September 10, 2024 • 47 mins
Dale and Matt take a look at week 1 rosters and how they performed. They dig into upcoming slate of games and some possible roster moves for the Week 2 schedule.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And we are back.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I'm Dale Lolli he is the Matt Williamson and starting
off our number two here, it is time for the
Fantasy football focus.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And what we do here on Tuesdays if we.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Look at the waiver wire, then we take a look
ahead at the schedule. Yeah, to see what defenses, who's
playing who and who might be a good streamer defense.
That kind of stuff gives you a little look at
the next week's schedules.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
What about that time of the week we started thinking
about we do. Yeah, you get one day to celebrate
that about it and then it's moving on. Get back
to the dryand twenty four hour rule.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
So running back this week, and I know in our league, man,
there is nothing available.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You said it perfectly just a minute ago before we record,
like collectively we drafted quite well.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, you know there's junk out there.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Mason was on there from last night or I mean
were hit pretty hard.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, So, uh, the number one running back here, I'm
looking at fantasypros dot com in terms of uh, and
they look at how the how many of these guys
are rostered in Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
And folks, so you're nude? Did we do this every Tuesday?
Sometimes we're gonna bring up names like that guy's no
chance in my league? Well, every league are different, this one. Yeah, right,
So the number one running back here is JK. Dobbins.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
He's rostered in forty nine percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, yeah, so he fits he fits right right, and
I would I would put in a lot for him, right, yeah,
if he still he looks like the he looks like
the guy they're gonna run the wall. Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
And they played Carolina this week. But Jack Brown just
went on, just went on, ir I think such Chicago
plays Carolina.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
No, that was the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Chargers play CAROLINAA yeah, run all over Yeah, they're gonna
run all over them. H Mason, Jordan Mason, who you
just mentioned, rostered in forty nine percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Sounds like there's a good chance to get in at
least another week out of them. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I wouldn't spend the fab unless I'm the McCaffrey owner.
So you really would like to have you should have
already had him though.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
You should have.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
You should have, especially knowing that McCaffrey was going into
the season already.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
It wasn't he didn't get injured.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
This wasn't a surprise.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
No, no, no, no. This is lingering from last year his
calf injury.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah. Zach Charbonay rostered in forty seven percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
One of the best handcuffs out there.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Kenneth Walker has an abdominal injury. Charbon Ay was questionable
in Week one, but he did get ten touches. If
Walker can't play, Charbona gets a nice big bump. They
play New England this week.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Though, Okay, but no, he should be in pretty much
every lee. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Julia McLaughlin rostered in thirty eight percent of leagues. They,
of course, will play the Steelers this week. He's with Denver.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I'd have a hard time starting him this week, but
he got more early down usage than I would have thought.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
He caught five passes as well.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, yeah, they always throw the backs.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
It went for one yard.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
There's that. But PPR that's five points, right, yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Five point one point. That's the cheapest five point one
points you'll ever get.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
The least productive in NFL history. For it.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
But yeah, Jalen Wright only rostered in twenty one.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So everyone gave Wilson such a hard time for throwing
sideways in Denver.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Maybe it ain't him.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
You should go watch the next tape. Oh yuck.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, yeah, they averaged I mentioned this yesterday. Five point
one yards per reception as a team.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
I know, it's bonkers. It's hard to believe.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Hard too. Yeah, those are the catches. It was three
point three yards per.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Attempt per attempt, Yeah, yuck, it's awful.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Jalen Wright only rostered in twenty one percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
So I just got a blurb a minute ago. A
chan and Moster didn't participate today. They played Thursday, play Thursday. Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I can't believe he's only rostered in twenty one percent
of the league, right.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I mean, especially as explosives that offense roster in our league.
I mean even if one of those two misses, Yeah,
he's a borderline starter to me.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
You probably bump Jeff Wilson up a little bit too.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think you got touches in that game too. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, so I'm and he'll be the banger, he'll be
the goal linebacker soon.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, I think so and even if those guys play,
I wouldn't mind having the rookie no right should be
in leagues.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Uh ty, Chandler only rostered in thirty three percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
He got a little bit of the garbage time work.
It's a little bit misleading, but he's a good player.
And Aaron Jones is never gonna be a bellcow.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
No, yeah, I mean you know I just mentioned Wilson.
Jeff Wilson only rostered in twenty one percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Okay, so not a bad no right, right, a piece
of a good offense, and you know, mostered in a
chant of not Ben Pillar's the health throughout their careers either.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Justice Hills rostered in four percent of leagues. He's the
clear backup and he's the third down back.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And game script isn't always going to favor that with Baltimore,
but he did last week and he caught six balls.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah right, I mean, so that in itself has value. Yeah.
And frankly, Raven's running backs are better than they should
be because of Lamar. Because of Lamar.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, Alexander Madison rostered and four percent of leagues doesn't
do much fun.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
He can't get on board with that. He was the
receiving back. But basically all he did was hurt White.
I don't know he helped himself much, but he hurt White.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Emmanuel Wilson was to back up this week or this
past week in Green Bay. In Green Bay, he's rostered
in two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And everyone watched. He had a couple of nice runs.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
But marshng wloy, he's going to be back a song.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
He's going to go past him. Yeah yeah, I mean,
if you're the Jacob's owner, fine, maybe pick him up
and you have him as your back up. But I
don't want to play him this week. No love out.
That offense isn't anything.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
They're not going to do anything.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Tank Bigsby Rosspert rostered in five percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I think he's I'd have him over a lot of
these names just mentioned.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, I mean he'd be in leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
He looks good too, you know. Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Wide receiver Brandon Cooks rostered in thirty two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
He's just boring, but he's steady. Yeah. Maybe borderlines to
me when we're not that far from bye weeks and
injuries run the football.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
We talked about him a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We drafted him a lot in mock dress. Yeah, he's
just people are sick of him.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
DeMarcus Robinson rostered in six percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Whok, the coup is out.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
As I mentioned earlier.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
He's a two. Yeah, he's gonna probably be the number
two target guy, Coop. Now the problem is is Cooper Cup,
he has every target. Every target is like a forty
two target achievable and it might go up, which is nuts,
and most of them are like extended handoffs. Yeah. Yeah,
but he looks as good as I mean, Yeah, nobody
got a bigger bumping. Like if we've had a draft today,
(06:31):
Cooper Cup might go around two. Yeah. I mean, he
looks good and he's in a phenomenal situation right now.
But Robinson should probably be an all leagues. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Andre Yasivas with Cincinnati rostered in thirteen percent of the leagues.
He started opposite Jamar Chase. With T Higgins out, technically
he's the three.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I guess he is, and Burton's looming, but it's his
job as the three. I haven't heard Higgins out of
extended stretch, no, nor have I, and I don't know
he's all that great.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I mean, but if I had Chase or Higgins, maybe
I go in the direction. But I'm not all fired.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
My team would be in pretty bad shape if I
check that box Sunday morning, you know what I mean. Yeah,
it's even hard to picture that world. One of my
personal favorites up next year.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
They just love the name. Greg Dortch rostered in five percent.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Of leagues, the Human dors.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
He had forty seven receiving yards last week.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
They took they use him. They took Harrison out of
the game. He didn't hardly use it all. Like if
he was a Steeler, you'd like him. You know, he's
a slot He's tough, you know, I mean, moves the chains.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
They play the Rams Lions in Washington in their next
three games.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Any bad. Yeah, so it's a good offense, Yeah, Human
doors one.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Dell Robinson rustered in ten percent of leagues. He got
a million dollars twelve targets last week. He's a better
player than people realized too. Like, I think he's a
true slot machine Welker type guy, and that fits what
they do. Doesn't go for any yards at all.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Oh, he's got fifty yards on ten targets. But if
you need a bye week filler. And if he's not,
if it's not PPR, don't even worry about him.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Tyler Johnson for the Rams rostered in no zero percent.
I bet we talked about that yesterday.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
He has some traits.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
He had like seventy nine yards or whatever it was.
He got sixty eight of it on one catch. So
and I assume he's now going to be the three. Yeah,
and they'll play a lot and he's got trades. But
that might be the best game of his career. Yeah,
I need to see another week or two of that. Yeah,
Alec Pierce rostered in two percent of leagues. No, thank you?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Hey a big play? Yeah all right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Just can't get on board with that.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Now. I think Mitchell make him obsolete somehow.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Jakobe Myers is only roustered in forty eight percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Do you do much this past week? It was a
very Bowers central centric passing game, sixty one scoreless, receiving
yards sixty one yards. Yeah, yeah, Like he is not
a bad football player. He should be in Lakes. It's
a sort of a side note, but we've brought him
up for Steeler interest. Yeah, I feel like you could
get him cheaper than ever. Right now. You know, if
you're a Steelers, they're going to use Bowers, They're going
(09:09):
to use Adams. Yeah, he's kind of a Mayor's on
the field Ton. Yeah, but he just saw the player.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Josh Reynolds with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
We'll see him this week.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
He's rostered him one of leagues now. Mims and he's
like the other downfield guy. Yeah, yeah, I mean he's
a long, angular type dude. Mims and Franklin of they
don't do anything. No, they don't see the field. Yeah,
the guy. There's a third guy that I've never heard of.
You mentioned his name yesterday, Veyle, Yeah, something like that. Yeah,
(09:41):
quarterback Baker Mayfield rostered in thirty four percent of the leagues.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
It's good. I mean he threw a bunch of touchdowns
and he looked good and he's got good weapons.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
They have Detroit this week, then they're Denver in Philadelphia
at home.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Okay. So I mean I guess if you have love
and that's you need somebody to get by, I mean
it makes sense.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I wish he was available in our league.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, I could see that. I don't I don't see
a high ceiling though, I mean, he's never gonna be
a lot of a run much of a runner.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Yeah, justin fields. Rostered in fourteen percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
If you get word, he I mean, I could understand
putting in for him right now. Yeah, yeah, especially in
deeper leagues, or it'll be a bottom of your rosters
junk and or you have love and yeah yeah yeah right,
I mean because he starts.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
The potential is there for him to be a top
ten quarterback. Yeah, if he runs, you know, like ten
or more times, well right, more than likely if he
goes ten or more times, he's going to have fifty
or sixty or seventy yards.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
His fantasy point production was very fluky for how he
was used. Yeah, flukeually bad. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, Derek Carr only rostered in ten percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Side note, I bet the Steelers score touchdowns? We do.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I think they do.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
I have something to do with it.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Here's the problem with rostering Derek Carr. Right now, This
week they're at Dallas.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
That's not great with that line.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, next week they're at Philadelphi. You I don't think
that's much different, right right, and then they're at Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
So yeah, that's not great and maybe you have them
dangle them for a Yeah, the love owner.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Gino Smith rostered in thirty two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's kind of like Baker. I mean, he's good, he's
not gonna run much.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Problem is they have New England this They're at New
England this week.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
We'll just spread that.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Not a great cross country like that, Yeah, not a
great matchup. Then he gets Miami in Detroit, so Gino
Smith probably a better option probably moving forward than what
he is this week.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You can see garbage time against Miami and Detroit too. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Uh. Sam Darnold rostered in ten percent of leagues. Again,
the problem is he plays San Francisco this week.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Okay, I don't know the upcoming schedule for these guys
at all.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And he gets Houston and Green Bay, so better days ahead,
but not this week.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I'm not exactly sold that he's out of the woods.
