Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
At least.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on
your twenty four to seven Home of the Black and
Gold Steelers.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Nation Radio, and welcome to the Drive. The sun is
shining here in Pittsburgh. There's still snow in the ground,
but there's starting sun out there, starting them out a
little bit. Steelers are practicing down at Akroshuer Stadium again
today as they prepare for their Sunday or Saturday night matchup.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Why would I say Sunday. They never play on Aday.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Sunday, y are Saturday night matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
And news out of Baltimore today John Harbaugh declaring that
Zay Flowers will not play in this game against the
Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I think it's huge, something we suspected all week obviously.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Until he said it. Yeah, I just didn't know.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I thought I might hold out, hope, game time decision,
one of those kind of nonsense. But he hadn't practic.
This didn't look good when it happened, and I think
there's a lot of ramifications for them. I mean, he's
their quick game guy, he's their best wide out and
just the way the Steelers secondary is constructed. I think
it fits well with their pass catchers.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Now, yeah, I think everybody's forgetting that. For the second
game in Baltimore this year, you didn't have Deshaun Elliott,
you didn't have Dante Jackson, and Joey Porter Junior got
hurt in the middle of that.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Game, right, they were on fumes in the secondary, yeah,
the least, right.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
So it has a trickle down effect the whole way
across this And if you look back at that first game,
Lamar Jackson completed forty eight point five percent of his passes,
six point three yards per attempt, one touchdown, one interception,
a passer rating of sixty six point one, which has
been what he has done against the Steelers over the
(01:48):
course of his career. The outlier was the next meeting,
when he completed sixty five point two percent of his passes,
average nine yards per pass attempt, had three touchdowns, and
posted a one to fifteen point four passer rating against
a secondary that was missing basically for two and a half,
you know, two and a half starters basically the yah.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah, And honestly, by Lamar's standards this year, that second
game wasn't him shredding, blow it off right, right, and
it wasn't his best game of the year or anything now,
not even close. We've talked about this week, and I
think it's really what works out well. Considering Bateman's a
good player. I mean, I really liked him coming out
of Minnesota. He's had some injuries. Instead of picking up
(02:32):
their fifth year option, they extended him a year. They
liked them, they didn't want him getting away, and they've
used him as a deep threat more than I expected
this year, you know, I mean, because Flowers is stepuisator
and yeah, yeah, I mean they usually don't have a
third receiver on the field, so kind of by default,
he's kind of your go guy. But he has some
physicality to him. But I think Porter matches up really
really well on him, you know, I mean just stylistically, talents,
(02:54):
you know, all those type of things. And then you
mentioned Elliott not being around the first go round. Minka
was asked to do a lot of different stuff during
that stretch and he's very capable. But Elliott is really
good against the run. For one thing. I mean, I
think we know that he's a glue guy. He's a communicator,
which has been a problem in the last month or so.
But I like my chances with Elliott and Minka against
(03:17):
Likelye and Andrews in any way, shape or form however
that works out. And then that leaves you a lot
of I'm not saying they'll never be safeties over the
top or you're gonna be playing cover zero all day,
but I bet they're aggressive with their coverages and that
allows you a lot of more the box.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, put more in the box to dedicate it to
stopping the run. Yeah, I looked it up today, Matt.
The receivers on wide receivers on Baltimore's team, Yeah, currently
right now who are not named Zay Flowers and Rashad
Bateman twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Catches this year.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
That doesn't surprise him.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Twenty seven catches.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yeah, And other than Aguilar, they've never really had career
success either.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean they're a bunch of unknowns.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
And even Aguilar's career successes.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And he was a former first round pick, but he
hasn't been good a lot of this. I don't think Philadelphia,
I don't think you love him playing a ton No.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
I assume he'll be there too, though, could be Tolem Wallace.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Could be maybe they just have a rotation going or
different packages or whatever. But I don't think you're gona
see three of them on the field very much, Not
very much, I wouldn't. I mean you're leaving a good
player and likely or Ricard or Cool or whoever off
the field, if that's your approach.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, it certainly shrinks what Baltimore can do.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Not that they play a lot of eleven personnel to
begin with, but but.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
They can throw it, and you know right now that limits.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Them, you know, and the guys that are still going
to put on the field.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
It's not like they're not there's not some good players there, right,
but they don't have they don't have that speed element.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
With with the playmate they had their playmaking.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I should say they have the speed element, But do
you trust the speed element as much as you do
with Jay Flowers, right?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I mean he's going the Pro Bowls here, he's an
as sending player. Teams have been attacking the Steelers by
getting it out quick. I would think he'd be your
top target for that. You know, quick hitters near the
line of scrimmage, get open immediately, scheme them up through
motion whatever. Yeah, Andrews and likely are good players too,
but I think the Steeler safeties can do fair enough
against them.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And remember Andrews in his first ten games against the Steelers,
in his first ten games, yeah, the eleventh one was
the last one that they played, had zero touchdown catches
against the Steelers, none, zero, zilch na. Now he did
have a touchdown catch in the second meeting when the
Steelers were missing three starters in the same Yeah, it's
(05:34):
just a huge It makes them so much easier to defend.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, I think it's just the way that the Steelers
are set up and the way that the Ravens are
set up. That'd be one of the guys you'd want
to pluck out of their lineup, maybe ahead of Andrews,
maybe ahead of any of the offensive lineman, you know, I.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Mean pretty much ahead of anybody, but Derrick Henry or
Lamar Bokson.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I think so, just because they're so weak there, which
is why they traded for Deontay Johnson that didn't work out.
