June 16, 2025 • 42 mins
Dale and Matt give their thoughts on Aaron Rodgers' activity at Steelers minicamp, before talking about position rankings for defensive tackles and edge rushers.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
At least he's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Welcome to the Drive. I am Dale LOLLI he is
the Matt Williamson. As you can hear my voice still
not completely back, no, but getting better improving.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah. Yeah, and.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
At least you can kind of understand what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You were gutting through it last week. It was rough.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
These last two weeks have been you know, you don't
you don't understand, like how frustrating it is not to
be able to talk.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I bet, I bet they're even just mumble a syllable
two here or there point or whatever. I mean, you've
been gotten through it, to say the least. Let alone.
We kind of do this for a living. Yeah, right,
I mean, So I went.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
To a retirement party for one of my former co
workers over the weekend and it was in a casino.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Okay, so there's a lot of ambient noise. Yeah, I'm
sure it's hard to hear there anyway, hard enough. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yeah, And everybody that I spoke to I had to
like get up in their ear and it's just very frustrating.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
I'm sure you'll be like close talking to everybody just
to say hello or whatever. Qush. In a situation like that,
I can imagine, and I say this a lot like
I can have a broken leg, I could be in
a wheelchair, I could have a broken back. But eyes
and mouth are the things I need for my job,
you know, without, without a doubt, and you're without well
(01:46):
you were without one of them for a while and
rebounding in a big way. So we are three days
a week though, and we're officially in the off season now.
I mean it's the dog days content, you know, right.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
So Steelers wrapping up there mini camp last week. We
won't see them again until July twenty third at Saint
Bencent College And as far as you think, no, at
that point, it's going to be full steam ahead with
Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Oh sure.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
And somebody just sent it to me on Twitter and
you as well, a story from MSN whatever some national
website Steelers fans frustrated that Aaron Rodgers not doing anything
at mini camp the Steelers. That was Mike tomlins phare decision,
(02:44):
right right, Yeah, that was not an Aaron Rodgers decision.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
No, And we were there. I saw everything he did.
He wasn't just sitting around doing nothing. No, I mean
to say the least. And I can't stress this enough.
First of all, you want Howard and Rudolph to get
every rep they can, especially now, especially now, because the
bullets aren't flying for real. It's not full steam ahead,
as you mentioned, Saint Vincent. It's not eleven on eleven.
(03:09):
And even in Rogers opening interview, he said, coach Tomlin
and I decided I don't know the offense yet, I
shouldn't be running the team drills, you know. And that
makes all for a three day stretch, a three day stretch.
But what I can't stress enough is, and I've said
this over and over on the air, how engaged he
was while he was there. When he stepped on the field,
(03:32):
there was no laughing and joking or you know, going
to meet teammates. I paid attention to him exclusively for
a lot of it. And first off, as a player,
as a passer of the football, he's as different than
the other guys. Let's start with that.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
You know, I saw something where somebody who was there said, oh,
he was asked how Rogers football so well? I didn't
see a lot of difference between him throwing the ball
and Mason Rudolph throwing the ball.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Like I don't know, it was the same way, right.
It's night and day, night and day, and Rudolph's fine.
All those guys are fine. Rogers is a special thrower
of the football. If Ben would have been there, he
would have looked different than those guys too. But I mean,
even quarterbacks before they even get the team drills, he's
(04:27):
like throwing to Friar Muth who then flips at the
Rudolph who throws it back to some other receiver who
flips it the Rogers. They don't want to break a finger,
catch it or whatever, you know, And he's flipping it
from his shoulder, from his ear, from his waist, everywhere
in between on purpose. You know, these are just ten
yard warm up throws on the side, I mean, and
(04:48):
he's in the ball's coming out snapping. I mean, it's
little flicks to the wrist. Those aren't even like power throws.
And then watching them do they did a lot. I
don't think it's disclosing two, but a lot of rollout drills,
you know, throw under your right on the move, throwing
to your left on the movie. They always do, they
always do, and it's part of the offense. Yeah, they're
gonna have boots and things like that. And maybe he's
(05:11):
not as good at those things as he was ten
years ago. I'm sure he's not, because he was amazing then,
but he was still way better than everybody else there.
And I can't imagine the people I was chatting with.
I mean, like Wes, I mean, he hasn't been to
a million practices, he wasn't a scout. He's like, this
looks a thousand times different. It's not even close of
the throwing of the football, the way it comes out,
(05:33):
the quickness that comes out, the christness that comes out
with the accuracy, even in those drills.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You know, yeah, he's it just looks different. It just
looks I don't know how he does it. But when
you when you see still shots of him throwing the ball,
he gets on top of the football.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I know what you mean.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Nobody I've seen.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yeah, that's a good way of putting it. And that's
so I'm gonna go back a stead. That's a great
I don't even know how to even explain that either or.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The hand is just on top of the ball.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
The grip of the ball, and that's definitely changed over
the years too, like he has gotten it down to
such a science where all the different throws, it's almost
like a picture, I would think, with different grip, it
looks like he's.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Throwing a curveball on everything. Now a lot of times
people will call a trump per twelve six curveble a
football curve. You're on top of the.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Ball, yeah, okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Don't like nobody.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, it's a real different type of motion. And even
if you all of you have seen him play football
on TV, it's not as obvious as on the practice
field or if you come to Saint Vincent, you'll be like,
oh yeah, that looks a lot.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Different and we just get so much more spin on it. Yeah,
it really right.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
He really can spin it because of that, almost like
a bowler who gets that that big wide you know,
it goes almost goes to the gutter and then it
comes in and hits that top pin because he gets
so much torque on it around the foot fotball. But
the biggest thing, I mean, obviously him throwing the football
stood out like whoa, Okay, he's legit. But again he
was so engaged every step of the way. I mean, like, again,
(07:13):
there's only three practices, but he was either six inches
into Arthur Smith or Tom Art's ear the whole time
while they're like running drills and he's pointing and he's
always sand gesture and eyes wide open, and he could
tell that they're just having conversations and he's asking and
he's learning. And if that wasn't going on, he was
(07:35):
teaching some other player. He was the mentor. I mean,
like fifty percent of the time on the field was
he was learning. Fifty percent of the time he was
teaching a younger player something, even a nod lineman, you know,
just and he could tell it was an instructional manner.
I don't know what the conversations were about, but it
wasn't about you know, fluffy, non football stuff. Maybe that
(07:58):
stuff goes on in the locker room or off the
but when he was on the field, engaged, was and
locked in, and he's got something to prove for the.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
People who are saying, well, you know, he's signed too late,
remember and this was one of my issues. Yeah, before
they sign him, so he has to be here for
the mandatory mini camp, has to be. Yeah, he was
in Egypt last year with the Jets, with the Jets
in Mini camp.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, yeah, at this exact time, that couldn't happen, right,
all right, No, I remember you saying that, and that
didn't happen, even when when Fields went with the Jets
and all of a sudden, you're looking around like, okay,
who the Steelers quarterback is going to be? And it
became pretty apparent that Rogers is going to be at
the top of the list or very much in the mix.
I mean, and this was new. Yeah, we were talking
about that, like okay, when you're in, you're in, I
(08:49):
need you to be in. And you really stressed that
a lot and said it really at Mini camp too.
I can't believe no one will ever tell us this,
but the fact that he find like forty five seconds
after OTAs, I mean, it hadn't been not by accident.
I mean, that could have been figured out two months ago. Yeah,
you know, I got a lot of stuff going on.
(09:11):
I want to enjoy this time and then I'll be
there with everybody. Cool, let's go.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Yeah, you know, I think, you know, just judging from
what I saw the group that they have, I think
this team is being slept on a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I do too. There's a few areas that have issues
or would like a reinforcement a second receiver, for sure,
But if you upgrade a quarterback and you're still making
playoffs with lesser quarterback, right, you know? I mean I
think that not to me. The huge thing I've said
a million times is I expect him to be the
(09:51):
best quarterback they've had since Ben Ben's elbow surgery. Yeah,
you know, and Ben wasn't totally washed after the elbow surgery,
but we knew at the end was rougher and it's
not the super highest bar to get over. I mean,
Fields and pick It and Trubisky, I mean, we know
the names, but I do expect this version to be
the best guy they've had for five six years or
(10:11):
something or something along those lines at the most important
position in the league. And I like the makeup of
the quarterback room. I mean, I love the true number
two and then a guy you kind of have hope for,
you know, I mean that can come along and maybe
turns into it too. I don't think Howard's ever going
to be the guy either, but the age difference is
the way they're set up to probably possibly grab a
(10:33):
first round pick at that position next year. I had
so many conversations over the weekend grad parties, Father's Day stuff,
you know, like why would they bother with this for
a year? Why not just lose more games? Like, you
don't get it, it's it's not their DNA. And come December,
maybe things didn't go well, you know, I mean, maybe
it's a somewhat failed experiment. We know this league's hard,
(10:55):
but you might be going into a playoff game. We're
hosting a playoff game. Going I kind of like, my guy,
you think.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
About it this way, if they win one more game
last year, they're going to Houston, yeah, instead of Baltimore, right, right, right,
if that one game had come against Baltimore, they're hosting.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Their host the playoff game. Yeah, with what looks like,
I mean, a lesser quarterback in my opinion, Yeah, I mean,
without question, and how close it is though it is
it is? You're right, And I hesitate to get too
excited because, frankly, being around Russell Wilson the first time
was pretty enticing a year ago, Like, you know, this
guy's got a lot of pedigree, super exciting and as
(11:42):
the season went on, it went worse, you know, And
now that could happen to anybody, but Rogers a different level.
