
(39:07):
and in green light full speed uh ahead?
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Yeah good, Yeah, And there's some I saw there's some
veteran rest days too that no one needs to really
worry about what and Cam just had their veteran day off. Yes, correct, correct, cool,
They're in good shape.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Absolutely right, absolutely right. Angry Bike Lane tweets us and says,
just so you guys know, the quarter pole in racing
means that there is a quarter left to go, not
a quarter into the race. All right, semantics, they're angry
Bike I believe so.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Yeah, Nascar, I don't think they. I do some f one.
I don't think I ever heard.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
That's something that I've been told I should get into.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
The Netflix series hooked me.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
But I've already, Matt, I've got enough.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
Vices consuming and like this time of year, I don't
even watch the race.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
And you know this, I'm like an I'm a big
English Premier League guy, so on Saturdays and Sundays in
the morning, if I have nothing to do, like I'm
flipping on the Manchester United in Chelsea game. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I don't need any more sports.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
And even at one, I mean they show you the poll,
the qualifying, the practice rounds, or like an hour on
Thursday before the race is due, and pretty cool. Actually,
I mean it's big money. Oh I would you like
the Netflix series? I would?
Speaker 2 (40:25):
And I'd love to go to like one of those
Monaco I mean.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
And I really money is insane.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
That's probably like someone from Ireland saying I'd like to
go to the super Bowl, right right, No, kids.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Football is kind of cool. I'd like the super Bowl. Yeah,
that's mony.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Yeah, you're right, Yeah, anybody would.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
Like to do that. And you're sitting next to Leo
DiCaprio right.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Right, paying seven grand for your ticket. Good stuff Today.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
They just said this on the show. The boats that
you see park there.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
It's got to be insane.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
It's seventeen thousand dollars a day to park your boat,
and the yachts are as big as it's building. I mean, right,
seventeen k a day. Stuff, right, Yeah, I don't think
I could afford that.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
It's a little too rich for my blood. Matt good
Stuff Today. Enjoyed the show. A big thank you to
Chris Adamski for joining us. In a big thank you
to our video producer Tyler V mister TV for making
us look nice on the YouTube. As always. That'll do
it for today, but we'll be back tomorrow time to
fully turn the page to the Browns. Yeah, we'll get
in a match, get into Matt's stats heavy. We will talk.
(41:30):
Got a game tomorrow night again.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Is it Eagles Giants Giants?
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Okay, another opportunity for the Eagles to assert their dominance.
Another look at Jackson Dart. We'll also catch up with
our guy Bob Labriola tomorrow on the program as well.
So plenty to look forward to. But that will do
it for today. Take care, everybody, We'll talk to you soon.
As always, you know where to find us. It's on
your twenty four to seven home of the Black and Gold.
It's 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 (00:13):
Good evening, Steeler Nation. How we doing well? That's good
us too. It is our number two of the drive
here on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
And Matt, what do you say since we're in the
car and we're driving around here? Are you ready to
go around campus?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yeah? This is you man, take it away. One thing
I'll add to the conversation is I was listening to
Dane Brugler's podcast. He's a new one this year called
Building the Beast, which is pretty fun. I love that
because every week, yeah, I build a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So we got in here. I'm excited to listen to
it on the way home, so.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I didn't get far into it, I you know, just
down into the red light. I started listening to that one.
And what they're doing is because it's kind of the
halfway point at college football. Yes, as he's given his
top three at every position.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
And I've only gotten through quarterbacks, but that's what we're
talking about anyway. So his number one is Dante more
Sellers is his two. Okay, and Mendoza's history, So.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
The same top three that we've kind of had the
whole year.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yes, and he didn't have more ranked last year because
not many people did, right, I mean, I guess he
was pretty bad for who's the team he was with Cal?
You the way that Dane explained it was, he really
wasn't very good at LA, which.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Is wild too, because I remember when you and I
started having the Fernando Mendoza conversation.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, a lot of the pig came for Cow.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
He came from CAL. A lot of the pit people
like our buddy Tom Opferman, were like, what are you
talking about? He's not that good. I wa washed him
play last year at CAL, And I'm like, wait, he
was playing at Cal with a bunch of nobodies. Now
was going to Signetti and an Indiana team that is
at the best they've been in program history, which albeit
isn't an incredibly hard high bar to clear. They won
(01:57):
ten games last year for the first time as a program.
But I think those three, no matter what order you
have him in, are the top three.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think. So if you bet this point.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I would. I'm not even saying it's a hot take,
but I think you would have to have some real
kind of mental gymnastics to have somebody else over those three.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Again, Club Nick and all Are and all the guys
that got a lot of hype preseason, haven't they have
they been stepped forward?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
They have not. Now I will say some of them
have started to rebound nicely in that regard, Like I think,
I think, I think Club Nick has started to show
some of the hype. He's in this packet that I
put together for Here's what I wrote for him, starting
to show some of the hype that he entered this
season with good decision making and accurate He carved up
(02:45):
North Carolina and Bell Belichick on Saturday, where he was
twenty two of twenty four for two hundred and fifty
four yards, four touchdowns and no turn up. Efficient day,
A very efficient day for kid Clubnick.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Okay, nothing, the one that doesn't blow me away physically though.
