November 6, 2025 • 46 mins
Mike, Matt, and Merril discuss what the Steelers did well in order to beat the Colts and how they can apply it on Sunday night in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview Show on wdv E Pittsburgh,
brought to.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
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
direct from the team at shop dot Steelers dot com.
And now here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson
and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here under Steelers Flagship one of two point five
DV and Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Mike Persuda and Matt.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Williamson with you initially here getting you ready for the
Steelers and the Chargers Sunday night in Los Angeles. Merril
Hodge will be along directly and Matt. We did the
show a week ago, and the mood was different, the
toe was different, the tenor was different. I think I
made a joke about the sky still hadn't fallen as
(00:53):
far as I could tell, but looks.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Like it's propped up there pretty good right about now.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Yeah, exactly. And I didn't really see that coming. I mean,
the way the defense was playing leading into that game
was pretty concerning. And you knew, especially the defensive front,
the Highsmiths, the Watts, the Haywards, the guys that have
such great track record were better football players than the
(01:17):
defense was playing at that point. And you thought, you thought,
you start to wonder, but man, what a what a
performance by the defense. And I don't mean to bring
down the mood, but it was one of the worst
games by the Steeler offense of the year.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
And it really didn't matter. You know, it wasn't great.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, great, they put it in the end zone enough time,
right right, didn't have any.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
They're good on that side of the ball every week.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
And it didn't right home.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Lot of statistically didn't run the ball well, but protected
it and you know, did what the game allowed them
to do, what the game presented, and that defense was
just ferocious. Which leads me to why I wanted to
start tonight. I know we have a lot to unpack.
I think this is really good matchup. I think this
is very typical of today's NFL. I think you got
(02:05):
two good teams here that have their flaws, and on
a good night, they can both look really good. Yeah,
and on another night, they might be had there people.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
And there's playoff implications. Both these teams should be in
it till the end in terms of an AFC tiebreaker
or you know, division lead, particularly in the Steelers case.
And I guess time to get into the Chargers. I
mean for them, I feel so bad for the offensive
line injuries because they've invested in it so heavily. That
(02:37):
was the foundation of how they're going to build their
team and it's just crumbling and it's not their fault,
but boy, that sets up nice for the defensive front
that we just talked about of high Smith and wadd
and Hayward, et cetera, et cetera. Now I think everything, though,
starts with Herbert. I am so impressed with her.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Well that's the yeah. I wanted to start with him,
because no Al, no Slater.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Right, no other injuries.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Bobby Hart, we don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
They could be down to tackles four and five, the
guy they just got from New Orleans who is a
very good former nineteenth overall pick, and the Saints couldn't
find a position for him and he didn't get a
second contract in New Orleans. That qualifies as a bust
first round. But Justin Herbert, you know, watching him play
last Sunday against Tennessee, and he started to run more
(03:26):
the last couple of weeks. I think that's because their
running game has slowed down. They're also out of running.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Backs, by the way.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
By the way, the statistically to this point in the year,
they're still good, still top ten, I think in running
the football. But Justin Herbert was their leading rusher last week,
and he had a high average even though there were
about three touch pushes and a kneel down or two.
And I mean when he takes off, he goes. But
at the end of at the end of his runs,
(03:51):
Matt he is lowering his shoulder, he is stiff arming guys,
he is taking shots and when he's not running. That
was don't want to say a comfortable game for the Chargers,
but it certainly wasn't uncomfortable.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
They fell behind.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Early, the terrible team fell behind early on.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
A pick six and a punt return for a touchdown,
but got the lead back and they were kind of
in control and.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
The Tennessee's offense wasn't doing anything.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
And he got sacked six times and hit eleven times.
I know, I think Justin Herbert is at the height
of his powers, and I don't.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Know much longer he's going to be upright.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
I know again, they don't protect well against one of
the worst pass rushing teams in.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
The league after ALT went out.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
All the splits ALT versus not Alt is night and day,
and they do want to run the football. And he's
tough as can be, and he has a lot of
Josh Allen to him. Really is a big, physical, stiff
arm break tackle guy. But I would highly recommend that
he starts getting down and getting out of bounds. It
shocked me when I dug this up, but he has
(04:51):
more rushing yards than any other quarterback in the league
right now, you know, I mean, you don't think of
him in that light. Now Lamar's been hurt and they
haven't had their buy, but still you think of him
as one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the league.
But he as the Steelers saw this two times ago
when they played him. You give him a big lane,
he's gonna rip you for twelve yards over and over.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
And you're talking about November the twenty first, two and
twenty one at SO five Stadium, Los Angeles, forty one
Pittsburgh thirty seven. Justin Herbert was thirty of forty one
passing for three hundred and eighty two yards, three touchdowns
and a pick. He carried nine times for ninety yards rushing.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
They were backbreakers from there, and.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
They were backbreakers.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Remember that one where Cam Hayward was chasing them all
over southern California because he kept cutting back and serpentineous
his way down the field. Alex Heisman talked about that
a little bit this week. I'm hope hoping, not certain,
but hoping that a Steelers defense that just got its
sack mojo back, I hope, I hope those guys don't
(05:55):
sell out and want to kill the quarterback all night again,
because if you don't do it a concerted effort against
this guy and stay where you're supposed to be, he's
going to kill you with.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
His legs, kill smith prodects. And we remember that. We
gotta not let that store.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Yeah, you know, hopefully they don't just remember it, they
apply what they remember now.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Spying a quarterback can be a little overrated because you
still have to get him on the ground and all
those things. But I do think they will reduce as
they did this past week less blitz. You know, they
should win one on one matchups in the passing game
up front, we don't need to bring extra guys, probably
play a lot of zone, try to keep a lot
of eyes on him. They also have a wealth of receivers.
(06:35):
I mean they don't have a Jamar Chase, but kind
of like Indianapolis or Green Bay that they just played,
they have four or five really good pass catchers. And
they'll also bring out that big package with like Matt
Locke and those guys too.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
So Matt Locke, the defensive lineman turned full back. Yeah,
this is the other name I fireplug tight end.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Right.
Speaker 6 (06:55):
They're just hammerheads, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Right, Yeah, Yeah, they're like refrigerators there. Yes, and Matt
Lucky can call a short touchdown passed. Against Tennessee, they
did their throat at Spencer Anderson thing just to get
people to yah.
Speaker 7 (07:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
But the other thing I wanted to talk about here initially,
and I know there was a lot to talk about
after that Colts game, but an underdiscussed topic to me
is the three inside linebackers package.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
I really want to talk to Meryl about it.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Four to three, Look where they had Malik Harrison, Patrick
Queen and Peyton Wilson all on the field at the
same time. You have a four man front, which is
light because there's two outside linebackers instead of two defensive ends.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
But Peyton Wilson said the reason they did that was
they were so worried about Jonathan Taylor.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
I assumed, Okay, I didn't know that's what he said.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
But the Colts can also pass. So to me, I'm
like smacking my head, like, why didn't I think it is?
Speaker 7 (07:48):
So?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Why didn't they think of this long time ago? You
have the thumper and Harrison, you have the coverage guy
in Wilson, and you have to do it all guy
in Queen.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Yeah, and they're they're all on the field at the
same time. You're covered.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
And they corresponded it a lot with instead of playing
as much single high as they used to do at
the safety position, you could still have the bigger umbrella,
too high shell over the top with those guys, especially Dugger,
triggering the run but from the third level. So I
didn't think Harrison's addition back to the team wouldn't matter
(08:22):
that much, you know, to be honest with you, But
in this situation, especially with the threat that Taylor is
a big, physical back like him. They wanted that hammer
between the tackles, run stuff er guy and to me,
the biggest guy. That if he didn't trust Wilson as
a coverage player, none of it works. And that's what
I wanted to talk to Baryl about. I mean, I
(08:44):
think Wilson, something I've be talking about on the Drive
a lot this week, is really really leveling up as
a player. They're given him more and more responsibility, and
I think they have to be thrilled with him right now.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
And that was a big uptick in snaps for him. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Yeah, he's like an every down guy now.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
His snaps been going down.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
They had been alternating with Cole Hulkomb and when they
thought the other team was gonna run, they put hulk
them in. When they thought the other team was gonna throw,
they put Wilson in. I hate playing defense that way
because the offense does.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
They get it. They don't.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
You have the run guys out there, right and pass
When you have the pass guys, they kind of do
the opposite, right, Like, I'm all for using different players,
but you know, sub them in for a series or whatever.
This down to down stuff, and I think we saw
in the secondary, you know, stop alternating Thornhill and Chuck
Clark based on what you think is gonna happen or
what the formation suggests is gonna happen.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
Because I'm sure the offense is when Clark's and there,
we're gonna throw Donald and there we're gonna run.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
You know, I think they do. I think they can
figure that out.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Tell right, they dumbed it down in terms of what
they asked of those guys, and other than Darius Slay
going out a couple times with injury, it was pretty
much the same two corners and eccles as the nickel,
and the same two safeties and lo and behold, they
looked like they knew what they were doing.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Yeah, and again, I can't wait to talk to the
Merrow about it. Some of the all twenty two vanished points.
But I thought Ramsey was such a stabilizing force too,
you know, I mean, just a guy you could trust
on the back of that defense. And I don't know
if he'll stay at safety full time. I know you
will in the short term, but if the corner situation
(10:17):
falls apart, maybe he'll have to go back there. Who knows,
but if just to rewind like a minute of what
we're talking about. I like Cole Holcombe, but I would
love to see Queen and Wilson just be the every
down guys, you know.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, And I'd like to see a third one with
them here.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, a fair amount of the time, because I think
that's an idea whose.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Time has arrived. We've got a lot more.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
To get to and we are going to get to it,
including the welcoming of our factor. Back Merril Hodge to
the program when we come back with Matt Williamson and
Mike Persuda. Steelers pres Steelers Preview easy for me to say,
presented by your neighborhood Ford Story. The F one fifty
is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Comes to
you on Steelers Nation Radio and You're steel Heelers Flagship
(11:00):
one of two point five DVE.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DV.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Welcome back Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you here
on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one of
two point five DV. We're getting ready for the Steelers
and the Chargers Sunday next Football in Los Angeles. Time
now to welcome our factor back to the show, Merrill
Hodge joining us as he does each and every game
week and Merrill I was commenting the Matt at the
(11:31):
start of the show that our mood was a whole
lot different this week to kick things off than a
week ago. I was not optimistic at all regarding Steelers Colts.
I am cautiously so regarding Steelers Chargers.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
That's why we call him update league. Every week, it's
an update league.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
You never know.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Things change weekend and week out.
Speaker 8 (11:56):
Now, listen, if they had a play defensively like they
played against the Colts Man and we could have seen it,
but they that was our best performance defensively, you know,
as a I mean from.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Top to bottom out the end in Dowt.