I mean, he just is. I mean he's one of
the best I've ever seen. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I mean if we're five years ago, I understand this
five years ago.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Sure, sure, we're.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Talking about the elite quarterbacks. Yeah, and they never lived.
He's still on that list.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
He's still on that list. He's winning. He may have
had an MVP still ahead of him at that point. Yeah,
I mean it wasn't that long ago, and the end
of the Jets year wasn't as bad as you think.
He still does a lot of things. Well, I mean
he's well built, Like I noticed, his calves are thick,
and he's got a stronger He's not a skinny guy. Yeah,
he's a well proportioned, strong, in shape dude. Now, he
(12:29):
could get hurt in Week one, as could anyone though, right.
I Mean that's the thing is like I hear a
lot you know, this line can't keep him upright, that
guy's really fragile. Played seventeen games last year. But it
makes me crazy, right.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
That's people who don't know what they're looking at.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, So I can't stress this enough. I mean they
allowed more sacks than they should have as a team, yes, year,
but I blame the quarterbacks more than the line. Yes,
And I can realize a lot of stats on it,
or just if you go back and just if you're
a subscriber to Next Gen stuff or whatever, and you
(13:09):
just look at every Steeler stat or every Steeler sack,
very few of them are just Jones or McCormick just
getting whipped at the stat right or communications and here
comes to press. This is late stuff. I mean a
lot of late pressure.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Rogers isn't gonna take that.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
It's not gonna happen. That stuff won't happen. I'll bet
everything I have, even if it's Rudolph, they'll take fewer sacks. Yes,
believe that absolutely.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
But yeah, I think it's it's going to be interesting
at the.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Very it's gonna be very interesting. Say interesting is a
great word.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, No, matter how you look at this, it's going
to be an interesting season.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Yeah. And if you were on the fence about should
we go to the trove to watch or not go, yeah,
I mean it's fun to be around them. I mean
you weren't on with us as much this week because
of your voice. But I said to Wes four thousand times, like,
it's amazing to me that we're barely talking about TJ. Watts,
(14:11):
hold out, DK Metcalf first time seem in person is
a while A wow situation, by the way, I hardly
brought it up. Yeah, the fact that Faltanu is now
in a second year but a rookie. You always talk
about the first round pick to no end in mini
camp in OTA's you know, and in mini camp those
(14:31):
four huge subjects they came up. We were on the
on the air for three hours, right, but I was glue. Date.
I just couldn't help myself. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, So I think it's going to be better. I
think this team is going to be better than a
lot of the national pundits things, and you know.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
We'll see. Yeah, I hope you were excited. I mean,
I think excitement's a real good word and interesting.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Yeah, let's get through break. He is the Matt Williamson.
I'm Dale Lolli and listening.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
To the drive.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
You're on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and I will
be back with more right after this.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
Show on your twenty four to seven Home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio, and.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
We are back. I'm Dale Lollie here with Matt Williamson
and Matt. Pro Football Focus has all of their position rankings. Yeah, yeah,
top thirty two at every position. I thought we'd take
a look at that here.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
I want to focus on the defense because no matter
what happens a quarterback for the Steelers, the defense is
going to run kind of anymore, go as the defense goes.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, I think that's still safe to say. Yeah, I mean,
can Rogers win you a couple of games that other
quarterbacks in recent memory couldn't? I believe that? Yeah? Can?
Can the running game be the foundation and control the
clock and have a physical aspect? Sure? Can Metcalf get
behind the defense or Friar Remouth take a step forward,
or maybe a wide receiver to be named later come
(16:22):
in and get you eight hundred yards? Sure, But if
this team's going to be good and somewhat of a
contender in any way, the defense has to be real good,
real good, and they get a lot invested in it.
They got a lot of good players on that side
of the ball. I think they have a lot of depth,
so I'll be disappointed if it's not a minimum top
(16:43):
eight defense.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I'm talking top five, I know.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I think that's possible.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
So and look at the interior defensive lineman here first,
and so let's start from the bottom and at thirty
two is Moro at Jomo?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah, from Philadelphia, up and coming type guy. I think
they moved on from Milton Williams. Took this guy in
the seventh round and very Eagles like fashion. Bring him
along and he's flashed. He's interesting guy, part time player,
part time player. Yeah. Yeah, they got a rotation and
thirty one is is it okay? And this is the guy?
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Then a lot of Steeler fans, oh he really he
took a step backwards last year.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh I don't see that.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I didn't see that at all.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
No, people hang too much on just pure sack numbers. Yeah,
and you've used the to an example. I'm not saying
he's gonna be the next step on to it, but
I bet the sacks start to come, you know, you
start to figure it out a little bit more. And
even like his rookie year, he hardly played on third
down right, you know, like he went from being growing.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Like a fort snap guy, like sixty five percent last
nice jump.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I thought he handled it well, right, yeah, and not
all just lined up over the center a nose. He
sat down with us OTAs and I remember asking him,
you know where you expect to line up. He's like, yeah,
I'm called to nose, but I'll be all over the place. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Right, And that's the key, you mean, I think you
know this is a guy that you know, if Derek
Carmon hits, Yeah, now all of a sudden, you got
something there.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Well, that's kind of what I was going to say,
is first off, I expect I'm not saying he has
to if we do this one year from now, he's
higher than thirty one Benton. Yeah, and I kind of
expect that the Steelers might have three names on this
list next year. Yeah, you know with Harmon.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Thirty is Jevon Hargrave.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
I was really interested in him, but age is an
issue and he is starting to kind of wear injury issues. Yeah.
I think how the d line room ended up is
better than if they would have outbid the Vikings for Hardred. Yeah.
I like him. I'm rooting for him, you.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Know, but I think, you know, apples and apples. I
would be disappointed if Ben isn't better than hard Greave
this year.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yeah. I could see hard Grave rebounding though. I mean,
I still think there's a lot of ability there, but
I would definitely rather bent and going forward. Yeah, no question.
Twenty nine Jonathan Allen, the same situation, same thing. Yeah,
I mean it's.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
The Vikings had to pay a lot of money, a
lot of money for those two guys.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, it's the thing. There was serious cap investments. Both
are on the back nine. They're not on whole sixteen,
but they're on the back nine and they'll be good
for each other to both kind of rotate in and out.
And I like both players, and the Vikings are way
better Detackle than they were, but there were investments. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Twenty eight is Jordan Davis with the Eagles. I don't
agree with that.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I don't either. I liked them a lot more coming
out of school than I did now. Yeah, and frankly
I kind of learned a lesson that he is a
limited snap guy, not really a pass rusher. At Georgia,
he's a forty snap. Yeah, he ran really fast at
the combine, but I really care well.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
It helps when he get into the sideline. Oh yeah, yeah,
after he's playing it ran out.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah that's a good point. I mean, but Jalen Carter's
way better than him on this list. A Joemo might
be ahead of him when it's all said and done
from the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Twenty seven is Byron Murphy with the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I think he's a real breakout candidate. I loved them
coming out of school. Flashed Leonard Williams will be much
higher in this list. I assume they get a good
young defense.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Twenty six is to and Andre Sweat with the Titans, Murphy's
teammate in Texas.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
So I guess I'm kind of talking on both sides
my mouth because I really liked Davis coming out of school.
I was really worried about Sweat coming out of school,
and I think Sweats a lot better than Davis already,
way better, Yeah, I mean much. I wish the Steelers
had Sweat. I mean he is a force digizua with
the Cowboys. Yeah, I mean, they just gave him money.
(21:04):
He's an upfield guy, good player. I don't think he's
got a super high ceiling.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Twenty four is Grover Stewart with the Colts.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
He's another guy no one ever talks about it. He's
had a really good career. He's hard to play against.
He doesn't get much fanfare, but that's probably where he belongs.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Twenty three Eric Armstead did Jack.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Warson, Okay, another one's had a good career, long, lengthy,
three to four defensive end type. He can line up outside.
They're giving him good money, you know. Yeah, he's had
a good career too.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Twenty two Dj Reider the Lions.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Needs to stay on the field. Yeah, and he's had
some of those issues the last couple of years. Huge
bodied knows if you remember they drafted Tyler Williams out
of Ohio State, which made me think they're a little
concerned about readers durability. But everywhere he goes, the splits
on and off are way different. Yeah, especially against the run.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Twenty one another under rated guy, Zach Siler with the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Yeah. I mean he is just a blue collar, tough guy,
hard to play against, never gets any kind of recognition.
