HR2: Fantasy Focus, Power Rankings

The Drive talks a little fantasy football and NFL power rankings in hour

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Your two weeks about drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good evening, Steeler Nation. How we do it? Well, that's
good us too, our number two. Feeling better here, a.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Little better than yesterday, I hope everyone. Yeah, come on,
don't wallow in it.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
You got to you know, I mean, it's just Matt,
it's life.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I'm not gonna win every game.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
You're not gonna win every single game, although we would
certainly like to. Yeah, but yeah, it is uh, listen,
sometimes the National Football League, it is not for the
faint of heart. Okay, but we are still here, rocking
and rolling, ready.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
To get into digging in an hour two here, Yeah, ready.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
To get into some fantasy football conversation as we do.
Kind of our weekly waiver wire conversation here, mister Williamson.
A couple names that I want to run past you.
As always, I.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
Don't think the waiver wires real flush right this week.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
It's not.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, that's a little thing.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
It is. It is starting because again you're getting to
that time. The injuries are piling up by we you know,
bye week's all that different stuff. So let's look at
some of the the top players to add here on
waiver wires. Remember, to be eligible for this conversation, they
have to be owned in less than sixty percent of leagues.
Running Back Blake Koram of the Los Angeles Rams, mister Williamson.

Speaker 4 (01:42):
Yeah, this is a good time of year just to
own clear handcuffs, you know. And he's a clear handcuff
for the Rams. I mean, Kirrien Williams has had a
lot of wear and tearing his body. He's not the
biggest guy over the last couple of years. If he
were to go down, you already have korum and just
insert him as an every week starter. Yeah, you know,

(02:02):
and he's looked good. The thing, they're a great offense too,
They are great.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
Whoever whoever's involved in that offense is gonna put up some.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
Points for Yeah.

Speaker 4 (02:10):
Yeah, no, he should be, especially if you're a William's owner.

Speaker 3 (02:14):
But no matter what, he should be in every league.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
It looks like he's only rostered in eleven percent of
leagues right now. So yeah, I think that's a smart,
smart pick up there. Uh, sticking a running back, what
about Tajy Spears of the Titans? Just thirty six percent rostered, not.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
A good offense. But I would think, and they already
have kind of trend.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
Out produce Tony Pollard in three of their last four games.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
As just say, what's the use of seeing what you
have in Pollard? At his age?

Speaker 4 (02:40):
I thought Pollard was a trade deadline candidate. You already
know what he has. You at least should kind of
work the younger dude in there, and backs that get
touches are worth being picking up in fantasy no matter what.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
Totally.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Two more of those guys that I want to run
past you that are both owned in less than forty
percent of leagues, Amario de Mercado and Tyler Algier.

Speaker 4 (03:02):
Algiers the same conversation as Korum. I mean, he's one
big injury away from being everyone.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
But he's still even with being with like they still
use him. He's still gonna get a few touches.

Speaker 3 (03:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (03:13):
I think he's been getting the goal line work lately,
which Bijon owners are losing their minds.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Losing their minds about. And remember they used to crush
Arthur Smith for that years ago and now it's still happening.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
In the LANDA was good at it. He's a big
physical dude. He's hard to tackle in short yard of situations.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yes he is.

Speaker 4 (03:29):
And I think he's also a little bit better than
some of these other dudes, and that you could probably
use him as a flex in a pinch.

Speaker 3 (03:35):
You know, even with Bijeon.

Speaker 4 (03:36):
You know, he's not useless, Uh, Demarcado, I think Benson's
either coming back this week or next.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
I hope he's coming back this week.

Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah, I've been holding him sitting there, just eating up, clogging.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Up my roster and hamp and both just on my roster.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
So he doesn't excite me all that much, Deve Marcado.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Let's go to some quarterbacks here in this conversation. I'm
gonna throw some some possible names for you for quarterback
waiver wire pickups. Marcus Mariota, Joe Flacco, oh lord, especially
this week. JJ McCarthy, Yes, Flaco is my favorite.

Speaker 3 (04:15):
Marioda.

Speaker 4 (04:15):
The other guy's run, I mean that's obviously the massive negative.
That's the only reason he's out there. Because Flacco throws
the ball eight.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Ton fifty two percent rostered for him, so he's pretty close.
McCarthy's fifty six percent rostered.

Speaker 4 (04:27):
I mean, none of them. I'm doing jumping jacks over.
But if your guy got hurt, you know, I get it.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
What about to attag of Iola only owned in nineteen
percent of leagues? Was that a one off? And they
just do that whenever Buffalo comes to Miami or another.

Speaker 4 (04:40):
One that doesn't run at all. It's his te problem.
But all those guys are about the same. They're probably
if I were to do quarterback ranks, quarterback seventeen through
twenty give or take, you know, and she probably can
do better. But if you're hit with Bie Weeks or whatever,
they'll get you through.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
Here's one to run past you. Any sign of life
for Justin feet Old's forty six per man he was
a top ten quarterback on everybody's preseason rankings forty six
percent rostered. They are at New England this weekend.

Speaker 4 (05:10):
Yeah, but worries me about him? Well, first of all,
the passing is really bad and they only threw like
what eleven passes or something last week, which it's hard
to put up fantasy numbers when you don't do any
of that, right, But I keep worrying about him. Is
the worst thing in fantasy is when you start someone
and they get like hurt in the first quarter. Of course, absolutely,

(05:30):
he could get benched in any game.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
He could, you know, I certainly could.

Speaker 4 (05:34):
Like two is not getting benched, you know, I mean,
like FLACKA is not getting benched in the mid game.

Speaker 2 (05:38):
Marks Mariot is not getting based at this point. Right
wide receivers here, Matt Alex Pierce from the Colts still
pick Yeah.

Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, he's a really good player.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
That's a that's a pretty obvious one. I'm starting to
feel better and better about Tess Johnson as well too.
I feel like we've talked about him a couple of
times in this conversation. Thirty two percent of leagues for Yeah.

Speaker 3 (05:58):
The receivers on that team put up put up points.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
They do.

Speaker 4 (06:01):
I've made a little money on Pierce over receiving yards.
Two weeks in a row.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
He's HiT's like crazy low.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
He's hit the over in the like the first half
in both games.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
You know, I'm going to keep that in the back
pocket this weekend. Parker Washington, Troy Franklin.

Speaker 4 (06:17):
Yes on Washington, I think he's a borderline starter. He
had two touchdowns, one was a punt return. Hunter's not
back soon, but Meyer's role.

Speaker 3 (06:26):
Could grow a little bit.

