October 21, 2025 • 27 mins
Ed Troup and Jacob Recht debate how the Steelers have gotten to four wins on the season via what’s worked for them and why they’ve suffered two losses given what hasn’t worked.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Aaron Rodgers was drafted and played eighteen seasons with the
Green Bay Packers, going one fifty seventy nine and one
in two hundred and thirty games with the pack Rogers
also threw for just over fifty nine thousand yards a
franchise record four hundred and seventy five touchdown passes, with
a Super Bowl win and MVP performance against the Steelers
in twenty eleven. A Hall of Fame career with the
(00:25):
Packers for sure. Welcome to another edition of the Steelers
Standard here on Steelers Nation Radio and the Steelers Audio Network.
I am at Troop and joining me is Jacob Brect.
Jacob Rogers also made a Green Bay record ten time
Pro Bowls and was NFL MVP four times with Green
Bay twenty eleven, twenty fourteen, twenty twenty, and twenty eleven.
On Sunday Night, he will face his former team where
(00:47):
he had all that success earlier in his career.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, I mean he is a a top ten, if
not top five, depending on how you view it, quarterback
of all time. He is one of the most impressive
to ever play that position. You could honestly say he's
one of the greatest players to ever play in the NFL,
regardless of regardless of the quarterback position. He's the only
four time I'm sorry, he's the second four time NFL
(01:12):
MVP only alongside Peyton Manning. He's got a Super Bowl
Championship to boot. He made his career in Green Bay.
His time in New York was cut short, of course,
But besides that, I mean, he is one of the
most impressive guys to ever play that position or ever
put on an NFL jersey and take the field. And
(01:35):
it's ironic that he didn't get the chance to play
his former team when he was in New York.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
But he does have that chance now.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
And so that's why the NFL slated this game for
Sunday Night Football because it's a it's a.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Historic matchup that we're about to see.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Aaron Rodgers has beaten every NFL team except the Green
Bay Packers. He has not faced them before when he
was in New York for the two years they did
not play the Packers when he was healthy to play
against his former team, So this is his first time
against Green Bay. So you sure and heck know that
that's on the back of his mind. Sure going into
this week and Matt Laferre, the head coach for Green Bay,
(02:14):
was quoted yesterday in his weekly press conference by saying,
we know Aaron Rodgers plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, obviously,
but this game is about the Steelers, not about Aaron Rodgers.
So they're already in Green Bay doing what they should
be doing, right, Jacob playing it off, saying, look, this
is just another game against the Steelers, but it's not
another game, especially for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
No, it's not.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I mean, it's not a different It's not a normal
game either for the Packers. Despite although they're saying, we
know that the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay
wasn't plenty. You remember, he's the guy who really drove
Mike McCarthy out of there and forced him to move
on to Dallas as the head coach. Then when they
brought a Matt Lafleur and they drafted Jordan Love, Aaron
(02:54):
Rodgers wasn't happy with either of those and the franchise
opted to go in the other direction to go with
the young guys, a young head coach and the young quarterback,
which led to Aaron Rodgers until he even move on
to New York. So despite what Matt lcflore is saying,
and I agree with you, he's making all the right
comments saying it's not you know, you guys the media
(03:15):
are making it out to be making more than it is.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I do know that.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Jordan Love, who was playing underneath Aaron Rodgers for the
first what year or two of his career, definitely has
some extra motivation to take on the guy that held
the mantle of that position for as you said, what
eighteen years or sixteen years something like that, Yeah, in
in Green Bay. So there's definitely even though that they're
(03:43):
saying it's not a big deal, we all know how
big of a deal this matchup is.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Again just to go over those numbers once again for
Rogers during his career in Green Bay, eighteen games, one
hundred and fifty wins in two hundred and thirty games,
and over fifty nine thousand yards pass with four hundred
and seventy five touchdown. He had the Super Bowl win
and the MVP against the Steelers in twenty eleven.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
We know about that very well. Obviously, a Hall.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Of Fame career and a ten time Pro bowler with
Green Bay. That is an all time Green Bay record
as well for a player with the most Pro Bowls,
And that says a lot too if you think back
of the history between right Farv and everyone else that's
played in Green Bay, Farv bart Starr both guys won
of Bartstar won two Bartsar one also NFL championships before
(04:27):
that the Super Bowl era began. But yeah, a historic
franchise with historic quarterbacks in Green Bay right now only
one of two teams in the NFL with one loss,
them and the Indianapolis Colts. Now they do have that
tie against the Cowboys from earlier this season. And one
other note on Rogers during his time in Green Bay,
as I said, NFL MVP four times twenty eleven, twenty fourteen,
(04:49):
the COVID year of twenty twenty and twenty twenty one
before he left Green Bay went to New York. We
know the story with the Jets, got hurt his first
year in the first game, didn't play that whole first
season with the Jets, and then his second year prior
to coming here was fifty to fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Right.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I mean, he didn't put up horrible numbers.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
We also didn't put up the type of numbers he's
put up, so far through this season.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
With the Steelers, and you look at the records too.
I mean, I know he's at four and two right
now and it was a bad loss to stuff for
on Thursday Night, but he is one went away from
tying his season total wins that he got to last year,
and it's only what we're entering the eighth week of
the season.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Let's move to our first segment, a new segment, Jacob,
I know you're excited Wat's working and What's not? And
this has nothing to do with TJ. Watt. We're just
taking a play on his name, Watt. What's working and
what's not through seven weeks, Let's go back and forth
between the two categories. We'll start with Wat's working and
it's Aaron Rodgers. We just talked about him here at
the top of the show to open things up. At
(05:49):
age forty one, Rogers is a little bit of a
I don't want to say a brand news start to
his career, right because he didn't really fall off just
those two years that we mentioned with the Jets struggle
in that second year, injured for that first but for
the most part, he's playing back to kind of where
he was with Green Bay. Maybe not at that MVP
status of those four seasons in a row that he had.
(06:10):
But when you look at Aaron Rodgers numbers so far
this season, over twelve hundred yards passing one two hundred
and seventy he's completed one hundred and eighteen of one
hundred and seventy two passes in six games and fourteen
touchdowns and only five interceptions. Fourteen touchdowns in six games
so far. I'll take it absolutely, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Right, Yeah, absolutely, I mean, why wouldn't you.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
It's it's a little weird of a stat though, just
because we know that that comes not through the entire
six games of the year. Those numbers really reflect when
the Steelers were clicking and winning those football games versus
last night or I'm sorry, I keep saying last night
first and on Thursday. It's just not the same team,
(06:51):
not the same defense that you saw in weeks prior.
