December 19, 2024 • 43 mins
Mike, Matt, and Merril breakdown what the second meeting between the Steelers and Ravens might contain as the black and gold can be crowned AFC North champions once again with the victory.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on wdve E Pittsburgh,
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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 2 (00:24):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five dve and the Steelers Audio Network. I'm Mike Pursuda,
along with Matt Williamson, Meryl Hodge, our factor back will
be along directly as we do our best to get
you ready for the Steelers and the Ravens Saturday in Baltimore. Matt,
the Steelers the least of their concerns this short week.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, there's a lot of concerns.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah. The practice participation Report, which is where we usually
start this program, is not encouraging out to start with
wide receiver George Pickens hamstring the headline.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Obviously, this is a problem that's a problem.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
How do they work around it?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Well, the most encouraging thing I can say about it
is it's Ravens week and it's usually a three point
game no matter what. You know what I mean, you
muck it up. You know these guys so well, Rarely
in the history of this fantastic battle has been a
blowout in the end. And I always talk about winning
in the margins, penalties, turnovers, that sort of, you know,
(01:30):
special teams. I think the Steelers are the best special
teams unit in the entire league. There's only one kicker
that's missing more field goals than Tucker right now in
the whole league. They're the most penalized team in the
league Baltimore and Steelers are number one and turnover differential,
So like all that margin stuff greatly favors the Steelers,
and it's going to.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Have to Yeah, And I think it's a good point.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
You know, many times we've looked at this game historically
and thought, oh, well, this is the one that ends
up thirty eight two or something of that sort, and
never invariably it does not. Also, quarterback Justin Field's abdomen out.
You know, when you don't have pickings you start thinking, boy,
maybe Justin Fields throw some curveballs at him here something different.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well, forget about that.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Now we go to the defensive side, and it's not
looking very good there either. Uh. Safety to Shaun Elliott,
hamstring doubtful, cornerback Dante Jackson back questionable, defensive tackle Larry
Ogan Jovi groin questionable. The good news there TJ. Watt
does not have it. No, that's there is some positive
(02:37):
So it looks like he's good to go. But man,
to those three guys, who's the uh, the biggest miss
if he ends up not playing? I would say Elliott,
who would they miss?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Which is probably the one that's not gonna play for sure, Yeah,
and the other ones are. I give him a decent
chance at least fifty to fifty Elliott. Sure doesn't sound favorable,
but he's a really important piece.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah, he's just had a great year.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, it does it all does it kind of under
the radar, and they really don't have a guy they
can do that. Now. They played make a Fitzpatrick down
in the box a lot in the Eagles game and
had Demante Casey playing center field make him made.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
A few plays and also last time they played the Ravens.
Minka did a lot of third down red zone against
Andrews too.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
He's gonna have to be a coverage guy and a
tackle guy, not a deterrent, right, and I think they
can't keep him in the post and say just don't
throw it here.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I don't think so. And I also think Sutton has
can do a little bit of deep middle stuff. Kyz's
bet a better year than most people give them credit for.
But it was one more thing I'm gonna throw in
here after you talk Raven's injury report.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Okay, Yeah, well let's get to that, because they have
some significant entries as well. Wide receiver for Shot Bateman,
foot is questionable.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Guard Daniel Knee questionable, big, big guy.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
He's a monster. I would think I'm a very good player.
I would These are always questionable. Yeah, lower body stuff
for him.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
They have to support and outside linebacker, edge guy a
dafe O Way ankle questionable. Usually questionable guys play, but
but they're questionable.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Oh Bateman got hurt. He was in a walking boat today.
I mean he got hurt yesterday in practice.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I didn't practice today.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
You didn't mention Aguilar. He's their third receiver, is he Well,
it's not the ente, no, that much of sure. Yeah,
we were talking about on the drive today. I mean
Flowers one.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, Bateman, I get well, I got Flowers, Bateman and
the third guy would be their tight ends.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, but that's where he's going with Elliott is I
really think they're going to be without Aglar and Bateman.
So I would imagine you're gonna see a lot of
tight ends on the field, and it would be nice
to have Elliott for that too, you know, because likely
maybe get some boost here. And you know, they play
with Coler Cohler's kind of their watt chipper and Ricard
(04:56):
is the big fullback that doesn't ever touch the ball.
But I don't think you're gonna see many receivers on
the field for either one of these teams.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, Boldemort's gotten a little bit of play here and
there out of Thailand. Wallace number six, Yeah, had a
big play in one of the games against Cincinnati, and
he's a punk returner too. Devontez Walker number eighty one,
caught his first touchdown in the Giants game.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah last week, big deal, I know, But I mean
he's a deep threat.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Remember Walker in the spring, he was a guy of
great promise, but he went down to the seizer.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Bowl and couldn't catch anymore.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, end up fall in the mid rounds. Right, figh
speed guy, but he does have some skills. We just
happened to.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Talk about this on the drive called Minsko's any reason
I know, But he's only played seventeen snaps all year
pretty much. They were all against the Giants in garbage
time and Wallace has played under one hundred, so he
hasn't made some plays. But that's not guys they count on.
But they're gonna have to.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So the fewer wide receivers, the better terms.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Zer looks like it for both they wanting to muck
this up and you know, big bodies on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Mege a rock fight, a fist fight at to fifty,
make it low scoring, make it low event, get it
to the four quarter, and try to find a.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Way winning the kicking game, winning the margins, winning the penalties,
all that kind of stuff like we talked about.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You mentioned I'm you know, the Steelers and won't get
into great detail with Merl Hodge about this, but my
concerns that the Steelers not having George Pickens are twofold.
It's not just the place he doesn't make. It's man,
I just didn't see them run the ball much because
the Eagles didn't seem to be afraid of them throwing it.
(06:26):
Last week they were trying to run up pill I'll
give you a great example, a little This is a
little peak behind my curtain, in case anybody cares how
I watch these games, because these road games, I'm not
at the site. I'm here, and I watch it on
the regular television. I've got my phone. I'm streaming direct TV,
(06:47):
which is about a minute behind. It's like I get
my own replay everything. So I kind of watched two
things at once. And what I tried to do initially
is write down the formation of who the skill people
are on the field and the Steelers second possession nine
to fifty left in the first quarter, first and ten
at the Pittsburgh thirty two. I have eighty one, eighty, thirteen,
(07:08):
eleven and twenty two. And my entry is who is
the d worried about catching a pass? Yeah, and if
it's Michael Prewitt, darn Andell Washington, Scotty Miller, and Van Jefferson,
the answer is no button pretty much knowing. And that's
why when Najie Harris runs the ball as he did
in this instance, he was lucky to get two yards.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Sure, and against maybe the best defense in the league.
And they're really talented too. And that's a big thing
I've been harping on all week, is it's crunch time now.
I mean, this is for the division crown. You're gonna
go to the playoffs either way, but I think it's
time to start streamlining who's on the field in terms
of your skill. Guys.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Wow, I could not agree more. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I mean, when it's two tight ends, I went Friarmuth
in Washington. When it's two receivers, I went Pickings, went
healthy and Austin.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
They played Austin a whole lot more in the Philly
game than they had been.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
That's a little encouraging. I kind of turning. I'm warming
enough to Austin more and more.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And they played Mike Williams more than they had played him.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Right, you didn't really notice it, but you.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Did thirty five percent of the snatch exactly the most
exactly Austin I believe was in the seventies. Yeah. To me,
it's got to be eighteen and nineteen got to be
on the field. There has to be a threat that
the ball might get thrown.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I always said this about like Allen Robinson or Gunner
Old Schefsky. The defense has thanks when you put them
on the field, you know, And right now, Corterell, Patterson, Prewitt, Hayward, Scronic,
they're all NFL players, but the defense has thanks when
they're on the field.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, you know. Particularly let's just look at Jefferson, Scronic
and Miller. Yeah, yeah, okay, these guys all have Super
Bowl rings. Sure, clearly they're NFL players, but just no doubt,
just as clearly none of those guys as a number
one or a number two. No, none of those when
you need a play, right, don't look around, Johonnelds, Scotty
where are you?
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Right, we're dialing you up here, kid, All right, right,
that's not.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Who they are.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Should we throw it to Justin Jefferson or Scotty Miller?
Yeahn no, no, Right, So.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
That's right, they have a role.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
They got us spoke in the wheel.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I like the way you phrased that because I was
trying to think of a way to get that point
across with streamline it. Yeah, Let's get the best players
on the field. No more. Hey, we can do anything
out of any formation with any number of guys. It's
goronics a good blocker. No more, that's great. No more
targeting nine or ten players, No, we're targeting three guys.
We have Friarmouth eighteen to nineteen. Maybe the running backs
(09:33):
if you want to count that.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I say, Bob Patterson hasn't gotten a carry yet today.
I don't care ye give it the Warren. Well, right,
we'll get to that in a minute, and we'll get
to our factor.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Back speaking the running backs, Merril Hodge in just a minute,
as we continue breaking down Steelers and Ravens. A game
with a great deal at stake, a game with a
lot of intrigue on both sides because of potential unavailability,
and man, there's ramifications.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Out the wazoo on both sides.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
So you're gonna want to keep it here with Matt Williamson,
I'm Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview right here on
your Steelers Flagship one or two point five DVE and
the Steelers Audio Network. Back to the Steelers preview show
on DVE. Welcome back to Steels Preview right here, on
your Steelers Flagship one or two point five DVE and
(10:21):
the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Persuda and Matt Williamson getting
you ready for the Steelers and the Ravens on Saturday
in Baltimore. Time now to welcome the star of our
show to the show, our Factor back, Merril Hodge and Merril.
