August 2, 2025 • 40 mins
The guys wrap up SNR's coverage for today and we hear from Slay and Freiermuth.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Iheartradios live coverage. I've not twenty twenty five Steelers training camp.
He's presented by FedEx where now meets Next and also
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(00:29):
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and by us.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Steel Practice still ongoing in front of us here, Matt.
It's a long one here for the Steelers. It is
makes sense. Non pads, so not as physical, and you
know you are in the grinded out stage of camp.
There's no more warming up to it. There's no more
acclamation period, and it's not you know, ninety five degrees
like some of these other days have been out here.
(00:58):
Looks like we've got some some red zone team period
going on to our left here. Exactly as Will Howard
is in the game for the Steelers, he will hand
it off to Trey Sermon, who is just met by
a wall of humanity Logan Lee in there causing some
disruptions on that one. Ya Black as well too.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
These deep guys in general today getting a lot of
good quality work. You know, I'm sure that there'll be
dudes that we haven't really paid attention to or highlighted
because we're not watching the All twenty two. But man,
he gave us two hours of high quality work. You know,
the backup linebacker, the backup guard that isn't getting a
lot of talk. I think these position coaches are gonna
get a lot out of this. And been paying an
extra attention to Roderick Jones today, by all accounts, had
(01:41):
a very rough day at Friday night lights and one
on ones and he is, to his credit, battling a groin,
but he's in great spirits and he's been dancing around.
You mentioned him in the end zone. He's had joking
with one of the trainers here before and running laps
extra and just watching his body language. It's very positive,
it's very upbeat. In one of the Steel tunes, he
(02:03):
was an Energy edition guy today, Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Adders, subtractors, multipliers and hiders.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He was.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
He was an addition to the energy.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yep and laughing and you know, not like he's disengaged,
but he's super engaged and really hang with his guys,
and maybe he's feeling better.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, I hope that's a good sign. Maybe he's you know,
like you said, he's feeling good, feeling better about to
settle in and uh and get going here.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
As we as him. Man, no doubt, critical, no.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Doubt, and pretty cool here. So this just came across
the timeline today obviously the NFL Hall of Fame and
shrime at ceremony out in camp right going in was
Jared Allen, of course, very successful defensive end. Yeah, pass rusher.
I think he's top, if not top ten, top fifteen
in sacks and NFL history. And of course his defensive
line coach was Carl Dunbar for a large chunk of
(02:54):
his career. Carl Dunbar was there at the ceremony today
and Jared Allen gave him a big shout out during
his speech and said about Carl Dunbar, you got me
to where I'm at. While he's talking about Carl Dunbar,
so pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Well, he's doing a well a job with the Steelers
d line and now he's got some young multible dudes
to add to that mix, and that is very cool.
And I mentioned this to you off the air that
I thought it really resonated with every player, but especially
the O line room back in the day, and I
would always make sure I brought it up on the air.
When coach Munchak was the O line coach, that'd be
(03:30):
a day or two every camp like where's munch you know,
I'm like, oh, he he's a Hall of Famer. He
had to go to go to Campton and put the
jacket on and hang with this. Then that Fraturn You're like,
huh yeah, pretty good coach too. But yeah, he was
also like the best guard in the league.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It's very rare that you get the combination of both
of those things.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Right, I mean because a lot of those guys don't
want to. I was great at what I did. I
made a ton of money. I'm not going to do
the grind of coaching, or maybe some of dudes just
came supernatural to that.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
You know, right, just because you can do doesn't mean
you could teach right right, And just because you could
teach doesn't mean.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Ted Williams was a manager at one point. Can't you
read the seams on this?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
No, Ted, like, you know, who has one of the worst.
And again there's like you gotta meet the minimum criteria
for games, coach and all that stuff, right, But you
know who has one of the worst winning percentages as
a head coach in NHL history, No clue, Wayne Gretzky.
He's the best hockey player everey. I can't teach you
how to do this.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
You got that or you don't. Nobody else does.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
The best player ever, maybe the worst coach ever.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I mean, there's a lot of examples.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
But I'm going to dip my toe in the coaching
water and be like, I'm not nearly as good as
this as I playing.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I just do how to play. I can't teach these
great about great at both, and I think I think
that is pretty pretty rare that you have Hall of
fame player, hall of fame type coach as well as
that aclusion of practice. See everybody start to come together here.
It does sure look like a good work today for
the game. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Minutes on the on the grass, Yeah right.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Two hours and ten minutes, two hours and fifteen minutes.
I thought we saw a lot of different.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Guys pop Yeah, depth, guys making the case for themselves. Yep.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Good to see. Roger can say, imlu back there as
we highlighted some more Roman Wilson today, which was encouraging.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, he seems to be making more and more plays
I thought.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
I thought Pat Shine, James Pierre as well had a
very good.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Practice, but Washington made some plays. Yeah, some of the
depth though Linemen I was kind of concentrating on moved
around pretty well. You know, yep, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
The officials are heading off the field, So I would
imagine that will do it if they've done their press
conference already here, I would think so.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I think so because I I ate lunch with some
of the media guys and they were talking about talking
to the referees. Yeah, like what the refs have to say,
and yeah, I kind of caught that as I was leaving.
But I think that's done.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I don't know what they're doing what they I know
what they were going to sit down with the media
at some point and help explain some role changes and
things like that.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I expect that all the Pittsburgh outlets you'll see some
media based articles come.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, maybe there'll be something in there that that we
can chew on or discuss one of these days. But
the Steelers the little breakdown and that will do it
for practice, Matt as they will start to exit the field,
hit the jugs, sign autographs, work on their craft, all
those different things that I have a feeling it will be,
or at least I hope it is, because there's a
ton of people here today. I got a feeling that
(06:22):
will be the case tomorrow as well too, with another
weekend practice, and there's not in fact that tomorrow might
be the last. If I'm remembering correctly, Tomorrow might be
the last weekend practice of training camp because next weekend
you're gonna be in Jacksonville the following week camp wraps.
So yeah, tomorrow, Yeah, tomorrow the final weekend practice. It'll
be a padded practice tomorrow, at least if they are
(06:42):
you know, following the the format script, whatever you want
to call it to this point. The day off coming
up today.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I'm wouldn't be shocked if tomorrow is the most physical
practice of all camp.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
I think, and it'll be right up there with Friday
Night Lights as one of the if not the most
physical practices we will be.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Looking watching all these years. I think that's probably sets
up really well to be a banging practice.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh yeah, I can't wait for that. Tomorrow. But that
is practiced today in the books. And with that, Matt,
we'll continue to if we see anything fun or noteworthy
going on in the field.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Like, look at all these kids coming down. I was
gonna say, it's like a parade of young young pop.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That's awesome. I wonder if they're like a youth football organization.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
They're all together, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
A lot of TJ want jersey, a lot of TJ.
I was gonna say, And look at all the nineties
down there amongst these, I mean every other jersey that
they're wearing is a number ninety. There's a Paula Malu
in there, there's a cant.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
In the Troy Yeah it Smeller.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And seventy eight watch jerseys amongst amongst the young kids.
That's that's pretty awesome. We gotta love it all right, Matt,
let's talk about some of these sack numbers.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, they're pretty startup for me.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
And to paint the picture. And I know a lot
of you have heard this because we have so many
diehard listeners here on Steeler Nation Radio. You and Dale
have built up an amazing following on this show, so
I know a lot of people have heard us discussing this,
but quickly for those who haven't sat conversation, how how
it relates to the ecosystem of the Steelers need more sacks,
(08:14):
and we've broken down how what they're going to do
on the back end. More manda Man coverage should allow
them to play a little more chess up front and
hopefully get back to some Blitzberg things.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Added more d Lineman, I mean added more d Lineman.
It's like three guys that weren't here yet last year
will probably make theme, if not more exactly right.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We've also highlighted how Matt is, for a lot of
rightful reasons, optimistic that Aaron Rodgers is going to take
less sacks than Russell Wilson and Justin Fields did last
yst year. Yes, yes, we've discussed it's very very sack differential.
How it's right behind turnover differential is one of the
biggest indicators for who's going for wins and losses. So
Matt talk to us at the stage here about how
(08:52):
sacks affect drives for an offense. This this is these
numbers that you on Earth.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, and so we started this conversation, well, frankly, I
started this conversation pretty much the day the season ended
was they're taking too many sacks. But more bothersome is
they're not creating enough despite being what I think is
the best pass rushing team in the league and in
pressures and batted passes and force fumbles, but the sack
(09:17):
numbers just aren't there. And hey, I'm gonna sound like
a spoiled Steeler fan too, but it's kind of their
god given right to lead the league in sacks or
be at the top of the league, and they went
an uncanny number of years where that's been true. Time
to get back to it. And I think you mentioned
this even if they had like five or six more
that have been amongst the leaders, which doesn't seem like much,
(09:39):
and it isn't, so it's very attainable. I'm not asking
them to get twenty more sacks this year. Get me
ten more, you know, something like that. And again I'm
not asking for huge goals. Get your sack numbers down,
which I think will directly be a quarterback driven situation,
and get your defensive sack numbers up, which I think
will have a lot to do with coverage. You would
think these things are well, you got a pass block better,
(10:01):
and you got to have better pass rushers. No, they
have those things, you know what I mean, And I
don't know the past blocking is not as good as
the pass rush, don't get me wrong. But quarterback has
a lot to do it. Coverage has a lot to
do it. These are team stats. Now I don't have
it in front of me, I send it to you.
