October 15, 2025 • 27 mins
Ed Troup and Jacob Recht debate the potential overreactions following Week 6 such as Kaleb Johnson will eventually become RB1, Nick Herbig will lead the team in sacks by the end of the season, and the Steelers will be the only team in the AFC North to reach the postseason.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
We've got a short week. We're chasing another AFC North
Pelt here in a short number of days, and so
we respect the process. We got to work fast here
in preparation for Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The benefit of a short week is a mini buy afterwards.
Steelers will not play this weekend. They have a quick
turnaround to Cincinnati tomorrow night on Thursday Night Football, but
after that they will not play again until they play
the Green Bay Packers on October twenty six, which is
also a Sunday night game, so they also get that
bonus of playing.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Later on in the night.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
It is the Steelers standard with Ed Troup and Jacob
bruct here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network. So yes, Jacob, that's the downside is you
got to turn around quickly. They only had one practice
this week.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
It was yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
We'll get to our injury report in just a moment.
It came out of that practice. Other than that, they
are going to be heading to Cincinnati. I think today
four o'clock. They'll be there tonight. They'll get ready for
game time tomorrow night. It comes quick. Thursday Night football
comes quick, and road teams never perform well because they
have to travel.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Granted for the Steelers, it's not that far going to
Cincinnati here from Pittsburgh.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
No, it's not too bad, but it's still I mean,
if history is not as anything with the Steelers, and
just across the league, you look at the Steelers struggles
on the road for Thursday night games and especially when
it's an AFC North opponent, and then just look at
the last couple of weeks and do you remember a
couple of weeks ago when the Rams were heavy favorites
against the really depleted Niners.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Right, it was the first game I think without Rock Purty.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
It was Mac Jones's first start of the year, or
at least first full game of the year, and the
Rams ended up losing that game. If you look, if
you remember last week, you remember the Eagles who were
four and one going into that game against the Giants.
Everyone thought, oh, the Eagle should win that game pretty handily.
But it was a division game on the road on
(01:55):
a short week, and the Giants ended up crushing.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
The Eagles, so they did. You can discount this game.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
I don't think you can discount any ABC North game,
let alone one played on the road.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Let one played on Thursday night, it's.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Time for our three bullet points of the week before
we get their injury news and then also our ten
terrible takes.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
We'll go with.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Point number one, Boz's solid performance again. Chris Boswell set
the tone early on Sunday, durling three first half field
goals of forty four, fifty and forty eight yards as
the Steelers built at early nine tozering lead. There's one
thing for certain, that's when Chris Boswell lines up to
kick a field goal, he's usually gonna make it. He's
been outstanding, especially so far this year.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
He slipped and fell. That wasn't his fault.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It was the turf at ACU Sure Stadium that caused
them to slip on the what was it a fifty
It was a fifty.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
To fifty six something like that. Yeah, it was a
long fil a long one.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
But something that you could feel comfortable with bos making,
except given the conditions.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I mean, he's been great, you know, mister automatic if
you will, and hopefully that'll continue tomorrow night in Cincinnati,
our next Bowl. At point of the week, as Jacob
and I were just talking in our last segment at
the end, the defense setting the tone the defense has
been was dominant all afternoon. Six total sacks TJ Watt,
Jalen Ramsey, Nick Herbig. Cleveland's longest play from scrimmage was
(03:12):
only two plays over twenty yards all day long. That
speaks volumes to me, Jacob. Splash plays are always a
factor on defense. You want to avoid them as much
as you can, and Cleveland for the most part, didn't
have any on Sunday. Again, only two plays over twenty
yards and I think they were somewhere in the ballpark
of twenty three or twenty four yards each.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Yeah, I mean, you saw Pittsburgh had its best stay
against the splash. You saw them have their most effective
day just on defense. Overaw they allowed the fewest amount
of total yards on the season, They allowed the fewest
amount of rushing yards, the fewest amount of passing yards
on the season. Just I mean, what can you say?
It was a great effort overall. You have to carry
that momentum into Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Our final bullet point of this week from Sunday Steelers
Browns Metcalf strikes again for the fourth straight game. On
the first play of the fourth quarter, Rodgers found dk
Metcalf for the twenty five yard touchdown. That's the fourth
straight game in which DK Metcalf has scored six points
and has reached the end zone. And that's a scenario.
It pushed the Steward lead to twenty three to six
and pretty much put the game on ice. But DK
(04:12):
big yards after catch. He had over one hundred yards
versus the Vikings. But facts are facts. Four straight games
with a touchdown.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Yeah, there is no reason whatsoever, despite you overthinking this
and getting two into your head, that that connection shouldn't
continue into Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Right.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
The Bengals, we know, have a terrible defense top to bottom.
The only guy there is Trey Henderson, who's not even
having near who's not having nearly as good of a
start to the season as he did last year. So
there's no reason for Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf to
not continue to be in sync come Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I think Hendrickson, we'll get their injury report now is
questionable for tomorrow night too.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
He didn't practice all.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
So if he's out, I mean, what what do you
got prefer the Bengals? I mean Shamar Stewart the first
round pick, sure, but I mean that's one one rookie.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
I don't think he's going to be the difference maker.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Let's get to our injury reports segment. We'll start first
with the Steelers here. Calvin Austin questionable for Tomorrow night.
He did not practice on Tuesday, so I don't think
he's gonna go Tomorrow night on Thursday night. But because
the Steelers don't practice, like I said, that was an
early practice was yesterday, So if that's any indication of
what's gonna happen for Tomorrow night. It's a short week
and at that point, why would you rush Austin back.
(05:27):
The Steeers survived without him on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
They did, they did.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
I mean they got Connor Hayward of all people involved.
They obviously had the DK connection working out. But you're
still gonna want to get Calvin Austin back eventually.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Oh, I've got to get him in the mix. He's
your number two receiver.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
But if you can get another ten days of rest
here after Tomorrow night and get him ready for the
Sunday night game against the Packers, that might be the
path for Calvin Austin. Darius Slay questionable for Tomorrow night
after he injured his shoulder in Sunday's game against the Browns.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
He was limited on Tuesday, so that's good news.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
He was at least able to get onto the practice
field and participate again in a limited fashion, but he
is still questionable for Tomorrow night. Miles kill Brew, we
know he is out. I'm going to be out for
extended period of time. No timetable on that yet, but
with that knee injury that he sustained in the Browns game.
