June 4, 2025 • 45 mins
The duo Williamson and Uhler speak with linebacker Nick Herbig and wrap up today's coverage.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
At least.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
He's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on
your twenty four to seven home of the Black and
Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
High noon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The sun is shining, It
is hot, Alms, it feels like summertime, maybe for the
first time here in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Area's final
hour of our coverage today, Well Shuler, Matt Williamson, Rob
King's been hanging out with us as well too. Nick
Herbig will join us here, we think in the next
ten to fifteen minutes or so. But Matt, the heat
(00:39):
is cracked up and it feels a little bit like
the intensity is today as well too.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, and it's something
we've mentioned throughout the week that each for again, I
always use the grade school, you know, you go from
kindergarten to first grade and blah blah blah. But as
the week goes on, it seems like everything's a little faster,
everyone's a little little more intense, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
The same week one.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Absolutely, I thought the third practice was a lot different
than the first practice last week. This practice, to me,
is clearly the fastest I hesitate to say most aggressive,
because like, I don't want to get the team in trouble.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
You're in all that to do things.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
They're not blocking, their tackling, but they're moving quickly out
there like it's a football game. You know that it's
not a walk through pace at all, right, but you know,
doing team drills and running real football stuff without smacking
each other. Like again, this isn't saying anything, but there
was an outside run to our direction. You ten plays
ago or so, and Darnel Washington could have put I
(01:38):
didn't recognize the corner. He could have put him six
feet into the ground, I mean like and he would
have been the game.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
And he looked like he was.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
One hundred and fifty pounds heavier than this young man
and he walled him off and he was gentle, but
he could kind of see him grinning like, oh.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
That would have it was lying this is gonna be right,
or man.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
If we run this play against the Bengals or whatever,
like boy, he is a large human being.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I love it, I do. And he is a large
human big and you know he talked about how he
feels like entering you know year three for him now too.
He spoke about this yesterday, how he feels like he's
got a better beat on the shape he needs to
be in his body type when he gets here. He said,
the last two years, you know, I'm kind of figuring
things out. I wasn't exactly where, you know, in hindsight
(02:24):
where I should have been heading into into OTAs and
into training camp. Feels like he's got a much better
grip on that this year, and I think it's showing. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And I won't forget because it was what two years ago.
Dale and I were down here recording a video, you know,
as we do every once a week or whatever, and
we walk out of the video room together we were
going to to our cars, and we passed this young
man dressed in Georgia sweats in the in the the
lower floor here, you know, just hey, how you doing?
(02:52):
And we both look at each other like that has
to be darn in Washington on a player visit, you know,
a draft visit. He was not a Steeler yet, and
because there was a tight end in the draft, that's.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
A really good it's the Georgia sweat right right.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Right, I'm like that has to be him. I mean,
maybe it's a the end.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I don't know, but he's huge and he's way bigger now.
I mean he's got to be thirty pounds heavier now
and good weight. And you mentioned that jump that he
might take from.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Year two to three.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think he's in contention for most improved player from
twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four. And he wasn't
bad as a rookie, but I think he's a real
problem to play against.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And Kinger, I tell you what, if he takes that
to even another level, then then that could be kind
of some of that tight end stuff and the mismatches
and the problems you'd be able to create for defenses.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
And we talked about that twelve and thirteen personnel. When
he's one of them and he's as big as Rocket Jones,
that's what do you.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Do with that? Right?
Speaker 6 (03:45):
And you know there was there wasn't a lot over
the middle. It felt like last year and you know
you're you're playing to Russell Wilson's strengths. I'm guessing here
now a little bit he'd liked to throw more to
the outside.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Like to throw in the middle.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
But if you have somebody, you know if you can
do And it felt like that sort of boot left,
throwback right thing kind of teams kind of that was
his bread and butter early kind of got ahold of that,
But man, I would love to have him releasing and
running a short seam or a little slant over the
middle regis stuff. Yeah, I mean if and if you
are a if you're a safety and coming up tackle
(04:23):
him who you were you were going?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You can't get low enough, you know.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
And he's such a good blocker.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
I'm not saying for if he decided I'm gonna be
an offensive tackle, it's a thought.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
I mean, I'm not saying he that's the beauty of
a mode of is.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
He's so hard to play against because they've really gotten
They used to be one of the heaviest teams in
the league and using a sixth offensive lineman. Over the
last five years, they've gotten away from it, frankly because
they haven't had that great prospect that they want to
get on the field. They you know, their O line
depth got hit hard. All their guys they wanted on
the field got on the field kind of by default
or they earned it, Fraser, et cetera. But he's that guy,
(05:00):
you know, I mean, playing against a six offensive line
set is back to like our thirteen personnel fullback conversation.
You don't see much of it. I mean the league
leader has like six percent, you know, I mean the
Bills or at the top of the league this year,
and it's just something you don't see very often. And
it makes you keep big people on the field, and
they may have designed my defense to have little, fast
people on the field, which is the trend in the.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
League right now. You know. Yeah, no, it left handed.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
That's that's some of the you know, that's some of
the stuff you were talking about when even when you're
thirteen personnel used to just seven eight nine percent of
the time. That doesn't seem high, and it really isn't high.
It is by league standards, not just in a general
percentage percentage number. But that's a handful of snaps a
game that you're making. Every defensive coordinator and d line
coach and lot they got to sit in the film room,
they got to talk about it. How are we going
(05:45):
to handle it? How are we going to address it?
Speaker 5 (05:47):
What eleven of our guys are we putting out against that?
That's set step one, and that's a decision.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And what do we think are our best eleven guys
to have on the field in that situation, it might
not be our nickel that we just paid a nice
amount of.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Money to absolutely and Washington presents that problem over and
over and over.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
You know, I mean so, I think that's one of
the beauties of him.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
And again just unique players like Patrick Riccard doesn't play
every snap either, but no one else plays with a
three hundred pound full back that flies around behind the
line of scrimmage and blast people in the next week.
You know, that could actually catch a ball too. You
know we mentioned you know, Rob was talking about Washington
as a.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
As a pass catcher. That's all gravy to me. You know,
like he's not gonna catch eighty balls.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
We know that he's not gonna do the the John
new Smith and have eighty receptions for nine hundred yards.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
No, but if he can get me ten more this
year and the year after that, maybe ten more after that,
and just make keep people honest as a as.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
A receiver, know that he's right right, and.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Touchdowns one or two touchdowns a year like he had
last year in Denver.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Right, you know, I run over a guy here and there,
make a couple of big plays. He did a lot
of that at Georgia where they had a ton of receivers.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Obviously, yes, yes, yes, he did, and uh and that
it's obviously something that we're hoping for looking for. Like
I said, he spoke. He spoke a little bit yesterday
and was talking about how he just feels ahead of
the process. You know, to paraphrase if you will, this
time of year as opposed to where the last two
years where he was kind of trying to figure it
out as a young guy in this league. You heard
(07:14):
that horn about two three minutes ago. That means practice
number five for your Pittsburgh Steelers is in the books,
and books also means that in the next few minutes
or so, we will have Nick Herbig sitting down here
to join us to talk about today's practice. I'm trying
to scan the field, Matt to do the like A
is he gonna be out there getting a little extra
work or is he heading over here shortly? AKA? Do
(07:35):
I need to find something to fill time with for
the next five minutes?
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Break?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Where is he going to be here? In about sixty seconds?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
I don't see him.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I see him over He's over here in the end zone,
and it looks like he's about to do a little
extra work with Alex Heismith and the company, So let's
keep it rolling here. Joint practices. We discussed this a
little bit earlier in the week, right when Todd Bowles
mentioned that they were work from a Buccaneers standpoint, that
they were working on joint practices with the Jaguars and
the Steelers. That obviously married our ears perk up here
(08:05):
on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black
and Gold.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
And I assume the Jags are also a preseason theme.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
For them, and they're obviously two markets that are not
far from each other. Sure we do know now that
that is going to take place here in Pittsburgh Thursday,
August fourteenth. It's close to the public, but there will
be a joint practice with Tampa Bay day off Friday,
and in that preseason game against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
I assume we'll do shows that day. Obviously, all those
informations came out and maybe we can tell people what
we see. I think we did that with the Bills practice.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
So last year you and Dale were the ones who
did the show during Bill's practice. I believe I was
still back in Latrobe, but all.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
These played it. I don't think we had to hide it,
but you can remember.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You can say, like, hey, Buffalo clearly wants to work
on a red zone situation. Here the Steelers are clearly
trying to work on.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Josh Allen played a lot in that. It's not just
sit all your stars T J. Watt and Josh Allen.
I mean, it was those type of big time the
best players in the league will participate some not every snap,
of course, but they'll be out there in those situations,
and then the subsequent preseason game they might just sit
through the baseball.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Capage, right, you know, like thet they're work done in situations.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Stuff, and so you know, I can kind of read
the context close here in the tea leaves. But part
of part of why the teams like these joint practices,
why I think you think they're very important and valuable,
is because you can work on stuff in those closed
settings that you're one might not even organically present themselves
throughout the course of a preseason game. You might not
get that many red zone snaps, you might not get
(09:35):
the third and long that you're trying to work on,
but you can also do that. You can guarantee that
you can work on it, and you can do it
with very minimal eyeballs involved. Yes, no cameras, no film,
no national broadcast.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Right right.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
I mean there's cameras, but they're not for our viewing,
you know, right, and they're not on TV or whatever.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Of course, you know.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Like weird example, we were just talking about thirteen personnel.
Maybe they suspect the Saints when they're new offense is
going to give them more thirteen personnel, and they know
the Steelers are a big thirteen personnel team. They might
be like, hey, coach Tom, can we do a period
of thirteen? You guys put out your thirteen. They're like, great,
we do. We want to do that anyway, right, you
know what I mean? Or sometimes you got to do
(10:15):
the opposite too, like we don't really offer that, but
we'll we'll throw it out there for you if you
do a big section of red zone or you know
or whatever.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
You know, we really want to work on red zone,
you really want to work on third and long scratch
each other's.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Backs, yeah, exactly, and not that everyone can't use it
or we really Our blitz pickup's been terrible in camp.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
You know, we need a blitz.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Field send TJ. Watt now excess at our tackles here
for a few straight reps.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Or even the opposite.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
We've been killing our d line, but let's see we
can do it against yours. You know, something along those.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Lines, and that is that's part of that ebb and
flow of that time of year is always right like
you and I and Dale and Moats and everybody that's
involved Tom and Labs and you know, everyone that's involved
with our with our our training camp coverage. That's one
of the things that we kind of joke and laugh
about sometimes. Like, okay, defense won seven shots five to today.
Was it a dominant performance about the defense or was
(11:10):
the offense just puts it around? Right? Yeah, offenses look
a great. You know A B and Ben were dicing
people up today. Well, is that because they're they're a
B at Ben? Or is that because the defense is struggling?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
And the coaches always take that too, like, you know,
they kind of know what's coming. I've played against these
guys so much. I've my left tackle and edge rusher
have done so many battles. They know each other's tendencies
and all these things too. Give me somebody new it
is this guy coming on or is he just getting
a bead for his opponent?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
That's very very common for him, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
So I think that stuff's really important. And you know,
I was trying to think what we were. It's something
about the group practices. I want to get too, good situation.
