September 2, 2025 • 46 mins
Matt and Wes discuss the contract extension for Jaylen Warren and what it means for the offense. They also look at the big trade between the Cowboys and Packers and more notes from around the NFL.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation, and welcome to game week. Here
on in the Drive. It is September and it is
go time. Matt Williamson with you for the next two
hours here on your twenty four to seven Home of
the Black and Gold and Matt Man. It happens real
quick from August and ye season and training camp to
you know everyone for the most part. I know that
the team at practice and stuff like that, but everyone
(00:45):
who kind of does what you and I do for
a living off yesterday because of the Labor Day holiday,
and here we go bang Jets week staring us in
the face.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You know.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
We were talking about this off the air that the
day after Labor Day is one of the weirdest days
of the year for me, and I think it is
for you too, or and probably for anyone that does this.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
And the reasoning is.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
First of all, I go have a blast all Labor
Day weekend with my buds, and recovery is important a
little bit, but I go two nights. A lot of
those dudes do three because I just need to get
a little bit in NFL mode because I look at
today like truly the first day of the regular season,
you know, like and as you were saying, like, is
it Monday is a Tuesday. I still have Monday things
(01:26):
that I need to get done, even though it's Tuesday.
And I'm always I have a spreadsheet where I balance
out all my podcasts and interviews and all that kind
of stuff too. And you know, things are a little
new and sounds like tomorrow we're going to be on YouTube,
but we're full, you know, four or five days a
week going forward, full grown blown regular season.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
It's Chets week.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, we will. I bet you'd be doing a show
well basically every single day. Well, I guess there might
be a little bit of a there might be a
day or so off when we're traveling to Dublin, depending
that's going to work, but I mean night games and
right yeah, well you know, but I mean basically till Thanksgiving,
we'll be uh, we'll be we'll be full bore with
you here the typical schedule that you expect. Like Matt said,
(02:09):
it does sound like we're going to be back on
the the YouTube broadcast this week as well too. We
think beginning on Wednesday, September third, but with the kind
of extra elongated holiday weekend that we had, not just
the Monday that you and I had off, but also
Friday as well too. I think some some news of
the day, some news of the weekend, to get into
(02:29):
some some things that we have not covered, to kind
of catch us up and really get it feeling like
game week here. The first Matt is Jalen Warren being
inked to a new three year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As uh, you know, he was heading into that last
year of his uh kind of well, he had the
undrafted free agent and the team had tendered his rights
(02:52):
as that works with undrafted guys, so kind of no
real certainty for his contract going forward. Well that is
now not the case anymore. New three year deal for
number thirty.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
I love this and it actually makes me feel kind
of smart because I remember having talk I've been talking
about this one for a while, and I felt like
there weren't many discussing an extension for Warren.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Everyone knew what.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
In others you know, I mean, guys that are going
to be up after this year. But this one makes
so much sense to me on a lot of levels.
First off, the anti side of it is you don't
want to invest in running backs, blah blah blah blah blah.
Now I have not seen the money, but I don't
think it's extravagant. I don't even know if they've been
released yet, I think, But anyway, he does not have
(03:39):
a lot of wear and tear on his body at
this stage for a guy that's given you, what, three years, right, Yes,
he's had three years in the books, so as running
backs go, with his experience, he's not super beat up.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
He is super versatile. He can be ball carrier, you know.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Third down back, early down back, and it sure looks
like this year he's gonna do both those things early
early on, you know, I mean until Johnson's ready. We've
talked about this, and I think it's clear at the
moment without anyone ever telling us, the depth chart is
Warren Gainwell Johnson.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think that's pretty crystal clear.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yes, yeah, I mean today going into Jets week. Now.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
The other thing is why I brought it up way
back when, and I'm not trying to screw the guy over,
but by NFL standards, he has like nothing in the bank.
You know what I mean, like he's an undrafted free agent.
He's not like doing a contract with cam or Aaron
Rodgers that are multi bazillionaires. I mean he's fine, He's
(04:43):
living better than many listeners, many people on the planet,
but by NFL standards, he's poor, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Especially with all those fines. He got his money games
he was working.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
For free as bonkers.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
So I'm sure the Warren family, I don't know if
he's married or not, Missus, Warren, Mama Warren whoever, is like,
just take the first deal they offer with a big bonus.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
And some guarantees, and get some guarantees in there.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
You're living large. I mean, his life changed drastically, you know,
considering what he's made over the years. And frankly, I
think he's really really good and I want him in
the mix next year.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
So it's a three year contract a two year extension.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yeah, there for him and as you as as you
kind of alluded to there, I don't think anybody in
the kind of outside world is Ironcloud on the numbers
just yet.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Okay, yeah, I didn't think it was, but.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
You know, spot spot track, who I think anybody who
ever looks these things up is familiar, but it's a
website that tracks contracts for athletes across every sport, not
just the NFL, and they do so very accurately, and well, yeah, yeah,
their kind of best guess estimate on this current extension is, uh,
that will bump him up to a base salary of
five point three ish million dollars per year this year,
(05:58):
and that'll be the same as his cap pit this year.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Basically, that makes sense, right.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So, now what exactly how that looks like with the
cash breakdowns and the guaranteed moneys and all those things
going forward. We'll have to wait until some of those
details leak out. But I think even some of that
concern yeah, and that was my Listen. I understand people
being a little little gun shy with given running backs money,
Like I get it, I totally get it. But this
(06:24):
is not break the bank. This is not Oh no,
if if you know by week six or seven, Caleb
Johnson has clearly emerged as your starter. Now we're on
the hook for a bunch of money to Jalen Warren.
He's still gonna that'll still even if he ends up
in year two or year three of this being the
Steelers number two running back. That still fits in just
fine with a salary cap.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Structure, especially with a guy in a rookie deal.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Especially with a third round right rookie, not Ashton genty
who's making you know, top fifteen money any given a year.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
If use a fourth or fifth round pick and get
another one.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I think it makes a lot of sense for who
he is. I thought you made a very good point
there of you know, he's not a twenty seven year
old who has three or four years of three hundred
touches no right on those tires already. And I think
I was gonna say worst case scenario, but it might
even be best case scenario that by October Caleb Johnson
has become the guy.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Great that it'd be great.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Jalen Woarren is still a fairly paid, high end number
two running back at that point.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, I mean, just as high end third down backs go.
That's worth it in itself, let alone the early down
work he's gonna do early and probably always. I mean,
unless Johnson's the best back in the league and he
just can't take him off the field, which is unlikely.
I mean so and at the moment, Johnson has a
lot of work to do, and he's I can't even
(07:44):
imagine a year from now Jalen not doing the third
down stuff. I mean, like, Johnson's gonna get better and
better at it, but I can't imagine he'll be as
good as Warren, who's outstandings outstanding at it, right, I mean,
and some of like you know, the Matt stats stuff
and stuff.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Heavy.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Yeah, the Warren numbers, the peripheral numbers are ridiculously good.
They're like McCaffrey Kamara good in terms of receiving stuff.
You know, people don't realize that around here. That doesn't
mean they would be if he was using exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Like a small sample size.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
But when he's on the field, he produces as much
as anyone on this offense.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
No, he sure does. And that's the exciting part to me.
I almost think he's become a little bit of an
afterthought because of all the conversation around Caleb Johnson at
that position, and in the larger picture, obviously most of
the conversation is around Aaron Rodgers, DK metcalf that offensive line,
you know, I mean, if you're listing kind of the
most discussed topics of that Steelers offense, Jalen Warren pretty
(08:40):
far down on the list, But I think he's going
to surprise some people. I think people are going to
quickly be reminded why we've been so high on him
at points in the past.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
In a thousand percent and so, he's been on three
Steeler teams, you know, different years, none of which are
powerhouse offenses. Let's just put I think we know that
at this point they weren't the best offenses in the league.
But you can't name too many better players offensive players
over the last three years than Jayla Warren.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
You mean, as it relates to the Steelers standpoint right, right,
He's probably it.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
He's one of their best guys over the three year
stretch for sure, or any given year he's been.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I mean him and him and mouth right or like
their only skill position players that have been that tenured
with that you're happy with, right, exactly exactly right. Yeah, No,
that's a that's a very good point by you. So
I thought this was smart business. I did think of
you because you've been talking about this since. Yeah, I
thought this was camp and OTAs and and and kind
of that you.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Got him a little cheaper than he could have yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Right right, yeah, and he.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Definitely cheaper than if you would actually hit the market. Yea,
we maybe have.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
We could be we could be doing shows in February
and you know, when the season's over and talking about
how much of a bargain that looks like, Now you've
got a legit number one running back locked up at
a five million dollar ish cap hit number for the
next two years.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Twelve hundred combined yards or something, you know, and if
he would hit the open market, he would have got
ten or twelve, he.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Would have gotten double that.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Absolutely, I think that there's a much better chance that
that's gonna happen. Then people are going to look back
at it and say, what were they doing to your
point earlier?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
If he gets hurt, like all running backs inevitably do,
or if he gets passed on the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It's not that bad.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
No, you're not going to be scratching your head thinking, oh, no,
how do we get out of this cap?
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Hell?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
You know, that's just not the case. And in fact,
you would probably even look at it and say it's
still a fair number for what you would be asking
him to do if that were to be the case.
Another Steelers related.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
One running back question go to you.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I don't think any of us know the answer, but
I did a podcast yesterday or day before whatever it
was and mentioned this contract, how much I like it,
blah blah blah. And I also took a couple of
mail bag questions in the podcast, and I got a
really good question, who do you think the goal line
back is right now? Because it's I mean, I mean
Rogers is not going to be your short yard runner ever. No,
(11:00):
it's definitely not.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Game ball John new Smith.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Someone threw out.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
A training camp, right I'm kind of being facetious, kind
of half serious, Jerome.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
They don't have nausey, no, and.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
It doesn't have you know, you don't need Mike Alstott exactly.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You don't need the biggest, heaviest guy in the world.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Man. I would say it's probably Jalen Warren right now.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I would imagine I.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Think Caleb Johnson. I think Caleb Johnson could be better
at that did people give him credit for or maybe
even certainly than we saw in the preseason.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
He's not lacking power.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
But if it's in the fourth quarter on Sunday and
you're in a gotta have it fourth and one you
know games game you're down three or something in the
final three minutes of the game. I think Jayalen Warren
is a guy I'm putting out that he's the one.