But they recognize we don't have a lot of man beaters,
we don't have a lot of quick hitter type guys. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
The other thing people forget about that first game against
the Ravens was no George Pickens for the Steelers, right, right,
so they.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Were I mean, Porter and Pickens are really hard to replace.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Yeah, nobody.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I mean, as you're seeing, we've heard this all season
long with the Steelers. I can't believe they didn't go
get a second wide receiver. They needed a second wide receiver.
Baltimore is in the same boat. Yeah, yeah, Now Bateman
is you'd love that baby coming into this, right, you
didn't know what Bateman was, no, right, I mean later
shown anything like this.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
No, it's definitely his best year.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
But even at that, he has forty five catches this year.
You know, he's not like he's you know, I.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Think he had three or four last week, and then
he had one and one the two weeks before that.
You know, I mean he's not a secondary over and
over and over, right, and frankly, I think Porter is
the better player. I mean, yeah, I know the Steelers
secondary is not the strength of the team, but boy
would I challenge them this week, Like, we're not even
putting safeties over the top to help you guys. You know,
(07:00):
the three of you two safeties and even Jackson versus Aguilar,
the four of you are going to take their four
top receivers and yeah, we'll help you some, but there's
any times we're not, you know, And that's the way
it's gonna go, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
And I would look at this, yeah and say, look,
if we're not gonna let Bateman beat us, we're not
gonna let the two tight ends beat us. We're gonna
try not to let the quarterback and the running back
beat us. If one of those other if Tyler Wallace
beats you or Nelson Aga beat you, it's just not
your day.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, so be it right. Yeah, again, Kohler doesn't even
touch the ball. Ricard doesn't even touch the ball. They're
there blockers, their guards in motion and chip guys.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
That's the other thing here, Matt, Like, okay, so you
take you take those seventy plus catches out of the lineup,
thousand plus yards out of the lineup. They only play,
I mean they largely play in in you know, twenty
two or twenty you know, twenty one personnel. It there's
there's two tight ends, a fullback and a running back
(07:59):
on the field lot a lot. So now you're taking
that outside weapon away, you know, from that the guy
that can actually you know when you're playing in that
formation or with that grouping, who actually can scare the
Bejesus out of a defense, Because if you miss a
tackle on Zay Flowers and he's shifty, yeah he can.
He can get a player, he can make a big
(08:20):
play against you. We're kind of taking some of that away.
Bateman's not a run after the catch guy, No, not
so much. No, he's a move the chains can get
over the top. But he's not a super burner either.
I mean, despite his long ones, it's the physicality down
the field or a lot of times with him, it's
because he's wide open singles.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Yeah, right, play action and take a shot to him.
And again he's evolving, but he's not close to a one. Yeah.
And he's a very different type of player than Flower.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
So again it makes them much easier to defend in
this game and your at full strength, right.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I do think the health stuff is certainly in the
Steelers favor, especially on that side of the ball too.
Now that doesn't mean you can get Henry on the
ground or Lamar on the ground or or if you
blitz Lamar, and I hope they do, because he's a
heavily blitzed player and he handles it well. He handles
everything well now, but I want to get hits on him.
(09:11):
I wanted to force the ball out of his hand.
I was worried about dropping guys.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Here's what you know, I think in the second meeting,
because they were so they were down so many players
in the secondary. You get James Pierre out there, you
have Corey Treis, you know, Cam Sutton's out there a
lot that.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
The Suttons and Beanies probably won't play hardly at all,
much at all.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
In this game.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
And I think because you were kind of you know,
you just didn't have your guys back there, you're more
concerned about Lamar beating you over the top at least
early in the game than you are maybe stopping Derrick Henry.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah. Yeah, and again I'm sure burn the boats, you know,
I mean, they're gonna we don't need to play a
conservative cover three shell over and over, because what we
got to lose. You know, we're not playing to live
another day. We're on the road. We're a dog. We
got some serious playmakers in the run game and a
really good quarterback. Let's do everything we can to make
life difficult on him. You know, because he doesn't have
(10:07):
a go to.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Guy, doesn't have as much as Andrews has been the
Woodbee over the years, Flowers has kind of been.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
He's really important.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
He's the first receiver in their history that they have
drafted who made Pro Bowl.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
And is that crazy? I mean, like all their good
ones have been like Bolden, Steve Smith, Mason that they've recycled,
and I'm not sure any of them were great. I mean,
they're not exactly known as a throat all over the place,
you know, franchise, but that is pretty crazy. It's a
good organization. Only one drafted receiver go to the Pro Yeah,
those aren't hard.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
To come, No, they're not.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, I mean again three receivers in the AFC North
made addition, which is what it is. But I just
think that's a massive, massive blow to the Ravens. Not
sure they've been you know, they've prepared all long, like, hey,
we're probably not going to have him, but you hold
out hope until the last minute.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
And you know, do we know any Justice Hill stuff.
Do we think he plays? He's going to be back here,
I assume. So now this sounds crazy, but he's a playmaker,
you know, Mitchell's a playmaker, but that means you take
Henry off the field, right, Like, do they want to
get some easy completions to backs? I mean just trying
to look. I'm trying to think how they would think
(11:19):
without Flowers. I'm not going to trot out I'm definitely
not going to try it out a third receiver. No,
who are my other pass catchers? Of course, I'm going
to try to feature Likely and Andrews. And if I'm
in their shoes, I might be like, Okay, those Steeler
safeties are pretty good, but our tight ends are equally good.