And but he did did a good week.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
He was ten for you know, he was going to
justin Jefferson like I know where my my bread is
buttered at. I'm gonna go that.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And the ball time the fourth quarter, I mean he
could have thrown more.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, tight end. Isaiah likely rostered in twenty eight percent
of the leagues.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
So how about this. I mean he's like the only
Fantasy tight end that did well this week. Yeah, I
mean across the board, McBride, I mean, this is a
bad Fantasy tight end week. I do think he's unlike
like every other It should be up and down for sure,
But I don't think he'll leave the field much. No,
he's out there.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Yeah, yeah, that's one of the reasons I consider drafting him.
But yeah, I'm like, how much are they going to
throw the ball? And he's most of going to go
to Mark Andrews.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Like, I'm not using twenty percent of my fab because
I drafted Pits or Najoku or somebody that you weren't
happy with or Goddard or whoever and think he's the answer.
I don't know that I do. He might if he
had Najoku, because because he's out for it's a bad example.
I was thinking about it, like the if you waited
on tight end and you weren't thrilled with him when
you took him, and then they had a down week,
(12:58):
as all tight ends did, I wouldn't look at likely
like my problem solved.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yeah, Tucker Craft rostered in two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
He's well ahead of Musgrave.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Yeah, but I mean the last few weeks are gonna
be garbage.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I can't start the receivers this week, no, I mean,
who are much clearer than I think.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
The only packer you can start is Josh Jacobs. And
then now you're hoping.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, and he's a run eight man boxes too night
maybe nine? Uh?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Kolbe Parkinson roustered in six percent of the leagues. He's
clearly clearly interesting.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah, I mean the coup of injury helps him, helps him,
no doubt, and he was kind of a sleeper to
begin with.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
He's with the Rams, yea, yeah, Yeah. Tyler Conklin rostered
in twenty percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I mean, watching that game last night, I thought the
Jetsy's somebody else to catch the ball or to give
the ball to. I mean, Hall and Wilson are really,
really good players, but Mike Williams is a shell of
himself in terms of for nine plays nine plays, I mean, like,
so could it be Conklin? Maybe maybe I'm gonna play
the Niners every week?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah? Looking at this week's schedule. Thursday night, we have
Buffalo at Miami.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
We talked about defenses here. Yeah, I think no and.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
No, yeah I do. I do like that for Buffalo
in the fact that's an eight to fifteen game. Won't
be quite as hot for them, right.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Oh it's in Miami. Yeah, okay, Yeah, that's not great,
but I think there's points in that game. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
The Raiders are at the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I'm fine with the Ravens. Yeah, but they're probably in
the league. Yeah, I don't think I'm excited about the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Chargers are at Carolina.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
That's a good streamer.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Yeah, that's a good streamer of the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Saints back and Boso were healthy and looking good. Yeah.
I mean, I know we're hard on the Chargers, but
give them credit with with what they did.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Saints are at Dallas. You can't start to Dallas or
Saints defense.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah. I streamed them last week in the league and
that was nice, But I think you dump them now.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Buccaneers are at Lions. Well, you're streaming week with the
Buccaneers was last week?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, I do not want to start.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Them in that one.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
It's in Detroit too, right, Yeah. No.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
The Colts are at Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I'll take that.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, yeah, it's a vanilla defense, but that doesn't matter.
It's a vanilla quarterback.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
There aren't many defenses I wouldn't take against Green Bay
right now. Yeah, I mean if it was Carolina, Green
Bay and am I'm picking them mind you know, but
there aren't many. I mean if it was the Raiders
or most defenses, I would grab them. Right now.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Cleveland is at Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I'm sticking with the Browns, like I think it's our
league I draft or by the other one I drafted
him in. But I mean quarterback throws pick sixes and stuff.
It makes it hard. Yeah. Yeah, I think the jagsd's usual.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
And Cleveland's defense last year on the road is not good.
This is in Jacksonville. It's a one o'clock. It's gonna
be hot.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Jags D I'll take.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Yeah, Well, they'd have to start them after what you
saw from Deshaun Watson.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, yeah, they could be on waiver wires.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Forty nine ers of Vikings. Well you can't start the
Vikings defense.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
No, and you I think you start the Niners.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Seahawks are at the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh, Seahawks are a great pickup. I hate it's a
cross country trip and all that stuff for a new
coach and new staff. But they they tied Nixon Company
and knots after a while too, And he's a pretty
good defensive mind.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, Jets are at the Titans. Jets are probably owned,
so you're not. Yeah, are you comfortable with them? After
last night?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I think I still would be against Yeah, Yeah, I
think I still would be. Yeah, Tennessee's he played pretty well. Yeah,
but that was against a bad Chicago different little different experience.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
The Giants are at the Commanders.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Knowing those no and no.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I don't want either one of those, and I would
you'd love to start a defense against either one of those,
all right.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And I think that's a no.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Rams at Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
No and no. Yeah, I think there can be a
bunch of I feel like that in every Cardinal game.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
I'm gonna be like, noing, No, Steelers are at the Broncos.
Steelers defense we own, You're not going to start the
Broncos defense.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I don't think Bengals are at the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
No again for the Bengals, and yeah, you're gonna start to.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Chief fine with the Chiefs. I mean, if you drafted
them and you have an investment there I'd probably stick
with it. It's in Kansas City. Yeah, yeah, I'm fine
with probably in the top ten. Still. Yeah, the Bears
are at the Texans fire Protexas Texans. No on the Bears. Yeah, Bears.
The played well, it's not a bad group.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
But yeah, but I don't run over their head a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah, I don't love that.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
And the Falcons are at the Eagles No Monday night game.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
I'm fine with the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I'd start the Eagles. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah, it's kind of like the Chief conversation. Yeah, I
could see Atlanta playing pretty well, I mean in figuring
things out.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Not if cousins are still.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Mobile a big problem. Yeah, I guess Eagles D is usable.
The Falcons is on. No, absolutely so not.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
A there's a couple of targets, some good streamers there.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, they're not three or four that will be on
waiver wires.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Not quite the schedule of games that we had opening week.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
True, true, there was a couple of low hanging fruit. Yeah,
you know, like Seattle's and Tree to me, but I've
going all the way to England and yeah, they might
lose that game, right, I mean seventeen sixteen or so,
you know, do you see.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
The Patriots getting off to a two and oh start.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
That That is not a team I'm overreacting to and
think that they're good all of a sudden.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
So either the Browns or the Jaguars are going to
start oh in two.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, that's a tough hole for both of those any spreads.
But I bet Jacksonville's favored. I would think so. I
mean I would pick them straight up right now.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
At hell, both of those franchises have shown over the
years that if when things start to go bad, they
go bad.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, go bad and actually pull themselves up by the
boot scrap. Doesn't look good for Cincinnati going to Kansas City, right,
they could be ohering to who the Ravens have.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Again they play, maybe they play the Raiders at home.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
They're definitely favored there. Yeah, they'll probably win that game.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Okay, So if the Steelers can get off to that
two and oh start this week, they may be up
two games on both Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah. I think that's quite possible. Yeah, so not in
a bad spot.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Absolute, let's get to a break that's going to do
it for the fantasy football focus.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
See we turned that into a little Steeler.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Talk there as well. Of course absolutely, he is Matt Williamson.
I am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here
on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and I will be
back with more right after this.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
We believe Black and Gold. This is the Pittsburgh Steelers
Audio Network. This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and
Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I'm Dale LOLLI.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
He is the Matt Williamson and frequent listeners to the
show know that we often reference DVOA. Yeah, which is
an Aaron Shat's thing. He doesn't now on FT and Fantasy,
but it was always Football Siders as ESBM before that.
They all reference the DVOA, which is a way of
looking at a power ranking on a team in terms
(19:58):
of how they've played and things of that nature, just
kind of measuring it up by the analytics.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah, and at this point they don't account for opponent, right,
but I forget what week they start accounting for opponent
because they feel like they have a better grasp of
who you've been playing.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
So right now, the Steelers thirteenth in DVA after week one,
they're a positive plus three point one percent. Being on
the positive side of that is where you want to be.
The New Orleans Saints after Week one lead the NFL
at one hundred point eight.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Which is like an unheard of number. That's a ridiculous number.
And they stomped the Panthers and it was over by
the first quarter. They could have run the score up
even more. I mean, like, I don't know if they're
good or not, but they played their best game against
a terrible opponent. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
So this Vikings are actually second at seventy two point eight.
Dallas is third at seventy two point four.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
It's a pretty pressive showing by the Cal.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Seattle, which course played Denver last week. They're at seventy
one point three.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
They were didn't blow anyone's doors off, though according to
this they did. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
San Francisco at forty eight point one, Tampa Bay thirty
three point eight, the Chargers at twenty eight point four,
New England at twenty four point zero, Houston at twenty
one point oh, Buffalo at nineteen point three, Kansas City
at eighteen point five, and Detroit at twelve.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
At ten point eight, Aaron would be the first to
tell you that, I mean, this is small sample size.
This isn't predictive that they're going to keep these numbers going.
It's one performance and you know, all this information gets
cut by fifty percent in a few days from now,
you know. Yeah, So it's it's an interesting conversation of
who played well and who didn't. But it doesn't mean
(21:48):
that these teams are going to dominate the league, you
know what I mean. The interesting thing to me, Matt
is I just shifted through the defensive DVOA here. Okay,
and by all accountcils to you had a good defensive game.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
They give up ten points to the Atlanta Falcons. Yeahs, turnovers,
fifty one yards of offense they allowed in the second
half of that game, two of nine on third down conversions. Defensively,
they came out of Week one tenth tenth.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
EI thought they were one of the best defenses in
the league, just eyeball tests. Interestingly enough, the team that
is ninth in the defensive DVOA is Atlanta. Wow, that's
strange to me. I didn't think their defense was horrible.
I wasn't horrible, but so a couple of notes here
is EPA and DVA are almost the same type of thing,
(22:43):
you know. And I was looking at EPA this morning,
not DVa's first I've heard these and EPA. The Steelers
defense on first and second down early down, EPA was phenomenal,
like the best in the league, which adds up. And
I didn't think they were bad on third down, you know,
I mean, yeah, and they also created a big players down.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
They give up two for nine on conversion. Yeah, right,
I mean they take out everyone.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Most of our listeners knew that they were quite you know,
stifling on third down, and they created big plays. Big
plays is a big thing, I know for DVOA, taking
the ball away, sacks and creative negative Yeah. So I'm
not sure what they did wrong.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Yeah, I'm not sure either in the fact that Atlanta
was ranked ahead of them when they forced no turnovers.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I mean, they held the Steelers a three point three
yards rushing, which isn't great, you know, I mean for
the Steelers. I mean, that's good work by Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
But some of that was like to take take the
ten yard end around the pickings out of the equation,
which was the most ridiculous. Not only was it not
a great call in that situation.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It's hard to lose ten yards ran. Yeah, right, that's
a very strange play.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I would throw that one. I'd take that one to
just tear it up and throw it out of the playbook.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
I know, because you know, I dig into the stats
and stuff, and you cited this a few times. I
forget what the number is, but I think it was
week eight on last year, or the Steelers average one
hundred and fifty six yards forty five point two. Okay, yeah,
I knew, you knew it. They had been over that number.
