June 12, 2026 • 48 mins
Ed Troup and Brian Batko look back on the Steelers' OTA season as the offseason program comes to a close and attention shifts toward training camp in Latrobe next month. Plus, the return of Seven Shots of Hits and Seven Shots of Misses with a summer edition featuring the biggest winners and misses from the spring.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome into the weekend edition of the Steelers Standard. Here
on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I am a.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Troop alongside Double B Brian Beco. As we end another week,
we also wind down the OTA sessions from the South Side.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will pack things up and head to
Latrobe in just a little bit over a month, Double B.
It was a week in which the Steelers didn't not
(00:43):
too many headlines came out.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Of the South Side. For the most part.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
It was a regular week of OTAs a lot of
veterans not in the last week taking the week off
some well deserved rest. But at the same time, it
gave an opportunity for the rookies and some of the
first and second year players to get some much needed work.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, it was It was a regular week, but I
feel like it was also kind of a young guy
showcase sort of week. And that's what Mike McCarthy was
talking about on Tuesday, that you know, it was a
chance for the younger generation to really get more reps.
I mean, obviously the guys had been around, but I
think they just naturally take a bit of a back
(01:22):
seat from rookie mini camp to OTAs once the veterans
start coming in and certainly VET mini camp. You know,
that's the closest thing a simulation to an n season
regular season practice, So they probably weren't getting many, if
any reps at that point. You know, it's it's logical,
you've got your your whole complement of guys. You want
(01:44):
to see them out there and put them through the
paces and install everything. So they kind of went went
back to the rookies and the young players, the year
two and three guys as well. On was that Thursday,
I guess, so yeah, I mean, I think that's that's
good for a big draft class. And still though there
were some established guys, some made men, as Vince Williams,
(02:07):
our guest from Wednesday's show likes to put it, Nick
Krbig was there, which I think that's always kind of
cool to see. It's a situation where all right, you know,
you just you gave me this big contract. I'm gonna
come and I'm gonna work, and I'm gonna you know,
not necessarily needing to sharpen my own sword, but anything
I throw at Maxie haunachor or Jennings Dunker or that
(02:28):
I can rub off on Jack Sawyer, that's that's helpful
for the whole group. So yeah, I mean it's it's
not like they're taking attendance or roll call or participation.
And I'm sure Mike McCarthy didn't necessarily expect someone like
Nick Krbig to be there, but I think that always helps.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
No doubt, Bryan.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
And at the same time, no news is good news, right,
no injuries or you know, again it's not contact, I
understand that, but they're still, you know, running routes and
running drills and hitting pads, so there's always a chance
that something could happen. But fortunately for the Black and Goal,
they went through this spring so far. And I'm going
to knock on what as I say that, because now
we pivot the training camp relatively in good shape and
(03:06):
well attended too. We've talked about it many times here
on the standard this spring that Mike McCarthy and that
new coaching staff got all the veterans there for all
of these voluntary workout sessions. Of course they had the
mandatory mini camp, but the stuff that was voluntary was
still well attended.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah, I wouldn't say they had all of them there
for all of them but yeah, I think they had
a pretty good turnout. And you know, basically what Mike
McCarthy had planned, I would say was leaving this last
week for some of the younger guys. And I mean
the way they structured it, it's not really surprising that
it played out that way. I mean some teams. It's
(03:44):
not really uniform across the league at I mean, some
teams are having Mini camp this week. I think some
are even having it next week. So you really have
a pretty big window in which you can schedule and
arrange when you want to have your practices, your mini
camp and your OTA. And the Steelers did it in
this kind of two pronged approach, mostly before but also
(04:05):
some after the Mini camp. And you know, it is voluntary,
it's it's optional. But I know Mike McCarthy, as he
said Tuesday, feels like they hit the ball about as
far as they could hit it, you know, at this
time of year, and really the whole point is get
everything done that you can, he said. The coaches are
still gonna have some homework to do on summer vacation,
(04:26):
but you know, by and large, when they get to Latrobe,
you know it's it's go time as much as it
can be. You've got the three three or four I
guess acclamation practices not in full pads, but even that,
if that's an extension of kind of the spring the
football and shorts learning, the competition certainly will ratchet up
(04:48):
that first Monday, August third, when they put all the
pads on.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Brian, I want to ask you, because you know you
were there for the what last eight or nine years
of of the Mike Tomlin era, and now you've been
introduced to the Mike McCarthy era here this spring, any
notable differences on how things are being handled so far
through this spring program. I know the most obvious one
to me was the schedule of what we just saw
(05:14):
this past week. Years past, with coach Tomlin, you'd wrap
up OTAs, you'd have the mandatory mini camp, then they
would break until La Trobe. This year, Mike McCarthy having
the mandatory mini camp last week and then one more
week of OTAs this week before wrapping things up before Latrobe.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I mean, I'm sure there are some different drills, and
you know that's natural too. You bring in new assistant
coaches and they're going to have some of their favorite Jills,
maybe things that they did at their previous NFL stop,
or you know, some of these guys are coming from
the college ranks two and that's just different managing a roster.
You usually got a lot more guys in your position group.
(05:53):
That'll thin out, of course once the regular season gets
here and the fifty three man roster is set. But no,
I mean, I don't think there's anything that really jumps
out to me too much. You know, it feels like
a Steelers practice. It's just very different not to hear
Mike Tomlin running around as someone who had the pulse
(06:15):
of that team and knew what strings to pull for everybody.
I'd say Mike McCarthy is he's a lot more emphasizing
the actual installation of the schemes because there are new schemes.
And then of course, you know, I think there's been
this has been said really since going back to the
(06:35):
first OTAs. I'm just a lot more attention paid to
the quarterbacks, particularly the first and second year guys Drew
Aller and Will Howard. But that's, you know, logical considering
McCarthy's an offensive minded head coach and he's been kind
of a quarterback guru and in his NFL tenure, I
(06:56):
know there's been a lot of talk about the QB School.
Next week, they've got what he called the Rookie School,
So some of the young young guys are even going
to stay around for a little bit more learning. And
I think it's more individual meeting time with your position
coach and kind of getting the vibe of what the
expectations are for you personally in that window between mini
(07:18):
camp and training camp. So you want your rookies to
show up in good shape and conditioned and not overwhelmed
by the speed of it when they get there. That'll
probably happen to some extent no matter what, but the
more you can mitigate it, the better.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Brian, I want to ask you on offense and defense
if there was a player that stood out to you. Again,
these are ota sessions.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You take it with what you will.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
I mean, it's it's helmets, t shirts, shorts, so it's
not like we're seeing, you know, pads popping in latrope.
So you can't take too much away from it, but
just maybe an early peak and early glimpse. I know
early on the offensive line was switched around early on
this spring. Will Howard was quarterback number two that stood out.
But for you give me a player on offense, or
(08:04):
give me a player on defense or both that might
have stood out or just maybe made you raise your
eyebrow a bit.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Well, on offense, I will say Will Howard. I think
Will progressed pretty nicely throughout the spring. And maybe you
take that for granted a little bit because he was
here last season and he was a pretty relatively polished
product coming out of Ohio State, albeit as a sixth rounder.
But you know, it was kind of a it was
(08:34):
a disappointing rookie year for him on the field, obviously,
because of that finger injury in training camp and not
getting a chance to get those feet wet in preseason action,
which I think a lot of rookies look forward to.
You know, you go through the slog and the grind
of camp practices and in a lot of ways, when
the lights come on, that's the fun part. And Will
(08:54):
didn't get to do that, and then he actually had
to wait around just to come off of ir until
about halfway through of the season where he could get
back on the practice field. So I think when you
take all that into account, I was pretty impressed with
what he looked like from the beginning to the end
of spring practices, and I guess i'd just say I
think he is going to farewell in La Trobe in
(09:17):
the preseason and continue to push for that number two
backup quarterback job. Defensively, ed, I mean, it's harder, I
think on that side of the ball because so much
of the game is predicated on hitting people and dislodging
the ball, which I want to do that this time
(09:37):
of year. Like we said earlier, knock on wood, they
got out of there healthy, everyone stayed upright. But I'll say,
you know, as a new guy coming in just because
you hadn't really seen him, and you I should say,
you'd only seen him from Afar when he was with
the Chicago Bears. But Jakwan Brisker and I think really
looks the part. I mean, he is kind of wire,
(10:00):
but he's a bigger body out there at safety. And
you know, he was someone who wasn't in that initial
first wave of free agency signings. But I think he's
he's going to help this team in some form or fashion,
whether that's in every down role or if it is
sort of a specialized role. I think, you know, it's
(10:21):
great that he's here playing for his hometown team. So
he's been really into everything. I mean, I think all
the guys have bought in, but especially someone like Brisker
who reuniting or reuniting with Pittsburgh but also uniting with
a fellow Yinzer in Mike McCarthy. So I just think
he's really happy to be here, and I think you
(10:42):
can see that in his energy and the vibe that
he brings in the way he's moving around the field.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I agree on both.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Will Howard Jaqwon Brisker a great call by you on
the defensive side, and they're going to need Brisker on
the defensive side at that safety opposite side of Deshaun
Elliott to be able to produce the way he did
in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
An upgrade.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
He needed an upgrade there at that safety position opposite
side of de Shaun Elliott. And then you have Jalen
Ramsey where you put him into play in this secondary
as well. That's just an added bonus that's icing on
the cake, that's for sure. But that was a good
call for you on Brisker.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Brian. We have a few more.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Minutes before we have to go to break, So let's
wrap up our review of the spring and OTAs and
everything else.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Put a bow on it.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Coming up in our next segment, we're going to talk
seven Shots of Hits and seven Shots of Missus, one
of our most popular segments from the regular season. We
have the summer edition of that before we go into
camp in about over a month. Also, Merril Hodge joining
us in the second hour today. So excited to talk
to Meryl. But before we go to break, Brian, we
talked about players. Let's talk storylines. What was the biggest
(11:43):
storyline for you to come out of this spring for
the Pittsburgh Steelers' practices.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
I think it's the offensive line in the moving parts there.
It's interesting to me that it almost seems like the
coaches have decided to kind of split them up in
three platoons three three two man tandems that are working together.
You've got your your established no doubters, Troy Faltanu and
(12:08):
Mason McCormick. Just a matter of where they will play,
but it sure seems like they're gonna flip together from
the right side to the left side. So they obviously
like the chemistry there and they'll keep those two attached
at the hip, then you've got your kind of in betweeners.