I gotta tell you, Matt and I are not overcome
with the spirit of the season. Normally a Steelers Ravens
(10:44):
rematch would inspire great excitement and anticipation. But we can't
see where the offense is gonna come from without George Pickens.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Is there something we're missing or.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Is this game Saturday gonna look a whole lot like
the one did last Sunday in Philly, just a couple
hours south on ninety five. Well, there's a lot to
unpack there. I want to go.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
But let me get let me, let me, let me
give you a little bit of hope and let's let's
let's start there. Stilly has a better defensive line group
than the Ravens do. Now that being said, I thought
the Ravens did a good job in the first matchup.
(11:33):
And what I'm getting to is, you know, this is
the problem with any everybody that is like round five ten,
five nine under six foot, you know, even like six
foot is you know, pushing it is. You know, good
discipline defenses. Now here's where I'm gonna. I'm gonna, I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Gonna get ahead and back up.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Why it's hard to do this consistently, especially if you've
got guys that are more committed getting sacks then doing
what's best for the team. You know, you got people
that got the sentis to get sacks. That's what they
want to do. They want to get sacks. They don't
want to rush the pasture and push a wall back
in his face and make it hard for him to
play consistently in the passing game, which is what Billy did.
(12:18):
They did a really good job of that. There was
actually a lot of guys that were open. You know,
George Pickens does a good job and get you some
first downs and explosive plays, but there are so many
other plays that you know, how many test receptions of
has George Pickens had at the most ten? Anythink, ye, okay,
(12:41):
so so you got sixty five other plays you're dealing
with even when he's there. Now, I understand that those
plays that he can give you. They matter. I'm not
just I'm not discarding that. However, what I'm getting at
is there are plays there, there are plays, there's wide
receivers open, there was plays to be had. They just
did a good job of pushing stuff than Wilson's face
where he couldn't see. He didn't make them. And now
(13:05):
if the Ravens do that, it's going to be a problem.
But what you got to do, and this is always
the problem.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Why you know I wouldn't.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
Draft anybody that's around five ten is because you got
to deal with that every single week and there's no
answer for it. You know, you're gonna run into good
defense like Philly, who are going to be able to
do that regardless of what you do schematically. But on
every defense does that. Not everybody's disciplined enough to do it.
And that's where you can break down. And you know,
(13:35):
when Russell can be you know, sharp and get that
ball out quick, and it's the first or second guy,
you know, they can be pretty effective. So I don't
think it's all doom and gloom. I think that they'll
do some things schematically to make it hard on the
Ravens to know where he is what they're doing, although
you know they're not dumb either, they are anticipating those
(13:56):
types of things. But I also starts with running the
ball consistently. They just got beat at the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
They just yeah, And I guess part of my uh,
part of living in my fears there is that without pickings,
there's nobody back the defense off right, and you're right,
you are running as uh as the coordinator Arthur Smith
likes to say, you're running into an ambush.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I mean, he obviously affects a game more than just
his targets, you know.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Sure, yeah, you know, and you can't deny that, you know,
based on person, I mean, how they want to align
the people he occupies the threat because then we have
to worry about we do have to. There is a threat,
you know, and that big play threat is is something
that haunts all defenses and they want to avoid at
all costs. And they they do stuff stematically. So that's
(14:46):
not even a chance, you know, doesn't mean it's not
going to happen. But when yeah, when you don't have
to worry about that's like Havin t J. Watt not
on the field. I don't know I don't have to
worry about game planning and have my back not be
a part of our passing game. He now can be
a part of our passing game. That makes it more effective.
We threaten more of their coverage, we put them more
(15:09):
in conflict. So you know, yeah, it's not an easy task,
but it can be done. I still think that they
started to do it against Philly, and I think they
need to do it with the Raiders. You've got guys
in the middle that can win, though, you got tight
end that can win. And they actually had success in
the first matchup with that.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
You know, they attacked the.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Middle of the field and they and they made big
plays there. And I think that's where you start, because
once you can control the middle of the field, then
you can do things on the perimeter. I don't care
who your perimeter guy is. It just makes easier because
they don't defenses don't like to be they don't want
to be exposed in the passing game of the middle
of the field either. That bothers them just about as
bad as exposed to play, so they may that becomes
(15:54):
a focus. So I think there's ways to attacking all
the field. I think there's ways to move Russell Wilson
again a rhythm going, but everything really hinges on how
well can they run the football and how can they
control the line of scrimmage, you know, and in that
last matchup, but you know, turnovers were a big factor.
You know, they may have evened out, you could argue,
but you know, you never know when those were up here,
(16:17):
and you can't predict them. And those are the unknowns
that that you don't have going into this game.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
No matter.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
That's kind of what I was gonna ask you about.
Is in the middle of the field is you know,
Hamilton's a great player, Roque's a great player, but they
may changes at the other safety spot, the other linebacker spot.
I think the middle of the field can be had.
But that also hasn't been Russell Wilson's strength over his
career either.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
All right, well, because of his height right exactly. Can't
say facts.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
You know, that's you know, when people push the pocket
and then push it quick, because there's some passing lanes
that he just you know, gets they get taken away
and it forces other throws. And see defenses know that.
That's why they play certain cover and they know that
and they they can be less less conscious of one
(17:05):
area because they know more than like, he's not going
to be able to make that brow and we can
put our put our bets on more, say the perimeter
stuff or the outside stuff where he can see he
can throw, and then then it be you become Bulnell
as a passer. You know, this is actually what ran
Doug Footie out of the game out of the NFL.
(17:26):
Bill Belichick ran him out of out of the league.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
They he was in.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Buffalo that came into New England. I remember watching the
game and see in the NFL, You're like, your safeties
are a minimum fifteen yards deep minimum, and that's you know.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Say that's where they hover.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Okay, well, I'm watching the safeties. I'm like, why did
that ten? But why did at ten? I'm like, that's
so interesting. I'm like, and as you watch the game unfold,
they were not worried about him pumping the ball down
the middle of the field, and they walk those corners
off so they could read things. They pushed a wall
in the middle of his face. He could not see
the middle of the field. He could he didn't make
(18:03):
one throw. He to do it all the perimeter and
it basically ran. He never was the same and everybody
started to do that and running right out of the league.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
So Merril real quick.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Along those lines, I think it's really interesting. Like when
Drew Brees was in New Orleans, another shorter quarterback. He
had great success, but the Saints spent way more resources
than the other thirty one teams on guard, center guard.
You know, they had to and that's how you have
to kind of make it work, and that's hard to do.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Yeah, well, you're right, and that's where you've got to
be really good. You can't get pushed back quickly and
you're spot on. So that's the areas that you've got
to be really really good at. You gotta from back
that and that's got to win, and they got to
win for you. Those guys gotta win. You just have
to go back to Philly. Like those tackles. Man, that's
a that's a big ass.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I don't care how good they are.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
You know, those those guys are, they're they're some of
the best pandems in football and they want to play. Hey,
they can wreck you, and they controlled the game last week.
But the raves are that they're not as good. So
but you know, they listen. It's a division game. They
lost in Pittsburgh, and.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
You know there's and.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
They need to win bad and this is this is
the pivotal game because they've already lost to the Steelers,
so it will be doing everything possible to get things rolling.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Meryl. Something else that kind of snuck up on me
regarding the Steelers game in Philly. You know, I'm watching
the game here in the studio because they're on the road.
I do the pregame show from the studio here, and
then I do the postgame show from the studio here.
In between, I kind of watching on TV. And when
the Steelers punted the ball back late, I was curious
to see if they could get a three and out.
(19:48):
They did not, so I'm like, all right, well that's
pretty much the game. You're down two scores and now
they're gonna start running out of time. So I'm getting
my open for the postgame show ready. You know, I'm
making sure I have my stats together, and I'm going
over my notes and finding the key plays that I
want to talk about in the post game show. Then
I look up, the game's almost over.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Oh, Philadelphia still has the ball.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
It didn't really hit me until a day or two
later that Philadelphia had the ball for twenty one plays
and ten minutes and thirty nine seconds to close that
game out.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Now, before that, I.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Was willing to give the Steelers credit for hanging in there,
being resourceful, finding a way to stay in the game.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Hey, if Najie Harris doesn't fumble, they might have tied it.
Yeah and all that, But my god.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
You get the ball shoved down your throat for twenty
one straight plays.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Does that wipe all of that off the board? I mean,
what are we to make of that?
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Well, well, I don't think that you just brush it
off and say it's not a big deal, because it's
a big deal. You know you did, and you can't
brush off Nase's fumbles.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
It's not a big deal.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
That is scoring territory first of all, turnovers. I mean
I have already I say this all the time, and
because it is true, it is the only stat that
matters that that is the most significant stat of wins
and losses. If it's a part of your game, and
if it happens and where it happens.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Even I've been wasting my time with seven pages of
stats I send you every week.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
That's funny.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Sad that man said. You know when I thought when
that pitch, when that happened, I was just like, oh my,
I mean, first of all, I mean, yes, it just
should never happen.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay, there was a pitch.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
You gotta you got to shear the ball. That just
should never happen.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
By the way, Meryl officially went went into books as
Russell Wilson fumble, I know, running Backs of a Good Union.
Oh my lord, there, beautiful Russells.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
You better catch it when you pitch it, you better
catch it and hand it to the guy. But anyway,
that's that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
But you know those were you.
