August 5, 2025 • 38 mins
As practice rolls along, Matt and Wes keep commenting on all the action from Chuck Knoll Field.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
My coverage.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
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Speaker 3 (00:42):
Backup practice here for hour number two of the Drive.
On a busy Tuesday, important Tuesday, We've got some team
period going on in front of us here, Matt, and
it looks like it's with an emphasis on some heavy
run game here.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Yeah, but I found interesting we were talking about before
we came back on air. The first rep or two,
the defense countered with four true D linemen and two
outside linebacker edge type guys. Now they went back to
their three four quickly after, but they had a lot
of beef on the field and really only three defensive
(01:18):
back so.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Just noteworthy.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I'm not actually explaining it away or why it happened,
but they were putting a lot of big people on
defense out there.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
And it's not like it was a drive that was
red zone or.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Like.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, so that was interesting to me as well too.
We saw nice berst from Caleb Johnson.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, good point.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
And that's one of those things. Listen, you've laid this
out many times. I think everybody who with some football
savvy knows this as a rookie running back, like it
was a very nice Again, I don't know it's in,
but he did the same thing last camp before getting hurt.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
He's doing the same thing again this year.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I just wonder if another team would use him properly,
you know, right, Yeah, that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Not using properly. It's not really a spot for him.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah, I think that's the better way to put it. Yeah,
another team would look at him and go, oh, he
can fill this hole for us.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah we didn't we need that type of guy. Yeah,
absolutely like him.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Hey, maybe there's maybe there's an opportunity there for somebody
else to capitalize if all other thirty one teams are
listening to Matt and I gush now on Steelers Nation Radio.
But I'll tell you this, Listen, as a running back, right,
you get drafted for your prowess in the run game.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Caleb Johnson is drafted for his speed, for his.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Burst, for his abiliting career backfield, for his ability particularly
I think to match that outside zone scheme that Arthur
Smith wants to run. But to get on the field
and stay on the field, you gotta be able to
pass block like that's the so I tell you what,
once he gets that down, once they're confident in him
in that regard, man, I got a feeling like we're
going to see him have a couple of special runs
(02:55):
this year. That whole thing that we've been talking about
for the last four years of the Anie Harris era
is as high as.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
We all know.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
His floor was right there wasn't that ceiling of that
Saquon Barkley four home run touchdown run. I think we're
going to see that a couple times from Caleb Johnson
this year.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yeah, and his forty time wasn't wonderful, but he broke
off a ton of long runs and at Iowa and
he has a track background. He definitely plays faster than
his forty times. I think people overreact at that.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Twenty two mile an hour on the GPS last year, Yeah,
which like only a handful of players in college football.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Did absolutely back to the pass protection though, I mean
he did it. He was okay, and backs and backers
better than he was. He's been right, and I think
there's an improvement there. And the thing is people might
be like, well, he's not gonna be a third down
back anyway. Yeah, but it's not like you run the
ball every first and ten either. If he's out there
in first and ten and he can't protect and the
defensive coordinator knows it and they start showing blitz and
(03:53):
Rogers has to audible to keep it back in, but
then you fall into their trap, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, absolutely, that's that's all the uh the chess match
that plays into this. And again, as as we've highlighted,
that was in a shoot part of me, I don't
I just got the hiccups out of nowhere, Matt.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
I was trying to hide it.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
But now radio guys, worst nightmare.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Gracious leg a broken leg.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And that happened a little bit last year where I think,
particularly when George Pickens was out injured, you were very predictable.
You were kind kind of tipping your cap based off
of where you were going.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
There, and yeah, that can be a problem.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
And it does happen to teams late in the year
at points too, when you just get hit by injuries
and there's only so many guys that can do so
many things, and you know it decreases your playbook and
your your surprise factor.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
But you definitely don't want that.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
I mean, just because if Caleb Johnson turns into their
best ball carrier but he can't protect, that's a dilemma.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
It's a dilemma.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, that's a that's a good word to put it.
And listen, we've seen the imp of it from him.
We're optimistic he's going to be able to get there.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, I'm not doubting him. I'm just he's not there yet.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
How much do you want to see him do that
in preseason versus it maybe just a thing that you
try and simulate in the joint practice against the Bucks.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah, I'll be honest, I bet that's one of those
trust factors that goes well into the season. You know, like,
preseason's fine, but does he blocking a third string insideline back,
you know.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And it's not like they're they're bringing crazy blitzes or
and coverages like that in the preseason it's all very vanilla.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
It's Jimmy's and Joe's right.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Because the big thing about protection too, that we didn't
even touch on is just the the knowledge of it.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
You know, who who do I got?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And Rogers will help with that of course, But these
these defensive coordinators are nasty dudes.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Man.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
They come up with things specifically to test you, especially
earlier in the year.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
So can he physically do it? Can he technically do it?
From a technique standpoint?
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Physically, I think there's no problem, and the want to
is no problem, But I mean he still has to
work on the actual technique of it all. But then
there's also the mental side of it. Like, man, if
that's you know, they identify the mic and they set
their protection off that and all those things, and if
he's not sure who to block, that's a real, real problem.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Real quick.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Note you mentioned nause Like he wasn't great in protection
his first camp.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
You know, he's a first round pick. You knew he's
gonna play a ton get a bad habit of dropping
his head, he'd drop his eyes. But he got better quick,
you know.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And he certainly had the long arms and the size
and the physicality and all that stuff.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Saying that you could see him improve every week.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yeah, exactly, exactly, you know, but he was he was
at Alabama. He didn't have to do a ton of it.
He'd run rounds, you know, or somebody else would come
in on third downs. You know, they had one hundred
backs they did.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
They also had DeVante Smith and Jalen Wattall.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
It's a good player, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Mac Jones I think was his quarterback right towards the
end their first round. I mean I think they had
five or six first round picks on that offense alone.
So yeah, not as much on your plate when you're
on that type of team as opposed to when when
you're kind of throwing into the fires or rookie of
the National Football League.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Especially compared to like Kalo Johnson, who's was the major
portion of their offense.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Oh he accounted for like thirty eight percent of their
offense or something crazy last year, didn't he? And so yeah,
little different worlds there, certainly, as it looks like this
team period is going to come to an end.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
That was reasonably competitive, I did too.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, the offensive line is getting more pushed, like there's
no doubt. I think each unit is getting a little
more pushed, doing a little bit better at protection.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Today.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
There was plenty of good reps by the defense too,
and they blew up some runs, but there was mostly
a run period and.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
The defense knows that. By the way.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
I mean, so you've come off the ball a little
bit different expecting run. But I thought the offense moves
some people a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, I completely agree. Special teams period ongoing in front
of us. Who's the first one back there returning?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Uh? Is that gain?
Speaker 1 (08:01):
What?
Speaker 2 (08:02):
No?
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Is that gain? Well? I can't tell No, that's.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Not game Well, thank so it's something with a four man.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Yeah, I'm not sure that's what. I just saw the
four at first and thought maybe fourteen. Oh no, that's uh,
that's Hurlman thirty four. Yeah, back there, back there, returning, Matt,
what do you say we take a break to year something?
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah? Yeah, I bet you.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Gets a shot in preseason to do it a couple
of times.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
So we will keep an eye on, uh, Special teams
period in front of us here, keep you posted on
everything that's going on with practice. Also, Matt, little teaser
for everybody out there, you know, as part of uh,
I guess how do I want to put this like
an NFL broadcasting crew, I guess is being part of,
you know, the Steelers game day broadcasting crew. I just
got a information packet from the National Football League on
(08:44):
the brand new Hawkeye Virtual Measurement technical explanation. So exactly
how for those who run familiar the first downs now
in the NFL can be measured digitally, can be measured
with cameras. You're not gonna have to bring out the
chain gang all the time and that like we've in
the past.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
I just got I, like many others, thought that should
have been done fifteen, ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Whatever.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
We had HD cameras and all this technology.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
And we can save it.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
But I do think one of the more humorous things
when we look back on this five years of NFL
history is there's two fellas that hold a stick with
ten yards of chain in between, and they come running out,
Like I still think that's kind of hilarious.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Like that hasn't changed in nineteen forty, has it?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
No, it is not, but it will change in twenty
twenty five. Yeah, So I got all the inside scoop
on that. Maybe we'll get to that in the final
hours of show. After practice as well too, planning to
get too as we roll along West Shuler Matt Williamson's
special edition of The Drive Here at training camp on
the campus of Saint Vincent College. It's all happening on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Network, iHeartRadio's live coverage job not twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp. He's presented by Fadex where Now meets Next
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Roofing and Sighting Supply Center by Tom's Appliances, by Always
(10:05):
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You and by us steel.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Back of Practice.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Here on a nice day for it in Latrobe, mid seventies,
Little cloud cover, good day to be out here. He
won't be sweating buckets as a My goodness, that's just
a booming punt from camp.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Good Lord.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
So while we were at break, you took a little
potty break, and I was watching the pump returners.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
My hiccups, getting my hiccups.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
That deal dealt with. So Austin's ought out there returning punts.