I would say the capable veterans Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson.
(12:29):
Cook mainly played on the left side a season ago,
and Spencer Anderson has played both left and right guard
in his career, but I think both are plenty comfortable
on the right side, so it's you know, much like
Troy Faltanu and Mason McCormick played left in college and
then flipped to the right in the pros. Cook and Anderson,
(12:50):
I mean, their value to this point in their career
has been as utility players who can slot in wherever
you need them with their versatility. But if they can
parlay that in too starting jobs and see how it goes,
then you know, more power to them. Which is to
say they're trying to hold off the third duo, which
(13:11):
is the rookies. I think Maxie Honachor and Jennings Dunker
they could potentially be the right side of the future
at tackle and guard respectively. The first rounder from Arizona
State and the third rounder from Iowa in this year's
Big class. So I don't know what it'll look like
come Week one or by week ten, if if you're
(13:34):
going to see all of those and any of those
tandems still together, or if one will break off, or
if maybe the rookies will just get to stay in
the slow cooker for a while. But I think it's
it's kind of cool how that has come together. And
then they'll all get different reps. I'm not saying that
it's a you know that they're going to have. They're
(13:55):
mandated to play next to one another, but there's something
to be said for cohesion just as much as the
something to be said for flexibility. And I think you'll
see a bunch of guys learning different spots. But for now,
it feels like they're moving two by two. On James
Campen's arc.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Good good reference there, my friend, to bring that back
into play there, I agree offensive line. For me, the
storyline are the two contracts that occurred. The first at
the start with Aaron Rodgers finally getting under contract and
also at the same time announcing his retirement at the
end of this year this will be his final NFL season,
and then then Nick Carr big news too. I mean,
that was all on the top of our minds. What
(14:33):
would happen with Nick herbig beyond this upcoming season. Would
he play out the final year of that contract. But
thus they offer him four years a new contract of
four years, one hundred million. He signs that he will
be a Steeler going forward.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Last thing I'll say, i'd say one standout rookie to this,
point ed Dalon Everett. I thought he looked very much
that's my guy, my guy as an outside corner. And
you know he didn't. He came in with little fanfare.
I would say he almost got lost in the shuffle
because of Aler and Ianachor and Bernard and even Dunker
finishing out that second night of the draft. Ever, it
(15:08):
was just kind of quietly split in there from Georgia.
But I think I don't know that they'll need him
to help in year one, but I think he could
if he has to.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
As I've said many times, Double b I'm a big
Everett fan, So I'm excited to see him play in
the Black and gold. When Brian and I come back,
we're gonna get into our seven shots of hits and
seven shots of missus.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Speaking of Steelers.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Camp, that was one of the most popular drills that
they ran every year. In La Trobe under coach Tom
and we'll see if coach McCarthy picks it up. But
it's one of our favorite segments here on the Standard.
He's Brian Bacco. I'm at Troupe.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
It is the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Standard weekend edition here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of
the Steelers Audio Network, sef cable Internet.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
But I'm a one hundred percent kind of fan, so
i switched to Verizon FiOS. It's one hundred percent fiber
Internet that's super reliable. So I streamed one hundred percent
of the NFL Draft live with Ultra Lo lag and
after what went down in the first round, still getting
video calls from my best friend rubbing it in that
he called all the picks.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I told you they were building their own line. I
went to bet good.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Five or Internet with a Rhizon FiOS because when it
comes to your team, it's one hundred percent or nothing
called one. Need three three of rhizome to switch today.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Get that hot dog costume ready, bruh.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light. There's
nothing better than the clean Crisp. There's nothing better than
the clean Crisp.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
What if we just got out of here and grab
some bud Lights.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
So man, we're on air for four more hours.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I'll figure it out.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste
of bud Light stocked up now. Bud Light, easy to drink,
easy to enjoy, and you're responsibly copyright twenty twenty six
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Speaker 1 (16:51):
Back here on the Steelers Standard weekend addition, glad you
could join us here on Steelers Nation Radio, part the
Steelers Audio Network. I am a troop alongside Double B
Brian Baco, which, by the way, Brian won't plug himself,
but I will for him. Make sure you log on
to Steelers dot com each and every day to check
(17:13):
out Doubleb's featured articles on the Black and Gold, excellent
coverage year round. He's got some great stuff up there
from this past week as we continue to navigate.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
This off season.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
So make sure you check out Brian Baco and all
his excellent coverage on Steelers dot com each and every day.
You can follow Brian on x as well, and myself.
We've had a few people chime in, Brian. We have
a few fans out there. I guess that log onto
X and comment to us, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
That's always good. And also I was going to say,
by the time you hear this, might have a pretty
cool feature up on Maxihonachort on Steelers dot com, so
keep an eye out for that over this weekend. This
is a lull of a weekend in the calendar, a
little bit at I mean, a lot of schools are
letting out and maybe your kids are home for the
first time. Next weekend, of course, is Father's Day, and
(18:07):
then we'll start getting into the the summer grind of
vacations and fourth of July will be coming up. But
this weekend's just kind of there for the taking. So
it sounds like a great opportunity to sit down on
an early Saturday or Sunday morning with a cup of Joe.
Read me on Steelers dot com. It's not about me.
Read about the players and coaches on Steelers dot com.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Hey listen, Brian, it's always about you. It's about me,
it's about the whole show. It's about covering the Steelers
from A to Z.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
And in case you missed it, another thing you can
do on this weekend. Maybe if you're doing yard work
or driving around, maybe you're driving to vacation this weekend.
Our Wednesday show with Vince Williams was fantastic. I mean
to have Vince in studio for the the entirety of
the show with us giving his insight, his perspective, good
(18:59):
sense of humor two from Vince Williams. I think it
went really well. So if you missed it, definitely be
sure to go back and check that out.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Yeah, we had a big week, Brian.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
And by the way, if we didn't scare Vince off,
which I hope we didn't, he is to be with
us next week in studio again for another show, so
that's exciting.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
But we started the week ahead, Brian, we're.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Spoiled with I mean, Vince Williams. And then you'll hear
later in today's show Meryl Hodge. I mean wow, yeah,
I mean that. That is a big week for us
on the Standard D.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Yeah. We started the week playing back some of our
favorite interviews from this spring, which was you know, Arthur Motes,
Bill Hill Grove, Matt Williamson, among others. And then we
end the week here with as you said, Merril Hodge
coming up here in our second hour, Today's going to
spend the whole second hour with you and I to
talk about his career in the current state of the
Pittsburgh Steelers as well, you know, Brian, just to go
(19:50):
back to you know, always some great things to do
in and around the city of Pittsburgh. This time of
the year June, July, August, summertime in the city for
me has always been special. Have you ever done the
gust and Yah yah was on the North side with
the snowballs, of course.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, that was a place that my dad used to
love taking me growing up because he went there as
a kid. However, as much as I loved Gus and yayas,
I don't know if I've ever told you this said.
This is a piece of Brian Batco personal lore. My
favorite job ever, one of my first jobs ever, not
the first, but I worked at a snow cone stand
(20:25):
in North Park up here in the northern suburbs. It's
no longer with us, unfortunately, but it was right by
the boat house. If anyone listening was an avid North
Park runner, cyclist, pickleball or whatever, it was the little
snow cone hut right by the boat house. And I
(20:45):
loved it. I mean I probably worked there for two summers,
worked my way up. I was opening, closing. I'd run
the cart at like little community days and festivals, and
it was the best job ever because they were the
best snow cones ever. We had like forty some flavors.
And if it was it's a busy day, yeah, the
afternoon went fast. I was getting some good tips from
the fine folks out there. And if it was a
(21:06):
slow day, I could sit there and read a book
or listen to music, or do whatever I wanted to
do while eating as many snow cones as I wanted. Hey, wait,
maybe that's why it went out of business.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
It could be I didn't know you were a snow
cone expert. My friend, we do the gus and yayas
every year. It's a tradition for us with our two
boys who are now teenagers. So back in the day,
they used to get excited jumping the car we'd go down.
Now we have to schedule it three weeks ahead of time.
We have to pull them into the car and make
them go hang out with their parents. Brian, how about that.
Your kids are still little, so they're still pumped to
(21:37):
hang out with you. But just give it another ten
years and then look out.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Pumped might be a stretch, but yes, I am not
really looking forward to that. No, I mean, but yeah,
I am a snow cone connoisseur. That is one thing
about me. And I would even say, if we're gonna
get really into the weeds here, gus and yayas I
love the flavors. Those are more ice, Okay, they're the
kind of chunky you know, he's guss you know, he's
(22:03):
shaving it off of there, and then it's in your
cup and then you pour the stuff over it. Where
I worked was it was really more shaved ice, so
got it. You know, if you've ever been to Hawaii
or even southern California, get that out there and it's
it's a little lighter, fluffier. So that's my preference. But
I know a lot of people out there are still
old school and like the chunky ice balls.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
It's good either way, and you're gonna need it this
week in and around the Pittsburgh area because it is
going to be hot and humid as it's been, but
it's Pittsburgh. It's summertime. Make sure you get out and
enjoy it. Brian, let's get into our seven Shots of
Hits and seven Shots of Misses, one of our most
popular segments that we do each and every week during
the regular season, which is pretty easy during that point
because there's always seven good things to talk about and
(22:46):
seven things that the Steelers potentially missed that week.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
To talk about.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Off season a little bit different, you know, things are
drawn out a little bit, but I thought it would
be a good time for you and I to jump
in on this and talk about where we are up
to this point. So we'll start with our first hit
and then we'll go back and forth between the misses
this segment and next the first hit for me for
seven Shots of Hits, and I want to get your
take on this is an obvious one, and we talked
about it during the last segment to open up the
(23:11):
show today. The Steelers agreeing with Nick Herbig on that
new contract, four years, one hundred million, seven point five
sacks last year, twenty one combined tackles in fifteen games
played in twenty twenty five, the edge rusher, the playmaker,
potentially the future of this defense now here to stay.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
I thought Vince Williams made a really good point on
Wednesday's Show with Us that maybe Nick Krbig hasn't earned
this with what he's done on the field, but he
deserves it because of the way he's produced when he's
gotten his opportunities and what he can potentially bring you
in the future. Now, that's a little bit of splitting
(23:49):
hairs and semantics there with earn versus deserve, But I
think you see Vince's point there that a lot of
people around the league may have boked at that total
for someone who has been a complimentary player in part
time starter and is blocked on the depth chart on
paper at least by TJ. Watt and Alex Highsmith from
(24:10):
becoming a starter. But I think this tells you that
the Steelers have so much faith in what Nick Herbig
still can provide, and that he's just scratching the surface
at Again, he's not going to turn twenty five until
the second half of this season at which is unbelievable,
so amazing. I think there's still so much more meat
on the bone for her Big. And it's kind of
(24:31):
like anything in life. If you're at the store or
you're online shopping, sometimes you might see something that is
quote unquote overpriced to other people. But if you're like
I really want this, I need this, this is going
to make me happy. Then you just pay it and
you don't really worry about it. This happens in the
draft all the time too. It's like, oh, did they
(24:54):
reach on a player in the second round when he
could have been there in the third round or fourth round.