We're going to go toe to toe with those guys
and we hope we win that matchup, but they might.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
You know, here's a thing, though, You're starting to throw
the ball around Minka, And that's the one thing that
did go well for the Steelers last time, is to
make a picked one off against you know, because Lamar
as good of a passer as he is, and I
think he's gotten so much better at this, he still
will overthrow a receiver every once.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Sure, sure guy too. I keep going back to tips
and things like that too. I mean, I think you
can get your cam does every game. I mean I
feel like you can get your hands on the ball,
whether it's Dee Liman or Pbu's on the back end
at some point in this game.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Yeah, I'm kind of surprised. I just looked before we
started the show, and of course the news here on
Flowers has been out now for a couple of hours.
I wanted to see if that had moved the line
at all, and it.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Really has assumed. Vegas assumed he was going.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
To be out, which is surprising to me because the
first meeting, the Steelers didn't have Pickens and they were
missing again some guys in the secondary and Ogunjobi as well,
and that one was seven points.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
You're telling me, I.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Don't know, Joby, the mix is not is not nothing either, no, right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
So you're telling me. What you're telling me over what
Vegas is saying from that line to this one is
that if Za Flowers were playing, the Ravens will be
eleven or twelve point favorites.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
I don't exactly know how that worked. I mean, I
just know that they want equal people.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Be their offensive. Pickens is to the Steelers offense.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I'd say close. Yeah, I see you're saying. I just
think that the general public. Joe Blow from Omaha or
Seattle or whatever. This says, Boy, the Steelers are sliding
and the Ravens are I.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Mean, we've been talking about this, this Flowers thing all week.
I don't know that I've heard or seen a lot
of other final.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Saying about this. I mean, I listen to a lot
of podcasts, I read, I got a bunch of different
sites every day, and I don't think people realize or
at least yet the ramifications of, you know, why what
happens with him being out again?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
The rest of their receivers, all of them, Yeah, had
twenty seven catches not named Bateman or Flowers, like you
don't even they barely play.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
And it's so much different than like the Bengals, you know,
where it'd be like Higgins are Chas being out, yeah
to a degree, just because.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
But they've got you a Cybus who's a decent player.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I thinking about the Steelers being one
really strong man corner where Bateman might be an issue
for them if Flowers was out there or I don't
think Porter would probably even line up on Flowers. Maybe
it'd still be on Bateman.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
He did the for the first time problem. In the
first game they put Porter on Bateman. Yeah, yeah, he
matched up much more his style. Bateman had two catches
in the game for like thirty yards.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
It's kind of like Hagen's worth chase and.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Then they and then they you know, or the other
thing you know with Okay, we're just gonna double Flowers,
and Flowers really didn't hurt them much in that game.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Approach without doubling him. Yeah, you know, double the new
guy and then you're pretty good shape.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
So again, I think it has a massive trickle down
effect in this game. And yeah, I don't know that
it's being talked about him though.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Agree, and I do expect the Steelers to have a
lot of big people on the field. I mean, you're
gonna have Roberts, you're gonna have Bent, and you're gonna
have your base three four. Wouldn't shock me if you
saw a third outside linebacker out there at times, you.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Know, all three inside backers just yeah, yeah, you know
whatever you're going to do there. But again, if they're
going to come out with with two tight ends or
two tight ends, a full back, yeah, and a running back,
that's four eligibles right there. They've only got one receiver
on the field. Yeah, and we're playing with one cornerback.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
A lot of times I would say that would be
play the Steeler strengths. Honestly, yeah, I'd be very fine
with that. Like I'm sure people do not count Recard
the same as they count Mitchell or you can't. I mean,
if you catch all season touch the ball, you know, right,
he's a guard.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Coler barely touches the ball.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, I mean he's I mean again, if these guys,
if these are the guys that beat you, so.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I mean, they may catch a touch I mean, Coler
might catch a short touchdown or a first down, or
Recard picks up a fourth and.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
One, you know, but they're not they're not found. They're
not found. They're not passing game. No, they're not going
to feature those guys at all. It's like you know,
throwing the ball to Michael Pruet or something. You know,
that's okay, Yeah, every once in a while works, yeah, right,
But by and large, I mean no, those aren't NFL playmakers.
They're out there to create matchup or create blocking angles,
(16:09):
be physical on the move lineman, and you you dug
up a great stat on those two players. In particular crazy.
I mean when they're on the field. Yeah, when Coler,
when Cohler and Ricard on the field together, the Ravens
run the ball eighty eight percent of eighty eight.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah, that goes back to this year and last year combined. Yeah,
Like there's a lot of numbers out there of Cohlers
on the field. They're run percentages like well over sixty.
The cards are in the fields well over sixty. Now
that's not totally shocking. And sometimes they're up by twenty
late in the game and they just run horses and am.
But when they're both on the field they're running the ball,
(16:47):
have a sign back behind Lamar, it goes, we're running
the football here. Now stopping it's a different story, right,
you know it can be Lamar getting the ball. Use
a much different ball carrier than Henry. Those guys are
good blockers too. They can dig out watch their high
smith or even why they're out to lineman, right, I
mean they're three hundred pound card. I mean they can
take on on the land and Roberts in the hole.
(17:07):
There are many people that can do that type of thing.
And we did a show with Rob King today too,
and he mentioned you know you love to get penetration
on Henry. I mean, you don't want him to get
his feet started. Yeah, but they know that too, you know,
so they run a lot of traps. They let you
come upfield and they wham you from the side. You know,
they know what you're trying to do too. You know,
They're running game is very diverse. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Absolutely, But again I think that's just massive piece of
news today that comes out. Again, the Steelers relatively healthy
for this one. We're going to take a break when
we come back. We've got a special guest coming on. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Marcus Mosher from the thirty third team also does some
work with Matt on we record a podcast.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Ye yeah, but he's going to join us.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
He made his NFL picks for the playoff games.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
It's pretty much right. It's like an article of day
I've noticed for thirty three third team.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Yeah, because a guy we've talked about his his stuff
on here before. But he's going to join us on
the show here in the next segment, we're going to
chat with him about this game, get a little nash
perspective on this particular matchup.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Right after this.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
At least, he's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven Home of the
Black and Gold cast in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
And welcome back. I am Dale Lolly. He is the
Matt Williamson and we're joined on the Justin Miller hot
Line by Marcus Moser from the thirty third Team. I
know you do a lot of other stuff as well, busy,
including a podcast with Matt here as well, Marcus on
the is.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
It Locked on, Locked On Dynasty?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Every Wednesday on Dynasty?
