September 11, 2025 • 46 mins
Matt and Wes dive into the numbers behind Steelers-Seahawks. They're joined by Bob Labriola to preview the weekend action.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. West Shuoler and Matt Williamson with you here
for the next two hours on a Thursday. What's up, Matthew?
How we doing good?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Man? How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Can't complain? Getting close to the weekend?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Big?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, big weekend, big Thursday night game today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's beautiful day out there.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I was just about to say, it's been a beautiful
week of weather here. Yeah, the kind of exact fall
weather that you would hope for. Sunny but not too hot.
It's been beautiful. So yeah, life is good. Cannot complain, man,
And we've got a fun show planned today. We'll have
Bob Labriola coming up about twenty minutes from Nice.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Nice.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Of course, we will talk a little bit about that
big Thursday night football game tonight at lambeau Field. The
three Commanders and the Packers and two good teams, two
good quarterbacks, would be a fun Thursday night one this evening.
But as we will do all season on Thursdays, Matt,
what do you say we dive into a little Matt's
stats here to get us going, okay, I know that
(01:21):
there is a lot that we're gonna be looking for
improvement upon from week one to week two. Oh quite
a bit real quick before we get into this. As
someone who you know, you worked for pitt you worked
for Akron, you worked for the Browns, and I know
you weren't a coach, you were in the scouting department.
But you're all, you know, part of that same sphere,
that same ecosystem together. I think a lot of times
(01:42):
you hear the old cliche, the old adage you improve
the most as a team from week one to week two?
Do you really put stock into that? How true is
All cliches have some truth to them, obviously, but how
real is that in the modern age, the modern game.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Well, the thing is, people don't think about this as much.
I mean, and it's very true in Pittsburgh you only
think about the Steelers. Well, if it is true, your
opponent did too, you know. So if you're playing fifty
percent of your opponent in week one and both of
you go to eighty five and week two, I know
they're different teams.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Well, the level play just went up.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
It doesn't mean you all of a sudden, you've got
this great advantage over everybody else. But I do think
there's two aspects worth really digging into from week one
to week two, and some of this carries over into
later weeks as well. It's not just like boom, it's done.
The stamina thing is massive to me. I mean, playing
that many snaps often in the hottest weather you're going
(02:40):
to but even then it's just the snap count. I mean,
sham Hayward's the best example. I mean, I know he's
a freak and he's Wolverine and he can do whatever,
But what has he done that it was even comparable
to what he did against the Jets, you know, And
he's not alone by any means. I'm just picking him
out because he probably did the least, not because the
content stuff because he's older. I mean, of any stealer
(03:03):
since the day they were eliminated. And I'm not talking
about the weights and work ethic and any of that,
just about real football snaps. You know, nobody did sixty
in a row, you know, before Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
I mean, the old lineman.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Don't get the shift out, the quarterbacks don't get the
shift out, so there has to be a stamina thing.
Your technique fails, your brain starts to not work as
sharp because your body's failing and you just haven't done it.
I mean, twelve snaps or eight snaps against Carolina's fourth
stringers is not the same for Jalen Ramsey and Slay
(03:38):
and those guys. As Let's tackle justin fields a thousand times.
So I think that's a thousand percent reel And even
this week, people will still feel fatigued more than they
do and we gag, of course, blah blah blah blah blah.
Now I also think, and this was true for the
Steelers much more so than the Jets. You don't have
any tape on these coaches. You know, like, Okay, they're
(04:01):
all coming from Detroit. They'll probably do Detroit things. That's
a start. Or you watched all the players. You have
a scouting report on Sauce Gardner and Quinn Williams, but
you don't know how they're going to be deployed. You
have a hunch, you know, maybe, I mean, if I
were them the way that they matching what I know
about Sauce versus what I know about the Lions, he'll
(04:22):
probably follow your number one receiver. But what if he doesn't,
you know what I mean, Like, you don't know that
for a fact by any means, So you're just kind
of hypothesizing, and preseason is not going to give you
that answer either. So I think that's a big thing
is at least you get the Bills play the Jets
this week. They at least have one game of Jets
tape to go off of, which is way more valuable
(04:44):
than all the other stuff, you know, and on all
the Steelers had was all the other stuff. Now they're
not alone for having to prepare for a team that
has all new people. There's tons of turnover in this league.
It's not an excuse, but I think it's a lot
harder that I don't exactly know how they're gonna play,
but I'm gonna guess in a pretty strong manner, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And I think that's something you hear every head coach,
certainly Mike Tomlin, all other thirty one head coaches across
the league going into Week one, they all say it's
more about what we do like this.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Yeah, yeah, there is a stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
That you have familiary with some of the personnel, you
have familiarity with some of the coaching staff. But you
don't have any data points from this season. All of
that is in the past, and obviously things change. They evolve,
Coaches change and evolve, players change and evolve, the roster turnover,
the staff turnover. From week one to week two. You
hear every coach talk about that week one it's about us,
Like it's about I'm not looking at my neighbors yard,
(05:36):
you know what I mean. I'm looking at my own
landscaping and what I need to do with the mulch
and the bushes and cutting the grass. I'm looking at
my own house here. How when does that really start
to flip that you start to feel like we have
enough to really specifically game plan this opponent with tendencies
and knowing what they're going to do.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
I would say, if you had a coach here, they
would say four games, I start to feel comfortable.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
October.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Yeah, I mean so a lot of people do say
September is an extension of the preseason, and I think
for those reasons, yes, but the game's count saying you know,
like I hate that point, like, oh, well, you know,
get hot down the stretch or all that. I mean, yeah,
I guess you'd rather play better, but win to win, right, Like.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
We all didn't just belittle the Bengals for how slow
they've started. Yeah right, the last handful of years.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
It's just just a math equation. At the end of
the year, who is the most wins and most tiebreakers
goes to the playoffs. It doesn't matter that well, that
doesn't mean as much in week one.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Well, tie breakers don't count from September, right, and yes
they do.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Like it bothered me.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
It's kind of a side note that that Brazil game
was a home game for the Chargers, and why single
that one out and not the upcoming Ireland game for
the Steelers is it was a division game. So you
play a division game, there's only you only get three
of those home games as opposed to eight or nine
other home games. I understand that every team has to
(06:54):
give up a home game. Some team has to give
up a home game when you play overseats. That's part
of the deal now, but it shouldn't be division game.
They because they do count more. And for the Chargers
they won, good for them, that ends well, but for them,
yeah right, but now they got to go to Kansas City.
You know, in the rematch, no one ever kme to City,
never went to La.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yes, and the atmosphere will be much different at Arrowhead Stadium.
Yeah right, it was Friday night, right, certainly.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
So a couple other notes is now, it's certainly true
that most teams are going to be healthier in week
one than they are in week two, let alone week seven,
week eight, week ten. You know, so every team is
digging down their depth chart.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
More and more. I mean, you're going to lose people
for the year.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Unfortunately, it's a brutal sport that chances are you're less
healthy going forward. I mean, probably not more healthy, you
know what I mean. So I think that's noteworthy now. Also,
I'm just throwing the Jets out there because they're recent.
Did they show everything?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
You know? Like, are the Bills going to play it?
Speaker 6 (07:57):
Like?
Speaker 5 (07:58):
Okay, I know a lot of what they do. They Boy,
they did a really good job of massaging Fields and
I don't mean that in a bad way, setting him.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Up for success totally.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
Are they gonna do the exact same thing against us?
Or do they still have like eight more tricks in
the bag? You know, who knows?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
You would think that all these teams have more tricks
in the bag, more that they didn't get to. You
and I both know it's and real quick.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
The Jets found out more about themselves in that game
too than anybody else, you.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Know what I mean, new coach, new quarterback.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
I thought he could handle that, but he really couldn't.
Or you know, yeah, man going out well autambo I
can leave alone against really good pass rushers, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Rookie tackle. Yeah, yeah, Yeah, there was a lot that
the Jets certainly learned about themselves on Sunday with with
all that turnover and all that youth that they have
injected into the organization and the roster. Yeah, that makes
a ton of sense. That's just something that you know,
I kind of always what exactly like, there's no perfect process. Yeah,
(08:54):
there's no exact blueprint in all of that.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
And if every team does get better from week one
to two, do you get ten percent better? Do you
get three percent better? Do you get fifty percent better?
You know, like maybe Seattle got fifty percent better than
the Steelers got three percent better from one to two.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
We'll see, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
You know, if you're a team like the Niners, who
had a ton of injuries, right now. I don't know
how you can argue, oh, yeah, we're going to get
better week two when we lost George k Yeah, we
lost Kittle and brock Purty you know for a length
of period here. So yeah, there's nuance in that, but
it is also, again obviously something that coaches highlight, people discuss.
There has to be some truth in that. We start
to get a baseline of learning about ourselves. We at
(09:31):
least have some data points now of our opponent. And
now we head into week two. And with that, Matt.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
One word note, I think the Steelers are better equipped
to handle the riggers, all those things we just mentioned
of week one, better than most teams because of experience.
I mean, Tomlin does this every year. Where Okay, I
know week one is different than week ten. You know
where the jet staff or you know, I think I
(10:01):
know it's different, but I haven't been down that road.
You know, Seattle a year ago was a rookie staff.
It's not Verbel or Carol that's done this a lot
of years, assist in a new home. I understand week
one as a head coach, I understand that we're game
planning for stuff that doesn't exist, you know, and I'm
gonna have to adjust on the fly more than most
weeks mostly. And then the other thing is Rogers because
(10:23):
if you rewatch, I urge people, even even on the
TV copy, just rewatch Steelers Jets, especially on second and
third downs. He checked out of a ton of Arthur
Smith plays, you know. And that doesn't mean Arthur, I
don't think you know what you're doing. It's I come
to the line of scrimmage and they're gonna show me this.
