November 7, 2024 • 44 mins
Rejuvenated from the bye week and back better than ever, the trio of Mike Prisuta, Matt Williamson, and Merril Hoge prepare you for the matchup this Sunday between the Steelers and Commanders over in our nation's capital.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDVE Pittsburgh, brought
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the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Persuda and
Matt Williamson with you on yet another Thursday night. We've
got our factor back, Merril Hodge warming up in the bullpen. Merril,
we'll come in throwing fastballs on our next segment, and Matt,
(00:45):
we have got just a great game, yeah to talk about.
I think the Steelers are trending in the right direction.
I don't know if they did enough at the trade deadline,
but they did significant work.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I thought that stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, Camp Sutton's coming fact that's not a trade but
kind of the same effect.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
But yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
I mean a lot of these guys going back right.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Up next to the Washington Commanders at seven and two.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
And I really like watching this team play.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I think it's a good team and I think it's
a great story because I'm old enough to remember going
to RFK back in the day when the ground.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Shook Joe Gibbs.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I mean, that was the epicenter of the NFC, you know,
and the Redskins and the Cowboys are the Redskins, and
the Giants and the Redskins and the Eagles went down
there a couple of times with the Steelers. I mean
it was something to see and to borrow a phrase
from Notre Dame, they are waking up the echoes in Landover, Maryland.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean, I think they're such an interesting team because,
like most people, I didn't think they'd be good this year.
I mean, they had second pick in the draft, new coach.
Their Vegas win total for the year is six and
a half. They already went.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Past it, you know, like they were they went for
last year.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
I think, so the second pick in the draft, I
mean I thought this year was all about get the
Daniel Snyder stink out of the building and try to
start to build a culture, and to their credit, they did.
I think they had that in mind. They went and
signed like Zach Ertz and Austin Eckler and Bobby Wagner
and all these dudes that looked like they were past
(02:16):
their prime. But they've won a lot of games and
their veteran trend setting guys, and they're really well coached
on both sides of the ball. And some of their
deficiencies I thought defensive talent and O line would be
really weaknesses. They haven't been. They're not perfect. I mean,
it's but they're probably the best story in the league.
And I'm really excited about this game, partially because we
(02:38):
didn't get one last week. But you know, this looked
like kind of a whole hum game when the schedule
came up. Oh they'll beat the Commanders, you know. Yeah
about that, I.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Mean, I think it's a great game, you know, to
take the temperature, Yeah, for both teams, but it's not winter.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You're in real trouble.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Right, Both are the probably playoff bound, you know, I think.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
What you have to lose is far less than what
you have to gain if you can win a game.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Such as this.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yeah, I think it would say a lot about both
Whoever wins this team, I think game and then you
really know that, Hey, Benchmark definitely going.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
In the right direction.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Let's lead it off tonight as we always do with
the practice participation report, and it is pretty much good
news for the Steelers. Tight end Michael Pruett didn't practice today,
listed as a knee, but I don't think that's any
big deal. Terrell Edmund's illness has not practiced yet this week,
but Tyler Mattakaevich hamstring a full participant for the second
(03:36):
consecutive day. The clock's ticking on his return from my R.
Nick Herbig limited, but Mike Tomlin was optimistic at the
outset of the week that Herbig would be available. Zach
Frasier full go, he said yesterday. He expects to play.
So things look looking pretty rosy for the Steelers coming
(03:57):
out of the by Even Justin Field's a full participant.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
I'm still waiting for that.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Justin Field's coming in on third and whatever or fourth
and whatever.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah, at whatever part.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Wasn't gonna happen last week. Is the emergency guy, right.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, I think we'll see something.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Corda Patterson, you know, I mean yep, Cam Sutton.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, Patterson a full participant in the second consecutive day
on the Washington side. Now Cleveland Farah, one of their
starting defensive ends, went from limited yesterday to did not
practice today because of the knee.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
He's trending in the wrong direction.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Marshawn Lattimore, the high profile cornerback they acquired at the
trade deadline hamstring, hasn't practiced yet this week.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I don't know what to make of that.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
I would think he's not playing. Maybe they're just team
and gotten in there yet I would think he doesn't play.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
And their left tackle, Cornelius Lucas, hasn't practiced this week
with an ankle. He didn't play last week. He started
five of the eight games he's played in, but they
have been going when he's not available with Brandon Coleman,
one of the rookie draft picks.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Yeah, he's a pretty good player, a pretty good player.
I didn't know if he's gonna be a Gardner tackle
coming out, but he's exceeded my expectation. As as their
whole tire offensive line, he's the left tackle of the future.
I think they're pretty comfortable with him.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
The really amazing thing about this team, and there's so
many things to talk about relative to the command. Really
is I mean, Jane Daniels is lighting it up and
playing with veteran ployees and veteran understanding. He certainly deserves
every prop he gets. But this defense last year Matt
thirty second in the NFL and points per game against.
(05:34):
You know why they were thirty second because there aren't
thirty three teams miserable right right now, they're eleventh at
twenty one, and you look at it, it's been an
instant makeover. Farrell is in his first year with Washington,
form and fourth overall picked by the Raiders. Bobby Wagner,
linebacker many years in Seattle, won with the Rams, first
year with Washington.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Him and Russell Wilson in the same draft last Yeah. Yeah,
I think they don't know each other a little bit.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Dante Fowler, edge guy, third overall by Jacksonville in twenty fifteen.
First year with Washington. Noah Binoghany. He's been either an
outside corner or a nickel. Another former first round pick,
first year with Washington. Jeremy Chin safety, first year with Washington.
Frankie Louvu linebacker, first year with Washington. Armstrong the defensive tackle,
(06:23):
first year doron or No, not, he's more Yeah, dorn
I got him confused here, Dorrence Armstrong, defensive end, first
year with Washington. Then he's throwing a couple of draft picks.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Johnny Newton, Illinois at the defensive line.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Now he's filling in for Jonathan Allen who's on ir
very good player. But Newton does not look out of
place in the league.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
He's finally healthy and he's really good. He should have
went in the first round.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
And you got Mike saint Strill.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Where did he play college?
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Somewhere in the Big ten. He's starting outside now.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
He began as a nickel, but he won't win. Latimore's
healthy out, he'll move back to the nick where he belongs.
But he's been good outside. Yeah, he's a good player.
You know that's counting to nickel.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
That's nine guys out of twelve on the defense that
are new weren't there a year ago. Yeah, they're getting
contribution some six of their draft picks. A couple of
signings on offense, including uh Tyler Battish at the center
who's anchoring the line.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
I mean, it's a totally different. It's totally different organization,
from ownership down to the players, to the quarterback, to
the feeling to the fans.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I didn't expect it to come together.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
This quit me either. And you have to give Quinn
a lot of credit to I mean, he got it.
He's the defensive minded guy. He's getting a lot out
of that group you mentioned. I also like Martin the
kid from Illinois a year ago too. He's a safety
that that's on that defense. Yeah, we didn't mention the guys.
I'm talking about freshman year guys. There's a bunch of
second year guys too, absolutely right. It's the future is
(07:51):
pretty bright. Yeah, and I think they're coming together, and
I wonder clearly this is a group that is going
to continue to improve. I would think just familiarity.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
You don't bring this many new guys in and all
of a sudden it's as good as it's going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Right, And they had some struggles early in the season,
you know, the defense looked like a bunch of new guys.
And now again there's leadership from coaches. Wagner's the been
around the block and all that type of guy too.
And as you kept laying out a lot of high
predigree guys you know that are savior season but they
have their savior careers. But you've got a lot of talent,
you know, Fowler and those type of guys.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And uh, you know, I wonder what's going through the
mind of wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Terry McLaurin. Has been a really good player on really bad.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Teams with really bad quarterbacks for a long time, and
now all of a sudden.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
This is what the NFL is all about.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Clubs have parted and the sun's coming down and shining
on him. Yeah, he's catching deep ball touchdowns and getting
in people's faces and I really like him leading with
fire and brimstone.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
They got a lot of positives they.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Do, and it's a lot of just attitude and growing
confidence and everybody's growing up together. And it really starts
with the quarterback too. I mean, he's wise beyond his years.
I mean he's really poised, great accuracy. We know he's
a tremendous athlete, but like early in the season, anytime
he felt pressure, he just ran great. I'm sure that's
(09:16):
what they told him and it worked. Now he fields
through it. He's fine. You know, nothing's too big for him.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, the two things I noticed about him in the
Giants game, Washington's most recent game. He runs when he should,
not necessarily out of desperation.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And when there's an open guy, he doesn't miss him.
