August 18, 2025 • 27 mins
Ed and Tom get into some of the new qualities brought to the table by some new Steelers
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
This is a Steelers standard.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
With Ed Trup and Tom Offerman on the Steelers Nation
Radio part of Steelers Audio Network. Tom, we were talking
about the first two preseason games of the season. The
Steelers have won more this upcoming Thursday, just seventy two
hours away at Carolina, as they traditionally do. It seems
like they always finish in Carolina for these preseason games,
and then they'll have a little bit of time to
(00:33):
get their fifty three man roster together over the weekend
into the first leading up to the first regular season
game in September. Let's talk about some highlights off the
field that has been happening in and around the Black
and Gold. I'm gonna start with Aaron Rodgers and highlighting
his leadership role on this team. Again, a polarizing player
(00:53):
off the field, as we have talked about in the past.
The only thing I care about with Aaron Rodgers is
if he can throw a touchdown passesk Metcalf in October
or November. I'm not worried about what he's doing in
a cave in the offseason. I just want to see
him play football. But I think Steeler Nation has been
pleasantly surprised by the leadership that Aaron Rodgers has done
(01:14):
with the locker room because again in past experiences, and
again we don't know everything that happens in locker rooms,
but when you read into things, you know he may
be a little bumpy at times. Of course, we're still
in the honeymoon period, so full disclosure, we're in the
honeymoon period. We're in the preseason. They haven't gone through
a two or three game losing streak in the regular
season where things start to get a little bit rough.
But so far, all indications are Aaron Rodgers is the
(01:35):
leader in that locker room and on this football team,
and that's what they need him to be.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Well, look, really, when you think about it, has there
been a teammate that said a bad thing about him?
Not at all, Never like Green Bay, even the Jets,
which was a terrible experiment for two years, no one
has said a bad word about him. No one has
put the blame on him. In fact, it's been the opposite.
People have still said like, yeah, Aaron was a great experience.
(02:00):
I remember when Brandon Eckles got here early this offseason,
they asked him because there was all the hubbub about
Rogers potentially coming here, Like, Hey, you played there in
New York with him last year? What was he like?
Great teammate? Like he was awesome, And that's what you're
getting right now with the Steelers. He's just a great teammate.
And you're right, he has a reputation, but it's almost
(02:21):
like a reputation outside of actual football players circles, and
it's like with pundits and talking heads and people like
you and me who do this and when it's just
in between those lines in the locker room. He's a
total professional and a great, sarcastically funny teammate is how
I've heard him described. And that leadership aspect thing that
(02:42):
you brought up to ed, they have just been missing
that on the offensive side of the ball quite frankly
since Number seven hung it up. I mean, they just
haven't been able to find it. Najie Harris was trying
to be the leader for the past couple of years,
and I'm glad that he recognized he needed to run
into that void. He just wasn't. It doesn't hit coming
(03:02):
from you, man, you're a second year guy. Russ comes
in and kind of finally gives you a little bit
of that, but then I think Rogers just upgrades it
to a completely another level.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So far, so good with Aaron Rodgers in and around
the Pittsburgh Steelers and that offense as far as leading them.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
And I think he's happy too.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
When you look at his demeanor, tom he seems happy
here in Pittsburgh, and I think that's a testament to
Mike Tomlin in the front office and the coaching staff.
Not that he wasn't happy with the Jets after he
left Green Bay, but for all intensive purposes, he seems
to be happy.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
He's in it to win it.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
This year, and you know, he came out early on
and said, this is my final season.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You know the Steelers make a deep playoff run with you.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
If they do, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes
back for another season next year because he seems very
very happy here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Even not a deep playoff run.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Ed.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I mean, just went a playoff game. I think that's
on the table, even if it's like a they lose
again in the wild card round, but it was different,
like they came out swinging, that other team was sweating
the ass off. It came down to like a forty
four yard field goal in some weird weather for Buffalo
to sneak by the Steelers and Rogers, you know what
(04:08):
I mean, Like, yeah, then I think you might be
like defense is coming back for the most part. These
offensive players are all coming back, maturing more, and they're
gonna add why not at least come back, And I
think the Steelers would be open to that too, because
then you can really slowly usher in the guy who
you probably pick in twenty twenty six in the first round.
(04:30):
The quarterback who you take can kind of just be
surepid in that first year with Rogers doing his swan song.
But anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves when it comes
to that, where's the draft next year?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
By the way, I'm kidding, I'm kidding, it's here. It's here.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Is that it?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
By the way you go downtown, the clock, take a look,
the clock's there. And also it seems like everything's getting
a renovation in downtown Pittsburgh right now. They're getting everything
ready for next year and there's construction everywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
But back to just you know, Rogers and that leadership
quality that he brings to the table. It's just been
such a missing thing on the offensive side of the ball.
And I also just think his talent is still there.
Like I still think he's a very talented thrower of
the football. The big question marks with him is his durability,
which he was healthy all of last year, and can
(05:18):
he get enough time behind that offensive line to make
plays downfield? And the other thing you mentioned about him
being happy and he's coming from the Jets. I mean no,
I'm serious, like he's.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Coming from him doesn't take much.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Historically bad organization year after year, whatever the new coach is,
it's just kind of as a stink that stays on them.
And he's coming to one of the most stable, successful
franchises in the history of the league. Of course he's
having a better time. He's looking around and he's seeing
nothing but professionalism, whereas last year it was kind of
a dumpster fire.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Let's talk about the defense.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Tom Mike Tomlin last week came out and said this
could be a historically good group.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I agree with him.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
He says that a lot over the years, and they
put a lot of investment in the defense. We know
previous season, a lot of number one picks, a lot
of high salary invested contracts coming back TJ. Watt being
one of them this year with the new contract. But man,
this defense. We talked about the defensive line, they're young,
they're hungry. You had Cam in there, But how about
the linebackering corps too with TJ. Watt, Patrick Queen, Peyton
(06:17):
Wilson's had a very good preseason, very good camp at
that other inside linebacker position. We know Alex high Smith
is going to be a beast on the outside. And
then you got Jack Sawyer, Maylick Harrison, Cole Holcomb. How
about that. We were talking about our game number two
preseason recap, we didn't talk about Cole Holcomb coming back
from that injury.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
He has looked very strong.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
He has, And how about so much so that there's
already kind of some chatter out there of which you
trade Cole Hulkomb, Like that's kind of become a talking point. Yeah,
I wouldn't touch that, man. I don't want colk. I
need him on the team. I think he's going to
be a big time contributor for that defense this year.
The historic thing, though, I like the confidence and it's
not just Mike t who is exuding it. You've heard
(06:58):
one thorn Hill say that he thinks they could be
the best ever. DK Metcalf said, this is the best
defense I've seen us play against. Peyton Wilson, who actually,
funny enough, got burned in coverage in the second preseason game,
said he's the best cover linebacker in the World's sorry,
it's the preseason. It doesn't count, it's not on his
permanent records. Just don't do it in the regular season.