He did not practice on Tuesday and will officially. Mike
(06:21):
Tomlin on Monday's press conference a day early because of
the Thursday night football game ruled Miles caribou Brew out
for this week. Meyleck Harrison, the linebacker that they signed
from the Colts who started the season on IR, has
been activated off IR. He's now in the twenty one
day window two return and he did practice on Tuesday
in a limited fashion. Meyle Harrison is a guy that
(06:43):
they brought in for a Landon Roberts who left via
free agency. He's kind of the new a Landon Roberts
that they want to have in that middle linebacker position,
especially to stop the run. We haven't seen Harrison yet
this season because he started the season on ir but
if you get Harrison back in this mix, that just
makes the defense that much better.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Yeah, I think Aleak's clearly the fourth guy on the
depth chart. You got Pat Queen who's your number one,
no question about it, and then you kind of have
a good rotation between Cole Holcom and Peyton Wilson as
the number two. But certainly getting Malik Harrison back at
the insign linebacker position, you're not gonna say no to
another death guy, right And as you said, Malik was
(07:21):
brought in to be that bruiser upfront against the run,
which Alanna Roberts, as you pointed out, did so well
in his time here in Pittsburgh, So gonna be good
to have him back potentially for this game.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
The Bengals injury report looks like this. Trey Hendrickson, as
we just mentioned, did not practice on Monday, and he
did not practice on Tuesday for the Cincinnati Bengals, so
he is questionable for Thursday night. Bj Hill also did
not practice. Tanner Hudson and Charlie Jones the other two players,
with Hudson being a tight end and Charlie Jones being
a wide receiver. I Guessseki, they're titlented tight end. He
(07:53):
also did not practice on Monday or Tuesday, so the
Bengals a couple playmakers banged up. But I think he
interesting leads that list if he, like as you said,
if he can't go tomorrow night, that just makes that
defense it's pretty much all they got. So you take
him out of that equation, then it should be a
big day for Aaron Rodgers and the Steeler offense.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah, I've mentioned to you before the theory, or.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
Rather the claim that Charlie Batch always makes saying if
a guy can't come back from an injury and a game,
that's most likely an indication and he won't play the
following week. And another claim that he's made before too
is that if a guy misses the loan practice on
a short week for a Thursday night game, that's also
(08:37):
a pretty good indication he won't be ready to go
for Thursday night.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Because remember too, like for a normal game or for
a normal game week, you know you.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Can miss a Tuesday practice, you still have a Thursday
and Friday ahead of you, or maybe even a Wednesday,
depending on what your team schedule is. But having such
a short turnaround and not being able to go, having
yourself just all of a sudden beat ready to say, oh, yeah,
I didn't practice all week and I only had three
days to get ready, but now all of a sudden,
I'm good to go. That's not usually the case, So
(09:07):
I don't want to say, oh, it's a good thing
that Trey Hendrickson going to hurt.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
You know, you never want to wish injury.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Upon another player, but if you're the Steelers, seeing him
pop up like you mentioned, not participating yesterday could be
a good sign that for the Steelers that he won't
be out there.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Shamar Stewart, you mentioned him the draft pick, the first
round draft pick for the Bengals this past season.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
He's dealing with an ankle.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
But yeah, but he did go full on Monday and Tuesday,
so he's on track to play this upcoming Thursday night.
Several vets for the Bengals and the Steelers got some
rest both on Monday and Tuesday, but they're not officially
listed on the injury reporting and that's just more of
a maintenance thing. Yeah, for the Steelers, dk Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey,
and Aaron Rodgers being three of those veterans, as well
(09:47):
as TJ.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Watt and Cameron Hayward.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
And j Shan Elliott who were given either Monday or
Tuesday or both days off, but they're not injury related.
Let's get to our ten terrible takes for the week.
Do it Steelers over reactions or not? Where I tried
to stump Jacob and let him scratch his head or
raise an eyebrow one or two.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
We'll start with this.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Broderick Jones is now on track to have his best season.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Yet that's a good one.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
I might say that's not so terrible, but you have
to remember that at the end of his rookie year,
and specifically that I mean, I know the team looked
great overall, but that stretch between Cincinnati and Seattle and
Baltimore where they won three in a row with Mason
coming in and sneaking into the playoffs, he looked really
good and the run offense looked like it's best that
(10:36):
it had all season long, and that was in due
credit to Broderick Jones being inserted fully into the starting lineup.
So I remember that window probably being his best window.
But right now, as you said, he's showing signs of improvement.
So if that's the case, then you'd have to say
a full season. Sure, this could be his best full
season in his short three year career so far. Now, granted,
(11:00):
the competition isn't great either, Right, It's not like he's
had all pro seasons in both of his and each
of his first two years, and he's competed for a third.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
The baseline isn't yeah, the bars low?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, Well, so far much improved, not only Progerick Jones,
but the entire offensive line, even just going back to
that Patriots game, no sacks, two sacks given up against
the Vikings without the first being right at the beginning
of the game, and then only one more throughout the
rest of that game, and then zero sacks this past
week against a very talented Browns team, and Jones had
to go up against Miles Garrett pretty much every time
(11:33):
on Sunday and he won that battle. We'll see if
he can do it again this week in Cincinnati against
a beat up Cincinnati Bengals defense. Next up on our
ten Terrible Takes, DK Metcalf was the best offseason pickup
of twenty twenty five. I'm gonna say, and before you
get to that, the next three terrible takes is that statement.
(11:53):
So I'm gonna give you two more after this, But
first let me know if you think DK is uh,
I'm gonna say no, and I'll just wait for you
to say the next name.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Aaron Rodgers, that's the name. That's the name.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
I'll go DK man. That's tough because I'm assuming the
next one is Jalen Ramsey. Yeah, so those are those are,
without a doubt, the definitive Big three UH in terms
of acquis acquisitions.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Made via free agency or trade or or the draft.
This year.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
It's a tough one.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
But I I if I had to choose, I would
probably rank Rogers won Ramsey. No, that's so tough because
what would this team be without DK metcalf On offense,
I might have to go Aaron Rodgers won, DK two,
Ramsey three. But I I don't mean to put Ramsey
so low. I'm not trying to, you know, sell him
(12:46):
short or anything. Maybe we break it up from an offensive.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Sure, I mean, no question about it.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Rogers and DK one and two, and then on defense
it's it's Jalen Ramsey and Ramsey. You know, Ramsey head
and shoulders above everyone else. That's that's new to the
the defense. But that's not a very large fool. I mean,
it's Darius Slay, it's Derek Harmon, it's Jack Sawyer, right,
But yeah, Ramsey stands above above everyone if.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
You don't have Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I mean, the quarterback position in the NFL is the
most important position on a football team, so that they
have the veteran Aaron Rodgers in that position. And remember
early in the season, those put two out of the
first three games. He brings them back late in the
game to win the game against the Jets and then
against the Patriots, So you have that going for you.