The example I used yesterday was like Will Howard having
a great camp boy, we might have got to steal
in the sixth round, but we haven't got a chance
to do a lot of two minutes.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
You know, Okay, well let's get him in the preseason game.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
But maybe there's no opportunities where we have the ball
in a two minute situation.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
It might not get it doesn't happen organically.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
Yet, or maybe it happens once and I get.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
You get a very small sample size.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
The backup left tackle gets killed and he doesn't even
get the ball.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
In that situation. So that's the beauty of these.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Practices is they're really intense and whatever situation you want
to practice, you script it out with the other coach
and you figure it out.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
It's they're not just winging it out there.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
No, it's it almost and you'll laugh at this because
I obviously did not play football at any type of
high level. Uh. Ninth grade was my my last year
of playing organized football before I you know, fully focused
on my upstart hockey career at the time. And I
still remember we would final start tonight, right, Finals do
start tonight? Yeah, well, rematch of last year's finals. Nice,
(12:53):
except for Edmonton's got the home ice advantage up and
starting up in Canada this year. One of the things
is before every season, we would have a scrimmage against
a team we weren't going to play. Okay, you know
we I went to Mars High School. We would scrimmage
Beaver Falls, you know, or somebody like somebody, and it
would be like literally the coaches would be standing behind
the huddles and you know what I mean. And it
(13:15):
might be a third and seven and we thought we
had the look, but somebody missed a block or whatever. Okay, hey, coach,
can we run that back? Yeah, let's do it again.
Like yeah, there is I think, at every level of football,
real valuable, real valuable teaching that you can do in
those kind of striped down settings with a completely different
set of coaches and and and roster.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
As well, and you might learn something from the other
staff too, you know, something odd, like, boy, look how
they coach you know, look how they're prepping in their stuff,
they're doing with their.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Package, right yeah, yeah, absolutely, as uh as as Nick
Herbig is here, uh looking getting ready and uh and
walking over here right now.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
And real quick. Like with Tampa.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
I mean, I don't know what relationship coach Tomlin and
Todd Bowles have, but they've both been in the league
a long time, you know, and they probably know a
lot of the same people and that type of thing.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
How you doing, ladies and gentleman steeling? Joining us now
after practice number five in the books?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
We are we a lot. I've never done this last week.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Last week Keanu sat down with us and he was like,
is this just radio? We're doing TV? Do I need
to smile? What are we doing here?
Speaker 5 (14:24):
You need that? Pull up another Wisconsin dude.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
A lot of you guys around here now, man, We're everywhere.
It's funny, this was like two years ago, maybe it
was even last year. Your brother asked the exact same
thing and sat down with us. It's like we live
like I just came right from the field from there.
That was like how's he doing, By the way, he's great,
He's great, yep.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
But love to have him back.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
But I'm sure he's happy where he's at and doing
all that good stuff.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
So let's get into it here. Ye're three, and I
think one of the things that always seems like a
theme this time of year is how quickly you can
go from the young guy to a veteran in the
room that everybody's looking to.
Speaker 7 (15:01):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And for you now, entering that third year, you've got
a guy like Jack Sawy or who's who's new in
the room?
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Have you felt that? And obviously you're you're very blessed
with guys like Alex Higsmith and t J. Watt that
have the leadership to do this at a high level.
But do you feel any of that Year three? For me, now,
it's time for me to be a vet in a way.
It's time for me to set an example for all
these young guys.
Speaker 7 (15:21):
Yeah, I mean year three like it, I feel like
I was just in college. I mean like it's flying.
And they always say, like, enjoy it because it's gonna
go by quick. And until you're really in it, you
don't realize, like, man, it's crazy. You know, and I
want to call myself a vet like just yet you
know what I mean, Like yeah, yeah, yeah, I still
(15:43):
got to make more plays and you know what I mean,
produce more. But yeah, just being the you know, not
a rookie anymore, even your two, like year three, is
just it comes with a different swide to you.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
You know, they expect a lot more out of you.
Speaker 7 (15:56):
The team does as well as a coaches. You know,
everybody just expects more you. So it's definitely it's a
good feeling though. You know, you kind of know where
your feet are, you know what to expect, you know
what you need to work on.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
And having a guy like Sawyer come in.
Speaker 7 (16:09):
He's so eager to learn, He's so hungry, and you
can just tell he wants to soak up all the
knowledge he can.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
He's fitting in well already. Yeah good, good good.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Joey Porter Junior distracting off gain distracting. I just I
wanted to ask you about the onus on this defense, right, Like,
like we know Pittsburgh Steelers football at times, members of
the coaching staff can change, the roster can change. But
I'm thirty four years old. For my lifetime, it's been
(16:42):
run the football, stop the run, dominant defense. When you
guys have a culture that has expectations through the roof
for you with guys like Menca, guys like TJ, guys
like Cam, Right, is there a is there a comfortability
now for you with the expectations here in year three
(17:02):
you've had the first two years where now you feel
like you're ingrained and you're really kind of ready to
take that thing the next level.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:11):
I mean it's just like, you know, I'm out there
and I have a pre practice handshake with Minca, like cool,
Like you know, he's a leader, he's a guy to
look up to, guy you watch growing up. And just
having like TJ Smithy Cam and like doing stuff with
them outside of football too, is just like that's super
cool to me, Like that they take time out of
(17:33):
their lives and they all got families and stuff, you know,
give back to us and make sure they're passing on
that culture, that tradition of Pittsburgh Steelers and what we
do here on defense.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
So where I was going this is we mentioned TJ
and I joked, you know, we always do coverage upstairs
during the draft when they drafted you, I said, man
with constant connection with Watt. If I was her big
I've never met this kid, but man, I would just
follow TJ around like crazy. I'd be his shadow as
soon as like god here, if TJ gets salad at lunch,
get a salad at lunch, you know, just do everything
(18:02):
you possably can. And we weren't you and I weren't chatting,
but I mean just watching you in your rookie camp.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
You sure seem to be.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
By TJ side lot, which is exactly what I would
have done. And where I'm going with this is, would
you tell Harmon to do the exact same thing with
camp on?
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Thousand percent?
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Okay, yeah, I it's so beneficial.
Speaker 7 (18:18):
I think you would have to. I don't like using
derogatory terms, but I think you'd have to be really
dumb not to.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
You know, why wouldn't you? It's just those guys are
open to help you, all there, all.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Of famers, you know what I mean. And I'm not
saying they're gonna give you.
Speaker 7 (18:31):
They're they're definitely not giving you that respect off the
rip and they're not just gonna.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
But they're gonna help you, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
And if you're willing you're like, if you're eager to learn,
you're willing to learn, like they want to help you,
you know what I mean, Like they want to pass
on everything. They want to pass knowledge on because somebody
did that for them. I mean, like they all came in,
they were rookies before, they they were young guys looking
up to Debo and Casey like yeah, so everybody was
in this position before. So I think just being able
(18:57):
to be that type of guy that you want to
be eager, You're willing to learn, You're willing to do
whatever it takes, you know what I mean, Like I'm fucking.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
We're live. But that's cool.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
You're allowed to.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
Canceled like me and t are going jumping in the
cult of at six in the morning, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Like I don't like to do that. I never did that,
but he's doing.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
He's going five seconds, I'm going six yeah, perfect right,
and he's eating the salid I'm eating too.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
I'm sure another guy for you that's been, you know,
instrumental in these these couple of years as your position coach,
Denzel Martin Uh. He signed a contract extension with the
Steelers this offseason. I assume you were happy to see
that and to continue that relationship with him.
Speaker 7 (19:39):
Yeah, Denzel Man, he's He's unlike any coach I've had before,
Like he he really lets you be who you are,
you know what I mean. He doesn't try to put
you in a box, Like he doesn't try to tell me,
hey don't do that, hey do this, blah blah blah.
Like he's gonna coach me to my strengths, you know,
And he knows that I'm different from TJ.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Tjer is different from Alex.
Speaker 7 (19:56):
You know, we're all our own type of players, and
we're all our own type of person off the field too.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
So I think having that bond with Denzel as.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Well, like he knows the type of person we are,
it just makes it a lot better, like when we
get on the field, you know what I mean, because
we can communicate in different ways, and we all kind
of have like a tight knit group sure of each other,
and I really feel like we're like it's like a family,
you know what I mean, It's like a brotherhood.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
So just having a coach like that who.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
Really believes in you, and he he showed nothing but
believe in me since the day I got here, you
know what I mean. Like, so just having somebody like
that that has your back and you know that he's
gonna stand on business every single time for you, it
gives you a different level of confidence.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
So I don't want any secrets, of course, But how
much different is it? In game week preparing? We've been
talking about this a lot today for the Ravens versus Bengles.
I mean, like, it couldn't be any different, I bet,
but they're familiar, and they're great quarterbacks, and they're both
really good offenses.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
But they just do it so different, you know.
Speaker 7 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean, and I think that's what makes the
AFC North so tough. Like every team got a little
something to them, you know, like we're all the same,
but we're all different at the same time, Like we
all got different styles of play, but we all got
the same style of player. Like it's hard nose, smash
mouth football, but it's dressed up different. It's you know,
a kind of air it out. Yeah, yeah, you know
what I mean. Lamar is gonna run around.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Like Dereck Henry's all types of different guys who can
kill you in in different in different ways.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
So I think that's what makes it so fun too,
Like every time you.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Need to play North, it's like, okay, a little different,
up a little bit.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Last one I got for you. Nick Herbit kind enough
to give us some of his time here after practice.
One of the things that we like to ask you
guys this time of year. So when you when you
get this break after mini camp, before training camp, right,
what do you do to reset? What do you do
for fun? What do you do for some downtime?
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Golf?
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Golf?
Speaker 5 (21:39):
Yeah, in town or you go home?
Speaker 1 (21:41):
I mean, actually the US Open is coming here this week. Yeah,
me and the boys are gonna go to that. That's awesome, big,
big Scottie guy.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Love it.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
Hoping you can win another one. But yeah, golf, just
relaxing out the boys.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
You'll play and go as a fan. I mean you're
oh yeah, you love to play.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
They actually just played in Joey's tournament yesterday. But nice,
I'm yeah, I'm working on that, working on my game.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Decent. Yeah, I'm decent. I don't play, I'm terrible, but
thank good.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Like a fifteen, who's the best thing the game that's
on the team, probably Boss. It has to be a kicker.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
Yeah, it's always a Kicker. Sure they have too much
time in their hands.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
For sure. Boss Christian Kuns is the worst.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
It's interesting to find out who's good and bad. Very cool.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Thank you, Nick, Thank you for the time and all
the best going forward the rest of the offseason. Nick
herbig kind enough to join us here after practice. It's
in the book. Matt and I will come back and
wrap things up and we return on the other side
here on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold Steelers Nation.
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Radio penn ultimate segment of the day here down on
the south side is practices in the Books.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
We've got about another half an hour or so to
hang with you here, Wes Jeweler and Matt Williamson. A
big thank you, uh to Nate Herbick for joining us there.
