October 23, 2025 • 45 mins
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on wdv E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers by Brian Patton and associates. It's all about
the benefits and by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
to wreck from the team at shop dot Steelers dot com.
And now here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson
and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five d ve Ian Steelers Nation Radio. Mike Persuda and
Matt Williamson getting you ready for a big one Sunday
night at Akrosher Stadium, the Packers and the Steelers the
Aaron Rodgers Revenge Bowl. Even though he says it's not
about revenge, I kind of believe him, but I don't
(00:44):
believe him.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
If that's a right word.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Okay, I think.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Two things can be true, right, Merril Hodge, our factor
back will be along directly to help us break down
what is a really intriguing matchup and for the Steelers,
a big one because all of a sudden. I want
to say the wheels are off, but they wabbled badly
in Cincinnati.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Wobbled yeah a week aldgo Thursday, But.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Matt I was down to practice this week, yesterday and today,
and I made sure to take a moment when I
was on the field and look up and the sky.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
Was not fall.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Didn't fall. One game still up there?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Well, what's what's the vibe from your perspective,
the X and O scouting type of guy, What do.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
You you thinking?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
One of the analogies I've been using all week about
that game was, boy, there's a lot of glass half
empty half full to that game. And I understand Cincinnati's
defense isn't good, but I am so impressed with Rogers
and where the run game goes. And that's the half
full part of it. And the joke I've been making is, well,
I think the cup was forty nine percent. You know,
(01:51):
it wasn't quite half right, right right? I mean, if
Metcalf holds onto the ball, or if they create one
more splash play on defense, you wash away a lot
of the sins. But there were a lot of defensive sins,
and I fully expect to quote Meryll. You know, when
the proud unit gets embarrassed, and especially in the format
(02:13):
like this, I think they have to play better on defense,
and they did it against the Bangles.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
They no where to go it up. If that's who
they are right right right game over, Yeah, I think
it's I think it's an outlier. I mean they started
slowly and then the Minnesota game, in the Cleveland game
where what you want to see with the exception of
the tail end of the Vikings game, but it was
definitely trending in the right direction. There are faith in
these players that that was kind of the narrative all
week on the South Side, both from Terrel Austin, a
(02:40):
defensive coordinator today, and some of the players I talked
to on Thornhill in particulars you know, hanging there. It's
the NFL. Things happen. We're not happy with this, but
there's belief in the players. There's belief in the scheme,
there's belief in the collective ability to get it done
way better th they got it done against better and.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
We've seen some proof of it too. It's not like
they've gotten steamrolled every game, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, you know, it's funny you talked about Rogers a
moment ago, and I too, am impressed with Rogers. Two
immediate thoughts that have stuck with me after that Bengals game,
which I am referring to as the disaster in Cincinnati
because you know it's a little lyrical.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
I've also heard stumble in the ju jungle. Either way,
not good.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
But I thought one of the problems and you know,
the defense was goat one, Yeah, but the offense could
have thrown a knockout punch early in that game, and
they left some points on the field in the first half,
in particular, if that gets to fourteen seventeen or twenty
one to nothing like it could have Yeah, different game.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
You and I and Rob do a game or a
day after a recap show. You know that we'll do
one Monday. And I'm almost certain it was your quote,
and it's been a while now, but I stole it
early in the week over and over that they almost
knocked the Bengals out in the first round and end
up being a fifteen round fight and they lost the draw.
(04:03):
You know, they went the decision and you didn't win.
And I thought that's exactly how the game went because
the first quarter was a dominant performance.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And the other thing that stuck with me is when
I look back at what I thought might happen, how
this might unfold at the start of the season, it
was very similar to recent seasons. I was expecting a
really good defense and hoping for just good enough from
the offense.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
Yeah, I think I've flipped the script.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I'm now thinking this offense can score, and Rogers
can get more comfortable, and more weapons can be activated,
and if they clean up falls starting on a tush
push and Metcalf getting the ball ripped out of his
hands in the scoring area, thirty five thirty one might
be more regular than we've seen around here in a
(04:49):
long long time.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
And yeah, points scored.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I just had the same conversation with Bob Labriola a
little over an hour ago in the Drive, and it's like,
I think we have to adjust our mindset of what
this Tea Eamon franchise currently are. I mean, there's been
so many games where we've watched where the defense is
the only reason they're in it, you know, or boy,
if they could get the twenty points, they're gonna win.
You know, twenty points isn't much much to ask, or
(05:14):
even crazier, what if our quarterback could throw fifteen touchdowns
in a season Rogers does in five games, you know
what I mean? Like, the offense is consistent and they're
getting better, and so much of it's a quarterback, but
the running I can't wait to talk about the running
game with Merrill, to be honest with you, because I
think it's much more diverse, and it's more than just
(05:35):
throwing Spencer Anderson out there and moving bodies. They're doing
a lot of different stuff. And now I know you
read the report, but maybe Austin gets back in the
mix too. I mean, the offense is in pretty good spot.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, let's read the report. Yeah, because it looks like
Austin is going to get back in the mix. Full
participation today for the second consecutive day, he said Wednesday.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
He's just waiting for the nod from Mike Tomlin. You're back, okay.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Zach Frasier did not practice today, Calf he was limited yesterday.
If you're listening to this show, you probably scoured the
internet for all those practice videos we all throw up,
and you might have seen Fraser without his helmet today
watching Ryan McCollum snap. But Fraser said afterward, and I quote,
I think I'll be fine. Good he said, he said
(06:19):
he heard his calf on the second drive of the
Bengals game, played through it then and he just said
it's sore.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
I mean, you hate to see limited Wednesday downgraded in
any way the next day, but I'm sure they're just
being ultraed airy.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Airing on the side of caution and just making sure
he's good to go. Ryan McCollum is the backup center.
He's got three career starts, one with Detroit in twenty
twenty three, two with the Steelers in twenty twenty four.
He played six games last year, no starts. They've had
him around for a while. He's a trusted backup.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
But yes, to say he's a trusted backup.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
But again, Zach Fraser quote, I think I'll be fine
for the past A little more intrigued than on the
Steelers side, and the one I've particularly got my eye on.
Wide receiver Christian Watson knee limited for the second consecutive day.
He's been practicing for a couple of weeks now, trying
to come back for my r.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
He's in that twenty one day window. Yeah, I understand. Okay, Yeah, so.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
You know, stay tuned on him. Impressive.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Jordan Love's impressive, more so when you consider he's been
doing this without Christian Watson and Jayden.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Reed for Michigan State. I'm a big reading Reed fan.
Watson's a tall, long, fast outside the numbers, over the top.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Guy six four down the field guy.
Speaker 6 (07:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
And Jordan Love I've been calling him all week. He's
a big game hunter. He doesn't mind chucking it down
the field to those guys.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Also interesting that one of the receivers that's been filling
in for Green Bay Doantavian Wicks. He's been the number
three of late. He hasn't practiced yet this week because
of a calf injury.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Okay, I mean that's significant too. I mean he has
drop issues, but he's a quality route runner and has
some ability, especially as depth receivers go in this league.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Also of a somewhat a concern to Green Bay Lucas
van Ness, really talented defensive lineman. He didn't play against Arizona.
He hasn't practiced yet this week. But they're pretty deep
up front.
Speaker 6 (08:14):
They are.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
They got a lot of dudes.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
They do.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
After the Parsons trade, but he's a lot different than
those guys. He's a thicker, stronger, former first round pick
that can bounce inside on passing downs. He's a good player,
he's not a special player.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
And Josh Jacobs limited for the second consecutive day calf.
He was a game time decision at Arizona and didn't
play a ton of snaps in that Cardinals game, just
thirty one. But boys, he impactful when he's out there,
and I assume they're just doing the standard maintenance and
making sure he's ready to go on Sunday, although if
(08:49):
he is still on something of a pitch count, as
he clearly was in the Cardinals, Yeah, they kind of
cheat and take him out of the pass catching role
because he can do both, and he lined up a
receiver on one snap he caught one pass. Yeah, but
that Cardinals game snapped a streak for Josh Jacobs two
consecutive games of one hundred and fifty or more yards
(09:10):
from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
He still got his two touchdowns. He scores like mad Man,
but he didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Get over the one fifty hump. Mike tom Hains said
his touchdown number which is eight this year and twenty
three since the Packers.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Got most in the league since he's joined the Packers.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Tom called it staggering. I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
I could agree more. I really like the player. I mean,
he is ultra competitive. I'm sure he'll play with respect
to Love and their pass catchers who I like, and
I really like Craft the tight end. The foundation of
the offense is Jacobs. Even the number two, number three
backs don't get close to the workload he does. He's
an old school nineteen eighty five give me every carry, dude,
(09:54):
And it made me crazy when he was the Raiders.
You touch on him as a receiver. He's a very
capable ever and the Raiders didn't use them at all
in that capacity, which makes no sense to me at all.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Yeah, he's on his back.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
He's got the size element, he's got the speed element.
He can run you over, he can make you miss,
he can get to the edge and turn it up.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
He's one of the best backs of the league. Yeah,
and then you might be number one, but he's one
of the best backs in the league.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
As we established. He knows what the end zone is anyway,
you know.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
The one bright spot. I heard a lot of talk
after that Bengals game. Uh well, you know, after Cincinnati
ran for one hundred and forty two yards. That's on tape,
and people are going to try to run the ball,
and yeah, this just in.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
The Packers were going to do that anyway.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
And so is Jonathan Taylor next week.
Speaker 6 (10:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So I'm sure they watched the film and were encouraged.
But this is one of the run heaviest teams in
the league. They were going to run the ball a
lot more to come tonight. We're just getting warmed up,
so keep it here.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
When we come back, we'll welcome Merril Hodge to the
show and start really breaking down Steelers Packers on Sunday Night.
Steelers Preview presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F
one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Comes at you on Steelers Nation Radio and right here
on your Steelers flagship.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
One of two point five dve.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DV.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Welcome back to the preview, Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson
getting you ready for the Steelers and the Green Bay
Packers Sunday Night at Akersher.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
You know, I'm gonna be waiting all day for Sunday night.
Speaker 6 (11:20):
I got it there.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Yeah, it's a pretty good, pretty good Marquee matchup here.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Time now to welcome our factor back, Merril Hodge to
the show. And Merrill always a joy to talk to you.