He hasn't turned the ball over. He's been strong. DK
(13:31):
right there with Rodgers. I'd go one two with Rodgers
and Metcalf close, very close to the top offseason pickups
so far here in twenty twenty five. But yeah, Jalen
Ramsey a no brainer on defense. Okay, next up, Jacob
Darnell Washington is the best tight end on the Steelers roster.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Right now.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I might say that's not a terrible take. Actually I'm
not going to might say it. I will say it,
that is a terrible take.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Er.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
It's not a terrible take. Sorry, I get confused. Like it,
I like it. I like Darnell wall Washington.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
His blocking ability is by far the best among all
three tight ends. And then when you get in the ball,
he's just so dangerous. He's so hard to bring down.
He's so hard to cover as well. Even though he
had that great catch and run and had another one
to boot later in the game, and maybe even two
more if I remember correctly, later in the game, they're
still not giving him the ball enough, especially in the
(14:21):
red zone.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Head Darnell Washington on the season nine targets, six catches
for eighty two yards, no touchdowns. Yet, boy, I thought
those numbers would be stronger than it. I was getting excited.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
I thought they were more than that too.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
But yeah, I guess you have to remember he had
what zero catches in the first three weeks or something
for oh Man, that was tough to watch.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I feel like the majority of these catches have now
come just in the last two weeks against the Vikings
and now against the Browns.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
But if they continue to get in the ball more,
we're gonna be kicking ourselves more and more about having
him have zero catches in the first three weeks of
the season.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
And it's kind of deceiving because when you look at
John new Smith, he's been targeted twenty times, seventeen catches,
but only eighty nine yards. So to Smith, they've gone
to a lot more with more catches on the team,
but it doesn't it doesn't carry over to yardage. He
does have a couple of touchdowns on the year though,
and again go back to my DK Metcalf analysis earlier.
(15:12):
We like touchdowns, we like yardage, but we like touchdowns more.
We'll see if they get Washington going more. Okay, Next up,
Caleb Johnson will be part of a three running back
committee at some point this season, splitting most carries with
Warren and Gainwell.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
We saw him this past week on the film.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
I don't think that's a terrible take either.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
I think that Caleb has the ability to be effective
in smaller doses.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Right, It's nothing crazy.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
He's not going to be your your your workhorse back,
but he has a role on this offense. I mean
you saw him. He came in for relief of Kenny
g and Jalen and had that nice nine yard burst
in the third quarter that helped them continue to drive.
So I got to hand it to him. I really
thought that this was going to be an early call
(15:58):
to call him a bust after that really rocky start,
especially when you consider the special teams play that he
was involved in the Seattle game. But he's he's shown
patients and credit to Mike Tomlin, he's been patient with him.
He's been patient with his guy as well. Again, I'm
not saying he's going to be the number one overall
running back on the team by the end of the year,
(16:20):
but he'll definitely have a role, and I think it's
going to be an effective role when you have two
other guys who are talented at that position.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
They got a lot invested in him. He was the
running back brought in this past year. Is their only
running back that they drafted, and in mind that they
wanted him to be part of that two headed monster
with Jalen Warren.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Season starts out a little rough. Preseason wasn't great, but.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
You know, he's showed some sparks at times so far
the season, fourteen carries for only thirty six yards, only
averaging two point six yards per carry. But that's not
a lot of data to make a final call on
Caleb Johnson. But hey, look, if Johnson can perform along
with Warren and Gainwell, that just makes that running back
room that much stronger and the Steelers can rotate those
(17:05):
guys and be effective with the run game. Okay, next up,
Nick Herbig will lead the team in sacks at the
end of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Man, well, he currently leads a team now he does.
That's tough.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
It's such a talented room when it comes to getting.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
You know again, you know, I hate this segment. It's
because I don't want to say what you're saying is terrible,
but there's I think it's it's one of those things
where it's like you're gonna take one guy to win
this or the field. Your better odds are going with
the field, and that includes TJ Watt, who's a former
Defensive Player of the Year, a guy who currently.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Second holds sorry, he's second on the team right now,
three points right.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Right, He's not far behind her Big right now, right,
so on only by one sack. Yep, I might have
to say that's a terrible take and just say that history,
you know, and in the indication of their careers, we'll
see TJ eventually break away. But it's not to say
that Herbig is going to completely fade away on his own, right, right,
(18:08):
you expect Herbig to continue to produce numbers. I just
think TJ is just that it's just at a different level.
And that's nothing against He's at a different level over
everybody else in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Nick Herbig, And we're gonna in our next segment, we're
gonna get to our season stats for the Steelers and
in the NFL. But just looking at Nick her Big,
real quick four point five sacks, three point five for
TJ Watt. Now, Herbig did play about the same amount
of time this past week with his snap kind I
think it was around sixty one or sixty two percent.
TJ was right behind him at sixty or sixty one percent.
(18:41):
So if that is any indication now that Alex high
Smith is back, Nick Herbig should continue to see the
field quite often and maybe even more as the season
goes on. And I think that's I think that's your
answer to that question, Jacob. If he's on the field
a substantial amount of time, the same amount of time
as TJ Watt and Alex high Smith, and that's sixty
to seventy percent of the snaps per game, and I
(19:01):
think he has a very good chance to lead this
team with sacks by the end of the year, which
I think is very exciting for Nick Herbig and the
Steeler defense. Next up, Deshaun Elliott is the best player
right now on that defense.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
No, that's I mean, that's a terrible take, but it's
nothing against the Shawn.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
It's just there's so many good players.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I'm doing my job when I make you feel comfortable
with this, right right, I honestly though ed, and you
know I'll hear the I'll hear the counter argument if
you have one.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
I'd say right now, he's the second best member of
the secondary. He's above Darius Lay, He's above Joey Porter
junior well, and of course he's a broove above guys
like Brandon Echoles and Chuck Clerk.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I think where Deshaun Elliott's impact as being the best
defensive player on the team is his return the last
two weeks is enabled the defense to do what they
do best, and that's rushing the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Right.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
It gives a secondary strength. It gives somebody in the
secondary that can cover and also make the open field tackles.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
When you need him to.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
He's the playmaker right there beside you know, one foreign Hill,
the other safety and with Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter, Junior,
Dary Slay, he's a big piece of that puzzle. I
thought when he missed a couple games there earlier this year,
the secondary and that defense overall struggled because they didn't
have a guy in there like Deshaun Elliott that could
cover and make those open field tackles. Now you have
confidence in your defense. So maybe from a number standpoint,
(20:19):
Jacob he's not the best player, but I think from
a scheme standpoint on that defense, he is the best
player right now on that defense.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Okay, two more to get to here.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Derek Harmon is the reason why the Steelers run defense
has improved each week since his return against New England
in Week three.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
You know, I can't ask.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
I can't wait to talk about this with Rayfa Apollo tomorrow.