He's the one that I trust the most in that regard.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
It's subject to change.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
And this isn't a knock on him. It's just the
body type type conversation, like is Kenneth Gamewill even in
that conversation. Probably not.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
I don't think he's not a poem pusher nor no,
And so yeah, if he's ever done it, I would
say it's Jalen Warren.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I would subject to change very rapidly. But right now,
if you get into that scenario and it gotta have
it Sunday at MetLife, I would think it's number thirty.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
And I think it will take a little time for
Johnson to take that off him too, because you're when
you're you gonna try it, that's.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
I mean, that's a great point. You know, when are
you gonna try him?
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Right?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
When you get throw the other one out there just
to mess around with it.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
As you mentioned, it's certainly not gonna be Rodgers. They're
not going to ask him to do any of that stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
And yeah, it's kind of a weird situation, right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I don't have a guy by default at this point.
I think you got to assume Jalen Warren. But yeah,
they think so, they don't have a clear guy. I
didn't want to ask you this before we go to
break Matt. Steelers also in the last couple days announcing
their team captains for this season. Steelers players vote on
this one on offense, one on defense, one on special teams,
and then a fourth from wherever. Basically, if you will so,
(12:55):
offensive Captain Aaron Rodgers, defensive captains Cam Hayward and Watt,
Special teams Captain Safety Slash, you know, special teams EXTRAORDINAIIR Miles.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Killibrew Killbrew's gotten in several years.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
He's got it several several years in a row, as
have Cam and tj Okay. My question for you is
do you put any stock in I feel like this
is one of those things that, like Kenny Pickett got
this this designation pretty I think his rookie year it
was Nausey, and then it was and then it was
Kenny after that, and there was a lot of well,
well he must be commanding the locker room. Well, and
have those guys respect, you know. With Aaron Rodgers, I've
(13:29):
seen a lot of the reaction of this speaks highly.
He's only been there since June and he's already voted
as a team captain.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Do you really put any stock into that or is
it just like these are the veterans, these are the leaders,
These are the guys that have done it, you know,
and it's almost always going to be your quarterback on
the offensive side of the football.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Do we remember who it was last year on offense?
Was it Russ?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Last year on offense? It was Russ?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, yep, super quick.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
I know killer Brew always gets special teams one and
deserves it and is great at it and all those things.
But I guess if Boz would have got it, I
would understood. Sure the defense, those two of course, obviously totally.
I don't know what other candidates are out there on offense.
It's a good point you really trust. I mean, like
we'd mentioned, Friarmouth and Warren have been good players for
(14:13):
a couple of years, but they're not the body of
work guys of others. Metcalf's new your lines.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Yeah right, you're not gonna go ye two.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
I think maybe next year there's something like that. Sure,
So I don't want to say it's by default, because
just even it's not like I'm in any of the
locker rooms or any of those things, you can tell
they're responding to Rogers just being around the team, being
a camp. I mean, the more I think through it,
I'd have been surprised if it's anybody else.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Totally, And that's a very good way to put it.
Maybe not the the inverse that everyone has been doing,
because yeah, I'd be surprised if it was anybody else too.
As you mentioned, what we were privy to see, which
is more than the average person. But you are correct too.
It's not like we're in the locker room. We're not
in the meeting room. But from what we saw at
practice around campus in the cafeteria, those guys gravitate to him,
(15:06):
those guys respect him. I laugh a lot, and they
did as well to certainly, certainly, you know, I kind
of laugh like I'm at the point now where I'm
not old, but I'm not young anymore, and so like
I laugh at all the new slang and all the
new jargon that you know that the younger generation has.
They like For my generation, it was swag, right, like
(15:27):
that's oh, like that guy's got some swag about him.
That was the thing you said in two thousand and eight.
Now it's aura, that's what the kids say. Now he's
got you know, he walks into the room, he's got aura.
And I typically laugh at that, like what does that mean?
But you also kind of get it too when you're
in those settings. There's certain guys that they just walk in.
It's almost like when the principal kind of walks in,
(15:48):
and when you're in, everyone kind of sits up a
little bit. Everyone's paying attention to right they're doing. And
Aaron Rodgers certainly has that aura about.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Him, no question.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
I mean he did to me the day he saw
his first practice, those type of things. There's a lot
else going on, and I was staring at him the
whole time, the whole time, you know, right, even though
he's like on the sidelines, you know right.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
No, absolutely, So that's kind of your Steelers news of
the day. We do need to get into some around
the league, so Tom spoke today too. We will discuss
that obviously, you know what. In fact, let's save the
around the league stuff. Let's keep it local a couple
Mike Tomlin just speaking, you know, within the last couple
of hours here, Matt. A couple interesting things that he said.
(16:30):
A lot of it was the general preview in the
Jets talking about justin fields and and things like that
that you would imagine, but some injury stuff and some
Cam Hayward stuff that I think is very noteworthy that
we should, yeah, that we should definitely discuss on the
other side, and we will do that when we return.
Well Schuler, Matt Williams said, it's the Drive here on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Back on the drive here, rolling along into September. It's
a game week. We got the Jets on the horizon, obviously, Matt,
beginning tomorrow will start to really break into that stats
packet that you do focusing on the Jets, talking about
this upcoming challenge in New York. Specific things, but a
lot of details I think still to get to before
(17:53):
we get there, and one of those certainly being the
status of some of these stealers that we have I
guess navigated some unknown around their status.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
We'll get an injury report tomorrow. Normal, we will start.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Getting injury reports, yes, of course, and that'll ramp up
every single day, Thursday being a very important day for
those as we know. But at least sounds encouraging out
of the gate. I mean there's a lot of names,
Derek Hartman being a big one, Yeah, her Big, you know,
her big, Benton, still a lot of questions around Calvin Austin,
who we you know, haven't seen or heard much fun Man.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Alex high Smith was encouraging.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
We heard yes, yes, and then obviously Cam Hayward, but
for separate reasons, not just a specific injury reason, but
on the injury front, Mike Tomlin saying, Derek Hartman the
only one ruled out at this point. Nick her Big
could be classified as questionable.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Other than that.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
He said, and I quote, we are a largely healthy group.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
That's pretty good for for this point in the you know,
in the in the in the in the week.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Yeah, and basically avoided disaster with Harmon. I mean that
looked like they could have gone a lot worse. Sure,
and he's and the fact that he's not even on
IR designated return or any of those type of things
makes you think he's going to be there week three
something like that, or you know, the timetable is probably favorable.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Now.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
They definitely kept eight defensive linemen for a reason, though,
I mean, and that depth is going to get challenged.
I know you watch a ton of college football, but
some of the stuff I watched people were getting.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Tired late big time.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Yeah. Yeah, and it certainly happens.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
So a D line on the road against the team's
going to run the ball a ton, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I don't think it's supposed to be killer heat, but
it'll be the opening weekend in September. You know, it
won't be cool out there, that's for sure.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
And no one on the planet has played a full
game yet in the NFL, you know, I mean, so
all this will be new and week one across the
league just in terms of fatigue and those type of things.
But it's nice if you can have a four you know,
healthy scratches as opposed to unhealthy scratches.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
To prepare for this stuff, right, certainly. Yeah, and so
that I thought was relatively good news. I think we all,
like our educated guess was that Harmon was going to
at least miss a week, you know, maybe two, kind
of right in that wheelhouse, I think we'd all thought,
you know, her big status would be up in the
air just because of the timing of his injury and everything.
But here and other than that largely healthy group, I
(20:25):
think that's about as good as you could hope for
at this point.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Yeah, not bad at all. Now we don't know exactly
what cam A was gonna do, though, right.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Right, and and all that was really said about that
was as anybody out there can imagine, one of the
very first questions that Mike Tomlin was asked about, you know,
his press conference, the first ten minutes or so or
usually him kind of talking about where the team's at,
injury updates. Sometimes he'll look back on the game that
just happened. Now obviously that wasn't the case today, and
(20:52):
then he'll preview the opponents. You know, he talked about
justin fields, he talked about the Jets kind of being
in a new era and guys he wanted to highlight
on their offense and their defense both. And then you know,
the kind of first ten minutes is Mike Tomlin's message.
And then after that, for you know ten minutes or so,
he takes questions. One of the very first questions, of course,
was what's Cam Hayward's status, You know, are you expecting
(21:16):
him to be out there Sunday? And Mike Tomlin said,
and I quote, I'm certainly expecting Cam to play. That
was his answer, which is great, which is a good thing,
which is I think what everybody was hoping to hear. Sure,
and Matt, as you alluded to, like, this is especially
important to me this week because Cam Hayward is not
going to be one hundred percent. Cam Hayward is not
(21:37):
going to be None of these guys are in complete
football shape yet. But he's but certainly the thirty seven
year old who's done less than anybody. They need him
to at least have his hand in that pile, though,
because without harmon with what you just alluded to, the
nature of how you're gonna have to shuffle those defensive
linemen and keep guys fresh early on in the season,
especially against a Jets team that wants to run the football,
(21:57):
is going to run the football a lot, Like I know,
Cam Hayward won't be that stalwart who's gonna be out
there for eighty five percent of the snaps, but still
having his hand in the pile is very important for.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Us massive And again, first off, it sounds like Benton's
gonna be okay by the nature of what you said
with the press conference, but there's something with him too.
He's got an upper body something or other, so maybe
he doesn't play a ton.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Yeah. Absolutely would not want to.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Be without Cam, Benton and Harmon or even two of
the three would be really short changing you, which again
is why I think they kept extra D linemen, especially
even if it's just for this game.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
The Jets are gonna run the ball like crazy.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
I mean I've been laughing, you know, making the joke
They're gonna be like a service academy. I mean it's
gonna be everyone's gonna be carrying the ball and the
field is gonna.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Get twelve carries and triple option. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
I mean, if as long as they can keep it close,
they're gonna run the ball like crazy. And I don't
want to tax Cam too much in this situation.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Yeah, is fifty percent of the snaps? Is that about that?
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Right?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Wonderful?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
I mean if you can get away with it, great,
you know, if you're losing in the second half though,
he's gonna be out there all the time.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
You know, I'm right, No, that's that's exactly it. And
that's another one of those like, man, you would like
to see the Steelers be able to establish that run
and control time of possession. Keep those guys fresh, you know,
you you'd love the You know, at the end of
the end of the game, you held the ball for
thirty three thirty four minutes. Yeah, you know, you snapped
the ball fifteen more times on offense than they did.
