September 10, 2025 • 36 mins
Matt and Wes begin to turn the page and look ahead to Seattle. Chris Halicke joins the show with all the latest from the South Side.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Your tune is about drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good evening, Steelers Nation. How we do it back on
the drive here West Yuler, Matt Williamson. I don't know, Matt.
We had this discussion a couple of weeks ago. It's
five o'clock now, right, so I don't know. I guess
it's kind of evening. It's no longer afternoon. I'm just
leave it alone. I'll leave it be. I'll leave it be.
But it is time here for our umber two on
(01:00):
a Wednesday, a kind of pseudo Matt Stats segment, but
it can kind of be an intro to Matt Stats.
That's a good way to put it. A prequel, a
prologue something like that, if you will is we'll go
through some different numbers, some things that have been unearthed
as again on this Wednesday. You kind of start to
turn the page and look ahead, and you have brought
(01:23):
up a few times, and I think rightfully so, Jackson
Smith and Jigba his usage there just how big of
a part he was, his target share for that Seattle offense.
He led the team last week against the Niners nine catches,
one hundred and twenty four yards. It was his fourth
career game with one hundred plus receiving yards. This is
(01:44):
also Matt two, Jackson Smith, and Jigbo. The last time
these teams played two years ago out in Seattle, he
had a touchdown reception from Gino Smith in that game
and played pretty well. DK Metcalf was a part of
that team as well too, So a guy who is
going to be a massive part of Seattle's offense scored
a touchdown obviously against a secondary that will look much
(02:07):
different than the last time he faced the Steelers. Yeah,
but what have you unearthed on his usage so far?
What do you expect that to look like Sunday at
Akersher Stadium?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
So kind of interesting. This ties in with Metcalf. So
last year with Gino Metcalf Lockett, there a much different team.
They're all gone up into. Metcalf got injured. I think
it was like week five or six last year in
a Seahawks uniform, and at that point Metcalf was People
don't realize this. He was having his best year as
(02:37):
a pro. Missed two games or three games.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I don't have in front of me, but you'll get
the idea. With a knee.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I think came back and really wasn't quite the same,
And while he was gone, the shift of the offense
went much more towards JSN. And part of the reason is,
unlike last week, Metcalf is a down the field player.
You need time to throw. And their offensive line was
amongst the worst in the league, and they used the
(03:04):
first round pick on offensive lineman. I can't remember if
we mentioned this or not, but crazy the Steelers' first
four opponents all used the first round pick on offensive
lineman this year. I think we did about that. Yeah,
so they've all be and they all needed it. I mean,
the low lines are works in progress. Jets looked like
they did a long way to fix theirs. Seattle based
off Week one did not fix THEIRS. But Zabel's a
(03:26):
good player. He's gonna be the left guard anyway. So
Metcalf returns from injury, and at this point it's much
more of a get it out of your hands, shorter
controlled passing game. Gino's good at all and Smith and
Jigba from that point on, from the injury on, really
was the focal point of the offense. And I do
think Metcalf may have returned a little early. He didn't
(03:48):
look as good post injury as pre Now. He wasn't
bad when he came back, but he was at his
best before his injury, which I'm sure the Steelers are
in the trade said we think we're getting that version,
and from what I've seen in camp and in Week one,
I think they did.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
But who knows.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
That was part of, you know, the complaints was you'd
be like Metcalf's coming off his worst year, like, yeah,
but before the injury, he was coming off his best year. Anyway,
that doesn't matter anymore. He's not there.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
He's a Steeler.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Week one, Smith Dijigba was the only thing that went
well for the offense. I think Seattle's defense is great.
We'll talk about them the next couple of days, but
their offense is problematic. New offensive coordinator, several new linemen,
new quarterback Cooper Cups there, who frankly I think is
(04:39):
kind of washed.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I think he's running on fumes. Yeah, he has a
lot of tread left on those tires.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
And he was a.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Strange addition because Smith Njigba is mostly a slot. He's
not slot only. He's mostly a slot and played a
lot outside in Week one, which he's good at, but
he's best in the slot because Cup is slot.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Only at this point.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I mean he he can't line up outside the numbers
and beat man coverage like he once could, not that
it was ever a specialty. So Cup has to be
in the slot. Horton, the rookie is an outside the
numbers type deep threat. He's their third guy. But didn't
get a target, you know there He's not gonna be
out there a ton, but he's their third guy. But
it's rare for Smith the Jigba or any player to
(05:26):
get the usage that.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
He did and we won.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I mean he accounted for like sixty percent of their yards.
I mean like he was the whole offense.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
That's like uh, Jamar Chase numbers.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
It's like Will Chamberlain numbers. I mean it's like everything
that was good was him. You know, like he's got Wilt,
the guy's got a hundred points. So you can't let
that happen. It was the only good thing to happen
their offense. They didn't run the ball well. They possessed
the football for twenty that's really rude. Didn't run many plays,
(05:57):
didn't block particularly well. I thought Darnold played fine. He
had a turnover late that everyone's blaming. Oh he's back
to Earth, But he played fine. Smith and Jigba is
a star in the making, but in that game he
was all they got. Now what do the Steelers do
about that? I would think this one's more is easier
than the Garrett Wilson conversation, especially if Porter's out to say, Ramsey,
(06:22):
you got JSN because in the slot, great, that's what
he does outside. Okay, you could do it. Yeah, you know,
Echoles could be your slot Verse Cup. You know, I
don't really want Porter or Slay going in the in
the slot a lot. But if Porter's out, I think
I think you're gonna see a lot of Ramsey JSN
and you will no matter what. But that I'm pretty
(06:46):
comfortable with.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
I think it is an advantageous matchup for the Steelers defense. Yeah,
I want to see that translate though, like if we are,
if we're going well, I think there is a lot
to like. Obviously I'm not breaking news here on the
offensive side of the football. Last week, some of the
stuff with the protection, certainly some of the stuff with
the run game, but you still managed to score thirty
(07:10):
four points and get the best quarterback play that you've
gotten in the post Ben Roethlisberger era by far. If
the defense can kind of I don't want to say
match that because that's the wrong way to put it.
But if the defense can start to show some signs
of being the unit we think they're capable of.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Being, got to be better than what they did, that's.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Where the optimism would really start. And Matt A, you
know another hodgepodge of randomness from you. The Steelers since
Week thirteen of last year, yeah, have allowed twenty seven
point six points per game. Now, we also shared that
stat of the Steelers split last year of their record
when they allowed eighteen points or less. They didn't lose
(07:50):
a game nineteen points or more. They were brewed two
and six or whatever they are and five whatever they
ended up being. Since Week thirteen of last year, twenty
seven point six points allowed. If you're gonna start getting
that moving in the right direction. This feels like the
right opponent. This feels like a team an offense in
Seattle that is right for the picking.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I also thought the Jets were I mean I picked
that game to be seventeen sixteen. It was the lowest
over under total of the week, and I think this
one does too. But this one screams two good defenses.
And I still think the Steelers count. I know Seattle counts.
We had this conversation before the season. I thought there's
five or six defenses that potentially could be the best
(08:34):
in the league.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
These are two of them.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Week one does not make me look intelligent at all
with that, with the Steelers and what they allowed to
what was not a good offense a year ago in
New York. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. But
this Seattle offense does look right for the picking of
if you cannot let Smith and Jigba be a dominant
player and you can get after Darnold, who doesn't handle
(08:59):
pressure great. Their run game wasn't good in Week one.
The offensive line is not particularly good, the tight ends,
the other pass catchers are poor, I mean at this stage,
but it's amazing that it's rare that you'll see somebody
be account for such a large amount of the receiving
production as he did in Week one. He was the
total show.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Chamber I liked.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I like that announcement. Let's let's put the clamps down
on that on Sunday. Let's let's force them to go elsewhere.