We assume he's the one.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Right, correct? Was Miller listed as the two when we
did the depth charts question?
Speaker 5 (10:55):
If you give me just a sinking here again.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Because the three gentlemen returning punt today are Miller, Hurlman,
who we think can do that well, and Woods, who's
had a really good career. I don't know what his
background returning punts is. He muffed like three or four
in a row.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Ye, Scotty Miller is listed as the two and there's
nobody behind him, and he's out there now.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
And yeah, but Woods, I don't know if he's just
never done it, and this is just you know, he's
probably gonna be active on game.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Day, so at least give him emergency.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Yeah, or maybe did eight years ago or his rookie
year in college or whatever. But he struggled and there
were some good punts, don't get me wrong, but man,
well he should muff three out of four.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
No, you should not, I mean absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
That's a good way, not for them to ask you
to go out.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
There exactly right.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That's like he's going to get another opportunity here, Now
that's a good punt from Corless weightman man, and he
will get that one clean one and split the defense there.
All right, well hey better, all.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Right, yeah, all right, he just it was just noteworthy, Like, dude,
catch that was Miller sixteen has not had a lot
of luck catching these puns.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
No, oh, that was Miller.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
You're right, yep.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
And so okay, here we go now here, here, here
comes here comes Robert Woods again.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Yeah, well they're not gonna let me. Okay, hurlans like
I want this one too.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
He slips there a little bit trying to catch it.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Cam to give Woods a shot.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
No, nope, maybe let's see Nope, looks like Herleman wants
this one again. Man camp Johnson, just man, he crushes
crushes those things.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
It's great to see. It's exciting to see.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Man.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
They also have Williams out there, Keyshawn Williams Indiana.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
I have not seen him field one draft. Yeah, agent, yep.
That's probably about the the end of it too. It
looks like.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
The offensive linemanter chomping at the bit to get back
out here on the field.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
But just news Newsworthy stashed that away. If Robert Woods
makes a team and he's active and there's an injury
and you got to ask him to return pints.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Hopefully it's than today.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt as hopefully that will be a
bridge that we don't have to cross.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah, so we never bring never bring that up again.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
One of those training camp nuggets that we might remember
if if it ends up happening in some live action.
But for now, it looks like we are going to
have some live action maybe some team period here, Matt.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
So we will t J. Watt out there, I know.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
Yeah, we'll be excited for.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
This as it looks like let's see up say all
the way and Proderick Jones both in as well too.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Gotta love it.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Faltanu and Broderick Jones a little high five before they
get started here. Darnell Washington checking in as well too.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Yeah, this looks like the one D minus high Smith
Ramsey Cam Cam Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yes, yes, I think I think that is correct, probably
the closest that we've seen.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
All hands on deck for the ones here to see.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
T J. Watt, will you put there right now?
Speaker 5 (13:52):
Sleighs out there.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
We need the nickel, ye, Brandon Eckles and so.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
It'll be uh something to keep an eye on here
as we get going, and the offense they do.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
At least have Washington and Friar Mooth. I don't know
if they have another tight end out there.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Roman Wilson out there. Johnny Smith is on the sideline
down here to our left.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
And we mentioned Wilson and Wilson showed up on the
threes in the depth chart, but here he is with
the ones as we speak, you know, right.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
And that's why again, Hey, that depth chart matters, but
it's also not the end all be all, certainly not
at this point.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
It'll be so twelve personnel.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
He's out there, he is out there. Nope, that's that's
that's yeah. Yep, Calvin Austin not dressed today. Austin's taking
Jalen Warren in the backfield. Is it's a quick slant
out to quick out out to Roman Wilson. That would
have been a nice, nice five yard pick up there
on first down.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, first and ten. Stuff that move the chains. You
don't happy with it?
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Yeah? Absolutely? Offensive line held up. Well there, let's see.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I'm interested to watch Faltanu against here on this near
side as the offense will huddle up again. Scotty Miller
checks in, Connor Hayward checks in Washington and Mouth.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Checking at.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Still the same for the defense, still stuff Sleigh out
there near side. It'll be Scotty Roman, Wilson and DK
Metcalf to the right, with Connor Hayward to the left,
the Jayalen Warren in the backfield. Rogers gets the snap
and he's gonna dump that over the screen. Yeah, well
moving there, Zach Frasier and Sayamlu getting out in space
(15:35):
and setting up some blocks, and I think that would
have been a nice pick up there as well too.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Yeah, a little too much pressure from the left side
when they were setting up on a right side screen.
I don't think Rogers was thrilled with that part. I
don't think probably needed another half second to really pull
that off. But the lineman on the right side set
that up well and got downfield as they should.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Sure did as Jalen Warren will check out here.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
I do think it is noteworthy, as you mentioned Roman
Wilson getting extensive plenty of that's.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
A good way to put it.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Rogers work as he will stay out there along with
DK Metcalf, Pat Fryarmuth and they've got Galladay split out
wide now as well, with Caleb Johnson in the backfield.
Mouth moves in motion from left to right. Now back left.
Aaron Rodgers gets a snap looking DK's way, throws it
that way up high. Ooh and DK high pointed that one.
But I think Pierre just had a hand in there.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
He could have high pointed better. It's a back shoulder
fade that he tried the chest catch and twist his
body to shield where in that case, I think you
want to pluck that over your head. And I love DK,
and I do think that there is a little bit
of a misconception with him that he's a one for
one with Pickens. His contested catch stuff is not Pickens
(16:51):
esque of going up high, pointing, contorting it, slabbing it
way above your head despite you being huge. I mean,
I know he had to highlight one handed go at
your last practice or whatever, and he could do it.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
But don't think he's Pickings as an acrobat as much
few people are. Right. Oh, he's as good as areas
right now.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Aaron Rodgers back now looking to throw downfield. Roman Wilson
well covered. Instead, He'll check it.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Down to move. Yeah, would have been a first down
on like a third and five type situation, well covered by.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Queen Still themself. No, he wanted that he forget who
the corner was.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
But they also did your job. But Pierre there he did.
But if you go up and be big and don't
let him do that, don't let the ball come to you,
go snatch it. I think that's what Rogers would have
wanted there. Now he's talking about boy.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Fraser Fraser having a little conversation.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I think they might have been talking about that screenplay
because they're kind of talking about some movement. It looks
like with their hands they're talking about some movement stuff.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
But we talked about this last week's screens take a
lot of time to get in terms of timing, No doubt,
good pass rush there by one of the big dudes
as a shirt up.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
That's a problem all the cross the crop tops, the
crop tops are all the rage out here, Matt Williamson,
I tell you that's Harrison, right fIF it is, yes, Harrison. Yeah,
it's as you can see the numbers clearly from behind.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
It.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
It's just when they're facing you that it gets to
be a problem them to flip over.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Gain Well, still in there with Mason Rudolph, Jack Sawyer out.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
For the defense, as is de Marvin.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Lee almost exclusively playing on the edge.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Yeah, maybe it was one of those things like that,
you know, hey, her BIG's out. You know we're part
of me. Let's let's see what you got there. You
already lost Jeremiah Moon last week.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
There's Rudolph now will do a check with me and
the shotgun takes a snap looking left, gets rid of
it quickly.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Well defended there.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, on the on Deshaun Jamison there making a nice
play to break to break that one up intended for
Ben's chronic as we've seen, We've seen a lot of
guys in the secondary making plays today too.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Absolutely. I think it's been some big dogs sitting out.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Yeah, which is which has been encouraging to see. I
think better day for the offensive line out here overall.
I think the defensive backs have made some nice plays
as well too, with with Ramsey getting a vets day
and and uh Porter Junior and Darius Slay getting maybe
a light day if you will.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, there are different degrees of you know,
sitting out or participation. It's a better way to put it.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Sure, Still Mason Rudolph in the gun snap back, he's
got tray sermon in the flat, he will head that way.
A little third down simulation there would have been a
nice pick up for the offense. Definitely moved the sticks. Yeah,
well executed well protected by the offense there. They slipped
tray sermon out quickly what would have been a nice
probably seven r eight yard game and moving the sticks
there as Uh, the offense is better today, Matt definitely, definitely, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Yeah, I mean it's not. I don't know that they're winning,
but it's better.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yes, yeah, right, ro doubt maybe closer to that sixty
forty that we were that we were talking about. Good point,
as looks like Mason will stay in a few more
reps here for the second team. JJ gallbreath in at
tight end. Looks like the typical second team offensive line.