Speaker 8 (12:12):
It was just for like a fundamental aspect of football,
you know, just like engaging in people, separating people playing
faster than they are playing on the other side of
the line of scrimmage, tackling people, knowing who your assignment is.
Speaker 7 (12:26):
I mean, it was.
Speaker 8 (12:28):
It was about as good a game as you could
possibly play. Then, you know, the turnovers that they created
were significant. I can't remember how many times I saw
the offense had the ball. I don't think I've ever well,
I'm sure it's happened. Clearly it's happened, but I just
don't remember seeing it where two of your offensive starts
are inside the twenty yard line of the opponent.
Speaker 7 (12:50):
I mean that's yeah, that's a pretty good way to start,
you know.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
I mean, so you know everybody would like that a
couple of times every game, but they uh, defensively, you know, now,
the problem with doing that is you've done it.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
Now, that's the expectation.
Speaker 8 (13:08):
You know, that's that's how you clearly need to play
every Sunday.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
Or to that level.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
So Merril, we were talking the first segment about the
some of the defensive changes and the schematic things they
did and three linebackers, and I want to get to
that in a minute. Yeah, yeah, I really want to
get your old twenty two view on that. But you
mentioned it, and sometimes it's just you tackled better, You
got more people to the football, and they won a
(13:35):
lot of one on one matchups against a really good
offensive line.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Correct, they had them, listen, they had them befuddled. I'm
telling there's times where you just you know, we need
when when offensive linemen put their hips on their hands.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
That's never a good thing, you know, because I was like,
you know.
Speaker 9 (13:55):
Four hands, Yeah, yeah, you know they were going through
they were going through some some struggles, you know, And
I just go back to how well they played.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
I mean, they just you know, the fundament you know,
how you.
Speaker 8 (14:09):
Engage, you know, like I tell people all the time,
like you every position you start with feet hips to hands.
It doesn't matter what you're talking about, Okay, I mean
throwing a football feet hips to hands. You know, how
you run a route feet hips to hands. How you
play linebacker feet hips to hands off the line, and
feet hips and running back feet hips to hands.
Speaker 7 (14:29):
I mean, how you've learned to.
Speaker 8 (14:31):
Play the game and play the game well is in
that sequence. And those things have to work together. And
when you don't play well, those sequences aren't working together.
They were this is I'm telling you. They were just
about they were They were playing with some energy, you know,
but they're they're fundamentals of how they were engaging in and.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
Getting off blocks. You know.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
I just hadn't seen that, haven't seen that consistency, you know,
you know, and I don't know if they explained why
you know that that linebacker duo that they played with,
you know, on the personnel. I don't know if that
was just because they could run the football, you know,
because I've seen him do that well, you know, we've
seen him do that with the with the Ravens. You know,
(15:14):
they'll they'll play with you know, five linebackers. Yeah, so
you know, I don't know, I don't know if that
was some of their thinking, just how they were running
the football.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
They felt it was a better package for them.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
But yeah, we had seen the three outside linebackers stuff
that I think that started against Baltimore several years ago,
and they've they've used that a little bit this year.
They've been using it a little bit for a while now.
But what was new to me was three inside linebackers
and two outside linebackers and that four to three look.
Matt and I were both really intrigued by it. What
(15:47):
what'd you think of it?
Speaker 7 (15:49):
What was effective? You know? And I didn't know why
they did it either, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Other than that Peyton Wilson said it was it was
the run thing, like so good running the ball. They
were trying to cover the past, but they were also
trying to cover their backside in case the cults were Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
And I think Adden Harrison to the mix is a
thumper made them more comfortable in the too high.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
Stuff they were doing too, gotcha, Yeah yeah, I mean
I would have been my guests. I mean when I
saw it, I was like, Okay, this is this is
get around the run and then nearly he's Peyton Wilson
used his speed to you know, to get involved in coverage,
you know, with areas that they needed to do that with.
I know they feel that his range and clearly yeah,
(16:31):
they're currently correct. I mean his his range helps them.
You know, he can run like a dB in some areas.
And it was they but I'll tell you this, though
they did such a good job up front. I just
I don't remember, you know, I've watched the Colts all
year too. I mean they have the gas people, I
(16:52):
mean gash people, you know, and then you get that
guy in the secondary and it's problem and they just
never did that.
Speaker 7 (16:59):
They could not do that. They could not get him
into the secondary. You know. I think they had one
run for eight yards or nine yards and that was.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Like it, yeah, long run of nine yards after the
week before long run of eighty yards.
Speaker 7 (17:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's a big deal.
Speaker 8 (17:12):
Man. That's that's not easy in the NFL. I mean,
that was That's that's why I do love about it.
I mean, and it's superior to college. You know, you
don't get this in college. You know, college is so
my guy's better than you're a guy. And that's kind
of how it's going to go. Sometimes they're evenly matched up,
but about eight percent of the time, my guy's better
than your guys.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
So don't no matter what you do.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
You know, do you think that's a package it's here
to stay or is that come out Raven's week or
you know.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
I do situation.
Speaker 8 (17:39):
I think teams that run, yeah, I think teams that
run the ball well because they played it so well
are completely Why not.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Let's talk about the Let's talk about the Chargers in
terms of whether they run the ball or not, because
statistically they do. Lately, as they continue to run out
of tackles and running backs justin Herbert's running the last
two weeks of particular, have inflated their totals. Now, I
get those yards count and you know, the chains move
and the touchdown gets scored. But different, is this a
(18:08):
good running team or a team that is just going
to want to run the football.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
Well, i'd think towards the want. You know, they they
you know, they all the losses you just mentioned, I
mean Hamilton that they lost.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
That gives North Carolina that that and I don't know
when is.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
He coming off.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
I are not soon, not definitely, not definitely, not this
sweet Yeah he's getting.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
A hamstring that I don't know.
Speaker 7 (18:38):
Yeah, I can't. I don't know what he did.
Speaker 8 (18:40):
But well they're like county blessings on that one, because
that dude could run.
Speaker 7 (18:43):
That's a he's a wicked player.
Speaker 8 (18:46):
And you know, once they lost Nase and him and
the depth went away. You know, they have just not
been as committed to it. You know, they will still
do it. You know, their their power run is their
staple run. But they just not They're just not as
good as they as they were even last year. They're
just not very good at it. And part of it
(19:07):
is are not consistent with it. And yeah, they started
to lean on the quarterback a little too much.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
I think, you know, yeck, you can do that.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
You know, the Titan game got away from him because
you know that a pick six and then a punt return, and.
Speaker 7 (19:22):
I think they probably felt like they needed to get
going a little more. The running game wasn't good.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
So that that's maybe why they deviated away from it
in that game.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
But if you can get him into that mode, but
that's that's.
Speaker 8 (19:36):
A massive advantage for the Steelers if they can, if
they can shift that gear and get them to where
they want to be one dimensional and they want to
trust their quarterback. You know, I like their quarterback, but
there's he still has moments where that moment where it
makes an unbelievable throw and then they have moments where
you're like, oh, that's very questionable, you know, and or
(20:00):
game changing.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So, yeah, he trust his arm a little bit too
much sometimes, doesn't he.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
Yeah, there's some things he did at Oregon he's and
it's you know, it's.
Speaker 7 (20:11):
Gotten better with it, but it's still there, you know.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
And and then I just think the more that you
ask him, that's hard on anybody, I don't care how
good they are. You know, when to be consistent, you know,
and make sure you're making completions and making the right
choices and decisions at a high rate when they know
you're having to throw the football and you're gonna throw
the football. It's a completely different environment when you know, listen,
(20:37):
you got them, you got.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Them on their heels. They don't know if we're gonna
run or throw.
Speaker 8 (20:40):
Trust me, it's a whole different game to throw the
football then, versus when everybody knows you're throwing it. You know,
that becomes a problem. And it's very much it's harder,
I mean much harder. But then get him in that
scenario that would be ideal.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
Especially considering the state of the charters protection. But I
want to get back to some of the defensive change
I was. I thought Jalen Ramsey as a true safety
was such a stabilizing force. And I give dugger all
the credit in the world for jumping on a moving
train and being a quality player. For you, are you
are you real happy with that combination? And do you
(21:15):
think they maybe figured out this safety thing out?
Speaker 7 (21:18):
Yeah, well, let's hope.
Speaker 8 (21:20):
But it was more consistent, you know then, Like I said,
I you know, you didn't see a bunch of bus
and breakdowns and issues, you know, like you know, some
previous games. So it's you know, that's credit to coaches
and players alike. You know, players eventually has to get
it done. Inside the White Lions, the coach has to,
you know, try to come up and have some vision
(21:42):
to to help the team and and the.
Speaker 7 (21:45):
Both of those worked.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Meryl, we talked about how well they played.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
We've talked a little bit about how the schematics and
the weeks due to their situation and the opponent were
spot on. They clearly also an intangible edge and that
was Ramsey with that speech that he delivered to the
team the night before the game. Aaron Rodgers talked about
it immediately after the game. Guys have been talking about
it here all week at the practice facility. I'm told
(22:15):
by multiple players absolutely that was real. And yeah, right,
I was listening and I was hanging on every word,
and you know, he was basically telling him got to
start playing like the Pittsburgh Steelers teams that I used
to come in here and play against.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
They were hard to play against.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
They had swagger, they had attitude, they had an edge.
You can't pull that card out every week, though, can
you like, is this how can this team you know,
recreate what it had going at home against Indianapolis on
the road in LA.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
Well, the one thing you get to do is you
get to watch how you performed.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
Okay, so you know, I go back to feat hips hands,
you know, how they engage in people, how they fundamentally
handled things. You know I'd mentioned and this on the
morning Shy. You know, screaming and yelling words don't win games.
It does nothing.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
You know, you got to apply action.
Speaker 8 (23:09):
And every now and then and declare this is a
scenario where that took place, where that resonated with people.
And so when I say resonated with people, I go
back to what I saw. How they played.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
You know, was there a different energy yes, where they
play faster. Yes.
Speaker 8 (23:22):
However they were so much better fundamentally. You know that
that helps you play in any sport, Like when you're
fundamentally better, this is gonna help you. Okay, you can
still try to play fast and play hard, but if
you're not fundamentally sound, it's it's gonna be a problem.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
Like they were really fundamentally good. So listen.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
If it tapped into that, you know, then now you
watched yourself, you know, and now you've seen how you
can play.
Speaker 7 (23:49):
You can see what the fundamentals do when you when you're.
Speaker 8 (23:52):
Applying properly and consistently they make a difference. You know,
that's why you practice it, and so I think it can.
Speaker 7 (24:00):
Be carried over.