But I wanted to tap in first and foremost tonight
on your perspective as an ex player. I know you
can break it down with the best of them. But
Aaron Rodgers did his best this week to let everybody
know this is not a revenge game, and he talked
(11:46):
fondly about his eighteen years in Green Bay and the
towns in which he lived, and how nice the team
photographer was, how much respect he has for Jordan Love.
But he did make a little mention while he was
saying all that's stuff that they couldn't play Jordan Love
right away because he was in the process of winning
back to back MVP. Worst of that effect that you
(12:09):
forgot I'm paraphrasing, but that was the point.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
So what I want to ask you is the next player.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I mean, we've been through this a little bit with
you know, DK Metcalf has played the Seahawks and we
had Rogers and against the Jets and justin fields against
the Steelers to kick things off this year.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
But man, you spend eighteen.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Years in one place, and you establish a gold jacket resume,
and you win four MVPs in the super Bowl and
then they tell you, you know what, thanks a lot,
we're done. You don't have to go home, but you
can't stay here. They gotta be a little something in
a tank for that doesn't there.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
I would think, and Meryl, did you ever play against
the Steelers? I should know that. I apologize, right, even
ask him, But.
Speaker 6 (12:47):
No, no, no, well no, actually, but you led me into
where it's gonna go. Well, first of all, let me
just say comment on his back to back MVPs. That's
what we call Mike Tyson sucker punch, you know, just
like gives you a little sucker punch there at the end. Actually,
I went to Chicago. I went to Chicago. We're we're
(13:09):
playing in the following year based on how the scheduling was.
And I can actually I understand a lot of this,
Like when the team that you're gonna play, you get
a chance to go back and play him. I think
if it would have been immediately, I've had a different perspective,
(13:30):
like I would have wanted Tom Donaldo to be out
on the field though, because he's the guy, So I
wanted to the wrong person I've been. I'd have been Tom.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
You think you were mad at the steel the linebackers,
you were mad at the decision makers.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Right, he has no choice, Tom will have no choice.
I love Tom, I mean, but he anyway, Not to
get into all of that, I would have been angry
for the wrong reason and the wrong person. And but
the going into the second year, I actually think there's
a lot of truth to what Aaron is mentioning, because
(14:10):
I think you come to a player you're angry and upset,
maybe initially, but then when you understand, like you can't
play this game for I remember Chuck no I remember
one of the first meetings I ever had with him, well,
not not me personally, as a team. One of the
first things you talked about is like, hey man, football
ain't your life work? And I'm like, what are you
(14:32):
talking about? I'm like, what is this? What do you
mean by I just got here it's not your life's work?
Then football is not your life's work. You need to
be thinking about what you're going to be doing for
your life's work outside of this game. And then you know,
they went into a little dissertation and I walked out going.
And this is when about the time frame where everybody
(14:54):
was called say the game had passed him by, by
the way, and I'm like, well, they're right, he's talking
about your life' scorre. He can't you know? It was wrong? Right? Well,
then I played my very first game against San Francisco
forty nine ers. I remember thinking, oh, he knows exactly
what what he's talking about. You can't do this. This
(15:15):
is not your life's worked. And so with me, my
point with Aaron's like he's had what three years this
would be he'll be off for three years.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
This is the third years.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
I guarantee you his his his perspective is much different
now than a year ago. Those relationships you talking about
are real and all those things that go ahead.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
He even mentioned that, he said, you know what absence
makes the heart grow fonder? You try to, Yeah, you
try as a person to gain more perspective with the
passing of time. And I bought most of what he said,
but that mentioned in those two m vps, like you
said that was a little bit Hey, just in case
you forgot powah.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Yeah, that's that's his humor. That's actually what I actually
like about Aaron is you know, he's got a little
bit of humor like that. But I don't think that
this game will for him. I'm sure you want to
perform well, but I'm going to tell you this, and
I don't know if this will be exactly right, but
I would bet over half of that team maybe more
(16:21):
he never played with, which you really understand. Yeah, it's crazy.
I mean, Jordan Love, I can't. I mean, there might
be a few other players, but I'm guarantee you he
would be hard pressing on any of those guys. You
know that he's going to play again, so you know,
I I just know from a perspective that you know
(16:45):
that what he what he said is true. I mean,
that's just his his humor too. But you listen, people
are making a big deal. Listen, then the screw is
going to make this a big deal because you're not
making a big deal that he played there forever and
now now he's a Steeler. But basically where he's at,
I don't think it affects him at all. He's been
(17:07):
on point the entire season. It hasn't been hit flaws
that are hurt the team, you know, it's been a
lot of other things that they've they've had to work
on and need to work on to get better in
order to beat this thing.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Well, he's not the only Pittsburgh Steeler that's had a
really good career and at a prideful career. And there's
a lot of those players on defense. And I think
about you all the time. When a unit plays as
poorly and as embarrassing as they did against the Bengals,
you have to think that side of the ball rebounds right.
Speaker 6 (17:39):
Well, listen, a true professional does that. You know, I
said all the time. You know, it's never underestimated professional
after they've been embarrassed. And of all the games that
had this year, that one had to be the most embarrassing. Marol.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
I'm gonna get that on a T shirt. By the way,
we're the next year, Hey.
Speaker 6 (17:57):
Dude, we'll sell them ever.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Underestimated professional who's been embarrassed.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I thought about that watching the game as well, and
then I thought, yeah, they're gonna be uh in bounce
back mode. But then again, Josh Jacobs can embarrass people run.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I mean but that was an embarrassing defensive performance to
my point. Yeah, right, that really was.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
They you know, they they got handled up front like
they did the first couple of weeks. You know, they're
when when it's just one listen, we always forget too
these other guys are really good too. Sometimes we tend
to think, you know, the Steelers are gonna win every
play and they're gonna dominate. But that's not that's not
the case. Even when you're really great, like you don't
(18:38):
win every play, you just win sixty to seventy percent
of it. When you're really really great, you lose a
lot of plays. So that being said, you know, their
their best on our best, they won, they won the
majority of the time. We made a lot of mistakes.
You know, something that actually is is actually a concern.
I've watched it actually the entire season. We do struggle
(19:00):
where we play zone coverage, like we're not very Our
linebackers are a bigger issue than the secondary, but they're
a part of it. Is where we are in our
zone coverages, we're giving up too many big voids. You know,
we're covering areas of the field where there's no wide receiver.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
You think it's a lot of the initial drop of
the linebackers.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Well it's that's no. I think it's our understanding of
the formation and the routes being run. I mean, I
know I said this on the Morning show. We actually
had there was a combination route on the numbers. Okay,
I don't know exactly what it was, but let's say
it's a little hitch and a curl. But all the
route were on the numbers. We had our flat defender
(19:45):
outside the numbers, like, there's nothing over there. That's over
there is the only thing that's over there is the sideline,
and that's another defender.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Use it.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
You should have been inside the numbers. And then you
take away the under throughout which ended up throwing so like,
and then we played to the wrong side of the
formation and we widen things and give so many voids
in our secondary a lot of our coverages that people
are seeing it now, you know they're taking advantage of that.
So we got to get better and understanding what I said.
(20:21):
I don't know if I elaborated much the entire story here,
but one of my first when I first started working
at NFL Films in ESPN, and I would one thing
I loved about it, like I had access to thirty
two of the greatest minds in the world. I'd call,
you know, any head coach coordinators and you know, you're
in the sixty four and whatever number you want to go,
(20:42):
and I got I just learned so much about listening
to these things that they would share with me that
I was like, oh wow, I did you know. I
didn't think about that. I didn't know that, but I
was talking to Tom Cofflin and on this particular subject.
He brought it up because we were talking about a
linebacker the time. He goes, Hey, Meryl, if I tell
this guy to be a twenty or on the numbers
in zone uncovered too, he's going to be on the numbers.
(21:05):
The problem with that, he's always going to be on
the numbers, regardless of the fundation.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Yeah, maybe no one else on the numbers.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Yeah, he goes, we don't need to be on the
numbers at that. You have to have some football sense
and instincts and realize there's only one receiver over here.
If there's no reason to defend to what you said
earlier grass an area, they're not going to throw it,
or they're not even threatening and understanding those things. You know,
as the defender in zone coverage is really important. It
(21:34):
isn't like, yes, we have an area we've got to
be at. However, if there's trips on the other side
and there's only one guy inside the numbers, I don't
know what You're out there covering the twenty yard line
for I just come on in. Make the windows shorter,
make the windows I mean smaller for him, or put
it in a position he doesn't want to throw here
because you're standing there. So we you know, we just
(21:55):
didn't do a very good They didn't do a very
good job of that. They've had that problem. Oh you're
you make mistakes. You know. People put a lot of
bunch and this is the Packers are going to do this.
Here's two things the Packers are going to do and
they're great at. The second one is they're the best
in football apps. But the first one is they're going
to create formations, bunches and challenge us to identify people
(22:17):
and cover people. One. Two, they're the best screen offense
I've ever seen. They run screens from the traditional screens
to one man screens, tight end screens. They run screens
everywhere and if you are not buttoned up and you
do not have your guy and you do not know
what you're doing, they will kill you with the screen game.
(22:41):
And they're going to do that just because we have
pass rushers. They're going to want to do that to
neutralize those guys. So it's a really it's a dangerous
thing in this game that they're going to have to handle.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Looking at the Jordan Love Meryl, he was here a
couple of years ago and he looked like a young
guy who had not figured it out yet. I think
he gets it, and the things that lead me to
believe that he looks like when he's pressured, he still
looks to step up and throw before he does just
run away like he's still trying to make a passing play.
(23:13):
He can hurt you with his legs. He hurt the
last two teams they played here and there with his legs.
But he's looking to throw. And then that Arizona game
they played last Sunday, it came down to a fourth
and two at the Cardinals twenty nine with two thirty
two left. Now they're down twenty three to twenty so
their choices are kicked the field goal and tie it
or go for it and try to get the touchdown
(23:34):
and win. They sent the field goal team out first,
and then they changed their mind similar to kind of
how the Steelers did it in Dublin, and they called
a pass and he just held it, held it and
he waited for his tight end, Tucker Kraft, number eighty five,
to get open. He knew he was gonna get single covers,
or at least he anticipated it. He had the confidence
to let the play play out, and then he threw
(23:55):
a strike to the sideline. They got the first down.
