April 28, 2025 • 47 mins
No mock, so the guys dive into the fantasy focus discussing where the over/under lines may sit for players on both sides of the ball for the Steelers. The duo also critiques the draft results of all the AFC North organizations.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
At least he's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome back. I am Dale Lolly, he is the Matt
Williamson and it is the start of our number two
and well it's time for us. No, we're not going
to monitor mock it up, right, psych what we're gonna do.
Here's a little fantasy football focus. Whoa the first one ever?
But we're not mocking that up yet. We're not marking
that up there. But Mike Clay, yeah on ESPN, has
(00:40):
come out with his projection.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
There's a lot of fantasy stuff that comes out exactly
when the draft ends. It becomes fantasy season pretty soon.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Right, So let's look at Mike Clay's Steeler projections. Here. Start,
he is assuming that Aaron Rodgers correctly so assigns with
the Steelers. Okay, that's how I would handle it too.
You don't want to do this as if he's not
and then redo it all, you know. Yeah, So what
he has for Aaron Rodgers projected numbers with the Steelers, uh,
(01:09):
five hundred and fifteen games, five hundred attempts, thirty three
hundred and twenty four completions, three hundred and fifty or
thirty five hundred and fifty seven yards, nineteen touchdowns, ten interceptions,
ninety nine yards rushing in a touchdown on twenty seven carries.
Would you take that? Well?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I preface this because I'm sure we have new listeners.
We're growing like crazy. The drives on fire. When these
these fantasy projections, they're always give for Mike played, they're
always gonna be low. It's only fifteen games. They do
that on purpose because people get hurt in the league,
you know what I mean, or you know, you sit
them out or whatever. I wouldn't take it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I wouldn't either. No, And I think I take the
rushing well, he had about that many rushing yards last year.
We're acting like he is completely immobile. He's not. He
used to be two hundred a year. Yeah, you know,
first down, break your back, Yeah yeah, yeah, he's not
that guy anymore. But he's not completely like he just
can't run at all. There won't be any designed run.
He's not. He's not been at the end. No, exactly exactly.
(02:11):
I don't think over nineteen. I'll take over nineteen touchdowns,
like and I might go under ten because he does
not throw. He's don't throw that many interceptions. Last year
was kind of the outlier if you look at the overall.
They also have Mason Rudolph playing two games. They have
the Steelers quarterbacks throwing for four and eleven yards, twenty
two touchdown passes, twelve interceptions, and rushing for one hundred
(02:33):
and eighteen yards in a score. I think they could
throw for four thousand, so that's not bad. I think
the yardage numbers about right. I'm going to take a
little over on passing. Take I'll take the more passing touchdowns.
That's about what they had this year.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Right right, And it's like last year. I mean I
remember having this. There's a lot of deja vu here,
like maybe they'll throw remember the joke last years And
they did, but not quite as much as I expected.
You know, Wilson has had a great red zone you know,
and didn't quite hit that mark here. But I still
(03:09):
think that's a smidge low.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Okay, At running back they have Jen he has Jalen
Warren one hundred and sixty five carries for seven hundred
and twenty one yards, four touchdowns, fifty two catches for
three hundred and seventy six yards in a touchdown. Pretty good.
So over a thousand, yeah, yeah. I don't want to
comment on it without here in the other two because
(03:31):
I'm just wondering how the divisional labors got to go.
You know, he has Caleb Johnson, the third round draft pick,
two hundred and seventeen rushing attempts, nine hundred and eighteen yards,
seven touchdowns, twenty five catches, one hundred and eighty yards
in a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I would take that. It sounds pretty darn good to me. Yeah,
you know, And I would take the combination.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's over four yards of carry. It's that's a big
thing to me too. As I was.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I don't know if it was in there, but it's
one of my things I'm harping on this year, and
I mean, you're gonna hear a lot more going forward.
Is four yards carry and could have cut it four
to two is a big difference of the course of
the year for to four.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now we're talking now, we're all right, right, right? Uh?
Does gainwell in there too? Or twenty six carries for
one hundred and seven yards in a score, four catches
for twenty seven yards. Cordell Patterson's still in their thirty
one carries for one hundred and thirty one yards, eight
catches for sixty yards.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I know he's a Steeler and probably is immature or
premature to say this, but I would cut Patterson out
of there. I wouldn't give it directly to gain Well,
but Gainwell's gonna have more yardage than that one, it's
all said. Yeah, I mean, the chance is Johnson and
Warren play every game. Are probably pretty slim too.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Overall, four hundred and thirty nine carries, okay, one eight
hundred and seventy eight rushing yards.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Let me give me those numbers here, eighteen seventy eight,
eighteen seventy eight divided by four to thirty nine four
three nine equals four point two seven seven seven.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Would take that right now almost for three yards of carry. Yeah,
four to two.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
It made a lot of difference last year. That means
there's probably a couple of longer runs in there, which
I think you're more apt to do with Gainwell, Johnson, Warren.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah, I'll take four to three. It's pretty good, pretty good, yeah,
I mean that probably gets you the fifteenth in the league.
And you know you're not gonna be take one Barkley,
but that I'll take that that. It adds up a
lot over the course of the year, ninety receptions for
six hundred and forty two yards and three three touchdowns
out of that group. Rogers is very happy to dump
(05:37):
it off this running back friendly when it comes to
the passage. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, but a lot of it was just if you're
gonna give me that al Nickel and Dimy to death
patient veteran quarterback.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Okay, So overall you would be looking at five hundred
and twenty nine touches out of your running backs. How's
that compared to that? Doesn't I don't have a certain
on either, but that's that's a good number of touches.
Would you put a bet down today that Johnson is
the leading rusher on the team. Yes, I would too. Yeah,
I'm not sure if it'll be the leading yardage running
(06:07):
I think the snap counts are pretty similar to what
they think it might have it nailed. Yeah, and you
got both got both backs, Warren and Johnson both finishing
with over one thousand total yards.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, right, all right, you'll do that. You'll take that
all day. I think that's accurate, and now I think
that's very acceptable. At wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
DK Metcalf one hundred and twenty one targets, seventy three
catches for one thy and twenty yards, six touchdowns. Fair.
Would you guess the run pass ratio remains the same.
It won't be more run heavy or good. It's a
little more pass heavy. I think a little more towards.
(06:50):
Not fifty to fifty. I think it's more like fifty
five forty five something along those lines. I said it's.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Two percentage three percentage more pass heavy than last year. Yeah,
because for you're not gonna have the fields design runs
too right, like that stuff just goes away.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah. George Pickens one hundred and sixteen targets, sixty nine catches,
nine hundred and eighty six yards, and six scores. So
you're getting almost one thousand, betweenty two of them. You're
getting two thousand yards receiving.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Let's say if you get kind of like the two
backs and twelve touchdowns, if you're over one thousand total
yards from Warren Johnson Pickins Metcalf, pretty good starts, not
a bad offense. Yeah, And this goes back to the
first projections. I might take the over on passing touchdowns
at least.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Between the two of them. What was it like, fourteen
to twelve between twelve, I bet they go more than
that combined. Yeah, Calvin Austin fifty four targets, thirty three catches,
four hundred and twenty one yards, and two scores. I
think you'd be happy with that, assuming one of the
two top guys doesn't miss significant times. You know, Roman
Wilson just thirteen targets, eight catches for ninety eight. He's
(08:00):
gonna get more than that. Yeah. So I have seen
some studies where second year guys that really don't perform
well in their rookie year have a terrible, terrible track record.
I think he's a little different though. Yeah. I mean
there was an injury, there was a.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Lack of opportunity, but usually a lack of opportunity just
because they weren't good enough.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, I'm not sure that's what happened. I think that
was the case. Yeah, he's had more than thirteen targets
overall out of your wide receivers, one hundred and eighty
four catches, twenty five hundred and thirty six yards, fourteen touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I'm definitely over on the touchdowns, but that's going back
to the passing touch I think I.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Go over on the catches. Yeah, well, I mean one
hundred and eighty four is a pretty good number, but
I do think that they get more. Again, I think
Roman Wilson's being undervalued there. Yeah, one hundred percent. I
could see him close. It's like eleven receiver catches a game,
and I think it's more like two hundred catches. Bumps
intuh twelve or thirteen catches per game. His projections are
(08:57):
ten point eight wide receiver catches per game. Yeah, I
bet that's hired that at tight end. This one's curious
to me. Friarmouth eighty three targets, sixty three catches, five
hundred and forty four yards, three touchdowns. Okay, I don't
know Rogers. I think he catches more touchdowns. I think
catches more touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers a king of the one
(09:19):
yard touchdown pass. That's a good point too, And he's
kind of aware of his stat in the situation.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I might take over on the targets too. And he
said eighty three, I bet he gets.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
To one hundred. That's the third most on the team
right by a pretty significant margin. I think middle of
the field throwing has to go up, and they're going
to go somewhere.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, even if it's Rudolph, they gave him money, you know, Like,
I think he's been under used a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
In the last Yeah, especially in the red zone. I
think he's right gonna be better in the red zone.
Darnell Washington is thirty three targets, twenty three catches, two
hundred and twenty yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
That's two targets a game. That's why I was really
gonna focus on the targets. Is to a game about
right for him, I would say, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Hayward is eight targets, six catches fifty one yards. Donald
par him three targets to catches eighteen yards. Over All,
your tight ends one hundred and twenty six targets, ninety
three catches for eight hundred and thirty three yards and
five touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Not bad about where they were in the ballpark. Yeah,
I think it's in the ballpark.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I think the arrow is pointing up on Friarmouth a
little bit, though. I don't think we's plate coed.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Uh. Moving over to the defense, well, they have. He
has Boswell at thirty of thirty three field goal attempts
and thirty four to thirty five in pats. Okay, there'll
be a down yere for him down here. That's only
eighty nine percent, right, that would actually be a down.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yearn for him. But there's weather. Yeah, he's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Uh. And then Cameron Johnston averaging forty six point eight
yards on his punts. He projects the punters. He's a sake.
He gives you the whole deal. Yeah, you are as
sick of Mike Clay. Looking at the defensive side of things.
You got Cameron Hayward playing seven hundred and sixty five snaps.
(11:08):
That's where you'd like to be. Seventy two tackles, four
point seven sacks. I think that's fair. I wanted to
play a little less. Yeah. Keon Nu Benton five hundred
and eighty four snaps, forty tackles, two point three sacks.