Sometimes it doesn't matter if you have conviction in taking
that player there and believing in that player, you just
do it and you have confidence that it's going to
work out. And I think that's basically the same thing
the Steelers did with.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Herb our first hit of seven shots of hits and
seven shots of misses.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
This miss here early.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
But you know, we still got some time to go
until the start of training camp and really till the
end of training camp. But Omar Khan in the front
office will continue to negotiate Brian, But this one stands
out to me on a miss so far. No agreement
yet on Joey Porter junior contract extension for him is
needed he enters his final year of his rookie contract
this season.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
This has to be at the top of the list.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I'm sure it has been, right with Nick Herbig at
the top of the list for Omar Khan and that
front office. But a deal for JPJ most likely needs
to be done before the end of training camp in
the start of the regular season.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yeah, nothing yet, But I think we said all along
that this might be the trickiest one to get across
the finish line. Now another way, I mean, it's also
arguably the most necessary one or the the you know,
the most slammed dunk to predict, because it just makes
too much sense with the way he's played and what
(26:10):
the Steelers need on their defense at that position. But
you know, he's probably gonna make the most bank of
anybody in this twenty twenty three draft class. I know,
Nick Herbig really ran it up, but I think Porter
will be kind of in the same boat, if not
a little bit more, because of the way the cornerback
(26:32):
market has gone this offseason, with Trent McDuffie resetting it
and Joey Porter Junior having arguably a better case than
Trent McDuffie in the deal that he got from the Rams.
Remember that was a player who the Chiefs didn't necessarily
want to or were able to commit that much money too,
so they dealt him and the Rams said, will do
(26:52):
that but yeah, I mean, these are good problems to have,
but they can make for some tense moments when you
have so many good, young, homegrown players you want to retain.
I actually saw one of the news pieces of news
around the league that caught my eye this weekend was
that the Miami Dolphins re upped their center Aaron Brewer,
(27:13):
who I think is I think Zach Fraser is right
up there with the best centers in the league, but
I think Brewer might be number one. He got three year,
fifty two million and a half dollar extension. Now he's
a little older, I think he's twenty eight or twenty nine,
so he didn't quite clear the younger guys like Tyler
Linderbaum Jurgens from Philly and then Creed Humphrey from Kansas City.
(27:37):
But that feels like it's relevant because, let's be honest,
the Steelers are probably gonna want to pay Zack Fraser
this time next year. And you know, Brewer was a
beast last season for the Dolphins. And he's so small too,
which I love. He's like a shade under six to two.
But if you ever just focus on the Dolphins number
(27:59):
fifty five, which I did the week before they faced
the Steelers. He is. He's like centers don't normally have
a highlight tape like he does, but it's like watching
highlights of a guy in another position. The way he
moves around and gets to the second level. He's a
unique player and the Dolphins paid him as such. So
keep that in mind for the Fraser negotiation, which we
(28:20):
would assume will take place next spring. Aaron Brewer gets
three years, fifty two and a half million after It
wasn't as nuts as what Tyler Linderbaum got from the Raiders,
just an absurd amount of guaranteed money, but it's worth
keeping in mind as we're talking about Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington,
Joey Porter Junior, potentially Keanu Benton. The Steelers are gonna
(28:41):
have Zach Frazier going into the final year of his
rookie contract next season, not to mention Troy Foutanu, who
will likely get his fifth year option picked up, and
then also Mason McCormick as a key cog of that
offensive line too.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
As they continue to build up this offensive line, they're
gonna have some work to do in future off seasons
to keep those guys around. That's for sure, Double b.
Let's get to another hit before we get to break Brian.
We'll keep with the contracts this spring. Another big one
is Darnell Washington. You mentioned it, the tight end new
deal for Mount Washington, four years, forty two million, a
(29:17):
unicorn at that tight end spot. No other player like
him in the NFL at tight end. That's built his
way load of potential for Darnell Washington.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
We got a peak of it last year. From a
receiving standpoint.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
It was good stuff and it should continue hopefully in
this new Mike McCarthy offense.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Yeah, especially when he was hired, we weren't really sure
what it would mean. Well, not even necessarily when he
was hired, but when the Steelers traded for Michael Pittman
Junior too. On top of that, we weren't really sure
what that was going to mean for the returning tight
end one two punch of Pat Fryarmuth in Darnell Washington.
It was kind of a natural question to ask, all right,
(29:56):
what's going to give there? If they're going to be
running a lot more three receiver sets? Well, hold the phone,
I guess is the ultimate memo there. I mean, you
can take with a grain of salt what coaches in
GM say oftentimes, and Mike McCarthy is saying that he
is going to reimagine this offense. He actually said on
Tuesday that this probably speaks to the philosophy of eleven
(30:19):
and twelve personnel and all of that, but he said
he doesn't even look at it necessarily that way. He
looks at it as you've got your your one back offense,
one running back, your two back offense. We get a
fullback in there, run an eye formation and no back
offense would be empty, five wide or four a tight
end or whatever. But that just tells you that he's
less concerned about the number of receivers and tight ends
(30:40):
who are on the field and more so just looking
at them all as eligible pass catchers. So I think
by and large, the Steelers are gonna have one back
on the field. Occasionally you might see Riley Noakowski in
there as a fullback, but even he is kind of
like a tight end two coming out of Indiana. So
I think you're still going to see plenty of the
Friar Muse Washington combination.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
You know, Brian, they got such a young offense.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
We talked about the offensive line, but some of these
playmakers now too, I mean really outside of well, Aaron
Rodgers comes to mind at the quarterback spot, but he's
almost like off to the side, right. You look at
the future of this team, of this roster, of this
depth chart, and it's young, and if it could gel
together for this season and future seasons to come, they're
gonna be in a really strong position.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
Yeah. Yeah, And it's just it's not going to be
easy necessarily for keeping all of those guys in place,
but that's that's what you want because there have been
some other youth movements on offense for the Steelers in
past years where unfortunately you didn't really want to keep
guys around for second contracts because the results weren't there. So,
(31:46):
knock on wood, that won't be the case again with
this young nucleus.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
When Brian and I come back, we'll get into another
miss more seven shots of hits and more seven shots
of misses as we wrap up our number one.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Coming up next, He's Brian Beaco.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Amed Trupe is the Steelers standard here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
I used to have cable internet, but I'm a one
hundred percent kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon FiOS.
It's one hundred percent fiber Internet that's super reliable. So
I streamed one hundred percent of the NFL Draft live
with ultra low lag. And after what went down in
the first round, still getting video calls from my best
friend rubbing it in that he called all the picks.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I told you they were building their own line. I
went to bet good.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
One percent fiber Internet with Verizon FiOS, because when it
comes to your team, it's one hundred percent or nothing.
Call one three three for Raizon to switch today.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Get that hot dog costume ready, bruh.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
And now a word from our sponsor, bud Light. There's
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Speaker 3 (32:46):
Uh. What if we just got out of here and
grab some bud Lights.
Speaker 7 (32:49):
So, man, we're on air for four more hours. I'll
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Speaker 3 (32:58):
Stocked up now.
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Bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy, and you're
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say Louis, Missouri.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
It's the weekend.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Edition of the Steelers Standard here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network. I am at Troop
alongside as always Double.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
B Brian Bacco.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I'm glad you could join us today, each and every
day if you're listening on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, maybe even Monday.
It's a four day weekend for us here on the
Standard as we continue to navigate here through the off season.
And a special programming note, we're gonna have Merril Hodge
coming up next hour. He'll be joining Brian and I,
(33:47):
so make sure you stay tuned for that. Next week
we will be on for the Steelers Standard, but the
following two weeks, Brian and I will be off. They're
gonna give us some vacation time before we ramp up
for our training camp. Cover Brian whenever we come back
to start off the month of July. We'll get you
prepped in those weeks leading up to Latrobe, and then
Brian and I will both be in Latrobe for the
(34:09):
Steeler Standard and giving you water Wall coverage here on SNR.
All of our shows taking place up in Latrobe in
an air conditioned press box, Brian, So that's kind of exciting.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Yeah, that'll be my first time really doing that. You know,
I'd been a guest before with Wes Yuler and Arthur
Motes and maybe even some of the shows when the
Lake Dale Lawley was broadcasting from there. But I'm looking
forward to the environment for sure. Just simply getting out
of the heat will be nice and I'll be happy
(34:42):
to talk some football as a means for doing that.
So yeah, it's right around the corner of the sticky days.
And you know, sometimes there are some bees out there,
and you watch the high grass, you never know what's
going to get you. But by and large, it is
a wholesome, beautiful screen time out there at Saint Vincent College.
(35:06):
And it's easy for me to say that because I
won't have two hundred and fifty pound dudes running into
me for most of the time.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
That I'm there, that's right, and running around in that
ninety degree heat with fifty pounds of equipment on you,
I'm with you, buddy. Those those days are long gone
for me. They were never beyond the high school level.
But hey, listen, let the pros do. They're getting paid
the money, that's for sure. Brian, we were going into
our seven shots of hits and our seven shots of
(35:32):
misses right before the break, we did a couple hits,
So we did a miss. With Joey Porter Junior's contract
extension not taking place yet, let's get into another miss.
Second on our list Steelers inside linebackers. This could be
a weak spot on this defense for twenty twenty six.