Speaker 8 (24:01):
I do I do things when sometimes a person resonates
with a team like that, and then they take that
and apply it and they see the value in it. Sure,
I think that that can be built on. I don't
think there and you don't need to have a speech
like that every every week. You know that that's that's
probably won't happen again this season, but it's it's set
(24:23):
the tone of how you can plain now how you
should play.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
You know.
Speaker 7 (24:26):
See, now that comes down to the player.
Speaker 8 (24:29):
You know your standard for yourself and do you expect
that and demand that of yourself? And they did it
in that game, and now just got to keep doing that.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
So the Steelers running game looked like it was really
trending in the right direction. You know, they're they're running
a variety of plays. Warren was looking great. But these
last six quarters that production has dried up massively.
Speaker 7 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Is it worry you or do you think it's just
kind of getting away from it a little bit?
Speaker 7 (24:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (24:56):
I think they got you know, actually, when I was
watched the game, I'm like, Okay, they they haven't tried
to get to the perimeter at all.
Speaker 7 (25:03):
You know, I was like that. You know, they play call.
Speaker 8 (25:06):
I mean that's you know that that's not an easy
job when you're playing Call.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
But they didn't really have a good mix, you know.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
Like they have had, you know that insider running and
their perimeter runs.
Speaker 7 (25:20):
You know, I didn't.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
I don't think of the Colts doing anything on the
perimeter that would have scared me, you know, especially the
way they're they're playing, the way they're getting off its
linemen out there on smaller numbers. But then when they
started actually some big runs you know, they're actually running,
games started to come around. But listen, I think the
(25:43):
coach coaches do this all the time. I mean it's
a it's a common thing. You you have to look
at yourself. Go man, I got away away from doing
stuff based on some other stuff that was happening in
the game.
Speaker 7 (25:53):
I mean I've done that. I'm gonna play. I played Called,
and I was like cow and you go back and
look at you like what was I thinking? You know,
so not everybody does it right.
Speaker 8 (26:02):
And I think in this case on the road with
you know how the charge, the team, the charge are
this is a really critical game that you're running games affective.
I just think this one maybe one of the most
port where like that's a big priority in this one.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Why so in this one, maryl Well.
Speaker 8 (26:24):
Just see how they are defensively, you know, they they
have you know, they actually have struggled against defending the run,
you know, and and some of the the perimeter runs.
You know, like the Titans got him a lot on
their perimeter game. Uh they then got him inside too,
you know, they were they were gashing them, you know.
(26:44):
And Khalil mack is he's playing, but man, he's playing
with one arm.
Speaker 7 (26:48):
I don't even know how he's playing, is what it is.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Because I've watched him and I thought, boy, he's still
pretty good.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
But he doesn't look like Khalil mack.
Speaker 8 (26:56):
Hey, Khalil Mack Man, he's a shell of himself, you know.
And I shoot him, know when I said, kids, it's
the kind of buffalo. You know, I've been best football
I've ever seen fundamentally coming out into from college of
the NFL.
Speaker 7 (27:08):
I just like, God, dude, he is.
Speaker 8 (27:11):
I didn't think I thought he sees was going to
be over based on how what he did to his elbow,
So it's it's a credit. You know, he's back out there,
but you can tell he doesn't want to play with
that arm, you know, he don't trust it, so.
Speaker 7 (27:24):
You know, he gets out leveraged. You know.
Speaker 8 (27:26):
They did that lot to him, you know, and they
got a couple of good, big runs on him. Like
I would target him, I'd run at him.
Speaker 7 (27:33):
You know. This might be the only time I say.
Speaker 8 (27:36):
It with a wounded guy like that, you know, especially
if you get a blocker, because he's it's his left
arm that he did and when when you get somebody
on his left side, he can't handle it. He just
can't fight him off like you know he could in
the past. So he got out playing and they got
some big runs on him, you know, and they ran
(27:58):
the ball pretty effectively. Team have had some some some
good runs and then some successful streaks against them. And
with what the Steelers have the ability to do, I
think poses problems to them as long as they fill
that nis at him.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
I just think that could be a big deal in
this game.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
What do you think of their defense as a whole.
I can't quite wrap my head around it. I mean,
but they're not an easy one to evaluate.
Speaker 7 (28:23):
Yeah, they you know, they listen when Climac went out.
Speaker 8 (28:26):
You know, now he's not really not the same, and
you know they'll do some stuff up front. They're active,
they're athletic, you know, yes, and they do get to
the ball and you know sometimes you know, I just
watching them this week and it's almost like they're I'm
trying to figure out how to say this. It's like
their speed and production and stuff doesn't result in that.
(28:49):
I don't know if that makes sense, because like you
see him flashing around trying to get blocks, and then
they're like, okay, that's that's pretty good. Then I'm looking
up at the score ground like it's a sick yard run.
Speaker 7 (28:59):
Like I'm like, oh, geez, they looked better. This is
what I'm saying. They looked better off tape. I'm ain't good. Yeah,
so I do know what you're saying.
Speaker 8 (29:09):
That's a that's a very observative because it's I completely agree.
Then you see the result and you're like, boy, they're
swarming to the ball, they're getting off the box and
like a five yard run.
Speaker 7 (29:22):
I guess they play like that would be okay.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
You know, Matt mentioned a second ago they play hard
and I would concur and uh, you know, HEALTHI or otherwise.
I think everybody knows how Hardball wants to play. Everybody
knows how Jesse Minter wants to coordinate his defense. Everybody
knows how Greg Roman wants to run on the offense.
It almost strikes me as kind of a AFC North type.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Of such a heavy raven field that you're.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Gonna need in this game, even though you're playing out
in California on the water with the ocean breezes blowing.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
In on Sunday night.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
I mean, first foremost, this is a rock fight at
the fifty, right, you got to win that first.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
I'm thinking, yeah, fight the fifty you can. You're spot on.
Speaker 8 (30:09):
Now Listen, they had all the all the horses, it
would definitely be all that, or they would even be
a question. See, I think they want to try to play.
I just don't think they can play like that right now.
They want to play like that. I don't think there's
any doubt. I just don't think they can see That's
what I'm saying. But let's go play like that. Let's
bring him into the ring, Let's bring him into the middle,
(30:31):
Let's take him off the rope fifty.
Speaker 7 (30:33):
Let's get it on.
Speaker 8 (30:35):
Let's get it on, because they don't have the guys
that they you know, would normally have that would make
that easier for them.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Meryl, I like the sound of that.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Let's uh see if the Steelers can take care of
business again, and we'll do this again next week.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
All right.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Remember it's an update, league, don't forget.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
That this just did.
Speaker 7 (30:55):
Thanks Meryl, all right, see you guys.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
Take care.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Merril Hodges the factor back here on Steelers Preview. Gear
up with the latest game day necessities at the official
Steelers Pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, Jersey's Terrible Towls,
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, the Grove City Premium Outlets,
(31:18):
and the Tanger Outlets. You can also gear up online
at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct from
the team at Steelers Pro shop at shop dot Steelers
dot com. One more segment to go, so keep it
here with Matt Williamson on Mike Persuda. Steelers Preview presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one fifty is
the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Comes to you
(31:40):
on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one O two.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
Point five DVE.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
Welcome back to the preview.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you as we get
you ready for the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
And the Chargers Sunday in Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
The injury report is presented by your neighborhood Ford Store
of the F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and had a lot of entries on the
Steelers practice participation report, as is always the case this year,
but the one that is concerning to me, Guard Isaac
say malou Peck did not practice.
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Now.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Mike Tomlin talked on Tuesday about how Saint Malin's in
a simmer position as he was getting up to the
Colts game. He did some work on Friday and he
was able to play most of the game, not all
of it. But this isn't something that is going to
last the entirety of the rest of the season.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Is it? Where he's just going to work around this.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
I hate talking about injuries. I don't know, but well,
I mean it's a it's a peck injury. From what
I understand, it's an immense pain situation and it's kind
of just pain tolerance. So when you could get him
out of the game, it was great to get him
out of the game. Who knows, I mean I kind
of knew, I mean into this week that high Smith
(33:02):
and especially Ciamalu, we probably wouldn't learn much during the week.
I mean, those guys are veterans that they're gonna protect
it all costs if they're fine for game day, to
throw them right out there. They don't have to practice
a whole time. So I think that's gonna be Sunday
afternoon we figure that one out.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
High Smith officially limited with an ankle.
Speaker 7 (33:22):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Connor Hayward showed up knee, did not practice. Darnold Washington
was back to work today. That was encouraging.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
Yeah, he had a foot yesterday and now it seems fine.
Speaker 7 (33:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
And on the Chargers side of things, uh, the news
is already out. I mean, the two starting tackles are on.
They're not playing.
Speaker 8 (33:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
O'marion Hampton, the running back is not going to play.
Dogie Harris is not going to play Bobby Hart.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
It's the rest of the O line you got to
figure out. Now, how do you piece it together?
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Bobby Hart offensive tackle knee ankle, has not practiced this week.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
He left the game and didn't return. I mean, I
would bet that's a long shot. And frankly, he's not
very good either. He was not the planet right tackle.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
And one of the starting guards.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Mackay Beckton limited for the second consecutive day with the knee.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
So the Chargers he's.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
Their best remaining player went healthy, but he's rarely healthy too.
He's three hundred and sixty pounds.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
Yeah, they got some injury problems.
Speaker 5 (34:18):
Also traded for Trevor Penning, who knows how he fits
in the mix, But he wasn't very good with the Saints.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Yeah, they tried him at both tackle spots and one
of the guard spots.
Speaker 4 (34:28):
He was playing guard this year.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Yeah, they traded him for a bag of footballs just
to get.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Him out right as a former first round pick. Didn't
get to a second contract. Not good. Chargers also making
a switch at long snapper this week.
Speaker 6 (34:41):
Oh I didn't catch up.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, Rick Levado, who snapped for the Eagles last year
and was a long time NFL long snapper. He had
retired after the season last year, and then Josh Harris
got hurt and the Chargers came calling for Levado.
Speaker 6 (34:57):
And yeah, okay, he's coming off the talking about Couch.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
His snaps have not been good all year.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
Special team has been a problem for this team. Stop
the bottom.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Harris is in the twenty one day window to come
back from the reserve injured list, but there's nobody else, so.
Speaker 4 (35:13):
Met you they got Presumably he's gonna be the guy.
Speaker 6 (35:16):
Okay, so you wonder.