(23:27):
Keep those snapcats counts down for your defense, keep them
off the field, keep them rested. Cam Heyward at the
top of that.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
List, but especially this time of year, like you said.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
One hundred percent, And so then it kind of gets
into for me, what does that pecking order look like?
You know, like what does that rotation look like? How
much do we expect from ye Black, from Logan Lee,
from from mcqualey, from louder Milk, from all those guys.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
I don't know, one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Yeah, I don't think anybody really knows. From outside of
those walls.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Right right when they're in base I would soon Black
will take over for Harmon. Yes, that's my initial guess.
And I also think in Nickel it'll be Benton and Cam,
but that means Cam plays every step and so does Benton.
And that's not what's gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Right, you know what I mean exactly right?
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Ideally those are your best guys, but that's gonna be
a rotation. I have no doubt in my mind. I
bet Loudermo plays a fair amount because you know them. Yeah,
you know, I don't love him, but you'll know him.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
That's a that's a great point by you. You're familiar
with him, He's familiar with what you're asking him to do.
He might not have the highest ceiling in those scenarios,
but you're you're pretty optimistic that his floor is pretty
high as well too. It's a very good way to
put it, Like he might he's not going to be
making plays out there that are going to be on
Sports Center Monday morning, but he won't kill you. Won't
(24:51):
be a big detriment either, And that's part of the
balance that you have to find in that week one
as well, too, Like who who is going to eat
some innings, who's not gonna get who's not going to
give up the home run ball? You know what I mean,
or take the bad penalty that's that's gonna cost you points.
That's a lot of the ironing out of the wrinkles
that they got to do this week as well too.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Thousand percent.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
And I mentioned him just because like all coaches, Tomlin
we know, is very much about trust and some guys
are young, Like, hey, if you if you can't practice
on Friday, you're not playing because I don't know what
you're like in that.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Situation, YadA, YadA.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
And I bring up louder Remote not because he's their
best guy, but U K Lee's new Black is new
Lee might as well be new, you know. I mean
you've ever gone to battle with him on an NFL stage,
you know.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Especially on the road, and you know all the things
and all the running you're going to see in.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
This game, so at least you have a I know
what this guy is going to do factor with him.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
That D line snapcount thing will be an interesting conversation
on Monday.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, one of the first things that I'm going to
look at Monday morning or maybe even Sunday night when
when I get off the plane and before I go
to bed, because I'll be very interested to see how
they divvy up that pie amongst the defense. With Derek
Harmon not being involved Cam Hayward, you know, not being
up to speed, and again I think still some we'll
wait and see the injury report. Let us let that
(26:14):
be our guide in that regard. But if Derek Harmon
are part of me, if Keanu Benten is going to
be one hundred percent healthy as well, take.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
You imagine the injury report will have more than Harmon
and her big On I believe, so you know what
I mean, Just yes, guys that are.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Because largely healthy, like they could still be listed as probable,
but if they if they've got something that they've been
getting getting work on, they've got to disclose it on it.
That's one of those things you do not want to
mess around with winning out you put somebody on there
because if not, we've seen teams be forfeited, draft picks, docked,
big sums of money, all that different kind of different
(26:49):
stuff in the past.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Yeah, so some of our listeners might be like, oh, good,
they're healthy, and then tomorrow we're gonna read off.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
There's seven names there.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah, that doesn't sound healthy. We'll see you.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
We will that indeed, indeed we will. Matt. What do
you say you want to hear from Jalen Moore in
here and what he had to say. I bet he
is as well too. Jalen speaking not too long ago
on this, uh, this contract extension that he inked kind
of the some of the responsibility and expectations that come
(27:20):
with that, and just how he's feeling about this offense
and Aaron Rodgers and the offensive line as a whole
as they get ready for the Jets. Here's what Jalen
Mooren had to say.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
A new contract and how do you feel?
Speaker 6 (27:34):
You know, it's always something you dream about, but you know,
I didn't know if it was gonna I didn't know
it was gonna come this soon. I'm grateful I did.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Chilean, you know, wasn't easy for you when he came
in as an undrafted free agent.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
It was the key to go from the udi FA
for guy that's now getting paid and has.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
RB one's datus fifteen.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
I guess just working every day. I never looked toward
the future, always stayed president, you know that moment and
whatever you know, pandeut for me, that's whatever, Panda.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
How does it feel to know this team has bought
into you like that.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Uh, it's it's it's a great feeling, you know.
Speaker 6 (28:06):
Uh, knowing they have my bag, i'm'a do what I
can have their bag and yeah, I'm blessed.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Go no, hm, anything's gonna add more chips and you.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Still have a lot to prove. Yeah, who are saying
he's not really another one?
Speaker 6 (28:22):
Uh? Yeah, I do it for my loved ones. I
do it for the people who do believe in me.
So it's it's more so you know, doing it for them,
know than they sayers.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Tail. What what's different about your game than that all
this year?
Speaker 6 (28:32):
What do you feel?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (28:34):
I guess it's it's the same as previous just enhanced.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
You know. I love the way I play.
Speaker 6 (28:39):
I don't think i'll ever That's why I played the
sport because of the physicality and I just love playing
that way.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Is there anything different you wanted to show everybody this
year being the top.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Guys opposed to other year. Uh?
Speaker 6 (28:51):
Nah, just know that I can ball, you know, love
playing ball.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Jil jelling, you said you give something you hope would happen.
But like the leader of the kalub you know, like
there's some people maybe not in this group, but hey,
that that kind of needed might be the guy down
the road. You didn't have a future, You're status future
sat it's also locked up at that point.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
No, I was a concern.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Like I said, I stay present in my moment. Uh
you know my lane. I was glad we got killed up.
You know, he's a baller. The more weapons, the better
for the team. And that's how I always moved, you know,
growing up.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Whatever.
Speaker 6 (29:22):
Uh, So you know, I'm glad it happened for me,
and I hope it happened for everyone on this team.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Teacher Jack.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
That will allow you to recruit seeing that money that
you might have gotten find here first couple of years ago.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
While oh yeah, yeah it worked out, I yuesstrod.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
To that the steal got done, I mean before a
week one and for this whole season.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
Does it give an extra use?
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Maybe yea yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:46):
Uh you know there's a there's a saying out there
like whatever you get paid and kind of get like
days ago. Uh, I look at it as more motivation
do what I can for the team. Jailor uh the
fun Take me through your feelings yours about that? Uh
just got loose with the ball. You know, that's another thing.
(30:11):
The team didn't freak out, and you know, I know
how they feel. You know, nobody likes a fumble. Nobody
wants to be a part of that, you know environment.
So I'm doing I do, I do what I can
to make sure it doesn't happen again. You didn't freak
out either, You kind of can you can't freak out,
kind of itching to get out there and show what
you can do, cause you haven't done much in the preseason. Yeah, yeah,
(30:32):
I'm excited. You know, I've been waiting for a week
one and uh, I'm excited to go ball. You probably
played fifty games in the NFL, but I haven't sort
of one yet.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
What does that say to you when they come to
you one extend you even build.
Speaker 6 (30:45):
Like I said, it's extra motivation for me. Knowing what
they think or what they uh, how what they feel
I bring to the team. It just gives me extra
juice to do what I can to help them.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
I think Arthur.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
Smith said, uh, you didn't get Aaron Rodgers if you
came back half to the wishbone. They's suggesting that you
throw the ball a little bit more this year.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
Do you feel like that what Aaron does in the
quick passing game, and and the way this offense is
gonna look is gonna highlight your skill set even more
than it has as Yeah I could. Yeah, I'm excited
to witness that too.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Though the caps were name is it maybe a four
time ND quarterback?
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Is that easy to pick adopt?
Speaker 6 (31:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (31:24):
The panels writing errand before I could even think of
what I was gonna write, Why is jail how is he?
Let you guys just very transparent?
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Uh? You guys a lot of character too. You know,
he's a coach and uh and a best friend all
in one. And uh, you know you can ask for more.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
From a quarterback you when you saw them when you
saw them, but you know, as you go and knowing
the climate for in the league, the way they don't
pay running backs, do you think when you.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Signed the tender that might be last year? Uh?
Speaker 6 (31:55):
I mean I try not to like think like that.
Whatever happened happened when I said if I'm you know,
practicing Tuesday and focused on Tuesday, practicing on Thursday and
focus on Thursday, you know, and then whatever happens after that?
Speaker 5 (32:10):
Jalen, is there a part of you that once. You know, Mike,
when you talk about not a lot, when you use
the every once. When I use the phrase belt happen,
right like any of the guy that's gonna can get
the rock of twenty twenty five times in the game.
You haven't had a dat responsibility yet, butter you sort
of Hey, do you want that to happen? I mean,
like you could, You've done that previously in your life.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
It's not like that's that wrapping up.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
That's something that you want to show.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
People that you can be an every down guy.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
Yeah, m hm, not necessarily show people, just I guess
proved to whoever is you know, doubtful in that that
I can do it because I know I can't and
you know I can see the opportunities. Is that whatever
conditioning goes into to prepare yourself, they have that kind
of role. Yeah, under Jalen, when you think about.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Your journey from Juco, now I know you still have
the chip on your shore, but what are.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Any emotions for you?
Speaker 6 (32:59):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (32:59):
It is it like an is it even though you
have the ship? Is it like?
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Hey, I put in all this work and I made
a moment even who counted that whole time?
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Yeah, damn.
Speaker 6 (33:09):
I could go forever on that topic. But yeah, it's
a real Uh it's what you know, everyone who goes
to Joe Juco, it's what they dream about, you know,
being in a situation like mine. And so I hope
I can you know, be the one to look up
to when you're in those hard situations in Juco. Every
time I you know, hear a Juco product, it's like
extra respect for them because that life is not hard
(33:31):
and or that life is not easy, and uh, you know,
kudos to them, those guys.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 6 (33:40):
Mean they're proud of me. I hit them, you know,
I still talk to them. I hit them, you know
when I found out. Uh so, yeah, those are my
boys because you know, got it out the mud together.
Although we're not in the same spot, they're doing their thing,
you know, whether that's I mean, even though it's not football.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
So yeah, Coach Peterson from days it's now said you
were short and budge when you came in. Yeah, how'd
you kind of go into your frame?
Speaker 5 (34:05):
And when could that short puch could ever imagine game
seventeen and a half million dollars.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
I knew I how to change something about my game
because Throughout my Juco experience, the coaches were real, really
enough with me to say, if you made these changes,
you could be you could be something. And I took
that to heart and it's guiding me to this point.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, that's a pretty cool way to wrap that up there.
