October 21, 2025 • 29 mins
Ed Troup and Jacob Recht debate the potential overreactions following Week 7 such as DK Metcalf needs at least double digit targets every week moving forward, Nick Herbig should be getting even if not a higher snap count than Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt, and the Steelers will lose each of their next two home games to the Packers and Colts falling to 4-4.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome back into the Steelers Standard with Ed Troop and
Jacob Wrect on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Jacob, this upcoming Sunday nights.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Sunday night football always exciting, especially when you're at home
at Akishur Stadium. The city always looks very bright and
beautiful with the three Rivers. You get this here Mike
Trico talk about the confluence which is always exciting on
Sunday Night football Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers
is going to be a good one this upcoming Sunday,
and the Steelers will be wearing their nineteen thirty three
(00:37):
throwback uniforms that they showcase during this past summer as
one of their alternative uniforms for this upcoming season. I
believe they'll still go color rush for one game at least,
but this is the alternative one that they'll use.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
But will they do the block lettering, We don't know.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It looks I guess the nineteen thirty three uniforms, I
know you're listening at home, but very easily just to
bring up, Jacob when I are looking at them right now,
I guess those are kind of like block letterings.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Right, there's block blocker.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I don't know what lettering, but the letters look like
on the bottom or on the back rather.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
But what do you think of the new uniforms? I
am yeah, you're not a fan, not a fan of them.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
The Steelers are are fans, at least Mike Tomlin is
of debuting new uniforms. Listen to this, not including the
color Rush. The Steelers, with a designated throwback uniform under
Tomlin are.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Sixteen and five. The last time they lost was.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
In twenty fifteen versus the Cincinnati Bengals and a bumblebee
throwback uniforms and color Rush uniforms.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
When they wear them their eight and three.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
But when they debut an alternative uniform, like they're going
to this upcoming Sunday night, they are four and oh
undefeated when they do the alternative for the first time.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So can they make it five and oh? Probably not?
We shall see, not because because you're not a fan
of them now has nothing to do with that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
They kind of look like and again this is way
before your time. But I remember when I was a
kid in nineteen ninety four, they did a similar look
at this. It was a throwback to nineteen thirty three
where they were showcasing the beginning of the franchise, and
they were very similar to these uniforms.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And they didn't like those either.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I think I've seen those before and they I think
that this is what that was supposed to mimic, and
I don't didn't love those either.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
I think it was the seventy fifth anniversary of the
NFL back then in nineteen ninety four. Don't quote me
on that, but yeah, I wasn't a fan back then either.
I'm with you, man, You're not gonna hear me argue
with you. I wasn't a fan of those. The only
thing I do like about these are the helmets. I
do like the yellow helmets when.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, I mean you remember that they had the yellow
helmets for the seventy fifth an anniversary for the team.
When they used it was like the original color Rush
jerseys and helmets. I would love to see them bring
back the yellow helmets alongside the color Rush jerseys.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I'd like to see them go maybe like an old
like an all all gold type look to them too.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I think that would be kind of cool at some point.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
But again, the Stewards are old school man and that's
what you got to appreciate and love about the black
and they stick to their traditions of their uniform. They
don't like to do very many alternative looks from it.
I think the color rush has been a home run though.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, it definitely knows. I've really liked those.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Okay, let's move along in our Terrible Takes segment here
for today hot takes from Steelers Week seven, overreactions or not.
Before we jump into the Terrible Takes, just a quick
note on injury news.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
We don't have much to report.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
We talked about the same injury report yesterday as we
record this podcast here today a little bit before eleven o'clock,
so Mike Tomlin will address the media here at noon
today to give us updates on any of these injuries,
any new ones or existing ones, but really not too
much to report. Darius Slay was on the injury report
last week. He was questionable, but he played fully this
(03:42):
past Thursday night. Calvin Austen did not play last week.
He was questionable, but all indications are Austin could potentially
be playing and come back this upcoming Sunday. Again, we'll
get an update from Mike Tomlin today Miles Killerbrew is
now out.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
He's on the IR.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Malik Harrison, the linebacker that they picked up free agency
see wise last spring from the Colts, coming in for
a Landon Roberts who left free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was activated off i R. He's been on IR
since the beginning of the season. He's now in a
twenty one day window to return, which is now a
fourteen day window to return, So they have two weeks
that possibly bring Harrison Beck. I would expect they will
(04:19):
do that at some point, whether it's this week or
next week, he'll be back.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
But other than that, Jacob, they're healthy.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
There's no new injuries from that game unless something has
happened since that.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Mike Tomlin will update us here today. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I mean they've gotten very lucky with injuries. There's been
nothing too long lasting. The only one really is Miles Killerbrew,
but we know that the special teams unit surrounding him,
coached by Danny Smith is excuse me, he's doing slightly
better compared to the start of the season, So not
a huge loss to lose a special teams captain.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah. Offensive and defensively, they've they've been very lucky. They
have gotten better on special teams too, so we need
to point out we hammered him early in the season,
and rightfully so on from a special team's standpoint, but
they have gotten better. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I was going to ask you your opinion on the
males Killbrew who's been the special team standout?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Him being out now and on IR does.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
That impact the special teams as much as we think
or is it just a matter of plugging in someone
else there?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Well, I don't think so, because you know, he's been
out now for a little while and he was just
designated to the long term I R. So I think
I mean you'll still have him on the side, okay, yea, yeah,
you'll also have him on the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, they've been okay even with not still have him
in the locker room. That's why he's a captain for
a reason.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So yeah, like I said, and you mentioned it too,
they've they've been able to get by without him the
last couple of games with that special team. So I
don't think as big of an impact as like a TJ.
Watt or DK Metcalf would be on offense or defense.
But still we wish the best for Miles Kilbrew and
hopefully we'll get back at some point this season with
the Pittsburgh Steelers. As you said a team captain, Okay,
(05:54):
terrible take Steelers overreactions or not where I try to
get the take from Jacob who them will say, it's
not really a terrible take ahead, it's an okay take.
But let's see what you think about this first one.
The rest of the NFL now has a blueprint on
how to attack the twenty twenty five Pittsburgh Steelers on
offense and defense after that Bengals loss.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, I think that's pretty obvious.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I think offensively, yeah, I mean Aaron Rodgers has been
willing to deal in, but they don't stick with the
run game. They don't really have a lot of tape
to show that the run game is a big threat.
As I mentioned earlier today that the run game has
only had one really massive performance and that was against
the Bengals, who are one of the worst defenses in football.