I'm not gonna hesitate to go the best play.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
If you've give me red paint, yeah, right, right right,
If you're gonna, I'm gonna paint the barn green, right.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I think it's a big reason Rodgers is here is
to check into the right.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Plays, absolutely, And it's one of the things that you
know where.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Cam Ward isn't. He's like, come a line and snap
the ball and this was a play call and Russell wasn't.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
That's a guy with Hall of Fame credentials. And yeah,
that for Aaron Rodgers, that's one of the things that
he's done best. We we obviously all know the highlight
tape from his career, the arm shrank, the arm accuracy,
the for a long time of his career. The mobility
and the athleticism that he.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Had overall playmaking.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, all those things, rightfully, so a big part of
the reason why he's going to walk into the Hall
of Fame when he retires, but also because of what
he can do above the shoulders, what he can do
from the neck up. Peyton Manning got a ton of
credit for that, rightfully. So I don't know if Aaron
Rodgers gets the credit that he deserves in that regard,
but it was a good It was a good start,
certainly for at least Steelers fan seeing that this past Sunday.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Now, I don't know if Rogers career is better than
Peyton's whatever. We can fight about that, and it doesn't
real even matter, to be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
But they're both all times.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
General opinion of them in their prime was Manning's unbelievable
from the neck up. They both are, but ros highlight
tape was more Wow Mahomes before Mahomes that people said
they would cite that first, and as opposed to man
he's a computer above the neck, and he's a computer
(12:12):
above the neck. You know, he knows football as well
as I forget he was even listening to if somebody
really respected saying, I would rather have Aaron Rodgers call
a game than fifteen of the offensive coordinators out there, you.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Know what I mean. It's not a bad point, right,
all right, especially knock on the fifteen quirls.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
I mean one might be Arthur Smith. I mean, I mean,
like he's really really good at it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
He's spent two decades under center and has about as
much experience in that regard as you could possibly imagine.
And I'm sure you know too, there were a lot
of people in Indianapolis, a lot of people in Denver
saying that same thing about Peyton Manning. Right, this guy's
this guy's sitting in film rooms with him. Like, this
guy's smarter.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Than most in the building, right.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Most of the offensive mines across the league and in
this building. And that's a that's a good resource to have.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Man, It's unbelievable, right, But I also want people to realize,
at least through one game, Rogers has shown to be
very adaptable, you know, like he's taken more shotgun snaps.
The play action stuff was the highest and like eight
years of his career, I mean, the usage of play
action Okay, I realize I'm willing to change. Did a
(13:17):
lot of bootlegging and rolling out, you know, despite his age.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I mean that's an Arthur Smith thing too.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
So at least through one game, I feel like Smith
and Rogers really had a good thing going.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
And I think if that's the starting point and they're
only going to improve, they're only going to gel and
mesh more from here, that's something to be excited about.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
Yeah, yeah, Matt A but I think that's a huge
Week one advantage. Where I mentioned cam Ward, it's not
his fault, his first overall pick he's ever played before.
He's got to go to mau Hi against an awful
defense to play against. You can't expect much, you know,
or Katleb Williams on that night against you know, a
madman in Flores.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know, plenty more to get to to dive into
in that regard, plenty more specific of Matt stats and
numbers here that we have to discuss with the Steelers
offense and the Steelers defense. But we will do that
at the bottom of the hour, because coming up next
we've got Steelers historian Bob Labriola gonna ask him his
thoughts from that win at MetLife, looking ahead to the
(14:15):
home opener against Seattle. All of that with Labs when
we return on the other side, West Yeuler, Matt Williamson,
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
About drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Back on the Drive on a Thursday. Here as we
go to the phone lines, and Matt, we're excited at
this time throughout the season to welcome Steelers historian, all
around great guy, mister Bob Labriola. Of course, all the
listeners here on the Steelers Audio Network, No Labs Labs,
thank you for taking the time to do this. We
really appreciate it. I know plenty that we want to
(15:15):
jump into here with you. Let's start with Aaron Rodgers.
I think we all knew to start. I think let's
not bury the lead on this one. I think we
all knew. Listen, the accolades, the credentials, the resume speaks
for itself. This is one of the greatest to ever
do it. I think we all knew he would have
a big impact on this offense. I think we all
(15:36):
knew he'd have some of those games where it looks
like he's turning back the clock. I don't know if
we all expected it to happen week one, though, that
was impressive for a first of seventeen games, hopefully for
Aaron Rodgers and the Black and Gold.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
Yeah, I mean Aaron Rodgers. I you know, he was
everything I believe was reasonable to hope for in his
first game with the Deers, really because he didn't play
at all in the preseason, you know, his first real
action of really any kind outside of maybe the joint
(16:11):
practice with Tampa Bay on the Thursday before that preseason game.
And you know, there's just so many different ways I
think that you can look at that his performance and
marvel at it. I mean you can. We can look
at the numbers, you know, seventy three percent completions, four touchdowns,
(16:31):
no interceptions. You know, it's the twenty eighth time that
Rogers in the NFL has had a game with you know,
four or more touchdowns and no interceptions. But then there
were just so many other, you know, big time NFL
quarterback things that the guy did for the Steelers. Perfect
in the red zone, which means not having to settle
(16:52):
for any field goals. I really like the fact that
the jetstroke took the opening kickoff, drove down, kicked the
field goal, Rogers brought the offense right back, scored a touchdown,
which you know, regular followers of the Pittsburgh Steelers know
is not something that has happened a lot lately. They
(17:15):
scored a touchdown at the end of the first half,
then they came back in the second half, scored a touchdown,
then scored a touchdown at the well they scored at
the end of the game in the last two minute drill.
You know, there were just a lot of things I
thought that a lot to like about the way Aaron
(17:36):
Rodgers played, and I don't you know, to me, it
was a no brainer to pick him as the Player
of the Week. And I really I don't have anything
that I could criticize about the way he played on
the field, the way he handled the quarterback quote unquote
(17:59):
duties for that team, for that offense. I think he
gave you know, the Steelers a little bit of I
don't know, a badass on offense for the first time
in a while. And you know, I, as I said,
I could not find a thing for me personally to
(18:21):
criticize about his first game.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, Labs, I couldn't agree more. And you touched on this,
but even if he just wins from the neck up,
and we talked about that in the first segment a lot,
if he just comes to the line of scrimmage consistently gets
him in the right play in and out of the
huddle and frankly, really cuts down on the negative plays
that the offense has.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Overall.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
You mentioned no interceptions efficient in the red zone that
in itself could pay off huge.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
And you know, one of the things I think was
a little bit under the radar in terms of that
last possession, you know that ended with Boswell's sixty yard
field goal. You know, I think as you got to
the two minute warning, uh, the strategy in my mind anyway,
you wanted to naturally score to win the game, but
(19:09):
you also wanted to run the clock and leave his
little time left for the Jets as possible. And so
you know that the past to John new Smith, you know,
didn't gain any yards on second down, but it was completed,
the clock ran, and then on third down. I really
(19:30):
liked him taking a shot down the field because I
kind of thought watching the game it's gonna be another
possession kind of play, you know, just keep the clock running, Uh,
you know that kind of thing, and Rogers goes deep
and I don't know that the Jets were ready for that.
Certainly the officials weren't because they missed the passing affairs
(19:51):
call on Calvin Austin, which it was a passing a
ferarance call. It was passing afference, and you know that
kind of above the next thing, having the guts to
attack down the field when maybe the other team's thinking
that you're not going to do that, and putting the
ball where it needed to be and they should have
(20:13):
gotten the pass interference, and then I think the whole
end of the game is a lot more comfortable. So,
you know, those are also the kinds of things I think, Matt,
that's another example. Yeah, you know you mentioned.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Above the neck.
Speaker 6 (20:24):
In my view of the game, that wasn't above the
neck play by the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
It certainly was. In sticking with that Labs, I thought
one of the one of the more encouraging developments Sunday
at MetLife Stadium was the performance that we saw from
Calvin Austin the third as well, too, after not seeing
much of him at training camp or throughout the preseason.
Obviously four reception, seventy yards, the touchdown. I tell you
(20:49):
what he performs like that, And I don't think we're
going to be talking about the number two wide receiver
conversation much anymore.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Well, and you know, and no disrespect Alvin Austin, because
you're absolutely right, he was very productive. Uh. And I
think that the guy is so far having a you know,
a nice you know start to his season. But I
think that's an Aaron Rodgers thing too. I don't know
that you know, the concept of a number two wide receiver.
(21:20):
I don't know that that's I won't say it's necessary,
but but maybe that's the is the word that I
want when you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers who
can get the ball to the open people. Uh, you know,
he can, he can take advantage of areas of the
field and players that other quarterbacks cannot or will not. Uh.
(21:42):
And so you know, the whole concept of the Steelers
need a you know, a second wide receiver, a number
two wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
My contention would be they just need to keep Aaron
Rodgers healthy. And I think a lot of that other
stuff will take care of itself.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
So Labs, we've talked a lot about Rodgers. He's their
highest profile edition of the offseason. Obviously he's an all
time great, but DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey aren't too
far behind in terms of, you know, brand name dudes
coming to Pittsburgh. What do you think of them in
your first live action?