Let's force them to try and lean on Kenneth Walker.
He was another one who had a touchdown last time
these two teams played in Seattle a couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
People look at Walker like he's clearly the one, but
it was almost an even split between him and sharbon A,
and neither one really shined. They both were fine, but
I mean the blocking was poor. They got issues, and
Nick Bosa was a terror. You would hope Watt would
be a terror. Wat's gone five straight games without a
sack first time his career, and.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
I think he's due.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I don't think he forgot how to sack quarterback, but
this is the longest LEUWL of his career that needs
to end.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
That's noteworthy, it certainly is.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
And the left side lines much better than the right.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Okay, interesting, So that's one of those better change.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
It seems for the defense.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
And I thought TJ well played well. Thought I thought
TJ well played well. I thought t J. Watt played
well on Sunday. But you're right that that is now
a fifth straight game without a sack I'm sure that's
something he's aware of, something in the right direction. If
this can be a game where the defense holds an
opponent to under twenty gets right, feels good about themselves,
(10:42):
you see some growth from the offense. I think we
would all be very optimistic, h you know after week two.
But that is kind of your hodgepodge of random to
set the to set the stage there, we will have
a full deep dive into all of Matt's stats, numbers, analytics,
the game behind the game.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
He get turned in as a final document Wednesday night.
So that's that's what I do after my night shore
tonight is put the I.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Saw the rough draft of it. I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Uh, but in there the bullet point on Smith the
JIGBA is pretty crazy. I mean, just the the usage
and air yards he's accounted for and all the stuff.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
We'll get into.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Well, well we'll dig into those weeds uh tomorrow, Uh
deep dive on the program. But we've got to get
to a break now because when we come back on
the other side, our buddy Chris Hallick, he covers the
Steelers for dk Pittsburgh Sports. He's one of Matt and
I's favorite guys on the beat. Uh, we've talked about
how we want.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
To host the weekly podcast with Chris. Yes, you do.
He is.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
He is, you know, one of the guys that we
hang out with when we're on the road and those
type of things. And he is, you know, similar to
what we said about Chris A. Dansky yesterday. He's a
boots on the ground reporter at the facility, at the
practices all the time. So we'll ask him about some
of these injury concerns, some of these roster moves, and
what he thinks about Porter Junior and Nick her big
status ahead of Sunday. All that and more with Chris
(12:04):
when we return on the other side, West Huler, Matt Williamson,
you are listening to the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Driving along here on a Wednesday, into the phone lines
we go, and he's gonna be one of our Well,
he's not a new friend in real life, Matt, but
he's a new friend of the show here. It's our
buddy Chris Hallick. He covers the Steelers for DK Pittsburgh's orts. Chris,
what's up, man, Welcome to the chaos, and thank you
so much for taking the time.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
Thanks guys for having me man. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Hey, so let's get right into some of this roster
moving and shaking and injury stuff. Since you are, you know,
are our boots on the ground, real real journal real
reporter down there at practice. Let's start with Joey Porter Junior.
That's an interesting one because you know, Mike Tomlin said
that I think optimistic was the word that he used.
(13:29):
But you see the move today of James Pierre being
activated as well too. Is there anything there in the
tea leaves? Is that just you know, standard operating procedure
for the Steelers as they you know, work out the
roster every single week. Or do you think that there
is a real possibility that we won't see Joey Porter
Junior in the home opener Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
I think there's a real possibility you don't see him.
But you know, there are a number of variables to
go into this. The first thought that I had actually
when James Pierre was activated wasn't necessarily because of Joey
Porter Junior. Is because well, they only have so many
times they they can call a guy up from the
practice squad and activate him before they have to put
him on the roster anyway too, you know, right, And
(14:15):
and then the other part of that is, like, I
know that they really really like James Pere on special teams,
and I know they don't want to lose that type
of guy. So that's kind of what I chalked that
up more to. But yeah, with Joey Porter Jr. Listen,
I think there's a possibility he doesn't play. But I
also think that given the nature of the injury, and
(14:36):
anytime it's a soft tissue a hamstring or calf or
anything like that, you never want a chance that you
never want to rush a guy back. And when you
have a guy such as Jalen Ramsey that can you
can just slot right in to play on the outside,
and you then bring in Jabrill Peppers to be able
to play some safety for you understand that helps make
up for the loss of Deshaun Elliott. But you know,
you've got a number of guys want the one Hill
(14:57):
can play a little bit more of the of the
free safety that he that Ramsey normally plays in the
base defense, So I don't think you're necessarily lacking too much.
Whenever you decide, hey let's not rush it with Porter,
let's get him healthy, Let's make sure we have him in.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
The long run.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
Meanwhile, we can have a really good tandem on the
outside at cornerback in Jalen Ramsey and Darius play. So
I think that's more the mentality there. So it wouldn't
surprise me at all if Porter doesn't play. But we
we have yet to see what what the what the
participation level is in practice.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
So this is down the line and frankly not ultra important,
but it's pretty rare for them to only have two
quarterbacks on the roster. Do you think Howard's back sooner
than later? I mean, what what do you think they
do with that third spot?
Speaker 5 (15:43):
That's definitely interesting that they do only have two right now,
and they've brought Logan woodsided, you know, for the for
the practice squad. But you know they're going to have
to have an emergency third quarterback. You know, you know,
you can't go into a game without me. You could,
in theory go into a game without but with the
way with the beating that brought or that that Aaron
(16:03):
Rodgers had and the game that Broder Jones had. I
don't know if you necessarily want to be going into
a game with only two quarterbacks. So it's no, no,
it's not. So you'd like to think that maybe, Okay,
if Skyler Thompson is going to be an ir which
means he's going to be out for at least the
next four weeks, then okay, you know, then maybe Will
(16:24):
Howard's you know, on the mend and he can be
back by the time the Steelers get back from Ireland,
and when they host the Browns in week six, maybe
he's that third guy, because again, you have three times
you can elevate a guy from the practice squad. So
maybe Logan Woodside is that emergency third quarterback for weeks two, three,
and four, and by the time you know, the week
five bye is in, is in the is in the
(16:45):
rearview mirror in week six rules around, maybe Will Howard
is good to go.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Chris uh Maybe kind of final housekeeping one from from
me as it relates to Nick Herbig. Seemed like Mike
Tommin was a little more optimistic with him. You think
I think we see her Big make his season debut
on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Well, the fact that he was limited in practice every
single day last week is already a pretty good sign.
And no, he wasn't active on Sunday, but you know,
they obviously had a plan in place because they didn't
even elevate an edge rusher from the practice squad. They
only elevated Pierre. That was the only guy who called
it from the package from the practice squad last week.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
So and plus Harrison played a little edge too, and
that's not in the mix right now.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Yeah, it's not. So you you either have to go
with her big this week if you feel like he's
healthy enough where you probably have to to bring a
guy up from the practice squad like de Marvin Leale.
I think there's a much better chance he plays. But again,
it's gonna it's his participation level in practice. He's not
quite on that level where Mike Tom's gonna be like,
(17:50):
you know what, if he doesn't practice throughout the week,
it's okay, you know, I'm gonna go ahead. No, he's
gonna be a guy that's gotta He's probably got to
have at least a full day of participation, at least
one day full participation this week if we have any
real chance of seeing him on.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Sunday, Chris, I haven't seen or heard your opinion yet
on Peppers. Are you a fan? What do you think
he brings the table? What do you think his role
is this week is maybe even more importantly the rest
of the year going forward.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Well, I would think at least right away that I
would be shocked if he plays a bunch of snaps
on Sunday, because he's got to get acclimated to the defense.
So if for fans who are excited about the about
the addition, I wouldn't expect to see him too often.