I bet he gets the three or more. Derek Harmon
(11:30):
four hundred and fifty seven snaps, three thirty three tackles,
two point three sacks. Okay, I mean there's gonna be
a rotation here, and you know they're three hundred pounders,
Daniel Akinwally three hundred and ninety three snaps, twenty eight tackles,
one point one sacks. Does he have him as the
fourth highest snap guy Yeah, among the limen, amongst the
(11:53):
defense line.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, I sat'll be true or not think he gets
more snaps than Lowry or I think go out snap back.
I need to learn more about him and see more
of him.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, as Isaiah louder Milk at one hundred and fifty
nine snaps, and Montrevius Adams who has been released today
eighty five snaps, So there's some extra snaps there for
somebody on the edge. TJ. Watt playing nine hundred and
fourteen snaps, sixty tackles, ten sacks, and I'm over ten sacks. Yeah,
(12:27):
in terms of his Fantasy Football rankings. Just to give
you some that's number two among edge rushers in terms
of IDP ranking projection. Yeah, okay. Alex Highsmith seven hundred
and ninety seven snaps. Well, Watt and high Smith are
always right around the same snap count, so that's seven
ninety Seven's a little low, but sixty tackles, nine sacks
(12:50):
and thirteenth in edge rushers.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I would take that from him, but I would not
take nineteen sacks from the pair.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
No, you need more than that. Yeah, Yeah. Nick Kerbik
two hundred and sixty six snaps, eighteen tackles, two point
nine sacks. I like the over on the sacks over Yeah,
I mean Jack Sawyer one hundred and fifty nine snaps,
eleven tackles, one point three sacks, So overall you're getting
twenty two point three to four sacks out of your
(13:20):
edge guys. I'd go over on that. I'd go over
on that. By the way, you had eleven point three
out of your defensive line, and say how much is
it cost the whole front, like thirty five ish something
like that. Yeah, but thirty five.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
That number has to be higher, to be higher, Yeah,
I mean that. That's my big thing this year is
more sacks, more yards per carry, because that's very doable.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
The inside backers Patrick Queen playing one thousand and nine snaps,
getting one hundred and twenty nine tackles, and every down
player is going to play over one thousand folks, just
so you know, that must be the most that they
that's our projected stat total because Joey Porter Junior and
Micka Fitzpatrick also at one thousand and nine, so you
can do the math there and how much he expects
everybody lightfield. Yeah, one hundred and twenty nine tackles, two sacks,
(14:04):
one point two interceptions. Fair Cole Hulcom next on the list.
I don't know about that. Three see why would but
now three hundred and ninety three snaps, fifty six tackles,
point eight sacks and point three interceptions. Peyton Wilson three
hundred and forty snaps.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
So they're basically totally fifty to fifty basically, Yeah, which
I guess him and Roberts were, So that's probably what
he's doing there.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Point forty nine tackles, point seven sacks, point three interceptions.
And then Malik Harrison with one hundred and fifty nine snaps,
twenty one tackles, a half a sack and point one interception.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I don't think Harrison will play a time, but I
could see a splash player two with his style.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah. At cornerback, you're looking at Joey Porter Junior with
one thousand and nine snaps the most right, seventy eight tackles,
one point four interceptions. I mean you get the four
or five interceptions is an awful lot. Darius Slay eight
hundred and fifty snaps, sixty one two point five interceptions.
I assume they think he'll get targeted more. Beanie Bishop
(15:06):
six hundred and ninety one snaps, fifty three tackles, one
point four interceptions, under on snaps by a lot. I
think it goes under Brandt makes team Brandon Eckles two
hundred and thirteen snaps. I think he gets more than
that seventeen tackles, point four interceptions.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I mean, you agree Eckles will play more than Bishop, right,
I think so. I think, I mean that might become more.
It will become more clear, But I would bet right now.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
And then Corey Trice with fifty three snaps, four tackles,
andener point one interceptions, So overall, out of your cornerbacks,
you're getting five point eight interceptions.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Seems low, But there's a reason he does this math.
I mean, it adds up year after year. Right, it's
all and we've been guilty of this segment two, But
it's real easy to go. That's enough. That's not enough.
That's why everyone bets overs in preseason. Yeah, yeah, not
all right?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
At safety? Make I Fitzpatrick one thousand and nine snaps,
ninety six tackles, point three sacks, one point three interceptions.
I know it's been low lately, but I'm definitely out
over going over one point three to Shaun Elliott eight
hundred and fifty snaps, one hundred and four tackles, point
eight sacks, two point one interceptions. I'll think ma could
have more sade or picks than a LEAs. I think
(16:20):
so too. One Thornhill four hundred and sixty eight snaps,
so they sees a lot of the three safety package.
Forty five tackles, one point one interceptions.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Yeah, I think you want him playing about fifty percent
of snaps. In that case, he's around forty ishs that'll work.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And then Miles Killerbrew gets thirty two defensive snaps overall,
two hundred and forty eight tackles, one sack, four point
seven interceptions out of four.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Point sevens not bad. I think get five picks out
of the safety position, you wouldn't be unhappy.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Good. Yeah, if you get overall, he looks he has
them rated for forty one sacks and thirteen interceptions. Well,
history tells us they're probably going to be over on
the picks lately for sure, and I think they'd like
to improve on the forty one sacks for two.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, and they should. I mean, I really think, especially
after this draft, you're as good a pass rushing team
as there is in the league pass rushers.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
The other factor is when you start looking at some
of the teams that are going to be on their schedule,
Like they're gonna play Cleveland twice. Who's Cleveland running out
their quarterback. Somebody's gonna take some sacks. Yeah, and I
don't like their line. Yeah yeah, right, So I mean,
and we'll go over the schedule here. You don't play Chicago.
He's notoriously a sack guy, but their line is better. Yeah.
Now he also has to win probability on these games.
(17:38):
Oh wow, that's a road game. So they win probabilities
at forty seven percent New England young quarterback. Yeah yeah,
not good on the road fifty one percent chance to
win that game. Baltimore at home only a thirty five
percent chance to win that game. That's kind of surprising.
(18:02):
History shows different in that Cleveland at home a seventy
seven percent chance to win that game. That might be
a little high. Seventy seven Stile Division game. Right, Buffalo
at home a thirty nine percent chance to win that game. Say,
I thought most of these would hover around fifty percent.
You know, Cincinnati on the road a forty five percent
(18:23):
chance to win that game. They you should do all
right there. Indianapolis at home a sixty two percent chance
to win that game. The Jets on the road, justin
fields first Aaron Rodgers sixty two. Yeah, sixty two percent
chance to win that game on the road. Seattle at home,
(18:44):
sixty one percent chance. Pretty piece favorite to that one. Yeah, again,
Darnold might take some sacks there. A tough road trip
for Seattle. Miami at home, fifty nine percent chance to
win that game. I have a got some December the blizzard,
the Chargers on the road rode fifty to fifty. There'd
be more Steeler fans in Chargers fan that building. Cleveland
(19:06):
on the road, seventy percent chance to win that game.
Doesn't sound like he's real high in the brownies? Does
sound like Ellie Caveat would be? Is it a Thursday
night game? Right? Short week? That's what I'm again. I'm like, hey,
what are you doing here? Can the Thursday night game
be here? Green Bay at home fifty to fifty percent
chance to win that game. By that, that have Green
(19:27):
Bay ahead of them in the power ranks right now.
Detroit on the road thirty three, twenty four percent chance
to win that game. Wow, that's their lowest of any
of their games by far. It should be. That's harder
than in Baltimore. Cincinnati at home fifty three percent chance
to win that game, Minnesota at home fifty three percent
(19:51):
chance to win that game, first year quarterback. Good team though,
and then Baltimore in Baltimore twenty seven percent chance to
win that to those the two toughest in Detroit and
Baltimore overall for the If you look at the schedule here,
the win probability comes in at fifty one percent for
the season. So they're gonna be picked to win more
games than they're gonna lose. Not if you look at it,
(20:14):
does that end up being a ten and seven record
or does he projector just looking at the over fifty
fifty percent or overs one two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten eleven. Oh Wow, so that's different than what I
remember doing that last year and it was like seven.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, I mean Clay thinks they're a
better football team than they were.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
This is this is running his analytics. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
than they were a year ago.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I mean, nothing will ever be Chalk and Vegas might disagree,
but it sounds like their favorites in eleven out of
seventeen games.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Or at least a fifty to fifty pick them. Oh okay, yeah,
because yet one there's two. Now there's two fifty fifty games. Okay,
So there's nine that their favorite, five no, six clear
dogs that they're dogs, and two that are yeah, that
(21:11):
are going to be depending on, Hey, who's healthy for
that game? And one of those is at home. The
other one is on the road, the Green Bay and
the Charger game. Okay, and those will be two fit Like,
you win both of those games, you should be in
pretty good shape. Now, I'll argue that that Charger game
on the road is not really a road game. I
would say the same. Maybe he does the same thing
if we do the Chargers right their road their home game,
(21:33):
and let's remember one of those home games is going
to be in Ireland.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Oh right right, so one of the home games that's
gonna be a pretty good home crowd. Though, I would think,
you know, you would think I would think, Yeah, but
interesting just interesting way to look at things there.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Anyways, let's get through a break. That's going to do
it for our little fantasy football focus. Here he is
Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. Well, you're listening to
the Drive here on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and
I will be back with more right after this.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
At least is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold cast in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Welcome back. I am Dale Lolly. He is the Matt
Williamson and Matt. We we've gone over the Steelers draft
picks here. Yeah, I think a little bit of how
we expect these guys to fit in. Let's talk about
some of the other drafts in the league here. We'll
start with together teams in the AFC North, So Baltimore
(22:35):
had a whole bunch of picks, but as I mentioned,
more than half of them were round six or later.
So one hundred and seventy eight through two forty three,
they made one, two, three, four, five, They made six
picks in what round picks? What picks? One seventy eight
through two forty three. Okay, uh, they had five picks,
(22:57):
picks twenty seven through one. So they got Malachi Starks,
a safety out of Georgia in first round. That's that's
a good pick up for them. Yeah. I agree, it's
all in safe, very raven. Yeah. Yeah. At fifty nine
they took a little bit of a chance on Mike Green,
who fell. I thought he was maybe a top fifteen
player in this draft. As a player, yes, but as
(23:20):
a person maybe not. Maybe not.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Now I'm not picking on them because they're the division
rival all that stuff, but there is a lot of
documentation that is on Baltimore Ravens dot com after the
Ray Rice stuff that we will not take any kind
of of those you know, risks with players, and if
you felt that good about him, would you wait at
(23:47):
the fifty nine I'm just saying I kind of cut
and pasted that from a podcast I listened to before that,
And this isn't ravenspecific, but it does bother me a
little bit sometimes that these guys that have characters concerns,
the team drafting them comes to the podium and says.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
We tarked all that stuff. We did our due our.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Due diligence and then knowing the media mentions it again
like well, what did you do?