He like a big, strong guy, you.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Know, same and nuss Meyer's kind of in that state.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
The other one. Yeah, but here's what his son and
you know.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Here's the thing, and he's and he's in his fifth
year at LSU. You would really think that he would
have kind of grabbed that team by the horn. It's
been their defense that they've been leaning on early. He's
looked a little bit better as of late. Big opportunity
for him, of course, LSU has got some monster games
coming up where he's going to have a real opportunity
to shine.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Sellers is the one you're telling me off the air.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
That let's talk about Sellers.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I kind of want to start there too, because, like
even Dane said, there's not much to go off of yet.
So I'm just kind of keeping them at the top
of my list.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
And I'm laughing, you know, I I do read like
this is not all just my opinion in my eye test.
I'm reading stuff. I'm reading what ESPN is saying, what
CBS is saying, all these different you know, you can
go on Google and you can find college football quarterback
power rankings every single week.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, And so like a lot of people are kind
of Sellers is falling down their power rankings, which I
he didn't do anything wrong, but it's it's exactly right.
Like he had a concussion. They had a ton of
issues at the beginning of the season. I think they've
stabilized a little bit. They're coming off a bye week. Okay,
(04:11):
now it's really time to start. Because get this, South
Carolina's next five games are all against teams that are
currently currently ranked in the top eleven of the College
Football Poll. I mean he's got like he's got LSU
and A and M and Georgia and Old Miss and
five five straight games against teams that are currently ranked
(04:35):
in the top eleven. You want to show it, you
want to get back to being that kind of number
one overall pick. He's got some real opportunity here over
the next month or seven.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And I think it goes out saying they're dogs in
every one of those games.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Right, They will be dogs in every one of those games, absolutely,
But for him here you.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Go, yeah, you keep them, you know, not look bad.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Even if you're just able to keep South Carolina competitive
in all those games where you are gonna be a
big underdog and a lot of them, I think that
would go a long way for him. The other two
that you mentioned, Dante More and Fernando Mendoza, they both
are coming off of a bye week, so not much
to talk about. But but three at Ottson Stadium and Eugene, Oregon.
(05:16):
Those two will meet on Saturday, for what is just
a fantastic Saturday slate of games. But that to me
is is the highlight. Is the is the cream of
the crop. Yeah, you will get South Carolina versus LSU
in the evening, which is Sellers versus Nuts Smyers. So
there's there's one to keep an eye on there as
well too.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
I know Indiana is good, but they're a dog in
Oregon by a substantial.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I don't know if it's substantial. I think it's seven
or I think it's about I think it's about a touchdown.
Let me let me find it here, because they're a
top ten team as well.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I know they're good.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Uh seven and a half points is organ is favored
in that one third rankreg to get seventh ranked Indiana.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Okay, so those two are seventh.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
They are seven? Yeah, those two three thirty. That's the
If I could watch one game this weekend, that's what
I'm watching.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I never devr college games. When I might devar that one.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Just to watch the course, I might be I might
be sending you some clips during that one.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Another one to keep an eye on. Oklahoma versus Texas,
one of the more fun rivalries in college football. Is
also at three point thirty. Mattier is a game time decision,
so he could be back. If not, they have some
big games coming up against Georgia, I think as well too,
so big matter. Red River is a huge one. Yeah, Hey,
(06:30):
opportunity for arch Manning as well.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
I say, Manning, we at least need to mention in that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Kind of them off a little bit rightfully. So, but
you have one big game in this type of game,
you could be right back to the middle.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Of these conversations.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I'm also keeping an eye on two more games, just
real quick for you that I'm keeping an eye on,
uh Indiana Oregon obviously, Oklahoma Texas obviously. Those are both
at three thirty. South Carolina at LSU that's seven forty five,
a night game.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Because we mentioned NASS in that game too.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Nas is in that game against Sellers. Two could be too.
First round quarterbacks there as well. Alabama at Missouri because
Ty Simpson, who I am.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Very intriguing wat I don't know much about him.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
He's the one who's really started to blow up on
these quarterback rankings and quarterback big boards. Missouri doesn't necessarily
have a quarterback to watch from NFL perspective, but they're
ranked fourteenth in the country.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
This is a top fourteen matchup.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
That's a good noon game. And then another one of
those guys along with Ty Simpson that I've really become
intrigued by, is Jaden Mavia from USC six four, two
hundred and thirty pounds. He's got the body type. They
are playing hosting Michigan Saturday night, second thirty as well
to Good Wink Martindale Michigan defense. Yeah, I want to see.
(07:45):
I want to see how Mavia can can play against
that Michigan team.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
He's a pretty good athlete too.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
He's a good athlete, leads the big ten passing yards.