So I understand overall the big picture looks good, but
when you zoom in on a micro level and look
at individual games, there are problems that can be identified.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
What's Watts I already said, Wat's already messed up the segment.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Watt's not working here's one for you.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Defensive inconsistency. The Steelers defense, as yep, has fell to
perform consistency. It's like you almost had my sheet in
front of you, Jacob, and you don't. For everybody listening
at home, I'm across from Jacob here in the studio,
so he does not have access to my notes in
front of me. But yeah, allowing a high number of
total yards so far this season, the defensive inconsistency.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
So far.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
We saw sparks of the defense doing well against the
Vikings and the Browns, but even in the victories early
on in the season against the Jets and the Patriots,
the loss against the Seahawks wedged in there. They did
not play as consistence as they needed to be, especially
stopping the rush, also being exposed in the secondary, especially
this past week against against the Cincinnati Bengals with Jamar
(07:54):
Chase and T Higgins. They got to get more consistent.
That's been the that's been the key so far this
year and unfore fortunately, in my opinion, Jacob, there's been
more downs than ups. They got to flip that the
other way and have more ups than downs to get
back on track defensively.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Like I said earlier, it's just you have to play
more consistent football across the board. You can't just have
one game where you show up and then one game
when you shy away, one game when you show up
and one game when you shy away. That's not what
elite defenses do. And we know the whole narrative surrounding
this defense coming into the season, given all the talk
in training camp saying how they predict themselves to be
(08:32):
a historic defense, Well, historically they the only thing they're
doing is letting down the fans and playing below expectations
and playing below what their potential. We've heard from guys
like Cam Heyward and TJ. Watts say all season long
saying we've got to get better, We've got to get better.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Well, yeah, you get.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Better for a one game, but then what do those
words mean when the week after that you allow Chase Brown,
who is averaging what two point something yards per care
going in to get to over one hundred yards and
average nearly ten yards per carry on Thursday Night football.
So yeah, I mean it's a lot of it's a
lot of talk by guys who were saying they need
(09:14):
to get better, but we're not seeing that actual progress
pan out Watt's working.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Here's another item for you, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. With
this new offense with Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and a
new number one running back in Jalen Warren. So far,
not too bad numbers when you look at Jacob averaging
twenty five points per game, one hundred and fifty points,
scored seventeen total touchdowns through six games. And again, they've
scored touchdowns on their three opening possessions out of those
(09:42):
six games, with field goals on two others. Just one
offensive drive this year that they started that they did
not produce points. So they're getting better each and every game. Again,
we talked about this yesterday here on the standard, you
score thirty one points in a game, you should win.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Your defense should not be giving up thirty three points.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
And again, there was a time with the Pittsburgh Steelers
where they scored seventeen or less and they lost right
because their defense would give up eighteen or twenty. So
you know, the defense needs to get better to support
the offense. But so far, in my opinion, the offense
has performed well for six games. A little clunky at times,
running the football, but Aaron Rodgers certainly has.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Made up for that in the passing game. Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I mean we saw them really explode from the first
week against the Jets. Then they kind of slowed down
against the Seahawks, and I know there was that unfortunate
play by Caleb Johnson where not only did they take
the ball away from them, but it gave points to Seattle.
And then you know, if you know the rule, when
you have that, it just really is frustrating. But Kayleb
(10:45):
Johnson clearly did not know what was happening and allowed
that ball to travel into the end zone and give
Seattle seven extra points, which really put the game away
for the Seahawks. And then you look at the rest
of the schedule. They did okay. Against New England. I mean,
remember the defense forced five turnovers, but the offense didn't
(11:07):
score any points via those turnovers. They kind of I
think they had it. That was one of their three
games with an opening drive touchdown, but then went and
they got out to like a fourteen to nothing lead.
They didn't score again until the very end of the game. Then,
of course, in Minnesota, or I guess rather against Minnesota
in Dublin. They had their moments, they had the big
splash play to DK, but at the end of the
(11:30):
game they had to wait, or I guess rather they
waited all game again until they could actually get into
the end zone and score a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
To actually secure that lead.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
And then against Cleveland, we've talked about how it's been
their most complete game offensively and defensively. The offense didn't
do a ton, but they did a good amount considering
the defensive matchup they were going up against. That defense
against Cleveland probably the best defense they faced all year.
And then last I keep saying it last night on
(12:00):
Thursday night, they put up thirty one points, which is
it's hard to complain when your offense scores that many points.
And it wasn't in a ridiculous garbage time situation where
the Steelers were just given points by Cincinnati and it
wasn't really a threat for them to come back. No,
they got to within a three point deficit, they got
(12:21):
to within a seven point deficit throughout that game, so
they were scoring points when it mattered. It's just unfortunate
the defense didn't step up on there and match the
playmaking ability. But yeah, I mean I think it's hard
to complain about the play of the offense so far.
And I think number one, you have to point to
the success of Aaron Rodgers for the success of the
(12:42):
offense offensively.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
That twenty five point per game average is twelve best
in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, I mean it's I mean, considering that that offense
has been toward the bottom low twenties.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
For the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Really hard to complain when you're averaging what twenty five
points a game, top twelve in the league.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Now on the flip side, looking at total yards that
they produced for the first points, near the bottom of the
league at thirty first out of thirty two teams. Let's
go back to what's not so far this season through
seven weeks. The run defense right, stopping the run, and
they're coming off one of their worst that they've done
this past season with one hundred and forty two yards
given up on the ground against the Cincinnati Bengals last
(13:22):
Thursday night. An offense coming in that did not run
the ball very good at all throughout the twenty twenty
five season through six weeks, but Week seven for the
Bengals clicked with Chase Brown eleven carries one hundred and
eight yards, averaging nine point eight yards per carry. And
again as a team, the Steelers give up one hundred
and forty two yards rushing against the Bengals, and that
was coming off some decent performances. Just looking back the Bengals,
(13:45):
they or excuse me, the Browns in Week five, they
held them to sixty five yards total rushing seventy against
the Vikings. The New England Patriots one hundred and nineteen
in Week two, in or week three rather in Week
two rushing wise for the Seattle Seahawks, they had one
hundred and seventeen in week one one.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Hundred and eighty two for the Jets.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
So again that first category that we talked about about,
the inconsistency, Jacob, you can draw a direct parallel line
to this. The run defense has been the same, very inconsistent.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean they haven't really slowed down pretty
much anyone. I mean, I know they did a decent
job against New England with their running backs, but that
team still got to over one hundred yards. Minnesota was
really the only team, but remember they were playing without
their number one running back and Aaron Jones. It was
Jordan Mason back there, and then against Cleveland that offense
is just so future. It's really hard to really pat
(14:40):
yourself on the back for taking care of one of
the worst offenses in football. Yeah, you did your job,
but imagine that it would have been if if you
actually saw them get some yardage on you.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
And then I think that.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
The final blow really, or the biggest blow so far,
was the performance against Cincinnati. That offense really struggle without
Joe Burrow coming into that game let alone, I mean,
regardless of the passing offense, which we knew could have
gotten better with Joe Flacco in for Jake Browning, but
the fact that it was Chase Brown out there who
(15:14):
was running all over you, like we mentioned earlier, had
nine point eight yards per carry in that game after
coming in with only like two point eight yards per carry.