We are talking without Random Morrow, Yep, yep, because we
miss in the NATI. By the way, he'll be in
his right right. I'll have to talk to him about
some bars that he could hit up. Because I don't know,
if you ever, I don't know if we discussed this.
Some of my best friends are from Cincinnati, so it's
kind of like a Romeo and Juliette situation, where like,
I love the city of Cincinnati even though I shouldn't,
(21:01):
but I have a great time every time I go
to visit my friends there, and if they have a
great time every time they come to visit me in Pittsburgh.
But getting back to it, I can't wait to talk
to Ray about this because every I feel like every
week we've we've we've mentioned it to him at least
since to some degree, the Derek Harmon impact on this defense,
I want to say that's not a terrible take. I
I also want to put in the caveat though, that
(21:23):
I think other people are improving, right. I think you're
seeing Keanu Benton get better. I think you're seeing the
inside linebackers me be more sound and their tackling in
the backfield. But I do think that Derek Harmon is
having a major role and that and the defense's ability
to stop the run.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
The last couple of weeks, I think he's been huge, right, right,
And we talked about it when he was out that
if he came back, would he make that big of
an impact, especially against the run. He's gone home a
handful of times too, So you know a couple of
I think two. We'll get to the numbers in our
next segment, but I think he has two, maybe three
sacks on the year.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
I think he's got two so far.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
I know, one on the New England England game and
then one this past week.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Yep, he does have two. Again, we'll go over his
numbers in the next segment.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
But again, he strengthens that line. That's why they draft
him at number one. In his impact. They've slowed down.
They've done way way better the last two games.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Yeah, I mean, I mean say, you'd even say, going
back to the third game against New England, remember when
they stuffed the running backs from Roger Stevenson and Traveon Henderson.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Well, let's just go for it here, I'll tell you
right now. Rushing wise, one hundred and eighty two given
up against the Jets without Harmon. Second week against Seattle,
they gave up a total of one hundred and seventeen,
so a little bit better, but still over one hundred
yards without Harmon. Harmon returns week three against the Patriots,
and running wise for the Pats. They get one hundred
and nineteen yards. Okay, a little step back, but it
(22:44):
was his first game back. Now, the last two this
is what I'm talking about running wise, the Minnesota Vikings
only seventy yards rushing and the Cleveland Browns only sixty
five yards rushing. So the last two games they've been
very good against.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Last two games especially.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
But again, and I know that they kind of took
a step backwards against the Patriots.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
But they really did a good job of eliminating the.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Effects of the running back, specifically, Mac Jones had a
lot to do with those running numbers, if you remember.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Here is our final terrible take of the day, and
it's a good one. The Steelers will be the only
team from the AFC North to make the playoffs this season.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
That is so hard.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
I'm gonna say two we can easily discount right now,
and that's the Bengals and the Browns. There's no way
the Bengals get there without Joe Burrow and the Browns
are just a dumpster fire. So that leaves the Steelers
in the Ravens. I think we both predict the Steelers
to make it at this point. Yes, we did well,
(23:41):
just like right now in wet time. Yeah, we both
expect them to get there. Given the rest of the division.
It just comes down to the Ravens. That defense did
a little bit better against the Rams than they did
the week before against the Texans, but it's still a liability,
and the offense, as you can and tell, is nowhere
(24:01):
near up to par with versus without Lamar. What they
scored ten points against the Texans last week and I
don't even know, And then what do they score three
against the Rams this past week? So they've scored a
combined thirteen points over the last two weeks. That's obviously
not sustainable. They get a break obviously this week because
(24:25):
they're on the buy, So that gives Lamar another chance
to It gives the team really another chance to not
lose another game without Lamar and potentially follow to one
in seven. I mean, if you followed one in seven,
I don't know how the hell you're gonna climb back
from that. But even if Lamar comes back, I don't
know if that defense, like I said, is good enough
(24:47):
to keep up. So I might push back and say
Baltimore has a shot just because Lamar isn't expected to
be out much longer.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
We don't.
Speaker 5 (24:59):
We a lot of people who think that he'll be
good to go for the rest of the year, that
he's only gonna miss these two games against the Texans
and the Rams and that's it. Remember he was questionable
leading up to that Rams game and then he was
eventually ruled out. But given the bye week, I think
he'll be back. So I think that the Ravens dodged
(25:19):
a huge bullet by only missing two games with Lamar,
But still that one and six start, man, that's gonna
be tough to climb back. I mean, you basically got
to win nine out of your last ten.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Right, statistics tell you it's almost virtually impossible. Remember they're
playing a first place schedule, sure, so you know they
have one of the harder schedules in the AFC North,
being the number one team from a year ago.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
I think ten and seven eleven and.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
Six is is a is a gamble. Ten and seven
is pretty much your only sure way of getting there.
So that means they have to win nine of their
last ten games.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
That is so hard, that is nearly impossible to do.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
And let me let me tell you this, I think
they're the new Bengals of the Division and other awards.
Once they get Lamar back, he's their Joe Burrow. But
their defense is so bad. So even if Lamar and
that offense can score thirty points a game, the defense
might be giving up forty.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
They got some problem.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
They're gonna be playing against some good or good offenses
coming up. They're gonna be playing against the Bears, who
just had it probably their biggest win of the year
against the Washington Commanders this past Monday night. They got
to play the Steelers twice. They gotta play the Packers
on the road in Green Bay. It's gonna be tough.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
In our next segment, we're gonna go over our power rankings.
Let me tell you, I did this yesterday to get
this ready for you, and I blew up my power rankings.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
You're you're probably gonna.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Fly are probably a little scrambled too.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
But there's a lot of movement last a lot of movement,
you're I mean, with all the top three, with three,
well three of the top four teams losing, Yeah, it's
gonna causse some some some scrambles.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And you know me, I'm still at the point of the.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
Season now, I know I know I got you, buddy.
I like you.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I like the reward that one loss team, So we'll
talk about that when we come back. Jacob and I
will get into our Steelers statistics so far of twenty
two twenty five, as well as the NFL Top stat Leaders.
Will also go over our Week seven NFL Power rankings
and again a lot of movement as we no more
undefeated teams in the NFL, and the Steelers are one
(27:13):
of four teams with only one loss in the National
Football League, and just them and the Colts are the
only two in the AFC. We'll talk about that and
more when we come back. It is the Steelers Standard
with Ed Trup and Jacob brect here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network.
