October 23, 2025 • 29 mins
Ed Troup and Jacob Recht look at the highs and lows of the Steelers following their loss last week to the Bengals and looking ahead to the Packers this week.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Back here on the Steelers Standard with Ed Troup and
Jacob Brett on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network. Before we get to our seven shots of
hits and misses. Jacob, have you ever been to Lambeau Field?
Have you been to Green Bay?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I not, have you I have, As you know, I've
been to Wisconsin, but never Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
As you know, I've taken my young sons on a
tour of college football facilities, NFL facilities, of Major League
baseball stadiums, and two years ago, two summers, not this
past summer. The summer before, we did a huge miss
Midwest trip in which we had a whole bunch of
NFL college football stadiums and major League baseball parks.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
And part of that was.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
A We were in Milwaukee and I looked at my wife,
and I looked at the map and I said, I
think it's only an hour and a half drive to
Lambeau We were not intended to go there, but we
decided to pivot and go to Lambo for an afternoon.
One of the best experiences I've had. I cannot say
it enough. I referenced Fenway Park in Baseball as baseball Heaven.
For the Major League Baseball fields, and there's a lot
(01:02):
of good ones out there well for football outside of Pittsburgh,
because I'm a homer with the Steelers. Lambeau Field absolutely
football heaven, and it is it's similar to if you
would land in Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh International Airport, you would
have to get on seventy nine and basically drive all
the way down to Waynesburg and then all of a sudden,
get off of Waynesburg exit and drive about five miles
(01:22):
and you run into an NFL stadium of lambeau Field.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, just right, yeah right. And it's in the middle
of a neighborhood too. It's it's yeah, that's what I'm saying.
I mean, what was awesome. If I'm sure you remember
in Week one this year where it was Detroit at
Green Bay, CBS did a great job of showing they
were doing part of their broadcast from one of those
homes that just their backyard is lambeau Field.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
It's it's it's it's a crazy atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
And they've redone lambeau over the years too, they've upgraded
it a lot, so it's even though it's it's similar
to Soldier Field. They've done that with Soldier Field too,
where it's the existing old stadium, but they've built around
it to build it up, similar what they're doing in
Happy Valley with Penn State up there too.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
That's the cool part.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
They leave that tradition there. But they have a Hall
of Fame that we went through, and there's a picture
of me. I'd have to find it for you and
show to you, probably laugh. I did the lambeau Leap,
which is kind of cool.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Lambert actual well in the stands or do they have
a little section where it's it would have been makeshift.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
It would have been a really cool story if I
told you it was in the stands, and I was
ready to lie to you, and then somebody out there
listening says, Troop, you can't do that.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
It's a little makeshift thing outside. And then they have
the huge statues a Lombardi that's like Vince Lombardi himself,
fifty feet tall. And then when you go inside the
stadium there's an actual Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
That's the size of a hundred Oh wow. I didn't
know that one.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I knew about the I knew about the big Lombardi Statue.
I didn't know about the trophy.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Such a cool atmosphere. We were there before football season started.
I think we're there late June or early July that year,
so they were just starting to ramp up to get
ready for the upcoming season. But yeah, definitely, if if
you're a football fan out there and listening to this,
you probably are nine percent probably is go check out
lambeau Field, even if it's not for a game, if
you're just in that area and I think it's I
think it. Don't quote me on this, but ninety minute
(03:07):
drive from Milwaukee north up to uh up to green Bay.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, I've been to our Milwaukee and I've been to
Madison the capitol, but I haven't gotten to Green Bay yet.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What was funny was our original plan that day was
to go to Madison to check out the University Wisconsin
Beautiful school to check off our Big ten list, because
we've been to Iowa and Ohio State and a handful
of others in Bloomington, Indiana. Yet I'm not I was
gonna talk to you about I'll talk to you about
that off air because we got we got to put
that on the list absolutely to get up there.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I'll be there and just under a month a couple
of weeks going back, have to have to see the
number two team in the country actually that week facing
off against none other than the Wisconsin Badgers.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Jacob, Now there you go. Now we're we're coming full circle.
Jacob is a proud graduate of the University of Indiana.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
The listeners would know that we we don't really talk
about it that much on this show.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Not iup the Indiana University, home of the Hoosiers and
one of my favorite basketball coaches of all time in
Bobby Knight.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Okay, enough basketball, enough Hoosiers. No, we're not a basketball
school anymore. Didn't you hear it? Another being gone a lot,
you've been gone them for a while now you haven't heard.
They're ranked like third in the country.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And we could do a Pittsburgh reference with Signette, their
head football coach, so we can we can bring it
all back around here on the Pittsburgh Steelers standards.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
And I'll just correct you before we moved on. You
said they're about third. They're actually number two in the country.
Don't forge at Miami Top three Miami Laws against Louisville
this past Sunday, allowing Indiana to move up to the
number two spot. So there's respect on our name, not
a basketball Again. We don't really talk about the Hoosiers ever.
I never sneak it in there. I never brag about it,
never do that. I will give you some Hoosier love, man,
(04:40):
Absolutely you should. They're They're in a great season we
have to talk about.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And they had a good year last year too, so
it's not just the first time that Indiana football is
starting to make some movement. Okay, back to the Steelers
and Steeler injury news here on the Standard. Mike Tomlin
in his press conference on Tuesday reference this. And we
also saw yesterday the first day that the Steelers were
on the practice facility on the field at the practice
facility on the South Side. So Calvin Austin with a shoulder,
(05:04):
was a full participant yesterday on Wednesday, so we expect
him to be back for the first time in weeks
to play against the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Malik Harrison.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
We just talked to Ray Fitapato about this in our
last segment. He was a full participant yesterday, second week
in that twenty one day window. We are expecting Harrison
to potentially come off of that this week and play
against the Packers. If he doesn't, you'll definitely see him
off the following week against the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Will Howard.
This was a surprise to a lot of folks. They
(05:32):
pulled him off the twenty one day or put him
into the twenty one day window. He was a full
participant at practice the other day. He's completely healed, So
now the Steelers have twenty one days three weeks to
activate him or he has to stay on the IR
for the entire season.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
One surprise was Zach Frazier. He has a calf showed
up on the injury report.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Tomlin did not talk about this at the press conference
on Tuesday, but he was on the injury report yesterday.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
He was limited.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So he did practice but was limited with a calf muscle.
So we'll just have to keep an eye on that
as the week goes on.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Watt and Cam Hayward both veteran days off on Wednesday,
and Miles Kilbrew was confirmed with Mike Tomlin on Tuesday
at the press conference that he is on the IR
and out for the season. So the Steelers lose a
valuable special teams player in Miles Kilbrew.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Any thoughts on the injury news, No.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I mean, of course, Zach Frasier popping up is costs
for concern. Hopefully it's not too serious, as you said,
because we know how frail the offensive line has been
at the start the season. They've done a better job though,
remember how we talked about Chilean Warren got to over
one hundred yards. They haven't allowed a sack and what
three games at this point. I think the last line
they allowed a sack was against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
So that's good.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
But you can't have any setbacks for if you're this
offensive line just because of how lacking they are at depth.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It's like you read my notes because as we get
into our seven shots of seven hits and seven misses
here on the standard, our first.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Hit is what you just talked about, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So you read my mind, you read my sheet, and
you didn't cheat because I didn't show it to you.