That might be a little high for me. I mean,
there's other dudes you've mentioned I'd rather hitch my wagon to.
Has he really like he's double sacks two years in
a row. I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Twenty Zach Allen with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I'm surprised he's that low. I think he's been a
force for them. I would probably have him in my
top ten. Nineteen head Oliver with Kyles, certain type of player.
I mean, he was a two hundred and seventy five
pound first round pick that tested like a linebacker. They
want a rotation there. They just keep adding and adding
and adding to that D line a lot of second,
(22:42):
third round picks, so I don't think they want to
put a ton on his plate, but him and Rousseau
are their best guys.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Eighteen John Franklin Myers with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
He's another perfect example of had a good, good, solid career, professional,
tough guy, hard to play against. I think Allen's better
than he is though.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Seventeen Kobe Turner with the Rams.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Keeps getting better and better too. I mean, that's a
fine into what fourth round. I don't think he'll ever
be at the Cam Hayward Chris Jones level, but he
could go from like a tier three guy to a
Tier two guy right and worried about now. He's hard
to play against.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Toho sixteen Klayus Campbell now the Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
That's probably too hard, that's probably I mean, I respect
him to know end, but how much is he really
gonna give you over seventeen game? You know? How many
snaps is he really going to play? You'd love to
have him in any locker room, in on any team.
And he's had a phenomenal career sort of in the
Cam Hayward, Cam Jordan mold of just longtime studs, you know,
(23:45):
but he probably plays thirty snaps a game this year.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Yeah, maybe, Yes, I have a problem with fifteen year two,
not that he's on the list, but fifteen come on,
Poona Ford.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Yeah, with the Rams, I like that he's underrated, you know.
And he's one of these dudes too that's shorter and
hard to play against. And he'll be a nice rotation
with Fisk and Turner. But I don't want him to
be the straw that serves the drink, no, you know.
Fourteen Milton Williams, Okay, I mean a lot of ability there.
(24:19):
He was a true project coming out of Louisiana Tech,
superstar tester at the combine. They bring him along slow
there didn't ask a lot of them, but he was
never a full time guy either. You know, this past year,
I don't know if New England will be happy they
gave him the immense money they did. They had to
give it to somebody. But he's If Barmore is healthy,
(24:41):
that could be a pretty dynamic pairing. Thirteen Alene McNeil
with Alliance. Yeah, another big body nose this guy. He's
a little more upfield and reader or Williams for them,
but they got a lot of beef on the inside.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Twelve is a Nandi man of Bouquet Ring Cup.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
He may have taken a baby step backwards last year. No,
two years ago. He was a real force, pro bowl
easily type guy. Last year was good, but I didn't
think he was as dynamic.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Eleven Vita Vera with the Bucks.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, he reminds me of Loading Nauda. I mean he's
one of those guys that we talked about. He's as slow. Yeah.
I might have him higher too. I mean if he
puts another four or five years together, I think you'd
be talking about Hall of Fame for him. I mean
he can push the pockets. He's not just a run
stuff or he's you know if you ask Levonte David
how valuable was Vita Vea. I'm sure it'd be, like,
(25:38):
that's the whole reason I'm doing, you know, eating up
guys left and right.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Ten Christian Wilkins last year.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, yeah, I mean the Raiders front could be quite good.
They got some dudes though.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Nine Jeffrey Simmons with the Titans.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Such a bad team, always a lump. Him and Quentin
Williams together and who I'm sure we'll get to if
you just watch their tape. It's really good. And I'm
not saying that they're dogs, they're not at all, but
sometimes late in the year, when you're two and thirteen,
it's kind of hard to notice something. And they never
play with leads and you know what I mean, like
you'd love them to be a Steeler or anything like that.
(26:17):
It's not their fault at all that the teams have struggled.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Eight to Forrest Buckner with the Colts.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
It's another professional that's really put together a strong season.
Him and Stewart together is a pretty nice pairing. They're
a little up in age, but yeah, I respect Buckner
a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Seven is Derek Brown with the Panthers.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
I missed all he was like their only good defensive
player and they lost them for the year. If he
comes back to what he was, he'll be in that
neighborhood again.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Six Leonard Williams with the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
He had a monster season for this guys. I mean
he's bounced around the league a little bit, but former
first like I think he was like third or fourth
pick in the draft. Can line up all over the
line of scrimmage. He was great last year. Five Jalen
Carter with the Eagles, and I think going up, I mean,
he's one of the guys I think could be.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
One Forrest Quinn and Williams.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Yet again, we kind of talked about him. He really
doesn't have any holes in his game.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Ye speaking of a guy with no holes. Cam Hayward
at three.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think we're all pretty familiar with his work and
if you're new to the drive, welcome, But if you
don't regard him as one of the best players of
his position, you're off. It's not like, Oh, he's good
for his age, No, he's for anybody at that position.
Oh those are good names, right, I mean, that's a
really talent. There's a lot of really talented defense tackles
(27:41):
in the league, right right, I mean those guys come
in some.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Freaks to his dexter Lawrence one is Chris Jones.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
I would have Lawrence won. I mean he missed some time.
That guy never misses snaps. Though he is a force
in all aspects. I think he's only getting better. I
hope his injury doesn't derail him. That's how I knock
on Jones. Jones going to the Hall of Fame. Jones
changes games, but he's not as consistent as Hayward or Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
He doesn't play run defense like those two.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
No, No, I mean he saves it. Yeah. That's kind
of a Chiefs thing. So does Kelsey, you know.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
I mean they you know, but there are many teams
with two guys on the list. No, and the Steelers
are one of them.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Eagles have three. Yeah. Yeah, I'm just trying to think
off the top of my head. I mean, Cole said
two Steelers have two and could add a third. I
mean they had two and threw a first round pick
at the product, right. You know, so you talk about
making a strength of strength. That could be pretty fun. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
So you know that looks good.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
It looks solid, very solid, very solid. Especially when we've
talked about it a lot, and we'll talk about the
next couple weeks too, but it might be the deepest
position on the team, just detackle in general.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Well, if it isn't the one we're going to talk
about next could Yeah, Yeah, let's get to a break.
We come back, we'll look at those edge rankings. He's
Matt Williamson. I'm and listening to the Drive. You're on
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
We are back. I'm Dale Lolly.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
He is the Matt Williamson and we just went through
the defensive tackle rankings on Pro Football Focus.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Steelers well represented him very well.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Yeah, and let's take a look now at the Ants
rushers coming in at number thirty two.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Nick Herbig, Yeah, I think he's a past rush specialist
at that point. Yeah, you know, like a Hassan Reddick,
and that you can take that as a positive or negative.
I mean, I did a happened to do edge stuff today.
I didn't know we're going to talk about this, but
I retweeted this chart that it was put together by
Pro Football Focus of the best guys over the last
(30:10):
three years, and we started talking about it on a
different podcast, and then I went just to Pro Football
Focus and sorted the edge rushers by pass rush grade.
Steelers had three in like the top seven, including Herbic.
You know, so he's not the biggest, he's not the
greatest run defender, but that makes a lot more sense
than I thought going into the draft of why you
(30:31):
get a Sawyer. You know why you traded for Preston Smith.
But what herbig does he does almost as well as
anyone in the lead. Yeah, he gets the ball out,
and I mean on a per snap basis, a per
pass rush attempt basis. His numbers are crazy.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Quarterbacks aren't happy to see him joining you onto the.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Field, right, I mean, if the Steelers can continue and
even get more third and longs, third mediums when pure
pass situations, his numbers are gonna keep spiking too. Yeah.
Thirty one is Montes Sweat Okay now the Bears. Yeah, Yeah,
quality player, length, former first round pick, making a lot
(31:12):
of money. He's got a lot of traits. He's been good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Thirty is calvan NEI I.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Respect that got his game. I mean he's one of
those dudes that if he'd been a lifelong stealer, there'd
be a ton of Van Noy jerseys. Anything you ask
of him. True professional, you know, had a good year
or two. I think he's had a really quality career.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Twenty nine Zadarius Smith, who's still a free agent.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Oh is he injuries? I wonder what he Maybe he
wouldn't want to go through mini camp and those type
of things.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Yeah, should he be in a list.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Got a decent body of work, but you probably find somebody. Yeah, yeah,
I mean yeah, Okay.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Twenty eight is Nolan Smith.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
He's going to be another pass rush specialist I think.