That is something that you can't just say, oh, we've
got to get better. That is a slap in the face,
identity crisis kind of performance.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
That you had on Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Back to Watt's working the running back performance, the combination
of Jalen Warren and Kenny Gamewell is getting better each
and every week. Jalen Warren coming off his best game
of the season from a rushing standpoint. Remember he was
the leading receiver for the first few games of the
twenty twenty five season. Sixteen carries, one hundred and twenty
seven yards, averaged seven point nine yards per rush last week,
(15:57):
and again more in this on the receiving end, four
kes just for thirty one yards last week. You know,
when you have to replace Nause Harris, the former Steeler
first round draft pick who was the belcow the last
few years coming out of the backfield for the Steelers.
You know, Warren was banged up a little bit this season.
He might be banged up again. But Kenny Gainwell on
the flip side of that, has come in and played well.
(16:17):
Even Caleb Johnson's starting to get some confidence back to
the last few games. So the running game getting better
each and every week for the Steelers, and it was
fine in Cincinnati. Even though they lose that game, the
running game was not a problem. If anything, Jacob, they
didn't continue to run the football right exactly.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I mean the fact that you knew how bad that
Cincinnati defensive front was and they were without there not
just their best player, but they're only really good player
on offense or I'm sorry on defense and Trey Hendrickson.
The blueprint was there for you to win that game.
Just run the ball down their throats, attack, attack, attack
on the ground, and they weren't able to do that
(16:53):
even though they did so. Like you said, they got
to over one hundred yards. Dalen Warren had a good game.
The numbers could have been way better, right, and they
weren't able to really utilize Geland Warren out of the backfield,
probably as much as they wanted to because they were
playing from behind. Even though they got out to an
early ten to nothing lead. The floodgates just kind of
open on defense to allow Joe Flacco to go down
(17:16):
the field and find the end zone with guys like
t Higgins and Jamar Chase. So yeah, I mean, sure
you did well, But this is something similar that I
had said about my point against Cleveland. Like you took
care of the Cleveland offense, Imagine if you had it right,
Imagine if Dylan Gabriel was torching you when it came
down to a shootout, how would you feel about yourself?
(17:37):
Then same thing could be said about the running offense
against This Isnati Bengals defense is yeah, you did well,
you got to war over one hundred yards, but imagine
if you did less than that, what would you be
saying about yourself then, because that's a terrible matchup and
you would have lost it. And I think the same
logic can be applied just to the fact that, yeah,
they did well, but they could have done so much better.
(17:57):
So yes, it's a step in the right direction to
gain some confidence in the run game. But I don't
know if it's really something to say like, oh, just
because the Steelers ran the ball well against the Cincinnati Bengals,
that means they're going to run the ball well against
everyone else in the league.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Next up for Watt's not working, we look at third
downs getting continuing offensive drives. On offense, the Steelers through
seven weeks forty three percent on third down twenty six
of sixty seven on the offensive side. Now, defensively, that
was a number that was over fifty percent for the
first part of the season.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
They've actually gotten better at that.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
They're now thirty six of eighty six for forty two
percent for defense. As far as offensive opponents and getting
our defense off the field, so that's better.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
You know, again that was over fifty percent.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
That's getting better defensively, but on offense we've gone not
up very much at all. I think they were clicking
around thirty eight percent most of the season. Now they
got it up to forty three percent, but that needs
to continue to get better again. Offensively, man, you want
fifty sixty percent on third downs if you can. Defensively,
you want the opposite. Forty three even under forty in
the thirties would be ideal. So getting better on defense,
(19:06):
but not so much on offense on third.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Downs, No, not really.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
It's just it's something that you and have been pointing
out all season long as you got you have to
win that third down battle. And yeah, okay, offensively, you
said offensively they're doing better.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Yeah, offensively doing worse defensively.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Okay, offensively, it was the other way around for the
first point exactly. So there hasn't just been consistent football
across the board, which is something that you said kind
of around your first or second point, specifically about the defense,
but offensively, they need to be more consistent on offense
when it comes to third down because we're seeing the
defense get gassed more and more every game, especially Thursday
(19:45):
night and the reason. The way that you can help
that on offense is by converting on more third downs,
and that's clearly not something they're doing well right now.
I don't know why. Again, all arrows pointed to a win.
All arrows pointed to you being able to blow that
defense out in Cincinnati and your defense being able to
(20:07):
take care, take control of Joe Flackham and company. But
that wasn't the case. And you know, the seat was
really struggled on third down on Thursday night, and it's
it's a problem because that defense in Cincinnati is so
bad there there really is costs for concern considering the
performance you saw out of that team against a really
(20:28):
bad team for that matter. So now with with green
Bay looming, I mean green Bay, you mentioned Indianapolis playing
the next week, then they had to go to LA
against the Chargers on Sunday Night football the week after that.
It's not an easy schedule moving forward.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Next up on Watt's working dk Metcalf So far, so good.