Speaker 6 (22:15):
Well, I mean they were both They were both very
good as well. I mean Ramsey, he you know, his attitude,
his demeanor, I guess the physical and the scouts term,
isn't it demeanor? Yeah, I really like what he brought
(22:35):
brought to the defense. Uh. He's a no nonsense guy. Uh,
he is not afraid to let the opposed opponents know
you know what he plans on doing and then going
and doing it. He was physical, he was aggressive. You
know that play he made at the end, it was
(22:55):
you know another you know I talk about big time
quarterback play. You know that was big time to defensive
back play right there. It was perfect. I mean you
could take that hit and put it on video and
use it as a teaching tool. Keep your head out
of it. You know, he didn't rough him. You know,
the whole the timing thing, everything it was. It was perfect.
(23:18):
And that's really kind of the thing about defensive play.
In a lot of instances, you only have to make
one to get off the field. And if it's on
fourth down and whatever, and the other team goes for
it and you make the play, well, then that play
that you made right there is far more significant than
(23:38):
maybe the six or seven plays that preceded it. To
get the offense in that position in the first place.
That's good enough defense. And so you know, I thought,
you know, Ramsey was everything, everything you wanted and needed.
DK Metcalf, he is, he is a he's a pro,
(23:59):
he cares. Uh, he is you know, a legitimate, uh
number one wide receiver. You know a lot of a
lot of people like to talk about George Pickens as
a number one wide receiver. Uh, that's a whole those
that's a whole different league. DK Metcalf in terms of
that kind of designation, how he approaches his business, how
(24:21):
he prepares, how he's accountable to his quarterback and his teammates.
And you know, again, I keep going back to this.
This is another Aaron Rodgers above the neck. Whenever Sauce
Gardner was not on dk Metcalf Rogers went right.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
To him every time, every time.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
And that's that's again, you know, just as I said,
you know, Calvin Austin uh becomes a number two wide
receiver because of the way you know, Aaron Rodgers utilizes him.
You know, that's the same thing with a defensive strategy
can be sabotaged by an above the neck quarterback who
(25:02):
sees it, who realizes it, and knows exactly what he
needs to do to take advantage of it. And again,
I mean that was that was I'm not going to
say championship caliber offense because it's way too early to
start throwing on phrases like that. But you know, I
(25:23):
haven't seen the Steelers offense play that well in all
of the various you know, facets of offense than I
did against the Jets Labs.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I think we will all agree that if they do
want to, you know, fully become a championship offense, the
rushing attack, the run game is obviously going to have
to improve. Starts with the offensive line. Starts with the
running backs. You know, twenty carries for just fifty three
yards this past Sunday. How do they get that moving
in the right direction at the home opener against another
(25:55):
stingy defense in Seattle.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
Well, I mean, you know, the game is always the
I won't say the last thing, but it's it's not
the first thing to come together, you know, for an offense. Uh,
you know, especially you know, the Steelers will do a
have a physical training camp for sure. They have tackle football,
(26:18):
uh and just about every padded practice and so there's
you know, there's a lot of those kinds of things
that they work on. However, I don't know if they
had their starting five offensive line did they take any
snaps together season? I don't think because okay, so you
(26:43):
know again I'm yes, you're right about that. Yes, you
need the running game to be better, and uh, the
offensive line needs to be better. And you know I've
been I've been banging this drum for years now. Uh,
get the running back to the line of scrimmage clean,
Let's see what he can do after that. You know,
it just it makes me crazy when a running back
(27:06):
has to break two or three tackles to get back
to the line of scrimmage, you know, to get a
one yard game. That's not that's not good enough. But again,
I don't think it's time to say that they can't
or they won't. Let's let's let's see how it. Let's
(27:27):
see how it works out here. And I'll tell you
this too. A couple more games like this from Rogers
and the opposing defense, they're going to come into games
against the Steelers with a whole different perspective. I mean,
I do love that you're going to be seeing a
lot of loaded boxes. If he's thrown four touchdown passes
and no interceptions, completing seventy three percent, you just you
(27:49):
just can't do that. You'll die. You'll die the death
the other way. So, uh you know again, I'm just
it was one game, and while I acknowledge that it
wasn't good enough in that one game, I don't know
that it's that it's not going to be where that
it can't become good enough.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I like to you pointed out that you could do
whatever you want in the preseason and in practice and
OTAs or whatever, but it's not the same as playing
sixty seventy snaps together of NFL Week one football and
across the league physicality things run the ball, yes, tackling
stuff in the run is not going to be up
(28:33):
the par You know, we had a good segment week
or in just a minute ago talking about how Week
one presents different challenges.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
That being said, you know, yeah, and there's no such thing,
you know, as a finished product now right, Let's not
forget the.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
Super Bowl favorite, one of the Super Bowl favorites from
the AFC blue their seventeenth double digit lead under John Harbor. Yeah,
I mean, so, you know, Steelers fans sometimes they they
boggle my mind. I mean I'm getting letters and stuff
(29:13):
from people saying, you know, the Ravens can't be stopped, well,
they can stop.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Themselves, labs.
Speaker 5 (29:20):
I've been saying this for a while. The Ravens situations
almost just like the Steelers with like one more playoff
win per year, you know, I mean like they're hitting
their head onto stealing too. The Steelers haven't be able
to win a playoff game. The Ravens over this Lamar
era are a notch ahead of that. They win more
p you know, regular season games and win a playoff game.
(29:41):
The Ravens fans are fed up too, you know, like
this isn't unique, right.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
You know, so I.
Speaker 6 (29:50):
It just again, there there just doesn't seem to be
a lot of enjoyment Uh, in terms of watching the games,
seeing how things develop. Uh, you know, it just seems
to be such a quick desire to cut people, fire people,
move on from you know, Okay, you know, flip the tackles, uh,
(30:16):
move the tight end to tackle. Uh, you know whatever,
a bench, Keanu Benton, play Ya Black all the time. Whatever,
you know, just pick the pick the more ridiculous thing.
Another one was you're not moving TJ. Water around like
they said they were gonna. Well, you know last week
herbig was out. Jack Sawyer's a rookie. Uh yeah, so
(30:41):
I mean Highsmith's coming off that groin injury that was
bothering him for you know, a good bit of the preseason.
And so what you want to move Water all around it,
you know, in the first game of the the regular season.
And if you don't, that means that you've given up
on that whole concept.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Yeah. I mean the book's not written, right, yeah.
Speaker 6 (31:02):
Right, it's not even researched yet.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
Right, right, But where I was going though, with the
physicality and not practicing, that's a wonderful it's not even excuse,
it's just truth. But the Steel's run defence has to
get better.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
Oh absolutely, yeah, absolutely, and guys, you know, I thought,
and again I'm watching it on TV, it seemed to
me like guys were getting handled at the line of scrimmage.
And I don't know if that's if they're in the
right gap, but getting handled physically or you know, however
(31:38):
that works. And then I also have a feeling that
once that starts happening, then guys start trying to do
more than they should or than the than their assignment
would dictate, in order to make a play to help
stop the bleeding. And then that just makes it worse.
(32:00):
Then then you just you lose your I won't say
discipline so much, but the integrity of the scheme. You
have guys jumping gaps or you know, those kinds of things,
trying to make a play and it's just, uh, you know,
then it just snowballs the wrong way. So you know,
again it was bad.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
It needs to be better, but it feels better with
a web. Yeah, yes, and uh, you know again, dark
Derek Harmon wasn't there, you know, cam Heyward is is
(32:40):
has to is going to be easing into this, regardless
of the contract situation or any of that. He wasn't
gonna have played very much he wasn't gonna have played
in the preseason anyway. I thought Mike Tomlin was, you know,
extremely honest and accurate when he said, uh, my job
is to get Cam out of the trope, right, Yes.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
Because any news anything, I remember Dan Rooney always used
to say this. Anything anytime you're mentioning your best players
in training camp for the preseason, it's something bad. Somebody
got hurt, got hurt. I mean, I was at that game,
uh that I think was a Sunday afternoon preseason game
(33:25):
and it was against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and uh,
young David di Castro. I don't know if he missed
a block or whatever he hit Pouncy in the knee.
Done for the season, Jordie Nelson, Packers receiver, Aaron Rodgers
favorite receiver. Maybe uh injured a knee or an achilles
(33:45):
or something bad. Lost for the season. Uh So here, yeah,
here we are. We're talking about Marquise Pounce, your number
one pick at guard and the and the Packers best
receiver in the preseason. And it's all bad.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
It's all bad.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
It's all bad.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
And they got Cam out at Latrobe.
Speaker 6 (34:05):
Yes, they got Cam out of Latrobe. So you know
it's time for again, Uh, start start working, working on it,
working towards playing better. I think that the inside linebackers,
I think will they're better than what they showed. I
think that's in my opinion. Uh, and I think Patrick
(34:28):
Queen's assessment not only was it right on. I can't
say the words that he used, I think we've all
seen them, and but I like the fact that he
said it. A guy like that, I like the fact
that he said what he said because you know, he
is a defensive leader, There's no question about it. And
(34:49):
you know, when your top guys are challenging their own teammates,
I think that's a good thing.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
They're not short on guys speaking up. No, and I
think everybody they brought in.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
Speech up and the people who are doing it are
the right people right right right in my opinion, Uh,
you know you have you know the people who are talking,
they're they're they're the ones that I think you want
to be talking.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
I would agree Bob Labriola is one of those people
that we want to be talking. Kind enough to join
us here on this Thursday, as he'll do throughout the season.
Steelers A story in Bob Labriola Labs. Thanks for the time,
and we'll be listening for you on the pregame show
of course, eleven o'clock on the Steelers Audio Network on
w DVE with Mike Pursuda and Jerry Dulac. Labs. We
(35:41):
will see you on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
Yeah, and Wes, just a little personal note from me
to you good luck on Saturday, because.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
I'm gonna need it's gonna be well.
Speaker 6 (35:51):
And I don't know whether you're gonna need it or not,
but I think there's a lot of quote unquote friends
of yours. There are we laying in the weeds for you.