Speaker 4 (06:27):
Thomas was injured, so that kind of helped them to
But they like Parker Washington.

Speaker 3 (06:31):
I think he should be in leagues. Who is the
other one?

Speaker 2 (06:34):
Parker Washington and Troy Franklin.

Speaker 3 (06:38):
Ye, so so so so fifty.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
Four of leagues he's rostered in Right now, finally Matt
tight ends Colson Lovelin's still available.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
In Yeah, jump on that one.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
He could be a big ad for somebody heading into
the postseason. Here.

Speaker 4 (06:53):
Their offense is putting up a lot of points too,
and the defense is bad. It's kind of a Bengals situation.

Speaker 2 (06:59):
It's a bet Bengal situation but very similar. Yes, uh,
Cole Comett is coming back to the lineup, but still
I think Colson Lovelin is.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
No. They're playing their young guys on purpose and gold
and something. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
What about Kate Aughten of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forty
two percent rostered.

Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:19):
For the last five games, he has four receptions, five receptions,
seven receptions and nine recept w went for nine in
eighty two last week.

Speaker 3 (07:27):
I think he's vastly underrated in the fantasy world. And
I was reading some stuff this morning about him Orman's
Yesterday or whatever it was. But he has really good numbers.

Speaker 4 (07:36):
When either Evans or Godwin is out and they've been
they're always out.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, Sos broke book that collar bone not coming back
anytime soon.

Speaker 4 (07:48):
I mean in the right now. He's kind of their
number two receiver. I mean a lot of those numbers
reflect before Abuca was a buck, going back to last
year totally, but basically the thought were was one of
the top two two receivers is out, he becomes that guy.
And that's what happens, right, and their receivers are banged up.
If Godwins and Evans are both out, he's gonna get

(08:08):
a lot of passes, all.

Speaker 2 (08:09):
Right, A couple couple quick hitters on defense and kickers
before we get out of here.

Speaker 4 (08:13):
I don't even know what they'll used to make fun
of me. I mean I don't know who hardly any
team's kickers and punters are.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Punters, right with you? I can maybe name I can
maybe name like five or six around the league kickers,
though I think much kickers.

Speaker 4 (08:29):
I'm decent, but you might be like Santos, I'll be like,
who's he kicked for you?

Speaker 2 (08:33):
A cairo U kickers available and sorry that are not
that are less than sixty percent, spin it out Uler
less than sixty percent, Rostered Cam Little, Brandon McManus, Evan McPherson.

Speaker 4 (08:51):
I don't I don't think there's really any art to
picking a good kicker.

Speaker 2 (08:54):
And look and see who you think is playing against
the worst defense and is going to have the option
to kick the most that week.

Speaker 4 (08:59):
I mean to Justin Tucker in his prime, you want
the Dallas dude, You know what I mean. But I
don't put much stock into I can't comment on kicker
twelve verse kicker eight.

Speaker 3 (09:09):
Yeah, you know.

Speaker 2 (09:10):
Defenses, Packers, Patriots, Ravens, the most popular waiver. They're all
owned in about fifty four fifty seven.

Speaker 4 (09:18):
I definitely think they're the Ravens are I think are
trending the right way, which is bad.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
News, starting to get taken and sacks again.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
Hamilton's being really weaponized in a variety of ways.

Speaker 4 (09:29):
A lot of those I just look at their upcoming opponents.
But I'm sure the Patriots have an easy slate. I
know they're the Jets this week.

Speaker 2 (09:35):
They do.

Speaker 4 (09:36):
And all three of those defenses are legit good defenses.
I mean, we saw Green Bay last night. Both those
defenses were impressive last night.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
They were they were. We'll talk about that in our
final segment before we get out of here. But Alosa
the under hit very easily last night. Yeah at lambeau Field. Yeah,
I think that about covers the uh what are we
fantas Fantasy football waiver wire here? For week eleven. We're
getting closer and closer, like I said, to playoff time.

(10:05):
And there's some thoughts on some potential reinforcements that you
might need. Yes, we hit a stretch of bye weeks
and injuries and all that good stuff. We return on
the other side, it's time to take a look at
these power rankings. I'm very excited to see how these
are going to play out this week, especially in the NFC.

Speaker 4 (10:22):
Man, how do you kind of my other show, I
Power ranked the top of the NFC today just based
off the game last night.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
Maybe we'll do that too.

Speaker 4 (10:31):
Yeah, who's the best team in the NFC. And we
kind of came up with four candidates, give or take.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
You know, Seattle, Detroit, Philly, Rams, Rams.

Speaker 3 (10:42):
Those guys.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
That's tier one, we might put the Packers and Box.

Speaker 4 (10:46):
And Packers were Tier two for me by by themselves.
And then you get into like Niners and sure you
know that that neighborhood that I don't really see his contenders, but.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
No one of them will go to the playoffs, just
wild card contenders.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
Bears are interesting, they are getting hot.

Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, we'll do a little bit of that. When we
were turned on the other side, take a look at
some week eleven power rankings. As we roll along, it's
the drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (11:15):
You were tuns about drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
To the power rankings, we go a Tuesday tradition unlike
any other. And of course if you've been rocking and
rolling with us throughout the season, you know we start
at number thirty two. We start on the back end.
You know, my last name Euler starts with the U.
Max last name Williamson with a W. We were typically
buried at the back of the alphabetical lists when we
were an element, Like I remember having to wait last

(11:50):
for like the water fountain line, the lunch line, and
then you get the cool substitute teacher that would come
in every once in a while and be like, you
know what, we're gonna flip it around today, We're gonna
go the back half of the alphabet first.

Speaker 4 (12:01):
And you'd be like, yeah, I think I told you
this story though, But I used to complain about that
when I was six seven or whatever, and my mom's like, I.

Speaker 3 (12:09):
Was zubrovis I want to hear it.

Speaker 2 (12:14):
I was.

Speaker 3 (12:15):
I was last twenty six.

Speaker 2 (12:18):
Can't get any lower than that, Matt number thirty two.
I don't think there's any surprise here, but it is
the Tennessee Titans.

Speaker 3 (12:24):
Yeah, I think that's pretty clear at this point to.

Speaker 2 (12:28):
Talk about team that's playing young guys. I mean, they've
turned to all their rookies, just trying to find anything
to kind of hang their hat on for next year.
But it's going to be a so we were crawl
to the end for Tennessee.

Speaker 4 (12:38):
It's relevant now. But with the Browns losing to the Jets.
You know how ESPN does, like their predictions and stuff.
They went from like a nine percent chance of having
the first pick in the draft like a twenty six percent.