But here comes Michigan on Saturday, and then they have
to go to Notre Dame the next week. Who kind
of big big games for him, Trinidad Chamberless. Another guy
that we've mentioned who carved up Division two last year
at Farris State won the national championship, is now at
(08:11):
Old Miss. He's going to carve up on High fourth
or fifth. They're going to carve up Washington State this weekend,
no problem. But then they go back to back. They
go back to back on the road to Georgia, and
then to Oklahoma. Wow, so big tests for Chamberless and
Old Miss coming up in a couple of weeks. Matt,
Hopefully Matear is all healthy and good to go and
(08:33):
we can see him against Chamberless and what would be
another one of those watch both of these quarterback type games.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Do people think Mateer might play?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
He's he is a game time decision for the Red
River against Texas, So whether he plays or not, hopefully
he's sooner rather than later. A couple more that I
want to mention here as well too. We've kind of
mentioned a lot of the same names and the big guns.
Drew Aller deserves some mention here.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, we've talked about him much.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Six five, two thirty five, and Matt I went back
and watched some some some cutups. And despite Penn State
struggles which have been well documented, right, they lost at
home and double overtime in Oregon, And then they went
and laid an egg against a UCLA team that had
just fired a bunch of coaches and was zero and
four and from a like a point spread perspective, maybe
(09:21):
the biggest upset loss in Penn State football history. I mean,
that's like a one doesn't have the same type of
ramifications because of the playoff now and the time of
the schedule. But that's like a thirteen to nine level
bad loss of Penn State.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I mean, you were talking about like a Penn State
and Texas have just benefit. They were like one and
two in the country.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
And they're unranked now, which tells you all you need
to know. But despite that, I actually think and a
lot of people are dumping on Drew Aller and I
get it, people.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Around the quarterback of a disappointing team.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
If you're if you live in western Pennsylvania and you're
not a Penn State fan, you like the rubbing in
when it doesn't go well for them. That's just the
nature of the beast. For pitt fans, and I think
even for Notre Dame and WU and Ohio State fans
that live in this air, it's not well two.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Best calling for producing quarterback talent. No, it's another yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
But the one grain assault that I'll give him mat
is if you go back and watch the last two
games he threw a terrible interception in double overtime against Oregon.
Can't happen. That's been a knock on him. Is that
in those big moments, he makes a bad decision. But
other than that, I thought he actually played pretty well
in those two games. He's been much more accurate this
season and for being a six five, two hundred and
(10:25):
thirty five to forty pound guy. Yeah, he can still
move like he's making some plays with his legs as
well too. I actually think Alers looked okay, okay, like
his stock to me is a lot of people have
him plummeting. I'm not saying he's rising, but I'm a neutral.
I'm a neutral on.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Pation take him too many arrows just because Penn State's
not living up to.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Extra exactly right, exactly right, And again I understand that
that's part of the nature of the beast, but I
did want to mention him certainly. Just three new names
as well too that deserve.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, there's one name on here. I don't know which one, Uh,
Georgia Tech, Haynes King, Haynes.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
King, Matt He's gonna be twenty five years old before
the NFL draft.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah, but that's big a knocks of a knock as
that used to be the Nicks and Daniels.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
And you know he's got the body type six three,
two fifteen. He did three years at Texas A and
M This is now his third year at Georgia Tech.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I'm sure he's a big recruit in his day.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yes, yeah, they might have won. They're five and oh
Georgia Tech having perhaps their best season in a long time,
and they've been on the on the rise for where
they were as a program these last couple of years.
But Matt, I mean they they might be one and
four without him. Okay, too, He's the whole I mean
he is. He is the whole show. Leads the team
in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. You know, despite being
(11:41):
the quarterback, he's leading the team in rushing yards and
rushing touchdowns as well too.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
I don't know, he's not just a runner a round, No,
he's not.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I I don't know if he is having the Kenny
Pickett type. I've been here for so long. I'm just
ahead of everybody else on the curve.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Right, I'm beating up on nineteen twenty year olds.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
But he's he should be in this conversation for now,
with the way he's with the way he's played.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Like thinking as a scout and how this works, like
when he goes to the combine.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Will he test well, Yes, I think so. I mean
his athleticism stuff, absolutely mean.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I mean he's gonna absolutely his stock might rise when
he starts running forties and jumping.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
And yes, yes, another guy who hey, hand up, this
is on me. I maybe didn't give as much credit
in this in the first few weeks that we've been
doing this is Carson beck because.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
It sounds like he's turned things around in a big way.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
He came to Georgia as a massive recruit right in
the middle when Georgia was winning back to back national
championships with a walk on at quarterback. Yeah, Stetson Bennett,
you know, sounds like a law firm, like a future
lawyer of America, and not a quarterback who's gonna win
twenty nine to thirty starts for Georgia.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
In first round picks everywhere else, first.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Round picks everywhere else, And it never happened for Carson
Beckett Georgia. He ends up transferring to Miami for his
last year of college eligibility and he's been very good.
That's the Miami team that's in the top five. I
think the ranks second right now behind Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Was talking about how he's matured and he's professional back there.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
He is the like he's not just a passenger. He
is the he's kind of the driving force on this
Miami team right now and deserves deserves some credit in
that regard, deserves to be on this list. Really good performance.