I run they would keep that trend alive. Now they
were just a little below it. But it was a
(24:13):
very odd play. It's harding was on a rushing play.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
If I'm going to run that end around, I'm not
using George Pickens agreed, Because he's the guy who's getting
all the attention from the opposing defense.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
There are eye in him anyway. I mean, Terrell might
be following him to begin with.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Where's he going to be at? We got to know
where that guy's at all the time.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah. Yeah, So for people don't know, if you go
to practice tomorrow or if you went to practice last Thursday,
there's somebody with a Drake London, a Bijon Robinson, and
a Kyle Pitts jersey on. Not the other guys. I mean,
it's not every skill guy. You got to know where
that dude is. Yeah, well everyone's going to have a
Pickens jersey on during their prep week, trust me, you
(24:50):
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
And so running that end around with him probably not
the best idea in that situation.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
So look, if I pulled up the e stuff, they
have the Steeler d basically fifth. It's behind the Saints
and Vikes, both of whom were pretty dominant, and right
there with Seattle and Dallas. I think that's pretty accurate in.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Terms of total DVA defensive DVOA. And again this is
relevant because the Steelers played Denver this week, Seattle number
one in the league minus fifty six point.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Two because of who they played, a lot, because of.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Who they played and what they gave up in that game. Right,
Denver's offense did nothing in that game.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
I mean, needless to say, that's gonna be the same
score as Denver's offense the opposite, you know what I mean.
So they're going to be in the bottom left corner too,
you know.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
But the only defenses well, there were three defenses over
fifty points this week, Seattle, New Orleans minus fifty five
point six and Minus being.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Good on minus defense.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yeah, Dallas at minus fifty three point six in Minnesota
at minus fifty point two.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
That's I don't really have a much discrepancy with that.
They were big time performances. Offense was down. I don't
know if you've heard this, but this was the lowest
and it dawned on me when we talked about fantasy yesterday.
There's so few quarterbacks that were over three hundred. It
was the lowest number of passing yards in the NFL
(26:20):
since like twenty ten in Week one. YEA. Offense was rough.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
It was very difficult, very different. A lot of quarterbacks
didn't play in the preseason and it showed.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yeah, and the Burroughs and Cousins and those guys. The
guys that played well were like Mayfield and car and
some of the middle of the road dudes. And then
all the rookies are terrible.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Yeah. Yeah, there were some really bad performances there was,
including from Nicks, and.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
The whole offense as a whole was pretty bad.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Pretty bad.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Looking at Denver where they ranking.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I'm trying to find them here on EPA. They are.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
They came in at twenty eight in total minus fifty
four point seven, minus fifty I'm sorry, minus fifty six
point nine. I was looking at their adjusted DVA fifty
six point nine.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
It was a miserable performance in terms of.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
The teams that were worse than them. Last week, Carolina
dead last, Cleveland at thirty one, okay, the Giants at thirty,
the Giant, the Commanders at twenty nine.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Okay, looking at this one, the only offenses that were
worse were the Giants and Panthers, and they are right
there with like the Raiders, and they were slightly above
average defensively the Bronco Yeah, basically right on the line.
But the defense is better than the offense.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Well here in terms of better offense in terms of
DVA for offensive DVA, the only offenses worse were that
of Carolina and Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Okay, Carolina is the worse than no. Cleveland was worse offensively, yeah, wow, Okay,
according to they're pretty bad here too. They're right there
with They're actually right next to them.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
So in terms of defensive DVOA, Denver was plus twenty
five point nine again plus not where you want to know,
army plus right, that is twenty ninth in the league.
The only place that Denver did well in was on
special teams.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
They were second, okay, Steelers had to be hot Steelers
for fifth okay, and say six or six goes a
long way.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Yeah, and probably would have been higher. They had a
couple of penalties on returns Austin good return, Calvin Austin,
a couple of good punt returns again nullified.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah. I think people harp on the negative on special teams.
I think they're crazy. Yeah, they were, They're pretty good, right,
heard this little nugget just talking about these two defenses.
The Steelers blitzed less than any team in the league
this week, which is crazy. I mean they were like
it's seven percent. Yeah, Broncos blitzed the most because they
don't have pass right and ye they have to generate
(28:59):
somehow at something. And then I'm gonna harp on all week,
but it says a lot about both these defenses where
they're at. You know, if you can you can get
there with four against a really good line and Seattle's
line stinks. You know, they weren't getting their home with
four against one of the worst lines in the league
where lines not great, right right, exactly that you know,
I'm thinking about from a Denver defense perspective Week one,
(29:19):
You shouldn't have to blitz against Seattle that much to
get pressure, and you were number one the whole league. Yeah,
I don't. I don't know if I do. You want
to blitz justin fields. I don't know what his traditional
numbers are, but he can certainly make you pay.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Yeah, I mean, you miss him.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
The other thing, too, is you're rolling them out so
much too. Yeah, that's they're blitzing from the wrong side
and you're chasing him when he's rolling right, and you're
not going to catch your side right right right after.
I mean, at least Denver now has tape to go
off of the fields. But I don't know it's going
to look like that though. I don't think it's not
exact passing game, you know. I think they'll keep fields
(29:56):
as a starter. I think he'll be on the move
a lot.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Yeah, I'm just looking here his blitz numbers.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
And maybe is.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
They don't have his blitz numbers here. I thought they
did on.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
I mean, I know he's taken a lot of sacks
in his career. Yeah, and I'm sure a lot of
them are verse blitz.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
But yeah, I mean I thought he got rid of
the ball pretty quickly. I didn't think he held the ball.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
His time to throw was high? Was it high? It was?
It was over. He was highest in the league last
year at like three point zero six, and it was
slightly over that. But you're going to also hold it
more if you're on the run. Yeah, some of that,
so I'm looking hover of that was sort of by design.
It was played that way. There's no way you're going
to be at two point.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
He was eleven fifteen when he held the ball two
point five seconds or longer when he got rid of it.
I know, I'm sorry he was eleven for fifteen when
he got rid of it. That's more than two point
five seconds, because when he's on rhythm and on time,
he's good. It was only for forty five yards though,
when he held the ball two point five seconds or
long or he was six of eight for one hundred
(31:01):
and eleven yards. Well, the forty yards are down down
the side of the at the end of the first half.
Was one of those because he rolled to his left.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
So he got rid of it in two point five
more often than he held it two point five Yes, attempts. Yeah, so,
assuming my numbers are right, I got him from NFL
dot Com. There must have been several snaps that were
like five seconds, you know, to make it well over three.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Yeah, I don't. I didn't. That's I didn't.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
I was shocked when I read that. Yeah, I didn't.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
I didn't see him holding the ball a lot back there.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
This was from the NFL dot Com. Their next gen
stuff now is is stepped up quite a bit, so
this was straight from the NFL. But I wouldn't think
of that either.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
As Tomlin said about that, because I think Chris Carter
asked him today about you know, the NFL next Gen statsaid,
you guys running more RPOs than or second most RPOs
last week, and Tomlin was like, we didn't run that
many RPOs just because they think it's an RPO. Because
the quarterback carries out of fake doesn't mean that's an RPO.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Funny, I don't even click on that column because I
don't think anybody knows.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
They really don't.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
You really don't.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
It's kind of like play action in some instances where
quarterbacks in the shotgun and runs an RPO. Isn't that
play action.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Right, right, right exactly? So Chris might be dead on
I mean, I bet that column exists and it has
them that way, But that's not one of the columns
I would ever lie. I mean, I'm looking here at
Pro Football Reference.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
They had two RPOs for the Steelers where they actually
where he threw the ball off an RPO.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I mean the only times you well you could he
could run it too. But yeah, I mean that's a
really broad term there, really is. I mean a lot
of times you'll see one half a line pass block
and one half a line run block.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
That's kind of a dead giveaway. But I trust Tomlin
and know how many times he ran RPO.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah, and some of it's just again, I don't click
on that column because I don't think I don't trust
the statue people won those. Yeah, you know, whoever's gathering them,
I don't know that they have one hundred percent feel
for that.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
But some of the numbers here on on fields not bad.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
You know.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
The only the number that really stands out here to
me is when they were in no huddle, he was
only two for six.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Okay, for four yards from that profile reference. Yeah, okay,
yeah that they would know. Yeah, yeah, there that's an
easy one.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Play action. He was six of eight, but for only
twenty eight yards.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Okay, I think play action people basically know too.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Yeah, no imlay action eleven for fifteen for one hundred
and twenty eight yards. I mean they didn't They just
didn't push the ball down the field right now.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Say that. So much of that to me stemmed from
just when they knew they had Atlanta's offense where they
wanted him. Yeah. Then it was just kind of the
picket version of yeah, don't throw picks, we're gonna win
this game. And in a way, whenever they didn't get
it on fourth and one gave him a little bit
of life. I mean, that was the first time I
(33:53):
got nervous lated in the game because they started moving
the ball a little bit. Yeah. So we'll see, Yeah,
see how it works this week, get a better grasp
of where they feel like Justin Fields is at again
if they build the entire game plan around him. Yeah,
I'm curious. Hot that'd be hard as a coaching staff,
you know, because you know you said, you know it
(34:16):
installs tomorrow. Yeah, of course, and they know who Fields
is and they know who Wilson is, and there is
some overlaping skill set. But you're preparing for one or
the other with the idea of Fields will probably be
the one on Wednesday. But what if Russ feels great Thursday. Yeah,
coaching John's are tough. They go back to the drawing
(34:38):
board a lot of right right then stuff? Yeah? I
mean you built this game plan on Tuesday or Monday
Tuesday for Denver and you might have to throw a
large portion of it away even if it's good. Right.
Is this the way coaching is? That's the way it is.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. You're listening
to the Drive here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Matt.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Now are going to take a break. We'll be back
to finish up the show right after.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
This your home for the Steelers. This is the Pittsburgh
Steelers Audio Network and this is the Drive with Dale
Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
And we are back. I'm Dale Lolly. He is the
Matt Williamson and Matt. The NFL has changed some of
its rules this year the Pro Football Hall of Fame times,
I should say, in seniors category. So they just released
the name of one hundred and eighty three nominees. Gotcha,
where the senior committee take a look.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
If I'm wrong, but the old rules were one a year. Yeah,
there was that weird COVID year where they put in
ten or whatever. But okay, they're taking a longer look
at some of these guys now.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
So one hundred and eighty three nominees are going to
pair that down to a list of fifty players, including ties,
over the next few weeks. Here there are some Steeler
players in this group here, including running back Byron Whizzer White.