But the Utah high school football running back extraordinaiir who
that offers from nobody and had to go JUCO for
a couple of years before getting to Utah State before
finally his last year playing power football at Oklahoma State
to now, you know, signing a contract that's going to
(34:49):
pay a multi million dollars a year. That's pretty cool,
that's what.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
It's really really cool, And.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I kind of forget the details. But Dale did a
real deep dive with Warren and talk to family and like,
you know, his whole history when it became pretty clear
that he was going to be part of this team
and he wasn't just a cute story.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
He's gonna get cut in week one, you know that
kind of thing.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
And it is a really odd path and I forget
what exactly the recruiting situation was. It was him and JK. Dobbins,
and I forget who the other one was. That were
super highly regarded, but he just didn't end up anywhere
and I can't remember exactly why, you know, strange.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Yeah, he was a little undersized. Yeah, you know, small
schools Utah. It's not western Pennsylvania or Ohio or Texas. Yeah,
but an awesome story for Jalen Moore.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
For him, I love that. I love the signing.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Very cool, and I think he I think he's flying
a little bit under the radar. I think he's primed
for a big year, and I.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Think they brought it up. But when you do sign
a deal like this, a little more expected of you
as a leader.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Totally right. It's a you know, this is another one
of those things like Max Starks talks about a lot,
Arthur Motes talks about a lot. It happens very quickly
where you're looked at as the young guy in the
locker room to all of the sudden the veteran.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I mean it's like an over It's like an overnight
change where your first year you're the young, wet behind
the ears. Okay, second year, second year, we're not gonna
treat you like a rookie anymore, but you're still kind
of looked at as a young guy and then almost
like that bang, year three, here you go, Like we
talked about that with ke Benton at ot As in
mini camp, like I don't know if you remember, but
(36:30):
I asked him about that. I was like, hey, like
year three, it's like all of a sudden, you're the
one that the guys in the in the room are
looking at. And obviously you've got Cam Hayward in there,
but at the same time you're kind of the the
next tenured guy behind him.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
I'm sure why you black as bent and stuff.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Exactly right, exactly right, and Derek Harmon and those guys,
no question, Just like Caleb Johnson's gonna be picking Jalen
Warren's ear, or at least he's better picking his brain
in his ear all the time.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
And yet in the locker room and things are carry
little of a stick.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I think I think Jalen Warren is in the right position,
right mindset, right skill set to handle that and step
into that role for the Steelers this year. Matt a
pretty significant I don't know, potential issue question lingering around
Micah Parsons in this massive trade that just happened. We
have not so we'll do that. Let's talk a little
(37:22):
bit about that. We'll do some national around the league
stuff to close down the first hour of the program
here when we return on the other side, Matt Williamson,
West Shooler, It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your tuned.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
About drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Matt, one of my U I guess, favorite old cliches,
if you will. One of my favorite old time he
sayings is where there's smoke, there's fire, Okay, And suddenly
there seems to be a lot of smoke around Micah
Parsons and his health and his status heading into week
one with his new team. But I guess maybe before
we get into that. Yeah, yeah, bigger picture, your thoughts
(38:31):
on the Michaeh. Parsons trade. Good for green Bay, good
for Dallas, fair for both. Were you surprised he actually
got moved a little? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Yeah, I means such a big name you don't see
too much. I mean, of all the defensive players on
the planet, with all respect to TJ, he's the.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
Most valuable, the one you would want right now.
Speaker 4 (38:49):
Yeah, you're building a team what's in front of him.
I'm obviously you know, age has a ton to do
with it. Position he plays, he's an utter.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
He just turned twenty six. He's just turned twenty six.
Speaker 4 (39:00):
He's on an easy Hall of Fame path as we
speak right now, if not an all time great, you
know type of path.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
He's a special, special player. Now. I don't know what
Dallas is doing, to be honest with you, I mean.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
I don't know Jerry Jones, but he's always been very,
very interested in the brand and making money. And he's
made a ton of money for the league, and they
have the most valuable franchise.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
That standpoint, you can't you can't knock his.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
Yeah home run.
Speaker 4 (39:30):
But lately I don't think winning has been the top
priority for this team. And to do this right before
the season.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
They play Thursday on the road.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
They played to the traveling to Philly tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
Tomorrow, morale has to be low and you took your best,
I mean, right if the Steels Starry T. J. Watt
today didn't think they'd be gung ho for the Jets game,
you know, I mean it's it's kind of.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Clark, who's a fine player, but all right, mostly for
draft capital is trade, right, that's something that's going to
make us better Thursday night in Philadelphia, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
I mean, they became a worst team this year. Yes,
even it's not even like.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
We should maybe revisit that over under conversation.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
I'm definitely going right right, certainly.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
And they do have some edge guys that they've drafted
lately in the second round that are promising. But they
look like a lot of Robbins to the Batman type,
and their d tackles were kind of light. They picked
up Kenny Clark, it was they were real light, but
still the defense got massively worse, and Parsons was unbelievable
when he came back from injury last year. The price
is just too low, I mean, because those picks are
(40:34):
not going to be top ten.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
That was the biggest kicking for me.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
If they're trading them to the Browns yeah, or the Panthers, yeah,
or the Jags or the Giants or the Jets or
somebody that we think is going to be picking in
the top ten that usually does that usually does. It's
a different story. But like you said that that pick
it best is going to be twenty.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
If they make the playoffs is twenty or higher.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
We would you rather have Micah Parsons or a twenty
twentieth overall pick and twenty second overall pick?
Speaker 4 (41:02):
I know, I know, I think the return is very light.
And from the Packers' perspective, I in a different podcast
I had picked them to win their division before the trade.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Well now I feel better about it.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
Yeah, I think I think they actually had them as
the NFC representative going. I think they could go that far.
And a criticism like, I have a lot of respect
to the Packers.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
They have a good team. They have a lot of
good players.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
There really are though, That's what I said, Yeah, like
they didn't have who's the superstar that scares you that?
Speaker 3 (41:37):
You know, it doesn't even have to be an edge.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Rusher, but it goes a long way when it is
when you have a lead or you're in the playoffs,
And now they totally have that. For Shaun Garry is
a really good player, but he's not to this level.
He's going to get singled like high Smith all the time, now,
you know. I mean, it's just such a ripple effect.
I don't know what to think of the back situation,
but it can't be long term, or they wouldn't have
made the deal I have. I know he has practiced
(42:01):
in a packer uniform. Yeah, you know to some degree.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Yeah, that's interesting because the last thing you expect to
see when you when someone is you know, involved in
a blockbuster trade, which let's make no mistake, this is
a blockbuster trade. Certainly you know the headlines now or
Michael Parsons has facet joint Sprain may be able to
play Sunday Verse Lions with epidural sources. Michael Parsons may
need back injection to play Matt. If I'm the Packers,
(42:25):
I'm not thrilled about this. I mean, I think you
thought that there was There was obviously probably a realization
that he's not going to be kind of same church,
different pew as the Cam Hayward conversation, Like this guy
isn't going to be fully up to speed and ready
to go one hundred percent week one. Sure, but that's
a little different than needing back injections to play in
early September.
Speaker 4 (42:43):
You don't love back whatever or epidural or shot I
mean any of that stuff, not words you want to
hear that you just invested in and you made him. Oh,
by the way, the most expensive player non quarterback ever
by far, I mean, much higher than like EJ's contract.
So no, that part's not great. And all these like.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
Hold in guys or hold out guys.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
They always like bring up an injury something and we
always just assume that they're fine.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
But maybe it wasn't, you know.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
Yeah, and man, I don't know back injection week one,
that would that would make me a little nervous. But
obviously that's something that we'll keep an eye on here
as we roll along. But yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
A massive change of power though. I mean, like I
thought about putting Dallas in the playoffs. Now I'm not
even considering it. And you wonder, like, are they looking
at this as Okay, now we have four first round
picks over two years, does that mean they're gonna be
in the quarterback market?
Speaker 3 (43:41):
They're moving on from Dak? Are they gonna go young?
Speaker 5 (43:43):
You know?
Speaker 3 (43:45):
Ceedee, LAMBM gonna be thrilled about this.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
I mean I look at like LAMB and DAK and
be like, hey, what are we doing here?
Speaker 2 (43:50):
You know?
Speaker 3 (43:51):
Right?
Speaker 2 (43:51):
Yeah we try to win games right now? Or yeah, yeah, yeah,
I am totally with you on that huge ripple effect
very close to the start of the regular season. It's
certainly something that we'll be keeping an eye on. And yeah,
you know, Thursday night when you turn into that pregame coverage,
obviously there'll be a ton about the Eagles and that
Super Bowl banner that they're going to raise, but a
lot about Michael Parsons and his absence, I'm sure on Thursday.
Speaker 4 (44:13):
Night, and it sounded like Jerry got it through his
head that's what he wanted to do, and hey, it's
his team. He can do whatever the heck he wants.
But at his age, and it kind of reminds me
like End of Road Al Davis, you know, like a
great at what he did, but who's telling him no now?
And we all decline at some point, you know what
(44:33):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (44:34):
Yeah, yeah, even Bill Belichick, for my money, coach of
all time, had too much power and too much of
a say over the roster everything again, and it did
not work out well.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
I think about the other the game North Carolina wasn't
a swallow either, but.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
I personally enjoyed that. I just quick little side fifteen
second tangent for you. I mean, you mentioned earlier in
the in the hour. I love college football, of course,
like point blank pier people who try and use college
football for something. It's not bother me, all right, And
I just this Belichick thing, and I'm gonna bring in
all my NFL buddies. And they're two different games. That's why, Nick,
(45:14):
that's why the Pete Carrolls that actually win at both
levels are so rare, you know, like it is, there's
not many that do both at a highlight. In fact,
it's usually like a Nick Saban where you're really good
at one and you stink at the other. You know,
it's a it's a Matt rule, you're really good at
one and you stink at the other. So I didn't
mind seeing the horn frogs going in there into Chapel
(45:35):
Hill and doing a little stomping around stick the basketball Carolina.