Doug Nestor bumping up the left guard here. Now, which
(20:15):
is another one is he was listed his right tackle
on the depth chart, but I think we've seen him
much more at guard.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, I think he's a guard pretty much only.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
But again that's one of those things you don't put
a crazy amount of stock into it. As Rudolph looking
for Kenneth gainwell there, just a little bit out of
his catch radius. Still got his hands on it, but
not able to bring that one in.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, and he turned around and just kind of sat
down versus his own and I think Rudolph wanted to
lead him so he could do more after the catch. Yeah,
but he also was kind of flat footed, you know.
Numbers to Rudolph there. So they always blame the quarterback
for that, but I mean, I think the quarterback's trying
to get more out of the play than just catch
it and get tackle the situation too.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Absolutely, that's well said. As we've got Skylaton up sitting
now checking into the game. He doesn't get a lot
of action, but he's going to get some here. He'll
be in the shotgun tray, sermon sidecar to his right,
four wide receivers, three to left, one of the right,
Thompson's back. Good pressure there, but able to dump that
(21:16):
one off for another screen.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Yeah, they're they're.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Working the working the screen game here today having some
success doing it as well too.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
It makes me wonder if we're going to see more
of them this year, you know, just because I've seen
a fair amount of screens the last two, three, four,
practices is something that they're going to keep repping, keep
repping and try to get involved.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Hey, they do have athletic linemen.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
They've got athletic linemen. They've got some tight ends that
can block and move as well too. Yeah. So yeah, interesting, certainly,
certainly I think one of the one of the nuggets
here of camp that we've seen over the last couple
of practices, trying to get that screen game going. Our
ground screw guys have the big flat hammer thing out. Yeah, yeah,
getting ready to getting ready.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I was watching him earlier.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Tristan Thompson in the shotgun again. He's got Max Harlman
brings JJ gallbreath in motion.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Pressure again Skyler Thompson, I know, good lord as that
was good one to Rob Taylor.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Blitz found the hole in the blitz immediately boom hit Taylor.
Big game.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Nice pass by Skyler to rock Taylor there, good good,
nice and timed out and executed well. As Uh, this
team period in front of us will continue. What do
we say we get to a break here, Matt will
bring you the end of practice, maybe some some fun
more drills to go here. As we roll along into
the final stages of this practice for the Steelers after
this one, just four more open practices out here at
(22:43):
training camp.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah, I have you even't gotten out here yet. You
better make some plan.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Time is running out, no doubt. One last rep here
before we go to break. Skyler Thompson in the gun
three wide receivers brings Connor Hayward in motion.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
From left to right.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Now he gets the snap back looking right. You're gonna
get rid of this one quickly.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Oh kind of pushed him out of back push.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yeah, a little, a little high there, intended for Kyshawn Williams,
but trying to get that one out with some pressure
in his face.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Good play design. That would have been first down on
third and five. Absolutely and absolutely left.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Just a half second too late there doing some tamp
Crowns crews doing some tampa, and I think we're going
to be moving to a new period here.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Shortly.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
We'll take a break, come back, bring you the conclusion
of practice and all that good stuff on the other side,
West Shooler and Matt Williamson here high above chuckn Nolefield
on the campus of Saint Vincent College for a special
edition of The Drive.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
It's Training Camp.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Here our ongoing coverage continues on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Network, Iheartradios live coverage Job Not twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp. He's presented by FedEx where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by First National Bank. I
call Lucy Chevrolet, iron Workers Union Number.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Three, by Easy Home Exteriors, by S and T Band.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
We Max Select Realty, by Tons Appliances, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pro shot by Always Soup Flagging and Traffic Control, and
by us Steel.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
Matt.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
I hate it when we go to break at the
worst possible time.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, a lot happened there.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
He was the host of this show.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Goodness, gracious, he doesn't know what he's doing. As perhaps
maybe the best team period we've seen from Aaron Rodgers
in the past game just over the last five minutes
in front of us.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Here, right as we were at break, I thought so,
I thought it was really sharp. He started just dicing
the defense up and protection was good. Guys were coming,
free balls coming out of his hands great, like everything
he kind of hoped for, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
A couple of nights Woods and hey dark to Connor Hayward.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yeah, that like almost stuck in his face mask, like.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Hit Connor Hayward so violently in his face mask. It
bounced into the air, was actually intercepted by Patrick Queen.
But that not on Aaron Rodgers at all.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
No, that's on Hayward one hundred percent. You need to
get your head around there and make that catch actually
for a big gain as opposed to a negative play
which ended up happening, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
But encouraging period there for Aaron Rodgers in the first
team offense.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Yeah, I was watching Faltanu. He's holding his own to
say his say the least the line's holding up. Well,
it was a really good stretch right there.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Some unfortunate news to share though while we were in
the break as well too, and that is Will Howard.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
Leaving practice with an injury.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
More than that, you know, according to some of our
our intrepid journalists down on the side, Will Howard left
practice and was taken back towards the locker room sitting
on the front of a cart with a trainer. Now,
remember everybody is training camp, okay, but that that's really
all that anybody has. That explains why we saw Skylar
(25:51):
Thompson bumping up and working with the third team there
right before we went to break. But certainly something to
keep an eye on. Will Howard's status going forward here
as well too, as he has exited practice early.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Okay, we'll just keep an eye on him. Maybe we
don't see him tomorrow. Who knows. I don't know the
extent of it.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
He's fine, and it's just a you know, yeah, yeah,
no one, No one knows for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Offensive opened a nice hole up the middle there for
gain well too.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
But yeah, starting to starting to see and game Will
continues to part man.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Yeah, yeah, breaking attack, do it a little side step
in the backfield and breaking a tackle.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
And the receiving stuff looks really good. They're route running
and all that too. But yeah, again he held. He
did really good backs on backers period too, So good stuff.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
I'm also shocked again Mike Tomlin is in shorts today.
He's slipping the second time this camp, and it's the
only two times I remember in my eight years being around.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Of him wearing head to toe black.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
Head to toe black.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Usually.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
He's even got nice pick up by nice move by
Schronic there to free up a little space down a
period for the offense.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
I think so too. And again not even to say
that they're winning, but they are finally getting.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
There in this period, in this period, yeah, no doubt,
no doubt, but they're they're definitely.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
That was some ones versus ones and all that too.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
You know, it wasn't as you mentioned, t J. Watt
was out there.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
I mean no no Cam Hayward, no no Jalen, but
no high Smith.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
But other than that, it was.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Basically all hands uh, all hands on deck. I think
Roman Wilson's having a having a nice practice out here
so far today. So there's been a there's been a
lot to be encouraged the build off of from the
offensive standpoint, no doubt. That's kind of the if I
was a if I was a you know again one
of these real journalists who had to write a story
of practice every day, that might be your lead right there,
you know, somebody offense to build off of here today.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Yeah again, and it was a full blown team you know,
physical you know, uh period and the offense clearly won.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
And the quarterback looked like a big time quarterback there
for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Right through some lasers, man, through some absolute darts out
there is we've got our guy, Stephen Jones at right
tackle out here.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Now, so he's in line up against the alty much exclusively.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Just gonna say, yeah, it'll be it'll be fun rep
to watch these two here as uh, Skyler Thompson is
in most work. Skyler's got absolutely absolutely he moves DJ
Thomas Jones, who's back at practice today. Good to see
him back there. He moves from left to right in motion.
The give gonna be to Tray Sermon. He's able to
cut through there. Yeah, and found little laying there and
(28:22):
rode off well by Stephen Jones there, I thought the
same thing. Yeah, so hey, I like to see it
for the offense. Yeah, I like to see it from
the offense certainly, as it looks like they're going to
continue this period matriculate down the field. Maybe they'll flip
around here. I'm hoping in another minute or two and
we'll get another look at the ones. Aaron Rodgers is
coming over to uh talk to well. I thought he
(28:44):
was going to talk to Mike Tomlin there for a second.
Now he's talking to Tray Sermons.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
No, he's always complimenting people and being involved.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
In talking to Pat Meyer, talking to different coaches and
different players. What's everybody seeing what's everybody doing? Skyler Thompson
still in shotgun. He's got Hurtleman to his left. Have
to give is to Hurleman and that'd be a short
gain up the middle.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Yeah. That was well played by the edge of offender there.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Yeah, sniffed out well there by by Peyton or not
by Peyton. Wilson part of me, Devin, Harper and Liota
is the one I thought the shine there free Yeah
fifty three. Liota got first contact on him and then
Harper kind of cleaning up mop up duty there.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Leota is another one of these bigger edges.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Yeah, he's an interesting one too. We've said his name
a lot throughout camping.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
Fields between Liota, Sawyer and now Leal A bulky Preston
Smith like edge.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
You know they're not they got they got some going
to Baltimore into right, just screams Ravens about him as
uh DJ Thomas Jones in motion one more time here
from left to right again. Thompson looked like he was
going to take the snap, will now bark out some
instructions instead, takes a snap quickly.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
Out to the left.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Nice played by your w but the porter on that
one quickly. I don't know, am I still allowed to?