We've got a short week. We're chasing another AFC North
Pelt here in a short number of days, and so
we respect the process. We got to work fast here
in preparation for Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The benefit of a short week is a mini buy afterwards.
Steelers will not play this weekend. They have a quick
turnaround to Cincinnati tomorrow night on Thursday Night Football, but
after that they will not play again until they play
the Green Bay Packers on October twenty six, which is
also a Sunday night game, so they also get that
bonus of playing.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Later on in the night.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
It is the Steelers standard with Ed Troup and Jacob
bruct here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network. So yes, Jacob, that's the downside is you
got to turn around quickly. They only had one practice
this week.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
It was yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
We'll get to our injury report in just a moment.
It came out of that practice. Other than that, they
are going to be heading to Cincinnati. I think today
four o'clock. They'll be there tonight. They'll get ready for
game time tomorrow night. It comes quick. Thursday Night football
comes quick, and road teams never perform well because they
have to travel.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Granted for the Steelers, it's not that far going to
Cincinnati here from Pittsburgh.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
No, it's not too bad, but it's still I mean,
if history is not as anything with the Steelers, and
just across the league, you look at the Steelers struggles
on the road for Thursday night games and especially when
it's an AFC North opponent, and then just look at
the last couple of weeks and do you remember a
couple of weeks ago when the Rams were heavy favorites
against the really depleted Niners.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Right, it was the first game I think without Rock Purty.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
It was Mac Jones's first start of the year, or
at least first full game of the year, and the
Rams ended up losing that game. If you look, if
you remember last week, you remember the Eagles who were
four and one going into that game against the Giants.
Everyone thought, oh, the Eagle should win that game pretty handily.
But it was a division game on the road on
(01:55):
a short week, and the Giants ended up crushing.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
The Eagles, so they did. You can discount this game.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
I don't think you can discount any ABC North game,
let alone one played on the road.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Let one played on Thursday night, it's.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Time for our three bullet points of the week before
we get their injury news and then also our ten
terrible takes.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
We'll go with.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Point number one, Boz's solid performance again. Chris Boswell set
the tone early on Sunday, durling three first half field
goals of forty four, fifty and forty eight yards as
the Steelers built at early nine tozering lead. There's one
thing for certain, that's when Chris Boswell lines up to
kick a field goal, he's usually gonna make it. He's
been outstanding, especially so far this year.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
He slipped and fell. That wasn't his fault.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It was the turf at ACU Sure Stadium that caused
them to slip on the what was it a fifty
It was a fifty.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
To fifty six something like that. Yeah, it was a
long fil a long one.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
But something that you could feel comfortable with bos making,
except given the conditions.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I mean, he's been great, you know, mister automatic if
you will, and hopefully that'll continue tomorrow night in Cincinnati,
our next Bowl. At point of the week, as Jacob
and I were just talking in our last segment at
the end, the defense setting the tone the defense has
been was dominant all afternoon. Six total sacks TJ Watt,
Jalen Ramsey, Nick Herbig. Cleveland's longest play from scrimmage was
(03:12):
only two plays over twenty yards all day long. That
speaks volumes to me, Jacob. Splash plays are always a
factor on defense. You want to avoid them as much
as you can, and Cleveland for the most part, didn't
have any on Sunday. Again, only two plays over twenty
yards and I think they were somewhere in the ballpark
of twenty three or twenty four yards each.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Yeah, I mean, you saw Pittsburgh had its best stay
against the splash. You saw them have their most effective
day just on defense. Overaw they allowed the fewest amount
of total yards on the season, They allowed the fewest
amount of rushing yards, the fewest amount of passing yards
on the season. Just I mean, what can you say?
It was a great effort overall. You have to carry
that momentum into Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Our final bullet point of this week from Sunday Steelers
Browns Metcalf strikes again for the fourth straight game. On
the first play of the fourth quarter, Rodgers found dk
Metcalf for the twenty five yard touchdown. That's the fourth
straight game in which DK Metcalf has scored six points
and has reached the end zone. And that's a scenario.
It pushed the Steward lead to twenty three to six
and pretty much put the game on ice. But DK
(04:12):
big yards after catch. He had over one hundred yards
versus the Vikings. But facts are facts. Four straight games
with a touchdown.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Yeah, there is no reason whatsoever, despite you overthinking this
and getting two into your head, that that connection shouldn't
continue into Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Right.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
The Bengals, we know, have a terrible defense top to bottom.
The only guy there is Trey Henderson, who's not even
having near who's not having nearly as good of a
start to the season as he did last year. So
there's no reason for Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf to
not continue to be in sync come Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I think Hendrickson, we'll get their injury report now is
questionable for tomorrow night too.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
He didn't practice all.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
So if he's out, I mean, what what do you
got prefer the Bengals? I mean Shamar Stewart the first
round pick, sure, but I mean that's one one rookie.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
I don't think he's going to be the difference maker.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Let's get to our injury reports segment. We'll start first
with the Steelers here. Calvin Austin questionable for Tomorrow night.
He did not practice on Tuesday, so I don't think
he's gonna go Tomorrow night on Thursday night. But because
the Steelers don't practice, like I said, that was an
early practice was yesterday, So if that's any indication of
what's gonna happen for Tomorrow night. It's a short week
and at that point, why would you rush Austin back.
(05:27):
The Steeers survived without him on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
They did, they did.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
I mean they got Connor Hayward of all people involved.
They obviously had the DK connection working out. But you're
still gonna want to get Calvin Austin back eventually.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Oh, I've got to get him in the mix. He's
your number two receiver.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
But if you can get another ten days of rest
here after Tomorrow night and get him ready for the
Sunday night game against the Packers, that might be the
path for Calvin Austin. Darius Slay questionable for Tomorrow night
after he injured his shoulder in Sunday's game against the Browns.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
He was limited on Tuesday, so that's good news.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
He was at least able to get onto the practice
field and participate again in a limited fashion, but he
is still questionable for Tomorrow night. Miles kill Brew, we
know he is out. I'm going to be out for
extended period of time. No timetable on that yet, but
with that knee injury that he sustained in the Browns game.