Speaker 3 (18:43):
But we appreciate you dropping in here on the Drive
and sharing your expertise here, Marcus, because we wanted to
get kind of a national perspective on this particular game.
And I know you're you're a fellow eight one four
guy like myself up in Erie. Yeah, first of all,
have you dug out from all the know you ener?
Did you guys not get all the snow and eerie?
Speaker 5 (19:03):
We got about sixteen inches over the last two days
dusting and eerie. Yeah, it's just a regular Thursday for.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Us, yikes.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
But Marcus, you released your your picks as you do
every week on the thirty third Team predictions for the
upcoming playoff games, and you do this every week on
the thirty third team.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
We talk about they keep you busy too. Yeah, you
do a lot of stuff on there.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Uh so your pick on the Steelers Ravens game. Let
us give our listeners an idea of what you picked
and why you picked that particular outcome.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
I'll let you explain.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
First of all, I feel like I'm the only person
that's picking Pittsburgh or even giving Pittsburgh a chance in
this game, and I don't quite understand why.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Listen.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I know Pittsburgh has lost the last four games. I
know the Ravens have played really well over the last
four games, but these two teams always played really really
close games. And when you get into the playoffs and
it's a divisional matchup, I just would hate to lay
nine and a half ten points on a team that's
that's without their number one receiver. And I want to
(20:14):
go back to the previous game because I think a
lot of people are remembering that second game differently. The
Steelers did not have Dante Jackson. They lost Joey Porter
Junior early in that game. The Steelers rely so much
on their corners to be able to cover one on one,
so when you're without your top two guys, makes a
big difference. They'll have both of those guys this week,
(20:36):
and Jay Flowers is going to be and be out
in this one. We should mention George Pickens also didn't
play in that second matchup. It just feels like everything
is aligning this for the Steelers to make this game
way more competitive than anybody else that expects.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Yeah, Marcus, I love that you recognize that there was
a lot of circumstances for that game, you know, and
the Steelers are also in the midst as were the Ravens.
Three games and eleven days a brutal stretch. They were
pretty banged up and they're kind of getting kicked while
they were down. But they're in a lot different spot
right now. As mentioned, you and I do a Dynasty show,
and you know, you're on top of all these skill
(21:11):
position players. What do you think they're missing in Zay Flowers?
You know, what's your quick profile of him?
Speaker 5 (21:17):
I mean, somebody that can that can get open quickly.
They just don't have anybody else on the roster that
can win one on one, create quick separation to make
plays after the catch. Rashaan Batman's had a really good year.
He's this is the best he's played all year. But
he's not a number one receiver. He's a really good,
complimentary player. And I just if I'm if I'm looking
(21:38):
at this from a Baltimore perspective, how do they create
big chunk plays in the passing game without Jay Flowers
is going to be really hard. And I think what
Mike Tomlin is going to do is continue to blitz
Lamar Jackson at an absurd rate. He does it more
than any other defensive coordinator in the league. And Dare
Lamar who has been ship in the playoffs, and Lamar's
(22:01):
actually talked about this. He gets a little too eth
up for these games. Tried to complete passes down the
field that Rashad Bateman, Nelson Aguilar with Pittsburgh's healthy corners
back of the field.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, so they blitch him on early downs a lot too. Yeah,
lots of.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
Run blitzes, right, Yeah, to force them out of first
and second ound runs.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah, And you know they even in the win in Baltimore,
Lamar had he had three touchdowns in an interception, but
it was if he only had like two hundred and
seven passing yards. And I think he had twenty two
rushing yards in that game. It wasn't a Lamar Lamar game,
So in the back of his mind it's not only
(22:39):
the playoff stuff that he has to deal with. But
he hasn't played well in his career against the Steelers either.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
No, he has, and I do wonder if John Harbaugh
is Todd Monkey, just don't go back to a more
run heavy offense. And I think Pittsburgh knows that right
They know they have to stop Derrick Henry, but that
might be the best strategy for Baltimore is to use
more two tight end sets, get Isaya likely in the field,
and just try to keep this game close until Lamar
(23:07):
settles down a little bit. There's been plenty of quarterbacks
over NFL history that just take a couple quarters.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
To get going.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
They need to get hit, they need to have things
gonna slow down for them. I think Lamar is one
of those quarterbacks. I wouldn't be surprised if we have
like a Steve into six first half between Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
And Pittsburgh, which is right up the Steelers alley. For
a game like this, you exactly probably some sort of weather.