I mean, I got no hard I got no hard feelings.
I know this is the nil era.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Okay, Yeah, at least showed up at your campus that count.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
There for a couple of years.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
It was part of a part of a part of
a solid team in twenty twenty that COVID year before.
And listen, I mean, hey, if you a lot of
people move from the north down to down to the
south and oh yeah, find uh find find happiness and
the changes in weather and all those different things. Is
now we're going to have a little special teams. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
I think that was kind of a a two minute drill,
but it was how far can you take us? And
then we don't have the privilege to see in the clock,
you know, can you get this this field goal to
win it?
Speaker 1 (30:35):
And I think that's a good.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
Yeah, I think that's good. Looks looks like you nailed
it right down the middle there and.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
The horn special teams during this.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Period, and yes, I think we will go to special
teams and then maybe have one more one more period
to rapt this thing up. Afterwards we'll see, all right, Yeah,
but I tell you what high energy practice here a
lot going.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
On so far as we know, it's been a step
forward for the offense.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Yes, which I think is you know, so what we
opened the show talking about before we knew how this
was going to transpire.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
Love it when a plan comes together.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
And that's what you that's what you wanted to see
from the offense today this week, you know, rolling into Jacksonville,
some type of momentum. You know, we could talk about
a couple of the regulars being out for the defense,
but still I think a very very solid showing for
the offense today comparatively to what we've.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Seen so far.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, progress, no doubt, no doubt, something to something to
build on, some progress. There is now special teams in
front of us, the offensive line far out of the field.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
This is that punt coverage. They want you to run
down the middle of that the tackling dummy, not around them,
they go right through them.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
Keep your balance right, ye, keep your keep your center
of gravity and uh.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Drop your feed break down break down, Yeah, and be
able to change direction and make the play.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
As this is uh, this is Danny Smith period now happening.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
It's kind of a rapid fire too. There is at once,
and there's like ten lines of them. A lot of
thirty guys get a rap right away, you know, it's
a lot to watch.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, certainly, I think this is something you go back
and watch the tape if you're Danny and like, yeah,
hard to watch all three or one?
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Exactly right, exactly right. How these guys moving and all
those different things is now and the.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Running again, it's just rapid fire, rapid fire, rapid fire.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Yeah, it's the assembly line scouting that I often say, like, yeah,
watching the quarterbacks throw at the combine, there's real value.
They're all doing the exact same thing. And who's the best.
I mean, I'm not sure you and I could tell
you right now. Off you know how fast things are going.
But if I consider and rewind and break down and
be like, well, he doesn't break down as well as
he does, or he's only doing this drill seventy five percent,
he's not come off the line as fast as he should,
(32:45):
you know, right, Yeah, but you could definitely see the
standouts when you watch them one after another after another.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Oh, you certainly can.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
And that's you're right, that assembly line scouting. It's fun
at the combine. It's fun out here as well too.
That's one of the original things that we talked about
with Aaron Rodgers was just how the ball just looks different, Yeah,
coming off of his hands compared to everybody else.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
But even like some old school special teamers like her
BIG's out there.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Yeah you know doing this too, you know what I mean,
like kill Brus, go through all the motions.
Speaker 5 (33:10):
Yeah, as I'm.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
Sure they're the names you would think mostly out there
the bottom of the roster, Gouty getting ready to course
special teamers. If I did find interesting that her Big
was still out there, yeah, Sawyers getting a lot of
special lot of special teams, which makes sense absolutely.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
I think you need to find that out. And I'm
sure he'll be fine at it, but you know, we'll see.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Hopefully it's like riding a bike for him, but it's
been a while since he's ridden that bike.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
Yeah, it's just a for him to be your fourth
outside linebacker on game day, he has to be involved
in teams.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
He does, he does as it looks like now and
maybe getting into field goal or punt field goal, field goal.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Okay, I'm not sure why the dummies are still out there.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And you got Cam Johnson playing pseudo kicker here. Yes,
they're just working on working on field goal blocks.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Yeah, I think he did one of them. Okay, I
don't think this needs a whole lot of work.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
I think it was like a quick thing that he
called for from the sideline, just to see how those
guys could could pop out and get.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
I think that's exactly what they did. Yeah, how fast
can you get at It was like, hey.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
Real quick, let's line up and field goal block?
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Quick, quick, quick, going exactly exactly the clocks running down was.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Like waving everybody over and screaming and yelling and get going.
And now they're doing the little uh, the little swim
past a block drill that we've described and can you
can you get behind your man and go find the ball?
And it's all it's all very meticulous out here, Williamson,
but the.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
Very Danny Smith and very special teams esque. A lot
of people get a lot of reps in these periods,
one after another after another after another after another. You know,
like even if each guy only gets two or three
when it's all said and done in the rep, I mean, there's.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Still a lot of people that got two or three
chances to show what they could do.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
And you're trying to get a high volume of data
points out here with these guys. Yeah, you know, so
you can you can figure out exactly who you need,
who gonna be on the roster, and then who's going
to fill those roles.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
And who's taking it seriously you know, like, yeah, it'd
be real easy. They're not even like staring at every rep.
I mean, they know that this is all gonna be
on tape. But who's going to put everything they possibly
can into showing that they can handle these things? Yeah,
drill after drill for drill real fast.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Mason Rudolph working with Roman Wilson on the on the
middle field. Over there is the offensive line working on
some technique stuff as well too, So plenty going on
here is we head towards the final minutes.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Final moments of practice been a good one.
Speaker 5 (35:34):
It has been.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
I tell you what, man, Logan Lee just moves well
for his size.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Yeah, it's a good, good guy to call out.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
He's almost like a grizzly like a grizzly bear, like
runs low to the ground.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Yeah, you know, some people told me and I definitely
can see it. Since is you know, OTA's mini camp.
There was a lot of people that were really excited
about Lee yep and fell a little short change that
they lost him last year, but they think he's gonna
be a keeper.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
I got that, Uh.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
I got that same impression when we were down there
at OTAs in minie camp. We got to talk to
him one day, sharp guy.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Oh absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Usually yeah, usually the uh you.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
Know, in those settings, the guys that they give us
for interviews are typically people that they think are gonna
be key contributors.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
Yeah, you know, like like we got Jalen.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Mooren and Troy Faltanu and Nick Herbig, you know, like
they're typically people that they think are gonna, you know,
be in the exactly right right. I remember my first
year down there in twenty eighteen, and I was talking
about how that was, you know, the year that Lev
Bell set out the whole year and James Connor you know,
had his Pro Bowl Pro Bowl season, Like there was
(36:39):
a there was a lot of talk about James Connor
and how they felt that he was primed for a
big season down there. He was one of the guys
that we got to interview. I remember that that OTAs period.
The reason I remember it is because we talked to
him about taking his boat up to Eerie. Matt, I
don't know if I don't know if you remember that,
but we spent like five minutes of the interview talking
with him about his summertime and taking his you know,
going now on Lake Erie, you know, all those different
(37:01):
things that they do up there. So yeah, they typically
the the people that they set up with us for
interviews during that time period, or not guys that they
think are going to be sitting on the bench and
doing nothing.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
All season, or an aren't going to make the team
and anything like that. And I I think you're right.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
I think, man, that's that's just an overarching encouraging part
of this team this year. If you can get Troy
Foultanu to what we all think and know he's capable of.
If you could get Roman Wilson to be a key,
solid contributor in the wide receiver room, an important piece,
an important piece. If you can get Logan Lee to
be a contributor in that defensive line room, it's almost
like an additional boost of this year's rookie class after
(37:36):
losing so many guys last year.
Speaker 4 (37:38):
Absolutely, I think it's very noteworthy. Is that class has
a lot of promise. We just didn't get to see
it yet, and it's going to be pretty pivotal.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
I completely agree with you. I completely agree with you,
And this might might be Roman Wilson's best practice that
we've seen out here to this.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, thank you's stepping up in general.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
Yeah, I would agree. I would agree.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Let's get to our last break here for the second
hour special Teams period coming to a close. We'll bring
you the conclude to practice and everything with it. We'll
have our around the League segment in the final hour
of the show. We'll also take a little bit of
a deeper look at the new virtual measurements that are
coming to first downs across the National Football League this season.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
All that more is we roll along into the bonus
hour of the Drive.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Was Shouler Matt Williamson with you here at practice in
the final moments, as we'll put a bow on this
thing and get us some other topics as we roll along.