If things don't go your way.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
You and you and Mark Cabali and Brian Baco will
be waiting in the press box like WWE wrestlers about
to jump somebody backstage.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
I know it. Not looking forward to.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
As I've told you many times, Wes, I I will
take advantage of whichever side loses.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
That's a good place, a good place to be people.
Speaker 6 (36:25):
Yes, that's that's the best part about not really caring.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
That's a good part about playing both sides, as I
always come out on top.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Labs.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Thanks for the time, partner, and I'll see you with
a frown on my face. Sunday.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
All right, take care, guys, Steelers a story in.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Bob Labriola kind enough to give us his time here
on a Thursday. It's a little bit more cheerful Labs
here on this Thursday, I tell you, well, it's coming
off of win.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
You know, we didn't play any of his doom and
gloom music that we did last year. I kind of
kept that quiet on purpose because we used to play
like the Emperor's theme song or Vader or Jaws.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
But hey, he's cheery, he is.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
His steelers are one and on and he downplays it.
But his pit panthers, I think are about to beat
the snot out of my mountaineers on Saturday. And yeah,
him and Kabali and Bacco and everybody else they'll be
having some fail Yeah again, Well, Kabali and Labs like
to say that they're not pit guys. They just like
(37:25):
to give me grief, you know. Notre Dame fans don't
give me grief. True Virginia Tech fans don't give me grief.
I'm onto those two. I'm onto those two. We're gonna
take a break here, Matt. On the other side, some tweets,
some injury report stuff to get into. I wanted to
make sure to mention that Matt and I are gonna,
you know, try and do this kind of Twitter Thursday
type thing if I will so throughout the show. We
(37:47):
will get to your tweets at some point, probably an
hour number two. If you want to get involved, you
can find Matt at Williamson NFL. I'm at Wesley Yuler.
We will get to those as we roll along. Plenty
to get to It's the dry on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
About drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Back on the Drive here closing down our number one
of the show. We got a couple of tweets rolling in. Reminder, yeah,
get those in. We will get to those in our
number two at Williamson NFL at Wesley Yuler. Questions, comments, concerns, reactions,
anything and everything in between. You know where to get
at us if you want to get involved.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Matt.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
One of the things lab was mentioned there that I
kind of wanted to follow up on and use one
of your statistics as well too, to kind of bring
this all full circle of the up. Well, we'll jump
into this stats packet more. An hour number two, absolutely
Labs was talking about the struggles of the run game,
you know how it needs to be better, but not
panicking yet obviously in a lot of the lot of
(39:22):
the accurate reasons why that's the case. One of the
things he mentioned was, you know, I'd like to see
these running backs get going and have some space before
they got contacted.
Speaker 6 (39:30):
Yeah. Right.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
Last week against the Jets, Pittsburgh's ball carriers averaged a
negative point three yards before their first contact compared to
especially when you consider it when you juxtapose it with
what the Jets did in that department holes point six
for New York. So that difference is nearly nearly a
two yard difference between when the Steelers running backs are
(39:54):
first facing contact and when the Jets running backs are
first getting touch.
Speaker 5 (39:59):
There's things about Aie Harris's game I liked and I
didn't like, but I always envisioned him when I see
these stats, like just in a barroom fight to get
to the line of scrimmage, you know he'd use his
arms a lot, and you do a lot of upper
body stuff fighting off three hundred and twenty pound defensive
tackles just to get to the line of scrimmage. And
that's not gonna cut it, you know, And especially like
(40:20):
from that Jets perspective, Breast Hall Fields, they're such distance,
long speed accelerators. You give them a runway, you get
chunk games. And yeah, exactly exactly, you know. So I'm
not saying the Steelers don't have explosive backs, but they
don't run like they don't. Those steelerbacks aren't gonna win
(40:41):
races against Hall and Fields, you know what I mean.
And you got to do a better job opening holes
they weren't there.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
No, they weren't. The pass protection was not up to snuff. No,
the run game, uh, moving bodies at the line of
scrimmage was not up to snuff. And I think when
you see that, I mean, again, a one point nine
yard aggregate difference from when the Steelers running backs were
facing first contact to when the Jets were That's that's
(41:09):
not great. That's not where you want to be. And
that's one of the things that right.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Shock no one listening that those numbers backed up exactly
what you saw.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
I don't think that that will come as as a
huge surprise to everybody. The Jets had six explosive runs.
That's ten or more yards in the run game zero
for Pittsburgh. Jayln Warren did have a nine yard carry,
so right on the right on the edge of having
one there. But that's part of that as well too,
Like you mentioned with Justin Fields and Bressee Hall, Like
when those guys can get going, when they can build
up momentum, when they can make one move and and all. Yeah,
(41:40):
some green grass like that, that makes all the difference
in the world. And that's going to be another tall
task against this this talented Seattle front.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (41:47):
Now, kind of the good news is Seattle's offense has
had the same problem you know there. I think Charbonnay
and Walker basically split carries last year, and they're both
good players. I don't blame neither one of them for this.
Their longest run I think was eight yards between the
two of them.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
I mean, so they got.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Out out rushed pretty significantly by Sandario as well too.
Speaker 5 (42:07):
I mean time possession twenty two minutes for Seattle. So
Seattle's having more struggles than the Jets did in round
week one. But if we're sitting here Monday, going boy,
Walker and Sharbonay average time average first contacts two yards
down field might be an US problem, not a U problem,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Yeah, And so that is and and again I think
everybody understands this, like it's not like we're mashing a
panic button or anything in this regard.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
But all though I did love Labs, is out observation
that the physical natures of the of the game aren't
going to be as sharp. And in week one I
kind of wish we'd brought I would have brought that
up in the first second.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
They take a little bit longer to warm up to.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
Yeah, yeah, running game, run defense tack.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
You know, sure, another one of those old time No
it's not. But another one of those old cliches for
a reason is like fatigue makes cowards of us. All right,
when you're beat down, when you're worn out, you're not
as sharp mentally, you're not as gung ho to stick
your face in the fan. Absolutely, you know, and and
and and and really kind of assert your will and
and and everything that you have to do to be
successful in the run game and in the trenches at
(43:14):
the line of scrimmage. In the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
It's too oft forgotten that these are human beings. They're
not They're not robots yet, They're not cyborgs, dominoes or
you know, checkers on the board.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
You know, I I would really like to start. And
I'm not saying that it has to It doesn't have
to be a Mona Lisa on Sunday against Seattle either.
It doesn't have to be a masterpiece. But I want
to see clear cut improvement, and then I want to
see it again in New England, and then I want
to see it again in Ireland. You know, that kind
of hole, like what you talked about at the at
the start of the show, at the top of the hour,
that whole you know, first four games or so September
(43:49):
is about us and just getting better. And yeah we're
game planning for our opponent, absolutely, but it's more about
our own landscaping than our neighbors landscaping. That's again that
it does not have to be by leaps and bounds.
But I hope we see improvement in that regard.
Speaker 5 (44:04):
On Sunday, I assume we're talking about both run defense
and run offense.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
Yes, yeah, yeah, they run both are I think we
were focusing more on.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
Offense, Yeah, particularly the the negative point three yards before contact.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
Great point.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
Yeah, and then I don't want to see a number
for Seattle that looks like the one point six yards
before contact like it was for the Jet.
Speaker 5 (44:23):
Because at least we have the other data point of
Seattle struggling in the same regard as the Steelers offense
all of a sudden. If the Steeler deeds just allowing
big holes over and over and over, you don't really
examine what.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
You're doing here. Yes, and there's some reason behind it.
Speaker 5 (44:37):
I know we don't have a ton of time, but
I mean I think, as Labs mentioned, I thought defensive
linemen are getting moved way too much into the laps
of those linebackers, not letting them do what they can do.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
There was a lot of effects, a lot of criticism
of Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson's performance.
Speaker 3 (44:53):
And I'm not they weren't great.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
I'm not here to say they were great, but they
had they had a lot of bodies in their lap.
Speaker 5 (44:58):
It's right after the s outerer milker coming at you
as well as blockers. You know, that's it's a lot
of room to operate.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
That's that's a that's that's the linebacker equivalent of getting
contacted behind the line like a running back.
Speaker 3 (45:11):
That's an exact It's a great parallel.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
I'm going to be interested. That's one of those things
now that I want to keep an eye on this number.
How the Steelers Steelers ball carriers the space that they
have before they get contacted and the opposition ball carrier
the space that they're allowing before contact. It's one of
the things I love about the stats packet that you
put together every single week is you kind of keep
the same conversation points. Yeah, what the kind of possession
(45:35):
looks like, what the average arge per play look like.
All so this is maybe why, and this may be why,
So make no mistake about it. This is something we
will keep track of as we roll along throughout.
Speaker 3 (45:46):
This services now. And you know, I don't calculate this stuff.
I just find right. Ten years ago, you couldn't find
those things.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
No, absolutely not. And now it's like there are a
treasure trove of places to to go and find good information.
Speaker 3 (46:00):
And it's from NFL dot Com. I mean, it's not
some dude in his basement.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
You're like, yeah, okay, I maybe trust this person's work,
but what if they made a mistake.
Speaker 5 (46:09):
If they didn't, didn't make it us to prove a point.
This is taken it from the NFL Next Gen people.
Speaker 2 (46:15):
And a lot of this stats and a lot of
this information. You gotta have expensive subscriptions to access some
yeah as well too, or share a log in. Nudge, nudge,
wink wink. One hour in the books, another hour to go.
We will get to your tweets in our number two.