Of course, you know the Steelers are going to be
aggressive physically, you know, with nothing to lose at this point,
and you mentioned likely, we kind of assume at this
point they're a very light, you know, eleven personnel offense. Anyway,
I'd be shocked if we see a third receiver on
(23:47):
the field hardly at all. I mean, that's gonna be
likely and Andrews. But those guys aren't your chippers against
what you know. I mean, that's gonna be Charlie Kohler,
which isn't a threat.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
And actually Charlie Kohler's out in this game.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
He got hurt last week.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
So yes, it's probably gonna be Patrick Riccard. Like we
must see twenty two personnel in this game, and honestly,
that might be the best way to attack Pittsburgh anyways,
is try to load up, make Pittsburgh's defensive line have
to try to get off blocks.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
And make tackles.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
I will say, I think with Pittsburgh having such a
long losing streak in the playoffs, I wouldn't be surprised
if this is finally the playoff game where Mike Tomlin
unleashes a little bit. I don't think he can play
a conservative game plan and necessarily win this. This is
the healthiest he's been in the playoffs in the last
several years. Remember t J. Watt didn't play last year
(24:38):
year else Yeah, it's they're pretty much healthy from you know,
the team they had starting in October. I just wouldn't
be surprised if this is the game that Tomlin is
a little bit more aggressive than what we're used to seeing.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Yeah, I mean, you either have the the you know,
the weapons and everything, or you don't. And it is
interesting to to me at least, you know, I think back,
and I brought this up earlier in the week. I
think back to the twenty fourteen playoff game the Steelers
played against the Ravens where they had to win a
division in the final week of the season against the Bengals,
(25:14):
and so they played it to win it. Le'Veon Bell
gets hurt, and so they go into the game the
following week against the Ravens, who were the wild card team.
Ravens are healthy, the Steelers are missing Le'Veon Bell, who's
their best offensive weapon, and lo and behold, the Ravens
win that game. There's some correlation here between that and
you know what's going on with Flowers and.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
The other thing I want to point out about this
game is it feels like the longer that Pittsburgh stays
in it, the better their chances are of winning. Because
I don't know about you guys, but whenever I watch
Justin Tucker now, I expect him.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
To miss, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
And I have the complete opposite feeling with Chris Boswell, like, hey,
get it inside the forty two yard line and that
kicks is going to be good. It doesn't matter if
it's raining or snowing or winny. He is so clutch.
And I think that's gonna have to factor into how
the Ravens play this. I don't think they want to
play a game where they have to rely on their
defense to make a stop or Justin Tucker to make
(26:11):
a fifty yard field goal. So again, I think if
Pittsburgh can keep this game close going into the fourth quarter,
they're gonna have a great chance of stealing it.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Yeah, just everybody knows.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Your prediction in the game score was Steelers twenty, Ravens nineteen,
So you're expecting that kind of game.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
It's probably the only way Pittsburgh can win, right. But
the good news for this in.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
The thirties, I don't love their chances, right.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
No, No, Pittsburgh excels at playing twenty to nineteen games
like Mike Tomlin loves it. And I do think that
Baltimore has a tendancy, especially in the first playoff game,
to be a little tight, and the longer that they
stay tight and the fewer big plays they create down
the field, I just think gonna get more anxious for
them as the game goes on.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I'm glad you brought up the special team slash kicker advantage,
but Steelers have been really strong on special teams all year,
and Harbaugh over his career is always at the top
of the league of special teams and that's changed drastically lately.
But the other things in the margins at favor of
the Steelers are Baltimore is the second heaviest penalized team
in the entire league. Steelers are kind of middle of
the road to below or above average, and then turnovers.
(27:19):
I mean, despite not being great in turnover differential during
this losing streak, there's still second overall to the Bills
and where the Ravens are kind of middle of the road.
So bounces and winning in the margins I think really
favors Pittsburgh, and.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
We should mention in that second matchup, I believe there
were four fumbles in that game and Baltimore recovered them all.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Now, no fumble lately at all.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
Yeah, it was right, and it's really hard to predict that.
But if one or two of those go your way,
you don't. You never know. And again, Baltimore is a
very talented team, but they're sloppy. They're sloppy on offense
with penalties. I think they had eight pre stat penalties
against Pittsburgh that first game. We saw the fumble by
Derrick Henry. They are not a super clean team and
(28:04):
that's why they can lose some of these games to
far lesser teams. Again, I just don't trust Baltimore in
the playoffs yet to not step on their toes and
these kind of games.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
And Marcus looking at some of the other games here
this weekend, obviously everybody's going to be keyed in on
all these games, particularly in our area here in the
AFC games. It's an AFC Saturday and the Chargers are
at the Houston Texans, the Chargers favored NET game.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Who do you like in that one?
Speaker 5 (28:35):
Oh? I love the Chargers this week. I'd be surprised
that that line was only two and a half or
three when it first came out. Chargers are playing really well.
They've scored at least thirty four points in their last
three games. It feels like that offense it's taken a bit,
but the offense is finally starting to click. Meanwhile, Houston's
defense is really good. That offense is a train wreck
(28:55):
right now. I just don't see how CJ's Droub without
Tank Dell, without Stefan Diggs and with a pretty bad
offensive line is able to score more than seventeen to
twenty points.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
That's why they went and got Deontay Johnson.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
So we think we'll see deonce this week because I
have right who knows the way you can put him
out there.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Do you think the Texans are the weakest team in
the in the playoffs? Yeah? Probably that's Arow lines by
the weakest unit.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Yeah. I kind of thought last week it would have
been better if Pittsburgh ended up playing Houston in Round one, sure,
rather than even hosting Baltimore as the three seed. Uh,
I would expect Houston to get bounced pretty quickly. This
is just not a good matchup for them at all.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
How about Denver, Buffalo.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
I would be nervous if I'm a Buffalo fan. He
worked so hard for this number two seed, and what's
your reward is playing Sean Payton in one of the
best defenses in the NFL. Buffalo's defense has been kind
of an issue. In December, they gave up forty four
points to the Rams forty two to the Lions. I
believe I don't love rookie quarterbacks playing on the road
(30:07):
in Round one, but I'm sure Sean Payton's gonna come
up with a really good game plan to try to
nickel and dine Buffalo's defense, which has worked a lot
this season. I think Buffalo will win this game, but man,
I do not feel confident about it at all. I
think that spread of nine, I think it's eight and
a half nine is way too high.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
I totally agree. I think Denver's defense keeps that very
very interesting down to the end. You mentioned rookie quarterbacks.