But I like the confidence from it, because you got
(07:20):
to have a swagger and you gotta have a confidence
on that side of the ball. But let's just pump
the brakes, I think a little bit, and I think
I would be more raw raw, ready to run through
the brick wall if it was from the tone of
we're gonna be the best defense in the league this year.
We're gonna be better than a lot of other defenses
this year. There's not many defenses in this league that
can do what we do, and kind of frame it
(07:42):
from that positioning instead of two thousand Ravens, seventy six Steelers,
five Steelers, eighty five Bears, forget about them, it's all
about the twenty five Steelers, or take the approach of
we addressed the biggest problem. We had towards the end
of the season, the losing streak and that playoff game
in Baltimore. We got big upfront to stop the run,
(08:04):
no doubt, that's where you should start. Well, here's the
thing too, I'm cool with being brash though, Like I'm
cool with being like, we're gonna be the best this year,
like marian a defense in the league. That's gonna stop us.
I look at everybody, look at the talent we have.
We are the best defense in the NFL. I'm cool
with that. It's the framing it from the historic standpoint
that just gets a little bit ridiculous to me. But whatever,
Who am I to decide how somebody else talks trash
(08:26):
or exudes their confidence, it better be one of the
best in the league this year. Though, Like, if I'm
not sitting here maybe with you talking into a microphone
in January, and we're looking over the stats in the
season and I don't see them, you know, points per
game allowed, third, sacks, second, turnovers second, like in the
(08:46):
top three in every category that's significant, Number one, number
two rush defense. Then I think it's an underwhelming year
from what that side of the ball should bring to
the table.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
I agree with you there. I think one of the
most exciting parts of this linebacker room.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
TJ.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Watt, Patrick Queen are up there in age. Alex Highsmith
still a lot of time I think left for high Smith,
Peyton Wilson in his second year. You got Jack Sawyer
probably future potential starter, you know, Cole Holcom a little
bit left in the tank. We're hoping same with Mollie Carrison.
But then you got Nick Herbig as well. So Herbig
and Sawyer two potential starters in the next year or
two if you need them to come in. They can
(09:23):
rotate these guys in. We know the Steelers love to
do that on defense, rotating guys and all the talk
is move TJ. Watt around, don't keep them in that
same outside spot where he gets double teamed or chipped
every single play. Move him around on that defense, make
him be more of an impact player. Now you've got
the other linebackers to compliment that, and that'll be a
better defensive game plan this season.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I think that the defensive chess pieces that they have
can be moved all over the board in creative ways.
I'm excited to see with Tara Austin and what Mike
Tomlin can bring to the table. It's funny you mentioned
the TJ. Watt thing about him moving around more, and
I smiled to myself, because you're right. I think that's
something that they have to do, and I think that
it's something that it's not just a benefit to TJ.
(10:04):
Watt and maybe freeing him up from some of the
double teams, from the triple teams whatever, coming from a
different angle, but it just creates chaos when that quarterback
has to go break the huddle and all of a sudden, wait,
he's not to my right, He's always to my right,
he's up the middle. Like, what the hell's you know
what I mean? Like, it's just and there's quarterbacks in
this league, two of them are in your division, and
(10:26):
Lamar and Burrow they're gonna get they can they can
adjust on the fly. You know. It's not like they're
gonna be like, oh God, oh God, time out. Well,
I don't know where TJ. Want is, Like they're good
enough to do it, but like you're gonna just make
him positively right, They're gonna have to do a little
bit something different on the play clock than maybe they
initially had to. But I laughed because I was watching
the Jets game against the Giants a little bit and
(10:47):
there was some cutups on Twitter or x I guess
and their rookie right tackle armand Membo who they took
in the first round this year. Boy, he was getting
worked in that game. And the caption on one of
the twins I said was, this is the Jets twenty
one year old right tackle who has to go against
TJ Watt in Week one. It should be a lot
of fun. I agree with you, you got to move him around,
(11:10):
but I say you feast on the young rookie in
his first game and just have TJ kind of line
up on that right tackle his usual left spot.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
One hundred percent. Man, you're sending him all day long
against that rookie.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Just because you want to move him around, Ed doesn't
mean you have to do it every game. Now, if
you see a weak right tackle, let him feast, you
know what I mean. Just be open to being a
little bit more flexible than you have tom.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
While we're talking about the defense, we have to talk
about the secondary and the upgrades there in the offseason.
Darius Slay coming in opposite side of Joey Porter Junior
the big trade for Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
You got Deshaun Elliott coming back.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
But Juan Thornhill I think has been a pleasant surprise
that they've brought in this secondary, the opposite safety of
Deshaun Elliott. I think he gives you a lot more
options with this defense in this secondary, I mean on
paper and what we expect this season, those are five
guys that are going to be special. I think here
in the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I think you've got four guys that can be special.
Let's go with three guys that can be truly truly
special with the corners. Yeah, I think Elliott's a really
good underrated player in the NFL and he's gonna be
a good degreat player for the Steelers. Wan Thornhill just
got to be okay, Like he's just got to be fine.
He doesn't have to be the superstars. No, give me
(12:23):
a tipped interception every once in a while, give me
a big hit that separates the ball from a wide
receiver every once in a while. Don't mess up. Let
me kind of forget you're out there every now and then,
and then have one of those plays every once in
a blue moon that makes me go, oh, thanks one,
nice job. There's a nice coverage bus there, But you
just lit the hell up out of that dude. So
he didn't get the ball, Like that's all he's got
(12:45):
to do. And I just as we work our way
through this preseason ed I don't see why not. Like
I have a hard time convincing myself that he can't
bring that to the table. This man has been on
the field for two Super Bowls and won them both.
Like he knows how to do his job at the
very least. I think that's all he has to do.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Jalen Ramsey has been the star so far during this
training camp and well preseason we haven't seen him, but
when you're just talking about the preseason as a whole
training camp, he is.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
He has shined like a star.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
He is the real deal by all indications, and he's
gonna be one of their X factors. In the next
segment we'll get to our X factors for the season,
Jalen Ramsey will be one of those. There's a tease
for you, but Ramsey, I mean, he's not only the
superstar on the secondary, but he's gonna be able to
cover any of these wide receivers, especially in the AFC North,
because let's face it, Tom, the AFC North wide receivers,
(13:38):
you mentioned Burrow and Jackson a little bit ago, those
are the guys that the Steelers really need to lock
down and have lockdown coverage and not let them take
over football games like they have done in the past
when they've been able to burn our corners and burn
our secondary.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
That is probably the thing that I'm the most intrigued
by in this preseason portion of the schedule. What I'm
most intrigued by once the season starts and we see
how they're deployed in game action, is what does this
secondary look like and how do they move Jalen Ramsey around?