I would still expect to see more Wan Thorn Hill,
Chuck Clark like that, that that, like that safety tandem.
(18:41):
But not saying you won't see him at all. But listen,
this is a versatile guy. It's a guy that Mike
Common obviously has has seen play. He was in Cleveland
for a couple of years. His versatile. This team loves
having guys who can play multiple positions, and that's exactly
what Peppers does. He's a guy. Uh to think that
(19:01):
at some point they could have in theory wants to
Shawn Elliott's back to any any like when you have
Jalen Ramsey to Shawn Elliott and Jabrill Peppers, like you
have a lot of guys who can just lay the wood,
like you have a lot of guys you can really hit,
and that's the kind of defense. I think that that
fans would would really really like to see. But no,
(19:22):
I think it's I think he's going to be a
player that that fans that are really going to like
because of again, that this ability to play all over
the place and the ability to to lace a big hit.
I'm shoot, we saw how excited fans were after the
way Jalen Ramsey put you know, slammed the door on
the Jets. You know, it's it's a different level of
excitement when a guy can hit a guy really really
(19:42):
hard and make play doing it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Certainly, can you saw the pop from that the the
NFL Films video and and Steelers social video too of
Aaron Rodgers celebrating and getting all fired up on the sideline.
Hopefully plenty more of that Sunday in the home opener
against Seattle before we do kind of turn the PA
in that direction. Chris Hallick with us here on the drive.
I just wanted to get your thoughts on Aaron Rodgers
(20:06):
and just the encouragement, the excitement now going forward. I mean,
the run game was not there, the pass protection was
not there, and he was still able to have a
four touchdown performance, no turnovers, just what they needed from
the future Hall of Fame quarterback. I think, Chris that's
(20:26):
a pretty encouraging starting point for a guy who didn't
play in the preseason. Same with DK Metcalf, not a
ton of in stadium work up to that point. If
they can really work out some of those issues with
the offensive line, get the run game just on some
kind of stable footing, I think people are going to
be very thrilled, very excited from what we see from
(20:47):
Aaron Rodgers all year.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
As they're talking about because Pro Football Focus knows exactly
what they're talking about their grading system, and they gave
him a pretty poor grade of fifty four and a half. No,
I'm joe like he was awesome and and what grades
like that don't take into account is are the type
of things that he does before the snap, the little
details he makes when he when he's trying to you know,
(21:11):
the one the first touchdown pass of the game, he
made this point at the safety who was creeping down
and then brought Calvin Austin over in motion, and that's
part of the design play. But when you make that
point and you almost make it look like you're bringing
a guy in to look like you're trying to block
for a run or something along those lines, you're you're
doing everything you can to sell out or to make
(21:34):
the defense sell out for the run, when you're really
obviously running play action and lo and behold. You know,
Ben Scronik runs streaking across the middle of the field
and the closest thing to him or the ends of
his golden locks flying out of the back of his
helmet because there's no jet around him in sight. Because
you know, you have like when when you have a
quarterback that can do that kind of stuff before the snap,
(21:55):
who can diagnose the defense, that already gives you an advantage.
And then when you look at what he did from
a clean pocket, which was like twenty of twenty five, like,
that's wildly efficient. And if this offensive line can figure
out a way to protect him on any kind of
regular basis you're looking at I'm not saying that this
is going to be the twenty twenty one version of
(22:16):
Rogers or anything like that. But you're he's already shown
you what he can do when he's given time to
throw and get through his reads and his progressions, and
an arm talent still there. Man, I would be very,
very encouraged based off of what we saw on Sunday.
I thought it was a great performance and a level
of quarterback we haven't seen in quite a while.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
So not everything was Roses on Sunday, to say the least.
And this is something Wess and I have not discussed,
but I've been kicking around in my cranium lately. That
first off, there's this misconception when the run defense isn't
good enough, go get Casey Hampton, go get Joel Steed.
And that's not really how the league works anymore. And
there's so much nickel, there's so much you know, you
(22:57):
don't just stick a huge fire plug in the middle
of the defense to solve everything. That being said, the
more I watched Benton and I don't know your opinion
on this, Chris, I don't think he's a nose. I
think he's miscast there that U K Lee I thought
played pretty well. I'm super high on ya. Black, would
you consider kind of a position change and having those
(23:20):
two be your nose and let Benton do more Cam
Hayward harmon stuff.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Personally, I agree with you. I don't think Benton's a nose.
And actually, whenever they were going into the offseason initially
and I knew they were going to be focusing heavily
on defensive tackle from the very beginning of the draft process,
remember learning that back covering the Senior Bowl like that
was going to be their key emphasis right away. And
I'm thinking, okay, well, Benton's you know, they can get
(23:49):
another really like interior guy, maybe more.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Of an or somebody like that.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and then and then they could
slide Benton out to play more of the four eye,
which is what the defensive end is in the three
four in the Steelers three four. And that's not that
hasn't been the case. Now. Just because I think that
and you think that, that doesn't mean that's what Mike
Tomlin's thinking, because that's not what he's thinking right now.
He's not thinking about, you know, potential changes. And I
understand why, you know, you don't want to flap flap
(24:15):
in the wind and make a change oh hey, week one,
we got we got to make a change. It's because
you know, when you do that, you show instability, you
show lack of faith, and then players lose lack of
faith in themselves and themselves and it's a it's a
difficult line to ride, for sure.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
But entirely to blame for the issues. But no, but no, but.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
There were some I mean, the very first run of
the game, he got absolutely walloped by the right guard
and the right guard comes over and he's you know,
immediately takes on the center, and then the right guard
comes over from like knocks him over to the point
where he then falls over a guy who's trying to
block Cam Hayward. And that was the one thing that
blew that entire play, because everybody else had a gap
filled or was on a block and was able to
(24:59):
get off of the block, and all it took was
that one little crease for Brisall to go for eighteen yards.
And sometimes that's all it takes is one.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Guy and real quickly.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
There's a lot of instances in that game, as well
as the Raven game, where Benton's in the lap of
Wilson and Queen and they can't do their jobs.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Yeah, exactly, and that makes it really difficult. And the
one guy and already have seen And I don't understand
why the level of or the lack of faith that
fans have and Patrick Queen, I'm sorry, I don't see
how you can watch that game and think that Patrick
Queen was part of the problem. He wasn't.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
Like.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
Some of it was schematics, which the coaches like Mike
Tomlin even said, like, we have to do better job
of supporting these guys schematically. But that defensive line also
had a hard hard time. They were getting pushed around
by a Jude offensive line that's, in my professional opinion,
really struggled last year.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
They certainly did, and I I think they are an
improved unit. I think they will be a much better
offensive line in New York. But don't think any of
us expected it to look that good right out of
the gate, especially without Elijah Vera Tucker. And speaking of
offensive lines, Chris, last one I've got for you. I
know you were in the locker room today after practice.
What's the mood? What was the conversation like around Roderick
(26:21):
Jones After some struggles in week one, Oh.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Brod, He spoke to the media today, and you know,
that's part of the job. You got to face the
music when you play, when you play bad, and he
he didn't run away. He was very forthright and saying, hey,
I didn't play well. I wasn't happy with it. And
then when asked about like what he's working on the sixth,
he said everything like you could tell he wasn't he
(26:50):
wasn't satisfied with that performance. He's he's unhappy with it.
And that's well you should hear probably after a performance
like that. And so but the one good thing is
that you know, guys, especially a guy such as Aaron Rodgers,
is not throwing him under the bus. You know, he's saying,
I still have a lot of faith. I mean, Aaron
Rodgers spoke today too, he said, I still have a
lot of faith in Broader. You know, I like Broad.