That's going way back.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Yeah, then they deserve our time and effort.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
To of course, Yeah, absolutely, of course.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
At Elsie Greenwood, that was one I was thinking to
my tongue of who would be Steelers A fitness mold
Elsie's I think that probably the best one available.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
In safety, Mike Wagner, Okay.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
I'm an instrumental part of the best, one of the
best defenses ever and very just you know, big contributor
for four rings. I would lean towards LC over Wagzo.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
Yeah, place kicker Norm Johnson also on the least career
Seattle too. Yeah. To qualify as a Senior Committee guy,
you had to have played at least twenty five full
seasons ago for nomination, So you had to be done
by nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
Is your last season?
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Okay, And you also had to have won some kind
of postseason honor award.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Also, he had me Pro Bowl or oh okay, okay,
I thought you like you had to do in a
playoff game or yeah, okay, okay, yeah, okay, So that
makes sense, Okay, some sort of something, Okay.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
I had to be recognized as something. I'm kind of surprised.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
So is that how they came up with one hundred
and eighty three? Yeah? These are all the guys that
aren't in the Hall of Fame, that have been to
a Pro Bowl, that played before the year two thousand.
It's a lot of names. I mean, it's gould be
pretty easy one to pay eighty three. Yeah, Like with
all respected Norman Johnson, he's got no chance. No, Yeah,
I mean, I don't know whom you're nominated these guys,
(37:42):
but I look at guys like.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
I'm just trying to think of guys who aren't in
the Hall of Fame, like a Ken Anderson, He's on
the list. Yeah, I'm talking.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I'm talking about Steelers could have made this list.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
What about a guy like I'm just going down through
the list here of their Hall of Honor guys, Andy Russell.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Yeah, I'd like his case better than Wagner's.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Yeah, I mean, multi time Pro Bowl guy who was
the captain of the defense.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
A couple of the first couple of Super Bowls. Not
get any I mean, he was one of the few
good carryovers when Chuck Nole got hired. Yeah, like, we're
going to keep that guy. Yeah, everyone else can go.
You know, I mean to me, you know, nothing against
Mike Wagner, but I can't believe he wasn't on that list.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Yeah, that's interesting if youre gonna have one hundred and
eighty three players on that list.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
I mean, it doesn't mean he's gonna end up in
the Hall of Fame or should, but he should be.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Should at least get a nomination in.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
That combination conversation. Yeah, now I'm with you on that.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Taking a look here at some of the news and
notes from around the league. Lamar Jackson as it turns
out was sore on Monday.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
Say, let me guess he was sick. Gets sick more
than anybody.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Yeah, he does get sick a lot, but no, he was.
He had some general soreness a lot to Mike Garoppolo. Uh,
and so that was he's expected to practice on Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Horrendous protection. Yeah, he took a beating. That's not a
sustainable formula. And I'm if, I'm Harbaugh and the owner,
I'm we're not doing that anymo.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Yeah, don't don't let that happen anymore. Josh Allen with
the Bills was a full participant in Tuesday's practice walk
through practice. Okay, he's dealing with that left hand. He
did have a glove on that left hand.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
At least it's a left but takes another hit.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
You don't like it.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Yeah, but division game and he's got ten days arrested after,
So there you have. I'm sure he'll play.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Mitchell Trubisky full participant for them today. Tyler Johnson and
running back was a limited.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Tight end. Quinton Morris was a full participant.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
With a shoulder injury, and Tron Johnson, their very good
nickel cornerback, did not practice.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
Yeah, it doesn't sound good for Johnson. That was the
one I heard. He's really important to those guys. With
their linebacker and safety change. He was one of the
few stabilizing factors in their back seven. You know, carry
over guys that you can kind of count on. He's
an important player for them.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
We mentioned earlier in the show the Carolina Panthers placed
defensive tackle Derek Brown on season ending injured reserve.
Speaker 2 (40:19):
One of the more underrated players in the league.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
Yeah, their best player and they don't have them.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Now they're a miserable team. Right now.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
They are signing defensive end Charles Harris.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Yeah, yeah, hasn't done a ton No. No, the Browns
have made it the fish with Kadarius Tony. That's what
they need on their practice squad. Yeah. Still they talk
about a volatile, you know, teas type of guy. I
don't know.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
The Lions signed placekicker Greg Joseph to their practice squad.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Maybe their guy pulled something or whatever.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
Look fine. The other night they seem to Yeah, Michael
p Ryan cut by the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I didn't know as I picked them up.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
So, ye, Houston, Well that was practice quite signing Julius
Brents for the Colts corner placed on injured reserve.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Oh really, Yeah, their corners are probably the weakest part
of the team. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
He was the guy they drafted the highest last year. Yeah,
second rounder and played a lot for them and started.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
We talked about him quite a bit. I mean some
of the people listening might remember he got yeah six ' three,
ended up in the second round. They were counting on
him to be an integral part of that defense. Yeah,
so good for that cover three system.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
They have big loss for them.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
That is a big loss. So that's four plus weeks
or was that that season ender? Didn't they say just
as placed on injured reserve.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
I don't know that they designated, yeah, just yet the
rams of all kinds of offensive line problems. They signed
two offensive tackles today, Jeron Christian and Ty's.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Been around, but he was always a decent swing guy.
Six guy. I don't know why he's not signed, but
they might need him to start now, so they might
be playing right now. That poor dude from Michigan State
well Man.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Looking at the Dolphins side of that Thursday night game.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Devin a.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Chan listed as a non participant in Tuesday's walk through
Rahiem Mostert did not participate. A Chan has an ankle.
Mostard is a chest ankles not good for a Chan.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
No, not at all, and walkthroughs not that demanding, Noah.
But I also though have.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
To be out, probably not gonna play.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
I would think not. Yeah, yeah, that's a tough one.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
UH wide receiver Malik Washington, with a quadricep did not practice.
Linebacker Jalen Phillips with an achilles was limited, as was
cornerback Jalen Ramsey with a hamstring.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Okay, Phillips played really well in the game. I think
that's just precaution. Aeron though, Yeah, they're valuable guys.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
The UH Minnesota Vikings signed defensive tackle Hairerson Phillips to
a two year contract extension worth nineteen million dollars.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
He's more of a run stuffer, a big body guy.
You know.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
In six six issue, thirteen million guaranteed for him. Cam
Hayward deal looks better and better.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Yeah, seems like a lot of money for what should
be a rotational player that doesn't affect the passing game
that much.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
You know, the forty nine ers, they're saying that Christian
McCaffrey with that calf Achilles injury. The Achilles is the
new part of that.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
Because Calf was last year.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Yeah, he is considered day to day. They got Juwan
Jennings injured NET game last night with an ankle injury,
and guard Aaron Branks Banks with the Bruce caff also
day to day.
Speaker 2 (43:40):
Okay, I get the impression McCaffrey might be another week,
could be yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:45):
There, especially when the backup comes down and plays well, yeah, exactly, Like, Okay,
we can slow play this with McCaffrey a little bit.
Speaker 2 (43:52):
So I think people know that. I host a podcast
with Brian Peacock, who's a Niners guy, and I guess
Niners people hate when he says this, but he's like,
if I had to rank who I don't want in
my lineup for the Niners, McCaffrey's like seven or eight,
you know, like Purdy, both receivers, Kittle, Williams, Warner, Bosa.
(44:14):
Because they're still really good without them. I mean they're
great with them.
Speaker 3 (44:18):
Yeah, but they're really But here's the thing. I know
a lot of people are gonna I guarantee you a
lot of the people who are on that train that
you never draft a running back in the trutch round,
don't pay running backs. Looked at that game last night
and said, see, anybody can get a running back anywhere, right,
Not true. If the forty nine ers believed that, they
(44:38):
wouldn't be paying Christian McCaffrey what they're paying him.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
And if you look at Shanahan's career, they've missed on
so many draftable running backs. They've traded up for guys,
and they've drafted a bunch of them, a bunch of
them in like rounds three four, trading up for them.
And Mason's not a nobody by the way, right, Yeah,
I went back and really looked at his background. He
was a heavily cruited guy. And then Georgia Tech got
(45:02):
the greatest recruit in Georgia Tech history, Jamiir Gibbs, who
then put Mason on the bench. Gibbs goes to Bama.
Mason has a nice job, but it kind of got
lost in the wash behind a really good player. And
now he's in a good situation, like he had a
good preseason, like he's clearly there too. He's good. Yeah,
I mean he makes any team probably start. I mean
Dallas would kill for him right now. No, he's a
(45:24):
good player.
Speaker 3 (45:25):
But you don't just find those guys anywhere because everybody
always points to the forty nine ers. Well, the forty
nine ers, they just plug anybody in there. Well that's why,
that's not why they traded for Christian McCaffrey.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
No, right, I mean there's special traits there. And Frankly,
Rob and I on Friday had a conversation about Bijon,
you know, like, Okay, maybe you're not into drafting a
running back in round one. I get it. I'll take him.
He's pretty good. I'll take that guy.
Speaker 3 (45:48):
Say Kwan Barkley was pretty good the other day.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Yeah, yeah, you know, if you're a difference maker, it's different.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
The special talents are the special talents, and there's a
difference between taking those guys in the top ten, yeah,
and take one in the bottom third of the of
the first.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
Round, especially if you're a playoff team and that's like
your biggest need, you know, like if the Chiefs were
to do it or something like that. I get it.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
If you don't have somebody, which the Steelers didn't have
when they took Nausey Harris, which is why I mentioned this, Yeah,
you don't have a guy, you better get one.
Speaker 2 (46:17):
Even the Jets last night. I know Priests Hall wasn't one,
but he was in early two. Where would they be
without him? Yeah, I mean it'd be trouble. I mean
big time, yeah, big time. Yeah. So just starting outside, Yeah,
a lot of it's just the money thing. Yeah, you know,
tackles are harder to find the running backs. Everyone in
the world knows that, you know. But I think b
John Robinson for a first round pick all day long.
(46:38):
Yeah absolutely. I mean he changes the game.
Speaker 3 (46:40):
He sure does, and was really good against the Steelers
in that game the other day, but not good enough.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
Yeah, really impressive, but he wasn't super productive for as
good as he looked on tape. And you know, here's
a good night trob against him.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
They really did, and he just week they get Javonte Williams,
who was the second back, no third back taking, no.
Speaker 2 (46:59):
Harris ATM Williams.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Yeah, so he was the third back taking in that
twenty twenty one draft.
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Now it could be his last year in Denver two yeah,
so we'll see. But he did not look all that
impressiveness that one. I don't know that he's going to
That injury he had was pretty bad and I thought
I was kind of targeting him in fantasy, and then
after Week one, I'm like, he does. I don't think
that's the same.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
Maybe it's just their offense.
Speaker 2 (47:22):
It's just isn't great. Not great. That's very true. Yeah,
So we'll see.
Speaker 3 (47:27):
Steelers at Broncos on Sunday. That's the Week two matchup
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But for my partner Matt Williamson,
for Brian Lamartine here on site keeping us on the air,
that's going to do it for our show today.
Speaker 2 (47:41):
I am Dale Lolly.