I mean he's smaller ran a four to four. I
think he's like two forty, a little bit leaner. In
a great environment where they're playing with leads a lot
of course, that sure helps. I can't stress that enough
with some of these edge rankings, is right, I feel
for like Max Crosby, I mean, how many leads as
he played with over the last three years? Not many,
(32:16):
No one. Smith's played with a lot, But you'd love
to have him. I mean he's an ascending guy.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
To twenty seven is Chrup.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Robinson came on strong. I mean people kind of stopped
paying attention to the Dolphins after TWOA got hurt and
the season went down the toilet. But I mean they
have Chubb, they have Phillips, who probably need the ones
on this list. But if Phillips is healthy, is a
really good player. Yeah, and Robinson was a twitchy kind
of project coming out of Penn State. But I think
(32:44):
they found.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
A guy there O Doffy Away, He's.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Another Penny project. Yeah, I'd probably take Robinson over him,
but Away at his best year. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Josh what with the Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
The typical eagle mid round pick, lots of traits, develop them,
goes and becomes a rich man. Anyone watched Super Bowl knows,
Josh what.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Twenty four Yahyadiyabi with the Bucks might be a little
card ahead of the horse for him, but they love him.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
I mean, I might have a couple of those names,
both sweats, maybe even her big ahead of them, but
he looks like an up and comer.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Twenty three Nick Benito with the.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Broncos right here, Yeah, yeah, I think he's definitely an
ascending player too. Can he take it to the next level?
He's not as gifted as some of these studs that
are going to be ahead of him, but man, he's productive.
I mean they led league sacks.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Twenty two is Carl Granderson with the Saints.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I'm not there. That's a little maybe grades well for them.
I guess he's a big body, longer guy, but I
don't think he's particularly hard to play again. No.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
Twenty one Bradley Job with the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
I didn't know if he'd make it or not. He's
kind of been on and off the field a lot
in a Dolphin career. But early pick twenty m.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
This is a projection. Abdul Carter with the Giant.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Oh, you can't put rookie.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
You can't put him on there.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
You can't put rookies on there. I'm sure he's gonna
have a good career, but you can't put rookies on there.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Yeah, especially at edge.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
There's so many right. No.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Nineteen or Shawn Gary package.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Yeah, but took a step back last year, as did
a lot of their studs. He's really pivotal for them
because all the ability in the world. Two years ago
he was real force. I think it was two years
ago and I thought he's gonna be maybe a top
seven or eight type of guy. Yeah, he could get there.
Eighteen is Jalen Phillips with the Dolphins. I love him,
(34:51):
he had his feel for him. He's always hurt. I
mean it's just availability. Like I said, the Dolphins have three,
I thought only one would make it with.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
Job seventeen Andrew van Kinkel all around.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Yeah, really productive dude. Flora has used him extremely well.
I don't think he's like a top ten guy that
some people talk about or like people threw his name
out there for Yeah, he should get Defensive Player of
the Year consideration. He made a lot of big plays.
He's smart, but he wouldn't play much here. No, yeah,
I mean he wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
I mean it's Sixteen is Brian Burns did Giants.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
I'm a fan. That trio could be really good. I
bet Thibodeau's not on here, but Carter Burns with Lawrence
doing all the hard work in the middle, that's a
real strength. Burns has been a top ten guy for
a lot of his career.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Fifteen Jonathan Greener with the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
I would have some names ahead of him. I'm glad
he's on there. Underrated didn't come in the league with
a lot of fanfare. Had a really good career with
Houston and now Minnesota, but not great. I mean yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Fourteen is Gregory Russo.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Really took a step forward last year, extreme length. He's
their best d lineman. They paid him accordingly. Success story.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Thirteen Alex Highsmith Steelers.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Could maybe be higher. I mean everyone just looks at
him as he's Robin is selling them a little short.
I mean, if he were to hit the open market,
he would make a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Twelve Danielle Honor with the Texans.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
I think he's nearing a Hall of Fame pace. He's
right around one hundred sacks. Came in the league ridiculously young,
real project. I mean, he was one of those way
types that didn't have any production, and he certainly has sins.
I don't think he's an all time great Hall of Fame.
Might be a bit strong, but him and Will Anderson
(36:55):
are the pairing that I think can rival the Steelers
all with the Jacks. Okay strong, I mean again, they
paid him. He's had coming off a really good year.
Early pick. It's probably about where he belongs. He's probably
a tier two.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Guy tennis Khalil Mack the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
He doesn't seem to age. He had a really good
year for them. Physicals can be I think he do
you think he's a Hall of Famer. I do he's
I mean, I think he's won a Defensive Player of
the Year. And yeah, he got traded for multiple first
round picks. He's been good everywhere he's gone. Maybe another
year or two and he solidifies that. Nine is Will
(37:36):
Anderson detests. I missed on him a little bit too,
Like when he came out he was what the third
pick after they took Stroud. Yeah, and I liked him,
and I'm like, yeah, he's easily an early pick. But
I didn't think he was a super player, and he's
been better than I thought. I mean, I think he
could be to pull back Curt and I think there's
five elite edge rushers and we haven't mentioned any of them.
(38:00):
I think Hutchinson and Anderson could maybe be in that
mix going forward.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
He is Jared Verse, which he seems on the line.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
It does for one year great power. I would take
some names ahead of him, yeah, like you know, Hunters
and Anderson to me, or both ahead of them.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Seven Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Yeah, I mean I mentioned that's this graph that I
put out that has tons of stats over the last
three years. Him and Miles Garrett are tied for most
saxon the league, and he led the league last year.
I mean, sometimes he just can't argue with.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
The production six Max Crosby.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
I would have him in the top five, but it
sounds like they have Hutchinson ahead of him, which I understand.
He just doesn't get help. I mean, he's a one
man machine that's not ever playing with.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
The lead five is eight Hutchinson.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Okay, he was probably the best of all of them
the day he got twenty twenty four production the day
he got hurt. Yeah, so I'm sure it'll be back
to being a top guy.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
For Nick Bosa with forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Okay, again I mentioned I just references chart over the
last three years, he has like twenty more quarterback hits
than number two. But he's not quite as good as
finishers you would think, and I think part of it
is because he doesn't have great length. He's super disruptive.
He's definitely a Tier one guy for me. He hasn't
as much help around him as others lately, either, but
(39:32):
he's phenomenal three DJ one Okay, I mean we're really
splitting hairs with these guys. I don't know a problem
with that. Elite run defender, elite big play guy in
terms of force fumbles, getting his hands on footballs. We'll
drop into coverage even here and there, like anyone listening
(39:56):
should not have any game. No, they have no reservations
out signing him. And the one thing that I would
defend Watt is I think he's a little easier to
gain plan for than the last three or four and
the next two we're gonna talk about because he always
comes from the same spot and I don't know how
much that would change things. But they don't move him
(40:16):
around where Garrett Parsons both. So those guys are fifty
to fifty on both sides.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Basically, those guys are one man shows too.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Yeah they are.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
You know you're flipping you gotta do two things, yeah,
h Smith on the other side, Yeah yeah, yeah, Okay,
right right now, who is Michael Parsons?
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Okay, I got no problem with that.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Either one is Miles Garrett.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
I get it. I mean I'm trying to be controversial,
but that would be my order of the top three
as well. I think Garrett's really really special. Doesn't mean
if to love him, folks, but he is a great
football player. And Parsons to me, is so unique and
explosive and his lateral agility, and he can do things
off the ball too. I mean, what a great list
(40:58):
that is though, fantastically Yeah, there's so many good ones,
and Steelers have three of them, and an argument for
the best one.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
Looking here off ball linebackers. Patrick Queen comes in at sixteen. Okay,
half of uh there's a learning season last year. I
would like to see that get the ten. Yeah, and
I think that's possible.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Yeah. Could Wilson end up in the thirties or in
the twenties, Yeah, yeah, I don't think that's crazy, especially
with a lot more playing time. So here the catalyst
isn't as hard to break as no.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Here, the guys just the bottom.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
There's a weakness at linebacker right now. Thirty two. I
haven't paced junior. It means undrafted.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Yeah, thirty one day on Henley he's probably.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
I'm a fan of him, right, should be higher?
Speaker 3 (41:42):
Yeah, yeah, thirty Earnest Jones, he's gotta been on three
different teams. Yeah, Yeah, there's a real short twenty nine,
Tyrol Dotson, he got cut last year, twenty eight, Jamie
and Sherwood. Right, people probably know who is jets. Yeah, yeah,
say you're Franklin at twenty seven. These guys are fine.
(42:04):
Is here as he's house here twenty six, Jordan Brooks
at twenty five.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
None of these are bad players, but none of them
are like the edge guys and yeah, or the de tackle.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Logan Wilson at twenty four, Robert Splain.
Speaker 2 (42:18):
Yeah twenty three. No oneer, You're like, I can't throw
at any of these.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
I'll be shocked if Peyton Wilson.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
He can beat those isn't on this list. That's a
good point. It's it's probably the easiest list to get on. Yeah.
And if he's in play all the time and he
flashed enough as a rookie, he's gonna make plays. He's
gonna make plays. He already shows that absolutely.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
Yeah, we'll look at the safety cornerback all right rankings
when we come back. He's Matt Williamson. I am Dale Allie.