He throws the open guy the football.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Yeah, and not even just good enough to catch it,
but in stride or on the right shoulder, I mean,
like really distributes the ball.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Well.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, there's a lot to talk about with the Commanders,
and we will dive deep with Meryl Hodge when we
come back from the break. As we are just getting
started here. Steelers Preview was brought to you in part
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(10:08):
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Visit one of the official Steelers Pro shops. Those are
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shop dot Steelers dot com. It is Merrill Hodge time
when we come back, so keep it here with Matt
(10:28):
Williamson on Mike PURSUITA. This is Steelers Preview right here
on your Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE
and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Welcome back Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson, getting you ready
for the Steelers and the Washington Commanders, or as we'd
like to say here in the Western Pennsylvania area, the
Washington Mersham Vanders.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Gotta pronounce it the right way Tohington.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I like that, Washington.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Time Now to welcome our feature back to the program.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That voice you just heard was none other than Meryl
Hodge Merrill, how are you?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I'm excited for this game for two reasons.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
One I think it's a great matchup and two it's
at one o'clock on a Sunday.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
I can't never, never argue on a one o'clock on
a Sunday.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
And I actually I agree with you.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
I think this is maybe one of the key matchups
on Sunday, no matter what time you know they kick
it off. To be honest with you, I just I
think the Commanders are and you know probably I'm sure
Steve Nation, you know most people probably don't know much.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
About them, you know, and other than they haven't.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Been very good for a long time. And I know
they probably know well Jayden Daniels is there. But the
offense that they've run, I mean, what what I like
about it from a stupid perspective is they get.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
They get experience and offense they're going.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
To see two times here and you know, or so
thirty days or so with the Ravens. You know, they
run a very similar type offensive quarterback brings that element
of issues to your defense, and it's going to be
the best challenge they've had all season from a defensive perspective.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah, it's interesting choice of words challenge because I asked
Landon Roberts, the Steelers linebacker, this week, about what kind
of challenges the Washington offense presents, and he said every one.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Part of his.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Argument was every running play has some kind of quarterback
action attached to it, so you always got to be
worried about that, and then you got a passing game
that is explosive and productive.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
Yeah, well, well let's start the running game, because that's
the one thing that actually is the big problem. If
they run the football on the Steelers in the way
they have done with a lot of teams. It just
makes it hard to defend their pa asking attack, you know,
because you're so caught up and you know this.
Speaker 6 (13:03):
This is why the running game is such a.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Critical component of being successful in controlling the tempo in
the NFL, is that once a defense is reduced to
taking somebody else and bring him out of coverage and
going into the box to help out, that limits what
they can do on the back end coverage wise. So
from a calling perspective, that makes it easier for you. Well,
they only do AARB now. They used to be ABC
(13:27):
or D.
Speaker 6 (13:28):
Now they're going to do a B.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
That's why throwing the football just it's just so much
more effective. One you can paralyze the defense and you
can get them so caught up and trying to stop
your run. And to just point about the problem with
the running attack and you'll see it. Actually did a
playbook for the Steelers where they actually don't think I've
ever seen this thing. I know it's probably happened before,
(13:50):
I just don't remember seeing it. They take the one
back and they motion him out.
Speaker 6 (13:55):
Like he's he's.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Heading out, but just before he gets past, like the
out side of the tackle. They snap the ball and
he comes back across.
Speaker 6 (14:03):
And they hand it off to him, and then they pull.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
Two guys guard tackle and they got a sweep look
to the right. Well, because the quarterback can run two
you now have to stay just on the backside because
if you vacate that, he's going to keep.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
It and run.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
It's an option for him. And they do that, so
they attack you laterally. You know, they make a sweep
on one play aside and a power on the other side,
and you have to defend both. You don't know who's
going to get the wall, and then they run you know,
inside zone, outside zone, strong side, week side. Just a
whole host of things that they do that are and
(14:39):
they do it very well too. It isn't like you
can pick one and say, well, if we.
Speaker 6 (14:42):
Stop, that will be good. You got a whole.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Host of things that you got to deal with. Then
that's for first and foremost their biggest concern, and the
thing that they've got to do a very good job
of is minimizing.
Speaker 6 (14:55):
The success in the running game and.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Keeping them in long yardage situations. And as soon as
I say that, the first thing pops in my head is,
now you got the quarterback who can run and throw
and he gets first downs. Rather it's long yardis are
short yardage in the passing games. It's It's a tough one, man,
it's a tough one. But you know, it's a great
(15:19):
challenge for this defense and they they're equipped to handle it.
It's just gonna take their best, their best defensive performance
to this point.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Mayor before the season started, I looked at Washington and
you know, they weren't very good in recent years. As
you mentioned, they'd second pick in the draft. And thought, man,
this seems a work in progress, to be kind, and
even the old line, it was not a lot of
brand name guys. I thought that would be a weakness.
And you mentioned the scheme and they pull a lot
of linemen. But I think their offensive line has been
really good and really fun to watch. They're nasty too.
Speaker 6 (15:55):
Yeah, I completely agree. You don't listen.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
They run with a purpose, They had all the things
I mentioned.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
You can't do that.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
Well, let's I'm gonna back up a little bit. Kingsbury
is their offensive coordinator. He's the passing coordinator. And what
I what, I really respect what he has done. I remember,
I don't know if you guys remember when the Steels
went to play Arizona when he was the head coach's
first year and uh, the Steelers had Duck Hodges and
they beat them. Okay, when you watched his offense, this
(16:27):
is his running attack.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Probably coach anymore.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
Huh yeah, well no, somebody learned.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
You know, I think he.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Was a little joke. You know, you listen to Duck Hodges.
You can't do this anymore, just getting Duck that we're listening.
That was the fun year that went.
Speaker 6 (16:45):
Right over my head.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
But a good call by you of calling me out
on that. Anyway, going back to you'll get ready for
that game. It's like, gosh, dang, he thinks this is college.
I mean everything they did was college or passing. Well,
they had two runs and I'm not joking.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
It was like an inside zone and a draw and
they use that maybe occasionally.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
I'm like, they got no chance.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
Of winning in this league being like that.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
Now he's a coordinator, even though he's not the running coordinator,
and you have to help me with it's the course
he used to be the head coach of the Chargers.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
Gosh darn it.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Oh yeah, anyway, he's the often he's the running coordinator
and he's really good. Yes, I mean they just they're
both really good and they work together.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
You know, you got one.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Guy who's really he truly understands the running game and
he does. It's such such a good job. And then
they throw off of that, you know, in ways that
are it's it's not intermediate in short if they're explosive.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
I mean they attack you vertically in the.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
In the passing game, and it's very complete too as well.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
The quarterback, as young as he is, processes things. You
know what.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Anthony Lynn whos bugging is making me crazy.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Yeah, Anthony Lynn is the running coordinator. But what Jane
Daniels was really good at I don't know. I knew
him when he went Arizona State.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
I got to know him. Marvin Lewis was there on with.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Oh gosh, darn it.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
And Anthony Lynn any any yeah, Duchhogs and it was
all over the place. I mean, I only worked with
you for like ten years. Come on, man, he was Arizona.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
State's head coach. Okay, you know marvle Lewis was on there.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Jesus is like the show.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
That won't anyway, And so I didn't I knew in
there and the kid just just to know the kid
when he first got into.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
College and how he developed is really you know.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
The maturation of a of a kid who went from man,
if he didn't see something, he was running. I mean,
that's just how it was. That he's the first guy
went open he was running to evolve into a Heisman
Trophy winner.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
But listen, they give.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
That that doesn't mean you're a good a good quarterback
by any strets of imagination.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
But he was.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Really it became a really good process.
Speaker 6 (19:11):
Or really good from the pocket.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
And when I say processor, like you get a five
step drop.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
You know he's seeing things as he's dropping back.
Speaker 5 (19:19):
Like this is what happens when kids from Carl go
from college to the NFL.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Is they think they can't get to the top of
their drop and have things. You know, they start reading things.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
Man, you better be reading things as you're moving up
the pocket. You know you're second that ball snapped.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
You know you're as you.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
Take even in the shotgun two three steps. You've got
to be able to process things and know where that
ball possibly should be going. And he does a really
job of that. It really almost like CJ. Stroud type,
Joe Burrow type, So he's not and he's getting better too.
So you know, it's halfway through the season, so you're
getting a much better Jayden Daniels now than you would
(19:55):
have gotten the first four weeks of the season.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
And he was pretty incredible there.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
But the passing game is is a concern on the
back end from all phases as well.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
So so it's.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
A really diverse offense.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
It is.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
It is fun to watch, actually it is really. I
think here's what I think the best offenses in football are.
I think that Detroit has the best offense. The Ravens
have the second best, Kansas City maybe third, and Commanders
maybe fourth. From offensive overall phases and schemes and things
(20:34):
that you've got to deal with, and they're good at.
And you know, I remember I learned this early in
my career member Chuck Noll, you know, he was he
was saying, a three there's three thirds to a football team,
and you got to win two of the two of
the thirds. Every Sunday special teams is a guarantee we're.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
Gonna win that. We gotta win that, and then offensive defense,
we got to win one of those.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
We got a chance. Then if you go into your
offense or defense, you have different phases, and the more
phases you have, the better chance you haven't winning because
they can't take away them all, you know, Like you
know the Steelers, that would be interesting. It would be
interesting to be in there defensive game plan meeting and
seeing what they think is the biggest concern, what you
(21:15):
really have to be worried about. Now. I do believe
it's going to be the running game and the way
they go about it, because you can't utilize that, you're
going to be in trouble and and they do so
many different things then you got to almost figure you
know that particular. But the end, they just got to
win the line of scrimmage at the end of the day.
From a running game perspective, and great penetration make it disruptive,
(21:37):
but they do such a good job of blocking and
their misdirection is so good that it's it's it's just
a hard it's a hard ask. Merril.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
I'm glad you got back to the running game because
that's been gnawing at me since they last played against
the New York Football Giants. You look at the stat
sheet and I think the numbers now mean something because
we're at mid season and there's a there's a big
enough sample size. Steelers are the fourth in the NFL
and run defense, averaging ninety point five yards a game
against on the ground. I thought that Giants game was
(22:06):
a really subpar performance, particularly the way the nickel defense got.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
And run on starting to be a trend.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
You know, that's not the first time.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
To Matt's point, and that's they're supposed to be able
to play nickel and cover the run or the pass
thanks to the speed of Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson.
But I go into this game and you tell me
how how well Washington runs the ball, and I hear you,
I'm not sure the Steelers can stop it.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
That's a question to me.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I mean, even for this game or Ravens, would you
consider leaving a Landon Roberts in the nickel.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Well, he's great against the run.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
Yeah, no, that's not a bad Listen and personnel, Listen,
the Steelers have been able to come up with different
types of packages. You know, they played the Ravens a
lot of times, you know, with five linebackers and three
dyn lineman. You know, a lot of time fish of
the personnel, it's on them.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
I don't think that that's a mistake.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
As he is a man, he's a he's a run dude,
a linebacker, he's he knows how to play the run.
