October 13, 2025 • 46 mins
Voice of the Steelers Rob King joins The Drive to lend his thoughts on the Steelers victory over the Browns. The guys also go around the league and recap all of yesterday's action.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Hello, Steeler Nation, how we doing well? That's good us too,
Our number two here of the Drive West Schuler, Matt
Williamson on a victory Monday, and to the phone lines
we go to talk to the voice of your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Of course, Rob king Kinger, you got to settle something
for us here, all right. You got to peel back
the curt in a little bit little transparency, little how
(00:51):
the sausage is made, if you will, for our audience.
We were laughing about your Decaylon Metcalfe story.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
And and kind of the conundrum that you find yourself
in here because you did good, good journalistic, good broadcaster
work and you found out the pronunciation of one of
the players and what he prefers to be called. But
now it's confusing a lot of people because no one,
I think most people don't even know his first name
is Decaelan let alone when you say it on a broadcast.
(01:20):
This kind of reminds me Kinger. I know you'll remember this, Matt.
I think you might as well too. The like the
back to back Cup winning pens of like the sixteen, seventeen,
twenty eighteen years had a player named Connor Sherry who
everybody called Connor Sheery for years until he just like
told people casually, actually it's Sherry, And then broadcasters were
(01:42):
confused and fans were confused for months and months and months.
So paint us this picture how you brought this up
with DK, with Dekaylan, and where you go now that
he's told you he prefers to be called Decaylan, but
everybody else is scratching their heads and asking you why
you're doing this.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I'm going to painted myself into an unneeded corner in
which to be painted. Yeah, So I just went up
to I don't know what possessed me to ask the question.
I just said, hey, is there any circumstance under which
you'd like to be called the Kalin When I'm broadcasting
a game, Just like I'll ask guys about the pronunciations
and nicknames and other things just to make sure they're
(02:21):
cool with stuff. You know, Darius Slay doesn't like Darius,
you'd be just like Sligh. Well, you know, at some
point you have to say Darius, right, and then after
that you can take play, So so I asked him
and he said, well, no, actually I preferred the Kalen
and I was like what. He goes, yeah, everyone just
mispronounced it, so they call me DK. So I was like, well,
(02:43):
do you want me to call you that? And he
goes yeah, and I can't remember it. I was just
so I was like, what what do I do now?
Speaker 5 (02:52):
So?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Are you torn? Going forward?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
I mean, I'm I'm probably gonna go back to t
K to be honest, and I may I may go
up now and unnecessarily again apologize to him and tell
him that. But it's not like, you know, you have
all these national broadcasters. You know, hockey is mostly a
local game with the occasional national broadcast. The NFL isn't
(03:17):
that way. It's a national game that has you know,
local broadcasting currently, but most people are watching the game,
except hopefully here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You're listening to it sounddown. So it's not going to
reverse the national trend and it's only going to create
some confusion. So, uh, I got the kaling in for
the touchdown, Probably work it in on occasion, but I'll
probably have to go back to the DK, you know,
(03:46):
I think. I mean, I think I have to because
that's what everybody knows about.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Well, he's playing pretty well. He's scoring every week. So
whatever you're doing, just keep it off, all you guys.
You know, I think things are starting to come around
on offense, and I thought the offensive line took a
nice step forward yesterday.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
You know, look, I think everything you want to do
is obviously predicated on the offensive line. I mean, clearly
you have to have, especially the right quarterback and some
playmakers that you can get the ball to. But it
starts upfront.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
And the serius have said that.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I mean they've said, look, we want to be able
to bully teams and use our physicality up front on
both offense and defense. And it is nice when you
can bring into Spencer Anderson and maybe Darnhill. Washington is
just here to stay as you're starting tight end because
of his versatility in both blocking and pass catching. But
(04:43):
you would ideally like you're five to be able to
beat there four upfront, and you know, I don't. I
just don't think that the offensive line was quite ready
to do that yet. At the beginning of the season.
You had, you know, and I've I've you know, I've I've,
you know, s of mentioned Max Starks, not sort of.
I have mentioned Max Starks in regard to this because
(05:04):
I had a question for him. He's the former offensive
lineman who switched positions. How many weeks do you need
for guys switching positions again? Roger Jones has been playing
right tackle, now he's playing left tackle. Troy Foutanu played
left tackle in college, now he's playing right tackle, and
anothery went through it in camp and in preseason. But
Max says, no, you got to give these guys five
or six games just for switching sides. And I asked
(05:27):
about the rookie thing and the talent thing. He said, Look,
if they're talented enough because they were taken in the
first rounds, you don't worry about the talent. You just
worry about the differences on changing sides. And so I
think that that goes a long way to it. I
think we all feel like the interior of that offensive
line is pretty solid. The tackles are the ones buy
and large that are going to have to deal with
the With the pass rush, they held up well. Now
(05:48):
Cleveland's a different story. They get a lot of pressure
from the interior and I thought that interior, the offensive
line to the steward did an excellent job. You know,
we're talking to Mike Perzuda earlier, Matt, you and I
and you know the Steelers. You take away the three
kneel downs from at the end of the game from
Mason Rudolph, and they average four yards to carry against
the defense allowing only three yards to carry. Yeah, you
(06:10):
take away the Caleb Johnson obvious runs and the yards
per carry gets even better. Now are we trying to
gloss over the statistics. No, We're just trying to point
out the fact that the running game was more effective
than if you just looked at the box score and said,
now three point six yards to carry. No, it was
better than that. So and that all starts with the
offensive line. All credit to Jalen Warren and gain Well
(06:30):
and Caleb Johnson. That it has to start up front,
and it is improving. It's one of the areas that
needed to improve from the beginning of the year onward
if you were going to be the kind of team
that you hope to be. And for me, the arrow
is definitely pointing up definitely.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Rob and kind of maybe same church, different pew You know,
Matt and I use that term the team you want
to be, and I think that's a great way to
put it. Matt and I have been kind of following
a few key indicators in that regard since training camp.
Average yards per run, you know, yards per carry was
one of them. Explosive play differential was one of them.
(07:07):
Sack differential was another one. And man, this Steelers defensive front,
it took a little time for it to come together.
You know, Cam Hayward's slower start, I think that was
to be expected. You didn't have your first round pick
Derek Harbon for the first couple weeks of this season.
Because of that, it felt like Keanu Benten was a
little miscast. You lose Alex high Smith for a period
(07:29):
of time as well too. But I think finally they've
gotten healthier, They've gotten everybody up to speed. Nick Herbig
has continued to prove and emerge to star capable qualities
here at this point, if they are going to be
the team that they want to be, I think the
defense is starting to check a lot of those boxes.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
And look in the part, yeah they are, and I
think you underscored all the main points there. West, you know,
there was the whole in with Cam Hayward and and
you know, Week one, I think because of that and
because there's no harm in you know, I didn't I
did not have a great feeling about Week one against
the Jets because you knew what they were gonna do,
(08:11):
based upon the personnel they have and based upon what
we saw at the end of last year, which was
especially that playoff game. You know that the Ravens just
sledgehammering it at the Steelers and the Steelers incapable of
stopping it. So what were they gonna do? They were
gonna do that. And look, you know we've talked about
this before. Injuries are gonna happen, and that's why you
have to have that good depth. It's impossible to have
(08:32):
great depth everywhere, by the way in a team. Uh,
that's just that's just it's not gonna happen. And no
offense to anybody else. But I think we saw what
a what a gigantic loss not having Deshaun Elliott was
out there. You know, get to stack in Minnesota, gets
an interception, league to team and tackles this week, he's
a He's a really, really good player. So I do
(08:53):
think that the defense is coming together. I do think
it starts up front. You know, if you want to
you know, if you really want to unleash the powers
of your corners. You know, it's a pretty simple formula
in an ideal world, and of course nothing's quite ideal.
But you stop the run, okay, great? Uh, then you
force them into second or third and long and what
are they gonna want to do? They're gonna want to throw.
(09:14):
So guess what. Now you have three corners who you love.
Joey Porter Junior added, you know, with the additions of
Sleigh and Ramsey who had two sacks yesterday, now you
can blanket coverage and you have such faith in those guys.
Now you can start bringing blitzes. I mean, Deshaun Elliot
had a sack last week, Jalen Ramsey had two sacks
this week. You know, Matt and his Matt's Stats talked
(09:35):
about how much were there blitzing Patrick Queen being effective
in that regard. It is starting, and to me, it
starts with the It starts with stopping to run. But
you have to have that personnel behind it, and it's
and a scheme that fits it. And right now it's
looking like all of those things are starting to drop
into place.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Let's stick with Queen a little bit because I think
you can get overshadowed with some of the star power
in that side of the ball, some of the new faces,
you know, Ramsey and Slay, et cetera. Harman, but I
think they've weaponized Queen a lot more as just an
attack player. He's a phenomenal athlete. I mean, you watch
the games live in the building, you really see his
(10:15):
speed and change a direction and explosiveness better than you do,
you know on TV. I think Queen's turning the corner
with the team right now.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Well, I mean, he's a two time Pro Bowler, and
I know Pro Bowl and All Pro aren't the same things,
but it's not like he's not decorated. But you know, Matt,
I wondered what they were going to do when they
got him and how they were going to utilize because
in twenty twenty two for the Ravens, he had five sacks,
and then the next year when he was a second
year All Pro, he had three and a half sacks.
(10:47):
And for the Steelers, you know they did not utilize
in that, but he had one sack last year. Now
he had one hundred and twenty nine tackles right tackling machine.
And but but is that absolutely the best use of him?
You know, and he had three interceptions in his last
two years combined in Baltimore. So is he going to
be a cover guy for you? Is he going to
(11:08):
be a blitz guy for you? Does he have to
be one of the other? Can he utilize them both ways?
I just think we saw that they really weren't utilizing
him in anything but coverage for the most part. You know,
with with the Steelers last year, now this year, we're
seeing more and more of the full range. You know,
(11:28):
this is a guy, you know, to use the old cliche.