You're listening to the drive. You're on the Steelers Audio Network.
We'll be back with more right after this
At least he's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Welcome to the Drive. I am Dale LOLLI he is
the Matt Williamson. As you can hear my voice still
not completely back, no, but getting better improving.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah. Yeah, and.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
At least you can kind of understand what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You were gutting through it last week. It was rough.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
These last two weeks have been you know, you don't
you don't understand, like how frustrating it is not to
be able to talk.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I bet, I bet they're even just mumble a syllable
two here or there point or whatever. I mean, you've
been gotten through it, to say the least. Let alone.
We kind of do this for a living. Yeah, right,
I mean, So I went.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
To a retirement party for one of my former co
workers over the weekend and it was in a casino.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Okay, so there's a lot of ambient noise. Yeah, I'm
sure it's hard to hear there anyway, hard enough. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yeah, And everybody that I spoke to I had to
like get up in their ear and it's just very frustrating.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
I'm sure you'll be like close talking to everybody just
to say hello or whatever. Qush. In a situation like that,
I can imagine, and I say this a lot like
I can have a broken leg, I could be in
a wheelchair, I could have a broken back. But eyes
and mouth are the things I need for my job,
you know, without, without a doubt, and you're without well
(01:46):
you were without one of them for a while and
rebounding in a big way. So we are three days
a week though, and we're officially in the off season now.
I mean it's the dog days content, you know, right.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
So Steelers wrapping up there mini camp last week. We
won't see them again until July twenty third at Saint
Bencent College And as far as you think, no, at
that point, it's going to be full steam ahead with
Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Oh sure.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
And somebody just sent it to me on Twitter and
you as well, a story from MSN whatever some national
website Steelers fans frustrated that Aaron Rodgers not doing anything
at mini camp the Steelers. That was Mike tomlins phare decision,
(02:44):
right right, Yeah, that was not an Aaron Rodgers decision.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
No, And we were there. I saw everything he did.
He wasn't just sitting around doing nothing. No, I mean
to say the least. And I can't stress this enough.
First of all, you want Howard and Rudolph to get
every rep they can, especially now, especially now, because the
bullets aren't flying for real. It's not full steam ahead,
as you mentioned, Saint Vincent. It's not eleven on eleven.
(03:09):
And even in Rogers opening interview, he said, coach Tomlin
and I decided I don't know the offense yet, I
shouldn't be running the team drills, you know. And that
makes all for a three day stretch, a three day stretch.
But what I can't stress enough is, and I've said
this over and over on the air, how engaged he
was while he was there. When he stepped on the field,
(03:32):
there was no laughing and joking or you know, going
to meet teammates. I paid attention to him exclusively for
a lot of it. And first off, as a player,
as a passer of the football, he's as different than
the other guys. Let's start with that.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
You know, I saw something where somebody who was there said, oh,
he was asked how Rogers football so well? I didn't
see a lot of difference between him throwing the ball
and Mason Rudolph throwing the ball.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Like I don't know, it was the same way, right.
It's night and day, night and day, and Rudolph's fine.
All those guys are fine. Rogers is a special thrower
of the football. If Ben would have been there, he
would have looked different than those guys too. But I mean,
even quarterbacks before they even get the team drills, he's
(04:27):
like throwing to Friar Muth who then flips at the
Rudolph who throws it back to some other receiver who
flips it the Rogers. They don't want to break a finger,
catch it or whatever, you know, And he's flipping it
from his shoulder, from his ear, from his waist, everywhere
in between on purpose. You know, these are just ten
yard warm up throws on the side, I mean, and
(04:48):
he's in the ball's coming out snapping. I mean, it's
little flicks to the wrist. Those aren't even like power throws.
And then watching them do they did a lot. I
don't think it's disclosing two, but a lot of rollout drills,
you know, throw under your right on the move, throwing
to your left on the movie. They always do, they
always do, and it's part of the offense. Yeah, they're
gonna have boots and things like that. And maybe he's
(05:11):
not as good at those things as he was ten
years ago. I'm sure he's not, because he was amazing then,
but he was still way better than everybody else there.
And I can't imagine the people I was chatting with.
I mean, like Wes, I mean, he hasn't been to
a million practices, he wasn't a scout. He's like, this
looks a thousand times different. It's not even close of
the throwing of the football, the way it comes out,
(05:33):
the quickness that comes out, the christness that comes out
with the accuracy, even in those drills.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You know, yeah, he's it just looks different. It just
looks I don't know how he does it. But when
you when you see still shots of him throwing the ball,
he gets on top of the football.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I know what you mean.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Nobody I've seen.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yeah, that's a good way of putting it. And that's
so I'm gonna go back a stead. That's a great
I don't even know how to even explain that either or.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The hand is just on top of the ball.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
The grip of the ball, and that's definitely changed over
the years too, like he has gotten it down to
such a science where all the different throws, it's almost
like a picture, I would think, with different grip, it
looks like he's.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Throwing a curveball on everything. Now a lot of times
people will call a trump per twelve six curveble a
football curve. You're on top of the.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Ball, yeah, okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Don't like nobody.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, it's a real different type of motion. And even
if you all of you have seen him play football
on TV, it's not as obvious as on the practice
field or if you come to Saint Vincent, you'll be like,
oh yeah, that looks a lot.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Different and we just get so much more spin on it. Yeah,
it really right.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
He really can spin it because of that, almost like
a bowler who gets that that big wide you know,
it goes almost goes to the gutter and then it
comes in and hits that top pin because he gets
so much torque on it around the foot fotball. But
the biggest thing, I mean, obviously him throwing the football
stood out like whoa, Okay, he's legit. But again he
was so engaged every step of the way. I mean, like, again,
(07:13):
there's only three practices, but he was either six inches
into Arthur Smith or Tom Art's ear the whole time
while they're like running drills and he's pointing and he's
always sand gesture and eyes wide open, and he could
tell that they're just having conversations and he's asking and
he's learning. And if that wasn't going on, he was
(07:35):
teaching some other player. He was the mentor. I mean,
like fifty percent of the time on the field was
he was learning. Fifty percent of the time he was
teaching a younger player something, even a nod lineman, you know,
just and he could tell it was an instructional manner.
I don't know what the conversations were about, but it
wasn't about you know, fluffy, non football stuff. Maybe that
(07:58):
stuff goes on in the locker room or off the
but when he was on the field, engaged, was and
locked in, and he's got something to prove for the.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
People who are saying, well, you know, he's signed too late,
remember and this was one of my issues. Yeah, before
they sign him, so he has to be here for
the mandatory mini camp, has to be. Yeah, he was
in Egypt last year with the Jets, with the Jets
in Mini camp.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, yeah, at this exact time, that couldn't happen, right,
all right, No, I remember you saying that, and that
didn't happen, even when when Fields went with the Jets
and all of a sudden, you're looking around like, okay,
who the Steelers quarterback is going to be? And it
became pretty apparent that Rogers is going to be at
the top of the list or very much in the mix.
I mean, and this was new. Yeah, we were talking
about that, like okay, when you're in, you're in, I
(08:49):
need you to be in. And you really stressed that
a lot and said it really at Mini camp too.
I can't believe no one will ever tell us this,
but the fact that he find like forty five seconds
after OTAs, I mean, it hadn't been not by accident.
I mean, that could have been figured out two months ago. Yeah,
you know, I got a lot of stuff going on.
(09:11):
I want to enjoy this time and then I'll be
there with everybody. Cool, let's go.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Yeah, you know, I think, you know, just judging from
what I saw the group that they have, I think
this team is being slept on a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I do too. There's a few areas that have issues
or would like a reinforcement a second receiver, for sure,
But if you upgrade a quarterback and you're still making
playoffs with lesser quarterback, right, you know? I mean I
think that not to me. The huge thing I've said
a million times is I expect him to be the
(09:51):
best quarterback they've had since Ben Ben's elbow surgery. Yeah,
you know, and Ben wasn't totally washed after the elbow surgery,
but we knew at the end was rougher and it's
not the super highest bar to get over. I mean,
Fields and pick It and Trubisky, I mean, we know
the names, but I do expect this version to be
the best guy they've had for five six years or
(10:11):
something or something along those lines at the most important
position in the league. And I like the makeup of
the quarterback room. I mean, I love the true number
two and then a guy you kind of have hope for,
you know, I mean that can come along and maybe
turns into it too. I don't think Howard's ever going
to be the guy either, but the age difference is
the way they're set up to probably possibly grab a
(10:33):
first round pick at that position next year. I had
so many conversations over the weekend grad parties, Father's Day stuff,
you know, like why would they bother with this for
a year? Why not just lose more games? Like, you
don't get it, it's it's not their DNA. And come December,
maybe things didn't go well, you know, I mean, maybe
it's a somewhat failed experiment. We know this league's hard,
(10:55):
but you might be going into a playoff game. We're
hosting a playoff game. Going I kind of like, my guy,
you think.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
About it this way, if they win one more game
last year, they're going to Houston, yeah, instead of Baltimore, right, right, right,
if that one game had come against Baltimore, they're hosting.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Their host the playoff game. Yeah, with what looks like,
I mean, a lesser quarterback in my opinion, Yeah, I mean,
without question, and how close it is though it is
it is? You're right, And I hesitate to get too
excited because, frankly, being around Russell Wilson the first time
was pretty enticing a year ago, Like, you know, this
guy's got a lot of pedigree, super exciting and as
(11:42):
the season went on, it went worse, you know, And
now that could happen to anybody, but Rogers a different level.