All right, hour in the books, another hour to go, Matt,
What do you say we in light of this, in
the ripple effect that this has in the NFL and
particularly the NFC, you want to take a look at
some power rankings when we were trying to start hour
number two. We'll do that and more as we roll
along into our number two. What shooler, Matt Williamson. It
(45:57):
is the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio on the
dealer's audio network,
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation, and welcome to game week. Here
on in the Drive. It is September and it is
go time. Matt Williamson with you for the next two
hours here on your twenty four to seven Home of
the Black and Gold and Matt Man. It happens real
quick from August and ye season and training camp to
you know everyone for the most part. I know that
the team at practice and stuff like that, but everyone
(00:45):
who kind of does what you and I do for
a living off yesterday because of the Labor Day holiday,
and here we go bang Jets week staring us in
the face.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You know.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
We were talking about this off the air that the
day after Labor Day is one of the weirdest days
of the year for me, and I think it is
for you too, or and probably for anyone that does this.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
And the reasoning is.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
First of all, I go have a blast all Labor
Day weekend with my buds, and recovery is important a
little bit, but I go two nights. A lot of
those dudes do three because I just need to get
a little bit in NFL mode because I look at
today like truly the first day of the regular season,
you know, like and as you were saying, like, is
it Monday is a Tuesday. I still have Monday things
(01:26):
that I need to get done, even though it's Tuesday.
And I'm always I have a spreadsheet where I balance
out all my podcasts and interviews and all that kind
of stuff too. And you know, things are a little
new and sounds like tomorrow we're going to be on YouTube,
but we're full, you know, four or five days a
week going forward, full grown blown regular season.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
It's Chets week.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, we will. I bet you'd be doing a show
well basically every single day. Well, I guess there might
be a little bit of a there might be a
day or so off when we're traveling to Dublin, depending
that's going to work, but I mean night games and
right yeah, well you know, but I mean basically till Thanksgiving,
we'll be uh, we'll be we'll be full bore with
you here the typical schedule that you expect. Like Matt said,
(02:09):
it does sound like we're going to be back on
the the YouTube broadcast this week as well too. We
think beginning on Wednesday, September third, but with the kind
of extra elongated holiday weekend that we had, not just
the Monday that you and I had off, but also
Friday as well too. I think some some news of
the day, some news of the weekend, to get into
(02:29):
some some things that we have not covered, to kind
of catch us up and really get it feeling like
game week here. The first Matt is Jalen Warren being
inked to a new three year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As uh, you know, he was heading into that last
year of his uh kind of well, he had the
undrafted free agent and the team had tendered his rights
(02:52):
as that works with undrafted guys, so kind of no
real certainty for his contract going forward. Well that is
now not the case anymore. New three year deal for
number thirty.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
I love this and it actually makes me feel kind
of smart because I remember having talk I've been talking
about this one for a while, and I felt like
there weren't many discussing an extension for Warren.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Everyone knew what.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
In others you know, I mean, guys that are going
to be up after this year. But this one makes
so much sense to me on a lot of levels.
First off, the anti side of it is you don't
want to invest in running backs, blah blah blah blah blah.
Now I have not seen the money, but I don't
think it's extravagant. I don't even know if they've been
released yet, I think, But anyway, he does not have
(03:39):
a lot of wear and tear on his body at
this stage for a guy that's given you, what, three years, right, Yes,
he's had three years in the books, so as running
backs go, with his experience, he's not super beat up.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
He is super versatile. He can be ball carrier, you know.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Third down back, early down back, and it sure looks
like this year he's gonna do both those things early
early on, you know, I mean until Johnson's ready. We've
talked about this, and I think it's clear at the
moment without anyone ever telling us, the depth chart is
Warren Gainwell Johnson.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think that's pretty crystal clear.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yes, yeah, I mean today going into Jets week. Now.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
The other thing is why I brought it up way
back when, and I'm not trying to screw the guy over,
but by NFL standards, he has like nothing in the bank.
You know what I mean, like he's an undrafted free agent.
He's not like doing a contract with cam or Aaron
Rodgers that are multi bazillionaires. I mean he's fine, He's
(04:43):
living better than many listeners, many people on the planet,
but by NFL standards, he's poor, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Especially with all those fines. He got his money games
he was working.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
For free as bonkers.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
So I'm sure the Warren family, I don't know if
he's married or not, Missus, Warren, Mama Warren whoever, is like,
just take the first deal they offer with a big bonus.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
And some guarantees, and get some guarantees in there.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
You're living large. I mean, his life changed drastically, you know,
considering what he's made over the years. And frankly, I
think he's really really good and I want him in
the mix next year.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
So it's a three year contract a two year extension.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yeah, there for him and as you as as you
kind of alluded to there, I don't think anybody in
the kind of outside world is Ironcloud on the numbers
just yet.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Okay, yeah, I didn't think it was, but.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
You know, spot spot track, who I think anybody who
ever looks these things up is familiar, but it's a
website that tracks contracts for athletes across every sport, not
just the NFL, and they do so very accurately, and well, yeah, yeah,
their kind of best guess estimate on this current extension is, uh,
that will bump him up to a base salary of
five point three ish million dollars per year this year,
(05:58):
and that'll be the same as his cap pit this year.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Basically, that makes sense, right.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So, now what exactly how that looks like with the
cash breakdowns and the guaranteed moneys and all those things
going forward. We'll have to wait until some of those
details leak out. But I think even some of that
concern yeah, and that was my Listen. I understand people
being a little little gun shy with given running backs money,
Like I get it, I totally get it. But this
(06:24):
is not break the bank. This is not Oh no,
if if you know by week six or seven, Caleb
Johnson has clearly emerged as your starter. Now we're on
the hook for a bunch of money to Jalen Warren.
He's still gonna that'll still even if he ends up
in year two or year three of this being the
Steelers number two running back. That still fits in just
fine with a salary cap.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Structure, especially with a guy in a rookie deal.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Especially with a third round right rookie, not Ashton genty
who's making you know, top fifteen money any given a year.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
If use a fourth or fifth round pick and get
another one.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I think it makes a lot of sense for who
he is. I thought you made a very good point
there of you know, he's not a twenty seven year
old who has three or four years of three hundred
touches no right on those tires already. And I think
I was gonna say worst case scenario, but it might
even be best case scenario that by October Caleb Johnson
has become the guy.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Great that it'd be great.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Jalen Woarren is still a fairly paid, high end number
two running back at that point.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, I mean, just as high end third down backs go.
That's worth it in itself, let alone the early down
work he's gonna do early and probably always. I mean,
unless Johnson's the best back in the league and he
just can't take him off the field, which is unlikely.
I mean so and at the moment, Johnson has a
lot of work to do, and he's I can't even
(07:44):
imagine a year from now Jalen not doing the third
down stuff. I mean, like, Johnson's gonna get better and
better at it, but I can't imagine he'll be as
good as Warren, who's outstandings outstanding at it, right, I mean,
and some of like you know, the Matt stats stuff
and stuff.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Heavy.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Yeah, the Warren numbers, the peripheral numbers are ridiculously good.
They're like McCaffrey Kamara good in terms of receiving stuff.
You know, people don't realize that around here. That doesn't
mean they would be if he was using exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Like a small sample size.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
But when he's on the field, he produces as much
as anyone on this offense.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
No, he sure does. And that's the exciting part to me.
I almost think he's become a little bit of an
afterthought because of all the conversation around Caleb Johnson at
that position, and in the larger picture, obviously most of
the conversation is around Aaron Rodgers, DK metcalf that offensive line,
you know, I mean, if you're listing kind of the
most discussed topics of that Steelers offense, Jalen Warren pretty
(08:40):
far down on the list, But I think he's going
to surprise some people. I think people are going to
quickly be reminded why we've been so high on him
at points in the past.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
In a thousand percent and so, he's been on three
Steeler teams, you know, different years, none of which are
powerhouse offenses. Let's just put I think we know that
at this point they weren't the best offenses in the league.
But you can't name too many better players offensive players
over the last three years than Jayla Warren.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
You mean, as it relates to the Steelers standpoint right, right,
He's probably it.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
He's one of their best guys over the three year
stretch for sure, or any given year he's been.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I mean him and him and mouth right or like
their only skill position players that have been that tenured
with that you're happy with, right, exactly exactly right. Yeah, No,
that's a that's a very good point by you. So
I thought this was smart business. I did think of
you because you've been talking about this since. Yeah, I
thought this was camp and OTAs and and and kind
of that you.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Got him a little cheaper than he could have yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Right right, yeah, and he.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Definitely cheaper than if you would actually hit the market. Yea,
we maybe have.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
We could be we could be doing shows in February
and you know, when the season's over and talking about
how much of a bargain that looks like, Now you've
got a legit number one running back locked up at
a five million dollar ish cap hit number for the
next two years.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Twelve hundred combined yards or something, you know, and if
he would hit the open market, he would have got
ten or twelve, he.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Would have gotten double that.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Absolutely, I think that there's a much better chance that
that's gonna happen. Then people are going to look back
at it and say, what were they doing to your
point earlier?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
If he gets hurt, like all running backs inevitably do,
or if he gets passed on the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It's not that bad.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
No, you're not going to be scratching your head thinking, oh, no,
how do we get out of this cap?
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Hell?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
You know, that's just not the case. And in fact,
you would probably even look at it and say it's
still a fair number for what you would be asking
him to do if that were to be the case.
Another Steelers related.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
One running back question go to you.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I don't think any of us know the answer, but
I did a podcast yesterday or day before whatever it
was and mentioned this contract, how much I like it,
blah blah blah. And I also took a couple of
mail bag questions in the podcast, and I got a
really good question, who do you think the goal line
back is right now? Because it's I mean, I mean
Rogers is not going to be your short yard runner ever. No,
(11:00):
it's definitely not.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Game ball John new Smith.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Someone threw out.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
A training camp, right I'm kind of being facetious, kind
of half serious, Jerome.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
They don't have nausey, no, and.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
It doesn't have you know, you don't need Mike Alstott exactly.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You don't need the biggest, heaviest guy in the world.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Man. I would say it's probably Jalen Warren right now.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I would imagine I.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Think Caleb Johnson. I think Caleb Johnson could be better
at that did people give him credit for or maybe
even certainly than we saw in the preseason.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
He's not lacking power.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
But if it's in the fourth quarter on Sunday and
you're in a gotta have it fourth and one you
know games game you're down three or something in the
final three minutes of the game. I think Jayalen Warren
is a guy I'm putting out that he's the one.