You know we've talked fantasy you and I a ton
over the year. Here, I think there's be a ton
of points in Washington Tampa. I mean, I know it's
a rookie quarterback but you know, for those people doing
like postseason fantasy, I want to get everyone I can
in that game.
Speaker 5 (30:46):
Yeah, Matt, I was looking at the over under on
that game and it was fifteen. I was like, that's
just the first half lineall live, because because I don't
see how either of these defenses are going to get
stops in this now. Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay's defense was
getting shred by Spencer Rattler last.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Week in a mocking game.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Meanwhile, Washington, who they were trying to beat Dallas, Trey
Lance was moving the ball up and down the field.
So I expect that to be a thirty four to
thirty one type of game. But I think I'm gonna
lean Tampa Bay just because they have a lot of
veterans who have been in big games. I think Baker
Mayfield is playing obviously the best football of his career.
(31:23):
But honestly, that's probably the game I'm most excited to
watch this this week. It should be a ton of fun.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
How about Green Bay Philadelphia?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
I know there's still some we're assuming Hurts is going
to we don't know what's up with Hurts here. He
hasn't been cleared yet, but assuming he does play. Do
you think they handle the Packers or is this a
situation where maybe he's coming back he's a little rusty
after a few weeks.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
So what last year green Bay was the seventh seed
and they went and played an NFC East team in
Round one and they beat him. I'm not gonna mention
what team that is because I happened to be a
fan of that team out in Dallas.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
But no, I know the Cowboys question before you leave too.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
I I don't think this is a good matchup for
Green Bay. I think, especially without Christian Watson, I just
don't know how they're going to create plays vertically against
Vicks Sangio's defense. I would expect Philadelphia to win this
game by at least a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Me too, I think Philly might be the best team
in the league right now. To be honest with you,
So where are you on, Sam Donald? I mean, that's
obviously our last game. Did we see a chink in
the armor? Was there a bad day or is the
the damn about to break?
Speaker 3 (32:32):
On?
Speaker 5 (32:32):
Sam Donald, I'm not all that concerned. I thought a
great They did a great job of getting pressure. The
red zone defense was awesome. Sam Donald has played too
well this year to get overly concerned about a road
game against the number one team maybe in the NFL.
I think Sam's gonna be fine. I think they're gonna
(32:52):
put up a bunch of points against the Rams this week.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
It should be interesting because as it works out the
way the league scheduled this, all the AFC games first, yeah,
and then you get the NFC playoffs. I don't know
if they planned it that way or why they would
have done it that way, but that's what we get.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Yeah. I think what Fox just didn't want to give
up the Packers Eagles game, which I understand. And then Sunday.
I can't believe Sunday Night football chows Commanders and Buccaneers,
but I get it. Those are two of the best
offenses in the league. So it should be fun.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Our Steelers haven't played on a normal Sunday and about
an eternity. I mean, they're always on Christmas or three
days and eleven days or Saturday or Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (33:30):
Yeah. I think. I think this is five straight games
they've played not on a Sunday, which is pretty incredible.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
It's the longest streak they've gone without playing a Sunday game.
Since their first year in nineteen thirty three. It's nuts,
and they the Pennsylvania Blue Laws to deal with. That's
where that's where we're at with this whole thing.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
But I knew.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Whether it was going to be the Ravens coming to
Pittsburgh or the Steelers going to Baltimore. Whichever way that
worked out, that game was going to be Saturday night
because it's must see TV.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
Oh it'll it'll get some ratings.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
Yeah, if they would have went and played Houston in
round one, you know that game.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Is on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Yeah, Houston's played that Saturday afternoon game about twenty five
straight years.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
So yeah, So Mark, as we mentioned it, I mean
you host lock on Cowboys too, And to me, that's
probably the only coaching change that still could happen. Do
you think they're out of the woods, Are they bringing
McCarthy back or what's your tot take on that or
is it done?
Speaker 5 (34:27):
I think McCarthy and Jerry Jones would like a deal
to get done, but I think there's some things that
are holding it up. For example, who's going to be
the defensive coordinator? Mike Zimmer. Cowboys really like him, they
want him back. He might retire, so that's part of
the issue. They don't want to bring McCarthy back without
knowing who the defensive coordinator is. And also McCarthy wants
(34:48):
a five year deal. He wants some security and not
just being another lane duck. Coach Jerry Jones wants them
to come back on a one year deal to prove
that he can right the wrongs of the season. I
think they're going to come to a opromise. But if
they don't, watch out for Kellum Moore to potentially come
in and take his job.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
What would you do.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
I would probably move on to try to get one
of these younger head coaches, maybe Lee and Collen from
Tampa Bay. I don't think Ben Johnson wants any of
this mess, but I think it's time to give some
new energy to the building.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
Okay, well, Marcus, we appreciate your time here. We'll let
you get back. I know it's a busy time of
the year and you get probably seventeen more articles right
for the thirty third team, But our guest has been
Marcus Mosher of the thirty third team and of course
the Locked On Network. You can check out Marcus's work
on the thirty third team, and that's the spelled out
thirty third, the number thirty third and then team great
(35:44):
stuff on there. Again, we referenced that website all the
time on this show, and we appreciate Marcus sharing some
time with us and we'll see if he's right after
this weekend up some good point a lot of Steeler
Steeler fans hoping that is the case and they beat
the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Marcus, appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Thanks man, Thanks Elves.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. You're listening
to the Drive here on the Steelers Audio Network. We're
gonna take a break, Matt now, I'll be back with
more right after this.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black
and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
And we are back.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
I am Dale LOLLI he is the Matt Williamson And uh, well,
we just talked with Marcus Mosher from the Third Team,
and I almost felt like he's been listening to the
show because these are things we've been talking about.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Yeah. Yeah, he reiterated a lot of things we talked
about in the first segment.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Yeah, and even have been talking about all week again,
you know everything you hear from.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
National and national and even if.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
You're listening to that other state in town, the Steelers
have no chance to win this game.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
And I don't think it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
I don't either, And I am shocked by the line
and the public perception. And I also understand you know,
you and I have done this a long time. This
is a what have you done for me lately? Business?