(27:11):
I like he's a positive mind guy, and and said
a lot of you know, good things about him. And
sometimes that's you know, all all it takes, you know,
to at least have a guy in a good headspace,
make sure that he's not, you know, beating himself up,
and then maybe he can clean some things up in
practice and maybe he you know, turns in a better
game against the Seahawks, you know, and and just take
it one game at the time. But yeah, the mood
(27:32):
is always fine, and that's what it should be, you know,
after after, especially after a win, because even even though
some some things can be really really bad in a game,
a win.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Is a win.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
And that's why you still see guys smiling in the
locker room after the game, because you can be like, yeah,
I played like absolute trash, but hey, we won and
we will take the we'll take the lessons with a
with a one to zero record instead of an O
and one record. So but you know, these guys are
you know, continue to their turn the page to the Seahawks.
And Broderick is doing that too, and he's working on
(28:04):
a lot of things.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
You don't think he's playing times in any Jeopardy right now.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
Yeah, I wouldn't think so, just I wouldn't think that's
that's kind of early. And now I understand. So here's
here's the line. The Steelers have to ride here and
Omar Kahn and Mike Tomlin, these guys have to ride.
Is that this like they have to make a decision
on his fifty year options massive and that's a mass Like, yeah,
(28:29):
that's a massive decision they have to make. Now that
was then tell you long term, okay, no matter what,
he's playing all seventeen games, because we need to know.
But at the same time, you've built this roster with
Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, and you went out and got
Jaylen Ramsey and you got DK Metcalf And this is
a roster that is from the way that they built.
(28:49):
It is built to try to compete. And if you
feel like you have a real chance to compete, but
Brodrick Jones is allowing your forty one year old quarterback
to get obliterated every week, you might have to make
a change to give yourself a legitimate chance because I
don't think you have a chance of competing if Aaron
Rodgers isn't the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
On the bench either, right.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
That would yeah, yeah, Calvin Anderson is your backup. So
like but but then and see that's the thing, Calvin
Anderson is a pro true you feel like you right,
if you feel like, okay, listen, like rod is not
getting the job done. If he does like three sacks
and four pressures every week, that's a problem, Like you
(29:32):
can at least put Calvin Anderson and be like, Okay, well,
at least I know this guy's a pro. He might
not be very good, but at least he's going he's
gonna keep Aaron Rodgers up right a little bit more
often than Broaderick is and shoot, man, we need Aaron
if we're going to compete for a Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
That they certainly do. Chris Halleck kind enough to take
some time for us here on a busy Wednesday. Make
sure you're checking out his work DK Pittsburgh Sports. Chris,
thanks so much for the time, dude, and uh and
we'll be looking forward to talking to you throughout the season.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
You guys, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
There he is there, he goes Chris Hallick down to
the facility, boots on the ground and yeah, Matt, that
I mean a lot of good information there. And there's
a lot that needs to even on the back of
a win, and a lot to be encouraged by. There's
certainly a lot that needs to be improved upon. Sunday
starts in the trenches, though on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
We didn't talk about stel a run game. It's way
below the bar right now.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
You know certainly, certainly one more segment to go. We'll
wrap up this show when we return on the other side.
Matt Williamson west Shuler, It's the Drive on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Final segment of the day here on the Drive as
we close down this Wednesday and our kind of final
in between ish day here you look ahead on Wednesday,
you do your final crossing t's and dott and eyes
from the previous week. And Matt, I wanted to follow
up with you on something that you asked our buddy
Chris Hallick there, which I thought was very good, various
(31:23):
stute and deserves just a few more minutes of conversation.
Keanu Benton usage, Yeah, because I do think that it's
one week, but there's also a simple size from last
year where people are starting to wonder if maybe he's
being asked to do some square peg roundhole type things.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Yeah, and I think he kind of has been from
the start. We know the nose tackle position is no
longer Casey Hampton, you know, I just eat up two blocks,
take that center and eat up both a gaps. That's
not really what they're looking for. But Casey Hampton useful
right about now.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Well he would be useful at any in history.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
But I yes, but yes, And what's weird about the situation.
I threw out Black or uk Lee being a combination
or the full time nose and moving Benton. I think
it'd be much better for Benton long term, but he
hasn't really done it. I mean playing the four I
position is the inside shoulder of the tackle is that's
(32:26):
you know, It's where Cam Hayward lines up. It's not
something people doing as much in college. It's kind of
a Steeler thing. It's an Aaron Smith thing, you know,
Like it's not you would think you just line up
over big people.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
It's all the same.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
It isn't blocks come at you different, you attack the
quarterback different, et cetera. So he wouldn't be able to
do it overnight. And he still is going to be
a defensive tackle in They're Nickel and Dime, which is
a four man front and which is a high percentage anyway.
But I think it's a failed experiment at him. It
knows more and more, he just does not play the
run well enough or stout enough where be that guy
(33:02):
right now?
Speaker 4 (33:02):
And I think there's a lot of ability there.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
There is certainly a lot of ability there. We all
saw it on display his rookie season. That hasn't gone anywhere,
but I think I think especially against opponents like the
Jets that are going to be very run heavy, right,
Baltimore gonna be very run heavy.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Oh yeah, up the middle of power stuff, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
It seems like again and again it you do want
to use the sample size from last year because that
obviously carries over three him. But at the same time too,
you do have to kind of draw a line in
the sand of this is a new year and that's
just one game. But I I just I think you're
flirting with the whole definition of insanity thing doing the
(33:42):
same thing but expecting different results. You're flirting with it.
I'm not ready. I'm not ready to go all in
and you know, cannon ball into into that deep end,
but you're getting close to the diving board.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
And with Chris's point though, and he's just exactly how
he said it, but I will maybe you should have
done this day won a camp, not.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
After I get as you get ready for week two.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I mean, to our point, there's only so much time
to get ready.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
That's a little unfair for everybody involved too. Now, I
thought you Kaylee was one of the defensive players that
have played pretty well. I can seeing more of him,
and I know we've talked to Max Starks about him.
When we were talking about like roster cutdown, he thought, oh,
he's making this team for sure, and they're.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
High on him.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
So and I get that. The other aspect of it, though,
is despite him being huge and powerful, Iowa didn't play
really with a nose and why why he Black was
not a nose at Iowa. He was more of a
three technique. He was on the outside shoulder of the
guard a lot, and he still did nosy things. He
ate up a lot of blockers and people didn't run
(34:41):
at him with effectively. But it is a new technique
for him too, if he were to become more nosy
than end. But he has a skill set to do it,
he has a power to do it, he has a
size to do it. And because I think because he's
played so well, we have seen him a line all
over the defensive line, at least in the preseason. You
(35:03):
hate making changes after week one or whatever. But I
think these are logical things to consider.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Yes, not you know, not mashing the panic button yet,
but you have the backdrop of last year one week now,
certainly something to keep an eye on and something that
I think we'll be discussing going forward as well.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
I think Black can handle more.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Yeah, he's very impressive. I completely agree with you, completely agree,
and I think we're going to see that usage ramp up.
It was also that conversation kind of works the other
way too, like you needed to get Ya Black out
there to get a data point, to get some real
snaps to start to figure out what you have in him.
Hopefully now they can find the right balance between those two.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Yeah. Yeah, So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Matt another show in the Books, another Wednesday in the
Books tomorrow. We fully turned the page to those Seattle Seahawks.
We'll have a deep dive into some Matt stats up
with Bob Labriola for the first.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
Time this Yeah, lab Wednesday Thursdays year.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Take a look at that Big Thursday Night game as well. Too.