He's the one that I trust the most in that regard.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
It's subject to change.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
And this isn't a knock on him. It's just the
body type type conversation, like is Kenneth Gamewill even in
that conversation. Probably not.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
I don't think he's not a poem pusher nor no,
And so yeah, if he's ever done it, I would
say it's Jalen Warren.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I would subject to change very rapidly. But right now,
if you get into that scenario and it gotta have
it Sunday at MetLife, I would think it's number thirty.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
And I think it will take a little time for
Johnson to take that off him too, because you're when
you're you gonna try it, that's.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
I mean, that's a great point. You know, when are
you gonna try him?
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Right?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
When you get throw the other one out there just
to mess around with it.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
As you mentioned, it's certainly not gonna be Rodgers. They're
not going to ask him to do any of that stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
And yeah, it's kind of a weird situation, right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I don't have a guy by default at this point.
I think you got to assume Jalen Warren. But yeah,
they think so, they don't have a clear guy. I
didn't want to ask you this before we go to
break Matt. Steelers also in the last couple days announcing
their team captains for this season. Steelers players vote on
this one on offense, one on defense, one on special teams,
and then a fourth from wherever. Basically, if you will so,
(12:55):
offensive Captain Aaron Rodgers, defensive captains Cam Hayward and Watt,
Special teams Captain Safety Slash, you know, special teams EXTRAORDINAIIR Miles.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Killibrew Killbrew's gotten in several years.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
He's got it several several years in a row, as
have Cam and tj Okay. My question for you is
do you put any stock in I feel like this
is one of those things that, like Kenny Pickett got
this this designation pretty I think his rookie year it
was Nausey, and then it was and then it was
Kenny after that, and there was a lot of well,
well he must be commanding the locker room. Well, and
have those guys respect, you know. With Aaron Rodgers, I've
(13:29):
seen a lot of the reaction of this speaks highly.
He's only been there since June and he's already voted
as a team captain.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Do you really put any stock into that or is
it just like these are the veterans, these are the leaders,
These are the guys that have done it, you know,
and it's almost always going to be your quarterback on
the offensive side of the football.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Do we remember who it was last year on offense?
Was it Russ?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Last year on offense? It was Russ?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, yep, super quick.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
I know killer Brew always gets special teams one and
deserves it and is great at it and all those things.
But I guess if Boz would have got it, I
would understood. Sure the defense, those two of course, obviously totally.
I don't know what other candidates are out there on offense.
It's a good point you really trust. I mean, like
we'd mentioned, Friarmouth and Warren have been good players for
(14:13):
a couple of years, but they're not the body of
work guys of others. Metcalf's new your lines.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Yeah right, you're not gonna go ye two.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
I think maybe next year there's something like that. Sure,
So I don't want to say it's by default, because
just even it's not like I'm in any of the
locker rooms or any of those things, you can tell
they're responding to Rogers just being around the team, being
a camp. I mean, the more I think through it,
I'd have been surprised if it's anybody else.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Totally, And that's a very good way to put it.
Maybe not the the inverse that everyone has been doing,
because yeah, I'd be surprised if it was anybody else too.
As you mentioned, what we were privy to see, which
is more than the average person. But you are correct too.
It's not like we're in the locker room. We're not
in the meeting room. But from what we saw at
practice around campus in the cafeteria, those guys gravitate to him,
(15:06):
those guys respect him. I laugh a lot, and they
did as well to certainly, certainly, you know, I kind
of laugh like I'm at the point now where I'm
not old, but I'm not young anymore, and so like
I laugh at all the new slang and all the
new jargon that you know that the younger generation has.
They like For my generation, it was swag, right, like
(15:27):
that's oh, like that guy's got some swag about him.
That was the thing you said in two thousand and eight.
Now it's aura, that's what the kids say. Now he's
got you know, he walks into the room, he's got aura.
And I typically laugh at that, like what does that mean?
But you also kind of get it too when you're
in those settings. There's certain guys that they just walk in.
It's almost like when the principal kind of walks in,
(15:48):
and when you're in, everyone kind of sits up a
little bit. Everyone's paying attention to right they're doing. And
Aaron Rodgers certainly has that aura about.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Him, no question.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
I mean he did to me the day he saw
his first practice, those type of things. There's a lot
else going on, and I was staring at him the
whole time, the whole time, you know, right, even though
he's like on the sidelines, you know right.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
No, absolutely, So that's kind of your Steelers news of
the day. We do need to get into some around
the league, so Tom spoke today too. We will discuss
that obviously, you know what. In fact, let's save the
around the league stuff. Let's keep it local a couple
Mike Tomlin just speaking, you know, within the last couple
of hours here, Matt. A couple interesting things that he said.
(16:30):
A lot of it was the general preview in the
Jets talking about justin fields and and things like that
that you would imagine, but some injury stuff and some
Cam Hayward stuff that I think is very noteworthy that
we should, yeah, that we should definitely discuss on the
other side, and we will do that when we return.
Well Schuler, Matt Williams said, it's the Drive here on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Back on the drive here, rolling along into September. It's
a game week. We got the Jets on the horizon, obviously, Matt,
beginning tomorrow will start to really break into that stats
packet that you do focusing on the Jets, talking about
this upcoming challenge in New York. Specific things, but a
lot of details I think still to get to before
(17:53):
we get there, and one of those certainly being the
status of some of these stealers that we have I
guess navigated some unknown around their status.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
We'll get an injury report tomorrow. Normal, we will start.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Getting injury reports, yes, of course, and that'll ramp up
every single day, Thursday being a very important day for
those as we know. But at least sounds encouraging out
of the gate. I mean there's a lot of names,
Derek Hartman being a big one, Yeah, her Big, you know,
her big, Benton, still a lot of questions around Calvin Austin,
who we you know, haven't seen or heard much fun Man.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Alex high Smith was encouraging.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
We heard yes, yes, and then obviously Cam Hayward, but
for separate reasons, not just a specific injury reason, but
on the injury front, Mike Tomlin saying, Derek Hartman the
only one ruled out at this point. Nick her Big
could be classified as questionable.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Other than that.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
He said, and I quote, we are a largely healthy group.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
That's pretty good for for this point in the you know,
in the in the in the in the week.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Yeah, and basically avoided disaster with Harmon. I mean that
looked like they could have gone a lot worse. Sure,
and he's and the fact that he's not even on
IR designated return or any of those type of things
makes you think he's going to be there week three
something like that, or you know, the timetable is probably favorable.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Now.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
They definitely kept eight defensive linemen for a reason, though,
I mean, and that depth is going to get challenged.
I know you watch a ton of college football, but
some of the stuff I watched people were getting.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Tired late big time.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Yeah. Yeah, and it certainly happens.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
So a D line on the road against the team's
going to run the ball a ton, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I don't think it's supposed to be killer heat, but
it'll be the opening weekend in September. You know, it
won't be cool out there, that's for sure.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
And no one on the planet has played a full
game yet in the NFL, you know, I mean, so
all this will be new and week one across the
league just in terms of fatigue and those type of things.
But it's nice if you can have a four you know,
healthy scratches as opposed to unhealthy scratches.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
To prepare for this stuff, right, certainly. Yeah, and so
that I thought was relatively good news. I think we all,
like our educated guess was that Harmon was going to
at least miss a week, you know, maybe two, kind
of right in that wheelhouse, I think we'd all thought,
you know, her big status would be up in the
air just because of the timing of his injury and everything.
But here and other than that largely healthy group, I
(20:25):
think that's about as good as you could hope for
at this point.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Yeah, not bad at all. Now we don't know exactly
what cam A was gonna do, though, right.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Right, and and all that was really said about that
was as anybody out there can imagine, one of the
very first questions that Mike Tomlin was asked about, you know,
his press conference, the first ten minutes or so or
usually him kind of talking about where the team's at,
injury updates. Sometimes he'll look back on the game that
just happened. Now obviously that wasn't the case today, and
(20:52):
then he'll preview the opponents. You know, he talked about
justin fields, he talked about the Jets kind of being
in a new era and guys he wanted to highlight
on their offense and their defense both. And then you know,
the kind of first ten minutes is Mike Tomlin's message.
And then after that, for you know ten minutes or so,
he takes questions. One of the very first questions, of course,
was what's Cam Hayward's status, You know, are you expecting
(21:16):
him to be out there Sunday? And Mike Tomlin said,
and I quote, I'm certainly expecting Cam to play. That
was his answer, which is great, which is a good thing,
which is I think what everybody was hoping to hear. Sure,
and Matt, as you alluded to, like, this is especially
important to me this week because Cam Hayward is not
going to be one hundred percent. Cam Hayward is not
(21:37):
going to be None of these guys are in complete
football shape yet. But he's but certainly the thirty seven
year old who's done less than anybody. They need him
to at least have his hand in that pile, though,
because without harmon with what you just alluded to, the
nature of how you're gonna have to shuffle those defensive
linemen and keep guys fresh early on in the season,
especially against a Jets team that wants to run the football,
(21:57):
is going to run the football a lot, Like I know,
Cam Hayward won't be that stalwart who's gonna be out
there for eighty five percent of the snaps, but still
having his hand in the pile is very important for.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Us massive And again, first off, it sounds like Benton's
gonna be okay by the nature of what you said
with the press conference, but there's something with him too.
He's got an upper body something or other, so maybe
he doesn't play a ton.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Yeah. Absolutely would not want to.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Be without Cam, Benton and Harmon or even two of
the three would be really short changing you, which again
is why I think they kept extra D linemen, especially
even if it's just for this game.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
The Jets are gonna run the ball like crazy.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
I mean I've been laughing, you know, making the joke
They're gonna be like a service academy. I mean it's
gonna be everyone's gonna be carrying the ball and the
field is gonna.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Get twelve carries and triple option. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
I mean, if as long as they can keep it close,
they're gonna run the ball like crazy. And I don't
want to tax Cam too much in this situation.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Yeah, is fifty percent of the snaps? Is that about that?
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Right?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Wonderful?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
I mean if you can get away with it, great,
you know, if you're losing in the second half though,
he's gonna be out there all the time.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
You know, I'm right, No, that's that's exactly it. And
that's another one of those like, man, you would like
to see the Steelers be able to establish that run
and control time of possession. Keep those guys fresh, you know,
you you'd love the You know, at the end of
the end of the game, you held the ball for
thirty three thirty four minutes. Yeah, you know, you snapped
the ball fifteen more times on offense than they did.