(06:37):
So you make the run game non existent, you send
you know everyone a DK Metcalf, and you leave Aaron
Rodgers pretty much on his own to pick apart your
defense with just Calvin Austin and the tight ends who
have only been involved in the last two weeks. Now,
I know Calvin Ausen will come back, but he's only
(06:57):
got what seventeen or so catches on the year, not
legit numbers for a wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Two.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So yeah, I think the blueprint on offense how to
slow them down is there. And then when it comes
to the defense, I mean there's really no blueprint. You
just attack them everywhere. They can't stop the run. Their
secondary is is has holes. It's not as elite. I
remember when we did this segment toward the beginning of
the season, you said, on paper, the Seedlers have the
(07:25):
best secondary in the NFL, and I pushed back immediately,
and I think clearly after watching a couple of weeks later, Yeah,
I mean I don't think they're anywhere near elite.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, that was well put it this way, they could
be elite.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Right, maybe maybe I guess on paper, but not on
paper they are. They are nowhere, Or I guess on
the field they are nowhere near they're on paper.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Expectations not not what we saw last Thursday night. That's
for short paper champions, right, Jacob. Next up, Jalen Warren
went healthy has looked better than Nausey Harris did last
season at running back. Warren had his best game of
the season so far with sixteen carries for one hundred
and twenty seven yards last week.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah, I don't think that's terrible.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I mean, if you remember last year, Naj had what
only like two or three games where he cracked over
one hundred yards, and even when he did so, he
barely got there. It wasn't like a, oh he was
approaching two hundred yards every week. Like I said, he
only got to that century mark three times all season long.
So Jalen warrens got what one under his belt? I think, Yeah,
(08:28):
I mean, all he's gonna do is get two more
and then he's at even keel with Naj. I mean
nause it's tough. I really like nause. I really loved
his style of football. I think if he had a
better offensive line, a more balanced offense, not playing alongside
a guy like Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubiski or Russell
Wilson or Justin Fields, if he had a legitimate offensive
(08:49):
line with a quarterback who could actually defenses could respect
and not just abandoned attacking him and just go all
out of nause I think nase here would have done
much better here, and it's unfortunate for him to have
that preseason injury that kept him out or was a
week one of the regular season that's keeping him out
(09:10):
for the entire season. I feel bad for the guy.
I think he's a talented running back. I really loved
the pick when he was coming out of Alabama. He
was a bruiser. But getting back to the original question,
I think right now you could say that juven Warren's
on pace to do better than Najia Harrison last year,
but that's just because again, I think that offensive line
last year was really really depleted. I mean they still
(09:30):
had Dan Moore the left tackle. Broder Jones, who we
know is uncomfortable playing at right tackle, was playing on
that side because Troy Futanu wasn't out there. Mason McCormick
was a rookie and getting better, but he was still
a rookie. So yeah, I mean the offensive line and
it's Pittsburgh just never really came together while naj was here,
and that was a big reason why things didn't work out,
and he moved on after his rookie contract.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
When I typed this up yesterday, I threw the nausey
at you because I know you're a nause guy. I
know you like nausey a lot, so I thought i'd
get you on that one. But you look at Jalen
Warren's numbers. He had thirty seven yards in Week one
against the Jets, forty eight yards rushing in Week two
against the Seahawks, forty seven against the Patriots. So hm
ah through those first three games. Then he got hurt,
(10:12):
missed the Vikings game in Doublin, Ireland, but game well
stepped in and got ninety nine yards rushing.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Right, And you could say, I mean on I mean,
it's it's tough to kind of separate the two, but
you could say it's a rushing game better overall this
year compared last year. You could say that, I guess,
but it's still I mean, last year was really bad
and it's so disappointing because if you remember two years ago,
at the end of the season, Jalen Warren and Adrea
Harris were on a tear. I mean, they were unstoppable.
(10:38):
They were running through pretty much everyone as the season progressed.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
But then they really just hit a wall.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
In twenty twenty four, they really couldn't get back to
that success that they found at the end of twenty
twenty three. So even though it's not been a huge threat,
I mean, they are one of the worst rushing teams,
if not what I think they rank, what dead last
in rushing yards per game this season, I would be
wrong if they're got that the twenty six I'm looking
at it right now, they're still rushing for under one
(11:05):
hundred yards per game.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
That's not great, but it's better than it was last year.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
So I guess if you're looking at it through that lens,
you could say you could say that is true.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, Warren's last two games fifty two yards rushing against
the Browns on one hundred and twenty seven this past week. Again,
I just looked at that much too much better.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Naji's highest run output on the year last year was
one hundred and fourteen, so you.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Already beat He beat that this past week with one
twenty seven. You can also make the argument to the
offensive line. You just mentioned it Jacob last segment, which
was a good take by you, that they've only given
up two sacks and what the last four games is
that what we said, which is outstanding and now you
look at the running numbers the first three games thirty seven,
forty eight, forty seven, and then the last three ninety nine,
fifty two and one twenty seven. So not only not
(11:51):
only is the offensive line protecting Rogers better, they're also.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Opening up the running game more again.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
And as we said against Cincinnati, those numbers were probably
have been even stronger, but they got away from the
run because they had they were playing catch up in
the second.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Should have been better, but you know, you can't you
can't really get too mad because, like like I said,
with playing the hypothetical, imagine if they hadn't done that,
if they hadn't had that success. Well, yeah, that's easy
to say because you know you're you're finding reasons to
criticize the team. But they did get to over one
hundred yards. Jalen had a great night. But you have
(12:25):
another tough defensive matchup this week against the Packers. They
they ranked number two against the run this uh in
the NFL so far, So you're gonna take Sorry, I.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Got Michael Parsons exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I have a feeling you're gonna take another step backwards
when it comes to the rushing output this week.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
That's gonna be tough sledding or potentially could be tough
sledding against the Packers on Sunday night. With that, we'll
get into the Packers preview later this week and get
you all set for that when we start scouting the
Green Bay Packers. But yes, Michael Parson's being a big
reason why the Packers defense has had the success they
have in the last few games since acquiring him early
in the season.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Okay, next up for our terrible take, Joey Porter Junior with.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
All these PI penalties, is not the top corner the
Steelers need him to be at this point in his career.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, I'm gonna say that's spot on.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
I remember back in what was it twenty twenty three
when the Steelers had the whatever they were, like fifteenth
or seventeenth in that year's draft. I think they were
seventeenth and then traded up to fifteen to sneak up
past the Jets to select Roger Jones. But you remember
they also had the thirty second overall pick as a
result of the Chase Claypool trade with Chicago, and both
(13:34):
Joey Porter Junior and Brian Branch were available, and I
remember saying, I know you have Mika Fitzpatrick at the moment,
but I still think that Brian Brant is going to
be at the better player overall in Lo And behold
Brian Branch, who I think made an All Pro team
second team All Pro at least made the Pro Bowl
last year.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
He's been very good.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
His second year in Detroit has been much better than
Joey Porter has. Granted the different positions Brian Branch played
as a safety, Joey Porter Junior playing as a cornerback,
but yeah, I mean absolutely, Even though technically he was
a second round pick.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
We all know.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
The thirty second overall pick is usually a first round
draft selection. It was only because I think Miami lost
a draft pick that year. Someone lost the draft picks,
so there were only thirty one first round picks that year,
so he was a de facto first round pick, and
he has not played up to that level throughout his career.