He got great instincts, and he tackles and he hits.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
I wouldn't be surprised, but that whatsoever, you know.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
But going to your just kind of build on that
giant thing that was concerning is.
Speaker 6 (23:21):
They do a little bit of what.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
The commanders do from a misdirection aspect and a dual
astic and the quarterback can run too.
Speaker 6 (23:31):
It's not like he's not like Jay Daniels, but.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
He's a threat.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
And and they actually were doing some things not as
high a quality, but similar, and they did not handle
it well to your point, which you can look at
that two ways, you know.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
I go back to the you know never Undress is
pretty good at this stuff too though for the Giants.
Say that again, Dave Ball's pretty good at this stuff
too though for the Giants, you know, and they have
a good right quarterback.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
You know, it wasn't what yeah, what I'm saying is
having experienced that and went through it might have helped
them be better to be prepared for it, is what
I'm getting asked. You know, That's what I'm saying. The
more you see it, you know, the bitter you're going
to get.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
At it, you know.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
So even though they didn't handle it well, I know,
it's just I think I think it's a very fair
way to think. Is like, man, I don't think they
can handle this one, because it's even better. But after
going through it, you learned some mistakes and you survived
them with a win, and you can button that up
and clean up and learn on it and do some
different things to maybe be a little more effective against
(24:36):
the Commanders.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
You know what really got my attention in that Commander's
game against the Giants was they did not have Brian
Robinson available their number one running back. They still ran
it thirty eight times and through it twenty two.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
And they protected while that Giant mass protected.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Well.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Yeah, that to Matt's point about the line, nobody's talking
about those good group.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
They've only really had one injury.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
They've had some in and out at left tackle, but
everybody else has played.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
They went to rookie to play more and more.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
The entirety of the season, and they got it going on. Offensively, man,
they're they're you said it. They are fun to watch.
I saw him play the Bears, some play the Bears,
and I saw him play the Giants, and of course
the Bears game was the one that ended in that
crazy hill.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Mary.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
But this looks like a team that has decided it
likes winning better than losing.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And we'll go.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
There's a lot of guys, a lot of new faces,
and it looks like it's all coming together and they're
playing complimentary ball and they got momentum and I think
they're a real handful.
Speaker 6 (25:39):
Well.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
The other thing that's most disturbing, you know, just getting
ready for this game, is that they're learning how to.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Win and they believe they can win. That's a big deal.
Speaker 5 (25:48):
Too, you know, when when you have ways, I mean
some very effective ways that are some of the best
in football and they do it really well, that's a.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
That's a big buzzsaw. You know that the students are
doing some.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Things better too, you know from an offensive perspective that
actually I think create some problems for the commander of defense.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
They you know, they don't play I did a vulnerable
in the running game in.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
Some areas and they're very susceptible to getting paralyzed in
the box with hard run action.
Speaker 6 (26:19):
They can they can sneak around there and they can.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Make mistakes and you can get some explosive plays on
these guys. You know, that's all they did. I mean,
and actually that is that is why they're the best.
That's why Russell Wilson played so wils because he's a
great compliment of that. That's where he is at his
forte that's his very best I.
Speaker 6 (26:40):
Think, you know, that's when they went through wolves in Seattle.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
When he did that, that's when they lost that that
you know, they just weren't as good as team anymore,
and he wasn't as effective a quarterback.
Speaker 6 (26:49):
But he's very effective in this way.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
And I think they can create some points and big
plays and they post some problems to the command or
defense and some of the things that they are not
very good at.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
You know, they're susceptible in some areas. The Steelers do
very well.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
So this isn't you know, commander offense and't playing for
sixty minutes. You know that the longer the Steeler offense
can play, the better off they'll be.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
You know, in winning this game, that'd.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Be part of the battle, is that they can just
control the tempo and with the line, I mean when
the time possession and then and obviously get production, score points,
shift field constantly throughout the whole game will be the
objective for your offense.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
That kind of a bigger picture question for you. Back
to the Steeler defense is I'm a little shocked how
vanilla they are. I don't love that word. But a lot,
a lot, a lot of cover three, very little blitz,
very little twisting and stunting. You know, Minka is not
doing robber stuff as much anymore. You don't see much
cover too like Tarta.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Lawston, by the way, said he's just fine with that.
Today he said he's nine nine percent of the time
nobody tries to d post.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
And that's I get I get him. I'm not saying,
don't take.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
That trade of making not being a big splash play
guy for what he's preventing.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Get that. But my point is just it's become much
more of an execution based defense than scheme in a
big way, more than maybe any defense in the league.
Can you live that way?
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Well, so if they've been had to live that way
here now here's why I think you can live that.
Speaker 5 (28:24):
So let me let me just kind of throw the
counter to that you got with your good heage thrushers.
That's what allows you to kind of you know, they're
just like you know, yeah, from you know, when you
start bulitzing and stunting and twists, and I'm just gonna
tell you from an offensive perspective, how we used to
look at that is let them blitzes and we're going
(28:45):
to sting them get let them twist and stunt because
somebody is gonna miss their gap and wear out the game.
So you know, there's that part of it to man
that I that I can see from an offensive perspective
of why you wouldn't want to see that defensively, you know, particular.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Against Daniels and Lamar are coming up. I mean I
get that they'll sleep, you know. I just think in general,
I'm a little shocked how vanilla they are.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Yeah, and so you know, you we're gonna give up
some plays. I mean, everybody's gonna do that.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
There's nobody that you play long enough in this league're
gonna give a plays out care.
Speaker 6 (29:20):
I get the defenses, but.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Some of those other things that you just mentioned you know, listen,
they just these coaches are with these guys all the time,
and people just think he blitzed the blitz. Okay, Blitzing
is just like a good passing game, the timing and
disguise that goes along with that.
Speaker 6 (29:39):
I mean that, I think.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
People appreciate how hard that is, you.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
Know, if you're really gonna be good at it.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
You know, I obviously teams blitz and they're like, oh
my gosh, she's half a day late, and we want
he might might as well play ten people based on
what he did. Or you hit a gap wrong your time.
It's just you.
Speaker 6 (29:56):
Know, I go to the twisting and stunning, or you
slant your.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
Line one way, you scrape the other way and some
of it gets picked on the scrape and out the
gate you go. So if you can play like that
without you know, creating some vulnerabilities to a defense where
the stakes could happen and you won't be effective, or
they when they pick it up and nail you, uh
(30:19):
and Tom forced into that, you know, like I like, look,
I'll give you a team that's kind of forced into that,
but they are really the Lions defense. After Lucid Hutchinson.
You know, they don't get quite as many sacks and
twice as many pressures, and but man, it actually is
a defense. They are they're still championship style defense, but
(30:39):
they've had to change a little bit that they've had
to bring. Blitz is what they haven't had to in
the past. Pretty good at when they do it, but
they don't do it.
Speaker 6 (30:48):
Grass.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
But to just give you some light, some maybe some
thought to that, you know, which I agree with you
because that used you know, they've been their reputation has
been there.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
It's Wutzberg. But because they come and they're gonna.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Come and they just haven't had to do that, or
they feel like they're in a position to that after
the bye week, you never knows. The bye week to
me is a great time to self evaluate, really good
time to self evaluate and come out and break some tendencies
that you have that you developed that they're expected.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
By the way, Meryl, not to cut you off, but
I self evaluated our show here during the bye week,
and we are doing fantastic.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
I think we have some work to do.
Speaker 6 (31:31):
Man. I like this team. Man, I like we can't
we can't lose. Man, We're so good.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Don't start settling pursuit of we can be better right
around the corner. Second half of the seasons will be
tougher in the first.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Like the chief just keep winning. But we know we
got more in the time.
Speaker 4 (31:47):
I wish we had done more of the trade that.
Speaker 6 (31:53):
I love it, so you know, you know, bye week
comes to a really good time from us.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
I think a breaking tendency stuff and you do some
things that might you know, they're clear the commanders.
Speaker 6 (32:06):
You try this every week, but I.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
Think we have two weeks you can do a better
job of it, doing some things that might keep the
commanders or take them off off guard in this one
on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Meryl, great stuff. It is the unofficial second half of
the season. These games are getting bigger, the intensity is
ratcheting up. So keep bringing it. Next week when we
get ready for Steelers Ravens.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
Oh my gosh, get ready boy.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
I love it, man, I was good talking to you.
You're the best.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
That was Meryl Hodge. Are Factor back with Matt Williamson
on my pursuit of This is Steelers Preview right here
on your Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE
and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
We're fine at the deadline. We didn't need to make
a tree upgrade audio network.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Back to the Steelers preview show DV.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Welcome back, Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson with you for
segment number three. We needed a couple of minutes to
catch our breath after the Meryl segment. Is always in
Matt a shot across the bow of our guy.