But there are really harsh drive stats that I know
(10:23):
you're looking at of drives where and this is just
across the league. It's not news to you. Yours, specifically
points scored, like when you take a sack in the
drive against you know, a sackless drive. And obviously these
could be defensive or offensive stats.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Yeah, and so I want to pull these up for
you here. But the big thing that sticks out for
me is just by taking a sack on a possession, Yes,
you cut your points per drive by more than half
while lowering your odds of scoring a touchdown by nearly two.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Thirds just by a sack. I mean, it could be
a well play drive, but we took one sackle.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
That's crazy.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
That's crazy because I mean, you could possibly get a
quarterback injured, you could possibly cause a fumble, you could
possibly just put them into It's a third down sack
and boom punt, you know, I mean, I think everyone realizes,
but I do think when you break down the numbers
per drive, you wouldn't think a sack would be that
(11:23):
massive in derailing an entire drive, eight or nine drives
a year a game.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
And I think we hear a lot like sacks don't
mean as much as they used to because in the
NFL now, you know, a second and fourteen isn't as much,
isn't a big of a deal when you have Joe
Burrow and Jamar Chase, you know, like, but the numbers
don't back that up, and theory, I think that makes
a lot of sense, you know what I mean? Like
teams passing offenses are better and better every year than
(11:49):
they've been in the past. Quarterbacks get more talented wide
receiver pool of talent in the NFL is insanely deep
right now, Like a second along a third and long
didn't mean as much as it used to. Again, on
the surface, I do think there's a lot of I'm
in reason to that.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Right, the numbers stop Josh Allen on second and nine
or whatever, right.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Just by taking a sack on a possession, you also
have over fifty percent chance to punt the football away
on that possession.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah. Again, you wouldn't think that it's that derailing, but
more than fifty percent of the drives where you took
a sack an entire league result in a punt. I mean,
you gotta get these numbers because if you really really
nerd out and you go through the entire chart, it's
just very harsh differences in every category. Sack versus a
(12:32):
in a series versus sacked not in a series for
an offense, and obviously the reciprocal's true for the defense.
And bring it back to the Steelers. They may apply
more than any team in the league of who's who's
got the best chance to improve their sack differential Steelers year,
they have to be the top of the list.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
They have to be one hundred percent. Yeah, when you
consider that they were deadly average sixteenth out of thirty
two teams in sacks last year created and as you mentioned,
they're sacked differential was my it's nine is correct.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
The minus six or minus nine, but it's not right
that was the only one that was bad of the
key category.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yes, and so that's one of those things too. When
you're accelerating or excelling, part of me not accelerating. When
you're excelling in the other areas, you bring that up
to speed as well too. Right, then that's how you
start to, I think, really get cooking with fire, certainly.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I mean if they were deficient and explosive plays, which
they were positive in explosive plays, they weren't great, but
they were positive, they were plus six or plus nine
and that and not negative, I'd be like, moy, that's
gonna be harder to get back to where you want,
you know where with the sack stuff. It's right there
for you. Yeah. I mean again, you got great players.
You threw a first round pick on your D line
(13:41):
in the boot, you know, et cetera. It's great.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
You could see a very feasible path where they can
get that moving in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Absolutely, yeah, And it almost would shock me, and I'll
be critical if they don't. It's not even like, oh
that'd be nice. No, No, it should happen. Right, That's
what you're built to do. This is what that's how
the structure of this team is built.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
It's not like we're asking the IOWA offense to suddenly
throw for forty touchdowns season.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Absolutely not, absolutely not. You're not asking, you know, a
running quarterback that doesn't pass well to sit back on.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
His back the ball fifty times a game.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
No, I'm not asking to play left handed. I'm asking
you to play to your strength, to your strengths, and
get the result. They are playing their strengths, but get
the results to your strengths even more because it'll pay
off in a big way. Wins losses, more successful drives,
more drive stops on the other side of it, and
the numbers bear these out year after year. And I
do think even more than ever sacks of derailed drives
(14:39):
more than five years ago, more than ten years ago.
And that's why these edge rushers are making so much.
I mean, the tjs of the world.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Yep, no doubt. And as you mentioned, the only position
group whose money has gone up with inflation of the salary.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Neck and neck with inflation of the cap is edg rushers.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
John Smith getting some extensive.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Even though work, but that doesn't miss it.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Good to see doesn't miss it practice today.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Saw Ramsey down there earlier, as he has done every.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Single day, as those two are immediate.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Those two are It's like they race down to the
jugs machine.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
There's two judge machines and they're all say like they're
always first in.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Line, always always that. Everybody else gotta stand by and wait.
As practice is winding down, still a lot going on
on the field out there, but much quieter now, of
course than it was a few minutes ago. Uh, we're
gonna take another break here. We come back on the
other side. We'll do a little around the league. Our
our typical penultimate segment here of training camp, will go
around the league with some league news and keep you
(15:35):
posted on any final tees to cross and ies to
dot out here at Chuck Nolefield. It's a special edition
of The Drive live at Saint Vincent College and Sunny
Lay Trope. As we uh start to turn the afternoon
into the evening here on campus after another practice, Well,
Shuler Matt Williamson back with you when we return. As always,
it's all part of our training camp coverage ongoing here
(15:57):
on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio network.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Iheartradios. Live coverage of twenty twenty five Steelers Training Camp
is presented by FedEx. Where Now meets next and also
brought to you by CGR Wholesale Roofing and Siding Supply Center,
by Tom's Appliances, by Always Safe Flagging and Traffic Control,
by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, by Schneider Downs, by
(16:29):
Hasu's Steaked Seahouse, by your Neighborhood Forward Store, by Castle Rock,
by Clearview Federal Credit Union, and by US.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Steel Practice in the books here the last Saturday practice
at St. Vincent College in the books for your Pittsburgh Steelers,
of course, says they will be in Jacksonville this time
next week getting ready for preseason game number one. I
expect the weather will be a little bit warmer in
Jacksonville than it was here today. Uh, perfect day for
(17:00):
people like us here. Today it was in the seventies
and sunny, so not too hot, but no rain or
weather elements or anything like that. Great day brought out
a ton of fans here, as we have shared multiple times,
and led to a energetic upbeat practice meant yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
One hundred percent and all the folks unlike a couple
of times, not to anyone's fault, but the folks that
came out in droves on the bleachers and on the
hill here all got a great practice with great weather
and enjoyable experience even watching now you know who's muddling
around on the field. There's a lot of autographs being
(17:37):
signed all around still and so no highly profitable day,
I would say, by fans, players, et cetera, even though
it was not the padded physical banger head practice, which
I think it's tomorrow, and a lot of the biggest names,
including Aaron Rodgers, who I'm sure everyody would love the scene.
We're not participating today, but that's fine. Again, you're gonna
(17:58):
have that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Part, it's part of the part of the occupational hazard
of whatever random day you might be able to make
it out here to camp.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
This is a marathon. This isn't a sprint, you know,
And they want to keep these guys as fresh as possible.
Two opening day and well passed. You know, the season
is upon us quite soon.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, and listen, I mean these guys are entirely like
we remember the famous Ben Roethlisberger schedule out here for
his you know, last handful of years of his career.
He'd have a full practice one day, half practice the
next day, and then day off.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Yeah, and it was.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
It didn't matter if it was Friday night lights and
that fell to be his day off, it was day off. Well,
when you when you got a plan, you got to
stick to it, even if it's, you know, not the
most ideal timing, unfortunately.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
And there's a lot of sports science people contributing to this,
and this is this is common all over the thirty
two teams. Times are changed, and frankly, we're smarter about
it now. Yes, yes, we certainly are seasons longer.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You know, all those all those kids that you were
talking about down on the field getting getting treated to
some autographs. I see Logan Lee signing. I see Warren signing.
I can't tell if that's Zach Frasier down there on
the end or not, but one of the offensive linemen
down there. As as they're like, there's a ton of
(19:11):
people here today, as we've said, but a lot of kids.
And that makes a kid Saturday, you know what I mean.
Like during the week, kids are at I know it's
not school time yet, but kids are at daycare, summer
camps or church camp or whatever the case may be.
Parents are parents are working, but not here on not
here on this Saturday.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Baby.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
The young pups are out here and and uh and
that's always like the guys like that, you know what
I mean, They to paint the picture for everybody. You know,
they come down the hill from practice, from the locker room,
and there's obviously always a huge crowd of people there
looking for pictures, looking for autographs, cheering on all that stuff.
What they do is they set up like a youth
football team at the bottom of the hill. It's a
(19:49):
different youth football team. You know. It might be it
might be Mount Libo one day, it might be Mars
one day, if you weren't fortunate enough to go to
one of those great institutions like myself or at Sorry,
but you know, those the only ones that get mentioned here.
And every time, without fail, the players come down the hill,
it's hot, it's sweaty. They're about to go practice and
be miserable for a.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Couple of hours their serious mode, you know.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
But they see those thirty forty kids in their youth
football jerseys at the bottom of the hill, right, and
like they always light up and they high five of
them and and you know all these different like sometimes
they'll stop and pump them up, and you know what
I mean, it's it's cool.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, and nine percent of those kids will never go
on to do anything in the world of football. Yeah,
but they'll remember that their entire life. If it's a
backup lineman that they don't remember exactly right.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Still, a Pitts Park Steeler gave me a high five,
like that's the that's the coolest thing ever when you're
that age. Uh, Matt. Let's go around the league here
a little bit, not a ton. Yesterday was a busy
day around the league as we talk about Michael Parsons
and Terry mclaurin's trade demands, trade demand, more.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Rumblings in the last twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
No, it's it's gone gone quiet on on on those fronts.