In total so far.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Joey Porter Jr. He's tall, and he's athletic, and he
has speed. That's why they drafted him, but tackling has
never been one of his strengths. And also all the
pass interference holding calls also is not in a strength
but now it's becoming more clear because I feel like
it's almost every play that it's happening. So he definitely
needs to clean that game up to become the top
(14:48):
corner that they need him to be on this defense. Jacob,
because he's the youngest guy out there. Well as far
as the starter goes. Yeah, I know they got some
other young defensive backs in the system, but they need
their former I don't want to say because it was
technically a second round pick, right, but it was at
the end of the first round with Joey Porter Junior
a few years back. Okay, next up, Pat Fryarmuth is
back after his big game on TNF with one hundred
(15:11):
and eleven yards receiving and two touchdowns, and should be
targeted more as the season moves forward.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Yeah, that's hard. I mean, definitely should be targeted more,
that's a no brainer. But it's hard for me to
say he's fully back just because I don't know what
direction this offense is going to go. When you remember
against Cleveland against Minnesota, they took away his snapcount simply
because the matchup required it. You know, it was a
much tougher, much more beefier defensive lines in Minnesota and
(15:37):
Cleveland that you saw against Cincinnati. It's all scheme exactly
right right the matchup. The matchup was was beneficial to
not have Pat out there, but it was beneficial to
have him out there against Cincinnati because there was really
no one at any level on that defense that was
really a threat to take Pat out of the game,
to make him a non factor.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
So it's hard for me to say he'll be fully back.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Happy that he got his big night capped off by
that nearly seventy yard touchdown catch and run. But granted,
you're playing a really good defense against the Pack this
weekend on Sunday night, I just don't know what Arthur
Smith is going to scheme up.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
So is he back?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
He's at least on the statuet now right, he's got yards,
he's got a touch he's got two touchdowns now, so
technically he is back. But will he be a featured
member of this offense moving forward as much as he
was on Thursday night?
Speaker 1 (16:31):
It's hard to say. Well, I think you bring up
a good point. It's more based on scheme, right than ability.
We know he has the ability, he just hasn't gotten
the snap counts to be in there because they've had
to have the bigger Darnell Washington in there to provide
extra blocking or at extra tackle when it brought in
Calvin Anderson as a swing tackle eligible player. They've gone
(16:52):
bigger up front to try to go up against these
bigger defensive lines. So when youth is in there, he's
gonna make an impact. But he's more your receiving tight
end rather than your block out. But still nice to
see him with a big second half and those two
touchdowns this past week against the Bengals. Okay, next up,
Jalen Ramsey took a step back last week after not
being able to slow down the Bengals wide receiver duo
(17:13):
of Jamar Chase and t Higgins. We heard all preseason
during the summer up at Latrobe that this is why
we brought Jayalen Warren in here, was to go one
on one against Jamar Chase. Even the week leading up
to Thursday Night Football last week, it was a lot
of the discussion Ramsey versus Chase, while Chase got the
best of Ramsey and the entire Steelers secondary putting up
(17:33):
that huge game on twenty three targets, sixteen catches, one
hundred and sixty one yards and a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Absolutely, I think you have to say he took a
huge step back and out referenced the point that I
made earlier today. Look at the best receivers that this
defense has faced Week two against Jackson Smith and Jigba,
Week four against the Minnesota Vikings with Jordan Addison and
Justin Jefferson. Then on Thursday Night against t Higgins and
(18:00):
Jamar Chase, the secondary was chewed up right and spit
out by those offenses. So I think even though he
was making splash plays earlier in the season, you have
to say that Jaylen Ramsey might not be the best
coverage guy out there. And that's a problem because you know,
we talked about the reliance of turnovers, especially when you
look at looked at that game against New England, five turnovers.
(18:23):
You can't just expect your defense to force that many
turnovers and get that many sacks week.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
In week out.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I mean, we've seen it, right, they had five turnovers
in that game. They haven't gotten even close to that
since then. They had six sacks against the Browns two
weeks ago, they had what two against Joe Flacco and
a really bad, even way worse offensive line in Cincinnati
compared to the one in Cleveland. So yeah, it's just
(18:50):
it's it's a significant issue, uh, noticing the play of
Jalen Ramsey one went facing up against good offenses.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Jacob, we're halfway through this segment. Are you feeling okay?
So far we have not thrown you off. You've been
on board with these terrible takes normally. I don't know
what that means. I don't know what that means. We're
clicking the other way. And this one's a layup. When
I did this one yesterday, this this was times you
do that for me, just giving well because I wasn't sure.
We go through the first five and I'm thinking, maybe
we're clicking at like ten percent, but no, we're clicking
(19:19):
at one hundred percent so far.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
But this one's a layup. Maybe I should even skip over. No,
I won't. Okay, here we go. Rookie key Sewan Williams
from Indiana, should you team in the country? Should thank you?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Should remain the kick returner for the rest of the season,
even when Calvin Austin returns back.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
He has played that well, Yeah, I mean, I think
he's done great. Right, You've seen his return averages even
go up as he's played more. I don't know what
the team will actually do if Calvin Austin comes back,
hopefully by this Sunday night. It looks like he's tracking
to play on Sunday night. Maybe they think that Calvin
is is more or will be a better asset to
(19:58):
them in summer terms. Maybe they split the returns. I
don't know, but Keishaan has definitely earned his spot for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Yeah, one hundred percent number two in the country. Now
you're hoosiers. Huh number two?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Man?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Wow? Look at that.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Yeah, after blowing away Mike Pursuda's Michigan State Spartans, did.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You let him?
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Of course during after before all of the above, even
two days later? Right next up, DK Metcalf needs to
be targeted at least double digits each game. Only five
last week for three catches for fifty yards. Remember his
counterpart Jamar Chase twenty three targets.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, I mean that twenty three targets is a ridiculously
high number, one of the highest ever in a single
game in NFL history. But yeah, I like that. I
like that decision about getting DK more involved. You can't
have them just disappear after the first drive of every game, right,
I mean, you can't have them just make one big splash,
play one big touchdown and then say, Okay, that's all
we needed out of you, and thanks and we'll see
(20:53):
you next week. Uh five, was it five catches or
five targets? He finished with five targets? Yeah? That three catches.
That's that's ridiculous. At the minimum, he should be having
five catches on ten targets. But even you think about that,
that's not even that good of a number because that's
a fifty percent catch rate. You can't have that out
of your wide receiver one. So I need double digit targets,
(21:14):
and I honestly wouldn't be upset with double digit catches
by the end of the day for every week.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
That was glaring at me when I saw that on
the stat sheet that you only targeted your top receiver
five five.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Times, and considering you had no Calvin Austin, So who
else were you throwing the ball to at the receiver position.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And you're playing catch up in the second half? Yeah, right,
I mean, you know, just I mean, and I know
farm Youth had the big catches, and I even jerym
and Wilson got involved with a couple catches in the
second half.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
But your number one guy.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Has a matter of how good everyone else is doing.