I tell you what, I don't know if it's the
Wisconsin guys. I don't know if it's you know, with
the Hawaii Polynesian heritage, but they're always good talkers and
uh and you know, willing to to get into some topics.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
A little bit, no, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
And I mentioned his brother sat down with us either
last year or the year before, straight off the practice
field commanders. Now, Yeah, yeah, Okay, he's one that I
kind of sorry to see get away have him in
the mix, one extra interior guy that you could count
on to play three positions. But I don't want to
get into that. It sounds like he's doing great, But
he was phenomenal. I thought Nick was great. We could
(23:42):
chat it with him for the rest of the album.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Total. We were both like we we needed to let
him go, but we could have kept him.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
For There was a lot of stuf I would chat him about.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah, absolutely could have gotten too some of that golf
game stuff as well too. You know, he was talking
about how he was playing in Joey Porter's outing earlier
this week. I've got the big Arthur Motes golf outing
this and I've not golfed yet this year. So I
played in an outing on Monday. I'm gonna try and
at least get to a driving range or something on
Friday to just swing the club a few times and
(24:09):
get back into the groove of the thing. But yeah,
I didn't even think about that like this time. Next week,
I totally gave it up. I like it, I don't
love it, Okay, that's what I always say. I like
going out a few times a year. It's fun, but
I am not one of these people that's like working
on my golf game and actively trying to get a
lot better.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
And that's one of the reasons I gave it up because,
as I do with football and a couple other things,
I'm not good at very many things. But the things
I'm into, I dive in the deep end of thousand percent.
You do have that personality. Yeah, it's a little bit
of an addictive quality. And I knew if I attacked golf,
I would be out there a lot.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
And it's expensive, middle of January trying to get.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
I mean like, I'm either gonna do with this all
or nothing, and I chose nothing. But at this stage
of my life, I wish I played back then, like
Rob was talking, I played a ton of pick up
hoops and stuff like that, and now I was like,
be good just to get out and swing, and you know,
I'm terrible now brought backing up now, that.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Was part of the thing for me too, Like you know,
I was saying, you know, pick up hoop style like
I played Beer league, adult league hockey forever, but then
when you start having kids and those games are really
late at night, and it's like, you know what, golf
is the one thing that I can.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
You can do that, I can do it for a while.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
But like I said, I like it, I don't love it.
I'm not actively practicing and training and trying to get better.
I'm not spending a ton of money. I don't belong
to a country club or anything like that. Yeah, but
I'll tell you what, next week around this time is
going to be pretty stinking cool. The center of the
golf universe.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Right one hundred and twenty fifth US Open right down
the road at Oakland.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
So I've been advising my eighteen year old son, who
I brought up. Like you said, he has graduated six'
five and like, me he's not exactly fleet to, foot you,
know but he was a volleyball.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Player i'm, like stick with, golf.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
MAN i, mean you got a nice smooth, swing and you,
know you could do that for the next fifty, years you,
know and whatever business you get, in you might you,
know make connections on the course and all that good.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Stuff you.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Know it is it.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
IS i kind of WISH i would have picked it up,
early you, Know AND i.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Think that's WHERE i get the benefit. Too like my
father is golf. Obsessed he loves it violin and, golf
you know WHAT i. Mean that was my dad growing,
up and SO i got a lot of it WHEN
i was. Younger AND i think it's one of those
things like riding a, bike, Right like there's if you
pick it up when you're, young and even if you
get away from it for a while LIKE i did
in high school and, college it's still you still kind
of have that, bassline LIKE, i you, Know, MATT i
(26:17):
LIKE i played a lot of guitar and piano growing
up and then in, college and my young years went
eight nine years with barely touching the. Things like NOW
i could sit down and still play a song or. Two,
yeah but just BECAUSE i.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Had what stuck with, it like, Man i'd have been, good.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Right BUT i also think IF i would have just
started a few years ago and really dedicated it to,
MYSELF i still might have, this you, Know like there's
something to be said for having a bassline when you're
younger that sticks with.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
You but it's also tougher.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
NOW i, mean as you, know kids come, along and
how many hours does football take in my?
Speaker 5 (26:44):
Life and you know obviously you know.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Right Uh, matt we did right When i'm kind of
scraping the barrel looking for uh some some. Topics and
by the, way our, Producer justin back at the, range
said he just shot an eighty and an eighty.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
One oh, WOW i tell you.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
WHAT i said back at the. Range i'm at the,
ranch BUT i guess to use the golfer range, Too
So i'll tell you what We'll we'll need to go
meet up With justin at the. Range jeff with a
good tweet here any specific reason as to why it's
not the ten am practices again this? YEAR i Remember
Mike tomlin speaking glowingly about helped how they helped the
players as far as time management and position meetings in the,
(27:22):
Afternoon just wondering why they return to one fifty.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Five do you have a clue on that that might
be more of your valley than. MINE i thought they
were happy with, it BUT i don't know what THE i.
Mean obviously you to give just as many meetings in either, way.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
They'll find a way to make it.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
Work, yeah, YEAH i, mean it's not like one's gonna
get more work than others or you're gonna get more practice.
Time And i'm still twenty four hours in a day
and they're gonna use as much of it as they. Can,
YES i don't really know how to answer.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
THAT i don't.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Either, YEAH i had a great. QUESTION i don't know the.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
ANSWER i think maybe it could just be as simply
as logistically the changes that it call caused last year
from typical doing it at one fifty five two o'clock
they didn't think was worth some of the benefits of
the convenience of the schedule flow of the. DAY i
wonder if some of it is well, too.
Speaker 5 (28:09):
IS i was thinking heat originally one big, thing the
hardest in the.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Hottest part of the. Day, yeah heat and Acclamation and, also,
yes The Pittsburg steels are The Pittsburg, steelers and we
know they're going to play five or six primetime games
every single. Year they only have four scheduled right, now
but we know one will get flex there or The
ravens game at the end of the season will be
an eight o'clock, kickoff, Right but, still the majority of
even if you're a team like The steelers that plays
plenty in, primetime the majority of your games are On
(28:34):
sunday at one. O'clock, yeah so don't you want to
practice around that time when you're going to be playing as? Well?
Too the heat acclamation aspect of, IT.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
I think the heat.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Things the one that keeps sticking with me is ten
AM's a lot cooler than two absolutely.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
In the middle Of july right or in the In.
August maybe that's. IT i don't.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Know and that's one of those things, Too Like Mike
tomlin has never shot away from. That he wants the
hot days during the. Summer he wants those rainy days
during the summer where you're working them more on ball
security and footing and because you're going to get all
of those different. Elements obviously playing in THE Afc north.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
Real quick on, that and trust, me it's nothing like
it used to.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Be The Joe Green like even towards the end of
Like Max starks's, day you know WHAT i, mean still
like the end of The Bill cower.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Camp was a lot harder than no.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
DOUBT i, mean that's just the league wide thing that's
a collective bargaining agreement.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
SITUATION i, mean that's that's league.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Wide BUT i will tell, people AND i know, enough
like national reporters or media people that tour, camps they're
always very impressed with how hard The steelers go compared
to other. TEAMS i, mean it's a lot more. CONTACT
a lot of teams don't do the backs on backers
and stuff like. THAT i, mean there's a lot more
contact In steeler camp pretty much as much as you're allowed.
(29:49):
Now they push it and a lot of teams just
try to take it. Easy load management blah blah blah blah.
Blah AND i think it's a good thing BECAUSE i
think they start the season strong and in. Shape BUT
i guess you could, say do they wear down at
the end of the. Year, YEAH i mean you have
to EXACT i don't know the. Answers i'm not saying
there's a right way or wrong way to do, it
(30:10):
but every team is examining these things, now you, know
LIKE i think everyone knows that the end of the
season has not gone The steelers way of. Late how
should we should we change? Something don't just keep definition
of insanity right. Exactly just don't keep doing the same
thing over and.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Over WHATEVER a different, result, Right and like you, said.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Now we'll change the practice from ten to one matter
that much For december probably, not probably.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Not but you are examining why do we having the same.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Problem AND i think an important important thing as well
too IS i think it was it's easier to in
a vacuum look at last year and the five straight
losses to end the regular. Season, yeah four, straight and
in the playoffs it was a five straight and in
the playoffs whatever it was regarded.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
Total the three game stretch the, bank you can.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
You can look at it and say part of that
was three games in a less days and just you,
know against three legit Super bowl, contenders and it just
what was you know there in the cards didn't go
very well for. You but you're, right that seems like
it's been a bigger sample size than just the last
couple of. Years you gotta do the. Proverbial if you
keep doing what you're, doing you're gonna keep getting what you're.
(31:18):
Getting and so, YEAH i, mean they'll go back to
what we've seen in the. Past the one fifty five
ever popular training camp practice time is back this year
for Your Pittsburgh. Steelers MATT i was doing a little
research scene if there had, been you, know, like any
any comments or anything about a specific reasoning behind the
(31:39):
return back to one fifty, five okay from you, know
someone that's not just a media speculation person like, Us,
like if there was any tangible, COMMENT i don't see
one here. Yet that doesn't mean, that you, know we
could couldn't figure it out here in the. Process BUT
i am sure the next, time you, know someone Like
Mike tomlin Or Omar kahn speaks that they'll be asked
about that by you, know one of the savvy journos
(32:01):
who's trying to paint the picture and tell the. Story but,
yeah if you missed it a couple segments, Ago steelers'
training camp schedule is out now available On steelers dot,
com available on all the different social Media, Facebook, Instagram,
twitter all that good stuff wherever you get your social
media posted about it there, Too and it is a
big like up.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Here while we're chatting here about end of the, season
AND i, know we've done a lot of schedule analysis
and the end of this year doesn't look nearly as
difficult as last, year which was as hard as it could.
Get to be, honest, Folks i'm not making excuse for The,
steelers but the teams they faced in a ten days,
period et, cetera and desperate.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
Ves did it.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
Too but one of those was also against The New York,
giants right.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Right, Right they didn't place Two Super bowl teams in the,
raven you, KNOW i, mean so it couldn't have been.
Harder and you look at this schedule and it it
isn't as difficult at the. End BUT i often Cite
Warren sharp that you, know he really digs into this,
stuff AND i just cut and paste his schedule. Analysis
and one thing he noted about The steelers is from
week eleven, on they still have the hardest schedule in
(33:05):
the league this.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Year this, year it Doesn't it's a little bit, better
but it's not. Much it's not.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
MUCH i mean just based off Of vegas win totals.
Today you don't know who maybe burrows, out you don't
know those. Things but as it, stands from week eleven,
on it's the hardest schedule in the.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
League and WHAT i.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Think four of the last six teams you play were
in the playoffs last.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
Year that's the thing, too is they also a big
thing that he stresses is when you have rest advantages and,
disadvantages you.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Get a team off a bye, week you get a
team with your long week on A, thursday or they're
the team that's off the bye week or the long.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
Week and then so here's an exact exact thing he
says about. That and it's all at the end of
the season. Too so if their six toughest, games they
have a rest disadvantage in five of, them three day
rest advantage Versus, bills one day rest advantage Versus, detroit
three day rest advantage against The, ravens seven days advantage
(34:00):
against The, bengals and then a short week road game In. Cinci, so,
yeah the schedule looks a little. Better but THE nfl
has not done this team a lot of favors schedule
wives in a.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
While, no they have. Not and it's a double edged, Sword,
matt and you can. Imagine i'm sure you. Live you
And dale get the same type of comments and tweets
and questions and stuff like motes AND i. Do that
is part of being The Pittsburgh, steelers right you know?
Who you? Know who else plays in prime time a?
Lot The? Cowboys who else plays in primetime a? Lot
(34:33):
The New York yankees and The Red sox and The
lakers and The, celtics when you are the biggest, brands
when you have the biggest, following when you are, right
we love the. Five it's a five star matchup because
we're in, it, right one of the old ste.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
Slogans it's not The Titans, jags you, know and you'll.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Laugh this is another one of those. THINGS i KNOW
i reference this a, lot but this is another thing
That motes speaks to. Greatly he's, like one of my
first four years In, buffalo we had one primetime game
every year and it Was thursday night Or monday.