It's all happening on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio
My coverage.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm about twenty twenty five Steelers training Camp is presented
by FedEx where now meets next, and also brought to
you by CGR Wholesale Roofing and Sighting Supply Center, by
Tons Appliances, by Always Safe, Blagging and Traffic Control by
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, by Schneider Downs, by Hasa's
(00:30):
Steak and Seahouse, by your Neighborhood Forward Store, by Castle Rock,
by Clearview Federal Credit View, and by us Steel.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Backup practice here for hour number two of the Drive.
On a busy Tuesday, important Tuesday, We've got some team
period going on in front of us here, Matt, and
it looks like it's with an emphasis on some heavy
run game here.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Yeah, but I found interesting we were talking about before
we came back on air. The first rep or two,
the defense countered with four true D linemen and two
outside linebacker edge type guys. Now they went back to
their three four quickly after, but they had a lot
of beef on the field and really only three defensive
(01:18):
back so.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Just noteworthy.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I'm not actually explaining it away or why it happened,
but they were putting a lot of big people on
defense out there.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
And it's not like it was a drive that was
red zone or.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Like.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, so that was interesting to me as well too.
We saw nice berst from Caleb Johnson.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, good point.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
And that's one of those things. Listen, you've laid this
out many times. I think everybody who with some football
savvy knows this as a rookie running back, like it
was a very nice Again, I don't know it's in,
but he did the same thing last camp before getting hurt.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
He's doing the same thing again this year.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I just wonder if another team would use him properly,
you know, right, Yeah, that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Not using properly. It's not really a spot for him.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah, I think that's the better way to put it. Yeah,
another team would look at him and go, oh, he
can fill this hole for us.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah we didn't we need that type of guy. Yeah,
absolutely like him.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Hey, maybe there's maybe there's an opportunity there for somebody
else to capitalize if all other thirty one teams are
listening to Matt and I gush now on Steelers Nation Radio.
But I'll tell you this, Listen, as a running back, right,
you get drafted for your prowess in the run game.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Caleb Johnson is drafted for his speed, for his.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Burst, for his abiliting career backfield, for his ability particularly
I think to match that outside zone scheme that Arthur
Smith wants to run. But to get on the field
and stay on the field, you gotta be able to
pass block like that's the so I tell you what,
once he gets that down, once they're confident in him
in that regard, man, I got a feeling like we're
going to see him have a couple of special runs
(02:55):
this year. That whole thing that we've been talking about
for the last four years of the Anie Harris era
is as high as.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
We all know.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
His floor was right there wasn't that ceiling of that
Saquon Barkley four home run touchdown run. I think we're
going to see that a couple times from Caleb Johnson
this year.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yeah, and his forty time wasn't wonderful, but he broke
off a ton of long runs and at Iowa and
he has a track background. He definitely plays faster than
his forty times. I think people overreact at that.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Twenty two mile an hour on the GPS last year, Yeah,
which like only a handful of players in college football.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Did absolutely back to the pass protection though, I mean
he did it. He was okay, and backs and backers
better than he was. He's been right, and I think
there's an improvement there. And the thing is people might
be like, well, he's not gonna be a third down
back anyway. Yeah, but it's not like you run the
ball every first and ten either. If he's out there
in first and ten and he can't protect and the
defensive coordinator knows it and they start showing blitz and
(03:53):
Rogers has to audible to keep it back in, but
then you fall into their trap, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, absolutely, that's that's all the uh the chess match
that plays into this. And again, as as we've highlighted,
that was in a shoot part of me, I don't
I just got the hiccups out of nowhere, Matt.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
I was trying to hide it.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
But now radio guys, worst nightmare.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Gracious leg a broken leg.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And that happened a little bit last year where I think,
particularly when George Pickens was out injured, you were very predictable.
You were kind kind of tipping your cap based off
of where you were going.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
There, and yeah, that can be a problem.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
And it does happen to teams late in the year
at points too, when you just get hit by injuries
and there's only so many guys that can do so
many things, and you know it decreases your playbook and
your your surprise factor.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
But you definitely don't want that.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
I mean, just because if Caleb Johnson turns into their
best ball carrier but he can't protect, that's a dilemma.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
It's a dilemma.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, that's a that's a good word to put it.
And listen, we've seen the imp of it from him.
We're optimistic he's going to be able to get there.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, I'm not doubting him. I'm just he's not there yet.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
How much do you want to see him do that
in preseason versus it maybe just a thing that you
try and simulate in the joint practice against the Bucks.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah, I'll be honest, I bet that's one of those
trust factors that goes well into the season. You know, like,
preseason's fine, but does he blocking a third string insideline back,
you know.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And it's not like they're they're bringing crazy blitzes or
and coverages like that in the preseason it's all very vanilla.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
It's Jimmy's and Joe's right.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Because the big thing about protection too, that we didn't
even touch on is just the the knowledge of it.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
You know, who who do I got?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And Rogers will help with that of course, But these
these defensive coordinators are nasty dudes.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Man.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
They come up with things specifically to test you, especially
earlier in the year.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
So can he physically do it? Can he technically do it?
From a technique standpoint?
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Physically, I think there's no problem, and the want to
is no problem, But I mean he still has to
work on the actual technique of it all. But then
there's also the mental side of it. Like, man, if
that's you know, they identify the mic and they set
their protection off that and all those things, and if
he's not sure who to block, that's a real, real problem.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Real quick.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Note you mentioned nause Like he wasn't great in protection
his first camp.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
You know, he's a first round pick. You knew he's
gonna play a ton get a bad habit of dropping
his head, he'd drop his eyes. But he got better quick,
you know.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And he certainly had the long arms and the size
and the physicality and all that stuff.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Saying that you could see him improve every week.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yeah, exactly, exactly, you know, but he was he was
at Alabama. He didn't have to do a ton of it.
He'd run rounds, you know, or somebody else would come
in on third downs. You know, they had one hundred
backs they did.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
They also had DeVante Smith and Jalen Wattall.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
It's a good player, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Mac Jones I think was his quarterback right towards the
end their first round. I mean I think they had
five or six first round picks on that offense alone.
So yeah, not as much on your plate when you're
on that type of team as opposed to when when
you're kind of throwing into the fires or rookie of
the National Football League.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Especially compared to like Kalo Johnson, who's was the major
portion of their offense.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Oh he accounted for like thirty eight percent of their
offense or something crazy last year, didn't he? And so yeah,
little different worlds there, certainly, as it looks like this
team period is going to come to an end.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
That was reasonably competitive, I did too.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, the offensive line is getting more pushed, like there's
no doubt. I think each unit is getting a little
more pushed, doing a little bit better at protection.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Today.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
There was plenty of good reps by the defense too,
and they blew up some runs, but there was mostly
a run period and.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
The defense knows that. By the way.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
I mean, so you've come off the ball a little
bit different expecting run. But I thought the offense moves
some people a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, I completely agree. Special teams period ongoing in front
of us. Who's the first one back there returning?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Uh? Is that gain?
Speaker 1 (08:01):
What?
Speaker 2 (08:02):
No?
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Is that gain? Well? I can't tell No, that's.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Not game Well, thank so it's something with a four man.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Yeah, I'm not sure that's what. I just saw the
four at first and thought maybe fourteen. Oh no, that's uh,
that's Hurlman thirty four. Yeah, back there, back there, returning, Matt,
what do you say we take a break to year something?
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah? Yeah, I bet you.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Gets a shot in preseason to do it a couple
of times.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
So we will keep an eye on, uh, Special teams
period in front of us here, keep you posted on
everything that's going on with practice. Also, Matt, little teaser
for everybody out there, you know, as part of uh,
I guess how do I want to put this like
an NFL broadcasting crew, I guess is being part of,
you know, the Steelers game day broadcasting crew. I just
got a information packet from the National Football League on
(08:44):
the brand new Hawkeye Virtual Measurement technical explanation. So exactly
how for those who run familiar the first downs now
in the NFL can be measured digitally, can be measured
with cameras. You're not gonna have to bring out the
chain gang all the time and that like we've in
the past.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
I just got I, like many others, thought that should
have been done fifteen, ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Whatever.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
We had HD cameras and all this technology.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
And we can save it.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
But I do think one of the more humorous things
when we look back on this five years of NFL
history is there's two fellas that hold a stick with
ten yards of chain in between, and they come running out,
Like I still think that's kind of hilarious.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Like that hasn't changed in nineteen forty, has it?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
No, it is not, but it will change in twenty
twenty five. Yeah, So I got all the inside scoop
on that. Maybe we'll get to that in the final
hours of show. After practice as well too, planning to
get too as we roll along West Shuler Matt Williamson's
special edition of The Drive Here at training camp on
the campus of Saint Vincent College. It's all happening on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Network, iHeartRadio's live coverage job not twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp. He's presented by Fadex where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by CG We are Wholesale
Roofing and Sighting Supply Center by Tom's Appliances, by Always
(10:05):
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Bank by Schneider Downs, by Hassu's Steaked Seahouse, by your
Neighborhood Forward Store, by Castle Rock, by Clearview Federal Credit
You and by us steel.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Back of Practice.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Here on a nice day for it in Latrobe, mid seventies,
Little cloud cover, good day to be out here. He
won't be sweating buckets as a My goodness, that's just
a booming punt from camp.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Good Lord.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
So while we were at break, you took a little
potty break, and I was watching the pump returners.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
My hiccups, getting my hiccups.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
That deal dealt with. So Austin's ought out there returning punts.