He's got a lot of tools in his toolbox. You're
not just telling You're not just handing him in a
hammer and saying, hey, go fix the sun room. You know,
You're you're giving him the whole tool belt and saying,
let's get the job done. And he's got a he's
had a varied tool belt. There's a lot of things
he can do. And and you're right, I think you're
really right to point him out because I think he's
been excellent and I think, you know, we're starting to
(11:52):
see you know, he talk about up front and you
talk about personnel, but you have to utilize that personnel
and the way that best their skills. And I think
we're seeing, you know, Patrick Queen be unleashed more because
of the fact that you have better personnel around him.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
A couple more minutes here with Rob king on the
drive on the Steelers Audio Network. Kinger, you know, speaking
of tool belts and knowing where to go, what to use,
all those different things. Man another just professional performance, tidy,
buttoned up efficient from Aaron Rodgers twenty one of thirty
(12:29):
two hundred and thirty five yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers.
I think it was in a weird way, it's more
of what we've seen from Aaron Rodgers. This is what
he's done. Take what the defense gives you be able
to assess and evaluate better than almost anybody in NFL
history at the line of scrimmage and go from there.
But I think we're even seeing him expand on that,
(12:51):
grow on that he's standing back in the pocket for
a beat longer and trying to move and buy himself
some extra time the the you know, his his average
depth of target this week was over a yard more
than it's been on average through the Steelers first four games.
I think he's getting more comfortable. The offensive line, as
you guys mentioned, a big part of this, and it
(13:11):
just feels like Aaron Rodgers on the same page with
all his new teammates as well, and we're starting to
see some growth in some progression there too.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Yeah, he's so good, I mean, you know, and I
think it's still I still think he's really really good,
and we're getting an opportunity to see that with an
offense that I think had some versatility. Now again, we'll
see as we progress and whether teams are going to
adjust to what the Steelers are doing. I really think
it's going to be a game plan specific team. You know,
(13:45):
you run seven men in the box, Okay, here comes
Spencer Anderson, Here comes Darnel Washington, here we come Okay,
So you don't have great personnel in the slot or whatever. Well,
this week we're going to see more Pat triar Mouth
and John new Smith and An Austin when he gets
back in there. He came that calf I think is
always going to be a given, and I do think
(14:05):
they're going to try to run the ball. But those
guys are weapons that can be utilized different ways in
the passing game as well. So when you have this
wide breadth of ways to attack a team, which is
what I think it is, I you know, when he
talks about the number two receiver, and I understand that discussion,
but I think that the Steelers are going to try
to thought fully utilize the weapons they have and it's
(14:25):
a varied palet of players. And who else to you know,
handle the paint rush than Aaron Rodgers. I mean, his
decision making is excellent. He is the best in NFL
history at interception percentage. He takes care of the football.
I think we have seen after the first game he.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Didn't look real mobile.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
He said, yeah, my back was stiff. I think he's
shown better mobility. Is he going to tuck it can
go forty yards? No? I don't think he is. I
don't want him to either. But I that throw he made,
you know, two throws stick out to me. That the
throw he made to friar Mouth in the Seattle game.
And I've said this before. I think it's the best
throw we'll see by any quarterback in the NFL this season.
(15:06):
And it was incomplete, but it was just an incredible
throw and people aren't gonna remember it because it was incomplete.
But the throw he made yesterday, rolling to his right,
directing traffic, throwing across his body on a line to
Connor Heyward in the back of the end zone in
a brief window across your body. Come on, man, you
know those are throws that I think that the majority
(15:29):
of NFL quarterbacks could not could not even think about making.
You know the old Muhammad Ali line, if you even
dreamed about beating me, you better wake up and apologize.
If they dreamed about making those rows, they should wake
up and apologize to Aaron Rodgers because I don't think
many guys can make those throws. And still I just
think that, you know, this is right now as we
(15:51):
stand here right now, and people are gonna say, well
who they beat? Okay, I get it, I understand that,
but I think right now there's a lot of stuff
looking good. And to have him be the guy at
the controls, not just the savvy but the arm talent
he still has, I think that's really good for the Steelers. Rob.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Lastly, I got for you, and you kind of mentioned it.
I know Austin will return probably sooner.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Than later, and he didn't go to I R. I
don't know if he'll be here Thursday or not. Who knows.
We'll talk about later in the week.
Speaker 6 (16:20):
But as I've been doing shows and sitting here in
studio and talking through Steeler stuff with you guys, and
you know Mike as well, I think i'd be a
little more aggressive on that number two wide receiver. I mean,
the season's going well. I'm not saying your mortgage, first
or second round picks or get anything real crazy, but
(16:41):
one more piece for Rogers to work with, to me,
is getting more and more appealing as they keep winning games.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
And I understand that, and I talked with this sometimes
with junior correspondent Shaper King, Junior corresponding not the show
with Max Dark, we have a lot of NFL discussions,
and I understand. You know, Look, my feeling on this
is as I said probably on this air, and as
I've got my son as well, I think that, so
(17:10):
what's that going to cost? You? All Right? So you know,
if you're the Saints, you have Chris a Lave, right, well,
you want to get better. You want a Lave to
be a guy that's going to be around when you
get better. Are you just going to give them away?
I don't know if there's going to be. And then
you're not going to sign a player. You're not going
to get a kind of guy that you are going
(17:31):
to then commit to long term and have to pay
a lot of money to. That's just not going to happen.
You're not that kind of a team. You're not the
kind of team that's going to have. I don't think
sixty million dollars wrapped up into wide receivers. So I
understand what you're saying that. And in a perfect world
you love another weapon, sure, you know you'd love another
(17:52):
defensive lineman or another offensive There's lots of things you love.
There's lots of places that I think if the Steelers
see the opportunity and they think they can make their
team better, they will. And in a perfect world, would
you like a player like that? Sure? Then you know
there are other factors. You know, the cost is the
number one factor, the length of time you're going to
(18:13):
get him back for which I would you know, circle
into part of the cost, would be part of that equation.
And then I also think that you know, how many
as long as you're winning. I think you know things.
You're good looking at Philadelphia, right, I mean, those guys
are upset they're not getting the ball. Well, you got
dk Metcalf, you have Johnny Smith, you have Pat fryer Mouth,
(18:35):
you have Jalen Warren, you have Kenneth Gainwell. You want
to bring along Caleb Johnson is rookie at Calvin Austin
on the outside. You want to bring along Roman Wilson
on the outside too. So there comes a time too
where I think you could be facing diminishing returns. So
I think it would have to be the right player
at the right price. But you could say that, and
(18:55):
I understand I'm not trying to be evasive. I think
you could say that around the roster to your point, Matt,
if it was right place, uh, you know, right cost,
right player, I'm.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Not saying, but I'm just warming up to being a
smidge more aggressive on that front.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
I do think that. And we talked about this same
thing last year. If there's an injury, that's a bigger
problem to me than you need somebody. And I think
it was a problem last year, you know, And I've
mentioned this a couple of times. I don't know if
I'm these in this show. But you know, people talk
about that five game losing streak at the end of
(19:31):
the season, including the playoffs. Don't forget that the offense
was exploding and George Pickens was injured at the head
of that and missed a game or two. I can't
remember they missed one game or two, but that was
a factor because you didn't have that next guy to
step up and fill that void. That to me, would
be the biggest I think it would be a bigger need.
(19:51):
You know, maybe I'm wrong, and maybe they just maybe
maybe it's a second receiver in its own merits is
the bigger need. But I think that would be the
press issue for me. I'm knocking on what as I
say that?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
And your dog is Uh is agreeing, confirming, confirming in
the background. We are we are friends of the dogs
here on this program, just not the dog Pound. Rob King. No,
Rob King kind enough to lend us some of his
time on a busy Monday, a condensed weight week here
King or thank you great stuff as always, and UH
and we'll talk to you soon. We'll see you Thursday.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
You got it. Thanks you guys, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
There he is, Rob King noted author. You know what
I need to do now. I need to find something
like an equivalent of the Kaelin Metcalf that I can
call rob King. Okay, Robert might be a little too
still Vanilla. I'll try and work on it. Figure I'll
figure out something about Yeah. Well, you know he's an
author now too, so he's got to have some weird
stuff out there in his bio or something that we
(20:49):
can that we can we can pick from and put
him on the spot a little bit, but good stuff
from him as always. We've got two more segments to go.
We've got some significant news around the league that we
have discuss, and we also were gonna get to some
of your tweets before we get up out of here,
so plenty more to get to. West Shuler and Matt Williamson,
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
(21:10):
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Well, Matt, we've got our first I guess coaching change,
coaching firing of the NFL season. As just earlier today,
the Titans fired Brian Callahan just six games into his
second year after a one in five start just four
and nineteen during his entire tenure as the Titans head
(22:07):
coach there in Nashville. In Tennessee, Matt I continue to think,
I don't know. I kind of sit on both sides
of the fence on this one on one half. Like
I've always firmly believed in, like you need to give
a coach at least three years. It's football is.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
So you know, they're taking over a bad situation, especially
when they're taking over a bad situation.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
You know, I'm not saying that Alabama has to give
all their coaches three years, right, you know, but an
NFL team that is in a very bad situation devoid
of talent rebuilding, not only do you have to supplement that,
you also just need time to get guys that fit
your system and your scheme and square pegs for square
holes type things. But also four and nineteen through two
(22:53):
years is pretty glaring as well too. I think we're
seeing more and more of this at every level, but
especially now in the NFL. Coaches getting fired after just
one year into their second season in Brian Callahan the
latest one.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Yeah, And the other thing about it is, I don't
know what going to an interim gains you for the
rest of the season. You know, could you let him
play it out see if he could write the ship.
You must have liked something about him when you hired him, obviously.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
But the vibes are bad.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
I mean, first off, I think it's noteworthy that over
the last three years right round they fired a coach
or a GM, then a coach, a GM, now a coach.
Yeah not ever at the same time, it's just I'm
gonna get this guy. Who's going to help me replace
(23:45):
the next guy? Like there's no continuity at all. Who's
hiring the next guy? You know, like sometimes do the
whole full swoop, you know. And coincidentally, Vrabel's playing Tennessee
this upcoming week. You know, who was one of the
first to go off was quite successful, correct, So it
makes you wonder And unfortunately this is true in the league.
And fortunately around here you don't have that problem. There's
(24:07):
some owners that are in over their head. I mean
they're just flat out arms without look at the Jets
right right, and I think Tennessee is as good of
an example as any. They got a super promising quarterback,
but the product they've put on the field is the
worst in the league.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:23):
I mean, I know the Jets are fighting for it too,
and they have not won, but they're embarrassing right now.
The Titans, they're several years away in terms of their
roster just you know, building anything. You're not seeing any
steps in that right direction, except for maybe of the quarterback.