The Steelers offensive line zero sacks in the last two
games and only two in the last four games after
seven in the first two games. So digest everything. I
just told you. The fact of the matter is they're
protecting Aaron Rodgers better in the last two games, even
despite what happened in Cincinnati last Thursday night. No sacks
(07:23):
by this offensive line in the last two and only
two in the last four, and one of those two
occurred rate at the beginning of that Vikings game.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, I mean, I'll just focus on Zach Fraser here.
It is imperative that you have him out there. I mean, yes,
we're gonna complement the entire offensive line and the progress
they've made, but I'm gonna emphasize on you have to
have Zach Fraser out there. Now. I know it's not
up to you, it's the injury, but really it is.
It could be a long day if Zach Fraser isn't
(07:52):
out there. I mean, we've seen the Steelers struggle ever
since Marquez Pouncy retired, going through guys like Kendrick Green
and Mason It just never worked out until they found
Zach Fraser. But if he's going to be out, I mean,
that could lead to that defensive front of green Bay
finally breaking the floodgates and getting homed for allowing the
Steelers to suffer their first sacks and what was it
(08:14):
Week four, Week five.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
It was week four against the Vikings that they gave
up that first first sack at the.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Beginning of the game.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Then they give up one more later on in that matchup. Yeah,
I agree with you about Zach Fraser. And again today
we'll tell us a lot because if it's a second
day of being limited, now you've got to start to
scratch your head a little bit. These are, you know,
calf or hamstring type of injuries that can go either way.
They can just be a minor setback for the week
and then he's a full participant today or tomorrow on Friday,
then it's a non issue going into the game on Sunday,
(08:43):
or he continues to be limited, or it goes the
other way, right, it gets worse. And those soft tissue
type of injuries like a calf or a hamstring can
go either way during a work week, as Mike Todblin
likes to refer to a practice week a work week,
and that's what it is for these guys. So we'll
have to wait and see and see if that link
into another day for Zach Fraser. And we will update
everyone here on the standard tomorrow during our Friday show
(09:05):
when we get into our scouting reports with the Green
Bay Packers and ultimately preview this upcoming Sunday night game. Okay,
our first miss of the day for our seven shots.
The secondary got beat for three hundred and forty two
yards three touchdowns last week. No interceptions, only five picks
in six games, and they all come from five different players.
(09:26):
So not just one player with multiple picks, five different
players with interceptions.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
A couple of linebackers in there too.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I think that's a glaring issue right now, Jacob on
this team. We just talked to Ray about it in
our last segment. This secondary is leaking right now. And
I made that joke about a leaky secondary sounds more
like a medical condition. But it is a leaky secondary
right now, at least what we saw against the Bengals.
Can they correct it against Jordan Love and the Green
Bay Packers this week?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
We shall see, Yeah, I mean I hope so.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
But as we talked about with Ray last segment, I
think the only saving grease you can is the fact
that there isn't an all Pro guy at either receiver
or tight end for the Packers to really torch the
Steelers secondary. I mean, they have a lot of weapons.
Let's not forget they're also it's the first game back
they'll have Christian Watson. You remember their draft pick a
(10:16):
couple of years ago, who's been an asset for that
passing game. But overall, I mean, they haven't really had
someone who's been a breakout star. Matthew Golden out of Texas,
the rookie this year has been a contributor, but nothing crazy,
nothing like we've seen like a mega Igbuca out of
Tampa Bay when he came out of Ohio State from
the same rookie draft class this past April. So yeah,
(10:38):
I mean, I guess they could say they you know,
you asked I'll reference this conversation we had earlier in
the year. You asked me at one point, do the
Steelers have the best secondary in the NFL?
Speaker 3 (10:47):
I said no.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
We did, though, talk about how on paper, given the
talent and given the pedigree every guy has and every
guy brings, maybe you could say that. But an execution,
clearly we've seen them really struggle. So I guess on
paper you could say the Seers have the advantage between
the secondary and this and the Packers receiving cores. But
I think I leaned toward the Packers having the better
(11:10):
afternoons simply or the better night simply because the table
we've seen out of the Steeler secondary in the past
couple of weeks has been really, really disappointing.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
To your point, Tyler Kraft, their talented tightraft, Tucker Craft
three hundred and twenty six yards receiving.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, having a great year as a tight end. He's
their leading receiver.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
So but again, Watson being out as you start to
go on Christian Watson, man, he's that's gonna be get
the first game back.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I don't know if he'll be one hundred percent. You
know he's coming back from He's good. Clearly a serious
injury if it's kept him out for the first seven
weeks of the year, but yeah, he's good.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yeah to Craft four touchdowns as well to lead the
Green Bay Packers receiving room. Okay, back to a hit
for the Pittsburgh Steelers improved running game one hundred and
forty seven yards as a team last week, with Jalen
Warren going over one hundred.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
They had one hundred yards even against the Browns.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Ninety nine of those going with or or excuse me,
was the ninety nine for Jalen Warren against the Browns.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I think he had less than that. I think Gamewell
chipton on that game.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Weell had ninety nine against the Vikings, which they had
one hundred and thirty one.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, I think they totaled over one hundred. But nowther
guy got to one hundred exactly. Gamewell had ninety nine
versus the Vikings. So Warren this past week as a team,
they go won forty seven. He was their first, the
first one hundred yard runner this season. And remember Jacob.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Before that, the Steelers only had fifty three in Game one,
seventy two in Game two against the Seahawks, and fifty
four in Game three against the Patriots on the road.
So the first three weeks of the season not so good.
But one forty seven last week, one hundred against the
Browns and one thirty one against the Vikings. That's a streak,
my friend, for the running game in that offensive line.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I think that's truly.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, I mean, but again, we'll reference our conversation from
a little bit ago about how the importance of Zach
Frazer being out there could lead to a potentially bad
day running the ball.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
And protecting Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I got to stay healthy up front, that's for sure.
Our next miss for the Pittsburgh Steelers penalties seven versus
the Bengals, ten versus the Browns, and five against the Vikings.
So not too bad against the Vikings. And they did
very well early on in the season in the games
the first three weeks against the Jets and against the
Seahawks and against the Patriots when it comes to penalties,
but the last two games stand out like a sore
(13:17):
thumb to me, Jacub seven against the Bengals, ten against
the Browns seventeen and two games, and twenty two and
three games. You heard me talk about how Mike Tomlin
in our first segment today for our three Bowl of
Points of the Week reference did in his press conference
on Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
They have to clean up the penalties.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
They have to get back to where they were at
the beginning of the season, where it wasn't killing offensive drives.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
You get behind the sticks.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I don't care what level of football you're playing, NFL, college,
high school, or below.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
You get behind the sticks.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
It's that much more challenging and penalties can be drive killers,
and it has been for some of these steer offensive
drives in the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I mean killer. We talked about this earlier today
with Ray. We're bringing it up now. It's necessary to
bring up just because of how backbreaking that can be
for a team. I mean, we talked about it. How
the Steelers have been refreshed. My memory ed they've been.