You know. They hosted Florida State this past weekend Top
twenty matchup, huge rivalry game there. He was outstanding twenty
(13:29):
for twenty seven. Well, Florida State ended up scoring twenty
eight to twenty two was the final score because Florida
State scored some garbage down touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Miami was clearly the better.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
They were in the driver's seat the whole game. Yeah,
and Carson Beck was a huge part of that twenty
of twenty seven two forty one, four touchdowns, no turnovers
in a Top twenty win against Florida State. He's looking
the part so far. Again, he's not if I'm if
I'm if I a super no, not super runner athlete.
He can screw it a little bit for six four
to two twenty. He's not the statue of liberty back there,
(13:58):
but he's not as mobile as some of these guys.
But he to me again, if I'm making my list.
If I'm ranking these guys, he's probably not even in
my top five at this point, but he absolutely deserves
to be in the conversation. Okay, as does last one
for you. We actually somebody I think it was maybe
Karl was his name, tweeted us about including Sawyer Robertson
in this conversation. I think because one of his kids
(14:20):
went to Baylor and he was like, I spent so
much tuition money there. I'd like to I'd like to hear.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
I've been heard a lot about him going back to
the to summer. Yes, there are some people that are
big fans.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
He started his career Mississippi State, transferred to Baylor. He's
another one of those. He's got the prototypical size you're
looking for. Six four two twenty. Leads the nation in
passing yards per game by a very wide margin. Wow,
nineteen passing touchdowns, the most in college football to this point.
He can make some plays with his legs too. He
is at a place Baylor matt where he's not surrounded
(14:52):
by five stars everywhere. They are off to a good
start this season four and one. He's a big driving
force behind that. He to me is one of tho.
You know, maybe like a Trinidad Chamberless, maybe like a
Jaden Mavia ty Simpson. You weren't really in on this
radar for me at the beginning of the year. The
way you've played through the first half of the season,
I want to I'm keeping an eye on you the
(15:13):
second half of the season. Certainly one to watch. He
has some traits. He's got the body type, he's got
the athleticism. He's another guy that you know, I think,
come come Combine season, could could really start to impress
and move up.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Something screams like the guy that goes as senior ball
and is the best one there, or you know, like.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
He screams to me like a like a Tyler shuck.
I mean you know what I mean, like a where Okay, Yeah,
this guy will be picked at some point, you know,
maybe Day three and then all of a sudden ends
up being a second round pick that.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Time of year. Yeah. Yeah, so people raved about him
at the Manning Academy. He was not the biggest name
career and he was phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Was outstanding. Yeah, so there's some names for you. We
did talk a little bit about Jayalen Daniels, the Kansas
quarterback yesterday, there is this is and you know, college
football is my favorite thing in the sporting world. I mean,
take my job and my career out of it. If
I could only watch one sport the rest of my life,
it would be college football.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Nothing to do.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Just from a pure entertainment and enjoyment perspective, I love
college football this year, Matt, I cannot remember having this
many intriguing quarterbacks to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Just the list is longer than ever.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
The list is crazy long and impressive and a lot
of fun for us, perfect timing wise for a Steelers
team that could be swimming in these waters now.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Unfortunately, Teaser, a lot of teams are gonna be after
these guys more than I.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Thought we're gonna We're gonna circle back to that at
some point, certainly. But there's some games and some names
for you to keep an eye on this weekend as
we roll along. I also love Julian say in the
Ohio State quarterback only part. He's a sophomore and he's
not going to be eligible to be drafted on the
north shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So the way too early mock draft for next year,
he's gonna be the top of list.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Correct, correct, And like if Aaron Rodgers ends up coming back,
you go a different direction in the first round, maybe
tackle something like that. Certainly possible, right ye, if we're
doing this same exercise next year, Matt, he's leading off
the list. He's our Leonora Sellers heading been arch might be.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Who knows where he's at at that point, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Ay, as much as I have never really been high
on Arch way too early to write him off at
the same At the same time as well too, We're
gonna talk to our buddy Chris Adanski, get into some
Steelers and some AFC North topics when we return. On
the other side, there's your around campus for this week,
heading into week seven of the college football season. West Ruler,
Matt Williamson, It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
To the phone lines we go. It's time to talk
to our buddy Chris Adamski. He of course the co
host of the Steelers Blitz with Tom Opperman. Right here
on the Steelers Audio Network Steelers Nation Radio. He covers
the Steelers for the trip. Make sure you're checking out
all of his work there. Buzz, thank you for taking
the time. Let's get right into it. Matt and I
(18:30):
kind of did some you know, some quarter pole conversation
today going across all the divisions and picking division winners
and wild cards here going forward, we both picked the
Steelers to win the AFC North is can you remember
a time for Pittsburgh that they were in such a
(18:50):
good position in October? And is there even like if
Baltimore loses this weekend and falls to one in five,
you might not even have the Boogeyman to look at
over or your shoulder. It just it seems like they
are in such a great position for this early in
the season.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
And they had the right in front of them here
in the in a five days fan coming up to
really just put their you know, heel in the throat
of the entire division if you beat both the Ohio
teams here was in less than a week, which obviously
isn't a shirt or anything like that. And you know
it's your quest. I wonder if one of those years,
you know, maybe in the early aughts or whatever, whenever,
the Bengals were still still a dumpster fire in the
(19:29):
in the Browns. With the Browns, you know, if the
right have been a year or two where the Steelers
were at their peak there, maybe I guess that'd be
before Ben So maybe not, you know, one of those
years where you think that they just happened to have
a lead. But it just seems like even if you
believe in the in the Bengals and Ravens for differing reasons,
as you know, if you believe in them as being
but the contenders before, it seems like there's a balaise
(19:52):
around both of them for different reasons. I know that
Jake Browning era is mercifully over for not only for
a the fans, but anybody who watched the game at
some point at that Money Night game, and every time
the Bengals are on, it's just like pain for to
watch right now, all right, And they went from arguably
one of the most fun teams, they're probably with the
funnest team to watch, if that's something you could say,
(20:13):
or even the word funnest. Last season when they were
you know, scored a lot of points to get up
a lot of points to being the most excruciating offense
to watch. I feel like they're pulling Pizzo. They can't
get any worse under their new quarterback. But yeah, it's
wild how you're sitting here, especially for a team that
I'm guessing that Betty Markets had the Steelers third to
start the season, the third pick in the division. And
(20:36):
to me this, you know, appearance of such a good
spot here before you they even play a game in.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
October, no, no doubt. So let's switch into just the Steelers.