They ended up getting the ball in the end zone.
But he just he looks very self assured, which I
don't see a lot of quarterbacks looking. But this guy
looks like he's turned a corner.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
To me. Yeah, I'm not going to argue that. You know,
I've known him since he was the University of Utah
and I studied him and you know, one of his
really the things concerning about when it came out of
the University of Utah is he would do he would
do some things that you just shook your head out
all the time. You know, occasionally everybody does something you know,
you're like, wow, even the great players. But he would
(24:31):
do it all the time, and he would do it
in moments where it mattered and it really really hurt him.
Case in point, you know the playoff game had in
San Francisco. Okay, you got what a buck fifty and
you throw it across the field on second down or
third down? I wasn't even fourth down. Those kind of things,
like there's no reason to do that, Like what are
you doing? So that being said, I do I think
(24:57):
that guy, just like Aaron Rodgers, benefited from two and
three years of development sitting alone. And it's a credit
to them because you can waste that time or you
can use that time. And I think that's always forgotten
about these guys. I remember when Aaron Rodgers came out
of col I was not I was not. Actually, I
was like, boy, this guy's got a lot of things
(25:18):
to learn because the college system he was in was
nothing like he was going to enter. In fact, I
remember one of his first preseason games like he couldn't
even throw a flat route, like he could tell he
was so lost and confused. Jordan loved somewhat the same way.
But Aaron Rodgers, I remember when he got his for
the Brett Farm, got hurt against Cowboys. He came in.
(25:38):
I'm like, Okay, that ain't the same guy that I
saw three years ago. That's a credit to him and
how he's developed and the work he did well. Jordan
Love like has done the same thing to your point,
But there's every now and then that that you tous
state stuff, that college stuff comes up to play for
whatever reason. Do I think that what you're talking about
(26:00):
is the majority? Yes? Do I think he's dangerous, yes.
Do I think he's composed and you better be at
your very best the beauty? Yes, But there's always that
little bit that you're like, huh, he just every now
and then he'll do some things You're like, whoa, what
is I didn't see that coming, you know, But if
you know his history, he's I was always done that
(26:22):
a little bit.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
So we ended the last segment talking about Josh Jacobs.
I have a feeling you're a fan of the way
he plays the running back position. What's your thumbnail on him?
Speaker 6 (26:33):
I loved I love him as a runner. But I
will tell you this, they I actually am like I
thought the Packers kind of gotten away from being as
consistent as they were a year ago. Now I would
say this. The Arizona game was interesting. The second half,
they changed their mind. I thought that was one of
their big factors in helping them win that game. But
he is he's a dangerous cat. What they what they
(26:57):
do in the running game is a problem because of
how they go about it. But you know, they're not
very good up front in the trenches. You know, they're
right guard can have some of my issues at times.
Their left tackle has issues at times. They're not the
best offensive line in football, you know, and that and
that surprised me that they don't run the ball a
little more. But I think in this game, I think
(27:18):
you you'll see more of that. I think you'll see
more of those screen games because of the problems they
want to stay away from that we provide on the perimeter.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Marri Al, I'm a big Michael Parsons fan. As Mike
Tomlin might say, he needs no endorsement from me, but
I think what he needs are double teams if you're
going to stop him from wrecking the game. And Arizona,
for whatever reason, decided to single block him almost all
day and he got three sacks when matter most, one
(27:49):
of them was starting goal and they had to kick
a field goal. The second one was starting goal and
they had to kick a field goal, and the third
one was first and ten from the Green Bay twenty
six late in the game when Arizona was trying to
steal it at the end and it ended up helping
to torpedo the possession. How do you sit down as
a coaching staff and have a meeting before you put
(28:10):
your game plan together and say, yeah, we're gonna block
this guy's single block. Everybody go with that, Yes, coach, Yeah,
let's do that.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Especially what do they think it?
Speaker 6 (28:19):
Yeah, well, I can tell you the only time you're
gonna do that is when you're in scoring territory. You know,
the ball's got to come out quick, you know, and
even there you gotta be careful quick enough well and
as you put it on the quarterback. The only reason
I'm using that because that's exactly how we handled Lawrence
Taylor once we get outside the ten. Like if I
had to block him, that was I had to block him.
(28:42):
There was nobody else. My job was to cut him,
and my offsome job was hey, you know I'm blocking him, Bob, right,
you better get rid of the ball. That's watch, you know,
you ain't got two seconds, you got one point one,
so I mean, but yeah, yes, a little now. I
(29:06):
obviously they will pay attention to him a lot more.
You know what they're doing with him though, too. It's
a little bit of a problem that they the first
couple of games he didn't have is they move him
all over now, like he don't know where he's going
to be I mean left right, I mean right side,
left side, and they moved on in the middle, you know,
so you know they're moving him around, you know what.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
He's always standing up though, Merrily, where's number one? I
thought he's pretty easy to spot on TV. You OUs
see those offensive lineman pointing before the snap, and they're
always yelling like shouldn't.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
They be pointing? One?
Speaker 3 (29:36):
There?
Speaker 5 (29:37):
There he is? Okay, we're good.
Speaker 6 (29:39):
That doesn't mean you're good, dude, Well you better have
you better have a plan for where he is, no
matter where.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
He is, Meryl, I say I got for you is
let's let's harpen some good stuff I didn't steal running
games starting to turn a corner. And a big thing
you brought up every week is a more diversified package
of run plays, you know, more more power stuff. I mean,
I think that's paying off.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Yeah, I really agree with you. You know, they are just
better at run blocking, I mean at man blocking schemes,
and actually, you know, when they come to the zone
blocking schemes, they actually are slightly better at that now,
you know, And I think it's prictically they don't have
to do it a lot. But those man blocking schemes
that they run in the perimeter that they they attack,
(30:25):
I mean, is really you know, beneficial. And they keep
building on it too. It's credit to the coaches. You know.
They didn't just say, hey, a couple of plays like
that are good. They keep building on that. They keep creating,
bring bringing creativity and versatility to their to the running attack,
where we're going to have a lot of phases that
are going to be a problem for people.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
That's a great point.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
And I gotta I gotta say I'm impressed with Jalen Warren.
I thought he was a fine third down back. I
had my doubts that he can really I thought he could,
you know what, I.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Thought I might doubt it could be more than that,
And I was so wrong. Man, give that kid the ball.
Speaker 6 (31:02):
Yeah, that he's you know, I remember when I was watching,
and well I got I got a questions too about
so don't don't. Don't feel bad, Mike. They're like, oh,
I don't, and here's why, because you know Jamie doesn't
have that at that top end dinishing speed. Okay, So
I said, so you have a problem with first downs,
moving the chains and twenty yard runs. Protection yeah and
(31:27):
smack yeah, hitting people where they want to think that
they're gonna come again.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Well, I just didn't think they keep happening. You know,
I didn't trust my eyes.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
I'm not not this. He's got fabulous running skills. His
feet are phenomenal, his balance is incredible, his power is unmatched.
Now that's like I'm jealous. I wish I had that.
He's a real deal, your beast.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
May I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Uh, We'll talk to you again next week when another
running team Headstacker Sure Stadium, Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 6 (32:02):
You guys are the best man, Go Steelers.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Meryl Hodge Factor back here on Steelers Preview. Gear up
with the latest game day necessities at the official Steelers
pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, Jersey's Terrible towels,
authentic memorabilia, and custom exclusives you can only find directly
from the team. Visit one of the official Steelers Pro shops.
Those are located at Akroscher Stadium, the Grove City Premium Outlets,
(32:24):
and the Tanger Outlets. You can also gear up online
at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com. One more segment to go, so keep
it here with Matt Williamson Mike Pursuita. This is Steelers
Preview presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers right
here on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one
(32:47):
on two point five DVE.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Welcome back Mike Pursuita and Merylhydge wrapping things up here
as we get ready for the Steelers and the Packers
Sunday night. We just said goodbye to Meryll at Actresser Stadium.
Well we got one more segment to wrap it up.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
I know, but you called me Meryll Hawk. Oh, Justin's
over here raising an eyebrow at you.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Mike Pursuer and Matt Winson. We did just say goodbye
to Meryl me. It was a good segment though, with
Meryll to bring them up that always is. I really
enjoy his insights and his passion for the game. Uh,
your injury report is presented by your neighborhood Ford Store,
the F one fifties, the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and Matt. We talked in the opening segment about
Zach Fraser not practicing today, but he said, uh, I'll
(33:37):
be fine. I think I'll be fine with the exact quote.
And Calvin Austin has practiced fully both days. You know,
they got Pat Fryarmuth activated. They seem to have a
number of targets that they can go to when they're
not at full strength. But yeah, boy, we were really
starting to see a one two punch with Metcalf and
Austin at wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
I'm looking forward to getting that page two.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Scotty Miller sounds like he could be questionable for this game,
but if Austin comes back, you're upgrading there anyway. You know,
the Packers are a hard team to really be like, boy,
they're really bad at this position, or they're really bad
at this. I mean, they don't have a lot of weaknesses.
The more you dig into them, I mean, I'm not
sure what their weakest area is, but I don't love
(34:23):
their corners. I think their corners are average to below
and they make up for it, obviously with a fierce
pass rush. So I think a fierce pass rush. I mean,
we even brought up for Shawn Gary, who's a really
good player in his own right too.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
So he's gonna play with Michael Parsons. You're gonna get
overlooked a little bit, no question.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
But he was good before. Yeah, but two years ago
or whatever, no doubt, no doubt, another former first round pick.
And they had a lot of first round picks on
this defense. But the corners, to me, are could be had.
And I think it's a great game to get Austin back,
pair them with Metcalf, keep those guys out there for
a high percentage snaps together.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
I agree with you, And it's interesting. I heard a
lot of talk about green based defense, and I'm kind
of with you. I don't see a whole yeah, but
other than the front, I kind of like their linebackers too.