But he still needs a ton of development.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
And you're like, is this the right staff to do that? Yeah,
and put everything around him that he needs to be successful.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
I mean, if if Arizona doesn't give that game away
two weeks ago, and they're not a juggernaut either, Jet
and I think they'd be easily thirty second in it
power rank, which I thought they should have been when
we did power ranks last Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
The Raiders did not play well and still beat them
by double digits.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Yeah, and they're not good either, No, I mean, they're
a bottom five team and they handled.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
And they handled them despite not playing playing well. Yeah.
So our first NFL coaching change, NFL firing happens in Tennessee,
and that comes on the heels of the Titans dropping.
Speaker 6 (25:25):
What's kind of hilarious or weird is his dad's on staff.
His dad's the a line coach. Is he really I
didn't really, he's like a legendary oh lion coh they
came over.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Oh yeah, you're right, all right.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
I mean he was the Browns oh line coach. The
Browns let him out of his contract to go be
with his son, who came over from the Bengals. I
assume he's still gonna be the a line coach, but
sunny boy and coming around for lunch or anything.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Yeah, it's tough. Hey, it happens quickly in this league.
It certainly does. But yeah, a coaching change for the
Titans after they, like I said, follow the Raider twenty
to ten yesterday, and that is the first one in
the National Football League will not be the last.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
In fact, I bet I.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Bet you will probably get another here in the month
of October.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
At least I think that's probably if.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I had to guess, Matt, you want to run through
the gambit of these games from yesterday. Yeah, sure, the
Broncos talking about a sloppy one, an ugly one, but
the Broncos getting a man, I mean games into Glenn's career.
But again, we've seen the Patriots just fired a coach
after one year It's happened a couple times now in
recent memory.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
I'm shocked didn't win this by a lot more. To
be honest with you, Denver's d is great. Their offense
still struggled, but I mean all you need to know
is justin Fields completed nine passes.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
This is staggering, was sacked.
Speaker 6 (26:48):
Nine times and ended up with negative ten passing yards
as a team.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Staggering, staggering. They went backwards when they went.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Forward, as you quite often like to say, they could
have snapped every pass play and spiked it into the
ground and been better off.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, except for the handoffs. I mean, every
pass it's.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
A historically bad stuff from the Jets off off awful
And where where do you go? Right, what do you do?
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Lose a lot of games?
Speaker 2 (27:19):
They are going to lose a lot of games, and
it's gonna be a it's gonna be a long back
half of the season for everybody there in Gang Green,
that's for sure. That one was the early morning London
game yesterday, of course at at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Won
more of those to go next week Jackson Jacksonville plays.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
I should know that. But it's kind of like a
home game for Jackson.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Rams maybe yeah, is it r uh? So that's your
that's your early morning game. There a weird one thirteen
to eleven. You see that score all the time. As
the Broncos take down the Jets, then the Colts Matt
they continue to find different ways to win. Yeah, you
need them thirty some points, they can do it. You
need them to win a defense struggle, they can do it.
(28:02):
Colts thirty one to twenty seven over the Cardinals to
move to five and one.
Speaker 6 (28:06):
Yeah, Jacob Rissett led the Cardinals and they were better
off than I would have thought. But I give the
Colts credit. Like you said, they can win pretty much
any way you want. You know, Taylor, Daniel Jones, Warren,
they got some star power now, they sure do.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Yeah, they're good.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
You We'll see them here in a couple of weeks.
Total sidebar. But they had the full roof open of
Lucas Oil Stadium.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, you and I have been to Indianapolis a million
times for the combine. I've also between regular season and preseason.
I think I've done three Steelers games there as well too.
I need to see that I need to do something
there with that stadium.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Open.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
That looked awesome. It did look cool, like the whole
roof is open, the sun shining in. That was that
was really cool. They say, I understand they can't do
that in February for the combine it'll be a little
too cold. But maybe maybe next time.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
I steal it forty times.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, maybe next time the Steelers are out there, they
can open up the roofs uh. Speaking of places that
could be making coaching changes, the Miami Dolphins certainly would
be on that list. Bad vibes there. They drop a
close one at home to the Chargers twenty nine to
twenty seven. Chargers just needed to find a way to win,
and kind of they did zap that two game losing streak,
(29:17):
and they did, and the Dolphins falled to one and five.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
And the I mean, they're not as miserable watches like
the Titans.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
They're not.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
They've got some Lamborghinis and offense just.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
But it's bad vibes. They're losing a lot of close
they lose a lot of close games. They fall to
one and five. I mean that division is the Bills
and the Patriots and a lot of ye as the
Dolphins and the Jets have just one win between them
and certainly not getting any better in Miami. Speaking of
those Patriots, they got another victory. They kind of did
exactly what we predicted. Matt go down to New Orleans, fantastic,
(29:53):
outstanding and they had twenty two first half points, just
a feel goal in the second half, but that was
enough for the Patriots to move to forward and too
with a twenty five to nineteen win in New Orleans.
Speaker 6 (30:06):
And the Saints are another one that they're not as
hard to watch as Tennessee or the Jets or I mean,
like there's not.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
A lot of much.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Rather like I'd much rather watch the Saints. I'd watch
the Saints and the Dolphins play three times before i'd
watch the Jets and the Titans play once.
Speaker 6 (30:19):
Yeah, exactly, like they're just not they don't have good
enough players yet you know.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
No, they don't. And perhaps one of the more surprising
results of the weekend, the Panthers somehow hanging around with them.
Yeah I don't either, but they beat the Cowboys thirty
to twenty seven there in Charlotte.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I know exactly what do with the Cowboys.
Speaker 6 (30:37):
It's always gonna be a high scoring game, and Dak's
always gonna put up numbers.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I'll be honest. Pickens has been phenomenal, you know, with
lamb out that hasn't.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Gotten on both of my big money fantasy.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Team and he's.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Carried me to some victories here. Yeah, but that's I mean,
that's about all they got going for him is Dak
and George Pickens at this point rible to defense is terrible.
I mean, they're scoring points and losing gay it feels
a lot like the Bengals of last lot, scoring points
and still finding a way to lose games. Hey, who
saw the Panthers being three and three?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Yeah? What to make of them?
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I don't either. I don't either. And one of the
games that we kind of had circled to watch this
weekend Matt down in Jacksonville, a tight, low scoring one
between the Jags and the Seahawks. But the Seahawks find
a way. Both of these teams now four and two.
The Seahawks are perfect three and zero on the road.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
They continue ridiculously.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Know how to win games on the East Coast like
nobody else on the West Coast. It's wild Seattle twenty
to twelve over the Jags.
Speaker 6 (31:36):
And I think the Jags were bad in this game.
I think Seattle, as we talked about on Friday, is
a one tier above them as a franchise right now.
That Darnald to Smith Najigma thing is incredible.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
And they're in all levels insane.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
And they had a ton of sacks too.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
I mean that defensive front as we saw live, Seattle's
pretty darn good defense.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Yes they are, and that showed against Jacksonville, and I
think was a big difference in that one. The Rams
moved to four and two as well. They go into
Baltimore and do what everybody's done and beat the Ravens,
different to I think how we all expected to play
out though Matt they had a.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Lot lot of injuries.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
They were tied at three at a time, a lot
of injuries.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Weird one Coup is probably gonna miss the next weekend London.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
It looks like he's going to miss some time. Yeah,
and hey, they're in an alright spot, but they are
weird one three to three at the half, Rams come
out and score bang bang, two quick touchdowns and then
that was kind of it. Seventeen to three over Baltimore.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
And Baltimore's obviously in a huge hole. Great to see
them lose no matter how it went. Yeah, but both
both quarterbacks got in there. You know, they need to
buy more than anything I can remember.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I would absolutely agree with that. I don't know how
much better it's going to get for him out of
the bye, but it certainly can't get much worse.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Much worse.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Right, We did kind of mention Raiders over the Titans
twenty to ten.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
They're bad football teams, and it really wasn't that.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Quel.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
I was just going to say, like any signs of
life there from the Raiders for you? Is it just
they were the best are of two bad team.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Bowers is back being healthy, which goes a long way.
Speaker 6 (33:03):
He was really missed. Genti's a keeper. Gino was still uneven,
but like Crosby and Bowers and Gente, you showed up
as Yeah, you know, hard guys to play against.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Their offensive line. It's not so great, terrible, terrible Packers.
Out of there bye week, they get back to feeling good.
They moved to three to one and one with a
twenty seven to eighteen win over Cincinnati. Hey, Bengals kept
that one close late.
Speaker 6 (33:25):
Yeah, We'll talk a lot of Bengals, but I mean
the Bengals first half offense is so horrendous. Everything they're
doing isn't quite garbage time, but it's been late in
games when they're losing.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Bengals defense is right there at the bottom.
Speaker 6 (33:39):
The league kind of shot Green Bay didn't win by more,
you know, like we since the Parsons trade all these
super high hopes for the Packers. They beat a pretty
bad team. Okay, they've tied a team. They lost to
the Browns, you know, like their their last three games
or so or not.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
They looked like Gangbusters the first two weeks of the
season when they were beating up on the Lions. The Commanders,
they're team right now, No they're not, and hopefully.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
Went nothing to do with tackling Josh Jacobs and not
at all interested in.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
That Tucker craft as well too. But yeah, the Packers,
let's hope that they kind of stay in this rut
a little bit through the end of the month, when
they'll be in Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks here
for Sunday Night football. But yeah, they they end up
winning by nine, but wasn't quite as decisive and impressive
as as maybe the final score looked. By the way
(34:30):
I mean to say this, too, speaking of offenses and struggling,
and I wanted to bring this up at some point,
and I just remembered it. Steelers defense not giving up
a touchdown yesterday for the first time since Week two
in Denver last year. Yeah, so a little over a
year the Steelers able to keep a team out of
the end zone. Got to love to see that. A
couple more here another one that we two more that
(34:50):
we had circled on the calendar to watch the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers continue to impress. Man, they moved a five
and one. They take down the Niners thirty to nineteen.
Another devastating loss for San Francisco, as Fred Warner is
going to be out for the season as well, and
that might be that's the kiss, that's the kiss.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
I think Kittle might come back next week. But still,
I mean, even like Jennings, the wide receiver had like
four broken ribs. He's playing with like their second year
in a row, they've been this smashing, injuries smashed, and
Warner is going to be a tough one over and
almost an impossible one to overcome. The Bucks though, I
mean Baker's MVP right now, Yes he is. They won
that game Abuka gets hurt in the game, Evans didn't play.