Speaker 5 (21:55):
That was an opportunity, really to your point, to tie
the game. You do that, it is a different game
in the game.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
You really didn't to be tied up in you not
that la getting close.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
To the fourth court, Yeah, which I start playing.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Try to keep it close till the fourth quarter with
a short handed team, and figure out a way to
win it the fourth It's been done before. Yeah, yeah,
and you have that.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Now go back to you know then when you get
them pinned back, So now you pin them back and
that's exactly how you want them. And now I think
everybody knows who knows a little bit about football all
you're talking about, because these are actually things you walk
through every week on Saturday, you know, when you're doing
walkthroughs all of the you know, situational football. Okay, we
(22:40):
backed them up there, it's it's a minute, it's got
to be three and out. We got the we got
them pinned back. Now we get the ball back and
that can somewhat save us with the fumble that we
just had, the buckle he just had. Well, then you
go about letting them move down to the field and
keep mind they I can't tell you how many times
they they blue coverages or making mistakes and people were
(23:05):
running wide open. And this has happened not just in
this game. This has actually been a theme. That's why
people keep doing it. They keep doing crossers with the
Steelers because for some reason they're not communicating safety to
linebackers and swaps and switches and all that stuff, and
people know that, so that's why they keep running them
and those those hurt them.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
They were able to do.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
I thought their blend of play calling was perfect. There
was nothing there's no truly explosives play, but they were damaging,
like every player was damaging. And then when they'd win
one round, one one down, they just lost the next down.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Almost like they were trying Phil off. He was trying
to eat up the last two minutes and thirty nights.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
We don't need a chunk. We just need to bleed out.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Let's get on this flat, then.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
We'll get Don't be shocked by that.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Yeah, don't be shocked by that. I don't think there's
any doubt that's what That's what we would be talking about,
you know.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
But I don't think I don't think they were trying
to score, is my point. I think they were just
trying to keep the ball. I wouldn't argue that.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
I honestly would not argue that, because that's exactly what
you you would want to do, is do those type
of things because you got the lead, and we got
the ball, and if we take all the time, guess
what we mean, Merril.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
The cornerback position is a growing concern with me, and
it shows up when you play Chasing Higgins A. J.
Brown and DeVante Smith that I think Porter is the
only guy that can really count on to play man.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Yeah, I would not argue. I would not argue that
you get some mismatches when you get to the slot
and your second guy, and you know, people try to
create those and it's if you don't get quick pressure
and you don't your quarterback has time. I agree with
you, you know, like you know, now that's that's probably not
(25:01):
the biggest issue they have. Like I still go back
to the communication problems that they're having for whatever reason
they are. It's just it's been going on for quite
some time. And you know, I'm sure there will be
a key a key, a key to us. So I
don't think with the Ravens, I thought I saw it
several times there was it was about debating and arguing
(25:25):
about things after a big play, and people are open
so those things like if you clean those a lot
of their problems go away, you know, but they keep
resurrecting themselves. And somehow they got to find a way
to solve that and get that cleaned up, and they
gotta do it for the next month because people are
going to keep doing it. You know, just because you
(25:46):
do it one week, they're like, that doesn't mean they
know what they're doing. Let's try it again. You got
almost show it for a month before it starts to disappear.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Merlin. We talked about this match up the first time.
Lamar Jackson's numbers against the Steelers were not good, and
I kind of wrote that, well, it's a statistical anomaly.
You know, he does so much against so many other people.
They can't be in his head. This has got to
be coincidental. And then he goes out and loses to
him again. And I'm here to tell you going into
(26:14):
this game, Lamar Jackson is one in four against the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
In five games as.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
A starter, He's lost four starts in a row against
the Steelers. He's never rushed for a touchdown against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Crazy, and as a.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Starter, he's thrown five touchdowns and eight interceptions against the Steelers,
at least one interception in every start against the Forget
Jameis Winston will throw you the ball.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
This guy will throw the Steelers the ball. Now the
rest of the time. He's ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
He's starty four touchdowns and three picks, but he can't
play against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
What are we to make of that? Because I'm starting
to buy it, I really am.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Well, I've always said, like the Steelers are how to
play him. They do know how to play him. Like, okay,
now we talked about Russell Wilson. You know what they
did in the pocket, but really not It's similar to
Lamar Jackson. Now he doesn't have the hype problem. But
if you don't give him an escape route, you know,
it's the steers. That's what they do a good job
of if he never can vacate the pocket vertically right away.
(27:16):
But like, that's the most dangerous thing you could do
to that guy if you give him that option. I
can't tell you the time that I've solved that. You know,
they push him back and then he has to go lateral,
and then they do a good job of their pursuit
and then you know how they go about matching up
two receivers, and then you know, in in all honesty,
they've gotten lucky too, because there's been some times where
(27:39):
guys were wide open and they dropped it when he
did find it, you know, the Jemmy wide open.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
I mean, I know it seems to Pittsburgh Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I think they do a good job on Andrews too,
who is kind of his safety blanket.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, yeah, yep.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
They you know, they can get guys on him and
run with him, and you know, and play him. And
if you neutralize that guy on flowers to me, he's like,
he's a real problem too, you know, he's so he
forguts getting quick. You know, it's hard to cover him.
I don't care who you are, but that that's where
(28:17):
they start for first and foremost. And they don't let
him fill the ball quickly.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
That's another thing.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
Why don't he starts rolling the ball. Yes, he can
be dangerous these legs, but they do a good job
of negating that for the most part. And he starts
to he's he starts to get himself into trouble when
he's when he gets the ball and hold it too
long and starts starts moving around. Yes, he can make
a lot of plays, but if you look at the
body of work with him getting rid of the football
(28:49):
in a more timely fashion and either or fashion versus
either or didn't work, Let's see what I can come
up with now, that's when he gets into a lot
of trouble.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Yeah, you're right, you're spot on on that.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Longer he's held it, the worst things have gone more
often than not.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
So you're starting to talk me in it.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
It's Maryland Steelers defensive line dominates and contains Jackson and
traditionally pretty tough to run against, even for Derrick Henry.
Making another fistfight at the fifty and get it to
the fourth quarter and figure it out from there.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
Is that the plan.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
I'm also not quite willing to admit that they got
this Lamar Jackson guy figured out for the next decade,
you know what I mean, Like he's never.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Going to show up against the Steeler for three more outs.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Yeah right, yeah, well, listen, I completely I mean, I
think he's that wicked of a player that, yeah, you
can never say that. I mean, that's that's almost like
you're asking for it.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
We got this figured out. That's that's the wrong thing
to say.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
You're just like, hey, you know, if we keep doing
the fundamental things that really work, well.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
I hear you, But I don't see a lot of
other paths where, you know, like, that's kind of the
road I want to take on.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
Yeah, no, listen, it is probably there. It is the
best way for our success and for them to win
the game. If they can't excuse that, it'll be It's hard.
It's much harder, no question.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
But I think we got to mention Henry. I do
think the Steelers defense, I mean, oh, by the way,
they got a pretty good running back. Probably should at
least bring it up. But they do do a pretty
good job of making his stop his feet, not get
his momentum rolling, and obviously that's the key with his style. Runner.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, well I.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
Could if you only got one run and you I
think we talked about this before rest is in Tennessee
or Baltimore. They do play him well, I mean and okay,
so what you mean by playing him well, you know,
every run has a point of attack. Okay, if you
can not give him a running lane at the point
of attack, if you may can't adjust, that means stop
(30:54):
his feet and redirect you got it.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
It's not like Hartly you got a chance, you got
a chance.
Speaker 5 (31:01):
You got a much better chance because he does not move.
You know, he's not real dynamic. Laterally, it's when he
gets going vertically and you give him a scene and
all he's got to do is wiggle right or left
as he's a dancing down the field, do you you're
gonna have You're gonna have some trouble. And if he
presses the whole hard enough and good enough, and then
(31:23):
you play over the top of him versus state moving
the backside where he's gonna end up to. Then that's
when you get in trouble. They made one run, they
blew it one time. I think it was a nineteen
yard run, and that was really it. After that, they
really they really shut him down and did not let
him get rolling and get those big plays and the
point attack they were they almost want every time.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Merrily is starting to talk me into it.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Uh yeah, well just the Knights. It's the division of
the games, and the stewers are fired up and they
want they know they got to win it too. Yeah,
you got a chance to win the division, get a buy.
There's a massive mass motivation lot on the table and
you control it. Hey man, man, so going there no
better way. We always talking so we want to win
at homes ultimately, like that's ideal, but man, it ain't
(32:10):
nothing better to going in somebody's house in the division
and beating them and winning it.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Particularly that when Merrill, all I want for Christmas is
to do this show again the day after Christmas with
you and Matt.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
When we will not preview the Chiefs game.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
We will wrap up the Chiefs game because very short
week next week, so the programming schedule's crazy. But since
we won't talk to you before the twenty fifth, Merry
Christmas to you and yours and I can't wait to
do it again on the twenty sixth.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
But you guys, doo man, Merry Christmas the fourth talk
to you and hopefull're talking about the divisional champion Brothers.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
That was Meryl Hodge bringing it as he always does always.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
I'm still not talked into this, but no, you know
it's gonna be a challenge the way less adamant.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
That they're really in trouble than I was before I
talked to him.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Yeah, there's some optimism. I mean, defense is gonna have
to carry the day.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah, well usually does in this He usually does one
more segment to go to keep it here with Matt
Williamson on Mike Persuda. You're listening to Steelers Preview. Before
we go to break, I need to remind you that
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(33:23):
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(33:44):
flagship one of two point five DVE and the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Oh, welcome back. I feel like exhaling a little bit
because Merril makes some very good points.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
There, no question, as always, and it's always a beefy
segment to get you wound up and see things a
different light.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
And like the way he sees the game. I still
think this is gonna be really challenging from the Steelers' perspective.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
But where are the offensive playmakers?