Speaker 4 (33:16):
There's only three of us, and I didn't want to
call you out on the air, Rade.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
But he's got to push. He's got three screens.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Of valuable member valuable member over there. But you're always
looking to get better to trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
You gotta let the young guys develop many experienced they
get confidence. And I got to personally apologize to Duck Hodges.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
You're a on him too.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
I was out there, you know our intensities up for
this Washington game, Duck, if you're listening, I was at
that game.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
That was there was a.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Steeler's takeover in Arizona from the fans, and they were
winning games somehow. And that was a fun season, even
though it didn't ultimately get him to the playoffs. Season,
absolutely it was entertaining time now for what to expect
segment that's brought to you by Brian Patten, and I
remember being in the airport flying home the next day
(34:11):
and people were wearing ducks on their head, duck hats shirts.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
I remember that's for a minute.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
What to Expect is brought to you by Brian Patten
and associates. It's all about the benefits, Matt. I'm going
to go to thirty thousand feet for what to expect,
since we're coming out of a break, and since I
thought Merril did a pretty good job detailing the nuances
of this game. But what I expect not just in
this game, but in the remaining games as a as
(34:39):
a group, as a whole. I think Cam Sutton is
going to be the most impactful addition. I think Mike
Williams can help them. Williams all I'm expecting from Mike
Williams convert an occasional third down at a critical point
score the odd touchdown when you really need run under
a moon ball and flip the field. I'm not expecting
(35:01):
him to catch eight balls for one hundred and thirty
yards every game.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
No, No, that ain't gonna happens.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Fair.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
I think Preston Smith just giving them eighteen to twenty
snaps a game, Oh yeah, will help, and maybe particularly
in this one, because these guys, these edge guys are
going to tire chasing Jayden Daniels all over the field.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
And Herb's not one hundred percent, but who knows.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
You know, you know they were down in that in
that Giants game on the play where Beanie Bishop sealed
it with an interception, they had Jeremiah Moon and ide
Oginjada rushing.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Thus the trade deadline.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Yeah, I mean Watt and high Smith were both out
of the game.
Speaker 4 (35:37):
You played ninety percent of snaps week after a week,
it's too much.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Tarl Austin, the defensive coordinator, talked about that today, said,
those guys play till they can't and then when they
come out, they come out. It's not like they're on
a pitch count or anything or yeah. Try, Okay, if
TJ only plays eighty percent of snaps will be better.
So we'll take him out now if he can go.
He goes, same with high Smith.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
But it's nice that four of them though.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah, I think that might change a little bit for
this game. Again, just because the exertion, it's going to
require chasing Daniels around is going to be profound.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
I don't think it's an accident either that the two
guys you traded for are big for their position. They're big,
physical guys that are.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Standing next to what, I don't know what they list
them at, but it ain't enough.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
He's he does not look like Herbie. Yeah, I'll say that.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Yeah, it's almost he looks like when Connor Hayward stands
next to Darnel Washington, it's like, wow, those guys play
the same position.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Yeah, Like it doesn't compute.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
He looks a lot more like Leal than he does. Yeah,
the three that have been playing, you know, but he's
see arms.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
He seemed to be fired up to be here.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
You know.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
They can ensure maybe that that position doesn't become this
year's inside linebacker.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Right, you're gonna be on the scrap heap, you know.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
But I still think Calvin Austin, the third, is the
guy that if there's going to be a Russell Wilson
igniting effect in terms of activating an existing receiver a
hold over, I think Austin's the guy.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Okay, I really like the recent glimpses, you know, and
I loved them coming out of school. I think he's
a developed rout runner. So you don't think his role
is gonna diminish necessarily.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
No, I don't.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I think Williams will play at the expense of Jefferson, Okay,
and it'll be you know, the occasional moon ball.
Speaker 6 (37:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yeah, maybe he can do more. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
But the guy I saw come through here with the
Jets a couple of weeks ago didn't blow my socks off.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
No, the guy before he got hurt with the Chargers
wlew my socks off. But that was a while ago.
That was game three games into the twenty twenty three season.
Speaker 6 (37:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
He had an interesting point speaking to the media this
week when he got here and he was asked what
went wrong in New York and he said, well, you know,
he took him a while to get up to practice
speed coming off the ACL tear.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
He didn't have a spring, he didn't have training camp.
And he said, and Aaron Rodgers likes it.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
How he likes it, like they never really they never.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Seen trans They weren't on the same page.
Speaker 4 (38:02):
Yeah, And some of the Rogers interviews weren't you know
that's my guy or you know we'll get together.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
So I don't think Wilson's quite so precise, do you know?
Speaker 4 (38:10):
No, definitely not. I mean, I'm sure he likes things
the way he likes sing them, so bend at the
end of his career he can work with.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Okay, if the guy ran the out a little bit off, you.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
Know, I think Rogers is quite eccentric. Eccentric, to be
honest with you. I mean, I'm not sure he's the
easiest one to work and play with others.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Did they do enough? Should they have aimed a little.
Speaker 4 (38:28):
Higher at the deadline? You mean, yeah, the one.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
Thing that Hopkins going for a conditional fifth round or
at least I started scratching my.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Head, like, yeah, no question.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Were they in on that.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
I mean, I'm sure they had to make that call
at least. But I these players also have more say
where they go than they used to. I mean, I
bet Nuke was pretty excited to go to Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
He looks pretty good.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
I'm a little concerned we didn't we scratch the surface
with us with Merrill. But I look at Benton and
I'm not sure that he's a nose. I think he
might be more cam Hay than a nose, especially against
the run, and I kind of wish Monty Adams was
available or you know, maybe grab the nose tackle type,
not Casey hamp didn't, I mean, but like more of
(39:14):
a run stuffer, ability to eat two blocks type of
guy and for interior run and that might be an
off season thing.
Speaker 2 (39:21):
Glad you went there, because I forgot to mention in
our first segment. Brian Robinson limited both days this week,
okay with the hamstring, and he didn't play last week.
But right, you know, when you have Austin Eckler and
you have they ran the ball really.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Well without him. Yeah, Eckler's had a good year too, ran.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
It down the Giant's throat. I just want to talk
about a little more about Daniels because I just don't
want to say obviously he's great and.
Speaker 3 (39:43):
Then talk about the other stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
He made three throws in that Giants game that really
got my attention.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
The first one.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
These were in no particular order, but an eighteen yard
fade TD to McLaren. There was eleven seconds left in
the first half. Yeah, yeah, they had no timeouts, so
it was you're taking one shot here, it's got to
go into the end.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Zone or incomplete. Yeah, right, you can't blow the field goal.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
Field goal if you miss it.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
It was quarters coverage, you recognized. One on one outside
with McLaren against Deontay Banks was really struggling.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
For the Giants.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
Last benched after that.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
Yeah, great throw touchdown, game changer at the end of
the first half. Then at twenty four to sixteen, eight
and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, third
and nine from the Washington thirty six, they go empty
set and the Giants rushed five, and the Commanders kept
(40:36):
Eckler in initially, but then he just bled out and
ran a little shallow cross uncovered. You know sometimes when
you fake your block and the defense forgets about you,
and the Giants did, and he saw him hit him
twenty eight yard ketch him run to the New York
thirty six. They got a field goal out of that.
Then when they were trying to wrap the game up,
second and nine from the Washington thirty one, two five
(40:59):
left in regulation, it's twenty seven to twenty two at
this point, and they let him throw again, Matt and
he found number fourteen Ola Zakaris forty two yard catch
and run. But the trust that that coaching staff showed, Yeah,
that rookie quarterback at that Pa, Hey, we're gonna throw
it here and we're going for the dagger to run the.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Game as opposed to just run it out and we'll
see where the chips fall.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Because they still had the two minute warning and the
Giants still hat all three of their time outs.
Speaker 4 (41:28):
Okay, so if they get to stop there, it's it's
a game.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Yeah, they have a reasonable chance, and commanders just wouldn't
let him. I mean, I don't know what greater endorsement
as a coach you can give your quarterback than to
tell them go win the game and win the game time.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
It's a rookie that you haven't worked with that much.
This isn't you know Ben at the End or you
know all those type of guys. But no said I
think I said to open the show. I mean, he
plays like he's wise beyond his years, and he doesn't
get rattled. He's smart with the football. The accuracy is superb.
He's very gifted in above the neck game below.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
You know, toughed it out against the Bears with the
bad ribs.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
They were wrapping him up with a heating pad every
defensive series. And you watch him the way he comports himself.
He just shakes off whatever happens. He's Yeah, I'm imagining
a guy who exudes leadership all accounts because of his
ability and his attitude.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
At least that's what it looks like on TV.
Speaker 4 (42:24):
Yeah, and that's was the rap on coming out of Alice.
You too, I mean very much. So one little thing.
He's still not great at red zone, and the Steelers
red zone has been phenomenal. I mean, like rare sacks
and takeaways.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
They've had something. They've done a lot of kicking, got
an excellent kicker, but the kicking.
Speaker 4 (42:41):
Game is pretty interesting in this game too. I mean,
like Boz and their kicker, who's also on the injury report.
I mean he's got a hip which might be a
big deal.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Yeah, I don't know if that's a carryover or not.
He didn't know. He didn't work Wednesday, he was limited today.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
They didn't do anything I think with their at anyone
of the practice squad or anything. But so him and
bos are on pay to both set the NFL record
for most field goals in a season. They kick a
lot of field goals.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
So the Steelers, well, and this is a team that
beat the Giants without scoring an offensive touchdown field goals
and the only offensive touchdown they got against the Bears
was to hail Mary.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
But what was that executed well?
Speaker 2 (43:16):
And by the way Taryl Austin said today, Yes, the
Steelers practice Hill Mary defense.
Speaker 4 (43:20):
Okay, there is a there is an art to it.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Anybody right around.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
They're gonna do that on Saturday and they'll be ready
to go on Sunday. That is gonna do it for us.
Thanks to Justin Miller. Justin, I don't know who are.
You did a good job. You can play on my
team at least another week, but we don't want you get.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
In cocky Matt. Great job. Will do it again before
the Ravens game next week.
Speaker 4 (43:46):
Yeah, Bay one. Second half seasons gonna be fun.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
That's gonna do it for us.