Speaker 3 (47:42):
We thank you for listening to this edition of The
Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Steelers Football happens here the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network
This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And we are back.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I'm Dale Lolli he is the Matt Williamson and starting
off our number two here, it is time for the
Fantasy football focus.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And what we do here on Tuesdays if we.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Look at the waiver wire, then we take a look
ahead at the schedule. Yeah, to see what defenses, who's
playing who and who might be a good streamer defense.
That kind of stuff gives you a little look at
the next week's schedules.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
What about that time of the week we started thinking
about we do. Yeah, you get one day to celebrate
that about it and then it's moving on. Get back
to the dryand twenty four hour rule.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
So running back this week, and I know in our league, man,
there is nothing available.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You said it perfectly just a minute ago before we record,
like collectively we drafted quite well.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, you know there's junk out there.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Mason was on there from last night or I mean
were hit pretty hard.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, So, uh, the number one running back here, I'm
looking at fantasypros dot com in terms of uh, and
they look at how the how many of these guys
are rostered in Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
And folks, so you're nude? Did we do this every Tuesday?
Sometimes we're gonna bring up names like that guy's no
chance in my league? Well, every league are different, this one. Yeah, right,
So the number one running back here is JK. Dobbins.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
He's rostered in forty nine percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, yeah, so he fits he fits right right, and
I would I would put in a lot for him, right, yeah,
if he still he looks like the he looks like
the guy they're gonna run the wall. Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
And they played Carolina this week. But Jack Brown just
went on, just went on, ir I think such Chicago
plays Carolina.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
No, that was the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Chargers play CAROLINAA yeah, run all over Yeah, they're gonna
run all over them. H Mason, Jordan Mason, who you
just mentioned, rostered in forty nine percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Sounds like there's a good chance to get in at
least another week out of them. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I wouldn't spend the fab unless I'm the McCaffrey owner.
So you really would like to have you should have
already had him though.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
You should have.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
You should have, especially knowing that McCaffrey was going into
the season already.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
It wasn't he didn't get injured.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
This wasn't a surprise.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
No, no, no, no. This is lingering from last year his
calf injury.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah. Zach Charbonay rostered in forty seven percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
One of the best handcuffs out there.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Kenneth Walker has an abdominal injury. Charbon Ay was questionable
in Week one, but he did get ten touches. If
Walker can't play, Charbona gets a nice big bump. They
play New England this week.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Though, Okay, but no, he should be in pretty much
every lee. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Julia McLaughlin rostered in thirty eight percent of leagues. They,
of course, will play the Steelers this week. He's with Denver.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I'd have a hard time starting him this week, but
he got more early down usage than I would have thought.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
He caught five passes as well.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, yeah, they always throw the backs.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
It went for one yard.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
There's that. But PPR that's five points, right, yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Five point one point. That's the cheapest five point one
points you'll ever get.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
The least productive in NFL history. For it.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
But yeah, Jalen Wright only rostered in twenty one.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So everyone gave Wilson such a hard time for throwing
sideways in Denver.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Maybe it ain't him.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
You should go watch the next tape. Oh yuck.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, yeah, they averaged I mentioned this yesterday. Five point
one yards per reception as a team.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
I know, it's bonkers. It's hard to believe.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Hard too. Yeah, those are the catches. It was three
point three yards per.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Attempt per attempt, Yeah, yuck, it's awful.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Jalen Wright only rostered in twenty one percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
So I just got a blurb a minute ago. A
chan and Moster didn't participate today. They played Thursday, play Thursday. Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I can't believe he's only rostered in twenty one percent
of the league, right.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I mean, especially as explosives that offense roster in our league.
I mean even if one of those two misses, Yeah,
he's a borderline starter to me.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
You probably bump Jeff Wilson up a little bit too.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think you got touches in that game too. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, so I'm and he'll be the banger, he'll be
the goal linebacker soon.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, I think so and even if those guys play,
I wouldn't mind having the rookie no right should be
in leagues.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Uh ty, Chandler only rostered in thirty three percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
He got a little bit of the garbage time work.
It's a little bit misleading, but he's a good player.
And Aaron Jones is never gonna be a bellcow.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
No, yeah, I mean you know I just mentioned Wilson.
Jeff Wilson only rostered in twenty one percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Okay, so not a bad no right, right, a piece
of a good offense, and you know, mostered in a
chant of not Ben Pillar's the health throughout their careers either.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Justice Hills rostered in four percent of leagues. He's the
clear backup and he's the third down back.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And game script isn't always going to favor that with Baltimore,
but he did last week and he caught six balls.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah right, I mean, so that in itself has value. Yeah.
And frankly, Raven's running backs are better than they should
be because of Lamar. Because of Lamar.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, Alexander Madison rostered and four percent of leagues doesn't
do much fun.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
He can't get on board with that. He was the
receiving back. But basically all he did was hurt White.
I don't know he helped himself much, but he hurt White.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Emmanuel Wilson was to back up this week or this
past week in Green Bay. In Green Bay, he's rostered
in two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And everyone watched. He had a couple of nice runs.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
But marshng wloy, he's going to be back a song.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
He's going to go past him. Yeah yeah, I mean,
if you're the Jacob's owner, fine, maybe pick him up
and you have him as your back up. But I
don't want to play him this week. No love out.
That offense isn't anything.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
They're not going to do anything.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Tank Bigsby Rosspert rostered in five percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I think he's I'd have him over a lot of
these names just mentioned.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, I mean he'd be in leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
He looks good too, you know. Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Wide receiver Brandon Cooks rostered in thirty two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
He's just boring, but he's steady. Yeah. Maybe borderlines to
me when we're not that far from bye weeks and
injuries run the football.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
We talked about him a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We drafted him a lot in mock dress. Yeah, he's
just people are sick of him.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
DeMarcus Robinson rostered in six percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Whok, the coup is out.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
As I mentioned earlier.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
He's a two. Yeah, he's gonna probably be the number
two target guy, Coop. Now the problem is is Cooper Cup,
he has every target. Every target is like a forty
two target achievable and it might go up, which is nuts,
and most of them are like extended handoffs. Yeah. Yeah,
but he looks as good as I mean, Yeah, nobody
got a bigger bumping. Like if we've had a draft today,
(06:31):
Cooper Cup might go around two. Yeah. I mean, he
looks good and he's in a phenomenal situation right now.
But Robinson should probably be an all leagues. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Andre Yasivas with Cincinnati rostered in thirteen percent of the leagues.
He started opposite Jamar Chase. With T Higgins out, technically
he's the three.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I guess he is, and Burton's looming, but it's his
job as the three. I haven't heard Higgins out of
extended stretch, no, nor have I, and I don't know
he's all that great.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I mean, but if I had Chase or Higgins, maybe
I go in the direction. But I'm not all fired.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
My team would be in pretty bad shape if I
check that box Sunday morning, you know what I mean. Yeah,
it's even hard to picture that world. One of my
personal favorites up next year.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
They just love the name. Greg Dortch rostered in five percent.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Of leagues, the Human dors.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
He had forty seven receiving yards last week.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
They took they use him. They took Harrison out of
the game. He didn't hardly use it all. Like if
he was a Steeler, you'd like him. You know, he's
a slot He's tough, you know, I mean, moves the chains.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
They play the Rams Lions in Washington in their next
three games.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Any bad. Yeah, so it's a good offense, Yeah, Human
doors one.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Dell Robinson rustered in ten percent of leagues. He got
a million dollars twelve targets last week. He's a better
player than people realized too. Like, I think he's a
true slot machine Welker type guy, and that fits what
they do. Doesn't go for any yards at all.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Oh, he's got fifty yards on ten targets. But if
you need a bye week filler. And if he's not,
if it's not PPR, don't even worry about him.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Tyler Johnson for the Rams rostered in no zero percent.
I bet we talked about that yesterday.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
He has some traits.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
He had like seventy nine yards or whatever it was.
He got sixty eight of it on one catch. So
and I assume he's now going to be the three. Yeah,
and they'll play a lot and he's got trades. But
that might be the best game of his career. Yeah,
I need to see another week or two of that. Yeah,
Alec Pierce rostered in two percent of leagues. No, thank you?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Hey a big play? Yeah all right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Just can't get on board with that.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Now. I think Mitchell make him obsolete somehow.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Jakobe Myers is only roustered in forty eight percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Do you do much this past week? It was a
very Bowers central centric passing game, sixty one scoreless, receiving
yards sixty one yards. Yeah, yeah, Like he is not
a bad football player. He should be in Lakes. It's
a sort of a side note, but we've brought him
up for Steeler interest. Yeah, I feel like you could
get him cheaper than ever. Right now. You know, if
you're a Steelers, they're going to use Bowers, They're going
(09:09):
to use Adams. Yeah, he's kind of a Mayor's on
the field Ton. Yeah, but he just saw the player.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Josh Reynolds with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
We'll see him this week.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
He's rostered him one of leagues now. Mims and he's
like the other downfield guy. Yeah, yeah, I mean he's
a long, angular type dude. Mims and Franklin of they
don't do anything. No, they don't see the field. Yeah,
the guy. There's a third guy that I've never heard of.
You mentioned his name yesterday, Veyle, Yeah, something like that. Yeah,
(09:41):
quarterback Baker Mayfield rostered in thirty four percent of the leagues.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
It's good. I mean he threw a bunch of touchdowns
and he looked good and he's got good weapons.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
They have Detroit this week, then they're Denver in Philadelphia
at home.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Okay. So I mean I guess if you have love
and that's you need somebody to get by, I mean
it makes sense.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I wish he was available in our league.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, I could see that. I don't I don't see
a high ceiling though, I mean, he's never gonna be
a lot of a run much of a runner.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Yeah, justin fields. Rostered in fourteen percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
If you get word, he I mean, I could understand
putting in for him right now. Yeah, yeah, especially in
deeper leagues, or it'll be a bottom of your rosters
junk and or you have love and yeah yeah yeah right,
I mean because he starts.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
The potential is there for him to be a top
ten quarterback. Yeah, if he runs, you know, like ten
or more times, well right, more than likely if he
goes ten or more times, he's going to have fifty
or sixty or seventy yards.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
His fantasy point production was very fluky for how he
was used. Yeah, flukeually bad. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, Derek Carr only rostered in ten percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Side note, I bet the Steelers score touchdowns? We do.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I think they do.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
I have something to do with it.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Here's the problem with rostering Derek Carr. Right now, This
week they're at Dallas.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
That's not great with that line.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, next week they're at Philadelphi. You I don't think
that's much different, right right, and then they're at Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
So yeah, that's not great and maybe you have them
dangle them for a Yeah, the love owner.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Gino Smith rostered in thirty two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's kind of like Baker. I mean, he's good, he's
not gonna run much.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Problem is they have New England this They're at New
England this week.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
We'll just spread that.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Not a great cross country like that, Yeah, not a
great matchup. Then he gets Miami in Detroit, so Gino
Smith probably a better option probably moving forward than what
he is this week.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You can see garbage time against Miami and Detroit too. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Uh. Sam Darnold rostered in ten percent of leagues. Again,
the problem is he plays San Francisco this week.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Okay, I don't know the upcoming schedule for these guys
at all.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And he gets Houston and Green Bay, so better days ahead,
but not this week.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I'm not exactly sold that he's out of the woods.