Speaker 2 (34:13):
You know? Of all the stuff Merrill said, Baltimore's defense
is not as good as Phillies.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
I really think the Eagles are playing better than any
defense in the league right now at all three.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Levels, and that's sometimes it's hard to project what that
difference can look like. I mean, like they.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Blitzed Russell Wilson once because they ain't have it need right,
no need, And they also were on the field very much.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
I don't think Baltimore blitz him a ton.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
No.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
I don't either.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
I think what you'll see, at least what I've picked up.
Maybe you can fact check me on this. I see
the Ravens. They don't blitz a lot, but they don't
rush the same four a lot either. They'll bring seven
guys to the line.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Of simulated pressure, they'll.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Fake like they're gonna jail break it, and then most
of them drop out. But a lot of times it's
a defensive back, maybe the inside linebacker comes late. It's
usually only a four man rush, but it's not the
same four guys.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
You don't know who's coming, and you have to be
really on top of your communication, which is hard on
a young O line.
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Which is I guess kind of how you want to
do it.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Absolutely, And that's why their defense coordinator became the head
coach for Seattle because he constructed a really smart defense
that doesn't have elite pass rushers, but they have forty
four sacks.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
You know what to expect is brought to you by
Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and
Matt keeping with our theme. Oh no, George Pickens isn't
playing again. What is to be done about that? The Steelers,
you think they want to run the ball, but Baltimore
does have the number one yeah defense in the NFL
(35:38):
eighty point seven yards a game allowed on the ground.
So what do you expect the Steelers to do to
try to manufacture a running game that.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
I'm having problems with And we only have so many
minutes with Merrill, But I really wanted to talk more
of running game.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
Because that was a big deal.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Be careful if we bring up running games bar.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
For hours and hours, right, yeah, and some eventually you
gotta have a commercial.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
We're gonna have to learn the affiliates that were running
the right.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
But I thought it was so obvious previewing and watching
Steelers Eagles. They were the two most run heavy teams
in the league, and the Ravens are right there as well.
But the Steelers average three point nine yards of carry
and Phillies like at six, you know, like over the
course of the year when you run as much as
they do.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Steelers really need to be.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
Four to three, four to four, you know, and can
they do that against the best run defense in the
league this week? It doesn't sound great.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Well, I don't think it sounds great either. So what
do you do when you can't just overpower them?
Speaker 4 (36:38):
You trick them?
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Right, mm hmm, Here's what I do. Here's what I
would expect would be the way to run the ball
against Baltimore. Number One, throw it first, throw it on
every first down.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
The early down stuff's been brutal.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
Yeah, you just you can't go run, run, pass kick.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
They get into third down way too often.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
And then the other thing I'd do is what Philadelphia's
done a really good job of this Year's spread them
out and run out of three wives. I know, it
sounds crazy. They don't have pickings, and we've just spent
a lot of this shown and Miller on the field
and those guys. You don't necessarily have to put a wide.
You know, you can spread it out and have a
three wides. Look, Cleveland's done that with tight ends before.
(37:17):
You can do that with Najie Harris and Jalen Warren
on the field. At the same time, thought.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
Get creative. Hey, Arthur Smith's good at that.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
Right.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
He likes to play with his different personnel groups.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
I don't think Roquan Smith is a very good cover
guy when he's out wide on the sideline. I don't
think Trenton Simpson when he's in the game it can
do that, and he gets to sign that a lot.
So I would try to strike that way and open
things up and then run that way. But I do
agree the Steelers need to run the ball and possess
it that you know, can't have the ball for twenty
minutes and eight seconds. No, of course, not right.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
I think you're gonna have to get some receiving production
out of Friarmooth and Warren.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
The backs.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Yeah, I mean great defense and backs.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
Play action, boot the drag, stuff across.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
You know they are safe throws at eat clock.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
Take those five six yard plays and go from there.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
I'd love to attack this secondary, which remains susceptible.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I'm sure they'll take shots.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Baltimore has the goofiest splits I've seen in a long time.
Number one against the run, number thirty one against the past. Yep.
And no, it's not because they're ahead all the time
and everybody else.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
It's because they stink at covering the past.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
They really do.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
However, when we previewed the Ravens, was that three weeks ago,
four weeks ago, whatever the heck it was, they were
horrific in allowing big plays, and for the season they are.
But really since then they've got some things corrected. You
know that they're not having changed.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
You referenced it real quickly with Merrill Darius Washington is
now your free safety and Marcus Williams is.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Name got basically benched them.
Speaker 5 (38:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Yeah, They've had a lot of faith in him and
that did not work out.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
That's a good move for Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Williams. Williams is their pseudo Minka free safety. They gave
him a lot of money and apparently he's hit a
wall in his career because he's been a huge liability.
They've also had a lot of coverage busts and mistakes
in terms of communication on the back end, and I
attribute a lot of that to last year's defensive coordinator
became a head coach, their top two assistants became defensive coordinators,
(39:20):
and then they've kind of like promoted Dean Pas lately
that he seems to be cleaning some of that stuff up.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
And the editor Emeritis.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
Yeah, yeah, and they bye last week. I'm sure that's
what they harped on, you know, So we'll see. But
it's been better for them on the back end the
last couple of weeks. They've also played the Giants.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Do you like normally Harrison forty at linebacker instead of
Simpson twenty three.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
Simpson's been kind of relegated to the bench too, And
I forget the other guy's name that's been playing a
bunch too, the other linebacker. But you don't see much
Simpson anymore. No, he's just an athlete that is learning.
Let's be kind. He runs around a lot.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Marnld. Humphrey is a slot guy. He was the slot
guy last time. These two teams played plays outside when
they're not in a sub package, and then he moves
into the and at least it's firm and things up.
Because what Wiggins and the other corner is twenty one
Brandon Stevens.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Yeah, Stevens has had a rough year. Wiggins is promising
Humphreys and every down player. But what they had so
much success with last year out of the slot was
Malette would be against like shorter, smaller guys or Hamilton
would be in the slot now because the safety problems,
Hamilton's no longer doing that role.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
So I think they have better ideas of where people belong.
And how did the Steelers attack that or dud with
George Pickens.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Nope, no, that's not gonna work. I don't know. I
think linebackers not named Rokwan and safeties not named Hamilton
can all be had. Yeah, I mean Washington's very small.
I mean he's like Mike Hilton's size. If you can
get Friar Mooth or Washington on him, you know, you
can have some size advantages with him. And their other
linebackers don't run great.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
The other thing you mentioned briefly, Baltimore is a highly
penalized team. The highest the highest twelve for one hundred
and twelve yards against the New York Football Giants in
a game.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Get dominated.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Yeah, eight of them on defense, four of them for
defensive pass interference.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
That's a big one for them too, is they get
beat and drag people down. There's a lot of DPIs.
It was Wens in particulars bad.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
You know, Baltimore went into its by and said, Okay,
we're gonna fix a lot of stuff. That most people do.
And we're gonna get to the bottom of this and
fix this and fix that fresh start coming out. Okay,
you got the Giants and they stayed. Yeah, you're playing
Tommy DeVito and a boil I can't even remember his
last name, and you pound them. But still a bunch
of penalties and four of them were on one drive. Matt.
(41:46):
The game was fourteen to nothing, and the Ravens basically
put a bow on a drive for the Giants and
made it fourteen to seven late in the second quarter.
Now they just got the ball back after kickoff went
down or.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Yeah, Harristimon, that was not a competitive game.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
We established their lead, but not the way you want
to protect a lead.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
No, And the other thing we have to mention is
we threw out special teams. Tucker is a problem.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
I mean, I don't know. I'm in y point four percent. Yeah,
he missed ten kicks.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
If it comes down to it, do they go for
it on fourth when they shouldn't? Should they punt when
they shouldn't a fake punt? He's really hard to trust
right now.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Four to nine from fifty yards or longer? Big edge
Steelers there, big edge. Hopefully it comes down to the
kickers and Chris Boswell does his.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
Thing, and that's really what the Steelers are the advantage
in the margins there.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
They're handing out the hats and the teachers stat he's
gonna do it for us. So I want to thank
Meryl for joining us, as I always thank him. He's
part of his job. Yeah, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (42:45):
He's getting a paycheck?
Speaker 2 (42:46):
Thank you. At the end of the show, what can
I say? I do want to thank Justin Miller. Are
ace behind the controls here? Because you or I couldn't
do what he does, not one bit. We could talk.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
It'd be way better off doing our jobs on the
way around.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
He puts.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
Yeah, really, we had a switch.
Speaker 2 (43:01):
There's no show. So thank you Justin, and thanks to
everyone for finding us, however and wherever you found us.