(23:27):
Keep those snapcats counts down for your defense, keep them
off the field, keep them rested. Cam Heyward at the
top of that.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
List, but especially this time of year, like you said.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
One hundred percent, And so then it kind of gets
into for me, what does that pecking order look like?
You know, like what does that rotation look like? How
much do we expect from ye Black, from Logan Lee,
from from mcqualey, from louder Milk, from all those guys.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
I don't know, one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Yeah, I don't think anybody really knows. From outside of
those walls.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Right right when they're in base I would soon Black
will take over for Harmon. Yes, that's my initial guess.
And I also think in Nickel it'll be Benton and Cam,
but that means Cam plays every step and so does Benton.
And that's not what's gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Right, you know what I mean exactly right?
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Ideally those are your best guys, but that's gonna be
a rotation. I have no doubt in my mind. I
bet Loudermo plays a fair amount because you know them. Yeah,
you know, I don't love him, but you'll know him.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
That's a that's a great point by you. You're familiar
with him, He's familiar with what you're asking him to do.
He might not have the highest ceiling in those scenarios,
but you're you're pretty optimistic that his floor is pretty
high as well too. It's a very good way to
put it, Like he might he's not going to be
making plays out there that are going to be on
Sports Center Monday morning, but he won't kill you. Won't
(24:51):
be a big detriment either, And that's part of the
balance that you have to find in that week one
as well, too, Like who who is going to eat
some innings, who's not gonna get who's not going to
give up the home run ball? You know what I mean,
or take the bad penalty that's that's gonna cost you points.
That's a lot of the ironing out of the wrinkles
that they got to do this week as well too.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Thousand percent.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
And I mentioned him just because like all coaches, Tomlin
we know, is very much about trust and some guys
are young, Like, hey, if you if you can't practice
on Friday, you're not playing because I don't know what
you're like in that.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Situation, YadA, YadA.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
And I bring up louder Remote not because he's their
best guy, but U K Lee's new Black is new
Lee might as well be new, you know. I mean
you've ever gone to battle with him on an NFL stage,
you know.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Especially on the road, and you know all the things
and all the running you're going to see in.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
This game, so at least you have a I know
what this guy is going to do factor with him.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
That D line snapcount thing will be an interesting conversation
on Monday.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, one of the first things that I'm going to
look at Monday morning or maybe even Sunday night when
when I get off the plane and before I go
to bed, because I'll be very interested to see how
they divvy up that pie amongst the defense. With Derek
Harmon not being involved Cam Hayward, you know, not being
up to speed, and again I think still some we'll
wait and see the injury report. Let us let that
(26:14):
be our guide in that regard. But if Derek Harmon
are part of me, if Keanu Benten is going to
be one hundred percent healthy as well, take.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
You imagine the injury report will have more than Harmon
and her big On I believe, so you know what
I mean, Just yes, guys that are.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Because largely healthy, like they could still be listed as probable,
but if they if they've got something that they've been
getting getting work on, they've got to disclose it on it.
That's one of those things you do not want to
mess around with winning out you put somebody on there
because if not, we've seen teams be forfeited, draft picks, docked,
big sums of money, all that different kind of different
(26:49):
stuff in the past.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Yeah, so some of our listeners might be like, oh, good,
they're healthy, and then tomorrow we're gonna read off.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
There's seven names there.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah, that doesn't sound healthy. We'll see you.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
We will that indeed, indeed we will. Matt. What do
you say you want to hear from Jalen Moore in
here and what he had to say. I bet he
is as well too. Jalen speaking not too long ago
on this, uh, this contract extension that he inked kind
of the some of the responsibility and expectations that come
(27:20):
with that, and just how he's feeling about this offense
and Aaron Rodgers and the offensive line as a whole
as they get ready for the Jets. Here's what Jalen
Mooren had to say.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
A new contract and how do you feel?
Speaker 6 (27:34):
You know, it's always something you dream about, but you know,
I didn't know if it was gonna I didn't know
it was gonna come this soon. I'm grateful I did.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Chilean, you know, wasn't easy for you when he came
in as an undrafted free agent.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
It was the key to go from the udi FA
for guy that's now getting paid and has.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
RB one's datus fifteen.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
I guess just working every day. I never looked toward
the future, always stayed president, you know that moment and
whatever you know, pandeut for me, that's whatever, Panda.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
How does it feel to know this team has bought
into you like that.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Uh, it's it's it's a great feeling, you know.
Speaker 6 (28:06):
Uh, knowing they have my bag, i'm'a do what I
can have their bag and yeah, I'm blessed.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Go no, hm, anything's gonna add more chips and you.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Still have a lot to prove. Yeah, who are saying
he's not really another one?
Speaker 6 (28:22):
Uh? Yeah, I do it for my loved ones. I
do it for the people who do believe in me.
So it's it's more so you know, doing it for them,
know than they sayers.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Tail. What what's different about your game than that all
this year?
Speaker 6 (28:32):
What do you feel?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (28:34):
I guess it's it's the same as previous just enhanced.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
You know. I love the way I play.
Speaker 6 (28:39):
I don't think i'll ever That's why I played the
sport because of the physicality and I just love playing
that way.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Is there anything different you wanted to show everybody this
year being the top.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Guys opposed to other year. Uh?
Speaker 6 (28:51):
Nah, just know that I can ball, you know, love
playing ball.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Jil jelling, you said you give something you hope would happen.
But like the leader of the kalub you know, like
there's some people maybe not in this group, but hey,
that that kind of needed might be the guy down
the road. You didn't have a future, You're status future
sat it's also locked up at that point.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
No, I was a concern.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Like I said, I stay present in my moment. Uh
you know my lane. I was glad we got killed up.
You know, he's a baller. The more weapons, the better
for the team. And that's how I always moved, you know,
growing up.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Whatever.
Speaker 6 (29:22):
Uh, So you know, I'm glad it happened for me,
and I hope it happened for everyone on this team.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Teacher Jack.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
That will allow you to recruit seeing that money that
you might have gotten find here first couple of years ago.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
While oh yeah, yeah it worked out, I yuesstrod.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
To that the steal got done, I mean before a
week one and for this whole season.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
Does it give an extra use?
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Maybe yea yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:46):
Uh you know there's a there's a saying out there
like whatever you get paid and kind of get like
days ago. Uh, I look at it as more motivation
do what I can for the team. Jailor uh the
fun Take me through your feelings yours about that? Uh
just got loose with the ball. You know, that's another thing.
(30:11):
The team didn't freak out, and you know, I know
how they feel. You know, nobody likes a fumble. Nobody
wants to be a part of that, you know environment.
So I'm doing I do, I do what I can
to make sure it doesn't happen again. You didn't freak
out either, You kind of can you can't freak out,
kind of itching to get out there and show what
you can do, cause you haven't done much in the preseason. Yeah, yeah,
(30:32):
I'm excited. You know, I've been waiting for a week
one and uh, I'm excited to go ball. You probably
played fifty games in the NFL, but I haven't sort
of one yet.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
What does that say to you when they come to
you one extend you even build.
Speaker 6 (30:45):
Like I said, it's extra motivation for me. Knowing what
they think or what they uh, how what they feel
I bring to the team. It just gives me extra
juice to do what I can to help them.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
I think Arthur.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
Smith said, uh, you didn't get Aaron Rodgers if you
came back half to the wishbone. They's suggesting that you
throw the ball a little bit more this year.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
Do you feel like that what Aaron does in the
quick passing game, and and the way this offense is
gonna look is gonna highlight your skill set even more
than it has as Yeah I could. Yeah, I'm excited
to witness that too.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Though the caps were name is it maybe a four
time ND quarterback?
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Is that easy to pick adopt?
Speaker 6 (31:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (31:24):
The panels writing errand before I could even think of
what I was gonna write, Why is jail how is he?
Let you guys just very transparent?
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Uh? You guys a lot of character too. You know,
he's a coach and uh and a best friend all
in one. And uh, you know you can ask for more.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
From a quarterback you when you saw them when you
saw them, but you know, as you go and knowing
the climate for in the league, the way they don't
pay running backs, do you think when you.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Signed the tender that might be last year? Uh?
Speaker 6 (31:55):
I mean I try not to like think like that.
Whatever happened happened when I said if I'm you know,
practicing Tuesday and focused on Tuesday, practicing on Thursday and
focus on Thursday, you know, and then whatever happens after that?
Speaker 5 (32:10):
Jalen, is there a part of you that once. You know, Mike,
when you talk about not a lot, when you use
the every once. When I use the phrase belt happen,
right like any of the guy that's gonna can get
the rock of twenty twenty five times in the game.
You haven't had a dat responsibility yet, butter you sort
of Hey, do you want that to happen? I mean,
like you could, You've done that previously in your life.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
It's not like that's that wrapping up.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
That's something that you want to show.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
People that you can be an every down guy.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
Yeah, m hm, not necessarily show people, just I guess
proved to whoever is you know, doubtful in that that
I can do it because I know I can't and
you know I can see the opportunities. Is that whatever
conditioning goes into to prepare yourself, they have that kind
of role. Yeah, under Jalen, when you think about.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Your journey from Juco, now I know you still have
the chip on your shore, but what are.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Any emotions for you?
Speaker 6 (32:59):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (32:59):
It is it like an is it even though you
have the ship? Is it like?
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Hey, I put in all this work and I made
a moment even who counted that whole time?
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Yeah, damn.
Speaker 6 (33:09):
I could go forever on that topic. But yeah, it's
a real Uh it's what you know, everyone who goes
to Joe Juco, it's what they dream about, you know,
being in a situation like mine. And so I hope
I can you know, be the one to look up
to when you're in those hard situations in Juco. Every
time I you know, hear a Juco product, it's like
extra respect for them because that life is not hard
(33:31):
and or that life is not easy, and uh, you know,
kudos to them, those guys.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 6 (33:40):
Mean they're proud of me. I hit them, you know,
I still talk to them. I hit them, you know
when I found out. Uh so, yeah, those are my
boys because you know, got it out the mud together.
Although we're not in the same spot, they're doing their thing,
you know, whether that's I mean, even though it's not football.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
So yeah, Coach Peterson from days it's now said you
were short and budge when you came in. Yeah, how'd
you kind of go into your frame?
Speaker 5 (34:05):
And when could that short puch could ever imagine game
seventeen and a half million dollars.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
I knew I how to change something about my game
because Throughout my Juco experience, the coaches were real, really
enough with me to say, if you made these changes,
you could be you could be something. And I took
that to heart and it's guiding me to this point.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, that's a pretty cool way to wrap that up there.