And but he did did a good week.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
He was ten for you know, he was going to
justin Jefferson like I know where my my bread is
buttered at. I'm gonna go that.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And the ball time the fourth quarter, I mean he
could have thrown more.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, tight end. Isaiah likely rostered in twenty eight percent
of the leagues.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
So how about this. I mean he's like the only
Fantasy tight end that did well this week. Yeah, I
mean across the board, McBride, I mean, this is a
bad Fantasy tight end week. I do think he's unlike
like every other It should be up and down for sure,
But I don't think he'll leave the field much. No,
he's out there.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Yeah, yeah, that's one of the reasons I consider drafting him.
But yeah, I'm like, how much are they going to
throw the ball? And he's most of going to go
to Mark Andrews.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Like, I'm not using twenty percent of my fab because
I drafted Pits or Najoku or somebody that you weren't
happy with or Goddard or whoever and think he's the answer.
I don't know that I do. He might if he
had Najoku, because because he's out for it's a bad example.
I was thinking about it, like the if you waited
on tight end and you weren't thrilled with him when
you took him, and then they had a down week,
(12:58):
as all tight ends did, I wouldn't look at likely
like my problem solved.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yeah, Tucker Craft rostered in two percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
He's well ahead of Musgrave.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Yeah, but I mean the last few weeks are gonna
be garbage.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I can't start the receivers this week, no, I mean,
who are much clearer than I think.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
The only packer you can start is Josh Jacobs. And
then now you're hoping.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, and he's a run eight man boxes too night
maybe nine? Uh?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Kolbe Parkinson roustered in six percent of the leagues. He's
clearly clearly interesting.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah, I mean the coup of injury helps him, helps him,
no doubt, and he was kind of a sleeper to
begin with.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
He's with the Rams, yea, yeah, Yeah. Tyler Conklin rostered
in twenty percent of leagues.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I mean, watching that game last night, I thought the
Jetsy's somebody else to catch the ball or to give
the ball to. I mean, Hall and Wilson are really,
really good players, but Mike Williams is a shell of
himself in terms of for nine plays nine plays, I mean, like,
so could it be Conklin? Maybe maybe I'm gonna play
the Niners every week?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah? Looking at this week's schedule. Thursday night, we have
Buffalo at Miami.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
We talked about defenses here. Yeah, I think no and.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
No, yeah I do. I do like that for Buffalo
in the fact that's an eight to fifteen game. Won't
be quite as hot for them, right.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Oh it's in Miami. Yeah, okay, Yeah, that's not great,
but I think there's points in that game. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
The Raiders are at the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I'm fine with the Ravens. Yeah, but they're probably in
the league. Yeah, I don't think I'm excited about the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Chargers are at Carolina.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
That's a good streamer.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Yeah, that's a good streamer of the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Saints back and Boso were healthy and looking good. Yeah.
I mean, I know we're hard on the Chargers, but
give them credit with with what they did.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Saints are at Dallas. You can't start to Dallas or
Saints defense.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah. I streamed them last week in the league and
that was nice, But I think you dump them now.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Buccaneers are at Lions. Well, you're streaming week with the
Buccaneers was last week?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, I do not want to start.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Them in that one.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
It's in Detroit too, right, Yeah. No.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
The Colts are at Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I'll take that.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, yeah, it's a vanilla defense, but that doesn't matter.
It's a vanilla quarterback.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
There aren't many defenses I wouldn't take against Green Bay
right now. Yeah, I mean if it was Carolina, Green
Bay and am I'm picking them mind you know, but
there aren't many. I mean if it was the Raiders
or most defenses, I would grab them. Right now.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Cleveland is at Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I'm sticking with the Browns, like I think it's our
league I draft or by the other one I drafted
him in. But I mean quarterback throws pick sixes and stuff.
It makes it hard. Yeah. Yeah, I think the jagsd's usual.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
And Cleveland's defense last year on the road is not good.
This is in Jacksonville. It's a one o'clock. It's gonna
be hot.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Jags D I'll take.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Yeah, Well, they'd have to start them after what you
saw from Deshaun Watson.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, yeah, they could be on waiver wires.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Forty nine ers of Vikings. Well you can't start the
Vikings defense.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
No, and you I think you start the Niners.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Seahawks are at the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh, Seahawks are a great pickup. I hate it's a
cross country trip and all that stuff for a new
coach and new staff. But they they tied Nixon Company
and knots after a while too, And he's a pretty
good defensive mind.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, Jets are at the Titans. Jets are probably owned,
so you're not. Yeah, are you comfortable with them? After
last night?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I think I still would be against Yeah, Yeah, I
think I still would be. Yeah, Tennessee's he played pretty well. Yeah,
but that was against a bad Chicago different little different experience.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
The Giants are at the Commanders.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Knowing those no and no.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I don't want either one of those, and I would
you'd love to start a defense against either one of those,
all right.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And I think that's a no.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Rams at Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
No and no. Yeah, I think there can be a
bunch of I feel like that in every Cardinal game.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
I'm gonna be like, noing, No, Steelers are at the Broncos.
Steelers defense we own, You're not going to start the
Broncos defense.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I don't think Bengals are at the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
No again for the Bengals, and yeah, you're gonna start to.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Chief fine with the Chiefs. I mean, if you drafted
them and you have an investment there I'd probably stick
with it. It's in Kansas City. Yeah, yeah, I'm fine
with probably in the top ten. Still. Yeah, the Bears
are at the Texans fire Protexas Texans. No on the Bears. Yeah, Bears.
The played well, it's not a bad group.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
But yeah, but I don't run over their head a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah, I don't love that.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
And the Falcons are at the Eagles No Monday night game.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
I'm fine with the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I'd start the Eagles. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah, it's kind of like the Chief conversation. Yeah, I
could see Atlanta playing pretty well, I mean in figuring
things out.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Not if cousins are still.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Mobile a big problem. Yeah, I guess Eagles D is usable.
The Falcons is on. No, absolutely so not.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
A there's a couple of targets, some good streamers there.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, they're not three or four that will be on
waiver wires.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Not quite the schedule of games that we had opening week.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
True, true, there was a couple of low hanging fruit. Yeah,
you know, like Seattle's and Tree to me, but I've
going all the way to England and yeah, they might
lose that game, right, I mean seventeen sixteen or so,
you know, do you see.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
The Patriots getting off to a two and oh start.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
That That is not a team I'm overreacting to and
think that they're good all of a sudden.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
So either the Browns or the Jaguars are going to
start oh in two.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, that's a tough hole for both of those any spreads.
But I bet Jacksonville's favored. I would think so. I
mean I would pick them straight up right now.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
At hell, both of those franchises have shown over the
years that if when things start to go bad, they
go bad.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, go bad and actually pull themselves up by the
boot scrap. Doesn't look good for Cincinnati going to Kansas City, right,
they could be ohering to who the Ravens have.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Again they play, maybe they play the Raiders at home.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
They're definitely favored there. Yeah, they'll probably win that game.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Okay, So if the Steelers can get off to that
two and oh start this week, they may be up
two games on both Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah. I think that's quite possible. Yeah, so not in
a bad spot.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Absolute, let's get to a break that's going to do
it for the fantasy football focus.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
See we turned that into a little Steeler.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Talk there as well. Of course absolutely, he is Matt Williamson.
I am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive here
on the Steelers Audio Network. Matt and I will be
back with more right after this.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
We believe Black and Gold. This is the Pittsburgh Steelers
Audio Network. This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and
Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I'm Dale LOLLI.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
He is the Matt Williamson and frequent listeners to the
show know that we often reference DVOA. Yeah, which is
an Aaron Shat's thing. He doesn't now on FT and Fantasy,
but it was always Football Siders as ESBM before that.
They all reference the DVOA, which is a way of
looking at a power ranking on a team in terms
(19:58):
of how they've played and things of that nature, just
kind of measuring it up by the analytics.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah, and at this point they don't account for opponent, right,
but I forget what week they start accounting for opponent
because they feel like they have a better grasp of
who you've been playing.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
So right now, the Steelers thirteenth in DVA after week one,
they're a positive plus three point one percent. Being on
the positive side of that is where you want to be.
The New Orleans Saints after Week one lead the NFL
at one hundred point eight.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Which is like an unheard of number. That's a ridiculous number.
And they stomped the Panthers and it was over by
the first quarter. They could have run the score up
even more. I mean, like, I don't know if they're
good or not, but they played their best game against
a terrible opponent. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
So this Vikings are actually second at seventy two point eight.
Dallas is third at seventy two point four.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
It's a pretty pressive showing by the Cal.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Seattle, which course played Denver last week. They're at seventy
one point three.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
They were didn't blow anyone's doors off, though according to
this they did. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
San Francisco at forty eight point one, Tampa Bay thirty
three point eight, the Chargers at twenty eight point four,
New England at twenty four point zero, Houston at twenty
one point oh, Buffalo at nineteen point three, Kansas City
at eighteen point five, and Detroit at twelve.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
At ten point eight, Aaron would be the first to
tell you that, I mean, this is small sample size.
This isn't predictive that they're going to keep these numbers going.
It's one performance and you know, all this information gets
cut by fifty percent in a few days from now,
you know. Yeah, So it's it's an interesting conversation of
who played well and who didn't. But it doesn't mean
(21:48):
that these teams are going to dominate the league, you
know what I mean. The interesting thing to me, Matt
is I just shifted through the defensive DVOA here. Okay,
and by all accountcils to you had a good defensive game.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
They give up ten points to the Atlanta Falcons. Yeahs, turnovers,
fifty one yards of offense they allowed in the second
half of that game, two of nine on third down conversions. Defensively,
they came out of Week one tenth tenth.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
EI thought they were one of the best defenses in
the league, just eyeball tests. Interestingly enough, the team that
is ninth in the defensive DVOA is Atlanta. Wow, that's
strange to me. I didn't think their defense was horrible.
I wasn't horrible, but so a couple of notes here
is EPA and DVA are almost the same type of thing,
(22:43):
you know. And I was looking at EPA this morning,
not DVa's first I've heard these and EPA. The Steelers
defense on first and second down early down, EPA was phenomenal,
like the best in the league, which adds up. And
I didn't think they were bad on third down, you know,
I mean, yeah, and they also created a big players down.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
They give up two for nine on conversion. Yeah, right,
I mean they take out everyone.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Most of our listeners knew that they were quite you know,
stifling on third down, and they created big plays. Big
plays is a big thing, I know for DVOA, taking
the ball away, sacks and creative negative Yeah. So I'm
not sure what they did wrong.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Yeah, I'm not sure either in the fact that Atlanta
was ranked ahead of them when they forced no turnovers.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I mean, they held the Steelers a three point three
yards rushing, which isn't great, you know, I mean for
the Steelers. I mean, that's good work by Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
But some of that was like to take take the
ten yard end around the pickings out of the equation,
which was the most ridiculous. Not only was it not
a great call in that situation.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It's hard to lose ten yards ran. Yeah, right, that's
a very strange play.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I would throw that one. I'd take that one to
just tear it up and throw it out of the playbook.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
I know, because you know, I dig into the stats
and stuff, and you cited this a few times. I
forget what the number is, but I think it was
week eight on last year, or the Steelers average one
hundred and fifty six yards forty five point two. Okay, yeah,
I knew, you knew it. They had been over that number.