Remember next week, because of Christmas and the goofy schedule,
were a postgame show Thursday night like always, but we
will be wrapping up.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
The Chiefs game.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Plenty of talk about I'm sure not.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Previewing a Bengals game that's still going to be like
fifteen days away at that point, I exaggerated, but you
get the idea.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
That's it for US for Matt Williamson.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
I am My pursuit of this has been Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five TV and the Steelers Audio Network. Good Night, everybody,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on wdve E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F
one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers
by Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits
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the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson, and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five dve and the Steelers Audio Network. I'm Mike Pursuda,
along with Matt Williamson, Meryl Hodge, our factor back will
be along directly as we do our best to get
you ready for the Steelers and the Ravens Saturday in Baltimore. Matt,
the Steelers the least of their concerns this short week.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, there's a lot of concerns.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah. The practice participation Report, which is where we usually
start this program, is not encouraging out to start with
wide receiver George Pickens hamstring the headline.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Obviously, this is a problem that's a problem.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
How do they work around it?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Well, the most encouraging thing I can say about it
is it's Ravens week and it's usually a three point
game no matter what. You know what I mean, you
muck it up. You know these guys so well, Rarely
in the history of this fantastic battle has been a
blowout in the end. And I always talk about winning
in the margins, penalties, turnovers, that sort of, you know,
(01:30):
special teams. I think the Steelers are the best special
teams unit in the entire league. There's only one kicker
that's missing more field goals than Tucker right now in
the whole league. They're the most penalized team in the
league Baltimore and Steelers are number one and turnover differential,
So like all that margin stuff greatly favors the Steelers,
and it's going to.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Have to Yeah, And I think it's a good point.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
You know, many times we've looked at this game historically
and thought, oh, well, this is the one that ends
up thirty eight two or something of that sort, and
never invariably it does not. Also, quarterback Justin Field's abdomen out.
You know, when you don't have pickings you start thinking, boy,
maybe Justin Fields throw some curveballs at him here something different.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well, forget about that.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Now we go to the defensive side, and it's not
looking very good there either. Uh. Safety to Shaun Elliott,
hamstring doubtful, cornerback Dante Jackson back questionable, defensive tackle Larry
Ogan Jovi groin questionable. The good news there TJ. Watt
does not have it. No, that's there is some positive
(02:37):
So it looks like he's good to go. But man,
to those three guys, who's the uh, the biggest miss
if he ends up not playing? I would say Elliott,
who would they miss?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Which is probably the one that's not gonna play for sure, Yeah,
and the other ones are. I give him a decent
chance at least fifty to fifty Elliott. Sure doesn't sound favorable,
but he's a really important piece.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah, he's just had a great year.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, it does it all does it kind of under
the radar, and they really don't have a guy they
can do that. Now. They played make a Fitzpatrick down
in the box a lot in the Eagles game and
had Demante Casey playing center field make him made.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
A few plays and also last time they played the Ravens.
Minka did a lot of third down red zone against
Andrews too.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
He's gonna have to be a coverage guy and a
tackle guy, not a deterrent, right, and I think they
can't keep him in the post and say just don't
throw it here.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I don't think so. And I also think Sutton has
can do a little bit of deep middle stuff. Kyz's
bet a better year than most people give them credit for.
But it was one more thing I'm gonna throw in
here after you talk Raven's injury report.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Okay, Yeah, well let's get to that, because they have
some significant entries as well. Wide receiver for Shot Bateman,
foot is questionable.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Guard Daniel Knee questionable, big, big guy.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
He's a monster. I would think I'm a very good player.
I would These are always questionable. Yeah, lower body stuff
for him.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
They have to support and outside linebacker, edge guy a
dafe O Way ankle questionable. Usually questionable guys play, but
but they're questionable.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Oh Bateman got hurt. He was in a walking boat today.
I mean he got hurt yesterday in practice.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I didn't practice today.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
You didn't mention Aguilar. He's their third receiver, is he Well,
it's not the ente, no, that much of sure. Yeah,
we were talking about on the drive today. I mean
Flowers one.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, Bateman, I get well, I got Flowers, Bateman and
the third guy would be their tight ends.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, but that's where he's going with Elliott is I
really think they're going to be without Aglar and Bateman.
So I would imagine you're gonna see a lot of
tight ends on the field, and it would be nice
to have Elliott for that too, you know, because likely
maybe get some boost here. And you know, they play
with Coler Cohler's kind of their watt chipper and Ricard
(04:56):
is the big fullback that doesn't ever touch the ball.
But I don't think you're gonna see many receivers on
the field for either one of these teams.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, Boldemort's gotten a little bit of play here and
there out of Thailand. Wallace number six, Yeah, had a
big play in one of the games against Cincinnati, and
he's a punk returner too. Devontez Walker number eighty one,
caught his first touchdown in the Giants game.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah last week, big deal, I know, But I mean
he's a deep threat.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Remember Walker in the spring, he was a guy of
great promise, but he went down to the seizer.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Bowl and couldn't catch anymore.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, end up fall in the mid rounds. Right, figh
speed guy, but he does have some skills. We just
happened to.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Talk about this on the drive called Minsko's any reason
I know, But he's only played seventeen snaps all year
pretty much. They were all against the Giants in garbage
time and Wallace has played under one hundred, so he
hasn't made some plays. But that's not guys they count on.
But they're gonna have to.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So the fewer wide receivers, the better terms.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Zer looks like it for both they wanting to muck
this up and you know, big bodies on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Mege a rock fight, a fist fight at to fifty,
make it low scoring, make it low event, get it
to the four quarter, and try to find a.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Way winning the kicking game, winning the margins, winning the penalties,
all that kind of stuff like we talked about.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You mentioned I'm you know, the Steelers and won't get
into great detail with Merl Hodge about this, but my
concerns that the Steelers not having George Pickens are twofold.
It's not just the place he doesn't make. It's man,
I just didn't see them run the ball much because
the Eagles didn't seem to be afraid of them throwing it.
(06:26):
Last week they were trying to run up pill I'll
give you a great example, a little This is a
little peak behind my curtain, in case anybody cares how
I watch these games, because these road games, I'm not
at the site. I'm here, and I watch it on
the regular television. I've got my phone. I'm streaming direct TV,
(06:47):
which is about a minute behind. It's like I get
my own replay everything. So I kind of watched two
things at once. And what I tried to do initially
is write down the formation of who the skill people
are on the field and the Steelers second possession nine
to fifty left in the first quarter, first and ten
at the Pittsburgh thirty two. I have eighty one, eighty, thirteen,
(07:08):
eleven and twenty two. And my entry is who is
the d worried about catching a pass? Yeah, and if
it's Michael Prewitt, darn Andell Washington, Scotty Miller, and Van Jefferson,
the answer is no button pretty much knowing. And that's
why when Najie Harris runs the ball as he did
in this instance, he was lucky to get two yards.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Sure, and against maybe the best defense in the league.
And they're really talented too. And that's a big thing
I've been harping on all week, is it's crunch time now.
I mean, this is for the division crown. You're gonna
go to the playoffs either way, but I think it's
time to start streamlining who's on the field in terms
of your skill. Guys.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Wow, I could not agree more. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I mean, when it's two tight ends, I went Friarmuth
in Washington. When it's two receivers, I went Pickings, went
healthy and Austin.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
They played Austin a whole lot more in the Philly
game than they had been.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
That's a little encouraging. I kind of turning. I'm warming
enough to Austin more and more.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And they played Mike Williams more than they had played him.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Right, you didn't really notice it, but you.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Did thirty five percent of the snatch exactly the most
exactly Austin I believe was in the seventies. Yeah. To me,
it's got to be eighteen and nineteen got to be
on the field. There has to be a threat that
the ball might get thrown.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I always said this about like Allen Robinson or Gunner
Old Schefsky. The defense has thanks when you put them
on the field, you know, And right now, Corterell, Patterson, Prewitt, Hayward, Scronic,
they're all NFL players, but the defense has thanks when
they're on the field.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, you know. Particularly let's just look at Jefferson, Scronic
and Miller. Yeah, yeah, okay, these guys all have Super
Bowl rings. Sure, clearly they're NFL players, but just no doubt,
just as clearly none of those guys as a number
one or a number two. No, none of those when
you need a play, right, don't look around, Johonnelds, Scotty
where are you?
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Right, we're dialing you up here, kid, All right, right,
that's not.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Who they are.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Should we throw it to Justin Jefferson or Scotty Miller?
Yeahn no, no, Right, So.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
That's right, they have a role.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
They got us spoke in the wheel.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I like the way you phrased that because I was
trying to think of a way to get that point
across with streamline it. Yeah, Let's get the best players
on the field. No more. Hey, we can do anything
out of any formation with any number of guys. It's
goronics a good blocker. No more, that's great. No more
targeting nine or ten players, No, we're targeting three guys.
We have Friarmouth eighteen to nineteen. Maybe the running backs
(09:33):
if you want to count that.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I say, Bob Patterson hasn't gotten a carry yet today.
I don't care ye give it the Warren. Well, right,
we'll get to that in a minute, and we'll get
to our factor.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Back speaking the running backs, Merril Hodge in just a minute,
as we continue breaking down Steelers and Ravens. A game
with a great deal at stake, a game with a
lot of intrigue on both sides because of potential unavailability,
and man, there's ramifications.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Out the wazoo on both sides.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
So you're gonna want to keep it here with Matt Williamson,
I'm Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview right here on
your Steelers Flagship one or two point five DVE and
the Steelers Audio Network. Back to the Steelers preview show
on DVE. Welcome back to Steels Preview right here, on
your Steelers Flagship one or two point five DVE and
(10:21):
the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Persuda and Matt Williamson getting
you ready for the Steelers and the Ravens on Saturday
in Baltimore. Time now to welcome the star of our
show to the show, our Factor back, Merril Hodge and Merril.