Plenty to get into on tomorrow's show, but that'll do
it for us today. Big thanks to Matt, Big thanks
to mister TV, our video producer. Everybody out there, take
care and we'll talk to you soon. As always, you
know where to find us. It's on your twenty four
to seven home of the Black and Gold. It's Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network
Your tune is about drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good evening, Steelers Nation. How we do it back on
the drive here West Yuler, Matt Williamson. I don't know, Matt.
We had this discussion a couple of weeks ago. It's
five o'clock now, right, so I don't know. I guess
it's kind of evening. It's no longer afternoon. I'm just
leave it alone. I'll leave it be. I'll leave it be.
But it is time here for our umber two on
(01:00):
a Wednesday, a kind of pseudo Matt Stats segment, but
it can kind of be an intro to Matt Stats.
That's a good way to put it. A prequel, a
prologue something like that, if you will is we'll go
through some different numbers, some things that have been unearthed
as again on this Wednesday. You kind of start to
turn the page and look ahead, and you have brought
(01:23):
up a few times, and I think rightfully so, Jackson
Smith and Jigba his usage there just how big of
a part he was, his target share for that Seattle offense.
He led the team last week against the Niners nine catches,
one hundred and twenty four yards. It was his fourth
career game with one hundred plus receiving yards. This is
(01:44):
also Matt two, Jackson Smith, and Jigbo. The last time
these teams played two years ago out in Seattle, he
had a touchdown reception from Gino Smith in that game
and played pretty well. DK Metcalf was a part of
that team as well too, So a guy who is
going to be a massive part of Seattle's offense scored
a touchdown obviously against a secondary that will look much
(02:07):
different than the last time he faced the Steelers. Yeah,
but what have you unearthed on his usage so far?
What do you expect that to look like Sunday at
Akersher Stadium?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
So kind of interesting. This ties in with Metcalf. So
last year with Gino Metcalf Lockett, there a much different team.
They're all gone up into. Metcalf got injured. I think
it was like week five or six last year in
a Seahawks uniform, and at that point Metcalf was People
don't realize this. He was having his best year as
(02:37):
a pro. Missed two games or three games.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I don't have in front of me, but you'll get
the idea. With a knee.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I think came back and really wasn't quite the same,
And while he was gone, the shift of the offense
went much more towards JSN. And part of the reason is,
unlike last week, Metcalf is a down the field player.
You need time to throw. And their offensive line was
amongst the worst in the league, and they used the
(03:04):
first round pick on offensive lineman. I can't remember if
we mentioned this or not, but crazy the Steelers' first
four opponents all used the first round pick on offensive
lineman this year. I think we did about that. Yeah,
so they've all be and they all needed it. I mean,
the low lines are works in progress. Jets looked like
they did a long way to fix theirs. Seattle based
off Week one did not fix THEIRS. But Zabel's a
(03:26):
good player. He's gonna be the left guard anyway. So
Metcalf returns from injury, and at this point it's much
more of a get it out of your hands, shorter
controlled passing game. Gino's good at all and Smith and
Jigba from that point on, from the injury on, really
was the focal point of the offense. And I do
think Metcalf may have returned a little early. He didn't
(03:48):
look as good post injury as pre Now. He wasn't
bad when he came back, but he was at his
best before his injury, which I'm sure the Steelers are
in the trade said we think we're getting that version,
and from what I've seen in camp and in Week one,
I think they did.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
But who knows.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
That was part of, you know, the complaints was you'd
be like Metcalf's coming off his worst year, like, yeah,
but before the injury, he was coming off his best year. Anyway,
that doesn't matter anymore. He's not there.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
He's a Steeler.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Week one, Smith Dijigba was the only thing that went
well for the offense. I think Seattle's defense is great.
We'll talk about them the next couple of days, but
their offense is problematic. New offensive coordinator, several new linemen,
new quarterback Cooper Cups there, who frankly I think is
(04:39):
kind of washed.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I think he's running on fumes. Yeah, he has a
lot of tread left on those tires.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
And he was a.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Strange addition because Smith Njigba is mostly a slot. He's
not slot only. He's mostly a slot and played a
lot outside in Week one, which he's good at, but
he's best in the slot because Cup is slot.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Only at this point.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I mean he he can't line up outside the numbers
and beat man coverage like he once could, not that
it was ever a specialty. So Cup has to be
in the slot. Horton, the rookie is an outside the
numbers type deep threat. He's their third guy. But didn't
get a target, you know there He's not gonna be
out there a ton, but he's their third guy. But
it's rare for Smith the Jigba or any player to
(05:26):
get the usage that.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
He did and we won.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I mean he accounted for like sixty percent of their yards.
I mean like he was the whole offense.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
That's like uh, Jamar Chase numbers.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
It's like Will Chamberlain numbers. I mean it's like everything
that was good was him. You know, like he's got Wilt,
the guy's got a hundred points. So you can't let
that happen. It was the only good thing to happen
their offense. They didn't run the ball well. They possessed
the football for twenty that's really rude. Didn't run many plays,
(05:57):
didn't block particularly well. I thought Darnold played fine. He
had a turnover late that everyone's blaming. Oh he's back
to Earth, But he played fine. Smith and Jigba is
a star in the making, but in that game he
was all they got. Now what do the Steelers do
about that? I would think this one's more is easier
than the Garrett Wilson conversation, especially if Porter's out to say, Ramsey,
(06:22):
you got JSN because in the slot, great, that's what
he does outside. Okay, you could do it. Yeah, you know,
Echoles could be your slot Verse Cup. You know, I
don't really want Porter or Slay going in the in
the slot a lot. But if Porter's out, I think
I think you're gonna see a lot of Ramsey JSN
and you will no matter what. But that I'm pretty
(06:46):
comfortable with.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
I think it is an advantageous matchup for the Steelers defense. Yeah,
I want to see that translate though, like if we are,
if we're going well, I think there is a lot
to like. Obviously I'm not breaking news here on the
offensive side of the football. Last week, some of the
stuff with the protection, certainly some of the stuff with
the run game, but you still managed to score thirty
(07:10):
four points and get the best quarterback play that you've
gotten in the post Ben Roethlisberger era by far. If
the defense can kind of I don't want to say
match that because that's the wrong way to put it.
But if the defense can start to show some signs
of being the unit we think they're capable of.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Being, got to be better than what they did, that's.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Where the optimism would really start. And Matt A, you
know another hodgepodge of randomness from you. The Steelers since
Week thirteen of last year, yeah, have allowed twenty seven
point six points per game. Now, we also shared that
stat of the Steelers split last year of their record
when they allowed eighteen points or less. They didn't lose
(07:50):
a game nineteen points or more. They were brewed two
and six or whatever they are and five whatever they
ended up being. Since Week thirteen of last year, twenty
seven point six points allowed. If you're gonna start getting
that moving in the right direction. This feels like the
right opponent. This feels like a team an offense in
Seattle that is right for the picking.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I also thought the Jets were I mean I picked
that game to be seventeen sixteen. It was the lowest
over under total of the week, and I think this
one does too. But this one screams two good defenses.
And I still think the Steelers count. I know Seattle counts.
We had this conversation before the season. I thought there's
five or six defenses that potentially could be the best
(08:34):
in the league.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
These are two of them.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Week one does not make me look intelligent at all
with that, with the Steelers and what they allowed to
what was not a good offense a year ago in
New York. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. But
this Seattle offense does look right for the picking of
if you cannot let Smith and Jigba be a dominant
player and you can get after Darnold, who doesn't handle
(08:59):
pressure great. Their run game wasn't good in Week one.
The offensive line is not particularly good, the tight ends,
the other pass catchers are poor, I mean at this stage,
but it's amazing that it's rare that you'll see somebody
be account for such a large amount of the receiving
production as he did in Week one. He was the
total show.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Chamber I liked.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I like that announcement. Let's let's put the clamps down
on that on Sunday. Let's let's force them to go elsewhere.