Speaker 5 (35:17):
I mean, I'm sure Danny Smith will dial up something
to challenge a guy you know with a punt block.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
And Chargers gave up a sixty seven yard punt return
for a touchdown against Tennessee last Sunday.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
You mentioned the special teams have been an issue.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
They're allowing eighteen point zero yards per punt return and
twenty nine point three yards per kickoff return. Those are
both worthy for in the NFL titles.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
Dick or the kicker is a pretty good player. But
other than that, I'm glad you brought that up because
two hidden yardage aspects to this game greatly favor the
Steelers special teams and turnovers. I mean, in terms of
turnover differential, this is not been a real clean showing
by the Chargers. Herbert through three interceptions last year. He's
(36:07):
unpaced to throw fifteen. Yeah, he's under pressure a lot,
he's forcing things.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
I love him.
Speaker 5 (36:15):
I think Herbert's one of the best five or six
quarterbacks on the planet. I concur but what Merril said
is true, though there's times that he'll put the ball
on Harm's way and try to do too much, especially
because his line and his running games kind of not there.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
For Yeah, he tried one of those roll right and
then throw back across his body toward the middle left
part of the field, deep down the field, and he
got away with it, but as soon as it left
the hand.
Speaker 6 (36:40):
A little scared.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Uh oh, yeah, who's coming down with this one? The
offense are the defense.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
And if you watch it, I mean, he's had some
bad luck too, He's had some tip balls picked things
like that. But I think he's phenomenal and frankly, I
think their group of pass catchers is a really deep
group as well. That you know this, gads and kids
coming on like gang are getting more out of Quinton Johnston.
Conky's a good player. I just don't know how much
they can go downfield considering the protection situation.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
Yeah, gads and rookie tight end out of Syracuse, and
he is becoming eight down the field guy his last
four games, Matt sixty eight yards against the Dolphins, one
hundred and sixty four against the Colts, seventy seven against
the Vikings, and sixty eight against the Titans. And he's
got two touchdowns in that four game span. Trey Harris,
(37:30):
rookie wide receiver out of Old miss.
Speaker 6 (37:32):
Let's play more and more big.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Body guys actually starting to play a little more than
Keenan Allen.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Yeah, they like Harris as a blocker. They do a
lot of weird things personnel wise.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
Yeah, we mentioned those two they too.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
They do.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
I mean, they bring out those two goofy fullback the
lineman types. They'll run a lot of snaps with just
one receiver on the field. That's been Harris lately because
he'll block and he also has some downfield ability. Gadson's
kind of eating into Keenan Allen's workload a little bit too,
because you can call him a tight end. But Gadson
doesn't block anybody. Quinton Johnson's an interesting player. Mconkey's an
(38:10):
inside outside dude. I really like their pass catchers.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
Yeah, the goofy guys you mentioned, yeah tight end Tucker
Fisk number forty two, six four, two eighty five, and
then Scott Mattlocke, who burst onto the scene a couple
of years ago.
Speaker 6 (38:25):
The lineman turned yeah tight end.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
He's six four, three hundred.
Speaker 3 (38:30):
Yeah, and he only played three defensive snaps at Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Okay, and he played a bunch on offense.
Speaker 6 (38:36):
I didn't know he played any defense, Yeah, especially.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
A fullback tight end.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Yeah, but the uh yeah, twenty eight offensive snaps that
was forty three percent three on defense and ten on
special teams. But he's one of those guys, Matt, he's
paying the buy.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
The ball is going to go where he is.
Speaker 6 (38:54):
He's like Patrick mccarr.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (38:55):
I mean this is the Ravens of the West Coast.
I mean they do a lot of the same stuff.
Both these coordinators were Ravens guys. Obviously, the Harbaugh connection,
I mean he's their Patrick Ricard.
Speaker 6 (39:07):
They have two of them.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
You mentioned Quintin Johnson also the burner out of TCU.
You know when he first got to the Lege. Was
it three years ago? Yes, this is his third season.
Speaker 6 (39:17):
Might be a third.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
Yeah, he couldn't catch his first year.
Speaker 6 (39:21):
No, and they're misusing him too.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
He has since learned how to catch.
Speaker 6 (39:24):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (39:24):
The other thing that they were doing wrong with the
guy is they treated him just because he's big, strong, fast,
like he's George Pickens or DK Metcalf and the line
him up at like the XT receiver on the line
of scrimmage, beaten man coverage. What he's good at is
being more like a Deebo Samuel, a move player. Get
him on a crosser. He's really good with the ball
in his hands. But he was misused early on. And
(39:47):
you're right, his hands were a real problem.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Yeah, they got a lot of dudes. Not so much
anymore now he's had a good year. Mcconkiye's his own
killer and just a reliable.
Speaker 6 (39:56):
Big mccaukeey fan. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:57):
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Other than the offensive line and they're in a bullet
and stopped to run, this is a formidable football team.
Speaker 6 (40:03):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (40:03):
I mean running back in o line is just crushed
by injuries. But they have a great quarterback. They have
great receivers, and I.
Speaker 6 (40:11):
Gotta get on this road.
Speaker 5 (40:12):
I mean, they got a great head coach that always
plays by the rules, runs a clean ship, you know,
I mean, and one of your favorite guys out there.
Speaker 6 (40:21):
I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
Well, I'll say this.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
We talked a little bit with Meryl about their team toughness,
and I know they're a little beat up. Part of
that Tennessee game has just jumped off the TV screen
at me. It's twenty seventeen Chargers in the third quarter
and Tennessee really the only time it drove the ball
all day. Leven play seventy one yards, had a first
and goal at the eight, a third and goal at
(40:46):
the one try, a stupid wildcat play with Tony pok
that got stuffed, fourth and goal from the one try
to traditional run with Tony poulll behind the full back
that got stuff so and then the Chargers turn around
and moved the ball. Officially ninety nine yards, it was
actually one hundred and four because while they were in
(41:06):
the process of going from their own one yard line
into the end zone in the other county, they had
a five yard penalty, so.
Speaker 6 (41:13):
They had one hundred and four yards.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
He game five yards.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Twice, but fifteen plays, ninety nine yards, nine minutes and
three seconds of possession, and actually ran the ball nine
times for fifty yards.
Speaker 4 (41:26):
On that march.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
It was effective and both tackles were out by then
they were they were beat off there, but it was
that part of the game defensively and then offensively where
they said, okay, time to time to put an end
to this nonsense.
Speaker 5 (41:39):
And I was obviously joking about harball, but that's very
much a trait with him.
Speaker 6 (41:42):
I mean, oh yeah, Niners in Michigan.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
I was off the old school.
Speaker 3 (41:46):
Both Schambeckler Tree want to play smash and bash and.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
It's probably making him crazy that they'd have to become
a throwing team.
Speaker 4 (41:56):
Oh he's already crazy.
Speaker 6 (41:57):
Yeah wow, yeah too. But I'm sure he also took
this job because as a Herbert.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Well and yeah, you know, I respect what Meryl's saying
about how they can't play as much that way as
they want to, but they can still try.
Speaker 6 (42:08):
But they still right, still, they still will, they still do.
Speaker 5 (42:11):
Their great time of possession team, and they're gonna be
physical defensively.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
They got plenty of edge guys. Yeah, Darwin James.
Speaker 6 (42:20):
I love Darwin James.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
My god, I got a linebacker, slot safety, big nickel
Linebackeritzer Blitzer Yeah, lights you up. But I mean he
just a man for all seasons, on all occasions.
Speaker 4 (42:35):
He's a really good.
Speaker 5 (42:36):
Playing, great body, great athlete. I mean, really plays hard.
I mean he would be such a fan favorite here.
You guys would love this dude. You know, I think
him and Ramsey are real tight from their flost eight
days too.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
The other guy that jumps off the page at me
linebacker number zero.
Speaker 6 (42:53):
Oh Dan Henley.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Yeah yeah, yeah, boy can he can he run?
Speaker 6 (42:58):
He can really run.
Speaker 5 (42:58):
He's a little light, he's a little thin. That's just
a modern day linebacker. But this is kind of the
same thing I said going into the Packers game with
Edrin Cooper. I think they might be the two young
linebackers that I would bet on to become the next
great linebackers. They can really cover ground.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
And that and when he comes on and delayed, Blitz
does not take him long to get there, no explosive,
It's a blur coming through the middle of the line.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
Aaron Rodgers better be ready for that.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Big picture wise, with the Steelers, that and they've had
some ups and downs and hopefully learned some hard lessons. Uh,
do you think they get it now in terms of
the prerequisite fight which cam heywid said they didn't have
against the Packers, the prerequisite energy towards yes, and the
prerequisite You can't get turnovers and sacks every game, but
(43:50):
they have to get them more often than not.
Speaker 6 (43:52):
That's the thing is I.
Speaker 5 (43:55):
Obviously living on the edge of defensive splash being so
important to them, there will be a day or two
like the Bengal game where it just doesn't go your way.
You're half a second short on the sack, or you know,
Turner rips the ball out of Metcalf's hands and not
the other way around, you know, something like that, And
that's a tough way to live. But yes, I think
(44:16):
we're halfway through the season, a lot of veteran leadership,
a lot of guys that know how to win in
this league. And I think on both schemes they're starting
to figure some stuff out too, where you know.
Speaker 6 (44:27):
How to use Ramsey best et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 7 (44:29):
You know.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
Yeah, and it's not necessarily what they wanted to do.
Speaker 6 (44:31):
No, No, it wasn't the plan in June.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
And offensively it's a mixed bag. I've made disappoint a
couple of times. You don't want any of the Steelers
guys on your fantasy team because they might be featured
one week and invisible the next, especially.
Speaker 6 (44:46):
A tight end.
Speaker 3 (44:47):
But there are a lot of options in terms of
eligibles and ball carriers. Even getting Caleb Johnson back.
Speaker 5 (44:53):
Do you think we'll see a little more. You know,
i'd certainly look him, and Roman I don't know what
to think of. You know, they're just bringing them along
real slow, obviously.
Speaker 4 (45:01):
So we'll see. This is a big one. It's a
big one for playoff picture and time breakers.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
It's a big one for maintaining the lead in the division,
and it's a big one just for this team to
kind of make a statement.
Speaker 4 (45:13):
All Right, We've had some ups and downs, and.
Speaker 5 (45:15):
Now we are going to go writing the ship here forward.
That's what I'm expecting. I'm picking the Steelers to win.
But what did Merril say? It's a week to week
league or it's a update list update league. Yeah, it's
a tough thing to predict.
Speaker 4 (45:29):
That's gonna do it for us.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
I want to thank Justin Miller for keeping things running smoothly.
Speaker 4 (45:35):
Here at the Mothership.
Speaker 3 (45:36):
Thanks to Brian law Martina and everything he does for
Steelers Nation Radio. Thanks to you for finding us, however,
and wherever you found us, We'll do it again next week.
So until then, for Merrill Hodge and Matt Williamson, I'm
Mike Persuda. This has been Steelers Preview, presented by your
neighborhood Ford store. The F one fifty is the official
(45:57):
truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, right here on steel Nation Radio,
and you're Stealers flagship one of two point five dv E.