He did not practice on Tuesday and will officially. Mike
(06:21):
Tomlin on Monday's press conference a day early because of
the Thursday night football game ruled Miles caribou Brew out
for this week. Meyleck Harrison, the linebacker that they signed
from the Colts who started the season on IR, has
been activated off IR. He's now in the twenty one
day window two return and he did practice on Tuesday
in a limited fashion. Meyle Harrison is a guy that
(06:43):
they brought in for a Landon Roberts who left via
free agency. He's kind of the new a Landon Roberts
that they want to have in that middle linebacker position,
especially to stop the run. We haven't seen Harrison yet
this season because he started the season on ir but
if you get Harrison back in this mix, that just
makes the defense that much better.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Yeah, I think Aleak's clearly the fourth guy on the
depth chart. You got Pat Queen who's your number one,
no question about it, and then you kind of have
a good rotation between Cole Holcom and Peyton Wilson as
the number two. But certainly getting Malik Harrison back at
the insign linebacker position, you're not gonna say no to
another death guy, right And as you said, Malik was
(07:21):
brought in to be that bruiser upfront against the run,
which Alanna Roberts, as you pointed out, did so well
in his time here in Pittsburgh, So gonna be good
to have him back potentially for this game.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
The Bengals injury report looks like this. Trey Hendrickson, as
we just mentioned, did not practice on Monday, and he
did not practice on Tuesday for the Cincinnati Bengals, so
he is questionable for Thursday night. Bj Hill also did
not practice. Tanner Hudson and Charlie Jones the other two players,
with Hudson being a tight end and Charlie Jones being
a wide receiver. I Guessseki, they're titlented tight end. He
(07:53):
also did not practice on Monday or Tuesday, so the
Bengals a couple playmakers banged up. But I think he
interesting leads that list if he, like as you said,
if he can't go tomorrow night, that just makes that
defense it's pretty much all they got. So you take
him out of that equation, then it should be a
big day for Aaron Rodgers and the Steeler offense.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah, I've mentioned to you before the theory, or.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
Rather the claim that Charlie Batch always makes saying if
a guy can't come back from an injury and a game,
that's most likely an indication and he won't play the
following week. And another claim that he's made before too
is that if a guy misses the loan practice on
a short week for a Thursday night game, that's also
(08:37):
a pretty good indication he won't be ready to go
for Thursday night.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Because remember too, like for a normal game or for
a normal game week, you know you.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Can miss a Tuesday practice, you still have a Thursday
and Friday ahead of you, or maybe even a Wednesday,
depending on what your team schedule is. But having such
a short turnaround and not being able to go, having
yourself just all of a sudden beat ready to say, oh, yeah,
I didn't practice all week and I only had three
days to get ready, but now all of a sudden,
I'm good to go. That's not usually the case, So
(09:07):
I don't want to say, oh, it's a good thing
that Trey Hendrickson going to hurt.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
You know, you never want to wish injury.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Upon another player, but if you're the Steelers, seeing him
pop up like you mentioned, not participating yesterday could be
a good sign that for the Steelers that he won't
be out there.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Shamar Stewart, you mentioned him the draft pick, the first
round draft pick for the Bengals this past season.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
He's dealing with an ankle.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
But yeah, but he did go full on Monday and Tuesday,
so he's on track to play this upcoming Thursday night.
Several vets for the Bengals and the Steelers got some
rest both on Monday and Tuesday, but they're not officially
listed on the injury reporting and that's just more of
a maintenance thing. Yeah, for the Steelers, dk Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey,
and Aaron Rodgers being three of those veterans, as well
(09:47):
as TJ.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Watt and Cameron Hayward.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
And j Shan Elliott who were given either Monday or
Tuesday or both days off, but they're not injury related.
Let's get to our ten terrible takes for the week.
Do it Steelers over reactions or not? Where I tried
to stump Jacob and let him scratch his head or
raise an eyebrow one or two.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
We'll start with this.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Broderick Jones is now on track to have his best season.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Yet that's a good one.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
I might say that's not so terrible, but you have
to remember that at the end of his rookie year,
and specifically that I mean, I know the team looked
great overall, but that stretch between Cincinnati and Seattle and
Baltimore where they won three in a row with Mason
coming in and sneaking into the playoffs, he looked really
good and the run offense looked like it's best that
(10:36):
it had all season long, and that was in due
credit to Broderick Jones being inserted fully into the starting lineup.
So I remember that window probably being his best window.
But right now, as you said, he's showing signs of improvement.
So if that's the case, then you'd have to say
a full season. Sure, this could be his best full
season in his short three year career so far. Now, granted,
(11:00):
the competition isn't great either, Right, It's not like he's
had all pro seasons in both of his and each
of his first two years, and he's competed for a third.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
The baseline isn't yeah, the bars low?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, Well, so far much improved, not only Progerick Jones,
but the entire offensive line, even just going back to
that Patriots game, no sacks, two sacks given up against
the Vikings without the first being right at the beginning
of the game, and then only one more throughout the
rest of that game, and then zero sacks this past
week against a very talented Browns team, and Jones had
to go up against Miles Garrett pretty much every time
(11:33):
on Sunday and he won that battle. We'll see if
he can do it again this week in Cincinnati against
a beat up Cincinnati Bengals defense. Next up on our
ten Terrible Takes, DK Metcalf was the best offseason pickup
of twenty twenty five. I'm gonna say, and before you
get to that, the next three terrible takes is that statement.
(11:53):
So I'm gonna give you two more after this, But
first let me know if you think DK is uh,
I'm gonna say no, and I'll just wait for you
to say the next name.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Aaron Rodgers, that's the name. That's the name.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
I'll go DK man. That's tough because I'm assuming the
next one is Jalen Ramsey. Yeah, so those are those are,
without a doubt, the definitive Big three UH in terms
of acquis acquisitions.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Made via free agency or trade or or the draft.
This year.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
It's a tough one.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
But I I if I had to choose, I would
probably rank Rogers won Ramsey. No, that's so tough because
what would this team be without DK metcalf On offense,
I might have to go Aaron Rodgers won, DK two,
Ramsey three. But I I don't mean to put Ramsey
so low. I'm not trying to, you know, sell him
(12:46):
short or anything. Maybe we break it up from an offensive.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Sure, I mean, no question about it.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Rogers and DK one and two, and then on defense
it's it's Jalen Ramsey and Ramsey. You know, Ramsey head
and shoulders above everyone else. That's that's new to the
the defense. But that's not a very large fool. I mean,
it's Darius Slay, it's Derek Harmon, it's Jack Sawyer, right,
But yeah, Ramsey stands above above everyone if.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
You don't have Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I mean, the quarterback position in the NFL is the
most important position on a football team, so that they
have the veteran Aaron Rodgers in that position. And remember
early in the season, those put two out of the
first three games. He brings them back late in the
game to win the game against the Jets and then
against the Patriots, So you have that going for you.