I gotta tell you, Matt and I are not overcome
with the spirit of the season. Normally a Steelers Ravens
(10:44):
rematch would inspire great excitement and anticipation. But we can't
see where the offense is gonna come from without George Pickens.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Is there something we're missing or.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Is this game Saturday gonna look a whole lot like
the one did last Sunday in Philly, just a couple
hours south on ninety five. Well, there's a lot to
unpack there. I want to go.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
But let me get let me, let me, let me
give you a little bit of hope and let's let's
let's start there. Stilly has a better defensive line group
than the Ravens do. Now that being said, I thought
the Ravens did a good job in the first matchup.
(11:33):
And what I'm getting to is, you know, this is
the problem with any everybody that is like round five ten,
five nine under six foot, you know, even like six
foot is you know, pushing it is. You know, good
discipline defenses. Now here's where I'm gonna. I'm gonna, I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Gonna get ahead and back up.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Why it's hard to do this consistently, especially if you've
got guys that are more committed getting sacks then doing
what's best for the team. You know, you got people
that got the sentis to get sacks. That's what they
want to do. They want to get sacks. They don't
want to rush the pasture and push a wall back
in his face and make it hard for him to
play consistently in the passing game, which is what Billy did.
(12:18):
They did a really good job of that. There was
actually a lot of guys that were open. You know,
George Pickens does a good job and get you some
first downs and explosive plays, but there are so many
other plays that you know, how many test receptions of
has George Pickens had at the most ten? Anythink, ye, okay,
(12:41):
so so you got sixty five other plays you're dealing
with even when he's there. Now, I understand that those
plays that he can give you. They matter. I'm not
just I'm not discarding that. However, what I'm getting at
is there are plays there, there are plays, there's wide
receivers open, there was plays to be had. They just
did a good job of pushing stuff than Wilson's face
where he couldn't see. He didn't make them. And now
(13:05):
if the Ravens do that, it's going to be a problem.
But what you got to do, and this is always
the problem.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Why you know I wouldn't.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
Draft anybody that's around five ten is because you got
to deal with that every single week and there's no
answer for it. You know, you're gonna run into good
defense like Philly, who are going to be able to
do that regardless of what you do schematically. But on
every defense does that. Not everybody's disciplined enough to do it.
And that's where you can break down. And you know,
(13:35):
when Russell can be you know, sharp and get that
ball out quick, and it's the first or second guy,
you know, they can be pretty effective. So I don't
think it's all doom and gloom. I think that they'll
do some things schematically to make it hard on the
Ravens to know where he is what they're doing, although
you know they're not dumb either, they are anticipating those
(13:56):
types of things. But I also starts with running the
ball consistently. They just got beat at the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
They just yeah, And I guess part of my uh,
part of living in my fears there is that without pickings,
there's nobody back the defense off right, and you're right,
you are running as uh as the coordinator Arthur Smith
likes to say, you're running into an ambush.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I mean, he obviously affects a game more than just
his targets, you know.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Sure, yeah, you know, and you can't deny that, you know,
based on person, I mean, how they want to align
the people he occupies the threat because then we have
to worry about we do have to. There is a threat,
you know, and that big play threat is is something
that haunts all defenses and they want to avoid at
all costs. And they they do stuff stematically. So that's
(14:46):
not even a chance, you know, doesn't mean it's not
going to happen. But when yeah, when you don't have
to worry about that's like Havin t J. Watt not
on the field. I don't know I don't have to
worry about game planning and have my back not be
a part of our passing game. He now can be
a part of our passing game. That makes it more effective.
We threaten more of their coverage, we put them more
(15:09):
in conflict. So you know, yeah, it's not an easy task,
but it can be done. I still think that they
started to do it against Philly, and I think they
need to do it with the Raiders. You've got guys
in the middle that can win, though, you got tight
end that can win. And they actually had success in
the first matchup with that.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
You know, they attacked the.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Middle of the field and they and they made big
plays there. And I think that's where you start, because
once you can control the middle of the field, then
you can do things on the perimeter. I don't care
who your perimeter guy is. It just makes easier because
they don't defenses don't like to be they don't want
to be exposed in the passing game of the middle
of the field either. That bothers them just about as
bad as exposed to play, so they may that becomes
(15:54):
a focus. So I think there's ways to attacking all
the field. I think there's ways to move Russell Wilson
again a rhythm going, but everything really hinges on how
well can they run the football and how can they
control the line of scrimmage, you know, and in that
last matchup, but you know, turnovers were a big factor.
You know, they may have evened out, you could argue,
but you know, you never know when those were up here,
(16:17):
and you can't predict them. And those are the unknowns
that that you don't have going into this game.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
No matter.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
That's kind of what I was gonna ask you about.
Is in the middle of the field is you know,
Hamilton's a great player, Roque's a great player, but they
may changes at the other safety spot, the other linebacker spot.
I think the middle of the field can be had.
But that also hasn't been Russell Wilson's strength over his
career either.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
All right, well, because of his height right exactly. Can't
say facts.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
You know, that's you know, when people push the pocket
and then push it quick, because there's some passing lanes
that he just you know, gets they get taken away
and it forces other throws. And see defenses know that.
That's why they play certain cover and they know that
and they they can be less less conscious of one
(17:05):
area because they know more than like, he's not going
to be able to make that brow and we can
put our put our bets on more, say the perimeter
stuff or the outside stuff where he can see he
can throw, and then then it be you become Bulnell
as a passer. You know, this is actually what ran
Doug Footie out of the game out of the NFL.
(17:26):
Bill Belichick ran him out of out of the league.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
They he was in.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Buffalo that came into New England. I remember watching the
game and see in the NFL, You're like, your safeties
are a minimum fifteen yards deep minimum, and that's you know.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Say that's where they hover.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Okay, well, I'm watching the safeties. I'm like, why did
that ten? But why did at ten? I'm like, that's
so interesting. I'm like, and as you watch the game unfold,
they were not worried about him pumping the ball down
the middle of the field, and they walk those corners
off so they could read things. They pushed a wall
in the middle of his face. He could not see
the middle of the field. He could he didn't make
(18:03):
one throw. He to do it all the perimeter and
it basically ran. He never was the same and everybody
started to do that and running right out of the league.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
So Merril real quick.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Along those lines, I think it's really interesting. Like when
Drew Brees was in New Orleans, another shorter quarterback. He
had great success, but the Saints spent way more resources
than the other thirty one teams on guard, center guard.
You know, they had to and that's how you have
to kind of make it work, and that's hard to do.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Yeah, well, you're right, and that's where you've got to
be really good. You can't get pushed back quickly and
you're spot on. So that's the areas that you've got
to be really really good at. You gotta from back
that and that's got to win, and they got to
win for you. Those guys gotta win. You just have
to go back to Philly. Like those tackles. Man, that's
a that's a big ass.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I don't care how good they are.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
You know, those those guys are, they're they're some of
the best pandems in football and they want to play. Hey,
they can wreck you, and they controlled the game last week.
But the raves are that they're not as good. So
but you know, they listen. It's a division game. They
lost in Pittsburgh, and.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
You know there's and.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
They need to win bad and this is this is
the pivotal game because they've already lost to the Steelers,
so it will be doing everything possible to get things rolling.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Meryl. Something else that kind of snuck up on me
regarding the Steelers game in Philly. You know, I'm watching
the game here in the studio because they're on the road.
I do the pregame show from the studio here, and
then I do the postgame show from the studio here.
In between, I kind of watching on TV. And when
the Steelers punted the ball back late, I was curious
to see if they could get a three and out.
(19:48):
They did not, so I'm like, all right, well that's
pretty much the game. You're down two scores and now
they're gonna start running out of time. So I'm getting
my open for the postgame show ready. You know, I'm
making sure I have my stats together, and I'm going
over my notes and finding the key plays that I
want to talk about in the post game show. Then
I look up, the game's almost over.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Oh, Philadelphia still has the ball.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
It didn't really hit me until a day or two
later that Philadelphia had the ball for twenty one plays
and ten minutes and thirty nine seconds to close that
game out.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Now, before that, I.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Was willing to give the Steelers credit for hanging in there,
being resourceful, finding a way to stay in the game.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Hey, if Najie Harris doesn't fumble, they might have tied it.
Yeah and all that, But my god.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
You get the ball shoved down your throat for twenty
one straight plays.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Does that wipe all of that off the board? I mean,
what are we to make of that?
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Well, well, I don't think that you just brush it
off and say it's not a big deal, because it's
a big deal. You know you did, and you can't
brush off Nase's fumbles.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
It's not a big deal.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
That is scoring territory first of all, turnovers. I mean
I have already I say this all the time, and
because it is true, it is the only stat that
matters that that is the most significant stat of wins
and losses. If it's a part of your game, and
if it happens and where it happens.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Even I've been wasting my time with seven pages of
stats I send you every week.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
That's funny.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Sad that man said. You know when I thought when
that pitch, when that happened, I was just like, oh my,
I mean, first of all, I mean, yes, it just
should never happen.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay, there was a pitch.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
You gotta you got to shear the ball. That just
should never happen.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
By the way, Meryl officially went went into books as
Russell Wilson fumble, I know, running Backs of a Good Union.
Oh my lord, there, beautiful Russells.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
You better catch it when you pitch it, you better
catch it and hand it to the guy. But anyway,
that's that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
But you know those were you.