He was doing poorly. You just got to give him
the ball.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
More double digits every game. Come on. Even at the
end of the day.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
If you look at it and he has two catches
for fifteen yards, but he was targeted eleven times, you
can say, okay, well the defensive back made place. Yeah,
I don't like that number each Jacob, I see you
with your disgust.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
I'm with you. However, at least he gets the targets.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I mean, and I'm sure that's in a guy like
DK Metcalf's head too, like absolutely only targeted five times.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Come on, all right, Next up? TJ.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Watt is off to his slowest start of his career
so far here in twenty twenty five four point five
sacks through six games.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
It's definitely one of the lowest or one of the slowest.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
For sure, four sexter six games.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Definitely one of the slowest of his career. I mean,
it's mirroring last year. I don't know what the what
his sack rate was through six games last year, but
I know that he for the first sign when not
playing a full seventeen games once he established himself as
in his first All Pro season. This was the first
time last year when he didn't get that first team
(22:43):
All Pro nod, he was a second teamer. He can't
have that, and right now I don't even know if
he's playing at a second team. I'll pro rate simply
because there are so many other guys in that position
who were doing better. So yeah, I mean, if it
wasn't last year, it's this year or vice versa. But
the last two years have been very concerning given TJ
Watt's output.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
I was giving you Nick Herbig's numbers four point five
sacks through five games played. TJ Watt four sacks through
six game games played, which you know, looking at a
non TJ Watt average defensive player a little bit better
than average defensive player in the NFL, four sacks and
six games you feel pretty good about.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
But with TJ Watt, the expectation is almost.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Double that, right he should have eight sacks through six games.
Just has been slow, and hopefully that'll turn around because
he's one of the best in the game. And then
one of the best ever play it at that edge
rusher position on defense. Speaking of Nick Herbig, he's up
next on our Terrible Take or Not. Nick Herbig only
played thirty eight percent of the snaps last week. That
(23:41):
needs to be at least doubled going forward.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Yeah, I mean I am happy with that.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I mean, we saw what it did to the Steelers
defense when you took him off the field on Thursday
night against the Bengals, Right, So why would you do
that given the sample size you saw so puzzling exactly
given when he was healthy, right, because I think he
missed what week one. Given when he was healthy, you
could argue he was the best Sealers defender on the
(24:08):
field at the time. And so just because Alex Highsmith
became available to you doesn't mean that you should just
remove Nick Herbig from the defensive equation.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
I mean, I'll give you two of my keys to
the game.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
We do that at the end of the week on Friday,
but I'll give it to you right now on Tuesday.
And they've been on this Terrible Take list. DK Metcalf
needs double targets and Nick Herbig needs to play double
the amount of time he did last week. He needs
to play over sixty to seventy percent of the snaps
for Nick Herbig, and DK needs to be targeted at
least ten times or more. There you go two right there,
one on offense and one on defense. Two solutions to
(24:41):
what's out there. And I know the critics will come
back and say, Wow, it's scheme, right. I don't care
if it's scheme or not. You have one of the
best receivers in the league, and you have one of
the best upcoming, up and coming defensive players in Nick Herbig.
Get that guy on the field more. Okay, Next up,
Aaron Rodgers will have his top game of twenty twenty
five so far the season on Sunday Night against the
(25:01):
former his former team and.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
The team that drafted him in the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Well, they'll have their He'll have his top game so
far this season this Sunday Night.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
It's tough to I'm gonna say that's a terrible take
just because of the defensive matchup. That defense is legit
in Green Bay and it's only gotten better as the
season has gone on. I think the best output you
saw of him so far was either the Cincinnati game
or the Jets game those defenses. I mean, the Jets
are zero to seven, and we know how bad the
(25:32):
Bengals defense has been, not just this season, but dating
back to years years ago. So given how good the
Packers defense was already before Michael Parsons joined, I don't
think that we're gonna see unless he flips a switch, right,
and you think all of a sudden that he's going
to have some fire in him. Not all of a sudden,
(25:52):
but because of the matchup, he's gonna have a fire
in him and want this to be his best game.
And the Pittsburgh Sheels uniform because he's playing his former team,
maybe that's why. But this defense is just so good
top to bottom that I can't see him doing better
than he did against Cincinnati or New York.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
In Week one.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Jacob, imagine if Ben Roethlisberger left his last two or
three seasons with the Steelers and played two or three
more years and he went to the Seattle Seahawks and
then he had to play the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yeah, I mean, be crazy.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
I mean he's gonna be he'd be all in right,
he wants to beat him.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
I mean, all those guys who move on or are
all in on their former team.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
But I also will say this, I also think it's
the circumstances that they leave that also impacts.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
And Aaron Rodgers, as we know, did not leave on
the best of terms with either Green Bay or New York.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
No, he's out, he's out for blood. I would think
this upcoming Sunday. I think it's gonna be one of
his top games. But maybe not statistically, but maybe just
from a playing standpoint. Tough defense, though, you bring up
a good point in Green Bay. Okay, our last one,
and then there are three terrible takes, But I want
you to pick one that you think or pick two
of the three. How about that, pick two of the
three that you think are the worst takes and one
(26:59):
that you like.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I'm gonna give you three.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
The Steelers will lose the next two games at home
and will be four and four after eight games. Or
the Steelers will win the next two games at home
and be six and two after eight games. Or they
will split the next two games at home and be
five and three after the next eight games. So you
have three options. Give me two of the terrible ones
and the one that you like.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
The one that I think is most likely is the
first one you gave me. I think they're gonna lose
these next two Oh boy. I think the Packers are
a much better team top to bottom, and we've seen
that Indie offense really establish itself as the best.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
In the league.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Right Daniel Jones has come in and I talked about
this yesterday saying, I know Baker Mayfield's at the top
of everyone's list for MVP, but given that we're now
approaching Week eight, which is about the halfway point of
a season, you can't deny what Daniel Jones has been doing.
And we've talked about how Jonathan Taylor should be in
(27:55):
everyone's conversation regarding offensive Player of the Year. Tyler Warren
might be your leading leader for offensive Rookie of the
year at the tight end position. I think that Colts
offense could easily carve up the Sealers defense. It's just
a matter of can the Steelers offense keep up and
score enough points? But I don't think that's going to
(28:17):
be the case. I think the most likely scenario here
these next two weeks is that the Steelers will.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Fall to four and four.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
It's a very big possibility I think the likelihood of
them winning the next two less than anything.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Yeah, I think best case scenario is one on one.
Best case scenario is one on one. I'm with doubt
you'll win both. Yeah, I'm with you there.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
And remember when we come in here on Monday, November third,
Remember the conversation that we talked about going into these
two games. How pivotal I mean not important, not season
ending or season making, but just pivotal time at their schedule,
almost in the middle of these next two at home.
Because if you lose both in your four and four,
you've now lost three in a row, and now you've
got to start thinking back to last season losing those
(28:58):
last five games and things unraveling quickly. But you at
least split one on one. We're having probably the same conversations.
You win both, Okay, well, nine are six and two.
You just be two top teams at home. Now that
changes the whole power rankings that we're going to talk
to next that you might be at the top or
near the top.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
But we shall see what happens.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Okay, when we come back, Jacob and I will jump
into our steel Digits of the week. We'll review some
Steeler statistics and NFL top stat leaders, and we'll get
to our power rankings for Week eight. Some movement after
Monday Night football. Maybe there was a big one between
the Lions and the and the Bucks that definitely impact
our power rankings, and we'll get to that when we
come back. It is the Steeler Standard with Ed Troop
(29:35):
and Jacob Bret on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the
Steelers Audio Network.