And I heard a SoundBite from him talking to Ryland
(14:14):
Clark on Ryan Clark's The Pivot podcast saying that when
it's Jamar Chase in town, when one comes in town,
that's me. That's five. I'm taking him. And Mike Tomin
even had a conversation that like, Jay's the guy, referring
to himself as Jay is the guy right now in
that room. But I don't think it's as simple as
you know. Jalen Ramsey always takes Jamar Chase. Jalen Ramsey
(14:38):
always takes Justin Jefferson. Maybe you do that if you
have to in those specific scenarios when you're playing top
elite receivers like that, and then otherwise, you know, you
just kind of play your system defense. He's in the nickel,
he's shown up in the slot. I don't know, ed Like,
I feel like kind of like an idiot babbling right
now because I just I just don't know what they're
gonna do with him. But I'm excited for it and
(14:59):
whatever it it is. And if Jamar Chase is eating
your lunch, you can throw Ramsey out there. All of
a sudden, Justin Jefferson lined up in the slot. Well,
that sucks. We're gonna have to have a linebacker cover him. Nope,
Jalen Ramsey's in the slot.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
I got the answer.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yeah. So I don't know how it looks. I don't
know how it shakes out, but people get paid a
lot of money and have a lot better credentials than
me to make it work and make it shake out
in a fun way, and I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
It does not take a football genius to say this.
The success of the Steelers season is going to be
if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy. And the two pieces of
the puzzle that are gonna have to keep him healthy
are the two offensive tackles and Troy Fonatanu and Broderick Jones.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And again early work. Not a whole lot to.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Talk about through the first two preseason games, but all
indications so far, so good for both of the offensive tackles.
They've played well for those first two preseason games. We
haven't heard him, and I'm always one to say for
offensive lineman, when you don't hear about an offensive lineman,
that means.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
He's doing his job.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
No penalties, no holdings, that type of stuff. He didn't
miss a block and the play got blown up, the
quarterback gets sacked for a big loss. So when you
don't hear about offensive line and that's a good thing,
I means they're doing their job. They need both of
these tackles and they have a lot invested. We've talked
about that previously too here on Steelers Nation Radio about
how the offensive tackles two first round draft picks. There's
(16:18):
a lot of stock there. They need to be really
good and they need to keep Aaron Rodgers healthy to
be successful.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I didn't notice them at all on Saturday. I didn't
hear Fatana's name, I didn't hear Drones Jones' name. I
barely remember to pay attention to them. And I mean
that all in a good way. Tampa Bay has okay
pass rush ers, but their pressure comes from the middle
more so Videvea, Elijah Cansey shout out pit. That's where
the pressure's coming from Tampa Bay on that defensive line.
(16:42):
So I think it was more of a test from
Fraser mccormick' standpoint against Tampa Bay on Saturday night, whereas
the tackles got a better test against Jacksonville with Trayvon
Walker and Josh Heinz Allen. But I didn't notice Fraser
or McCormick either, like I didn't see v Tavea or
Colijah Cansy blowing up plays left and right, giving me Rootolph,
you know, a hell of an experience for his couple series.
(17:03):
So all across the board, I've seen a lot of
good from this offensive line in our game action so far.
And I think if Fatanu, I think they hope is
going to become the star. If Jones can just take
to this life left tackle transition swimmingly enough, Like they're
putting him out there on an island right now. Ed
like there's no Ciamalu playing in these games next to him,
(17:25):
there's no Darnell Washington help, and he's doing good. When
the games start happening for real, he gonna get obviously Seeamalu,
and Darnell is gonna be on his side on important downs,
help with protection.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
It's gonna be much different.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So like, if he's doing good now when he's just
doing a bunch of one on ones, why not have
confidence in him once he starts, you know, getting a
little bit of a life draft, a little bit maybe
some training wheels next to him to be what you
need to be enough.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
It's the best offensive line that the Pittsburgh Steelers are
put on the field in a long long time.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
They're gonna need to be good pedigree wise, there's no
question about that.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
It's the best. And they're all young too, I mean,
other than Sayamalus who's a veteran in that group. Frasier
second year Mason McCormick at the other guard position. Fonatano
Now again, he's another red shirt that we talked about earlier.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
This is really his first year. Last year injured for
the whole season.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
And ed your previous iteration of the offensive line when
it was up and running at full speed or whatever.
It's it's full capacity in its prime. If you will,
you're two all pros, your two cornerstones retired in the
same offseason. You lost Marquis Pouncy and then it was
very mysterious will he won't he with Dave di Castro
and then huge and then won't he is what ended
(18:38):
up happening. That's tough to do. That takes time building
back up. They finally have pedigree guys like Pouncy and
di Castro, where infatanu In Jones and Zach Fraser that
we should start seeing him turn the corner now finally
and building back up to that prime offensive line top
ten in the league.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
You got to reload when you have players of that
big of an impact to Castro Pouncy leaving, and sometimes
I take.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Some few teasers to do that.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
I mean, they kind of left a little early, like
not to say like, hey, I wish you guys were
I do because you guys are great. I love you
Pounce and I love you to Castro, But like, do
you whatever I think with the Castro especially like that
was the surprising one, like you were thinking to Castro
had at least a few more years of really stellar
play left in the.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Hall of Fame career, possibly not now, but borderline, right,
he's borderline.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
He's gonna get done in by the Steeler fatigue thing,
just because he's so down the pecking order when it
comes to the Steelers. He was such a great, great player,
and Pouncey was obviously a great player. He probably will
go into the Hall of Fame, and you lose him
at the same time, it's tough. It's tough to build
back up from that.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Let's talk tight ends again, another very talented group. You
got Pat fryar Muth. You got Jonas Smith who comes
in on the trade. Darnell Washington, he has the touchdown
catch in the first preseason game at Jacksonville, had a
great camp up at Latrobe. And then you got Cotter Hayward,
who's your special teams guy that we expect to make
this team. All indications he's will be your four tight
ends for this season. One thing that I think is
(20:01):
gonna be interesting to see what plays out. Tom is
how they utilize this talent at the tight end position
outside of double tights. Right, double tights. That's an easy one.
Friarmth on one side, Washington on the other. But now
you have John Who's Smith that you can put in there.
And we've seen Smith carry the ball with Arthur Smith
when he was with the Tennessee Titans in the past
two so I went and roll that out during this season.
Smith also gives you that hybrid wide receiver. We were
(20:23):
talking about a lack of a number two on this team.
John Smith can also give you that look as a
hybrid number two receiver tight end. I thy could deploy
all four tight ends if they went in some sets.
Tom It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out.
But one thing's for certain that they got four good ones,
well three good ones. I like Connor Hayward too, but
he's more of your special teams guy.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Just forgetting Connor Hayward for the sake of this conversation.
Looking at the top three, they're gonna live in twelve personnel,
Like I think two of them at the very least
are gonna be on the field almost all the time.