But the big news of the day Broncos defensive lineman
Zach Allen agreeing to terms on a four year, one
hundred and two million dollar extension that includes sixty nine
point five million guaranteed. Was a third round pick of
the Cardinals back in twenty nineteen, now with the Broncos,
(21:16):
and I think you said it well earlier when we
just kind of mentioned this briefly, but I think he
is he's not mentioned with the big name, no high
paid defensive lineman in the NFL, but he might be
like the next one in line that should.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Be Yeah, and again he went to a pretty bad
Cardinals team with a bad d line, didn't you know,
got a lot more attention what's up?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
And played for a really bad college football team in
Boston College toot Paint, So it's not like he got
a ton of attention in college.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
First pick in the draft, right, and these defensive tackles
that are just total freaks, but had a good career
at the Cardinals and got better and better and better
and better despite being kind of the focal point of
what people were blocking, but really took everything to the
next level with Denver. I think he signed a two
year deal with them originally he sounds right, and now
the extension. So he's played two years with the Broncos
(22:08):
and it's been a top ten defensive tackle both those years.
And guys like that I love, you know, like, no,
the normal fan wouldn't look at him and be like, oh,
that's one of the better defensive tackles in the league.
You know, he wouldn't be on the tip of your tongue.
But then he gets a contract like this and ends
up in two or three Pro Bowls in a row
and people start to realize, Man, this guy is a
(22:30):
really effective player, that's really hard to play against, that's
budding at the right time. Like, I know this isn't
He's not a topic of conversation right now. But the
Broncos have a guard, Quinn Minor, who is a second
round pick. Yep, small school.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
We talked a lot about him during the comb.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah, and he was fun to watch. I mean, he'd
work out in crazy manners, blah blah blah, small school.
But I think he's the best guard in the league now,
you really, yeah, I mean and second round pick Denver's
developed him extremely well. He had a lot of ability.
People would never stay off the top of their tongue,
Quinn Miners is the best guard in the league, you know.
But he's right there, and they extended him a month
(23:08):
or so ago or whatever. You know.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I think they're the Broncos are a little sneaky. They've
got might have had the best defense in the NFL
last year. I think both agree.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
On that, and used the first round pick there and
it could be the best d again.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
So this is like one of those like there's an
article on NFL dot com right now about like who
challenges the Chiefs thrown in the a f C, who
challenges the Eagles thrown in the NFC. The Steelers are
one of the teams that are that are listed to
could jump into the challenge in the AFS. Like they say,
we assume, we assume Buffalo and Baltimore, right, we we
(23:47):
assume the Detroit Lions was the one that they said
in the NFC, which who knows, We'll see if they
take a step background. But I also get it based
off of who they've been the past the past couple
of years. I think the Broncos are another one of
those candidates as well too. I as a team, who
could you know, by the time we get to Halloween
or Thanksgiving, everyone's talking about them as like a legit contender.
(24:09):
If bo Nix takes a step forward and their defense
is what we think it's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's pretty easy to look
at Mahomes, Alan Lamar and those three teams absolutely as
the favorites. Rightfully so, they have superhuman quarterbacks, They've won
a ton of games collectively over the last five years.
They've consistently been contenders, you know, no doubt about that. Now,
who's number four, Who's in that next tier? I think
(24:34):
you look at Denver for sure, Houston. Houston's been certainly
showing signs of that, but they totally revamped their own line.
I absolutely think the Steelers are in that group. Denver
people might be like man, but bo Nicks is nothing
like Allen or Mahomes right now, I would definitely take
those guys over next, don't get me wrong. And I'm
(24:56):
sure some Steeler fans remember Week two in Denver was
like a rookie. Yeah, I mean he was not. In
the first month or five six games of the year,
he wasn't very good. You know. He was a rookie
that looked in over his head that they threw right
in the mix from get go, I mean opening day rookie,
and to his and Peyton's credit, he just got better
(25:19):
and better and better. And he's a much better athlete
than people realize. He's a perfect We talked about Drew
Brees yesterday. I mean, Breeze is the prototypical Peyton decision maker.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Like people didn't really talk about Drew Brees like he
was Peyton Manning, Tom Brady.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah, I mean Peyton got together, but.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I think there could but he still had a ton
of success, Like I could think that could be Bo Nicks.
He's not gonna get talked about like Mahomes or Josh Allen. Yeah,
that doesn't mean he still couldn't win a super Bowl
and have a ton of success.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
I mean even that draft class with six quarterbacks going,
I think into what the top fourteen picks or thirteen picks.
A lot of people myself included, thought man Nix is
getting over drafted. Yeah, but Peyton knows exactly what he's
looking for. He wants a quick process, are accurate. The
athleticism and stuff is all plus, and he knows what
he wants in his offense and that quarterback fits it
(26:08):
very very well. They also extended Court and Sutton a
day or two ago. Denver's doing stuff. Yeah, I mean,
don't just think they're gonna be eight to nine win
team and go away. They're hard to play against.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Clearcuts, second best team in that division. Or do you
think the Chargers could have something to say there.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
I'm a huge Herbert guy, but I trust Denver top
to bottom more in the entire roster. Again, I don't
think that the defense isn't predictable as offense year to year.
Sure because because the quarterback touched also much so so important. Absolutely,
But I would be shocked if Denver, after adding really
three new starters to the best defense in the league
(26:46):
isn't still top five. And that just gives you a
pretty high floor.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yeah you know, yeah, I see here. So on ESPN
dot com, New York Giants best quarterback of camp so
far has been Russell Wilson, and that's not surprising to me. No,
he's a veteran, he knows what he's doing. He's a pro,
he's a super Bowl champion, he's got Hall of Fame
type credentials.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yes, and he's an impressive human being. We were around
him a lot just one year ago. You know, he shines.
There's leadership stuff there, and here be a shock if
he wasn't. Honesty, I'm a Winston fan as well, and
dark apparently is that's where we're pretty good.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
That's where I was gonna go with this. I think
we both health aside, right, but but but ideal health
scenario for the Giants, Russell Wilson is QB one to
start the season.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Would you put an over under like on how long
that might be?
Speaker 3 (27:41):
See, I think they're a really interesting team, and I
don't think it's gonna go well now. I think if
in their shoes, assuming Dart does some good things here,
maybe they turned Winston into a pick like sure, we
don't need I went dark to be the two Jamis
has won games in this league. One team might be
a quarterback injury away from you know, yeah, your quarterback
(28:02):
gets banged up in Week one or whatever, he might
be your first call. So the thing is, I think
the Giants are pretty vastly improved. I mean their defensive line.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Their defensive front is scary.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
It might only be behind the Steeler and the rest
of the defense has talent and they're O line. Their
best O lineman missed the whole year. Andrew Thomas, he's
coming back. Neighbors is a star. Say what you wanted
by Russell Wilson. He's gonna be better than Vinnie Cutlet's
or you know the exactly. I mean, he's a professional quarterback.
(28:38):
They're gonna get better quarterback play. So I think they're
a better team. But boy, they play the worst schedule
in the league.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
By by a landslide in terms of difficulty.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
How it looks right now you know about the rest
they're going to have. The teams are. Division is tough
like it's it's a murder's row. If you pull up
a giant schedule, it's bad, bad, bad. So my hunch
is Wilson plays five six games. They're a better team
than they were last year. But they're one and five, right,
(29:11):
and coaches on the hot seat, and then you get
Dart in there and hopefully he survives. But the league's
so nasty this way. Then what if they end up
being a better team than last year with a worst record,
and they have a coaching change and the new coach
isn't married to Dart.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Happens all the time.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
It happens all the time, and we don't this isn't
the guy we want to coach. We want to we're
picking second in the draft. We want to take Drew
Aller or whoever, you know what I mean. And then
things get off the rails, you know, real quick.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
And then you end up trading Dart for a fourth
round pace a year later, less.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
On your investment, or I mean, he'd have to blow
your doors off if you're picking in the top five
to not at least consider a quarterback, you know, and
playing its tough teams in the league.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Last one I had for you and was just nice
to see, as much as it might have would have
helped the Steelers if he wasn't one hundred justin fields
today full practice participant had a highlight that I saw
where he pulled the ball down and took off again.
As much as you could say, like from a Steelers standpoint,
it'd be nice if he was a little behind schedule
for week one. That's selfishly bigger picture, I'm happy. I'm
(30:26):
happy for him that that was nothing serious and that
and that he's gonna get the opportunity to get training
camp in and hopefully have a season where he can
you know, keep that that career trajectory going up here.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Yeah, and I'm definitely rooting for him. Everyone that was
around him last year in the Steeler uniform respects them
like some hard workers. Smart blah blah blah, all that
great stuff. Good talking on him as a clear number one.
Hopefully they can find their quarterback of the future with
Fields and Uh that offensive staff comes over from Detroit,
(30:57):
which is a very quarterback friendly system are gonna run him,
I'm sure more than the Steelers. But yeah, I mean
I don't root for anyone to be injured, you know.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
No doubt, absolutely not. And good to see somebody around. Yeah,
and again full back to full participant out there running
and scooting and doing all the justin fields things. And
we will we will see him sooner rather than later.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Yeah, I wonder how much he plays in the preseason.