A little bit of a slow game this StAst week,
but they only targeted him five times on Thursday night
for three catches for fifty yards. But other than that,
he is your leading receiver on the season as well
as he should be. Thirty six targets this season, twenty
two receptions, four hundred and six yards, four touchdowns, averaging about.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Sixty eight yards per game receiving.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
For all intents and purposes, DK has shown up so
far this season the Steelers number one receiver, and he's
been pretty much what we'd expected him to be. I
really liked when he got going with four straight games
with touchdowns up until this past week against the Bengals,
because again, I love the receiving numbers. I love him
getting over one hundred yards, But those touchdowns, yeah, that
I care most about. Yeah, absolutely. I mean he didn't
(21:25):
get into the end zone this past week. It was
the first time since what Week one he missed out
on a touchdown. Yep, But as you mentioned, still making
splash plays. Would have liked to see him get a
little more involved though on Thursday night, because, as we've
talked about so many times already this week, he had
and dading back to last Friday following the game, he
(21:47):
finished with only fifty yards in the day, and forty
of those came on the very first play of the
game for the offense, So he only had ten yards
of the rest of the night.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I mean, you can't have that if you're a wide receiver,
one true wide receiver one in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Next up for Watt's not working so far. The inconsistent
pass rush very slow this past week for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
and everybody's kind of slowed down.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
It's been a roller coaster of a ride with the
pass rush.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I feel like some games they they they've they've exploded five, six,
seven sacks, and other games like this past week, maybe
one or two and less quarterback hits. And maybe that's scheme,
maybe that's you know, hey, look we're going up against
these talented wide receivers like a Jamar Chase er a T. Higgins,
so we're not gonna blitz as much. We're gonna sit back. Well,
that didn't work. Maybe you should have blitzed, Maybe you
(22:34):
should have came and brought the house more often. But
facts are facts, Jacob, This defense, TJ. Watton company, they
are built around getting to the quarterback, the pass rush.
This is not you have Ramsey back there and we
feel good about our secondary to protect the pass. But
let's face it, when this defense gets home, they produce sacks,
(22:55):
they produce pressure. That's when they have the success. These
games where they don't get home and they allowed the
quarterback to sit back in the pocket and pick them apart,
they struggle and they lose games.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
And that's what happened last Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah, and I think a big part of that you
can be pointed or it can be attributed to the
snapcounts that you saw for your defensive air. I'm sorry
your outside linebackers, right, I mean we thought that after
that performance or against Cleveland by Nick Herbig, who you
would have thought that even though Alex Heismith was returning,
that Nick Herbig wasn't going to be sidelined for a
(23:27):
significant amount of time. But we know that his napcount
went down significantly and maybe the viewers have to learn
from that mistake.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
That is what's working for our next subject, Nick Herbig,
And maybe we could do this for both what's working
and what's not working. But for wat's working Nick Herbig.
His emergence he has since stepping in for Alex Heismith
during that injury, Herbig proved to be explosive in a
very effective pass rusher, A highest defensive grade in Week
(23:57):
six from Pro Football Focus.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Leading the NFL.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
He has four point five sacks so far this season
to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Watt is second with four, but her Big fourteen total tackles,
six tackle for losses, two pass deflections, and interception a
force fumble throughout his games. That was the most disappointing
part when when you look at his snapcount from this
past week. I'm just gonna verify it real quick, Jacob
nick Herbig thirty eight percent for the snapcount. Now, with
(24:26):
Alex Highsmith returning against the Browns, it was like sixty
two percent, so it almost got cut in half this
past week. And again, I understand you want to have
more dime packages, maybe an extra defensive back to try
to protect these receivers, but that wasn't working. So bring
Nick Herbig into the game. He's your playmaker, he's your
play wrecker. Again, we're gonna do it in our next
segment with some terrible takes, So I don't want to
(24:46):
give it away to you yet, but Nick Herbig has
almost played better than TJ.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Watt has so far this season.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah, I mean considering just how much or how frequently TJ.
Watt tends to disappear beating back to last year. I
don't think that's a terrible take and spoil alert when
we get that, I might I might agree with that opinion.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Well, I can't get you all the time on those
terrible takes, so maybe I'll get you on that one.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
All right. What's not working?
Speaker 1 (25:09):
The offensive line protection of Aaron Rodgers getting better, but
very inconsistent at the best at the first part of
the season. So I put this down as a what's
not working. But at the same time, we got to
talk about the offensive line has improved, getting better protecting
Aaron Rodgers. This past week, Rogers not sacked against the Bengals.
(25:30):
I'm just going back through my notes here for the Browns. Yeah,
I'm pretty sure it wasn't sacked out. So yeah, back
to back games with no sacks. And then yeah, the
two sacks against the Vikings, so getting better.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
In that they got to stay.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Remember there were zero sacks taken against New England too,
so only two sacks across the last four weeks.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
A lot of that I think has to do too
with with Rogers bouncing out of the pocket. But give
credit to the offensive line. They're having time to do that.
But eight point sixty three seconds on that touchdown pound
that's ridiculous. I mean, that's great stuff from that offensive line.
Maybe I need to revise that and put that on
what's working? How about that. I'm gonna bounce that one
up there. Let's go back up to Watt's working. Up
(26:07):
until this past week, our secondary has been strong at times,
has produced splash plays. We've seen some interceptions, some game
saving tackles at the end of the games.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
For all intensive purposes.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Jalen Ramsey again, I'm going to give him a pass
this past Thursday night because the entire defense had their struggles.
But outside of that game, Jacob Jalen Ramsey has been
the playmaker on defense that just like DK on offense
that they brought in this past offseason to be that
impact player.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
He's been that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I mean, I don't know if I'm gonna give him
that same pass that you did Edge, simply because if
you look at the schedule, right, what are the biggest
matchups the Seers have faced on as a receiving corps
on the season. Jackson Smith and Jigbud the leading receiver
towards the Steelers then in Dublin, Jordan Addison in his
first game back alongside Justin Jefferson, both got to over
(26:56):
one hundred yards. Then this past week on Thursday Night,
Jamar Chase and t Higgins eight up on the Steeler secondaries.
So I might even throw Jillian Ramsey in there. I
think you have a I think you have a bigger
problem at hand than we thought we did come the
beginning of the season. Even though guys like Deshaun Ellie
and Joey Porter Junior returned from injury, we saw Joey
(27:19):
Porter really struggle against the Bengals. Remember how many times
he was called for a penalty on Thursday Night. So
I'm starting to press the panic button, or at least
think about president and panic button when it comes to
the Steeler secondary.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
So that's going to do it for our Watts working
and Watts not Through the first seven weeks of the season, now,
we didn't even name the segments named after TJ. Watt,
and we didn't even talk we even talked to TJ.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Watt. But we will talk about TJ.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Watt and the rest of the defense and offense, and
our next segment with our terrible Takes Jacob's favorite segment
of the week, and it's coming up next right here,
as you're listening to The Steeler Standard with Ed Troop
and Jacob Bret on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the
Steelers Audio Network.