Speaker 5 (35:07):
Kway Walker, I think Cooper is going to be a
star and Edrin.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Cooper, the two guys who stay on the field even
when they go to nickel. They're running hit guys, they're
you know, cover the pass guys, blitz guys. Green Bay
is not giving up a ton of big plays, but
against Arizona and Jacoby Brissette pass completions of twenty three,
forty three, thirty five and twenty four yards and watching
(35:31):
that game and again full disclosure here, I have some
other stuff to do throughout a week besides get ready
to do Steelers previous So I watched one game of
the team that they're about to play.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
I just don't have the time to.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
Go through the whole every Packer game right right, But
it struck me that those guys are talking about the
Packers secondary. They're usually in position they make you make
a contested catch, but you can make contested catches.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
They I think it's a good off.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
They give up completions if you are good enough outside.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
And I think their coordinator, Jeff Haffley, I think he's
a really well coached team. You know, when everyone's gonna
have injuries and not hit on every draft pick, but
when you talk about a team top to bottom, that
doesn't have a lot of weaknesses. I think they make
up for it with really good coaching, and I think
Lafloor's an exceptional offensive mind. And Jeff Haffley is the
defensive coordinator. Now he's in a second season. I think
(36:25):
he's got a really bright future in this league too.
So I think that they put their guys in really
good position to maximize their abilities. Let alone, you throw
Parsons into the mix. And we've talked a lot about Parsons,
but you remember when they traded for him. That was
right before the season. He was new to the scene
and he was also fighting an injury. So he's starting
(36:46):
to just really hit his stride and as we've often
talked about, like TJ. Watt, he's a force multiplier for everybody,
and the secondary's life is a lot easier when him
and Gary are humming.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Yeah, he only played seventy one percent of the snaps
against Arizona, and he did come in a couple of penalties.
Got called for a hip drop tackle and he jumped
off side one time. You know, when you're that good
and that impactful, you make a couple of penalties along
the way because you're being aggressive. I find it pretty
easy to live with that stuff because at the end
(37:16):
of the day, the production outweighs the mistakes.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Yeah, I don't know much more to add because the
production outweighs everything with this guy.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Now, it's interesting the way this green Bay team is
such a good looking team.
Speaker 5 (37:27):
A lot to like three and.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Zero at home, one one and one on the road,
and the one win was in Arizona, and the crowd
was a lot of green Bay fans.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
I did not know.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
I was looking to see if Arizona had to do
the silent count thing at home, but I didn't see
it get that bad.
Speaker 5 (37:45):
But it wasn't a true road.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Game, no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
And the other thing that really jumped out at me statistically,
Packers going into that game had had a lead seventy
four percent of the time they play from ahead.
Speaker 5 (38:01):
Yeah, uh, is.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
This a game where if the Steelers can start fast
as they were on the verge doing in Cincinnatiah.
Speaker 4 (38:08):
Got a fair amount of starting quick, especially on offense.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
You're gonna have a home advantage.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
I think there will be Packers fans here, but it
is obviously easier to play defense when you have that
crowd noise factor and getting off the ball.
Speaker 4 (38:19):
And I'm sure there'll be Packers fans here, but Labs
was telling us just a little bit ago that the
ticket prices are like through the roof, like this is
a hot, hot seat. So I just think the crowd
is going to be super revved up, especially favorite Steelers
of course, you know, getting looped up in the parking
lot before. I think a fast start goes a long
way because I not that they hide Love, but they
(38:42):
want to run the ball. They want to play from ahead,
they want to rush the passer with the lead, and
to your point about playing a lot of snaps with
the lead, they've been able to accomplish it, and especially
in those first two games. They've the first two games
were whoa, this might be the best team in the league.
You know, Since then it's like, Okay, they do a
lot of things good, they're good, they're contender, but they're
not a blow your doors off team.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Yeah, And I think is this a game where they
can make Green Bay in general and Jordan Love in
particular less comfortable?
Speaker 4 (39:10):
I would think.
Speaker 5 (39:11):
So then has been the case up yes to this point.
Speaker 4 (39:13):
To Merril's point, I mean their old lineman, I've been
saying is I think it's also a well coached line
that doesn't have great players, But the sum of the
parts or the whole is greater than the sum of
the parts a little bit. They collectively they played pretty well,
but just in terms of one on one matchups against
her Big and Hayward and Watt and high Smith, I
(39:35):
think that favors the Steelers a lot. And if they
can love will hold the ball and you know, try
to drive the ball down the field. I think you
can create splash, which is so important for this defense.
I mean, the games they don't create splash, like the
Bengals game haven't gone well for them. But what's crazy
(39:55):
to me about the Packers is they've created three turnovers
and they've turned them all over three times. Like there's
no turnovers in Packer games. Like what's going on here?
They make a deal beforehand. I won't turn you guys over.
You don't turn us over, you.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Know, Particularly the way they run it head, I thought
they'd have more forced fumbles than things of that natures.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
And strip sacks right right right, You've caused three three
and they've only turned the ball over three.
Speaker 6 (40:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
The other thing that was really interesting to me about
that Cardinals game, and I think, by the way, this
is gonna sound really dumb, but I think Arizona's the
best two and five team in the business.
Speaker 5 (40:26):
Cardinals just can't finish.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
They can't. They've had I think they've lost like four
games by thirteen ys total.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
Something organizing things happen.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
Yeah, I can't have these guys.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
But Arizona game three hundred and thirty total nit yards
on Green Bay. Arizona held the ball for thirty four
minutes and ten seconds. Arizona scored on five of its
first seven possessions. But here's the rub. The Packers finished defensively.
Fourth quarter, It's twenty twenty first and goal at the
(40:55):
green Bay eight turned into a field goal in the
twenty three to twenty Arizona lead. Quarter twenty three twenty, they're.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
Trailing the Packers.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
Arizona has got a fourth and one at the Arizona
forty eight. They stuff a quarterback sneak that sets the
table for the short field drive that produced what turned
out to be the game winning touchdown. And then at
the end of the game, I mentioned that third Parson sack.
Cardinals got the ball back with a minute fifty to play,
and they got it at the thirty five because Green
Bay kicked off into a touchback and they reached the
(41:27):
Packers twenty six and the Packers held the line.
Speaker 5 (41:31):
That Yeah, it was very similar to me.
Speaker 3 (41:33):
You mentioned how close the Steelers were to beating the
Bengals and how our narrative would be different. You know,
Steelers didn't play well defensively against the Jets, but they
got two stops at the.
Speaker 4 (41:41):
End of the day.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
They didn't play well against the Patriots other than forcing
five turnovers. And I say they forced five turnovers, Patriots
think about say, oh here right, all five times stopped
them at the end. The Minnesota game came down to
a defensive possession where you had to stop them, even
though that was a dominant performance.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
So and I thought they were gonna do it against
the Bengals too.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
They close and as bad as they were against Cincinnati,
they're they're winning that game with two minutes and change left,
One more stop, more southing. And this is kind of
this was the case for Green Bay and Arizona. This
has been the case with the Steelers. It's kind of
the case in the NFL. It's yeah, this team's great,
this team's not very good, and these games come down
to the end.
Speaker 4 (42:23):
But I trust Rogers. I guess his old team on
Sunday night. Yeah, yeah, I mean, if it does come
down to that, which team can finish? Now, the steel
defense has a good history of doing it, not in
the most recent game, but I'm gonna trust Rogers.
Speaker 3 (42:39):
Yeah, I think it's going to be in the mostly
charged the atmosphere, at least at the start. If it
goes sour, it could be a bad atmosphere. But yeah,
could anything else about this Packers team.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
One thing I want to mention too is they're the
best offense in the league on third downs. But what's
crazy about it is third and longs seven or more.
When the whole league is converting at like twenty two percent,
they're at like fifty percent and third and longs. So
a lot of times, just when you think you have
(43:09):
them where you want them, you bundle up the run
first two plays and got them in third and nine. Okay,
unleash the hounds. They break your back.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
The other thing I wanted to mention about the defense,
We talked about the secondary and how it's you know,
it's usually in position but you can. You can make
plays if you have the time and the temerity to
go down the field a little bit. I don't I
don't know that the Steelers sideways stuff's gonna work real
well against these guys.
Speaker 5 (43:33):
They run well, they run the ball well.
Speaker 3 (43:35):
But the guy that really hurt him in Arizona was
tight end Trey McBride. Thirteen targets, ten catches, seventy four yards,
two touchdowns, and on both of the touchdowns he was
wide open uncovered. So other teams bust too, steeling.
Speaker 4 (43:51):
It happens every week they watch.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
These other games, you see this stuff happen again. I
saw McBride have a big game, and I thought, Okay,
well Steel's.
Speaker 5 (43:58):
Got three or four tight ends. It can hurts you.
Maybe that's a matchup. I think it didn't exploit.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Their numbers in the middle of the field aren't particularly
good either. And I'm glad you brought up tight end too,
because I adore Tucker Craft. I mean, he's one of
my favorite young tight ends in this league. And Missy
Matthews pointed out today Sunday's tight end Day. I didn't
know it was National tight End Day, so.
Speaker 6 (44:16):
Maybe I didn't either.
Speaker 4 (44:17):
Yeah, I guess you'll hear a lot about it throughout
the day.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
Maybe Pat Freimuth has another big game. Yeah, we shall see.
I'd like your thoughts on rallying and the professionals being embarrassed.
The narrative out of the locker room this week on
the South Side was, Hey, it happens, we assess it,
we correct it, we move on. And the public front
(44:41):
at least was full speed ahead, no lack of confidence
or nobody's head down anything like that.
Speaker 5 (44:46):
You're buying that from professionals.
Speaker 4 (44:49):
Yeah, but I think it's a long time to marinate
on an embarrassing subject too, And to be honest, I
mean to turn it more analytically. I really favor teams
that have big rest. Advance is more and more anymore,
and it sures have a significant one here at home.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
Particularly at home. That's gonna do it for us tonight.
Thanks to Justin Miller for running the show here in studio.
Thanks to Brian Laal Martinez Steelers Nation Radio for organizing
things as he does, and thank you for finding us
however and wherever you found us. We'll do this again
next Thursday as we get you ready for the Steelers
(45:24):
and the Indianapolis Colts until then, for Merrill Hodge and
for Matt Williamson A Mike Pursuda. This has been Steelers Preview,
presented by your neighborhood Forge Store. The F one fifty
is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, right here
on Steelers Nation Radio and Steelers Flagship.