Speaker 6 (43:50):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
For Merril Hodge on Mike Pursuda, thanks for finding us,
however and wherever you found us until next week, you
have been listening to Steelers right here on your Steelers
flagship one of two point five DVE and the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Good Night everyone,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDVE Pittsburgh, brought
to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers by
Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and
by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it to wreck from
the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one of two point
five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Persuda and
Matt Williamson with you on yet another Thursday night. We've
got our factor back, Merril Hodge warming up in the bullpen. Merril,
we'll come in throwing fastballs on our next segment, and Matt,
(00:45):
we have got just a great game, yeah to talk about.
I think the Steelers are trending in the right direction.
I don't know if they did enough at the trade deadline,
but they did significant work.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I thought that stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, Camp Sutton's coming fact that's not a trade but
kind of the same effect.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
But yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
I mean a lot of these guys going back right.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Up next to the Washington Commanders at seven and two.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
And I really like watching this team play.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I think it's a good team and I think it's
a great story because I'm old enough to remember going
to RFK back in the day when the ground.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Shook Joe Gibbs.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I mean, that was the epicenter of the NFC, you know,
and the Redskins and the Cowboys are the Redskins, and
the Giants and the Redskins and the Eagles went down
there a couple of times with the Steelers. I mean
it was something to see and to borrow a phrase
from Notre Dame, they are waking up the echoes in Landover, Maryland.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean, I think they're such an interesting team because,
like most people, I didn't think they'd be good this year.
I mean, they had second pick in the draft, new coach.
Their Vegas win total for the year is six and
a half. They already went.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Past it, you know, like they were they went for
last year.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
I think, so the second pick in the draft, I
mean I thought this year was all about get the
Daniel Snyder stink out of the building and try to
start to build a culture, and to their credit, they did.
I think they had that in mind. They went and
signed like Zach Ertz and Austin Eckler and Bobby Wagner
and all these dudes that looked like they were past
(02:16):
their prime. But they've won a lot of games and
their veteran trend setting guys, and they're really well coached
on both sides of the ball. And some of their
deficiencies I thought defensive talent and O line would be
really weaknesses. They haven't been. They're not perfect. I mean,
it's but they're probably the best story in the league.
And I'm really excited about this game, partially because we
(02:38):
didn't get one last week. But you know, this looked
like kind of a whole hum game when the schedule
came up. Oh they'll beat the Commanders, you know. Yeah
about that, I.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Mean, I think it's a great game, you know, to
take the temperature, Yeah, for both teams, but it's not winter.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You're in real trouble.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Right, Both are the probably playoff bound, you know, I think.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
What you have to lose is far less than what
you have to gain if you can win a game.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Such as this.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yeah, I think it would say a lot about both
Whoever wins this team, I think game and then you
really know that, Hey, Benchmark definitely going.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
In the right direction.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Let's lead it off tonight as we always do with
the practice participation report, and it is pretty much good
news for the Steelers. Tight end Michael Pruett didn't practice today,
listed as a knee, but I don't think that's any
big deal. Terrell Edmund's illness has not practiced yet this week,
but Tyler Mattakaevich hamstring a full participant for the second
(03:36):
consecutive day. The clock's ticking on his return from my R.
Nick Herbig limited, but Mike Tomlin was optimistic at the
outset of the week that Herbig would be available. Zach
Frasier full go, he said yesterday. He expects to play.
So things look looking pretty rosy for the Steelers coming
(03:57):
out of the by Even Justin Field's a full participant.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
I'm still waiting for that.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Justin Field's coming in on third and whatever or fourth
and whatever.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah, at whatever part.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Wasn't gonna happen last week. Is the emergency guy, right.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, I think we'll see something.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Corda Patterson, you know, I mean yep, Cam Sutton.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, Patterson a full participant in the second consecutive day
on the Washington side. Now Cleveland Farah, one of their
starting defensive ends, went from limited yesterday to did not
practice today because of the knee.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
He's trending in the wrong direction.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Marshawn Lattimore, the high profile cornerback they acquired at the
trade deadline hamstring, hasn't practiced yet this week.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I don't know what to make of that.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
I would think he's not playing. Maybe they're just team
and gotten in there yet I would think he doesn't play.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
And their left tackle, Cornelius Lucas, hasn't practiced this week
with an ankle. He didn't play last week. He started
five of the eight games he's played in, but they
have been going when he's not available with Brandon Coleman,
one of the rookie draft picks.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Yeah, he's a pretty good player, a pretty good player.
I didn't know if he's gonna be a Gardner tackle
coming out, but he's exceeded my expectation. As as their
whole tire offensive line, he's the left tackle of the future.
I think they're pretty comfortable with him.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
The really amazing thing about this team, and there's so
many things to talk about relative to the command. Really
is I mean, Jane Daniels is lighting it up and
playing with veteran ployees and veteran understanding. He certainly deserves
every prop he gets. But this defense last year Matt
thirty second in the NFL and points per game against.
(05:34):
You know why they were thirty second because there aren't
thirty three teams miserable right right now, they're eleventh at
twenty one, and you look at it, it's been an
instant makeover. Farrell is in his first year with Washington,
form and fourth overall picked by the Raiders. Bobby Wagner,
linebacker many years in Seattle, won with the Rams, first
year with Washington.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Him and Russell Wilson in the same draft last Yeah. Yeah,
I think they don't know each other a little bit.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Dante Fowler, edge guy, third overall by Jacksonville in twenty fifteen.
First year with Washington. Noah Binoghany. He's been either an
outside corner or a nickel. Another former first round pick,
first year with Washington. Jeremy Chin safety, first year with Washington.
Frankie Louvu linebacker, first year with Washington. Armstrong the defensive tackle,
(06:23):
first year doron or No, not, he's more Yeah, dorn
I got him confused here, Dorrence Armstrong, defensive end, first
year with Washington. Then he's throwing a couple of draft picks.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Johnny Newton, Illinois at the defensive line.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Now he's filling in for Jonathan Allen who's on ir
very good player. But Newton does not look out of
place in the league.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
He's finally healthy and he's really good. He should have
went in the first round.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
And you got Mike saint Strill.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Where did he play college?
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Somewhere in the Big ten. He's starting outside now.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
He began as a nickel, but he won't win. Latimore's
healthy out, he'll move back to the nick where he belongs.
But he's been good outside. Yeah, he's a good player.
You know that's counting to nickel.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
That's nine guys out of twelve on the defense that
are new weren't there a year ago. Yeah, they're getting
contribution some six of their draft picks. A couple of
signings on offense, including uh Tyler Battish at the center
who's anchoring the line.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
I mean, it's a totally different. It's totally different organization,
from ownership down to the players, to the quarterback, to
the feeling to the fans.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I didn't expect it to come together.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
This quit me either. And you have to give Quinn
a lot of credit to I mean, he got it.
He's the defensive minded guy. He's getting a lot out
of that group you mentioned. I also like Martin the
kid from Illinois a year ago too. He's a safety
that that's on that defense. Yeah, we didn't mention the guys.
I'm talking about freshman year guys. There's a bunch of
second year guys too, absolutely right. It's the future is
(07:51):
pretty bright. Yeah, and I think they're coming together, and
I wonder clearly this is a group that is going
to continue to improve. I would think just familiarity.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
You don't bring this many new guys in and all
of a sudden it's as good as it's going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Right, And they had some struggles early in the season,
you know, the defense looked like a bunch of new guys.
And now again there's leadership from coaches. Wagner's the been
around the block and all that type of guy too.
And as you kept laying out a lot of high
predigree guys you know that are savior season but they
have their savior careers. But you've got a lot of talent,
you know, Fowler and those type of guys.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And uh, you know, I wonder what's going through the
mind of wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Terry McLaurin. Has been a really good player on really bad.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Teams with really bad quarterbacks for a long time, and
now all of a sudden.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
This is what the NFL is all about.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Clubs have parted and the sun's coming down and shining
on him. Yeah, he's catching deep ball touchdowns and getting
in people's faces and I really like him leading with
fire and brimstone.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
They got a lot of positives they.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Do, and it's a lot of just attitude and growing
confidence and everybody's growing up together. And it really starts
with the quarterback too. I mean, he's wise beyond his years.
I mean he's really poised, great accuracy. We know he's
a tremendous athlete, but like early in the season, anytime
he felt pressure, he just ran great. I'm sure that's
(09:16):
what they told him and it worked. Now he fields
through it. He's fine. You know, nothing's too big for him.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, the two things I noticed about him in the
Giants game, Washington's most recent game. He runs when he should,
not necessarily out of desperation.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And when there's an open guy, he doesn't miss him.
He throws the open guy the football.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Yeah, and not even just good enough to catch it,
but in stride or on the right shoulder, I mean,
like really distributes the ball.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Well.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, there's a lot to talk about with the Commanders,
and we will dive deep with Meryl Hodge when we
come back from the break. As we are just getting
started here. Steelers Preview was brought to you in part
by the Steelers Pro Shop. Gear up with the latest
game day necessities at the Official Steelers Pro Shops. Get
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(10:08):
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Visit one of the official Steelers Pro shops. Those are
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shop dot Steelers dot com. It is Merrill Hodge time
when we come back, so keep it here with Matt
(10:28):
Williamson on Mike PURSUITA. This is Steelers Preview right here
on your Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE
and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Welcome back Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson, getting you ready
for the Steelers and the Washington Commanders, or as we'd
like to say here in the Western Pennsylvania area, the
Washington Mersham Vanders.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Gotta pronounce it the right way Tohington.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I like that, Washington.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Time Now to welcome our feature back to the program.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That voice you just heard was none other than Meryl
Hodge Merrill, how are you?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I'm excited for this game for two reasons.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
One I think it's a great matchup and two it's
at one o'clock on a Sunday.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
I can't never, never argue on a one o'clock on
a Sunday.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
And I actually I agree with you.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
I think this is maybe one of the key matchups
on Sunday, no matter what time you know they kick
it off. To be honest with you, I just I
think the Commanders are and you know probably I'm sure
Steve Nation, you know most people probably don't know much.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
About them, you know, and other than they haven't.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Been very good for a long time. And I know
they probably know well Jayden Daniels is there. But the
offense that they've run, I mean, what what I like
about it from a stupid perspective is they get.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
They get experience and offense they're going.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
To see two times here and you know, or so
thirty days or so with the Ravens. You know, they
run a very similar type offensive quarterback brings that element
of issues to your defense, and it's going to be
the best challenge they've had all season from a defensive perspective.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah, it's interesting choice of words challenge because I asked
Landon Roberts, the Steelers linebacker, this week, about what kind
of challenges the Washington offense presents, and he said every one.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Part of his.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Argument was every running play has some kind of quarterback
action attached to it, so you always got to be
worried about that, and then you got a passing game
that is explosive and productive.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
Yeah, well, well let's start the running game, because that's
the one thing that actually is the big problem. If
they run the football on the Steelers in the way
they have done with a lot of teams. It just
makes it hard to defend their pa asking attack, you know,
because you're so caught up and you know this.