Aaron Rodgers was drafted and played eighteen seasons with the
Green Bay Packers, going one fifty seventy nine and one
in two hundred and thirty games with the pack Rogers
also threw for just over fifty nine thousand yards a
franchise record four hundred and seventy five touchdown passes, with
a Super Bowl win and MVP performance against the Steelers
in twenty eleven. A Hall of Fame career with the
(00:25):
Packers for sure. Welcome to another edition of the Steelers
Standard here on Steelers Nation Radio and the Steelers Audio Network.
I am at Troop and joining me is Jacob Brect.
Jacob Rogers also made a Green Bay record ten time
Pro Bowls and was NFL MVP four times with Green
Bay twenty eleven, twenty fourteen, twenty twenty, and twenty eleven.
On Sunday Night, he will face his former team where
(00:47):
he had all that success earlier in his career.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, I mean he is a a top ten, if
not top five, depending on how you view it, quarterback
of all time. He is one of the most impressive
to ever play that position. You could honestly say he's
one of the greatest players to ever play in the NFL,
regardless of regardless of the quarterback position. He's the only
four time I'm sorry, he's the second four time NFL
(01:12):
MVP only alongside Peyton Manning. He's got a Super Bowl
Championship to boot. He made his career in Green Bay.
His time in New York was cut short, of course,
But besides that, I mean, he is one of the
most impressive guys to ever play that position or ever
put on an NFL jersey and take the field. And
(01:35):
it's ironic that he didn't get the chance to play
his former team when he was in New York.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
But he does have that chance now.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
And so that's why the NFL slated this game for
Sunday Night Football because it's a it's a.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Historic matchup that we're about to see.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Aaron Rodgers has beaten every NFL team except the Green
Bay Packers. He has not faced them before when he
was in New York for the two years they did
not play the Packers when he was healthy to play
against his former team, So this is his first time
against Green Bay. So you sure and heck know that
that's on the back of his mind. Sure going into
this week and Matt Laferre, the head coach for Green Bay,
(02:14):
was quoted yesterday in his weekly press conference by saying,
we know Aaron Rodgers plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, obviously,
but this game is about the Steelers, not about Aaron Rodgers.
So they're already in Green Bay doing what they should
be doing, right, Jacob playing it off, saying, look, this
is just another game against the Steelers, but it's not
another game, especially for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
No, it's not.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I mean, it's not a different It's not a normal
game either for the Packers. Despite although they're saying, we
know that the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay
wasn't plenty. You remember, he's the guy who really drove
Mike McCarthy out of there and forced him to move
on to Dallas as the head coach. Then when they
brought a Matt Lafleur and they drafted Jordan Love, Aaron
(02:54):
Rodgers wasn't happy with either of those and the franchise
opted to go in the other direction to go with
the young guys, a young head coach and the young quarterback,
which led to Aaron Rodgers until he even move on
to New York. So despite what Matt lcflore is saying,
and I agree with you, he's making all the right
comments saying it's not you know, you guys the media
(03:15):
are making it out to be making more than it is.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I do know that.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Jordan Love, who was playing underneath Aaron Rodgers for the
first what year or two of his career, definitely has
some extra motivation to take on the guy that held
the mantle of that position for as you said, what
eighteen years or sixteen years something like that, Yeah, in
in Green Bay. So there's definitely even though that they're
(03:43):
saying it's not a big deal, we all know how
big of a deal this matchup is.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Again just to go over those numbers once again for
Rogers during his career in Green Bay, eighteen games, one
hundred and fifty wins in two hundred and thirty games,
and over fifty nine thousand yards pass with four hundred
and seventy five touchdown. He had the Super Bowl win
and the MVP against the Steelers in twenty eleven.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
We know about that very well. Obviously, a Hall.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Of Fame career and a ten time Pro bowler with
Green Bay. That is an all time Green Bay record
as well for a player with the most Pro Bowls,
And that says a lot too if you think back
of the history between right Farv and everyone else that's
played in Green Bay, Farv bart Starr both guys won
of Bartstar won two Bartsar one also NFL championships before
(04:27):
that the Super Bowl era began. But yeah, a historic
franchise with historic quarterbacks in Green Bay right now only
one of two teams in the NFL with one loss,
them and the Indianapolis Colts. Now they do have that
tie against the Cowboys from earlier this season. And one
other note on Rogers during his time in Green Bay,
as I said, NFL MVP four times twenty eleven, twenty fourteen,
(04:49):
the COVID year of twenty twenty and twenty twenty one
before he left Green Bay went to New York. We
know the story with the Jets, got hurt his first
year in the first game, didn't play that whole first
season with the Jets, and then his second year prior
to coming here was fifty to fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Right.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I mean, he didn't put up horrible numbers.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
We also didn't put up the type of numbers he's
put up, so far through this season.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
With the Steelers, and you look at the records too.
I mean, I know he's at four and two right
now and it was a bad loss to stuff for
on Thursday Night, but he is one went away from
tying his season total wins that he got to last year,
and it's only what we're entering the eighth week of
the season.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Let's move to our first segment, a new segment, Jacob,
I know you're excited Wat's working and What's not? And
this has nothing to do with TJ. Watt. We're just
taking a play on his name, Watt. What's working and
what's not through seven weeks, Let's go back and forth
between the two categories. We'll start with Wat's working and
it's Aaron Rodgers. We just talked about him here at
the top of the show to open things up. At
(05:49):
age forty one, Rogers is a little bit of a
I don't want to say a brand news start to
his career, right because he didn't really fall off just
those two years that we mentioned with the Jets struggle
in that second year, injured for that first but for
the most part, he's playing back to kind of where
he was with Green Bay. Maybe not at that MVP
status of those four seasons in a row that he had.
(06:10):
But when you look at Aaron Rodgers numbers so far
this season, over twelve hundred yards passing one two hundred
and seventy he's completed one hundred and eighteen of one
hundred and seventy two passes in six games and fourteen
touchdowns and only five interceptions. Fourteen touchdowns in six games
so far. I'll take it absolutely, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Right, Yeah, absolutely, I mean, why wouldn't you.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
It's it's a little weird of a stat though, just
because we know that that comes not through the entire
six games of the year. Those numbers really reflect when
the Steelers were clicking and winning those football games versus
last night or I'm sorry, I keep saying last night
first and on Thursday. It's just not the same team,
(06:51):
not the same defense that you saw in weeks prior.