(35:31):
Oh man, they were missing two offensive banged up. Yeah,
they got a ton of He still scored thirty points exactly.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
They're real impressive.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
M v P.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
Baker oh Man, who saw that one coming. Yeah, good
for him. As the Bucks moved to five and one,
and they're starting to look like one of the best
teams in the NFC for sure. And then finally it
was as close to him must win for the Chiefs
as you could have at this point in the season.
They take care of business at home against the line
thirty to seventeen. Kansas City moves back to five hundred
(36:04):
at three and three, Lions fall to four and two.
Speaker 6 (36:09):
I we all watched the game, or most people did.
I think the Chiefs are pretty legit at this point.
The o lin's a lot better than it's been. I
think they basically fixed that the defense is always going
to be solid. They didn't stop the run well early
and that's been a problem for them, and I thought,
oh man, this could be a long night for the Chiefs.
(36:31):
But they figured out a way, you know, I mean,
and they always kind of will.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
In my opinion, the Lions really didn't change it.
Speaker 6 (36:37):
Yeah, be honestly, that's a tough, tough game, tough environment
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Night, Matt, We've got two Monday nighters tonight. I think
both games intriguing for different reasons. I'm just always looking
for reasons to watch. Sure, right, Bill's Falcons. Okay, Buffalo
one of the better teams in the league, Josh Allen,
that offense coming off of a loss against a Falcons
team with a lot of young pieces, they don't haste
a lot.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Of primetime, a lot of prime time, a different environment.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
You know, Buffalo only a three and a half point favorite,
you lay in those points.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
I think so.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
I think the Bills got a smidge embarrass the last game.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
That's the big kicker.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
Time to play them. But I could see a lot
of points in that game. I don't love either defense.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
I could see Atlanta like hanging around, and then Buffalo
scores late and ends up winning by ten.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Yeah, yeah, that's crazy, but.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
It wasn't a blowout type game. And then Bear's Commanders Caleb, Williams,
Jane and Daniels two teams that are feeling all right
about themselves. Washington a five and a half point favorite,
at home.
Speaker 3 (37:36):
I think I'm taking the points. Having some faith in
Caleb and the new coach.
Speaker 6 (37:42):
I think they're starting to feel what it's like to
do this at a professional level, you know, with one another.
But Washington runs a ball on everyone, and the Bears
d has not been what I thought it would be
this year.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
I like that number plus five and a half for
Chicago if it was if it was three and a
half or four and a half, I think I'd lay
them the Commanders. Five and a half are over. I'll
take the points with Chicago. I think Washington wins, but
the Bears find a way to keep it competitive.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Yeah, I mean I think their offense is pretty good.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Yes, I think so too. I think so too. But
like I said, two games tonight that I'm excited to. Yeah,
they're to throw on the television.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I think that hard to take it watch both the
same time.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
I completely agree and it kind of gives me an
excuse to get out of bedtime with the kids. Sorry,
Dad's gonna watch this seven to fifteen football game for work.
Mom will have to put you down one more segment
to go. A couple tweets to close us down On
the other side, when we return Westsheler, Matt Williamson. It
is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
(38:40):
Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Down the home stretch here on a victory Monday, as
the Steelers take care of business out of the bye week,
take down the Browns twenty three to nine. And you
guys have tweeted some thoughts and some observations. Let's get
to some of these before we get up out of here.
Does that work for you? Mister Williamsons, absolutely. Wallace will
(39:32):
lead us off and says, after all the catterwalling about
the offensive line recently, the praise for yesterday's performance is refreshing.
Sure they had extra guys, but that's why they were hired.
I love it when a plan comes together. Colonel John
Hannibal Smith. There, that's an a team reference, I believe
at the end, right, starting to come together. Listen again,
(39:53):
not a mona Lisa, right, but it's much better now
than it was September and MetLife Stadium.
Speaker 6 (39:58):
Yeah, and I would say Broder Joe, it is probably
the top of that list. I think Frasier's be coming
back to more of a dominant player as opposed to
just he.
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Had the best game of the season yesterday.
Speaker 6 (40:08):
I think Falton, who's really understand the speed of the
game and what it's like to be a starter at
this level. And certainly Anderson, and to another degree, Washington,
I know he's a tight end.
Speaker 3 (40:18):
Absolutely help. Now.
Speaker 6 (40:20):
I don't mean to reign on the parade, but we
haven't seen the depth challenged, you know. I mean Anderson
would fill in a spot if a guard got hurt.
You'd feel comfortable about that.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
But then you lose that side note, you know, like
that's a good point.
Speaker 6 (40:35):
Nothing bad has happened to that group yet, you know,
and it probably will.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
You're unfortunately correct in that assessment. I hope it doesn't.
Hopefully one of those outlier years. Let's gent them.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
All to grow together, you know, and young talent players.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
No doubt, no doubt. Brad tweets it says, how about
a little love for Harmon this week? And how do
you think? How do you think Benton and Cam looked.
I know their stats were limited, but that's not necessarily
an indicator of play. I think we gave some love
to Harmon. He's been. Yeah, he's been very active out stay.
He's been a much needed extra piece for that defensive
(41:10):
line since he returned from injury.
Speaker 3 (41:11):
I think's exactly what you want to have.
Speaker 6 (41:13):
A first round pick who's still getting his feet wet,
but he's contributing and not making mistakes, not hurting you
in any way.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
It's only played in three games in his career.
Speaker 6 (41:20):
Yeah, a big body in the middle that is very active,
plays hard. I'm fine with it. I'd probably, to be honest,
go back and watch Hayward and Benton.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
A second time. I haven't been able to do that.
It's been a weird week.
Speaker 6 (41:33):
But I didn't think that they were liabilities at all,
that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
You know, I'm not working. I think they're properly slotted for.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
Where they need to be in terms of what's being
asked in rotation, snap counts, usage, all that good stuff.
So I think at the line's in a really good
point spot right now.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
I think so too. I think they've figured out that rotation,
that usage. They've got different body types for Yeah, they've
got a lot of square pegs for square holes and
round pegs for round holes.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
And lack of neck wule or you fool as well?
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Matt tweets us and says, great win yesterday.
Can we start hyping Jalen Ramsey as a Defensive Player
of the Year candidate? He seems to make a game
altering play every game. I agree with the but that
might be a little It's very hard for a defensive
back to win Defensive Player of the Year. I know
Pat certain just did it last year, no doubt. But
(42:23):
you have to really have some interceing. And I know
he's got a couple of interceptions, he's got a couple
of sacks, all those things.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
He's played at that level of his career.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
He played at that level. It's just you've got to
really fill up the stat sheet to do it as
a defensive back.
Speaker 6 (42:38):
I love throwing it out there, but that that's a
little rich for you know, the mid October Now, this
is what we're talking about.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
But Miles Garrett's case has gotten the last two weeks.
Speaker 6 (42:51):
Sure, I think had a sack or two of their nine,
and so he's starting to grab a hold of this. Uh,
he's got to be the leader in the clubhouse right
now for Denver.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
Seth tweets us and says I'm with you on that.
By the way, Seth says, great win for the Steelers.
Looking ahead to Thursday, Mike Tomlin two and nine in
road Thursday night games. Last win on a Thursday night
on the road was twenty sixteen in Indianapolis.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
I think that was one of the games where Ben
Roethlisberger just went nuts against the Colts a few times
in his career. Yeah, listen, this is.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Hey, that's real.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Yeah, that's real, as real as the success out of
the bye week is. Yeah, struggles on the short week,
particularly on the road, I would point out I don't
think Mike Tomlin is alone in that.
Speaker 3 (43:35):
I would say, I don't think that's a unique that the.
Speaker 2 (43:37):
Numbers for teams going on the road on the short
week or not great across the NFL. But I think
this is a good week to get that move in
the right direction.
Speaker 3 (43:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (43:45):
And I haven't seen the line, but I was told
that they are a substantial favorite here on Monday. The
opening line, I want to say, it's like six and
a half or seven and a half something like that.
I mean, and since he's got a lot of problems
that I mean, it's a teaser for tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (44:00):
I'm going to really dig into them.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Tomorrow is going to be since he heavy on the show.
They have issues and they are many. Last one here
a J tweets us a couple of quick hitters. Okay,
more than likely to happen before next season. Number one, uh,
Roger Jones is extended or Pat Fryermouth is traded.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
I would say Jones extended is more likely.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
I think so too. If he keeps doing what he's doing,
I think that's gonna don't want to be looking for
the same. I also want to keep everything you can
just fit your option. Maybe that's why you're saying that's
what he meant.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
That buys you another year to make that decision.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
Number two more likely to happen Steelers play in the
a f C Championship Game or Aaron Rodgers plays next season.
I think those are kind of tied together.
Speaker 3 (44:52):
Say one happens, I bet the other.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
The Steelers are in the a FC Championship Game. I
bet you there's at least.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
A Rodgers is more likely. Like he's having fun.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
I know before the season started he said something along
the lines when he went on McAfee show. There at
Saint Vincent College when they had that crazy day with
the broadcast, he said something along the lines of like,
this is more than likely my last season, like how
he said it, but he said a couple times throughout
this year now.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Like hinted that she'll be consider will in Dublin.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
He was like, can we come back here and do
this again next year? Yeah, yeah, things like that, Like so,
I don't think it's completely hard, more than likely to happen.
Steelers trade for a wide receiver number two, or they
draft a first round quarterback in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 6 (45:44):
They both could happen. I'm still going to say that
they draft a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
I'm gonna say I think that there's a great chance
that they draft the quarterback in the first round of
twenty twenty six, particularly because of how many first round
graded quarterbacks. I think they're going to be coming down
here in the draft those lines.
Speaker 6 (46:00):
This week isn't to do that because we were so condensed,
But the next week we got much back more.
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Into one hundred percent Matt Williamson. We're also gonna get
more into some of that overview stuff that you did
of turnover differential sacked differential explosive play differential uh next
week when we have some more time to kill as well,
But that will do it for us for today. Thanks
to Rob King for joining us, big shout out to
our video producer Tyler v Mister TV for keeping us
(46:28):
handsome on the YouTube, and a big thank you to
Lim Magnefik Matt Williamson. I'm gonna, I'm gonna continue to
try and work in the Mario Lemu themed nicknames there.
That'll do it for us today. We'll be back tomorrow
with plenty on the Bengals as we continue to navigate
this short week. Take care everybody, and we will talk
to you soon. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
(46:49):
on the Steelers Audio Network.