You know, we got some injury news, some good, some bad.
It looks like Warren's likely to be back. Do you
think he goes back to being almost the entire workload
and game Well is a spot player or does that
load become more fifty to fifty with as well as
(21:01):
Gainwell played or Mike Caleb Johnson ever see the field?
You know, what do you how do you think the
labored division of labor at running backs can go?
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Fuckep getting asked that, and I always say, like, remember
week one, Gainwell out snapped for it. I mean he
didn't get more touches, and that was before Gainwell's you know, breakout,
and he could show it and that was presumably everybody's elsey,
and they could say they were they were behind a
lot of that game. And maybe that's more you know,
Gamewell snapped friendly or whatever. But you know, I don't
(21:35):
know fifty fifty is the right way I put it.
But it seems clear that these coaches like Gainwell, they
went out and signed game Well as an organization, and
we're up in camp. They the game a lot of
looks in a lot of different ways, and like I said,
we want he play a lot. They made him clearly
way over Caleb Johnson during the game of the War
(21:56):
and wasn't available. So Gainwell is part of his offense.
He's a snip be a part of the offense no
matter who's healthy. And you know, if if the game
is a quote unquote normal game where it's with always
within a you know, a score or whatever it is
that I don't know how exactly it places, I would
imagine War will still get more carries, probably just more
touches by that alone. But yeah, we're talking probably a
(22:18):
sixty forty type you know, snap share and then things
is what I envisioned here going forward.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Chris, what's your thoughts on the offensive line? Here coming
out of the bye week. I I think that there
has certainly been progress, but that there's certainly still more
to be desired there a little bit better in the
run game. Still feels like they're a little hesitant to,
you know, put Aaron Rodgers back there and let him
stand in the pocket and throw downfield. Maybe some pass
(22:46):
protection concerns are they are they trending in the right
direction or is the progress still been a little slower
than you'd like.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Well, a couple of things. That one thing I thought
at the end of that Vikings game that was as
demonstrative or as emotional at the offensive line, a long
time Seelers offensive line. I tried to ask because that,
you know, did the Vikings were they talking a lot
and they were talking a little more than usual, let's say,
and and today Roderick was asked a little bit about that.
(23:18):
He essentially said it was just that, uh maybe it
Mason mcormackall run together right now at the moment. But
somebody said, well, it was just essentially that we had
a it was a run game in the second half there,
so we were really feeling our you know, so our outs,
you know, we're able to be the aggressor and everything,
and that was part of it to win a game.
You know, it's probably just the motion winning a game
across the continent. But but I do think by any
(23:39):
reasonable objective or subjective measure, that had that was our
best game of the season at elevens of line. And
they maybe they are kind of feeling themselves come together
and the way I characterize I guess if you asked
me or the offensive line, if we were talking in
you know, June or March or August or even what
September sixth and you and you know you showed me
(24:02):
film a week four, I'd be like, Okay, well that's
that's all right, that's that's good. I guess I'd be satisfied.
But it just you feel so much better than that
because it would happened in week one or two, right,
And I feel like the earrow is definitely pointing up.