Speaker 3 (12:51):
Chance the Jets did for the Browns by losing.

Speaker 2 (12:54):
Okay, yeah, that would make sense Jets one.

Speaker 4 (12:59):
Okay, yeah, but I bet Tennessee's got to be right there.
They only have one win, and I doubt they're favored again.

Speaker 2 (13:06):
Oh and like they've got a pretty solid division. I
don't know, I don't know what the schedule, but like,
if they still have to play Jacksonville and Indy and
Houston one more time.

Speaker 3 (13:13):
What are they going to be two and fifteen?

Speaker 4 (13:15):
Yeah, I mean right now, I mean I bet they're
they were one more game, two more games at most.

Speaker 3 (13:20):
Maybe.

Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yeah, it's gonna be an interesting one, it is. I
would like Tennessee to get the top pick because they're
not going to take a quarterback.

Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, yeah, but they're open for business.

Speaker 2 (13:29):
Right and then again, if the Jets in the h
and the Browns are right behind them, those certainly are
two teams that will be in that market. The New
Orleans Saints checking in at thirty one, I'm a little
surprised that's too they won. I think Tyler Shuck is
showing some good things.

Speaker 3 (13:43):
Yeah, there's at least a conversation that they won't be
in the quarterback market. Yes, you know, we'll see, you know.

Speaker 2 (13:49):
But I think I would I would pick them over
the Titans, the Browns, the Jets right now, the Raiders
right now, Yeah, the Giants right now. Yeah, yeah, but
they check in here on an dot COM's number thirty one.

Speaker 3 (14:03):
I think that's harsh.

Speaker 2 (14:04):
I do too. Yeah, and they traded away two starters
and Shaheed and Penning and went out and won a game.
I would have them a few spots higher, but I'm
also not going to complain about being ranked thirty first
versus twenty eighth. Right right right, Cleveland Browns check in
at number thirty after falling to the Jets just one
hundred and sixty nine total yards, didn't turn the ball over,

(14:26):
still lost, allowed two touchdown returns on special teams. It's
you know, yeah, it's more of more of kind of
just the slog of the bottom of the order here.

Speaker 3 (14:36):
But they have a defense, they do.

Speaker 4 (14:37):
I mean, when you're talking about the garbage teams, at
least they have something to hang their hat on.

Speaker 2 (14:41):
I think the Saints have some talents and playmaking talent
on offense. The Browns have a defense. Yeah, maybe more
to say than about some of the teams at the
bottom of this list. But the Jets just beat the Browns,
so I don't think you can as much as I
think Cleveland is a better team than the Jets, right now.

Speaker 4 (14:56):
I would have the Browns still ahead of the Jets,
but I know then you read the comment, you see
the game.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
It would be a difference if that game happened five weeks
ago or something like that. But with it just happening
on Sunday, I get it. But the Jets just checking
one spot ahead of Cleveland at twenty nine, so not
much not much better.

Speaker 3 (15:11):
They have no passing game, that sold off some of
their best dudes. I think they're pretty miserable.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
Bree Hall and a cast of yeah, not so great,
although they do have I think some building blocks on
that offensive line. That's yes, that's one thing that I
would be hopefully they built that nest a little bit. Yeah,
for their next quarterback. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (15:30):
I think that's why they weren't shopping Garrett Wilson. You know,
we need somebody for the next guy.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
You try and keep Breese Hall if you were them
going forward, wouldn't you. I guess you're gonna have the
cap space, definitely, Cab want you want a solid running
back for your next quarterback. He's probably not gonna want
anything to do with staying there.

Speaker 3 (15:47):
No, he wanted traded.

Speaker 4 (15:49):
I think they're going to I guess I would some
beat reporters that I saw. I think that they'll franchise them. Cool,
which I mean, I guess he's that that's one more
year safety blanket for your rookie quarterback. Presumably fine, he's
a good player.

Speaker 2 (16:05):
Oh, he definitely is. Number twenty eighth. The Las Vegas
Raiders who continue to just lose in painful, excruciating fashion.

Speaker 4 (16:15):
Yeah, I would probably have them a couple spots lower
than that. But it's been a little better with a
healthy Bowers is a big part of it.

Speaker 3 (16:24):
I think that is. And Genti's looking more and more serviceable,
you know, but I mean I'm reaching here.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Banged up on the offensive line, yeah, not Joe Smith
has been playing poorly, yes, Chip Kelly just not able
to kind of find any solutions in that regard. They've
been one of the more disappointing stories of the NFL
in a big way. Yeah. I didn't think that they'd
make the playoffs or anything, but I thought to be
hoped they'd win seven or eight games to at least
play some meaningful for.

Speaker 3 (16:50):
This is go in the right direction at least.

Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, then it has been quite the opposite. Giants check
in at number twenty seven, Matt fired their head coach,
Brian Dable Jackson Dart exiting with a concussion. After a
little after a few weeks of some glimmer of hope
there for the Giants, it's been all downhill since man
and I.

Speaker 4 (17:09):
Thought Dart was playing well in the game he got hurt.
I think he's I've been hard on Dart, but he's
getting better, I mean with with quarterback stuff, progression, reading,
et cetera.

Speaker 3 (17:18):
But he does take a beating.

Speaker 4 (17:20):
It sounds like Joe Shane will return is to help
hire the next guy, which I kind of I don't
know if Shane's a great GM, but I think that's
smart in that I don't want a new coach, a
new GM with a second year quarterback. I at least
want to have some stability for Dart. Yes, and I
would have them above everybody we've mentioned. I think so, yeah, yeah,

(17:42):
I think so. That's not a bad job for the
next coach. Neighbors Andrew Thomas, one of the best left
tackles in the league.

Speaker 2 (17:48):
Young pieces on that defensive line.

Speaker 4 (17:50):
Line, you know, right, so at least you have stuff
in place. You presumably have a quarterback, you.

Speaker 2 (17:55):
Know, They've lost four straight and don't look now, but
their next game are against the Packers, the Lions, and
the Patriots.

Speaker 4 (18:02):
I knew go into season they what was projected to
be the hardest schedule of the league.

Speaker 2 (18:07):
They could be another one of those let's get them
up there high and uh, because they're not going to
draft the quarterback, I don't think.

Speaker 3 (18:12):
And yeah, I don't see many more wins on their skin.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
Other potential team that might be open for business twenty six.
It's going to be a long half of the back
half of the season for these guys. Back to back
blowout losses. No, Jaden Daniels, it's the Washington Commanders. Fifth
straight loss. Four of those matt have been by twenty
points or more.