Especially through the fans' eyes, you know, like up, it's
over or boy. The Ravens are untouchable. It's hard to
win five games in a row. It's hard to win
playoff games. It's hard to beat, you know, a rival
(37:29):
that knows you extremely well. I'm sure the Ravens look
at some things that they like in this game, for sure,
But I don't think they were doing cartwheels when the
bracket came out.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
I don't think so either.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
Yeah, this was not not one that you you know, again,
you had the choice here if you're John Harve, Okay, we're.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Gonna win the division.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
Yeah, it's what we're trying to do here.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Right, We're trying to do But then our opponent's going
to be my brother Mike Tomlin, right, like, oh man, yeah,
that doesn't can't we get the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Yeah, we get somebody that that doesn't know me so well.
You know, that knows me as well as I know myself,
and certainly Tomlin does. And that works both ways. But
Tomlin's had the edge and that advantage over the years,
you know.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Yeah, And so the fact, yeah, Steelers have a little
news here. They've released wide receiver Scotty Miller from the
active roster. And I know some people might look at
that and go, oh, I mean's Roman Wilson's coming over?
And I'm sure that's the automatic response to that. Mason
McCormick is questionable for this game.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
He's a broken hand.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
He's a broken hand.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
Yeah, yeah, you might need another offensive lineman, one more.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Active on game days that you thought, you know, just
because even if McCormick starts the game, what if he
gets it wrong on a helmet or whatever, and all
of a sudden, it's like I can't catch anymore.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Catches it on somebody's ear. That's that's what happens all
the time with that. So I don't have any ligaments
in my my right thumb. I tore the ligaments of
my thumb my senior year in high school and didn't
tell anybody.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
During basketball season.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
I didn't want to have to miss any games.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
I already missed some games with a knee issue, but
so I toughed it out all. I didn't even tape it, okay,
just didn't lay might not, just didn't let anybody know.
And we have to bump it every all five second
time you catch it on somebody's jersey. You catch it,
it's like it just it's just constantly like ah yeah,
and it's just like somebody and even.
Speaker 1 (39:18):
He'll protect it. Yeah, but he's also blocking three hundred pounds.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
You know, somebody bending that thing backwards a little bit
and putting pressure on the and you feel it.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
I mean, you're just going to.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
He's not going to do a club or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (39:32):
From what I said, he's not going to do any
kind of you know.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
You hardly ever see people do the old club thing anymore. Yeah,
Like you've got to be able to grab and use
your hands independently. I mean, it's just not a hammer. No,
but no, I give him all the credit in the world,
but that's not going to be an easy you know,
sixty minutes.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
No, No, I mean you can do things to mitigate
that a little bit. But you know, at the same time,
you know, it's a broken bone in your hand, and
it does it also affects your grip strength and things
of that nature.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Absolutely. I mean people think it's illegal to hold, but
you grabbed cloth a low.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
To grab outside, right, right, you can grab.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Inside and still grab outside too, as long as they don't.
It's important, right, Like Zach Frazier is great grip strike.
That's suff's important. Let me say about that. So if
he can't go or if he's pulled from the game,
Spencer Anderson would be his backup, right, I mean, I
think we've seen that that's set pretty well. But then
you're really lean, you know. I mean, so I assume
(40:32):
what you're guessing is Miller makes way for the other
Anderson just to be active on game day potentially. Yeah,
you know they they've That doesn't mean Miller's day is
a Steeler are gone. I mean, he could end up
backing them, but.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
He's now can out signed with anybody.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
Yeah, there's a lot of teams right now filling out rosters,
and you know you're into the season roster and that
kind of stuff. So you know, but that that's to
me is where that goes. The need right now.
Speaker 4 (40:58):
Is on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
Yeah, And I always find that interesting. It's like this
business is brutal. You know, Millar didn't do anything wrong
and anything asked of them. Hold for an extra point, sure,
be a gunner, sure, but in this instance he's the
fifty third guy and another position is needed, and they're
not gonna cut McCormick, you know, right, you know you're
not gonna cut Spencer Anderson. So somebody needs to go.
(41:22):
And unfortunately that's the way it works. I mean, some
of these guys bounce around the league a lot because
of that.
Speaker 4 (41:26):
You mentioned the holding stuff.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
The last game, the Baltimore Ravens had just two penalties
in that game in Baltimore season low.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Yeah, as you mentioned before, they were the second highest
most penalized team in the league. Yeah, this season, and
they had two penalties in that Gay. I don't know
if they have it fixed, by the way. No, that's
one thing they do either, huge things.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
You know, like the first time the Steelers and Ravens
met Man back into the defense is a disaster, you know,
blown coverage is left and right. You know, obviously some
people were playing out of position or not in their
best spot back then. And penalties, man, you know, they
they let people back into games. You know, Marcus mentioned
this is a sloppy team, you know, and I don't
(42:12):
think that part got fixed.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Yeah, they had twelve penalties for eighty yards in the
first meeting.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Okay, twelve for eighty I even remember when they came
out of their by they had kind of a pseudo
next by. They played the Giants when they were horrendous
yea at that point, and they had a bunch of
penalties in that game too. I mean, so it's pretty recently.