Speaker 2 (24:10):
You know, I mean maybe didn't. Of course you did
your due diligence. You did on your third round pick
and your fourth round. It looked at everybody that was here,
you didn't wouldn't draft him. I'm rooting for the young man.
I hope that he's assault of the earth. But there's
a reason he didn't go in the first round. Yeah. Uh.
They took ninety one in the third round, Emery Jones,
the offensive tackle out of LSU. That was kind of
early for him. Yeah. I liked that they did take
(24:32):
two projected guards though. Yeah, you know, uh, I picked
one nine. They took Teddy Buchanan, the linebacker that was
California early for him. Yeah. Yeah, Carson Vincent at one
forty one. Again, when we talked about some of these
offensive linemen got pushed way up when we when we
did our mock drafts and stuff. Vincent was a guy
that was always available in round seven, right, all right,
you got Hemery Jones was a guy that was available
(24:54):
in round six when we picked Yep, they took billal
Cone Cone, the corner back out of Western Michigan and.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Warmed up to him late in the process. Good tester.
I think that's a nice pick, Hansy. But yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Then they took it with their second sixth round pick,
Tyler Loop the kicking old issues right, tells me that
Justin Tucker may not be a Raven much longer. Think
so because they said, well, he was the best kicker
in this draft. Okay, yeah, yeah, what does that mean
for your present kicker? Then? Right, he's not going to
be on the team. I doubt there's gonna be a
kicker battle, right, Yeah, no, he's gone. I think at
(25:30):
two oh three, they took Lejonte Wester, the wide receiver
out of Colorado. Then they took they got a kind
of a value pick here with their next couple, guys.
I thought the next two were nice. Yeah, two ten,
they got a Nis Peebles, a defensive tackle out of
Virginia Tech. A little undersize, but a good up the
field pass run. Yeah, a little different than what they
have though. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
I mean, I know, Matta Bouquet is not a massive
Sarahgusa type, but he's not little either, right, you know,
I mean most.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Of the guy's two hundred and eighty five pounds, right right,
they usually have big, big tackles. Then they got it
picked to twelve Robert Longerbeam the cornerback out of Rutgers.
He could stick. I wouldn't mind the Steelers grabbing it.
I had him as a possibility for the Steelers. Yeah, yeah,
earlier than that. And then uh it picked two forty three.
They took another guard, Garrett Dellinger, out of LSU.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Which how many LSU O Linman were in this draft?
I I hardly knew it about Elager because he might
have been a backup. But maybe if some scoop they
took two LSU offs.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
So essentially, I mean, if you look at it, Jones
and Vincent both might be guards. I assume they are. Yeah,
and then you took a third guard. Tell me you
say you have a problem with your guards. See that
I appreciate.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Even if you overdrafted them, you have to overdraft O
Limeman and their guard situation.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
To me was the weakest spot on the team. Yeah,
I mean I thought, you know Starks and Green were
both value picks. Yeah yeah, and then fall player yeah yeah,
so we'll see how that works out for them. I
like their draft.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Again, a lot of their picks because they made so many,
are six round and later.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
But if two or three of those guys stick around, good, yeah,
just get taking bites to the apple, you know. Cincinnati
in the first round took Shamar Stewart at seventeen. I
will say I like the Ravens draft much more than
the Ohio teams. They then took Demetrius Knight, the linebacker
out of South Carolina, in the second round to pick
(27:22):
forty nine. He's an older prospect at twenty five. I
thought that was way too early. I mean I liked
the player, yeah, but he's also twenty five. He is
what he is. I think he was my third linebacker.
He was somewhere in a rastic There was a big
fall up there. I wouldn't taken him at forty nine.
I didn't think it was a second round player. They
took in round three at eighty one Dylan Fairchriald, the
(27:43):
guard out of Georgia, who we both like. But too early.
Maybe in the fourth round, right, Yeah, again, a little
bit businesses draft. Unfortunately, at pick one nineteen, they took
Barrett Carter, the linebacker at a Clemson.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
So if you're gonna take a linebacker at forty nine
and you already Wilson. I don't understand doubling down there.
I know Pratt's not happy or whatever, but he shouldn't
change your life that much.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
No. Then they took another guard, basically Jalen Rivers at
pick one, FF three out of Miami. Similar situation, double
down on guards because you're bad there. Yeah, and they
are just like the Ravens, and I'm okay with that.
In round six, they took running back Taj Brooks out
of Texas Tech, who I.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Think will be there too. Yeah, and like I think
he'll be Fantasy relevant. That's fine. My problem with them
is only six picks, which isn't great. I don't trust
them to develop Stewart at all. I mean, there's no
history that that's what they're good at. No defensive and
it's too centric on this on two positions. I mean,
we'll get to this with the Browns, that's.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Inside linebacker and guard. They're not. It'd be differently.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
You're taking tackles in premium positions too, but you're doubling
down at linebacker, you're doubling down at guard, and I
think it's way too early for Night and I think
stuarts their ability to develop those guys has not shown
up at all.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Yeah. Uh, Cleveland had an interesting.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Drafty the most interesting draft in the league, and should
order something to do with that.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Of course, they traded back from two. Somebody said that
on last Wednesday that that might be a strong possibility,
and they took at five. They get picked up a
first round pick next year, which which is that massive. Yeah,
But they had a bunch of picks going into this
draft and they ended up a seven total. Yeah. Yeah
(29:33):
for a team that all the fifth round or higher. Yeah,
for a team that didn't have any of those middle
round guys they get.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I would rather they had the Ravens throw a bunch
of stuff at the day three, round six, and seven.
So at the fifth over room to make the Browns
roster than the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
They take Mason Graham, the defensive tackle out of Michigan.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Can we stop there for a minute. So I did
a podcast on Friday morning with only knowing what happened
in round one, and I thought, I understand, you traded
away from what I think is the best player in
this draft, and that may go down as like given
Atlanta Julio Jones, and you take Brandon Whedon. I mean,
that might be the history here, maybe, but I thought
(30:13):
with the shape of their roster, they're not really in
a position to maximize Hunter without an O line, without
a quarterback in place, So they got a lot to
move out of two. So I'm like, I think I
would have made that trade. Jackson'll give up too much,
I agreed, So I'm like, I think I would have
made that trade too, not knowing what happened in round
(30:34):
two and three. Then they take Graham, who I think
is vastly overrated.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Folks. That's Matt Williamson saying that, not Dale Lowly. I
just want to make that clear now.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I will say too that I would hate to pick
four or five this year. I think Campbell's overrated. I
think Graham's overrated. I would have taken Membo, but there
isn't a slam dunk pick there, and I would not
have taken genty. So I thought, Okay, they're being very
self introspective here. We can't handle Hunter, so we're going
(31:07):
to build our lines of scrimmage with a lot of
solid big men.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
And they didn't do it.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
The rest of the draft and they don't draft offensive lineman.
This might least fair drafting hole in the whole, the
whole thirty two.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
At pick thirty three, they take linebacker Carson Swesssinger out
of UCLA, who is a fine player. They're all fine players,
but none of them are premium positions and none of
them are O linemen. Yeah, having a bunch of running
backs and quarterbacks doesn't do any good if nobody blocks
for you and backup tight ends. Yeah, I hate this draft.
I love the resources. I understood the beginning, but they
(31:41):
should have three OH linemen on this list with the
pick they had three of the top thirty six picks. Yeah,
they come out of quin Shawn Judkins, the running back
out of Ohio State with their second second round pick
them I like, I liked the players, like Mason. I
didn't think Mason Graham was was good enough to be
the fifth overall if you had taken them at fifteen, right,
(32:02):
I get.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
It, But then who would you have taken a five.
There wasn't a slam Don I was taking genty. I
would take Hi Membo, you know. But yeah, okay, none
of them are.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
But then you have those two early third round or
second round picks, and you don't take an offensive lineman. There,
I'm with you. I think it's ridiculous. And then Fannin
and Gabriel to me are really bad picks. That's so
they take Harold fann and Junior at sixty seven. Yes,
who's a pass catching tight end? Who's a backup for you?
You have David and Joku, who you're paying a bunch
of money to to be your pass catching tight end. Right.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I know they like to employ two and three and
blah blah blah, but I don't understand that pick at all.
And you can't convince me that Dylan Gabriel's worth a
Day two pick.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
They took Dylan Gabriel ninety four. They traded up, traded up,
They traded picks away to take Dylan Gabriel ninety four.
Then doubled down at running back in round four at
one twenty six, taking running back Dylan Samson out of Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
This is all the easy stuff to find. Backup quarterbacks
and running backs and backup tight ends. I mean those
even off the ball linebackers. These are not hard things
to fix.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
And then they and then they added in the fifth
round Shador Sanders, because you can't. You got a double
down at quarterback. That's actually my favorite pick for that
I get the value of it. He might be a quarterback.
Now I've heard he might be a distraction.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Well he's going to be a distraction, yeah, you know,
but he's good at football, and I think he's he's
hopefully motivated, and motivation.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Has ever had a problem with the guy. He's tough,
and he was his dad, his his father. Who's the
head coach at Colorado We all know you say. Coach
put out a tweet two months ago into this process
that I don't know what the Browns are doing if
if they draft, if they draft Shador, we may just pully, right,
Browns aren't good enough for my side. We might we
(33:46):
might pully John Elway or a Manning here and not
going Maco. Well, now you're a fifth round pick.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
So I kind of got indications from insiders today that
this pick was the owner saying, now go get sand
We've been waiting here forever. We're the team to do it,
which to me is fine. At one hundred and forty four,
I don't even care about the distraction, But now you're
gonna go in Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
That's the that's the crime to me. Now, you used
a ninety fourth pick in this draft on Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
To me, that's the absolute crime. And a second running
back and a backup tight end and no alignment.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
I mean, like, this is what's called not having a plan, right,
I mean, okay, everything started with the Hunter trade. You
might have two picks in the top twelve or in
the top fifteen. That's quarterback time. This isn't nest building.
This is the cherry on top stuff. This is just
throwing darts at the board and saying, oh I, we'll
just take this guy. And that I don't get it.
(34:43):
And if Shador or if Gabriel or especially Shador looks
like they could be good for you, you got a
block form. I mean, the reason the Browns were successful
for that stint with Chubb and.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Why off line it was the line. I just don't
understand the team building philosophy here at all. And Kuiper
gave him an a plus because they took your door.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Of course everyone gives them its great because we know
these No Kuiper and I have respect for what mel too.