Speaker 5 (34:59):
Night and now you Get Josh, allen they get a bunch.
More but Like arizona and.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
Then WHEN i came To, pittsburgh there's five on the
schedule every year, minimum with one maybe getting.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
Flexed that's which is double. Edged but it's a, sword,
yeah it absolutely.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Is and The steelers do we all know. This we've
joked about it when we are losing a home game
to go To, dublin, right but we've joked you're going
to gain one back when you go TO la and
take over that stadium with eighty percent fans.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
And i'm sure there'll be a Heavy steeler contingency In.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Dublin to, me that's the double side of. It, Yeah,
you part of the reason why you're in prime time
is also the reason that your fan base has taken
over stadiums In la And arizona And vegas and compounding.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
Things and, again no one's making.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Excuses it's a wonderful position to be and they've won
a lot of games over the. Years but you also
have two of the top four elite quarterbacks in your,
division and it's consistently, been if not the, best one
of the better divisions in the.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
League certain.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Years it might be The north or something like that this,
year but like a ten year, period it's always.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
One, two, right, right, Right it's never Terrible Fantasy south, right, no. Right,
so and last year they put all those games at
the second half of your schedule, too WHICH i DIDN'T
i had a problem with at the time.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Too, yeah for all four.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
TEAMS i was, like, well what If lamar's out for
two games and it's a big, deal, Right watt or you,
Know garrett or whoever you, Know.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Let's take our final break of the. Day we do
have a good tweet here actually a training camp related
that we will get to on the other side to
close this thing down for this. Afternoon five practices in
the books here AT ota is at The root upmc
Rooney Sports. Complex a special edition of The Drive Wes
shuler And Matt williamson right here On Steelers Nation radio
(36:42):
on The Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Network this is The drive With Dale lolly And Matt
williamson on your twenty four to seven home of The
black And Gold Steelers Nation radio.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Final. Segment here day five of ot a's we are
live in Mister rooney's, backyard also known as the upmc
Rooney Sports. Complex beautiful. Day grass is still looking great
back just a few, practices hasn't been all beat up.
Yet they installed some new grass back, HERE i believe
just BEFORE.
Speaker 4 (37:19):
OTAs uh, so, yeah we're down here when this was
all dirt torn?
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Up?
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Right?
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Yeah was it during the draft that was all torn?
Speaker 5 (37:25):
Up or was It i'm trying to remember maybe it
might have been around that.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Time but, yeah looking great out. Here after another day
in the, books of, course day six Of OTA's, tomorrow
we'll be with you here from the same time ten
until one and then a few days off for everybody
before mandatory mini camp Next, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AND i.
Speaker 4 (37:44):
Would think you're gonna SEE dk metcalf AND Tj watt
and those guys next.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
WEEK i Would Darius. Slay, yeah those type of guys
that everyone's been talking and asking. About, yeah, Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
I'm excited to SEE Dk metcalfe in, person you.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
And, me, both you and me, both and then excited
to watch them, move you know WHAT i, mean like
from from a few yards. Away those guys don't come
off the assembly.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
Line he's a little different.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Bird he's the type of guy THAT i used to
create for The steelers WHEN i would Play madden back
in the. Day my creative player type. Guys matt a
tweet to get us out of. Here, okay this is
From Steeler nation nine to twenty up In, wisconsin asking
us for you, know now that we have the training
camp schedule, out just any suggestions on where to, stay
(38:28):
what to do during training. Camp and then he, also you,
know has been to some training camps before and is
wondering the difference of you, Know Mike tomlin is very
involved in vocal during training. Camp his process the same
and OTAs or do you see him standing back and
analyzing more good questions.
Speaker 4 (38:43):
THERE i would definitely say less vocal AS i would.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
AGREE i don't know if he's like standing back and
serving and, analyzing but it's not the same intensity.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
He always tells the. Story and times are different that
Coach kauer would just sit above. Us you, know you
wouldn't even know kind of on the high rides, there,
yeah back, then coaches sometimes even show up FOR i
means are different.
Speaker 5 (39:03):
Right now as the case with.
Speaker 4 (39:06):
You we have a headset on for ninety percent of this,
too so hearing practice isn't Always, yeah you're not gonna
hear every word For i'm not going. To AND i
also don't see the defensive field. Enough i'm not roaming
around like the, reporters and there's music, blasting et. Cetera
he's very, involved BUT i Think camp gets his blood boiling,
more you.
Speaker 5 (39:25):
Know for.
Speaker 4 (39:25):
SURE i think this is more assistant coach. Time you,
know Coach, yeah, yeah, yeah tight. End coach gets his
guys and this is how we do. This, drill keep
your pads, down get your hands, here you know.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
That type of. THING i think that's a good way
of putting.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
It all the ex players that we talked to that
do media stuff with, us will all tell, You, LIKE
i think part of the intensity of training camp is like.
That there's that gladiatorial element to it where you come
down the field and there's thousands of people and it's
a show.
Speaker 5 (39:54):
Walkway it's almost like coming into the ring if you're
THE ww, right.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
It's like A ww. Entrance it's like a gladiat. Entrance
AND i think part of that gets the juice going for,
everybody but certainly For Mike toman as well. TOO i
think there's got to be a part of the intensity
in those open practice you walk out for, practice there's
three thousand people screaming and yelling let's go pretty.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
Awesome and back to the, TWEET i mean by no
means AM i a tour guide and when we're, there
we're pretty, busy but it's a first Off sharky's rules And.
Speaker 5 (40:20):
I'll always pump up our.
Speaker 4 (40:21):
Guys and it's an awesome area the country, THOUGH i,
mean Like perbig, mentioned there's a lot of great courses
from WHAT i, understand.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
Of, course is, fishing, fishing.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
Outdoor, stuff, hiking beautiful mountain, sides all.
Speaker 3 (40:32):
That kind Of somebody with your dog and things right, RIGHT.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
I don't think Like Laurel caverns is.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
Far you, know there's a lot of stuff to do
if you're not from around here and you're coming to
camp and, like, okay practice is only exce, long And
i'm going to do breakfast and, lunch but there's other
things to do in the, area for.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
Sure there's so much else to do in that. AREA i,
also AND i know a lot of people do. THIS
a lot of people plan. Summer that's why this this
schedule getting released for training. Camp it's not just a
big deal for us because we know that those you,
know like three four weeks where our life is gonna,
be we're gonna, Be we're gonna we're we're picking up
our lives and moving out to To Saint Vincent college
(41:06):
for you, know for three and a half. Weeks it's
also a huge deal because a lot of people plan
summer vacations and summer trips around seeing The steelers In.
Latrobe and certainly a lot of people that are from
this area that you, know maybe drive an hour or
two go to practice and drive. Home but there's a
lot of people From wisconsin And North, carolina a lot
of we came From mississippi From chicago every. Year. Right
(41:30):
one thing THAT i always tell those people that's fun
to do if you're not somebody who gets to Experience
pittsburgh very often as.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
Well it's not far from the. Yeah, yeah like.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
Like come into, town go to a, practice and then
the next day go To. Kennywood you know WHAT i.
Mean coming coming To, pittsburgh stay the, night go to
The Strip, district do The incline. Point, yeah go to
A pirates game, park and then go out To latrobe
for a day or. Two it's it's an hour.
Speaker 4 (41:58):
In, pittsburgh and then be there for especially these late.
Practices you could sleep in and still be there for
one fifty five or.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
Whatever you get into town, here you do some stuff On,
friday you go out The friday night. Lights you stay out,
there you catch another Practice, saturday come, back you, know
spend Your saturday evening and Your sunday here in town
doing city things.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
THAT i would often.
Speaker 4 (42:18):
Recommend bring, water, Sunscreen i'm glad you said. That bring
some kind of rain.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Gear that's the big, one, right, right, right that's the big.
Speaker 5 (42:25):
One hard to get out of sun sometimes THERE.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
I remember my SO i told you this. Earlier my
first training camp was twenty, eighteen and it's hard to
get out of the. Sun and you know it's the
end Of july Early. August you know it's gonna be.
Hot but the one THING i didn't realize that my
first training camp is the rain gear, umbrellas, coats, shoes and.
Speaker 5 (42:42):
You're gonna have to walk between.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
Places it will go from eighty five degrees and sunny
to pouring down the rain.
Speaker 4 (42:49):
Mountain one thing about that area is the weather comes
quick and you can kind of see it, coming but
there's not much you can do about.
Speaker 5 (42:55):
It but, yeah the rain gear is.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
Big, no it absolutely. Is and, yeah if you missed,
it once, again that training camp schedule is out. Now
the players report on A, Wednesday july twenty. Third that
means we will really get going with the first day
of the acclamation period and our broadcast ON snr On,
Thursday july twenty. Fourth so, LISTEN i mean that's still, one, two, three, four, five,
(43:21):
six seven weeks, away but it's gonna feel like it'll
be here in seven.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
Days, Yeah BECAUSE i mean, again we have three days this,
week we have three days last, week we're three days
next week and then THE nfl shuts down.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
And we all like take time in. VACATION i don't
know about, you but after next, Week i've got three
trips planned in the following seven. WEEKS i got a
lot of that's the only time of year we can get.
Speaker 5 (43:41):
It it's the only time you can get.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
It vacation with the wife's, family vacation with my, family
and then going to visit my cousin and his. Kids
we have.
Speaker 4 (43:48):
Fewer this year because we've got grad parties and getting
guys ready for, college AND i gotta take, yeah all
that taking into orientation in Early, july And i'm gonna
hit the. Distillery it's The bourbons stilleries while he's doing
whatever he.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
Does Buffalo. Trace oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:03):
Yeah so we have less like family, vacations but that's
the only time to do.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
It and we were gonna do this.
Speaker 4 (44:08):
Anyways but the drives now three days a week Until camp,
two including these. Three so we've been five longer than
we ever have been gone into the season.
Speaker 3 (44:16):
Before and LIKE i said, it.
Speaker 4 (44:20):
And there's not much to talk, about to be, HONEST i,
mean there's about a five weeks. Strew that's the biggest
four week stretch there where the league is pretty.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
Quiet that's that's the biggest thing as well. Too and,
yet like we were saying With dale taking some time
for for himself to get feeling, better like if you,
don't if you don't step back a little bit, here
soon it's gonna be The Enagy. Sprint from then, on
it it's full speed and it is pedaled to the
medal until the end Of february when we get back
from the. Combine pretty. Much it is a lot of.
(44:46):
Fun it is why THE nfl is so popular because,
it like you, said really only goes away for about
four or five weeks a. Year but, yes it is
obviously something that we all schedule around and plan four
and get excited about at the same time that we'll do.
It for today's, Show, matt thanks To Nick krbig for
joining us for a few.
Speaker 5 (45:04):
Minutes great.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
STUFF a big thank you To Rob king as well
too when we were a little shorthanded today and he'll
did a little bit and we did what four or
five different segments with, us which was very nice of.
Him and of course a big shout out to our
guy justin back at the ranch AND cj down here
on site as well. Too we'll be back, tomorrow same,
time same, Place, yeah, knuckleheads ten to One Eastern standard,
(45:25):
time right here at the upmc Rooney Sports complex for
the final day of OT a practices For Matt. Williamson
I'm Wes. Shuler you've been listening to a special edition
Of The drive On Steelers Nation radio on The Steelers Audio.