And I think all four weeks, I feel like the
offensive line has gotten incrementally better. And I mean that
(24:24):
sustainable for seventeen games. I don't notice you get incremently
better or have there your best performances, but you're obviously
rather ever this one the other way, right, So especially
considering four and the five or so young and relatively
I'm three of the five for sure, or you know,
at fewer than twenty games in NFL experience. So to
have that and to be able to the point to
(24:45):
that and say that, I think there's reason to be
hopeful and optimistic about the offensive line going forward based
off where they was the last game and and where
the kind of the trend's been for the season so far.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
How much of the six ozer line pack as you
think you'll see going forward. I mean, Mike.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Thomlins certainly didn't. I don't know, it's almost like it,
but he playing his hand too hard where he's like
sewing his bluff too much, where he's like, oh, you know,
they told me playing a three four team, A sorry
full three team, we're gonna be into stumble because we
couldn't possibly have a you know, a regular tight end
block a four to three in you know. Is the
way he kind of put it out there. So it
(25:27):
was part of me making you oversold it where it's
like maybe I don't know about that he started acting, But
I mean, you can't argue with the results from the
from Dublin, right, I mean they went with it, and
I don't know how much they were planning them doing
with it exactly. But and then when you factor in
the fact that Darnell's makes it essentially seven offensive linemen
(25:49):
on every play, I mean, it was faced and he
was able to all these to go on the routes
and things, not the exact thing an offensive line, but
he certainly is the size of an offensive lineman. And
the fact that had their best running game effort of
the season and everything, And I mean, obviously, I think
you have to find a way to keep defenses honest,
whether that is some routes from Darnell or whether it's
(26:09):
you know, take some shots or something, because I mean,
you keep obviously, defensive coordinator's gonna punch back if you
keep showing the same thing in the same big package,
they're gonna They're not not dummies right there. They're gonna
find ways to the counter kind of act that with
their personnel and their scheme and everything. So but I mean,
it worked that well, and in Week four, and that
was the most recent game, and it's pretty obvious in
(26:31):
terms of where the run game went from where it
was earlier in the season that you'd be kind of
dumb not to keep least rolling out their thumb right.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Yeah, I completely agree, and especially against the defense that
is as stout against the run and as good of
defensive front as the Cleveland Browns are. Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I think you might use it this year or this
week to pass protect just put them on Garrett side.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Absolutely, Yeah, maybe hit, maybe hit DK Metcalf or target
DK Metcalf downfield. We've kind of one of those other
elements of this offense that we've all been waiting to see.
It is kris A. Danski with us here on the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Uh buzz. You'd mentioned Warren a little bit, but sounds
like good news for Joey Porter Junior and Alex high
(27:15):
Smith as well. I think obviously the Steelers secondary can
use reinforcements. We know Jalen Ramsey dealing with an injury.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Now.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
I think we all saw how important it was getting
to Sean Elliott back in that win against the Vikings
in Dublin, and then for Alex high Smith. I mean
the way you have TJ Watt and her big playing
right now, you put a high Smith back into that mix.
It feels like the right time here, when you're heading
into a stretch where you can really separate in the
(27:44):
division to be getting healthier on the defensive side of
the ball.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I think it's good with the Mertins or sort of
more murins. I guess you put it in a perfect
that you're able to have got coming off a high
end cool to kind of limit his pitch count here
staff counts in the first game, you get two games
in five days, coming right off of an injury of
missing a month. I think in that sense you can
(28:09):
definitely ease him back in in that sense. And yeah,
I get you know, fairly confident for sure, even more
confident that Joey Porter is gonna play. And that sounds
like that all seal with all with the little caveat
that ain't have a soft tissue. I guess something that
could play up before Sunday one way or another. But
I wonder if into a sense they would never say
it or admit to it if they did it. But
(28:31):
having a Thursday night game after, I wonder if you
approach a Ramsey and and an Austin a little bit
different the way you practice them this week than you
would if you had consecutive Sunday games where it's almost
as if you're you're maybe you know, get them out
there in the practice field a little bit this week
because you only got one time to do that between
this game and your next game, and it gives you
an idea maybe losing a ramp up a little bit
(28:53):
kind of see where they're at before you have to
make a decision based off of just, you know, a
couple of hours of data practice. Whenever a short week,
guy's going to be a real light practice anyway on
Tuesday leading to the next game. I think that might
be part of seeing Austin and Rams the other Maybe
they'll surprise me. I don't know, man, maybe I'm talking
to you know who knows they'll be out there Sunday.
But yeah, we don't get the impression that's the case.
(29:14):
And I wonder if having those two games back, because
let's cool of thought was, well, they missed the first
game after the bye, they're gonna miss two games because
that's the next game. Is coming to the question, maybe
they're already kind of stick it ahead in that way,
and why that those guys will be practicing here later.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
In the week.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
If Austin's a no go. Do you think there's a
direct replacement for him for wide receiver too? Is it
Scottie Miller just assumes it or is it a group project?
Do we see more scronic? Would Wilson potentially be out
there in two receiver sets more than he has been?
What do you think?
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I wonder, I mean, does it play into I guess
that kind of goes back to the a little bit,
to the to the big personnel and ascronic. Would it
be a guy that's out there a lot in that
scenario if that's either working or part of your game plan.
He's obviously a guy that leaned on and knowing for
his blocking and everything in the run game.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
And if that's.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Part of your game. I mean, the Browns are good
against the run. The Brown Stevens is good in a
lot of ways. So I don't know how exactly you
want to try to attack them, but I would think
if I would laser right now, I think Scuddy Miller
would probably get the most snaps, and especially maybe if
they're behind or something, or if they.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Need to throw.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
I think he's probably at this point they're most comfortable
with him as a past game option. Man, It's like again,
I'm sure they would never do this, and they have
a game to win and that's going to be the focus.