Tyrod Taylor, the backup doesn't need much, you know, But
you also don't want him getting better. No, no, absolutely not.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Let's get to our last break here, but come back
on the other side, we'll hear a little bit of
what Move Nice and Slay had to say.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
We put off autographs going on.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
There's still a lot of autographs. I I love it
as uh as these kids are. They're getting their money's
worth down there on the sideline, that's for sure. We'll
wrap things up on the other side here a little
bit from Sleigh and Move before we get out of here.
It's all part of our ongoing training camp coverage. West
Yeuler Matt Williamson special edition of the Drive here on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Net.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Work iHeartRadio's live coverage Jobbot twenty twenty five Steelers Training Camp.
He's presented by Fadex where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Caliente Pizza, and Draft.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
House by Tom's Appliance.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
It's South Hills Auto, Laurel, Highlands Visitors Bureau, Wemax Select Realty,
the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by Hus steel.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Practice. In the books, the field's about clear, final autographs
being taken. Couple players still kind of out there with
their kids and their family, but for the most part,
it is going quiet here on the campus of Saint
Vincent College. But two guys who are not quiet today
and aren't quiet really ever, both on the field and
when they speak, Pat Fryarmouth and Darius Slayh. A couple
(33:01):
of minutes of these two veterans of the Steelers offense
and the Steelers defense giving their thoughts on Friday night, lights,
last night, and just everything that's transpired to camp to
this point. Take a listen.
Speaker 4 (33:15):
Yeah, it's awesome. I Mean, this is by far the
biggest I've seen it since I've been here and it
was just awesome to see the fans and it can't
get to juiced up for the season, So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Do you talk about the biggest crowdy?
Speaker 4 (33:27):
Oh, like just in general? Oh just like driving in,
everyone was packed out in the streets, you know. I
saw people tail get at the house over there and
jumping in, like sitting in the pool watching us. Like
it was cool and like everyone out here, it was
just an awesome experience. And you know, expect nothing less
from Steelers fans. I think, you know, everyone has a
(33:47):
lot of high expectations for us, and we do as well.
And I think we had a lot of big time
players in our team, and I think everyone's excited to
see how obviously with Aaron coming in and DK and
and Jalen and Johnny, we're just seeing how we're all
clicking together. And we got a lot of exciting things
on the team right now and a lot of a
lot of exciting times ahead. So we're looking forward to
that and I think the fans feel that as well.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Did seem like anything to you, doctor Crown?
Speaker 4 (34:08):
He was he was asking me today like what to
expect and all that, and I was like, dude, it's
literally like going to play for like a state championship
out of high school. And you know, he was like,
all right, cool, and then he came and he was like,
this is awesome. So he loved it and it was
just great to be a part of that. I'm sure
he appreciated it, you know, being later in his career
just kind of experiencing that, and I think he's been
loving it so far.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Seem like there's an excellent shiel playing, like the guys
would extra should be ex something just to kind of
like show up.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Obviously, you know, we practiced in
front of fans like every single day in camp, but
you know, here, it's like an extra juice. Once the
music turned on, everyone was dancing.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
I was loving it. I was dancing.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
It was it was great, It was it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
He confused the guys when after a minutes.
Speaker 4 (34:51):
Yeah, you know, obviously we didn't execute how we wanted to,
but you know, we got to continue to build on that.
It was our first two minute all of camp, and
so you know, obviously we wish it ended differently, but
you know, we're working towards, you know, the end goal.
Of week one and being able to shoot and then
so there's gonna be some ups and downs and we'll
get corrected. So we've always been pretty good at two minutes. Yeah,
(35:13):
we're coming together for sure, you know. I think you
see a daily improvement and there's gonna be ups and
downs and all that that comes with it. And it's
been great. I mean, it's just been it's been cool
to learn from Aeron. I think everyone's appreciated it. It's
been a grind to get on the same page with everyone,
but you can see it starting to progress and starting
to get there, and that's the exciting part about camp.
We have what two more weeks, three more weeks of
(35:35):
in games then we're ready to go. And so I
think we're all getting getting there to the point where
you know, we're getting on the same page and its
and it's feeling fun.
Speaker 5 (35:44):
My first time being at a high school, well no,
I've been. My last time inn it was in Detroit,
went to high school stadium before. But yeah, man, it's
to be way back, definitely, after being in the lead
for thirteen years, it's been a been a good fun man.
It was a good man. The crowd showed up pretty nice, man.
It was a nice fun my first experience with Joy
and I loved it.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Give me you excited? Non excuse me?
Speaker 3 (36:03):
No you get.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
What are you expected out here? After? You know?
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
I was.
Speaker 5 (36:10):
You know, I didn't know what to expect. I just
know that they was talking about it big and heavy.
I was like, man, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
I was excited.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
I almost traded like a game day for me, you know,
just because it's my first appearance and I want to
make sure I show the you know, you know that
I'm supposed to belong here and until the fans getting
what they see. So I was making sure I treated like.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
A game rep.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Does it kind of get you excited for the season
of Steel Nation in Personaire?
Speaker 5 (36:31):
Oh yeah, I'm always ready for the season, man, because
it's always a great opportunity, and I'm blessing I'm fortunate
enough to play this game that I love to do,
so I'm always thankful just to be able to do it,
but I'm more thankful to be able to do it
in some great fans.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Did they feel like I'm in the drill? Is that
another step to showing how good you guys are? As
a defense, I mean.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
As a part of the situation of football.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Man.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
So we got continue to keep working it, man, and
keep doing it both sides of.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
The ball, all of us.
Speaker 5 (36:50):
We're going to be great at that situation, so cause
that's when you win and lose games at So we
got continue to keep working out. Our first time actually
drilling it. Uh, we did a great job. But you
know we got continued that all in the year.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Taylor play.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
Oh great, man, We're a great We're a great trio. Honestly, man,
we're a great dudes. Man, great guys. We work hard,
we worked together, we help. We're here for each other.
Maybe we want nothing but the best for each other
no matter who's out there. All I know is one
thing we're gonna do all together is compete and try
to do our best to be one of the best
in the game.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Out there. Well, yeah, for sure the other guys. You know,
I'm always juiced up.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
When I'm getting put these clicks on, so uh to
see other guys get amped up and witness uh some
great players out here.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Man.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
On a live action kind of light. It's kind of
good man, with a great atmosphere with this better field
game like so just seeing the guys on the light, man,
it's a good feeling. We man definitely been in a
new atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
High energy last night, high energy today. You could feel
it from Pat Fryermuth. You could feel it from Sleigh
Slay don't call me Darius.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Yeah, he's got some too to man.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
And that's my favorite when you when he when he
was on the drive with you with Dale, this is slick.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Yeah, it's like, all right, let's go. Coming off a
super Bowl victory and an amazing career. I mean, I
urge people just even look at like his career stats
like PBUs and.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Forget because I mean he obviously was a part of
a very successful Eagles team that went two super Bowls
and one another. People forget how good he was in
Detroit before he.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Got the follow your number one one of the best. Yeah,
absolutely big place slag. And I will say not that
he started slow, but these last few days he's really
been shining here too. I mean, they got three big
time corners and Joey's missed a little time here with
the thumb. I think it is a thumb. But if
that would be the case in the regular season, it'd
(38:40):
be okay, which is amazing. I mean, Porter to me
was almost like Pickings last year, like you.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Couldn't afford to lose that guy, right right, right, Matt.
We got like a minute or two left here, so
I apologize. We did get a handful of tweets, but
we did. Maybe we'll save some of them for tomorrow
or get back into some Twitter stuff tomorrow. But this
one was funny from scut I had to get too
real quick. He said. I keep hearing Rock Taylor his
name coming up. He seems to be having a solid camp.
You guys think if he shows out in preseason, I
(39:07):
wonder if there's a spot on the roster for him. Also, Wes,
are we going to see you sport a kilt in
Ireland in September? Oh no, listen, I'll do whatever the
Irish want me to do if that's what's going on there.
As long as there's Guinness involved on, somebody has to
a wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
I say, somebody asked about Rock Taylor every day, and
I get that there's traits there, and I'm not discrediting
the guy, but I guess I give him, excuse me,
I guess I give him the best chance of the
this is mean, but the no names, you know.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
The undrafted agents.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the guys aren't making big money or
of any pedigree or any of that kind of thing.
So I'm certainly interested. He's on the radar.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
We're going to start to find out answers to those
questions a week from today in Jacksonville. Yeah, we do
finally get some in stadium action, but obviously plenty to
get rock Taylor.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
Starts taking reps against Lake Slay. You know that they're excited.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
About him, right absolutely, and that'll be something else. We
continue to keep an eye on tomorrow. We're anticipating another
big practice, big crowds, pads on tomorrow. Weather report looks good,
although as we've said, maybe I should not proceed knock
on wood because that can change very rapidly here in
the Laurel Highlands. But that will do it for today's
coverage as another day in the books here on the
(40:22):
campus of Saint Vincent College. We will be back same
time tomorrow, Matt and I at two o'clock to bring
you practice. Then, of course, our coverage here on your
twenty four to seven home when the Black and Gold
starts at ten am. Every single morning that the Steelers
have practice. Big thanks to Matt and to our producer
Justin back at the ranch for holding us down. Everybody
take care and we'll talk to you tomorrow. As always,
(40:44):
you know where to find us. It's Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.