Speaker 4 (18:32):
Oh, this is the that's all terrible, don't get me wrong,
but this is the first team I would put in
a tier above those other ones.

Speaker 2 (18:37):
Though, I think in general, but I don't know about
right now.

Speaker 3 (18:41):
So badly right. Yeah, they're a mess right now and
they probably won't get back.

Speaker 2 (18:45):
They were playing the Saints right now. The Saints might
be favored by a point and a half.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
Yeah, the Saints don't belong at thirty one.

Speaker 2 (18:50):
No, they don't. That's you're right, that's a little bit
of an outlier there, number twenty five and heading to
Pittsburgh this weekend. It's the three and six Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
That might be a little harsh too. I mean, the
offense is still pretty good.

Speaker 2 (19:03):
I think the offense is above average.

Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah, I do too. I don't think it's great.

Speaker 2 (19:06):
But the defense is it is the worst, dreadful. Yeah,
it's the worst, maybe the worst in the National Football League.
Up the number twenty four, Up a few spots after
an impressive one of the more surprising results of this
season beat down of the Buffalo Bills. It's the Miami Dolphins.

Speaker 3 (19:19):
That's right. They should be moving out right.

Speaker 2 (19:21):
They're better than all those teams.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
I mean, wadle on the chan and two. I mean
there's legit, dudes.

Speaker 2 (19:26):
You know, did you see what Mike McDaniel did after
the win on Sunday? I thought this was pretty funny.

Speaker 3 (19:30):
Nothing comes to mind.

Speaker 2 (19:31):
So there's a notorious spot in a Miami near the stadiums.
It's called elbow Room. Okay, it's like a sports bar,
legendary watering hole in that area, Like when the Florida
Panthers have won the Stanley Cup. The last two years
they've taken it to Elbow Room to celebrate at Gotcha.
It's like a two story right on the beach, you know,

(19:55):
a ton of outdoors. Yes, Buffalo Bills fans are in
a to us for taking it over every time they
go to Miami. Okay, that's like where Bill's fans congregate
and they always post video and it's like a sea
of red and blue at this Miami sports bart place.
Mike McDaniel drove past there after the win on Sunday

(20:15):
and kind of put his window down and waved all
the Bills fans just drove right by.

Speaker 3 (20:20):
Good He's a dude, but he does some funny stuff.

Speaker 2 (20:22):
Good Troll moved by him. I enjoy. He like put
his window down and was like, thanks for coming, thanks
for stimulating the local economy. Checking in at number twenty
three is the Dallas Cowboys.

Speaker 4 (20:35):
Made a few moves. I mean, what's Quinn Williams do
for you? I mean, well, guess we'll see that soon.
I mean, you gotta think the defense gets a little boost.
You know, the offense is strong.

Speaker 2 (20:45):
They still though, have the Eagles, the Chiefs and the Chargers.

Speaker 4 (20:49):
Puff I don't think the playoffs are attainable for them.

Speaker 2 (20:52):
I don't either. It's it's a classic. It's a classic
case of like if they would have just gotten one
of these close games. Ye kind of like we talked
about the Bengals. If just one of these results went
the other way and you were four to four and
one instead of three to five in one, it's a
different story, you know. If you're the Bengals and you're
four and five, it's a different game.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
Behind the steiler, it's a different story.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
I think they just they might be a dollar short
when I think they're dollars short when it when it
gets down to the the nitty gritty. Twenty two, I
don't understand how they're so high. The Arizona Cardinals, they're one.

Speaker 3 (21:25):
I think they'd be down.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
One and six in their last seven games.

Speaker 4 (21:29):
I know they've won heartbreakers in close games, but they
don't win.

Speaker 3 (21:32):
They've lost.

Speaker 2 (21:33):
I take the Cowboys over and realized the beat the
Cowboys a couple of weeks ago, but I take the Cowboys.
I'd take the Dolphins over them. I take the Bengals
over them.

Speaker 3 (21:39):
Yeah, all three themes we just mentioned for sure.

Speaker 2 (21:41):
They're another one that's going to be in the quarterback market,
and I think probably in the head coach market as
well too.

Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, I could see changes.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
Twenty one the Atlanta Falcons from three and two to
three and six, four straight losses.

Speaker 3 (21:54):
I don't think I'd have many higher than that.

Speaker 2 (21:56):
Struggling with consistency. They played the Colts. They played the
Colts well, but they did That's the NFL, man, I
don't care about losing close games. Like every game in
the NFL, for the most part, is designed to be
a one score game. That's what separates the good and
the bad. And I don't think they belong at the
bottom of this list. I think this is probably about.

Speaker 3 (22:13):
Yeah right, they're They're a little bit all over the place.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
To them is kind of making any noise down the show.

Speaker 3 (22:20):
Yeah, me too, me too.

Speaker 2 (22:22):
Number twenty the Minnesota Vikings, a tough loss, eight false
start penalties at home and that loss to the Ravens
two interceptions.

Speaker 3 (22:32):
But I mean in gaming, that's got to be on McCarthy.

Speaker 2 (22:34):
Game has to be a game you lost by one possession,
two interceptions, eight false starts, two fumbles on on back
to back kickoffs, Like they just they shoot themselves in
the foot a lot.

Speaker 4 (22:48):
Yeah, I mean that game in particular, the Ravens didn't
have to do a lot to win it.

Speaker 2 (22:51):
No, they didn't.

Speaker 4 (22:53):
That's about where i'd have the vikings, though, I.

Speaker 2 (22:54):
Think so I might have them ahead of this team,
Carolina Panthers checking at nineteen.

Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, kind of out on Bryce Young and the Panthers.

Speaker 2 (23:03):
I mean, I know they're five and five, so I
know they're still in a wild rise chase.

Speaker 4 (23:07):
But they run the ball and there's some improvement. But
I don't think that they're good or even average.

Speaker 2 (23:13):
I don't either. They're only a game and a half
out of a playoff spot right now, but I would
think that that trends in the opposite direction.

Speaker 3 (23:19):
I don't like their future.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
Maybe the most brutal loss of anybody this past week,
the Jacksonville Jaguars. I mean, that's just they were up
twenty nine to ten on the CJ. Stroudless Houston Texans.

Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah, according to a miserable loss.

Speaker 2 (23:34):
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Matt, they had a
ninety seven percent chance to win at that point. Oh,
I mean, that's like down in Morgantown in the final
minutes of the Backyard bra how could you lose that one?
Those guys are flying real high rightfully, so had to
sneak that one in there.