Welcome back into the Steelers Standard with Ed Troop and
Jacob Wrect on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Jacob, this upcoming Sunday nights.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Sunday night football always exciting, especially when you're at home
at Akishur Stadium. The city always looks very bright and
beautiful with the three Rivers. You get this here Mike
Trico talk about the confluence which is always exciting on
Sunday Night football Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers
is going to be a good one this upcoming Sunday,
and the Steelers will be wearing their nineteen thirty three
(00:37):
throwback uniforms that they showcase during this past summer as
one of their alternative uniforms for this upcoming season. I
believe they'll still go color rush for one game at least,
but this is the alternative one that they'll use.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
But will they do the block lettering, We don't know.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It looks I guess the nineteen thirty three uniforms, I
know you're listening at home, but very easily just to
bring up, Jacob when I are looking at them right now,
I guess those are kind of like block letterings.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Right, there's block blocker.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I don't know what lettering, but the letters look like
on the bottom or on the back rather.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
But what do you think of the new uniforms? I
am yeah, you're not a fan, not a fan of them.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
The Steelers are are fans, at least Mike Tomlin is
of debuting new uniforms. Listen to this, not including the
color Rush. The Steelers, with a designated throwback uniform under
Tomlin are.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Sixteen and five. The last time they lost was.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
In twenty fifteen versus the Cincinnati Bengals and a bumblebee
throwback uniforms and color Rush uniforms.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
When they wear them their eight and three.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
But when they debut an alternative uniform, like they're going
to this upcoming Sunday night, they are four and oh
undefeated when they do the alternative for the first time.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So can they make it five and oh? Probably not?
We shall see, not because because you're not a fan
of them now has nothing to do with that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
They kind of look like and again this is way
before your time. But I remember when I was a
kid in nineteen ninety four, they did a similar look
at this. It was a throwback to nineteen thirty three
where they were showcasing the beginning of the franchise, and
they were very similar to these uniforms.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And they didn't like those either.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I think I've seen those before and they I think
that this is what that was supposed to mimic, and
I don't didn't love those either.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
I think it was the seventy fifth anniversary of the
NFL back then in nineteen ninety four. Don't quote me
on that, but yeah, I wasn't a fan back then either.
I'm with you, man, You're not gonna hear me argue
with you. I wasn't a fan of those. The only
thing I do like about these are the helmets. I
do like the yellow helmets when.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, I mean you remember that they had the yellow
helmets for the seventy fifth an anniversary for the team.
When they used it was like the original color Rush
jerseys and helmets. I would love to see them bring
back the yellow helmets alongside the color Rush jerseys.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I'd like to see them go maybe like an old
like an all all gold type look to them too.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I think that would be kind of cool at some point.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
But again, the Stewards are old school man and that's
what you got to appreciate and love about the black
and they stick to their traditions of their uniform. They
don't like to do very many alternative looks from it.
I think the color rush has been a home run though.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, it definitely knows. I've really liked those.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Okay, let's move along in our Terrible Takes segment here
for today hot takes from Steelers Week seven, overreactions or not.
Before we jump into the Terrible Takes, just a quick
note on injury news.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
We don't have much to report.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
We talked about the same injury report yesterday as we
record this podcast here today a little bit before eleven o'clock,
so Mike Tomlin will address the media here at noon
today to give us updates on any of these injuries,
any new ones or existing ones, but really not too
much to report. Darius Slay was on the injury report
last week. He was questionable, but he played fully this
(03:42):
past Thursday night. Calvin Austen did not play last week.
He was questionable, but all indications are Austin could potentially
be playing and come back this upcoming Sunday. Again, we'll
get an update from Mike Tomlin today Miles Killerbrew is
now out.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
He's on the IR.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Malik Harrison, the linebacker that they picked up free agency
see wise last spring from the Colts, coming in for
a Landon Roberts who left free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was activated off i R. He's been on IR
since the beginning of the season. He's now in a
twenty one day window to return, which is now a
fourteen day window to return, So they have two weeks
that possibly bring Harrison Beck. I would expect they will
(04:19):
do that at some point, whether it's this week or
next week, he'll be back.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
But other than that, Jacob, they're healthy.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
There's no new injuries from that game unless something has
happened since that.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Mike Tomlin will update us here today. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I mean they've gotten very lucky with injuries. There's been
nothing too long lasting. The only one really is Miles Killerbrew,
but we know that the special teams unit surrounding him,
coached by Danny Smith is excuse me, he's doing slightly
better compared to the start of the season, So not
a huge loss to lose a special teams captain.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah. Offensive and defensively, they've they've been very lucky. They
have gotten better on special teams too, so we need
to point out we hammered him early in the season,
and rightfully so on from a special team's standpoint, but
they have gotten better. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I was going to ask you your opinion on the
males Killbrew who's been the special team standout?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Him being out now and on IR does.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
That impact the special teams as much as we think
or is it just a matter of plugging in someone
else there?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Well, I don't think so, because you know, he's been
out now for a little while and he was just
designated to the long term I R. So I think
I mean you'll still have him on the side, okay, yea, yeah,
you'll also have him on the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, they've been okay even with not still have him
in the locker room. That's why he's a captain for
a reason.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So yeah, like I said, and you mentioned it too,
they've they've been able to get by without him the
last couple of games with that special team. So I
don't think as big of an impact as like a TJ.
Watt or DK Metcalf would be on offense or defense.
But still we wish the best for Miles Kilbrew and
hopefully we'll get back at some point this season with
the Pittsburgh Steelers. As you said a team captain, Okay,
(05:54):
terrible take Steelers overreactions or not where I try to
get the take from Jacob who them will say, it's
not really a terrible take ahead, it's an okay take.
But let's see what you think about this first one.
The rest of the NFL now has a blueprint on
how to attack the twenty twenty five Pittsburgh Steelers on
offense and defense after that Bengals loss.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, I think that's pretty obvious.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I think offensively, yeah, I mean Aaron Rodgers has been
willing to deal in, but they don't stick with the
run game. They don't really have a lot of tape
to show that the run game is a big threat.
As I mentioned earlier today that the run game has
only had one really massive performance and that was against
the Bengals, who are one of the worst defenses in football.
