October 9, 2025 • 48 mins
The trio of Mike Prisuta, Matt Williamson, and Merril Hoge discuss Steelers Browns as the two divisional opponents are set to face off on Sunday in the first divionsional game for the black and gold this season!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDV Pittsburgh, brought
to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers by
Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and
by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it to wreck from
the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson, and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview.
Mike Persuda and Matt Williamson with you, Merril Hodge, our
factor back will be along directly. We are getting you
ready for the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns and Matt
before we get to the practice participation stuff from today,
which is where we always open these kind of programs up.
(00:44):
I got to tell you spy weeks ago, they had
a pretty good one. Yeah, it worked out pretty well.
I mean, everybody else loses. That division lead is a
little large for this early juncture of the season. I
talked to a couple of players about it this week
and their stand responses, Oh, we're just worried about our
next game. And ye, you know, can't look too far
(01:04):
down the road. But I'll look down the road. I'll
look to Sunday against the Cleveland Browns here at Akorshure
and then Thursday in Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Win those two, be five and.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
One and be undefeated in the division, in the conference,
and you would be sitting pretty would you not?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Oh, no doubt?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
And who knows what will happen. But I mean the
Ravens have the Rams this week too. I mean, I
don't think that bodes real well for them. You got
the Ohio teams sending starting quarterbacks to each other.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
I mean, it's it's mayhem in a division right now.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, crazy stuff. And Steelers certainly can get better in
a number of areas. But they are coming off their
best effort of the season. And I say that of
the twenty four to twenty one win over Minnesota in Dublin,
acknowledging that they almost let it get away.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, but they didn't.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I'm shocked that I am saying this in early October.
But I think, who do you want to play this Sunday?
The Browns would be my third choice in the division,
got to play the other two teams. There's such shambles
right now.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I get it. Yeah, because here you say the defense.
I mean, here's the follow up. It's all that you know, happy,
happy joy joy talker that I just spouted. This is
it's got to be the only matchup in the history
of the NFL where both teams are coming off playing
the Vikings in Europe.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
I would think, yeah, all right, I don't think that's
ever happy.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Before the Steelers got a defensive stop and won the game,
the Browns couldn't come up with a defensive stop and
lost the game. Same team, consecutive games. I mean, Pittsburgh
could have easily lost to Minnesota. Cleveland could have easily
beaten Minnesota. So we have a much different conversation right now,
right in terms of this Sunday, I'm looking at that
(02:43):
more than I'm looking at the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
That's three and one, and the Browns are wonder four.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Right, and the happy, happy joy joy thing about all
the divisions falling apart, that doesn't mean you're any better.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Of a team. You didn't do anything about it.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Let's take a look at the practice stuff from today,
and it's it's it's not surprising. It's neither encouraging nor
discouraging Jalen Ramsey hamstring did not practice for a second
consecutive day. Not looking too likely for Jalen Ramsey. The
same can be said for Calvin Austin wide receiver shoulder
(03:18):
second day he did not practice, but good news across
the board otherwise, including Alex Highsmith elevated to a full
participant today. What do you think they do with three
really good outside linebackers, because the ideas I'm.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Blown away by Nick Hervig, but I think you can't.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I'm a big Alex Highsmith fan.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Take right, you can't just chuck him one of the
special teams and say forget about it.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
What I would do?
Speaker 4 (03:42):
And this part's easier said than done. It's much easier
sitting in the seat than implementing it on game day.
But we have seen it a little bit like when
Ingram is here.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
With the pre and Watt. You could come up with
a package that the three of.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Them are on the field together. That's probably five to
seven snaps. So that's not going to be a a
staple of your environment. You got to take somebody off
the field to put those three on. I'd take ten
snaps off of Watt, give him to Herbig. I'd take
fifteen off of Highsmith, give him to Herbig, you know,
and kind of even them.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
All out a little bit more. Less is more for
the guys who have been playing.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
What Mike, thank you in week fourteen, you know, I mean,
just play them all and Herbig plays both sides equally.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well, you know, I talk.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
It's great.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
I talked to TJ. Watt about Herbig this week.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Obviously watch a big fan because their teammates and their
fellow Wisconsin guys.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Sure you remember the.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Story after the draft how Herbig was actually reaching out
to Watt when he was still at Wisconsin and they
were exchanging.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Past rush advice before correct before the draft. TJ.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Watt was adamant that Herbig is doing this with technique
and skill, like this isn't a fluke. No, I mean
he went against one of the better tackles, Christian darrisaw
and ate his lunch.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
It doesn't matter who goes against and her every opportunity
gets he shows up big. I am so on board,
and I think his run defense is improving.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So when did this kid become LT?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I mean, like, I know he's got a contract coming
up in a year, can't let's gotta leave. I don't
know how you make that all work, but he needs
to see the field a lot, and you can't let
him leave. And that's on a knock on Watts, on
a knock on high Smith. I think he's one of
the better pass rushers in the whole league.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, I'm start h I'm starting to come around. I
mean I thought he was a good player. Right, this
is yet another guy and this is continuing a trend
for the Steelers team, which clearly has its warts, and
of course there are things that it has to sort
out still if it's going to do anything significant. But boy,
from my perspective, at least a back. Calvin Austin's better
than I thought he was. Agreed, Kenny Gangwell is better
(05:44):
than I thought he was. Yes, Nick Herbig is better
than I thought he was.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Nick Herberg is a really good football player.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Am I missing anybody? U? Do we throw Warren in there?
Speaker 5 (05:54):
I'm a huge Warren fan. Yeah, I'm a huge Warren fan.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I mean Elliott Well, Yeah, I gained even more respect
when he was out.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I was.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I was really excited about Ramsey after the trade. When
I looked at some tape and Okay, that's why they did.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
It, Like I get it.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
I throw echoes in there.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Maybe, Yeah, a valuable guy that I have no problem
being on the field who.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Might beat the Browns.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Yeah, it sounds like he's probably gonna play a fair amount.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
You know without Ramsey. What do you do without Ramsey?
Speaker 6 (06:24):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Dumb it down? You know, for lack of a better
phrase or next man up.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I mean, you watch the Browns. They're obviously the theme
of the team is youth. You know, they're playing more
rookie snaps than anybody out there. I don't know if
like Judy and the jokh will be with the team
much longer. They're making trades left and right. Things are changing,
as always, very rapidly in Cleveland, Trust me, I was.
I was employed for them by for three hundred and
(06:48):
sixty five days and saw three coaches and two gms
and new mascots and every time a game, right, three
and three and six five days. So, but what they're doing,
at least against the Vikings, they were such a tight
end centric passing game that the running backs the running backs,
(07:09):
I mean, they're not featuring the receivers much at all.
That he's not a strong arm guy to throw outside
the numbers. And now Ramsey can be usedful in so
many ways, but I think you really need to tighten
up your middle of the field Elliott, linebackers, safeties, slot guys,
you know, coverage, and I think you'll be okay without Ramsey,
(07:30):
especially with Porter coming back. Be a lot more worried
if Porter was not in the mix.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Yeah, I forgot to mention Joe Porter's on the way back.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, Cleveland looked like a team to me against Minnesota
that was willing to do the minimum required to try
to get out of there with a W. In other words, yeah,
it didn't want to take a lot of chances. The
Browns were mostly playing from ahead or behind by one
score of the entirety of the time, so the close game,
(08:00):
the whole scoreboard afforded that chance. But everything went really
well to the last possession when they couldn't get a
first down, and then the last drive when they couldn't
get a stop.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Right, I mean, I think it's pretty clear where they're at.
Let's develop our youth. Let's give Judkins the ball a lot.
Who's very impressive and very good, so I think he's
their best offensive player. Already, and I think it might
be the best defense in the league. I mean, I
think it's one of for sure. The run defense is
really good. Let's keep it, keep it in, you know,
keep it tight and see where the chips fall at
(08:29):
the end.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Cleveland, nothing you know of spectacular significance on the Browns
practice participation report. The left cat, the left tackle k
T Leviston. Uh, He's been limited the last two days
with the calf, but the Browns picked up Cam Robinson.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
It's clear the wee position on their line, though.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I gotta believe Robinson's going to be in there. Leveston
has struggled with penalties and with blocking people.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Passing him on the depth chart shouldn't be that.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
They got a few snaps for Robinson in the Vikings
game in London, and I would think we'll see him
and then the rest of their line is intact. Cleveland's
problem is.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
The Robinson's not exactly Joe Thomas either. No, but he's
got some experiences around traded for him for a reason.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
The Browns problem is the guys on ir specifically Jones,
the left tackle, Yawn Jones, and a cornerback ever.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Since Everson Yeah, Yeah, and then they traded Newsome yesterday.
I don't know how that affects.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Our first rounders, but everybody's got injuries.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
So you know, Steelers adult with their share and the
Browns are having to deal with theirs.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
UH.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Back to Gabriel before we wrap up this first segment,
and the Browns have a problem that predates Gabriel. It
was this way with Joe Flacco. You look at their
receiving UH stat sheet and Jerry Judy, who I think
is a pretty good receiver, giving me the.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
He's one of the most overrated players in league.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
I really do.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
I don't think he stinks. I just don't think. I mean,
he was a Pro bowler last year. He's not for me.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Would you put him in black and gold on Sunday
if they traded to you for a future.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
No.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Two?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I think he's pretty good. Fifteen catches, thirty five targets.
That ain't cutting it, nor Tillman, who's on injured reserve.
He leads them to touchdown receptions with two eleven catches
on twenty targets. Their passing game Cleveland's the Browns is
not efficient a lot.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
That's Flacco. Flacco is terrible.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Yeah, I mean, at least Gabriel has efficiency traits, ball
comes out quick, he's accurate. Now, he's super young, he's
only played one game. I'm a Joe Flacco fan. I
would say this whole time. I helped recruiting the pit
I'm rooting for them to no end. But I don't
think he can play anymore, so any change is useful
for that regard.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And they did avoid throwing interceptions, which did you know this,
mister stat guru. The Browns had not avoided throwing an
inner option since Game ten of the twenty twenty fourth season.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
Wow, it's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Straight eleven straight games with at least one pick that
goes through Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson, Robinson, Bailey Zappi, and
Joe Flacco coming up with Brown starters isn't a isn't
a hard game to play?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
How about this one? Gabriel is there eleventh starter since
Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
That wasn't that long.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Ago, forty first since the franchise resurrection.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Eleven more than any other franchise or at that time
eleven more.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
But all that said, again, I'm not expecting a layup.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
I think it's no I'm not either.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I'm expecting a typical AFC North fist fighting fifty. I'm
not sure if the Steelers can stop the run. I
know they're getting better in that direction, well if mayor
a little bit. I'm not sure the Steelers can run
the ball again, getting better run defens league, best defensive league.