He lost his mind, but hey, Mel, you don't know
more than NFL teams don't act like a jackass on
the radio or on the on the on the air
every time some team passes on on shed Door Sanders.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
I couldn't watch any of it because we have the
volume killed and on that, but you could see him go.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
But everyone my son's texted me like, what's up with Kuiper?
You know, like because he it was like he was
Sdor Sanders' family member, right right, right, come on, man, right,
all right, you should know better. Teams are telling you
something here, right, And he never gives an a plus,
so he gives an a plus so that he can
say that you know and told you. And he's one
of the ones that killed the Steelers because they didn't
take it. They didn't take Shador Sanders. Maybe they didn't
(35:48):
want should Door Sanders. These guys like take it personally, Yeah,
I had him as my number one rated quarterback. You
were the only one, Mel, and you were wrong, and
you were wrong, you were wrong And what was the
seventh quarterback take and something like that went after Dylan
Gabriel for God's sakes. That tells me only know which
means the Gabriel picks a bat. It's a bad one.
It's a bad I would completely agree with that. They
(36:09):
should not have taken I couldn't believe they took Dylan
Gabriel a center. Take a guard, I mean, over, take
a guard. Take it. I don't care if they took
taking a seventh cornerback, it would have made more sense
than taking another quarterback then. I mean, everyone talked about, boy,
it wouldn't it be great to add Carter with Garrett. Well,
they didn't take another pass rusher either. Yeah, you know
what I mean, Like, don't give me tight ends and
(36:30):
second d edges all the way through this draft and
you didn't take didn't take one or no lineman. That's
they taking Jack swear there, right, it would have made
a lot more sense. It'd have been a contributor, right exactly.
I hate their draft, I really do. The Browns is
the Browns yep. Again, As a famous philosopher, Juju Smith
Schuster once said, so.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Shaudors off the field entourage stuff aside. Now you go
into camp trying to divvy out reps between Gabriel, Sanders, Picket,
and Flacco.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
That's why I doesn't need many because he's been in
that system at least, right, But the other three guys
do You don't.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Even know who your opening a starter is, which some
teams don't, and at this second, the Steelers don't either.
But that's hard on your coaching staff. You got four guys,
all of whom are probably gonna make the team.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
It's gonna be It has to be Flacco, it has
to be I assume unless Kenny shines, it's not gonna
be Sanders or Gabriel. How many snaps is Pickett gonna get?
I know, like it's because you can get You've got
two rookie quarterbacks on your Like, are you gonna make
a decision in mini camp? Are you gonna play? Are
you gonna give Shador Sanders snaps over Dylan Gabriel. I'm
(37:36):
wondering how they're gonna handle that because you because he's
drafted him fifty spots ahead of him, right, but I
think Sanders is better. I do too, right, and they
do too. But what you did here taking him fifty
picks later tells me that right, Gabriel pick to me
is a total mistake. I don't know. I don't like
any of it. The circus has come to town. Yeah,
and that's what it looks like. So it looks like
(37:57):
two backs, two quarterbacks. I mean, that's crazy Talk Center. Anyways,
there's some other interesting stuff that happened in the draft,
but that was the AFC North. We'll continue to yhack
about all the other teams and what they did in
the draft as well in the coming weeks here, but
let's get to another break. He is the Matt Williamson.
I am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here
on the Steelers Audio Network, and of course you can
(38:18):
hear the Drive every Monday through Friday right here on
these very airways from four to six pm, and we'll
continue that forever. That's what we do. So this is
the place to stop and get your Steelers information. You
can also download the Steelers mobile app and do it
that way, or you can watch along on YouTube. Give
(38:39):
us a thumbs up on there. We appreciate that, and
Tyler Viittmyer does a great job of getting that up
in a timely fashion on the YouTube. Leave us your
comments there as well. He's Matt Williamson, I'm Dale Lolly.
This is the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
He's the Drive with Dale Lolly. And Matt willilliam SI
on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black
and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Welcome back. I'm Dale Lolly. He is the Matt Williamson
and Matt. We've gone over the names of the players
that the Steelers have drafted in the twenty twenty five draft.
We play a little game here. We're gonna say this
at the same time and see what we come up with. Here.
Your favorite picked by the Steelers not right in three
(39:34):
count of three one two three cal Johnson.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Yeah, yeah, I mean Harmon was right there, but he
expected that. Yeah, and say that's kind of choky. And
but I will say Grant Goes, Nolan Goes.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
Got a little nervous. The Johnson. Both of those picks
were like Omar has some he's zones.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Just sticking with it, hanging with it. I do think
the Broncos did you a bit of a favor taking
Harvey instead of Johnson, and all of a sudden, you know,
you get him as a six running back off the
board I think where he really should have been the
top five and they jumped on it. But man, we
even talked about alive, like maybe a trade up here,
you know, Yeah, that's too good a fit.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
It's a great fit. And people are questioning his forty time,
which was four point five seven seconds, and the ten
or split wasn't great either. Yeah, here's the thing. They
do GPS measurements at all these schools, and he reached
He's reached as high as he's done twenty one a
bunch of times, which is moving. Got his fastest twenty
two mile an hour on GPS measurements on field. That
(40:41):
translates into the four threes right, running a forty, and
there are only a handful of players in the NFL
who have hit twenty two miles per hour, one of
them being dk metcalf.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
Yep, I don't think speed is an issue. I'm looking
for it now. There's some I tweeted it, but there's
a ton of long runs.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
I mean, okay, he that's a long one. I'll find
at some point. But he does have a lot.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Of long touchdown runs where he's not caught. He was
at the combine at Shoo twenty five and didn't run great,
But he went to his pro day at two thirty five,
didn't run. But to me, I bet those GPS numbers
were from a two hundred and thirty five pound back,
and I know he's a track background going back to
(41:29):
high school, but shorts and underwear coming out of the
blocks on a straight thing as opposed to ball in
hand with pads on at two thirty five. I'll trust
the other numbers more than that. And the breakaway runs, yeah,
a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
He's a really good outside zone runner, yep, in the
Arian Foster mode very much. So. Yeah, he's just very
decisive when he makes that cut. I've seen some other
people compare him to Le'Veon Bell in terms of, you know,
Le'Veon wasn't a My pursuits are pretty stuck on that
(42:05):
right now. Le'Veon was a four five to five for
you know, between four five five and four to six. Guy.
Now he did that at two hundred and forty pounds
and then continue to drop weight to get down there
like two twenty five and even lower than that over
the course with steeler career, nobody runs like Le'Veon.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
I say, I always talk about this, like with great backs,
it's they're like great guitar players, like I could hear
clap them play three notes and be like, let's clap,
and then Bell's.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
In that category. I mean, yeah, the stop Star stuff
was nuts. Nobody else like stop matrix like they were
running in the matrix and let guys will fly by
him and then takes off that way.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
But the pursuitter's point is the vision, the hit it
when you can big back. I hope Johnson turns in
and close to a receiving threat that Bell does. That's
just an incomplete They don't flow the ball. I mean,
I think it'll be fine in protection, but that's a projection.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
That's a projection. Yeah, if he gets to eleven on
a Bell, I mean again, these are high praise, sign
me up now. In fact, if he gets me Arian
Foster signed me up. Yeah, that guy was really good
for Yeah. Yeah, so you know, I just he doesn't
worry me, not at all. And I definitely think he's
more breakaway potential than Nausey. I know that. Yeah, he
showed that over time and again, you know, in college,
(43:19):
and you know I understand that that nause broke some
long runs in college, yeah as well, but nause was
doing that with some great wide receivers on the outside.
Oh yeah, Waddle and Vonta. Yeah, guys who are legit.
Four three and better guys on the outside. That the
scariest receivers in the league. There was no safety in
(43:41):
the box. Johnson was doing this against loaded boxes where
everybody in the stadium knew he was getting the football,
and he's still breaking long runs.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
It's sponkers, I mean, because again I had it here
a second ago.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
I just got rid of it. Nobody faced loaded boxes
more in college football last year. I'll sort of Ashton
genty than this guy. Right.
Speaker 3 (44:02):
It's the whole world is lined up against him because
he's the entire threat. And some of the stuff you
find just digging through the advanced numbers is crazy.
Speaker 2 (44:12):
He might as well have been out there in a
red jersey when everybody else is wearing black. That's the guy.
He's getting the football. Go get him. So he was
contact on runs that he was contacted behind the line
of scrimmage, Basically people didn't block anybody. Yeah, and he
still averaged one point nine yards per carry on those runs,
which is the sixty seven percent. Yeah, ninety nine is
(44:33):
where you want to be. But if he got to
the line of scrimmage without being contacted, he averaged ten
point two yards per carry. Just get him to the
line of scrimmage. I mean that was the ninety sixth percent.
Now it's like him and gent pretty good. Yeah. Yeah,
he's averaging over ten yards of carry if he's not
hit behind the line of scrimmage. That's insane to me.
(44:54):
I mean, in fact, he faced stack boxes over fifty
percent of his career runs with eight or more in
the box. No one else was at thirty nine percent
from this class quarterback, says Chuck Long Right, right right,
I mean I just haven't and he is the only
show And look him up, younger listeners, he was. He
(45:16):
was pretty good.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Yeah, he was like third Hives and boats and yeah,
gunslinger type. He was kind of fun. Yeah, but that
was I was young. That was in the eighties early eighties.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Yeah, it's been a while, Yeah, but no, I think
he's his life might get easier in the pros. I
think those two big receivers on the outside will certainly
help that. Yeah, yeah, I got a load of boxes
is going to go down. I just think that's just
a home run of a pick. I can't believe he
was there at eighty three.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Right, just shorty time helped the Steelers. Yeah, and same
with the receiving uncertainty. I don't want to say lack
of receiving because for the ball.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
Yeah, So to me, that was easily the best pick,
I mean, the best value everything. Yeah, just kind of
just lined up stars aligned on that one, like oh okay,
and so we're like, who could take them? Maybe the
Texans were weird running the like me, since he could happened,
and I'm like, okay, do we need to trade up
(46:13):
here for that to happen or is that? Uh?
Speaker 3 (46:16):
And I think it helped the Steelers that at that point,
what five or six running backs have been taken? How
many teams really had a running back need? Is someone
going to trade up ahead of the Steelers and have
them Probably not for that position. So hold your water
and man, that worked out.
Speaker 2 (46:30):
It really did. And I think that the draft worked
out pretty well overall for the Steelers. We'll find out.
Oh we haven't seen any of these guys play yet
in a Steelers uniform, but uh yeah, that's what the
off season program is for. And well that's gonna do
it for our program today. So for my partner Matt Williamson,
(46:51):
for Justin Miller here on site running the Justin Miller
hot line and the soundboard, and for Tyler Viittmeyer making
sure our video gets out there onto YouTube. Check it
out there, give us a thumbs up. We appreciate that.