We assume he's the one.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Right, correct? Was Miller listed as the two when we
did the depth charts question?
Speaker 5 (10:55):
If you give me just a sinking here again.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Because the three gentlemen returning punt today are Miller, Hurlman,
who we think can do that well, and Woods, who's
had a really good career. I don't know what his
background returning punts is. He muffed like three or four
in a row.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Ye, Scotty Miller is listed as the two and there's
nobody behind him, and he's out there now.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
And yeah, but Woods, I don't know if he's just
never done it, and this is just you know, he's
probably gonna be active on game.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Day, so at least give him emergency.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Yeah, or maybe did eight years ago or his rookie
year in college or whatever. But he struggled and there
were some good punts, don't get me wrong, but man,
well he should muff three out of four.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
No, you should not, I mean absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
That's a good way, not for them to ask you
to go out.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
There exactly right.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That's like he's going to get another opportunity here, Now
that's a good punt from Corless weightman man, and he
will get that one clean one and split the defense there.
All right, well hey better, all.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Right, yeah, all right, he just it was just noteworthy, Like, dude,
catch that was Miller sixteen has not had a lot
of luck catching these puns.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
No, oh, that was Miller.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
You're right, yep.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
And so okay, here we go now here, here, here
comes here comes Robert Woods again.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Yeah, well they're not gonna let me. Okay, hurlans like
I want this one too.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
He slips there a little bit trying to catch it.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Cam to give Woods a shot.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
No, nope, maybe let's see Nope, looks like Herleman wants
this one again. Man camp Johnson, just man, he crushes
crushes those things.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
It's great to see. It's exciting to see.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Man.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
They also have Williams out there, Keyshawn Williams Indiana.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
I have not seen him field one draft. Yeah, agent, yep.
That's probably about the the end of it too. It
looks like.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
The offensive linemanter chomping at the bit to get back
out here on the field.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
But just news Newsworthy stashed that away. If Robert Woods
makes a team and he's active and there's an injury
and you got to ask him to return pints.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Hopefully it's than today.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt as hopefully that will be a
bridge that we don't have to cross.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah, so we never bring never bring that up again.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
One of those training camp nuggets that we might remember
if if it ends up happening in some live action.
But for now, it looks like we are going to
have some live action maybe some team period here, Matt.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
So we will t J. Watt out there, I know.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
Yeah, we'll be excited for.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
This as it looks like let's see up say all
the way and Proderick Jones both in as well too.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Gotta love it.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Faltanu and Broderick Jones a little high five before they
get started here. Darnell Washington checking in as well too.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Yeah, this looks like the one D minus high Smith
Ramsey Cam Cam Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yes, yes, I think I think that is correct, probably
the closest that we've seen.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
All hands on deck for the ones here to see.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
T J. Watt, will you put there right now?
Speaker 5 (13:52):
Sleighs out there.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
We need the nickel, ye, Brandon Eckles and so.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
It'll be uh something to keep an eye on here
as we get going, and the offense they do.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
At least have Washington and Friar Mooth. I don't know
if they have another tight end out there.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Roman Wilson out there. Johnny Smith is on the sideline
down here to our left.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
And we mentioned Wilson and Wilson showed up on the
threes in the depth chart, but here he is with
the ones as we speak, you know, right.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
And that's why again, Hey, that depth chart matters, but
it's also not the end all be all, certainly not
at this point.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
It'll be so twelve personnel.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
He's out there, he is out there. Nope, that's that's
that's yeah. Yep, Calvin Austin not dressed today. Austin's taking
Jalen Warren in the backfield. Is it's a quick slant
out to quick out out to Roman Wilson. That would
have been a nice, nice five yard pick up there
on first down.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, first and ten. Stuff that move the chains. You
don't happy with it?
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Yeah? Absolutely? Offensive line held up. Well there, let's see.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I'm interested to watch Faltanu against here on this near
side as the offense will huddle up again. Scotty Miller
checks in, Connor Hayward checks in Washington and Mouth.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Checking at.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Still the same for the defense, still stuff Sleigh out
there near side. It'll be Scotty Roman, Wilson and DK
Metcalf to the right, with Connor Hayward to the left,
the Jayalen Warren in the backfield. Rogers gets the snap
and he's gonna dump that over the screen. Yeah, well
moving there, Zach Frasier and Sayamlu getting out in space
(15:35):
and setting up some blocks, and I think that would
have been a nice pick up there as well too.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Yeah, a little too much pressure from the left side
when they were setting up on a right side screen.
I don't think Rogers was thrilled with that part. I
don't think probably needed another half second to really pull
that off. But the lineman on the right side set
that up well and got downfield as they should.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Sure did as Jalen Warren will check out here.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
I do think it is noteworthy, as you mentioned Roman
Wilson getting extensive plenty of that's.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
A good way to put it.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Rogers work as he will stay out there along with
DK Metcalf, Pat Fryarmuth and they've got Galladay split out
wide now as well, with Caleb Johnson in the backfield.
Mouth moves in motion from left to right. Now back left.
Aaron Rodgers gets a snap looking DK's way, throws it
that way up high. Ooh and DK high pointed that one.
But I think Pierre just had a hand in there.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
He could have high pointed better. It's a back shoulder
fade that he tried the chest catch and twist his
body to shield where in that case, I think you
want to pluck that over your head. And I love DK,
and I do think that there is a little bit
of a misconception with him that he's a one for
one with Pickens. His contested catch stuff is not Pickens
(16:51):
esque of going up high, pointing, contorting it, slabbing it
way above your head despite you being huge. I mean,
I know he had to highlight one handed go at
your last practice or whatever, and he could do it.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
But don't think he's Pickings as an acrobat as much
few people are. Right. Oh, he's as good as areas
right now.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Aaron Rodgers back now looking to throw downfield. Roman Wilson
well covered. Instead, He'll check it.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Down to move. Yeah, would have been a first down
on like a third and five type situation, well covered by.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Queen Still themself. No, he wanted that he forget who
the corner was.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
But they also did your job. But Pierre there he did.
But if you go up and be big and don't
let him do that, don't let the ball come to you,
go snatch it. I think that's what Rogers would have
wanted there. Now he's talking about boy.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Fraser Fraser having a little conversation.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I think they might have been talking about that screenplay
because they're kind of talking about some movement. It looks
like with their hands they're talking about some movement stuff.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
But we talked about this last week's screens take a
lot of time to get in terms of timing, No doubt,
good pass rush there by one of the big dudes
as a shirt up.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
That's a problem all the cross the crop tops, the
crop tops are all the rage out here, Matt Williamson,
I tell you that's Harrison, right fIF it is, yes, Harrison. Yeah,
it's as you can see the numbers clearly from behind.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
It.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
It's just when they're facing you that it gets to
be a problem them to flip over.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Gain Well, still in there with Mason Rudolph, Jack Sawyer out.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
For the defense, as is de Marvin.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Lee almost exclusively playing on the edge.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Yeah, maybe it was one of those things like that,
you know, hey, her BIG's out. You know we're part
of me. Let's let's see what you got there. You
already lost Jeremiah Moon last week.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
There's Rudolph now will do a check with me and
the shotgun takes a snap looking left, gets rid of
it quickly.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Well defended there.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, on the on Deshaun Jamison there making a nice
play to break to break that one up intended for
Ben's chronic as we've seen, We've seen a lot of
guys in the secondary making plays today too.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Absolutely. I think it's been some big dogs sitting out.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Yeah, which is which has been encouraging to see. I
think better day for the offensive line out here overall.
I think the defensive backs have made some nice plays
as well too, with with Ramsey getting a vets day
and and uh Porter Junior and Darius Slay getting maybe
a light day if you will.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, there are different degrees of you know,
sitting out or participation. It's a better way to put it.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Sure, Still Mason Rudolph in the gun snap back, he's
got tray sermon in the flat, he will head that way.
A little third down simulation there would have been a
nice pick up for the offense. Definitely moved the sticks. Yeah,
well executed well protected by the offense there. They slipped
tray sermon out quickly what would have been a nice
probably seven r eight yard game and moving the sticks
there as Uh, the offense is better today, Matt definitely, definitely, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Yeah, I mean it's not. I don't know that they're winning,
but it's better.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yes, yeah, right, ro doubt maybe closer to that sixty
forty that we were that we were talking about. Good point,
as looks like Mason will stay in a few more
reps here for the second team. JJ gallbreath in at
tight end. Looks like the typical second team offensive line.