Patrick Queen getting up there in age. He's been okay
so far, but he's entering his last year of his
contract and no talks there that we're aware of of
(35:55):
him possibly being extended going into this upcoming twenty twenty
six season. And then there's Peyton Wills that we've had
a lot of discussion about. He's been up and down,
more ups than downs, but needs to be more consistent
opposite side of Patrick Queen. And then there's Cole Holcomb
and Malie Harrison who are the backups. But my question
for this miss is is that all enough to sustain
that middle part of that defense? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think it is. I think with Peyton Wilson potentially
taking another step and he was another guy who I
noticed was there at the final OTA's practice on Thursday,
So I mean He's an established player at this stage
in his career, could have easily just taken off. But
you know, maybe he feels like he needs to be
(36:38):
one hundred percent well versed in this new Patrick Graham
defensive scheme. Maybe he feels like he hasn't arrived yet.
I know that he probably wasn't as happy as he
could have been with year two, especially with coming into
that second season with the Steelers and in the NFL.
He thought he could be one of the better cover
(36:59):
linebackers in the world, as he put it, And you know,
I think you saw flashes of it. You saw the speed,
you know, easily in Dublin chasing down the Vikings receiver
and allowing them to keep some time on the or
take some time off of the clock to thwart that
Vikings comeback. But I mean, you just want to see
(37:21):
it on a more consistent basis, combined with the ability
to come up, get off blocks, make plays against the run.
And if he can do all that, you know, I
think he can be one of the better inside linebackers
that the Steelers have had really since the Vince Williams
Ryan Shazier combo that we discussed a lot on Wednesday.
(37:44):
So that's a position that it was untouched almost entirely
this sawseason. I mean that is a spot where they
did almost not. I mean they basically did nothing. They
basically ran it back with everyone. I thought for sure
they would draft someone. All they did was bring in
undrafted free agent Dalon Carnell out of Missouri. Even Jamin Davis,
(38:08):
the veteran former first rounder of Washington who was signed
as a tryout player from mini camp. I think they're
looking at him more as an edge guy. Now. He's
always been a hybrid linebacker since coming out of Kentucky,
and that might be part of the reason why he
hasn't found a place to stick in the league despite
all the physical talent. But I don't even really think
(38:28):
that they have him slotted for that inside linebacker group.
So it's really the same ones Queen Wilson, Holcombe, Harrison,
Carson Brunner, and then, like I said, Carnell the undrafted
free agent. So they're gonna their need to hope that
they have enough in that room.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
And like we said, there's a lot of upside with
Peyton Wilson as well. He's young, he's athletic. Again, knock
on wood. We've been doing that a lot here this morning.
He's been relatively healthy so far in his NFL career
and that was his knock back door in his college day.
So yeah, I think there's a ton of upside there.
And Patrick Queen still playing at a high level as well.
He has not taking any type of steps back, so
(39:08):
hopefully they can gel together in this new Patrick Graham
defense this upcoming season.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
Brian, let's get to another shot.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Our third shot of seven shots of hits and seven
shots of missus. Is the new look Steelers secondary with
adding Jamel Dean this offseason and the local product out
of Gateway High School in Penn State, Jakwan Brisker, big
upgrades I think in the secondary, Brian, last year was
almost a revolving door at that safety spot.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Jalen Ramsey saved.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
The day really coming into that spot, but the other
guys they had in there was really just plug and
play try to get through this season, and that was
evident by this off season because they didn't bring Kyle
Duggar or any of those other guys back to participate
in this secondary in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
Yeah, it's actually when you look back at it. They
made a lot of additions and changes in the secondary
last year. I mean, make a Fitzpatrick out. Jalen Ramsey
in was the primary one, but on top of that,
you had Dare before that. But technically but Darius Slay
coming in, Brandon Eckles one, Thornhill later in the game,
(40:13):
Chuck Clark and like you said, I mean mid season
that they go and trade for Kyle Dugger. So they didn't.
They weren't as busy in trying to reshuffle up that group.
But yeah, I mean still Jamel Dean is your Slay
equivalent this year, and you hope that goes better. Jakwan
Brisker is your one Thornton Brisker and Darnell Savage are
(40:37):
kind of your Thornhill and Chuck Clark this time around.
And I think those two guys, especially Brisker, as I
mentioned in the first segment today, have more upside than
the two acquisitions did it safety a season ago. And
you know, the biggest that I know, like college coaches
will always say this about someone who was red shirting
(40:59):
and NFL this trickles down to the NFL sometimes too,
But in a lot of ways, the biggest addition will
be the return of de Shaun Elliot. I think if
he's healthy and able to be the difference maker that
he was obviously two years ago before they signed him
to the extension. But I thought he was playing pretty
well last season too. I agree before he went down
in that I think it was the Browns game. So
if he is back looking like himself, then that eliminates
(41:23):
a lot of the issues that you were trying to
patch up on the fly in your secondary last year.
And if Brisker can add to that, and Jamel Dean
can be an improvement over what Darius Slay was giving
you and what turned out to be his final NFL season,
then I think you're making a case of maybe the
most improved position group on this team.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
I'm excited to see this secondary play in twenty twenty six.
On this defense, we know what we have in the
edge rushers, one of the best groups in the NFL.
Defensive line has gotten bigger, stronger, younger. Cam Hayward continues
to play at a high level. I mean things are
gelling together for this defense on paper. Patrick Graham gives
him a new look as the new defensive.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Coordinator as well. Very smart guy.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
You heard Vince Williams the other day on the show
Brian talk about that.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
So yeah, all arrows pointing up at this point.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
They's got to stay healthy of course this upcoming season,
and hopefully they can get back to that steel curtain
defense that we're used to.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
Seeing in previous seasons.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
We'll stay on the defense for our next shot of
seven shots of misses, and this is a potential miss, Brian,
So not a miss right now, but could be a
miss in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
And that's Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Could it be challenging to get him enough snaps to
be effective in twenty twenty six with this now crowded
and talented secondary.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
Well that's what they'll have to figure out. And maybe
Mike McCarthy and Patrick Graham already know in the back
of their mind what the right workload is for Ramsey.
I think with Ramsey, he's a player who he's very
much in a transitional period of his career. He saw
it last season going from right cornered a safety, and
(43:02):
certainly applaud him for making that transition and filling the
role as well as could be expected when you weren't
necessarily locked into that when you got traded here. But
things happen and they adjusted on the fly and whatever
stock you put into Pro Bowls. I mean, he did
make the Pro Bowl last year. We know the name
(43:23):
recognition always tends to matter in that. But you know,
if if now, if the next phase of his progression
in the NFL is, hey, you're you're not an every
down player anymore, and you know there are gonna be
times where you're at safety. There're gonna be times where
you're at nickel. There a gonna be times where you're
(43:44):
kind of a super coverage linebacker, if you want to
put it that way. Are you good with that? Now?
That that's what they're going to have to work out
between coach and player. But I think one positive there
with Ramsey. Even if he doesn't have the straight up,
straight line speed that he did as an outside corner
when he was one of the best in the game
(44:05):
and furbishing that future Hall of Fame resume, I still
think he can. He has the aptitude to make the
big play, the big hit, the ball jarring tackle, the
sack on third down when he blitzes from a spot
that the offense isn't expecting. So I think he can
still do all of that, and it's a matter of
(44:26):
busting it out at the right time and catching an
offense off guard and letting Jalen Ramsey do Jalen Ramsey things,
even if they're not the original Jalen Ramsey things of
when he was coming out of Florida State.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
Again, it's not a miss yet, but potentially could be
a miss in twenty twenty six that they can't get
this playmaker on the field. But maybe that's a good
problem to have, Brian, I'm not sure. We'll see how
it all plays out. Next up on our seven Shots
of Hits. Our fourth shot of a hit is the
offensive line. The revamp with Fontana and McCormick going to
the left side along with Zach Frasier who continues to
(44:59):
be stable at center once the right side is figured
out for the camp battles. This could be one of
the best Steelers offensive lines in a long, long time, Brian,
as excited as I am about the secondary, the new
look secondary for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Man, I'm pumped to
see this offensive line as well.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Hey, you know it was two years ago they started
pouring the resources into that. Really three if you include
Broderick Jones, but I mean the following draft it was
Foutanu Fraser, and McCormick all together, so you knew omark
On and Andy Widel weren't messing around when it came
to rebuilding on the line of scrimmage. But every unit
(45:41):
at some point in their process needs to go from young,
hungry promising to actually getting the job done and dominating
week in and week out. And this is going to
be a big year to gauge that, I think, because
they are all in year three, yes, and McCormick it
(46:01):
might sort of be year one on the left side,
so maybe it won't be quite as fluid as you
might have expected. But as I mentioned earlier, those guys
played predominantly left side in college, so they have a
ton of experience being on on that side of things,
and I think they're both you know, some o lignemen.
I think we talked about this with Chris Carter when
(46:22):
he came on the show from the Post, because that
like some alignemen are like Dan Moore, maybe are Brogert
Jones who they're really more comfortable on one side or
the other, and other linemen are Hey, doesn't matter. I
can flip my footwork my hands. It's no big deal
as long as I'm in there, and I think and
mccormicker are more like that, so you'll you'll get the
(46:47):
best of those two I think still on the left side,
and that that does open the door for the even
younger offensive lineman that this team has invested in in
Ihanichore and Dunkard. Is some take the bull by the
horns on the right side. And when you can get
basically an entire offensive line drafted and developed by your franchise,
(47:10):
I mean, that's the stuff that Super Bowl contenders are
made out of. And as long as players can stay healthy,
that's chemistry upfront, and that is a core philosophy basically
of team building, as.
Speaker 2 (47:25):
We've discussed many times.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
Unlike years past, this group, this rookie class coming in
here this season, they don't have to jump in right away.
Maybe Jeremy Bernard might be the only one that you
need as a third fourth receiver playmaker, but everyone else
can develop. And that was the Steeler away for a
long long time around here, Brian, during these drafts, and
again they were drafting later on twenty five to thirty
(47:48):
somewhere in that range during the first round, but they
could easily just push these guys into the places they
wanted them to be in future seasons and not have
to be here in day one.
Speaker 2 (47:56):
They've had to do that the last few years.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
It's worked out with Troy fontana Erck Harmon, but now
they can relax and develop some of these guys.
Speaker 2 (48:03):
We will get into more.