Speaker 5 (21:55):
That was an opportunity, really to your point, to tie
the game. You do that, it is a different game
in the game.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
You really didn't to be tied up in you not
that la getting close.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
To the fourth court, Yeah, which I start playing.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Try to keep it close till the fourth quarter with
a short handed team, and figure out a way to
win it the fourth It's been done before. Yeah, yeah,
and you have that.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Now go back to you know then when you get
them pinned back, So now you pin them back and
that's exactly how you want them. And now I think
everybody knows who knows a little bit about football all
you're talking about, because these are actually things you walk
through every week on Saturday, you know, when you're doing
walkthroughs all of the you know, situational football. Okay, we
(22:40):
backed them up there, it's it's a minute, it's got
to be three and out. We got the we got
them pinned back. Now we get the ball back and
that can somewhat save us with the fumble that we
just had, the buckle he just had. Well, then you
go about letting them move down to the field and
keep mind they I can't tell you how many times
they they blue coverages or making mistakes and people were
(23:05):
running wide open. And this has happened not just in
this game. This has actually been a theme. That's why
people keep doing it. They keep doing crossers with the
Steelers because for some reason they're not communicating safety to
linebackers and swaps and switches and all that stuff, and
people know that, so that's why they keep running them
and those those hurt them.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
They were able to do.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
I thought their blend of play calling was perfect. There
was nothing there's no truly explosives play, but they were damaging,
like every player was damaging. And then when they'd win
one round, one one down, they just lost the next down.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Almost like they were trying Phil off. He was trying
to eat up the last two minutes and thirty nights.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
We don't need a chunk. We just need to bleed out.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Let's get on this flat, then.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
We'll get Don't be shocked by that.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Yeah, don't be shocked by that. I don't think there's
any doubt that's what That's what we would be talking about,
you know.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
But I don't think I don't think they were trying
to score, is my point. I think they were just
trying to keep the ball. I wouldn't argue that.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
I honestly would not argue that, because that's exactly what
you you would want to do, is do those type
of things because you got the lead, and we got
the ball, and if we take all the time, guess
what we mean, Merril.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
The cornerback position is a growing concern with me, and
it shows up when you play Chasing Higgins A. J.
Brown and DeVante Smith that I think Porter is the
only guy that can really count on to play man.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Yeah, I would not argue. I would not argue that
you get some mismatches when you get to the slot
and your second guy, and you know, people try to
create those and it's if you don't get quick pressure
and you don't your quarterback has time. I agree with
you, you know, like you know, now that's that's probably not
(25:01):
the biggest issue they have. Like I still go back
to the communication problems that they're having for whatever reason
they are. It's just it's been going on for quite
some time. And you know, I'm sure there will be
a key a key, a key to us. So I
don't think with the Ravens, I thought I saw it
several times there was it was about debating and arguing
(25:25):
about things after a big play, and people are open
so those things like if you clean those a lot
of their problems go away, you know, but they keep
resurrecting themselves. And somehow they got to find a way
to solve that and get that cleaned up, and they
gotta do it for the next month because people are
going to keep doing it. You know, just because you
(25:46):
do it one week, they're like, that doesn't mean they
know what they're doing. Let's try it again. You got
almost show it for a month before it starts to disappear.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Merlin. We talked about this match up the first time.
Lamar Jackson's numbers against the Steelers were not good, and
I kind of wrote that, well, it's a statistical anomaly.
You know, he does so much against so many other people.
They can't be in his head. This has got to
be coincidental. And then he goes out and loses to
him again. And I'm here to tell you going into
(26:14):
this game, Lamar Jackson is one in four against the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
In five games as.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
A starter, He's lost four starts in a row against
the Steelers. He's never rushed for a touchdown against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Crazy, and as a.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Starter, he's thrown five touchdowns and eight interceptions against the Steelers,
at least one interception in every start against the Forget
Jameis Winston will throw you the ball.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
This guy will throw the Steelers the ball. Now the
rest of the time. He's ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
He's starty four touchdowns and three picks, but he can't
play against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
What are we to make of that? Because I'm starting
to buy it, I really am.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Well, I've always said, like the Steelers are how to
play him. They do know how to play him. Like, okay,
now we talked about Russell Wilson. You know what they
did in the pocket, but really not It's similar to
Lamar Jackson. Now he doesn't have the hype problem. But
if you don't give him an escape route, you know,
it's the steers. That's what they do a good job
of if he never can vacate the pocket vertically right away.
(27:16):
But like, that's the most dangerous thing you could do
to that guy if you give him that option. I
can't tell you the time that I've solved that. You know,
they push him back and then he has to go lateral,
and then they do a good job of their pursuit
and then you know how they go about matching up
two receivers, and then you know, in in all honesty,
they've gotten lucky too, because there's been some times where
(27:39):
guys were wide open and they dropped it when he
did find it, you know, the Jemmy wide open.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
I mean, I know it seems to Pittsburgh Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I think they do a good job on Andrews too,
who is kind of his safety blanket.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, yeah, yep.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
They you know, they can get guys on him and
run with him, and you know, and play him. And
if you neutralize that guy on flowers to me, he's like,
he's a real problem too, you know, he's so he
forguts getting quick. You know, it's hard to cover him.
I don't care who you are, but that that's where
(28:17):
they start for first and foremost. And they don't let
him fill the ball quickly.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
That's another thing.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
Why don't he starts rolling the ball. Yes, he can
be dangerous these legs, but they do a good job
of negating that for the most part. And he starts
to he's he starts to get himself into trouble when
he's when he gets the ball and hold it too
long and starts starts moving around. Yes, he can make
a lot of plays, but if you look at the
body of work with him getting rid of the football
(28:49):
in a more timely fashion and either or fashion versus
either or didn't work, Let's see what I can come
up with now, that's when he gets into a lot
of trouble.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Yeah, you're right, you're spot on on that.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Longer he's held it, the worst things have gone more
often than not.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
So you're starting to talk me in it.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
It's Maryland Steelers defensive line dominates and contains Jackson and
traditionally pretty tough to run against, even for Derrick Henry.
Making another fistfight at the fifty and get it to
the fourth quarter and figure it out from there.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
Is that the plan.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
I'm also not quite willing to admit that they got
this Lamar Jackson guy figured out for the next decade,
you know what I mean, Like he's never.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Going to show up against the Steeler for three more outs.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Yeah right, yeah, well, listen, I completely I mean, I
think he's that wicked of a player that, yeah, you
can never say that. I mean, that's that's almost like
you're asking for it.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
We got this figured out. That's that's the wrong thing
to say.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
You're just like, hey, you know, if we keep doing
the fundamental things that really work, well.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
I hear you, But I don't see a lot of
other paths where, you know, like, that's kind of the
road I want to take on.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
Yeah, no, listen, it is probably there. It is the
best way for our success and for them to win
the game. If they can't excuse that, it'll be It's hard.
It's much harder, no question.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
But I think we got to mention Henry. I do
think the Steelers defense, I mean, oh, by the way,
they got a pretty good running back. Probably should at
least bring it up. But they do do a pretty
good job of making his stop his feet, not get
his momentum rolling, and obviously that's the key with his style. Runner.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, well I.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
Could if you only got one run and you I
think we talked about this before rest is in Tennessee
or Baltimore. They do play him well, I mean and okay,
so what you mean by playing him well, you know,
every run has a point of attack. Okay, if you
can not give him a running lane at the point
of attack, if you may can't adjust, that means stop
(30:54):
his feet and redirect you got it.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
It's not like Hartly you got a chance, you got
a chance.
Speaker 5 (31:01):
You got a much better chance because he does not move.
You know, he's not real dynamic. Laterally, it's when he
gets going vertically and you give him a scene and
all he's got to do is wiggle right or left
as he's a dancing down the field, do you you're
gonna have You're gonna have some trouble. And if he
presses the whole hard enough and good enough, and then
(31:23):
you play over the top of him versus state moving
the backside where he's gonna end up to. Then that's
when you get in trouble. They made one run, they
blew it one time. I think it was a nineteen
yard run, and that was really it. After that, they
really they really shut him down and did not let
him get rolling and get those big plays and the
point attack they were they almost want every time.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Merrily is starting to talk me into it.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Uh yeah, well just the Knights. It's the division of
the games, and the stewers are fired up and they
want they know they got to win it too. Yeah,
you got a chance to win the division, get a buy.
There's a massive mass motivation lot on the table and
you control it. Hey man, man, so going there no
better way. We always talking so we want to win
at homes ultimately, like that's ideal, but man, it ain't
(32:10):
nothing better to going in somebody's house in the division
and beating them and winning it.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Particularly that when Merrill, all I want for Christmas is
to do this show again the day after Christmas with
you and Matt.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
When we will not preview the Chiefs game.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
We will wrap up the Chiefs game because very short
week next week, so the programming schedule's crazy. But since
we won't talk to you before the twenty fifth, Merry
Christmas to you and yours and I can't wait to
do it again on the twenty sixth.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
But you guys, doo man, Merry Christmas the fourth talk
to you and hopefull're talking about the divisional champion Brothers.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
That was Meryl Hodge bringing it as he always does always.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
I'm still not talked into this, but no, you know
it's gonna be a challenge the way less adamant.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
That they're really in trouble than I was before I
talked to him.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Yeah, there's some optimism. I mean, defense is gonna have
to carry the day.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah, well usually does in this He usually does one
more segment to go to keep it here with Matt
Williamson on Mike Persuda. You're listening to Steelers Preview. Before
we go to break, I need to remind you that
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(33:23):
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(33:44):
flagship one of two point five DVE and the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Oh, welcome back. I feel like exhaling a little bit
because Merril makes some very good points.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
There, no question, as always, and it's always a beefy
segment to get you wound up and see things a
different light.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
And like the way he sees the game. I still
think this is gonna be really challenging from the Steelers' perspective.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
But where are the offensive playmakers?