They've been struggling more so on third down offensively or defensively.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Defensively getting offense. Field of defense has actually improved.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Right so, But defensively, as you said, I mean that
defense gets gassed and gets gassed a lot, and we've
seen that throughout the course of the season. It's important
that they get off the field, uh and get the
ball back in Aaron Rodgers hands so that one Aaron
Rodgers can score and then take some time off the defense.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I mean, clearly, fatigue has been a big issue for
this team so far.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Well, let's just jump down. I'm gonna jump around some
of my hits and misses because it's a good segue.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
That was one of my hits.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
It was a little bit later on Jacob, but I'm
gonna move it up because you just talked about it.
The Steelers seven of ten at fifty percent or excuse me,
seventy five percent on third downs last week?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Do your math, troops?
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Seven ten is seventy five percent or seventy percent? Boy,
I'm really messing this up now. Seventy percent on third
last week seven to ten against the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
That's a major improvement from previous weeks.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
So as the defense has let the offenses on the
field more, extending drives on third down, our offense has
kept drives going, at least against the Bengals. They did
last week. Aaron Rodgers and the offense did a much
better job. Seven of ten. It's seventy percent on third
downs last week. That's an area which Jacob I think
they can continue to improve because it started out really lousy.
(15:25):
I'm talking thirty eight percent. I think that number now
up into the mid forties, maybe forty six percent for
the season out inching closer to fifty percent on third
downs for the offense. And let's face it, you know
you get into sixty percent or seventy percent, that's where
you want to be.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Clicking.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean, not much to say about the offense, right,
I mean, we talked about Zach Frasier in the offensive
line doing better. We talked about the run game getting better,
not much to criticize really about the offensive line, as
you said, third down offense getting better. Yep, that's what
you want to see, and that's what Aaron Rodgers can
provide for you. I just don't know will translate against
(16:01):
a really good defense though.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
On Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
You remember the Bengals defense really bad, you know, bottom
two in pretty or bottom five in pretty much every
major statistical category. So it's good that you put up
thirty one points because if you didn't, then you would
have looked even worse in hindsight with the defense playing
as bad as they did alongside a potentially bad offense.
But now you have a real test against the Green
Bay defense. Can Aaron Rodgers say, I don't care how
(16:27):
good they are. I'm gonna shrug it off. I'm gonna
go out there and ball out. DK metcalf is gonna
be my guy. I get Calvin Austin back as well
this week. He wasn't even on the injury report that
came out yesterday too, which is a great sign participat.
But he's not even on there, so's he should be
a full go for this Sunday night. Will he have
that ability though to overcome that defense, But a huge
(16:50):
part of it will be staying on the field and
converting those third downs.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
And Zach Frazier really the only player on this injury
list from Wednesday, and he was limited, So we'll have
to see what he does here today with that calf
all right, Next up on one of our misses, how
about wide receiver dk Metcalf. Only five targets last week,
three catches for fifty yards, first game with no touchdowns
after four straight games in which he got a touchdown
(17:15):
for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
This isn't a knock on dk Metcalf. He's not a miss.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
It's the Steelers offense a miss with only five targets
the DK Metcalf. We talked about this earlier in the
week here on the standard, they have to double that.
He should be double digit targets every single week. He's
your big play wide receiver, one of the best in
the NFL. DK has to have more than five targets.
In fact, he has to be in double digit targets
each and every game.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, maybe that's something that we talked about earlier this
week and our terrible takes segment, and I said, not
a terrible take it all right, you have to get
him the ball more. And I had no problem with
getting him the ball double digit targets, if not double
digit receptions every single week just because he is your
number one guy. I mean, yeah, I know we talked
(18:00):
about how valuable Aaron Rodgers is, but DK Metcalf is
pretty close behind him, right, So, I mean, we just
saw this offense kind of sputter without Calvin Austin, right,
imagine without what it looked like without DK Metcalf.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Forget about it, and I'll give you a sneak peak tomorrow.
We'll have our five Keys of the game on offense
and defense. I guarantee you for offense, it'll be get
DK the ball and a lot more than five targets,
at least ten targets or more every game. I'm going
to preach about it each and every game from here
on out for this twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
On offense, another hit tight end Pat Fryermuth five catches
one hundred and eleven yards last week, two touchdowns after
only two catches in the last three games before that
game in Cincinnati last Thursday Night, great stuff from youth.
We know he can stretch the field, we know he
could be a vertical threat, and he certainly was last
week with one hundred and eleven yards and two touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Yeah, I mean, what a day he had, or what
a night he had. Rather, let's just see it again, right,
don't don't be a thing about you. You weren't on
our radar at all for the first five games, and
you appeared for week six or I'm sorry for the
sixth game, and then don't disappear on us again. You
had to stay relevant. You have to be a focal
point at this offense. That's what you were brought in
(19:15):
to do. The Sewers use a second round draft pick
on this guy. That is a that is a lot
of capital to give up for a tight end, especially
one that really has been such a non factor for
this offense so far the season except for the with
or rather with the exception of that game against the Bengals.
So please Pat Rye move, Please Aaron Rodgers, and please
(19:37):
Arthur Smith allow Pat to be a feature member of
this offense.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Our next miss is on defense now, and you heard
me just go off of the last miss about dk
Metcalf needs to be in double digit for targets. Well,
here's one on defense. You know where I'm going with this.
Our guy Herbie Nick Herbig at linebacker only in on
twenty ninth place for thirty eight percent of the defensive
snaps last week in Cincinnati has to be fifty percent
(20:01):
or more for the rest of the season. You got
to have this playmaker on the field. He is the
next upcoming TJ.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Watt.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
We know that he's a playmaker. Maybe not so good
against the run. That's why you have Alex high Smith.
But when you want to get home and rush the
quarterback and make a splash, big impact play on this defense,
Nick Herbig has to be on the field. And in
my opinion, Jacob, he needs to be on for sixty percent,
if not more, of all the defensive snaps each and
every week. Thirty eight percent last week against Cincinnati just
(20:29):
won't cut it.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
And I know I've been.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Hearing, well, they were playing from behind and Joe Flacco
was carving him up. It doesn't matter two And you
heard Ray Fittapaulo say that in our last segment. You
know he had something of what two point six seconds
per throw to get the ball off. I don't care
have her Big in there. He's your big splash player, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I mean, I think whether whatever that percentage is, whether
it's sixty, sixty, five, seventy, whatever Alex high Smith and TJ.
Watts percentages are, Nick Herbig should be equal, if not more.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
I agree, has to be in the same category.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
I think we've evolved from the lessest more conversation about
Nick Krbick. I think earlier in his career, when you
could say, you know, he's better in spurts when you
put him out there for the full sixty and he's
really struggling against the run offense. Yes, I understood that
argument then, but I think this is a different story.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
This year.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
We've seen him improve against the run, and we've seen
the Steelers do much better against pass protection or rather
pass rush on defense when he's out there. So I
no longer think we can say to ourselves that, oh,
he's better in short spurts. No, he's got to be
out there for as much, if not more so than
the other two guys.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Jacob and I are taking our seven shots of seven
hits and misses this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Next up.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Aaron Rodgers over two hundred yards passing the last three weeks.
Had two hundred and forty nine last week against the Bengals,
two hundred and thirty five versus the Browns the week before,
and then in Dublin, Ireland two hundred yards versus the Vikings.