But at some point you got to find out what
we got Rowland Wilson, right, I mean, Austin's a free
agency coming up, and I know you don't look forward
to twenty twenty six and there's a lot more pressing
(30:50):
needs in the moment, but this is a perfect opportunity
at least get them on the field and try something.
At least you have some on field data points during
regular season games to say, okay, there's some promise here. Okay,
you know what, we're gonna move on. You know, we
gonna you know, he's never gonna be a you know,
top two run over top of receiver for us, because
at some point you just need to know, right, I mean,
(31:11):
it's probably like it's the mini version of the Browns
need to see what their quarterbacks are and the quarterbacks are.
You know, it's something like that, where and you have
an opportunity and off Austin doesn't play, to at least
get them out. There are some reps, but like I said,
if the game plan is gonna be heavy, then it'll
be chronic, and I think that at this point they
believe that Miller's their best uh, you know, receiving option
or you know, in terms of receiving production at that position.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Buzz last one We've got for you. In the first
hour of the show, we uh debated the Steelers MVP
Team MVP so far to this, uh, you know, early
on here in this season. Uh, if you had to
give the give the award today for Steelers Team MVP,
who would.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
It go to.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
It's crazy because you obviously always default to the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Sure, yeah, we kind of did.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
I mean, it's when I kind of it's but it's
weird because the Steelers, the official team MVP has voted
by their players, has trended away from the quarterback for
a decade. And whether that's intentional with I don't know
how to read that. I don't I don't never knew
what was Ben.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Ben didn't win it nearly as many times as you
would think.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty certain by now TG has more
than Ben ever got in his career, I think. And
it's just, uh, you know, but at the same time,
it's like, you know, I mean, Rogers, there's between the
clutch moments and just sort of just with this offense.
And we've talked about limitations and especially in the first
couple of games of offensive line in the running game,
(32:39):
and and even your wide receiver depth and the production
are getting other tight ends for the quarterback to you know,
be up there in the league leading touchdown passes, and
it's kind of hard to go away from a quarterback.
And I mean defensively, it's like there's't a lot of
guys that have been up there. I don't know, Like
Ramsey kind of sticks out to me. You know, he's
made it up with splash plays. See your best defensive player,
(33:03):
Like I wouldn't have a problem if you said that.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
But Cam Haber's coming on strong. TJ's coming on strong,
you know, right.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Yeah, yeah, that's a couple of weeks. Like I don't
want to say, I guess this is looking at a
negative point, like who's at the best you know, four games,
who stood out for four games in a row, and
you know, to be that the defense, especially in terms
of the splash plays and stuff. I mean, I mean
I wouldn't I'm not saying he's MVP, but to Shaun Elliott,
you know, they missed. You saw how much you missed
him when he was out. He came back and started
(33:30):
making plays again, and uh so there's uh I feel
like I'm I want to look as a positive that
there's been a lot of guys on defense that made
plays and everything, and no one's really stood out. So
I guess you got to fall back to the quarterback then.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
And with Eric it's uh maybe a low hanging fruit answer,
but certainly one that has plenty of merit. Chris Damski,
make sure you're listening to him and Tom Mott from
in on the Blitz every single day checking out all
his work in the trib Buzz. Thanks for the time
as always, man, and we will see you on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
All right, joy talking to you guys.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
See that there he goes Chris Adamski, Great stuff from him,
Boots on the ground down there on the south side.
And Matt, as we take our final break here and
come back for our last segment, We've got the Steeler's
latest injury report. Cool some good news on there.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
One last thing on the Steeler MVP conversation. I'm I
love him, but I'm glad it's not Boz. Yes, well
said you know, well nice and his name doesn't even
come up.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
It's like you said a couple of weeks ago with
Jalen Warren. It's a testament to him that he's leading
the team in receiving, but I don't want him leaving.
It's a testament to Chris Boswell that he has legitimately
been the Steelers MVP. Because he's awesome, Because he's awesome,
but I don't want him to be the VP. I
think todowns, yes, I think everybody is picking up what
we're putting down there last break to get to Steeler's
(34:52):
latest practice report. We'll paint the picture for you when
we return on the other side to close this thing down. Well, Sheeler,
Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Deeler's Audio network.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Radio down the home stretch here on the Drive on
a Wednesday, and now it is time. We've got the
latest Steelers practice report. And I would say, for the
(35:33):
most part, pretty good news. What we expected, yeah, didn't
make that.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
It looks like about what you expought.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Did not practice Jalen Ramsey and Calvin Austin. I don't
think that's shocking. I think we were all kind of
hoping that we might see something in there.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
But it is only Wednesday, and only practice of course twice.
Sometimes you get ahead of yourself. Thursday is a key one, and.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
I gotta feel both of those guys if they were
going to be placed on the IR, that would have
happened already. So I still overall think that that's better
news than we expected leaving Dublin.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
Yeah, and a Damski and Hallick both kind of said
they could still play Thursday too. I mean, I know
it seems so short. You assume if you don't play
Sunday or not play Thursday, well maybe they need a
couple extra days.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Maybe maybe they're looking at it in the bigger picture sense, uh,
which would make a lot of sense.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
I think makes you think they're sort of close.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yes, yes, but no practice today for Ramsey or Calvin Austin.