I am Dale Lally. We thank you for listening to
this edition of the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
At least he's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome back. I am Dale Lolly, he is the Matt
Williamson and it is the start of our number two
and well it's time for us. No, we're not going
to monitor mock it up, right, psych what we're gonna do.
Here's a little fantasy football focus. Whoa the first one ever?
But we're not mocking that up yet. We're not marking
that up there. But Mike Clay, yeah on ESPN, has
(00:40):
come out with his projection.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
There's a lot of fantasy stuff that comes out exactly
when the draft ends. It becomes fantasy season pretty soon.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Right, So let's look at Mike Clay's Steeler projections. Here. Start,
he is assuming that Aaron Rodgers correctly so assigns with
the Steelers. Okay, that's how I would handle it too.
You don't want to do this as if he's not
and then redo it all, you know. Yeah, So what
he has for Aaron Rodgers projected numbers with the Steelers, uh,
(01:09):
five hundred and fifteen games, five hundred attempts, thirty three
hundred and twenty four completions, three hundred and fifty or
thirty five hundred and fifty seven yards, nineteen touchdowns, ten interceptions,
ninety nine yards rushing in a touchdown on twenty seven carries.
Would you take that? Well?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I preface this because I'm sure we have new listeners.
We're growing like crazy. The drives on fire. When these
these fantasy projections, they're always give for Mike played, they're
always gonna be low. It's only fifteen games. They do
that on purpose because people get hurt in the league,
you know what I mean, or you know, you sit
them out or whatever. I wouldn't take it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I wouldn't either. No, And I think I take the
rushing well, he had about that many rushing yards last year.
We're acting like he is completely immobile. He's not. He
used to be two hundred a year. Yeah, you know,
first down, break your back, Yeah yeah, yeah, he's not
that guy anymore. But he's not completely like he just
can't run at all. There won't be any designed run.
He's not. He's not been at the end. No, exactly exactly.
(02:11):
I don't think over nineteen. I'll take over nineteen touchdowns,
like and I might go under ten because he does
not throw. He's don't throw that many interceptions. Last year
was kind of the outlier if you look at the overall.
They also have Mason Rudolph playing two games. They have
the Steelers quarterbacks throwing for four and eleven yards, twenty
two touchdown passes, twelve interceptions, and rushing for one hundred
(02:33):
and eighteen yards in a score. I think they could
throw for four thousand, so that's not bad. I think
the yardage numbers about right. I'm going to take a
little over on passing. Take I'll take the more passing touchdowns.
That's about what they had this year.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Right right, And it's like last year. I mean I
remember having this. There's a lot of deja vu here,
like maybe they'll throw remember the joke last years And
they did, but not quite as much as I expected.
You know, Wilson has had a great red zone you know,
and didn't quite hit that mark here. But I still
(03:09):
think that's a smidge low.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Okay, At running back they have Jen he has Jalen
Warren one hundred and sixty five carries for seven hundred
and twenty one yards, four touchdowns, fifty two catches for
three hundred and seventy six yards in a touchdown. Pretty good.
So over a thousand, yeah, yeah. I don't want to
comment on it without here in the other two because
(03:31):
I'm just wondering how the divisional labors got to go.
You know, he has Caleb Johnson, the third round draft pick,
two hundred and seventeen rushing attempts, nine hundred and eighteen yards,
seven touchdowns, twenty five catches, one hundred and eighty yards
in a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I would take that. It sounds pretty darn good to me. Yeah,
you know, And I would take the combination.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's over four yards of carry. It's that's a big
thing to me too. As I was.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I don't know if it was in there, but it's
one of my things I'm harping on this year, and
I mean, you're gonna hear a lot more going forward.
Is four yards carry and could have cut it four
to two is a big difference of the course of
the year for to four.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now we're talking now, we're all right, right, right? Uh?
Does gainwell in there too? Or twenty six carries for
one hundred and seven yards in a score, four catches
for twenty seven yards. Cordell Patterson's still in their thirty
one carries for one hundred and thirty one yards, eight
catches for sixty yards.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I know he's a Steeler and probably is immature or
premature to say this, but I would cut Patterson out
of there. I wouldn't give it directly to gain Well,
but Gainwell's gonna have more yardage than that one, it's
all said. Yeah, I mean, the chance is Johnson and
Warren play every game. Are probably pretty slim too.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Overall, four hundred and thirty nine carries, okay, one eight
hundred and seventy eight rushing yards.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Let me give me those numbers here, eighteen seventy eight,
eighteen seventy eight divided by four to thirty nine four
three nine equals four point two seven seven seven.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Would take that right now almost for three yards of carry. Yeah,
four to two.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
It made a lot of difference last year. That means
there's probably a couple of longer runs in there, which
I think you're more apt to do with Gainwell, Johnson, Warren.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah, I'll take four to three. It's pretty good, pretty good, yeah,
I mean that probably gets you the fifteenth in the league.
And you know you're not gonna be take one Barkley,
but that I'll take that that. It adds up a
lot over the course of the year, ninety receptions for
six hundred and forty two yards and three three touchdowns
out of that group. Rogers is very happy to dump
(05:37):
it off this running back friendly when it comes to
the passage. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, but a lot of it was just if you're
gonna give me that al Nickel and Dimy to death
patient veteran quarterback.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Okay, So overall you would be looking at five hundred
and twenty nine touches out of your running backs. How's
that compared to that? Doesn't I don't have a certain
on either, but that's that's a good number of touches.
Would you put a bet down today that Johnson is
the leading rusher on the team. Yes, I would too. Yeah,
I'm not sure if it'll be the leading yardage running
(06:07):
I think the snap counts are pretty similar to what
they think it might have it nailed. Yeah, and you
got both got both backs, Warren and Johnson both finishing
with over one thousand total yards.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, right, all right, you'll do that. You'll take that
all day. I think that's accurate, and now I think
that's very acceptable. At wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
DK Metcalf one hundred and twenty one targets, seventy three
catches for one thy and twenty yards, six touchdowns. Fair.
Would you guess the run pass ratio remains the same.
It won't be more run heavy or good. It's a
little more pass heavy. I think a little more towards.
(06:50):
Not fifty to fifty. I think it's more like fifty
five forty five something along those lines. I said it's.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Two percentage three percentage more pass heavy than last year. Yeah,
because for you're not gonna have the fields design runs
too right, like that stuff just goes away.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah. George Pickens one hundred and sixteen targets, sixty nine catches,
nine hundred and eighty six yards, and six scores. So
you're getting almost one thousand, betweenty two of them. You're
getting two thousand yards receiving.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Let's say if you get kind of like the two
backs and twelve touchdowns, if you're over one thousand total
yards from Warren Johnson Pickins Metcalf, pretty good starts, not
a bad offense. Yeah, And this goes back to the
first projections. I might take the over on passing touchdowns
at least.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Between the two of them. What was it like, fourteen
to twelve between twelve, I bet they go more than
that combined. Yeah, Calvin Austin fifty four targets, thirty three catches,
four hundred and twenty one yards, and two scores. I
think you'd be happy with that, assuming one of the
two top guys doesn't miss significant times. You know, Roman
Wilson just thirteen targets, eight catches for ninety eight. He's
(08:00):
gonna get more than that. Yeah. So I have seen
some studies where second year guys that really don't perform
well in their rookie year have a terrible, terrible track record.
I think he's a little different though. Yeah. I mean
there was an injury, there was a.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Lack of opportunity, but usually a lack of opportunity just
because they weren't good enough.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, I'm not sure that's what happened. I think that
was the case. Yeah, he's had more than thirteen targets
overall out of your wide receivers, one hundred and eighty
four catches, twenty five hundred and thirty six yards, fourteen touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I'm definitely over on the touchdowns, but that's going back
to the passing touch I think I.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Go over on the catches. Yeah, well, I mean one
hundred and eighty four is a pretty good number, but
I do think that they get more. Again, I think
Roman Wilson's being undervalued there. Yeah, one hundred percent. I
could see him close. It's like eleven receiver catches a game,
and I think it's more like two hundred catches. Bumps
intuh twelve or thirteen catches per game. His projections are
(08:57):
ten point eight wide receiver catches per game. Yeah, I
bet that's hired that at tight end. This one's curious
to me. Friarmouth eighty three targets, sixty three catches, five
hundred and forty four yards, three touchdowns. Okay, I don't
know Rogers. I think he catches more touchdowns. I think
catches more touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers a king of the one
(09:19):
yard touchdown pass. That's a good point too, And he's
kind of aware of his stat in the situation.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I might take over on the targets too. And he
said eighty three, I bet he gets.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
To one hundred. That's the third most on the team
right by a pretty significant margin. I think middle of
the field throwing has to go up, and they're going
to go somewhere.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, even if it's Rudolph, they gave him money, you know, Like,
I think he's been under used a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
In the last Yeah, especially in the red zone. I
think he's right gonna be better in the red zone.
Darnell Washington is thirty three targets, twenty three catches, two
hundred and twenty yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
That's two targets a game. That's why I was really
gonna focus on the targets. Is to a game about
right for him, I would say, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Hayward is eight targets, six catches fifty one yards. Donald
par him three targets to catches eighteen yards. Over All,
your tight ends one hundred and twenty six targets, ninety
three catches for eight hundred and thirty three yards and
five touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Not bad about where they were in the ballpark. Yeah,
I think it's in the ballpark.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I think the arrow is pointing up on Friarmouth a
little bit, though. I don't think we's plate coed.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Uh. Moving over to the defense, well, they have. He
has Boswell at thirty of thirty three field goal attempts
and thirty four to thirty five in pats. Okay, there'll
be a down yere for him down here. That's only
eighty nine percent, right, that would actually be a down.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yearn for him. But there's weather. Yeah, he's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Uh. And then Cameron Johnston averaging forty six point eight
yards on his punts. He projects the punters. He's a sake.
He gives you the whole deal. Yeah, you are as
sick of Mike Clay. Looking at the defensive side of things.
You got Cameron Hayward playing seven hundred and sixty five snaps.
(11:08):
That's where you'd like to be. Seventy two tackles, four
point seven sacks. I think that's fair. I wanted to
play a little less. Yeah. Keon Nu Benton five hundred
and eighty four snaps, forty tackles, two point three sacks.
I bet he gets the three or more. Derek Harmon
(11:30):
four hundred and fifty seven snaps, three thirty three tackles,
two point three sacks. Okay, I mean there's gonna be
a rotation here, and you know they're three hundred pounders,
Daniel Akinwally three hundred and ninety three snaps, twenty eight tackles,
one point one sacks. Does he have him as the
fourth highest snap guy Yeah, among the limen, amongst the
(11:53):
defense line.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, I sat'll be true or not think he gets
more snaps than Lowry or I think go out snap back.