Let's force them to try and lean on Kenneth Walker.
He was another one who had a touchdown last time
these two teams played in Seattle a couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
People look at Walker like he's clearly the one, but
it was almost an even split between him and sharbon A,
and neither one really shined. They both were fine, but
I mean the blocking was poor. They got issues, and
Nick Bosa was a terror. You would hope Watt would
be a terror. Wat's gone five straight games without a
sack first time his career, and.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
I think he's due.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I don't think he forgot how to sack quarterback, but
this is the longest LEUWL of his career that needs
to end.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
That's noteworthy, it certainly is.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
And the left side lines much better than the right.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Okay, interesting, So that's one of those better change.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
It seems for the defense.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
And I thought TJ well played well. Thought I thought
TJ well played well. I thought t J. Watt played
well on Sunday. But you're right that that is now
a fifth straight game without a sack I'm sure that's
something he's aware of, something in the right direction. If
this can be a game where the defense holds an
opponent to under twenty gets right, feels good about themselves,
(10:42):
you see some growth from the offense. I think we
would all be very optimistic, h you know after week two.
But that is kind of your hodgepodge of random to
set the to set the stage there, we will have
a full deep dive into all of Matt's stats, numbers, analytics,
the game behind the game.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
He get turned in as a final document Wednesday night.
So that's that's what I do after my night shore
tonight is put the I.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Saw the rough draft of it. I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Uh, but in there the bullet point on Smith the
JIGBA is pretty crazy. I mean, just the the usage
and air yards he's accounted for and all the stuff.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
We'll get into.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Well, well we'll dig into those weeds uh tomorrow, Uh
deep dive on the program. But we've got to get
to a break now because when we come back on
the other side, our buddy Chris Hallick, he covers the
Steelers for dk Pittsburgh Sports. He's one of Matt and
I's favorite guys on the beat. Uh, we've talked about
how we want.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
To host the weekly podcast with Chris. Yes, you do.
He is.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
He is, you know, one of the guys that we
hang out with when we're on the road and those
type of things. And he is, you know, similar to
what we said about Chris A. Dansky yesterday. He's a
boots on the ground reporter at the facility, at the
practices all the time. So we'll ask him about some
of these injury concerns, some of these roster moves, and
what he thinks about Porter Junior and Nick her big
status ahead of Sunday. All that and more with Chris
(12:04):
when we return on the other side, West Huler, Matt Williamson,
you are listening to the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Driving along here on a Wednesday, into the phone lines
we go, and he's gonna be one of our Well,
he's not a new friend in real life, Matt, but
he's a new friend of the show here. It's our
buddy Chris Hallick. He covers the Steelers for DK Pittsburgh's orts. Chris,
what's up, man, Welcome to the chaos, and thank you
so much for taking the time.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
Thanks guys for having me man. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Hey, so let's get right into some of this roster
moving and shaking and injury stuff. Since you are, you know,
are our boots on the ground, real real journal real
reporter down there at practice. Let's start with Joey Porter Junior.
That's an interesting one because you know, Mike Tomlin said
that I think optimistic was the word that he used.
(13:29):
But you see the move today of James Pierre being
activated as well too. Is there anything there in the
tea leaves? Is that just you know, standard operating procedure
for the Steelers as they you know, work out the
roster every single week. Or do you think that there
is a real possibility that we won't see Joey Porter
Junior in the home opener Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
I think there's a real possibility you don't see him.
But you know, there are a number of variables to
go into this. The first thought that I had actually
when James Pierre was activated wasn't necessarily because of Joey
Porter Junior. Is because well, they only have so many
times they they can call a guy up from the
practice squad and activate him before they have to put
him on the roster anyway too, you know, right, And
(14:15):
and then the other part of that is, like, I
know that they really really like James Pere on special teams,
and I know they don't want to lose that type
of guy. So that's kind of what I chalked that
up more to. But yeah, with Joey Porter Jr. Listen,
I think there's a possibility he doesn't play. But I
also think that given the nature of the injury, and
(14:36):
anytime it's a soft tissue a hamstring or calf or
anything like that, you never want a chance that you
never want to rush a guy back. And when you
have a guy such as Jalen Ramsey that can you
can just slot right in to play on the outside,
and you then bring in Jabrill Peppers to be able
to play some safety for you understand that helps make
up for the loss of Deshaun Elliott. But you know,
you've got a number of guys want the one Hill
(14:57):
can play a little bit more of the of the
free safety that he that Ramsey normally plays in the
base defense, So I don't think you're necessarily lacking too much.
Whenever you decide, hey let's not rush it with Porter,
let's get him healthy, Let's make sure we have him in.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
The long run.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
Meanwhile, we can have a really good tandem on the
outside at cornerback in Jalen Ramsey and Darius play. So
I think that's more the mentality there. So it wouldn't
surprise me at all if Porter doesn't play. But we
we have yet to see what what the what the
participation level is in practice.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
So this is down the line and frankly not ultra important,
but it's pretty rare for them to only have two
quarterbacks on the roster. Do you think Howard's back sooner
than later? I mean, what what do you think they
do with that third spot?
Speaker 5 (15:43):
That's definitely interesting that they do only have two right now,
and they've brought Logan woodsided, you know, for the for
the practice squad. But you know they're going to have
to have an emergency third quarterback. You know, you know,
you can't go into a game without me. You could,
in theory go into a game without but with the
way with the beating that brought or that that Aaron
(16:03):
Rodgers had and the game that Broder Jones had. I
don't know if you necessarily want to be going into
a game with only two quarterbacks. So it's no, no,
it's not. So you'd like to think that maybe, Okay,
if Skyler Thompson is going to be an ir which
means he's going to be out for at least the
next four weeks, then okay, you know, then maybe Will
(16:24):
Howard's you know, on the mend and he can be
back by the time the Steelers get back from Ireland,
and when they host the Browns in week six, maybe
he's that third guy, because again, you have three times
you can elevate a guy from the practice squad. So
maybe Logan Woodside is that emergency third quarterback for weeks two, three,
and four, and by the time you know, the week
five bye is in, is in the is in the
(16:45):
rearview mirror in week six rules around, maybe Will Howard
is good to go.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Chris uh Maybe kind of final housekeeping one from from
me as it relates to Nick Herbig. Seemed like Mike
Tommin was a little more optimistic with him. You think
I think we see her Big make his season debut
on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Well, the fact that he was limited in practice every
single day last week is already a pretty good sign.
And no, he wasn't active on Sunday, but you know,
they obviously had a plan in place because they didn't
even elevate an edge rusher from the practice squad. They
only elevated Pierre. That was the only guy who called
it from the package from the practice squad last week.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
So and plus Harrison played a little edge too, and
that's not in the mix right now.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Yeah, it's not. So you you either have to go
with her big this week if you feel like he's
healthy enough where you probably have to to bring a
guy up from the practice squad like de Marvin Leale.
I think there's a much better chance he plays. But again,
it's gonna it's his participation level in practice. He's not
quite on that level where Mike Tom's gonna be like,
(17:50):
you know what, if he doesn't practice throughout the week,
it's okay, you know, I'm gonna go ahead. No, he's
gonna be a guy that's gotta He's probably got to
have at least a full day of participation, at least
one day full participation this week if we have any
real chance of seeing him on.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Sunday, Chris, I haven't seen or heard your opinion yet
on Peppers. Are you a fan? What do you think
he brings the table? What do you think his role
is this week is maybe even more importantly the rest
of the year going forward.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Well, I would think at least right away that I
would be shocked if he plays a bunch of snaps
on Sunday, because he's got to get acclimated to the defense.
So if for fans who are excited about the about
the addition, I wouldn't expect to see him too often.