Network
At least.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
He's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on
your twenty four to seven home of the Black and
Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
High noon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The sun is shining, It
is hot, Alms, it feels like summertime, maybe for the
first time here in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Area's final
hour of our coverage today, Well Shuler, Matt Williamson, Rob
King's been hanging out with us as well too. Nick
Herbig will join us here, we think in the next
ten to fifteen minutes or so. But Matt, the heat
(00:39):
is cracked up and it feels a little bit like
the intensity is today as well too.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, and it's something
we've mentioned throughout the week that each for again, I
always use the grade school, you know, you go from
kindergarten to first grade and blah blah blah. But as
the week goes on, it seems like everything's a little faster,
everyone's a little little more intense, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
The same week one.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Absolutely, I thought the third practice was a lot different
than the first practice last week. This practice, to me,
is clearly the fastest I hesitate to say most aggressive,
because like, I don't want to get the team in trouble.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
You're in all that to do things.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
They're not blocking, their tackling, but they're moving quickly out
there like it's a football game. You know that it's
not a walk through pace at all, right, but you know,
doing team drills and running real football stuff without smacking
each other. Like again, this isn't saying anything, but there
was an outside run to our direction. You ten plays
ago or so, and Darnel Washington could have put I
(01:38):
didn't recognize the corner. He could have put him six
feet into the ground, I mean like and he would
have been the game.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
And he looked like he was.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
One hundred and fifty pounds heavier than this young man
and he walled him off and he was gentle, but
he could kind of see him grinning like, oh.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
That would have it was lying this is gonna be right,
or man.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
If we run this play against the Bengals or whatever,
like boy, he is a large human being.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I love it, I do. And he is a large
human big and you know he talked about how he
feels like entering you know year three for him now too.
He spoke about this yesterday, how he feels like he's
got a better beat on the shape he needs to
be in his body type when he gets here. He said,
the last two years, you know, I'm kind of figuring
things out. I wasn't exactly where, you know, in hindsight
(02:24):
where I should have been heading into into OTAs and
into training camp. Feels like he's got a much better
grip on that this year, and I think it's showing. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And I won't forget because it was what two years ago.
Dale and I were down here recording a video, you know,
as we do every once a week or whatever, and
we walk out of the video room together we were
going to to our cars, and we passed this young
man dressed in Georgia sweats in the in the the
lower floor here, you know, just hey, how you doing?
(02:52):
And we both look at each other like that has
to be darn in Washington on a player visit, you know,
a draft visit. He was not a Steeler yet, and
because there was a tight end in the draft, that's.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
A really good it's the Georgia sweat right right.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Right, I'm like that has to be him. I mean,
maybe it's a the end.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I don't know, but he's huge and he's way bigger now.
I mean he's got to be thirty pounds heavier now
and good weight. And you mentioned that jump that he
might take from.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Year two to three.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think he's in contention for most improved player from
twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four. And he wasn't
bad as a rookie, but I think he's a real
problem to play against.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And Kinger, I tell you what, if he takes that
to even another level, then then that could be kind
of some of that tight end stuff and the mismatches
and the problems you'd be able to create for defenses.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
And we talked about that twelve and thirteen personnel. When
he's one of them and he's as big as Rocket Jones,
that's what do you.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Do with that? Right?
Speaker 6 (03:45):
And you know there was there wasn't a lot over
the middle. It felt like last year and you know
you're you're playing to Russell Wilson's strengths. I'm guessing here
now a little bit he'd liked to throw more to
the outside.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Like to throw in the middle.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
But if you have somebody, you know if you can
do And it felt like that sort of boot left,
throwback right thing kind of teams kind of that was
his bread and butter early kind of got ahold of that,
But man, I would love to have him releasing and
running a short seam or a little slant over the
middle regis stuff. Yeah, I mean if and if you
are a if you're a safety and coming up tackle
(04:23):
him who you were you were going?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You can't get low enough, you know.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
And he's such a good blocker.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
I'm not saying for if he decided I'm gonna be
an offensive tackle, it's a thought.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
I mean, I'm not saying he that's the beauty of
a mode of is.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
He's so hard to play against because they've really gotten
They used to be one of the heaviest teams in
the league and using a sixth offensive lineman. Over the
last five years, they've gotten away from it, frankly because
they haven't had that great prospect that they want to
get on the field. They you know, their O line
depth got hit hard. All their guys they wanted on
the field got on the field kind of by default
or they earned it, Fraser, et cetera. But he's that guy,
(05:00):
you know, I mean, playing against a six offensive line
set is back to like our thirteen personnel fullback conversation.
You don't see much of it. I mean the league
leader has like six percent, you know, I mean the
Bills or at the top of the league this year,
and it's just something you don't see very often. And
it makes you keep big people on the field, and
they may have designed my defense to have little, fast
people on the field, which is the trend in the.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
League right now. You know. Yeah, no, it left handed.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
That's that's some of the you know, that's some of
the stuff you were talking about when even when you're
thirteen personnel used to just seven eight nine percent of
the time. That doesn't seem high, and it really isn't high.
It is by league standards, not just in a general
percentage percentage number. But that's a handful of snaps a
game that you're making. Every defensive coordinator and d line
coach and lot they got to sit in the film room,
they got to talk about it. How are we going
(05:45):
to handle it? How are we going to address it?
Speaker 5 (05:47):
What eleven of our guys are we putting out against that?
That's set step one, and that's a decision.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And what do we think are our best eleven guys
to have on the field in that situation, it might
not be our nickel that we just paid a nice
amount of.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Money to absolutely and Washington presents that problem over and
over and over.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
You know, I mean so, I think that's one of
the beauties of him.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
And again just unique players like Patrick Riccard doesn't play
every snap either, but no one else plays with a
three hundred pound full back that flies around behind the
line of scrimmage and blast people in the next week.
You know, that could actually catch a ball too. You
know we mentioned you know, Rob was talking about Washington
as a.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
As a pass catcher. That's all gravy to me. You know,
like he's not gonna catch eighty balls.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
We know that he's not gonna do the the John
new Smith and have eighty receptions for nine hundred yards.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
No, but if he can get me ten more this
year and the year after that, maybe ten more after that,
and just make keep people honest as a as.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
A receiver, know that he's right right, and.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Touchdowns one or two touchdowns a year like he had
last year in Denver.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Right, you know, I run over a guy here and there,
make a couple of big plays. He did a lot
of that at Georgia where they had a ton of receivers.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Obviously, yes, yes, yes, he did, and uh and that
it's obviously something that we're hoping for looking for. Like
I said, he spoke. He spoke a little bit yesterday
and was talking about how he just feels ahead of
the process. You know, to paraphrase if you will, this
time of year as opposed to where the last two
years where he was kind of trying to figure it
out as a young guy in this league. You heard
(07:14):
that horn about two three minutes ago. That means practice
number five for your Pittsburgh Steelers is in the books,
and books also means that in the next few minutes
or so, we will have Nick Herbig sitting down here
to join us to talk about today's practice. I'm trying
to scan the field, Matt to do the like A
is he gonna be out there getting a little extra
work or is he heading over here shortly? AKA? Do
(07:35):
I need to find something to fill time with for
the next five minutes?
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Break?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Where is he going to be here? In about sixty seconds?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
I don't see him.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I see him over He's over here in the end zone,
and it looks like he's about to do a little
extra work with Alex Heismith and the company, So let's
keep it rolling here. Joint practices. We discussed this a
little bit earlier in the week, right when Todd Bowles
mentioned that they were work from a Buccaneers standpoint, that
they were working on joint practices with the Jaguars and
the Steelers. That obviously married our ears perk up here
(08:05):
on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black
and Gold.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
And I assume the Jags are also a preseason theme.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
For them, and they're obviously two markets that are not
far from each other. Sure we do know now that
that is going to take place here in Pittsburgh Thursday,
August fourteenth. It's close to the public, but there will
be a joint practice with Tampa Bay day off Friday,
and in that preseason game against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
I assume we'll do shows that day. Obviously, all those
informations came out and maybe we can tell people what
we see. I think we did that with the Bills practice.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
So last year you and Dale were the ones who
did the show during Bill's practice. I believe I was
still back in Latrobe, but all.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
These played it. I don't think we had to hide it,
but you can remember.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You can say, like, hey, Buffalo clearly wants to work
on a red zone situation. Here the Steelers are clearly
trying to work on.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Josh Allen played a lot in that. It's not just
sit all your stars T J. Watt and Josh Allen.
I mean, it was those type of big time the
best players in the league will participate some not every snap,
of course, but they'll be out there in those situations,
and then the subsequent preseason game they might just sit
through the baseball.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Capage, right, you know, like thet they're work done in situations.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Stuff, and so you know, I can kind of read
the context close here in the tea leaves. But part
of part of why the teams like these joint practices,
why I think you think they're very important and valuable,
is because you can work on stuff in those closed
settings that you're one might not even organically present themselves
throughout the course of a preseason game. You might not
get that many red zone snaps, you might not get
(09:35):
the third and long that you're trying to work on,
but you can also do that. You can guarantee that
you can work on it, and you can do it
with very minimal eyeballs involved. Yes, no cameras, no film,
no national broadcast.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Right right.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
I mean there's cameras, but they're not for our viewing,
you know, right, and they're not on TV or whatever.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Of course, you know.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Like weird example, we were just talking about thirteen personnel.
Maybe they suspect the Saints when they're new offense is
going to give them more thirteen personnel, and they know
the Steelers are a big thirteen personnel team. They might
be like, hey, coach Tom, can we do a period
of thirteen? You guys put out your thirteen. They're like, great,
we do. We want to do that anyway, right, you
know what I mean? Or sometimes you got to do
(10:15):
the opposite too, like we don't really offer that, but
we'll we'll throw it out there for you if you
do a big section of red zone or you know
or whatever.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
You know, we really want to work on red zone,
you really want to work on third and long scratch
each other's.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Backs, yeah, exactly, and not that everyone can't use it
or we really Our blitz pickup's been terrible in camp.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
You know, we need a blitz.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Field send TJ. Watt now excess at our tackles here
for a few straight reps.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Or even the opposite.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
We've been killing our d line, but let's see we
can do it against yours. You know, something along those.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Lines, and that is that's part of that ebb and
flow of that time of year is always right like
you and I and Dale and Moats and everybody that's
involved Tom and Labs and you know, everyone that's involved
with our with our our training camp coverage. That's one
of the things that we kind of joke and laugh
about sometimes. Like, okay, defense won seven shots five to today.
Was it a dominant performance about the defense or was
(11:10):
the offense just puts it around? Right? Yeah, offenses look
a great. You know A B and Ben were dicing
people up today. Well, is that because they're they're a
B at Ben? Or is that because the defense is struggling?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
And the coaches always take that too, like, you know,
they kind of know what's coming. I've played against these
guys so much. I've my left tackle and edge rusher
have done so many battles. They know each other's tendencies
and all these things too. Give me somebody new it
is this guy coming on or is he just getting
a bead for his opponent?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
That's very very common for him, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
So I think that stuff's really important. And you know,
I was trying to think what we were. It's something
about the group practices. I want to get too, good situation.