I mean, he just is. I mean he's one of
the best I've ever seen. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I mean if we're five years ago, I understand this
five years ago.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Sure, sure, we're.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Talking about the elite quarterbacks. Yeah, and they never lived.
He's still on that list.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
He's still on that list. He's winning. He may have
had an MVP still ahead of him at that point. Yeah,
I mean it wasn't that long ago, and the end
of the Jets year wasn't as bad as you think.
He still does a lot of things. Well, I mean
he's well built, Like I noticed, his calves are thick,
and he's got a stronger He's not a skinny guy. Yeah,
he's a well proportioned, strong, in shape dude. Now, he
(12:29):
could get hurt in Week one, as could anyone though, right.
I Mean that's the thing is like I hear a
lot you know, this line can't keep him upright, that
guy's really fragile. Played seventeen games last year. But it
makes me crazy, right.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
That's people who don't know what they're looking at.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, So I can't stress this enough. I mean they
allowed more sacks than they should have as a team, yes, year,
but I blame the quarterbacks more than the line. Yes,
And I can realize a lot of stats on it,
or just if you go back and just if you're
a subscriber to Next Gen stuff or whatever, and you
(13:09):
just look at every Steeler stat or every Steeler sack,
very few of them are just Jones or McCormick just
getting whipped at the stat right or communications and here
comes to press. This is late stuff. I mean a
lot of late pressure.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Rogers isn't gonna take that.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
It's not gonna happen. That stuff won't happen. I'll bet
everything I have, even if it's Rudolph, they'll take fewer sacks. Yes,
believe that absolutely.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
But yeah, I think it's it's going to be interesting
at the.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Very it's gonna be very interesting. Say interesting is a
great word.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, No, matter how you look at this, it's going
to be an interesting season.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Yeah. And if you were on the fence about should
we go to the trove to watch or not go, yeah,
I mean it's fun to be around them. I mean
you weren't on with us as much this week because
of your voice. But I said to Wes four thousand times, like,
it's amazing to me that we're barely talking about TJ. Watts,
(14:11):
hold out, DK Metcalf first time seem in person is
a while A wow situation, by the way, I hardly
brought it up. Yeah, the fact that Faltanu is now
in a second year but a rookie. You always talk
about the first round pick to no end in mini
camp in OTA's you know, and in mini camp those
(14:31):
four huge subjects they came up. We were on the
on the air for three hours, right, but I was glue. Date.
I just couldn't help myself. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, So I think it's going to be better. I
think this team is going to be better than a
lot of the national pundits things, and you know.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
We'll see. Yeah, I hope you were excited. I mean,
I think excitement's a real good word and interesting.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Yeah, let's get through break. He is the Matt Williamson.
I'm Dale Lolli and listening.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
To the drive.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
You're on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and I will
be back with more right after this.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
Show on your twenty four to seven Home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio, and.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
We are back. I'm Dale Lollie here with Matt Williamson
and Matt. Pro Football Focus has all of their position rankings. Yeah, yeah,
top thirty two at every position. I thought we'd take
a look at that here.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
I want to focus on the defense because no matter
what happens a quarterback for the Steelers, the defense is
going to run kind of anymore, go as the defense goes.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, I think that's still safe to say. Yeah, I mean,
can Rogers win you a couple of games that other
quarterbacks in recent memory couldn't? I believe that? Yeah? Can?
Can the running game be the foundation and control the
clock and have a physical aspect? Sure? Can Metcalf get
behind the defense or Friar Remouth take a step forward,
or maybe a wide receiver to be named later come
(16:22):
in and get you eight hundred yards? Sure, But if
this team's going to be good and somewhat of a
contender in any way, the defense has to be real good,
real good, and they get a lot invested in it.
They got a lot of good players on that side
of the ball. I think they have a lot of depth,
so I'll be disappointed if it's not a minimum top
(16:43):
eight defense.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I'm talking top five, I know.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I think that's possible.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
So and look at the interior defensive lineman here first,
and so let's start from the bottom and at thirty
two is Moro at Jomo?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah, from Philadelphia, up and coming type guy. I think
they moved on from Milton Williams. Took this guy in
the seventh round and very Eagles like fashion. Bring him
along and he's flashed. He's interesting guy, part time player,
part time player. Yeah. Yeah, they got a rotation and
thirty one is is it okay? And this is the guy?
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Then a lot of Steeler fans, oh he really he
took a step backwards last year.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh I don't see that.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I didn't see that at all.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
No, people hang too much on just pure sack numbers. Yeah,
and you've used the to an example. I'm not saying
he's gonna be the next step on to it, but
I bet the sacks start to come, you know, you
start to figure it out a little bit more. And
even like his rookie year, he hardly played on third
down right, you know, like he went from being growing.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Like a fort snap guy, like sixty five percent last
nice jump.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I thought he handled it well, right, yeah, and not
all just lined up over the center a nose. He
sat down with us OTAs and I remember asking him,
you know where you expect to line up. He's like, yeah,
I'm called to nose, but I'll be all over the place. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Right, And that's the key, you mean, I think you
know this is a guy that you know, if Derek
Carmon hits, Yeah, now all of a sudden, you got
something there.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Well, that's kind of what I was going to say,
is first off, I expect I'm not saying he has
to if we do this one year from now, he's
higher than thirty one Benton. Yeah, and I kind of
expect that the Steelers might have three names on this
list next year. Yeah, you know with Harmon.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Thirty is Jevon Hargrave.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
I was really interested in him, but age is an
issue and he is starting to kind of wear injury issues. Yeah.
I think how the d line room ended up is
better than if they would have outbid the Vikings for Hardred. Yeah.
I like him. I'm rooting for him, you.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Know, but I think, you know, apples and apples. I
would be disappointed if Ben isn't better than hard Greave
this year.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yeah. I could see hard Grave rebounding though. I mean,
I still think there's a lot of ability there, but
I would definitely rather bent and going forward. Yeah, no question.
Twenty nine Jonathan Allen, the same situation, same thing. Yeah,
I mean it's.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
The Vikings had to pay a lot of money, a
lot of money for those two guys.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, it's the thing. There was serious cap investments. Both
are on the back nine. They're not on whole sixteen,
but they're on the back nine and they'll be good
for each other to both kind of rotate in and out.
And I like both players, and the Vikings are way
better Detackle than they were, but there were investments. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Twenty eight is Jordan Davis with the Eagles. I don't
agree with that.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I don't either. I liked them a lot more coming
out of school than I did now. Yeah, and frankly
I kind of learned a lesson that he is a
limited snap guy, not really a pass rusher. At Georgia,
he's a forty snap. Yeah, he ran really fast at
the combine, but I really care well.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
It helps when he get into the sideline. Oh yeah, yeah,
after he's playing it ran out.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah that's a good point. I mean, but Jalen Carter's
way better than him on this list. A Joemo might
be ahead of him when it's all said and done
from the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Twenty seven is Byron Murphy with the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I think he's a real breakout candidate. I loved them
coming out of school. Flashed Leonard Williams will be much
higher in this list. I assume they get a good
young defense.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Twenty six is to and Andre Sweat with the Titans, Murphy's
teammate in Texas.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
So I guess I'm kind of talking on both sides
my mouth because I really liked Davis coming out of school.
I was really worried about Sweat coming out of school,
and I think Sweats a lot better than Davis already,
way better, Yeah, I mean much. I wish the Steelers
had Sweat. I mean he is a force digizua with
the Cowboys. Yeah, I mean, they just gave him money.
(21:04):
He's an upfield guy, good player. I don't think he's
got a super high ceiling.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Twenty four is Grover Stewart with the Colts.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
He's another guy no one ever talks about it. He's
had a really good career. He's hard to play against.
He doesn't get much fanfare, but that's probably where he belongs.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Twenty three Eric Armstead did Jack.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Warson, Okay, another one's had a good career, long, lengthy,
three to four defensive end type. He can line up outside.
They're giving him good money, you know. Yeah, he's had
a good career too.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Twenty two Dj Reider the Lions.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Needs to stay on the field. Yeah, and he's had
some of those issues the last couple of years. Huge
bodied knows if you remember they drafted Tyler Williams out
of Ohio State, which made me think they're a little
concerned about readers durability. But everywhere he goes, the splits
on and off are way different. Yeah, especially against the run.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Twenty one another under rated guy, Zach Siler with the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Yeah. I mean he is just a blue collar, tough guy,
hard to play against, never gets any kind of recognition.