Doug Nestor bumping up the left guard here. Now, which
(20:15):
is another one is he was listed his right tackle
on the depth chart, but I think we've seen him
much more at guard.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, I think he's a guard pretty much only.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
But again that's one of those things you don't put
a crazy amount of stock into it. As Rudolph looking
for Kenneth gainwell there, just a little bit out of
his catch radius. Still got his hands on it, but
not able to bring that one in.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, and he turned around and just kind of sat
down versus his own and I think Rudolph wanted to
lead him so he could do more after the catch. Yeah,
but he also was kind of flat footed, you know.
Numbers to Rudolph there. So they always blame the quarterback
for that, but I mean, I think the quarterback's trying
to get more out of the play than just catch
it and get tackle the situation too.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Absolutely, that's well said. As we've got Skylaton up sitting
now checking into the game. He doesn't get a lot
of action, but he's going to get some here. He'll
be in the shotgun tray, sermon sidecar to his right,
four wide receivers, three to left, one of the right,
Thompson's back. Good pressure there, but able to dump that
(21:16):
one off for another screen.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Yeah, they're they're.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Working the working the screen game here today having some
success doing it as well too.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
It makes me wonder if we're going to see more
of them this year, you know, just because I've seen
a fair amount of screens the last two, three, four,
practices is something that they're going to keep repping, keep
repping and try to get involved.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Hey, they do have athletic linemen.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
They've got athletic linemen. They've got some tight ends that
can block and move as well too. Yeah. So yeah, interesting, certainly,
certainly I think one of the one of the nuggets
here of camp that we've seen over the last couple
of practices, trying to get that screen game going. Our
ground screw guys have the big flat hammer thing out. Yeah, yeah,
getting ready to getting ready.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I was watching him earlier.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Tristan Thompson in the shotgun again. He's got Max Harlman
brings JJ gallbreath in motion.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Pressure again Skyler Thompson, I know, good lord as that
was good one to Rob Taylor.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Blitz found the hole in the blitz immediately boom hit Taylor.
Big game.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Nice pass by Skyler to rock Taylor there, good good,
nice and timed out and executed well. As Uh, this
team period in front of us will continue. What do
we say we get to a break here, Matt will
bring you the end of practice, maybe some some fun
more drills to go here. As we roll along into
the final stages of this practice for the Steelers after
this one, just four more open practices out here at
(22:43):
training camp.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah, I have you even't gotten out here yet. You
better make some plan.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Time is running out, no doubt. One last rep here
before we go to break. Skyler Thompson in the gun
three wide receivers brings Connor Hayward in motion.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
From left to right.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Now he gets the snap back looking right. You're gonna
get rid of this one quickly.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Oh kind of pushed him out of back push.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yeah, a little, a little high there, intended for Kyshawn Williams,
but trying to get that one out with some pressure
in his face.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Good play design. That would have been first down on
third and five. Absolutely and absolutely left.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Just a half second too late there doing some tamp
Crowns crews doing some tampa, and I think we're going
to be moving to a new period here.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Shortly.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
We'll take a break, come back, bring you the conclusion
of practice and all that good stuff on the other side,
West Shooler and Matt Williamson here high above chuckn Nolefield
on the campus of Saint Vincent College for a special
edition of The Drive.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
It's Training Camp.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Here our ongoing coverage continues on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Network, Iheartradios live coverage Job Not twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp. He's presented by FedEx where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by First National Bank. I
call Lucy Chevrolet, iron Workers Union Number.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Three, by Easy Home Exteriors, by S and T Band.
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Pro shot by Always Soup Flagging and Traffic Control, and
by us Steel.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
Matt.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
I hate it when we go to break at the
worst possible time.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, a lot happened there.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
He was the host of this show.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Goodness, gracious, he doesn't know what he's doing. As perhaps
maybe the best team period we've seen from Aaron Rodgers
in the past game just over the last five minutes
in front of us.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Here, right as we were at break, I thought so,
I thought it was really sharp. He started just dicing
the defense up and protection was good. Guys were coming,
free balls coming out of his hands great, like everything
he kind of hoped for, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
A couple of nights Woods and hey dark to Connor Hayward.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yeah, that like almost stuck in his face mask, like.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Hit Connor Hayward so violently in his face mask. It
bounced into the air, was actually intercepted by Patrick Queen.
But that not on Aaron Rodgers at all.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
No, that's on Hayward one hundred percent. You need to
get your head around there and make that catch actually
for a big gain as opposed to a negative play
which ended up happening, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
But encouraging period there for Aaron Rodgers in the first
team offense.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Yeah, I was watching Faltanu. He's holding his own to
say his say the least the line's holding up. Well,
it was a really good stretch right there.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Some unfortunate news to share though while we were in
the break as well too, and that is Will Howard.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
Leaving practice with an injury.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
More than that, you know, according to some of our
our intrepid journalists down on the side, Will Howard left
practice and was taken back towards the locker room sitting
on the front of a cart with a trainer. Now,
remember everybody is training camp, okay, but that that's really
all that anybody has. That explains why we saw Skylar
(25:51):
Thompson bumping up and working with the third team there
right before we went to break. But certainly something to
keep an eye on. Will Howard's status going forward here
as well too, as he has exited practice early.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Okay, we'll just keep an eye on him. Maybe we
don't see him tomorrow. Who knows. I don't know the
extent of it.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
He's fine, and it's just a you know, yeah, yeah,
no one, No one knows for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Offensive opened a nice hole up the middle there for
gain well too.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
But yeah, starting to starting to see and game Will
continues to part man.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Yeah, yeah, breaking attack, do it a little side step
in the backfield and breaking a tackle.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
And the receiving stuff looks really good. They're route running
and all that too. But yeah, again he held. He
did really good backs on backers period too, So good stuff.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
I'm also shocked again Mike Tomlin is in shorts today.
He's slipping the second time this camp, and it's the
only two times I remember in my eight years being around.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Of him wearing head to toe black.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
Head to toe black.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Usually.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
He's even got nice pick up by nice move by
Schronic there to free up a little space down a
period for the offense.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
I think so too. And again not even to say
that they're winning, but they are finally getting.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
There in this period, in this period, yeah, no doubt,
no doubt, but they're they're definitely.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
That was some ones versus ones and all that too.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
You know, it wasn't as you mentioned, t J. Watt
was out there.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
I mean no no Cam Hayward, no no Jalen, but
no high Smith.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
But other than that, it was.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Basically all hands uh, all hands on deck. I think
Roman Wilson's having a having a nice practice out here
so far today. So there's been a there's been a
lot to be encouraged the build off of from the
offensive standpoint, no doubt. That's kind of the if I
was a if I was a you know again one
of these real journalists who had to write a story
of practice every day, that might be your lead right there,
you know, somebody offense to build off of here today.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Yeah again, and it was a full blown team you know,
physical you know, uh period and the offense clearly won.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
And the quarterback looked like a big time quarterback there
for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Right through some lasers, man, through some absolute darts out
there is we've got our guy, Stephen Jones at right
tackle out here.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Now, so he's in line up against the alty much exclusively.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Just gonna say, yeah, it'll be it'll be fun rep
to watch these two here as uh, Skyler Thompson is
in most work. Skyler's got absolutely absolutely he moves DJ
Thomas Jones, who's back at practice today. Good to see
him back there. He moves from left to right in motion.
The give gonna be to Tray Sermon. He's able to
cut through there. Yeah, and found little laying there and
(28:22):
rode off well by Stephen Jones there, I thought the
same thing. Yeah, so hey, I like to see it
for the offense. Yeah, I like to see it from
the offense certainly, as it looks like they're going to
continue this period matriculate down the field. Maybe they'll flip
around here. I'm hoping in another minute or two and
we'll get another look at the ones. Aaron Rodgers is
coming over to uh talk to well. I thought he
(28:44):
was going to talk to Mike Tomlin there for a second.
Now he's talking to Tray Sermons.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
No, he's always complimenting people and being involved.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
In talking to Pat Meyer, talking to different coaches and
different players. What's everybody seeing what's everybody doing? Skyler Thompson
still in shotgun. He's got Hurtleman to his left. Have
to give is to Hurleman and that'd be a short
gain up the middle.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Yeah. That was well played by the edge of offender there.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Yeah, sniffed out well there by by Peyton or not
by Peyton. Wilson part of me, Devin, Harper and Liota
is the one I thought the shine there free Yeah
fifty three. Liota got first contact on him and then
Harper kind of cleaning up mop up duty there.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Leota is another one of these bigger edges.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Yeah, he's an interesting one too. We've said his name
a lot throughout camping.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
Fields between Liota, Sawyer and now Leal A bulky Preston
Smith like edge.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
You know they're not they got they got some going
to Baltimore into right, just screams Ravens about him as
uh DJ Thomas Jones in motion one more time here
from left to right again. Thompson looked like he was
going to take the snap, will now bark out some
instructions instead, takes a snap quickly.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
Out to the left.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Nice played by your w but the porter on that
one quickly. I don't know, am I still allowed to?