I would still expect to see more Wan Thorn Hill,
Chuck Clark like that, that that, like that safety tandem.
(18:41):
But not saying you won't see him at all. But listen,
this is a versatile guy. It's a guy that Mike
Common obviously has has seen play. He was in Cleveland
for a couple of years. His versatile. This team loves
having guys who can play multiple positions, and that's exactly
what Peppers does. He's a guy. Uh to think that
(19:01):
at some point they could have in theory wants to
Shawn Elliott's back to any any like when you have
Jalen Ramsey to Shawn Elliott and Jabrill Peppers, like you
have a lot of guys who can just lay the wood,
like you have a lot of guys you can really hit,
and that's the kind of defense. I think that that
fans would would really really like to see. But no,
(19:22):
I think it's I think he's going to be a
player that that fans that are really going to like
because of again, that this ability to play all over
the place and the ability to to lace a big hit.
I'm shoot, we saw how excited fans were after the
way Jalen Ramsey put you know, slammed the door on
the Jets. You know, it's it's a different level of
excitement when a guy can hit a guy really really
(19:42):
hard and make play doing it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Certainly, can you saw the pop from that the the
NFL Films video and and Steelers social video too of
Aaron Rodgers celebrating and getting all fired up on the sideline.
Hopefully plenty more of that Sunday in the home opener
against Seattle before we do kind of turn the PA
in that direction. Chris Hallick with us here on the drive.
I just wanted to get your thoughts on Aaron Rodgers
(20:06):
and just the encouragement, the excitement now going forward. I mean,
the run game was not there, the pass protection was
not there, and he was still able to have a
four touchdown performance, no turnovers, just what they needed from
the future Hall of Fame quarterback. I think, Chris that's
(20:26):
a pretty encouraging starting point for a guy who didn't
play in the preseason. Same with DK Metcalf, not a
ton of in stadium work up to that point. If
they can really work out some of those issues with
the offensive line, get the run game just on some
kind of stable footing, I think people are going to
be very thrilled, very excited from what we see from
(20:47):
Aaron Rodgers all year.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
As they're talking about because Pro Football Focus knows exactly
what they're talking about their grading system, and they gave
him a pretty poor grade of fifty four and a half. No,
I'm joe like he was awesome and and what grades
like that don't take into account is are the type
of things that he does before the snap, the little
details he makes when he when he's trying to you know,
(21:11):
the one the first touchdown pass of the game, he
made this point at the safety who was creeping down
and then brought Calvin Austin over in motion, and that's
part of the design play. But when you make that
point and you almost make it look like you're bringing
a guy in to look like you're trying to block
for a run or something along those lines, you're you're
doing everything you can to sell out or to make
(21:34):
the defense sell out for the run, when you're really
obviously running play action and lo and behold. You know,
Ben Scronik runs streaking across the middle of the field
and the closest thing to him or the ends of
his golden locks flying out of the back of his
helmet because there's no jet around him in sight. Because
you know, you have like when when you have a
quarterback that can do that kind of stuff before the snap,
(21:55):
who can diagnose the defense, that already gives you an advantage.
And then when you look at what he did from
a clean pocket, which was like twenty of twenty five, like,
that's wildly efficient. And if this offensive line can figure
out a way to protect him on any kind of
regular basis you're looking at I'm not saying that this
is going to be the twenty twenty one version of
(22:16):
Rogers or anything like that. But you're he's already shown
you what he can do when he's given time to
throw and get through his reads and his progressions, and
an arm talent still there. Man, I would be very,
very encouraged based off of what we saw on Sunday.
I thought it was a great performance and a level
of quarterback we haven't seen in quite a while.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
So not everything was Roses on Sunday, to say the least.
And this is something Wess and I have not discussed,
but I've been kicking around in my cranium lately. That
first off, there's this misconception when the run defense isn't
good enough, go get Casey Hampton, go get Joel Steed.
And that's not really how the league works anymore. And
there's so much nickel, there's so much you know, you
(22:57):
don't just stick a huge fire plug in the middle
of the defense to solve everything. That being said, the
more I watched Benton and I don't know your opinion
on this, Chris, I don't think he's a nose. I
think he's miscast there that U K Lee I thought
played pretty well. I'm super high on ya. Black, would
you consider kind of a position change and having those
(23:20):
two be your nose and let Benton do more Cam
Hayward harmon stuff.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Personally, I agree with you. I don't think Benton's a nose.
And actually, whenever they were going into the offseason initially
and I knew they were going to be focusing heavily
on defensive tackle from the very beginning of the draft process,
remember learning that back covering the Senior Bowl like that
was going to be their key emphasis right away. And
I'm thinking, okay, well, Benton's you know, they can get
(23:49):
another really like interior guy, maybe more.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Of an or somebody like that.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and then and then they could
slide Benton out to play more of the four eye,
which is what the defensive end is in the three
four in the Steelers three four. And that's not that
hasn't been the case. Now. Just because I think that
and you think that, that doesn't mean that's what Mike
Tomlin's thinking, because that's not what he's thinking right now.
He's not thinking about, you know, potential changes. And I
understand why, you know, you don't want to flap flap
(24:15):
in the wind and make a change oh hey, week one,
we got we got to make a change. It's because
you know, when you do that, you show instability, you
show lack of faith, and then players lose lack of
faith in themselves and themselves and it's a it's a
difficult line to ride, for sure.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
But entirely to blame for the issues. But no, but no, but.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
There were some I mean, the very first run of
the game, he got absolutely walloped by the right guard
and the right guard comes over and he's you know,
immediately takes on the center, and then the right guard
comes over from like knocks him over to the point
where he then falls over a guy who's trying to
block Cam Hayward. And that was the one thing that
blew that entire play, because everybody else had a gap
filled or was on a block and was able to
(24:59):
get off of the block, and all it took was
that one little crease for Brisall to go for eighteen yards.
And sometimes that's all it takes is one.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Guy and real quickly.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
There's a lot of instances in that game, as well
as the Raven game, where Benton's in the lap of
Wilson and Queen and they can't do their jobs.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Yeah, exactly, and that makes it really difficult. And the
one guy and already have seen And I don't understand
why the level of or the lack of faith that
fans have and Patrick Queen, I'm sorry, I don't see
how you can watch that game and think that Patrick
Queen was part of the problem. He wasn't.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
Like.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
Some of it was schematics, which the coaches like Mike
Tomlin even said, like, we have to do better job
of supporting these guys schematically. But that defensive line also
had a hard hard time. They were getting pushed around
by a Jude offensive line that's, in my professional opinion,
really struggled last year.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
They certainly did, and I I think they are an
improved unit. I think they will be a much better
offensive line in New York. But don't think any of
us expected it to look that good right out of
the gate, especially without Elijah Vera Tucker. And speaking of
offensive lines, Chris, last one I've got for you. I
know you were in the locker room today after practice.
What's the mood? What was the conversation like around Roderick
(26:21):
Jones After some struggles in week one, Oh.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Brod, He spoke to the media today, and you know,
that's part of the job. You got to face the
music when you play, when you play bad, and he
he didn't run away. He was very forthright and saying, hey,
I didn't play well. I wasn't happy with it. And
then when asked about like what he's working on the sixth,
he said everything like you could tell he wasn't he
(26:50):
wasn't satisfied with that performance. He's he's unhappy with it.
And that's well you should hear probably after a performance
like that. And so but the one good thing is
that you know, guys, especially a guy such as Aaron Rodgers,
is not throwing him under the bus. You know, he's saying,
I still have a lot of faith. I mean, Aaron
Rodgers spoke today too, he said, I still have a
lot of faith in Broader. You know, I like Broad.