That's great stuff out of your forty one year old
veteran quarterback. If he could throw over two hundred yards
each and every game, perfect, that's the wheelhouse. We want
(22:04):
Aaron Rodgers in and throw a couple touchdowns in along
the way and no turnovers, and it gets that much
even better getting over that two hundred yard mark.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Absolutely. I mean how important.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
We just talked about how important DK Metcalf was and
we said, we know he's right behind Aaron Rodgers. But
the guy, the guy you know stroking the flames here
is Aaron Rodgers. This offense would be next to nothing
without him. He is your only shot, I think at
winning this football game on Sunday night. And I say
that because with no real disrespect to guys like TJ
(22:37):
One and Cam Hayward, who you used to call upon
and say, hey, we're not gonna be able to win
this game without you, guys, Well that's not the case anymore.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
It all relies on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Imagine if you didn't have Aaron Rodgers last night or
last last week, even though we're now a week away.
I keep saying last night about the game that was
played on last Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I got you, man, I know what you mean. Imagine
that game.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Imagine that matchup Joe Flacco versus Mason Rudoff. For say,
Will Howard was available, right, I know he's just now
activated off that I are being activated off the IR.
But if it was one of those two guys, right,
the Bengals could have won that game thirty three to
thirteen something like that.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
I mean you weren't.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
I mean, look at the Jets game right, justin Fields
would have outscored you probably what the final score of
that game was, what geez, something thirty thirty one to
thirty something like that, thirty four to thirty two, thirty
four to thirty two. The Jets probably win that game
thirty two to ten, right without Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
So you need Aaron.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Rodgers here, and I think he is your only hope
to keep up with the Packers defense or the Packers
offense because I think Jordan Love will have a good
game against the Steelers defense. So that puts the emphasis,
that puts the pressure, that puts the responsibility on Aaron
Rodgers to be able to lead his offense and keep
this game competitive.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Our next miss the defense gave up twenty seven first
down week yikes. Eight on the ground with the running game,
sixteen by Joe Flacco in the passing game, and three
by penalty. How about that three of those twenty seven
were because the Steelers had a defensive penalty. So they
have to clean up the penalties and they got to
get better in this category. Jacob, you cannot give up
(24:17):
twenty five plus first downs, let alone twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
That number probably.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Needs to be in the fifteen to twenty range to
feel comfortable. Twenty seven first downs. Not only are they
converting and keeping the drive a line, but they're controlling
the game of football with time of possession. Every time
you move those chains, you get more time on that
clock and you control the game. The Steelers defense has
to get better in this category. Twenty seven first downs,
My goodness.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Yeah, my goodness is right. I mean, this is what
we just talked about. With Aaron Rodgers saying, we can't
really trust the defense to take care of business. It's
been a huge miss so far over the course of
the whole season. But I think it's all kind of
led up to that game last Thursday night against the
Bengals where you had the tune up. Remember we talked
about you had back to back weeks of Browns and
(25:03):
Bengals to use for your defense to tune up to
really get right. I mean, after having a weird back
and forth between the Jets and Seattle and New England
and Minnesota, you had two offenses who were really struggling
going into both of those games to turn things around
and say, okay, let's get right before we go up
against the Green Bay and Indianapolis and the LA Chargers
(25:25):
and a little bit down the road the Buffalo Bills. Well,
you didn't do that last week, and that's kind of
been a wake up call for the defense. And I
don't know if it's gonna get much better. I don't
know if it's gonna look much better on Sunday night
against Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Because we're up against the clock.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I'll give you the final two hits, then we'll give
you the final two misses here, final two hits on offense.
Offense was three of four at seventy five percent in
the red zone last week, so that's good. One of
one versus the Browns the week before and two of
five versus the Vikings. So that has gotten better the
last few weeks as well. It was very good at
the beginning of the season, then kind of dipped off
a little bit against the Patriots and Vikings. But now
(25:59):
one of one versus the Browns in three of four
and there's that seventy five percent number that I kept
missing on earlier. It was the red zone offense that
was in seventy five percent and not the third down conversions.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
And how about this, here's a shout out to you, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
We already talked about your Hoosiers. New to me again,
new rookie returner Keishawn Williams. Three kickoff returns last week,
averaging thirty yards per return, and two punt returns averaging
thirteen yards per return for punts, so you know, ten
or more yards on punts, great, thirty or more on
kickoff returns. Outstanding.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Yeah, So quickly about Keishawn. Been a huge contributor ever
since he's come up from the practice squad, and the
red zone offense has been a huge revelation this year
compared to not just last year, but years prior to that.
I mean, you're talking about a seventy five percent success rate.
They were struggling to get to twenty five percent the
last couple of years. I mean, they were not good
in the red zone at all. Huge shownaround, but there's
(26:51):
only one guy to thank, and that's Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Two last misses for the segment corner. Joey Porter Junior
off to a slow start, only three games play so
far because he was banged up. Eleven tackles, four pass
deflections so far. We just talked to Ray Filpaldo about
this in our last segment. And then the missed opportunity,
our final miss of the segment to further their distance
in the AFC North with the loss last week Bengals
(27:14):
of course win that game, so they move up a
game on the Steelers, and then the Browns go on
to win last weekend and the Ravens were on a bye,
so they even pick up a half game with.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
The Steelers losing.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
If they could have won that game, they would have
Furthered that lead in the AFC North. But as you
and I have talked, this is AFC North football. It
does not matter. It's always going to be tight. No
one's going to just run away.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
With it, no knowing will.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And clearly that inclusive Steelers, right. They had every opportunity
to do so. They had the chance to get the
five and one and really build a lead, a comfortable lead,
and send the Bengals from a two and four record
to a two and five record.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
But that's not the case. Now.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
They're just teetering on five hundred, and you can assume
with Joe Flaccoway quarterback, and I believe, let me go
double check this real quick. I think the Browns and
Bengals play each other this week. You know you always
talk about how your computer freezes on you.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
It's freezing. I got you right here, my friend, I
got the Browns, not.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, it's the Bengals playing the Jets and the Browns
playing the Path. So the Browns, we assume that we'll lose,
but the Bengals should get an easy win against the
winless Jets at home. They'll be right back at five hundred. Joe,
that's the Joe Flacco effect when he's got good weapons
around him. So the Bengals are not going to be
going away. However, this week, I think the Ravens are
saying that they're predicting that Lamar Jackson will not be
(28:27):
available to them. They have the Bears who want a
four game winning streak. Now, the game's in in Baltimore,
but we've seen teams go into Baltimore this year and win.
Remember Detroit did it in a blowout fashion on Monday
Night Football one week.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
The Houston Texans were.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Able to put forty four points on the Ravens and
it looked like the Sands were empty by the third quarter.
So yeah, the Steelers had their chance to take a
huge lead improved to five to one, send the Bengals
to a two and five record with the Browns, but
that didn't happen. Now you're really going to start getting
your wins back. But it's gonna be a lot harder.
As the schedule WI get, it's much tougher.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
On tomorrow's show here on the Standard, Jacob and I
will break down Week eight across the NFL, and we'll
have our scouting report officially on the Green Bay Packers
are five Keys to victory on offense and defense. That's
coming up tomorrow Here on the standard. It is the
Steelers Standard, with Ed Trup and Jacob Brett on Steelers
Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network
Back here on the Steelers Standard with Ed Troup and
Jacob Brett on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network. Before we get to our seven shots of
hits and misses. Jacob, have you ever been to Lambeau Field?