We will get to the latest on the injury front
for both of these teams and our number two uh
(46:38):
and of course continue to comb over to peruse through
all of Matt's stats all that more when we return
West Shooler Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. West Shuoler and Matt Williamson with you here
for the next two hours on a Thursday. What's up, Matthew?
How we doing good?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Man? How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Can't complain? Getting close to the weekend?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Big?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, big weekend, big Thursday night game today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's beautiful day out there.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I was just about to say, it's been a beautiful
week of weather here. Yeah, the kind of exact fall
weather that you would hope for. Sunny but not too hot.
It's been beautiful. So yeah, life is good. Cannot complain, man,
And we've got a fun show planned today. We'll have
Bob Labriola coming up about twenty minutes from Nice.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Nice.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Of course, we will talk a little bit about that
big Thursday night football game tonight at lambeau Field. The
three Commanders and the Packers and two good teams, two
good quarterbacks, would be a fun Thursday night one this evening.
But as we will do all season on Thursdays, Matt,
what do you say we dive into a little Matt's
stats here to get us going, okay, I know that
(01:21):
there is a lot that we're gonna be looking for
improvement upon from week one to week two. Oh quite
a bit real quick before we get into this. As
someone who you know, you worked for pitt you worked
for Akron, you worked for the Browns, and I know
you weren't a coach, you were in the scouting department.
But you're all, you know, part of that same sphere,
that same ecosystem together. I think a lot of times
(01:42):
you hear the old cliche, the old adage you improve
the most as a team from week one to week two?
Do you really put stock into that? How true is
All cliches have some truth to them, obviously, but how
real is that in the modern age, the modern game.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Well, the thing is, people don't think about this as much.
I mean, and it's very true in Pittsburgh you only
think about the Steelers. Well, if it is true, your
opponent did too, you know. So if you're playing fifty
percent of your opponent in week one and both of
you go to eighty five and week two, I know
they're different teams.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Well, the level play just went up.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
It doesn't mean you all of a sudden, you've got
this great advantage over everybody else. But I do think
there's two aspects worth really digging into from week one
to week two, and some of this carries over into
later weeks as well. It's not just like boom, it's done.
The stamina thing is massive to me. I mean, playing
that many snaps often in the hottest weather you're going
(02:40):
to but even then it's just the snap count. I mean,
sham Hayward's the best example. I mean, I know he's
a freak and he's Wolverine and he can do whatever,
But what has he done that it was even comparable
to what he did against the Jets, you know, And
he's not alone by any means. I'm just picking him
out because he probably did the least, not because the
content stuff because he's older. I mean, of any stealer
(03:03):
since the day they were eliminated. And I'm not talking
about the weights and work ethic and any of that,
just about real football snaps. You know, nobody did sixty
in a row, you know, before Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
I mean, the old lineman.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Don't get the shift out, the quarterbacks don't get the
shift out, so there has to be a stamina thing.
Your technique fails, your brain starts to not work as
sharp because your body's failing and you just haven't done it.
I mean, twelve snaps or eight snaps against Carolina's fourth
stringers is not the same for Jalen Ramsey and Slay
(03:38):
and those guys. As Let's tackle justin fields a thousand times.
So I think that's a thousand percent reel And even
this week, people will still feel fatigued more than they
do and we gag, of course, blah blah blah blah blah.
Now I also think, and this was true for the
Steelers much more so than the Jets. You don't have
any tape on these coaches. You know, like, Okay, they're
(04:01):
all coming from Detroit. They'll probably do Detroit things. That's
a start. Or you watched all the players. You have
a scouting report on Sauce Gardner and Quinn Williams, but
you don't know how they're going to be deployed. You
have a hunch, you know, maybe, I mean, if I
were them the way that they matching what I know
about Sauce versus what I know about the Lions, he'll
(04:22):
probably follow your number one receiver. But what if he doesn't,
you know what I mean, Like, you don't know that
for a fact by any means, So you're just kind
of hypothesizing, and preseason is not going to give you
that answer either. So I think that's a big thing
is at least you get the Bills play the Jets
this week. They at least have one game of Jets
tape to go off of, which is way more valuable
(04:44):
than all the other stuff, you know, and on all
the Steelers had was all the other stuff. Now they're
not alone for having to prepare for a team that
has all new people. There's tons of turnover in this league.
It's not an excuse, but I think it's a lot
harder that I don't exactly know how they're gonna play,
but I'm gonna guess in a pretty strong manner, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And I think that's something you hear every head coach,
certainly Mike Tomlin, all other thirty one head coaches across
the league going into Week one, they all say it's
more about what we do like this.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Yeah, yeah, there is a stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
That you have familiary with some of the personnel, you
have familiarity with some of the coaching staff. But you
don't have any data points from this season. All of
that is in the past, and obviously things change. They evolve,
Coaches change and evolve, players change and evolve, the roster turnover,
the staff turnover. From week one to week two. You
hear every coach talk about that week one it's about us,
Like it's about I'm not looking at my neighbors yard,
(05:36):
you know what I mean. I'm looking at my own
landscaping and what I need to do with the mulch
and the bushes and cutting the grass. I'm looking at
my own house here. How when does that really start
to flip that you start to feel like we have
enough to really specifically game plan this opponent with tendencies
and knowing what they're going to do.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
I would say, if you had a coach here, they
would say four games, I start to feel comfortable.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
October.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Yeah, I mean so a lot of people do say
September is an extension of the preseason, and I think
for those reasons, yes, but the game's count saying you know,
like I hate that point, like, oh, well, you know,
get hot down the stretch or all that. I mean, yeah,
I guess you'd rather play better, but win to win, right, Like.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
We all didn't just belittle the Bengals for how slow
they've started. Yeah right, the last handful of years.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
It's just just a math equation. At the end of
the year, who is the most wins and most tiebreakers
goes to the playoffs. It doesn't matter that well, that
doesn't mean as much in week one.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Well, tie breakers don't count from September, right, and yes
they do.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Like it bothered me.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
It's kind of a side note that that Brazil game
was a home game for the Chargers, and why single
that one out and not the upcoming Ireland game for
the Steelers is it was a division game. So you
play a division game, there's only you only get three
of those home games as opposed to eight or nine
other home games. I understand that every team has to
(06:54):
give up a home game. Some team has to give
up a home game when you play overseats. That's part
of the deal now, but it shouldn't be division game.
They because they do count more. And for the Chargers
they won, good for them, that ends well, but for them,
yeah right, but now they got to go to Kansas City.
You know, in the rematch, no one ever kme to City,
never went to La.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yes, and the atmosphere will be much different at Arrowhead Stadium.
Yeah right, it was Friday night, right, certainly.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
So a couple other notes is now, it's certainly true
that most teams are going to be healthier in week
one than they are in week two, let alone week seven,
week eight, week ten. You know, so every team is
digging down their depth chart.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
More and more. I mean, you're going to lose people
for the year.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Unfortunately, it's a brutal sport that chances are you're less
healthy going forward. I mean, probably not more healthy, you
know what I mean. So I think that's noteworthy now. Also,
I'm just throwing the Jets out there because they're recent.
Did they show everything?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
You know? Like, are the Bills going to play it?
Speaker 6 (07:57):
Like?
Speaker 5 (07:58):
Okay, I know a lot of what they do. They Boy,
they did a really good job of massaging Fields and
I don't mean that in a bad way, setting him.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Up for success totally.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
Are they gonna do the exact same thing against us?
Or do they still have like eight more tricks in
the bag? You know, who knows?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
You would think that all these teams have more tricks
in the bag, more that they didn't get to. You
and I both know it's and real quick.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
The Jets found out more about themselves in that game
too than anybody else, you.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Know what I mean, new coach, new quarterback.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
I thought he could handle that, but he really couldn't.
Or you know, yeah, man going out well autambo I
can leave alone against really good pass rushers, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Rookie tackle. Yeah, yeah, Yeah, there was a lot that
the Jets certainly learned about themselves on Sunday with with
all that turnover and all that youth that they have
injected into the organization and the roster. Yeah, that makes
a ton of sense. That's just something that you know,
I kind of always what exactly like, there's no perfect process. Yeah,
(08:54):
there's no exact blueprint in all of that.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
And if every team does get better from week one
to two, do you get ten percent better? Do you
get three percent better? Do you get fifty percent better?
You know, like maybe Seattle got fifty percent better than
the Steelers got three percent better from one to two.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
We'll see, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
You know, if you're a team like the Niners, who
had a ton of injuries, right now. I don't know
how you can argue, oh, yeah, we're going to get
better week two when we lost George k Yeah, we
lost Kittle and brock Purty you know for a length
of period here. So yeah, there's nuance in that, but
it is also, again obviously something that coaches highlight, people discuss.
There has to be some truth in that. We start
to get a baseline of learning about ourselves. We at
(09:31):
least have some data points now of our opponent. And
now we head into week two. And with that, Matt.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
One word note, I think the Steelers are better equipped
to handle the riggers, all those things we just mentioned
of week one, better than most teams because of experience.
I mean, Tomlin does this every year. Where Okay, I
know week one is different than week ten. You know
where the jet staff or you know, I think I
(10:01):
know it's different, but I haven't been down that road.
You know, Seattle a year ago was a rookie staff.
It's not Verbel or Carol that's done this a lot
of years, assist in a new home. I understand week
one as a head coach, I understand that we're game
planning for stuff that doesn't exist, you know, and I'm
gonna have to adjust on the fly more than most
weeks mostly. And then the other thing is Rogers because
(10:23):
if you rewatch, I urge people, even even on the
TV copy, just rewatch Steelers Jets, especially on second and
third downs. He checked out of a ton of Arthur
Smith plays, you know. And that doesn't mean Arthur, I
don't think you know what you're doing. It's I come
to the line of scrimmage and they're gonna show me this.