Speaker 4 (46:04):
Good night, everybody,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview Show on wdv E Pittsburgh,
brought to.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You by your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
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
direct from the team at shop dot Steelers dot com.
And now here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson
and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here under Steelers Flagship one of two point five
DV and Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Mike Persuda and Matt.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Williamson with you initially here getting you ready for the
Steelers and the Chargers Sunday night in Los Angeles. Merril
Hodge will be along directly and Matt. We did the
show a week ago, and the mood was different, the
toe was different, the tenor was different. I think I
made a joke about the sky still hadn't fallen as
(00:53):
far as I could tell, but looks.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Like it's propped up there pretty good right about now.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Yeah, exactly. And I didn't really see that coming. I mean,
the way the defense was playing leading into that game
was pretty concerning. And you knew, especially the defensive front,
the Highsmiths, the Watts, the Haywards, the guys that have
such great track record were better football players than the
(01:17):
defense was playing at that point. And you thought, you thought,
you start to wonder, but man, what a what a
performance by the defense. And I don't mean to bring
down the mood, but it was one of the worst
games by the Steeler offense of the year.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
And it really didn't matter. You know, it wasn't great.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, great, they put it in the end zone enough time,
right right, didn't have any.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
They're good on that side of the ball every week.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
And it didn't right home.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Lot of statistically didn't run the ball well, but protected
it and you know, did what the game allowed them
to do, what the game presented, and that defense was
just ferocious. Which leads me to why I wanted to
start tonight. I know we have a lot to unpack.
I think this is really good matchup. I think this
is very typical of today's NFL. I think you got
(02:05):
two good teams here that have their flaws, and on
a good night, they can both look really good. Yeah,
and on another night, they might be had there people.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
And there's playoff implications. Both these teams should be in
it till the end in terms of an AFC tiebreaker
or you know, division lead, particularly in the Steelers case.
And I guess time to get into the Chargers. I
mean for them, I feel so bad for the offensive
line injuries because they've invested in it so heavily. That
(02:37):
was the foundation of how they're going to build their
team and it's just crumbling and it's not their fault,
but boy, that sets up nice for the defensive front
that we just talked about of high Smith and wadd
and Hayward, et cetera, et cetera. Now I think everything, though,
starts with Herbert. I am so impressed with her.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Well that's the yeah. I wanted to start with him,
because no Al, no Slater.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Right, no other injuries.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Bobby Hart, we don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
They could be down to tackles four and five, the
guy they just got from New Orleans who is a
very good former nineteenth overall pick, and the Saints couldn't
find a position for him and he didn't get a
second contract in New Orleans. That qualifies as a bust
first round. But Justin Herbert, you know, watching him play
last Sunday against Tennessee, and he started to run more
(03:26):
the last couple of weeks. I think that's because their
running game has slowed down. They're also out of running.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Backs, by the way.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
By the way, the statistically to this point in the year,
they're still good, still top ten, I think in running
the football. But Justin Herbert was their leading rusher last week,
and he had a high average even though there were
about three touch pushes and a kneel down or two.
And I mean when he takes off, he goes. But
at the end of at the end of his runs,
(03:51):
Matt he is lowering his shoulder, he is stiff arming guys,
he is taking shots and when he's not running. That
was don't want to say a comfortable game for the Chargers,
but it certainly wasn't uncomfortable.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
They fell behind.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Early, the terrible team fell behind early on.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
A pick six and a punt return for a touchdown,
but got the lead back and they were kind of
in control and.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
The Tennessee's offense wasn't doing anything.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
And he got sacked six times and hit eleven times.
I know, I think Justin Herbert is at the height
of his powers, and I don't.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Know much longer he's going to be upright.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
I know again, they don't protect well against one of
the worst pass rushing teams in.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
The league after ALT went out.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
All the splits ALT versus not Alt is night and day,
and they do want to run the football. And he's
tough as can be, and he has a lot of
Josh Allen to him. Really is a big, physical, stiff
arm break tackle guy. But I would highly recommend that
he starts getting down and getting out of bounds. It
shocked me when I dug this up, but he has
(04:51):
more rushing yards than any other quarterback in the league
right now, you know, I mean, you don't think of
him in that light. Now Lamar's been hurt and they
haven't had their buy, but still you think of him
as one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the league.
But he as the Steelers saw this two times ago
when they played him. You give him a big lane,
he's gonna rip you for twelve yards over and over.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
And you're talking about November the twenty first, two and
twenty one at SO five Stadium, Los Angeles, forty one
Pittsburgh thirty seven. Justin Herbert was thirty of forty one
passing for three hundred and eighty two yards, three touchdowns
and a pick. He carried nine times for ninety yards rushing.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
They were backbreakers from there, and.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
They were backbreakers.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Remember that one where Cam Hayward was chasing them all
over southern California because he kept cutting back and serpentineous
his way down the field. Alex Heisman talked about that
a little bit this week. I'm hope hoping, not certain,
but hoping that a Steelers defense that just got its
sack mojo back, I hope, I hope those guys don't
(05:55):
sell out and want to kill the quarterback all night again,
because if you don't do it a concerted effort against
this guy and stay where you're supposed to be, he's
going to kill you with.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
His legs, kill smith prodects. And we remember that. We
gotta not let that store.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Yeah, you know, hopefully they don't just remember it, they
apply what they remember now.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Spying a quarterback can be a little overrated because you
still have to get him on the ground and all
those things. But I do think they will reduce as
they did this past week less blitz. You know, they
should win one on one matchups in the passing game
up front, we don't need to bring extra guys, probably
play a lot of zone, try to keep a lot
of eyes on him. They also have a wealth of receivers.
(06:35):
I mean they don't have a Jamar Chase, but kind
of like Indianapolis or Green Bay that they just played,
they have four or five really good pass catchers. And
they'll also bring out that big package with like Matt
Locke and those guys too.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
So Matt Locke, the defensive lineman turned full back. Yeah,
this is the other name I fireplug tight end.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Right.
Speaker 6 (06:55):
They're just hammerheads, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Right, Yeah, Yeah, they're like refrigerators there. Yes, and Matt
Lucky can call a short touchdown passed. Against Tennessee, they
did their throat at Spencer Anderson thing just to get
people to yah.
Speaker 7 (07:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
But the other thing I wanted to talk about here initially,
and I know there was a lot to talk about
after that Colts game, but an underdiscussed topic to me
is the three inside linebackers package.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
I really want to talk to Meryl about it.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Four to three, Look where they had Malik Harrison, Patrick
Queen and Peyton Wilson all on the field at the
same time. You have a four man front, which is
light because there's two outside linebackers instead of two defensive ends.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
But Peyton Wilson said the reason they did that was
they were so worried about Jonathan Taylor.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
I assumed, Okay, I didn't know that's what he said.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
But the Colts can also pass. So to me, I'm
like smacking my head, like, why didn't I think it is?
Speaker 7 (07:48):
So?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Why didn't they think of this long time ago? You
have the thumper and Harrison, you have the coverage guy
in Wilson, and you have to do it all guy
in Queen.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Yeah, and they're they're all on the field at the
same time. You're covered.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
And they corresponded it a lot with instead of playing
as much single high as they used to do at
the safety position, you could still have the bigger umbrella,
too high shell over the top with those guys, especially Dugger,
triggering the run but from the third level. So I
didn't think Harrison's addition back to the team wouldn't matter
(08:22):
that much, you know, to be honest with you, But
in this situation, especially with the threat that Taylor is
a big, physical back like him. They wanted that hammer
between the tackles, run stuff er guy and to me,
the biggest guy. That if he didn't trust Wilson as
a coverage player, none of it works. And that's what
I wanted to talk to Baryl about. I mean, I
(08:44):
think Wilson, something I've be talking about on the Drive
a lot this week, is really really leveling up as
a player. They're given him more and more responsibility, and
I think they have to be thrilled with him right now.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
And that was a big uptick in snaps for him. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Yeah, he's like an every down guy now.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
His snaps been going down.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
They had been alternating with Cole Hulkomb and when they
thought the other team was gonna run, they put hulk
them in. When they thought the other team was gonna throw,
they put Wilson in. I hate playing defense that way
because the offense does.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
They get it. They don't.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
You have the run guys out there, right and pass
When you have the pass guys, they kind of do
the opposite, right, Like, I'm all for using different players,
but you know, sub them in for a series or whatever.
This down to down stuff, and I think we saw
in the secondary, you know, stop alternating Thornhill and Chuck
Clark based on what you think is gonna happen or
what the formation suggests is gonna happen.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
Because I'm sure the offense is when Clark's and there,
we're gonna throw Donald and there we're gonna run.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
You know, I think they do. I think they can
figure that out.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Tell right, they dumbed it down in terms of what
they asked of those guys, and other than Darius Slay
going out a couple times with injury, it was pretty
much the same two corners and eccles as the nickel,
and the same two safeties and lo and behold, they
looked like they knew what they were doing.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Yeah, and again, I can't wait to talk to the
Merrow about it. Some of the all twenty two vanished points.
But I thought Ramsey was such a stabilizing force too,
you know, I mean, just a guy you could trust
on the back of that defense. And I don't know
if he'll stay at safety full time. I know you
will in the short term, but if the corner situation
(10:17):
falls apart, maybe he'll have to go back there. Who knows,
but if just to rewind like a minute of what
we're talking about. I like Cole Holcombe, but I would
love to see Queen and Wilson just be the every
down guys, you know.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, And I'd like to see a third one with
them here.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, a fair amount of the time, because I think
that's an idea whose.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Time has arrived. We've got a lot more.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
To get to and we are going to get to it,
including the welcoming of our factor. Back Merril Hodge to
the program when we come back with Matt Williamson and
Mike Persuda. Steelers pres Steelers Preview easy for me to say,
presented by your neighborhood Ford Story. The F one fifty
is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Comes to
you on Steelers Nation Radio and You're steel Heelers Flagship
(11:00):
one of two point five DVE.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DV.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Welcome back Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you here
on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one of
two point five DV. We're getting ready for the Steelers
and the Chargers Sunday next Football in Los Angeles. Time
now to welcome our factor back to the show, Merrill
Hodge joining us as he does each and every game
week and Merrill I was commenting the Matt at the
(11:31):
start of the show that our mood was a whole
lot different this week to kick things off than a
week ago. I was not optimistic at all regarding Steelers Colts.
I am cautiously so regarding Steelers Chargers.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
That's why we call him update league. Every week, it's
an update league.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
You never know.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Things change weekend and week out.
Speaker 8 (11:56):
Now, listen, if they had a play defensively like they
played against the Colts Man and we could have seen it,
but they that was our best performance defensively, you know,
as a I mean from.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Top to bottom out the end in Dowt.