The example I used yesterday was like Will Howard having
a great camp boy, we might have got to steal
in the sixth round, but we haven't got a chance
to do a lot of two minutes.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
You know, Okay, well let's get him in the preseason game.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
But maybe there's no opportunities where we have the ball
in a two minute situation.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
It might not get it doesn't happen organically.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
Yet, or maybe it happens once and I get.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
You get a very small sample size.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
The backup left tackle gets killed and he doesn't even
get the ball.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
In that situation. So that's the beauty of these.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Practices is they're really intense and whatever situation you want
to practice, you script it out with the other coach
and you figure it out.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
It's they're not just winging it out there.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
No, it's it almost and you'll laugh at this because
I obviously did not play football at any type of
high level. Uh. Ninth grade was my my last year
of playing organized football before I you know, fully focused
on my upstart hockey career at the time. And I
still remember we would final start tonight, right, Finals do
start tonight? Yeah, well, rematch of last year's finals. Nice,
(12:53):
except for Edmonton's got the home ice advantage up and
starting up in Canada this year. One of the things
is before every season, we would have a scrimmage against
a team we weren't going to play. Okay, you know
we I went to Mars High School. We would scrimmage
Beaver Falls, you know, or somebody like somebody, and it
would be like literally the coaches would be standing behind
the huddles and you know what I mean. And it
(13:15):
might be a third and seven and we thought we
had the look, but somebody missed a block or whatever. Okay, hey, coach,
can we run that back? Yeah, let's do it again.
Like yeah, there is I think, at every level of football,
real valuable, real valuable teaching that you can do in
those kind of striped down settings with a completely different
set of coaches and and and roster.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
As well, and you might learn something from the other
staff too, you know, something odd, like, boy, look how
they coach you know, look how they're prepping in their stuff,
they're doing with their.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Package, right yeah, yeah, absolutely, as uh as as Nick
Herbig is here, uh looking getting ready and uh and
walking over here right now.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
And real quick. Like with Tampa.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
I mean, I don't know what relationship coach Tomlin and
Todd Bowles have, but they've both been in the league
a long time, you know, and they probably know a
lot of the same people and that type of thing.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
How you doing, ladies and gentleman steeling? Joining us now
after practice number five in the books?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
We are we a lot. I've never done this last week.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Last week Keanu sat down with us and he was like,
is this just radio? We're doing TV? Do I need
to smile? What are we doing here?
Speaker 5 (14:24):
You need that? Pull up another Wisconsin dude.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
A lot of you guys around here now, man, We're everywhere.
It's funny, this was like two years ago, maybe it
was even last year. Your brother asked the exact same
thing and sat down with us. It's like we live
like I just came right from the field from there.
That was like how's he doing, By the way, he's great,
He's great, yep.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
But love to have him back.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
But I'm sure he's happy where he's at and doing
all that good stuff.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
So let's get into it here. Ye're three, and I
think one of the things that always seems like a
theme this time of year is how quickly you can
go from the young guy to a veteran in the
room that everybody's looking to.
Speaker 7 (15:01):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And for you now, entering that third year, you've got
a guy like Jack Sawy or who's who's new in
the room?
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Have you felt that? And obviously you're you're very blessed
with guys like Alex Higsmith and t J. Watt that
have the leadership to do this at a high level.
But do you feel any of that Year three? For me, now,
it's time for me to be a vet in a way.
It's time for me to set an example for all
these young guys.
Speaker 7 (15:21):
Yeah, I mean year three like it, I feel like
I was just in college. I mean like it's flying.
And they always say, like, enjoy it because it's gonna
go by quick. And until you're really in it, you
don't realize, like, man, it's crazy. You know, and I
want to call myself a vet like just yet you
know what I mean, Like yeah, yeah, yeah, I still
(15:43):
got to make more plays and you know what I mean,
produce more. But yeah, just being the you know, not
a rookie anymore, even your two, like year three, is
just it comes with a different swide to you.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
You know, they expect a lot more out of you.
Speaker 7 (15:56):
The team does as well as a coaches. You know,
everybody just expects more you. So it's definitely it's a
good feeling though. You know, you kind of know where
your feet are, you know what to expect, you know
what you need to work on.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
And having a guy like Sawyer come in.
Speaker 7 (16:09):
He's so eager to learn, He's so hungry, and you
can just tell he wants to soak up all the
knowledge he can.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
He's fitting in well already. Yeah good, good good.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Joey Porter Junior distracting off gain distracting. I just I
wanted to ask you about the onus on this defense, right, Like,
like we know Pittsburgh Steelers football at times, members of
the coaching staff can change, the roster can change. But
I'm thirty four years old. For my lifetime, it's been
(16:42):
run the football, stop the run, dominant defense. When you
guys have a culture that has expectations through the roof
for you with guys like Menca, guys like TJ, guys
like Cam, Right, is there a is there a comfortability
now for you with the expectations here in year three
(17:02):
you've had the first two years where now you feel
like you're ingrained and you're really kind of ready to
take that thing the next level.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:11):
I mean it's just like, you know, I'm out there
and I have a pre practice handshake with Minca, like cool,
Like you know, he's a leader, he's a guy to
look up to, guy you watch growing up. And just
having like TJ Smithy Cam and like doing stuff with
them outside of football too, is just like that's super
cool to me, Like that they take time out of
(17:33):
their lives and they all got families and stuff, you know,
give back to us and make sure they're passing on
that culture, that tradition of Pittsburgh Steelers and what we
do here on defense.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
So where I was going this is we mentioned TJ
and I joked, you know, we always do coverage upstairs
during the draft when they drafted you, I said, man
with constant connection with Watt. If I was her big
I've never met this kid, but man, I would just
follow TJ around like crazy. I'd be his shadow as
soon as like god here, if TJ gets salad at lunch,
get a salad at lunch, you know, just do everything
(18:02):
you possably can. And we weren't you and I weren't chatting,
but I mean just watching you in your rookie camp.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
You sure seem to be.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
By TJ side lot, which is exactly what I would
have done. And where I'm going with this is, would
you tell Harmon to do the exact same thing with
camp on?
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Thousand percent?
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Okay, yeah, I it's so beneficial.
Speaker 7 (18:18):
I think you would have to. I don't like using
derogatory terms, but I think you'd have to be really
dumb not to.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
You know, why wouldn't you? It's just those guys are
open to help you, all there, all.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Of famers, you know what I mean. And I'm not
saying they're gonna give you.
Speaker 7 (18:31):
They're they're definitely not giving you that respect off the
rip and they're not just gonna.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
But they're gonna help you, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
And if you're willing you're like, if you're eager to learn,
you're willing to learn, like they want to help you,
you know what I mean, Like they want to pass
on everything. They want to pass knowledge on because somebody
did that for them. I mean, like they all came in,
they were rookies before, they they were young guys looking
up to Debo and Casey like yeah, so everybody was
in this position before. So I think just being able
(18:57):
to be that type of guy that you want to
be eager, You're willing to learn, You're willing to do
whatever it takes, you know what I mean, Like I'm fucking.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
We're live. But that's cool.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
You're allowed to.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
Canceled like me and t are going jumping in the
cult of at six in the morning, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Like I don't like to do that. I never did that,
but he's doing.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
He's going five seconds, I'm going six yeah, perfect right,
and he's eating the salid I'm eating too.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
I'm sure another guy for you that's been, you know,
instrumental in these these couple of years as your position coach,
Denzel Martin Uh. He signed a contract extension with the
Steelers this offseason. I assume you were happy to see
that and to continue that relationship with him.
Speaker 7 (19:39):
Yeah, Denzel Man, he's He's unlike any coach I've had before,
Like he he really lets you be who you are,
you know what I mean. He doesn't try to put
you in a box, Like he doesn't try to tell me,
hey don't do that, hey do this, blah blah blah.
Like he's gonna coach me to my strengths, you know,
And he knows that I'm different from TJ.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Tjer is different from Alex.
Speaker 7 (19:56):
You know, we're all our own type of players, and
we're all our own type of person off the field too.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
So I think having that bond with Denzel as.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Well, like he knows the type of person we are,
it just makes it a lot better, like when we
get on the field, you know what I mean, because
we can communicate in different ways, and we all kind
of have like a tight knit group sure of each other,
and I really feel like we're like it's like a family,
you know what I mean, It's like a brotherhood.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
So just having a coach like that who.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
Really believes in you, and he he showed nothing but
believe in me since the day I got here, you
know what I mean. Like, so just having somebody like
that that has your back and you know that he's
gonna stand on business every single time for you, it
gives you a different level of confidence.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
So I don't want any secrets, of course, But how
much different is it? In game week preparing? We've been
talking about this a lot today for the Ravens versus Bengles.
I mean, like, it couldn't be any different, I bet,
but they're familiar, and they're great quarterbacks, and they're both
really good offenses.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
But they just do it so different, you know.
Speaker 7 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean, and I think that's what makes the
AFC North so tough. Like every team got a little
something to them, you know, like we're all the same,
but we're all different at the same time, Like we
all got different styles of play, but we all got
the same style of player. Like it's hard nose, smash
mouth football, but it's dressed up different. It's you know,
a kind of air it out. Yeah, yeah, you know
what I mean. Lamar is gonna run around.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Like Dereck Henry's all types of different guys who can
kill you in in different in different ways.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
So I think that's what makes it so fun too,
Like every time you.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Need to play North, it's like, okay, a little different,
up a little bit.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Last one I got for you. Nick Herbit kind enough
to give us some of his time here after practice.
One of the things that we like to ask you
guys this time of year. So when you when you
get this break after mini camp, before training camp, right,
what do you do to reset? What do you do
for fun? What do you do for some downtime?
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Golf?
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Golf?
Speaker 5 (21:39):
Yeah, in town or you go home?
Speaker 1 (21:41):
I mean, actually the US Open is coming here this week. Yeah,
me and the boys are gonna go to that. That's awesome, big,
big Scottie guy.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Love it.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
Hoping you can win another one. But yeah, golf, just
relaxing out the boys.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
You'll play and go as a fan. I mean you're
oh yeah, you love to play.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
They actually just played in Joey's tournament yesterday. But nice,
I'm yeah, I'm working on that, working on my game.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Decent. Yeah, I'm decent. I don't play, I'm terrible, but
thank good.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Like a fifteen, who's the best thing the game that's
on the team, probably Boss. It has to be a kicker.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
Yeah, it's always a Kicker. Sure they have too much
time in their hands.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
For sure. Boss Christian Kuns is the worst.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
It's interesting to find out who's good and bad. Very cool.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Thank you, Nick, Thank you for the time and all
the best going forward the rest of the offseason. Nick
herbig kind enough to join us here after practice. It's
in the book. Matt and I will come back and
wrap things up and we return on the other side
here on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold Steelers Nation.
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Radio penn ultimate segment of the day here down on
the south side is practices in the Books.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
We've got about another half an hour or so to
hang with you here, Wes Jeweler and Matt Williamson. A
big thank you, uh to Nate Herbick for joining us there.