Speaker 6 (13:03):
This is why the running game is such a.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Critical component of being successful in controlling the tempo in
the NFL, is that once a defense is reduced to
taking somebody else and bring him out of coverage and
going into the box to help out, that limits what
they can do on the back end coverage wise. So
from a calling perspective, that makes it easier for you. Well,
they only do AARB now. They used to be ABC
(13:27):
or D.
Speaker 6 (13:28):
Now they're going to do a B.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
That's why throwing the football just it's just so much
more effective. One you can paralyze the defense and you
can get them so caught up and trying to stop
your run. And to just point about the problem with
the running attack and you'll see it. Actually did a
playbook for the Steelers where they actually don't think I've
ever seen this thing. I know it's probably happened before,
(13:50):
I just don't remember seeing it. They take the one
back and they motion him out.
Speaker 6 (13:55):
Like he's he's.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Heading out, but just before he gets past, like the
out side of the tackle. They snap the ball and
he comes back across.
Speaker 6 (14:03):
And they hand it off to him, and then they pull.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
Two guys guard tackle and they got a sweep look
to the right. Well, because the quarterback can run two
you now have to stay just on the backside because
if you vacate that, he's going to keep.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
It and run.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
It's an option for him. And they do that, so
they attack you laterally. You know, they make a sweep
on one play aside and a power on the other side,
and you have to defend both. You don't know who's
going to get the wall, and then they run you know,
inside zone, outside zone, strong side, week side. Just a
whole host of things that they do that are and
(14:39):
they do it very well too. It isn't like you
can pick one and say, well, if we.
Speaker 6 (14:42):
Stop, that will be good. You got a whole.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Host of things that you got to deal with. Then
that's for first and foremost their biggest concern, and the
thing that they've got to do a very good job
of is minimizing.
Speaker 6 (14:55):
The success in the running game and.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Keeping them in long yardage situations. And as soon as
I say that, the first thing pops in my head is,
now you got the quarterback who can run and throw
and he gets first downs. Rather it's long yardis are
short yardage in the passing games. It's It's a tough one, man,
it's a tough one. But you know, it's a great
(15:19):
challenge for this defense and they they're equipped to handle it.
It's just gonna take their best, their best defensive performance
to this point.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Mayor before the season started, I looked at Washington and
you know, they weren't very good in recent years. As
you mentioned, they'd second pick in the draft. And thought, man,
this seems a work in progress, to be kind, and
even the old line, it was not a lot of
brand name guys. I thought that would be a weakness.
And you mentioned the scheme and they pull a lot
of linemen. But I think their offensive line has been
really good and really fun to watch. They're nasty too.
Speaker 6 (15:55):
Yeah, I completely agree. You don't listen.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
They run with a purpose, They had all the things
I mentioned.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
You can't do that.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
Well, let's I'm gonna back up a little bit. Kingsbury
is their offensive coordinator. He's the passing coordinator. And what
I what, I really respect what he has done. I remember,
I don't know if you guys remember when the Steels
went to play Arizona when he was the head coach's
first year and uh, the Steelers had Duck Hodges and
they beat them. Okay, when you watched his offense, this
(16:27):
is his running attack.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Probably coach anymore.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
Huh yeah, well no, somebody learned.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
You know, I think he.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Was a little joke. You know, you listen to Duck Hodges.
You can't do this anymore, just getting Duck that we're listening.
That was the fun year that went.
Speaker 6 (16:45):
Right over my head.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
But a good call by you of calling me out
on that. Anyway, going back to you'll get ready for
that game. It's like, gosh, dang, he thinks this is college.
I mean everything they did was college or passing. Well,
they had two runs and I'm not joking.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
It was like an inside zone and a draw and
they use that maybe occasionally.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
I'm like, they got no chance.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
Of winning in this league being like that.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
Now he's a coordinator, even though he's not the running coordinator,
and you have to help me with it's the course
he used to be the head coach of the Chargers.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
Gosh darn it.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Oh yeah, anyway, he's the often he's the running coordinator
and he's really good. Yes, I mean they just they're
both really good and they work together.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
You know, you got one.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Guy who's really he truly understands the running game and
he does. It's such such a good job. And then
they throw off of that, you know, in ways that
are it's it's not intermediate in short if they're explosive.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
I mean they attack you vertically in the.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
In the passing game, and it's very complete too as well.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
The quarterback, as young as he is, processes things. You
know what.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Anthony Lynn whos bugging is making me crazy.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Yeah, Anthony Lynn is the running coordinator. But what Jane
Daniels was really good at I don't know. I knew
him when he went Arizona State.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
I got to know him. Marvin Lewis was there on with.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Oh gosh, darn it.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
And Anthony Lynn any any yeah, Duchhogs and it was
all over the place. I mean, I only worked with
you for like ten years. Come on, man, he was Arizona.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
State's head coach. Okay, you know marvle Lewis was on there.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Jesus is like the show.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
That won't anyway, And so I didn't I knew in
there and the kid just just to know the kid
when he first got into.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
College and how he developed is really you know.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
The maturation of a of a kid who went from man,
if he didn't see something, he was running. I mean,
that's just how it was. That he's the first guy
went open he was running to evolve into a Heisman
Trophy winner.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
But listen, they give.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
That that doesn't mean you're a good a good quarterback
by any strets of imagination.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
But he was.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Really it became a really good process.
Speaker 6 (19:11):
Or really good from the pocket.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
And when I say processor, like you get a five
step drop.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
You know he's seeing things as he's dropping back.
Speaker 5 (19:19):
Like this is what happens when kids from Carl go
from college to the NFL.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Is they think they can't get to the top of
their drop and have things. You know, they start reading things.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
Man, you better be reading things as you're moving up
the pocket. You know you're second that ball snapped.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
You know you're as you.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
Take even in the shotgun two three steps. You've got
to be able to process things and know where that
ball possibly should be going. And he does a really
job of that. It really almost like CJ. Stroud type,
Joe Burrow type, So he's not and he's getting better too.
So you know, it's halfway through the season, so you're
getting a much better Jayden Daniels now than you would
(19:55):
have gotten the first four weeks of the season.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
And he was pretty incredible there.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
But the passing game is is a concern on the
back end from all phases as well.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
So so it's.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
A really diverse offense.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
It is.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
It is fun to watch, actually it is really. I
think here's what I think the best offenses in football are.
I think that Detroit has the best offense. The Ravens
have the second best, Kansas City maybe third, and Commanders
maybe fourth. From offensive overall phases and schemes and things
(20:34):
that you've got to deal with, and they're good at.
And you know, I remember I learned this early in
my career member Chuck Noll, you know, he was he
was saying, a three there's three thirds to a football team,
and you got to win two of the two of
the thirds. Every Sunday special teams is a guarantee we're.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
Gonna win that. We gotta win that, and then offensive defense,
we got to win one of those.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
We got a chance. Then if you go into your
offense or defense, you have different phases, and the more
phases you have, the better chance you haven't winning because
they can't take away them all, you know, Like you
know the Steelers, that would be interesting. It would be
interesting to be in there defensive game plan meeting and
seeing what they think is the biggest concern, what you
(21:15):
really have to be worried about. Now. I do believe
it's going to be the running game and the way
they go about it, because you can't utilize that, you're
going to be in trouble and and they do so
many different things then you got to almost figure you
know that particular. But the end, they just got to
win the line of scrimmage at the end of the day.
From a running game perspective, and great penetration make it disruptive,
(21:37):
but they do such a good job of blocking and
their misdirection is so good that it's it's it's just
a hard it's a hard ask. Merril.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
I'm glad you got back to the running game because
that's been gnawing at me since they last played against
the New York Football Giants. You look at the stat
sheet and I think the numbers now mean something because
we're at mid season and there's a there's a big
enough sample size. Steelers are the fourth in the NFL
and run defense, averaging ninety point five yards a game
against on the ground. I thought that Giants game was
(22:06):
a really subpar performance, particularly the way the nickel defense got.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
And run on starting to be a trend.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
You know, that's not the first time.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
To Matt's point, and that's they're supposed to be able
to play nickel and cover the run or the pass
thanks to the speed of Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson.
But I go into this game and you tell me
how how well Washington runs the ball, and I hear you,
I'm not sure the Steelers can stop it.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
That's a question to me.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I mean, even for this game or Ravens, would you
consider leaving a Landon Roberts in the nickel.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Well, he's great against the run.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
Yeah, no, that's not a bad Listen and personnel, Listen,
the Steelers have been able to come up with different
types of packages. You know, they played the Ravens a
lot of times, you know, with five linebackers and three
dyn lineman. You know, a lot of time fish of
the personnel, it's on them.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
I don't think that that's a mistake.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
As he is a man, he's a he's a run dude,
a linebacker, he's he knows how to play the run.