That might be a little high for me. I mean,
there's other dudes you've mentioned I'd rather hitch my wagon to.
Has he really like he's double sacks two years in
a row. I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Twenty Zach Allen with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I'm surprised he's that low. I think he's been a
force for them. I would probably have him in my
top ten. Nineteen head Oliver with Kyles, certain type of player.
I mean, he was a two hundred and seventy five
pound first round pick that tested like a linebacker. They
want a rotation there. They just keep adding and adding
and adding to that D line a lot of second,
(22:42):
third round picks, so I don't think they want to
put a ton on his plate, but him and Rousseau
are their best guys.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Eighteen John Franklin Myers with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
He's another perfect example of had a good, good, solid career, professional,
tough guy, hard to play against. I think Allen's better
than he is though.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Seventeen Kobe Turner with the Rams.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Keeps getting better and better too. I mean, that's a
fine into what fourth round. I don't think he'll ever
be at the Cam Hayward Chris Jones level, but he
could go from like a tier three guy to a
Tier two guy right and worried about now. He's hard
to play against.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Toho sixteen Klayus Campbell now the Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
That's probably too hard, that's probably I mean, I respect
him to know end, but how much is he really
gonna give you over seventeen game? You know? How many
snaps is he really going to play? You'd love to
have him in any locker room, in on any team.
And he's had a phenomenal career sort of in the
Cam Hayward, Cam Jordan mold of just longtime studs, you know,
(23:45):
but he probably plays thirty snaps a game this year.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Yeah, maybe, Yes, I have a problem with fifteen year two,
not that he's on the list, but fifteen come on,
Poona Ford.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Yeah, with the Rams, I like that he's underrated, you know.
And he's one of these dudes too that's shorter and
hard to play against. And he'll be a nice rotation
with Fisk and Turner. But I don't want him to
be the straw that serves the drink, no, you know.
Fourteen Milton Williams, Okay, I mean a lot of ability there.
(24:19):
He was a true project coming out of Louisiana Tech,
superstar tester at the combine. They bring him along slow
there didn't ask a lot of them, but he was
never a full time guy either. You know, this past year,
I don't know if New England will be happy they
gave him the immense money they did. They had to
give it to somebody. But he's If Barmore is healthy,
(24:41):
that could be a pretty dynamic pairing. Thirteen Alene McNeil
with Alliance. Yeah, another big body nose this guy. He's
a little more upfield and reader or Williams for them,
but they got a lot of beef on the inside.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Twelve is a Nandi man of Bouquet Ring Cup.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
He may have taken a baby step backwards last year. No,
two years ago. He was a real force, pro bowl
easily type guy. Last year was good, but I didn't
think he was as dynamic.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Eleven Vita Vera with the Bucks.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, he reminds me of Loading Nauda. I mean he's
one of those guys that we talked about. He's as slow. Yeah.
I might have him higher too. I mean if he
puts another four or five years together, I think you'd
be talking about Hall of Fame for him. I mean
he can push the pockets. He's not just a run
stuff or he's you know if you ask Levonte David
how valuable was Vita Vea. I'm sure it'd be, like,
(25:38):
that's the whole reason I'm doing, you know, eating up
guys left and right.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Ten Christian Wilkins last year.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, yeah, I mean the Raiders front could be quite good.
They got some dudes though.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Nine Jeffrey Simmons with the Titans.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Such a bad team, always a lump. Him and Quentin
Williams together and who I'm sure we'll get to if
you just watch their tape. It's really good. And I'm
not saying that they're dogs, they're not at all, but
sometimes late in the year, when you're two and thirteen,
it's kind of hard to notice something. And they never
play with leads and you know what I mean, like
you'd love them to be a Steeler or anything like that.
(26:17):
It's not their fault at all that the teams have struggled.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Eight to Forrest Buckner with the Colts.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
It's another professional that's really put together a strong season.
Him and Stewart together is a pretty nice pairing. They're
a little up in age, but yeah, I respect Buckner
a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Seven is Derek Brown with the Panthers.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
I missed all he was like their only good defensive
player and they lost them for the year. If he
comes back to what he was, he'll be in that
neighborhood again.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Six Leonard Williams with the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
He had a monster season for this guys. I mean
he's bounced around the league a little bit, but former
first like I think he was like third or fourth
pick in the draft. Can line up all over the
line of scrimmage. He was great last year. Five Jalen
Carter with the Eagles, and I think going up, I mean,
he's one of the guys I think could be.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
One Forrest Quinn and Williams.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Yet again, we kind of talked about him. He really
doesn't have any holes in his game.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Ye speaking of a guy with no holes. Cam Hayward
at three.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think we're all pretty familiar with his work and
if you're new to the drive, welcome, But if you
don't regard him as one of the best players of
his position, you're off. It's not like, Oh, he's good
for his age, No, he's for anybody at that position.
Oh those are good names, right, I mean, that's a
really talent. There's a lot of really talented defense tackles
(27:41):
in the league, right right, I mean those guys come
in some.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Freaks to his dexter Lawrence one is Chris Jones.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
I would have Lawrence won. I mean he missed some time.
That guy never misses snaps. Though he is a force
in all aspects. I think he's only getting better. I
hope his injury doesn't derail him. That's how I knock
on Jones. Jones going to the Hall of Fame. Jones
changes games, but he's not as consistent as Hayward or Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
He doesn't play run defense like those two.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
No, No, I mean he saves it. Yeah. That's kind
of a Chiefs thing. So does Kelsey, you know.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
I mean they you know, but there are many teams
with two guys on the list. No, and the Steelers
are one of them.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Eagles have three. Yeah. Yeah, I'm just trying to think
off the top of my head. I mean, Cole said
two Steelers have two and could add a third. I
mean they had two and threw a first round pick
at the product, right. You know, so you talk about
making a strength of strength. That could be pretty fun. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
So you know that looks good.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
It looks solid, very solid, very solid. Especially when we've
talked about it a lot, and we'll talk about the
next couple weeks too, but it might be the deepest
position on the team, just detackle in general.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Well, if it isn't the one we're going to talk
about next could Yeah, Yeah, let's get to a break.
We come back, we'll look at those edge rankings. He's
Matt Williamson. I'm and listening to the Drive. You're on
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
We are back. I'm Dale Lolly.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
He is the Matt Williamson and we just went through
the defensive tackle rankings on Pro Football Focus.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Steelers well represented him very well.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Yeah, and let's take a look now at the Ants
rushers coming in at number thirty two.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Nick Herbig, Yeah, I think he's a past rush specialist
at that point. Yeah, you know, like a Hassan Reddick,
and that you can take that as a positive or negative.
I mean, I did a happened to do edge stuff today.
I didn't know we're going to talk about this, but
I retweeted this chart that it was put together by
Pro Football Focus of the best guys over the last
(30:10):
three years, and we started talking about it on a
different podcast, and then I went just to Pro Football
Focus and sorted the edge rushers by pass rush grade.
Steelers had three in like the top seven, including Herbic.
You know, so he's not the biggest, he's not the
greatest run defender, but that makes a lot more sense
than I thought going into the draft of why you
(30:31):
get a Sawyer. You know why you traded for Preston Smith.
But what herbig does he does almost as well as
anyone in the lead. Yeah, he gets the ball out,
and I mean on a per snap basis, a per
pass rush attempt basis. His numbers are crazy.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Quarterbacks aren't happy to see him joining you onto the.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Field, right, I mean, if the Steelers can continue and
even get more third and longs, third mediums when pure
pass situations, his numbers are gonna keep spiking too. Yeah.
Thirty one is Montes Sweat Okay now the Bears. Yeah, Yeah,
quality player, length, former first round pick, making a lot
(31:12):
of money. He's got a lot of traits. He's been good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Thirty is calvan NEI I.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Respect that got his game. I mean he's one of
those dudes that if he'd been a lifelong stealer, there'd
be a ton of Van Noy jerseys. Anything you ask
of him. True professional, you know, had a good year
or two. I think he's had a really quality career.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Twenty nine Zadarius Smith, who's still a free agent.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Oh is he injuries? I wonder what he Maybe he
wouldn't want to go through mini camp and those type
of things.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Yeah, should he be in a list.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Got a decent body of work, but you probably find somebody. Yeah, yeah,
I mean yeah, Okay.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Twenty eight is Nolan Smith.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
He's going to be another pass rush specialist I think.