Iheartradios live coverage. I've not twenty twenty five Steelers training camp.
He's presented by FedEx where now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System, by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
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(00:29):
Visitors Bureau, we Max, Select Realty, the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop,
and by us.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Steel Practice still ongoing in front of us here, Matt.
It's a long one here for the Steelers. It is
makes sense. Non pads, so not as physical, and you
know you are in the grinded out stage of camp.
There's no more warming up to it. There's no more
acclamation period, and it's not you know, ninety five degrees
like some of these other days have been out here.
(00:58):
Looks like we've got some some red zone team period
going on to our left here. Exactly as Will Howard
is in the game for the Steelers, he will hand
it off to Trey Sermon, who is just met by
a wall of humanity Logan Lee in there causing some
disruptions on that one. Ya Black as well too.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
These deep guys in general today getting a lot of
good quality work. You know, I'm sure that there'll be
dudes that we haven't really paid attention to or highlighted
because we're not watching the All twenty two. But man,
he gave us two hours of high quality work. You know,
the backup linebacker, the backup guard that isn't getting a
lot of talk. I think these position coaches are gonna
get a lot out of this. And been paying an
extra attention to Roderick Jones today, by all accounts, had
(01:41):
a very rough day at Friday night lights and one
on ones and he is, to his credit, battling a groin,
but he's in great spirits and he's been dancing around.
You mentioned him in the end zone. He's had joking
with one of the trainers here before and running laps
extra and just watching his body language. It's very positive,
it's very upbeat. In one of the Steel tunes, he
(02:03):
was an Energy edition guy today, Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Adders, subtractors, multipliers and hiders.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He was.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
He was an addition to the energy.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yep and laughing and you know, not like he's disengaged,
but he's super engaged and really hang with his guys,
and maybe he's feeling better.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, I hope that's a good sign. Maybe he's you know,
like you said, he's feeling good, feeling better about to
settle in and uh and get going here.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
As we as him. Man, no doubt, critical, no.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Doubt, and pretty cool here. So this just came across
the timeline today obviously the NFL Hall of Fame and
shrime at ceremony out in camp right going in was
Jared Allen, of course, very successful defensive end. Yeah, pass rusher.
I think he's top, if not top ten, top fifteen
in sacks and NFL history. And of course his defensive
line coach was Carl Dunbar for a large chunk of
(02:54):
his career. Carl Dunbar was there at the ceremony today
and Jared Allen gave him a big shout out during
his speech and said about Carl Dunbar, you got me
to where I'm at. While he's talking about Carl Dunbar,
so pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Well, he's doing a well a job with the Steelers
d line and now he's got some young multible dudes
to add to that mix, and that is very cool.
And I mentioned this to you off the air that
I thought it really resonated with every player, but especially
the O line room back in the day, and I
would always make sure I brought it up on the air.
When coach Munchak was the O line coach, that'd be
(03:30):
a day or two every camp like where's munch you know,
I'm like, oh, he he's a Hall of Famer. He
had to go to go to Campton and put the
jacket on and hang with this. Then that Fraturn You're like,
huh yeah, pretty good coach too. But yeah, he was
also like the best guard in the league.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It's very rare that you get the combination of both
of those things.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Right, I mean because a lot of those guys don't
want to. I was great at what I did. I
made a ton of money. I'm not going to do
the grind of coaching, or maybe some of dudes just
came supernatural to that.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
You know, right, just because you can do doesn't mean
you could teach right right, And just because you could
teach doesn't mean.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Ted Williams was a manager at one point. Can't you
read the seams on this?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
No, Ted, like, you know, who has one of the worst.
And again there's like you gotta meet the minimum criteria
for games, coach and all that stuff, right, But you
know who has one of the worst winning percentages as
a head coach in NHL history, No clue, Wayne Gretzky.
He's the best hockey player everey. I can't teach you
how to do this.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
You got that or you don't. Nobody else does.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
The best player ever, maybe the worst coach ever.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I mean, there's a lot of examples.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
But I'm going to dip my toe in the coaching
water and be like, I'm not nearly as good as
this as I playing.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I just do how to play. I can't teach these
great about great at both, and I think I think
that is pretty pretty rare that you have Hall of
fame player, hall of fame type coach as well as
that aclusion of practice. See everybody start to come together here.
It does sure look like a good work today for
the game. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Minutes on the on the grass, Yeah right.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Two hours and ten minutes, two hours and fifteen minutes.
I thought we saw a lot of different.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Guys pop Yeah, depth, guys making the case for themselves. Yep.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Good to see. Roger can say, imlu back there as
we highlighted some more Roman Wilson today, which was encouraging.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, he seems to be making more and more plays
I thought.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
I thought Pat Shine, James Pierre as well had a
very good.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Practice, but Washington made some plays. Yeah, some of the
depth though Linemen I was kind of concentrating on moved
around pretty well. You know, yep, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
The officials are heading off the field, So I would
imagine that will do it if they've done their press
conference already here, I would think so.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I think so because I I ate lunch with some
of the media guys and they were talking about talking
to the referees. Yeah, like what the refs have to say,
and yeah, I kind of caught that as I was leaving.
But I think that's done.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I don't know what they're doing what they I know
what they were going to sit down with the media
at some point and help explain some role changes and
things like that.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I expect that all the Pittsburgh outlets you'll see some
media based articles come.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, maybe there'll be something in there that that we
can chew on or discuss one of these days. But
the Steelers the little breakdown and that will do it
for practice, Matt as they will start to exit the field,
hit the jugs, sign autographs, work on their craft, all
those different things that I have a feeling it will be,
or at least I hope it is, because there's a
ton of people here today. I got a feeling that
(06:22):
will be the case tomorrow as well too, with another
weekend practice, and there's not in fact that tomorrow might
be the last. If I'm remembering correctly, Tomorrow might be
the last weekend practice of training camp because next weekend
you're gonna be in Jacksonville the following week camp wraps.
So yeah, tomorrow, Yeah, tomorrow the final weekend practice. It'll
be a padded practice tomorrow, at least if they are
(06:42):
you know, following the the format script, whatever you want
to call it to this point. The day off coming
up today.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I'm wouldn't be shocked if tomorrow is the most physical
practice of all camp.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
I think, and it'll be right up there with Friday
Night Lights as one of the if not the most
physical practices we will be.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Looking watching all these years. I think that's probably sets
up really well to be a banging practice.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh yeah, I can't wait for that. Tomorrow. But that
is practiced today in the books. And with that, Matt,
we'll continue to if we see anything fun or noteworthy
going on in the field.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Like, look at all these kids coming down. I was
gonna say, it's like a parade of young young pop.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That's awesome. I wonder if they're like a youth football organization.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
They're all together, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
A lot of TJ want jersey, a lot of TJ.
I was gonna say, And look at all the nineties
down there amongst these, I mean every other jersey that
they're wearing is a number ninety. There's a Paula Malu
in there, there's a cant.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
In the Troy Yeah it Smeller.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And seventy eight watch jerseys amongst amongst the young kids.
That's that's pretty awesome. We gotta love it all right, Matt,
let's talk about some of these sack numbers.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, they're pretty startup for me.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
And to paint the picture. And I know a lot
of you have heard this because we have so many
diehard listeners here on Steeler Nation Radio. You and Dale
have built up an amazing following on this show, so
I know a lot of people have heard us discussing this,
but quickly for those who haven't sat conversation, how how
it relates to the ecosystem of the Steelers need more sacks,
(08:14):
and we've broken down how what they're going to do
on the back end. More manda Man coverage should allow
them to play a little more chess up front and
hopefully get back to some Blitzberg things.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Added more d Lineman, I mean added more d Lineman.
It's like three guys that weren't here yet last year
will probably make theme, if not more exactly right.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We've also highlighted how Matt is, for a lot of
rightful reasons, optimistic that Aaron Rodgers is going to take
less sacks than Russell Wilson and Justin Fields did last
yst year. Yes, yes, we've discussed it's very very sack differential.
How it's right behind turnover differential is one of the
biggest indicators for who's going for wins and losses. So
Matt talk to us at the stage here about how
(08:52):
sacks affect drives for an offense. This this is these
numbers that you on Earth.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, and so we started this conversation, well, frankly, I
started this conversation pretty much the day the season ended
was they're taking too many sacks. But more bothersome is
they're not creating enough despite being what I think is
the best pass rushing team in the league and in
pressures and batted passes and force fumbles, but the sack
(09:17):
numbers just aren't there. And hey, I'm gonna sound like
a spoiled Steeler fan too, but it's kind of their
god given right to lead the league in sacks or
be at the top of the league, and they went
an uncanny number of years where that's been true. Time
to get back to it. And I think you mentioned
this even if they had like five or six more
that have been amongst the leaders, which doesn't seem like much,
(09:39):
and it isn't, so it's very attainable. I'm not asking
them to get twenty more sacks this year. Get me
ten more, you know, something like that. And again I'm
not asking for huge goals. Get your sack numbers down,
which I think will directly be a quarterback driven situation,
and get your defensive sack numbers up, which I think
will have a lot to do with coverage. You would
think these things are well, you got a pass block better,
(10:01):
and you got to have better pass rushers. No, they
have those things, you know what I mean, And I
don't know the past blocking is not as good as
the pass rush, don't get me wrong. But quarterback has
a lot to do it. Coverage has a lot to
do it. These are team stats. Now I don't have
it in front of me, I send it to you.