So I understand overall the big picture looks good, but
when you zoom in on a micro level and look
at individual games, there are problems that can be identified.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
What's Watts I already said, Wat's already messed up the segment.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Watt's not working here's one for you.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Defensive inconsistency. The Steelers defense, as yep, has fell to
perform consistency. It's like you almost had my sheet in
front of you, Jacob, and you don't. For everybody listening
at home, I'm across from Jacob here in the studio,
so he does not have access to my notes in
front of me. But yeah, allowing a high number of
total yards so far this season, the defensive inconsistency.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
So far.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
We saw sparks of the defense doing well against the
Vikings and the Browns, but even in the victories early
on in the season against the Jets and the Patriots,
the loss against the Seahawks wedged in there. They did
not play as consistence as they needed to be, especially
stopping the rush, also being exposed in the secondary, especially
this past week against against the Cincinnati Bengals with Jamar
(07:54):
Chase and T Higgins. They got to get more consistent.
That's been the that's been the key so far this
year and unfore fortunately, in my opinion, Jacob, there's been
more downs than ups. They got to flip that the
other way and have more ups than downs to get
back on track defensively.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Like I said earlier, it's just you have to play
more consistent football across the board. You can't just have
one game where you show up and then one game
when you shy away, one game when you show up
and one game when you shy away. That's not what
elite defenses do. And we know the whole narrative surrounding
this defense coming into the season, given all the talk
in training camp saying how they predict themselves to be
(08:32):
a historic defense, Well, historically they the only thing they're
doing is letting down the fans and playing below expectations
and playing below what their potential. We've heard from guys
like Cam Heyward and TJ. Watts say all season long
saying we've got to get better, We've got to get better.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Well, yeah, you get.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Better for a one game, but then what do those
words mean when the week after that you allow Chase Brown,
who is averaging what two point something yards per care
going in to get to over one hundred yards and
average nearly ten yards per carry on Thursday Night football.
So yeah, I mean it's a lot of it's a
lot of talk by guys who were saying they need
(09:14):
to get better, but we're not seeing that actual progress
pan out Watt's working.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Here's another item for you, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. With
this new offense with Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and a
new number one running back in Jalen Warren. So far,
not too bad numbers when you look at Jacob averaging
twenty five points per game, one hundred and fifty points,
scored seventeen total touchdowns through six games. And again, they've
scored touchdowns on their three opening possessions out of those
(09:42):
six games, with field goals on two others. Just one
offensive drive this year that they started that they did
not produce points. So they're getting better each and every game. Again,
we talked about this yesterday here on the standard, you
score thirty one points in a game, you should win.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Your defense should not be giving up thirty three points.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
And again, there was a time with the Pittsburgh Steelers
where they scored seventeen or less and they lost right
because their defense would give up eighteen or twenty. So
you know, the defense needs to get better to support
the offense. But so far, in my opinion, the offense
has performed well for six games. A little clunky at times,
running the football, but Aaron Rodgers certainly has.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Made up for that in the passing game. Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I mean we saw them really explode from the first
week against the Jets. Then they kind of slowed down
against the Seahawks, and I know there was that unfortunate
play by Caleb Johnson where not only did they take
the ball away from them, but it gave points to Seattle.
And then you know, if you know the rule, when
you have that, it just really is frustrating. But Kayleb
(10:45):
Johnson clearly did not know what was happening and allowed
that ball to travel into the end zone and give
Seattle seven extra points, which really put the game away
for the Seahawks. And then you look at the rest
of the schedule. They did okay. Against New England. I mean,
remember the defense forced five turnovers, but the offense didn't
(11:07):
score any points via those turnovers. They kind of I
think they had it. That was one of their three
games with an opening drive touchdown, but then went and
they got out to like a fourteen to nothing lead.
They didn't score again until the very end of the game. Then,
of course, in Minnesota, or I guess rather against Minnesota
in Dublin. They had their moments, they had the big
splash play to DK, but at the end of the
(11:30):
game they had to wait, or I guess rather they
waited all game again until they could actually get into
the end zone and score a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
To actually secure that lead.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
And then against Cleveland, we've talked about how it's been
their most complete game offensively and defensively. The offense didn't
do a ton, but they did a good amount considering
the defensive matchup they were going up against. That defense
against Cleveland probably the best defense they faced all year.
And then last I keep saying it last night on
(12:00):
Thursday night, they put up thirty one points, which is
it's hard to complain when your offense scores that many points.
And it wasn't in a ridiculous garbage time situation where
the Steelers were just given points by Cincinnati and it
wasn't really a threat for them to come back. No,
they got to within a three point deficit, they got
(12:21):
to within a seven point deficit throughout that game, so
they were scoring points when it mattered. It's just unfortunate
the defense didn't step up on there and match the
playmaking ability. But yeah, I mean I think it's hard
to complain about the play of the offense so far.
And I think number one, you have to point to
the success of Aaron Rodgers for the success of the
(12:42):
offense offensively.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
That twenty five point per game average is twelve best
in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, I mean it's I mean, considering that that offense
has been toward the bottom low twenties.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
For the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Really hard to complain when you're averaging what twenty five
points a game, top twelve in the league.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Now on the flip side, looking at total yards that
they produced for the first points, near the bottom of the
league at thirty first out of thirty two teams. Let's
go back to what's not so far this season through
seven weeks. The run defense right, stopping the run, and
they're coming off one of their worst that they've done
this past season with one hundred and forty two yards
given up on the ground against the Cincinnati Bengals last
(13:22):
Thursday night. An offense coming in that did not run
the ball very good at all throughout the twenty twenty
five season through six weeks, but Week seven for the
Bengals clicked with Chase Brown eleven carries one hundred and
eight yards, averaging nine point eight yards per carry. And
again as a team, the Steelers give up one hundred
and forty two yards rushing against the Bengals, and that
was coming off some decent performances. Just looking back the Bengals,
(13:45):
they or excuse me, the Browns in Week five, they
held them to sixty five yards total rushing seventy against
the Vikings. The New England Patriots one hundred and nineteen
in Week two, in or week three rather in Week
two rushing wise for the Seattle Seahawks, they had one
hundred and seventeen in week one one.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Hundred and eighty two for the Jets.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
So again that first category that we talked about about,
the inconsistency, Jacob, you can draw a direct parallel line
to this. The run defense has been the same, very inconsistent.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean they haven't really slowed down pretty
much anyone. I mean, I know they did a decent
job against New England with their running backs, but that
team still got to over one hundred yards. Minnesota was
really the only team, but remember they were playing without
their number one running back and Aaron Jones. It was
Jordan Mason back there, and then against Cleveland that offense
is just so future. It's really hard to really pat
(14:40):
yourself on the back for taking care of one of
the worst offenses in football. Yeah, you did your job,
but imagine that it would have been if if you
actually saw them get some yardage on you.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
And then I think that.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
The final blow really, or the biggest blow so far,
was the performance against Cincinnati. That offense really struggle without
Joe Burrow coming into that game let alone, I mean,
regardless of the passing offense, which we knew could have
gotten better with Joe Flacco in for Jake Browning, but
the fact that it was Chase Brown out there who
(15:14):
was running all over you, like we mentioned earlier, had
nine point eight yards per carry in that game after
coming in with only like two point eight yards per carry.