He got great instincts, and he tackles and he hits.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
I wouldn't be surprised, but that whatsoever, you know.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
But going to your just kind of build on that
giant thing that was concerning is.
Speaker 6 (23:21):
They do a little bit of what.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
The commanders do from a misdirection aspect and a dual
astic and the quarterback can run too.
Speaker 6 (23:31):
It's not like he's not like Jay Daniels, but.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
He's a threat.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
And and they actually were doing some things not as
high a quality, but similar, and they did not handle
it well to your point, which you can look at
that two ways, you know.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
I go back to the you know never Undress is
pretty good at this stuff too though for the Giants.
Say that again, Dave Ball's pretty good at this stuff
too though for the Giants, you know, and they have
a good right quarterback.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
You know, it wasn't what yeah, what I'm saying is
having experienced that and went through it might have helped
them be better to be prepared for it, is what
I'm getting asked. You know, That's what I'm saying. The
more you see it, you know, the bitter you're going
to get.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
At it, you know.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
So even though they didn't handle it well, I know,
it's just I think I think it's a very fair
way to think. Is like, man, I don't think they
can handle this one, because it's even better. But after
going through it, you learned some mistakes and you survived
them with a win, and you can button that up
and clean up and learn on it and do some
different things to maybe be a little more effective against
(24:36):
the Commanders.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
You know what really got my attention in that Commander's
game against the Giants was they did not have Brian
Robinson available their number one running back. They still ran
it thirty eight times and through it twenty two.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
And they protected while that Giant mass protected.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Well.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Yeah, that to Matt's point about the line, nobody's talking
about those good group.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
They've only really had one injury.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
They've had some in and out at left tackle, but
everybody else has played.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
They went to rookie to play more and more.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
The entirety of the season, and they got it going on. Offensively, man,
they're they're you said it. They are fun to watch.
I saw him play the Bears, some play the Bears,
and I saw him play the Giants, and of course
the Bears game was the one that ended in that
crazy hill.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Mary.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
But this looks like a team that has decided it
likes winning better than losing.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And we'll go.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
There's a lot of guys, a lot of new faces,
and it looks like it's all coming together and they're
playing complimentary ball and they got momentum and I think
they're a real handful.
Speaker 6 (25:39):
Well.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
The other thing that's most disturbing, you know, just getting
ready for this game, is that they're learning how to.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Win and they believe they can win. That's a big deal.
Speaker 5 (25:48):
Too, you know, when when you have ways, I mean
some very effective ways that are some of the best
in football and they do it really well, that's a.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
That's a big buzzsaw. You know that the students are
doing some.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Things better too, you know from an offensive perspective that
actually I think create some problems for the commander of defense.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
They you know, they don't play I did a vulnerable
in the running game in.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
Some areas and they're very susceptible to getting paralyzed in
the box with hard run action.
Speaker 6 (26:19):
They can they can sneak around there and they can.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Make mistakes and you can get some explosive plays on
these guys. You know, that's all they did. I mean,
and actually that is that is why they're the best.
That's why Russell Wilson played so wils because he's a
great compliment of that. That's where he is at his
forte that's his very best I.
Speaker 6 (26:40):
Think, you know, that's when they went through wolves in Seattle.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
When he did that, that's when they lost that that
you know, they just weren't as good as team anymore,
and he wasn't as effective a quarterback.
Speaker 6 (26:49):
But he's very effective in this way.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
And I think they can create some points and big
plays and they post some problems to the command or
defense and some of the things that they are not
very good at.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
You know, they're susceptible in some areas. The Steelers do
very well.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
So this isn't you know, commander offense and't playing for
sixty minutes. You know that the longer the Steeler offense
can play, the better off they'll be.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
You know, in winning this game, that'd.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Be part of the battle, is that they can just
control the tempo and with the line, I mean when
the time possession and then and obviously get production, score points,
shift field constantly throughout the whole game will be the
objective for your offense.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
That kind of a bigger picture question for you. Back
to the Steeler defense is I'm a little shocked how
vanilla they are. I don't love that word. But a lot,
a lot, a lot of cover three, very little blitz,
very little twisting and stunting. You know, Minka is not
doing robber stuff as much anymore. You don't see much
cover too like Tarta.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Lawston, by the way, said he's just fine with that.
Today he said he's nine nine percent of the time
nobody tries to d post.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
And that's I get I get him. I'm not saying,
don't take.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
That trade of making not being a big splash play
guy for what he's preventing.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Get that. But my point is just it's become much
more of an execution based defense than scheme in a
big way, more than maybe any defense in the league.
Can you live that way?
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Well, so if they've been had to live that way
here now here's why I think you can live that.
Speaker 5 (28:24):
So let me let me just kind of throw the
counter to that you got with your good heage thrushers.
That's what allows you to kind of you know, they're
just like you know, yeah, from you know, when you
start bulitzing and stunting and twists, and I'm just gonna
tell you from an offensive perspective, how we used to
look at that is let them blitzes and we're going
(28:45):
to sting them get let them twist and stunt because
somebody is gonna miss their gap and wear out the game.
So you know, there's that part of it to man
that I that I can see from an offensive perspective
of why you wouldn't want to see that defensively, you know, particular.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Against Daniels and Lamar are coming up. I mean I
get that they'll sleep, you know. I just think in general,
I'm a little shocked how vanilla they are.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Yeah, and so you know, you we're gonna give up
some plays. I mean, everybody's gonna do that.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
There's nobody that you play long enough in this league're
gonna give a plays out care.
Speaker 6 (29:20):
I get the defenses, but.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Some of those other things that you just mentioned you know, listen,
they just these coaches are with these guys all the time,
and people just think he blitzed the blitz. Okay, Blitzing
is just like a good passing game, the timing and
disguise that goes along with that.
Speaker 6 (29:39):
I mean that, I think.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
People appreciate how hard that is, you.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
Know, if you're really gonna be good at it.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
You know, I obviously teams blitz and they're like, oh
my gosh, she's half a day late, and we want
he might might as well play ten people based on
what he did. Or you hit a gap wrong your time.
It's just you.
Speaker 6 (29:56):
Know, I go to the twisting and stunning, or you
slant your.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
Line one way, you scrape the other way and some
of it gets picked on the scrape and out the
gate you go. So if you can play like that
without you know, creating some vulnerabilities to a defense where
the stakes could happen and you won't be effective, or
they when they pick it up and nail you, uh
(30:19):
and Tom forced into that, you know, like I like, look,
I'll give you a team that's kind of forced into that,
but they are really the Lions defense. After Lucid Hutchinson.
You know, they don't get quite as many sacks and
twice as many pressures, and but man, it actually is
a defense. They are they're still championship style defense, but
(30:39):
they've had to change a little bit that they've had
to bring. Blitz is what they haven't had to in
the past. Pretty good at when they do it, but
they don't do it.
Speaker 6 (30:48):
Grass.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
But to just give you some light, some maybe some
thought to that, you know, which I agree with you
because that used you know, they've been their reputation has
been there.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
It's Wutzberg. But because they come and they're gonna.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Come and they just haven't had to do that, or
they feel like they're in a position to that after
the bye week, you never knows. The bye week to
me is a great time to self evaluate, really good
time to self evaluate and come out and break some tendencies
that you have that you developed that they're expected.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
By the way, Meryl, not to cut you off, but
I self evaluated our show here during the bye week,
and we are doing fantastic.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
I think we have some work to do.
Speaker 6 (31:31):
Man. I like this team. Man, I like we can't
we can't lose. Man, We're so good.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Don't start settling pursuit of we can be better right
around the corner. Second half of the seasons will be
tougher in the first.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Like the chief just keep winning. But we know we
got more in the time.
Speaker 4 (31:47):
I wish we had done more of the trade that.
Speaker 6 (31:53):
I love it, so you know, you know, bye week
comes to a really good time from us.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
I think a breaking tendency stuff and you do some
things that might you know, they're clear the commanders.
Speaker 6 (32:06):
You try this every week, but I.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
Think we have two weeks you can do a better
job of it, doing some things that might keep the
commanders or take them off off guard in this one
on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Meryl, great stuff. It is the unofficial second half of
the season. These games are getting bigger, the intensity is
ratcheting up. So keep bringing it. Next week when we
get ready for Steelers Ravens.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
Oh my gosh, get ready boy.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
I love it, man, I was good talking to you.
You're the best.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
That was Meryl Hodge. Are Factor back with Matt Williamson
on my pursuit of This is Steelers Preview right here
on your Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE
and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
We're fine at the deadline. We didn't need to make
a tree upgrade audio network.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Back to the Steelers preview show DV.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Welcome back, Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson with you for
segment number three. We needed a couple of minutes to
catch our breath after the Meryl segment. Is always in
Matt a shot across the bow of our guy.