But the Utah high school football running back extraordinaiir who
that offers from nobody and had to go JUCO for
a couple of years before getting to Utah State before
finally his last year playing power football at Oklahoma State
to now, you know, signing a contract that's going to
(34:49):
pay a multi million dollars a year. That's pretty cool,
that's what.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
It's really really cool, And.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I kind of forget the details. But Dale did a
real deep dive with Warren and talk to family and like,
you know, his whole history when it became pretty clear
that he was going to be part of this team
and he wasn't just a cute story.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
He's gonna get cut in week one, you know that
kind of thing.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
And it is a really odd path and I forget
what exactly the recruiting situation was. It was him and JK. Dobbins,
and I forget who the other one was. That were
super highly regarded, but he just didn't end up anywhere
and I can't remember exactly why, you know, strange.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Yeah, he was a little undersized. Yeah, you know, small
schools Utah. It's not western Pennsylvania or Ohio or Texas. Yeah,
but an awesome story for Jalen Moore.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
For him, I love that. I love the signing.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Very cool, and I think he I think he's flying
a little bit under the radar. I think he's primed
for a big year, and I.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Think they brought it up. But when you do sign
a deal like this, a little more expected of you
as a leader.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Totally right. It's a you know, this is another one
of those things like Max Starks talks about a lot,
Arthur Motes talks about a lot. It happens very quickly
where you're looked at as the young guy in the
locker room to all of the sudden the veteran.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I mean it's like an over It's like an overnight
change where your first year you're the young, wet behind
the ears. Okay, second year, second year, we're not gonna
treat you like a rookie anymore, but you're still kind
of looked at as a young guy and then almost
like that bang, year three, here you go, Like we
talked about that with ke Benton at ot As in
mini camp, like I don't know if you remember, but
(36:30):
I asked him about that. I was like, hey, like
year three, it's like all of a sudden, you're the
one that the guys in the in the room are
looking at. And obviously you've got Cam Hayward in there,
but at the same time you're kind of the the
next tenured guy behind him.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
I'm sure why you black as bent and stuff.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Exactly right, exactly right, and Derek Harmon and those guys,
no question, Just like Caleb Johnson's gonna be picking Jalen
Warren's ear, or at least he's better picking his brain
in his ear all the time.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
And yet in the locker room and things are carry
little of a stick.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I think I think Jalen Warren is in the right position,
right mindset, right skill set to handle that and step
into that role for the Steelers this year. Matt a
pretty significant I don't know, potential issue question lingering around
Micah Parsons in this massive trade that just happened. We
have not so we'll do that. Let's talk a little
(37:22):
bit about that. We'll do some national around the league
stuff to close down the first hour of the program
here when we return on the other side, Matt Williamson,
West Shooler, It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your tuned.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
About drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Matt, one of my U I guess, favorite old cliches,
if you will. One of my favorite old time he
sayings is where there's smoke, there's fire, Okay, And suddenly
there seems to be a lot of smoke around Micah
Parsons and his health and his status heading into week
one with his new team. But I guess maybe before
we get into that. Yeah, yeah, bigger picture, your thoughts
(38:31):
on the Michaeh. Parsons trade. Good for green Bay, good
for Dallas, fair for both. Were you surprised he actually
got moved a little? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Yeah, I means such a big name you don't see
too much. I mean, of all the defensive players on
the planet, with all respect to TJ, he's the.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
Most valuable, the one you would want right now.
Speaker 4 (38:49):
Yeah, you're building a team what's in front of him.
I'm obviously you know, age has a ton to do
with it. Position he plays, he's an utter.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
He just turned twenty six. He's just turned twenty six.
Speaker 4 (39:00):
He's on an easy Hall of Fame path as we
speak right now, if not an all time great, you
know type of path.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
He's a special, special player. Now. I don't know what
Dallas is doing, to be honest with you, I mean.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
I don't know Jerry Jones, but he's always been very,
very interested in the brand and making money. And he's
made a ton of money for the league, and they
have the most valuable franchise.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
That standpoint, you can't you can't knock his.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
Yeah home run.
Speaker 4 (39:30):
But lately I don't think winning has been the top
priority for this team. And to do this right before
the season.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
They play Thursday on the road.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
They played to the traveling to Philly tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
Tomorrow, morale has to be low and you took your best,
I mean, right if the Steels Starry T. J. Watt
today didn't think they'd be gung ho for the Jets game,
you know, I mean it's it's kind of.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Clark, who's a fine player, but all right, mostly for
draft capital is trade, right, that's something that's going to
make us better Thursday night in Philadelphia, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
I mean, they became a worst team this year. Yes,
even it's not even like.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
We should maybe revisit that over under conversation.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
I'm definitely going right right, certainly.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
And they do have some edge guys that they've drafted
lately in the second round that are promising. But they
look like a lot of Robbins to the Batman type,
and their d tackles were kind of light. They picked
up Kenny Clark, it was they were real light, but
still the defense got massively worse, and Parsons was unbelievable
when he came back from injury last year. The price
is just too low, I mean, because those picks are
(40:34):
not going to be top ten.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
That was the biggest kicking for me.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
If they're trading them to the Browns yeah, or the Panthers, yeah,
or the Jags or the Giants or the Jets or
somebody that we think is going to be picking in
the top ten that usually does that usually does. It's
a different story. But like you said that that pick
it best is going to be twenty.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
If they make the playoffs is twenty or higher.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
We would you rather have Micah Parsons or a twenty
twentieth overall pick and twenty second overall pick?
Speaker 4 (41:02):
I know, I know, I think the return is very light.
And from the Packers' perspective, I in a different podcast
I had picked them to win their division before the trade.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Well now I feel better about it.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
Yeah, I think I think they actually had them as
the NFC representative going. I think they could go that far.
And a criticism like, I have a lot of respect
to the Packers.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
They have a good team. They have a lot of
good players.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
There really are though, That's what I said, Yeah, like
they didn't have who's the superstar that scares you that?
Speaker 3 (41:37):
You know, it doesn't even have to be an edge.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Rusher, but it goes a long way when it is
when you have a lead or you're in the playoffs,
And now they totally have that. For Shaun Garry is
a really good player, but he's not to this level.
He's going to get singled like high Smith all the time, now,
you know. I mean, it's just such a ripple effect.
I don't know what to think of the back situation,
but it can't be long term, or they wouldn't have
made the deal I have. I know he has practiced
(42:01):
in a packer uniform. Yeah, you know to some degree.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Yeah, that's interesting because the last thing you expect to
see when you when someone is you know, involved in
a blockbuster trade, which let's make no mistake, this is
a blockbuster trade. Certainly you know the headlines now or
Michael Parsons has facet joint Sprain may be able to
play Sunday Verse Lions with epidural sources. Michael Parsons may
need back injection to play Matt. If I'm the Packers,
(42:25):
I'm not thrilled about this. I mean, I think you
thought that there was There was obviously probably a realization
that he's not going to be kind of same church,
different pew as the Cam Hayward conversation, Like this guy
isn't going to be fully up to speed and ready
to go one hundred percent week one. Sure, but that's
a little different than needing back injections to play in
early September.
Speaker 4 (42:43):
You don't love back whatever or epidural or shot I
mean any of that stuff, not words you want to
hear that you just invested in and you made him. Oh,
by the way, the most expensive player non quarterback ever
by far, I mean, much higher than like EJ's contract.
So no, that part's not great. And all these like.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
Hold in guys or hold out guys.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
They always like bring up an injury something and we
always just assume that they're fine.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
But maybe it wasn't, you know.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
Yeah, and man, I don't know back injection week one,
that would that would make me a little nervous. But
obviously that's something that we'll keep an eye on here
as we roll along. But yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
A massive change of power though. I mean, like I
thought about putting Dallas in the playoffs. Now I'm not
even considering it. And you wonder, like, are they looking
at this as Okay, now we have four first round
picks over two years, does that mean they're gonna be
in the quarterback market?
Speaker 3 (43:41):
They're moving on from Dak? Are they gonna go young?
Speaker 5 (43:43):
You know?
Speaker 3 (43:45):
Ceedee, LAMBM gonna be thrilled about this.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
I mean I look at like LAMB and DAK and
be like, hey, what are we doing here?
Speaker 2 (43:50):
You know?
Speaker 3 (43:51):
Right?
Speaker 2 (43:51):
Yeah we try to win games right now? Or yeah, yeah, yeah,
I am totally with you on that huge ripple effect
very close to the start of the regular season. It's
certainly something that we'll be keeping an eye on. And yeah,
you know, Thursday night when you turn into that pregame coverage,
obviously there'll be a ton about the Eagles and that
Super Bowl banner that they're going to raise, but a
lot about Michael Parsons and his absence, I'm sure on Thursday.
Speaker 4 (44:13):
Night, and it sounded like Jerry got it through his
head that's what he wanted to do, and hey, it's
his team. He can do whatever the heck he wants.
But at his age, and it kind of reminds me
like End of Road Al Davis, you know, like a
great at what he did, but who's telling him no now?
And we all decline at some point, you know what
(44:33):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (44:34):
Yeah, yeah, even Bill Belichick, for my money, coach of
all time, had too much power and too much of
a say over the roster everything again, and it did
not work out well.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
I think about the other the game North Carolina wasn't
a swallow either, but.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
I personally enjoyed that. I just quick little side fifteen
second tangent for you. I mean, you mentioned earlier in
the in the hour. I love college football, of course,
like point blank pier people who try and use college
football for something. It's not bother me, all right, And
I just this Belichick thing, and I'm gonna bring in
all my NFL buddies. And they're two different games. That's why, Nick,
(45:14):
that's why the Pete Carrolls that actually win at both
levels are so rare, you know, like it is, there's
not many that do both at a highlight. In fact,
it's usually like a Nick Saban where you're really good
at one and you stink at the other. You know,
it's a it's a Matt rule, you're really good at
one and you stink at the other. So I didn't
mind seeing the horn frogs going in there into Chapel
(45:35):
Hill and doing a little stomping around stick the basketball Carolina.
All right, hour in the books, another hour to go, Matt,
What do you say we in light of this, in
the ripple effect that this has in the NFL and
particularly the NFC, you want to take a look at
some power rankings when we were trying to start hour
number two. We'll do that and more as we roll
along into our number two. What shooler, Matt Williamson. It
(45:57):
is the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio on the
dealer's audio network,
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