I mean he's smaller ran a four to four. I
think he's like two forty, a little bit leaner. In
a great environment where they're playing with leads a lot
of course, that sure helps. I can't stress that enough
with some of these edge rankings, is right, I feel
for like Max Crosby, I mean, how many leads as
he played with over the last three years? Not many,
(32:16):
No one. Smith's played with a lot, But you'd love
to have him. I mean he's an ascending guy.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
To twenty seven is Chrup.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Robinson came on strong. I mean people kind of stopped
paying attention to the Dolphins after TWOA got hurt and
the season went down the toilet. But I mean they
have Chubb, they have Phillips, who probably need the ones
on this list. But if Phillips is healthy, is a
really good player. Yeah, and Robinson was a twitchy kind
of project coming out of Penn State. But I think
(32:44):
they found.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
A guy there O Doffy Away, He's.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Another Penny project. Yeah, I'd probably take Robinson over him,
but Away at his best year. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Josh what with the Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
The typical eagle mid round pick, lots of traits, develop them,
goes and becomes a rich man. Anyone watched Super Bowl knows,
Josh what.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Twenty four Yahyadiyabi with the Bucks might be a little
card ahead of the horse for him, but they love him.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
I mean, I might have a couple of those names,
both sweats, maybe even her big ahead of them, but
he looks like an up and comer.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Twenty three Nick Benito with the.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Broncos right here, Yeah, yeah, I think he's definitely an
ascending player too. Can he take it to the next level?
He's not as gifted as some of these studs that
are going to be ahead of him, but man, he's productive.
I mean they led league sacks.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Twenty two is Carl Granderson with the Saints.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I'm not there. That's a little maybe grades well for them.
I guess he's a big body, longer guy, but I
don't think he's particularly hard to play again. No.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
Twenty one Bradley Job with the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
I didn't know if he'd make it or not. He's
kind of been on and off the field a lot
in a Dolphin career. But early pick twenty m.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
This is a projection. Abdul Carter with the Giant.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Oh, you can't put rookie.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
You can't put him on there.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
You can't put rookies on there. I'm sure he's gonna
have a good career, but you can't put rookies on there.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Yeah, especially at edge.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
There's so many right. No.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Nineteen or Shawn Gary package.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Yeah, but took a step back last year, as did
a lot of their studs. He's really pivotal for them
because all the ability in the world. Two years ago
he was real force. I think it was two years
ago and I thought he's gonna be maybe a top
seven or eight type of guy. Yeah, he could get there.
Eighteen is Jalen Phillips with the Dolphins. I love him,
(34:51):
he had his feel for him. He's always hurt. I
mean it's just availability. Like I said, the Dolphins have three,
I thought only one would make it with.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
Job seventeen Andrew van Kinkel all around.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Yeah, really productive dude. Flora has used him extremely well.
I don't think he's like a top ten guy that
some people talk about or like people threw his name
out there for Yeah, he should get Defensive Player of
the Year consideration. He made a lot of big plays.
He's smart, but he wouldn't play much here. No, yeah,
I mean he wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
I mean it's Sixteen is Brian Burns did Giants.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
I'm a fan. That trio could be really good. I
bet Thibodeau's not on here, but Carter Burns with Lawrence
doing all the hard work in the middle, that's a
real strength. Burns has been a top ten guy for
a lot of his career.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Fifteen Jonathan Greener with the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
I would have some names ahead of him. I'm glad
he's on there. Underrated didn't come in the league with
a lot of fanfare. Had a really good career with
Houston and now Minnesota, but not great. I mean yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Fourteen is Gregory Russo.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Really took a step forward last year, extreme length. He's
their best d lineman. They paid him accordingly. Success story.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Thirteen Alex Highsmith Steelers.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Could maybe be higher. I mean everyone just looks at
him as he's Robin is selling them a little short.
I mean, if he were to hit the open market,
he would make a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Twelve Danielle Honor with the Texans.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
I think he's nearing a Hall of Fame pace. He's
right around one hundred sacks. Came in the league ridiculously young,
real project. I mean, he was one of those way
types that didn't have any production, and he certainly has sins.
I don't think he's an all time great Hall of Fame.
Might be a bit strong, but him and Will Anderson
(36:55):
are the pairing that I think can rival the Steelers
all with the Jacks. Okay strong, I mean again, they
paid him. He's had coming off a really good year.
Early pick. It's probably about where he belongs. He's probably
a tier two.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Guy tennis Khalil Mack the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
He doesn't seem to age. He had a really good
year for them. Physicals can be I think he do
you think he's a Hall of Famer. I do he's
I mean, I think he's won a Defensive Player of
the Year. And yeah, he got traded for multiple first
round picks. He's been good everywhere he's gone. Maybe another
year or two and he solidifies that. Nine is Will
(37:36):
Anderson detests. I missed on him a little bit too,
Like when he came out he was what the third
pick after they took Stroud. Yeah, and I liked him,
and I'm like, yeah, he's easily an early pick. But
I didn't think he was a super player, and he's
been better than I thought. I mean, I think he
could be to pull back Curt and I think there's
five elite edge rushers and we haven't mentioned any of them.
(38:00):
I think Hutchinson and Anderson could maybe be in that
mix going forward.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
He is Jared Verse, which he seems on the line.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
It does for one year great power. I would take
some names ahead of him, yeah, like you know, Hunters
and Anderson to me, or both ahead of them.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Seven Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Yeah, I mean I mentioned that's this graph that I
put out that has tons of stats over the last
three years. Him and Miles Garrett are tied for most
saxon the league, and he led the league last year.
I mean, sometimes he just can't argue with.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
The production six Max Crosby.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
I would have him in the top five, but it
sounds like they have Hutchinson ahead of him, which I understand.
He just doesn't get help. I mean, he's a one
man machine that's not ever playing with.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
The lead five is eight Hutchinson.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Okay, he was probably the best of all of them
the day he got twenty twenty four production the day
he got hurt. Yeah, so I'm sure it'll be back
to being a top guy.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
For Nick Bosa with forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Okay, again I mentioned I just references chart over the
last three years, he has like twenty more quarterback hits
than number two. But he's not quite as good as
finishers you would think, and I think part of it
is because he doesn't have great length. He's super disruptive.
He's definitely a Tier one guy for me. He hasn't
as much help around him as others lately, either, but
(39:32):
he's phenomenal three DJ one Okay, I mean we're really
splitting hairs with these guys. I don't know a problem
with that. Elite run defender, elite big play guy in
terms of force fumbles, getting his hands on footballs. We'll
drop into coverage even here and there, like anyone listening
(39:56):
should not have any game. No, they have no reservations
out signing him. And the one thing that I would
defend Watt is I think he's a little easier to
gain plan for than the last three or four and
the next two we're gonna talk about because he always
comes from the same spot and I don't know how
much that would change things. But they don't move him
(40:16):
around where Garrett Parsons both. So those guys are fifty
to fifty on both sides.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Basically, those guys are one man shows too.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Yeah they are.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
You know you're flipping you gotta do two things, yeah,
h Smith on the other side, Yeah yeah, yeah, Okay,
right right now, who is Michael Parsons?
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Okay, I got no problem with that.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Either one is Miles Garrett.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
I get it. I mean I'm trying to be controversial,
but that would be my order of the top three
as well. I think Garrett's really really special. Doesn't mean
if to love him, folks, but he is a great
football player. And Parsons to me, is so unique and
explosive and his lateral agility, and he can do things
off the ball too. I mean, what a great list
(40:58):
that is though, fantastically Yeah, there's so many good ones,
and Steelers have three of them, and an argument for
the best one.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
Looking here off ball linebackers. Patrick Queen comes in at sixteen. Okay,
half of uh there's a learning season last year. I
would like to see that get the ten. Yeah, and
I think that's possible.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Yeah. Could Wilson end up in the thirties or in
the twenties, Yeah, yeah, I don't think that's crazy, especially
with a lot more playing time. So here the catalyst
isn't as hard to break as no.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Here, the guys just the bottom.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
There's a weakness at linebacker right now. Thirty two. I
haven't paced junior. It means undrafted.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Yeah, thirty one day on Henley he's probably.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
I'm a fan of him, right, should be higher?
Speaker 3 (41:42):
Yeah, yeah, thirty Earnest Jones, he's gotta been on three
different teams. Yeah, Yeah, there's a real short twenty nine,
Tyrol Dotson, he got cut last year, twenty eight, Jamie
and Sherwood. Right, people probably know who is jets. Yeah, yeah,
say you're Franklin at twenty seven. These guys are fine.
(42:04):
Is here as he's house here twenty six, Jordan Brooks
at twenty five.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
None of these are bad players, but none of them
are like the edge guys and yeah, or the de tackle.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Logan Wilson at twenty four, Robert Splain.
Speaker 2 (42:18):
Yeah twenty three. No oneer, You're like, I can't throw
at any of these.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
I'll be shocked if Peyton Wilson.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
He can beat those isn't on this list. That's a
good point. It's it's probably the easiest list to get on. Yeah.
And if he's in play all the time and he
flashed enough as a rookie, he's gonna make plays. He's
gonna make plays. He already shows that absolutely.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
Yeah, we'll look at the safety cornerback all right rankings
when we come back. He's Matt Williamson. I am Dale Allie.
You're listening to the drive. You're on the Steelers Audio Network.
We'll be back with more right after this
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