I'm not gonna hesitate to go the best play.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
If you've give me red paint, yeah, right, right right,
If you're gonna, I'm gonna paint the barn green, right.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I think it's a big reason Rodgers is here is
to check into the right.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Plays, absolutely, And it's one of the things that you
know where.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Cam Ward isn't. He's like, come a line and snap
the ball and this was a play call and Russell wasn't.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
That's a guy with Hall of Fame credentials. And yeah,
that for Aaron Rodgers, that's one of the things that
he's done best. We we obviously all know the highlight
tape from his career, the arm shrank, the arm accuracy,
the for a long time of his career. The mobility
and the athleticism that he.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Had overall playmaking.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, all those things, rightfully, so a big part of
the reason why he's going to walk into the Hall
of Fame when he retires, but also because of what
he can do above the shoulders, what he can do
from the neck up. Peyton Manning got a ton of
credit for that, rightfully. So I don't know if Aaron
Rodgers gets the credit that he deserves in that regard,
but it was a good It was a good start,
certainly for at least Steelers fan seeing that this past Sunday.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Now, I don't know if Rogers career is better than
Peyton's whatever. We can fight about that, and it doesn't
real even matter, to be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
But they're both all times.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
General opinion of them in their prime was Manning's unbelievable
from the neck up. They both are, but ros highlight
tape was more Wow Mahomes before Mahomes that people said
they would cite that first, and as opposed to man
he's a computer above the neck, and he's a computer
(12:12):
above the neck. You know, he knows football as well
as I forget he was even listening to if somebody
really respected saying, I would rather have Aaron Rodgers call
a game than fifteen of the offensive coordinators out there, you.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Know what I mean. It's not a bad point, right,
all right, especially knock on the fifteen quirls.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
I mean one might be Arthur Smith. I mean, I mean,
like he's really really good at it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
He's spent two decades under center and has about as
much experience in that regard as you could possibly imagine.
And I'm sure you know too, there were a lot
of people in Indianapolis, a lot of people in Denver
saying that same thing about Peyton Manning. Right, this guy's
this guy's sitting in film rooms with him. Like, this
guy's smarter.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Than most in the building, right.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Most of the offensive mines across the league and in
this building. And that's a that's a good resource to have.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Man, It's unbelievable, right, But I also want people to realize,
at least through one game, Rogers has shown to be
very adaptable, you know, like he's taken more shotgun snaps.
The play action stuff was the highest and like eight
years of his career, I mean, the usage of play
action Okay, I realize I'm willing to change. Did a
(13:17):
lot of bootlegging and rolling out, you know, despite his age.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I mean that's an Arthur Smith thing too.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
So at least through one game, I feel like Smith
and Rogers really had a good thing going.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
And I think if that's the starting point and they're
only going to improve, they're only going to gel and
mesh more from here, that's something to be excited about.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
Yeah, yeah, Matt A but I think that's a huge
Week one advantage. Where I mentioned cam Ward, it's not
his fault, his first overall pick he's ever played before.
He's got to go to mau Hi against an awful
defense to play against. You can't expect much, you know,
or Katleb Williams on that night against you know, a
madman in Flores.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know, plenty more to get to to dive into
in that regard, plenty more specific of Matt stats and
numbers here that we have to discuss with the Steelers
offense and the Steelers defense. But we will do that
at the bottom of the hour, because coming up next
we've got Steelers historian Bob Labriola gonna ask him his
thoughts from that win at MetLife, looking ahead to the
(14:15):
home opener against Seattle. All of that with Labs when
we return on the other side, West Yeuler, Matt Williamson,
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
About drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Back on the Drive on a Thursday. Here as we
go to the phone lines, and Matt, we're excited at
this time throughout the season to welcome Steelers historian, all
around great guy, mister Bob Labriola. Of course, all the
listeners here on the Steelers Audio Network, No Labs Labs,
thank you for taking the time to do this. We
really appreciate it. I know plenty that we want to
(15:15):
jump into here with you. Let's start with Aaron Rodgers.
I think we all knew to start. I think let's
not bury the lead on this one. I think we
all knew. Listen, the accolades, the credentials, the resume speaks
for itself. This is one of the greatest to ever
do it. I think we all knew he would have
a big impact on this offense. I think we all
(15:36):
knew he'd have some of those games where it looks
like he's turning back the clock. I don't know if
we all expected it to happen week one, though, that
was impressive for a first of seventeen games, hopefully for
Aaron Rodgers and the Black and Gold.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
Yeah, I mean Aaron Rodgers. I you know, he was
everything I believe was reasonable to hope for in his
first game with the Deers, really because he didn't play
at all in the preseason, you know, his first real
action of really any kind outside of maybe the joint
(16:11):
practice with Tampa Bay on the Thursday before that preseason game.
And you know, there's just so many different ways I
think that you can look at that his performance and
marvel at it. I mean you can. We can look
at the numbers, you know, seventy three percent completions, four touchdowns,
(16:31):
no interceptions. You know, it's the twenty eighth time that
Rogers in the NFL has had a game with you know,
four or more touchdowns and no interceptions. But then there
were just so many other, you know, big time NFL
quarterback things that the guy did for the Steelers. Perfect
in the red zone, which means not having to settle
(16:52):
for any field goals. I really like the fact that
the jetstroke took the opening kickoff, drove down, kicked the
field goal, Rogers brought the offense right back, scored a touchdown,
which you know, regular followers of the Pittsburgh Steelers know
is not something that has happened a lot lately. They
(17:15):
scored a touchdown at the end of the first half,
then they came back in the second half, scored a touchdown,
then scored a touchdown at the well they scored at
the end of the game in the last two minute drill.
You know, there were just a lot of things I
thought that a lot to like about the way Aaron
(17:36):
Rodgers played, and I don't you know, to me, it
was a no brainer to pick him as the Player
of the Week. And I really I don't have anything
that I could criticize about the way he played on
the field, the way he handled the quarterback quote unquote
(17:59):
duties for that team, for that offense. I think he
gave you know, the Steelers a little bit of I
don't know, a badass on offense for the first time
in a while. And you know, I, as I said,
I could not find a thing for me personally to
(18:21):
criticize about his first game.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, Labs, I couldn't agree more. And you touched on this,
but even if he just wins from the neck up,
and we talked about that in the first segment a lot,
if he just comes to the line of scrimmage consistently gets
him in the right play in and out of the
huddle and frankly, really cuts down on the negative plays
that the offense has.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Overall.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
You mentioned no interceptions efficient in the red zone that
in itself could pay off huge.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
And you know, one of the things I think was
a little bit under the radar in terms of that
last possession, you know that ended with Boswell's sixty yard
field goal. You know, I think as you got to
the two minute warning, uh, the strategy in my mind anyway,
you wanted to naturally score to win the game, but
(19:09):
you also wanted to run the clock and leave his
little time left for the Jets as possible. And so
you know that the past to John new Smith, you know,
didn't gain any yards on second down, but it was completed,
the clock ran, and then on third down. I really
(19:30):
liked him taking a shot down the field because I
kind of thought watching the game it's gonna be another
possession kind of play, you know, just keep the clock running, Uh,
you know that kind of thing, and Rogers goes deep
and I don't know that the Jets were ready for that.
Certainly the officials weren't because they missed the passing affairs
(19:51):
call on Calvin Austin, which it was a passing a
ferarance call. It was passing afference, and you know that
kind of above the next thing, having the guts to
attack down the field when maybe the other team's thinking
that you're not going to do that, and putting the
ball where it needed to be and they should have
(20:13):
gotten the pass interference, and then I think the whole
end of the game is a lot more comfortable. So,
you know, those are also the kinds of things I think, Matt,
that's another example. Yeah, you know you mentioned.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Above the neck.
Speaker 6 (20:24):
In my view of the game, that wasn't above the
neck play by the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
It certainly was. In sticking with that Labs, I thought
one of the one of the more encouraging developments Sunday
at MetLife Stadium was the performance that we saw from
Calvin Austin the third as well, too, after not seeing
much of him at training camp or throughout the preseason.
Obviously four reception, seventy yards, the touchdown. I tell you
(20:49):
what he performs like that, And I don't think we're
going to be talking about the number two wide receiver
conversation much anymore.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Well, and you know, and no disrespect Alvin Austin, because
you're absolutely right, he was very productive. Uh. And I
think that the guy is so far having a you know,
a nice you know start to his season. But I
think that's an Aaron Rodgers thing too. I don't know
that you know, the concept of a number two wide receiver.
(21:20):
I don't know that that's I won't say it's necessary,
but but maybe that's the is the word that I
want when you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers who
can get the ball to the open people. Uh, you know,
he can, he can take advantage of areas of the
field and players that other quarterbacks cannot or will not. Uh.
(21:42):
And so you know, the whole concept of the Steelers
need a you know, a second wide receiver, a number
two wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
My contention would be they just need to keep Aaron
Rodgers healthy. And I think a lot of that other
stuff will take care of itself.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
So Labs, we've talked a lot about Rodgers. He's their
highest profile edition of the offseason. Obviously he's an all
time great, but DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey aren't too
far behind in terms of, you know, brand name dudes
coming to Pittsburgh. What do you think of them in
your first live action?
Speaker 6 (22:15):
Well, I mean they were both They were both very
good as well. I mean Ramsey, he you know, his attitude,
his demeanor, I guess the physical and the scouts term,
isn't it demeanor? Yeah, I really like what he brought
(22:35):
brought to the defense. Uh. He's a no nonsense guy. Uh,
he is not afraid to let the opposed opponents know
you know what he plans on doing and then going
and doing it. He was physical, he was aggressive. You
know that play he made at the end, it was
(22:55):
you know another you know I talk about big time
quarterback play. You know that was big time to defensive
back play right there. It was perfect. I mean you
could take that hit and put it on video and
use it as a teaching tool. Keep your head out
of it. You know, he didn't rough him. You know,
the whole the timing thing, everything it was. It was perfect.