Have you been to Green Bay?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I not, have you I have, As you know, I've
been to Wisconsin, but never Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
As you know, I've taken my young sons on a
tour of college football facilities, NFL facilities, of Major League
baseball stadiums, and two years ago, two summers, not this
past summer. The summer before, we did a huge miss
Midwest trip in which we had a whole bunch of
NFL college football stadiums and major League baseball parks.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
And part of that was.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
A We were in Milwaukee and I looked at my wife,
and I looked at the map and I said, I
think it's only an hour and a half drive to
Lambeau We were not intended to go there, but we
decided to pivot and go to Lambo for an afternoon.
One of the best experiences I've had. I cannot say
it enough. I referenced Fenway Park in Baseball as baseball Heaven.
For the Major League Baseball fields, and there's a lot
(01:02):
of good ones out there well for football outside of Pittsburgh,
because I'm a homer with the Steelers. Lambeau Field absolutely
football heaven, and it is it's similar to if you
would land in Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh International Airport, you would
have to get on seventy nine and basically drive all
the way down to Waynesburg and then all of a sudden,
get off of Waynesburg exit and drive about five miles
(01:22):
and you run into an NFL stadium of lambeau Field.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, just right, yeah right. And it's in the middle
of a neighborhood too. It's it's yeah, that's what I'm saying.
I mean, what was awesome. If I'm sure you remember
in Week one this year where it was Detroit at
Green Bay, CBS did a great job of showing they
were doing part of their broadcast from one of those
homes that just their backyard is lambeau Field.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
It's it's it's it's a crazy atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
And they've redone lambeau over the years too, they've upgraded
it a lot, so it's even though it's it's similar
to Soldier Field. They've done that with Soldier Field too,
where it's the existing old stadium, but they've built around
it to build it up, similar what they're doing in
Happy Valley with Penn State up there too.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
That's the cool part.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
They leave that tradition there. But they have a Hall
of Fame that we went through, and there's a picture
of me. I'd have to find it for you and
show to you, probably laugh. I did the lambeau Leap,
which is kind of cool.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Lambert actual well in the stands or do they have
a little section where it's it would have been makeshift.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
It would have been a really cool story if I
told you it was in the stands, and I was
ready to lie to you, and then somebody out there
listening says, Troop, you can't do that.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
It's a little makeshift thing outside. And then they have
the huge statues a Lombardi that's like Vince Lombardi himself,
fifty feet tall. And then when you go inside the
stadium there's an actual Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
That's the size of a hundred Oh wow. I didn't
know that one.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I knew about the I knew about the big Lombardi Statue.
I didn't know about the trophy.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Such a cool atmosphere. We were there before football season started.
I think we're there late June or early July that year,
so they were just starting to ramp up to get
ready for the upcoming season. But yeah, definitely, if if
you're a football fan out there and listening to this,
you probably are nine percent probably is go check out
lambeau Field, even if it's not for a game, if
you're just in that area and I think it's I
think it. Don't quote me on this, but ninety minute
(03:07):
drive from Milwaukee north up to uh up to green Bay.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, I've been to our Milwaukee and I've been to
Madison the capitol, but I haven't gotten to Green Bay yet.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What was funny was our original plan that day was
to go to Madison to check out the University Wisconsin
Beautiful school to check off our Big ten list, because
we've been to Iowa and Ohio State and a handful
of others in Bloomington, Indiana. Yet I'm not I was
gonna talk to you about I'll talk to you about
that off air because we got we got to put
that on the list absolutely to get up there.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I'll be there and just under a month a couple
of weeks going back, have to have to see the
number two team in the country actually that week facing
off against none other than the Wisconsin Badgers.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Jacob, Now there you go. Now we're we're coming full circle.
Jacob is a proud graduate of the University of Indiana.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
The listeners would know that we we don't really talk
about it that much on this show.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Not iup the Indiana University, home of the Hoosiers and
one of my favorite basketball coaches of all time in
Bobby Knight.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Okay, enough basketball, enough Hoosiers. No, we're not a basketball
school anymore. Didn't you hear it? Another being gone a lot,
you've been gone them for a while now you haven't heard.
They're ranked like third in the country.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And we could do a Pittsburgh reference with Signette, their
head football coach, so we can we can bring it
all back around here on the Pittsburgh Steelers standards.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
And I'll just correct you before we moved on. You
said they're about third. They're actually number two in the country.
Don't forge at Miami Top three Miami Laws against Louisville
this past Sunday, allowing Indiana to move up to the
number two spot. So there's respect on our name, not
a basketball Again. We don't really talk about the Hoosiers ever.
I never sneak it in there. I never brag about it,
never do that. I will give you some Hoosier love, man,
(04:40):
Absolutely you should. They're They're in a great season we
have to talk about.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And they had a good year last year too, so
it's not just the first time that Indiana football is
starting to make some movement. Okay, back to the Steelers
and Steeler injury news here on the Standard. Mike Tomlin
in his press conference on Tuesday reference this. And we
also saw yesterday the first day that the Steelers were
on the practice facility on the field at the practice
facility on the South Side. So Calvin Austin with a shoulder,
(05:04):
was a full participant yesterday on Wednesday, so we expect
him to be back for the first time in weeks
to play against the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Malik Harrison.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
We just talked to Ray Fitapato about this in our
last segment. He was a full participant yesterday, second week
in that twenty one day window. We are expecting Harrison
to potentially come off of that this week and play
against the Packers. If he doesn't, you'll definitely see him
off the following week against the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Will Howard.
This was a surprise to a lot of folks. They
(05:32):
pulled him off the twenty one day or put him
into the twenty one day window. He was a full
participant at practice the other day. He's completely healed, So
now the Steelers have twenty one days three weeks to
activate him or he has to stay on the IR
for the entire season.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
One surprise was Zach Frazier. He has a calf showed
up on the injury report.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Tomlin did not talk about this at the press conference
on Tuesday, but he was on the injury report yesterday.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
He was limited.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So he did practice but was limited with a calf muscle.
So we'll just have to keep an eye on that
as the week goes on.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Watt and Cam Hayward both veteran days off on Wednesday,
and Miles Kilbrew was confirmed with Mike Tomlin on Tuesday
at the press conference that he is on the IR
and out for the season. So the Steelers lose a
valuable special teams player in Miles Kilbrew.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Any thoughts on the injury news, No.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I mean, of course, Zach Frasier popping up is costs
for concern. Hopefully it's not too serious, as you said,
because we know how frail the offensive line has been
at the start the season. They've done a better job though,
remember how we talked about Chilean Warren got to over
one hundred yards. They haven't allowed a sack and what
three games at this point. I think the last line
they allowed a sack was against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
So that's good.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
But you can't have any setbacks for if you're this
offensive line just because of how lacking they are at depth.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It's like you read my notes because as we get
into our seven shots of seven hits and seven misses
here on the standard, our first.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Hit is what you just talked about, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So you read my mind, you read my sheet, and
you didn't cheat because I didn't show it to you.