I don't think they've cleaned that part of their game up.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
It's just kind of interesting that that some because that
was one of the things that I looked at going
into that game, like, okay, because they were the most
penalized team going into that game and have and again
it's held up that they ended up second most. Somehow
they made it through that game. The Steelers were penalized
five times for twenty nine yards, just the Ravens had
two for ten. Yeah, they didn't hold the entire game,
(42:54):
entire game they didn't have any penalties down the field
for legal contact, which has been another big reflarement.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
That's their big areas. Yeah, and so recepts stuff they
usually have issues with.
Speaker 4 (43:04):
Right, didn't do any of that stuff in that game.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
Maybe that'll come come around a little bit, right or
even out.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
So but again, if if you look at that game,
it was seventeen seventeen in the third quarter, with the
third quarter was almost done, and it was seventeen seventeen,
and people were acting like that game was just a
complete blowout all the Ravens was thirty four to seventeen.
They just they just ran them off the field. That
was not the case.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
No, no, it wasn't. And there were some game changing moments.
Marcus brought it up too. I mean, ball hit the
ground quite a few times and you just weren't able
to pick it up. I mean, we did that video
with Rob today and one of you two, I thought
it was him, mentioned how many times the ball came
out during this losing streak and how many times the
Steelers have landed on it. It's just, you know, a
(43:52):
ridiculously low percentage that even if you don't get fifty percent,
like usually does even out. If you get thirty percent,
things may have gone a little different. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:02):
The Ravens had three fumbles in that game. Yeah, and this,
and the Steelers recovered none of them. Yeah, like that's
that's just fumble.
Speaker 5 (44:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
Yeah, they were zero for four in that game and fumble.
You know it just that's one of the things about
this game. I mean, there is a lot of variables
about it like that.
Speaker 3 (44:18):
And honestly, outside of the of the pass that he
threw that was intercepted, I thought Russell Wilson played pretty
well in that game.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
I didn't think the defense greatly confused them, or all
their simulated pressures were you know, too much to deal
with that he couldn't handle it. Yeah, I think he'll
be okay.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Against he was he was twenty two or thirty three
for two hundred and seventeen yards with two touchdowns in
an interception. If he goes twenty, if he throws for
two seventeen and two touchdowns in this game, I'll take that. Yeah,
I think I would take cut the interception out.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Yeah, Yeah, you have to take that. Yeah. Yeah, I
think that's safe to say. I think that they'll be
a fair amount of short passing, I think the backs
will ketch, so the fair amount of balls got away
from that. That was working well leading into the Bangals.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
Jalen Warren had five catches for forty four yards in
that game.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
He had a nice streak going of yards from scrimmage,
you know, fifty five, sixty five, seventy, you know, week
after week after week.
Speaker 3 (45:16):
He just got nicked up in the last game and
they didn't have They didn't A, they didn't have the
ball long enough in the first half for anybody to
put up any kind of stats. Yeah, but b then
in the third quarter he got nicked up on a run.
And I included when it was walking on TV.
Speaker 1 (45:32):
I think a lot of people listening didn't know that either. Yeah,
there was a play. Announcers came out and like, why
is he getting the seat of Warren or why don't
we getting more Warren? That was never explained.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
It was because Warren was nicked up. I mean he
took I think he took a helmet to the to
the hip hip and kind of limped off and you
didn't see him the rest of the game. That was
maybe on the opening possession of the second half.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Yeah, so I would think he's a much bigger part
of this game. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
He's explosive, really really well and gives you a little something,
a little juice there.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
But if you fire moves turned the corner.
Speaker 3 (46:01):
Yeah yeah, yeah, and people forget as well. In that game,
Warren had twelve carries for forty eight yards. Harris had
nine for forty two. The Steelers ran the ball effectively
against the Ravens in that game.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
Yeah, I think there's a little bit of a misconception.
You brought this up earlier in the week that this is.
Speaker 3 (46:16):
A defense you just can't run on, not anymore seventy
six Coyle Hamilton's fifteen yards off the line of scrimms.
Coyle Hamilton's very good against the run, very good against
That was one of the concessions that the Ravens had
to make.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
Which is a smart move for them, but it's you know.
Speaker 3 (46:29):
They're easier to run against now than they were if
they were like three point three yards per carry.
Speaker 4 (46:33):
They're leading the season.
Speaker 1 (46:34):
There, and also load some of those numbers were misleading
too because they were so bad against the pass. Yeah, like, oh,
they're only allowing seventy yards per game rushing, Why would
you run whenever you can bombs away, right, and nobody
knows who to cover, right, So the run defense is
good and there's no question.
Speaker 4 (46:49):
But yeah, there's here's gay.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
I mean brokewe what doesn't mean you don't try?
Speaker 1 (46:53):
Yeah, I was gonna say I and the Steelers didn't
shy away from it from what I remember in either meeting.
Speaker 4 (46:57):
I mean you had twenty one.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
You had twenty one carries out of your two prime
I'm mary backs for ninety yards, all right, that's over
four yards of carry.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
And if Marcus is right and this is a seven
to six game at the half, well they're gonna keep
going with it. Yeah, mean they just keep sticking with it.
And I like that approach. Yeah, short throws shots over
the top here and there.
Speaker 3 (47:17):
Let's let's get to a break that's going to do
it for our number one of the drive here on
the Steelers Audio Network, Matt and I'll be back with
our number two right after this