Speaker 4 (23:49):
So I just got a notification my phone. Honestly, like
a minute ago. Travis Hunter season ending the surgery. Oh,
I mean, there was some hope that he'd be back sooner.

Speaker 3 (23:59):
Than later, and I adore him. You did prospect and
that's as much as you gave up for him.

Speaker 2 (24:04):
That's a tough one, brutal. I mean, yeah, did Jacobe
Meyer to the mix, but yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:08):
And they probably knew that was coming.

Speaker 2 (24:10):
Robinson's been banged up, trafas Hunter's been banged up. It's tough.
It's tough. They're still five and four, still got plenty
to play for, but.

Speaker 3 (24:17):
They're a huge loss for them.

Speaker 2 (24:19):
Again, the difference between six and three and five and
four for them is a world of difference.

Speaker 4 (24:23):
Could they get it back together and be one of
the final seven teams in the AFC? I guess, but
I'm definitely betting the answers no to that. Like they
weren't happy to see the Chargers win.

Speaker 2 (24:33):
Like right now, if I told you a Christmas weekend
or the Jaguars playing an important game or not, I
might lean Torns, not definitely. Not. Where's a week ago
I would have said for sure, Yeah, I said, I'm
not saying they'll definitely make it, but they'll be playing
important games down the stretch.

Speaker 3 (24:47):
Now will be and they won't be.

Speaker 2 (24:49):
Might have done a flip might have seen a flip
flop there. Speaking of Houston, they are a spot above
the Jags at seventeen four and five hangar defense. Yeah,
two games out of that final, a wild card bid
hanging around. They've got Tennessee this weekend. Should should get
back to five hundred and then hey, you know, if
they start rattling off a couple wins, they're going to

(25:10):
be right in the mix down the stretch.

Speaker 4 (25:12):
Yeah, I think the divisions of colts, I mean of tours,
but totally they could be that seventh seed that gets hot.

Speaker 2 (25:19):
At number sixteen, a team the Steelers are going to
see here in just a couple of weeks. It's the
six and three Chicago Bears.

Speaker 3 (25:25):
They're rolling. I'm still not completely sold that they're good good.
I mean, the defense is bad, and they're better. They're better.

Speaker 2 (25:33):
They're not a doormat pushover, not even close. They might
be a little head of a schedule at six and three,
they might be more like a five and four, four
and five type team in reality, but good for them.
They found a way to pull out some some tight
games in the fourth quarter, and I think there's always
something to be said for that.

Speaker 4 (25:47):
So a podcast I listened to from time to time
is The Athletic with Robert Mays, and he does a
great job and it's a it's a good podcast. But
he's a very outspoken Bears fan. I mean he's been
a Bears fan since he could crawl, and you know,
still doesn't hide his fandom or anything like that.

Speaker 3 (26:03):
He had a good point.

Speaker 4 (26:04):
He said something along the lines of, I think he's
a little younger than maybe he's older than you base.
He's like in my lifetime, this is about the peak
of my Bear fandom. Like I'm pretty psyched the back Yeah,
twenty years ago, right right, I'm not sure if he's
old enough to do. I mean that was more than
twenty I mean you were talking about eighty five Bears.

Speaker 2 (26:23):
No, I'm talking about the Rex Grossman lost to Peyton Manning.

Speaker 4 (26:26):
But like that was he's like, we have a quarterback.
We got young guys, you know, the build round looks
like a no line. Yeah, maybe we're an off season
of building a defense from really taking the next step.

Speaker 2 (26:37):
I really like right on their offensive line.

Speaker 3 (26:39):
He's a really good player.

Speaker 2 (26:40):
He's outstanding. Yeah, I'll never forgive Dana Holgerson for not
recruiting him the WVU as a West Virginia kid.

Speaker 3 (26:45):
He's a w He's West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (26:47):
He sure is in our head coach at the time,
Dana Holgerson had no desire to recruit him, and then
he ended up as a top ten pick in the draft. Yes,
ain't that WVU In a nutshell.

Speaker 3 (26:56):
They're usually like Penny Sool.

Speaker 2 (26:59):
He's great, he's a lot of fun to watch, and
he's a really good kid. I've got some very loose
My family knows some members of his family, My West
Virginia family knows some members of He's.

Speaker 3 (27:08):
Come on really strong with the kids that I've rooted.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
For for a long time. I think he's a good kid,
and I think he's a really good player. Yeah, number fifteen,
don't look now, but here they come. It's the Baltimore Ravens.

Speaker 3 (27:17):
I probably haven't higher, would you. I mean, if they're
playing the Steelers in Wichita right now.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
I think he might be right.

Speaker 3 (27:25):
Yeah, I think they'd be favored against a lot of
teams right now.

Speaker 2 (27:29):
Train don't run out of wichital playing trains and automobiles.
Number fourteen just in front of them is the Steelers.
I mean, winning Steelers have a better record, but if
you're going on current form.

Speaker 3 (27:41):
I think the Ravens are favored here.

Speaker 2 (27:44):
Not by much, but probably ero point and a half.

Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yeah, yeah, and definitely in their building.

Speaker 2 (27:51):
Happened quick. Huh, life comes at you fast. In the
National Football League, San Francisco forty nine ers at six
and four, still with their head above.

Speaker 4 (27:57):
Water, heads above water, but they've been treading water for
a long time, water for a while.

Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (28:04):
Man, that division is so good, that's the thing. And
as we were kind of just putting it like it's
like all of a sudden, you're looking around on the
Titanic and there's only one chair left for a playoff
spot in the NFC, and.

Speaker 3 (28:15):
I bet they don't get it.

Speaker 2 (28:16):
And I bet they don't get it either. Yeah I would.
I think I'd go with some of these other teams.

Speaker 4 (28:21):
I haven't had Steelers, though I did Baltimore over the Niners.
The Ravens are playing Niners right now. I would pick
the Ravens.

Speaker 2 (28:29):
Number twelve, drop in a few spots lowis. They've been
in a few weeks still five three and one, but
it hasn't looked good since they came in here to
Pittsburgh and one on Sunday night football in the Green
Bay Packers.

Speaker 4 (28:39):
Yeah, I mean that was a defensive I thought last
night was more about great defense than terrible offense. But
without Craft, it's hurting them noticeably. Golden was hurt for
that game. Didn't play some receiver stuff, not been where
you want it to. Considering how deep that room looked. Again,

(29:00):
I think they are a Tier two NFC team. They
could get back into Tier one, but they're not quite
where you thought they were.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
Going to be.