And I wouldn't be surprised if it's thirteen personnel a
lot like if you look at the depth chart and
now they have put out two iterations of a depth chart, well,
probably get another one. I'd say tomorrow recording this on Monday,
(21:03):
somewhere in the next forty eight hours before the Carolina game,
will get a third iteration. But the tight ends, all
three of them are listed as starters. You've got Darnell
in the one spot as kind of like that tight
end two starter, and then in tight end one you
have Pat Firemouth or in that bold lettering Johnny Smith,
and I just think that all three are going to
be on the field more often than not, especially for
(21:27):
however long they move forward without a true wide receiver
two right, And maybe Johnny Smith looks like a wide
receiver two on some plays on some formations, maybe he
has just split out wide he's put in the slot.
I don't know, but that tight end room should create
a ton of mismatches with opposing teams. Inside linebackers just
aren't big enough to handle the size that the Steelers
(21:49):
have anymore. You know, that inside linebacking game has been
built so much on speed nowadays to cover these dudes
and to you know, have the ability to keep up
in the coverage game with some of these freaks that
you'll have to cover in the slot, and you sacrifice
some size to do that. I'm not saying they're safeties
out there or anything. They still have some size, but
(22:09):
you have a chance, I think, to play a little
bit of bully ball in a passing game capacity, not
just you know, with the traditional sense of running the
ball down something. Yeah, I think you can get some guy,
for lack of a better imagery, just being a bowling
ball up the middle of the field with a Washington,
a Smith, a friarmooth guys just bouncing off of them,
taking abuse and wearing them down throughout a game and
(22:32):
opening up the middle of the football. That's the biggest, key, huge.
That's what we saw in that touchdown in Jacksonville, seem
right up the seam to Darnell Washington, kind of a
jump ball that Mason threw him. You saw those big
mits just go up there and snatch that thing butt.
The ball popped ed when he grabbed it. Yes, impressive,
he could probably It's like Hulk. That's that's what's been missing,
is that middle of the field and attacking it and
(22:54):
you've got dudes that they're trees down in the middle
of the field, like, you've got the advantage now in
the middle of the field.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Well, just from an offensive game strategy too, when you
have that middle of the football field, you can go
to your tight ends. What's it do to the outside
wide receivers. It opens that up great point, Yeah, because
the safeties have to come down, They got to leak
down to cover the middle of the football field within
the tights, especially if you don't have the speed at
linebacker to possibly cover those.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Tight ends that are going to go down the middle.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
So that all opens up opportunities big time for DK Metcalf,
whoever the number two wide receiver is. Let's hope it's
Roman Wilson, you know whoever they have out there. But
it's going to open up opportunities more for this passing
game and Aaron Rodgers to attack down.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
You've seen Calvin Austin hit some deep balls to the
past erar home runs. It opens up the sideline for sure.
But let's not forget to include DK Metcalf in that
kind of abusing the middle of the field and kind
of bully balling in the passing game too. I think
that there is definitely going to be some deep balls
to Dk metcalf this year. Don't get me wrong, but
(23:51):
I think most of the damage we'll see Rogers to
Metcalfe is going to come in the slant game. I
think that that's really going to be their bread and butter.
Rogers and DeVante Adams had a lot of bread and
butter's good point, but their big thing was back shoulder.
Like Rogers and Adams just would feast on the back shoulder,
like just run up to the sideline and then just
bang the balls right there. And it's all timing based.
(24:12):
And that's really what Rogers demands with his receivers is
it's got to be perfect, like there's no improvising here,
Like that ball is coming out on time in this spot.
Get your hands ready, get your head around. And with DK,
I think that we can see that kind of back
shoulder I still think you're gonna see some of that
back shoulder throwing with him, but you see that kind
of aura, that kind of reputation with him translate to
the slant game because I just see DK, and I've
(24:34):
seen it in his past. He gets that ball right
in front of him with momentum, speed and size is
very hard combination to bring down in the open field,
almost impossible to tackle it, really it is. So I
think you're going to see them do a lot of
damage as well with DK in the middle of the field,
not just the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
It sounds like you and I have now solved the
number two wide receiver. They don't need the number two
We've solved it right here.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
They need it. Like I'm excited right now because of
all these prospects. Then imagine if there was just another
guy that is just another worry for the defense that
can give you five or six catches a game. But
most importantly ed, yeah, this is what we just laid
out that'll definitely get us through games, Like we'll have
a good passing game week one, wey two. What if
the injury happens though, that's the problem. He DK goes down,
(25:20):
now our passing game is really taking a hit. We
saw this exact same thing last year when Pickens went
down for a few games. There was nothing.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
That's where I think they are with that number two
wide receiver need. And I said that last year with Pickens,
if you can go out and get somebody. Then it
just it gets you over the hump. It gets you
into that conversation of oh, this is a this is
a nine to ten game, ten win team right now,
at least on paper.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
But man, you bring in that now, maybe you're talking
eleven or twelve wins.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Maybe now you're making that maybe you're in the final
four conversation in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
I think that's how close this offense is.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Maybe some of these younger guys can have some breakout
seasons and you don't have to worry about that as much.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
You know, they came out in.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
The Steelers have said here as early as this sprning,
and as you said, we're taping this on Monday, that
we're comfortable with Roman Wilson and some of these other
guys to potentially be our number two wide receiver. I'm
not sure I'm buying that, Tom. I think there still
could possibly be another move to make. There's gonna be
a lot of movement with guys getting cut, you know,
throughout the next couple weeks across the NFL, A player
(26:19):
could become available via trade. You mentioned Cole Holcom could
be dangled out there as a trade for maybe somebody.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Maybe I don't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I don't want it either, but I'm just saying that
they have some options. I don't think this is over yet, right.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I don't think it's over yet either. Roster cutdown day
is going to be very interesting. There's teams like the
Packers that just have too many wide receivers right now.
John Metchi getting traded was an interesting thing, yes, from
Houston to Philadelphia. Kind Of a similar thing happened last
year with Johan Dotson if you remember in Washington he
got traded at Philly and Pittsburgh was like, why where
are we in that? And then Dotson really didn't do
(26:51):
much for the Eagles. Yeah, Like I get where some
people are kind of like, oh, why wasn't the Steelers
in on that? Because Metchi does kind of the bill
as a prototypical number two. But Metch she ain't hit
in the NFL yet, folks, like, he just hasn't been
that productive of a wide receiver. He might just be
a bust. Like Houston's moving on from him for a reason.
They have a lot of tight ends. But that was
(27:12):
a draft pick not too long ago for them, so
they're already kind of pulling the plug on that, and.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
The Steelers have a ton of draft capital that Omar
Khan and company can play with. When we come back,
we're going to talk about some milestones here in the
twenty twenty five season historically for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so
stay tuned for that, some exciting things to talk about.