(23:18):
And that's really kind of the thing about defensive play.
In a lot of instances, you only have to make
one to get off the field. And if it's on
fourth down and whatever, and the other team goes for
it and you make the play, well, then that play
that you made right there is far more significant than
(23:38):
maybe the six or seven plays that preceded it. To
get the offense in that position in the first place.
That's good enough defense. And so you know, I thought,
you know, Ramsey was everything, everything you wanted and needed.
DK Metcalf, he is, he is a he's a pro,
(23:59):
he cares. Uh, he is you know, a legitimate, uh
number one wide receiver. You know a lot of a
lot of people like to talk about George Pickens as
a number one wide receiver. Uh, that's a whole those
that's a whole different league. DK Metcalf in terms of
that kind of designation, how he approaches his business, how
(24:21):
he prepares, how he's accountable to his quarterback and his teammates.
And you know, again, I keep going back to this.
This is another Aaron Rodgers above the neck. Whenever Sauce
Gardner was not on dk Metcalf Rogers went right.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
To him every time, every time.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
And that's that's again, you know, just as I said,
you know, Calvin Austin uh becomes a number two wide
receiver because of the way you know, Aaron Rodgers utilizes him.
You know, that's the same thing with a defensive strategy
can be sabotaged by an above the neck quarterback who
(25:02):
sees it, who realizes it, and knows exactly what he
needs to do to take advantage of it. And again,
I mean that was that was I'm not going to
say championship caliber offense because it's way too early to
start throwing on phrases like that. But you know, I
(25:23):
haven't seen the Steelers offense play that well in all
of the various you know, facets of offense than I
did against the Jets Labs.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I think we will all agree that if they do
want to, you know, fully become a championship offense, the
rushing attack, the run game is obviously going to have
to improve. Starts with the offensive line. Starts with the
running backs. You know, twenty carries for just fifty three
yards this past Sunday. How do they get that moving
in the right direction at the home opener against another
(25:55):
stingy defense in Seattle.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
Well, I mean, you know, the game is always the
I won't say the last thing, but it's it's not
the first thing to come together, you know, for an offense. Uh,
you know, especially you know, the Steelers will do a
have a physical training camp for sure. They have tackle football,
(26:18):
uh and just about every padded practice and so there's
you know, there's a lot of those kinds of things
that they work on. However, I don't know if they
had their starting five offensive line did they take any
snaps together season? I don't think because okay, so you
(26:43):
know again I'm yes, you're right about that. Yes, you
need the running game to be better, and uh, the
offensive line needs to be better. And you know I've
been I've been banging this drum for years now. Uh,
get the running back to the line of scrimmage clean,
Let's see what he can do after that. You know,
it just it makes me crazy when a running back
(27:06):
has to break two or three tackles to get back
to the line of scrimmage, you know, to get a
one yard game. That's not that's not good enough. But again,
I don't think it's time to say that they can't
or they won't. Let's let's let's see how it. Let's
(27:27):
see how it works out here. And I'll tell you
this too. A couple more games like this from Rogers
and the opposing defense, they're going to come into games
against the Steelers with a whole different perspective. I mean,
I do love that you're going to be seeing a
lot of loaded boxes. If he's thrown four touchdown passes
and no interceptions, completing seventy three percent, you just you
(27:49):
just can't do that. You'll die. You'll die the death
the other way. So, uh you know again, I'm just
it was one game, and while I acknowledge that it
wasn't good enough in that one game, I don't know
that it's that it's not going to be where that
it can't become good enough.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I like to you pointed out that you could do
whatever you want in the preseason and in practice and
OTAs or whatever, but it's not the same as playing
sixty seventy snaps together of NFL Week one football and
across the league physicality things run the ball, yes, tackling
stuff in the run is not going to be up
(28:33):
the par You know, we had a good segment week
or in just a minute ago talking about how Week
one presents different challenges.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
That being said, you know, yeah, and there's no such thing,
you know, as a finished product now right, Let's not
forget the.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
Super Bowl favorite, one of the Super Bowl favorites from
the AFC blue their seventeenth double digit lead under John Harbor. Yeah,
I mean, so, you know, Steelers fans sometimes they they
boggle my mind. I mean I'm getting letters and stuff
(29:13):
from people saying, you know, the Ravens can't be stopped, well,
they can stop.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Themselves, labs.
Speaker 5 (29:20):
I've been saying this for a while. The Ravens situations
almost just like the Steelers with like one more playoff
win per year, you know, I mean like they're hitting
their head onto stealing too. The Steelers haven't be able
to win a playoff game. The Ravens over this Lamar
era are a notch ahead of that. They win more
p you know, regular season games and win a playoff game.
(29:41):
The Ravens fans are fed up too, you know, like
this isn't unique, right.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
You know, so I.
Speaker 6 (29:50):
It just again, there there just doesn't seem to be
a lot of enjoyment Uh, in terms of watching the games,
seeing how things develop. Uh, you know, it just seems
to be such a quick desire to cut people, fire people,
move on from you know, Okay, you know, flip the tackles, uh,
(30:16):
move the tight end to tackle. Uh, you know whatever,
a bench, Keanu Benton, play Ya Black all the time. Whatever,
you know, just pick the pick the more ridiculous thing.
Another one was you're not moving TJ. Water around like
they said they were gonna. Well, you know last week
herbig was out. Jack Sawyer's a rookie. Uh yeah, so
(30:41):
I mean Highsmith's coming off that groin injury that was
bothering him for you know, a good bit of the preseason.
And so what you want to move Water all around it,
you know, in the first game of the the regular season.
And if you don't, that means that you've given up
on that whole concept.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Yeah. I mean the book's not written, right, yeah.
Speaker 6 (31:02):
Right, it's not even researched yet.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
Right, right, But where I was going though, with the
physicality and not practicing, that's a wonderful it's not even excuse,
it's just truth. But the Steel's run defence has to
get better.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
Oh absolutely, yeah, absolutely, and guys, you know, I thought,
and again I'm watching it on TV, it seemed to
me like guys were getting handled at the line of scrimmage.
And I don't know if that's if they're in the
right gap, but getting handled physically or you know, however
(31:38):
that works. And then I also have a feeling that
once that starts happening, then guys start trying to do
more than they should or than the than their assignment
would dictate, in order to make a play to help
stop the bleeding. And then that just makes it worse.
(32:00):
Then then you just you lose your I won't say
discipline so much, but the integrity of the scheme. You
have guys jumping gaps or you know, those kinds of things,
trying to make a play and it's just, uh, you know,
then it just snowballs the wrong way. So you know,
again it was bad.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
It needs to be better, but it feels better with
a web. Yeah, yes, and uh, you know again, dark
Derek Harmon wasn't there, you know, cam Heyward is is
(32:40):
has to is going to be easing into this, regardless
of the contract situation or any of that. He wasn't
gonna have played very much he wasn't gonna have played
in the preseason anyway. I thought Mike Tomlin was, you know,
extremely honest and accurate when he said, uh, my job
is to get Cam out of the trope, right, Yes.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
Because any news anything, I remember Dan Rooney always used
to say this. Anything anytime you're mentioning your best players
in training camp for the preseason, it's something bad. Somebody
got hurt, got hurt. I mean, I was at that game,
uh that I think was a Sunday afternoon preseason game
(33:25):
and it was against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and uh,
young David di Castro. I don't know if he missed
a block or whatever he hit Pouncy in the knee.
Done for the season, Jordie Nelson, Packers receiver, Aaron Rodgers
favorite receiver. Maybe uh injured a knee or an achilles
(33:45):
or something bad. Lost for the season. Uh So here, yeah,
here we are. We're talking about Marquise Pounce, your number
one pick at guard and the and the Packers best
receiver in the preseason. And it's all bad.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
It's all bad.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
It's all bad.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
And they got Cam out at Latrobe.
Speaker 6 (34:05):
Yes, they got Cam out of Latrobe. So you know
it's time for again, Uh, start start working, working on it,
working towards playing better. I think that the inside linebackers,
I think will they're better than what they showed. I
think that's in my opinion. Uh, and I think Patrick
(34:28):
Queen's assessment not only was it right on. I can't
say the words that he used, I think we've all
seen them, and but I like the fact that he
said it. A guy like that, I like the fact
that he said what he said because you know, he
is a defensive leader, There's no question about it. And
(34:49):
you know, when your top guys are challenging their own teammates,
I think that's a good thing.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
They're not short on guys speaking up. No, and I
think everybody they brought in.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
Speech up and the people who are doing it are
the right people right right right in my opinion, Uh,
you know you have you know the people who are talking,
they're they're they're the ones that I think you want
to be talking.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
I would agree Bob Labriola is one of those people
that we want to be talking. Kind enough to join
us here on this Thursday, as he'll do throughout the season.
Steelers A story in Bob Labriola Labs. Thanks for the time,
and we'll be listening for you on the pregame show
of course, eleven o'clock on the Steelers Audio Network on
w DVE with Mike Pursuda and Jerry Dulac. Labs. We
(35:41):
will see you on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
Yeah, and Wes, just a little personal note from me
to you good luck on Saturday, because.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
I'm gonna need it's gonna be well.
Speaker 6 (35:51):
And I don't know whether you're gonna need it or not,
but I think there's a lot of quote unquote friends
of yours. There are we laying in the weeds for you.