Speaker 1 (48:04):
Of the seven shots of Hits and seven Shots of
Missus next week here on the Standard, because coming up
next it's Merril Hodge joining Double B and myself right
here on the Steelers Standard on Steelers Nation Radio, part
of the Steelers Audio Network
Welcome into the weekend edition of the Steelers Standard. Here
on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I am a.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Troop alongside Double B Brian Beco. As we end another week,
we also wind down the OTA sessions from the South Side.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will pack things up and head to
Latrobe in just a little bit over a month, Double B.
It was a week in which the Steelers didn't not
(00:43):
too many headlines came out.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Of the South Side. For the most part.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
It was a regular week of OTAs a lot of
veterans not in the last week taking the week off
some well deserved rest. But at the same time, it
gave an opportunity for the rookies and some of the
first and second year players to get some much needed work.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, it was It was a regular week, but I
feel like it was also kind of a young guy
showcase sort of week. And that's what Mike McCarthy was
talking about on Tuesday, that you know, it was a
chance for the younger generation to really get more reps.
I mean, obviously the guys had been around, but I
think they just naturally take a bit of a back
(01:22):
seat from rookie mini camp to OTAs once the veterans
start coming in and certainly VET mini camp. You know,
that's the closest thing a simulation to an n season
regular season practice, So they probably weren't getting many, if
any reps at that point. You know, it's it's logical,
you've got your your whole complement of guys. You want
(01:44):
to see them out there and put them through the
paces and install everything. So they kind of went went
back to the rookies and the young players, the year
two and three guys as well. On was that Thursday,
I guess, so yeah, I mean, I think that's that's
good for a big draft class. And still though there
were some established guys, some made men, as Vince Williams,
(02:07):
our guest from Wednesday's show likes to put it, Nick
Krbig was there, which I think that's always kind of
cool to see. It's a situation where all right, you know,
you just you gave me this big contract. I'm gonna
come and I'm gonna work, and I'm gonna you know,
not necessarily needing to sharpen my own sword, but anything
I throw at Maxie haunachor or Jennings Dunker or that
(02:28):
I can rub off on Jack Sawyer, that's that's helpful
for the whole group. So yeah, I mean it's it's
not like they're taking attendance or roll call or participation.
And I'm sure Mike McCarthy didn't necessarily expect someone like
Nick Krbig to be there, but I think that always helps.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
No doubt, Bryan.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
And at the same time, no news is good news, right,
no injuries or you know, again it's not contact, I
understand that, but they're still, you know, running routes and
running drills and hitting pads, so there's always a chance
that something could happen. But fortunately for the Black and Goal,
they went through this spring so far. And I'm going
to knock on what as I say that, because now
we pivot the training camp relatively in good shape and
(03:06):
well attended too. We've talked about it many times here
on the standard this spring that Mike McCarthy and that
new coaching staff got all the veterans there for all
of these voluntary workout sessions. Of course they had the
mandatory mini camp, but the stuff that was voluntary was
still well attended.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah, I wouldn't say they had all of them there
for all of them but yeah, I think they had
a pretty good turnout. And you know, basically what Mike
McCarthy had planned, I would say was leaving this last
week for some of the younger guys. And I mean
the way they structured it, it's not really surprising that
it played out that way. I mean some teams. It's
(03:44):
not really uniform across the league at I mean, some
teams are having Mini camp this week. I think some
are even having it next week. So you really have
a pretty big window in which you can schedule and
arrange when you want to have your practices, your mini
camp and your OTA. And the Steelers did it in
this kind of two pronged approach, mostly before but also
(04:05):
some after the Mini camp. And you know, it is voluntary,
it's it's optional. But I know Mike McCarthy, as he
said Tuesday, feels like they hit the ball about as
far as they could hit it, you know, at this
time of year, and really the whole point is get
everything done that you can, he said. The coaches are
still gonna have some homework to do on summer vacation,
(04:26):
but you know, by and large, when they get to Latrobe,
you know it's it's go time as much as it
can be. You've got the three three or four I
guess acclamation practices not in full pads, but even that,
if that's an extension of kind of the spring the
football and shorts learning, the competition certainly will ratchet up
(04:48):
that first Monday, August third, when they put all the
pads on.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Brian, I want to ask you, because you know you
were there for the what last eight or nine years
of of the Mike Tomlin era, and now you've been
introduced to the Mike McCarthy era here this spring, any
notable differences on how things are being handled so far
through this spring program. I know the most obvious one
to me was the schedule of what we just saw
(05:14):
this past week. Years past, with coach Tomlin, you'd wrap
up OTAs, you'd have the mandatory mini camp, then they
would break until La Trobe. This year, Mike McCarthy having
the mandatory mini camp last week and then one more
week of OTAs this week before wrapping things up before Latrobe.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I mean, I'm sure there are some different drills, and
you know that's natural too. You bring in new assistant
coaches and they're going to have some of their favorite Jills,
maybe things that they did at their previous NFL stop,
or you know, some of these guys are coming from
the college ranks two and that's just different managing a roster.
You usually got a lot more guys in your position group.
(05:53):
That'll thin out, of course once the regular season gets
here and the fifty three man roster is set. But no,
I mean, I don't think there's anything that really jumps
out to me too much. You know, it feels like
a Steelers practice. It's just very different not to hear
Mike Tomlin running around as someone who had the pulse
(06:15):
of that team and knew what strings to pull for everybody.
I'd say Mike McCarthy is he's a lot more emphasizing
the actual installation of the schemes because there are new schemes.
And then of course, you know, I think there's been
this has been said really since going back to the
(06:35):
first OTAs. I'm just a lot more attention paid to
the quarterbacks, particularly the first and second year guys Drew
Aller and Will Howard. But that's, you know, logical considering
McCarthy's an offensive minded head coach and he's been kind
of a quarterback guru and in his NFL tenure, I
(06:56):
know there's been a lot of talk about the QB School.
Next week, they've got what he called the Rookie School,
So some of the young young guys are even going
to stay around for a little bit more learning. And
I think it's more individual meeting time with your position
coach and kind of getting the vibe of what the
expectations are for you personally in that window between mini
(07:18):
camp and training camp. So you want your rookies to
show up in good shape and conditioned and not overwhelmed
by the speed of it when they get there. That'll
probably happen to some extent no matter what, but the
more you can mitigate it, the better.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Brian, I want to ask you on offense and defense
if there was a player that stood out to you. Again,
these are ota sessions.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You take it with what you will.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
I mean, it's it's helmets, t shirts, shorts, so it's
not like we're seeing, you know, pads popping in latrope.
So you can't take too much away from it, but
just maybe an early peak and early glimpse. I know
early on the offensive line was switched around early on
this spring. Will Howard was quarterback number two that stood out.
But for you give me a player on offense, or
(08:04):
give me a player on defense or both that might
have stood out or just maybe made you raise your
eyebrow a bit.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Well, on offense, I will say Will Howard. I think
Will progressed pretty nicely throughout the spring. And maybe you
take that for granted a little bit because he was
here last season and he was a pretty relatively polished
product coming out of Ohio State, albeit as a sixth rounder.
But you know, it was kind of a it was
(08:34):
a disappointing rookie year for him on the field, obviously,
because of that finger injury in training camp and not
getting a chance to get those feet wet in preseason action,
which I think a lot of rookies look forward to.
You know, you go through the slog and the grind
of camp practices and in a lot of ways, when
the lights come on, that's the fun part. And Will
(08:54):
didn't get to do that, and then he actually had
to wait around just to come off of ir until
about halfway through of the season where he could get
back on the practice field. So I think when you
take all that into account, I was pretty impressed with
what he looked like from the beginning to the end
of spring practices, and I guess i'd just say I
think he is going to farewell in La Trobe in
(09:17):
the preseason and continue to push for that number two
backup quarterback job. Defensively, ed, I mean, it's harder, I
think on that side of the ball because so much
of the game is predicated on hitting people and dislodging
the ball, which I want to do that this time
(09:37):
of year. Like we said earlier, knock on wood, they
got out of there healthy, everyone stayed upright. But I'll say,
you know, as a new guy coming in just because
you hadn't really seen him, and you I should say,
you'd only seen him from Afar when he was with
the Chicago Bears. But Jakwan Brisker and I think really
looks the part. I mean, he is kind of wire,
(10:00):
but he's a bigger body out there at safety. And
you know, he was someone who wasn't in that initial
first wave of free agency signings. But I think he's
he's going to help this team in some form or fashion,
whether that's in every down role or if it is
sort of a specialized role. I think, you know, it's
(10:21):
great that he's here playing for his hometown team. So
he's been really into everything. I mean, I think all
the guys have bought in, but especially someone like Brisker
who reuniting or reuniting with Pittsburgh but also uniting with
a fellow Yinzer in Mike McCarthy. So I just think
he's really happy to be here, and I think you
(10:42):
can see that in his energy and the vibe that
he brings in the way he's moving around the field.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I agree on both.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Will Howard Jaqwon Brisker a great call by you on
the defensive side, and they're going to need Brisker on
the defensive side at that safety opposite side of Deshaun
Elliott to be able to produce the way he did
in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
An upgrade.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
He needed an upgrade there at that safety position opposite
side of de Shaun Elliott. And then you have Jalen
Ramsey where you put him into play in this secondary
as well. That's just an added bonus that's icing on
the cake, that's for sure. But that was a good
call for you on Brisker.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Brian. We have a few more.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Minutes before we have to go to break, So let's
wrap up our review of the spring and OTAs and
everything else.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Put a bow on it.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Coming up in our next segment, we're going to talk
seven Shots of Hits and seven Shots of Missus, one
of our most popular segments from the regular season. We
have the summer edition of that before we go into
camp in about over a month. Also, Merril Hodge joining
us in the second hour today. So excited to talk
to Meryl. But before we go to break, Brian, we
talked about players. Let's talk storylines. What was the biggest
(11:43):
storyline for you to come out of this spring for
the Pittsburgh Steelers' practices.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
I think it's the offensive line in the moving parts there.
It's interesting to me that it almost seems like the
coaches have decided to kind of split them up in
three platoons three three two man tandems that are working together.
You've got your your established no doubters, Troy Faltanu and
(12:08):
Mason McCormick. Just a matter of where they will play,
but it sure seems like they're gonna flip together from
the right side to the left side. So they obviously
like the chemistry there and they'll keep those two attached
at the hip, then you've got your kind of in betweeners.
I would say the capable veterans Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson.