And you know who can stay uh in third manager right,
mm hmm, because the Steelers are going to throw the
(12:02):
ball over the yard either, it's certainly not down the field.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
I'm certainly optimistic with Steelers coming off of by second
game in Akishore, where this team is coming from overseas
and now on the road.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
You know, like some of the fatigue stuff. It has
to be really favorite Steeler.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah, the schedule maker did Cleveland. No favorites, No, not
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(12:42):
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including Merril Hodge joining the show when we come back
with Matt Williamson Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview, presented
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(13:04):
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Speaker 1 (13:10):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DV.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Welcome back Mike Pursuer and Matt Williamson continuing to get
you ready for the Steelers and the Browns on Sunday
at Actresshire Stadium. And there's no better way to do that,
as there is no better way each week did the
Steelers play football than to welcome the third member of
our preview team and the star member of our preview team,
(13:35):
the Factor, back his own self, Merril Hodge.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Meryl, how are you tonight?
Speaker 6 (13:40):
Well, I missed you, guys man, So everything's good and
it's nice to always be with you. So don't call
me the star of the show.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
You guys are well, you know we block you carried
the ball. I guess we all play our parts.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
But it's it has been working.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know, you've been following the NFL long time. Matt's
been following a long time. I've been following a long time,
and I gotta admit this week, what's coming out of
Cleveland trading a quarterback to a division rival that's desperate
for a quarterback and then changing first round cornerbacks after
a practice just because meryld to quote Vince Lombardi in
(14:20):
NFL films, What the hell's going on out there?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
They?
Speaker 6 (14:26):
I tell you this, you try to figure out the
Cleveland Browns, who good luck? I mean just good luck
they listen as the team that tried to use baseball
analytics to evaluate football. That says you, right there, how
off the wall they are. You know they're ain't the
(14:48):
drafting their two quarterbacks Dylan and Seedar Sanders. I mean
that another makes sense, you know it just none of
it makes sense.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
So if you're on that team, what's going through your
head right now?
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Well? I will tell you this. Yeah, from a player perspective,
that is those things are uneasy. I mean, you eventually
have to go out and play have responsibility, you know,
to your team. But that's not an easy thing to do.
You know when you're you have all this uncertainty and
you have confusion, and you don't feel like they're doing
(15:27):
their very best either, but they expect you to do
your best. I think it's always been like the organizations
that they let's put this way, we have first round
draft picks that are killing our team, but they're asking
us to do our very best. Yet you're not putting
the very best out there and you're killing us. It's contradictory.
You know, it doesn't. It doesn't. It's not a recipe
(15:48):
for success. Let's just let's just simply put it that way.
You know, what they're doing is there's not a recipe
where they're eventually going to find themselves on a winding track.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
So Merril, two of their rookies that are going to
touch the ball and awful lot Judkins and Gabriel. I'm
super impressed with Judkins. I think he's even better than
expected to be. What were your thoughts on those two?
They didn't ask Gabriel do a whole heck of a
lot in his.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
First start, right roughly, so, and I don't. I wouldn't
expect him to do it. You know as the Steelers,
you know, maybe a little more because you like to
build on the kid has. You know, he knows how
to play in the position. You know, it's no kid
different than actually the kid in Carolina. You know, he
knows how to play the position. He's just five nine
(16:35):
and and he's and they're both five nine and that
you know, in college that really doesn't make a big difference,
but in the NFL that makes a massive difference. It
is a massive It's something you can't coach around, you
can't fix. As a player, he can be the greatest kid,
worked hard as you want, and he's never going to
grow to six to two or six three. This is
(16:56):
going to always be five to nine. And that's going
to be real imitation. You know. With defenses that scheme right,
they can shut that guy down. They can limit his
ability to throw and be effective. Now, what he does
do really well coming out of college. I mean honest,
I thought he's one of the quickest processors. He assessed
things very well and he was accurate, and he can
(17:17):
he can sting everywhere on the field at he can
do very well, and he plays well for the podcast.
Has big instincts. But he just sawt even his limitations
that there were a lot of times where you know,
he couldn't like, he didn't tack down the middle of
the field very much. You know, he got in it.
They pushed, you pushed the bocket in his face. You're
(17:38):
gonna you're gonna block that out. You know. They tried
to keep half field reads. They moved him a little bit,
they kept it simple. When they got down in the
scoring territory is when they opened the field to him.
And he's smart enough to do that. Listen, he can.
He can clearly handle that. It's just because and that
is a and the reason they did that. Somebody might
be going, why would they do that? Well, once you
(17:59):
shorten the field, I mean, the ball's got to come
out quick anyway, so he's not going to use five
step drops and then the pocket's going to collapse and
he's waiting for routes to go downfield. You know, it's
got to happen quick. So he's a little more effective there.
I mean through that touchdown pass down the middle, and
they they mirrored the routes on both sides. They'll let
him make the decision. He did a great job of
reading what they were doing and threw a touchdown. So
(18:22):
he's not a down kid. He's got a really great
skill set. I know. I said on the Morning show
that we got in a little bit of a dialogue
at the Senior Bolt because he wanted he wanted to
question me. He said, well, what do you think is
most important? Production or potential? And I was like, I know,
I said production because he's like, everywhere I've been I
(18:44):
produced a lot of products. Yeah. Yeah, And he was
going to use that against me. And you know, now,
if I'd have done that, all I just said is like, listen,
you are talking about the NCAA A right, Okay, you
didn't do any of that in the NFL. It's a
different world. It is just a different.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
World on the schedule.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
Yeah no, no, none of those because I I use
I used the ol House stame on him. I said, okay, listen,
what happened to you when our house he came in there.
There's pre season, okay, and then when you step into
regular season, it's going to be a world you've never
seen before. And you, as good as you are, you
(19:24):
have to even get better if you're really going to
have a chance to be consistently successful. But I gues,
he goes, so if POMP sixty three, I go to
the first rounder. Period. That's just the way it is. Yeah,
it's the truth. I know you can play, I said, honestly,
I want I go. Here's what's going to happen. You're
gonna get drafted, and you're because of how the skills
(19:46):
you have. Somebody I thought, I said, somebody's gonna get hurt, okay,
or somebody you know doesn't want playing more Joe black
woman still want playing when you do that later, But
he I said, and they're going to put you out
there and you're gonna you're gonna do well. You're gonna
play really well. However, can you can you be consistent
enough for them to keep you out there? That's gonna
(20:08):
be your challenge.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
What about Judkins?
Speaker 6 (20:12):
Yeah, you know I loved him coming out of our
house state too. I like, I like both both those
backs had legitimate, you know, potential to transition to the NFL.
And you know they lean on him. You know, as
long as they run the ball well, which they did
against you know the Vikings, you know they can keep
Gabriel in some manageable you know, that's that's the goal.
(20:33):
I didn't care how good your quarterback is, you do that.
You just whatever you've got a quarterback just makes me
even better. But you know, they have struggled up front
with their offic the line. I don't know that this
group in say, in the last five years, maybe the
most inconsistent group I've seen in Cleveland. You know that
they do have some problems up front.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
They played a little better though against Minnesota, and I
think we all know in the divisional game, you never
want to write them off. You just don't write them off,
you know, just because they've struggled in some arias and
have some latenesses and some young guys playing, you know
they'll be ready. They'll be better, and the Steelers will
be ready. You've had a little tape on him that's
(21:14):
going to help them have some sense of what they're
trying to do with team and then really are the
anticipate what they're going to try to do off of that.
From what you know, there's a lot of smart guys
in this league coaching, and you've got to do those
type of things. That's why it makes it so hard
to be consistent in this league is because of that
type of coaching and strategy that goes into each and
every week.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Meryl sticking with Judkins, the Steelers have gotten better at run.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Defense, appreciably better.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, sort of started happening when they got Derek Harmon
in a lot out. I guess they drafted him on
the first round for a reason. But that Minnesota offensive
line was devastated by injury last when they most recently
played in Ireland. I know you just mentioned Cleveland's oh lines,
It's got some issues as well, but this almost feels
like a bigger test to me. I'm not convinced they
(22:03):
stopped the Browns run game. What do you think happens there?
Speaker 6 (22:07):
Well, you're right, they're not as bad as Minnesota struggle
like Minnesota has done. Now what they did schematically, you know,
they moved their fronts around, they had linebackers up. You know,
they did some some run blitzers too that were very effective.
Now to me, I just could tell you this from
when we would prepare for a team like that. So
the Steelers defense, when they fundamentally can't just line up
(22:29):
and handle your running game, they're forced into like you know,
slat the defensive line, scrape and the linebackers run on
a linebacker through put them up in the a gap.
You're doing those things to kind of confuse your blocking
is what they're what they're The theory is behind that,
you know, and creating penetration, getting in the backfield, disrupting
the running game. Well, this is how we always looked
(22:50):
at that. That a couple of times. But if we
block it and they miss their assignment and they're not
where they're supposed to be and they time it wrong,
ga the gate, Yeah, we're out the gate that.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Guy and that guy can turn a little one into
a big one very quick.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Yes, So that's the danger with it. You know, you'd
like to be able to just line up and you know,
handle it, you know. But I think they did the
right thing though, because they were not handling it and
the way they went about it was effective. And you know,
I can't remember it's been a couple of weeks now,
you know, I just don't remember too many bus you know,
(23:29):
So they they were very effective with it. So you
know that that's a plus for them, and I would
expect them to keep doing that type of stuff. Maybe
not as much, but they at least are are becoming
good at it and so they can rely on it
if they need it.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
So Merril.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers passing
games take, taking the short controlled passing game to almost
the new heights. Is that sustainable or are they going
to start driving the ball down the field to take
it to another level?
Speaker 6 (24:00):
I've always felt, you know, I used Detroit for this.
You know, I watched Detroit when they started to build
right and Detroity did all these face They first, they
did the right thing to start their foundation. They they
committed to the running game, that never deviated from that,
and that's why they're as good as they are now
in the passing game. You know, the quarterback, they finally
(24:21):
got him on track. The one element that they lacked
was explosive ability, and then it really was holding them
back from being where they are today. So that that
tells you. That's so that's my answer to you. You
can't just do that and win a championship. You can
you can be marginal and be okay, but you can't
win a championship. You got to be explosive and have
(24:42):
explosive elements to your offense and create chunks and you
can't rely on the slant, you know, going eighty four
every time, so that will have to be something. And listen,
I'm not surprised it's not like that, But I am
not worried about it either. I think that those things
come the more they play together, because there's a bunch
(25:05):
of still new guys playing together. You know what we're
going in the game five what five or six whatever
it is, and that's not a lot of games to
play together, you know, to when other teams are played.