If things don't go your way.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
You and you and Mark Cabali and Brian Baco will
be waiting in the press box like WWE wrestlers about
to jump somebody backstage.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
I know it. Not looking forward to.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
As I've told you many times, Wes, I I will
take advantage of whichever side loses.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
That's a good place, a good place to be people.
Speaker 6 (36:25):
Yes, that's that's the best part about not really caring.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
That's a good part about playing both sides, as I
always come out on top.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Labs.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Thanks for the time, partner, and I'll see you with
a frown on my face. Sunday.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
All right, take care, guys, Steelers a story in.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Bob Labriola kind enough to give us his time here
on a Thursday. It's a little bit more cheerful Labs
here on this Thursday, I tell you, well, it's coming
off of win.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
You know, we didn't play any of his doom and
gloom music that we did last year. I kind of
kept that quiet on purpose because we used to play
like the Emperor's theme song or Vader or Jaws.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
But hey, he's cheery, he is.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
His steelers are one and on and he downplays it.
But his pit panthers, I think are about to beat
the snot out of my mountaineers on Saturday. And yeah,
him and Kabali and Bacco and everybody else they'll be
having some fail Yeah again, Well, Kabali and Labs like
to say that they're not pit guys. They just like
(37:25):
to give me grief, you know. Notre Dame fans don't
give me grief. True Virginia Tech fans don't give me grief.
I'm onto those two. I'm onto those two. We're gonna
take a break here, Matt. On the other side, some tweets,
some injury report stuff to get into. I wanted to
make sure to mention that Matt and I are gonna,
you know, try and do this kind of Twitter Thursday
type thing if I will so throughout the show. We
(37:47):
will get to your tweets at some point, probably an
hour number two. If you want to get involved, you
can find Matt at Williamson NFL. I'm at Wesley Yuler.
We will get to those as we roll along. Plenty
to get to It's the dry on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
About drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Back on the Drive here closing down our number one
of the show. We got a couple of tweets rolling in. Reminder, yeah,
get those in. We will get to those in our
number two at Williamson NFL at Wesley Yuler. Questions, comments, concerns, reactions,
anything and everything in between. You know where to get
at us if you want to get involved.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Matt.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
One of the things lab was mentioned there that I
kind of wanted to follow up on and use one
of your statistics as well too, to kind of bring
this all full circle of the up. Well, we'll jump
into this stats packet more. An hour number two, absolutely
Labs was talking about the struggles of the run game,
you know how it needs to be better, but not
panicking yet obviously in a lot of the lot of
(39:22):
the accurate reasons why that's the case. One of the
things he mentioned was, you know, I'd like to see
these running backs get going and have some space before
they got contacted.
Speaker 6 (39:30):
Yeah. Right.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
Last week against the Jets, Pittsburgh's ball carriers averaged a
negative point three yards before their first contact compared to
especially when you consider it when you juxtapose it with
what the Jets did in that department holes point six
for New York. So that difference is nearly nearly a
two yard difference between when the Steelers running backs are
(39:54):
first facing contact and when the Jets running backs are
first getting touch.
Speaker 5 (39:59):
There's things about Aie Harris's game I liked and I
didn't like, but I always envisioned him when I see
these stats, like just in a barroom fight to get
to the line of scrimmage, you know he'd use his
arms a lot, and you do a lot of upper
body stuff fighting off three hundred and twenty pound defensive
tackles just to get to the line of scrimmage. And
that's not gonna cut it, you know, And especially like
(40:20):
from that Jets perspective, Breast Hall Fields, they're such distance,
long speed accelerators. You give them a runway, you get
chunk games. And yeah, exactly exactly, you know. So I'm
not saying the Steelers don't have explosive backs, but they
don't run like they don't. Those steelerbacks aren't gonna win
(40:41):
races against Hall and Fields, you know what I mean.
And you got to do a better job opening holes
they weren't there.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
No, they weren't. The pass protection was not up to snuff. No,
the run game, uh, moving bodies at the line of
scrimmage was not up to snuff. And I think when
you see that, I mean, again, a one point nine
yard aggregate difference from when the Steelers running backs were
facing first contact to when the Jets were That's that's
(41:09):
not great. That's not where you want to be. And
that's one of the things that right.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Shock no one listening that those numbers backed up exactly
what you saw.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
I don't think that that will come as as a
huge surprise to everybody. The Jets had six explosive runs.
That's ten or more yards in the run game zero
for Pittsburgh. Jayln Warren did have a nine yard carry,
so right on the right on the edge of having
one there. But that's part of that as well too,
Like you mentioned with Justin Fields and Bressee Hall, Like
when those guys can get going, when they can build
up momentum, when they can make one move and and all. Yeah,
(41:40):
some green grass like that, that makes all the difference
in the world. And that's going to be another tall
task against this this talented Seattle front.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (41:47):
Now, kind of the good news is Seattle's offense has
had the same problem you know there. I think Charbonnay
and Walker basically split carries last year, and they're both
good players. I don't blame neither one of them for this.
Their longest run I think was eight yards between the
two of them.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
I mean, so they got.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Out out rushed pretty significantly by Sandario as well too.
Speaker 5 (42:07):
I mean time possession twenty two minutes for Seattle. So
Seattle's having more struggles than the Jets did in round
week one. But if we're sitting here Monday, going boy,
Walker and Sharbonay average time average first contacts two yards
down field might be an US problem, not a U problem,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Yeah, And so that is and and again I think
everybody understands this, like it's not like we're mashing a
panic button or anything in this regard.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
But all though I did love Labs, is out observation
that the physical natures of the of the game aren't
going to be as sharp. And in week one I
kind of wish we'd brought I would have brought that
up in the first second.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
They take a little bit longer to warm up to.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
Yeah, yeah, running game, run defense tack.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
You know, sure, another one of those old time No
it's not. But another one of those old cliches for
a reason is like fatigue makes cowards of us. All right,
when you're beat down, when you're worn out, you're not
as sharp mentally, you're not as gung ho to stick
your face in the fan. Absolutely, you know, and and
and and and really kind of assert your will and
and and everything that you have to do to be
successful in the run game and in the trenches at
(43:14):
the line of scrimmage. In the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
It's too oft forgotten that these are human beings. They're
not They're not robots yet, They're not cyborgs, dominoes or
you know, checkers on the board.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
You know, I I would really like to start. And
I'm not saying that it has to It doesn't have
to be a Mona Lisa on Sunday against Seattle either.
It doesn't have to be a masterpiece. But I want
to see clear cut improvement, and then I want to
see it again in New England, and then I want
to see it again in Ireland. You know, that kind
of hole, like what you talked about at the at
the start of the show, at the top of the hour,
that whole you know, first four games or so September
(43:49):
is about us and just getting better. And yeah we're
game planning for our opponent, absolutely, but it's more about
our own landscaping than our neighbors landscaping. That's again that
it does not have to be by leaps and bounds.
But I hope we see improvement in that regard.
Speaker 5 (44:04):
On Sunday, I assume we're talking about both run defense
and run offense.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
Yes, yeah, yeah, they run both are I think we
were focusing more on.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
Offense, Yeah, particularly the the negative point three yards before contact.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
Great point.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
Yeah, and then I don't want to see a number
for Seattle that looks like the one point six yards
before contact like it was for the Jet.
Speaker 5 (44:23):
Because at least we have the other data point of
Seattle struggling in the same regard as the Steelers offense
all of a sudden. If the Steeler deeds just allowing
big holes over and over and over, you don't really
examine what.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
You're doing here. Yes, and there's some reason behind it.
Speaker 5 (44:37):
I know we don't have a ton of time, but
I mean I think, as Labs mentioned, I thought defensive
linemen are getting moved way too much into the laps
of those linebackers, not letting them do what they can do.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
There was a lot of effects, a lot of criticism
of Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson's performance.
Speaker 3 (44:53):
And I'm not they weren't great.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
I'm not here to say they were great, but they
had they had a lot of bodies in their lap.
Speaker 5 (44:58):
It's right after the s outerer milker coming at you
as well as blockers. You know, that's it's a lot
of room to operate.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
That's that's a that's that's the linebacker equivalent of getting
contacted behind the line like a running back.
Speaker 3 (45:11):
That's an exact It's a great parallel.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
I'm going to be interested. That's one of those things
now that I want to keep an eye on this number.
How the Steelers Steelers ball carriers the space that they
have before they get contacted and the opposition ball carrier
the space that they're allowing before contact. It's one of
the things I love about the stats packet that you
put together every single week is you kind of keep
the same conversation points. Yeah, what the kind of possession
(45:35):
looks like, what the average arge per play look like.
All so this is maybe why, and this may be why,
So make no mistake about it. This is something we
will keep track of as we roll along throughout.
Speaker 3 (45:46):
This services now. And you know, I don't calculate this stuff.
I just find right. Ten years ago, you couldn't find
those things.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
No, absolutely not. And now it's like there are a
treasure trove of places to to go and find good information.
Speaker 3 (46:00):
And it's from NFL dot Com. I mean, it's not
some dude in his basement.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
You're like, yeah, okay, I maybe trust this person's work,
but what if they made a mistake.
Speaker 5 (46:09):
If they didn't, didn't make it us to prove a point.
This is taken it from the NFL Next Gen people.
Speaker 2 (46:15):
And a lot of this stats and a lot of
this information. You gotta have expensive subscriptions to access some
yeah as well too, or share a log in. Nudge, nudge,
wink wink. One hour in the books, another hour to go.
We will get to your tweets in our number two.
We will get to the latest on the injury front
for both of these teams and our number two uh
(46:38):
and of course continue to comb over to peruse through
all of Matt's stats all that more when we return
West Shooler Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network
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