Limited today in practice. Ben Skronik dealing with an illness.
Hopefully that's nothing, nothing too serious.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Yeah that spreads throughout the team or anything.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That time of year, I got some some things are
starting to go round. That's one of my favorite yinerisms.
You get into like winter time and someone's like, I
got a cough and I got a cold. Yeah, it's
going around.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
The place. But okay, I didn't even know if like
going a Pittsburgh thing.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
I think it is.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
And when you said that, I'm like, I bet they
don't say that in like like New Mexico.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Like last winter of my kid's daycare got hit with
like a a bout of hand foot in mouth and
I remember the teacher like, we got handfot mouth going around.
Speaker 3 (37:20):
The flu.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Yeah, the flu's going around. It's that time of year. Uh,
schronic limited with an illness. Alex high Smith a participant,
but a limited participant with that ankle.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Okay, fine, you know they're working Russian back right top.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
He's full tomorrow. But you're absolutely right, no need to
rush him back. They're not going to, but at least
nice to see him out there in some capacity. And
then the very good news full practice participants Joey Porter
Junior and Jalen Warren.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Boom, great news. I think they're playing.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I would be very surprised if they both aren't. You
rightfully so pointed this out that like especially with Jalen Warren.
It felt like if that Dublin game was a wild
card game or a divisional round game in the playoffs,
they would be truly a game time decision. Like they
didn't even take Alex high Smith to Ireland.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
No, we knew that when.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
You know, but you know, Jalen Warren was a true
game time decision. I think Joey Porter Junior was as
well too.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
The Warren seems so close, very close.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I mean he was even there were a couple of
times I was watching him on the sideline because their
sideline was kind of right in front of us from
that nice vantage point that we had at Croke Park,
and there was a couple of times he was like
bouncing up and down and I mean looked chomping at
the bit, like okay, this guy there. Yeah, it wasn't
sitting on the bench like hobbling around or anything or
limping whatsoever. In fact, he loves to wear like that
(38:45):
jumbo towel that we've laughed about out of his backside.
He was wearing that towel on the sideline with like
the guy standing in the batter's box like evaluating every pitch.
So great news for ps Junior and for Jalen Warren.
Hopefully no setbacks. Hopefully there are full participants again tomorrow
(39:07):
and in green light full speed uh ahead?
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Yeah good, Yeah, And there's some I saw there's some
veteran rest days too that no one needs to really
worry about what and Cam just had their veteran day off. Yes, correct, correct, cool,
They're in good shape.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Absolutely right, absolutely right. Angry Bike Lane tweets us and says,
just so you guys know, the quarter pole in racing
means that there is a quarter left to go, not
a quarter into the race. All right, semantics, they're angry
Bike I believe so.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Yeah, Nascar, I don't think they. I do some f one.
I don't think I ever heard.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
That's something that I've been told I should get into.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
The Netflix series hooked me.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
But I've already, Matt, I've got enough.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
Vices consuming and like this time of year, I don't
even watch the race.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
And you know this, I'm like an I'm a big
English Premier League guy, so on Saturdays and Sundays in
the morning, if I have nothing to do, like I'm
flipping on the Manchester United in Chelsea game. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I don't need any more sports.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
And even at one, I mean they show you the poll,
the qualifying, the practice rounds, or like an hour on
Thursday before the race is due, and pretty cool. Actually,
I mean it's big money. Oh I would you like
the Netflix series? I would?
Speaker 2 (40:25):
And I'd love to go to like one of those
Monaco I mean.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
And I really money is insane.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
That's probably like someone from Ireland saying I'd like to
go to the super Bowl, right right, No, kids.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Football is kind of cool. I'd like the super Bowl. Yeah,
that's mony.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Yeah, you're right, Yeah, anybody would.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
Like to do that. And you're sitting next to Leo
DiCaprio right.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Right, paying seven grand for your ticket. Good stuff Today.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
They just said this on the show. The boats that
you see park there.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
It's got to be insane.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
It's seventeen thousand dollars a day to park your boat,
and the yachts are as big as it's building. I mean, right,
seventeen k a day. Stuff, right, Yeah, I don't think
I could afford that.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
It's a little too rich for my blood. Matt good
Stuff Today. Enjoyed the show. A big thank you to
Chris Adamski for joining us. In a big thank you
to our video producer Tyler V mister TV for making
us look nice on the YouTube. As always. That'll do
it for today, but we'll be back tomorrow time to
fully turn the page to the Browns. Yeah, we'll get
in a match, get into Matt's stats heavy. We will talk.
(41:30):
Got a game tomorrow night again.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Is it Eagles Giants Giants?
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Okay, another opportunity for the Eagles to assert their dominance.
Another look at Jackson Dart. We'll also catch up with
our guy Bob Labriola tomorrow on the program as well.
So plenty to look forward to. But that will do
it for today. Take care, everybody, We'll talk to you soon.
As always, you know where to find us. It's on
your twenty four to seven home of the Black and Gold.
It's Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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