He hasn't turned the ball over. He's been strong. DK
(13:31):
right there with Rodgers. I'd go one two with Rodgers
and Metcalf close, very close to the top offseason pickups
so far here in twenty twenty five. But yeah, Jalen
Ramsey a no brainer on defense. Okay, next up, Jacob
Darnell Washington is the best tight end on the Steelers roster.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Right now.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I might say that's not a terrible take. Actually I'm
not going to might say it. I will say it,
that is a terrible take.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Er.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
It's not a terrible take. Sorry, I get confused. Like it,
I like it. I like Darnell wall Washington.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
His blocking ability is by far the best among all
three tight ends. And then when you get in the ball,
he's just so dangerous. He's so hard to bring down.
He's so hard to cover as well. Even though he
had that great catch and run and had another one
to boot later in the game, and maybe even two
more if I remember correctly, later in the game, they're
still not giving him the ball enough, especially in the
(14:21):
red zone.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Head Darnell Washington on the season nine targets, six catches
for eighty two yards, no touchdowns. Yet, boy, I thought
those numbers would be stronger than it. I was getting excited.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
I thought they were more than that too.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
But yeah, I guess you have to remember he had
what zero catches in the first three weeks or something
for oh Man, that was tough to watch.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I feel like the majority of these catches have now
come just in the last two weeks against the Vikings
and now against the Browns.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
But if they continue to get in the ball more,
we're gonna be kicking ourselves more and more about having
him have zero catches in the first three weeks of
the season.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
And it's kind of deceiving because when you look at
John new Smith, he's been targeted twenty times, seventeen catches,
but only eighty nine yards. So to Smith, they've gone
to a lot more with more catches on the team,
but it doesn't it doesn't carry over to yardage. He
does have a couple of touchdowns on the year though,
and again go back to my DK Metcalf analysis earlier.
(15:12):
We like touchdowns, we like yardage, but we like touchdowns more.
We'll see if they get Washington going more. Okay, Next up,
Caleb Johnson will be part of a three running back
committee at some point this season, splitting most carries with
Warren and Gainwell.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
We saw him this past week on the film.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
I don't think that's a terrible take either.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
I think that Caleb has the ability to be effective
in smaller doses.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Right, It's nothing crazy.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
He's not going to be your your your workhorse back,
but he has a role on this offense. I mean
you saw him. He came in for relief of Kenny
g and Jalen and had that nice nine yard burst
in the third quarter that helped them continue to drive.
So I got to hand it to him. I really
thought that this was going to be an early call
(15:58):
to call him a bust after that really rocky start,
especially when you consider the special teams play that he
was involved in the Seattle game. But he's he's shown
patients and credit to Mike Tomlin, he's been patient with him.
He's been patient with his guy as well. Again, I'm
not saying he's going to be the number one overall
running back on the team by the end of the year,
(16:20):
but he'll definitely have a role, and I think it's
going to be an effective role when you have two
other guys who are talented at that position.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
They got a lot invested in him. He was the
running back brought in this past year. Is their only
running back that they drafted, and in mind that they
wanted him to be part of that two headed monster
with Jalen Warren.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Season starts out a little rough. Preseason wasn't great, but.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
You know, he's showed some sparks at times so far
the season, fourteen carries for only thirty six yards, only
averaging two point six yards per carry. But that's not
a lot of data to make a final call on
Caleb Johnson. But hey, look, if Johnson can perform along
with Warren and Gainwell, that just makes that running back
room that much stronger and the Steelers can rotate those
(17:05):
guys and be effective with the run game. Okay, next up,
Nick Herbig will lead the team in sacks at the
end of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Man, well, he currently leads a team now he does.
That's tough.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
It's such a talented room when it comes to getting.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
You know again, you know, I hate this segment. It's
because I don't want to say what you're saying is terrible,
but there's I think it's it's one of those things
where it's like you're gonna take one guy to win
this or the field. Your better odds are going with
the field, and that includes TJ Watt, who's a former
Defensive Player of the Year, a guy who currently.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Second holds sorry, he's second on the team right now,
three points right.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Right, He's not far behind her Big right now, right,
so on only by one sack. Yep, I might have
to say that's a terrible take and just say that history,
you know, and in the indication of their careers, we'll
see TJ eventually break away. But it's not to say
that Herbig is going to completely fade away on his own, right, right,
(18:08):
you expect Herbig to continue to produce numbers. I just
think TJ is just that it's just at a different level.
And that's nothing against He's at a different level over
everybody else in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Nick Herbig, And we're gonna in our next segment, we're
gonna get to our season stats for the Steelers and
in the NFL. But just looking at Nick her Big,
real quick four point five sacks, three point five for
TJ Watt. Now, Herbig did play about the same amount
of time this past week with his snap kind I
think it was around sixty one or sixty two percent.
TJ was right behind him at sixty or sixty one percent.
(18:41):
So if that is any indication now that Alex high
Smith is back, Nick Herbig should continue to see the
field quite often and maybe even more as the season
goes on. And I think that's I think that's your
answer to that question, Jacob. If he's on the field
a substantial amount of time, the same amount of time
as TJ Watt and Alex high Smith, and that's sixty
to seventy percent of the snaps per game, and I
(19:01):
think he has a very good chance to lead this
team with sacks by the end of the year, which
I think is very exciting for Nick Herbig and the
Steeler defense. Next up, Deshaun Elliott is the best player
right now on that defense.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
No, that's I mean, that's a terrible take, but it's
nothing against the Shawn.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
It's just there's so many good players.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I'm doing my job when I make you feel comfortable
with this, right right, I honestly though ed, and you
know I'll hear the I'll hear the counter argument if
you have one.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
I'd say right now, he's the second best member of
the secondary. He's above Darius Lay, He's above Joey Porter
junior well, and of course he's a broove above guys
like Brandon Echoles and Chuck Clerk.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I think where Deshaun Elliott's impact as being the best
defensive player on the team is his return the last
two weeks is enabled the defense to do what they
do best, and that's rushing the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Right.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
It gives a secondary strength. It gives somebody in the
secondary that can cover and also make the open field tackles.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
When you need him to.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
He's the playmaker right there beside you know, one foreign Hill,
the other safety and with Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter, Junior,
Dary Slay, he's a big piece of that puzzle. I
thought when he missed a couple games there earlier this year,
the secondary and that defense overall struggled because they didn't
have a guy in there like Deshaun Elliott that could
cover and make those open field tackles. Now you have
confidence in your defense. So maybe from a number standpoint,
(20:19):
Jacob he's not the best player, but I think from
a scheme standpoint on that defense, he is the best
player right now on that defense.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Okay, two more to get to here.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Derek Harmon is the reason why the Steelers run defense
has improved each week since his return against New England
in Week three.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
You know, I can't ask.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
I can't wait to talk about this with Rayfa Apollo tomorrow.