(06:37):
So you make the run game non existent, you send
you know everyone a DK Metcalf, and you leave Aaron
Rodgers pretty much on his own to pick apart your
defense with just Calvin Austin and the tight ends who
have only been involved in the last two weeks. Now,
I know Calvin Ausen will come back, but he's only
(06:57):
got what seventeen or so catches on the year, not
legit numbers for a wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Two.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So yeah, I think the blueprint on offense how to
slow them down is there. And then when it comes
to the defense, I mean there's really no blueprint. You
just attack them everywhere. They can't stop the run. Their
secondary is is has holes. It's not as elite. I
remember when we did this segment toward the beginning of
the season, you said, on paper, the Seedlers have the
(07:25):
best secondary in the NFL, and I pushed back immediately,
and I think clearly after watching a couple of weeks later, Yeah,
I mean I don't think they're anywhere near elite.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, that was well put it this way, they could
be elite.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Right, maybe maybe I guess on paper, but not on
paper they are. They are nowhere, Or I guess on
the field they are nowhere near they're on paper.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Expectations not not what we saw last Thursday night. That's
for short paper champions, right, Jacob. Next up, Jalen Warren
went healthy has looked better than Nausey Harris did last
season at running back. Warren had his best game of
the season so far with sixteen carries for one hundred
and twenty seven yards last week.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah, I don't think that's terrible.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I mean, if you remember last year, Naj had what
only like two or three games where he cracked over
one hundred yards, and even when he did so, he
barely got there. It wasn't like a, oh he was
approaching two hundred yards every week. Like I said, he
only got to that century mark three times all season long.
So Jalen warrens got what one under his belt? I think, Yeah,
(08:28):
I mean, all he's gonna do is get two more
and then he's at even keel with Naj. I mean
nause it's tough. I really like nause. I really loved
his style of football. I think if he had a
better offensive line, a more balanced offense, not playing alongside
a guy like Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubiski or Russell
Wilson or Justin Fields, if he had a legitimate offensive
(08:49):
line with a quarterback who could actually defenses could respect
and not just abandoned attacking him and just go all
out of nause I think nase here would have done
much better here, and it's unfortunate for him to have
that preseason injury that kept him out or was a
week one of the regular season that's keeping him out
(09:10):
for the entire season. I feel bad for the guy.
I think he's a talented running back. I really loved
the pick when he was coming out of Alabama. He
was a bruiser. But getting back to the original question,
I think right now you could say that juven Warren's
on pace to do better than Najia Harrison last year,
but that's just because again, I think that offensive line
last year was really really depleted. I mean they still
(09:30):
had Dan Moore the left tackle. Broder Jones, who we
know is uncomfortable playing at right tackle, was playing on
that side because Troy Futanu wasn't out there. Mason McCormick
was a rookie and getting better, but he was still
a rookie. So yeah, I mean the offensive line and
it's Pittsburgh just never really came together while naj was here,
and that was a big reason why things didn't work out,
and he moved on after his rookie contract.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
When I typed this up yesterday, I threw the nausey
at you because I know you're a nause guy. I
know you like nausey a lot, so I thought i'd
get you on that one. But you look at Jalen
Warren's numbers. He had thirty seven yards in Week one
against the Jets, forty eight yards rushing in Week two
against the Seahawks, forty seven against the Patriots. So hm
ah through those first three games. Then he got hurt,
(10:12):
missed the Vikings game in Doublin, Ireland, but game well
stepped in and got ninety nine yards rushing.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Right, And you could say, I mean on I mean,
it's it's tough to kind of separate the two, but
you could say it's a rushing game better overall this
year compared last year. You could say that, I guess,
but it's still I mean, last year was really bad
and it's so disappointing because if you remember two years ago,
at the end of the season, Jalen Warren and Adrea
Harris were on a tear. I mean, they were unstoppable.
(10:38):
They were running through pretty much everyone as the season progressed.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
But then they really just hit a wall.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
In twenty twenty four, they really couldn't get back to
that success that they found at the end of twenty
twenty three. So even though it's not been a huge threat,
I mean, they are one of the worst rushing teams,
if not what I think they rank, what dead last
in rushing yards per game this season, I would be
wrong if they're got that the twenty six I'm looking
at it right now, they're still rushing for under one
(11:05):
hundred yards per game.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
That's not great, but it's better than it was last year.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
So I guess if you're looking at it through that lens,
you could say you could say that is true.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, Warren's last two games fifty two yards rushing against
the Browns on one hundred and twenty seven this past week. Again,
I just looked at that much too much better.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Naji's highest run output on the year last year was
one hundred and fourteen, so you.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Already beat He beat that this past week with one
twenty seven. You can also make the argument to the
offensive line. You just mentioned it Jacob last segment, which
was a good take by you, that they've only given
up two sacks and what the last four games is
that what we said, which is outstanding and now you
look at the running numbers the first three games thirty seven,
forty eight, forty seven, and then the last three ninety nine,
fifty two and one twenty seven. So not only not
(11:51):
only is the offensive line protecting Rogers better, they're also.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Opening up the running game more again.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
And as we said against Cincinnati, those numbers were probably
have been even stronger, but they got away from the
run because they had they were playing catch up in
the second.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Should have been better, but you know, you can't you
can't really get too mad because, like like I said,
with playing the hypothetical, imagine if they hadn't done that,
if they hadn't had that success. Well, yeah, that's easy
to say because you know you're you're finding reasons to
criticize the team. But they did get to over one
hundred yards. Jalen had a great night. But you have
(12:25):
another tough defensive matchup this week against the Packers. They
they ranked number two against the run this uh in
the NFL so far, So you're gonna take Sorry, I.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Got Michael Parsons exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I have a feeling you're gonna take another step backwards
when it comes to the rushing output this week.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
That's gonna be tough sledding or potentially could be tough
sledding against the Packers on Sunday night. With that, we'll
get into the Packers preview later this week and get
you all set for that when we start scouting the
Green Bay Packers. But yes, Michael Parson's being a big
reason why the Packers defense has had the success they
have in the last few games since acquiring him early
in the season.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Okay, next up for our terrible take, Joey Porter Junior with.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
All these PI penalties, is not the top corner the
Steelers need him to be at this point in his career.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, I'm gonna say that's spot on.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
I remember back in what was it twenty twenty three
when the Steelers had the whatever they were, like fifteenth
or seventeenth in that year's draft. I think they were
seventeenth and then traded up to fifteen to sneak up
past the Jets to select Roger Jones. But you remember
they also had the thirty second overall pick as a
result of the Chase Claypool trade with Chicago, and both
(13:34):
Joey Porter Junior and Brian Branch were available, and I
remember saying, I know you have Mika Fitzpatrick at the moment,
but I still think that Brian Brant is going to
be at the better player overall in Lo And behold
Brian Branch, who I think made an All Pro team
second team All Pro at least made the Pro Bowl
last year.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
He's been very good.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
His second year in Detroit has been much better than
Joey Porter has. Granted the different positions Brian Branch played
as a safety, Joey Porter Junior playing as a cornerback,
but yeah, I mean absolutely, Even though technically he was
a second round pick.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
We all know.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
The thirty second overall pick is usually a first round
draft selection. It was only because I think Miami lost
a draft pick that year. Someone lost the draft picks,
so there were only thirty one first round picks that year,
so he was a de facto first round pick, and
he has not played up to that level throughout his career.