Speaker 8 (12:12):
It was just for like a fundamental aspect of football,
you know, just like engaging in people, separating people playing
faster than they are playing on the other side of
the line of scrimmage, tackling people, knowing who your assignment is.
Speaker 7 (12:26):
I mean, it was.
Speaker 8 (12:28):
It was about as good a game as you could
possibly play. Then, you know, the turnovers that they created
were significant. I can't remember how many times I saw
the offense had the ball. I don't think I've ever well,
I'm sure it's happened. Clearly it's happened, but I just
don't remember seeing it where two of your offensive starts
are inside the twenty yard line of the opponent.
Speaker 7 (12:50):
I mean that's yeah, that's a pretty good way to start,
you know.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
I mean, so you know everybody would like that a
couple of times every game, but they uh, defensively, you know, now,
the problem with doing that is you've done it.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
Now, that's the expectation.
Speaker 8 (13:08):
You know, that's that's how you clearly need to play
every Sunday.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
Or to that level.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
So Merril, we were talking the first segment about the
some of the defensive changes and the schematic things they
did and three linebackers, and I want to get to
that in a minute. Yeah, yeah, I really want to
get your old twenty two view on that. But you
mentioned it, and sometimes it's just you tackled better, You
got more people to the football, and they won a
(13:35):
lot of one on one matchups against a really good
offensive line.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Correct, they had them, listen, they had them befuddled. I'm
telling there's times where you just you know, we need
when when offensive linemen put their hips on their hands.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
That's never a good thing, you know, because I was like,
you know.
Speaker 9 (13:55):
Four hands, Yeah, yeah, you know they were going through
they were going through some some struggles, you know, And
I just go back to how well they played.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
I mean, they just you know, the fundament you know,
how you.
Speaker 8 (14:09):
Engage, you know, like I tell people all the time,
like you every position you start with feet hips to hands.
It doesn't matter what you're talking about, Okay, I mean
throwing a football feet hips to hands. You know, how
you run a route feet hips to hands. How you
play linebacker feet hips to hands off the line, and
feet hips and running back feet hips to hands.
Speaker 7 (14:29):
I mean, how you've learned to.
Speaker 8 (14:31):
Play the game and play the game well is in
that sequence. And those things have to work together. And
when you don't play well, those sequences aren't working together.
They were this is I'm telling you. They were just
about they were They were playing with some energy, you know,
but they're they're fundamentals of how they were engaging in and.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
Getting off blocks. You know.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
I just hadn't seen that, haven't seen that consistency, you know,
you know, and I don't know if they explained why
you know that that linebacker duo that they played with,
you know, on the personnel. I don't know if that
was just because they could run the football, you know,
because I've seen him do that well, you know, we've
seen him do that with the with the Ravens. You know,
(15:14):
they'll they'll play with you know, five linebackers. Yeah, so
you know, I don't know, I don't know if that
was some of their thinking, just how they were running
the football.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
They felt it was a better package for them.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
But yeah, we had seen the three outside linebackers stuff
that I think that started against Baltimore several years ago,
and they've they've used that a little bit this year.
They've been using it a little bit for a while now.
But what was new to me was three inside linebackers
and two outside linebackers and that four to three look.
Matt and I were both really intrigued by it. What
(15:47):
what'd you think of it?
Speaker 7 (15:49):
What was effective? You know? And I didn't know why
they did it either, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Other than that Peyton Wilson said it was it was
the run thing, like so good running the ball. They
were trying to cover the past, but they were also
trying to cover their backside in case the cults were Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
And I think Adden Harrison to the mix is a
thumper made them more comfortable in the too high.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
Stuff they were doing too, gotcha, Yeah yeah, I mean
I would have been my guests. I mean when I
saw it, I was like, Okay, this is this is
get around the run and then nearly he's Peyton Wilson
used his speed to you know, to get involved in coverage,
you know, with areas that they needed to do that with.
I know they feel that his range and clearly yeah,
(16:31):
they're currently correct. I mean his his range helps them.
You know, he can run like a dB in some areas.
And it was they but I'll tell you this, though
they did such a good job up front. I just
I don't remember, you know, I've watched the Colts all
year too. I mean they have the gas people, I
(16:52):
mean gash people, you know, and then you get that
guy in the secondary and it's problem and they just
never did that.
Speaker 7 (16:59):
They could not do that. They could not get him
into the secondary. You know. I think they had one
run for eight yards or nine yards and that was.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Like it, yeah, long run of nine yards after the
week before long run of eighty yards.
Speaker 7 (17:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's a big deal.
Speaker 8 (17:12):
Man. That's that's not easy in the NFL. I mean,
that was That's that's why I do love about it.
I mean, and it's superior to college. You know, you
don't get this in college. You know, college is so
my guy's better than you're a guy. And that's kind
of how it's going to go. Sometimes they're evenly matched up,
but about eight percent of the time, my guy's better
than your guys.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
So don't no matter what you do.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
You know, do you think that's a package it's here
to stay or is that come out Raven's week or
you know.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
I do situation.
Speaker 8 (17:39):
I think teams that run, yeah, I think teams that
run the ball well because they played it so well
are completely Why not.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Let's talk about the Let's talk about the Chargers in
terms of whether they run the ball or not, because
statistically they do. Lately, as they continue to run out
of tackles and running backs justin Herbert's running the last
two weeks of particular, have inflated their totals. Now, I
get those yards count and you know, the chains move
and the touchdown gets scored. But different, is this a
(18:08):
good running team or a team that is just going
to want to run the football.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
Well, i'd think towards the want. You know, they they
you know, they all the losses you just mentioned, I
mean Hamilton that they lost.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
That gives North Carolina that that and I don't know
when is.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
He coming off.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
I are not soon, not definitely, not definitely, not this
sweet Yeah he's getting.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
A hamstring that I don't know.
Speaker 7 (18:38):
Yeah, I can't. I don't know what he did.
Speaker 8 (18:40):
But well they're like county blessings on that one, because
that dude could run.
Speaker 7 (18:43):
That's a he's a wicked player.
Speaker 8 (18:46):
And you know, once they lost Nase and him and
the depth went away. You know, they have just not
been as committed to it. You know, they will still
do it. You know, their their power run is their
staple run. But they just not They're just not as
good as they as they were even last year. They're
just not very good at it. And part of it
(19:07):
is are not consistent with it. And yeah, they started
to lean on the quarterback a little too much.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
I think, you know, yeck, you can do that.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
You know, the Titan game got away from him because
you know that a pick six and then a punt return, and.
Speaker 7 (19:22):
I think they probably felt like they needed to get
going a little more. The running game wasn't good.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
So that that's maybe why they deviated away from it
in that game.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
But if you can get him into that mode, but
that's that's.
Speaker 8 (19:36):
A massive advantage for the Steelers if they can, if
they can shift that gear and get them to where
they want to be one dimensional and they want to
trust their quarterback. You know, I like their quarterback, but
there's he still has moments where that moment where it
makes an unbelievable throw and then they have moments where
you're like, oh, that's very questionable, you know, and or
(20:00):
game changing.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So, yeah, he trust his arm a little bit too
much sometimes, doesn't he.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
Yeah, there's some things he did at Oregon he's and
it's you know, it's.
Speaker 7 (20:11):
Gotten better with it, but it's still there, you know.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
And and then I just think the more that you
ask him, that's hard on anybody, I don't care how
good they are. You know, when to be consistent, you know,
and make sure you're making completions and making the right
choices and decisions at a high rate when they know
you're having to throw the football and you're gonna throw
the football. It's a completely different environment when you know, listen,
(20:37):
you got them, you got.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Them on their heels. They don't know if we're gonna
run or throw.
Speaker 8 (20:40):
Trust me, it's a whole different game to throw the
football then, versus when everybody knows you're throwing it. You know,
that becomes a problem. And it's very much it's harder,
I mean much harder. But then get him in that
scenario that would be ideal.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
Especially considering the state of the charters protection. But I
want to get back to some of the defensive change
I was. I thought Jalen Ramsey as a true safety
was such a stabilizing force. And I give dugger all
the credit in the world for jumping on a moving
train and being a quality player. For you, are you
are you real happy with that combination? And do you
(21:15):
think they maybe figured out this safety thing out?
Speaker 7 (21:18):
Yeah, well, let's hope.
Speaker 8 (21:20):
But it was more consistent, you know then, Like I said,
I you know, you didn't see a bunch of bus
and breakdowns and issues, you know, like you know, some
previous games. So it's you know, that's credit to coaches
and players alike. You know, players eventually has to get
it done. Inside the White Lions, the coach has to,
you know, try to come up and have some vision
(21:42):
to to help the team and and the.
Speaker 7 (21:45):
Both of those worked.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Meryl, we talked about how well they played.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
We've talked a little bit about how the schematics and
the weeks due to their situation and the opponent were
spot on. They clearly also an intangible edge and that
was Ramsey with that speech that he delivered to the
team the night before the game. Aaron Rodgers talked about
it immediately after the game. Guys have been talking about
it here all week at the practice facility. I'm told
(22:15):
by multiple players absolutely that was real. And yeah, right,
I was listening and I was hanging on every word,
and you know, he was basically telling him got to
start playing like the Pittsburgh Steelers teams that I used
to come in here and play against.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
They were hard to play against.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
They had swagger, they had attitude, they had an edge.
You can't pull that card out every week, though, can
you like, is this how can this team you know,
recreate what it had going at home against Indianapolis on
the road in LA.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
Well, the one thing you get to do is you
get to watch how you performed.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
Okay, so you know, I go back to feat hips hands,
you know, how they engage in people, how they fundamentally
handled things. You know I'd mentioned and this on the
morning Shy. You know, screaming and yelling words don't win games.
It does nothing.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
You know, you got to apply action.
Speaker 8 (23:09):
And every now and then and declare this is a
scenario where that took place, where that resonated with people.
And so when I say resonated with people, I go
back to what I saw. How they played.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
You know, was there a different energy yes, where they
play faster. Yes.
Speaker 8 (23:22):
However they were so much better fundamentally. You know that
that helps you play in any sport, Like when you're
fundamentally better, this is gonna help you. Okay, you can
still try to play fast and play hard, but if
you're not fundamentally sound, it's it's gonna be a problem.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
Like they were really fundamentally good. So listen.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
If it tapped into that, you know, then now you
watched yourself, you know, and now you've seen how you
can play.
Speaker 7 (23:49):
You can see what the fundamentals do when you when you're.
Speaker 8 (23:52):
Applying properly and consistently they make a difference. You know,
that's why you practice it, and so I think it can.
Speaker 7 (24:00):
Be carried over.