But there are really harsh drive stats that I know
(10:23):
you're looking at of drives where and this is just
across the league. It's not news to you. Yours, specifically
points scored, like when you take a sack in the
drive against you know, a sackless drive. And obviously these
could be defensive or offensive stats.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Yeah, and so I want to pull these up for
you here. But the big thing that sticks out for
me is just by taking a sack on a possession, Yes,
you cut your points per drive by more than half
while lowering your odds of scoring a touchdown by nearly two.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Thirds just by a sack. I mean, it could be
a well play drive, but we took one sackle.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
That's crazy.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
That's crazy because I mean, you could possibly get a
quarterback injured, you could possibly cause a fumble, you could
possibly just put them into It's a third down sack
and boom punt, you know, I mean, I think everyone realizes,
but I do think when you break down the numbers
per drive, you wouldn't think a sack would be that
(11:23):
massive in derailing an entire drive, eight or nine drives
a year a game.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
And I think we hear a lot like sacks don't
mean as much as they used to because in the
NFL now, you know, a second and fourteen isn't as much,
isn't a big of a deal when you have Joe
Burrow and Jamar Chase, you know, like, but the numbers
don't back that up, and theory, I think that makes
a lot of sense, you know what I mean? Like
teams passing offenses are better and better every year than
(11:49):
they've been in the past. Quarterbacks get more talented wide
receiver pool of talent in the NFL is insanely deep
right now, Like a second along a third and long
didn't mean as much as it used to. Again, on
the surface, I do think there's a lot of I'm
in reason to that.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Right, the numbers stop Josh Allen on second and nine
or whatever, right.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Just by taking a sack on a possession, you also
have over fifty percent chance to punt the football away
on that possession.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah. Again, you wouldn't think that it's that derailing, but
more than fifty percent of the drives where you took
a sack an entire league result in a punt. I mean,
you gotta get these numbers because if you really really
nerd out and you go through the entire chart, it's
just very harsh differences in every category. Sack versus a
(12:32):
in a series versus sacked not in a series for
an offense, and obviously the reciprocal's true for the defense.
And bring it back to the Steelers. They may apply
more than any team in the league of who's who's
got the best chance to improve their sack differential Steelers year,
they have to be the top of the list.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
They have to be one hundred percent. Yeah, when you
consider that they were deadly average sixteenth out of thirty
two teams in sacks last year created and as you mentioned,
they're sacked differential was my it's nine is correct.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
The minus six or minus nine, but it's not right
that was the only one that was bad of the
key category.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yes, and so that's one of those things too. When
you're accelerating or excelling, part of me not accelerating. When
you're excelling in the other areas, you bring that up
to speed as well too. Right, then that's how you
start to, I think, really get cooking with fire, certainly.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I mean if they were deficient and explosive plays, which
they were positive in explosive plays, they weren't great, but
they were positive, they were plus six or plus nine
and that and not negative, I'd be like, moy, that's
gonna be harder to get back to where you want,
you know where with the sack stuff. It's right there
for you. Yeah. I mean again, you got great players.
You threw a first round pick on your D line
(13:41):
in the boot, you know, et cetera. It's great.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
You could see a very feasible path where they can
get that moving in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Absolutely, yeah, And it almost would shock me, and I'll
be critical if they don't. It's not even like, oh
that'd be nice. No, No, it should happen. Right, That's
what you're built to do. This is what that's how
the structure of this team is built.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
It's not like we're asking the IOWA offense to suddenly
throw for forty touchdowns season.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Absolutely not, absolutely not. You're not asking, you know, a
running quarterback that doesn't pass well to sit back on.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
His back the ball fifty times a game.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
No, I'm not asking to play left handed. I'm asking
you to play to your strength, to your strengths, and
get the result. They are playing their strengths, but get
the results to your strengths even more because it'll pay
off in a big way. Wins losses, more successful drives,
more drive stops on the other side of it, and
the numbers bear these out year after year. And I
do think even more than ever sacks of derailed drives
(14:39):
more than five years ago, more than ten years ago.
And that's why these edge rushers are making so much.
I mean, the tjs of the world.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Yep, no doubt. And as you mentioned, the only position
group whose money has gone up with inflation of the salary.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Neck and neck with inflation of the cap is edg rushers.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
John Smith getting some extensive.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Even though work, but that doesn't miss it.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Good to see doesn't miss it practice today.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Saw Ramsey down there earlier, as he has done every.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Single day, as those two are immediate.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Those two are It's like they race down to the
jugs machine.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
There's two judge machines and they're all say like they're
always first in.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Line, always always that. Everybody else gotta stand by and wait.
As practice is winding down, still a lot going on
on the field out there, but much quieter now, of
course than it was a few minutes ago. Uh, we're
gonna take another break here. We come back on the
other side. We'll do a little around the league. Our
our typical penultimate segment here of training camp, will go
around the league with some league news and keep you
(15:35):
posted on any final tees to cross and ies to
dot out here at Chuck Nolefield. It's a special edition
of The Drive live at Saint Vincent College and Sunny
Lay Trope. As we uh start to turn the afternoon
into the evening here on campus after another practice, Well,
Shuler Matt Williamson back with you when we return. As always,
it's all part of our training camp coverage ongoing here
(15:57):
on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio network.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Iheartradios. Live coverage of twenty twenty five Steelers Training Camp
is presented by FedEx. Where Now meets next and also
brought to you by CGR Wholesale Roofing and Siding Supply Center,
by Tom's Appliances, by Always Safe Flagging and Traffic Control,
by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, by Schneider Downs, by
(16:29):
Hasu's Steaked Seahouse, by your Neighborhood Forward Store, by Castle Rock,
by Clearview Federal Credit Union, and by US.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Steel Practice in the books here the last Saturday practice
at St. Vincent College in the books for your Pittsburgh Steelers,
of course, says they will be in Jacksonville this time
next week getting ready for preseason game number one. I
expect the weather will be a little bit warmer in
Jacksonville than it was here today. Uh, perfect day for
(17:00):
people like us here. Today it was in the seventies
and sunny, so not too hot, but no rain or
weather elements or anything like that. Great day brought out
a ton of fans here, as we have shared multiple times,
and led to a energetic upbeat practice meant yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
One hundred percent and all the folks unlike a couple
of times, not to anyone's fault, but the folks that
came out in droves on the bleachers and on the
hill here all got a great practice with great weather
and enjoyable experience even watching now you know who's muddling
around on the field. There's a lot of autographs being
(17:37):
signed all around still and so no highly profitable day,
I would say, by fans, players, et cetera, even though
it was not the padded physical banger head practice, which
I think it's tomorrow, and a lot of the biggest names,
including Aaron Rodgers, who I'm sure everyody would love the scene.
We're not participating today, but that's fine. Again, you're gonna
(17:58):
have that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Part, it's part of the part of the occupational hazard
of whatever random day you might be able to make
it out here to camp.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
This is a marathon. This isn't a sprint, you know,
And they want to keep these guys as fresh as possible.
Two opening day and well passed. You know, the season
is upon us quite soon.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, and listen, I mean these guys are entirely like
we remember the famous Ben Roethlisberger schedule out here for
his you know, last handful of years of his career.
He'd have a full practice one day, half practice the
next day, and then day off.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Yeah, and it was.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
It didn't matter if it was Friday night lights and
that fell to be his day off, it was day off. Well,
when you when you got a plan, you got to
stick to it, even if it's, you know, not the
most ideal timing, unfortunately.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
And there's a lot of sports science people contributing to this,
and this is this is common all over the thirty
two teams. Times are changed, and frankly, we're smarter about
it now. Yes, yes, we certainly are seasons longer.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You know, all those all those kids that you were
talking about down on the field getting getting treated to
some autographs. I see Logan Lee signing. I see Warren signing.
I can't tell if that's Zach Frasier down there on
the end or not, but one of the offensive linemen
down there. As as they're like, there's a ton of
(19:11):
people here today, as we've said, but a lot of kids.
And that makes a kid Saturday, you know what I mean.
Like during the week, kids are at I know it's
not school time yet, but kids are at daycare, summer
camps or church camp or whatever the case may be.
Parents are parents are working, but not here on not
here on this Saturday.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Baby.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
The young pups are out here and and uh and
that's always like the guys like that, you know what
I mean, They to paint the picture for everybody. You know,
they come down the hill from practice, from the locker room,
and there's obviously always a huge crowd of people there
looking for pictures, looking for autographs, cheering on all that stuff.
What they do is they set up like a youth
football team at the bottom of the hill. It's a
(19:49):
different youth football team. You know. It might be it
might be Mount Libo one day, it might be Mars
one day, if you weren't fortunate enough to go to
one of those great institutions like myself or at Sorry,
but you know, those the only ones that get mentioned here.
And every time, without fail, the players come down the hill,
it's hot, it's sweaty. They're about to go practice and
be miserable for a.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Couple of hours their serious mode, you know.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
But they see those thirty forty kids in their youth
football jerseys at the bottom of the hill, right, and
like they always light up and they high five of
them and and you know all these different like sometimes
they'll stop and pump them up, and you know what
I mean, it's it's cool.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, and nine percent of those kids will never go
on to do anything in the world of football. Yeah,
but they'll remember that their entire life. If it's a
backup lineman that they don't remember exactly right.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Still, a Pitts Park Steeler gave me a high five,
like that's the that's the coolest thing ever when you're
that age. Uh, Matt. Let's go around the league here
a little bit, not a ton. Yesterday was a busy
day around the league as we talk about Michael Parsons
and Terry mclaurin's trade demands, trade demand, more.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Rumblings in the last twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
No, it's it's gone gone quiet on on on those fronts.