This is the Steelers Standard with Ed Troup and Tom
Offerman on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network.
This is a Steelers standard.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
With Ed Trup and Tom Offerman on the Steelers Nation
Radio part of Steelers Audio Network. Tom, we were talking
about the first two preseason games of the season. The
Steelers have won more this upcoming Thursday, just seventy two
hours away at Carolina, as they traditionally do. It seems
like they always finish in Carolina for these preseason games,
and then they'll have a little bit of time to
(00:33):
get their fifty three man roster together over the weekend
into the first leading up to the first regular season
game in September. Let's talk about some highlights off the
field that has been happening in and around the Black
and Gold. I'm gonna start with Aaron Rodgers and highlighting
his leadership role on this team. Again, a polarizing player
(00:53):
off the field, as we have talked about in the past.
The only thing I care about with Aaron Rodgers is
if he can throw a touchdown passesk Metcalf in October
or November. I'm not worried about what he's doing in
a cave in the offseason. I just want to see
him play football. But I think Steeler Nation has been
pleasantly surprised by the leadership that Aaron Rodgers has done
(01:14):
with the locker room because again in past experiences, and
again we don't know everything that happens in locker rooms,
but when you read into things, you know he may
be a little bumpy at times. Of course, we're still
in the honeymoon period, so full disclosure, we're in the
honeymoon period. We're in the preseason. They haven't gone through
a two or three game losing streak in the regular
season where things start to get a little bit rough.
But so far, all indications are Aaron Rodgers is the
(01:35):
leader in that locker room and on this football team,
and that's what they need him to be.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Well, look, really, when you think about it, has there
been a teammate that said a bad thing about him?
Not at all, Never like Green Bay, even the Jets,
which was a terrible experiment for two years, no one
has said a bad word about him. No one has
put the blame on him. In fact, it's been the opposite.
People have still said like, yeah, Aaron was a great experience.
(02:00):
I remember when Brandon Eckles got here early this offseason,
they asked him because there was all the hubbub about
Rogers potentially coming here, Like, Hey, you played there in
New York with him last year? What was he like?
Great teammate? Like he was awesome, And that's what you're
getting right now with the Steelers. He's just a great teammate.
And you're right, he has a reputation, but it's almost
(02:21):
like a reputation outside of actual football players circles, and
it's like with pundits and talking heads and people like
you and me who do this and when it's just
in between those lines in the locker room. He's a
total professional and a great, sarcastically funny teammate is how
I've heard him described. And that leadership aspect thing that
(02:42):
you brought up to ed, they have just been missing
that on the offensive side of the ball quite frankly
since Number seven hung it up. I mean, they just
haven't been able to find it. Najie Harris was trying
to be the leader for the past couple of years,
and I'm glad that he recognized he needed to run
into that void. He just wasn't. It doesn't hit coming
(03:02):
from you, man, you're a second year guy. Russ comes
in and kind of finally gives you a little bit
of that, but then I think Rogers just upgrades it
to a completely another level.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So far, so good with Aaron Rodgers in and around
the Pittsburgh Steelers and that offense as far as leading them.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
And I think he's happy too.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
When you look at his demeanor, tom he seems happy
here in Pittsburgh, and I think that's a testament to
Mike Tomlin in the front office and the coaching staff.
Not that he wasn't happy with the Jets after he
left Green Bay, but for all intensive purposes, he seems
to be happy.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
He's in it to win it.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
This year, and you know, he came out early on
and said, this is my final season.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You know the Steelers make a deep playoff run with you.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
If they do, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes
back for another season next year because he seems very
very happy here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Even not a deep playoff run.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Ed.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I mean, just went a playoff game. I think that's
on the table, even if it's like a they lose
again in the wild card round, but it was different,
like they came out swinging, that other team was sweating
the ass off. It came down to like a forty
four yard field goal in some weird weather for Buffalo
to sneak by the Steelers and Rogers, you know what
(04:08):
I mean, Like, yeah, then I think you might be
like defense is coming back for the most part. These
offensive players are all coming back, maturing more, and they're
gonna add why not at least come back, And I
think the Steelers would be open to that too, because
then you can really slowly usher in the guy who
you probably pick in twenty twenty six in the first round.
(04:30):
The quarterback who you take can kind of just be
surepid in that first year with Rogers doing his swan song.
But anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves when it comes
to that, where's the draft next year?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
By the way, I'm kidding, I'm kidding, it's here. It's here.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Is that it?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
By the way you go downtown, the clock, take a look,
the clock's there. And also it seems like everything's getting
a renovation in downtown Pittsburgh right now. They're getting everything
ready for next year and there's construction everywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
But back to just you know, Rogers and that leadership
quality that he brings to the table. It's just been
such a missing thing on the offensive side of the ball.
And I also just think his talent is still there.
Like I still think he's a very talented thrower of
the football. The big question marks with him is his durability,
which he was healthy all of last year, and can
(05:18):
he get enough time behind that offensive line to make
plays downfield? And the other thing you mentioned about him
being happy and he's coming from the Jets. I mean no,
I'm serious, like he's.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Coming from him doesn't take much.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Historically bad organization year after year, whatever the new coach is,
it's just kind of as a stink that stays on them.
And he's coming to one of the most stable, successful
franchises in the history of the league. Of course he's
having a better time. He's looking around and he's seeing
nothing but professionalism, whereas last year it was kind of
a dumpster fire.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Let's talk about the defense.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Tom Mike Tomlin last week came out and said this
could be a historically good group.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I agree with him.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
He says that a lot over the years, and they
put a lot of investment in the defense. We know
previous season, a lot of number one picks, a lot
of high salary invested contracts coming back TJ. Watt being
one of them this year with the new contract. But man,
this defense. We talked about the defensive line, they're young,
they're hungry. You had Cam in there, But how about
the linebackering corps too with TJ. Watt, Patrick Queen, Peyton
(06:17):
Wilson's had a very good preseason, very good camp at
that other inside linebacker position. We know Alex high Smith
is going to be a beast on the outside. And
then you got Jack Sawyer, Maylick Harrison, Cole Holcomb. How
about that. We were talking about our game number two
preseason recap, we didn't talk about Cole Holcomb coming back
from that injury.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
He has looked very strong.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
He has, And how about so much so that there's
already kind of some chatter out there of which you
trade Cole Hulkomb, Like that's kind of become a talking point. Yeah,
I wouldn't touch that, man. I don't want colk. I
need him on the team. I think he's going to
be a big time contributor for that defense this year.
The historic thing, though, I like the confidence and it's
not just Mike t who is exuding it. You've heard
(06:58):
one thorn Hill say that he thinks they could be
the best ever. DK Metcalf said, this is the best
defense I've seen us play against. Peyton Wilson, who actually,
funny enough, got burned in coverage in the second preseason game,
said he's the best cover linebacker in the World's sorry,
it's the preseason. It doesn't count, it's not on his
permanent records. Just don't do it in the regular season.