In total so far.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Joey Porter Jr. He's tall, and he's athletic, and he
has speed. That's why they drafted him, but tackling has
never been one of his strengths. And also all the
pass interference holding calls also is not in a strength
but now it's becoming more clear because I feel like
it's almost every play that it's happening. So he definitely
needs to clean that game up to become the top
(14:48):
corner that they need him to be on this defense. Jacob,
because he's the youngest guy out there. Well as far
as the starter goes. Yeah, I know they got some
other young defensive backs in the system, but they need
their former I don't want to say because it was
technically a second round pick, right, but it was at
the end of the first round with Joey Porter Junior
a few years back. Okay, next up, Pat Fryarmuth is
back after his big game on TNF with one hundred
(15:11):
and eleven yards receiving and two touchdowns, and should be
targeted more as the season moves forward.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Yeah, that's hard. I mean, definitely should be targeted more,
that's a no brainer. But it's hard for me to
say he's fully back just because I don't know what
direction this offense is going to go. When you remember
against Cleveland against Minnesota, they took away his snapcount simply
because the matchup required it. You know, it was a
much tougher, much more beefier defensive lines in Minnesota and
(15:37):
Cleveland that you saw against Cincinnati. It's all scheme exactly
right right the matchup. The matchup was was beneficial to
not have Pat out there, but it was beneficial to
have him out there against Cincinnati because there was really
no one at any level on that defense that was
really a threat to take Pat out of the game,
to make him a non factor.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
So it's hard for me to say he'll be fully back.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Happy that he got his big night capped off by
that nearly seventy yard touchdown catch and run. But granted,
you're playing a really good defense against the Pack this
weekend on Sunday night, I just don't know what Arthur
Smith is going to scheme up.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
So is he back?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
He's at least on the statuet now right, he's got yards,
he's got a touch he's got two touchdowns now, so
technically he is back. But will he be a featured
member of this offense moving forward as much as he
was on Thursday night?
Speaker 1 (16:31):
It's hard to say. Well, I think you bring up
a good point. It's more based on scheme, right than ability.
We know he has the ability, he just hasn't gotten
the snap counts to be in there because they've had
to have the bigger Darnell Washington in there to provide
extra blocking or at extra tackle when it brought in
Calvin Anderson as a swing tackle eligible player. They've gone
(16:52):
bigger up front to try to go up against these
bigger defensive lines. So when youth is in there, he's
gonna make an impact. But he's more your receiving tight
end rather than your block out. But still nice to
see him with a big second half and those two
touchdowns this past week against the Bengals. Okay, next up,
Jalen Ramsey took a step back last week after not
being able to slow down the Bengals wide receiver duo
(17:13):
of Jamar Chase and t Higgins. We heard all preseason
during the summer up at Latrobe that this is why
we brought Jayalen Warren in here, was to go one
on one against Jamar Chase. Even the week leading up
to Thursday Night Football last week, it was a lot
of the discussion Ramsey versus Chase, while Chase got the
best of Ramsey and the entire Steelers secondary putting up
(17:33):
that huge game on twenty three targets, sixteen catches, one
hundred and sixty one yards and a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Absolutely, I think you have to say he took a
huge step back and out referenced the point that I
made earlier today. Look at the best receivers that this
defense has faced Week two against Jackson Smith and Jigba,
Week four against the Minnesota Vikings with Jordan Addison and
Justin Jefferson. Then on Thursday Night against t Higgins and
(18:00):
Jamar Chase, the secondary was chewed up right and spit
out by those offenses. So I think even though he
was making splash plays earlier in the season, you have
to say that Jaylen Ramsey might not be the best
coverage guy out there. And that's a problem because you know,
we talked about the reliance of turnovers, especially when you
look at looked at that game against New England, five turnovers.
(18:23):
You can't just expect your defense to force that many
turnovers and get that many sacks week.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
In week out.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I mean, we've seen it, right, they had five turnovers
in that game. They haven't gotten even close to that
since then. They had six sacks against the Browns two
weeks ago, they had what two against Joe Flacco and
a really bad, even way worse offensive line in Cincinnati
compared to the one in Cleveland. So yeah, it's just
(18:50):
it's it's a significant issue, uh, noticing the play of
Jalen Ramsey one went facing up against good offenses.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Jacob, we're halfway through this segment. Are you feeling okay?
So far we have not thrown you off. You've been
on board with these terrible takes normally. I don't know
what that means. I don't know what that means. We're
clicking the other way. And this one's a layup. When
I did this one yesterday, this this was times you
do that for me, just giving well because I wasn't sure.
We go through the first five and I'm thinking, maybe
we're clicking at like ten percent, but no, we're clicking
(19:19):
at one hundred percent so far.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
But this one's a layup. Maybe I should even skip over. No,
I won't. Okay, here we go. Rookie key Sewan Williams
from Indiana, should you team in the country? Should thank you?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Should remain the kick returner for the rest of the season,
even when Calvin Austin returns back.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
He has played that well, Yeah, I mean, I think
he's done great. Right, You've seen his return averages even
go up as he's played more. I don't know what
the team will actually do if Calvin Austin comes back,
hopefully by this Sunday night. It looks like he's tracking
to play on Sunday night. Maybe they think that Calvin
is is more or will be a better asset to
(19:58):
them in summer terms. Maybe they split the returns. I
don't know, but Keishaan has definitely earned his spot for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Yeah, one hundred percent number two in the country. Now
you're hoosiers. Huh number two?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Man?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Wow? Look at that.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Yeah, after blowing away Mike Pursuda's Michigan State Spartans, did.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You let him?
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Of course during after before all of the above, even
two days later? Right next up, DK Metcalf needs to
be targeted at least double digits each game. Only five
last week for three catches for fifty yards. Remember his
counterpart Jamar Chase twenty three targets.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, I mean that twenty three targets is a ridiculously
high number, one of the highest ever in a single
game in NFL history. But yeah, I like that. I
like that decision about getting DK more involved. You can't
have them just disappear after the first drive of every game, right,
I mean, you can't have them just make one big splash,
play one big touchdown and then say, Okay, that's all
we needed out of you, and thanks and we'll see
(20:53):
you next week. Uh five, was it five catches or
five targets? He finished with five targets? Yeah? That three catches.
That's that's ridiculous. At the minimum, he should be having
five catches on ten targets. But even you think about that,
that's not even that good of a number because that's
a fifty percent catch rate. You can't have that out
of your wide receiver one. So I need double digit targets,
(21:14):
and I honestly wouldn't be upset with double digit catches
by the end of the day for every week.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
That was glaring at me when I saw that on
the stat sheet that you only targeted your top receiver
five five.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Times, and considering you had no Calvin Austin, So who
else were you throwing the ball to at the receiver position.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And you're playing catch up in the second half? Yeah, right,
I mean, you know, just I mean, and I know
farm Youth had the big catches, and I even jerym
and Wilson got involved with a couple catches in the
second half.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
But your number one guy.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Has a matter of how good everyone else is doing.