But the big news of the day Broncos defensive lineman
Zach Allen agreeing to terms on a four year, one
hundred and two million dollar extension that includes sixty nine
point five million guaranteed. Was a third round pick of
the Cardinals back in twenty nineteen, now with the Broncos,
(21:16):
and I think you said it well earlier when we
just kind of mentioned this briefly, but I think he
is he's not mentioned with the big name, no high
paid defensive lineman in the NFL, but he might be
like the next one in line that should.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Be Yeah, and again he went to a pretty bad
Cardinals team with a bad d line, didn't you know,
got a lot more attention what's up?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
And played for a really bad college football team in
Boston College toot Paint, So it's not like he got
a ton of attention in college.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
First pick in the draft, right, and these defensive tackles
that are just total freaks, but had a good career
at the Cardinals and got better and better and better
and better despite being kind of the focal point of
what people were blocking, but really took everything to the
next level with Denver. I think he signed a two
year deal with them originally he sounds right, and now
the extension. So he's played two years with the Broncos
(22:08):
and it's been a top ten defensive tackle both those years.
And guys like that I love, you know, like, no,
the normal fan wouldn't look at him and be like, oh,
that's one of the better defensive tackles in the league.
You know, he wouldn't be on the tip of your tongue.
But then he gets a contract like this and ends
up in two or three Pro Bowls in a row
and people start to realize, Man, this guy is a
(22:30):
really effective player, that's really hard to play against, that's
budding at the right time. Like, I know this isn't
He's not a topic of conversation right now. But the
Broncos have a guard, Quinn Minor, who is a second
round pick. Yep, small school.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
We talked a lot about him during the comb.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah, and he was fun to watch. I mean, he'd
work out in crazy manners, blah blah blah, small school.
But I think he's the best guard in the league now,
you really, yeah, I mean and second round pick Denver's
developed him extremely well. He had a lot of ability.
People would never stay off the top of their tongue,
Quinn Miners is the best guard in the league, you know.
But he's right there, and they extended him a month
(23:08):
or so ago or whatever. You know.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I think they're the Broncos are a little sneaky. They've
got might have had the best defense in the NFL
last year. I think both agree.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
On that, and used the first round pick there and
it could be the best d again.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
So this is like one of those like there's an
article on NFL dot com right now about like who
challenges the Chiefs thrown in the a f C, who
challenges the Eagles thrown in the NFC. The Steelers are
one of the teams that are that are listed to
could jump into the challenge in the AFS. Like they say,
we assume, we assume Buffalo and Baltimore, right, we we
(23:47):
assume the Detroit Lions was the one that they said
in the NFC, which who knows, We'll see if they
take a step background. But I also get it based
off of who they've been the past the past couple
of years. I think the Broncos are another one of
those candidates as well too. I as a team, who
could you know, by the time we get to Halloween
or Thanksgiving, everyone's talking about them as like a legit contender.
(24:09):
If bo Nix takes a step forward and their defense
is what we think it's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's pretty easy to look
at Mahomes, Alan Lamar and those three teams absolutely as
the favorites. Rightfully so, they have superhuman quarterbacks, They've won
a ton of games collectively over the last five years.
They've consistently been contenders, you know, no doubt about that. Now,
who's number four, Who's in that next tier? I think
(24:34):
you look at Denver for sure, Houston. Houston's been certainly
showing signs of that, but they totally revamped their own line.
I absolutely think the Steelers are in that group. Denver
people might be like man, but bo Nicks is nothing
like Allen or Mahomes right now, I would definitely take
those guys over next, don't get me wrong. And I'm
(24:56):
sure some Steeler fans remember Week two in Denver was
like a rookie. Yeah, I mean he was not. In
the first month or five six games of the year,
he wasn't very good. You know. He was a rookie
that looked in over his head that they threw right
in the mix from get go, I mean opening day rookie,
and to his and Peyton's credit, he just got better
(25:19):
and better and better. And he's a much better athlete
than people realize. He's a perfect We talked about Drew
Brees yesterday. I mean, Breeze is the prototypical Peyton decision maker.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Like people didn't really talk about Drew Brees like he
was Peyton Manning, Tom Brady.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah, I mean Peyton got together, but.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I think there could but he still had a ton
of success, Like I could think that could be Bo Nicks.
He's not gonna get talked about like Mahomes or Josh Allen. Yeah,
that doesn't mean he still couldn't win a super Bowl
and have a ton of success.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
I mean even that draft class with six quarterbacks going,
I think into what the top fourteen picks or thirteen picks.
A lot of people myself included, thought man Nix is
getting over drafted. Yeah, but Peyton knows exactly what he's
looking for. He wants a quick process, are accurate. The
athleticism and stuff is all plus, and he knows what
he wants in his offense and that quarterback fits it
(26:08):
very very well. They also extended Court and Sutton a
day or two ago. Denver's doing stuff. Yeah, I mean,
don't just think they're gonna be eight to nine win
team and go away. They're hard to play against.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Clearcuts, second best team in that division. Or do you
think the Chargers could have something to say there.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
I'm a huge Herbert guy, but I trust Denver top
to bottom more in the entire roster. Again, I don't
think that the defense isn't predictable as offense year to year.
Sure because because the quarterback touched also much so so important. Absolutely,
But I would be shocked if Denver, after adding really
three new starters to the best defense in the league
(26:46):
isn't still top five. And that just gives you a
pretty high floor.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yeah you know, yeah, I see here. So on ESPN
dot com, New York Giants best quarterback of camp so
far has been Russell Wilson, and that's not surprising to me. No,
he's a veteran, he knows what he's doing. He's a pro,
he's a super Bowl champion, he's got Hall of Fame
type credentials.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yes, and he's an impressive human being. We were around
him a lot just one year ago. You know, he shines.
There's leadership stuff there, and here be a shock if
he wasn't. Honesty, I'm a Winston fan as well, and
dark apparently is that's where we're pretty good.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
That's where I was gonna go with this. I think
we both health aside, right, but but but ideal health
scenario for the Giants, Russell Wilson is QB one to
start the season.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Would you put an over under like on how long
that might be?
Speaker 3 (27:41):
See, I think they're a really interesting team, and I
don't think it's gonna go well now. I think if
in their shoes, assuming Dart does some good things here,
maybe they turned Winston into a pick like sure, we
don't need I went dark to be the two Jamis
has won games in this league. One team might be
a quarterback injury away from you know, yeah, your quarterback
(28:02):
gets banged up in Week one or whatever, he might
be your first call. So the thing is, I think
the Giants are pretty vastly improved. I mean their defensive line.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Their defensive front is scary.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
It might only be behind the Steeler and the rest
of the defense has talent and they're O line. Their
best O lineman missed the whole year. Andrew Thomas, he's
coming back. Neighbors is a star. Say what you wanted
by Russell Wilson. He's gonna be better than Vinnie Cutlet's
or you know the exactly. I mean, he's a professional quarterback.
(28:38):
They're gonna get better quarterback play. So I think they're
a better team. But boy, they play the worst schedule
in the league.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
By by a landslide in terms of difficulty.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
How it looks right now you know about the rest
they're going to have. The teams are. Division is tough
like it's it's a murder's row. If you pull up
a giant schedule, it's bad, bad, bad. So my hunch
is Wilson plays five six games. They're a better team
than they were last year. But they're one and five, right,
(29:11):
and coaches on the hot seat, and then you get
Dart in there and hopefully he survives. But the league's
so nasty this way. Then what if they end up
being a better team than last year with a worst record,
and they have a coaching change and the new coach
isn't married to Dart.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Happens all the time.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
It happens all the time, and we don't this isn't
the guy we want to coach. We want to we're
picking second in the draft. We want to take Drew
Aller or whoever, you know what I mean. And then
things get off the rails, you know, real quick.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
And then you end up trading Dart for a fourth
round pace a year later, less.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
On your investment, or I mean, he'd have to blow
your doors off if you're picking in the top five
to not at least consider a quarterback, you know, and
playing its tough teams in the league.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Last one I had for you and was just nice
to see, as much as it might have would have
helped the Steelers if he wasn't one hundred justin fields
today full practice participant had a highlight that I saw
where he pulled the ball down and took off again.
As much as you could say, like from a Steelers standpoint,
it'd be nice if he was a little behind schedule
for week one. That's selfishly bigger picture, I'm happy. I'm
(30:26):
happy for him that that was nothing serious and that
and that he's gonna get the opportunity to get training
camp in and hopefully have a season where he can
you know, keep that that career trajectory going up here.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Yeah, and I'm definitely rooting for him. Everyone that was
around him last year in the Steeler uniform respects them
like some hard workers. Smart blah blah blah, all that
great stuff. Good talking on him as a clear number one.
Hopefully they can find their quarterback of the future with
Fields and Uh that offensive staff comes over from Detroit,
(30:57):
which is a very quarterback friendly system are gonna run him,
I'm sure more than the Steelers. But yeah, I mean
I don't root for anyone to be injured, you know.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
No doubt, absolutely not. And good to see somebody around. Yeah,
and again full back to full participant out there running
and scooting and doing all the justin fields things. And
we will we will see him sooner rather than later.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Yeah, I wonder how much he plays in the preseason.