The Steelers offensive line zero sacks in the last two
games and only two in the last four games after
seven in the first two games. So digest everything. I
just told you. The fact of the matter is they're
protecting Aaron Rodgers better in the last two games, even
despite what happened in Cincinnati last Thursday night. No sacks
(07:23):
by this offensive line in the last two and only
two in the last four, and one of those two
occurred rate at the beginning of that Vikings game.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, I mean, I'll just focus on Zach Fraser here.
It is imperative that you have him out there. I mean, yes,
we're gonna complement the entire offensive line and the progress
they've made, but I'm gonna emphasize on you have to
have Zach Fraser out there. Now. I know it's not
up to you, it's the injury, but really it is.
It could be a long day if Zach Fraser isn't
(07:52):
out there. I mean, we've seen the Steelers struggle ever
since Marquez Pouncy retired, going through guys like Kendrick Green
and Mason It just never worked out until they found
Zach Fraser. But if he's going to be out, I mean,
that could lead to that defensive front of green Bay
finally breaking the floodgates and getting homed for allowing the
Steelers to suffer their first sacks and what was it
(08:14):
Week four, Week five.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
It was week four against the Vikings that they gave
up that first first sack at the.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Beginning of the game.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Then they give up one more later on in that matchup. Yeah,
I agree with you about Zach Fraser. And again today
we'll tell us a lot because if it's a second
day of being limited, now you've got to start to
scratch your head a little bit. These are, you know,
calf or hamstring type of injuries that can go either way.
They can just be a minor setback for the week
and then he's a full participant today or tomorrow on Friday,
then it's a non issue going into the game on Sunday,
(08:43):
or he continues to be limited, or it goes the
other way, right, it gets worse. And those soft tissue
type of injuries like a calf or a hamstring can
go either way during a work week, as Mike Todblin
likes to refer to a practice week a work week,
and that's what it is for these guys. So we'll
have to wait and see and see if that link
into another day for Zach Fraser. And we will update
everyone here on the standard tomorrow during our Friday show
(09:05):
when we get into our scouting reports with the Green
Bay Packers and ultimately preview this upcoming Sunday night game. Okay,
our first miss of the day for our seven shots.
The secondary got beat for three hundred and forty two
yards three touchdowns last week. No interceptions, only five picks
in six games, and they all come from five different players.
(09:26):
So not just one player with multiple picks, five different
players with interceptions.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
A couple of linebackers in there too.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I think that's a glaring issue right now, Jacob on
this team. We just talked to Ray about it in
our last segment. This secondary is leaking right now. And
I made that joke about a leaky secondary sounds more
like a medical condition. But it is a leaky secondary
right now, at least what we saw against the Bengals.
Can they correct it against Jordan Love and the Green
Bay Packers this week?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
We shall see, Yeah, I mean I hope so.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
But as we talked about with Ray last segment, I
think the only saving grease you can is the fact
that there isn't an all Pro guy at either receiver
or tight end for the Packers to really torch the
Steelers secondary. I mean, they have a lot of weapons.
Let's not forget they're also it's the first game back
they'll have Christian Watson. You remember their draft pick a
(10:16):
couple of years ago, who's been an asset for that
passing game. But overall, I mean, they haven't really had
someone who's been a breakout star. Matthew Golden out of Texas,
the rookie this year has been a contributor, but nothing crazy,
nothing like we've seen like a mega Igbuca out of
Tampa Bay when he came out of Ohio State from
the same rookie draft class this past April. So yeah,
(10:38):
I mean, I guess they could say they you know,
you asked I'll reference this conversation we had earlier in
the year. You asked me at one point, do the
Steelers have the best secondary in the NFL?
Speaker 3 (10:47):
I said no.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
We did, though, talk about how on paper, given the
talent and given the pedigree every guy has and every
guy brings, maybe you could say that. But an execution,
clearly we've seen them really struggle. So I guess on
paper you could say the Seers have the advantage between
the secondary and this and the Packers receiving cores. But
I think I leaned toward the Packers having the better
(11:10):
afternoons simply or the better night simply because the table
we've seen out of the Steeler secondary in the past
couple of weeks has been really, really disappointing.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
To your point, Tyler Kraft, their talented tightraft, Tucker Craft
three hundred and twenty six yards receiving.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, having a great year as a tight end. He's
their leading receiver.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
So but again, Watson being out as you start to
go on Christian Watson, man, he's that's gonna be get
the first game back.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I don't know if he'll be one hundred percent. You
know he's coming back from He's good. Clearly a serious
injury if it's kept him out for the first seven
weeks of the year, but yeah, he's good.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yeah to Craft four touchdowns as well to lead the
Green Bay Packers receiving room. Okay, back to a hit
for the Pittsburgh Steelers improved running game one hundred and
forty seven yards as a team last week, with Jalen
Warren going over one hundred.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
They had one hundred yards even against the Browns.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Ninety nine of those going with or or excuse me,
was the ninety nine for Jalen Warren against the Browns.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I think he had less than that. I think Gamewell
chipton on that game.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Weell had ninety nine against the Vikings, which they had
one hundred and thirty one.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, I think they totaled over one hundred. But nowther
guy got to one hundred exactly. Gamewell had ninety nine
versus the Vikings. So Warren this past week as a team,
they go won forty seven. He was their first, the
first one hundred yard runner this season. And remember Jacob.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Before that, the Steelers only had fifty three in Game one,
seventy two in Game two against the Seahawks, and fifty
four in Game three against the Patriots on the road.
So the first three weeks of the season not so good.
But one forty seven last week, one hundred against the
Browns and one thirty one against the Vikings. That's a streak,
my friend, for the running game in that offensive line.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I think that's truly.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, I mean, but again, we'll reference our conversation from
a little bit ago about how the importance of Zach
Frazer being out there could lead to a potentially bad
day running the ball.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
And protecting Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I got to stay healthy up front, that's for sure.
Our next miss for the Pittsburgh Steelers penalties seven versus
the Bengals, ten versus the Browns, and five against the Vikings.
So not too bad against the Vikings. And they did
very well early on in the season in the games
the first three weeks against the Jets and against the
Seahawks and against the Patriots when it comes to penalties,
but the last two games stand out like a sore
(13:17):
thumb to me, Jacub seven against the Bengals, ten against
the Browns seventeen and two games, and twenty two and
three games. You heard me talk about how Mike Tomlin
in our first segment today for our three Bowl of
Points of the Week reference did in his press conference
on Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
They have to clean up the penalties.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
They have to get back to where they were at
the beginning of the season, where it wasn't killing offensive drives.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
You get behind the sticks.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I don't care what level of football you're playing, NFL, college,
high school, or below.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
You get behind the sticks.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
It's that much more challenging and penalties can be drive killers,
and it has been for some of these steer offensive
drives in the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I mean killer. We talked about this earlier today
with Ray. We're bringing it up now. It's necessary to
bring up just because of how backbreaking that can be
for a team. I mean, we talked about it. How
the Steelers have been refreshed. My memory ed they've been.