Speaker 2 (29:06):
You know, them and Bucks similar in that regard. Yeah, yeah,
still good teams, still dangerous teams, but it's not quite
looking like the bonafide contender that maybe they did a
few weeks ago.

Speaker 3 (29:15):
Yeah. I only know who i'd pick out of those two.

Speaker 2 (29:17):
Number eleven oh Packers, but I don't feel super confident.

Speaker 3 (29:22):
In saying it. I think would too.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
Number eleven Matt up three spots highest they've been since
starting the season three and zero. It's the l A Chargers.

Speaker 4 (29:32):
It was a great win, but something I wanted to
kind of mention the Tuesday rewind but I think we
talked about Monday, so I didn't.

Speaker 3 (29:39):
I mean, poor Herbert. I mean he got hit a ton,
Yes he did, and the ball came.

Speaker 4 (29:44):
I mean so many of their passes were immediate screens,
you know, just I think he threw like thirty percent
of his passes behind the line of scrimmage in that game,
because that's all he could do. I mean it was
either like Maconkey against slot corner or boom, just get
it out like one of those now screens.

Speaker 3 (30:01):
Yes, yes, and that's gonna be a tough way to live.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
It's a very tough way to live. Number ten the
Tampa Bay Bucket. The aforementioned Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fun one
with UH with New England, but they end up on
the losing end. They dropped just two spots. Nothing crazy,
down ten.

Speaker 3 (30:16):
I probably both Green Bay and Tampa over the Chargers.

Speaker 2 (30:20):
Agreed. Yeah, agreed slightly, but agreed. Yeah, yeah, down five spots,
biggest drop of the week. Still in the top ten,
but a lot of questions the Buffalo Bills.

Speaker 3 (30:31):
Yeah, defense is still a real problem.

Speaker 2 (30:35):
And the offense isn't as high flying as it was
early in the season.

Speaker 3 (30:37):
No, No, I think they're a receiver away. Still. We've
been saying that for a while.

Speaker 2 (30:42):
They've been knocking on the door for so long. If
it takes a step back this year, they prime for
a shake up, new coaching staff.

Speaker 3 (30:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (30:49):
Maybe, I mean, they've had been so successful, but man,
it would be a shame.

Speaker 3 (30:55):
Like if Allen never gets to a.

Speaker 2 (30:56):
Super Bowl, it would be terrible, terrible.

Speaker 3 (30:59):
It would be terrible. And I give him fifty to
fifty chance now the rest of his career. Maybe, I mean,
I mean it's hard to get there, dude, ma home
goes every year.

Speaker 2 (31:08):
It absolutely is. Yeah, And you know, like Joe Burrow
is still trying to get back to another one. Yeah,
Lamar has never been to one.

Speaker 3 (31:14):
Someday we're gonna play a game. C J.

Speaker 2 (31:16):
Strau gonna get to one.

Speaker 4 (31:17):
We're gonna play that game. We're gonna go through every
quarterback in the league. Ever, we're gonna say yes or no.
Will this guy ever go to a Super Bowl or
ever win a Super Bowl? You know, the answer is
almost always know or even get to one right, Like Lamar,
you'd be like, oh yeah, Josh allensn't yet.

Speaker 2 (31:33):
If you look a story, he's been one of the
greatest playoff performers in NFL history.

Speaker 3 (31:37):
Work at his numbers right, right, and I give him
like a fifty percent.

Speaker 2 (31:41):
He's even like been what one AFC Championship game, I think,
and that's it.

Speaker 3 (31:43):
Think you're right, yeah, fool.

Speaker 2 (31:47):
I think you might have to if you're Buffalo.

Speaker 4 (31:49):
But we go through all the quarterbacks and be like,
is he gonna ever win a Super Bowl? Those people
think yes, Like when you draft the guy first overall,
oh yeah, he'll.

Speaker 3 (31:56):
Probably win a Super Bowl. I probably won't. Probably won't,
probably won't.

Speaker 2 (32:03):
Number eight, Matt. They're eight and two. Their defense is legit,
but I think there's some stuff on offense. It's gonna
catch up with them. It's the Denver Broncos.

Speaker 3 (32:10):
Yeah, I'd still the Bills ahead of the Broncos.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
I just I hate when people use the term these
guys are frauds because they're eight and two. Maybe, but
I think they're I don't think they're quite as good
as their record says.

Speaker 4 (32:24):
I tend to agree, you know, like I think the
Bills could win the Super Bowl. I don't think the
Broncos could win the Super Bowl. Agreed, Yeah, a lot
of it because the quarterback differential.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
Yeah, I completely agree, And if the Broncos defense gets
certained back and levels up, but I don't think they
can run the ball successfully enough even if their defense
is great. Number seven. The Kansas City Chiefs off the
bye week quiet at the trade deadline, only five and four,
but still getting that benefit of the doubt.

Speaker 4 (32:55):
I got no problems with that. I'm sure Bills fans
are like, didn't we just beat them?

Speaker 2 (32:58):
You might have them a spot or two, but maybe
I'd still have them in the top ten.

Speaker 3 (33:02):
Yeah, without a doubt. It'd be in that neighborhood.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
Number six. I told you the Bills were the fallst
the biggest dropper, the largest faller this week, the biggest
rise of the New England Patriots. They're up five spots
into the top ten. Number six at eight and two.

Speaker 4 (33:19):
Yeah, I mean I get to eat a little crow
in that. I thought Tampa was going to slap them
back down, and.

Speaker 2 (33:24):
They both did on that.

Speaker 3 (33:27):
But I don't think I can have them over the
Chiefs and Bills or Denver.

Speaker 2 (33:34):
Agreed, But I also believe for the purposes of these
power rankings, you have to go off of house.

Speaker 3 (33:38):
Respect what they're doing. Right.

Speaker 2 (33:41):
There's like they're to me, Matt, there's some like BYU
and Vanderbilt parallels here. I don't think BYU and Vanderbilt
are as good as their records say, but they're both
like nine and one, eight and two and ranked in
the top twelve. They ked, you know, I think like
nine and vander builds like twelve, or Vandy's like nine

(34:02):
and by Us like twelve or something like that. I
don't think either of those teams are that good.

Speaker 3 (34:06):
Right, Neither one's going to Columbus and beating Ohio State.

Speaker 2 (34:10):
No chance, and one of them my back door into
the playoff and get their doors completely blown off in
the first round.

Speaker 3 (34:16):
You know, type you have to rank them off.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
The resume and the way that they're the way that
they're winning games.

Speaker 3 (34:21):
Yeah, And frankly, power ranks are a lot like College ranked.