Speaker 5 (45:41):
One O two point five dv E. Goodnight, everybody,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on wdv E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Your neighborhood Ford Store.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers by Brian Patton and associates. It's all about
the benefits and by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it
to wreck from the team at shop dot Steelers dot com.
And now here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson
and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five d ve Ian Steelers Nation Radio. Mike Persuda and
Matt Williamson getting you ready for a big one Sunday
night at Akrosher Stadium, the Packers and the Steelers the
Aaron Rodgers Revenge Bowl. Even though he says it's not
about revenge, I kind of believe him, but I don't
(00:44):
believe him.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
If that's a right word.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Okay, I think.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Two things can be true, right, Merril Hodge, our factor
back will be along directly to help us break down
what is a really intriguing matchup and for the Steelers,
a big one because all of a sudden. I want
to say the wheels are off, but they wabbled badly
in Cincinnati.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Wobbled yeah a week aldgo Thursday, But.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Matt I was down to practice this week, yesterday and today,
and I made sure to take a moment when I
was on the field and look up and the sky.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
Was not fall.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Didn't fall. One game still up there?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Well, what's what's the vibe from your perspective,
the X and O scouting type of guy, What do.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
You you thinking?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
One of the analogies I've been using all week about
that game was, boy, there's a lot of glass half
empty half full to that game. And I understand Cincinnati's
defense isn't good, but I am so impressed with Rogers
and where the run game goes. And that's the half
full part of it. And the joke I've been making is, well,
I think the cup was forty nine percent. You know,
(01:51):
it wasn't quite half right, right right? I mean, if
Metcalf holds onto the ball, or if they create one
more splash play on defense, you wash away a lot
of the sins. But there were a lot of defensive sins,
and I fully expect to quote Meryll. You know, when
the proud unit gets embarrassed, and especially in the format
(02:13):
like this, I think they have to play better on defense,
and they did it against the Bangles.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
They no where to go it up. If that's who
they are right right right game over, Yeah, I think
it's I think it's an outlier. I mean they started
slowly and then the Minnesota game, in the Cleveland game
where what you want to see with the exception of
the tail end of the Vikings game, but it was
definitely trending in the right direction. There are faith in
these players that that was kind of the narrative all
week on the South Side, both from Terrel Austin, a
(02:40):
defensive coordinator today, and some of the players I talked
to on Thornhill in particulars you know, hanging there. It's
the NFL. Things happen. We're not happy with this, but
there's belief in the players. There's belief in the scheme,
there's belief in the collective ability to get it done
way better th they got it done against better and.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
We've seen some proof of it too. It's not like
they've gotten steamrolled every game, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, you know, it's funny you talked about Rogers a
moment ago, and I too, am impressed with Rogers. Two
immediate thoughts that have stuck with me after that Bengals game,
which I am referring to as the disaster in Cincinnati
because you know it's a little lyrical.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
I've also heard stumble in the ju jungle. Either way,
not good.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
But I thought one of the problems and you know,
the defense was goat one, Yeah, but the offense could
have thrown a knockout punch early in that game, and
they left some points on the field in the first half,
in particular, if that gets to fourteen seventeen or twenty
one to nothing like it could have Yeah, different game.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
You and I and Rob do a game or a
day after a recap show. You know that we'll do
one Monday. And I'm almost certain it was your quote,
and it's been a while now, but I stole it
early in the week over and over that they almost
knocked the Bengals out in the first round and end
up being a fifteen round fight and they lost the draw.
(04:03):
You know, they went the decision and you didn't win.
And I thought that's exactly how the game went because
the first quarter was a dominant performance.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And the other thing that stuck with me is when
I look back at what I thought might happen, how
this might unfold at the start of the season, it
was very similar to recent seasons. I was expecting a
really good defense and hoping for just good enough from
the offense.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
Yeah, I think I've flipped the script.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I'm now thinking this offense can score, and Rogers
can get more comfortable, and more weapons can be activated,
and if they clean up falls starting on a tush
push and Metcalf getting the ball ripped out of his
hands in the scoring area, thirty five thirty one might
be more regular than we've seen around here in a
(04:49):
long long time.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
And yeah, points scored.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I just had the same conversation with Bob Labriola a
little over an hour ago in the Drive, and it's like,
I think we have to adjust our mindset of what
this Tea Eamon franchise currently are. I mean, there's been
so many games where we've watched where the defense is
the only reason they're in it, you know, or boy,
if they could get the twenty points, they're gonna win.
You know, twenty points isn't much much to ask, or
(05:14):
even crazier, what if our quarterback could throw fifteen touchdowns
in a season Rogers does in five games, you know
what I mean? Like, the offense is consistent and they're
getting better, and so much of it's a quarterback, but
the running I can't wait to talk about the running
game with Merrill, to be honest with you, because I
think it's much more diverse, and it's more than just
(05:35):
throwing Spencer Anderson out there and moving bodies. They're doing
a lot of different stuff. And now I know you
read the report, but maybe Austin gets back in the
mix too. I mean, the offense is in pretty good spot.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, let's read the report. Yeah, because it looks like
Austin is going to get back in the mix. Full
participation today for the second consecutive day, he said Wednesday.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
He's just waiting for the nod from Mike Tomlin. You're back, okay.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Zach Frasier did not practice today, Calf he was limited yesterday.
If you're listening to this show, you probably scoured the
internet for all those practice videos we all throw up,
and you might have seen Fraser without his helmet today
watching Ryan McCollum snap. But Fraser said afterward, and I quote,
I think I'll be fine. Good he said, he said
(06:19):
he heard his calf on the second drive of the
Bengals game, played through it then and he just said
it's sore.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
I mean, you hate to see limited Wednesday downgraded in
any way the next day, but I'm sure they're just
being ultraed airy.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Airing on the side of caution and just making sure
he's good to go. Ryan McCollum is the backup center.
He's got three career starts, one with Detroit in twenty
twenty three, two with the Steelers in twenty twenty four.
He played six games last year, no starts. They've had
him around for a while. He's a trusted backup.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
But yes, to say he's a trusted backup.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
But again, Zach Fraser quote, I think I'll be fine
for the past A little more intrigued than on the
Steelers side, and the one I've particularly got my eye on.
Wide receiver Christian Watson knee limited for the second consecutive day.
He's been practicing for a couple of weeks now, trying
to come back for my r.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
He's in that twenty one day window. Yeah, I understand. Okay, Yeah, so.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
You know, stay tuned on him. Impressive.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Jordan Love's impressive, more so when you consider he's been
doing this without Christian Watson and Jayden.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Reed for Michigan State. I'm a big reading Reed fan.
Watson's a tall, long, fast outside the numbers, over the top.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Guy six four down the field guy.
Speaker 6 (07:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
And Jordan Love I've been calling him all week. He's
a big game hunter. He doesn't mind chucking it down
the field to those guys.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Also interesting that one of the receivers that's been filling
in for Green Bay Doantavian Wicks. He's been the number
three of late. He hasn't practiced yet this week because
of a calf injury.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Okay, I mean that's significant too. I mean he has
drop issues, but he's a quality route runner and has
some ability, especially as depth receivers go in this league.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Also of a somewhat a concern to Green Bay Lucas
van Ness, really talented defensive lineman. He didn't play against Arizona.
He hasn't practiced yet this week. But they're pretty deep
up front.
Speaker 6 (08:14):
They are.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
They got a lot of dudes.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
They do.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
After the Parsons trade, but he's a lot different than
those guys. He's a thicker, stronger, former first round pick
that can bounce inside on passing downs. He's a good player,
he's not a special player.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
And Josh Jacobs limited for the second consecutive day calf.
He was a game time decision at Arizona and didn't
play a ton of snaps in that Cardinals game, just
thirty one. But boys, he impactful when he's out there,
and I assume they're just doing the standard maintenance and
making sure he's ready to go on Sunday, although if
(08:49):
he is still on something of a pitch count, as
he clearly was in the Cardinals, Yeah, they kind of
cheat and take him out of the pass catching role
because he can do both, and he lined up a
receiver on one snap he caught one pass. Yeah, but
that Cardinals game snapped a streak for Josh Jacobs two
consecutive games of one hundred and fifty or more yards
(09:10):
from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
He still got his two touchdowns. He scores like mad Man,
but he didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Get over the one fifty hump. Mike tom Hains said
his touchdown number which is eight this year and twenty
three since the Packers.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Got most in the league since he's joined the Packers.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Tom called it staggering. I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
I could agree more. I really like the player. I mean,
he is ultra competitive. I'm sure he'll play with respect
to Love and their pass catchers who I like, and
I really like Craft the tight end. The foundation of
the offense is Jacobs. Even the number two, number three
backs don't get close to the workload he does. He's
an old school nineteen eighty five give me every carry, dude,
(09:54):
And it made me crazy when he was the Raiders.
You touch on him as a receiver. He's a very
capable ever and the Raiders didn't use them at all
in that capacity, which makes no sense to me at all.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Yeah, he's on his back.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
He's got the size element, he's got the speed element.
He can run you over, he can make you miss,
he can get to the edge and turn it up.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
He's one of the best backs of the league. Yeah,
and then you might be number one, but he's one
of the best backs in the league.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
As we established. He knows what the end zone is anyway,
you know.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
The one bright spot. I heard a lot of talk
after that Bengals game. Uh well, you know, after Cincinnati
ran for one hundred and forty two yards. That's on tape,
and people are going to try to run the ball,
and yeah, this just in.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
The Packers were going to do that anyway.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
And so is Jonathan Taylor next week.
Speaker 6 (10:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So I'm sure they watched the film and were encouraged.
But this is one of the run heaviest teams in
the league. They were going to run the ball a
lot more to come tonight. We're just getting warmed up,
so keep it here.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
When we come back, we'll welcome Merril Hodge to the
show and start really breaking down Steelers Packers on Sunday Night.
Steelers Preview presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F
one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Comes at you on Steelers Nation Radio and right here
on your Steelers flagship.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
One of two point five dve.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DV.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Welcome back to the preview, Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson
getting you ready for the Steelers and the Green Bay
Packers Sunday Night at Akersher.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
You know, I'm gonna be waiting all day for Sunday night.
Speaker 6 (11:20):
I got it there.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Yeah, it's a pretty good, pretty good Marquee matchup here.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Time now to welcome our factor back, Merril Hodge to
the show. And Merrill always a joy to talk to you.