They've been struggling more so on third down offensively or defensively.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Defensively getting offense. Field of defense has actually improved.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Right so, But defensively, as you said, I mean that
defense gets gassed and gets gassed a lot, and we've
seen that throughout the course of the season. It's important
that they get off the field, uh and get the
ball back in Aaron Rodgers hands so that one Aaron
Rodgers can score and then take some time off the defense.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I mean, clearly, fatigue has been a big issue for
this team so far.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Well, let's just jump down. I'm gonna jump around some
of my hits and misses because it's a good segue.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
That was one of my hits.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
It was a little bit later on Jacob, but I'm
gonna move it up because you just talked about it.
The Steelers seven of ten at fifty percent or excuse me,
seventy five percent on third downs last week?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Do your math, troops?
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Seven ten is seventy five percent or seventy percent? Boy,
I'm really messing this up now. Seventy percent on third
last week seven to ten against the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
That's a major improvement from previous weeks.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
So as the defense has let the offenses on the
field more, extending drives on third down, our offense has
kept drives going, at least against the Bengals. They did
last week. Aaron Rodgers and the offense did a much
better job. Seven of ten. It's seventy percent on third
downs last week. That's an area which Jacob I think
they can continue to improve because it started out really lousy.
(15:25):
I'm talking thirty eight percent. I think that number now
up into the mid forties, maybe forty six percent for
the season out inching closer to fifty percent on third
downs for the offense. And let's face it, you know
you get into sixty percent or seventy percent, that's where
you want to be.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Clicking.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean, not much to say about the offense, right,
I mean, we talked about Zach Frasier in the offensive
line doing better. We talked about the run game getting better,
not much to criticize really about the offensive line, as
you said, third down offense getting better. Yep, that's what
you want to see, and that's what Aaron Rodgers can
provide for you. I just don't know will translate against
(16:01):
a really good defense though.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
On Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
You remember the Bengals defense really bad, you know, bottom
two in pretty or bottom five in pretty much every
major statistical category. So it's good that you put up
thirty one points because if you didn't, then you would
have looked even worse in hindsight with the defense playing
as bad as they did alongside a potentially bad offense.
But now you have a real test against the Green
Bay defense. Can Aaron Rodgers say, I don't care how
(16:27):
good they are. I'm gonna shrug it off. I'm gonna
go out there and ball out. DK metcalf is gonna
be my guy. I get Calvin Austin back as well
this week. He wasn't even on the injury report that
came out yesterday too, which is a great sign participat.
But he's not even on there, so's he should be
a full go for this Sunday night. Will he have
that ability though to overcome that defense, But a huge
(16:50):
part of it will be staying on the field and
converting those third downs.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
And Zach Frazier really the only player on this injury
list from Wednesday, and he was limited, So we'll have
to see what he does here today with that calf
all right, Next up on one of our misses, how
about wide receiver dk Metcalf. Only five targets last week,
three catches for fifty yards, first game with no touchdowns
after four straight games in which he got a touchdown
(17:15):
for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
This isn't a knock on dk Metcalf. He's not a miss.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
It's the Steelers offense a miss with only five targets
the DK Metcalf. We talked about this earlier in the
week here on the standard, they have to double that.
He should be double digit targets every single week. He's
your big play wide receiver, one of the best in
the NFL. DK has to have more than five targets.
In fact, he has to be in double digit targets
each and every game.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, maybe that's something that we talked about earlier this
week and our terrible takes segment, and I said, not
a terrible take it all right, you have to get
him the ball more. And I had no problem with
getting him the ball double digit targets, if not double
digit receptions every single week just because he is your
number one guy. I mean, yeah, I know we talked
(18:00):
about how valuable Aaron Rodgers is, but DK Metcalf is
pretty close behind him, right, So, I mean, we just
saw this offense kind of sputter without Calvin Austin, right,
imagine without what it looked like without DK Metcalf.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Forget about it, and I'll give you a sneak peak tomorrow.
We'll have our five Keys of the game on offense
and defense. I guarantee you for offense, it'll be get
DK the ball and a lot more than five targets,
at least ten targets or more every game. I'm going
to preach about it each and every game from here
on out for this twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
On offense, another hit tight end Pat Fryermuth five catches
one hundred and eleven yards last week, two touchdowns after
only two catches in the last three games before that
game in Cincinnati last Thursday Night, great stuff from youth.
We know he can stretch the field, we know he
could be a vertical threat, and he certainly was last
week with one hundred and eleven yards and two touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Yeah, I mean, what a day he had, or what
a night he had. Rather, let's just see it again, right,
don't don't be a thing about you. You weren't on
our radar at all for the first five games, and
you appeared for week six or I'm sorry for the
sixth game, and then don't disappear on us again. You
had to stay relevant. You have to be a focal
point at this offense. That's what you were brought in
(19:15):
to do. The Sewers use a second round draft pick
on this guy. That is a that is a lot
of capital to give up for a tight end, especially
one that really has been such a non factor for
this offense so far the season except for the with
or rather with the exception of that game against the Bengals.
So please Pat Rye move, Please Aaron Rodgers, and please
(19:37):
Arthur Smith allow Pat to be a feature member of
this offense.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Our next miss is on defense now, and you heard
me just go off of the last miss about dk
Metcalf needs to be in double digit for targets. Well,
here's one on defense. You know where I'm going with this.
Our guy Herbie Nick Herbig at linebacker only in on
twenty ninth place for thirty eight percent of the defensive
snaps last week in Cincinnati has to be fifty percent
(20:01):
or more for the rest of the season. You got
to have this playmaker on the field. He is the
next upcoming TJ.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Watt.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
We know that he's a playmaker. Maybe not so good
against the run. That's why you have Alex high Smith.
But when you want to get home and rush the
quarterback and make a splash, big impact play on this defense,
Nick Herbig has to be on the field. And in
my opinion, Jacob, he needs to be on for sixty percent,
if not more, of all the defensive snaps each and
every week. Thirty eight percent last week against Cincinnati just
(20:29):
won't cut it.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
And I know I've been.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Hearing, well, they were playing from behind and Joe Flacco
was carving him up. It doesn't matter two And you
heard Ray Fittapaulo say that in our last segment. You
know he had something of what two point six seconds
per throw to get the ball off. I don't care
have her Big in there. He's your big splash player, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I mean, I think whether whatever that percentage is, whether
it's sixty, sixty, five, seventy, whatever Alex high Smith and TJ.
Watts percentages are, Nick Herbig should be equal, if not more.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
I agree, has to be in the same category.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
I think we've evolved from the lessest more conversation about
Nick Krbick. I think earlier in his career, when you
could say, you know, he's better in spurts when you
put him out there for the full sixty and he's
really struggling against the run offense. Yes, I understood that
argument then, but I think this is a different story.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
This year.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
We've seen him improve against the run, and we've seen
the Steelers do much better against pass protection or rather
pass rush on defense when he's out there. So I
no longer think we can say to ourselves that, oh,
he's better in short spurts. No, he's got to be
out there for as much, if not more so than
the other two guys.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Jacob and I are taking our seven shots of seven
hits and misses this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Next up.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Aaron Rodgers over two hundred yards passing the last three weeks.
Had two hundred and forty nine last week against the Bengals,
two hundred and thirty five versus the Browns the week before,
and then in Dublin, Ireland two hundred yards versus the Vikings.