(27:11):
I like he's a positive mind guy, and and said
a lot of you know, good things about him. And
sometimes that's you know, all all it takes, you know,
to at least have a guy in a good headspace,
make sure that he's not, you know, beating himself up,
and then maybe he can clean some things up in
practice and maybe he you know, turns in a better
game against the Seahawks, you know, and and just take
it one game at the time. But yeah, the mood
(27:32):
is always fine, and that's what it should be, you know,
after after, especially after a win, because even even though
some some things can be really really bad in a game,
a win.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Is a win.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
And that's why you still see guys smiling in the
locker room after the game, because you can be like, yeah,
I played like absolute trash, but hey, we won and
we will take the we'll take the lessons with a
with a one to zero record instead of an O
and one record. So but you know, these guys are
you know, continue to their turn the page to the Seahawks.
And Broderick is doing that too, and he's working on
(28:04):
a lot of things.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
You don't think he's playing times in any Jeopardy right now.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
Yeah, I wouldn't think so, just I wouldn't think that's
that's kind of early. And now I understand. So here's
here's the line. The Steelers have to ride here and
Omar Kahn and Mike Tomlin, these guys have to ride.
Is that this like they have to make a decision
on his fifty year options massive and that's a mass Like, yeah,
(28:29):
that's a massive decision they have to make. Now that
was then tell you long term, okay, no matter what,
he's playing all seventeen games, because we need to know.
But at the same time, you've built this roster with
Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, and you went out and got
Jaylen Ramsey and you got DK Metcalf And this is
a roster that is from the way that they built.
(28:49):
It is built to try to compete. And if you
feel like you have a real chance to compete, but
Brodrick Jones is allowing your forty one year old quarterback
to get obliterated every week, you might have to make
a change to give yourself a legitimate chance because I
don't think you have a chance of competing if Aaron
Rodgers isn't the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
On the bench either, right.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
That would yeah, yeah, Calvin Anderson is your backup. So
like but but then and see that's the thing, Calvin
Anderson is a pro true you feel like you right,
if you feel like, okay, listen, like rod is not
getting the job done. If he does like three sacks
and four pressures every week, that's a problem, Like you
(29:32):
can at least put Calvin Anderson and be like, Okay, well,
at least I know this guy's a pro. He might
not be very good, but at least he's going he's
gonna keep Aaron Rodgers up right a little bit more
often than Broaderick is and shoot, man, we need Aaron
if we're going to compete for a Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
That they certainly do. Chris Halleck kind enough to take
some time for us here on a busy Wednesday. Make
sure you're checking out his work DK Pittsburgh Sports. Chris,
thanks so much for the time, dude, and uh and
we'll be looking forward to talking to you throughout the season.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
You guys, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
There he is there, he goes Chris Hallick down to
the facility, boots on the ground and yeah, Matt, that
I mean a lot of good information there. And there's
a lot that needs to even on the back of
a win, and a lot to be encouraged by. There's
certainly a lot that needs to be improved upon. Sunday
starts in the trenches, though on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
We didn't talk about stel a run game. It's way
below the bar right now.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
You know certainly, certainly one more segment to go. We'll
wrap up this show when we return on the other side.
Matt Williamson west Shuler, It's the Drive on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Final segment of the day here on the Drive as
we close down this Wednesday and our kind of final
in between ish day here you look ahead on Wednesday,
you do your final crossing t's and dott and eyes
from the previous week. And Matt, I wanted to follow
up with you on something that you asked our buddy
Chris Hallick there, which I thought was very good, various
(31:23):
stute and deserves just a few more minutes of conversation.
Keanu Benton usage, Yeah, because I do think that it's
one week, but there's also a simple size from last
year where people are starting to wonder if maybe he's
being asked to do some square peg roundhole type things.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Yeah, and I think he kind of has been from
the start. We know the nose tackle position is no
longer Casey Hampton, you know, I just eat up two blocks,
take that center and eat up both a gaps. That's
not really what they're looking for. But Casey Hampton useful
right about now.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Well he would be useful at any in history.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
But I yes, but yes, And what's weird about the situation.
I threw out Black or uk Lee being a combination
or the full time nose and moving Benton. I think
it'd be much better for Benton long term, but he
hasn't really done it. I mean playing the four I
position is the inside shoulder of the tackle is that's
(32:26):
you know, It's where Cam Hayward lines up. It's not
something people doing as much in college. It's kind of
a Steeler thing. It's an Aaron Smith thing, you know,
Like it's not you would think you just line up
over big people.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
It's all the same.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
It isn't blocks come at you different, you attack the
quarterback different, et cetera. So he wouldn't be able to
do it overnight. And he still is going to be
a defensive tackle in They're Nickel and Dime, which is
a four man front and which is a high percentage anyway.
But I think it's a failed experiment at him. It
knows more and more, he just does not play the
run well enough or stout enough where be that guy
(33:02):
right now?
Speaker 4 (33:02):
And I think there's a lot of ability there.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
There is certainly a lot of ability there. We all
saw it on display his rookie season. That hasn't gone anywhere,
but I think I think especially against opponents like the
Jets that are going to be very run heavy, right,
Baltimore gonna be very run heavy.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Oh yeah, up the middle of power stuff, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
It seems like again and again it you do want
to use the sample size from last year because that
obviously carries over three him. But at the same time too,
you do have to kind of draw a line in
the sand of this is a new year and that's
just one game. But I I just I think you're
flirting with the whole definition of insanity thing doing the
(33:42):
same thing but expecting different results. You're flirting with it.
I'm not ready. I'm not ready to go all in
and you know, cannon ball into into that deep end,
but you're getting close to the diving board.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
And with Chris's point though, and he's just exactly how
he said it, but I will maybe you should have
done this day won a camp, not.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
After I get as you get ready for week two.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I mean, to our point, there's only so much time
to get ready.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
That's a little unfair for everybody involved too. Now, I
thought you Kaylee was one of the defensive players that
have played pretty well. I can seeing more of him,
and I know we've talked to Max Starks about him.
When we were talking about like roster cutdown, he thought, oh,
he's making this team for sure, and they're.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
High on him.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
So and I get that. The other aspect of it, though,
is despite him being huge and powerful, Iowa didn't play
really with a nose and why why he Black was
not a nose at Iowa. He was more of a
three technique. He was on the outside shoulder of the
guard a lot, and he still did nosy things. He
ate up a lot of blockers and people didn't run
(34:41):
at him with effectively. But it is a new technique
for him too, if he were to become more nosy
than end. But he has a skill set to do it,
he has a power to do it, he has a
size to do it. And because I think because he's
played so well, we have seen him a line all
over the defensive line, at least in the preseason. You
(35:03):
hate making changes after week one or whatever. But I
think these are logical things to consider.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Yes, not you know, not mashing the panic button yet,
but you have the backdrop of last year one week now,
certainly something to keep an eye on and something that
I think we'll be discussing going forward as well.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
I think Black can handle more.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Yeah, he's very impressive. I completely agree with you, completely agree,
and I think we're going to see that usage ramp up.
It was also that conversation kind of works the other
way too, like you needed to get Ya Black out
there to get a data point, to get some real
snaps to start to figure out what you have in him.
Hopefully now they can find the right balance between those two.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Yeah. Yeah, So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Matt another show in the Books, another Wednesday in the
Books tomorrow. We fully turned the page to those Seattle Seahawks.
We'll have a deep dive into some Matt stats up
with Bob Labriola for the first.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
Time this Yeah, lab Wednesday Thursdays year.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Take a look at that Big Thursday Night game as well. Too.
Plenty to get into on tomorrow's show, but that'll do
it for us today. Big thanks to Matt, Big thanks
to mister TV, our video producer. Everybody out there, take
care and we'll talk to you soon. As always, you
know where to find us. It's on your twenty four
to seven home of the Black and Gold. It's Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network
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