You were tuned about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Hello, Steeler Nation, how we doing well? That's good us too,
Our number two here of the Drive West Schuler, Matt
Williamson on a victory Monday, and to the phone lines
we go to talk to the voice of your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Of course, Rob king Kinger, you got to settle something
for us here, all right. You got to peel back
the curt in a little bit little transparency, little how
(00:51):
the sausage is made, if you will, for our audience.
We were laughing about your Decaylon Metcalfe story.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
And and kind of the conundrum that you find yourself
in here because you did good, good journalistic, good broadcaster
work and you found out the pronunciation of one of
the players and what he prefers to be called. But
now it's confusing a lot of people because no one,
I think most people don't even know his first name
is Decaelan let alone when you say it on a broadcast.
(01:20):
This kind of reminds me Kinger. I know you'll remember this, Matt.
I think you might as well too. The like the
back to back Cup winning pens of like the sixteen, seventeen,
twenty eighteen years had a player named Connor Sherry who
everybody called Connor Sheery for years until he just like
told people casually, actually it's Sherry, And then broadcasters were
(01:42):
confused and fans were confused for months and months and months.
So paint us this picture how you brought this up
with DK, with Dekaylan, and where you go now that
he's told you he prefers to be called Decaylan, but
everybody else is scratching their heads and asking you why
you're doing this.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I'm going to painted myself into an unneeded corner in
which to be painted. Yeah, So I just went up
to I don't know what possessed me to ask the question.
I just said, hey, is there any circumstance under which
you'd like to be called the Kalin When I'm broadcasting
a game, Just like I'll ask guys about the pronunciations
and nicknames and other things just to make sure they're
(02:21):
cool with stuff. You know, Darius Slay doesn't like Darius,
you'd be just like Sligh. Well, you know, at some
point you have to say Darius, right, and then after
that you can take play, So so I asked him
and he said, well, no, actually I preferred the Kalen
and I was like what. He goes, yeah, everyone just
mispronounced it, so they call me DK. So I was like, well,
(02:43):
do you want me to call you that? And he
goes yeah, and I can't remember it. I was just
so I was like, what what do I do now?
Speaker 5 (02:52):
So?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Are you torn? Going forward?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
I mean, I'm I'm probably gonna go back to t
K to be honest, and I may I may go
up now and unnecessarily again apologize to him and tell
him that. But it's not like, you know, you have
all these national broadcasters. You know, hockey is mostly a
local game with the occasional national broadcast. The NFL isn't
(03:17):
that way. It's a national game that has you know,
local broadcasting currently, but most people are watching the game,
except hopefully here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You're listening to it sounddown. So it's not going to
reverse the national trend and it's only going to create
some confusion. So, uh, I got the kaling in for
the touchdown, Probably work it in on occasion, but I'll
probably have to go back to the DK, you know,
(03:46):
I think. I mean, I think I have to because
that's what everybody knows about.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Well, he's playing pretty well. He's scoring every week. So
whatever you're doing, just keep it off, all you guys.
You know, I think things are starting to come around
on offense, and I thought the offensive line took a
nice step forward yesterday.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
You know, look, I think everything you want to do
is obviously predicated on the offensive line. I mean, clearly
you have to have, especially the right quarterback and some
playmakers that you can get the ball to. But it
starts upfront.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
And the serius have said that.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I mean they've said, look, we want to be able
to bully teams and use our physicality up front on
both offense and defense. And it is nice when you
can bring into Spencer Anderson and maybe Darnhill. Washington is
just here to stay as you're starting tight end because
of his versatility in both blocking and pass catching. But
(04:43):
you would ideally like you're five to be able to
beat there four upfront, and you know, I don't. I
just don't think that the offensive line was quite ready
to do that yet. At the beginning of the season.
You had, you know, and I've I've you know, I've I've,
you know, s of mentioned Max Starks, not sort of.
I have mentioned Max Starks in regard to this because
(05:04):
I had a question for him. He's the former offensive
lineman who switched positions. How many weeks do you need
for guys switching positions again? Roger Jones has been playing
right tackle, now he's playing left tackle. Troy Foutanu played
left tackle in college, now he's playing right tackle, and
anothery went through it in camp and in preseason. But
Max says, no, you got to give these guys five
or six games just for switching sides. And I asked
(05:27):
about the rookie thing and the talent thing. He said, Look,
if they're talented enough because they were taken in the
first rounds, you don't worry about the talent. You just
worry about the differences on changing sides. And so I
think that that goes a long way to it. I
think we all feel like the interior of that offensive
line is pretty solid. The tackles are the ones buy
and large that are going to have to deal with
the With the pass rush, they held up well. Now
(05:48):
Cleveland's a different story. They get a lot of pressure
from the interior and I thought that interior, the offensive
line to the steward did an excellent job. You know,
we're talking to Mike Perzuda earlier, Matt, you and I
and you know the Steelers. You take away the three
kneel downs from at the end of the game from
Mason Rudolph, and they average four yards to carry against
the defense allowing only three yards to carry. Yeah, you
(06:10):
take away the Caleb Johnson obvious runs and the yards
per carry gets even better. Now are we trying to
gloss over the statistics. No, We're just trying to point
out the fact that the running game was more effective
than if you just looked at the box score and said,
now three point six yards to carry. No, it was
better than that. So and that all starts with the
offensive line. All credit to Jalen Warren and gain Well
(06:30):
and Caleb Johnson. That it has to start up front,
and it is improving. It's one of the areas that
needed to improve from the beginning of the year onward
if you were going to be the kind of team
that you hope to be. And for me, the arrow
is definitely pointing up definitely.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Rob and kind of maybe same church, different pew You know,
Matt and I use that term the team you want
to be, and I think that's a great way to
put it. Matt and I have been kind of following
a few key indicators in that regard since training camp.
Average yards per run, you know, yards per carry was
one of them. Explosive play differential was one of them.
(07:07):
Sack differential was another one. And man, this Steelers defensive front,
it took a little time for it to come together.
You know, Cam Hayward's slower start, I think that was
to be expected. You didn't have your first round pick
Derek Harbon for the first couple weeks of this season.
Because of that, it felt like Keanu Benten was a
little miscast. You lose Alex high Smith for a period
(07:29):
of time as well too. But I think finally they've
gotten healthier, They've gotten everybody up to speed. Nick Herbig
has continued to prove and emerge to star capable qualities
here at this point, if they are going to be
the team that they want to be, I think the
defense is starting to check a lot of those boxes.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
And look in the part, yeah they are, and I
think you underscored all the main points there. West, you know,
there was the whole in with Cam Hayward and and
you know, Week one, I think because of that and
because there's no harm in you know, I didn't I
did not have a great feeling about Week one against
the Jets because you knew what they were gonna do,
(08:11):
based upon the personnel they have and based upon what
we saw at the end of last year, which was
especially that playoff game. You know that the Ravens just
sledgehammering it at the Steelers and the Steelers incapable of
stopping it. So what were they gonna do? They were
gonna do that. And look, you know we've talked about
this before. Injuries are gonna happen, and that's why you
have to have that good depth. It's impossible to have
(08:32):
great depth everywhere, by the way in a team. Uh,
that's just that's just it's not gonna happen. And no
offense to anybody else. But I think we saw what
a what a gigantic loss not having Deshaun Elliott was
out there. You know, get to stack in Minnesota, gets
an interception, league to team and tackles this week, he's
a He's a really, really good player. So I do
(08:53):
think that the defense is coming together. I do think
it starts up front. You know, if you want to
you know, if you really want to unleash the powers
of your corners. You know, it's a pretty simple formula
in an ideal world, and of course nothing's quite ideal.
But you stop the run, okay, great? Uh, then you
force them into second or third and long and what
are they gonna want to do? They're gonna want to throw.
(09:14):
So guess what. Now you have three corners who you love.
Joey Porter Junior added, you know, with the additions of
Sleigh and Ramsey who had two sacks yesterday, now you
can blanket coverage and you have such faith in those guys.
Now you can start bringing blitzes. I mean, Deshaun Elliot
had a sack last week, Jalen Ramsey had two sacks
this week. You know, Matt and his Matt's Stats talked
(09:35):
about how much were there blitzing Patrick Queen being effective
in that regard. It is starting, and to me, it
starts with the It starts with stopping to run. But
you have to have that personnel behind it, and it's
and a scheme that fits it. And right now it's
looking like all of those things are starting to drop
into place.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Let's stick with Queen a little bit because I think
you can get overshadowed with some of the star power
in that side of the ball, some of the new faces,
you know, Ramsey and Slay, et cetera. Harman, but I
think they've weaponized Queen a lot more as just an
attack player. He's a phenomenal athlete. I mean, you watch
the games live in the building, you really see his
(10:15):
speed and change a direction and explosiveness better than you do,
you know on TV. I think Queen's turning the corner
with the team right now.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Well, I mean, he's a two time Pro Bowler, and
I know Pro Bowl and All Pro aren't the same things,
but it's not like he's not decorated. But you know, Matt,
I wondered what they were going to do when they
got him and how they were going to utilize because
in twenty twenty two for the Ravens, he had five sacks,
and then the next year when he was a second
year All Pro, he had three and a half sacks.
(10:47):
And for the Steelers, you know they did not utilize
in that, but he had one sack last year. Now
he had one hundred and twenty nine tackles right tackling machine.
And but but is that absolutely the best use of him?
You know, and he had three interceptions in his last
two years combined in Baltimore. So is he going to
be a cover guy for you? Is he going to
(11:08):
be a blitz guy for you? Does he have to
be one of the other? Can he utilize them both ways?
I just think we saw that they really weren't utilizing
him in anything but coverage for the most part. You know,
with with the Steelers last year, now this year, we're
seeing more and more of the full range. You know,
(11:28):
this is a guy, you know, to use the old cliche.
He's got a lot of tools in his toolbox. You're
not just telling You're not just handing him in a
hammer and saying, hey, go fix the sun room. You know,
You're you're giving him the whole tool belt and saying,
let's get the job done. And he's got a he's
had a varied tool belt. There's a lot of things
he can do. And and you're right, I think you're
really right to point him out because I think he's
been excellent and I think, you know, we're starting to
(11:52):
see you know, he talk about up front and you
talk about personnel, but you have to utilize that personnel
and the way that best their skills. And I think
we're seeing, you know, Patrick Queen be unleashed more because
of the fact that you have better personnel around him.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
A couple more minutes here with Rob king on the
drive on the Steelers Audio Network. Kinger, you know, speaking
of tool belts and knowing where to go, what to use,
all those different things. Man another just professional performance, tidy,
buttoned up efficient from Aaron Rodgers twenty one of thirty
(12:29):
two hundred and thirty five yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers.