We are talking without Random Morrow, Yep, yep, because we
miss in the NATI. By the way, he'll be in
his right right. I'll have to talk to him about
some bars that he could hit up. Because I don't know,
if you ever, I don't know if we discussed this.
Some of my best friends are from Cincinnati, so it's
kind of like a Romeo and Juliette situation, where like,
I love the city of Cincinnati even though I shouldn't,
(21:01):
but I have a great time every time I go
to visit my friends there, and if they have a
great time every time they come to visit me in Pittsburgh.
But getting back to it, I can't wait to talk
to Ray about this because every I feel like every
week we've we've we've mentioned it to him at least
since to some degree, the Derek Harmon impact on this defense,
I want to say that's not a terrible take. I
I also want to put in the caveat though, that
(21:23):
I think other people are improving, right. I think you're
seeing Keanu Benton get better. I think you're seeing the
inside linebackers me be more sound and their tackling in
the backfield. But I do think that Derek Harmon is
having a major role and that and the defense's ability
to stop the run.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
The last couple of weeks, I think he's been huge, right, right,
And we talked about it when he was out that
if he came back, would he make that big of
an impact, especially against the run. He's gone home a
handful of times too, So you know a couple of
I think two. We'll get to the numbers in our
next segment, but I think he has two, maybe three
sacks on the year.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
I think he's got two so far.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
I know, one on the New England England game and
then one this past week.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Yep, he does have two. Again, we'll go over his
numbers in the next segment.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
But again, he strengthens that line. That's why they draft
him at number one. In his impact. They've slowed down.
They've done way way better the last two games.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Yeah, I mean, I mean say, you'd even say, going
back to the third game against New England, remember when
they stuffed the running backs from Roger Stevenson and Traveon Henderson.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Well, let's just go for it here, I'll tell you
right now. Rushing wise, one hundred and eighty two given
up against the Jets without Harmon. Second week against Seattle,
they gave up a total of one hundred and seventeen,
so a little bit better, but still over one hundred
yards without Harmon. Harmon returns week three against the Patriots,
and running wise for the Pats. They get one hundred
and nineteen yards. Okay, a little step back, but it
(22:44):
was his first game back. Now, the last two this
is what I'm talking about running wise, the Minnesota Vikings
only seventy yards rushing and the Cleveland Browns only sixty
five yards rushing. So the last two games they've been
very good against.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Last two games especially.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
But again, and I know that they kind of took
a step backwards against the Patriots.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
But they really did a good job of eliminating the.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Effects of the running back, specifically, Mac Jones had a
lot to do with those running numbers, if you remember.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Here is our final terrible take of the day, and
it's a good one. The Steelers will be the only
team from the AFC North to make the playoffs this season.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
That is so hard.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
I'm gonna say two we can easily discount right now,
and that's the Bengals and the Browns. There's no way
the Bengals get there without Joe Burrow and the Browns
are just a dumpster fire. So that leaves the Steelers
in the Ravens. I think we both predict the Steelers
to make it at this point. Yes, we did well,
(23:41):
just like right now in wet time. Yeah, we both
expect them to get there. Given the rest of the division.
It just comes down to the Ravens. That defense did
a little bit better against the Rams than they did
the week before against the Texans, but it's still a liability,
and the offense, as you can and tell, is nowhere
(24:01):
near up to par with versus without Lamar. What they
scored ten points against the Texans last week and I
don't even know, And then what do they score three
against the Rams this past week? So they've scored a
combined thirteen points over the last two weeks. That's obviously
not sustainable. They get a break obviously this week because
(24:25):
they're on the buy, So that gives Lamar another chance
to It gives the team really another chance to not
lose another game without Lamar and potentially follow to one
in seven. I mean, if you followed one in seven,
I don't know how the hell you're gonna climb back
from that. But even if Lamar comes back, I don't
know if that defense, like I said, is good enough
(24:47):
to keep up. So I might push back and say
Baltimore has a shot just because Lamar isn't expected to
be out much longer.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
We don't.
Speaker 5 (24:59):
We a lot of people who think that he'll be
good to go for the rest of the year, that
he's only gonna miss these two games against the Texans
and the Rams and that's it. Remember he was questionable
leading up to that Rams game and then he was
eventually ruled out. But given the bye week, I think
he'll be back. So I think that the Ravens dodged
(25:19):
a huge bullet by only missing two games with Lamar,
But still that one and six start, man, that's gonna
be tough to climb back. I mean, you basically got
to win nine out of your last ten.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Right, statistics tell you it's almost virtually impossible. Remember they're
playing a first place schedule, sure, so you know they
have one of the harder schedules in the AFC North,
being the number one team from a year ago.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
I think ten and seven eleven and.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
Six is is a is a gamble. Ten and seven
is pretty much your only sure way of getting there.
So that means they have to win nine of their
last ten games.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
That is so hard, that is nearly impossible to do.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
And let me let me tell you this, I think
they're the new Bengals of the Division and other awards.
Once they get Lamar back, he's their Joe Burrow. But
their defense is so bad. So even if Lamar and
that offense can score thirty points a game, the defense
might be giving up forty.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
They got some problem.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
They're gonna be playing against some good or good offenses
coming up. They're gonna be playing against the Bears, who
just had it probably their biggest win of the year
against the Washington Commanders this past Monday night. They got
to play the Steelers twice. They gotta play the Packers
on the road in Green Bay. It's gonna be tough.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
In our next segment, we're gonna go over our power rankings.
Let me tell you, I did this yesterday to get
this ready for you, and I blew up my power rankings.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
You're you're probably gonna.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Fly are probably a little scrambled too.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
But there's a lot of movement last a lot of movement,
you're I mean, with all the top three, with three,
well three of the top four teams losing, Yeah, it's
gonna causse some some some scrambles.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And you know me, I'm still at the point of the.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
Season now, I know I know I got you, buddy.
I like you.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I like the reward that one loss team, So we'll
talk about that when we come back. Jacob and I
will get into our Steelers statistics so far of twenty
two twenty five, as well as the NFL Top stat Leaders.
Will also go over our Week seven NFL Power rankings
and again a lot of movement as we no more
undefeated teams in the NFL, and the Steelers are one
(27:13):
of four teams with only one loss in the National
Football League, and just them and the Colts are the
only two in the AFC. We'll talk about that and
more when we come back. It is the Steelers Standard
with Ed Trup and Jacob brect here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network.
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