Speaker 2 (34:13):
You know? Of all the stuff Merrill said, Baltimore's defense
is not as good as Phillies.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
I really think the Eagles are playing better than any
defense in the league right now at all three.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Levels, and that's sometimes it's hard to project what that
difference can look like. I mean, like they.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Blitzed Russell Wilson once because they ain't have it need right,
no need, And they also were on the field very much.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
I don't think Baltimore blitz him a ton.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
No.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
I don't either.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
I think what you'll see, at least what I've picked up.
Maybe you can fact check me on this. I see
the Ravens. They don't blitz a lot, but they don't
rush the same four a lot either. They'll bring seven
guys to the line.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Of simulated pressure, they'll.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Fake like they're gonna jail break it, and then most
of them drop out. But a lot of times it's
a defensive back, maybe the inside linebacker comes late. It's
usually only a four man rush, but it's not the
same four guys.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
You don't know who's coming, and you have to be
really on top of your communication, which is hard on
a young O line.
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Which is I guess kind of how you want to
do it.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Absolutely, And that's why their defense coordinator became the head
coach for Seattle because he constructed a really smart defense
that doesn't have elite pass rushers, but they have forty
four sacks.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
You know what to expect is brought to you by
Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and
Matt keeping with our theme. Oh no, George Pickens isn't
playing again. What is to be done about that? The Steelers,
you think they want to run the ball, but Baltimore
does have the number one yeah defense in the NFL
(35:38):
eighty point seven yards a game allowed on the ground.
So what do you expect the Steelers to do to
try to manufacture a running game that.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
I'm having problems with And we only have so many
minutes with Merrill, But I really wanted to talk more
of running game.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
Because that was a big deal.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Be careful if we bring up running games bar.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
For hours and hours, right, yeah, and some eventually you
gotta have a commercial.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
We're gonna have to learn the affiliates that were running
the right.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
But I thought it was so obvious previewing and watching
Steelers Eagles. They were the two most run heavy teams
in the league, and the Ravens are right there as well.
But the Steelers average three point nine yards of carry
and Phillies like at six, you know, like over the
course of the year when you run as much as
they do.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Steelers really need to be.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
Four to three, four to four, you know, and can
they do that against the best run defense in the
league this week? It doesn't sound great.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Well, I don't think it sounds great either. So what
do you do when you can't just overpower them?
Speaker 4 (36:38):
You trick them?
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Right, mm hmm, Here's what I do. Here's what I
would expect would be the way to run the ball
against Baltimore. Number One, throw it first, throw it on
every first down.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
The early down stuff's been brutal.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
Yeah, you just you can't go run, run, pass kick.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
They get into third down way too often.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
And then the other thing I'd do is what Philadelphia's
done a really good job of this Year's spread them
out and run out of three wives. I know, it
sounds crazy. They don't have pickings, and we've just spent
a lot of this shown and Miller on the field
and those guys. You don't necessarily have to put a wide.
You know, you can spread it out and have a
three wides. Look, Cleveland's done that with tight ends before.
(37:17):
You can do that with Najie Harris and Jalen Warren
on the field. At the same time, thought.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
Get creative. Hey, Arthur Smith's good at that.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
Right.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
He likes to play with his different personnel groups.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
I don't think Roquan Smith is a very good cover
guy when he's out wide on the sideline. I don't
think Trenton Simpson when he's in the game it can
do that, and he gets to sign that a lot.
So I would try to strike that way and open
things up and then run that way. But I do
agree the Steelers need to run the ball and possess
it that you know, can't have the ball for twenty
minutes and eight seconds. No, of course, not right.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
I think you're gonna have to get some receiving production
out of Friarmooth and Warren.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
The backs.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Yeah, I mean great defense and backs.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
Play action, boot the drag, stuff across.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
You know they are safe throws at eat clock.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
Take those five six yard plays and go from there.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
I'd love to attack this secondary, which remains susceptible.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I'm sure they'll take shots.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Baltimore has the goofiest splits I've seen in a long time.
Number one against the run, number thirty one against the past. Yep.
And no, it's not because they're ahead all the time
and everybody else.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
It's because they stink at covering the past.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
They really do.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
However, when we previewed the Ravens, was that three weeks ago,
four weeks ago, whatever the heck it was, they were
horrific in allowing big plays, and for the season they are.
But really since then they've got some things corrected. You
know that they're not having changed.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
You referenced it real quickly with Merrill Darius Washington is
now your free safety and Marcus Williams is.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Name got basically benched them.
Speaker 5 (38:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Yeah, They've had a lot of faith in him and
that did not work out.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
That's a good move for Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Williams. Williams is their pseudo Minka free safety. They gave
him a lot of money and apparently he's hit a
wall in his career because he's been a huge liability.
They've also had a lot of coverage busts and mistakes
in terms of communication on the back end, and I
attribute a lot of that to last year's defensive coordinator
became a head coach, their top two assistants became defensive coordinators,
(39:20):
and then they've kind of like promoted Dean Pas lately
that he seems to be cleaning some of that stuff up.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
And the editor Emeritis.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
Yeah, yeah, and they bye last week. I'm sure that's
what they harped on, you know, So we'll see. But
it's been better for them on the back end the
last couple of weeks. They've also played the Giants.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Do you like normally Harrison forty at linebacker instead of
Simpson twenty three.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
Simpson's been kind of relegated to the bench too, And
I forget the other guy's name that's been playing a
bunch too, the other linebacker. But you don't see much
Simpson anymore. No, he's just an athlete that is learning.
Let's be kind. He runs around a lot.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Marnld. Humphrey is a slot guy. He was the slot
guy last time. These two teams played plays outside when
they're not in a sub package, and then he moves
into the and at least it's firm and things up.
Because what Wiggins and the other corner is twenty one
Brandon Stevens.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Yeah, Stevens has had a rough year. Wiggins is promising
Humphreys and every down player. But what they had so
much success with last year out of the slot was
Malette would be against like shorter, smaller guys or Hamilton
would be in the slot now because the safety problems,
Hamilton's no longer doing that role.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
So I think they have better ideas of where people belong.
And how did the Steelers attack that or dud with
George Pickens.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Nope, no, that's not gonna work. I don't know. I
think linebackers not named Rokwan and safeties not named Hamilton
can all be had. Yeah, I mean Washington's very small.
I mean he's like Mike Hilton's size. If you can
get Friar Mooth or Washington on him, you know, you
can have some size advantages with him. And their other
linebackers don't run great.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
The other thing you mentioned briefly, Baltimore is a highly
penalized team. The highest the highest twelve for one hundred
and twelve yards against the New York Football Giants in
a game.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Get dominated.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Yeah, eight of them on defense, four of them for
defensive pass interference.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
That's a big one for them too, is they get
beat and drag people down. There's a lot of DPIs.
It was Wens in particulars bad.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
You know, Baltimore went into its by and said, Okay,
we're gonna fix a lot of stuff. That most people do.
And we're gonna get to the bottom of this and
fix this and fix that fresh start coming out. Okay,
you got the Giants and they stayed. Yeah, you're playing
Tommy DeVito and a boil I can't even remember his
last name, and you pound them. But still a bunch
of penalties and four of them were on one drive. Matt.
(41:46):
The game was fourteen to nothing, and the Ravens basically
put a bow on a drive for the Giants and
made it fourteen to seven late in the second quarter.
Now they just got the ball back after kickoff went
down or.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Yeah, Harristimon, that was not a competitive game.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
We established their lead, but not the way you want
to protect a lead.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
No, And the other thing we have to mention is
we threw out special teams. Tucker is a problem.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
I mean, I don't know. I'm in y point four percent. Yeah,
he missed ten kicks.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
If it comes down to it, do they go for
it on fourth when they shouldn't? Should they punt when
they shouldn't a fake punt? He's really hard to trust
right now.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Four to nine from fifty yards or longer? Big edge
Steelers there, big edge. Hopefully it comes down to the
kickers and Chris Boswell does his.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
Thing, and that's really what the Steelers are the advantage
in the margins there.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
They're handing out the hats and the teachers stat he's
gonna do it for us. So I want to thank
Meryl for joining us, as I always thank him. He's
part of his job. Yeah, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (42:45):
He's getting a paycheck?
Speaker 2 (42:46):
Thank you. At the end of the show, what can
I say? I do want to thank Justin Miller. Are
ace behind the controls here? Because you or I couldn't
do what he does, not one bit. We could talk.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
It'd be way better off doing our jobs on the
way around.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
He puts.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
Yeah, really, we had a switch.
Speaker 2 (43:01):
There's no show. So thank you Justin, and thanks to
everyone for finding us, however and wherever you found us.
Remember next week, because of Christmas and the goofy schedule,
were a postgame show Thursday night like always, but we
will be wrapping up.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
The Chiefs game.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Plenty of talk about I'm sure not.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Previewing a Bengals game that's still going to be like
fifteen days away at that point, I exaggerated, but you
get the idea.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
That's it for US for Matt Williamson.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
I am My pursuit of this has been Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five TV and the Steelers Audio Network. Good Night, everybody,
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