But I like the confidence from it, because you got
(07:20):
to have a swagger and you gotta have a confidence
on that side of the ball. But let's just pump
the brakes, I think a little bit, and I think
I would be more raw raw, ready to run through
the brick wall if it was from the tone of
we're gonna be the best defense in the league this year.
We're gonna be better than a lot of other defenses
this year. There's not many defenses in this league that
can do what we do, and kind of frame it
(07:42):
from that positioning instead of two thousand Ravens, seventy six Steelers,
five Steelers, eighty five Bears, forget about them, it's all
about the twenty five Steelers, or take the approach of
we addressed the biggest problem. We had towards the end
of the season, the losing streak and that playoff game
in Baltimore. We got big upfront to stop the run,
(08:04):
no doubt, that's where you should start. Well, here's the
thing too, I'm cool with being brash though, Like I'm
cool with being like, we're gonna be the best this year,
like marian a defense in the league. That's gonna stop us.
I look at everybody, look at the talent we have.
We are the best defense in the NFL. I'm cool
with that. It's the framing it from the historic standpoint
that just gets a little bit ridiculous to me. But whatever,
Who am I to decide how somebody else talks trash
(08:26):
or exudes their confidence, it better be one of the
best in the league this year. Though, Like, if I'm
not sitting here maybe with you talking into a microphone
in January, and we're looking over the stats in the
season and I don't see them, you know, points per
game allowed, third, sacks, second, turnovers second, like in the
(08:46):
top three in every category that's significant, Number one, number
two rush defense. Then I think it's an underwhelming year
from what that side of the ball should bring to
the table.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
I agree with you there. I think one of the
most exciting parts of this linebacker room.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
TJ.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Watt, Patrick Queen are up there in age. Alex Highsmith
still a lot of time I think left for high Smith,
Peyton Wilson in his second year. You got Jack Sawyer
probably future potential starter, you know, Cole Holcom a little
bit left in the tank. We're hoping same with Mollie Carrison.
But then you got Nick Herbig as well. So Herbig
and Sawyer two potential starters in the next year or
two if you need them to come in. They can
(09:23):
rotate these guys in. We know the Steelers love to
do that on defense, rotating guys and all the talk
is move TJ. Watt around, don't keep them in that
same outside spot where he gets double teamed or chipped
every single play. Move him around on that defense, make
him be more of an impact player. Now you've got
the other linebackers to compliment that, and that'll be a
better defensive game plan this season.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I think that the defensive chess pieces that they have
can be moved all over the board in creative ways.
I'm excited to see with Tara Austin and what Mike
Tomlin can bring to the table. It's funny you mentioned
the TJ. Watt thing about him moving around more, and
I smiled to myself, because you're right. I think that's
something that they have to do, and I think that
it's something that it's not just a benefit to TJ.
(10:04):
Watt and maybe freeing him up from some of the
double teams, from the triple teams whatever, coming from a
different angle, but it just creates chaos when that quarterback
has to go break the huddle and all of a sudden, wait,
he's not to my right, He's always to my right,
he's up the middle. Like, what the hell's you know
what I mean? Like, it's just and there's quarterbacks in
this league, two of them are in your division, and
(10:26):
Lamar and Burrow they're gonna get they can they can
adjust on the fly. You know. It's not like they're
gonna be like, oh God, oh God, time out. Well,
I don't know where TJ. Want is, Like they're good
enough to do it, but like you're gonna just make
him positively right, They're gonna have to do a little
bit something different on the play clock than maybe they
initially had to. But I laughed because I was watching
the Jets game against the Giants a little bit and
(10:47):
there was some cutups on Twitter or x I guess
and their rookie right tackle armand Membo who they took
in the first round this year. Boy, he was getting
worked in that game. And the caption on one of
the twins I said was, this is the Jets twenty
one year old right tackle who has to go against
TJ Watt in Week one. It should be a lot
of fun. I agree with you, you got to move him around,
(11:10):
but I say you feast on the young rookie in
his first game and just have TJ kind of line
up on that right tackle his usual left spot.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
One hundred percent. Man, you're sending him all day long
against that rookie.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Just because you want to move him around, Ed doesn't
mean you have to do it every game. Now, if
you see a weak right tackle, let him feast, you
know what I mean. Just be open to being a
little bit more flexible than you have tom.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
While we're talking about the defense, we have to talk
about the secondary and the upgrades there in the offseason.
Darius Slay coming in opposite side of Joey Porter Junior
the big trade for Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
You got Deshaun Elliott coming back.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
But Juan Thornhill I think has been a pleasant surprise
that they've brought in this secondary, the opposite safety of
Deshaun Elliott. I think he gives you a lot more
options with this defense in this secondary, I mean on
paper and what we expect this season, those are five
guys that are going to be special. I think here
in the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I think you've got four guys that can be special.
Let's go with three guys that can be truly truly
special with the corners. Yeah, I think Elliott's a really
good underrated player in the NFL and he's gonna be
a good degreat player for the Steelers. Wan Thornhill just
got to be okay, Like he's just got to be fine.
He doesn't have to be the superstars. No, give me
(12:23):
a tipped interception every once in a while, give me
a big hit that separates the ball from a wide
receiver every once in a while. Don't mess up. Let
me kind of forget you're out there every now and then,
and then have one of those plays every once in
a blue moon that makes me go, oh, thanks one,
nice job. There's a nice coverage bus there, But you
just lit the hell up out of that dude. So
he didn't get the ball, Like that's all he's got
(12:45):
to do. And I just as we work our way
through this preseason ed I don't see why not. Like
I have a hard time convincing myself that he can't
bring that to the table. This man has been on
the field for two Super Bowls and won them both.
Like he knows how to do his job at the
very least. I think that's all he has to do.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Jalen Ramsey has been the star so far during this
training camp and well preseason we haven't seen him, but
when you're just talking about the preseason as a whole
training camp, he is.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
He has shined like a star.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
He is the real deal by all indications, and he's
gonna be one of their X factors. In the next
segment we'll get to our X factors for the season,
Jalen Ramsey will be one of those. There's a tease
for you, but Ramsey, I mean, he's not only the
superstar on the secondary, but he's gonna be able to
cover any of these wide receivers, especially in the AFC North,
because let's face it, Tom, the AFC North wide receivers,
(13:38):
you mentioned Burrow and Jackson a little bit ago, those
are the guys that the Steelers really need to lock
down and have lockdown coverage and not let them take
over football games like they have done in the past
when they've been able to burn our corners and burn
our secondary.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
That is probably the thing that I'm the most intrigued
by in this preseason portion of the schedule. What I'm
most intrigued by once the season starts and we see
how they're deployed in game action, is what does this
secondary look like and how do they move Jalen Ramsey around?