I run they would keep that trend alive. Now they
were just a little below it. But it was a
(24:13):
very odd play. It's harding was on a rushing play.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
If I'm going to run that end around, I'm not
using George Pickens agreed, Because he's the guy who's getting
all the attention from the opposing defense.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
There are eye in him anyway. I mean, Terrell might
be following him to begin with.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Where's he going to be at? We got to know
where that guy's at all the time.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah. Yeah, So for people don't know, if you go
to practice tomorrow or if you went to practice last Thursday,
there's somebody with a Drake London, a Bijon Robinson, and
a Kyle Pitts jersey on. Not the other guys. I mean,
it's not every skill guy. You got to know where
that dude is. Yeah, well everyone's going to have a
Pickens jersey on during their prep week, trust me, you
(24:50):
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
And so running that end around with him probably not
the best idea in that situation.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
So look, if I pulled up the e stuff, they
have the Steeler d basically fifth. It's behind the Saints
and Vikes, both of whom were pretty dominant, and right
there with Seattle and Dallas. I think that's pretty accurate in.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Terms of total DVA defensive DVOA. And again this is
relevant because the Steelers played Denver this week, Seattle number
one in the league minus fifty six point.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Two because of who they played, a lot, because of.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Who they played and what they gave up in that game. Right,
Denver's offense did nothing in that game.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
I mean, needless to say, that's gonna be the same
score as Denver's offense the opposite, you know what I mean.
So they're going to be in the bottom left corner too,
you know.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
But the only defenses well, there were three defenses over
fifty points this week, Seattle, New Orleans minus fifty five
point six and Minus being.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Good on minus defense.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yeah, Dallas at minus fifty three point six in Minnesota
at minus fifty point two.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
That's I don't really have a much discrepancy with that.
They were big time performances. Offense was down. I don't
know if you've heard this, but this was the lowest
and it dawned on me when we talked about fantasy yesterday.
There's so few quarterbacks that were over three hundred. It
was the lowest number of passing yards in the NFL
(26:20):
since like twenty ten in Week one. YEA. Offense was rough.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
It was very difficult, very different. A lot of quarterbacks
didn't play in the preseason and it showed.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yeah, and the Burroughs and Cousins and those guys. The
guys that played well were like Mayfield and car and
some of the middle of the road dudes. And then
all the rookies are terrible.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Yeah. Yeah, there were some really bad performances there was,
including from Nicks, and.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
The whole offense as a whole was pretty bad.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Pretty bad.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Looking at Denver where they ranking.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I'm trying to find them here on EPA. They are.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
They came in at twenty eight in total minus fifty
four point seven, minus fifty I'm sorry, minus fifty six
point nine. I was looking at their adjusted DVA fifty
six point nine.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
It was a miserable performance in terms of.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
The teams that were worse than them. Last week, Carolina
dead last, Cleveland at thirty one, okay, the Giants at thirty,
the Giant, the Commanders at twenty nine.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Okay, looking at this one, the only offenses that were
worse were the Giants and Panthers, and they are right
there with like the Raiders, and they were slightly above
average defensively the Bronco Yeah, basically right on the line.
But the defense is better than the offense.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Well here in terms of better offense in terms of
DVA for offensive DVA, the only offenses worse were that
of Carolina and Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Okay, Carolina is the worse than no. Cleveland was worse offensively, yeah, wow, Okay,
according to they're pretty bad here too. They're right there
with They're actually right next to them.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
So in terms of defensive DVOA, Denver was plus twenty
five point nine again plus not where you want to know,
army plus right, that is twenty ninth in the league.
The only place that Denver did well in was on
special teams.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
They were second, okay, Steelers had to be hot Steelers
for fifth okay, and say six or six goes a
long way.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Yeah, and probably would have been higher. They had a
couple of penalties on returns Austin good return, Calvin Austin,
a couple of good punt returns again nullified.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah. I think people harp on the negative on special teams.
I think they're crazy. Yeah, they were, They're pretty good, right,
heard this little nugget just talking about these two defenses.
The Steelers blitzed less than any team in the league
this week, which is crazy. I mean they were like
it's seven percent. Yeah, Broncos blitzed the most because they
don't have pass right and ye they have to generate
(28:59):
somehow at something. And then I'm gonna harp on all week,
but it says a lot about both these defenses where
they're at. You know, if you can you can get
there with four against a really good line and Seattle's
line stinks. You know, they weren't getting their home with
four against one of the worst lines in the league
where lines not great, right right, exactly that you know,
I'm thinking about from a Denver defense perspective Week one,
(29:19):
You shouldn't have to blitz against Seattle that much to
get pressure, and you were number one the whole league. Yeah,
I don't. I don't know if I do. You want
to blitz justin fields. I don't know what his traditional
numbers are, but he can certainly make you pay.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Yeah, I mean, you miss him.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
The other thing, too, is you're rolling them out so
much too. Yeah, that's they're blitzing from the wrong side
and you're chasing him when he's rolling right, and you're
not going to catch your side right right right after.
I mean, at least Denver now has tape to go
off of the fields. But I don't know it's going
to look like that though. I don't think it's not
exact passing game, you know. I think they'll keep fields
(29:56):
as a starter. I think he'll be on the move
a lot.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Yeah, I'm just looking here his blitz numbers.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
And maybe is.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
They don't have his blitz numbers here. I thought they
did on.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
I mean, I know he's taken a lot of sacks
in his career. Yeah, and I'm sure a lot of
them are verse blitz.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
But yeah, I mean I thought he got rid of
the ball pretty quickly. I didn't think he held the ball.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
His time to throw was high? Was it high? It was?
It was over. He was highest in the league last
year at like three point zero six, and it was
slightly over that. But you're going to also hold it
more if you're on the run. Yeah, some of that,
so I'm looking hover of that was sort of by design.
It was played that way. There's no way you're going
to be at two point.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
He was eleven fifteen when he held the ball two
point five seconds or longer when he got rid of it.
I know, I'm sorry he was eleven for fifteen when
he got rid of it. That's more than two point
five seconds, because when he's on rhythm and on time,
he's good. It was only for forty five yards though,
when he held the ball two point five seconds or
long or he was six of eight for one hundred
(31:01):
and eleven yards. Well, the forty yards are down down
the side of the at the end of the first half.
Was one of those because he rolled to his left.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
So he got rid of it in two point five
more often than he held it two point five Yes, attempts. Yeah, so,
assuming my numbers are right, I got him from NFL
dot Com. There must have been several snaps that were
like five seconds, you know, to make it well over three.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Yeah, I don't. I didn't. That's I didn't.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
I was shocked when I read that. Yeah, I didn't.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
I didn't see him holding the ball a lot back there.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
This was from the NFL dot Com. Their next gen
stuff now is is stepped up quite a bit, so
this was straight from the NFL. But I wouldn't think
of that either.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
As Tomlin said about that, because I think Chris Carter
asked him today about you know, the NFL next Gen statsaid,
you guys running more RPOs than or second most RPOs
last week, and Tomlin was like, we didn't run that
many RPOs just because they think it's an RPO. Because
the quarterback carries out of fake doesn't mean that's an RPO.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Funny, I don't even click on that column because I
don't think anybody knows.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
They really don't.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
You really don't.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
It's kind of like play action in some instances where
quarterbacks in the shotgun and runs an RPO. Isn't that
play action.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Right, right, right exactly? So Chris might be dead on
I mean, I bet that column exists and it has
them that way, But that's not one of the columns
I would ever lie. I mean, I'm looking here at
Pro Football Reference.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
They had two RPOs for the Steelers where they actually
where he threw the ball off an RPO.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I mean the only times you well you could he
could run it too. But yeah, I mean that's a
really broad term there, really is. I mean a lot
of times you'll see one half a line pass block
and one half a line run block.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
That's kind of a dead giveaway. But I trust Tomlin
and know how many times he ran RPO.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah, and some of it's just again, I don't click
on that column because I don't think I don't trust
the statue people won those. Yeah, you know, whoever's gathering them,
I don't know that they have one hundred percent feel
for that.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
But some of the numbers here on on fields not bad.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
You know.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
The only the number that really stands out here to
me is when they were in no huddle, he was
only two for six.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Okay, for four yards from that profile reference. Yeah, okay,
yeah that they would know. Yeah, yeah, there that's an
easy one.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Play action. He was six of eight, but for only
twenty eight yards.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Okay, I think play action people basically know too.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Yeah, no imlay action eleven for fifteen for one hundred
and twenty eight yards. I mean they didn't They just
didn't push the ball down the field right now.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Say that. So much of that to me stemmed from
just when they knew they had Atlanta's offense where they
wanted him. Yeah. Then it was just kind of the
picket version of yeah, don't throw picks, we're gonna win
this game. And in a way, whenever they didn't get
it on fourth and one gave him a little bit
of life. I mean, that was the first time I
(33:53):
got nervous lated in the game because they started moving
the ball a little bit. Yeah. So we'll see, Yeah,
see how it works this week, get a better grasp
of where they feel like Justin Fields is at again
if they build the entire game plan around him. Yeah,
I'm curious. Hot that'd be hard as a coaching staff,
you know, because you know you said, you know it
(34:16):
installs tomorrow. Yeah, of course, and they know who Fields
is and they know who Wilson is, and there is
some overlaping skill set. But you're preparing for one or
the other with the idea of Fields will probably be
the one on Wednesday. But what if Russ feels great Thursday. Yeah,
coaching John's are tough. They go back to the drawing
(34:38):
board a lot of right right then stuff? Yeah? I
mean you built this game plan on Tuesday or Monday
Tuesday for Denver and you might have to throw a
large portion of it away even if it's good. Right.
Is this the way coaching is? That's the way it is.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. You're listening
to the Drive here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Matt.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Now are going to take a break. We'll be back
to finish up the show right after.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
This your home for the Steelers. This is the Pittsburgh
Steelers Audio Network and this is the Drive with Dale
Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
And we are back. I'm Dale Lolly. He is the
Matt Williamson and Matt. The NFL has changed some of
its rules this year the Pro Football Hall of Fame times,
I should say, in seniors category. So they just released
the name of one hundred and eighty three nominees. Gotcha,
where the senior committee take a look.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
If I'm wrong, but the old rules were one a year. Yeah,
there was that weird COVID year where they put in
ten or whatever. But okay, they're taking a longer look
at some of these guys now.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
So one hundred and eighty three nominees are going to
pair that down to a list of fifty players, including ties,
over the next few weeks. Here there are some Steeler
players in this group here, including running back Byron Whizzer White.