Speaker 8 (24:01):
I do I do things when sometimes a person resonates
with a team like that, and then they take that
and apply it and they see the value in it. Sure,
I think that that can be built on. I don't
think there and you don't need to have a speech
like that every every week. You know that that's that's
probably won't happen again this season, but it's it's set
(24:23):
the tone of how you can plain now how you
should play.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
You know.
Speaker 7 (24:26):
See, now that comes down to the player.
Speaker 8 (24:29):
You know your standard for yourself and do you expect
that and demand that of yourself? And they did it
in that game, and now just got to keep doing that.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
So the Steelers running game looked like it was really
trending in the right direction. You know, they're they're running
a variety of plays. Warren was looking great. But these
last six quarters that production has dried up massively.
Speaker 7 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Is it worry you or do you think it's just
kind of getting away from it a little bit?
Speaker 7 (24:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (24:56):
I think they got you know, actually, when I was
watched the game, I'm like, Okay, they they haven't tried
to get to the perimeter at all.
Speaker 7 (25:03):
You know, I was like that. You know, they play call.
Speaker 8 (25:06):
I mean that's you know that that's not an easy
job when you're playing Call.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
But they didn't really have a good mix, you know.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
Like they have had, you know that insider running and
their perimeter runs.
Speaker 7 (25:20):
You know, I didn't.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
I don't think of the Colts doing anything on the
perimeter that would have scared me, you know, especially the
way they're they're playing, the way they're getting off its
linemen out there on smaller numbers. But then when they
started actually some big runs you know, they're actually running,
games started to come around. But listen, I think the
(25:43):
coach coaches do this all the time. I mean it's
a it's a common thing. You you have to look
at yourself. Go man, I got away away from doing
stuff based on some other stuff that was happening in
the game.
Speaker 7 (25:53):
I mean I've done that. I'm gonna play. I played Called,
and I was like cow and you go back and
look at you like what was I thinking? You know,
so not everybody does it right.
Speaker 8 (26:02):
And I think in this case on the road with
you know how the charge, the team, the charge are
this is a really critical game that you're running games affective.
I just think this one maybe one of the most
port where like that's a big priority in this one.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Why so in this one, maryl Well.
Speaker 8 (26:24):
Just see how they are defensively, you know, they they
have you know, they actually have struggled against defending the run,
you know, and and some of the the perimeter runs.
You know, like the Titans got him a lot on
their perimeter game. Uh they then got him inside too,
you know, they were they were gashing them, you know.
(26:44):
And Khalil mack is he's playing, but man, he's playing
with one arm.
Speaker 7 (26:48):
I don't even know how he's playing, is what it is.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Because I've watched him and I thought, boy, he's still
pretty good.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
But he doesn't look like Khalil mack.
Speaker 8 (26:56):
Hey, Khalil Mack Man, he's a shell of himself, you know.
And I shoot him, know when I said, kids, it's
the kind of buffalo. You know, I've been best football
I've ever seen fundamentally coming out into from college of
the NFL.
Speaker 7 (27:08):
I just like, God, dude, he is.
Speaker 8 (27:11):
I didn't think I thought he sees was going to
be over based on how what he did to his elbow,
So it's it's a credit. You know, he's back out there,
but you can tell he doesn't want to play with
that arm, you know, he don't trust it, so.
Speaker 7 (27:24):
You know, he gets out leveraged. You know.
Speaker 8 (27:26):
They did that lot to him, you know, and they
got a couple of good, big runs on him. Like
I would target him, I'd run at him.
Speaker 7 (27:33):
You know. This might be the only time I say.
Speaker 8 (27:36):
It with a wounded guy like that, you know, especially
if you get a blocker, because he's it's his left
arm that he did and when when you get somebody
on his left side, he can't handle it. He just
can't fight him off like you know he could in
the past. So he got out playing and they got
some big runs on him, you know, and they ran
(27:58):
the ball pretty effectively. Team have had some some some
good runs and then some successful streaks against them. And
with what the Steelers have the ability to do, I
think poses problems to them as long as they fill
that nis at him.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
I just think that could be a big deal in
this game.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
What do you think of their defense as a whole.
I can't quite wrap my head around it. I mean,
but they're not an easy one to evaluate.
Speaker 7 (28:23):
Yeah, they you know, they listen when Climac went out.
Speaker 8 (28:26):
You know, now he's not really not the same, and
you know they'll do some stuff up front. They're active,
they're athletic, you know, yes, and they do get to
the ball and you know sometimes you know, I just
watching them this week and it's almost like they're I'm
trying to figure out how to say this. It's like
their speed and production and stuff doesn't result in that.
(28:49):
I don't know if that makes sense, because like you
see him flashing around trying to get blocks, and then
they're like, okay, that's that's pretty good. Then I'm looking
up at the score ground like it's a sick yard run.
Speaker 7 (28:59):
Like I'm like, oh, geez, they looked better. This is
what I'm saying. They looked better off tape. I'm ain't good. Yeah,
so I do know what you're saying.
Speaker 8 (29:09):
That's a that's a very observative because it's I completely agree.
Then you see the result and you're like, boy, they're
swarming to the ball, they're getting off the box and
like a five yard run.
Speaker 7 (29:22):
I guess they play like that would be okay.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
You know, Matt mentioned a second ago they play hard
and I would concur and uh, you know, HEALTHI or otherwise.
I think everybody knows how Hardball wants to play. Everybody
knows how Jesse Minter wants to coordinate his defense. Everybody
knows how Greg Roman wants to run on the offense.
It almost strikes me as kind of a AFC North type.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Of such a heavy raven field that you're.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Gonna need in this game, even though you're playing out
in California on the water with the ocean breezes blowing.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
In on Sunday night.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
I mean, first foremost, this is a rock fight at
the fifty, right, you got to win that first.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
I'm thinking, yeah, fight the fifty you can. You're spot on.
Speaker 8 (30:09):
Now Listen, they had all the all the horses, it
would definitely be all that, or they would even be
a question. See, I think they want to try to play.
I just don't think they can play like that right now.
They want to play like that. I don't think there's
any doubt. I just don't think they can see That's
what I'm saying. But let's go play like that. Let's
bring him into the ring, Let's bring him into the middle,
(30:31):
Let's take him off the rope fifty.
Speaker 7 (30:33):
Let's get it on.
Speaker 8 (30:35):
Let's get it on, because they don't have the guys
that they you know, would normally have that would make
that easier for them.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Meryl, I like the sound of that.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Let's uh see if the Steelers can take care of
business again, and we'll do this again next week.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
All right.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Remember it's an update, league, don't forget.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
That this just did.
Speaker 7 (30:55):
Thanks Meryl, all right, see you guys.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
Take care.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Merril Hodges the factor back here on Steelers Preview. Gear
up with the latest game day necessities at the official
Steelers Pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, Jersey's Terrible Towls,
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, the Grove City Premium Outlets,
(31:18):
and the Tanger Outlets. You can also gear up online
at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct from
the team at Steelers Pro shop at shop dot Steelers
dot com. One more segment to go, so keep it
here with Matt Williamson on Mike Persuda. Steelers Preview presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one fifty is
the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Comes to you
(31:40):
on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one O two.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
Point five DVE.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
Welcome back to the preview.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you as we get
you ready for the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
And the Chargers Sunday in Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
The injury report is presented by your neighborhood Ford Store
of the F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and had a lot of entries on the
Steelers practice participation report, as is always the case this year,
but the one that is concerning to me, Guard Isaac
say malou Peck did not practice.
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Now.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Mike Tomlin talked on Tuesday about how Saint Malin's in
a simmer position as he was getting up to the
Colts game. He did some work on Friday and he
was able to play most of the game, not all
of it. But this isn't something that is going to
last the entirety of the rest of the season.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Is it? Where he's just going to work around this.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
I hate talking about injuries. I don't know, but well,
I mean it's a it's a peck injury. From what
I understand, it's an immense pain situation and it's kind
of just pain tolerance. So when you could get him
out of the game, it was great to get him
out of the game. Who knows, I mean I kind
of knew, I mean into this week that high Smith
(33:02):
and especially Ciamalu, we probably wouldn't learn much during the week.
I mean, those guys are veterans that they're gonna protect
it all costs if they're fine for game day, to
throw them right out there. They don't have to practice
a whole time. So I think that's gonna be Sunday
afternoon we figure that one out.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
High Smith officially limited with an ankle.
Speaker 7 (33:22):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Connor Hayward showed up knee, did not practice. Darnold Washington
was back to work today. That was encouraging.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
Yeah, he had a foot yesterday and now it seems fine.
Speaker 7 (33:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
And on the Chargers side of things, uh, the news
is already out. I mean, the two starting tackles are on.
They're not playing.
Speaker 8 (33:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
O'marion Hampton, the running back is not going to play.
Dogie Harris is not going to play Bobby Hart.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
It's the rest of the O line you got to
figure out. Now, how do you piece it together?
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Bobby Hart offensive tackle knee ankle, has not practiced this week.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
He left the game and didn't return. I mean, I
would bet that's a long shot. And frankly, he's not
very good either. He was not the planet right tackle.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
And one of the starting guards.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Mackay Beckton limited for the second consecutive day with the knee.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
So the Chargers he's.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
Their best remaining player went healthy, but he's rarely healthy too.
He's three hundred and sixty pounds.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
Yeah, they got some injury problems.
Speaker 5 (34:18):
Also traded for Trevor Penning, who knows how he fits
in the mix, But he wasn't very good with the Saints.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Yeah, they tried him at both tackle spots and one
of the guard spots.
Speaker 4 (34:28):
He was playing guard this year.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Yeah, they traded him for a bag of footballs just
to get.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Him out right as a former first round pick. Didn't
get to a second contract. Not good. Chargers also making
a switch at long snapper this week.
Speaker 6 (34:41):
Oh I didn't catch up.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, Rick Levado, who snapped for the Eagles last year
and was a long time NFL long snapper. He had
retired after the season last year, and then Josh Harris
got hurt and the Chargers came calling for Levado.
Speaker 6 (34:57):
And yeah, okay, he's coming off the talking about Couch.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
His snaps have not been good all year.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
Special team has been a problem for this team. Stop
the bottom.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Harris is in the twenty one day window to come
back from the reserve injured list, but there's nobody else, so.
Speaker 4 (35:13):
Met you they got Presumably he's gonna be the guy.
Speaker 6 (35:16):
Okay, so you wonder.
Speaker 5 (35:17):
I mean, I'm sure Danny Smith will dial up something
to challenge a guy you know with a punt block.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
And Chargers gave up a sixty seven yard punt return
for a touchdown against Tennessee last Sunday.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
You mentioned the special teams have been an issue.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
They're allowing eighteen point zero yards per punt return and
twenty nine point three yards per kickoff return. Those are
both worthy for in the NFL titles.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
Dick or the kicker is a pretty good player. But
other than that, I'm glad you brought that up because
two hidden yardage aspects to this game greatly favor the
Steelers special teams and turnovers. I mean, in terms of
turnover differential, this is not been a real clean showing
by the Chargers. Herbert through three interceptions last year. He's
(36:07):
unpaced to throw fifteen. Yeah, he's under pressure a lot,
he's forcing things.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
I love him.