That is something that you can't just say, oh, we've
got to get better. That is a slap in the face,
identity crisis kind of performance.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
That you had on Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Back to Watt's working the running back performance, the combination
of Jalen Warren and Kenny Gamewell is getting better each
and every week. Jalen Warren coming off his best game
of the season from a rushing standpoint. Remember he was
the leading receiver for the first few games of the
twenty twenty five season. Sixteen carries, one hundred and twenty
seven yards, averaged seven point nine yards per rush last week,
(15:57):
and again more in this on the receiving end, four
kes just for thirty one yards last week. You know,
when you have to replace Nause Harris, the former Steeler
first round draft pick who was the belcow the last
few years coming out of the backfield for the Steelers.
You know, Warren was banged up a little bit this season.
He might be banged up again. But Kenny Gainwell on
the flip side of that, has come in and played well.
(16:17):
Even Caleb Johnson's starting to get some confidence back to
the last few games. So the running game getting better
each and every week for the Steelers, and it was
fine in Cincinnati. Even though they lose that game, the
running game was not a problem. If anything, Jacob, they
didn't continue to run the football right exactly.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I mean the fact that you knew how bad that
Cincinnati defensive front was and they were without there not
just their best player, but they're only really good player
on offense or I'm sorry on defense and Trey Hendrickson.
The blueprint was there for you to win that game.
Just run the ball down their throats, attack, attack, attack
on the ground, and they weren't able to do that
(16:53):
even though they did so. Like you said, they got
to over one hundred yards. Dalen Warren had a good game.
The numbers could have been way better, right, and they
weren't able to really utilize Geland Warren out of the backfield,
probably as much as they wanted to because they were
playing from behind. Even though they got out to an
early ten to nothing lead. The floodgates just kind of
open on defense to allow Joe Flacco to go down
(17:16):
the field and find the end zone with guys like
t Higgins and Jamar Chase. So yeah, I mean, sure
you did well, But this is something similar that I
had said about my point against Cleveland. Like you took
care of the Cleveland offense, Imagine if you had it right,
Imagine if Dylan Gabriel was torching you when it came
down to a shootout, how would you feel about yourself?
(17:37):
Then same thing could be said about the running offense
against This Isnati Bengals defense is yeah, you did well,
you got to war over one hundred yards, but imagine
if you did less than that, what would you be
saying about yourself then, because that's a terrible matchup and
you would have lost it. And I think the same
logic can be applied just to the fact that, yeah,
they did well, but they could have done so much better.
(17:57):
So yes, it's a step in the right direction to
gain some confidence in the run game. But I don't
know if it's really something to say like, oh, just
because the Steelers ran the ball well against the Cincinnati Bengals,
that means they're going to run the ball well against
everyone else in the league.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Next up for Watt's not working, we look at third
downs getting continuing offensive drives. On offense, the Steelers through
seven weeks forty three percent on third down twenty six
of sixty seven on the offensive side. Now, defensively, that
was a number that was over fifty percent for the
first part of the season.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
They've actually gotten better at that.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
They're now thirty six of eighty six for forty two
percent for defense. As far as offensive opponents and getting
our defense off the field, so that's better.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
You know, again that was over fifty percent.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
That's getting better defensively, but on offense we've gone not
up very much at all. I think they were clicking
around thirty eight percent most of the season. Now they
got it up to forty three percent, but that needs
to continue to get better again. Offensively, man, you want
fifty sixty percent on third downs if you can. Defensively,
you want the opposite. Forty three even under forty in
the thirties would be ideal. So getting better on defense,
(19:06):
but not so much on offense on third.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Downs, No, not really.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
It's just it's something that you and have been pointing
out all season long as you got you have to
win that third down battle. And yeah, okay, offensively, you
said offensively they're doing better.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Yeah, offensively doing worse defensively.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Okay, offensively, it was the other way around for the
first point exactly. So there hasn't just been consistent football
across the board, which is something that you said kind
of around your first or second point, specifically about the defense,
but offensively, they need to be more consistent on offense
when it comes to third down because we're seeing the
defense get gassed more and more every game, especially Thursday
(19:45):
night and the reason. The way that you can help
that on offense is by converting on more third downs,
and that's clearly not something they're doing well right now.
I don't know why. Again, all arrows pointed to a win.
All arrows pointed to you being able to blow that
defense out in Cincinnati and your defense being able to
(20:07):
take care, take control of Joe Flackham and company. But
that wasn't the case. And you know, the seat was
really struggled on third down on Thursday night, and it's
it's a problem because that defense in Cincinnati is so
bad there there really is costs for concern considering the
performance you saw out of that team against a really
(20:28):
bad team for that matter. So now with with green
Bay looming, I mean green Bay, you mentioned Indianapolis playing
the next week, then they had to go to LA
against the Chargers on Sunday Night football the week after that.
It's not an easy schedule moving forward.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Next up on Watt's working dk Metcalf So far, so good.