You know, sixty, you know, fifty forty. You know, that
makes it different. So but I'm not worried about I
think it will come and it will eventually get there.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Mell.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
There were a lot of things about the Steelers game
I liked, you know, specific components of their brand of
football in that Dublin game.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
But what really stood out to me.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Their level of engagement and compete And you know, you
saw Peyton Wilson chasing down Jordan Addison from fifty nine
yards away. You saw Calvin Austin running the length of
the field to throw a block for DK metcalf on
an eighty yard catch and run touchdown. You saw Broderick
Jones chasing Aaron Rodgers on a scramble running to the
(25:56):
ball and oh, by the way, he's there to recover
a funnel that goes up in the air.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
As it turns out, emotion was a really big part
of that game. Matt saw it coming.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
I didn't.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Art Rooney the second addressing the team before the game,
Mike Tomlin apparently got a little weepy Saturday night in
the meeting talking about Dan Rooney and Ireland and you know,
they they had some intangibles built in to that game
against the Vikings, and they responded great. My question to
you is, what do you think the chances are they're
(26:30):
able to conjure this stuff up on a regular basis
when it's not built in.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Yeah, well, listen, it's all I mean, I understand that
what went on in Ireland, you know, and over there
a couple weeks early and I listen, I was I
was drafted by the chief Mister Rooney gave me my
first job in the broadcasting world with Myron and Bill
and so, and I grew up with Art and Dan Junior,
and you know, seeing how they matured.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Who count men?
Speaker 6 (26:56):
They are so I stand how all of that, you know,
pridor resonated, and I'm glad it did, because sometimes it doesn't,
but I'm glad it did. Now, you can't have that
emotional You're just not gonna have that every game. But
what you can have every game is the first three
things that you mentioned are a relentless commitment to effort
(27:17):
to be the very best football player you can every down,
you get to the ball every time, you finish every play,
and you show up every time. Those things can be consistent,
and they should be consistent. So if you can take
those from the games, you build on those, and you
highlight those, and you emphasize those, and you demand those,
(27:38):
then what happened in Minnesota can I mean against Minnesota
it can be really like you can reflect back on
that game. Actually maybe you know week ten twelve, when
we're looking back and we go, man, they just kept
building from there.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I mean, my correct, they were way better in that
department than they were either of the first three games.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
I would not disagree with you that they were much improved,
which they had to I think when we talked about it,
unless they had proved in some areas, Minnesota had a
better team going into it than they did based on
the evidence we had going into the game. But those
improvements that you know they made were made and they
(28:18):
made a big difference.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
So Merril Gainwell did some really good things overseas, you know,
an excellent game by him. Warren is going to be back.
It looks like you almost one hundred percent. Do you
go back to making Warren the guy you know, true
belcow or how do you divide that labor.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
In the backfield?
Speaker 6 (28:36):
Well, there would be no reason for him to lose that,
you know. They what they did is they you know,
kind of built on their running game. They did more
perimeter stuff, you know, and both those guys are good
at that, but he really was good at that. And
I just think from their running game perspective, those man
blocking schemes that they were doing, pulling guys and getting
on the perimeter. That's just like, listen, when you think
(28:59):
of being a really good offense, here's what a really
good offense is. How many phases do you have to
your team? Okay, so in the running game, we know
they're just really good to the right side, they're strong
side running team, right side strong side running teams. Man
we decided not very good printer, they're not very good limited.
So we take the strong side running game. Man, we
can shut down the run. Now when you go strong side,
(29:21):
weeks side and the perimeter, and you have a lot
of ways to run the ball, you apect people. Okay,
now you got great phases in the running game. We
already talked about it with a passing game, and they
are short, intermediate, and explosives. We can't shut it all down.
We got to pick something, but it will pick the
explosive part. But when you have all those phases to defend,
then you're good at all of them. That's when you
become lethal. So I think you use both guys in
(29:46):
the manner that you've you've used them. You keep building
on the running game, you keep threatening the perimeter, you
keep getting better with your man blocking schemes along with
your zone blocking schemes that you kind of struggle with it,
you get better there and therefore you become a better
running team. And both backs are highlighted.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Do you think the number seventy four is eligible? Stuff?
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Was four man front specific or can they make that
work on a weekly basis?
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Because it worked, it worked really well, didn't it. Yeah,
you know what he's doing.
Speaker 6 (30:18):
You know, sometimes you put it out there and he
just doesn't get the job done, you know. But he did,
and I just don't think he'd go away from so
I think he keep building on that and keep making
that effect before you.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
The spinoff to me on that would be put him
on Garrett's side and throw Deep out of it.
Speaker 6 (30:36):
If you can figure out yeah, yeah, if you can
figure out what side gear it's going to be on.
That's my problem with him is you know, he goes
either side, you know, and he's going to test both sides,
you know.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Because you got Washington onside Anderson on the other.
Speaker 6 (30:51):
You know. No, you can do that too. I mean
you got to come out sometimes to prepare and go listen,
we don't know, but we're going to prepare both sides.
There's no doubt that they will do that. That's just
that's like coaching one on one. You're going to do that.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Last thing I got for you, Merril, I think one
of the underreported stories in the NFL this season is
how well Aaron Rodgers has fit in here. And I'm
not even talking about statistics. I'm talking about how he
is running the show. He has played to this point
well enough to convince me at least that whatever that
(31:26):
offense is capable of getting on a given day, whatever
the matchup allows. You know, if it's a real tough
defense but they need twenty, I think they can get there.
If it's going to be a track meet and they're
going to have to put up in the thirties, I
think they can get there. If the other defense blinks
and gives you an opportunity, I think he's going to
seize it. I just think he is running the show
(31:47):
like a maestro. I'm so impressed with him, and I
don't say any reason why that doesn't continue.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
Well, I wanna say this, when you want to really
study the art of playing quarterback in our level is
watching I'm telling you from a precise, precision, accurate decision
maker and all gone, just increble, you know, I'm just
taking every going, you know, I can't think of I
can think of a couple of plays that he may
(32:15):
have forced, like Week two against Seattle, and that was
more of like, you know, just how he trusted you know,
he didn't trust him. You tell it that there's no
harm in that, but the structure of executing plays knowing
where the ball's gotta go, heat so far ahead everybody.
It's actually really fun at when you watched it takes
(32:36):
like other guy's just he's brilliant, man. I mean he
he plays at an extremely unique and comfortable level that
most just dreamed to do and tried to do and
never ever really do you know in the Ben's career,
Ben was like that. You know, I don't know if
people really appreciate the off of the line that he
dealt with for two years. You you put, you put
(32:59):
somebody else under there are the guys that they've had
in the past, and it's there's no winning season there period.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Merril wrapping up of this one. Calvin Austin looks highly
unlikely to play. Is there a direct replacement for him
in your mind? Or is that gonna be a group
effort situationally?
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Yeah, well, you know, I don't know that I've seen
anybody that would emerger that would create the confidence to
do that. Yeah, I almost think that, you know that,
I'm just going from like what I have seen. Now
I'm not in those meeting rooms, so that's a completely
different arena, because you can surely have some guy that
maybe can you can feel that he has the confidence
you can trust in.
Speaker 5 (33:35):
But the kind of went to Scottie Miller as the role.
But that's in game. It's always different, you know.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
Yeah, But you know oftentimes you go to the guy
you know that you trust.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (33:47):
Yeah, I just want to tell you that the coaches
always go players they trust. So I think be the
player that can earn that trust, you know, I would.
I would think multiple guys will get the chance and
we'll think out who can make the plays and who
they trust.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Meryl, I'm not sure when we're doing this next week,
as they're playing on Thursday. Maybe oh that's right, maybe Monday,
maybe Tuesday, but we will do it again. Thank you, sir,
got you guys. I'll be ready to go, Steelers.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Thank you, Guyson.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
That was Meryl Hodge, the Factor back here on Steelers Preview,
which is presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F
one point fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
More to come, so keep it here with Matt Williamson
on Mike Pursuda and this is Steelers Preview right here
on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers flagship one of
(34:35):
two point five DVE.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Back to the Steelers preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Welcome back, Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you one
more segment to go, Man, Meryl fired.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Up as always.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Yeah, a wealth of information there, and I got his
opinion on that intangible stuff I didn't get yours. Do
you think they realize the level of engagement that they
need to find and can they find it now on
a regular basis?
Speaker 5 (35:03):
Asking the players much better than asking me?
Speaker 4 (35:05):
And Merrill has been in those locker room and understand
those things much better than I do. But I also
think when you have Rogers, Hayward, guys like that that
understand the difference and what a fine line this league
is in so many one score games that hustle and
that little extra is often the difference. Roder Jones getting
(35:27):
the fumble, things like that, and there are many other examples,
no questions.
Speaker 5 (35:30):
It's a great one though.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
We talked about three. But yeah, yeah, yeah, that team
was all in.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Yeah, and maybe that's a team that it's okay if
it's not all in, but it could be pretty good
if it's all in.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
And I think maybe where I was going with this
is maybe the kids in the locker room. Go, oh,
that's what dad's been teaching me, you know, Like now
I'm starting to understand he's not just a blowhard yelling
at me for having my music you lowed, you know.
Speaker 6 (35:53):
You know.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
The other thing that was apparent.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
The way that game progressed and they kept running the
b and in the second half the offensive line, and
I talked to two of them this week, Zach Frasier
and Spencer Anderson good old number seventy four years old.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
They both said we were having fun.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
It showed.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Do you think the on line had any fun in
weeks one, two, three?
Speaker 5 (36:15):
No, they didn't look like it either. And I think
some of it's even schematic.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
Like Merrill mentioned, you start pulling guys and weaponizing them
and not running the same plays, and you Broderck Jones
really good in space, you know, I mean things like that.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
I think that that's fun too.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
But you have that kind of game and you start
individually and collectively you start feeling better. And another thing
Spencer Anderson mentioned to me was they were aware of
the outside noise, which was not complimentary, and they had
to put that aside and just get back to playing
ball and worrying about what they can control and all
the other cliches.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
Maybe getting away help that.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
I'm wondering if this wasn't a what's the word I'm
looking for launching point for the line.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
For the line in particular, look a lot. We're gonna
bring a six guy out.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Acknowledge it's young and new and all that, but it
are we at the point now we even start to
expect these guys to play ball better than they have.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
I think that's the thing they might need to Sunday.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
Oh, I think they're gonna need to. And this is
a real test. And it's not just Garrett. Garrett's a superstar.