(12:29):
Cook mainly played on the left side a season ago,
and Spencer Anderson has played both left and right guard
in his career, but I think both are plenty comfortable
on the right side, so it's you know, much like
Troy Faltanu and Mason McCormick played left in college and
then flipped to the right in the pros. Cook and Anderson,
(12:50):
I mean, their value to this point in their career
has been as utility players who can slot in wherever
you need them with their versatility. But if they can
parlay that in too starting jobs and see how it goes,
then you know, more power to them. Which is to
say they're trying to hold off the third duo, which
(13:11):
is the rookies. I think Maxie Honachor and Jennings Dunker
they could potentially be the right side of the future
at tackle and guard respectively. The first rounder from Arizona
State and the third rounder from Iowa in this year's
Big class. So I don't know what it'll look like
come Week one or by week ten, if if you're
(13:34):
going to see all of those and any of those
tandems still together, or if one will break off, or
if maybe the rookies will just get to stay in
the slow cooker for a while. But I think it's
it's kind of cool how that has come together. And
then they'll all get different reps. I'm not saying that
it's a you know that they're going to have. They're
(13:55):
mandated to play next to one another, but there's something
to be said for cohesion just as much as the
something to be said for flexibility. And I think you'll
see a bunch of guys learning different spots. But for now,
it feels like they're moving two by two. On James
Campen's arc.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Good good reference there, my friend, to bring that back
into play there, I agree offensive line. For me, the
storyline are the two contracts that occurred. The first at
the start with Aaron Rodgers finally getting under contract and
also at the same time announcing his retirement at the
end of this year this will be his final NFL season,
and then then Nick Carr big news too. I mean,
that was all on the top of our minds. What
(14:33):
would happen with Nick herbig beyond this upcoming season. Would
he play out the final year of that contract. But
thus they offer him four years a new contract of
four years, one hundred million. He signs that he will
be a Steeler going forward.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Last thing I'll say, i'd say one standout rookie to this,
point ed Dalon Everett. I thought he looked very much
that's my guy, my guy as an outside corner. And
you know he didn't. He came in with little fanfare.
I would say he almost got lost in the shuffle
because of Aler and Ianachor and Bernard and even Dunker
finishing out that second night of the draft. Ever, it
(15:08):
was just kind of quietly split in there from Georgia.
But I think I don't know that they'll need him
to help in year one, but I think he could
if he has to.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
As I've said many times, Double b I'm a big
Everett fan, So I'm excited to see him play in
the Black and gold. When Brian and I come back,
we're gonna get into our seven shots of hits and
seven shots of missus.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Speaking of Steelers.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Camp, that was one of the most popular drills that
they ran every year. In La Trobe under coach Tom
and we'll see if coach McCarthy picks it up. But
it's one of our favorite segments here on the Standard.
He's Brian Bacco. I'm at Troupe.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
It is the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Standard weekend edition here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of
the Steelers Audio Network, sef cable Internet.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
But I'm a one hundred percent kind of fan, so
i switched to Verizon FiOS. It's one hundred percent fiber
Internet that's super reliable. So I streamed one hundred percent
of the NFL Draft live with Ultra Lo lag and
after what went down in the first round, still getting
video calls from my best friend rubbing it in that
he called all the picks.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I told you they were building their own line. I
went to bet good.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Five or Internet with a Rhizon FiOS because when it
comes to your team, it's one hundred percent or nothing
called one. Need three three of rhizome to switch today.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Get that hot dog costume ready, bruh.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light. There's
nothing better than the clean Crisp. There's nothing better than
the clean Crisp.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
What if we just got out of here and grab
some bud Lights.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
So man, we're on air for four more hours.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I'll figure it out.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste
of bud Light stocked up now. Bud Light, easy to drink,
easy to enjoy, and you're responsibly copyright twenty twenty six
and hyser Busch bud Light Beer, Saint Louis, Missouri.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Back here on the Steelers Standard weekend addition, glad you
could join us here on Steelers Nation Radio, part the
Steelers Audio Network. I am a troop alongside Double B
Brian Baco, which, by the way, Brian won't plug himself,
but I will for him. Make sure you log on
to Steelers dot com each and every day to check
(17:13):
out Doubleb's featured articles on the Black and Gold, excellent
coverage year round. He's got some great stuff up there
from this past week as we continue to navigate.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
This off season.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
So make sure you check out Brian Baco and all
his excellent coverage on Steelers dot com each and every day.
You can follow Brian on x as well, and myself.
We've had a few people chime in, Brian. We have
a few fans out there. I guess that log onto
X and comment to us, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
That's always good. And also I was going to say,
by the time you hear this, might have a pretty
cool feature up on Maxihonachort on Steelers dot com, so
keep an eye out for that over this weekend. This
is a lull of a weekend in the calendar, a
little bit at I mean, a lot of schools are
letting out and maybe your kids are home for the
first time. Next weekend, of course, is Father's Day, and
(18:07):
then we'll start getting into the the summer grind of
vacations and fourth of July will be coming up. But
this weekend's just kind of there for the taking. So
it sounds like a great opportunity to sit down on
an early Saturday or Sunday morning with a cup of Joe.
Read me on Steelers dot com. It's not about me.
Read about the players and coaches on Steelers dot com.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Hey listen, Brian, it's always about you. It's about me,
it's about the whole show. It's about covering the Steelers
from A to Z.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
And in case you missed it, another thing you can
do on this weekend. Maybe if you're doing yard work
or driving around, maybe you're driving to vacation this weekend.
Our Wednesday show with Vince Williams was fantastic. I mean
to have Vince in studio for the the entirety of
the show with us giving his insight, his perspective, good
(18:59):
sense of humor two from Vince Williams. I think it
went really well. So if you missed it, definitely be
sure to go back and check that out.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Yeah, we had a big week, Brian.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
And by the way, if we didn't scare Vince off,
which I hope we didn't, he is to be with
us next week in studio again for another show, so
that's exciting.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
But we started the week ahead, Brian, we're.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Spoiled with I mean, Vince Williams. And then you'll hear
later in today's show Meryl Hodge. I mean wow, yeah,
I mean that. That is a big week for us
on the Standard D.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Yeah. We started the week playing back some of our
favorite interviews from this spring, which was you know, Arthur Motes,
Bill Hill Grove, Matt Williamson, among others. And then we
end the week here with as you said, Merril Hodge
coming up here in our second hour, Today's going to
spend the whole second hour with you and I to
talk about his career in the current state of the
Pittsburgh Steelers as well, you know, Brian, just to go
(19:50):
back to you know, always some great things to do
in and around the city of Pittsburgh. This time of
the year June, July, August, summertime in the city for
me has always been special. Have you ever done the
gust and Yah yah was on the North side with
the snowballs, of course.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, that was a place that my dad used to
love taking me growing up because he went there as
a kid. However, as much as I loved Gus and yayas,
I don't know if I've ever told you this said.
This is a piece of Brian Batco personal lore. My
favorite job ever, one of my first jobs ever, not
the first, but I worked at a snow cone stand
(20:25):
in North Park up here in the northern suburbs. It's
no longer with us, unfortunately, but it was right by
the boat house. If anyone listening was an avid North
Park runner, cyclist, pickleball or whatever, it was the little
snow cone hut right by the boat house. And I
(20:45):
loved it. I mean I probably worked there for two summers,
worked my way up. I was opening, closing. I'd run
the cart at like little community days and festivals, and
it was the best job ever because they were the
best snow cones ever. We had like forty some flavors.
And if it was it's a busy day, yeah, the
afternoon went fast. I was getting some good tips from
the fine folks out there. And if it was a
(21:06):
slow day, I could sit there and read a book
or listen to music, or do whatever I wanted to
do while eating as many snow cones as I wanted. Hey, wait,
maybe that's why it went out of business.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
It could be I didn't know you were a snow
cone expert. My friend, we do the gus and yayas
every year. It's a tradition for us with our two
boys who are now teenagers. So back in the day,
they used to get excited jumping the car we'd go down.
Now we have to schedule it three weeks ahead of time.
We have to pull them into the car and make
them go hang out with their parents. Brian, how about that.
Your kids are still little, so they're still pumped to
(21:37):
hang out with you. But just give it another ten
years and then look out.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Pumped might be a stretch, but yes, I am not
really looking forward to that. No, I mean, but yeah,
I am a snow cone connoisseur. That is one thing
about me. And I would even say, if we're gonna
get really into the weeds here, gus and yayas I
love the flavors. Those are more ice, Okay, they're the
kind of chunky you know, he's guss you know, he's
(22:03):
shaving it off of there, and then it's in your
cup and then you pour the stuff over it. Where
I worked was it was really more shaved ice, so
got it. You know, if you've ever been to Hawaii
or even southern California, get that out there and it's
it's a little lighter, fluffier. So that's my preference. But
I know a lot of people out there are still
old school and like the chunky ice balls.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
It's good either way, and you're gonna need it this
week in and around the Pittsburgh area because it is
going to be hot and humid as it's been, but
it's Pittsburgh. It's summertime. Make sure you get out and
enjoy it. Brian, let's get into our seven Shots of
Hits and seven Shots of Misses, one of our most
popular segments that we do each and every week during
the regular season, which is pretty easy during that point
because there's always seven good things to talk about and
(22:46):
seven things that the Steelers potentially missed that week.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
To talk about.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Off season a little bit different, you know, things are
drawn out a little bit, but I thought it would
be a good time for you and I to jump
in on this and talk about where we are up
to this point. So we'll start with our first hit
and then we'll go back and forth between the misses
this segment and next the first hit for me for
seven Shots of Hits, and I want to get your
take on this is an obvious one, and we talked
about it during the last segment to open up the
(23:11):
show today. The Steelers agreeing with Nick Herbig on that
new contract, four years, one hundred million, seven point five
sacks last year, twenty one combined tackles in fifteen games
played in twenty twenty five, the edge rusher, the playmaker,
potentially the future of this defense now here to stay.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
I thought Vince Williams made a really good point on
Wednesday's Show with Us that maybe Nick Krbig hasn't earned
this with what he's done on the field, but he
deserves it because of the way he's produced when he's
gotten his opportunities and what he can potentially bring you
in the future. Now, that's a little bit of splitting
(23:49):
hairs and semantics there with earn versus deserve, But I
think you see Vince's point there that a lot of
people around the league may have boked at that total
for someone who has been a complimentary player in part
time starter and is blocked on the depth chart on
paper at least by TJ. Watt and Alex Highsmith from
(24:10):
becoming a starter. But I think this tells you that
the Steelers have so much faith in what Nick Herbig
still can provide, and that he's just scratching the surface
at Again, he's not going to turn twenty five until
the second half of this season at which is unbelievable,
so amazing. I think there's still so much more meat
on the bone for her Big. And it's kind of
(24:31):
like anything in life. If you're at the store or
you're online shopping, sometimes you might see something that is
quote unquote overpriced to other people. But if you're like
I really want this, I need this, this is going
to make me happy. Then you just pay it and
you don't really worry about it. This happens in the
draft all the time too. It's like, oh, did they
(24:54):
reach on a player in the second round when he
could have been there in the third round or fourth round.