That's going way back.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Yeah, then they deserve our time and effort.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
To of course, Yeah, absolutely, of course.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
At Elsie Greenwood, that was one I was thinking to
my tongue of who would be Steelers A fitness mold
Elsie's I think that probably the best one available.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
In safety, Mike Wagner, Okay.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
I'm an instrumental part of the best, one of the
best defenses ever and very just you know, big contributor
for four rings. I would lean towards LC over Wagzo.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
Yeah, place kicker Norm Johnson also on the least career
Seattle too. Yeah. To qualify as a Senior Committee guy,
you had to have played at least twenty five full
seasons ago for nomination, So you had to be done
by nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
Is your last season?
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Okay, And you also had to have won some kind
of postseason honor award.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Also, he had me Pro Bowl or oh okay, okay,
I thought you like you had to do in a
playoff game or yeah, okay, okay, yeah, okay, So that
makes sense, Okay, some sort of something, Okay.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
I had to be recognized as something. I'm kind of surprised.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
So is that how they came up with one hundred
and eighty three? Yeah? These are all the guys that
aren't in the Hall of Fame, that have been to
a Pro Bowl, that played before the year two thousand.
It's a lot of names. I mean, it's gould be
pretty easy one to pay eighty three. Yeah, Like with
all respected Norman Johnson, he's got no chance. No, Yeah,
I mean, I don't know whom you're nominated these guys,
(37:42):
but I look at guys like.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
I'm just trying to think of guys who aren't in
the Hall of Fame, like a Ken Anderson, He's on
the list. Yeah, I'm talking.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I'm talking about Steelers could have made this list.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
What about a guy like I'm just going down through
the list here of their Hall of Honor guys, Andy Russell.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Yeah, I'd like his case better than Wagner's.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Yeah, I mean, multi time Pro Bowl guy who was
the captain of the defense.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
A couple of the first couple of Super Bowls. Not
get any I mean, he was one of the few
good carryovers when Chuck Nole got hired. Yeah, like, we're
going to keep that guy. Yeah, everyone else can go.
You know, I mean to me, you know, nothing against
Mike Wagner, but I can't believe he wasn't on that list.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Yeah, that's interesting if youre gonna have one hundred and
eighty three players on that list.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
I mean, it doesn't mean he's gonna end up in
the Hall of Fame or should, but he should be.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Should at least get a nomination in.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
That combination conversation. Yeah, now I'm with you on that.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Taking a look here at some of the news and
notes from around the league. Lamar Jackson as it turns
out was sore on Monday.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
Say, let me guess he was sick. Gets sick more
than anybody.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Yeah, he does get sick a lot, but no, he was.
He had some general soreness a lot to Mike Garoppolo. Uh,
and so that was he's expected to practice on Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Horrendous protection. Yeah, he took a beating. That's not a
sustainable formula. And I'm if, I'm Harbaugh and the owner,
I'm we're not doing that anymo.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Yeah, don't don't let that happen anymore. Josh Allen with
the Bills was a full participant in Tuesday's practice walk
through practice. Okay, he's dealing with that left hand. He
did have a glove on that left hand.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
At least it's a left but takes another hit.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
You don't like it.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Yeah, but division game and he's got ten days arrested after,
So there you have. I'm sure he'll play.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Mitchell Trubisky full participant for them today. Tyler Johnson and
running back was a limited.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Tight end. Quinton Morris was a full participant.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
With a shoulder injury, and Tron Johnson, their very good
nickel cornerback, did not practice.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
Yeah, it doesn't sound good for Johnson. That was the
one I heard. He's really important to those guys. With
their linebacker and safety change. He was one of the
few stabilizing factors in their back seven. You know, carry
over guys that you can kind of count on. He's
an important player for them.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
We mentioned earlier in the show the Carolina Panthers placed
defensive tackle Derek Brown on season ending injured reserve.
Speaker 2 (40:19):
One of the more underrated players in the league.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
Yeah, their best player and they don't have them.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Now they're a miserable team. Right now.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
They are signing defensive end Charles Harris.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Yeah, yeah, hasn't done a ton No. No, the Browns
have made it the fish with Kadarius Tony. That's what
they need on their practice squad. Yeah. Still they talk
about a volatile, you know, teas type of guy. I
don't know.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
The Lions signed placekicker Greg Joseph to their practice squad.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Maybe their guy pulled something or whatever.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
Look fine. The other night they seem to Yeah, Michael
p Ryan cut by the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I didn't know as I picked them up.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
So, ye, Houston, Well that was practice quite signing Julius
Brents for the Colts corner placed on injured reserve.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Oh really, Yeah, their corners are probably the weakest part
of the team. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
He was the guy they drafted the highest last year. Yeah,
second rounder and played a lot for them and started.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
We talked about him quite a bit. I mean some
of the people listening might remember he got yeah six ' three,
ended up in the second round. They were counting on
him to be an integral part of that defense. Yeah,
so good for that cover three system.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
They have big loss for them.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
That is a big loss. So that's four plus weeks
or was that that season ender? Didn't they say just
as placed on injured reserve.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
I don't know that they designated, yeah, just yet the
rams of all kinds of offensive line problems. They signed
two offensive tackles today, Jeron Christian and Ty's.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Been around, but he was always a decent swing guy.
Six guy. I don't know why he's not signed, but
they might need him to start now, so they might
be playing right now. That poor dude from Michigan State
well Man.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Looking at the Dolphins side of that Thursday night game.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Devin a.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Chan listed as a non participant in Tuesday's walk through
Rahiem Mostert did not participate. A Chan has an ankle.
Mostard is a chest ankles not good for a Chan.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
No, not at all, and walkthroughs not that demanding, Noah.
But I also though have.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
To be out, probably not gonna play.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
I would think not. Yeah, yeah, that's a tough one.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
UH wide receiver Malik Washington, with a quadricep did not practice.
Linebacker Jalen Phillips with an achilles was limited, as was
cornerback Jalen Ramsey with a hamstring.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Okay, Phillips played really well in the game. I think
that's just precaution. Aeron though, Yeah, they're valuable guys.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
The UH Minnesota Vikings signed defensive tackle Hairerson Phillips to
a two year contract extension worth nineteen million dollars.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
He's more of a run stuffer, a big body guy.
You know.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
In six six issue, thirteen million guaranteed for him. Cam
Hayward deal looks better and better.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Yeah, seems like a lot of money for what should
be a rotational player that doesn't affect the passing game
that much.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
You know, the forty nine ers, they're saying that Christian
McCaffrey with that calf Achilles injury. The Achilles is the
new part of that.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
Because Calf was last year.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Yeah, he is considered day to day. They got Juwan
Jennings injured NET game last night with an ankle injury,
and guard Aaron Branks Banks with the Bruce caff also
day to day.
Speaker 2 (43:40):
Okay, I get the impression McCaffrey might be another week,
could be yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:45):
There, especially when the backup comes down and plays well, yeah, exactly, Like, Okay,
we can slow play this with McCaffrey a little bit.
Speaker 2 (43:52):
So I think people know that. I host a podcast
with Brian Peacock, who's a Niners guy, and I guess
Niners people hate when he says this, but he's like,
if I had to rank who I don't want in
my lineup for the Niners, McCaffrey's like seven or eight,
you know, like Purdy, both receivers, Kittle, Williams, Warner, Bosa.
(44:14):
Because they're still really good without them. I mean they're
great with them.
Speaker 3 (44:18):
Yeah, but they're really But here's the thing. I know
a lot of people are gonna I guarantee you a
lot of the people who are on that train that
you never draft a running back in the trutch round,
don't pay running backs. Looked at that game last night
and said, see, anybody can get a running back anywhere, right,
Not true. If the forty nine ers believed that, they
(44:38):
wouldn't be paying Christian McCaffrey what they're paying him.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
And if you look at Shanahan's career, they've missed on
so many draftable running backs. They've traded up for guys,
and they've drafted a bunch of them, a bunch of
them in like rounds three four, trading up for them.
And Mason's not a nobody by the way, right, Yeah,
I went back and really looked at his background. He
was a heavily cruited guy. And then Georgia Tech got
(45:02):
the greatest recruit in Georgia Tech history, Jamiir Gibbs, who
then put Mason on the bench. Gibbs goes to Bama.
Mason has a nice job, but it kind of got
lost in the wash behind a really good player. And
now he's in a good situation, like he had a
good preseason, like he's clearly there too. He's good. Yeah,
I mean he makes any team probably start. I mean
Dallas would kill for him right now. No, he's a
(45:24):
good player.
Speaker 3 (45:25):
But you don't just find those guys anywhere because everybody
always points to the forty nine ers. Well, the forty
nine ers, they just plug anybody in there. Well that's why,
that's not why they traded for Christian McCaffrey.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
No, right, I mean there's special traits there. And Frankly,
Rob and I on Friday had a conversation about Bijon,
you know, like, Okay, maybe you're not into drafting a
running back in round one. I get it. I'll take him.
He's pretty good. I'll take that guy.
Speaker 3 (45:48):
Say Kwan Barkley was pretty good the other day.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Yeah, yeah, you know, if you're a difference maker, it's different.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
The special talents are the special talents, and there's a
difference between taking those guys in the top ten, yeah,
and take one in the bottom third of the of
the first.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
Round, especially if you're a playoff team and that's like
your biggest need, you know, like if the Chiefs were
to do it or something like that. I get it.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
If you don't have somebody, which the Steelers didn't have
when they took Nausey Harris, which is why I mentioned this, Yeah,
you don't have a guy, you better get one.
Speaker 2 (46:17):
Even the Jets last night. I know Priests Hall wasn't one,
but he was in early two. Where would they be
without him? Yeah, I mean it'd be trouble. I mean
big time, yeah, big time. Yeah. So just starting outside, Yeah,
a lot of it's just the money thing. Yeah, you know,
tackles are harder to find the running backs. Everyone in
the world knows that, you know. But I think b
John Robinson for a first round pick all day long.
(46:38):
Yeah absolutely. I mean he changes the game.
Speaker 3 (46:40):
He sure does, and was really good against the Steelers
in that game the other day, but not good enough.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
Yeah, really impressive, but he wasn't super productive for as
good as he looked on tape. And you know, here's
a good night trob against him.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
They really did, and he just week they get Javonte Williams,
who was the second back, no third back taking, no.
Speaker 2 (46:59):
Harris ATM Williams.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Yeah, so he was the third back taking in that
twenty twenty one draft.
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Now it could be his last year in Denver two yeah,
so we'll see. But he did not look all that
impressiveness that one. I don't know that he's going to
That injury he had was pretty bad and I thought
I was kind of targeting him in fantasy, and then
after Week one, I'm like, he does. I don't think
that's the same.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
Maybe it's just their offense.
Speaker 2 (47:22):
It's just isn't great. Not great. That's very true. Yeah,
So we'll see.
Speaker 3 (47:27):
Steelers at Broncos on Sunday. That's the Week two matchup
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But for my partner Matt Williamson,
for Brian Lamartine here on site keeping us on the air,
that's going to do it for our show today.
Speaker 2 (47:41):
I am Dale Lolly.
Speaker 3 (47:42):
We thank you for listening to this edition of The
Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Steelers Football happens here the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network
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