And I heard a SoundBite from him talking to Ryland
(14:14):
Clark on Ryan Clark's The Pivot podcast saying that when
it's Jamar Chase in town, when one comes in town,
that's me. That's five. I'm taking him. And Mike Tomin
even had a conversation that like, Jay's the guy, referring
to himself as Jay is the guy right now in
that room. But I don't think it's as simple as
you know. Jalen Ramsey always takes Jamar Chase. Jalen Ramsey
(14:38):
always takes Justin Jefferson. Maybe you do that if you
have to in those specific scenarios when you're playing top
elite receivers like that, and then otherwise, you know, you
just kind of play your system defense. He's in the nickel,
he's shown up in the slot. I don't know, ed Like,
I feel like kind of like an idiot babbling right
now because I just I just don't know what they're
gonna do with him. But I'm excited for it and
(14:59):
whatever it it is. And if Jamar Chase is eating
your lunch, you can throw Ramsey out there. All of
a sudden, Justin Jefferson lined up in the slot. Well,
that sucks. We're gonna have to have a linebacker cover him. Nope,
Jalen Ramsey's in the slot.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
I got the answer.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yeah. So I don't know how it looks. I don't
know how it shakes out, but people get paid a
lot of money and have a lot better credentials than
me to make it work and make it shake out
in a fun way, and I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
It does not take a football genius to say this.
The success of the Steelers season is going to be
if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy. And the two pieces of
the puzzle that are gonna have to keep him healthy
are the two offensive tackles and Troy Fonatanu and Broderick Jones.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And again early work. Not a whole lot to.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Talk about through the first two preseason games, but all
indications so far, so good for both of the offensive tackles.
They've played well for those first two preseason games. We
haven't heard him, and I'm always one to say for
offensive lineman, when you don't hear about an offensive lineman,
that means.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
He's doing his job.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
No penalties, no holdings, that type of stuff. He didn't
miss a block and the play got blown up, the
quarterback gets sacked for a big loss. So when you
don't hear about offensive line and that's a good thing,
I means they're doing their job. They need both of
these tackles and they have a lot invested. We've talked
about that previously too here on Steelers Nation Radio about
how the offensive tackles two first round draft picks. There's
(16:18):
a lot of stock there. They need to be really
good and they need to keep Aaron Rodgers healthy to
be successful.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I didn't notice them at all on Saturday. I didn't
hear Fatana's name, I didn't hear Drones Jones' name. I
barely remember to pay attention to them. And I mean
that all in a good way. Tampa Bay has okay
pass rush ers, but their pressure comes from the middle
more so Videvea, Elijah Cansey shout out pit. That's where
the pressure's coming from Tampa Bay on that defensive line.
(16:42):
So I think it was more of a test from
Fraser mccormick' standpoint against Tampa Bay on Saturday night, whereas
the tackles got a better test against Jacksonville with Trayvon
Walker and Josh Heinz Allen. But I didn't notice Fraser
or McCormick either, like I didn't see v Tavea or
Colijah Cansy blowing up plays left and right, giving me Rootolph,
you know, a hell of an experience for his couple series.
(17:03):
So all across the board, I've seen a lot of
good from this offensive line in our game action so far.
And I think if Fatanu, I think they hope is
going to become the star. If Jones can just take
to this life left tackle transition swimmingly enough, Like they're
putting him out there on an island right now. Ed
like there's no Ciamalu playing in these games next to him,
(17:25):
there's no Darnell Washington help, and he's doing good. When
the games start happening for real, he gonna get obviously Seeamalu,
and Darnell is gonna be on his side on important downs,
help with protection.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
It's gonna be much different.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So like, if he's doing good now when he's just
doing a bunch of one on ones, why not have
confidence in him once he starts, you know, getting a
little bit of a life draft, a little bit maybe
some training wheels next to him to be what you
need to be enough.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
It's the best offensive line that the Pittsburgh Steelers are
put on the field in a long long time.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
They're gonna need to be good pedigree wise, there's no
question about that.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
It's the best. And they're all young too, I mean,
other than Sayamalus who's a veteran in that group. Frasier
second year Mason McCormick at the other guard position. Fonatano
Now again, he's another red shirt that we talked about earlier.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
This is really his first year. Last year injured for
the whole season.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
And ed your previous iteration of the offensive line when
it was up and running at full speed or whatever.
It's it's full capacity in its prime. If you will,
you're two all pros, your two cornerstones retired in the
same offseason. You lost Marquis Pouncy and then it was
very mysterious will he won't he with Dave di Castro
and then huge and then won't he is what ended
(18:38):
up happening. That's tough to do. That takes time building
back up. They finally have pedigree guys like Pouncy and
di Castro, where infatanu In Jones and Zach Fraser that
we should start seeing him turn the corner now finally
and building back up to that prime offensive line top
ten in the league.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
You got to reload when you have players of that
big of an impact to Castro Pouncy leaving, and sometimes
I take.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Some few teasers to do that.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
I mean, they kind of left a little early, like
not to say like, hey, I wish you guys were
I do because you guys are great. I love you
Pounce and I love you to Castro, But like, do
you whatever I think with the Castro especially like that
was the surprising one, like you were thinking to Castro
had at least a few more years of really stellar
play left in the.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Hall of Fame career, possibly not now, but borderline, right,
he's borderline.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
He's gonna get done in by the Steeler fatigue thing,
just because he's so down the pecking order when it
comes to the Steelers. He was such a great, great player,
and Pouncey was obviously a great player. He probably will
go into the Hall of Fame, and you lose him
at the same time, it's tough. It's tough to build
back up from that.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Let's talk tight ends again, another very talented group. You
got Pat fryar Muth. You got Jonas Smith who comes
in on the trade. Darnell Washington, he has the touchdown
catch in the first preseason game at Jacksonville, had a
great camp up at Latrobe. And then you got Cotter Hayward,
who's your special teams guy that we expect to make
this team. All indications he's will be your four tight
ends for this season. One thing that I think is
(20:01):
gonna be interesting to see what plays out. Tom is
how they utilize this talent at the tight end position
outside of double tights. Right, double tights. That's an easy one.
Friarmth on one side, Washington on the other. But now
you have John Who's Smith that you can put in there.
And we've seen Smith carry the ball with Arthur Smith
when he was with the Tennessee Titans in the past
two so I went and roll that out during this season.
Smith also gives you that hybrid wide receiver. We were
(20:23):
talking about a lack of a number two on this team.
John Smith can also give you that look as a
hybrid number two receiver tight end. I thy could deploy
all four tight ends if they went in some sets.
Tom It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out.
But one thing's for certain that they got four good ones,
well three good ones. I like Connor Hayward too, but
he's more of your special teams guy.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Just forgetting Connor Hayward for the sake of this conversation.
Looking at the top three, they're gonna live in twelve personnel,
Like I think two of them at the very least
are gonna be on the field almost all the time.