I need to learn more about him and see more
of him.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, as Isaiah louder Milk at one hundred and fifty
nine snaps, and Montrevius Adams who has been released today
eighty five snaps, So there's some extra snaps there for
somebody on the edge. TJ. Watt playing nine hundred and
fourteen snaps, sixty tackles, ten sacks, and I'm over ten sacks. Yeah,
(12:27):
in terms of his Fantasy Football rankings. Just to give
you some that's number two among edge rushers in terms
of IDP ranking projection. Yeah, okay. Alex Highsmith seven hundred
and ninety seven snaps. Well, Watt and high Smith are
always right around the same snap count, so that's seven
ninety Seven's a little low, but sixty tackles, nine sacks
(12:50):
and thirteenth in edge rushers.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I would take that from him, but I would not
take nineteen sacks from the pair.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
No, you need more than that. Yeah, Yeah. Nick Kerbik
two hundred and sixty six snaps, eighteen tackles, two point
nine sacks. I like the over on the sacks over Yeah,
I mean Jack Sawyer one hundred and fifty nine snaps,
eleven tackles, one point three sacks, So overall you're getting
twenty two point three to four sacks out of your
(13:20):
edge guys. I'd go over on that. I'd go over
on that. By the way, you had eleven point three
out of your defensive line, and say how much is
it cost the whole front, like thirty five ish something
like that. Yeah, but thirty five.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
That number has to be higher, to be higher, Yeah,
I mean that. That's my big thing this year is
more sacks, more yards per carry, because that's very doable.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
The inside backers Patrick Queen playing one thousand and nine snaps,
getting one hundred and twenty nine tackles, and every down
player is going to play over one thousand folks, just
so you know, that must be the most that they
that's our projected stat total because Joey Porter Junior and
Micka Fitzpatrick also at one thousand and nine, so you
can do the math there and how much he expects
everybody lightfield. Yeah, one hundred and twenty nine tackles, two sacks,
(14:04):
one point two interceptions. Fair Cole Hulcom next on the list.
I don't know about that. Three see why would but
now three hundred and ninety three snaps, fifty six tackles,
point eight sacks and point three interceptions. Peyton Wilson three
hundred and forty snaps.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
So they're basically totally fifty to fifty basically, Yeah, which
I guess him and Roberts were, So that's probably what
he's doing there.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Point forty nine tackles, point seven sacks, point three interceptions.
And then Malik Harrison with one hundred and fifty nine snaps,
twenty one tackles, a half a sack and point one interception.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I don't think Harrison will play a time, but I
could see a splash player two with his style.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah. At cornerback, you're looking at Joey Porter Junior with
one thousand and nine snaps the most right, seventy eight tackles,
one point four interceptions. I mean you get the four
or five interceptions is an awful lot. Darius Slay eight
hundred and fifty snaps, sixty one two point five interceptions.
I assume they think he'll get targeted more. Beanie Bishop
(15:06):
six hundred and ninety one snaps, fifty three tackles, one
point four interceptions, under on snaps by a lot. I
think it goes under Brandt makes team Brandon Eckles two
hundred and thirteen snaps. I think he gets more than
that seventeen tackles, point four interceptions.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I mean, you agree Eckles will play more than Bishop, right,
I think so. I think, I mean that might become more.
It will become more clear, But I would bet right now.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
And then Corey Trice with fifty three snaps, four tackles,
andener point one interceptions, So overall, out of your cornerbacks,
you're getting five point eight interceptions.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Seems low, But there's a reason he does this math.
I mean, it adds up year after year. Right, it's
all and we've been guilty of this segment two, But
it's real easy to go. That's enough. That's not enough.
That's why everyone bets overs in preseason. Yeah, yeah, not
all right?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
At safety? Make I Fitzpatrick one thousand and nine snaps,
ninety six tackles, point three sacks, one point three interceptions.
I know it's been low lately, but I'm definitely out
over going over one point three to Shaun Elliott eight
hundred and fifty snaps, one hundred and four tackles, point
eight sacks, two point one interceptions. I'll think ma could
have more sade or picks than a LEAs. I think
(16:20):
so too. One Thornhill four hundred and sixty eight snaps,
so they sees a lot of the three safety package.
Forty five tackles, one point one interceptions.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Yeah, I think you want him playing about fifty percent
of snaps. In that case, he's around forty ishs that'll work.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And then Miles Killerbrew gets thirty two defensive snaps overall,
two hundred and forty eight tackles, one sack, four point
seven interceptions out of four.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Point sevens not bad. I think get five picks out
of the safety position, you wouldn't be unhappy.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Good. Yeah, if you get overall, he looks he has
them rated for forty one sacks and thirteen interceptions. Well,
history tells us they're probably going to be over on
the picks lately for sure, and I think they'd like
to improve on the forty one sacks for two.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, and they should. I mean, I really think, especially
after this draft, you're as good a pass rushing team
as there is in the league pass rushers.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
The other factor is when you start looking at some
of the teams that are going to be on their schedule,
Like they're gonna play Cleveland twice. Who's Cleveland running out
their quarterback. Somebody's gonna take some sacks. Yeah, and I
don't like their line. Yeah yeah, right, So I mean,
and we'll go over the schedule here. You don't play Chicago.
He's notoriously a sack guy, but their line is better. Yeah.
Now he also has to win probability on these games.
(17:38):
Oh wow, that's a road game. So they win probabilities
at forty seven percent New England young quarterback. Yeah yeah,
not good on the road fifty one percent chance to
win that game. Baltimore at home only a thirty five
percent chance to win that game. That's kind of surprising.
(18:02):
History shows different in that Cleveland at home a seventy
seven percent chance to win that game. That might be
a little high. Seventy seven Stile Division game. Right, Buffalo
at home a thirty nine percent chance to win that game. Say,
I thought most of these would hover around fifty percent.
You know, Cincinnati on the road a forty five percent
(18:23):
chance to win that game. They you should do all
right there. Indianapolis at home a sixty two percent chance
to win that game. The Jets on the road, justin
fields first Aaron Rodgers sixty two. Yeah, sixty two percent
chance to win that game on the road. Seattle at home,
(18:44):
sixty one percent chance. Pretty piece favorite to that one. Yeah, again,
Darnold might take some sacks there. A tough road trip
for Seattle. Miami at home, fifty nine percent chance to
win that game. I have a got some December the blizzard,
the Chargers on the road rode fifty to fifty. There'd
be more Steeler fans in Chargers fan that building. Cleveland
(19:06):
on the road, seventy percent chance to win that game.
Doesn't sound like he's real high in the brownies? Does
sound like Ellie Caveat would be? Is it a Thursday
night game? Right? Short week? That's what I'm again. I'm like, hey,
what are you doing here? Can the Thursday night game
be here? Green Bay at home fifty to fifty percent
chance to win that game. By that, that have Green
(19:27):
Bay ahead of them in the power ranks right now.
Detroit on the road thirty three, twenty four percent chance
to win that game. Wow, that's their lowest of any
of their games by far. It should be. That's harder
than in Baltimore. Cincinnati at home fifty three percent chance
to win that game, Minnesota at home fifty three percent
(19:51):
chance to win that game, first year quarterback. Good team though,
and then Baltimore in Baltimore twenty seven percent chance to
win that to those the two toughest in Detroit and
Baltimore overall for the If you look at the schedule here,
the win probability comes in at fifty one percent for
the season. So they're gonna be picked to win more
games than they're gonna lose. Not if you look at it,
(20:14):
does that end up being a ten and seven record
or does he projector just looking at the over fifty
fifty percent or overs one two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten eleven. Oh Wow, so that's different than what I
remember doing that last year and it was like seven.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, I mean Clay thinks they're a
better football team than they were.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
This is this is running his analytics. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
than they were a year ago.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I mean, nothing will ever be Chalk and Vegas might disagree,
but it sounds like their favorites in eleven out of
seventeen games.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Or at least a fifty to fifty pick them. Oh okay, yeah,
because yet one there's two. Now there's two fifty fifty games. Okay,
So there's nine that their favorite, five no, six clear
dogs that they're dogs, and two that are yeah, that
(21:11):
are going to be depending on, Hey, who's healthy for
that game? And one of those is at home. The
other one is on the road, the Green Bay and
the Charger game. Okay, and those will be two fit Like,
you win both of those games, you should be in
pretty good shape. Now, I'll argue that that Charger game
on the road is not really a road game. I
would say the same. Maybe he does the same thing
if we do the Chargers right their road their home game,
(21:33):
and let's remember one of those home games is going
to be in Ireland.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Oh right right, so one of the home games that's
gonna be a pretty good home crowd. Though, I would think,
you know, you would think I would think, Yeah, but
interesting just interesting way to look at things there.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Anyways, let's get through a break. That's going to do
it for our little fantasy football focus. Here he is
Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. Well, you're listening to
the Drive here on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and
I will be back with more right after this.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
At least is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt
Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold cast in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Welcome back. I am Dale Lolly. He is the Matt
Williamson and Matt. We we've gone over the Steelers draft
picks here. Yeah, I think a little bit of how
we expect these guys to fit in. Let's talk about
some of the other drafts in the league here. We'll
start with together teams in the AFC North, So Baltimore
(22:35):
had a whole bunch of picks, but as I mentioned,
more than half of them were round six or later.
So one hundred and seventy eight through two forty three,
they made one, two, three, four, five, They made six
picks in what round picks? What picks? One seventy eight
through two forty three. Okay, uh, they had five picks,
(22:57):
picks twenty seven through one. So they got Malachi Starks,
a safety out of Georgia in first round. That's that's
a good pick up for them. Yeah. I agree, it's
all in safe, very raven. Yeah. Yeah. At fifty nine
they took a little bit of a chance on Mike Green,
who fell. I thought he was maybe a top fifteen
player in this draft. As a player, yes, but as
(23:20):
a person maybe not. Maybe not.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Now I'm not picking on them because they're the division
rival all that stuff, but there is a lot of
documentation that is on Baltimore Ravens dot com after the
Ray Rice stuff that we will not take any kind
of of those you know, risks with players, and if
you felt that good about him, would you wait at
(23:47):
the fifty nine I'm just saying I kind of cut
and pasted that from a podcast I listened to before that,
And this isn't ravenspecific, but it does bother me a
little bit sometimes that these guys that have characters concerns,
the team drafting them comes to the podium and says.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
We tarked all that stuff. We did our due our.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Due diligence and then knowing the media mentions it again
like well, what did you do?