I mean, I got no hard I got no hard feelings.
I know this is the nil era.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Okay, Yeah, at least showed up at your campus that count.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
There for a couple of years.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
It was part of a part of a part of
a solid team in twenty twenty that COVID year before.
And listen, I mean, hey, if you a lot of
people move from the north down to down to the
south and oh yeah, find uh find find happiness and
the changes in weather and all those different things. Is
now we're going to have a little special teams. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
I think that was kind of a a two minute drill,
but it was how far can you take us? And
then we don't have the privilege to see in the clock,
you know, can you get this this field goal to
win it?
Speaker 1 (30:35):
And I think that's a good.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
Yeah, I think that's good. Looks looks like you nailed
it right down the middle there and.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
The horn special teams during this.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Period, and yes, I think we will go to special
teams and then maybe have one more one more period
to rapt this thing up. Afterwards we'll see, all right, Yeah,
but I tell you what high energy practice here a
lot going.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
On so far as we know, it's been a step
forward for the offense.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Yes, which I think is you know, so what we
opened the show talking about before we knew how this
was going to transpire.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
Love it when a plan comes together.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
And that's what you that's what you wanted to see
from the offense today this week, you know, rolling into Jacksonville,
some type of momentum. You know, we could talk about
a couple of the regulars being out for the defense,
but still I think a very very solid showing for
the offense today comparatively to what we've.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Seen so far.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, progress, no doubt, no doubt, something to something to
build on, some progress. There is now special teams in
front of us, the offensive line far out of the field.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
This is that punt coverage. They want you to run
down the middle of that the tackling dummy, not around them,
they go right through them.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
Keep your balance right, ye, keep your keep your center
of gravity and uh.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Drop your feed break down break down, Yeah, and be
able to change direction and make the play.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
As this is uh, this is Danny Smith period now happening.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
It's kind of a rapid fire too. There is at once,
and there's like ten lines of them. A lot of
thirty guys get a rap right away, you know, it's
a lot to watch.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, certainly, I think this is something you go back
and watch the tape if you're Danny and like, yeah,
hard to watch all three or one?
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Exactly right, exactly right. How these guys moving and all
those different things is now and the.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Running again, it's just rapid fire, rapid fire, rapid fire.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Yeah, it's the assembly line scouting that I often say, like, yeah,
watching the quarterbacks throw at the combine, there's real value.
They're all doing the exact same thing. And who's the best.
I mean, I'm not sure you and I could tell
you right now. Off you know how fast things are going.
But if I consider and rewind and break down and
be like, well, he doesn't break down as well as
he does, or he's only doing this drill seventy five percent,
he's not come off the line as fast as he should,
(32:45):
you know, right, Yeah, but you could definitely see the
standouts when you watch them one after another after another.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Oh, you certainly can.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
And that's you're right, that assembly line scouting. It's fun
at the combine. It's fun out here as well too.
That's one of the original things that we talked about
with Aaron Rodgers was just how the ball just looks different, Yeah,
coming off of his hands compared to everybody else.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
But even like some old school special teamers like her
BIG's out there.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Yeah you know doing this too, you know what I mean,
like kill Brus, go through all the motions.
Speaker 5 (33:10):
Yeah, as I'm.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
Sure they're the names you would think mostly out there
the bottom of the roster, Gouty getting ready to course
special teamers. If I did find interesting that her Big
was still out there, yeah, Sawyers getting a lot of
special lot of special teams, which makes sense absolutely.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
I think you need to find that out. And I'm
sure he'll be fine at it, but you know, we'll see.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Hopefully it's like riding a bike for him, but it's
been a while since he's ridden that bike.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
Yeah, it's just a for him to be your fourth
outside linebacker on game day, he has to be involved
in teams.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
He does, he does as it looks like now and
maybe getting into field goal or punt field goal, field goal.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Okay, I'm not sure why the dummies are still out there.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And you got Cam Johnson playing pseudo kicker here. Yes,
they're just working on working on field goal blocks.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Yeah, I think he did one of them. Okay, I
don't think this needs a whole lot of work.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
I think it was like a quick thing that he
called for from the sideline, just to see how those
guys could could pop out and get.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
I think that's exactly what they did. Yeah, how fast
can you get at It was like, hey.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
Real quick, let's line up and field goal block?
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Quick, quick, quick, going exactly exactly the clocks running down was.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Like waving everybody over and screaming and yelling and get going.
And now they're doing the little uh, the little swim
past a block drill that we've described and can you
can you get behind your man and go find the ball?
And it's all it's all very meticulous out here, Williamson,
but the.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
Very Danny Smith and very special teams esque. A lot
of people get a lot of reps in these periods,
one after another after another after another after another. You know,
like even if each guy only gets two or three
when it's all said and done in the rep, I mean, there's.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Still a lot of people that got two or three
chances to show what they could do.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
And you're trying to get a high volume of data
points out here with these guys. Yeah, you know, so
you can you can figure out exactly who you need,
who gonna be on the roster, and then who's going
to fill those roles.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
And who's taking it seriously you know, like, yeah, it'd
be real easy. They're not even like staring at every rep.
I mean, they know that this is all gonna be
on tape. But who's going to put everything they possibly
can into showing that they can handle these things? Yeah,
drill after drill for drill real fast.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Mason Rudolph working with Roman Wilson on the on the
middle field. Over there is the offensive line working on
some technique stuff as well too, So plenty going on
here is we head towards the final minutes.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Final moments of practice been a good one.
Speaker 5 (35:34):
It has been.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
I tell you what, man, Logan Lee just moves well
for his size.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Yeah, it's a good, good guy to call out.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
He's almost like a grizzly like a grizzly bear, like
runs low to the ground.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Yeah, you know, some people told me and I definitely
can see it. Since is you know, OTA's mini camp.
There was a lot of people that were really excited
about Lee yep and fell a little short change that
they lost him last year, but they think he's gonna
be a keeper.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
I got that, Uh.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
I got that same impression when we were down there
at OTAs in minie camp. We got to talk to
him one day, sharp guy.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Oh absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Usually yeah, usually the uh you.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
Know, in those settings, the guys that they give us
for interviews are typically people that they think are gonna
be key contributors.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
Yeah, you know, like like we got Jalen.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Mooren and Troy Faltanu and Nick Herbig, you know, like
they're typically people that they think are gonna, you know,
be in the exactly right right. I remember my first
year down there in twenty eighteen, and I was talking
about how that was, you know, the year that Lev
Bell set out the whole year and James Connor you know,
had his Pro Bowl Pro Bowl season, Like there was
(36:39):
a there was a lot of talk about James Connor
and how they felt that he was primed for a
big season down there. He was one of the guys
that we got to interview. I remember that that OTAs period.
The reason I remember it is because we talked to
him about taking his boat up to Eerie. Matt, I
don't know if I don't know if you remember that,
but we spent like five minutes of the interview talking
with him about his summertime and taking his you know,
going now on Lake Erie, you know, all those different
(37:01):
things that they do up there. So yeah, they typically
the the people that they set up with us for
interviews during that time period, or not guys that they
think are going to be sitting on the bench and
doing nothing.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
All season, or an aren't going to make the team
and anything like that. And I I think you're right.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
I think, man, that's that's just an overarching encouraging part
of this team this year. If you can get Troy
Foultanu to what we all think and know he's capable of.
If you could get Roman Wilson to be a key,
solid contributor in the wide receiver room, an important piece,
an important piece. If you can get Logan Lee to
be a contributor in that defensive line room, it's almost
like an additional boost of this year's rookie class after
(37:36):
losing so many guys last year.
Speaker 4 (37:38):
Absolutely, I think it's very noteworthy. Is that class has
a lot of promise. We just didn't get to see
it yet, and it's going to be pretty pivotal.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
I completely agree with you. I completely agree with you,
And this might might be Roman Wilson's best practice that
we've seen out here to this.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, thank you's stepping up in general.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
Yeah, I would agree. I would agree.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Let's get to our last break here for the second
hour special Teams period coming to a close. We'll bring
you the conclude to practice and everything with it. We'll
have our around the League segment in the final hour
of the show. We'll also take a little bit of
a deeper look at the new virtual measurements that are
coming to first downs across the National Football League this season.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
All that more is we roll along into the bonus
hour of the Drive.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Was Shouler Matt Williamson with you here at practice in
the final moments, as we'll put a bow on this
thing and get us some other topics as we roll along.
It's all happening on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
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