Speaker 5 (36:15):
I think Herbert's one of the best five or six
quarterbacks on the planet. I concur but what Merril said
is true, though there's times that he'll put the ball
on Harm's way and try to do too much, especially
because his line and his running games kind of not there.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
For Yeah, he tried one of those roll right and
then throw back across his body toward the middle left
part of the field, deep down the field, and he
got away with it, but as soon as it left
the hand.
Speaker 6 (36:40):
A little scared.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Uh oh, yeah, who's coming down with this one? The
offense are the defense.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
And if you watch it, I mean, he's had some
bad luck too, He's had some tip balls picked things
like that. But I think he's phenomenal and frankly, I
think their group of pass catchers is a really deep
group as well. That you know this, gads and kids
coming on like gang are getting more out of Quinton Johnston.
Conky's a good player. I just don't know how much
they can go downfield considering the protection situation.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
Yeah, gads and rookie tight end out of Syracuse, and
he is becoming eight down the field guy his last
four games, Matt sixty eight yards against the Dolphins, one
hundred and sixty four against the Colts, seventy seven against
the Vikings, and sixty eight against the Titans. And he's
got two touchdowns in that four game span. Trey Harris,
(37:30):
rookie wide receiver out of Old miss.
Speaker 6 (37:32):
Let's play more and more big.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Body guys actually starting to play a little more than
Keenan Allen.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Yeah, they like Harris as a blocker. They do a
lot of weird things personnel wise.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
Yeah, we mentioned those two they too.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
They do.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
I mean, they bring out those two goofy fullback the
lineman types. They'll run a lot of snaps with just
one receiver on the field. That's been Harris lately because
he'll block and he also has some downfield ability. Gadson's
kind of eating into Keenan Allen's workload a little bit too,
because you can call him a tight end. But Gadson
doesn't block anybody. Quinton Johnson's an interesting player. Mconkey's an
(38:10):
inside outside dude. I really like their pass catchers.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
Yeah, the goofy guys you mentioned, yeah tight end Tucker
Fisk number forty two, six four, two eighty five, and
then Scott Mattlocke, who burst onto the scene a couple
of years ago.
Speaker 6 (38:25):
The lineman turned yeah tight end.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
He's six four, three hundred.
Speaker 3 (38:30):
Yeah, and he only played three defensive snaps at Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Okay, and he played a bunch on offense.
Speaker 6 (38:36):
I didn't know he played any defense, Yeah, especially.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
A fullback tight end.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Yeah, but the uh yeah, twenty eight offensive snaps that
was forty three percent three on defense and ten on
special teams. But he's one of those guys, Matt, he's
paying the buy.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
The ball is going to go where he is.
Speaker 6 (38:54):
He's like Patrick mccarr.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (38:55):
I mean this is the Ravens of the West Coast.
I mean they do a lot of the same stuff.
Both these coordinators were Ravens guys. Obviously, the Harbaugh connection,
I mean he's their Patrick Ricard.
Speaker 6 (39:07):
They have two of them.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
You mentioned Quintin Johnson also the burner out of TCU.
You know when he first got to the Lege. Was
it three years ago? Yes, this is his third season.
Speaker 6 (39:17):
Might be a third.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
Yeah, he couldn't catch his first year.
Speaker 6 (39:21):
No, and they're misusing him too.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
He has since learned how to catch.
Speaker 6 (39:24):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (39:24):
The other thing that they were doing wrong with the
guy is they treated him just because he's big, strong, fast,
like he's George Pickens or DK Metcalf and the line
him up at like the XT receiver on the line
of scrimmage, beaten man coverage. What he's good at is
being more like a Deebo Samuel, a move player. Get
him on a crosser. He's really good with the ball
in his hands. But he was misused early on. And
(39:47):
you're right, his hands were a real problem.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Yeah, they got a lot of dudes. Not so much
anymore now he's had a good year. Mcconkiye's his own
killer and just a reliable.
Speaker 6 (39:56):
Big mccaukeey fan. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:57):
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Other than the offensive line and they're in a bullet
and stopped to run, this is a formidable football team.
Speaker 6 (40:03):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (40:03):
I mean running back in o line is just crushed
by injuries. But they have a great quarterback. They have
great receivers, and I.
Speaker 6 (40:11):
Gotta get on this road.
Speaker 5 (40:12):
I mean, they got a great head coach that always
plays by the rules, runs a clean ship, you know,
I mean, and one of your favorite guys out there.
Speaker 6 (40:21):
I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
Well, I'll say this.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
We talked a little bit with Meryl about their team toughness,
and I know they're a little beat up. Part of
that Tennessee game has just jumped off the TV screen
at me. It's twenty seventeen Chargers in the third quarter
and Tennessee really the only time it drove the ball
all day. Leven play seventy one yards, had a first
and goal at the eight, a third and goal at
(40:46):
the one try, a stupid wildcat play with Tony pok
that got stuffed, fourth and goal from the one try
to traditional run with Tony poulll behind the full back
that got stuff so and then the Chargers turn around
and moved the ball. Officially ninety nine yards, it was
actually one hundred and four because while they were in
(41:06):
the process of going from their own one yard line
into the end zone in the other county, they had
a five yard penalty, so.
Speaker 6 (41:13):
They had one hundred and four yards.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
He game five yards.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Twice, but fifteen plays, ninety nine yards, nine minutes and
three seconds of possession, and actually ran the ball nine
times for fifty yards.
Speaker 4 (41:26):
On that march.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
It was effective and both tackles were out by then
they were they were beat off there, but it was
that part of the game defensively and then offensively where
they said, okay, time to time to put an end
to this nonsense.
Speaker 5 (41:39):
And I was obviously joking about harball, but that's very
much a trait with him.
Speaker 6 (41:42):
I mean, oh yeah, Niners in Michigan.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
I was off the old school.
Speaker 3 (41:46):
Both Schambeckler Tree want to play smash and bash and.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
It's probably making him crazy that they'd have to become
a throwing team.
Speaker 4 (41:56):
Oh he's already crazy.
Speaker 6 (41:57):
Yeah wow, yeah too. But I'm sure he also took
this job because as a Herbert.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Well and yeah, you know, I respect what Meryl's saying
about how they can't play as much that way as
they want to, but they can still try.
Speaker 6 (42:08):
But they still right, still, they still will, they still do.
Speaker 5 (42:11):
Their great time of possession team, and they're gonna be
physical defensively.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
They got plenty of edge guys. Yeah, Darwin James.
Speaker 6 (42:20):
I love Darwin James.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
My god, I got a linebacker, slot safety, big nickel
Linebackeritzer Blitzer Yeah, lights you up. But I mean he
just a man for all seasons, on all occasions.
Speaker 4 (42:35):
He's a really good.
Speaker 5 (42:36):
Playing, great body, great athlete. I mean, really plays hard.
I mean he would be such a fan favorite here.
You guys would love this dude. You know, I think
him and Ramsey are real tight from their flost eight
days too.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
The other guy that jumps off the page at me
linebacker number zero.
Speaker 6 (42:53):
Oh Dan Henley.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Yeah yeah, yeah, boy can he can he run?
Speaker 6 (42:58):
He can really run.
Speaker 5 (42:58):
He's a little light, he's a little thin. That's just
a modern day linebacker. But this is kind of the
same thing I said going into the Packers game with
Edrin Cooper. I think they might be the two young
linebackers that I would bet on to become the next
great linebackers. They can really cover ground.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
And that and when he comes on and delayed, Blitz
does not take him long to get there, no explosive,
It's a blur coming through the middle of the line.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
Aaron Rodgers better be ready for that.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Big picture wise, with the Steelers, that and they've had
some ups and downs and hopefully learned some hard lessons. Uh,
do you think they get it now in terms of
the prerequisite fight which cam heywid said they didn't have
against the Packers, the prerequisite energy towards yes, and the
prerequisite You can't get turnovers and sacks every game, but
(43:50):
they have to get them more often than not.
Speaker 6 (43:52):
That's the thing is I.
Speaker 5 (43:55):
Obviously living on the edge of defensive splash being so
important to them, there will be a day or two
like the Bengal game where it just doesn't go your way.
You're half a second short on the sack, or you know,
Turner rips the ball out of Metcalf's hands and not
the other way around, you know, something like that, And
that's a tough way to live. But yes, I think
(44:16):
we're halfway through the season, a lot of veteran leadership,
a lot of guys that know how to win in
this league. And I think on both schemes they're starting
to figure some stuff out too, where you know.
Speaker 6 (44:27):
How to use Ramsey best et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 7 (44:29):
You know.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
Yeah, and it's not necessarily what they wanted to do.
Speaker 6 (44:31):
No, No, it wasn't the plan in June.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
And offensively it's a mixed bag. I've made disappoint a
couple of times. You don't want any of the Steelers
guys on your fantasy team because they might be featured
one week and invisible the next, especially.
Speaker 6 (44:46):
A tight end.
Speaker 3 (44:47):
But there are a lot of options in terms of
eligibles and ball carriers. Even getting Caleb Johnson back.
Speaker 5 (44:53):
Do you think we'll see a little more. You know,
i'd certainly look him, and Roman I don't know what
to think of. You know, they're just bringing them along
real slow, obviously.
Speaker 4 (45:01):
So we'll see. This is a big one. It's a
big one for playoff picture and time breakers.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
It's a big one for maintaining the lead in the division,
and it's a big one just for this team to
kind of make a statement.
Speaker 4 (45:13):
All Right, We've had some ups and downs, and.
Speaker 5 (45:15):
Now we are going to go writing the ship here forward.
That's what I'm expecting. I'm picking the Steelers to win.
But what did Merril say? It's a week to week
league or it's a update list update league. Yeah, it's
a tough thing to predict.
Speaker 4 (45:29):
That's gonna do it for us.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
I want to thank Justin Miller for keeping things running smoothly.
Speaker 4 (45:35):
Here at the Mothership.
Speaker 3 (45:36):
Thanks to Brian law Martina and everything he does for
Steelers Nation Radio. Thanks to you for finding us, however,
and wherever you found us, We'll do it again next week.
So until then, for Merrill Hodge and Matt Williamson, I'm
Mike Persuda. This has been Steelers Preview, presented by your
neighborhood Ford store. The F one fifty is the official
(45:57):
truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, right here on steel Nation Radio,
and you're Stealers flagship one of two point five dv E.
Speaker 4 (46:04):
Good night, everybody,
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.