Speaker 4 (37:19):
We all know about Garrett, but the rest of that
D line is deep active Elik Collins.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
People know who he is.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
He's having a great year. They're gonna have to play
really well. Run the ball against the Browns is a
real chore. And I don't know that they will bang
their head against the wall in the run game, you know.
I mean, I think they're gonna try to build off
last week. Maybe it's just a lot of short passing
and attack the short zones more.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Who knows.
Speaker 4 (37:45):
I mean, we'll see what the strategy is. But I
think that the Frasier's and McCormick's and Faltonu's and Jones,
those young guys got a taste of we can be
better than our opponents and you know, not be catching.
We can be the hammer, not the nail.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
That's a great to taste and I think they liked it.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, give me another beer that went down
really well, like here's good.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Yeah, you know, instead of playing.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
I hope we don't screw up and everybody says we're
terrible after the game, Hey, we were kind of the
reason we won, Like at least one of.
Speaker 4 (38:18):
Them, like Frasier's they last year played like one of
the best centers in the league. Not that he's been
disappointing this year, but get back to being that guy.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Just have demonstrative they weren't. And the energy again, I
keep using that word because they had it. And the
only nitpick is that they ran the ball great all day. Yeah,
the two most important runs of the game, they failed
fourth and goal from the three and third and one
on what became their final possession when they ended up
(38:46):
punting the ball back to the Minnesota And I get
sure that's sticking with him too. I loved going forward
by the goal line. I loved that they pulled Washington
and McCormick. I thought I heard some people say, well,
I like going for it was a bad play. No,
the line in particular, in the offense in general won
an ownership of that.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
They wanted to go.
Speaker 5 (39:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
If I'm a coach, that's okay. Show me what you got.
Speaker 5 (39:08):
Let me got right. We draft you guys high for
a reason, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
But if you make one of those runs, if you
get one more yard on the goal line run, or
you get one yard on the third down run, that
endings a whole lot less exciting.
Speaker 5 (39:21):
And yes, it's a great point.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Until until they can finish games and run into a
ten man box, when everybody knows is going to run
into a ten man box and execute that format offense,
they're still improving as opposed.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
To having arrived. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:36):
Now I'm not making excuses for him in advance, but
this is a really tough test from that regard. Now,
they do not play with light boxes. They like to
have heavy personnel on defense. They don't want to be
in dime all the time like some of these lighter teams.
They're really good up front, and it's the best run
defense in the league. You know, So they could become
(39:57):
a better running team on Sunday and still only end
up with eighty five yards. You know, they could still
be making steps in the right direction. It's not going
to be giant step after Giants step.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
I'm not looking for two fifty on the ground, Matt.
I'm looking for rush for some first downs, which we
saw them do. Maybe rush for a touchdown again, there's
no idea.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
And I'm not talking of you know, a home run.
I mean, see if you can run it in on
the goal line offense.
Speaker 5 (40:22):
Yeah, move some bodies in tight quarters.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Yeah, just keep keep controlling the game. Yeah, maybe not
dominating it.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
But and I'm a Gainwell fan, but I think Warren
coming back makes it even better, you know, Like I'm
not taking anyway from Gainwell, but I would have loved
to see what Warren's production was had he been healthy
last week.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Yeah, for what it's worth, I talked to Gainwell today
and he anticipates it goes back to the way.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
It was heavy Warren.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Yeah, and he's the I think that's the right now.
Gang Well's the complimentary guy, I think that's.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
A one off because I don't think Gamewell's I think
that's the best way to use game well.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
But boy, you and I I think we're in agreement.
Not the one of us expected him to do what
he did against the bike.
Speaker 6 (40:59):
No.
Speaker 4 (41:00):
And I remember talking to you in the pregame show
live in Dublin, and I thought the total opposite. I'm like,
maybe just take Caleb Johnson, throw him in the deep
end and see what happens. You don't use Gainwell a little,
but there's a one off.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
I think they did get to Caleb a little bit,
and I thought those were significant runs because he had
a little bit of success. And then Mike Tomin talked
about him again on Tuesday and said, hey, he's got
to stay ready. We're gonna need him. He's gonna come,
don't know when, but it's coming right hopefully in December.
This has resolved itself and he is a regular contributing
(41:31):
member of the offense'd be wonderful.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
They need that to happen.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
They need that to happen to count on those two
for the duration or for Gainwell to do that again.
If Warren can't go, is asking a lot do you
think Roman Wilson's kind of a similar boat mold, because
now Austin's not there. I don't think Wilson's a one
for one replacement, but he's got to be playing more
than seven or eight STAPs in this game, right.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Let's make that part of our next discussion, which will
be our injury report presented by your neighborhood Ford store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. I think Austin's harder to replaced than Ramsey,
even though I think now even though Ramsey is by
far the better player, and that's no offense to Ramsey
or no offense to Austin Ramsey alack player.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Yeah yeah, yeah, So how do they replace the receiver?
Speaker 5 (42:17):
Do you do it that worries the heck out of
me in this game?
Speaker 3 (42:19):
Does?
Speaker 2 (42:20):
Does John hus Smith become a wide receiver for a game?
Do you split it between Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson
and say, look, one of you guys is the two.
We'll see who can get open and get a few catches.
Do you go more heavy tight end in general and
just throw different routes?
Speaker 3 (42:35):
What do you think they do?
Speaker 4 (42:37):
I mean, John Who and Friarmouth didn't play nearly as
much as you'd think this last week. Now, I would
think their route participation in snap counts and things like
that certainly go up, and you probably see more thirteen
personnel and more passing tight end stuff, and not at
the expense of Washington. I wonder kind of has as
(43:00):
Meryll mentioned and what happened in London, Austin went out
and was basically replaced by Miller. You know, he played
that role because of the trust the veteran.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
I mean he's also little and fast. And you know
what I don't know about Wilson, or don't believe to
be the case, is in two receiver sets, I think
he might only be a slot. And if it's two
receivers out there, I don't know that Wilson will be
out there at all. He might have to be only
in you know thirteen when there's the third receiver out there.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
You know, that's been a factor to this point. And
I don't know that it's necessarily a reflection that he isn't.
Speaker 5 (43:39):
Any good, No, right, it's just his particular skill set.
Speaker 2 (43:42):
They are going with three receivers way less frequently than
they used to not even clotom the league. And when
they're going with two, invariably it has been Austin and Metcalf. Yeah,
they way more snapsybody, which I'm a big fan of,
because you got to have those guys out there to
have a shot at maybe getting a one on one
with one of them. And you know, it's like said Williams,
(44:03):
you're gonna get one pitch in the bat that you
can hit. They can't miss those one on ones if
they get them with either one of those, and you
know Rogers will take them, and Rogers will take it.
So that's why I don't think Wilson's been out there,
but now maybe this is his chance. Also, talk to
Scotty Miller today.
Speaker 3 (44:18):
You know, he's a guy. I know this for a fact.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
This coaching staff thinks they can ask him to do
anything and he won't screw it up. Yeah, he'll do
it in a professional I think he might be the
number two. And I asked him about that. Remember the
deep ball he caught from Brady in the NFC Championship game.
He was replacing an injured Antonio Brown.
Speaker 5 (44:36):
Really in that game, Okay, that's he's a really Fincher.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
He said that was AB's play.
Speaker 5 (44:41):
Okay, Okay, I mean he's yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
Maybe we throw his name in. Uh, there's another guy.
This better than we thought because look what he just did. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:51):
I mean the more we talk through it, the more
I think it's gonna be him as a starter, basically
as the number two receiver. You don't want Skirnic to
do that. I mean, maybe he plays five more snaps
than he usually does. Yeah, maybe if you hint that
you're gonna run and you don't with them or something,
And I think Wilson will play more.
Speaker 5 (45:08):
But the Austin loss is hard to make up for.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Steelers have dominated this thing in Pittsburgh other than that
playoff game, right since the Brown's got their team back.
Mike Tomlin is fourteen and four coming out of a bye.
We talked about the Browns travel issues and how that's
got to affect them. We talked about the screwing intangibles
going on in Cleveland. What's what's going on? Rookie quarterback
(45:35):
making his second star. Tomins usually good against rookie quarterbacks,
and yet I think this one is a one score battle.
Speaker 6 (45:43):
Royal.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Yes, I do too, because I have great respect for
their defense, and you mentioned it a couple times over
the course of this hour. I don't know that the
Steelers run defense is good, you know, and Judkins, I
know is good, and I know that they're going to
give them the ball a lot, and if the defense
keeps us in close, you're gonna have to tackle him
twenty five times in this game.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
And he's just I mean, he didn't have a training camp, no, right, right,
I just threw him in and he's lighting it up.
He's doing what I thought Caleb Johnson had a chance
to do. To be honest, now I did. I liked
him better than Caleb, yeah, yeah, yeah, but I didn't
think they'd be I thought he would go high, yeah.
Speaker 5 (46:19):
Yeah, yeah, yeah right, and he did and he did
very early in the second round. Right, So coming up
to that and more.
Speaker 2 (46:24):
But yeah, that's gonna be an issue. I think the
turnover thing is gonna be huge, like it always is.
And I would not be throwing the ball down the
field for the sake of throwing the ball down the field.
I would wait until I can get in some more
advantageous situations. This is probably not the game where they
get the defense. So worried about the run that they
can buy time for the past.
Speaker 4 (46:45):
No, but the Browns do kind of play the way
they play, which is a lot of man a lot
of single high. They don't put the big umbrella over you.
So maybe if you think you can protect, which I
don't know if they can or believe they can, you
might want to push the ball down the field little,
you know, I mean, yeah, just because I think they's
gonna have.
Speaker 2 (47:03):
Three guys on ninety five and two to one ninety four. Yeah, Bram,
I don't want to get Rogers killed in this game
for the sake of trying to throw the ball downfield
because they haven't thrown the ball down the field.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
I know, I know, I definite see whe you're coming from.
But I also think their quarterback is gonna get hit
a lot too, and get a lot of passes bad
at the line of scrimmage and could be a long
day for Gabriel and.
Speaker 2 (47:22):
If that happens, could be a good day for the Steels.
That's gonna do it for us. Thanks to Justin Miller
here in studio for manning the board in the expert
fashion that he does. Thanks to Brian Lamartine and his
crew keeping everything going on Steelers Nation Radio and keeping
us in check. We will do this again next week.
Not sure what day, but we'll let you know. As
(47:43):
soon as we know, you'll know until then. For Matt
Williamson and Merril Hodge. I'm Mike Persuda. This has been
Steelers Preview Preview presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
right here on Steeers Nation Radio and your Steelers.
Speaker 3 (47:58):
Flagship one or two point five d V. Good Night, everybody,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDV Pittsburgh, brought
to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers by
Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and
by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it to wreck from
the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson, and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview.