I think it was in a weird way, it's more
of what we've seen from Aaron Rodgers. This is what
he's done. Take what the defense gives you be able
to assess and evaluate better than almost anybody in NFL
history at the line of scrimmage and go from there.
But I think we're even seeing him expand on that,
(12:51):
grow on that he's standing back in the pocket for
a beat longer and trying to move and buy himself
some extra time the the you know, his his average
depth of target this week was over a yard more
than it's been on average through the Steelers first four games.
I think he's getting more comfortable. The offensive line, as
you guys mentioned, a big part of this, and it
(13:11):
just feels like Aaron Rodgers on the same page with
all his new teammates as well, and we're starting to
see some growth in some progression there too.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Yeah, he's so good, I mean, you know, and I
think it's still I still think he's really really good,
and we're getting an opportunity to see that with an
offense that I think had some versatility. Now again, we'll
see as we progress and whether teams are going to
adjust to what the Steelers are doing. I really think
it's going to be a game plan specific team. You know,
(13:45):
you run seven men in the box, Okay, here comes
Spencer Anderson, Here comes Darnel Washington, here we come Okay,
So you don't have great personnel in the slot or whatever. Well,
this week we're going to see more Pat triar Mouth
and John new Smith and An Austin when he gets
back in there. He came that calf I think is
always going to be a given, and I do think
(14:05):
they're going to try to run the ball. But those
guys are weapons that can be utilized different ways in
the passing game as well. So when you have this
wide breadth of ways to attack a team, which is
what I think it is, I you know, when he
talks about the number two receiver, and I understand that discussion,
but I think that the Steelers are going to try
to thought fully utilize the weapons they have and it's
(14:25):
a varied palet of players. And who else to you know,
handle the paint rush than Aaron Rodgers. I mean, his
decision making is excellent. He is the best in NFL
history at interception percentage. He takes care of the football.
I think we have seen after the first game he.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Didn't look real mobile.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
He said, yeah, my back was stiff. I think he's
shown better mobility. Is he going to tuck it can
go forty yards? No? I don't think he is. I
don't want him to either. But I that throw he made,
you know, two throws stick out to me. That the
throw he made to friar Mouth in the Seattle game.
And I've said this before. I think it's the best
throw we'll see by any quarterback in the NFL this season.
(15:06):
And it was incomplete, but it was just an incredible
throw and people aren't gonna remember it because it was incomplete.
But the throw he made yesterday, rolling to his right,
directing traffic, throwing across his body on a line to
Connor Heyward in the back of the end zone in
a brief window across your body. Come on, man, you
know those are throws that I think that the majority
(15:29):
of NFL quarterbacks could not could not even think about making.
You know the old Muhammad Ali line, if you even
dreamed about beating me, you better wake up and apologize.
If they dreamed about making those rows, they should wake
up and apologize to Aaron Rodgers because I don't think
many guys can make those throws. And still I just
think that, you know, this is right now as we
(15:51):
stand here right now, and people are gonna say, well
who they beat? Okay, I get it, I understand that,
but I think right now there's a lot of stuff
looking good. And to have him be the guy at
the controls, not just the savvy but the arm talent
he still has, I think that's really good for the Steelers. Rob.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Lastly, I got for you, and you kind of mentioned it.
I know Austin will return probably sooner.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Than later, and he didn't go to I R. I
don't know if he'll be here Thursday or not. Who knows.
We'll talk about later in the week.
Speaker 6 (16:20):
But as I've been doing shows and sitting here in
studio and talking through Steeler stuff with you guys, and
you know Mike as well, I think i'd be a
little more aggressive on that number two wide receiver. I mean,
the season's going well. I'm not saying your mortgage, first
or second round picks or get anything real crazy, but
(16:41):
one more piece for Rogers to work with, to me,
is getting more and more appealing as they keep winning games.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
And I understand that, and I talked with this sometimes
with junior correspondent Shaper King, Junior corresponding not the show
with Max Dark, we have a lot of NFL discussions,
and I understand. You know, Look, my feeling on this
is as I said probably on this air, and as
I've got my son as well, I think that, so
(17:10):
what's that going to cost? You? All Right? So you know,
if you're the Saints, you have Chris a Lave, right, well,
you want to get better. You want a Lave to
be a guy that's going to be around when you
get better. Are you just going to give them away?
I don't know if there's going to be. And then
you're not going to sign a player. You're not going
to get a kind of guy that you are going
(17:31):
to then commit to long term and have to pay
a lot of money to. That's just not going to happen.
You're not that kind of a team. You're not the
kind of team that's going to have. I don't think
sixty million dollars wrapped up into wide receivers. So I
understand what you're saying that. And in a perfect world
you love another weapon, sure, you know you'd love another
(17:52):
defensive lineman or another offensive There's lots of things you love.
There's lots of places that I think if the Steelers
see the opportunity and they think they can make their
team better, they will. And in a perfect world, would
you like a player like that? Sure? Then you know
there are other factors. You know, the cost is the
number one factor, the length of time you're going to
(18:13):
get him back for which I would you know, circle
into part of the cost, would be part of that equation.
And then I also think that you know, how many
as long as you're winning. I think you know things.
You're good looking at Philadelphia, right, I mean, those guys
are upset they're not getting the ball. Well, you got
dk Metcalf, you have Johnny Smith, you have Pat fryer Mouth,
(18:35):
you have Jalen Warren, you have Kenneth Gainwell. You want
to bring along Caleb Johnson is rookie at Calvin Austin
on the outside. You want to bring along Roman Wilson
on the outside too. So there comes a time too
where I think you could be facing diminishing returns. So
I think it would have to be the right player
at the right price. But you could say that, and
(18:55):
I understand I'm not trying to be evasive. I think
you could say that around the roster to your point, Matt,
if it was right place, uh, you know, right cost,
right player, I'm.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Not saying, but I'm just warming up to being a
smidge more aggressive on that front.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
I do think that. And we talked about this same
thing last year. If there's an injury, that's a bigger
problem to me than you need somebody. And I think
it was a problem last year, you know, And I've
mentioned this a couple of times. I don't know if
I'm these in this show. But you know, people talk
about that five game losing streak at the end of
(19:31):
the season, including the playoffs. Don't forget that the offense
was exploding and George Pickens was injured at the head
of that and missed a game or two. I can't
remember they missed one game or two, but that was
a factor because you didn't have that next guy to
step up and fill that void. That to me, would
be the biggest I think it would be a bigger need.
(19:51):
You know, maybe I'm wrong, and maybe they just maybe
maybe it's a second receiver in its own merits is
the bigger need. But I think that would be the
press issue for me. I'm knocking on what as I
say that?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
And your dog is Uh is agreeing, confirming, confirming in
the background. We are we are friends of the dogs
here on this program, just not the dog Pound. Rob King. No,
Rob King kind enough to lend us some of his
time on a busy Monday, a condensed weight week here
King or thank you great stuff as always, and UH
and we'll talk to you soon. We'll see you Thursday.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
You got it. Thanks you guys, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
There he is, Rob King noted author. You know what
I need to do now. I need to find something
like an equivalent of the Kaelin Metcalf that I can
call rob King. Okay, Robert might be a little too
still Vanilla. I'll try and work on it. Figure I'll
figure out something about Yeah. Well, you know he's an
author now too, so he's got to have some weird
stuff out there in his bio or something that we
(20:49):
can that we can we can pick from and put
him on the spot a little bit, but good stuff
from him as always. We've got two more segments to go.
We've got some significant news around the league that we
have discuss, and we also were gonna get to some
of your tweets before we get up out of here,
so plenty more to get to. West Shuler and Matt Williamson,
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
(21:10):
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Well, Matt, we've got our first I guess coaching change,
coaching firing of the NFL season. As just earlier today,
the Titans fired Brian Callahan just six games into his
second year after a one in five start just four
and nineteen during his entire tenure as the Titans head
(22:07):
coach there in Nashville. In Tennessee, Matt I continue to think,
I don't know. I kind of sit on both sides
of the fence on this one on one half. Like
I've always firmly believed in, like you need to give
a coach at least three years. It's football is.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
So you know, they're taking over a bad situation, especially
when they're taking over a bad situation.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
You know, I'm not saying that Alabama has to give
all their coaches three years, right, you know, but an
NFL team that is in a very bad situation devoid
of talent rebuilding, not only do you have to supplement that,
you also just need time to get guys that fit
your system and your scheme and square pegs for square
holes type things. But also four and nineteen through two
(22:53):
years is pretty glaring as well too. I think we're
seeing more and more of this at every level, but
especially now in the NFL. Coaches getting fired after just
one year into their second season in Brian Callahan the
latest one.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Yeah, And the other thing about it is, I don't
know what going to an interim gains you for the
rest of the season. You know, could you let him
play it out see if he could write the ship.
You must have liked something about him when you hired him, obviously.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
But the vibes are bad.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
I mean, first off, I think it's noteworthy that over
the last three years right round they fired a coach
or a GM, then a coach, a GM, now a coach.
Yeah not ever at the same time, it's just I'm
gonna get this guy. Who's going to help me replace
(23:45):
the next guy? Like there's no continuity at all. Who's
hiring the next guy? You know, like sometimes do the
whole full swoop, you know. And coincidentally, Vrabel's playing Tennessee
this upcoming week. You know, who was one of the
first to go off was quite successful, correct, So it
makes you wonder And unfortunately this is true in the league.
And fortunately around here you don't have that problem. There's
(24:07):
some owners that are in over their head. I mean
they're just flat out arms without look at the Jets
right right, and I think Tennessee is as good of
an example as any. They got a super promising quarterback,
but the product they've put on the field is the
worst in the league.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:23):
I mean, I know the Jets are fighting for it too,
and they have not won, but they're embarrassing right now.
The Titans, they're several years away in terms of their
roster just you know, building anything. You're not seeing any
steps in that right direction, except for maybe of the quarterback.