A little bit of a slow game this StAst week,
but they only targeted him five times on Thursday night
for three catches for fifty yards. But other than that,
he is your leading receiver on the season as well
as he should be. Thirty six targets this season, twenty
two receptions, four hundred and six yards, four touchdowns, averaging about.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Sixty eight yards per game receiving.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
For all intents and purposes, DK has shown up so
far this season the Steelers number one receiver, and he's
been pretty much what we'd expected him to be. I
really liked when he got going with four straight games
with touchdowns up until this past week against the Bengals,
because again, I love the receiving numbers. I love him
getting over one hundred yards, But those touchdowns, yeah, that
I care most about. Yeah, absolutely. I mean he didn't
(21:25):
get into the end zone this past week. It was
the first time since what Week one he missed out
on a touchdown. Yep, But as you mentioned, still making
splash plays. Would have liked to see him get a
little more involved though on Thursday night, because, as we've
talked about so many times already this week, he had
and dading back to last Friday following the game, he
(21:47):
finished with only fifty yards in the day, and forty
of those came on the very first play of the
game for the offense, So he only had ten yards
of the rest of the night.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I mean, you can't have that if you're a wide receiver,
one true wide receiver one in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Next up for Watt's not working so far. The inconsistent
pass rush very slow this past week for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
and everybody's kind of slowed down.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
It's been a roller coaster of a ride with the
pass rush.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I feel like some games they they they've they've exploded five, six,
seven sacks, and other games like this past week, maybe
one or two and less quarterback hits. And maybe that's scheme,
maybe that's you know, hey, look we're going up against
these talented wide receivers like a Jamar Chase er a T. Higgins,
so we're not gonna blitz as much. We're gonna sit back. Well,
that didn't work. Maybe you should have blitzed, Maybe you
(22:34):
should have came and brought the house more often. But
facts are facts, Jacob, This defense, TJ. Watton company, they
are built around getting to the quarterback, the pass rush.
This is not you have Ramsey back there and we
feel good about our secondary to protect the pass. But
let's face it, when this defense gets home, they produce sacks,
(22:55):
they produce pressure. That's when they have the success. These
games where they don't get home and they allowed the
quarterback to sit back in the pocket and pick them apart,
they struggle and they lose games.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
And that's what happened last Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah, and I think a big part of that you
can be pointed or it can be attributed to the
snapcounts that you saw for your defensive air. I'm sorry
your outside linebackers, right, I mean we thought that after
that performance or against Cleveland by Nick Herbig, who you
would have thought that even though Alex Heismith was returning,
that Nick Herbig wasn't going to be sidelined for a
(23:27):
significant amount of time. But we know that his napcount
went down significantly and maybe the viewers have to learn
from that mistake.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
That is what's working for our next subject, Nick Herbig,
And maybe we could do this for both what's working
and what's not working. But for wat's working Nick Herbig.
His emergence he has since stepping in for Alex Heismith
during that injury, Herbig proved to be explosive in a
very effective pass rusher, A highest defensive grade in Week
(23:57):
six from Pro Football Focus.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Leading the NFL.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
He has four point five sacks so far this season
to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Watt is second with four, but her Big fourteen total tackles,
six tackle for losses, two pass deflections, and interception a
force fumble throughout his games. That was the most disappointing
part when when you look at his snapcount from this
past week. I'm just gonna verify it real quick, Jacob
nick Herbig thirty eight percent for the snapcount. Now, with
(24:26):
Alex Highsmith returning against the Browns, it was like sixty
two percent, so it almost got cut in half this
past week. And again, I understand you want to have
more dime packages, maybe an extra defensive back to try
to protect these receivers, but that wasn't working. So bring
Nick Herbig into the game. He's your playmaker, he's your
play wrecker. Again, we're gonna do it in our next
segment with some terrible takes, So I don't want to
(24:46):
give it away to you yet, but Nick Herbig has
almost played better than TJ.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Watt has so far this season.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah, I mean considering just how much or how frequently TJ.
Watt tends to disappear beating back to last year. I
don't think that's a terrible take and spoil alert when
we get that, I might I might agree with that opinion.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Well, I can't get you all the time on those
terrible takes, so maybe I'll get you on that one.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
All right. What's not working?
Speaker 1 (25:09):
The offensive line protection of Aaron Rodgers getting better, but
very inconsistent at the best at the first part of
the season. So I put this down as a what's
not working. But at the same time, we got to
talk about the offensive line has improved, getting better protecting
Aaron Rodgers. This past week, Rogers not sacked against the Bengals.
(25:30):
I'm just going back through my notes here for the Browns. Yeah,
I'm pretty sure it wasn't sacked out. So yeah, back
to back games with no sacks. And then yeah, the
two sacks against the Vikings, so getting better.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
In that they got to stay.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Remember there were zero sacks taken against New England too,
so only two sacks across the last four weeks.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
A lot of that I think has to do too
with with Rogers bouncing out of the pocket. But give
credit to the offensive line. They're having time to do that.
But eight point sixty three seconds on that touchdown pound
that's ridiculous. I mean, that's great stuff from that offensive line.
Maybe I need to revise that and put that on
what's working? How about that. I'm gonna bounce that one
up there. Let's go back up to Watt's working. Up
(26:07):
until this past week, our secondary has been strong at times,
has produced splash plays. We've seen some interceptions, some game
saving tackles at the end of the games.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
For all intensive purposes.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Jalen Ramsey again, I'm going to give him a pass
this past Thursday night because the entire defense had their struggles.
But outside of that game, Jacob Jalen Ramsey has been
the playmaker on defense that just like DK on offense
that they brought in this past offseason to be that
impact player.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
He's been that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I mean, I don't know if I'm gonna give him
that same pass that you did Edge, simply because if
you look at the schedule, right, what are the biggest
matchups the Seers have faced on as a receiving corps
on the season. Jackson Smith and Jigbud the leading receiver
towards the Steelers then in Dublin, Jordan Addison in his
first game back alongside Justin Jefferson, both got to over
(26:56):
one hundred yards. Then this past week on Thursday Night,
Jamar Chase and t Higgins eight up on the Steeler secondaries.
So I might even throw Jillian Ramsey in there. I
think you have a I think you have a bigger
problem at hand than we thought we did come the
beginning of the season. Even though guys like Deshaun Ellie
and Joey Porter Junior returned from injury, we saw Joey
(27:19):
Porter really struggle against the Bengals. Remember how many times
he was called for a penalty on Thursday Night. So
I'm starting to press the panic button, or at least
think about president and panic button when it comes to
the Steeler secondary.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
So that's going to do it for our Watts working
and Watts not Through the first seven weeks of the season, now,
we didn't even name the segments named after TJ. Watt,
and we didn't even talk we even talked to TJ.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Watt. But we will talk about TJ.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Watt and the rest of the defense and offense, and
our next segment with our terrible Takes Jacob's favorite segment
of the week, and it's coming up next right here,
as you're listening to The Steeler Standard with Ed Troop
and Jacob Bret on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the
Steelers Audio Network.
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