Mike Persuda and Matt Williamson with you, Merril Hodge, our
factor back will be along directly. We are getting you
ready for the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns and Matt
before we get to the practice participation stuff from today,
which is where we always open these kind of programs up.
(00:44):
I got to tell you spy weeks ago, they had
a pretty good one. Yeah, it worked out pretty well.
I mean, everybody else loses. That division lead is a
little large for this early juncture of the season. I
talked to a couple of players about it this week
and their stand responses, Oh, we're just worried about our
next game. And ye, you know, can't look too far
(01:04):
down the road. But I'll look down the road. I'll
look to Sunday against the Cleveland Browns here at Akorshure
and then Thursday in Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Win those two, be five and.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
One and be undefeated in the division, in the conference,
and you would be sitting pretty would you not?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Oh, no doubt?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
And who knows what will happen. But I mean the
Ravens have the Rams this week too. I mean, I
don't think that bodes real well for them. You got
the Ohio teams sending starting quarterbacks to each other.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
I mean, it's it's mayhem in a division right now.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, crazy stuff. And Steelers certainly can get better in
a number of areas. But they are coming off their
best effort of the season. And I say that of
the twenty four to twenty one win over Minnesota in Dublin,
acknowledging that they almost let it get away.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, but they didn't.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I'm shocked that I am saying this in early October.
But I think, who do you want to play this Sunday?
The Browns would be my third choice in the division,
got to play the other two teams. There's such shambles
right now.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I get it. Yeah, because here you say the defense.
I mean, here's the follow up. It's all that you know, happy,
happy joy joy talker that I just spouted. This is
it's got to be the only matchup in the history
of the NFL where both teams are coming off playing
the Vikings in Europe.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
I would think, yeah, all right, I don't think that's
ever happy.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Before the Steelers got a defensive stop and won the game,
the Browns couldn't come up with a defensive stop and
lost the game. Same team, consecutive games. I mean, Pittsburgh
could have easily lost to Minnesota. Cleveland could have easily
beaten Minnesota. So we have a much different conversation right now,
right in terms of this Sunday, I'm looking at that
(02:43):
more than I'm looking at the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
That's three and one, and the Browns are wonder four.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Right, and the happy, happy joy joy thing about all
the divisions falling apart, that doesn't mean you're any better.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Of a team. You didn't do anything about it.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Let's take a look at the practice stuff from today,
and it's it's it's not surprising. It's neither encouraging nor
discouraging Jalen Ramsey hamstring did not practice for a second
consecutive day. Not looking too likely for Jalen Ramsey. The
same can be said for Calvin Austin wide receiver shoulder
(03:18):
second day he did not practice, but good news across
the board otherwise, including Alex Highsmith elevated to a full
participant today. What do you think they do with three
really good outside linebackers, because the ideas I'm.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Blown away by Nick Hervig, but I think you can't.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I'm a big Alex Highsmith fan.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Take right, you can't just chuck him one of the
special teams and say forget about it.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
What I would do?
Speaker 4 (03:42):
And this part's easier said than done. It's much easier
sitting in the seat than implementing it on game day.
But we have seen it a little bit like when
Ingram is here.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
With the pre and Watt. You could come up with
a package that the three of.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Them are on the field together. That's probably five to
seven snaps. So that's not going to be a a
staple of your environment. You got to take somebody off
the field to put those three on. I'd take ten
snaps off of Watt, give him to Herbig. I'd take
fifteen off of Highsmith, give him to Herbig, you know,
and kind of even them.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
All out a little bit more. Less is more for
the guys who have been playing.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
What Mike, thank you in week fourteen, you know, I mean,
just play them all and Herbig plays both sides equally.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well, you know, I talk.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
It's great.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
I talked to TJ. Watt about Herbig this week.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Obviously watch a big fan because their teammates and their
fellow Wisconsin guys.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Sure you remember the.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Story after the draft how Herbig was actually reaching out
to Watt when he was still at Wisconsin and they
were exchanging.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Past rush advice before correct before the draft. TJ.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Watt was adamant that Herbig is doing this with technique
and skill, like this isn't a fluke. No, I mean
he went against one of the better tackles, Christian darrisaw
and ate his lunch.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
It doesn't matter who goes against and her every opportunity
gets he shows up big. I am so on board,
and I think his run defense is improving.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So when did this kid become LT?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I mean, like, I know he's got a contract coming
up in a year, can't let's gotta leave. I don't
know how you make that all work, but he needs
to see the field a lot, and you can't let
him leave. And that's on a knock on Watts, on
a knock on high Smith. I think he's one of
the better pass rushers in the whole league.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, I'm start h I'm starting to come around. I
mean I thought he was a good player. Right, this
is yet another guy and this is continuing a trend
for the Steelers team, which clearly has its warts, and
of course there are things that it has to sort
out still if it's going to do anything significant. But boy,
from my perspective, at least a back. Calvin Austin's better
than I thought he was. Agreed, Kenny Gangwell is better
(05:44):
than I thought he was. Yes, Nick Herbig is better
than I thought he was.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Nick Herberg is a really good football player.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Am I missing anybody? U? Do we throw Warren in there?
Speaker 5 (05:54):
I'm a huge Warren fan. Yeah, I'm a huge Warren fan.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I mean Elliott Well, Yeah, I gained even more respect
when he was out.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I was.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I was really excited about Ramsey after the trade. When
I looked at some tape and Okay, that's why they did.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
It, Like I get it.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
I throw echoes in there.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Maybe, Yeah, a valuable guy that I have no problem
being on the field who.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Might beat the Browns.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Yeah, it sounds like he's probably gonna play a fair amount.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
You know without Ramsey. What do you do without Ramsey?
Speaker 6 (06:24):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Dumb it down? You know, for lack of a better
phrase or next man up.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I mean, you watch the Browns. They're obviously the theme
of the team is youth. You know, they're playing more
rookie snaps than anybody out there. I don't know if
like Judy and the jokh will be with the team
much longer. They're making trades left and right. Things are changing,
as always, very rapidly in Cleveland, Trust me, I was.
I was employed for them by for three hundred and
(06:48):
sixty five days and saw three coaches and two gms
and new mascots and every time a game, right, three
and three and six five days. So, but what they're doing,
at least against the Vikings, they were such a tight
end centric passing game that the running backs the running backs,
(07:09):
I mean, they're not featuring the receivers much at all.
That he's not a strong arm guy to throw outside
the numbers. And now Ramsey can be usedful in so
many ways, but I think you really need to tighten
up your middle of the field Elliott, linebackers, safeties, slot guys,
you know, coverage, and I think you'll be okay without Ramsey,
(07:30):
especially with Porter coming back. Be a lot more worried
if Porter was not in the mix.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Yeah, I forgot to mention Joe Porter's on the way back.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, Cleveland looked like a team to me against Minnesota
that was willing to do the minimum required to try
to get out of there with a W. In other words, yeah,
it didn't want to take a lot of chances. The
Browns were mostly playing from ahead or behind by one
score of the entirety of the time, so the close game,
(08:00):
the whole scoreboard afforded that chance. But everything went really
well to the last possession when they couldn't get a
first down, and then the last drive when they couldn't
get a stop.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Right, I mean, I think it's pretty clear where they're at.
Let's develop our youth. Let's give Judkins the ball a lot.
Who's very impressive and very good, so I think he's
their best offensive player. Already, and I think it might
be the best defense in the league. I mean, I
think it's one of for sure. The run defense is
really good. Let's keep it, keep it in, you know,
keep it tight and see where the chips fall at
(08:29):
the end.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Cleveland, nothing you know of spectacular significance on the Browns
practice participation report. The left cat, the left tackle k
T Leviston. Uh, He's been limited the last two days
with the calf, but the Browns picked up Cam Robinson.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
It's clear the wee position on their line, though.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I gotta believe Robinson's going to be in there. Leveston
has struggled with penalties and with blocking people.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Passing him on the depth chart shouldn't be that.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
They got a few snaps for Robinson in the Vikings
game in London, and I would think we'll see him
and then the rest of their line is intact. Cleveland's
problem is.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
The Robinson's not exactly Joe Thomas either. No, but he's
got some experiences around traded for him for a reason.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
The Browns problem is the guys on ir specifically Jones,
the left tackle, Yawn Jones, and a cornerback ever.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Since Everson Yeah, Yeah, and then they traded Newsome yesterday.
I don't know how that affects.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Our first rounders, but everybody's got injuries.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
So you know, Steelers adult with their share and the
Browns are having to deal with theirs.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
UH.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Back to Gabriel before we wrap up this first segment,
and the Browns have a problem that predates Gabriel. It
was this way with Joe Flacco. You look at their
receiving UH stat sheet and Jerry Judy, who I think
is a pretty good receiver, giving me the.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
He's one of the most overrated players in league.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
I really do.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
I don't think he stinks. I just don't think. I mean,
he was a Pro bowler last year. He's not for me.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Would you put him in black and gold on Sunday
if they traded to you for a future.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
No.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Two?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I think he's pretty good. Fifteen catches, thirty five targets.
That ain't cutting it, nor Tillman, who's on injured reserve.
He leads them to touchdown receptions with two eleven catches
on twenty targets. Their passing game Cleveland's the Browns is
not efficient a lot.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
That's Flacco. Flacco is terrible.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Yeah, I mean, at least Gabriel has efficiency traits, ball
comes out quick, he's accurate. Now, he's super young, he's
only played one game. I'm a Joe Flacco fan. I
would say this whole time. I helped recruiting the pit
I'm rooting for them to no end. But I don't
think he can play anymore, so any change is useful
for that regard.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And they did avoid throwing interceptions, which did you know this,
mister stat guru. The Browns had not avoided throwing an
inner option since Game ten of the twenty twenty fourth season.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
Wow, it's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Straight eleven straight games with at least one pick that
goes through Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson, Robinson, Bailey Zappi, and
Joe Flacco coming up with Brown starters isn't a isn't
a hard game to play?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
How about this one? Gabriel is there eleventh starter since
Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
That wasn't that long.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Ago, forty first since the franchise resurrection.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Eleven more than any other franchise or at that time
eleven more.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
But all that said, again, I'm not expecting a layup.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
I think it's no I'm not either.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I'm expecting a typical AFC North fist fighting fifty. I'm
not sure if the Steelers can stop the run. I
know they're getting better in that direction, well if mayor
a little bit. I'm not sure the Steelers can run
the ball again, getting better run defens league, best defensive league.