Sometimes it doesn't matter if you have conviction in taking
that player there and believing in that player, you just
do it and you have confidence that it's going to
work out. And I think that's basically the same thing
the Steelers did with.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Herb our first hit of seven shots of hits and
seven shots of misses.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
This miss here early.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
But you know, we still got some time to go
until the start of training camp and really till the
end of training camp. But Omar Khan in the front
office will continue to negotiate Brian, But this one stands
out to me on a miss so far. No agreement
yet on Joey Porter junior contract extension for him is
needed he enters his final year of his rookie contract
this season.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
This has to be at the top of the list.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I'm sure it has been, right with Nick Herbig at
the top of the list for Omar Khan and that
front office. But a deal for JPJ most likely needs
to be done before the end of training camp in
the start of the regular season.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yeah, nothing yet, But I think we said all along
that this might be the trickiest one to get across
the finish line. Now another way, I mean, it's also
arguably the most necessary one or the the you know,
the most slammed dunk to predict, because it just makes
too much sense with the way he's played and what
(26:10):
the Steelers need on their defense at that position. But
you know, he's probably gonna make the most bank of
anybody in this twenty twenty three draft class. I know,
Nick Herbig really ran it up, but I think Porter
will be kind of in the same boat, if not
a little bit more, because of the way the cornerback
(26:32):
market has gone this offseason, with Trent McDuffie resetting it
and Joey Porter Junior having arguably a better case than
Trent McDuffie in the deal that he got from the Rams.
Remember that was a player who the Chiefs didn't necessarily
want to or were able to commit that much money too,
so they dealt him and the Rams said, will do
(26:52):
that but yeah, I mean, these are good problems to have,
but they can make for some tense moments when you
have so many good, young, homegrown players you want to retain.
I actually saw one of the news pieces of news
around the league that caught my eye this weekend was
that the Miami Dolphins re upped their center Aaron Brewer,
(27:13):
who I think is I think Zach Fraser is right
up there with the best centers in the league, but
I think Brewer might be number one. He got three year,
fifty two million and a half dollar extension. Now he's
a little older, I think he's twenty eight or twenty nine,
so he didn't quite clear the younger guys like Tyler
Linderbaum Jurgens from Philly and then Creed Humphrey from Kansas City.
(27:37):
But that feels like it's relevant because, let's be honest,
the Steelers are probably gonna want to pay Zack Fraser
this time next year. And you know, Brewer was a
beast last season for the Dolphins. And he's so small too,
which I love. He's like a shade under six to two.
But if you ever just focus on the Dolphins number
(27:59):
fifty five, which I did the week before they faced
the Steelers. He is. He's like centers don't normally have
a highlight tape like he does, but it's like watching
highlights of a guy in another position. The way he
moves around and gets to the second level. He's a
unique player and the Dolphins paid him as such. So
keep that in mind for the Fraser negotiation, which we
(28:20):
would assume will take place next spring. Aaron Brewer gets
three years, fifty two and a half million after It
wasn't as nuts as what Tyler Linderbaum got from the Raiders,
just an absurd amount of guaranteed money, but it's worth
keeping in mind as we're talking about Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington,
Joey Porter Junior, potentially Keanu Benton. The Steelers are gonna
(28:41):
have Zach Frazier going into the final year of his
rookie contract next season, not to mention Troy Foutanu, who
will likely get his fifth year option picked up, and
then also Mason McCormick as a key cog of that
offensive line too.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
As they continue to build up this offensive line, they're
gonna have some work to do in future off seasons
to keep those guys around. That's for sure, Double b.
Let's get to another hit before we get to break Brian.
We'll keep with the contracts this spring. Another big one
is Darnell Washington. You mentioned it, the tight end new
deal for Mount Washington, four years, forty two million, a
(29:17):
unicorn at that tight end spot. No other player like
him in the NFL at tight end. That's built his
way load of potential for Darnell Washington.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
We got a peak of it last year. From a
receiving standpoint.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
It was good stuff and it should continue hopefully in
this new Mike McCarthy offense.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Yeah, especially when he was hired, we weren't really sure
what it would mean. Well, not even necessarily when he
was hired, but when the Steelers traded for Michael Pittman
Junior too. On top of that, we weren't really sure
what that was going to mean for the returning tight
end one two punch of Pat Fryarmuth in Darnell Washington.
It was kind of a natural question to ask, all right,
(29:56):
what's going to give there? If they're going to be
running a lot more three receiver sets? Well, hold the phone,
I guess is the ultimate memo there. I mean, you
can take with a grain of salt what coaches in
GM say oftentimes, and Mike McCarthy is saying that he
is going to reimagine this offense. He actually said on
Tuesday that this probably speaks to the philosophy of eleven
(30:19):
and twelve personnel and all of that, but he said
he doesn't even look at it necessarily that way. He
looks at it as you've got your your one back offense,
one running back, your two back offense. We get a
fullback in there, run an eye formation and no back
offense would be empty, five wide or four a tight
end or whatever. But that just tells you that he's
less concerned about the number of receivers and tight ends
(30:40):
who are on the field and more so just looking
at them all as eligible pass catchers. So I think
by and large, the Steelers are gonna have one back
on the field. Occasionally you might see Riley Noakowski in
there as a fullback, but even he is kind of
like a tight end two coming out of Indiana. So
I think you're still going to see plenty of the
Friar Muse Washington combination.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
You know, Brian, they got such a young offense.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
We talked about the offensive line, but some of these
playmakers now too, I mean really outside of well, Aaron
Rodgers comes to mind at the quarterback spot, but he's
almost like off to the side, right. You look at
the future of this team, of this roster, of this
depth chart, and it's young, and if it could gel
together for this season and future seasons to come, they're
gonna be in a really strong position.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
Yeah. Yeah, And it's just it's not going to be
easy necessarily for keeping all of those guys in place,
but that's that's what you want because there have been
some other youth movements on offense for the Steelers in
past years where unfortunately you didn't really want to keep
guys around for second contracts because the results weren't there. So,
(31:46):
knock on wood, that won't be the case again with
this young nucleus.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
When Brian and I come back, we'll get into another
miss more seven shots of hits and more seven shots
of misses as we wrap up our number one.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Coming up next, He's Brian Beaco.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Amed Trupe is the Steelers standard here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
I used to have cable internet, but I'm a one
hundred percent kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon FiOS.
It's one hundred percent fiber Internet that's super reliable. So
I streamed one hundred percent of the NFL Draft live
with ultra low lag. And after what went down in
the first round, still getting video calls from my best
friend rubbing it in that he called all the picks.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I told you they were building their own line. I
went to bet good.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
One percent fiber Internet with Verizon FiOS, because when it
comes to your team, it's one hundred percent or nothing.
Call one three three for Raizon to switch today.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Get that hot dog costume ready, bruh.
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And now a word from our sponsor, bud Light. There's
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Speaker 3 (32:46):
Uh. What if we just got out of here and
grab some bud Lights.
Speaker 7 (32:49):
So, man, we're on air for four more hours. I'll
figure it out. Sounds good to me. Anything for the
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Speaker 3 (32:58):
Stocked up now.
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Bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy, and you're
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Speaker 2 (33:14):
It's the weekend.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Edition of the Steelers Standard here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network. I am at Troop
alongside as always Double.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
B Brian Bacco.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I'm glad you could join us today, each and every
day if you're listening on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, maybe even Monday.
It's a four day weekend for us here on the
Standard as we continue to navigate here through the off season.
And a special programming note, we're gonna have Merril Hodge
coming up next hour. He'll be joining Brian and I,
(33:47):
so make sure you stay tuned for that. Next week
we will be on for the Steelers Standard, but the
following two weeks, Brian and I will be off. They're
gonna give us some vacation time before we ramp up
for our training camp. Cover Brian whenever we come back
to start off the month of July. We'll get you
prepped in those weeks leading up to Latrobe, and then
Brian and I will both be in Latrobe for the
(34:09):
Steeler Standard and giving you water Wall coverage here on SNR.
All of our shows taking place up in Latrobe in
an air conditioned press box, Brian, So that's kind of exciting.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Yeah, that'll be my first time really doing that. You know,
I'd been a guest before with Wes Yuler and Arthur
Motes and maybe even some of the shows when the
Lake Dale Lawley was broadcasting from there. But I'm looking
forward to the environment for sure. Just simply getting out
of the heat will be nice and I'll be happy
(34:42):
to talk some football as a means for doing that.
So yeah, it's right around the corner of the sticky days.
And you know, sometimes there are some bees out there,
and you watch the high grass, you never know what's
going to get you. But by and large, it is
a wholesome, beautiful screen time out there at Saint Vincent College.
(35:06):
And it's easy for me to say that because I
won't have two hundred and fifty pound dudes running into
me for most of the time.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
That I'm there, that's right, and running around in that
ninety degree heat with fifty pounds of equipment on you,
I'm with you, buddy. Those those days are long gone
for me. They were never beyond the high school level.
But hey, listen, let the pros do. They're getting paid
the money, that's for sure. Brian, we were going into
our seven shots of hits and our seven shots of
(35:32):
misses right before the break, we did a couple hits,
So we did a miss. With Joey Porter Junior's contract
extension not taking place yet, let's get into another miss.
Second on our list Steelers inside linebackers. This could be
a weak spot on this defense for twenty twenty six.