But I wanted to tap in first and foremost tonight
on your perspective as an ex player. I know you
can break it down with the best of them. But
Aaron Rodgers did his best this week to let everybody
know this is not a revenge game, and he talked
(11:46):
fondly about his eighteen years in Green Bay and the
towns in which he lived, and how nice the team
photographer was, how much respect he has for Jordan Love.
But he did make a little mention while he was
saying all that's stuff that they couldn't play Jordan Love
right away because he was in the process of winning
back to back MVP. Worst of that effect that you
(12:09):
forgot I'm paraphrasing, but that was the point.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
So what I want to ask you is the next player.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I mean, we've been through this a little bit with
you know, DK Metcalf has played the Seahawks and we
had Rogers and against the Jets and justin fields against
the Steelers to kick things off this year.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
But man, you spend eighteen.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Years in one place, and you establish a gold jacket resume,
and you win four MVPs in the super Bowl and
then they tell you, you know what, thanks a lot,
we're done. You don't have to go home, but you
can't stay here. They gotta be a little something in
a tank for that doesn't there.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
I would think, and Meryl, did you ever play against
the Steelers? I should know that. I apologize, right, even
ask him, But.
Speaker 6 (12:47):
No, no, no, well no, actually, but you led me into
where it's gonna go. Well, first of all, let me
just say comment on his back to back MVPs. That's
what we call Mike Tyson sucker punch, you know, just
like gives you a little sucker punch there at the end. Actually,
I went to Chicago. I went to Chicago. We're we're
(13:09):
playing in the following year based on how the scheduling was.
And I can actually I understand a lot of this,
Like when the team that you're gonna play, you get
a chance to go back and play him. I think
if it would have been immediately, I've had a different perspective,
(13:30):
like I would have wanted Tom Donaldo to be out
on the field though, because he's the guy, So I
wanted to the wrong person I've been. I'd have been Tom.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
You think you were mad at the steel the linebackers,
you were mad at the decision makers.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Right, he has no choice, Tom will have no choice.
I love Tom, I mean, but he anyway, Not to
get into all of that, I would have been angry
for the wrong reason and the wrong person. And but
the going into the second year, I actually think there's
a lot of truth to what Aaron is mentioning, because
(14:10):
I think you come to a player you're angry and upset,
maybe initially, but then when you understand, like you can't
play this game for I remember Chuck no I remember
one of the first meetings I ever had with him, well,
not not me personally, as a team. One of the
first things you talked about is like, hey man, football
ain't your life work? And I'm like, what are you
(14:32):
talking about? I'm like, what is this? What do you
mean by I just got here it's not your life's work?
Then football is not your life's work. You need to
be thinking about what you're going to be doing for
your life's work outside of this game. And then you know,
they went into a little dissertation and I walked out going.
And this is when about the time frame where everybody
(14:54):
was called say the game had passed him by, by
the way, and I'm like, well, they're right, he's talking
about your life' scorre. He can't you know? It was wrong? Right? Well,
then I played my very first game against San Francisco
forty nine ers. I remember thinking, oh, he knows exactly
what what he's talking about. You can't do this. This
(15:15):
is not your life's worked. And so with me, my
point with Aaron's like he's had what three years this
would be he'll be off for three years.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
This is the third years.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
I guarantee you his his his perspective is much different
now than a year ago. Those relationships you talking about
are real and all those things that go ahead.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
He even mentioned that, he said, you know what absence
makes the heart grow fonder? You try to, Yeah, you
try as a person to gain more perspective with the
passing of time. And I bought most of what he said,
but that mentioned in those two m vps, like you
said that was a little bit Hey, just in case
you forgot powah.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Yeah, that's that's his humor. That's actually what I actually
like about Aaron is you know, he's got a little
bit of humor like that. But I don't think that
this game will for him. I'm sure you want to
perform well, but I'm going to tell you this, and
I don't know if this will be exactly right, but
I would bet over half of that team maybe more
(16:21):
he never played with, which you really understand. Yeah, it's crazy.
I mean, Jordan Love, I can't. I mean, there might
be a few other players, but I'm guarantee you he
would be hard pressing on any of those guys. You
know that he's going to play again, so you know,
I I just know from a perspective that you know
(16:45):
that what he what he said is true. I mean,
that's just his his humor too. But you listen, people
are making a big deal. Listen, then the screw is
going to make this a big deal because you're not
making a big deal that he played there forever and
now now he's a Steeler. But basically where he's at,
I don't think it affects him at all. He's been
(17:07):
on point the entire season. It hasn't been hit flaws
that are hurt the team, you know, it's been a
lot of other things that they've they've had to work
on and need to work on to get better in
order to beat this thing.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Well, he's not the only Pittsburgh Steeler that's had a
really good career and at a prideful career. And there's
a lot of those players on defense. And I think
about you all the time. When a unit plays as
poorly and as embarrassing as they did against the Bengals,
you have to think that side of the ball rebounds right.
Speaker 6 (17:39):
Well, listen, a true professional does that. You know, I
said all the time. You know, it's never underestimated professional
after they've been embarrassed. And of all the games that
had this year, that one had to be the most embarrassing. Marol.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
I'm gonna get that on a T shirt. By the way,
we're the next year, Hey.
Speaker 6 (17:57):
Dude, we'll sell them ever.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Underestimated professional who's been embarrassed.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I thought about that watching the game as well, and
then I thought, yeah, they're gonna be uh in bounce
back mode. But then again, Josh Jacobs can embarrass people run.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I mean but that was an embarrassing defensive performance to
my point. Yeah, right, that really was.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
They you know, they they got handled up front like
they did the first couple of weeks. You know, they're
when when it's just one listen, we always forget too
these other guys are really good too. Sometimes we tend
to think, you know, the Steelers are gonna win every
play and they're gonna dominate. But that's not that's not
the case. Even when you're really great, like you don't
(18:38):
win every play, you just win sixty to seventy percent
of it. When you're really really great, you lose a
lot of plays. So that being said, you know, their
their best on our best, they won, they won the
majority of the time. We made a lot of mistakes.
You know, something that actually is is actually a concern.
I've watched it actually the entire season. We do struggle
(19:00):
where we play zone coverage, like we're not very Our
linebackers are a bigger issue than the secondary, but they're
a part of it. Is where we are in our
zone coverages, we're giving up too many big voids. You know,
we're covering areas of the field where there's no wide receiver.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
You think it's a lot of the initial drop of
the linebackers.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Well it's that's no. I think it's our understanding of
the formation and the routes being run. I mean, I
know I said this on the Morning show. We actually
had there was a combination route on the numbers. Okay,
I don't know exactly what it was, but let's say
it's a little hitch and a curl. But all the
route were on the numbers. We had our flat defender
(19:45):
outside the numbers, like, there's nothing over there. That's over
there is the only thing that's over there is the sideline,
and that's another defender.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Use it.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
You should have been inside the numbers. And then you
take away the under throughout which ended up throwing so like,
and then we played to the wrong side of the
formation and we widen things and give so many voids
in our secondary a lot of our coverages that people
are seeing it now, you know they're taking advantage of that.
So we got to get better and understanding what I said.
(20:21):
I don't know if I elaborated much the entire story here,
but one of my first when I first started working
at NFL Films in ESPN, and I would one thing
I loved about it, like I had access to thirty
two of the greatest minds in the world. I'd call,
you know, any head coach coordinators and you know, you're
in the sixty four and whatever number you want to go,
(20:42):
and I got I just learned so much about listening
to these things that they would share with me that
I was like, oh wow, I did you know. I
didn't think about that. I didn't know that, but I
was talking to Tom Cofflin and on this particular subject.
He brought it up because we were talking about a
linebacker the time. He goes, Hey, Meryl, if I tell
this guy to be a twenty or on the numbers
in zone uncovered too, he's going to be on the numbers.
(21:05):
The problem with that, he's always going to be on
the numbers, regardless of the fundation.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Yeah, maybe no one else on the numbers.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Yeah, he goes, we don't need to be on the
numbers at that. You have to have some football sense
and instincts and realize there's only one receiver over here.
If there's no reason to defend to what you said
earlier grass an area, they're not going to throw it,
or they're not even threatening and understanding those things. You know,
as the defender in zone coverage is really important. It
(21:34):
isn't like, yes, we have an area we've got to
be at. However, if there's trips on the other side
and there's only one guy inside the numbers, I don't
know what You're out there covering the twenty yard line
for I just come on in. Make the windows shorter,
make the windows I mean smaller for him, or put
it in a position he doesn't want to throw here
because you're standing there. So we you know, we just
(21:55):
didn't do a very good They didn't do a very
good job of that. They've had that problem. Oh you're
you make mistakes. You know. People put a lot of
bunch and this is the Packers are going to do this.
Here's two things the Packers are going to do and
they're great at. The second one is they're the best
in football apps. But the first one is they're going
to create formations, bunches and challenge us to identify people
(22:17):
and cover people. One. Two, they're the best screen offense
I've ever seen. They run screens from the traditional screens
to one man screens, tight end screens. They run screens
everywhere and if you are not buttoned up and you
do not have your guy and you do not know
what you're doing, they will kill you with the screen game.
(22:41):
And they're going to do that just because we have
pass rushers. They're going to want to do that to
neutralize those guys. So it's a really it's a dangerous
thing in this game that they're going to have to handle.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Looking at the Jordan Love Meryl, he was here a
couple of years ago and he looked like a young
guy who had not figured it out yet. I think
he gets it, and the things that lead me to
believe that he looks like when he's pressured, he still
looks to step up and throw before he does just
run away like he's still trying to make a passing play.
(23:13):
He can hurt you with his legs. He hurt the
last two teams they played here and there with his legs.
But he's looking to throw. And then that Arizona game
they played last Sunday, it came down to a fourth
and two at the Cardinals twenty nine with two thirty
two left. Now they're down twenty three to twenty so
their choices are kicked the field goal and tie it
or go for it and try to get the touchdown
(23:34):
and win. They sent the field goal team out first,
and then they changed their mind similar to kind of
how the Steelers did it in Dublin, and they called
a pass and he just held it, held it and
he waited for his tight end, Tucker Kraft, number eighty five,
to get open. He knew he was gonna get single covers,
or at least he anticipated it. He had the confidence
to let the play play out, and then he threw
(23:55):
a strike to the sideline. They got the first down.