But he still needs a ton of development.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
And you're like, is this the right staff to do that? Yeah,
and put everything around him that he needs to be successful.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
I mean, if if Arizona doesn't give that game away
two weeks ago, and they're not a juggernaut either, Jet
and I think they'd be easily thirty second in it
power rank, which I thought they should have been when
we did power ranks last Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
The Raiders did not play well and still beat them
by double digits.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Yeah, and they're not good either, No, I mean, they're
a bottom five team and they handled.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
And they handled them despite not playing playing well. Yeah.
So our first NFL coaching change, NFL firing happens in Tennessee,
and that comes on the heels of the Titans dropping.
Speaker 6 (25:25):
What's kind of hilarious or weird is his dad's on staff.
His dad's the a line coach. Is he really I
didn't really, he's like a legendary oh lion coh they
came over.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Oh yeah, you're right, all right.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
I mean he was the Browns oh line coach. The
Browns let him out of his contract to go be
with his son, who came over from the Bengals. I
assume he's still gonna be the a line coach, but
sunny boy and coming around for lunch or anything.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Yeah, it's tough. Hey, it happens quickly in this league.
It certainly does. But yeah, a coaching change for the
Titans after they, like I said, follow the Raider twenty
to ten yesterday, and that is the first one in
the National Football League will not be the last.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
In fact, I bet I.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Bet you will probably get another here in the month
of October.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
At least I think that's probably if.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I had to guess, Matt, you want to run through
the gambit of these games from yesterday. Yeah, sure, the
Broncos talking about a sloppy one, an ugly one, but
the Broncos getting a man, I mean games into Glenn's career.
But again, we've seen the Patriots just fired a coach
after one year It's happened a couple times now in
recent memory.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
I'm shocked didn't win this by a lot more. To
be honest with you, Denver's d is great. Their offense
still struggled, but I mean all you need to know
is justin Fields completed nine passes.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
This is staggering, was sacked.
Speaker 6 (26:48):
Nine times and ended up with negative ten passing yards
as a team.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Staggering, staggering. They went backwards when they went.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Forward, as you quite often like to say, they could
have snapped every pass play and spiked it into the
ground and been better off.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, except for the handoffs. I mean, every
pass it's.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
A historically bad stuff from the Jets off off awful
And where where do you go? Right, what do you do?
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Lose a lot of games?
Speaker 2 (27:19):
They are going to lose a lot of games, and
it's gonna be a it's gonna be a long back
half of the season for everybody there in Gang Green,
that's for sure. That one was the early morning London
game yesterday, of course at at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Won
more of those to go next week Jackson Jacksonville plays.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
I should know that. But it's kind of like a
home game for Jackson.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Rams maybe yeah, is it r uh? So that's your
that's your early morning game. There a weird one thirteen
to eleven. You see that score all the time. As
the Broncos take down the Jets, then the Colts Matt
they continue to find different ways to win. Yeah, you
need them thirty some points, they can do it. You
need them to win a defense struggle, they can do it.
(28:02):
Colts thirty one to twenty seven over the Cardinals to
move to five and one.
Speaker 6 (28:06):
Yeah, Jacob Rissett led the Cardinals and they were better
off than I would have thought. But I give the
Colts credit. Like you said, they can win pretty much
any way you want. You know, Taylor, Daniel Jones, Warren,
they got some star power now, they sure do.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Yeah, they're good.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
You We'll see them here in a couple of weeks.
Total sidebar. But they had the full roof open of
Lucas Oil Stadium.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, you and I have been to Indianapolis a million
times for the combine. I've also between regular season and preseason.
I think I've done three Steelers games there as well too.
I need to see that I need to do something
there with that stadium.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Open.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
That looked awesome. It did look cool, like the whole
roof is open, the sun shining in. That was that
was really cool. They say, I understand they can't do
that in February for the combine it'll be a little
too cold. But maybe maybe next time.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
I steal it forty times.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, maybe next time the Steelers are out there, they
can open up the roofs uh. Speaking of places that
could be making coaching changes, the Miami Dolphins certainly would
be on that list. Bad vibes there. They drop a
close one at home to the Chargers twenty nine to
twenty seven. Chargers just needed to find a way to win,
and kind of they did zap that two game losing streak,
(29:17):
and they did, and the Dolphins falled to one and five.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
And the I mean, they're not as miserable watches like
the Titans.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
They're not.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
They've got some Lamborghinis and offense just.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
But it's bad vibes. They're losing a lot of close
they lose a lot of close games. They fall to
one and five. I mean that division is the Bills
and the Patriots and a lot of ye as the
Dolphins and the Jets have just one win between them
and certainly not getting any better in Miami. Speaking of
those Patriots, they got another victory. They kind of did
exactly what we predicted. Matt go down to New Orleans, fantastic,
(29:53):
outstanding and they had twenty two first half points, just
a feel goal in the second half, but that was
enough for the Patriots to move to forward and too
with a twenty five to nineteen win in New Orleans.
Speaker 6 (30:06):
And the Saints are another one that they're not as
hard to watch as Tennessee or the Jets or I mean,
like there's not.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
A lot of much.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Rather like I'd much rather watch the Saints. I'd watch
the Saints and the Dolphins play three times before i'd
watch the Jets and the Titans play once.
Speaker 6 (30:19):
Yeah, exactly, like they're just not they don't have good
enough players yet you know.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
No, they don't. And perhaps one of the more surprising
results of the weekend, the Panthers somehow hanging around with them.
Yeah I don't either, but they beat the Cowboys thirty
to twenty seven there in Charlotte.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I know exactly what do with the Cowboys.
Speaker 6 (30:37):
It's always gonna be a high scoring game, and Dak's
always gonna put up numbers.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I'll be honest. Pickens has been phenomenal, you know, with
lamb out that hasn't.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Gotten on both of my big money fantasy.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Team and he's.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Carried me to some victories here. Yeah, but that's I mean,
that's about all they got going for him is Dak
and George Pickens at this point rible to defense is terrible.
I mean, they're scoring points and losing gay it feels
a lot like the Bengals of last lot, scoring points
and still finding a way to lose games. Hey, who
saw the Panthers being three and three?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Yeah? What to make of them?
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I don't either. I don't either. And one of the
games that we kind of had circled to watch this
weekend Matt down in Jacksonville, a tight, low scoring one
between the Jags and the Seahawks. But the Seahawks find
a way. Both of these teams now four and two.
The Seahawks are perfect three and zero on the road.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
They continue ridiculously.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Know how to win games on the East Coast like
nobody else on the West Coast. It's wild Seattle twenty
to twelve over the Jags.
Speaker 6 (31:36):
And I think the Jags were bad in this game.
I think Seattle, as we talked about on Friday, is
a one tier above them as a franchise right now.
That Darnald to Smith Najigma thing is incredible.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
And they're in all levels insane.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
And they had a ton of sacks too.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
I mean that defensive front as we saw live, Seattle's
pretty darn good defense.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Yes they are, and that showed against Jacksonville, and I
think was a big difference in that one. The Rams
moved to four and two as well. They go into
Baltimore and do what everybody's done and beat the Ravens,
different to I think how we all expected to play
out though Matt they had a.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Lot lot of injuries.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
They were tied at three at a time, a lot
of injuries.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Weird one Coup is probably gonna miss the next weekend London.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
It looks like he's going to miss some time. Yeah,
and hey, they're in an alright spot, but they are
weird one three to three at the half, Rams come
out and score bang bang, two quick touchdowns and then
that was kind of it. Seventeen to three over Baltimore.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
And Baltimore's obviously in a huge hole. Great to see
them lose no matter how it went. Yeah, but both
both quarterbacks got in there. You know, they need to
buy more than anything I can remember.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I would absolutely agree with that. I don't know how
much better it's going to get for him out of
the bye, but it certainly can't get much worse.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Much worse.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Right, We did kind of mention Raiders over the Titans
twenty to ten.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
They're bad football teams, and it really wasn't that.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Quel.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
I was just going to say, like any signs of
life there from the Raiders for you? Is it just
they were the best are of two bad team.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Bowers is back being healthy, which goes a long way.
Speaker 6 (33:03):
He was really missed. Genti's a keeper. Gino was still uneven,
but like Crosby and Bowers and Gente, you showed up
as Yeah, you know, hard guys to play against.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Their offensive line. It's not so great, terrible, terrible Packers.
Out of there bye week, they get back to feeling good.
They moved to three to one and one with a
twenty seven to eighteen win over Cincinnati. Hey, Bengals kept
that one close late.
Speaker 6 (33:25):
Yeah, We'll talk a lot of Bengals, but I mean
the Bengals first half offense is so horrendous. Everything they're
doing isn't quite garbage time, but it's been late in
games when they're losing.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Bengals defense is right there at the bottom.
Speaker 6 (33:39):
The league kind of shot Green Bay didn't win by more,
you know, like we since the Parsons trade all these
super high hopes for the Packers. They beat a pretty
bad team. Okay, they've tied a team. They lost to
the Browns, you know, like their their last three games
or so or not.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
They looked like Gangbusters the first two weeks of the
season when they were beating up on the Lions. The Commanders,
they're team right now, No they're not, and hopefully.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
Went nothing to do with tackling Josh Jacobs and not
at all interested in.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
That Tucker craft as well too. But yeah, the Packers,
let's hope that they kind of stay in this rut
a little bit through the end of the month, when
they'll be in Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks here
for Sunday Night football. But yeah, they they end up
winning by nine, but wasn't quite as decisive and impressive
as as maybe the final score looked. By the way
(34:30):
I mean to say this, too, speaking of offenses and struggling,
and I wanted to bring this up at some point,
and I just remembered it. Steelers defense not giving up
a touchdown yesterday for the first time since Week two
in Denver last year. Yeah, so a little over a
year the Steelers able to keep a team out of
the end zone. Got to love to see that. A
couple more here another one that we two more that
(34:50):
we had circled on the calendar to watch the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers continue to impress. Man, they moved a five
and one. They take down the Niners thirty to nineteen.
Another devastating loss for San Francisco, as Fred Warner is
going to be out for the season as well, and
that might be that's the kiss, that's the kiss.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
I think Kittle might come back next week. But still,
I mean, even like Jennings, the wide receiver had like
four broken ribs. He's playing with like their second year
in a row, they've been this smashing, injuries smashed, and
Warner is going to be a tough one over and
almost an impossible one to overcome. The Bucks though, I
mean Baker's MVP right now, Yes he is. They won
that game Abuka gets hurt in the game, Evans didn't play.