Patrick Queen getting up there in age. He's been okay
so far, but he's entering his last year of his
contract and no talks there that we're aware of of
(35:55):
him possibly being extended going into this upcoming twenty twenty
six season. And then there's Peyton Wills that we've had
a lot of discussion about. He's been up and down,
more ups than downs, but needs to be more consistent
opposite side of Patrick Queen. And then there's Cole Holcomb
and Malie Harrison who are the backups. But my question
for this miss is is that all enough to sustain
that middle part of that defense? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think it is. I think with Peyton Wilson potentially
taking another step and he was another guy who I
noticed was there at the final OTA's practice on Thursday,
So I mean He's an established player at this stage
in his career, could have easily just taken off. But
you know, maybe he feels like he needs to be
(36:38):
one hundred percent well versed in this new Patrick Graham
defensive scheme. Maybe he feels like he hasn't arrived yet.
I know that he probably wasn't as happy as he
could have been with year two, especially with coming into
that second season with the Steelers and in the NFL.
He thought he could be one of the better cover
(36:59):
linebackers in the world, as he put it, And you know,
I think you saw flashes of it. You saw the speed,
you know, easily in Dublin chasing down the Vikings receiver
and allowing them to keep some time on the or
take some time off of the clock to thwart that
Vikings comeback. But I mean, you just want to see
(37:21):
it on a more consistent basis, combined with the ability
to come up, get off blocks, make plays against the run.
And if he can do all that, you know, I
think he can be one of the better inside linebackers
that the Steelers have had really since the Vince Williams
Ryan Shazier combo that we discussed a lot on Wednesday.
(37:44):
So that's a position that it was untouched almost entirely
this sawseason. I mean that is a spot where they
did almost not. I mean they basically did nothing. They
basically ran it back with everyone. I thought for sure
they would draft someone. All they did was bring in
undrafted free agent Dalon Carnell out of Missouri. Even Jamin Davis,
(38:08):
the veteran former first rounder of Washington who was signed
as a tryout player from mini camp. I think they're
looking at him more as an edge guy. Now. He's
always been a hybrid linebacker since coming out of Kentucky,
and that might be part of the reason why he
hasn't found a place to stick in the league despite
all the physical talent. But I don't even really think
(38:28):
that they have him slotted for that inside linebacker group.
So it's really the same ones Queen Wilson, Holcombe, Harrison,
Carson Brunner, and then, like I said, Carnell the undrafted
free agent. So they're gonna their need to hope that
they have enough in that room.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
And like we said, there's a lot of upside with
Peyton Wilson as well. He's young, he's athletic. Again, knock
on wood. We've been doing that a lot here this morning.
He's been relatively healthy so far in his NFL career
and that was his knock back door in his college day.
So yeah, I think there's a ton of upside there.
And Patrick Queen still playing at a high level as well.
He has not taking any type of steps back, so
(39:08):
hopefully they can gel together in this new Patrick Graham
defense this upcoming season.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
Brian, let's get to another shot.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Our third shot of seven shots of hits and seven
shots of missus. Is the new look Steelers secondary with
adding Jamel Dean this offseason and the local product out
of Gateway High School in Penn State, Jakwan Brisker, big
upgrades I think in the secondary, Brian, last year was
almost a revolving door at that safety spot.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Jalen Ramsey saved.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
The day really coming into that spot, but the other
guys they had in there was really just plug and
play try to get through this season, and that was
evident by this off season because they didn't bring Kyle
Duggar or any of those other guys back to participate
in this secondary in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
Yeah, it's actually when you look back at it. They
made a lot of additions and changes in the secondary
last year. I mean, make a Fitzpatrick out. Jalen Ramsey
in was the primary one, but on top of that,
you had Dare before that. But technically but Darius Slay
coming in, Brandon Eckles one, Thornhill later in the game,
(40:13):
Chuck Clark and like you said, I mean mid season
that they go and trade for Kyle Dugger. So they didn't.
They weren't as busy in trying to reshuffle up that group.
But yeah, I mean still Jamel Dean is your Slay
equivalent this year, and you hope that goes better. Jakwan
Brisker is your one Thornton Brisker and Darnell Savage are
(40:37):
kind of your Thornhill and Chuck Clark this time around.
And I think those two guys, especially Brisker, as I
mentioned in the first segment today, have more upside than
the two acquisitions did it safety a season ago. And
you know, the biggest that I know, like college coaches
will always say this about someone who was red shirting
(40:59):
and NFL this trickles down to the NFL sometimes too,
But in a lot of ways, the biggest addition will
be the return of de Shaun Elliot. I think if
he's healthy and able to be the difference maker that
he was obviously two years ago before they signed him
to the extension. But I thought he was playing pretty
well last season too. I agree before he went down
in that I think it was the Browns game. So
if he is back looking like himself, then that eliminates
(41:23):
a lot of the issues that you were trying to
patch up on the fly in your secondary last year.
And if Brisker can add to that, and Jamel Dean
can be an improvement over what Darius Slay was giving
you and what turned out to be his final NFL season,
then I think you're making a case of maybe the
most improved position group on this team.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
I'm excited to see this secondary play in twenty twenty six.
On this defense, we know what we have in the
edge rushers, one of the best groups in the NFL.
Defensive line has gotten bigger, stronger, younger. Cam Hayward continues
to play at a high level. I mean things are
gelling together for this defense on paper. Patrick Graham gives
him a new look as the new defensive.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Coordinator as well. Very smart guy.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
You heard Vince Williams the other day on the show
Brian talk about that.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
So yeah, all arrows pointing up at this point.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
They's got to stay healthy of course this upcoming season,
and hopefully they can get back to that steel curtain
defense that we're used to.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
Seeing in previous seasons.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
We'll stay on the defense for our next shot of
seven shots of misses, and this is a potential miss, Brian,
So not a miss right now, but could be a
miss in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
And that's Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Could it be challenging to get him enough snaps to
be effective in twenty twenty six with this now crowded
and talented secondary.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
Well that's what they'll have to figure out. And maybe
Mike McCarthy and Patrick Graham already know in the back
of their mind what the right workload is for Ramsey.
I think with Ramsey, he's a player who he's very
much in a transitional period of his career. He saw
it last season going from right cornered a safety, and
(43:02):
certainly applaud him for making that transition and filling the
role as well as could be expected when you weren't
necessarily locked into that when you got traded here. But
things happen and they adjusted on the fly and whatever
stock you put into Pro Bowls. I mean, he did
make the Pro Bowl last year. We know the name
(43:23):
recognition always tends to matter in that. But you know,
if if now, if the next phase of his progression
in the NFL is, hey, you're you're not an every
down player anymore, and you know there are gonna be
times where you're at safety. There're gonna be times where
you're at nickel. There a gonna be times where you're
(43:44):
kind of a super coverage linebacker, if you want to
put it that way. Are you good with that? Now?
That that's what they're going to have to work out
between coach and player. But I think one positive there
with Ramsey. Even if he doesn't have the straight up,
straight line speed that he did as an outside corner
when he was one of the best in the game
(44:05):
and furbishing that future Hall of Fame resume, I still
think he can. He has the aptitude to make the
big play, the big hit, the ball jarring tackle, the
sack on third down when he blitzes from a spot
that the offense isn't expecting. So I think he can
still do all of that, and it's a matter of
(44:26):
busting it out at the right time and catching an
offense off guard and letting Jalen Ramsey do Jalen Ramsey things,
even if they're not the original Jalen Ramsey things of
when he was coming out of Florida State.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
Again, it's not a miss yet, but potentially could be
a miss in twenty twenty six that they can't get
this playmaker on the field. But maybe that's a good
problem to have, Brian, I'm not sure. We'll see how
it all plays out. Next up on our seven Shots
of Hits. Our fourth shot of a hit is the
offensive line. The revamp with Fontana and McCormick going to
the left side along with Zach Frasier who continues to
(44:59):
be stable at center once the right side is figured
out for the camp battles. This could be one of
the best Steelers offensive lines in a long, long time, Brian,
as excited as I am about the secondary, the new
look secondary for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Man, I'm pumped to
see this offensive line as well.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Hey, you know it was two years ago they started
pouring the resources into that. Really three if you include
Broderick Jones, but I mean the following draft it was
Foutanu Fraser, and McCormick all together, so you knew omark
On and Andy Widel weren't messing around when it came
to rebuilding on the line of scrimmage. But every unit
(45:41):
at some point in their process needs to go from young,
hungry promising to actually getting the job done and dominating
week in and week out. And this is going to
be a big year to gauge that, I think, because
they are all in year three, yes, and McCormick it
(46:01):
might sort of be year one on the left side,
so maybe it won't be quite as fluid as you
might have expected. But as I mentioned earlier, those guys
played predominantly left side in college, so they have a
ton of experience being on on that side of things,
and I think they're both you know, some o lignemen.
I think we talked about this with Chris Carter when
(46:22):
he came on the show from the Post, because that
like some alignemen are like Dan Moore, maybe are Brogert
Jones who they're really more comfortable on one side or
the other, and other linemen are Hey, doesn't matter. I
can flip my footwork my hands. It's no big deal
as long as I'm in there, and I think and
mccormicker are more like that, so you'll you'll get the
(46:47):
best of those two I think still on the left side,
and that that does open the door for the even
younger offensive lineman that this team has invested in in
Ihanichore and Dunkard. Is some take the bull by the
horns on the right side. And when you can get
basically an entire offensive line drafted and developed by your franchise,
(47:10):
I mean, that's the stuff that Super Bowl contenders are
made out of. And as long as players can stay healthy,
that's chemistry upfront, and that is a core philosophy basically
of team building, as.
Speaker 2 (47:25):
We've discussed many times.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
Unlike years past, this group, this rookie class coming in
here this season, they don't have to jump in right away.
Maybe Jeremy Bernard might be the only one that you
need as a third fourth receiver playmaker, but everyone else
can develop. And that was the Steeler away for a
long long time around here, Brian, during these drafts, and
again they were drafting later on twenty five to thirty
(47:48):
somewhere in that range during the first round, but they
could easily just push these guys into the places they
wanted them to be in future seasons and not have
to be here in day one.
Speaker 2 (47:56):
They've had to do that the last few years.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
It's worked out with Troy fontana Erck Harmon, but now
they can relax and develop some of these guys.
Speaker 2 (48:03):
We will get into more.
Speaker 1 (48:04):
Of the seven shots of Hits and seven Shots of
Missus next week here on the Standard, because coming up
next it's Merril Hodge joining Double B and myself right
here on the Steelers Standard on Steelers Nation Radio, part
of the Steelers Audio Network
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