They ended up getting the ball in the end zone.
But he just he looks very self assured, which I
don't see a lot of quarterbacks looking. But this guy
looks like he's turned a corner.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
To me. Yeah, I'm not going to argue that. You know,
I've known him since he was the University of Utah
and I studied him and you know, one of his
really the things concerning about when it came out of
the University of Utah is he would do he would
do some things that you just shook your head out
all the time. You know, occasionally everybody does something you know,
you're like, wow, even the great players. But he would
(24:31):
do it all the time, and he would do it
in moments where it mattered and it really really hurt him.
Case in point, you know the playoff game had in
San Francisco. Okay, you got what a buck fifty and
you throw it across the field on second down or
third down? I wasn't even fourth down. Those kind of things,
like there's no reason to do that, Like what are
you doing? So that being said, I do I think
(24:57):
that guy, just like Aaron Rodgers, benefited from two and
three years of development sitting alone. And it's a credit
to them because you can waste that time or you
can use that time. And I think that's always forgotten
about these guys. I remember when Aaron Rodgers came out
of col I was not I was not. Actually, I
was like, boy, this guy's got a lot of things
(25:18):
to learn because the college system he was in was
nothing like he was going to enter. In fact, I
remember one of his first preseason games like he couldn't
even throw a flat route, like he could tell he
was so lost and confused. Jordan loved somewhat the same way.
But Aaron Rodgers, I remember when he got his for
the Brett Farm, got hurt against Cowboys. He came in.
(25:38):
I'm like, Okay, that ain't the same guy that I
saw three years ago. That's a credit to him and
how he's developed and the work he did well. Jordan
Love like has done the same thing to your point,
But there's every now and then that that you tous
state stuff, that college stuff comes up to play for
whatever reason. Do I think that what you're talking about
(26:00):
is the majority? Yes? Do I think he's dangerous, yes.
Do I think he's composed and you better be at
your very best the beauty? Yes, But there's always that
little bit that you're like, huh, he just every now
and then he'll do some things You're like, whoa, what
is I didn't see that coming, you know, But if
you know his history, he's I was always done that
(26:22):
a little bit.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
So we ended the last segment talking about Josh Jacobs.
I have a feeling you're a fan of the way
he plays the running back position. What's your thumbnail on him?
Speaker 6 (26:33):
I loved I love him as a runner. But I
will tell you this, they I actually am like I
thought the Packers kind of gotten away from being as
consistent as they were a year ago. Now I would
say this. The Arizona game was interesting. The second half,
they changed their mind. I thought that was one of
their big factors in helping them win that game. But
he is he's a dangerous cat. What they what they
(26:57):
do in the running game is a problem because of
how they go about it. But you know, they're not
very good up front in the trenches. You know, they're
right guard can have some of my issues at times.
Their left tackle has issues at times. They're not the
best offensive line in football, you know, and that and
that surprised me that they don't run the ball a
little more. But I think in this game, I think
(27:18):
you you'll see more of that. I think you'll see
more of those screen games because of the problems they
want to stay away from that we provide on the perimeter.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Marri Al, I'm a big Michael Parsons fan. As Mike
Tomlin might say, he needs no endorsement from me, but
I think what he needs are double teams if you're
going to stop him from wrecking the game. And Arizona,
for whatever reason, decided to single block him almost all
day and he got three sacks when matter most, one
(27:49):
of them was starting goal and they had to kick
a field goal. The second one was starting goal and
they had to kick a field goal, and the third
one was first and ten from the Green Bay twenty
six late in the game when Arizona was trying to
steal it at the end and it ended up helping
to torpedo the possession. How do you sit down as
a coaching staff and have a meeting before you put
(28:10):
your game plan together and say, yeah, we're gonna block
this guy's single block. Everybody go with that, Yes, coach, Yeah,
let's do that.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Especially what do they think it?
Speaker 6 (28:19):
Yeah, well, I can tell you the only time you're
gonna do that is when you're in scoring territory. You know,
the ball's got to come out quick, you know, and
even there you gotta be careful quick enough well and
as you put it on the quarterback. The only reason
I'm using that because that's exactly how we handled Lawrence
Taylor once we get outside the ten. Like if I
had to block him, that was I had to block him.
(28:42):
There was nobody else. My job was to cut him,
and my offsome job was hey, you know I'm blocking him, Bob, right,
you better get rid of the ball. That's watch, you know,
you ain't got two seconds, you got one point one,
so I mean, but yeah, yes, a little now. I
(29:06):
obviously they will pay attention to him a lot more.
You know what they're doing with him though, too. It's
a little bit of a problem that they the first
couple of games he didn't have is they move him
all over now, like he don't know where he's going
to be I mean left right, I mean right side,
left side, and they moved on in the middle, you know,
so you know they're moving him around, you know what.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
He's always standing up though, Merrily, where's number one? I
thought he's pretty easy to spot on TV. You OUs
see those offensive lineman pointing before the snap, and they're
always yelling like shouldn't.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
They be pointing? One?
Speaker 3 (29:36):
There?
Speaker 5 (29:37):
There he is? Okay, we're good.
Speaker 6 (29:39):
That doesn't mean you're good, dude, Well you better have
you better have a plan for where he is, no
matter where.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
He is, Meryl, I say I got for you is
let's let's harpen some good stuff I didn't steal running
games starting to turn a corner. And a big thing
you brought up every week is a more diversified package
of run plays, you know, more more power stuff. I mean,
I think that's paying off.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Yeah, I really agree with you. You know, they are just
better at run blocking, I mean at man blocking schemes,
and actually, you know, when they come to the zone
blocking schemes, they actually are slightly better at that now,
you know, And I think it's prictically they don't have
to do it a lot. But those man blocking schemes
that they run in the perimeter that they they attack,
(30:25):
I mean, is really you know, beneficial. And they keep
building on it too. It's credit to the coaches. You know.
They didn't just say, hey, a couple of plays like
that are good. They keep building on that. They keep creating,
bring bringing creativity and versatility to their to the running attack,
where we're going to have a lot of phases that
are going to be a problem for people.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
That's a great point.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
And I gotta I gotta say I'm impressed with Jalen Warren.
I thought he was a fine third down back. I
had my doubts that he can really I thought he could,
you know what, I.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Thought I might doubt it could be more than that,
And I was so wrong. Man, give that kid the ball.
Speaker 6 (31:02):
Yeah, that he's you know, I remember when I was watching,
and well I got I got a questions too about
so don't don't. Don't feel bad, Mike. They're like, oh,
I don't, and here's why, because you know Jamie doesn't
have that at that top end dinishing speed. Okay, So
I said, so you have a problem with first downs,
moving the chains and twenty yard runs. Protection yeah and
(31:27):
smack yeah, hitting people where they want to think that
they're gonna come again.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Well, I just didn't think they keep happening. You know,
I didn't trust my eyes.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
I'm not not this. He's got fabulous running skills. His
feet are phenomenal, his balance is incredible, his power is unmatched.
Now that's like I'm jealous. I wish I had that.
He's a real deal, your beast.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
May I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Uh, We'll talk to you again next week when another
running team Headstacker Sure Stadium, Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 6 (32:02):
You guys are the best man, Go Steelers.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Meryl Hodge Factor back here on Steelers Preview. Gear up
with the latest game day necessities at the official Steelers
pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, Jersey's Terrible towels,
authentic memorabilia, and custom exclusives you can only find directly
from the team. Visit one of the official Steelers Pro shops.
Those are located at Akroscher Stadium, the Grove City Premium Outlets,
(32:24):
and the Tanger Outlets. You can also gear up online
at shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com. One more segment to go, so keep
it here with Matt Williamson Mike Pursuita. This is Steelers
Preview presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers right
here on Steelers Nation Radio and your Steelers Flagship one
(32:47):
on two point five DVE.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Welcome back Mike Pursuita and Merylhydge wrapping things up here
as we get ready for the Steelers and the Packers
Sunday night. We just said goodbye to Meryll at Actresser Stadium.
Well we got one more segment to wrap it up.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
I know, but you called me Meryll Hawk. Oh, Justin's
over here raising an eyebrow at you.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Mike Pursuer and Matt Winson. We did just say goodbye
to Meryl me. It was a good segment though, with
Meryll to bring them up that always is. I really
enjoy his insights and his passion for the game. Uh,
your injury report is presented by your neighborhood Ford Store,
the F one fifties, the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and Matt. We talked in the opening segment about
Zach Fraser not practicing today, but he said, uh, I'll
(33:37):
be fine. I think I'll be fine with the exact quote.
And Calvin Austin has practiced fully both days. You know,
they got Pat Fryarmuth activated. They seem to have a
number of targets that they can go to when they're
not at full strength. But yeah, boy, we were really
starting to see a one two punch with Metcalf and
Austin at wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
I'm looking forward to getting that page two.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Scotty Miller sounds like he could be questionable for this game,
but if Austin comes back, you're upgrading there anyway. You know,
the Packers are a hard team to really be like, boy,
they're really bad at this position, or they're really bad
at this. I mean, they don't have a lot of weaknesses.
The more you dig into them, I mean, I'm not
sure what their weakest area is, but I don't love
(34:23):
their corners. I think their corners are average to below
and they make up for it, obviously with a fierce
pass rush. So I think a fierce pass rush. I mean,
we even brought up for Shawn Gary, who's a really
good player in his own right too.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
So he's gonna play with Michael Parsons. You're gonna get
overlooked a little bit, no question.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
But he was good before. Yeah, but two years ago
or whatever, no doubt, no doubt, another former first round pick.
And they had a lot of first round picks on
this defense. But the corners, to me, are could be had.
And I think it's a great game to get Austin back,
pair them with Metcalf, keep those guys out there for
a high percentage snaps together.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
I agree with you, And it's interesting. I heard a
lot of talk about green based defense, and I'm kind
of with you. I don't see a whole yeah, but
other than the front, I kind of like their linebackers too.