And you know who can stay uh in third manager right,
mm hmm, because the Steelers are going to throw the
(12:02):
ball over the yard either, it's certainly not down the field.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
I'm certainly optimistic with Steelers coming off of by second
game in Akishore, where this team is coming from overseas
and now on the road.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
You know, like some of the fatigue stuff. It has
to be really favorite Steeler.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah, the schedule maker did Cleveland. No favorites, No, not
at all. Gear up with the latest game day necessities
at the Official Steelers pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel,
Jersey's Terrible towels, authentic memorabilia, and custom exclusives you can
only find directly from the team. Visit one of the
Official Steelers pro shops. Those are located at Akroscher Stadium,
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(12:42):
can also gear up online at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Get it direct from the team at the Steelers pro
shops at shop dot Steelers dot com. More to come,
including Merril Hodge joining the show when we come back
with Matt Williamson Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview, presented
by your neighborhood fort Store. The F one fifty is
the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right here on
(13:04):
Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one or two
point five dve.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DV.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Welcome back Mike Pursuer and Matt Williamson continuing to get
you ready for the Steelers and the Browns on Sunday
at Actresshire Stadium. And there's no better way to do that,
as there is no better way each week did the
Steelers play football than to welcome the third member of
our preview team and the star member of our preview team,
(13:35):
the Factor, back his own self, Merril Hodge.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Meryl, how are you tonight?
Speaker 6 (13:40):
Well, I missed you, guys man, So everything's good and
it's nice to always be with you. So don't call
me the star of the show.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
You guys are well, you know we block you carried
the ball. I guess we all play our parts.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
But it's it has been working.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know, you've been following the NFL long time. Matt's
been following a long time. I've been following a long time,
and I gotta admit this week, what's coming out of
Cleveland trading a quarterback to a division rival that's desperate
for a quarterback and then changing first round cornerbacks after
a practice just because meryld to quote Vince Lombardi in
(14:20):
NFL films, What the hell's going on out there?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
They?
Speaker 6 (14:26):
I tell you this, you try to figure out the
Cleveland Browns, who good luck? I mean just good luck
they listen as the team that tried to use baseball
analytics to evaluate football. That says you, right there, how
off the wall they are. You know they're ain't the
(14:48):
drafting their two quarterbacks Dylan and Seedar Sanders. I mean
that another makes sense, you know it just none of
it makes sense.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
So if you're on that team, what's going through your
head right now?
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Well? I will tell you this. Yeah, from a player perspective,
that is those things are uneasy. I mean, you eventually
have to go out and play have responsibility, you know,
to your team. But that's not an easy thing to do.
You know when you're you have all this uncertainty and
you have confusion, and you don't feel like they're doing
(15:27):
their very best either, but they expect you to do
your best. I think it's always been like the organizations
that they let's put this way, we have first round
draft picks that are killing our team, but they're asking
us to do our very best. Yet you're not putting
the very best out there and you're killing us. It's contradictory.
You know, it doesn't. It doesn't. It's not a recipe
(15:48):
for success. Let's just let's just simply put it that way.
You know, what they're doing is there's not a recipe
where they're eventually going to find themselves on a winding track.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
So Merril, two of their rookies that are going to
touch the ball and awful lot Judkins and Gabriel. I'm
super impressed with Judkins. I think he's even better than
expected to be. What were your thoughts on those two?
They didn't ask Gabriel do a whole heck of a
lot in his.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
First start, right roughly, so, and I don't. I wouldn't
expect him to do it. You know as the Steelers,
you know, maybe a little more because you like to
build on the kid has. You know, he knows how
to play in the position. You know, it's no kid
different than actually the kid in Carolina. You know, he
knows how to play the position. He's just five nine
(16:35):
and and he's and they're both five nine and that
you know, in college that really doesn't make a big difference,
but in the NFL that makes a massive difference. It
is a massive It's something you can't coach around, you
can't fix. As a player, he can be the greatest kid,
worked hard as you want, and he's never going to
grow to six to two or six three. This is
(16:56):
going to always be five to nine. And that's going
to be real imitation. You know. With defenses that scheme right,
they can shut that guy down. They can limit his
ability to throw and be effective. Now, what he does
do really well coming out of college. I mean honest,
I thought he's one of the quickest processors. He assessed
things very well and he was accurate, and he can
(17:17):
he can sting everywhere on the field at he can
do very well, and he plays well for the podcast.
Has big instincts. But he just sawt even his limitations
that there were a lot of times where you know,
he couldn't like, he didn't tack down the middle of
the field very much. You know, he got in it.
They pushed, you pushed the bocket in his face. You're
(17:38):
gonna you're gonna block that out. You know. They tried
to keep half field reads. They moved him a little bit,
they kept it simple. When they got down in the
scoring territory is when they opened the field to him.
And he's smart enough to do that. Listen, he can.
He can clearly handle that. It's just because and that
is a and the reason they did that. Somebody might
be going, why would they do that? Well, once you
(17:59):
shorten the field, I mean, the ball's got to come
out quick anyway, so he's not going to use five
step drops and then the pocket's going to collapse and
he's waiting for routes to go downfield. You know, it's
got to happen quick. So he's a little more effective there.
I mean through that touchdown pass down the middle, and
they they mirrored the routes on both sides. They'll let
him make the decision. He did a great job of
reading what they were doing and threw a touchdown. So
(18:22):
he's not a down kid. He's got a really great
skill set. I know. I said on the Morning show
that we got in a little bit of a dialogue
at the Senior Bolt because he wanted he wanted to
question me. He said, well, what do you think is
most important? Production or potential? And I was like, I know,
I said production because he's like, everywhere I've been I
(18:44):
produced a lot of products. Yeah. Yeah, And he was
going to use that against me. And you know, now,
if I'd have done that, all I just said is like, listen,
you are talking about the NCAA A right, Okay, you
didn't do any of that in the NFL. It's a
different world. It is just a different.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
World on the schedule.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
Yeah no, no, none of those because I I use
I used the ol House stame on him. I said, okay, listen,
what happened to you when our house he came in there.
There's pre season, okay, and then when you step into
regular season, it's going to be a world you've never
seen before. And you, as good as you are, you
(19:24):
have to even get better if you're really going to
have a chance to be consistently successful. But I gues,
he goes, so if POMP sixty three, I go to
the first rounder. Period. That's just the way it is. Yeah,
it's the truth. I know you can play, I said, honestly,
I want I go. Here's what's going to happen. You're
gonna get drafted, and you're because of how the skills
(19:46):
you have. Somebody I thought, I said, somebody's gonna get hurt, okay,
or somebody you know doesn't want playing more Joe black
woman still want playing when you do that later, But
he I said, and they're going to put you out
there and you're gonna you're gonna do well. You're gonna
play really well. However, can you can you be consistent
enough for them to keep you out there? That's gonna
(20:08):
be your challenge.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
What about Judkins?
Speaker 6 (20:12):
Yeah, you know I loved him coming out of our
house state too. I like, I like both both those
backs had legitimate, you know, potential to transition to the NFL.
And you know they lean on him. You know, as
long as they run the ball well, which they did
against you know the Vikings, you know they can keep
Gabriel in some manageable you know, that's that's the goal.
(20:33):
I didn't care how good your quarterback is, you do that.
You just whatever you've got a quarterback just makes me
even better. But you know, they have struggled up front
with their offic the line. I don't know that this
group in say, in the last five years, maybe the
most inconsistent group I've seen in Cleveland. You know that
they do have some problems up front.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
They played a little better though against Minnesota, and I
think we all know in the divisional game, you never
want to write them off. You just don't write them off,
you know, just because they've struggled in some arias and
have some latenesses and some young guys playing, you know
they'll be ready. They'll be better, and the Steelers will
be ready. You've had a little tape on him that's
(21:14):
going to help them have some sense of what they're
trying to do with team and then really are the
anticipate what they're going to try to do off of that.
From what you know, there's a lot of smart guys
in this league coaching, and you've got to do those
type of things. That's why it makes it so hard
to be consistent in this league is because of that
type of coaching and strategy that goes into each and
every week.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Meryl sticking with Judkins, the Steelers have gotten better at run.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Defense, appreciably better.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, sort of started happening when they got Derek Harmon
in a lot out. I guess they drafted him on
the first round for a reason. But that Minnesota offensive
line was devastated by injury last when they most recently
played in Ireland. I know you just mentioned Cleveland's oh lines,
It's got some issues as well, but this almost feels
like a bigger test to me. I'm not convinced they
(22:03):
stopped the Browns run game. What do you think happens there?
Speaker 6 (22:07):
Well, you're right, they're not as bad as Minnesota struggle
like Minnesota has done. Now what they did schematically, you know,
they moved their fronts around, they had linebackers up. You know,
they did some some run blitzers too that were very effective.
Now to me, I just could tell you this from
when we would prepare for a team like that. So
the Steelers defense, when they fundamentally can't just line up
(22:29):
and handle your running game, they're forced into like you know,
slat the defensive line, scrape and the linebackers run on
a linebacker through put them up in the a gap.
You're doing those things to kind of confuse your blocking
is what they're what they're The theory is behind that,
you know, and creating penetration, getting in the backfield, disrupting
the running game. Well, this is how we always looked
(22:50):
at that. That a couple of times. But if we
block it and they miss their assignment and they're not
where they're supposed to be and they time it wrong,
ga the gate, Yeah, we're out the gate that.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Guy and that guy can turn a little one into
a big one very quick.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Yes, So that's the danger with it. You know, you'd
like to be able to just line up and you know,
handle it, you know. But I think they did the
right thing though, because they were not handling it and
the way they went about it was effective. And you know,
I can't remember it's been a couple of weeks now,
you know, I just don't remember too many bus you know,
(23:29):
So they they were very effective with it. So you
know that that's a plus for them, and I would
expect them to keep doing that type of stuff. Maybe
not as much, but they at least are are becoming
good at it and so they can rely on it
if they need it.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
So Merril.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers passing
games take, taking the short controlled passing game to almost
the new heights. Is that sustainable or are they going
to start driving the ball down the field to take
it to another level?
Speaker 6 (24:00):
I've always felt, you know, I used Detroit for this.
You know, I watched Detroit when they started to build
right and Detroity did all these face They first, they
did the right thing to start their foundation. They they
committed to the running game, that never deviated from that,
and that's why they're as good as they are now
in the passing game. You know, the quarterback, they finally
(24:21):
got him on track. The one element that they lacked
was explosive ability, and then it really was holding them
back from being where they are today. So that that
tells you. That's so that's my answer to you. You
can't just do that and win a championship. You can
you can be marginal and be okay, but you can't
win a championship. You got to be explosive and have
(24:42):
explosive elements to your offense and create chunks and you
can't rely on the slant, you know, going eighty four
every time, so that will have to be something. And listen,
I'm not surprised it's not like that, But I am
not worried about it either. I think that those things
come the more they play together, because there's a bunch
(25:05):
of still new guys playing together. You know what we're
going in the game five what five or six whatever
it is, and that's not a lot of games to
play together, you know, to when other teams are played.