I tell you what, I don't know if it's the
Wisconsin guys. I don't know if it's you know, with
the Hawaii Polynesian heritage, but they're always good talkers and
uh and you know, willing to to get into some topics.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
A little bit, no, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
And I mentioned his brother sat down with us either
last year or the year before, straight off the practice
field commanders. Now, Yeah, yeah, Okay, he's one that I
kind of sorry to see get away have him in
the mix, one extra interior guy that you could count
on to play three positions. But I don't want to
get into that. It sounds like he's doing great, But
he was phenomenal. I thought Nick was great. We could
(23:42):
chat it with him for the rest of the album.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Total. We were both like we we needed to let
him go, but we could have kept him.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
For There was a lot of stuf I would chat him about.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah, absolutely could have gotten too some of that golf
game stuff as well too. You know, he was talking
about how he was playing in Joey Porter's outing earlier
this week. I've got the big Arthur Motes golf outing
this and I've not golfed yet this year. So I
played in an outing on Monday. I'm gonna try and
at least get to a driving range or something on
Friday to just swing the club a few times and
(24:09):
get back into the groove of the thing. But yeah,
I didn't even think about that like this time. Next week,
I totally gave it up. I like it, I don't
love it, Okay, that's what I always say. I like
going out a few times a year. It's fun, but
I am not one of these people that's like working
on my golf game and actively trying to get a
lot better.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
And that's one of the reasons I gave it up because,
as I do with football and a couple other things,
I'm not good at very many things. But the things
I'm into, I dive in the deep end of thousand percent.
You do have that personality. Yeah, it's a little bit
of an addictive quality. And I knew if I attacked golf,
I would be out there a lot.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
And it's expensive, middle of January trying to get.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
I mean like, I'm either gonna do with this all
or nothing, and I chose nothing. But at this stage
of my life, I wish I played back then, like
Rob was talking, I played a ton of pick up
hoops and stuff like that, and now I was like,
be good just to get out and swing, and you know,
I'm terrible now brought backing up now, that.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Was part of the thing for me too, Like you know,
I was saying, you know, pick up hoop style like
I played Beer league, adult league hockey forever, but then
when you start having kids and those games are really
late at night, and it's like, you know what, golf
is the one thing that I can.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
You can do that, I can do it for a while.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
But like I said, I like it, I don't love it.
I'm not actively practicing and training and trying to get better.
I'm not spending a ton of money. I don't belong
to a country club or anything like that. Yeah, but
I'll tell you what, next week around this time is
going to be pretty stinking cool. The center of the
golf universe.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Right one hundred and twenty fifth US Open right down
the road at Oakland.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
So I've been advising my eighteen year old son, who
I brought up. Like you said, he has graduated six'
five and like, me he's not exactly fleet to, foot you,
know but he was a volleyball.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Player i'm, like stick with, golf.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
MAN i, mean you got a nice smooth, swing and you,
know you could do that for the next fifty, years you,
know and whatever business you get, in you might you,
know make connections on the course and all that good.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Stuff you.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Know it is it.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
IS i kind of WISH i would have picked it up,
early you, Know AND i.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Think that's WHERE i get the benefit. Too like my
father is golf. Obsessed he loves it violin and, golf
you know WHAT i. Mean that was my dad growing,
up and SO i got a lot of it WHEN
i was. Younger AND i think it's one of those
things like riding a, bike, Right like there's if you
pick it up when you're, young and even if you
get away from it for a while LIKE i did
in high school and, college it's still you still kind
of have that, bassline LIKE, i you, Know, MATT i
(26:17):
LIKE i played a lot of guitar and piano growing
up and then in, college and my young years went
eight nine years with barely touching the. Things like NOW
i could sit down and still play a song or. Two,
yeah but just BECAUSE i.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Had what stuck with, it like, Man i'd have been, good.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Right BUT i also think IF i would have just
started a few years ago and really dedicated it to,
MYSELF i still might have, this you, Know like there's
something to be said for having a bassline when you're
younger that sticks with.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
You but it's also tougher.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
NOW i, mean as you, know kids come, along and
how many hours does football take in my?
Speaker 5 (26:44):
Life and you know obviously you know.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Right Uh, matt we did right When i'm kind of
scraping the barrel looking for uh some some. Topics and
by the, way our, Producer justin back at the, range
said he just shot an eighty and an eighty.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
One oh, WOW i tell you.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
WHAT i said back at the. Range i'm at the,
ranch BUT i guess to use the golfer range, Too
So i'll tell you what We'll we'll need to go
meet up With justin at the. Range jeff with a
good tweet here any specific reason as to why it's
not the ten am practices again this? YEAR i Remember
Mike tomlin speaking glowingly about helped how they helped the
players as far as time management and position meetings in the,
(27:22):
Afternoon just wondering why they return to one fifty.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Five do you have a clue on that that might
be more of your valley than. MINE i thought they
were happy with, it BUT i don't know what THE i.
Mean obviously you to give just as many meetings in either, way.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
They'll find a way to make it.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
Work, yeah, YEAH i, mean it's not like one's gonna
get more work than others or you're gonna get more practice.
Time And i'm still twenty four hours in a day
and they're gonna use as much of it as they. Can,
YES i don't really know how to answer.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
THAT i don't.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Either, YEAH i had a great. QUESTION i don't know the.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
ANSWER i think maybe it could just be as simply
as logistically the changes that it call caused last year
from typical doing it at one fifty five two o'clock
they didn't think was worth some of the benefits of
the convenience of the schedule flow of the. DAY i
wonder if some of it is well, too.
Speaker 5 (28:09):
IS i was thinking heat originally one big, thing the
hardest in the.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Hottest part of the. Day, yeah heat and Acclamation and, also,
yes The Pittsburg steels are The Pittsburg, steelers and we
know they're going to play five or six primetime games
every single. Year they only have four scheduled right, now
but we know one will get flex there or The
ravens game at the end of the season will be
an eight o'clock, kickoff, Right but, still the majority of
even if you're a team like The steelers that plays
plenty in, primetime the majority of your games are On
(28:34):
sunday at one. O'clock, yeah so don't you want to
practice around that time when you're going to be playing as? Well?
Too the heat acclamation aspect of, IT.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
I think the heat.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Things the one that keeps sticking with me is ten
AM's a lot cooler than two absolutely.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
In the middle Of july right or in the In.
August maybe that's. IT i don't.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Know and that's one of those things, Too Like Mike
tomlin has never shot away from. That he wants the
hot days during the. Summer he wants those rainy days
during the summer where you're working them more on ball
security and footing and because you're going to get all
of those different. Elements obviously playing in THE Afc north.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
Real quick on, that and trust, me it's nothing like
it used to.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Be The Joe Green like even towards the end of
Like Max starks's, day you know WHAT i, mean still
like the end of The Bill cower.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Camp was a lot harder than no.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
DOUBT i, mean that's just the league wide thing that's
a collective bargaining agreement.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
SITUATION i, mean that's that's league.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Wide BUT i will tell, people AND i know, enough
like national reporters or media people that tour, camps they're
always very impressed with how hard The steelers go compared
to other. TEAMS i, mean it's a lot more. CONTACT
a lot of teams don't do the backs on backers
and stuff like. THAT i, mean there's a lot more
contact In steeler camp pretty much as much as you're allowed.
(29:49):
Now they push it and a lot of teams just
try to take it. Easy load management blah blah blah blah.
Blah AND i think it's a good thing BECAUSE i
think they start the season strong and in. Shape BUT
i guess you could, say do they wear down at
the end of the. Year, YEAH i mean you have
to EXACT i don't know the. Answers i'm not saying
there's a right way or wrong way to do, it
(30:10):
but every team is examining these things, now you, know
LIKE i think everyone knows that the end of the
season has not gone The steelers way of. Late how
should we should we change? Something don't just keep definition
of insanity right. Exactly just don't keep doing the same
thing over and.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Over WHATEVER a different, result, Right and like you, said.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Now we'll change the practice from ten to one matter
that much For december probably, not probably.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Not but you are examining why do we having the same.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Problem AND i think an important important thing as well
too IS i think it was it's easier to in
a vacuum look at last year and the five straight
losses to end the regular. Season, yeah four, straight and
in the playoffs it was a five straight and in
the playoffs whatever it was regarded.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
Total the three game stretch the, bank you can.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
You can look at it and say part of that
was three games in a less days and just you,
know against three legit Super bowl, contenders and it just
what was you know there in the cards didn't go
very well for. You but you're, right that seems like
it's been a bigger sample size than just the last
couple of. Years you gotta do the. Proverbial if you
keep doing what you're, doing you're gonna keep getting what you're.
(31:18):
Getting and so, YEAH i, mean they'll go back to
what we've seen in the. Past the one fifty five
ever popular training camp practice time is back this year
for Your Pittsburgh. Steelers MATT i was doing a little
research scene if there had, been you, know, like any
any comments or anything about a specific reasoning behind the
(31:39):
return back to one fifty, five okay from you, know
someone that's not just a media speculation person like, Us,
like if there was any tangible, COMMENT i don't see
one here. Yet that doesn't mean, that you, know we
could couldn't figure it out here in the. Process BUT
i am sure the next, time you, know someone Like
Mike tomlin Or Omar kahn speaks that they'll be asked
about that by you, know one of the savvy journos
(32:01):
who's trying to paint the picture and tell the. Story but,
yeah if you missed it a couple segments, Ago steelers'
training camp schedule is out now available On steelers dot,
com available on all the different social Media, Facebook, Instagram,
twitter all that good stuff wherever you get your social
media posted about it there, Too and it is a
big like up.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Here while we're chatting here about end of the, season
AND i, know we've done a lot of schedule analysis
and the end of this year doesn't look nearly as
difficult as last, year which was as hard as it could.
Get to be, honest, Folks i'm not making excuse for The,
steelers but the teams they faced in a ten days,
period et, cetera and desperate.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
Ves did it.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
Too but one of those was also against The New York,
giants right.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Right, Right they didn't place Two Super bowl teams in the,
raven you, KNOW i, mean so it couldn't have been.
Harder and you look at this schedule and it it
isn't as difficult at the. End BUT i often Cite
Warren sharp that you, know he really digs into this,
stuff AND i just cut and paste his schedule. Analysis
and one thing he noted about The steelers is from
week eleven, on they still have the hardest schedule in
(33:05):
the league this.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Year this, year it Doesn't it's a little bit, better
but it's not. Much it's not.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
MUCH i mean just based off Of vegas win totals.
Today you don't know who maybe burrows, out you don't
know those. Things but as it, stands from week eleven,
on it's the hardest schedule in the.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
League and WHAT i.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Think four of the last six teams you play were
in the playoffs last.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
Year that's the thing, too is they also a big
thing that he stresses is when you have rest advantages and,
disadvantages you.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Get a team off a bye, week you get a
team with your long week on A, thursday or they're
the team that's off the bye week or the long.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
Week and then so here's an exact exact thing he
says about. That and it's all at the end of
the season. Too so if their six toughest, games they
have a rest disadvantage in five of, them three day
rest advantage Versus, bills one day rest advantage Versus, detroit
three day rest advantage against The, ravens seven days advantage
(34:00):
against The, bengals and then a short week road game In. Cinci, so,
yeah the schedule looks a little. Better but THE nfl
has not done this team a lot of favors schedule
wives in a.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
While, no they have. Not and it's a double edged, Sword,
matt and you can. Imagine i'm sure you. Live you
And dale get the same type of comments and tweets
and questions and stuff like motes AND i. Do that
is part of being The Pittsburgh, steelers right you know?
Who you? Know who else plays in prime time a?
Lot The? Cowboys who else plays in primetime a? Lot
(34:33):
The New York yankees and The Red sox and The
lakers and The, celtics when you are the biggest, brands
when you have the biggest, following when you are, right
we love the. Five it's a five star matchup because
we're in, it, right one of the old ste.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
Slogans it's not The Titans, jags you, know and you'll.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Laugh this is another one of those. THINGS i KNOW
i reference this a, lot but this is another thing
That motes speaks to. Greatly he's, like one of my
first four years In, buffalo we had one primetime game
every year and it Was thursday night Or monday.