That's great stuff out of your forty one year old
veteran quarterback. If he could throw over two hundred yards
each and every game, perfect, that's the wheelhouse. We want
(22:04):
Aaron Rodgers in and throw a couple touchdowns in along
the way and no turnovers, and it gets that much
even better getting over that two hundred yard mark.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Absolutely. I mean how important.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
We just talked about how important DK Metcalf was and
we said, we know he's right behind Aaron Rodgers. But
the guy, the guy you know stroking the flames here
is Aaron Rodgers. This offense would be next to nothing
without him. He is your only shot, I think at
winning this football game on Sunday night. And I say
that because with no real disrespect to guys like TJ
(22:37):
One and Cam Hayward, who you used to call upon
and say, hey, we're not gonna be able to win
this game without you, guys, Well that's not the case anymore.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
It all relies on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Imagine if you didn't have Aaron Rodgers last night or
last last week, even though we're now a week away.
I keep saying last night about the game that was
played on last Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I got you, man, I know what you mean. Imagine
that game.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Imagine that matchup Joe Flacco versus Mason Rudoff. For say,
Will Howard was available, right, I know he's just now
activated off that I are being activated off the IR.
But if it was one of those two guys, right,
the Bengals could have won that game thirty three to
thirteen something like that.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
I mean you weren't.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
I mean, look at the Jets game right, justin Fields
would have outscored you probably what the final score of
that game was, what geez, something thirty thirty one to
thirty something like that, thirty four to thirty two, thirty
four to thirty two. The Jets probably win that game
thirty two to ten, right without Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
So you need Aaron.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Rodgers here, and I think he is your only hope
to keep up with the Packers defense or the Packers
offense because I think Jordan Love will have a good
game against the Steelers defense. So that puts the emphasis,
that puts the pressure, that puts the responsibility on Aaron
Rodgers to be able to lead his offense and keep
this game competitive.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Our next miss the defense gave up twenty seven first
down week yikes. Eight on the ground with the running game,
sixteen by Joe Flacco in the passing game, and three
by penalty. How about that three of those twenty seven
were because the Steelers had a defensive penalty. So they
have to clean up the penalties and they got to
get better in this category. Jacob, you cannot give up
(24:17):
twenty five plus first downs, let alone twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
That number probably.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Needs to be in the fifteen to twenty range to
feel comfortable. Twenty seven first downs. Not only are they
converting and keeping the drive a line, but they're controlling
the game of football with time of possession. Every time
you move those chains, you get more time on that
clock and you control the game. The Steelers defense has
to get better in this category. Twenty seven first downs,
My goodness.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Yeah, my goodness is right. I mean, this is what
we just talked about. With Aaron Rodgers saying, we can't
really trust the defense to take care of business. It's
been a huge miss so far over the course of
the whole season. But I think it's all kind of
led up to that game last Thursday night against the
Bengals where you had the tune up. Remember we talked
about you had back to back weeks of Browns and
(25:03):
Bengals to use for your defense to tune up to
really get right. I mean, after having a weird back
and forth between the Jets and Seattle and New England
and Minnesota, you had two offenses who were really struggling
going into both of those games to turn things around
and say, okay, let's get right before we go up
against the Green Bay and Indianapolis and the LA Chargers
(25:25):
and a little bit down the road the Buffalo Bills. Well,
you didn't do that last week, and that's kind of
been a wake up call for the defense. And I
don't know if it's gonna get much better. I don't
know if it's gonna look much better on Sunday night
against Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Because we're up against the clock.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I'll give you the final two hits, then we'll give
you the final two misses here, final two hits on offense.
Offense was three of four at seventy five percent in
the red zone last week, so that's good. One of
one versus the Browns the week before and two of
five versus the Vikings. So that has gotten better the
last few weeks as well. It was very good at
the beginning of the season, then kind of dipped off
a little bit against the Patriots and Vikings. But now
(25:59):
one of one versus the Browns in three of four
and there's that seventy five percent number that I kept
missing on earlier. It was the red zone offense that
was in seventy five percent and not the third down conversions.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
And how about this, here's a shout out to you, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
We already talked about your Hoosiers. New to me again,
new rookie returner Keishawn Williams. Three kickoff returns last week,
averaging thirty yards per return, and two punt returns averaging
thirteen yards per return for punts, so you know, ten
or more yards on punts, great, thirty or more on
kickoff returns. Outstanding.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Yeah, So quickly about Keishawn. Been a huge contributor ever
since he's come up from the practice squad, and the
red zone offense has been a huge revelation this year
compared to not just last year, but years prior to that.
I mean, you're talking about a seventy five percent success rate.
They were struggling to get to twenty five percent the
last couple of years. I mean, they were not good
in the red zone at all. Huge shownaround, but there's
(26:51):
only one guy to thank, and that's Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Two last misses for the segment corner. Joey Porter Junior
off to a slow start, only three games play so
far because he was banged up. Eleven tackles, four pass
deflections so far. We just talked to Ray Filpaldo about
this in our last segment. And then the missed opportunity,
our final miss of the segment to further their distance
in the AFC North with the loss last week Bengals
(27:14):
of course win that game, so they move up a
game on the Steelers, and then the Browns go on
to win last weekend and the Ravens were on a bye,
so they even pick up a half game with.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
The Steelers losing.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
If they could have won that game, they would have
Furthered that lead in the AFC North. But as you
and I have talked, this is AFC North football. It
does not matter. It's always going to be tight. No
one's going to just run away.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
With it, no knowing will.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And clearly that inclusive Steelers, right. They had every opportunity
to do so. They had the chance to get the
five and one and really build a lead, a comfortable lead,
and send the Bengals from a two and four record
to a two and five record.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
But that's not the case. Now.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
They're just teetering on five hundred, and you can assume
with Joe Flaccoway quarterback, and I believe, let me go
double check this real quick. I think the Browns and
Bengals play each other this week. You know you always
talk about how your computer freezes on you.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
It's freezing. I got you right here, my friend, I
got the Browns, not.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, it's the Bengals playing the Jets and the Browns
playing the Path. So the Browns, we assume that we'll lose,
but the Bengals should get an easy win against the
winless Jets at home. They'll be right back at five hundred. Joe,
that's the Joe Flacco effect when he's got good weapons
around him. So the Bengals are not going to be
going away. However, this week, I think the Ravens are
saying that they're predicting that Lamar Jackson will not be
(28:27):
available to them. They have the Bears who want a
four game winning streak. Now, the game's in in Baltimore,
but we've seen teams go into Baltimore this year and win.
Remember Detroit did it in a blowout fashion on Monday
Night Football one week.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
The Houston Texans were.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Able to put forty four points on the Ravens and
it looked like the Sands were empty by the third quarter.
So yeah, the Steelers had their chance to take a
huge lead improved to five to one, send the Bengals
to a two and five record with the Browns, but
that didn't happen. Now you're really going to start getting
your wins back. But it's gonna be a lot harder.
As the schedule WI get, it's much tougher.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
On tomorrow's show here on the Standard, Jacob and I
will break down Week eight across the NFL, and we'll
have our scouting report officially on the Green Bay Packers
are five Keys to victory on offense and defense. That's
coming up tomorrow Here on the standard. It is the
Steelers Standard, with Ed Trup and Jacob Brett on Steelers
Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network
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