Speaker 4 (33:16):
There's only three of us, and I didn't want to
call you out on the air, Rade.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
But he's got to push. He's got three screens.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Of valuable member valuable member over there. But you're always
looking to get better to trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
You gotta let the young guys develop many experienced they
get confidence. And I got to personally apologize to Duck Hodges.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
You're a on him too.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
I was out there, you know our intensities up for
this Washington game, Duck, if you're listening, I was at
that game.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
That was there was a.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Steeler's takeover in Arizona from the fans, and they were
winning games somehow. And that was a fun season, even
though it didn't ultimately get him to the playoffs. Season,
absolutely it was entertaining time now for what to expect
segment that's brought to you by Brian Patten, and I
remember being in the airport flying home the next day
(34:11):
and people were wearing ducks on their head, duck hats shirts.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
I remember that's for a minute.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
What to Expect is brought to you by Brian Patten
and associates. It's all about the benefits, Matt. I'm going
to go to thirty thousand feet for what to expect,
since we're coming out of a break, and since I
thought Merril did a pretty good job detailing the nuances
of this game. But what I expect not just in
this game, but in the remaining games as a as
(34:39):
a group, as a whole. I think Cam Sutton is
going to be the most impactful addition. I think Mike
Williams can help them. Williams all I'm expecting from Mike
Williams convert an occasional third down at a critical point
score the odd touchdown when you really need run under
a moon ball and flip the field. I'm not expecting
(35:01):
him to catch eight balls for one hundred and thirty
yards every game.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
No, No, that ain't gonna happens.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Fair.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
I think Preston Smith just giving them eighteen to twenty
snaps a game, Oh yeah, will help, and maybe particularly
in this one, because these guys, these edge guys are
going to tire chasing Jayden Daniels all over the field.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
And Herb's not one hundred percent, but who knows.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
You know, you know they were down in that in
that Giants game on the play where Beanie Bishop sealed
it with an interception, they had Jeremiah Moon and ide
Oginjada rushing.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Thus the trade deadline.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Yeah, I mean Watt and high Smith were both out
of the game.
Speaker 4 (35:37):
You played ninety percent of snaps week after a week,
it's too much.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Tarl Austin, the defensive coordinator, talked about that today, said,
those guys play till they can't and then when they
come out, they come out. It's not like they're on
a pitch count or anything or yeah. Try, Okay, if
TJ only plays eighty percent of snaps will be better.
So we'll take him out now if he can go.
He goes, same with high Smith.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
But it's nice that four of them though.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah, I think that might change a little bit for
this game. Again, just because the exertion, it's going to
require chasing Daniels around is going to be profound.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
I don't think it's an accident either that the two
guys you traded for are big for their position. They're big,
physical guys that are.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Standing next to what, I don't know what they list
them at, but it ain't enough.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
He's he does not look like Herbie. Yeah, I'll say that.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Yeah, it's almost he looks like when Connor Hayward stands
next to Darnel Washington, it's like, wow, those guys play
the same position.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Yeah, Like it doesn't compute.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
He looks a lot more like Leal than he does. Yeah,
the three that have been playing, you know, but he's
see arms.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
He seemed to be fired up to be here.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
You know.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
They can ensure maybe that that position doesn't become this
year's inside linebacker.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Right, you're gonna be on the scrap heap, you know.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
But I still think Calvin Austin, the third, is the
guy that if there's going to be a Russell Wilson
igniting effect in terms of activating an existing receiver a
hold over, I think Austin's the guy.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Okay, I really like the recent glimpses, you know, and
I loved them coming out of school. I think he's
a developed rout runner. So you don't think his role
is gonna diminish necessarily.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
No, I don't.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I think Williams will play at the expense of Jefferson, Okay,
and it'll be you know, the occasional moon ball.
Speaker 6 (37:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yeah, maybe he can do more. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
But the guy I saw come through here with the
Jets a couple of weeks ago didn't blow my socks off.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
No, the guy before he got hurt with the Chargers
wlew my socks off. But that was a while ago.
That was game three games into the twenty twenty three season.
Speaker 6 (37:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
He had an interesting point speaking to the media this
week when he got here and he was asked what
went wrong in New York and he said, well, you know,
he took him a while to get up to practice
speed coming off the ACL tear.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
He didn't have a spring, he didn't have training camp.
And he said, and Aaron Rodgers likes it.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
How he likes it, like they never really they never.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Seen trans They weren't on the same page.
Speaker 4 (38:02):
Yeah, And some of the Rogers interviews weren't you know
that's my guy or you know we'll get together.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
So I don't think Wilson's quite so precise, do you know?
Speaker 4 (38:10):
No, definitely not. I mean, I'm sure he likes things
the way he likes sing them, so bend at the
end of his career he can work with.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Okay, if the guy ran the out a little bit off, you.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
Know, I think Rogers is quite eccentric. Eccentric, to be
honest with you. I mean, I'm not sure he's the
easiest one to work and play with others.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Did they do enough? Should they have aimed a little.
Speaker 4 (38:28):
Higher at the deadline? You mean, yeah, the one.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
Thing that Hopkins going for a conditional fifth round or
at least I started scratching my.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Head, like, yeah, no question.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Were they in on that.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
I mean, I'm sure they had to make that call
at least. But I these players also have more say
where they go than they used to. I mean, I
bet Nuke was pretty excited to go to Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
He looks pretty good.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
I'm a little concerned we didn't we scratch the surface
with us with Merrill. But I look at Benton and
I'm not sure that he's a nose. I think he
might be more cam Hay than a nose, especially against
the run, and I kind of wish Monty Adams was
available or you know, maybe grab the nose tackle type,
not Casey hamp didn't, I mean, but like more of
(39:14):
a run stuffer, ability to eat two blocks type of
guy and for interior run and that might be an
off season thing.
Speaker 2 (39:21):
Glad you went there, because I forgot to mention in
our first segment. Brian Robinson limited both days this week,
okay with the hamstring, and he didn't play last week.
But right, you know, when you have Austin Eckler and
you have they ran the ball really.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Well without him. Yeah, Eckler's had a good year too, ran.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
It down the Giant's throat. I just want to talk
about a little more about Daniels because I just don't
want to say obviously he's great and.
Speaker 3 (39:43):
Then talk about the other stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
He made three throws in that Giants game that really
got my attention.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
The first one.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
These were in no particular order, but an eighteen yard
fade TD to McLaren. There was eleven seconds left in
the first half. Yeah, yeah, they had no timeouts, so
it was you're taking one shot here, it's got to
go into the end.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Zone or incomplete. Yeah, right, you can't blow the field goal.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
Field goal if you miss it.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
It was quarters coverage, you recognized. One on one outside
with McLaren against Deontay Banks was really struggling.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
For the Giants.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
Last benched after that.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
Yeah, great throw touchdown, game changer at the end of
the first half. Then at twenty four to sixteen, eight
and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, third
and nine from the Washington thirty six, they go empty
set and the Giants rushed five, and the Commanders kept
(40:36):
Eckler in initially, but then he just bled out and
ran a little shallow cross uncovered. You know sometimes when
you fake your block and the defense forgets about you,
and the Giants did, and he saw him hit him
twenty eight yard ketch him run to the New York
thirty six. They got a field goal out of that.
Then when they were trying to wrap the game up,
second and nine from the Washington thirty one, two five
(40:59):
left in regulation, it's twenty seven to twenty two at
this point, and they let him throw again, Matt and
he found number fourteen Ola Zakaris forty two yard catch
and run. But the trust that that coaching staff showed, Yeah,
that rookie quarterback at that Pa, Hey, we're gonna throw
it here and we're going for the dagger to run the.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Game as opposed to just run it out and we'll
see where the chips fall.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Because they still had the two minute warning and the
Giants still hat all three of their time outs.
Speaker 4 (41:28):
Okay, so if they get to stop there, it's it's
a game.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Yeah, they have a reasonable chance, and commanders just wouldn't
let him. I mean, I don't know what greater endorsement
as a coach you can give your quarterback than to
tell them go win the game and win the game time.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
It's a rookie that you haven't worked with that much.
This isn't you know Ben at the End or you
know all those type of guys. But no said I
think I said to open the show. I mean, he
plays like he's wise beyond his years, and he doesn't
get rattled. He's smart with the football. The accuracy is superb.
He's very gifted in above the neck game below.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
You know, toughed it out against the Bears with the
bad ribs.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
They were wrapping him up with a heating pad every
defensive series. And you watch him the way he comports himself.
He just shakes off whatever happens. He's Yeah, I'm imagining
a guy who exudes leadership all accounts because of his
ability and his attitude.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
At least that's what it looks like on TV.
Speaker 4 (42:24):
Yeah, and that's was the rap on coming out of Alice.
You too, I mean very much. So one little thing.
He's still not great at red zone, and the Steelers
red zone has been phenomenal. I mean, like rare sacks
and takeaways.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
They've had something. They've done a lot of kicking, got
an excellent kicker, but the kicking.
Speaker 4 (42:41):
Game is pretty interesting in this game too. I mean,
like Boz and their kicker, who's also on the injury report.
I mean he's got a hip which might be a
big deal.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Yeah, I don't know if that's a carryover or not.
He didn't know. He didn't work Wednesday, he was limited today.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
They didn't do anything I think with their at anyone
of the practice squad or anything. But so him and
bos are on pay to both set the NFL record
for most field goals in a season. They kick a
lot of field goals.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
So the Steelers, well, and this is a team that
beat the Giants without scoring an offensive touchdown field goals
and the only offensive touchdown they got against the Bears
was to hail Mary.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
But what was that executed well?
Speaker 2 (43:16):
And by the way Taryl Austin said today, Yes, the
Steelers practice Hill Mary defense.
Speaker 4 (43:20):
Okay, there is a there is an art to it.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Anybody right around.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
They're gonna do that on Saturday and they'll be ready
to go on Sunday. That is gonna do it for us.
Thanks to Justin Miller. Justin, I don't know who are.
You did a good job. You can play on my
team at least another week, but we don't want you get.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
In cocky Matt. Great job. Will do it again before
the Ravens game next week.
Speaker 4 (43:46):
Yeah, Bay one. Second half seasons gonna be fun.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
That's gonna do it for us.
Speaker 6 (43:50):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
For Merril Hodge on Mike Pursuda, thanks for finding us,
however and wherever you found us until next week, you
have been listening to Steelers right here on your Steelers
flagship one of two point five DVE and the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Good Night everyone,
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