Speaker 2 (34:25):
Totally number five and impressive doing what they do against
bad teams.

Speaker 3 (34:30):
He's all going to be NFC teams.

Speaker 2 (34:34):
The cults are in their stuff.

Speaker 4 (34:35):
Oh okay, I know there's four NFC teams. I'm trying
to go with the Colts.

Speaker 2 (34:39):
Okay Lions up to number five after again doing what
they do. They they see blood in the water, and
they feast against bad teams, and they went in there
and rolled the Commanders.

Speaker 4 (34:49):
So I mentioned that we had a conversation after yesterday's
game about how would you rank the NFC, And I
think these four teams, Detroit and the other three will
talk about out are the Tier one teams Tampa and
green Bay, the Bay of Pigs or the yeah, the
tiers Team two or the Tier two?

Speaker 3 (35:08):
But I went.

Speaker 2 (35:10):
Green Bay, Tampa, Bay Bay Square.

Speaker 4 (35:13):
I went Rams, Seattle, they watch Philly, they watch then Detroit.

Speaker 2 (35:20):
Rams best Seattle two, Philly, then Detroit.

Speaker 3 (35:25):
And that was who's the best? Right now?

Speaker 2 (35:27):
I agree with the Rams in Seattle, but I also said,
swat Detroit and Philly. But I don't, I don't, I
don't hate your order.

Speaker 3 (35:36):
Yeah. And I also said, though if I had the best.

Speaker 2 (35:39):
Rams have the best quarterback play of those four, which
I think puts them at the top for me.

Speaker 4 (35:43):
I think they're the best offense in the conference and
Seattle's the best defense. But the Rams aren't far off
I also think they're the best coach and but what
I did say is on eleven eleven, November eleventh, I
think the Rams the best team in the NFC.

Speaker 3 (35:59):
But on November eleventh, if I.

Speaker 4 (36:01):
Had to pick who I think will be in the
Super Bowl, I would take the Eagles fair and they're
gonna win their division, They're gonna host the game, if
not more. They've been there, done it, and I think
they're trending very much in the.

Speaker 2 (36:15):
It's fair up. I don't have much to ahead of that.

Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think that's well said.

Speaker 2 (36:20):
Number three eight or sorry, number four is the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pardon me, I didn't want to. I didn't want to
leap frog them there at seven and two. They check
in at number four. Gritty, ugly, but gritty win last
night at a tough place to win.

Speaker 3 (36:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
Yeah, did you see the sign that they installed in
the Uh? This was pretty cool I saw and maybe
it's been there before, I don't know, but it's the
first time I've ever seen it. One of my Eagles
buddies from back in my Philly days that I follow
on Twitter tweeted out a picture of it and the
like tunnel in the hallway from the Packers locker room
down to the field. They have this big sign on
the wall that says something along the lines of today

(36:57):
is somebody's bucket list. Like the sign, the sign basically
says like, like amongst our fans, like this is a
bucket list for somebody to be watching a game here
at lambeau Field. Go out there and play like it.

Speaker 3 (37:10):
Yeah, like I play like a champion.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
Yeah, Like there's fans out here who this is their
bucket list to be at this game right now, Go
out there, go out there and that. Don't let them that. Like,
I forget the exact wording of the sign, but I
thought that was pretty cool. Number three the Indianapolis Colts.

Speaker 4 (37:27):
Out of all four the NFC teams ahead of them. Yeah,
and I'd like the Colts.

Speaker 3 (37:30):
I think they're good. I mean, don't get me wrong,
And I think he might be right much.

Speaker 4 (37:36):
I can't sure I could put Daniel Jones at the
same level as those guys.

Speaker 2 (37:39):
Forrest Buckner hitting IRS not great?

Speaker 3 (37:41):
Oh you went to IR. Yeah, and then I definitely would.

Speaker 2 (37:44):
Don't like that they have the Rams at two and
the Seahawks at one. I think you and I might
flip flop that. But I also don't have a ton
of beef with that.

Speaker 3 (37:51):
No, I don't like. Offense is bad.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
Correct, correct, And in fact, Dartle didn't play that well
and they still rolled, which is he didn't have to
do Yeah, those two two rough fumbles. But I I
think I think there's a clear we're starting to get
to a clear line of play.

Speaker 3 (38:11):
This week or next they might play this week.

Speaker 2 (38:13):
We play soon. Yeah, yeah, they do, and that's gonna
be a couple gonna be a lot of fun. They
do play this week in Seattle four o'clock game, that'll
be good. We can uh, we can get to that
after Steelers Bengals. Absolutely, they gotta tell I tell you what.
The Rams go Seattle and then the Bucks, both at home,

(38:33):
but back to back. That's that's two tough games there. Yeah,
they win both of those are definitely gonna be number
one on the power rankings for sure. One more segment
to go, Matt, maybe a tweet two. We've also got
some breaking news out of Cincinnati that I want to
get to with the side. Yeah, we'll do that when
we return. Put a bow on this thing. It's the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network,

(38:59):
You are too.

Speaker 1 (39:00):
Drive on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
Down the home Stretch here final segment of the Drive
on a Tuesday in Matt I mentioned some breaking news
out of Cincinnati. I kind of teased it up a
little bit. But Zach Taylor just had his weekly press conference.
He says Trey Hendrickson is listed as doubtful for Sunday's
contest against the Steelers. Okay, I'll tell you what if
you go both games against the Bengals without having to

(39:40):
see Trey Hendrickson, Now, yeah, it goes a long way.
It goes a long way.

Speaker 4 (39:44):
I don't know how motivated he is to get out there,
to be very honest with you, so.

Speaker 2 (39:48):
I wouldn't be.

Speaker 4 (39:50):
I think it's fact, but sometimes you know, like I
think Schefter put it out, which means this chance star
is true. But something one of those guys post of
this that nobody offered the Bengals a second round pick
for Hendrickson, and I don't think anyone offered a third with.

Speaker 2 (40:07):
His contract situation. I kind of get it it'd be
one to go and knew he was going to be
locked up for the next couple of.

Speaker 4 (40:12):
Years, right, I mean, I think the Bengals plan on franchising,
which you'll hate, hate, I mean absolutely will hate rightfully.
So yeah, but it made me also think, like it's
easy to blame the Bengals in these contract negotiations, but
maybe he's overvaluing himself. You know, like, if you're the Lions,
I want to trade for him. He probably wanted to
extend him. If you're going to give up yes, second
or something.