You know, sixty, you know, fifty forty. You know, that
makes it different. So but I'm not worried about I
think it will come and it will eventually get there.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Mell.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
There were a lot of things about the Steelers game
I liked, you know, specific components of their brand of
football in that Dublin game.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
But what really stood out to me.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Their level of engagement and compete And you know, you
saw Peyton Wilson chasing down Jordan Addison from fifty nine
yards away. You saw Calvin Austin running the length of
the field to throw a block for DK metcalf on
an eighty yard catch and run touchdown. You saw Broderick
Jones chasing Aaron Rodgers on a scramble running to the
(25:56):
ball and oh, by the way, he's there to recover
a funnel that goes up in the air.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
As it turns out, emotion was a really big part
of that game. Matt saw it coming.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
I didn't.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Art Rooney the second addressing the team before the game,
Mike Tomlin apparently got a little weepy Saturday night in
the meeting talking about Dan Rooney and Ireland and you know,
they they had some intangibles built in to that game
against the Vikings, and they responded great. My question to
you is, what do you think the chances are they're
(26:30):
able to conjure this stuff up on a regular basis
when it's not built in.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Yeah, well, listen, it's all I mean, I understand that
what went on in Ireland, you know, and over there
a couple weeks early and I listen, I was I
was drafted by the chief Mister Rooney gave me my
first job in the broadcasting world with Myron and Bill
and so, and I grew up with Art and Dan Junior,
and you know, seeing how they matured.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Who count men?
Speaker 6 (26:56):
They are so I stand how all of that, you know,
pridor resonated, and I'm glad it did, because sometimes it doesn't,
but I'm glad it did. Now, you can't have that
emotional You're just not gonna have that every game. But
what you can have every game is the first three
things that you mentioned are a relentless commitment to effort
(27:17):
to be the very best football player you can every down,
you get to the ball every time, you finish every play,
and you show up every time. Those things can be consistent,
and they should be consistent. So if you can take
those from the games, you build on those, and you
highlight those, and you emphasize those, and you demand those,
(27:38):
then what happened in Minnesota can I mean against Minnesota
it can be really like you can reflect back on
that game. Actually maybe you know week ten twelve, when
we're looking back and we go, man, they just kept
building from there.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I mean, my correct, they were way better in that
department than they were either of the first three games.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
I would not disagree with you that they were much improved,
which they had to I think when we talked about it,
unless they had proved in some areas, Minnesota had a
better team going into it than they did based on
the evidence we had going into the game. But those
improvements that you know they made were made and they
(28:18):
made a big difference.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
So Merril Gainwell did some really good things overseas, you know,
an excellent game by him. Warren is going to be back.
It looks like you almost one hundred percent. Do you
go back to making Warren the guy you know, true
belcow or how do you divide that labor.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
In the backfield?
Speaker 6 (28:36):
Well, there would be no reason for him to lose that,
you know. They what they did is they you know,
kind of built on their running game. They did more
perimeter stuff, you know, and both those guys are good
at that, but he really was good at that. And
I just think from their running game perspective, those man
blocking schemes that they were doing, pulling guys and getting
on the perimeter. That's just like, listen, when you think
(28:59):
of being a really good offense, here's what a really
good offense is. How many phases do you have to
your team? Okay, so in the running game, we know
they're just really good to the right side, they're strong
side running team, right side strong side running teams. Man
we decided not very good printer, they're not very good limited.
So we take the strong side running game. Man, we
can shut down the run. Now when you go strong side,
(29:21):
weeks side and the perimeter, and you have a lot
of ways to run the ball, you apect people. Okay,
now you got great phases in the running game. We
already talked about it with a passing game, and they
are short, intermediate, and explosives. We can't shut it all down.
We got to pick something, but it will pick the
explosive part. But when you have all those phases to defend,
then you're good at all of them. That's when you
become lethal. So I think you use both guys in
(29:46):
the manner that you've you've used them. You keep building
on the running game, you keep threatening the perimeter, you
keep getting better with your man blocking schemes along with
your zone blocking schemes that you kind of struggle with it,
you get better there and therefore you become a better
running team. And both backs are highlighted.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Do you think the number seventy four is eligible? Stuff?
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Was four man front specific or can they make that
work on a weekly basis?
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Because it worked, it worked really well, didn't it. Yeah,
you know what he's doing.
Speaker 6 (30:18):
You know, sometimes you put it out there and he
just doesn't get the job done, you know. But he did,
and I just don't think he'd go away from so
I think he keep building on that and keep making
that effect before you.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
The spinoff to me on that would be put him
on Garrett's side and throw Deep out of it.
Speaker 6 (30:36):
If you can figure out yeah, yeah, if you can
figure out what side gear it's going to be on.
That's my problem with him is you know, he goes
either side, you know, and he's going to test both sides,
you know.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Because you got Washington onside Anderson on the other.
Speaker 6 (30:51):
You know. No, you can do that too. I mean
you got to come out sometimes to prepare and go listen,
we don't know, but we're going to prepare both sides.
There's no doubt that they will do that. That's just
that's like coaching one on one. You're going to do that.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Last thing I got for you, Merril, I think one
of the underreported stories in the NFL this season is
how well Aaron Rodgers has fit in here. And I'm
not even talking about statistics. I'm talking about how he
is running the show. He has played to this point
well enough to convince me at least that whatever that
(31:26):
offense is capable of getting on a given day, whatever
the matchup allows. You know, if it's a real tough
defense but they need twenty, I think they can get there.
If it's going to be a track meet and they're
going to have to put up in the thirties, I
think they can get there. If the other defense blinks
and gives you an opportunity, I think he's going to
seize it. I just think he is running the show
(31:47):
like a maestro. I'm so impressed with him, and I
don't say any reason why that doesn't continue.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
Well, I wanna say this, when you want to really
study the art of playing quarterback in our level is
watching I'm telling you from a precise, precision, accurate decision
maker and all gone, just increble, you know, I'm just
taking every going, you know, I can't think of I
can think of a couple of plays that he may
(32:15):
have forced, like Week two against Seattle, and that was
more of like, you know, just how he trusted you know,
he didn't trust him. You tell it that there's no
harm in that, but the structure of executing plays knowing
where the ball's gotta go, heat so far ahead everybody.
It's actually really fun at when you watched it takes
(32:36):
like other guy's just he's brilliant, man. I mean he
he plays at an extremely unique and comfortable level that
most just dreamed to do and tried to do and
never ever really do you know in the Ben's career,
Ben was like that. You know, I don't know if
people really appreciate the off of the line that he
dealt with for two years. You you put, you put
(32:59):
somebody else under there are the guys that they've had
in the past, and it's there's no winning season there period.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Merril wrapping up of this one. Calvin Austin looks highly
unlikely to play. Is there a direct replacement for him
in your mind? Or is that gonna be a group
effort situationally?
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Yeah, well, you know, I don't know that I've seen
anybody that would emerger that would create the confidence to
do that. Yeah, I almost think that, you know that,
I'm just going from like what I have seen. Now
I'm not in those meeting rooms, so that's a completely
different arena, because you can surely have some guy that
maybe can you can feel that he has the confidence
you can trust in.
Speaker 5 (33:35):
But the kind of went to Scottie Miller as the role.
But that's in game. It's always different, you know.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
Yeah, But you know oftentimes you go to the guy
you know that you trust.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (33:47):
Yeah, I just want to tell you that the coaches
always go players they trust. So I think be the
player that can earn that trust, you know, I would.
I would think multiple guys will get the chance and
we'll think out who can make the plays and who
they trust.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Meryl, I'm not sure when we're doing this next week,
as they're playing on Thursday. Maybe oh that's right, maybe Monday,
maybe Tuesday, but we will do it again. Thank you, sir,
got you guys. I'll be ready to go, Steelers.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Thank you, Guyson.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
That was Meryl Hodge, the Factor back here on Steelers Preview,
which is presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F
one point fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
More to come, so keep it here with Matt Williamson
on Mike Pursuda and this is Steelers Preview right here
on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers flagship one of
(34:35):
two point five DVE.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Back to the Steelers preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Welcome back, Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you one
more segment to go, Man, Meryl fired.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Up as always.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Yeah, a wealth of information there, and I got his
opinion on that intangible stuff I didn't get yours. Do
you think they realize the level of engagement that they
need to find and can they find it now on
a regular basis?
Speaker 5 (35:03):
Asking the players much better than asking me?
Speaker 4 (35:05):
And Merrill has been in those locker room and understand
those things much better than I do. But I also
think when you have Rogers, Hayward, guys like that that
understand the difference and what a fine line this league
is in so many one score games that hustle and
that little extra is often the difference. Roder Jones getting
(35:27):
the fumble, things like that, and there are many other examples,
no questions.
Speaker 5 (35:30):
It's a great one though.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
We talked about three. But yeah, yeah, yeah, that team
was all in.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Yeah, and maybe that's a team that it's okay if
it's not all in, but it could be pretty good
if it's all in.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
And I think maybe where I was going with this
is maybe the kids in the locker room. Go, oh,
that's what dad's been teaching me, you know, Like now
I'm starting to understand he's not just a blowhard yelling
at me for having my music you lowed, you know.
Speaker 6 (35:53):
You know.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
The other thing that was apparent.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
The way that game progressed and they kept running the
b and in the second half the offensive line, and
I talked to two of them this week, Zach Frasier
and Spencer Anderson good old number seventy four years old.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
They both said we were having fun.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
It showed.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Do you think the on line had any fun in
weeks one, two, three?
Speaker 5 (36:15):
No, they didn't look like it either. And I think
some of it's even schematic.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
Like Merrill mentioned, you start pulling guys and weaponizing them
and not running the same plays, and you Broderck Jones
really good in space, you know, I mean things like that.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
I think that that's fun too.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
But you have that kind of game and you start
individually and collectively you start feeling better. And another thing
Spencer Anderson mentioned to me was they were aware of
the outside noise, which was not complimentary, and they had
to put that aside and just get back to playing
ball and worrying about what they can control and all
the other cliches.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
Maybe getting away help that.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
I'm wondering if this wasn't a what's the word I'm
looking for launching point for the line.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
For the line in particular, look a lot. We're gonna
bring a six guy out.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Acknowledge it's young and new and all that, but it
are we at the point now we even start to
expect these guys to play ball better than they have.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
I think that's the thing they might need to Sunday.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
Oh, I think they're gonna need to. And this is
a real test. And it's not just Garrett. Garrett's a superstar.