Speaker 2 (24:10):
You know, I mean maybe didn't. Of course you did
your due diligence. You did on your third round pick
and your fourth round. It looked at everybody that was here,
you didn't wouldn't draft him. I'm rooting for the young man.
I hope that he's assault of the earth. But there's
a reason he didn't go in the first round. Yeah. Uh.
They took ninety one in the third round, Emery Jones,
the offensive tackle out of LSU. That was kind of
early for him. Yeah. I liked that they did take
(24:32):
two projected guards though. Yeah, you know, uh, I picked
one nine. They took Teddy Buchanan, the linebacker that was
California early for him. Yeah. Yeah, Carson Vincent at one
forty one. Again, when we talked about some of these
offensive linemen got pushed way up when we when we
did our mock drafts and stuff. Vincent was a guy
that was always available in round seven, right, all right,
you got Hemery Jones was a guy that was available
(24:54):
in round six when we picked Yep, they took billal
Cone Cone, the corner back out of Western Michigan and.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Warmed up to him late in the process. Good tester.
I think that's a nice pick, Hansy. But yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Then they took it with their second sixth round pick,
Tyler Loop the kicking old issues right, tells me that
Justin Tucker may not be a Raven much longer. Think
so because they said, well, he was the best kicker
in this draft. Okay, yeah, yeah, what does that mean
for your present kicker? Then? Right, he's not going to
be on the team. I doubt there's gonna be a
kicker battle, right, Yeah, no, he's gone. I think at
(25:30):
two oh three, they took Lejonte Wester, the wide receiver
out of Colorado. Then they took they got a kind
of a value pick here with their next couple, guys.
I thought the next two were nice. Yeah, two ten,
they got a Nis Peebles, a defensive tackle out of
Virginia Tech. A little undersize, but a good up the
field pass run. Yeah, a little different than what they
have though. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
I mean, I know, Matta Bouquet is not a massive
Sarahgusa type, but he's not little either, right, you know,
I mean most.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Of the guy's two hundred and eighty five pounds, right right,
they usually have big, big tackles. Then they got it
picked to twelve Robert Longerbeam the cornerback out of Rutgers.
He could stick. I wouldn't mind the Steelers grabbing it.
I had him as a possibility for the Steelers. Yeah, yeah,
earlier than that. And then uh it picked two forty three.
They took another guard, Garrett Dellinger, out of LSU.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Which how many LSU O Linman were in this draft?
I I hardly knew it about Elager because he might
have been a backup. But maybe if some scoop they
took two LSU offs.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
So essentially, I mean, if you look at it, Jones
and Vincent both might be guards. I assume they are. Yeah,
and then you took a third guard. Tell me you
say you have a problem with your guards. See that
I appreciate.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Even if you overdrafted them, you have to overdraft O
Limeman and their guard situation.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
To me was the weakest spot on the team. Yeah,
I mean I thought, you know Starks and Green were
both value picks. Yeah yeah, and then fall player yeah yeah,
so we'll see how that works out for them. I
like their draft.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Again, a lot of their picks because they made so many,
are six round and later.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
But if two or three of those guys stick around, good, yeah,
just get taking bites to the apple, you know. Cincinnati
in the first round took Shamar Stewart at seventeen. I
will say I like the Ravens draft much more than
the Ohio teams. They then took Demetrius Knight, the linebacker
out of South Carolina, in the second round to pick
(27:22):
forty nine. He's an older prospect at twenty five. I
thought that was way too early. I mean I liked
the player, yeah, but he's also twenty five. He is
what he is. I think he was my third linebacker.
He was somewhere in a rastic There was a big
fall up there. I wouldn't taken him at forty nine.
I didn't think it was a second round player. They
took in round three at eighty one Dylan Fairchriald, the
(27:43):
guard out of Georgia, who we both like. But too early.
Maybe in the fourth round, right, Yeah, again, a little
bit businesses draft. Unfortunately, at pick one nineteen, they took
Barrett Carter, the linebacker at a Clemson.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
So if you're gonna take a linebacker at forty nine
and you already Wilson. I don't understand doubling down there.
I know Pratt's not happy or whatever, but he shouldn't
change your life that much.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
No. Then they took another guard, basically Jalen Rivers at
pick one, FF three out of Miami. Similar situation, double
down on guards because you're bad there. Yeah, and they
are just like the Ravens, and I'm okay with that.
In round six, they took running back Taj Brooks out
of Texas Tech, who I.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Think will be there too. Yeah, and like I think
he'll be Fantasy relevant. That's fine. My problem with them
is only six picks, which isn't great. I don't trust
them to develop Stewart at all. I mean, there's no
history that that's what they're good at. No defensive and
it's too centric on this on two positions. I mean,
we'll get to this with the Browns, that's.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Inside linebacker and guard. They're not. It'd be differently.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
You're taking tackles in premium positions too, but you're doubling
down at linebacker, you're doubling down at guard, and I
think it's way too early for Night and I think
stuarts their ability to develop those guys has not shown
up at all.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Yeah. Uh, Cleveland had an interesting.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Drafty the most interesting draft in the league, and should
order something to do with that.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Of course, they traded back from two. Somebody said that
on last Wednesday that that might be a strong possibility,
and they took at five. They get picked up a
first round pick next year, which which is that massive. Yeah,
But they had a bunch of picks going into this
draft and they ended up a seven total. Yeah. Yeah
(29:33):
for a team that all the fifth round or higher. Yeah,
for a team that didn't have any of those middle
round guys they get.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I would rather they had the Ravens throw a bunch
of stuff at the day three, round six, and seven.
So at the fifth over room to make the Browns
roster than the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
They take Mason Graham, the defensive tackle out of Michigan.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Can we stop there for a minute. So I did
a podcast on Friday morning with only knowing what happened
in round one, and I thought, I understand, you traded
away from what I think is the best player in
this draft, and that may go down as like given
Atlanta Julio Jones, and you take Brandon Whedon. I mean,
that might be the history here, maybe, but I thought
(30:13):
with the shape of their roster, they're not really in
a position to maximize Hunter without an O line, without
a quarterback in place, So they got a lot to
move out of two. So I'm like, I think I
would have made that trade. Jackson'll give up too much,
I agreed, So I'm like, I think I would have
made that trade too, not knowing what happened in round
(30:34):
two and three. Then they take Graham, who I think
is vastly overrated.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Folks. That's Matt Williamson saying that, not Dale Lowly. I
just want to make that clear now.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I will say too that I would hate to pick
four or five this year. I think Campbell's overrated. I
think Graham's overrated. I would have taken Membo, but there
isn't a slam dunk pick there, and I would not
have taken genty. So I thought, Okay, they're being very
self introspective here. We can't handle Hunter, so we're going
(31:07):
to build our lines of scrimmage with a lot of
solid big men.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
And they didn't do it.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
The rest of the draft and they don't draft offensive lineman.
This might least fair drafting hole in the whole, the
whole thirty two.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
At pick thirty three, they take linebacker Carson Swesssinger out
of UCLA, who is a fine player. They're all fine players,
but none of them are premium positions and none of
them are O linemen. Yeah, having a bunch of running
backs and quarterbacks doesn't do any good if nobody blocks
for you and backup tight ends. Yeah, I hate this draft.
I love the resources. I understood the beginning, but they
(31:41):
should have three OH linemen on this list with the
pick they had three of the top thirty six picks. Yeah,
they come out of quin Shawn Judkins, the running back
out of Ohio State with their second second round pick
them I like, I liked the players, like Mason. I
didn't think Mason Graham was was good enough to be
the fifth overall if you had taken them at fifteen, right,
(32:02):
I get.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
It, But then who would you have taken a five.
There wasn't a slam Don I was taking genty. I
would take Hi Membo, you know. But yeah, okay, none
of them are.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
But then you have those two early third round or
second round picks, and you don't take an offensive lineman. There,
I'm with you. I think it's ridiculous. And then Fannin
and Gabriel to me are really bad picks. That's so
they take Harold fann and Junior at sixty seven. Yes,
who's a pass catching tight end? Who's a backup for you?
You have David and Joku, who you're paying a bunch
of money to to be your pass catching tight end. Right.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I know they like to employ two and three and
blah blah blah, but I don't understand that pick at all.
And you can't convince me that Dylan Gabriel's worth a
Day two pick.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
They took Dylan Gabriel ninety four. They traded up, traded up,
They traded picks away to take Dylan Gabriel ninety four.
Then doubled down at running back in round four at
one twenty six, taking running back Dylan Samson out of Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
This is all the easy stuff to find. Backup quarterbacks
and running backs and backup tight ends. I mean those
even off the ball linebackers. These are not hard things
to fix.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
And then they and then they added in the fifth
round Shador Sanders, because you can't. You got a double
down at quarterback. That's actually my favorite pick for that
I get the value of it. He might be a quarterback.
Now I've heard he might be a distraction.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Well he's going to be a distraction, yeah, you know,
but he's good at football, and I think he's he's
hopefully motivated, and motivation.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Has ever had a problem with the guy. He's tough,
and he was his dad, his his father. Who's the
head coach at Colorado We all know you say. Coach
put out a tweet two months ago into this process
that I don't know what the Browns are doing if
if they draft, if they draft Shador, we may just pully, right,
Browns aren't good enough for my side. We might we
(33:46):
might pully John Elway or a Manning here and not
going Maco. Well, now you're a fifth round pick.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
So I kind of got indications from insiders today that
this pick was the owner saying, now go get sand
We've been waiting here forever. We're the team to do it,
which to me is fine. At one hundred and forty four,
I don't even care about the distraction, But now you're
gonna go in Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
That's the that's the crime to me. Now, you used
a ninety fourth pick in this draft on Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
To me, that's the absolute crime. And a second running
back and a backup tight end and no alignment.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
I mean, like, this is what's called not having a plan, right,
I mean, okay, everything started with the Hunter trade. You
might have two picks in the top twelve or in
the top fifteen. That's quarterback time. This isn't nest building.
This is the cherry on top stuff. This is just
throwing darts at the board and saying, oh I, we'll
just take this guy. And that I don't get it.
(34:43):
And if Shador or if Gabriel or especially Shador looks
like they could be good for you, you got a
block form. I mean, the reason the Browns were successful
for that stint with Chubb and.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Why off line it was the line. I just don't
understand the team building philosophy here at all. And Kuiper
gave him an a plus because they took your door.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Of course everyone gives them its great because we know
these No Kuiper and I have respect for what mel too.
He lost his mind, but hey, Mel, you don't know
more than NFL teams don't act like a jackass on
the radio or on the on the on the air
every time some team passes on on shed Door Sanders.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
I couldn't watch any of it because we have the
volume killed and on that, but you could see him go.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
But everyone my son's texted me like, what's up with Kuiper?