Speaker 5 (35:07):
Kway Walker, I think Cooper is going to be a
star and Edrin.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Cooper, the two guys who stay on the field even
when they go to nickel. They're running hit guys, they're
you know, cover the pass guys, blitz guys. Green Bay
is not giving up a ton of big plays, but
against Arizona and Jacoby Brissette pass completions of twenty three,
forty three, thirty five and twenty four yards and watching
(35:31):
that game and again full disclosure here, I have some
other stuff to do throughout a week besides get ready
to do Steelers previous So I watched one game of
the team that they're about to play.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
I just don't have the time to.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
Go through the whole every Packer game right right, But
it struck me that those guys are talking about the
Packers secondary. They're usually in position they make you make
a contested catch, but you can make contested catches.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
They I think it's a good off.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
They give up completions if you are good enough outside.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
And I think their coordinator, Jeff Haffley, I think he's
a really well coached team. You know, when everyone's gonna
have injuries and not hit on every draft pick, but
when you talk about a team top to bottom, that
doesn't have a lot of weaknesses. I think they make
up for it with really good coaching, and I think
Lafloor's an exceptional offensive mind. And Jeff Haffley is the
defensive coordinator. Now he's in a second season. I think
(36:25):
he's got a really bright future in this league too.
So I think that they put their guys in really
good position to maximize their abilities. Let alone, you throw
Parsons into the mix. And we've talked a lot about Parsons,
but you remember when they traded for him. That was
right before the season. He was new to the scene
and he was also fighting an injury. So he's starting
(36:46):
to just really hit his stride and as we've often
talked about, like TJ. Watt, he's a force multiplier for everybody,
and the secondary's life is a lot easier when him
and Gary are humming.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Yeah, he only played seventy one percent of the snaps
against Arizona, and he did come in a couple of penalties.
Got called for a hip drop tackle and he jumped
off side one time. You know, when you're that good
and that impactful, you make a couple of penalties along
the way because you're being aggressive. I find it pretty
easy to live with that stuff because at the end
(37:16):
of the day, the production outweighs the mistakes.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Yeah, I don't know much more to add because the
production outweighs everything with this guy.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Now, it's interesting the way this green Bay team is
such a good looking team.
Speaker 5 (37:27):
A lot to like three and.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Zero at home, one one and one on the road,
and the one win was in Arizona, and the crowd
was a lot of green Bay fans.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
I did not know.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
I was looking to see if Arizona had to do
the silent count thing at home, but I didn't see
it get that bad.
Speaker 5 (37:45):
But it wasn't a true road.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Game, no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
And the other thing that really jumped out at me statistically,
Packers going into that game had had a lead seventy
four percent of the time they play from ahead.
Speaker 5 (38:01):
Yeah, uh, is.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
This a game where if the Steelers can start fast
as they were on the verge doing in Cincinnatiah.
Speaker 4 (38:08):
Got a fair amount of starting quick, especially on offense.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
You're gonna have a home advantage.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
I think there will be Packers fans here, but it
is obviously easier to play defense when you have that
crowd noise factor and getting off the ball.
Speaker 4 (38:19):
And I'm sure there'll be Packers fans here, but Labs
was telling us just a little bit ago that the
ticket prices are like through the roof, like this is
a hot, hot seat. So I just think the crowd
is going to be super revved up, especially favorite Steelers
of course, you know, getting looped up in the parking
lot before. I think a fast start goes a long
way because I not that they hide Love, but they
(38:42):
want to run the ball. They want to play from ahead,
they want to rush the passer with the lead, and
to your point about playing a lot of snaps with
the lead, they've been able to accomplish it, and especially
in those first two games. They've the first two games
were whoa, this might be the best team in the league.
You know, Since then it's like, Okay, they do a
lot of things good, they're good, they're contender, but they're
not a blow your doors off team.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Yeah, And I think is this a game where they
can make Green Bay in general and Jordan Love in
particular less comfortable?
Speaker 4 (39:10):
I would think.
Speaker 5 (39:11):
So then has been the case up yes to this point.
Speaker 4 (39:13):
To Merril's point, I mean their old lineman, I've been
saying is I think it's also a well coached line
that doesn't have great players, But the sum of the
parts or the whole is greater than the sum of
the parts a little bit. They collectively they played pretty well,
but just in terms of one on one matchups against
her Big and Hayward and Watt and high Smith, I
(39:35):
think that favors the Steelers a lot. And if they
can love will hold the ball and you know, try
to drive the ball down the field. I think you
can create splash, which is so important for this defense.
I mean, the games they don't create splash, like the
Bengals game haven't gone well for them. But what's crazy
(39:55):
to me about the Packers is they've created three turnovers
and they've turned them all over three times. Like there's
no turnovers in Packer games. Like what's going on here?
They make a deal beforehand. I won't turn you guys over.
You don't turn us over, you.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Know, Particularly the way they run it head, I thought
they'd have more forced fumbles than things of that natures.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
And strip sacks right right right, You've caused three three
and they've only turned the ball over three.
Speaker 6 (40:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
The other thing that was really interesting to me about
that Cardinals game, and I think, by the way, this
is gonna sound really dumb, but I think Arizona's the
best two and five team in the business.
Speaker 5 (40:26):
Cardinals just can't finish.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
They can't. They've had I think they've lost like four
games by thirteen ys total.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
Something organizing things happen.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
Yeah, I can't have these guys.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
But Arizona game three hundred and thirty total nit yards
on Green Bay. Arizona held the ball for thirty four
minutes and ten seconds. Arizona scored on five of its
first seven possessions. But here's the rub. The Packers finished defensively.
Fourth quarter, It's twenty twenty first and goal at the
(40:55):
green Bay eight turned into a field goal in the
twenty three to twenty Arizona lead. Quarter twenty three twenty, they're.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
Trailing the Packers.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
Arizona has got a fourth and one at the Arizona
forty eight. They stuff a quarterback sneak that sets the
table for the short field drive that produced what turned
out to be the game winning touchdown. And then at
the end of the game, I mentioned that third Parson sack.
Cardinals got the ball back with a minute fifty to play,
and they got it at the thirty five because Green
Bay kicked off into a touchback and they reached the
(41:27):
Packers twenty six and the Packers held the line.
Speaker 5 (41:31):
That Yeah, it was very similar to me.
Speaker 3 (41:33):
You mentioned how close the Steelers were to beating the
Bengals and how our narrative would be different. You know,
Steelers didn't play well defensively against the Jets, but they
got two stops at the.
Speaker 4 (41:41):
End of the day.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
They didn't play well against the Patriots other than forcing
five turnovers. And I say they forced five turnovers, Patriots
think about say, oh here right, all five times stopped
them at the end. The Minnesota game came down to
a defensive possession where you had to stop them, even
though that was a dominant performance.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
So and I thought they were gonna do it against
the Bengals too.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
They close and as bad as they were against Cincinnati,
they're they're winning that game with two minutes and change left,
One more stop, more southing. And this is kind of
this was the case for Green Bay and Arizona. This
has been the case with the Steelers. It's kind of
the case in the NFL. It's yeah, this team's great,
this team's not very good, and these games come down
to the end.
Speaker 4 (42:23):
But I trust Rogers. I guess his old team on
Sunday night. Yeah, yeah, I mean, if it does come
down to that, which team can finish? Now, the steel
defense has a good history of doing it, not in
the most recent game, but I'm gonna trust Rogers.
Speaker 3 (42:39):
Yeah, I think it's going to be in the mostly
charged the atmosphere, at least at the start. If it
goes sour, it could be a bad atmosphere. But yeah,
could anything else about this Packers team.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
One thing I want to mention too is they're the
best offense in the league on third downs. But what's
crazy about it is third and longs seven or more.
When the whole league is converting at like twenty two percent,
they're at like fifty percent and third and longs. So
a lot of times, just when you think you have
(43:09):
them where you want them, you bundle up the run
first two plays and got them in third and nine. Okay,
unleash the hounds. They break your back.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
The other thing I wanted to mention about the defense,
We talked about the secondary and how it's you know,
it's usually in position but you can. You can make
plays if you have the time and the temerity to
go down the field a little bit. I don't I
don't know that the Steelers sideways stuff's gonna work real
well against these guys.
Speaker 5 (43:33):
They run well, they run the ball well.
Speaker 3 (43:35):
But the guy that really hurt him in Arizona was
tight end Trey McBride. Thirteen targets, ten catches, seventy four yards,
two touchdowns, and on both of the touchdowns he was
wide open uncovered. So other teams bust too, steeling.
Speaker 4 (43:51):
It happens every week they watch.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
These other games, you see this stuff happen again. I
saw McBride have a big game, and I thought, Okay,
well Steel's.
Speaker 5 (43:58):
Got three or four tight ends. It can hurts you.
Maybe that's a matchup. I think it didn't exploit.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Their numbers in the middle of the field aren't particularly
good either. And I'm glad you brought up tight end too,
because I adore Tucker Craft. I mean, he's one of
my favorite young tight ends in this league. And Missy
Matthews pointed out today Sunday's tight end Day. I didn't
know it was National tight End Day, so.
Speaker 6 (44:16):
Maybe I didn't either.
Speaker 4 (44:17):
Yeah, I guess you'll hear a lot about it throughout
the day.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
Maybe Pat Freimuth has another big game. Yeah, we shall see.
I'd like your thoughts on rallying and the professionals being embarrassed.
The narrative out of the locker room this week on
the South Side was, Hey, it happens, we assess it,
we correct it, we move on. And the public front
(44:41):
at least was full speed ahead, no lack of confidence
or nobody's head down anything like that.
Speaker 5 (44:46):
You're buying that from professionals.
Speaker 4 (44:49):
Yeah, but I think it's a long time to marinate
on an embarrassing subject too, And to be honest, I
mean to turn it more analytically. I really favor teams
that have big rest. Advance is more and more anymore,
and it sures have a significant one here at home.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
Particularly at home. That's gonna do it for us tonight.
Thanks to Justin Miller for running the show here in studio.
Thanks to Brian Laal Martinez Steelers Nation Radio for organizing
things as he does, and thank you for finding us
however and wherever you found us. We'll do this again
next Thursday as we get you ready for the Steelers
(45:24):
and the Indianapolis Colts until then, for Merrill Hodge and
for Matt Williamson A Mike Pursuda. This has been Steelers Preview,
presented by your neighborhood Forge Store. The F one fifty
is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers, right here
on Steelers Nation Radio and Steelers Flagship.
Speaker 5 (45:41):
One O two point five dv E. Goodnight, everybody,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.