He was doing poorly. You just got to give him
the ball.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
More double digits every game. Come on. Even at the
end of the day.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
If you look at it and he has two catches
for fifteen yards, but he was targeted eleven times, you
can say, okay, well the defensive back made place. Yeah,
I don't like that number each Jacob, I see you
with your disgust.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
I'm with you. However, at least he gets the targets.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I mean, and I'm sure that's in a guy like
DK Metcalf's head too, like absolutely only targeted five times.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Come on, all right, Next up? TJ.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Watt is off to his slowest start of his career
so far here in twenty twenty five four point five
sacks through six games.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
It's definitely one of the lowest or one of the slowest.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
For sure, four sexter six games.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Definitely one of the slowest of his career. I mean,
it's mirroring last year. I don't know what the what
his sack rate was through six games last year, but
I know that he for the first sign when not
playing a full seventeen games once he established himself as
in his first All Pro season. This was the first
time last year when he didn't get that first team
(22:43):
All Pro nod, he was a second teamer. He can't
have that, and right now I don't even know if
he's playing at a second team. I'll pro rate simply
because there are so many other guys in that position
who were doing better. So yeah, I mean, if it
wasn't last year, it's this year or vice versa. But
the last two years have been very concerning given TJ
Watt's output.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
I was giving you Nick Herbig's numbers four point five
sacks through five games played. TJ Watt four sacks through
six game games played, which you know, looking at a
non TJ Watt average defensive player a little bit better
than average defensive player in the NFL, four sacks and
six games you feel pretty good about.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
But with TJ Watt, the expectation is almost.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Double that, right he should have eight sacks through six games.
Just has been slow, and hopefully that'll turn around because
he's one of the best in the game. And then
one of the best ever play it at that edge
rusher position on defense. Speaking of Nick Herbig, he's up
next on our Terrible Take or Not. Nick Herbig only
played thirty eight percent of the snaps last week. That
(23:41):
needs to be at least doubled going forward.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Yeah, I mean I am happy with that.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I mean, we saw what it did to the Steelers
defense when you took him off the field on Thursday
night against the Bengals, Right, So why would you do
that given the sample size you saw so puzzling exactly
given when he was healthy, right, because I think he
missed what week one. Given when he was healthy, you
could argue he was the best Sealers defender on the
(24:08):
field at the time. And so just because Alex Highsmith
became available to you doesn't mean that you should just
remove Nick Herbig from the defensive equation.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
I mean, I'll give you two of my keys to
the game.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
We do that at the end of the week on Friday,
but I'll give it to you right now on Tuesday.
And they've been on this Terrible Take list. DK Metcalf
needs double targets and Nick Herbig needs to play double
the amount of time he did last week. He needs
to play over sixty to seventy percent of the snaps
for Nick Herbig, and DK needs to be targeted at
least ten times or more. There you go two right there,
one on offense and one on defense. Two solutions to
(24:41):
what's out there. And I know the critics will come
back and say, Wow, it's scheme, right. I don't care
if it's scheme or not. You have one of the
best receivers in the league, and you have one of
the best upcoming, up and coming defensive players in Nick Herbig.
Get that guy on the field more. Okay, Next up,
Aaron Rodgers will have his top game of twenty twenty
five so far the season on Sunday Night against the
(25:01):
former his former team and.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
The team that drafted him in the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Well, they'll have their He'll have his top game so
far this season this Sunday Night.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
It's tough to I'm gonna say that's a terrible take
just because of the defensive matchup. That defense is legit
in Green Bay and it's only gotten better as the
season has gone on. I think the best output you
saw of him so far was either the Cincinnati game
or the Jets game those defenses. I mean, the Jets
are zero to seven, and we know how bad the
(25:32):
Bengals defense has been, not just this season, but dating
back to years years ago. So given how good the
Packers defense was already before Michael Parsons joined, I don't
think that we're gonna see unless he flips a switch, right,
and you think all of a sudden that he's going
to have some fire in him. Not all of a sudden,
(25:52):
but because of the matchup, he's gonna have a fire
in him and want this to be his best game.
And the Pittsburgh Sheels uniform because he's playing his former team,
maybe that's why. But this defense is just so good
top to bottom that I can't see him doing better
than he did against Cincinnati or New York.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
In Week one.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Jacob, imagine if Ben Roethlisberger left his last two or
three seasons with the Steelers and played two or three
more years and he went to the Seattle Seahawks and
then he had to play the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yeah, I mean, be crazy.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
I mean he's gonna be he'd be all in right,
he wants to beat him.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
I mean, all those guys who move on or are
all in on their former team.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
But I also will say this, I also think it's
the circumstances that they leave that also impacts.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
And Aaron Rodgers, as we know, did not leave on
the best of terms with either Green Bay or New York.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
No, he's out, he's out for blood. I would think
this upcoming Sunday. I think it's gonna be one of
his top games. But maybe not statistically, but maybe just
from a playing standpoint. Tough defense, though, you bring up
a good point in Green Bay. Okay, our last one,
and then there are three terrible takes, But I want
you to pick one that you think or pick two
of the three. How about that, pick two of the
three that you think are the worst takes and one
(26:59):
that you like.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I'm gonna give you three.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
The Steelers will lose the next two games at home
and will be four and four after eight games. Or
the Steelers will win the next two games at home
and be six and two after eight games. Or they
will split the next two games at home and be
five and three after the next eight games. So you
have three options. Give me two of the terrible ones
and the one that you like.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
The one that I think is most likely is the
first one you gave me. I think they're gonna lose
these next two Oh boy. I think the Packers are
a much better team top to bottom, and we've seen
that Indie offense really establish itself as the best.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
In the league.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Right Daniel Jones has come in and I talked about
this yesterday saying, I know Baker Mayfield's at the top
of everyone's list for MVP, but given that we're now
approaching Week eight, which is about the halfway point of
a season, you can't deny what Daniel Jones has been doing.
And we've talked about how Jonathan Taylor should be in
(27:55):
everyone's conversation regarding offensive Player of the Year. Tyler Warren
might be your leading leader for offensive Rookie of the
year at the tight end position. I think that Colts
offense could easily carve up the Sealers defense. It's just
a matter of can the Steelers offense keep up and
score enough points? But I don't think that's going to
(28:17):
be the case. I think the most likely scenario here
these next two weeks is that the Steelers will.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Fall to four and four.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
It's a very big possibility I think the likelihood of
them winning the next two less than anything.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Yeah, I think best case scenario is one on one.
Best case scenario is one on one. I'm with doubt
you'll win both. Yeah, I'm with you there.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
And remember when we come in here on Monday, November third,
Remember the conversation that we talked about going into these
two games. How pivotal I mean not important, not season
ending or season making, but just pivotal time at their schedule,
almost in the middle of these next two at home.
Because if you lose both in your four and four,
you've now lost three in a row, and now you've
got to start thinking back to last season losing those
(28:58):
last five games and things unraveling quickly. But you at
least split one on one. We're having probably the same conversations.
You win both, Okay, well, nine are six and two.
You just be two top teams at home. Now that
changes the whole power rankings that we're going to talk
to next that you might be at the top or
near the top.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
But we shall see what happens.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Okay, when we come back, Jacob and I will jump
into our steel Digits of the week. We'll review some
Steeler statistics and NFL top stat leaders, and we'll get
to our power rankings for Week eight. Some movement after
Monday Night football. Maybe there was a big one between
the Lions and the and the Bucks that definitely impact
our power rankings, and we'll get to that when we
come back. It is the Steeler Standard with Ed Troop
(29:35):
and Jacob Bret on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the
Steelers Audio Network.
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