Speaker 5 (34:59):
Night and now you Get Josh, allen they get a bunch.
More but Like arizona and.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
Then WHEN i came To, pittsburgh there's five on the
schedule every year, minimum with one maybe getting.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
Flexed that's which is double. Edged but it's a, sword,
yeah it absolutely.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Is and The steelers do we all know. This we've
joked about it when we are losing a home game
to go To, dublin, right but we've joked you're going
to gain one back when you go TO la and
take over that stadium with eighty percent fans.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
And i'm sure there'll be a Heavy steeler contingency In.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Dublin to, me that's the double side of. It, Yeah,
you part of the reason why you're in prime time
is also the reason that your fan base has taken
over stadiums In la And arizona And vegas and compounding.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
Things and, again no one's making.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Excuses it's a wonderful position to be and they've won
a lot of games over the. Years but you also
have two of the top four elite quarterbacks in your,
division and it's consistently, been if not the, best one
of the better divisions in the.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
League certain.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Years it might be The north or something like that this,
year but like a ten year, period it's always.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
One, two, right, right, Right it's never Terrible Fantasy south, right, no. Right,
so and last year they put all those games at
the second half of your schedule, too WHICH i DIDN'T
i had a problem with at the time.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Too, yeah for all four.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
TEAMS i was, like, well what If lamar's out for
two games and it's a big, deal, Right watt or you,
Know garrett or whoever you, Know.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Let's take our final break of the. Day we do
have a good tweet here actually a training camp related
that we will get to on the other side to
close this thing down for this. Afternoon five practices in
the books here AT ota is at The root upmc
Rooney Sports. Complex a special edition of The Drive Wes
shuler And Matt williamson right here On Steelers Nation radio
(36:42):
on The Steelers Audio.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Network this is The drive With Dale lolly And Matt
williamson on your twenty four to seven home of The
black And Gold Steelers Nation radio.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Final. Segment here day five of ot a's we are
live in Mister rooney's, backyard also known as the upmc
Rooney Sports. Complex beautiful. Day grass is still looking great
back just a few, practices hasn't been all beat up.
Yet they installed some new grass back, HERE i believe
just BEFORE.
Speaker 4 (37:19):
OTAs uh, so, yeah we're down here when this was
all dirt torn?
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Up?
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Right?
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Yeah was it during the draft that was all torn?
Speaker 5 (37:25):
Up or was It i'm trying to remember maybe it
might have been around that.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Time but, yeah looking great out. Here after another day
in the, books of, course day six Of OTA's, tomorrow
we'll be with you here from the same time ten
until one and then a few days off for everybody
before mandatory mini camp Next, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AND i.
Speaker 4 (37:44):
Would think you're gonna SEE dk metcalf AND Tj watt
and those guys next.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
WEEK i Would Darius. Slay, yeah those type of guys
that everyone's been talking and asking. About, yeah, Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
I'm excited to SEE Dk metcalfe in, person you.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
And, me, both you and me, both and then excited
to watch them, move you know WHAT i, mean like
from from a few yards. Away those guys don't come
off the assembly.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
Line he's a little different.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Bird he's the type of guy THAT i used to
create for The steelers WHEN i would Play madden back
in the. Day my creative player type. Guys matt a
tweet to get us out of. Here, okay this is
From Steeler nation nine to twenty up In, wisconsin asking
us for you, know now that we have the training
camp schedule, out just any suggestions on where to, stay
(38:28):
what to do during training. Camp and then he, also you,
know has been to some training camps before and is
wondering the difference of you, Know Mike tomlin is very
involved in vocal during training. Camp his process the same
and OTAs or do you see him standing back and
analyzing more good questions.
Speaker 4 (38:43):
THERE i would definitely say less vocal AS i would.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
AGREE i don't know if he's like standing back and
serving and, analyzing but it's not the same intensity.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
He always tells the. Story and times are different that
Coach kauer would just sit above. Us you, know you
wouldn't even know kind of on the high rides, there,
yeah back, then coaches sometimes even show up FOR i
means are different.
Speaker 5 (39:03):
Right now as the case with.
Speaker 4 (39:06):
You we have a headset on for ninety percent of this,
too so hearing practice isn't Always, yeah you're not gonna
hear every word For i'm not going. To AND i
also don't see the defensive field. Enough i'm not roaming
around like the, reporters and there's music, blasting et. Cetera
he's very, involved BUT i Think camp gets his blood boiling,
more you.
Speaker 5 (39:25):
Know for.
Speaker 4 (39:25):
SURE i think this is more assistant coach. Time you,
know Coach, yeah, yeah, yeah tight. End coach gets his
guys and this is how we do. This, drill keep
your pads, down get your hands, here you know.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
That type of. THING i think that's a good way
of putting.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
It all the ex players that we talked to that
do media stuff with, us will all tell, You, LIKE
i think part of the intensity of training camp is like.
That there's that gladiatorial element to it where you come
down the field and there's thousands of people and it's
a show.
Speaker 5 (39:54):
Walkway it's almost like coming into the ring if you're
THE ww, right.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
It's like A ww. Entrance it's like a gladiat. Entrance
AND i think part of that gets the juice going for,
everybody but certainly For Mike toman as well. TOO i
think there's got to be a part of the intensity
in those open practice you walk out for, practice there's
three thousand people screaming and yelling let's go pretty.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
Awesome and back to the, TWEET i mean by no
means AM i a tour guide and when we're, there
we're pretty, busy but it's a first Off sharky's rules And.
Speaker 5 (40:20):
I'll always pump up our.
Speaker 4 (40:21):
Guys and it's an awesome area the country, THOUGH i,
mean Like perbig, mentioned there's a lot of great courses
from WHAT i, understand.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
Of, course is, fishing, fishing.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
Outdoor, stuff, hiking beautiful mountain, sides all.
Speaker 3 (40:32):
That kind Of somebody with your dog and things right, RIGHT.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
I don't think Like Laurel caverns is.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
Far you, know there's a lot of stuff to do
if you're not from around here and you're coming to
camp and, like, okay practice is only exce, long And
i'm going to do breakfast and, lunch but there's other
things to do in the, area for.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
Sure there's so much else to do in that. AREA i,
also AND i know a lot of people do. THIS
a lot of people plan. Summer that's why this this
schedule getting released for training. Camp it's not just a
big deal for us because we know that those you,
know like three four weeks where our life is gonna,
be we're gonna, Be we're gonna we're we're picking up
our lives and moving out to To Saint Vincent college
(41:06):
for you, know for three and a half. Weeks it's
also a huge deal because a lot of people plan
summer vacations and summer trips around seeing The steelers In.
Latrobe and certainly a lot of people that are from
this area that you, know maybe drive an hour or
two go to practice and drive. Home but there's a
lot of people From wisconsin And North, carolina a lot
of we came From mississippi From chicago every. Year. Right
(41:30):
one thing THAT i always tell those people that's fun
to do if you're not somebody who gets to Experience
pittsburgh very often as.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
Well it's not far from the. Yeah, yeah like.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
Like come into, town go to a, practice and then
the next day go To. Kennywood you know WHAT i.
Mean coming coming To, pittsburgh stay the, night go to
The Strip, district do The incline. Point, yeah go to
A pirates game, park and then go out To latrobe
for a day or. Two it's it's an hour.
Speaker 4 (41:58):
In, pittsburgh and then be there for especially these late.
Practices you could sleep in and still be there for
one fifty five or.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
Whatever you get into town, here you do some stuff On,
friday you go out The friday night. Lights you stay out,
there you catch another Practice, saturday come, back you, know
spend Your saturday evening and Your sunday here in town
doing city things.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
THAT i would often.
Speaker 4 (42:18):
Recommend bring, water, Sunscreen i'm glad you said. That bring
some kind of rain.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Gear that's the big, one, right, right, right that's the big.
Speaker 5 (42:25):
One hard to get out of sun sometimes THERE.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
I remember my SO i told you this. Earlier my
first training camp was twenty, eighteen and it's hard to
get out of the. Sun and you know it's the
end Of july Early. August you know it's gonna be.
Hot but the one THING i didn't realize that my
first training camp is the rain gear, umbrellas, coats, shoes and.
Speaker 5 (42:42):
You're gonna have to walk between.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
Places it will go from eighty five degrees and sunny
to pouring down the rain.
Speaker 4 (42:49):
Mountain one thing about that area is the weather comes
quick and you can kind of see it, coming but
there's not much you can do about.
Speaker 5 (42:55):
It but, yeah the rain gear is.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
Big, no it absolutely. Is and, yeah if you missed,
it once, again that training camp schedule is out. Now
the players report on A, Wednesday july twenty. Third that
means we will really get going with the first day
of the acclamation period and our broadcast ON snr On,
Thursday july twenty. Fourth so, LISTEN i mean that's still, one, two, three, four, five,
(43:21):
six seven weeks, away but it's gonna feel like it'll
be here in seven.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
Days, Yeah BECAUSE i mean, again we have three days this,
week we have three days last, week we're three days
next week and then THE nfl shuts down.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
And we all like take time in. VACATION i don't
know about, you but after next, Week i've got three
trips planned in the following seven. WEEKS i got a
lot of that's the only time of year we can get.
Speaker 5 (43:41):
It it's the only time you can get.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
It vacation with the wife's, family vacation with my, family
and then going to visit my cousin and his. Kids
we have.
Speaker 4 (43:48):
Fewer this year because we've got grad parties and getting
guys ready for, college AND i gotta take, yeah all
that taking into orientation in Early, july And i'm gonna
hit the. Distillery it's The bourbons stilleries while he's doing
whatever he.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
Does Buffalo. Trace oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:03):
Yeah so we have less like family, vacations but that's
the only time to do.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
It and we were gonna do this.
Speaker 4 (44:08):
Anyways but the drives now three days a week Until camp,
two including these. Three so we've been five longer than
we ever have been gone into the season.
Speaker 3 (44:16):
Before and LIKE i said, it.
Speaker 4 (44:20):
And there's not much to talk, about to be, HONEST i,
mean there's about a five weeks. Strew that's the biggest
four week stretch there where the league is pretty.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
Quiet that's that's the biggest thing as well. Too and,
yet like we were saying With dale taking some time
for for himself to get feeling, better like if you,
don't if you don't step back a little bit, here
soon it's gonna be The Enagy. Sprint from then, on
it it's full speed and it is pedaled to the
medal until the end Of february when we get back
from the. Combine pretty. Much it is a lot of.
(44:46):
Fun it is why THE nfl is so popular because,
it like you, said really only goes away for about
four or five weeks a. Year but, yes it is
obviously something that we all schedule around and plan four
and get excited about at the same time that we'll do.
It for today's, Show, matt thanks To Nick krbig for
joining us for a few.
Speaker 5 (45:04):
Minutes great.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
STUFF a big thank you To Rob king as well
too when we were a little shorthanded today and he'll
did a little bit and we did what four or
five different segments with, us which was very nice of.
Him and of course a big shout out to our
guy justin back at the ranch AND cj down here
on site as well. Too we'll be back, tomorrow same,
time same, Place, yeah, knuckleheads ten to One Eastern standard,
(45:25):
time right here at the upmc Rooney Sports complex for
the final day of OT a practices For Matt. Williamson
I'm Wes. Shuler you've been listening to a special edition
Of The drive On Steelers Nation radio on The Steelers Audio.
Network
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