Speaker 4 (37:19):
We all know about Garrett, but the rest of that
D line is deep active Elik Collins.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
People know who he is.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
He's having a great year. They're gonna have to play
really well. Run the ball against the Browns is a
real chore. And I don't know that they will bang
their head against the wall in the run game, you know.
I mean, I think they're gonna try to build off
last week. Maybe it's just a lot of short passing
and attack the short zones more.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Who knows.
Speaker 4 (37:45):
I mean, we'll see what the strategy is. But I
think that the Frasier's and McCormick's and Faltonu's and Jones,
those young guys got a taste of we can be
better than our opponents and you know, not be catching.
We can be the hammer, not the nail.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
That's a great to taste and I think they liked it.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, give me another beer that went down
really well, like here's good.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Yeah, you know, instead of playing.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
I hope we don't screw up and everybody says we're
terrible after the game, Hey, we were kind of the
reason we won, Like at least one of.
Speaker 4 (38:18):
Them, like Frasier's they last year played like one of
the best centers in the league. Not that he's been
disappointing this year, but get back to being that guy.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Just have demonstrative they weren't. And the energy again, I
keep using that word because they had it. And the
only nitpick is that they ran the ball great all day. Yeah,
the two most important runs of the game, they failed
fourth and goal from the three and third and one
on what became their final possession when they ended up
(38:46):
punting the ball back to the Minnesota And I get
sure that's sticking with him too. I loved going forward
by the goal line. I loved that they pulled Washington
and McCormick. I thought I heard some people say, well,
I like going for it was a bad play. No,
the line in particular, in the offense in general won
an ownership of that.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
They wanted to go.
Speaker 5 (39:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
If I'm a coach, that's okay. Show me what you got.
Speaker 5 (39:08):
Let me got right. We draft you guys high for
a reason, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
But if you make one of those runs, if you
get one more yard on the goal line run, or
you get one yard on the third down run, that
endings a whole lot less exciting.
Speaker 5 (39:21):
And yes, it's a great point.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Until until they can finish games and run into a
ten man box, when everybody knows is going to run
into a ten man box and execute that format offense,
they're still improving as opposed.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
To having arrived. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:36):
Now I'm not making excuses for him in advance, but
this is a really tough test from that regard. Now,
they do not play with light boxes. They like to
have heavy personnel on defense. They don't want to be
in dime all the time like some of these lighter teams.
They're really good up front, and it's the best run
defense in the league. You know, So they could become
(39:57):
a better running team on Sunday and still only end
up with eighty five yards. You know, they could still
be making steps in the right direction. It's not going
to be giant step after Giants step.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
I'm not looking for two fifty on the ground, Matt.
I'm looking for rush for some first downs, which we
saw them do. Maybe rush for a touchdown again, there's
no idea.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
And I'm not talking of you know, a home run.
I mean, see if you can run it in on
the goal line offense.
Speaker 5 (40:22):
Yeah, move some bodies in tight quarters.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Yeah, just keep keep controlling the game. Yeah, maybe not
dominating it.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
But and I'm a Gainwell fan, but I think Warren
coming back makes it even better, you know, Like I'm
not taking anyway from Gainwell, but I would have loved
to see what Warren's production was had he been healthy
last week.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Yeah, for what it's worth, I talked to Gainwell today
and he anticipates it goes back to the way.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
It was heavy Warren.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Yeah, and he's the I think that's the right now.
Gang Well's the complimentary guy, I think that's.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
A one off because I don't think Gamewell's I think
that's the best way to use game well.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
But boy, you and I I think we're in agreement.
Not the one of us expected him to do what
he did against the bike.
Speaker 6 (40:59):
No.
Speaker 4 (41:00):
And I remember talking to you in the pregame show
live in Dublin, and I thought the total opposite. I'm like,
maybe just take Caleb Johnson, throw him in the deep
end and see what happens. You don't use Gainwell a little,
but there's a one off.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
I think they did get to Caleb a little bit,
and I thought those were significant runs because he had
a little bit of success. And then Mike Tomin talked
about him again on Tuesday and said, hey, he's got
to stay ready. We're gonna need him. He's gonna come,
don't know when, but it's coming right hopefully in December.
This has resolved itself and he is a regular contributing
(41:31):
member of the offense'd be wonderful.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
They need that to happen.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
They need that to happen to count on those two
for the duration or for Gainwell to do that again.
If Warren can't go, is asking a lot do you
think Roman Wilson's kind of a similar boat mold, because
now Austin's not there. I don't think Wilson's a one
for one replacement, but he's got to be playing more
than seven or eight STAPs in this game, right.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Let's make that part of our next discussion, which will
be our injury report presented by your neighborhood Ford store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. I think Austin's harder to replaced than Ramsey,
even though I think now even though Ramsey is by
far the better player, and that's no offense to Ramsey
or no offense to Austin Ramsey alack player.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Yeah yeah, yeah, So how do they replace the receiver?
Speaker 5 (42:17):
Do you do it that worries the heck out of
me in this game?
Speaker 3 (42:19):
Does?
Speaker 2 (42:20):
Does John hus Smith become a wide receiver for a game?
Do you split it between Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson
and say, look, one of you guys is the two.
We'll see who can get open and get a few catches.
Do you go more heavy tight end in general and
just throw different routes?
Speaker 3 (42:35):
What do you think they do?
Speaker 4 (42:37):
I mean, John Who and Friarmouth didn't play nearly as
much as you'd think this last week. Now, I would
think their route participation in snap counts and things like
that certainly go up, and you probably see more thirteen
personnel and more passing tight end stuff, and not at
the expense of Washington. I wonder kind of has as
(43:00):
Meryll mentioned and what happened in London, Austin went out
and was basically replaced by Miller. You know, he played
that role because of the trust the veteran.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
I mean he's also little and fast. And you know
what I don't know about Wilson, or don't believe to
be the case, is in two receiver sets, I think
he might only be a slot. And if it's two
receivers out there, I don't know that Wilson will be
out there at all. He might have to be only
in you know thirteen when there's the third receiver out there.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
You know, that's been a factor to this point. And
I don't know that it's necessarily a reflection that he isn't.
Speaker 5 (43:39):
Any good, No, right, it's just his particular skill set.
Speaker 2 (43:42):
They are going with three receivers way less frequently than
they used to not even clotom the league. And when
they're going with two, invariably it has been Austin and Metcalf. Yeah,
they way more snapsybody, which I'm a big fan of,
because you got to have those guys out there to
have a shot at maybe getting a one on one
with one of them. And you know, it's like said Williams,
(44:03):
you're gonna get one pitch in the bat that you
can hit. They can't miss those one on ones if
they get them with either one of those, and you
know Rogers will take them, and Rogers will take it.
So that's why I don't think Wilson's been out there,
but now maybe this is his chance. Also, talk to
Scotty Miller today.
Speaker 3 (44:18):
You know, he's a guy. I know this for a fact.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
This coaching staff thinks they can ask him to do
anything and he won't screw it up. Yeah, he'll do
it in a professional I think he might be the
number two. And I asked him about that. Remember the
deep ball he caught from Brady in the NFC Championship game.
He was replacing an injured Antonio Brown.
Speaker 5 (44:36):
Really in that game, Okay, that's he's a really Fincher.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
He said that was AB's play.
Speaker 5 (44:41):
Okay, Okay, I mean he's yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
Maybe we throw his name in. Uh, there's another guy.
This better than we thought because look what he just did. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:51):
I mean the more we talk through it, the more
I think it's gonna be him as a starter, basically
as the number two receiver. You don't want Skirnic to
do that. I mean, maybe he plays five more snaps
than he usually does. Yeah, maybe if you hint that
you're gonna run and you don't with them or something,
And I think Wilson will play more.
Speaker 5 (45:08):
But the Austin loss is hard to make up for.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Steelers have dominated this thing in Pittsburgh other than that
playoff game, right since the Brown's got their team back.
Mike Tomlin is fourteen and four coming out of a bye.
We talked about the Browns travel issues and how that's
got to affect them. We talked about the screwing intangibles
going on in Cleveland. What's what's going on? Rookie quarterback
(45:35):
making his second star. Tomins usually good against rookie quarterbacks,
and yet I think this one is a one score battle.
Speaker 6 (45:43):
Royal.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Yes, I do too, because I have great respect for
their defense, and you mentioned it a couple times over
the course of this hour. I don't know that the
Steelers run defense is good, you know, and Judkins, I
know is good, and I know that they're going to
give them the ball a lot, and if the defense
keeps us in close, you're gonna have to tackle him
twenty five times in this game.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
And he's just I mean, he didn't have a training camp, no, right, right,
I just threw him in and he's lighting it up.
He's doing what I thought Caleb Johnson had a chance
to do. To be honest, now I did. I liked
him better than Caleb, yeah, yeah, yeah, but I didn't
think they'd be I thought he would go high, yeah.
Speaker 5 (46:19):
Yeah, yeah, yeah right, and he did and he did
very early in the second round. Right, So coming up
to that and more.
Speaker 2 (46:24):
But yeah, that's gonna be an issue. I think the
turnover thing is gonna be huge, like it always is.
And I would not be throwing the ball down the
field for the sake of throwing the ball down the field.
I would wait until I can get in some more
advantageous situations. This is probably not the game where they
get the defense. So worried about the run that they
can buy time for the past.
Speaker 4 (46:45):
No, but the Browns do kind of play the way
they play, which is a lot of man a lot
of single high. They don't put the big umbrella over you.
So maybe if you think you can protect, which I
don't know if they can or believe they can, you
might want to push the ball down the field little,
you know, I mean, yeah, just because I think they's
gonna have.
Speaker 2 (47:03):
Three guys on ninety five and two to one ninety four. Yeah, Bram,
I don't want to get Rogers killed in this game
for the sake of trying to throw the ball downfield
because they haven't thrown the ball down the field.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
I know, I know, I definite see whe you're coming from.
But I also think their quarterback is gonna get hit
a lot too, and get a lot of passes bad
at the line of scrimmage and could be a long
day for Gabriel and.
Speaker 2 (47:22):
If that happens, could be a good day for the Steels.
That's gonna do it for us. Thanks to Justin Miller
here in studio for manning the board in the expert
fashion that he does. Thanks to Brian Lamartine and his
crew keeping everything going on Steelers Nation Radio and keeping
us in check. We will do this again next week.
Not sure what day, but we'll let you know. As
(47:43):
soon as we know, you'll know until then. For Matt
Williamson and Merril Hodge. I'm Mike Persuda. This has been
Steelers Preview Preview presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
right here on Steeers Nation Radio and your Steelers.
Speaker 3 (47:58):
Flagship one or two point five d V. Good Night, everybody,
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