Tyrod Taylor, the backup doesn't need much, you know, But
you also don't want him getting better. No, no, absolutely not.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Let's get to our last break here, but come back
on the other side, we'll hear a little bit of
what Move Nice and Slay had to say.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
We put off autographs going on.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
There's still a lot of autographs. I I love it
as uh as these kids are. They're getting their money's
worth down there on the sideline, that's for sure. We'll
wrap things up on the other side here a little
bit from Sleigh and Move before we get out of here.
It's all part of our ongoing training camp coverage. West
Yeuler Matt Williamson special edition of the Drive here on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Net.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Work iHeartRadio's live coverage Jobbot twenty twenty five Steelers Training Camp.
He's presented by Fadex where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Caliente Pizza, and Draft.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
House by Tom's Appliance.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
It's South Hills Auto, Laurel, Highlands Visitors Bureau, Wemax Select Realty,
the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by Hus steel.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Practice. In the books, the field's about clear, final autographs
being taken. Couple players still kind of out there with
their kids and their family, but for the most part,
it is going quiet here on the campus of Saint
Vincent College. But two guys who are not quiet today
and aren't quiet really ever, both on the field and
when they speak, Pat Fryarmouth and Darius Slayh. A couple
(33:01):
of minutes of these two veterans of the Steelers offense
and the Steelers defense giving their thoughts on Friday night, lights,
last night, and just everything that's transpired to camp to
this point. Take a listen.
Speaker 4 (33:15):
Yeah, it's awesome. I Mean, this is by far the
biggest I've seen it since I've been here and it
was just awesome to see the fans and it can't
get to juiced up for the season, So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Do you talk about the biggest crowdy?
Speaker 4 (33:27):
Oh, like just in general? Oh just like driving in,
everyone was packed out in the streets, you know. I
saw people tail get at the house over there and
jumping in, like sitting in the pool watching us. Like
it was cool and like everyone out here, it was
just an awesome experience. And you know, expect nothing less
from Steelers fans. I think, you know, everyone has a
(33:47):
lot of high expectations for us, and we do as well.
And I think we had a lot of big time
players in our team, and I think everyone's excited to
see how obviously with Aaron coming in and DK and
and Jalen and Johnny, we're just seeing how we're all
clicking together. And we got a lot of exciting things
on the team right now and a lot of a
lot of exciting times ahead. So we're looking forward to
that and I think the fans feel that as well.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Did seem like anything to you, doctor Crown?
Speaker 4 (34:08):
He was he was asking me today like what to
expect and all that, and I was like, dude, it's
literally like going to play for like a state championship
out of high school. And you know, he was like,
all right, cool, and then he came and he was like,
this is awesome. So he loved it and it was
just great to be a part of that. I'm sure
he appreciated it, you know, being later in his career
just kind of experiencing that, and I think he's been
loving it so far.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Seem like there's an excellent shiel playing, like the guys
would extra should be ex something just to kind of
like show up.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Obviously, you know, we practiced in
front of fans like every single day in camp, but
you know, here, it's like an extra juice. Once the
music turned on, everyone was dancing.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
I was loving it. I was dancing.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
It was it was great, It was it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
He confused the guys when after a minutes.
Speaker 4 (34:51):
Yeah, you know, obviously we didn't execute how we wanted to,
but you know, we got to continue to build on that.
It was our first two minute all of camp, and
so you know, obviously we wish it ended differently, but
you know, we're working towards, you know, the end goal.
Of week one and being able to shoot and then
so there's gonna be some ups and downs and we'll
get corrected. So we've always been pretty good at two minutes. Yeah,
(35:13):
we're coming together for sure, you know. I think you
see a daily improvement and there's gonna be ups and
downs and all that that comes with it. And it's
been great. I mean, it's just been it's been cool
to learn from Aeron. I think everyone's appreciated it. It's
been a grind to get on the same page with everyone,
but you can see it starting to progress and starting
to get there, and that's the exciting part about camp.
We have what two more weeks, three more weeks of
(35:35):
in games then we're ready to go. And so I
think we're all getting getting there to the point where
you know, we're getting on the same page and its
and it's feeling fun.
Speaker 5 (35:44):
My first time being at a high school, well no,
I've been. My last time inn it was in Detroit,
went to high school stadium before. But yeah, man, it's
to be way back, definitely, after being in the lead
for thirteen years, it's been a been a good fun man.
It was a good man. The crowd showed up pretty nice, man.
It was a nice fun my first experience with Joy
and I loved it.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Give me you excited? Non excuse me?
Speaker 3 (36:03):
No you get.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
What are you expected out here? After? You know?
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
I was.
Speaker 5 (36:10):
You know, I didn't know what to expect. I just
know that they was talking about it big and heavy.
I was like, man, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
I was excited.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
I almost traded like a game day for me, you know,
just because it's my first appearance and I want to
make sure I show the you know, you know that
I'm supposed to belong here and until the fans getting
what they see. So I was making sure I treated like.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
A game rep.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Does it kind of get you excited for the season
of Steel Nation in Personaire?
Speaker 5 (36:31):
Oh yeah, I'm always ready for the season, man, because
it's always a great opportunity, and I'm blessing I'm fortunate
enough to play this game that I love to do,
so I'm always thankful just to be able to do it,
but I'm more thankful to be able to do it
in some great fans.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Did they feel like I'm in the drill? Is that
another step to showing how good you guys are? As
a defense, I mean.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
As a part of the situation of football.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Man.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
So we got continue to keep working it, man, and
keep doing it both sides of.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
The ball, all of us.
Speaker 5 (36:50):
We're going to be great at that situation, so cause
that's when you win and lose games at So we
got continue to keep working out. Our first time actually
drilling it. Uh, we did a great job. But you
know we got continued that all in the year.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Taylor play.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
Oh great, man, We're a great We're a great trio. Honestly, man,
we're a great dudes. Man, great guys. We work hard,
we worked together, we help. We're here for each other.
Maybe we want nothing but the best for each other
no matter who's out there. All I know is one
thing we're gonna do all together is compete and try
to do our best to be one of the best
in the game.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Out there. Well, yeah, for sure the other guys. You know,
I'm always juiced up.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
When I'm getting put these clicks on, so uh to
see other guys get amped up and witness uh some
great players out here.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Man.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
On a live action kind of light. It's kind of
good man, with a great atmosphere with this better field
game like so just seeing the guys on the light, man,
it's a good feeling. We man definitely been in a
new atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
High energy last night, high energy today. You could feel
it from Pat Fryermuth. You could feel it from Sleigh
Slay don't call me Darius.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Yeah, he's got some too to man.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
And that's my favorite when you when he when he
was on the drive with you with Dale, this is slick.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Yeah, it's like, all right, let's go. Coming off a
super Bowl victory and an amazing career. I mean, I
urge people just even look at like his career stats
like PBUs and.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Forget because I mean he obviously was a part of
a very successful Eagles team that went two super Bowls
and one another. People forget how good he was in
Detroit before he.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Got the follow your number one one of the best. Yeah,
absolutely big place slag. And I will say not that
he started slow, but these last few days he's really
been shining here too. I mean, they got three big
time corners and Joey's missed a little time here with
the thumb. I think it is a thumb. But if
that would be the case in the regular season, it'd
(38:40):
be okay, which is amazing. I mean, Porter to me
was almost like Pickings last year, like you.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Couldn't afford to lose that guy, right right, right, Matt.
We got like a minute or two left here, so
I apologize. We did get a handful of tweets, but
we did. Maybe we'll save some of them for tomorrow
or get back into some Twitter stuff tomorrow. But this
one was funny from scut I had to get too
real quick. He said. I keep hearing Rock Taylor his
name coming up. He seems to be having a solid camp.
You guys think if he shows out in preseason, I
(39:07):
wonder if there's a spot on the roster for him. Also, Wes,
are we going to see you sport a kilt in
Ireland in September? Oh no, listen, I'll do whatever the
Irish want me to do if that's what's going on there.
As long as there's Guinness involved on, somebody has to
a wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
I say, somebody asked about Rock Taylor every day, and
I get that there's traits there, and I'm not discrediting
the guy, but I guess I give him, excuse me,
I guess I give him the best chance of the
this is mean, but the no names, you know.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
The undrafted agents.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the guys aren't making big money or
of any pedigree or any of that kind of thing.
So I'm certainly interested. He's on the radar.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
We're going to start to find out answers to those
questions a week from today in Jacksonville. Yeah, we do
finally get some in stadium action, but obviously plenty to
get rock Taylor.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
Starts taking reps against Lake Slay. You know that they're excited.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
About him, right absolutely, and that'll be something else. We
continue to keep an eye on tomorrow. We're anticipating another
big practice, big crowds, pads on tomorrow. Weather report looks good,
although as we've said, maybe I should not proceed knock
on wood because that can change very rapidly here in
the Laurel Highlands. But that will do it for today's
coverage as another day in the books here on the
(40:22):
campus of Saint Vincent College. We will be back same
time tomorrow, Matt and I at two o'clock to bring
you practice. Then, of course, our coverage here on your
twenty four to seven home when the Black and Gold
starts at ten am. Every single morning that the Steelers
have practice. Big thanks to Matt and to our producer
Justin back at the ranch for holding us down. Everybody
take care and we'll talk to you tomorrow. As always,
(40:44):
you know where to find us. It's Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.
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