You know, like because he it was like he was
Sdor Sanders' family member, right right, right, come on, man, right,
all right, you should know better. Teams are telling you
something here, right, And he never gives an a plus,
so he gives an a plus so that he can
say that you know and told you. And he's one
of the ones that killed the Steelers because they didn't
take it. They didn't take Shador Sanders. Maybe they didn't
(35:48):
want should Door Sanders. These guys like take it personally, Yeah,
I had him as my number one rated quarterback. You
were the only one, Mel, and you were wrong, and
you were wrong, you were wrong And what was the
seventh quarterback take and something like that went after Dylan
Gabriel for God's sakes. That tells me only know which
means the Gabriel picks a bat. It's a bad one.
It's a bad I would completely agree with that. They
(36:09):
should not have taken I couldn't believe they took Dylan
Gabriel a center. Take a guard, I mean, over, take
a guard. Take it. I don't care if they took
taking a seventh cornerback, it would have made more sense
than taking another quarterback then. I mean, everyone talked about, boy,
it wouldn't it be great to add Carter with Garrett. Well,
they didn't take another pass rusher either. Yeah, you know
what I mean, Like, don't give me tight ends and
(36:30):
second d edges all the way through this draft and
you didn't take didn't take one or no lineman. That's
they taking Jack swear there, right, it would have made
a lot more sense. It'd have been a contributor, right exactly.
I hate their draft, I really do. The Browns is
the Browns yep. Again, As a famous philosopher, Juju Smith
Schuster once said, so.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Shaudors off the field entourage stuff aside. Now you go
into camp trying to divvy out reps between Gabriel, Sanders, Picket,
and Flacco.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
That's why I doesn't need many because he's been in
that system at least, right, But the other three guys
do You don't.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Even know who your opening a starter is, which some
teams don't, and at this second, the Steelers don't either.
But that's hard on your coaching staff. You got four guys,
all of whom are probably gonna make the team.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
It's gonna be It has to be Flacco, it has
to be I assume unless Kenny shines, it's not gonna
be Sanders or Gabriel. How many snaps is Pickett gonna get?
I know, like it's because you can get You've got
two rookie quarterbacks on your Like, are you gonna make
a decision in mini camp? Are you gonna play? Are
you gonna give Shador Sanders snaps over Dylan Gabriel. I'm
(37:36):
wondering how they're gonna handle that because you because he's
drafted him fifty spots ahead of him, right, but I
think Sanders is better. I do too, right, and they
do too. But what you did here taking him fifty
picks later tells me that right, Gabriel pick to me
is a total mistake. I don't know. I don't like
any of it. The circus has come to town. Yeah,
and that's what it looks like. So it looks like
(37:57):
two backs, two quarterbacks. I mean, that's crazy Talk Center. Anyways,
there's some other interesting stuff that happened in the draft,
but that was the AFC North. We'll continue to yhack
about all the other teams and what they did in
the draft as well in the coming weeks here, but
let's get to another break. He is the Matt Williamson.
I am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here
on the Steelers Audio Network, and of course you can
(38:18):
hear the Drive every Monday through Friday right here on
these very airways from four to six pm, and we'll
continue that forever. That's what we do. So this is
the place to stop and get your Steelers information. You
can also download the Steelers mobile app and do it
that way, or you can watch along on YouTube. Give
(38:39):
us a thumbs up on there. We appreciate that, and
Tyler Viittmyer does a great job of getting that up
in a timely fashion on the YouTube. Leave us your
comments there as well. He's Matt Williamson, I'm Dale Lolly.
This is the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
He's the Drive with Dale Lolly. And Matt willilliam SI
on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black
and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Welcome back. I'm Dale Lolly. He is the Matt Williamson
and Matt. We've gone over the names of the players
that the Steelers have drafted in the twenty twenty five draft.
We play a little game here. We're gonna say this
at the same time and see what we come up with. Here.
Your favorite picked by the Steelers not right in three
(39:34):
count of three one two three cal Johnson.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Yeah, yeah, I mean Harmon was right there, but he
expected that. Yeah, and say that's kind of choky. And
but I will say Grant Goes, Nolan Goes.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
Got a little nervous. The Johnson. Both of those picks
were like Omar has some he's zones.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Just sticking with it, hanging with it. I do think
the Broncos did you a bit of a favor taking
Harvey instead of Johnson, and all of a sudden, you know,
you get him as a six running back off the
board I think where he really should have been the
top five and they jumped on it. But man, we
even talked about alive, like maybe a trade up here,
you know, Yeah, that's too good a fit.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
It's a great fit. And people are questioning his forty time,
which was four point five seven seconds, and the ten
or split wasn't great either. Yeah, here's the thing. They
do GPS measurements at all these schools, and he reached
He's reached as high as he's done twenty one a
bunch of times, which is moving. Got his fastest twenty
two mile an hour on GPS measurements on field. That
(40:41):
translates into the four threes right, running a forty, and
there are only a handful of players in the NFL
who have hit twenty two miles per hour, one of
them being dk metcalf.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
Yep, I don't think speed is an issue. I'm looking
for it now. There's some I tweeted it, but there's
a ton of long runs.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
I mean, okay, he that's a long one. I'll find
at some point. But he does have a lot.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Of long touchdown runs where he's not caught. He was
at the combine at Shoo twenty five and didn't run great,
But he went to his pro day at two thirty five,
didn't run. But to me, I bet those GPS numbers
were from a two hundred and thirty five pound back,
and I know he's a track background going back to
(41:29):
high school, but shorts and underwear coming out of the
blocks on a straight thing as opposed to ball in
hand with pads on at two thirty five. I'll trust
the other numbers more than that. And the breakaway runs, yeah,
a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
He's a really good outside zone runner, yep, in the
Arian Foster mode very much. So. Yeah, he's just very
decisive when he makes that cut. I've seen some other
people compare him to Le'Veon Bell in terms of, you know,
Le'Veon wasn't a My pursuits are pretty stuck on that
(42:05):
right now. Le'Veon was a four five to five for
you know, between four five five and four to six. Guy.
Now he did that at two hundred and forty pounds
and then continue to drop weight to get down there
like two twenty five and even lower than that over
the course with steeler career, nobody runs like Le'Veon.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
I say, I always talk about this, like with great backs,
it's they're like great guitar players, like I could hear
clap them play three notes and be like, let's clap,
and then Bell's.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
In that category. I mean, yeah, the stop Star stuff
was nuts. Nobody else like stop matrix like they were
running in the matrix and let guys will fly by
him and then takes off that way.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
But the pursuitter's point is the vision, the hit it
when you can big back. I hope Johnson turns in
and close to a receiving threat that Bell does. That's
just an incomplete They don't flow the ball. I mean,
I think it'll be fine in protection, but that's a projection.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
That's a projection. Yeah, if he gets to eleven on
a Bell, I mean again, these are high praise, sign
me up now. In fact, if he gets me Arian
Foster signed me up. Yeah, that guy was really good
for Yeah. Yeah, so you know, I just he doesn't
worry me, not at all. And I definitely think he's
more breakaway potential than Nausey. I know that. Yeah, he
showed that over time and again, you know, in college,
(43:19):
and you know I understand that that nause broke some
long runs in college, yeah as well, but nause was
doing that with some great wide receivers on the outside.
Oh yeah, Waddle and Vonta. Yeah, guys who are legit.
Four three and better guys on the outside. That the
scariest receivers in the league. There was no safety in
(43:41):
the box. Johnson was doing this against loaded boxes where
everybody in the stadium knew he was getting the football,
and he's still breaking long runs.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
It's sponkers, I mean, because again I had it here
a second ago.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
I just got rid of it. Nobody faced loaded boxes
more in college football last year. I'll sort of Ashton
genty than this guy. Right.
Speaker 3 (44:02):
It's the whole world is lined up against him because
he's the entire threat. And some of the stuff you
find just digging through the advanced numbers is crazy.
Speaker 2 (44:12):
He might as well have been out there in a
red jersey when everybody else is wearing black. That's the guy.
He's getting the football. Go get him. So he was
contact on runs that he was contacted behind the line
of scrimmage, Basically people didn't block anybody. Yeah, and he
still averaged one point nine yards per carry on those runs,
which is the sixty seven percent. Yeah, ninety nine is
(44:33):
where you want to be. But if he got to
the line of scrimmage without being contacted, he averaged ten
point two yards per carry. Just get him to the
line of scrimmage. I mean that was the ninety sixth percent.
Now it's like him and gent pretty good. Yeah. Yeah,
he's averaging over ten yards of carry if he's not
hit behind the line of scrimmage. That's insane to me.
(44:54):
I mean, in fact, he faced stack boxes over fifty
percent of his career runs with eight or more in
the box. No one else was at thirty nine percent
from this class quarterback, says Chuck Long Right, right right,
I mean I just haven't and he is the only
show And look him up, younger listeners, he was. He
(45:16):
was pretty good.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Yeah, he was like third Hives and boats and yeah,
gunslinger type. He was kind of fun. Yeah, but that
was I was young. That was in the eighties early eighties.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Yeah, it's been a while, Yeah, but no, I think
he's his life might get easier in the pros. I
think those two big receivers on the outside will certainly
help that. Yeah, yeah, I got a load of boxes
is going to go down. I just think that's just
a home run of a pick. I can't believe he
was there at eighty three.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Right, just shorty time helped the Steelers. Yeah, and same
with the receiving uncertainty. I don't want to say lack
of receiving because for the ball.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
Yeah, So to me, that was easily the best pick,
I mean, the best value everything. Yeah, just kind of
just lined up stars aligned on that one, like oh okay,
and so we're like, who could take them? Maybe the
Texans were weird running the like me, since he could happened,
and I'm like, okay, do we need to trade up
(46:13):
here for that to happen or is that? Uh?
Speaker 3 (46:16):
And I think it helped the Steelers that at that point,
what five or six running backs have been taken? How
many teams really had a running back need? Is someone
going to trade up ahead of the Steelers and have
them Probably not for that position. So hold your water
and man, that worked out.
Speaker 2 (46:30):
It really did. And I think that the draft worked
out pretty well overall for the Steelers. We'll find out.
Oh we haven't seen any of these guys play yet
in a Steelers uniform, but uh yeah, that's what the
off season program is for. And well that's gonna do
it for our program today. So for my partner Matt Williamson,
(46:51):
for Justin Miller here on site running the Justin Miller
hot line and the soundboard, and for Tyler Viittmeyer making
sure our video gets out there onto YouTube. Check it
out there, give us a thumbs up. We appreciate that.
I am Dale Lally. We thank you for listening to
this edition of the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
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