And I wouldn't be surprised if it's thirteen personnel a
lot like if you look at the depth chart and
now they have put out two iterations of a depth chart, well,
probably get another one. I'd say tomorrow recording this on Monday,
(21:03):
somewhere in the next forty eight hours before the Carolina game,
will get a third iteration. But the tight ends, all
three of them are listed as starters. You've got Darnell
in the one spot as kind of like that tight
end two starter, and then in tight end one you
have Pat Firemouth or in that bold lettering Johnny Smith,
and I just think that all three are going to
be on the field more often than not, especially for
(21:27):
however long they move forward without a true wide receiver
two right, And maybe Johnny Smith looks like a wide
receiver two on some plays on some formations, maybe he
has just split out wide he's put in the slot.
I don't know, but that tight end room should create
a ton of mismatches with opposing teams. Inside linebackers just
aren't big enough to handle the size that the Steelers
(21:49):
have anymore. You know, that inside linebacking game has been
built so much on speed nowadays to cover these dudes
and to you know, have the ability to keep up
in the coverage game with some of these freaks that
you'll have to cover in the slot, and you sacrifice
some size to do that. I'm not saying they're safeties
out there or anything. They still have some size, but
(22:09):
you have a chance, I think, to play a little
bit of bully ball in a passing game capacity, not
just you know, with the traditional sense of running the
ball down something. Yeah, I think you can get some guy,
for lack of a better imagery, just being a bowling
ball up the middle of the field with a Washington,
a Smith, a friarmooth guys just bouncing off of them,
taking abuse and wearing them down throughout a game and
(22:32):
opening up the middle of the football. That's the biggest, key, huge.
That's what we saw in that touchdown in Jacksonville, seem
right up the seam to Darnell Washington, kind of a
jump ball that Mason threw him. You saw those big
mits just go up there and snatch that thing butt.
The ball popped ed when he grabbed it. Yes, impressive,
he could probably It's like Hulk. That's that's what's been missing,
is that middle of the field and attacking it and
(22:54):
you've got dudes that they're trees down in the middle
of the field, like, you've got the advantage now in
the middle of the field.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Well, just from an offensive game strategy too, when you
have that middle of the football field, you can go
to your tight ends. What's it do to the outside
wide receivers. It opens that up great point, Yeah, because
the safeties have to come down, They got to leak
down to cover the middle of the football field within
the tights, especially if you don't have the speed at
linebacker to possibly cover those.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Tight ends that are going to go down the middle.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
So that all opens up opportunities big time for DK Metcalf,
whoever the number two wide receiver is. Let's hope it's
Roman Wilson, you know whoever they have out there. But
it's going to open up opportunities more for this passing
game and Aaron Rodgers to attack down.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
You've seen Calvin Austin hit some deep balls to the
past erar home runs. It opens up the sideline for sure.
But let's not forget to include DK Metcalf in that
kind of abusing the middle of the field and kind
of bully balling in the passing game too. I think
that there is definitely going to be some deep balls
to Dk metcalf this year. Don't get me wrong, but
(23:51):
I think most of the damage we'll see Rogers to
Metcalfe is going to come in the slant game. I
think that that's really going to be their bread and butter.
Rogers and DeVante Adams had a lot of bread and
butter's good point, but their big thing was back shoulder.
Like Rogers and Adams just would feast on the back shoulder,
like just run up to the sideline and then just
bang the balls right there. And it's all timing based.
(24:12):
And that's really what Rogers demands with his receivers is
it's got to be perfect, like there's no improvising here,
Like that ball is coming out on time in this spot.
Get your hands ready, get your head around. And with DK,
I think that we can see that kind of back
shoulder I still think you're gonna see some of that
back shoulder throwing with him, but you see that kind
of aura, that kind of reputation with him translate to
the slant game because I just see DK, and I've
(24:34):
seen it in his past. He gets that ball right
in front of him with momentum, speed and size is
very hard combination to bring down in the open field,
almost impossible to tackle it, really it is. So I
think you're going to see them do a lot of
damage as well with DK in the middle of the field,
not just the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
It sounds like you and I have now solved the
number two wide receiver. They don't need the number two
We've solved it right here.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
They need it. Like I'm excited right now because of
all these prospects. Then imagine if there was just another
guy that is just another worry for the defense that
can give you five or six catches a game. But
most importantly ed, yeah, this is what we just laid
out that'll definitely get us through games, Like we'll have
a good passing game week one, wey two. What if
the injury happens though, that's the problem. He DK goes down,
(25:20):
now our passing game is really taking a hit. We
saw this exact same thing last year when Pickens went
down for a few games. There was nothing.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
That's where I think they are with that number two
wide receiver need. And I said that last year with Pickens,
if you can go out and get somebody. Then it
just it gets you over the hump. It gets you
into that conversation of oh, this is a this is
a nine to ten game, ten win team right now,
at least on paper.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
But man, you bring in that now, maybe you're talking
eleven or twelve wins.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Maybe now you're making that maybe you're in the final
four conversation in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
I think that's how close this offense is.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Maybe some of these younger guys can have some breakout
seasons and you don't have to worry about that as much.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
You know, they came out in.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
The Steelers have said here as early as this sprning,
and as you said, we're taping this on Monday, that
we're comfortable with Roman Wilson and some of these other
guys to potentially be our number two wide receiver. I'm
not sure I'm buying that, Tom. I think there still
could possibly be another move to make. There's gonna be
a lot of movement with guys getting cut, you know,
throughout the next couple weeks across the NFL, A player
(26:19):
could become available via trade. You mentioned Cole Holcom could
be dangled out there as a trade for maybe somebody.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Maybe I don't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I don't want it either, but I'm just saying that
they have some options. I don't think this is over yet, right.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I don't think it's over yet either. Roster cutdown day
is going to be very interesting. There's teams like the
Packers that just have too many wide receivers right now.
John Metchi getting traded was an interesting thing, yes, from
Houston to Philadelphia. Kind Of a similar thing happened last
year with Johan Dotson if you remember in Washington he
got traded at Philly and Pittsburgh was like, why where
are we in that? And then Dotson really didn't do
(26:51):
much for the Eagles. Yeah, Like I get where some
people are kind of like, oh, why wasn't the Steelers
in on that? Because Metchi does kind of the bill
as a prototypical number two. But Metch she ain't hit
in the NFL yet, folks, like, he just hasn't been
that productive of a wide receiver. He might just be
a bust. Like Houston's moving on from him for a reason.
They have a lot of tight ends. But that was
(27:12):
a draft pick not too long ago for them, so
they're already kind of pulling the plug on that, and.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
The Steelers have a ton of draft capital that Omar
Khan and company can play with. When we come back,
we're going to talk about some milestones here in the
twenty twenty five season historically for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so
stay tuned for that, some exciting things to talk about.
This is the Steelers Standard with Ed Troup and Tom
Offerman on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network.
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