Speaker 2 (40:33):
Absolutely, it'd be one thing if you're a contender and
you could have gotten him for a fifth or sixth
round pick. Okay, fine, yeah, we'll rent him for the
rest of the year. He could be the difference in
us getting to or winning a Super Bowl. But yeah,
if you want to extend him, you're like, I'm not
giving up a second or third round pick and paying
him thirty some million dollars a year, right.

Speaker 4 (40:51):
And I also think that the report also mentioned some
injury stuff, you know that maybe there's maybe he's not
passing physicals easily right now.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
And I think he was banged up coming into the season.
He was, he was certainly and hey, maybe when it's
Michael Parsons and he's still only twenty five years old.
You'll take a risk on a guy that's got some
lingering injury stuff, but another one, you're the.

Speaker 4 (41:10):
Other teams the league are pretty smart. They might be like,
he's on the decline, you know, even though he came
off a great SAX season. Absolutely, what's he have left?

Speaker 3 (41:18):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (41:19):
I wanted to get to one tweet here Matt that
I thought was pertinent to kind of tea up tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (41:24):
Rwake Henderson was doubtful.

Speaker 2 (41:25):
Doubtful. Listen, it is doubtful to play this.

Speaker 3 (41:27):
Out Tuesdays almost nine. Boy. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (41:32):
Mike Tomlins said that they're going to prepare as if
he is playing. But I, like you said, do what
I think from his standpoint, why would he want to?

Speaker 3 (41:40):
Right right motivation?

Speaker 2 (41:42):
All he's going to do is potentially hurt his earning
power this offseason. A tweet here from Paul Matt, like
I said, to get us out of here, this kind
of tease up a conversation we'll have tomorrow. But Paul says,
I wonder if the master plan for twenty twenty six
is starting to crumble. Quarterback class not looking as great
as we thought it was going to be, and a

(42:02):
lot of other teams ahead of us that need quarterbacks
or hold two first round picks.

Speaker 3 (42:08):
Yeah, I think it should be harder than we thought.
I do too.

Speaker 2 (42:11):
But I'll also say this and we'll get more to
the I've got the stats, Pat get done. If you're
watching on YouTube, I've got it done here already. For
the college stuff, beefy, We'll have a beefy around campus
quarterback conversation tomorrow for that. I mentioned this last week.
There was a time in this timeline where I thought
there was going to be maybe five, six, seven first
round draft picks a quarterback. I don't think that number

(42:33):
is going to be as high now. I think it's
going to be like two or three, maybe four. But
I am much more intrigued by the middle class of
these quarterbacks now than I have been, honestly, and probably.

Speaker 3 (42:45):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Okay. There's still a lot of names.

Speaker 2 (42:48):
And I know you have brought up the history of it,
and it's it's spot on of quarterbacks drafted from like
twenty twentieth overall, it's like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers
and Lamar Lamar.

Speaker 3 (43:03):
But I mean, but they always something weird going on.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
He was David Derek Carr was in that right. Russell
Wilson didn't count either Dak Prescott because they were further back.

Speaker 4 (43:13):
I think it's Rogers Love and Lamar, two of whom
sat forever, and the other guy.

Speaker 3 (43:19):
Some people thought it was a wide receiver, but I am.

Speaker 2 (43:21):
I am more open to finding a Dak Prescott or
a Russell Wilson third or fourth round guy in this
class that I've been in years. I think a lot
of the Brendan robb the Sawyer Robinson's that I just
combined Brendan Sawyer, Robertson and Brendan Soresby into one person. There.
Brendan Robertson a lot of those type of guys that
might not be first round picks, but I think are

(43:42):
very intriguing. I think our guy Mateer could fall into
this category as well too.

Speaker 3 (43:46):
Makes sense.

Speaker 2 (43:46):
So while I don't think there's gonna be the wow,
there could be five quarterbacks, you know, just like a
couple of years ago, five quarterbacks taken in the top fifteen.
Like maybe I thought coming into this year, those guys
that are going to be in like the thirty two
to seventy eighty range. I'm way more intrigued by than
any year previously in a long time.

Speaker 3 (44:07):
That's really exciting.

Speaker 4 (44:08):
And what I will add to that is again I
don't I haven't broke these dudes down. But if you're
saying that there, they'll all go a little higher than
you're saying always, you know what I mean, Like you're
always I'm.

Speaker 3 (44:20):
Interested in that guy in the third round, Like, well,
you better take him in.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
Tech. I'd really like him as a project, right Boom
he goes fortieth overall.

Speaker 4 (44:28):
Exactly right, right, I mean like bo Nix is gonna
go fortieth overall and then he goes sixteenth or whatever.

Speaker 2 (44:33):
Like how it was this year after the first this
past year you had cam Ward and Jackson Dart in
the first round, then you had.

Speaker 3 (44:39):
Shuck was next?

Speaker 2 (44:41):
I think was that this past year? Was that too?

Speaker 3 (44:43):
Was that Shuck's a rookie?

Speaker 2 (44:44):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (44:45):
Yeah, yeah, So of those guys.

Speaker 2 (44:47):
He had Chuck and then Gabriel in the third round.

Speaker 3 (44:50):
Right him or milroem Milroy.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
But then from that standpoint there was a massive gap
until you got into the sixth round Howard and you
got to the Howards and the Kyle Accords and those
guy exactly. There's not gonna be that gap.

Speaker 4 (45:02):
There's gonna be a lot that There's gonna be a
lot in that range.

Speaker 2 (45:06):
And so again that's something we'll expand upon tomorrow. A
lot of you we've loved it. We've gotten tweets about
what about Soresby from Cincinnati? What about Robertson from Baylor?
What about Hayes King from Georgia Tech.

Speaker 3 (45:16):
That's super cool though, that all these names are popping up.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
We're gonna get into them all tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (45:20):
Baby.

Speaker 2 (45:20):
It'll be maybe the beefiest around campus segment that we've
had so far this year. And my list of like
you must watch your games to keep an eye on
on Saturday is I think bigger than it's been all year.
There's some This is one of the better I think
college football slates, particularly from a evaluating it from a
quarterback standpoint as well too. So we'll do all of

(45:40):
that tomorrow, catch up with Chris hallick uh, start to
get into some of Matt's stats, all that good stuff
on a Wednesday. Thanks to Chris Adanski for joining us today.
Thanks to Tyler V Mister TV for video producing everything
on the YouTube side of things, and a big shout
out too. Of course he's not the Bard of Bourbon,
but we're gonna come up with a name at some point.

(46:01):
Matt Williamson, I'm West Shouler, take care of everybody. Will
talk to you tomorrow. 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.