(35:31):
Oh man, they were missing two offensive banged up. Yeah,
they got a ton of He still scored thirty points exactly.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
They're real impressive.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
M v P.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
Baker oh Man, who saw that one coming. Yeah, good
for him. As the Bucks moved to five and one,
and they're starting to look like one of the best
teams in the NFC for sure. And then finally it
was as close to him must win for the Chiefs
as you could have at this point in the season.
They take care of business at home against the line
thirty to seventeen. Kansas City moves back to five hundred
(36:04):
at three and three, Lions fall to four and two.
Speaker 6 (36:09):
I we all watched the game, or most people did.
I think the Chiefs are pretty legit at this point.
The o lin's a lot better than it's been. I
think they basically fixed that the defense is always going
to be solid. They didn't stop the run well early
and that's been a problem for them, and I thought,
oh man, this could be a long night for the Chiefs.
(36:31):
But they figured out a way, you know, I mean,
and they always kind of will.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
In my opinion, the Lions really didn't change it.
Speaker 6 (36:37):
Yeah, be honestly, that's a tough, tough game, tough environment
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Night, Matt, We've got two Monday nighters tonight. I think
both games intriguing for different reasons. I'm just always looking
for reasons to watch. Sure, right, Bill's Falcons. Okay, Buffalo
one of the better teams in the league, Josh Allen,
that offense coming off of a loss against a Falcons
team with a lot of young pieces, they don't haste
a lot.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Of primetime, a lot of prime time, a different environment.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
You know, Buffalo only a three and a half point favorite,
you lay in those points.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
I think so.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
I think the Bills got a smidge embarrass the last game.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
That's the big kicker.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
Time to play them. But I could see a lot
of points in that game. I don't love either defense.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
I could see Atlanta like hanging around, and then Buffalo
scores late and ends up winning by ten.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Yeah, yeah, that's crazy, but.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
It wasn't a blowout type game. And then Bear's Commanders Caleb, Williams,
Jane and Daniels two teams that are feeling all right
about themselves. Washington a five and a half point favorite,
at home.
Speaker 3 (37:36):
I think I'm taking the points. Having some faith in
Caleb and the new coach.
Speaker 6 (37:42):
I think they're starting to feel what it's like to
do this at a professional level, you know, with one another.
But Washington runs a ball on everyone, and the Bears
d has not been what I thought it would be
this year.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
I like that number plus five and a half for
Chicago if it was if it was three and a
half or four and a half, I think I'd lay
them the Commanders. Five and a half are over. I'll
take the points with Chicago. I think Washington wins, but
the Bears find a way to keep it competitive.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Yeah, I mean I think their offense is pretty good.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Yes, I think so too. I think so too. But
like I said, two games tonight that I'm excited to. Yeah,
they're to throw on the television.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I think that hard to take it watch both the
same time.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
I completely agree and it kind of gives me an
excuse to get out of bedtime with the kids. Sorry,
Dad's gonna watch this seven to fifteen football game for work.
Mom will have to put you down one more segment
to go. A couple tweets to close us down On
the other side, when we return Westsheler, Matt Williamson. It
is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
(38:40):
Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Down the home stretch here on a victory Monday, as
the Steelers take care of business out of the bye week,
take down the Browns twenty three to nine. And you
guys have tweeted some thoughts and some observations. Let's get
to some of these before we get up out of here.
Does that work for you? Mister Williamsons, absolutely. Wallace will
(39:32):
lead us off and says, after all the catterwalling about
the offensive line recently, the praise for yesterday's performance is refreshing.
Sure they had extra guys, but that's why they were hired.
I love it when a plan comes together. Colonel John
Hannibal Smith. There, that's an a team reference, I believe
at the end, right, starting to come together. Listen again,
(39:53):
not a mona Lisa, right, but it's much better now
than it was September and MetLife Stadium.
Speaker 6 (39:58):
Yeah, and I would say Broder Joe, it is probably
the top of that list. I think Frasier's be coming
back to more of a dominant player as opposed to
just he.
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Had the best game of the season yesterday.
Speaker 6 (40:08):
I think Falton, who's really understand the speed of the
game and what it's like to be a starter at
this level. And certainly Anderson, and to another degree, Washington,
I know he's a tight end.
Speaker 3 (40:18):
Absolutely help. Now.
Speaker 6 (40:20):
I don't mean to reign on the parade, but we
haven't seen the depth challenged, you know. I mean Anderson
would fill in a spot if a guard got hurt.
You'd feel comfortable about that.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
But then you lose that side note, you know, like
that's a good point.
Speaker 6 (40:35):
Nothing bad has happened to that group yet, you know,
and it probably will.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
You're unfortunately correct in that assessment. I hope it doesn't.
Hopefully one of those outlier years. Let's gent them.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
All to grow together, you know, and young talent players.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
No doubt, no doubt. Brad tweets it says, how about
a little love for Harmon this week? And how do
you think? How do you think Benton and Cam looked.
I know their stats were limited, but that's not necessarily
an indicator of play. I think we gave some love
to Harmon. He's been. Yeah, he's been very active out stay.
He's been a much needed extra piece for that defensive
(41:10):
line since he returned from injury.
Speaker 3 (41:11):
I think's exactly what you want to have.
Speaker 6 (41:13):
A first round pick who's still getting his feet wet,
but he's contributing and not making mistakes, not hurting you
in any way.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
It's only played in three games in his career.
Speaker 6 (41:20):
Yeah, a big body in the middle that is very active,
plays hard. I'm fine with it. I'd probably, to be honest,
go back and watch Hayward and Benton.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
A second time. I haven't been able to do that.
It's been a weird week.
Speaker 6 (41:33):
But I didn't think that they were liabilities at all,
that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
You know, I'm not working. I think they're properly slotted for.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
Where they need to be in terms of what's being
asked in rotation, snap counts, usage, all that good stuff.
So I think at the line's in a really good
point spot right now.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
I think so too. I think they've figured out that rotation,
that usage. They've got different body types for Yeah, they've
got a lot of square pegs for square holes and
round pegs for round holes.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
And lack of neck wule or you fool as well?
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Matt tweets us and says, great win yesterday.
Can we start hyping Jalen Ramsey as a Defensive Player
of the Year candidate? He seems to make a game
altering play every game. I agree with the but that
might be a little It's very hard for a defensive
back to win Defensive Player of the Year. I know
Pat certain just did it last year, no doubt. But
(42:23):
you have to really have some interceing. And I know
he's got a couple of interceptions, he's got a couple
of sacks, all those things.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
He's played at that level of his career.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
He played at that level. It's just you've got to
really fill up the stat sheet to do it as
a defensive back.
Speaker 6 (42:38):
I love throwing it out there, but that that's a
little rich for you know, the mid October Now, this
is what we're talking about.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
But Miles Garrett's case has gotten the last two weeks.
Speaker 6 (42:51):
Sure, I think had a sack or two of their nine,
and so he's starting to grab a hold of this. Uh,
he's got to be the leader in the clubhouse right
now for Denver.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
Seth tweets us and says I'm with you on that.
By the way, Seth says, great win for the Steelers.
Looking ahead to Thursday, Mike Tomlin two and nine in
road Thursday night games. Last win on a Thursday night
on the road was twenty sixteen in Indianapolis.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
I think that was one of the games where Ben
Roethlisberger just went nuts against the Colts a few times
in his career. Yeah, listen, this is.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Hey, that's real.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Yeah, that's real, as real as the success out of
the bye week is. Yeah, struggles on the short week,
particularly on the road, I would point out I don't
think Mike Tomlin is alone in that.
Speaker 3 (43:35):
I would say, I don't think that's a unique that the.
Speaker 2 (43:37):
Numbers for teams going on the road on the short
week or not great across the NFL. But I think
this is a good week to get that move in
the right direction.
Speaker 3 (43:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (43:45):
And I haven't seen the line, but I was told
that they are a substantial favorite here on Monday. The
opening line, I want to say, it's like six and
a half or seven and a half something like that.
I mean, and since he's got a lot of problems
that I mean, it's a teaser for tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (44:00):
I'm going to really dig into them.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Tomorrow is going to be since he heavy on the show.
They have issues and they are many. Last one here
a J tweets us a couple of quick hitters. Okay,
more than likely to happen before next season. Number one, uh,
Roger Jones is extended or Pat Fryermouth is traded.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
I would say Jones extended is more likely.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
I think so too. If he keeps doing what he's doing,
I think that's gonna don't want to be looking for
the same. I also want to keep everything you can
just fit your option. Maybe that's why you're saying that's
what he meant.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
That buys you another year to make that decision.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
Number two more likely to happen Steelers play in the
a f C Championship Game or Aaron Rodgers plays next season.
I think those are kind of tied together.
Speaker 3 (44:52):
Say one happens, I bet the other.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
The Steelers are in the a FC Championship Game. I
bet you there's at least.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
A Rodgers is more likely. Like he's having fun.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
I know before the season started he said something along
the lines when he went on McAfee show. There at
Saint Vincent College when they had that crazy day with
the broadcast, he said something along the lines of like,
this is more than likely my last season, like how
he said it, but he said a couple times throughout
this year now.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Like hinted that she'll be consider will in Dublin.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
He was like, can we come back here and do
this again next year? Yeah, yeah, things like that, Like so,
I don't think it's completely hard, more than likely to happen.
Steelers trade for a wide receiver number two, or they
draft a first round quarterback in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 6 (45:44):
They both could happen. I'm still going to say that
they draft a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
I'm gonna say I think that there's a great chance
that they draft the quarterback in the first round of
twenty twenty six, particularly because of how many first round
graded quarterbacks. I think they're going to be coming down
here in the draft those lines.
Speaker 6 (46:00):
This week isn't to do that because we were so condensed,
But the next week we got much back more.
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Into one hundred percent Matt Williamson. We're also gonna get
more into some of that overview stuff that you did
of turnover differential sacked differential explosive play differential uh next
week when we have some more time to kill as well,
But that will do it for us for today. Thanks
to Rob King for joining us, big shout out to
our video producer Tyler v Mister TV for keeping us
(46:28):
handsome on the YouTube, and a big thank you to
Lim Magnefik Matt Williamson. I'm gonna, I'm gonna continue to
try and work in the Mario Lemu themed nicknames there.
That'll do it for us today. We'll be back tomorrow
with plenty on the Bengals as we continue to navigate
this short week. Take care everybody, and we will talk
to you soon. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
(46:49):
on the Steelers Audio Network.
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